P. v. Pantoja

Annotate this Case
Download PDF
Filed 10/6/04 CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT DIVISION THREE THE PEOPLE, A101223 Plaintiff and Respondent, (Humboldt County Super. Ct. No. CR 013978) v. ORDER MODIFYING OPINION AND DENYING REHEARING [NO CHANGE IN JUDGMENT] JORGE A. PANTOJA, Defendant and Appellant. BY THE COURT: It is ordered that the opinion filed herein on September 7, 2004, be modified in the following particulars: 1. On page 13, the second sentence of the first full paragraph is modified to read as follows: We therefore must reverse defendant s conviction if it is reasonably probable that a result more favorable to the appealing party would have been reached in the absence of the error. (People v. Watson (1956) 46 Cal.2d 818, 836.) 2. At the end of the second full paragraph on page 14, after the sentence ending before defendant stabbed Montero, add as footnote 5 the following footnote: 5 In his petition for rehearing, the Attorney General emphasizes other evidence that he argues tended to show premeditation. However, none of that evidence is sufficient to render the erroneous admission of the declaration harmless. 1 3. On page 15, starting on line 10, delete the following sentence, including the footnote: Finally, the jury apparently deliberated for three days before reaching a verdict,5 which indicates a substantial probability that the improperly admitted evidence was crucial in reaching a verdict in a close case. (See People v. Cardenas (1982) 31 Cal.3d 897, 907.) There is no change in the judgment. Respondent s petition for rehearing is denied. 5 Although the record is not entirely clear in this regard (see reporter s transcript at pages 989, 1041-1043), the Attorney General does not dispute defendant s statement in his opening brief that deliberations lasted for three days. 2 Superior Court of Humboldt County, No. CR013978, John T. Feeney, Judge. COUNSEL J. Frank McCabe, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. Bill Lockyer, Attorney General, Robert R. Anderson, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Stan Helfman, Sharon G. Birenbaum, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent. A101223 3

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.