California v. Almanza
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A jury convicted Christian Almanza of first degree murder and assault with a firearm. The jury found gang enhancement allegations true on both counts. On the murder charge, the jury found a principal personally and intentionally discharged a firearm causing death. The trial court found Almanza suffered two prior strike convictions within the meaning of the three strikes law. The trial court sentenced Almanza to an aggregate term of 137 years to life, including 25 years to life for the firearm enhancement imposed pursuant to Penal Code section 12022.53(d). The court stayed two other firearm enhancements. The California Supreme Court granted review of the Court of Appeal's opinion affirming the judgment and remanded the matter to the appellate court with directions to vacate its opinion and reconsider the cause in light of Senate Bill No. 620. In October 2017, the Governor signed SB No. 620 into law, effective January 1, 2018, amending subdivision (h) of section 12022.53. The amended subdivision provides: “The court may, in the interest of justice pursuant to Section 1385 and at the time of sentencing, strike or dismiss an enhancement otherwise required to be imposed by this section. The authority provided by this subdivision applies to any resentencing that may occur pursuant to any other law.” When the retroactive application of a statute gives a trial court discretion to reconsider imposing a lower sentence than one previously imposed, it is customary for an appellate court to remand the case to the trial court. The State conceded SB No. 620 applied retroactively. However, the State argued remand to the trial court was not appropriate under the facts of this case because the record showed the trial court “would not . . . have exercised its discretion to lessen the sentence.” The Court of Appeal agreed with the State: "there is no reasonable probability the trial court would exercise its discretion in favor of Almanza. A jury convicted Almanza of a cold-blooded, premeditated murder committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang. His record includes two prior strikes and a prior prison term. If the trial court were inclined to be lenient, it would have made the sentence for assault concurrent with the sentence for murder."
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Filed 4/9/18; Opinion Following Rehearing CERTIFIED FOR PARTIAL PUBLICATION * IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT DIVISION SIX THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. CHRISTIAN ALMANZA, 2d Crim. No. B270903 (Super. Ct. No. BA425421-02) (Los Angeles County) OPINION FOLLOWING REHEARING Defendant and Appellant. When the retroactive application of a statute gives a trial court discretion to reconsider imposing a lower sentence than one previously imposed, it is customary for an appellate court to remand the case to the trial court. But not always. A jury convicted Christian Almanza of first degree murder (Pen. Code, §§ 187, subd. (a), 189) 1 and assault with a firearm (§ 245, subd. (b)). The jury found gang enhancement allegations true on both counts. (§ 186.22, subd. (b)(1)(C).) On the murder charge, the jury found a principal personally and intentionally Pursuant to California Rules of Court, rules 8.1100 and 8.1110, this opinion is certified for partial publication. The portions of this opinion to be deleted from publication are identified as those portions between double brackets, e.g., [[/]]. * 1 All statutory references are to the Penal Code. discharged a firearm causing death. (§ 12022.53, subd. (d).) The trial court found Almanza suffered two prior strike convictions within the meaning of the three strikes law (§ 667, subds. (a)-(i)) and one prior prison term (§ 667.5, subd. (b)). The trial court sentenced Almanza to an aggregate term of 137 years to life, including 25 years to life for the firearm enhancement imposed pursuant to section 12022.53, subdivision (d). The court stayed two other firearm enhancements (§ 12022.53, subd. (b) & (c)) pursuant to section 654. Our Supreme Court granted review of our opinion affirming the judgment (People v. Almanza (Sept. 12, 2017, B270903) [nonpub. opn.]) and remanded the matter to us with directions to vacate our opinion and reconsider the cause in light of Senate Bill No. 620. (People v. Almanza (Nov. 29, 2017, S244789).) We affirm. We do not remand to the trial court. To do so would be an idle act. FACTS Robert Hernandez and his brother, Jesus, were members of the Big Hazard criminal street gang. Jesus got into a dispute with a Big Hazard “shot-caller,” Robert Gonzalez. As a result, Jesus shot and killed Gonzalez. The Big Hazard leadership gave a “green light” to kill Jesus and members of his family, including Hernandez. A Big Hazard member who fails to carry out a green light is subject to discipline for failure to follow orders. Almanza was a Big Hazard gang member. On May 3, 2014, he was at a barbeque attended by other members of his gang. Hernandez and Anthony Rivas were at the barbeque. Almanza gave Hernandez money to buy beer and Hernandez left for the store. While Hernandez was gone, Almanza received a phone call from gang leader Victor “Grizzly” Barrios, advising him that 2 Hernandez was in trouble with the gang. Barrios said that Hernandez had pulled a gun on another Big Hazard member for writing graffiti on a wall. Almanza and Rivas left the barbeque to confront Hernandez at the store. On the way, they stopped by Rivas’s house and picked up a .38 handgun. When they arrived at the store, Almanza went inside to see if Hernandez was there. Almanza saw Hernandez and spoke to him briefly. Almanza left the store with Hernandez behind him. When Hernandez came into the store’s parking lot, Rivas shot Hernandez twice, killing him. A bystander, Americo Beltran, was struck in the thigh by a stray bullet. Rivas gave the gun to Almanza. Almanza took the gun to another gang member’s house where he left it. Surveillance Videos Surveillance cameras in and outside the store captured the following: Almanza and Rivas were walking toward the store. Rivas was several seconds behind Almanza. Rivas appeared to be holding a shiny object in his hand. Almanza approached the entrance to the store and looked around before entering. He spoke briefly with Hernandez in the store. Almanza walked out of the store with Hernandez immediately behind him. In the meantime, Rivas entered the store’s parking lot. Rivas made a gesture with his hand that Officer Alejandro Feria opined was consistent with someone racking a handgun, but a handgun could not be discerned from the video. Rivas stepped out of the video before the shots were fired. Hernandez fell to the ground. Almanza ran away from the store with a shiny object in his hand. 3 Cell Phone Texts On May 3, between 11:02 p.m. and 11:44 p.m., Almanza made outgoing calls to Barrios, the gang leader who warned him about Hernandez. On May 4, starting at 12:36 a.m., Almanza received text messages stating: “Oh my God. Why? You are so dumb. Leave. Hide. Are you okay? Where are you?” Almanza responded, “I just hope they don’t have me on camera” and “I’m sorry Gorda.” At 3:49 a.m., Almanza sent a text message, “I’m good so far, but if I do get busted, tell Diana.” Later Almanza texted, “I fudge [sic] up. And what can I do? Just hope everything goes good.” At 6:32 a.m., Almanza texted the same person, “Still here . . . . Me and [Rivas] drinking. LOL.” The person responded, “It’s going to get hot out there, babe.” At 1:11 p.m., Almanza texted, “Babe, just got a call. The video blank. They didn’t see me. Thank God.” Six minutes later Almanza texted, “Gorda. The video at the store was blank. I’m okay. I’m not on it. Thank God.” On May 11, at 9:58 a.m., Almanza texted, “I did some shit that I got to get out of here. I’m just waiting to do one big transa [sic] and I’m gone.” Two minutes later Almanza texted, “Nobody knows I’m leaving for good, but I’m just gonna ask you once. You wanna leave with me, but nobody could know. R-E-A I’m serious.” Gang Testimony Los Angeles Police Officer Brian Cook testified as a gang expert. The Big Hazard and the Krazy Ass Mexican gangs were his primary responsibility. The Big Hazard gang has approximately 360 members. Cook has met more than 80 of them. 4 Big Hazard’s primary activities include murder, attempted murder, voluntary manslaughter, assault with deadly weapons, robbery, burglary, felony vandalism and criminal threats. The gang also is involved in narcotics sales. Cook testified that Rivas is a Big Hazard gang member. Cook has not personally met Rivas. But Cook identified Big Hazard gang tattoos in a photograph of Rivas. Cook testified that Almanza is also a gang member. Cook has had numerous personal contacts with Almanza. Almanza admitted to Cook that he is a Big Hazard gang member. He has gang tattoos. Cook testified that Hernandez was a member of the Big Hazard gang. Cook did not know Hernandez personally, but saw his body at the crime scene. Hernandez’s body had Big Hazard tattoos. The prosecution gave Cook a hypothetical based on the facts of the case. Cook opined the shooting was done for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a criminal street gang. The prosecution introduced evidence of three predicate offenses. A certified court docket showed Ryan Zepeda was convicted of two counts of attempted murder with a gang enhancement. Cook testified he had numerous personal interactions with Zepeda during which he admitted his membership in the Big Hazard gang. Hernandez’s brother, Jesus, was convicted of the murder of Robert Gonzalez, the murder that led to the Hernandez family being “green lighted.” Cook’s knowledge of the murder was based on investigative reports and discussions with the investigator and prosecutor. 5 Cook testified he personally knew Victor Barrios and knew him to be a member of the Big Hazard gang. Later in the trial Detective Miguel Barajas testified that he served a search warrant on Barrios’s residence. He found narcotics, a scale, pay and owe sheets and gang paraphernalia. Barrios was convicted of possession of narcotics for sale. Confession After the shooting, Almanza voluntarily went to the police station. He was advised of his rights and agreed to talk to the police. The interview was recorded. After giving three false statements, Almanza admitted to his involvement in the murder. DISCUSSION I Almanza contends the gang-related charges (§ 186.22, subds. (b)(1)(C)) must be reversed pursuant to People v. Sanchez (2016) 63 Cal.4th 665 (Sanchez). In Sanchez, our Supreme Court discussed the role of hearsay in gang expert testimony. Sanchez held that a gang expert may rely on hearsay in forming an opinion within his field of expertise. (Sanchez, supra, 63 Cal.4th at p. 676.) But an expert cannot relate “case-specific facts” about which he has no independent knowledge unless they are independently proven by competent evidence or are covered by a hearsay exception. (Ibid.) “Case-specific facts are those relating to the particular events and participants alleged to have been involved in the case being tried.” (Ibid.) Section 186.22, subdivision (e) requires the prosecution to prove the commission or attempted commission of at least two predicate offenses listed in that subdivision. Among the offenses listed are unlawful homicide (subd. (e)(3)) and possession of a controlled substance for sale (subd. (e)(4)). 6 A certified court docket showed Ryan Zepeda was convicted of two counts of attempted murder. Admission of such records is admissible as an exception to the hearsay rule. (Evid. Code, § 452.5, subd. (b).) Officer Cook testified he personally knows Zepeda and Zepeda admitted to him his membership in the Big Hazard gang. Detective Barajas testified that while executing a search warrant on Barrios’s residence, he found narcotics, a scale and pay and owe sheets. Barajas testified Barrios was convicted of possession of a controlled substance for sale. Given that Barajas worked the case, the reasonable conclusion is that he has personal knowledge of the conviction. Cook testified he personally knows Barrios and knows him to be a member of the Big Hazard gang. Almanza’s current charged offense constitutes a third predicate offense. (See People v. Loeun (1997) 17 Cal.4th 1, 10 [prosecution may rely on charged offense as a predicate offense].) Officer Cook’s testimony concerning the murder of Robert Gonzalez by Hernandez’s brother was based on hearsay. The testimony was inadmissible under Sanchez to prove a predicate offense, but the error is harmless by any standard. There was admissible evidence of three other predicate offenses. The prosecution needed only two. Almanza argues Cook’s hearsay testimony on the murder of Robert Gonzalez was improperly introduced to show motive. Hearsay is evidence of an out-of-court statement that “is offered to prove the truth of the matter stated.” (Evid. Code, § 1200, subd. (a).) Evidence of motive is not hearsay because it is not offered to prove the truth of the matter stated. The truth of the matter is beside the point. One can be as motivated by an untrue rumor as by a true statement. (See People v. Valdez (2011) 201 7 Cal.App.4th 1429, 1437 [evidence of statements on defendant’s social media page showing gang membership not hearsay when used to show motive for killing].) Almanza argues Cook’s identification of Rivas as a gang member was based on hearsay. This error is harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. The People’s case did not depend on the identification of Almanza’s accomplice or whether he was a member of the Big Hazard gang. Almanza argues Cook’s opinion that Almanza intended to benefit the Big Hazard gang was also hearsay. But Cook’s opinion was not hearsay because it was based on a hypothetical question. In posing the question, the prosecutor said: “In my hypothetical, two Big Hazard gang members go to the liquor store at Soto and Alcazar. And they find somebody that has been green lit by Big Hazard. One of the Big Hazard gang members goes into the store and brings this person who has a green light on him -- I’ll call that person the victim -- brings the victim outside of the store. And when he gets outside the store, another Big Hazard gang member shoots him.” Cook testified that in his opinion such a shooting would be committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang. Expert testimony based on a hypothetical is approved by Sanchez. (Sanchez, supra, 63 Cal.4th at p. 685 [a gang expert “can give an opinion based on a hypothetical including case-specific facts that are properly proven”].) Cook’s opinion that Almanza intended to benefit the gang was properly admitted into evidence. The facts of the case lead to the same conclusion. Almanza was a member of Big Hazard. Hernandez had been “green lighted” by the gang. Almanza had no personal animosity against Hernandez. They were together at a barbeque and Almanza had just given Hernandez money to buy beer. There 8 was simply no motive for the killing other than to benefit the gang. Even without Cook’s opinion testimony, the only reasonable conclusion the jury could reach is that Almanza intended to benefit the gang. II Almanza contends his confession was involuntary. Almanza voluntarily went to the police station. After being advised of his Miranda rights (Miranda v. Arizona (1966) 384 U.S. 436), he agreed to talk to the police. The interview was recorded and played for the jury. Almanza told the detectives he gave Hernandez money to buy beer. Hernandez left for the store but did not return. Almanza went to the store to get his money back. He was leaving when he heard shots. The police told Almanza the video shows he is lying. A detective said, “You’re probably not gonna go home today if you’re lying.” Then Almanza told the police that Minor shot Hernandez. Almanza denied that anybody sent him to the store to shoot Hernandez. He said he went of his own accord to get his money back. The police said Hernandez did not have any cash. He paid for the beer with a credit card. Later Almanza denied he knew who shot Hernandez. After the police questioned Almanza more, he said, “I’m fucked.” When a detective said, “Tell me what you know.” Almanza said, “Regardless, I know I’m -- I’mma stay. I’m staying.” When a detective asked why he is staying, Almanza replied, ‘Because I know I fucked up. . . . This looks all fucked up, man.” After the police again expressed doubt that Almanza was telling the truth, a detective said, ‘You tell me the right things, you’re going home.” 9 Almanza denied he knew Hernandez was going to be killed. A detective said, “Even though it makes you look bad, . . . you need to come clean. . . . Because otherwise, it doesn’t look good for you.” After Almanza acknowledged he had no choice, a detective said, “Because if you don’t, you will be fucked.” In an apparent reference to Almanza’s position as a paid police informant, a detective said that Almanza had a lot to lose, but he could still save it. A detective told Almanza, “[Y]ou’re not under arrest.” The following colloquy then took place: “[Detective:] [Y]ou got people that are gonna take care of you, you know, once all this goes down. You got more to lose than anybody. “[Almanza:] Exactly. Yes. “[Detective:] But you have an out, too. I mean, I didn’t promise you anything. “[Almanza:] Yes. “[Detective:] You know? I mean, you got your thing going. “[Almanza:] You just want what’s going on here. You want the truth from here. That’s what you want. “[Detective:] This is -- this is what you’ve been kind of paid to do the last few years of your life, you know, working with other entities that have taken care of you. And, you know, you’ve been honest up to a certain point.” Almanza continued to deny involvement in the shooting. The following colloquy took place: “[Detective:] Actually, I--I would be more worried about lying and your handlers knowing you’re lying, because are they gonna continue to help you? I don’t know. Are you ready to go out on your own[?] “[Almanza:] No. “[Detective:] [W]ith no protection? 10 “[Almanza:] No. “[Detective:] With no--I--you know, I don’t know. That’s--I would be more concerned about that. It’s up to you, man.” Almanza said that he had been lying. He said, “Little Merico,” not Minor, shot Hernandez. Almanza continued to state he had nothing to do with setting up Hernandez. Almanza also continued to deny he carried a gun away from the scene. The detectives told Almanza Little Merico could not have been the shooter. He got shot. A detective said, “If you want my help, the bullshit’s got to stop.” Later a detective said, “But you’re gonna be taken care of if you’re being honest.” After the detectives caught Almanza lying again, a detective said, “I really want you to go home tonight.” Almanza then told the detectives Rivas shot Hernandez. Almanza said that after he got the call telling him to look for Hernandez, Rivas told him he got a similar call. Rivas told Almanza he wanted to go to his house to “take a leak.” That is when Rivas got his gun. When a detective asked Almanza whether he knew Rivas had a gun, Almanza replied, “In a way, yes. In a way, no. . . . I [have] never known of him doing anything dirty from the neighborhood, sir.” Almanza said that as he was walking out of the store with Hernandez behind him, Rivas walked up and shot Hernandez. Then Rivas handed Almanza the gun, and Almanza took it to Boris’s house. Almanza filed a motion in limine to suppress the confession as involuntary. The trial court found the only statements that raised concern were the three statements made about Almanza going home if he told the truth. In denying the motion, the court noted that Almanza arrived at the interview voluntarily; the comments by detectives about going home were ambiguous; and 11 the detectives were not overbearing, rude or threatening. The court concluded Almanza’s confession was voluntary. To be admitted into evidence, a confession must be the product of an essentially free and unconstrained choice. (People v. Jones (1998) 17 Cal.4th 279, 296.) The prosecution has the burden of showing that the statements were voluntary by a preponderance of the evidence. (Ibid.) The trial court’s determination whether coercive police activity was present, whether certain police conduct constituted a promise, whether the conduct operated as an inducement, as well as the ultimate issue of the voluntariness of the confession, are subject to independent review. (Ibid.) The trial court’s findings as to the circumstances of the confession, such as the characteristics of the accused and the details of the interrogation, are reviewed for substantial evidence. (Ibid.) To render a confession involuntary, there must be not only a promise or threat, expressed or implied, but also a causal connection between the promise or threat and the defendant’s statement. (People v. Perez (2016) 243 Cal.App.4th 863, 871.) The question is whether a promise or threat caused the defendant’s free will to be overborne. (People v. Tully (2012) 54 Cal.4th 952, 993.) Here detectives told Almanza three times that if he told the truth he could go home. They also told him that if he told the truth he could continue as a paid police informant. Otherwise, he would be left with no protection. Almanza’s background and sophistication possibly led the trial court to conclude the confession was voluntary. At the time of Almanza’s confession, he was 41 years old, a lieutenant in his gang, and had served a prior prison term. He also had served as 12 a paid police confidential informant for over three years prior to his arrest. A reading of the confession as a whole could well lead to the conclusion that Almanza confessed, not because of promises, but because he knew the police had the evidence against him. Each time he lied, the police confronted him with the surveillance video or other objective evidence showing he lied. In any event, any error in admitting the confession is harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Almanza appeared on a surveillance video in the commission of the crime and later sent text messages admitting his complicity. Under the circumstances, a confession is superfluous. III Almanza contends the trial court erred in denying his request for an instruction on voluntary intoxication. The People’s theory at trial was that Almanza was not the shooter but an aider and abettor. Both aiding and abetting and the gang allegation require specific intent. (See People v. Mendoza (1998) 18 Cal.4th 1114, 1131; People v. Albillar (2010) 51 Cal.4th 47, 67.) Evidence of voluntary intoxication is admissible on whether the defendant actually formed a required specific intent. (§ 29.4, subd. (b).) Almanza points to evidence that he had been drinking before the shooting. In his interview with the detectives, he said he had about four 24-ounce mixed drinks at the barbeque and was drinking “some beers” at Rivas’s house. But to support a voluntary intoxication instruction, it is not enough to show evidence the defendant had been drinking. There must be substantial evidence that the effect of the drinking on the defendant’s mental state was sufficient to negate specific intent. (People v. Ramirez (1990) 50 Cal.3d 1158, 1180-1181.) 13 Here there is no such evidence. In fact, when the detectives asked Almanza whether he was drunk on the day of the shooting, he replied, “I was buzzed. Good buzz. I wasn’t ‘drunk’ drunk.” When a detective said, “But you’re not drunk where you’re doing stupid shit.” Almanza replied, “Oh, hell no. Hell no. No. . . . I’m in control.” IV Almanza contends the trial court erred in not ordering joint and several liability with Rivas for victim restitution. The trial court ordered Almanza to pay $10,819.50 in victim restitution, but did not include Rivas in the order. Rivas was convicted of the same matter in a separate trial. But Almanza cites no authority giving the trial court jurisdiction to impose restitution on a person who is not a party to the proceeding. Rivas was a party to a different proceeding. In People v. Leon (2004) 124 Cal.App.4th 620, on which Almanza relies, the court imposed restitution on codefendants. Here Rivas was not a codefendant. Almanza was the only defendant in this proceeding.]] V On October 11, 2017, the Governor signed Senate Bill No. 620 into law, effective January 1, 2018. The bill amends subdivision (h) of section 12022.53. The amended subdivision provides: “The court may, in the interest of justice pursuant to Section 1385 and at the time of sentencing, strike or dismiss an enhancement otherwise required to be imposed by this section. The authority provided by this subdivision applies to any resentencing that may occur pursuant to any other law.” (§ 12022.53, subd. (h), as amended by Stats. 2017, ch. 682, § 2.) The People concede that Senate Bill No. 620, as a statute that gives the trial court discretion to impose a lower sentence, 14 applies retroactively. (People v. Francis (1969) 71 Cal.2d 66, 7576.) The People argue, however, that remand to the trial court is not appropriate under the facts of this case because the record shows the trial court “would not . . . have exercised its discretion to lessen the sentence.” (People v. Gutierrez (1996) 48 Cal.App.4th 1894, 1896.) The People point out that the trial court could have imposed concurrent sentences for murder and assault with a firearm. Instead, the court imposed consecutive sentences. Thus, the People conclude the court exhibited no desire to be lenient with Almanza. Almanza argues that it would not be a per se abuse of discretion to strike the firearm enhancements. But the question is not whether it would be a per se abuse of discretion. Instead, the question is whether there is any reasonable probability the trial court would exercise its discretion to strike the enhancements so as to justify remanding the matter. Almanza cites the concurring opinion of Mosk, J. in People v. Deloza (1998) 18 Cal.4th 585, 601. The concurring opinion states that a sentence of 111 years is shocking and absurd and serves no rational legislative purpose. Justice Mosk recommended the Legislature convert multicentury sentences to life or even life without the possibility of parole. (Id. at p. 602.) Even if the trial court here were to strike all of the firearm enhancements, it would reduce Almanza’s minimum term from 137 years to 112 years. A 137-year minimum term is no more or less absurd than a 112-year minimum term. Justice Mosk makes a cogent point. (People v. Deloza, supra, 18 Cal.4th at pp. 600602.) Nevertheless, Deloza does not hold that century-plus sentences are unconstitutional. 15 We agree with the People. There is no reasonable probability the trial court would exercise its discretion in favor of Almanza. A jury convicted Almanza of a cold-blooded, premeditated murder committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang. His record includes two prior strikes and a prior prison term. If the trial court were inclined to be lenient, it would have made the sentence for assault concurrent with the sentence for murder. (People v. Gamble (2008) 164 Cal.App.4th 891, 901 [idle act to remand where record demonstrates trial court would not have exercised discretion even if it believed it could do so]; see also People v. Gutierrez (1996) 48 Cal.App.4th 1894, 1896; People v. Bravot (1986) 183 Cal.App.3d 93, 98.) The judgment is affirmed. CERTIFIED FOR PARTIAL PUBLICATION. GILBERT, P. J. We concur: YEGAN, J. TANGEMAN, J. 16 William N. Sterling, Judge Superior Court County of Los Angeles ______________________________ Susan K. Shaler, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. Xavier Becerra, Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Scott A. Taryle, Supervising Deputy Attorney General, Timothy L. O'Hair, Deputy Attorney General, for Plaintiff and Respondent. 17
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