P. v. Morrison

Filed 3/13/09 P. v. Morrison CA5
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
THE PEOPLE,
Plaintiff and Respondent,
v.
DAVID WAYNE MORRISON et al.,
Defendants and Appellants.
F052296
(Super. Ct. No. 1063489)
OPINION
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Stanislaus County. Ricardo
Cordova, Judge.
Jerry D. Whatley, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant David Wayne Morrison.
Kyle Gee, under appointment by the court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant
Anthony Lawrence Martinez.
John Steinberg, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant David Anthony Silva.
Edmund G. Brown, Jr., Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Chief Assistant
Attorney General, Michael P. Farrell, Assistant Attorney General, Stephen G. Herndon
and Susan J. Orton, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

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-ooOoo-
Following a series of violent home-invasion robberies, David Wayne Morrison,
Anthony Lawrence Martinez, and David Anthony Silva (Morrison, Martinez, and Silva,
respectively; collectively, defendants) were charged, by amended indictment filed in
Stanislaus County Superior Court, with 19 counts of residential robbery in concert,
involving the personal use of a firearm and committed for the benefit of or in association
with a criminal street gang (Pen. Code,1 §§ 186.22, subd. (b)(1), 212.5, subd. (a), 213,
12022.53, subd. (b); counts 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 24, 25, 32, 33,
34); two counts of attempted residential robbery in concert, involving the personal use of
a firearm and committed for the benefit of or in association with a criminal street gang
(§§ 186.22, subd. (b)(1), 212.5, subd. (a), 213, 664, 12022.53, subd. (b); counts 6, 7); one
count of attempted residential robbery in concert, involving the personal discharge of a
firearm and personal infliction of great bodily injury, and committed for the benefit of or
in association with a criminal street gang (§§ 186.22, subd. (b)(1), 212.5, subd. (a), 213,
664, 12022.53, subd. (d), 12022.7, subd. (a); count 31); three counts of sexual penetration
with a foreign object, involving the personal use of a firearm and tying or binding of the
victim, and committed against more than one victim (§§ 289, subd. (a)(1), 667.61, subds.
(a) & (e), 12022.53, subd. (b); counts 4, 28, 29); four counts of assault by means of force
likely to produce great bodily injury, committed for the benefit of or in association with a
criminal street gang (§§ 186.22, subd. (b)(1), 245, subd. (a)(1); counts 8, 9, 14, 35); two
counts of assault with a firearm, involving the personal use of a firearm and committed
for the benefit of or in association with a criminal street gang (§§ 186.22, subd. (b)(1),
245, subd. (a)(2), 12022.5, subd. (a); count 20, 23); three counts of kidnapping for
robbery, involving the personal use of a firearm (§§ 209, subd. (b), 12022.53, subd. (b);
counts 22, 26, 27); one count of attempted premeditated murder, involving the personal
1 All statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise stated.

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discharge of a firearm and infliction of great bodily injury, and committed for the benefit
of or in association with a criminal street gang (§§ 186.22, subd. (b)(1), 187, 664,
12022.53, subd. (d), 12022.7, subd. (a); count 30); two counts of attempted murder of a
peace officer, involving the personal discharge of a firearm and committed for the benefit
of or in association with a criminal street gang (§§ 186.22, subd. (b)(1), 187, 664, subd.
(e), 12022.53, subd. (c); counts 36, 37); and one count of conspiracy to commit first
degree robbery (§§ 182, 212.5, subd. (a); count 38). In addition, Silva was charged with
being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm (§ 12021, subd. (a); count 39), and was
alleged to have been previously convicted of a serious felony (§ 667, subds. (a)) that was
also a strike (id., subd. (d)), and for which he served a prison term (§ 667.5, subd. (b)).
Near the outset of trial, Silva pled no contest to count 39. A jury subsequently
convicted appellants of all charged offenses, but reached differing verdicts, or were
unable to reach verdicts, on the various enhancement allegations, as follows:
Martinez: The jury found the firearm use allegation true with respect to counts 15,
21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 32, 33, and 34, but failed to reach a verdict on the
allegation with respect to counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20.
The jury found true the firearm discharge and great bodily injury allegations with respect
to counts 30 and 31, as well as the premeditation allegation with respect to count 30, but
not true the firearm discharge allegations with respect to counts 36 and 37. The jury also
found true the tying or binding and multiple victims allegations with respect to counts 4,
28, and 29.
Morrison: The jury found the firearm use allegation true with respect to counts 1,
5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 15, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 32, 33, and 34, but failed to reach a
verdict on the allegation with respect to counts 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, 16, 17, 21, 22, and 23. The
jury found not true the firearm discharge and great bodily injury allegations, and reached
no verdict on the premeditation allegation, with respect to count 30; found not true the
firearm discharge and great bodily injury allegations with respect to count 31; found not

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true the firearm discharge allegations with respect to counts 36 and 37; and found true the
tying or binding and multiple victims allegations with respect to counts 4, 28, and 29.
Silva: The jury found the firearm use allegation true with respect to counts 2, 3, 4,
12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 32, 33, and 34, but failed
to reach a verdict on the allegation with respect to counts 1, 5, 6, 7, 10, and 11. The jury
further found true the firearm discharge allegations with respect to counts 30, 31, 36, and
37; the great bodily injury allegations with respect to counts 30 and 31; the premeditation
allegation with respect to count 30; and the tying or binding and multiple victims
allegations with respect to counts 4, 28, and 29.
A mistrial was declared with respect to the allegations as to which the jury could
not reach a verdict. Following a bifurcated court trial, Silva‟s prior conviction and prison
term allegations were found to be true, but the criminal street gang allegations were
found not true with respect to all counts and all defendants. Upon defendants‟ motion for
a new trial, the trial court found insufficient evidence to sustain the jury‟s true findings,
as to Silva and Morrison, with respect to the firearm enhancements on counts 18, 19, and
20.
Each defendant was sentenced to prison for a determinate term exceeding 100
years in length plus multiple consecutive life terms, and was ordered to pay restitution
and various fees and fines. All filed timely notices of appeal and now raise numerous
claims of trial and sentencing error.2 For the reasons that follow, we will modify the
judgment as to each defendant and remand for resentencing.
2 David Michael Silva was charged in various counts of the amended indictment and
apparently entered into a plea agreement whereby he was sentenced to prison. His case is
not before us. Darlene Renee Fouse (Fouse) was charged in counts 32 through 38 of the
amended indictment, jointly tried with defendants, and convicted as charged. Her appeal
is before this court in case No. F050427. She has joined in certain of the issues raised in
this appeal, and defendants have joined in some of the issues raised by [fn. contd.]

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FACTS
Count 1 – May 25, 2003
Shortly after midnight on May 25, 2003, Keyes resident Jimmy Lasater awoke to
discover two men standing inside his house, about four feet from him, with guns pointed
at his head. One gun looked like a chrome or light-colored snub-nose .38 revolver. The
men were wearing ski masks, dark jackets, and what appeared to be leather gloves. They
threw Lasater‟s pajama bottoms at him and told him to put them over his face, then
pushed him to the floor and tied his hands behind his back with a rope that had been in
one of the bedrooms. The pair then took everything out of Lasater‟s pockets and began
ransacking the house. While this was going on, Lasater could hear two male voices.
There was also a third robber in his bedroom, but, because this person whispered, Lasater
could not determine whether the individual was male or female.
The robbers asked Lasater where his guns were, and one wanted to know which
key went to the safe in Lasater‟s bedroom. They took the cash from Lasater‟s wallet,
$6,000 to $10,000 from the safe, all of Lasater‟s approximately 10 firearms, and various
the person who asked about the key to the safe later asked about the keys to Lasater‟s
Camaro, the vehicle was not taken. At some point, the robbers called Lasater by his first
her in her appeal. They have also joined in some of each other‟s issues. (Cal. Rules of
Court, rule 8.200(a)(5).)
Morrison‟s, Martinez‟s, and Fouse‟s appellate counsel have specified the precise
issues in which they are joining, whereas counsel for Silva has simply joined the
contentions raised by the others “insofar as they are applicable to” Silva. Although we
will not penalize Silva for this, counsel should keep in mind that it is not this court‟s job
to determine which issues and arguments apply to his client and how, nor will we search
the record for those portions applicable to his client as opposed to another party. (Cf.
Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.204(a)(1)(C).)

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name, and said they were not going to bother his cars, because he was cooperating and
they knew he was going to hand them on down to his grandchildren.3
Lasater estimated the intruders were in his house about an hour and a half to two
hours. He did not recognize them or anything about their voices, except that they
sounded Hispanic to him. Authorities recovered one of his guns, a Browning nine-
millimeter semiautomatic, following the arrests in this case.
Counts 2-4 – June 26, 2003
In June 2003, P.S. and his wife, Jane Doe One, owned two businesses in Turlock.
At approximately 12:30 a.m. on June 26, the two were asleep in their Turlock residence
when they were awakened by a loud noise and the sound of glass. Upon getting out of
bed, Jane Doe One discovered that the living room door was broken in two, and there
were footsteps and four or five flashlight beams coming toward her. She and P.S. tried to
close and lock the bedroom door, but the intruders broke through. All were dressed in ski
masks, dark clothing and gloves. One‟s gun was touching Jane Doe One‟s forehead. She
believed there were four or five intruders, all with guns and flashlights; P.S. believed
there were two hands and two guns, one of which was silver-colored and did not have a
cylinder.
Two people came into the bedroom. One briefly shined the flashlight in Jane Doe
One‟s eyes, blinding her, and told her to look away. She complied, and was told to get
down on the floor. When she did so, one of the intruders tied her hands with cords cut
from electrical appliances in the bedroom, while another intruder tied her legs at the
ankles. At one point, she was touched on her side with a sharp object. The first intruder
took her diamond wedding ring from her finger.
3 Lasater, who was retired but built hot rods for himself, had a number of his hot
rods parked outside his house.

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P.S. was also told to get down on the ground, which he did. Electrical cords were
used to tie his hands behind his back and bind his legs near the ankles. One of the
intruders said, “„You know why we‟re here.‟” The voices were male, but P.S. could not
see anyone because a blanket was thrown over his upper body. He could hear things
being taken out of the dressers, as well as people going in and out of the room. Although
he never actually saw anyone, he heard two male voices in the bedroom, as well as
footsteps elsewhere in the house. He did not notice anything unusual about the voices,
but Jane Doe One believed the intruders possibly were African-American. She based this
on their accents and voices, as she saw no skin.
After perhaps 10 or 15 minutes, someone pressed down on P.S. with a knee and
showed him a bank deposit bag for one of the businesses, wanting to know what it was.
Shortly after, something was pushed down against P.S.‟s cheek, causing him to scream in
pain. He was then asked where the receipts and valuables were. P.S. answered, but the
intruder kept pressing the object against his left eye area and causing him to scream.
When the man asked why he should stop doing what he was doing, P.S. insisted he had
told the truth about all the places he had money.
After some time passed during which the intruder apparently moved away from
P.S., one of the assailants returned and pulled down the boxer shorts P.S. was wearing.
Someone grabbed his penis, held the sharp object against it, and threatened to cut it off.
When P.S. screamed, he was told to be quiet or the children would wake up. Then the
person stopped and said, “„Your wife is so beautiful. Let me see how much you love
your wife.‟”
Jane Doe One, who had had her head covered with a towel or other heavy
material, could hear the exchange between the intruder and her husband. The intruder
then came to her, pulled off her pajamas, and began touching her hips. She struggled; he
held her down with his leg and penetrated her vagina twice with his finger. After he
stopped touching her, he said she was beautiful. He then returned to P.S. and again

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demanded money. While this was going on, Jane Doe One could hear another person in
the room, taking things from the closet.
All told, the intruders were in the home approximately an hour to an hour and a
half. They ransacked the house, cutting open furniture and pulling up part of the rug.
They took jewelry, identification, credit cards, a digital camcorder, approximately $2,000
in cash, and one of the couple‟s cars. They cut the home telephone line and took the
couple‟s cell phones.
Authorities found footprints in the orchard across the street from the residence,
and tire marks going eastbound. The couple‟s vehicle was found later that morning about
a quarter to a half mile east of the residence. The couple‟s camcorder was recovered
from Silva‟s residence after the arrests in this case, and he was shown on the videotape it
contained.
Counts 5-9 – July 15, 2003
At approximately 4:30 a.m. on July 15, 2003, four intruders, each with a flashlight
and two with guns, broke through the front door of the Modesto residence shared by
Ramon Mechuca, Francisco Hernandez, and Jose Hernandez. One of the guns was
pointed toward Mechuca‟s forehead; it was black and the front part was “kind of
squarish.” Francisco Hernandez tried to escape through a window, but one of the
rabbed him and threatened to kill him if he did not get down on the floor and pay
attention. Mechuca, who was facedown on an air mattress, had his wrists and ankles
bound almost immediately with black plastic ties. A blanket was pulled over his head.
Francisco Hernandez was also tied up and placed next to Mechuca, and his head was
covered with the same blanket.
One of the intruders, who spoke broken Spanish to Mechuca and the Hernandezes,
demanded to know where the money and drugs were. When Mechuca said they had no
drugs, the intruder threatened to start cutting them and then said some things in English,
which Mechuca did not understand, to another person. Mechuca told them where his

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wallet was; they took the approximately $38 it contained and a silver ring Mechuca was
wearing, and broke the men‟s cell phone. They also beat Francisco Hernandez, causing
the blanket to come off Mechuca‟s head and allowing him to see Morrison‟s now-
uncovered face.4 Morrison said, “„He saw my face,‟” and “„Let‟s kill him.‟” The blanket
was placed over Mechuca again, and he was hit in the head and kicked in the ribs. He
pretended to be unconscious so the intruders would not strike him anymore. Mechuca
suffered injuries to his left ear. Francisco Hernandez was beaten with a frying pan and
sustained facial injuries. The intruders overturned the couch onto Mechuca‟s and
Francisco Hernandez‟s backs and jumped up and down on it while laughing. After the
intruders removed the couch from the men, they left with Jose Hernandez, and Mechuca
could hear shouts as they beat him.
The intruders remained in the house for about an hour to an hour and 45 minutes.
After they left, Mechuca dragged himself to Jose Hernandez‟s room. Jose Hernandez,
whose hands and feet were bound, was covered with a bloody pillowcase and said he was
choking. Mechuca, who was still bound hand and foot, used his mouth to remove the
covering. He then saw that Jose Hernandez was “full of blood” and bleeding from his
head. An ambulance subsequently took Jose Hernandez to the hospital.
Counts 10-11 – July 21, 2003
Around 7:00 a.m. on July 21, 2003, Christine Baker and her husband, Richard,
were working in the walnut orchard surrounding their house in Delhi when they saw a
small, magenta-colored car go up and down the road two or three times. When the
Bakers reentered the house at 8:00 a.m., two men, each with a gun, told them to get on
the floor. When they complied, kitchen aprons were put over their heads, and their wrists
and ankles were bound with black plastic straps.
4 When the intruders first entered the home, they had their faces covered with dark
handkerchiefs. Morrison‟s was now down around his neck.

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The intruders were dressed all in black and were wearing black ski masks. At
least one was wearing what appeared to be unscuffed, black lace-up boots with ridged
soles. The intruders said that if the Bakers cooperated and stayed quiet, they would not
be hurt. Although their tone was polite, they constantly demanded the location of the
Bakers‟ money, safe (which the Bakers did not have), and other valuables.
The intruders remained in the house for 45 minutes to an hour after the Bakers
returned from the orchard. They ransacked the premises, cut the telephone lines, took
slightly more than $1,000 in cash, as well as jewelry and coins, and also took the couple‟s
car. After they left, the Bakers discovered that one of their bedroom windows was open
wider than it had been when they went to the orchard that morning, and the screen was on
the bed.
Later that day, the Bakers‟ car was found in an orchard about three miles from
their house. Other vehicle tracks less than 10 feet away ran along a canal bank on the
edge of the orchard and appeared to go northbound. Authorities recovered some of the
couple‟s belongings following the arrests in this case.
Counts 12-14 – July 24, 2003
A little before 2:00 a.m. on July 24, 2003, Cynthia and William Gibbs were in the
master bedroom of their Turlock home when they heard a loud crash and breaking glass.
As the couple exited the room, they were confronted by at least two people who shined
flashlights in their eyes, said they were the Turlock police, and ordered them to the
ground. It appeared to Ms. Gibbs that they were wearing dark clothing. At some point
during the incident, she saw a black boot that looked like a motorcycle or heavy work
boot.
When Ms. Gibbs said they were not the police and told them to get out of her
house, the intruders pushed the couple to the floor. At that point, someone was sitting on
Ms. Gibbs‟s head and her chin was on the floor. Someone turned on the lights, and she
saw a dark handgun with no cylinder lying near her face.

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As Ms. Gibbs lay facedown, a person bound her hands behind her back with a
black zip tie that was pulled extremely tight. When he moved off her head and went to
bind her feet, she called out to her children to call 911. The person then punched her and
knocked her head to the ground. A gun was put to Gibbs‟s temple, and he was told that if
his wife did not get quiet, things could get really, really bad. The hand holding the gun
was wearing what looked like a gray garden glove; the gun had a dark barrel and looked
like an automatic. Gibbs also saw a gray shoe, with the material of the upper portion in a
cross-weave pattern. Ms. Gibbs did not say anything else, and the person finished
binding her ankles and put a house dress over her head. Gibbs was also bound at the
wrists and ankles with zip ties, and a towel was placed over his head.
During the incident, Ms. Gibbs heard three voices, all of which she believed were
male.5 Sometimes the intruders referred to one another by a racially derogatory term.
Despite the use of the epithet, the intruders did not sound African-American to Ms.
Gibbs. Because of how they sounded and the racial slur, however, Gibbs thought at least
some of them might be. He heard three different male voices. One seemed to be the
leader, one seemed to be in charge of enforcement, and the third kept lookout. One was
very polite when addressing him.
The Gibbses ran a business from an office on their property, and the intruders
wanted to know where Gibbs kept the money he paid his employees. The leader used a
knife to unbind him, and he was escorted out to the office, which was off of the garage.
His head remained covered. Once inside the office, he was placed in front of the safe and
told to open it, which he did. A coin collection and .25-caliber Derringer were taken
from the safe. Gibbs was then escorted back to his previous location in the house, but
this time, his hands and feet were bound with duct tape. When Gibbs could not figure out
5 One was just mumbling, but was a low enough voice for her to believe it was
male.

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how to put his hands, the intruder he believed to be the leader told him to put them
together like he was praying.
At some point, one of the intruders entered the room of the Gibbses‟ daughter.
This person shined a flashlight in her face and demanded to know who lived in the house
and whether she had a cell phone. He had a gun that was a dark grayish color, with an
overall length of six to eight inches. She thought it may have been a revolver. He
pointed it directly at her head. Later, she was able to see that he was wearing a black ski
mask, black jeans with a silver clip on the right front pocket, a long-sleeved black shirt,
and black combat-style boots.
The Gibbses‟ daughter was restrained by the use of black zip ties around her wrists
and ankles. One person took her by the arm and walked her to her brother‟s bedroom and
put a blanket over her and her brother‟s heads. Her brother, who was also bound with zip
ties, saw that the person who restrained him had a clip for a knife in his right pocket. The
young man heard three male voices that sounded African-American. He had the
impression that one, who spoke in more of a whisper, was the leader.
The intruders remained in the home for at least two to two and a half hours.
Before they left, they put socks in the Gibbses‟ mouths and wrapped duct tape around
their heads. They also disabled the telephones. They ransacked the place and took
jewelry, a gun, other items, and the family‟s car. It was recovered later that day a short
distance away. Three distinct shoe print patterns were found in the dirt by the car, one
coming from the driver‟s side and two coming from the passenger side. The length of the
strides was consistent with someone running. The shoe impressions appeared to be fresh,
and led along a house to where it appeared, from tire tracks, that another vehicle had
parked. Similar shoe impressions were found in front of the Gibbs residence. Boots
subsequently seized from Silva could not be excluded as the source of some of the
impressions, and most likely were the source of one of the impressions.

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Ms. Gibbs sustained a cut mouth and bruises from being punched. In addition, she
had ligature marks on her wrists and ankles, numbness in her hands that lasted about six
weeks, and numbness in her legs that did not last as long. Authorities recovered some of
the family‟s belongings following the arrests in this case.
Count 15 – August 4, 2003
In August 2003, F.G. resided in Merced with her husband, Z.M., and son. She had
a small business selling jewelry to people in their homes. She kept the jewelry in a safe
in her kitchen. In late July, Morrison had twice come to the house to ask about a car F.G.
had for sale.
Around 3:30 a.m. on August 4, F.G. and her visiting sister were asleep in the
master bedroom when someone entered through the bedroom window. F.G., who saw
only one person, screamed for her husband, who was sleeping in the living room. The
intruder, who had a gun pointed at her face, told her in English to lie on the floor. The
women obeyed and the intruder bound them at the wrists with black plastic.
When Z.M. heard his wife scream, he ran toward the bedroom. He saw two
subjects, both of whom were armed and carrying flashlights. One had a black
semiautomatic; the other, a chrome revolver with a long barrel. The one with the
semiautomatic pointed it at Z.M., causing him to back out of the bedroom. The intruder
followed him out and told him to get on the ground. This man was wearing some type of
black sweater, a ski mask with holes for the eyes but not the mouth, and what looked like
work boots or hiking boots with soles that were not very thick. A short time later, the
other man also came out of the bedroom and pointed his gun at Z.M. This man was
wearing a ski mask and black clothing. One of the intruders told Z.M., in English, that if
the police arrived, the intruders would kill everyone.
The intruders placed Z.M. facedown and bound his wrists and ankles with black
plastic bands. At some point, a small bed sheet was thrown over his head. One of the
intruders took a gold ring off Z.M.‟s finger. One of them placed his knee on Z.M.‟s back,

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pressed a knife blade to the back of his neck, and demanded money. Z.M. responded that
they had no money in the house because they had been burglarized three months earlier.
The intruder began cutting Z.M.‟s neck and threatened to kill him.
At some point, a third intruder with a gun entered the house. F.G. saw that the
shoes of one intruder had a black, U-shaped design on top, toward the toe. She and Z.M.
both heard at least one use a racial slur when talking to another. Based on the eye color
and skin tones Z.M. had been able to see, as well as the one‟s terminology, Z.M. formed
the opinion that two of the intruders were Hispanic and one was African-American. The
African-American was the one with the silver revolver.
F.G. heard one of the intruders talking on what she believed was a cell phone. The
man asked, in broken Spanish, which one was the woman who was going to open the
safe. F.G. recognized the voice that replied on the cell phone and described her as being
that of a former boyfriend who knew where she lived and about her jewelry business. A
short time later, she was taken to the kitchen and struck in the face, whereupon she
opened the safe. Her face was then covered with a towel. After the intruders went
through the safe, F.G. ended up in the living room, where her breasts and vagina were
touched over her clothing. Someone tried to rip off her shorts, but desisted when she
struggled and yelled.
The intruders were in the house for about 30 minutes. They ransacked it, cut the
telephone lines, and took everything of value, including the jewelry F.G. had had in the
safe, which was worth $80,000 to $100,000. Authorities recovered some of the jewelry
following the arrests in this case. Also recovered was some of the jewelry that had been
taken in the earlier burglary, which had occurred when no one was home.
Counts 16-17 – August 7, 2003
In August 2003, Renae Frye and William Cozine lived in Turlock. They sold
small statuary and yard ornaments, some of which were kept in their front yard.

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Around 12:45 a.m. on August 7, three men, wearing ski masks with openings for
the eyes and lips, dark clothes, gloves, and black footwear, walked through the open front
door with guns drawn and ordered the couple to the floor.6 When they complied, Frye
was told to put her hands behind her like she was praying. The intruders tied their wrists
and ankles with large black zip ties, and covered Frye‟s face with a towel she had had on
her hair and Cozine‟s head with a blanket that had been on the couch. They pepper-
sprayed Frye‟s small dog when it became aggressive, and demanded to know where the
drugs were. The couple, who had no drugs, told the intruders they were at the wrong
house. The men then started asking for “big money.”7 After Cozine replied that it was in
the bank, one of the intruders had Frye open the safe.
Frye neither heard a car arrive at the residence before the robbery nor leave the
residence afterward. The only voices she heard during the incident were male. Although
she was so frightened that she could not tell whether any of the voices had what might be
termed an ethnic accent, for some reasons she thought the intruders were Spanish. The
intruders were polite when addressing her and Cozine, but called each other slang and
racially derogatory names.
The intruders were in the house for 45 minutes to an hour, during which time they
ransacked the premises and cut the main telephone line. They took jewelry, $8,000 to
$12,000 in cash that was kept in various locations throughout the house, and the couple‟s
cell phones.8 Authorities recovered the cell phones following the arrests in this case.
6 All the intruders had guns. The one pointed at Frye was eight to 10 inches long,
black, and probably a pistol. Frye saw one pair of boots and one pair of shoes. Both
were black.
7 When Frye was interviewed by Detective Campbell later the same day, she related
that one of the intruders asked where the $30,000 was.
8 Ironically, there was $30,000 more in the house that the intruders did not find.

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16.
Counts 18-20 – August 11, 2003
In August 2003, Vicki and Kenneth Myers resided in Delhi. Although the couple
owned a Laundromat and a ministorage facility in town, neither was operated out of their
home.
At around 3:00 a.m. on August 11, at least three men broke open the front door to
the house. At least two had guns; all were wearing dark clothing and had their heads
covered. Two shined flashlights in the couple‟s faces, and one put a gun to Myers‟s face.
The intruders immediately told Ms. Myers to put her hands behind her back like
she was praying. When one of her small dogs became aggressive, the intruders sprayed
something at it and it fled. The intruders then covered Ms. Myers‟s head with her
bedspread and used black zip ties to bind her wrists and ankles. Two of the intruders
took hold of Myers and told him to turn over on his stomach and put his hands behind his
back like he was praying. One struck him in the back of the head a couple of times with
what felt like a fist, while the other restrained his wrists and ankles with black zip ties.
His head was then covered with his blankets. Myers was able to see that at least one of
the intruders was wearing black lace-up boots, while one had a black and green
camouflage scarf wrapped around his face and a black baseball-type cap with the bill
facing backwards. At some point, Myers observed that another was wearing a white
tennis shoe with a black stripe and a red stripe running horizontally the length of the side
of the shoe.
The intruders asked where the jewelry, money, and valuables were. They also
wanted information about the couple‟s businesses, and threatened to hurt the Myerses‟
daughter, whom they knew lived at the ministorage facility. They also appeared to know
the receipts for the ministorage were deposited on Mondays.
At one point, one of the intruders cut Ms. Myers‟s finger to the bone, apparently
accidentally, when repositioning her bound hands. One of the intruders threw the blanket

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off of her body, leaving her head covered, then jerked her panties as if he was going to
pull them down. He stopped, however, and covered her back up.
Myers could hear the intruders ransacking the bedroom. When they found the safe
in the closet, they put Myers on his knees, put a gun to the back of his head, and clicked
the gun twice. He told his wife that they were going to kill him and that he loved her; she
begged them not to do it. They then forced Myers to open the safe, after which one of
them kicked Myers in the back a few times with what felt like a boot. The man kicking
Myers told him, “„Just remember that all black people aren‟t bad.‟” Although the
intruders referred to one by a racial slur when addressing each other, they did not sound
African-American to the couple.
The intruders remained in the house for approximately 45 minutes. They cut the
telephone lines to the residence, and took jewelry, money, a rifle and a side-by-side
Browning 12-gauge shotgun, and a cell phone. It was subsequently discovered that
someone apparently had parked in the orchard beyond the fence near the southwest
corner of the property. There were a number of shoe prints in the area. Very shortly after
the incident ended, Myers saw a car driving across the back of the property on the
frontage road. Because it was still dark out, he could not ascertain its color or identify it
in any way.
The following day, Ms. Myers saw a newspaper article about another home
invasion. Anyone with information was asked to call Detective Campbell of the
Stanislaus County Sheriff‟s Department. Ms. Myers called the number given to inform
Campbell that such things were also occurring in Merced County. Authorities recovered
some of the Myerses‟ belongings following the arrests in this case.
Counts 21-23 – August 11, 2003
In August 2003, Steve Christy resided in Hughson. He managed Modesto Farmers
Market and 16 acres of grapes adjacent to his property. His house had an alarm system,
but it was not connected to the sheriff‟s department or other agency.

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At approximately 4:30 a.m. on August 11, he was awakened by what sounded like
an explosion and the alarm going off. As he ran toward the front door, he saw three
people who had broken down the door and were entering the house. The intruders each
shined a flashlight in his eyes and pointed a gun at his head and told him to turn off the
alarm. The intruders all wore dark or black coveralls, dark masks with holes for the eyes
and mouths, and plain dark gloves. One was wearing white tennis shoes with a little bit
of blue on them.
Once Christy turned off the alarm, the three ordered him back into the bedroom,
told him to put his palms together, restrained his wrists with a plastic zip tie so tightly
that his hands began to swell, and placed him facedown on the floor next to the bed. A
towel was placed over his head.
Christy did not hear the intruders talk to each other. Instead, one particular
intruder did all the talking to Christy. This man spoke politely in a low tone of voice, and
asked where the money was. When Christy told him, he asked for the safe. When
Christy truthfully responded several times that he did not have one, a foot or a hand was
placed on the back of his neck, something was pointed at the back of his head, and the
intruder again asked where the safe was and said he would “„blow [Christy‟s] brains
out.‟” Christy heard a click from the gun behind his head, then the intruder who was
talking to him told him to get up. They then went out to Christy‟s shop, which was about
100 feet from the main house.
Once inside the shop, the one intruder again asked the location of the safe.
Someone started looking through the shop, while another intruder struck Christy near his
right kidney with what felt like a fist, knocking him unconscious. When he regained his
senses, one of the intruders helped him back into the house.
All told, the intruders were at the house around an hour to an hour and a half.
They ransacked the premises, cut the telephone line to the house, and took jewelry
belonging to Christy‟s late wife, about $300 from his wallet and $990 in cash that had

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come from the farmers market, a Browning 12-gauge shotgun and a .38-caliber revolver,
and some other items.
Boots seized from Silva could not be excluded as the source of a shoe print found
on the dirt road leading from the house next to the Christy residence. Authorities
recovered Christy‟s shotgun and some of his other belongings following the arrests in this
case.
Counts 24-29 – August 12-13, 2003
In August 2003, Jane Doe Two, her husband M.J., and their two children, T. and
M., both of whom were young adults, resided Ceres.9 The family owned two businesses,
one in Oakdale and the other a limousine service that they ran from an office situated
between their house and shop.
At approximately 3:30 a.m. on August 12 or 13,10 M. was in the family room,
awake, when he heard the outside door in his bedroom open, then saw some flashlights
and three people. He pretended to be asleep, but one of the intruders came over to him,
said he had been watching and knew he was not asleep, and told him to get up. M. was
then struck on the back of his head with something hard and went to the floor.
Another intruder, who had a gun and was dressed all in black, went to the master
bedroom, where Jane Doe Two and M.J. were sleeping. Jane Doe Two, who was dressed
in her bra and underwear, was awakened by the intruder shining a flashlight in her eyes
and telling the couple to get out of bed. When M.J. turned, the man hit him over the head
with a gun, drawing blood, and then put the weapon to M.J.‟s head. Towels were placed
9 Jane Does One and Two were given those appellations because they requested
nondisclosure of their names pursuant to section 293. At sentencing, the trial court was
informed that Jane Doe Two henceforth wished to be known by her true name. Given
this court‟s policy of protective nondisclosure and the fact she is referred to as “Jane Doe
Two” throughout the trial, we continue to use that designation for her.
10 The exact date of the incident is not clear from the record.

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over the couple‟s heads, and they were led to the room where M. was. As she passed the
room of T., who was seven and a half months pregnant, Jane Doe Two looked in and saw
another intruder, also dressed completely in black, getting the young woman out of bed.
This person had a flashlight and a gun. All told, there were three intruders in the home;
all wore black boots and full masks over their heads. The masks had eye holes.11 Jane
Doe Two heard only male voices.
Once in the living room, Jane Doe Two sat down on the floor. Her son was going
to the floor as a man hit him on the head with a handgun. The intruders then threw a
blanket over him. M.J. was also in the living room, and then T. was brought in. T. lay on
the floor as she was told, then a gun was placed to her temple and she was told that if she
moved, the intruder – who used a racial slur in referring to her – would shoot her.12 A
blanket was placed over her head and her wrists and ankles were bound with phone cord
wire. M. was also bound with some sort of wire at the ankles and wrists. During the
incident, T. saw two guns, both handguns. M. also saw two guns, at least one of which
was a handgun.
Jane Doe Two was situated facedown on the living room floor. She was bound at
the wrists and ankles with telephone cords and her head was covered. Someone ripped
two rings from her fingers. Although Jane Doe Two was unsure whether this person was
wearing gloves, she believed, based on his accent, that the man who was with her most of
the night was Hispanic. One of the intruders, who was wearing gloves, took M.J.‟s
wedding ring.
11 According to T., the subject who awakened her was wearing all dark clothing, a
mask, and a black bandanna with white designs covering his face.
12 Because of the use of the racial epithet and the way some of the intruders talked,
T. formed the opinion they were African-American or Hispanic.

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M.J. was facedown on the floor. His wrists were bound with electrical cords from
appliances in the house and his head was covered with something. One of the intruders
wanted to know the location of the money and valuables. Someone held a gun to M.J.‟s
head and said they would blow it off if he did not tell them where everything was. M.J.
heard the gun click several times while it was held to the back of his head. M.J. took
them to the bedroom and showed them where the jewelry and guns were. The intruder
then returned M.J. to the other room and laid him back down. At some point, one of the
intruders said the family did not grow up like he did and were not raised on chitlings.
M.J. also heard what sounded to him like gang talk. When the intruders walked past him,
they kicked him in the head three times and once in the side. At least one was wearing
black boots.
The Hispanic-sounding man told Jane Doe Two that her story about where the
money was at had better match her husband‟s. He untied her and took her to open the
safe, which was in the weight room. He then took her to the office, where a money box
was kept. At some point, another intruder joined them. Jane Doe Two opened the money
box, which contained $34, whereupon the intruder she believed was Hispanic cut off her
underwear and undid her bra. She fell to the floor and he started asking her questions
about whether she had ever cheated on her husband and how old her children were.
Hoping they would leave, she told them that she had a limousine driver who was due.
She could tell, from the tones of voice, that they were angry she had no money. Although
she no longer had a towel over her head, she did not look at the intruders because she was
afraid if she did so, they would kill her.
The intruders took Jane Doe Two back into the living room. The Hispanic one
started rubbing her breasts and asking if they were real. Next, he tied her back up,
facedown, although he did not retie her feet. He then stuck the gun in her vagina and told
her husband he would “„blow her up‟” if M.J. did not tell him where the money was.
Jane Doe Two screamed, and the intruder removed the gun from her vagina and put it

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toward her posterior, although the gun did not actually penetrate her anus. He then untied
her again and stood her up. He told M.J. that he was going to take her with him, and he
put her over his shoulders and carried her outside.
The Hispanic intruder took Jane Doe Two to the deck, where there was a hot tub.
From things he said to her, such as accusing her of being prejudiced, she believed he was
trying to make her think he was African-American. He wanted to know where the money
was and twice stuck her head underwater in the hot tub.
While this was going on, M.J. was brought out to the hot tub. He had been kicked
in the head a few times and was bleeding.13 The intruders demanded to know where
more money was at, but there was no more money. One intruder held him by the back of
his neck and tried to dunk him, but M.J. resisted. He then let his head be dunked in order
to avoid a beating. M.J. managed to free his hands and straighten up, but one of the
intruders punched him in the side of the face and the intruder who was with Jane Doe
Two pointed what looked like it might be a black nine-millimeter semiautomatic at M.J.‟s
face. M.J. capitulated and his hands were retied. At one point, an intruder grabbed
M.J.‟s head, which was bleeding, and asked Jane Doe Two, “„Is this your husband?‟”
She was screaming and crying and said yes. An intruder dunked Jane Doe Two‟s head
one more time, then the couple was taken back into the house.
Jane Doe Two was not retied. Her head was shoved down into the love seat so
that her naked posterior stuck up in the air. Every time she tried to sit down, an intruder
would put her back up. At one point, two of the intruders were laughing and one of them
13 The lights by the hot tub were motion detectors. They were off that night, as
someone had unscrewed the bulbs from their sockets. Only the motion detectors in the
back of the house had had the bulbs removed. Those at the front of the house were
untouched.
A canal ran along the left side of the home, near the hot tub area. Thorny weeds
known as goat heads grew along the canal bank. After the intruders left, M.J. saw goat
heads in the family room that were not there prior to the robbery.

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pantomimed having intercourse with her. A dildo was thrown at her, and the Hispanic
intruder told her to use it. When she did not want to touch it, the two intruders moved her
into T.‟s room, where they placed her on the bed, face up. One of them put a pillow over
her face. They encouraged her to use the dildo on herself, then one of them inserted it
into her vagina himself and moved it in and out. At the same time, the first one fondled
her genitals with his hand. She was crying hysterically; when the intruders told her to
shut up, she told them that she could not breathe. When the intruder placed the dildo
against her posterior, she said that there was something wrong with her. They stopped at
that point and tied her up in the living room again.
At some point after the hot tub incident, one of the intruders received what
sounded like a call on a cell phone. He spoke to someone, but Jane Doe Two could not
tell what he said because she was crying. When the intruders left, they used the back
door, which was in M‟s room. All told, they were in the house some 45 minutes to an
hour, during which time they ransacked the family‟s belongings. They disabled the
telephones and took jewelry, $34 in cash, a shotgun, a .22-caliber rifle, two handguns,
and a knife. Authorities recovered some of these items following the arrests in this case.
The family subsequently received medical treatment for their injuries. Jane Doe
Two was somewhat disoriented and sustained bruises on her arms, legs, and ankles. She
also experienced some vaginal bleeding. T.‟s wrists were injured by the cords being
wrapped around them. M. suffered a minor concussion and received either staples or
stitches to close his head wound. M.J. sustained injuries to his face and head that
required stitches and left a permanent scar.
Several sets of footprints were found along the canal bank. Boots seized from
Silva could not be excluded as the source of some of the prints. Boots seized from
Martinez could not be excluded as the source of another of the prints. In addition, one
print appeared to be of a tennis shoe type, with a heel that appeared to be split, somewhat
like a horseshoe.

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Counts 30-31 – August 15, 2003
At approximately 1:20 a.m. on August 15, 2003, Marcos Renteria was asleep in
his Ceres residence when he was awakened by a loud noise coming from the attached
garage. Renteria arose and managed to partially dial 911 on his cell phone, but before he
could complete the call, someone kicked down the door to the bedroom. Renteria saw
two intruders, both with guns drawn on him and with flashlights. One gun was shiny,
probably chrome, and square. Renteria did not think it was a revolver. The intruders
were wearing dark clothing, black combat boots, and had handkerchiefs covering the
lower halves of their faces.
When the intruders entered, they turned on the bedroom light and started yelling at
Renteria in English to get down. Both voices were male. One of them demanded to
know who he was calling, then grabbed the phone and threw it on the ground. When
Renteria said they could have anything, one of them said, “„Anything?‟” One then hit
him over the head with a metal flashlight and both began punching him. A burning liquid
was sprayed at his face, and he was struck with a flashlight more than once. One of the
intruders put the square gun to his head, and Renteria grabbed it and tried to wrest it from
the man‟s hand. He almost succeeded, as the intruder was wearing gloves that were a
little too big for him. At some point, one intruder‟s mask came off or Renteria pulled it
off. It was Martinez. The other intruder said, “„Shoot him, Bro.‟”
Although bleeding heavily, Renteria fled to the garage. He pushed the button to
raise the car door and managed to lift it a bit, but the intruders caught up to him and
started punching him again. The intruders pushed Renteria back inside the house, but he
managed to evade them and dive underneath the garage door. He then started running to
his shop, which was 150 to 200 feet away. Renteria could tell the intruders were
following him, then he heard shooting. Several shots struck him, then some of his
workers came to his aid. Renteria saw some lights moving away from the house, toward
the canal. It appeared the intruders were running with their flashlights. Renteria

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estimated they had been on the premises about an hour. To his knowledge, nothing was
taken from the house.
Renteria was shot four times. His injuries required prompt medical attention and
surgical repair to prevent loss of limb or death. Subsequent DNA testing showed his
blood on Silva‟s boots. In addition, Silva‟s boots could not be excluded as the source of
a shoe print found at the scene.
Counts 32-35 – September 10, 2003
In September 2003, Homer Garza, Sr., resided in Denair, with his wife Virginia,
14-year-old daughter Melissa, and 23-year-old son Homero, Jr.14 Garza, a farm manager,
had an office at his residence, as well as one at his work site. An alarm system that was
connected to a security company and the sheriff‟s department had been installed at the
house on September 9.
At approximately 2:20 a.m. on September 10, Garza got up to see his wife off to
work and to check on some water he had running in his orchard. Everything seemed fine.
Around 3:30 a.m., he was asleep when the house‟s alarm went off. Thinking there was a
problem with the installation, he was hurrying to turn off the alarm, the control panel for
which was by the front door, when three men entered the house by breaking open the
dead-bolted front door. One held a shotgun to Garza‟s head and said that if he did not
quickly turn off the alarm, the intruder would “„blow [his] brains out.‟” The intruder
repeated this and banged Garza‟s head with the butt of the shotgun multiple times. Garza
was able to tell the intruders were wearing masks, but could not make out what kind
because the individual with the shotgun also was shining a flashlight in his face.
Garza managed to turn off the alarm. The intruder, who was wearing gloves that
felt like latex, grabbed him, took him into the living room, and told him to drop to the
14 For the sake of clarity, we will refer to the Garza children as Melissa and Homero.
No disrespect is intended.

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floor and put his hands together behind his back, as if he was praying. Garza‟s hands and
ankles were restrained with black plastic ties and his head was covered with one of his
wife‟s shirts.
As one of the intruders ran down the hallway toward the children‟s rooms, another
one put his foot to Garza‟s neck, applied pressure, and asked him where the money was.
The shoe felt heavy. The intruder told Garza that his son was in blood, and that if he
loved his son, he would tell where the money was. Garza said there was money in his
wallet in the laundry room. The intruder then asked where the “clavo” was. In the
Spanish culture, “clavo” is a slang term that means “stash.”15 Garza understood it to
mean money or jewelry, and he told the intruder that he did not know what he was talking
about. The intruder then got angry and kicked Garza in the side of the face.
Meanwhile, Homero was awakened when his locked bedroom door was kicked in.
What appeared to be a shotgun and a flashlight were pointed at him by a person wearing
what looked like black military boots and black pants with pockets on the side. He could
hear the alarm in the background. It went off after 15 to 25 seconds. Homero was told to
lie facedown on his stomach and put his hands behind his back in a praying position. He
complied, but, due to his size, the intruder had trouble holding his hands together, so
another person came and helped. Homero‟s wrists and ankles were restrained with black
zip ties and a blanket was thrown over him. He could hear three male voices. The
intruders spoke in English, except that Homero, who understood Spanish, heard the
Spanish slang term “ese” four or five times when one intruder addressed another. The
two intruders in his room used the term and seemed to have Hispanic accents.
Homero heard one of the intruders tell his sister to get up and then to get on the
ground. He then heard what sounded like someone being struck. Although he did not
15 Although English was Garza‟s native language, he was fluent in Spanish. Except
for the word “clavo,” the intruders spoke English.

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hear his sister make any sound, he yelled out not to hurt her, that she was only 14.16 The
intruders repeatedly asked Homero where the money was; when he insisted there was no
cash in the house, he was kicked a few times in the back of his head with something that
felt sturdy, like a boot. The intruders said that if he was lying, his father was going to get
hurt worse, and that Homero should look at him, that he was bleeding all over. Homero
knew they were lying, because he could hear his father and had not heard him being
struck or asking not to be hit.
Eventually, one of the intruders asked Garza how to turn off the front lights.
Garza told him the location of the switch, then heard a car nearby that sounded like its
muffler was torn up. The car was leaving. The incident lasted 30 to 50 minutes, during
which the house was ransacked and the telephones disabled. The intruders took a number
of items, including jewelry, CD‟s, money, and a video camera. Authorities recovered
some of the items following the arrests in this case.
Garza suffered cuts and bruises to his head and face from being kicked and struck
with the gun butt. He also had bloody marks on his ankles from having his feet tightly
bound. Melissa sustained a facial abrasion and marks on her wrists and ankles. Homero
had marks on his wrists and ankles that were visible for about a month. None of the
family sought medical attention.
Shoe prints were found between the residence and the road. Boots subsequently
seized from Silva could not be excluded as the source of some of the impressions. Boots
subsequently seized from Martinez could not be excluded as the source of other of the
impressions. There were tire tracks in the orchard near the house that appeared to go
from Swanson Road, into the orchard, and then out onto the road again. The shoe prints
led toward the area where the tire prints were found.
16 Melissa was left on the floor with a blanket covering her head and with her wrists
and ankles restrained with zip ties.

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Counts 36-37 – September 10, 2003
Early on the morning of September 10, 2003, Stanislaus County Sheriff‟s
Detective Nuno was assigned to be part of the arrest team, if residential robbery suspects,
who were under surveillance, committed a robbery. Sergeant Allen, who was the team
supervisor, was with Nuno in one vehicle, while the rest of the SWAT team and a couple
of other detectives were in other vehicles. Nuno and Allen were in an unmarked car that
was equipped with lights and a siren. Nuno was driving.
At approximately 4:30 a.m., Nuno and Allen were at the staging area in Hughson,
when they received information that the individuals were believed to have committed a
residential robbery in the area.17 The surveillance team reported the suspects‟ location;
Nuno had previously been informed that the suspect vehicle was brownish or golden and
had the words “Cold Pimp‟n” on the back.
Nuno and Allen, who were in the lead vehicle, and the rest of the arrest team
moved to intercept the suspects. Once the team was in position, Nuno activated his lights
and siren. The suspect vehicle slowed down as if it was going to stop, but then
accelerated. A pursuit ensued that covered seven to 10 miles and lasted approximately 10
minutes.
Nuno followed the vehicle from a rural area into a residential neighborhood in
Turlock. There, the car slowed down and began making turns. The rear doors opened a
couple of times, then, in the vicinity of 550 Angelus, near Angelus and Spruce, the
vehicle slowed almost to a stop. Nuno slowed down as well, and pulled toward the
driver‟s side passenger area of the vehicle. The right rear door opened completely, and
Martinez got out. He was wearing black clothing, a black beanie-type hat, black boots,
and a bandolier, and had a shotgun in his hand. As he turned toward Nuno and Allen, the
17 Because the telephones were missing or disabled, Homero Garza had activated the
panic button on the alarm to summon help.

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shotgun also turned in their direction. Allen opened his door, stepped half out of the car,
which was still moving, and fired several shots at him. Because Allen was behind the
door of the car and the window was not rolled down, he fired through the window, which
shattered. The shots also damaged the vehicle‟s outside mirror. The Cold Pimp‟n
vehicle was about 10 to 15 feet in front and to the right of his and Nuno‟s position at that
point. As Martinez ran toward a residence on the south side of Angelus, Allen reacquired
the target, stood up, and fired again. He was standing behind the door of his and Nuno‟s
car, which was now slightly rolling away from him.
Immediately after Allen fired the second time, he and Nuno heard loud booms,
which Allen believed to be gunfire. They were coming from the suspect vehicle, toward
Allen. Allen had stepped out of the car in which he had been riding, and was standing
right next to it. He was still somewhat in the doorway, with the car moving away from
him. When he first heard the gunshots, Nuno‟s car had not completely cleared his
position. The suspect vehicle was still in front of Nuno‟s car, approximately four to five
car lengths away. The lower driver‟s side portion of Nuno‟s windshield broke, and he
realized he was being shot at. Glass from the windshield cut his left cheek, and the
bullet, which struck the driver‟s side door frame, was probably inches from his face.
Nuno heard several booms. Allen heard two or three shots. Nuno was not sure which
shot hit the windshield, but it was neither the first nor the last.
As this was going on, the suspect vehicle started to move. Nuno accelerated to
catch up to it, and Allen followed Martinez.18 At the intersection of Angelus and Spruce,
approximately 100 yards from where Martinez had exited the vehicle, the two passenger
18 Stanislaus County Sheriff‟s Deputy Ward, who was also a member of the arrest
team, was running toward the area to assist. Ward estimated that seven to 10 shots were
fired from the area of the suspect vehicle. At the time Ward heard them, Nuno had
already dropped Allen off and driven after the other vehicle. Allen was running after the
suspect who had left the vehicle.

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side doors opened. As the car was either completely stopped or moving slowly, Morrison
got out of the rear passenger side. Nuno did not see anything in his hands. Silva got out
of the front passenger side. He was dressed in dark clothing and holding a chrome-
colored handgun.
Because Silva was holding a firearm, Nuno positioned his car at an angle and
began to shoot at him through the broken-out passenger window. He could not tell
whether any of his shots struck Silva, who disappeared into the darkness, as did
Morrison. Having lost sight of them, Nuno came around the driver‟s side of the suspect
vehicle, at which point he saw the driver exit. It was Fouse. Nuno gave chase as she ran
into a yard across the street, then took her into custody without further resistance.
Fouse was taken into custody around 4:45 a.m. A subsequent search of the vehicle
revealed a number of items that the Garzas later identified as belonging to them, as well
as a black baseball cap and black ski mask. The ski mask had two eyeholes, and a mouth
opening that had been closed by some means. A camouflage hood was found on the rear
floorboard. A shotgun was found in the front yard of the residence at 550 Angelus,
where Martinez had jumped the fence into the backyard and fled from Allen. In the
backyard was a bandolier with shotgun shells in it.
After receiving information concerning Silva‟s whereabouts, Ward assisted in
taking him into custody about 5:30 or 6:00 a.m. Silva was hiding in the carport of the
residence at 733 South Orange Street. When apprehended, he had a cell phone in his
hand. Eight black plastic zip ties, each individually secured in a loop, were found
underneath the vehicle where Silva had been hiding. Although Silva only had a
pocketknife on his person, two black nine-millimeter magazines for a semiautomatic
weapon were found in the backyard of the residence, about 15 to 20 feet from the carport.
One contained 10 rounds and the other contained nine. A black Browning High-Power
semiautomatic handgun with a magazine in it was subsequently located in the backyard
of the neighboring residence at 720 Spruce. The two backyards were separated by a

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fence with a gap in it, and the two magazines were some six to 10 feet from the black
handgun.
Although the black handgun was photographed where found and Deputy Luck,
then a Stanislaus County Sheriff‟s Department trainee, was assigned to watch the
evidence in the area, the gun was no longer there a couple of hours later when sheriff‟s
personnel returned to collect it, and Luck was no longer in the immediate area. A
resident of the house agreed to assist Deputy Reed, Luck‟s field training officer, in trying
to recover the handgun. The following day, this person directed Reed to an apartment
complex in Turlock and retrieved what appeared to be the gun. A check of the weapon‟s
serial number revealed it had been taken in the Lasater robbery. Subsequent comparison
revealed that one of the unfired cartridges in the magazines found in the backyard at 733
South Orange most likely was cycled through this gun.
A silver-colored Smith and Wesson .357-caliber revolver was found in an adjacent
backyard at 717 South Orange.19 The revolver, which was capable of holding six rounds,
contained six empty shell casings.
Nuno assisted in capturing David Michael Silva, who was hiding in a duplex
laundry room on Spruce, near Angelus. David Michael Silva was taken into custody
between 6:00 and 7:00 a.m.
Just before 8:00 a.m., Stanislaus County Sheriff‟s Detective Cook found Martinez
hiding in the backyard of the residence at 364 South Avenue, at the corner of South
Avenue and South Orange Street. A black zip tie and a loaded Mossberg 12-gauge
shotgun (also known as a Moss) were recovered from the area in front of the residence at
19 The three parcels were contiguous; 720 Spruce and 733 South Orange were back
to back, and 717 South Orange ran along both of them. The break was in the fence
between 720 Spruce and 733 South Orange.

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550 Angelus.20 A black strap containing 12-gauge shotgun rounds was found in the
backyard of the residence.
Around 1:30 p.m., the SWAT team was directed to 653 South Avenue. Morrison
was inside the residence with several other individuals and was taken into custody.
Additional Evidence21
Detective Campbell, who became the lead investigator on the day of the Gibbs
case, began to focus on Morrison, Silva, and Martinez as potential suspects shortly after
the robbery of M.J. and Jane Doe Two. On about August 13, members of the Stanislaus
County narcotics task forces were asked by the Stanislaus County Sheriff‟s Department
to assist in surveillance of suspects in a series of residential robberies.22
Richard Balentine, an investigator for the Stanislaus County District Attorney‟s
Office, was part of the surveillance team for approximately 22 out of the 27 days the
surveillance lasted, and also spent three days monitoring intercepted conversations in the
so-called wire room. Martinez, Silva, and Morrison were three of the individuals targeted
for surveillance, and were seen together on a number of occasions. During the
surveillance period, certain homes and vehicles came to be recognized as being
associated with them. Silva was associated with two residences, one at 20077 First
Street, Hilmar, and the other at 3512 Woodglen Court, Modesto. He was seen driving a
1984 Buick Park Avenue, variously described as silver or brown, with large white letters
20 The shotgun later was identified as belonging to M.J. and Jane Doe Two.
21 We do not separately set out evidence presented with respect to count 38, the
conspiracy charge, as much of it comprises the evidence presented with respect to one or
more of the incident-specific counts.
22 There were three such task forces. The local task force was Stanislaus County
Drug Enforcement Agency (SDEA); the state task force was California
Methamphetamine Enforcement (CalMMET); and the federal task force was High
Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). The three were run as one large unit, with
combined resources and personnel.

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spelling “Cold Pimp‟n” in the back window. He was also seen driving a white 1999
Mitsubishi Eclipse convertible. On a few occasions, Virginia Ellsworth was seen in
Silva‟s company, and also in his vehicle at his residence. Martinez was seen coming
from, going to, and staying the night at 733 South Orange in Turlock, and he was
occasionally seen on Davis Court in Delhi, the same address on Woodglen in Modesto as
Silva, and, near the end of the investigation, on South Carpenter Road. Martinez was
associated with a green 1997 Dodge pickup. Morrison was seen going to, coming from,
and staying the night at 16347 Davis Court, Delhi, the same address at which Martinez
occasionally was seen. Morrison was associated with a gold Chrysler Intrepid. Morrison
was often seen associating with Patricia Ramos.
Fouse was also under surveillance. Balentine twice saw her at the Woodglen
address. On one of those occasions, August 30, she drove up and walked into the house,
then came back outside with Silva and two other males. All four got into the Cold
Pimp‟n vehicle, which was not the car in which Fouse had arrived. Fouse got into the left
rear of the vehicle; a Hispanic male got into the right rear; a white male who was carrying
an object that Balentine believed was a shotgun or rifle got into the right front; and the
car, which was driven by Silva, left the residence. On one occasion, Balentine saw her
driving the Cold Pimp‟n vehicle.
Early on the morning of August 15, the date of the Renteria incident, Agent Vieira
of CalMMET was surveilling the First Street residence when, at 2:11 a.m., he saw the
Cold Pimp‟n Buick drive up and park in front of the house. A male dressed in dark
clothing exited the driver‟s side of the vehicle and walked toward the front door of the
residence. A minute later, a male wearing a gray shirt exited the residence and walked
toward the front driver‟s door of the Cold Pimp‟n car. He pulled what appeared to be a
heavy black bag out of the right rear passenger side of the vehicle and carried it into the
house. At approximately 2:14 a.m., the gold Intrepid pulled up and parked just in front of
the Buick. A male, dressed all in black, exited the front passenger side door and walked

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up toward the front of the residence. Although Vieira could not tell if this man knocked
or simply let himself in, he entered the residence. He returned to the gold Intrepid about
a minute later and drove away. Another male came out of the residence and drove off in
the Cold Pimp‟n vehicle. Vieira could not tell whether this was either of the two men
who previously had interacted with the Cold Pimp‟n car. The vehicle left at
approximately 2:15 a.m.
At approximately 9:50 p.m. on August 15, Balentine and one of the surveillance
teams were southbound on 99 when Balentine saw Silva driving the white Eclipse
convertible southbound into Merced. Morrison and Martinez were passengers in the
vehicle. The three attended a party in Merced. At approximately 11:55 p.m., SDEA
Agent Hoek and other officers were conducting surveillance at a residence in the
southern Merced area when they saw the white Eclipse convertible leave. Silva was
driving and had two passengers. The car went to the residence on Davis Court in Delhi.
Two people got out. The vehicle, now containing only the driver, left after about two
minutes.
At approximately 8:53 p.m. on August 18, Modesto Police Sergeant Van Diemen
of the SDEA drove by the home at 733 South Orange, Turlock, and saw Martinez and
Morrison in the front yard. He was aware the two were cousins.
At 11:59 p.m. on August 25, SDEA Agent Tovar was surveilling the Woodglen
address in Modesto. As he drove by the residence, he saw Silva and Morrison standing in
the driveway, talking to each other.
As a result of the surveillance, information was developed that caused Campbell
and Hoek to obtain authorization for and initiate wiretap surveillance with respect to
(209) 505-9835, for which Patricia Ramos was the subscriber but which Morrison used,
and (209) 614-7098, for which Silva was the subscriber. Wiretapping was conducted
from August 29 until September 10, with surveillance teams concentrating on the hours
of 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. During a number of the intercepted conversations, the males

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referred to each other by a racially derogatory term or shortened variation thereof. Fouse
became a target of the investigation when her name came up in the wiretaps.
At 6:46 p.m. on September 1, a conversation between Silva and Morrison was
intercepted in which a reference was made to Silva having “that black bag” on him
because his “old lady” wanted it and was supposed to show somebody in Turlock. Later
in the conversation, Silva said they could just “get in the tinted windows” and “do [their]
thing.”
Later that evening, at 8:45 p.m., the Cold Pimp‟n vehicle was followed to a Taco
Bell in Turlock. At 8:48 p.m., a conversation between Silva and his mother, Terry Silva,
was intercepted. There was a reference to Silva and Fouse being together at a Taco Bell,
and Fouse mentioned that Silva‟s girlfriend was her roommate. During the course of the
conversation, Terry Silva said that someone had told her there had been a lot of things in
the paper about home invasions. Silva replied that there had been, which was why he had
stopped for a while. Terry Silva then told him that she wanted him to take anything he
had out of her house and put it in his cars or something.
At 2:47 p.m. on September 2, a conversation between Silva and Morrison was
intercepted. Morrison said that he wanted to pick up the jewelry and take it, because
someone wanted to check it out. About half an hour later, the gold Intrepid arrived at the
Woodglen residence. Approximately two minutes later, the white Mitsubishi Eclipse
arrived. At 5:17 p.m., Agent Pettit, who was conducting aerial surveillance, saw the gold
Intrepid meet up with a burgundy-colored car on Carlos Court. Pettit followed the
Intrepid to Atlantic Street, where it met someone out front. A short time later, Pettit saw
a male take a black bag out of the trunk. At 6:30 p.m., Pettit observed a male in a white
shirt at the trunk of the Intrepid. Two minutes later, the Intrepid left with a green Dodge
Neon. Both vehicles went to Sam‟s Food Lot on Carver, and someone from the Dodge
got out and talked to the driver of the Intrepid.

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At 6:41 p.m., a conversation in which Morrison contacted Martinez was
intercepted. In it, Morrison said he needed money to make a car payment, and so gave
“Mike” a good deal. Morrison spoke of how much he received per gram, and said he
gave “Mike” a lot of rings and things that weighed about 10 to 15 grams apiece. When
Martinez asked whether “Mike” paid 650 for what Morrison gave him, Morrison
responded affirmatively and said he got two for Martinez, two for Silva (to whom he
referred by a nickname), and two for himself, and would get 50 the next day. Martinez
said that sounded good. Immediately after, Morrison telephoned Silva, informed him of
the deal, and said that if Silva wanted $200, to come to Turlock and get it. Silva said he
would. Morrison also informed Silva that he had instructed “Mike” to say they only sold
stuff to him one time. At approximately 7:00 p.m., Pettit saw the Intrepid go to an
apartment complex in the 500 block of Angelus Street in Turlock, where it remained for
about 12 minutes.
Surveillance of the Woodglen residence showed Morrison and Martinez leaving in
a green truck at 2:50 a.m. on September 3. Martinez was driving. At 9:46 p.m. the next
night, a conversation between Morrison and Martinez was intercepted in which Morrison
told Martinez that he had sold some pieces of jewelry for “three,” and that, if Martinez
wanted $100, he should come and get it.
At 3:34 p.m. on September 8, a conversation between Silva and Morrison was
intercepted in which Silva said he was trying to get some stuff moved because he had to
be out of his location by 6:00 the next morning. Silva said he was trying to find a storage
facility, but that “they” called him earlier and had some people who wanted to look at the
jewelry. When Morrison asked whether Silva‟s “old lady” or Shady told Silva that, Silva
replied that it was his “old lady.”23 Morrison asked whether Silva wanted him to go over
23 Silva and Fouse had been friends for approximately 15 years. Fouse had been
known by the nickname “Shady” since childhood.

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there. When Silva said yes, Morrison said he was already on his way and had everything
with him. In another conversation at 10:19 that night, Martinez and Morrison discussed
the price per gram, and that if “they” only wanted a few small items, then the cost would
be “half price the tags.”
At 10:32 p.m. on September 9, a conversation between Silva and Morrison was
intercepted in which Morrison informed Silva that he and “Anthony” wanted to “do some
money making.” Morrison asked if Silva wanted to go out with them. When Silva said
he did not want to go out and “window shop,” Morrison again asked if he wanted to go.
Silva responded, “Geared up?” Morrison answered affirmatively, and Silva agreed.
Morrison said they were getting on the freeway in Merced, then were going to stop by
Morrison‟s house and then go to Anthony‟s. He said he would call Silva when they got
to Modesto. A few minutes later, at 10:36 p.m., Silva telephoned Fouse and said he
might need a driver that night. He said he had called her because “David” had called
him. Fouse asked whether David had sold all the gold; Silva responded that he did not
think “they” sold it all, but “they” sold some of it the day before. Silva and Fouse then
discussed when Silva would be there, and Fouse asked whether it was the same as last
time, dropping him off and then coming back and getting him. He answered
affirmatively and said she would not be used for anything else, as far as going with them.
Fouse said she was moving slowly right then, but she could drive.24 She said it would be
kind of fun, and that she needed something interesting in her life right then. When she
asked what car she would be driving, Silva said he would find out and see if they needed
a driver, and would call her back. Silva then telephoned Morrison and asked if they were
going to need a driver. When Morrison said yes, Silva said he would get Shady.
Discussion then turned to what car they were going to use. Morrison responded that his
mother had his Intrepid, his Thunderbird was “all primered up,” and they would not all fit
24 Fouse related that she had undergone a medical procedure that day.

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in Anthony‟s truck. Silva agreed and said his “nightmare” was full of his belongings, but
that he could unload it at his house. They then discussed where they would meet. It was
agreed they would meet at Silva‟s home, and that Morrison would grab his things and get
ready at Anthony‟s, and then he and Anthony would go to Hilmar. Silva called Fouse
back at 10:47 p.m. and told her they would be needing a driver. Two minutes later, there
was a conversation between Morrison and Silva in which Morrison asked whether Silva
had “the Moss” at his house. When Silva said he had both of them right there, Morison
said he wanted to use “the big one with the belt.”
At 11:33 that night, a conversation between Silva and Fouse was intercepted in
which Fouse said she saw “all them cops” and asked where Silva was. When Silva said
the police were at a particular store, Fouse said now that they knew where all the police
were, they should “do something” in Turlock “really fast.” When she asked if Silva was
at home, he replied that he was on Lander, not far from “you guys.” Agent Pettit, who
was conducting aerial surveillance, saw the Mitsubishi arrive at the First Street residence
at 11:37 p.m. At 11:40 p.m., the Cold Pimp‟n Buick arrived. At 11:48 p.m., the officer
surveilling the residence on First Street, which was a short distance west of Lander
Avenue, saw a female and a male standing by the Cold Pimp‟n vehicle. The man was
dressed in black. At 11:58 p.m., a telephone conversation was intercepted in which Silva
asked Morrison where he was. Morrison replied that they were already dressed and
leaving Anthony‟s house. Silva said he had to unpack his car.
Surveillance on Martinez‟s new residence on Carpenter Road in Modesto showed
that the green Dodge pickup associated with Martinez was parked out front at 11:30 p.m.
Martinez and Morrison were seen taking items from the residence to the vehicle at least
twice, then they left in the truck just prior to midnight. Both were dressed in dark
clothing, and it appeared they had placed something dark, like a duffel bag, in the cab of
the truck. Agent Pettit began aerial surveillance of the vehicle at approximately 12:06
a.m., and followed it to the First Street residence in Hilmar.

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At 12:04 a.m. on September 10, Vieira saw the female back the Cold Pimp‟n
Buick, which was parked on the street, into the driveway, underneath the carport. At
1:05 a.m., a female and a male dressed in black got into the car. The female got into the
driver‟s side front door, and the male got into the passenger side front door. Because the
vehicle was in the carport, Vieira could not tell whether anyone got in through the rear
passenger doors. The vehicle then left the location. This was sometime after the green
pickup arrived.
From the First Street residence, the vehicle went to an AM/PM store in Turlock,
where a female got out and appeared to put gas in the car. The tinting on the vehicle‟s
windows made it difficult for the surveilling officer to see inside the back.
The car was followed from the Turlock area to an area out in the country near
Snelling, where it parked. with its lights off, in an orchard across the street from a
residence from 1:34 a.m. to approximately 2:27 a.m. It then left and was followed to the
Hughson area.
At 3:15 a.m., Agent Pettit, who was conducting aerial surveillance, observed the
Buick driving down Swanson “blacked out,” i.e., with its lights turned off. It pulled into
an orchard in the vicinity of a residence. Because of the trees, Pettit was unable to see
whether anyone got out. Officer Myers saw the vehicle at the Swanson Road location at
3:50 a.m. The car was on the east side of the roadway, facing north, and was 10 to 15
feet off of the pavement. No exterior or interior lights were on, and the area was quite
dark. Myers drove southbound on Swanson. As he passed the car, he activated his high
beams. It appeared there was nobody in the front seat. He was unable to see in the back.
The Buick began moving again at approximately 4:30 a.m. Myers fell in behind
the car as it headed westbound. At approximately 4:38 a.m., he became aware of a panic

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alarm from a home in the area in which the Buick had been parked. A pursuit of the
Buick ensued.25
At 4:52 a.m. on September 10, a telephone conversation between Silva and his
girlfriend, Virginia “Ginger” Ellsworth, was intercepted. In it, Silva revealed that he was
running from the police and was hiding on Orange, in Turlock. When Ellsworth offered
to come and get him, Silva told her that he was in the backyard of his “homeboy”
Anthony‟s house at Angelus and Orange, but that the police were all around. Silva stated
that he had shot at them and asked her to hurry. At 5:26 a.m., another conversation
between Silva and Ellsworth was intercepted, with Ellsworth confirming that Silva was in
Anthony‟s backyard and telling him that the house was surrounded and the area blocked
off, and she could not get to him. When she told Silva not to move and to cover himself
up, he replied that he did not have anything to cover himself with, but was hiding behind
the Blazer in the driveway between Anthony‟s and the neighbor‟s houses. When the
girlfriend asked if Silva had a gun on him, he replied no, that he had thrown it, but did not
know where. The information on Silva‟s hiding place was passed from the monitor in the
wire room to officers on the scene.
On September 10, search warrants were executed at the residences associated with
the male defendants. M.J. and Jane Doe Two, Vicki and Kenneth Myers, Adriana F.G.
25 There was never a plan to allow a residential robbery to occur in order to catch the
perpetrators red-handed. Sergeant Van Diemen, who was acting in a supervisory
capacity this evening, was aware both times the Cold Pimp‟n car pulled into an orchard.
He did not call for an arrest either time, however, because the information he personally
had received over the radio was that when the vehicle left the Hilmar residence and
headed toward Snelling, only two people – a male and a female – were observed getting
into the car. This indicated to Van Diemen that the full crew was not in the vehicle, and
so he did not believe that a residential robbery was going to occur at that point. It was his
belief that the two individuals in the car were conducting scouting missions and looking
for potential victim locations. It was the panic alarm call from the Garza residence that
triggered the arrest.

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and Z.M., and William Gibbs subsequently identified a number of items found at the
Davis Court residence and in the gold Intrepid in the driveway as belonging to them.
F.G. and Z.M., Steve Christy, and M.J. identified items found at the Carpenter
Road residence in Modesto as belonging to them. Cash; nine-millimeter, .38-caliber, and
.357-caliber ammunition; shotgun shells; a black Mag-light flashlight; knives; a
camouflage mask type of head covering, similar to what a hunter would wear; a pair of
blue jeans containing a wallet with Morrison‟s driver‟s license; and a significant amount
of jewelry were found in the bedroom determined to belong to Martinez. A Winchester
.22-caliber rifle and a few items of jewelry were found in the other bedroom, as was a
black ski cap. Also seized from that bedroom were a black pair of K-Swiss tennis shoes,
a black pair of FILA tennis shoes, a pair of K-Swiss shoes that were white with red trim,
and a pair of K-Swiss tennis shoes that were white with a blue stripe.
At the First Street residence, officers found Christy‟s Browning shotgun, as well
as other items belonging to him, M.J. and Jane Doe Two, the Bakers, the Myerses,
Cozine and Frye, F.G. and Z.M., the Gibbses, and Jane Doe One. A pair of K-Swiss
tennis shoes, white with red markings, and a pair of white FILA shoes, with a split-heel
sole, were found in a bedroom. Also found were a sawed-off Mossberg shotgun with
pistol grips; scanners tuned to Stanislaus County Sheriff‟s Department frequencies; the
main section of the Modesto Bee, dated August 16, 2003, which contained an article
about residential robberies and referred in detail to the Renteria robbery; a red suitcase
containing jewelry and other items; two video camcorders; two-way radios; cell phones;
gun cases and holsters; a Mag-lite metal five-cell flashlight; a can of pepper spray; a
headband with a battery-operated light on the front; a black magazine containing 34
rounds of nine-millimeter ammunition; a black nylon hood cap with no visible eye or
mouth holes; ammunition of various calibers; a pair of black gloves; six bandannas, two
of which (including one that was black with white designs) were folded in a triangular
shape with two of the corners tied in the back; and a pair of black pants, a black shirt,

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black shoes, and black socks in a pile on the floor of the bedroom in which paperwork
bearing Silva‟s name was found. Also found in the house were approximately 20 large-
style black plastic zip ties in a clear bag.
After the arrests, Detective Campbell requested that the jail intercept defendants‟
jail visits. During a visit Silva had on September 25, 2003, Silva stated that a lot of items
belonging to him and his mother had been taken for people to claim, as “they” though it
was all stolen. He also said that “they” had his boots and that the boots had blood on
them, which happened during the attempted murder of a farmer who was shot four times.
Silva further related that a “cop” was saying he saw Silva shoot at him when Silva
jumped out of the car, although Silva believed that could be contested. He related that
there were also sexual penetration charges, but opined that the only way those could be
linked to “us” was if “they” could place “us” in the house or at the robbery. Silva
conceded a lot of items were found in his house, but asserted that, as far as he was
concerned, it was only receiving stolen property.
DISCUSSION26
I
SUPPRESSION OF WIRETAP EVIDENCE
A. Background
In August 2003, the People sought and obtained judicial authorization for the
interception of communications to and from cellular telephones with the numbers (209)
505-9835, which was subscribed to Patricia Ramos, and (209) 614-7098, which was
subscribed to Silva. Silva subsequently filed a motion to suppress all evidence obtained
26 We have reordered the contentions set forth in defendants‟ opening briefs to
conform more closely to the chronology of events at trial. (See People v. Wash (1993) 6
Cal.4th 215, 235, fn. 4.)

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by means of wiretaps, in which the other defendants joined. The trial court27 determined
that the interceptions were lawful and denied the motion. Consequently, the contents of
intercepted cellular telephone conversations were admitted into evidence at trial, as
described in the statement of facts, ante.
Defendants now say the trial court erred in denying the motion. They contend that
SDEA Agent Hoek‟s affidavit in support of the application for the interceptions failed to
demonstrate the requisite necessity. We disagree.28
B. Analysis
Title III of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (18 U.S.C.
§§ 2510-2520) comprises the comprehensive federal scheme for the regulation of
wiretapping and electronic surveillance.29 (People v. Otto (1992) 2 Cal.4th 1088, 1097.)
It “establishes minimum standards for the admissibility of evidence procured through
electronic surveillance; state law cannot be less protective of privacy than the federal
Act.” (Id. at p. 1098.) Thus, “[i]n 1995, the Legislature enacted section 629.50 et seq. in
order „to expand California wiretap law to conform to the federal law.‟ [Citation.]”
27 The motion originally was heard and denied by Judge Ashley. After she recused
herself, it and several other motions were heard anew by the trial judge.
28 We need not concern ourselves with the fact one of the targeted telephones was
subscribed to someone other than a named defendant, or with who was a party to which
conversation. Section 629.72 provides: “Any person in any trial, … may move to
suppress … the contents of any intercepted … electronic cellular telephone
communications, or evidence derived therefrom, … on the basis that the contents or
evidence were obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment to the United States
Constitution or of this chapter.…” (Italics added; see also 18 U.S.C. §§ 2510(11)
[defining “aggrieved person” as a person who was a party to intercepted communication
or against whom interception was directed], 2518(10)(a) [permitting any aggrieved
person to seek suppression of contents of intercepted communication or evidence derived
therefrom].)
29 In our discussion, we refer to interceptions and wiretaps or wiretapping
interchangeably.

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(People v. Leon (2007) 40 Cal.4th 376, 383.) Under section 629.50, a district attorney or
other specified individual can apply to the presiding judge of the superior court (or a
designee) for an order to intercept wire, electronic pager, or electronic cellular telephone
communications.30 (Id., subd. (a).) Among other requirements, the application must
contain “[a] full and complete statement of the facts and circumstances relied upon by the
applicant to justify his or her belief that an order should be issued, including … (B) the
fact that conventional investigative techniques had been tried and were unsuccessful, or
why they reasonably appear to be unlikely to succeed or to be too dangerous .…” (Id.,
subd. (a)(4).)
Under section 629.52, the designated judge may authorize the interception if there
is probable cause to believe that an individual is committing, has committed, or is about
to commit one or more of the crimes listed in the statute, including murder, a felony
violation of section 186.22, or an attempt or conspiracy to commit such crimes (§ 629.52,
subd. (a)(2), (3), (5)); there is probable cause to believe communications concerning the
illegal activities will be obtained through the interception (id., subd. (b)); there is
probable cause to believe the targeted communication device is being used, or will be
used, by the person whose communications are to be intercepted (id., subd. (c)); and
“[n]ormal investigative procedures have been tried and have failed or reasonably appear
either to be unlikely to succeed if tried or to be too dangerous” (id., subd. (d)).
Defendants do not challenge the issuing court‟s finding of probable cause as to
any of the interceptions. Rather, their sole assertion is that the application was not
supported by an adequate showing of necessity within the meaning of section 629.52,
subdivision (d), so that evidence seized as fruit of the interceptions should have been
suppressed under section 629.72.
30 Amendments made to the statutes after the interception authorization was obtained
in this case are not pertinent to this appeal.

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Because section 629.52, subdivision (d) and its federal counterpart, 18 United
States Code section 2518(c)(3) employ identical language, federal courts‟ interpretation
of the latter section necessarily informs our analysis. The California Supreme Court has
summarized the applicable case law thus:
“The requirement of necessity is designed to ensure that wiretapping
is neither „routinely employed as the initial step in criminal investigation‟
[citation] nor „resorted to in situations where traditional investigative
techniques would suffice to expose the crime.‟ [Citation.] The necessity
requirement can be satisfied „by a showing in the application that ordinary
investigative procedures, employed in good faith, would likely be
ineffective in the particular case.‟ [Citation.] As numerous courts have
explained, though, it is not necessary that law enforcement officials exhaust
every conceivable alternative before seeking a wiretap. [Citations.]
Instead, the adequacy of the showing of necessity „“is „to be tested in a
practical and commonsense fashion,‟ … that does not „hamper unduly the
investigative powers of law enforcement agents.‟”‟ [Citation.] A
determination of necessity involves „“a consideration of all the facts and
circumstances.”‟ [Citations.]” (People v. Leon, supra, 40 Cal.4th at
p. 385.)
A motion to suppress evidence obtained pursuant to section 629.50 et seq. is made,
determined, and reviewed in accord with section 1583.5. (§ 629.72.) The standard of
appellate review of a trial court‟s ruling under section 1538.5 “is well established. We
defer to the trial court‟s factual findings, express or implied, where supported by
substantial evidence. In determining whether, on the facts so found, the search or seizure
was reasonable under the Fourth Amendment, we exercise our independent judgment.
[Citations.]” (People v. Glaser (1995) 11 Cal.4th 354, 362.) Within this framework,
although generally “the government must overcome the statutory presumption against
granting a wiretap application by showing necessity” (United States v. Ippolito (9th Cir.
1985) 774 F.2d 1482, 1486, citations omitted), “[a] defendant bears the burden of proving
that a wiretap is invalid once it has been authorized. [Citation.]” (United States v.
Ramirez-Encarnacion (10th Cir. 2002) 291 F.3d 1219, 1222; cf. Franks v. Delaware
(1978) 438 U.S. 154, 171; People v. Amador (2000) 24 Cal.4th 387, 393.) “The finding

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of necessity by the judge approving the wiretap application is entitled to substantial
deference. [Citations.]” (People v. Leon, supra, 40 Cal.4th at p. 385.)31
Agent Hoek‟s affidavit in support of the application for intercept authorization
was 52 pages long. In pertinent part, Hoek recited his experience in investigations
involving wire intercepts and electronic surveillance. He certified that named law
enforcement agencies/task forces were conducting a criminal investigation of Morrison,
Silva, Martinez, “and others yet unidentified” in connection with possible violations of
specified provisions of the Penal Code, and that there was probable cause to believe the
three named individuals and “others known and others not yet known” had committed,
were committing, and would continue to commit violations of the criminal statutes set
forth in section 186.22 of the Penal Code, viz., participating in criminal street gangs.
After describing the kind of information he asserted there was probable cause to believe
would be obtained through the requested interception, Hoek asserted: “Normal
investigative techniques have been tried, and have been successful, in identifying and
securing some evidence against the Target Subjects. However, normal investigative
techniques have been tried and have been unsuccessful in identifying any other co-
conspirators involved in the Subject Offenses and in securing any evidence against
anyone else. Normal investigative techniques have not identified any other individual
31 Although the federal circuits agree that the standard of review is deferential, they
describe that standard in different ways. (United States v. Smith (4th Cir. 1994) 31 F.3d
1294, 1298.) The Eighth Circuit treats the authorizing judge‟s necessity finding as a
factual determination that is reviewed for clear error. (E.g., United States v. Jackson (8th
Cir. 2003) 345 F.3d 638, 644; United States v. Davis (8th Cir. 1989) 882 F.2d 1334,
1343.) The majority view, and that adhered to by the Ninth Circuit, holds that the
necessity finding is reviewed for abuse of discretion. (People v. Leon, supra, 40 Cal.4th
at p. 385, fn. 3; United States v. Blackmon (9th Cir. 2001) 273 F.3d 1204, 1207.)
Because our analysis and conclusion remain the same under either formulation, we need
not decide which phraseology to adopt. (See People v. Leon, supra, 40 Cal.4th at p. 385,
fn. 3; United States v. Smith, supra, 31 F.3d at p. 1298.)

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conspiring in this case. Normal investigative techniques have failed to produce sufficient
evidence to arrest and prosecute the Target Subjects. Normal investigative techniques
targeting these goals have been tried and have failed, or reasonably appear unlikely to
succeed if tried, as is described further in the „Conclusion‟ section.”
Hoek then proceeded to describe and detail the criminal histories of Morrison,
Martinez, Silva, and several other persons.32 By incorporating the statement of Detective
Green, who was assigned to the Stanislaus County Sheriff‟s Special Investigation Unit
and whose responsibilities included investigation of crimes committed by criminal street
gangs and their membership, Hoek then set out information establishing a pattern of
criminal gang activity for the Norteno criminal street gang, Silva‟s and Morrison‟s
association with the gang, and the fact Silva was reputed to be a lieutenant in the
Northern Structure portion of the overall Norteno gang organization.
Hoek then summarized the current investigation, which began in May 2003. He
included the fact that he had been advised, by Detective Campbell, that Campbell‟s
agency had received information from four separate, independent sources, naming
Morrison, Martinez, and Silva, and possibly two others, as being responsible for at least
some of the robberies. One source handed a deputy a card that bore the names of
Morrison, Martinez, and two others, and said they were the perpetrators. The second
source was a citizen who informed the assistant sheriff that the perpetrators were related
to an ex-felon who went by the name Yo-Yo, and that Yo-Yo‟s son was involved. The
third source was a citizen who told a detective that Morrison used to be a stereo thief but
was now driving nice cars with expensive rims, and the person believed he was involved.
The fourth source was a citizen who was known to one of the detectives. This person
informed the detective that she had been in contact with two people who had information
about the robberies. She put one of these people, “X,” in phone contact with the
32 Fouse is not named in the affidavit.

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detective. “X” agreed to provide information on condition that she remain anonymous.
She would not identify herself to the detective and expressed fear of retaliation. “X”
stated that she had personal knowledge of the robberies; named Morrison, Silva, and
Martinez as the perpetrators; and furnished details that had not been made public. Hoek
recited the information given by “X” and the extent to which some of it had been
corroborated.
Next, Hoek described the surveillance that had been conducted on Morrison‟s,
Silva‟s, and Martinez‟s residences since August 13, 2003. In part, Hoek related that
surveilling agents could not park on Davis Court, thus limiting what they were able to see
there. Hoek further related that he had attended a debriefing on August 18, at which time
Detective Campbell informed him that Campbell had received information concerning
the August 15 robbery from a fifth source (“Y”), who requested to remain anonymous.33
Campbell had been able to determine the identity of the source, but did not furnish the
name to Hoek. “Y” told Campbell that another person had told him that, when Silva and
Morrison arrived at the First Street residence on the morning of August 15, they were
wearing black clothing that was covered with blood. This person told “Y” how Silva and
Morrison cleaned the clothing and then disposed of it in a dumpster in an apartment
complex in the vicinity of Liberty Market in Delhi. “Y” described to Campbell how to
get to Morrison‟s residence, and said Morrison had buried some guns under a piece of tin
siding in an empty lot behind his house. SDEA agents went to the lot the day after
receiving the information, but did not see a piece of tin siding anywhere at the location.
An aerial check likewise did not reveal any tin siding and, because of the close proximity
of Morrison‟s residence and other homes, investigators did not attempt to use any type of
metal detection device to scan the property. Subsequent investigation revealed that there
were no apartments in the vicinity of Liberty Market in Delhi, and that in fact, the only
33 August 15 was the date of the Renteria shooting and attempted robbery.

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apartment complex in Delhi was across from Davis Court. Agents checked those
dumpsters, but they had already been emptied.
Hoek related that the parole agent for one of the residents at the Davis Court
address conducted a home visit at that location on the evening of August 18. The parole
agent saw a black duffel bag, which was closed and appeared to be full, behind the front
door. The next day, a parole search was conducted at the residence. The duffel bag was
not located. However, ammunition – some of which was the same caliber as spent shell
casings found at the scene of the August 15 robbery and shooting – was found. Hoek
further related that he had obtained subscriber information for one telephone by means of
a search warrant served on the telephone company, and that he had obtained a court order
for a pen register and trap-and-trace for Silva‟s phone. Information from the pen register,
coupled with surveillance, revealed that Morrison was connected to Silva‟s phone on the
evening of August 26.
Hoek provided a summary of the robberies, and related Detective Campbell‟s
belief, based on the method of operation and the information being received from various
sources, that the same group of suspects was responsible. Campbell further related to
Hoek that, on August 21, he was contacted by an individual (“Z”), whom he believed to
be a citizen informant, and who stated he would give information on condition that he
remain anonymous. According to Campbell, “Z” identified himself by first name only
and said he was related to the family of one of the responsible parties. Campbell met
with “Z” in person. “Z” named Morrison and Martinez as the two main responsible
parties. “Z” said others were also involved, and he identified them and their relationship
to Morrison. “Z” related that Morrison‟s mother was getting all the jewelry from the
robberies and was selling drugs out of her home, and when she ran out of drugs, she
would trade some of the jewelry for more. “Z” further related that Martinez‟s cousin
worked for the Gibbs family, and that the cousin had once taken Martinez to the Gibbs
residence.

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Hoek related that 10 distinctive shoe prints had been found at the various crime
scenes, but that there had been no more than three shoe prints found at any one scene.
One victim, however, thought there were five individuals involved in his robbery, based
on the different voices and locations from which the voices had come.
Hoek requested that one page of the affidavit be sealed. He based his request on
the fact that the information was sufficiently specific as to reveal the source; to Hoek‟s
knowledge, only the source knew the information; the source would not give a name for
fear of reprisal; and if the information were released, the source‟s safety would be
endangered.
Hoek next summarized the target telephone information, including toll analysis
and analysis of call data records and cell site information, which was obtained and
analyzed in an attempt to determine which cell sites were used by the target phones two
hours before and after each robbery. Hoek explained that, due to the possibility a call
would be sent to a secondary tower during peak hours, the call data records and cell site
tower information obtained from the pen register were not an exact reflection of the
location of the phone when it was in use.
In an eight-page section titled “EXHAUSTION/NEED FOR INTERCEPTION,”
Hoek stated:
“As set forth, law enforcement has obtained a great deal of
information pertaining to this investigation. At present, applicant believes
there is circumstantial evidence against the Target Subjects. However,
applicant believes that this case could be strengthened by a continued
investigation.
“Interception of wire communications to and from (209) 505-9835
and (209) 614-7098 are necessary in order to achieve all of the objectives of
this investigation (as described previously), because normal investigative
techniques have failed or appear reasonably unlikely to succeed if tried, or
are too dangerous. In the preceding paragraphs, applicant detailed the
probable cause showing (209) 505-9835 being used by David Morrison and
(209) 614-7098 being used by David Silva. Probable cause was also

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documented by showing the results of traditional investigative techniques.
These techniques have failed to provide the necessary evidence for proof
beyond a reasonable doubt against Target Subjects.
“Traditional investigative techniques have taken place. Likewise,
they will continue to be employed if approval for this intercept is obtained.
However, so far those traditional means of investigation noted below have
failed to uncover the direct evidence in this investigation, the activities and
identities of any and all other co-conspirators, and for reasons set forth
below, Applicant believes that the investigative goals set forth, likely will
not be achieved in the future through alternative investigative techniques
alone.”
Hoek then proceeded to separately discuss each traditional means of investigation,
as follows:
Physical surveillance: Hoek related that the method had been successful in
physically linking addresses, vehicles, and cellular phones used by the target suspects,
and establishing that the suspects associated with each other. However, agents were
unable to watch all three known residences at the same time due to manpower
restrictions; moreover, Delhi and Hilmar were small communities, and so it was hard for
agents to be in either area for any great length of time without being noticed. Hoek stated
his belief that further surveillance, conducted without the support of the requested
interception, would compromise the investigation by increasing the opportunities for
detection by the target subjects. Such detection could cause the subjects to abandon their
communication facilities, making it extremely difficult to obtain incriminating
information from them, and could also cause them to flee the area, making an arrest
difficult or nearly impossible. Hoek asserted that an intercept would permit agents to
initiate selective surveillance when it appeared criminal activity was taking place, thus
reducing the chance of surveillance being compromised. He noted that normal duty
hours for surveillance had been from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., seven days a week, with the
amount of man-hours dedicated to the investigation causing a substantial burden on the
agencies involved and other pending investigations.

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Interviews, grand jury subpoenas, and immunity: Hoek asserted that subpoenaing
the target subjects or anyone else who might be involved would not be completely
successful in achieving the goals of the investigation, because any coconspirator likely
would invoke his or her Fifth Amendment privilege not to testify before a grand jury.
Granting immunity to one of the target subjects was unadvisable, because to do so might
foreclose prosecution in this case; moreover, there would be no way to ensure such
immunized witness(es) would provide truthful testimony, should additional conspirators
be identified. Furthermore, the service of grand jury subpoenas on the target subjects or
anyone else would only alert them to the existence of this portion of the investigation,
causing them to alert other, unknown perpetrators, become more cautious in their
activities, flee, threaten the lives of cooperating witnesses, or otherwise compromise the
investigation.
Confidential informants: Hoek related that, according to Detective Campbell, the
sources who talked to law enforcement expressed fear of retaliation by the target subjects,
and there were no reliable confidential informants other than anonymous citizens.
Merced County Sheriff‟s Detective Garcia advised that he had no reliable informants
providing information on the target subjects, and he was only receiving information from
persons who obtained it second- and third-hand. Although a search for testifying
witnesses continued, Hoek knew of no other possible witnesses who could and would be
willing to disclose information about the target subjects and the gang activity. He
believed any potential witnesses would need to have preexisting ties, or be engaged in
some type of conspiracy, with the target subjects for several weeks and that, in his
experience, such individuals would be rare because they would not want to cooperate
against a family member or loved one, or would live near the target subjects and be in
fear for their safety should their cooperation become known. Hoek related that he did not
know of any confidential informant who could assist in the investigation, and he believed
that if such an informant did not know the target subjects or their immediate families, the

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target subjects would not talk in detail about what was occurring because they would not
know whether the informant could be trusted. Furthermore, an informant approaching
one of them might alarm them by leading them to believe they were now being
considered the main suspects in this investigation.
Undercover agents: Hoek related that the only informants who had provided
information had not identified themselves, and so he believed they would not introduce
an undercover agent to the target subjects. He further asserted that, without knowing who
the informants were, an introduction would be too dangerous, and that, because of the
violent nature of the crimes, the use of an undercover agent would be too dangerous.
Interviews of suspect: Based on his training and experience, Hoek believed that
interviewing the target subjects would not be successful in developing sufficient
evidence, as, if arrested, the suspects would not admit their criminal involvement. Hoek
noted that the target subjects had been incarcerated in state facilities before, and
expressed his opinion they were not likely to cooperate with law enforcement.
Search warrants: Hoek reiterated that he had obtained and served search warrants
and orders for phone subscriber information, call data records, and pen registers. He
acknowledged that he and detectives believed there might be probable cause to search the
residences of the target subjects. He further believed, however, that any residential
search would be futile and that, without intercepted communications to guide the timing
of when to conduct searches of vehicles or other locations, such searches likely would
produce little evidence. Hoek noted that a parole search of Morrison‟s residence had
been conducted, but that sufficient evidence to show guilt or innocence was not found.
As Silva was reputed to be an officer in the Northern Structure and almost all of the
target subjects had been through the judicial system, Hoek related that investigators
believed the target subjects had been schooled not to keep evidence of their criminal
activities in their residences or vehicles. Accordingly, Hoek did not believe the execution
of search warrants would achieve all the goals of the investigation.

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Toll records: Hoek related that pen registers, toll information, and trap-and-trace
devices would provide identifying information regarding calls made from or to a
particular telephone, along with the frequency of those calls, but would not establish the
identities of those actually conversing or the content of the conversations. Thus, while
valuable tools, they would not, by themselves, achieve the goals of the investigation.
Trash searches: Hoek noted that the trash search at the apartment complex was
unsuccessful, and related that agents were fearful of being discovered if they attempted
residential trash searches. He related that Davis Court was a small court, and that there
was too much street activity on South Orange. He noted that on one occasion, when
agents were doing a walk-by in an attempt to obtain license numbers of vehicles parked
in the yard, they could see someone standing in the shadows of 733 South Orange, and
that this occurred when the agents thought the residents were asleep. Based on his
training and experience, Hoek asserted that suspects such as those in this case go to great
lengths to destroy possibly incriminating evidence and will not frequently use their
residential trash containers to dispose of it. Instead, they will commonly shred their
documents, carry their trash away from their residences, and place it in commercial
dumpsters to avoid having it examined. Because Hoek knew of no other locations at
which trash searches could be conducted, he did not believe any further such searches
would achieve the goals of the investigation, although the interception of conversations
concerning certain locations might make it appropriate to conduct trash searches at that
time.
Tracking devices and cameras: Hoek related that on August 20, pursuant to court
order, a radio frequency tracking device was installed on the Buick the target subjects
were believed to be using to commit the crimes. The device did not record the vehicle‟s
movement, however, and was only used in locating the vehicle should it become lost
during surveillance. Hoek related that installation of a device, such as a GPS tracker, that
was capable of recording and downloading data would not be practical, as the vehicle

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would have to be taken to a secure location in order to properly install the equipment.
Hoek further related that, on the evening of August 20, agents were able to install a
camera in a warehouse in Hilmar. The camera allowed a view of the front of Silva‟s
residence. Within a week, the camera‟s location and target(s) were the subject of rumors
in Hilmar, however, and so the camera was removed and the warehouse‟s owner told that
a suspect had been apprehended in Sacramento. Agents had been unable to find a
location on Davis Court or South Orange at which discretely to install a camera.
We conclude that, when tested in a practical and commonsense fashion, the
foregoing adequately establishes the requisite necessity. (See People v. Leon, supra, 40
Cal.4th at p. 385.) The fact the investigation had been successful in many respects does
not mean necessity, based on the failure of traditional investigative techniques, was not or
could not be shown. “[T]he mere attainment of some degree of success during law
enforcement‟s use of traditional investigative methods does not alone serve to extinguish
the need for a wiretap. [Citations.]” (United States v. Bennett (9th Cir. 2000) 219 F.3d
1117, 1122.) “[A] wiretap can be necessary if it gives the government the ability to
„develop an effective case.‟ [Citation.]” (United States v. McGuire (9th Cir. 2002) 307
F.3d 1192, 1198.) “„An effective case‟” means “evidence of guilt beyond a reasonable
doubt, not merely evidence sufficient to secure an indictment.” (Ibid.) “[A]s the federal
cases have recognized, „[w]hat amount of evidence will be sufficient to obtain a
conviction is an imprecise concept.‟ [Citation.]” (People v. Zepeda (2001) 87
Cal.App.4th 1183, 1204.) In the present case, while the use of normal investigative
techniques may have produced probable cause to search and/or arrest, the case against the
male defendants was far from overwhelming – and, at the time interception was sought,
the case against Fouse was nonexistent. (See id. at p. 1205 [adequate showing made
where eyewitness descriptions were general and insufficient to identify perpetrator of
apparently gang-related drive-by shooting, information connecting defendant to crime

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came from telephone callers who wished to remain anonymous, and evidence gathered
produced only circumstantial case].)
Nor is the necessity requirement an exhaustion requirement. (United States v.
Castillo-Garcia (10th Cir. 1997) 117 F.3d 1179, 1187, overruled on other grounds in
United States v. Ramirez-Encarnacion, supra, 291 F.3d at p. 1222, fn. 1.) While
electronic eavesdropping procedures are not to be routinely employed as the initial step in
criminal investigations (United States v. Giordano (1974) 416 U.S. 505, 515), “the
government does not need to exhaust all other investigative procedures before resorting
to wiretapping. [Citations.] Nor must ordinary techniques be shown to have been wholly
unsuccessful. [Citations.] Rather, the [authorizing] court must satisfy itself that the
government has used normal techniques but it has encountered difficulties in penetrating
a criminal enterprise or in gathering evidence – to the point where (given the statutory
preference for less intrusive techniques) wiretapping becomes reasonable. [Citations.]”
(United States v. Abou-Saada (1st Cir. 1986) 785 F.2d 1, 11.) “[T]he necessity
requirement does not compel law enforcement agents to use wiretaps only as a last
resort” (United States v. Carneiro (9th Cir. 1988) 861 F.2d 1171, 1181; United States v.
Brown (9th Cir. 1985) 761 F.2d 1272, 1275); “[t]he statute does not mandate the
indiscriminate pursuit to the bitter end of every non-electronic device as to every
telephone and principal in question to a point where the investigation becomes redundant
or impractical or the subjects may be alerted and the entire investigation aborted by
unreasonable insistence upon forlorn hope” (United States v. Baker (9th Cir. 1979) 589
F.2d 1008, 1013). “The overall burden on the government „is not great.‟ [Citations.]”
(United States v. Verdin-Garcia (10th Cir. 2008) 516 F.3d 884, 890.) It “„“need only lay
a „factual predicate‟ sufficient to inform the judge why other methods of investigation are
not sufficient.”‟ [Citation.]” (People v. Leon, supra, 40 Cal.4th at p. 392.)
We recognize that boilerplate recitations of the limitations inherent in certain
methods of investigation, and generalities or statements that are true of most or all

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investigations of the kind at issue here, are insufficient to establish necessity. (United
States v. Blackmon, supra, 273 F.3d at pp. 1210-1211; United States v. Ippolito, supra,
774 F.2d at p. 1486.) Similarly, conclusory statements about the likely outcome of future
investigations carry little weight. (United States v. Kerrigan (9th Cir. 1975) 514 F.2d 35,
38.) “An affidavit composed solely of conclusions unsupported by particular facts gives
no basis for a determination of compliance with [the necessity requirement].” (United
States v. Spagnuolo (9th Cir. 1977) 549 F.2d 705, 710.)
However, “the affidavit here did not simply reiterate conclusory language. It
instead analyzed with particularity the limitations of each alternative investigative
technique in achieving the goals of this investigation. That many of those limitations are
common to most [similar] conspiracy investigations does not necessarily preclude a
finding of necessity. [Citation.]” (People v. Leon, supra, 40 Cal.4th at pp. 389-390.)
Similarly, the fact that some of Hoek‟s statements and conclusions were based on his
training and experience did not render them unworthy of consideration. (See id. at
pp. 388-389.)
Moreover, although “a mere allegation „that a person is a member of a conspiracy
… is not a sufficient reason to obtain a wiretap‟ [citation],” “the fact of a conspiracy is a
circumstance to be considered, along with all the other facts and circumstances, in
determining whether conventional investigative techniques have failed, are unlikely to
succeed if tried, or are too dangerous to try.” (People v. Leon, supra, 40 Cal.4th at
p. 391.) “[I]n many cases, the existence of a conspiracy will suggest not only that there
will be communications in order to plan the crime, but that such planning will occur
almost exclusively during such communications. Furthermore, the existence of the
conspiracy may not only increase the likelihood any given crime will succeed, but also
the likelihood the criminal enterprise will survive the arrest of less than all of its
participants .… In sum, the existence of a conspiracy, while not determinative, is an

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important factor in analyzing the necessity for a wiretap. [Citation.]” (Id. at pp. 391-
392.)34
Here, the affidavit showed that law enforcement officers from multiple
jurisdictions were investigating a series of increasingly violent, possibly gang-related
home invasions that were being committed by at least three, and possibly more,
individuals. Although the investigation was approximately three months old and officers
had employed a variety of conventional techniques, the case against defendants was less
than overwhelming, and the number of conspirators still uncertain.
The affidavit explained that, while surveillance was continuing, its efficacy was
limited both by manpower considerations and by the possibility it would be detected due
to the fact it was taking place in small communities and, in the case of Davis Court, on a
small street. “These facts were sufficient to permit the issuing court to conclude” (United
States v. Smith, supra, 31 F.3d at p. 1300) that further surveillance – at least without
intercepted communications to inform its timing and location – was unlikely to succeed
in producing an adequate case against the target subjects and their coconspirators. (See
United States v. Young (2d Cir. 1987) 822 F.2d 1234, 1237 [surveillance of subject‟s
residence impractical where such surveillance in residential neighborhood likely to be
conspicuous and draw attention to assigned officers]; United States v. Ai Le (E.D.Cal.
2003) 255 F.Supp.2d 1132, 1139 [covert surveillance of residence difficult because of
location in sparsely populated new development].) We do not know whether additional
manpower might have been obtained from other law enforcement agencies, but its
availability is of no consequence. “To show that „other investigative procedures have
been tried and failed‟ the affidavit must reveal that normal investigative techniques have
34 The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has gone so far as to say that “the government
is entitled to more leeway in its investigative methods when it pursues a conspiracy.”
(United States v. McGuire, supra, 307 F.3d at p. 1198.)

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been employed in a good faith effort to determine the identity of those violating the law
and to assemble sufficient evidence to justify their prosecution and that these efforts have
failed to achieve their ends. The good faith effort need not have exhausted all possible
uses of ordinary techniques. What is required is a showing that in the particular
investigation normal investigative techniques employing a normal amount of resources
have failed to make the case within a reasonable period of time.” (United States v.
Spagnuolo, supra, 549 F.2d at p. 710, fn. omitted, italics added.) Moreover, additional
manpower would not have solved the problems caused by the nature and character of the
locations being watched.
The affidavit related the information obtained from individuals, but explained that
almost all were anonymous and/or fearful of retaliation; moreover, the source of
information was not always clear and sometimes was second- or third-hand. It also
explained the problems that likely would be encountered in using known, reliable
confidential informants. These facts were sufficient to permit the issuing court to
conclude that this investigative technique was not likely to be productive. (See People v.
Zepeda, supra, 87 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1206-1207 [finding of necessity supported where
police obtained significant information from confidential or anonymous informants who
were afraid to come forward; in light of demonstrated reluctance and fact offense
appeared to be gang-related, police likely to encounter difficulty finding people willing to
testify at trial]; United States v. Smith, supra, 31 F.3d at pp. 1299-1300 [facts supported
conclusion that continued use of confidential informants not likely to be productive
where police exhausted knowledge of all known informants and knew of no one else who
was willing to provide information or testify]; United States v. Ai Le, supra, 255
F.Supp.2d at p. 1139 [government clearly detailed limitations on traditional investigative
techniques where affidavit explained, for example, that some of its confidential sources
were unwilling to testify, were unavailable for further interviews, and did not know full
extent of target organization‟s operations].)

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The affidavit also discussed the potential use of search warrants. Although “Z”
related that Morrison‟s mother was getting most of the jewelry from the robberies, he did
not say where that jewelry was being kept. Even assuming it was at her house, it could
reasonably be concluded execution of a search warrant would turn up nothing more than
stolen property, which would provide only circumstantial evidence linking the target
subjects to perpetration of the robberies themselves, while alerting those subjects to the
investigation. Moreover, a parole search of Morrison‟s residence was unproductive.
These facts were sufficient to permit the issuing court to conclude the execution of search
warrants, without intercepted conversations to inform their timing, was unlikely to
produce significant evidence.
The affidavit also explained investigators‟ reasons for rejecting the option of
interviewing and/or subpoenaing the target subjects or other potential suspects. The facts
were sufficient to permit the issuing court to conclude such techniques were likely to fail.
(See People v. Zepeda, supra, 87 Cal.App.4th at p. 1206 [government‟s obligation to
show necessity satisfied where alternative investigative procedures, such as directly
questioning defendant and associates, would likely alert subjects to presence and scope of
investigation]; United States v. Smith, supra, 31 F.3d at p. 1300 [affidavit explained that
police did not believe any of participants in conspiracy would testify about it before
grand jury, even under subpoena, without grant of immunity, which would alert other
conspirators to investigation].) By the time the approval for interceptions was requested,
the target subjects had no reason to talk to law enforcement or to testify before a grand
jury without a grant of immunity; given the nature of their alleged crimes, it was
reasonable to assume such a grant would not be forthcoming. Although others close to
them might have been willing to talk in return for a deal, there were no guarantees such a
course of investigation would have been successful, especially since family members
were involved, and failure of this technique would have been extremely detrimental to the
investigation because it would have alerted the suspects without gaining anything in

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return. We do not believe the government is required to attempt a conventional
investigative technique where the likelihood of success is only speculative and the cost of
failure would be great.
The affidavit also furnished facts sufficient to permit the issuing court to conclude
that other conventional investigative techniques had failed or were unlikely to succeed or
too dangerous to try. A commonsense reading of the affidavit makes it clear there were
no known, reliable informants who could get an undercover officer into the group of
conspirators. Concerns expressed about the potential danger in allowing an unfamiliar
informant to attempt to place an undercover officer in the group – even assuming the
identity of one of the anonymous informants could be ascertained – were reasonable.
(See United States v. Smith, supra, 31 F.3d at p. 1300; United States v. Young, supra, 822
F.2d at p. 1237.) Limitations on the information provided by pen registers and telephone
records, while inherent in those methods, nevertheless were such that the issuing court
reasonably could conclude further use would be unproductive. (See ibid.) Additional
trash searches were impractical without additional information. Further camera
surveillance was likely to be thwarted by the lack of good camera angles and the
likelihood the target suspects had been alerted, by apparently widespread knowledge of
the initial camera surveillance, to the government‟s use of that technique, and so would
be on the lookout for further attempts. In addition, the facts contained in the affidavit
were sufficient to permit the issuing court to conclude further use of tracking devices
likely would not succeed.
We recognize that, in the motion to suppress, the defense suggested the
government could have employed a tracking device affixed to the target vehicle by a
strong magnet, or could have had a surveillance camera installed on a light pole,
telephone box, etc., by officers disguised as municipal workers. Such a camera would
have been visible and, according to the defense exhibit, the tracking device would have
been powered by batteries that necessarily had a limited life, thus rendering the efficacy

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of either or both questionable. Moreover, “„courts are reluctant to impose their hindsight
upon law enforcement agencies, and the proponent of the application need not establish
that “every other imaginable mode of investigation would be unsuccessful.”‟ [Citation.]
In particular, „[a]fter-the-fact suggestions by defense attorneys as to how an investigation
might have been handled are entitled to little weight in the analysis.… The fact that the
government could have taken some different or additional steps in its investigation does
not demonstrate that the wiretap orders were issued in error,‟ because „“[t]he government
need not exhaust or explain its failure to exhaust every conceivable investigative
procedure before resorting to wiretapping.”‟ [Citation.]” (People v. Leon, supra, 40
Cal.4th at p. 395; accord, United States v. Carneiro, supra, 861 F.2d at p. 1178.)
“„Courts will not invalidate a wiretap order because defense lawyers are able to suggest
post factum some investigative technique that might have been used and was not. It is
enough that the affidavit explains the … failure of several investigative techniques that
reasonably suggest themselves.‟ [Citation.]” (United States v. Webster (5th Cir. 1984)
734 F.2d 1048, 1055.)
The interceptions in the present case did not violate section 629.52, subdivision
(d). It necessarily follows that they did not violate the Fourth Amendment of the United
States Constitution. (People v. Leon, supra, 40 Cal.4th at p. 396.) Accordingly, the
suppression motion was properly denied.
II
CONTINUANCE OF TRIAL
A. Background
On September 2, 2005, Morrison filed a motion to continue trial, to be heard on
September 8. In support of the motion, Morrison‟s attorney (Foley) declared that he was
“not prepared to proceed to adequately defend” Morrison. Foley relied on the complexity
of the case, volume of documents to be reviewed (almost 3,000 pages of discovery, over
1,100 pages of grand jury transcript, and numerous photographic and audio CD‟s, and

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audio- and videotapes), and the amount of new discovery provided in August by the
district attorney‟s office. Foley also related that he had subpoenaed Morrison‟s records
from the California Youth Authority, and that he intended to file a motion to strike the
gang allegations (§ 995).35
Silva also filed a motion to continue trial, to be heard the same day. In it, his
attorney (Spokes) related that trial was set to begin September 20 and that, over his
objection, a three- to four-week trial in a murder case in which he represented one of the
defendants had been set to begin September 13. Spokes related that he had had to obtain
the services of a new investigator and was encountering difficulty in getting authorization
for payment for sufficient hours for the investigator‟s work.
The motions, in which Martinez and Fouse joined, were heard by Judge Ashley.
In part, the prosecutor noted that this was the fourth request for continuance of this trial,
and suggested waiting to see what was going to happen in Spokes‟s other trial and, if
necessary, to trail this one. Foley represented that he had only had the case for six
months, and that, because of other cases, he had not been able to work exclusively on this
one. Accordingly, he would not be prepared to go to trial on September 20. Judge
Ashley denied the motion, noting that the trial date had been set the previous February.
She also opined that Spokes‟s other case would be resolved so that it would not present
an obstacle to this case. Foley‟s request to be relieved as counsel, on the ground he
would not be ready to go to trial on September 20, was also denied.
At the motions hearing on September 15, Judge Ashley stated that it appeared
Spokes‟s other case was going to go to trial after all, but that, because of in limine
matters, it was unlikely to start until the following week. The anticipated time for that
trial was four or five weeks. Judge Ashley found it appropriate to trail this case to make
sure the other one actually got underway, and then to determine whether to continue to
35 Foley apparently accepted the appointment in this case in March 2005.

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trail this matter or to select a new trial date. Judge Ashley stated that, regardless of what
happened with Spokes‟s other case, this trial would not start on September 20.
On September 20, Spokes related that his other case was in the in limine stage and
that, with delays, it would possibly be a seven-week trial. It was agreed that this case
would trail until September 30 for a further update on Spokes‟s status.
On September 30, Foley filed another motion to continue, to be heard October 4.
In it, he declared that he was not prepared to adequately defend Morrison because, in
pertinent part, 15 of 21 audiotapes provided by the district attorney‟s office in August
were inaudible and, despite his request to that office for new copies, none had been
provided and so he had not been able to listen to them.
Because of recusals and disqualifications, this case ultimately was not called for
trial until October 18, 2005. On October 19, the trial court noted that a continuance
motion had been made and denied close to the date of Judge Ashley‟s recusal, but that the
amount of time that was requested had been pretty much granted due to the delay thus
far. When Foley disagreed, the trial court opted to rehear the continuance motion.
On October 24, Silva‟s and Morrison‟s continuance motions were reheard.
Spokes requested a month in which he could devote all of his time to this matter, without
other cases being set for trial, or hearings in this case. Foley argued that, although
discovery was being provided within the statutory timeframe, some was coming at what
amounted to the very last minute in light of the case‟s complexity, and he requested
adequate time to prepare. The prosecution responded that the audiotapes were all
referenced, and their contents summarized, in prior reports; for the most part, they were
not of percipient witnesses except for the audiotape of Fouse; and the People would not
be seeking to introduce her statement in their case-in-chief.
The trial court observed that the cases were getting old and that everyone had had
them for a long time. It recognized that Foley was the newest attorney on the case, but
observed that discovery was provided within the required timeframe of 30 days before

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trial. It confirmed that new copies of the inaudible tapes were provided within a few days
after the prosecution was notified of the problem, and that that evidence would not be
used in the People‟s case-in-chief in any event. The court further noted that it would be
“dark” on October 27 and 28, although counsel would be reviewing the jury
questionnaires then. It recognized that the case would be consuming for all counsel and
that counsel had other cases as well, but noted that “there‟s never a perfect time” and
denied the continuance motions.
On January 3, 2006, during the course of jury selection, Martinez‟s attorney
(Rozelle) moved for a continuance based on new discovery, some of which he received
on December 29. One of the items received then was a video CD of the vehicle chase,
which, Rozelle argued, was exculpatory in terms of the attempted murder counts and
needed to be enhanced or still photographs made from it. Other counsel joined, and
complained of reports and memoranda concerning other similar robberies that only
recently were received. When the trial court asked when the prosecution first became
aware of the chase video, one of the prosecutors (Baker) responded that it was about a
week and a half earlier, when Lieutenant Allen inquired about what type of questions he
was going to be asked and, when told the importance of his testimony regarding the
pursuit route, asked whether Baker had the video. The district attorney‟s investigator
tracked it to the Sheriff‟s Department Air Squad, obtained a copy, and gave copies to the
defense. The court observed that the video was a “very crucial piece of evidence”
concerning the chase and attempted murder counts on the two peace officers, and
acknowledged that everyone might want to have it enhanced or broken down. It
suggested the prosecution might have to change the order in which it presented its
evidence to accommodate the defense. The next day, the issue of the reports and
memoranda having been resolved among counsel, the trial court denied the continuance
motions. To allow all parties to prepare, however, the court directed counsel to discuss
changing the order of presentation of evidence.

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On Monday, January 9, 2006, after the conclusion of opening statements, Spokes
requested a two-week “recess” in light of the amount of new discovery received since the
beginning of trial (including some the preceding Friday), the fact he had not had the
normal trial preparation time due to his other case, and the fact he was still trying to find
someone who could enhance the chase video. Other counsel joined, with Foley asserting
there was still discovery outstanding. After determining what discovered information
was going to be utilized as evidence by the prosecution, the trial court denied the request
to continue. It did, however, state it would consider evidentiary sanctions, including
evidence preclusion, if appropriate.
Morrison and Silva now contend the trial court abused its discretion, and violated
their rights to due process and effective assistance of counsel, by refusing to continue the
trial.36 They say their defense attorneys were not prepared for trial; hence, the trial
court‟s refusal to grant a continuance resulted in either the denial of fundamental
constitutional rights that is not excused by want of prejudice, or is the type of error that
defies a demonstration of prejudice. Either way, they say, reversal is required. We
disagree.
B. Analysis
“Continuances shall be granted only upon a showing of good cause. Neither the
convenience of the parties nor a stipulation of the parties is in and of itself good cause.”
(§ 1050, subd. (e).) “[T]he decision whether or not to grant a continuance of a matter
rests within the sound discretion of the trial court. [Citations.]” (People v. Beames
(2007) 40 Cal.4th 907, 920.) A trial court‟s discretion in this regard is broad (People v.
Smithey (1999) 20 Cal.4th 936, 1011); “[t]he party challenging a ruling on a continuance
36 To the extent Martinez and Fouse join this argument, they do so in connection
with their claim the jury panel was tainted by disclosure of the gang allegations, which
we will discuss in part III, post. In any event, our analysis applies equally to them.

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bears the burden of establishing an abuse of discretion, and an order denying a
continuance is seldom successfully attacked. [Citation.]” (People v. Beames, supra, at
p. 920.)
Under the state law standard, “discretion is abused whenever the court exceeds the
bounds of reason, all of the circumstances being considered. [Citations.]” (People v.
Giminez (1975) 14 Cal.3d 68, 72; People v. Beames, supra, 40 Cal.4th at p. 920.)
“[D]iscretion „may not be exercised so as to deprive the defendant or his attorney of a
reasonable opportunity to prepare.‟ [Citation.] „To effectuate the constitutional rights to
counsel and to due process of law, an accused must … have a reasonable opportunity to
prepare a defense and respond to the charges.‟ [Citation.]” (People v. Roldan (2005) 35
Cal.4th 646, 670., disapproved on other grounds in People v. Doolin (2009) 45 Cal.4th
390, 421, fn. 22.) Moreover, “the denial of a continuance may be so arbitrary as to deny
due process. [Citation.] However, not every denial of a request for more time can be
said to violate due process, even if the party seeking the continuance thereby fails to offer
evidence. [Citation.] Although „a myopic insistence upon expeditiousness in the face of
a justifiable request for delay can render the right to defend with counsel an empty
formality[,] … [t]here are no mechanical tests for deciding when a denial of a
continuance is so arbitrary as to violate due process.‟ [Citation.] Instead, „[t]he answer
must be found in the circumstances present in every case, particularly in the reasons
presented to the trial judge at the time the request is denied.‟ [Citations.]” (People v.
Beames, supra, 40 Cal.4th at p. 921; accord, Ungar v. Sarafite (1964) 376 U.S. 575, 589-
590.) When the motion to continue is made during trial, the court “„“must consider not
only the benefit which the moving party anticipates but also the likelihood that such
benefit will result, the burden on other witnesses, jurors and the court and, above all,
whether substantial justice will be accomplished or defeated by a granting of the
motion.”‟ [Citations.]” (People v. Barnett (1998) 17 Cal.4th 1044, 1126.)

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It has been said that the fact “defense counsel had time to prepare is irrelevant to a
determination of whether in fact counsel was prepared. A criminal defendant is entitled
to a prepared counsel, not merely to a counsel who had time to prepare.” (People v.
Fontana (1982) 139 Cal.App.3d 326, 333.) This does not mean, however, that an
attorney need only profess unpreparedness in order to either obtain a continuance of trial
or reversal of any ensuing conviction on appeal. Nor does it mean a trial court must
accept, without question or consideration of the surrounding circumstances, even the
most credible attorney‟s assessment of his or her state of preparedness. (See People v.
Gray (2005) 37 Cal.4th 168, 225.)
By the time of the September 2005 request for continuance, Morrison‟s trial
attorney had had the case for over five months, Silva‟s attorney apparently much longer.
As might be expected in a case involving multiple victims, defendants, witnesses, and
law enforcement jurisdictions, counsel were still obtaining information, both through
their own efforts and discovery. We need not decide whether Judge Ashley erred by
refusing to continue the September 20 trial date: trial ultimately did not begin for another
month. All discovery that had been provided as of the start of trial was timely under
section 1054.7. Although additional information was provided to the defense during the
course of trial, Morrison and Silva do not point to any occasion on which either was
required to be prepared to cross-examine on, or otherwise address, such information
within a short time following its receipt, and our review of the record reveals no such
occasion. Significantly, jury selection and in limine motions consumed almost three
months, during which counsel had a further opportunity to digest the bulk of the
information and prepare for the evidentiary portion of trial.37 (See People v. Davis
37 Trial began on October 18, 2005. Jury selection began on October 24 and finished
on December 15. On that date, jurors were released until January 5, 2006, with the court
and counsel to resume proceedings on January 3. Proceedings resumed outside the

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(1954) 43 Cal.2d 661, 668.) While we recognize that preparation time unfettered by
court appearances or other obligations may be the ideal state of affairs, we doubt it is one
that frequently reflects the reality of an attorney‟s practice. In any event, we cannot say
the trial court erred by refusing to grant further time under all the circumstances of this
case.
Having concluded the trial court did not abuse its discretion, we further find
Morrison and Silva have failed to establish that the denial of a continuance rendered
either trial counsel‟s assistance constitutionally ineffective or otherwise violated
defendants‟ constitutional rights. (People v. Gray, supra, 37 Cal.4th at p. 225; People v.
Roldan, supra, 35 Cal.4th at p. 671.) A defendant who raises an ineffective assistance of
counsel claim must establish deficient performance based on the four corners of the
record. (People v. Cunningham (2001) 25 Cal.4th 926, 1003.) Reviewing courts
generally are reluctant to overturn convictions on the ground that trial counsel was
inadequately prepared, absent a specific showing of what favorable evidence counsel
might have obtained or how counsel might better have conducted the trial. (See People v.
Coleman (1988) 46 Cal.3d 749, 773.) Neither Morrison nor Silva has made such a
specific showing here, but instead both merely assert that, had counsel been prepared, it
is reasonably probable a more favorable determination would have resulted. They say the
rule requiring a specific showing should not apply where trial counsel steadfastly asserted
they were unprepared, and apparently would have us presume prejudice under such
circumstances. We decline to do so. (See Strickland v. Washington (1984) 466 U.S. 668,
692 [prejudice is presumed only where assistance of counsel is actually or constructively
denied altogether, there is state interference with counsel‟s assistance, or where counsel
is burdened by actual conflict of interest].)
presence of the jury on January 3, 2006; opening statements were made on January 9; and
the first witness was called on January 10.

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III
DISCLOSURE OF GANG ALLEGATIONS
A. Background
As previously described, the amended indictment alleged that the three male
defendants committed the majority of the charged offenses for the benefit of or in
association with a criminal street gang, in violation of section 186.22, subdivision (b)(1).
At the outset of trial, Martinez moved to “bifurcate the gang evidence.” It was agreed
that that motion, in which all defendants subsequently joined, would be heard in
conjunction with Morrison‟s motion to strike the gang allegations (§ 995).
Also at the outset of trial, all parties agreed on a 19-page questionnaire to be filled
out by prospective jurors who were not excused for hardship. The document included
questions about where the prospective juror lived; his or her family and members of the
household; education; employment; hobbies and activities; television programs watched;
Internet access and use; newspaper reading habits; gun ownership; military service; law
enforcement and judicial contacts; opinion about the criminal justice system, including
opinions about prosecutors and defense attorneys and level of agreement or disagreement
with things such as the presumption of innocence, whether someone must be guilty if he
or she was arrested, whether a defendant should testify, and whether police officers are
more likely to tell the truth than other witnesses; the prospective juror‟s ability to keep an
open mind until he or she heard all the evidence; ability to separately evaluate the
evidence regarding each count and each defendant; prior jury service; feelings about the
crime of conspiracy, law enforcement techniques such as wiretapping and surveillance,
and DNA; effect of the fact the defendants were in jail on the ability to be fair and
impartial; and whether the prospective juror had formed an opinion about the case as a
result of having been asked to fill out the questionnaire.
The questionnaire also contained a section titled “PUBLICITY,” the introductory
paragraphs of which stated:

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“Between the months of May and September, 2003, a series of residential
robberies occurred in Stanislaus and Merced Counties. On September 10,
2003, law enforcement officers pursued a vehicle into the city of Turlock,
where there were gunshots and suspects fled from the vehicle. [¶] … [¶]
“ANTHONY LAWRENCE MARTINEZ, DAVID WAYNE MORRISON
AND DAVID ANTHONY SILVA have been arrested and charged with
several residential robberies, attempted murder of a citizen and two peace
officers, sexual assault crimes, assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping,
conspiracy to commit robbery, with gang and firearm enhancements.
DARLENE RENEE FOUSE has been arrested and charged with residential
robberies, assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery and
attempted murder of peace officers.”
The section‟s questions dealt generally with exposure to, and the effects of,
pretrial publicity. Question 83 read, “There has been a great deal of publicity over street
gang activity, including a public access channel program put on by the county sheriff‟s
office called Guns Gangs and Violence,” then asked whether the prospective juror had
seen or heard about this program; if so, when; and whether the prospective juror had
watched it more than once. Question 86 stated, “The jurors who sit on this case will be
expected to base their decision entirely on the evidence produced in court. If you have
already formed opinions about this case, can you set them aside and base your decision
entirely on the evidence presented in this courtroom?”
In the portion of the questionnaire titled “MISCELLANEOUS,” question 92 asked
whether the prospective juror believed certain ethnic or racial groups were more likely to
commit crimes and, if so, to explain. Question 93 asked whether the prospective juror
believed certain ethnic or racial groups were more likely to be gang members and, if so,
to explain. Question 94 asked whether the prospective juror had strong attitudes about
gang violence; if so, to explain; and, if so, whether that would affect his or her ability to
be fair and impartial. Question 95 asked whether the prospective juror had seen signs of
gang activity in his or her community; if so, to explain; and, if so, whether that would
affect his or her ability to be fair and impartial.

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Jury selection commenced on October 24, and a number of prospective jurors
filled out the questionnaire. The motion to bifurcate was pending; it was argued and
taken under submission on October 26, and granted on November 3. In part, the court
stated that, having reviewed the grand jury testimony of the People‟s two gang experts, “I
did not see anything in there that put a gang mark on this particular crime other than the
overall picture of … prior conduct involving Mr. Morrison, Martinez and Silva. And
reviewing the – I‟ve reviewed the jury questionnaires through the letter D, as in David.
And it seems to me that the most – I don‟t know how to describe this, but the greatest, the
more serious reaction comes from the gang issue than the crimes themself [sic], in terms
of you may have more than are concerned with the type of crime and whether they can be
fair in a case like that, but the more vociferous opposition is to the gang issue .…” The
court also expressed concern that gang issues involving the male defendants might “bleed
over” to Fouse, as she was not charged with any gang enhancements.
In discussing the logistics of bifurcation, Silva expressed a preference that
prospective jurors not be told there would be two separate phases of trial, but instead that
there be no mention about gangs at all. When the possibility was raised that the parties
might waive jury trial on the gang enhancement allegations, the court noted that a jury
trial waiver would eliminate the need to examine for cause prospective jurors, “some [of
whom] have some very vehement opposition to the mention of the word gangs, … and
we‟re going to get a lot of cause disqualifications because of that issue .…”
The next day court was in session, November 7, was the first day of challenges for
cause. At the beginning of the court session, Silva moved for an order quashing the jury
panel. Spokes argued that, as a result of his having been “thrown into this trial with little
or no time to prepare” due to his other case, “there were a number of issues in motions in
limine that were not heard prior to the final approval of the jury questionnaire.”
Consequently, all prospective jurors who had not been excused, had filled out the
questionnaire prior to the court‟s ruling on the bifurcation motion, so that gang

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information of little probative value as to the male defendants and no probative value as
to Fouse, and which the court had already ruled was too inflammatory for the jury to
consider, was now before the prospective jurors. Spokes argued that the prejudice was
clearly demonstrated by the answers to the gang-related questions in the questionnaire.
The other defendants joined the motion to quash. After further argument, in which
the prosecution offered to waive its right to a jury trial on the enhancement allegations so
that the court could instruct prospective jurors that they would not be hearing evidence
concerning gang allegations, the court denied the motion. It noted that it had read all of
the available questionnaires, which contained 107 total questions, some with subparts.
When considering all the questions that were asked, it did not believe the statement
describing the crimes and gang enhancement allegations were sufficient to taint the jury.
It did say, however, that it would give a curative admonition if it determined, at some
point, that it was required.
Defendants now contend the trial court abused its discretion by denying the
motion to quash the jury panel. They say that, by asking about attitudes toward gangs
and gang violence, the jury questionnaire infused the trial with irrelevant, inflammatory,
and highly prejudicial innuendo, so as to deny their rights to a fair and impartial jury and
render the trial fundamentally unfair. We conclude the trial court did not err.
B. Analysis38
“Due process means a jury capable and willing to decide the case solely on the
evidence before it .…” (Smith v. Phillips (1982) 455 U.S. 209, 217.) “In essence, the
right to jury trial guarantees to the criminally accused a fair trial by a panel of impartial,
38 Since the People do not claim the issue was forfeited by defendants‟ initial
approval of the questionnaires, their failure to have the bifurcation motion determined
before the questionnaires were distributed, their failure to exhaust their peremptory
challenges, or their acceptance of the jury, we need not address defendants‟ related
claims of ineffective assistance of counsel.

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„indifferent‟ jurors. The failure to accord an accused a fair hearing violates even the
minimal standards of due process. [Citations.]” (Irvin v. Dowd (1961) 366 U.S. 717,
722.)
Evidence of gang membership has a “highly inflammatory impact” (People v. Cox
(1991) 53 Cal.3d 618, 660, disapproved on other grounds in People v. Doolin, supra, 45
Cal.4th at p. 421, fn. 2) and “creates a risk the jury will improperly infer the defendant
has a criminal disposition and is therefore guilty of the offense charged” (People v.
Carter (2003) 30 Cal.4th 1166, 1194). The same is true of gang-related evidence,
particularly regarding criminal activities. (People v. Bojorquez (2002) 104 Cal.App.4th
335, 345.) Thus, when, as here, evidence relevant to the gang enhancement has little or
no probative value with respect to guilt, bifurcation of trial on the gang enhancement
allegation(s) is appropriate. (People v. Hernandez (2004) 33 Cal.4th 1040, 1049.)
The fact the trial court in this case determined the jury should hear no gang
evidence in the guilt phase of trial does not mean, however, that information that several
defendants were charged with gang enhancements, coupled with limited questioning of
some prospective jurors on their attitudes toward gangs, tainted the jury beyond repair.
As the California Supreme Court has stated, “We believe the trial court possesses broad
discretion to determine whether or not possible bias or prejudice against the defendant
has contaminated the entire venire to such an extreme that its discharge is required.
Defendants cite no case, and we have found none, indicating that such a drastic remedy is
appropriate as a matter of course merely because a few prospective jurors have made
inflammatory remarks. Unquestionably, further investigation and more probing voir dire
examination may be called for in such situations, but discharging the entire venire is a
remedy that should be reserved for the most serious occasions of demonstrated bias or
prejudice, where interrogation and removal of the offending venirepersons would be
insufficient protection for the defendant.” (People v. Medina (1990) 51 Cal.3d 870, 889,
affd. sub nom. Medina v. California (1992) 505 U.S. 437.) In determining whether the

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panel as a whole could not be fair and impartial, we consider the totality of the
circumstances surrounding jury selection, keeping in mind that the conclusion of the trial
court with respect to claims both of individual juror bias and group bias is entitled to
great deference. (People v. Martinez (1991) 228 Cal.App.3d 1456, 1465, 1466-1467.)
We conclude the trial court here did not err in declining to discharge the entire
panel. That a number of prospective jurors had strongly held, harsh attitudes towards
gangs and gang violence is not surprising, but defendants fail to persuade us that these
individuals could not be, and were not, weeded out through the normal course of jury
selection. This is so even though, with the exception of one prospective juror, no voir
dire was conducted specifically with respect to the gang-related questions.39 Instead, the
court questioned prospective jurors in general terms about their attitudes concerning
39 The trial court asked the one juror, “And you also indicated that you had a strong
attitude about gang violence, question number 94. And the question after that would be
whether that would affect your ability to be fair and impartial. [¶] Would you explain
that to me, sir?” The prospective juror replied, “Too much damage going around with
these youngsters. I don‟t understand it. I was raised to be respectful to others, and I see
too many youngsters that are gang bangers. And it works the same even if you‟re not a
gang banger, and they do damage and not belonging in a gang.” The trial court then
informed the prospective juror that he may hear evidence about gang issues in this case,
and asked if he would be able to set aside his feelings and base his decision solely on the
evidence presented at trial. Defendants subsequently objected to the court conducting
voir dire on the gang questions despite the fact that, as of that point, the People had not
agreed to waive a jury trial on the gang allegations. After extensive discussion on how to
handle the situation, during which all defense counsel stated they would not be asking
any follow-up questions with respect to the gang issues in the questionnaire, it was
decided that the parties could challenge for cause by referring to the number of the
particular question, the answer to which, in their view, established cause for excusal. The
court also determined that if, based on the written responses, it found cause to challenge,
it would excuse the prospective juror on its own motion. The method was used on more
than one occasion. In addition, the trial court permitted the parties to question potential
jurors on gang issues outside the presence of the other members of the panel if necessary
to avoid any taint. Thus, there was no lack of opportunity or means to delve beyond the
answers in the questionnaire. (Cf. People v. Chapman (1993) 15 Cal.App.4th 136, 140-
141.)

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certain types of offenses and whether the prospective juror could assure the court that he
or she would base his or her decisions solely on the evidence presented throughout the
trial and not on any beliefs or prejudices he or she might have.
People v. Ayala (2000) 24 Cal.4th 243 is instructive. In that case, the defendant‟s
brother, Ronaldo Ayala, was tried for, and sentenced to death on, crimes arising from the
same events for which the defendant was on trial. Because of the news coverage of
Ronaldo Ayala‟s case, the defendant moved to dismiss the jury panel or, alternatively, to
continue trial. The motions were denied. (Id. at p. 270.) In finding no error, the
California Supreme Court stated: “[W]e observe that there was no need to discharge the
jury panel unless, after the jury was selected, jurors were sworn who, because of their
knowledge of the trial or sentence, or both, of Ronaldo Ayala, could not be fair in
defendant‟s case.… The parties agree that defendant challenged 36 panelists for cause on
the basis of their knowledge of the Ronaldo Ayala case, and that of those, 13 were
excused, leaving 23. Defendant acknowledges that those 23 prospective jurors agreed
that their knowledge of the Ronaldo Ayala case would not affect their ability to try his
fairly. He claims, however, that the opposite must be true because Ronaldo Ayala‟s
death sentence was reported on television and in the newspapers, and the prospective
jurors were exposed to the information. [¶] That, however, is not enough. Defendant‟s
claim is purely speculative. He acknowledges that the panelists testified that they would
not be improperly affected by their knowledge of the sentence in Ronaldo Ayala‟s case.
He produces no evidence to support his claim that the jury panel was irremediably tainted
by exposure to Ronaldo Ayala‟s case and should have been excused.” (Id. at p. 271.)
Here, the questionnaires revealed that only one juror (Juror No. 5) had ever seen
the program on gangs (question 83). All jurors said they could base a decision entirely
on the evidence presented in court (question 86), and could be fair to both sides despite
anything they may have heard or read about the case (question 87). Only Juror Nos. 6, 9,
and 10 believed certain ethnic or racial groups were more likely to commit crimes

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(question 92) or be gang members (question 93). As an explanation, Juror No. 6 wrote,
“I think [H]ispanics have more gangs.” Juror No. 9 wrote, “Because environment raised
in does not provide enough opportunities as in [sic] does in some other areas/races.” On
voir dire, the juror explained, “I‟m not sure if statistics prove it, but I think they do. If the
education systems in certain neighborhoods aren‟t as good as other neighborhoods, and
there‟s more gangs, et cetera, in certain neighborhoods, so if they‟re in that area, they‟re
more likely to fall into whatever the patterns of that area are.” The juror stated that his or
her feelings or attitudes would not carry over into judging the case if he or she heard from
witnesses of a certain racial group or if any of the defendants belonged to a particular
racial group. In response to question 92, Juror No. 10 wrote, “Gangs seem to be more
ethnic – mainly Spanish, etc.” In response to question 93, this juror wrote, “Poverty and
low income, etc. have alot [sic] to do with it.” On voir dire, the juror said he or she
would be able to set personal feelings aside and judge the evidence fairly regardless of
the race or ethnicity of any of the defendants, because “everyone is individual.”
Juror Nos. 2, 7, 10, and 11 did not have strong attitudes about gang violence
(question 94). The rest of the jurors answered question 94 affirmatively. When asked to
explain, Juror No. 1 wrote, “I don‟t like it and wish it would stop,” but also that it would
not affect the juror‟s ability to be fair and impartial. On voir dire, the juror reiterated that
he or she would base a decision solely on the evidence and not on any prejudice or fears
about certain issues in the case. Juror No. 3 wrote, “I don‟t like it.” Juror No. 4 wrote, “I
don‟t like it! It is sooo wrong.” During voir dire, the juror reiterated that he or she would
base a decision solely on the evidence presented at trial and not on any stereotypes or
beliefs about the particular crimes. Juror No. 4 further expressed agreement with the
presumption of innocence. Juror No. 5 wrote, “There‟s a big problem in Modesto,” but it
would not affect the ability to be fair and impartial. Juror No. 6 wrote, “I think all
violence is unacceptable,” but this would not affect the ability to be fair and impartial.
Juror No. 8 wrote, “They can be very violent and can cause big problems,” but this would

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not affect the ability to be fair and impartial. Juror No. 9 wrote, “Don‟t like it,” but that
this would not affect the ability to be fair and impartial. Juror No. 12 wrote, “I am
against it.”
With the exception of Juror No. 10, jurors either had seen no signs of gang activity
in their communities, or had only seen graffiti (question 95). Juror No. 9, who had not
seen signs of gang activity in the community, nevertheless wrote, “But schools are very
strict b/c of it. Colors, uniform codes, etc.” Juror No. 10, who had seen signs of gang
activity, did not specify what kind, but wrote, “Lately it‟s more in the papers.”
None of the alternate jurors had viewed the program on gangs (question 83), and
all could base a decision entirely on the evidence presented in court (question 86), and
could be fair to both sides despite anything he or she may have heard or read about the
case (question 87). None of them believed certain ethnic or racial groups were more
likely to commit crimes (question 92) or be gang members (question 93); in response to
question 93, Alternate Juror No. 5 wrote, “More about economic backgrounds in my
opinion.” Alternate Juror Nos. 3, 4, 5, and 6 did not have strong attitudes about gang
violence (question 94). Asked to explain an affirmative answer to question 94, Alternate
Juror No. 1 wrote, “I would like to see gang violence off our streets and that are [sic]
young people become useful in the community,” but it would not affect the ability to be
fair and impartial. Alternate Juror No. 2 wrote, “It‟s wrong,” but this would not affect the
ability to be fair and impartial. Alternate Juror No. 7 write, “I think it is the no. 1 cause
of street crime,” but this would not affect the ability to be fair and impartial. On voir
dire, the alternate juror assured the court that he or she would base a decision in the case
solely on the evidence and instructions, and not on any preconceived notions or
prejudices. Alternate Juror No. 8 wrote, “I think gang violence is always too extreme
their choice of violence is extreme.” As to whether this would affect the ability to be fair
and impartial, he or she wrote, “Unknown it depends on circumstances – no.”

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Alternate Juror No. 1 had not seen signs of gang activity in the community
(question 95), but wrote, “I‟ve not seen it personally but certainly I‟m aware of this
problem.” Alternate Juror Nos. 3, 5, and 6 had not seen signs of gang activity in the
community. Alternate Juror No. 2 wrote, “I live next to park & I see graffiti on the
fences & colors people are wearing[.]” Alternate Juror No. 4 wrote, “I am always
respectful/they are always respectful in return./I teach kids (some are involved in gangs),”
but this would not affect his or her ability to be fair and impartial. Alternate Juror No. 7
had seen graffiti and groups of people wearing certain colors. Alternate Juror No. 8
wrote, “I see a lot of young kids trying to be gang members they dress and act like them.”
When asked if this would affect his or her ability to be fair and impartial, the alternate
juror wrote, “No – a lot of gang members are usually not members just acquaintances.”
Reviewing the foregoing responses to the questionnaires and on voir dire, and
considering the totality of the circumstances surrounding jury selection (People v.
Martinez, supra, 228 Cal.App.3d at p. 1465), we conclude defendants‟ claim of
irreparable taint lacks support in the record (see People v. Ayala, supra, 24 Cal.4th at
p. 271). Significantly, prospective jurors‟ views on, and attitudes toward, gangs were not
disseminated to other prospective jurors. (Cf. Mach v. Stewart (9th Cir. 1997) 137 F.3d
630, 631-634; Paschal v. United States (5th Cir. 1962) 306 F.2d 398, 399-401.) The sole
exception, described in footnote 40, ante, involved general views that were not
suggestive of any kind of special expertise or knowledge or predetermination of guilt, and
were not likely to have any effect on other prospective jurors. The questionnaire
responses of the trial jurors and alternates themselves were mild and not particularly
inflammatory, and did not indicate bias that could not be set aside in favor of a verdict
based solely on the evidence produced at trial.
“To hold that the mere existence of any preconceived notion as to the guilt or
innocence of an accused, without more, is sufficient to rebut the presumption of a
prospective juror‟s impartiality would be to establish an impossible standard. It is

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sufficient if the juror can lay aside his impression or opinion and render a verdict based
on the evidence presented in court. [Citations.]” (Irvin v. Dowd, supra, 366 U.S. at
p. 723.) Under the circumstances of this case, the trial court did not abuse its discretion
in concluding that discharge of the entire panel was not necessary to ensure rendition of a
verdict based solely on the evidence. (See People v. Medina, supra, 51 Cal.3d at p. 889.)
In so holding, we reject any claim that the trial was infused with highly
inflammatory suggestions about defendants‟ criminal propensity and that jurors likely
considered the gang issue in the course of their deliberative processes. It is belied by the
record. The gang issue simply did not permeate the trial. The court instructed the trial
jurors and alternates, immediately before opening statements, that they “must determine
the facts from the evidence received in the trial and not from my [sic] other source” and
that the fact a defendant had been charged with a crime was not evidence of guilt. When
evidence was presented, jurors were informed to which count(s) it pertained, and the
court read the charges to them. In so doing, it did not read the gang enhancement
allegations. No evidence pertaining to gangs or gang activity was presented at trial, with
the exception that, when Rozelle asked M.J. whether there was any kind of talk that to
him sounded ethnic, M.J. replied, “It sound – it sounded like – like gang talk.” At the
conclusion of evidence, the trial court instructed jurors, inter alia, that the instructions
previously given continued to apply, and that they must decide all questions of fact in the
case from the evidence received in the trial and not from any other source. Jurors were
further instructed that evidence consisted “of the testimony of witnesses, writings,
material objects or anything presented to the senses and offered to prove the existence or
nonexistence of a fact.” (Italics added.) We presume jurors understood and followed
these instructions. (People v. Holt (1997) 15 Cal.4th 619, 662.

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IV
VOICE IDENTIFICATION TESTIMONY
A. Background
Silva moved, in limine, to exclude testimony by Detective Campbell regarding his
opinion about the identity of the persons whose voices were heard on the tape recordings
of the intercepted cell phone conversations, as well as any transcripts of those recordings
that purported to identify the participants by name. He asserted that the tape recordings
could not be authenticated without corroborating testimony from someone who was
personally familiar with Silva‟s voice, was present at the time of the conversations, or
was a participant in the conversations. Silva further claimed that the voice identification
by Campbell violated due process because Silva was the only suspect in a one-voice
lineup, which was thus impermissibly suggestive. The other defendants joined. The
People argued that Campbell had become sufficiently familiar with defendants‟ voices so
as to be able to identify them in the tape recordings, and that other circumstantial
evidence sufficiently identified the speakers.
An Evidence Code section 402 hearing was held. Detective Campbell testified
that, during the course of his investigation in this case, he had listened to the telephone
calls that were intercepted and reviewed the transcripts of those calls, and he recognized
the voice of each individual named in the transcripts.
Campbell recognized Morrison‟s voice from listening to numerous telephone calls
consisting of those on the wiretap and, after Morrison‟s arrest, jail phone calls. He also
listened to recordings of five to 10 jail visits for Morrison.
Campbell was able to recognize Silva‟s voice for the same reasons, and he was
able to distinguish Silva‟s voice from the others in the intercepted telephone calls. He
also was personally present during part of Silva‟s postarrest interview, and he personally
seized some of Silva‟s clothing. Campbell was with Silva for no more than 10 minutes
on that occasion. Campbell listened to dozens of postarrest calls for Silva. Jail inmates

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were limited to an hour per call, and Silva often used the whole hour. Thus, it amounted
to hours and hours of phone calls. Campbell had heard the wiretapped calls before the
arrest; after the arrest, he listened to those calls again.
One of the intercepted calls allegedly involved Terry Silva, Silva‟s mother;
Campbell was able to recognize her voice from the intercepted calls, phone calls made at
the time of her arrest, and, after she was released, numerous phone calls between her and
Silva. In addition, Campbell spoke to her in person when he interviewed her following
her arrest. The interview lasted approximately 30 minutes to an hour. With respect to the
individual identified as Virginia “Ginger” Ellsworth, Campbell recognized her voice
from phone calls captured during the wiretap between her and Silva, and, after her arrest,
phone calls she made from the jail. She identified herself on at least one of those calls.
Campbell was able to distinguish her voice from Fouse‟s voice.
As for Martinez, Campbell was able to identify his voice from the intercepted calls
between him and Morrison, as well as from phone calls he made from the jail following
his arrest. Although Martinez and Morrison did not identify themselves when talking to
each other, a pin register gave information that allowed authorities to determine who was
actually registered to the telephone number.
Campbell did not sit in on or listen to Martinez‟s or Morrison‟s interviews.40 He
did, however, hear a phone call made to Morrison. The caller, Keith Meyers, was tracked
down through subscriber information. Campbell talked to Meyers in person and played
the tape of the telephone call for him, and Meyers identified himself and Morrison. In
addition, Campbell engaged in a little bit of small talk with Morrison after his arrest,
while the male defendants were at a hospital to get blood collected in obedience to a
search warrant. Also, Campbell had brief contact with Morrison and Martinez on August
40 At trial, Campbell testified that he reviewed a taped interview conducted with
Martinez, and one conducted with Morrison, at the sheriff‟s department.

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12, 2003, before their arrests, when they were stopped by Turlock police officers.
Campbell stood by while Morrison was talking to someone else, and he personally asked
Morrison one question. On this occasion, Campbell listened to Morrison talk for a few
minutes.
Campbell was able to identify Fouse‟s voice from intercepted phone calls, around
a dozen jailhouse telephone calls, and from monitoring her interview the day she was
arrested. At least three of the wiretapped calls contained Fouse‟s voice. All were on
Silva‟s phone. On one occasion, she was with him at a Taco Bell when a call came in
from his mother. While Silva was ordering food, Fouse got on the phone and talked to
Terry Silva for a minute or two. During this call, Fouse identified herself by her
nickname, “Shady.” The other calls were on September 9, when Silva called her to be
the driver, and later that evening, when she was on the phone, talking about all the police
in Turlock.
The male defendants were in 12-man cells, each of which contained a telephone.41
Prisoners were allowed to use the telephone whenever the jail had it turned on. Jail
phone calls were identified primarily by location. Authorities could determine which cell
the call originated in, look up that phone, and check the outgoing call and the telephone
numbers of known family members. Silva would call his mother or his girlfriend, and
would sometimes identify himself by first name. Sometimes he could be identified by
the content of the conversation and the fact the phone number called was that of his
mother. Martinez also would identify himself on phone calls by first name. With respect
to jail visits, when defendants initially were booked, Campbell made a request to the
jail‟s staff to tape every visit defendants received. In addition, the parties to the visits
were logged in.
41 Campbell believed the three men were all in the same cell. He did not know how
many inmates actually were housed in the cell.

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The trial court denied the motion to exclude the evidence. The court found there
was a sufficient showing to allow Campbell to testify that the various voices sounded
alike to him. It cautioned, however, that it must be made clear that he was not an expert
witness, and that the prosecution also needed to establish how he was able to make his
comparison of the voices and reach his conclusion. The court also determined that jurors
would be instructed to decide whether the voices were the same. Based on what the court
heard in the Evidence Code section 402 hearing, however, it found sufficient preliminary
authentication to allow that issue to go to the jury, despite the single-voice identification.
Consequently, a number of intercepted conversations were admitted, as described in the
statement of facts, ante. In addition, Campbell testified that the people involved in the
conversations sounded similar to voices with which he was familiar, and on what he
based that opinion, and he was cross-examined on the subject. Before the tapes were
played, jurors were instructed: “Ladies and gentlemen, the witness has testified that the
voices sounded similar to him, but it will be ultimately your decision whether or not the
voices that are heard on the tapes are belonging to the defendants and whether the ones
that are identified as belonging to them are the same persons on the various recordings
that you will hear.”
Silva and Morrison now contend the trial court‟s ruling was erroneous and
constituted a prejudicial violation of due process. They reiterate that the recordings were
not authenticated, and that the voice identification procedure was impermissibly
suggestive. We find no error.
B. Analysis
1. Authentication
A tape recording is considered a “writing” under the rules of evidence. (Evid.
Code, § 250.) As such, it must be authenticated to be admissible. (Id., § 1401.)
“Authentication of a writing means (a) the introduction of evidence sufficient to sustain a
finding that it is the writing that the proponent of the evidence claims it is or (b) the

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establishment of such facts by any other means provided by law.” (Id., § 1400.) In short,
a recording “is authenticated by testimony or other evidence „that it accurately depicts
what it purports to show.‟ [Citation.]” (People v. Mayfield (1997) 14 Cal.4th 668, 747.)
It need not necessarily be authenticated by the means set out in sections 1410-1421 of the
Evidence Code (Evid. Code, § 1410; People v. Olguin (1994) 31 Cal.App.4th 1355,
1372); “[c]ircumstantial evidence, content and location are all valid means of
authentication [citations]” (People v. Gibson (2001) 90 Cal.App.4th 371, 383).
The existence of authentication constitutes a preliminary fact. (Evid. Code, § 403,
subd. (a)(3); (Fakhoury v. Magner (1972) 25 Cal.App.3d 58, 65.) Accordingly, it is first
determined by the trial court, but is then subject to redetermination by the jury. (Evid.
Code, § 403, subds. (a)(3) & (c)(1); People v. Fonville (1973) 35 Cal.App.3d 693, 708-
709.) When the existence of a preliminary fact is at issue, “the proffered evidence is
inadmissible unless the trial court finds there is sufficient evidence to sustain a finding of
the existence of the preliminary fact. [Citation.] That is, the trial court must determine
whether the evidence is sufficient for a trier of fact to reasonably find the existence of the
preliminary fact by a preponderance of the evidence. [Citation.]” (People v. Guerra
(2006) 37 Cal.4th 1067, 1120, disapproved on other grounds in People v. Rundle (2008)
43 Cal.4th 76, 151.) “In other words … there [must] be sufficient evidence to enable a
reasonable jury to conclude that it is more probable that the fact exists than that it does
not. [Citations.]” (People v. Herrera (2000) 83 Cal.App.4th 46, 61.) “A trial court‟s
decision as to whether the foundational evidence is sufficient is reviewed for abuse of
discretion. [Citation.]” (People v. Guerra, supra, 37 Cal.4th at p. 1120.)
There was no abuse of discretion here. As this court has recognized, “[t]here are
other ways of identifying a voice than by seeing the speaker .…” (People v. Fonville,
supra, 35 Cal.App.3d at p. 709.) “[T]estimony of a witness who recognizes a voice and
uses this identification to name the speaker is properly admissible [citations], and any
uncertainty of the recognition goes only to the weight of the testimony. [Citation.]”

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(People v. Sica (1952) 112 Cal.App.2d 574, 586-587.) In forming his opinion as to the
various participants in the intercepted conversations, Campbell relied in part on self-
identification and the content of the conversations, bolstered, where possible, by visual
surveillance. He also was able to compare the unidentified voices in those conversations
with defendants‟ voices in situations in which their identities were known, such as jail
visits and personal contact, or at least substantially established, such as telephone calls
from the jail to relatives. These were acceptable means of identification. (See People v.
Gibson, supra, 90 Cal.App.4th at p. 383; People v. Fonville, supra, 35 Cal.App.3d at
p. 709.) Since there was sufficient evidence to sustain a finding that the tape recordings
of the intercepted conversations were what the prosecution claimed them to be, the trial
court properly allowed authenticity and the issue of identity of the speakers to become
questions of fact for the jury. (See McAllister v. George (1977) 73 Cal.App.3d 258, 262.)
2. Suggestiveness42
“A pretrial identification procedure violates a defendant‟s due process rights if it is
so impermissibly suggestive that it creates a very substantial likelihood of irreparable
misidentification. [Citations.]” (People v. Contreras (1993) 17 Cal.App.4th 813, 819;
Simmons v. United States (1968) 390 U.S. 377, 384; cf. Stovall v. Denno (1967) 388 U.S.
293, 301-302, overruled on other grounds in Griffith v. Kentucky (1987) 479 U.S. 314,
321-322.) In determining whether defendants‟ rights have been violated in this regard,
“the court first determines whether the identification procedure was unduly suggestive
and unnecessary. If so, the court must determine whether the identification itself was
nevertheless reliable, under the totality of the circumstances, taking into account such
factors as the witness‟s opportunity to view (or hear) the person, the degree of the
42 The California Supreme Court has assumed, without deciding, that voice
identification procedures are judged by the same standards as visual identification
procedures. (People v. Clark (1992) 3 Cal.4th 41, 135.) We do likewise.

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witness‟s attention, the accuracy of any prior description of the person (or voice), the
level of certainty of the identification, and the time between the incident and the
confrontation. [Citation.]” (People v. Clark, supra, 3 Cal.4th at p. 135.) “„If, and only
if, the answer to the first question is yes and the answer to the second is no, is the
identification constitutionally unreliable.‟ [Citation.]” (People v. Ochoa (1998) 19
Cal.4th 353, 412.)
Defendants have “the burden of showing that the identification procedure was
unduly suggestive and unfair „as a demonstrable reality, not just speculation.‟
[Citation.]” (People v. Cook (2007) 40 Cal.4th 1334, 1355.) We review such a claim
independently. (People v. Kennedy (2005) 36 Cal.4th 595, 608.)
“[A]n identification procedure is considered suggestive if it „caused defendant to
“stand out” from the others in a way that would suggest the witness should select him.‟
[Citation.]” (People v. Cook, supra, 40 Cal.4th at p. 1355.) Along these lines,
“[n]umerous cases have condemned the use of a single photo identification procedure.
[Citations.]” (People v. Contreras, supra, 17 Cal.App.4th at p. 820.) “A single-voice
„lineup,‟ like a one-person showup or corporeal lineup, may pose a danger of
suggestiveness, but such lineups or showups are not necessarily or inherently unfair.
[Citations.] Rather, all the circumstances must be considered.” (People v. Clark, supra,
3 Cal.4th at p. 136.)
We are not convinced that what occurred in the present case falls within the
parameters of the foregoing authorities. In any event, neither the means by which
Campbell gained familiarity with defendants‟ voices nor his comparison of the various
voices was unduly suggestive and unnecessary. (See People v. Clark, supra, 3 Cal.4th at
pp. 136-137.) Moreover, even “[w]hen an eyewitness has been subjected to undue
suggestion, the factfinder must nonetheless be allowed to hear and evaluate his
identification testimony unless the „“„totality of the circumstances‟”‟ suggests „“a very
substantial likelihood of irreparable misidentification.”‟ [Citations.] No such likelihood

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appears here.” (People v. Arias (1996) 13 Cal.4th 92, 168.) Accordingly, the trial court
did not err by permitting jury consideration of Campbell‟s identification testimony.
(Ibid.)43
V
SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE
Defendants make a number of claims of evidentiary insufficiency.44 The test of
sufficiency of the evidence is whether, reviewing the whole record in the light most
favorable to the judgment below, substantial evidence is disclosed such that a reasonable
trier of fact could find the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.
(People v. Johnson (1980) 26 Cal.3d 557, 578; accord, Jackson v. Virginia (1979) 443
U.S. 307, 319.) Substantial evidence is that evidence which is “reasonable, credible, and
of solid value.” (People v. Johnson, supra, at p. 578.) An appellate court must “presume
in support of the judgment the existence of every fact the trier could reasonably deduce
from the evidence.” (People v. Reilly (1970) 3 Cal.3d 421, 425.) An appellate court
must not reweigh the evidence (People v. Culver (1973) 10 Cal.3d 542, 548), reappraise
the credibility of the witnesses, or resolve factual conflicts, as these are functions
reserved for the trier of fact (In re Frederick G. (1979) 96 Cal.App.3d 353, 367). This
standard of review is applicable regardless of whether the prosecution relies primarily on
direct or on circumstantial evidence (People v. Lenart (2004) 32 Cal.4th 1107, 1125), and
43 Defendants‟ reliance on People v. Vallez (1978) 80 Cal.App.3d 46 is misplaced.
That case concerned a true voice lineup, in which the victims were played a tape
recording of the defendant and five others speaking the same words, and from which they
identified the defendant. (Id. at p. 54.) It is manifestly distinguishable from the
circumstances before us.
44 We decline the People‟s apparent invitation that we find some of these claims
unreviewable or subject to summary rejection for failure to present all material evidence
or because they are not separately asserted. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.204(a); see
People v. Sanghera (2006) 139 Cal.App.4th 1567, 1573-1574.)

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applies equally to convictions and enhancements (People v. Wilson (2008) 44 Cal.4th
758, 806).
Keeping the foregoing principles in mind, we examine each contention in turn.
A. Counts 8, 9, and 14
Silva and Martinez contend the evidence was insufficient to support their
convictions for assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury on Jose
Hernandez (count 8), Francisco Hernandez (count 9), and Cynthia Gibbs (count 14).
They point to the fact neither Hernandez testified at trial, and say no evidence was
presented as to their medical treatment, if any; the extent of their injuries; or the nature of
the assaults. They further argue that Ms. Gibbs testified she was punched once, and
neither testified to the extent of her injuries nor was evidence presented concerning her
treatment, if any. We find the evidence sufficient to sustain the convictions.
In pertinent part, section 245, subdivision (a)(1) “„prohibits an assault by means of
force likely to produce great bodily injury, not the use of force which does in fact produce
such injury. While … the results of an assault are often highly probative of the amount of
force used, they cannot be conclusive.‟ [Citation.]” (People v. Armstrong (1992) 8
Cal.App.4th 1060, 1065; People v. Muir (1966) 244 Cal.App.2d 598, 604.) “One may
commit an assault without making actual physical contact with the person of the victim;
because the statute focuses … on force likely to produce great bodily injury, whether the
victim in fact suffers any harm is immaterial. [Citation.]” (People v. Aguilar (1997) 16
Cal.4th 1023, 1028.)
“Great bodily injury is bodily injury which is significant or substantial, not
insignificant, trivial or moderate. [Citations.]” (People v. Armstrong, supra, 8
Cal.App.4th at p. 1066.) It is well established that the use of hands or fists alone may
support a conviction for assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury.
(People v. Aguilar, supra, 16 Cal.4th at p. 1028; People v. Bumbaugh (1941) 48
Cal.App.2d 791, 797.) What force is likely to produce great bodily injury is a question of

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fact to be determined by the jury based on all the evidence, including, but not limited to,
any injury inflicted. (People v. Armstrong, supra, 8 Cal.App.4th at p. 1066; People v.
Muir, supra, 244 Cal.App.2d at p. 604; People v. Bumbaugh, supra, 48 Cal.App.2d at
p. 797.) “Whether a fist used in striking a person would be likely to cause great bodily
injury is to be determined by the force of the impact, the manner in which it was used and
the circumstances under which the force was applied. [Citation.]” (People v. McDaniel
(2008) 159 Cal.App.4th 736, 748-749.)
With respect to counts 8 and 9, the evidence established a violent home-invasion
robbery. According to Mechuca, Francisco Hernandez was threatened with death. He
was kicked hard enough that it caused Mechuca‟s head to slide off the edge of the air
mattress he was on. Francisco Hernandez was also beaten with a frying pan, and the
perpetrators overturned a couch onto his and Mechuca‟s backs and jumped up and down
on it. Francisco Hernandez sustained multiple facial injuries and swelling, and the jury
was shown a photograph of the damage. Mechuca described Jose Hernandez as having a
pillowcase over him that was “full of blood.” Jose Hernandez said he was choking.
When Mechuca got the pillowcase off, he could see that Jose Hernandez had been beaten
about the eyes and was bleeding from the head. He was taken to the hospital by
ambulance. Jurors were shown a photograph of his injuries.
The foregoing amply supports the jury‟s determination that defendants committed
assault by means of force likely to commit great bodily injury on Jose and Francisco
Hernandez. (See, e.g., People v. McDaniel, supra, 159 Cal.App.4th at p. 749 [sufficient
evidence found where defendant punched victim about head and upper body with closed
fists, using such force defendant fractured a knuckle; victim sustained abrasions,
contusions, scratches, bloody nose, and lacerations on neck, one of which required five
stitches]; People v. Armstrong, supra, 8 Cal.App.4th at p. 1066 [sufficient evidence found
where defendant grabbed victim‟s face and pinched both sides of her mouth, ripped her
clothing, held her jaw tightly, and, while on top of her, shoved his hand down her throat];

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People v. Rupert (1971) 20 Cal.App.3d 961, 968 [sufficient evidence found where
defendant struck victim with fist and possibly coffeepot; victim sustained several cuts to
head and face, resulting in scar on cheek]; People v. Chambers (1964) 231 Cal.App.2d
23, 27 [sufficient evidence found where defendant struck elderly patient hard with closed
fist; although blows apparently produced no visible results, jury shown photograph
depicting victim‟s aged, possibly weak condition].)
With respect to count 14, the evidence again established a violent home-invasion
robbery. At one point, Ms. Gibbs‟s chin was on the floor and someone was sitting on her
head. When this person moved to bind her ankles, she called out to her children to call
911. She was then punched in the face hard enough to knock her head to the ground.
She sustained a cut mouth and bruising, both inside and outside. There was swelling
around her mouth area. Her lip was sore for at least a week and swollen for a couple of
weeks. A photograph of her injuries was in evidence.
Although count 14 presents a closer question than do counts 8 and 9, we conclude
the evidence, considered as a whole and especially in light of the circumstances under
which the force was applied (People v. McDaniel, supra, 159 Cal.App.4th at pp. 748-
749), is sufficient to sustain the conviction (see, e.g., People v. Rupert, supra, 20
Cal.App.3d at p. 968; People v. Chambers, supra, 231 Cal.App.2d at p. 27).
B. Counts 10 and 11
Silva and Martinez also contend the evidence was insufficient to support their
convictions for the robberies in concert of Richard Baker (count 10) and Christine Baker
(count 11). They say there was no evidence of a third accomplice, as required to uphold
the “in concert” finding. Again, we disagree.
Section 213, subdivision (a)(1)(A) provides for increased punishment “[i]f the
defendant, voluntarily acting in concert with two or more other persons, commits the
robbery within an inhabited dwelling house .…” (Italics added.) This is a sentence

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enhancement, not a mere sentencing factor; it must be pleaded (as it was here) and proven
beyond a reasonable doubt. (In re Jonathan T. (2008) 166 Cal.App.4th 474, 482.)
Defendants do not contend that an aider and abettor – at least one, such as a
getaway driver, who directly facilitates the group conduct against which the statute is
aimed – cannot be included for purposes of determining whether the numerical
requirement has been met. (See People v. Preston (1961) 192 Cal.App.2d 86, 87
[getaway driver punishable as principal to robbery].)45 Here, we conclude a jury
reasonably could have found, based on the vehicle tracks less than 10 feet from where the
Bakers‟ car was abandoned, that a third participant was involved in the robbery as a
getaway driver.
We realize that speculation is not evidence, and that a reasonable inference may
not be based on mere suspicion, speculation, conjecture, or guesswork. (People v. Raley
(1992) 2 Cal.4th 870, 891.) We might find it speculative to rely on the fact a magenta-
colored car passed the Baker residence several times in order to find a third person was
involved: The record does not appear to contain any evidence linking a car of that color
to defendants. With respect to a number of the robberies, however, there was evidence
that a getaway car was waiting for defendants when they finished inside the houses.
Given the intercepted conversation between Silva and Fouse in which Silva talked about
possibly needing a driver and Fouse asked if it would be the same as previously, with her
dropping him off and then coming back to get him, an inference that a driver remained
with the getaway car (as opposed to the perpetrators stashing the car some distance from
the targeted house and then approaching and escaping on foot) can reasonably be drawn
from the evidence and is not “„“a mere speculation as to probabilities without evidence.”‟
[Citation.]” (Ibid.)
45 Jurors were instructed that acting in concert included those who personally
engaged in the act or acts constituting the crime and those who aided and abetted.

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C. Counts 22, 26, and 27
Defendants next contend the evidence was insufficient to support their convictions
for the kidnappings for robbery of Steve Christy (count 22), M.J. (count 26), and Jane
Doe Two (count 27). They claim the movements of the victims in each instance were
merely incidental to a robbery and did not substantially increase the risk of harm over and
above that present in the crime of robbery. We disagree.
Section 209, subdivision (b) proscribes so-called aggravated kidnapping, i.e.,
kidnapping to commit robbery or an enumerated sex crime. Under this section, “the
victim must be forced to move a substantial distance, the movement cannot be merely
incidental to the target crime, and the movement must … increase the risk of harm to the
victim. Application of these factors in any given case will necessarily depend on the
particular facts and context of the case.” (People v. Dominguez (2006) 39 Cal.4th 1141,
1153 (Dominguez), italics omitted; see, e.g., People v. Martinez (1999) 20 Cal.4th 225,
232-233, 236-237; People v. Rayford (1994) 9 Cal.4th 1, 12-14 (Rayford); People v.
Daniels (1969) 71 Cal.2d 1119, 1134, 1139 (Daniels).)46
46 Dominguez states the test as requiring a substantial increase in the risk of harm to
the victim. (Dominguez, supra, 39 Cal.4th at p. 1153.) That was the test under former
section 208, subdivision (d), the statute construed by Dominguez; in 1997, it stated: “If
the person is kidnapped with the intent to commit rape, oral copulation, sodomy, or rape
by instrument, the kidnapping is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for 5, 8,
or 11 years.” At the same time, section 209, subdivision (b) provided: “Any person who
kidnaps or carries away any individual to commit robbery shall be punished by
imprisonment in the state prison for life with possibility of parole.”
In 1997, subdivision (d) was deleted from section 208, and section 209,
subdivision (b) was revised to read: “(b)(1) Any person who kidnaps or carries away any
individual to commit robbery, rape, spousal rape, oral copulation, sodomy, or rape by
instrument in violation of Section 289, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state
prison for life with possibility of parole. [¶] (2) This subdivision shall only apply if the
movement of the victim is beyond that merely incidental to the commission of, and
increases the risk of harm to the victim over and above that necessarily present in, the
intended underlying offense.” (Stats. 1997, ch. 817, §§ 1-2.) Thus, subdivision (b)(2) no
longer requires that the movement “substantially” increase the risk of harm to the victim,

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In Dominguez, the evidence showed that the defendant forced the victim to move
from the shoulder of a road, down an embankment and partially into a walnut orchard,
approximately 25 feet away from the road and 10 to 12 feet below its surface. On appeal,
he disputed whether the forced movement was for a distance greater than that which was
merely incidental to the commission of the intended rape and substantially increased the
risk of harm to the victim. (Dominguez, supra, 39 Cal.4th at p. 1151.) In discussing the
appropriate standard for aggravated kidnapping, the high court stated:
“Whether a forced movement of a rape victim (or intended rape
victim) was merely incidental to the rape, and whether the movement
substantially increased the risk of harm to the victim, is difficult to capture
in a simple verbal formulation that would apply to all cases. We discussed
the standard in Rayford and explained that the jury must „consider[] the
“scope and nature” of the movement,‟ as well as „the context of the
environment in which the movement occurred.‟ [Citations.] This standard
suggests a multifaceted, qualitative evaluation rather than a simple
quantitative assessment. Moreover, whether the victim‟s forced movement
was merely incidental to the rape is necessarily connected to whether it
substantially increased the risk to the victim. „These two aspects are not
mutually exclusive, but interrelated.‟ [Citation.]
“The essence of aggravated kidnapping is the increase in the risk of
harm to the victim caused by the forced movement. [Citation.] We have
articulated various circumstances the jury should consider, such as whether
the movement decreases the likelihood of detection, increases the danger
inherent in a victim‟s foreseeable attempts to escape, or enhances the
attacker‟s opportunity to commit additional crimes. [Citation.] In finding
insufficient evidence of asportation, the Court of Appeal below focused too
narrowly on a subsidiary aspect of the analysis, measured distance, rather
than considering how all the attendant circumstances related to the ultimate
question of increased risk of harm. Although any assessment of the
Daniels/Rayford test necessarily must include a consideration of the actual
distance the victim was forced to move [citation], we have repeatedly stated
no minimum distance is required to satisfy the asportation requirement
[citation], so long as the movement is substantial [citation].
contrary to much of the decisional authority of the California Supreme Court. (People v.
Martinez, supra, 20 Cal.4th at p. 232, fn. 4.)

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“Measured distance, therefore, is a relevant factor, but one that must
be considered in context, including the nature of the crime and its
environment. In some cases a shorter distance may suffice in the presence
of other factors, while in others a longer distance, in the absence of other
circumstances, may be found insufficient. For example, moving robbery
victims between six and 30 feet within their home or apartment [citation] or
15 feet from the teller area of a bank to its vault [citation] may be viewed as
merely incidental to the commission of the robbery and thus insufficient to
satisfy the asportation requirement of aggravated kidnapping. Yet,
dragging a store clerk nine feet from the front counter of a store to a small
back room for the purpose of raping her [citation] or forcibly moving a
robbery victim 40 feet within a parking lot into a car [citation] might, under
the circumstances, substantially increase the risk of harm to the victim and
thus satisfy the asportation requirement. These examples are illustrative
only; each case must be considered in the context of the totality of its
circumstances.” (Dominguez, supra, 39 Cal.4th at pp. 1151-1152.)
A brief reiteration of the evidence presented with respect to counts 22, 26, and 27,
viewed in the light most favorable to the judgment, is helpful. With respect to count 22,
armed intruders physically broke into Christy‟s house during the night, made him turn off
the alarm that was sounding, bound him hand and foot, and essentially blindfolded him.
One of them requested money and the location of the safe. Christy told him where the
money was, but, when Christy repeatedly denied having a safe, the intruder placed a gun
to the back of his head, threatened to kill him, and then dry-fired the gun. Christy was
then forcibly taken to his shop, which was about 100 feet behind the house. Inside, he
was again asked about the safe, then struck and knocked unconscious. When he regained
consciousness, he was returned to the house.
With respect to counts 26 and 27, armed intruders physically broke into M.J. and
Jane Doe Two‟s home during the night. The couple‟s son and pregnant daughter were
present, and all four were tied up and essentially blindfolded. M.J. was beaten; his son
was also struck. The perpetrators demanded money, jewelry, and guns. A gun was held
to the back of M.J.‟s head and dry-fired. He was moved to various rooms in the house so
that he could show the location of valuables; when he was returned to his original
location and placed on the floor, he was kicked several times in the head. One of the

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perpetrators then took Jane Doe Two to get the combination to the safe. He moved her to
various rooms to open the safe, get more money, et cetera. Her underwear, in which she
had been sleeping, was then cut off and she was taken to the living room, where she was
sexually assaulted with a gun and threatened. One of the robbers then carried her from
the living room, through her son‟s bedroom, and outside to the deck, where a hot tub was
located about eight to 10 feet from the door. Once there, the perpetrator asked where the
money was and forced her head underwater a couple of times. While this was going on,
M.J. was also brought out to the deck. He was asked for money, his head was held
underwater, and he was struck several times. He tried to escape, but the intruder
controlling Jane Doe Two pointed a gun at his face and he allowed himself to be
restrained again. The couple was then returned to the house, where Jane Doe Two was
again sexually assaulted.
None of the three victims was merely moved around inside the premises in which
he or she was found. Accordingly, cases in which movement of a victim around and into
the rooms of a private residence (People v. Morrison (1971) 4 Cal.3d 442, 443) or hotel
(People v. Smith (1971) 4 Cal.3d 426, 427) have been found merely incidental to the
robbery, are distinguishable. We also find distinguishable cases holding that movement
around the premises of a service station was merely incidental to the robbery thereof (In
re Crumpton (1973) 9 Cal.3d 463, 466; People v. Williams (1970) 2 Cal.3d 894, 899-
901); in our view, there is a significant difference between a location that is primarily
devoted to business and where business is conducted throughout most, if not all, of the
premises, and a location that is primarily used as private living quarters and environs.
People v. John (1983) 149 Cal.App.3d 798, upon which defendants rely, is also
distinguishable. In that case, the victim lived in a pool house situated in a cluster of
buildings on his parents‟ eight-acre plot. Also in the cluster were the main house, where
his parents lived, and some rental units. Although the pool house was separate and
detached from the main house, the victim could enter the main house at will. The

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buildings were connected by a system of driveways, stairs, and open-air causeways. On
the night in question, the victim was confronted by an armed robber, who walked him
about the premises and into the pool house. After the defendant entered, the victim‟s
hands were tied and he was momentarily blindfolded, then the blindfold was removed
and he was taken through the causeway and two sets of sliding doors, into the master
bedroom of the main house. Once inside, he was blindfolded again and his feet were
tied. He was told to lie still on the couch, and could hear the intruders rifling through
drawers. (Id. at pp. 802-803.) The Court of Appeal found only incidental movement and
no substantial increase in the risk of harm beyond that inherent in the robberies
themselves, because, although the victim was initially confronted with an armed
assailant, his subsequent treatment was not violent; moreover, all of the movement was
an integral part of the robbery and burglary which occurred, and he was never forced to
move outside of the interconnected living quarters. (Id. at pp. 805, 806-807.)
In the present case, by contrast, the victims‟ treatment was exceedingly violent.
Under the circumstances, jurors reasonably could conclude that the distance all three
victims were moved was substantial, not slight or trivial. (Dominguez, supra, 39 Cal.4th
at p. 1153; People v. Martinez, supra, 20 Cal.4th at pp. 236-237; see CALJIC No. 9.54.)
Moreover, the circumstances lend themselves to the reasonable conclusion that the
movements from inside the house to the shop (count 22) and from inside the house to the
hot tub (counts 26 and 27) were not integral parts of the robberies. Although those
movements were related to the perpetrators‟ desire for more loot than they had already
been directed to by the victims or found by their own ransacking of the victims‟ homes,
the movements were not merely incidental to the commission of the robberies because, in
each instance, the perpetrators did not need to take the victims outside the homes in order
to rob them. To hold that movement is merely incidental to a robbery any time the robber
wants more than he or she has already stolen, simply because the robber‟s primary aim is
to steal, would permit robbers to force their victims to move over extensive distances

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without any fear of an aggravated kidnapping conviction, as long as all of the movement
was undertaken because the robber wanted more loot than was available at the robbery‟s
initial location. Such is not the law. (See In re Earley (1975) 14 Cal.3d 122, 130 & fn.
11 [where movement is substantial, it is not merely incidental to the commission of the
robbery, even though it may have been solely to facilitate the commission of the
robbery].)
“The „risk of harm‟ test is satisfied when the victim is forced to travel a substantial
distance under the threat of imminent injury by a deadly weapon. [Citation.]” (In re
Earley, supra, 14 Cal.3d at p. 131, fn. omitted.) That the potential for serious injury
inherent in the situation may not be actualized during the course of the asportation is
immaterial. (People v. Lara (1974) 12 Cal.3d 903, 908.)
We have no trouble concluding that a reasonable juror could find the movement
increased the risk of harm to the victims in the present case.47 In Steve Christy‟s case,
although we do not know the relative locations of the house and shop vis-à-vis the
neighbors, we do know the shop was a considerable distance behind the house. The
alarm went off when the intruders broke in. Even though no one ultimately responded to
the alarm, moving Christy away from the house made it less likely he would be rescued if
anyone did respond. In addition, taking him outside increased the risk he might try to
escape, with the inherent danger he would be shot and killed.48 (See Dominguez, supra,
47 In this regard, “harm,” as used in section 209, subdivision (b), includes
psychological harm. (People v. Nguyen (2000) 22 Cal.4th 872, 886.)
48 It does not appear Christy‟s ankles were bound, at least when he was taken to the
shop. Christy testified that when the intruders first entered the house, they took him to
the bedroom, put a plastic zip tie around his wrists, and laid him on the floor. He said
nothing about being bound at the ankles until the prosecutor asked, “Were you tied up in
any other fashion besides your ankles?” As Christy replied “No,” we are not sure
whether the prosecutor misspoke. In any event, he further testified that, when he was
outside, his head was still covered and his wrists were still tied up in front. There is no
suggestion he had trouble walking – as he would if his ankles were bound – until after he

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39 Cal.4th at p. 1152.) As for M.J. and Jane Doe Two, the movement allowed the
perpetrators to nearly drown them. Additionally, Jane Doe Two initially was isolated
from her family, and both were moved away from their children. The increased risk of
physical and psychological harm was tremendous. Defendants‟ movement of the victims
out of the house and to the hot tub went well over and above that necessary to commit the
robbery; the violence defendants perpetrated there “was clearly „excess and gratuitous.‟”
(People v. Corcoran (2006) 143 Cal.App.4th 272, 280.)
Because a rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the
crimes beyond a reasonable doubt (People v. Panah (2005) 35 Cal.4th 395, 487), we
reject defendants‟ claims and uphold their convictions on counts 22, 26, and 27.49
D. Counts 30 and 31
Morrison next contends the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions
for the attempted murder (count 30) and attempted robbery in concert (count 31) of
Marcos Renteria. He says Renteria only saw two intruders, whom Renteria‟s
identification and DNA evidence showed to be Martinez and Silva. Silva and Martinez
challenge their convictions on count 31, contending there was no evidence of a third
participant as required to uphold the “in concert” finding. We will uphold the conviction
on count 30, but conclude the “in concert” findings on count 31 must be reversed.
Perhaps because it was not emphasized by the prosecution in its argument to the
jury at trial, the parties overlook conspiracy as the basis of Morrison‟s liability with
respect to count 30. Despite the lack of prominence given the theory, however, it is
apparent from the charges, jury instructions, and various comments by the prosecutors
had been knocked unconscious. Christy testified that, after the intruders left, he got up,
went out to the shop, and used some of his machinery to cut the plastic tie on his wrists.
Only one plastic zip tie was subsequently collected from the scene.
49 We need not discuss Silva‟s additional claim that the evidence was insufficient
even to show simple kidnapping.

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that they were relying on a conspiracy theory of liability. (See In re Hardy (2007) 41
Cal.4th 977, 1026-1029.)
“One who conspires with others to commit a felony is guilty as a principal. (§ 31.)
„““Each member of the conspiracy is liable for the acts of any of the others in carrying
out the common purpose, i.e., all acts within the reasonable and probable consequences
of the common unlawful design.” [Citations.]” (In re Hardy, supra, 41 Cal.4th at
pp. 1025-1026.) In short, “„“„[i]n contemplation of law the act of one [conspirator] is the
act of all.‟”‟” (People v. Morante (1999) 20 Cal.4th 403, 417.) Jurors were so instructed;
although they were not required to determine whether the crime charged in count 30 was
a reasonable and probable consequence of the common design, nothing precluded them
from doing so, and other instructions told them how to conduct such an analysis.
As previously described, jurors convicted Morrison of conspiracy to commit
residential robbery. Accordingly, since the conspiracy theory of liability was presented
to jurors and the record establishes they relied on it at least in part (see In re Hardy,
supra, 41 Cal.4th at p. 1029), Morrison‟s conviction must be upheld so long as the
evidence was sufficient to show that he intended for his coconspirators‟ act to achieve the
object of the conspiracy, and the attempted murder of Renteria was the natural and
probable consequence of any act of a coconspirator to further the object of the conspiracy
(People v. Hardy (1992) 2 Cal.4th 86, 189).
The evidence amply supports such a finding. Morrison does not challenge his
conviction of conspiracy to commit residential robbery. The attempted robbery of
Renteria fell within the object of that conspiracy. Renteria was shot when, after pulling
off Martinez‟s mask, he managed to flee. The attempted murder of a fleeing victim who
can identify one of the perpetrators can reasonably be found to be a natural and probable
consequence of an attempted robbery. (See People v. Cummins (2005) 127 Cal.App.4th
667, 677-678 & cases cited; People v. Nguyen (1993) 21 Cal.App.4th 518, 530-531 &
cases cited.) Accordingly, whether Morrison was present, intended the shooting, or was

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even aware Renteria had been shot is irrelevant. (People v. Morante, supra, 20 Cal.4th at
p. 417; People v. Hardy, supra, 2 Cal.4th at p. 189.) The evidence was sufficient to
sustain his conviction for attempted murder.50
We turn now to the “in concert” finding with respect to count 31. We have found
no authority for the proposition that a mere coconspirator – as opposed to an aider and
abettor who directly facilitates the commission of the robbery – can constitute the
requisite third participant required by section 213, subdivision (a)(1)(A). To so hold
would be to allow imposition of an increased sentence where, for example, three people
conspire to commit a residential robbery, but two remain at home while the third actually
carries out the plan. Since such a scenario does not appear to us to fall within the evil at
which the “in concert” provision is aimed – a home-invasion robbery directly perpetrated
by multiple assailants such as a gang (see In re Jonathan T., supra, 166 Cal.App.4th at
p. 481) – we decline to find the existence of a third perpetrator based strictly on
Morrison‟s participation in the conspiracy.
Accordingly, we examine the evidence to determine whether it supports the
People‟s contention that a third person directly participated in the attempted robbery.
The People argue that, because Renteria‟s home was in a rural area, getting away would
require a waiting car; Renteria testified he saw lights running back to the canal as he lay
injured; and, within an hour of the attempted robbery, surveillance at Silva‟s home
showed a heavy duffel bag being removed from a vehicle and then the car associated with
Morrison arrived minutes later.51
50 As the jury made no finding, as to him, on the allegation the attempted murder was
deliberate and premeditated, we need not consider whether attempted premeditated
murder was a natural and probable consequence of conspiracy to commit robbery.
51 The People argue that defendants ignore testimony about how they gathered just
before the Renteria incident and then regathered briefly at Silva‟s home just afterward.
As support for this assertion, the People rely in part on surveillance conducted shortly

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We find these “layers of inference far too speculative to support” the “in concert”
finding. (People v. Raley, supra, 2 Cal.4th at p. 890.) Contrary to the situation that
existed with respect to counts 10 and 11, discussed ante, no signs of a vehicle were found
anywhere near the Renteria residence. Renteria testified to seeing some lights moving
away from the house, toward the nearby canal. He said he did not know if it was a
flashlight or what, but “it was light I could see running that way.” When asked who was
running, he replied, “The guy with the flashlights.” This testimony does not give rise to a
reasonable inference that what he saw was a waiting car. Moreover, the evidence is not
such that we can infer defendants always had a third participant, if not in the house, then
waiting in a getaway car.
People v. Raley, supra, 2 Cal.4th 870, is instructive. In that case, the defendant
was convicted, inter alia, of attempted oral copulation of one Jeanine. On appeal, he
claimed the evidence was insufficient to sustain the conviction. There was no direct
evidence of what happened to Jeanine; another victim, Laurie, testified that the defendant
said he would not let them go unless they took off their clothes and “„fool[ed] around‟”
with him. He took Jeanine away, after which Laurie heard a scream. When he returned
with Jeanine, he took Laurie and made her orally copulate and masturbate him. Later,
Jeanine told one of her rescuers that she had not really been raped, but that the defendant
made the victims take off their clothes and he fooled around with them. (Id. at pp. 889-
890.) The California Supreme Court found clear and substantial evidence of some sort of
sexual attack on Jeanine and of a forcible oral copulation on Laurie, but no evidence of
the particular nature of the assault on Jeanine apart from an inference that, because the
defendant committed a forcible oral copulation against Laurie, he may have attempted to
do the same to Jeanine. The People sought to bolster the inference by arguing that since
before 10:00 p.m. on August 15, and again around midnight. The People appear to have
confused the times. The Renteria incident took place early on the morning of August 15.

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he told both victims they would have to fool around with him and he committed an act of
oral copulation against Laurie, “fool around” must have meant oral copulation to the
defendant and, when Jeanine used the term with her rescuer, it must have meant the same
to her. (Id. at p. 890.) The high court rejected the argument, stating:
“We find these layers of inference far too speculative to support the
conviction of this count. Oral copulation was not the only sexual activity
defendant had in mind with his second victim; „fooling around‟ seemed to
mean several things to him. It is also speculative to conclude that Jeanine
would use the term in the same restricted sense respondent claims
defendant intended to convey. „A reasonable inference, however, “may not
be based on suspicion alone, or on imagination, speculation, supposition,
surmise, conjecture, or guess work. [¶] … A finding of fact must be an
inference drawn from evidence rather than … a mere speculation as to
probabilities without evidence.”‟ [Citation.]
“Evidence is sufficient to support a conviction only if it is
substantial, that is, if it „“reasonably inspires confidence”‟ [citation], and is
„credible and of solid value.‟ [Citations.] We conclude, considering the
record as a whole, that it is speculative to infer because defendant
committed an oral copulation on one victim, he necessarily attempted the
same crime on another victim. This inference does not appear to us of such
substantiality that a reasonable trier of fact could determine beyond a
reasonable doubt that defendant perpetrated an attempted oral copulation,
as opposed to any other forcible sexual assault, against Jeanine.” (Id. at
pp. 890-891.)
In the present case, we are similarly asked to speculate, based essentially on the
rural surroundings and defendants‟ presence together not long after the incident, that a
third participant was involved in the attempted robbery. Although the presence together
of men we may infer were defendants soon after events bolsters a finding of conspiracy,
if anything, the fact Silva and Morrison arrived in separate vehicles suggests they were
not together at the Renteria premises. In any event, an examination of the entire record
shows that an “in concert” finding as to count 31 can be based only on speculation.
Accordingly, that finding must be stricken as to all three defendants.

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E. Count 37
Morrison and Silva say there was insufficient evidence of a specific intent to kill
Sergeant Allen; hence, their convictions on count 37 must be reversed. They argue that,
because Allen was outside the vehicle being driven by Detective Nuno, and because the
driver‟s side of the windshield and door post were hit by a single bullet, the evidence was
insufficient to establish Allen was within the zone of risk. We disagree.52
“Murder is the unlawful killing of a human being … with malice aforethought.”
(§ 187, subd. (a).) “Attempted murder requires the specific intent to kill and the
commission of a direct but ineffectual act toward accomplishing the intended killing.
[Citations.]” (People v. Lee (2003) 31 Cal.4th 613, 623.) “„“[I]ntent is inherently
difficult to prove by direct evidence. Therefore, the act itself together with its
surrounding circumstances must generally form the basis from which the intent of the
actor may legitimately be inferred.” [Citation.]‟ [Citation.]” (People v. Smith (1998) 64
Cal.App.4th 1458, 1469.)
The doctrine of transferred intent does not apply to the crime of attempted murder.
(People v. Bland (2002) 28 Cal.4th 313, 317 (Bland).) “A person who intends to kill only
one is guilty of the attempted (or completed) murder of that one but not also of the
attempted murder of others the person did not intend to kill.” (Ibid.) Thus, in order to be
convicted of two counts of attempted murder, each involving a different victim, the
prosecution must prove the perpetrator acted with the specific intent to kill each victim.
(See People v. Smith (2005) 37 Cal.4th 733, 736, 739.) “The defendant‟s mental state
must be examined as to each alleged attempted murder victim. Someone who intends to
52 The jury found Silva to be the actual shooter. We will address Morrison‟s
contentions concerning the natural and probable consequences doctrine and related jury
instructions, post.

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kill only one person and attempts unsuccessfully to do so, is guilty of the attempted
murder of the intended victim, but not of others.” (Bland, supra, 28 Cal.4th at p. 328.)
A person who shoots at a group of people may nevertheless be found guilty of the
attempted murder of everyone in the group, even if he or she primarily targeted only one
of them, if the person also, concurrently, intended to kill others within what has been
termed the “„kill zone.‟” (Bland, supra, 28 Cal.4th at p. 329.) “„The intent is concurrent
… when the nature and scope of the attack, while directed at a primary victim, are such
that we can conclude the perpetrator intended to ensure harm to the primary victim by
harming everyone in that victim‟s vicinity. For example, an assailant who places a bomb
on a commercial airplane intending to harm a primary target on board ensures by this
method of attack that all passengers will be killed. Similarly, consider a defendant who
intends to kill A and, in order to ensure A‟s death, drives by a group consisting of A, B,
and C, and attacks the group with automatic weapon fire or an explosive device
devastating enough to kill everyone in the group. The defendant has intentionally created
a “kill zone” to ensure the death of his primary victim, and the trier of fact may
reasonably infer from the method employed an intent to kill others concurrent with the
intent to kill the primary victim. When the defendant escalated his mode of attack from a
single bullet aimed at A‟s head to a hail of bullets or an explosive device, the factfinder
can infer that, whether or not the defendant succeeded in killing A, the defendant
concurrently intended to kill everyone in A‟s immediate vicinity to ensure A‟s death.
The defendant‟s intent need not be transferred from A to B, because although the
defendant‟s goal was to kill A, his intent to kill B was also direct; it was concurrent with
his intent to kill A. Where the means employed to commit the crime against a primary
victim create a zone of harm around that victim, the factfinder can reasonably infer that
the defendant intended that harm to all who are in the anticipated zone.‟” (Id. at pp. 329-
330; see People v. Vang (2001) 87 Cal.App.4th 554, 563-564.)

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This does not mean that an attempted murder is committed as to all persons in a
group simply because a gunshot is fired indiscriminately at them, or that a defendant may
be found guilty of the attempted murder of someone he or she did not intend to kill
merely because the victim was in some undefined zone of danger. (People v. Anzalone
(2006) 141 Cal.App.4th 380, 392-393.) Rather, “to be found guilty of attempted murder,
the defendant must either have intended to kill a particular individual or individuals or the
nature of his attack must be such that it is reasonable to infer that the defendant intended
to kill everyone in a particular location as the means to some other end, e.g., killing some
particular person.” (Id. at p. 393.)
“The act of firing toward a victim at a close, but not point blank, range „in a
manner that could have inflicted a mortal wound had the bullet been on target is
sufficient to support an inference of intent to kill .…‟ [Citation.]” (People v. Chinchilla
(1997) 52 Cal.App.4th 683, 690.) This is especially true where the individual aims a
loaded firearm at people he or she knows to be armed law enforcement officers, and then
takes matters a step further by firing at them from a distance of 15 to 20 feet – near point
blank range. (See People v. Lee (1987) 43 Cal.3d 666, 679.)
Morrison and Silva implicitly concede the requisite showing of intent with respect
to Nuno, but claim that, because only a single bullet struck Nuno‟s vehicle, and struck at
such an angle that, although Nuno nearly was hit, the bullet‟s trajectory necessarily was
from Nuno‟s right to his left and away from the passenger side of the car, there was
insufficient evidence Allen was either a primary target or within a zone of danger. They
also say a determination of the location of a zone of danger requires evidence showing
the paths of the shots fired.
Understandably, given the rapidity with which events unfolded, testimony at trial
from officers involved in the pursuit and arrest differed somewhat as to Allen‟s precise
location, and whether he had cleared Nuno‟s vehicle, when Silva opened fire. Allen
himself testified, however, that, when he heard what the jury determined to be Silva‟s

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gunfire, it was coming from the Cold Pimp‟n vehicle back into Allen‟s direction, and that
he was still standing behind the door of Nuno‟s car at the time. He elaborated that, when
he heard the gunfire from the other vehicle, “I stepped out of [Nuno‟s] car, so I was
standing right next to the car. Our car moved forward, so I was still somewhat in the
doorway, but the car was moving away from me. So basically right next to the car in line
with the door as the car would move forward away from me.”
We have viewed the pursuit video, which was shown to the jury, and conclude it
confirms Allen‟s testimony. Given his position and testimony that the gunfire was
coming in his direction, together with Nuno‟s description of a “volley of gunfire” and
multiple shots with approximately a half second in between, jurors reasonably could have
concluded Silva was firing at the car with an intent to kill both Nuno and Allen, whom he
perceived to present the most immediate threat to him and his cohorts. Even assuming
jurors found Silva primarily wanted to kill Nuno, they reasonably could also have found a
concurrent intent to kill Allen, and that Silva created a kill zone by firing multiple rounds
at the car when Allen was in such close proximity to it. (See Bland, supra, 28 Cal.4th at
pp. 330-331; People v. Anzalone, supra, 141 Cal.App.4th at p. 393.)53
The fact that only one bullet actually struck Nuno‟s vehicle does not alter our
conclusion. Silva did not just fire one shot; he fired multiple rounds.54 Cases such as
53 Jurors were given both the standard instruction on attempted murder (CALJIC No.
8.66) and the instruction on concurrent intent (CALJIC No. 8.66.1).
54 That he did not use an automatic weapon is of no import under the circumstances;
although the “kill zone” explanation the California Supreme Court quotes from sister-
state authority in Bland uses the example of an attack with automatic weapon fire (Bland,
supra, 28 Cal.4th at p. 330), the gun used in Bland itself was a .38-caliber handgun (id. at
p. 318).
Morrison and Silva suggest the shots may have been fired into the air or ground in
order to freeze pursuit. Such a scenario is inconsistent with Allen‟s testimony that, when
he heard the gunfire, it was coming back into his direction. Jurors were entitled to credit
his version of events.

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People v. Smith, supra, 37 Cal.4th 733 and People v. Chinchilla, supra, 52 Cal.App.4th
683, which involve two victims in the line of fire of a single shot, are thus not controlling.
Nor are we persuaded that a determination of the trajectories of the shots fired is required.
The evidence here was sufficient to permit jurors reasonably to conclude Silva intended
to kill both Nuno and Allen. That is all that is required. (See Bland, supra, 28 Cal.4th at
p. 331, fn. 6.)
F. Firearm Enhancements
As previously described, personal firearm use allegations, pursuant either to
section 12022.5, subdivision (a) or section 12022.53, subdivision (b), were found true
with respect to a number of counts. Silva and Morrison now challenge the sufficiency of
the evidence to sustain certain of these enhancements. We conclude some do not find
adequate support in the evidence.
Insofar as is pertinent here, section 12022.5, subdivision (a) provides for
imposition of a consecutive enhancement of three, four, or 10 years upon “any person
who personally uses a firearm in the commission of a felony or attempted felony .…”
(Italics added.) Under section 12022.53, subdivision (b), however, “any person who, in
the commission of [kidnapping for robbery, robbery, or sexual penetration], personally
uses a firearm” is subject to a consecutive enhancement of 10 years. (Italics added; see
§ 12022.53, subd. (a)(3), (4) & (13).) Although neither statute requires “„conduct which
actually produces harm but only conduct which produces a fear of harm or force by
means or display of a firearm in aiding the commission of one of the specified felonies‟”
(People v. Bland (1995) 10 Cal.4th 991, 997), both require that, in order for a principal to
be subject to the enhancement, he or she must have personally used a firearm in
commission of the underlying offense, whether he or she was the direct perpetrator, or an
aider and abettor, of that offense (People v. Hernandez (2005) 134 Cal.App.4th 474,

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480).55 The statutes are interpreted similarly with respect to this requirement (see People
v. Masbruch (1996) 13 Cal.4th 1001, 1007; People v. Carrasco (2006) 137 Cal.App.4th
1050, 1058, 1059-1060); the only exception is contained in subdivision (e) of section
12022.53, and permits imposition of the enhancement on one who did not personally use
a firearm if the offense was committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang under
section 186.22, subdivision (b) and a principal in the offense personally used a firearm
(People v. Hernandez, supra, 134 Cal.App.4th at p. 480). In the present case, of course,
the section 186.22, subdivision (b) allegations were found not true. Accordingly, only if
the prosecution proved personal use by a specific defendant, beyond a reasonable doubt,
can the enhancement be upheld as to that defendant. (See People v. Jones (1999) 75
Cal.App.4th 616, 631.)56
55 Jurors here were instructed: “The term personally used a firearm, as used in this
instruction, means that the defendant must have intentionally displayed a firearm in a
menacing manner, intentionally fired it, or intentionally struck or hit a human being with
it.”
56 Courts have carved a so-called “group beating exception” to the requirement of
section 12022.7 that, in order to be subject to the enhancement contained in that section, a
defendant must personally inflict great bodily injury. (See, e.g., People v. Modiri (2006)
39 Cal.4th 481, 485-486; People v. Corona (1989) 213 Cal.App.3d 589, 593-594.) The
exception applies where a defendant participated in a group attack, it cannot be
determined which assailant inflicted which injury, and the defendant personally applied
physical force to the victim of a nature that, by itself, could have caused great bodily
injury, or under such circumstances that the cumulative effect of the force used by all
participants would have caused the injury. (People v. Modiri, supra, 39 Cal.4th at p. 485;
People v. Corona, supra, 213 Cal.App.3d at p. 594.) In the case of a section 12022.53
enhancement, the Legislature has specified a type of “group use” exception in
subdivision (e) of the statute, and it is not for this court to expand that exception to
situations beyond those for which the Legislature has provided. Moreover, the logic
behind the group beating exception does not apply where, as here, the evidence shows
which perpetrator did what, just not necessarily who each was.

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1. Count 1
With respect to count 1, the Lasater robbery, jurors found the section 12022.53,
subdivision (b) allegation true as to Morrison, but were unable to reach a verdict as to
Martinez and Silva. Morrison now contends that, because Lasater testified there were
three intruders, but he saw only two guns, there is no evidence the third intruder was
armed with a firearm, much less used it. The People claim the argument fails because
(1) jurors only found the enhancement true as to Morrison; (2) the evidence supported a
rational conclusion at least two intruders pointed guns at Lasater‟s head; and (3) Lasater‟s
gun, which was stolen in the robbery, was found at the scene of defendants‟ arrests some
three and a half months later. We agree the evidence was uncontroverted that two
intruders each used a gun in committing the robbery. Morrison does not contend
otherwise. The problem is identifying which intruders used guns.
Lasater testified that the intruders sounded Hispanic to him, and he related some of
the things they said and their different levels of courtesy and composure. He also
testified to seeing brown skin, but no tattoos, through the eye holes in the masks the
intruders were wearing. We recognize that, on appeal, the judgment is presumed to be
correct and the defendant bears the burden of showing the evidence was insufficient.
(People v. Sanghera, supra, 139 Cal.App.4th at p. 1573.) We also recognize, as did the
trial court when ruling on defendants‟ new trial motions concerning the firearm use
enhancements, that jurors heard recordings of defendants‟ intercepted conversations, and
so might have been able to ascertain whether any particular defendant spoke with a
discernable accent. Jurors were also able to view defendants at trial. These
circumstances are insufficient to support a rational inference as to which defendant(s)
used a firearm in commission of count 1, however, especially when we take into account
other victims‟ varying descriptions of the intruders‟ voices and the fact Lasater described
seeing brown skin through the eyeholes of all the masks. Thus, there simply is no

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rational way to separate one defendant from the others; hence, the firearm use
enhancement on count 1 must be reversed as to Morrison.
2. Counts 2 and 3
With respect to counts 2 and 3, the robberies of P.S. and Jane Doe One, jurors
found the section 12022.53, subdivision (b) allegations true as to Silva, but were unable
to reach verdicts as to Martinez and Morrison. Silva contends, with respect to these and
the other enhancements he challenges (post), that there was no testimony from the
victims identifying which defendant used a firearm in commission of the offenses. As to
all of Silva‟s claims, the People argue review has been waived by appellate counsel‟s
failure to mount a separate argument for each enhancement or to cite pertinent authority.
We reject these assertions. On the merits, the People point largely to the fact the victims‟
heads were covered, and property taken in the robberies was found at Silva‟s residence
following his arrest. We are not persuaded: If anything, the fact the victims‟ heads were
covered militates against a finding they were able to identify which defendant(s) used a
gun; moreover, the finding of stolen property is relevant to participation in the robberies,
but says nothing about who used a gun. Additionally, there is insufficient evidence for us
to conclude a particular defendant used a certain firearm in each incident.
Specifically as to counts 2 and 3, Jane Doe One testified to seeing one man with a
handgun at her forehead and four other hands with guns facing her way. In contrast, P.S.
believed there were two hands and two guns, although he heard footsteps elsewhere in
the house. If jurors had credited Jane Doe One‟s memory of the number of intruders, it
seems unlikely they would have failed to reach verdicts as to Martinez and Morrison.
Further, the testimony and evidence demonstrate substantial uncertainty in the specifics
of Jane Doe One's testimony, which is clearly understandable given the terrifying nature
of the assault. Jane Doe One believed, from the intruders‟ voices, that they possibly were
African-American. P.S. did not notice anything unusual about any of their voices. Both
related things the intruders said and their varying levels of courtesy and composure. As

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with respect to count 1, however, and even taking into consideration the wiretap
evidence, these circumstances are insufficient to support a rational inference as to which
defendant(s) used a firearm in commission of counts 2 and 3. Accordingly, the firearm
use enhancements on counts 2 and 3 must be reversed as to Silva.
3. Counts 12 and 13
With respect to counts 12 and 13, the robberies of Cynthia and William Gibbs,
jurors found the section 12022.53, subdivision (b) allegations true as to Silva and
Morrison, but were unable to reach verdicts with respect to Martinez. The incident
involved three intruders, but apparently only two guns. Again, the couple described
voices and some of the words spoken by the intruders, as well as their levels of courtesy
and composure. The descriptions of voices varied: Ms. Gibbs did not believe any of the
intruders sounded African-American, Gibbs believed at least some of them might have
been, and the couple‟s son thought all three voices sounded African-American. The
voice evidence thus does not provide a rational basis for distinguishing between
defendants. Significantly, however, Ms. Gibbs testified to seeing a black boot that
looked like a motorcycle boot or a heavy work boot. The Gibbses‟ daughter described
one of the men, who pointed a gun at her face, as wearing black combat-style boots.
While boots of that type were seized from both Silva and Martinez following their
arrests, the boots seized from Silva could not be excluded as the source of some of the
shoe impressions, and most likely were the source of one of the shoe impressions, found
near the Gibbs residence following the robbery. Accordingly, a rational trier of fact
could have concluded Silva was the intruder who pointed a gun at the Gibbses‟ daughter;
hence, he was one of the two intruders who used a firearm in commission of the
robberies.
4. Count 15
With respect to count 15, the F.G. robbery, a section 12022.53, subdivision (b)
enhancement was found true as to each defendant. F.G. and Z.M. both testified there

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were three intruders. According to F.G., each had a gun. Given the violent
circumstances of the robbery, a jury rationally could have concluded that, even assuming
the third intruder merely displayed a firearm, that display produced a fear of harm or
force in aiding the commission of the robbery and, hence, constituted a use under the
statute. (People v. Bland, supra, 10 Cal.4th at p. 997.) As the evidence was sufficient to
allow a rational trier of fact to infer that each defendant used a firearm, it was necessarily
sufficient to sustain the enhancement as to Silva.
5. Counts 16 and 17
Counts 16 and 17 were the robberies of Renae Frye and Williams Cozine. Jurors
found section 12022.53, subdivision (b) allegations true as to Silva, but where unable to
reach verdicts with respect to Martinez and Morrison. According to Frye, there were
three intruders, all with guns drawn. The evidence was thus sufficient to support the
firearm use enhancement as to Silva, the jury‟s inability to reach verdicts on Martinez
and Morrison notwithstanding.
6. Counts 18, 19, and 20
Counts 18, 19, and 20 were the robberies of Vicki and Kenneth Myers, and the
assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury of Myers. Jurors found
section 12022.5, subdivision (a) and 12022.53, subdivision (b) enhancements true as to
Morrison and Silva, but were unable to reach verdict with respect to Martinez. As the
trial court granted defense motions for a new trial on these enhancements and noted that,
because its ruling was based on insufficiency of the evidence, the enhancements could
not be retried (see People v. Lagunas (1994) 8 Cal.4th 1030, 1038-1039, fn. 6), Silva‟s
claim is moot and we need not address it.
7. Counts 21, 22, and 23
These were the robbery, kidnapping for robbery, and assault by means of force
likely to produce great bodily injury counts involving Steve Christy. Jurors found section
12022.5, subdivision (a) and 12022.53, subdivision (b) enhancements true as to Martinez

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and Silva, but were unable to reach verdicts with respect to Morrison. According to
Christy, there were three intruders, each of whom pointed a gun at his head. The
evidence is thus sufficient to support the section 12022.53, subdivision (b) enhancements
as to Silva, jurors‟ inability to reach a verdict as to Morrison notwithstanding.
8. Counts 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29
These were the robberies, kidnappings for robbery, and sexual assaults involving
M.J. and Jane Doe Two. Section 12022.53, subdivision (b) allegations were found true
as to all defendants on all counts. M. saw three people enter. Jurors reasonably could
have concluded each used a gun, as they rationally could have inferred one intruder
struck M.J. with a gun and then put the weapon to his head, a second intruder struck M.
on the head with a handgun, and a third intruder went to T.‟s room with a gun visible.
Even assuming this was not the same person who subsequently placed a gun to her
temple, jurors reasonably could have concluded that a display of the weapon under the
circumstances constituted a use within the meaning of the statute. Accordingly, the
evidence being sufficient to support a conclusion each defendant used a gun, it
necessarily was sufficient to sustain the enhancements with respect to Silva.
VI
NATURAL AND PROBABLE CONSEQUENCES DOCTRINE
Morrison raises several challenges to the natural and probable consequences
doctrine, the theory underlying his convictions on counts 36 and 37, the attempted
murders of Detective Nuno and Sergeant Allen.57
57 As previously noted, Silva joined in his codefendants‟ arguments to the extent
applicable to him. By finding the firearm discharge allegation (§ 12022.53, subd. (c))
true as to him, but not true as to Morrison and Martinez, jurors determined he was the
actual shooter. Accordingly, he was not tried on a natural and probable consequences
theory; hence, these issues do not apply to him.

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115.
A. Legal Principles
“An attempt to commit a crime occurs when the perpetrator, with the specific
intent to commit the crime, performs a direct but ineffectual act towards its commission.
[Citations.]” (People v. Marshall (1997) 15 Cal.4th 1, 36.) Attempted murder requires a
specific intent to kill. (People v. Collie (1981) 30 Cal.3d 43, 62.)
Morrison was found liable as an aider and abettor. Someone who aids and abets is
a principal in the crime(s) committed. (§ 31.) The doctrine of aiding and abetting
“„“snares all who intentionally contribute to the accomplishment of a crime in the net of
criminal liability defined by the crime, even though the actor does not personally engage
in all of the elements of the crime.” [Citation.]‟ [Citation.]” (People v. Morante, supra,
20 Cal.4th at p. 433, fn. omitted.)
“To be guilty of a crime as an aider and abettor, a person must „aid[] the [direct]
perpetrator by acts or encourage[] him [or her] by words or gestures.‟ [Citations.] In
addition, except under the natural-and-probable-consequences doctrine [citations], … the
person must give such aid or encouragement „with knowledge of the criminal purpose of
the [direct] perpetrator and with an intent or purpose either of committing, or of
encouraging or facilitating commission of,‟ the crime in question. [Citations.] When the
crime at issue requires a specific intent, in order to be guilty as an aider and abettor the
person „must share the specific intent of the [direct] perpetrator,‟[58] that is to say, the
person must „know[] the full extent of the [direct] perpetrator‟s criminal purpose and
[must] give[] aid or encouragement with the intent or purpose of facilitating the [direct]
perpetrator‟s commission of the crime.‟ [Citation.]” People v. Lee, supra, 31 Cal.4th at
pp. 623-624; see People v. Beeman (1984) 35 Cal.3d 547, 560 (Beeman).) In short,
“proof of aider and abettor liability requires proof in three distinct areas: (a) the direct
58 The direct (actual) perpetrator must harbor whatever mental state is required for
each crime charged. (People v. Mendoza (1998) 18 Cal.4th 1114, 1123.)

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perpetrator‟s actus reus – a crime committed by the direct perpetrator, (b) the aider and
abettor‟s mens rea – knowledge of the direct perpetrator‟s unlawful intent and an intent to
assist in achieving those unlawful ends, and (c) the aider and abettor‟s actus reus –
conduct by the aider and abettor that in fact assists the achievement of the crime.
[Citation.]” (People v. Perez (2005) 35 Cal.4th 1219, 1225.)
In order for a defendant to be liable as an aider and abettor, “[t]he jury must find
„the intent to encourage and bring about conduct that is criminal, not the specific intent
that is an element of the target offense .…‟ [Citations.]” (People v. Mendoza, supra, 18
Cal.4th at p. 1123; People v. Croy (1985) 41 Cal.3d 1, 12, fn. 5.) “Once the necessary
mental state is established, the aider and abettor is guilty not only of the intended, or
target, offense, but also of any other crime the direct perpetrator actually commits that is
a natural and probable consequence of the target offense. [Citation.]” (People v.
Mendoza, supra, 18 Cal.4th at p. 1123; see People v. Prettyman (1996) 14 Cal.4th 248,
260-262.)
The natural and probable consequences doctrine “is based on the recognition that
„aiders and abettors should be responsible for the criminal harms they have naturally,
probably and foreseeably put in motion.‟ [Citation.]” (People v. Prettyman, supra, 14
Cal.4th at p. 260.) “[W]hen a particular aiding and abetting case triggers application of
the „natural and probable consequences‟ doctrine, the Beeman test applies and the trier of
fact must find that the defendant, acting with (1) knowledge of the unlawful purpose of
the perpetrator; and (2) the intent or purpose of committing, encouraging, or facilitating
the commission of a predicate or target offense; (3) by act or advice aided, promoted,
encouraged or instigated the commission of the target crime. But the trier of fact must
also find that (4) the defendant‟s confederate committed an offense other than the target
crime; and (5) the offense committed by the confederate was a natural and probable
consequence of the target crime that the defendant aided and abetted.” (Prettyman, at
p. 262, fn. omitted.)

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“The determination whether a particular criminal act was a natural and probable
consequence of another criminal act aided and abetted by a defendant requires application
of an objective rather than subjective test. [Citations.] This does not mean that the issue
is to be considered in the abstract as a question of law. [Citation.] Rather, the issue is a
factual question to be resolved by the jury in light of all the circumstances surrounding
the incident. [Citations.] Consequently, the issue does not turn on the defendant‟s
subjective state of mind, but depends upon whether, under all of the circumstances
presented, a reasonable person in the defendant‟s position would have or should have
known that the charged offense was a reasonably foreseeable consequence of the act
aided and abetted by the defendant. [Citations.]” (People v. Nguyen, supra, 21
Cal.App.4th at p. 531.) The crime ultimately committed need not have been specifically
planned or agreed upon, nor need it have been substantially certain to result from
commission of the planned act. (Id. at p. 530.) The aider and abettor need not have
actually foreseen the additional crime; the question is whether, judged objectively, the
additional crime was reasonably foreseeable. (People v. Mendoza, supra, 18 Cal.4th at
p. 1133.)
As the natural and probable consequences doctrine applies to conspirators as well
as aiders and abettors (People v. Prettyman, supra, 14 Cal.4th at p. 261), so do the
foregoing principles. Thus, “[o]ne who conspires with others to commit a felony is guilty
as a principal. (§ 31.) „“Each member of the conspiracy is liable for the acts of any of
the others in carrying out the common purpose, i.e., all acts within the reasonable and
probable consequences of the common unlawful design.” [Citations.]‟ [Citation.]” (In
re Hardy, supra, 41 Cal.4th at pp. 1025-1026.) “[A] conspirator is vicariously liable for
the unintended acts by coconspirators if such acts are in furtherance of the object of the
conspiracy, or are the reasonable and natural consequence of the objective of the
conspiracy.” (People v. Hardy, supra, 2 Cal.4th at p. 188, fn. omitted.)

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B. Jury Instructions
Subdivision (e) of section 664 mandates increased punishment “if attempted
murder is committed upon a peace officer … and the person who commits the offense
knows or reasonably should know that the victim is a peace officer … engaged in the
performance of his or her duties .…” Analogizing this subdivision to section 664,
subdivision (a)‟s increased sentence “if the crime attempted is willful, deliberate, and
premeditated murder,” and based on the California Supreme Court‟s holding that the
premeditation allegation in subdivision (a) constitutes an element of the offense (People
v. Seel (2004) 34 Cal.4th 535, 550), Morrison says the trial court erred by failing to
instruct jurors that, in order to convict him of the attempted murder of a peace officer as
an aider and abettor, jurors were required to find that attempted murder of a peace officer
– not simply attempted murder – was a natural and probable consequence of the target
offense.
Pursuant to CALJIC No. 6.11, jurors were instructed:
“Each member of a criminal conspiracy is liable for each act and
bound by each declaration of every other member of the conspiracy if that
act or declaration is in furtherance of the object of the conspiracy.
“The act of one conspirator pursuant to or in furtherance of the
common design of the conspiracy is the act of all conspirators.
“A member of a conspiracy is not only guilty of the particular crime
that to his or her knowledge his or her confederates agreed to and did
commit, but is also liable for the natural and probable consequences of any
crime of a co-conspirator to further the object of the conspiracy, even
though that crime was not intended as a part of the agreed upon objective
… and even though he or she was not present at the time of the commission
of that crime.
“You must determine whether the defendant is guilty as a member of
a conspiracy to commit the originally agreed upon crime or crimes, and, if
so, whether the crimes alleged in … Count 36, attempted murder of Marc
Nuno, and Count 37, attempted murder of Lloyd Allen, were perpetrated by
co-conspirators in furtherance of that conspiracy and was [sic] a natural and

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probable consequence of the agreed upon criminal objective of that
conspiracy.
“Whether a consequence is natural and probable is an objective test
based not on what the defendant actually intended, but on what a person of
reasonable and ordinary prudence would have expected would be likely to
occur. The issue is to be decided in light of all of the circumstances
surrounding the incident. A natural consequence … is one which is within
the normal range of outcomes and may be reasonably expected to occur if
nothing unusual has intervened. Probable means likely to happen.”
Pursuant to CALJIC No. 3.02, jurors were instructed somewhat differently with
respect to aiding and abetting:
“One who aids and abets in the commission of a crime is not only
guilty of that crime, but is also guilty of any other crime committed by a
principal which is a natural and probable consequence of the crime
originally aided and abetted.
“In order to find the defendant guilty of the crimes of … attempted
murder, as charged in Counts … 36 and 37 …, you must be satisfied
beyond a reasonable doubt that:
“One, the crime of robbery was committed;
“Two, that the defendant aided and abetted that crime;
“Three, that a co-principal in that crime committed the crime of …
attempted murder …; and
“Four, the crimes of … attempted murder, … were a natural and
probable consequence of the commission of the crime of robbery.
“In determining whether a consequence is natural and probable, you
must apply an objective test based not on what the defendant actually
intended, but on what a person of reasonable and ordinary prudence would
have expected likely [sic] to occur. The issue is to be decided in light of all
the circumstances surrounding the incident. A natural consequence is one
which is in the normal range of outcomes that may be reasonably expected
to occur if nothing unusual has intervened. Probable means likely to
happen.”
The People initially assert that, because Morrison failed to object to the wording of
the instructions, he cannot now complain. It is true that “[a] party may not argue on

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appeal that an instruction correct in law was too general or incomplete, and thus needed
clarification, without first requesting such clarification at trial. [Citation.]” (People v.
Hillhouse (2002) 27 Cal.4th 469, 503.) However, a trial court is required to instruct, even
without request, on all of the elements of a charged offense. (People v. Cummings (1993)
4 Cal.4th 1233, 1311.) Morrison contends the trial court failed to instruct on what
amounted to an element of the offense. If he is correct, his substantial rights have been
affected, thus requiring no objection for appellate review. (§ 1259; People v. Hillhouse,
supra, 27 Cal.4th at p. 503.)
Turning to the merits of Morrison‟s argument, we are not convinced any further
instruction was required. Although the California Supreme Court has imposed a limited
sua sponte duty to identify and describe for the jury the target offense(s) allegedly aided
and abetted by the defendant when the prosecution relies on the natural and probable
consequences doctrine (People v. Prettyman, supra, 14 Cal.4th at p. 268), it has not
required the trial court to further instruct, sua sponte, that the jury must specifically
determine whether the charged crimes were the natural and probable consequences of
some other criminal act the defendant knowingly and intentionally aided or encouraged
(People v. Williams (1997) 16 Cal.4th 635, 673-674). Moreover, at least one court has
rejected the notion that, in a prosecution for attempted premeditated murder, jurors must
be instructed to find that a premeditated attempted murder was a natural and probable
consequence of the target offense, instead finding it sufficient to instruct that attempted
murder had to be a natural and probable consequence. (People v. Cummins, supra, 127
Cal.App.4th at pp. 679, 680-681.) In the present case, jurors were separately instructed to
find, as to counts 36 and 37, whether the victim of the attempted murder was a peace
officer and the perpetrator knew or reasonably should have known the victim was a peace
officer engaged in the performance of his or her duties.
Even assuming jurors were required specifically to find that attempted murder of a
peace officer was a natural and probable consequence of robbery before they could

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convict Morrison of counts 36 and 37 as an aider and abettor, we find no error. “„It is
well established in California that the correctness of jury instructions is to be determined
from the entire charge of the court, not from a consideration of parts of an instruction or
from a particular instruction. [Citations.] “[T]he fact that the necessary elements of a
jury charge are to be found in two instructions rather than in one instruction does not, in
itself, make the charge prejudicial.” [Citation.] “The absence of an essential element in
one instruction may be supplied by another or cured in light of the instructions as a
whole.” [Citation.]‟ [Citation.]” (People v. Bolin (1998) 18 Cal.4th 297, 328.)
Here, the charges were read to the jury as part of the court‟s instructions. Thus,
jurors were told that counts 36 and 37 charged the defendants with attempting to murder
“a peace officer engaged in the line [sic] of duty.” CALJIC No. 6.11 specifically
required jurors to determine whether those crimes were natural and probable
consequences of the criminal objective of the conspiracy. The alleged objective of the
conspiracy was robbery. Jurors were told not to single out any particular sentence or
individual point or instruction and ignore the others, and to consider the instructions as a
whole and each in light of all the others. The evidence provided absolutely no basis upon
which jurors could have made a different finding under an aiding and abetting theory than
they did under a conspiracy theory of liability. To the extent there may have been some
ambiguity, the arguments of counsel correctly explained the relevant law. Under all the
circumstances, we conclude a reasonable juror would have correctly understood the
governing law. (See People v. Kelly (1992) 1 Cal.4th 495, 525-527; People v. Hansen
(1997) 59 Cal.App.4th 473, 482.)
C. Presumption of Malice
Citing cases such as Carella v. California (1989) 491 U.S. 263, 265-266, Francis
v. Franklin (1985) 471 U.S. 307, 313-314, Sandstrom v. Montana (1979) 442 U.S. 510,
520-524. and People v. Roder (1983) 33 Cal.3d 491, 496-504, Morrison challenges
application of the natural and probable consequences doctrine itself on the ground that it

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violates due process by acting, where attempted murder is concerned, as a presumption of
malice. He says it permitted jurors to convict him without finding he intended a peace
officer‟s death, or was aware it might be contemplated by a codefendant or result from
his conduct, as jurors could presume subjective intent to kill from a finding of objective
foreseeability. He fails to acknowledge that the California Supreme Court has long
“rejected the argument, advanced by defendant here, that the natural and probable
consequences doctrine unconstitutionally presumes malice on the part of the aider and
abettor. [Citations.]” (People v. Richardson (2008) 43 Cal.4th 959, 1021;see, e.g.,
People v. Garrison (1989) 47 Cal.3d 746, 777-778; People v. Bunyard (1988) 45 Cal.3d
1189, 1231-1232.) As an intermediate court, we are bound to follow these holdings.
(Auto Equity Sales, Inc. v. Superior Court (1962) 57 Cal.2d 450, 455.) Even if that were
not strictly the case, since they addressed the argument in the context of murder as
opposed to attempted murder, their reasoning would apply equally to Morrison‟s claim
and we would find them dispositive of it.
D. Ordinary Negligence Standard
Relying on cases such as People v. Smith (1997) 57 Cal.App.4th 1470, 1478-1479
and United States v. Greer (7th Cir. 1972) 467 F.2d 1064, 1069, Morrison contends the
giving of CALJIC Nos. 3.02 and 6.11 violated his rights to due process and trial by jury
by improperly permitting conviction based on ordinary negligence. Again, he fails to
acknowledge that the California Supreme Court has “reject[ed] the premise of
[defendant‟s] argument that the application of the natural and probable consequences
doctrine in capital cases unconstitutionally predicates murder liability on mere
negligence. Liability as an aider and abettor requires knowledge that the perpetrator
intends to commit a criminal act together with the intent to encourage or facilitate such
act; in a case in which an offense that the perpetrator actually commits is different from
the originally intended crime, the natural and probable consequences doctrine limits
liability to those offenses that are reasonably foreseeable consequences of the act

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originally aided and abetted. [Citation.]” (People v. Coffman and Marlow (2004) 34
Cal.4th 1, 108; accord, People v. Richardson, supra, 43 Cal.4th at p. 1021.) Again, even
assuming we are not strictly bound to follow this pronouncement (Auto Equity Sales, Inc.
v. Superior Court, supra, 57 Cal.2d at p. 455), we find its reasoning dispositive of
Morrison‟s claim, both with respect to CALJIC No. 3.02 and CALJIC No. 6.11.
We also reject Morrison‟s further argument that the jury was allowed to impose
criminal liability for attempted murder without finding the essential element of intent to
kill. (See People v. Visciotti (1992) 2 Cal.4th 1, 58 [intent to kill is element of attempted
murder].) Imposition of liability on an aider and abettor under the natural and probable
consequences doctrine does not violate due process by excusing proof of the requisite
mental state. (People v. Coffman and Marlow, supra, 34 Cal.4th at p. 107.) Here, jurors
were instructed that the person who committed the “direct but ineffectual act” “toward
killing another human being” had to “harbor[] express malice aforethought, namely, a
specific intent to kill unlawfully another human being.” However, “[t]he mental state
necessary for conviction as an aider and abettor … is different from the mental state
necessary for conviction as the actual perpetrator.” (People v. Mendoza, supra, 18
Cal.4th at p. 1122.) While “[t]he actual perpetrator must have whatever mental state is
required for [the] crime charged,” “[a]n aider and abettor, on the other hand, must „act
with knowledge of the criminal purpose of the perpetrator and with an intent or purpose
either of committing, or of encouraging or facilitating commission of, the offense.‟
[Citation.] The jury must find „the intent to encourage and bring about conduct that is
criminal, not the specific intent that is an element of the target offense .…‟ [Citations.]
Once the necessary mental state is established, the aider and abettor is guilty not only of
the intended, or target, offense, but also of any other crime the direct perpetrator actually
commits that is a natural and probable consequence of the target offense. [Citation.]”
(Id. at p. 1123; see People v. Garrison, supra, 47 Cal.3d at p. 778.)

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VII
JURY TAMPERING/MISCONDUCT
A. Background
Jury deliberations began on March 24, 2006. On April 3, the sixth day of actual
deliberations, court convened outside of the presence of the jury and the defendants. The
court ordered the transcript of the proceedings to remain sealed pending further court
order, and asked counsel not to discuss the matter with anyone until the court and counsel
had discussed it further. The court then advised counsel that Juror No. 10 had informed
the bailiff that she had found a black zip tie in her mailbox that morning, and that, as she
was waiting to be brought in, she discussed it with the other jurors. The bailiff had
advised the court that the jurors did not feel they could continue to deliberate that day,
but instead wanted to go home and be with their families. The court proposed
questioning Juror No. 10 and the foreperson, then deciding with counsel what to do next.
Juror No. 10 was then brought into the courtroom and related that her house was
equipped with a mailbox and place to put the newspaper. Both were located outside the
house‟s electric gate. As she was driving through her gate onto the street about 8:30 that
morning, on her way to court, she saw a black zip tie hanging out of the newspaper box.
It was between 12 and 15 inches long, zipped in a loop, and similar in type to the heavy-
duty ones she had been seeing in court. She knew it had not been there the day before
and did not think it was something someone would do as a prank, because she did not
think her son or his friends knew about the zip ties. When asked how it had affected her,
Juror No. 10 explained that it shook her up, because to her, it was like a message. That
was her first thought. She admitted telling the other jurors about it in the jury
deliberation room, and suggested that one of the other jurors needed to tell the court
about a situation that had happened earlier.

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After assuring Juror No. 10 that juror information was confidential, the court
observed that she looked like she was shaken up, and asked how this event had affected
her ability to sit as a juror in this case. Juror No. 10 responded, “Well, I have to say
today is very awkward. You know, it‟s just kind of mind-boggling right now, because I
think, you know, the shock of it all I think too. I‟m a very honest person, and I don‟t
think that sways me in any way. I mean, I don‟t feel like because of that it‟s going to
make me change my mind or make me feel any different than how we‟re going about it
right now and being objective and being honest with what‟s going on and with
everything.” She did agree with the court‟s assessment that the day would not be a very
productive one for deliberations, at least for her. When asked her “take” on how other
jurors felt, she said they were “pretty much shook up too,” and that they all felt it was
“kind of hard to go into that today.”
Counsel were permitted to question the juror. When Spokes noted the juror had
indicated she thought it could be a message and asked whether she had formed an opinion
as to whom the message may have been from, Juror No. 10 responded, “I just feel like
someone who‟s friends with the defendants, somebody that just – I don‟t know.” When
asked if she had thought it could be a friend of the victims, the juror responded that she
did not look at it that way. Spokes informed her, and the prosecutor confirmed, that the
jury questionnaire did not bear the juror‟s address, and that the defendants did not get to
look at any of the questionnaires. He asked whether the juror ever suspected she was
being followed; she responded no, and that she used a post office box number, not her
street address, on everything.
The trial court directed Juror No. 10 not to discuss the questions she had been
asked with the other jurors, then had Juror No. 8 brought in. She related an incident
about which she had not thought until Juror No. 10 said what had happened to her. When
she got home from court on Thursday and pulled into her driveway, a car stopped in the
middle of the road. In it were two Hispanic males, ages 25 to 29, with dark hair and fair

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skin. The car was dark blue. When her son asked if he could help them, one of them said
they were looking for a particular street. When her son said he did not know where it
was, they left. There was no street by that name in the neighborhood. Juror No. 8 did not
recognize them and had not seen them sitting inside the courtroom. She would have
thought nothing of what happened absent the new information, and her learning the new
information from Juror No. 10 would not affect her ability to serve as a juror in this case.
Juror No. 8 believed the day would be a productive day of deliberations for her
personally, but could not speak for others.
Juror No. 12, the foreperson, was then brought in. When asked how the
information disclosed by Juror No. 10 would affect Juror No. 12‟s ability to deliberate in
this case, she responded that it did not affect her personally. She stated, “I find it
alarming, and I find it very frightening, but it doesn‟t change the direction I‟m headed.”
She subsequently clarified that her emotions “[a]bsolutely” would not cause her to be less
than fair and impartial, and that part of her emotion had been feeling badly that Juror
No. 10 was so upset. She agreed with the court‟s statement that nobody knew who did it;
when Spokes interjected that they certainly knew the defendants did not do it, Juror
No. 12 responded, “We know that too.” The prosecutor pointed out, and the court
confirmed, that the press had reported zip ties being found at numerous residences
involved in the case. When asked whether it would be a productive day to deliberate,
Juror No. 12 related that Juror No. 10 had been very upset by the time she reached the
deliberation room, and that she told the other jurors before they even got behind closed
doors. As soon as they were let in, they immediately told the bailiff. They did not
deliberate after finding out the information, as Juror No. 10 was obviously shaken and,
while not crying, was tearful. They also did not sit around and try to say who was
responsible or how the zip tie got there, although they obviously knew nobody in the
courtroom did it. Everybody was a little shocked, but Juror No. 12 personally felt more
settled than when she first heard the news, as people had been just sitting there,

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chitchatting. Juror No. 12 felt that the rest of the jurors would probably be okay to
continue, but that it should be Juror No. 10‟s decision, because she was the most nervous
about it. Aside from Juror No. 10 being upset, Juror No. 12 did not notice anyone having
a particularly adverse reaction to the news.
The jurors were given the day off and asked to return the next day.59 They were
ordered not to discuss the matter with anyone else or to have further discussions among
themselves.
The next day, the court allowed counsel to suggest areas of inquiry, and it then
questioned each juror individually.60 Juror No. 10 was first. The court stated its
understanding that she had contacted the bailiff the day before about additional zip ties
being found at her home. Juror No. 10 related that her husband had, and that the Turlock
Police Department had responded. She did not think finding the zip ties would have any
additional impact on her, because she believed they may have come from a basketball
hoop her son had installed the prior September.61 The juror agreed with the court‟s
statement that there was no evidence or information as to the source of the first zip tie.
When asked about her initial reaction that the defendants may have somehow been
responsible, Juror No. 10 stated, “I have done a lot of thinking and stuff, and I don‟t
know to be honest. I don‟t know. That‟s still in the back of my mind, you know, that it
might be a statement. I don‟t know from someone.” She agreed that she did not know
who it might be, and that it could have been anyone. The court reminded her that the
defendants were in jail, which had been known since jury selection, and that her juror
59 Juror No. 10 was informed, outside the presence of the other jurors, that an
investigator would collect the zip tie.
60 During the course of this questioning, the court informed all of the jurors, except,
inadvertently, Juror Nos. 2 and 3, that all juror information was confidential.
61 She did not share the information about the additional zip ties with the other
jurors.

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information was not public. It then noted that she had been upset the day before, and
asked whether that had changed in the last 24 hours. She said yes, that she felt better, and
that she thought it was just the initial shock of everything – wondering what it was and
whether it meant something, or whether somebody had followed her home. When the
court asked whether the incident would affect her ability to serve as a juror, she replied
that she did not think so, and that she believed she would be able to set it aside and make
her decision in the case based solely from the evidence she had heard in the trial. When
pressed, she clarified that she would not favor either side, and that it would not influence
her. Although it scared her, she would not speculate as to the source in terms of letting it
enter into her deliberations.
Juror No. 1 was next. She admitted speculating about the source of the zip tie, and
being very scared. She stated: “I took it as a warning like, oh, you know, we know
where you live.” The court reminded Juror No. 1, who, it stated for the record, cried
when responding about people possibly knowing her address, that all juror information
was confidential, and that her address had not been disclosed and was not on the jury
questionnaire. Juror No. 1 responded that she understood that; she also agreed with the
court‟s statement that there was no evidence as to the source of the zip tie. She stated
that, although she had a hard time thinking it was random or a coincidence, she also
thought it could have come from a victim‟s family, as there were some unhappy victims,
or the defendants probably had some family members in court who could have followed
one of the jurors. Juror No. 1 stated that she could see both sides, and that it scared her to
think that someone possibly followed a juror home. When asked whether she could make
her decision in the case based solely on the evidence she had heard in the trial and
ignoring the zip tie, she stated she thought she could and had all along. She stated that
she thought she had kept an open kind and been able just to look at the evidence, but she
admitted that she was scared and a little nervous. She believed she could look at the
evidence, because she did not know who did it and never would. Being scared would not

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affect how she decided. When asked whether her reaction had changed in the last 24
hours, she said no, that she was still nervous, and was more aware when she went home.
When asked again whether her deliberations would be affected by the information in any
way, she responded, “No, I don‟t think it would be affected. I don‟t know who did it. It
could have been a victim. It could have been a friend of a defendant. It could have been
a victim, friend of a victim, so I cannot sit here and say yes, it was the defendants‟ family
or friends that did it. I don‟t feel that way. I just feel that it was a sick thing to do, and it
just makes me nervous. I feel like I‟m in a movie, The Juror. I don‟t know.”62 When
asked if she felt she could continue to deliberate, the juror stated, “As long as nothing
else happens like this, because I feel like if I find a zip tie, I will not go on. [¶] … [¶]
“[T]his in itself I don‟t feel like I have a problem going on, but I do feel like it is in my
mind, and I don‟t think I‟m going to – I‟ve gone this far keeping an open mind, looking at
the evidence. This does not – it‟s not going to make me go, okay, I‟m going to sway one
way or the other. I haven‟t been doing that the whole time. This is not going to make me
do it, but am I nervous for my family that something stupid might happen? Yes. By
who? I don‟t know. So I‟m – I don‟t know. That‟s just how I feel. I don‟t know if I‟m
contradicting myself, but I don‟t know.”
62 Silva requests that we taken judicial notice of this film, a copy of which he has
lodged as an exhibit. Pursuant to Evidence Code section 452, subdivision (h), we take
judicial notice of the existence of the film The Juror (Columbia Pictures 1996). We
decline, however, to notice its contents. (Fremont Indem. Co. v. Fremont General Corp.
(2007) 148 Cal.App.4th 97, 113; People v. Manson (1976) 61 Cal.App.3d 102, 163; see
Weitzenkorn v. Lesser (1953) 40 Cal.2d 778, 787-788.) We are not being asked to take
judicial notice of, for instance, the existence of certain statements or dialogue in the film
(cf. Keimer v. Buena Vista Books, Inc. (1999) 75 Cal.App.4th 1220, 1224-1225 & fn. 4);
Ferlauto v. Hamsher (1999) 74 Cal.App.4th 1394, 1397-1398) or even of a mere plot
synopsis. Instead, we are being asked to judicially notice the film “in order to give
context to the juror‟s expressions of her feelings, and to evaluate the trial court‟s ruling
on the motion to excuse the juror for cause.” This is not a proper subject for judicial
notice. (Fremont Indem. Co. v. Fremont General Corp., supra, 148 Cal.App.4th at
p. 113; see Keimer v. Buena Vista Books, Inc., supra, 75 Cal.App.4th at p. 1224, fn. 4.)

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Next, the court questioned Juror No. 2. This juror felt badly for Juror No. 10,
because she was visibly upset, but “it did nothing for [Juror No. 2] one way or the other.”
Juror No. 2, who would have had no problem deliberating the day before, did not
speculate concerning who might be responsible for the zip tie, “because it could be any
number of things.” Learning the information would not cause Juror No. 2 to favor or be
against either side, and the juror would be able to make a decision solely based on the
evidence.
Upon hearing what happened, Juror No. 3 was worried for Juror No. 10, but not
for him- or herself. When asked about speculating as to who might have been
responsible, the juror replied, “I think we all did to a certain extent. I know that I thought
about it, but what good is that going to do? You can sit there and speculate all day long,
and it‟s still your speculation. There‟s no hard evidence to point to any one particular
person so why do that?” Juror No. 3 did not speculate as to one side, because it could
have been someone who knew Juror No. 10 was on jury duty, a friend of her son who
was trying to do something silly, an associate of a defendant or Juror No. 10‟s children,
or anybody – not necessarily somebody intending harm. Juror No. 3 would
“[a]bsolutely” be able to refrain from speculating as to who might have been responsible.
As far as any change in reaction, initially Juror No. 10 was frightened, so Juror No. 3 was
concerned for her. Now that Juror No. 10 was calm and fine, Juror No. 3 was fine. Juror
No. 3‟s concern was for Juror No. 10‟s emotional well-being, not for what could
potentially happen. What happened was “unrelated to the trial in [Juror No. 3‟s] mind.”
It would not affect deliberations.
Juror No. 4 felt bad for Juror No. 10. At most, the information might have
impacted Juror No. 4 a little bit, but the juror was aware there was no evidence about the
source, and Juror No. 4 did not want to blame the defendants or victims or anyone for
doing this. Juror No. 4 would be able to make a decision solely based on the evidence,
and would not speculate as to how the zip tie got in the mailbox.

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Juror No. 5 related that, when he arrived the day before, Juror No. 10 was upset.
He asked what was wrong, and she said she had found a black zip tie in her newspaper
box. He was concerned about her because she was very upset. Although he found it odd,
it did not cause him personal concern. He did not speculate on who might be responsible,
and had no thoughts about that. As far as affecting his deliberations, he planned to
continue as he had “been going so far.” It would not affect his deliberations in any way,
and he would not favor either side as a result of learning the information.
Juror No. 6 related being told the information by Juror No. 10 while waiting in the
hallway for the door to be opened. Juror No. 10 was tearing up and looked scared.
Everyone was surprised. Juror No. 6 was stunned and scared for Juror No. 10. Juror
No. 6‟6 reaction had not changed in 24 hours – it was still a feeling of concern, but not
fear. As to who was responsible, Juror No. 6 probably speculated a little bit and thought
it was someone one of the defendants knew. Juror No. 6 had no knowledge of who did it,
but thought it had something to do with the case – not that the defendants had a part in it,
but that it was somebody who was concerned about them. Neither her speculation nor the
information received from Juror No. 10 would enter Juror No. 6‟s deliberations or be held
against either side.
Juror No. 7 related being in the hallway when Juror No. 10 entered, looking upset.
When the other jurors asked what was wrong, she told them. They tried to console her
and discussed whether it could be coincidental. They thought it probably was not. Juror
No. 7 personally was shocked and upset, as she wondered who put the zip tie there and
how they knew where Juror No. 10 lived. She was no longer as upset as she had been;
she thought more possibly it was a coincidence and might not be related to the case. She
initially thought that if someone did put it there on purpose, it might be a friend of the
defendants. Juror No. 7 would be able not to speculate about the source in deliberating
and to base her decision solely on the evidence.

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Juror No. 8 heard the information in the hallway, felt badly for Juror No. 10
because she was scared, and gave her a hug. Juror No. 8 personally did not feel afraid or
speculate as to who might have done it, as anyone could have been responsible. Juror
No. 8 would disregard the information and make a decision based solely on the evidence.
Juror No. 9‟s reaction, upon hearing the information, was mostly one of disbelief.
Although who might have done this crossed his mind and he thought perhaps it might be
a friend of someone, he had no idea. He felt nervous, but less so after 24 hours. He
understood no one knew who put the zip tie there, and he could stop speculating and not
let it enter his deliberations. As far as he was concerned, this would not be any different
than any other information the court told jurors to disregard, and he thought jurors thus
far had been doing a very good job of sticking to the facts they had been given.
Juror No. 11 related that she learned about the zip tie inside the jury room, when
Juror No. 10 stated it to all of them. Some may have found out before that. Although it
did not change the way she viewed the evidence and how she felt about everything, she
was definitely frightened. She did not have any children, but her husband came home
late and left early, and she was a little afraid to be by herself. Nevertheless, she would be
fair; she definitely did not feel the defendants did this. She did not think it was possible
for them to do it, although the situation “definitely jumped [her] nerves.” She did not
speculate who might have done it; she had no idea, and it seemed a little coincidental.
When asked whether she would be able not to speculate, Juror No. 11, who began tearing
up as she was answering, said she was not really sure. She explained that her parents
lived a few blocks from Juror No. 10, and she sometimes left court and went straight
there. She assumed, since no one knew juror information, they could possibly have been
followed. She did not know by whom, but it made her nervous. Her reaction had not
changed in the last 24 hours; she was still “just kind of afraid.” She stated, “I don‟t feel
my decisions are any different. It could have nothing to do with this. I‟m just a little bit
afraid.” When asked whether she would be able to disregard the information in terms of

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her deliberations, she responded, “Yes, it really doesn‟t affect – it‟s just my own personal
safety that it affected, but it doesn‟t affect it at all. I‟ve separated the two. I know that
sounds really confusing.” Juror No. 11 reiterated that the information she received from
Juror No. 10 would not have any impact on her decisionmaking process in this case and
would not affect her deliberations in any way. When asked specifically about whether
the fear she was feeling would affect her deliberations, Juror No. 11 said no, that it would
just affect her when she was going home and coming back. She did not feel in fear being
in court.
Juror No. 12 was the next person questioned. She related that when she heard the
information from Juror No. 10, her reaction was one of surprise, as she had never heard
of black zip ties before this trial. It bothered her that Juror No. 10 was upset and tearful.
The reaction Juror No. 12 felt upon hearing this and seeing Juror No. 10 was upset
lessened over time, as she was rational enough to think that she did not need to be that
concerned about it. She was not afraid at all for her personal safety, and did not speculate
as to who might have been responsible. It was obviously not one of the defendants, and it
never would have occurred to her to think it was. She did not know Juror No. 10
personally and did not know anything about her home. Juror No. 12 left court the day
before feeling totally normal and had a normal evening and night. Her reaction this day
was the same; she thought they would probably just continue deliberating. When asked
whether she would be able to ignore the information in her deliberations, Juror No. 12
replied, “Absolutely. I don‟t have a fright over that, and I haven‟t picked up any vibes
this morning around me that anyone else does, but that‟s just my speculation.” The
information would not affect her deliberations in any way.
After concluding the questioning of the other jurors, the court had Juror No. 10
brought back into the courtroom for follow-up questions about the incident‟s effect on
her. Juror No. 10 said that the fact the zip tie was found in her mailbox would not affect

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her deliberations in any way, and she would be able to set it aside just like anything else
the court had instructed jurors to set aside. She did not have any doubt about that.
Defendants subsequently challenged the entire panel based on the likelihood the
issue would affect jurors‟ decisionmaking processes in the case, and, alternatively, the
responses and emotional states of Juror Nos. 1, 10, and 11, and the fact there were not
enough alternate jurors to replace those three. The court denied the challenge to the
entire panel, but invited counsel to address the jurors individually. After argument with
respect to Juror No. 1, the trial court stated: “It‟s obvious that Juror Number 1 was upset.
She was tearing and used Kleenex during the questioning, but I will note that she was
probably the most tearful of all the jurors throughout the trial .… I have noticed her
tearing during various testimony throughout this trial, so I‟m not going to place a lot of
credence in that. She‟s obviously upset, but she did state that the information that she
had she seemed to have equal potential blame for either the victims and/or the
defendants, indicated it could be either side, and that she would not be swayed, and based
on her statements to the Court, I will deny the challenge to Juror Number 1. I find her
statements to be credible.”
There were no challenges to Juror Nos. 2 through 9. After argument with respect
to Juror No. 10, the trial court ruled: “It‟s obvious to me that Juror 10 was visibly upset
yesterday. I think she has been among the most stoic of the jurors throughout the trial,
pretty much expressionless throughout the trial. I did notice what appeared to me her
being upset yesterday .… She did request that we not deliberate yesterday because she
was still upset. [¶] She certainly looked more like her normal self today when she came
back, indicated herself that she was feeling better today, and she is of the opinion that the
zip ties could have been anyone. Within the realm of possibilities could include, I
suppose, the defendants, could include the victims, a message that maybe this is taking
too long, could have just been chance. [¶] And she did stated that … this would not
influence her decision, and she indicated that she would be true to herself and would not

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speculate as to the source of this, and I find that her statements – she appeared to be
credible to me and did express her true feelings. And even yesterday said, I have to be
completely honest, and I believe that she was, so the challenge the Juror Number 10 is
denied.”
Counsel then argued with respect to Juror No. 11. The court stated: “As I recall
she stated that she does not feel that the defendants were responsible for this. [¶] … [¶]
And not in fear being here. And, frankly, I think listening to this trial we probably are a
little bit more cautious about things that could happen to us. And, frankly, I did not
notice whether she cried during the trial or not .… [¶] … [¶] She did today, but during
the trial. I don‟t know if that‟s an unusual situation for her or not .… [¶] But early into
the questioning today she pretty much volunteered on her own that this would not change
her deliberation, and based on that I will deny the challenge of Juror Number 11.”
There was no formal challenge to Juror No. 12. Nevertheless, the court stated:
“She indicated as of today she was not afraid, and, frankly, I think that we all had a very
similar reaction when we found out the news about what had happened, and we‟re all
human, including the jurors, and I don‟t think that there‟s a substantial likelihood that
they would be influenced by this. And what I will do before the jury starts deliberating
once again, I‟m going to give them an admonition .…”
After the lunch recess, the jurors were returned to the courtroom. The court
admonished them not to speculate as to the cause of the zip tie being found in Juror
No. 10‟s mailbox, to disregard it completely, not to allow it to enter into their
deliberations in any way, and to pretend it never happened. They then resumed
deliberations, and continued to deliberate for all of April 5, 6, 7, and 10. On April 11,
they returned their verdicts.
Defendants now contend the trial court erred by denying the challenge to the entire
panel or, alternatively, Juror Nos. 1, 10, and 11, and that the error violated their
constitutional rights under the Fifth, Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the United

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States Constitution. They say the placing of a zip tie in Juror No. 10‟s newspaper box
and her conduct in informing the other jurors of the incident both fall within the rubric of
misconduct, and argue that the presumption of prejudice that therefore arose was not
rebutted. In addition, Morrison and Silva contend the trial court violated their statutory
and constitutional rights to be present by conducting the hearings on the issue in their
absence. We address the latter issue first.
B. Analysis
1. Presence
The California Supreme Court has stated the applicable law as follows:
“Under the Sixth Amendment‟s confrontation clause, a criminal
defendant does not have a right to be personally present at a particular
proceeding unless his appearance is necessary to prevent „interference with
[his] opportunity for effective cross-examination.‟ [Citations.]
“Similarly, under the Fourteenth Amendment‟s due process clause, a
criminal defendant does not have a right to be personally present at a
particular proceeding unless he finds himself at a „stage … that is critical to
[the] outcome‟ and „his presence would contribute to the fairness of the
procedure.‟ [Citation.]
“Under section 15 of article I of the California Constitution, a
criminal defendant does not have a right to be personally present „either in
chambers or at bench discussions that occur outside of the jury‟s presence
on questions of law or other matter as to which [his] presence does not bear
a “„“reasonably substantial relation to the fullness of his opportunity to
defend against the charge.”‟”‟ [Citations.]
“Lastly, under sections 977 and 1043 of the Penal Code, a criminal
defendant does not have a right to be personally present where he does not
have such a right under section 15 of article I of the California Constitution.
[Citations.]”63 (People v. Waidla (2000) 22 Cal.4th 690, 741-742; accord,
63 Subdivision (b)(1) of section 977 provides: “In all cases in which a felony is
charged, the accused shall be present at the arraignment, at the time of plea, during the
preliminary hearing, during those portions of the trial when evidence is taken before the
trier of fact, and at the time of the imposition of sentence. The accused shall be

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e.g., Kentucky v. Stincer (1987) 482 U.S. 730, 744-746 & fn. 17; People v.
Concepcion (2008) 45 Cal.4th 77, 81-82; People v. Davis (2005) 36 Cal.4th
510, 530-531; People v. Cole (2004) 33 Cal.4th 1158, 1231; People v.
Bradford (1997) 15 Cal.4th 1229, 1356-1357.)
“„An appellate court applies the independent or de novo standard of review to a
trial court‟s exclusion of a criminal defendant from trial, either in whole or in part,
insofar as the trial court‟s decision entails a measure of the facts against the law.‟
[Citation.]” (People v. Perry (2006) 38 Cal.4th 302, 311-312; People v. Waidla, supra,
22 Cal.4th at p. 741.) “Erroneous exclusion of the defendant is not structural error that is
reversible per se, but trial error that is reversible only if the defendant proves prejudice.
[Citations.]” (People v. Perry, supra, 38 Cal.4th at p. 312; Rushen v. Spain (1983) 464
U.S. 114, 117-119; see also Campbell v. Rice (9th Cir. 2005) 408 F.3d 1166, 1172.)
Accordingly, the burden is on defendants to “demonstrat[e] that [their] absence
prejudiced [their] case or denied [them] a fair trial. [Citations.]” (People v. Bradford,
supra, 15 Cal.4th at p. 1357.) Stated another way, they “„bear[] the burden of
demonstrating that personal presence could have substantially benefited the defense.
[Citation.]‟ [Citations.]” (People v. Price (1991) 1 Cal.4th 324, 408.)
Defendants have not met that burden here. This was not a hearing at which
evidence was presented concerning guilt or innocence, nor was defendants‟ conduct
directly at issue. (Cf. People v. Hines (1997) 15 Cal.4th 997, 1039-1040 [juror was
questioned about telephone call she received from defendant].) “The dismissal of a juror
for misconduct is not a matter for which the defendant must be present. [Citations.]”
(People v. Harris (2008) 43 Cal.4th 1269, 1309 (Harris) [in-chambers questioning of
juror, with counsel present, concerning juror‟s commission of misconduct, and dismissal
personally present at all other proceedings unless he or she shall, with leave of court,
execute in open court, a written waiver of his or her right to be personally present .…”
Subdivision (a) of section 1043 provides, with exceptions not pertinent here:
“[T]he defendant in a felony case shall be personally present at the trial.”

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of juror].) Similarly, a defendant has no right to attend confidential in-chambers
discussions. (Id. at p. 1310 [juror whose father received telephone threat was concerned
threat might be related to defendant or associate; juror was permitted to remain on jury].)
The questioning of individual jurors here, although conducted in the courtroom, was
analogous to an in-chambers proceeding and, as in Harris, defendants identify no
particular circumstance that might have required their presence. (Id. at p. 1309.)
Defendants say excluding them precluded them from testing jurors‟ credibility
through face-to-face confrontation with them and by means of the opportunity to
communicate with counsel during the hearing. We find this assertion too speculative to
demonstrate that their presence bore a reasonably substantial relation to their ability to
defend against the charges. (People v. Johnson (1993) 6 Cal.4th 1, 18-19, disapproved
on other grounds in People v. Rogers (2006) 39 Cal.4th 826, 879; see also People v.
Ochoa (2001) 26 Cal.4th 398, 433-435, disapproved on other grounds in People v. Prieto
(2003) 30 Cal.4th 226, 263, fn. 14.) Moreover, given the nature of the concerns
expressed by jurors, allowing defendants to be present could well have been
counterproductive and undermined the “„confidence and cooperation‟” necessary to
permit jurors freely to express themselves so the trial court could make a determination
concerning their ability to be fair and impartial. (See People v. Ochoa, supra, 26 Cal.4th
at pp. 435-436.) Defendants also say their absence suggested they were at least indirectly
responsible for the zip tie found in Juror No. 10‟s newspaper box. Again, the assertion is
mere speculation.
Even if the trial court erred in questioning the jurors in defendants‟ absence,
however, no cause for reversal has been shown. “Under the federal Constitution, error
pertaining to a defendant‟s presence is evaluated under the harmless beyond a reasonable
doubt standard set forth in Chapman v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 18, 23 [citations].
Error under sections 977 and 1043 is state law error only, and therefore is reversible only
if „“it is reasonably probable that a result more favorable to the appealing party would

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have been reached in the absence of the error.” (People v. Watson (1956) 46 Cal.2d 818,
836.)‟ [Citations.]” (People v. Davis, supra, 36 Cal.4th at pp. 532-533.) We conclude
that, even assuming defendants had a right to be present during the inquiry of the jurors,
they “[have] not shown how [their] attendance … would have assisted the defense or
otherwise altered the outcome …, and therefore [have] not demonstrated prejudice” under
either standard. (People v. Bradford, supra, 15 Cal.4th at p. 1358; see, e.g., United States
v. Gagnon (1985) 470 U.S. 522, 526-527; People v. Ayala, supra, 24 Cal.4th at pp. 268-
269; People v. Johnson, supra, 6 Cal.4th at pp. 18-20.)64
2. Refusal to discharge jurors
As a preliminary matter, we reject any notion defendants should be barred from
complaining due to their own misconduct. (See, e.g., People v. Hines, supra, 15 Cal.4th
at pp. 1053-1054; People v. Hannon (1977) 19 Cal.3d 588, 599; People v. Terry (1962)
57 Cal.2d 538, 566.) As the People concede, the origin of the zip tie found by Juror
No. 10 was unclear. Indeed, the prosecutor at trial expressly stated no one was saying the
defendants were responsible. There is simply not enough information for us to conclude
defendants or someone acting in their behalf deliberately sought to influence the jury.
(See In re Hamilton (1999) 20 Cal.4th 273, 305.) Under the circumstances, a
determination defendants forfeited the issue by their own wrongdoing could only be
based on the rankest speculation, in which we will not engage. Accordingly, we turn to
the merits.
“If at any time, whether before or after the final submission of the case to the jury,
a juror … upon … good cause shown to the court is found to be unable to perform his or
64 As the People expressly decline to claim forfeiture of the issue due to defense
counsels‟ failure to object to defendants‟ exclusion, we need not address any assertion
counsel were ineffective in this regard.

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her duty, … the court may order the juror to be discharged .…” (§ 1089.)65 “A trial
court‟s ruling whether to discharge a juror for good cause under section 1089 is reviewed
for abuse of discretion. [Citations.]” (People v. Guerra, supra, 37 Cal.4th at p. 1158.) A
trial court‟s discretion to investigate and remove a juror in the midst of trial is broad
(People v. Boyette (2002) 29 Cal.4th 381, 462, fn. 19); however, “[t]he juror‟s inability to
perform the functions of a juror must appear in the record as a „demonstrable reality‟ and
will not be presumed. [Citation.]” (People v. Guerra, supra, 37 Cal.4th at p. 1158.)
“This is a „heightened standard‟ [citation] and requires a „stronger evidentiary showing
than mere substantial evidence‟ [citation].” (People v. Wilson, supra, 44 Cal.4th at
p. 840.) The decision whether to retain or discharge a juror “rests within the sound
discretion of the trial court” and, “[i]f any substantial evidence exists to support the trial
court‟s exercise of its discretion, the court‟s action will be upheld on appeal. [Citation.]”
(People v. Maury (2003) 30 Cal.4th 342, 434; see also People v. Earp (1999) 20 Cal.4th
826, 892 [decision to retain or discharge juror upheld unless it falls outside the bounds of
reason].) These standards apply even where the asserted ground for discharge is jury
misconduct. (See People v. Miranda (1987) 44 Cal.3d 57, 117 [applying abuse of
discretion standard to denial of motion for new trial based on jury misconduct],
disapproved on other grounds in People v. Marshall (1990) 50 Cal.3d 907, 933, fn. 4.)
“An accused has a constitutional right to a trial by an impartial jury. [Citations.]
An impartial jury is one in which no member has been improperly influenced [citations]
and every member is „“capable and willing to decide the case solely on the evidence
before it”‟ [citations].” (In re Hamilton, supra, 20 Cal.4th at pp. 293-294; Smith v.
Phillips, supra, 455 U.S. at p. 217; see also Ristaino v. Ross (1976) 424 U.S. 589, 595, fn.
65 Some of the older cases and one brief also rely on former section 1123. That
statute has long been repealed. (Stats. 1988, ch. 1245, § 42; see now Code Civ. Proc.,
§§ 233, 234.)

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6 [extending rights to criminal defendants in state courts].) “A defendant is „entitled to
be tried by 12, not 11, impartial and unprejudiced jurors. “Because a defendant charged
with a crime has a right to the unanimous verdict of 12 impartial jurors [citation], it is
settled that a conviction cannot stand if even a single juror has been improperly
influenced.” [Citations.]‟ [Citations.]” (Harris, supra, 43 Cal.4th at p. 1303.)
“[W]here a verdict is attacked for juror taint, the focus is on whether there is any
overt event or circumstance, „open to [corroboration by] sight, hearing, and the other
sense‟ [citation], which suggests a likelihood that one or more members of the jury were
influenced by improper bias.[66] [¶] When the overt event is a direct violation of the
oaths, duties, and admonitions imposed on actual or prospective jurors, such as when a
juror conceals bias on voir dire, consciously receives outside information, discusses the
case with nonjurors, or shares improper information with other jurors, the event is called
juror misconduct. [Citations.] A sitting juror‟s involuntary exposure to events outside
the trial evidence, even if not „misconduct‟ in the pejorative sense, may require similar
examination for probable prejudice. Such situations may include attempts by nonjurors
to tamper with the jury, as by bribery or intimidation. [Citations.]” (In re Hamilton,
supra, 20 Cal.4th at pp. 294-295, fn. omitted.) Misconduct can be good cause for
discharge of a juror under section 1089 (People v. Ledesma (2006) 39 Cal.4th 641, 743)
even if it is “neutral” in the sense that it does not suggest bias toward either side (People
v. Daniels (1991) 52 Cal.3d 815, 863-864), but removal is not necessarily the remedy
required in every case (see People v. Guzman (1977) 66 Cal.App.3d 549, 559).
In determining whether discharge is required in a particular case, it must be
remembered that “[m]isconduct by a juror, or a nonjuror‟s tampering contact or
66 “[A]ctual bias supporting an attack on the verdict is similar to actual bias
warranting a juror‟s disqualification. [Citations.]” (People v. Nesler (1997) 16 Cal.4th
561, 581 (lead opn. of George, C.J.).)

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communication with a sitting juror, usually raises a rebuttable „presumption‟ of prejudice.
[Citations.]” (In re Hamilton, supra, 20 Cal.4th at p. 295; Remmer v. United States
(1954) 347 U.S. 227, 229; People v. Guzman, supra, 66 Cal.App.3d at p. 559.)67 It must
also be remembered, however, that “„“[i] is an impossible standard to require … [the
jury] to be a laboratory, completely sterilized and freed from any external factors.”
[Citation.] Moreover, under that “standard” few verdicts would be proof against
challenge.‟ [Citation.] „The safeguards of juror impartiality … are not infallible; it is
virtually impossible to shield jurors from every contact or influence that might
theoretically affect their vote.‟ [Citation.]” (People v. Danks (2004) 32 Cal.4th 269,
302-303.)
In the present case, for the sake of argument, we will assume misconduct occurred,
even though, for the most part, jurors did nothing improper. Since the origin of the zip tie
in Juror No. 10‟s newspaper box is unknown, we have no way of determining whether it
was indeed a communication related to this case. “„[W]hen the alleged misconduct
involves an unauthorized communication with or by a juror, the presumption [of
prejudice] does not arise unless there is a showing that the content of the communication
was about the matter pending before the jury, i.e., the guilt or innocence of the defendant.
[Citations.]‟ [Citations.]” (In re Hamilton, supra, 20 Cal.4th at pp. 305-306; People v.
Federico (1981) 127 Cal.App.3d 20, 38.) Here, several jurors perceived, at least initially,
that a message was being sent about the case. Thus, regardless of whether there was an
actual communication, jurors received extraneous information, which several of them
believed related to the case, that was not part of the evidence received at trial.
Accordingly, we will assume that jurors‟ involuntary exposure to the event, which was
67 A trial court need not expressly declare its awareness of this presumption; it does
so implicitly where, as here, it “hold[s] a prompt hearing to explore the circumstances of
the threat and the possibility of bias .…” (Harris, supra, 43 Cal.4th at p. 1304.)

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outside the trial evidence, requires an examination for probable prejudice, regardless of
the extent to which no blameworthy conduct occurred. (People v. Ramos (2004) 34
Cal.4th 494, 519; In re Hamilton, supra, 20 Cal.4th at pp. 294-295; but see People v.
Farnam (2002) 28 Cal.4th 107, 139, 141, fn. 13 [rejecting suggestion juror misconduct
might be established where, while in presence of three jurors, fourth juror was robbed].)
In addition, despite the fact jurors were instructed to “promptly report to the court any
incident … involving an attempt by any person either to improperly influence any
member of this jury or tell a juror his or her view of the evidence in this case,” Juror
No. 10 – however understandably – first related the incident to the other jurors. Although
a report apparently was made immediately to the bailiff, there also appears to have been
at least a modicum of discussion – again understandably – among the jurors. Jurors had
also been instructed: “You must not converse among yourselves … on any subject
connected with the trial. You must discuss this case only when all the following
conditions exist: [¶] A, the case has been submitted to you for your decision by the court
following arguments by counsel and jury instructions; [¶] B, you are discussing the case
with a fellow juror; [¶] And, C, 12 jurors and no other persons are present in the jury
deliberating room.” While the discussion occurred after the case had been submitted to
the jury for decision and did not involve nonjurors, it did not concern evidence admitted
at trial and, though not directly about the guilt or innocence of the defendants, cannot be
said to have had no bearing on the matter pending before the jury. (See People v. Avila
(2006) 38 Cal.4th 491, 605.) Thus, again, arguably, misconduct occurred. (See In re
Hitchings (1993) 6 Cal.4th 97, 118 [violation of duty, codified in § 1122, that jurors must
not converse among selves on subject connected to trial, or form or express opinion
thereon until cause finally submitted to them, constitutes misconduct]; but see People v.
Panah, supra, 35 Cal.4th at p. 480 [jurors‟ understandable concerns about being followed
by supporters of defendant did not amount to misconduct].)

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“Juror misconduct … leads to a presumption that the defendant was prejudiced
thereby and may establish juror bias. [Citations.]” (People v. Nesler, supra, 16 Cal.4th at
p. 578 (lead opn. of George, C.J.), italics added.) “We assess prejudice by a review of the
entire record. „The verdict will be set aside only if there appears a substantial likelihood
of juror bias. Such bias can appear in two different ways. First, we will find bias if the
extraneous material, judged objectively, is inherently and substantially likely to have
influenced the juror. [Citations.] Second, we look to the nature of the misconduct and
the surrounding circumstances to determine whether it is substantially likely the juror was
actually biased against the defendant. [Citation.] The judgment must be set aside if the
court finds prejudice under either test.‟ [Citation.] In general, when the evidence of guilt
is overwhelming, the risk that exposure to extraneous information will prejudicially
influence a juror is minimized. [Citation.] An admonition by the trial court may also
dispel the presumption of prejudice arising from any misconduct. [Citation.]” (People v.
Tafoya (2007) 42 Cal.4th 147, 192-193; accord, People v. Danks, supra, 32 Cal.4th at
p. 303; People v. Nesler, supra, 16 Cal.4th at pp. 578-579 (lead opn. of George, C.J.); In
re Carpenter (1995) 9 Cal.4th 634, 653-654.)
“„Whether prejudice arose from juror misconduct … is a mixed question of law
and fact subject to an appellate court‟s independent determination.‟ [Citation.] However,
„[w]e accept the trial court‟s credibility determinations and findings on questions of
historical fact if supported by substantial evidence.‟ [Citation.]” (People v. Danks,
supra, 32 Cal.4th at pp. 303-304.) With respect to credibility determinations, the trial
court‟s assessment of jurors‟ states of mind will not necessarily be dispositive, such as
when there is inherent prejudice (see Holbrook v. Flynn (1986) 475 U.S. 560, 570
[courtroom security arrangement]) or where bias is “clearly apparent” from the record
(People v. San Nicolas (2004) 34 Cal.4th 614, 646). While a juror‟s declaration of
impartiality may not be conclusive (Irvin v. Dowd, supra, 366 U.S. at p. 728; People v.
Williams (1989) 48 Cal.3d 1112, 1129), neither is it irrelevant: “„[O]ne may not know or

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altogether understand the imponderables which cause one to think what he thinks, but
surely one who is trying as an honest man to live up to the sanctity of his oath is well
qualified to say whether he has an unbiased mind in a certain matter.‟ [Citations.]”
(Smith v. Phillips, supra, 455 U.S. at p. 217, fn. 7.)
Finally, the California Supreme Court has emphasized “„that before a unanimous
verdict is set aside, the likelihood of bias under either test must be substantial .… [T]he
criminal justice system must not be rendered impotent in quest of an ever-elusive
perfection. The jury system is fundamentally human, which is both a strength and a
weakness. [Citation.] Jurors are not automatons. They are imbued with human frailties
as well as virtues. If the system is to function at all, we must tolerate a certain amount of
imperfection short of actual bias. To demand theoretical perfection from every juror
during the course of a trial is unrealistic.‟ [Citation.]” (People v. Danks, supra, 32
Cal.4th at p. 304, quoting In re Carpenter, supra, 9 Cal.4th at pp. 654-655.)
We turn first to the issue of inherent bias. “„[A] finding of “inherently” likely bias
is required when, but only when, the extraneous information was so prejudicial in context
that its erroneous introduction in the trial itself would have warranted reversal of the
judgment.‟ [Citation.]” (People v. Danks, supra, 32 Cal.4th at p. 305.) Stated in a way
that is more applicable to what occurred here, was the information or event so inherently
prejudicial that by its very nature it was likely to have influenced the vote of jurors? (See
People v. Nesler, supra, 16 Cal.4th at p. 580 (lead opn. of George, C.J.).)
We conclude the answer is no. We do not find it surprising that a number of jurors
initially jumped to the conclusion someone on the side of the defense was somehow
responsible: so did Martinez‟s trial attorney, who mused, “I can‟t imagine our clients
being so stupid,” before being reminded (1) he was on the record, and (2) there was
nothing to tie the incident to defendants and no suggestion from the prosecutor that they
were to blame. Jurors were aware from the outset that defendants were incarcerated and
could not have done it themselves, and, by the day after it happened, even those jurors

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who were still upset were aware the source could have been anyone or it even could have
been a coincidence. That some jurors may have been upset or harbored nebulous fears
about the safety of themselves or their families does not mean what occurred was, by its
very nature, likely to have influenced their deliberations. The test of inherent bias is not
whether jurors may have been affected in some way, but whether their decisionmaking
process – and, ultimately, their votes – likely were influenced.
“[W]e do not reverse unanimous verdicts because there is some possibility the
juror was improperly influenced. Rather, the likelihood of bias under the inherent
prejudice test „must be substantial.‟ [Citation.] „Application of this “inherent prejudice”
test obviously depends upon a review of the trial record to determine the prejudicial
effect of the extraneous information.‟ [Citation.]” (People v. Danks, supra, 32 Cal.4th at
p. 305.)
Objectively considering what took place in light of the record in this case, we
conclude the finding of the zip tie by Juror No. 10, and her dissemination of that
information to other jurors and their discussion of it, were not inherently and substantially
likely to bias any juror. (See People v. Danks, supra, 32 Cal.4th at p. 305.) Jurors were
forcefully and directly admonished not to speculate as to the source of the zip tie and to
disregard it completely, and we see no reason to find inapplicable “„[t]he crucial
assumption underlying our constitutional system of trial by jury,‟” to wit, that jurors
follow instructions. (People v. Yeoman (2003) 31 Cal.4th 93, 139; cf. People v.
Holloway (1990) 50 Cal.3d 1098, 1111-1112 [conclusion that presumption of prejudice
unrebutted might have been different had misconduct been revealed in time for trial court
to take corrective steps such as admonition], disapproved on other grounds in People v.
Stansbury (1995) 9 Cal.4th 824, 830, fn. 1.) This is especially true where, as here, no
actual threat was made (see Harris, supra, 43 Cal.4th at pp. 1300-1306 [death threat
against juror‟s father, originally believed to be related to case, not too inherently
prejudicial to be disregarded]); the communication – assuming it was a communication –

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was ambiguous (cf. Jeffries v. Wood (9th Cir. 1997) 114 F.3d 1484, 1488, 1490-1492
[where one juror informed others of defendant‟s prior criminal record, communication by
its nature was intrinsically prejudicial; factors suggesting potential prejudice was
diminished in particular case so that verdict was not affected include (1) whether
prejudicial statement was ambiguously phrased; (2) whether extraneous information was
otherwise admissible or merely cumulative of trial evidence; (3) whether curative
instruction was given or other ameliorative steps taken; (4) the trial context; and
(5) whether statement was insufficiently prejudicial given issues and evidence in case]),
and jurors did not return guilty verdicts soon after learning of events, but instead
continued to deliberate for several more days (see People v. Manriquez (1976) 59
Cal.App.3d 426, 429-431 [juror in robbery trial became victim of attempted armed
robbery just prior to deliberations, then told other jurors; trial court did not learn of
incident until deliberations were underway, at which time it questioned jurors about
ability to decide case strictly on evidence presented].) Moreover, their verdicts
demonstrate that they carefully and methodically worked through the issues before them.
Having found no inherent prejudice, “we now consider „the nature of the
misconduct and the surrounding circumstances‟ to determine whether it is substantially
likely [any juror] was nevertheless actually biased as a result” of what occurred. (People
v. Danks, supra, 32 Cal.4th at p. 306.) “What constitutes „actual bias‟ of a juror varies
according to the circumstances of the case. [Citation.] In assessing whether a juror is
„impartial‟ for federal constitutional purposes, the United States Supreme Court has
stated: „Impartiality is not a technical conception. It is a state of mind. For the
ascertainment of this mental attitude of appropriate indifference, the Constitution lays
down no particular tests and procedure is not chained to any ancient and artificial
formula.‟ [Citation.] „“The theory of the law is that a juror who has formed an opinion
cannot be impartial.” [Citation.] [¶] It is not required, however, that the jurors be totally
ignorant of the facts and issues involved.… It is sufficient if the juror can lay aside his

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impression or opinion and render a verdict based on the evidence presented in court.‟
[Citations.] „“[L]ight impressions, which may fairly be presumed to yield to the
testimony that may be offered, which may leave the mind open to a fair consideration of
the testimony, constitute no sufficient objection to a juror; but … those strong and deep
impressions which close the mind against the testimony that may be offered in opposition
to them, which will combat that testimony and resist its force, do constitute a sufficient
objection to him.”‟ [Citations.] An impartial juror is someone „capable and willing to
decide the case solely on the evidence‟ presented at trial. [Citations.]” (People v. Nesler,
supra, 16 Cal.4th at pp. 580-581 (lead opn. of George, C.J.).)
Here, the receipt of the information was totally inadvertent, both on the part of
Juror No. 10 and the jurors she then told. To the extent Juror No. 10 or other jurors
disobeyed any admonitions, we find it significant that they simply had a very human
reaction to a startling event and upset fellow juror. There was no deliberate misconduct
or willful failure to follow instructions. (Compare People v. Holloway (2004) 33 Cal.4th
96, 125 [failure to discharge juror not abuse of discretion, and no substantial likelihood
juror biased, where discussion of case with alternate juror was not deliberate
disobedience to admonitions] with People v. Ledesma, supra, 39 Cal.4th at p. 743 [juror
admitted discussing case with wife in violation of admonition, an act of deliberate
misconduct; juror‟s serious and willful misconduct is good cause to believe juror will not
be able to perform duty]; People v. Daniels, supra, 52 Cal.3d at pp. 863-864 [same; juror
repeatedly violated court‟s instructions].) It was not discussed during deliberations; in
fact, Juror No. 12 was very clear that jurors neither deliberated after finding out the
information nor discussed how the zip tie came to be in Juror No. 10‟s newspaper box or
who was responsible. Moreover, it was not information directly concerning defendants
per se, and each juror ultimately realized the ambiguity of what occurred. (Compare
People v. Danks, supra, 32 Cal.4th at p. 308 [juror‟s misconduct in sharing Bible
passages with fellow jurors demonstrated neither substantial likelihood of her actual bias

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nor likelihood it resulted in actual bias of other jurors, where juror did not repeatedly
refer to extrajudicial information or attempt to impose her views on others] with People
v. Nesler, supra, 16 Cal.4th at pp. 583-585, 587, 588-589 (lead opn. of George, C.J.)
[juror intentionally interjected extraneous information, directly concerning defendant and
substantially related to important matters raised during trial, into deliberations, suggesting
substantial likelihood of actual bias on her part].) Although some jurors were still upset,
fearful, or at least nervous 24 hours later, a juror‟s safety concerns or even fear of a
defendant do not necessarily suggest bias. (See People v. Jablonski (2006) 37 Cal.4th
774, 807; People v. Navarette (2003) 30 Cal.4th 458, 499-500.) What matters is whether
the individual can separate feelings and emotions from his or her duties as a juror, and
evaluate the evidence fairly and decide the case solely on the evidence presented at trial.
(See People v. Farnam, supra, 28 Cal.4th at pp. 139-142.)
In the present case, the trial court‟s inquiry was more than adequate (compare
People v. Farnam, supra, 28 Cal.4th at pp. 141-142 with People v. McNeal (1979) 90
Cal.App.3d 830, 835), and it was in the best position to observe jurors‟ demeanors when
it questioned them about their ability to perform their duties. Their answers furnished
substantial evidence to support its credibility determinations. (Harris, supra, 43 Cal.4th
at p. 1305.)
We conclude that, under the totality of the circumstances surrounding what took
place, there is no substantial likelihood any juror was actually biased against defendants.
(See Harris, supra, 43 Cal.4th at p. 1306.) In light of that conclusion and our conclusion
of no inherent bias, any presumption of prejudice stands rebutted, and the trial court did
not abuse its discretion in refusing to discharge any or all of the jurors. (See People v.
Holloway, supra, 33 Cal.4th at p. 126; In re Hamilton, supra, 20 Cal.4th at p. 296; People
v. Zapien (1993) 4 Cal.4th 929, 997.)

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VIII
CUMULATIVE PREJUDICE
Morrison and Silva contend that numerous errors infected their trial and that, even
if all were found to be harmless individually, their cumulative effect was prejudicial. We
have concluded that certain “in concert” and firearm use findings must be reversed due to
insufficiency of the evidence. These errors have no potential for adversely affecting the
remainder of the verdicts, and we have found little or no additional error. “Under these
circumstances, the errors or potential errors, singly or in combination, were harmless
under any applicable standard and did not render [defendants‟] trial fundamentally unfair.
[Citations.]” (People v. Davis, supra, 36 Cal.4th at p. 573.)
IX
SENTENCING
A. Imposition of Consecutive Terms for Assaults
As previously described, defendants were convicted of assault, either by means of
force likely to produce great bodily injury or with a firearm, in counts 8, 9, 14, 20, and
35. They received a consecutive term on each count. They now contend these sentences
should have been stayed pursuant to section 654 because the assaults were committed to
facilitate, and so were incidental to the criminal objective of, the robberies of the same
victims.68
Section 654, subdivision (a) provides in pertinent part: “An act or omission that is
punishable in different ways by different provisions of law shall be punished under the
provision that provides for the longest potential term of imprisonment, but in no case
shall the act or omission be punished under more than one provision.” The purpose
68 Defendants objected at trial, although an objection is not required to preserve a
section 654 claim for review on appeal. (People v. Scott (1994) 9 Cal.4th 331, 354 & fn.
17.)

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behind this provision is to ensure that punishment will be commensurate with culpability.
(People v. Trotter (1992) 7 Cal.App.4th 363, 367.)
“In determining whether section 654 has been violated, two tests have been
applied. One test examines whether the offense arises out of a single act. [Citations.]
The other test applies where a course of conduct violates more than one statute and
comprises an indivisible transaction. [Citation.]” (People v. Gbadebo-Soda (1989) 215
Cal.App.3d 1371, 1375.) “Whether a course of criminal conduct is divisible and
therefore gives rise to more than one act within the meaning of section 654 depends on
the intent and objective of the actor.” (Neal v. State of California (1960) 55 Cal.2d 11,
19.) This is a factual determination for the trial court, and its conclusion will be sustained
on appeal if supported by any substantial evidence. (People v. Osband (1996) 13 Cal.4th
622, 730; People v. Herrera (1999) 70 Cal.App.4th 1456, 1466.) If a trial court violates
the statute, the proper remedy is to stay execution of sentence on the count with the lesser
penalty. (People v. Beamon (1973) 8 Cal.3d 625, 639-640; People v. Davis (1989) 211
Cal.App.3d 317, 323.)
Counts 8 and 9 were the assaults of Jose Hernandez and Francisco Hernandez,
respectively. Their attempted robberies were charged in counts 6 and 7. In imposing
consecutive terms, the trial court found that the assaults were separate and distinct from
the attempted robberies and were separate acts of violence. Viewing the evidence in the
light most favorable to the judgment, as we must on this issue (People v. Williamson
(1979) 90 Cal.App.3d 164, 172), we conclude substantial evidence supports the trial
court‟s determination.
“[I]f an assault is committed as the means of perpetrating a robbery, section 654
requires the sentence for the assault to be stayed. [Citations.]” (In re Jesse F. (1982) 137
Cal.App.3d 164, 171.) Thus, for instance, “„one act of inflicting force with [a] bat cannot
both be punished as assault with a deadly weapon and availed of by the People as the
force necessary to constitute the crime of robbery .…‟” (People v. Galvin (1957) 148

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Cal.App.2d 285, 293.) Here, however, Mechuca and Francisco Hernandez were already
bound and helpless when one of the intruders demanded money and drugs. When
Mechuca said they had no drugs, the intruder said if the men did not have the money or
the drugs, he and his cohorts would start cutting them. Francisco Hernandez was being
kicked during this time, and Mechuca told the intruders where his wallet was. The
intruders took the money it contained, but then beat Francisco Hernandez with a frying
pan. After they overturned a couch onto Mechuca‟s and Francisco Hernandez‟s backs
and jumped up and down, they left with Jose Hernandez and beat him. Under the
circumstances, substantial evidence supports the trial court‟s decision to impose
consecutive terms. (See People v. Sandoval (1994) 30 Cal.App.4th 1288, 1299-1300
[defendant shot victim when victim refused to hand over money; facts supported
conclusion attempted robbery was complete when shot fired, and assault was to punish
victim or assuage defendant‟s thwarted desires by seeking different gratification]; People
v. Trotter, supra, 7 Cal.App.4th at p. 368 [as defendant was driving, he shot at pursuers,
then resumed driving, paused, and shot again; each assault was volitional and calculated
and evinced separate intent to do violence; defendant should not be rewarded for
voluntarily resuming assaultive behavior instead of taking advantage of opportunity to
walk away from victim].)
Count 14 was the assault on Cynthia Gibbs, her robbery having been charged in
count 13. The trial court found the assault to be a “separate violent act” that justified a
consecutive sentence. In this instance, however, we cannot conclude that substantial
evidence supports a finding that the course of conduct was divisible. Ms. Gibbs was
punched when, as she was being bound, she called out to her children to call 911. This
was shortly after the intruders entered the house and before any ransacking or demand for
money or property occurred. Under the circumstances, while the assault was a separate
violent act, there was no evidence it was committed for any purpose other than to
facilitate the robbery by subduing a victim who might otherwise alert others who in turn

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might alert the authorities. (Compare People v. Flowers (1982) 132 Cal.App.3d 584, 589
& cases cited [§ 654 applied where assault knocked victim unconscious at beginning of
encounter, indicating desire to silence victim immediately so robbery could be completed
with dispatch] with People v. Coleman (1989) 48 Cal.3d 112, 162-163 [separate
sentences proper where assault was committed with intent of preventing robbery victim
from sounding alarm about defendant‟s murder of second victim and occurred after
defendant had essentially completed robbery] & People v. Watts (1999) 76 Cal.App.4th
1250, 1265 [separate sentences proper where robberies were well underway when
assaults occurred, thus supporting conclusion that assaults therefore were not simply
means of committing robberies].) In re Chapman (1954) 43 Cal.2d 385, on which the
People rely, is inapposite. In that case, section 654 was held not to apply where the
petitioner robbed the victim while menacing him while armed with a deadly weapon,
obtained a sum of money, and then struck the victim with the weapon after the victim had
laid the money down and started to run away. (Chapman, at p. 389.) The People misread
Chapman as involving the use of force first to assault and then to rob the victim. Section
654 requires that sentence on count 14 be stayed.
Count 20 was the assault on Kenneth Myers, whose robbery was charged in count
18. In ruling that a separate sentence was appropriate, the court relied on the fact that, at
the time the gun was dry-fired at the back of his head, the Myerses were both tied up, and
this was a separate act of violence that was not necessary to complete the robbery.
Substantial evidence supports the trial court‟s decision. The robbery was well underway
at this point. We agree with the court in People v. Nguyen (1988) 204 Cal.App.3d 181,
which held: “[A] separate act of violence against an unresisting victim or witness,
whether gratuitous or to facilitate escape or to avoid prosecution, may be found not
incidental to robbery for purposes of section 654.” (Nguyen, at p. 193.) Because, in the
present case, the robbers had found the safe and wanted Myers to open it, defendants
argue the assault was committed for no reason other than to facilitate the robbery. There

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was no suggestion, however, that additional force was required to get Myers to comply
with their demands. “[A]t some point the means to achieve an objective may become so
extreme they can no longer be termed „incidental‟ and must be considered to express a
different and a more sinister goal than mere successful commission of the original
crime.” (Id. at p. 191.) Such is the situation here.
Count 35 was the assault of Homer Garza, whose robbery was charged in count
32. The court found it to be “a separate and violent act not necessary to complete the
robbery,” and so imposed a consecutive term. Substantial evidence does not support the
imposition of consecutive sentences.69 The assault occurred just after the intruders
entered the house. The alarm was sounding and they wanted Garza to silence it. The
evidence does not support a conclusion the assault was committed for any reason other
than to win compliance with their demand, or that their demand to turn off the alarm was
for any purpose other than to facilitate the robbery. Under the circumstances, while the
assault may have been an act separate from the robbery itself, there is no substantial
evidence of a divisible course of conduct. (Compare People v. Flowers, supra, 132
Cal.App.3d at p. 589 & cases cited with People v. Coleman, supra, 48 Cal.3d at pp. 162-
163 & People v. Watts, supra, 76 Cal.App.4th at p. 1265.) As previously explained, In re
Chapman, supra, 43 Cal.2d 385, on which the People rely, is inapposite. Section 654
requires that sentence on count 35 be stayed.
B. Imposition of Section 12022.53, Subdivision (d) Enhancements on Counts 30
and 31
Acknowledging that section 654 does not apply to section 12022.53 enhancements
(People v. Palacios (2007) 41 Cal.4th 720, 727-728 (Palacios), Silva nevertheless
69 During her argument to the jury, the prosecutor stated that the count charged
assault with a firearm because Garza was struck with a firearm. In reality, the count
charged, and the jury found, assault by means of force likely to cause great bodily injury.
Given the prosecutor‟s argument and the fact the People on appeal address only that
incident and not the later kick to the side of Garza‟s face, we do likewise.

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contends the trial court erred by imposing section 12022.53, subdivision (d) (hereafter
subdivision (d)) enhancements as to both count 30 and count 31, the attempted murder
and attempted robbery, respectively, of Marcos Renteria. Silva says that, because these
were separate offenses that occurred at different times and places, an enhancement for
personal discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury, as prescribed by subdivision
(d), was properly imposed in conjunction with the attempted murder, but only an
enhancement for personal use of a firearm, as prescribed by section 12022.53,
subdivision (b) (hereafter subdivision (b)), should have been imposed for the attempted
robbery. Silva argues that Palacios does not apply because it involved enhancements
imposed on separate counts occurring during a simultaneous shooting. As he argued in
the trial court, albeit in the context of a claim section 654 should apply,70 he and
Martinez “were either attempting to kill [Renteria] or rob him, but they can‟t be
attempting both,” and, “The shots fired at Mr. Renteria were pursuant to the attempted
murder and, therefore, great bodily injury was not caused during the attempted robbery.”
Subdivision (d) provides: “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any
person who, in the commission of a felony specified in subdivision (a), … personally and
intentionally discharges a firearm and proximately causes great bodily injury … to any
person other than an accomplice, shall be punished by an additional and consecutive term
of imprisonment in the state prison for 25 years to life.”71 Subdivision (b) mandates a
consecutive 10-year term for any person who, in the commission of a specified felony,
personally uses a firearm. Subdivision (f) of section 12022.53 provides in pertinent part
that “[o]nly one additional term of imprisonment under this section shall be imposed per
person for each crime.” (Italics added.)
70 Palacios was decided after sentencing in this case.
71 Both attempted murder and attempted robbery constitute qualifying offenses under
section 12022.53, subdivision (a). (§ 12022.53, subd. (a)(1), (4) & (18).)

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In Palacios, supra, 41 Cal.4th 720, the defendant and his accomplice kidnapped
and carjacked one Jones, whom they then shot and left for dead. The defendant was
subsequently convicted of attempted premeditated murder, kidnapping for robbery,
kidnapping for carjacking, carjacking, and robbery, and a firearm discharge allegation
pursuant to subdivision (d) was found true as to each offense. The defendant was
sentenced to three consecutive terms of life in prison with the possibility of parole for the
attempted murder and two kidnapping convictions, and the trial court added a subdivision
(d) enhancement of 25 years to life to each of those terms. (Palacios, supra, 41 Cal.4th
at pp. 723-724.) On appeal, the defendant argued that section 654 barred imposition of
multiple subdivision (d) enhancements, since he had fired a single shot at a single victim.
(Palacios, at p. 725.) The Court of Appeal agreed, reasoning that, while the defendant
should be punished for having discharged his gun, the fact that the kidnappings were
technically ongoing at the time did not make him more culpable so as to justify imposing
three times the punishment. (Ibid.)
The California Supreme Court granted review and reversed. The court found the
legislative intent behind section 12022.53 to be clear: “„“The Legislature finds and
declares that substantially longer prison sentences must be imposed on felons who use
firearms in the commission of their crimes, in order to protect our citizens and to deter
violent crime.”‟ [Citations.]” (Palacios, supra, 41 Cal.4th at p. 725.) With respect to the
factual scenario before it, the court stated: “Defendant‟s convictions for attempted
murder, kidnapping for carjacking, and kidnapping for robbery are qualifying felonies
[under section 12022.53, subdivision (a)]. [Citation.] When defendant shot Jones,
attempting to kill him, the kidnapping offenses were still ongoing. „[T]he crime of
kidnapping continues until such time as the kidnapper releases or otherwise disposes of
the victim and [the defendant] has reached a place of temporary safety.…‟ [Citation.]
By finding the section 12022.53, subdivision (d) enhancement allegations to be true …,
the jury necessarily determined that defendant fired the gun and caused great bodily

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injury during the commission of each of the three offenses. Thus, in this case, section
12022.53 mandates punishment for each of the subdivision (d) enhancements.”
(Palacios, at p. 726.)
The high court went on to determine that, in enacting section 12022.53, the
Legislature created a sentencing scheme to which section 654 does not apply. (Palacios,
supra, 41 Cal.4th at pp. 727-728.) It noted, however, that, while section 654 prohibits
multiple punishment per act, the Legislature, in subdivision (f) of section 12022.53,
chose to address the issue of multiple enhancements per crime. (Palacios, at p. 731.)
“[T]he intent of section 12022.53, subdivision (f) was to punish the use of firearms linked
to the commission of applicable crimes, not discrete acts.… „The enactment of
[subdivision (f)] shows that the Legislature specifically considered the issue of multiple
enhancements and chose to limit the number imposed only “for each crime,” not for each
transaction or occurrence .…‟” (Palacios, at pp. 731-73, fn. omitted.) In a passage that
is particularly pertinent to the issue before us, the court stated: “Finally, defendant argues
that the Legislature could not have intended a „draconian‟ scheme whereby one injury
could result in as many 25-years-to-life enhancements as there were qualifying offenses.
He relies on the Court of Appeal‟s reasoning that the punishment should be
commensurate with defendant‟s conduct rather than „the fact the aggravated kidnappings
were technically ongoing at the time he discharged the gun.‟ However, as we have
discussed, the applicability of section 12022.53 enhancements necessarily depends on
what is ‘technically ongoing at the time’ a firearm is used. The Legislature premised
section 12022.53 enhancements on a defendant‟s firearm use during underlying crimes.
The statute „prescribes substantial sentence enhancements for using a firearm in the
commission of certain listed felonies.‟ [Citation.] Although subdivision (d) incorporates
an injury element, it still „clearly serves‟ legislative goals in deterring the use of firearms
in crimes. [Citation.] Defendant fired a gun and caused great bodily injury while he was
committing three crimes. The sentence imposed by the trial court is required by the

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statutory language and in keeping with the legislative purpose.” (Palacios, at p. 733, first
italics added.)
Here, then, the question is whether the attempted robbery was technically ongoing
at the time Silva discharged a firearm in his attempt to murder Renteria. If it was, then
Silva fired a gun and caused great bodily injury while committing two crimes, and the
imposition of a subdivision (d) enhancement as to both count 30 and count 31 was
required by section 12022.53‟s language.
We conclude the attempted robbery was still in progress – hence, technically
ongoing – at the time the gun was fired. “An attempted robbery requires a specific intent
to commit robbery and a direct, ineffectual act (beyond mere preparation) toward its
commission. [Citations.]” (People v. Medina (2007) 41 Cal.4th 685, 694.) Neither a
completed theft nor a completed assault is required. (Ibid.) Instead, “[w]hen a defendant
acts with the requisite specific intent, that is, with the intent to engage in the conduct
and/or bring about the consequences proscribed by the attempted crime [citation], and
performs an act that “go[es] beyond mere preparation … and … show[s] that the
perpetrator is putting his or her plan into action‟ [citation], the defendant may be
convicted of criminal attempt.” (People v. Toledo (2001) 26 Cal.4th 221, 230, fn.
omitted.)
That the attempted robbery may have been committed for purposes of affixing
liability to Silva for that crime long before he shot Renteria, such that the attempted
murder and attempted robbery were two separate offenses (see People v. Sandoval,
supra, 30 Cal.App.4th at p. 1299), does not mean, however, that Silva discharged his
firearm and caused great bodily injury only in the commission of one offense for purposes
of enhanced sentencing under section 12022.53. In this respect, “in the commission of,”
as used in subdivision (d), is not the same as “committed.”
People v. Cooper (1991) 53 Cal.3d 1158 is instructive. In that case, the California
Supreme Court was called upon to determine the duration of the “commission” of

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robbery for aiding and abetting liability. The court stated: “We have held that once all
elements of a robbery are satisfied, the offense has been initially committed and the
principal may be found guilty of robbery, as distinct from a mere attempt. [Citation.]
This threshold of guilt-establishment is a fixed point in time, but is not synonymous with
„commission‟ of a crime for our purposes. [¶] For purposes of determining aider and
abettor liability, the commission of a robbery continues until all acts constituting the
offense have ceased. The taking element of robbery itself has two necessary elements,
gaining possession of the victim‟s property and asporting or carrying away the loot.
[Citation.] Thus, in determining the duration of a robbery‟s commission we must
necessarily focus on the duration of the final element of the robbery, asportation. [¶]
Although, for purposes of establishing guilt, the asportation requirement is initially
satisfied by evidence of slight movement [citation], asportation is not confined to a fixed
point in time. The asportation continues thereafter as long as the loot is being carried
away to a place of temporary safety.” (Id. at pp. 1164-1165, fns. omitted.) In footnote 7
at page 1164 of the opinion, the court explained: “The logic of viewing „committed‟ as a
fixed point in time for purposes of guilt-establishment and „commission‟ as a temporal
continuum for purposes of determining accomplice liability can be seen from the
perspectives of both the victim and the accomplice. The rape victim, for example, would
not agree that the crime was completed once the crime was initially committed (i.e., at the
point of initial penetration). Rather, the offense does not end until all of the acts that
constitute the rape have ceased. Furthermore, the unknowing defendant who happens on
the scene of a rape after the rape has been initially committed and aids the perpetrator in
the continuing criminal acts is an accomplice under the concept of „commission,‟ because
he formed his intent to facilitate the commission of the rape during its commission.”
People v. Keith (1975) 52 Cal.App.3d 947 is similar. There, a charge of first
degree murder was submitted to the jury on a felony-murder theory. The prosecution‟s
evidence showed that the victim was killed during the attempted flight of a group of

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robbers; the People‟s theory was that the defendant or one of his accomplices killed the
victim in the course of a robbery or attempted robbery. (Id. at pp. 952-953.) Upon
conviction for first degree murder and attempted robbery, the defendant argued that the
then-recently recognized rule, “that a robbery is not complete while the robber only has
scrambling possession of the loot and has not reached a place of temporary safety, does
not apply to unsuccessful robberies that do not result in any loot and, hence, no
possession whatever.” (Id. at p. 953.) The Court of Appeal rejected the argument,
finding “no doubt” that the rule applied to the facts of the case before it. (Ibid.)
The central element of the crime of robbery – and, by extension, the crime of
attempted robbery – is the force or fear applied to the victim in order to deprive him or
her of his or her property. (People v. Ramos (1982) 30 Cal.3d 553, 589, revd. on other
grounds sub nom. California v. Ramos (1983) 463 U.S. 992.) In the present case, the
intruders forced their way into Renteria‟s house with guns drawn. When he said they
could have anything, one of them asked, “„Anything?‟” and then both began to beat him.
When he tried to rise, one put a gun to his head. They wrestled for it. At some point, one
intruder‟s mask came off and Renteria saw that it was Martinez. When the other intruder
– inferentially Silva – told Martinez to shoot him, Renteria attempted to flee. The
intruders caught up to him and started beating him again. When he finally managed to
get loose, he ran. They then shot him. Renteria estimated they were on the premises for
about an hour before they left.
It is clear from the foregoing that, although none of Renteria‟s property was taken
so far as he knew, the application to him of force, in order to deprive him of his property,
was ongoing at the time he was shot. Thus, the attempted robbery, although complete for
purposes of affixing criminal liability for that offense, was still in progress at the time of
the attempted murder. Accordingly, Silva fired a gun and caused great bodily injury
while he was simultaneously committing two crimes. As the jury necessarily determined,
by its findings on the subdivision (d) allegations, that he fired a gun and caused great

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bodily injury during the commission of each of the two offenses (Palacios, supra, 41
Cal.4th at p. 726), the trial court was required to impose a subdivision (d) enhancement
on both count 30 and count 31 (Palacios, at p. 733).
DISPOSITION
The judgments of conviction are affirmed as to all defendants.
As to Morrison, the firearm use enhancement (§ 12022.53, subd. (b)) is reversed
as to count 1; the “in concert” finding is stricken as to count 30; and sentence is ordered
stayed (§ 654) on counts 14 and 35.
As to Martinez, the “in concert” finding is stricken as to count 30; and sentence is
ordered stayed (§ 654) on counts 14 and 35.
As to Silva, the firearm use enhancements (§ 12022.53, subd. (b)) are reversed as
to counts 2 and 3; the “in concert” finding is stricken as to count 30; and sentence is
ordered stayed (§ 654) on counts 14 and 35.
Sentence as to all three defendants is vacated and the matters are remanded for
resentencing in accordance with this opinion.
_____________________
Ardaiz, P.J.
WE CONCUR:
_____________________
Vartabedian, J.
_____________________
Dawson, J.

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