People v. AdamsPeople v. Adams
Vanessa Place, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant Devon Delshawn Moreland.
David H. Goodwin, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant Kevin Adams.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Joseph P. Lee and Jaime L. Fuster, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
* Pursuant to
I. INTRODUCTION
This case is before us a second time after the Supreme Court granted review and transferred the case back with directions to vacate our original opinion and reconsider our decision in light of People v. Contreras (2018) 4 Cal.5th 349 (Contreras), which addressed the issues a trial court must consider in sentencing a juvenile nonhomicide offender consistent with the Eighth Amendment.
In our original opinion, issued March 3, 2016, we affirmed defendants multiple convictions and held defendant Davon Delshawn Moreland forfeited his Eighth Amendment challenge to his 35-year parole eligibility term and, in any event, the term was not cruel and unusual punishment. We also modified defendants sentences and directed the trial court on remand to hold a hearing on defendants ability to pay sex offense fines together with applicable penalties and surcharges.
Having reconsidered our decision in light of Contreras, we again affirm the convictions, order modifications, and direct the trial court on remand to hold a hearing on ability to pay. In addition, we remand the matter for resentencing of Mr. Moreland. The trial court is directed to consider, in light of Contreras, any mitigating circumstances of Mr. Moreland s crimes and life and the impact of any new legislation and regulations on appropriate sentencing. (Contreras, supra, 4
II. OVERVIEW
A jury convicted Mr. Moreland and his codefendant Kevin Adams of forcible rape in concert (
In the published portion of this opinion, we modify defendants presentence custody credits. Also, we hold that under
III. THE EVIDENCE
A. The Prosecution s Case
1. The crimes
Defendants were cousins and fellow members of a violent street gang. May 2 was the gang s birthday or gang day. On May 2, 2011, Diane T. was working as a prostitute. Diane and Geoffrey Odhiambo were sitting in his car in an alley. Defendants pulled in behind and blocked Mr. Odhiambo s car. Defendants were in a four-door white car. Defendants approached Mr. Odhiambo s car. Mr. Moreland pointed a black gun at Mr. Odhiambo s head. Mr. Moreland took Mr. Odhiambo s car keys and money. Mr. Adams asked Diane for money. He forcibly searched inside her pants and bra. Mr. Adams grabbed Diane and dragged her to the white car. Mr. Adams raped Diane in the backseat. Mr. Adams then moved to the driver s seat. Over the course of an hour or more, while Mr. Adams drove, Mr. Moreland repeatedly sexually and physically assaulted Diane in the backseat. Mr. Moreland was armed with a gun during the assaults. Mr. Moreland forced Diane several times to orally copulate him. He repeatedly raped her. Mr. Moreland attempted to sodomize her. He repeatedly hit her on the head. Mr. Moreland threatened her with the gun. He told Diane repeatedly, Don t look at me. The car stopped several times. Mr. Moreland purchased condoms. He obtained cash. Mr. Adams told Diane to do what Mr. Moreland told her to do and she would not be hurt. Mr. Moreland wanted Diane to help them rob
Mr. Moreland ordered Diane out of the car. He punched her in the face breaking her jaw. Mr. Moreland told Diane to get on her knees. He ordered her to orally copulate him. Diane refused. Mr. Moreland pointed the gun at Diane s forehead and fired twice. But the gun malfunctioned. Diane heard it click. Diane saw Mr. Moreland messing with the gun. He was hitting it against his hand. Diane got up and started to run. Mr. Moreland ran toward the car. She heard him arguing with Mr. Adams. Mr. Adams said, Stop, bitch. Diane stopped behind a truck. Mr. Adams pointed the gun at her. She heard a click. Diane ran to a nearby house and summoned help. Defendants left the scene.
2. The investigation
After law enforcement officers arrived at the cul-de-sac, Diane described her assailants. Diane said one suspect was a 25 to 35 year old light skinned male Black, approximately 6 feet tall with a muscular build. The second suspect was a 25 to 30 year old dark skinned Black male, approximately 6 feet tall with a thin build. Mr. Moreland testified at trial that in May 2011, he was 6 feet 3 to 4 inches tall and weighed 230 pounds. Mr. Moreland further testified Mr. Adams was 5 feet 11 inches to 6 feet tall. Diane also worked with a forensic artist, Sandra Enslow, to create sketches of the perpetrators. At trial, Diane testified, [The sketch artist] drew them perfect. The jury was able to compare the sketches to defendants booking photographs as well as to how they appeared in the courtroom.
On May 15, 2012, law enforcement officers arranged a bench operation. Defendants, who were both in custody, were seated together on a bench. They were ostensibly waiting to be interviewed by detectives about another case. Their conversation was recorded. An audiotape of the conversation was played at trial. The conversation was as follows: Adams: Yeah, at first I thought they was gonna bring up that little rape charge . . . ad[d] charge on that rape . . . That s what I thought they were gonna bring up. [¶] Moreland: Yeah . . . [¶] Adams: But this shit . . . this the last shit on my mind nigga . . . I don t know nothing about this nigga. [¶] Moreland: Damn bro . . . [c]aught the fuck
Detective Derek White testified concerning the foregoing conversations. According to the detective, Mr. Adams was concerned he was going to be charged with a new case, for rape. Mr. Adams talked about a Hispanic prostitute being raped. And how she was not cooperating with the police. Mr. Adams was nervous about it. He thought the rape case was the reason he had been brought in. Detective White summarized: They re concerned about being add charged for a rape and talking about a [certain gang] function, which is May 2nd. That caught my attention. And then the other part . . . about a Hispanic girl being raped. It all came together that I believe they were talking about a rape that occurred on May 2nd.
The victim, Diane, was missing for approximately 10 months. In late 2012, however, detectives located her. On December 1, 2012, one year and seven months after the assault, Detective White showed Diane two photographic lineups. Initially, Diane identified Mr. Moreland as the driver. She told the detective, He was the one that initially raped me . . . . But later she said she had the two men confused and she identified Mr. Moreland as the person who repeatedly assaulted and tried to kill her. She remembered Mr. Moreland. She told detectives it was him a hundred percent. She said, I know that face. She then identified Mr. Adams as one of two men depicted in the lineup who could possibly [be] the driver, but she was unsure.
Surveillance video from a bakery near the cul-de-sac was introduced. The videotape showed a white car passing in the
At the preliminary hearing and again at trial, Mr. Odhiambo identified Mr. Moreland as the man who committed the robbery. At trial, Mr. Odhiambo stated unequivocally that Mr. Moreland was that man. Mr. Odhiambo testified, I know he s the one who pointed the gun. Mr. Odhiambo was unable, however, to identify the second man. Also, at both the preliminary hearing and at trial, Diane identified Mr. Adams as the driver and Mr. Moreland as the other assailant.
3. The deoxyribonucleic acid evidence
Senior criminalist Christopher Lee collected potential biological evidence from the cul-de-sac including what looked like fresh spit, a piece of a condom wrapper and three blood stains. Mr. Lee delivered the items to the laboratory where they would be processed. At trial, Mr. Lee described the spit: [It was] relatively large. It didn t appear dry . . . . It appeared relatively fresh.
Criminalist Ashley Platt initially screened the collected evidence for the potential presence of deoxyribonucleic acid. She
Consistent with protocol, criminalist Yukis Partos conducted a technical review of Ms. Platt s work. Ms. Partos reviewed the entire file including case notes and test results. Ms. Partos testified at trial. She explained that the reason for the technical review was, [T]o ensure that all of us are following the policy and procedures of our laboratory, the testing is done correctly using the correct control samples, the results are reliable, scientifically done, and to make sure that everything that had to be done is conducted correctly and second analyst who is the technical reviewer are agreeing with the testing done by the original analyst. Ms. Partos testified Ms. Platt followed protocol and performed appropriate tests in a proper manner.
Criminalist Kirsten Fraser also testified at trial. Ms. Fraser analyzed the material forwarded by Ms. Platt. Ms. Fraser generated deoxyribonucleic profiles. At the time she generated the profiles, the only reference samples she had were from the victim. The bloodstains all matched the victim. The possible saliva was from a single source, an unknown male. The victim was a major contributor to the deoxyribonucleic acid on the condom wrapper—1 in 16.2 trillion. There was a possible unknown male contributor as well. Ms. Fraser uploaded the saliva and condom wrapper profiles to a national database. She was notified of a match to Mr. Adams. Ms. Fraser subsequently received reference samples from defendants. She generated deoxyribonucleic acid profiles for each of them. Upon comparison, Ms. Fraser found the saliva matched Mr. Adams.
B. The Defense Case
Mr. Moreland testified in his own defense. He denied committing the crimes. He testified that although he had joined the gang when he was 13, he was no longer a gang member. Mr. Moreland testified that May 2 was a big day for a certain gang. Mr. Moreland said, [E]verybody from the gang goes to that one certain party on this one odd day. Further, he said, It s like a reunion. But Mr. Moreland denied attending the May 2, 2011 gang function. He admitted he had previously been convicted of robbery in case No. BA374588. He had entered a plea in that case on February 15, 2011. Mr. Moreland told the jury he was a 17-year-old senior in high school when the crimes were committed; he was playing football and had college scholarship offers; he had made a commitment to play football at Oregon State University; and he would not have jeopardized his future by committing any crime.
IV. DISCUSSION
[Parts IV(A)-(B) are deleted from publication. See post at page 26 where publication is to resume.]
A. Mr. Adams s Appeal—The Admission of Deoxyribonucleic Acid Evidence
1. Introduction
As discussed above, Ms. Platt—who initially tested collected evidence for the potential presence of deoxyribonucleic acid—did not testify at trial. Ms. Partos—who reviewed Ms. Platt s work—did testify at trial. Mr. Adams asserts allowing Ms. Partos to testify concerning Ms. Platt s preliminary tests violated the Sixth Amendment confrontation clause.
2. Forfeiture
Mr. Adams did not raise this issue in the trial court. Defense counsel, Michael Clark, did not object to Ms. Partos s testimony and did not cross-examine her. On the Monday following Ms. Partos s Friday testimony, Mr. Clark raised a chain of custody objection. Mr. Clark argued Ms. Partos s testimony could not be offered in place of Ms. Platt s testimony to establish a chain of custody. Defendant has not raised any chain of custody argument on appeal. Moreover, because he did not raise the present confrontation clause issue in the trial court, Mr. Adams forfeited his argument. (People v. Lucas (2014) 60 Cal.4th 153, 330, disapproved on another point in People v. Romero and Self (2015) 62 Cal.4th 1, 53, fn. 19; People v. Redd (2010) 48 Cal.4th 691, 730.)
3. There was no confrontation clause violation
Even if Mr. Adams s argument was preserved, no Sixth Amendment violation occurred. Ms. Platt identified possible biological evidence and forwarded it to be examined for deoxyribonucleic acid. Ms. Platt contemporaneously recorded her tests and their results. Ms. Platt did not certify or attest to the contents of her report. And the report s primary purpose did not pertain to a criminal prosecution. Therefore, her report lacked the critical components to be considered testimonial. (People v. Edwards (2013) 57 Cal.4th 658, 705; People v. Dungo (2012) 55 Cal.4th 608, 619; compare Bullcoming v. New Mexico (2011) 564 U.S. 644, 652, 654-655 [131 S.Ct. 2705, 2710, 2717]; Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts (2009) 557 U.S. 305, 307-311.) Ms. Partos testified Ms. Platt followed protocol and performed appropriate tests in a proper manner. The deoxyribonucleic acid evidence connecting Mr. Adams to the present crimes was not introduced through Ms. Partos. It was introduced through Ms. Fraser s in-court testimony. Ms. Fraser was the criminalist who independently analyzed the biological material. Each of the three criminologists who considered the biological evidence had the same sole purpose—to perform her task in accordance with mandated procedures. The technicians reports primary purpose was not to accuse. Deoxyribonucleic acid profiles are not inherently inculpatory. They can be exculpatory. The criminalists performed the tests in accordance with accepted procedures with no idea whether the results would exonerate or
4. Any violation was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt
Confrontation clause violations are subject to harmless error analysis under Chapman v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 18, 24. (People v. Capistrano (2014) 59 Cal.4th 830, 873; People v. Livingston (2012) 53 Cal.4th 1145, 1159.) Any error in not requiring Ms. Platt to testify was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Ms. Fraser testified based on her own independent test results matching Mr. Adams s deoxyribonucleic acid to the fresh saliva found in the cul-de-sac. Ms. Fraser was subject to cross-examination. (People v. Banks (2014) 59 Cal.4th 1113, 1165-1166, disapproved on another ground in People v. Scott (2015) 61 Cal.4th 363, 391, fn. 3 [any error harmless where criminalist testified to her own independent conclusions as to
B. Mr. Moreland s Appeal
1. Consolidated charges
The trial court consolidated the present charges against Mr. Moreland (counts 2 through 7) with forcible rape charges involving a second alleged victim, Eboni C. (
Eboni C. testified as follows. She was related to Mr. Moreland by marriage. Mr. Moreland was the cousin of the niece of Eboni C. Eboni C. was at the niece s grandmother s house on April 21, 2012, less than a year after Diane was assaulted. Mr. Moreland also lived in the home. Eboni C. was sitting on Mr.
After Eboni C. testified at trial, however, the forcible rape charges in count 1 were dismissed. The trial court instructed the jury to disregard the testimony of Eboni C. and all of the evidence relevant to that charge. The trial court further instructed the jury not to speculate about why the charges were no longer before them. The instruction was as follows: Count 1 as it relates to Eboni C., that count is no longer before you. You are not going to be called upon to make any decision in regard to that count. You re not to speculate as to why that charge is no longer before you. All of the previous testimony that was introduced during the trial as it related to count 1, that testimony will be stricken. You are not to consider that testimony for any purpose.
We need not consider whether the trial court abused its discretion when it consolidated the two cases or when it ruled the evidence as to each was cross-admissible. (
Here, the evidence in each of the two cases was straightforward and distinct. The evidence in each case was independently sufficient to support a conviction without regard to the other. The present case was not significantly weaker than the evidence as to Eboni C. The facts as to Eboni C. as compared to Diane were not likely to unduly inflame the jury. Eboni C. testified she was raped once by Mr. Moreland, who was known to her. The crimes committed against Diane were vicious and protracted and involved an attempt to murder her. Moreover, there was abundant evidence connecting Mr. Moreland to the crimes against Diane. Both Mr. Odhiambo and Diane positively identified Mr. Moreland on repeated occasions. Mr. Odhiambo was certain Mr. Moreland was the robber. Mr. Odhiambo testified, I know he s the one who pointed the gun. Diane told Detective White she was a hundred percent sure Mr. Moreland was the man who assaulted and tried to murder her. She said, I know that face. Mr. Moreland made incriminatory statements
2. Cruel and unusual punishment
a. Background
On August 14, 2014, the trial court sentenced Mr. Moreland to a lengthy term in prison and set a minimum parole eligibility term of 35 years. The court considered mitigating factors including Mr. Moreland s age at the time of his offenses (17 years); his abandonment by his birth mother; his upbringing
In addition, citing Graham v. Florida (2010) 560 U.S. 48 (Graham) and People v. Caballero (2012) 55 Cal.4th 262 (Caballero), the trial court explained that Mr. Moreland was entitled to an opportunity to demonstrate rehabilitation and fitness to reenter society. Based on Mr. Moreland s life expectancy and age at sentencing (20 years), the court reasoned that [i]f [Mr. Moreland] were eligible for parole at age 55, this would give him a meaningful opportunity by demonstrating his rehabilitation and fitness to reenter society. The court ruled that Mr. Moreland would be eligible for parole no later than 35 years from today s date.
In our prior opinion, we held Mr. Moreland forfeited his appellate argument that his sentence was cruel and unusual under the Eighth Amendment and, even if the issue was properly before us, we would not conclude the sentence was cruel and unusual.
After we issued our opinion, the Supreme Court, on May 18, 2016, granted Mr. Moreland s petition for review and held the matter pending its decision in People v. Franklin (2016) 63 Cal.4th 261 (Franklin). On August 17, 2016, after the opinion in Franklin issued, the Supreme Court further deferred disposition of Mr. Moreland s petition pending its decision in Contreras, supra, 4 Cal.5th 349.
On June 18, 2018, Mr. Moreland submitted his supplemental opening brief arguing that, under Contreras, supra, 4 Cal.5th 349, his “sentence of 205-years-to-life is . . . manifestly unconstitutional.” He asked us to remand the matter to the trial court to give him an opportunity to make a record under Franklin, supra, 63 Cal.4th 261 for an eventual youth offender parole hearing.
On June 21, 2018, the Attorney General submitted a supplemental responding brief agreeing that the matter should be remanded to the trial court but only for resentencing under Contreras, supra, 4 Cal.5th 349. The Attorney General argued the trial court on remand should not conduct a record development hearing under Franklin, supra, 63 Cal.4th 261, because Mr. Moreland―who was sentenced as a One Strike juvenile sex offender under
b. Contreras
Starting from the premise that “‘children are constitutionally different from adults for purposes of sentencing,‘” the United States Supreme Court “‘has derived a number of limitations on juvenile sentencing : (1) no individual may be executed for an offense committed when he or she was a juvenile [citation]; (2) no juvenile who commits a nonhomicide offense may be sentenced to [life without the possibility of parole, or LWOP] [citation]; and (3) no juvenile who commits a homicide offense may be automatically sentenced to LWOP [citation].’ [Citation].” (Contreras, supra, 4 Cal.5th at p. 359, citing Miller v. Alabama (2012) 567 U.S. 460, 471; Roper v. Simmons (2005) 543 U.S. 551, 578; Graham, supra, 560 U.S. at p. 74.)
In Caballero, supra, 55 Cal.4th 262, a juvenile defendant was sentenced to 110 years to life for three counts of attempted murder and would not become eligible for parole for over 100 years. Our Supreme Court held the sentence was the functional equivalent of LWOP and, under Graham, violated the Eighth
Subsequently in Contreras, supra, 4 Cal.5th 349, the Supreme Court held that sentences of 50 and 58 years to life imposed on juveniles convicted of kidnapping and sexual offenses, with parole eligibility at ages 66 and 74, violated the same Eighth Amendment principles that barred the imposition of LWOP for their crimes. (Id. at pp. 360, 367-370; see id. at p. 369 [sentence of 50 years to life is functionally equivalent to LWOP].)
The court rejected the argument that a term of imprisonment is not the functional equivalent of LWOP if it provides a juvenile offender an opportunity for parole within his or her expected natural lifetime. (Contreras, supra, 4 Cal.5th at p. 360.) The court explained this “actuarial approach gives rise to a tangle of legal and empirical difficulties” including the influence of gender, race and other factors on life expectancy, creating a risk of disparate sentencing. (Id. at pp. 361-363Id. at pp. 363-364.) “An opportunity to obtain release does not seem ‘meaningful’ or ‘realistic’ within the meaning of Graham if the chance of living
Instead of the “misguided” actuarial approach to functional equivalence, courts should ask if “a term-of-years sentence may function like LWOP with respect to the Eighth Amendment concerns that constrain lawful punishment for juvenile nonhomicide offenders . . . .” (Contreras, supra, 4 Cal.5th at p. 364, emphasis omitted.) “To resolve this question, the proper starting point is not a life expectancy table but the reasoning of the high court in Graham.” (Ibid.) While Graham does not require the state to release juvenile nonhomicide offenders during their natural lives, it “‘prohibit[s] States from making the judgment at the outset that those offenders never will be fit to reenter society.‘” (Id. at p. 367, quoting Graham, supra, 560 U.S. at p. 75.) “‘What the State must do . . . is give [juvenile nonhomicide offenders] some meaningful opportunity to obtain release based on demonstrated maturity and rehabilitation.‘” (Ibid., quoting Graham, supra, 560 U.S. at p. 75.)
Contreras observed “the high court [in Graham] did not define the maximum length of incarceration before parole eligibility that would be permissible in light of the concerns it set forth . . . .” (Contreras, supra, 4 Cal.5th at p. 367.) “But the high court made clear the nature of its concerns: A lawful sentence must recognize ‘a juvenile nonhomicide offender‘s capacity for change and limited moral culpability.‘” (Ibid., quoting Graham, supra, 560 U.S. at p. 74.) “A lawful sentence must offer ‘hope of restoration’ [citation], ‘a chance to demonstrate maturity and reform’ [citation], a ‘chance for fulfillment outside prison walls,’ and a ‘chance for reconciliation with society’ [citation]. A lawful sentence must offer ‘the opportunity to achieve maturity of
In the case before it, the court in Contreras opined that the defendants’ “[c]onfinement with no possibility of release until age 66 or age 74 seems unlikely to allow for the reintegration that Graham contemplates.” (Contreras, supra, 4 Cal.5th at p. 368.) The court therefore remanded the matter for resentencing in light of its opinion. (Id. at p. 379.)
c. Remand for resentencing and determination of parole eligibility term
Here, the trial court was well aware of the sentencing considerations discussed in Graham, supra, 560 U.S. 48 and Caballero, supra, 55 Cal.4th 262 and addressed those factors at the sentencing hearing. The court also considered Mr. Moreland‘s life expectancy in determining his sentence, although the record does not disclose the extent to which the sentence was based on the court‘s life expectancy analysis. As noted above, Contreras subsequently disapproved an actuarial approach to sentencing. (Contreras, supra, 4 Cal.5th at pp. 360-364, 372-373.)
Because the trial court did not have the benefit of the Supreme Court‘s decision in Contreras, supra, 4 Cal.5th 349 when it sentenced Mr. Moreland, we vacate Mr. Moreland‘s
We deny Mr. Moreland‘s request that we direct the trial court on remand to hold a hearing under Franklin, supra, 63 Cal.4th 261 to allow Mr. Moreland to make a record for an eventual youth offender parole hearing. It is undisputed that, as the law currently stands, Mr. Moreland is not eligible for a youth offender parole hearing under
[Part IV (C)(1)-(3) is to be published.]
C. Other Sentencing Issues
1. Presentence custody credit
The trial court awarded Mr. Adams 562 days of presentence custody credit. However, the parties agree that Mr. Adams was in custody for conduct attributable to the present case from January 2, 2013, to July 18, 2014, a period of 563 days. A defendant is entitled to credit for all days in presentence
The trial court awarded Mr. Moreland 603 days of presentence custody credit. However, according to the record before us, Mr. Moreland was arrested on December 12, 2012. He was sentenced on August 14, 2014. Therefore he was in presentence custody for 611 days. (People v. Rajanayagam, supra, 211 Cal.App.4th at p. 48; People v. Morgain, supra, 177 Cal.App.4th at p. 469.) Mr. Moreland‘s judgment must be modified and his abstract of judgment corrected to reflect 611 days of presentence custody credit.
2. Presentence conduct credit
Because they were convicted of violent felonies as defined in
Our review is governed by well established rules of statutory construction. Our Supreme Court examined these rules in Even Zohar Construction & Remodeling, Inc. v. Bellaire Townhouses, LLC (2015) 61 Cal.4th 830, 837-838: “‘Our fundamental task in construing’ . . . any legislative enactment, ‘is
As enacted in 1994,
3. Defendants’ count 4 sentences for kidnapping to commit rape or oral copulation
a. The issues arising from the count 2, 3 and 4 sentences
Ultimately, what we will decide is whether defendants may be punished under
b. The jury instruction conference and instructions as to counts 2, 3 and 4
The jury was instructed as to the elements of rape (count 2) and forcible oral copulation (count 3) in concert pursuant to CALCRIM Nos. 1000, 1001, 1015 and 1016. In addition, the jurors were instructed concerning the
Two sets of CALCRIM instructions were given concerning two forms of kidnapping. The jury was instructed pursuant to CALCRIM No. 1203 concerning kidnapping to commit rape or another sex offense. This instruction related directly to the charge in count 4. In the margin, we have reproduced the instructions given concerning the asportation element of kidnapping to commit rape or another sex offense.6 In addition,
c. The prosecutor‘s and defense attorneys’ arguments
In her opening summation, the deputy district attorney argued to the jurors they should find the
In their arguments, defense counsel never discussed CALCRIM No. 3179 nor the elements of the
d. The counts 2, 3 and 4 verdicts and findings
As to Mr. Moreland, the jury returned the same guilty verdicts on counts 2 (rape in concert), 3 (forcible oral copulation in concert) and kidnapping to commit another crime. However, as to Mr. Moreland, more extensive special allegations findings were returned. As to count 2, the forcible rape in concert charge, the jury found the following special allegations to be true: Mr. Moreland personally used a firearm within the meaning of
e. The counts 2, 3 and 4 sentences
As to Mr. Adams, for count 2, forcible rape in concert, he received an indeterminate sentence of 25 years to life. In addition, as to count 2, Mr. Adams received 10 years for firearm
As to Mr. Moreland, similar sentences were imposed as to counts 2, 3 and 4. However, Mr. Moreland had been subject to a prior serious felony juvenile dispositional order and was a minor when the present crimes were committed. Thus, Mr. Moreland‘s sentence differs in several respects from that imposed on Mr. Adams. Mr. Adams was not a juvenile at the time of the
f. The instructional error concerning kidnapping as defined by section 667.61, subdivision (d)(2) was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt
As noted,
The relevant sex offenses specified in
The jurors were instructed concerning kidnapping pursuant to CALCRIM No. 1215. We have previously set forth the entirety of the CALCRIM No. 1215 instruction concerning kidnapping. (See part IV(C)(3)(b), supra.) The instruction defines asportation. There is no issue concerning the asportation element raised by CALCRIM No. 1215. But, as previously noted, CALCRIM No. 1215 also includes a discussion concerning risk of harm in the context of whether the movement was substantial. One of the factors in evaluating whether an asportation has been for a substantial distance is the increase in the risk of harm from the movement. (People v. Martinez, supra, 20 Cal.4th at p. 237 [“the jury might properly consider not only the actual distance the victim is moved, but also such factors as whether that movement increased the risk of harm above that which existed prior to the asportation”]; see People v. Johnson, supra, 61 Cal.4th at p. 771 [same].)
Defendant argues the jurors were not properly instructed concerning the
No doubt, the jurors impliedly found that the movement of Diane increased the risk of harm to her. As noted, the jurors were instructed on the charge of kidnapping for the purpose of rape or oral copulation pursuant to CALCRIM No. 1203. The jurors were instructed, “The movement must have increased the risk of physical or psychological harm to that person beyond that necessarily present in the rape or oral copulation.” As instructed, in order to convict defendant of aggravated kidnapping within the meaning of
In addition to the jury’s implied findings, the error was harmless because the substantial risk of harm issue was uncontested. The omission of an element during jury instruction may be harmless when the factual issue is uncontested by the defense. (People v. Mil (2012) 53 Cal.4th 400, 410 [“the omission of an element of a . . . sentencing factor is harmless when ‘the omitted element was uncontested and supported by overwhelming evidence, such that the jury verdict would have been the same absent the error.’”]; People v. Garcia (2001) 25 Cal.4th 744, 761 [same].) The substantial increase in risk element of
The calculus of whether the evidence was overwhelming is closer as to Mr. Moreland. He denied any participation in the sexual assaults and other violent crimes. However, we have reviewed the entirety of the testimony and evidence. The evidence was overwhelming in terms of the issue before us—whether the victim’s movement substantially increased the risk of harm to her. The failure to instruct the jury as to the substantial increase in the risk of harm element of
g. Section 209, subdivision (d)
Pursuant to
There are two elements in
At issue is existence of a common act occurring against a single victim on the same day which violates
[Part IV (C)(4)-(7) is deleted from publication.]
4. Mr. Moreland’s count 4 and 6 sentences
The trial court orally imposed as to counts 4 and 6 a
5. The sex offenses fines
The trial court imposed a $300 sex offenses fine (
Second, effective September 20, 2006,
Third, the trial court failed to impose mandatory penalties and surcharges on the fines. This is an error that can be raised for the first time on appeal. (People v. Talibdeen (2002) 27 Cal.4th 1151, 1157; People v. Castellanos (2009) 175 Cal.App.4th 1524, 1530.) As of the date of the present offenses, May 2, 2011, each sex offenses fine was subject to: a 100 percent state penalty (
Fourth, the matter must be remanded for an ability to pay determination.
6. Mr. Adams’s Abstract of Judgment
The trial court orally stated it was staying a
7. Mr. Moreland’s Abstract of Judgment And the Attorney General’s Argument
Mr Moreland’s abstract of judgment states that count 6, attempted willful, deliberate and premeditated murder, is to run consecutive to count 2, rape in concert. However, the oral pronouncement of judgment does not reflect such an order. Thus, absent some other reason that requires consecutive sentencing, the abstract of judgment must be corrected to state that counts 2 and 6 are to run concurrently. (
The Attorney General argues though that consecutive sentences were mandatory pursuant to sections
V. DISPOSITION
The judgment as to Mr. Moreland is modified to impose minimum parole eligibility terms of 30 years on counts 4 and 6. The judgments are further modified to award Mr. Adams 563 days of presentence custody credit and to award Mr. Moreland 611 days of such credit. The reference to a
Mr. Moreland’s sentence is vacated and the matter is remanded to the trial court for resentencing in light of Contreras, supra, 4 Cal.5th 349. The court is directed to consider any mitigating circumstances of Mr. Moreland’s crimes and life and the impact of any new legislation and regulations on appropriate sentencing. The court is further directed to impose a time by which Mr. Moreland may seek parole consistent with Contreras.
On remand, the trial court will also hold a hearing to determine each defendant’s ability to pay the sex offense fines together with applicable penalties and surcharges. The judgments are affirmed in all other respects.
Upon resentencing and resolution of the ability to pay issue, the trial court is to personally insure that the superior court clerk prepares fully correct amended abstracts of judgment as discussed in the opinion’s body. The clerk of the superior court
CERTIFIED FOR PARTIAL PUBLICATION
JASKOL, J. *
We concur:
BAKER, J., Acting P.J.
MOOR, J.
* Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court, assigned by the Chief Justice pursuant to article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution.