THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. ANTHONY DAVID GARRISON, Defendant and Appellant.
B308319
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT DIVISION ONE
Filed 12/17/21
Certified for publication 1/10/22 (order attached); (Los Angeles County Super. Ct. No. VA020287)
Patricia S. Lai, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant.
Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Susan Sullivan Pithey, Assistant Attorney General, Idan Ivri and Thomas C. Hsieh, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
In 1994, Anthony David Garrison pleaded guilty to murder and admitted that he personally used a firearm. It is undisputed that the murder occurred in the course of a robbery. On appeal, Garrison challenges the trial court‘s denial of his
BACKGROUND
In his appellate briefing, Garrison describes the facts as follows: “On December 11, 1993, Otto Hill and his wife Verna Hill were sleeping when they heard someone pounding on their front door. When Otto opened the door, appellant and his companion, both wearing ski masks, pushed their way inside the house, brandishing a BB gun. They were struggling with Otto when Otto told his wife to ‘get the gun.’ Verna grabbed a .38 caliber revolver from the drawer of the bedside table and went into the hallway. One of the two men then went into the bedroom and took the gun from Verna. The man pushed Verna and she fell to the ground. The man then left the room.
“Immediately after the man left the room, Verna heard shots fired. When Verna left the bedroom, she found her husband lying on the floor and wounded in the chest. Her husband was subsequently pronounced dead.” (Citations & fn. omitted.)
The trial court found at the
1. Information
In April 1994, the People charged Garrison in count 1 with the murder of Otto Hill. The prosecution alleged robbery murder and burglary murder
2. Preliminary hearing testimony
At the March 25, 1994 preliminary hearing, Verna Hill, and Robert B. testified for the prosecution. The parties stipulated for purposes of the preliminary hearing that Otto died of a gunshot wound to the chest.
Verna testified that on December 11, 1993, she lived in an apartment complex in Whittier. At that time, Verna was the apartment complex manager and Otto maintained the apartment complex. Verna collected the rent on December 10, 1993 and gave it to the owner. At about 3 a.m. on December 11, 1993, Verna heard very loud knocking as if someone were trying to “knock the door down.” Otto opened the door and said, “What are you doing here?” Verna heard scuffling, and Otto asked her for their gun.
As Verna started to enter the living room with the gun a masked man stopped her. The masked man demanded “the money” and Verna told him she had already given the money to the owner.
The masked man grabbed the gun and pushed Verna causing her to break her arm. Verna heard Otto fighting with someone in the living room at the same time the masked man grabbed the gun from her hands. About 30 seconds later, Verna heard two shots fired in close succession. Verna testified the shots were “[r]ight together, just pow, pow.”
Verna later saw a BB gun in her apartment that did not belong to her or Otto. Verna also noticed that money was missing from the apartment.
Verna knew Garrison. Verna also knew Rowe. Rowe would pay the rent for the apartment his mother occupied in the same complex Verna managed. Rowe and Verna frequently conversed when Rowe paid his mother‘s rent. Although Verna had never seen Garrison inside her apartment before, she did see him at around 7:30 on the night of the shooting when Garrison knocked on the door to borrow money from Otto, who then lent Garrison $10.
Verna told police officers that Rowe was the masked man who entered her bedroom. Verna thought it was Rowe based on his voice. Verna identified Rowe and Garrison as brothers. According to Verna, Rowe would have known where Verna‘s bedroom was; Garrison would not have known.
At the time of Otto‘s murder, Robert lived in the same apartment complex as the Hills. Just after 3:00 a.m. on December 11, 1993, two individuals approached Robert and asked him for a ride. The two individuals were Garrison and Mr. Rardin. Robert testified that he previously identified Mr. Rardin even though he did not know his name. Robert knew Garrison because Garrison‘s mother lived in the same apartment complex as Robert. Garrison asked Robert for a ride and Robert said “no” but later changed his mind when he saw Garrison‘s gun. Robert observed Garrison counting money as Robert drove Garrison to the requested location. Garrison was “almost pumped up” and the other man appeared nervous to Robert.
3. Plea and sentence
Garrison signed a form indicating he had waived his right to a jury trial and to confront witnesses against him. The form did not identify the factual basis for the plea. The trial court‘s minute order shows that Garrison pleaded guilty to murder and admitted the
The court sentenced Garrison to 30 years to life. At the sentencing hearing, the trial court stated that Verna identified the person other than “the co-defendant” as the shooter and “by process of elimination it was you.” The prosecutor corrected the court, indicating that the codefendant testified that Garrison was the gunman, but Verna did not.
4. Petition for resentencing
On March 26, 2019, Garrison filed a
The resentencing trial court appointed counsel for Garrison. Counsel filed a brief arguing that Garrison established a prima facie case of eligibility for relief. According to Garrison‘s counsel, Garrison “need only raise an inference that he was not a major participant who acted with reckless indifference to human life” and he met that standard.
The resentencing trial court found a prima facie case that Garrison was eligible for resentencing relief. The resentencing trial court issued an order to show cause why relief should not be granted. The People filed a supplemental brief arguing that Garrison was ineligible for resentencing because he was the actual killer.
At a subsequent hearing, no party presented additional evidence. The prosecutor again argued defendant was the actual killer and not entitled to relief under
The resentencing trial court concluded, “[B]oth on the preliminary hearing transcript but ultimately through the plea taken by Mr. Garrison, was that [sic] Mr. Garrison was the actual shooter and the actual killer. The theory was in fact a felony murder rule. And the 1170.95 contemplates if the person is the actual killer they are not eligible for the relief as contemplated in that code section.”
The resentencing court continued, “The court by inference and my own reading by inference is that there were two people involved, the defendant and his brother, and specifically that his brother was the one identified as not being the person by negative inference by the witness that had shouted for the gun.” “I also find beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Garrison could have been convicted as the actual shooter and actual killer in this felony murder case.” Garrison timely appealed.
A. Background on Section 1170.95
Senate Bill No. 1437 (2017–2018 Reg. Sess.) (Senate Bill No. 1437) amended
A person convicted of murder under a felony murder or natural and probable consequence theory may petition to have the murder conviction vacated. (
“(1) A complaint, information, or indictment was filed against the petitioner that allowed the prosecution to proceed under a theory of felony murder or murder under the natural and probable consequences doctrine.
“(2) The petitioner was convicted of first degree or second degree murder following a trial or accepted a plea offer in lieu of a trial at which the petitioner could be convicted for first degree or second degree murder.
“(3) The petitioner could not be convicted of first or second degree murder because of changes to Section 188 or 189 made effective January 1, 2019.” (
§ 1170.95, subd. (a) .)
When a petitioner files a “complying petition,” the court must appoint counsel if requested, “the issue is briefed[,] and then the court makes one (not two) prima facie determination.” (People v. Lewis (2021) 11 Cal.5th 952, 966.) “[T]he prima facie inquiry . . . is limited. Like the analogous prima facie inquiry in habeas corpus proceedings, ’ “the court takes petitioner‘s factual allegations as true and makes a preliminary assessment regarding whether the petitioner would be entitled to relief if his or her factual allegations were proved. If so, the court must issue an order to show cause.” ’ [Citation.] ’ [A] court should not reject the petitioner‘s
“If the petitioner makes a prima facie showing that he or she is entitled to relief, the court shall issue an order to show cause.” (
B. Garrison Is Ineligible for Resentencing as a Matter of Law Because He Was the Actual Killer
Garrison pleaded guilty to murder and admitted that in the course of the murder he personally used a handgun. On appeal, Garrison argues that, hypothetically, a defendant may personally use a handgun by displaying the handgun in a menacing manner, hitting someone with the weapon, or firing the weapon. Garrison‘s hypothetical scenario does not apply to this case.
The only “use” of a handgun in this case was to shoot and kill Otto Hill.4 There was no evidence—either in the record of conviction or at the
Our high court‘s jurisprudence supports this conclusion. In People v. Jones (2003) 30 Cal.4th 1084, the California Supreme Court held that although in theory, a finding that a defendant personally used a firearm does not in itself prove a defendant is the actual killer (id. at p. 1120), the facts of a particular case may support only that conclusion. The high court explained that personal use does not automatically show the defendant is the actual killer because a gun could be used
People v. Young (2005) 34 Cal.4th 1149 followed Jones. In Young, the high court acknowledged that a finding of personal use standing alone does not demonstrate a defendant was the actual killer. (Id. at p. 1205.) Where, however, there was “no evidence that anyone else who may have been present at the . . . residence displayed in a menacing manner, or otherwise used, a gun,” “all evidence points to defendant as the one who actually shot and killed [the victim].” (Ibid.)
Here, the evidence demonstrates that one robber only used a handgun. Garrison describes the events as follows: either Garrison or his brother “took the gun from Verna” and “pushed Verna” causing her to fall to the ground. The man then left the room and “[i]mmediately after the man left the room, Verna heard shots fired.” According to Garrison‘s own version of the facts of the offense, the only “use” of the handgun in the course of the murder was to kill Otto. There was no evidence that anyone used the gun just for intimidation. Garrison‘s admission to use of a handgun in the course of the murder thus necessarily was an admission that he was the shooter.
At the
C. Garrison‘s Remaining Arguments Demonstrate No Error in the Order Denying His Resentencing Petition
Garrison argues that (1) the trial court applied the wrong standard of proof at the
section 1170.95, subdivision (d)(3) hearing, Garrison suffered no prejudice
Garrison argues the trial court applied the incorrect standard of proof at the
independent factfinder, to determine beyond a reasonable doubt whether defendant is guilty of murder under a valid theory of murder.6 (
Assuming Garrison is correct that the trial court applied the wrong standard of proof at the
Garrison argues the trial court committed structural error in applying the wrong standard of proof, making a prejudicial error analysis irrelevant. We disagree that any such error by the trial court was structural.
“Structural defects requiring automatic reversal of a criminal conviction typically involve basic protections without which ’ “a criminal trial
The concept of structural error does not apply here because a
Our high court‘s opinion in People v. Mil (2012) 53 Cal.4th 400 (Mil), a first degree murder case, is instructive in its holding that the failure to instruct the jury on elements of a special circumstances finding was not structural error and thus subject to review for harmless error. There the trial court erred when: “[T]he jury was not instructed that a nonkiller . . . must (1) have personally had the intent to kill or (2) have been a major participant in the commission of the burglary or robbery and have acted with reckless indifference to human life.” (Mil, at p. 409.) Mil nonetheless held that the error was not structural.
In doing so, Mil observed that an error is structural only in a ” ‘very limited class of cases’ ” when it affects the framework in which the trial proceeds. (Mil, supra, 53 Cal.4th at p. 410.) It gave as examples of structural error “the complete denial of counsel, a biased decision maker, racial discrimination in jury selection, denial of self-representation at trial, denial of a public trial, and a defective reasonable-doubt instruction.” (Ibid.) In addressing whether more than one omitted element in instructing the jury was structural error, Mil stated, “The critical inquiry, in our view, is not the number of omitted elements but the nature of the issues removed from the jury‘s consideration. Where the effect of the omission can be ‘quantitatively assessed’ in the context of the entire record (and does not otherwise qualify as structural error), the failure to instruct on one or more elements is mere ‘trial error’ and thus amenable to harmless error review.” (Id. at pp. 413–414, italics omitted.)
Here, assuming the court applied the incorrect standard at the
2. Substantial evidence supported the conclusion that Garrison was the actual killer
We review the trial court‘s determination at the
As explained above, the record shows that Garrison was the actual killer. This is the only conclusion consistent with Garrison‘s admission that he personally used a handgun in the commission of the murder. Although Garrison correctly points out that Verna Hill did not identify at the preliminary hearing the masked man who shot Otto, Garrison later admitted that he was the person who personally used the handgun and the evidence was uncontroverted that the only use of the handgun was to shoot Otto. Garrison offers no other interpretation of his admission that he personally used a firearm and offered no other theory at the
Finally, Garrison correctly states that the record does not show the factual basis for his plea, but he fails to demonstrate that the absence of this factual basis requires reversal of the resentencing court‘s order denying Garrison‘s resentencing petition. We first note Garrison does not challenge the trial court‘s reliance on evidence from the preliminary hearing. Second, this case involves a
In short, the evidence at the
3. Garrison demonstrates no deprivation of his right to due process
Finally, Garrison argues that the “clearly erroneous” denial of his petition violated his right to due process. Because we conclude that the trial court did not err in denying Garrison‘s petition for resentencing, Garrison has failed to demonstrate any violation of due process.
DISPOSITION
The order denying Anthony David Garrison‘s
BENDIX, J.
We concur:
ROTHSCHILD, P. J.
CHANEY, J.
Filed 1/10/22
CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT DIVISION ONE
THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. ANTHONY DAVID GARRISON, Defendant and Appellant.
B308319
(Los Angeles County Super. Ct. No. VA020287)
CERTIFICATION AND ORDER FOR PUBLICATION
[NO CHANGE IN JUDGMENT]
The opinion in the above-entitled matter filed December 17, 2021, was not certified for publication in the Official Reports. For good cause it now appears that the opinion should be published in the Official Reports and it is so ordered.
There is no change in the judgment.
CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION.
ROTHSCHILD, P. J.
CHANEY, J.
BENDIX, J.