Opinion
On September 14, 2006, John Derek Chamberlain was arrested for possession of child pornography. Twenty-one days later, inmates
A jury convicted Miguel Angel Guillen, Jared Louis Petrovich, Garrett Eugene Aguilar, Stephen Paul Carlstrom, Jr., and Raul Villafana of second degree murder of Chamberlain. We refer to them collectively as appellants or defendants depending on the context and in the singular by their last names. A short summary of the issues presented and our conclusions is as follows:
(1) Appellants argue insufficient evidence supports their second degree murder convictions under the prosecution’s three theories of second degree murder. We conclude sufficient evidence supports appellants’ convictions for second degree murder under each of the prosecution’s theories of second degree murder.
(2) Appellants contend the trial court erred when it denied their motion to dismiss for outrageous government conduct. We conclude the court properly denied the motion to dismiss because the government’s conduct was not so outrageous to warrant dismissal.
(3) Appellants assert the court committed five evidentiary errors. We conclude the court committed two evidentiary errors, but appellants were not prejudiced by the errors.
(4) Appellants argue the court committed one instructional error. We conclude the court did not err in failing to instruct the jury on one theory of involuntary manslaughter because insufficient evidence supported giving the instruction.
(5) Appellants contend that after an alternate juror replaced an ill juror, the court instructed the jury to begin deliberations anew but through its statements erred in telling the jury to resume deliberations where it ended. We conclude the court erred in so instructing the jury, but appellants were not prejudiced by the error.
(7) Appellants claim there was cumulative error. We conclude the court’s two evidentiary errors and one quasi-instructional error during this lengthy trial do not amount to cumulative prejudicial error requiring reversal.
We affirm the judgments as modified.
FACTS
I. Facts of the Offense
A. Theo Lacy Jail’s Architecture
OCSD operates three jails in Orange County, including TLJ, a jail that houses both those charged with crimes and those convicted of crimes. TLJ inmates are housed in either modules, which are individual cells, or barracks, which are dormitory style. The barracks are identified by a distinct letter. “F Barracks” is divided in half with a wall separating it into equal triangles identified as “F Barracks West” (F West) and “F Barracks East” (F East); they are mirror images of each other. A diagram of the first floor of F West as it existed at the time of Chamberlain’s death, which was a trial court exhibit, is attached as appendix A. Certain modifications to F Barracks have occurred since the time of the incident and are noted hereafter. At the time of the incident, each half of F Barracks contained a dormitory-style housing unit for 146 inmates, totaling 292 minimum security inmates.
On F West’s ground floor are dormitory cubes A through H situated counterclockwise, two bathrooms, and a day room. The ground floor bathroom between cubes B and C has a hot water faucet. There are two staircases leading to the second floor where cubes I through P are similarly situated, along with two additional bathrooms. At the time of the incident, the dormitory cubes had four-foot privacy walls but no doors or bars. Some of the cubes are larger than other cubes and protrude farther into the day room, creating spots that are not visible from the guard station. Inmates are issued a uniform, shoes, toiletries, pencil and paper, plastic spoon, and a white cup.
The day room is a large open area where inmates have access to telephones, television, games, cards, and tables. The day room time is scheduled each day and occurs in one to two-hour blocks. It is common for both sides of F Barracks to use the day room and restroom facilities simultaneously. During day room time, all 292 inmates can roam their respective sides.
Because some of the cubes are larger than other cubes, the view of some of the cubes from the guard station is limited. For example, the first floor C cube extends farther than D cube, which from the guard station creates a blind spot on the east side of D cube. From the guard station, a guard can only see part of the top bunk and the top half of an average-size man visible over the privacy wall of D cube. In addition, a person seated in the guard station has a limited view of F Barracks, especially of the first floor, because it is hard to see over the counter top. The privacy walls exacerbated the limited view at the time of the incident.
At the time, F Barracks was supervised by two deputy sheriffs and a sheriff special officer (SSO). The deputy sheriffs were in charge of supervising and escorting inmates and were to walk the F Barracks floor every 30 minutes unless assigned to other duties. The SSO remained in the guard station, carried out clerical duties, and did not have direct contact with the inmates. The F Barracks staff monitored inmates using “mod cards” that contained an inmate’s photograph and other identifying information. Sometimes information such as a sex crime charge would be highlighted on a mod card.
B. TLJ Culture
Inmates at TLJ, as well as at other Orange County jails, form race-based groups called CARs, classification according to race. The CAR system is an inmate-generated hierarchy along racial lines that has existed since the 1950’s. In October 2006, the CAR system was present in all Orange County jails and the majority of California jails.
In F West there were three CARs, each with its own management hierarchy. The three CARs were the Woods, the Paisanos, and the South-Siders. The Woods were the Caucasian inmates, the Paisanos were the Mexican national inmates, and the South-Siders were the Hispanic-American inmates; they
The shot caller and the right-hand man were responsible for determining which inmates were disciplined (or “taxed”). Taxing was a form of punishment that included assaults, cleaning duties, squats, or providing items from the commissary. A common form of taxing was “the wall” where two inmates would hold an inmate against a wall for a specified period of time and hit him below the neck and above the waist while the inmate submitted to the punishment. The shot caller authorized the taxing of inmates who did not follow the jail rules and inmate rules. The shot caller used torpedoes to carry out the taxings.
A CAR mouse would typically approach a new inmate and ask to see the inmate’s court documents (or “paperwork”) to learn the inmate’s charges. It was common for inmates to assault other inmates with “sensitive charges” such as child molesters (called “Chesters”) and informants (called “Rats”). If inmates became suspicious about an inmate’s charges, they attempted to find out the charges often with the help of a third party by checking a public Web site or calling the jail’s public information line. All the CARs viewed the assault of inmates perceived to be child molesters or informants favorably. Inmates who failed to produce their paperwork were taxed.
For the Woods on October 5, 2006, Petrovich was the shot caller, Aguilar was the right-hand man and torpedo, and Carlstrom was the mouse. Petrovich and Aguilar had recently assumed their positions within the Woods. For the Paisanos on that date, Villafana was the shot caller, Salvador Garcia (Chava) was the right-hand man, and Guillen was the mouse. That same day, Deputy Kevin Taylor, Deputy Jason Chapluk, and SSO Philip Le were assigned to F Barracks. Taylor was in command of F Barracks.
OCSD does not condone deputies utilizing the CAR system in the course of their duties. Although inmates tried to hide the workings of the CARs from deputies, deputies, including Taylor and Chapluk, are aware of the CAR management structure. However, deputies are not supposed to authorize or sanction CARs. Deputies are trained that no inmate should have more power than any other inmate. Deputies are trained to treat all inmates equally and not allow any particular inmate to believe he is exempt from the rules.
C. Chamberlain’s Arrest & Detention
' On September 14, 2006, Chamberlain was arrested for possession of child pornography and booked into Santa Ana jail. On September 18, 2006, Chamberlain was arraigned. On October 2, 2006, Chamberlain appeared in court and his trial was scheduled for October 24, 2006. His defense counsel was Case Barnett. Because of the nature of the charges, Chamberlain was brought into court by himself and not given paperwork to take to jail. Chamberlain was instructed that his charges were sensitive and to not tell other inmates.
On October 3, 2006, Chamberlain was transferred to TLJ and assigned to F West. Carlstrom, the Woods mouse, approached Chamberlain, and asked him for his paperwork but Chamberlain said he did not have any. Chamberlain told other inquiring inmates he was in custody for violating a restraining order. Later that day, Chamberlain called his girlfriend to tell her that he was worried because inmates were asking him why he was in custody. Chamberlain’s girlfriend called Barnett and left him a message stating Chamberlain was afraid because inmates were asking for his paperwork. She left a second message on October 4, 2006.
The following day, Barnett received the message, called TLJ, and spoke with Deputy Adewale Olukoju. Olukoju said they would speak with Chamberlain and would consider moving him. Olukoju called Deputy Thomas Sramek in classification, and Sramek called F Barracks. Sramek told Le that the deputies needed to speak with Chamberlain and advise Sramek of the outcome of their conversation. About 2:30 p.m., Taylor and Chapluk returned to the guard station, and Le told them about Sramek’s telephone call. After
Over the barracks address system, Le told Chamberlain to go to the barracks door. The deputies escorted Chamberlain through a door into the corridor. Neither deputy knew Chamberlain because it was their first day of work that month. Taylor told Chamberlain about the call and asked him if he feared for his safety. Chamberlain explained inmates were pressuring him to produce his paperwork. Taylor asked Chamberlain the date of his next court appearance, and he answered October 24. Taylor asked Chamberlain if he was comfortable remaining in F Barracks until then. Chamberlain said he was because inmates were not expecting him to produce his paperwork until that time. The deputies told Chamberlain that moving him would not benefit him because inmates would ask for his paperwork in any housing unit. The deputies did not intend to move Chamberlain because they did not believe it would protect him. However, deputies had the authority to request classification place him into protective custody and had the authority to place him in a holding cell while that request was being processed. Taylor suggested Chamberlain tell inmates that deputies informed him about a death in his family. Chamberlain returned to F West. The conversation lasted about 10 minutes.
About 3:00 p.m., Taylor called Sramek. Taylor said Chamberlain did not have paperwork to show inmates, he would not get it until he returned to court on October 24, and he felt safe until then. Sramek recorded in Chamberlain’s records that Taylor spoke with him and he felt safe until his court date. Based on Taylor’s report, Sramek decided not to move Chamberlain. On October 5, 2006, there were nine inmates with sensitive sex-related charges housed in F Barracks in addition to Chamberlain. Three were housed in F West, and six were housed in F East.
D. Inmate Assault on Chamberlain
Day room time ended at 4:00 p.m. Inmates had “chow” from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and returned to their bunks to wait for day room time to start. The day room opened at 5:00 p.m., and the inmates poured out of their cubes. Inmates watched a baseball game on the television, played cards and table tennis, read newspapers, used the telephones, and showered.
Andrew Corral, a South-Sider, was on his bunk in D cube playing cards when Aguilar told him to leave because they had business to conduct. Corral moved to the other side of D cube. Corral overheard Petrovich tell Aguilar they were going to beat a “Chester” who admitted he likes them young, and Aguilar left D cube. Petrovich, the Woods shot caller, remained in D
Multiple witnesses observed about four groups, totaling at least 30 inmates, enter D cube and assault Chamberlain for about 20 to 45 minutes.
Luis Palacios, a Paisano, was watching a baseball game about 30 feet away from D cube and saw inmates going in and out of D cube, three or four groups of three or four inmates, taking turns hitting and kicking Chamberlain. Palacios saw Petrovich hit Chamberlain first. Palacios saw Aguilar grab hold of a bunk, elevate himself about three feet, and stomp on Chamberlain. Aguilar also hit him. Palacios described Aguilar as “ruthlessness.” Palacios also saw Guillen enter D cube, get on his knees, and make a couple downward striking motions during the beginning or middle of the attack. Guillen was in D cube for at least two minutes. The noise from the barracks muffled Chamberlain’s screams and cries for help. Palacios went upstairs and when he looked down he saw Chamberlain trying to crawl under a bunk as inmates continued to hit and kick him. Inmates pulled down Chamberlain’s pants, spanked him with a shoe, and spit on him. After Petrovich told Palacios to “keep walking don’t look down,” Palacios returned downstairs. Palacios heard an inmate say Chamberlain “passed out.” Aguilar threw water on Chamberlain to wake him up and beat him more. Palacios saw Villafana make multiple trips between working out in E cube and going into D cube.
Robert Mayfield witnessed four waves totaling at least 12 inmates assault Chamberlain; the first few waves each lasted a couple minutes but the last wave lasted a “ridiculous” amount of time. The first wave was the Woods. Aguilar struck downward with his fists and used the bunk for leverage as he stomped up and down on something behind a short wall. Aguilar and other inmates put rubber-soled jail shoes over their hands before hitting Chamberlain. Carlstrom held onto the bunk while he violently jumped up and down on something behind the wall. The second wave included Villafana and two South-Siders. Villafana threw two punches with a closed fist. Aguilar, and another inmate Carlstrom handed water to, threw water on Chamberlain to wake him up.
Corral, who was still in D cube, saw inmates hit Chamberlain, spill hot coffee on him, urinate on him, and insert a spoon in his rectum. He saw
Richard Reilly was upstairs and saw Carlstrom forcefully kick Chamberlain at least once. He also saw Aguilar kick Chamberlain. Another inmate looked at Reilly and told him to mind his own business and keep moving. When he returned to his cube upstairs, he noticed inmates wetting their shoes. They attempted to get his shoes wet as well.
Jeffery Hurley sat at a table outside B cube and could hear the assault on Chamberlain. Hurley saw Aguilar walk out of D cube, shake hands with Christopher Teague, another Woods torpedo, and wince. Teague said, “That’s why I try to use my feet instead of my hands.”
E. Aftermath
Chapluk returned to the guard station about 6:30 p.m. Chapluk faced east while he completed paperwork, and Le faced the computer. Taylor sat in a chair facing west and facing the television. Taylor’s view of F West’s first floor was obstructed.
Aguilar stood on a table and waved a white cloth to get the deputies’ attention. Le stated there was an inmate in F West trying to get their attention. That was the first time a deputy entered F West since about 2:00 or 2:30 p.m. Taylor and Chapluk entered the barracks and asked what the problem was. Pursuant to standard procedure, Le used a video camera to record F West until the tape ended and he recorded over it.
Aguilar told deputies there was a man down in D cube and said, “he told us his charges and it got out of hand.” Taylor and Chapluk entered D cube and saw an unconscious Chamberlain dressed only in his boxers with his back to the wall; he did not appear to be breathing or to have a pulse. Chamberlain was soaking wet, and there was water everywhere. Deputies called for medical assistance. Taylor ordered the inmates to return to their bunks, and ordered D cube inmates to sit at the day room tables. Deputies pulled Chamberlain away from the wall, removed food to clear his airway, and began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Additional deputies arrived with an artificial manual breathing unit and defibrillator. Deputies pulled Chamberlain out of the water, used the defibrillator, and performed CPR until the paramedics arrived. When the paramedics took over, Chamberlain had no heart rate. Chamberlain was transported to the hospital where he was eventually pronounced dead at 7:33 p.m.
Investigators interviewed all 146 F West inmates that evening and the following morning, and some multiple times over the following weeks and months. Investigators interviewed 30 or more additional people, including over 20 OCSD personnel.
1. October 5, 2006
Immediately after the assault, Deputy Michael Lacey noticed Aguilar’s pants and shoes were wet. Aguilar said he was in the shower getting water to revive Chamberlain. Aguilar’s hands did not appear to be red or swollen. Later, Chamberlain’s blood was found on the side of Aguilar’s left shoe. Lacey found a pair of wet shoes in B cube under bunk 12. Carlstrom admitted they were his shoes.
Later that night, investigators interviewed Carlstrom, who said he did not know much. Carlstrom said he was playing dominoes when he heard a commotion, went to D cube, and saw Chamberlain lying on the ground bleeding. He thought someone was being taxed. A group of people were standing around him yelling profanity and “baby raper.” Carlstrom went back to playing dominoes. He estimated the assault lasted “a good 15 minutes.” He did not see anyone hit Chamberlain and denied any involvement. Carlstrom said Chamberlain was a loner, and he did not know his charges.
2. October 6, 2006
The next day, deputies moved Petrovich to Module L. Deputy Brett Darnell saw Petrovich communicating with an inmate and turned on the intercom to listen to their conversation. Petrovich told the inmate he was in F Barracks and “some guy got killed over there yesterday for being a child molester.” The inmate asked Petrovich if he was involved and he replied, “Yeah.”
Investigators interviewed inmate Jerry Ibarra. Ibarra stated he was playing cards when he saw people running into D cube and heard cheering “when they ma[d]e a hit,” but he did not intervene because he was scheduled to be released. He heard there was “a man down” and walked to D cube, but he could not see anything. Someone asked him if he was a doctor because he had previously provided first aid to another inmate. He did not see anyone being assaulted.
Investigators interviewed inmate Robert Mayfield, who reviewed photographs of all 145 inmates. He identified 10 inmates as being involved in the
Investigators interviewed Villafana. Villafana stated he was in the showers for 20 to 30 minutes and did not see anything. Villafana later testified to the Grand Jury he was working out in H cube with Michael Ayala.
Investigators also interviewed Guillen, who denied any knowledge of the incident or who was involved. Guillen said he was playing cards during the assault. He saw many people going in and out of D cube and heard noises, but he tried to stay away. He did not have any problems with Chamberlain and did not know who would want to hurt him. Chamberlain’s blood was found on Guillen’s left shoe. Guillen was released from custody in December 2006 and was deported to Mexico.
Investigators interviewed Carlstrom again and advised him of his rights pursuant to
Miranda
v.
Arizona
(1966)
After investigators advised Aguilar of his Miranda rights, they interviewed him. Aguilar told investigators that he was in J cube when he overheard Chamberlain tell an inmate that he was in custody because of a restraining order. Aguilar went to I cube and heard rumors Chamberlain liked young girls. He went to L cube and heard a White guy and three Mexicans discuss how Chamberlain was going to be “put ... on the wall” and taxed. Aguilar went downstairs and saw inmates gathering. After he went to the downstairs shower and started to undress, two Mexicans entered and told him Chamberlain was in bad shape. After Aguilar told a group of inmates who were standing in front of D cube to “fan it out,” Aguilar went into D cube and saw Chamberlain slumped against the wall. He ran to the showers, got two cups of water, returned to D cube, and splashed water on Chamberlain to revive him. Aguilar got on the table and waved to alert the deputies. He denied hitting or kicking Chamberlain.
Finally, investigators interviewed Petrovich after advising him of his Miranda rights. Petrovich admitted “[he] was the mouthpiece for the whitest]” and held the “keys.” Petrovich told investigators that earlier in the day deputies had requested to speak with the Woods rep and pulled him out of the barracks. Deputies asked Petrovich if he “sp[oke] English” and “c[ould] hear.” Deputies discussed the fact there was a child molester in J cube, bunk 7. Petrovich said the South-Siders run F Barracks so he told the South-Siders that Chamberlain was a child molester and to “do whatever.” When an investigator stated, “You kind of lit the fuse by telling the ‘South-Siders’ what you heard,” Petrovich, answered “Right” and “You’re right.” He knew Chamberlain would be taxed. After chow, Petrovich approached Chamberlain in J cube and asked him about his charges. Chamberlain said he was going back to court and then Arizona. Petrovich met with the Mexicans in L cube, and they decided Chamberlain would go to “the wall”; two inmates would take body shots for 16 seconds. Petrovich played cards and never heard Chamberlain. Twenty minutes later, Aguilar yelled “man down.” Petrovich said he was never in D cube and did not .touch Chamberlain. He said about 50 inmates hit Chamberlain for about 20 minutes and admitted, “It got out of hand.”
3. October 17, 2006
Investigators interviewed Petrovich again. Investigators played the interviews of Aguilar, Carlstrom, and Garten for him. Petrovich again told investigators that deputies had a conversation in his presence about Chamberlain. Deputies said to keep it discreet and as long as inmates “ke[pt] it under [Chamberlain’s] clothes,” deputies would not get involved. Petrovich said Taylor looked at him and said, “You understand?” Petrovich winked. Taylor offered an incentive of an extra hour of day room time. Petrovich repeated the South-Siders run the barracks and he had to get their permission before taxing anyone. Petrovich went to N cube and spoke with the South-Sider “Stretch” and relayed what Taylor told him. All the other inmates were “racked-up” on their bunks, but Petrovich had special privileges because of his status in the CAR. He went to J cube and asked Chamberlain about his
At some point, investigators questioned Petrovich about Garten’s interview. Garten told investigators he was Petrovich’s bunkmate and knew him well. Garten said Petrovich was in D cube with Ryan Crowley and another inmate when Chamberlain was dragged in. Garten was supposed to be part of the first group to assault Chamberlain. When Garten entered D cube, Petrovich, Crowley, and another inmate got “involved” and got in Garten’s way. After investigators played Garten’s interview, the following colloquy occurred:
“[OCSD lead investigator Ken Hoffman]: Okay. Same two questions. Anything that you’ve heard with . . . Garten surprise you?
“[Petrovich]: Surprise me, no. What he said was pretty much on the money.
“[Hoffman]: Hang—hang on.
“[Petrovich]: Yeah.
“[Hoffman]: I just wanna [.sic] write this down.
“[Petrovich]: Yeah, he was—he—he got everything right—
“[Hoffman]:—a hundred percent?
“[Petrovich]: Right on the money. I couldn’t—yeah, right on the money. Yeah, a hundred percent.”
4. December 26, 2007
Investigators interviewed Guillen while he was in custody at the City of Anaheim jail after advising him of his
Miranda
rights. Guillen said he was the Paisanos’ mouse. Guillen was playing cards when he saw them coming
5. Sometime in 2008
Orange County Weekly reporter Nick Schou interviewed Petrovich in early 2008. Schou reported the following:
“Petrovich knew Chamberlain was being beaten up because Petrovich had told the inmates now attacking Chamberlain that [he] was a ‘Chester.’
“Petrovich told Schou that he did not touch Chamberlain himself, but he acknowledged, ‘[he] lit the fire.’
“Petrovich did not dispute that he spread the word of Chamberlain’s status as a sex offender to the inmates who carried out the attack against Chamberlain. [][] . . . [f]
“Petrovich said that earlier in the day, prior to the beating of Chamberlain, an inmate approached him to say that the deputies wanted to talk to the White shot-caller. Petrovich told . . . Schou that he told the inmate, ‘no,’ but that the second time the inmate told Petrovich that the deputies wanted to talk to him as the White shot-caller Petrovich said, ‘Okay.’ Petrovich told Schou that he walked over to the locked door leading to the hallway, and after being buzzed through by the guard tower, he saw . . . Taylor and . . . Chapluk standing [in] the doorway. After the door locked behind him, Petrovich said that . . . Chapluk asked him if he spoke English. Petrovich said that when he said, ‘Yes,’ the two deputies carried out a brief conversation they clearly intended him to overhear. ‘There is a child molester in J7.’ Petrovich said that . . . Taylor remarked to . . . Chapluk, ‘and you know what happens when there’s a child molester.’ Petrovich told Schou that . . . Taylor didn’t mention
“Petrovich told Schou that at that point, . . . Taylor and Chapluk allowed him back into the barracks, and he, Petrovich, went to J cube and saw Chamberlain sitting on his bunk and asked him why he was in jail and, ‘he, Chamberlain, said, some story about some freaking warrant. I don’t remember. An out-of-state warrant. Something petty.’ Petrovich told Schou that Chamberlain didn’t seem particularly nervous and that Petrovich said to him, ‘All right. See ya,’ and walked away. Petrovich told Schou that Chamberlain, ‘was a creepy looking dude. He looked weird. All those perverts look the same. He was like a little pig. Fat and little. I don’t know what was up with that dude.’
“Petrovich told Schou that he left J cube and approached the shot-caller for the South-Siders[,] [a] Latino inmate whose nickname was ‘Stretch’ because, Petrovich explained to Schou, while only White inmates can beat up another White inmate, that rule doesn’t apply to ‘child molesters or weirdoes. They’re wide open.’ Petrovich told Schou that telling the South-Siders about the upcoming beating was also a matter of respect since, ‘when you are going to beat someone up, you have to tell them so they don’t start tripping.’ Petrovich told Schou that Stretch replied, ‘All right, thanks for letting me know.’
“Petrovich told Schou that he next went to his bunk in L cube. T tell everyone in my cube that this guy, Chamberlain, is a child molester.’ Petrovich then told Schou that, ‘everyone just started getting pumped up. Let’s get him. People were like, let’s do this. Let’s not wait until 8. Next thing I know the dayroom opens. I’m playing cards and I see Chamberlain walk down to D cube and he walks in and that’s when it happens.’ Petrovich didn’t want to tell who escorted Chamberlain to D cube and he told Schou, T don’t want to point fingers at anyone.’
“Petrovich told Schou that he sat at a metal table playing pinochle while the White inmates beat Chamberlain. Petrovich said, ‘An inmate comes up to me and says, “we got a man down. Come check this out.” Petrovich told Schou, “So I go into the cube and see Chamberlain on the floor. He was lying
“Petrovich told Schou that he recalls being amazed that the deputies didn’t notice all the commotion. ‘You’ve got 200 people in the barracks. Every single person was looking at D cube. You got 50 people in one cube for 20 minutes. What are you dudes at—where are you dudes at,’ referring to the guards.
“Petrovich told Schou, smiling nervously at his feet, ‘It’s crazy. Fuck. I’m being charged with murder for no fucking reason, honestly. I think it should be manslaughter. There was ho intent to kill him. I never told the White dudes, “Go kill this guy.” I said, he’s a child molester. But I didn’t touch him. If Taylor isn’t being charged, why am I? Just because he’s wearing a badge doesn’t make him above the law, and just because I’m an inmate doesn’t make me automatically guilty. I don’t want them to charge him with murder. I just want to get in the same boat as him.’ ”
6. Sometime in 2010
A television reporter interviewed Carlstrom sometime in 2010. Carlstrom said he was scheduled to be released two months after the assault and he would not have “touched that guy” if he was not obligated to. Carlstrom analogized the sound of the assault to a Public Broadcasting Service documentary where a “wolf pack brings down an elk or a deer, you know how they work together on bringing that animal down, that’s what I felt. It felt just like death.” Carlstrom claimed he tried to drag Chamberlain out of D cube but “they said no, he’s not going anywhere.”
7. September 9, 2011
Investigators interviewed Ibarra again. Ibarra stated he was playing cards with Petrovich. Ibarra explained he worked in a funeral home for many years
G. Chamberlain’s Cause of Death
Chamberlain’s cause of death was multiple severe blunt impacts leading to failed chest mechanism, asphyxia, and cardiac arrest. Every region of Chamberlain’s body had blunt force trauma injuries except part of his abdomen. The injuries were very vivid on his face and scalp. Chamberlain’s entire back was hemorrhagic. The front of his torso was also hemorrhagic but concentrated in a few areas. Chamberlain had a total of 43 rib fractures and most of his ribs were severely misplaced; 21 of his 24 ribs were broken. His lung was punctured and he had defensive injuries to his upper extremities. He also had three injuries to his anus and rectum that were consistent with penetration by a long slender instrument with a tip or a point such as a spoon, pencil, or toothpaste tube. Chamberlain’s injuries could be equated with injuries suffered from a high-velocity car accident or a fall from multiple stories. Except for one rib fracture that caused a long laceration, no single injury was fatal. Chamberlain would not have died without the head and rib injuries.
II. Procedural Facts
A. Charging Documents & Grand Jury Proceedings
On November 17, 2006, a felony complaint charged Aguilar, Carlstrom, Garten, Eric Charles Miller, Petrovich, and Christopher Teague with murder (Pen. Code, § 187, subd. (a); all further statutory references are to the Penal Code, unless otherwise indicated). About 10 months later, an information charged them with the same offense.
Meanwhile from May 2007 to February 2008, the Grand Jury investigated a broad range of issues surrounding Chamberlain’s death. The DA Report was published in April 2008.
In early 2008, an indictment charged Villafana, Guillen, and Jeremy Dezso Culmann with murder (§ 187, subd. (a)). On July 31, 2009, an amended indictment charged Villafana, Guillen, and Culmann with the same offense. The amended indictment alleged Guillen suffered two prior strike convictions (§§ 667, subds. (d) & (e)(2)(A), 1170.12, subds. (b) & (c)(2)(A)), and a serious felony conviction (§ 667, subd. (a)(1)).
On January 11, 2011, a consolidated and amended information charged Villafana, Guillen, Culmann, Aguilar, Carlstrom, Garten, Miller, Petrovich,
B. Pretrial Motions
Defendants filed numerous pretrial motions. We discuss only those relevant to the issues on appeal.
1. Outrageous Government Conduct
Before the prosecution filed the consolidated and amended information, Garten filed a motion to dismiss for discriminatory enforcement and vindictive prosecution pursuant to
Murgia v. Municipal Court
(1975)
A few months later, Garten filed a motion to dismiss for outrageous government conduct in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment and incorporated by reference his Murgia motion. Garten also moved to dismiss pursuant to section 1385. Petrovich and Guillen joined Garten’s motion.
Defendants argued the government violated their due process rights based on the following: (1) Taylor and Chapluk “green-lighted” the assault on Chamberlain, and OCSD prevented “a full, independent, and impartial criminal investigation”; (2) OCSD had an inherent conflict of interest in investigating itself, and OCDA erred in failing to refer the matter to the California Attorney General; (3) OCSD “conspired to testify falsely, to withhold evidence, and to present doctored ‘evidence’ to the Grand Jury”; and (4) OCDA “acquiesced, approved, and tacitly joined” in OCSD’s “unlawful conduct when it failed to” prosecute OCSD employees who failed to perform their duties and violated Grand Jury rules. Garten’s motion included as exhibit A, the DA Report, and it relied on Grand Jury testimony.
As to the circumstances of Chamberlain’s death, the overarching theme of defendants’ motion was that deputies were derelict in their duties. Although deputies are to perform floor checks every 30 minutes, no deputy had been on the F Barracks floor from 2:00 p.m. until they were notified an inmate was injured at 6:50 p.m. “[D]eputies do not actively participate in supervising inmates” but instead “remain in the guard station” and watch television, play video games, browse the Internet, talk online, and sleep with the lights off. Deputies would go as long as 30 minutes without looking out the guard station windows. Defendants stated, “OCSD deputies routinely used inmates
With respect to the investigation of Chamberlain’s death, defendants stated that in 1985 pursuant to an Orange County Board of Supervisors’ resolution, OCSD and OCDA “adopted . . . written procedures” whereby “the OCDA assume[d] the primary investigative responsibility” into the death of any OCSD inmate “to eliminate any perceived conflict of interest.” (Fn. omitted.) OCSD’s policies provide it will participate in the investigation “ ‘as requested by the [OCDA].’ ” (Fn. omitted.) Since 1985, OCDA has investigated 129 of the 130 deaths that occurred in OCSD’s custody. “ ‘The only deviation in the more than 20 year history of this protocol occurred ... in the [OCSD’s] handling on . . . Chamberlain’s murder investigation.’ ” (Fn. omitted.) Defendants then discussed in detail OCSD’s claim it had always investigated homicides in custodial death situations. They painted a tangled web of OCSD’s perjured testimony, “doctored” reports, and general malfeasance in their attempt to rebut OCDA’s claim it was the lead investigative agency in all OCSD custodial deaths. Defendants alleged OCSD called OCDA about 8:00 p.m., and made clear it was the lead investigating agency. OCSD requested OCDA send three or four investigators to “ ‘monitor’ or ‘shadow’ ” OCSD investigators. They also stated OCSD did not comply with Grand Jury subpoenas. First, OCSD did not produce Taylor’s file because it was “lost” and it was the only file ever known to be missing. Second, OCSD produced the F Barracks log book but “the ‘shot caller’ log was missing.” (Fn. omitted.) Defendants said OCSD deputies violated Grand Jury secrecy rules and testified falsely. Between 5:50 p.m. and 6:50 p.m. on the day of Chamberlain’s death, Taylor sent or received a total of 22 text messages to his girlfriend and two female deputies. Both of the female deputies revealed to Taylor the contents of their testimony and the Grand Jury’s evidence.
Defendants argued OCSD failed to comply with its protocol with OCDA and improperly investigated itself. They also contended OCDA improperly failed to refer the matter to the California Attorney General, who has direct supervisory powers over all district attorneys and sheriffs. (Cal. Const., art. V,
The prosecution opposed defendants’ motion to dismiss for outrageous government conduct. After discussing and distinguishing the legal authority defendants relied on, the prosecution argued the conduct in this case did not involve physical or mental abuse directed at defendants, or interfere with their right to counsel. The prosecution asserted OCDA “aggressively investigated both the homicide and conditions more generally at [TLJ], and issued a scathing report.” The prosecution added, “There is nothing to suggest that the [OCDA] interfered with the [G]rand [Jjury’s independence in this investigation or that the intervention of the Attorney General was required in order for there to be an independent investigation.”
At a hearing in July 2010, the trial court denied Garten’s motion to dismiss for discriminatory enforcement and vindictive prosecution.
Four months later, the trial court conducted a hearing on defendants’ motion to dismiss for outrageous government conduct. The court indicated it had read and considered the moving papers, including the DA Report. After Garten’s counsel detailed what he considered to be the 10 most egregious facts discussed in the DA Report, counsel argued defendants could not get a fair trial because OCSD investigated itself during the most important part of the investigation, the first 72 hours, and there is no way to know how the investigation would have turned out had OCDA lead the investigation from the start. Relying on the fact OCSD investigated itself, Petrovich’s counsel analogized the prosecution and trial of the defendants to a “home . . . built on a faulty foundation.”
The prosecutor responded there was no legal authority supporting defendants’ claim the court should “do the most extreme of actions and throw out this criminal prosecution.” The prosecutor added Garten’s motion was “a rehashing of’ Garten’s motion to dismiss for discriminatory enforcement and vindictive prosecution. The prosecutor argued defendants failed to establish both that the government violated an independent protected right, and that the government conduct “was so outrageous, so egregious, so repugnant that it shocks the conscience, that it violates the canons of decency.” The prosecutor stated defendants asserted three arguments: OCDA should have charged other people, OCDA should have called the California Attorney General, and OCSD should not have conducted the initial investigation. The prosecutor asserted none of those were independent protected rights. Garten’s counsel
The trial court denied defendants’ motion to dismiss for outrageous government conduct. The court began by stating the claim it is impossible to know what would have happened had OCDA been the primary investigating agency was entirely speculative and unpersuasive and did not amount to outrageous government conduct. The court stated: “There [are] no grounds for an outrageous governmental conduct motion in this case. The defendants can get a fair trial in this case, and I don’t think the investigation conducted the way it was amounts to the threat of a violation of due process; that is, the threat that a fair trial be denied. Therefore, ... the outrageous governmental conduct motion is denied .... There is no law to support the grant of an outrageous governmental conduct motion in the context of this case, and I mean by that very specifically that the defendants can receive a fair trial in this case; and, therefore, I do not see a denial of due process.”
2. Jury’s View of F Barracks
After the prosecution filed the consolidated and amended information, Guillen filed a motion to allow the jury to view TLJ pursuant to section 1119. In his motion, Guillen argued the jury’s view of F West was appropriate for the following reasons: (1) conditions inside a jail were not a matter of common knowledge and it was likely the jury would rely on inaccurate mental images of what F West looked and sounded like; (2) an accurate representation of F West could not be duplicated because photographs and diagrams could not precisely portray distances and acoustics; (3) a view of F West would among other things enable the jury to ascertain sight lines, gain a perspective of F West’s audio and visual characteristics, and improve their ability to test the veracity of the witnesses; and (4) a view of F West could be easily and quickly accomplished because of its close proximity. All defendants joined in Guillen’s motion.
The prosecution opposed Guillen’s motion to view TLJ. In its opposition, the prosecutor argued a jury view of F West was inappropriate for the following reasons: (1) since Chamberlain’s death, the conditions of F West had materially changed, including the removal of the privacy walls in each cube and installation of 22 cameras and multiple large screen monitors in the guard station; (2) there were adequate and ample alternatives to a jury view of F West, including hundreds of photographs and numerous diagrams illustrating F West’s configuration; and (3) a jury view of F West was not easy or quick and would necessitate the planning and moving of 145 inmates.
3. Prosecution’s Evidence Code Section 402 Motion
The prosecution filed an Evidence Code section 402 motion, which included 15 issues, two of which are relevant on appeal.
First, the prosecution sought to admit Chamberlain’s statements to Palacios and Chapluk. The prosecution stated Palacios asked Chamberlain why he was in custody, and Chamberlain said he violated a restraining order. The prosecution also stated that after receiving information from Chamberlain’s attorney, Chapluk spoke with Chamberlain, and Chamberlain told him that inmates had “pressured” him about his charges, and he did not feel he was in any danger, but he might need to be moved before his next court date. The prosecution sought to admit the statements not for the truth of the matter asserted but under Evidence Code section 1250 to demonstrate Chamberlain’s state of mind he feared inmates.
Second, the prosecution sought to exclude the following extrinsic facts discovered during the Grand Jury investigation: (1) “character evidence of [OCSD] personnel,” including OCSD policy violations and past conduct, OCSD personnel conduct before the Grand Jury, and OCSD personnel- discipline and termination; (2) “evidence of inter-agency investigative policy and practice for custodial deaths”; and (3) evidence of reports of the Grand Jury, OCDA, and Office of Independent Review (OIR). The prosecution argued the Grand Jury ultimately investigated matters that were not directly relevant to Chamberlain’s killing and “[a] clear division must be drawn” between the broad Grand Jury investigation and the issues in defendants’ trial. The prosecution placed the onus on the defense to identify the evidence discovered during the Grand Jury proceedings that was potentially relevant at trial and to establish its admissibility.
As to the second category of evidence, the prosecution contended evidence of OCSD and OCDA protocols for investigating inmate deaths was irrelevant, and its admission would confuse the jury and necessitate a substantial consumption of time. As an aside, the prosecution stated that although the Grand Jury ultimately concluded OCSD violated protocol when it lead the investigation into Chamberlain’s death, the prosecution opined the protocol was nonbinding and ambiguous, and OCSD possessed the authority to lead the investigation. Finally, with respect to the last category of evidence, the prosecution contended Grand Jury, OCDA, and OIR reports were irrelevant, and included inadmissible hearsay, opinion, conclusions, and speculation.
Carlstrom opposed the prosecution’s Evidence Code section 402 motion. All defendants joined in the opposition. Carlstrom submitted on the issue of the admissibility of Chamberlain’s statements to Palacios. However, Carlstrom objected to admission of Chamberlain’s statements to Chapluk. Carlstrom argued Chamberlain’s statements to Chapluk were not relevant to any issue at trial. He also claimed admission of the statement violated
Crawford v. Washington
(2004)
Later that day, the trial court heard argument on the prosecution’s Evidence Code section 402 motion to admit Chamberlain’s statements to Palacios and
The prosecutor repeated the theory, and Guillen’s defense counsel asked why it was relevant at this stage of the proceeding. The court mused it would become an issue because the jury would have to decide whether the inmates committed the assault without input from deputies, or if a deputy authorized the assault. Guillen’s defense counsel asked how Chamberlain’s statement he was not afraid of inmates is relevant to whether Taylor “started a series of dominoes falling.” After a short recess, the court indicated it could not view the statements in isolation but it had to consider “the entire conversation.” The court discussed the timing of the statements and indicated Chamberlain’s statements in their entirety do not “necessarily negate Taylor greenlighting [.s’z'c], but an interpretation could be made that it does tend to negate that.” The court concluded the entire conversation tended to “cast light on an issue in the case” but the court took the matter under submission.
The following week, at a hearing on the prosecution’s Evidence Code section 402 motion concerning the exclusion of extrinsic facts from the Grand Jury investigation, the trial court explained it had read and considered the prosecution’s motion. Carlstrom’s defense counsel objected to a pretrial determination whether each category of evidence was admissible. When the court inquired of Guillen’s defense counsel whether the prosecution’s motion should be litigated pretrial, Guillen’s counsel stated the court and counsel could identify broadly what evidence could be admissible and what evidence
The trial court explained evidence of Taylor, Chapluk, or Le violating OCSD policies could be relevant. The court added though, “My feeling is that the farther we get away from . . . Taylor, . . . Chapluk, and . . . Le into other deputies on other occasions who may have engaged in this conduct, the more remote the evidence becomes.” The other deputies’ violation of policy was irrelevant, remote, and its admission would necessitate an undue consumption of time and mislead the jury. The court opined evidence a witness who testified at trial committed perjury before the Grand Jury could be admissible to impeach that witness. The court added evidence of OCSD and OCDA protocol regarding which was the lead investigating agency of an inmate death was irrelevant. The court explained evidence of OCSD conduct before the Grand Jury was irrelevant and excluded under Evidence Code section 352. The court also explained evidence of OCSD personnel discipline and termination was irrelevant and excluded under Evidence Code section 352. Finally, the court opined evidence of Grand Jury, OCSD, and OIR reports was irrelevant and excluded it under Evidence Code section 352. Petrovich’s counsel objected that use of force by deputies other than Taylor, Chapluk, and Le could instill a sense of fear in inmates and that evidence could be admissible at trial. The court repeated the more remote the evidence is from Taylor, Chapluk, and Le, the less relevant it became, but the court would make that determination as needed.
At a pretrial hearing a couple weeks later, the trial court revisited the issue of the admissibility of Chamberlain’s statements to Palacios and Chapluk and ruled the statements were admissible because they were relevant to Chamberlain’s state of mind. The court ruled Chamberlain’s statement to Palacios was admissible because it was nonhearsay, the prosecutor was not offering Palacios’s statements for the truth of the matter asserted, it was not testimonial, and it was “clearly relevant.” The court ruled Chamberlain’s statement to Chapluk was not testimonial, was admissible under Evidence Code section 1250, and was sufficiently trustworthy to be admitted into evidence. The court indicated it would give the jury a limiting instruction.
C. Trial
Trial began on August 8, 2011. Culmann, Garten, Miller, and Teague previously pleaded guilty. Taylor invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
1. Prosecution’s Evidence
The above interviews were admitted into evidence. They were admitted via witness testimony, stipulation, read into the record, or played for the jury.
OCSD Deputy Sheriff Kurt Kohler provided some of the evidence detailed above concerning TLJ and the CAR system. On cross-examination, Petrovich’s defense counsel asked Kohler whether at the time of the assault deputies routinely used inmate shot callers to enforce discipline or inflict punishment on other inmates. The prosecutor objected on the grounds it was irrelevant, compound, and violated the court’s Evidence Code section 402 ruling. The court sustained the prosecutor’s objection. The court repeatedly sustained the prosecutor’s objections to counsel’s questions whether it violated the law to allow one inmate to have power over another inmate.
Chapluk, who was still an Orange County Sheriff Deputy at the time of trial and was granted immunity for his testimony, testified concerning F Barracks procedures generally and the events the day of Chamberlain’s death. As relevant here, Chapluk testified Taylor told Chamberlain they had received a telephone call from his attorney and asked him if he was in fear for his safety. Chamberlain said inmates were pressuring him to produce his paperwork to show what he was charged with. Taylor asked Chamberlain if he was comfortable staying in F Barracks until his next court date when inmates would expect him to return with his paperwork. Chapluk testified Chamberlain said he was not in any fear until his next court date. Chapluk denied he told any inmate about Chamberlain’s charges. He also stated he did not hear Taylor tell any inmate about Chamberlain’s charges.
During Carlstrom’s defense counsel’s cross-examination of Chapluk, the issue arose whether evidence Taylor and Chapluk violated OCSD policies was admissible. After the trial court repeated its pretrial Evidence Code section 402 rulings, Carlstrom’s counsel stated he wanted to examine Chapluk about whether he or Taylor denied inmates medical treatment or
When cross-examination resumed, Chapluk agreed OCSD did not permit deputies to meet with shot callers. Carlstrom’s defense counsel then asked Chapluk whether deputies meeting with shot callers violated OCSD policy. The court sustained the prosecutor’s objection counsel’s question violated the court’s pretrial Evidence Code section 402 rulings. Chapluk admitted neither he nor Taylor did floor checks every half hour the day Chamberlain was killed. When counsel asked Chapluk whether Chamberlain would be alive if he had done floor checks every 30 minutes, the court sustained the prosecutor’s objection. Chapluk said Taylor was awake but not doing paperwork or moving around. Petrovich’s defense counsel asked Chapluk whether through his training he knew the CAR system violated OCSD policy and the Penal Code. The court sustained the prosecutor’s objections counsel’s question violated the court’s pretrial Evidence Code section 402 rulings. Chapluk claimed he was concerned about Chamberlain’s safety but admitted that when he returned to the guard station at 6:30 p.m., he did not check on Chamberlain. He also admitted both he and Taylor encouraged inmate behavior that would minimize the writing of reports. Finally, defense counsel thoroughly cross-examined Chapluk about his and Taylor’s conversation with Chamberlain.
Ayala, who was housed in Pelican Bay, was found in contempt of court when he repeatedly refused to take an oath and answer questions.
Palacios testified to his observations of the assault as previously described. Palacios admitted he was not truthful during his first interview with investigators because he did not want to get taxed. Palacios explained he met Chamberlain while standing in line for chow and asked him why he was locked up. Chamberlain stated he violated a restraining order. This was before the day inmates killed Chamberlain. He was 100 percent sure Petrovich, Villafana, Aguilar, and Guillen were involved. When asked on cross-examination, whether he agreed Taylor “ran [F Barracks] like a drill sergeant,” Palacios replied, “Yes.” Palacios stated he asked Chamberlain his charges as a way of making conversation. He said it was common to ask an inmate his charges when you first met, but he did not ask for his paperwork.
Mayfield testified to his observations of the assault as summarized above. On cross-examination, Petrovich’s defense counsel elicited testimony from Mayfield that he was not surprised deputies did not respond to Chamberlain sooner because deputies “watch television and play video games.” The trial • court sustained the prosecutor’s objections based on lack of foundation, relevance, and in violation of the court’s Evidence Code section 402 ruling, and struck the answer. Mayfield admitted he had never seen Taylor or Chapluk play video games.
Corral testified to his observations of the assault as described earlier. On cross-examination and redirect examination, .Corral admitted he was not completely truthful during his interview with investigators and during his Grand Jury testimony but he attributed it to his fear of being taxed.
Pough testified concerning his conversations with Aguilar as described above. In return, Pough’s indicated sentence for felony possession of stolen property was reduced from nine years to four years.
Hoffman, OCSD’s lead investigator, testified concerning the investigation, including some of the inmate interviews he conducted. On cross-examination, Petrovich’s defense counsel asked Hoffman about the interview where investigators played Garten’s interview. Counsel stated, “Petrovich’s sole statement to you that he adopted anything that Garten had said was that indeed—and I’m paraphrasing. []Q He said, ‘No, [Garten] is pretty much right on the money except the fact that I never hit him.’ ” Hoffman replied, “That is true.”
Forensic scientist Annette McCall testified DNA can be more difficult to obtain when blood is diluted in water.
After the prosecution’s case-in-chief, Guillen filed an Evidence Code' section 402 motion, which included a request to admit portions of Taylor’s
Guillen sought to introduce the following statements:
On October 6, 2006, the following colloquy occurred:
“[Investigator]: Okay. And I’m just gonna show you another unlabeled photograph, unnamed, but it has a No. 6 by it. Do you recognize that person?
“[Taylor]: Sure.
“[Investigator]: Does that help you remember at all as to who might have been sitting next to Aguilar?
“[Taylor]: It—it could—he could have been sitting next to him. I don’t recall.
“[Investigator]: Okay.
“[Taylor]: But this—this guy is the guy that kind of calls the shots for the whites in—in the tank.
“[Investigator]: The guy that’s labeled in No. 6.
“[Taylor]: Yeah.
“[Investigator]: And I think his last name is Petrovich.
“[Taylor]: (Inaudible).”
On October 11, 2006, Taylor was represented by counsel and was advised of his Miranda rights. The following colloquy occurred:
“[Investigator]: Okay. Well I want to show you a color photograph that— that is unlabeled and see if you recognize that person in the photograph.
“[Taylor]: He looks familiar.
“[Taylor]: Well I couldn’t tell you his name off the top of my head.
“[Investigator]: Okay. This person, do you recognize him as an inmate that was assigned to F Barracks during this incident or not?
“[Taylor]: Yeah, he—he looks familiar, and yeah, he could be in F Barracks.
“[Investigator]: Okay.
“[Taylor]: I mean the—the tattoo on the neck looks—looks like one of the guys that I had in there.
“[Investigator]: Okay. This person, that the photograph doesn’t exactly depict, has two stars tattooed, one on either side of the neck.
“[Taylor]: Okay.
“[Investigator]: Does that help with your memory at all?
“[Taylor]: Yeah, it—it looks like one of the guys that’s in there—in F. (Showed picture of . . . Petrovich) HI] ... HD
“[Investigator]: . . . Yeah, just a quick question. If we take [p]icture No.—the first picture that you were shown—
“[Taylor]: Right.
“[Investigator]:—and I’m just gonna put [njumber 1 on the back.
“[Taylor]: Okay.
“[Investigator]: You said that he looks somewhat familiar but not by name. Do you know him in that barrack situation as being anybody with a title in that subculture? Like if somebody said go get the house mouse, would that be the mouse house [ízc], or do you know him to have any unofficial title in the jail?
“[Taylor]: I—I’m—I’m gonna say no because I—I had the—the prior week off and that Thursday was my first day back.
“[Investigator]: Uh-huh.
“[Investigator]: Okay.
“[Taylor]: So that—that guy is the one that I would recognize as that person.
“[Investigator]: Okay.
“[Taylor]: But it was my understanding that he’s not in there, so if this guy says he is, that would have been new to me.”
In his motion, Guillen cited to Petrovich’s statements on October 6, 2006, and October 17, 2006, where he told investigators a deputy, Taylor, wanted to see the “White rep,” told him to listen to a conversation with another deputy, and asked him if he understood. Guillen argued Taylor’s statements were contradictory and were circumstantial evidence of Taylor’s state of mind and admissible for a nonhearsay purpose. Alternatively, he argued Taylor’s statements were admissible under Evidence Code section 1250, the state of mind exception. Guillen claimed Taylor’s statements were trustworthy because he had no motive to deceive investigators during his first interview, which was immediately after the assault, and the interview was recorded. He argued Taylor’s statements were relevant to his state of mind and corroborated Petrovich’s statement Taylor asked to see him.
The prosecution opposed Guillen’s motión to admit Taylor’s statements to investigators. The prosecutor argued Taylor’s statements were hearsay, were inadmissible under Evidence Code section 1250 because they were untrustworthy, were irrelevant, and were inadmissible under Evidence Code section 352.
At a hearing on Guillen’s motion, the trial court said it had read and considered the moving papers and the interview transcripts and heard argument. All defendants joined in Guillen’s motion. The court denied Guillen’s motion, explaining Taylor’s statements were hearsay because Guillen was attempting to establish Taylor knew Petrovich was the Woods shot caller and Taylor’s statement “does not fit in [the court’s] judgment the definition of state of mind as is reflected in Evidence Code section 1250.” The court opined the relevance of Taylor’s statements was “suspect. . . because there’s not a world of difference between what Taylor said in the first interview and what he said in the second interview.” The court added that considering the evidence’s “probative value is essentially nonexistent” admission of the evidence would result in undue consumption of time. The court continued
2. Defense Evidence
Carlstrom, Petrovich, and Villafana rested on the state of the evidence. Carlstrom admitted he kicked Chamberlain one time and was guilty of battery, not murder. Petrovich argued he was not guilty of murder under any theory. Villafana admitted he hit Chamberlain twice and was guilty of two batteries but not murder.
• a. Guillen
Guillen argued he only committed four batteries, a kick to Chamberlain’s leg and three slaps with a shoe to his stomach, and he participated because he was afraid. Guillen argued he was guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
Guillen offered witnesses who testified deputies inappropriately used shot callers to tax other inmates. Mayfield said the previous Woods shot caller in F Barracks was Keith Counts (“Sick Dog”). Mayfield’s bunk was near the door so he was the barracks “doorman” and held the door open for inmates coming back from chow. He saw the deputies meeting with shot callers and saw Taylor taking shot callers through the door. He remembers Taylor telling all the inmates in F Barracks the taxing had gone too far and he did not approve.
Reilly testified F Barracks was a very dangerous place and he was a victim of taxing. About a week before Chamberlain’s murder, Carlstrom told Reilly to bring paperwork from his court appearance but he did not and was taxed. Reilly was hit below the neck and above the waist. He told deputies his wounds were self-inflicted because he did not want to cause trouble for himself. He believed deputies played a part in making F Barracks a dangerous place. On cross-examination, Reilly testified he had a court date and inmates told him beforehand to return, with his paperwork to prove why he was in custody. Reilly stated inmates taxed him because he' did not bring back his paperwork. When the prosecutor asked Reilly who told him to return with his paperwork, Carlstrom’s defense counsel requested a sidebar.
In chambers, Carlstrom’s counsel argued it was irrelevant whether it was Carlstrom who asked for Reilly’s paperwork because Reilly assumed inmates attacked him because he did not return from court with it. The prosecutor
When cross-examination continued, Reilly said Carlstrom asked him to bring his paperwork back from court. Reilly said inmates told him they were taxing him because he did not have his paperwork. Reilly stated he lied to deputies about his injuries because he did not want to be taxed again.
Kohler testified he worked F Barracks in 2006 to 2007. A deputy’s duties included patrolling the barracks every 30 minutes to prevent inmates from violating rules, checking on inmate health and safety, and allowing interaction with the inmates. Kohler did not know who the shot callers were in the barracks. He knew other deputies used shot callers, but he did not think it was appropriate to involve inmates in performing his duties. Kohler felt it was dangerous to confer special status on certain inmates because regular inmates would perceive CAR management as having special authority. When Guillen’s defense counsel asked Kohler if OCSD had protocols on use of the pepper ball gun, the trial court sustained the prosecutor’s Evidence Code section 402 objections. Before Petrovich’s defense counsel cross-examined Kohler, he asked for a sidebar.
At an in-chambers discussion, Petrovich’s counsel inquired about the trial court’s rulings concerning the pepper ball gun. The court explained it sustained the objection because Guillen’s defense counsel inquired about OCSD policy. Petrovich’s counsel stated he wanted to establish the OCSD policy on use of the pepper ball gun and that Taylor violated the policy. The court repeated its ruling that evidence concerning Taylor, Chapluk, and Le
When cross-examination resumed, Petrovich’s defense counsel returned to the subject of OCSD policy with Kohler. The trial court sustained the prosecutor’s Evidence Code section 402 objections on whether it was against OCSD policy for inmates to have control over other inmates, for a deputy to use the CAR system, or for a députy to make personal notes on an inmate’s mod card.
Guillen offered Le’s testimony. Le was granted immunity for his testimony at the Grand Jury and at trial. Le testified Taylor was clearly in charge of F Barracks. Taylor interacted with shot callers approximately three times a shift and used them to communicate with the inmates. Le stated “getting with the program” meant following the rules so deputies would have to do as little work as possible. Le admitted deputies did not conduct regular floor sweeps but would rather look out the window and say it was secure. Le was instructed that every 30 minutes he was to record in the log the barracks was secure if nothing major happened. They would often watch television and movies in the guard station. Le stated Sramek called him on October 5, 2006, and he forwarded the information to Taylor and Chapluk when they returned, and they interviewed Chamberlain. Le did not enter the call from Sramek into the log because it was discretionary. After Chamberlain was killed, Taylor told him to record the call in the log. Le claimed Taylor did not speak with any shot callers that day. He said that sometimes the mod cards were highlighted when the inmate had sex crimes, but he was not sure if Chamberlain’s was. He acknowledged inmates with sex crimes were more vulnerable to assaults.
The next day, the prosecution filed an Evidence Code section 402 motion requesting the trial court exclude Chapluk’s anticipated testimony concerning Taylor’s use of the pepper ball gun because it was irrelevant, unduly prejudicial, and inadmissible character evidence. Additionally, the prosecution argued the evidence lacked foundation because there was no evidence any of the defendants witnessed Taylor use the pepper ball' gun or that they were motivated by fear he would use it the day of Chamberlain’s killing.
At a hearing on the prosecution’s motion before Chapluk was recalled to testify, the trial court indicated it had read and considered the motion.
Chapluk testified Garcia was the Paisanos’ shot caller in October 2006, and Chapluk used Garcia to convey information to inmates. Chapluk admitted that if deputies had a problem with an inmate they would ask the shot caller to gather intelligence. Deputies knew the shot callers had authority over the other inmates in their CAR, and a shot caller would likely tax an inmate who defied him. Chapluk did not believe the use of shot callers conveyed authority to inmates. Deputies utilized the inmates’ infrastructure to convey information and not to empower CAR leadership. On cross-examination, Chapluk claimed they never told a shot caller to tax an inmate for violating the rules; deputies would discipline inmates.
Hoffman testified that when he interviewed Guillen on December 26, 2007, Guillen stated he kicked Chamberlain on the lower part of his legs because he had not gone very far into the cube. Guillen also said he put his shoe on his hand and slapped Chamberlain’s stomach.
Daniel Vasquez testified as a consultant on the correctional system. Vasquez explained the CAR system was “a racial alignment of inmates” created by the inmates in the 1950’s. Correctional officers had to either control the housing unit and not allow inmate leadership roles or rely on the CAR system. Officers diminish their authority when they rely on the CAR system and create fear in and alienate inmates who are not in the CAR structure. When a deputy personally talks to a shot caller other inmates notice. If a deputy goes to a shot caller regarding a problem inmate, the shot caller will tax the inmate if he is defiant. If a shot caller defies a deputy, the shot caller will be moved and lose his power. Inmates increase their status within the CAR by committing violent acts. A way to demonstrate leadership is to “take out the trash” or “get rid of a child molester.” Vasquez stated sex offenders are frequently taxed, but they are not always killed. However, he was familiar with cases in which inmates had killed child molesters in their own CARs. He said members of Guillen’s CAR, the Paisanos, speak very little English. He added that in the Paisanos the house mouse is frequently someone who can speak English and act as an interpreter. When Guillen’s defense counsel
b. Aguilar
Aguilar contended he was misidentified as an assailant. In support of his defense, Jerry Ibarra testified he was playing cards with Petrovich and two other inmates when someone approached the table and said they needed to get Aguilar to stop the attack. Ibarra looked and saw Aguilar in Ibarra’s cube upstairs. Aguilar came to the table, went to D cube, and came back and asked for help because someone was unconscious. Ibarra, who knew CPR, went with Aguilar to D Cube and saw reddish-orange colored liquid on the floor. Chamberlain was sitting with his back against a bunk. Ibarra did not try to give CPR because Chamberlain had bruising from his chin down to his chest. It looked like his neck was broken. Ibarra said they “need[ed] to call man down.” Aguilar frantically tried to call man down but deputies did not arrive until five to 10 minutes later. Taylor announced “day room closed” and entered D cube. Taylor slapped Chamberlain, attempted to pick him up, and dropped him. Ibarra heard Taylor say, “I didn’t say to kill the guy.” Ibarra also stated he saw Petrovich reenter F Barracks earlier that day after being outside with Taylor. Ibarra was housed next to Aguilar three months prior to trial, which is when he contacted Aguilar’s attorney for the first time and provided these details.
3. Prosecution’s Rebuttal
The prosecution and Guillen stipulated there was a bloodstain on his left shoe. In Ibarra’s interview the morning after the murder, he told investigators that he was playing cards and did not know what was going on. Ibarra also said he never walked to D cube and did not see anything. He denied being a doctor but did tell someone to get medical assistance. Ibarra was released from custody after the murder on October 29, 2006, and arrested in connection with a new case on April 19, 2011. Aguilar and Ibarra were housed in cells next to each other from June 6, 2011, to July 1, 2011.
It was stipulated that private investigator Alfredo Rasch interviewed Ibarra twice in early July 2011 on behalf of Aguilar, and would testify to the following: Ibarra told Rasch that prior to October 5, 2006, he saw Taylor talking with shot callers on multiple occasions. However, there is no indication Ibarra said Taylor met with Petrovich that day or that they questioned him about it. Ibarra heard “rumors that something was going to happen to a suspected child molester.” After Taylor entered D cube, he grabbed, smacked, shook, and threw Chamberlain against the wall. Taylor told the inmates “they
4. Jury Instructions
Throughout the trial and after the close of evidence, the trial court instructed the jury it could only consider each defendant’s statements against that respective defendant. The trial court instructed the jury the prosecution was proceeding on four theories of murder, “malice aforethought,” “aiding and abetting—natural and probable consequences,” “conspiracy,” and “felony murder,” and detailed which theories were applicable to first degree murder and which theories were applicable to second degree murder. The court instructed the jury on each of the theories. The court also instructed the jury on the lesser included offenses of voluntary and involuntary manslaughter. As relevant here, the court instructed the jury on involuntary manslaughter based on an unintentional but criminally negligent homicide committed during the course of a misdemeanor, a battery. Finally, the court instmcted the jury it could consider Chamberlain’s statements to Palacios and Chapluk to evaluate Chamberlain’s state of mind and his conduct and not for their truth.
5. Jury Deliberations
Jury deliberations began the morning of October 3, 2011. At the end of the day, the jury requested the following: (1) Pough’s testimony; (2) Palacios’s testimony concerning the number of times and when Guillen entered D cube; (3) Carlstrom’s cross-examination of Palacios concerning “the number and composition of the groups that entered D cube,” and (4) Reilly’s testimony concerning who taxed him. The trial court ordered the jury to return the following day at 1:30 p.m. The jury retired for the day after deliberating for a total of about four and one-half hours. The following morning, the trial court discussed with counsel how to respond to the jury’s requests. That afternoon, the court advised counsel one of the jurors had called and indicated she had a medical emergency. The parties stipulated to excuse the juror, which the court did for good cause. The court indicated it would contact an alternate juror and determine whether the alternate juror could arrive that afternoon. The court indicted it would instruct the jury with CALCRIM No. 3575, Substitution of Alternate Juror: During Deliberations. The following colloquy occurred:
“[Guillen’s counsel]: One question. In the interim there was a question by the jury that is currently impaneled. How does the court intend on handling
“[Trial court]: Well, my feeling is, folks, and see if you agree with this, I think we can go ahead and read back that testimony and give the answers that I gave. The jury would then have to go back and commence their deliberations all over again, and I think that we simply answer that question as agreed upon.
“[Prosecutor]: We agree with that. I think that’s the appropriate way to handle it, and the court maybe can tell them, even though you’re starting all anew, there was a question that was still pending, and it is the intent of the court to give the answer.
“[Trial court]: That’s good, [f] You agree . . . ?
“[Carlstrom’s counsel]: Yes, your honor.
“[Trial court]: Agreed . . . ?
“[Guillen’s counsel]: And I also think, if I may, I think if the alternate juror that is going to be seated should look at what was requested so they have at least some context of what was requested before they were impaneled and then the reread be given.
“[Trial court]: Well, to tell you the truth here, how that will operate just as a matter of procedure, that form is going to go back into the jury room because my answer is on there.
“[Guillen’s counsel]: Oh, I see.
“[Trial court]: It said, ‘will be reread, will be reread, and then the second will be reread,’ and the last one will say ‘there is no such testimony’ or whatever that was. [f] Is that agreeable with everybody?”
The prosecutor and all defense counsel agreed.
Proceedings reconvened that afternoon, the court clerk swore in the alternate juror, and the trial court advised the jury it excused an ill juror and replaced that juror with an alternate juror.
The trial court stated: “Next we received your form request, and I have answered it. My answers are on the form. The court reporter is going to reread some testimony for you folks. And then the answer to the last question
The newly impaneled jury began deliberations at 3:07 p.m. At 3:14 p.m., the court reporter read back the requested testimony over the course of one-half hour. The court informed the jury Reilly did not identify who taxed him. The jury deliberated for nine days.
On October 24, 2011, the jury submitted to the trial court a note that stated, “We regretfully cannot come to a unanimous decision on any of the five defendants. We have tried and tried with no success.” After a lengthy discussion in chambers with counsel, the trial court, in open court, examined the jury foreperson regarding the jury’s deliberations. The foreperson stated the jury had taken four ballots on all the defendants except Aguilar, on whom it had taken five ballots. After some questioning, the foreperson indicated the jury had only taken votes on first degree murder and was unable to reach unanimous verdicts on that offense. During an in-chambers discussion, the prosecution requested the trial court instruct the jury to no longer consider first degree murder and proceed deliberating on second degree murder and the lesser included offenses. That afternoon, the trial court instructed the jury to not deliberate any longer on first degree murder and instead deliberate on second degree murder and the lesser included offenses of voluntary and involuntary manslaughter.
Jury deliberations resumed. The following day, after less than five hours of deliberations, the jury convicted Aguilar, Carlstrom, Guillen, Petrovich, and Villafana of second degree murder.
At a hearing, the trial court found Guillen’s three prior convictions true and dismissed the two strike priors. The court sentenced Guillen to 20 years to life in prison, 15 years to life for second degree murder and five years for the prior serious felony conviction. The court imposed a $200 restitution fine (§ 1202.4, subd. (b)), and a $200 parole revocation restitution fine (§ 1202.45).
The trial court sentenced Aguilar to 15 years to life in prison for second degree murder. The court imposed a $240 restitution fine (§ 1202.4, subd. (b)), and a $240 parole revocation restitution fine (§ 1202.45). The-court sentenced Petrovich to 15 years to life in prison for second degree murder. The court imposed a $240 restitution fine (§ 1202.4, subd. (b)), and a $240 parole revocation restitution fine (§ 1202.45).
Two months later, the court sentenced Carlstrom to 15 years to life in prison for second degree murder. The court imposed a $200 restitution fine (§ 1202.4, subd. (b)), and a $200 parole revocation restitution fine (§ 1202.45). The next month, the court sentenced Villafana to 15 years to life in prison for second degree murder. The court imposed a $200 restitution fine (§ 1202.4/ subd. (b)), and a $200 parole revocation restitution fine (§ 1202.45).
DISCUSSION
I. Sufficiency of the Evidence
Aguilar, Guillen, and Carlstrom argue insufficient evidence supports their second degree murder convictions under the following theories: malice aforethought—implied malice (the prosecutor did not argue express malice), aiding and abetting—natural and probable consequences, and conspiracy. Petrovich joins in coappellants’ arguments. Villafana does not argue insufficient evidence supports his conviction, although he does assert the evidence supporting his conviction was not overwhelming when discussing his other claims. He does not appear to join in his coappellants’ sufficiency of the evidence claims. Out of an abundance of caution, we will address whether sufficient evidence supports Villafana’s conviction as well.
The record does not disclose which theory the jury relied on in convicting each of the appellants of second degree murder. (See
People v. Holt
(1997)
A. Standard of Review
' “ ‘On appeal we review the whole record in the light most favorable to the judgment to determine whether it discloses substantial evidence—that is, evidence that is reasonable, credible, and of solid value—from which a reasonable trier of fact could find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. [Citations.] The standard of review is the same in cases in which the People rely mainly on circumstantial evidence. [Citation.] “Although it is the duty of the jury to acquit a defendant if it finds that circumstantial evidence is susceptible of two interpretations, one of which suggests guilt and the other innocence [citations], it is the jury, not the appellate court which must be convinced of the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. ‘ “If the circumstances reasonably justify the trier of fact’s findings, the opinion of the reviewing court that the circumstances might also reasonably be reconciled with a contrary finding does not warrant a reversal of the judgment.” ’ [Citations.]” [Citation.]’ [Citations.] The conviction shall stand ‘unless it appears “that upon no hypothesis whatever is there sufficient substantial evidence to support [the conviction].” ’ [Citation.]”
(People v. Cravens
(2012)
B. Malice Aforethought—Implied Malice
“Section 187, subdivision (a), defines murder as ‘the unlawful killing of a human being, or a fetus, with malice aforethought.’ . . . Murder is divided into first and second degree murder. [Citation.] ‘Second degree murder is the unlawful killing of a human being with malice, but without the additional elements (i.e., willfulness, premeditation, and deliberation) that would support a conviction of first degree murder. [Citations.]’ [Citation.] [f] Critical for our purposes is that the crime of murder, as defined in section 187, includes, as an element, malice. Section 188 defines malice. It may be either express or implied. It is express ‘when there is manifested a deliberate intention unlawfully to take away the life of a fellow creature.’ [Citation.] It is implied ‘when no considerable provocation appears, or when the circumstances attending the killing show an abandoned and malignant heart.’ [Citation.] This definition of implied malice is quite vague. Trial courts do not
Cravens, supra,
The California Supreme ■ Court reversed the Court of Appeal.
(Cravens, supra,
1. Physical Component
The physical component is satisfied when the defendant commits an inherently dangerous felony, “ ‘ “the natural consequences of which are dangerous to life.” ’ ”
(Chun, supra,
Similar to Cravens, the manner of the assault on Chamberlain and the circumstances under which it was made rendered the natural consequences of each appellant’s conduct dangerous to life. Inmates despise child molesters. Although there were ground rules for taxing (body blows for a specified period of time administered by an inmate’s own CAR), those rules did not apply to child molesters. All CARs could tax an inmate who was, or who was believed to be, a child molester. Petrovich, the Woods shot caller and the person who had to authorize Chamberlain’s taxing, said child molesters are among the most despised in jail and there are “no rules” on taxing them. He described this as a long-established rule of jail culture and said “there’s no remorse, . . . there’s no nothing for them.”
Pursuant to Petrovich’s authorization, Aguilar escorted Chamberlain to one of the only places in F Barracks where even a diligent and interested deputy would not be able to observe the attack, D cube’s blind spot. Over the course of about 30 minutes, at least 30 and by some accounts 50 inmates participated in the assault on Chamberlain, hitting him, kicking him, stomping on him, spanking him, spitting on him, urinating on him, spilling hot coffee on him, stripping off his clothes, and putting foreign items in his rectum. When inmates beat Chamberlain unconscious, they threw water on him to wake him up and then continued beating him.
Chamberlain’s injuries were consistent with a high-velocity car accident or a fall from multiple stories. Every region of Chamberlain’s body had blunt force trauma injuries except part of his abdomen likely from rolling into a ball to protect himself. He had vivid injuries on his face and scalp. Chamberlain’s entire back was hemorrhagic, and the front of his torso was
a. Petrovich
Petrovich argues the majority of the evidence established he did not touch Chamberlain in any way. As we explain below, there was overwhelming evidence Petrovich authorized inmates to tax Chamberlain because they believed he was a child molester and there was evidence from which the jury could reasonably conclude Petrovich was the first person to hit Chamberlain.
In three different interviews with investigators, Petrovich admitted he authorized the attack, first by telling the South-Siders’ shot caller and then by telling other inmates Chamberlain was a child molester and would be taxed. Although he may not have been the first one to use the phrase, Petrovich agreed he “lit the fuse.” Although there was testimony Petrovich left D cube before the assault started and he did not hit Chamberlain, Palacios testified Petrovich was the first person to hit Chamberlain. The testimony of a single witness is sufficient to support a conviction unless the testimony is physically impossible or inherently improbable.
(People v. Jones
(2013)
b. Aguilar
Aguilar states, “It is indisputable that [his] conduct was likely to inflict great bodily injury upon [Chamberlain].” He claims, though, “the aggravated assault. . . was not an inherently dangerous felony.” Nonsense.
The evidence established the natural consequences of Aguilar’s conduct alone could have killed Chamberlain. Aguilar does not seem to dispute he
c. Carlstrom
Like Aguilar, Carlstrom contends there is no evidence his conduct “posed a high probability of death.” We disagree.
Carlstrom concedes the evidence at trial established he kicked Chamberlain two times. There was other testimony, however, including Carlstrom’s own admissions, that establish Chamberlain was particularly vulnerable when Carlstrom kicked him and additionally Carlstrom did not merely kick Chamberlain twice. In his first interview with investigators, Carlstrom admitted that when he went into D cube Chamberlain “was pretty messed up.” Nevertheless, Carlstrom kicked Chamberlain twice, sending a defenseless and severely injured Chamberlain into the wall. One witness described at least one of Carlstrom’s kicks as “forceful.” Moreover, there was other testimony that contradicted Carlstrom’s claim his conduct was limited to two kicks. A witness testified he saw Carlstrom hold onto a bunk for leverage and jump up and down on something behind the short wall. Like Aguilar’s conduct, this conduct was evidence Carlstrom caused Chamberlain’s rib fractures, which contributed to his death. The jury could reasonably rely on this evidence to conclude the natural consequences of Carlstrom’s conduct were dangerous to Chamberlain’s life.
Villafana asserts there was insufficient evidence his brief conduct in the earlier stages of the assault endangered Chamberlain’s life. Again, we disagree.
Contrary to Villafana’s assertion otherwise, one witness saw Villafana make multiple trips between working out in E cube and going into D cube. One witness saw Villafana hit Chamberlain twice with a closed fist. And another witness testified he saw Villafana hit and kick Chamberlain on his head and torso. The forensic evidence established Chamberlain would not have died without the head and rib injuries. The jury could rely on this evidence to conclude Villafana contributed to the injuries that were ultimately fatal. Thus, there was sufficient evidence to conclude the natural consequences of Villafana’s conduct were dangerous to Chamberlain’s life.
e. Guillen
Guillen does not really dispute there was sufficient evidence of the physical component as to him. Instead, he focuses on the mental component. Nevertheless, we address whether there was sufficient physical evidence to establish the natural consequences of Guillen’s conduct were dangerous to Chamberlain’s life. We conclude there was.
In his interview with investigators, Guillen admitted he kicked Chamberlain one time on the leg. Guillen also admitted he removed his shoe and hit Chamberlain with it three times on the stomach. One witness testified he saw Guillen enter D cube, get on his knees, and make a couple downward striking motions during the beginning or middle of the attack. Again, the forensic evidence established Chamberlain’s rib injuries would have been fatal. The jury could reasonably rely on this evidence to conclude Guillen’s conduct of striking Chamberlain in the abdomen area was dangerous to Chamberlain’s life because it contributed to the injuries that ultimately caused his death.
2. Mental Component
The mental component is satisfied when the defendant commits an act resulting in death knowing his conduct endangers the fife of another and who acts with a conscious disregard for life.
(Chun, supra,
Petrovich argues evidence of the mental component is lacking because he believed it was going to be a typical taxing, i.e., inmates would punch Chamberlain for about 16 seconds while Chamberlain stood against the wall. Petrovich’s statements, however, establish he authorized the taxing and knew very well what would happen to Chamberlain.
As we explain above, Petrovich repeatedly admitted to investigators that as the Whites’ shot caller, he authorized the taxing of Chamberlain, who was also Caucasian. Petrovich explained that because the South-Siders ran F Barracks, he had to get their shot caller’s blessing, which he did. During his first interview, Petrovich said he told the South-Siders shot caller to “do whatever.” Petrovich also admitted he told other inmates Chamberlain would be taxed. Additionally, witnesses testified they saw Petrovich meeting with Aguilar, and Aguilar escorting Chamberlain to D cube. Although Petrovich complains the phrase did not originate with him, he agreed he “lit the fuse.” During his second interview, Petrovich told investigators there are no rules on taxing child molesters because they are considered among the worst by inmates. During his third interview, he said the general rule that an inmate could only be taxed by inmates of the same CAR does not apply to child molesters and everyone can participate in the taxing. He said that when it comes to taxing child molesters, “They’re wide open.” This evidence demonstrates Petrovich knew his conduct endangered Chamberlain’s life and he acted with a conscious disregard of Chamberlain’s life thereby establishing the mental component of implied malice.
b. Aguilar
Aguilar claims there was no evidence he “was aware of the extent of damage that had been inflicted before he did so.” We find that difficult to believe as the evidence established Aguilar participated in the attack from beginning to end.
Aguilar was the Woods right-hand man and torpedo. One witness overheard Petrovich tell Aguilar there was going to be a beating of a “Chester” who admitted he liked young children. Aguilar went to J cube, escorted Chamberlain to D cube, and pushed Chamberlain to the ground.
Aguilar’s own conduct contradicts his claim this was a typical taxing, he was not aware of Chamberlain’s injuries, and he did not know of the severity of the wounds he personally committed. Again, there was overwhelming evidence Aguilar repeatedly hit and kicked Chamberlain and he put a pencil in his rectum. But that is not the extent of the damage Aguilar inflicted. Three
c. Carlstrom
Carlstrom asserts the evidence established that at most he knew his “conduct contained a risk of serious bodily injury,” which is insufficient to establish the mental component of implied malice. Once more, we disagree.
Carlstrom admitted he asked Chamberlain for his paperwork when he first arrived but Chamberlain did not have it. Based on all the testimony about the CAR structure and its rules, the jury could reasonably conclude Carlstrom knew Chamberlain would be taxed for failing to provide his paperwork. The evidence not only established Carlstrom forcefully kicked a defenseless and “messed up” Chamberlain, but he also followed Aguilar’s lead and grabbed onto the bunk for leverage and stomped on Chamberlain. We need not repeat that stomping on someone who has been severely beaten and is defenseless demonstrates a conscious disregard of life. Not only did Carlstrom participate in the assault, there was testimony he helped prolong it. A witness testified Carlstrom gave water to Aguilar and another inmate to throw on Chamberlain to wake him up so inmates could continue beating him. Carlstrom’s comment to investigators concerning his state of mind is telling. He said, “everybody had a chance to have a turn” hitting and kicking Chamberlain. Therefore, sufficient evidence supports the mental component of malice as to Carlstrom.
d. Villafana
Villafana cursorily claims insufficient evidence supports the mental component of implied malice because his conduct was brief. It may have been brief, but it was particularly dangerous.
The evidence at trial established Villafana was the Paisanos’ shot caller and was present in D cube when he, Stretch, and Petrovich discussed beating and raping Chamberlain. Again based on the evidence concerning the culture of the CARs, the jury could reasonably conclude Villafana authorized the
e. Guillen
Guillen contends insufficient evidence established he acted with a conscious disregard for human life because there was no evidence he knowingly engaged in conduct that was dangerous to Chamberlain’s life. Guillen focuses on the fact he was not privy to the shot callers’ plan and he believed he was participating in a common taxing. But his conduct and his statements to investigators demonstrate he was subjectively aware his conduct was dangerous to Chamberlain’s life.
Guillen repeatedly told investigators he knew Chamberlain was going to be taxed because he was a child molester. He also told investigators all Mexicans had to participate in the taxing. Guillen explained taxing is very common in jail and a typical taxing consists of 30 punches for 30 seconds. But he also stated the general rules do not apply to child molesters. He explained that generally each race taxes their own race but with child molesters everyone participates in the taxing. The jury could reasonably rely on Guillen’s admissions to conclude he knew Chamberlain’s taxing was not an ordinary taxing and everyone would participate.
Guillen admitted he kicked Chamberlain once in the legs with his right foot. Guillen also admitted he removed his shoe and hit Chamberlain with it three times on the stomach. Guillen’s attempt to minimize his conduct by asserting he only inflicted superficial injuries is belied by the record. The record includes evidence Chamberlain was on his side, moving and screaming when Guillen hit him. One witness testified he saw Guillen enter D cube, get on his knees, and make a couple downward striking motions. Guillen admitted he had a choice whether to participate and when he thought about someone molesting his young daughters, he wanted to hit Chamberlain. Although Guillen’s assault of Chamberlain may not have been as violent as his coappellants, his conduct and statements provided evidence from which the jury could reasonably conclude Guillen knew he endangered Chamberlain’s life and he acted with a conscious disregard of Chamberlain’s life thereby establishing the mental component of implied malice.
In
Garcia,
the issue was whether testimony concerning the existence of an implicit agreement among gang members to support one another in fights against rival gangs alone constituted sufficient evidence to support a conviction of conspiracy to commit assault.
(Garcia, supra,
As we explain above, Guillen’s participation in the CAR was not the only evidence connecting him to the murder of Chamberlain. Guillen admitted he kicked Chamberlain once and hit him three times. Although Guillen told investigators he had to participate, he also admitted to investigators not everyone participated in the assault, he had a choice whether to participate, and he ultimately chose to go into D cube and hit Chamberlain because he thought about someone molesting his young daughters. There was more evidence connecting Guillen to Chamberlain’s murder than just his participation in the Paisanos. Sufficient evidence supported Guillen’s conviction for second degree murder. Thus, sufficient evidence supported the conclusion each appellant was guilty of second degree murder under the implied malice theory.
C. Aiding and Abetting—Natural and Probable Consequences
In
People v. Prettyman
(1996)
However, it is rarely,
if
ever true “that an aider and abettor can ‘become liable for the commission of a very serious crime’ committed by the aider and abettor’s confederate [where] ‘the target offense contemplated by his aiding and abetting may have been trivial.’ . . . Murder, for instance, is
not
the ‘natural and probable consequence’ of ‘trivial’ activities. To trigger application of the ‘natural and probable consequences’ doctrine, there must be a close connection between the target crime aided and abetted and the offense actually committed.”
(Prettyman, supra,
“Therefore, when a particular aiding and abetting case triggers application of the ‘natural and probable consequences’ doctrine ... the trier of fact must find that the defendant, act[ed] 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, supra,
California cases have upheld convictions for murder or attempted murder where the jury was instructed a defendant’s liability could result from aiding and abetting an assault or a battery. (See, e.g.,
Medina, supra,
1. Target Offenses
None of the appellants dispute there is sufficient evidence each of them committed a battery or assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury
Additionally, as we explain above in greater detail, sufficient evidence supports the conclusion each of the appellants played a role in the attack: Petrovich authorized the taxing and hit Chamberlain, once; Aguilar escorted Chamberlain to D cube and ruthlessly beat him; Carlstrom initially asked for Chamberlain’s paperwork, reported to Petrovich he did not have it, and later viciously stomped on him; Villafana authorized the Paisanos to participate in the taxing and brutally beat Chamberlain; and Guillen willfully kicked and hit Chamberlain multiple times. Thus, there was overwhelming evidence each of the appellants either committed or aided and abetted the commission of the target offenses.
2. Second Degree Murder
Aguilar claims there is insufficient evidence “any [inmates] engaged in conduct that rose to the level of second degree murder.” Because each of the appellants join in the others arguments, we consider this claim as to each of them. Above, we explain how sufficient evidence supports each of the appellants’ convictions for implied malice second degree murder. Thus, this claim is meritless.
3. Natural and Probable Consequence
Each appellant argues Chamberlain’s death was not a natural and probable consequence of battery or assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury. They cite to the following to support their claims: deputies sanctioned CAR shot callers to control inmates and knew rule violations resulted in taxings; deputies should have stopped the taxing of Chamberlain; taxings were a regular occurrence; a taxing had never resulted in an inmate’s death; two inmates who were present in F Barracks had been taxed and survived; and no weapons were used in Chamberlain’s taxing. As we explain below, there was sufficient evidence for the jury to conclude a reasonable person in each of appellants’ positions would have known Chamberlain’s murder was the natural and probable consequence of the battery or assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury.
(Medina, supra,
Before we address the objective knowledge of each appellant, we again briefly explain the surrounding circumstances of the CAR culture in TLJ.
a. Petrovich
A reasonable person in Petrovich’s position would certainly know Chamberlain’s taxing would not be a normal taxing. The evidence established Petrovich authorized Chamberlain’s taxing first by telling the South-Siders’ shot caller to “do whatever” and then telling other inmates Chamberlain was a child molester. Petrovich told investigators there are no rales on taxing child molesters and “They’re wide open.” The jury could rely on this evidence, and the testimony of one witness who was present in D cube with Petrovich, to conclude Petrovich knew this was not going to be a normal taxing. Corral testified Petrovich was present when the shot callers discussed raping Chamberlain and an incentive for any inmate who did so. Petrovich’s knowledge Chamberlain would likely be raped negates his claim he could not possibly know the taxing would not spiral out of control. It is certainly reasonable to conclude that if an inmate is willing to rape another inmate for a few commissary items, there are no limits an inmate would go to. It was reasonably foreseeable an inmate would stomp on another inmate for the sheer pleasure of it.
Additionally, during his interview with Schou, Petrovich said that when he returned to his cube and told inmates about the taxing, “[EJveryone just started getting pumped up. Let’s get him. People were like, let’s do this. Let’s not wait until 8.” The jury could reasonably rely on this evidence to conclude a reasonable person in Petrovich’s position would know Chamberlain’s death was the natural and probable consequence of the target offenses. Chamberlain was a suspected child molester, there are no rales concerning taxing child molesters, all the CARs were authorized to tax Chamberlain, the three shot callers discussed conduct that was abnormal to a typical taxing,
b. Aguilar
A reasonable person in Aguilar’s position would know Chamberlain would be the recipient of a ruthless taxing. After Petrovich told Aguilar there was going to be a beating of a Chester who admitted he liked young children, Aguilar escorted Chamberlain to D cube and pushed Chamberlain to the ground. Again, the evidence established Aguilar alone could have killed Chamberlain. There was overwhelming evidence Aguilar ruthlessly hit, kicked, and stomped on Chamberlain. Aguilar hit Chamberlain so hard his hand hurt, despite the fact he put rubber soled shoes on his hands. Aguilar was present in D cube throughout the assault and threw water on Chamberlain to prolong the beating. It defies logic to argue this began “as a run-of-the-mill taxing.” Aguilar ends his argument by asserting, “If one could not reasonably foresee the mob-like circumstances that fostered the murder (assuming one occurred), then one could not foresee the murder itself.”
We need not “assume” a murder occurred as the record includes strong evidence one did occur. And the record includes evidence one could reasonably foresee the “mob-like circumstances that fostered the murder.” Again, witnesses testified Aguilar ruthlessly beat Chamberlain and apprised Petrovich of the progress of the taxing. The jury could reasonably rely on this evidence to conclude Aguilar instigated the “mob-like circumstances” with his ruthless conduct and he condoned it by not doing something to stop it when he knew “it got out of hand.” Therefore, there was sufficient evidence to conclude a reasonable person in Aguilar’s position would know murder was a natural and probable consequence of battery and assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury in F West.
c. Carlstrom
A
reasonable person in Carlstrom’s position would know Chamberlain would not be subjected to a normal taxing. Based on Carlstrom’s position as the Woods’ mouse and the fact Chamberlain failed to provide Carlstrom with his paperwork, it was reasonable for the jury to conclude Carlstrom knew Chamberlain was going to be taxed. Carlstrom’s claim a reasonable person in his position would know only that Chamberlain was going to be subjected to a normal taxing is belied by his conduct. Carlstrom told investigators, “[everybody had a chance to have a turn” hitting and kicking Chamberlain.
d. Villafana
A reasonable person in Villafana’s position would know Chamberlain would be the recipient of a violent taxing. Villafana was the Paisanos’ shot caller and was present in D cube when he and the other two shot callers discussed beating and raping Chamberlain. Again, based on the CAR culture, the jury could reasonably conclude Villafana authorized the Paisanos to participate in the taxing and knew it was not going to be a normal taxing because of the nature of Chamberlain’s charges. Additionally, Villafana’s conduct contradicts his claim a reasonable person in his position would expect to participate in a normal taxing. The evidence established he hit Chamberlain twice with a closed fist and he ticked Chamberlain on his head and torso. Finally, Villafana essentially supervised the attack by going back and forth between working out in E cube and watching Chamberlain’s assault in D cube. A reasonable person in Villafana’s position could not possibly believe this was a normal taxing. Therefore, there was sufficient evidence to conclude a reasonable person in Villafana’s position would know murder was a natural and probable consequence of battery and assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury.
e. Guillen
A reasonable person in Guillen’s position would also know Chamberlain would not be subjected to a normal taxing. Guillen repeatedly told investigators he knew Chamberlain was going to be taxed because he was a child molester. Guillen told investigators all Mexicans had to párticipate in the taxing and admitted he wanted to hit Chamberlain when he thought about someone molesting his young daughters. Before Guillen entered D cube, he saw a lot of people hitting Chamberlain. It is beyond dispute Guillen ticked Chamberlain one time and hit him three times on the stomach with a shoe.
D. Conspiracy
“The law has been settled for more than a century that each member of a conspiracy is criminally responsible for the acts of fellow conspirators committed in furtherance of, and which follow as a natural and probable consequence of, the conspiracy, even though such acts were not intended by the conspirators as a part of their common unlawful design. [Citations.] ['][] Recognizing that criminal agency poses a greater threat to society than that posed by an independent criminal actor, the law ‘seeks to deter criminal combination by recognizing the act of one as the act of all.’ [Citations.] ‘In combining to plan a crime, each conspirator risks liability for conspiracy as well as the substantive offense; in “planning poorly,” each risks additional liability for the unanticipated, yet reasonably foreseeable consequences of the conspiratorial acts, liability which is avoidable by disavowing or abandoning the conspiracy.’ [Citation.] [f] The question whether an unplanned crime is a natural and probable consequence of a conspiracy to commit the intended crime ‘is not whether the aider and abettor
actually
foresaw the additional crime, but whether, judged objectively, [the unplanned crime] was
reasonably
foreseeable.’ [Citation.] To be reasonably foreseeable ‘ “ ‘[t]he consequence need not have been a strong probability; a possible consequence which might reasonably have been contemplated is enough. . . .’ [Citation.]” ’ [Citation.] Whether the unplanned act was a ‘reasonably foreseeable consequence’ of the conspiracy must be ‘evaluated under all the factual circumstances of the individual case’ and ‘is a factual issue to be resolved by the jury’ [citation], whose determination is conclusive if supported by substantial evidence [citations].”
(People v. Zielesch
(2009)
Here, each appellant agrees that liability as a conspirator is based on the same analysis as that under the natural and probable consequences doctrine of aiding and abetting.
(People
v.
Prieto
(2003)
That does not end our inquiry, however, as Aguilar raises two additional claims, and his coappellants join those claims. First, appellants argue a conspirator is not liable for acts not in furtherance of the conspiracy. Second, they contend not all the inmates who participated in the assault were members of the conspiracy and they cannot be liable for the acts of nonconspirators.
1. Furtherance of the Conspiracy
Relying on the principle “a conspirator may be vicariously liable for a crime committed in furtherance of a conspiracy”
(Prieto, supra,
30 Cal.4th at pp. 249-250; see
People
v.
Hardy
(1992)
We agree “a conspirator may be vicariously liable for a crime committed in furtherance of a conspiracy only if that crime was a natural and probable consequence of the conspiracy”
(Prieto, supra,
30 Cal.4th at pp. 249-250) and “that acts committed by conspirators subsequent to the completion of the crime which is the primary object of a conspiracy cannot be deemed to be overt acts in furtherance of that conspiracy”
(Zamora, supra,
Additionally, Petrovich, Aguilar, and Villafana ensured the taxing continued. The evidence established Villafana made repeated trips from working out in E cube to D cube to monitor the taxing. The evidence also demonstrated Aguilar’s participation extended past the beginning of the assault—he threw water on Chamberlain to revive him so inmates could continue to beat him and he went from D cube to speak with Petrovich and then returned to D cube throughout the assault. Petrovich disputes Aguilar was providing him with updates when Aguilar left D cube, spoke with him, and returned to D cube. Petrovich states, “Perhaps Aguilar was giving [him] Pinochle advice.” It is true Corral testified he could not hear what they discussed. However, the jury could reasonably conclude that because Aguilar returned to D cube after speaking with Petrovich, they discussed the taxing, not cards. Moreover, Petrovich’s appellate counsel’s attempt at humor is sorely misplaced. During the taxing, Petrovich told an inmate not to look into D cube and to “keep walking.” Does appellate counsel suggest Petrovich was simply encouraging the inmate to maintain a regular exercise regimen? Or is the more likely explanation Petrovich sought to minimize the number of witnesses who could implicate the responsible inmates? We think the latter.
This evidence demonstrates Petrovich, Aguilar, and Villafana knew the purpose of the conspiracy continued past the first wave of the attack. Based on a complete reading of the record, it was reasonable for the jury to conclude the conspiracy ended only when Aguilar stood on the table to get the deputies’ attention and each appellant furthered the conspiracy by attacking and/or prolonging the purpose of the conspiracy.
Appellants argue they are not liable as conspirators for second degree murder because the evidence does not establish all the inmates who struck Chamberlain were members of the conspiracy. We disagree.
It is true a conspirator is not responsible for the acts of a nonconspirator even if the acts helped further the conspiracy.
(Zielesch, supra,
We need not recount how each appellant conspired to tax Chamberlain and either commit a battery or assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, the natural consequence of which was Chamberlain’s death. Petrovich, Aguilar, and Villafana each played a role in ensuring F West was on notice Chamberlain was going to be taxed. And there was evidence each appellant hit, kicked, and/or stomped on Chamberlain. Petrovich, Aguilar, and Villafana monitored and/or prolonged the vicious attack. Thus, the record includes evidence from which the jury could conclude each appellant intended to, agreed to, and acted to further the conspiracy.
Appellants’ complaint though is they should not be held liable for the acts of other unidentified inmates who assaulted Chamberlain and may have inflicted the fatal blow because they were not part of the conspiracy. To the contrary, there is substantial evidence the unnamed inmates involved in Chamberlain’s beating were also part of the conspiracy to commit battery or assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury.
“It is, of course, unnecessary that each conspirator see the others or know who all the members of the conspiracy are.”
(People v. Buffum
(1953)
The jury could reasonably rely on this evidence to conclude each of the inmates that hit, kicked, or stomped on Chamberlain and contributed to his injuries committed a battery or assault that furthered the conspiracy’s objective. Additionally, the jury could reasonably infer the unidentified inmates participated in the assault knowing it was in furtherance of the CARs’ sanctioned taxing. Therefore, the other inmates that joined the assault and contributed to Chamberlain’s injuries were also coconspirators and appellants are responsible for their acts in furtherance of the conspiracy to commit battery or assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury. There was sufficient evidence to convict each appellant of second degree murder under the theories of conspiracy, aiding and abetting—natural and probable consequences doctrine, and malice aforethought—implied malice.
II. Motion to Dismiss for Outrageous Government Conduct
Petrovich argues the trial court erred in denying his motion to dismiss for outrageous government conduct in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment due process clause. All coappellants join Petrovich’s argument. In his opening brief, Petrovich invited this court to read the DA Report before considering appellants’ claims. We have done so. The DA Report can be found at OCDA’s Web site at the following address: <http://www.orangecountyda.com/docs/ chamberlain_report.pdf> (as of July 7, 2014). As we explain below, we conclude the court properly denied appellants’ motion to dismiss because the government’s conduct was not so outrageous to warrant dismissal.
A. Legal Principles
1. Federal Case Authority
A court’s power to dismiss a criminal case for outrageous government conduct arises from the due process clause of the United States Constitution.
(Rochin
v.
California
(1952)
Three years later, the United States Supreme Court stated it set aside the conviction in
Rochin
because the “conduct ‘shocked the conscience’ and was so ‘brutal’ and ‘offensive’ that it did not comport with traditional ideas of fair play and decency.”
(Breithaupt v. Abram
(1957)
Years later, the Supreme Court reaffirmed, in dicta, outrageous government conduct may require reversal of a criminal conviction in
United States v. Russell
(1973)
Three years later, the court revisited the issue in
Hampton
v.
United States
(1976)
In
U.S. v. Williams
(9th Cir. 2008)
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ cases have described what a high bar defendants who assert outrageous government conduct must overcome. The remedy is a “narrow one.”
(U.S. v. Ryan
(9th Cir. 1976)
2. California Case Authority
In 1978, the California Supreme Court, in dicta, stated, “Sufficiently gross police misconduct could conceivably lead to a finding that conviction of the accused would violate his constitutional right to due process of the law. [Citation.]”
(People v. Mclntire
(1979)
The California Supreme Court revisited the issue in
People
v.
Smith
(2003)
The
Smith
court summarized prior federal and California cases that recognized the possibility government conduct could be so outrageous that due process would bar the government from seeking a conviction.
(Smith, supra,
31 Cal.4th at pp. 1223-1224, citing
Hampton, supra,
The
Smith
court stated the
Wesley
factors to be: “(1) whether the police manufactured a crime that otherwise would not likely have occurred, or merely involved themselves in an ongoing criminal activity; (2) whether the police themselves engaged in criminal or improper conduct repugnant to a sense of justice; (3) whether the defendant’s reluctance to commit the crime is overcome by appeals to humanitarian instincts such as sympathy or past friendship, by temptation of exorbitant gain, or by persistent solicitation in the face of unwillingness; and (4) whether the record reveals simply a desire to obtain a conviction with no reading that the police motive is to prevent further crime or protect the populace.”
(Smith, supra,
3. Standard of Review
“The determination of whether the government engaged in outrageous conduct in violation of the defendant’s due process rights is a mixed question. The first step involves the consideration and weighing of the evidence and assessing the credibility of the witnesses to determine factually whether, and to what extent, governmental misconduct occurred. This factual determination is clearly one that is subject to a deferential standard of review. But the second step-—whether the governmental conduct constitutes outrageous conduct in the constitutional sense of violating the defendant’s due process rights—involves the application of law to the established facts and is primarily a legal question. The rights of the respective parties here are extremely important ones, namely, defendant’s right to a fair trial and the People’s right to prosecute persons believed to be responsible for the
B. Analysis
1. Protected Right
In
Hampton, supra,
Those cases where California courts have concluded dismissal is required for outrageous government conduct all involve situations where the government violated a fundamental right of the defendants, the attorney-client relationship, and prevented them from receiving a fair trial.
(Morrow v. Superior Court
(1994)
Cases where California and Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeals have concluded the government did not commit outrageous conduct warranting dismissal involved situations where a potentially independent right Was implicated but the defendant was not denied the right to a fair trial.
(In re Martin
(1987)
The majority of the California and Ninth Circuit cases finding no outrageous government activity involve situations where the defendant initiated the unlawful activity directly or government participated in
ongoing
criminal activity.
(Holloway, supra,
47 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1767-1768 [disagreeing with
Thor,
holding outrageous government conduct defense exists in entrapment cases where during drug sting operation police targeted no specific persons and defendant approached undercover officers posing as drug buyers and sellers seeking to purchase drugs but not applicable because defense cannot be asserted vicariously];
People
v.
West
(1990)
As they did below, appellants assert there were a number of protected rights implicated by OCSD’s and OCDA’s conduct. They assert the following: (1) OCSD deputies were derelict in their duties to protect inmates and empowered inmates through the use of the CAR system; (2) OCSD violated protocol and investigated itself creating a conflict of interest; (3) OCSD conducted a biased investigation as evidenced by lost evidence, perjured testimony, and multiple violations of grand jury rules; (4) Taylor and Petrovich were equally culpable, and OCDA did not prosecute any deputies; and (5) dismissal of the case would have “sen[t] a message” to OCSD. None of these are sufficient to establish OCSD or OCDA violated a protected right of the appellants.
We begin by acknowledging appellants’ point the DA Report demonstrates OCSD deputies in TLJ engaged in abhorrent conduct and were derelict in their duties. And we recognize that because of the extreme nature of their
The cases where courts have concluded the government’s conduct barred prosecution because it was outrageous have involved situations where the government interfered with a defendant’s right to effective assistance of counsel or created, encouraged, and condoned lengthy unlawful activity. That is not the situation we have here. Neither OCSD nor OCDA interfered with appellants’ right to effective assistance of counsel or any other constitutional right preventing them from receiving a fair trial. Additionally, OCSD did not create the CAR system. The CAR system is an inmate-generated phenomenon that started in the 1950’s. Although at least some OCSD deputies condoned and/or utilized the CAR system, OCSD deputies’ conduct was not outrageous government conduct sufficient to warrant dismissal. It was more akin to those cases where the defendant initiated the unlawful activity and the government participated in or allowed the ongoing criminal activity.
Appellants make a related claim the OCSD’s deputies’ manner in operating TLJ violated their Eighth Amendment rights. The pages of the reporter’s volume Petrovich cites do not support the conclusion appellants raised an Eighth Amendment claim. Garten’s motion mentioned the Fifth and Sixth Amendments, not the Eighth Amendment. And neither Petrovich nor Guillen mentioned the Eighth Amendment in their joinders. Finally, Petrovich does not include any case authority to support the claim. This claim is forfeited.
(People v. Gamache
(2010)
Additionally, the fact OCSD investigated itself did not implicate a protected right preventing appellants from receiving a fair trial.
(U.S. v. Wiley
(9th Cir. 1986)
We need not explain again there was sufficient evidence, either by appellants’ admissions or by other inmate testimony, establishing each appellant assaulted Chamberlain. Appellants’ suggestion the inmates’ version of what happened would have been different had OCDA investigated Chamberlain’s death is too speculative to establish OCSD’s conflict of interest in investigating itself violated a protected right of the appellants. Petrovich’s claim another agency leading the investigation may have offered him a deal in exchange for his testimony against deputies is also too speculative. We doubt OCDA would have offered the Woods’ shot caller and the person who authorized the taxing in the first instance a deal. Finally, appellants’ last claim, the trial court should have sent OCSD a message, is not a proper grounds for dismissing a criminal case. We now turn briefly to the tests articulated by the California courts and Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeals.
2. California Test
a. Whether OCSD Manufactured Crime That Would Not Have Occurred
The record establishes inmates manufactured the crime and OCSD deputies allowed it to continue. The CAR system is an inmate-generated hierarchy that has existed for over half a century in jails such as TLJ. The CAR shot caller and right-hand man determine which inmates were disciplined or taxed for breaking prison and inmate rules. Although there are limits concerning regular taxing (how long, where, and by whom an inmate can be hit), those rules do not apply to inmates who are believed to be child molesters. Inmates regularly learn an inmate’s charges with the help of a third party who obtains the information via public information resources. The evidence at trial demonstrated Carlstrom tried to learn of Chamberlain’s charges before Taylor spoke with Petrovich. The evidence also established the entire F West population could participate in Chamberlain’s taxing because child molesters are the most despised inmates in jail. Deeply rooted jail culture and Taylor’s conduct and statements before and after the incident are sufficient evidence OCSD deputies allowed the taxing but they do not establish they manufactured it.
, b. Whether OCSD Deputies Engaged in Criminal or Improper Conduct
There is certainly sufficient evidence, in the evidence presented at trial and in the DA Report that was not admitted into evidence, to establish OCSD
c. Whether OCSD Overcame Appellants’ Reluctance to Commit Crime
There is no evidence OCSD deputies overcame appellants’ reluctance to commit the assault. As we explain above in greater detail, inmates were going to tax Chamberlain because they believed he was a child molester. And sufficient evidence supports the conclusion each appellant willingly participated in the assault. The record is void of any evidence any of the appellants were reluctant to commit the assault. That Taylor offered an incentive does not by itself establish appellants were reluctant to assault Chamberlain.
d. Whether OCSD Desired Conviction Rather Than Prevent Crime or Protect Populace
This factor has no application to the facts of this case.
On balance, we conclude appellants have not established OCSD deputies engaged in outrageous government conduct that prevented appellants from receiving a fair trial. Appellants have not identified a protected right implicated by OCSD deputies as contemplated by California and Ninth Circuit case authority. Additionally, although OCSD deputies’ conduct was morally reprehensible, they did not manufacture the assault on Chamberlain or overcome inmates’ reluctance to commit the assault. OCSD deputies allowed the violent and horrifying beating of a suspected child molester, which was rooted in decades-old jail culture. Thus, appellants have failed to satisfy the extremely high standard establishing outrageous government conduct sufficient to bar prosecution.
3. Ninth Circuit “Test”
We would reach the same conclusion based on the factors the Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeals have utilized in assessing claims of outrageous government conduct and based on a totality of the circumstances.
(Black, supra,
a. Whether Appellants ’Involved in or Engaged in Criminal Enterprise
As we explain above, inmates initiated and carried out the taxing in accordance with well-established jail culture while OCSD deputies sat idly by and allowed it to continue.
Criminal Enterprise
We recognize this factor is somewhat problematic. OCSD deputies’ participation was not necessary for inmates to assault Chamberlain. There is certainly evidence though to support the conclusion OCSD deputies’ participation, or rather their lack of participation, enabled the inmates to continue the attack. But there is also evidence that during day room, F Barracks was loud and chaotic, and the sound in the guard station was somewhat muted. While that would certainly excuse an attentive deputy from hearing the attack, it would not excuse an attentive deputy from looking out of the guard station and seeing all of the activity in D cube. Inmates were going to tax Chamberlain, but the deputies allowed it to continue.
c. Whether OCSD Deputies Used Artifice and Stratagem to Ferret Out Criminal Activity
This factor has no application to the facts of this case.
d. Whether OCSD Deputies Infiltrated a Criminal Organization
This factor has no application to the facts of this case.
e. Whether OCSD Deputies Approached Appellants Contemplating Criminal Activity
The last element supports our ultimate conclusion OCSD deputies did not engage in outrageous government conduct that prevented appellants from receiving a fair trial. The record includes evidence Taylor approached Petrovich, the Woods’ shot caller, who was already contemplating the assault based on Chamberlain’s failure to produce his paperwork to the Woods’ mouse.
Again on balance, we conclude appellants have failed to satisfy the extremely high standard establishing outrageous government conduct because they have failed to identify a protected right implicated by OCSD deputies. Additionally, the fact OCSD deputies allowed an inmate manufactured assault does not establish outrageous government conduct barring prosecution, as contemplated by California and Ninth Circuit case authority.
(Gurolla, supra,
Appellants argue there were numerous evidentiary errors. We will address each in turn.
A. Chamberlain’s State of Mind
Carlstrom and, by virtue of their joinder, all coappellants, argue the trial court erred in admitting Chamberlain’s statements to Palacios and Chapluk. Appellants assert Chamberlain’s state of mind was not relevant because it was not at issue, it was relevant only if considered for its truth, it improperly bolstered the deputies’ credibility, the statements were untrustworthy, and its admission was unduly prejudicial and violated their Sixth Amendment confrontation rights. We agree Chamberlain’s state of mind was not relevant, but we conclude the error was not prejudicial.
It is true a trial court has broad discretion in admitting or excluding evidence, and we cannot conclude the court erred unless the court exercised its discretion in an arbitrary, capricious, or patently absurd manner that results in a miscarriage of justice.
(People v. Streeter
(2012)
Here, the defense theory was that Taylor facilitated Chamberlain’s taxing when he told Petrovich there was a child molester in J7 and instructed him to assault Chamberlain. The defense asserted Chamberlain was supposed to have a normal taxing but the deputies’ dereliction of duties resulted in Chamberlain’s death. The defense posited Taylor’s complicity in the taxing was relevant to the mental states necessary for murder. The Attorney General argues Chamberlain’s alleged statements tend to undermine Taylor’s alleged involvement because they show inmates tried to learn why Chamberlain was in custody before Taylor returned to work. We disagree.
We recognize the trial court went to great pains to address the relevancy of Chamberlain’s statements and how they were at issue. On at least three
Chamberlain’s statement to Palacios before the day he was assaulted had no relevance to the issue of whether Taylor was involved. It may have demonstrated Chamberlain was afraid of the inmates, but it does not implicate Taylor. Chamberlain’s statements to Chapluk similarly are not relevant to whether Taylor facilitated the taxing of Chamberlain. The Attorney General claims Chamberlain’s meeting with and statements to Chapluk and Taylor “undermined the defense allegation that . . . Taylor met with Petrovich the day of Chamberlain’s murder.” The fact Chamberlain met with deputies does not tend to establish Taylor did not later facilitate the assault. Even when read in their entirety, Chamberlain’s statements are not relevant to refute the defense’s theory Taylor facilitated the attack and ordered Petrovich to tax Chamberlain. Although they tend to prove Chamberlain was afraid of inmates, the statements do not tend to prove Taylor did not sanction the taxing. That does not end our inquiry, however, as we must determine whether appellants were prejudiced by admission of Chamberlain’s 'statements to Palacios and Chapluk. We conclude they were not.
We review claims the trial court erred in admitting hearsay evidence under the harmless error standard set forth in
People v. Watson
(1956)
Additionally, defense counsel thoroughly cross-examined Chapluk on the contents of the conversation, including that Chapluk claimed he was concerned for Chamberlain’s safety but did not bother to check on him when he returned to the guard station at 6:30 p.m. Defense counsels’ thorough cross-examination refutes appellants’ claim admission of Chamberlain’s statements bolstered Chapluk’s and Taylor’s credibility. Moreover, we are convinced beyond a reasonable doubt Chamberlain’s statements did not improperly bolster their credibility because their credibility was severely damaged by evidence of their improper conduct on the job.
Appellants also argue admission of Chamberlain’s statements was prejudicial because during closing argument the prosecutor suggested the jury could rely on Chamberlain’s statements for the truth of the matter asserted to conclude they were guilty. The trial court properly instructed the jury it could use Chamberlain’s statements only on the issue of Chamberlain’s state of mind and not for their truth. (CALCRIM No. 303.) And the court instructed the jury that if counsel said anything that conflicted with the court’s instructions, the jury must follow the court’s instructions. (CALCRIM No. 200.) We presume jurors are intelligent people “ “capable of understanding instructions and applying them to the facts of the case.” ’ ”
(People v. Carey
(2007)
Thus, based on the strong evidence of appellants’ guilt, it is not reasonably probable the result of the proceeding would have been different had the trial court excluded Chamberlain’s statements.
(People v. Homick
(2012)
Finally, appellants claim admission of Chamberlain’s statements violated their Sixth Amendment confrontation rights. We disagree. Based on the strong evidence of appellants’ guilt, we conclude the error of admitting Chamberlain’s statements was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.
(Homick, supra,
Carlstrom contends the trial court erred in admitting Reilly’s testimony Carlstrom asked him for his paperwork and inmates taxed him when he failed to produce it because the evidence was irrelevant, unduly prejudicial, and impermissible character evidence. He also claims admission of the evidence violated his federal constitutional right to due process and a fair trial. The Attorney General contends Carlstrom forfeited appellate review of all but his relevance claim, the evidence was relevant to his credibility, the evidence was not unduly prejudicial, and admission of the evidence did not violate his federal constitutional right to due process and a fair trial. Carlstrom responds that Evidence Code section 352 is necessarily included in any relevance discussion, and the trial court and counsel discussed Evidence Code section 1101. We agree with Carlstrom the issue is preserved for appellate review and the court erred in admitting the evidence, but we conclude the error was harmless.
Unfortunately, when ruling the evidence was admissible the court’s only justification was “that part is admissible for a variety of reasons.” We recognize this was a very long trial, and the trial judge wanted to keep things moving. But in the future, the court’s legal basis for admitting evidence on the record would be helpful.
The prosecutor asserted two primary theories supporting admission of the evidence—Reilly’s fear and credibility. The prosecutor stated he was relying on Evidence Code section 1101 to some extent but that was not his primary justification. Evidence who asked Reilly for his paperwork was unnecessary to establish his fear. (Riccardi, supra, 54 Cal.4th at pp. 815-816 [evidence relevant if tends to prove disputed fact of consequence to determination of action].) It was sufficient that an inmate asked for his paperwork and he was subsequently taxed. Whether the evidence was relevant to Reilly’s credibility though is a closer question.
“ ‘An explanation of the basis for the witness’s fear is likewise relevant to [his or] her credibility and is well within the discretion of the trial court. [Citations.]’ ”
(People
v.
McKinnon
(2011)
We review claims the trial court erred in admitting evidence under Evidence Code section 352 under
Watson, supra,
C. OCSD Conduct and Policies
Petrovich and, by virtue of their joinder, coappellants, contend the trial court erred in ruling much of the evidence concerning OCSD policies was inadmissible and the court’s rulings denied them due process and a right to a fair trial. We disagree.
In
Nevada
v.
Jackson
(2013)
As a general matter, a defendant has no constitutional right to present all relevant evidence in his favor.
(People v. Gurule
(2002)
To support their contention the trial court’s ruling violated their constitutional right to present a defense, appellants cite to numerous instances where the trial court sustained the prosecutor’s Evidence Code section 402 objections during defense counsels’ examination of Chapluk, Kohler, Vasquez, and Mayfield. Defense counsels’ line of questioning concerned generally, deputies’ use of inmates to control other inmates and whether it was legal, deputies’ violations of OCSD policies, deputies’ dereliction of duties, and deputies’ use of a pepper ball gun to instill fear in inmates. Appellants rely on this proposed testimony to assert the court erred in preventing them from establishing Taylor, Chapluk, and Le created an environment where inmates feared deputies and acted out of fear thus diminishing their culpability because they did not possess the necessary mental intent for second degree murder. We disagree.
First, the trial court’s rulings did not constitute a refusal to allow appellants to present a defense, but merely rejected certain evidence concerning their defense. There was a plethora of evidence on the points appellants now complain the trial court prevented them from exploring.
After Chapluk agreed OCSD did not permit deputies to meet with shot callers, he testified that if deputies had a problem with an inmate they would
Additionally, Kohler testified a deputy’s duties included patrolling the barracks every 30 minutes to prevent inmates from violating rules. Chapluk admitted neither he nor Taylor did floor checks every half hour the day Chamberlain was killed. Le admitted the deputies did not conduct regular floor sweeps but would rather look out the window and say it was secure. Le was instructed to note in the barracks log every 30 minutes that it was secure if nothing major happened. Chapluk said during the day of Chamberlain’s killing Taylor was awake but not doing paperwork or moving around. He also admitted both he and Taylor encouraged inmate behavior that would minimize the writing of reports. Le said deputies would often watch television and movies in the guard station. Finally, Le said deputies encouraged inmates to follow the rules, so the deputies would not have to complete paperwork. From this evidence, the jury could reasonably conclude Taylor, Chapluk, and Le regularly violated OCSD policies and were derelict in their duties. There was certainly evidence the jury could rely on to support appellants’ defenses, had the jury believed them.
However, as we explain above, there was other evidence demonstrating each appellant participated in the taxing because of deeply rooted jail culture where inmates inflict punishment on other inmates based, on among other things, an inmate’s charges. In jail culture, inmates believed to be child molesters are particularly despised and the rules that apply to normal taxings do not apply. Based on all the evidence, the jury could reasonably conclude appellants’ claim they assaulted Chamberlain because they were afraid was highly suspect, based on other evidence they willingly participated in a taxing
Finally, although Petrovich claims the trial court erred in excluding the above mentioned evidence, Petrovich completely fails to explain how each piece of evidence satisfied the ordinary rules of evidence. He recounts Chapluk’s, Kohler’s, Vasquez’s, and Mayfield’s testimony, counsels’ discussions with the court, and the court’s rulings, but he does not address relevancy, foundation, or Evidence Code section 352 et al. To conclude the court prevented appellants from receiving a fair trial, we would first have to conclude the evidence sought to be admitted was admissible in the first instance because a trial court does not have the discretion to admit irrelevant evidence.
(Alexander, supra,
49 Cal.4th at pp. 903-904.) Petrovich has failed to include any reasoned argument concerning how the evidence is admissible under the ordinary rules of evidence.
(People
v.
Stanley
(1995)
Nevertheless, we will discuss a few points that seem particularly relevant to appellants’ claims. First, conduct of deputies other than Taylor, Chapluk, or Le was irrelevant to any issue at trial. Second, defense counsel asked a number of witnesses whether deputy conduct violated California law or OCSD policy. Whether deputies acted in conformity with the law or policy was irrelevant to appellants’ state of mind. Additionally, the questions impermissibly called for an opinion on a legal conclusion.
(People v. Gray
(2005)
D. View of F West Barracks
Guillen and, by virtue of their joinder, coappellants, argue the trial court erred in denying their motion to have the jury view F Barracks because it seriously impacted their ability to accurately describe to the jury how the crime occurred and violated their federal constitutional right to present a defense and for a fair trial. We disagree.
Here, the trial court did not act irrationally or absurdly in denying appellants’ motion to have the jury view F Barracks because there were other available means of testing the witnesses’ veracity. Most importantly, the conditions in F West at the time of trial were not “substantially the same” as when inmates killed Chamberlain. Aguilar escorted Chamberlain to the blind spot in D cube. At trial, the evidence established the privacy walls had been removed, and thus, D cube no longer had a blind spot. The trial court properly relied on this to conclude the jury might be misled by a viewing and thus, the probative value of a viewing was “diminished.”
(People
v.
Williams
(1997)
Additionally, the court properly concluded there were other available means for the jury to assess the witnesses’ veracity. The evidence established there were about 300 photographs of F West, most of which were taken within 24 hours of the incident, and the remainder taken within one week. There were diagrams that accurately depicted F West at the time of Chamberlain’s death. Based on this evidence, the trial court properly concluded the photographs and diagrams were the closest representation of F West’s layout at the time of the incident.
(Lawley, supra,
E. Taylor’s Statements
Guillen and Petrovich and, by virtue of their joinder, coappellants, assert the trial court erred in denying their motion to admit Taylor’s statements to the investigators. Appellants claim there was a “world of difference” between Taylor’s first and second statements, the evidence was relevant for the nonhearsay purpose of Taylor’s state of mind and its exclusion violated their federal due process right to present a defense. We disagree.
“ ‘A hearsay objection to an out-of-court statement may not be overruled simply by identifying a nonhearsay purpose for admitting the statement. The trial court must also find that the nonhearsay purpose is relevant to an issue in dispute.’ [Citation] Similarly, Evidence Code section 1250, which authorizes the admission of out-of-court statements to prove the declarant’s state of mind, permits the admission of such evidence only if the declarant’s state of mind ‘is itself an issue in the action’ or if the evidence ‘is offered to prove or explain acts or conduct of the declarant.’ [Citation.] ‘Relevant evidence is evidence “having any tendency in reason to prove or disprove any disputed fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action.” ’ [Citation.] [f] Evidence that ‘tends “logically, naturally, and by reasonable inference” to establish material facts such as identity, intent, or motive’ is generally admissible. [Citation.]” (Riccardi, supra, 54 Cal.4th at pp. 814—815.) A trial court may exclude relevant evidence under Evidence Code section 352. (Rodrigues, supra, 8 Cal.4th at pp. 1124—1125.)
Before we address the merits of appellants’ claim, we must first determine the disparity between appellants’ and the trial court’s interpretation of Taylor’s two statements. In his first interview, investigators showed Taylor a photograph of Petrovich and Taylor quickly agreed he recognized him. Taylor identified the man as the Woods’ shot caller. Taylor did not identify the man by name.
Although we disagree with the trial court there is “not a world of difference between” what Taylor said in his first interview and what he said in his second interview, neither do we agree with appellants there is a “world of difference” between the two interviews. We conclude the truth lies somewhere in the middle.
In any event, we agree with the trial court Taylor’s statements have little, if any, probative value. Taylor’s statements are of little, if any, probative value on the issue appellants sought to admit the evidence—whether Taylor called Petrovich out of F West and arranged or sanctioned Chamberlain’s taxing, which if true, was relevant to the required mental intent for second degree murder. Based on a complete -reading of Taylor’s statements, we think appellants overstate the significance of Taylor’s statements. Appellants suggest the jury could infer from Taylor’s “contradictory” statements he had a guilty conscience because he (1) called Petrovich out of F West and (2) authorized, or at least, sanctioned the assault on Chamberlain. We conclude it is one too many hoops to jump through to conclude Taylor authorized the attack based on his ambiguous statements. Contrary to Petrovich’s hyperbolic claim the court’s ruling “gut[ted] the defense ability” to prove the plan to tax Chamberlain began with the deputies and not him, the court’s ruling simply excluded one piece of evidence that ultimately was too speculative and not relevant to support his defense. Thus, the court properly concluded Taylor’s statements had no probative value.
We also conclude the trial court properly exercised its discretion and concluded that because Taylor’s statements were of little probative value, it would be an undue consumption of -time to admit the evidence. Appellants complain the court’s ruling on this point was inconsistent with the general length of the trial and duplicative testimony. Appellants complain admission of this evidence would have taken only a couple hours which in comparison to the length of the trial, was insignificant. It is true the trial was long, and based on our complete reading of the record, there was some repetitive testimony. But the court was certainly within its discretion to conclude that where the proffered evidence had no relevance, any time spent would be a waste of judicial resources. Because we have concluded Taylor’s statements were not relevant, we need not address appellants’ claim the court should have admitted Taylor’s statements for a nonhearsay purpose or under Evidence
IV. Jury Instructions
In his opening brief, Villafana argues the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury sua sponte on the lesser included offense of voluntary manslaughter based on a killing committed without malice during an inherently dangerous felony. The Attorney General contends the California Supreme Court’s decision in
Bryant, supra,
Additionally, Villafana and Aguilar argue the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury sua sponte on the lesser included offense of involuntary manslaughter based on a noninherently dangerous felony. Guillen and Carlstrom join in their claim. As we explain below, the trial court was not required to instruct the jury sua sponte on involuntary manslaughter based on a noninherently dangerous felony because there was insufficient evidence supporting that theory.
A. Lesser Included Offense of Voluntary Manslaughter
In
Bryant, supra,
Villafana concedes Bryant is dispositive. The trial court did not err in failing to instruct the jury on the lesser included offense of voluntary manslaughter based on a killing committed without malice during an inherently dangerous felony because it is an incorrect theory of law.
B. Lesser Included Offense of Involuntary Manslaughter
Appellants, less Petrovich, argue the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury sua sponte on the lesser included offense of involuntary manslaughter based on a noninherently dangerous felony, assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury. They argue the record includes evidence from which the jury could reasonably conclude they acted with criminal negligence. We disagree.
“Involuntary manslaughter is manslaughter during ‘the commission of an unlawful act, not amounting to a felony,’ or during ‘the commission of a lawful act which might produce death, in an unlawful manner, or without due caution and circumspection.’ (§ 192, subd. (b).) ‘The offense of involuntary manslaughter requires proof that a human being was killed and that the killing was unlawful. [Citation.] A killing is “unlawful” if it occurs (1) during the commission of a misdemeanor inherently dangerous to human life, or (2) in the commission of an act ordinarily lawful but which involves a high risk of death or bodily harm, and which is done “without due caution or circumspection.” ’ [Citation.]”
(People v. Murray
(2008)
Although the
Bryant
court answered the question whether the trial court was required to instruct the jury sua sponte on voluntary manslaughter, it expressly declined to answer the question whether the court was required to instruct the jury sua sponte on involuntary manslaughter based on a noninherently dangerous felony. The court stated: “We decline to address defendant’s alternative contention that because assault with a deadly weapon is not an inherently dangerous felony, the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury on the theory of involuntary manslaughter recognized in
[People v. Burroughs
(1984)]
The parties spend much time addressing the issue of whether assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury is a noninherently dangerous felony justifying an involuntary manslaughter instruction based on the reasoning in Burroughs and its progeny. But we conclude there is a more basic reason the trial court did not err in failing to instruct the jury sua sponte on involuntary manslaughter based on a noninherently dangerous felony— sufficient evidence did not warrant such an instruction.
“In a criminal case, a trial court must instruct on general principles of law relevant to the issues raised by the evidence, even absent a request for such instruction from the parties. [Citation.] The obligation extends to instruction on lesser included offenses when the evidence raises a question as to whether all the elements of the charged offense were present, but not when there is no evidence that the offense committed was less than that charged. [Citation.] [f] . . . However, the ‘substantial’ evidence required to trigger the duty to instruct on such lesser offenses is not merely
any
evidence ... no matter how weak’ [citation], but rather ‘ “evidence from which a jury composed of reasonable [persons] could . . . conclude[ ]” ’ that the lesser offense, but not the greater, was committed. [Citations.]”
(People
v.
Cruz
(2008)
“The words ‘without due caution and circumspection’ refer to criminal negligence—unintentional conduct which is gross or reckless, amounting to a disregard of human life or an indifference to the consequences.
(People v. Penny
(1955)
Here, the record is devoid of evidence from which a reasonable jury could conclude appellants were guilty of involuntary manslaughter on the theory they were criminally negligent. The evidence detailed above demonstrates each appellant committed an act endangering Chamberlain’s life, i.e., each appellant participated in the assault by hitting, kicking, or stomping Chamberlain. Additionally, there was evidence each appellant realized the
V. Unanimous Verdict
Carlstrom and Villafana and, by virtue of their joinder, coappellants, contend the trial court deprived them of their right to a unanimous verdict. The Attorney General responds appellants invited the error and forfeited their claim, there was no error, and any error was harmless. As we explain below, we conclude the issue was preserved for appellate view, but there was no prejudicial error.
A. Invited Error and Forfeiture
The Attorney General argues appellants invited the error and forfeited this claim because Guillen’s counsel suggested the alternate juror be provided with the information the jury requested and all counsel agreed. We disagree.
“The right to a unanimous verdict is constitutional in nature and must be
personally
waived by the defendant. ‘A jury may be waived in a criminal cause by the consent of both parties expressed in open court
by the defendant and
the defendant’s counsel.’ [Citation.] ‘A waiver of the right to a jury trial requires an express waiver
by the defendant
in open court. [Citation.] “Waiver by counsel is not sufficient . . . .” [Citation.]’ [Citation.] ‘[C]onsent to a jury of .fewer than 12 persons must be expressed by the defendant in open court. [Citations.]’ [Citation.]”
(People v. Garcia
(2012)
Here, the trial court did not obtain each appellant’s
personal
consent. Additionally, a substantial right of appellants is implicated.
(People v. Renteria
(2001)
B. Unanimous Verdict
In
People v. Collins
(1976)
Collins
construed section 1089, which provides for substitution of alternate jurors, to require “that deliberations begin anew when a substitution is made after final submission to the jury. This will insure that each of the 12 jurors reaching the verdict has fully participated in the deliberations, just as each had observed and heard all proceedings in the case.”
(Collins, supra,
In
People
v.
Odle
(1988)
Here, based on a complete reading of the trial court’s statements, we conclude the court improperly implied the jury should not disregard previous deliberations. After the court clerk swore in the alternate juror, the court stated it had received the jury’s request for readback of testimony. But those requests were from the original jury. By having the testimony read back, the court answered the original jury’s request despite the fact one juror was excused and the alternate juror did not participate in the deliberations that led to the requests. Although the court then instructed the jury with the proper instruction, CALCRIM No. 3575, which included the directive the alternate juror must fully participate in the deliberations, the court’s prior statements, like in Odie, implied the jury should not disregard previous deliberations but should instead attempt to bring the alternate juror “up to speed” on the matters already discussed and possibly decided based on the requests the original jury submitted to the trial court.
Although we are not presented with the identical situation the
Odie
court faced where the trial court expressly stated the new jury should have the “full benefit of everything that has gone,on ... up to the present time,” the court’s ruling allowing the readback of testimony the original jury requested had the same effect because it suggested to the jury it resume deliberations where the original jury left off.
(Odle, supra,
C. Prejudice
We review the error under the prejudicial error test set forth in
Watson, supra,
In Proctor, supra, 4 Cal.4th at page 536, the jury retired to deliberate and, after less than one hour, recessed for the day. The following morning, before further deliberation, a juror called in ill and an alternate juror was chosen. The trial court advised the jury to resume deliberations, “stating it ‘would be helpful and in connection with commencing your deliberations again, that you kind of start, start from scratch, so to speak, so that [the alternate] has the benefit of your thinking as well as give him an opportunity for his input also.’ ” (Id. at p. 536.) The jury returned a verdict two and one-half days later. (Ibid.) The Proctor court found a lack of prejudicial error, citing the strong evidence against defendant, and the short amount of time the jury deliberated before the substitution and the lengthy deliberations after the substitution. (Id. at pp. 537-538.)
In
Renteria, supra,
We disagree with appellants’ argument this case is more like
Martinez
and instead conclude it is more like
Proctor.
First, this was not a close case on the issue of second degree murder as to each appellant. As we explain above, there was strong evidence supporting their second degree murder convictions under all three theories of second degree murder. Second, like
Proctor
the duration of deliberations
prior to
substitution of the alternate juror was minimal compared to deliberations
after
substitution of the alternate juror. It is true that in
Martinez
there were lengthy deliberations after the substitution and the court concluded the amount of time before substitution of the alternate “was sufficient time to formulate the danger that is likely without the proper instruction.”
(Martinez, supra,
Finally, we think it important the newly constituted jury deliberated for nine days and was unable to reach unanimous verdicts as to each appellant on the issue of first degree murder. The jury foreperson indicated the jury had not voted on second degree murder as to any of the appellants. It was not until the court removed first degree murder from the jury’s consideration that it was able to deliver guilty verdicts on second degree murder. Thus, appellants’ claim they were denied the right to a unanimous verdict is meritless because it is not reasonably probable the outcome of the trial would have been different had the trial court not answered the original jury’s requests.
VI. Fines
Aguilar and Petrovich argue the trial court erred when it imposed $240 restitution fines when it intended to impose $200 restitution fines. The Attorney General concedes the error.
Section 1202.4, subdivision (a), states that when a person is convicted of a crime, the trial court must order a defendant to pay a restitution
The trial court imposed a $200 restitution fine on Guillen pursuant to section 1202.4, subdivision (b)(1). The court did not impose a parole revocation fine because Guillen will be on parole for fife. The court later sentenced both Petrovich and Aguilar and imposed $240 restitution and parole revocation fines. Their abstracts of judgment correctly reflect the trial court’s imposition of fines in the amount of $240. Two months later, the court sentenced Carlstrom. In imposing the restitution fines, the court stated: “[Carlstrom] is ordered to pay a state restitution fine in the amount of $200. I’m going to impose a minimum fine in this case. I think all of these defendants are going to be treated equally. My recollection is each defendant received a $200 restitution fine. And that’s under [section] 1202.4[, subdivision] (b)(1).” The court also imposed a $200 parole revocation fine. The following month, the court sentenced Villafana and also imposed $200 restitution and parole revocation fines. In doing so, the trial court said, “Pursuant to . . . section 1202.4[, subdivision] (b)(1), the court imposes a restitution fine, and I’m going to give the same restitution fine here that I did in the other cases. And my recollection is I imposed a minimum restitution fine of $200.”
Although it was within the trial court’s discretion to impose higher restitution and parole revocation fines when sentencing Aguilar and Petrovich, the court’s statements at Carlstrom’s and Villafana’s sentencing hearings are inconsistent with the fines imposed. Because it appears the trial court intended to impose the same fines on each appellant, $200, we modify Aguilar’s and Petrovich’s restitution and parole revocation fines in the amount of $200.
(People v. Smith
(2001)
VII. Cumulative Error
Appellants argue the cumulative effect of the errors requires reversal. We conclude there were two evidentiary errors and the error concerning the court’s statements on the requirement of unanimity. However, we conclude appellants were not prejudiced by the cumulativé impact of the errors because as we explain above there was strong evidence of appellants’ guilt of second
DISPOSITION
We modify the judgments as follows: Aguilar’s and Petrovich’s restitution and parole revocation fines are modified in the amount of $200. The clerk of the superior court is directed to prepare the amended abstract of judgments consistent with this opinion and forward them to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Division of Adult Operations. As modified, the judgments are affirmed.
Rylaarsdam, J., and Fybel, J., concurred.
A petition for a rehearing was denied August 14, 2014, and appellants’ petitions for review by the Supreme Court were denied October 15, 2014, S220485.