THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. BARRETT MILES PITMON, Defendant and Appellant.
Crim. No. 13408
Third Dist.
July 15, 1985
170 Cal. App. 3d 38
[Opinion certified for partial publication.†]
COUNSEL
Jon Paul Lippsmeyer, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant.
John K. Van de Kamp, Attorney General, and Garrick W. Chock, Deputy Attorney General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
OPINION
ROBIE, J.*—Defendant was charged with kidnaping (
A jury convicted defendant on all counts and found true the allegations in counts III through VII that the child was under the age of 11. In a bifurcated phase of trial, in which the defendant waived his rights to a jury, the court found true the allegations pertaining to the five prior convictions.
Defendant was sentenced to an aggregate term of fifty-one years—consecutive six-year middle terms on counts I, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII pursuant to
On appeal, defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence, the adequacy of jury instructions, and the validity of his sentence. We shall affirm the convictions and remand for resentencing.3
FACTS
In the early afternoon of Sunday, July 24, 1983, eight-year-old Ronald P. went to David Lubin School, located two blocks from his home. At the schoolyard, Ronald saw defendant sitting on a bench and signaling for him to come over. When Ronald approached, defendant asked Ronald to sit down beside him on the bench. Defendant told Ronald he “looked like the kind of person to rub his balls.” Defendant grabbed Ronald‘s hand, placed it on his own genitals, and rubbed himself with Ronald‘s hand. Thereafter, defendant pulled Ronald by the hand to an area outside the school staff lounge. He removed Ronald‘s penis from his shorts and orally copulated
Knowing that a security guard was present at Sacred Heart School, Ronald directed defendant to the school as a good place to continue the acts. Ronald told defendant he first had to go home but that he would meet him there. After Ronald told his mother of the molestations, the two went to Sacred Heart School where Ronald‘s mother informed the security guard what had happened. Defendant was detained until Officer Jeffrey Gibson of the Sacramento Police Department arrived at the scene to interview Ronald. Ronald informed Officer Gibson defendant had forced him to engage in the sex acts and that he had tried to get away once, but that defendant grabbed and held him.
DISCUSSION
I*
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II
Defendant also contends his sentence was excessive because there was insufficient evidence to support a finding of “force, violence, duress, menace, or threat of great bodily harm” to justify the use of the full and consecutive sentencing provision of
“To determine whether a decision should be given retroactive effect, the California courts first undertake a threshold inquiry: does the decision establish a new rule of law? If it does, the new rule may or may not be retroactive, . . . but if it does not, ‘no question of retroactivity arises’ because there is no material change in the law. [Citations.]” (People v. Guerra (1984) 37 Cal.3d 385, 399 [208 Cal.Rptr. 162, 690 P.2d 635].) “Neither is there any issue of retroactivity when we resolve a conflict between lower court decisions, or address an issue not previously presented to the courts. In all such cases the ordinary assumption of retrospective operation [citations] takes full effect.” (Donaldson v. Superior Court (1983) 35 Cal.3d 24, 36-37 [196 Cal.Rptr. 704, 672 P.2d 110].)
If a decision establishes a new rule contrary to one already in existence the retroactive effect of that decision is determined by application of the test derived from Stovall v. Denno (1967) 388 U.S. 293 [18 L.Ed.2d 1199, 87 S.Ct. 1967]. (People v. Guerra, supra, 37 Cal.3d at p. 401.) Since Cicero established a definition for force different from that which was commonly understood, application of the Stovall test is appropriate.
“Under [that] test, the court considers three factors: ‘(a) the purpose to be served by the new standards, (b) the extent of reliance by law enforcement authorities on the old standards, and (c) the effect on the administration of justice of retroactive application of the new standards.’ [Citations.]” (People v. Garcia (1984) 36 Cal.3d 539, 548 [205 Cal. Rptr. 265, 684 P.2d 826].) The factors, however, are not of equal weight. When the purpose of the new standard clearly favors retroactivity or prospectivity, it will be
“Perhaps the most consistent application of this principle has been in cases in which the primary purpose of the new rule is to promote reliable determinations of guilt or innocence. The United States Supreme Court has aptly characterized its operation in that event: ‘Where the major purpose of new constitutional doctrine is to overcome an aspect of the criminal trial that substantially impairs its truth-finding function and so raises serious questions about the accuracy of guilty verdicts in past trials, the new rule has been given complete retroactive effect. . . .’ (Fn. omitted.) (Williams v. United States (1971) 401 U.S. 646, 653 [28 L.Ed.2d 388, 395, 91 S.Ct. 1148].)” (Ibid.)
The purpose underlying our decision in Cicero was to establish a standard for determining the existence of force in
In the present case, defendant concedes the evidence is sufficient to support findings of lewd and lascivious conduct on counts I and III through IX. He argues, however, that Ronald‘s admission of lack of force, duress, or threat of harm precludes any rational finding that force or duress was used in the commission of his crimes. That position is based on the following colloquy:
“[The court]: Did this man ever use any force on you?
“[Ronald]: No.
“[The court]: Did he ever use any violence on you?
“[Ronald]: No.
“[The court]: Do you know what duress or menace mean?
“[Ronald]: No.
“[The court]: That‘s sort of a threat—
“[Ronald]: No.
“[The court]: —to do harm to you?
“[Ronald]: No.
“[The court]: He never did—
“[Ronald]: No.
“[The court]: —exercise any duress or threats?
“[Ronald]: Huh-uh (negatively).
“[The court]: Did he ever threaten to hurt you?
“[Ronald]: No.”
We seriously doubt Ronald understood the questions asked. Throughout his testimony at the trial, Ronald had consistently stated defendant had “made” him engage in the prohibited sex acts.
There can be little doubt that defendant‘s manipulation of Ronald‘s hand as a tool to rub his genitals was a use of physical force beyond that necessary to accomplish the lewd act. The facts show defendant had hold of Ronald‘s hand throughout this act. Further, the record reveals that in those instances in which Ronald orally copulated defendant, defendant slightly pushed Ronald‘s back during each performance of that act. Again this displayed a use of physical force that was not necessary for the commission of the lewd acts.
Although the record does not disclose the use of physical force by defendant in those instances in which he orally copulated Ronald, the force associated with the commission of defendant‘s other acts and all the circumstances surrounding them are sufficient to show defendant accomplished all the acts charged by means of duress.5 As previously noted, convictions of
Duress, as an element of a criminal offense has not been previously given legal definition.
First, the purpose served by the concept of “duress” as a defense is manifestly different from that served by inclusion of the term as an element of a sex offense against minors. In
It is a well recognized rule of statutory construction that after the courts have construed the meaning of a word in a statute, and the Legislature undertakes to use the exact word in the same context, the presumption is almost irresistible that it meant the same thing. (See id., at pp. 475-476.) However, where, as here, the purposes of the statutes are different, the rule is inapplicable. Rather, where a word of common usage has more than one meaning, the meaning which will best attain the purposes of the statute under consideration should be adopted. (Sierra Club v. City of Hayward (1981) 28 Cal.3d 840, 860, fn. 12 [171 Cal.Rptr. 619, 623 P.2d 180]; People ex rel. S.F. Bay etc. Com. v. Town of Emeryville (1968) 69 Cal.2d 533, 543-544 [72 Cal.Rptr. 790, 446 P.2d 790].)6
A second problem with borrowing the definition of “duress” from its defense context, so as to require a showing the victim acted out of fear of imminent death or great bodily harm, is the result violates another fundamental canon of statutory construction. Thus, in People v. Cicero, supra, we followed People v. Black (1982) 32 Cal.3d 1 [184 Cal.Rptr. 454, 648 P.2d 104] and interpreted the same statute—subdivision (b) of
A person may be found guilty of violating
We believe “duress” is properly defined by resort to one of the most fundamental canons of statutory construction: courts are bound to give effect to statutes according to the usual, ordinary import of the language used. (California Teachers Assn. v. San Diego Community College Dist. (1981) 28 Cal.3d 692, 698 [170 Cal. Rptr. 817, 621 P.2d 856].) The commonly understood meaning of duress, as defined in Webster‘s Third New International Dictionary (1961) page 703, proves helpful in this regard.8
Taking in part from that definition, we find duress as used in the context of
Here, Ronald testified that defendant grabbed his hand and forced him to rub defendant‘s genitals, pulled him away from the bench and made him engage in a series of obscene acts, slightly pushed him on the back during those instances he copulated defendant and restrained him when he tried to escape. Viewing defendant‘s physical control over Ronald from the perspective of a normal, average eight-year-old, we have little difficulty in finding defendant‘s actions constituted an implied threat of force, violence, hardship or retribution which prompted Ronald against his will to participate in the sexual acts.
We conclude defendant accomplished his lewd acts by means of duress. Accordingly, the evidence is sufficient to support each of the convictions under
III
Defendant also maintains the court erred by failing to instruct sua sponte upon what constitutes the “essential elements” of
Since only the terms force and duress are applicable to the facts of this case, we need only determine whether those words have specialized legal meaning. We first look at the broader term of duress.
It is clear that the definition of duress we have adopted from Webster‘s Dictionary has no technical meaning. Since duress can be commonly understood, the court was not required sua sponte to instruct as to its meaning. (Cf. People v. Anderson (1966) 64 Cal.2d 633, 639-640 [51 Cal.Rptr. 238, 414 P.2d 366].)
However, as we have previously determined in Cicero, force, as used in
We now determine whether such error requires reversal. The California Supreme Court in People v. Garcia, supra, 36 Cal.3d 539 recently declared instructional errors which deny a defendant his right to have the jury decide each element of a charged offense are necessarily reversible error unless certain exceptions are met.12 (Id., at p. 550.) The defendant in
The present case is distinguishable from Garcia and other cases which require application of the “reversible per se” rule. Here, the jury had been instructed as to the elements which must be proved for a conviction under
A finding of force is clearly not necessary for a conviction under
Under the facts of this case, we find omission of an instruction on the Cicero definition of force to be harmless error. In applying the Cicero definition to the facts, we found defendant used force when engaging Ronald in an act of masturbation and in those instances in which Ronald copulated him. Furthermore, the facts show defendant placed Ronald under duress during the commission of the charged offenses. On the record before us, it cannot be determined whether the jury found defendant applied either force, duress, or both means in the commission of the
However, since that provision does not fall within the category of statutes that can be violated by any one of several acts (Cf. People v. Scofield (1928) 203 Cal.703, 709-711 [265 P. 914]; People v. Dutra (1946) 75 Cal.App.2d 311, 321-322 [171 P.2d 41]), the jury need not agree on the specific basis by which a unanimous verdict is reached. (People v. Milan (1973) 9 Cal.3d 185, 194-195 [107 Cal. Rptr. 68, 507 P.2d 956]; People v. Failla, supra, 64 Cal.2d at pp. 567-568; People v. Nicholas (1980) 112 Cal.App.3d 249, 273 [169 Cal.Rptr. 497].) The jurors only must agree that defendant‘s conduct constitutes a violation of
As noted, the facts in this case are sufficient to support the jury‘s unanimous finding that defendant was guilty of the charged offenses. Given the circumstances of the situation, the age of Ronald, and the amount of force used during the series of sex offenses, the jury
IV*
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VI
Defendant asserts as error the court‘s failure to state its reasons for imposing full, separate, and consecutive sentences under
In People v. Belmontes (1983) 34 Cal.3d 335 [193 Cal.Rptr. 882, 667 P.2d 686], the Supreme Court held that “[i]n deciding whether to sentence consecutively or concurrently, and if consecutively, whether to do so under
Consequently, the case must be remanded for resentencing. (Cf. People v. Le (1984) 154 Cal.App.3d 1, 9 [200 Cal. Rptr. 839]; People v. Reeder, supra, 152 Cal. App.3d at p. 912.) If the trial court should decide that an application of
DISPOSITION
The convictions are affirmed. Sentence is vacated and the case is remanded to the trial court for resentencing in accordance with this opinion.
Puglia, P. J., concurred.
SIMS, J.—I concur in all aspects of the majority opinion except for its analysis, in part III, of why the failure to instruct on “force” was harmless error.
I think the instructional error is per se reversible subject to specified exceptions. (People v. Ramos (1984) 37 Cal.3d 136, 146 [207 Cal.Rptr. 800, 689 P.2d 430]; People v. Garcia (1984) 36 Cal.3d 539, 554-555 [205 Cal.Rptr. 265, 684 P.2d 826].) One of the exceptions is where evidence, substantial as a matter of law, shows the matter omitted in the instruction and there is no contrary evidence worthy of consideration. (People v. Ramos, supra, 37 Cal.3d at p. 147; see People v. Thornton (1974) 11 Cal.3d 738, 768, fn. 20 [114 Cal.Rptr. 467, 523 P.2d 267]; People v. Cantrell (1973) 8 Cal.3d 672, 685 [105 Cal.Rptr. 792, 504 P.2d 1256].) Here, the victim‘s testimony established the requisite force and duress by evidence substantial as a matter of law. Defendant‘s defense was absolute denial, i.e., he testified he did not touch the victim at all. The jury clearly rejected that defense. In these circumstances, there is no evidence in the record worthy of consideration suggesting defendant did not use the requisite force or duress, and the instructional error is harmless. (People v. Thornton, supra, 11 Cal.3d at p. 768, fn. 20; see People v. Caldwell (1984) 36 Cal.3d 210, 224 [203 Cal.Rptr. 433, 681 P.2d 274].)
On August 7, 1985, the opinion was modified to read as printed above. Appellant‘s petition for review by the Supreme Court was denied October 3, 1985. Kaus, J., and Broussard, J., were of the opinion that the petition should be granted.
