THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. SHERMAN REDD, Defendant and Appellant.
No. F065225
Court of Appeal, Fifth District, California
July 28, 2014
228 Cal. App. 4th 449
Daniel G. Koryn, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Michael P. Farrell, Assistant Attorney General, Catherine Chatman and Larenda R. Delaini, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
Opinion
KANE, J.—A jury found prison inmate Sherman Redd guilty of conspiracy to commit the crime of communicating with a prisoner without permission (
On appeal, Redd contends there was insufficient evidence to support either of the conspiracy convictions. He further contends thе conviction for conspiracy to pervert or obstruct justice must be reversed because the alleged conspiracy was a “non-crime.”
We agree there was insufficient evidence to support the conviction for conspiracy to pervert or obstruct justice based on attempting to bring tobacco into a state prison. We reverse the conviction for count 2 and affirm in all other respects.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On September 9, 2011, Avenal State Prison received an anonymous tip that a cook was going to smuggle in cell phones and narcotics for an inmate the next day. On September 10, 2011, prison cook Alcadio Cornil was stopped as
On September 12, 2011, the District Attorney of Kings County filed a six-count criminal complaint against Redd and Cornil. Cornil and the district attorney reached a plea agreement and, in November 2011, Cornil entered a guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to communicate with a prisoner without permission (
Subsequently, a three-count amended information was filed against Redd only. In count 1, Redd was charged with conspiring to commit the crime of communicating with any state prison inmate or bringing into a state prison any letter, writing, literature, or reading matter to any prisoner without permission (
“[(1)] Prior to September 8, 2011, . . . Redd asked Alcadio Cornil to furnish him with cell phones.
“[(2)] On September 8, 2011, Alcadio Cornil met an unknown co-conspirator at the Kettleman City McDonald‘s to pick up cell phones.
“[(3)] On September 8, 2011, Alcadio Cornil received $1200 from this unknown co-conspirator . . . as payment to smuggle the cell phones into Avenal State Prison.
“[(4)] On September 10, 2011, Alcadio Cornil entered the grounds of Avenal State Prison with 4 cell phones, 4 cell phone chargers, and one micro SD adapter concealed on his person and within his personal belongings.”
In count 2, Redd was charged with conspiring to pervert and obstruct justice, and the due administration of the laws, to wit, possession of tobacco by a state prison inmate (
“[(1)] Prior to September 10, 2011, . . . Redd asked Alcadio Cornil to furnish him with tobacco.
“[(2)] On September 10, 2011, Alcadio Cornil entered the grounds of Avenal State Prison with .19 pounds of tobacco, concealed on his person and packaged in two separate cellophane wrapped bindles.”
“[(3)] On September 10, 2011, Alcadio Cornil intended to deliver the tobacco to . . . Redd while he worked with . . . Redd in a kitchen located at Avenal State Prison.”
In count 3, it was alleged that, on or about September 10, 2011, Redd unlawfully gave or offered to a state employee a bribe valued at greater than $950 (
A jury trial began on May 8, 2012.
Robert Amaro is a correctional sergeant at Avenal State Prison assigned to the investigative services unit (ISU). He testified that on Friday, September 9, 2011, he received a telephone call from an unidentified woman. The caller reported that, earlier that day, the cook who worked in facility 5 (Facility 5) during the morning shift on Fridays and Saturdays brought in cell phones and narcotics and delivered them to a Black inmate called “Sherm.” She also told Amaro that the cook would be bringing in more cell phones and narcotics on Saturday. Amaro asked the caller her name and how she knew this information, but she declined to identify herself or explain how she knew about the alleged smuggling activity.
Amaro looked up the 20 inmates who worked in the Facility 5 kitchen during that day‘s morning shift and noticed Redd because his first name was Sherman. Amaro then identified Cornil as the cook who worked that day‘s morning shift and who generally worked the morning shift on Fridays and Saturdays at Facility 5.
Around 3:30 a.m. the next day, Amaro and his supervisor, Lieutenant Robert Reifschneider, met Cornil at the front entrance of the prison. Amaro identified himself as the investigative sergeant, and Cornil “became visibly shaken, literally shaking.” Amaro and Reifschneider escorted Cornil to an office, and Amaro told Cornil they had reason to believe he was attempting to introduce cell phones and narcotics into the prison. Cornil immediately responded, “‘I give up. I surrender,‘” and placed his personal cell phone on the table.
Amaro asked Cornil to empty his pockets. From his pants pockets, Cornil removed two cellophane-wrapped bindles—each containing two cell phones—and two “tennis ball sized” cellophane-wrapped bindles that contained tobacco. From his lunch bag, Cornil produced four cell phone chargers, two earbuds, four cables for the cell phone chargers, an HDMI cable,
Amaro advised Cornil of his Miranda3 rights, and Amaro and Reifschneider conducted a recorded interview with Cornil. A redacted recording of the interview was played for the jury, and a transcript of the interview was provided to the jury and is part of the record on appeal.
In the interview, Cornil acknowledged that when he had been taken aside for an inspection of his belongings, he said he wanted to surrender. Cornil told the officers the cell phones, chargers, and tobacco were intended to be delivered to Redd, an inmate who worked in the Facility 5 kitchen. Cornil said that on the previous day he delivered a screen to Redd. Asked if anybody was working with Redd, Cornil responded, “I have no idea. I just, he‘s just the one I talked to.” Cornil explained that Redd sent someone to Kettleman City the previous Thursday to meet with Cornil at McDonald‘s. Cornil described the person as a Black man. The man said Redd sent him and gave Cornil a plastic bag. The man also gave Cornil $1,200 in cash, $300 for each cell phone.
Amaro searched Cornil‘s car and did not find anything that linked Redd to Cornil. Amaro also had a сorrectional officer confiscate Redd‘s property from his assigned bunk area and locker. No pay/owe sheets were found in Redd‘s confiscated property.
Amaro testified that inmates are not allowed to possess tobacco or cell phones under the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation‘s regulations. He thought the “going rate” (that is, the amount an inmate would pay in prison) for a standard cell phone without Internet access was about $300 or $400. The phones confiscated from Cornil had Internet capability, and Amaro opined that each one could be worth оver $1,000 in prison.
On cross-examination, Amaro agreed that this case was the first time he had testified in court about tobacco or cell phones. He had testified in administrative hearings about tobacco.
Cornil was called as a witness by the People, but he did not want to testify and stated he just wanted to “do [his] time and go home.” His response to
Michael Gonzales was a culinary officer in the Facility 5 kitchen in September 2011. His duties were to process inmates into work and supervise them. He supervised Redd, who worked as a recycle technician, dumping trash. Gonzales testified that he heard other inmates call Redd “Sherm,” a nickname, short for Sherman. Gonzales also worked with Cornil, who worked as a correctional supervising cook. Gonzales never saw Redd and Cornil speak to each other.
Correctional officer Earl Parks, who worked in the ISU, examined Redd‘s confiscated property. He found an envelope addressed to Redd that contained two micro SD cards, one card had a one-gigabyte capacity and the other had an eight-gigabyte capacity. Parks explained that smart phones are “basically small computers” and an SD card is a storage device that can be used with a smart phone. When an SD card is placed in a smart phone and formatted for that phone, files are created on the сard.
Parks conducted a forensic examination of the two micro SD cards found in Redd‘s property. The cards were formatted and associated with a cell phone number; both cards were associated with the same cell phone number. The service provider for that number was Verizon, and the name on the account was Annabelle Sauni. Sauni‘s husband was an Avenal State Prison inmate and, in September 2011, he was housed in the same housing unit as Redd. The micro SD cards also were associated with an email address, Bluesherm137@aol.com. The cards contained movies, videos, and photographs, including photogrаphs of Redd.
In addition, Parks examined the cell phones that were found with Cornil on September 10, 2011. One of the phones, a Droid 3 smart phone, had a micro SD card, which Parks analyzed. The card contained movies, a refinance agreement for a loan, and financial documents. It also contained photographs, including photos of a woman and an Avenal State Prison inmate that had been taken in the prison visiting room. The inmate in the photos was Kevin Murphy, who was housed in the same housing unit as Redd in September 2011.
Parks subpoenaed from Verizon the cell phone records for Sauni. Sauni‘s Verizon account was associated with seven different cell phone numbers, including the cell phone number associated with Redd‘s micro SD cards. Among Sauni‘s other telephone numbers were the numbers for Luxy and Simon from Cornil‘s contacts. It also appeared that the cell phone number associated with Redd‘s two micro SD cards had logged calls and texts from two women who were listed as Redd‘s visitors.
On cross-examination, Parks testified that he found, among Redd‘s confiscated things, рaper with handwritten numbers, letters, and names, which appeared to be related to fantasy football. There were lists of “RB,” “WR,” and “TE,” likely referring to running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends, along with names, such as Johnson and Moss, and abbreviations such as “Ten” and “Was,” presumably referring to players and teams respectively.
Correctional officer Todd Denham testified about an incident that occurred on June 22, 2008. During the 12:45 a.m. count, he observed Redd sleeping on his bunk. Denham saw a light coming from Redd‘s stomach and realized it was a cell phone. Denham confiscated the phone, a Samsung Verizon flip phone.
On May 15, 2012, the jury begаn deliberating, and Redd brought a motion pursuant to section 1118.1. With respect to count 1, his attorney argued that mere possession of cell phones was not communication; it was a means of communication. With respect to count 2, he asserted that
The same day, Redd admitted he had one prior strike conviction. The People moved to strike the second allegation of a prior strike conviction duе to insufficient evidence, and the trial court granted the motion. The jury reached a verdict on counts 1 and 2, finding Redd guilty of both counts, but deadlocked on count 3. The court declared a mistrial as to count 3.
On June 19, 2012, the trial court held a sentencing hearing. The court denied Redd‘s section 1118.1 motion. The People moved to dismiss count 3 in the interest of justice, and the court dismissed the count as requested. The court sentenced Redd to six years (upper term of three years, doubled) for count 1 and one year four months (one-third the middle term of two years,
DISCUSSION
Redd contends the evidence was insufficient to prove either of his conspiracy convictions. For count 2, he argues that bringing tobacco into a state prison and possession of tobacco by an inmate do not constitute obstruction of justice.
I. Standard of review
In deciding a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, we “examine the whole record in the light most favorable to the judgment to determine whether it discloses substantial evidence—evidence that is reasonable, credible and of solid value—such that a reasonable trier of fаct could find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.” (People v. Kraft (2000) 23 Cal.4th 978, 1053 [99 Cal.Rptr.2d 1, 5 P.3d 68].) We “presume[] in support of the judgment the existence of every fact the trier could reasonably deduce from the evidence. [Citations.] The same standard applies when the conviction rests primarily on circumstantial evidence. [Citation.]” (Ibid.)
To the extent Redd‘s contention requires us to interpret a statute and determine its applicability to a given set of facts, these are questions of law, which we decide independently. (People v. Superior Court (Martinez) (2014) 225 Cal.App.4th 979, 990 [170 Cal.Rptr.3d 763].)
II. Count 1—conspiracy to violate section 4570
“Pursuant to
In count 1, Redd was convicted of conspiracy to violate
Redd asserts that the language of
In this case, the jury was instructed on
“The elements of a violation of unauthorized communication with a state prison inmate are defined as follows:
“1[.] Any person who willfully, without permission of the warden, communicates with a prisoner who was committed to and confined in a California State Prison.
“OR
“2[.] A person willfully brought or assisted in bringing into a California State Prison or onto the grounds thereof or take therefrom, any letter, writing, literature or reading matter to or from any prisoner.
“Communication means actual communication with an inmate, but does not specify the means by which communication occurs[.]”
Thus, assuming without deciding that Redd is correct and providing a means of facilitating communication, by itself, is not a violation of
Redd acknowledges that he “could nevertheless be convicted of conspiring to violate Penal Code section 4570 if there was substantial evidence that the objective of thе conspiracy was not merely to provide cell phones to an inmate but to use the cell phones to communicate with an inmate.” He argues, however, “the evidence showed the cell phones were ‘most likely provided to sell’ or used for ‘fantasy football,’ rather than to facilitate
Redd next claims there was insufficient evidence of a conspiracy beсause there was no evidence that Cornil intended that the cell phones be used for unauthorized communication with any inmate. He asserts: “[V]iewed in the light most favorable to the prosecution, the evidence shows only that Cornil agreed to deliver the cell phones into the prison. It does not show that he had any knowledge as to his reason for doing so or that he had any intent to achieve any objective beyond the mere delivery of the items.” We disagree. Cornil testified that he pled guilty to conspiracy to communicate with any prisoner. A guilty plea is “a judicial admission of every element of the offense charged.” (People v. Chadd (1981) 28 Cal.3d 739, 748 [170 Cal.Rptr. 798, 621 P.2d 837].) Given that the jury was informed of Cornil‘s guilty plea, it cannot be said there was no evidence of his intent to commit the crime of unauthorized communication with any prisoner.
Under
In count 2, Redd was convicted of conspiracy to pervert or obstruct justice based on the allegations that Redd asked Cornil to bring him tobacco and Cornil subsequently entered the prison with tobacco wrapped in cellophane, intending to deliver it to Redd. Redd contends that сount 2 was “unfounded as it misapplied and improperly criminalized possession of tobacco by a state prison inmate.”6 Essentially, Redd‘s argument is that bringing tobacco into a state prison does not pervert or obstruct justice or the due administration of the laws.
In 1950, the California Supreme Court explained the meaning of an act that perverts or obstructs justice, or the due administration of the laws:
“Generally speaking, conduct which constitutes an offense against public justice, or the administration of law includes both malfeasance and nonfeasance by an officer in connection with the administration оf his public duties, and also anything done by a person in hindering or obstructing an officer in the performance of his official obligations. Such an offense was recognized at common law and generally punishable as a misdemeanor. Now, quite generally, it has been made a statutory crime and, under some circumstances, a felony. [Citation.]
“In California, the statutes relating to ‘Crimes Against Public Justice’ are found in part I, title [7], of the Penal Code. Bribery, escapes, rescues, perjury, falsifying evidence, and other acts which would have been considered offenses against the administration of justice at common law are made criminal by legislative enactment. Section 182, subdivision 5,7 is a more general section making punishable a conspiracy to commit any offense against public justice. The meaning of the words ‘to pervert or obstruct
justice, or the due administration of the laws’ is easily ascertained by reference either to the common law or to the more specific crimes enumerated in part I, title [7]. A conspiracy with or among public officials not to perform their official duty to enforce criminal laws is an obstruction of justice and an indictable offense at common law. [Citation.] In the same categоry is a conspiracy to obtain the release of a person charged with a felony by presenting a worthless and void bail bond. Such a conspiracy has been held to be a perversion of the due administration of the law, and an offense within the meaning of subdivision [(a)]5 of section 182 of the Penal Code. [Citation.]” (Lorenson v. Superior Court (1950) 35 Cal.2d 49, 59-60 [216 P.2d 859], italics added (Lorenson).)
In Lorenson, the defendant was a police captain in the Los Angeles Police Department indicted for conspiracy to commit robbery, to commit assault with a deadly weapon, and to pervert or obstruct justice. (Lorenson, supra, 35 Cal.2d at pp. 50-51.) In rejecting a claim of insufficient evidence to support the indictment, the cоurt concluded that one could infer from the evidence that there was agreement among the defendant, other members of the police department, and criminal associates of Mickey Cohen to assault and rob the victim, Pearson. The court further noted that there was evidence from which one could infer that the defendant and other police officers “were to furnish protection to the participants in the conspiracy by refusing to disclose the identity of Pearson‘s attackers, if they were arrested, and to effect their release from custody.” (Id. at p. 57.) After the robbery and assault, Cohen‘s associates were arrested (apparently by officers not involved in the conspiracy), but they were immediately released from the police station before Pearson could arrive to identify any of them, and the arresting officers were instructed not to talk about the incident. (Id. at p. 54.) Lorenson is an example of “[a] conspiracy with or among public officials not to perform their official duty to enforce criminal laws,” an indictable offense at common law. (Id. at pp. 59-60.)
Here, as Redd points out, nothing in part 1, title 7 of the Penal Code deals with bringing tobacco into a prison or possession of tobacco by a state prisoner, and we also observe that the People did not claim that smuggling tobacco into a prison or possession of tobacco by a prisoner was an indictable offense at common law.
The Attorney General responds that bringing tobacco into a state prison is unlawful and therefore conspiring to do so perverts and obstructs justice and the due administration of the laws. She offers no authority, however, for the proposition that
In Davis, the Court of Appeal held that conduct that perverts or obstructs justice is not necessarily limited to crimes listed in part 1, title 7 of the Penal Code, nor are all crimes in that title necessarily crimes that pervert or obstruct justice:
“The reference [in Lorenson] to ‘Crimes Against Public Justice’ does not necessarily exclude a crime not defined within the four corners of that part 1, title [7], of the Penal Code . . . . The court‘s reference to such crimes was illustrative, rather than exclusionary; the type of conduct with which title [7] principally deals falls within the category of acts ‘to pervert or obstruct justice.’
“Thus the [Lorenson] court did not, for example, mean to exclude from the category of acts ‘to pervert or obstruct justice’ corrupt conduct of attorneys formerly prohibited by sections 160 and 161 of title [7] but now proscribed by
sections 6128 and6129 of the Business and Professions Code , a part of the State Bar Act. Nor do we believe that the court meant thereby to include as acts ‘to pervert or obstruct justice’ the illegal sale of liquor within certain distances of the several educational institutiоns proscribed in sections 172, 172a and 172d under title [7].” (Davis, supra, 175 Cal.App.2d at p. 16, italics added.)
In Davis, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to pervert and obstruct justice by means of violation of
From Davis, the Attorney General relies on the sentencе, “The court‘s reference to such crimes [found in part 1, title 7 of the Penal Code] was illustrative, rather than exclusionary; the type of conduct with which title [7]
Furthermore, the Davis court observed, ”
Given that
The alleged conspiracy to bring tobacco into a state prison does not violate a statute found in part 1, title 7 of the Penal Code, nor is there any claim that the allegations would have been a crime under common law. Because the Attorney General has not demonstrated how the alleged conspiracy perverts
DISPOSITION
The conviction for count 2, conspiracy to pervert or obstruct justice, or due administration of laws, is reversed. The trial court is directed to forward the amended abstract of judgment, omitting the conviction, to appropriate prison authorities. The judgment is affirmed in all other respects.
Hill, P. J., and Gomes, J., concurred.