Opinion
Jensen Ian Ramos appeals the judgment entered after conviction by jury of four counts of attempted willful, deliberate and premeditated murder and one count of shooting at an occupied motor vehicle. (Pen. Code, *1198 §§ 664, 187 & 246.) 1 The jury fourid Ramos personally used a firearm in the commission of each offense and that each offense had been committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang. (§§ 12022.53, subd. (b), 186.22, subd. (b).) The trial court sentenced Ramos to a lengthy prison term.
SUMMARY STATEMENT
We reject Ramos’s claims that (1) his confession should have been excluded from evidence as the product of an improper promise of leniency, (2) the trial court erroneously excluded expert testimony on police interrogation techniques, and (3) the evidence does not support the convictions. However, we agree the trial court committed various sentencing errors. Accordingly, we affirm the underlying convictions but remand the matter for resentencing.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
1. Prosecution’s evidence.
On January 4, 2002, Ryan Quintos drove three friends to a party being held in the backyard of a house in the City of Walnut. At approximately 10:00 p.m., numerous individuals, including Quintos and his friends, were in the front yard of the house because they had not paid the fee to enter the backyard. One of Quintos’s friends got into a fight and Quintos heard someone say, “he’s strapped” or “he’s got a gun.” Quintos and his companions ran to Quintos’s black Acura Integra.
Laurie Sian, a friend of the host, was in the backyard when she heard people yelling there was a fight in the front yard. Sian tried to keep the partygoers in the backyard but people in the front yard called to their friends in the backyard to join them. When Sian attempted to stop Ramos from leaving the backyard, Sian saw that Ramos had a handgun in his waistband. Shortly thereafter, Sian heard numerous gunshots.
As the Integra drove from the scene, Ryan Reyes, one of the passengers in the Integra, saw Ramos standing on the sidewalk in front of the house. Ramos ran toward the Integra, produced a handgun from his waistband and fired. Reyes saw a few flashes, then ducked and heard metal objects striking the Integra as it drove away. The right rear tire of the Integra went flat a short distance from the party but Quintos continued to drive on the rim because he thought they were being followed. There were bullet holes in the back of the Integra and a bullet fragment was later found in the lid of the trunk.
*1199 Investigators found 11 spent casings at the scene of the shooting. A criminalist opined the casings had been discharged from three different weapons.
Sian and Reyes identified Ramos in a photographic lineup and at trial. Reyes also identified Ramos at a live lineup.
Ramos also was identified at trial by Thomas Aihama, Ramos’s former best friend and fellow gang member. Aihama testified that, after one of their friends was knocked down by a member of a rival gang, Ramos and an individual known as Smokey shot at a black Integra as it drove from the party. Aihama admitted he had been convicted of burglary and possession of a firearm, he had abused methamphetamine for approximately four years, and he had been granted probation on a pending charge of possession for sale of methamphetamine in exchange for his truthful testimony in Ramos’s case. Aihama testified he took the blame for Ramos in the firearm case and Ramos gave him the methamphetamine he possessed in his current case. Aihama has been threatened by members of his own gang not to testify against Ramos.
Sheriff’s Detective Marc Verlich interviewed Aihama and Ramos separately on April 3, 2002, at the Walnut Sheriff’s station. Aihama told Verlich that he and his friends parked their cars some distance from the party so they could return to their vehicles and leave without being seen by witnesses if anything happened at the party.
As a result of Verlich’s interview of Ramos, the details of which are set forth in the Discussion, post, Ramos wrote a statement in which he admitted one of his friends was jumped at the party by rival gang members and, as the rival gang members left the scene in a black Intega, Ramos aimed a handgun at the Integra and pulled the trigger but the gun did not fire. Ramos later discovered the firing pin was missing from the weapon. Ramos confirmed the contents of the written statement in a videotaped interview that was played for the jury. Ramos said he had a handgun on the night in question to “protect the homeboys” and that “he would lay down his life for his fellow gang members.”
Verlich testified as an expert on criminal street gangs and expressed the opinion these crimes had been committed for the benefit of Ramos’s gang.
2. Defense evidence.
The defense called witnesses who testified Aihama could not have observed the shooting because he was around the comer where he and his friends had parked their cars at the time the shots were fired. Defense *1200 witnesses also testified Aihama was a drag addict and a liar who had admitted that he was going to testify falsely against Ramos to ensure a beneficial deal on his own case for possession of methamphetamine.
The defense also presented the testimony of an expert on eyewitness identification, an expert on the effect of methamphetamine abuse and an expert on gangs.
DISCUSSION
1. Ramos’s confession to Verlich was voluntary.
a. Evidence presented at the hearing on the motion to exclude the confession.
At a pretrial hearing on a motion to suppress Ramos’s oral, written, and videotaped statements of April 3, 2002, Verlich testified that after Ramos waived his rights per
Miranda
v.
Arizona
(1966)
Verlich then interviewed Aihama, who was in custody in another interview room on the possession for sale of methamphetamine charge. Verlich obtained information from Aihama that implicated Ramos in the shooting. Verlich then returned to Ramos’s interview room and confronted Ramos with the information. Verlich explained to Ramos “that, by his cooperation and assistance in identifying the other people involved in the shooting, that it would benefit [Ramos] in the judicial process because [Verlich] would bring . . . [Ramos’s] statements to the district attorney’s office for consideration.” Verlich testified he told Ramos “the district attorney could review the facts of the case for any considerations, [f] I never made him any promises about the case or [offered] any leniency .... I just told him I could present the facts to the district attorney on his behalf.” At that point, Ramos dropped his head into his hands, appeared to straggle with his conscience and changed his statement. Verlich then asked Ramos to write a statement and left the room. This portion of the interview lasted approximately 15 minutes.
While Verlich was absent from the interview room, Ramos wrote that he had pointed a .25-caliber automatic handgun in the direction of the Integra and pulled the trigger but the gun did not fire. At the suggestion of his sergeant, Verlich conducted a videotaped interview with Ramos in which Ramos confirmed the contents of the written statement. This portion of the interview took approximately 15 minutes.
*1201 Ramos also testified at the hearing on the motion to suppress. Ramos claimed Veriich promised he would serve no more than one year in the county jail if he made a written statement, threatened he would serve life in prison if he did not make a statement and ignored Ramos’s repeated requests to speak with an attorney.
b. The trial court’s ruling.
The trial court rejected Ramos’s “entire testimony” as lacking credibility. The trial court concluded that although the interview was conducted at the police station, it was not “excessively lengthy” and Veriich interrupted the interview to speak to Aihama. Also, Ramos was a college student, and there was no indication he had any mental defect or disease. The trial court also found Veriich’s reference to the “judicial process” was “vague” and indicated the cases did not require exclusion of a statement whenever a police officer mentions there may be some “benefit one way or the other.” The trial court noted Veriich’s advice in this case, that Ramos’s cooperation might help in the judicial process, was accurate because an early admission of guilt is a factor in mitigation, which could result in the imposition of concurrent rather than consecutive terms.
The trial court concluded, “I don’t feel the officer’s conduct rises to a level of coercion as prohibited by the cases. I don’t think that the officer’s statement gave rise to the level of either a direct or implied promise.” The trial court found Veriich’s statements to Ramos were consistent with an attempt to locate the outstanding suspects in the shooting and stated its belief that, had Ramos identified other shooters, Veriich would have included that information in his report. Based on all these factors, the trial court denied the motion to suppress.
c. Law related to the voluntariness of a statement by an accused.
Before a defendant’s statement may be admitted into evidence, the prosecution has the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that the statement was voluntary.
(People
v.
Sapp
(2003)
A statement is involuntary and, thus, inadmissible, if it is obtained by threats or promises of leniency, whether express or implied, however slight, or by the exertion of any improper influence. (See
People
v.
Clark
(1993)
“The line to be drawn between permissible police conduct and conduct deemed to induce or to tend to induce an involuntary statement does not depend upon the bare language of inducement but rather upon the nature of the benefit to be derived by a defendant if he speaks the truth, as represented by the police. . . . [][] When the benefit pointed out by the police to a suspect is merely that which flows naturally from a truthful and honest course of conduct, we can perceive nothing improper .... On the other hand, if. . . the defendant is given to understand that he might reasonably expect benefits in the nature of more lenient treatment at the hands of the police, prosecution or court in consideration of making a statement, even a truthful one, such motivation is deemed to render the statement involuntary and inadmissible.”
(People
v.
Hill
(1967)
“ ‘Under both state and federal law, courts apply a “totality of circumstances” test to determine the voluntariness of a confession. [Citations.] Among the factors to be considered are “ ‘the crucial element of police coercion [citation]; the length of the interrogation [citation]; its location [citation]; its continuity’ as well as ‘the defendant’s maturity [citation]; education [citation]; physical condition [citation]; and mental health.’ ” [Citation.] On appeal, the trial court’s findings as to the circumstances surrounding the confession are upheld if supported by substantial evidence, but the trial court’s finding as to the voluntariness of the confession is subject to independent review. [Citations.]’ ”
(People v. Boyette
(2002)
d. The record does not support Ramos’s claim.
Applying the totality of the circumstances test to the facts presented here, we agree with the trial court’s finding that Ramos’s confession was not involuntary. Indeed, none of the factors cited above to be considered when determining the voluntariness of a confession suggest Ramos’s confession was involuntary. There was no evidence of coercion by Verlich, the interrogation did not continue over an extended period of time, it was interrupted by *1203 Verlich’s interview of Aihama, Verlich did not deceive Ramos regarding the strength of the evidence against him, Verlich was not present when Ramos wrote the incriminating statement and Ramos confirmed the contents of the written statement in a videotaped interview which the jury saw during trial. Although Ramos was youthful, he attended college and thus was not immature or uneducated, and there is no suggestion his physical condition or mental health was compromised.
In sum, this case is unlike the cases relied upon by Ramos in which the record contained evidence of overreaching, misrepresentation, badgering, coercion or a course of conduct on the part of the interrogator designed to break the will of the accused. (See, e.g.,
People
v.
Neal
(2003)
Given that all of the relevant factors in this case are resolved in favor of admission of the confession, the entire thrust of Ramos’s argument on appeal relies on his assertion Verlich made an improper promise of leniency by advising Ramos that his cooperation in the investigation would benefit Ramos during the judicial process. Although the indication Ramos would benefit in the judicial process, without more, might be viewed as a promise of leniency, express or implied, however slight, we do not consider the words spoken in a vacuum but in the context of the conversation.
Verlich testified the statement regarding benefit in the judicial process immediately was qualified by the further admonition that Verlich would advise the district attorney of Ramos’s level of cooperation, but the district attorney would determine what consideration Ramos would receive in return for his cooperation. Thus, Verlich’s “offers of intercession with the district attorney amounted to truthful implications that [Ramos’s] cooperation might be useful in later plea bargain negotiations. [Citation.]”
(People v. Jones
(1998)
Ramos’s assertion to the contrary relies on a version of Verlich’s remarks to Ramos found in Verlich’s police report, which defense counsel brought out on cross-examination, that did not include reference to the district attorney’s involvement. 2 However, on appeal, we credit the facts as found by the trial court. Here, the trial court found Verlich’s testimony at the hearing on the motion to suppress was credible. Thus, the trial court accepted Verlich’s testimony regarding the circumstances of the interview that showed no improper promise of leniency had been made and that Verlich promised only to present evidence of Ramos’s cooperation to the district attorney. Accordingly, the fact Verlich’s police report contained a statement that might be construed as an implied promise of leniency does not affect the result in this case.
In sum, based on the totality of the circumstances presented, we conclude Ramos’s statement was voluntary and admissible at trial to prove his commission of the charged offenses.
2. The trial court’s exclusion of expert testimony on police interrogation tactics does not require reversal.
The defense sought to call Richard Leo, Ph.D., as an expert on police interrogation techniques and false confessions. The trial court sustained the prosecutor’s objection to the testimony and ruled, “Any opinion rendered by [Dr.] Leo would be pure speculation based on items that are not presently in the record. ... [][].. . [T]here is absolutely not a shred of evidence before us at this point to render a basis ... for any opinion by Dr. Leo that the confession was false.” The trial court indicated it would revisit its ruling if the defense presented other evidence suggesting the confession was false.
Defense counsel renewed the request the next day and filed a written objection to the trial court’s ruling. In that objection, defense counsel noted Ramos’s mother would testify Verlich twice in her presence made promises *1205 of leniency to Ramos and that one of Ramos’s associates would testify Verlich wanted to send Ramos a message he would go to prison for life if he did not give Verlich the evidence he wanted. The trial court again sustained the People’s objection finding Leo’s testimony would “be raw speculation.”
On appeal, Ramos contends the trial court erroneously excluded Leo’s expert testimony. Ramos argues that, like expert testimony explaining psychological factors involved in the accuracy of the eyewitness identifications
(People
v.
McDonald
(1984)
Ramos notes the United States Supreme Court has recognized “a defendant’s case may stand or fall on his ability to convince the jury that the manner in which the confession was obtained casts doubt on its credibility.”
(Crane
v.
Kentucky
(1986)
We are not persuaded. A trial court has broad discretion in determining whether to admit expert testimony and its ruling will be reversed on appeal only where the record reveals an abuse of discretion.
(People v. Robbie
(2001)
Crane v. Kentucky, supra,
Crane
held the reliability of a confession and its voluntariness are two separate questions, reliability being a factual issue for the jury and voluntariness being a legal issue for the court.
Crane
concluded the “blanket exclusion” of evidence related to the circumstances of the confession deprived the accused of a fair opportunity to present a defense.
(Crane v. Kentucky, supra,
We agree with the principles underlying Crane but find the trial court made no similar blanket exclusion in this case. Rather, the record reveals defense counsel cross-examined Verlich extensively regarding his interrogation techniques used in the interview of Ramos as well as the interrogation techniques used in his questioning of other witnesses. Defense counsel also called witnesses who testified Verlich threatened them and attempted to coerce statements from them and from Ramos. The jury also was aware of the circumstances of the interrogation based on the videotape of Ramos’s statement. Thus, this is not a case like Crane where the defense was not permitted to attack the reliability of the defendant’s statement.
Ramos also relies on
People v. Page, supra,
Page does not assist Ramos. The interrogation in that case was substantially more complex than the questioning of Ramos in that it included a polygraph examination and the interrogators lied to the defendant. Also, the defendant in Page took the witness stand at trial and testified regarding the *1207 circumstances and the length of the repeated interrogations that led to his confession as well as the circumstances surrounding its subsequent recantation. The defendant testified the false statements made by the police caused him to question his own perception of reality. Thus, the expert testimony in Page was responsive to the defense claim that the circumstances of the interrogation, which included inaccurate information from an authority figure, can cause an individual under stress to feel guilty and vulnerable to suggestion.
This case, on the other hand, did not involve similar facts. Verlich did not misrepresent the state of the evidence to Ramos, did not subject him to a polygraph examination and did not question him repeatedly over an extended period of time. Thus, as the trial court concluded, the defense failed to demonstrate the need for Leo’s expert testimony. Moreover, the trial court expressly indicated its ruling was tentative and that it would revisit the issue if the evidence adduced at trial suggested Leo’s expert testimony was relevant. Because the jury could understand and evaluate all the evidence presented at Ramos’s trial without the assistance of an expert on police interrogation, we find no abuse of discretion in the trial court’s order excluding Leo’s testimony.
3. Substantial evidence supported the convictions.
Ramos contends the People’s evidence failed to establish that Ramos had the necessary intent to kill, let alone a willful, deliberate and premeditated intent to kill, the four occupants of the Integra.
We review claims of insufficient evidence by evaluating the entire record in the light most favorable to the judgment to determine whether it discloses evidence that is reasonable, credible, and of solid value from which a rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements beyond a reasonable doubt.
(People v. Mayfield
(1997)
Attempted murder requires the intent to kill plus a direct but ineffectual act toward its commission.
(People v. Lee
(2003)
Here, Ramos, an admitted gang member, and numerous gang companions armed themselves before attending a party. They parked around the comer so as not to be identified when they left in the event anything happened at the party. Both of these circumstances demonstrated planning and a preconceived willingness to take immediate lethal action should the need arise. (See
People v. Villegas
(2001)
Consistent with this planning activity and the expert gang testimony, Ramos ran to the front yard when he heard one of his companions had been involved in a fight. Once there, Ramos produced a handgun and aimed it at the Integra. According to Ramos’s own account of the incident, he pulled the trigger of the weapon but it failed to fire. Because the evidence suggested Ramos believed the occupants of the Integra were rival gang members, there was also evidence of motive for the attempted murder.
From this evidence, a reasonable trier of fact properly could conclude Ramos harbored the intent to kill. Based on these same factors, the jury also properly could conclude the attempted murder had been willful, deliberate and premeditated. As noted, there was evidence of planning and motive and the manner of the attempted murder, firing numerous rounds at an occupied vehicle, showed the shooting was purposeful. Thus, there was sufficient evidence to support the finding the attempted murders committed by Ramos were willful, deliberate and premeditated.
(People v. Perez
(1992)
4. The matter must be remanded for resentencing.
For the attempted willful, deliberate and premeditated murder charged in count 1, the trial court sentenced Ramos to life with the possibility of parole, plus 10 years for the personal use of a firearm under section 12022.53, subdivision (b) and 15 years for the criminal street gang enhancement under section 186.22, subdivision (b)(5). As to the attempted willful, deliberate and premeditated murder in count 2, the trial court imposed a consecutive term of life with the possibility of parole, plus one-third the 10-year firearm enhancement or 3 years and 4 months, and one-third the 15-year criminal street gang enhancement or 5 years. The trial court imposed concurrent terms on counts 3 and 4 and stayed the term imposed on count 5.
*1209
The People concede the sentence imposed by the trial court was incorrect in several respects. First, the criminal street gang enhancement found at section 186.22, subdivision (b)(5), requires service of a 15-year term before parole eligibility, not a 15-year enhancement. (§ 186.22, subd. (b)(5).) Further, section 1170.1, subdivision (a), which directs that a consecutive subordinate term shall consist of one-third the middle term or one-third of the term imposed for an enhancement, does not apply to indeterminate sentences.
(People
v.
Felix
(2000)
The People argue this court should modify the judgment to impose the more substantial term under the rule that an unauthorized sentence may be corrected at any time even though the correct term may be more severe than the term initially imposed.
(People v. Serrato
(1973)
Ramos suggests the term be modified to life with a minimum term of 15 years before parole eligibility plus 10 years for the firearm use to avoid an unconstitutional increase in the term imposed. (See
People
v.
Hanson
(2000)
The term imposed by the trial court, life plus 33 years and 4 months, was severe. However, we are unwilling to correct the term imposed, and thereby increase it substantially, without permitting the trial court to exercise its discretion in the first instance. Accordingly, we remand the case for resentencing.
*1210 DISPOSITION
The convictions underlying the judgment are affirmed but the matter is remanded for resentencing.
Croskey, J., and Aldrich, J., concurred.
Appellant’s petition for review by the Supreme Court was denied December 1, 2004.
Notes
Subsequent unspecified statutory references are to the Penal Code.
On cross-examination, Verlich conceded that his police report indicates, “I told [Ramos] that his cooperation with the investigation as well as his accepting responsibility for what he had done in showing remorse for the victims would benefit him during the judicial process.”
