Filed 7/15/24 P. v. Lopez CA4/1

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COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION ONE

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

THE PEOPLE,

Plaintiff and Respondent,

v.

MARIO ARMANDO LOPEZ,

Defendant and ApOrpellant.

 D081032

 (Super. Ct. No. SCS250943)

APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of San Diego County, 

Francis Devany, Judge. Affirmed.

Nancy J. King, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for 

Defendant and Appellant.

Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant 

Attorney General, Charles C. Ragland, Assistant Attorney General, Robin 

Urbanski, Lynne G. McGinnis and Minh U. Le, Deputy Attorneys General for 

Plaintiff and Respondent.
2

Mario Lopez and four other inmates of the County jail beat and 

tortured to death an elderly inmate who was a convicted child molester. A

jury convicted Lopez of first degree murder (Pen. Code,1 § 187, subd. (a); 

count 1) and torture (§ 206; count 3). The jury acquitted him of conspiracy to 

commit murder (§§ 182, subd. (a)(1), 187; count 2). Lopez is serving a 

sentence of 28 years to life in prison for the first degree murder conviction; 

the sentence for torture is stayed. We affirmed the judgment in an 

unpublished opinion on Lopez’s direct appeal, People v. Lopez (Jan. 28, 2016, 

D065801).

Lopez filed a petition for resentencing in 2019 under former 

section 1170.95.2 Lopez claimed he was eligible for resentencing because he 

was convicted based on either a felony murder theory or a theory of natural 

and probable consequences for which he could no longer be convicted under

current law. The trial court summarily denied the petition after determining 

the record of conviction established Lopez was the actual killer. In an 

unpublished opinion, People v. Lopez (Aug. 6, 2021, D078176), we determined 

the trial court erred in making a factual finding that Lopez was the actual 

killer without issuing an order to show cause and setting an evidentiary 

hearing as required by statute. We remanded the case for such a hearing.

At the evidentiary hearing on remand, the court considered the 

evidence from the underlying record of conviction as well as further briefing 

and argument. The court again denied Lopez’s petition for resentencing after

1 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code.

2 Former section 1170.95 was renumbered without significant change to 

section 1172.6. (Stats 2022 ch 58 § 10 (AB 200), effective June 30, 2022.) For 

clarity we refer to section 1172.6.
3

independently finding the evidence proved beyond a reasonable doubt that 

Lopez is guilty of first degree murder and is ineligible for resentencing as the 

actual killer of the victim. The court also found that Lopez was a major 

participant in the fatal assault who acted with reckless indifference to the 

victim’s life and that Lopez, with an intent to kill, aided and abetted the 

other inmates in assaulting the victim. 

In this appeal, Lopez contends we should reverse the order denying his 

petition because there was not substantial evidence to support the trial 

court’s findings that Lopez acted with intent to kill or that he was the actual 

killer. We disagree and affirm the order.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

We adopt the factual overview from our prior opinions: 

“In July 2011, Lopez was a prisoner being detained at the George 

Bailey Detention Center and was known in the prison by the moniker ‘Evil.’ 

Prison personnel had made Lopez the ‘captain’ of the medical unit where he 

was being held, and inmates in the unit followed his orders without question.

“[R.] Hartsaw was also a prisoner at Bailey, and, on the evening 

July 17, 2011, Hartsaw asked a correctional officer to be moved from his then 

current unit to another unit. Later that evening, a correctional officer placed 

Hartsaw in the medical unit and asked Lopez to help Hartsaw find a bunk. 

Lopez agreed. At some point, Lopez learned that Hartsaw had been in 

protective custody and that he was a convicted child molester.

“A few hours after Hartsaw was placed in the unit, Lopez and a number 

of other inmates lured Hartsaw to an isolated area of the unit, and, shortly 

after guards had passed through the area, Lopez and the other inmates spent 

30 minutes punching, kicking, and stomping Hartsaw to death. Toward the 

end of the assault, Lopez circled Hartsaw and repeatedly jumped on his 
4

genitals, limbs, and torso, causing Hartsaw’s body to bounce ‘like a 

trampoline.’

“After the beating was over, and at Lopez’s instruction[,] other inmates 

dragged Hartsaw back to the floor near his bunk and placed his body in a 

position so that it appeared as if Hartsaw had fallen from his top bunk. 

Lopez also instructed the other inmates to clean up the area where the 

beating had occurred; while they were doing so, Lopez took a shower and 

sang ‘loudly and happily.’

“Approximately 20 minutes after the beating was over, an inmate 

alerted guards that Hartsaw was down. Emergency personnel who 

responded were unable to resuscitate Hartsaw. A medical examination 

disclosed Hartsaw had suffered 18 rib fractures, 32 facial injuries, multiple 

facial fractures, two skull fractures, a fractured sternum, numerous internal 

injuries[,] and bleeding.

“Following Hartsaw’s death, Lopez sent two notes or, in prison 

parlance, kites, to other inmates. One kite stated Lopez had already given 

25 years of his life to the state, and it looked like the state might get the rest 

because Lopez was now facing murder charges. The kite stated: ‘That fool 

was also a P.C.,’ which was a reference to the fact Hartsaw was in protective 

custody and therefore presumably a child molester. According to Lopez’s 

kite, Hartsaw showed Lopez paperwork which established that Hartsaw had 

been convicted of child molestation. The kite further stated Lopez ‘took care 

of a fuck’n chomo [child molester] that aint gon hurt kids no more.’ A second 

kite set forth Lopez’s hatred of child molesters and stated that many ‘who no 

do got respeto what I did.’ The kites were signed ‘Evil.’

“Lopez also sent a codefendant’s girlfriend a letter in which he stated 

that he was sure her boyfriend told her what had happened and ‘let’s just say 
5

“them people” aren’t allowed, sabes?’ ” (People v. Lopez, supra, D065801; 

People v. Lopez, supra, D078176.)

DISCUSSION

I. Overview of Section 1172.6 Resentencing Procedure

“The Legislature enacted Senate Bill [No. 1437 (2017–2018 Reg. Sess.)] 

‘to more equitably sentence offenders in accordance with their involvement in 

homicides.’ (Stats. 2018, ch. 1015, § 1(b).) The Legislature recognized, ‘It is a 

bedrock principle of the law and of equity that a person should be punished 

for his or her actions according to his or her own level of individual 

culpability.’ (Id., § 1(d).) With this purpose in mind, Senate Bill 1437 

‘amend[ed] the felony murder rule and the natural and probable 

consequences doctrine, as it relates to murder, to ensure that murder liability 

is not imposed on a person who is not the actual killer, did not act with the 

intent to kill, or was not a major participant in the underlying felony who 

acted with reckless indifference to human life.’ (Stats. 2018, ch. 1015, § 1(f).) 

Outside of the felony-murder rule, ‘a conviction for murder requires that a 

person act with malice aforethought. A person’s culpability for murder must 

be premised upon that person’s own actions and subjective mens rea.’ (Id., 

§ 1(g).)” (People v. Curiel (2023) 15 Cal.5th 433, 448.) 

Senate Bill No. 1437 amended the definition of malice in section 188.

(Stats. 2018, ch. 1015, § 2.) Amended section 188 states: “Except as stated in 

subdivision (e) of Section 189, in order to be convicted of murder, a principal 

in a crime shall act with malice aforethought. Malice shall not be imputed to 

a person based solely on his or her participation in a crime.” (§ 188,

subd. (a)(3).)

Senate Bill 1437 added subdivision (3) to section 189, which describes

the new requirements for felony murder: “A participant in the perpetration 
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or attempted perpetration of a felony listed in subdivision (a) in which a 

death occurs is liable for murder only if one of the following is proven: [¶] 

(1) The person was the actual killer. [¶] (2) The person was not the actual

killer, but, with the intent to kill, aided, abetted, counseled, commanded,

induced, solicited, requested, or assisted the actual killer in the commission 

of murder in the first degree. [¶] (3) The person was a major participant in 

the underlying felony and acted with reckless indifference to human life, as 

described in subdivision (d) of Section 190.2.” (Stats. 2018, ch. 1015, § 2.) 

Torture, punishable under section 206, is among the enumerated felonies for 

felony murder under section 189, subdivision (a).

Senate Bill 1437 created a procedure for eligible defendants to seek 

retroactive relief under the amended law. (People v. Strong (2022) 13 Cal.5th 

698, 708.) Under section 1172.6, a defendant may file a petition with a 

declaration stating he or she is eligible for resentencing because he or she 

could not be convicted of murder or attempted murder based on the changes 

to section 188 or 189. (Ibid.) The trial court must evaluate the petition to 

determine whether the petitioner made a prima facie case for relief. If the 

petitioner states a prima facie case, the trial court issues an order to show 

cause and holds an evidentiary hearing. (§ 1172.6, subd. (c), (d)).

At the evidentiary hearing, the People have the burden to prove, 

beyond a reasonable doubt, that the petitioner is guilty of murder under the 

amended law. (§ 1172.6, subd. (d)(3).) If the trial court “finds beyond a

reasonable doubt that the petitioner is guilty of murder notwithstanding the 

amendments to sections 188 and 189, the petitioner is ineligible for relief 

under section 1172.6.” (People v. Vargas (2022) 84 Cal.App.5th 943, 951

(Vargas).)
7

Section 1172.6 “does not detail eligible degrees of murder. For relief it 

simply requires the defendant to have been convicted of ‘murder, attempted 

murder, or manslaughter’ in a situation in which the petitioner ‘could not 

presently be convicted of murder or attempted murder’ because of changes to 

section 188 or 189. (§ 1172.6, subd. (a)(2), (3).) . . . It treats all murder as a 

single, generic crime and requires resentencing when a defendant could not 

now be convicted of murder, generically.” (People v. Didyavong (2023) 90 

Cal.App.5th 85, 96.) A “generic murder” is a murder charge that does not 

specify a degree. (People v. Jones (2014) 230 Cal.App.4th 373, 377.) “A 

murder charged generically does not limit the prosecution to any particular 

theories of liability.” (Didyavong, p. 96, fn. 4.) The statute authorizes the 

court to either grant or deny the petition. It does not provide a mechanism 

“to reduce a first degree murder conviction to second degree” (id, at p. 96) or, 

conversely, “to retry a defendant on a lesser homicide offense even if the 

evidence would support it.” (Id. at p. 97.) 

Because the trial court acts as an independent fact finder in deciding 

whether the petitioner is guilty of murder notwithstanding the amendments 

to sections 188 and 189, we review the trial court’s factual determination for 

substantial evidence. (Vargas, supra, 84 Cal.App.5th at p. 951.) “Under this 

standard, we review the record ‘ “ ‘in the light most favorable to the judgment 

below to determine whether it discloses substantial evidence—that is, 

evidence which is reasonable, credible, and of solid value—such that a 

reasonable trier of fact could find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable 

doubt.’ ” ’ ” (People v. Reyes (2023) 14 Cal.5th 981, 988.)
8

II. Lopez Is Ineligible for Resentencing

A. Evidentiary Hearing and Findings

At the evidentiary hearing, the trial court received the transcripts and 

exhibits from the record of conviction and considered briefing and arguments 

from counsel. Acting as an independent fact finder, the trial court 

determined the evidence “proves beyond a reasonable doubt that [Lopez] is 

guilty of first degree murder and is ineligible for resentencing.” The court 

found Lopez “was clearly the actual killer of decedent” and, additionally, that 

he “with the intent to kill, aided and abetted the other assailants of Hartsaw, 

and was a major participant in the underlying fatal assault, acting with 

reckless indifference to Hartsaw’s life.” 

The court determined Lopez was the actual killer even though he was 

not the sole assailant of Hartsaw. The court stated, “Numerous inmates were 

initially involved in punching, kicking and stomping Hartsaw. However, in a 

particularly gruesome scene, the beating did, indeed, become a ‘one-man 

show’ when [Lopez] asked the group if they were having fun and said 

something to the effect of ‘step aside and let me show you how it’s done.’ 

[Lopez] then viciously and methodically kicked and stomped the still-living, 

defenseless victim to death.” 

The court described the evidence and concluded it showed “beyond a 

reasonable doubt that [Lopez] killed another person with malice 

aforethought, in violation of Penal code section 187, and that the murder was 

murder of the first degree, with [Lopez] acting willfully, deliberately and with 

premeditation; by torture; after lying in wait or immediately thereafter; 

and/or by felony murder by torture. [Lopez] was very clearly the actual killer 
9

of decedent Hartsaw and is, therefore ineligible for the relief sought in his 

[p]etition.”3

Lopez contends there is insufficient evidence to support the trial court’s 

finding that he acted with intent to kill or that he was the actual killer. We 

disagree. 

B. General Principles For Murder

“Murder is the unlawful killing of a human being . . . with malice 

aforethought.” (§ 187, subd. (a).) Malice is “express when there is manifested 

a deliberate intention to unlawfully take away the life of a fellow creature” 

(§ 188, subd. (a)(1)) and is “implied when no considerable provocation 

appears, or when the circumstances attending the killing show an abandoned 

and malignant heart” (id., subd. (a)(2)). Murder that is willful, deliberate, 

and premeditated, is first degree murder. (§ 189, subd. (a).) Both murder by 

torture and felony murder by torture are also first degree murder. (Ibid.)

“ ‘[M]urder by means of torture under section 189 is murder committed 

with a willful, deliberate, and premeditated intent to inflict extreme and 

prolonged pain.’ [Citation.] While section 189 does not require a 

premeditated intent to kill, it does require that the intent to inflict extreme 

and prolonged pain be the result of calculated deliberation.” (People v. 

Massie (2006) 142 Cal.App.4th 365, 371–372 (Massie).)

C. Evidence of Premeditation

“ ‘ “ ‘ “[P]remeditated” means “considered beforehand,” and “deliberate”

means “formed or arrived at or determined upon as a result of careful 

3 At trial, the court had instructed the jury that Lopez was prosecuted 

for first degree murder under four theories: (1) the murder was willful, 

deliberate, and premeditated; (2) the murder was committed by torture; (3) 

the murder was committed by lying in wait; or (4) felony murder by torture. 
10

thought and weighing of considerations for and against the proposed course 

of action.” ’ ” [Citation.] “ ‘An intentional killing is premeditated and 

deliberate if it occurred as the result of preexisting thought and reflection 

rather than unconsidered or rash impulse.’ ” [Citations.] “The true test is 

not the duration of time as much as it is the extent of the reflection. 

Thoughts may follow each other with great rapidity and cold, calculated 

judgment may be arrived at quickly . . . .” ’ ” (People v. Morales (2020)

10 Cal.5th 76, 88 (Morales).) 

The Supreme Court described “ ‘three basic categories’ of evidence” that

are generally “sufficient to sustain a finding of premeditation and 

deliberation: (1) planning activity, or ‘facts about how and what the 

defendant did prior to the actual killing which show that the defendant was 

engaged in activity directed toward, and explicable as intended to result in, 

the killing’; (2) motive or ‘facts about the defendant’s prior relationship 

and/or conduct with the victim from which the jury could reasonably infer a 

“motive” to kill the victim’; and (3) manner of killing, or ‘facts about the 

nature of the killing from which the jury could infer that the manner of 

killing was so particular and exacting that the defendant must have 

intentionally killed according to a “preconceived design” to take his victim’s 

life in a particular way for a “reason” . . . .’ ” (Morales, supra, 10 Cal.5th at 

pp. 88–89.) These “ ‘ “guidelines are descriptive and neither normative nor 

exhaustive” ’ ” but provide a framework to assist courts in appellate review.

(Id. at p. 89.)

There is substantial evidence of planning, motive, and the manner of 

death to support the trial court’s finding that Lopez killed Hartsaw willfully, 

deliberately, and with premeditation.
11

Lopez was the “tank captain” or shot caller for the Mexican inmates.

Lopez spoke with Hartsaw and a deputy when Hartsaw moved into the cell. 

Lopez then told witnesses that Hartsaw would bunk with the Mexican 

inmates even though Hartsaw was not Mexican.

After Hartsaw arrived in the cell, Lopez spoke privately with several 

inmates in the bathroom. Lopez appeared upset and told one inmate he was 

not happy about Hartsaw being there because Hartsaw was a child molester. 

The inmate knew Lopez did not like child molesters because Lopez previously 

mentioned his sister had been raped. Lopez said he was “going to get it 

handled.” He said, “I got me two volunteers and we’ll take care of it.”

Thereafter, Lopez stopped by the bunks of inmates of different races to let 

them know that they were going to do something, so the other inmates should 

mind their own business and stay in their bunks.

Later that night, Lopez told Hartsaw to get up and “party like a rock 

star.” At Lopez’s direction, Hartsaw and several inmates snorted lines of a 

prescription medication that would get them excited. 

 After a guard completed a security check and another inmate gave a 

“thumbs up” sign, Lopez punched Hartsaw in the face, knocking Hartsaw to 

the ground. Other inmates joined Lopez in beating, stomping, kicking, and 

dragging Hartsaw between bunks. Lopez gave commands to the other 

inmates during the beating. A witness said Lopez could not stomp as hard as 

he wished to because other assailants’ feet were in the way and “everybody 

was taking a turn.” A witness heard Lopez say that Hartsaw liked “putting 

kid’s things in [his] mouth” and “we don’t get down like that mother fucker.” 

Another witness described hearing “bone-crushing” sounds. 

Hartsaw was badly injured after the initial attack. His mouth was 

open and he had ragged and labored breathing.
12

Lopez asked the other inmates if they had “fun.” Then Lopez alone

resumed the attack on Hartsaw saying, “This is the way it’s done.” He kicked 

the victim with all his might between the legs, like he was kicking a soccer 

ball. Hartsaw moaned. 

Lopez systematically stomped on Hartsaw’s left elbow joint, head, neck, 

right elbow, right leg joint, genitals, abdomen, and sternum. Witnesses 

described Lopez’s level of force as 10 out of 10, “brutal,” “extreme,” “over the 

top,” and “sickening.” Lopez stomped so hard that Hartsaw’s body bounced 

off the concrete like he was on a trampoline. 

Lopez also sat on Hartsaw’s chest and punched his face over and over. 

Lopez spat on Hartsaw, saying “you piece of shit.” Lopez then “finished” 

Hartsaw by stomping on his chest and saying, “you’re a child molester.” 

After Lopez “finished him,” Lopez moved Hartsaw back to his assigned 

bunk area and told the other inmates what to do to clean up. Lopez went to 

take a shower where he sang loudly and boisterously as if he was happy.

Approximately 20 to 30 minutes after Lopez finished the assault on Hartsaw, 

when everyone was back in their bunks, an inmate was allowed to press the 

panic button. 

Lopez admitted in written correspondence that he “took care of a fuck’n 

chomo that aint gon to hurt kids no more” and “ ‘them people’ . . . aren’t 

allowed . . . .” 

This evidence shows Lopez killed Hartsaw with premeditation and 

deliberation. He planned and set in motion a chain of events that led to 

Hartsaw’s death because he wanted to “take care of” a person he understood 

to be child molester. Lopez did not like child molesters because his sister was 

a victim of rape. 
13

Lopez planned, directed, and participated in the first attack on 

Hartsaw. Lopez lured Hartsaw into a secluded area where he threw the first 

punch. He gave commands as he and other inmates participated in the

initial attack. After asking the other inmates if they had fun, he said he 

would show them how it is done and then proceeded to beat and stomp 

Hartsaw to death.

Even if the other inmates thought they were only going to assault 

Hartsaw, Lopez did not stop with an ordinary prison “beat down” or “tune 

up.” After a break, Lopez alone executed a second attack on the severely 

injured Hartsaw. The systematic, brutal, “over the top,” and “sickening” way

he conducted this attack showed Lopez intended to inflict extreme pain and 

did, in fact, “finish” Hartsaw.

Lopez’s actions were, at a minimum, a substantial concurrent cause of 

Hartsaw’s death. (People v. Carney (2023) 14 Cal.5th 1130, 1138–1139, 1141 

[discussing proximate causation and defining “substantial concurrent 

cause”].) A defendant may be guilty of first degree murder even when there 

are multiple proximate causes of death. (Id. at p. 1144.) Hartsaw died from 

the combination of numerous severe blunt force injuries to his head and 

chest. Although the medical examiner could not determine the order of the 

injuries or precisely when Hartsaw died, the medical examiner opined that 

the injuries were acute, meaning they occurred before or around the time of 

Hartsaw’s death. Lopez participated in inflicting those deadly wounds.

Evidence of the manner of the beatings, particularly the final beating, 

also supports an inference that Lopez intended to inflict extreme and 

prolonged pain after deliberation. (Massie, supra, 142 Cal.App.4th at p. 372.)

Therefore, substantial evidence supports the trial court’s finding that Lopez 
14

is guilty of murder by torture as well as premeditated murder in violation of 

section 189.

Lopez contends the trial court’s finding of premeditation is contradicted 

by the jury’s acquittal on the conspiracy to commit murder charge. He relies 

upon cases where a trial court’s findings at an evidentiary hearing 

contradicted a jury finding. (See People v. Arnold (2023) 93 Cal.App.5th 376, 

386 [court finding that defendant stabbed the victim as the actual killer was 

inconsistent with the jury’s not-true finding on a knife-use enhancement 

allegation]; People v. Henley (2022) 85 Cal.App.5th 1008, 1020 [court’s finding 

that defendant used a firearm to commit an offense was inconsistent with a 

jury’s not true finding on a personal firearm use allegation]; People v. Cooper 

(2022) 77 Cal.App.5th 393, 398 [court improperly denied resentencing based 

on a belief the defendant was a major participant in a kidnapping and acted 

with indifference to human life by carrying and firing a gun when the jury 

acquitted him of a firearm-possession offense].) There is no inconsistency 

here.

“Conspiracy ‘ “is an inchoate offense, the essence of which is an 

agreement to commit an unlawful act.” ’ [Citation.] This crime has four 

elements: (1) the existence of an agreement between at least two persons;

(2) the specific intent to agree to commit an offense; (3) the specific intent to 

commit the offense that is the object of the agreement; and (4) an overt act in 

furtherance of the conspiracy, which may be committed by any conspirator.”

(People v. Ware (2022) 14 Cal.5th 151, 163 citing § 182, subd. (a)(1).) 

“Criminal conspiracy is an offense distinct from the actual commission of a 

criminal offense that is the object of the conspiracy. . . . ‘ “As an inchoate 

crime, conspiracy fixes the point of legal intervention at [the time of] 
15

agreement to commit a crime,” and “thus reaches further back into 

preparatory conduct than attempt . . .” ’ ” (People v. Morante (1999)

20 Cal.4th 403, 416–417.)

The fact that the jury acquitted Lopez of conspiracy to commit murder 

means only that they did not find all the necessary elements for the inchoate 

crime, such as an agreement between two or more people with the specific 

intent to commit murder before the conduct commenced.

During deliberations, the jury asked if there was a difference between 

conspiracy and conspiracy to commit murder. The jury also asked, “What if it 

was a conspiracy to commit assault that turned into murder? Is it the same?”

The court responded that the jury had to decide only the charge of conspiracy 

to commit murder. The court said whether Lopez conspired to commit an 

assault was not before the jury. A reasonable inference from the question 

and the acquittal of Lopez on the conspiracy count is that the jury thought 

the alleged co-conspirators may have agreed with Lopez to assault Hartsaw, 

but there was insufficient evidence that they reached an agreement to 

murder Hartsaw before they started the assault.4

The finding on conspiracy does not undermine the finding that Lopez 

acted with premeditation and deliberation to torture and murder Hartsaw. 

As discussed, there is ample evidence to support the inference that Lopez 

harbored an intent to kill Hartsaw from the outset, even if the other inmates 

4 It is worth noting that before the case went to the jury the court 

granted the codefendant’s motion for acquittal on the conspiracy to commit 

murder charge and reduced the charge to the lesser included offense of 

conspiracy to commit assault (§ 245). Shortly thereafter, the People 

dismissed the conspiracy count against the codefendant. Thus, Lopez was 

the only defendant facing a conspiracy to commit murder charge when the 

case was submitted to the jury. 
16

only thought they were going to assault him. The savage manner in which 

Lopez “finished” Hartsaw also shows he intended to torture and kill the 

injured Hartsaw. “ ‘ “[C]old, calculated judgment may be arrived at quickly 

. . . .” ’ ” (Morales, supra, 10 Cal.5th at p. 88.)

For these reasons, we conclude substantial evidence supports the trial 

court’s finding that Lopez murdered Hartsaw willfully, deliberately and with 

premeditation and/or by torture. Lopez is, therefore, ineligible for 

resentencing.

D. Evidence of Felony Murder by Torture

Given our conclusion that Lopez is ineligible for resentencing because 

he is guilty of murder, it is unnecessary to reach the issue of whether he 

could also be convicted of felony murder under the current law. Nevertheless, 

substantial evidence also supports the trial court’s alternative finding that 

Lopez is guilty of felony murder by torture.

“The intent required for torture as defined in section 206 is not 

identical to the intent required for torture murder under section 189. 

[Citation.] Torture under section 206 does not require premeditation and 

deliberation, and it does not require an intent to inflict prolonged pain.”

(Massie, supra, 142 Cal.App.4th at p. 372.) The crime of torture under 

section 206 “has two elements (1) the infliction of great bodily injury; and

(2) the specific intent to cause cruel or extreme pain and suffering for the 

purpose of revenge, extortion, persuasion, or for any sadistic purpose.” (Id. at 

pp. 370–371.) “Intent is rarely susceptible of direct proof and usually must be 

inferred from the facts and circumstances surrounding the offense.

[Citations.] Intent to cause cruel or extreme pain can be established by the 

circumstances of the offense and other circumstantial evidence.” (People v. 

Pre (2004) 117 Cal.App.4th 413, 420.)
17

The evidence about the manner of the attacks shows Lopez intended to 

inflict extreme pain and bodily injury on Hartsaw for revenge or a sadistic 

purpose (§ 206). This is reflected in the jury’s conviction of Lopez for torture.

Under current law, Lopez could still be convicted of felony murder by 

torture. As discussed, substantial evidence supports the court’s finding 

Lopez was the actual killer of Hartsaw, making him ineligible for 

resentencing under section 189, subdivision (e)(1). He planned the attack, 

started the attack, participated in the first attack, and then finished Hartsaw 

with the brutal second attack. (Carney, supra, 14 Cal.5th at p. 1145 [a 

person who is a substantial concurrent cause is guilty of murder]; People v.

Lopez (2022) 78 Cal.App.5th 1, 17–19 [an actual killer is the person who 

personally kills the victim]; People v. Harden (2022) 81 Cal.App.5th 45, 57–58 

[agreeing with Lopez].) 

Additionally, Lopez was a major participant in the felony of torture and 

acted with reckless indifference to human life, making him ineligible for

resentencing under section 189, subdivision (e)(3). As the trial court found, 

Lopez was “involved in all aspects of this fatal assault, from his agreement to 

accept Hartsaw into the module, to his assignment of a bunk to Hartsaw, to 

his pre-assault bathroom meeting with other assailants, to waking up 

Hartsaw to ‘party like a rock star,’ to his participation with other inmates in 

the initial assault, and to his fatal stomping and beating Hartsaw to death.” 

Not only did Lopez plan the assault, but he was also present at the scene and 

participated in the killing. Despite the knowledge that Hartsaw was severely 

injured after the initial beating, Lopez took matters into his own hands to 

further torture Hartsaw and “finish” him by stomping on his chest. This 

evidence shows reckless indifference to human life. (People v. Banks (2015) 

61 Cal.4th 788, 803; People v. Clark (2016) 63 Cal.4th 522, 618–622.)
18

Lopez contends the trial court erroneously referred to the underlying 

felony as an assault, which is not an enumerated felony listed in section 189, 

subdivision (a). However, because the court found Lopez was guilty of felony 

murder by torture, we conclude the court’s reference to “assault” was merely 

a descriptive term for the actions perpetrated by Lopez and the other inmates 

rather than a reference to felony assault. Importantly, the prosecutor did not 

present a theory of felony murder by assault. The prosecutor only presented 

a theory of felony murder based on torture.

The record supports the trial court’s finding that Lopez was both the 

actual killer and a major participant in the felony of torture. As such, Lopez 

is ineligible for resentencing. Given our conclusions, we need not decide 

whether Lopez could also be convicted of felony murder under an aiding and 

abetting theory.

DISPOSITION

The order is affirmed.

O'ROURKE, J.

WE CONCUR:

HUFFMAN, Acting P. J.

DATO, J.