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Filed 5/30/13 P. v. Super. Ct. CA4/2 

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS 

California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115. 

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA 

FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT 

DIVISION TWO 

THE PEOPLE, 

 Petitioner, 

v. 

THE SUPERIOR COURT OF 

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, 

 Respondent; 

ROBERT SALTER, 

 Real Party in Interest. 

 E058268 

 (Super.Ct.No. INF1102490) 

 OPINION 

 ORIGINAL PROCEEDINGS; petition for writ of mandate. David B. Downing, 

Judge. Petition granted. 

 Paul E. Zellerbach, District Attorney, and Emily R. Hanks, Deputy District 

Attorney, for Petitioner. 

 No appearance for Respondent. 

 Law Offices of Rodney Lee Soda and Susanne S. Cho for Real Party in Interest. 
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DISCUSSION 

In this matter we have reviewed the petition and the opposition filed by real party 

in interest. We have determined that resolution of the matter involves the application of 

settled principles of law, and that issuance of a peremptory writ in the first instance is 

therefore appropriate. (Palma v. U.S. Industrial Fasteners, Inc. (1984) 36 Cal.3d 171, 

178.) 

First, we do not agree with real party in interest that the People’s remedy by 

appeal is adequate, and because there is the right to appeal, review by writ poses no risk 

of unfair harassment. (See generally People v. Superior Court (Mitchell) (2010) 184 

Cal.App.4th 451.) 

Next, insofar as the magistrate purported to make a “factual finding” that real 

party is not a gang member, this was improper as the most that could be said was that the 

evidence presented was insufficient. There was no affirmative evidence that real party is 

not a gang member. (See People v. Superior Court (Henderson) (1986) 178 Cal.App.3d 

516.) Furthermore, actual gang membership is not relevant to an allegation under Penal 

Code section 186.22, subdivision (b). (People v. Miranda (2011) 192 Cal.App.4th 398.) 

Finally, we disagree that the evidence was insufficient to hold real party to answer 

under the charged enhancement. The standard is “strong suspicion.” (Stark v. Superior 

Court (2011) 52 Cal.4th 368, 406.) There was evidence that one or more codefendants 

was an active gang member and that the victims belonged to a rival gang. The selfexculpatory statements to the effect that the attack was not gang related are entitled to 

little weight. Given that the case involves an unprovoked attack by Black gang members 

on Hispanic members of a rival gang, the conclusion that the assault was gang related and 

that real party intended to assist gang members is amply supported. (People v. Leon

(2008) 161 Cal.App.4th 149.) 

DISPOSITION 

Accordingly, the petition for writ of mandate is granted. Let a peremptory writ of 

mandate issue directing the Superior Court of Riverside County to set aside its order 
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dismissing the enhancement alleged under Penal Code section 186.22, subdivision (b), 

and to enter a new order denying real party’s motion to dismiss. 

Petitioner is directed to prepare and have the peremptory writ of mandate issued, 

copies served, and the original filed with the clerk of this court, together with proof of 

service on all parties. 

The previously ordered stay is lifted. 

 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS 

MILLER 

 J. 

We concur: 

RAMIREZ 

 P. J. 

KING 

 J.