Filed 10/28/13 P. v. Reyes CA6

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IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

THE PEOPLE,

Plaintiff and Respondent,

 v.

MICHAEL ALEXANDER REYES,

Defendant and Appellant.

 H036867

 (San Benito County

 Super. Ct. No. CR1000425)

STATEMENT OF THE CASE 

A jury convicted defendant Michael Alexander Reyes of one count of forcible 

sexual penetration by a foreign object (Pen Code, § 289, subd. (a)(1); count 2),1five 

counts of forcible lewd conduct on a child under the age of 14 (§ 288, subd. (b)(1); 

counts 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11), 12 counts of forcible rape (§ 261, subd. (a)(2); counts 4, 6, 8, 

10, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, 24, and 26), three counts of forcible oral copulation (§ 288a, 

subd. (c)(2); counts 12, 15, and 23), four counts of lewd conduct on a 14-year-old or 15-

year-old child (§ 288, subd. (c)(1); counts 18, 20, 22, and 25), and two counts of 

aggravated sexual assault on a child (§ 269, subds. (a)(1) & (a)(5); counts 27 and 28). 

The trial court sentenced defendant to a term of 30 years to life plus a consecutive term of 

95 years and eight months. 

 

1

 Subsequent unspecified statutory references are to the Penal Code. 
2

On appeal, defendant makes the following arguments: (1) there was insufficient 

evidence of force or duress to support counts 2-17, 19, 21, 23, 24, and 26-28, and those 

counts should accordingly be reversed or reduced to non-forcible lesser-included 

offenses; (2) counts 2-17, 19, 21, 23, 24, and 26-28 must be reversed due to the trial 

court‟s failure to instruct on lesser-included non-forcible offenses; (3) the trial court 

prejudicially erred in admitting a letter written by the victim; (4) remand for resentencing 

on all counts is required because the trial court applied the wrong standard in ruling on 

defendant‟s motion to discharge retained counsel; (5) remand for resentencing on counts 

12, 13, 15, 16, 21, and 23 is required because there was insufficient evidence of separate 

occasions to support the imposition of full-term consecutive sentences under section 

667.6, subdivision (d); (6) defendant was improperly convicted in count 2 because that 

count was a lesser-included offense of count 27, and defendant was improperly convicted 

in count 4 because that count was a lesser-included offense of count 28; (7) the sentence 

for count 3 must be stayed pursuant to section 654 because count 3 involved the same act 

of digital penetration punished in count 27. 

We conclude that there was insufficient evidence of force or duress to support 

counts 2-17, 19, 21, 23, 24, and 26-28. We accordingly reverse the convictions in counts 

27 and 28 and reduce the convictions in counts 2-17, 19, 21, 23, 24, and 26 to lesserincluded non-forcible offenses. Although we conclude that the trial court erred in 

admitting the victim‟s letter pursuant to Evidence Code section 356, we believe the 

admission of the letter was harmless. Finally, we conclude that the trial court erroneously 

denied defendant‟s post-conviction motion to discharge retained counsel, and we 

therefore reverse the judgment and remand for resentencing on all counts with defendant 

afforded the opportunity to be represented by a new attorney.2 

 

2

 Because we reverse the convictions in counts 27 and 28 and reduce counts 2-17, 

19, 21, 23, 24, and 26 to lesser-included non-forcible offenses, we need not address 
3

We note that the reversal of counts 27 and 28 and the reduction of the remaining 

forcible offenses to non-forcible offenses should have little practical impact on the actual 

time that defendant serves in prison. Defendant‟s advanced age, combined with the 

statutorily-mandated sentences for the non-forcible offenses, will likely lead to a new 

sentence that will cause defendant to spend the rest of his life in prison. 

STATEMENT OF THE FACTS

Defendant dated Jane Doe‟s mother for several years. When Doe was seven or 

eight years old, defendant moved in with Doe and her mother. Defendant lived with Doe 

and her mother “[o]ff and on” for approximately nine years. Over the course of those 

years, they moved frequently and lived together in several different houses. 

Defendant had sexual contact with Doe from the time Doe was nine years old to 

the time she was 16 years old.3 Described below are the sex acts that occurred at each of 

the houses that defendant shared with Doe and her mother.

Counts 2, 3, and 27: San Benito Street in Hollister 

When Doe was nine years old, defendant approached Doe in the hallway of their 

house on San Benito Street in Hollister. He placed his finger in her vagina. Doe 

“jumped up because it hurt.” Defendant then tried to reinsert his finger into Doe‟s 

vagina. 

 

defendant‟s argument regarding the trial court‟s failure to instruct on lesser-included nonforcible offenses. Because we reverse counts 27 and 28, we need not address defendant‟s 

argument regarding improper convictions for lesser-included offenses of counts 27 and 

28, and we need not address defendant‟s argument regarding count 27 and section 654. 

Because we remand for resentencing on all counts, and because we reduce the 

convictions in counts 12, 13, 15, 16, 21, and 23 to non-forcible offenses not subject to 

full-term consecutive sentences under section 667.6, subdivision (d), we need not address 

defendant‟s argument regarding the sufficiency of the evidence for full-term consecutive 

sentences on counts 12, 13, 15, 16, 21, and 23. 

3

 Doe was 18 years old at the time of trial, and defendant was 56 years old at the 

time of trial. 
4

Doe told her mother that defendant had “touched” her. Doe‟s mother confronted 

defendant with the information, and defendant said that he and Doe had been wrestling 

and playing around. 

Counts 4-11 and 28: Howard Court in Hollister 

When Doe was 12 years old, she and defendant were in the kitchen at their home 

on Howard Court in Hollister, and defendant told her that he “wanted to show [her] how 

it was done.” Defendant said that “it was just going to happen that one time.” Defendant 

then had sexual intercourse with Doe in her mother‟s bedroom. Doe experienced pain 

during the intercourse. Defendant was aware that Doe was in pain, and he commented 

that “it was too tight.” Doe “felt comfortable” after the intercourse because defendant 

assured her that it would happen only that one time. 

On Doe‟s thirteenth birthday, defendant asked Doe if she “wanted to do it.” Doe 

said no. Defendant “kept asking.” Doe “just said okay,” and they “ended up” having 

sexual intercourse. 

While living at the house on Howard Court, defendant had sexual intercourse with 

Doe more than 20 times. The intercourse always occurred while Doe‟s mother was at 

work. 

Counts 12-16: Pinot Noir Court in Los Banos 

When Doe was 14 years old, defendant, Doe, and Doe‟s mother moved into a 

house on Pinot Noir Court in Los Banos. While living on Pinot Noir Court, defendant 

“would want to have sex” with Doe before she went to school. Defendant would call 

Doe‟s name, and Doe “already knew he wanted to have sex.” Defendant would tell Doe 

to come into one of the bedrooms, and defendant and Doe “would have sex.” 

Defendant, Doe, and Doe‟s mother lived on Pinot Noir Court for seven months. 

While living on Pinot Noir Court, defendant and Doe had sexual intercourse 

approximately once a week. On one occasion when they had sexual intercourse, Doe put 
5

her mouth on defendant‟s “private area.” On other occasions when they had sexual 

intercourse, defendant put his mouth on Doe‟s “private area.” 

After defendant had sexual intercourse with Doe, Doe would act like it had not 

happened. Doe explained that she did not want to think about defendant. 

Doe felt uncomfortable when she was alone with defendant at the house on Pinot 

Noir Court. Doe explained that she knew defendant would want to have sexual 

intercourse if she was alone with defendant. 

Counts 17-26: East First Street in Morgan Hill 

When Doe was 15 years old, defendant, Doe, and Doe‟s mother moved into a 

house on East First Street in Morgan Hill. They lived in that house for one and a half 

years, and defendant and Doe had sexual intercourse one to two times a week while 

living there. 

Doe explained that defendant would call her into one of the house‟s rooms, and 

she and defendant “would have sex.” On many of the occasions when they had sexual 

intercourse, defendant would also perform oral sex on Doe. Defendant stopped having 

sexual intercourse with Doe around the time she turned 16 years old. 

Doe testified that she did not like being alone with defendant during the time they 

lived on East First Street. Doe explained that defendant made her feel uncomfortable 

when they were alone together. 

Facts Pertaining to All Counts 

Before having sexual intercourse with Doe, defendant would always kiss her and 

touch her breasts.4 On some occasions, Doe “would get on top of him” during the 

intercourse. 

 

4

 The forcible lewd conduct convictions in counts 5, 7, 9 and 11 were based on 

defendant's acts of kissing Doe and touching her breasts. 
6

Doe always refused to have sexual intercourse in her own bedroom. Doe did 

everything she could to prevent the intercourse from happening in her bedroom. 

Sometimes Doe told defendant that she did not want to have sexual intercourse 

with him. When Doe refused to have sexual intercourse with him, defendant “would get 

mad” and would not talk to her for a few days. Doe “cared for” defendant, and she did 

not like it when he would not talk to her. 

Doe testified that she and defendant “had good times” together. She explained 

that she liked to wrestle with defendant. She also enjoyed going on motorcycle rides with 

defendant. 

Doe did not fear defendant. Defendant was protective of Doe, and he told people 

that he was her father.5 

Defendant‟s relationship with Doe‟s mother was “[o]ff and on” and “[v]ery 

unstable.” Defendant would move out of the houses he shared with Doe and her mother 

when he “was caught cheating” with other women. 

Doe’s Letter to her Mother and the Police Investigation 

When Doe was 17 years old, Doe‟s mother discovered that Doe was involved in a 

lesbian relationship. Doe‟s mother did not like Doe‟s sexual preference, and she did not 

talk to Doe for a few days. In order to rehabilitate her relationship with her mother, Doe 

wrote her mother a letter. In the letter, Doe stated that she “turned to girls” because 

defendant had molested her. After reading the letter, Doe‟s mother contacted the police. 

The police arranged for Doe to place a recorded phone call to defendant. A tape 

of the call was played for the jury. During the call, Doe told defendant that she was 

“more comfortable with girls” because of “what happened between” her and defendant. 

 

5

 The People assert that Doe “told people that [defendant] was her dad.” This is 

an incorrect statement of the evidence. Doe testified that defendant would “tell 

everybody that . . . he was [Doe‟s] dad.” Doe never testified that she told people that 

defendant was her father. 
7

Defendant responded, “Why? You think all boys and men are like that?” Defendant also 

stated, “[I]t happened to me when I was a kid.” Doe asked, “If you knew it hurt so bad, 

why—why did you do it to somebody else?” Defendant responded, “I think it was just—

it was just a sexual thing and—that‟s exactly what it was.” Defendant continued, “I 

know . . . we‟ve done some stupid things, but I am sorry. . . . I love you to death. And, 

hey, I mean it. When you see me the way I am right now, it‟s pure[,] natural[,] just plain, 

clean love.” 

Expert Testimony 

An expert witness testified regarding Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation 

Syndrome (CSAAS). CSAAS is a “description of unexpected conditions and situations 

that typically occur in child sexual abuse cases that often are in conflict with many 

people‟s preconceived ideas about child sexual abuse.” The expert testified that children 

who have been victims of sexual abuse often wait to report the crime and continue to 

interact with the offender. While children are experiencing sexual abuse, they frequently 

“act as if nothing is wrong.” A “triggering event,” such as a “heated family argument,” 

will often prompt an abused child to report the molestation. 

Defense Evidence 

Defendant‟s daughter, Janelle Reyes, testified that she and Doe were very close 

friends. Ms. Reyes frequently saw defendant and Doe interact. Ms. Reyes never had the 

impression that Doe did not want to be alone with defendant. Doe never told Ms. Reyes 

that she was afraid of defendant. 

Defendant‟s brother, Frank Reyes, also testified for the defense. Mr. Reyes 

testified that he and defendant had remodeled a home owned by defendant and Doe‟s 

mother. 

The defense theory was that Doe fabricated the allegation of child molestation in 

response to her mother‟s negative reaction to her lesbian relationship, and that Doe‟s 
8

mother reported the molestation allegation in order to take advantage of defendant‟s 

improvements to the house they owned together. The defense alternatively argued that 

there was no evidence of force or duress. 

DISCUSSION

I. Sufficiency of the Evidence

Defendant argues there was insufficient evidence of force or duress to support 

counts 2-17, 19, 21, 23, 24, and 26-28. The People contend counts 2, 3, 4, and 27 were 

supported by sufficient evidence of force. The People argue the remaining counts were 

supported by sufficient evidence of duress. 

As explained below, we conclude that there was insufficient evidence of force or 

duress to support counts 2-17, 19, 21, 23, 24, and 26-28. Consequently, we will reverse 

the convictions in counts 27 and 28, and we will reduce the convictions in the remaining 

counts to convictions for lesser-included non-forcible offenses. 

A. Standard of Review

“In assessing the sufficiency of the evidence, we review 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 such that a reasonable trier of fact could find the 

defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.” (People v. Bolin (1998) 18 Cal.4th 297, 

331.) “ „[O]ur task . . . is twofold. First, we must resolve the issue in the light of the 

whole record—i.e., the entire picture of the defendant put before the jury—and may not 

limit our appraisal to isolated bits of evidence selected by the respondent. Second, we 

must judge whether the evidence of each of the essential elements . . . is substantial; it is 

not enough for the respondent simply to point to “some” evidence supporting the finding, 

for “[n]ot every surface conflict of evidence remains substantial in the light of other 

facts.” ‟ [Citation.]” (People v. Johnson (1980) 26 Cal.3d 557, 577, italics omitted.) 
9

B. There was Insufficient Evidence of Force to Support Counts 2, 3, 4, and 27 

In count 2 defendant was convicted of forcible sexual penetration by a foreign 

object in violation of section 289, subdivision (a)(1). In count 3 defendant was convicted 

of committing a forcible lewd act on a child in violation of section 288, 

subdivision (b)(1). In count 27 defendant was convicted of aggravated sexual assault on 

a child in violation of section 269, subdivision (a)(5). The conduct underlying counts 2, 

3, and 27 was defendant‟s act of placing his finger in 9-year-old Doe‟s vagina. 

In count 4 defendant was convicted of forcible rape in violation of section 261, 

subdivision (a)(2). The conduct underlying count 4 was the act of sexual intercourse that 

occurred when Doe was 12 years old. 

The People argue counts 2, 3, and 27 were supported by sufficient evidence of 

force because Doe testified that she experienced pain when defendant placed his finger in 

her vagina. Similarly, the People contend count 4 was supported by sufficient evidence 

of force because Doe testified that the intercourse was painful. As we will explain, the 

evidence of pain was insufficient to establish the requisite force. 

Section 288, subdivision (b)(1) criminalizes commission of a lewd act on a child 

“by use of force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily 

injury.” Section 289, subdivision (a)(1)(A) and section 269, subdivision (a)(5) prohibit 

acts of sexual penetration “accomplished against the victim‟s will by means of force, 

violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury.” (§ 289, 

subd. (a)(1); see § 269, subd. (a)(5) [prohibiting “[s]exual penetration, in violation of 

subdivision (a) of Section 289,” on a child under 14 years old by a person who is seven 

years older than the child].) Section 261, subdivision (a)(2) prohibits sexual intercourse 

“accomplished against a person‟s will by means of force, violence, duress, menace, or 

fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury.” 
10

As used in section 288, subdivision (b)(1), the term “force” means “ „physical 

force substantially different from or substantially in excess of that required for the lewd 

act.‟ ” (People v. Quinones (1988) 202 Cal.App.3d 1154, 1159.) For purposes of 

section 289, subdivision (a)(1) and section 269, subdivision (a)(5), the term “force” 

means “the defendant accomplished an act of sexual penetration by the use of force 

sufficient to overcome the victim‟s will.” (In re Asencio (2008)166 Cal.App.4th 1195, 

1205.) As used in section 261, subdivision (a)(2), the term “ „force‟ ” means “ „physical 

force of a degree sufficient to support a finding that the act of sexual intercourse was 

against the will of the [victim].‟ ” (People v. Griffin (2004) 33 Cal.4th 1015, 1024 

(Griffin).) In other words, force for purposes of section 261, subdivision (a)(2) means 

“force sufficient to overcome the victim‟s will.” (Id. at p. 1027.) 

In the instant case, there was no evidence that counts 2, 3, and 27 were committed 

by means of force. The evidence established that defendant placed his finger in nineyear-old Doe‟s vagina, and Doe “jumped up because it hurt.” Although Doe experienced 

pain during the penetration, the People failed to present evidence establishing that the 

pain was caused by anything other than the act of penetration itself. There was no 

evidence that defendant grabbed, held, or restrained Doe in conjunction with the 

penetration. (People v. Alvarez (2009) 178 Cal.App.4th 999, 1005 [“acts of grabbing, 

holding and restraining that occur in conjunction with the lewd acts themselves” 

constitute sufficient force.].) There was no evidence that defendant pulled off Doe‟s 

clothes, and there was no evidence that defendant lay on top of Doe during the 

penetration. (See In re Asencio, supra, 166 Cal.App.4th at p.1206 [the defendant‟s “act 

of pulling down [the child‟s] underwear and rolling his adult body on top of this six-yearold child” was sufficient force for the crime of forcible sexual penetration].) Rather, the 

evidence established only that defendant placed his finger in Doe‟s vagina. Thus, the 

evidence failed to establish force substantially different from or substantially in excess of 
11

that required for the penetration, and the evidence failed to establish penetration 

accomplished by the use of force sufficient to overcome Doe‟s will. We accordingly 

conclude that there was insufficient evidence of force to support counts 2, 3, and 27. 

Likewise, there was no evidence that count 4 was accomplished by means of 

force. The evidence established that defendant had sexual intercourse with 12-year-old 

Doe, defendant commented that “it was too tight,” and Doe experienced some pain 

during the intercourse. Although Doe experienced pain, there was no evidence that the 

pain was caused by physical force sufficient to overcome Doe‟s will. Instead, the 

evidence strongly suggested that Doe‟s pain was caused by the penetration inherent in the 

sex act itself. As a general matter, “the force inherent in the act of penetration” is 

insufficient to establish the requisite force for forcible rape. (In re Jose P. (2005) 131 

Cal.App.4th 110, 117.) Moreover, there was no other evidence that suggested that 

defendant exerted physical force upon Doe in order to overcome her will. There was no 

evidence that defendant pinned Doe down during the intercourse. (Griffin, supra, 33 

Cal.4th at p. 1029 [finding sufficient evidence of force where the defendant “pinned [the 

victim‟s] arms to the floor as he penetrated her vagina with his penis”].) There was no 

evidence that defendant was on top of Doe during the intercourse. There was no 

evidence that defendant positioned Doe‟s body before or during the intercourse. (People 

v. Young (1987) 190 Cal.App.3d 248, 258 [finding sufficient evidence of force for 

forcible rape based, in part, on the defendant‟s “positioning of [the victim‟s] body in 

accomplishing the act”].) There was no evidence that defendant physically prevented 

Doe from terminating the intercourse. Thus, because the evidence failed to establish 

physical force sufficient to overcome Doe‟s will, we conclude that there was insufficient 

evidence of force to support count 4. 

The People argue that In re Jose P., supra, 131 Cal.App.4th 110 requires us to find 

sufficient evidence of force to support counts 2, 3, 4, and 27. In In re Jose P., the victim 
12

“made it clear to appellant, repeatedly and prior to penetration, both that she did not want 

to be penetrated and that appellant‟s efforts were both against her will and physically 

painful to her. Appellant, nonetheless, forced his penis into her vagina. [The victim] was 

left with pain in her vagina and stomach, and with difficulty walking.” (Id. at p. 117.) In 

re Jose P. held that this evidence was sufficient to establish the force required for forcible 

rape: “What we do hold is that there is substantial evidence in this case to show that, 

against the victim‟s will, appellant forced his penis inside her vagina and thus committed 

a violation of section 261, subdivision (a)(2).” (Id. at p. 118, fn. omitted.) 

Defendant‟s case is distinguishable from In re Jose P. In finding sufficient 

evidence of force, In re Jose P. emphasized the fact that the victim repeatedly told the 

appellant she did not want to be penetrated and the fact that the victim experienced 

substantial pain after the rape. In defendant‟s case, there was no such evidence. There 

was no evidence that Doe told defendant she did not want to have sexual intercourse with 

him,6and there was no evidence that she told him she did not want to be digitally 

penetrated. Additionally, in defendant‟s case there was no evidence that Doe experienced 

pain of the same magnitude as that experienced by the victim in In re Jose P. Although 

Doe testified that the digital penetration “hurt” and that she experienced some pain during 

the intercourse, there was no evidence that Doe experienced significant, persisting pain 

like the victim in In re Jose P. Therefore, contrary to the People‟s assertion, In re Jose P. 

does not compel us to find sufficient evidence of force in defendant‟s case. 

The People also argue that Griffin, supra 33 Cal.4th 1015 requires us to find 

sufficient evidence of force to support counts 2, 3, 4, and 27. In Griffin, the defendant 

 

6

 In regard to count 4, the People contend that Doe told defendant she did not 

want to have sexual intercourse with him. The People mischaracterize the evidence. Doe 

testified that, on the instances when she told defendant she did not want to have sexual 

intercourse with him, defendant would not talk to her. Doe did not testify that she told 

defendant no before or during the sexual intercourse charged in count 4. 
13

“pinned [the victim‟s] arms to the floor as he penetrated her vagina with his penis. The 

victim unequivocally testified she did not consent to the act of intercourse and that it was 

accomplished against her will.” (Id. at p. 1029.) Griffin held that there was sufficient 

evidence of force to support the defendant‟s forcible rape conviction: “The jury could 

reasonably infer that by pinning her arms to the floor, defendant was able to achieve 

penetration on the occasion in question without [the victim‟s] consent before she was 

able to register her objection. The circumstance that defendant did not apply additional 

force to continue the intercourse after [the victim] objected does not eliminate his 

culpability for his initial penetration of [the victim] against her will by use of force.” 

(Ibid.) 

Defendant‟s case is distinguishable from Griffin. Griffin found sufficient evidence 

of force in the defendant‟s act of pinning the victim‟s arms to the floor. In defendant‟s 

case, there was no such use of force. There was no evidence that defendant physically 

restrained Doe in any way during the digital penetration or during the sexual intercourse. 

Accordingly, the People‟s reliance on Griffin is unavailing. 

For the foregoing reasons, we conclude that the evidence failed to show force. We 

therefore hold that there was insufficient evidence to support counts 2, 3, 4, and 27. 

C. There was Insufficient Evidence of Duress to Support the Remaining 

Counts

In counts 5, 7, 9 and 11 defendant was convicted of forcible lewd conduct on a 

child in violation of section 288, subdivision (b)(1). In counts 6, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 

21, 24, and 26 he was convicted of forcible rape in violation of section 261, 

subdivision (a)(2). In counts 12, 15, and 23 he was convicted of forcible oral copulation 

in violation of section 288a, subdivision (c)(2). In count 28 he was convicted of 

aggravated sexual assault on a child in violation of section 269, subdivision (a)(1). These 
14

counts were based on the various sex acts that occurred at the Howard Court home, the 

Pinot Noir Court home, and the East First Street home.

The People argue the requisite duress for these offenses was established by Doe‟s 

testimony that defendant would not talk to her for a few days whenever she refused to 

have sexual intercourse with him. The People explain: “Doe . . . testified that she did not 

like it when [defendant] would not talk to her, because she still cared for him.” As we 

will explain, the People‟s argument is unpersuasive. 

As noted above, section 288, subdivision (b)(1) prohibits lewd conduct on a child 

committed by means of duress, and section 261, subdivision (a)(2) prohibits sexual 

intercourse against a victim‟s will by means of duress. Section 288a, subdivision (c)(2) 

criminalizes oral copulation “accomplished against the victim‟s will by means of . . . 

duress.” (§ 288a, subd. (c)(2)(A).) Section 269, subdivision (a)(1) prohibits sexual 

intercourse “against a person‟s will by means of . . . duress.” (See § 269, subd. (a)(1) 

[prohibiting rape “in violation of paragraph (2) . . . of subdivision (a) of Section 261” 

upon a child under 14 years old by a person seven or more years older than the child].)

As used in section 288, subdivision (b)(1) and section 288a, subdivision (c)(2), the 

term “duress” means “ „a direct or implied threat of force, violence, danger, hardship or 

retribution sufficient to coerce a reasonable person of ordinary susceptibilities to 

(1) perform an act which otherwise would not have been performed or, (2) acquiesce in 

an act to which one otherwise would not have submitted.‟ [Citation.]” (People v. Leal

(2004) 33 Cal.4th 999, 1004-1005, italics omitted.) For section 261, subdivision (a)(2) 

and section 269 subdivision (a)(1), the same definition of “duress” is employed, with the 

exception that a threat of hardship will not suffice. Thus, for purposes of section 261, 

subdivision (a)(2) and section 269 subdivision (a)(1), the term “duress” means “a direct 

or implied threat of force, violence, danger, or retribution sufficient to coerce a 

reasonable person of ordinary susceptibilities to perform an act which otherwise would 
15

not have been performed, or acquiesce in an act to which one otherwise would not have 

submitted.” (§ 261, subd. (b); see § 269, subd. (a)(1) [prohibiting rape “in violation 

of . . . Section 261”].) 

“The total circumstances, including the age of the victim, and [her] relationship to 

defendant are factors to be considered in appraising the existence of duress.” (People v. 

Pitmon (1985) 170 Cal.App.3d 38, 51.) “Other relevant factors include threats to harm 

the victim, physically controlling the victim when the victim attempts to resist, and 

warnings to the victim that revealing the molestation would result in jeopardizing the 

family.” (People v. Cochran (2002) 103 Cal.App.4th 8, 14 (Cochran).) 

“ „ “Psychological coercion” without more does not establish duress.‟ ” (People v. 

Espinoza (2002) 95 Cal.App.4th 1287, 1321 (Espinoza).) 

In the instant case, there was insufficient evidence of duress. Although Doe 

testified that she did not like it when defendant did not talk to her, defendant‟s act of not 

talking to Doe did not rise to the level of duress contemplated by the forcible sexual 

assault statutes. Doe was between the ages of 13 and 16 at the time of the alleged 

offenses, and defendant was the “off and on” boyfriend of Doe‟s mother. Defendant‟s act 

of not speaking to Doe for a few days was not the sort of conduct that would coerce a 

reasonable adolescent in Doe‟s position to have non-consensual sexual relations with 

defendant. (See People v. Veale (2008) 160 Cal.App.4th 40, 47 [duress present where the 

victim “feared defendant and feared that if she told anyone defendant was molesting her, 

defendant would kill her or mother”]; People v. Senior (1992) 3 Cal.App.4th 765, 776 

[duress present where the defendant threatened to hurt the victim and the defendant 

warned the victim she would “break up the family unit if she told”].) Defendant‟s silence 

was mere psychological coercion, not duress that would compel a reasonable adolescent 

to submit to unwanted sexual advances. (See Espinoza, supra, 95 Cal.App.4th at 

p. 1321.) Moreover, Doe‟s testimony did not establish that she actually submitted to 
16

defendant‟s sexual advances simply because she feared he would not speak to her. 

Rather, despite the fact that she knew defendant would not talk to her, on some occasions 

Doe refused to have sexual intercourse with defendant. Indeed, when asked if she was 

“willing to do anything” to get defendant to talk to her, Doe responded that she was not 

willing to do anything to get defendant to talk to her. Thus, defendant‟s act of not talking 

to Doe did not constitute sufficient evidence of duress. 

Espinoza, supra, 95 Cal.App.4th 1287 is instructive. In Espinoza, the victim was 

12 years old, she was “in special education classes at school,” and the defendant was her 

father. (Id. at p. 1292.) The defendant molested the victim on five occasions. (Id. at 

p. 1293.) On the first four occasions, the defendant rubbed her breasts and vagina 

underneath her clothes. (Ibid.) The victim was “ „too scared to do anything‟ ” when the 

defendant was molesting her. (Ibid.) On the fifth and final occasion, the defendant 

rubbed the victim‟s body, put his tongue in her mouth, licked her vagina, and tried to put 

his penis in her vagina. (Ibid.) During one of the molestations, the defendant asked, 

“ „Do you still love me?‟ ” (Id. at p. 1295.) He then repeatedly said, “ „Please love me.‟ ” 

(Ibid.) He possibly cried while asking the victim to love him. (Ibid.) We held that this 

evidence did not establish the requisite duress for forcible attempted rape and forcible 

lewd conduct on a child. (Id. at pp. 1320-1321.) We reasoned: “The only way that we 

could say that defendant‟s lewd act on [the victim] and attempt at intercourse with [the 

victim] were accomplished by duress is if the mere fact that he was [the victim‟s] father 

and larger than her combined with her fear and limited intellectual level were sufficient to 

establish that the acts were accomplished by duress. What is missing here is the „ “direct 

or implied threat of force, violence, danger, hardship or retribution . . . .” ‟ [Citation.]” 

(Id. at pp. 1321.) 

If the conduct in Espinoza, supra, 95 Cal.App.4th 1287, did not rise to the level of 

duress, we cannot conclude that the conduct in the instant case constituted duress. The 
17

Espinoza defendant‟s emotional plea for the victim to love him seems more coercive than 

defendant‟s act of not talking to Doe. The Espinoza victim had limited mental 

capabilities and was afraid of the defendant. In contrast, Doe was not mentally disabled, 

and she specifically testified that she was not afraid of defendant. Doe was thus less 

susceptible to emotional coercion than the Espinoza victim. Moreover, duress is readily 

established when the defendant is the victim‟s father. (See Cochran, supra, 103 

Cal.App.4th at p. 16, fn. 6 [“when the victim is as young as this victim and is molested by 

her father in the family home, in all but the rarest cases duress will be present”].) If the 

actions of the Espinoza defendant—the victim‟s father—did not constitute duress, it 

would be difficult for us to conclude that the actions of defendant—who was merely the 

“off and on” boyfriend of Doe‟s mother—constituted duress. We must therefore 

conclude that the evidence in defendant‟s case failed to establish duress. 

The People argue that Cochran, supra, 103 Cal.App.4th 8 requires us to find 

sufficient evidence of duress. In Cochran, the defendant molested his nine-year-old 

daughter. (Id. at p. 15.) He directed the victim to digitally penetrate herself and to 

penetrate herself with a dildo and a vibrator. (Id. at p. 12.) He sodomized the victim, and 

he penetrated her vagina with his penis, his finger, a dildo and a vibrator. (Id. at p. 12.) 

The defendant weighed 100 pounds more than the victim, and the victim told the 

defendant that the sex acts hurt. (Id. at p. 15.) The defendant told the victim not to tell 

anyone about the molestation “because he would get in trouble and could go to jail.” 

(Ibid.) Cochran held that there was sufficient evidence of duress to support the 

defendant‟s convictions for aggravated sexual assault on a child and forcible lewd acts on 

a child. (Id. at p. 16.) Cochran reasoned: “This record paints a picture of a small, 

vulnerable and isolated child who engaged in sex acts only in response to her father‟s 

parental and physical authority. Her compliance was derived from intimidation and the 

psychological control he exercised over her and was not the result of freely given 
18

consent. Under these circumstances, given the age and size of the victim, her relationship 

to the defendant, and the implicit threat that she would break up the family if she did not 

comply, the evidence amply supports a finding of duress.” (Id. at pp. 15-16, fn. omitted.) 

Defendant‟s case is distinguishable from Cochran. Defendant was not Doe‟s 

father, and Doe—who was between the ages of 13 and 16 at the time of the alleged 

offenses—was much older than the Cochran victim. Doe therefore cannot be considered 

as vulnerable as the Cochran victim. Additionally, unlike Cochran, defendant never 

made an implied threat to break up Doe‟s family. The People‟s reliance on Cochran 

therefore is unavailing. 

The People also contend that People v. Bergschneider (1989) 211 Cal.App.3d 144 

(overruled on another point in Griffin, supra, 33 Cal.4th at p. 1028) requires us to find 

sufficient evidence of duress. In Bergschneider, the 14-year-old victim was “slightly 

mentally retarded,” and the defendant was her stepfather. (Bergschneider, supra, 211 

Cal.App.3d at p. 150.) On a “regular basis,” the defendant would have sexual intercourse 

with the victim and orally copulate her. (Ibid.) Sometimes the victim would push the 

defendant‟s head away when he attempted to orally copulate her, and sometimes she 

would place her hands in front of her vagina in order to resist intercourse with the 

defendant. (Ibid.) Before the first act of sexual intercourse, the defendant warned the 

victim she would be placed on restriction, which meant she could not “go anywhere or 

spend the night with anyone,” if she refused to have sexual contact with him. (Ibid, 

fn. 3.) Bergschneider held that there was sufficient evidence of duress to support the 

defendant‟s conviction for forcible oral copulation: “Here, we conclude the threats of 

restriction are sufficient to allow the jury to conclude that [the defendant] accomplished 

the charged act of oral copulation with [the victim]—a 14-year-old of limited mental 

capability—by means of duress.” (Id. at p. 154.) 
19

The People‟s reliance on Bergshneider is misplaced. Unlike the victim in 

Bergshneider, Doe was not mentally retarded. The victim‟s limited mental capability 

was central to Bergshneider’s determination that the oral copulation was accomplished 

by means of duress. (Bergschneider, supra, 211 Cal.App.3d at p. 154.) We therefore 

must conclude that defendant‟s case is distinguishable from Bergschneider. 

For the foregoing reasons, we conclude that the evidence failed to show duress. 

We therefore hold that there was insufficient evidence to support counts 5-17, 19, 21, 23, 

24, 26, and 28. 

D. We Reverse Counts 27 and 28 and Reduce the Remaining Counts to NonForcible Offenses

Defendant argues that “this court may find it appropriate to reduce [his] current 

convictions of forcible sex offenses to the appropriate non-forcible sex offenses.” 

Specifically, defendant contends that his convictions should be reduced to the following 

“lesser-included non-forcible sex offenses: non-forcible lewd acts with a child (§ 288, 

subd. (a)), unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor (§ 261.5, subd. (a)), non-forcible 

penetration with foreign object (§ 289, subd. (j)), and non-forcible oral copulation with a 

minor (§ 288a, subds. (b)(2), (c)(1)).” The People agree that any count that is not 

supported by sufficient evidence “should be reduced to an applicable lesser-included 

offense.” 

This court has the power to reduce convictions that are not supported by sufficient 

evidence: “When the verdict or finding is contrary to law or evidence, but if the evidence 

shows the defendant to be not guilty of the degree of the crime of which he was 

convicted, but guilty of a lesser degree thereof, or of a lesser crime included therein, the 

court may modify the verdict, finding or judgment accordingly without granting or 

ordering a new trial, and this power shall extend to any court to which the cause may be 
20

appealed.” (§ 1181, subd. (6).) We will accordingly reduce the convictions as requested 

by defendant. 

The forcible lewd conduct convictions in counts 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 are reduced to 

non-forcible lewd conduct in violation of section 288, subdivision (a). The forcible rape 

convictions in counts 4, 6, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, and 24 are reduced to unlawful 

sexual intercourse with a minor in violation of section 261.5, subdivision (d).7 The 

forcible rape conviction in count 26 is reduced to unlawful sexual intercourse with a 

minor in violation of section 261.5, subdivision (c).8 The conviction for forcible sexual 

penetration by a foreign object in count 2 is reduced to non-forcible sexual penetration by 

a foreign object in violation of section 289, subdivision (j). The forcible oral copulation 

convictions in counts 12, 15, and 23 are reduced to non-forcible oral copulation in 

 

7

 The charging allegations in the information established that Doe was under 16 

years old and defendant was over 21 years old at the time of the intercourse charged in 

counts 4, 6, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, and 24. The evidence at trial confirmed that 

Doe was under 16 years old and defendant was over 21 years old at the time of the 

intercourse charged in those counts. Due to their ages, we reduce the forcible rape 

convictions in counts 4, 6, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, and 24 to convictions for 

violation of section 261.5, subdivision (d), not section 261.5, subdivision (a). (See 

§ 261.5, subd. (d) [prohibiting sexual intercourse between a “person 21 years of age or 

older” and “a minor who is under 16 years of age”]; § 261.5, subd. (a) [prohibiting 

“sexual intercourse accomplished with a person who is . . . a minor”].) 

8

 The charging allegations in the information established that Doe was 16 years 

old and defendant was more than three years older than Doe at the time of the intercourse 

charged in count 26. The evidence at trial confirmed that Doe was 16 years old and 

defendant was more than three years older than Doe at the time of that intercourse. Due 

to their ages at the time of the intercourse, we must reduce the forcible rape conviction in 

count 26 to a conviction for violation of section 261, subdivision (c). (See § 261.5, 

subd. (c) [prohibiting “unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor who is more than three 

years younger than the perpetrator”].) 
21

violation of section 288a, subdivision (b)(2).9 We remand for resentencing on these 

reduced counts. 

The aggravated sexual assault on a child charged in count 27 was based on 

defendant‟s commission of forcible sexual penetration by a foreign object. The 

aggravated sexual assault on child charged in count 28 was based on defendant‟s 

commission of forcible rape. Because we conclude the evidence failed to establish a 

forcible sexual penetration by a foreign object or a forcible rape, there are no predicate 

offenses upon which to base counts 27 and 28. (See § 269, subds. (a)(1) & (a)(5) [an 

aggravated sexual assault on a child requires a forcible rape in violation of section 261, 

subdivision (a) or a forcible sexual penetration in violation of section 289, 

subdivision (a)].) We therefore must reverse counts 27 and 28. 

II. Admission of the Letter Written by Doe

Defendant argues the entire judgment must be reversed because the trial court 

prejudicially erred in admitting Doe‟s letter to her mother. As explained below, we agree 

that the trial court erred in admitting the letter, but we conclude that the admission of the 

letter was harmless. 

A. Background

Before trial, the prosecutor moved to admit the letter in which Doe explained she 

“turned to girls” because defendant had molested her. The trial court ruled that the letter 

could not be admitted as part of the prosecution‟s case-in-chief. 

 

9

 The acts of oral copulation alleged in counts 12, 15, and 23 occurred when Doe 

was 14 years old and 15 years old. Section 288a, subdivision (b)(2) prohibits oral 

copulation with a victim “who is under 16 years of age.” (§ 288a, subd. (b)(2).) In 

contrast, section 288a, subdivision (c)(1) prohibits oral copulation with a victim "who is 

under 14 years of age." (§ 288a, subd. (c)(1).) Due to Doe‟s age at the time of the oral 

copulations, we must reduce the convictions in counts 12, 15, and 23 to convictions for 

violation of section 288a, subdivision (b)(2), not section 288a, subdivision (c)(1). 
22

During the direct examination of Doe, the prosecutor showed Doe the letter and 

asked, “And in general, what is the nature of the letter?” Doe responded, “Telling [my 

mother] why I turned to girls and why I am the way I am.” The prosecutor asked, “When 

you [say] „why you are the way you are,‟ what do you mean by that?” Doe explained 

that she had always been “rude” and “mean” to her mother. After this testimony, the 

prosecutor moved to admit the letter itself into evidence, but the court refused to admit 

the letter. 

On cross-examination, defense counsel asked Doe, “And when did it come to the 

attention of your mother and/or the police that you were having sex with [defendant]?” 

Doe responded, “After I wrote her the letter.” Defense counsel asked a few questions 

regarding Doe‟s mother‟s negative attitude toward Doe‟s lesbian relationship, and 

defense counsel then inquired, “After [your mother] didn‟t talk to you for a few days, 

that‟s when you told her why you turned to girls?” Doe replied, “Yes. I wrote her the 

letter so she could understand why I turned to girls.” 

During the direct examination of Doe‟s mother, the prosecutor asked Doe‟s 

mother to explain the nature of the report she filed with the police. Doe‟s mother replied, 

“Because my daughter had wrote me a letter.” The prosecutor then asked, “What—what 

type of letter?” Doe‟s mother responded, “A letter specifying that—that [defendant] had 

molested her.” During the cross-examination of Doe‟s mother, defense counsel did not 

ask any questions regarding the letter, and Doe‟s mother never mentioned the letter. 

Following the testimony of Doe‟s mother, the prosecutor again moved to admit 

Doe‟s letter into evidence. Defense counsel objected to the admission of the letter. The 

court responded to defense counsel‟s objection: “It would seem to me, Counsel, that its 

contents are now admissible based on the fact that in your cross-examination of both the 

victim and her mother, you asked some—some questions about it. It would seem to me 

that once some parts of the letter have been brought in, that opposing counsel can bring 
23

the whole letter in to explain the otherwise maybe out-of-context reference to it.” The 

court continued: “It think it‟s Evidence Code section 356 which says if a document‟s 

partially referred to, the whole document may be entered. And based on the questions 

that were asked of Jane Doe on cross-examination, I think the whole document is now 

relevant, and I am inclined to allow admission of it.” 

The court then permitted Doe to read the letter into evidence. The letter stated the 

following: Doe “turned to girls” because defendant had “molested” her; because Doe 

wanted to get married and have children, she did not intend to “be with a girl [her] entire 

life”; Doe was disrespectful toward her mother because her mother failed to stop the 

molestation; during the time period when the molestation occurred, Doe prayed for the 

molestation to stop; during the time period when the molestation occurred, Doe “hated 

coming home after school.” 

B. Standard of Review

“A trial court‟s determination of whether evidence is admissible under [Evidence 

Code] section 356 is reviewed for abuse of discretion.” (People v. Parrish (2007) 152 

Cal.App.4th 263, 274 (Parrish).) 

The following principles must guide an appellate court‟s abuse of discretion 

analysis: “ „The discretion of a trial judge is not a whimsical, uncontrolled power, but a 

legal discretion, which is subject to the limitations of legal principles governing the 

subject of its action, and to reversal on appeal where no reasonable basis for the action is 

shown.‟ (9 Witkin, Cal. Procedure (5th ed. 2008) Appeal, § 364, p. 420; see Westside 

Community for Independent Living, Inc. v. Obledo (1983) 33 Cal.3d 348, 355.) „The 

scope of discretion always resides in the particular law being applied, i.e., in the “legal 

principles governing the subject of [the] action . . . .” Action that transgresses the 

confines of the applicable principles of law is outside the scope of discretion and we call 

such action an “abuse” of discretion. [Citation.] . . . [¶] The legal principles that govern 
24

the subject of discretionary action vary greatly with context. [Citation.] They are derived 

from the common law or statutes under which discretion is conferred.‟ (City of 

Sacramento v. Drew (1989) 207 Cal. App. 3d 1287, 1297-1298.) To determine if a court 

abused its discretion, we must thus consider „the legal principles and policies that should 

have guided the court‟s actions.‟ (People v. Carmony [(2004)] 33 Cal.4th [367,] 377.)” 

(Sargon Enterprises, Inc. v. University of Southern California (2012) 55 Cal.4th 747, 

773).)

C. The Trial Court Erred in Admitting the Letter Pursuant to Evidence Code 

Section 356

Evidence Code section 356 states: “Where part of an act, declaration, 

conversation, or writing is given in evidence by one party, the whole on the same subject 

may be inquired into by an adverse party; when a letter is read, the answer may be given; 

and when a detached act, declaration, conversation, or writing is given in evidence, any 

other act, declaration, conversation, or writing which is necessary to make it understood 

may also be given in evidence.” (Evid. Code, § 356.) This section “is sometimes 

referred to as the statutory version of the common-law rule of completeness.” (Parrish, 

supra, 152 Cal.App.4th at p. 269, fn. 3.) 

“The purpose of [Evidence Code section 356] is to prevent the use of selected 

aspects of a conversation, act, declaration, or writing, so as to create a misleading 

impression on the subjects addressed.” (People v. Arias (1996) 13 Cal.4th 92, 156.) The 

prosecution may introduce an entire writing under Evidence Code section 356 where the 

“the statements proffered by defendant, when viewed in isolation, presented a misleading 

picture of the entirety” of the writing. (Parrish, supra, 152 Cal.App.4th at p. 276.) 

In the instant case, defense counsel never asked Doe to describe portions of the 

letter. Rather, in response to defense counsel‟s cross-examination questions regarding 

Doe‟s relationship with her mother and the investigation of the charged crimes, Doe 
25

testified that the letter reported the molestation and explained why Doe had “turned to 

girls.” Nothing in Doe‟s cross-examination testimony created a misleading impression 

regarding the substance of the entire letter. The letter specified that Doe “turned to girls” 

because defendant had molested her; Doe‟s cross-examination testimony simply 

summarized the content of the letter. Moreover, Doe‟s cross-examination testimony 

merely reiterated evidence that was introduced during the prosecution‟s direct 

examinations of Doe and her mother. On direct-examination, Doe testified that she wrote 

the letter to explain to her mother the reason she had “turned to girls.” On direct 

examination, Doe‟s mother testified that Doe‟s letter stated that defendant had molested 

Doe. Because Doe‟s cross-examination testimony simply reiterated evidence that had 

already been introduced by the prosecution, we cannot conclude that misleading defense 

evidence authorized the prosecution‟s introduction of the entire letter. Accordingly, 

because defendant offered no evidence creating a misleading impression of the entire 

letter, the trial court abused its discretion in admitting the letter pursuant to Evidence 

Code section 356. (See People v. Riccardi (2012) 54 Cal.4th 758, 803 [the trial court 

erred in admitting an entire audio recording where the properly admitted portions of the 

recording did not create a “misleading impression requiring the playing of the entire 

recording to correct any such misimpression”].) 

D. The Error was Harmless

The erroneous admission of evidence pursuant to Evidence Code section 356 is 

reviewed under the prejudice standard articulated in People v. Watson (1956) 46 Cal.2d 

818 (Watson). (Riccardi, supra, 54 Cal.4th at pp. 803-804 [applying Watson standard to 

the erroneous admission of evidence under Evidence Code section 356].) Watson 

requires reversal only if “it is reasonably probable that a result more favorable to the 

appealing party would have been reached in the absence of the error.” (Watson, supra, 

46 Cal.2d at p. 836.) 
26

It is not reasonably probable that exclusion of the letter would have led to a result 

more favorable to defendant. The bulk of the letter simply reiterated facts that had 

already been established by properly admitted evidence. Doe repeatedly testified that she 

was involved in a lesbian relationship. During the pretext call, Doe stated that she 

became a lesbian because defendant had molested her. Doe also testified that she did not 

like being alone with defendant when she returned home after school, and that the 

molestation caused her to be rude and mean to her mother. Thus, the erroneous 

admission of the letter appears harmless because the letter “ „was merely cumulative of 

the properly admitted evidence.‟ ” (People v. Williams (1997) 16 Cal.4th 635, 673.) 

Although Doe never testified that she prayed for the molestation to stop, the portion of 

the letter containing this information was very brief and not so prejudicial as to bias the 

jury against defendant. (See People v. Fuiava (2012) 53 Cal.4th 622, 671 [admission of 

“brief” testimony was harmless].) Indeed, the letter as a whole was less inflammatory 

than Doe‟s testimony at trial. In the letter, Doe briefly stated that defendant had 

“molested” her, and that she had “turned to girls” because of the molestation. In contrast, 

Doe‟s lengthy trial testimony included specific details regarding the many sex acts that 

defendant initiated, her homosexuality, and her mother‟s negative attitude toward her 

homosexuality. (See People v. Davis (2005) 36 Cal.4th 510, 538 [admission of 

statements was harmless “because they were inconsequential in light of the vast quantity 

of admissible, highly damaging evidence”].) Accordingly, for the foregoing reasons, we 

conclude that exclusion of the letter would not have led to a more favorable result for 

defendant. The erroneous admission of the letter must therefore be deemed harmless. 

III. Motion to Discharge Retained Counsel

Defendant argues the case must be remanded for resentencing on all counts 

because the trial court applied the wrong standard when ruling on his motion to discharge 

retained counsel. For the reasons set forth below, we agree with defendant‟s contention. 
27

A. Background

On the scheduled sentencing date, March 25, 2011, the trial court received a letter 

in which defendant requested permission to discharge his retained attorney and hire a 

new attorney. Defendant had sent the letter “a few weeks” earlier, but for unknown 

reasons the trial court had not received it. The court asked defendant if he still wished to 

hire a new attorney. Defendant responded that he would like to hire a new attorney, and 

that he would need “a couple months” to do so. The court replied, “No, I don‟t think 

that‟s a reasonable amount of time.” The court agreed, however, to grant a two-week 

continuance so that defendant could secure a new attorney. 

On April 22, 2011, defendant informed the court that he could not afford to hire a 

new attorney. The court responded: “And on the March 25th letter . . . you indicated that 

you felt you were wrongfully defended, and I think that‟s probably enough of a 

Marsden10 motion . . . that I need to conduct a hearing on that.” The court then closed the 

courtroom to the public and held a hearing. 

At the beginning of the hearing, the court said to defendant: “I would invite you 

to expand, if you will, on your request for wishing to have your attorney relieved and the 

appointment of another attorney.” Defendant explained that he disagreed with many of 

the tactics defense counsel employed throughout the proceedings. The trial court then 

asked defense counsel to describe the work he had done on defendant‟s case. Defense 

counsel explained the strategy he had employed in defending defendant. 

At the end of the hearing, the court stated: “And . . . the evidence having been 

concluded, I would make my findings, and, one, there does not appear to be a breakdown 

between the attorney-client relationship. I do not see any conflicts between the attorney 

and [defendant] before, during, and even after trial. [¶] At this hearing, the burden is on 

 

10

 The court appears to have been referring to People v. Marsden (1970) 2 Cal.3d 

118. 
28

the defendant to show his inadequate representation, and this evidence, using even the 

light standard of proof, does not establish that in any manner whatsoever. And having sat 

on the trial, during the trial I felt the attorney‟s conduct was thorough and very 

competent, and my opinion still remains . . . that a very competent representation of the 

defendant occurred in this case, and the arguments that were made, I thought, were just 

outstanding and memorable in my experience of listening to arguments. [¶] So your 

request to relieve this attorney is denied. [¶] And that would conclude the Marsden 

hearing.” 

B. Reversal and Remand for Resentencing are Required

“When a defendant seeks substitution of appointed counsel pursuant to People v. 

Marsden, supra, 2 Cal.3d 118, „the trial court must permit the defendant to explain the 

basis of his contention and to relate specific instances of inadequate performance. The 

defendant is entitled to relief if the record clearly shows that the appointed counsel is not 

providing adequate representation or that defendant and counsel have become embroiled 

in such an irreconcilable conflict that ineffective representation is likely to result.‟ 

[Citations.]” (People v. Taylor (2010) 48 Cal.4th 574, 599.) 

In contrast, when a defendant seeks to discharge retained counsel, the defendant 

“need not demonstrate his attorney is providing inadequate representation, or he and his 

attorney are embroiled in irreconcilable conflict.” (People v. Munoz (2006) 138 

Cal.App.4th 860, 866 (Munoz).) “[T]he defendant has the right to discharge retained 

counsel with or without cause. [Citation.] „[A]bsent prejudice to [the defendant] or 

unreasonable delay in the processes of justice,‟ a motion to relieve retained counsel must 

be granted . . . .” (Id. at p. 869.) 

When a trial court erroneously denies a defendant‟s request to discharge retained 

counsel, reversal of the judgment is automatic. (Munoz, supra, 138 Cal.App.4th at 

pp. 870-871.) On remand, “the case shall proceed anew from the point defendant 
29

originally sought to discharge his attorney.” (Id. at p. 871.) 

People v. Hernandez (2006) 139 Cal.App.4th 101 (Hernandez) is instructive. In 

Hernandez, the defendant requested to discharge his retained attorney and have a public 

defender appointed. (Id. at p. 105.) The trial court “held what was in essence a Marsden

hearing, requiring [the defendant] to demonstrate his counsel was providing inadequate 

representation or that he and his attorney were embroiled in an irreconcilable conflict.” 

(Id. at p. 108.) The trial court denied the defendant‟s request, finding the defendant‟s 

disagreement with counsel‟s trial tactics was not a sufficient reason to discharge counsel. 

(Ibid.) Hernandez held that the trial court erroneously denied the defendant‟s request to 

discharge retained counsel, reasoning that “this Marsden hearing was „the inappropriate 

vehicle in which to consider [the defendant‟s] complaints against his retained counsel.‟ 

[Citation.]” (Ibid.) Hernandez further held that reversal of the judgment was automatic: 

“Because the trial court utilized the wrong standard, it did not adequately address the 

issue of delay. Reversal is automatic where, as here, a defendant has been deprived of his 

right to defend with counsel of his choice.” (Id. at p. 109.) In reaching its holding, 

Hernandez noted that it was of no consequence that the record suggested a valid reason 

for denying the defendant‟s request to discharge retained counsel. (Ibid.) Hernandez 

reasoned: “In this case, there appears to have been an adequate basis to deny [the 

request]. As we have seen, the request was made almost immediately before jury 

selection was to begin in a two-defendant case . . . , a circumstance that may have 

justified denial of the request. But . . . the trial court made no inquiry on the point and 

did not refer to it in its decision to deny [the defendant‟s] request. Instead, its decision 

appears to have been based entirely on application of a Marsden analysis. As we also 

have discussed, that does not suffice in a case such as this, when the defendant is 

represented by retained counsel . . . .” (Ibid.) 
30

Defendant‟s case is analogous to Hernandez. Like Hernandez, the trial court 

applied the Marsden standard in ruling on defendant‟s motion to discharge retained 

counsel. Also like Hernandez, the trial court failed to consider prejudice to defendant 

and unreasonable delay—the only factors that were relevant to defendant‟s motion to 

discharge retained counsel. (See Munoz, supra, 138 Cal.App.4th at p. 869.) Accordingly, 

because the trial court applied the wrong standard in ruling on defendant‟s motion to 

discharge retained counsel, the ruling on the motion cannot stand. (Hernandez, supra, 

139 Cal.App.4th at p. 109.) We therefore reverse the judgment and remand for 

resentencing on all counts with defendant afforded the opportunity to be represented by a 

new attorney. (See Munoz, supra, 138 Cal.App.4th at p. 871 [on remand “the case shall 

proceed anew from the point defendant originally sought to discharge his attorney”].) 

DISPOSITION

The judgment is reversed. We remand to the trial court with the following 

directions: (1) strike the aggravated sexual assault on a child convictions in counts 27 

and 28; (2) reduce the forcible lewd conduct convictions in counts 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 to 

non-forcible lewd conduct in violation of section 288, subdivision (a); (3) reduce the 

forcible rape convictions in counts 4, 6, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, and 24 to unlawful 

sexual intercourse with a minor in violation of section 261.5, subdivision (d); (4) reduce 

the forcible rape conviction in count 26 to unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor in 

violation of section 261.5, subdivision (c); (5) reduce the forcible sexual penetration by a 

foreign object conviction in count 2 to non-forcible sexual penetration by a foreign object 

in violation of section 289, subdivision (j); (6) reduce the forcible oral copulation 

convictions in counts 12, 15, and 23 to non-forcible oral copulation in violation of section 

288a, subdivision (b)(2); (7) conduct a new sentencing hearing for all counts with 

defendant afforded the opportunity to be represented by a new attorney. 
31

______________________________________

RUSHING, P.J.

WE CONCUR:

 

____________________________________

PREMO, J.

____________________________________

ELIA, J.