Filed 3/6/18

CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION

COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION ONE

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

In re CHRISTOPHER LEE WHITE

on Habeas Corpus.

 D073054

 (San Diego County Super. Ct. No. 

SCN376029)

ORIGINAL PROCEEDING in habeas corpus. Robert J. Kearney, Judge. Petition 

denied.

Boyce & Schaeffer, Laura Schaefer, Robert E. Boyce and Benjamin Kington for 

Petitioner.

Summer Stephan, District Attorney, Jesus Rodriguez, Assistant District Attorney, 

Peter Quon, Jr., Mark A. Amador, Linh Lam and Daniel Owens, Deputy District 

Attorneys for San Diego County District Attorney.

Petitioner Christopher Lee White is in custody awaiting trial on charges of 

attempted kidnapping with intent to commit rape (Pen. Code, § 209, subd. (b)),1 assault 

with intent to commit rape (§ 220, subd. (a)(1)), contact with a minor with intent to 

 

1 Further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise specified.
2

commit a sexual offense (§ 288.3, subd. (a)), and false imprisonment (§§ 236, 237, subd. 

(a)). At his preliminary hearing, White requested release on reasonable bail. 

The California Constitution provides that a defendant "shall be released on bail by 

sufficient sureties" unless an exception applies. (Cal. Const., art. I, § 12.) One such 

exception covers "[f]elony offenses involving acts of violence on another person, or 

felony sexual assault offenses on another person, when the facts are evident or the 

presumption great and the court finds based on clear and convincing evidence that there 

is a substantial likelihood the person's release would result in great bodily harm to 

others." (Id., art. I, § 12, subd. (b).) The trial court here recognized that it is "unusual" to 

deny bail for a noncapital offense, but it nonetheless found that the exception applied. 

White challenges the court's finding by petition for writ of habeas corpus. 

(§ 1490.) He asserts that the court erred by finding that the constitutional exception 

applied. For reasons we will explain, we disagree and deny the petition.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Fifteen-year-old J.D. lived with her family near the beach in Encinitas, California. 

On July 26, 2017, she was staying with friends because her family had been on vacation. 

In the afternoon, she rode her bicycle to her family's house to get her surfboard and go 

surfing. Across from her house she saw two men standing near a blue truck. They were 

playing loud music and looked out of place. J.D. felt like they were watching her. 

A woman loading her car nearby saw the two men and thought they looked 

"creepy." The men were staring at her as well. She was concerned that they might 

burglarize her vacation rental after she left. The woman's son thought they were being 
3

"creepy" also, so he took a Snapchat video of them. He told police he was worried about 

the men wanting to kidnap his younger brothers. 

J.D. had a bad feeling about the men, so she went through a gate into her 

neighbor's yard, hopped over the fence, and went into her garage. She later said she was 

trying to prevent the men from seeing where she lived. J.D. retrieved her surfboard from 

the garage, went out front, and left the surfboard in her driveway. The men were still 

staring at her, which made her feel uncomfortable. 

J.D. went inside, but she became concerned that someone would try to steal her 

surfboard. She grabbed some surfboard wax, went back outside, and started to wax the 

surfboard. The men were still standing by their truck. J.D. noticed a few people walk by, 

and a surfer came up from the beach and asked to borrow some wax. This request was 

normal, so J.D. agreed. 

J.D. continued to wax her surfboard in the driveway. At some point, when she had 

her back to the road, one of the men from the truck came up behind her and grabbed her 

neck "like a pressure lock." The man—later identified as White's roommate Jeremiah 

Owens—shoved J.D.'s face toward the driveway, but J.D. managed to catch herself with 

her hands. Owens said, "All right. Let's do this." He tried to pull her upright and toward

the truck. J.D. repeatedly told him "no" and "stop." 

J.D. managed to fight Owens off and step away from him. She saw the other 

man—later identified as White—still standing by the truck, looking up and down the 

street. She told Owens and White, "That's not cool. You can't do that." White said, 

"We're sorry" or "Sorry," and J.D. backed away toward her house. But then, while J.D. 
4

was watching them, White looked at Owens and said, "Go in the house." J.D. thought 

Owens would try and attack her again. 

J.D. went through the gate, locked it "as fast as [she] could," and ran into the 

house. Her neighbor's dog was barking near the gate. J.D. was "really scared" and 

locked both doors into the house. She thought Owens and White were going to follow 

her inside. She thought they might break the lock on the gate or hop over the fence. She 

was going to hide, but she heard the truck's engine start. She looked outside and saw 

White in the driver's seat. Owens ran around to the passenger side. J.D. thought they 

looked scared, and they drove quickly away. She started hyperventilating and crying. 

She tried and eventually succeeded in calling her parents, who told her to call the police. 

She called 911, and police responded. 

The police began an investigation and detained White. In two interviews with 

police, White denied knowing that Owens intended to attack J.D. White said Owens told 

him he thought J.D. was pretty. White admitted he "might have said go and get her" to 

Owens, but he said he meant go "talk to her." Owens then told him "hey watch out" or 

"watch this" and walked over to J.D. White said he thought Owens was just going to talk 

to her. White claimed that, when the attack began, he yelled at Owens to stop and told 

J.D. he was sorry. White said Owens told him afterwards that a "primal instinct" came 

over him. White was concerned that Owens had mental health issues. Forensic 

examination of White's mobile phone revealed an internet search history in the days after 

the attack that included the questions, "Why would someone act on their primal 
5

instinct?," "How can you tell if someone you know is being brain washed?," and "What 

to do if someone you know is being brainwashed?" Owens was later arrested as well. 

The San Diego County District Attorney charged White and Owens with the 

offenses identified above. White was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and was detained 

without bail. In advance of his preliminary hearing, White filed a written request for bail. 

It alleged that he had no criminal history and was not a violent person. It was supported 

by a number of letters from family and friends. 

At the preliminary hearing, the court heard testimony from J.D. and several 

investigating officers. After the testimony, the prosecution asked the court to find 

probable cause and bind White and Owens over for trial. The prosecution believed that 

Owens was the direct perpetrator and White was an aider and abettor of the attack on J.D. 

The court agreed. It found J.D. to be a credible witness. As to White, it found persuasive 

the following facts and inferences from J.D.'s testimony: (1) White and Owens loitered 

in front of J.D.'s house without any legitimate purpose, (2) they stared at J.D. in an 

abnormal manner, (3) White told Owens he should go into the house with J.D., (4) White 

waited for Owens to come back from attacking J.D. and drove away with him, and

(5) White behaved like a lookout during the attack. 

The court then heard White's request for bail. White's counsel argued that White 

was a high school graduate, was gainfully employed as a cable installer, and had the 

support of family and friends. He requested that bail be set at $50,000. Owens requested 

bail as well. The prosecution opposed. As to White, it argued, "I will submit to the 

Court that Mr. White did, in fact, aid and abet, encouraged this very violent crime. And I 
6

believe the Court is on sound legal ground to deny bail to him. I'll submit to the Court as 

to whether you would like to set bail, given the fact that he is not as culpable perhaps as 

Mr. Owens in being the direct perpetrator."

The court recognized, "It would be an unusual case, in fact, it would be the quite 

rare case where someone was held on a non-capital offense without bail." But the court 

believed the circumstances justified remand without bail here. It explained, "In looking 

at this case and the facts of the case, I do believe the facts are evident, [and] the 

presumption is great. I do find by clear and convincing evidence that one defendant 

inflicted the acts of violence, the other person aided and abetted in that. The Court finds 

on the basis of the clear and convincing evidence that there is a substantial likelihood that 

the release of either of these gentlemen would result in great bodily harm to others. I 

think the individuals [sic] at threat would be J.D. herself. I also think other children, who 

are the most vulnerable members of our society, would be at risk based on the conduct in 

this case and what's alleged to have occur[red] in this case. So it is extremely unusual, 

but I do find under these particular facts that the burden is met."

White challenged the court's remand order by petition for writ of habeas corpus in 

this court. He requested that we direct the trial court to vacate the order and set 

reasonable bail. We requested and received an informal response from the district 

attorney. After considering the petition and the informal response, we issued an order to 

show cause why the relief sought by White should not be granted. This proceeding 

followed.
7

DISCUSSION

I

As noted, the California Constitution provides that a defendant "shall be released 

on bail by sufficient sureties" unless an exception applies. (Cal. Const., art. I, § 12.) The 

Constitution initially contained a single exception, for "capital offenses when the proof is

evident or the presumption great." (Former Cal. Const., art. I, § 6; In re Application of

Weinberg (1918) 177 Cal. 781, 782; Ex parte Curtis (1891) 92 Cal. 188, 189; In re 

Nordin (1983) 143 Cal.App.3d 538, 543 (Nordin).) The electorate later adopted an 

initiative constitutional amendment that added two additional exceptions. (Cal. Const., 

art. I, § 12, amended by initiative, Primary Elec. (June 8, 1982); see In re Bright (1993) 

13 Cal.App.4th 1664, 1667, fn. 4; Nordin, at p. 543.)

One of the added exceptions, which is at issue here, covers "[f]elony offenses 

involving acts of violence on another person, or felony sexual assault offenses on another 

person, when the facts are evident or the presumption great and the court finds based on 

clear and convincing evidence that there is a substantial likelihood the person's release 

would result in great bodily harm to others[.]" (Cal. Const., art. I, § 12, subd. (b).)2 

White challenges the trial court's findings that (1) "the facts are evident or the 

 

2 The phrase "felony sexual assault offenses on another person" was not part of the 

original exception. It was added later. (See Assem. Const. Amend. No. 37, Stats. 1994 

(1993-1994 Reg. Session) res. ch. 95, approved Nov. 8, 1994.) The other added 

exception covers "[f]elony offenses when the facts are evident or the presumption great 

and the court finds based on clear and convincing evidence that the person has threatened 

another with great bodily harm and that there is a substantial likelihood that the person 

would carry out the threat if released." (Cal. Const., art. I, § 12, subd. (c).)
8

presumption great" and (2) "there is a substantial likelihood the person's release would 

result in great bodily harm to others."

II

Although its phrasing is archaic, the requirement that "the facts are evident or the 

presumption great" has long been held to mean simply that the evidence in the record 

would be sufficient to sustain a conviction. (Nordin, supra, 143 Cal.App.3d at p. 543; 

see In re Application of Weinberg, supra, 177 Cal. at p. 782; Ex parte Curtis, supra, 92 

Cal. at p. 189.) Our consideration of this requirement is therefore governed by the 

familiar substantial evidence standard: "When the sufficiency of the evidence to support 

a conviction is challenged on appeal, we review the entire record in the light most 

favorable to the judgment to determine whether it contains evidence that is reasonable, 

credible, and of solid value from which a trier of fact could find the defendant guilty 

beyond a reasonable doubt. [Citation.] Our review must presume in support of the 

judgment the existence of every fact the jury could reasonably have deduced from the 

evidence. [Citation.] Even where, as here, the evidence of guilt is largely circumstantial, 

our task is not to resolve credibility issues or evidentiary conflicts, nor is it to inquire 

whether the evidence might reasonably be reconciled with the defendant's innocence. 

[Citations.] It is the duty of the jury to acquit the defendant if it finds the circumstantial 

evidence is susceptible to two interpretations, one of which suggests guilt and the other 

innocence. [Citation.] But the relevant inquiry on appeal is whether, in light of all the 
9

evidence, 'any reasonable trier of fact could have found the defendant guilty beyond a 

reasonable doubt.' " (People v. Zaragoza (2016) 1 Cal.5th 21, 44 (Zaragoza).)3

White is alleged to have aided and abetted Owens in the commission of the 

charged offenses. " 'A person aids and abets the commission of a crime when he or she, 

(i) with knowledge of the unlawful purpose of the perpetrator, (ii) and with the intent or 

purpose of committing, facilitating or encouraging commission of the crime, (iii) by act 

or advice, aids, promotes, encourages or instigates the commission of the crime.' " 

(People v. Hill (1998) 17 Cal.4th 800, 851.) J.D. testified that White and Owens watched 

her for an unusual length of time, making her feel uncomfortable; that White appeared to 

act as a lookout for Owens; that White did not intervene during the attack but instead 

encouraged Owens to take J.D. into her house; and that White waited for Owens after the 

attack and drove him away. While White's statements to police denied any malicious 

intent, he acknowledged discussing J.D.'s attractiveness and telling Owens to "go and get 

her." Based on this record, a reasonable jury could find beyond a reasonable doubt that 

White and Owens agreed that Owens would attack J.D. while White acted as his lookout. 

The jury could find credible J.D.'s interpretation of White's behavior and of his statement 

 

3 The phrase "the facts are evident or the presumption great" has the same meaning 

for the trial court, so its assessment of this requirement is governed by the same 

substantial evidence standard. Because sufficiency of the evidence is a legal question, we 

do not defer the trial court's determination. We review the record independently to 

determine whether the evidence would be sufficient to sustain a conviction. This 

situation is analogous in substance to a trial court's consideration of a motion for acquittal 

under section 1118.1 and our review thereof. (See People v. Houston (2012) 54 Cal.4th 

1186, 1215; People v. Whisenhunt (2008) 44 Cal.4th 174, 200.)
10

("Get in the house") and convict him of the charged offenses on that basis. White has not 

shown that the evidence in the record would be insufficient to sustain his conviction.

White points out that mere presence at the scene of a crime, or failure to intervene, 

is insufficient in and of itself to constitute aiding and abetting. (See People v. Pettie 

(2017) 16 Cal.App.5th 23, 57; In re Michael T. (1978) 84 Cal.App.3d 907, 911.) But 

J.D.'s testimony shows that White's participation was much greater than simply presence 

at the scene or failure to intervene. A jury could reasonably infer that White acted as a 

lookout during the attack and encouraged Owens to continue after J.D. first fought him 

off. 

While a reasonable jury could alternatively find that Owens acted independently, 

as White claims, the constitutional standard requires us to consider whether the evidence 

would be sufficient to sustain a conviction, presuming the existence of every fact a jury 

could reasonably deduce from the evidence and resolving any conflicts in the evidence in 

favor of upholding the order. (See Zaragoza, supra, 1 Cal.5th at p. 44; Nordin, supra, 

143 Cal.App.3d at p. 543.) Under this standard, the evidence would be more than 

sufficient to sustain White's conviction of the charged offenses—even if a reasonable 

jury, viewing the evidence differently, would be justified in acquitting him.

III

The second requirement, that the court find by "clear and convincing evidence that 

there is a substantial likelihood the person's release would result in great bodily harm to 

others[,]" has not been defined in prior authorities. The parties have not cited, and our 
11

research has not found, any published opinions discussing its meaning. We will therefore 

consider the issue here.

Historically, with the exception of capital cases, bail was available to a defendant 

without regard to his threat to public safety. (In re Underwood (1973) 9 Cal.3d 345, 

349–350.) The former provisions of the California Constitution prohibited applying a 

public safety exception to the general right to reasonable bail. (Id. at p. 351.) In adopting 

the exception at issue here, and its companion "threat" exception, the electorate abrogated 

the prior rule. "In 1982, the voters were presented with a ballot measure proposing an 

amendment of article I, section 12 to allow courts to deny release on bail in the interest of 

public safety." (People v. Standish (2006) 38 Cal.4th 858, 892 (conc. & dis. opn. of 

Chin, J.); see id., at p. 875 (maj. opn. of George, C.J.).)

Statutory enactments confirm this focus on public safety. Section 1275 provides, 

in relevant part, "In setting, reducing, or denying bail, a judge or magistrate shall take 

into consideration the protection of the public, the seriousness of the offense charged, the 

previous criminal record of the defendant, and the probability of his or her appearing at 

trial or at a hearing of the case. The public safety shall be the primary consideration." 
12

(§ 1275, subd. (a)(1).)4 "In considering the seriousness of the offense charged, a judge or 

magistrate shall include consideration of the alleged injury to the victim, and alleged 

threats to the victim or a witness to the crime charged, the alleged use of a firearm or 

other deadly weapon in the commission of the crime charged, and the alleged use or 

possession of controlled substances by the defendant." (§ 1275, subd. (a)(2).)

These statutory factors must be considered with an eye toward the ultimate 

determination set forth in the California Constitution: whether there is "clear and 

convincing evidence that there is a substantial likelihood the person's release would result 

in great bodily harm to others." (Cal. Const., art. I, § 12, subd. (b).) The seriousness of a 

charged offense involving interstate financial fraud might, for example, be directly 

relevant to the amount of reasonable bail (see People v. Amata (1969) 270 Cal.App.2d 

575, 584–585), but it would be less relevant to the court's assessment of likelihood of 

great bodily harm to others if the defendant were released. Similarly, the likelihood of a 

defendant showing up for future hearings or trial is directly relevant to the amount of 

reasonable bail, but it is relevant to the consideration of the likelihood of great bodily 

 

4 Similar factors have appeared in the California Constitution since 1982. (Former 

Cal. Const., art. I, § 28, subd. (f)(3), added by initiative, Primary Elec. (June 8, 1982).) 

Our Supreme Court previously held that they did not go into effect when initially 

approved because a competing initiative, which added the exception to the right to bail at 

issue here, garnered more votes at the same election. (People v. Standish, supra, 38 

Cal.4th at p. 877; In re York (1995) 9 Cal.4th 1133, 1140, fn. 4 (York).) In 2008, 

however, the electorate approved an initiative constitutional amendment that included the 

factors at issue here, with an added emphasis on the safety of victims. (Cal. Const., art. I, 

§ 28, subd. (f)(3), amended by initiative, Gen. Elec. (Nov. 4, 2008).) Because our 

analysis in this opinion would not change based on consideration of these factors, we 

need not consider the effect of the 2008 amendment on California's bail system.
13

harm to others only if the defendant's failure to appear would somehow increase the 

likelihood of such harm.

Most relevant to the constitutional determination is evidence of violence or 

infliction of bodily harm in the defendant's criminal record or in connection with the 

charged offenses. Completed acts, attempts, and threats are all relevant to the court's 

inquiry. A court should be particularly attuned to facts that indicate whether past 

instances of violence or bodily harm were isolated events or would be expected to recur if 

the defendant were released on bail.

In order to deny bail, the trial court must find a "substantial likelihood" that the 

defendant's release would result in great bodily harm to others. (Cal. Const., art. I, § 12, 

subd. (b).) This standard requires more than a mere possibility, and it cannot be based on 

speculation about the general risk to public safety if a defendant is released. Great bodily 

harm to others must be a substantial likelihood. While the term "cannot . . . be reduced to 

a rigid formula susceptible to mechanical application" (Nordin, supra, 143 Cal.App.3d at 

p. 543), we observe that the standard requires more than simply a violent history. The 
14

trial court must be convinced that future violence amounting to great bodily injury is 

substantially likely if the defendant were released on bail.5

Importantly, the trial court must make its finding of substantial likelihood by clear 

and convincing evidence. (Cal. Const., art. I, § 12, subd. (b).) " ' "Clear and convincing"

evidence requires a finding of high probability.' [Citation.] The evidence must be ' "so 

clear as to leave no substantial doubt"; "sufficiently strong to command the unhesitating 

assent of every reasonable mind." ' " (Nordin, supra, 143 Cal.App.3d at p. 543; see In re 

Angelia P. (1981) 28 Cal.3d 908, 919.) As the trial court here recognized, it will be the 

"rare" and "unusual" case where a court is able to make this finding.

Although the parties do not directly address it, an important threshold question in 

this proceeding is the proper standard for our review. As the foregoing discussion shows, 

the court's finding on this element is essentially factual. The court must weigh the 

evidence, make credibility determinations, resolve evidentiary conflicts, and ultimately 

make a factual finding regarding whether there is a substantial likelihood the defendant's 

release would result in great bodily harm to others. As such, we apply the substantial 

 

5 At oral argument, White contended that our interpretation of the constitutional 

standard should be informed by the presumption of innocence. But that presumption is a 

doctrine to be applied at trial; it has no application to the rights of a pretrial detainee. 

(Bell v. Wolfish (1979) 441 U.S. 520, 533; York, supra, 9 Cal.4th at p. 1148.) In fact, in 

bail proceedings, the historical rule has been that the defendant is presumed guilty after 

indictment. "[E]xcept for the purpose of a fair and impartial trial before a petit jury, the 

presumption of guilt arises against the prisoner upon the finding of an indictment against 

him." (Ex parte Ryan (1872) 44 Cal. 555, 558; see Ex parte Duncan (1879) 53 Cal. 410, 

411.) This presumption appears to be reflected in the language of the constitutional 

requirement that the facts must be evident or the presumption—of guilt—great. (See In 

re Application of Westcott (1928) 93 Cal.App. 575, 576.)
15

evidence standard of review. (See Winograd v. American Broadcasting Co. (1998) 68 

Cal.App.4th 624, 632 ["When the trial court has resolved a disputed factual issue, the 

appellate courts review the ruling according to the substantial evidence rule."].) The 

rationale behind this standard is clear. The trial court is better positioned to weigh the 

evidence and make credibility determinations; "we have nothing but the cold, unadorned 

words on the pages of the reporter's transcript." (Escobar v. Flores (2010) 183 

Cal.App.4th 737, 749.) "The cold record cannot give the look or manner of the 

witnesses; their hesitations, their doubts, their variations of language, their precipitancy, 

their calmness or consideration. A witness may convince all who hear him testify that he 

is disingenuous and untruthful, and yet his testimony, when read, may convey a most 

favorable impression." (Maslow v. Maslow (1953) 117 Cal.App.2d 237, 243.) The trial 

court is better positioned to assess the weight and credibility of the evidence. Our 

deference is therefore appropriate.6

 

6 We disagree with Nordin, supra, 143 Cal.App.3d at page 543, to the extent it 

holds that independent review is appropriate. To justify independent review, Nordin cites 

In re Hochberg (1970) 2 Cal.3d 870, 874, footnote 2, which discusses general procedural 

issues applicable to petitions for habeas corpus. Hochberg explains that when an 

appellate court issues an order to show cause returnable in superior court and the 

petitioner challenges the superior court's decision, "the reviewing court will make its 

independent examination and appraisal of the evidence that was taken in the superior 

court." (Ibid.) Hochberg does not speak to the myriad other situations where habeas 

review arises and other standards are used. We likewise do not believe that review for 

abuse of discretion is appropriate. Although the trial court's decision regarding the 

amount of bail is discretionary (In re Christie (2001) 92 Cal.App.4th 1105, 1107), the 

decision to remand a defendant without bail depends on a specific factual showing. We 

review this factual showing for substantial evidence.
16

As discussed above, our review for substantial evidence is limited in scope. We 

must view the record in the light most favorable to the court's order, presume the 

existence of every fact the court could reasonably have deduced from the evidence, and 

resolve any conflicts in the evidence in favor of upholding the order. (Zaragoza, supra, 1 

Cal.5th at p. 45.) And, while reasonable inferences based on the evidence will support 

the court's order, unreasonable inferences or speculation will not. " 'While substantial 

evidence may consist of inferences, such inferences must be "a product of logic and 

reason" and "must rest on the evidence" [citation]; inferences that are the result of mere 

speculation or conjecture cannot support a finding [citations.].' " (Kasparian v. County of 

Los Angeles (1995) 38 Cal.App.4th 242, 260; see People v. Morris (1988) 46 Cal.3d 1, 

21.)

While the trial court must be satisfied that the evidence supporting its finding is 

clear and convincing, we do not make the same determination. "That standard was 

adopted . . . for the edification and guidance of the trial court, and was not intended as a 

standard for appellate review. 'The sufficiency of evidence to establish a given fact, 

where the law requires proof of the fact to be clear and convincing, is primarily a 

question for the trial court to determine, and if there is substantial evidence to support its 

conclusion, the determination is not open to review on appeal.' " (Crail v. Blakely (1973) 

8 Cal.3d 744, 750; see In re Mark L. (2001) 94 Cal.App.4th 573, 580–581.) The ultimate 

question for a reviewing court is whether any reasonable trier of fact could have made the 

challenged finding by clear and convincing evidence. (See Zaragoza, supra, 1 Cal.5th at 

p. 45.)
17

Based on the record, the trial court could reasonably have inferred that Owens did 

not act alone, that White and Owens considered and planned the attack on J.D. over an 

extended period of time, that White acted as Owens's lookout and encouraged him to 

continue the attack after J.D. initially fought him off, and that White facilitated Owens's 

flight from the scene by driving him quickly away. The trial court could have found 

persuasive J.D.'s interpretation of White's statement, "[g]et in the house," as directed to 

Owens and encouraging him to continue the attack out of public view. Based on the 

circumstances of the attack, the court could reasonably infer that Owens and White were 

highly dangerous. Their attack was deliberate, it occurred during the day on a heavily 

trafficked street, and it targeted a vulnerable stranger. They worked in concert to increase 

the odds of the attack's success. And although the attack was not completed, the trial 

court could reasonably infer that Owens intended to rape J.D., a devastatingly harmful 

injury, and White knew it.

Although such an attack can never be fully explained, the facts show no reason 

why J.D. in specific was targeted. The criminal intent that led to the attack could apply to 

any stranger. The trial court could therefore reasonably infer that White would likely 

attack again, either alone or in concert with another, if released on bail.

We acknowledge that White did not have a criminal record, he had established 

positive relationships with other individuals in his life, and he denied the allegations 

against him formally and in interviews with police. The charged offenses alleged 

violence against a single person, and they did not in fact result in great bodily harm.
18

Viewed as a whole, and even given our deferential standard of review, this record 

tests the bounds of what would sustain an order remanding a defendant without bail under 

the California Constitution. But, after thorough consideration, we conclude the evidence 

is sufficient to support the remand order here. The trial court could reasonably find that 

White acted so brazenly, so inexplicably, and so without regard for the laws and norms of 

society that there would be a substantial likelihood that his release would result in great 

bodily harm to others. 

The trial court here found a substantial likelihood of great bodily harm to J.D.

specifically and to other children in general. Because the record supports the trial court's 

finding that White's release would result in great bodily harm to others, we need not 

consider whether the evidence supported a finding of great bodily harm to J.D. 

specifically.7 As explained above, based on the testimony of J.D. and the statements of 

others who observed White and Owens, the court could reasonably find that White and 

Owens deliberated over the attack over an extended period of time, that White agreed to 

act as a lookout during the attack, that White encouraged Owens to continue attacking 

J.D. by telling him to "[g]et in the house" even after she fought Owens off, and that 

White facilitated Owens's flight after the attack occurred. In addition to these facts, the 

court could reasonably view the circumstances of the attack as highly unusual. Owens 

 

7 We note, however, that there was no evidence J.D. was specifically targeted or 

that she remained specifically under threat. Instead, the record shows that the risk of 

great bodily harm caused by White's release is to strangers, rather than a specific person 

known to White.
19

and White loitered on a well-trafficked street near the beach while watching J.D. It was 

daytime. People passed by, including one surfer who talked with J.D. Unrelated 

witnesses saw Owens and White, described them as "creepy," and worried that they 

would kidnap children. Despite the likelihood that someone would see them, they 

perpetrated a brazen attack on J.D.—and White specifically wanted the attack to 

continue. The trial court could reasonably find that the criminal impulse shared by 

Owens and White was so strong that White, either alone or in concert with another, 

would attack again if he were released. The evidence therefore supports the trial court's 

finding that there would be a substantial likelihood that White's release would result in 

great bodily harm to others.

White claims that his role was "limited" and the crime was "spontaneous." But the 

trial court could have reasonably found the opposite, as we discuss above. White argues 

that his statements to police were exculpatory, but the trial court could reasonably have 

found that White was not credible and was intent on minimizing his responsibility for the 

crime. The court could instead have inferred from White's admissions that he knew more 
20

about Owens's actions than he acknowledged. White has not shown that the evidence did 

not support the court's order.8

 

8 Relying on United States v. Salerno (1987) 481 U.S. 739 (Salerno) and the recent 

opinion in In re Humphrey (2018) 19 Cal.App.5th 1006 (Humphrey), White appears to 

contend that the trial court was required to make a finding that no bail conditions or 

combination of bail conditions would be sufficient to protect public safety before 

ordering remand. We disagree. Salerno considered the constitutionality of a recently 

enacted federal bail statute, which allowed pretrial detention without bail under certain 

circumstances. (Salerno, at p. 741.) Salerno found the statute constitutional: "When the 

Government proves by clear and convincing evidence that an arrestee presents an 

identified and articulable threat to an individual or the community, we believe that, 

consistent with the Due Process Clause, a court may disable the arrestee from executing 

that threat." (Id. at p. 751.) Although the statute requires a federal trial court to find that 

"no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the appearance of the 

person as required and the safety of any other person and the community" before a 

defendant may be detained without bail, it does not apply to state court proceedings. (18 

U.S.C. § 3142(e)(1); Salerno, at p. 742.) And Salerno did not imply that such a finding is 

required in state courts as a matter of federal constitution law. White has not shown it

must be applied here. Humphrey considered whether and under what circumstances a 

trial court could constitutionally impose a bail requirement that exceeded a defendant's 

ability to pay. (Humphrey, at pp. 1015–1016.) It held that "a court which has not 

followed the procedures and made the findings required for an order of detention must, in 

setting money bail, consider the defendants ability to pay and refrain from setting an 

amount so beyond the defendant's means as to result in detention." (Id., at p. 1037.) If 

the court finds that it must impose money bail in excess of the defendant's ability to pay, 

it must consider whether there are any less restrictive alternatives that would ensure his or 

her future court appearances. (Ibid.) Here, because the court did follow the procedures 

and make the constitutional findings required for an order of detention, and did not set 

money bail, Humphrey is inapposite.
21

DISPOSITION

The petition is denied.

BENKE, Acting P. J.

WE CONCUR:

NARES, J.

IRION, J.