Filed 10/6/16 P. v. Santana CA2/6

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS

California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for 

publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or 

ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115. 

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION SIX

THE PEOPLE,

 Plaintiff and Respondent,

v.

EDGAR SANTANA,

 Defendant and Appellant.

2d Crim. No. B261900

(Super. Ct. No. BA373501)

(Los Angeles County)

A jury convicted Edgar Santana of two counts of first degree murder 

(Pen. Code §§ 187, subd. (a); 189)

1 with multiple murder special circumstances (§ 190.2, 

subd. (a)(3)). The jury also found true that as to one count, Santana personally and 

intentionally discharged a firearm causing death. (§ 12022.53, subds. (b)-(d).) The jury 

found as to both counts: a principal personally and intentionally discharged a firearm 

causing death (§ 12022.53, subds. (b)-(d), (e)-(i)); the offenses were committed for the 

benefit of a criminal street gang (§ 186.22, subd. (b)); and Santana was a minor at least 14 

years of age and the offenses were committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang 

(Welf. & Inst. Code § 707, subd. (d)(2)(B) & (C)(ii)).

 

1 All statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise stated.
2

The trial court sentenced Santana to two consecutive terms of life without the 

possibility of parole (LWOP) plus two consecutive 25-year terms for the firearm 

enhancements. (§ 12022.53, subd. (d).)

We amend the judgment to add 12 days custody credits. In all other respects, 

we affirm.

FACTS

On March 19, 2010, Laura Ramirez was walking near the corner of 61st 

Street and Avalon Boulevard when she noticed a white car. The car was traveling slowly 

on Avalon. She saw an arm holding a gun extend out of the passenger window. She heard 

gunshots. The car continued on Avalon. The driver of the car was a young Latino male. 

There were two or three passengers in the back of the car. Security cameras from a liquor 

store showed a white Mustang traveling by at the time of the shooting. When the police 

arrived minutes later, they found the body of victim Anthony Freeman, who had been 

fatally shot.

On June 23, 2010, brothers Raymond Bailey and Davion Jasper were 

preparing to go swimming with friends at a public pool. They all planned to meet at an 

apartment complex on 60th Street. While walking on 60th Street, Jasper saw Bailey 

talking to two girls. Jasper stopped to talk with them and then continued to the apartment 

complex to wait for Bailey. While waiting in the apartment courtyard, Jasper heard 

gunshots. Then he heard people saying that Bailey had been shot. Jasper went to the front 

of the complex and saw a Hispanic man running on 60th Street. The man jumped into the 

back seat of a car. Bailey died of a gunshot wound to the chest.

Santana’s Statements to the Police 

In July 2010, Los Angeles Police Department Detective Richard Compton 

was investigating a domestic violence complaint made against Santana by his girlfriend, 

Laurdes De La Cruz. Santana and De La Cruz were both 17 years old at the time. 

Compton arranged for Santana’s mother, Maria Maximo, to bring him to the police station 

on the morning of July 12, 2010.
3

Santana arrived at the police station with his mother, between 8:00 a.m. and 

8:30 a.m. De La Cruz arrived with them. Compton interviewed De La Cruz for a few 

minutes.

Compton then spoke to Santana in an interview room. Compton advised 

Santana of his Miranda rights. (Miranda v. Arizona (1966) 384 U.S. 436.) Santana said 

he understood those rights and was willing to talk. He admitted he belonged to the 

Florencia 13 gang. His moniker is “Chato.” He also admitted that he pushed De La Cruz. 

The interview lasted about 15 minutes.

Based on Santana’s admission of a battery, Compton decided to arrest, book 

and release Santana to his mother. While Compton was out of the interview room 

arranging for Santana’s arrest, he saw two homicide detectives, Richard Arciniega and 

Julio Benavides. Compton had heard about the shootings in Florencia territory and asked 

the detectives if they wanted to speak to a Florencia gang member. They said they did. 

Compton introduced the detectives to Santana, who had remained in the interview room. 

Compton asked Santana if he wanted to talk to the detectives and Santana agreed to talk to 

them.

The detectives asked Santana if he was affiliated with a gang. Santana said 

he was from Florencia and that his moniker was “Chato.” The detectives asked who had 

jumped him into the gang. Santana said his neighbors “Flaxo,” “G-Boy” and “Shy Boy.” 

The detectives asked Santana if he had heard about the shooting at 60th and 

San Pedro Streets. He said no. The detectives then asked if he had been on any 

“missions.” Santana said yes. A “mission” is getting in a car and looking for somebody to 

shoot. The detectives stopped the questioning and advised Santana of his Miranda rights.

Santana told the detectives about the June 23 shooting. He said Shy Boy was 

the driver of a black Nissan. Santana was given a handgun and sat in the rear passenger 

seat. Flaxo was in the rear seat behind the driver. They drove around looking for a 

member of the East Coast Crips (ECC) gang. They saw two people on the corner of 60th 

and San Pedro Streets. Both sides threw gang signs. Santana got out of the car and shot 

the victim in the chest. He got back into the car and they fled the area. 
4

The detectives asked Santana about other missions. Santana said they shot 

another man at 62nd Street and Avalon Boulevard a few months earlier. He said that he 

and G-Boy went to a store. At about 2:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m., they encountered an ECC 

member who “kicked both their butts.” They returned home and “chilled for a while” and 

“just kicked it.” At about 7:00 p.m. or 8:00 p.m., G-Boy said, “Let’s go.” Santana, G-Boy 

and Shy Boy got into a Ford Mustang and returned to the area of the store. They saw the 

person who they believed beat them up earlier that day. G-Boy and Santana got out of the 

car with guns. They yelled “Florence” and G-Boy shot his gun. Santana said he did not 

shoot. They ran back to the car and fled the scene.

Gang Evidence 

Los Angeles Police Officer Eric Rose testified as a gang expert. He said the 

Florencia 13 gang is known as “F13”. It is a predominantly Hispanic gang of about 10,000 

members. It is affiliated with the Mexican mafia. Members of the gang have adopted the 

Atlanta Falcon’s football team gear and use unique gang graffiti, hand signs and tattoos.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Detective Armondo Arevalo 

testified the F13 gang’s primary activities include assaults with deadly weapons, robberies, 

carjackings, murders and other violent crimes. The People produced court records 

showing the convictions of three people for assault with a firearm, murder and attempted 

murder, all with gang enhancements. Arevalo testified that he worked on the assault case 

and knew the defendant to be a member of F13. He testified he did not know the other two 

defendants, but had been informed by other peace officers that the defendants were 

members of F13.

F13’s main rival is ECC, a predominately African-American gang. When 

F13 members see a person they perceive to be a member of ECC, they will try to shoot 

him. ECC claims the territory where both homicides took place. Gang members can earn 

respect and clout if they shoot someone in a rival gang’s territory.

Santana has F13 tattoos and a CK on his chest. CK stands for “Crip Killer.” 

F13 members earn CK tattoos if they were involved in a shooting in which a member of 

ECC was killed or injured. Santana obtained the CK tattoo while in jail awaiting trial.
5

Arevalo opined, based on a hypothetical approximating the facts of the 

People’s case, that the shootings of Freeman and Bailey were committed in association 

with and for the benefit of the F13 gang. Santana had the specific intent to promote further 

illegal conduct by gang members.

Defense

Angelica Sarmiento was working as a photographer at a swap meet in Los 

Angeles. On March 19, 2010, she took a photograph of Santana and his girlfriend during 

daylight hours.

Santana’s mother picked up Santana from school at 3:15 p.m. on March 19, 

2010. They picked up his girlfriend at her residence, and the three of them went to the 

swap meet. They were at the swap meet until 8:30 p.m., after which they dropped off 

Santana’s girlfriend at her residence.

Santana’s school records show he was in school all day except the last period 

of classes.

Santana did not testify on his own behalf.

DISCUSSION

Mistrial

Santana contends there was no legal basis for the trial court to declare a 

mistrial based on jury deadlock in the first trial. Defense counsel did not object.

Jury deliberations began at 3:00 p.m. on June 6, 2013, and adjourned at 

4:00 p.m. Deliberations resumed on Monday, June 10, 2013, at 9:45 a.m. The jury took a 

break from 10:50 a.m. to 10:56 a.m. The jury took a lunch break from 11:50 a.m. to 

1:30 p.m. At 2:18 p.m., the jury notified the trial court in writing that it was “hopelessly 

deadlocked” on both counts. 

The jury foreperson told the trial court that the jury had taken two votes and 

the last vote was five to seven. The court then asked the jury: “Do you believe or does 

anybody on the jury believe there’s anything I can do that would assist you? That would 

include if there is any instruction[] you are having a problem with possibly, going over that 
6

instruction. It could include allowing counsel to argue the case, open it for more argument 

if you are having some problem with that.” The foreperson replied, “Absolutely not.” 

The trial court asked the jurors to raise their hands if there was something the 

court could do to break the deadlock. No juror raised his or her hand. At a bench 

conference, the court told counsel, “To tell you the truth, they look angry.” Defense 

counsel said, “yeah.” The court also noted the five-to-seven division among the jurors is 

not “indicative of anyone being able to agree. If it was two or three, then you say, okay, 

well, maybe let them cool off tonight. I just don’t see it.” Defense counsel said, “I’d ask 

the court to go ahead and let them go.”

The trial court asked the jury if anyone thought going home for the night and 

returning the next day might help. The court said, “I am seeing a lot of head shaking going 

on in a negative fashion.” The court declared a mistrial and dismissed the jury. 

A premature or unsupported grant of a mistrial on the ground of jury 

deadlock invokes the double jeopardy clauses of both the United States and the California 

Constitutions and prohibits retrial. (People v. Halvorsen (2007) 42 Cal.4th 379, 425.) A 

trial court may declare a mistrial where there is a legal necessity to discharge the jury and 

start anew. (Ibid.) A legal necessity exists where it appears there is no reasonable 

probability the jury can agree. (Ibid.) The determination whether there is a reasonable 

probability of agreement rests in the discretion of the trial court. (Id. at p. 426.)

Here the jury foreperson reported that the jury was “hopelessly deadlocked,” 

five to seven, on both counts. The trial court twice inquired if there was anything it could 

do to break the deadlock. The court also inquired if returning the next day would help. 

Each time the court got a negative response. The court noted that it was more than just 

two or three jurors who disagreed with the majority and that the jury looked angry. Under 

the circumstances, the court was well within its discretion in finding it is not reasonably 

probable the jury can reach an agreement. A mistrial was legally necessary.

Santana argues three factors establish an abuse of discretion. First, the trial 

court failed to inquire of the jury whether the deadlock was based on the issue of identity 

or on a particular count or counts. But the foreperson told the court the jury was 
7

hopelessly deadlocked on both counts. In addition, Santana cites no authority requiring the 

court to inquire on what particular issues the jury disagrees.

Second, Santana argues the length of the jury’s deliberations was only four 

hours, too short for a trial that lasted 13 days. But the length of the deliberations is not 

determinative. (People v. Halvorsen, supra, 42 Cal.4th at p. 426.) Here the jurors were 

almost evenly divided and angry. They told the trial court they were hopelessly 

deadlocked and there was nothing the court could do to help them reach a verdict. It is 

sheer speculation to say that more time would have resulted in an agreement. (Ibid.)

Third, Santana argues that the jurors divided five to seven and appeared 

angry are insufficient to support declaring a deadlock as a legal necessity. But those were 

not the only factors the trial court considered. In addition, the jurors told the court they 

were hopelessly deadlocked and there was nothing the court could do to help. Under all 

the circumstances the court did not abuse its discretion in declaring a mistrial.

It follows that Santana’s counsel’s performance was not deficient in failing 

to object to the declaration of mistrial and Santana’s retrial.

Miranda Warning

Santana contends the trial court erred in refusing to suppress his 

incriminating statements. He claims the statements were obtained in violation of his 

Miranda rights.

Santana met with Detective Compton in an interview room at the police 

station. Compton advised Santana of his Miranda rights. Santana said he understood 

those rights and was willing to talk. After about 15 minutes, Compton decided to arrest 

Santana for assaulting his girlfriend. Compton left the interview room to process the 

arrest. Compton asked homicide detectives if they wanted to speak to Santana. The 

detectives said they did. Compton introduced the detectives to Santana at about 8:30 a.m. 

and the interview began at about 8:40 a.m. The detectives spoke with Santana in the 

interview room. Santana denied knowing about a shooting, but admitted he had been on 

“missions” for his gang. The detectives again gave Santana Miranda warnings. They gave 
8

the warnings about 15 to 20 minutes into the interview. Santana agreed to talk. 

Thereafter, Santana admitted to having been involved in two murders.

Santana moved to suppress his statements prior to the first trial. The trial 

court denied the motion because Compton’s initial advisement of Santana’s Miranda rights 

applied to the homicide detectives’ interview that occurred shortly after Compton’s 

interview. The court found that the interviews were contemporaneous.

Santana renewed his motion before his retrial. The trial court again denied 

the motion.

A defendant may waive his Miranda rights. (People v. Nelson (2012) 

53 Cal.4th 367, 374.) To establish a valid waiver, the People must prove by a 

preponderance of the evidence that the waiver was knowing, intelligent and voluntary. 

(Id. at pp. 374-375.) Determining the validity of a Miranda rights waiver requires an 

inquiry into all the circumstances of the interrogation. (Id. at p. 375.) When a juvenile’s 

waiver is at issue, consideration must be given to factors such as his age, experience, 

education, background, intelligence and whether he has the capacity to understand the 

warnings, the nature of his Fifth Amendment rights and the consequences of waiving those 

rights. (Ibid.)

“[A] Miranda readvisement is not necessary before a custodial interrogation 

is resumed, so long as a proper warning has been given, and the ‘subsequent warning is 

“reasonably contemporaneous” with the prior knowing and intelligent waiver.’” (People v. 

Smith (2007) 40 Cal.4th 483, 504.) Our Supreme Court has established several factors to 

determine whether readvisement is necessary: “1) the amount of time that has passed since 

the initial waiver; 2) any change in the identity of the interrogator or location of the 

interrogation; 3) an official reminder of the prior advisement; 4) the suspect’s 

sophistication or past experience with law enforcement; and 5) further indicia that the 

defendant subjectively understands and waives his rights.” (Ibid.)

Here Santana was initially advised of his Miranda rights by Detective 

Compton when the interrogation began between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. The interrogation 

by the homicide detectives began less than an hour later at about 8:40 a.m. It is true there 
9

were different interrogators, but Santana remained in the same interrogation room that he 

entered less than an hour before. There was no need to advise Santana of his Miranda

rights twice in one hour. Moreover, when he was readvised of his Miranda rights, he 

reiterated that he understood his rights and was willing to talk.

The detectives did not deliberately withhold Miranda warnings until after 

questioning succeeded in eliciting incriminating statements. Santana received Miranda

warnings before any questioning began.

Santana points out that he was only 17 years old at the time of questioning. 

He also claims psychological testing showed he has an intelligence level in the 

“borderline” range of 79. But Santana was not a young child. At 17, he was almost an 

adult. Nor is there any showing that what he describes as a “borderline” intelligence 

prevented him from making a knowing and intelligent waiver of his Miranda rights. 

Santana argues that the detectives violated Welfare and Institutions Code 

section 627 by failing to notify his parents that he was being interviewed. But the 

Legislature has not authorized exclusion of evidence as a remedy for a violation of section 

627, and the Truth-in-Evidence law (Cal. Const., art. I, § 28, subd. (f)(2)) bars courts from 

creating such a remedy. (People v. Lessie (2010) 47 Cal.4th 1152, 1170.)

Suppression Motion

Santana contends the trial court erred in denying his suppression motion. He 

claims his confession was made during an unduly prolonged detention.

Although a defendant may be detained for a reasonable time to allow officers 

to complete the matter for which the defendant was detained, an unduly prolonged 

detention can violate the Fourth Amendment ban on unreasonable searches and seizures. 

(See United States v. Sharpe (1985) 470 U.S. 675.) To justify the suppression of an 

admission or confession, the defendant must show that there was a causal connection 

between the illegal detention and the admission of guilt. (People v. Hughes (2002) 

27 Cal.4th 287, 326.)

Here Detective Compton spoke with Santana for about 15 minutes during 

which Santana admitted he pushed his girlfriend. Compton left the interview room to start 
10

the booking process. Compton testified the booking process could take from one to three 

hours, depending on how long the wait was at the jail. Detective Arciniega testified the 

entire interview with the homicide detectives lasted about 30 to 45 minutes, well within the 

time it would have taken to book Santana. Thus Santana’s detention was not unduly 

prolonged.

Defense Expert Testimony on Confession

Santana contends the trial court erred in excluding a defense expert’s 

testimony on false confessions.

Santana sought to introduce the expert testimony of Dr. Richard Leo on false 

confessions. The People objected that the testimony was irrelevant because there was no 

evidence the confession was false. Santana argued that inconsistencies between his 

confession and the testimony of witnesses and the physical evidence show the confession 

was false.

The trial court sustained the People’s objection. The court ruled that 

inconsistencies are not sufficient to show the confession is false. Unless Santana testifies 

the confession is false or there is some evidence the confession is false, there is insufficient 

foundation for the expert testimony. Santana elected not to testify.

The trial court has broad discretion in deciding to admit or exclude expert 

testimony, and we review its ruling for an abuse of discretion. (People v. McDowell

(2012) 54 Cal.4th 395, 426.)

In People v. Linton (2013) 56 Cal.4th 1146, the trial court excluded expert 

testimony on false confession under Evidence Code section 352. In upholding the court’s 

ruling, our Supreme Court stated: “As was his right, defendant did not testify and thus did 

not deny the truth of his interview statements. There was no other evidence offered that 

logically called into question the veracity of his admissions. The only evidence that 

defendant pointed to as showing he made any false statements during his police station 

interview was the testimony of the two pathologists that [the victim] was not likely 

strangled from the front in the manner described by defendant. And yet Dr. Choi testified 

that the linear marks on [the victim’s] neck could have resulted from a cord placed around 
11

[the victim’s] neck if her hair was in between the cord and her neck and if the ligature was 

pulled from one side or another, a scenario not wholly unlike defendant’s uncertain 

recollection of his precise actions.” (Linton at pp. 1181-1182.)

It is not always the case that the defendant must testify that his confession is 

false before there is sufficient foundation for expert testimony. It may be, for example, 

that the physical evidence renders the confession improbable. But that is not the case here. 

It is not unusual that there will be details in a confession that differ from the statements of 

witnesses and the physical evidence. The differences are not due to a false confession, but 

to the imprecision of recollection. Similarly, defendants seldom confess immediately upon 

being interrogated. It is typical for a defendant to deny, equivocate and try to deflect 

blame before finally confessing. Santana points to nothing about his confession, or any 

other evidence, sufficient to indicate his confession was false. The trial court did not abuse 

its discretion in excluding expert testimony on false confessions as irrelevant.

Santana’s reliance on People v. McDonald (1984) 37 Cal.3d 351, 361-377, is 

misplaced. McDonald held it was error for the trial court to exclude expert testimony on 

the psychological factors that may affect the accuracy of eyewitness identification. But, 

unlike this case, in McDonald there was no question of a sufficient foundation in the 

evidence to make such testimony relevant. Moreover, McDonald reiterated that the 

admission of such expert testimony remains a matter within the trial court’s discretion, and 

that, in the usual case, the appellate court will defer to the trial court’s discretion. (Id. at 

p. 377.)

Voluntary Manslaughter

Santana contends the trial court erred in failing to give a sua sponte 

instruction on voluntary manslaughter. Santana claims there was evidence he acted in the 

heat of passion in the Freeman shooting.

The trial court has a sua sponte duty to instruct on lesser offenses when the 

evidence raises a question whether all of the elements of the charged offense were present, 

but not when there is no evidence the offense was less than that charged. (People v. 
12

Barton (1995) 12 Cal.4th 186, 194-195.) Voluntary manslaughter is a lesser included 

offense of murder. (People v. Benavides (2005) 35 Cal.4th 69, 102.)

An unlawful killing is voluntary manslaughter if the defendant acts in a 

“sudden quarrel or heat of passion.” (§ 192, subd. (a).) Heat of passion arises when, at the 

time of the killing, the defendant’s reason was obscured by passion to such an extent as to 

cause the ordinary reasonable person to act rashly without deliberation or reflection. 

(People v. Barton, supra, 12 Cal.4th at p. 201.) Heat of passion has both an objective and 

subjective component. (People v. Moye (2009) 47 Cal.4th 537, 549.) Not only must the 

provocation be such as to cause a reasonable person to act rashly, the defendant must be 

actually under the influence of a heat of passion at the time of the killing. (Id. at p. 550.)

Santana did not testify. But he told the homicide detectives that he and 

G-Boy first encountered an ECC member at about 2:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. The ECC 

member “kicked both their butts.” The shooting did not take place until 7:00 p.m. or 

8:00 p.m. On appeal, Santana asserts in his opening brief that the shooting occurred “after 

several hours of simmering or boiling anger.” But that is not what Santana told the 

detectives. He told the detectives that between the beating and the shooting they “chilled 

for a while” and “just kicked it.” Then it was G-Boy, not Santana, who said, “Let’s go” 

before they went to look for an ECC member. Santana told the detectives that G-Boy shot 

Freeman and that Santana never shot his gun. 

There is no evidence from which a reasonable juror could conclude Santana 

acted in the heat of passion. The shooting occurred hours after the fight. In the interim, 

Santana and the gang members “chilled” and “kicked it.” It was G-Boy who instigated the 

hunt for an ECC member and G-Boy who did the actual shooting. Santana never 

suggested he was anywhere close to a heat of passion at the time of the shooting.

In any event if there was error, it was harmless. The jury found that Santana 

committed a willful, deliberate and premeditated murder. Such a state of mind is 

“manifestly inconsistent with having acted under the heat of passion.” (People v. Wharton

(1991) 53 Cal.3d 522, 572.) 
13

Gang Evidence

While this appeal was pending, our Supreme Court decided People v. 

Sanchez (2016) 63 Cal.4th 665, a case concerning the role of hearsay in expert testimony 

on gangs. We requested further briefing.

Sanchez acknowledged that an expert may rely on hearsay as a basis for his 

knowledge on the subject matter of his expertise. (People v. Sanchez, supra, 63 Cal.4th at 

p. 676.) But an expert cannot “relate as true case-specific facts asserted in hearsay 

statements, unless they are independently proven by competent evidence or are covered by 

a hearsay exception.” (Id. at p. 686.) The court defined case-specific facts as “those 

relating to the particular events and participants alleged to have been involved in the case 

being tried.” (Id. at p. 676.)

Here Santana argues the gang expert relied on inadmissible evidence to 

formulate his opinion that Santana and his accomplices were members of the F13 gang,

and that the two homicides were committed with the intent to benefit the F13 gang. But 

Santana admitted to police detectives that he and his accomplices were members of the 

F13 gang. Santana also admitted that in both murders he acted with gang members. Any 

error in admitting the gang expert’s testimony was harmless by any standard.

Gang Enhancement

Santana contends the trial court erred in instructing on the gang 

enhancement.

Section 186.22, subdivision (f), the gang enhancement statute, defines 

“criminal street gang” as “any ongoing organization, association or group of three or more 

persons, whether formal or informal, having as one of its primary activities the 

commission of one or more of the criminal acts enumerated in [subdivision (e)] . . . .”

Detective Arevalo testified F13’s primary activities include murder, 

attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, robbery and carjacking. Expert 

testimony may provide sufficient evidence of a gang’s primary activities. (People v. 

Sengpadychith (2001) 26 Cal.4th 316, 324.)
14

Here the trial court instructed with CALCRIM No. 1401 that the jury must 

find as one or more of the gang’s primary activities “the commission of Felony Vandalism, 

Robbery, Assault With Deadly Weapon, Murder, Attempted Murder . . . .” 

Santana argues the trial court erred in failing to define the crimes constituting 

the gang’s alleged primary activities. Santana cites the bench notes to CALCRIM No. 

1401, which state in part: “The court should also give the appropriate instructions defining 

the elements of crimes inserted in the list of alleged ‘primary activities,’ or the definition 

of ‘pattern of criminal gang activity’ that have not been established by prior convictions or 

sustained juvenile petitions.” The bench notes cite no authority for the statement.

There was no need for the trial court to instruct on the elements of the crimes 

that constitute the gang’s primary activities. The prosecutor need not prove the elements. 

It is sufficient if an expert names the particular crimes that constitute the gang’s primary 

activities. (People v. Sengpadychith, supra, 26 Cal.4th at 322 [primary activities 

requirement satisfied by the testimony of a police gang expert that primary activities of the 

gang were drug dealing and witness intimidation].) The prosecutor relied on such expert 

testimony here.

Sentencing

Santana contends the matter must be remanded for another sentencing 

hearing because the trial court failed to consider the ultimate question required by Miller v. 

Alabama (2012) 567 U.S. __ [183 L.Ed.2d 407], and People v. Gutierrez (2014) 58 Cal.4th 

1354.

Santana was 16 years old at the time of the first murder and 17 at the time of 

the second. The trial court imposed two consecutive LWOP sentences.

Miller held that mandatory LWOP sentencing for juvenile homicide 

offenders violates the Eighth Amendment ban on cruel and unusual punishment. The court 

further stated that in exercising its discretion whether to impose an LWOP sentence on a 

juvenile homicide offender, the court must consider five factors: (1) the inherent impact of 

the juvenile’s age on his culpability; (2) the juvenile’s home and family environment; (3) 

the circumstances of the homicide offense; (4) the juvenile’s cognitive ability to deal with 
15

law enforcement officers and prosecutors as well as effectively assist in his own defense; 

and (5) the possibility of rehabilitation. (Miller v. Alabama, supra 567 U.S. at p. __ 

[183 L.Ed.2d at pp. 423-424].)

Section 190.5, subdivision (b) provides that the penalty for 16- or 17-yearold juveniles who commit special circumstances murder is “confinement in the state prison 

for life without the possibility of parole or, at the discretion of the court, 25 years to life.” 

Prior to Miller, many courts interpreted the section to mean that LWOP was presumed to 

be the appropriate penalty. Gutierrez determined that such a presumption conflicted with 

Miller. (People v. Gutierrez, supra, 58 Cal.4th at p. 1379.) Gutierrez also repeated the 

five factors the court must consider in exercising its discretion whether to impose an 

LWOP sentence. (Id. at pp. 1388-1389.)

Santana submitted a sentencing memorandum analyzing the Miller/Gutierrez

factors. Attached to the memorandum is a psychological report prepared by Rahn 

Minagawa, Ph.D. Minagawa also testified at the sentencing hearing.

Santana does not contest that the trial court considered the Miller/Gutierrez

factors in sentencing him. Instead he relies on People v. Chavez (2014) 228 Cal.App.4th 

18, 33, where the court stated: “As we read Miller and Gutierrez, the enumerated factors 

are not ends in themselves but rather are, when considered together in a reasoned manner, 

the useful and necessary means by which a sentencing court must determine whether 

transient immaturity requires some degree of leniency or irreparable corruption must be 

punished as severely as possible.” Chavez stated the “ultimate question” is whether the 

defendant’s crimes reflect transient immaturity or irreparable corruption. (Ibid.)

In Chavez, the trial court sentenced the defendants before Miller was 

decided. Thus the court could not have considered the factors required by Miller. The 

Court of Appeal had to decide whether to remand the matter for resentencing. In deciding 

to remand the matter, the court stated there is nothing in the record to show the trial court 

considered the ultimate question. (People v. Chavez, supra, 228 Cal.App.4th at p. 34.)

But neither Chavez nor any other case requires a court to consider the 

ultimate question as a separate factor. Instead, the answer to the ultimate question is the 
16

logical product of the trial court’s consideration of the factors stated in Miller and 

Gutierrez. Because in this case, unlike in Chavez, the court considered the factors stated in 

Miller and Gutierrez, there was no need for the court to separately consider what Chavez

terms “the ultimate question”.

In any event, here during defense counsel’s argument at the sentencing 

hearing, the trial court stated, “You’re talking about the ‘irreparably corrupted’ portion of 

it.” Defense counsel replied, “Right.” The court considered the ultimate question.

Custody Credits

The People concede Santana is entitled to 12 additional days custody credits 

for a total of 1,661 days.

DISPOSITION

The judgment is amended to add 12 days custody credits. In all other 

respects, the judgment is affirmed.

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED.

GILBERT, P. J.

We concur:

YEGAN, J.

PERREN, J.
17

Bob S. Bowers, Jr., Judge

Larry P. Fidler, Judge

Superior Court County of Los Angeles

______________________________

Waldemar D. Halka, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for 

Defendant and Appellant.

Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Chief Assistant 

Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Victoria B. 

Wilson, Supervising Deputy Attorney General, and Chung L. Mar, Deputy Attorney 

General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.