Filed 1/13/22 P. v. Brown CA5

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication 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

FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

THE PEOPLE,

Plaintiff and Respondent,

v.

DAVID WAYNE BROWN,

Defendant and Appellant.

F078884

(Fresno Super. Ct. No. F18903925)

OPINION

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Fresno County. Kristi C. 

Kapetan, Judge.

William J. Capriola, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and 

Appellant.

Xavier Becerra, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney 

General, Michael P. Farrell, Assistant Attorney General, Eric L. Christoffersen, and 

Robert C. Nash, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

-ooOoo-
2.

INTRODUCTION1

Appellant and defendant David Wayne Brown drove his girlfriend, Amber J., to an 

orchard in a rural area. He shot her in the face and arm. He realized she was still alive, 

so he dragged her to a canal, kicked her down the embankment into the fast-moving 

water, even though he knew that she could not swim, and drove away. She managed to 

climb out of the canal; a passing driver found her sometime later. She was taken to the 

hospital by helicopter and survived. The gunshot wounds left her with numbness in her 

face and right hand and visible scars. Defendant was arrested later the same day after 

leading law enforcement officers on a lengthy high-speed chase.

Defendant was charged and convicted of count 1, attempted premeditated murder

based on shooting Amber J.; count 2, aggravated mayhem, also based on shooting Amber 

in the face and arm; count 3, a separate offense of attempted premeditated murder based 

on dragging her into the canal and leaving her to drown; count 4, kidnapping, based on 

dragging her to the canal and kicking her into the water; count 5, felony evasion of a 

police officer; and count 6, felony attempting to dissuade a witness, based on numerous 

calls he placed from jail to Amber; and the jury found true firearm and great bodily injury 

enhancements. He had two prior strike convictions and prior serious felony 

enhancements.

Defendant was sentenced to a determinate term of 51 years plus an indeterminate 

term of 150 years to life.

On appeal, defendant argues that he could not be convicted of two separate 

charges of attempted murder, and he should not have received consecutive sentences for 

those two counts, because he was engaged in one continuous course of conduct when he 

shot the victim and then pushed her into the canal, with the single intent to kill. He also 

1 Pursuant to California Rule of Court, rule 8.90, the full name(s) of the victim and 

witnesses involved in the underlying proceedings have been suppressed throughout this 

opinion in order to protect personal privacy interests. 
3.

argues the court improperly imposed consecutive sentences for count 1, attempted murder 

based on shooting the victim in the face and arm, and count 2, aggravated mayhem, 

because the mayhem conviction was based on the same shooting as the attempted murder 

charge. We affirm.

FACTS

Amber J., who was a tattoo artist, met defendant on Facebook in mid-February 

2018, and they began a romantic relationship. They regularly used methamphetamine 

together.2

In 2018, Amber J. and her son were living with her friend, Bobbie P., in a rural 

area near Centerville and Reedley. Bobbie testified that defendant frequently visited 

Amber when they started dating in February 2018. The relationship between defendant 

and Amber was initially good, but things changed, and they argued all the time. In 

March or April 2018, Bobbie’s husband told defendant not to come around when Amber

was present because their relationship was toxic. Defendant would park at the end of the 

long road to their house and tell Amber to walk out and meet him.

Defendant’s prior acts3

On or about April 2, 2018, Amber J. was still living with her friend, Bobbie P., 

and argued with defendant during a telephone call.

After the call, defendant showed up at Bobbie’s house. There was a very long 

driveway between the house and the main road. Defendant drove up and down the 

driveway, yelled at Amber and caused a scene. Amber decided to talk to him and walked 

down the long driveway. Defendant was irate because of what she said during the 

telephone call.

2 Amber J. was previously convicted of receiving stolen property and had two 

misdemeanor convictions for domestic violence.

3 The court overruled defense objections and granted the prosecution’s motion to 

introduce the following evidence of defendant’s prior acts of domestic violence pursuant 

to Evidence Code section 1109.
4.

Defendant told Amber J. to get into his car, which she did. Defendant drove 

erratically into a nearby orchard until his car hit a stump. Defendant told her to get out of 

the car. She complied because she was scared. She testified that defendant hit her in the 

face and head three times.

Defendant drove her to another part of the orchard. At some point, he took her 

cell phone away from her. Defendant produced a knife and threatened to stab her. 

Amber J. begged him to stop, and they got into “a very emotional, weird fight.” 

Defendant handed her the knife and said to stab him. She threw the knife out the 

window. Defendant asked what she would say if the police arrived. Amber agreed to say 

they were just doing a “kinky sex thing.”

Amber J. testified that they got out of the car, and defendant “pushed” her into the 

trunk and tied her arms with an electrical cord. He closed the trunk lid and started 

driving again. Amber was able to untie herself, and she used the interior emergency latch 

to open the trunk. When the car stopped, she jumped out and found herself at a car wash. 

She ran across the street to a store to get help. Defendant saw her, got back into his car, 

and drove after her. He confronted her in the middle of the street and tried to get her 

back into the trunk.

Someone called the police and officers arrived at the scene. Amber J. lied and told 

the officers the story she had previously agreed to say – that they were involved in “some 

kinky sex thing and that we were just playing around.” She lied to save defendant 

because she knew he would go to prison if she told the truth.4

4 There was also evidence about the prior act based on defendant’s exchange of 

messages with William H., who knew both defendant and Amber J. On the nights of 

April 2 through 3, 2018, defendant asked William if Amber was with him; William said 

no. Defendant wrote that she had “crossed the line,” he needed to find her, and William 

would know when he found her.

On April 3, 2018, defendant sent a message to William H. that he was going to 

“take” a life that day. William asked what happened, and later sent another message and 

asked if defendant was okay. Defendant replied that he totaled his car and almost died. 
5.

Amber J. admitted that at a later time, she told a friend about the trunk incident but 

lied when she falsely claimed that defendant raped her.

On Mother’s Day in 2018, defendant visited Amber J. She was sick, asked him to 

go to the store and get some medicine, and gave her debit card to him. Defendant 

disappeared with the debit card, placed some charges on it, and left it on her car a few 

days later.

Amber J. testified that they stopped seeing each other after the debit card incident. 

She learned that defendant was seeing Samantha S. Amber knew that William H. was 

living with Samantha; Amber previously lived with William.

Amber J. admitted she confronted Samantha S. with a gun, punched her in the 

face, and later threatened her on Facebook. Amber testified the shotgun was not loaded, 

and she put it down before she hit Samantha with her fists. Amber was drinking when 

she sent the message to Samantha that she would do it again and pull the trigger.

THE CHARGED OFFENSES

In June 2018, Amber J. and her son were still living with Bobbie P. On the 

afternoon of June 3, 2018, defendant sent Amber a message and asked to meet her at the 

end of the road by Bobbie’s house. She replied that she was staying with William H. 

Defendant sent more messages and accused her of not wanting to see him.

On June 4, 2018, defendant sent messages to Amber J. and asked to meet her. She 

refused, they exchanged more messages and a call, and argued about their relationship. 

Defendant’s last message was: “ ‘See you then,’ ” and Amber replied with a “thumbs

up” sign.

On the evening of June 4, 2018, defendant placed a videocall to Amber J., said he 

wanted to see her, and asked if she wanted to get high. They agreed to meet the next 

morning at the end of Bobbie P.’s driveway.

Detective Razo testified that based on the date, these messages appear related to the 

incident when defendant tied up Amber J. and put her in his trunk.
6.

At 8:21 a.m. on June 5, 2018, the day of the charged offenses, defendant sent 

Amber J. a message and asked to meet her. She asked why. Defendant replied: “ ‘Just 

get high, take you back.’ ”

At 8:32 a.m., Amber J. sent a message that she was “walking” and asked 

defendant where he was. There were no further messages or calls from Amber to 

defendant.

It was later determined that Amber J. left her cell phone at Bobbie P.’s house 

when she met defendant.

Defendant picks up Amber J.

At 9:10 a.m. on June 5, 2018, defendant sent Amber J. a message that he was late. 

At 9:15 a.m., he called Amber, but it did not connect, and then he sent a thumbs up sign.

Amber J. testified that around 9:30 a.m., defendant arrived at Bobbie P.’s 

driveway and she got into his car. Defendant drove a silver Nissan Altima that had black 

primer on parts of the car where it was being repaired.

Amber J. testified that defendant frisked her when she got into his car. He drove 

into an orchard and parked about six feet from a canal. They talked, smoked marijuana, 

and started to engage in sexual acts. Defendant told her to get out of the passenger seat 

and walk to the driver’s side so they could continue having sex. She got out of the car, 

walked around the back, and approached the driver’s door.

Defendant shoots Amber J. (count 1, attempted murder; count 2, aggravated 

mayhem)

When Amber J. arrived at the driver’s side of defendant’s car, he was standing 

outside the vehicle. He leaned back into the car, and then turned around and shot her in 

the face. Amber heard a gunshot and was knocked to the ground. Her face was bleeding,

her dentures were broken in half, and her ears were ringing. She knew something was 

wrong but did not immediately realize what happened. The bullet entered her nose and 

exited through her jaw.
7.

Amber J. was lying on the ground and on her back, and bleeding from her facial 

wounds; defendant stood over her. She testified: “[Defendant] walks up on me and 

points the gun, and I see it and I pulled up my arm and he shot it again.” The bullet went 

through her raised right arm and into her shoulder.

Defendant drags Amber J. to the canal (count 3, attempted murder; count 4, 

kidnapping)

After defendant fired the second shot, Amber J. was still lying on the ground on 

her back and bleeding from the gunshot wounds. Defendant grabbed her foot and 

dragged her to the canal, feet first, holding one foot. When they reached the top of the 

canal bank, defendant yelled at her to get into the canal water. She tried to scoot down 

the steep embankment. Defendant kicked her in the shoulder, and she fell down the steep 

embankment and into the water.5 Amber testified that he kicked her wounded shoulder 

with such force that he left a shoe print on her back, and she had trouble breathing.

Amber J. testified that defendant knew she could not swim. The canal water was 

moving swiftly, and it was too deep to touch the bottom; Amber started to float away. 

She heard defendant get into his car and drive away. She thought she was going to die 

and did not want her children to find her body floating in a canal.

Amber J. testified that she grabbed the side of the canal and held onto a rock. She 

was able to climb out of the water, over the embankment, and back into the orchard. She 

thought she had been in the water for about 10 minutes. She was afraid she would die in 

the orchard, “[a]nd I started thinking no one would know I was with him, so I started 

writing his name the best I could, because with my arm that had a hole in it, trying to 

write his name with the rocks in blood.” She began to pass out. She later heard a car 

drive up, and someone told her that she was going to be okay.

5

In closing argument, the prosecutor argued count 4, kidnapping, was based on 

defendant’s act of dragging Amber J. to the canal.
8.

Defendant’s location

The GPS data on defendant’s cell phone showed his movements on June 5, 2018. 

At 9:34 a.m., he was at the canal bank where Amber J. was shot, near Floradora and 

Macdonough, north of East Belmont in Fresno County. By 9:54 a.m., defendant was a 

“good distance” away from that area, and proceeding on Kings Canyon Road toward 

Clovis, where he lived. At 10:36 a.m., he was by his residence in Clovis.

Defendant’s text messages to Amber J.

At 10:59 a.m., defendant sent a message to Amber J. saying that he had fun, he 

missed her, and to call him. Defendant then called Amber, but the call did not go 

through.

At 1:29 p.m., defendant sent messages to Amber J. to call him and asked her not to 

be mad at him. There were no further messages from defendant to Amber.

Discovery of Amber J.

Around 11:00 a.m. that day, Christopher C. was driving to his ranch when he saw 

someone in an orchard, lying on the side of a canal bank. Christopher drove into the 

orchard and up to the canal, where he found Amber J. She was lying on her back and 

covered in blood. She opened her eyes and asked for help. He called 911.

Deputy Milkovich responded to the scene and found Amber J. lying in the fetal 

position. She was bleeding from gunshot wounds to her neck, chin, and arm, and her face 

and body were covered with blood. Milkovich asked her what happened. Amber said, 

“ ‘David Brown shot me. He did it. He’s on parole.’ ” Amber said she had been in the 

canal but did not know how much time had passed.

Deputy Milkovich called for emergency personnel. She kept talking to Amber J. 

to keep her from losing consciousness.
9.

Deputy Milkovich testified it was a very warm day. Amber J. was bleeding from 

her wounds, but her clothing and the blood on her chest were dry. Based on the 

temperature, and dry clothing and blood, Milkovich believed Amber had been lying in 

the orchard for some time before she was found.

Amber J.’s injuries

Emergency personnel treated Amber J. at the scene and transported her to the 

hospital by helicopter.

The first gunshot entered Amber J.’s nose and exited through her jaw. She lost 

teeth, suffered permanent numbness on the right side of her face, and the wound left a 

long scar on the lower left side of her jaw.

The second gunshot went through her right arm and neck, severed a tendon, and 

lodged in her shoulder. It resulted in numbness in her right arm, severely restricted 

movement of fingers on her right hand, and impaired her ability to work as a tattoo artist.

Investigation at the scene

There were expended .380-caliber cartridges by the canal bank. There were also 

bloody broken dentures on the ground. The canal’s embankment was very steep, and the 

water was flowing fast.

Deputy Milkovich testified that Amber J. was found about 30 to 35 feet from the 

canal bank, in a sandy area with powdered dirt and very small rocks and pebbles. There 

were two separate trails of drag marks in that area. The two trails were two or three feet 

apart. One trail was bloody and led to the canal, down the embankment, and to the 

water’s edge. The criminalist estimated that it was about 24 feet from the beginning of 

the blood trail to where the drag marks ended at the canal bank. The second trail 

appeared to begin at the canal water, continued over the embankment, disturbed the 

leaves, led into the orchard, and ended close to the area where Amber was found.
10.

Deputy Milkovich testified there was dirt and foliage on the back of Amber J.’s 

hair, but not on her face or the front of her body. The area by the embankment was full 

of leaves, sticks, and larger rocks, consistent with the foliage on the back of Amber’s 

hair.

The criminalist found four tire tracks in the orchard. There was one pair of shoe 

prints by the tire tracks, where the dirt was softer. The criminalist did not find any shoe 

prints by the drag marks because that area was too rocky.

Arrest of defendant (count 5; felony evasion)

Detectives Razo and Chalmers of the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department 

contacted Amber at the hospital. Amber J. said that defendant shot her and wanted her 

dead. She used methamphetamine that day, and defendant was the only person who 

could inject her because she had bad veins.

The sheriff’s department set up surveillance near defendant’s residence in Clovis. 

At 5:17 p.m. on June 5, 2018, Deputy Kitchens was stationed near the residence and saw 

defendant drive by in a silver Nissan Altima. He followed defendant and activated the 

lights and siren on his marked vehicle to perform a traffic stop. Defendant accelerated 

and led officers on a lengthy, high speed chase. Defendant ran through stop signs and red 

lights, nearly hit other vehicles, and drove against traffic. Defendant avoided driving into 

a spike strip and kept going even after his vehicle was intentionally rammed by a patrol 

car. Finally, another deputy used his squad car to pin defendant’s vehicle against a tow 

truck, and defendant’s car crashed.

The deputies surrounded defendant’s car and tried to get him out. They had to 

break open the car’s windows to reach him. Defendant raised his hands but resisted and 

was pulled out of the vehicle. He continued to resist as the deputies placed him in 

handcuffs.

Samantha S. was also in the car with defendant.
11.

THE INVESTIGATION

Veronica G.’s testimony about the gun and the car

Amber J. testified that sometime prior to the charged offenses in this case, 

defendant said he had obtained a gun from a girlfriend named “Valerie” or “Veronica,” 

and it had “jammed up.”

During the high speed chase, defendant was driving a silver Nissan Altima that 

belonged to Veronica G.

Veronica G. testified at trial that she was defendant’s girlfriend at the time of the 

charged offenses, and they met on an online dating site in September 2017. She lived in 

Madera and defendant lived in Clovis. In February 2018, she saw some messages to 

defendant from Amber J., but defendant claimed she was just a friend. Veronica’s 

relationship with defendant seemed different toward the end of May 2018, and it became 

difficult to contact him.

Veronica G. testified that on May 5, 2018, she bought a handgun and ammunition 

from a store for her personal safety because of unusual vandalism around her house. 

Defendant was with her when she bought the gun. On May 15, 2018, after the waiting 

period, she picked up the gun. She kept the gun in a black case, left the key in the lock, 

and never fired it.

Veronica G. once saw defendant holding her gun when he was at her house. She 

knew that defendant was a felon and told him to put it away. After that time, she tried to 

hide the gun in different places in her home and car to keep it away from him.

On the morning of June 5, 2018, Veronica G. was at work in Madera. Later in the 

morning, defendant called and said he was heading to her house in Madera. She drove 

home to unlock the house for defendant, and he was there and waiting for her. She went 

back to work, and then drove home again at lunchtime. Defendant was still there and 
12.

seemed normal. They had lunch together, and defendant asked to borrow her car because 

he was having a problem with a tire.6

Veronica G. testified that they both drove silver Nissan Altimas, “different year, 

same color,” but defendant’s car looked different because it had black primer on the 

hood.

Veronica G. testified that they left her house in her silver vehicle. Defendant 

dropped her off at work and drove away in her vehicle. Later in the afternoon, just before 

she left work, defendant called and asked her to change his cell phone number because he 

was on her account. Veronica did so, but she did not see him again that day and had to 

get a ride home.7 At 3:00 a.m. the next morning, defendant called her from jail.

Veronica G. testified that deputies later arrived at her house. Defendant’s silver 

Nissan Altima with the black, primer hood was still parked there. Veronica identified the 

vehicle that defendant crashed after the high speed chase as her silver Nissan, based on 

the license plate number and lack of primer.

The deputies asked Veronica G. about her gun. She looked in the place where it 

was hidden in her bedroom, and realized the gun was gone. She and the deputies 

discovered defendant had thrown one of the floor mats from his car into her trash can; it 

had an apparent bloodstain.

Search of the cars and DNA evidence

As explained above, defendant was driving Veronica G.’s silver Nissan Altima 

when he led the deputies on the high speed chase and crashed.

The trunk of the crashed car contained unfired rounds of .380-caliber Harnady

brand ammunition, a gun case, a gun lock, and two sets of keys. There was paperwork in 

6 The GPS data from defendant’s cell phone showed that at 11:37 a.m., defendant 

was by Veronica G.’s house in Madera.

7 Sometime between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on June 5, 2018, defendant’s cell

phone number was changed.
13.

the trunk consisting of a dealer’s record showing Veronica G. purchased a Llama brand 

.380-caliber handgun, dated May 5, 2018, with a delivery date of May 15, 2018. Her 

name was on the side of the gun case.

The gun case contained DNA from at least four potential contributors. The 

forensic biologist testified it was 138,000 times more likely than not that defendant’s 

DNA was on the case.

The investigating officers found defendant’s Nissan with the black, primer hood, 

that he used to drive Amber J. to the canal bank, parked at Veronica G.’s house. There 

was blood on the outside panel of the driver’s side rear door; the blood contained 

Amber’s DNA profile.

Additional forensic evidence

A firearms expert testified the bullet removed from Amber J.’s body was a 

“nominal .38[-] caliber” hollow point, that was consistent with the unfired cartridges 

found in the trunk of Veronica G.’s car. The rifling characteristics on the fired bullet 

were consistent with a Llama-manufactured firearm.

A photograph was recovered from defendant’s Facebook page, posted on May 15, 

2018. It showed defendant posing with a firearm at his house. Veronica G. testified the 

photograph showed defendant holding the gun that she purchased, and she had no idea 

that he took it from her home.

A firearms expert testified defendant was holding a “Llama 380”-caliber handgun 

in the photograph. Such a weapon was prone to jamming and required racking the slide 

to clear it.

The firearm used to shoot Amber J. was never located.
14.

THE ELECTRONIC EVIDENCE

Defendant’s messages to Kristine M.

Defendant and Kristine M. communicated on Facebook in the days and weeks 

before defendant shot Amber J. He sent a series of urgent messages to her on June 5, 

2018, the day of the charged offenses.

At 8:24 a.m., Kristine M. sent defendant a message and he responded. At 9:47 

a.m., there was a missed call from defendant to Kristine. She replied she would be one 

second. Defendant called her six seconds later, and she sent a message that she could not

talk.

At 9:48 a.m., defendant again tried to call Kristine M., she did not respond, and 

then he sent a message to her that only said: “911, 911.”

At 11:15 a.m., defendant called Kristine M., and the call went through. Within 

minutes, they exchanged more calls that did not go through.8 There were several more 

missed calls between them that day, followed by completed calls at 3:28 p.m. and 5:12 

p.m. Kristine repeatedly tried to reach him after 5:17 p.m., but he did not respond; 

defendant was involved in the high speed chase by that time.

DEFENDANT’S JAIL CALLS AND VISITS

Defendant remained in custody after he was arrested in this case. He had 

numerous calls and contacts with various witnesses prior to his preliminary hearing and 

trial.

Veronica G.

On July 9, 2019, defendant submitted a request to marry Veronica G. in jail. She 

regularly visited him in jail, but they were not married. Defendant and Veronica

8 Based on the GPS data from defendant’s cell phone, his calls to Kristine M. 

occurred after he left the canal bank, and as he was heading back to Clovis and then to 

Madera.
15.

exchanged numerous letters about continuing their relationship when he got out. He also 

wrote letters to other women discussing his hopes for their future romantic relationships.

Veronica G. testified that she visited defendant in jail several times. During the 

visit of October 3, 2018, shortly before the trial, defendant was upset because she had 

been subpoenaed to testify, and said it was “just a misdemeanor” to violate a subpoena. 

She felt he was trying to discourage her from testifying, but she always intended to 

appear and would not lie for him.

Defendant’s jail visit with Veronica G. on October 3, 2018, was recorded, and the 

transcript introduced into evidence. Defendant accused her of not caring what was going 

to happen to him and helping the prosecutor convict him. Defendant said she should take 

a vacation and not testify. Veronica said she had no choice and did not want to “put 

[him] away.” He again accused her of not caring for him and said she was not helping 

“the home team.” Defendant told her that it was a misdemeanor if she did not show up 

and testify, and she could have taken a vacation and done a lot of things to avoid 

testifying, but she was “helping them give me life.”

Defendant said he would be angry at her for the rest of his life but added that he 

should not have put her in this position. Veronica G. agreed and said, “You shouldn’t 

have! I’ve always done what you asked.”

“[Defendant]: [Y]ou’re right. And that’s fine. That’s fine. I 

understand your reasoning and say all that, say whatever, but it, it doesn’t 

change the bottom line. You’re right.

“[Ms. Gordon]: [Inaudible]

“[Defendant]: You’re right. Yup. Bottom line is I should’ve 

reracked that mother[f**]ker and shot her again, huh?

“[Ms. Gordon]: [Inaudible]

“[Defendant]: Should’ve got a more expensive gun, huh? Shot her 

like 4 times in the face. That’s what I should’ve done.
16.

“[Ms. Gordon]: [Inaudible]

“[Defendant]: Nah, I can make it where you don’t need to help them 

at all. You like that? Too late.”9 (Italics added.)

Amber J. (count 6; attempted dissuasion of a witness)

At 4:20 p.m. on July 16, 2018, defendant called Amber J. from jail. He told her to 

do the “right thing,” not show up, and get him back with his daughter. At 4:30 p.m. on 

the same day, Amber received a jail call from Pacer Hampton, who was housed in the cell 

next to defendant. Defendant, Hampton, and Amber were on the call. At 7:28 p.m. on 

the same day, defendant again called Amber and told her to go “M.I.A.” and claim head 

trauma.

On July 17, 2018, defendant called Amber J., and they appeared to know the call 

was being monitored. They discussed how her memory was not clear, and defendant told 

her to call his attorney. Amber said she loved him and talked about getting married. 

Defendant said that was not possible because the district attorney would not allow it. 

Defendant mentioned she should talk to his attorney. Amber said she loved him.10

On July 18, 2018, defendant called Amber J., tried to find out if she talked to his 

attorney, asked for help to get his case dismissed, said he hoped she would follow 

through, and promised they would be together in the future.

On July 29, 2018, Amber J. received a jail call from Richard “Bad Boy” Caldwell,

another inmate housed near defendant’s cell. Defendant’s voice could be heard in the 

background, telling Caldwell what to say. Caldwell told Amber not to show up for the 

9 Amber J. testified that sometime prior to the charged offenses in this case, 

defendant said he had obtained a gun from a girlfriend named “Valerie” or “Veronica,” 

and it had “jammed up.” The firearms expert testified defendant was holding a “Llama 

380”-caliber handgun in the photograph, and this gun was prone to jamming and required 

racking the slide to clear it.

10 It was stipulated that Amber J. called defendant’s attorney several times, and the 

attorney never returned the calls.
17.

preliminary hearing and she should talk to defendant’s attorney. Amber replied, “ ‘He 

did it. Hey dude, he did it.’ ”

On August 3, 2018, defendant called Amber J. and again told her not to come to 

court. Defendant warned that someone would look for her and try to bring her into court, 

it would only be a misdemeanor if she did not show up, and she should “lay low” for a 

few weeks, and he would be home. Defendant also said that she should misstate her 

testimony if she decided to appear.11

On August 16, 2018, defendant’s preliminary hearing was held, and Amber J. 

appeared in court and testified. She was ordered to return after the lunch break to 

complete her testimony. Richard “Bad Boy” Caldwell called Amber from jail at 

12:38 p.m., during the court’s lunch break when defendant was back at the jail. 

Defendant’s voice could be heard in the background. Amber returned to court and 

completed her testimony.

Amber J.’s testimony about defendant’s calls

Amber J. testified that after defendant shot her and threw her in the canal in June 

2018, it took her a “few months” to stop loving him. She was very confused in July and 

August 2018 and felt sorry for him. Amber talked to defendant several times while he 

was in jail, said she loved him, and sent him a care package. Defendant called Amber all 

the time and told her not to come to court. She told defendant she might move out of 

state.

Amber J. acknowledged that she also received calls from inmates Pacer Hampton 

and Richard Caldwell but denied that they told her not to come to court. Caldwell only 

expressed concern for her safety.

Amber J. eventually changed her phone number and defendant stopped calling her.

11 Defendant’s pre-preliminary hearing was scheduled for July 30, 2018. The 

preliminary hearing was originally set for August 9, 2018, it was continued, and held on 

August 16, 2018.
18.

DEFENSE EVIDENCE

Samantha S.

Samantha S. testified that she met defendant in October 2017, through Hollis, her 

former boyfriend. Samantha’s relationship with defendant became romantic by April 

2018. She also knew Amber J. Samantha testified she was currently subject to 

prosecution for a misdemeanor charge.

Samantha S. testified about an incident that occurred in May or June 2018, about 

two weeks before Amber J. was shot. Hollis picked up Samantha and drove her to his 

house, where Amber was waiting. Amber had a shotgun, and Amber and Hollis took her 

into a back room. Amber hit Samantha on the nose with the end of the shotgun, hit her 

two more times, and then Hollis raped her. Samantha testified that she suffered two 

black eyes, a broken nose that was “hanging to one side,” and a skull fracture. However, 

she did not seek medical attention or call the police because she was afraid Amber was 

going to kill her.

On June 5, 2018, the day of the shooting, Samantha S. was at a friend’s house in 

Fresno, and sent a message to defendant to pick her up. Defendant arrived, she got in the 

car, and they headed to defendant’s house. However, the police drove behind them and 

the high speed chase ensued. Defendant did not say anything during the chase, and 

Samantha kept saying that she loved him.

Samantha S. spoke to the police after the chase and gave a false name. She never 

mentioned that Amber J. had previously assaulted her.

Samantha S. testified that just before defendant’s trial started, she received a 

Facebook message from Amber J., who threatened to find her, beat her up, and “this time 

she was going to pull the trigger.”

Defendant’s neighbor

Mary C. lived next to defendant in Clovis and described him as a good kid. On 

the morning of June 5, 2018, she was emptying the RV trailer parked in front of her 
19.

house. She started around 7:00 a.m. and finished at 9:30 a.m. She saw defendant in his 

garage during that time. He offered to help but she declined.

Defendant’s trial testimony

Defendant testified that he had a prior conviction for felony assault by means 

likely to cause great bodily injury in 2003, that was later reduced to a misdemeanor; two 

convictions for felony bank robbery in 2004; and a conviction for felony attempted 

robbery in 2012.

Defendant testified he previously used methamphetamine, his wife died of a drug 

overdose in 2012, and he stopped using after that. He met Amber J. on Facebook in 

January or February 2018. They were “casually dating,” but defendant had “many 

partners” and did not consider their relationship exclusive. Defendant started smoking 

methamphetamine again with Amber, and he helped her inject methamphetamine.

Defendant admitted he sent a Facebook message to Hollis that he was going to 

“blast” Amber J., but he was angry because they had argued, and Amber had lied about 

him on Facebook. Defendant admitted that two days after the messages to Hollis, he tied 

up Amber and placed her in the trunk of his car. Defendant testified the trunk incident 

was Amber’s idea for them to engage in a sexual fantasy. Defendant testified that Amber

falsely accused him of rape.

Defendant testified that he communicated with Amber J. on the day before the 

shooting, and they agreed to meet early in the morning on June 5, 2018, because they 

were going to have sex and she needed help to inject methamphetamine. Defendant 

overslept and sent her a message around 8:00 a.m.

The gun

Defendant testified Veronica G. stayed at his house in Clovis two nights before 

Amber J. was shot. At that time, defendant saw Veronica’s gun in the trunk of her car 

and took it without her permission. He planned to trade the gun for methamphetamine 

with a friend of Amber’s, a man known as “Rage,” who was a member of a motorcycle 
20.

club that she associated with. Defendant took the gun with him when he drove to meet 

Amber.

12

Defendant picks up Amber J.

Defendant testified he picked up Amber J. close to 9:00 a.m., and she asked for 

help to inject methamphetamine. He drove out to the orchard, tried to inject her with 

syringes, and could not do it because of her veins. Instead, they smoked marijuana and 

engaged in sexual relations while they waited for Rage to arrive.

Defendant testified that Rage, arrived in the orchard on a motorcycle. Defendant 

grabbed the gun, and they both got out of his car. Amber J. took the gun to Rage; she and 

Rage talked outside of defendant’s presence, and Rage shook his head. Amber returned 

to defendant and said she only got about an ounce of methamphetamine for the gun. She 

said Rage was unhappy that defendant was there because no one else was supposed to be 

present.

Amber J. said she was going to “stay with her homeboy” in the orchard. 

Defendant was “glad that I got what I wanted,” and drove away, leaving Amber in the 

orchard with Rage and the gun.13

Defendant switches cars

Defendant testified that he drove back to his house in Clovis, called some of the 

other women he was seeing, and arrived home around 9:30 a.m. He then called 

Veronica G., drove to her house in Madera, and arrived around 10:45 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. 

Veronica came home, unlocked the door, went back to work, and then returned at 

12 Amber J. testified that she had previously dated the president of the “Screaming 

Demons” motorcycle club and described the group as “a bunch of old guys” who did 

charity work and raised money for children’s hospitals.

13 The prosecution recalled Amber J. on rebuttal, and she testified that no one 

arrived on a motorcycle or met them in the orchard, they did not trade a gun for

methamphetamine, and she was only there with defendant.
21.

lunchtime. They had lunch, and defendant asked to borrow her car because there was a 

problem with a tire on his car. She agreed.

Defendant drives back to Fresno

Defendant left Madera in Veronica G.’s car around 1:30 p.m. He drove to Fresno 

to pick up Samantha S. Before he reached her location, he got a call from Amber J.’s 

roommate, Bobbie P., who said the police were at her house, they had a photograph of 

defendant, and they were asking about Amber.

Defendant arrived at Samantha S.’s residence and used methamphetamine. After 

about one hour, defendant and Samantha left together, and the high speed chase began 

shortly afterwards. Defendant testified he tried to evade the police because he thought 

they were going to arrest him based on Amber J.’s false allegation that he raped her 

during the April 3, 2018 incident when he put her in the trunk. Defendant admitted he 

only stopped when a squad car rammed his vehicle, and he was arrested.

Defendant admitted that he spoke with the officers after the high speed chase and 

told them that he took Amber J. home from the orchard. He lied because he was afraid of 

being arrested for possession of the handgun and methamphetamine. He also did not 

want to “snitch” about Rage because he was afraid of him. Defendant testified he was 

now telling the truth because he did not want to go to jail for the rest of his life for 

something he did not do.

REBUTTAL EVIDENCE

Bobbie P.

Bobbie P. testified in rebuttal about her contacts with defendant before and on the 

day of the charged offenses. Bobbie testified that she went to work on the morning of 

June 5, 2018. She did not know that Amber J. had left the house with defendant. Bobbie

went home at 11:00 a.m. because she was supposed to take Amber to an appointment at 

noon, but Amber was not there. Amber’s son was there and said that his mother was 

going to meet defendant and had left her cell phone in the house. Sometime between 
22.

11:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m., Bobbie called defendant, asked where Amber was, and said 

she was angry because they were supposed to meet for an appointment, but Amber was

not at the house. Defendant said he dropped her off at Bobbie’s house.14

Bobbie P. started to drive back to work. Amber J.’s son called her and said that 

detectives were at the house. Around 1:00 p.m., Bobbie sent a text message to defendant 

and also called him. She told him about the detectives and asked what was going on. 

Defendant said he did not know, and again said he had dropped off Amber at Bobbie’s 

house.

Bobbie P. found out the detectives at her house were from the homicide division 

and became concerned. She contacted defendant again around 3:00 p.m. and asked 

where Amber J. was. Defendant assured her that he had dropped off Amber at the house 

earlier that day.

Further investigative evidence

Detective Chalmers testified he interviewed Samantha S. on June 5, 2018, after 

she was found in the car with defendant following the high speed chase. Samantha did 

not say that Amber J. had previously assaulted her. Chalmers took her picture, and she 

did not appear to have been beaten and did not have any visible injuries, such as bruises 

or black eyes.

Detective Chalmers again interviewed Samantha S. about two weeks before 

defendant’s trial started in October 2018. During that interview, Samantha reported for 

the first time that Amber J. had assaulted her on June 1, 2018. Samantha reported she 

was with Hollis, he woke her up, she went to the door, and Amber was there. Amber hit 

her in the face with a shotgun, inflicting two black eyes, breaking her nose, and fracturing 

the left side of her face, and she still had trouble breathing.

14 The GPS data from defendant’s cell phone showed that at 11:37 a.m., defendant 

was in the area by Veronica G.’s house in Madera.
23.

Detective Razo checked law enforcement data bases for a motorcycle club 

member known as “Rage” but found no evidence of such a person.

CLOSING ARGUMENTS

The prosecutor’s closing argument

In closing argument, the prosecutor argued defendant was guilty of counts 1 and 3, 

the two charges of attempted murder, because they occurred on “different occasions, 

different acts,” based on what happened in the orchard: “Two different times he took two 

different acts to try and [k]ill her so they’re charged in two separate counts.”

The prosecutor stated count 1, attempted murder, was based on “shooting the 

victim. He intended to murder her when he shot her.” He shot Amber J. in the face while 

she was standing by the driver’s side of his car, her blood splashed on the side of the car, 

and then he shot her in the arm. The prosecutor cited the photographs of the victim that 

were taken at the hospital and introduced into evidence, and stated they showed how the 

gunshot entered through her nose, “[s]plit the whole bottom side of her throat,” and there 

were scars on her nose and the left side of her mouth. The prosecutor argued there was 

“no way you shoot someone in the face without intending to kill them.”

The prosecutor argued that count 3, the second charge of attempted murder, “was 

throwing her into the canal to drown.” Defendant grabbed Amber J.’s foot and dragged 

her to the top of the steep canal bank, while she was bleeding from the gunshot wounds. 

Defendant told her to get into the water, kicked her in the back, and she fell into the deep 

and fast-moving water “for her to die and drown” because defendant knew she could not 

swim. The prosecutor argued that throwing her into the canal was the “perfect place to 

finish the job he started with that gun,” and he left her “in the water to die and he takes 

off.”

The prosecutor further argued that each act constituted a premeditated and willful 

attempted murder. As to count 1, the evidence showed he had been planning to shoot her 

for days since he took the gun from Veronica G., he frisked Amber J. before she got into 
24.

his car, he drove to a secluded location in the orchard, and he told Amber to get out of the 

car and walk to the driver’s side to give him time to pull the gun.

As to count 3, defendant had “a choice” after he shot her twice, and he could have 

called 911 for help or just left her there.

“Once the gun jammed, he had a choice. He could abandon what he was 

doing and go home, or call 911, seek medical aid, regretting the decision he 

made, or he could put into effect a plan B, and he chose plan B. Now, he 

had regrets that day. We heard his regrets. His regret was that he didn’t 

rerack the gun and shoot her again because plan B didn’t work. His regrets 

weren’t that he didn’t do it. His regrets were that he got pushed into that 

place. His regret was that he didn’t finish the job, and when [he] dragged 

her to that canal, he was hoping that was what would do it. He knew she 

couldn’t swim. He kicked her hard where he had already wounded her, and 

he put her in water where it was deep and fast-flowing. Putting someone in 

that state, who already can’t swim into that water, that’s asking them to die, 

and it’s hoping that when they do, the water will carry away the evidence. 

That’s the evidence of premeditation in this case. There is something 

instrumental about what he did. It was designed to make it easier for him to 

get away from the crime, and, again, he, had a choice. He made that cold, 

calculated decision the law requires. The gun jams and he says, ‘What am I 

going to do now? What I’m going to do, I’m going to grab her by the foot, 

drag her, kicking and crying to the canal bank, down that slope, into that 

water, and kick her again there and hope she dies. He made that choice. 

That choice was deliberate, that choice was willful, and that choice was 

calculated. It was premeditated within the meaning of the law.”

Defense counsel’s closing argument

Defense counsel argued Amber J. was not credible because of her inconsistent 

statements, she had committed violent acts against other people, and she admitted making 

false allegations against defendant about raping her during the trunk incident. Defense 

counsel acknowledged that “[s]hooting someone in the face is just shooting someone so 

they die,” but cited defendant’s testimony about the man on the motorcycle arriving in 

the orchard and argued that person was the likely suspect. Defense counsel suggested 

Amber’s blood was on the outside of defendant’s car because they were using syringes to 

inject methamphetamine. Counsel asserted Amber lied about being thrown into the canal 
25.

because her clothes were dry when the deputy responded to the orchard, and “since she 

was never in the canal,” defendant was not guilty of attempted murder or kidnapping.

PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

On October 18, 2018, a first amended information, further amended by 

interlineation, was filed in the superior court charging defendant with count 1, attempted 

premeditated murder of Amber J. “by shooting her in the face & arm with a handgun” 

(Pen. Code, §§ 664, 187);15 count 2, aggravated mayhem (§ 205); count 3, a separate 

charge of attempted premeditated murder, “by dragging her into a canal & leaving her to 

drown”; count 4, kidnapping (§ 207, subd. (a)); count 5, felony evasion of a police officer 

(Veh. Code, § 2800.2, subd. (a)); and count 6, felony attempting to dissuade a witness, 

Amber J. (§ 136.1, subd. (a)(2)).

As to counts 1 and 2, attempted murder and aggravated mayhem, it was alleged 

defendant personally and intentionally discharged a firearm causing great bodily injury 

(§ 12022.53, subd. (d)); and as to counts 3 and 4, the separate charge of attempted murder 

and kidnapping, that defendant personally inflicted great bodily injury under

circumstances involving domestic violence (§ 12022.7, subd. (e)). It was further alleged 

that defendant had three prior strike convictions, two prior serious felony enhancements 

(§ 667, subd. (a)(1)), and one prior prison term enhancement (§ 667.5, subd. (b).

Trial and verdict

On October 16, 2018, defendant’s jury trial began.

On November 1, 2018, defendant was convicted of all six counts, and the jury 

found the great bodily injury and firearm enhancements true. Defendant waived his right 

to a jury trial and admitted the prior conviction allegations.

15 All further statutory references are the Penal Code unless otherwise stated.
26.

SENTENCING

Sentencing briefs; defendant’s postverdict statements

The People filed a sentencing brief and attached transcripts for two calls defendant 

made from jail after he was convicted. During a call with his mother, defendant said, “ ‘I 

shot that bitch. I’ll shoot that bitch again [if] they ever let me out.’ ” During a call with 

Amber J., defendant told her, “ ‘You get my life and I got your livelihood.’ ”

Defendant’s sentencing brief objected to the prosecutor’s reliance on his 

postverdict jail calls and asked the court to exclude the transcripts from consideration 

when imposing sentence. Defendant acknowledged that rule 4.414 of the California 

Rules of Court allowed the court to consider whether the defendant is “remorseful,” but 

that only applied to the determination of probation, and defendant was statutorily 

ineligible for probation and there were no unusual circumstances.

Defendant requested dismissal of the prior strike convictions “based on the 

severity of the punishment that [he] is already facing without the three strikes 

punishment,” so that enhancing his sentence “serves no practical purpose.”

Defendant also asked the court to find counts 1 through 4 (the two counts of 

attempted murder, aggravated mayhem, and kidnapping) constituted a single course of 

conduct, and that the sentences for counts 2, 3, and 4 should be stayed pursuant to 

section 654.

Sentencing hearing

On February 20, 2019, the court held the sentencing hearing and stated it had 

reviewed the parties’ sentencing briefs. Defense counsel moved for the court to place 

defendant on mental health diversion pursuant to section 1001.36. The court denied the 

motion and agreed with the prosecutor that defendant was unsuitable because of the risk 

of his future dangerousness.

The court found defendant was statutorily ineligible for probation. The court 

denied defendant’s request to dismiss the prior strike convictions because the current 
27.

offenses were serious and violent felonies, and his background demonstrates “crimes of 

increasing severity and his conduct is fully inside the spirit of the Three Strikes Law.”

The court found there were significant aggravating factors because the 

circumstances of the crimes involved a high degree of cruelty and viciousness; the victim 

was uniquely vulnerable because he lured her to a secluded location under false 

pretenses; he intimidated witnesses after the crime; he tried to suborn perjury and 

interfere with court process; he planned the crime by taking the gun from Veronica G.; he 

was on parole when he committed the crime; and “[h]e’s already threatened to shoot the 

victim again should he ever get out.”16 There were no mitigating factors.

The court acknowledged defense counsel’s argument that it should impose either 

concurrent or stayed sentences for counts 1 and 3, premeditated attempted murder, and 

count 2, aggravated mayhem. The court rejected this request and stated it intended to 

impose consecutive third strike terms of 25 years to life for counts 1, 2, and 3. The court 

found that as to count 2, aggravated mayhem, “there was a specific intent to disable or 

disfigure, and that was found by the jury. This is further confirmed by [defendant’s] 

post-conviction jail call to the victim, quote, ‘You got my life I got your livelihood.’ ”

17

The court found a consecutive sentence was appropriate for count 3, attempted 

murder by drowning, because it was “a completely separate act. There was an 

opportunity for reflection. He dragged the victim to the canal.”

The court imposed the aggregate third strike sentence of a determinate term of 51 

years plus an indeterminate term of 150 years to life, as follows:

16 The court’s statement is apparently based on the prosecution’s sentencing 

statement and supporting exhibit of defendant’s postverdict jail call with his mother, 

when he said that he shot Amber and would shoot her again if he was released. 

Defendant objected to the court’s consideration of his postverdict statements. The court 

did not expressly address this objection, but its reliance on his statements infers that it 

overruled the objection.

17 The court again relied on defendant’s postverdict statements, indicating an 

implied overruling of defendant’s objection to this evidence.
28.

Count 1, “the attempted murder for shots,” 25 years to life, plus consecutive terms 

of 25 years to life for the section 12022.53, subdivision (d) firearm enhancement, and two 

five-year terms for two prior serious felony enhancements.

Count 2, aggravated mayhem, a consecutive term of 25 years to life, plus 

consecutive terms of 25 years to life for the section 12022.53, subdivision (d) firearm 

enhancement, and two five-year terms for two prior serious felony enhancements.

Count 3, “attempted murder by drowning,” a consecutive term of 25 years to life, 

plus consecutive terms of five years for the section 12022.7, subdivision (e)

enhancement, and two five-year terms for the prior serious felony enhancements.

Count 5, felony evasion, the consecutive upper term of three years doubled to six 

years (§ 667, subd. (e)(2)(6)); and

Count 6, dissuading a witness, a consecutive term of 25 years to life, plus two 

five-year terms for two prior serious felony enhancements.

The court stayed the sentence and enhancements imposed for count 4, kidnapping, 

pursuant to section 654, because it was encompassed in count 3, the second attempted 

murder conviction.

The court terminated the criminal protective order issued on June 18, 2018, and 

served defendant with another criminal protective order pursuant to section 136.2, 

prohibiting contact with the victim for 10 years.

The court stated the parties stipulated to victim restitution of $750,000 to Amber J.

pursuant to section 1202.4, subdivision (f) in exchange for dismissal of an unrelated case.

18

 The court ordered all other fines and fees stayed.

Also, on February 20, 2019, defendant filed a notice of appeal.

18 In the reporter’s transcript, the court first stated the stipulated amount of victim 

restitution was $750,000, then erroneously restated the amount as $753,000. The minute 

order and abstract of judgment confirm the amount was $750,000.
29.

DISCUSSION

I. Defendant’s Convictions for Attempted Murder

Defendant was convicted of two separate counts of the premeditated attempted 

murder of Amber J. The amended information alleged that count 1 was based on 

“shooting her in the face & arm with a handgun,” and count 3 was based on “dragging 

her into a canal & leaving her to drown.” The jury was similarly instructed.

Defendant contends he was improperly convicted of two counts of attempted 

murder because his acts of shooting her and pushing her into the canal were incidental to 

each other, and were not separate, individual, completed crimes. Defendant asserts his 

conviction in count 3 must be stricken pursuant to section 954 and People v. Bailey

(1961) 55 Cal.2d 514 (Bailey).

A. Section 954

“In general, a person may be convicted of, although not punished for, more than 

one crime arising out of the same act or course of conduct. ‘In California, a single act or 

course of conduct by a defendant can lead to convictions “of any number of the offenses 

charged.” [Citation.]’ [Citation.]” (People v. Reed (2006) 38 Cal.4th 1224, 1226–1227, 

italics added in original; People v. White (2017) 2 Cal.5th 349, 354; People v.

Correa (2012) 54 Cal.4th 331, 336–337.) Under section 954, a separate conviction is 

permissible for each completed crime, as determined by the statutory elements of the 

crime, even if the defendant had the same intent and objective in committing the multiple 

crimes and even if the defendant committed the crimes at or near the same time. (People

v. Johnson (2007) 150 Cal.App.4th 1467, 1474–1477 (Johnson).)19

19 Section 954 concerns the propriety of multiple convictions, not multiple 

punishments, which are governed by section 654. (People v. Gonzalez (2014) 60 Cal.4th 

533, 537.) In issue II, post, we address defendant’s alternate contention that he should 

not have received consecutive sentences for the two attempted murder convictions under 

section 654.
30.

The question of whether multiple convictions are proper is reviewed de novo, “as 

it turns on the interpretation of section 954.” (People v. Villegas (2012) 205 Cal.App.4th 

642, 646.)

“[D]espite the seemingly absolute language of section 954,” there are judicially

created exceptions to the general rule permitting multiple convictions. (People v. Ortega

(1998) 19 Cal.4th 686, 692, disapproved on other grounds in People v. Reed, supra, 38 

Cal.4th 1224, 1228–1229; People v. Sanders (2012) 55 Cal.4th 731, 736.) For example, 

multiple convictions may not be based on necessarily included offenses, and “[w]hen a 

defendant is found guilty of both a greater and a necessarily lesser included offense 

arising out of the same act or course of conduct, and the evidence supports the verdict on 

the greater offense, that conviction is controlling, and the conviction of the lesser offense 

must be reversed. [Citations.]” (People v. Sanders, supra, 55 Cal.4th at p. 736.)

As a separate matter, while section 954 “authorizes multiple convictions for 

different or distinct offenses,” it does not “permit multiple convictions for a different 

statement of the same offense when it is based on the same act or course of conduct.’ 

[Citation.]” (People v. Vidana (2016) 1 Cal.5th 632, 650 (Vidana).)

Vidana held the defendant in that case could not be convicted of both larceny 

(§ 484, subd. (a)) and embezzlement (§ 503) for the same conduct, even though the 

offenses had different elements and were not lesser included offenses. (Vidana, supra, 1 

Cal.5th at p. 650.) Vidana held that while larceny and embezzlement had different 

elements and were defined in separate statutes, the Legislature had expressly stated in 

section 490a “that ‘[w]herever any law or statute of this state refers to or mentions 

larceny, embezzlement, or stealing, said law or statute shall hereafter be read and 

interpreted as if the word “theft” were substituted therefor.’ [Citation.] [T]he obvious 

intent of this statute – enacted at the same time section 484 [larceny] was amended to 

include embezzlement – was to create a single crime of theft. In deciding whether 

larceny and embezzlement are different offenses, our focus is on the Legislature’s intent. 
31.

‘[I]f the Legislature meant to define only one offense’ in amending section 484 in 1927, 

‘we may not turn it into two.’ [Citation.]” (Vidana, supra, 1 Cal.5th at p. 648.)

Neither the lesser included offense exception nor the circumstances addressed in 

Vidana exist in this case.

B. Bailey

Defendant relies on Bailey and a series of cases that followed it in support of his 

argument that he could not be convicted of two separate counts of attempted murder 

because the crime constituted a single act.

In Bailey, supra, 55 Cal.2d 514, the defendant fraudulently applied for and 

received multiple welfare payments from a county agency. She was convicted of one 

count of grand theft and moved for a new trial. The trial court granted the motion, and 

the People filed an appeal from that order. (Id. at pp. 515–518.) Bailey addressed the 

issue of whether the defendant was guilty of one count of grand theft or a series of petty 

thefts. (Id. at p. 518.) Bailey created an exception to section 954’s general rule and 

upheld the single conviction and concluded a series of separate thefts from the same 

victim could, in certain circumstances, be aggregated into a single count of grand theft.

Bailey held the relevant test was whether there was “only one intention, one general 

impulse, and one plan,” and concluded defendant was properly convicted of a single 

count. (Id. at pp. 519–520.)

C. Interpretations of Bailey

“Subsequent decisions have construed Bailey as being a two-sided coin, granting 

criminal defendants the right to insist upon the dismissal of all but one conviction when 

multiple crimes are unified by a single intent, impulse or plan. [Citation.] [¶] The courts 

have since struggled with the contours of this ‘converse Bailey’ doctrine. The decisions 

applying this doctrine have cited a variety of rationales, but its applicability ultimately 

turns on the nature of the underlying crimes at issue. These crimes – and the rule 
32.

governing them – fall into two categories.” (People v. Kirvin (2014) 231 Cal.App.4th 

1507, 1517.)

“The first category pertains to crimes that treat harm or damage as one of their 

elements, and which permit the prosecution to aggregate that harm or damage. The most 

common crimes falling into this category are theft and vandalism. Until recently, the 

converse Bailey doctrine applied with full force to this category of offenses, and entitled 

a defendant to dismissal of all but one conviction for multiple crimes, even if each 

involved a complete criminal act, as long as the crimes were committed ‘pursuant to a 

single general impulse, intention or plan.’ [Citations.] This is no longer the case” after 

the ruling in People v. Whitmer (2014) 59 Cal.4th 733 (Whitmer). (People v. Kirvin, 

supra, 231 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1517–1518.)

In Whitmer, the defendant was a manager of a motorcycle dealership and was 

convicted of 20 counts of grand theft based on 20 separate fraudulent transactions.

(Whitmer, supra, 59 Cal.4th at pp. 734–735.) Whitmer explained Bailey only concerned a 

single fraudulent act followed by a series of payments, it had been interpreted “more 

broadly than is warranted,” and rejected cases which relied on Bailey. (Whitmer, at 

pp. 735, 740.) Whitmer concluded that “a defendant may be convicted of multiple counts

of grand theft based on separate and distinct acts of theft, even if committed pursuant to a

single overarching scheme.” (Id. at p. 741.) Whitmer affirmed the defendant’s multiple 

convictions for grand theft, even though the acts were part of a single plan, because he 

committed a series of separate and distinct fraudulent acts, and each act had a separate 

intent to defraud. (Id. at pp. 740–741.) “[A] serial thief should not receive a ‘ “felony

discount” ’ if the thefts are separate and distinct even if they are similar.” (Id. at

pp. 740–741, italics added.) Whitmer declined to apply its ruling retroactively, and 

explained it only applied prospectively because of the long history of Bailey’s

application. (Whitmer, at p. 742.)
33.

The second category of cases that have interpreted Bailey “includes all of the other 

crimes that do not monetize and aggregate harm or damage. By and large, the converse

Bailey doctrine has not been applied to this category of offenses; as a result, a defendant 

may be convicted of multiple crimes – even if the crimes are part of the same impulse, 

intention or plan – as long as each conviction reflects a completed criminal act. This is 

the rule that has been applied to convictions for insurance fraud [citation]; Medi-Cal 

fraud [citation]; forgery [citations]; burglary [citations]; sex crimes [citation]; corporal 

injury on a spouse [citation]; and identity theft [citation]. For a brief time, a handful of 

California courts prohibited multiple convictions for a series of related criminal acts 

unless they were separated by an interlude in which the defendant had a ‘ “reasonable 

opportunity to reflect upon his conduct” ’ [citation] but our Supreme Court ultimately 

rejected that view [citations].” (People v. Kirvin, supra, 231 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1518–

1519.)

“The California courts have, at times, offered reasons for confining the converse

Bailey to harm-focused crimes. Expanding the doctrine further would exacerbate two of 

its undesirable side effects: The doctrine effectively grants wrongdoers a ‘felony 

discount’ by assuring them only one conviction for a potentially limitless number of 

related offenses [citation], and it effectively displaces the legislative definitions of what 

constitutes a completed crime with a new constellation of judicially created ‘continuous 

crimes’ that come into being should all related burglaries, sex crimes or identity thefts be 

aggregated into a single ‘continuous crime’ [citation]. Further, a chief benefit of the 

converse Bailey doctrine – making sure defendants who engage in conduct that 

technically constitutes two crimes but practically constitutes one (such as two 

immediately successive entries into the same home being treated as separate burglaries) –

can be just as effectively achieved by the already existing rule prohibiting double
34.

punishment, and without all of the attendant disadvantages of prohibiting multiple

convictions.” (People v. Kirvin, supra, 231 Cal.App.4th at p. 1519.)20

In Johnson, supra, 150 Cal.App.4th 1467, the court held the defendant may be 

properly charged and convicted of multiple counts of spousal abuse under section 273.5,

based on acts occurring during a single event, if the victim suffered multiple injuries 

caused by distinct applications of force. Johnson held the “crime described by section 

273.5 is complete upon the willful and direct application of physical force upon the 

victim, resulting in a wound or injury. It follows that where multiple applications of 

physical force result in separate injuries, the perpetrator has completed multiple 

violations of section 273.5.” (Id. at p. 1477.) Johnson explained why it was affirming 

three separate convictions for violating section 273.5, each of which concerned separate 

injuries sustained during the same beating on the victim, Jane Doe:

“Defendant indisputably committed successive acts of violence 

against Doe [during the same beating incident]. Although Doe’s testimony 

does not precisely describe the sequence of the beating, we do know that 

defendant beat her about the face and head; held her by her throat up 

against the wall; beat her on her back, hips, and legs; and stabbed her in the 

upper arm. Doe suffered two black eyes, a split lip, bruises to her neck, 

back, and hips and a puncture wound to her upper arm. From this evidence 

the jury could have concluded that defendant completed one violation of 

section 273.5 when he beat Doe about the head and face, blackening her 

eyes and splitting her lip; another when he held her by the throat and 

continued to strike her and restrain her such that she suffered bruises about 

her back and neck; and another when he injured her upper arm, drawing 

blood and leaving a visible scar. Accordingly, the evidence is sufficient to 

support the three convictions of section 273.5.” (Johnson, at p. 1477.)

D. Attempted Murder

With these principles in mind, we turn to the question of whether multiple 

convictions of attempted murder were permitted under section 954.

20 As we will discuss in issue II, post, “time to reflect” is still part of the section 

654 multiple punishment analysis. (People v. Jones (2021) 65 Cal.App.5th 1, 12.)
35.

Attempted murder is an assaultive crime against the person. (People v. Miller

(1990) 50 Cal.3d 954, 987.) It thus falls within the second category of cases that 

“includes all of the other crimes that do not monetize and aggregate harm or damage,” 

where Bailey’s rule has not been applied, so that “a defendant may be convicted of 

multiple crimes – even if the crimes are part of the same impulse, intention or plan – as 

long as each conviction reflects a completed criminal act.” (People v. Kirvin, supra, 231 

Cal.App.4th at p. 1518.)

“Attempted murder requires the specific intent to kill and the commission of a 

direct but ineffectual act toward accomplishing the intended killing. [Citations.]” 

(People v. Lee (2003) 31 Cal.4th 613, 623; People v. Smith (2005) 37 Cal.4th 733, 739 

(Smith).) “Intent to unlawfully kill and express malice are, in essence, ‘one and the 

same.’ [Citation.]” (Smith, supra, 37 Cal.4th at p. 739.) “Express malice requires a 

showing that the assailant ‘ “ ‘either desire[s] the result [i.e., death] or know[s], to a 

substantial certainty, that the result will occur.’ [Citation.]” ’ [Citation.]” (Ibid.) The 

crime of attempted murder is not divided into degrees, and a finding of willful, deliberate, 

and premeditated attempted murder is necessary only for purposes of sentence 

enhancement. (Id. at p. 740.)

The “intent to kill or express malice, the mental state required to convict a 

defendant of attempted murder, may in many cases be inferred from the defendant’s acts 

and the circumstances of the crime. [Citation.] ‘There is rarely direct evidence of a 

defendant’s intent. Such intent must usually be derived from all the circumstances of the 

attempt, including the defendant’s actions. [Citation.]” (Smith, supra, 37 Cal.4th at 

p. 741, italics added.)

E. Analysis

Defendant was properly convicted of two separate charges of attempted murder 

based on the unique facts of this case. As to count 1, attempted murder by shooting 

Amber J. in the face, “[the] act of purposefully firing a lethal weapon at another human 
36.

being at close range, without legal excuse, generally gives rise to an inference that the 

shooter acted with express malice.” (Smith, supra, 37 Cal.4th at p. 742.) The fact that 

“the bullet misses its mark or fails to prove lethal” is not dispositive because “the very act 

of firing a weapon ‘ “in a manner that could have inflicted a mortal wound had the bullet 

been on target” ’ is sufficient to support an inference of intent to kill. [Citation.]” (Ibid.)

Defendant clearly planned to murder Amber J. in the orchard. Veronica G.

testified that she had hidden her new gun in her bedroom. Defendant took it from her 

house at some point prior to picking up Amber. He arranged to pick up Amber early in 

the morning, drove her to the orchard, and they used drugs and engaged in sexual 

relations. He suggested that she walk around to the driver’s seat so they could continue 

to engage in sexual relations. When she reached the driver’s door, he leaned back into 

the car, obtained the gun, and then turned and shot her in the face. After she fell to the 

ground, he shot her a second time in the hand and shoulder. Defendant completed the 

first charged offense of attempted murder after he shot her.

Defendant committed a second act of attempted murder after he realized that 

Amber J. was still alive even though he shot her. He dragged her to the canal, kicked her 

wounded shoulder with such force that he left a shoe print on her back and she had 

trouble breathing; she fell into the swift moving water. He got back into his car and 

drove away, knowing she could not swim, and leaving her in an extremely secluded 

spot – at the bottom of a canal bank inside an orchard in a rural area. These acts 

constituted a separate offense of attempted murder, apart and after completion of the first 

act, since he knew that Amber could not swim. (See, e.g., People v. Bohana (2000) 84 

Cal.App.4th 360, 369 [defendant’s act of throwing into swimming pool an injured victim, 

who could not swim and was afraid of water, and had head injuries and was intoxicated, 

supported conviction for second degree murder, and also would have supported a first 

degree murder conviction].)
37.

Defendant’s convictions are inapposite from the conclusion reached in People v. 

Coyle (2009) 178 Cal.App.4th 209, where the defendant fired one shot that killed the 

victim once while trying to take drugs from him. The defendant was convicted and 

sentenced for three counts of murder: (1) murder with the special circumstance of being 

committed during the commission or attempted commission of a burglary; (2) murder 

with the special circumstance of being committed during the commission or attempted 

commission of a robbery; and (3) second degree murder. (Id. at pp. 211, 213–214.) On 

appeal, the defendant argued he was improperly convicted of three separate counts of 

murder; the People conceded that he could only be convicted of one count under section 

954, because “[t]he three counts simply alleged alternative theories of the offense.” (Id. 

at p. 217.)

Under section 954, defendant in this case was properly convicted of two separate 

counts of premeditated attempted murder counts based on two separate acts. “[T]he 

proper analysis involves a determination of when the charged crime is completed.” 

(Johnson, supra, 150 Cal.App.4th at p. 1474.) Defendant’s first act of attempted murder, 

by shooting Amber J. in the face at close range, was completed and distinct from his 

second attempted murder by kicking and pushing her down the embankment and into the 

canal, knowing that she could not swim. Since each count alleged different acts, he was 

properly convicted in separate counts. The fact that defendant may have had the same 

intent and objective during both acts does not bar the multiple convictions. (Id. at

pp. 1473–1477.)

II. The Sentences Imposed for the Attempted Murder Convictions

In the alternative to his argument in issue I, ante, defendant asserts that even if he 

was properly convicted of two counts of attempted murder, the court improperly imposed 

consecutive sentences for the two convictions. Defendant argues the separate term of 25 

years to life for count 3 should have been stayed under section 654 because the offenses 
38.

were part of a single scheme and course of conduct, and committed against the same 

victim, with the same intent and objective.

A. Section 654

“Section 954 generally permits multiple conviction. Section 654 is its counterpart 

concerning punishment. It prohibits multiple punishment for the same ‘act or omission.’ 

When section 954 permits multiple conviction, but section 654 prohibits multiple 

punishment, the trial court must stay execution of sentence on the convictions for which 

multiple punishment is prohibited. [Citations.]” (People v. Reed, supra, 38 Cal.4th at 

p. 1227; People v. Gonzalez, supra, 60 Cal.4th at p. 537.)

“Section 654, subdivision (a) provides that ‘[a]n act or omission that is punishable 

in different ways by different provisions of law shall be punished under the provision that 

provides for the longest potential term of imprisonment, but in no case shall the act or 

omission be punished under more than one provision.’ ‘ “ ‘Whether a course of criminal 

conduct is divisible and therefore gives rise to more than one act within the meaning of

section 654 depends on the intent and objective of the actor. If all of the offenses were 

incident to one objective, the defendant may be punished for any one of such offenses but 

not for more than one.’ ” ’ [Citation.] Intent and objective are factual questions for the 

trial court, which must find evidence to support the existence of a separate intent and 

objective for each sentenced offense. [Citations.]” (People v. Jackson (2016) 1 Cal.5th 

269, 353–354.)

“Under section 654, ‘a course of conduct divisible in time, although directed to 

one objective, may give rise to multiple violations and punishment. [Citations.]’ 

[Citations.] This is particularly so where the offenses are temporally separated in such a 

way as to afford the defendant opportunity to reflect and to renew his or her intent before 

committing the next one, thereby aggravating the violation of public security or policy 

already undertaken. [Citation.]” (People v. Gaio (2000) 81 Cal.App.4th 919, 935.)
39.

In People v. Trotter (1992) 7 Cal.App.4th 363 (Trotter), the defendant stole a taxi 

from a cab driver at the airport and drove away. Officer Bledsoe, who was on patrol by 

himself in a marked vehicle, saw the defendant driving the taxi and followed him on the 

freeway. “Defendant drove recklessly and twice pointed his weapon in Bledsoe’s 

direction. After Bledsoe turned on his overhead lights, defendant fired a shot at 

Bledsoe’s vehicle which fragmented the back window of the taxi. Approximately a 

minute later, defendant fired another shot at Bledsoe’s vehicle which blew out a portion 

of the taxi’s rear window. Seconds later, a third shot obliterated the entire window. 

Bledsoe’s vehicle was from 30 to 50 yards behind the taxi, with no vehicles in between, 

when the shots were fired.” (Id. at p. 366.) The defendant drove off the freeway, hit a 

center divider, ran away from the stolen taxi, and was shot by a pursuing officer. (Id. at 

p. 366.) The defendant was convicted of three counts of assault on a peace officer with a 

firearm. The trial court imposed consecutive sentences for the first two assault 

convictions and stayed the sentence for the third conviction. On appeal, the defendant 

argued he should have only been sentenced on one assault conviction, and the other 

sentences should have been stayed under section 654 because the assault offenses were 

part of a single course of conduct and incidental to one objective. (Trotter, at pp. 365, 

366.)

Trotter affirmed imposition of consecutive sentences for the first and second 

assaults and held section 654 did not apply because the defendant’s conduct “became 

more egregious with each successive shot. Each shot posed a separate and distinct risk to 

[Officer] Bledsoe and nearby freeway drivers. To find section 654 applicable to these 

facts would violate the very purpose for the statute’s existence.” (Trotter, supra, 7 

Cal.App.4th at p. 368.)

“[T]his was not a case where only one volitional act gave rise to multiple 

offenses. Each shot required a separate trigger pull. All three assaults were 

volitional and calculated, and were separated by periods of time during 

which reflection was possible. None was spontaneous or uncontrollable.
40.

‘Defendant should ... not be rewarded where, instead of taking advantage 

of an opportunity to walk away from the victim, he voluntarily resumed his

... assaultive behavior.’ [Citation.] [¶] Defendant, as he was driving, 

turned back, pointed, and shot his weapon. He resumed driving, paused for 

about a minute, turned back, and shot again. After another few seconds a 

third shot was fired. There was thus time prior to each shot for defendant to 

reflect and consider his next action. As the court remarked at sentencing, 

‘they were separate acts of violence on different occasions coming down 

the freeway and putting different people – putting different officers in 

danger.’ [¶] Section 654 is applicable when there is a single ‘act.’ But 

here, there were three separate acts, not one ‘made punishable in different 

ways by different provisions of [the Penal Code]....’ [Citations.]” (Ibid.)

In a footnote, Trotter speculated about a hypothetical case, that if “a defendant 

slashed his victim with a knife causing him to fall down, then paused, took out a gun and 

fired a fatal shot, no one could seriously dispute the fact each could be punished 

separately. If we change these facts, however, so that defendant, after pausing, plunges 

the knife into his victim, logic dictates the result should be the same. But, if the nature of 

the offense or the means of its perpetration were dispositive, defendant could not be 

punished separately in the latter scenario. [¶] Of course, the intent and objective test is 

controlling, and if defendant intended to kill with each assault it could be argued multiple 

punishment would be precluded. But even so, when defendant pauses and, having the 

option to land another blow or to break off the attack, chooses the former course of 

action, his culpability increases and his intent, though the same in kind, can be 

considered separate and distinct ....” (Trotter, supra, 7 Cal.App.4th at p. 369, fn. 4, 

italics added.)

B. Analysis

The court did not violate section 654 when it imposed consecutive sentences for 

the two counts of attempted murder. The record supports the court’s factual findings that 

count 3, attempted murder by drowning, was “a completely separate act” from count 1,
41.

attempted murder by shooting Amber J. in the face, because “[t]here was an opportunity 

for reflection. He dragged the victim to the canal.” As in Trotter, there were two acts 

that were sufficiently separate in time to afford defendant the opportunity to reflect. 

Defendant obviously paused after he shot Amber, and realizing she was still alive, had 

time to reflect on what to do. Instead of calling for help or just leaving her in the orchard 

and driving away, he performed an entirely different and separate act of dragging her to 

the canal and kicking her down the embankment, knowing that she could not swim.

III. Consecutive Sentences for Attempted Murder and Aggravated Mayhem

Defendant argues the court improperly imposed consecutive sentences for count 1, 

attempted murder by shooting Amber J., and count 2, aggravated mayhem, and asserts 

the term for count 2 should have been stayed under section 654 because the acts 

underlying counts 1 and 2 – shooting her in the face – were identical.

A. Simple and Aggravated Mayhem

Section 203 defines the offense of simple mayhem: “Every person who 

unlawfully and maliciously deprives a human being of a member of his body, or disables, 

disfigures, or renders it useless, or cuts or disables the tongue, or puts out an eye, or slits 

the nose, ear, or lip, is guilty of mayhem.” Simple mayhem is punishable by two, four, or 

eight years in prison. (§ 204.)

Section 205 defines aggravated mayhem: “A person is guilty of aggravated

mayhem when he or she unlawfully, under circumstances manifesting extreme 

indifference to the physical or psychological well-being of another person, intentionally 

causes permanent disability or disfigurement of another human being or deprives a 

human being of a limb, organ, or member of his or her body.” Aggravated mayhem is 

punishable by a life sentence with the possibility of parole. (§ 205.)

“[B]oth sections 203 and 205 require that the disfiguring injury be permanent; 

such requirement was grafted to section 203 by case law and incorporated into section 

205 by the Legislature.” (People v. Newby (2008) 167 Cal.App.4th 1341, 1347.) “The 
42.

modern rationale behind the offense of mayhem in California is ‘ “ ‘the preservation of 

the natural completeness and normal appearance of the human face and body.’ ” ’ 

[Citation.] A member of the body is a general term describing any integral part or vital 

organ of the body. [Citation.] [¶] Disfigurement of the body ‘ “impairs or injures the 

beauty, symmetry or appearance of a person or thing ... [or] renders unsightly, misshapen 

or imperfect or deforms in some manner.” ’ [Citation.] To prove mayhem based on a 

disfiguring injury, the injury must be permanent. [Citations.] Permanent scarring 

constitutes a disfiguring injury. [Citation.] An injury within the meaning of mayhem is 

still considered permanent if modern technology effectively repairs the injury. [Citation.] 

Accordingly, ‘the possibility of medical alleviation [does] not ... diminish one’s 

culpability for infliction of an injury that would otherwise constitute mayhem.’ 

[Citation.]” (People v. Romero (2019) 44 Cal.App.5th 381, 386–387; People v. Chavez

(2021) 69 Cal.App.5th 159.)

“[T]he difference between simple mayhem and aggravated mayhem ... is the 

requisite criminal intent.” (People v. Newby, supra, 167 Cal.App.4th at p. 1347.) 

“ ‘Mayhem is a general intent crime. [Citation.]’ ” (Ibid.)

In contrast, “[a]ggravated mayhem requires the specific intent to cause the 

maiming injury. [Citations.] ‘Evidence that shows no more than an “indiscriminate 

attack” is insufficient to prove the required specific intent.’ [Citations.] “Furthermore, 

specific intent to maim may not be inferred solely from evidence that the injury inflicted 

actually constitutes mayhem; instead, there must be other facts and circumstances which 

support an inference of intent to maim rather than to attack indiscriminately.” ’ 

[Citation.]” (People v. Assad (2010) 189 Cal.App.4th 187, 195.) “[S]pecific intent may 

be inferred from the circumstances attending an act, the manner in which it is done, and 

the means used, among other factors. [Citations.]” (People v. Lee (1990) 220 

Cal.App.3d 320, 325.) An attack that was “directed, controlled, and of focused or limited 
43.

scope” may be sufficient to establish the defendant’s specific intent to disable the victim. 

(Id. at p. 326.)

B. Closing Argument and the Sentencing Hearing

In closing argument, as to count 2, aggravated mayhem, the prosecutor stated it 

was “pieced together” with count 1, attempted murder, based on defendant’s act of 

shooting Amber J. Defendant “attempted murder by means of aggravated mayhem” 

because he shot her in the face and arm. “And when you shoot someone in the face, you 

intend to disfigure that person. When you shoot someone in the arm, the arm that she 

uses to tattoo, you intend to disable that person, and in this case, he did, in fact, 

permanently disfigure her. She has a scar that still be seen today. She has a disability in 

her nose and arm, still present today. And even if you believe that that scar was 

sufficiently repaired to not be disfiguring, the law says that if there are medical 

procedures to repair this disfigurement, that counts for aggravated mayhem. He has to 

[have] extreme indifference when he acts, physical and psychological well-being of 

another person. If you don’t believe he showed indifference to Amber [J.] when he did 

that to her, acquit him, go ahead, but he did, and everyone in the courtroom knows that.”

The jury was instructed as to count 2, that aggravated mayhem required specific 

intent, and with simple mayhem as a lesser included offense. Defendant was convicted as 

charged of aggravated mayhem.

C. Analysis

As set forth above, “ ‘ “The proscription against double punishment in section 654 

is applicable where there is a course of conduct which ... comprises an indivisible 

transaction punishable under more than one statute .... The divisibility of a course of 

conduct depends upon the intent and objective of the actor, and if all the offenses are 

incident to one objective, the defendant may be punished for any one of them but not for 

more than one.” [Citation.] “The defendant’s intent and objective are factual questions 

for the trial court; [to permit multiple punishments,] there must be evidence to support a 
44.

finding the defendant formed a separate intent and objective for each offense for which 

he was sentenced.” ’ [Citations.]” (People v. Assad, supra, 189 Cal.App.4th at p. 200.)

At the sentencing hearing, the court imposed consecutive sentences for count 1, 

attempted murder by shooting Amber J., and count 2, aggravated mayhem, and found that 

as to aggravated mayhem, “there was a specific intent to disable or disfigure, and that 

was found by the jury. This is further confirmed by [defendant’s] postconviction jail call 

to the victim, quote, ‘You got my life I got your livelihood.’ ”

We first note that defendant objected to the sentencing court’s consideration of his 

postverdict statements that were recorded during his jail calls, but never challenged the 

authenticity of the recordings. The trial court did not expressly rule upon defendant’s 

objection, but apparently overruled it by citing to defendant’s postverdict statements 

when it imposed consecutive sentences. On appeal, defendant has not renewed his 

challenge to the sentencing court’s reliance on his postverdict statements.

Even if the court should have excluded defendant’s postverdict statements, 

however, the court did not violate section 654 by imposing consecutive sentences. Both 

attempted murder and aggravated mayhem are specific intent crimes. As the jury was 

instructed, attempted murder required the specific intent to kill the victim, and aggravated 

mayhem required the specific intent to permanently disable or disfigure the victim or 

deprive the victim of a limb, organ or member of his or her own body. The two specific 

intents are separate and distinct, as the specific intent for aggravated mayhem does not 

require an intent to kill. In convicting defendant of both attempted murder based on the 

shooting, and aggravated mayhem, the jury necessarily found he possessed these separate 

specific intents. “[A] defendant may intend both to kill his or her victim and to disable or 

disfigure that individual if the attempt to kill is unsuccessful.” (People v. Ferrell (1990) 

218 Cal.App.3d 828, 833–834, italics added.) Based on the evidence that defendant shot 

Amber J. in the face and then directly into her dominant hand, the court’s finding that he 
45.

had multiple criminal objections, both to disfigure Amber and try to kill her, is supported 

by the record.

There are cases that have held that section 654 prohibits multiple sentences 

imposed for both mayhem and an assaultive offense, but those holdings are inapposite to 

the instant case because they involved convictions for simple mayhem, a general intent 

crime, and not the specific intent finding required for aggravated mayhem. (See, e.g., 

People v. Rodriguez (2021) 66 Cal.App.5th 749, 756, fn. 3; People v. Bui (2011) 192 

Cal.App.4th 1002, 1015; People v. Sekona (1994) 27 Cal.App.4th 443, 448; People v.

Pitts (1990) 223 Cal.App.3d 1547, 1560.)

We also note that a contrary result was reached in People v. Diaz (2002) 95 

Cal.App.4th 695, where the defendant confronted a member of a rival gang on the street 

and fired multiple gunshots at him. The victim was hit twice in the leg and suffered a 

disabling injury. The defendant was convicted of attempted murder, aggravated mayhem, 

and two assault counts. (Id. at p. 698.) The trial court sentenced the defendant for 

attempted murder and imposed concurrent sentences for the other three convictions and 

did not stay any of the terms. (Id. at p. 708.) On appeal, Diaz accepted, without analysis, 

the People’s concession that the defendant could only be sentenced for attempted murder, 

and the other terms had to be stayed pursuant to section 654, because all the charges were 

“based on the same single act of shooting a single victim.” (Diaz, at p. 708.)

In this case, however, defendant’s shooting of Amber J. showed dual objectives –

he took Amber by surprise and shot her directly in the face, and she fell to the ground. 

Defendant stood over her with the gun, and she realized he was going to fire again. She

was lying on her back and bleeding from her facial wounds and raised her right hand to 

protect herself. Defendant could have aimed anywhere on her upper body, but instead he 

fired the second shot into her raised hand, and the bullet continued into her shoulder. The 

wounds made it hard for her to move her fingers in her dominant hand, and she was 
46.

unable to continue working as a tattoo artist. The court properly imposed consecutive 

sentences for counts 1 and 2.

DISPOSITION

The judgment is affirmed.

POOCHIGIAN, J.

WE CONCUR:

LEVY, ACTING P. J.

MEEHAN, J.