Filed 12/8/20 In re J.S. 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NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 

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IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

In re J.S., a Person Coming Under the Juvenile 

Court Law.

THE PEOPLE,

Plaintiff and Respondent,

v.

J.S.,

Defendant and Appellant.

F080249

(Super. Ct. No. 18JQ0085A)

OPINION

THE COURT*

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Kings County. Jennifer Lee 

Giuliani, Judge.

Robert McLaughlin, 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, Carlos A. Martinez and Kelly E. 

LeBel, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

-ooOoo-

*Before Franson, Acting P.J., Peña, J. and Snauffer, J.
2.

INTRODUCTION

On October 17, 2018, J.S., a minor, and another male pursued and assaulted a 

young man on his way home from a bus stop. After the incident, the victim reported to 

police that J.S. repeated the words “Home Garden Crip” before challenging him to fight. 

Two days later, on October 19, 2018, another young man claimed J.S. threatened to shoot 

him if he did not pay back money he owed to J.S.

The juvenile court sustained the petitions against J.S. alleging he committed 

assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury in violation of Penal Code section 

245, subdivision (a)(4) with a gang enhancement (id., § 186.22, subd. (b)(1)(A)) on 

October 17, 2018, and made a terrorist threat (id., § 422) on October 19, 2018. On 

appeal, J.S. challenges the sufficiency of the evidence in support of the gang 

enhancement to the assault charge and his terrorist threat adjudication arising from the 

October 19, 2018, incident.

We affirm.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Two separate juvenile wardship petitions were filed against J.S.; the first petition 

alleged assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury in violation of Penal Code 

section 245, subdivision (a)(4) with a gang enhancement (id., § 186.22, subd. (b)(1)(A)) 

on October 17, 2018, and the second alleged a terrorist threat in violation of section 422 

with a gang enhancement (id., § 186.22, subd. (b)(1)(A)) on October 19, 2018. The 

juvenile court held a combined jurisdiction hearing on the petitions.

Before the hearing, the court accepted a stipulation by the parties that the Hanford 

Gangster Crips, also known as Home Garden Crips or HGC, are a criminal street gang 

pursuant to Penal Code section 186.22. The People also designated Investigator Kevin 

Kurtz as a gang expert.
3.

October 17, 2018, incident

Jorge M. was walking home from the bus stop in the afternoon of October 17, 

2018, when J.S. walked towards him. Jorge crossed the street towards his apartment, and 

J.S. crossed the street towards Jorge. J.S. was about 12 to 13 feet away from Jorge and 

“said he wanted to fight.” Jorge said “no” and started running. J.S. and another person 

chased Jorge and tried to stop him. They caught up with Jorge and started hitting him. 

Jorge fell to the ground, and J.S. and the other person continued to hit and kick Jorge in 

the head while he was on the ground. Jorge managed to get up and stop a woman in a 

vehicle. The woman tried to help Jorge while J.S. stood there. Jorge and the woman 

both identified J.S. at trial. The woman recalled J.S. saying, “He was asking for it.” 

After the incident, Jorge’s elbow was scraped and bleeding, he had a bump on his head, 

and his clothes were ripped from the sleeves.

At the hearing, Jorge testified he was scared because it will “probably ... happen 

again” because he was testifying. Jorge recalled speaking to two officers after the 

incident and providing a truthful statement. He remembered telling the officers J.S. kept 

repeating the words “Home Garden Crip” and “Crip” during the incident. He recalled 

J.S. saying this more than once, including when he crossed the street and said he wanted 

to fight.

Officer Anthony Chandler testified he was dispatched to an apartment complex on 

October 17, 2018, where he contacted Jorge. Chandler noticed Jorge had cuts, blood, and 

bruising on his right elbow and Jorge’s clothes were torn and dirty. Jorge reported two 

male juveniles attacked him, one of whom he knew as J.S. Officer Chandler later 

contacted J.S. with his brother and mother. J.S. stated that Jorge “wanted to fight, so they 

beat him up.”

October 19, 2018, incident

At the hearing, S.G. testified he was at his house at around 8:00 p.m. on 

October 19, 2018; he denied anything occurred that evening. He recalled an officer 

coming to speak to him, but he did not remember why. He denied he was afraid to be in 
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court or that he felt threatened. He testified he and J.S. had been friends for a year and a 

half; they were friends on October 19, 2018. S.G. denied seeing J.S. on October 19, 

2018, or telling an officer he had seen him. Specifically, S.G. denied that J.S. was 

outside his apartment complex at around 5:00 p.m. that day, that J.S. approached S.G., or 

that J.S. mentioned he was a Home Garden Crip.

During the hearing, S.G.’s mother testified she recalled Officer Jonathan Farr 

coming to her home regarding “an incident that happened with another student” and her 

son. But she denied the other student was in the courtroom and stated she did not recall if 

it was J.S. She, too, denied being scared or fearful of being in court. She stated she did 

not recall J.S. ever threatening her son or receiving messages from J.S. regarding threats 

to S.G.

Officer Farr testified he was dispatched for a “threat report” on October 19, 2018, 

and he contacted the victim, S.G. S.G. provided a statement and appeared fearful; he told 

Officer Farr he was afraid and upset. S.G. reported that, earlier that day, J.S. “threatened 

to shoot him on Home Garden Crip” because S.G. owed him money. S.G. stated he was 

afraid of J.S. because J.S. was “known to be violent and known to be a gang member.” 

According to Officer Farr, S.G. stated he was in “sustained fear.” Officer Farr also spoke 

to S.G.’s mother who advised him J.S. had threatened her son. S.G.’s mother gave 

Officer Farr S.G.’s cell phone on which there were messages from J.S. threatening S.G.

The prosecutor introduced photographs of the text messages at trial. In one of the 

messages, in response to a message from S.G.’s mother, J.S. texted, “Since u not tryna 

pay me back yo son getting beat up.” S.G.’s mother responded, “Will [sic] see about 

that.” J.S. replied, “Okay u testing think I’m paying [sic],” “U tryna get me locked up 

again [sad face emoji, sad face emoji] I’m just trying to get my money u own [sic] me[.]” 

The prosecution also admitted other photographs from the phone in which J.S. can be 

seen making hand signs. Officer Farr explained, the first photograph of J.S. had the 

caption “X3” written on it and J.S. is pictured holding up three fingers. In the other 
5.

photograph, J.S. is also holding up three fingers and has a “blunt” (marijuana-filled cigar)

in his mouth.

Officer Farr spoke with J.S. that day at J.S.’s residence, and J.S. confirmed he 

wrote the text messages to S.G. and S.G.’s mother, including the text message discussing 

“beating [S.G.’s] ass.” J.S. reported to Officer Farr that S.G. owed him money. Officer 

Farr had J.S.’s phone and was in charge of transporting him. Officer Farr asked J.S. if he 

wanted him to retrieve a phone number for him so that he had it when he was “booked,”

and J.S. said “yes.” J.S. provided Officer Farr his password to unlock his phone and “[i]t 

was a pattern of a ‘C.’”

Investigator Kurtz testifies as a gang expert

Investigator Kevin Kurtz testified he had formal gang training and worked with a 

number of gang investigators. He personally contacted over 30 members of the Hanford 

Gangster Crips (HGC), so he was “familiar with the way they do their business and how 

they operate.” He stated he participated in an HGC “debriefing,” which is an interview 

with someone who no longer wants to be in a gang, usually in a custodial setting. During 

the debriefing, Kurtz obtained information about the structure of HGC, common signs, 

colors, who is in charge, common territory frequented, and information on narcotics 

dealers. Kurtz also authored three search warrants for HGC and was present when the 

warrants were executed. The court designated Kurtz as an expert on the Home Garden 

Crips or the Hanford Gangster Crips (used interchangeably), also known as HGC.

Based on S.G.’s testimony, Investigator Kurtz believed S.G. was intimidated 

standing in front of J.S. and it dissuaded him from testifying truthfully, which was very 

common with gangs; people do not want to testify in fear of retaliation. Kurtz explained 

“gangs thrive on fear and retaliation.” He believed the same was true with regard to 

S.G.’s mother claiming not to recall almost anything that happened on the date of the 

incident.
6.

Kurtz also thought it was significant J.S. mentioned HGC during the October 17, 

2018, incident with Jorge. Kurtz explained, “Crips are really prideful. They want you to 

know they are a Crip and, so, it’s significant when he ... mentioned he’s Home Garden 

Crip he’s saying he’s a Crip, he’s doing it for the Crips and that’s also boosting the 

[minor]’s status and showing that he’s willing to put in work and he’s willing to beat 

people up for his gang.”

The prosecutor showed Kurtz the two photographs of J.S. retrieved from S.G.’s 

phone. Kurtz opined it was significant that the first photograph had the X3 caption on it 

because Crips commonly reference the number 3 because the third letter of the alphabet 

is “C” for Crip. Kurtz further opined the hand sign J.S. was making in the second 

photograph was a “backwards I love you sign in sign language” with three fingers for the 

number 3 and also depicting an “H” for “HGC.” Kurtz also found significant J.S.’s use 

of the number 3 in the place of the letter “e” in his text messages which, Kurtz opined, is 

an effort “to throw in ... Crip pride.” He also opined J.S.’s use of three blue dots at the 

end of a text message was significant because Crips associate with the color blue and 

three represents the letter “C.”

Kurtz opined J.S. is a member of HGC based on J.S.’s statements, the victims’

testimonies, the pictures on J.S.’s Instagram page, the fact J.S. posted a picture of himself 

holding up “the Crip sign with his hands” on social media “to let people know he’s a 

member of the Hanford Gangster Crips,” the way J.S. typed his text messages, and the 

“C” pattern J.S. used to unlock his phone which, Kurtz opined, was “extremely common 

with gang members.”

The prosecutor then posed Kurtz with hypotheticals mirroring the facts of the two 

charged incidents. Kurtz opined that if a Home Garden Crip is walking across the street 

from an individual, says he wants to fight, then identifies himself as a Home Garden Crip 

before pursuing and attacking the individual with another person, that crime benefits 

HGC because “they thrive off fear and intimidation.” Kurtz explained beating someone 
7.

up is one of the biggest things you can do to arouse fear, especially when people are 

around, and it is also a way of gaining status in the gang. And “the more status you have 

in a gang the more power you have and the more people respect you.”

Kurtz then opined it benefits the gang “if a Home Garden Crip confronts an 

individual and tells that individual on Home Garden Crip I’ll get people to shoot you if 

you don’t pay me back, that person is then fearful and ends up calling law enforcement, 

law enforcement observes that person to be fearful and observes that person to be in 

sustained fear, the person then continues to receive messages from an Instagram account, 

that Instagram account refers to jumping that person, ... also sending pictures of 

themselves to that person.” His opinion was based on the reference to the gang, HGC, 

and the use of fear and intimidation, which is “the basis of a gang.” He opined that fear 

and intimidation benefit a gang because gangs demand respect and “if you fear somebody 

you are going to respect them. ... It makes people not want to testify. It makes people 

want to not be witnesses. So that fear and intimidation goes a long way when it comes to 

gangs.”

Kurtz explained telling an individual, “If you don’t pay me you are going to get 

beat up” is a perfect example of how gangs thrive on fear and intimidation. It is telling 

the individual, “If you don’t do this I’m going to get my gang and we’re going to go 

shoot you,” which “automatically heightens your fear.” Kurtz also opined that money is 

a big part of gangs; it does not matter the amount, the gang is going to get their money 

one way or another.

Adjudication and disposition

The court concluded the People satisfied their burden of establishing J.S. 

committed an assault likely to produce great bodily injury in violation of Penal Code 

section 245, subdivision (a)(4) and that the crime was committed for the benefit of a 

street gang of which J.S. is a member in connection with the October 17, 2018, incident. 

The court also found the People met their burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt 
8.

that J.S. made a terrorist threat in violation of section 422, subdivision (a) on October 19, 

2018; but the court did not find that the threat was committed for the benefit of a criminal 

street gang.

The court ordered J.S. to be adjudged a ward of the juvenile court, ordered he be 

committed to the Kings County Juvenile Alternative GPS Home Detention Program for 

39 days and the Kings County Juvenile Center long-term commitment program for a 

period not to exceed one year, but not less than 180 days, with eligibility for release on 

the Kings County Juvenile Alternative GPS Detention Program after completing 141 

days in custody, and that he comply with various probation terms.

DISCUSSION

J.S. challenges the sufficiency of the evidence in support of his terrorist threat 

conviction and gang enhancement. We reject J.S.’s challenges and conclude sufficient 

evidence supports the juvenile court’s true finding on the terrorist threat and gang 

enhancement allegations.

I. Standard of Review

“‘When considering a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence to support a 

conviction, we review the entire record in the light most favorable to the judgment to 

determine whether it contains substantial evidence—that is, evidence that is reasonable, 

credible, and of solid value—from which a reasonable trier of fact could find the 

defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.’” (People v. Edwards (2013) 57 Cal.4th 

658, 715.) The same principles are applicable to a review on appeal of the sufficiency of 

the evidence to support a finding in a juvenile proceeding that a minor violated a criminal 

statute. (People v. Roderick P. (1972) 7 Cal.3d 801, 809.) “‘A reversal for insufficient 

evidence “is unwarranted unless it appears ‘that upon no hypothesis whatever is there 

sufficient substantial evidence to support’”’ the jury’s verdict.” (People v. Zamudio

(2008) 43 Cal.4th 327, 357.) The sufficiency of the evidence to support enhancement 
9.

allegations is reviewed under the same standard. (See People v. Wilson (2008) 44 Cal.4th 

758, 806.)

II. Terrorist Threat Adjudication

A. Applicable Law

Penal Code section 422, subdivision (a) provides in relevant part: 

“(a) Any person who willfully threatens to commit a crime which will 

result in death or great bodily injury to another person, with the specific 

intent that the statement, made verbally, in writing, or by means of an 

electronic communication device, is to be taken as a threat, even if there is 

no intent of actually carrying it out, which, on its face and under the 

circumstances in which it is made, is so unequivocal, unconditional, 

immediate, and specific as to convey to the person threatened, a gravity of 

purpose and an immediate prospect of execution of the threat, and thereby 

causes that person reasonably to be in sustained fear for his or her own 

safety or for his or her immediate family’s safety, shall be punished by 

imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed one year, or by imprisonment 

in the state prison.”

Accordingly, in order to prove a violation of Penal Code section 422 for making a 

terrorist threat, the prosecution must establish (1) that the minor “willfully threaten[ed] to 

commit a crime which will result in death or great bodily injury to another person,” (2) 

that the minor made the threat “with the specific intent that the statement ... is to be taken 

as a threat, even if there is no intent of actually carrying it out,” (3) that the threat—which 

may be “made verbally, in writing, or by means of an electronic communication 

device”—was “on its face and under the circumstances in which it [was] made ... so 

unequivocal, unconditional, immediate, and specific as to convey to the person 

threatened, a gravity of purpose and an immediate prospect of execution of the threat,” 

(4) that the threat actually caused the person threatened “to be in sustained fear for his or 

her own safety or for his or her immediate family’s safety,” and (5) that the threatened 

person’s fear was “reasonabl[e]” under the circumstances. (Pen. Code, § 422, subd. (a); 

see People v. Toledo (2001) 26 Cal.4th 221, 228.)
10.

Penal Code “[s]ection 422 ‘was not enacted to punish emotional outbursts, it 

targets only those who try to instill fear in others. [Citation.]’ [Citation.] The statute 

‘does not punish such things as “mere angry utterances or ranting soliloquies, however 

violent.” [Citation.]’ [Citation.] Instead, a criminal threat ‘is a specific and narrow class 

of communication,’ and ‘the expression of an intent to inflict serious evil upon another 

person. [Citation.]’ [Citation.]” (People v. Wilson (2010) 186 Cal.App.4th 789, 805.)

B. Analysis

J.S. challenges the third, fourth, and fifth elements of his terrorist threat 

adjudication. He first argues his statements to S.G. on October 19, 2018, were not “‘so 

unequivocal, unconditional, immediate and specific as to convey’” to S.G. a “‘gravity of 

purpose and an immediate prospect of execution of the threat.’” He asserts, “The illusory 

nature of [his] threat is revealed in his text exchange with [S.G.’s mother],” in which J.S. 

“backed down.” He argues there was no evidence of a history of animosity between J.S. 

and S.G. or an “immediate prospect” J.S. would make good on his threat. Rather, J.S. 

argues the threat was a “‘mere angry utterance’—an expression of frustration over his 

friend’s inability or unwillingness to repay a debt.” He also contends there was 

insufficient evidence of an objectively reasonable basis for S.G. to “‘be in sustained fear 

for his ... safety.’” In support, he argues there was no evidence of the precise nature and 

circumstances of the threat, such as J.S.’s mannerisms, affect, and actions when he made 

the threat. We disagree with J.S.’s contentions.

Here, there was substantial evidence from which a reasonable trier of fact could 

have concluded J.S.’s threats “on [their] face and under the circumstances in which [they 

were] made,” were “so unequivocal, unconditional, immediate and specific as to convey 

to [S.G.] a gravity of purpose and an immediate prospect of execution of the threat.”

(Pen. Code, § 422, subd. (a).) Officer Farr testified S.G. reported J.S. threatened to shoot 

him “on Home Garden Crip” if S.G. did not pay him back. There is nothing equivocal or 

ambiguous about J.S.’s reported threat to shoot S.G. (See In re David L. (1991) 234 
11.

Cal.App.3d 1655, 1660 [“The minor’s threat to shoot the victim [which, according to the 

testimony, was without equivocation or ambiguity], was not ‘on its face and under the 

circumstances in which it [was] made’ either conditional or in jest”]; accord, People v. 

Wilson, supra, 186 Cal.App.4th at p. 806 [“‘A threat is sufficiently specific where it 

threatens death or great bodily injury. A threat is not insufficient simply because it does 

“not communicate a time or precise manner of execution”’”]; cf. In re George T. (2004) 

33 Cal.4th 620, 637 [threatening language in poem was ambiguous and plainly equivocal, 

noting “[w]hen the words are vague, context takes on added significance,” and 

surrounding circumstances failed to show poem sufficiently conveyed immediate 

prospect minor would bring guns to school and shoot students].)

Additionally, here, the surrounding circumstances further evidenced the threat was 

intended to convey a gravity of purpose and an immediate prospect of execution of the 

threat rather than an “angry utterance.” J.S. referenced his gang in making the verbal 

threat, and then made an additional threat to beat up S.G. during a text message 

conversation while again making numerous gang references. (See People v. Butler

(2000) 85 Cal.App.4th 745, 754–755 [defendant’s conduct and remarks including his 

reference to his gang membership, which impressed upon victim gravity of situation 

constituted criminal threat]; see generally People v. Wilson, supra, 186 Cal.App.4th at p.

807 [“‘“a gravity of purpose and an immediate prospect of execution of the threat’” ... 

“does not require an immediate ability to carry out the threat”’”; “‘[W]e understand the 

word “immediate” to mean that degree of seriousness and imminence which is 

understood by the victim to be attached to the future prospect of the threat being carried 

out, should the conditions not be met’”].) And, contrary to J.S.’s argument that he 

“backed down,” there was no evidence J.S. retracted the threats or otherwise 

communicated that he was not serious. Indeed, J.S. admitted to Office Farr he threatened

to “beat [S.G.’s] ass.” On this record, we conclude sufficient evidence established the 

third element of J.S.’s threat adjudication.
12.

There was also sufficient evidence from which the trial court could conclude S.G. 

was in sustained fear after the threats and that his fear was reasonable. As used in the 

statute, “sustained” has been defined to mean “‘a period of time that extends beyond what 

is momentary, fleeting, or transitory. ... The victim’s knowledge of defendant’s prior 

conduct is relevant in establishing that the victim was in a state of sustained fear.

[Citation.]’” (People v. Wilson, supra, 186 Cal.App.4th at p. 808; see People v. Allen

(1995) 33 Cal.App.4th 1149, 1156.) And, here, after J.S.’s verbal threat, S.G. reported 

the threat to his mother who, in turn, called the police. S.G. was still in fear when he later 

spoke to a police officer and, at the hearing, he denied any memory of the incident. S.G. 

also reported to Officer Farr he knew J.S. was known to be a violent gang member. On 

this record, we conclude substantial evidence supports the court’s conclusion S.G. was in 

sustained fear and that his fear was reasonable under the circumstances. Accordingly,

viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the conviction, sufficient evidence 

supports the juvenile court’s conclusion the threat against S.G. amounted to a violation of 

Penal Code section 422.

We reject J.S.’s first contention.

III. Gang Enhancement

J.S. next challenges the sufficiency of the evidence in support of the gang 

enhancement.

A. Applicable Law

A gang enhancement applies to one who commits a felony “for the benefit of, at 

the direction of, or in association with any criminal street gang, with the specific intent to 

promote, further, or assist in any criminal conduct by gang members.” (Pen. Code,

§ 186.22, subd. (b)(1); see People v. Sanchez (2016) 63 Cal.4th 665, 698.) To prove the

enhancement applies in a given case, the crime must be demonstrated to be gang related.

(People v. Albillar (2010) 51 Cal.4th 47, 60.)
13.

Cases, however, rarely involve “direct evidence that a crime was committed for 

the benefit of a gang.” (People v. Miranda (2011) 192 Cal.App.4th 398, 411.) However, 

“‘[e]xpert opinion that particular criminal conduct benefited a gang’ is not only 

permissible but can be sufficient to support the Penal Code section 186.22, subdivision 

(b)(1), gang enhancement.” (People v. Vang (2011) 52 Cal.4th 1038, 1048.)

B. Analysis

J.S. argues there was insufficient evidence the charged assault against Jorge was 

committed “for the benefit of” the HGC gang. He also asserts the evidence was 

insufficient to establish he acted with the specific intent to “benefit” the HGC gang. We 

disagree.

The California Supreme Court has held: “Expert opinion that particular criminal 

conduct benefited a gang by enhancing its reputation for viciousness can be sufficient to 

raise the inference that the conduct was ‘committed for the benefit of ... a[] criminal 

street gang’ within the meaning of section 186.22(b)(1).” (People v. Albillar, supra, 51 

Cal.4th at p. 63; see People v. Vang, supra, 52 Cal.4th at p. 1048.) And here, there was 

expert testimony in addition to evidence of J.S.’s gang involvement and his use of gang 

slogans during the assault against Jorge that provided substantial evidence from which 

the court could have concluded J.S. committed the assault against Jorge “for the benefit 

of” his gang, HGC.

Indeed, there was substantial evidence J.S. was an HGC gang member or affiliate. 

The People presented evidence of text messages in which J.S. used gang terminology and 

references. They also introduced Instagram photographs of J.S., which, Investigator 

Kurtz opined, depicted J.S. displaying gang signs and using a gang-related caption. And, 

importantly, Jorge, the victim of the assault, reported J.S. repeatedly referenced HGC 

when he challenged Jorge to fight before assaulting him. Investigator Kurtz explained 

that, by doing so, J.S. was boosting his status and showed “that he’s willing to put in 

work and he’s willing to beat people up for his gang.”
14.

Also, when presented with a hypothetical mirroring the facts of J.S.’s assault 

against Jorge, Investigator Kurtz opined that such a crime was committed for the benefit 

of HGC. He explained that gang members thrive on fear and beating up someone 

generates fear and permits a gang member to gain status within the gang. He further 

explained, “[T]he more status you have in a gang the more power you have and the more 

people respect you.” Additionally, relying on the evidence presented at trial and his 

background, Detective Kurtz opined J.S. was an active member of HGC. On this record, 

we conclude there was sufficient evidence from which the court could reasonably 

conclude J.S. committed the assault against Jorge for the benefit of his gang. (See People 

v. Albillar, supra, 51 Cal.4th at p. 63 [expert’s opinion crime benefited gang by 

enhancing its reputation for “viciousness” or violence sufficient to raise an inference that 

the crime benefited the criminal gang]; accord, People v. Romero (2006) 140 Cal.App.4th 

15, 19.)

We also conclude sufficient evidence supports the juvenile court’s conclusion 

J.S.’s assault of Jorge was committed with the specific intent to promote, further, or assist 

in criminal conduct by gang members. It is true that gang affiliation does not on its own 

prove specific intent to promote, further, or assist in any criminal conduct by gang

members. (See In re Frank S. (2006) 141 Cal.App.4th 1192, 1199; see also People v.

Ochoa (2009) 179 Cal.App.4th 660, 663 [“The gang enhancement cannot be sustained 

based solely on defendant’s status as a member of the gang and his subsequent 

commission of crimes”].) But, here, there was other evidence, aside from J.S.’s gang 

affiliation, from which the trial court could reasonably infer the crime was committed 

with the requisite intent—namely, J.S.’s repeated reference to HGC before pursuing and 

assaulting Jorge, coupled with Investigator Kurtz’s testimony explaining why a gang 

member would call out his gang’s name before committing a crime. (Cf. People v. 

Ochoa, at p. 662 [gang enhancement unsupported where defendant acted alone in

committing carjacking and no evidence he called out gang name, flashed gang hand
15.

signs, or otherwise committed crime for benefit of gang].) J.S.’s repeated invocation of 

his gang’s name before the assault provided the requisite nexus from which the court 

could infer he had the specific intent to promote, further, or assist the gang in committing 

the crime. Thus, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the judgment, we 

conclude sufficient evidence supports the gang enhancement to J.S.’s assault allegation. 

(See People v. Rodriguez (2012) 55 Cal.4th 1125, 1138–1139 [lone perpetrator may be 

convicted of gang enhancement if felony is gang related and committed with specific 

intent to promote gang]; see also People v. Margarejo (2008) 162 Cal.App.4th 102, 110 

[defendant’s use of gang sign during crime evidenced specific intent to promote, further, 

or assist gang].)

We reject J.S.’s final contention.

DISPOSITION

We affirm the judgment.