Filed 5/15/14 P. v. Nanez 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NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS 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 

THE PEOPLE, 

Plaintiff and Respondent, 

 v. 

FRANK MATTHEW NANEZ, 

Defendant and Appellant. 

F064574 

(Super. Ct. No. VCF225307A) 

OPINION

 APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Tulare County. Kathryn T. 

Montejano, Judge. 

 Jerome P. Wallingford, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant 

and Appellant. 

 Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Chief Assistant Attorney 

General, Michael P. Farrell, Assistant Attorney General, Julie A. Hokans and Jeffrey A. 

White, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent. 

-ooOoo- 
2. 

A jury found defendant Frank Matthew Nanez guilty of first degree murder (Pen. 

Code,1 § 187, subd. (a)), two counts of attempted murder (§§ 187, 664), and shooting at 

an inhabited house (§ 246). The jury also found gang enhancement allegations to be true 

(§§ 186.22, subd. (b), 190.2, subd. (a)(22).) 

On appeal, Nanez contends the trial court erred by denying his motion to bifurcate 

trial of the gang enhancements and by failing to give, sua sponte, a jury instruction on 

accomplice testimony in relation to witness Chris Tienda. He also contends that the 

prosecutor engaged in misconduct that rendered his trial fundamentally unfair and that 

cumulative trial errors require reversal. 

In addition, Nanez requests a correction to the abstract of judgment. The People 

agree the abstract of judgment should be corrected as requested by Nanez, and they also 

point out another discrepancy that requires correction. 

We will order the trial court to correct the abstract of judgment to reflect that the 

term for count 4 is stayed under section 654 and the terms for counts 2 and 3 are to be 

served consecutively. Otherwise, we affirm. 

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

 Around 7:30 p.m. on July 31, 2009, Visalia police officers were dispatched to a 

house on South Santa Fe Avenue on a reported shooting. Officer Brian Ferrara went to 

the front door and saw Angel Guzman lying on his back inside the threshold of the 

doorway. Cristian Rodriguez held Guzman’s head up off the ground. Ferrara saw blood 

all around Guzman’s head; he had been shot in the back of the head. Guzman was taken 

to the hospital by ambulance, and he died the next day. 

 

1 Subsequent statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise specified. 
3. 

 Officer Blake McEwen took an initial statement from Cristian.2 Cristian said the 

shooter was named Frank, whom he knew because they had gone to school together. He 

described Frank as a Hispanic male adult, approximately 19 years old, six feet tall, thin to 

medium build, with a dark complexion and short, black hair. Cristian saw Frank pull out 

a small caliber handgun and begin to shoot at him and his two friends. There was another 

man with Frank. Cristian described him as a Hispanic male adult, approximately 19 

years of age, wearing a white T-shirt, about five feet five inches tall, thin build, with a 

goatee and light complexion. Cristian had seen him often in the neighborhood walking 

with his skateboard. 

 Sergeant Curtis Brown recorded an interview with witness Arnulfo Rodriguez on 

the day of the shooting. Arnulfo, who is not related to Cristian, said he had just returned 

from the store with Guzman and Cristian, and they were standing in front of Guzman’s 

car. Arnulfo saw two guys walking—one was wearing a red shirt and the other was 

wearing a white tank top. He recognized them but did not know their names. The one in 

the red shirt fired five or six shots. Arnulfo saw the gun; it was black and appeared to be 

a semiautomatic. Arnulfo ran to the backyard and Cristian and Guzman ran to the front 

door of the house. About two hours after the shooting, officers showed Arnulfo a 

photographic lineup, and he identified Nanez as the shooter. He said the shooter was 

wearing red and he recognized him from school. He said the shooter ran with 

Northerners. Arnulfo had never seen the man in the white tank top before. 

Police found five spent shell casings with the marking “W-W .32 auto” in front of 

the house where Guzman was shot. They found three holes in the front door screen and 

one hole in the frame that were consistent with bullet strikes. There were also two marks 

consistent with bullet strikes on the exterior of the house near the front door. A bullet 

 

2 Because some of the witnesses share last names with other witnesses, we refer to them by 

their first names. No disrespect is intended.
4. 

was found inside the house in the living room that matched the bullet recovered from 

Guzman. A neighbor later found another shell casing in his flowerbed. 

 On December 18, 2009, the Tulare County District Attorney filed an information 

against Nanez and Michael Bobby Davis, charging both defendants with murder, two 

counts of attempted murder, and shooting at an inhabited dwelling. It was alleged, 

among other things, that the murder and attempted murder charges were punishable by 

life in prison and were subject to sentencing under section 186.22, subdivision (b)(5). 

 Codefendant Davis reached a plea agreement with the district attorney on May 23, 

2011. Davis agreed to testify in all court proceedings related to the murder of Guzman. 

In exchange, he would be allowed to enter a plea of guilty or no contest to voluntary 

manslaughter and attempted voluntary manslaughter and to admit the gang special 

allegations. All other pending charges would be dismissed and he would receive a 

sentence of 21 years in state prison. 

 On July 18, 2011, the district attorney filed a fourth amended information against 

Nanez. He was charged with the murder of Guzman (§ 187, subd. (a); count 1), the 

attempted murder of Cristian (§§ 187, 664; count 2), the attempted murder of Arnulfo 

(§§ 187, 664; count 3), and shooting at an inhabited dwelling (§ 246; count 4). For 

count 1, it was alleged that Nanez intentionally killed Guzman while Nanez was an active 

participant in a criminal street gang and the murder was carried out to further the 

activities of the criminal street gang (§ 190.2, subd. (a)(22)). For all counts, it was 

alleged that Nanez or a principal personally and intentionally discharged a firearm 

(§ 12022.53, subd. (c)), the intentional discharge of the firearm caused death or great 

bodily injury (id., subd. (d)), and Nanez committed the offense for the benefit of, at the 

direction of, or in association with a criminal street gang (§ 186.22, subd. (b)). 

 In his trial brief filed on August 10, 2011, Nanez made a motion to bifurcate the 

gang allegations. He argued that gang evidence was not necessary to prove identity or 

motive and was “nothing more than evidence of criminal disposition.” On the same day, 
5. 

the trial court heard argument on various motions in limine and the motion to bifurcate. 

The court denied the motion to bifurcate. 

 A jury trial began on August 22, 2011.

Prosecution’s case 

Cristian testified that Guzman was his cousin and they lived together at the house 

on South Santa Fe where the shooting occurred. He identified Nanez as the shooter. On 

the evening of the shooting, Cristian was standing outside his house in the driveway 

talking with his friend, Arnulfo, and Guzman. He was wearing baby blue and waiting for 

his brother to pick him up for work. He saw two people approaching northbound on 

Santa Fe. Nanez was wearing a red shirt and the other man was wearing a white shirt. 

Cristian thought the one in white had a skateboard, but he was not sure. He had seen the 

man in white in the area with a skateboard, but he did not know his name. At first, Nanez 

and the other man were walking and, as they got closer, they started running. They ran 

side by side, with Nanez on the side closer to the house. Cristian saw Nanez reach for a 

gun from his waist. Cristian heard a popping noise and he ran inside the house. He did 

not hear anyone say anything. Guzman also ran toward the house, and Arnulfo ran to the 

backyard. After he was inside the house, Cristian saw Guzman lying down in the living 

room bleeding from his head. Cristian covered the wound and called 911. 

Cristian spoke to several officers after the shooting and consistently identified 

Nanez as the shooter. He recognized Nanez immediately because they attended the same 

middle school and high school and had classes together. He also saw Nanez walk by all 

the time in the neighborhood. Nanez associated with Norteños. Cristian was not a gang 

member, but he hung out with Sureños. Arnulfo was a gang member of Loco Park, a 

subset of the Sureños. Guzman was not involved in gangs. Cristian did not recognize the 

man with Nanez as a gang member. He thought he “looked more like a skater.” In the 

past, Cristian had never had any problems with either Nanez or the other man. He had no 

reason to think Arnulfo had any problems with Nanez. Between the time he called 911 
6. 

and the time the officers arrived, Cristian did not have time to talk to Arnulfo, and he and 

Arnulfo have not talked about the shooting since then. Arnulfo moved to Arizona about a 

month or two after the shooting. 

During cross-examination, Cristian recalled that he told Sergeant Brown he did not 

see the gun. Defense counsel asked, “You didn’t actually see Mr. Nanez fire a weapon; 

correct?” Cristian responded, “No, sir.” 

Arnulfo was a recalcitrant witness called by the prosecution. He attempted to 

“plead the Fifth,” explaining, “I’m not saying nothing, that’s what I’m saying” and “I 

don’t remember nothing that day.” He admitted he had “LP” for Loco Park tattooed on 

his right arm. He also agreed that when he talked to police officers on the night Guzman 

was shot, he had been honest with them. 

Cristian’s brother, Ernesto Rodriguez, testified that, at around 7:30 on July 31, 

2009, he went to pick up Cristian to go to work. About half a block from Cristian’s and 

Guzman’s house, he heard shots. He saw two men running and shooting. He saw them 

from the back, and he did not remember what they were wearing. Ernesto stopped and 

Cristian told him, “‘Follow them. Angel’s been shot.’” He saw a white car waiting for 

the men around the corner. Ernesto saw the men run toward the white car and then saw 

the car drive east on Sequoia Avenue, but he did not see the men get into the car. A 

neighbor told him she saw two people running and one got in the white car and the other 

one ran away. 

Another neighbor, who lived on Sequoia Avenue, testified that she heard gunshots 

and then saw a man running from a house or between houses and then he ran along 

Tipton Street. 

Davis, who had been Nanez’s codefendant, was 17 years old at the time of the 

shooting. He testified that he had been a Norteño for about three or four years, but he 

was not a gang member at the time of trial. He was labeled a dropout and was in 

protective custody. He started out as a Norteño in Tulare and then he moved to Visalia 
7. 

and still hung around Norteños. His “turf” was Tulare, but the Visalia Norteño gang 

accepted him as one of their own. He knew that Nanez was a Norteño, but he did not 

know him that well. Nanez had a tattoo of “NSV” on his chest. He agreed that “scraps” 

is a derogatory term for Southerners or Sureños. He had not seen an “SK” tattoo on 

Nanez. 

Davis was charged with the murder of Guzman, but he was never accused of being 

the shooter. When he was arrested the day after the shooting, Davis told the officer, “‘I 

know why I’m here. I’m here for Frank.’” He also said they could test him for 

gunpowder because he was not the shooter. Davis later entered a plea agreement in 

which he agreed to a 21-year prison term.3

Davis testified that on July 31, 2009, he was “looking to find some marijuana.” 

He went to Randy Perkins’s house near Laurel Avenue and Tipton Street, but Perkins 

was not there, so he called other people to see if they had marijuana. He was at the 

corner of Santa Fe and Laurel talking on his cell phone when he heard car doors. He 

turned around and saw Nanez and a white car pulling away. Nanez was wearing a red 

shirt. Davis was wearing a white tank top. 

Davis asked Nanez if he could find marijuana and Nanez said, “‘Yeah, right after I 

hit up the scraps.’” Davis told him, “‘All right. I’ll go with you.’” He thought Nanez 

“was just going to fight.” Nanez did not say anything about shooting. Nanez and Davis 

started jogging north on Santa Fe, and then Nanez reached in his waistband, pulled out a 

gun, and started shooting. Davis said the gun was medium sized, “like a .22 but a little 

bigger.” Davis had seen Guzman from time to time, but he did not know him. He did not 

know Cristian or Arnulfo either. He had no problems with any of them. Nanez fired six 

 

3 On cross-examination, Davis stated that prior to reaching a plea agreement, he was facing 

a possible sentence of life without the possibility of parole.
8. 

or seven shots while he was running. Davis continued running with him. They ran north 

on Santa Fe and then Davis followed Nanez as he turned right onto Sequoia Avenue. 

Davis saw the white car he had seen at Santa Fe and Laurel a few minutes earlier. 

Chris Tienda was in the car and Chris’s brother, Jesus,4 was driving. Davis had hung out 

with Chris on occasion but did not consider him a friend. Nanez got into the backseat of 

the car. Davis tried to get in the car, but the driver told him he could not get in. Davis 

was shocked that they were leaving him. He ran east and turned south onto Tipton Street 

toward Perkins’s house, and the white car turned north onto Santa Fe. At Perkins’s house 

he saw Perkins walk into his house. Davis told Perkins what happened and Perkins told 

him he could not stay there. He walked to his friend Justin Brown’s house, and then his 

cousin picked him up and took him home. 

On cross-examination, Davis admitted that he initially told Sergeant Brown that he 

had nothing to do with the shooting. He said he had only witnessed the shooting and he 

was wearing a yellow shirt that day while Chris was wearing a white shirt. Davis agreed 

that he told the police, “‘If I give you some names, will you let me go?’” He asked the 

police if anyone was saying that he pulled the trigger, and he said he had seen the gun 

before at Perkins’s house. In a subsequent interview with an investigator from the district 

attorney’s office, Davis said he thought he recognized one of the shooting victims as 

Stomper, a person he had trouble with back in juvenile hall.5 Davis also agreed that on 

the day of the shooting he called Biancha Alles. 

Chris Tienda testified that on July 31, 2009, he was at home with his friend, Jacob. 

His brother, Jesus, was at work that day and Nanez was with him for part of the day. 

 

4 Davis did not know Chris’s brother’s name, but he later identified a photo of Jesus 

Tienda as the driver of the car.

5 Davis testified that Stomper was LP or Loco Park. He also testified that he no longer 

believed the person he saw in front of Cristian and Guzman’s house was Stomper.
9. 

Chris initially told a police officer that on the day of the shooting, he and Nanez were 

playing pool the whole day and then a friend in a van pulled up and asked Chris for help. 

Later in the police interview, Chris said he and Nanez were not together all day, as Chris 

left his house around 6:00 or 7:00 p.m. to go to the drive-thru at McDonald’s. After an 

officer said he was going to check the video at the McDonald’s drive-thru, Chris said he 

went to Taco Bell. He told the police Nanez left his house at around 7:00 p.m. He 

denied being with Nanez at 7:30 p.m. He did not admit that he was a Norteño gang 

member but agreed that he associated with Northerners. Chris and Nanez were arrested 

on August 11, 2009, and they were put in cells next to each other. 

Sergeant Brown testified that, contrary to his trial testimony, Chris told him that 

Jesus was home the entire day on July 31, 2009. On the witness stand, Chris did not 

remember that an officer warned him about “throwing all your chips with Frank by 

saying you were with him the whole time.” According to Sergeant Brown, however, he 

told Chris he was “pretty much throwing all his chips in with Frank.” At that point, Chris 

changed his story, saying that Nanez left around 7:00 p.m. and he (Chris) left to go to 

McDonald’s. The police monitored Chris’s and Nanez’s communication when they were 

in custody together. At one point, Nanez asked Chris if the police saw Jesus in the car, 

and Chris indicated that the police had all three of them in the car. Sergeant Brown also 

testified that as of August 10, 2011, Nanez had a tattoo of “SK” on his left elbow. 

Another officer testified about a probation search of the bedroom of Nanez’s 

brother, Andy. The search was conducted on March 18, 2010, and three letters addressed 

to Andy and signed by Nanez were discovered. The officer read part of a letter by Nanez 

dated February 11, 2010, to the jury: 

“Bro, a Norteno sets goals for others—for himself while set behind the 

walls is to establish a positive attitude for himself. [¶] ... [¶] Once a true 

believer of Raza gets a [full] understanding/meaning of our cause, a new 

character flame kicks in. [¶] ... [¶] It’s a pure cause, bro. At times we 

may feel hopeless, going through trials and hardships in our hearts. Andy, 
10. 

we are soldiers, we are Nortenos at heart. Let’s not let anything get to us, 

rather learn from it. [¶] ... [¶] Better ourselves and continue further in our 

advancement. In order to do so, our advancement demands change. 

[¶] ... [¶] I love you, little boy. If they give me the death penalty, I hope 

all goes well for you out there, for these are my sincere wishes. [¶] ... [¶] 

Because the path of a warrior/Norteno ain’t a easy one, but a righteous one. 

[¶] ... [¶] With this said, I step down the same way I step in with my 

[utmost] love and respect in full.” 

 Officer Erica Martinez, the first officer to interview witnesses after the shooting, 

was also called to testify. She dictated a report of her witness interviews over the phone 

and did not review the report later. She spoke to Arnulfo first. According to her report, 

he told her he had been standing next to Guzman when two men approached northbound 

on Santa Fe. He described one as a Hispanic male adult, light complected, 17 to 18 years 

of age, with short, black hair and wearing a white tank top and blue jeans. Arnulfo 

described the other man as a Hispanic male adult with a dark complexion, short, black 

hair, wearing a red T-shirt and black pants. He said the one with the white shirt had the 

gun. Upon hearing shots fired, Arnulfo ran into the house and, when he turned around, 

the victim was lying in the doorway. Arnulfo “said somebody, one of the two yelled, 

‘What’s up scraps?’” He did not see their faces. Martinez next interviewed Cristian. 

Cristian did not mention red or white shirts. He recognized one of the men, whom he 

knew as Frank. 

Detective Luma Fahoum testified as a gang expert. She explained that “NSV” 

stands for North Side Visalia, a subset of the Norteños or the Northerners, a criminal 

street gang. Norteños identify with the color red. One of their rivals is the Sureños or 

Southerners. Sureños identify with the color blue. Loco Park is the largest subset of 

Sureños in Visalia. Fahoum described the rivalry between Norteños and Sureños as “a 

violent, vicious rivalry, full of hatred over territory and color” “[b]oth ways.” “SK” 

stands for Sureño killer or scrap killer and “NK” stands for Norteño killer. The area 

where the shooting occurred was a predominately Norteño neighborhood. 
11. 

 Fahoum described three predicate offenses committed by Norteño gang members. 

On July 17, 2007, Victor Tovar and Benjamin Solis approached the residence of two 

Sureño gang members and opened fire into their bedroom windows. The intended 

victims were not struck, and Tovar was convicted of attempted murder. On August 16, 

2007, an Asian man and an Asian woman were approached by a group of known 

Norteños. They asked the man where he was from and whether he was a gang member. 

The man used the word “‘cuz’” and a fight ensued between him and Norteño gang 

member John Fernandez. The man tried to run away, and he was shot and killed by 

another gang member, Brandon Flores. Both Fernandez and Flores were convicted and 

found to have acted for the benefit of a criminal street gang. On February 17, 2007, a 

gang member, Luis Ortega, committed a driveby shooting at the residence of a Sureño 

who had insulted Ortega’s haircut at school. 

 Based on review of police contact information, booking records, and other 

documentation, Fahoum opined that Nanez, Chris, and Jesus were all active Norteño 

gang members. Davis had been an active Norteño gang member but was a dropout at the 

time of trial. Arnulfo was an active Sureño gang member, Loco Park subset, and Cristian 

was a Sureño associate at the time of the shooting. Guzman was not affiliated with a 

gang. Given the hypothetical of two Norteño gang members shooting at a group that 

includes a Sureño gang member and a Sureño associate in daylight and in Norteño 

territory, it was Fahoum’s opinion that the offense would be for the benefit of a criminal 

street gang. 

Defense 

 The defense called Officer Sonya Payne, Biancha Alles, and investigator Eric 

Velasquez as witnesses. 

Payne responded to the reported shooting on July 31, 2009. Witnesses told her 

they had seen two men run into a house on Laurel, later identified as Perkins’s house. 

Payne saw Gloria McClintock, Perkins’s mother, in front of the house and asked her if 
12. 

she had seen anyone run in. McClintock responded that she had not. Perkins emerged 

from the backyard of the house and Payne spoke to him. At first, Perkins denied running. 

Then he said he was running southbound across the street to his house to get some water. 

His friend, Justin, also ran into the backyard. Perkins saw a Hispanic male about 25 to 

30, wearing a white tank top and dark jeans; he was sweaty. Perkins and Justin were 

detained. A backpack was found in the backyard that contained methamphetamine and 

marijuana. 

Alles lives on the corner of Tipton at Laurel, across the street from Perkins’s 

house. She was at home on July 31, 2009, and she heard gunshots. She spoke to Davis 

on the phone that day, but she did not remember who called whom. She testified, “He 

said, ‘I shot a scrap.’” He sounded shaky and scared. 

 At the time of trial, Alles had known Davis for a couple years and she had known 

Nanez since she was eight. She had not spoken to Davis since the phone call, but she did 

write him a letter. When she wrote Davis, she did not tell him she was going to lie to 

protect Nanez. 

 On cross-examination, Alles agreed that Nanez was a friend she grew up with and 

she visits him in jail. She told an investigator from the district attorney’s office about 

what Davis said on February 9, 2010. She had not spoken to any police officers before 

that. Alles told the investigator that she heard from Nanez’s mother that he needed three 

people to testify for him and she was going to testify for him.6 She also told the 

investigator that Davis said he was by himself during the shooting. 

 

6 In addition, the following portion of a letter written by Nanez and dated February 12, 

2010, was read to the jury during the prosecution’s rebuttal: 

 “‘No, Browner ain’t going to testify. Just Chris [presumably referring to 

Cristian]. What did Texas say about Tienda? Yeah, I need three people, Tienda, 

Silly, and Biancha. I just need Silly to come see me so I can talk to her.’” 

According to Fahoum, Arnulfo is known as Browner.
13. 

 Velasquez was an investigator for the district attorney’s office. He interviewed 

Davis on September 30, 2010. Davis told him that he recognized Arnulfo as Stomper, 

whom he knew from juvenile hall. Davis had a problem with Stomper, who was a 

Sureño. Davis described the gun used in the shooting. He said it was a .32-caliber, 

gunmetal gray, and he had seen it before at Perkins’s house. Davis had seen the gun fired 

when some people, including Justin, were shooting bottles in Three Rivers. Davis told 

Velasquez he received a letter from Alles in which she wrote that she was upset with him 

because he told the police about Nanez’s involvement. She wrote that she was going to 

lie and say it was Davis. Davis did not provide the letter. 

The defense theory was that it was Davis who shot and killed Guzman. In his 

opening statement, defense counsel suggested that Nanez was about to meet up with 

Chris when Davis approached him about getting marijuana. Davis then saw a person he 

thought was Stomper, with whom he had trouble in juvenile hall, and suddenly started 

shooting. Nanez was scared, ran and got into Chris’s car, and would not let Davis get in 

the car. In his closing argument, defense counsel pointed out that Arnulfo first told an 

officer that the man wearing white was the shooter. Counsel suggested that Cristian only 

thought Nanez had the gun because he recognized Nanez, not because he actually saw the 

gun. Davis had a motive and also had detailed knowledge about the weapon used. Davis 

claimed to have received a letter from Alles in which she wrote that she was going to lie, 

but he was not able to produce the letter. Finally, defense counsel argued that, if the 

shooting was planned, it did not make sense that Nanez would go by foot rather than 

drive by. It made more sense that Davis simply acted impulsively when he saw the 

person he thought was Stomper. 

Verdict and sentence 

 The jury reached a verdict on August 30, 2011. It found Nanez guilty of all four 

counts and found true all enhancement allegations. 
14. 

The sentencing hearing took place on January 27, 2012. The court imposed a term 

of life without the possibility of parole, plus a consecutive 25 years to life pursuant to 

section 12022.53, subdivision (d), and a minimum parole eligibility of 15 years pursuant 

to section 186.22, subdivision (b)(5), for count 1. The court imposed a term of life with a 

minimum parole eligibility of 15 years pursuant to section 186.22, subdivision (b)(5), 

plus a consecutive 25 years to life pursuant to section 12022.53, subdivision (d), for each 

of counts 2 and 3, with the terms to run consecutively. For count 4, Nanez was sentenced 

to 15 years to life pursuant to section 186.22, subdivision (b)(4), plus a consecutive 

25 years to life pursuant to section 12022.53, subdivision (d), the term to be stayed 

pursuant to section 654. 

DISCUSSION

I. Motion to bifurcate 

Nanez contends the trial court violated his federal due process rights when it 

denied his motion to bifurcate trial of the gang enhancements. 

A. Background 

Prior to trial, Nanez moved to bifurcate trial of the gang allegations. He argued: 

 “Much of the prosecution’s case against Mr. NANEZ rests on his 

alleged participation in the North Side Visalia ... set and the accusation that 

the group is a criminal street gang. The prosecutor will undoubtedly place 

heavy emphasis on Mr. NANEZ’s supposed gang connections to precondition jurors into believing that the defendant is criminally disposed and 

therefore more likely to commit crimes. Disproportionate use of this gang 

evidence to prove a straightforward murder case would create a trial 

atmosphere which would deprive Mr. NANEZ of fundamental fairness. 

 “... The danger ... is that the jury will rely on the expert opinion 

[offered to prove the gang enhancements] not only for determining the truth 

of the gang allegation but also for determining Mr. NANEZ’s guilt or 

innocence of the underlying offense. Such a danger is, of course, added to 

the already prejudicial nature of gang evidence which invites jurors to 

conclude that a defendant is criminally disposed.” 
15. 

Nanez offered contradictory reasons for why gang evidence was unnecessary to 

prove motive in the underlying murder and attempted murder charges. First, he asserted 

there was “no indication that there is a gang related motive for the crime, since each of 

the victims denies membership in any criminal street gang. None of the typical reasons 

prosecutors use to justify the introduction of gang evidence applies in this case.” Later, he 

claimed, “The motive for the murder is self-evidently gang related. A random act of 

violence committed in broad daylight complete with the shouting of gang slogans does 

not require an expert to establish motive. In other words, jurors do not need a lengthy 

lecture on Northern gang structure to determine whether there was a gang motive for the 

murder.” 

He also argued that gang evidence was unnecessary to establish identity and was 

not relevant to the issues of opportunity, preparation, plan, knowledge, absence of 

mistake, or accident. 

At the hearing on the motion to bifurcate, the prosecutor opposed bifurcation, 

asserting that the gang evidence was extremely relevant to the underlying crimes: “This 

whole case is about gangs. If we were to bifurcate it, these issues would still come up.” 

He told the court there was evidence that Nanez was a Norteño, he said to Davis before 

the shooting that “he was going to, ‘Hit up scraps,’” and the victims were aligned with 

the Sureños. Thus, the prosecutor argued, “Under [Evidence Code section] 1101[, 

subdivision ](b), the evidence would ... come in anyway under motive.”7 The gang 

evidence would also be relevant to intent, “because if you just have a random killing, ... 

it’s hard to argue why this happened.” The prosecutor explained, “In the gang context, it 

 

7 Evidence of a person’s character is not admissible to prove the person’s conduct on a 

particular occasion. (Evid. Code, § 1101, subd. (a).) Under Evidence Code section 1101, 

subdivision (b), however, evidence that a person committed a crime or other act (in this case, 

being an active member of a criminal street gang) is admissible if “relevant to prove some fact 

(such as motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, absence of mistake 

or accident ...) other than his or her disposition to commit such an act.”
16. 

makes sense and clarifies the gang issue. They’re enemies of each other, and [Nanez] is 

running by a house shooting at them. The intent can be inferred as to kill.” 

The court denied the motion to bifurcate, stating: 

 “All right. The Court is going to make its record as to this particular 

aspect. That is that the Court has taken into consideration the potential of 

this particular evidence. The Court has engaged in the weighing and the 

balancing of the evidence to determine if the prejudicial effect overrides the 

probative value. 

 “To be clear, this type of evidence is prejudicial. It’s very relevant. 

It does—if what’s being proffered is accurate. It speaks to certain elements 

of the offense, and the Court finds that the probative value outweighs the 

prejudicial effect and not bifurcate that particular evidence.” 

B. Analysis 

In People v. Hernandez (2004) 33 Cal.4th 1040, 1048-1050 (Hernandez), the 

California Supreme Court recognized that a trial court has authority to bifurcate the trial 

of gang enhancements from the trial of underlying offenses in the exercise of its broad 

discretion. The court suggested that, in some cases, the evidence of predicate offenses 

may be unduly prejudicial or the “gang evidence, even as it relates to the defendant, may 

be so extraordinarily prejudicial, and of so little relevance to guilt, that it threatens to 

sway the jury to convict regardless of the defendant’s actual guilt.” (Id. at p. 1049.) In 

such cases, bifurcation would be warranted. (Ibid.) 

On the other hand, the court observed: 

“[E]vidence of gang membership is often relevant to, and admissible 

regarding, the charged offense. Evidence of the defendant’s gang 

affiliation—including evidence of the gang’s territory, membership, signs, 

symbols, beliefs and practices, criminal enterprises, rivalries, and the like—

can help prove identity, motive, modus operandi, specific intent, means of 

applying force or fear, or other issues pertinent to guilt of the charged 

crime. [Citations.] To the extent the evidence supporting the gang 

enhancement would be admissible at a trial of guilt, any inference of 

prejudice would be dispelled, and bifurcation would not be necessary. 

[Citation.]” (Hernandez, supra, 33 Cal.4th at pp. 1049-1050.) 
17. 

Further, “[e]ven if some of the evidence offered to prove the gang enhancement 

would be inadmissible at a trial of the substantive crime itself—for example, if some of it 

might be excluded under Evidence Code section 352 as unduly prejudicial when no gang 

enhancement is charged—a court may still deny bifurcation” based on considerations of 

judicial efficiency. (Hernandez, supra, 33 Cal.4th at p. 1050.) Analogizing bifurcation 

to severance, the court noted that a unitary trial avoids the increased expenditure of funds 

and judicial resources that would be required with bifurcation. (Ibid.) 

In Hernandez, the Supreme Court found the trial court acted within its discretion 

in denying the defendants’ request to bifurcate. During a robbery, a defendant demanded 

a dollar from a victim and told her she did not know who she was dealing with, she was 

dealing with “‘Hawthorne Little Watts.’” Two defendants were charged with robbery 

with a gang enhancement allegation. At trial, a gang expert testified that Little Watts was 

the largest Hispanic gang in Hawthorne and that gang members identify their gang during 

the commission of crimes to gain respect and instill fear. (Hernandez, supra, 33 Cal.4th 

at pp. 1045-1046.) The Supreme Court concluded that much of the gang evidence was 

relevant to the charged offense as the defendant himself “injected his gang status into the 

crime” by identifying himself as a gang member and attempting to use that status to 

demand money from the victim. (Id. at pp. 1050-1051.) Further, “[a]ny evidence 

admitted solely to prove the gang enhancement was not so minimally probative on the 

charged offense, and so inflammatory in comparison, that it threatened to sway the jury to 

convict regardless of defendants’ actual guilt.” (Id. at p. 1051.) Accordingly, the court 

concluded there was no abuse of discretion in the trial court’s refusal to bifurcate. 

“The People are entitled to ‘introduce evidence of gang affiliation and activity 

where such evidence is relevant to an issue of motive or intent.’ [Citation.] ‘[B]ecause a 

motive is ordinarily the incentive for criminal behavior, its probative value generally 

exceeds its prejudicial effect, and wide latitude is permitted in admitting evidence of its 

existence.’ [Citations.]” (People v. Gonzalez (2005) 126 Cal.App.4th 1539, 1550.) 
18. 

Here, the evidence showed Nanez was a Norteño gang member, he referred to hitting up 

“‘scraps’” before the shooting, he wore red, he was accompanied by another Norteño 

gang member, he shot at a group of three men that included one Sureño gang member 

and one Sureño associate, someone said “‘What’s up scraps?’” and the shooting occurred 

in a predominately Norteño neighborhood. The gang evidence—including explanation of 

the violent rivalry between the Norteños and Sureños, the meaning of the term “scrap,” 

and the gang member status of Nanez, Davis, and the victims—was relevant to show 

Nanez’s motive and intent. As the prosecutor argued, this otherwise random shooting 

only makes sense in the gang context. Indeed, Nanez acknowledges, “It was appropriate 

for the trial court to permit the prosecutor’s gang expert to explain the significance of the 

red clothing, the meaning of the term ‘scraps,’ and relevant history of dealings between 

the Nortenos and Surenos.” 

Nevertheless, Nanez claims the trial court erred by denying the motion to bifurcate 

because this allowed the jury to hear evidence of predicate offenses committed by other 

gang members. He argues the predicate offenses in this case “posed a significant danger 

the jury would use it to find [Nanez] had a propensity to commit violent acts.” We 

disagree. The gang expert described three crimes committed by Norteño gang members. 

She provided the names of the defendants in those cases and there was no evidence 

Nanez was involved in any of those crimes. As a result, there was no risk the jury would 

have viewed the predicate crimes as “offenses for which a defendant might have escaped 

punishment.” (Hernandez, supra, 33 Cal.4th at p. 1051.) Further, although the predicate 

offenses were violent and involved firearms, they were not more inflammatory than the 

charges underlying this case. Nanez was charged with the murder of a person with no 

gang ties as he stood in front of his house, along with the attempted murder of two 

Sureño associates. Given the nature of the charges against Nanez, the predicate offenses 

were not unduly prejudicial. Nanez suggests that the two predicate offenses that involved 

shooting at Sureño gang members “created an unrealistic picture of a one-sided use of 
19. 

force by Nortenos against Surenos.” The gang expert, however, explained that the 

violent and vicious rivalry between the Norteños and Sureños ran both ways, and we do 

not believe the jury was given the false impression that only Norteños use force in the 

rivalry between the two gangs. Nanez also argues that the predicate offense involving the 

murder of a man who used the word “‘cuz’” “must have horrified jurors, by depicting 

Nortenos as people who would murder a non-gang member they encounter on the street 

for virtually no reason at all.” Yet, the charged case also involves a murder victim who 

was not involved in gangs. Under these circumstances, there was no abuse of discretion 

in the trial court denying the motion to bifurcate trial of the gang enhancement 

allegations. 

Nanez relies on People v. Albarran (2007) 149 Cal.App.4th 214 (Albarran) for his 

claim that the trial court’s failure to bifurcate was a violation of due process. In 

Albarran, the Court of Appeal explained: 

 “To prove a deprivation of federal due process rights, [a defendant] 

must satisfy a high constitutional standard to show that the erroneous 

admission of evidence resulted in an unfair trial. ‘Only if there are no 

permissible inferences the jury may draw from the evidence can its 

admission violate due process. Even then, the evidence must “be of such 

quality as necessarily prevents a fair trial.” [Citations.] Only under such 

circumstances can it be inferred that the jury must have used the evidence 

for an improper purpose.’ [Citation.] ‘The dispositive issue is ... whether 

the trial court committed an error which rendered the trial “so ‘arbitrary and 

fundamentally unfair’ that it violated federal due process.” [Citation.]’ 

[Citation.]” (Albarran, supra, 149 Cal.App.4th at pp. 229-230.) 

In Albarran, the defendant was convicted of attempted murder, shooting at an 

inhabited dwelling, and attempted kidnapping for carjacking. The jury also found gang 

enhancement allegations to be true. The defendant filed a motion for a new trial, 

asserting there was insufficient evidence to support the gang enhancements and the 

admission of irrelevant and highly inflammatory gang evidence warranted a new trial on 

the underlying charges as well. The trial court granted the motion for new trial as to the 
20. 

gang allegations but denied a new trial on the underlying offenses. (Albarran, supra, 149 

Cal.App.4th at p. 217.) 

On appeal, the defendant argued the trial court should have granted his new trial 

motion as to the underlying offenses. The Court of Appeal agreed, concluding that the 

gang evidence was not relevant to the underlying charges and, given the highly 

inflammatory nature of the gang evidence, admitting the gang evidence was not harmless. 

(Albarran, supra, 149 Cal.App.4th at p. 217.) The court specifically found the gang 

evidence was not relevant to the issue of motive and intent, noting that “the motive for 

the underlying crimes ... was not apparent from the circumstances of the crime” and, in 

the final analysis, the only evidence to support a gang motive was the fact of the 

defendant’s gang affiliation. (Id. at p. 227.) The irrelevant gang evidence presented at 

trial included references to the Mexican Mafia, “a violent prison street gang,” threats to 

police officers, and crimes by other gang members. (Id. at pp. 220, 230.) Under the facts 

of the case, the Albarran court held: 

 “This case presents one of those rare and unusual occasions where 

the admission of evidence has violated federal due process and rendered the 

defendant’s trial fundamentally unfair. Given the nature and amount of this 

gang evidence at issue, the number of witnesses who testified to [the 

defendant’s] gang affiliations and the role the gang evidence played in the 

prosecutor’s argument, we are not convinced beyond a reasonable doubt 

that the error did not contribute to the verdict.” (Albarran, supra, 149 

Cal.App.4th at p. 232.) 

Here, in contrast, the bulk of the gang evidence was relevant to motive and intent 

in the underlying charges, as Nanez concedes. Even with respect to the predicate 

offenses, two of the offenses involved Norteño violence against Sureños and were, 

therefore, relevant to show the rivalry between the gangs. Moreover, the evidence was 

not so prejudicial that the jury might have been swayed to convict Nanez regardless of his 

actual guilt. As we have discussed, the predicate offenses were no more inflammatory 

than the charged offenses in this case. Finally, the jury was given a limiting instruction 
21. 

on the use of evidence of gang activity and was specifically instructed, “You may not 

conclude from this evidence that the defendant is a person of bad character or that he has 

a disposition to commit crime.” We presume the jury followed this instruction. (People 

v. Pearson (2013) 56 Cal.4th 393, 414.) For all of these reasons, we conclude there was 

no due process violation in admitting the gang evidence in this case. 

II. Jury instruction on accomplice testimony

Section 1111 provides: 

 “A conviction can not be had upon the testimony of an accomplice 

unless it be corroborated by such other evidence as shall tend to connect the 

defendant with the commission of the offense; and the corroboration is not 

sufficient if it merely shows the commission of the offense or the 

circumstances thereof. An accomplice is hereby defined as one who is 

liable to prosecution for the identical offense charged against the defendant 

on trial in the cause in which the testimony of the accomplice is given.” 

Here, the jury was given CALCRIM No. 335, instructing that Davis was an 

accomplice as a matter of law and, therefore, the jury could not convict Nanez based on 

Davis’s testimony alone.8

 

8 Jury instruction No. 16 given to the jury provided: 

 “If the crime of Murder was committed, then Michael Davis was an 

accomplice to that crime. 

 “You may not convict [Nanez] of Murder based on the statement or 

testimony of an accomplice alone. You may use the statement or testimony of an 

accomplice to convict [Nanez] only if: 

 “1. The accomplice’s statement or testimony is supported by other 

evidence that you believe; 

 “2. That supporting evidence is independent of the accomplice’s 

statement or testimony; 

 “AND 

 “3. That supporting evidence tends to connect [Nanez] to the commission 

of the crime. 

 “Supporting evidence, however, may be slight. It does not need to be 

enough, by itself, to prove that [Nanez] is guilty of the charged crime, and it does 

not need to support every fact about which the witness testified. On the other 
22. 

On appeal, Nanez contends the trial court also had a sua sponte duty to give 

CALCRIM No. 334, instructing the jury that it must determine whether prosecution 

witness Chris Tienda was an accomplice.9 We disagree. 

 

hand, it is not enough if the supporting evidence merely shows that a crime was 

committed or the circumstances of its commission. The supporting evidence must 

tend to connect [Nanez] to the commission of the crime. 

 “Any statement or testimony of an accomplice that tends to incriminate 

[Nanez] should be viewed with caution. You may not, however, arbitrarily 

disregard it. You should give that statement or testimony the weight you think it 

deserves after examining it with care and caution and in the light of all the other 

evidence.”

9 Nanez suggests the trial court should have given an instruction such as the following 

variation of CALCRIM No. 334: 

 “Before you may consider the statement or testimony of Chris Tienda as 

evidence against [Nanez] regarding the crimes with which he is charged, you 

must decide whether Chris Tienda was an accomplice to those crimes. A person 

is an accomplice if he or she is subject to prosecution for the identical crime 

charged against [Nanez]. Someone is subject to prosecution if he or she 

personally committed the crime or if: [¶] 1. He or she knew of the criminal 

purpose of the person who committed the crime; and [¶] 2. He or she intended 

to, and did in fact, aid, facilitate, promote, encourage, or instigate the commission 

of the crime. 

 “The burden is on [Nanez] to prove that it is more likely than not that 

[Chris] Tienda was an accomplice. 

 “An accomplice does not need to be present when the crime is committed. 

On the other hand, a person is not an accomplice just because he or she is present 

at the scene of a crime, even if he or she knows that a crime will be committed or 

is being committed and does nothing to stop it. 

 “A person may be an accomplice even if he or she is not actually 

prosecuted for the crime. 

 “If you decide that Chris Tienda was not an accomplice, then supporting 

evidence is not required and you should evaluate his statements or testimony as 

you would that of any other witness. 

 “If you decide that Chris Tienda was an accomplice, then you may not 

convict [Nanez] based on his or her statements or testimony alone. You may use 

the statement or testimony of an accomplice to convict [Nanez] only if: [¶] 1. 

The accomplice’s statement or testimony is supported by other evidence that you 

believe; [¶] 2. That supporting evidence is independent of the accomplice’s 
23. 

“When a jury receives substantial evidence that a witness who has implicated the 

defendant was an accomplice, a trial court on its own motion must instruct it on the 

principles regarding accomplice testimony. [Citation.] This includes instructing the jury 

that an accomplice’s testimony implicating the defendant must be viewed with caution 

and corroborated by other evidence. [Citations.]” (People v. Houston (2012) 54 Cal.4th 

1186, 1223.) An accomplice is “one who is liable for prosecution for the identical 

offense charged against the defendant” as an aider and abettor or as part of a conspiracy. 

(§ 1111, italics added; People v. Houston, supra, at p. 1224.) An accomplice must have 

guilty knowledge and intent with regard to the commission of the crime. (Ibid.) 

In the present case, there was no substantial evidence that Chris was guilty of first 

degree murder or attempted murder. There was no evidence that Chris knew that Nanez 

had a gun or that he intended to shoot a group of men. In addition, Chris’s testimony did 

not directly implicate Nanez. Accordingly, the court had no sua sponte duty to give 

CALCRIM No. 334 instructing the jury to determine whether Chris was an accomplice. 

Moreover, even assuming the trial court should have given an accomplice witness 

instruction regarding Chris, there was no harm. 

 

statement or testimony; and [¶] 3. That supporting evidence tends to connect 

[Nanez] to the commission of the crimes. 

 “Supporting evidence, however, may be slight. It does not need to be 

enough, by itself, to prove that [Nanez] is guilty of the charged crimes, and it does 

not need to support every fact mentioned by the accomplice in the statement or 

about which the accomplice testified. On the other hand, it is not enough if the 

supporting evidence merely shows that a crime was committed or the 

circumstances of its commission. The supporting evidence must tend to connect 

[Nanez] to the commission of the crime. 

 “Any statement or testimony of an accomplice that tends to incriminate 

[Nanez] should be viewed with caution. You may not, however, arbitrarily 

disregard it. You should give that statement or testimony the weight you think it 

deserves after examining it with care and caution and in the light of all the other 

evidence.”
24. 

 “A trial court’s failure to instruct on accomplice liability under 

section 1111 is harmless if there is ‘sufficient corroborating evidence in the 

record.’ [Citation.] To corroborate the testimony of an accomplice, the 

prosecution must present ‘independent evidence,’ that is, evidence that 

‘tends to connect the defendant with the crime charged’ without aid or 

assistance from the accomplice’s testimony. [Citation.] Corroborating 

evidence is sufficient if it tends to implicate the defendant and thus relates 

to some act or fact that is an element of the crime. [Citations.] ‘“[T]he 

corroborative evidence may be slight and entitled to little consideration 

when standing alone.” [Citation.]’ [Citation.]” (People v. Avila (2006) 38 

Cal.4th 491, 562-563.) 

Here, there was corroborating evidence in the form of witness identification from 

the two surviving shooting victims. 

We also reject Nanez’s claim that failing to instruct the jury to determine whether 

Chris acted as an accomplice “denied [him] his right to have every factual question 

decided by the jury” and violated the federal Constitution. He offers no authority or 

explanation to support this claim, and we fail to see how the omission of an accomplice 

instruction denied him his right to have the jury decide his guilt or innocence. Nanez 

does not assert, for example, that the jury was improperly instructed on the elements of 

the charged offenses. 

III. Prosecutorial misconduct 

A. Background 

During trial, defense counsel twice moved for a mistrial based on prosecutorial 

misconduct. First, on August 24, 2011, after a noon recess, defense counsel asked for a 

mistrial arguing the prosecutor had “engaged in an intentional pattern of behavior 

attempting to prejudice the jury.” He asserted that the prosecutor made disparaging 

remarks about defense counsel, referred to Nanez as “‘that Norteno,’” questioned Davis 

about “the phrase scrap killer,” and “subpoenaed Andy Nanez [to] court in order to kick 

him out of court.” The court denied the request for a mistrial and “d[id] not see an 

assignment of misconduct.” The court instructed the prosecutor to refer to Nanez as 

“Mr. Nanez or the defendant” in the future. 
25. 

Second, on August 26, 2011, defense counsel moved for a mistrial and asked for 

an assignment of misconduct regarding the prosecutor’s behavior at trial after the crossexamination of Alles. He argued, “His cross-examination of Miss Alles was an example 

of continually asking questions he knew to be objectionable [with] deliberate intent to 

prejudice the jury.” On August 29, 2011, the court heard further argument on the issue 

and then ruled that the prosecutor’s conduct in cross-examining Alles did not rise to the 

level of misconduct. The court stated: “The envelope was being pushed. Not very 

gently. The Court did sustain the objections and I’m convinced the jury based on the 

instructions received the appropriate evidence.” 

Now, on appeal, Nanez raises the same alleged misconduct and claims the 

prosecutor’s behavior requires reversal. He focuses on two alleged types of conduct: 

(1) “Statements and actions by the prosecutor that denigrated [Nanez] or his counsel in 

the presence of the jury” and (2) “The unduly argumentative cross-examination of 

defense witness Bianca Alles.” 

B. Legal standards 

“Under California law, a prosecutor commits reversible misconduct if he or she 

makes use of ‘deceptive or reprehensible methods’ when attempting to persuade either 

the trial court or the jury, and it is reasonably probable that without such misconduct, an 

outcome more favorable to the defendant would have resulted. [Citation.] Under the 

federal Constitution, conduct by a prosecutor that does not result in the denial of the 

defendant's specific constitutional rights—such as a comment upon the defendant's 

invocation of the right to remain silent—but is otherwise worthy of condemnation, is not 

a constitutional violation unless the challenged action ‘“so infected the trial with 

unfairness as to make the resulting conviction a denial of due process.”’ [Citations.]” 

(People v. Riggs (2008) 44 Cal.4th 248, 298.) 

In general, a defendant must make a timely request for assignment of misconduct 

and admonition of the jury in order to preserve a claim of prosecutorial misconduct for 
26. 

appeal. (People v. Young (2005) 34 Cal.4th 1149, 1184-1185.) To prevail on a 

misconduct claim, the defendant must show prejudice. (People v. Fields (1983) 35 

Cal.3d 329, 363.) 

C. Alleged misconduct 

1. Statements and actions about Nanez and his counsel 

Nanez describes the following conduct as denigrating him or his defense counsel. 

During questioning of Cristian, the prosecutor referred to Nanez as “this Norteno.” 

He asked, “You would openly hang out with Surenos when this Norteno would see that; 

is that correct?” and “And you have seen this Norteno here, [Nanez] walking by your 

house with other Nortenos?” 

During questioning of Davis, the prosecutor asked if Davis was aware that Nanez 

“ha[d] a tattoo of SK for scrap killers.” Defense counsel objected for lack of foundation 

and the court sustained the objection. The prosecutor later asked Davis if he had heard 

the term scrap killer before. He said he had. The prosecutor asked, “That would be SK?” 

and Davis responded, “I think so, sir.” The prosecutor used the term scraps five times. 

The prosecutor asked Davis how he knew Nanez. Davis responded that he knew 

Nanez through his brother, Andy Nanez. The prosecutor then asked if Davis made an 

arm motion, and Davis responded yes. The prosecutor asked, “Where?” and Davis said, 

“He’s sitting right there, sir.” At that point the prosecutor said, “Motion to exclude.” 

In his first request for a mistrial, defense counsel stated, “[The prosecutor] made 

disparaging references towards defense counsel, most notable was instructing me not to 

cough when I was near him in front of the jury.” The record shows that on August 23, 

2011, outside the presence of the jury, the prosecutor said, “I would ask when you’re 

standing over me, not to be coughing on me like you were.” Nanez does not point to 

anything in the record showing that the prosecutor made a similar comment in front of 

the jury. 
27. 

We see no reversible prosecutorial misconduct. The People point out that defense 

counsel did not object to the prosecutor’s reference to Nanez as “this Norteno” and, as a 

result, any claim of error is forfeited. Further, there was no dispute that Nanez was, in 

fact, a Norteño gang member. Defense counsel told the jury in his opening statement that 

Nanez was a gang member. Regarding the prosecutor’s use of the terms “scraps” and 

“scrap killers,” these terms were relevant because there was evidence that Nanez used the 

term scraps before the shooting and he had a tattoo that read “SK.” 

Defense counsel accused the prosecutor of subpoenaing Andy Nanez even though 

“he’s not a witness to any issue in this case for the purposes of kicking him out.” The 

prosecutor responded that Andy was a potential witness to explain the letters from Nanez 

found in Andy’s room. The court considered the arguments and found that Andy was a 

potential witness: 

 “As to the issue of Andy Nanez, what has been indicated to me is 

that Andy Nanez is in receipt of a letter ... from someone believed to be 

[Nanez]. If the appropriate foundation was laid or if Andy Nanez was 

called as witness by [the prosecutor], it is conceivable he could testify as to 

the meaning of a Raza, Norteno, down for the cause. [¶] It appears to me 

he is a potential witness.” 

On the record before us, we have no reason to question the trial court’s 

determination that Andy was a potential witness and no basis to conclude that the 

prosecutor subpoenaed Andy solely for an improper purpose. 

Finally, regarding the allegation that the prosecutor instructed defense counsel not 

to cough on him in front of the jury, there is nothing in the record to indicate that this 

happened in front of the jury. The trial court addressed the allegation, stating, “I don’t 

think I need to comment on the coughing. The Court observed that and indicated to [the 

prosecutor], it believes [defense counsel] was not trying to infect him.” On this record, 

we cannot say that the prosecutor’s comments about coughing disparaged defense 

counsel in front of the jury. 
28. 

2. Cross-examination of Alles

During cross-examination of Alles, the prosecutor asked her about what she told 

the investigator on February 9, 2010, and gave her the investigator’s transcript to review. 

The prosecutor asked about her telling the investigator that she did not hear any gunshots; 

rather, her mother heard the gunshots. Alles responded that she did not remember saying 

that. The prosecutor stated, “Convenient.” Defense counsel objected and the objection 

was sustained. 

On redirect examination, defense counsel asked if Davis admitted the shooting to 

her, and Alles responded yes. Defense counsel then asked, “Are you lying about this?” 

and she responded no. On recross-examination, the following occurred: 

“Q. You’re not lying about the other inconsistencies— 

“[Defense counsel]: Objection, your Honor, argumentative. 

“THE COURT: Overruled. 

“THE WITNESS: No, I’m not lying. 

“BY [the prosecutor]: 

“Q. You’re saying all kinds of different things here testifying. 

“[Defense counsel]: Objection; argumentative. 

“THE COURT: Overruled. 

“BY [the prosecutor]: 

“Q. Aren’t you? 

“[THE WITNESS:] No, I’m speaking the truth and what I remember. 

“Q. No, you’re speaking when you’re trying to help your friend get off. 

“[Defense counsel]: Objection; argumentative. 

“THE COURT: Sustained, and stricken.” 

Defense counsel then questioned Alles again. On recross-examination, the 

prosecutor began his questioning: 

“Q. That’s the lie you’re going with— 
29. 

“[Defense counsel]: Objection, your Honor, argumentative. 

“THE COURT: Stop right now. Ask a question that’s not objectionable. 

“BY [the prosecutor]: 

“Q. You wouldn’t tell us if you’re lying, of course; right? 

“A. I would. 

“[Prosecutor]: There’s another lie. Nothing further. 

“THE COURT: The statement of counsel will be stricken.” 

“An argumentative question is a speech to the jury masquerading as a question. 

The questioner is not seeking to elicit relevant testimony. Often it is apparent that the 

questioner does not even expect an answer.” (People v. Chatman (2006) 38 Cal.4th 344, 

384.) “An argumentative question that essentially talks past the witness, and makes an 

argument to the jury, is improper because it does not seek to elicit relevant, competent 

testimony, or often any testimony at all.” (Ibid.) 

We agree with Nanez that the prosecutor’s statements, “Convenient,” “No, you’re 

speaking when you’re trying to help your friend get off” and “There’s another lie” did not 

seek to elicit relevant testimony and were improper. The trial court properly sustained 

defense counsel’s objections and struck the prosecutor’s comments. We agree with the 

trial court, however, that this did not rise to the level of misconduct. The prosecutor did 

not, for example, imply facts that fell outside the evidence. (Cf. People v. Earp (1999) 

20 Cal.4th 826, 860 [“For a prosecutor’s question implying facts harmful to the defendant 

to come within this form of misconduct ..., the question must put before the jury 

information that falls outside the evidence and that, but for the improper question, the 

jury would not have otherwise heard.”].) 

Moreover, Nanez cannot establish prejudice. Two victim eyewitnesses identified 

Nanez as the shooter. Davis identified Nanez as the shooter. Alles said that Davis told 

her he was alone, but many witnesses, including neighbors, saw two men running after 

the shooting. Given the state of the evidence, it is not reasonably probable Nanez would 
30. 

have obtained a more favorable result had the prosecutor not made the objectionable 

comments about Alles’s veracity. (People v. Barnett (1998) 17 Cal.4th 1044, 1133.) 

IV. Cumulative error 

Nanez contends that that the cumulative effect of the alleged errors at trial 

rendered the proceedings fundamentally unfair. We disagree. “We have either rejected 

on the merits defendant’s claims of error or have found any assumed errors to be 

nonprejudicial. We reach the same conclusion with respect to the cumulative effect of 

any assumed errors.” (People v. Sapp (2003) 31 Cal.4th 240, 316.) 

V. Abstract of judgment

Finally, Nanez asserts the abstract of judgment must be corrected to indicate that 

the sentence for count 4 is stayed. The People agree. At sentencing, the trial court 

imposed an indeterminate term of 40 years to life for count 4 and announced the term was 

to be stayed pursuant to section 654. The minute order correctly reflects that the term for 

count 4 was to be stayed. The abstract of judgment, however, does not so indicate. In 

addition, the People point out that the court’s order that the terms for counts 2 and 3 were 

to be served consecutively is not reflected on the abstract of judgment. 

Accordingly, we order the court to correct the abstract of judgment to reflect that 

the terms for counts 2 and 3 are to be served consecutively and the term for count 4 is to 

be stayed. (People v. Mesa (1975) 14 Cal.3d 466, 471-472; People v. Mitchell (2001) 26 

Cal.4th 181, 185-188.) 
31. 

DISPOSITION

 The judgment is corrected to reflect that the terms for counts 2 and 3 are to be 

served consecutively and the term for count 4 is to be stayed. The trial court is directed 

to prepare an amended abstract of judgment and to forward a certified copy to the 

Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. As modified, the judgment is affirmed. 

 _____________________ 

Kane, J. 

WE CONCUR: 

 _____________________ 

Levy, Acting P.J. 

 _____________________ 

Franson, J.