Filed 5/27/22 P. v. Brizuela CA4/1

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS

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

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 This opinion has not been certified for publication

or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115. 

COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION ONE

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

THE PEOPLE,

Plaintiff and Respondent,

v.

KEVIN BRIZUELA,

Defendant and Appellant.

 D079531

 (Super. Ct. No. SCN317396)

APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of San Diego County, 

Richard R. Monroy, Judge. Affirmed. 

Kevin Brizuela, in pro. per.; and John L. Staley, under appointment by 

the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant.

No appearance for Plaintiff and Respondent. 

In 2016, a jury convicted Kevin Brizuela of two counts of first degree 

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

(§§ 187, subd. (a) & 664). Gang enhancement under section 186.22 and 

1 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise 

specified.
2

firearm enhancements under section 12022.53 were found true as to each of 

the counts. The trial court sentenced Brizuela to an indeterminate term of 

100 years to life. 

Brizuela appealed and this court affirmed the convictions. However, 

the court conditionally reversed the judgment and directed the trial court to 

conduct a transfer hearing under Welfare and Institutions Code section 707. 

(People v. Brizuela (Oct. 11, 2018, D071364) [nonpub. opn.].)

On remand, the trial court held a transfer hearing and denied transfer 

to juvenile court. The court also denied motions to strike the firearm 

enhancements. Brizuela, again, appealed and this court affirmed the 

judgment in an unpublished opinion. (People v. Brizuela (July 19, 2021, 

D078376) [nonpub. opn.].)

In July 2021, Brizuela filed a petition for resentencing under 

section 1170.95. The trial court appointed counsel, received briefing, 

reviewed the record of conviction, and held a hearing. The court found 

Brizuela was ineligible for relief as a matter of law. The court found the 

record demonstrated Brizuela was tried as a direct aider and abettor or as 

the actual killer. The jury was not instructed on felony murder or natural 

and probable consequences. The court denied the petition by written order. 

Brizuela filed a timely notice of appeal. 

Appellate counsel has filed a brief pursuant to People v. Wende (1979) 

25 Cal.3d 436 (Wende), indicating counsel has not been able to identify any 

arguable issues for reversal on appeal. Counsel asks the court to review the 

record for error as mandated by Wende. We offered Brizuela the opportunity 

to file his own brief on appeal, and he has responded with a supplemental 

brief. We will discuss his submission later in this opinion.
3

STATEMENT OF FACTS

The facts of the offenses are set forth in our prior opinion. (People v. 

Brizuela, supra, D071364.) Appellate counsel has provided a short summary 

of those facts which we will incorporate here to provide context for the 

appeal. 

“On March 13, 2013, David G., Edgar, Melanie, and David R. were in 

Libby Lake Park in Oceanside. The park was claimed by the Mesa Locos 

gang. David R. was affiliated with this gang. Four individuals approached 

them and fired multiple firearms. Melanie and Edgar died. Ballistic analysis 

of the recovered rounds showed three firearms were used. Police 

investigation identified Brizuela as one of the participants in the shooting. 

Brizuela was a member of the Vista Home Boys gang which had a rivalry 

with the Mesa Locos gang.”

DISCUSSION

As we have noted, appellate counsel has filed a Wende brief and asks 

the court to review the record for error. To assist the court in its review, and 

in compliance with Anders v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 738 (Anders), counsel 

has identified a possible issue which was considered in evaluating the 

potential merits of this appeal: Whether the court erred in denying 

Brizuela’s petition for resentencing. 

Brizuela filed a brief in which he argues he made prima facie showing 

of eligibility for resentencing under section 1170.95. He contends the court 

erred in relying on facts set forth in the previous opinion of this court where 

we stated that Brizuela was a direct aider and abettor. He contends the trial 

court gave an instruction on liability for murder based on natural and 

probable consequences where death results from a non-target crime. The 
4

court did give former CALCRIM 403.2 However, if the jury had relied on the 

theory in that instruction, it would have been required to find the defendant 

2 Former CALCRIM 403 states as follows: 

“Under this theory, before you may decide whether the defendant 

is guilty of murder and attempted murder, you must decide 

whether he is guilty of assault with a firearm or assault by force 

likely to produce great bodily injury.

“To prove that the defendant is guilty of murder and 

attempted murder, the People must prove that:

“1. The defendant is guilty of assault with a firearm or 

assault by force likely to produce great bodily injury;

“2. During the commission of assault with a firearm or 

assault by force likely to produce great bodily injury a 

co-participant in that assault with a firearm or 

assault by force likely to produce great bodily injury 

committed the crime of murder and attempted 

murder;

“AND

“3. Under all of the circumstances, a reasonable person 

in the defendant’s position would have known that 

the commission of the murder and attempted murder 

was a natural and probable consequence of the 

commission of the assault with a firearm or assault 

by force likely to produce great bodily injury.

“A coparticipant in a crime is the perpetrator or anyone who 

aided and abetted the perpetrator. It does not include a victim or 

innocent bystander.

“A natural and probable consequence is one that a reasonable 

person would know is likely to happen if nothing unusual 

intervenes. In deciding whether a consequence is natural and 

probable, consider all of the circumstances established by the 

evidence.
5

guilty of second degree murder. In this case, the jury convicted Brizuela of 

first degree murder, which would have been based on a direct aider and 

abettor theory. Brizuela’s submission does not raise any arguable issues for 

reversal on appeal based on this record.

We have reviewed the entire record as required by Wende and Anders. 

We have not discovered any arguable issues for reversal on appeal. 

Competent counsel has represented Brizuela on this appeal.

“To decide whether crime of murder and attempted murder was 

committed, please refer to the separate instructions that I have 

given you on those crimes.

“Under this theory, the People are alleging that the defendant 

originally intended to aid and abet assault with a firearm or 

assault by force likely to produce great bodily injury.

“If you decide that the defendant aided and abetted one of these 

crimes and that murder and attempted murder was a natural 

and probable consequence of that crime, the defendant is guilty of 

murder and attempted murder. You do not need to agree about 

which of these crimes the defendant aided and abetted.

“If you find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of 

murder as charged in Counts One and Two under this theory, you 

shall set the degree of murder as Second Degree Murder.”
6

DISPOSITION

The order denying Brizuela’s petition for resentencing under 

section 1170.95 is affirmed.

HUFFMAN, Acting P. J.

WE CONCUR:

DO, J.

BUCHANAN, J.