Filed 8/2/23 P. v. Johnson CA6

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for 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. 

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

THE PEOPLE,

Plaintiff and Respondent,

v.

DONAVAN WAYNE JOHNSON,

Defendant and Appellant.

 H049257

 (Monterey County

 Super. Ct. No. 18CR010752)

A jury convicted defendant Donavan Wayne Johnson of multiple offenses, 

including one count of torture, after he repeatedly slashed and stabbed the mother of his 

children with a box cutter. The trial court sentenced him to life in prison plus 11 years 

and four months. 

On appeal, Johnson raises the following arguments related to his convictions: 

(1) there was insufficient evidence to support his conviction for torture; (2) the trial court 

erred in admitting expert testimony on intimate partner violence; (3) the trial court 

misinstructed the jury on the crime of torture; (4) the cumulative effect of the errors 

warrants reversal; and (5) he cannot be convicted for violating both Penal Code 

section 245,1subdivision (a)(1) and subdivision (a)(4). 

Johnson also raises multiple issues regarding his sentencing: (1) the trial court 

misapplied section 654 with respect to several counts; (2) he is entitled to resentencing as 

a recent amendment to section 654 gives the trial court discretion to stay a longer term as 

1 Unspecified statutory references are to the Penal Code. 
2

opposed to a lesser term; (3) he is entitled to resentencing because the trial court no 

longer has the authority to impose an upper term sentence unless a jury has found true the 

aggravating circumstances; (4) his one year term for misdemeanor child endangerment 

was unauthorized; (5) the record must be corrected to reflect that the trial court did not 

impose a fine under section 1202.5; and (6) at resentencing, the trial court must consider 

dismissing enhancements under recent amendments to section 1385. 

For the reasons explained below, we will reverse the judgment for the limited 

purpose of resentencing. 

I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

A. Procedure

On March 1, 2021, the Monterey County District Attorney filed an amended 

information charging Johnson with attempted premeditated murder (§§ 664, 187, 

subd. (a); count 1); aggravated mayhem with an enhancement for personal use of a 

deadly weapon (§§ 205, 12022, subd. (b)(1); count 2); torture (§ 206; count 3); attempted 

kidnapping with an enhancement for great bodily injury involving domestic violence 

(§§ 664, 207, subd. (a), 12022.7, subd. (e); count 4); domestic violence with 

enhancements for personal use of a deadly weapon and inflicting great bodily injury 

(§§ 273.5, subd. (a), 12022, subd. (b)(1), 12022.7, subd. (e); count 5); assault with force 

likely to cause great bodily injury with an enhancement for inflicting great bodily injury 

(§§ 245, subd. (a)(4), 12022.7, subd. (e); count 6); first degree burglary (§§ 459, 460, 

subd. (a), 462, subd. (a); count 7); misdemeanor child endangerment (§ 273a, subd. (b);

count 8), and assault with a deadly weapon with an enhancement for inflicting great 

bodily injury (§§ 245, subd. (a)(1), 12022.7, subd. (e); count 9). 

At the conclusion of the trial, the jury found Johnson not guilty of attempted 

murder (count 1), aggravated mayhem (count 2), attempted kidnapping (count 4), and 

first degree burglary (count 7). The jury convicted Johnson of torture (count 3), domestic 

violence (count 5), assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury (count 6), child 
3

endangerment (count 8), assault with a deadly weapon (count 9), the lesser included 

offense of simple mayhem (count 2), and the lesser included offense of attempted false 

imprisonment (count 4). The jury also found true the enhancements for personal use of a 

deadly weapon and infliction of great bodily injury on all the associated counts on which 

Johnson had been convicted, i.e., the lesser included offense of simple mayhem (count 2),

domestic violence (count 5), and assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury 

(count 6). 

On July 1, 2021, the trial court sentenced Johnson to a life term for torture

(count 3).

2

 The court also imposed a consecutive determinate term of 11 years and four 

months, consisting of the upper term of four years for domestic violence (count 5) plus 

five years for the great bodily injury enhancement, one year for the deadly weapon 

enhancement, four months (one-third the middle term of one year) for attempted false 

imprisonment (count 4) and 364 days for misdemeanor child endangerment (count 8). 

Pursuant to section 654, the court imposed and stayed the following terms: (1) an 

upper term of eight years for simple mayhem plus one year for personal use of a weapon 

(count 2); (2) an upper term of four years for assault with force likely to cause great 

bodily injury, plus five years for the inflicting great bodily injury (count 6); and (3) an 

upper term of four years for assault with a deadly weapon (count 9). 

The trial court imposed a $5,000 restitution fund fine (§ 1202.4, subd. (b)), a

parole violation restitution fund fine of $5,000 (§ 1202.45) (stayed pending successful 

completion of parole), $3,583.53 in victim restitution (§ 1202.4, subd. (f)), a $280 court 

operations assessment (§ 1465.8, subd. (a)(1)), and a $210 court facilities assessment 

(Gov. Code, § 70373). 

Johnson timely appealed.

2 Pursuant to section 3046, Johnson will be eligible for parole after seven years, so 

his term is “seven years to life.” 
4

B. Facts

1. Prosecution case

At approximately 11:00 a.m. on November 12, 2018, Salinas Police Officer James 

Knowlton responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the City of Salinas. On the 

way, Knowlton saw a vehicle described as belonging to the suspect driving away from 

the scene. When Knowlton activated his lights and siren, Johnson began driving 

erratically, running two red lights, before stopping in front of the emergency department 

at Natividad Medical Center. Johnson got out of the car and stood next to it. Knowlton 

pointed his firearm at Johnson and ordered him to get on the ground, but Johnson was 

uncooperative. Knowlton repeated his command three or four times before Johnson 

ultimately complied. Johnson was agitated and said something about his passenger 

needing help. As Knowlton and another officer handcuffed Johnson, Knowlton saw K.R. 

sitting in the passenger seat, bleeding from a cut on her forehead. After hospital 

personnel took K.R. inside, Knowlton searched the vehicle and saw a black box cutter on 

the center console. 

Salinas Police Officer Joseph Kinney also responded to the domestic disturbance 

report and, on his arrival at Natividad Medical Center, he observed other officers taking 

Johnson into custody. Kinney approached Johnson’s vehicle and saw K.R. in the

passenger seat. K.R. was bleeding “profusely” from a “pretty deep” cut on her forehead. 

K.R. told Kinney she had cuts to her legs as well and Kinney did not think she could walk 

on her own. Emergency room personnel came out and took her inside for treatment. 

Kinney followed, and the video, including audio, from his body camera was played for 

the jury. Photographs of K.R.’s wounds when she was in the hospital were admitted into 

evidence and showed cuts on her forehead, near her left ear, on her right arm, and on both 

legs. 

An investigator for the district attorney, Tim Willmore, went to see K.R. while she 

was at the hospital. K.R. was in a wheelchair, with her left leg immobilized and extended 
5

in a brace. He observed that the cut on her forehead was, in his estimation, three to 

three-and-a-half inches in length. He described the other cuts near her ear and arm as 

being between two and three inches long. Willmore noted that K.R. had a defensive 

wound on the webbing of her right hand, between her thumb and index finger. When 

Willmore saw K.R. again in December 2018, she could walk slowly, with a limp, and had 

difficulty moving her left leg which was still in a brace. 

Over two years later, in February 2021, Isabelle Diaz, also an investigator with the 

district attorney’s office, visited K.R. at the clothing store where she was working. K.R. 

was sitting behind a partition so Diaz could not tell if she continued to have trouble 

walking or if she had a cane or other assistive device. However, K.R. had a visible scar 

running from the top of her forehead down toward her right ear. 

K.R.’s 911 call was played for the jury, although she did not testify.3 In that call, 

K.R. told the dispatcher she was at home along with her grandmother, her great

grandmother, and her children. She said Johnson, her “ex-boyfriend,” had messaged her 

saying he would break in the house and now he had arrived. K.R. reported that he had 

gotten out of his vehicle, jumped over a fence, and entered the house. Johnson could be 

heard telling K.R. that she was “get[ting] on [his] fucking nerves!” He then yelled “Get 

in (unintelligible) my fuckin’ car!” Johnson told K.R. “All you have to do is . . . talk to 

me,” after which a child could be heard yelling “Let her go!” and “Stop!” several times. 

K.R. and her grandmother could also be heard yelling at Johnson to stop and to let K.R. 

go. Johnson asked K.R. if she “want[ed] to press charges” and “you think I’m fucking 

with you, huh? . . . You thinking you can fuck with them?” Johnson said, “now I gotta 

3

It is not clear why K.R. did not testify, but she failed to appear on the first day of 

jury voir dire. At the prosecutor’s request, the court issued an order to show cause (OSC) 

as to why it should not hold K.R. in contempt. On the second day of jury voir dire, the 

prosecutor asked that the court vacate the OSC, noting that K.R. appeared that day. The 

prosecutor stated that if K.R. voluntarily appeared to testify at trial, she would decide at 

that time whether to call her as a witness. During the prosecutor’s opening statement, she 

informed the jury that K.R. would not testify, but the jurors would hear the 911 call. 
6

go to jail.” K.R.’s grandmother said she had the kids, as K.R. could be heard screaming. 

Johnson repeated “Let’s go!” followed by “I swear I’ll start cutting her ass too . . . Let’s 

go!” 

Johnson told K.R. there was something “all over you [i.e., K.R.].” K.R. said 

repeatedly she did not want to go, and Johnson replied, “No, fuck that I’m not messin’

with you no more. No ‘cause you ignore me every fuckin’ time. Fuck, no! Let’s go!” 

When K.R. continued to refuse, Johnson said, “I’ll cut your ass some more then.” 

Johnson said that he did not care about going to jail, “I don’t give a fuck. Your legs are 

open. Like open—open—open look. Look at your fuckin’ leg. No, you gonna fuckin’

die like seriously you don’t listen.” Just before the call ended, K.R. told Johnson, “No, 

go away run. Run.” 

After the incident, investigating officers went to the residence and photographed 

blood trails and droplets both inside the house and on the driveway. 

The prosecution introduced a recorded jail call from Johnson to his mother. In 

that call, Johnson said he knew that K.R. was “fine,” but he was worried about the 

children. Johnson said he did not care if K.R. was seeing anyone else, but her staying out 

late and being absent from the house was affecting the children. He criticized K.R. for 

seeing another man, letting that man drive the car that Johnson left for K.R., and having 

that man take care of the children while K.R. was at work. Johnson referred to this man 

as “the dude . . . that caused all this” and said “if [K.R.] wasn’t fuckin’ with this dude that 

night we woulda never had no argument. . . . It woulda never came to this.” Later in the 

conversation, Johnson told his mother, “My life has to get taken away ‘cause of this 

dude.” 

Dr. Mindy Mechanic testified as an expert on victim partner abuse. Dr. Mechanic 

said that such abuse involves a pattern of behavior that can include physical violence, as 

well as emotional/psychological abuse. The abuser will often quickly shift from being 

violent toward the victim to being loving and kind, which is confusing to the victim. The
7

abuser also often blames the victim, and victims often blame themselves for the violence, 

going so far as to protect the abuser. A victim is at most risk of escalated, possibly lethal, 

violence in the period just before, during, or in the months after separating from the 

abuser. In Dr. Mechanic’s opinion, abusers offer many different excuses for their 

conduct, such as financial stress or housing insecurity, but those stressors are not causal. 

Dr. Mechanic confirmed that she was not aware of the facts involved in this particular 

case, had not reviewed any of the evidence, and did not know either K.R. or Johnson. 

2. Defense case

a. Johnson’s testimony

Johnson testified he and K.R. started dating during their senior year in high school 

and had four children together. At the time of trial, their oldest child was 11 and the 

youngest was three years old. Before the incident, the family became homeless and 

stayed in various places, including K.R.’s mother’s home. Johnson and K.R. broke up in 

August 2018. 

On Friday, November 10, 2018, Johnson traveled to Arizona with the children but 

not K.R. Over the next three days,4Johnson slept very little. During the drive back to 

Salinas, Johnson communicated with K.R. on the phone and via text messages, discussing 

whether they would get back together. Johnson began thinking about killing himself, and 

during a restroom stop, he purchased a box cutter at the gas station in order to slash his 

wrist. 

Johnson arrived in Salinas with the children around 3:00 or 4:00 a.m. He and K.R.

talked in the living room and in the garage area about their relationship and his thoughts 

of suicide. Johnson went outside and slept in his car for an hour before heading to work 

around 6:00 a.m. the next day. 

4

Johnson was not asked what day he returned to Salinas, but the incident occurred 

on November 12 which is only two days after he drove to Arizona. 
8

Johnson later contacted K.R. and, on learning she planned to take a taxi to work, 

Johnson offered to drive her there instead. When he arrived at her house, K.R. said she 

did not want a ride which confused him. Johnson decided he would leave with the 

children, so he placed them in his car. However, after around five minutes, Johnson took 

the children back inside and drove back to work. 

After work, Johnson went back to K.R.’s house to talk to her, but the front door 

was locked. Johnson heard K.R. tell their son not to open the door, so he jumped over the 

fence to the backyard and came through a window. Johnson testified that he was 

sleep-deprived, and was feeling depressed, angry, and suicidal. When he saw K.R., 

Johnson yelled at her, and she yelled back at him. Johnson said that K.R.’s godmother

and her grandmother were also yelling, so he grabbed K.R. by her sweater and tried to 

take her outside, “away from all the confusion.” 

As Johnson was pulling K.R. toward the front door, she was able to stop her 

momentum and punched him in the genitals, stomach, and face. K.R. grabbed and 

twisted his testicles, at which point, Johnson “lost it.” He took the box cutter out of his 

pocket and swung it at K.R., three or four times. Johnson did not intend to cut her and 

was not aware that he had done so at first. Johnson stopped when he saw “blood coming 

down her face.” Johnson was still agitated and yelling, but he tried to tell K.R. he needed 

to get her to the hospital. K.R. kept telling him it was not serious and that Johnson 

should run. 

Johnson told K.R. she needed to stop fighting him about going to the hospital, but 

it was only after he told her “I’ll cut your ass some more” that she realized the 

seriousness of her injuries. When Johnson said her leg was “[cut] open,” she started to 

“freak.” He then picked her up and put her in his car. Johnson grabbed some towels to 

wrap around her legs to stop the bleeding, then drove toward Natividad Medical Center. 

On the way, Johnson noticed that the police were following him, with their lights and 

sirens. Because K.R. needed help, he did not stop and even ran two stop signs and a red 
9

light to get K.R. to the hospital as quickly as possible. Johnson did not know the extent 

of K.R.’s injuries until six months later when he saw the photos of her wounds. 

Johnson testified that he was not disputing that he assaulted K.R., committed an 

act of domestic violence, and inflicted great bodily injury on her. However, Johnson 

denied that he had any plan to kill, disable, or disfigure her or that he intended to cause 

her great pain and suffering as an act of revenge. Johnson was more than a foot taller 

than K.R.5and much stronger physically. Johnson testified that he did not act out of 

jealousy that night, as he and K.R. had been with other people in the past. 

Johnson admitted that, since he has been in custody, he was involved in two fights 

and, in the latter incident, threatened a correctional officer. In the first fight, Johnson and 

six other inmates attacked a second group of six inmates. Johnson punched one inmate in 

the head, pushed another to the ground, and kicked a third inmate in the head. In the 

second fight, Johnson punched another inmate in the face several times, and then 

threatened a deputy sheriff who responded to the incident. 

b. Other defense evidence

Lynda Gates, a defense investigator, testified that she met K.R. on November 30, 

2020, at the restaurant where K.R. worked as a waitress. Gates observed that K.R. did 

not have a limp while walking, nor did she use a cane. 

Merriam Young, a critical care registered nurse, testified as an expert in 

interpreting medical records and “explanation[s] of traumatic injuries.” In preparing for 

her testimony, Young reviewed K.R.’s medical records as well as the photographs of 

K.R.’s injuries. Young noted that, when she arrived at the hospital, K.R.’s heart rate was 

high and her blood pressure was low, both of which were triggered by blood loss. K.R. 

was given a blood transfusion to prevent her from going into shock, which would have 

impaired major organs and would potentially be fatal. According to the medical records, 

5

Johnson testified that he is six foot four inches tall whereas K.R. is either five or 

five foot one inches tall.
10

K.R. had seven cuts that were sutured but did not require surgery: a three-centimeter 

laceration near her left temple, a four-centimeter cut on the left side of her scalp, an

eight-centimeter cut on her forehead that was deeper and required more than one layer of 

sutures, a four-centimeter cut on her arm, a cut on the webbing of her left hand between 

her thumb and index finger, a 15-centimeter laceration on her left shoulder that required 

multiple layers of sutures, and a 10-centimeter cut on her left knee which also required 

more than one layer of sutures. One of the lacerations went into K.R.’s left knee and an 

orthopedic surgeon repaired her lateral-collateral ligament, lateral meniscus, as well as a 

perineal nerve. On K.R.’s right leg, the orthopedic surgeon repaired a quadriceps muscle 

that attaches to the outside of the knee and K.R.’s hamstring tendon. 

3. Prosecution rebuttal

Leslie Chiang, a trauma nurse, acted as a scribe during K.R.’s treatment in the 

emergency room at Natividad Medical Center. K.R.’s injuries when she arrived were 

potentially fatal because of the nature of the wounds and her vital signs. Chiang testified 

that if someone’s perineal nerve is severed, they would be unable to lift their foot. 

Chiang also said that a cut hamstring makes it impossible to walk and, even after the 

hamstring is repaired, a person would require extensive rehabilitation to be able to walk 

again. 

II. DISCUSSION

A. Sufficiency of the evidence supporting torture conviction

Johnson advances two arguments to support his position that the evidence 

presented at trial was insufficient to support his torture conviction. First, he argues that 

voters6intended section 206 to apply to only the most violent, heinous, and callous 

6 Section 206 was adopted by the California electorate in June 1990 as part of 

Proposition 115, also known as the “Crime Victims Justice Reform Act.” (Raven v.

Deukmejian (1990) 52 Cal.3d 336, 340.) Proposition 115’s “stated general purpose [was] 

to adopt ‘comprehensive reforms . . . needed in order to restore balance and fairness to 

(continued)
11

conduct, and that the evidence was insufficient to show that his conduct met those 

criteria. Second, Johnson argues that, even under a broader construction of section 206, 

the evidence was insufficient. We disagree with both arguments. 

1. Applicable legal principles

In considering a claim of insufficient evidence, we “review the whole record in the 

light most favorable to the judgment below to determine whether it discloses substantial 

evidence—that is, evidence which is reasonable, credible, and of solid value—such that a 

reasonable trier of fact could find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.” 

(People v. Johnson (1980) 26 Cal.3d 557, 578.) “Although it is the jury’s duty to acquit a 

defendant if it finds the circumstantial evidence susceptible of two reasonable 

interpretations, one of which suggests guilt and the other innocence, it is the jury, not the 

appellate court that must be convinced of the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable 

doubt.” (People v. Kraft (2000) 23 Cal.4th 978, 1053-1054.) “Simply put, if the 

circumstances reasonably justify the jury’s findings, the judgment may not be reversed 

simply because the circumstances might also reasonably be reconciled with a contrary 

finding.” (People v. Farnam (2002) 28 Cal.4th 107, 143 (Farnam).) 

Section 206 provides, “ ‘Every person who, with the intent to cause cruel or 

extreme pain and suffering for the purpose of revenge, extortion, persuasion, or for any 

sadistic purpose, inflicts great bodily injury as defined in Section 12022.7 upon the 

person of another, is guilty of torture. [¶] The crime of torture does not require any proof 

that the victim suffered pain.’ ” The crime of torture has two elements: “(1) a person 

inflicted great bodily injury upon the person of another, and (2) the person inflicting the 

injury did so with specific intent to cause cruel and extreme pain and suffering for the 

our criminal justice system.’ ” (Ibid.) To that end, “the measure adopt[ed] a variety of 

changes and additions to our state Constitution and statutes” (id. at p. 342), including 

section 206, which defined the crime of torture, and section 206.1, which prescribed its 

punishment. (People v. Barrera (1993) 14 Cal.App.4th 1555, 1559.) 
12

purpose of revenge, extortion, persuasion, or for any sadistic purpose.” (People v. Baker 

(2002) 98 Cal.App.4th 1217, 1223.) Evidence of intent to cause cruel or extreme pain 

and suffering, like other forms of intent, is usually circumstantial. (People v. Pre (2004) 

117 Cal.App.4th 413, 419-420 (Pre).)

“The torture offense contained in section 206 was adopted by the voters to ‘fill[] a 

gap in existing law dealing with extremely violent and callous criminal conduct.’

[Citation.] ‘[T]orture as defined in section 206 focuses on the mental state of the 

perpetrator and not the actual pain inflicted.’ ” (Pre, supra, 117 Cal.App.4th at 

pp. 419-420.) Accordingly, a defendant need not inflict “permanent, disabling, or 

disfiguring injuries” on the victim in order to violate the statute, as “ ‘[s]ection 206 only 

requires “great bodily injury as defined in Section 12022.7.” ’ ” (Id. at p. 420.) Nor does 

the statute “ ‘require any proof that the victim suffered pain.’ (§ 206.) The statutory 

requirement of an intent to inflict ‘cruel’ pain and suffering has been interpreted to 

require that the defendant had an intent to inflict extreme or severe pain.” (Ibid.)

Furthermore, unlike the intent required to convict a defendant of murder by 

torture, “section 206 does not require that the defendant act with premeditation or 

deliberation or that the defendant have an intent to inflict prolonged pain.” (Pre, supra, 

117 Cal.App.4th at p. 420.) As a result, “the brevity of the attack does not, in and of 

itself, compel a conclusion the defendant must be acquitted of torture.” (Ibid.) Likewise, 

“ ‘[s]everity of a victim’s wounds is not necessarily determinative of intent to torture’ 

since ‘[s]evere wounds may be inflicted as a result of an explosion of violence [citations] 

or an “act of animal fury” ’ rather than an intent to inflict pain for revenge, extortion, 

persuasion, or other sadistic purpose.” (Id. at pp. 420-421.)

2. Voters intended section 206 to proscribe this type of conduct

We first address Johnson’s claim that the voters, in adopting section 206, did not 

intend that the type of conduct at issue in this case would qualify as torture under the 

statute. In support of this argument, Johnson notes that section 206 was enacted in 
13

response to the fact that the defendant in People v. Singleton (1980) 112 Cal.App.3d 418, 

who had committed horrific crimes,7 was released on parole after serving only seven 

years of his total sentence of 14 years and four months. (Pre, supra, 117 Cal.App.4th at 

p. 425.) In his view, the voters intended section 206 to apply only to such heinous and 

appalling conduct, not to convert all acts of aggravated assault into torture. Johnson cites 

Justice McIntyre’s concurring and dissenting opinion in Pre, supra, 117 Cal.App.4th at 

page 426, specifically his critique that “application of [section 206] has expanded, by 

judicial accretion, to any assault in which the victim suffers ‘great bodily injury’ where 

the jury infers an intent to inflict cruel and extreme pain, regardless of whether the 

assailant’s conduct was extremely violent and callous[,] [citations]” thus subjecting a 

defendant “to a life sentence rather than a two- to four-year sentence applicable to an 

aggravated assault conviction [citation], even if the crime was not particularly heinous 

and the injuries were not particularly substantial.” (Ibid.)

“In interpreting a voter initiative . . . , we apply the same principles that govern

statutory construction. [Citation.] Thus, ‘we turn first to the language of the [initiative], 

giving the words their ordinary meaning.’ [Citation.] The [initiative’s] language must 

also be construed in the context of the statute as a whole and the [initiative’s] overall . . .

scheme.” (People v. Rizo (2000) 22 Cal.4th 681, 685.) “Absent ambiguity, we presume 

that the voters intend the meaning apparent on the face of an initiative measure [citation] 

and the court may not add to the statute or rewrite it to conform to an assumed intent that 

is not apparent in its language.” (Lesher Communications, Inc. v. City of Walnut Creek

(1990) 52 Cal.3d 531, 543.)

We agree with the majority opinion in Pre that Johnson’s argument is meritless: 

“[The] characterization [in the dissent] disregards the fact that for a torture conviction the 

7 Singleton kidnapped and brutally sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl before 

using a hatchet to cut off both her hands and push her into a culvert. (People v.

Singleton, supra, 112 Cal.App.3d at pp. 421-422.) 
14

jury must not only find the defendant inflicted great bodily injury but also that the 

defendant intended to do so for the purpose of revenge, extortion, persuasion, or some 

other sadistic purpose. This additional intent requirement distinguishes the offense of 

torture from an aggravated assault and is clearly a matter for a jury to determine.” (Pre,

supra, 117 Cal.App.4th at p. 423, italics added.) Had the voters intended to require that 

section 206 only apply to “particularly heinous” crimes and “particularly substantial” 

injuries, they could have so provided when enacting section 206. They did not. The 

plain language of the statute does not require that the prosecutor prove the defendant 

inflicted any specific injury or even that the victim suffered pain as a result. 

Consequently, Johnson’s actions in this case fall within the parameters of section 206.

3. Sufficient evidence Johnson tortured K.R.

In his second insufficiency of the evidence argument, Johnson contends there was 

insufficient evidence to show that he acted with the requisite “intent to cause cruel or 

extreme pain and suffering for the purpose of revenge, extortion, persuasion, or for any 

sadistic purpose.” (§ 206.) Johnson claims that his actions could not “lead to a 

reasonable inference that he specifically intended to inflict cruel or extreme pain and 

suffering for the purpose of revenge, extortion, persuasion, or for any sadistic purpose” 

because he “never subdued K.R. or changed the purpose of the attack to a robbery or 

other purpose[;]” and the attack “was an indiscriminate explosion of anger that lasted 

about three or four minutes.” We disagree.

As noted above, evidence of the intent to cause cruel or extreme pain and suffering 

is usually circumstantial. (Pre, supra, 117 Cal.App.4th at pp. 419-420.) “Intent is a state 

of mind. A defendant’s state of mind must, in the absence of the defendant’s own 

statements, be established by the circumstances surrounding the commission of the 

offense.” (People v. Mincey (1992) 2 Cal.4th 408, 433.) 

Johnson seeks to distinguish the facts of his case from those in People v. Hale

(1999) 75 Cal.App.4th 94, 106-107 (defendant hit victim in the head with a hammer as 
15

part of six-month campaign of terror), People v. Quintero (2006) 135 Cal.App.4th 1152,

1163 (defendant held victim’s head while deliberately carving her face), and even Pre, 

supra, 117 Cal.App.4th at pages 422 through 423 (defendant, during robbery, strangled 

victim into unconsciousness, then bit and strangled her again though she had stopped 

resisting). The facts of those cases are different from the evidence presented to the jury 

in this case, but that does not mean that this jury could not reasonably infer from that 

evidence Johnson’s intent to “cause cruel or extreme pain and suffering for the purpose of 

revenge, extortion, persuasion, or for any sadistic purpose.” (§ 206.) Having argued 

repeatedly with K.R. over the past few days regarding, among other things, her 

relationship with another man, Johnson went to her home armed with a boxcutter. In the 

911 call, the jury heard K.R. and others screaming and calling out for Johnson to stop as 

he repeatedly slashed her on the face, arms, legs, and back. The jury observed 

photographs of the injuries, several of which were deep enough to require multiple layers 

of stitches, as well as surgeries to repair damage to K.R.’s left knee, right quadriceps, 

right hamstring, and her perineal nerve. The jury also heard that K.R. had lost so much 

blood due to her wounds that she required an infusion of blood to prevent her from going 

into shock and possibly dying. Finally, the jury heard Johnson’s testimony about the 

attack and obviously did not believe he lacked the intent to torture K.R.

Johnson repeatedly notes his attack was brief, perhaps three or four minutes in 

length, but it is clear that “the brevity of the attack does not, in and of itself, compel a 

conclusion the defendant must be acquitted of torture.” (Pre, supra, 117 Cal.App.4th at 

p. 420.) 

We are also not persuaded that Johnson’s acquittal by the jury of attempted 

murder and aggravated mayhem necessarily demonstrated that he lacked the intent to 

torture K.R. As Johnson admits, those crimes require entirely different intents, i.e., an 

intent to kill or maim K.R., whereas torture requires an intent to “cause cruel or extreme 
16

pain and suffering for the purpose of revenge, extortion, persuasion, or for any sadistic 

purpose.” (§ 206.) 

Finally, the fact that Johnson drove K.R. to the hospital for treatment is not 

dispositive of his intent to torture her at the time he was slashing her repeatedly with the 

boxcutter. The jury obviously discounted Johnson’s conduct following his assault on 

K.R. in reaching its verdict, and we defer to the jury’s conclusions in assessing the import 

of those actions. (Farnam, supra, 28 Cal.4th at p. 143.)

Accordingly, we conclude sufficient evidence supports Johnson’s conviction for 

the crime of torture.

B. No error in admitting expert testimony on intimate partner violence

Johnson claims the court erred in allowing expert testimony regarding intimate 

partner violence. Specifically, Johnson contends that the expert’s testimony was both 

inadmissible under Evidence Code section 1107 and unduly prejudicial because it 

described the behavior of abusers not victims. He also argues the expert’s testimony 

constituted improper profile evidence, thereby also violating his due process rights. 

Alternatively, Johnson argues that, in the event the court concludes trial counsel 

failed to raise an appropriate objection to this testimony, his trial counsel was 

constitutionally ineffective. We disagree that the trial court erred in admitting the expert 

testimony at issue and further conclude there was no ineffective assistance of counsel.

1. Additional background

The prosecutor moved in limine to present expert testimony from Dr. Mechanic on 

victim partner abuse, specifically to explain how victims of domestic violence can act in 

ways that are contrary to how one would expect a crime victim to behave. The 

prosecutor stated she intended to elicit testimony from Dr. Mechanic that: (1) abusers’ 

behavior will sometimes change suddenly from peaceful to violent but will sometimes

come about through a gradual buildup of anger; (2) abusers often blame their victims for 
17

the violence or abuse; and (3) victims are at most risk of escalated, potentially fatal, 

violence just before, during, or in the months after separating from the abuser. Defense 

counsel objected to the first two areas of testimony on foundational grounds,8 but not the 

third.9 The trial court ruled that Dr. Mechanic could offer testimony on victims’ 

counterintuitive behavior, such as trying to protect the abuser, or an abuser suddenly 

switching from violent to loving behavior, as well as how abusers often blame the victim 

for the domestic violence and that victims are at greatest risk of elevated levels of 

violence around the time of a separation from their abuser. 

At trial, Dr. Mechanic testified that domestic violence offenders tend to switch 

quickly from being peaceful to violent, but there can also be a slow burn “where . . .

anger slowly build[s].” She further testified that it is common for offenders to be violent 

one moment and peaceful, loving, and caring the next, which is “really confusing” to the 

victim. 

Dr. Mechanic testified it is “very, very common for the victim to be blamed [by 

the abuser],” and the most lethal time in a relationship is around the period of separation. 

Abusers’ tactics vary, and do not follow a pattern of behavior; instead, the only pattern is 

the continuity of abuse over time. 

Dr. Mechanic also testified she did not know anything about the facts of the case, 

the relationship of the parties, or the charges against Johnson. The prosecutor did not ask 

her to try to correlate her generalized testimony about victim partner abuse to any of the 

specific facts involved in this case. 

8

In defense counsel’s view, the testimony lacked foundation because there was no 

evidence Johnson committed domestic violence before this incident. 

9 Defense counsel indicated that Johnson would testify that he and K.R. “had . . .

broken up in August [2018]” but “were reuniting” and living together “within two weeks 

of this incident.” Later, however, defense counsel clarified that it was objecting to “any 

of [the testimony] coming in on the basis of foundation, and that there’s not even one 

prior incident [of domestic violence] that’s going to be coming into evidence.” 
18

Immediately following Dr. Mechanic’s testimony, and again at the close of 

evidence, the court instructed the jury that Dr. Mechanic’s testimony was not evidence 

that Johnson committed any of the charged crimes, and that the jury could consider her 

testimony only to determine if K.R.’s conduct was inconsistent with the conduct of 

someone who has been abused. 

2. Applicable legal principles

Evidence Code section 1107 specifically addresses expert testimony on intimate 

partner battering: “In a criminal action, expert testimony is admissible by either the 

prosecution or the defense regarding intimate partner battering and its effects, including 

the nature and effect of physical, emotional, or mental abuse on the beliefs, perceptions, 

or behavior of victims of domestic violence, except when offered against a criminal 

defendant to prove the occurrence of the act or acts of abuse which form the basis of the 

criminal charge.” (Id., at subd. (a).) Subdivision (b) of that section further provides, in 

part: “The foundation shall be sufficient for admission of this expert testimony if the 

proponent of the evidence establishes its relevancy and the proper qualifications of the

expert witness.”

A trial court’s admission of expert testimony should not be reversed “absent a 

clear showing of an abuse of discretion.” (People v. Johnson (1993) 19 Cal.App.4th 778, 

790.) Similarly, “[t]he qualification of expert witnesses, including foundational 

requirements, rests in the sound discretion of the trial court. [Citations.] That discretion 

is necessarily broad: ‘The competency of an expert “is in every case a relative one, i.e.,

relative to the topic about which the person is asked to make his statement.” [Citation.]’ 

[Citation.] Absent a manifest abuse, the court’s determination will not be disturbed on 

appeal.” (People v. Ramos (1997) 15 Cal.4th 1133, 1175 (Ramos).) 

Testimony from an expert or witness which could otherwise be considered a 

criminal “profile” requires additional consideration by the trial court. “A profile 

ordinarily constitutes a set of circumstances—some innocuous—characteristic of certain 
19

crimes or criminals, said to comprise a typical pattern of behavior. In profile testimony, 

the expert compares the behavior of the defendant to the pattern or profile and concludes 

the defendant fits the profile.” (People v. Prince (2007) 40 Cal.4th 1179, 1226.) 

“[P]rofile evidence does not describe a category of always-excluded evidence; rather, the 

evidence ordinarily is inadmissible ‘only if it is either irrelevant, lacks a foundation, or is 

more prejudicial than probative.’ [Citation.] In sum, ‘[p]rofile evidence is objectionable 

when it is insufficiently probative because the conduct or matter that fits the profile is as 

consistent with innocence as guilt.’ ” (Ibid.) “By contrast, background testimony is not 

‘profile’ evidence and does not specifically address the guilt or innocence of the 

defendant. Instead, it enables the jury to understand other evidence that does address 

guilt or innocence.” (People v. Lopez (1994) 21 Cal.App.4th 1551, 1556.) For example, 

evidence that there is no commonality among offenders is not profile evidence and is 

therefore admissible. (People v. Robbie (2001) 92 Cal.App.4th 1075, 1089 (Robbie).)

“The court in its discretion may exclude evidence if its probative value is 

substantially outweighed by the probability that its admission will (a) necessitate undue 

consumption of time or (b) create substantial danger of undue prejudice, of confusing the 

issues, or of misleading the jury.” (Evid. Code, § 352.) A trial court has broad discretion 

in determining whether to admit or exclude evidence under this section (Ramos, supra, 

15 Cal.4th at p. 1170), and a court’s rulings under Evidence Code section 352 will not be 

overturned absent an abuse of that discretion. (People v. Minifie (1996) 13 Cal.4th 1055, 

1070.)

Any error in admitting expert testimony is evaluated for prejudice under Watson10

and will be reversed only where it is “ ‘reasonably probable that a result more favorable 

to the appealing party would have been reached in the absence of the error.’ ” (People v. 

Prieto (2003) 30 Cal.4th 226, 247 (Prieto).)

10 People v. Watson (1956) 46 Cal.2d 818.
20

3. The expert testimony was admissible

Johnson claims that Dr. Mechanic’s testimony was inadmissible profile evidence. 

In his view, the evidence was offered to show how an abuser acted, rather than to explain 

a victim’s counterintuitive behavior. We disagree. 

In sum, there are three areas of intimate partner violence that Dr. Mechanic 

discussed in her testimony: (1) abusers often blame the victim for the violence and 

abuse; (2) abusers can quickly shift from physical violence and emotional abuse to 

demonstrating love and affection, which confuses the victim; and (3) the most dangerous 

time for a victim is the period surrounding a victim’s attempt to separate from the 

relationship. Dr. Mechanic’s testimony about these concepts did not constitute profile 

evidence. Instead, this testimony helped the jury understand why a victim might stay 

with or even try to protect an abuser, rather than leave them or ensure their prosecution. 

Johnson relies principally on Robbie, supra, 92 Cal.App.4th 1075, but that case is 

distinguishable. In Robbie, the expert witness was offered to testify “ ‘in the area of the 

behaviors and conduct of persons who commit sexual assaults.’ ” (Id. at p. 1082.) 

According to the expert, the defendant’s behavior, as described by the prosecutor’s 

hypotheticals which closely matched the facts of the case, was the “ ‘most prevalent type 

of behavior that I’ve seen with sex offenders.’ ” (Id. at p. 1084.)

The Robbie court concluded that this testimony was improper “inherently 

prejudicial” profile evidence “because it requires the jury to accept an erroneous starting 

point in its consideration of the evidence.” (Robbie, supra, 92 Cal.App.4th at p. 1085.) 

The expert “was asked hypothetical questions assuming certain behavior that had been 

attributed to the defendant and was allowed to opine that it was the most prevalent kind 

of sex offender conduct. The jury was invited to conclude that if defendant engaged in 

the conduct described, he was indeed a sex offender.” (Ibid.) 

Here, in contrast, the prosecutor did not ask Dr. Mechanic any hypothetical 

questions which would demonstrate that Johnson matched the profile of someone who 
21

engages in intimate partner violence. The testimony was not impermissible profile 

evidence as it “was not offered to establish a stereotype, then condemn the defendant for 

fitting it.” (Robbie, supra, 92 Cal.App.4th at p. 1087.) 

People v. Yang (2021) 67 Cal.App.5th 1, is also distinguishable. In that case, the 

court found that the trial court erred in two ways: (1) permitting expert testimony 

regarding postpartum depression and psychosis as evidence of defendant’s guilt when 

defendant had not been diagnosed with a postpartum mental condition; and (2) allowing 

the prosecution to use defendant’s privileged psychotherapy records. (Id. at p. 51.) The 

court reversed the judgment due to the cumulative nature of these errors. (Ibid.) 

Here, Dr. Mechanic’s testimony about intimate partner violence was supported by 

the underlying facts and at no time did the prosecution ask Dr. Mechanic to connect the 

specifics of the case with her testimony. Unlike in Yang, Dr. Mechanic’s testimony 

provided appropriate contextual information to assist the jurors in understanding the 

evidentiary record. The expert’s testimony would have assisted the jury in understanding 

how Johnson could repeatedly ignore K.R.’s screams to stop, but then drive her to the 

hospital for treatment, as well as explain why K.R. would tell Johnson to run instead of 

surrendering to police. Accordingly, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in 

admitting the expert testimony on intimate partner violence. 

Even assuming the trial court erred in admitting this evidence, however, the error 

was not prejudicial. The evidence of torture was overwhelming, as the jury heard the 

testimony describing the multiple injuries Johnson inflicted on K.R., saw the photos of 

those injuries taken at the hospital, and heard the 911 call, as well as Johnson’s recorded 

jail call to his mother describing his motivation for the attack. Johnson admitted that he 

inflicted great bodily injury on K.R. in an act of domestic violence. Under these 

circumstances, it is not reasonably probable that Johnson would have achieved a more 

favorable result in the absence of Dr. Mechanic’s testimony. (Prieto, supra, 30 Cal.4th at 

p. 247.)
22

4. No due process violation

Johnson’s due process argument, i.e., that admitting Dr. Mechanic’s testimony 

permitted the jury to draw an unreasonable inference as to his guilt, is similarly flawed. 

In Johnson’s view, the jury was led to believe that because he shared characteristics of 

abusers, as described by Dr. Mechanic, he was more likely to be guilty of the charged 

offenses, again citing Robbie and Yang. Because, as he claims, the error violated his 

constitutional rights, we must therefore apply the harmless-beyond-a-reasonable-doubt 

standard articulated in Chapman v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 18, 24 (Chapman). We 

disagree.

“The introduction of improper evidence against a defendant does not amount to a

violation of due process unless the evidence ‘is so extremely unfair that its admission 

violates “fundamental conceptions of justice.” ’ ” (Dowling v. United States (1990) 493 

U.S. 342, 352.) For the erroneous admission of evidence to amount to a denial of due

process, the evidence must have been “ ‘ “sufficiently material to provide the basis for 

conviction or to remove a reasonable doubt that would have existed on the record without 

it.” ’ ” (People v. Dryden (2021) 60 Cal.App.5th 1007, 1025-1026.) Dr. Mechanic’s 

testimony does not meet that standard and Johnson’s due process rights were not violated 

by its admission.

As discussed above, Robbie and Yang are distinguishable. Dr. Mechanic testified, 

in general terms, about intimate partner violence, but she did not know any of the 

particulars of this case. More importantly, Dr. Mechanic was not presented with 

hypothetical questions mirroring the facts of Johnson’s assault on K.R. and asked to 

opine on whether those facts meant that Johnson had the intent to torture, kill, or maim 
23

K.R. During his testimony, Johnson admitted inflicting great bodily injury on K.R. while 

committing domestic violence and offered his own version of what took place that day.

11

In addition, the jury was twice instructed that it could only consider Dr. 

Mechanic’s testimony to determine if K.R.’s behavior was inconsistent with that of a 

victim of abuse, not as evidence Johnson committed any of the charged offenses. 

Because we are not presented with indications otherwise, we presume the jury heeded the

trial court’s instructions. (People v. Thomas (2011) 51 Cal.4th 449, 487.) That 

presumption is bolstered by the fact that the jury found Johnson not guilty on four12 out 

of the nine charged offenses. As discussed above, the trial court did not abuse its 

discretion in admitting Dr. Mechanic’s testimony, but even if it had, the error was 

harmless under the applicable Watson standard. 

5. No ineffective assistance of counsel

We have addressed Johnson’s arguments that the trial court erred in admitting Dr. 

Mechanic’s testimony, without regard to whether trial counsel did or did not interpose an 

appropriate objection to that testimony. As a result, we need not reach his alternative 

argument that trial counsel was ineffective. However, even if we were to consider that 

argument, we conclude it has no merit. 

To demonstrate ineffective assistance of counsel, Johnson must first show trial 

counsel’s performance was deficient because it fell below an objective standard of 

reasonableness under prevailing professional norms. (Strickland v. Washington (1984) 

11 Johnson contends there was evidence supporting his testimony that he did not 

realize he had cut K.R. until blood was finally visible, stating that K.R. “did not think she 

needed medical care,” and he had to “convince her to go to the hospital.” The jury, 

which heard the 911 call and observed Johnson’s testimony, obviously found his 

testimony to be lacking in credibility and rejected his version of what took place.

12 As a reminder, the jury found Johnson not guilty of attempted murder (count 1), 

aggravated mayhem (count 2), attempted kidnapping (count 4), and first degree burglary 

(count 7), though it found him guilty of lesser-included offenses of simple mayhem 

(count 2) and attempted false imprisonment (count 4). 
24

466 U.S. 668, 687-688.) Second, he must show prejudice flowing from counsel’s 

performance or lack thereof. (Id. at pp. 691-692.) “Prejudice exists where there is a 

reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s errors, the result of the proceeding would 

have been different.” (People v. Benavides (2005) 35 Cal.4th 69, 92-93, citing 

Strickland, supra, at pp. 687-688, 693-694.) “On direct appeal, a conviction will be 

reversed for ineffective assistance only if (1) the record affirmatively discloses counsel 

had no rational tactical purpose for the challenged act or omission, (2) counsel was asked 

for a reason and failed to provide one, or (3) there simply could be no satisfactory 

explanation.” (People v. Mai (2013) 57 Cal.4th 986, 1009.) It is the defendant’s burden 

on appeal to show by a preponderance of the evidence that he was denied effective 

assistance of counsel and is entitled to relief. (People v. Dowdell (2014) 227 Cal.App.4th 

1388.)

As discussed above, the trial court did not err in admitting Dr. Mechanic’s 

testimony on intimate partner violence. “ ‘Counsel may not be deemed incompetent for 

failure to make meritless objections.’ ” (People v. Lucero (2000) 23 Cal.4th 692, 732.)

C. No instructional error

Johnson next argues the court erred in instructing the jury on torture with 

CALCRIM No. 810 as it failed to also instruct the jury with specific definitions for 

“extortion” and “sadistic purpose” and thus the jury could have returned a guilty verdict 

on this count based on an incorrect legal theory. We disagree.

1. Additional background

In discussing jury instructions, the parties agreed that they did not want to include 

bracketed portions of CALCRIM No. 810 discussing extortion or sadistic purpose. The 

court omitted the bracketed language,13 but read the standard version of the instruction 

13 Specifically, the court omitted the following language: “[Someone acts for 

purpose of extortion if he or she intends to (1) obtain a person’s property with the 

(continued)
25

which informed the jury that, in order to find Johnson guilty of torture, “the People must 

prove that: [¶] 1. The defendant inflicted great bodily injury on someone else; [¶] AND 

[¶] 2. When inflicting the injury, the defendant intended to cause cruel or extreme pain 

and suffering for the purpose of revenge, extortion, persuasion, or for any sadistic 

purpose.” (CALCRIM No. 810.) The court did not provide separate definitions for the 

terms “revenge,” “extortion,” “persuasion,” or “sadistic purpose.”

During opening argument, the prosecutor argued that Johnson attacked K.R. in 

revenge for her relationship with another man, as well as to persuade her to come with 

him. The prosecutor described K.R.’s injuries before turning to Johnson’s motivation, 

saying “he’s vengeful that she’s moved on . . . that she’s dating another man. He’s pretty 

clearly angry at that. . . . He’s inflicting great bodily injury on her because of that 

revenge. [¶] [Or] persuasion. It could be revenge or persuasion. She says no multiple 

times. ‘No. I don’t want to go with you. I don’t want to go with you.’ What does he 

do? He cuts her legs one by one, left and right, right and left. . . . The nerves, 

everything. . . . And all you need is revenge or persuasion for element number two for 

the crime of torture.” 

Defense counsel’s final argument on torture was that there was no evidence that 

Johnson acted out of revenge or to persuade K.R. 

In rebuttal argument, the prosecutor again described the severity of K.R.’s injuries 

before arguing that Johnson attacked her with the “intent to permanently disfigure her, 

deprive her of her ability to walk, use her legs. [¶] And it’s also his intent to torture her. 

Because the whole reason he did this is because he wanted to inflict revenge on her. He 

person’s consent and (2) obtain the person’s consent through the use of force or fear.] 

[Someone acts for the purpose of extortion if he or she (1) intends to get a public official 

to do an official act and (2) uses force or fear to make the official do the act. An official 

act is an act that an officer does in his or her official capacity using the authority of his or 

her public office.] [Someone acts with a sadistic purpose if he or she intends to inflict 

pain on someone else in order to experience pleasure himself or herself.]” (CALCRIM 

No. 810.)
26

came into the house being mad at her, angry at her because she’s hooked up with another 

guy. And after multiple attempts to take her with him, when she kept saying no, no. 

Persuasion. Cuts up her legs. Not just one leg, both the legs.” 

Neither defense counsel nor the prosecutor argued to the jury that Johnson tortured 

K.R. either to extort her or for a sadistic purpose. 

2. Applicable legal principles

The trial court must instruct on general principles of law relevant to the issues 

raised by the evidence. (People v. Beardslee (1991) 53 Cal.3d 68, 87.) Insofar as a 

challenged instruction engendered any ambiguity, “we inquire whether there is a 

reasonable likelihood that the jury misunderstood and misapplied the instruction.” 

(People v. Smithey (1999) 20 Cal.4th 936, 963.) We view the challenged instruction “in 

the context of the instructions as a whole and the trial record.” (Estelle v. McGuire

(1991) 502 U.S. 62, 72.) We also “consider the arguments of counsel in assessing the 

probable impact of the instruction on the jury.” (People v. Young (2005) 34 Cal.4th 

1149, 1202.)

3. No sua sponte duty to define “extortion” or “sadistic purpose”

We first address Johnson’s argument that the trial court had a sua sponte duty to 

define “sadistic purpose” when instructing the jury on torture. The California Supreme 

Court noted that “sadistic purpose” “is a term in common usage, having a relatively 

precise meaning” and that “ ‘there is no need to instruct a jury on the meaning of terms in 

common usage, which are presumed to be within the understanding of persons of 

ordinary intelligence.’ (People v. Ordonez (1991) 226 Cal.App.3d 1207, 1229-1230.)” 

(People v. Raley (1992) 2 Cal.4th 870, 901 (Raley).) As a result, the court’s failure to 

provide the jury with a definition14 of “sadistic purpose” was not error. 

14 As the California Supreme Court noted, even if the jury had requested a legal 

definition of “sadistic purpose,” the trial court has no duty to provide one because “there 

is no legal definition of the term.” (Raley, supra, 2 Cal.4th at p. 901.)
27

As for “extortion,” we do not agree that the trial court was obligated to define this 

term either. Like “sadistic purposes,” the term “extortion” is in common usage. (See 

People v. Barrera, supra, 14 Cal.App.4th at p. 1564 [noting that “ ‘sadistic purpose’ and 

‘extortion’ have consistently been used in this state in the area of torture murder without 

further definition being required”].) 

Johnson relies on People v. Hill (1983) 141 Cal.App.3d 661 in which the court 

found error in failing to define extortion in connection with a kidnapping offense, but that 

case is distinguishable. In Hill, the trial court instructed the jury on kidnapping for the 

purpose of robbery and kidnapping for the purpose of ransom or extortion without 

separately defining ransom or extortion. (Id. at p. 667.) On review, the court concluded 

that the overlapping instructions could have misled the jury into thinking that kidnap for 

robbery was the equivalent as kidnap for extortion. (Id. at p. 668.) In addition, the court 

also noted that, while the term “extortion” “may be understood in a general sense, 

extortion as used in [kidnapping] has a technical meaning peculiar to the law[,] [and] 

[t]he court should have instructed on the legal definition of extortion.” (Ibid.) 

In People v. Ordonez, supra, 226 Cal.App.3d 1207 (Ordonez), the court did not 

provide the jury with a definition of extortion, even though the defendant was charged 

with felony murder with the underlying offense being kidnapping for ransom or 

extortion. On appeal, the court distinguished Hill on two grounds: (1) the prosecutor’s 

argument at trial was based only on kidnapping for ransom thus the jury would not have 

been misled into convicting on the theory of kidnapping for extortion; and (2) the term 

extortion as used in the kidnapping statute (§ 209) has a particular meaning different from 

its common understanding. (Ordonez, supra, at pp. 1229-1230.)

In this case, like Ordonez, the prosecutor did not rely on “extortion” (or “sadistic 

purpose” for that matter) in asking the jury to conclude that Johnson tortured K.R. The 

only purposes argued to the jury were revenge and persuasion. There is no reasonable 
28

possibility that the jury could have found Johnson’s intent to injure K.R. was for 

extortion or sadistic purpose. 

The record shows that the trial court afforded defense counsel ample opportunity 

to make suggestions or request modifications to the proposed instructions. The jury was 

properly instructed pursuant to CALCRIM No. 810 pursuant to the consent of both 

parties; by failing to request an instruction further defining or clarifying the meaning of 

“extortion” or “sadistic purpose,” Johnson has waived this issue for the purposes of 

appeal. (People v. Hardy (1992) 2 Cal.4th 86, 153; People v. Barillas (1996) 49 

Cal.App.4th 1012, 1023.)

The trial court did not have a sua sponte duty to define the terms “extortion” or 

“sadistic purpose” for the jury, any more than it had a duty to define “revenge” or 

“persuasion” because “there is no need to instruct a jury on the meaning of terms in 

common usage, which are presumed to be within the understanding of persons of 

ordinary intelligence.” (Ordonez, supra, 226 Cal.App.3d at pp. 1229-1230.)

4. No reasonable possibility the jury was confused

Johnson also contends that the torture conviction must be reversed because the 

torture instruction permitted the jury to find him guilty based on an invalid theory. 

Where the court provides a legally correct instruction, but one with no application to the

facts of the case, the error is one of state law subject to review under People v. Watson,

supra, 46 Cal.2d at page 836. (People v. Guiton (1993) 4 Cal.4th 1116, 1129-1130.) 

While “extortion” and “sadistic purpose” were listed in CALCRIM No. 810, there were 

no facts presented that would have supported either of those purposes, and the prosecutor 

only argued that Johnson tortured K.R. for the purpose of revenge, persuasion, or both. 

As we have discussed above, there is no reasonable possibility the jury was confused by 

the lack of definitions for “extortion” or “sadistic purpose.” 
29

5. No ineffective assistance of counsel

Johnson argues, in the alternative, that if the court lacked a sua sponte duty to 

provide definitions of “extortion” and “sadistic purpose,” then his trial counsel was 

constitutionally ineffective for failing to request those definitions or to ensure that those 

terms were excised from CALCRIM No. 810. As discussed above, those definitions 

were not necessary, and there was no reasonable possibility that Johnson was convicted 

on either theory. Accordingly, counsel did not provide ineffective assistance in this 

regard.

D. No cumulative error

Johnson next contends that the cumulative effect of the purported errors discussed 

above warrants reversal of the judgment. As we have found no individual error, we reject 

his cumulative error argument.

E. Section 245, subdivision (a)(1) and (4), describe the same offense

Johnson argues that he cannot be convicted of assault with force likely to cause 

great bodily injury in violation of section 245, subdivision (a)(4) (count 6) and assault 

with a deadly weapon in violation of section 245, subdivision (a)(1) (count 9) because the 

two subdivisions describe the same offense. The Attorney General agrees, noting that the 

California Supreme Court decided this question in Johnson’s favor in People v. Aguayo

(2022) 13 Cal.5th 974 (Aguayo).15

In Aguayo, the California Supreme Court concluded that subdivision (a)(1) and 

subdivision (a)(4) of section 245 are different statements of the same offense, and that 

one cannot be convicted of both offenses based on the same act or course of conduct. 

(Aguayo, supra, 13 Cal.5th at p. 993.) 

Accordingly, we will remand the matter for the limited purpose of resentencing. 

We express no opinion as to whether the trial court, on remand, should strike the 

15 In his opening brief, Johnson noted that Aguayo was pending before the 

California Supreme Court. 
30

conviction for assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury (count 6), the 

conviction for assault with a deadly weapon (count 9), or consolidate the two convictions. 

(Aguayo, supra, 13 Cal.5th at p. 996.)

F. Aggravating factors were established beyond a reasonable doubt

After Johnson was sentenced, the Legislature amended section 1170 to allow an 

aggravated prison term to be imposed only if the aggravating factors supporting it are 

admitted by the defendant or found true by a jury. (Sen. Bill No. 567 (2020-2021 Reg. 

Sess.); Stats. 2021, ch. 731, § 1.3.) As an ameliorative change, that legislation applies 

retroactively to this case that is not yet final on appeal. (In re Estrada (1965) 63 Cal.2d 

740, 747.) Johnson argues that, under the new standards, the court could not impose an

upper term sentence on any of the substantive offenses or enhancements because he did 

not admit any of the aggravating facts relied on by the court nor did a jury find them true. 

While the parties agree that the amendments to section 1170 have retroactive 

application, they disagree on the question of prejudice. We conclude that, under the 

circumstances of this case, a jury would have found at least two of the aggravating factors 

to be true and it is not reasonably likely the trial court would not have imposed upper 

term sentences. 

The published opinions are in conflict on the standard to be applied when the court 

relies on multiple factors, some of which were not found by the jury or stipulated to by 

the defendant.16 (Compare People v. Flores (2022) 75 Cal.App.5th 495, 500 [remand not 

required if appellate court concludes beyond a reasonable doubt that a jury would have 

found at least one aggravating factor true] with People v. Lopez (2022) 78 Cal.App.5th 

459, 466 (Lopez) [all aggravating factors must have been found true beyond a reasonable 

doubt; if only some factors would have been found true, it must be reasonably probable 

the same sentence would have been imposed based on those] and People v. Dunn (2022) 

16 The issue is currently pending before our Supreme Court. (See People v. Lynch

(May 27, 2022, C094174) [nonpub. opn.], review granted Aug. 10, 2022, S274942.)
31

81 Cal.App.5th 394 (Dunn), review granted Oct. 12, 2022, S275655 [if at least one 

aggravating factor would have been found true beyond a reasonable doubt and it is 

reasonably probable any remaining aggravating factors relied on in imposing sentence 

would have been found true, assess likelihood of same sentence being imposed absent 

factors not meeting that standard].) (Dunn, supra, at p. 410.) 

Johnson contends that we should apply the two-pronged test set forth in Lopez. At 

the first step of the Lopez analysis, the court, applying the standard set forth in Chapman,

supra, 386 U.S. 18, decides whether “to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that a jury 

would have found true beyond a reasonable doubt every factor on which the court relied, 

because the amended statute requires that every factor on which a court intends to rely in 

imposing an upper term, with the exception of factors related to a defendant’s prior 

conviction(s), have been admitted by the defendant or proven to a jury.” (Lopez, supra, 

78 Cal.App.5th at p. 466.) If so, then the error is not prejudicial. (Ibid.) If not, then the 

analysis proceeds to the second step, where “a reviewing court can be certain, to the 

degree required by People v. Watson[, supra, 46 Cal.2d at page 836], that the trial court 

would nevertheless have exercised its discretion to select the upper term if it had 

recognized that it could permissibly rely on only” those aggravating factors that it could 

consider, “rather than all of the factors on which it previously relied.” (Id. at p. 467, 

fn. 11.) If not, “then it is clear that remand to the trial court for resentencing is 

necessary.” (Ibid.)

The Attorney General contends that we should apply the test from Dunn, which 

described the standard for assessing prejudice as follows: “The reviewing court 

determines (1)(a) beyond a reasonable doubt whether the jury would have found one 

aggravating circumstance true beyond a reasonable doubt and (1)(b) whether there is a

reasonable probability that the jury would have found any remaining aggravating 

circumstance(s) true beyond a reasonable doubt. If all aggravating circumstances relied 

upon by the trial court would have been proved to the respective standards, any error was 
32

harmless. If not, the reviewing court moves to the second step of Lopez, (2) whether 

there is a reasonable probability that the trial court would have imposed a sentence other 

than the upper term in light of the aggravating circumstances provable from the record as 

determined in the prior steps. If the answer is no, the error was harmless. If the answer is 

yes, the reviewing court vacates the sentence and remands for resentencing.” (Dunn, 

supra, 81 Cal.App.5th at pp. 409-410, fn. omitted.)

Lopez requires the reviewing court to evaluate every factor on which the court 

relied, and we read Dunn to require at least one aggravating factor that the trial court 

actually relied upon to withstand Chapman scrutiny. (See Lopez, supra, 78 Cal.App.5th 

at p. 466; Dunn, supra, 81 Cal.App.5th at pp. 409-410.) We need not decide which of 

these approaches to employ because it is clear that, even under the more stringent 

standard set forth in Lopez, Johnson cannot show prejudice. 

At sentencing, the trial court found no mitigating circumstances and four 

aggravating circumstances, specifically: “[](1) The crime involved great violence, great 

bodily harm and other acts disclosing a high degree of cruelty, viciousness, and 

callousness. [¶] [](2) The defendant used a weapon at the time of the offense. [¶] 

[] (3) The victim was particularly vulnerable. [¶] . . . [¶] [(4)] The defendant has engaged 

in violent conduct that indicates a serious danger to society.” 

There can be no question a jury would have found true at least two of these four 

factors. First, Johnson admitted he used a weapon, i.e., a boxcutter, in committing the 

offense. Second, Johnson admitted he inflicted great bodily injury on K.R., and because 

the jury found him guilty of torture, there can be no question that it would have found 

true the first aggravating factor as well, i.e., that the crime involved great bodily harm 

“disclosing a high degree of cruelty, viciousness, and callousness.” 

Assuming that the trial court had been limited to considering only those two 

aggravating factors in sentencing, it is not reasonably probable that it would have selected 

anything other than the upper term. The trial court made clear that it believed Johnson’s 
33

conduct to be especially reprehensible, commenting that, in the course of her career as 

both a judge and a criminal attorney, she had never seen worse non-fatal injuries inflicted 

on a victim. Where the record “ ‘clearly indicate[s]’ that the trial court would have 

reached the same conclusion ‘even if it had been aware that it had such discretion[,]’ 

[citation] [¶] . . . remand would be an idle act.” (People v. Flores (2020) 9 Cal.5th 371,

432.)

As a result, there is no basis for resentencing Johnson pursuant to section 1170, as 

amended by Senate Bill No. 567.

G. Section 654

Johnson next contends that the court erred in failing to apply section 654 to stay 

the terms on his convictions for attempted false imprisonment (count 4), domestic 

violence (count 5), the great bodily injury enhancement attached to count 5, and 

misdemeanor child endangerment (count 8). He further argues that the matter must be 

remanded for resentencing pursuant to the recent amendment to section 654 made by 

Assembly Bill No. 518. (Stats. 2021, ch. 441, § 1.)

1. Additional background

At the sentencing hearing, the court addressed the incident, stating that Johnson 

had different objectives during the attack and had “multiple times to reflect and stop, but 

he didn’t.” In the trial court’s view “there were some clear cut separations in the assaults 

and cutting that was happening.” Towards the end of the assault, where it “appears the 

injuries to the legs occurred, based on the 911 call[,] . . . the objective and intent did 

change.” Specifically, where Johnson tried to have K.R. leave with him, “that objective 

changes to really inflicting the extreme suffering and pain that is part of the torture act.” 

The trial court concluded that “the evidence here showed that it was divisible. There 

were multiple times where [] Johnson could have stopped and walked away, and he chose 

to, again, resume the assaultive conduct, and at one point then becoming the intent, 

specific intent necessary for the torture count. [¶] I don’t find here that all the discreet 
34

acts were part of a course of conduct in which the torture was based.” The court also 

expressly stated that it found “different objectives and intent” with respect to the child 

endangerment charge. 

The court concluded that Johnson’s intent changed to inflicting the “extreme 

suffering and pain that is part of the torture act.” In discussing the aggravating factors, 

the court also noted that K.R.’s injuries were “the worst [she had] ever seen” on a victim 

who lived and that included her time as both a judge and practicing criminal law attorney. 

The court stated that Johnson did not appear to be genuinely remorseful, and “the crime 

involved great violence, great bodily harm, and other acts disclosing a high degree of 

cruelty, viciousness, and callousness.” 

2. Applicable legal principles

At the time of Johnson’s sentencing, section 654 provided as follows: “[a]n act or 

omission that is punishable in different ways by different provisions of law shall be 

punished under the provision that provides for the longest potential term of 

imprisonment, but in no case shall the act or omission be punished under more than one 

provision.” (Former § 654, subd. (a).) The statute “precludes multiple punishments for a 

single act or indivisible course of conduct.” (People v. Hester (2000) 22 Cal.4th 290,

294.) “Whether a course of criminal conduct is divisible and therefore gives rise to more 

than one act within the meaning of section 654 depends on the intent and objective of the 

actor. If all of the offenses were incident to one objective, the defendant may be 

punished for any one of such offenses but not for more than one.” (Neal v. State of 

California (1960) 55 Cal.2d 11, 19, disapproved on other ground in People v. Correa

(2012) 54 Cal.4th 331, 334.)

“Whether section 654 applies in a given case is a question of fact for the trial 

court, which is vested with broad latitude in making its determination. [Citations.] Its 

findings will not be reversed on appeal if there is any substantial evidence to support 

them.” (People v. Jones (2002) 103 Cal.App.4th 1139, 1143.) “The court’s findings may 
35

be either express or implied from the court’s ruling. [Citation.] In the absence of any 

reference to . . . section 654 during sentencing, the fact that the court did not stay the 

sentence on any count is generally deemed to reflect an implicit determination that each 

crime had a separate objective.” (People v. Tarris (2009) 180 Cal.App.4th 612, 626.)

The implied finding “must be sustained on appeal if supported by substantial evidence.” 

(People v. Osband (1996) 13 Cal.4th 622, 730 (Osband).) In applying this standard, we 

“review the trial court’s determination in the light most favorable to the respondent and 

presume the existence of every fact the trial court could reasonably deduce from the 

evidence.” (Jones, supra, at p. 1143.)

3. The trial court would not impose a lower term even had it the 

discretion to do so

Johnson argues that we must remand his case for resentencing based on recent 

change to section 654 made by Assembly Bill No. 518. Effective January 1, 2022, 

section 654 was amended by Assembly Bill No. 518. (Stats. 2021, ch. 441, § 1.) As

amended, section 654, subdivision (a), provides in relevant part, “An act or omission that 

is punishable in different ways by different provisions of law may be punished under 

either of such provisions, but in no case shall the act or omission be punished under more 

than one provision.” (Italics added.) Previously, where section 654 applied, the 

sentencing court was required to impose the term that “provides for the longest potential 

term of imprisonment” and stay execution of the other term. (§ 654, former subd. (a).)

The Attorney General concedes that the legislative changes to section 654 apply to 

Johnson because his judgment is not yet final. We agree. (See People v. Mani (2022) 74 

Cal.App.5th 343, 379; People v. Sek (2022) 74 Cal.App.5th 657, 673.) However, the 

Attorney General does not agree that this case should be remanded for resentencing under 

the amended version of section 654 because the court’s comments at the sentencing 

hearing made clear that it would impose the higher term for torture even if it had the 

discretion to impose the lower terms.
36

We agree with the Attorney General that the record “ ‘clearly indicate[s]’ ” that 

the trial court necessarily would have sentenced Johnson the way it did even had it 

possessed the discretion afforded by amended section 654. (People v. Gutierrez (2014) 

58 Cal.4th 1354, 1391; see also People v. Jones (2019) 32 Cal.App.5th 267, 273.) Again, 

the court expressly noted the horrific nature of K.R.’s injuries were “the worst [she had] 

ever seen” on a victim who lived and that included her time as both a judge and 

practicing criminal law attorney. The photographs of those injuries, which are part of the 

record, substantiate the trial court’s assessment. Accordingly, we will turn to Johnson’s 

claims that the trial court erred in failing to stay the terms on counts 4, 5 (including the 

enhancement), and 8.

4. No error in declining to stay domestic violence term

Johnson asserts that the trial court should have stayed the term on his domestic 

violence conviction because it was continuous to the torture offense and both offenses 

were committed with the same intent and close in time. In support of his argument, 

Johnson relies principally on People v. Mitchell (2016) 4 Cal.App.5th 349 (Mitchell) and 

People v. Mejia (2017) 9 Cal.App.5th 1036 (Mejia). We disagree.

In assessing whether section 654 applies, the court may consider a number of 

factors, including whether the defendant had multiple sequential intents, as well as 

whether he had the opportunity to pause and reflect before continuing his course of 

action. (People v. Surdi (1995) 35 Cal.App.4th 685, 689; People v. Trotter (1992) 7 

Cal.App.4th 363, 368.) At the sentencing hearing, the court determined that Johnson’s 

intent changed during the attack, morphing from an intent to simply injure his partner to 

an intent to torture her for her having a relationship with another man or for failing to 

leave with him or both. Drawing all inferences in favor of the court’s finding on this 

matter, we conclude there is substantial evidence to support its decision. (People v. 

Jones, supra, 103 Cal.App.4th at p. 1143.) The recording of the 911 call indicates that 

Johnson had multiple opportunities to reflect on what he was doing, but he continued to 
37

slash K.R. in spite of her screams and in spite of the entreaties from others in the home, 

including his child, to stop. We are not persuaded that Mitchell or Mejia, supra, 9 

Cal.App.5th 1036 dictate a different result. The defendant in Mitchell, armed with a pair 

of scissors, entered a store and assaulted the clerk before grabbing two boxes of chips as 

he left. (Mitchell, supra, 4 Cal.App.5th at p. 352.) The court concluded that the 

defendant’s “armed assault with scissors was incidental to and facilitated the armed 

robbery with scissors” and thus section 654 precluded separate punishment for the assault 

and the robbery. (Mitchell, supra, at p. 353.) The basis for the court’s decision was that 

it determined the defendant did not harbor or form separate intents, and it expressly 

distinguished cases in which section 654 would not apply, such as where a “defendant 

commits two crimes . . . in pursuit of two independent objectives, even if they are 

simultaneous.” (Mitchell, supra, at p. 354.)

In Mejia, after the defendant was convicted of torture, spousal rape, and infliction 

of corporal injury on a spouse, the court held that section 654 barred separate punishment 

for the rape and infliction of corporal injury offenses. (Mejia, supra, 9 Cal.App.5th at 

p. 1045.) Because the “prosecution relied upon each act of spousal rape and each act of 

infliction of corporal injury on a spouse as the intentional acts underlying the torture 

conviction,” it made no difference whether the defendant had a single objective or 

multiple objectives. (Ibid.) However, the Mejia court acknowledged that a determination 

“[w]hether a particular offense is part of a course of conduct for purposes of section 654 

is a question of fact.” (Ibid.) 

Here, in contrast, the court expressly discussed application of section 654 and 

found that Johnson had separate intents during his assault on K.R., and his initial conduct 

was not essential to the torture count nor did the prosecution rely on that to establish the 

elements of torture.

The California Supreme Court has upheld separate punishments where a 

defendant’s consecutive intents result in distinct crimes of violence. (People v. Jackson 
38

(2016) 1 Cal.5th 269.) In Jackson, the defendant entered a home in order to steal some of 

its contents, but when he discovered someone inside, he formed a separate intent to 

murder the occupant. “[Defendant]’s own statement suggests that he entered the house 

believing it was empty (suggesting an intent to steal), and developed the intent to harm 

[the victim] only when she appeared, startling him, and he panicked, finding that he was 

unable to leave. This evidence is sufficient to support the trial court’s determination.” 

(Id. at p. 354.)

In this case, there was substantial evidence that Johnson’s intent changed from the 

time he initially entered the house to when he finally ended his attack. As a result, the 

trial court did not err by not staying the domestic violence term under section 654.

5. No error in not staying attempted false imprisonment

Johnson next argues that section 654 applies to his sentence for attempted false 

imprisonment because it shared the same objective as the torture offense, i.e., to persuade 

K.R. to go with him. We disagree.

The court imposed a four-month determinate term for the attempted false 

imprisonment, which appears to have been based on Johnson’s grabbing K.R.’s clothing 

in an effort to force her to leave with him. The court declined to stay that four-month 

term because it concluded that Johnson’s intent changed during the incident. 

As discussed above, a trial court has “broad latitude” in determining “[w]hether

section 654 applies in a given case,” and “[i]ts findings [on that question] will not be 

reversed on appeal if there is any substantial evidence to support them.” (People v. 

Jones, supra, 103 Cal.App.4th at p. 1143.) In this case, there is substantial evidence to 

support the trial court’s conclusion that Johnson’s intent changed during the attack, from 

wanting to force K.R. to go with him, to hurt her for refusing to listen to him, and to 

torture her for seeing someone else and for continuing to disobey him. The court did not 

err in declining to stay Johnson’s sentence for attempted false imprisonment. (Ibid.) 
39

6. No error in not staying great bodily injury enhancement

Johnson also claims that the five-year enhancement for great bodily injury, 

attached to his domestic violence conviction, must be stayed because great bodily injury 

is an element of torture and the great bodily injury arose out of the same conduct and 

objective as the torture offense. We disagree.

At sentencing, the trial court imposed a five-year term for the great bodily injury 

enhancement as prescribed by section 12022.7, subdivision (e). 

“The same type of enhancement may be imposed for each substantive offense 

committed with differing intent or for a different purpose. So long as the conduct giving 

rise to the convictions of separate substantive offenses is divisible or arises from separate 

criminal acts, neither section 654 nor [People v. Ahmed (2011)] 53 Cal.4th 156 requires 

the staying of the attached enhancements.” (People v. Wooten (2013) 214 Cal.App.4th 

121, 131.)

Johnson’s argument is based on his assertion that his conduct and objective in 

committing domestic violence against K.R. was the same conduct and objective in 

torturing her in violation of section 206. The trial court concluded that Johnson’s intent 

changed during the attack and there is substantial evidence to support that conclusion. As 

the trial court stated, his initial acts of attacking K.R. with a boxcutter was first an act of 

domestic violence but, as he became more enraged, his intent shifted to one in which he 

sought to not just hurt her badly, but to “cause cruel and extreme pain and suffering for 

the purpose of revenge [or] persuasion.” Both his conduct and objectives were therefore 

divisible and the court did not err in declining to stay the great bodily injury 

enhancement. 

7. No error in not staying child endangerment sentence

Johnson’s final section 654 argument is that the trial court erred in not staying the 

term for misdemeanor child endangerment on the ground that it was subject to the 

multiple victim exception. In his view, whether a particular crime is a crime of violence 
40

for the purposes of the multiple victim exception to section 654 is determined by the 

statutory definition of the crime in question, and because the statute defining 

misdemeanor child endangerment does not indicate that it is a crime of violence, the 

multiple victim exception does not apply. We disagree.

The California Supreme Court has “long held that ‘the limitations of section 654 

do not apply to crimes of violence against multiple victims.’ ” (People v. Oates (2004) 

32 Cal.4th 1048, 1063.) “Under this exception, ‘even though a defendant entertains but a 

single principal objective during an indivisible course of conduct, he may be convicted 

and punished for each crime of violence committed against a different victim.’ 

[Citations.] The reason for the multiple victim exception is that ‘when a defendant 

“ ‘commits an act of violence with the intent to harm more than one person or by means 

likely to cause harm to several persons,’ his greater culpability precludes application of 

section 654.” ’ ” (People v. Garcia (1995) 32 Cal.App.4th 1756, 1781.) The multiple 

victim exception “permits one unstayed sentence per victim of all the violent crimes the 

defendant commits incidental to a single criminal intent.” (Id. at p. 1784.) 

Whether a defendant harbored a single intent—and thus a single objective—is a 

factual question; the applicability of section 654 to settled facts is a question of law. 

(People v. Harrison (1989) 48 Cal.3d 321, 335.) When interpreting the scope and 

meaning of the multiple victim exception, we apply a de novo standard of review.

(See People v. Perez (1979) 23 Cal.3d 545, 552, fn. 5.) Regarding whether the facts 

establish there were multiple victims of the crimes of violence, we review such finding 

for substantial evidence. (See People v. Centers (1999) 73 Cal.App.4th 84, 101.) An 

appellate court will sustain a trial court’s implied factual determination in the application 

of section 654 if supported by substantial evidence. (Osband, supra, 13 Cal.4th at 

pp. 730-731.)

In this case, there is substantial evidence to support the trial court’s conclusion that 

the multiple victim exception applied to the misdemeanor child endangerment offense. 
41

While Johnson’s acts of violence were not directed at the child, that makes no difference. 

As explained by People v. Pantoja (2004) 122 Cal.App.4th 1, “ ‘A defendant who 

commits an act of violence with the intent to harm more than one person or by a means 

likely to cause harm to several persons is more culpable than a defendant who harms 

only one person. For example, a defendant who chooses a means of murder that places a 

planeload of passengers in danger, or results in injury to many persons, is properly 

subject to greater punishment than a defendant who chooses a means that harms only a 

single person. This distinction between an act of violence against the person that violates 

more than one statute and such an act that harms more than one person is well settled.’ 

[Citation.] There is no requirement that the prosecution show that the defendant intended 

harm to each victim by his wrongdoing, and no doubt that defendant’s acts harmed [the 

child]. Therefore he may be punished separately for that separate crime.” (Id. at p. 16.)

Johnson entered K.R.’s home with a boxcutter and, soon thereafter, began to 

attack her with that weapon. It is reasonable to assume that he knew one or more of their 

children were present at the time; in fact, a child can be heard on the 911 call, screaming 

at Johnson to stop. While there is no evidence Johnson intended to physically harm the 

child, his conduct certainly risked such harm, either from the child deliberately trying to 

intervene or Johnson accidentally cutting the child while swinging the boxcutter at K.R. 

Even aside from the risk of physical injury, however, it goes without saying that this 

child likely suffered severe emotional trauma from witnessing his father brutally attack 

his mother.

Accordingly, we conclude the trial court properly applied the multiple victim 

exception to section 654 to Johnson’s sentence for misdemeanor child endangerment.

H. The sentence for misdemeanor child endangerment must be reduced

Johnson argues, and the Attorney General concedes, that the trial court erred in 

imposing a term of 364 days on his conviction for child endangerment (§ 273a; count 8). 

We agree.
42

Section 19 provides as follows: “Except in cases where a different punishment is 

prescribed by any law of this state, every offense declared to be a misdemeanor is 

punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months, or by fine not 

exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both.” Section 273a, subdivision (b) 

provides: “Any person who, under circumstances or conditions other than those likely to 

produce great bodily harm or death, willfully causes or permits any child to suffer, or 

inflicts thereon unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering, or having the care or 

custody of any child, willfully causes or permits the person or health of that child to be 

injured, or willfully causes or permits that child to be placed in a situation where his or 

her person or health may be endangered, is guilty of a misdemeanor.” 

Because section 273a, subdivision (b) does not specify the punishment for a 

misdemeanor violation,17 section 19 applies. We will reverse the judgment and remand 

the matter for the limited purpose of resentencing at which time the trial court will reduce 

Johnson’s sentence on count 8 to six months. 

I. The sentencing minute order and abstract of judgment must be corrected

Johnson next argues that the minute order from his sentencing hearing and the 

abstract of judgment are incorrect in that they both indicate the court imposed a $10 fine 

under section 1202.5,18 plus penalty assessments, for a total of $41. The trial court did 

not orally pronounce such a fine nor was Johnson convicted of an offense which supports 

imposing a fine pursuant to section 1202.5. The Attorney General agrees that Johnson 

17 Felony child endangerment is described in section 273a, subdivision (a) and 

“shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or in the 

state prison for two, four, or six years.”

18 Section 1202.5 provides in pertinent part: “In any case in which a defendant is 

convicted of any of the offenses enumerated in Section 211, 215, 459, 470, 484, 487, 

subdivision (a) of Section 487a, or Section 488, or 594, the court shall order the 

defendant to pay a fine of ten dollars ($10) in addition to any other penalty or fine 

imposed.” (Id., at subd. (a).)
43

was not convicted of any of the offenses listed in section 1202.5 and that the fine and 

penalty assessments must be stricken. We agree with the parties. 

At sentencing, the trial court imposed certain other fines and fees, but did not 

order Johnson to pay a local crime prevention fee of $10, plus penalty assessments, 

pursuant to section 1202.5. The most likely reason for this was because Johnson was not 

“convicted of any of the offenses enumerated” in that statute. (§ 1202.5, subd. (a).) 

However, the minute order and abstract of judgment both indicate that Johnson is subject 

to a “local crime prevention fine of $10, plus penalty assessments; for a total of $41.” 

“Where there is a discrepancy between the oral pronouncement of judgment and the 

minute order or the abstract of judgment, the oral pronouncement controls.” (People v.

Zackery (2007) 147 Cal.App.4th 380, 385.) On remand, the trial court shall ensure that 

the minute order from Johnson’s resentencing and the abstract of judgment accurately 

reflect the fines and fees imposed. 

J. Discretion to dismiss enhancements under section 1385

Johnson also argues that, on remand, the trial court shall apply “current law” at his 

resentencing hearing, specifically to exercise its discretion to dismiss enhancements 

under section 1385. We express no opinion on how the trial court should exercise its 

discretion on remand but presume the trial court will resentence Johnson in accordance 

with current law.

III. DISPOSITION

The judgment is reversed and the matter is remanded for the limited purpose of 

resentencing. At the sentencing hearing, the trial court shall either consolidate the 

convictions on count 6 and count 9 or strike one of those convictions, reduce the sentence 

imposed on count 8 to six months, and resentence Johnson on all other counts consistent 

with this opinion and in accordance with current law. The trial court shall also ensure 

that the minute order and abstract of judgment accurately reflect the fines, fees, and 

assessments imposed. 
___________________________________

Wilson, J.

WE CONCUR:

__________________________________________

Bamattre-Manoukian, Acting P.J.

______________________________________

Danner, J.

People v. Johnson

H049257