Opinion ID: 2634399
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The events of February 16-18, 1991

Text: On February 16, 1991, defendant, then 29 years of age, and his cousin, Jerry Franklin, arrived in Fresno by Greyhound bus from Northern California. Defendant telephoned the residence of his former wife, Cora Drake, to request transportation to her residence. Cora shared her home, located on North Roosevelt Street in the City of Fresno, with her sons David, then 18 years of age, and James, then 4 years of age. David Drake answered defendant's telephone call and agreed to give defendant a ride from the bus station to the Drakes' residence. David invited a friend, Michael Beckham, then 21 years of age (who, together with his 19-year-old wife, Rosanna Beckham, was staying at the Drakes' residence), to join him. David Drake and Michael Beckham took a cab to the bus station, where they met defendant and Franklin and returned with them to the Drakes' residence. On the afternoon of February 17, 1991, defendant and Franklin began shaping pieces of wax to resemble cocaine rocks so they could sell them as counterfeit drugs. Franklin thereafter suggested that defendant, Michael Beckham, David Drake, and another houseguest, Steve Elias, lure victims into an alley behind the Drakes' residence for the purpose of robbing them. Michael Beckham offered to pose as a hitchhiker in order to lure homosexual men to drive into the alley, where the others could rob them. Michael Beckham lured one victim as planned and defendant, Franklin, David Drake, and Elias beat him into unconsciousness. Defendant took the victim's wallet, then retrieved various articles from the man's vehicle, including spiked bracelets, two sets of handcuffs, and a hydraulic jack for a vehicle. Defendant distributed the cash from the victim's wallet and gave Michael Beckham $10. Another victim was approached in the same way but drove off when defendant emerged from the bushes and displayed his genitals. A third incident occurred at approximately 11:00 p.m. on February 17, 1991, when Michael Beckham lured David Bush into the alley and convinced him to remain there for several minutes. Michael left the vehicle and returned with defendant, who opened the door of Bush's vehicle and began striking Bush on the head with a crescent wrench, Entering the vehicle, defendant pushed Bush onto the passenger seat and continued to strike him with the wrench. Defendant demanded Bush's wallet but was angered to see it contained less than $10. While continuing to strike Bush with the wrench and threatening to shoot him if he tried to escape, defendant backed the vehicle toward the entrance of the alley, a distance Bush estimated to be approximately 100 feet. Bush escaped from the vehicle and waved down a passing automobile, which initially gave chase to defendant, then turned away. Eventually a neighborhood resident telephoned for emergency assistance for Bush. Bush suffered a broken nose and facial lacerations. At trial, he identified Michael Beckham as the hitchhiker who initially flagged him down, but in police photo lineups and at trial Bush was unable to identify defendant as his assailant. He testified that the assault on him had dislodged his glasses, leaving him unable to see clearly. [2] That same evening, David Drake spoke on the telephone with an acquaintance, Kenny Dustin, 18 years of age. David Drake asked Dustin to come to the Drakes' residence because defendant had [taken] over [the] house. David said he and his younger brother, James, were afraid of defendant. At Dustin's request, Sara Lowmiller drove Dustin to the Drakes' residence. As she subsequently departed from the residence, Lowmiller saw an African-American man and a White man scuffling in the street. The White man, his face bloodied, came to Lowmiller's car window and asked for help. Remaining in her vehicle, Lowmiller followed the African-American man into the alley, thought better of continuing her pursuit, then drove away, returning to the Drakes' residence. There, she summoned Dustin from the residence with her automobile horn. As she waited for Dustin, she observed the African-American man, whom she previously had seen face her, enter the Drakes' residence. Lowmiller told Dustin that a person who appeared to be bleeding was being chased in the alley, and asked Dustin to explain what had occurred. Dustin responded that he would explain later, directing her to depart. Lowmiller did not identify defendant as the African-American man she observed that evening. Dustin, however, testified that the African-American man seen by Lowmiller was defendant. [3] Michael Beckham testified that defendant entered the Drakes' residence late on the evening of February 17, 1991, and gave Michael $10 with instructions to go to a store to purchase alcohol. Angry because defendant had not given him a larger share of the robbery proceeds, Michaelโaccompanied by Dustin and David Drakeโinstead used the $10 to purchase rock cocaine, which Michael Beckham and Dustin smoked. In the early morning hours of February 18, 1991, while Michael Beckham, Dustin, and David Drake were away from the residence, defendant corner[ed] Michael's wife, Rosanna Beckham, in the kitchen and attempted to touch and kiss her, then backed her into an empty bedroom, where he removed their clothes. Rosanna, a slight, short young woman, was fearful of defendant, who was much larger and who she knew had served a prison term. She testified that he initiated sexual intercourse with her over her tearful objections, but was interrupted by the ringing of the telephone. Franklin entered the room and told defendant the call was for him. Defendant left the bedroom, and Rosanna ran to the bathroom and dressed. When Rosanna heard that Michael Beckham, Dustin, and David Drake had returned to the residence, she emerged from the bathroom, entered the bedroom where the others were watching television, and sat down on the bed near defendant. Michael Beckham testified: I could see [defendant] laying back and my old lady was sitting nervous like this ... and [defendant's] hands were rubbing on her, and I asked him, I said, `what are you doing rubbing on my wife?' And my old lady got up and he says, `I ain't rubbing on your wife.' Defendant told Michael, Go fuck yourself. Rosanna, with tears in her eyes, walked into the dining room, followed by Michael; she informed him that she wanted to leave. Michael asked, what's wrong, what's going on? ... [W]hat did he do, rape you? And she saysโshe didn't say nothing. A few moments later, defendant, accompanied by Franklin, began yelling at Michael Beckham, demanding the $10 Michael had received earlier in the evening. Defendant thereafter struck Michael to the ground and started kicking him. Defendant continued hitting Michael while Rosanna screamed. Defendant told Franklin to silence Rosanna, and each time Rosanna screamed Franklin struck her. Defendant produced a set of handcuffs (procured during the first robbery), handcuffed Michael Beckham's hands behind his back, and dragged him to the back of the residence. There, in Rosanna Beckham's presence, the beating continued; demanding money, defendant broke one of Michael's ribs and caused other injuries. Defendant thereafter handcuffed Rosanna's wrists behind her back, and at defendant's request, Franklin tore Off her clothes. Defendant grabbed her by the throat and lifted her from the floor. Defendant placed a knife to Michael Beckham's neck and directed him to call his (Michael's) mother for the purpose of obtaining $100. Crying, and bleeding from his mouth and nose, Michael telephoned his parents, begging them for the money. At one point, defendant grabbed the telephone and said Michael owed him $100 for drugs and that he wanted his money. Michael did not know why defendant had increased the debt from $10 to $100. Michael's parents refused the request. When Franklin suggested that defendant desist, defendant replied: Shut up. I'm in charge of this. Betty Hills, who also was residing with her son in the Drakes' home at the time, heard Rosanna screaming, initially believing the screams to have emanated from a television horror film. Hills asked defendant why he was hitting Rosanna, to which he replied that she had stolen $40. Hills asked, if I give you $40, will you stop hitting her and he said yep. So he quit hitting her.... I told him I would go prostitute and get him his $40. It would take 20 minutes to get it. I would be right back.... He told me that I hadn't stole from him, let that bitch go make the money, she's the one that stole. Talking about [Rosanna].... That I hadn't done nothing to him. So he said [Rosanna] could go make the money. Rosanna eventually was freed from her handcuffs and directed to dress. Defendant informed her that she would be required to stand out on the street and pick up guys in order to obtain money for him, and that if she refused, her husband would be killed. Although she had never engaged in prostitution, Rosanna agreed. Defendant informed Rosanna that she was to stand in the street, attract customers, and direct them to an alley where she would prostitute herself and thereafter give defendant the money. According to Dustin, Rosanna silently mouthed the words help me to him. Still in the early morning hours of February 18, 1991, defendant, accompanied by Dustin, took Rosanna to Belmont Street, an area known for prostitution. As the two men watched, an automobile pulled over and Rosanna entered it. The driver gave her $5, shortly after which defendant appeared and attempted to kick out the driver's side window. The driver sped away, stopping briefly to release Rosanna. Rosanna gave defendant the $5, and in response defendant informed her that she only had 95 more to go. Defendant and Dustin thereafter walked Rosanna back to Belmont Street, whereupon a driver picked her up, took her to his apartment, gave her a handful of change, and then returned her to Belmont Street a short time later. [4] Returning to the Drakes' residence, Rosanna saw Michael sitting on the floor, his hands still in handcuffs behind his back. At defendant's command, Rosanna thereafter returned to Belmont Street, where a white Chevrolet Monte Carlo driven by Miguel Gonzalez stopped, and she agreed to perform oral sex for $4. Rosanna directed Gonzalez to the alley, where he parked the automobile. Rosanna exited the vehicle and spoke briefly with defendant. At his direction, she returned to the vehicle to take care of Gonzalez. As she began to remove her jacket, defendant threw a hydraulic jackโstolen during the first robberyโthrough the driver's side window, shattering it and hitting Rosanna in the head. Her head bleeding profusely, Rosanna exited from the vehicle and returned to the Drakes' residence. Gonzalez emerged from his vehicle and attempted to flee, but defendant tackled him and, according to Dustin's preliminary hearing testimony, defendant then stomped on the guy's head. Franklin joined in and [s]tomped on him a couple more times. Gonzalez pleaded for his assailants simply to take his money and leave him alone, and then lapsed into unconsciousness. Defendant took Gonzalez's wallet (eventually giving Dustin $5) and dragged the victim to the trunk of the car, which Dustin opened with a screwdriver. Defendant and Franklin placed the victim inside the trunk and closed it. Defendant drove the vehicle back to the Drakes' residence, which Dustin and Franklin entered through a back window. Because Rosanna was bleeding profusely from a cut above her eye, Franklin, Dustin, and David Drake suggested she be taken to a hospital. Defendant initially indicated such a trip was unnecessary, but changed his mind, telling Franklin and Dustin to accompany him and Rosanna to the hospital. While they were driving, Gonzalez began banging the inside of the trunk, pleading to be released. Defendant told Gonzalez to shut up, then asked the others where they could take him. Dustin testified that, believing defendant simply intended to leave Gonzalez somewhere and not kill him, he (Dustin) suggested they drive to a walnut orchard located behind a residence where Dustin once had resided. Defendant drove outside of town to the orchard and exited the vehicle with Dustin and Franklin. Rosanna remained in the car. Defendant opened the trunk, hit Gonzalez on the head repeatedly with the hydraulic jack, and then told Dustin to help lift the victim out of the trunk. Dustin did so, dropping Gonzalez to the ground. Defendant resumed beating Gonzalez's head with the hydraulic jack, hitting him at least five or six times. Gonzalez attempted to crawl away, but moved only a few feet before defendant beat his head repeatedly, with a tire rim. Rosanna heard one of the men say, I think he's dead, and then another voice say, well, make sure. Dustin watched defendant roll the body over the edge of a five-foot slope. The three men rejoined Rosanna in the automobile. Dustin asked defendant whether Gonzalez was dead. Defendant replied: No. He's going to wake up in the morning with a bad headache. Defendant thereafter unsuccessfully attempted to start the car, prompting Dustin to request assistance from a friend who lived nearby. The friend helped start the vehicle, but apparently did not notice Gonzalez's body lying nearby. Franklin suggested they take Rosanna to the hospital, but defendant refused, instead asking Dustin whether he knew where there was a party. Eventually the group drove back to the Drakes' residence, arriving there at approximately dawn on February 18, 1991. Once inside the house, defendant told Rosanna that the police would arrive soon, so the two of them had to go back to the bedroom and finish, a comment that Rosanna understood to refer to the sexual assault defendant had commenced earlier. Defendant took Rosanna to a bedroom, removed their clothes, and had sexual intercourse while Rosanna cried and told him that it hurt. [5] After speaking by telephone with her son, David, Cora Drake met David and Michael Beckham and called 911 from a nearby convenience store, meeting the responding police officers there. The police arrived at the residence shortly thereafter. Defendant directed Dustin to stall the police while he climbed out of the back bedroom window. The police had surrounded the residence, however, and defendant immediately was detained. Asked by the police to provide his name, defendant replied it was Ramon Williams. In the ensuing pat-down search, the police recovered from defendant's pants pocket a wallet containing a California identification card bearing the name Miguel Gonzalez. The white Chevrolet Monte Carlo parked in front of the Drakes' residence was registered to Gonzalez; the driver's door window was shattered, and both the outside and the inside of the trunk were stained with blood. Michael Beckham testified that during a break in the testimony he gave at trial, he made eye contact with defendant, and that defendant mouthed the words, You're dead, fool, a warning defendant repeated in a subsequent courtroom encounter, informing Michael, You're dead.