Opinion ID: 2720490
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Francine Smith Assault

Text: Bryant challenges admission of Francine Smith‘s testimony that she was beaten after trying to cheat a Bryant Family employee selling her drugs. Bryant later told her she was lucky he knew her so well, otherwise she would have been killed. In his opening brief, Bryant characterizes the testimony as improper character evidence. (§ 1101(a).) The Attorney General correctly points out, however, that Bryant did not raise this objection at trial, nor did he request a limiting instruction. The contention is forfeited. In his reply brief, Bryant recasts his claim as based on section 352. That argument, too, is forfeited by the failure to raise it in the opening brief. (People v. Tully (2012) 54 Cal.4th 952, 1075 (Tully) [―It is axiomatic that arguments made for the first time in a reply brief will not be entertained because of the unfairness to the other party.‖].) The challenges to this evidence are forfeited as to Smith and Wheeler because they did not object to the testimony at trial. In any event, the trial court did not abuse its discretion under either provision. The court found the testimony showed Bryant‘s level of involvement in the Family operations, and the Family‘s willingness to use violence to protect its interests, a similar motive for the murders of Armstrong and his associates. The jury could also infer that if Armstrong had tried to take advantage of the Bryant Family, but was less well known to its leaders, he would have been subjected to harsher retaliation than a mere beating. Because the testimony was relevant to prove facts other than Bryant‘s propensity, its admission was not an abuse of discretion under section 1101(a). Nor did the trial court abuse its discretion under section 352. In Bryant‘s opening statement he contested the very existence of the Bryant Family organization, let alone his own role in it. Evidence establishing the nature of the Family, its operations, and Bryant‘s role was important evidence tying him and the Family to the murders. Again, in light of the accusations and extensive evidence regarding the charges, testimony by Ms. 77 Smith that she was beaten in a drug dispute does not raise a substantial likelihood of undue prejudice.