Opinion ID: 1238139
Heading Depth: 6
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Appealing to Jury's Prejudices

Text: (12) Defendant next asserts the prosecutor attempted to arouse the jury's prejudices by implying that defendant was a gang member with a criminal record. He cites the prosecutor's reference during argument to the fact that Fontana Police Detective Moore had known [defendant] for all of the years he's worked in Fontana. Moore's testimony that he had recognized defendant from having previously seen him at a little market in Fontana was corroborative of Robert Gonzales's recollection of having seen defendant at Trudy's Market several months before the murder. Thus, the prosecutor's reference to Detective Moore's testimony was simply to establish that defendant frequented the area of the crime scene prior to the murder. At no point did the prosecutor suggest, either expressly or impliedly, that defendant had a prior record. The alleged reference to a gang affiliation occurred earlier in the trial, during defense counsel's cross-examination of Mrs. Allessie. The witness acknowledged that she had not observed any tattoos on the robber. Defense counsel thereupon had defendant show the jury the tattoos on his arms. The prosecutor responded: Your honor, I would also be willing to stipulate that counsel could have [defendant] describe to the jury the significance of each of the tattoos and describe them for the record. Defense counsel objected on the grounds of relevance and the matter was dropped. Later, the jury was instructed: At one point a comment was made regarding the significance of [defendant's] tattoos. There is no evidence before you regarding any significance of these tattoos except on the issue of eye witness identification. You are not to speculate on any other significance of these tattoos. We conclude, therefore, that any possible harm caused by the prosecutor's brief remark was cured by the court's admonition, which the jury presumably obeyed. ( People v. Rosoto (1962) 58 Cal.2d 304, 326 [23 Cal. Rptr. 779, 373 P.2d 867].)