Opinion ID: 2625266
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Robles and Castenada Decisions

Text: As stated above, section 12031(a)(2)(C) provides, in relevant part, that the offense of carrying a loaded firearm in a public place elevates to a felony [w]here the person is an active participant in a criminal street gang, as defined in subdivision (a) of section 186.22.... In Robles, we noted that, [c]ontrary to the express language of section 12031(a)(2)(C), however, subdivision (a) of section of 186.22 ... does not at all define the statutory phrase `an active participant in a criminal street gang.' ( Robles, supra, 23 Cal.4th at p. 1111, 99 Cal.Rptr.2d 120, 5 P.3d 176.) In People v. Castenada (2000) 23 Cal.4th 743, 97 Cal.Rptr.2d 906, 3 P.3d 278, we held that one of the elements of section 186.22(a) is `active[] participation] in any criminal street gang,' which means defendant's involvement with the gang is more than nominal or passive. ( People v. Castenada , at p. 745, 97 Cal.Rptr.2d 906, 3 P.3d 278.) In Robles, we construed section 12031(a)(2)(C)'s phrase `active participant in a criminal street gang, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 186.22' as referring to the substantive gang offense defined in section 186.22(a). ( Robles, supra, 23 Cal.4th at p. 1115, 99 Cal.Rptr.2d 120, 5 P.3d 176.) [6] The substantive offense defined in section 186.22(a) has three elements. Active participation in a criminal street gang, in the sense of participation that is more than nominal or passive, is the first element of the substantive offense defined in section 186.22(a). The second element is knowledge that [the gang's] members engage in or have engaged in a pattern of criminal gang activity, and the third element is that the person willfully promotes, furthers, or assists in any felonious criminal conduct by members of that gang. (§ 186.22(a).) Therefore, Robles held that carrying a loaded firearm in public becomes a felony under section 12031(a)(2)(C) when a defendant satisfies the elements of the offense described in section 186.22(a) by `actively participating] in any criminal street gang with knowledge that its members engage in or have engaged in a pattern of criminal gang activity' and `willfully promoting], furthering] or assisting] in any felonious criminal conduct by members of that gang.' (§ 186.22(a).) ( Robles, supra, 23 Cal.4th at p. 1115, 99 Cal.Rptr.2d 120, 5 P.3d 176.)