Opinion ID: 1442039
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 15

Heading: Erroneous Introduction of Two 1984 Burglaries

Text: Counts 5 and 6 of the information charged defendant, respectively, with burglarizing the home of Mrs. Vasquez on September 12 or 13, 1984, and burglarizing the home of Willie Randle on November 24, 1984. On the last day of hearings on pretrial motions in this case, on February 24, 1986, defendant pleaded guilty to these two burglary counts. Nevertheless, the People listed these burglary counts in the notice of aggravating evidence and introduced into evidence a copy of the minute order of the plea proceedings. At the conclusion of the penalty phase evidence and before instructing the jury, the court ruled that, in light of People v. Balderas (1985) 41 Cal.3d 144 [222 Cal. Rptr. 184, 711 P.2d 480], these convictions could not be considered as factors in aggravation. The court instructed the jury not to consider these convictions: Specifically, you may not consider as an aggravating circumstance the burglary of Willie Randle on November 24, 1984, and the burglary of Carmen Carlos Vasquez on September 12-13, 1984. (9) Defendant contends his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance in failing to object to the admission of these two burglaries. Defendant is correct in asserting that they were inadmissible under authority of People v. Balderas, supra, 41 Cal.3d at pages 201-203, which was decided three and a half months before the present penalty trial. In Balderas, we held that the prior felony convictions described in factor (c) of section 190.3 are limited to those entered before commission of the capital crime. (41 Cal.3d at p. 201.) Thus, the burglaries at issue were not admissible as prior felony convictions. Since they did not involve violent criminal conduct, they did not qualify for admission pursuant to factor (b) of section 190.3 either. Counsel's deficiency in failing to object is not enough to establish entitlement to relief for ineffectiveness of counsel. As previously mentioned, defendant must show both that counsel's performance was deficient and that a more favorable result was reasonably probable but for counsel's deficiency. ( People v. Lewis, supra, 50 Cal.3d at p. 288.) Defendant is unable to make the latter showing. It is not reasonably probable that the jury would have reached a more favorable result had these two burglaries never been mentioned. First, only documentary evidence was introduced regarding them. Second, the court specifically instructed the jury not to consider them. Third, the evidence concerning these burglaries was insignificant in comparison to the evidence properly admitted regarding defendant's violent criminal conduct and three prior felony convictions.