Court Opinion

ID: 9905600
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-11-29 20:03:52.789251+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:23:46.186293
License: Public Domain

Filed 11/29/23 P. v. Tavarez CA4/3

                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

                IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

                                     FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                DIVISION THREE

 THE PEOPLE,

      Plaintiff and Respondent,                                        G061286

           v.                                                          (Super. Ct. No. 18CF1732)

 JOSE TRINIDAD TAVAREZ,                                                OPINION

      Defendant and Appellant.

                   Appeal from a judgment of the Superior Court of Orange County, Michael
J. Cassidy, Judge. Affirmed with directions.
                   Cynthia M. Jones, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for
Defendant and Appellant.
                   Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Charles C. Ragland, Assistant Attorney General, Collette C. Cavalier and
Kathryn Kirschbaum, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
                A jury convicted defendant and appellant Jose Trinidad Tavarez of two
counts of committing a lewd act on a child under 14 years of age (hereafter lewd conduct)
                                              1
(Pen. Code, § 288, subd. (a); counts 1 & 4 ) and one count of sexual penetration of a
                                                                 2
child 10 years of age or younger (§ 288.7, subd. (b); count 3). The jury also found true
the allegation Tavarez engaged in substantial sexual conduct with a child under the age of
14 years in the commission of the lewd conduct offense in count 4, rendering him
ineligible for probation. (§ 1203.066, subd. (a)(8).) The court found two aggravating
                                                       3
factors had been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The court imposed an
indeterminate term of 15 years to life for the sexual penetration conviction in count 3 and
a consecutive determinate term of six years for the lewd conduct conviction in count 1;
the court imposed six years for the lewd conduct conviction in count 4 but stayed
execution of this sentence under section 654.
                The child, L.F., was four years old when Tavarez committed the offenses
and eight years old when she testified at trial. Over the defense’s objection, the court
admitted under Evidence Code section 1360 statements L.F. made the day after the
offenses, in which she described the sexual abuse to her mother and the police. When
L.F. testified at trial, she did not remember details of the abuse and did not know or
recognize Tavarez. She remembered talking to her mother about the abuse “[a] long time
ago” and testified she told her mother the truth, but she could not recall what she told her
mother and did not remember talking to anyone else about it.

1
    All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise stated.
2
  Tavarez was charged with kidnapping for child molestation (§ 207, subd. (b)) in
count 2. The court granted the defense motion of acquittal pursuant to section 1118.1 as
to this charge.
3
  The court found the victim was particularly vulnerable (Cal. Rules of Court, rule
4.421(a)(3)) and Tavarez took advantage of a position of trust and confidence to commit
the offense (id., rule 4.421(a)(11)).

                                               2
              On appeal, Tavarez contends: (1) the court abused its discretion by
admitting L.F.’s out-of-court statements to her mother and the police under Evidence
Code section 1360; (2) the admission of L.F.’s police interview violated his rights to
confrontation because he was unable to effectively cross-examine her given her lack of
recollection; (3) his conviction for lewd conduct in count 4 must be stricken as a lesser
included offense of his sexual penetration conviction in count 3; and (4) the abstracts of
judgment must be corrected to accurately reflect the court’s oral pronouncement of
judgment. We agree the abstracts of judgment must be corrected, but we reject Tavarez’s
other contentions and affirm the judgment.

                                          FACTS
              On June 17, 2018, M.C. (Mother) took her three youngest daughters,
including four-year-old L.F., with her to church. The church had a celebration that
evening following services. During the celebration, people were primarily congregating
and socializing in an area next to the church.
              Surveillance cameras from the neighboring building recorded Tavarez, who
was also a member of the church, distributing bags of chips to the children. In the
                   4
surveillance video, Tavarez is later seen holding and carrying L.F. in an area out of the
view of other adults at the celebration. He pulls her closer and places her head near his,
as if kissing her on the cheek. Tavarez is next seen walking back toward the celebration
with L.F. walking with him. He enters the church and L.F. follows him inside. There is a
lapse in the video for a couple of minutes. Then, the video shows Tavarez walking back
from his white van, which was parked in a lot across the street from the church; L.F. is
with him.

4
 The surveillance cameras were motion activated and recorded clips of various lengths,
which the prosecution stitched together into a video that was admitted at trial.

                                             3
                After the church celebration, when Mother and her three daughters returned
home around 9:00 p.m., L.F. repeatedly asked for a bath, which was unusual. Mother put
L.F. to bed without giving her a bath.
                The next day, M.T., Mother’s eldest daughter, overheard L.F. tell their
sister that “Hermano Jose” at the church pulled down her underwear and stuck his finger
in her private part. Tavarez was the only person M.T. knew as Hermano Jose at the
church. M.T. went and talked to Mother.
                Mother asked L.F. to tell her what happened. Crying, L.F. told Mother
“Jose” pulled down her panties, put his finger in her private part, sucked on his finger,
pulled down his zipper, and put his mouth on her private part. L.F. pointed to the area
between her legs when she said he put his finger in her private part. Mother inquired who
had done this, and L.F. said it was the man who had given her a bear. Mother
remembered Tavarez had given L.F. a stuffed animal about a month earlier.
                Mother was unable to understand everything L.F. was trying to tell her.
Mother primarily spoke Spanish, and L.F. primarily spoke English. L.F. also had a
speech impediment, but Mother and L.F. were generally able to communicate with each
other. L.F. often used hand gestures to communicate with Mother, as she did in this
conversation.
                Mother immediately took L.F. to a medical facility to have her examined by
a doctor. At the doctor’s office, L.F. said “he” pulled down her pants and put his fingers
down there; she put her hand on top of her vaginal area while saying this. Mother told
the medical facility’s staff “Jose” touched L.F.; L.F. did not say “Jose” did it. The
doctor’s office called the police.
                Officer Jeffrey Grant interviewed L.F. at her home that evening, with the
                                       5
assistance of Detective Jorge Garcia. Early in the interview, when Grant asked L.F. a
5
  The interview was recorded on Detective Garcia’s body-worn camera, and the
recording was played for the jury, over defense objections.

                                              4
preliminary question about what she did at church, L.F. responded, “The big boy touched
me right here and put it in his mouth.” When asked for clarification, she said he “put his
finger in here and in his mouth.” Officer Grant asked L.F. where she was touched; L.F.
pointed between her legs and said it was underneath her clothing. She indicated he used
his right hand and identified which finger he used. She told the officers, “He took his
zipper off.” She also said, “he pulled his pants off” but not down to his knees or ankles.
As Grant was trying to get clarification about the pants, L.F. said he took her to his car,
which she described as “Big.” When Grant asked L.F. if it was a truck, she responded
affirmatively and said it was black. At first L.F. denied he kissed her, then she stated he
kissed her on the cheek. She said after the incident, he went back to the church and gave
her chips.
              From L.F.’s responses, Grant understood the incident occurred the day
before at church. Grant asked L.F. if she knew the person’s name. She said she did, and
he went to church. Grant asked what the man’s name was, but the officers could not
understand L.F.’s response. She told them it was “the boy” at “church.” She described
his facial hair, the color of his hair, his height, and the language he spoke.
              After the officers spoke to L.F., they told Mother L.F. had accused a person
named “Marsed” as the person who touched her. Mother repeated the name back to the
officers and told them L.F. was saying Jose.
              M.T. also spoke to the officers. In describing L.F.’s initial disclosure, M.T.
did not tell the officers she overheard L.F. talking to her sister; instead, she told the
officers L.F. ran up to her and said someone pulled down her underwear.
              After the police interviewed L.F., she was taken to a hospital where a nurse
conducted a forensic examination and swabbed her genitalia for DNA. The nurse did not
see injuries to L.F.’s genitalia and could neither confirm nor negate sexual abuse.
              The police arrested Tavarez, and he agreed to give them a buccal swab.
Tavarez was very involved in the church Mother attended. Church congregants called the

                                               5
male members brothers, and Tavarez was referred to as “Hermano Jose” at the church.
Tavarez and the pastor were the only two men at the church named Jose. Tavarez had a
white van, which the pastor allowed him to park in the church parking lot at night so
Tavarez could serve as security for the church.
              The swabs obtained by the nurse during the forensic examination of L.F.
were tested for the presence of semen and amylase, an enzyme present in saliva and other
bodily fluids. No sperm cells were found. Amylase was detected in swabs taken of
L.F.’s mons pubis, vulva, and her thighs.
              Testing of the sample from L.F.’s mons pubis showed the presence of her
DNA and that of another contributor. The testing did not yield a full DNA profile for the
contributor, but based on the partial profile obtained, Tavarez could not be excluded as
the contributor. In initial testing, only L.F.’s DNA was found in the swab from her vulva.
Subsequent testing was performed of a DNA extract of the vulva sample, using a test that
specifically targets male DNA. A partial male profile was obtained. Tavarez’s profile
was consistent with this partial male profile, and he could not be eliminated as a possible
source of the DNA.

                                      DISCUSSION
                                             I.
       ADMISSION OF L.F.’S STATEMENTS UNDER EVIDENCE CODE SECTION 1360
              Tavarez contends the court abused its discretion by admitting L.F.’s out-of-
court statements to Mother and the police under Evidence Code section 1360. We
disagree.

A. Proceedings Below
              Prior to trial, Tavarez sought the exclusion of L.F.’s out-of-court statements
to Mother, the police, and a social worker, who was part of the Child Abuse Services

                                             6
Team (CAST). The prosecutor argued these statements were admissible under Evidence
Code section 1360. The court conducted an Evidence Code section 402 hearing outside
the jury’s presence, wherein Mother testified concerning L.F.’s disclosure to her. The
court also reviewed the videorecording of L.F.’s CAST interview. The court concluded
L.F.’s CAST interview was not admissible under Evidence Code section 1360 but ruled
L.F.’s statements to Mother and the police were admissible under the statute.

B. The Court Properly Admitted L.F.’s Statements Under Evidence Code Section 1360
               Evidence Code “[s]ection 1360 creates a limited exception to the hearsay
rule in criminal prosecutions for a child’s statements describing acts of child abuse or
neglect, including statements describing sexual abuse. [Citations.] [Evidence Code
s]ection 1360 safeguards the reliability of a child’s hearsay statements by requiring that:
(1) the court find, in a hearing conducted outside the presence of the jury, that the time,
content, and circumstances surrounding the statement(s) provide sufficient indicia of
reliability; (2) the child either testifies at the proceedings, or, if the child is unavailable to
testify, other evidence corroborates the out-of-court statements; and (3) the proponent of
the statement gives notice to the adverse party sufficiently in advance of the proceeding
to provide him or her with a fair opportunity to defend against the statement. [Citations.]
We review a trial court’s admission of evidence under [Evidence Code] section 1360 for
abuse of discretion.” (People v. Roberto V. (2001) 93 Cal.App.4th 1350, 1367, fn.
omitted; accord, People v. Mitchell (2020) 46 Cal.App.5th 919, 927.)
               Tavarez challenges the court’s finding the time, content, and circumstances
surrounding L.F.’s statements to Mother and the police provided sufficient indicia of
reliability within the meaning of Evidence Code section 1360. Discussing the reliability
requirement, the California Supreme Court has “explained: ‘The nonexhaustive list of
factors that the United States Supreme Court has cited as relevant to the reliability of
hearsay statements made by child witnesses in sexual abuse cases are (1) spontaneity and

                                                7
consistent repetition; (2) the mental state of the declarant; (3) use of terminology
unexpected of a child of a similar age; and (4) lack of motive to fabricate.’ [Citation.]”
(In re Lucero L. (2000) 22 Cal.4th 1227, 1239, citing Idaho v. Wright (1990) 497 U.S.
805, 821–822.) A “child’s ability to understand the duty to tell the truth and to
distinguish between truth and falsity is also a factor in determining the reliability of his or
her extrajudicial statements.” (In re Cindy L. (1997) 17 Cal.4th 15, 30.) However, there
is “no ‘mechanical test for determining “particularized guarantees of trustworthiness.”’”
(People v. Eccleston (2001) 89 Cal.App.4th 436, 443.) “[T]he unifying principle is that
these factors relate to whether the child declarant was particularly likely to be telling the
truth when the statement was made.” (Idaho v. Wright, supra, 497 U.S. at p. 822.)
              Here, the court did not abuse its discretion in finding the time, content, and
circumstances of L.F.’s statements to Mother and the police, describing the sexual abuse,
provided sufficient indicia of reliability. Regarding the timing, L.F. made these
statements to Mother and the police the day after the incident occurred and made them
within a few hours of each other. Both her disclosure to Mother and her statements to the
police occurred in her home, a place where she would feel safe and at ease.
              Evaluation of the reliability factors identified by the United States Supreme
Court leads to the conclusion the court properly found L.F.’s statements to Mother and
the police were sufficiently reliable. Although L.F.’s statements to Mother and the police
were not spontaneous, she was consistent in her description of the sexual acts. She made
similar statements to her sisters and the social worker. However, in her separate
statements to the police and the social worker, there were inconsistencies as to some
details, i.e., the type and color of the vehicle in which the sexual abuse occurred.
Nevertheless, on several separate occasions, L.F. described the sexual abuse, and each
time, she was consistent in her description of Tavarez’s actions of digitally penetrating
her. This first factor therefore supports the court’s finding of reliability. (People v.
Eccleston, supra, 89 Cal.App.4th at p. 446 [finding of reliability supported by fact child’s

                                              8
“general outline of abuse” remained constant]; People v. Brodit (1998) 61 Cal.App.4th
1312, 1330 [consistent repetition to at least five adults suggested reliability].)
              There is no evidence concerning L.F.’s mental state at the time she made
the statements to indicate they were unreliable. Thus, the second factor also supports
admission of the evidence. L.F. was able to communicate and express herself at the time
she made the statements. Although both Mother and the police officers had difficulty
understanding what L.F. was saying at times, L.F. was able to demonstrate what
happened to help them understand. She was also able to indicate on a diagram where
Tavarez had touched her.
              The third and fourth factors also support the court’s finding of reliability.
L.F.’s description of Tavarez’s actions reflected knowledge of a matter beyond the
ordinary familiarity of a four-year-old child. (See People v. Brodit, supra, 61
Cal.App.4th at pp. 1318, 1330 [nine-year-old child’s “description of sexual acts showed a
knowledge of such matters far beyond the ordinary familiarity of a child of her age”].)
And lastly, L.F. had no motive to fabricate her accusations against Tavarez.
              There was also evidence L.F. was able to distinguish between the truth and
a lie. Prior to ruling on the admissibility of L.F.’s statements to Mother and the police,
the court had reviewed the recording of L.F.’s CAST interview. At the beginning of her
CAST interview, L.F. demonstrated she knew the difference between the truth and a false
statement. Grant’s attempt during the police interview to question L.F. to determine her
ability to understand the difference between the truth and a lie was not illuminating.
However, L.F.’s statements during the interview reflected an understanding of the
difference. L.F. corrected Grant when he incorrectly stated Tavarez had pulled down her
pants. This also weighs in favor of the reliability of her statements.
              The record indicates the court understood the analysis it needed to perform
in determining whether to admit the evidence under Evidence Code section 1360. The
court excluded L.F.’s CAST interview after finding the time, content, and circumstances

                                               9
of that statement did not provide sufficient indicia of reliability. As for the admissibility
of L.F.’s statements to Mother and the police, we conclude the court properly admitted
the evidence under Evidence Code section 1360.

                                              II.
                           TAVAREZ’S CONFRONTATION RIGHTS
              Tavarez argues his right to confrontation, guaranteed by the United States
and California constitutions, was violated because L.F. was unavailable for effective
cross-examination. Within this argument, he makes two contentions. First, he asserts
L.F.’s police interview was testimonial hearsay and should have been excluded after it
became clear L.F. could not be effectively cross-examined about the incident. Second, he
asserts L.F.’s “trial testimony made in response to the prosecutor’s leading questions
should have been stricken.” We conclude there was no violation of Tavarez’s
confrontation rights.

A. Background
              L.F. was four years old when the incident occurred and she made
statements describing the abuse to her sisters, Mother, the police, and others. She was
eight years old by the time of trial. In a hearing outside the presence of the jury, the court
found L.F. competent to testify, over defense objection. In testifying before the jury, L.F.
answered the prosecutor’s preliminary questions with relative ease, giving her age, her
grade in school, favorite school subject, naming her sisters, and placing them in order
from eldest to youngest. When the prosecutor asked L.F. questions to test her
understanding of the truth and a falsity, L.F.’s responses demonstrated she understood the
difference. L.F. promised to only say things that were true in her testimony. She also
promised to tell the prosecutor if she did not understand something the prosecutor said or

                                             10
confused her, and if she did not remember something, she promised to say she did not
remember.
             When the prosecutor questioned L.F. about the incident and talking to the
police, L.F. testified she did not remember what happened and did not remember talking
to the police. She did not remember anything bad happening at church or going to a
doctor’s office where there were police officers. She did not know Tavarez and said she
had never seen him before.
             L.F. remembered telling Mother something bad happened to her at church
but did not remember what she told Mother. She talked to Mother about something bad
happening, but she did not remember what the bad thing was. The prosecutor asked L.F.,
“Do you remember your mom telling you to let her know if anyone ever touches your
body?” The defense objected on the grounds the question was leading and called for
hearsay. The court overruled the objection, and L.F. responded, “Yes.”
             L.F. remembered telling Mother someone touched her body, but she did not
remember what she told Mother about it. She did not remember who touched her body
but remembered it was an adult male. She did not remember where she was when it
happened. After the man touched her, L.F. told Mother and told her the truth of what
happened. She did not remember talking to anyone else after she told Mother about it.
When the prosecutor asked if the man touched “a private area” of her body, L.F.
responded affirmatively. In response to further questions, she identified the area where a
person goes pee-pee as a private area. L.F. said she did not know what that area was
called. The prosecutor pointed to the area between the prosecutor’s legs and asked L.F. if
the man touched her in that area, and L.F. said, “Yeah.” L.F. did not know how or when
he touched that area. She knew it happened, “A long time ago.”
             Defense counsel did not attempt to cross-examine L.F.
             After L.F.’s testimony, defense counsel moved to strike all testimony
“reciting or summarizing” L.F.’s statements “about being touched at the church” on the

                                            11
ground these statements were hearsay and their admission violated the confrontation
clause. Defense counsel argued L.F. testified she had no memory of the incident or
talking about it to anyone other than Mother, and therefore, he could not cross-examine
her on her out-of-court statements. The court invited defense counsel to question L.F.,
but counsel declined, stating: “I think it’s clear she doesn’t remember. There’s nothing I
can ask her on that.” The court denied the motion.

B. Tavarez’s Rights to Confrontation Were Not Violated
              Tavarez contends admission of the recording of L.F.’s police interview
violated his confrontation rights because he did not have a meaningful opportunity to
cross-examine her. We disagree.
              Under the Sixth Amendment’s confrontation clause, which is applicable to
the states through the Fourteenth Amendment, an accused has the right “to be confronted
with the witnesses against him.” (U.S. Const., 6th & 14th Amends.) Similarly, the
California Constitution provides a right to confrontation. (Cal. Const., art. I, § 15.)
When the federal confrontation clause applies, it bars the use of a testimonial hearsay
statement against a criminal defendant when the declarant is unavailable at trial, unless
the defendant had a prior opportunity to cross-examine the declarant. (Crawford v.
Washington (2004) 541 U.S. 36, 59, 68–69 (Crawford); accord, People v. Lopez (2012)
55 Cal.4th 569, 580–581.)
              Here, there is no dispute L.F.’s videotaped statement to the police
constitutes testimonial hearsay for Sixth Amendment purposes. (See Davis v.
Washington (2006) 547 U.S. 813, 822 [holding statements are testimonial when made in
course of police interrogation under circumstances “objectively indicat[ing] . . . the
primary purpose of the interrogation is to establish or prove past events potentially
relevant to later criminal prosecution” and there is no “ongoing emergency”].) However,
the admission of this evidence did not violate Tavarez’s confrontation rights because L.F.

                                             12
testified at trial and could be cross-examined regarding her testimonial hearsay
statements.
              The California Supreme Court explained: “[A]s the United States Supreme
Court has stated, ‘when the declarant appears for cross-examination at trial, the
Confrontation Clause places no constraints at all on the use of [her] prior testimonial
statements.’ [Citation.] This is true even if the witness cannot recall the statement.
‘Defendant contends there can be no constitutionally effective cross-examination when
the witness cannot recall the facts related in the hearsay statement. [Citations.] But the
[United States Supreme Court] has squarely rejected that contention, concluding that
“when a hearsay declarant is present at trial and subject to unrestricted cross-
examination,” “the traditional protections of the oath, cross-examination, and opportunity
for the jury to observe the witness’[s] demeanor satisfy the constitutional requirements,”
notwithstanding the witness’s claimed memory loss about the facts related in the hearsay
statement. [Citation.] Nothing in Crawford casts doubt on the continuing vitality of
[United States v.] Owens [(1988) 484 U.S. 554 (Owens).]’” (People v. Sanchez (2019)
7 Cal.5th 14, 42.)
              In Owens, supra, 484 U.S. 554, a federal correctional counselor was
attacked and beaten with a metal pipe. (Id. at p. 556.) As a result of his injuries, his
memory was severely impaired. (Ibid.) When interviewed by law enforcement about
three weeks after the attack, the victim was able to describe the attack, named the
defendant as his attacker, and identified him from an array of photographs. (Ibid.) At
trial, the victim was able to describe some of the attack. Although he remembered
identifying the defendant as his attacker when he was interviewed, he admitted he could
not remember seeing his assailant. (Ibid.) The high court framed the issue as
“whether . . . the Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment . . . bars testimony
concerning a prior, out-of-court identification when the identifying witness is unable,
because of memory loss, to explain the basis for the identification.” (Id. at pp. 555–556.)

                                             13
              The United States Supreme Court concluded there was no confrontation
clause violation. (Owens, supra, 484 U.S. at p. 564.) The court explained: “‘[T]he
Confrontation Clause guarantees only “an opportunity for effective cross-examination,
not cross-examination that is effective in whatever way, and to whatever extent, the
defense might wish.”’” (Id. at p. 559.) The court continued: “The weapons available to
impugn the witness’ statement when memory loss is asserted will of course not always
achieve success, but successful cross-examination is not the constitutional guarantee.”
(Id. at p. 560.) While the Owens court acknowledged the “dangers associated with
hearsay,” it concluded an inquiry under the confrontation clause is not “called for when a
hearsay declarant is present at trial and subject to unrestricted cross-examination.” (Ibid.)
The court explained, “Ordinarily a witness is regarded as ‘subject to cross-examination’
when he is placed on the stand, under oath, and responds willingly to questions.” (Id. at
p. 561.)
              Here, as in Owens and Sanchez, L.F. was subject to cross-examination as
she was placed on the stand under oath, found competent to testify, and responded to the
questions posed to her. She did not refuse to answer any questions. Thus, Tavarez’s
reliance on People v. Perez (2016) 243 Cal.App.4th 863 and People v. Giron-Chamul
(2016) 245 Cal.App.4th 932 is misplaced as those cases concern recalcitrant witnesses
who appeared at trial but refused to answer some or all of the questions presented to
them. (People v. Perez, supra, 243 Cal.App.4th at pp. 883, 886; People v. Giron-
Chamul, supra, 245 Cal.App.4th at pp. 961–969.)
              Tavarez asserts L.F.’s testimony on the stand affirming the prosecutor’s
leading questions should have been stricken. During L.F.’s direct examination, defense
counsel objected to only one question as leading—the prosecutor’s question whether L.F.
remembered Mother telling her to let Mother know if anyone touched L.F.’s body. The
court overruled the objection. We do not view this question by the prosecutor or L.F.’s

                                             14
testimony after this question as creating “an illusion of adverse testimony that could not
be cross-examined” as Tavarez contends.
              We need not determine whether Tavarez’s confrontation clause claim is
precluded by his counsel’s failure to attempt to cross-examine L.F., as argued by the
Attorney General, because we conclude Tavarez’s confrontation rights were not violated,
based on Sanchez and Owens. We reject Tavarez’s claim his confrontation rights were
violated by the admission of L.F.’s police interview or her trial testimony in response to
the prosecutor’s leading question.

                                            III.
                LEWD CONDUCT IS NOT A LESSER INCLUDED OFFENSE OF
                            SEXUAL PENETRATION OF A CHILD
              Tavarez contends his lewd conduct conviction (§ 288, subd. (a)) in count 4
must be stricken because it is a lesser included offense of his conviction for sexual
penetration of a child 10 years of age or younger (§ 288.7, subd. (b)) in count 3 and both
convictions were based on the same conduct. The Attorney General contends Tavarez
was properly convicted of both offenses because lewd conduct is not a necessarily
included offense of sexual penetration. We agree with the Attorney General.

A. Applicable Law
              “In general, a person may be convicted of, although not punished for, more
than one crime arising out of the same act or course of conduct. ‘In California, a single
act or course of conduct by a defendant can lead to convictions “of any number of the
offenses charged.”’” (People v. Reed (2006) 38 Cal.4th 1224, 1226.) “A judicially
created exception to the general rule permitting multiple conviction ‘prohibits multiple
convictions based on necessarily included offenses.’” (Id. at p. 1227.) “‘[I]f a crime
cannot be committed without also necessarily committing a lesser offense, the latter is a

                                             15
lesser included offense within the former.’ [Citation.] In such cases, a defendant may
not be convicted of both the greater and the lesser offense.” (People v. Milward (2011)
52 Cal.4th 580, 585.) When prohibited multiple convictions occur, the conviction for the
lesser included offense will be set aside. (People v. Lopez (2020) 9 Cal.5th 254, 270.)
              In determining whether one offense is a necessarily included offense of
another, the statutory elements test is used. (People v. Reed, supra, 38 Cal.4th at
p. 1231.) “‘“Under the elements test, if the statutory elements of the greater offense
include all of the statutory elements of the lesser offense, the latter is necessarily included
in the former.”’” (People v. Lopez, supra, 9 Cal.5th at pp. 269–270.)

B. Analysis
              Tavarez was convicted in count 3 of violating section 288.7,
subdivision (b), which states: “Any person 18 years of age or older who engages
in . . . sexual penetration, as defined in Section 289, with a child who is 10 years of age or
younger is guilty of a felony . . . .” Section 289 defines “‘[s]exual penetration’” as “the
act of causing the penetration, however slight, of the genital or anal opening of any
person or causing another person to so penetrate the defendant’s or another person’s
genital or anal opening for the purpose of sexual arousal, gratification, or abuse by any
foreign object, substance, instrument, or device, or by any unknown object.” (§ 289,
subd. (k)(1).) The offense of sexual penetration of a child is a specific intent crime as it
requires the act “‘be done with the intent to gain sexual arousal or gratification or to
inflict abuse on the victim.’” (People v. ZarateCastillo (2016) 244 Cal.App.4th 1161,
1167.)
              Tavarez was convicted in count 4 of violating section 288, subdivision (a),
which states in relevant part: “[A] person who willfully and lewdly commits any lewd or
lascivious act, including any of the acts constituting other crimes provided for in Part 1,
upon or with the body, or any part or member thereof, of a child who is under the age of

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14 years, with the intent of arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust, passions, or
sexual desires of that person or the child, is guilty of a felony . . . .” Section 288,
subdivision (a) “requires proof of ‘the specific intent of arousing, appealing to, or
gratifying the lust of the child or the accused.’” (People v. Warner (2006) 39 Cal.4th
548, 556.)
               The intent elements of section 288.7, subdivision (b) and section 288,
subdivision (a) are different in that section 288.7, subdivision (b) criminalizes sexual
penetration for the purpose of abuse; section 288, subdivision (a) does not include the
intent to inflict abuse. Thus, a defendant could commit an act of sexual penetration of a
child with the intent to abuse in violation of section 288.7, subdivision (b) without
committing an act of lewd conduct in violation of section 288, subdivision (a). And a
defendant could commit an act of lewd conduct without committing an act of sexual
penetration of a child.
               Tavarez contends the intent elements of the two offenses are the same. He
asserts “[s]exual abuse is a synonym of sexual arousal and sexual gratification and not a
separate concept from lewd touching.” To support his argument, he cites to section
11165.1, which defines “‘sexual abuse’” as the term is used in the Child Abuse and
Neglect Reporting Act. (§§ 11164–11174.31.) Section 11165.1 states “‘sexual abuse’
means sexual assault” and provides multiple examples of conduct that qualifies as sexual
assault. (Id., subds. (a), (b)(1)–(5).) Tavarez focuses on the example that states “‘sexual
assault’” includes “[t]he intentional touching of the genitals or intimate parts, including
the breasts, genital area, groin, inner thighs, and buttocks . . . of a child, or of the
perpetrator by a child, for purposes of sexual arousal or gratification . . . .” (Id., subd.
(b)(4).) Another example provided by the statute, however, does not require any intent; it
indicates “‘sexual assault’” is “[i]ntrusion by one person into the genitals or anal opening
of another person, including the use of an object for this purpose . . . .” (Id., subd. (b)(3).)
Thus, the definitions of sexual assault in the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act do

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not aid Tavarez’s argument as even under its examples of sexual assault, a person can
commit sexual assault or abuse without a purpose of sexual arousal or gratification.
Tavarez does not persuade us the language concerning the required intent element in
section 288, subdivision (a) should be expanded to include abuse.
             Tavarez was properly convicted of both sexual penetration of a child in
count 3 and lewd conduct in count 4.

                                           IV.
                  THE ABSTRACTS OF JUDGMENT MUST BE CORRECTED
             At sentencing, the court imposed a determinate six-year term on Tavarez’s
lewd conduct conviction in count 1. For Tavarez’s conviction for sexual penetration of a
child in count 3, the court imposed an indeterminate term of 15 years to life and ordered
it to run consecutive to the determinate sentence in count 1. The court imposed a
determinate midterm sentence of six years on the lewd conduct conviction in count 4, but
the court stayed the term under section 654 because it was based on the same conduct as
the conviction in count 3. The court stated it would not impose the court operations fees
or criminal conviction assessments.
             The abstract of judgment for the determinate prison commitment states the
court imposed and stayed a consecutive full-term sentence on count 4. Similarly, the
court’s minutes for the sentencing hearing state the court imposed a consecutive full-term
sentence on count 4. The abstract of judgment for the indeterminate prison commitment
reflects the imposition of a $120 court operations fee under section 1465.8 and a $90
criminal conviction assessment under Government Code section 70373.
             The parties agree the abstracts of judgment must be corrected because they
do not accurately reflect the court’s judgment. We agree and direct the court to amend
the abstracts of judgment by: (1) deleting the notation the sentence on count 4 was
imposed “consecutive full term” (capitalization omitted) on the abstract of judgment for

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the determinate prison commitment; and (2) deleting the notations the court imposed a
$120 court fee under section 1465.8 and a $90 criminal conviction assessment under
Government Code section § 70373 on the abstract of judgment for the indeterminate
prison commitment. (People v. Jones (2012) 54 Cal.4th 1, 89 [appellate court has
inherent power to order correction of errors in the abstract of judgment]; People v.
Mitchell (2001) 26 Cal.4th 181, 185–187 [same].)
              Likewise, the sentencing minute order must be corrected to reflect the court
did not impose a consecutive full-term sentence on count 4. (People v. Farell (2002) 28
Cal.4th 381, 384, fn. 2 [“The record of the oral pronouncement of the court controls over
the clerk’s minute order”].)
              Tavarez contends the abstract of judgment for the determinate prison
commitment must also be corrected to reflect the imposition of a concurrent sentence on
count 4. He asserts by operation of section 669, the term on count 4 must be deemed to
be concurrent because the court did not state it was imposing a consecutive sentence on
count 4 prior to staying the term under section 654. Tavarez’s reliance on section 669 in
this context is misplaced as the statute applies when a sentence is ordered to be executed
(§ 669, subd. (a)) and his sentence on count 4 was stayed under section 654 and not
ordered to be executed. “If section 654, subdivision (a) requires that a sentence be
stayed, then concurrent terms pursuant to section 669 may not be imposed.” (People v.
Hernandez (2005) 134 Cal.App.4th 1232, 1239.)

                                      DISPOSITION
              We affirm the judgment. We direct the trial court to: (1) delete from the
sentencing minute order and the abstract of judgment for the determinate prison
commitment the notations indicating a full-term consecutive sentence was imposed on
count 4; (2) delete from the abstract of judgment for the indeterminate prison
commitment the notations indicating the court imposed a $120 court fee under section

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1465.8 and a $90 conviction assessment under Government Code section 70373; and
(3) forward a certified copy of the amended abstracts of judgment and sentencing minute
order to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

                                                MOTOIKE, J.

WE CONCUR:

MOORE, ACTING P. J.

SANCHEZ, J.

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