Court Opinion

ID: 894325
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-06-05 22:26:32.600753+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:32:33.615326
License: Public Domain

Filed 6/5/13 P. v. Polk CA2/7
                  NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
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              IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

                                     SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                DIVISION SEVEN

THE PEOPLE,                                                          B240121

         Plaintiff and Respondent,                                   (Los Angeles County
                                                                     Super. Ct. No. K094860)
         v.

KENNETH POLK,

         Defendant and Appellant.

         APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Robert
M. Martinez, Judge. Affirmed as modified.
         Christopher A. Darden for Defendant and Appellant.
         Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Lance E. Winters, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Paul M. Roadarmel, Jr.
and Daniel C. Chang, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

                                          _______________________
        Kenneth Polk was convicted of attempted murder (Pen. Code,1 §§ 187, 664) and
attempted robbery (§§ 211, 664). Polk appeals, claiming multiple errors arising from a
juror’s revelation during deliberations that she lived in proximity to the crime scene and
felt unsafe as a result, as well as ineffective assistance of counsel. We modify the
judgment to correct sentencing errors but otherwise affirm.

                  FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

        Polk was charged with attempted murder and attempted robbery arising out of the
shooting of Edward Anderson. At trial, Anderson testified that in July 2011, he arranged
to purchase prescription pain medication from Polk. Anderson, who had previously
purchased drugs from Polk, hoped to purchase $800 of pills as a broker for a third party,
Shawn McDonough.
        Anderson met Polk at a location Polk selected, and they then walked around the
corner. Polk seemed very nervous and suspicious that Anderson might be a police
officer. Polk demanded to see the money, so Anderson produced the $1900 that
McDonough had given him.
        Polk said he would return with the drugs, but instead he appeared with a chrome
revolver and demanded the money. Anderson chuckled at the demand. Polk
immediately shot him in the hand, then pointed the gun at Anderson’s head. He pulled
the trigger but the gun jammed. Anderson ran away, and Polk shot him in the back as he
fled.
        Anderson was able to drive away from the scene. Once he was a safe distance
away, he pulled over and called for emergency services. Police found Anderson lying in
a fetal position on the ground outside his truck. His colon had been penetrated by a
bullet; his spine was fractured; his stomach and intestines required surgical repair; and he
experienced lung problems. Officers recovered more than $2000 in bloodied cash from
the truck.

1
        Unless otherwise indicated, all further statutory references are to the Penal Code.
                                              2
       Multiple witnesses testified to Anderson’s drug dealing and to his connection with
Polk. Frank Fraser testified that he had introduced Polk and Anderson because Anderson
wanted Xanax. On the evening of the shooting, Fraser telephoned Polk several times for
Anderson. The person who answered was probably Polk, but he seemed drunk.
McDonough testified that he was to be the ultimate purchaser of the prescription
medications that Anderson was buying from Polk. He gave Anderson $1900 and waited
for Anderson to return with the drugs. He waited 10 to 15 minutes and then saw
Anderson’s car pulling into the parking lot. McDonough saw Anderson stumble out of
the car and that there were four men around him; he left the scene because he thought
Anderson was being arrested.
       Polk testified that he was a drug dealer and that he met with Anderson to sell drugs
to him. He said that Anderson had told him in advance that he had been robbed before
and that he would be carrying a gun. Polk found this threatening but was prepared to do
business with him nonetheless. When they met, Anderson was angry. Anderson wanted
to count the pills that Polk gave him, and after he had done so, he demanded 100
additional pills, stating that he had received 500 rather than 600. Polk said there were
600 pills, and asked for the money or the pills. Anderson was belligerent and hit him.
Polk said, “I put my hand in my pocket like: back up. Um, I didn’t brandish any
weapon. I was just stating that I have a weapon, back up. Um, maybe he thought I was
playing, maybe he thought I wasn’t serious, but I remember him reaching for his
waistband, and I was just—I just reacted off impulse, being scared that he might—he
could have had a weapon, and just tried to let him not get to that waist.” He started
shooting because he was afraid that Anderson “would pull out his own weapon.” Polk
denied robbing Anderson.
       During jury deliberations, the foreperson sent out a note that stated that one juror
lived in proximity to Polk’s family and that she feared them. At the trial court’s request,
the juror in question completed a questionnaire, in which she explained that she lived
near Polk’s mother and frequented businesses near which the events in the case took
place. She stated that she could not continue to deliberate in accordance with her oath

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and that she feared that she would be hurt by Polk’s family or associates if she voted in
accordance with her beliefs and found him guilty. She believed that associates of the
defendant had been looking at the jury as if to try to intimidate jurors.
       Defense counsel expressed concern to the court that the deliberations might have
included discussion about the juror’s concerns. He said, “There’s no way to tell where in
the process that happened. And because of the nature of the concern, I believe there’s a
danger of a cloud of bias that would have if it was part of the whole process of the
conversation over the last couple of hours yesterday and however many minutes this
morning, before the note came out. It seems to me that that would have created a pall on
the process. And without knowing more, I would be forced to make a motion for a
mistrial. I think at the very least the jurors need to be questioned maybe on a one-on-one
basis if there is anything that has been discussed outside the realm of evidence that has
affected their deliberating process,” such as “[t]he one juror’s concern about her
perceptions of activity from the audience, and whether that was her perception or other
jurors’ as well, talking to her about that.”
       The court reminded defense counsel that jurors are entitled to consider matters
beyond the evidence, such as life experiences, and expressed the concern that if the court
questioned jurors about matters outside the evidence, it might “be delving into the
deliberative process, and life experience and reasons.” Defense counsel responded that
there was no need to delve into such matters, only to ask if “there was a conversation
about activity within the courtroom that wasn’t . . . part of the court process, and that that
affected their conversation about the court process.” The court and counsel discussed the
likely effect of any intimidating activity, and the court wondered aloud how the court
could determine the impact on the jury. Defense counsel acknowledged that the court
could not figure that out, and stated, “But my concern is only that in the beginning of the
deliberative process, that was discussed. You know, the issue the juror raised, if the fear
arises from the fact that the locus is endemic to their daily life, that was made evident
during the course of trial, before we ever got to the end of it.”

                                               4
       The court proposed instructing the jury that it was to decide the case on the basis
of the evidence and that the behaviors of spectators were irrelevant and immaterial.
Defense counsel agreed: “I think that’s a helpful suggestion.” The court said, “[W]e’re
talking about the subjective intentions of people in the audience, persons that we don’t
know what they did or who they are. The court’s intention is to admonish the jury that
the behaviors of spectators, if any, are not to be considered, and decide this case based
solely on the testimony and evidence presented.” The court denied the motion for
mistrial and removed the juror who claimed to be unable to deliberate.
       The court addressed the jury: “Ladies and gentlemen, once you were selected as
jurors, you received the following admonition, or actually took the following oath: ‘Do
you and each of you understand and agree that you will well and truly try the cause now
pending before the court and a true verdict render[] according only to the evidence
presented to you and to the instructions of this court?’ Since I have bec[o]me a judge, I
have had the opportunity of facing the attorneys and jurors and spectators, and I have
learned over the past 28 years that sometimes the expressions of individuals in court are
natural responses, unintended in terms of trying to communicate. Some people are
influenced by their familiarity or relationship with the parties. And to try and interpret
the expressions or behaviors of spectators is basically to engage in idle speculation. The
reactions or expressions of persons in the audience are ambiguous. They are irrelevant.
They are immaterial to the issue that confronts you. You are to disregard any attempt to
construe the meaning of any behaviors by spectators, and you are to judge the credibility
of witnesses based on the criteria that [are] set forth in the instructions. If there are any
of you who feel that you cannot do that, would you please raise your hand.” No juror
raised a hand.
       Polk was convicted of attempted premeditated murder and attempted robbery, with
all enhancement allegations found true. At the sentencing hearing, defense counsel
sought a new trial on two bases: a denial of due process because it could not be known
whether the removed juror’s concerns tainted the deliberative process; and the jurors’
receipt of “extrajudicial evidence” from the removed juror. Counsel advised the court

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that there was no way of knowing whether there was express discussion of the removed
juror’s concerns and that it could not therefore be determined “whether the panel was
infected by these fears and concerns.” He asked to continue the sentencing hearing to
permit his investigator to contact jurors to inquire whether the process was tainted. The
court denied the motions for a new trial and the request to question the jury.
       Polk was sentenced to life in prison for the attempted murder, plus a consecutive
25 years to life for personal and intentional discharge of a firearm, causing great bodily
injury (§ 12022.53, subd. (d)). For the attempted robbery, the court stayed the sentence
and the section 12022.53, subdivision (d) enhancement. The court struck enhancements
on both counts under section 12022.53, subdivision (b) and (c); 12022.5, subdivision (a);
and 12022.7, subdivision (a). Polk appeals.

                                       DISCUSSION

       I.     Refusal to Question Jurors

       Polk argues that the trial court committed reversible error when it did not question
the remaining jurors at the time that one juror was removed to determine whether the
juror’s comments during deliberations prejudiced the remaining jurors. A trial court has
a duty to inquire into allegations of misconduct during jury deliberations and conduct
whatever inquiry is reasonably necessary to determine whether a juror should be
discharged. (People v. Martinez (2010) 47 Cal.4th 911, 941-942.) Whether and how to
investigate allegations of juror misconduct is within the trial court’s discretion. (Id. at
p. 942.)
       Here, Polk has failed to demonstrate an abuse of discretion. The trial court
promptly investigated the issue relating to the troubled juror by sending in a
questionnaire, and upon receiving responses indicating that she could not properly
deliberate, the court excused her. Next, the trial court reminded jurors of their oath,
advised them to disregard the behavior of courtroom spectators, instructed them to
“disregard any attempt to construe the meaning of any behaviors by spectators, and [] to
judge the credibility of witnesses based on the criteria that [are] set forth in the
                                             6
instructions,” and asked any juror who could not abide by these instructions to raise a
hand. No juror raised his or her hand. This admonition and inquiry directly addressed
the issue of whether the juror’s concerns, expressed during deliberations, impacted the
remaining jurors. Polk has not demonstrated that this advisement and question was
insufficient.
       Polk argues that additional inquiry might have revealed “even more extraneous
information if not actual juror misconduct” occurring in the deliberation room. Polk,
however, has not presented any evidence suggesting that any other information was
conveyed by the juror beyond that already addressed by the trial court. With only
speculation that more might have occurred, the trial court was not obligated to conduct
further investigations. A hearing on juror misconduct “‘should not be used as a “fishing
expedition” to search for possible misconduct, but should be held only when the defense
has come forward with evidence demonstrating a strong possibility that prejudicial
misconduct has occurred.’ [Citation.]” (People v. Staten (2000) 24 Cal.4th 434, 466.)
As Polk has neither produced evidence demonstrating a strong possibility that prejudicial
juror misconduct occurred nor established any manner in which the court’s inquiry to the
jury panel was insufficient to establish the jurors’ ability and willingness to decide the
case on the evidence alone, he has not shown any abuse of discretion.

       II.      Motion for New Trial

       Polk sought a new trial based on the same allegations of juror misconduct and the
contention that the court had failed to conduct an adequate inquiry with the remaining
jurors. Polk argues that the removed juror “clearly discussed extraneous information
during deliberation,” as evidenced by the foreperson’s note, and that this is “proof
positive” of misconduct; further, he argues, this court must presume that Polk was
prejudiced by this misconduct.
       A juror’s receipt or discussion of evidence not presented at trial constitutes
misconduct. (People v. Dykes (2009) 46 Cal.4th 731, 809.) Assuming that the juror’s
revelation that she lived in proximity to and feared Polk’s family constituted misconduct,

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we find no error in the court’s denial of the new trial motion. “Misconduct by a juror
raises a rebuttable presumption of prejudice. [Citation.] However, we will set aside a
verdict only where there is a substantial likelihood of juror bias. [Citation.] We will find
such bias if the misconduct is inherently and substantially likely to have influenced the
jury. Alternatively, even if the misconduct is not inherently prejudicial, we will
nonetheless find such bias if, after a review of the totality of the circumstances, a
substantial likelihood of bias arose.” (People v. Bennett (2009) 45 Cal.4th 577, 626-627.)
       We conclude that the removed juror’s comment did not create a substantial
likelihood of juror bias. The juror’s statement that she lived near Polk’s family members
and that she was afraid of them—the only information she is known to have shared with
other jurors—created doubt that she could perform her duties, but her personal fear based
on her residential proximity to those connected with the case has no logical connection to
the other jurors’ ability to impartially decide the case. Nothing in the record suggests or
offers a ground for concluding that her statement influenced the other jurors in any way
or that it biased them against Polk. To the contrary, when the court reminded the jurors
of their oath and asked if any were unable to follow their obligation to consider the case
based on the evidence and not on conclusions about spectators, no juror indicated an
inability or unwillingness to follow the court’s instructions. The trial court did not err by
denying Polk’s motion for a new trial.

       III.   Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

       Polk contends that his counsel rendered ineffective assistance when he failed to
argue self-defense during summation. To establish ineffective assistance of counsel, Polk
must demonstrate that “(1) counsel’s representation was deficient in falling below an
objective standard of reasonableness under prevailing professional norms, and (2)
counsel’s deficient representation subjected the petitioner to prejudice, i.e., there is a
reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s failings, the result would have been more
favorable to the petitioner.” (In re Jones (1996) 13 Cal.4th 552, 561.)

                                               8
       A review of the record demonstrates that Polk’s counsel did raise the issue of self-
defense in closing: “Anderson got upset, said he counted it [the pills] out and it wasn’t
enough and he started coming at him. Anderson is 6-6, weighs 350. Mr. Polk, well, you
saw him, you heard him, he’s 175 pounds, 5-10. Mr. Anderson under any circumstances
is an imposing individual. [¶] . . . [¶] Mr. Polk told you: I went there and I brought a
gun, because when Anderson called me, he emphasized that he’s going to bring a gun,
that he’s been robbed, that he’s angry if he’s messed with. Now, he brought a gun
because he was concerned, he said. He started getting attacked, hit on the head, he
backed up and he put his hand in his pocket, he saw Mr. Anderson make a gesture,
having in mind that he was told that Anderson was carrying, he started shooting.” This
argument clearly encouraged the jury to conclude that Polk had acted in self-defense, and
accordingly, Polk’s contention that defense counsel “failed to argue the merits of his
client’s only defense” is belied by the record.
       Polk is correct that counsel did not use the term “self-defense,” but defense
counsel’s presentation was nonetheless sufficient to guide the jury toward the instructions
on self-defense. Here, the jury was instructed on self-defense as a defense to the
attempted premeditated murder charge, the availability of self-defense in the context of
mutual combat or starting an altercation, and the limits of self-defense (CALCRIM Nos.
3470, 3471, 3472, 3474). Both perfect and imperfect self-defense were explained in the
jury instruction on attempted voluntary manslaughter (CALCRIM No. 604). The jury,
therefore, was fully instructed on the elements of self-defense and imperfect self-defense,
and defense counsel’s argument directed the jury toward those instructions by
highlighting the evidence consistent with a self-defense or imperfect self-defense theory.
Accordingly, Polk has failed to demonstrate that his counsel’s representation was
deficient in falling below an objective standard of reasonableness under prevailing
professional norms.

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       IV.    Post-Verdict Request to Discover Juror Information

       During arguments on the motions for new trial, defense counsel sought permission
to contact and interview jurors to ascertain what the removed juror had said to other
members of the jury. As both Polk and the Attorney General observe, Code of Civil
Procedure section 206, subdivision (g) authorizes the defense to seek juror contact
information and specifies that these requests are to be made and considered pursuant to
Code of Civil Procedure section 237. Code of Civil Procedure section 237 requires that a
petition for access to juror records be supported by a declaration that includes facts
sufficient to establish good cause for the release of the juror’s personal identifying
information. The petition and declaration are then reviewed to determine whether they
establish a prima facie showing of good cause for the release of the information. (Code
Civ. Proc., § 237, subd. (b).) Denial of a petition filed under Code of Civil Procedure
section 237 is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. (People v. Santos (2007) 147
Cal.App.4th 965, 978.)
       Polk argues on appeal that the court “abused its discretion in determining that
appellant failed to make a prima facie showing of good cause for discovery of the juror’s
information.” From the record on appeal, however, it does not appear that Polk filed a
petition and declaration under Code of Civil Procedure section 237; no such documents
are included in the clerk’s transcript, and Polk refers us to the record only for the court’s
denial of the request. As Polk apparently failed to file a petition with supporting
declaration as required by statute, the court did not err in declining to release the jurors’
identifying information.

       V.     Sentencing Error

       At sentencing, the trial court imposed a sentence enhancement under section
12022.53, subdivision (d) for each of the two counts on which Polk had been convicted,
staying the second. The court then struck sentence enhancements under section
12022.53, subdivision (b); section 12022.53, subdivision (c); section 12022.5,
subdivision (a); and section 12022.7, subdivision (a). At our request, the parties
                                            10
submitted supplemental briefing addressing whether the stricken enhancements should
instead have been imposed and then stayed. The parties agree, as do we, that the court
erred by striking, rather than imposing and staying, these sentence enhancements.
(People v. Gonzalez (2008) 43 Cal.4th 1118, 1130; § 12022.53, subd. (f).)
       Polk argues that the Attorney General has waived and forfeited any right to litigate
these issues on appeal, but the failure to impose the sentence mandated by law results in
an unauthorized sentence subject to correction on appeal even absent an objection in the
trial court. (People v. Scott (1994) 9 Cal.4th 331, 354 [unauthorized sentence is one that
could not be lawfully imposed under any circumstance in the case]; People v. Dotson
(1997) 16 Cal.4th 547, 554, fn. 6 [unauthorized sentence is subject to judicial correction
whenever the error comes to the attention of the reviewing court].) Accordingly, the
judgment is modified to reflect that the previously-stricken enhancements are imposed
and stayed.

                                      DISPOSITION

       The judgment is modified to impose and stay the sentence enhancements found
true by the jury under section 12022.53, subdivision (b); section 12022.53, subdivision
(c); section 12022.5, subdivision (a); and section 12022.7, subdivision (a). The clerk of
the superior court is directed to prepare a corrected abstract of judgment reflecting that
the previously-stricken enhancements are imposed and stayed, and to forward a certified
copy of the abstract of judgment to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. In
all other respects, the judgment is affirmed.

                                                     ZELON, J.
We concur:

       PERLUSS, P. J.                                WOODS, J.

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