Court Opinion

ID: 2784408
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-03-05 22:03:06.990319+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:28:31.819041
License: Public Domain

Filed 3/5/15 P. v. Ortiz CA2/3
                  NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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
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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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

                                     SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                DIVISION THREE

THE PEOPLE,                                                              B249930

         Plaintiff and Respondent,                                       (Los Angeles County
                                                                         Super. Ct. No. NA091953)
         v.

MARSELINA ORTIZ,

         Defendant and Appellant.

         APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County,
Arthur Jean, Jr., Judge. Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded with directions.
         Law Offices of Pamela J. Voich and Pamela J. Voich, under appointment by the
Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant.
         Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Assistant Attorney
General, Susan Sullivan Pithey and David Zarmi, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff
and Respondent.

                                        _________________________
         Defendant and appellant, Marselina Ortiz, appeals her conviction for possession of
methamphetamine, and possession of methamphetamine for sale, with a prior prison term
finding (Pen. Code, § 667.5; Health & Saf. Code, §§ 11377, 11378).1 She was sentenced
to county jail for a term of four years eight months.
         The judgment is affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded for partial
resentencing.
                                      BACKGROUND
         Viewed in accordance with the usual rule of appellate review (People v. Ochoa
(1993) 6 Cal.4th 1199, 1206), the evidence established the following.
         1. Prosecution evidence.
         On March 29, 2012,2 Los Angeles Police Officer Robert Castruita arrested Manuel
Quintero and found in his possession a key to Room 205 at the Vagabond Inn motel.
Castruita obtained a search warrant and searched the room on March 30. He found
111 grams of methamphetamine in a clear plastic bag. He also found a handgun, a digital
scale, empty plastic baggies, and a binder containing what appeared to be a pay-owe
sheet.
         According to the Vagabond Inn’s registration records, Quintero and Ortiz had
rented Room 205 from March 26 until March 30, although it was Ortiz who checked in.
The records showed that on March 30, Quintero and Ortiz moved to Room 203. Then on
March 31, Ortiz alone moved to Room 210.
         Officer Castruita returned to the Vagabond Inn on the night of March 31 and
found Ortiz in the parking lot. She told him that she “was staying in Room 210.” After
confirming this with the Inn, Castruita detained Ortiz and obtained her consent to search
Room 210. In a nightstand, Castruita found a black plastic bag containing a little more
than 111 grams of methamphetamine, along with clear plastic baggies. There were pay-
owe sheets similar to the one found in Room 205. Some of Quintero’s clothing was

1
         All further references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise specified.
2
         All further date references are to the year 2012 unless otherwise specified.

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found in Room 210, but nothing belonging to Ortiz. Ortiz had two cell phones inside her
purse. When she was booked, police found a baggie with 0.22 grams of
methamphetamine in her possession.
       Ortiz told Castruita she had rented Room 205 as a favor to Quintero, who
compensated her for doing so. She knew Quintero was selling drugs from Room 205 and
that there was a gun in the room. However, Ortiz denied knowing there was any
methamphetamine in Room 210.
       There were text messages on Ortiz’s cell phone apparently related to drug
trafficking.
       Officer Jeremy Cohen testified as an expert on methamphetamine sales.
Responding to hypothetical questions based on the facts of this case, he opined the
111 grams of methamphetamine found in Room 205 were possessed for sale. He based
this conclusion on the $3,000 value of the methamphetamine, the digital scale which
would have been used for measuring purchase amounts, the gun which would have been
used for protection and to collect debts, and the pay-owe sheet which would have been
used to track drug sales. Cohen opined the 111 grams of methamphetamine found in
Room 210 were also possessed for sale, based on the value of this amount, the pay-owe
sheets, and the room switching that had taken place (Cohen testified it was a common
tactic for drug dealers to change hotel rooms in order to disguise their business
operations).
       Regarding the drug-related text messages on Ortiz’s cell phone, Cohen explained
that references to a “dime” of methamphetamine meant one tenth of a gram, which was
worth $10, while an “eight ball” referred to three and a half grams of methamphetamine
worth between $120 and $150. A tenth of a gram of methamphetamine was a usable
amount which, if pure, would last a few days. Cohen opined the text messages on Ortiz’s
phone indicated she was trafficking methamphetamine.

                                             3
       2. Defense evidence.
       Ortiz testified she had been dating Quintero’s brother when Quintero asked her to
rent a room for him at the Vagabond Inn. Quintero said he had been fighting with his
girlfriend and wanted a place to sleep, but he didn’t have identification and could not rent
a room on his own. Ortiz rented the room and gave Quintero the key. She did this as a
favor and he did not pay her. Ortiz denied having been inside any of the three rented
rooms at the Vagabond Inn. She denied having told Castruita otherwise, or that she knew
Quintero was selling drugs, or that he had paid her to rent the rooms.
       When Quintero called Ortiz on March 31 and asked her to rent a different room
for him, she was unaware he had already been arrested. That night she heard a rumor
about his arrest and she was on her way to the motel room to check it out when she ran
into Officer Castruita in the parking lot.
       Ortiz acknowledged that a text message on her cell phone from her mother was a
request for drugs.3 Ortiz testified she and her mother occasionally used drugs together.
In an exchange of text messages with someone named Clint, she asked him for two “eight
balls” for her personal use.4
       Ortiz had been convicted of felony petty theft with priors in 2008 and then again
in 2009.
                                     CONTENTIONS
       1. There was insufficient evidence to sustain Ortiz’s conviction for drug
trafficking.
       2. The prior prison term enhancement must be vacated because Ortiz never
admitted it.
       3. This court should conduct an in camera Pitchess review.

3
       Ortiz’s mother had texted her: “I need dime and yes I got the 10.”
4
      Ortiz had texted Clint, “U got to [sic] 8 balls for a how much what about 120,” to
which Clint replied, “120 each.”

                                             4
       4. [By the Attorney General] The trial court failed to impose certain mandatory
penalty assessments and surcharges.
                                       DISCUSSION
       1. There was sufficient evidence to sustain the drug trafficking conviction.
       Ortiz contends there was insufficient evidence to sustain her conviction for
possession of methamphetamine for sale. This claim is meritless.
              a. Legal principles.
       “In assessing a claim of insufficiency of evidence, the reviewing court’s task is to
review the whole record in the light most favorable to the judgment to determine whether
it discloses substantial evidence – that is, evidence that is reasonable, credible, and of
solid value – such that a reasonable trier of fact could find the defendant guilty beyond a
reasonable doubt. [Citation.] The federal standard of review is to the same effect: Under
principles of federal due process, review for sufficiency of evidence entails not the
determination whether the reviewing court itself believes the evidence at trial establishes
guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, but, instead, whether, after viewing the evidence in the
light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the
essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. [Citation.] The standard of
review is the same in cases in which the prosecution relies mainly on circumstantial
evidence. [Citation.] ‘ “Although it is the duty of the jury to acquit a defendant if it finds
that circumstantial evidence is susceptible of two interpretations, one of which suggests
guilt and the other innocence [citations], it is the jury, not the appellate court[,] which
must be convinced of the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. ‘ “If the
circumstances reasonably justify the trier of fact’s findings, the opinion of the reviewing
court that the circumstances might also reasonably be reconciled with a contrary finding
does not warrant a reversal of the judgment.” ’ [Citations.]” ’ [Citation.]” (People v.
Rodriguez (1999) 20 Cal.4th 1, 11.)
       “ ‘An appellate court must accept logical inferences that the [finder of fact] might
have drawn from the circumstantial evidence.’ [Citation.] ‘Before the judgment of the
trial court can be set aside for the insufficiency of the evidence, it must clearly appear

                                               5
that on no hypothesis whatever is there sufficient substantial evidence to support the
verdict of the [finder of fact].’ [Citation.]” (People v. Sanghera (2006) 139 Cal.App.4th
1567, 1573.) As our Supreme Court said in People v. Rodriguez, supra, 20 Cal.4th 1,
while reversing an insufficient evidence finding because the reviewing court had rejected
contrary, but equally logical, inferences the jury might have drawn: “The [Court of
Appeal] majority’s reasoning . . . amounted to nothing more than a different weighing of
the evidence, one the jury might well have considered and rejected. The Attorney
General’s inferences from the evidence were no more inherently speculative than the
majority’s; consequently, the majority erred in substituting its own assessment of the
evidence for that of the jury.” (Id. at p. 12, italics added.)
       “The elements of possession of narcotics are physical or constructive possession
thereof coupled with knowledge of the presence and narcotic character of the drug.
[Citations.] Constructive possession occurs when the accused maintains control or a right
to control the contraband; possession may be imputed when the contraband is found in a
place which is immediately and exclusively accessible to the accused and subject to his
dominion and control, or to the joint dominion and control of the accused and another.
[Citation.] The elements of unlawful possession may be established by circumstantial
evidence and any reasonable inferences drawn from such evidence.” (People v. Newman
(1971) 5 Cal.3d 48, 52, disapproved on other grounds by People v. Daniels (1975)
14 Cal.3d 857, 862.) “Proof of opportunity of access to a place where narcotics are found
will not, without more, support a finding of unlawful possession. [Citation.] But the
necessary elements (that the accused exercised dominion and control over the drug with
knowledge of both its presence and its narcotic character) may be established by
circumstantial evidence and any reasonable inferences drawn from such evidence; and
neither exclusive possession of the premises nor physical possession of the drug is
required. [Citations.]” (People v. Harrington (1970) 2 Cal.3d 991, 998, italics added.)
       It is well-settled that experienced officers may give their opinion that narcotics are
being held for purposes of sale based upon such matters as quantity, packaging, and
normal use by an individual. (People v. Parra (1999) 70 Cal.App.4th 222, 227.) An

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expert may testify about the methods and techniques of street-level drug dealers,
including the significance of drug paraphernalia, quantities, and prices. (See United
States v. Thomas (6th Cir. 1996) 74 F.3d 676, 682, disapproved on other grounds in
Morales v. American Honda Motor Co. (6th Cir. 1998) 151 F.3d 500, 515 [“Courts have
overwhelmingly found police officers’ expert testimony admissible where it will aid the
jury’s understanding of an area, such as drug dealing, not within the experience of the
average juror.”].)
              b. Discussion.
       Ortiz argues there was nothing to connect her to the drugs found at the Vagabond
Inn because Quintero’s things were in all the rented rooms, whereas there was nothing of
hers in those rooms. But Ortiz is ignoring the evidence showing Ortiz herself told
Castruita she had been staying in Room 210, that she had been inside Room 205, and that
she knew Quintero was selling drugs.
       Ortiz argues, “Even if appellant could somehow under these circumstances be
found to be in constructive knowing possession of the bag of meth in the nightstand of
Room 210, there is no evidence to support a finding she specifically intended to sell the
drugs.” But this argument ignores the circumstantial evidence showing the only reason
for possessing this methamphetamine would have been to traffic it: i.e., the extremely
large quantity, the baggies, the pay-owe sheets, and the incriminating text messages on
Ortiz’s cell phone. Being in constructive possession of the drugs in Room 210 also tied
Ortiz to the drugs found in Room 205 because she had rented that room as well.
       Ortiz argues the text messages on her cell phone merely showed she had been
purchasing methamphetamine for the personal use of herself and her mother. But this
fails to explain a text message from someone named Edwin asking Ortiz, “Marcy can you
get for me 8 ball?,” or a text message from someone named Emilio telling Ortiz “i want
to get more than usual but havent been able to catch you more than a dove,” to which
Ortiz responded, “I got it now I just picked up but I’m in [Long Beach.]” Officer Cohen
testified “[a] dove is similar to a dime,” i.e., a tenth of a gram, and that this conversation
was consistent with Ortiz possessing methamphetamine for sale. Another text shows

                                               7
Ortiz apparently negotiating to buy seven grams of methamphetamine from someone
named Clint. Officer Cohen explained a tenth of a gram would last for two days, which
means in this transaction Ortiz was trafficking an amount that would have lasted for
months had it really been for her personal use.
       During closing argument, the prosecutor pointed to the text messages as clarifying
any ambiguity in the People’s case, to which defense counsel replied only: “Now, there
are some text messages on her phone that seem[ ] to indicate that she is either picking up
drugs for people or getting drugs from somebody. I can’t dispute that. That’s what she
does. She picks up drugs for people. That shows that she uses meth. She probably
shares drugs with her friends and her mom. You can tell from the texts. She picks up the
drugs because she is the one that knows the drug dealer.” Despite this spin on the
evidence, the jury reasonably concluded the evidence showed Ortiz was trafficking, not
simply running free drug errands for her friends and relations.
       The inculpatory inferences from the circumstantial evidence were certainly “no
more inherently speculative” than the exculpatory inferences, and hence there was
sufficient evidence to sustain Ortiz’s conviction for possession of methamphetamine for
sale. (See People v. Rodriguez, supra, 20 Cal.4th at p. 12.)
       2. Prior prison term enhancement was properly imposed.
       Ortiz contends the trial court improperly imposed a one-year prior prison term
enhancement (§ 667.5, subd. (b)) because she never admitted the truth of this allegation.
There is no merit to this claim.
       Ortiz concedes the information properly alleged she had served a prior prison term
for a 2009 conviction, and that the trial court properly advised her she had the right to a
trial on the issue where she could confront witnesses, testify or remain silent. Ortiz
contends the problem lies in the following colloquy: “The Court: Miss Ortiz, I am told
that you are going to admit the priors that are alleged against you. [¶] Is that right? [¶]
The defendant: Oh, yeah.”
       Ortiz argues this exchange could not qualify as her admission of the prior prison
term allegation because “respondent does not and cannot cite to any part of the record

                                              8
where this admission was thereafter taken.” But on the very next page of the trial
transcript the court said: “I find a knowing, intelligent and voluntary waiver. The
admission is accepted.” (Italics added.)
       Ortiz argues her case is “almost identical” to People v. Lopez (1985)
163 Cal.App.3d 946. But there the defendant purportedly admitted a five-year prior
serious felony conviction enhancement (§ 667, subd. (a)) based on residential burglary,
although “[i]t was never expressly alleged that the prior burglaries were residential,
defendant was never asked to and did not admit that they were residential burglaries, no
evidence was adduced to so establish, and the court was not requested to and did not take
judicial notice of the superior court files mentioned in the allegations. [¶] Defendant’s
admission that he suffered two prior burglary convictions was insufficient alone to
establish that the prior convictions were for residential burglaries.” (Id. at p. 950.) The
issue here is different, i.e., whether the record demonstrates Ortiz made a valid admission
to properly-stated allegations.
       We conclude the trial court did not err by imposing the prior prison term
enhancement.
       3. Review of in camera Pitchess hearing.
       Ortiz requests review of the trial court’s ruling on her motion seeking discovery
under Pitchess v. Superior Court (1974) 11 Cal.3d 531. Review of the in camera hearing
by this court reveals no abuse of the trial court’s discretion as to discovery of Officer
Castruita’s personnel file. (See People v. Mooc (2001) 26 Cal.4th 1216, 1232.) The trial
court conducted the hearing properly, describing the nature of all the complaints against
the officer.5

5
       Ortiz asks us “to determine if the trial court abused its discretion in refusing to
order discovery of all the requested information from the personnel files of Officers
Shortle, Castruita, and Quiroz.” As to Shortle, Ortiz failed to explain, either in the
Pitchess motion or on appeal, how this officer was involved in Ortiz’s arrest, and we
have not been able to find this officer’s name in the record. As for Quiroz, Ortiz’s notice
of motion sought records only for Shortle, and Ortiz made no claim of misconduct by
Quiroz. As to Castruita, the trial court did grant discovery of any claims relating to
                                              9
       4. Trial court failed to impose several mandatory penalty assessments and
surcharges.
       The Attorney General contends the trial court erred by failing to impose certain
mandatory penalty assessments and surcharges. Although this claim appears to be
correct so far as it goes, the Attorney General does not mention several other mandatory
penalty assessments and surcharges that would seem to be applicable. Therefore, we will
remand for resentencing as to these monetary penalties only.
       In addition to sentencing Ortiz to a county jail term of four years eight months, the
trial court ordered her to pay the following amounts: a $40 court security fee (§ 1465.8)
on each of her two conviction counts, a $30 criminal conviction assessment (Gov. Code,
§ 70373) for each conviction count, a $50 narcotics laboratory fee (Health & Saf. Code,
§ 11372.5) for the count 1 conviction, and a $280 restitution fine (§ 1202.4). The
Attorney General contends the trial court erred because, based on the laboratory fee, the
court should have ordered Ortiz to pay an additional $85 in penalty assessments pursuant
to section 1464 and Government Code section 76000, a $10 surcharge pursuant to
section 1465.7, and a $15 state court construction penalty under Government Code
section 70372.
       However, the Attorney General makes no mention of other monetary penalties that
are seemingly applicable to this case. For example, Health and Safety Code
section 11372.5, subdivision (a), provides: “Every person who is convicted of a violation
of Section . . . 11377, 11378 . . . of this code . . . shall pay a criminal laboratory analysis
fee in the amount of fifty dollars ($50) for each separate offense.” The trial court
imposed a laboratory fee (and attendant penalty assessments and surcharges) for Ortiz’s
possession of methamphetamine for sale conviction (Health & Saf. Code, § 11378), but

dishonesty, the only relevant factor. Despite the fact Ortiz raised the issue of the Pitchess
review regarding the other officers in her opening brief, she completely failed in her reply
brief to respond to the Attorney General’s explanation. The failure to properly develop
an argument is fatal on appeal. (See Jones v. Superior Court (1994) 26 Cal.App.4th 92,
99 [“Issues do not have a life of their own: if they are not raised or supported by
argument or citation to authority, we consider the issues waived.”].)
                                               10
not for her simple possession of methamphetamine conviction (Health & Saf. Code,
§ 11377).
       In addition, the Attorney General has said nothing about other mandatory
penalties: the DNA penalty assessment under Government Code section 76104.66; the
related state-only penalty under Government Code section 76104.77; or the penalty
assessment to support county emergency medical services under Government Code
section 76000.5.8
       For these reasons, we will remand to the trial court for a partial resentencing in
order to obtain a correct calculation of the fines, assessments and surcharges to be
imposed in this case.

6
       Government Code section 76104.6, subdivision (a)(1), in pertinent part, provides
that “for the purpose of implementing the DNA Fingerprint, Unsolved Crime and
Innocence Protection Act (Proposition 69), as approved by the voters at the November 2,
2004, statewide general election, there shall be levied an additional penalty of one dollar
($1) for every ten dollars ($10), or part of ten dollars ($10), in each county upon every
fine, penalty, or forfeiture imposed and collected by the courts for all criminal offenses.”
7
       Government Code section 76104.7, subdivision (a), in pertinent part, provides that
“in addition to the penalty levied pursuant to Section 76104.6, there shall be levied an
additional state-only penalty of four dollars ($4) for every ten dollars ($10), or part of ten
dollars ($10), in each county upon every fine, penalty, or forfeiture imposed and collected
by the courts for all criminal offenses.”
8
        Government Code section 76000.5, subdivision (a)(1), in pertinent part, provides
that “for purposes of supporting emergency medical services pursuant to Chapter 2.5
(commencing with Section 1797.98a) of Division 2.5 of the Health and Safety Code, in
addition to the penalties set forth in Section 76000, the county board of supervisors may
elect to levy an additional penalty in the amount of two dollars ($2) for every ten dollars
($10), or part of ten dollars ($10), upon every fine, penalty, or forfeiture imposed and
collected by the courts for all criminal offenses.”

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                                     DISPOSITION
       The judgment is affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded for partial
resentencing in accordance with this opinion, in order to properly calculate the fines,
assessments and surcharges that should have been imposed in this case. In all other
respects, the judgment is affirmed. The trial court is directed to prepare and forward to
the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation an amended abstract of judgment.
       NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS

                                                 EDMON, P. J.

We concur:

                     KITCHING, J.

                     ALDRICH, J.

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