Court Opinion

ID: 2645969
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-12-14 01:02:04.353365+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:51:36.726187
License: Public Domain

Filed 12/13/13 P. v. Nunez CA

                  NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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

                                     FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

THE PEOPLE,
                                                                                           F065033
         Plaintiff and Respondent,
                                                                              (Super. Ct. No. F11901862)
                   v.

JESUS BENAVIDEZ NUÑEZ ,                                                                  OPINION
         Defendant and Appellant.

         APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Fresno County. John F. Vogt,
Judge.

         John Steinberg, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
         Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Michael P. Farrell, Assistant Attorney General, and Kathleen A. McKenna,
Deputy Attorney General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
                                                        -ooOoo-
                                                INTRODUCTION
         Defendant Jesus Benavidez Nuñez appeals following his convictions for
involuntary manslaughter with personal use of a firearm, child endangerment, and
possession of a firearm by a felon. He contends the trial court prejudicially erred by
failing to instruct the jury with CALCRIM No. 3404 regarding the defense of accident.
We will affirm.
                  FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
       On March 30, 2011, defendant and his fiancée Analia Sandoval arrived at
defendant’s sister’s house where they were staying. It was about 5:15 in the evening and
several family members were out front. After the two got out of their SUV, defendant
confronted one of the three dogs residing at the home.1
       According to Sandoval, defendant was trying to get through a walkway to their
room in the back. The dog was barking and growling in the carport area in front of the
home. Family members testified defendant was teasing the dog by stomping his feet.
Defendant had teased the dogs previously by stomping his feet or pulling out his gun. On
another occasion, he had fired a gun into the ground near the dogs. On this occasion,
defendant responded by pulling a gun from the waistband of his pants.
       At the time of the incident, at least eight other persons were present in or near the
carport area, including defendant’s sister, victim Leticia Casas, his nieces Michelle
Alvarez and Danielle Casas, his nephew Nathaniel Vallejo, his fiancée, his son Jesse
Nuñez, and J.L. and D.L.
       When defendant pulled the gun from his waistband, it was either pointed toward
the dog or raised in front of him at chest level; he was facing his sister’s direction.
Within a second or two after pulling out the gun, a single shot was heard. Leticia Casas
was struck by a bullet in the face; she fell to the ground bleeding from her wound.
Defendant dropped the gun and ran toward his sister. He appeared shocked or stunned
and scared.

       1Defendant’s  fiancée, his niece Danielle Casas, his nephew Nathaniel Vallejo, and J.L. all
testified one dog was involved in the incident and the other two dogs were confined to or tied up
in the backyard. His niece Michelle Alvarez recalled two of the three dogs being involved.

                                               2.
       Nine-year-old J.L. had been asked by her mother to retrieve the loose dog. She
was trying to grab the dog before it could reach defendant; she got a hold of the dog’s
collar. At that point, defendant was directly in front of her and Leticia Casas was behind
her. J.L. looked up at defendant and saw a gun. She was scared. She heard a loud bang
and felt “a little air flash[] by [her] hair.”
       Leticia Casas died as the result of an injury to the left carotid artery caused by the
gunshot wound to her head.
       A loaded .38-caliber semiautomatic weapon was located in the carport area by
police officer Robert McGuire shortly after his arrival on scene. Officer Daniel Corona
took defendant into custody; as he did so, defendant yelled, “I didn’t shoot. I didn’t
shoot. It fell out of my pocket.”
       Homicide detective Mark Chapman of the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office
interviewed defendant later that evening. Defendant admitted pulling the trigger.
Initially, defendant claimed he pulled out the gun “possibly to scare the dogs,” then later
said he did so to protect himself from the dogs. He admitted pulling the gun on the dogs
once or twice before and claimed it frightened them off. He did not indicate he had
previously fired the weapon at or near the dogs. Defendant complained the dogs had
been a problem for some time.
       Despite accurately describing the two safeties on his gun, defendant was unable to
say whether or not the safety mechanisms were in place at the time of the incident.
Defendant advised he had loaded the gun the night before, but claimed he did not know
there was a round in the chamber. He could not recall or describe which hand he used to
pull the gun from his waistband, he just remembered the gun going off. Defendant
admitted using methamphetamine earlier that day. When he was advised his sister had
died from her injuries, defendant sobbed.
       On April 20, 2012, in a second amended information filed by the Fresno County
District Attorney, defendant was alleged to have committed the following crimes: count

                                                 3.
1—involuntary manslaughter by an unlawful act (Pen.2 Code, § 192, subd. (b)); count
2—child abuse or endangerment (§ 273a, subd. (a)); and count 3—possession of a
firearm by a felon (former § 12021, subd. (a)(1)). Further, it was alleged as to count 1
that defendant personally used a firearm within the meaning of section 12022.5,
subdivision (a). Additionally, as to count 3, it was alleged that defendant had suffered
prior convictions and served a prior prison term pursuant to section 667.5, subdivision
(b). Defendant pled not guilty and denied all allegations. Subsequently, the parties
entered into a stipulation wherein defendant admitted to the prior convictions and to
having served a prior prison term.
       Following jury trial, defendant was convicted of all counts. The jury also found
true the personal use of a firearm allegation.
       On May 25, 2012, defendant was sentenced to state prison for a total of 15 years.
He filed a notice of appeal that same date.
                                          DISCUSSION
       Defendant argues the trial court erred when it refused to give pinpoint instruction
CALCRIM No. 3404 because there was substantial evidence the shooting was an
accident. Moreover, he contends the error was not harmless because the jury was
precluded from considering the entire defense theory and the record demonstrates the jury
struggled with whether he was acting intentionally when the gun discharged. The People
contend the trial court properly refused to give the instruction because its language
duplicated language given in other instructions, the evidence established defendant acted
intentionally when he drew his weapon, and he was criminally negligent. Additionally,
the People assert error, if any, was harmless.

       2All   further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise indicated.

                                                 4.
The Applicable Law
       Section 26 provides that “[a]ll persons are capable of committing crimes except
those belonging to the following classes: [¶] … [¶] … Persons who committed the act …
by accident, when it appears that there was no evil design, intention, or culpable
negligence.” Because the so-called defense of accident is actually a claim the
prosecution has failed to prove the intent element of the crime, the trial court has no sua
sponte duty to instruct on the defense of accident. (People v. Anderson (2011) 51 Cal. 4th
989, 997.) “A trial court’s responsibility to instruct on accident … generally extends no
further than the obligation to provide, upon request, a pinpoint instruction relating the
evidence to the mental element required for the charged crime.” (Ibid., italics omitted.)
       “A trial court must give a pinpoint instruction, even when requested, only if it is
supported by substantial evidence. [Citation.]” (People v. Ward (2005) 36 Cal. 4th 186,
214-215.) And, “‘[i]n determining whether the evidence is sufficient to warrant a jury
instruction, the trial court does not determine the credibility of the defense evidence, but
only whether “there was evidence which, if believed by the jury, was sufficient to raise a
reasonable doubt ….”’” (People v. Mentch (2008) 45 Cal. 4th 274, 288.) But where
standard instructions fully and adequately advise the jury upon a particular issue, a
pinpoint instruction on that point is properly refused. (See People v. Gutierrez (2002) 28
Cal. 4th 1083, 1144.)
The Jury Instruction Conference
       The court and counsel for the parties discussed the jury instructions after the
People had rested their case-in-chief, and the defense elected not to present a defense
case. During that conference, the following discussion occurred:

             “THE COURT: Okay. That gets us to 581. Now, wasn’t there
       another accident instruction that was requested?

              “[PROSECUTOR]: I believe that was just 510.

              “THE COURT: Just 510?

                                             5.
              “[PROSECUTOR]: That was the only one that I requested.

               “THE COURT: No. We had one under 34—yeah, instruction 3404.
       And this one does apply to criminal negligent crimes. However, all of that
       says is that you can’t find the defendant guilty unless you are convinced
       that he acted with criminal negligence. That would appear to be consistent
       with the instructions that we have here. Let’s take a look at the use notes
       for that. [¶] I think 3404 does apply because it is referenced to 195, which I
       believe—195 of the Penal Code that is—

             “[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Which defines accidental and excusable
       homicide?

             “THE COURT: Uh-huh. There is nothing inconsistent with that
       second paragraph in instruction 3404 with the other instructions I’m giving
       here. All it does is reinforce that they have to be convinced beyond a
       reasonable doubt that he acted with criminal negligence, and that’s true.

              “Okay. So let’s go back. We’re giving instruction 251 to lead the
       way. That’s followed by 253, which says, ‘To find a person guilty of the
       crime of involuntary manslaughter a person must do an act with criminal
       negligence.’ Criminal negligence is defined in the other instructions—in
       instructions on that crime.

              “[PROSECUTOR]: 3404, paragraph 2, is exactly the same language.

              “THE COURT: It’s exactly the same. Because what I’m instructing
       immediately after 253 is that, ‘In order to find the defendant guilty of Count
       One, the People must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that, 1, the
       defendant committed a crime, 2, the defendant committed the crime with
       criminal negligence,’ same thing.

              “[PROSECUTOR]: I don’t see the need to give both 3404 and 253.

              “THE COURT: Not if I’m giving 253 right in front of the involuntary
       manslaughter instruction. It’s exactly the same language that I am giving in
       581. And, in fact, I’m telling—I’m using reasonable doubt in fewer words
       before telling them that they have to find criminal negligence. [¶] All right.
       So let’s go through 2— or 581.…”
The court later stated to defense counsel its belief

       “that within this instruction [CALCRIM No. 581] you have all the leeway
       to argue that he did not act with criminal negligence based on the
       circumstances known to him, believed by him, and is supported by the

                                              6.
      evidence. I mean, I—I believe that you have—that’s where your defense
      really is because we have—it’s not an otherwise lawful act based on the
      way it’s pled.

             “[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: I understand.”
The Instructions Given
      Pertinent to the issue on appeal, the jury was instructed with CALCRIM Nos. 251,
253, and 581. CALCRIM No. 251 provides:

             “The crimes and other allegations charged in this case require proof
      of the union, or joint operation, of act and wrongful intent.

             “For you to find a person guilty of the crimes in this case or to find
      the specific allegations true, that person must not only intentionally commit
      the prohibited act, but must do so with an intent or mental state. The act
      and the intent or mental state required are explained in the instruction for
      each crime or allegation.”
      CALCRIM No. 253 states:

      “For you to find a person guilty of the crimes of Involuntary Manslaughter
      and Child Endangerment, a person must do an act with criminal negligence.
      Criminal negligence is defined in the instructions on that crime.”
      Finally, CALCRIM No. 581, pertaining to the crime of involuntary manslaughter
provides the following:

            “The defendant is charged in Count One with involuntary
      manslaughter [in violation of … section 192(b)].

             “To prove that the defendant is guilty of this crime, the People must
      prove beyond a reasonable doubt that:

             “1. The defendant committed a crime;

             “2. The defendant committed the crime with criminal negligence;
      AND

             “3. The defendant’s acts caused the death of another person.

            “[The People allege that the defendant committed the following
      crime[s]: Possession of Firearm by a Felon in violation of … section
      12021(a)(1).

                                           7.
             “Instruction 2511 tell[s] you what the People must prove in order to
      prove that the defendant committed a violation of … section 12021(a)(1),
      Possession of a Firearm by a Felon.

             “Criminal negligence involves more than ordinary carelessness,
      inattention, or mistake in judgment. A person acts with criminal negligence
      when:

             “1. He or she acts in a reckless way that creates a high risk of death
      or great bodily injury; AND

            “2. A reasonable person would have known that acting in that way
      would create such a risk.

            “In other words, a person acts with criminal negligence when the
      way he or she acts is so different from the way an ordinarily careful person
      would act in the same situation that his or her act amounts to disregard for
      human life or indifference to the consequences of that act.

             “[An act causes death if the death is the direct, natural, and probable
      consequence of the act and the death would not have happened without the
      act. A natural and probable consequence is one that a reasonable person
      would know is likely to happen if nothing unusual intervenes. In deciding
      whether a consequence is natural and probable, consider all of the
      circumstances established by the evidence.]

              “Great bodily injury means significant or substantial physical injury.
      It is an injury that is greater than minor or moderate harm.”
      Defendant requested that CALCRIM No. 3404 be given. That instruction
provides as follows:

      “[The defendant is not guilty of ________ if (he/she)
      acted [or failed to act] accidentally without criminal negligence. You may
      not find the defendant guilty of ________  unless you are
      convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that (he/she) acted with criminal
      negligence. Criminal negligence is defined in another instruction.]”
Our Analysis
      We conclude the trial court did not err. The valid points in the proposed pinpoint
instruction, specifically CALCRIM No. 3404, were adequately covered by other
instructions given to the jury, namely, CALCRIM Nos. 251, 253, and 581. (See People

                                            8.
v. Gutierrez, supra, 28 Cal.4th at p. 1144.) More importantly, even if we were to
conclude a pinpoint instruction explaining defendant is not guilty if he “acted
accidentally without criminal negligence” should have been given, on this record nothing
in the standard instructions given precluded the jury from finding defendant acted
accidentally. Therefore, error, if any, was harmless.
       As the trial court correctly noted during the jury instruction conference, the
language in CALCRIM No. 3404 is duplicative of language in other instructions given.
A review of the record confirms this statement. Therefore, the absence of CALCRIM
No. 3404 and its defense-phrased content did not prejudice defendant. The jury was fully
and properly instructed with CALCRIM Nos. 251, 253, and 581, and regarding the
mental state concerning a violation of section 192, subdivision (b). (See People v. Ervin
(2000) 22 Cal. 4th 48, 89-91 [error in failing to instruct regarding particular instruction
harmless in light of other instructions given].)

       “In determining whether instructional error was harmless, relevant inquiries
       are whether ‘the factual question posed by the omitted instruction
       necessarily was resolved adversely to the defendant under other, properly
       given instructions’ [citation] and whether the ‘defendant effectively
       conceded the issue’ [citation]. A reviewing court considers ‘the specific
       language challenged, the instructions as a whole[,] the jury’s findings’
       [citation], and counsel’s closing arguments to determine whether the
       instructional error ‘would have misled a reasonable jury …’ [citation].”
       (People v. Eid (2010) 187 Cal. App. 4th 859, 883.)
       Because the language of CALCRIM No. 3404 was largely duplicative of language
provided in the other instructions given, and because the instructions as a whole
explained to the jury that it could not find defendant guilty of involuntary manslaughter
or child endangerment unless it determined he acted with criminal negligence, the failure
to instruct on the defense of accident could not have misled the jury.
       Because the alleged error here does not involve a failure to instruct on an element
of the crime, the federal standard of Chapman v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 18, 24 does
not apply. (See People v. Cornwell (2005) 37 Cal. 4th 50, 89, disapproved on other

                                              9.
grounds in People v. Doolin (2009) 45 Cal. 4th 390, 421, fn. 22.) Instead, the “failure to
give a pinpoint instruction is reviewed for prejudice under the Watson[3] harmless error
standard.” (People v. Larsen (2012) 205 Cal. App. 4th 810, 830.) Therefore, our inquiry
considers “whether there is a ‘reasonable probability’ that a result more favorable to the
defendant would have occurred absent the error. [Citation.]” (People v. Aranda (2012)
55 Cal. 4th 342, 354.)
       Defendant relies upon People v. Gonzales (1999) 74 Cal. App. 4th 382 and People
v. Jones (1991) 234 Cal. App. 3d 1303, both disapproved on other grounds in People v.
Anderson, supra, 51 Cal.4th at page 998, footnote 3, to support his position.
       In Gonzales, there was evidence the alleged victim was accidentally struck by the
defendant when he opened the door to a bathroom. The court held the failure to give an
accident instruction was prejudicial because during deliberations, the jurors sent out a
question requesting clarification of the meaning of “willful intent.” (People v. Gonzales,
supra, 74 Cal.App.4th at pp. 388, 391.) The trial court reread several of the pertinent
instructions, but the jurors indicated they were still “troubled” with the concept of
“willfully versus accidentally.” (Ibid.) Thereafter, the jurors indicated they were
deadlocked, and one juror indicated the problem involved the meaning of “willful intent”
as to the crime of corporal injury. (Id. at p. 389.) Eventually the jurors reached a verdict
without any further instruction on that point. (Id. at pp. 384, 389.)
       Gonzales, however, is distinguishable from this case. While the jury here had
questions during deliberations, those questions did not relate to the intent connected to
the involuntary manslaughter charge.
       It appears the jury’s first request asked whether Nathaniel Vallejo was to be
considered a victim for purposes of count 2. The court responded that only J.L. was to be
considered a victim for purposes of that count. The jury’s next request sought a

       3People   v. Watson (1956) 46 Cal. 2d 818, 836.

                                              10.
definition of “displays gun in menacing manner. (Is it intent or actual action).” The
request pertains to the special allegation of personal use of a firearm because the
language used by the jury comes directly from CALCRIM No. 3146. It provides, in
relevant part: “If you find the defendant guilty of the crime charged in Count One,
Involuntary Manslaughter, you must then decide whether … [¶] … [¶] Someone
personally uses a firearm if he or she intentionally does any of the following: [¶] 1.
Displays the weapon in a menacing manner.” (Italics added.) The court properly
referred the jury to CALCRIM No. 3146, regarding the personal use of a firearm, and
CALCRIM No. 200. Significantly, defense counsel did not ask the court to respond to
the jury’s question by instructing it on accident, despite a thorough discussion about how
the court should respond to the jury’s request.
       Next, the jury asked to examine the gun. That request was accommodated. The
last request of April 26, 2012, stated the following: “Your honor, we are unable to come
to a conclusion on count #2. We are also unable to conclude … the use of a firearm.
(proved or not proved)” To the degree the latter request relates to the firearm, it is plain
the request specifically refers to the gun’s use and whether the jury could find that use
true or not, a determination made only after the jury finds defendant guilty of involuntary
manslaughter, an act involving criminal negligence. The jury did not indicate at any time
that it was having any difficulty making a determination regarding the intent related to
the involuntary manslaughter charge. With regard to the representation that the jury was
unable to reach a verdict as to count 2,4 there is no indication as to the reason for this
difficulty.

       4With   regard to this count, the jury was instructed with CALCRIM No. 821, which
provides, in pertinent part: “To prove that the defendant is guilty of this crime, the People must
prove beyond a reasonable doubt that: [¶] [1. The defendant willfully caused or permitted a child
to suffer unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering;] [¶] [2. The defendant caused or
permitted the child to suffer or be endangered under circumstances or conditions likely to
produce (great bodily harm/ [or] death); [¶ ] AND [¶] [3. The defendant was criminally negligent
when he caused or permitted the child to suffer or be endangered.]”

                                               11.
       The following morning, shortly after resuming deliberations, the jury asked for the
following:

               “Can we have Mark Chapman[’]s testimony and Nathaniel Vallejo’s.

               “● Legal definition of menacing.

               “● Legal definition of mental suffering.

                   “(If pulling out a weapon is considered menacing)

               “● Legal definition of intentional.”
Thus, it appears the jury’s difficulty with count 2 pertained to the element of “mental
suffering” as referenced in the request. There is no indication the jury’s request related to
defendant’s mental state for that crime.
       The record reveals the court and counsel agreed the reporter should be sent in to
read back Detective Chapman’s testimony as per the request. While discussing the
balance of the jury’s requests of that morning, the trial court stated: “So let’s take our
time to do that [agree on the definitional language requested] and let’s get Madam
Reporter started on Detective Chapman’s readback because I think that would help the
jury at this time and not just leave them floundering while we work on this, okay?” With
the attorneys’ assent, the jury’s request for readback was accommodated between 10:10
a.m. and 10:50 a.m. It then appears from the record that before the remainder of the
jury’s morning request could be accommodated or responded to,5 the jury reached its
verdicts between 11:10 and 11:15 a.m.
       Therefore, it appears, based on the record before us, that the jury was concerned
with elements unrelated to defendant’s mental state for either involuntary manslaughter

       5A written response to the jury’s request appears at page 279 of the clerk’s transcript;
however, there is no indication in either the minutes or the reporter’s transcript that the response
was provided to the jury prior to the verdicts.

                                                12.
or child endangerment. The jury’s inquiries regarding menacing and intent referred
instead to the personal use of a firearm allegation.
       In Jones, while the jury was not instructed on the defense of accident and
misfortune, the court found the error was not prejudicial. It noted that when considering
any prejudicial effect of instructional error or omission, where “other proper instructions
adequately guide the jury in reaching factual determinations on those issues,” the error is
harmless. (People v. Jones, supra, 234 Cal.App.3d at p. 1314.) Like Jones, in light of
the fact that the jury here was instructed pursuant to CALCRIM Nos. 251, 253, and 581,
any error in failing to instruct the jury with pinpoint instruction CALCRIM No. 3404 was
harmless. Like the court stated in People v. Jones,

       “[I]t is clear, beyond credible argument, that the jury necessarily rejected
       the evidence adduced at trial that would have supported a finding to the
       effect that defendant’s ‘accident …’ defense (meant to establish that the
       discharge of the shotgun had not been attended by any criminal intent or
       purpose) was valid, thus implicitly resolving the question of that defense
       adversely to defendant.” (People v. Jones, supra, 234 Cal.App.3d at pp.
       1315-1316.)
       Like Jones, it is clear the jury necessarily rejected defendant’s defense of accident
to establish he did not mean to discharge the handgun in the absence of criminal
negligence. The evidence of criminal negligence here was substantial. Defendant
responded to a barking and growling dog by pulling out a loaded firearm—its safety
mechanisms deactivated—in a confined carport area populated by at least eight members
of his family or friends. Further, in his interview with Detective Chapman, defendant
admitted pulling the trigger on the gun and did so to scare the dog.
       In conclusion, even assuming error, it was not reasonably probable the jury would
have reached a different verdict had the court given CALCRIM No. 3404. (People v.
Watson, supra, 46 Cal.2d at p. 836.) Moreover, even if the California Supreme Court
were to determine the Chapman standard applies where a trial court fails to give a

                                             13.
pinpoint instruction requested by a defendant, we find any error, on this record, was
harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.
                                       DISPOSITION
       The judgment is affirmed.

                                                            ___________________________
                                                                                PEÑA, J.
WE CONCUR:

 ________________________________
GOMES, Acting P.J.

 ________________________________
OAKLEY, J.*

       *Judge of  the Madera Superior Court assigned by the Chief Justice pursuant to article VI,
section 6 of the California Constitution.

                                               14.