Court Opinion

ID: 4560651
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-08-26 23:02:24.305999+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:19:20.998587
License: Public Domain

Filed 8/26/20 P. v. Swenson CA3
                                           NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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
                                      THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                                     (Sacramento)
                                                            ----

 THE PEOPLE,                                                                                   C089146

                    Plaintiff and Respondent,                                    (Super. Ct. No. 18FE017645)

           v.

 WALTER BRANDON SWENSON,

                    Defendant and Appellant.

         Following a high-speed chase through a residential neighborhood, defendant
Walter Brendon Swenson was found guilty by jury of assault with a deadly weapon on a
peace officer, felony reckless evading law enforcement, misdemeanor unlawful taking of
a motor vehicle, and misdemeanor hit and run.
         On appeal, defendant raises seven claims: (1) the evidence was insufficient to
support his conviction for assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer; (2) execution
of the sentences for some of his convictions should have been stayed pursuant to Penal

                                                             1
Code section 654;1 (3) the trial court erred by imposing consecutive sentences; (4) the
court erred by not instructing the jury sua sponte on assault with a deadly weapon, a
lesser included crime of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer; (5) the court
erred by permitting a witness to impermissibly identify defendant in court following an
unreasonably suggestive question by the prosecutor; (6) the court erred by modifying the
jury instruction for general intent; and (7) the court erred by imposing fines and fees
without first determining his ability to pay. We will affirm.
                              FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS
        Defendant stole a Honda Civic when the car’s owner, who was giving defendant a
ride, stopped to put gas in the car. Approximately one week later, Sacramento County
Sheriff’s Deputy Ken Gouveia was wearing a police uniform and was riding a marked
police motorcycle when an automated license plate reader mounted on his motorcycle
informed him as he passed the Civic that it had been reported stolen. Gouveia confirmed
the license plate number and broadcast his location and a description of the driver.
Gouveia made eye contact with defendant, who then sped up, rapidly switched lanes, and
changed direction. Gouveia identified defendant in court as the driver of the Civic.
        Another deputy in the area, Ronald Sutter, participated in the pursuit of the Civic.
Sutter also rode a marked motorcycle and wore a police uniform. When it became clear
defendant was fleeing from them, Gouveia and Sutter activated their emergency lights
and sirens and Gouveia requested air support.
        Defendant fled through a residential neighborhood at no less than 50 miles per
hour and as high as the mid-80s. After turning into a dead-end parking lot, he slowed and
turned around, colliding with a parked car in the process. After hitting the parked car,

1   Further undesignated statutory references are to the Penal Code.

                                              2
defendant accelerated back out of the parking lot and drove directly at Gouveia, forcing
Gouveia to jump from his motorcycle to avoid being hit.
       Officer Julie Robertson also assisted in the pursuit. Robertson drove a marked
police sports utility vehicle (SUV). Robertson drove toward defendant’s location but in
the opposite direction as defendant. As she approached an intersection and prepared to
drive slowly through it, she saw defendant’s vehicle and heard on the radio that defendant
was driving toward her. To the left of defendant’s lane of travel was a left-turn lane and
to the right was an empty lane. Defendant crossed left from his lane, moving completely
across the left-turn lane and entering Robertson’s (oncoming) lane such that he drove
directly toward her, going the wrong way in her lane at a high speed. Robertson turned
her wheel sharply to the right and accelerated in an attempt to avoid being hit. Although
she was successful in moving away at the last second, defendant’s car came within a few
feet of her, and she thought he was going to hit and kill or injure her. Sheriff’s Deputy
Michael Mantzouranis, who was following defendant in a marked patrol car with his
emergency lights activated, saw defendant cross the turn lane and enter Robertson’s lane,
as did air support. For officer safety reasons, the pursuit was terminated. Air support
continued to monitor defendant, and ground units remained nearby to rejoin the pursuit
when safe. Officers later found and arrested defendant.
       A jury found defendant guilty of assault with a deadly weapon on Robertson, a
peace officer engaged in the performance of her duties (Pen. Code, § 245, subd. (c);
count one), not guilty of the same charge as to Gouveia (count two), and guilty of felony
reckless evading law enforcement (Veh. Code, § 2800.2, subd. (a); count three),
misdemeanor unlawful taking of a motor vehicle (Veh. Code, § 10851, subd. (a); count
four), and misdemeanor hit and run (Veh. Code, § 20002, subd. (a); count five).
       The trial court denied defendant’s motion to stay execution of the sentences under
section 654 for the hit and run and evading counts and sentenced him to the upper term of
five years in prison for count one and a consecutive term of eight months--one-third the

                                             3
middle term--in prison for count three. The court sentenced defendant to consecutive
terms in county jail of 300 days for count four and 85 days for count five, deemed time
served based on defendant’s custody credits. The court found true an allegation
defendant violated his probation, and revoked probation, sentencing defendant to a
concurrent term of two years. The court also imposed multiple fines and fees, which we
discuss post.
       Defendant timely appealed.
                                       DISCUSSION
                                              I
                Sufficiency of the Evidence to Support Assault Conviction
       Defendant contends the evidence is insufficient to support his conviction for
assault with a deadly weapon as to Robertson. He argues there is insufficient evidence
that his “driving close” to Robertson’s vehicle could directly and probably result in the
application of force to her. He adds it is unlikely he knew Robertson was a peace officer
because her emergency lights and siren were not activated at the time and because he was
approaching her marked SUV “head on” and “at a high rate of speed.”
       To assess the sufficiency of the evidence, we review the whole record to determine
whether it discloses substantial evidence to support the verdict--i.e., 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. (People v. Maury (2003) 30 Cal. 4th 342,
396.) We review the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution and presume
in support of the judgment the existence of every fact the jury could reasonably have
deduced from the evidence. (People v. Boyer (2006) 38 Cal. 4th 412, 480.) “ ‘[I]f the
circumstances reasonably justify the jury’s findings, the judgment may not be reversed
simply because the circumstances might also reasonably be reconciled with a contrary
finding.’ [Citation.] We do not reweigh evidence or reevaluate a witness’s credibility.”
(People v. Guerra (2006) 37 Cal. 4th 1067, 1129.)

                                              4
       Section 245, subdivision (c) states in relevant part: “Any person who commits an
assault with a deadly weapon or instrument, other than a firearm, or by any means likely
to produce great bodily injury upon the person of a peace officer . . . , and who knows or
reasonably should know that the victim is a peace officer . . . engaged in the performance
of his or her duties, when the peace officer . . . is engaged in the performance of his or her
duties, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for three, four, or five
years.” The trial court instructed the jury with CALCRIM No. 860, which provides in
part: “To prove that the defendant is guilty of this crime, the People must prove that: [¶]
1. The defendant did an act with a deadly weapon that by its nature would directly and
probably result in the application of force to a person; OR did an act that by its nature
would directly and probably result in the application of force to a person and the force
used was likely to produce great bodily injury; [¶] 2. The defendant did the act willfully;
[¶] 3. When the defendant acted, he was aware of facts that would lead a reasonable
person to realize that his act by its nature would directly and probably result in the
application of force to someone; [¶] 4. When the defendant acted, he had the present
ability to apply force with a deadly weapon or likely to produce great bodily injury to a
person; [¶] 5. When the defendant acted, the person assaulted was lawfully performing
his or her duties as a peace officer; [¶] AND [¶] 6. When the defendant acted, he knew,
or reasonably should have known, that the person assaulted was a peace officer who was
performing his or her duties.”
       We find the evidence sufficient to support defendant’s conviction for assault with
a deadly weapon on Robertson. Defendant, who was driving in the opposite direction of
Robertson, did not move into the open lane on his right but instead crossed through a left-
turn lane and aimed his car directly at Robertson’s marked police SUV. There were no
vehicles in front of defendant at the time he aimed his car directly at Robertson, and none
to the right side, so defendant cannot suggest he was merely attempting to avoid other
cars. Robertson was not driving behind or in front of other vehicles, so her SUV was not

                                              5
disguised by other cars in traffic. Robertson thought she was going to be killed or
injured. She managed to maneuver her SUV out of defendant’s way, and defendant
missed her by only a few feet. Others saw defendant drive straight for Robertson.
       Defendant’s argument that he might not have recognized Robertson’s SUV as a
police vehicle is speculative. Moreover, while Robertson’s emergency lights and siren
were not activated, she was driving a marked police SUV with an emergency lights bar
on her roof; her vehicle was reasonably identifiable from the front. Further, the video
evidence shows that Mantzouranis was very close behind defendant and in the same type
of vehicle as Robertson. When defendant first drove toward Robertson, he was
approaching her from the front, two lanes over, and she was barely moving. The white
doors on her SUV were clearly visible from any side angle, such as that angle from which
defendant first approached her, before moving his car across another lane to face her head
on. Because defendant was actively fleeing from law enforcement, his claim that he
lacked reasonable awareness that an SUV with white doors and a light bar on the roof
approaching his position contained a law enforcement officer strains credulity.
       We also disagree with defendant that there is insufficient evidence his conduct
could directly and probably lead to contact with Robertson’s vehicle. It is clear from the
video that defendant drove directly at Robertson while in her lane. Had Robertson not
accelerated to get out of the lane, he would have collided with her.2 The evidence is
sufficient to support defendant’s conviction for assault with a deadly weapon on a peace
officer in the performance of her duties.

2 Although defendant argues that “Robertson’s vehicle was stationary or almost at a
complete stop until after appellant’s vehicle had passed it,” the video evidence clearly
shows her vehicle accelerating and turning just in time to get out of defendant’s path as
he maintains his high rate of speed.

                                             6
                                              II
                             Lesser Included Offense Instruction
       Defendant contends the trial court erred by failing to instruct the jury on the law of
assault with a deadly weapon as a lesser included crime of assault with a deadly weapon
on a peace officer in the performance of her duties. He asserts there is substantial
evidence that defendant did not identify Robertson’s SUV as a police vehicle because he
approached her from the front, she did not have her lights on or siren activated at the time
of the assault, and there was no evidence that the SUV had distinctive police markings on
its front. We disagree.
       A. Duty to Instruct
       “ ‘The trial court is obligated to instruct the jury on all general principles of law
relevant to the issues raised by the evidence, whether or not the defendant makes a formal
request.’ [Citations.] ‘That obligation encompasses instructions on lesser included
offenses if there is evidence that, if accepted by the trier of fact, would absolve the
defendant of guilt of the greater offense but not of the lesser.’ [Citations.] ‘To justify a
lesser included offense instruction, the evidence supporting the instruction must be
substantial—that is, it must be evidence from which a jury composed of reasonable
persons could conclude that the facts underlying the particular instruction exist.’
[Citations.] [¶] ‘ “Conversely, even on request, the court ‘has no duty to instruct on any
lesser offense unless there is substantial evidence to support such instruction.’ ”
[Citation.] This substantial evidence requirement is not satisfied by “ ‘any evidence . . .
no matter how weak,’ ” but rather by evidence from which a jury composed of reasonable
persons could conclude “that the lesser offense, but not the greater, was committed.”
[Citation.] “On appeal, we review independently the question whether the trial court
failed to instruct on a lesser included offense.” ’ ” (People v. Souza (2012) 54 Cal. 4th 90,
115-116 (Souza).) “Doubts as to the sufficiency of the evidence to warrant instructions

                                              7
should be resolved in favor of the accused.” (People v. Wilson (1967) 66 Cal. 2d 749,
763.)
        B. Invited Error
        The People contend defendant waived his instructional argument under the
doctrine of invited error. We disagree.
        During a conference with the prosecutor and defense counsel about jury
instructions, the trial court stated that it had met with the attorneys and agreed upon the
instructions it would provide to the jury. The parties agreed the instructions were a
stipulated set. The court stated it was, “of course, mindful of its sua sponte duty to
instruct on lessers when appropriate.” It listed the lesser included crimes of assault with a
deadly weapon on a peace officer and both parties agreed they were not requesting
instruction on any of them.
        “A trial court errs in failing to instruct on a lesser included offense supported by
the evidence ‘ “ ‘even when as a matter of trial tactics a defendant not only fails to
request the instruction but expressly objects to its being given.’ ” ’ [Citation.]”
(People v. Cady (2016) 7 Cal. App. 5th 134, 145.) “Nevertheless, the claim may be
waived under the doctrine of invited error if trial counsel both ‘ “intentionally caused the
trial court to err” ’ and clearly did so for tactical reasons. [Citation.] Invited error will be
found, however, only if counsel expresses a deliberate tactical purpose in resisting or
acceding to the complained-of instruction. [Citations.]” (Souza, supra, 54 Cal.4th at p.
114.) “The existence of some conceivable tactical purpose will not support a finding that
defense counsel ‘invited’ an error in instructions. The record must reflect that counsel
had a deliberate tactical purpose.” (People v. Avalos (1984) 37 Cal. 3d 216, 229.)
        Here, the record only shows defendant acquiesced to the trial court’s decision to
not instruct on assault with a deadly weapon as a lesser included crime of assault with a
deadly weapon on a peace officer. Defense counsel stated he “ha[d] no issue with” the
instructions, expressly stated he did not request the assault with a deadly weapon

                                               8
instruction, and he declined an invitation to be heard on the issue. At no point did
defense counsel state a tactical purpose for not requesting the instruction. While
defendant might have conceivably had a tactical purpose for not requesting the
instruction, such a conceivable purpose is insufficient. (People v. Avalos, supra, 37
Cal.3d at p. 229.) Defendant did not invite error and therefore did not waive his claim of
instructional error.
       C. Analysis
       The issue before us is whether there is substantial evidence from which a jury
composed of reasonable persons could conclude defendant was guilty of assault with a
deadly weapon but not guilty of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer. (See
Souza, supra, 54 Cal.4th at pp. 115-116.) That issue turns on whether a reasonable juror
could conclude defendant aimed his car directly at Robertson but did not know she was a
peace officer engaged in her duties. We conclude that substantial evidence does not
support such a finding.
       As defendant correctly observes, he was driving “erratically” at speeds in excess
of 80 miles per hour, had already struck one parked vehicle, had crossed into the opposite
lane of travel numerous times, and was being chased by multiple police vehicles. As we
have detailed, Robertson was driving a marked patrol SUV, and defendant first
approached her with a side view of her car, before moving to face her head on.
       While defendant crossed into the opposite lane of travel on several other
occasions, his assault on Robertson was the only instance in which he crossed another
entire lane to move into a head on position against traffic, aiming his car at an oncoming
vehicle. As we discussed ante, at the time defendant aimed his car at Robertson’s SUV,
there were no other cars in defendant’s lane, or in the lane to his right. Nor were there
cars in front of or behind Robertson, which could have disguised her vehicle. Moreover,
Robertson was driving a marked police SUV with a bar of emergency lights on the roof,
identical to the SUV pursuing defendant and distinguishable from the front. She was

                                             9
driving slowly, two lanes to the left of defendant when he aimed his car at her. From that
angle, defendant would have been able to see Robertson’s white side doors.
       We acknowledge that defendant had collided with a parked car before he assaulted
Robertson, but the context of those two incidents is readily distinguishable. When
defendant struck the parked car, he was driving around the edge of a parking lot,
apparently either looking for a path to flee on foot or turning around to drive back out
past the two officers on motorcycles who had cornered him in the lot. At the time he
assaulted Robertson, he was driving straight down an open road at high speeds, with no
other vehicles impeding him. Rather than drive straight past Robertson--a maneuver he
had already completed many times during the chase when passing other oncoming cars--
defendant purposefully crossed the turn lane and drove in Robertson’s lane, aiming his
car at her SUV.
       Defendant’s conduct supports only one reasonable conclusion: he identified
Robertson as a police officer and deliberately positioned his car to aim at her SUV.
Therefore, the trial court was not obligated to instruct the jury sua sponte on any of the
lesser included crimes of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer.
                                             III
                                        Section 654
       Defendant contends the trial court erred when it denied his request to stay
execution of his sentences for reckless evading (count three) and hit and run (count five)
pursuant to section 654. He argues that the assault on Robertson, the reckless evading,
and the hit and run were all part of one common intent or plan: to avoid arrest. The court
disagreed: “The crimes in this case, in particular Counts One and Three and the others
were a divisible course of conduct based upon the intent and objective of the defendant.
He acted with more than one objective. [¶] In the act of evading police, he was acting
with specific intent to evade. He was trying to flee and to get away. When he
[committed the assault], rather than flee or drive away from law enforcement, he aimed

                                             10
his car specifically at Officer Robertson’s car. And whether he was playing chicken, or
whether he wanted to cause damage or hurt the officer or hurt himself, this act had a
separate objective different from solely intending to evade. [¶] These are different acts
with different objectives, and therefore, the request under [section] 654 is denied.”
       Section 654, subdivision (a) provides in relevant part: “An act or omission that is
punishable in different ways by different provisions of law shall be punished under the
provision that provides for the longest potential term of imprisonment, but in no case
shall the act or omission be punished under more than one provision.”
       Section 654 applies not only where there was one act in the ordinary sense, but
also where there was a course of conduct that violated more than one statute but
nevertheless constituted an indivisible transaction. (People v. Perez (1979) 23 Cal. 3d
545, 551.) However, if the evidence discloses that a defendant entertained multiple
criminal objectives, he may be punished for the independent violations committed in
pursuit of each objective. (Ibid.) “ ‘It is defendant’s intent and objective, not the
temporal proximity of his offenses, which determine whether the transaction is
indivisible.’ ” (People v. Hicks (1993) 6 Cal. 4th 784, 789.)
       Recently, the Fourth Appellate District, Division One, concluded that section 654
did not bar multiple punishments for evading a peace officer with reckless driving and
assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, crimes that occurred during a high-speed
car chase with police. (People v. Jimenez (2019) 32 Cal. App. 5th 409, 413-415, 426.) In
Jimenez the defendant drove into the opposing lane of traffic where a law enforcement
vehicle was pursuing him, forcing the pursuing vehicle to “swerve out of the way at the
last moment to avoid a head-on collision.” (Id. at p. 414.) The court explained defendant
“could have driven on his side of the road or moved rather than driving head on toward
[the law enforcement] vehicle. He chose not to do so, aggravating the severity of the
situation. [The defendant’s] initial efforts trying to evade the first vehicle, and his

                                              11
subsequent assaultive conduct, ‘were volitional and calculated, and were separated by
periods of time during which reflection was possible.’ ” (Id. at p. 426.)
       “ ‘The defendant’s intent and objective are factual questions for the trial court.’ ”
(People v. Coleman (1989) 48 Cal. 3d 112, 162.) Trial courts have broad latitude to
determine whether a defendant harbored one or more objectives, and we uphold their
findings on appeal if there is any substantial evidence in the record to support them.
(People v. Hutchins (2001) 90 Cal. App. 4th 1308, 1312.) “ ‘We review the court’s
determination of [a defendant’s] “separate intents” for sufficient evidence in a light most
favorable to the judgment, and presume in support of the court’s conclusion the existence
of every fact the trier of fact could reasonably deduce from the evidence. [Citation.]’
[Citation.]” (People v. Andra (2007) 156 Cal. App. 4th 638, 640-641.)
       A. Counts One and Three
       Defendant argues he acted with a single criminal intent in count one, assaulting
Robertson, and count three, evading police. We disagree. As in People v. Jimenez,
supra, 32 Cal. App. 5th 409, defendant could easily have stayed in his lane, moved into the
lane to his right, or moved into the turn lane to his left, and successfully continued his
effort to evade capture without going out of his way to drive his vehicle toward
Robertson. Instead, he faced her down. There is substantial evidence supporting the trial
court’s finding that defendant harbored separate criminal intents and objectives during
the pursuit. Therefore, multiple punishments were permissible.
       B. Counts Three and Five
       Defendant next contends he acted with a single criminal intent when committing
count five, hit and run, and count three, evading police. Defendant contends he hit the
parked car merely because he lost control of the car when trying to evade officers, not
because he had a separate criminal intent.
       The trial court did not make express findings as to the application of section 654
with respect to the hit and run other than to say that “the others were a divisible course of

                                             12
conduct.” But “implicit in the trial court’s . . . . sentencing order is that defendant
entertained separate intentions . . . .” (People v. Garcia (2008) 167 Cal. App. 4th 1550,
1565.) At issue here is whether defendant made a conscious decision to flee from the
scene of the collision, not the collision’s causation. Although this is a close question, we
conclude substantial evidence supports the trial court’s finding.
       At the time of the collision, defendant was penned in a parking lot by two officers.
He faced a choice: to give up and take responsibility for the damage he had just caused,
or to leave the scene of the accident and continue his reckless evasion. We have no doubt
defendant was motivated to leave the scene in large part by a desire to evade capture.
Nevertheless, he willfully and intentionally left the scene of the accident; had he been
successful, he would have avoided responsibility for the collision and resulting damage.
There is substantial evidence to support the trial court’s implied finding that defendant
harbored separate criminal intents--avoiding capture, but also avoiding responsibility for
the collision immediately after it occurred.
                                               IV
                                   Consecutive Sentencing
       Defendant next argues the trial court abused its discretion by imposing
consecutive sentences on counts one, three, and five. He contends the objectives
motivating defendant’s crimes were not sufficiently independent to authorize consecutive
sentences. We see no abuse of discretion.
       “ ‘[A] trial court has discretion to determine whether several sentences are to run
concurrently or consecutively. [Citations.] In the absence of a clear showing of abuse,
the trial court’s discretion in this respect is not to be disturbed on appeal. [Citation.]
Discretion is abused when the court exceeds the bounds of reason, all of the
circumstances being considered.’ [Citation.] [¶] The criteria applicable to the trial
court’s discretion are set forth in California Rules of Court, rule 4.425[(a)], which states
that in imposing consecutive sentences a trial court may consider: (1) whether the

                                               13
‘crimes and their objectives were predominantly independent of each other’; (2) whether
the ‘crimes involved separate acts of violence or threats of violence’; and (3) whether the
‘crimes were committed at different times or separate places, rather than being committed
so closely in time and place as to indicate a single period of aberrant behavior.’
[Citation.] However, these criteria are not exclusive. [Cal. Rules of Court,] Rule
4.408(a) states: ‘The enumeration in these rules of some criteria for the making of
discretionary sentencing decisions does not prohibit the application of additional criteria
reasonably related to the decision being made. Any such additional criteria must be
stated on the record by the sentencing judge.’ ” (People v. Caesar (2008) 167
Cal. App. 4th 1050, 1059-1060, disapproved on other grounds in People v. Superior Court
(Sparks) (2010) 48 Cal. 4th 1, 18.)
       As we discussed ante, the evidence supports the trial court’s finding that these
three counts involved separate objectives. There is substantial evidence that defendant’s
intent during the assault was to cause Robertson to fear violence and injury, his intent in
evading was to get away from police, and the objective of the hit and run was, at least in
part, to avoid accountability for the collision. The existence of independent objectives is
sufficient to support a consecutive term. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 4.425(a)(1); People v.
Caesar, supra, 167 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1059-1060.) Here, defendant’s crimes also
involved separate acts: an attempt to evade capture, an assault on Robertson, and an
attempt to avoid accountability. The court did not abuse its discretion by sentencing
these counts consecutively.
                                              V
                                   In-Court Identification
       Defendant next contends a witness’s in-court identification of him was
unnecessarily suggestive and deprived him due process of law. Acknowledging that his
trial counsel failed to object to the identification, defendant contends his counsel was
constitutionally ineffective by failing to object.

                                              14
       A. Procedural History
       During the testimony of the owner of the car defendant stole, the following
exchange took place between that owner and the prosecutor:
       “Q: Do you know Walter Swenson?
       “A: No
       “Q: Do you recognize anybody here in court from before?
       “A: No.
       “Q: I’m going to ask you to look specifically at two people to my right. Do you
recognize anybody here in court today?
       “A: Yes, yes, him. Yes - - wait, wait.
       “(Witness is looking).
       “Is this Brandon? Cause his hair, I mean.
       “Q: The person seated two seats next to me, do you know him as Brandon?
       “A: The hair is cut - - yeah.”
       Defense counsel did not object to the exchange. The witness later agreed that the
person who took his car “looks like the person here in court but their hair has been cut.”
The witness later testified regarding defendant: “If he was the one caught in my car, he is
the one. I just wanted to say that he doesn’t -- he just cut his hair. If he was in that car,
he took my car. I just had to say that.” Defense counsel did not ask any questions of the
witness.
       B. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
       A criminal defendant is entitled to the effective assistance of counsel, whether
appointed or retained. (See Cuyler v. Sullivan (1980) 446 U.S. 335, 344-345; People v.
Montoya (2007) 149 Cal. App. 4th 1139, 1147.) “ ‘A defendant whose counsel did not
object at trial to alleged prosecutorial misconduct can argue on appeal that counsel’s
inaction violated the defendant’s constitutional right to the effective assistance of
counsel.’ [Citation.]” (People v. Centeno (2014) 60 Cal. 4th 659, 674.)

                                              15
       An ineffective assistance of counsel claim has two prongs. (Strickland v.
Washington (1984) 466 U.S. 668, 687.) First, defendant must show that his counsel’s
representation was deficient in falling below an objective standard of reasonableness
under prevailing professional norms. (People v. Ledesma (1987) 43 Cal. 3d 171, 216.)
Second, defendant must show there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s
errors, the result would have been different. (Id. at pp. 217-218.) “ ‘A reasonable
probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.’
[Citations.]” (Id. at p. 218.) If defendant makes an insufficient showing on either one of
these components, his ineffective assistance claim fails. (People v. Holt (1997) 15
Cal. 4th 619, 703.)
       “Unless a defendant establishes the contrary, we shall presume that ‘counsel’s
performance fell within the wide range of professional competence and that counsel’s
actions and inactions can be explained as a matter of sound trial strategy.’ [Citation.] If
the record ‘sheds no light on why counsel acted or failed to act in the manner
challenged,’ an appellate claim of ineffective assistance of counsel must be rejected
‘unless counsel was asked for an explanation and failed to provide one, or unless there
simply could be no satisfactory explanation.’ [Citation.]” (People v. Ledesma, supra,
39 Cal.4th at p. 746.) The defendant bears the burden of proving ineffective assistance of
counsel by a preponderance of the evidence. (People v. Harris (1993) 19 Cal. App. 4th
709, 714.)
       C. Analysis
       The People assert defense counsel made a tactical decision to acknowledge
defendant’s guilt on the misdemeanor and evading charges to focus the jury’s attention
on the assault counts. Defendant disagrees; he asserts “[i]t is disingenuous to suggest that
[defendant’s] ‘admitting’ to being a vehicle thief made the jury any less likely to convict
him on the felony charges.”

                                             16
       But as our Supreme Court has observed, “[c]ounsel may have concluded that
honesty and candor with the jurors was necessary so as not to lose credibility with them.”
(People v. Gurule (2002) 28 Cal. 4th 557, 597; see People v. Mayfield (1993) 5 Cal. 4th
142, 177 [“candor may be the most effective tool available to counsel”].) Therefore, we
do see a conceivable tactical purpose for defense counsel to refrain from contesting the
identification of defendant, which supported the misdemeanors and the evading charge,
in order to focus on the two assault counts, which are serious felonies. (§ 1192.7, subd.
(c)(11).) Indeed, in closing argument, defense counsel argued: “Folks, earlier this week, I
mentioned that I would stand before you in a few days and ask you to find Mr. Swenson
guilty of stealing a car as well as hit-and-run causing property damage, and that’s what
I’m here to do. And that I ask you to find him not guilty of assault on the two officers.
[¶] That’s really the crux of this case, okay.” Counsel proceeded to argue that defendant
was not guilty of the assault counts. As to one of the two assault counts, counsel was
successful.
       Because defense counsel’s decision to not object appears clearly strategic, we
conclude counsel was not constitutionally ineffective for not objecting to the challenged
identification.
                                              VI
                     Modifying the Jury Instruction for General Intent
       Defendant contends the trial court modified a pattern jury instruction in such a
way that it confused the jury and deprived him of due process.
       A. Legal Background
       The trial court has a duty to instruct sua sponte on the joint union of act and intent.
(People v. Alvarez (1996) 14 Cal. 4th 155, 220.) “In reviewing a claim of error in jury
instructions in a criminal case, this court must first consider the jury instructions as a
whole to determine whether error has been committed. [Citations.] We may not judge a
single jury instruction in artificial isolation, but must view it in the context of the charge

                                              17
and the entire trial record. [Citation.] An appellate court cannot set aside a judgment on
the basis of instructional error unless, after an examination of the entire record, the court
concludes that the error has resulted in a miscarriage of justice. [Citation.] A
miscarriage of justice occurs only when it is reasonably probable that the jury would have
reached a result more favorable to the appellant absent the error. [Citations.]” (People v.
Moore (1996) 44 Cal. App. 4th 1323, 1330-1331.) The relevant inquiry is “ ‘whether there
is a reasonable likelihood that the jury has applied the challenged instruction in a way’
that violates the Constitution. [Citation.]” (Estelle v. McGuire (1991) 502 U.S. 62, 72.)
       “The trial court has the primary duty to help the jury understand the legal
principles it is asked to apply. [Citation.]” (People v. Moore, supra, 44 Cal.App.4th at p.
1331.) But where the original instructions are full and complete, the court has discretion
to determine what additional explanations are sufficient to satisfy the jury’s requests for
additional information. (Ibid.)
       B. Procedural Background
       The trial court instructed the jury with CALCRIM Nos. 252 and 860. CALCRIM
No. 252 provides in part, regarding general intent: “The crime[s] . . . charged in Count[s]
require[s] proof of the union, or joint operation, of act and wrongful intent. [¶] The
following crime[s] . . . require[s] general criminal intent: [insert names of alleged
offenses]. For you to find a person guilty of (this/these) crime[s] . . . , that person must
not only commit the prohibited act [or fail to do the required act], but must do so with
wrongful intent. A person acts with wrongful intent when he or she intentionally does a
prohibited act [or fails to do a required act]; however, it is not required that he or she
intend to break the law. The act required is explained in the instruction for that crime
. . . .” (Italics added.)
       The trial court instructed the jury with CALCRIM No. 252 as modified to reflect
the charges in the case:

                                              18
       “The crimes charged in this case require proof of the union or joint operation of
act and wrongful intent.
       “The following crimes require general criminal intent:
       “Assault on a peace officer with a deadly weapon or force likely to produce great
bodily injury, in violation of Penal Code section 245, subdivision (c), as charged in
Counts One and Two; [¶] And failure to perform duty following an accident with
property damage, in violation of Vehicle Code section 20002, subdivision (a), as charged
in Count Five. These particular crimes also require a specific mental state. For you to
find a person guilty of these crimes, that person must not only intentionally do a
prohibited act or fail to do a prohibited act, but must do so with a specific mental state.
[¶] The specific mental state required for these crimes is one of knowledge. [¶] The
crime of assault on a peace officer with a deadly weapon or force likely to produce great
bodily injury, Count One and Count Two, requires that a person knew, or should have
known, that the person assaulted was a peace officer who was performing his or her
duties. [¶] The crime of failure to perform duty following an accident with property
damage, Count Five, requires that a person knew that he or she was involved in an
accident that caused property damage, or knew from the nature of the accident that it
was probable that . . . property had been damaged. The act and the mental state required
are explained in the instruction for each of these crimes.” (Italics added.)
       The trial court also instructed the jury with CALCRIM No. 860, which contained
the elements necessary to find defendant guilty of counts one and two--the counts for
assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer. The court instructed the jury in part:
“To prove that the defendant is guilty of this crime, the People must prove that:
       “1. The defendant did an act with a deadly weapon that by its nature would
directly and probably result in the application of force to a person; or did an act that by its
nature would directly and probably result in the application of force to a person and the
force used was likely to produce great bodily injury;

                                              19
       “2. The defendant did that act willfully;
       “3. When the defendant acted, he was aware of facts that would lead a reasonable
person to realize that his act by its nature would directly and probably result in the
application of force to someone;
       “4. When the defendant acted, he had the present ability to apply force with a
deadly weapon or likely to produce great bodily injury to a person;
       “5. When the defendant acted, the person assaulted was lawfully performing his
or her duties as a peace officer; and
       “6. When the defendant acted, he knew, or reasonably should have known, that
the person assaulted was a peace officer who was performing his or her duties.
       “Someone commits an act willfully when he or she does it willingly or on purpose.
It is not required that he or she intend to break the law, hurt someone else or gain any
advantage.
       “[¶] . . . [¶]
       “[T]he People are not required to prove that the defendant actually intended to
use force against someone when he acted.”3 (Italics added.)
       Defendant did not object to the instructions as given.
       While deliberating, the jury asked three questions: 1. “In order to avoid count 2
[assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer as to Gouveia], what would the
defendant need to have done, short of stopping the car to avoid the assault charge?” 2.
“May we have a second, more clear/specific definition on assault? After reviewing the
sections ([CALCRIM No.] 860) in the packet we received, we would like more

3 There are slight differences between the oral and written jury instructions that do not
affect our analysis. “To the extent a discrepancy exists between the written and oral
versions of jury instructions, the written instructions provided to the jury will control.
[Citations.]” (People v. Wilson (2008) 44 Cal. 4th 758, 803.)

                                             20
clarification.” 3. “Is motive and intent one in the same, and can we consider these in our
deliberation?”
       The trial court responded: “The instructions you were given address both motive
and intent. For example, instruction #370[4] addresses motive and #252 addresses
intent/mental state. Additionally, the act and the intent or mental state required for each
crime are explained in the instruction for the crime(s). [¶] The set of instructions that
you have is the law that governs the case. Some of the instructions may not apply,
depending on your findings about the facts of the case. After you have decided what the
facts are, follow the instructions that do apply to the facts as you find them.”
       C. Forfeiture
       The People contend defendant has forfeited this argument by failing to raise it at
the trial court. A party forfeits any challenge to a jury instruction that was correct in law
and responsive to the evidence if the party failed to object in the trial court. (People v.
Hudson (2006) 38 Cal. 4th 1002, 1011-1012.) This rule does not apply if the instruction
was an incorrect statement of law (id. at p. 1012), nor does it apply if the instructional
error affected defendant’s substantial rights (People v. Ramos (2008) 163 Cal. App. 4th
1082, 1087; § 1259). Therefore, in order to determine whether defendant forfeited his
argument, we must first determine whether the instructions were correct in law and
responsive to the evidence, and whether they affected defendant’s substantial rights.
(People v. Andersen (1994) 26 Cal. App. 4th 1241, 1249.)

4  The trial court instructed the jury with CALCRIM No. 370, which provides: “The
People are not required to prove that the defendant had a motive to commit any of the
crimes charged. In reaching your verdict you may however, consider whether the
defendant had a motive. [¶] Having a motive may be a factor tending to show that the
defendant is guilty. Not having a motive may be a factor tending to show the defendant
is not guilty.”

                                             21
       D. Analysis
       Although defendant notes that the trial court’s instruction did define “general
criminal intent” for the jury, he argues that the instruction did not sufficiently convey to
the jury that it was, indeed, defining “general criminal intent.” He points to the jury’s
questions as proof that the instructions confused the jury as to the intent required to find
defendant guilty of the assault counts.
       We see no confusion. CALCRIM Nos. 252 and 860 specified the criminal intent
necessary to find defendant guilty of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer.
The instructions conveyed that defendant possessed the required mental state to find him
guilty of that crime if he willfully did an act with a deadly weapon that by its nature
would directly and probably result in the application of force to a person. He acted
willfully if he did the act on purpose, but not necessarily with the intent to break the law,
hurt someone else, or gain any advantage. Finally, defendant must have known or should
have known that the person assaulted was a peace officer who was performing her duties.
We conclude these instructions adequately identified for the jury what mental state was
required to find defendant guilty of this charge.5
       Defendant’s reliance on the jury’s questions to the trial court is not persuasive.
The jury’s first question asked the court about the factual scenario supporting the assault
charge on which it ultimately acquitted; that is a question about satisfying the elements of
that crime, not finding general criminal intent. The jury’s second question suggested that
it remained confused about the elements of assault generally.

5 The court similarly instructed the jury that it must find defendant acted “willfully”
regarding the hit and run count, and the court defined “willfully” as it did in CALCRIM
No. 860.

                                             22
       The jury’s third question sought clarification on whether it could consider
defendant’s motive in its deliberations. The trial court properly referred the jury back to
CALCRIM Nos. 252 and 370 and the instructions on the individual crimes.
       We also disagree with defendant that the jury verdicts suggested a compromise
based on a lack of understanding. As we have discussed, the evidence is sufficient to find
defendant guilty of assaulting Robertson. The charge of assaulting Gouveia was based on
entirely different conduct, where defendant was boxed into a parking lot and sought to
get out after hitting another car. The jury may have concluded that defendant was
preoccupied with those circumstances, and thus not reasonably aware that his act would
probably result in the application of force to Gouveia, or even that defendant’s act of
driving near Gouveia was not likely to result in the application of force. We do not
conclude that the incidents involved in the two assault counts were so similar as to
suggest the jury simply compromised by finding defendant guilty of only one. Moreover,
even if the jury compromised by finding defendant guilty of one assault and not the other,
an inconsistent verdict that is the result of compromise does not necessarily imply lack of
understanding as defendant suggests. (See People v. Lewis (2001) 25 Cal. 4th 610, 656
[asserted inconsistency in verdicts, without more, does not suggest jury confusion].)
       Defendant does not challenge that the instruction was a correct statement of the
law; he claims only that it lacked clarity. We conclude the instructions taken together
adequately instructed the jury on the law, and defendant’s substantial rights were not
affected. Therefore, defendant forfeited his argument by failing to object.
                                            VII
                                      Fines and Fees
       At sentencing, the trial court imposed a $1,500 restitution fine (§ 1202.4, subd.
(b)(1)), a stayed $1,500 parole revocation fine (§ 1202.45), a $120 conviction assessment
fee (Gov. Code, § 70373), a $160 court operations fee (§ 1465.8), a $12 penalty pursuant
to the Emergency Medical Air Transport Act (Gov. Code, § 76000.10), $150 restitution

                                             23
fines on the misdemeanor hit and run and vehicle theft counts, and jail booking and
classification fees of $453.62 and $90.65 (Id., § 29550.2).6 The court also ordered
defendant to pay the previously suspended $300 restitution fine in the case on which the
court revoked probation. Defendant contends we must remand for a hearing on his
ability to pay the fines and fees pursuant to People v. Dueñas (2019) 30 Cal. App. 5th
1157. We decline to do so.
       A. Forfeiture
       The People argue forfeiture. The trial court sentenced defendant on March 22,
2019. Dueñas, on which defendant bases his claim, was filed on January 8, 2019.
Despite the fact that Dueñas was published before defendant’s sentencing hearing,
defendant did not claim an inability to pay or seek a hearing thereon. Therefore, he
forfeited his argument. (See People v. Trujillo (2015) 60 Cal. 4th 850, 859 [the
constitutional nature of the defendant’s claim regarding his ability to pay did not justify a
deviation from the forfeiture rule]; People v. Nelson (2011) 51 Cal. 4th 198, 227 [ability
to pay restitution fine is forfeited by failure to object at the sentencing hearing]; People v.
Avila (2009) 46 Cal. 4th 680, 729 [forfeiture rule applies to defendant’s claim that
restitution fine amounted to an unauthorized sentence based on his inability to pay];
People v. Gutierrez (2019) 35 Cal. App. 5th 1027, 1033 [failure to object to maximum
restitution fine on ground of inability to pay forfeits Dueñas issue].)
       Defendant contends his failure to object in the trial court does not forfeit his
challenge because the imposition of fines and fees exceeded the jurisdiction of the trial
court, resulting in an unauthorized sentence. (See People v. Scott (1994) 9 Cal. 4th 331,
354 [sentence is “unauthorized” where it could not lawfully be imposed under any

6 The court also ordered defendant to pay direct victim restitution to one victim in the
amount of $1,000 and retained jurisdiction as to another victim. Defendant does not
challenge these rulings.

                                              24
circumstance in the particular case].) An “unauthorized sentence” may be corrected on
appeal because it presents pure questions of law independent of any factual issues.
(People v. Smith (2001) 24 Cal. 4th 849, 852.) Here, the question of whether the fines and
fees may be imposed requires a factual determination about defendant’s ability to pay.
Therefore, the imposed fines and fees do not result in an unauthorized sentence that may
be corrected on appeal without an objection in the trial court.7
       B. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
       Anticipating our conclusion that he forfeited his claim, defendant contends his trial
counsel was constitutionally ineffective for failing to object to the imposition of the fines
and fees without a hearing on his ability to pay. As we stated ante, a claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel requires defendant to show by a preponderance of the evidence that
(1) counsel’s performance fell below the objective standard of prevailing professional
norms, and (2) defendant was prejudiced by counsel’s failing. (Strickland v. Washington,
supra, 466 U.S. at pp. 688-695.) On direct appeal, a conviction will be reversed for
ineffective assistance “only if (1) the record affirmatively discloses counsel had no
rational tactical purpose for the challenged act or omission, (2) counsel was asked for a
reason and failed to provide one, or (3) there simply could be no satisfactory explanation.
All other claims of ineffective assistance are more appropriately resolved in a habeas
corpus proceeding.” (People v. Mai (2013) 57 Cal. 4th 986, 1009.)
       Here, the record is silent as to why defense counsel raised no Dueñas objection.
Counsel focused on securing a lower prison sentence for defendant through the
application of section 654 and concurrent sentencing, and asserted defendant’s remorse.

7 Defendant contends section 1237.2 “specifically authorizes an appeal regarding an
error in the imposition of calculation of fines even ‘if the error is not discovered until
after sentencing.’ ” But section 1237.2 “only applies where the erroneous imposition or
calculation of fines, penalty assessments, surcharges, fees, or costs are the sole issue on
appeal.” Therefore, that section is not applicable here.

                                              25
Counsel also discussed defendant’s history and asked for drug treatment. It is possible
that counsel believed focusing on these issues would provide more meaningful assistance
to defendant than arguing for a reduction in the assessed fines and fees. Accordingly, it
would be inappropriate to decide the merit of defendant’s ineffective assistance of
counsel claim here. The issue is more appropriately considered in a habeas corpus
proceeding.
       For these reasons, the contention fails.
                                      DISPOSITION
       The judgment is affirmed.

                                                        /s/
                                                  Duarte, J.

We concur:

     /s/
Mauro, Acting P. J.

     /s/
Renner, J.

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