Court Opinion

ID: 2720545
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-25 19:02:14.15833+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:43:10.125804
License: Public Domain

Filed 8/25/14 Smith v. Superior Court CA1/3
                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

              IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

                                       FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                     DIVISION 3

LAWRENCE SMITH,
         Petitioner,
v.
THE SUPERIOR COURT OF SOLANO                                             A141668
COUNTY,
                                                                         (Solano County
         Respondent;                                                       Super. Ct. No. FCR303269)
THE PEPOLE OF THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA,
         Real Party in Interest and Plaintiff.

         Petitioner Lawrence Smith, (Petitioner) in the custody of the California
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and presently charged with
possession of illegal substances in a jail facility, petitions for a writ of mandate to set
aside an order denying his request for discovery of CDCR Sergeant R. Durfey’s
personnel records. In response to Smith’s petition, this court stayed the trial court
proceedings, requested informal opposition, and advised the parties that if appropriate
this court might resolve the issue without a further hearing pursuant to Palma v. U.S.
Industrial Fasteners, Inc. (1984) 36 Cal.3d,171, 180 (Palma).
         Having reviewed the parties’ submissions we conclude Petitioner has established
good cause for the superior court to conduct an in camera review of Sergeant Durfey’s
personnel file. We therefore shall direct the Respondent superior court to vacate its order

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and conduct an in camera review to determine which documents, if any, should be
provided to Petitioner.
                     FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
       On October 18, 2013 the Attorney General filed a felony complaint charging
Petitioner with possession of illegal substances (marijuana and heroin) in a jail facility in
violation of Penal Code section 4573.6.1 Petitioner is currently awaiting trial on this
charge.
       The police investigation report in this matter reflects the following facts. On
June 14, 2013 CDCR Officer L. Davis conducted a routine search of Petitioner’s cell as
his colleague, CDCR Officer H. De La Torre, observed from several feet away. Before
he searched the cell, Davis removed Petitioner from the cell and ordered him to sit on the
bench in the day room.
       In the course of searching Petitioner’s cell Davis discovered a container of baby
powder. Davis emptied the container and while doing so observed a large clear bindle.
The bindle contained a leafy green substance which Davis believed was marijuana.
Davis opened the large bindle and found eleven smaller bindles each of which contained
a leafy green substance he believed to be marijuana. Officer De La Torre placed
Petitioner in handcuffs and De La Torre and Davis escorted him to the facility program
complex where De La Torre strip searched Petitioner but found no further contraband.
Davis, assisted by CDCR Sergeant R. Durfey inventoried Petitioner’s personal property
and placed each item into plastic bags.
       With respect to the container found in Petitioner’s cell, Durfey poured the baby
powder back into the container. As he did so, Durfey observed a second large bindle in
the powder. This second bindle was made from what appeared to be the finger of a latex
glove. Durfey placed this second bindle into his pocket and continued to place
Petitioner’s property into plastic bags. Later, Durfey photographed the bindle, opened it
and observed four smaller bindles inside the larger bindle. Each of the smaller bindles

1
       All further unspecified statutory references are to the Penal Code.

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contained a black tar like substance Durfey believed to be heroin. Durfey collected all of
the bindles and placed them in the evidence locker.
       Petitioner, through his appointed defense counsel, filed a motion pursuant to
Pitchess v. Superior Court (1974) 11 Cal.3d 531 (Pitchess) seeking discovery of Durfey’s
confidential police personnel records (Pitchess motion). In support of the motion,
Defense counsel filed a sworn declaration which, on information and belief, stated that
Durfey included false and misleading information in his incident reports. The declaration
stated that Davis’ search of Petitioner’s cell produced a container filled with powder.
When Davis emptied the contents of the container, he observed a large bindle within
which he found several smaller bindles. These smaller bindles contained a substance
Davis believed to be marijuana. The declaration further stated that Petitioner did not
have any heroin concealed in the powder, that no heroin was found or otherwise present
at any time before, during or after he was searched and that the heroin allegedly found
was planted by Durfey – while Durfey and Davis were bagging Petitioner’s possessions
or when placing the inventoried items into the evidence locker. Counsel’s declaration
also asserted that Durfey falsified his incident report because “he dislikes Smith, as Smith
does not sufficiently cower before correctional authority.” Finally counsel avered that
the requested records were material to the proper presentation and preparation of the case
for trial in that Durfey’s prior falsification of testimony, false police reports, perjury, false
or illegal detentions and arrests and other acts involving dishonesty and/or moral
turpitude were relevant to impeach Durfey’s credibility because “the sole evidence that
places the heroin in [Petitioner’s] cell is the testimony of Sergeant Durfey.”
       Real Party in Interest CDCR lodged an objection to the requested discovery.
CDCR argued that Petitioner’s counsel’s declaration relied on conclusory assertions and
denials and failed to provide a plausible factual foundation to support the claim that
Durfey planted heroin in his cell. Respondent superior court denied the Pitchess motion,
without comment, in its March 6, 2014, order.
       Petitioner now requests this court to issue a writ of mandate and/or prohibition
directing Respondent superior court to vacate its March 6, 2014, order and conduct an in

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camera review of Durfey’s personnel records. We stayed the trial in this matter, asked
for informal opposition and gave notice pursuant to Palma, supra, 36 Cal.3d at p. 180,
that, if appropriate, we might issue a peremptory writ in the first instance.
                                       DISCUSSION
       Pre-trial appellate review of criminal discovery rulings is appropriate. (See People
v. Memro (1985) 38 Cal.3d 658, 675, overruled on another ground in People v. Gaines
(2009) 46 Cal.4th 172, 181, fn. 2.) We review the grant or denial of a Pitchess motion,
for abuse of discretion. (People v. Hughes (2002) 27 Cal.4th 287, 330.)
       The Pitchess procedure seeks to balance the peace officer’s right to confidentiality
against the defendant’s right to obtain information that is pertinent to his defense (Alford
v. Superior Court (2003) 29 Cal.4th 1033, 1039; Warrick v. Superior Court (2005) 35
Cal.4th 1011, 1019 (Warrick).) “In 1978, the California Legislature codified the holding
of Pitchess by enacting Penal Code sections 832.7 and 832,8, as well as Evidence Code
sections 1043 through 1045. (Added by Stats. 1978, ch. 630, §§ 1-3 & 5-6, 2028-
2083.)” (Warrick, supra, 35 Cal.4th at p. 1019.) Warrick summarizes the legislative
requirements to obtain Pitchess discovery. To initiate discovery, the defendant must file
a motion which provides notice to the governmental agency which has custody of the
records sought, a description of the records or information sought, as well as affidavits
showing “good cause for the discovery or disclosure sought, setting forth the materiality
of the information to the pending litigation and stating upon reasonable belief that such
governmental agency identified has such records or information from such records.
(Evid. Code § 1043, subd. (b)(2).) To show good cause as required by Evidence Code
section 1043, defense counsel’s declaration must propose a defense or defenses to the
pending charge. The declaration must articulate how the discovery sought may lead to
relevant evidence or may itself be directly admissible or impeachment evidence that
would support those proposed defenses. These requirements ensure that only information
potentially relevant to the defense need be brought by the custodian of the officer’s
records to the court for its examination in chambers. (Warrick, supra, 35 Cal.4th at
p. 1024.) Lastly, counsel’s affidavit must describe a factual scenario supporting the

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claimed officer misconduct. (Id. at p. 1024.) A plausible scenario of officer misconduct
is one that “might or could have occurred.” (Id. at p. 1026.) Depending on the
circumstances of the case, a plausible scenario of officer misconduct may consist of a
denial of the facts asserted in the police report. (Id. at p. 1024.)
       Employing the relatively “low standard” for discovery articulated in Warrick,
supra, 35 Cal.4th 1011, we conclude here that defendant satisfied the criteria for
discovery under Evidence Code section 1043, subdivision (b) thus entitling him to an in
camera records review of relevant documents under Evidence Code section 1045. As set
forth above, Petitioner was charged with possessing illegal drugs (marijuana and heroin)
while in custody. The declaration submitted by Petitioner in support of the Pitchess
motion, however, denied that defendant had any knowledge or possession of heroin on
the date of his arrest. To the contrary, Petitioner’s counsel’s declaration states “the
heroin allegedly found in the baby powder container was planted by Sergeant Durfey
after the initial search either when he was assisting Davis in bagging [Petitioner’s]
possessions or when placing the items into the evidence locker.” Additionally, Sergeant
Durfey’s actions were motivated by his personal dislike of the Petitioner, who allegedly
“does not sufficiently cower before correctional authority.” Moreover, Petitioner’s
assertion that Durfey planted the drugs is internally consistent with Durfey’s incident
report which indicates that he observed the bindles of heroin after the arrest and strip
search of Petitioner. While unnecessary, the declaration also provides a motive for the
officer’s alleged misconduct. Lastly, as required by Evidence Code section 1043, the
declaration of Petitioner’s counsel also proposes a defense or defenses to the pending
charge and articulates how the discovery may lead to or may itself be admissible as direct
or impeachment evidence.
       Thus we conclude these allegations are sufficient to meet the low bar necessary to
trigger the trial court’s obligation to conduct an in camera review of Officer Durfey’s
personnel file pertaining to his credibility.
       A decision by our colleagues in the Fifth District supports our conclusion. In
People v. Hustead, (1999) 74 Cal.App.4th 410, a defendant facing a charge of evasion of

                                                5
arrest after a high-speed automobile chase sought Pitchess discovery of whether the
pursuing officer had a “history of misstating or fabrication of facts” in police reports. (Id
at p. 416.) The Hustead court found that the defendant met his burden to justify an in
camera review of the reporting officer’s personnel file regarding evidence of dishonesty
based upon counsel’s declaration, which alleged that the officer made material
misstatements regarding what he saw, including making false claims that the defendant
was driving dangerously, defendant’s denial of the alleged driving pattern, and counsel’s
assertion that a material and substantial issue in the trial would be the character, habits,
customs and credibility of the officers. (Id at pp. 416-417.)

                                      CONCLUSION
       Petitioner’s entitlement to relief is clear and no useful purpose would be served by
plenary consideration of the issue. (See Ng v. Superior Court (1992) 4 Cal.4th 29, 35;
see also Lewis v. Superior Court (1999) 19 Cal.4th 1232, 1261.) Thus, the accelerated
Palma procedure (see Palma, supra, 36 Cal.3d 171) is appropriate.
       Therefore, let a peremptory writ of mandate issue directing Respondent superior
court to vacate its March 6, 2014 order denying Petitioner’s Pitchess motion and
directing it to enter a new and different order granting the motion to produce CDCR
Sergeant Durfey’s personnel records for in camera review. Respondent superior court
remains free to determine in the first instance which documents and information
contained in said file, if any, should be disclosed to Petitioner. This decision is final as to
this court immediately upon filing. (Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 8.490(b)(1).) The stay
previously issued by this court shall remain in effect until the issuance of the remittitur.
(Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 8.272.)

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                                _________________________
                                Jenkins, J.

We concur:

_________________________
McGuiness, P. J.

_________________________
Pollak, J.

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