Court Opinion

ID: 9400638
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-06-08 18:04:33.428718+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:19:24.968763
License: Public Domain

Filed 6/8/23 P. v. Anderson CA4/2
                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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

                                   FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                  DIVISION TWO

 THE PEOPLE,

           Plaintiff and Respondent,                                      E079027

 v.                                                                       (Super. Ct. No. FWV21003849)

 BROQUE ANDERSON,                                                         OPINION

           Defendant and Appellant.

         APPEAL from the Superior Court of San Bernardino County. Daniel W.

Detienne, Judge. Affirmed.

         Alex Kreit, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and

Appellant.

         Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney

General, Charles C. Ragland, Assistant Attorney General, A. Natasha Cortina and Arlyn

Escalante, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

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                                             I.

                                    INTRODUCTION

       A jury found defendant and appellant Broque Anderson guilty of two counts of

second degree burglary (Pen. Code, § 459). The trial court sentenced defendant to two

years, eight months in prison with credit for time served. Defendant’s sole contention on

appeal is that there is insufficient evidence to support his intent to commit one of the

burglaries. We disagree and affirm the judgment.

                                             II.

                               FACTUAL BACKGROUND

       A. Burglary of PBK Architectural Firm

       On October 6, 2021, between the hours of 2:30 a.m. and 3:30 a.m., a

representative of PBK Architectural Firm (PBK) received a burglar security alarm

notification from its security company. The representative watched a live feed of the

security video footage on her phone and saw defendant walking through offices with a

bag in his hands. These offices remained locked throughout the day, were not open to

visitors at any time, and employees used a key fob system to get in. One of PBK’s

employees saw defendant exit the office building shortly after 7:00 a.m. The security

footage showed defendant carrying something in his hands as he exited the building.

Security footage also showed defendant inside PBK’s offices in the middle of the night

on October 2 and 3, 2021 between 2:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. carrying bags in his hands.

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       A San Bernardino County Deputy Sheriff arrived at PBK shortly after 7:00 a.m.

but did not find defendant. The deputy spoke with three PBK employees and also viewed

the surveillance video. The deputy observed fresh and dirt free scratches on the inside of

the entry doors around the locking mechanism. The deputy found a tote bag and a black

computer bag containing property belonging to defendant inside PBK’s building.

       Three hours after the deputy was called to PBK, the same deputy recognized

defendant from the surveillance video sitting handcuffed in the back of a police vehicle at

the sheriff’s station. The deputy contacted defendant and searched a small, black cloth

bag that was next to him. In the bag, the deputy found a set of keys with a key fob on it,

a tablet, and a computer bag, all of which the employee kept in different locations within

PBK offices. The PBK employee noted that another key fob had gone missing earlier

that week. The deputy also found a homemade tool made out of Velcro straps and office

supplies that looked like it could pry open a door inside defendant’s black bag.

       B. Burglary of Sola Salon

       While released on his own recognizance pending trial for the PBK burglary,

defendant committed a second burglary on October 25, 2021. On that day, defendant

entered Sola Salon in the early morning hours before any of the salon’s employees

arrived. The salon’s manager found defendant on the balcony of the salon where

defendant had locked himself out. The manager immediately called law enforcement.

Defendant was holding an iced tea he had taken from the salon’s refrigerator. The

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salon’s security footage showed that defendant had entered with a metal burglary tool

that he had left on top of the salon’s refrigerator.

       C. Defendant’s Defense

       Defendant testified on his own behalf. He admitted that he was convicted of

vandalism in 2018, and that he was convicted of three felony charges in 2016 for identity

theft and possession of counterfeit items. Defendant acknowledged that it was him in the

security footage from PBK on October 2 through 6, 2021. He explained that he had gone

into PBK’s offices to recover his property and to use PBK’s conference rooms and library

to work on “map data.” He also claimed that he was at PBK to meet a friend and his

friend’s mother who worked at PBK, and that he was in contact with another employee

named Lisa, who knew about his meeting with the other two people. Defendant,

however, admitted that he did not actually meet up with anyone at PBK.

       Regarding the items found in his bag, he claimed that he used the Velcro straps for

“the charges to electrical devices” he owned and that at “various times” he left his laptops

and laptop bag at PBK offices. He had also left a shirt or two and a jacket in the building

because he felt these items would be safe to leave there while he was out running errands.

He testified that he did not intend to take the employee’s property and only did so

because her property resembled his tablet. He admitted to taking a key fob from a

conference table at PBK.

       As to his arrest after the PBK burglary, defendant stated that “the police . . . had

already made the arrest for me being there” and “they released me with the property and I

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brought the property back there. When I got arrested again.” Defendant claimed that he

went to the police station on October 6, 2021 because his property was mixed up with the

PBK employee’s belongings. He explained that he had a bag with two laptops and a

tablet and was arrested after he was trying to get his laptops back from the PBK office.

He also stated that “they took the property – when they removed me from the building the

date I was there with the CEO, they took my property out – well they left my property

there and took me out.”

       As to the Sola Salon burglary, defendant testified that he had plans to meet an

employee named Paula at the salon and claimed Paula was outside when he went inside.

He also asserted that he either used a key to enter the salon or was buzzed in, but he could

not recall who gave him the key. Defendant initially stated that the iced tea he took could

have been his because he brought “iced tea and monster to that fridge throughout the

year,” but later admitted that it was not his. Defendant claimed that the metal instrument

found on top of the refrigerator was just a piece of metal he had found and picked up. He

denied using that metal instrument to get into the salon. Defendant denied entering the

salon or PBK to commit theft or any other crime.

                                             III.

                                      DISCUSSION

       Defendant does not dispute that he was the person who broke into PBK. Instead,

he argues that the evidence is insufficient to prove he entered with the intent to steal and

thus his conviction on count 1 should be reversed. We disagree.

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       In considering a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence to support a judgment

of conviction, we review the whole record in the light most favorable to the judgment to

determine whether it contains substantial evidence, i.e., evidence that is reasonable,

credible, and of solid value, from which a rational jury could find the elements of the

crime beyond a reasonable doubt. (Jackson v. Virginia (1979) 443 U.S. 307, 319; People

v. Johnson (1980) 26 Cal.3d 557, 578; People v. Manibusan (2013) 58 Cal.4th 40, 87;

People v. Wilson (2020) 56 Cal.App.5th 128, 153.) We focus “‘on the whole record . . . ,

rather than on “‘isolated bits of evidence.’”’” (People v. Bradford (1997) 15 Cal.4th

1229, 1329.) Reversal is required only if “‘it appears “that upon no hypothesis whatever

is there sufficient substantial evidence to support [the conviction].”’” (People v. Cravens

(2012) 53 Cal.4th 500, 508.) Nonetheless, “a reasonable inference from the evidence

‘“‘may not be based on suspicion alone, or on imagination, speculation, supposition,

surmise, conjecture, or guesswork. [¶] . . . A finding of fact must be an inference drawn

from evidence rather than . . . a mere speculation as to probabilities without evidence.’”’”

(People v. Sanford (2017) 11 Cal.App.5th 84, 91-92.)

       “‘Conflicts and even testimony [that] is subject to justifiable suspicion do not

justify the reversal of a judgment, for it is the exclusive province of the trial judge or jury

to determine the credibility of a witness and the truth or falsity of the facts upon which a

determination depends. [Citation.] We resolve neither credibility issues nor evidentiary

conflicts; we look for substantial evidence. [Citation.]’ [Citation.] A reversal for

insufficient evidence ‘is unwarranted unless it appears “that upon no hypothesis whatever

                                               6
is there sufficient substantial evidence to support”’ the jury’s verdict. [Citation.]”

(People v. Zamudio (2008) 43 Cal.4th 327, 357.) The same standard applies when the

conviction rests primarily on circumstantial evidence. (People v. Kraft (2000) 23 Cal.4th

978, 1053.)

       In order to be convicted of second degree burglary, the People have to prove

beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant entered a commercial business building with

the intent to steal or commit a felony. (§ 459.) The requisite intent must exist at the time

of entry (People v. Hill (1967) 67 Cal.2d 105, 119), and will usually be inferred from

circumstantial evidence. (People v. Matson (1974) 13 Cal.3d 35, 41.) “Where the facts

and circumstances of a particular case and the conduct of the defendant reasonably

indicate his purpose in entering the premises is to commit larceny or any felony, the

conviction may not be disturbed on appeal.” (People v. Nunley (1985) 168 Cal.App.3d

225, 232.)

       “[T]he intent required for robbery . . . is seldom established with direct evidence

but instead is usually inferred from all the facts and circumstances surrounding the

crime.” (People v. Abilez (2007) 41 Cal.4th 472, 506-507; accord, People v. Kwok

(1998) 63 Cal.App.4th 1236, 1245; People v. Moody (1976) 59 Cal.App.3d 357, 363.)

Many cases have held that evidence of surreptitious entry, flight upon confrontation, and

failure to provide a reason for being on the premises constitute sufficient evidence from

which a jury or finder of fact may infer the intent to commit theft sufficient for conviction

of burglary. (People v. Matson, supra, 13 Cal.3d at pp. 41-42 [Supreme Court concluded

                                              7
there was sufficient evidence to support a burglary conviction based on the circumstances

that the defendant entered the victim’s apartment surreptitiously, hid in her bathroom

with the lights out, and denied having done so]; People v. Martin (1969) 275 Cal.App.2d

334, 339 [Flight from the scene of a burglary, without reasonable explanation, is evidence

from which intent may be inferred.]; People v. Frye (1985) 166 Cal.App.3d 941, 947

[codefendant made an unauthorized entry into a vacant home at 1:00 a.m. and ran out the

back door after a police officer yelled, “‘[F]reeze’”; the “late hour and sudden flight upon

discovery support the inference [he] entered with intent to steal”]; People v. Lopez (1967)

249 Cal.App.2d 93, 98; People v. Smith (1978) 78 Cal.App.3d 698, 704 [an intent to

commit theft at the time of entry may be inferred from flight from the premises].)

Indeed, “[b]urglarious intent [can] be reasonably and justifiably inferred from the

unlawful and forcible entry alone.” (People v. Michaels (1961) 193 Cal.App.2d 194,

199; see People v. Martin, supra, at p. 339; People v. Stewart (1952) 113 Cal.App.2d

687, 690-691; People v. Walters (1967) 249 Cal.App.2d 547, 551 [felonious intent to

commit theft may be inferred from the unlawful entry alone].) Evidence such as theft of

property from a dwelling may also create a reasonable inference that there was intent to

commit theft at the time of entry. (In re Leanna W. (2004) 120 Cal.App.4th 735, 741;

People v. Lewis (2001) 25 Cal.4th 610, 643; People v. Price (1991) 1 Cal.4th 324, 462.)

Such intent may also be inferred where the defendant is a stranger and enters a building at

a late hour, without permission, and without announcing his intent and is found with

instruments commonly used by burglars. (People v. Swenson (1938) 28 Cal.App.2d 636,

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639-640; People v. Osegueda (1984) 163 Cal.App.3d Supp. 25, 27-30.) A defendant’s

possession of recently stolen property is another circumstance that shows intent to steal.

(People v. Lopez (2011) 198 Cal.App.4th 698, 709.)

       Here, the totality of the facts and circumstances shows that defendant entered PBK

on October 6, 2021 with the intent to steal. The entry by defendant occurred late at night

around 2:00 a.m. after the business was closed. The entry was intentional and forcible,

using a burglary tool. Defendant fled with a black bag in his hand while the building’s

alarm was blaring and prior to law enforcement arrival. And after defendant was

arrested, he was found in possession of the black bag containing property belonging to a

PBK employee. The black bag contained a set of keys with a key fob, a tablet, and a

computer bag, all of which the employee kept in different locations within PBK offices.

Defendant’s black bag also contained a homemade tool made out of Velcro straps and

office supplies that looked like it could pry open a door. Further, there was no evidence

to suggest defendant was known as a customer of the business. In the absence of any

plausible explanation to the contrary, the most reasonable explanation from these facts is

that defendant broke into the structure with the intent to steal.

       Defendant contends that the facts in the case are unusual to support a finding that

he entered PBK with the intent to steal. He points to the unusual nature of his activities

at the PBK building, such as spending hours in the building over the course of at least

three days, “where dozens of laptops and tablets were easily accessible, before eventually

exiting with a single black bag and leaving behind two black bags of his own—makes it

                                              9
‘just as reasonable to infer’ that [his] intent arose after his entry rather than

contemporaneous to it.” He also points to the fact that he did not take more items, did not

make a quick exit from PBK, and the fact that he subsequently brought the items he took

to the police station. These arguments do not support his position that there was

insufficient evidence of his intent to steal. Rather, these contentions go to the weight and

credibility of the evidence presented at trial. “‘“We do not reweigh evidence or

reevaluate a witness’s credibility.”’” (People v. Ramirez (2022) 13 Cal.5th 997, 1118.)

The jury likely rejected defendant’s testimony that he did not enter PBK with the intent to

steal.

         Defendant’s reliance on People v. Jones (1992) 184 A.D.2d 383, a New York

case, is misplaced. First, out-of-state authorities are not binding on California courts.

(People v. Montes (2014) 58 Cal.4th 809, 884.) Second, Jones is distinguishable because

unlike that case, here defendant did not lawfully enter the PBK building, and there was

no legitimate explanation for defendant entering PBK. In Jones, the defendant lawfully

entered a rooming house looking for his uncle, and after not finding him, he went to

another part of the building and cut hoses inside several bathrooms causing water to leak.

(People v. Jones, supra, at p. 383.) The appellate court found there was insufficient

evidence the defendant had entered the building with an intent to commit a crime because

his uncle did live in the building, he had several other acquaintances whom he often

visited there, and the prosecution offered no proof as to the time or circumstances of

defendant’s entry. (Id. at p. 384)

                                               10
       Defendant’s reliance on In re Leanna W., supra, 120 Cal.App.4th 735, is also

misplaced. There, the minor was present at her grandmother’s house during an

unauthorized party involving 30 to 40 people where the grandmother’s alcohol was

consumed and her items were missing. (Id. at p. 740.) Because there was a complete

absence of evidence that the minor participated in any kind of burglary or vandalism or

even knew burglary or vandalism was taking place in the home and any one of the

numerous people present at the home could have burglarized or vandalized the home, the

Court of Appeal found insufficient evidence to support the juvenile court’s finding the

minor committed first degree burglary and vandalism. (Id. at pp. 740-741, 743.) The

court explained, “The mere possibility that [the minor] consumed the alcohol raises

nothing more than a suspicion, which does not form a sufficient basis for an inference of

fact.” (Id. at p. 741.)

       Here, the People’s evidence of defendant’s intent is not sheer speculation. Unlike

the circumstances of Leanna W., defendant was the only person seen at PBK offices

during the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. at the time of the burglary. PBK employees

identified defendant as the only person who entered the building without permission

during late hours. Besides his self-serving statements, there was no evidence of any

relationship or acquaintance between defendant and any of the employees at PBK. There

was no suggestion of any legitimate reason for defendant to be inside the PBK building.

Defendant entered the building without permission using a burglary tool. He was seen on

video surveillance walking through offices holding a black bag. He had no reasonable

                                            11
legitimate explanation to be in the building. And he was found in possession of items he

had taken from a PBK employee, as well as burglary tools at the time of his arrest. There

is substantial evidence that defendant entered PBK with the intent to steal.

                                            IV.

                                      DISPOSITION

       The judgment is affirmed.

       NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS

                                                               CODRINGTON
                                                                         Acting P. J.

We concur:

RAPHAEL
                          J.

MENETREZ
                          J.

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