Court Opinion

ID: 2644439
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-11-27 21:17:34.38308+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:53:44.033628
License: Public Domain

Filed 11/27/13 P. v. Samuel 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                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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,                                       E055861

v.                                                                       (Super.Ct.No. RIF1100877)

SAVIOUR SAMUEL,                                                          OPINION

         Defendant and Appellant.

         APPEAL from the Superior Court of Riverside County. Helios (Joe) Hernandez,

Judge. Affirmed.

         Sylvia Whatley Beckham, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for

Defendant and Appellant.

         Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Chief Assistant Attorney

General, Julie L. Garland, Assistant Attorney General, A. Natasha Cortina and Ronald A.

Jakob, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

         A jury found defendant and appellant Saviour Samuel guilty of one count of

corporal injury resulting in a traumatic condition (Pen. Code, § 273.5, subd. (a), count

                                                             1
1),1 and three counts of assault with means of force likely to produce great bodily injury

(GBI) (§ 245, subd. (a)(1), counts 2, 4 & 5).2 The jury also found true that defendant

personally inflicted great bodily injury (§ 12022.7, subd. (e)) in the commission of counts

1 and 2. Defendant was sentenced to a total term of five years in state prison with credit

for time served. Defendant’s sole contention on appeal is that the trial court abused its

discretion when it found the case was not unusual for a grant of probation. We reject this

contention and affirm the judgment.

                                               I

                                FACTUAL BACKGROUND

       In October 2010, defendant lived in an apartment with Jane Doe and her son

Shaun. Jane described that she and defendant were in a “boyfriend/girlfriend” type of

intimate relationship. Defendant and Jane shared a bedroom, and Shaun had his own

room. Around April 2011, Jane’s daughter, Shana, stayed at the apartment for a couple

of weeks.

       On April 7, 2011, Jane suspected defendant was cheating on her. She was upset

and felt betrayed and hurt. Deciding that she wanted defendant out of her home, Jane,

with the assistance of her daughter, began packing defendant’s belongings and piling

them at the top of a staircase outside the front door of her apartment.

       1   All future statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise stated.

       2 The trial court dismissed counts 3 (assault with a deadly weapon, § 245,
subd. (a)(1)) and 6 (making a criminal threat, § 422)) pursuant to section 1118.1.

                                              2
          Shaun’s girlfriend was on her way to the apartment when she saw defendant

arrive. Defendant entered the apartment and asked Jane what she was doing with his

belongings. Jane said that she did not want him there anymore. Defendant grabbed Jane,

repeatedly punched her, and dragged her to the floor. Defendant continued to punch,

kick, and stomp on Jane as she lay on the floor.

          Shana, who was in the bathroom at the time defendant entered, went into the living

room and saw defendant standing over her mother. Defendant was upset and asked

Shana if she had touched his belongings. Before she could reply, defendant charged at

Shana and punched her in the upper torso hard, causing her to fall on the floor. He then

continuously kicked Shana in the head while she attempted to protect her head with her

hands. When defendant stopped kicking Shana, she ran outside, crying for help.

          Meanwhile, defendant went back to Jane and began to repeatedly punch and kick

her while she lay on the floor. Jane tried to get up and leave the apartment, but defendant

grabbed her and pulled her back inside. He then continued to pummel her. Several

neighbors witnessed defendant’s assault on Jane and her children.

          Shaun’s girlfriend ran to where Shaun was waiting in the car and called the police.

Shana also called 911, as did several neighbors who heard Shana screaming for help and

witnessed the incident. Defendant was enraged and screamed, “‘I don’t care if I go to

jail.’”

          When Shana returned to the apartment, defendant charged at her again and

punched her in the chest area a second time. She was again knocked onto her back,

                                               3
landing on the ground outside. Defendant then punched Shana numerous times in the

face.

        After his girlfriend told Shaun what she had seen, Shaun got out of the car and ran

to the apartment. He saw his mother lying motionless on the floor. Defendant blocked

the doorway and threatened to “blast” Shaun. Shaun eventually entered the apartment

and went into his bedroom to retrieve a baseball bat to defend himself and his family.

Defendant followed him and struck Shaun in the face, causing Shaun’s face to hit a wall.

Defendant then punched Shaun in the side of his body with a closed fist a few times

while Shaun tried to protect his face. Defendant picked up a Samurai sword Shaun kept

in his room, and the two wrestled over it. When defendant gained control over the sword,

Shaun kicked defendant in the chest and was able to run from the room.

        As Shaun and Shana helped their mother leave the apartment, defendant kicked

Shaun in the head, causing him to almost fall down the stairs. Defendant went back

inside the apartment, yelling and breaking things.

        Riverside Police Officer Shawn Degruy responded to the scene and saw Jane

sitting on the stairs disoriented and crying hysterically. He also noticed bruising on

Jane’s face, thigh, and back, and a lump on her forehead. The officer did not notice any

boxes or suitcases sitting outside the apartment. Defendant calmly walked downstairs

and the officer detained him. Defendant said that he was not hurt and did not have any

visible injuries. The officer found the sword hidden under a bed.

                                             4
       Defendant was a professional bodybuilder and weighed approximately 226

pounds. Jane weighed 136 pounds; her son 120 or 130 pounds; and her daughter 140

pounds.

       Jane was transported to the hospital by an ambulance. She suffered bruising,

swelling, and redness on her forehead, cheek, shoulder, back, elbow, forearm, hand,

thigh, buttocks, and behind one of her ears. She also had cuts on her lip and inside her

mouth. None of the injuries were permanent, but the bruises lasted about three weeks.

Shaun suffered a cut lip, abrasions on his face, and redness around his ribcage area.

Shana suffered pain in her ribs as well as headaches. She explained feeling a lot of pain

for a couple of days after the incident when breathing.

       Defendant denied being in an intimate relationship with Jane, and claimed that

Jane was angry at him because he had refused her affections. He also denied hitting Jane.

He asserted that he knew how to control his temper and that he never lost his temper,

even with his ex-wife. He asserted that the injuries on the victims and damage caused in

the apartment and to Jane’s eyeglasses were caused by Shana and Shaun when they tried

to assault him. He explained that Shana approached him with a baseball bat; and when

she tried to hit him with it, he ducked, and the bat struck various items in the apartment,

as well as Jane’s eyeglasses.3 He further stated that Shaun tripped while holding the

sword, causing him to hit his head or face on a wall and knocking Jane into a wall.

       3Prior to the attack, Jane was wearing eyeglasses. The eyeglasses were later
found with a bent and broken frame and missing lens.

                                             5
       In rebuttal, defendant’s ex-wife testified that on July 11, 2010, she and defendant

had an argument. In the presence of her three children, defendant told her that she did

not “know him very well” and that “he would chop [her] head off in pieces.” He also

said that they “wouldn’t be there the next morning,” and that they “were going to be in

the newspaper.” Defendant’s wife was scared, grabbed her children, and reported the

incident to the police. Defendant was arrested.

                                              II

                                       DISCUSSION

       Defendant contends that the trial court abused its discretion in failing to find

unusual circumstances that would have allowed the trial court to grant probation

notwithstanding the jury’s finding of great bodily injury. He further argues that a remand

for resentencing is necessary because he is a suitable candidate for probation. The People

respond that defendant forfeited his claim by not objecting below; and, in the alternative,

claim defendant’s contention is unmeritorious.

       A.     Additional Background

       The probation officer’s report stated: “Pursuant to the provisions of Penal Code

Section 1203[, subdivision] (e)(3), the defendant is ineligible for a grant of probation

unless an unusual case can be found, in that the defendant willfully inflicted great bodily

injury or torture in the perpetration of the crime of which he[] has been convicted.” The

probation officer’s report further noted that, “[a] review of the facts or circumstances

demonstrating the existence of an unusual case, does not indicate this is an unusual case

in that no criteria of the Judicial Council Rules fully apply.” The probation officer,

                                              6
however, stated: “The defendant’s upbringing appears to have been stable and nurturing,

and his academic history is commendable. The support he provides his mother displays

his loyalty to family. The defendant has maintained a means to support himself, whether

through scholarships or his sport, in which he has been quite successful. He has not

sustained any convictions prior to this offense. These factors suggest he has the ability to

comply with a grant of probation. [¶] Although this case seems out of character for the

defendant, his actions were disturbing nonetheless. The defendant has been lifting

weights and bodybuilding since he was a teenager. Knowing how intimidating,

frightening and dangerous he could be, given his size and strength, he used these

characteristics in an attempt to get what he wanted. By showing no hesitation to assault

three victims, the defendant presents himself as a serious danger to the community. This

situation occurred inside and out of the apartment, and apparently he was not concerned

with being observed by witnesses.”

       The probation officer recommended a midterm sentence. The report balanced two

factors in aggravation; level of violence (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 4.421(a)(1))4 and

danger to society (rule 4.421(b)(1)), and one factor in mitigation, no prior record or

insignificant record (rule 4.423(b)(1)).

       At the commencement of the sentencing hearing, the trial court stated: “I have a

probation officer’s report. I have a letter that [defendant] wrote and a letter that the

       4   Further rule references are to the California Rules of Court.

                                               7
victim wrote, and I’ve read all those things. [¶] . . . just to point out some of the things

that are in the probation officer’s report, before I hear from the various parties, []

pursuant to 1203(b)(3) of the Penal Code, he’s ineligible for a grant of probation unless

an unusual case can be found since there was GBI involved. Nothing comes to my mind

or to the probation officer’s mind that would create this unusual case. [¶] So it looks like

it’s going to be a state prison case because of the 12022.7.”

       The prosecutor indicated that she agreed with the probation officer’s

recommendation and read a letter from Jane. Defendant’s trial counsel requested that

defendant be placed on probation, pointing out that defendant was “37 years old now and

has never had a previous criminal contact or criminal record.” Defense counsel also

noted that defendant was working as a fitness trainer when the incident occurred; that he

was a bodybuilder at the time; and that the victims’ injuries were only bruises and not as

serious as other cases involving great bodily injury in these types of cases.

       Defense counsel further argued that if the court was to deny probation, a low term

was warranted in this case. The trial court agreed that a low term was reasonable in this

case and sentenced defendant to a total term of five years in state prison.

       B.     Forfeiture

       In People v. Scott (1994) 9 Cal. 4th 331, 353 (Scott), our Supreme Court held that a

party who does not object to a trial court’s “failure to properly make or articulate its

discretionary sentencing choices,” forfeits the right to raise the claim on appeal. The

Scott court reasoned: “The requirement [of an objection in the trial court] encourages the

careful exercise of discretion and decreases the risk of error. In the event ambiguities,

                                               8
errors, or omissions appear in the court’s reasoning, the parties can seek an immediate

clarification or change.” (Id. at p. 351.)

       The probation officer’s report stated that defendant is ineligible for a grant of

probation unless an unusual case can be found pursuant to section 1203,

subdivision (e)(3). The probation officer’s report did not list or assess any factors under

rules 4.413 and 4.414, although the probation officer alluded to some of these factors in

the probation officer’s statement. At the sentencing hearing, defendant’s trial counsel

argued for a grant of probation based on defendant’s lack of criminal record and gainful

employment at the time of the incident. As such, we decline to find defendant forfeited

his claim that the trial court abused its discretion in concluding this case was not an

unusual case for a grant of probation.

       However, to the extent defendant argues that the trial court concluded there were

no unusual circumstances for a grant of probation “without analysis of the criteria in rule

4.413(c),” we agree with the People that defendant forfeited this assertion. Defendant

could have objected at the time of sentencing to the trial court’s “failure to properly make

or articulate its discretionary sentencing choices.” (Scott, supra, 9 Cal.4th at p. 353.)

       C.     Unusualness and Probation

       Defendant contends that the trial court abused its discretion by failing to find his

case unusual and grant him probation. In particular, he asserts the trial court should have

found his case to be unusual under rule 4.413(c).

       Section 1203, subdivision (e), prohibits a grant of probation to defendants who

have been convicted under certain circumstances, “[e]xcept in unusual cases where the

                                              9
interests of justice would best be served if the person is granted probation.” One such

circumstance is when a defendant inflicts great bodily injury in the commission of an

offense. (§ 1203, subd. (e)(3).) Here, under section 1203, subdivision (e)(3), defendant

was presumptively ineligible for probation. When a defendant is presumptively ineligible

for probation, the trial court is required to use the criteria set forth in rule 4.413 to

determine whether the presumption is overcome and the interests of justice would be

served by a grant of probation. (People v. Superior Court (Du) (1992) 5 Cal. App. 4th
822, 830 (Du).)

       Under rule 4.413, facts that may indicate an unusual case include: (1) the

circumstance giving rise to the limitation on probation is substantially less serious than

the circumstances typically present in other cases involving the same probation

limitation, and the defendant has no recent record of committing similar crimes; (2) the

defendant participated in the crime under circumstances of great provocation, coercion,

or duress not amounting to a defense; (3) the crime was committed because of a mental

condition not amounting to a defense, and there is a high likelihood that the defendant

would respond favorably to mental health care and treatment that would be required as a

condition of probation; and (4) the defendant is youthful and has no significant record of

prior criminal offenses.

       Courts must construe “unusual cases” and “interests of justice” narrowly so that

the statutory limitations on probation have substantial scope and effect. (People v.

Superior Court (Dorsey) (1996) 50 Cal. App. 4th 1216, 1229 (Dorsey) [Fourth Dist.,

                                               10
Div. Two].) Thus, unusual cases are limited to those matters in which the crime is either

atypical or the offender’s moral blameworthiness is reduced. (Ibid.) A trial court is not

required to find a case unusual even if one or more of the criteria are met. Rather, the

language of rule 4.413 is permissive in nature. (People v. Stuart (2007) 156 Cal. App. 4th
165, 187.)

       “The standard for reviewing a trial court’s finding that a case may or may not be

unusual is abuse of discretion. [Citations.]” (Du, supra, 5 Cal.App.4th at p. 831.) The

decision to grant or deny probation also rests within the broad discretion of the trial court,

and such discretionary decisions will not be disturbed on appeal except “on a showing

that the court exercised its discretion in an arbitrary, capricious or patently absurd manner

that resulted in a manifest miscarriage of justice.” (People v. Jordan (1986) 42 Cal. 3d
308, 316.) Defendant bears a heavy burden when attempting to show an abuse of

discretion. (People v. Aubrey (1998) 65 Cal. App. 4th 279, 282.) “‘In the absence of such

a showing, the trial court is presumed to have acted to achieve legitimate sentencing

objectives, and its discretionary determination to impose a particular sentence will not be

set aside on review.’ [Citation.]” (People v. Superior Court (Alvarez) (1997) 14 Cal. 4th
968, 977-978.)

       Citing to cases wherein the victims suffered greater injuries than suffered by Jane,

defendant argues that the great bodily injury in this case is “‘substantially less serious’”

than other cases involving great bodily injury. Defendant also contends he does not have

any record of committing similar crimes of violence. While Jane’s injuries here may be

less serious than those inflicted in other domestic violence or assault cases where a victim

                                             11
is beaten until the bones break or the victim suffers bleeding or scarring, we do not agree

that extensive bruising all over Jane’s body, as well as lacerations on the lip and mouth, is

substantially less serious than any other infliction of great bodily injury during a case of

domestic violence or assault. (See Dorsey, supra, 50 Cal.App.4th at p. 1229 [unusual

cases must be narrowly construed].) Moreover, the record shows that defendant had a

recent record of committing a similar crime of violence. He had made criminal threats

against his ex-wife in the presence of children less than a year prior to his violent assaults

on Jane and her children. Although no criminal charges were filed in that case, defendant

was nonetheless arrested in connection with his threats against his ex-wife.

        Defendant also contends the trial court should have found this was an unusual case

in which the interests of justice would be served by a grant of probation because he

committed the offense under duress or provocation not amounting to a defense, his

mental condition, his age (under 40), his support of his mother and stable upbringing, and

his lack of a significant criminal record.

        We acknowledge that defendant can be characterized as being relatively young;

that he presumably had a stable upbringing and supported his mother; and that he does

not have a significant record of prior criminal offenses. However, these factors are

insufficient in this case to overturn the trial court’s finding that this was not an unusual

case.

        Defendant repeatedly attacked Jane and her children without duress or “great”

provocation by any one of them. The record shows that although defendant may have

been upset or enraged at seeing his belongings outside the apartment, this can hardly be

                                              12
characterized as “great” provocation or being under duress so as to justify defendant’s

continual attack on Jane and her children. Moreover, defendant testified that he knew

how to control his temper and that he never lost his temper, even with his ex-wife. In

addition, there is no evidence in the record to support defendant’s claim that he was

suffering from a mental condition causing him to commit the instant offenses. In fact,

defendant’s mental health was characterized as “[g]ood.” Furthermore, defendant had no

substance abuse problems that could have contributed to his commission of the offenses

or that required any type of treatment. The record supports a finding that defendant did

not commit the crimes under circumstances of duress or great provocation by the victims

or that he suffers from a mental condition that caused him to commit the instant offenses.

       The trial court here properly exercised its discretion in finding that the

presumption against probation eligibility should not be overridden. The trial court was

aware of the factors before it; defendant’s trial counsel argued in favor of probation, and

the probation officer’s statement noted factors both for and against a grant of probation.

Because exceptions for unusual cases are to be narrowly construed, and because the

record reflects the trial court was aware of the analytical factors before it, we hold that

the trial court did not abuse its discretion in determining defendant’s case was not

unusual.

       Even if defendant’s arguments had merit, rule 4.413(c) did not require the trial

court to find this was an unusual case. As previously noted, the finding of an unusual

case is within the trial court’s discretion, even when the relevant criteria are met, and

defendant bears a heavy burden when attempting to show an abuse of discretion.

                                              13
Defendant has not provided relevant authority or facts to support his claim that his case is

unusual or that the court’s sentence was arbitrary or capricious.

       Because we are satisfied that the trial court did not abuse its discretion under rule

4.413, we need not consider defendant’s arguments pertaining to rule 4.414.5

                                             III

                                       DISPOSITION

       The judgment is affirmed.

       NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS

                                                                 RAMIREZ
                                                                                         P. J.

We concur:

RICHLI
                           J.

CODRINGTON
                           J.

       5  We note that rule 4.413 contemplates a two-step process where the court must
first evaluate the factors set forth in rule 4.413(c) and determine whether there are
unusual circumstances to overcome the statutory limitation on probation. If the court
makes that determination, then it must still consider the factors set forth in rule 4.414 to
determine if probation should be granted or denied. (Rule 4.413(b); Dorsey, supra, 50
Cal.App.4th at p. 1229; Du, supra, 5 Cal.App.4th at p. 830.) Where, as here, the court
finds that the case was not unusual under rule 4.413, it has no authority to grant
probation.

                                             14