Court Opinion

ID: 2671973
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-05-01 00:02:48.276431+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:38:27.101499
License: Public Domain

Filed 4/30/14 P. v. Holmes 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                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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,                                       E059565

v.                                                                       (Super.Ct.No. FVI020655)

TERRY HOLMES,                                                            OPINION

         Defendant and Appellant.

         APPEAL from the Superior Court of San Bernardino County. Jules E. Fleuret,

Judge. Affirmed.

         Richard De La Sota, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and

Appellant.

         No appearance for Plaintiff and Respondent.

         A jury convicted defendant of two counts of assault with a deadly weapon (counts

3 & 4; Pen. Code, § 245, subd. (a)(1))1 and found true an allegation attached to count 4

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

                                                             1
that defendant personally inflicted great bodily injury (§ 12022.7, subd. (a)).2 Defendant

thereafter admitted allegations he had sustained two prior strike convictions (§§ 667,

subds. (b)-(i), 1170.12, subds. (a)-(d)) and a prior serious felony conviction (§ 667, subd.

(a)(1)). The court imposed an indeterminate, aggregate sentence of 33 years to life

consisting of the following: 25 years to life on the count 4 offense, a concurrent 25 years

to life on the count 3 offense, three years consecutive for the great bodily injury

enhancement, and five years consecutive for the prior serious felony conviction.

       After defendant’s trial, counsel filed the notice of appeal; this court appointed

counsel to represent defendant. Counsel has filed a brief under the authority of People v.

Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436 and Anders v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 738, setting forth

a statement of the case, a statement of the facts, and identifying four potentially arguable

issues: (1) whether defendant’s conviction was supported by substantial evidence;

(2) whether the court abused its discretion in denying defendant’s Romero3 motion;

(3) whether the People committed prosecutorial misconduct by arguing defendant showed

consciousness of guilt by not waiting at the scene to tell the police what had occurred;

       2  The jury acquitted defendant of two counts of attempted murder (counts 1 & 2;
§§ 664, 187) and found not true an allegation defendant personally inflicted great bodily
injury in his commission of the count 3 offense (§ 12022.7, subd. (a)).

       3   People v. Superior Court (Romero) (1996) 13 Cal.4th 497.

                                              2
and (4) whether the court committed reversible error by instructing the jury with the

pattern instruction on flight as consciousness of guilt.4

       Defendant was offered the opportunity to file a personal supplemental brief, which

he has done. In his brief, defendant argues his trial counsel rendered constitutionally

ineffective assistance of counsel (IAC) by coercing defendant into waiving his

constitutional rights and admitting the prior strike conviction allegations and by not filing

a section 1118.1 motion to dismiss at the conclusion of the People’s case in chief.

Defendant additionally contends insufficient evidence supports his convictions because

he acted in self defense, insufficient evidence supported the allegations that his prior

convictions were strikes, the trial court erred in declining to treat his convictions for the

felony wobbler offenses as misdemeanors, the court erred in declining to strike his prior

strike convictions, and defendant’s sentence constitutes unconstitutionally cruel and

unusual punishment. Defendant requests this court dismiss his case in its entirety; or, in

the alternative, strike his prior conviction allegations, reduce his felony convictions to

wobblers or impose the midterm sentence on the felony convictions, and order his release

for time served. We affirm the judgment.

                       FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

       Dominique McLemore testified that in January 2005 he worked at W&B Trucking

with his stepfather and defendant. McLemore’s stepfather and defendant did not get

       4  See People v. Mendoza (2000) 24 Cal.4th 130, 179 [the court is required to
instruct the jury with the flight instruction where there is evidence of a defendant’s
flight].)

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along well. On January 3, 2005, McLemore saw defendant at a liquor store between 7:00

and 8:00 p.m. McLemore was with Michael Newton, Earl Youngblood, and Dominique

Newton.5

       McLemore approached defendant and tauntingly broached the subject of

defendant and McLemore’s stepfather’s antipathy toward one another. Defendant told

McLemore “‘Fuck you and your dad.’” McLemore followed defendant out into the

parking lot cursing and yelling at him. Defendant grabbed something, which McLemore

believed to be a gun, out of defendant’s car and told McLemore to “‘Come over here if

you want to.’” McLemore backed off and left with his friends.

       When McLemore got into the car with his friends, he told them he wanted to “beat

up” defendant. McLemore’s friends told him they knew where defendant lived. They

then drove to defendant’s home where McLemore jumped out of the car and broke the

passenger window of defendant’s truck.

       McLemore and his friends then went to Michael’s home for a party. Sometime

later defendant knocked on the door and asked the individual who answered it where the

person who broke his window lived. The individual who answered the door looked over

at McLemore. McLemore walked over to the door and asked defendant what he wanted.

Defendant told McLemore he was “‘gonna pay for that.’”

       Defendant had his right hand behind his back. Defendant whipped out a large

hunting knife from behind his back and stabbed McLemore in the back, just beneath the

       5 For ease of reference the Newton brothers hereinafter will be referred to by their
first names.

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shoulder blade. McLemore yelled for help. He grabbed defendant’s right hand and

struggled with him for the knife. During the altercation, McLemore sustained cuts to his

right wrist.

       Michael punched defendant in the face. Youngblood also jumped in, but he was

slashed with the knife across his face. Defendant ran off. Someone called the police.

McLemore went to the hospital via ambulance where he received a total of 15 stitches;

three on his back and 12 on his wrist. That night, McLemore recounted to an officer the

events of the evening, leaving out the part where McLemore broke defendant’s truck’s

window.

       At no time that evening did McLemore possess a knife. McLemore never saw any

of his friends with a knife that evening. He did not offer to fight with defendant.

       Michael testified McLemore, Youngblood, and his brother were at his home on

January 3, 2005. His brother answered the door at some point. McLemore then went to

the door. The man at the door grabbed McLemore and started stabbing him.

       Youngblood testified he went to the liquor store on January 3, 2005, with

McLemore and Dominique. McLemore came out of the store arguing with someone.

McLemore said he wanted to beat-up the individual with whom he was arguing.

       They went to the house for a party. The individual with whom McLemore had

argued at the liquor store knocked and rang the doorbell. Dominique answered the door;

McLemore then went to the door as well. The man at the door stabbed McLemore.

Youngblood went to help, but sustained knife wounds to his fingers, wrist, and face. The

man who stabbed them drove off.

                                             5
       Youngblood received approximately 30 stitches at the hospital; more than 20 of

them were on his face. Youngblood still had a facial scar from the cut he received to his

face that night. He never saw any of his friends with a weapon that night.

       A deputy sheriff testified he received a vandalism call from defendant’s wife to

respond to defendant’s residence that night. Shortly thereafter he was dispatched to

Michael’s residence where he encountered two persons who had sustained knife

wounds.6 McLemore had fresh knife wounds, including a puncture wound to the left side

of his back and a laceration to his right wrist. Youngblood also had fresh knife wounds,

including a laceration across his face and lacerations on his hand. Youngblood and

McLemore were transported from the residence by ambulance around 8:15 p.m.

       The deputy spoke with McLemore that evening, who recounted the details of the

incident. Afterward, the deputy went to defendant’s home. No one was home. The

house was locked. He witnessed and took pictures of the vandalized truck. Defendant

could not be located for several years thereafter.

       In his closing argument, without objection, the prosecutor informed the jury, “You

can consider the fact that [defendant] fled the house . . ., fled the scene, as evidence of

consciousness of guilt, that he knew he was in the wrong.” In his rebuttal, the prosecutor

informed the jury, “you get an instruction from the judge that says you can consider the

fact that he took off as evidence of his guilt.” The prosecutor argued defendant could

have “gone to the police—if he were an innocent person who was a victim of this, he

       6  The deputy testified the stabbing call took precedence over the vandalism call;
thus, he responded to the latter call first.

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would have gone to the police. He did not go to the police.” Defense counsel objected,

contending the prosecutor had committed Griffin/Doyle7 error. After argument on the

issue, the court overruled the objection.

                                       DISCUSSION

       A.     IAC

       Defendant contends his trial counsel rendered constitutionally ineffective

assistance of counsel by failing to move for an acquittal pursuant to section 1118.1 at the

close of the People’s case, and by coercing him into admitting his prior convictions

which, according to defendant, would not be considered prior strike convictions. We

disagree.

       “‘“In order to demonstrate ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must first

show counsel’s performance was “deficient” because his “representation fell below an

objective standard of reasonableness . . . under prevailing professional norms.”

[Citations.] Second, he must also show prejudice flowing from counsel’s performance or

lack thereof. [Citation.] Prejudice is shown when there is a “reasonable probability that,

but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been

different. A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in

the outcome.”’” [Citation.] [¶] Reviewing courts defer to counsel’s reasonable tactical

decisions in examining a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel [citation], and there is

       7  Griffin v. California (1965) 380 U.S. 609, 614 (implying guilt based on
defendant’s failure to testify is reversible error); Doyle v. Ohio (1976) 426 U.S. 610, 619-
620 (implying guilt based on defendant’s post-arrest invocation of right to remain silent
is reversible error).

                                             7
a “strong presumption that counsel’s conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable

professional assistance.” [Citation.]’ Defendant’s burden is difficult to carry on direct

appeal, as we have observed: “‘Reviewing courts will reverse convictions [on direct

appeal] on the ground of inadequate counsel only if the record on appeal affirmatively

discloses that counsel had no rational tactical purpose for [his or her] act or omission.’”

[Citation.]’ [Citation.] If the record on appeal ‘“‘sheds no light on why counsel acted or

failed to act in the manner challenged[,] . . . unless counsel was asked for an explanation

and failed to provide one, or unless there simply could be no satisfactory explanation,’

the claim on appeal must be rejected,”’ and the ‘claim of ineffective assistance in such a

case is more appropriately decided in a habeas corpus proceeding.’ [Citation.]” (People

v. Vines (2011) 51 Cal.4th 830, 875-876.)

       First, defense counsel did move for an acquittal pursuant to section 1118.1. The

court denied the motion. Thus, defendant’s contention his counsel below failed to move

for an acquittal is inconsistent with the record. Second, there is no evidence in the record

defendant was coerced into admitting his prior strike convictions or that he was led to

believe he was only admitting prior convictions, not strike convictions. At defense

counsel’s request, the court bifurcated the prior conviction allegations from the trial on

the substantive counts. After trial, but before the jury rendered its verdicts, defendant

waived a jury trial on the prior conviction allegations.

       After the jury rendered its verdicts, the People moved to strike three section 667.5,

subdivision (b) allegations in return for defendant’s “admission to the two strikes.” The

court struck the prior prison allegations. The court read defendant his rights with respect

                                              8
to trial on the prior strike and prior serious felony conviction allegations. Defendant

indicated he understood his rights. The court gave defendant additional time to confer

with defense counsel. Defendant then indicated he had had enough time to discuss his

waiver of trial on and his admission to the prior conviction allegations. The court then

orally pronounced it was alleged defendant had suffered a prior conviction for robbery

which would constitute “a serious or violent felony . . . which would be a strike.” The

court further announced it was alleged defendant had suffered a prior conviction for

“assault with a deadly weapon . . . .” Defendant admitted the allegations. Defense

counsel joined in defendant’s admission. Thus, there is no evidence defense counsel

coerced defendant into admitting the prior strike convictions, and ample evidence

defendant understood he was admitting prior strike conviction allegations.

       B.     Sufficiency of the Evidence.

       Defendant contends insufficient evidence supports his conviction for the

substantive counts because he acted in self defense. Defendant additionally contends

insufficient evidence supports a determination his prior convictions were strikes. We

disagree.

       “‘“On appeal, “‘we review the entire record in the light most favorable to the

judgment to determine whether it contains substantial evidence—that is, evidence that is

reasonable, credible, and of solid value—from which a reasonable trier of fact could find

the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.” [Citation.]’ [Citation.] In conducting

such a review, we “ ‘presume[] in support of the judgment the existence of every fact the

trier could reasonably deduce from the evidence.” [Citation.]’ [Citations.] ‘Conflicts

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and even testimony which 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.] These same principles apply to review of the

sufficiency of the evidence to support a special circumstance finding. [Citations.]”

[Citation.]’ [Citation.]” (People v. Jackson (2014) 58 Cal.4th 724, 749.)

       First, with respect to the substantive charges, three percipient witnesses testified

defendant came to Michael’s house and stabbed McLemore without any immediate

provocation. Two of the witnesses testified that no one at the home, to their knowledge,

had any weapons. Prior to stabbing McLemore, defendant exclaimed McLemore was

going to pay for vandalizing defendant’s truck. McLemore’s recounting of the details of

the incident with the deputy that evening was consistent with the testimony of all three

percipient witnesses. No evidence was adduced at trial that defendant acted in self

defense. Thus, sufficient evidence supported defendant’s convictions on the substantive

counts.

       Regardless, the court instructed the jury defendant could not be found guilty if the

jury determined he had acted in self defense. (CALCRIM Nos. 604, 875, 3470, 3471,

3472, 3474.) The People argued, both in its closing statement and its rebuttal, that

defendant did not act in self defense. Defense counsel argued defendant had acted in self

defense. By finding defendant guilty, the jury necessarily found defendant had not acted

in self defense. Sufficient evidence supports the jury’s determination.

                                             10
       With respect to the sufficiency of the evidence to support a determination

defendant’s prior convictions were strikes, we note defendant’s admission of the prior

strike convictions is, itself, sufficient evidence the prior convictions were strikes. (See

People v. Jones (1995) 37 Cal.App.4th 1312, 1316 [unequivocal evidence of intent to

admit prior convictions, such as an on the record oral admission of the prior conviction

allegation, constitutes sufficient evidence to support the prior conviction allegation]; See

also People v. McGuire (1993) 14 Cal.App.4th 687, 697, fn. 12 [guilty plea concedes all

elements of offense, establishing sufficiency of the evidence of guilt]; People v. Maultsby

(2012) 53 Cal.4th 296, 304, fn. 6.)

       Moreover, prior to trial, the prosecutor indicated he had “turned over all of the

priors and the [section] 969[, subdivision] (b) packets to defense counsel.” The

prosecutor indicated the content of the packets provided sufficient proof defendant had

sustained the alleged prior strike convictions. Defense counsel agreed. Defendant’s prior

criminal record, contained in the probation report, reflects defendant had prior

convictions for robbery (§ 211) and assault with a deadly weapon (§ 245, subd. (a)(1)),

both of which qualify as prior strike convictions. (§§ 667, subd. (d)(1), 667.5, subd.

(c)(9) [robbery], 1192.7, subd. (c)(19) [robbery] & (c)(23) [any felony in which the

defendant personally used a deadly weapon] & (31) [assault with a deadly weapon].)

Finally, defendant expressly admitted he had sustained a prior conviction for “assault

with a deadly weapon . . . .” Defendant has the burden on appeal of demonstrating error.

(People v. Montes (2014) 58 Cal.4th 809, 853.) Thus, sufficient evidence supported a

determination defendant’s prior convictions qualified as strikes.

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       C.     Sentencing Issues.

       Defendant contends the court erred in declining to reduce his convictions for two

counts of felony assault with a deadly weapon to misdemeanors pursuant to section 17,

subdivision (b)(2). He maintains the court erred in declining to strike both his prior strike

convictions. Finally, defendant argues his sentence constitutes unconstitutionally cruel

and/or unusual punishment. We disagree.

       “[A] trial court has broad discretion to decide whether . . . to reduce a felony

wobbler offense to a misdemeanor [citation]; and whether to dismiss one or more

offenses or allegations in the interests of justice [citation].” (People v. Clancey (2013) 56

Cal.4th 562, 579.) “‘[W]here the record demonstrates that the trial court balanced the

relevant facts and reached an impartial decision in conformity with the spirit of the law,

we shall affirm the trial court’s ruling, even if we might have ruled differently in the first

instance’ [citation].” (People v. Carmony (2004) 33 Cal.4th 367, 378.) “Only in the

rarest of cases could a court declare that the length of a sentence mandated by the

Legislature is unconstitutionally excessive.” (People v. Martinez (1999) 76 Cal.App.4th

489, 494.)

       Defense counsel filed a sentencing memorandum arguing the court should exercise

its discretion to reduce defendant’s felony conviction in count 3 to a misdemeanor and

strike defendant’s prior strike convictions. At the originally scheduled sentencing

hearing, the court continued the matter to allow defense counsel to obtain more

information regarding the details of one of defendant’s prior convictions for arson. At

the following hearing, the prosecutor noted that receipt of the probation report for

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defendant’s prior conviction for arson revealed no mitigating factors. Defense counsel

did not dispute the People’s contention.

       Defendant’s criminal record reflects numerous convictions beginning in 1978.

Defendant had sustained convictions for battery, robbery, false imprisonment, four counts

of threatening phone calls, assault with a deadly weapon, and arson. Defendant’s most

recent conviction occurred in 1994. Defendant had been sentenced to prison on at least

three prior occasions. Defendant had his probation revoked once in a prior case and had

apparently sustained “[n]umerous violations” of his parole in his latest case.

       The sentencing court observed defendant could have simply called the police with

respect to the vandalism to his truck instead of going to the house with a knife and

stabbing the victims: “I certainly would not . . . reduce these offenses to a misdemeanor.

They’re not misdemeanor conduct. Even if he had no prior felonies, they’re just simply

not misdemeanor conduct.” Defendant addressed the court contending he acted in self

defense. The court noted that by virtue of its verdict, the jury had necessarily found

defendant had not acted in self defense.

       The court also noted that defendant’s criminal history established “a pattern of

violence and impulsivity in his crimes, which is consistent with what happened in the

case that the jury heard.” The court remarked that each time defendant was released from

custody he had contact with law enforcement relatively soon thereafter; that even though

defendant’s strike convictions were remote, they were serious; that any provocation

defendant experienced in the instant case was not immediate; and that defendant was not

outside the spirit of the “Three Strikes” law.

                                             13
          The court denied defendant’s request to strike the prior strike conviction

allegations. The court properly considered and balanced defendant’s record with the law

and acted well within its discretion in declining to reduce defendant’s convictions to

misdemeanors, or strike defendant’s prior strike conviction allegations.

          Defendant forfeited the contention his sentence constituted cruel and/or unusual

punishment by failing to raise the issue below. (People v. Em (2009) 171 Cal.App.4th

964, 971, fn. 5; People v. Norman (2003) 109 Cal.App.4th 221, 229.) Moreover,

defendant’s sentence is not disproportionate when compared to other crimes for which

substantial sentences have been imposed and upheld on appeal. (Rummel v. Estelle

(1980) 445 U.S. 263, 265-266, 268-286 [life sentence for credit card fraud of $80,

passing a $28.36 forged check, and obtaining $120.75 by false pretenses not cruel and

unusual]; Harmelin v. Michigan (1991) 501 U.S. 957, 961, 995 [life sentence for

possession of 672 grams of cocaine not violative of Eighth Amendment]; Ewing v.

California (2003) 538 U.S. 11, 18, 30-31 [25-year-to-life sentence under Three Strikes

law for theft of three golf clubs worth $399 apiece upheld]; Lockyer v. Andrade (2003)

538 U.S. 63, 66 [two consecutive 25-year-to-life terms for two separate thefts of less than

$150 worth of videotapes upheld].) Indeed, here the court could have imposed a

consecutive 25-year-to-life term for the count 3 offense. Under People v. Kelly (2006) 40

Cal.4th 106, we have conducted an independent review of the record and find no arguable

issues.

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                                 DISPOSITION

     The judgment is affirmed.

     NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS

                                               CODRINGTON
                                                            J.

We concur:

RICHLI
             Acting P. J.

MILLER
                       J.

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