Court Opinion

ID: 2651935
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-01-31 22:37:47.405261+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:57:33.292391
License: Public Domain

Filed 1/31/14 P. v. Sheridan 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                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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,                                       E058584

v.                                                                       (Super.Ct.No. FSB1205375)

KRISTOPHER DOMINIQUE                                                     OPINION
SHERIDAN,

         Defendant and Appellant.

         APPEAL from the Superior Court of San Bernardino County. R. Glenn Yabuno

and William Jefferson Powell, IV, Judges. Affirmed.

         James R. Bostwick, Jr., under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant

and Appellant.

         No appearance for Respondent.

         A jury convicted defendant Kristopher Dominque Sheridan of robbery (count 1 –

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Pen. Code, § 211)1 and possession of a firearm by a felon (count 4 – § 29800, subd. (a)).2

The jury additionally found true allegations defendant was personally armed with a

handgun in his commission of the count 1 offense (§ 12022.53, subd. (b)) and had

suffered two prior prison terms (§ 667.5, subd. (b)). The court sentenced defendant to an

aggregate, determinate term of 17 years’ imprisonment consisting of the following: the

upper term of five years on the count 1 offense, a consecutive 10 years on the personal-

use enhancement, and consecutive one year terms on each of the two prior prison terms.

       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 [87 S. Ct.
1396, 18 L. Ed. 2d 493], setting forth a statement of the case, a brief statement of the facts,

and identifying six potentially arguable issues: 1) whether the trial court violated

defendant’s due process right to a fair trial in requiring the defendant to be shackled

during the first day of trial; 2) whether the prosecution committed prejudicial, burden-

shifting misconduct by arguing there was no evidence defendant was shot in the back; 3)

whether the court prejudicially erred by overruling defendant’s objection to the People’s

ostensible misconduct; 4) whether the court abused its discretion by imposing the upper

term on count 1; 5) whether substantial evidence supported the jury’s true finding

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

       2 The jury acquitted defendant of the count 3 charge of assault with a firearm
upon a peace officer (§ 245, subd. (d)(1)). The jury deadlocked on the count 2 charge of
robbery (§ 211); the court dismissed the charge upon the People’s motion.

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defendant had served two, separate prior prison terms for which he failed to remain free

from custody for five years; and 6) whether the court erred in finding a vehicle was used

in the commission of defendant’s offenses and, thereby, revoking his driver’s license.

We affirm.

                       FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

       On December 4, 2012, Ana Godinez was working as the cashier at Pronto Pizza in

the City of San Bernardino. Defendant, wearing a sweater with a hood, sunglasses, and a

bandana, jumped over the counter; walked over to her; grabbed her shoulder; pulled her

toward the cash registers while guiding her with a black, semiautomatic handgun; told her

to open the register; and pointed the gun at her. She opened the register and helped

defendant remove its contents, which she placed in a brown plastic bag defendant gave

her. Defendant then told her to open another register; Godinez informed him there was

no money in the other register; defendant ran off.

       Jennifer Sanchez, who was in the back making pizzas, witnessed the robbery. She

was less than five feet from defendant during the robbery. Soledad Sandoval, who was

also working in the back, likewise witnessed the robbery. Sandoval went inside the

office to look for the alarm, but could not find it.

       Gerardo Pena Chavez, the store manager, also observed the robbery. Chavez

pressed the panic button, ran outside, and called the police. While Chavez was on the

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phone, he saw a police officer on the street corner and ran to inform him of the robbery.3

       James Beach, a patrol sergeant with the San Bernardino Police Department, was

on patrol that evening with his partner, reserve officer Mike Eby. Eby told Beach they

were being flagged down. Two women pointed at the fleeing man. Beach and Eby

noticed a man, whom they later identified as defendant, wearing dark clothing with a

hoodie running away from Pronto Pizza with a gun in his hand. Beach chased after

defendant in his vehicle; he pulled alongside defendant as defendant ran. Beach pointed

his gun at defendant and yelled repeatedly through the open window of the patrol vehicle

for defendant to drop the gun.

       Eventually, Beach cut off defendant with his patrol vehicle; defendant started to

jump over a rod iron fence. While going over the fence, the black, semiautomatic pistol

held by defendant was pointed towards Beach; Beach thought defendant was going to

shoot him. Beach fired his gun at defendant six times. Defendant fell over the side of the

fence; a bag dropped out of his waist.

       Eby exited his vehicle and kicked defendant’s gun away from defendant’s hands.

Beach exited the patrol vehicle and assisted other officers who arrived on the scene to

arrest defendant.

       San Bernardino Police Officer Joshua Cogswell, who assisted in the arrest of

defendant, followed the ambulance which took defendant to the hospital. At the hospital,

       3 During trial, the People played a recording of the 911 call to the jury. During
the extremely brief exchange with the 911 operator, Chavez noted “I think that the cops
already got [him] . . . .”

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he observed two gunshot wounds to defendant’s left hand and bandaged injuries to

defendant’s thigh. To Cogswell’s knowledge, defendant sustained no injuries to his back.

       San Bernardino Police Detective Brian Leis was assigned to assist in the

investigation of the robbery. He executed a search of a vehicle found at the scene. Inside

the vehicle he found a Metro PCS phone contract in defendant’s name. Soledad testified

more than $700 in cash was missing from the register. She could not reconcile the credit

card purchases made on the register.

       Detective Marco Granado of the San Bernardino Police Department was called in

to assist with the investigation of the officer-involved shooting. At the scene, he found

six spent nine-millimeter shell casings which were fired from Sergeant Beach’s weapon.

Granado located a Bersa, .380-caliber semiautomatic firearm which had six rounds in the

magazine, but no chambered round. A bag containing $719.25 in cash and credit card

receipts from Pronto Pizza was also found. A black hooded sweatshirt, black sunglasses,

and gloves were additionally discovered.4

       Pronto Pizza had 13 to 14 surveillance cameras covering both the inside and

outside of the building. During trial, the prosecutor played video of at least eight separate

camera angles from the surveillance to the jury, showing both the robbery and

defendant’s flight from the building.

       4 Granado testified there was another vehicle on the scene with a person located
therein. He did not speak with the individual.

                                             5
         On March 4, 2013, Paul Larson, a deputy sheriff with the San Bernardino Sheriff’s

Department, rolled eight of defendant’s fingerprints on a card.5 On March 5, 2013, Cathi

Ringstad, a fingerprint examiner for the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department, compared

the fingerprints on the card rolled by Larson with those contained in two section 969(b)

packets; the prints matched. Supervising San Bernardino Deputy District Attorney

Michael Dowd testified that, as reflected in one section 969(b) packet, defendant had

been convicted on April 30, 2004, of bringing or sending contraband onto the grounds of

a Youth Authority Institution (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 1001.5). The court sentenced

defendant to prison for 16 months. Defendant was released on parole on August 17,

2005.6

         San Bernardino Deputy District Attorney Jason Anderson testified he prosecuted a

case in which defendant was convicted in July 2011, of felony possession of a firearm by

a drug addict previously convicted of a felony (former § 12021, subd. (a)(1)), for which

he had been sentenced to three years’ incarceration. Dowd also testified another section

969(b) packet reflected defendant had been convicted of felony possession of a firearm

by a drug addict previously convicted of a felony (former § 12021, subd. (a)(1)) on July

         5   He was unable to print two of defendant’s fingers due a cast worn by defendant.

         The Department of Corrections’ history for defendant’s imprisonment for the
         6
offense reflects defendant subsequently violated parole and was returned to prison on
September 15, 2008. He was then paroled once again on May 26, 2009.

                                               6
19, 2011, and was sentenced to three years’ incarceration on July 20, 2011.7 He testified

defendant was discharged on parole on June 12, 2012.

       Prior to voir dire, the court stated it had been informed defendant had refused to

dress for trial. Defendant refused to respond to questions from the court regarding

defendant’s disinclination to dress for trial. The court noted, “It’s also my understanding

. . . that [defendant] has elected not to have his waist chains and ankle shackles removed.

He asked that the deputy not remove them.” The court stated “he is welcome to change

into his clothes should he make that decision. Otherwise, we will proceed to trial with

him in the orange jumpsuit provided by the county. If at any time he elects to change his

mind we can allow him to make that change, but that will be on a daily basis. [¶] I

would admonish the jury that the fact that [defendant] is in custody is not to be

considered by them for any purpose.”

       The court gave defendant an opportunity to leave and discuss changing clothing

with his counsel; defendant returned still in his orange jail jumpsuit. Defendant again

refused to respond to queries from the court regarding his dress.

       The court asked defendant, “you’ve also indicated to the bailiff that you did not

want your waist chains removed. Would you like those waist chains removed, sir?”

Defendant offered no response. The court then noted, “At the request of [defense

counsel] the handcuff on [defendant’s] right hand was removed to allow him to take

notes. [Defendant], should you elect to change your mind regarding changing into street

       7   The abstract of judgment reflects the offense was committed in 2010.

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clothes or having the waist chain removed, just advise the court, and we can make

appropriate accommodations at the appropriate time. Because it’s your choice to remain

in jail clothing and to have the waist chain left on you, I do need to advise you that I will

be admonishing or advising the jury that the decision[s] to remain in jail clothing and to

have your waist chains on are yours and yours alone. And you were given an opportunity

to change into other clothing and to have the waist chains removed, and that you declined

to do so. [¶] Do you understand that, sir?” Defendant refused to respond. Jury selection

commenced.

       The next day the court observed defendant was still wearing his orange jumpsuit.

Defense counsel informed the court he had discussed the matter with defendant, but

defendant did not wish the contents of the conversation divulged due to attorney-client

privilege. The court asked defendant if he would like his chains removed. The court

received no response from defendant.

       On the next trial date, the court asked if defendant would like to change clothes

and have his shackles removed. Defendant, again, refused to respond. The People began

their case-in-chief. Subsequent to the afternoon recess, the court noted, “Record will

reflect that during the noon recess [defendant] requested to be dressed out. He is now

dressed in street clothes and does have his shackles removed.”

       Posttrial, the court instructed the jury with CALCRIM No. 204, reading, “The fact

that physical restraints have been placed on the defendant is not evidence. Do not

speculate about the reason. You must completely disregard this circumstance in deciding

                                              8
the issues in this case. Do not consider it for any purpose or discuss it during your

deliberations.”

       In his closing argument, defense counsel stated “Sergeant Beach in the middle of

the night on December 4[], shot the wrong man. He shot [defendant]. He [s]hot him

from behind.” “[T]he truth lies entirely in the small details . . . not through statements of

a man who shot another man from behind.”

       In his rebuttal, the prosecutor stated defense counsel “told you in his opening, and

he told you the defendant was shot in the back, really. Did anybody testify the defendant

was shot in the back?”8 Defense counsel objected that the prosecutor was misstating the

defense argument. The court overruled the objection.

       The prosecutor continued, “You can go through all the evidence, all the

transcripts, did anyone testify that the defendant was shot in the back? They didn’t. No

one testified to that. [¶] Now, it’s true, I have the burden. I have to prove the case

beyond a reasonable doubt. But when the defense puts on a defense, which they did by

calling Officer Cogswell to testify to those injuries, you can judge the nature and quality

of that defense in determining whether or not I have met my burden; okay. [¶] If the

defendant was shot in the back, don’t you think that the doctor who treated him would

have been here to tell you about that?”

       Defense counsel objected that the prosecutor was attempting to shift the burden of

proof. The court overruled the objection. The prosecutor continued, “The fact of the

       8   Defense counsel’s opening statement is not a part of the record on appeal.

                                              9
matter is he wasn’t shot in the back. You don’t know anything about the position of his

body when he was shot.”

       During the sentencing hearing the court found “a motor vehicle was involved in

this crime as much as it appeared to be driven to the location and was ready to be driven

away from the location by this defendant or by his accomplice.” The court sentenced

defendant to the upper term on count 1, finding two aggravating factors and no mitigating

factors. The court noted defendant had acted in concert with another person in

committing the robbery and had acted dangerously by running in public with a gun which

resulted in a public shooting.

                                      DISCUSSION

       We offered defendant an opportunity to file a personal supplemental brief, but he

has not done so. Pursuant to the mandate of People v. Kelly (2006) 40 Cal. 4th 106, we

have independently reviewed the record for potential error and find no arguable issues.

(People v. Seaton (2001) 26 Cal. 4th 598, 652 [in choosing a restraint, a defendant cannot

complain of prejudice from the jury’s observation of the chosen restraint]; People v.

Wash (1993) 6 Cal. 4th 215, 262-263 [prosecutor’s comment upon defendant’s failure to

adduce material evidence or call logical witnesses not improper]; People v. Black (2007)

41 Cal. 4th 799, 813 [one legally sufficient aggravating factor justifies imposition of the

upper term]; People v. Crockett (1990) 222 Cal. App. 3d 258, 263 [court documents, and

reasonable inferences made therefrom, may provide substantial evidence a defendant

suffered a prior prison term and failed to remain free from custody for five years.]; See

People v. Burch (2007) 148 Cal. App. 4th 862, 868 [section 969(b) packet properly

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admitted to prove prior prison term allegation]; People v. Gimenez (1995) 36 Cal. App. 4th
1233, 1237 [use of vehicle to arrive at scene of offense and intent to flee therein,

sufficient to support finding that a vehicle was used in the commission of the crime].)

                                      DISPOSITION

       The judgment is affirmed.

       NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS

                                                                CODRINGTON
                                                                                          J.

We concur:

RAMIREZ
                        P. J.

HOLLENHORST
                           J.

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