Court Opinion

ID: 3214028
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-06-16 17:02:37.56298+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:29:47.947679
License: Public Domain

Filed 6/16/16 P. v. Alfaro CA5

                  NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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
                                     FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

THE PEOPLE,
                                                                                           F070937
         Plaintiff and Respondent,
                                                                              (Super. Ct. No. F14907676)
                   v.

ARMANDO ALEXANDER ALFARO,                                                                OPINION
         Defendant and Appellant.

                                                   THE COURT*
         APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Fresno County. Gary D. Hoff,
Judge.
         Maureen M. Bodo, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
         Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Michael P. Farrell, Assistant Attorney General, Stephen G. Herndon and Harry
Joseph Colombo, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
                                                        -ooOoo-

*        Before Levy, Acting P.J., Gomes, J. and Detjen, J.
       Armando Alfaro was found guilty of two felonies, attempting to dissuade a
witness from testifying, and possession of a firearm by a person previously convicted of a
felony as a result of a domestic dispute with Barbara R. The trial court declared a
mistrial on two other counts after the jury could not reach a verdict.
       Alfaro argues the trial court prejudicially erred when it instructed the jury with
CALCRIM No. 372, the flight instruction, because it was not supported by the evidence
in the case. We conclude that even if error occurred, Alfaro was not prejudiced thereby.
Accordingly, we affirm the judgment.
                    FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL SUMMARY
       Pleadings
       The information charged Alfaro with assault with a firearm (Pen. Code, § 245,
subd. (a)(2))1 (count 1), dissuading a witness by force or threat (§ 136.1, subd. (c)(1))
(count 2), possession of a firearm by a felon (§ 29800, subd. (a)(1)) (count 3), and
misdemeanor battery (§ 243, subd. (e)(1)) (count 4). Counts 1 and 2 alleged as an
enhancement that Alfaro personally used a firearm within the meaning of section
12022.5, subdivision (a). Finally, the information alleged Alfaro had incurred a prior
conviction that constituted both a serious felony within the meaning of section 667,
subdivision (a)(1), and a strike within the meaning of section 667, subdivisions (b)-(i).
       Testimony
       The victim, Barbara, testified that on the day in question she was living with
Alfaro. She had gone to seek employment that afternoon. When she returned to her
apartment the door was locked. Alfaro let her into the apartment. Barbara became angry
because Alfaro had a woman in the apartment, and Alfaro was mad because Barbara was
late getting home. There was yelling between the two, but Alfaro did not touch her.

1      All statutory references are to the Penal Code.

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       Barbara said she lied to the police officer who responded when she told her Alfaro
had pushed her against the wall. She also lied when she told the officer Alfaro pulled a
gun on her and put it in her mouth. She lied when she told the officer that Alfaro told her
to call the police, but she would be “halfway dead or dead” by the time they arrived, and
he would be gone.
       Barbara was not afraid Alfaro would retaliate against her if she made a false police
report. She lied to the police officer when she told her Alfaro always carried a gun, as
she had never seen him with a gun. She told the officer she was afraid Alfaro would kill
her with his gun, but she wasn’t really afraid. She also lied when she told the officer she
did not follow through with prosecuting prior charges because she was afraid Alfaro
would kill her.
       Regarding a prior incident in January 2014, Barbara remembered being in the
hospital for three or four days, and remembered returning to her apartment. However,
she could not remember what happened after returning to her apartment because she was
on medication. After reviewing the police report from that day, she recalled telling the
police that Alfaro became upset with her and struck her on the face, but that was a lie.
She also denied Alfaro placed her in a choke hold, pulled a gun on her, or asked her if she
wanted to die.
       On cross-examination Barbara testified she was angry with Alfaro at the time of
the incident and wanted to seek revenge.
       Fresno Police Officer Tawnee Smith responded to a report of a domestic
disturbance on the date in question. She was flagged down by Barbara, who was crying.
Barbara was very upset and it took Smith a few minutes to calm her down. When she
calmed down, Barbara said she was out looking for employment, and came home later
than expected. An argument ensued, and Alfaro pushed her up against the wall, put a
black revolver in her mouth, and commented that by the time Barbara could call the
police she would be dead or halfway dead. Barbara said she called the police because she

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was afraid Alfaro would kill her. Barbara explained Alfaro had put a gun in her mouth
several times, and the last time she reported the incident to the police Alfaro beat her up
once he was released.
         Barbara reported the incident to the police about two and one-half hours after it
took place. Barbara explained Alfaro gathered some clothing, took a shower, put some
items in a backpack, and then went to his mother’s house. Barbara was not able to call
the police until after Alfaro left.
         Smith also responded to a report of domestic violence made by Barbara in January
2014. Barbara had been in the hospital for several days. When she came home she was
very tired and wanted to rest. She asked Alfaro to lie down with her. Alfaro responded
with “Why would I lay down with a bitch like you?” Barbara responded that Alfaro
should have thought of that before. Alfaro became upset, put her into a choke hold,
slapped her, and placed the black revolver in her mouth.
         Fresno Police Officer Gerardo Grimaldo located Alfaro on the date of the current
incident at his mother’s house. Alfaro was in the backyard walking from a small shed.
Grimaldo and his partner arrested Alfaro. When they searched the shed they found a
backpack. Inside the backpack was a handgun.
         Finally, the People called Robert Meade, a marriage and family therapist. Meade
did not interview anyone involved in the case, but testified about the cycle of domestic
abuse.
         Closing Argument, Verdict and Sentencing
         The primary area of focus by both attorneys was the credibility of Barbara. The
prosecutor argued her statement to the police was believable, while her trial testimony
was an example of the type of testimony given by victims of domestic violence. Defense
counsel argued the jury should reject all of Barbara’s statements because she was
untruthful, and reject the charges because they were fabricated by a person seeking
revenge against Alfaro.

                                              4.
       The jury found Alfaro guilty of attempting to dissuade a witness from testifying
through the use of force or fear (count 2), and possession of a firearm by a felon
(count 3). The jury found not true the allegation that Alfaro personally used a firearm in
the commission of count 2. The jury could not reach a verdict on the remaining counts.
The trial court declared a mistrial as to those counts, and the prosecutor dismissed both
counts.
       Alfaro admitted he suffered a prior conviction that constituted a strike within the
meaning of section 667, subdivisions (b)-(i), and that conviction was also a serious felony
conviction within the meaning of section 667, subdivision (a)(1).
       The trial court sentenced Alfaro to the midterm of three years for the dissuading a
witness count, doubled that because of the strike prior, and added five years for the prior
serious felony conviction for a total term of 11 years. The sentence on the firearm count
was imposed concurrently.
                                       DISCUSSION
       Alfaro argues the trial court erred when it instructed the jury with the flight
instruction.2 This instruction informs the jury that if it concludes the defendant fled the
scene of the crime immediately after the crime occurred, the jury may, but is not required
to, infer a consciousness of guilt. The prosecution requested the instruction, and the trial
court gave it over defense counsel’s objection. Alfaro argued in the trial court, and
argues on appeal, that there was no evidence he attempted to flee immediately after the
crime was committed. He points out Barbara told Officer Smith that after the altercation,
Alfaro took a shower, gathered some clothes in his backpack, and left Barbara’s

2       The trial court instructed the jury “If the defendant fled or tried to flee
immediately after the crime was committed, that conduct may show that he was aware of
his guilt. If you conclude that the defendant fled or tried to flee, it is up to you to decide
the meaning and importance of that conduct. However, evidence that the defendant fled
or tried to flee cannot prove guilt by itself.”

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apartment approximately two and one-half hours later. Alfaro then went to his mother’s
home, which was only a short distance from Barbara’s apartment. Since Barbara knew
Alfaro’s destination, it is reasonable to infer he told her where he was going. Since
Alfaro was located where Barbara said he was going, it is logical to infer Alfaro did not
attempt to evade capture, although he attempted to hide the backpack and revolver in the
shed at his mother’s residence.
       It appears the prosecutor’s position was that Barbara could not call the police until
Alfaro left the apartment for fear he would hurt her if she attempted to do so in his
presence. This argument, however, does not establish immediate flight from the scene,
so it is questionable whether the flight instruction should have been given.
       We need not decide whether the trial court erred, however, because even if we
assume error occurred Alfaro cannot establish any prejudice as a result of the instruction.
We begin by noting the jury could not reach a decision on the assault with a firearm
count (count 1) and the battery count (count 4) suggesting at least some of the jurors did
not believe parts of Barbara’s statement to Officer Smith. The prosecutor argued
Alfaro’s possession of the handgun found in the shed constituted count 3 so the
possession of a firearm by a felon count was unrelated to the alleged flight. Therefore,
the only count allegedly affected by the instruction is the dissuading a witness count
(count 2).
       We also note the jury was not instructed that Alfaro, in fact, fled the scene of the
alleged crime. Instead, the jury was instructed that if it determined that Alfaro fled the
scene of the crime immediately after the crime was committed, this conduct may be
evidence of guilt. Given the weak evidence of flight, the jury could well have found the
instruction inapplicable to the facts of the case.
       Nor did the prosecution emphasize the flight instruction. The prosecution did not
directly refer to the flight instruction during closing argument. The only portion of
closing argument in which the idea of flight was mentioned occurred when the prosecutor

                                              6.
was discussing the firearm count. The prosecutor began his argument by discussing the
evidence related to that count. After reviewing the relevant evidence, the prosecutor
stated “I suggest to you, ladies and gentlemen, he was hiding in the shed because he
didn’t want the police to find him because he [knew] he had a gun and he’s a felon, knew
he wasn’t supposed to have a gun. ¶ He also knew the reason [he] was hiding in the
back, or the reason he fled the crime scene was because he knew he committed an assault
and he suspected Barbara R. had called, had called the police to report the assault.” In
rebuttal, the prosecutor again mentioned, without emphasizing, that Alfaro left Barbara’s
apartment after the assault.
       The prosecutor did not argue Alfaro’s flight was evidence of guilt, nor did he
make direct reference to the flight instruction. Under these circumstance it seems highly
unlikely the jury placed undue reliance on the instruction.
       The jury’s inability to reach a verdict on the assault count and the battery count
also suggest it did not rely on flight as evidence of guilt. Instead, it suggests the jury as a
whole weighed the evidence before it and based its vote on each individual juror’s
evaluation of the credibility of Barbara. We thus reject Alfaro’s argument which is, in
essence, the only way the jury could have reached a guilty verdict on the dissuading a
witness count was by relying on the flight instruction.
       Some of the jurors apparently did not believe an assault occurred in Barbara’s
apartment, but all agreed Alfaro had attempted to dissuade Barbara from testifying, and
also agreed he did not use a firearm when doing so.3 If some of the jurors rejected
Barbara’s statement to Officer Smith, one would expect an inability to reach a verdict on
the dissuasion count. While these verdicts may appear to be inconsistent, “[t]he law
generally accepts inconsistent verdicts as an occasionally inevitable, if not entirely

3     When queried by the trial court about the deadlock on counts 1 and 4, the jury
foreman stated the jury was split five to five on each count, with two jurors abstaining
from voting.

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satisfying, consequence of a criminal justice system that gives defendants the benefit of a
reasonable doubt as to guilt, and juries the power to acquit whatever the evidence.”
(People v. Palmer (2001) 24 Cal. 4th 856, 860.) Nonetheless, it is not reasonable to infer
from the verdict that the flight instruction had any influence on the verdict finding Alfaro
guilty of dissuading a witness. For these reasons, we conclude that if the trial court erred,
Alfaro did not suffer any prejudice.
       Alfaro raises two additional points which require little discussion. First, the courts
of this state have repeatedly rejected the argument that the flight instruction somehow
lessens the prosecution’s burden of proof thereby resulting in a violation of a defendant’s
constitutional right to due process. (People v. Boyce (2014) 59 Cal. 4th 672, 691; People
v. Rios (2007) 151 Cal. App. 4th 1154, 1159.) Accordingly, the erroneous giving of a
flight instruction is a state law error, and is reviewed pursuant to the standard set forth in
People v. Watson (1956) 46 Cal. 2d 818, 836, i.e., whether the record leads us to conclude
it is reasonably probable that a result more favorable to the appealing party would have
occurred in the absence of error. (People v. Guiton (1993) 4 Cal. 4th 1116, 1129-1130.)
In this case, the appropriate standard of review is not significant because we would have
reached the same result even if we applied the “more stringent” standard of review for
federal constitutional error found in Chapman v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 18, 24, i.e.,
whether the error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.
                                       DISPOSITION
       The judgment is affirmed.

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