Court Opinion

ID: 9929487
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-02-02 19:02:26.454352+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:26:28.217505
License: Public Domain

Filed 2/2/24 P. v. Erickson CA4/1
                 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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
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or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

                COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                 DIVISION ONE

                                         STATE OF CALIFORNIA

 THE PEOPLE,                                                          D081788

           Plaintiff and Respondent,

           v.
                                                                      (Super. Ct. No. SCN436047)
 JASON WAYNE ERICKSON,

           Defendant and Appellant.

         APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of San Diego County,
Anthony J. Campagna, Judge. Affirmed.
         Deanna L. Lopas, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for
Defendant and Appellant.
         No appearance for Plaintiff and Respondent.
         Jason Wayne Erickson appeals from a judgment following conviction by
a jury. Appellate counsel filed a brief pursuant to People v. Wende (1979)
25 Cal.3d 436 (Wende) indicating counsel has not been able to identify any
arguable issues for reversal on appeal. Counsel asks the court to review the
record for error as mandated by Wende. We offered Erickson the opportunity
to file his own brief on appeal, but he has not responded.
              FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
      Erickson visited K.S.’s apartment on March 12, 2022, as a guest of her
roommate. Erickson arranged to sleep on the couch. That night, K.S.
smoked marijuana and had a cocktail before leaving the apartment to visit a
bar. At the bar, she drank an additional five drinks and was intoxicated
when she returned home, stumbled inside, and went to sleep. K.S. awoke a
few hours later with Erickson in her bed beside her and with her dress
pushed up above her stomach. His hand was inside her underwear, and he
used his finger or fingers to penetrate her vagina. When she awoke, K.S.
heard Erickson asked if she “like[d] that” before she exited the room.
      The People charged Erickson with one count of sexual penetration of an

unconscious victim (Pen. Code, § 289, subd. (d), count 1)1 and one count of
assault with intent to commit unlawful sexual penetration (Pen. Code, § 220,
subd. (a)(1), count 2). The People subsequently dismissed count 2.
      At trial in January 2023, the victim, her roommates, a police officer,
police detective, the nurse who performed a forensic exam of the victim, DNA
experts, a memory expert, and Erickson’s friends testified; Erickson also
testified in his defense. The jury convicted Erickson of one count of sexual
penetration of an unconscious victim. (Pen. Code, § 289, subd. (d).)
      Given the statutory provision of which he was convicted, Erickson was
ineligible for probation. (§ 1203.065, subd. (a).) At the March 7, 2023,
sentencing hearing, Erickson was sentenced to prison for the lower term of
three years and was assessed various fines and fees totaling $2,170. The
court did not impose a victim restitution fine at the time of sentencing.

1     Statutory references hereafter are to the Penal Code, unless otherwise
specified.
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                                  DISCUSSION
      Appellate counsel has filed a Wende brief and asks the court to review
the record for error. To assist the court in its review of the record, and in
compliance with Anders v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 738 (Anders), counsel
has identified the following possible issues that were considered in evaluating
the potential merits of this appeal:
      (1) Whether the trial court prejudicially erred in any evidentiary
rulings;
      (2) Whether the trial court’s denial of the defense for cause challenge
to potential juror number 4 was prejudicial error;
      (3) Whether the trial court erred in not finding good cause to excuse
sworn juror number 6;
      (4) Whether the trial court erred by instructing with CALCRIM
No. 226 over defense objection;
      (5) Whether all necessary and required jury instructions, including for
lesser included offenses, were provided;
      (6) Whether substantial evidence supports the finding of guilt on
count 1;
      (7) Whether the trial court’s response to the jury question regarding
application of voluntary intoxication was prejudicial error;
      (8) Whether the trial court’s determination that the offense was not
probation eligible was correct and whether the trial court abused its
discretion in imposing a term of three years; and
      (9) Whether fines and fees and pre-trial custody credits were properly
calculated and imposed.

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     We have reviewed the entire record as required by Wende and Anders.
We have not discovered any arguable issues for reversal on appeal.
Competent counsel has represented Erickson on this appeal.
                               DISPOSITION
     The judgment is affirmed.

                                                                     IRION, J.

WE CONCUR:

O’ROURKE, Acting P. J.

CASTILLO, J.

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