Court Opinion

ID: 4028575
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-08-25 19:02:38.816728+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:30:16.865655
License: Public Domain

Filed 8/25/16 P. v. Castillo 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                  NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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,
                                                                                           F068969
         Plaintiff and Respondent,
                                                                              (Super. Ct. No. F12902660)
                   v.

FRANK RUBEN CASTILLO,                                                                    OPINION
         Defendant and Appellant.

         APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Fresno County. Wayne R.
Ellison, Judge.
         Han N. Tran, 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, Eric L. Christoffersen and Jesse
Witt, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
                                                        -ooOoo-
         Frank Castillo appeals from a judgment of conviction of second degree murder
(Pen. Code,1 § 187, subd. (a)). The victim, who was attacked while lying passed out

         1   Except where otherwise specified, all statutory references are to the Penal Code.
drunk on a sleeping bag, sustained fatal injuries from being kicked in the head. Castillo
admitted responsibility for the victim’s death, but argued for a verdict of manslaughter.
A jury found that he acted with malice.
       The only claim on appeal is ineffective assistance of counsel based on the failure
to object to evidence of a prior act of violence. As will be explained, the alleged error
was harmless. We therefore affirm the judgment.
                              STATEMENT OF THE CASE
       Castillo was charged with murder in the death of John Salvio, Jr. (Salvio). It was
further alleged that Castillo had suffered a prior strike and serious felony conviction
(§§ 667, subds. (a), (b)-(i), 1170.12, subds. (a)-(d)), and had served three prior prison
terms within the meaning of section 667.5, subdivision (b). The murder count was tried
by jury. The enhancement allegations were bifurcated, but Castillo admitted the truth of
those allegations at the conclusion of trial.
       The prosecution called 17 witnesses to establish a rather convoluted set of facts
involving a group of homeless people in southeast Fresno. At the heart of the case was
an alleged love triangle between Castillo, Salvio, and a woman named Vicky Guerrero.
We provide an abbreviated summary of the trial evidence, focusing on the information
essential to our analysis of the ineffective assistance claim.
       On April 7, 2012, police responded to a report of domestic violence near East
Tulare Avenue and North 2nd Street, an area where homeless individuals frequently
congregated and slept. Upon arrival, the investigating officer made contact with Salvio
and Vicky Guerrero. Both of them were visibly drunk. Salvio complained that his
girlfriend, Ms. Guerrero, had punched him in the mouth and taken his cell phone.
Ms. Guerrero was arrested for public intoxication and disturbing the peace.
       Castillo allegedly learned of Ms. Guerrero’s arrest the following evening while
drinking beer with James Paxton, another homeless person who was mutually acquainted
with Castillo and Salvio. Although Mr. Paxton denied informing Castillo of

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Ms. Guerrero’s arrest, his trial testimony confirmed that he and Castillo had a discussion
about Salvio immediately prior to the subject incident. The conversation took place
outside of a convenience store on the northeast corner of East Tulare Avenue and North
1st Street, i.e., one block over from where Salvio customarily slept at night. Castillo told
Mr. Paxton that he loved Ms. Guerrero, that the two of them had been dating off and on,
and that he was unhappy about her romantic relationship with Salvio. He also expressed
anger over Salvio’s involvement in Ms. Guerrero’s recent arrest. The conversation ended
with Castillo walking off in the direction of East Tulare Avenue and North 2nd Street
after stating his intention to confront Salvio about these grievances.
       Yang Moua and Jeffrey Branning witnessed Castillo’s subsequent encounter with
Salvio. With the assistance of a Hmong language interpreter, Mr. Moua testified that he
had been sleeping next to Salvio when Castillo appeared and began kicking Salvio in the
head. Castillo cursed at Salvio throughout the attack, but Salvio did not respond or
attempt to defend himself.
       Jeffrey Branning provided a more detailed account of the incident. Mr. Branning
had been sleeping in the same encampment as Salvio and Mr. Moua when he awoke to
the sound of yelling. He saw Salvio lying down and Castillo standing over him, cursing
and demanding that Salvio get up. Salvio did not respond, and Mr. Branning initially
suspected that he was pretending to sleep to avoid the confrontation. Castillo lifted up his
foot and brought it crashing down on Salvio’s head, “like you would to smash a pumpkin
or stomp a divot into the ground if you play golf…. And then he started kicking him …
kicking his head like a soccer ball.” Mr. Branning estimated that Castillo stomped on
Salvio’s head approximately five to six times and kicked him eight or nine times.
Castillo delivered the blows with “unbridled” force, “like somebody trying to kick a field
goal [with a football], only he was using [Salvio’s] head.”
       Although Mr. Branning considered Salvio to be one of his best friends, he did not
intervene and quickly departed from the area with Mr. Moua. He expressed regret over

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this decision at trial, explaining that he was afraid of Castillo because Castillo had
punched him in the face on a prior occasion. Castillo’s claim on appeal is based on the
admission of Mr. Branning’s statements about the previous assault.
       After leaving the scene, the two eyewitnesses met up with James Paxton at a
nearby establishment. Castillo joined them approximately five to ten minutes later and
bought drinks for the entire group. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Paxton went to check on
Salvio and found him lying motionless, face down on the ground. Concerned that Salvio
was not breathing, he went back across the street and told Mr. Branning to call 911.
Paramedics soon arrived and transported Salvio to a local hospital. He was pronounced
dead in the early morning hours of April 9, 2012.
       Vicky Guerrero testified that Castillo later told her about what he had done to
Salvio. She remembered him complaining of “throbbing” foot pain. According to
Ms. Guerrero’s testimony, Castillo was not immediately aware that he had killed the
victim. Castillo knew that he “hurt him really bad,” but assumed Salvio had at worst
suffered a concussion or fallen into a coma.
       Police officers located and arrested Castillo on April 12, 2012. He had by then
obtained a new set of clothing, but neglected to discard his bloody footwear. Forensic
analysis showed that the shoes Castillo was wearing at the time of his arrest contained
traces of Salvio’s DNA.
       Dr. Venu Gopal, the pathologist who performed an autopsy on the victim’s body,
testified to the nature of his injuries and the cause of death. Toxicology results showed
that Salvio had a blood alcohol level of .37 milligrams percent. Despite the dangerously
high level of alcohol in his system, Dr. Gopal determined the cause of death to be “head
injury due to multiple blunt impacts.”
       Salvio sustained a depressed fracture above the right eyebrow. Such an injury is
caused when a bone is broken and pushed inward, causing a depression. In other words,
the right frontal bone of the victim’s skull was pushed in toward his brain, which caused

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an indentation measuring 1.5 x 1 inches. Dr. Gopal testified that this would have
required a “severe degree of force.” In addition to the depressed fracture, the pathologist
documented 22 bruises, scrapes, and lacerations on the victim’s face. There were no
defensive wounds.
       The defense strategy was to acknowledge culpability for the homicide and argue
for a verdict of something less than first degree murder. In his opening statement,
defense counsel told the jury that the evidence would show Castillo was responsible for
Salvio’s death, but never formed the intent to kill. As trial progressed, it became
apparent counsel was hoping to establish the affirmative defense of voluntary
intoxication. There was no evidence of how much alcohol Castillo had consumed at the
time of the killing, but the defense relied on the impressions of a lay witness who said she
believed he was drunk on the night in question.
       At the close of evidence, defense counsel made a motion for acquittal pursuant to
section 1118.1 as to the issue of premeditation and deliberation. The trial court granted
the motion based on its conclusion that, while the evidence supported a finding of
conscious disregard for life and the intent to kill, there was insufficient evidence to prove
first degree murder beyond a reasonable doubt. Accordingly, the jury was instructed on
second degree murder and the lesser included offenses of voluntary and involuntary
manslaughter.
       Castillo’s trial counsel reiterated the defense theory during closing argument: “I’m
going to ask you, frankly, ladies and gentlemen, to find Frank Castillo guilty. … I’m
going to ask you to find him guilty of involuntary manslaughter.” Counsel went on to
argue that Castillo neither intended to kill the victim nor realized his actions could be
lethal, and thus did not act with a conscious disregard for life.
       The jury found Castillo guilty of second degree murder. He was sentenced to a
total prison term of 35 years to life based on the mandatory punishment of 15 years to
life, which was doubled because of the prior strike and further enhanced by a consecutive

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five-year term for the prior serious felony conviction. The trial court exercised its
discretion to strike the enhancements for Castillo’s prior prison terms.
                                      DISCUSSION
       Castillo submits that the testimony of witness Jeffrey Branning regarding a prior
assault and battery was inadmissible under Evidence Code section 1101, subdivision (a).
Recognizing that the question of admissibility is a forfeited issue (Evid. Code, § 353),
Castillo presents a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel based on his trial attorney’s
failure to lodge an objection. For the reasons that follow, we conclude the alleged error
was harmless.
Additional Background
       Defense counsel moved in limine to “preclude admission of defendant’s prior bad
acts.” When the motion was heard, the prosecution said it would not seek to introduce
evidence of any prior arrests or convictions, but made clear its intention to present
“testimony from Mr. Branning that the defendant had struck him previously,” which the
witness had testified to at the preliminary hearing. Defense counsel was unconcerned
with this evidence, telling the court, “No issue there, Your Honor,” and confirmed that
the motion in limine pertained to Castillo’s prior criminal convictions. Thus, it came as
no surprise to anyone when the prosecution elicited from Mr. Branning the testimony of
which Castillo now complains.
       The witness testified that he and Castillo had a physical altercation a “couple
months before” Salvio was killed. He explained: “[Castillo] was seeing somebody that I
was seeing at the same time – not at the same time, but we [were] both seeing the same
girl. … [H]e made a comment and started wailing on me right there where I was sitting
at. And they had to come stop him and stuff from continuing at that time.” When asked
to confirm there had been an assault, Mr. Branning replied, “[He] actually hit me and
knocked me off my crate that I was sitting on, yeah.” The witness later clarified that
Castillo struck him once in the jaw with a “closed hand.”

                                             6.
Analysis
       Claims of ineffective assistance of counsel made on direct appeal are disfavored
and often unsuitable for review. (People v. Duff (2014) 58 Cal.4th 527, 550, fn. 9. [“It is
rarely appropriate to resolve an ineffective assistance claim on direct appeal.”].) “On
direct appeal, a conviction will be reversed for ineffective assistance only if (1) the record
affirmatively discloses counsel had no rational tactical purpose for the challenged act or
omission, (2) counsel was asked for a reason and failed to provide one, or (3) there
simply could be no satisfactory explanation. All other claims of ineffective assistance are
more appropriately resolved in a habeas corpus proceeding.” (People v. Mai (2013)
57 Cal.4th 986, 1009.)
       Reviewable claims of ineffective assistance are subject to a two-part analysis. The
appellate court considers whether counsel’s representation fell below an objective
standard of reasonableness under prevailing professional norms, and if so, whether the
defendant suffered prejudice. (People v. Carter (2003) 30 Cal.4th 1166, 1211.)
“Prejudice requires ‘a reasonable probability that a more favorable outcome would have
resulted . . ., i.e., a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.’ ”
(People v. Fairbank (1997) 16 Cal.4th 1223, 1241.) Numerous appellate decisions advise
that the failure to make an objection rarely amounts to constitutionally deficient
performance. (E.g., People v. Castaneda (2011) 51 Cal.4th 1292, 1335; People v. Lopez
(2008) 42 Cal.4th 960, 972.) In the interest of judicial economy, we reject appellant’s
claim based on the absence of prejudice without deciding the question of deficient
performance or the issue of cognizability on direct appeal. (See Strickland v. Washington
(1984) 466 U.S. 688, 697 [“If it is easier to dispose of an ineffectiveness claim on the
ground of lack of sufficient prejudice, which we expect will often be so, that course
should be followed.”].)
       We begin with Castillo’s position concerning the admissibility of the challenged
testimony. Evidence Code section 1101, subdivision (a) generally prohibits propensity

                                              7.
evidence, i.e., evidence tending to show the defendant’s disposition to commit a certain
type of act, if such evidence is “offered to prove his or her conduct on a specified
occasion.” Considering appellant conceded the actus reus of the charged offense, and the
overwhelming evidence of that element notwithstanding his concession, it is highly
unlikely that the prior altercation with Mr. Branning had any impact on the jury’s
conclusions regarding his conduct on the night in question. The only issue in dispute was
his mens rea.
       In the reply brief, Castillo confusingly argues that “evidence of the prior incident
allowed the jury to conclude that [he] had an intent to kill.” Pursuant to Evidence Code
section 1101, subdivision (b), evidence of a defendant’s prior bad acts is admissible “to
raise an inference of (and hence prove) his motive or intent when he committed his
crimes.” (People v. Jones (2013) 57 Cal.4th 899, 952.) If the challenged testimony was
probative of intent, it was admissible as an exception to the general rule against
propensity evidence. Therefore, an objection by defense counsel pursuant to Evidence
Code section 1101, subdivision (a) would have most likely resulted in a balancing
analysis by the trial court under Evidence Code section 352. How the trial court would
have exercised its discretion in that situation is a matter of speculation, which undermines
Castillo’s claim of prejudice.
       Defense counsel understood there was no legitimate possibility of an acquittal.
The best result Castillo could have hoped for was a verdict of voluntarily or involuntary
manslaughter. In reality, however, the chances of him securing either of those outcomes
were remote.
       Voluntary and involuntary manslaughter are lesser included offenses of murder.
(People v. Thomas (2012) 53 Cal.4th 771, 813.) Murder requires malice, which can be
express or implied. Express malice exists where there is an intent to kill, and malice is
implied “when a person willfully does an act, the natural and probable consequences of
which are dangerous to human life, and the person knowingly acts with conscious

                                             8.
disregard for the danger to life that the act poses.” (People v. Gonzalez (2012) 54 Cal.4th
643, 653.) To reduce the crime of murder to voluntary manslaughter, malice must be
negated by provocation or the honest but unreasonable belief in a need to defend against
imminent peril. (People v. Rangel (2016) 62 Cal.4th 1192, 1225-1226; People v. Elmore
(2014) 59 Cal.4th 121, 133-134.) There was no evidence to support a claim of imperfect
self-defense. As for provocation, the law requires proof of instigating behavior by the
victim, meaning “the victim must taunt the defendant or otherwise initiate the
provocation.” (People v. Carasi (2008) 44 Cal.4th 1263, 1306.) By all accounts, Salvio
was lying down when Castillo attacked him and had done nothing that could be construed
as legal provocation. With or without the propensity evidence, the likelihood of a
voluntary manslaughter verdict was essentially non-existent.
       Involuntary manslaughter refers to the killing of another “in the commission of an
unlawful act, not amounting to a felony[,] or [during] the commission of a lawful act
which might produce death, in an unlawful manner, or without due caution and
circumspection.” (§ 192, subd. (b).) In this context, acting without “due caution and
circumspection” refers to criminal negligence. (People v. Guillen (2014)
227 Cal.App.4th 934, 1027.) “ ‘If a defendant commits an act endangering human life,
without realizing the risk involved, the defendant has acted with criminal negligence. By
contrast where the defendant realizes and then acts in total disregard of the danger, the
defendant is guilty of murder based on implied malice.’ ” (Ibid.) Although Castillo’s
voluntary intoxication defense was relevant to the issue of intent, it could not be relied
upon to refute the prosecution’s theory of implied malice. (People v. McNally (2015)
236 Cal.App.4th 1419, 1431-1432 [“Voluntary intoxication does not negate implied
malice.”]; People v. Turk (2008) 164 Cal.App.4th 1361, 1374-1377 [same].) The
uncontroverted testimony of Dr. Gopal regarding the amount of force it would have taken
to cause the depressed fracture of Salvio’s skull probably ensured the outcome of the

                                             9.
case. Castillo fails to explain how the jury could have reasonably believed that he did not
act with at least implied malice, i.e., a conscious disregard for life.
       Finally, a single punch is less egregious than the vicious behavior that resulted in
the victim’s death. The strength of the prosecution’s case, combined with the relatively
pedestrian nature of the prior bad act, minimized the danger of prejudice. (See People v.
Ewoldt (1994) 7 Cal.4th 380, 404 [potential for prejudice is reduced when the evidence of
prior misconduct is no more inflammatory than the testimony concerning the charged
offense].) In light of the surrounding circumstances, it is not reasonably probable that
Castillo would have obtained a more favorable result at trial but for his attorney’s failure
to object to the testimony about a prior act of violence.
                                       DISPOSITION
       The judgment is affirmed.

                                                                   _____________________
                                                                       GOMES, Acting P.J.
WE CONCUR:

 _____________________
DETJEN, J.

 _____________________
FRANSON, J.

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