Court Opinion

ID: 1043250
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-04 18:39:47.308976+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:19:30.381902
License: Public Domain

Filed 10/4/13 In re Caleb P. CA2/5
                  NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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

                                     SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                  DIVISION FIVE

In re CALEB P., a Person Coming Under                                B248393
the Juvenile Court Law.                                              (Los Angeles County
                                                                     Super. Ct. No. MJ21598)

THE PEOPLE,

         Plaintiff and Respondent,

         v.

CALEB P.,

         Defendant and Appellant.

         APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Robin
Miller Sloan, Judge. Affirmed.
         Tonja R. Torres, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
         Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Lance E. Winters, Assistant Attorney General, , Eric E. Reynolds and Connie H.
Kan, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
       The minor, Caleb P., appeals from a wardship order based upon a finding he
committed felony vandalism. (Pen. Code, § 594, subds. (a) & (b)(1); Welf. & Inst. Code,
§ 602.) The juvenile court found the offense was a felony because the damage exceeded
$400. (Pen. Code, § 594, subd. (b)(1).) The victim testified he received estimates of
$3,000 to repair scratches to his vehicle. That testimony was inadmissible hearsay.
(Evid. Code, § 1200; Le Brun v. Richards (1930) 210 Cal. 308, 319-320; McCoy v.
Gustafson (2009) 180 Cal.App.4th 56, 111, fn. 26; Kitchel v. Acree (1963) 216
Cal.App.2d 119, 125; Garfinkle v. Montgomery (1952) 113 Cal.App.2d 149, 158-159.)
On appeal, the minor argues it was prejudicial error to admit the hearsay testimony. The
minor forfeited this claim, however, by failing to object to the testimony in the juvenile
court. (People v. Homick (2012) 55 Cal.4th 816, 870; People v. Waidla (2000) 22
Cal.4th 690, 717.) In any event, any error was harmless. (People v. Sakarias (2000) 22
Cal.4th 596, 630; People v. Watson (1956) 46 Cal.2d 818, 836.) The victim testified his
car was scratched on the passenger side and hood. Two of its tires were flat. He paid
$60 to replace the damaged tires with used tires. Even absent the victim’s testimony
regarding the $3,000 estimates, the juvenile court could reasonably conclude, based on
the victim’s description, that the damage to the vehicle exceeded $400. It would not be
speculative for the trial judge to consider as common knowledge the high cost of auto
body repair.
       There is no merit to the minor’s ineffective assistance claim. The record contains
no explanation for the failure to object or otherwise litigate the issue. (People v. Mai
(2013) 57 Cal.4th 986, ___ [161 Cal.Rptr. 3d 1, 24]; People v. Vines (2011) 51 Cal.4th
830, 875-876.)
       Further, because the minor cannot demonstrate prejudice on direct appeal, his
ineffective assistance of counsel contention also fails. (People v. Jennings (2010) 50
Cal.4th 616, 654, fn. 15; People v. Waidla, supra, 22 Cal.4th at pp. 718-719.)

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      The wardship order is affirmed.
                           NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS

                           TURNER, P.J.

We concur:

      MOSK, J.

      KUMAR, J.

       Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court, assigned by the Chief Justice pursuant to
article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution.

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