Court Opinion

ID: 2652374
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-02-05 22:18:10.274188+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:54:57.438517
License: Public Domain

Filed 2/5/14 P. v. Bailey CA2/3
                  NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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 THREE

THE PEOPLE,                                                              B247277

         Plaintiff and Respondent,                                       (Los Angeles County
                                                                         Super. Ct. No. BA395151)
         v.

LARRY BAILEY,

         Defendant and Appellant.

         APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County,
Clifford L. Klein, Judge. Affirmed.
         Marcia C. Levine, 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, Kenneth C. Byrne and Julie A.
Harris, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

                                        _________________________
       Appellant Larry Bailey appeals from the judgment entered following his
conviction by jury for failing to register as a sex offender (Pen. Code, § 290, subd. (b))
with an admission he suffered a prior felony conviction (Pen. Code, § 667, subd. (d)).
The court sentenced appellant to prison for four years. We affirm the judgment.
                                 FACTUAL SUMMARY
       On August 10, 2012, the court granted appellant’s motion to represent himself.1
The court told appellant he would have to file all motions on or before September 7,
2012, and appellant agreed to do so. The court indicated a problem with pro per
defendants was they frequently filed motions at each court appearance. The court
appointed Attorney Lawrence Sperber as appellant’s stand-by counsel. The court
continued the case with appellant’s consent to September 7, 2012, as day 0 of 30.
       On September 7, 2012, the court asked appellant if he would be ready for trial in
30 days. Appellant indicated he needed to make motions. The court reiterated its
complaint about pro pers and seriatim motions, and said at some point the court would
prohibit additional motions and try the case.
       Appellant moved to exonerate his bond on his Riverside case.2 Appellant also
moved for his release on his own recognizance. The court denied that motion. Appellant
indicated he would appeal the denial. Appellant moved to continue the case on the
ground he had a “court case going to the Supreme Court.” The court denied the motion.
Appellant added he needed time to prepare in the law library. Appellant also indicated he
had a discovery motion. The court told him to file it. At appellant’s request, the court
continued the case to October 4, 2012.

1
       A detailed recitation of the facts of the present offense is not necessary in this
appeal. Suffice it to say on or about December 16, 2011, appellant failed to register as a
sex offender in Los Angeles after changing his residence.
2
       The probation report reflects appellant last registered as a sex offender in Palm
Springs in April 2010 and was arrested for violating Penal Code section 290. He was
released from Riverside County jail in December 2011 and he relocated to Los Angeles.

                                                2
       On October 4, 2012, appellant gave to the court a document listing about 15
alleged constitutional rights and asked the court to sign it. The court declined to do so.
The court denied appellant’s motion to exonerate his bond in the Riverside case.
Appellant submitted a motion to disqualify the district attorney. Appellant also submitted
a motion to disqualify the judge on the ground appellant wanted to call him as a witness
at a hearing on appellant’s motion to disqualify the district attorney. Appellant also
asked the court to recuse itself. At appellant’s request, the court continued the case to
October 12, 2012. Appellant said he would file a Pitchess3 motion. The court told
appellant, “You have to file that right away because that takes three weeks.”
       On October 12, 2012, the court called the case and stated appellant had just filed a
motion to disqualify the court pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 170.6. The
court denied appellant’s motion to disqualify the district attorney, denied appellant’s
motion to disqualify the judge on the ground appellant would call him as a witness on the
former motion, and refused to recuse itself.
       Appellant objected to the denial of his motion to disqualify the district attorney,
and objected to the court’s denial of his Code of Civil Procedure section 170.6 motion.
Appellant asked for a continuance to file his Pitchess motion and to research issues
pertaining to the court’s denial of his section 170.6 motion. Appellant denied the court
“[told appellant] last time [that appellant] had to file [the Pitchess motion].” The court
indicated appellant had until November 16, 2012, to file his Pitchess motion.
       The court asked if appellant waived his right to trial to November 16, 2012, plus
15 days, and appellant objected. Appellant interrupted the court when it was discussing
the waiver issue and the court told appellant to be quiet for a second. The court asked if
appellant was waiving his right to trial as indicated above, and appellant replied the court
was being recused for bias and prejudice. The court again asked and appellant waived
time but reiterated the court was biased and prejudiced. The court continued the case.

3
       Pitchess v. Superior Court (1974) 11 Cal.3d 531.

                                               3
       On November 16, 2012, appellant filed a motion to disqualify the judge pursuant
to Code of Civil Procedure section 170.6, but essentially it was a motion to disqualify the
judge for cause pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 170.1. The court denied the
section 170.6 motion as untimely, noting appellant brought it for the second time. The
court also indicated it would construe the motion as a section 170.1 motion. After the
court told appellant he had to be prepared in order to represent himself in court, the court
stated, “Don’t glare at me. Just be prepared.” Appellant objected to any further hearings
before the court. The court overruled the objection.
       The court indicated appellant was moving to disqualify the district attorney based
on vindictive prosecution. The court denied the motion. Appellant continued arguing his
motion to disqualify the district attorney and motion to disqualify the judge under Code
of Civil Procedure section 170.6. The court began discussing appellant’s Code of Civil
Procedure section 170.1 motion, but appellant repeatedly interrupted. The court stated,
“If you interrupt me, you’re not going to be representing yourself anymore. I’m going to
appoint counsel, all right? Let me finish. I gave you my ruling.” Appellant asked for
transcripts for an appeal. The court denied the request, indicating appellant could receive
them if he was convicted.
       Appellant asked for another investigator because he had a conflict of interest with
his current investigator. The court denied appellant’s request. Appellant argued about
the denial and the court later told Sperber, “I already warned [appellant] if he interrupts,
you’re going to be on the case.” Appellant apparently submitted his Pitchess motion to
the court, but the court indicated it could not hear the motion because appellant had not
served it on the police department.
       On November 16, 2012, appellant filed a discovery motion asking for statements
made to police officers and other individuals. The court indicated the motion was
ridiculous except to the extent it requested statements to officers. The court, at
appellant’s request, continued the case to December 17, 2012, for Pitchess and discovery

                                              4
proceedings. Appellant again argued his Code of Civil Procedure section 170.6 motion
and the court again denied it.
       On December 17, 2012, the court indicated the court’s denial of appellant’s Code
of Civil Procedure section 170.1 motion had been mailed to him. The court asked if
appellant wanted to be heard concerning his Pitchess motion, and appellant replied no.
The court indicated much of appellant’s Pitchess motion pertained only to his Riverside
case, and to the extent the motion pertained to the present case, the motion was without
merit. When appellant began to interrupt, the court told him, “Let me finish. If you
interrupt me, you’re not going to represent yourself anymore.” The court noted it had
given appellant an opportunity to be heard, and he had said nothing. The court denied the
Pitchess motion. Appellant objected to the denial.
       Appellant submitted on December 17, 2012, a motion to dismiss based on Brady,4
a motion under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a motion to dismiss the district
attorney, and a petition for a writ of habeas corpus. Appellant also filed a motion to
recuse the court. The court indicated it already had denied the motion and denied it
again. Appellant continued to argue the issue. Appellant moved for the appointment of
an expert, but the court denied the motion as without merit. Appellant argued the denial
was biased and prejudiced. The court indicated it would rule on appellant’s new motions
on the next court date. The court noted appellant had filed 10 motions. Appellant
objected to any further hearings before the court. The court continued the case to January
7, 2013, as day 20 of 30.
       On January 7, 2013, the court granted appellant’s request for an ex parte hearing
and, during the hearing, appellant told the court his arrest, and various People’s reports,
were fabricated. The court told appellant the matter was inappropriate for an ex parte
hearing. Appellant stated he understood. The court stated, “Let me tell you where we
stand now so we can reopen the courtroom. If there is a DA assigned, we’ll start this trial

4
       Apparently this was a reference to Brady v. Maryland (1963) 373 U.S. 83
[10 L.Ed.2d 215].

                                              5
tomorrow.” Appellant asked what had happened to his habeas petition. Appellant
submitted additional motions to the court but the court indicated appellant already had
filed several of them, the court had denied them, and appellant had presented nothing
new. The court ordered the courtroom reopened.
       The court later indicated it had denied in writing appellant’s habeas petition. The
court also stated, “We’re going to find out if there is a DA ready to try this case
tomorrow. If there is, we’ll bring in the jury.” The court and parties later discussed
additional discovery delivered to appellant, and the prosecutor indicated he had provided
to appellant’s investigator all court-ordered discovery. The court commented, “We’ll see
you later, Mr. Bailey, when we find out if we can start tomorrow.”
       Appellant asked for additional pro per funds. The court stated, “We’re going to
find out whether we’re going to trial tomorrow or not, all right? And if we’re going to
trial tomorrow, you’re going to have to explain to me why you need pro per funds.” The
prosecutor later indicated he was not ready for trial but hoped to be ready on January 9,
2013. The court stated, “So Mr. Bailey, I guess we’ll have to trail it until tomorrow to
see where we stand, so we’re going to trail it until tomorrow . . . . One of two wheelchair
cases will start.[5] There is a slight chance we may transfer this case to . . . another
wheelchair court that might be opened, but it’s unlikely.”
       Appellant told the court he had not subpoenaed witnesses and the court replied it
did not know why appellant had not done so. Appellant claimed he had not known trial
had been scheduled for January 7, 2013. The court told appellant to call his investigator
and have him serve subpoenas on appellant’s witnesses. The prosecutor estimated trial
would take two days, including jury selection. The court indicated witnesses could be
brought in on January 14, 2013.

5
       Appellant apparently used a wheelchair.

                                               6
       Later, the court asked, “Since I’m going to bring in a jury on Wednesday [January
9, 2013]6 and I’m going to start this case or another case, is there anything you’re willing
to plead to?” As the court discussed the issue, appellant interrupted. The court later
stated, “I’ll let you finish afterwards. . . . [A]nd then you can talk.” The court also later
said, “Mr. Bailey, if you’re going to represent yourself, you have to learn to answer
questions simply.” Appellant continued interrupting and indicated the court had ignored
all of appellant’s written motions. The court then stated, “If you want to lose your pro
per privileges, keep talking like that.”
       Appellant continued interrupting, the court finally secured an answer from
appellant that he was making no plea offers, and the court gave appellant a further
opportunity to speak. Appellant told the court, inter alia, the court was supposed to be a
mediator, not a prosecutor, and the court had been a prosecutor during the entirety of the
proceedings and was biased and prejudiced.
       The court indicated appellant had filed new motions. One was a motion to strike
his strike. The court indicated it would handle that later in the event appellant was
convicted. Another was a petition seeking compensation, including punitive damages,
for the alleged violation of appellant’s constitutional rights. The court explained it lacked
jurisdiction over the matter. Appellant indicated the petition pertained to his Riverside
case. The court told him the petition did not pertain to the present case. Appellant
interrupted and said it was all the same charge. The court explained that when the jury
was present, appellant could not bring up every complaint he had about the criminal
justice system, and “[w]e’re not here to try your Riverside case.” Appellant continued
interrupting and again raised the issue of his Riverside case and his “constitutional
statutory rights.” The court replied, “Yeah, you keep bringing that up. I’m going to
appoint standby as your lawyer. We have to focus on the case that’s before the court.”

6
       We accept appellant’s concession Wednesday was January 9, 2013.

                                              7
       The court indicated it would trail the case to January 8, 2013, and “we’ll see
whether were going to start it on Wednesday or not.” Appellant asked the purpose of
coming to court on January 8, 2013. The court replied, “To see if we’re starting the case
tomorrow – or starting it Wednesday – excuse me – starting it Wednesday.” Appellant
asked when was he supposed to contact his investigator if appellant would be in court.
The court replied it would try to have appellant’s investigator present in court on January
8, 2013. Appellant provided the name of his investigator.
       On January 8, 2013, appellant failed to appear in court, Sperber was present, and
the court indicated as follows. Appellant had refused to appear in court on January 8,
2013. The inmate refusal form said appellant was not feeling well, but the bailiff said a
deputy who had tried to secure appellant’s presence in court had said appellant had gone
to the law library. Because appellant had been barely cooperative during court
proceedings and had refused to appear in court on January 8, 2013, the court had no
alternative but to revoke appellant’s pro per status and appoint Sperber as appellant’s
counsel.
       Sperber later indicated appellant had left phone messages for Sperber that gave
him the impression appellant might have wanted to dispose of the case. The court noted
the following. On January 7, 2013, the court asked appellant at least twice if he had any
offers and he had refused to answer. Because appellant made no offers, the court, on
January 7, 2013, indicated the case would be tried on January 8, 2013. Appellant clearly
did not want to start his trial on the latter date.
       The court trailed the case to January 9, 2013. On that date, the court commented
appellant had refused to appear on January 8, 2013. Appellant replied, “I had a bloody
nose and stuff.” The court commented, inter alia, “I know. But I heard you went to the
law library, and you’ve been on the edge anyway with your pro per status. And when I
heard you refused to come and you still went to the law library, you can come with a
bloody nose. We could have delayed start of the case, . . .” The court advised appellant
he was not representing himself and Sperber would represent him. The court denied

                                                 8
appellant’s Brady motion to dismiss, his motion under the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure, and his motion regarding an alleged failure to arraign him within 48 hours.
On January 9, 2013, voir dire of the venire commenced.
                                             ISSUE
       Appellant claims the trial court violated his constitutional rights to self-
representation, due process, and a fair trial by revoking his right to self-representation.
                                         DISCUSSION
The Trial Court Properly Revoked Appellant’s Right of Self-Representation.
       Appellant claims as indicated above. We reject the claim. In People v. Carson
(2005) 35 Cal.4th 1 (Carson), our Supreme Court held, consistent with Faretta v.
California (1975) 422 U.S. 806 [45 L.Ed.2d 562] (Faretta), a trial court may revoke a
defendant’s right of self-representation for misconduct that seriously threatens the core
integrity of the trial, whether or not that misconduct occurs in the courtroom. (Carson, at
p. 6.) The “trial judge may terminate self-representation by a defendant who deliberately
engages in serious and obstructionist misconduct.” (Id. at p. 8.) Carson, quoting Faretta,
stated the right of self-representation is not a license to abuse the dignity of the
courtroom, or a license not to comply with relevant rules of procedural and substantive
law. (Carson, at p. 8.) Carson observed the relevant rules of procedural and substantive
law are not limited to those relating solely to the trial itself. (Id. at p. 9.)
       In People v. Welch (1999) 20 Cal.4th 701 (Welch), our Supreme Court noted a
condition precedent to a defendant’s exercise of the right of self-representation is whether
the defendant is able and willing to abide by rules of procedure and courtroom protocol.
(Id. at p. 734.) A self-representing defendant should not be allowed by disruptive
conduct to “bring his trial to a standstill.” (Ibid.) “Ultimately, the effect, not the
location, of the [defendant’s] misconduct and its impact on the core integrity of the trial
will determine whether termination is warranted.” (Carson, supra, 35 Cal.4th at p. 9.)7

7
      Carson observed, “When determining whether termination is necessary and
appropriate, the trial court should consider several factors in addition to the nature of the
                                                 9
       Welch stated, “[A] trial court must undertake the task of deciding whether a
defendant is and will remain so disruptive, obstreperous, disobedient, disrespectful or
obstructionist in his or her actions or words as to preclude the exercise of the right to self-
representation. The trial court possesses much discretion when it comes to terminating a
defendant’s right to self-representation and the exercise of that discretion ‘will not be
disturbed in the absence of a strong showing of clear abuse.’ [Citations.]” (Welch,
supra, 20 Cal.4th at p. 735.)
       In the present case, on January 8, 2013, the trial court stated, “[I]n view of the fact
that Mr. Bailey has been barely cooperative during court proceedings and has refused to
come to court, I don’t see any alternative but to revoke his pro per status.” Fairly read,
the trial court’s statement referred to the facts that during court proceedings prior to
January 8, 2013, appellant had been barely cooperative and, on January 8, 2013, he had
refused to come to court.
       The record supports the trial court’s statement appellant was barely cooperative.
Indeed, as discussed below, the record demonstrates appellant was disruptive,
obstreperous, disobedient, disrespectful, and obstructionist. Although appellant had
agreed to file all motions by September 7, 2012, he appeared on that date and said he
needed to file motions.
       After September 7, 2012, appellant filed numerous, meritless, and frequently
frivolous, motions, pleadings, and documents. Some pertained to his Riverside case, a
matter over which the present trial court had no jurisdiction. Another sought the court’s
signature on a statement of appellant’s alleged constitutional rights. The motions

misconduct and its impact on the trial proceedings.” (Carson, supra, 35 Cal.4th at p. 10.)
Those factors are (1) the availability and suitability of alternative sanctions, (2) whether
the misconduct is more removed from the trial proceedings, more subject to rectification
or correction, or otherwise less likely to affect the fairness of the trial, (3) whether the
defendant had been warned that misconduct will result in the termination of the
defendant’s pro per status, and (4) whether appellant has intentionally sought to disrupt
and delay his trial. (Ibid.) “Ultimately, the relevance inheres in the effect of the
misconduct on the trial proceedings, not the defendant’s purpose.” (Id. at p. 11.)

                                              10
included repeated motions to disqualify the district attorney, repeated untimely
peremptory challenges to the court, a motion to disqualify the court for cause, a discovery
request the court said was partially ridiculous, a motion under the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure, and a petition seeking punitive damages from the trial court for the alleged
violation of his constitutional rights, in part based on his Riverside case. Significantly,
appellant does not contend on appeal the trial court erred as to any of its rulings on any of
appellant’s motions, pleadings, and/or filings.
       Appellant’s Pitchess motion reflected his dilatory procedure. He failed to file it by
September 7, 2012, despite his agreement to do so. On October 4, 2012, the court told
appellant he had to file his Pitchess motion right away. Nonetheless, on October 12,
2012, appellant denied that on October 4, 2012, the court told him that he had to file the
motion. On November 16, 2012, appellant apparently submitted a Pitchess motion to the
court, but failed to properly serve it, resulting in further delay in the resolution of the
motion. The court ultimately denied it as meritless.
       Appellant risked further delay by his failure to subpoena witnesses. On December
17, 2012, the court continued the case to January 7, 2013, as day 20 of 30, but on January
7, 2013, appellant told the court he had failed to subpoena any witnesses, i.e., witnesses
whom the court could have ordered to return if trial did not start on January 7, 2013.
       Appellant repeatedly interrupted the court and appellant posed numerous,
unnecessary, repeated objections and arguments, even after the court had ruled. At times,
appellant refused to indicate whether he would waive time. The court repeatedly warned
appellant that if he persisted in his misconduct, the court would revoke his right to
represent himself.
       Indeed, the record reflects an effort by appellant to manipulate proceedings to
secure an unfair advantage over the prosecutor. After appellant, during the January 7,
2012 ex parte hearing, indicated he understood it was inappropriate for the court to
conduct an ex parte hearing concerning the matter for which he ostensibly had sought the
hearing, appellant nonetheless tried to press other issues to the court ex parte.

                                              11
       The record also supports the trial court’s statement appellant refused to come to
court on January 8, 2013. The trial court repeatedly commented trial would start on
January 8, 2013. It is true that, after the prosecutor indicated he hoped to be ready for
trial on January 9, 2013, the trial court indicated trial might start on that date. However,
after appellant complained he would not be able to contact his investigator if appellant
came to court on January 8, 2013, the court said it would try to have the investigator
appear in court on that date. Appellant provided the investigator’s name to facilitate the
court’s efforts.
       In sum, whether or not trial was to start on January 8, 2013 (an issue on which
appellant focuses), the record demonstrates appellant refused to appear in court on that
date despite his knowledge the court indicated it would attempt to arrange a meeting
between appellant and his investigator on that date to facilitate bringing the case to trial.
The record does not reflect that on January 8, 2013, appellant made any effort to notify
the court he would not appear in court.
       On January 9, 2013, appellant did not deny the court’s comments to the effect on
January 8, 2013, he had refused to appear in court, he had gone to the law library, he
could have come to court with his alleged ailment, and, if he had done so, the court,
because of the alleged ailment, could have delayed starting the case. The trial court
reasonably could have concluded appellant’s excuse for failing to come to court was a
sham. Moreover, in light of that fact, the trial court reasonably could have concluded
appellant would fail to appear in court on one or more days in the future. We note the
prosecutor indicated trial would take only two days; a failure to appear would
significantly disrupt trial. On January 9, 2013, the trial court told appellant he was not
representing himself and he would be represented by Sperber.
       In light of our analysis of appellant’s conduct prior to January 8, 2013, and his
refusal to appear on that date, the record adequately demonstrates appellant was
“deliberately engag[ing] in serious and obstructionist misconduct” (Carson, supra,
35 Cal.4th at p. 8) and would “remain so disruptive, obstreperous, disobedient,

                                              12
disrespectful or obstructionist in his . . . actions or words as to preclude the exercise of
the right to self-representation” (Welch, supra, 20 Cal.4th at p. 735). The trial court did
not abuse its discretion or violate appellant’s rights to self-representation, due process,
and/or a fair trial by revoking his right to self-representation.8
                                       DISPOSITION
       The judgment is affirmed.

       NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS

                                                   KITCHING, J.

We concur:

                      KLEIN, P. J.

                      ALDRICH, J.

8
        Appellant (who focuses on his failure to appear on January 8, 2013) suggests the
trial court revoked appellant’s pro per status on the ground he was barely cooperative
because he failed to answer the court’s question about a plea offer and instead explained
why his case should be dismissed. However, although the trial court on January 8, 2013,
commented on that failure and explanation, the trial court did so, not in the context of
explaining why appellant was barely cooperative, but in the independent context of
rejecting a much later suggestion of appellant’s trial counsel that appellant may have
wanted to dispose of the case. Appellant also asserts, “Additionally, although appellant
had been warned that if he interrupted the court his pro per status could be terminated, the
record reflects no other warnings that would warrant the sanction imposed here.” (See
fn. 7, ante.) However, the record belies that assertion.

                                              13