Court Opinion

ID: 6333337
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-04-20 18:02:10.289543+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:23:27.532305
License: Public Domain

Filed 4/20/22 P. v. Gessel 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                  NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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,
                                                                                             F081536
             Plaintiff and Respondent,
                                                                           (Kern Super. Ct. No. SC071189A)
                    v.

 TAMMY GESSEL,                                                                            OPINION
             Defendant and Appellant.

                                                   THE COURT*
         APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Kern County. Michael G.
Bush, Judge.
         Susan L. Jordan, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
         Office of the Attorney General, Sacramento, California, for Plaintiff and
Respondent.
                                                        -ooOoo-

         *   Before Hill, P. J., Meehan, J. and De Santos, J.
                                    INTRODUCTION
        Appellant Tammy Gessel pleaded guilty to second degree murder for fatally
stabbing her boyfriend, and to three counts of attempted murder for stabbing and
seriously wounding her father and two young children. She was sentenced to 15 years to
life.
        On appeal, her appellate counsel has filed a brief that summarizes the facts with
citations to the record, raises no issues, and asks this court to independently review the
record. (People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436.) We affirm.
                                         FACTS1
        On June 4, 1997, appellant stabbed her boyfriend, Billy Enos; her two children;
her father, Patrick Gessel; and herself. Mr. Enos died from his wounds.
        Mr. Gessel stated he was asleep in the front yard when he awoke from sounds of
furniture, or something being moved about the house. When he went inside to
investigate, he encountered appellant. She put her arms around him as if to give him a
hug, and then stabbed him in the back. Mr. Gessel wrestled appellant to the ground,
taking the knife from her. He told appellant that she was “stabbing your daddy[]” and
appellant said, “Daddy, it’s time to die[.]” (People v. Gessel, supra, F031053, at pp. 2–
3.)

        1The prosecution’s opposition to appellant’s Penal Code section 1170.95 petition
stated that it was filing this court’s opinion from appellant’s first appeal as a supporting
exhibit, but the opinion was not included in the instant appellate record.
        After notice to the parties, we take judicial notice of the appellate record and this
court’s nonpublished opinion in People v. Gessel (Jan. 21, 2000, F031053). (Evid. Code,
§ 450, § 452, subd. (d), § 459; In re W.R. (2018) 22 Cal.App.5th 284, 286–287, fn. 2.)
        Our factual summary is taken from this court’s nonpublished opinion that affirmed
appellant’s convictions on direct appeal. We recite these facts to provide context for the
court’s ruling and the parties’ arguments. As will be explained below, we do not rely on
this factual summary in resolving the issues presented in this appeal. (See § 1170.95,
subd. (d)(3).)

                                             2.
       Appellant was taken to the hospital for treatment of her wounds, and she told a
deputy that she had stabbed her kids because she loved them. (People v. Gessel, supra,
F031053, at p. 12.)
                             PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
       On August 13, 1997, a felony complaint was filed in the Superior Court of Kern
County charging appellant with committing the following offenses on June 4, 1997:
count 1, murder of Billy Enos (Pen. Code, § 187, subd. (a));2 and counts 2, 3, and 4,
attempted murder of, respectively, Mr. Gessel, H.R., and E.R. (§§ 664, 187, subd. (a)).
As to all counts, it was further alleged that appellant personally used a deadly or
dangerous weapon, a knife, in the commission or attempted commission of the offense
(§ 12022, subd. (b)(1)).
       On August 11, 1997, the court held appellant to answer.
       On August 15, 1997, the information was filed that alleged count 1, premeditated
murder; and counts 2, 3, and 4, attempted murder; with the personal use enhancement
alleged as to all counts; and an enhancement for personal infliction of great bodily injury
alleged as to counts 2, 3, and 4 (§ 12022.7).
       Appellant pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity. (People v.
Gessel, supra, F031053, at p. 2.)
Plea and Sanity Hearings
       On March 2, 1998, appellant withdrew her previous plea of not guilty and pleaded
guilty to count 1, second degree murder; counts 2 through 4, attempted murder; and she
admitted the personal use and great bodily injury enhancements, pursuant to a negotiated
disposition that the sentences for counts 2, 3, and 4 would run concurrent to each other
but consecutive to count 1, for an aggregate term of 15 years to life plus 13 years. The

       2   All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise stated.

                                                3.
parties stipulated to a factual basis for the pleas based on the preliminary hearing
transcript and the police reports.
         The court set the matter for a bench trial to determine appellant’s sanity.
         Thereafter, the court held a bench trial on sanity. The court found that appellant
was unable to understand the nature and quality of her actions and was unable to
distinguish right from wrong when she committed the offense. However, the court went
on to find that appellant’s insanity was not “settled” within the meaning of People v.
Kelly (1973) 10 Cal.3d 565. Therefore, the court found appellant was legally sane at the
time she committed the offense. (People v. Gessel, supra, F031053, at p. 2.)
Sentencing Hearing
         On April 29, 1998, the court sentenced appellant as follows: 15 years to life on
count 1, second degree murder, and stayed the personal use enhancement; plus a
consecutive upper term of nine years for count 2, with one year for the personal use
enhancement and three years for the great bodily injury enhancement; and concurrent
terms for counts 3 and 4 and the attached enhancements, for an aggregate term of 15
years to life plus 13 years.
Appellant’s Direct Appeal
         Appellant filed an appeal and claimed the trial court’s finding that she was sane at
the time she committed the offense was not supported by substantial evidence. In
addition, she argued the trial court erred in staying, instead of striking, the personal use
enhancement. (People v. Gessel, supra, F031053, at p. 2.)
         On January 21, 2000, this court filed the nonpublished opinion in appellant’s
appeal and found the trial court’s finding of sanity in this case was supported by
substantial evidence. (People v. Gessel, supra, F031053 at p. 20.) This court further held
the section 12022, subdivision (b) enhancement must be stricken. (People v. Gessel, at
p. 3.)

                                               4.
       Thereafter, the abstract of judgment was amended to reflect appellant was
sentenced to 15 years to life, plus an aggregate consecutive determinate term of 12 years
instead of 13 years.
       On May 1, 2000, the California Supreme Court denied appellant’s petition for
review.
                            SENATE BILL NOS. 1437 & 775
       The instant appeal is from the denial of appellant’s petition for resentencing that
she filed pursuant to Senate Bill No. 1437 (2017–2018 Reg. Sess.) (Senate Bill 1437),
that was effective on January 1, 2019, and amended “ ‘the felony murder rule and the
natural and probable consequences doctrine, as it relates to murder, to ensure that murder
liability is not imposed on a person who is not the actual killer, did not act with the intent
to kill, or was not a major participant in the underlying felony who acted with reckless
indifference to human life.’ ” (People v. Lewis (2021) 11 Cal.5th 952, 959 (Lewis).)3
       “Substantively, Senate Bill 1437 accomplishes this by amending section 188,
which defines malice, and section 189, which defines the degrees of murder, and as now
amended, addresses felony murder liability.” (People v. Martinez (2019) 31 Cal.App.5th
719, 723; People v. Gentile (2020) 10 Cal.5th 830, 842.)
       “In addition to substantively amending sections 188 and 189 of the Penal Code,
Senate Bill 1437 added section 1170.95, which provides a procedure for convicted
murderers who could not be convicted under the law as amended to retroactively seek
relief. [Citation.]” (Lewis, supra, 11 Cal.5th at p. 959.)

       3  As amended, section 189, subdivision (f) states an exception that allows
“individuals to be convicted of felony murder even if they did not act with malice and do
not fall in one of the three categories of section 189, subdivision (e), where the victim is
a peace officer engaged in the course of his or her duties and the defendant knows (or
reasonably should know) these facts.” (People v. Hernandez (2021) 60 Cal.App.5th 94,
99.)

                                              5.
        “Pursuant to section 1170.95, an offender must file a petition in the sentencing
court averring that: ‘(1) A complaint, information, or indictment was filed against the
petitioner that allowed the prosecution to proceed under a theory of felony murder or
murder under the natural and probable consequences doctrine[;] [¶] (2) The petitioner
was convicted of first degree or second degree murder following a trial or accepted a plea
offer in lieu of a trial at which the petitioner could be convicted for first degree or second
degree murder[;] [¶] [and] (3) The petitioner could not be convicted of first or second
degree murder because of changes to section 188 or 189 made effective January 1, 2019.’
[Citations.] Additionally, the petition shall state ‘[w]hether the petitioner requests the
appointment of counsel.’ [Citation.] If a petition fails to comply with subdivision (b)(1),
‘the court may deny the petition without prejudice to the filing of another petition.’ ”
(Lewis, supra, 11 Cal.5th at pp. 959–960.)
        “Where the petition complies with [section 1170.95,] subdivision (b)'s three
requirements, then the court proceeds to subdivision (c) to assess whether the petitioner
has made ‘a prima facie showing’ for relief. [Citation.] [¶] If the trial court determines
that a prima facie showing for relief has been made, the trial court issues an order to show
cause, and then must hold a hearing ‘to determine whether to vacate the murder
conviction and to recall the sentence and resentence the petitioner on any remaining
counts in the same manner as if the petitioner had not ... previously been sentenced,
provided that the new sentence, if any, is not greater than the initial sentence.’ [Citation.]
‘The prosecutor and the petitioner may rely on the record of conviction or offer new or
additional evidence to meet their respective burdens.’ [Citation.] At the hearing stage,
‘the burden of proof shall be on the prosecution to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that
the petitioner is ineligible for resentencing.’ ” (Lewis, supra, 11 Cal.5th at p. 960.)
Lewis
        In Lewis, the court interpreted the provisions of section 1170.95 and held that
petitioners “are entitled to the appointment of counsel upon the filing of a facially

                                              6.
sufficient petition [citation] and that only after the appointment of counsel and the
opportunity for briefing may the superior court consider the record of conviction to
determine whether ‘the petitioner makes a prima facie showing that he or she is entitled
to relief.’ ” (Lewis, supra, 11 Cal.5th at p. 957.) “ ‘If the petitioner has requested
counsel, the court shall appoint counsel to represent the petitioner.’ [Citation.]” (Id. at
p. 963, italics added in original.)
       Lewis also held that “at the prima facie stage, a petitioner’s allegations should be
accepted as true, and the court should not make credibility determinations or engage in
‘factfinding involving the weighing of evidence or the exercise of discretion.’ ” (Lewis,
supra, 11 Cal.5th at p. 974.) When the court conducts the prima facie determination,
section 1170.95, subdivision (b)(2) only permits screening out “noncomplying petitions,
not petitions that lack substantive merit.” (Lewis, at p. 968.)
       Lewis further held that after appointing counsel, the trial court may rely on the
record of conviction to determine whether the prima facie showing has been made in
order “to distinguish petitions with potential merit from those that are clearly meritless.”
(Lewis, supra, 11 Cal.5th at pp. 970–971.) “While the trial court may look at the record
of conviction after the appointment of counsel to determine whether a petitioner has
made a prima facie case for section 1170.95 relief, the prima facie inquiry under
subdivision (c) is limited. Like the analogous prima facie inquiry in habeas corpus
proceedings, ‘ “the court takes petitioner’s factual allegations as true and makes a
preliminary assessment regarding whether the petitioner would be entitled to relief if his
or her factual allegations were proved. If so, the court must issue an order to show
cause.” ’ ” (Lewis, at p. 971.)
       “ ‘However, if the record, including the court’s own documents, “contain[s] facts
refuting the allegations made in the petition,” then “the court is justified in making a
credibility determination adverse to the petitioner.” ’ ” (Lewis, supra, 11 Cal.5th at
p. 971, italics added.)

                                              7.
       “Appellate opinions … are generally considered to be part of the record of
conviction. [Citation.] However, as we cautioned in [People v. Woodell (1998) 17
Cal.4th 448, 457], the probative value of an appellate opinion is case-specific, and ‘it is
certainly correct that an appellate opinion might not supply all answers.’ [Citation.] In
reviewing any part of the record of conviction at this preliminary juncture, a trial court
should not engage in “factfinding involving the weighing of evidence or the exercise of
discretion.’ [Citation.] As the People emphasize, the ‘prima facie bar was intentionally
and correctly set very low.’ ” (Lewis, supra, 11 Cal.5th at p. 972.)
       “[T]here is no categorical bar to consulting the record of conviction at the prima
facie stage.” (Lewis, supra, 11 Cal.5th at p. 972, fn. 6.) “In sum, the parties can, and
should, use the record of conviction to aid the trial court in reliably assessing whether a
petitioner has made a prima facie case for relief under [section 1170.95,] subdivision (c).”
(Id. at p. 972.)
       The prima facie determination is a question of law, and the court may deny a
petition at the prima facie stage if the petitioner is ineligible for resentencing as a matter
of law. (Lewis, supra, 11 Cal.5th at p. 966.)
       Lewis announced a prejudicial error standard under People v. Watson (1956) 46
Cal.2d 818, if the court failed to appoint counsel or violated the petitioner’s statutory
rights under section 1170.95, and the petitioner must “therefore ‘demonstrate there is a
reasonable probability that in the absence of the error he [or she] … would have obtained
a more favorable result.’ [Citations.]” (Lewis, supra, 11 Cal.5th at pp. 957–958, 974.)
       Therefore, to demonstrate prejudice from the denial of a section 1170.95 petition
before the issuance of an order to show cause, the petitioner must show it is reasonably
probable that, absent error, his or her petition would not have been summarily denied
without an evidentiary hearing. (Lewis, supra, 11 Cal.5th at pp. 972–974; see People v.
Watson, supra, 46 Cal.2d at p. 836.)

                                               8.
Senate Bill No. 775
       In October 2021, Senate Bill No. 775 was enacted and amended section 1170.95,
effective on January 1, 2022. (2020–2021 Reg. Sess.; Stats. 2021, ch. 551, § 1.) (Senate
Bill 775.) As a result of the amendments, section 1170.95 clarified that “persons
convicted of felony murder or murder under the natural and probable consequences
doctrine or other theory under which malice is imputed to a person based solely on that
person’s participation in a crime, attempted murder under the natural and probable
consequences doctrine, or manslaughter,” may file a petition to have that conviction
vacated under certain circumstances. (§ 1170.95, subd. (a).)
       The amendments also codified the holding in Lewis that “[u]pon receiving a
petition in which the information required by this subdivision is set forth …, if the
petitioner has requested counsel, the court shall appoint counsel to represent the
petitioner.” (§ 1170.95, subd. (b)(3).) After the petition is filed, the People shall file a
response and the petitioner may serve a reply. (Id. at subd. (c).)
       After the parties have the opportunity to submit briefs, “the court shall hold a
hearing to determine whether the petitioner has made a prima facie case for relief.”
(§ 1170.95, subd. (c).) If the petitioner makes the prima facie showing, “the court shall
issue an order to show cause.” (Ibid.) If the court declines to issue an order to show
cause, “it shall provide a statement fully setting forth its reasons for doing so.” (Ibid.)
       If an order to show cause is issued, “the court shall hold a hearing to determine”
whether to vacate the petitioner’s conviction, recall the sentence, and resentence
petitioner. (§ 1170.95, subd. (d)(1).) At the hearing, the prosecution has the burden to
prove beyond a reasonable doubt that petitioner is guilty of murder or attempted murder
under the amended versions of sections 188 and 189. (§ 1170.95, subd. (d)(3).)
       “At the hearing to determine whether the petitioner is entitled to relief … [t]he
admission of evidence in the hearing shall be governed by the Evidence Code, except that
the court may consider evidence previously admitted at any prior hearing or trial that is

                                              9.
admissible under current law, including witness testimony, stipulated evidence, and
matters judicially noticed. The court may also consider the procedural history of the
case recited in any prior appellate opinion. However, hearsay evidence that was
admitted in a preliminary hearing pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 872 shall be
excluded from the hearing as hearsay, unless the evidence is admissible pursuant to
another exception to the hearsay rule. The prosecutor and the petitioner may also offer
new or additional evidence to meet their respective burdens. A finding that there is
substantial evidence to support a conviction for murder … is insufficient to prove,
beyond a reasonable doubt, that the petitioner is ineligible for resentencing.” (§ 1170.95,
subd. (d)(3), as amended by Stats. 2021, ch. 551, § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2022, italics added.)
                    APPELLANT’S SECTION 1170.95 PETITION
       On July 29, 2019, appellant filed, in pro. per., a section 1170.95 petition for
resentencing. The petition was supported by appellant’s declaration, signed under
penalty of perjury, where she checked boxes on a preprinted form that stated she was
entitled to resentencing under section 1170.95 because a complaint or information was
filed against her that allowed the prosecution to proceed under a theory of felony murder
or murder under the natural and probable consequences doctrine; she pleaded guilty or no
contest to first or second degree murder in lieu of going to trial because she believed she
could have been convicted of first or second degree murder at trial pursuant to the felony-
murder rule or the natural and probable consequences doctrine; she could not now be
convicted of first or second degree murder because of the changes made to sections 188
and 189; and she requested appointment of counsel.
       On August 2, 2019, the court appointed the public defender’s office to represent
appellant.
The Prosecution’s Opposition
       On February 6, 2020, the prosecution filed opposition and conceded appellant’s
petition stated a prima facie case for relief. However, the prosecution further argued the

                                             10.
petition’s allegations were false and misleading, because it was uncontested that appellant
was the actual killer, who stabbed and killed her boyfriend, and stabbed and attempted to
kill her father and two children, and she was not charged under the theories of felony
murder or natural and probable consequences.4
Appellant’s Reply
       On May 29, 2020, appellant’s public defender filed a reply, did not challenge the
assertions in the opposition or rely on any contrary exhibits, and submitted the matter on
the basis of appellant’s petition.
The Court’s Denial of the Petition
       On August 4, 2020, the court issued an order that stated it had received and
considered the petition, opposition, and reply, and it denied appellant’s petition.
                                      DISCUSSION
       On August 4, 2020, appellant filed a notice of appeal. As noted above, appellant’s
counsel has filed a Wende brief with this court. The brief also includes the declaration of
appellate counsel indicating that appellant was advised she could file his own brief with
this court. By letter on September 29, 2020, we invited appellant to submit additional
briefing. To date, she has not done so.
       We note that at the prima facie stage, the superior court complied with section
1170.95 by appointing counsel and allowing the parties to brief the issue. The court,
however, did not conduct a hearing or issue a statement of reasons why it decided not to
issue an order to show cause as required by section 1170.95. It is also not clear whether
the court improperly denied the petition by engaging in premature factfinding based on
the factual statement in the appellate opinion. (Lewis, supra, 11 Cal.5th at pp. 971–972;
§ 1170.95, subd. (c).)

       4The prosecution filed a separate motion to dismiss the petition and asserted the
amendments enacted by Senate Bill 1437 were unconstitutional. The court denied the
motion to dismiss.

                                             11.
       To demonstrate prejudice from the denial of a section 1170.95 petition before the
issuance of an order to show cause, the petitioner must show it is reasonably probable
that, absent error, his or her petition would not have been summarily denied without an
evidentiary hearing. (Lewis, supra, 11 Cal.5th at pp. 972–974; People v. Watson, supra,
46 Cal.2d at p. 836.) The prima facie determination is a question of law, and the court
may deny a petition at the prima facie stage if the petitioner is ineligible for resentencing
as a matter of law. (Lewis, at p. 966.) Pursuant to section 1170.95, a petitioner is
ineligible for resentencing if he or she was the actual killer. (§§ 188, subd. (a)(3), 189,
subd. (e), 1170.95, subd. (a)(3); see People v. Gentile, supra, 10 Cal.5th at p. 842.)
Appellant was not prejudiced by the court’s summary denial of her petition. The
procedural history of this case, as contained in the instant appellate record, establish as a
matter of law that appellant was the actual killer, based on upon her pleas that she was
guilty of committing the murder, but she was not guilty of the offense by reason of
insanity, and the court’s finding that she was sane when she committed the murder.
       After independent review of the record, we find that no reasonably arguable
factual or legal issues exist.
                                      DISPOSITION
       The judgment is affirmed.

                                             12.