Court Opinion

ID: 3153485
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-11-10 17:02:28.327304+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:47:20.154328
License: Public Domain

Filed 11/10/15 P. v. Rollins 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                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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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                    COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                  DIVISION ONE

                                           STATE OF CALIFORNIA

THE PEOPLE,                                                         D068475

         Plaintiff and Respondent,

         v.                                                         (Super. Ct. No. SWF1301049)

ANTHONY ROLLINS,

         Defendant and Appellant.

         APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Riverside County,

Michael J. Rushton, Judge. Affirmed as modified.

         Allen G. Weinberg, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and

Appellant.

         Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Chief Assistant Attorney

General, Julie L. Garland, Assistant Attorney General, Arlene A. Sevidal and Andrew S.

Mestman, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
       A jury convicted Anthony Rollins of torture, two counts of corporal injury to a

cohabitant and conspiracy to dissuade a witness. It also found true special allegations

that Rollins personally inflicted great bodily injury upon the victim under circumstances

involving domestic violence. The trial court sentenced him to an indeterminate term of

seven years to life for the torture conviction and a determinate term of seven years for the

remaining counts.

       Rollins appeals, contending the trial court abused its discretion by admitting other

prior acts of domestic violence. He also asserts the trial court improperly sentenced him

to "7 years to life" for his torture conviction when the court should have sentenced him to

"life with the possibility of parole." We reject both contentions. Rollins also asserts, the

Attorney General concedes, and we agree, that a sentencing error and clerical error in the

abstract of judgment need to be corrected. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment as

modified.

                    FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Background

       Jane Doe started dating Rollins in 2008. In 2009 they moved in together with her

daughter and Rollins's son, Shaun. In 2009, the couple had an argument that resulted in

Rollins choking Doe as he held her over a stair railing. In 2010, Rollins pushed Doe to

the ground, kicked her in the stomach and then walked away. Doe called the police for

both incidents. In 2011, the couple argued after Doe answered Rollins's phone and a

female was on the other line. Rollins struck Doe's mouth with a cable box remote,

causing her mouth to bleed.

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The Incident

       In 2012, Doe and a friend went to a tasting event at a brewery. While at the

tasting, Doe received a text from Rollins stating, "Don't suck too much dick while you are

gone. Also, I hope you have a sitter for your daughter tomorrow." Doe and her friend

then met another friend for dinner. Both friends stated Doe did not appear intoxicated

and showed no problems walking or talking. According to Shaun, Doe arrived home,

went upstairs and asked for Rollins. Doe walked and talked normally and did not appear

intoxicated. Shaun told Doe that Rollins was in the bedroom. Doe went into the

bedroom and closed the door.

       Doe woke up in severe pain and vomiting repeatedly, but she could not remember

what had happened. The following day, Doe complained of a very severe headache and

had slurred speech. The next day, Rollins took Doe to the hospital. Doe told a doctor

that she had fallen, but she was amnesic to the events that led up to her injuries. Doe

could not remember leaving the bar, what time she left, or who drove her home. She had

only two memories from that night, she remembered arguing with Rollins and seeing him

cut off the heads of two teddy bears.

       A neurosurgeon diagnosed Doe as suffering from a fracture in her temple bone

and contusions on both sides of her brain. Doe spent four days in the hospital and later

moved back with her family.

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       A few weeks after the incident, Doe noticed that her old phone had a voicemail

from Rollins, recorded after she had gotten home on the night of the incident, which she

had not listened to. In the voicemail, Rollins's and Doe's voices could be heard. Doe

stated that her face hurt and that she wanted to leave. Rollins told Doe, "You're not about

to leave. Nope" and "Promise you. You're gonna make it worse. Stop crying." Doe

reiterated that her face hurt, then stated, "Help me. It hurts. Ow — no. Please stop. It

hurts. It hurts. I said no." Rollins then told Doe to, "Shut the fuck up." Crying and

screaming could be heard throughout the recording.

       Doe called the police about the incident and Rollins was arrested. The day of

Rollins's arrest, Doe received a text message from a friend of Rollins's brother stating

Rollins loved Doe and wanted to go to Vegas with her to get married.

In Limine Motion Regarding Prior Acts of Domestic Violence

       The prosecution moved in limine to introduce Rollins's prior acts of domestic

violence against five of his former girlfriends as propensity evidence under Evidence

Code section 1109. (Undesignated statutory references are to the Evidence Code.) The

prosecution also asserted this evidence was admissible to demonstrate his intent, motive,

common plan or scheme, and lack of mistake or accident under section 1101, subdivision

(b). After argument by both parties regarding each individual victim of prior domestic

violence, the trial court admitted the evidence under section 1109. The trial court found

the evidence of the prior domestic violence was more probative than prejudicial within

the meaning of section 352. The trial court also allowed the evidence that Rollins

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proposed to J.W., one of his former girlfriends, following a domestic violence incident to

demonstrate his intent under section 1101, subdivision (b).

The Trial

       A medical expert who reviewed Doe's hospital records testified to the severity of

Doe's injuries. He stated that Doe suffered a "very serious injury." He opined that it

would take a high impact force to fracture the bone in her head; however, he could not

say with certainty how the fracture occurred.

       Five of Rollins's former girlfriends testified. Briefly, J.H. began dating Rollins in

1993 and gave birth to his child two years later. When Rollins learned of the pregnancy

the couple had an altercation where J.H. kicked Rollins and Rollins then punched J.H.

with his fist in her abdomen, knocking the air out of her and causing her to fall to the

ground. The couple broke up about five months after their son Shaun was born. When

Shaun was about eight or nine years old, Rollins tossed J.H. out of a doorway causing her

to slide across the floor and into a kitchen table.

       A.G. and Rollins began dating in 2002 and have two children together. At one

point, Rollins dragged A.G. into a hallway, hit her in the face with a bag filled with hard,

heavy objects and later choked her with one hand.

       Rollins began living with J.W. in 2005. At one point, after accusing J.W. of

"having an attitude," Rollins held her up against a wall with his hand squeezing her

throat. According to J.W., Rollins physically abused her about 50 times during their

relationship. One incident resulted in J.W. being admitted to the hospital for a crushed

larynx and detached retina. Rollins was arrested and a restraining order was issued

                                               5
against him. He later left a rose and a diamond ring for her. He told her it was a

marriage proposal and if they got married there was a law that would prevent her from

testifying against him in court.

       In 2007, Rollins lived with S.H. At one point, Rollins swung S.H. by her hair,

grabbed her throat with his hand and later used both hands around her throat. He also

threw a boot at S.H. striking her in the nose, causing it to bleed. During another incident,

Rollins shoved S.H. to the ground and then kicked her several times.

       Rollins began seeing P.A. in 2006. They never lived together, but ultimately had a

child together. In 2007, the couple drank tequila in a hotel room. The following

morning, P.A. had a bad headache and the side of her head was painful to the touch.

Rollins admitted that he had hit her with his fist.

       Rollins testified that on the night of the incident he heard Doe come home. After

hearing a "commotion," he went to the top of the stairs and saw Doe getting up. It looked

like she had stumbled. He could tell Doe had been drinking. The couple later had a

verbal argument. Rollins denied hitting or choking Doe. He believed Doe's injuries were

the result of an accident.

                                       DISCUSSION

                                   I. Propensity Evidence

A. Legal Principles

       Although evidence of prior criminal acts is generally inadmissible to show the

defendant's propensity to commit the charged offense (§ 1101, subd. (a)), the Legislature

has created an exception to this rule in cases of domestic violence for evidence of a

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defendant's commission of other acts of domestic violence (§ 1109, subd. (a)(1)). "[T]he

statute reflects the legislative judgment that in domestic violence cases, as in sex crimes,

similar prior offenses are 'uniquely probative' of guilt in a later accusation. [Citation.]

Indeed, proponents of the bill that became section 1109 argued for admissibility of such

evidence because of the 'typically repetitive nature' of domestic violence. [Citation.]

This pattern suggests a psychological dynamic not necessarily involved in other types of

crimes." (People v. Johnson (2010) 185 Cal. App. 4th 520, 532; fns. omitted.)

       The statute establishes a presumptively admissible time frame and permits the

introduction of acts occurring within 10 years of the charged offense; older offenses may

also be admitted if the court finds their admission to be in the interest of justice. (§ 1109,

subd. (e).) The statute also incorporates section 352, "mak[ing] evidence of past

domestic violence inadmissible only if the court determines that its probative value is

'substantially outweighed' by its prejudicial impact. We review a challenge to a trial

court's decision to admit such evidence for abuse of discretion." (People v. Johnson,

supra, 185 Cal.App.4th at p. 531, fn. omitted.)

B. Analysis

       Rollins asserts the court erred under sections 1109, 1101 and 352 in admitting

evidence of the allegations of physical abuse against his ex-girlfriends for the purpose of

proving his propensity to commit the crimes charged in the instant offense. Rollins

argues the probative value of the evidence of the prior "bad acts" of domestic violence

was outweighed by the danger of undue prejudice and the evidence was so cumulative

                                              7
that he could not have received a fair trial. He also complains that the trial court did not

conduct the "closely reasoned" weighing process mandated by section 352. We disagree.

       As a preliminary matter, the trial court concluded that Rollins's proposal to J.W.

following a domestic violence incident and the incident regarding P.A. where she awoke

in pain not knowing what had happened to her were admissible to demonstrate intent and

common scheme, respectively, under section 1101, subdivision (b). Although Rollins

claims error under section 1101, he has not argued that the trial court erred in admitting

the marriage proposal; thus, we need not address this issue. Also, as will be discussed,

the trial court properly admitted the evidence regarding P.A. under section 1109.

Accordingly, there is no need for us to address application of section 1101 for the

incident regarding P.A.

       Domestic violence includes abuse committed against a cohabitant or a person with

whom the suspect has had a dating relationship, and is defined as the intentional or

reckless "causing or attempting to cause bodily injury, or placing another person in

reasonable apprehension of imminent serious bodily injury . . . ." (Pen. Code, § 13700,

subds. (a) & (b).) Here, all of the prior incidents regarding Rollins's former girlfriends

(the prior incidents) qualified as acts of domestic violence. Although the events

regarding A.G. and J.H. were more than 10 years old, the trial court found these incidents

were admissible in the interest of justice (§ 1109, subd. (e)), and Rollins did not challenge

these findings.

                                              8
       Accordingly, the question presented is whether the trial court erred in admitting

the prior incidents under section 352. Rollins first complains the trial court failed to

engage in the weighing process required under section 352. "[A]lthough the record must

affirmatively show that the trial court weighed prejudice against probative value in

admitting evidence of prior bad acts [citations], the trial judge 'need not expressly weigh

prejudice against probative value—or even expressly state that he has done so.' " (People

v. Padilla (1995) 11 Cal. 4th 891, 924.) Rather, we can infer the trial court conducted the

weighing process based on record indications such as argument of counsel and comments

by the trial court. (Ibid.) The record in this case, including counsel's arguments and the

trial court's comments, clearly show the trial court was aware of the balancing required

under the governing statutes and engaged in such a process.

       While the prior incidents were inflammatory, they were no more inflammatory

than the incidents regarding Doe, so that the potential for prejudice did not outweigh the

clear probative value of the evidence. (People v. Johnson, supra, 185 Cal.App.4th at p.

534, fn. 11 ["Courts are primarily concerned where the past bad act was 'more

inflammatory' than the offense for which the defendant is on trial."].)

       Rollins complains that evidence of the prior incidents was cumulative. We agree.

However, it is the cumulative nature of the prior incidents that makes the evidence highly

relevant and probative. Doe could not recall what caused her injuries and Rollins denied

hitting her. Together, the prior incidents set forth "a continuous and fairly unbroken

pattern of domestic abuse" and create a strong inference that Doe's injuries were not the

                                              9
result of an "accident" as Rollins claimed. (People v. Cabrera (2007) 152 Cal. App. 4th
695, 706.)

       The testimony of Rollins's five former girlfriends consists of less than 300 pages

of trial testimony for a trial that amounted to about 1,060 pages of trial testimony or 28

percent of the testimony. While this testimony was time-consuming based on the number

of witnesses, the testimony of each witness was relatively brief and the time consumed

was not undue. (People v. Frazier (2001) 89 Cal. App. 4th 30, 42 [evidence of uncharged

offense that consumed 27 percent of trial transcript did not dwarf the trial of the current

offense as to unfairly prejudice the defendant].)

       Finally, the prior incident evidence would not confuse the jury. The trial court

properly instructed the jury with CALCRIM No. 852, informing the jurors that, if it

concluded Rollins committed the uncharged acts of domestic violence, this was not

sufficient by itself to prove he was guilty of any of the charges involving Doe, but the

People were still required to prove each charge beyond a reasonable doubt. Juries are

presumed to follow the trial court's instructions, unless the record affirmatively indicates

otherwise. (People v. Coffman and Marlow (2004) 34 Cal. 4th 1, 83.)

       Accordingly, we conclude that admission of the prior incident evidence was not

unduly prejudicial and did not result in an unfair trial.

                                  II. Sentence for Torture

       The trial court sentenced Rollins on count 1 for torture to an indeterminate life

sentence of seven years to life. Torture is punishable by a prison term of life. (Pen.

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Code, § 206.1.) The minimum parole eligibility for a life term is seven years where, as

here, a minimum term is not specified. (Pen. Code, § 3046, subd. (a)(1).)

       Rollins contends his sentence should be corrected to reflect "life with the

possibility of parole." He contends that should Penal Code section 3046 be amended to

provide a minimum term of less than seven years the Department of Corrections and

Rehabilitation might conclude that such an amendment would not affect his sentence

because he was "sentenced" to seven years to life, and not "life with the possibility of

parole." He notes that our high court in People v. Jefferson (1999) 21 Cal. 4th 86

(Jefferson) stated it is not improper for a trial court to specify a minimum parole

eligibility term in its pronouncement of sentence, but asserts this discussion is dicta. (Id.

at p. 101, fn. 3.) The Attorney General, relying on Jefferson, asserts there is no error.

We agree with the Attorney General.

       The Jefferson opinion notes that the term of imprisonment for premeditated

attempted murder is an indeterminate sentence of life with the possibility of parole.

(Jefferson, supra, 21 Cal.4th at p. 93.) The Court observed that under normal

circumstances the minimum period of confinement for that crime would be seven years,

as provided in Penal Code section 3046, subdivision (a)(1), but that Penal Code section

186.22, subdivision (b)(4) provides for a mandatory minimum term of 15 years for a

gang-related attempted murder. (Jefferson, at pp. 96, 100.) It was held that the trial court

did not err by imposing a sentence of 15 years to life, which expressly incorporated the

minimum term established by Penal Code sections 186.22 and 3046, subdivision (a)(2).

(Jefferson, at pp. 99-102.)

                                             11
       In a footnote, our high court stated that, "[b]y including the minimum term of

imprisonment in its sentence, a trial court gives guidance to the Board of Prison Terms

regarding the appropriate minimum term to apply, and it informs victims attending the

sentencing hearing of the minimum period the defendant will have to serve before

becoming eligible for parole. Thus, when the trial court here pronounced defendants'

sentences, it properly included their minimum terms." (Jefferson, supra, 21 Cal.4th at

p. 101, fn. 3.)

       The reasoning in Jefferson applies here as the indeterminate life sentence

mandated by Penal Code section 206.1 is subject to a minimum confinement period of

seven years under Penal Code section 3046, subdivision (a)(1). We reject Rollins's

speculative argument that should Penal Code section 3046 be amended to specify a lesser

minimum term, he would be entitled to retroactive application of this change. Generally,

if a criminal statute is amended to lessen punishment, and the amended statute becomes

effective prior to the date the judgment of conviction becomes final, the amended statute,

and not the old statute in effect when the prohibited act was committed, applies. (People

v. Nasalga (1996) 12 Cal. 4th 784, 789-790; Pen. Code, § 3 ["No part of [the Penal Code]

is retroactive, unless expressly so declared."].) Rollins has shown no error as he has

provided no reasoned argument with citation to authority as to why a future change to

Penal Code section 3046 should impact his judgment once it becomes final. (People v.

Stanley (1995) 10 Cal. 4th 764, 793; People v. Kemp (1974) 10 Cal. 3d 611, 614

[judgment becomes final when availability of an appeal and time for filing a petition for

certiorari have expired].) Accordingly, we decline to alter the judgment.

                                            12
                            III. Sentencing and Clerical Errors

A. Sentencing Error

       The trial court sentenced Rollins to seven years to life on count 1 for torture. On

count 2, infliction of corporal injury on a cohabitant, the trial court found that the count

involved the same conduct as count 1 and that Penal Code section 654 applied. Despite

this finding, the trial court ordered that the sentence on count 2 be served concurrently

with the sentence on count 1. The parties agree the trial court erred in not staying the

sentence on count 2. We concur.

       Where, as here, Penal Code section 654 applies to prohibit multiple punishments,

the correct procedure is to impose sentence on each count and stay execution of sentence

on the count to which Penal Code section 654 applies, rather than impose concurrent

sentences. (People v. Deloza (1998) 18 Cal. 4th 585, 591-592.) Accordingly, Rollins's

sentence on count 2 must be stayed and the sentencing minute order and abstract of

judgment amended.

B. Clerical Error

       The abstracts of judgment list all of Rollins's offenses as having been committed

in 2012. Rollins correctly notes that count 3 occurred in 2011 and count 4 occurred in

2013. The Attorney General concedes, and we agree, the abstracts of judgment should be

corrected to remedy these errors.

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                                     DISPOSITION

       The judgment is modified to stay execution of the concurrent four-year term on

count 2 (infliction of corporal injury on a cohabitant) under Penal Code section 654. The

abstract of judgment shall be modified to show that count 3 occurred in 2011 and count 4

occurred in 2013. The judgment is affirmed as modified. The superior court clerk is

directed to prepare a new sentencing minute order and new abstracts of judgment

reflecting these changes and forward a certified copy of the new abstract to the

Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

                                                                           MCINTYRE, J.

WE CONCUR:

BENKE, Acting P. J.

IRION, J.

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