Court Opinion

ID: 9385454
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-04-06 18:03:03.481728+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:18:01.917866
License: Public Domain

Filed 4/6/23 P. v. Gonzalez CA4/2

                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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
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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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

                                   FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                  DIVISION TWO

 THE PEOPLE,

           Plaintiff and Respondent,                                      E078023

 v.                                                                       (Super.Ct.No. FVA022595)

 SILVESTER JUNIOR GONZALEZ,                                               OPINION

           Defendant and Appellant.

         APPEAL from the Superior Court of San Bernardino County. Gregory S. Tavill,

Judge. Affirmed.

         Patricia L. Brisbois, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and

Appellant.

         Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney

General, Charles C. Ragland, Assistant Attorney General, Robin Urbanski and Donald

W. Ostertag, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

                                                              1
       In 2003, defendant and appellant Silvester Junior Gonzalez and his brother Miguel

Angel Gonzalez (Miguel)—both gang members—shot at two rival gang members, killing

one. The two were tried together in 2006; the jury convicted defendant of murder

(Pen. Code,1 § 187, count 1), attempted murder (§§ 664, 187, subd. (a), count 2), and

discharging a firearm with gross negligence (§ 246.3, count 3). The jury also found true

the gang and firearm enhancements (§§ 186.22, subds. (b)(1), 12022.53, subds. (b), (c),

(d), (e)(1)). Defendant was initially sentenced to an aggregate term of 30 years eight

months, plus 50 years to life; however, following his petition for writ of habeas corpus,

the trial court reduced the first degree murder conviction to second degree (count 1) and

sentenced him to an aggregate term of 30 years eight months, plus 40 years to life.

       In 2019, defendant filed a petition for resentencing of his conviction of second

degree murder (count 1) under former section 1170.95 (now § 1172.6);2 he argued that he

was not the shooter, and the jury had convicted him as an aider and abettor under the

natural and probable consequences doctrine. At the evidentiary hearing, the prosecutor,

who also tried the case in 2006, relied on the evidence and argued that defendant was the

actual shooter for the attempted murder (count 2), but acted as an aider and abettor the

murder (count 1). The trial court agreed and concluded defendant was not entitled to

resentencing relief for either the murder or the attempted murder. Defendant contends

       1   All undesignated statutory references are to the Penal Code.

       2  Effective June 30, 2022, Assembly Bill No. 200 (2021-2022 Reg. Sess.)
amended and renumbered Penal Code section 1170.95 as section 1172.6. (Stats. 2022,
ch. 58, § 10.)

                                              2
the prosecutor used an inconsistent and irreconcilable factual theory at the evidentiary

hearing in violation of his constitutional rights and the collateral estoppel doctrine. We

affirm.

                    I. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND AND FACTS 3

          A. Prosecution Evidence

          Sometime prior to May 20, 2003, members of a rival gang from Los Angeles, the

18th Street gang, fired gunshots at the home where defendant and his brother lived. The

victims (Aldo Rodriguez and Albert Sandoval) were members of the 18th Street gang.

                1. The Shooting

          On the afternoon of May 20, 2003, Rudy Leyva drove defendant (identified by

witnesses as not wearing a shirt) and his girlfriend to a restaurant in Fontana. At that time,

the victims were eating inside the enclosed patio of the restaurant; they were unarmed.

Defendant entered the patio, looked at the decedent, exchanged some words, and went

back outside. It appeared that defendant was looking for trouble. The decedent told

Sandoval, “Man, I know this fool, he came talking shit.” Defendant believed that they

were two members of the 18th Street gang, which had shot up his house. Defendant and

          3
          On February 9, 2022, defendant moved to incorporate the record in his prior
appeal. (People v. Gonzalez (July 3, 2008, E042407) [nonpub. opn.] (Gonzalez).) We
construed his motion as a request for judicial notice and granted the request on February
18, 2022. On our own motion, we also take judicial notice of our opinion filed in that
case. (Evid. Code, §§ 452, subd. (d), 459; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(b)(1).) “It is
well accepted that when courts take judicial notice of the existence of court documents,
the legal effect of the results reached in orders and judgments may be established.”
(Linda Vista Village San Diego Homeowners Assn., Inc. v. Tecolote Investors, LLC
(2015) 234 Cal.App.4th 166, 185.)

                                             3
his girlfriend remained at the restaurant while Leyva drove home to pickup Miguel, who

brought a gun.4

       When the decedent and Sandoval walked outside, defendant then “hit up”

Sandoval, asking where he was from. Sandoval replied that he was from 18th Street.

Someone yelled out, “West Side,” which Sandoval understood to mean the NHL gang.

Sandoval knew there had been problems between the 18th Street and NHL gangs, and

understood defendant’s “hit up” to be a gang-related challenge. At the same time, Miguel

retrieved a handgun from Leyva’s car; defendant and the decedent were fighting when

Miguel fired shots. The decedent “balled up” before he ran across the street. Sandoval

also ran but was not struck by any bullets.

       After he heard a car “peeling out,” Sandoval crossed the street and found the

decedent bleeding from his mouth and gasping for air. When police arrived, one witness

identified the shooter as wearing a white polo shirt and a white cap (Miguel). The

witness saw the guy without a shirt (defendant) begin punching the decedent. He added

that the guy in the white shirt (Miguel) gave the gun to the guy without a shirt

(defendant), and then the witness heard, “pop, pop again.” Another witness who worked

at the restaurant saw the man without a shirt (defendant) with a gun in his waistband

following the shots.

       After Miguel returned home, he appeared nervous, and his girlfriend asked him

what was wrong. Miguel said there had been an argument at the restaurant, and he had

       4In defendant’s interview with the police, he claimed that Miguel initially
accompanied him, his girlfriend, and Leyva to the restaurant, but left to retrieve the gun.

                                              4
shot someone. He explained that he shot the person because he was an 18th Street gang

member; she “guess[ed]” his problems with 18th Street gang was that “they [had] shot at

him.” He also told Ashley he had accidentally shot defendant in the arm because he was

in the way even though Miguel told him to move. Miguel told her that he had fired the

gun “[t]wo or three times.”

              2. Miguel’s Statement

       Detectives interviewed Miguel, and a videotape of the interview was played for

the jury. Miguel said the 18th Street gang “had a green light” on him. He denied being a

member of the NHL, but admitted he hung around them. He explained he brought the

gun with him to the restaurant; the victims were acting “all crazy” and were fighting with

Silvester. He admitted he “[s]moked” the decedent and chased Sandoval while firing his

gun because one of the victims picked up a large rock and tried to hit Silvester with it.

He did not know what happened to the gun after the shooting.

              3. Defendant’s Statement

       Detectives also interviewed defendant, and a videotape of the interview was

played for the jury. He claimed that Miguel initially accompanied him, Crystal, and

Leyva to the restaurant. He and Crystal got out of the car to order food, while Leyva and

Miguel left to retrieve the gun. Leyva had recognized one of the victims in the restaurant

as an 18th Street gang member. Prior to Leyva and Miguel leaving to retrieve the gun,

Leyva and the victims were “[m]addogging” each other. While Leyva and Miguel were

gone, the decedent and Sandoval walked outside the restaurant and got “all crazy on”

defendant who began fighting with them. During the fight, Miguel and Leyva returned,

                                             5
saw the fight, and retrieved the gun. Defendant heard shots; everyone ran, and one of the

victims eventually fell.

       After the shooting, defendant noticed he had been shot in the right forearm, and

Miguel apologized to him for shooting him. Before Miguel fired the gun, he told

defendant to “watch out” but he did not hear Miguel. Defendant knew the victims were

from the 18th Street gang, and he wanted to ask them what the “problem” was before

Leyva and Miguel returned with the gun. He said he fought with the victims in self-

defense after they “came at [him].”

              4. Gang Expert Testimony

       Sergeant Green testified as an expert on criminal street gangs. He testified that

Miguel admitted to being a West Side Fontana Neighborhood Locos, or NHL, gang

member, and he opined that defendant was an active or associate NHL member. He

stated that the 18th Street gang was one of the largest gangs in Los Angeles, with several

hundred members, and that a “green light” signified a person who had been marked for

harm, including death.

       B. Closing Argument and Jury Deliberations.

       Prior to closing arguments, defense counsel moved to dismiss all charges against

defendant on the grounds of insufficient evidence of aiding and abetting. Defense counsel

noted the prosecution’s theory of aiding and abetting may be broken down into actual aiding

and abetting, or natural and probable consequences. Counsel acknowledged the viability of

a “straight aiding and abetting” theory; however, he argued the natural and probable

consequences theory fails in terms of defendant’s mental state and constitutional

                                             6
ramifications.5 Thus, counsel asked the trial court to require the district attorney “to make

an election in that if it is premised again on the natural and probable consequences of it, the

jury has to be instructed that they have to find that the mental state of the specific intent is

reasonably foreseen in order to convict [defendant] as it would be a natural and probable

consequence of, as the People would put it, an assault.” In response, the prosecutor argued

that both theories apply and a witness identified defendant as the person with the gun at the

scene. The court denied the motion to dismiss and declined to require an election by the

People.

       In closing, the prosecutor argued that defendant initiated the confrontation with the

victims, talked to Miguel about getting the gun, Miguel left and returned a few minutes

later, and then defendant confirmed his targets by asking the victims, “‘Where are you

from?’” The prosecutor pointed out that Miguel admitted that he fired shots. Thus, the

prosecutor argued defendant was guilty of aiding and abetting the murder because he

“instigated” the situation by asking the victim where he was from, being present when the

decedent was shot, and fleeing with the shooter. The prosecutor later stated that

defendant and Miguel “located the victim, they knew what was going to happen, the gun

was passed and there were two witnesses that told you [(the jury)] that both defendants

       5  Defense counsel argued the theory violates defendant’s “due process rights and
a right to a fair trial” because “[i]n allowing the natural and probable consequences to go
forward on the murder and attempted murder, which is primarily based upon the intent of
the co-defendant, [the theory] does away with the specific intent of my client altogether
and that would be a violation of the same grounds.”

                                               7
handled the gun, that tells you right there, he is guilty as an aider and abettor and you

don’t have to talk about natural and probable consequences.” (Italics added.)

       Maintaining that defendant was guilty for both reasons, the prosecutor also argued

the case started as an assault, a fight, and “what you [(the jury)] have to decide is, was

what happened in this case a natural and probable consequence of that initial turning

around and socking. You must decide if an assault occurred. There is evidence to show

you that it did. Then you must decide if the murder . . . , the attempted murder . . . , and

the negligent discharge of the firearm [are] the natural and probable consequence of the

action of [defendant].”

       Finally, the prosecutor maintained: “Again aiding and abetting is a theory in and

of itself to show both of these defendants, they were in this together and, in fact, the fact

that [defendant] left with the gun tells you, and I suppose since—after he’s been shot, his

brother shoots him, he takes the gun and you heard the evidence about the conversation in

the car, you shot me, what are you doing? He took the gun from his younger brother.

They are in it together. He is an aider and abettor. [Defendant] is. Not only because the

natural and probable consequences dictum, this is what’s going to happen, but also

because he was actively involved and knew what the plan was. They talked about it.”

                                              8
       During deliberations, the jury asked if they could rely upon aiding and abetting to

conclude that Miguel personally discharged a firearm in count 2, attempted murder. 6 The

trial court replied, “You may use the aiding and abetting principle for either defendant.”

Shortly thereafter, the jury returned guilty verdicts and true findings.

       C. Direct Appeal.

       In the direct appeal from the jury trial, this court concluded the trial court erred

when it informed the jury that it could rely on aiding and abetting to conclude Miguel

personally discharged a firearm in count 2. (Gonzalez, supra, E042407.) In analyzing

prejudice, this court explained how the jury could have reasonably believed that

defendant, rather than Miguel, acted as the shooter in count 2:

       “Here . . . one prosecution witness . . . indicated he saw Miguel hand the gun to

[defendant] after Miguel fired the initial shots, and that [defendant] then fired more shots.

[The witness] also said that, when Miguel fired the initial shots, [defendant] was

fistfighting with [the decedent]. This evidence indicated to the jury that either Miguel

and/or [defendant] may have personally discharged a firearm in count 2. The evidence

also showed that [defendant] was a principal in the commission of count 2 and aided and

abetted Miguel in the commission of count 2. And, aside from Miguel’s admission to the

       6  Specifically, the jury asked: “[F]or Miguel, can we arrive to a decision in
count 2, 1st allegation, with the use of the aiding and abetting principal?” The first
allegation in count 2 provides: “It is further alleged as to count(s) 2 that a principal
personally and intentionally discharged a firearm, a handgun, within the meaning of
Penal Code sections 12022.53(c) and (e)(1). [¶] It is further alleged as to count(s) 2 that
a principal personally used a firearm, a handgun, within the meaning of Penal Code
sections 12022.53(b) and (e)(1).”

                                              9
police that he fired the gun at [the decedent] and Sandoval, the eyewitness identifications

of Miguel as the shooter were rather questionable. Reasonable jurors also could have

believed that Miguel admitted to the shooting in order to protect [defendant] and Leyva.”

(Gonzalez, supra, E042407.)

       “Moreover, the jury’s question to the court—whether the jury could rely on aiding

and abetting principles in finding the personal discharge allegation true against Miguel in

count 2—rather clearly indicated that the jury was not unanimously or entirely convinced

that Miguel personally discharged a firearm in count 2. And the court’s response—that

the jury could rely on aiding and abetting principles in finding that Miguel personally

discharged a firearm in count 2—in combination with the evidence of [defendant’s] role

in the shooting, indicates that the jury may well have relied on aiding and abetting

principles in finding that Miguel personally discharged a firearm in count 2.” (Gonzalez,

supra, E042407.)

       “The timing of the jury’s note and the trial court’s response in relation to the jury’s

verdicts also indicates that the jury may well have relied on aiding and abetting principles

in finding that Miguel personally discharged a firearm in count 2. The jury submitted its

note to the court at 10:22 a.m. on August 17, the seventh day of deliberations. The trial

court responded to the note by 10:44 a.m. By 11:19 a.m., the jury had reached its

verdicts.” (Gonzalez, supra, E042407.)

                                             10
       D. Defendant’s Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus.

              In 2017, defendant filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in the superior

court challenging the first degree murder conviction in light of People v. Chiu (2014)

59 Cal.4th 155, superseded by statute as stated in People v. Lewis (2021) 11 Cal.5th 952,

959. After requesting an informal response from the People, the trial court reduced the

first degree murder conviction in count 1 to second degree and resentenced defendant to

an indeterminate term of 40 years to life.

       E. Defendant’s Petition for Resentencing and Hearing.

       In 2019, defendant filed a former section 1170.95 petition (now § 1172.6) for

resentencing of his second degree murder (count 1) conviction. He argued the conviction

was based “solely” on a natural and probable consequences theory of aid ing and abetting

liability. Opposing the petition, the People argued that former section 1170.95 does not

apply to defendant’s attempted murder (count 2) conviction, and they only “have to show

the Court, sitting as a fact finder, that there was, and is, sufficient evidence for defendant

to be guilty of second degree murder [(count 1)] under direct aiding and abetting.” More

specifically, the People argued that the court could determine that defendant “acted as a

direct aider and abettor in the murder” because (1) he initiated the confrontation by

asking the victims about their gang affiliation, (2) he was the leader of the two

defendants, (3) Miguel looked up to him and opened fire, hitting the decedent, and (4) he

(defendant) took the gun from Miguel and opened fired himself. The People emphasized

the testimony of one of the witnesses who observed the brothers’ “discussing someone at

the location and . . . trying to determine that individual’s identity.” This witness’s

                                              11
testimony “shows they were working together before the confrontation initiated by

[defendant] and the resulting shootings.” The witness heard the brothers discuss

“‘grabbin the gat,’” indicating a gun, immediately prior to defendant confronting and

assaulting the decedent. The witness added that after Miguel shot the decedent,

defendant took the gun and continued to fire. Considering this evidence, the People

maintained that defendant “shared the intent to kill and was a direct aider and abettor.”

       An evidentiary hearing was held on October 14, 2021. The superior court

“reviewed the entire trial record,” took judicial notice of the court’s file, including the

petition for writ of habeas corpus, and stated it was the prosecution’s burden of proving

beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant was ineligible for resentencing. Neither party

offered any new or additional evidence at the hearing.

       After summarizing the evidence,7 the prosecutor8 argued: “I think all of that

evidence clearly shows that [defendant] was a direct aider and abettor and was, in fact,

not only aware of the gun, there was discussion of planning of what was gonna happen,

he engaged the subjects in the—at least one of the victims in a fist fight, and then when

       7   The prosecutor noted: (1) witness testimony supports a finding that defendant
initiated the confrontation with the victims by asking, “‘Where are you vatos from?’”; (2)
witness testimony identifies Miguel as shooting and killing the decedent (count 1), and
defendant taking the gun from Miguel and shooting multiple times at Sandoval (count 2);
(3) evidence indicating that 15-year-old Miguel looked up to defendant, his 21-year-old
brother, and would not have shot the first victim “without his brother’s approval”; and (4)
evidence indicating that defendant and his cohorts discussed the shooting before
defendant initiated the attack.

       8 The prosecutor who tried defendant’s case represented the People at the
section 1172.6 hearing.

                                              12
[Miguel] had shot the first victim successfully, took the gun in an attempt to kill the

second victim, Albert Sandoval, as he ran away. It clearly shows he was a direct aider

and abettor and knew there was a gun involved and that there was going to be a

shooting.”

       The superior court questioned how the prosecutor could “reconcile the argument

that [he had just made] with the position the district attorneys took in the prior habeas

case?” Admitting a different analysis, the prosecutor stated that a different standard

applied in the habeas case where he had to prove a negative—that beyond a reasonable

doubt, the jury did not rely on natural and probable consequences. In contrast, “[h]ere,

you have to find that the jury could have found the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable

doubt under the current valid theory. And that’s why [he] highlight[ed] . . . that

[defendant] was, in fact, a direct aider and abettor.”

       When directed to his closing argument, the prosecutor stated that he had “argued

both theories and, in fact, told the jury that [defendant] was guilty for basically two

reasons: That he was, in fact, a direct aider and abettor for all the reasons [the prosecutor]

already cited and discussed in [his] closing argument, and . . . based on the law at that

time, he was also guilty under the natural and probable consequences.” Even so, the

superior court initially pointed out that he (the prosecutor) had “argued to the jury that

basically [defendant] did not know this would turn into a shooting and a death”; but then

noted the prosecutor’s reference to “the gang connection and that a simple assault would

not be an appropriate retaliation for someone shooting at [defendant’s] house.” Thus, the

court conceded, “[t]hat’s part of the analysis in terms of direct aiding and abetting.”

                                             13
       In response, defense counsel acknowledged the prosecution’s use of two

theories—direct aiding and abetting and natural and probable consequences—but argued

that natural and probable consequences is no longer viable, and the evid ence is

insufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant directly aided and abetted

the murder.

       At the conclusion of the hearing, the superior court found beyond a reasonable

doubt that defendant was the actual shooter in the attempted murder conviction, and he

“did act with an actual intent to kill when he aided and abetted the murder of Aldo Acosta

Rodriguez.” Thus, it denied the petition for resentencing.

                                      II. DISCUSSION

       “Senate Bill 1437 [(2017-2018 Reg. Sess.)] was enacted to ‘amend 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. Cortes (2022)

75 Cal.App.5th 198, 203.) Also, the Legislature enacted section 1172.6 (former

§ 1170.95) to provide the procedure by which a defendant convicted of murder under a

natural and probable consequences theory can request that his/her conviction be vacated.

(People v. Solis (2020) 46 Cal.App.5th 762, 775.)

       After the issuance of an order to show cause, the trial court sits as a trier of fact on

defendant’s petition for resentencing. In determining whether a trial court correctly

denied such petition after an evidentiary hearing, an appellate court reviews “‘“‘the

                                              14
factual findings for substantial evidence and the application of those facts to the statute de

novo.’”’” (People v. Cooper (2022) 77 Cal.App.5th 393, 412.) Accordingly, “we review

the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution and presume in support of the

judgment the existence of every fact the [trier of fact] could reasonably have deduced

from the evidence.” (People v. Zamudio (2008) 43 Cal.4th 327, 357; see People v.

Owens (2022) 78 Cal.App.5th 1015, 1022.) In conducting this review, we do not resolve

evidentiary conflicts or credibility issues. (Owens, at p. 1022.)

       Defendant petitioned to resentence his conviction of second degree murder

(count 1) pursuant to section 1172.6 on the grounds that the conviction was based on the

natural and probable consequences doctrine. At the hearing, his counsel argued the

evidence was insufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant directly

aided and abetted the murder. On appeal, defendant does not challenge the trial court’s

findings. Rather, he contends “the judgment should be reversed and the matter remanded

for a new evidentiary hearing because the prosecutor’s use of an inconsistent and

irreconcilable factual theory at trial and at the evidentiary hearing violated his right to due

process and the collateral estoppel doctrine insofar as the jury returned verdicts and

findings reflecting Miguel personally used and personally discharged a firearm in

committing both the murder and attempted murder.” Recognizing that this claim is

forfeited due to his counsel’s failure to raise it below, defendant contends he received

ineffective assistance. We conclude his claims lack merit.

                                              15
       At an evidentiary hearing pursuant to section 1172.6, subdivision (d)(3), the trial

court sits as an independent factfinder and considers the evidence of the defendant’s guilt

anew, including any new evidence the parties may offer, in order to determine whether

the defendant is guilty under current law. The court may also consider new theories of

liability not presented at trial. (People v. Duchine (2021) 60 Cal.App.5th 798, 813 [“By

allowing new evidence and providing for an evidentiary hearing, the Legislature plainly

intended that the issues concerning whether the defendant was guilty under theories of

murder not previously or necessarily decided would be resolved anew, through a

factfinding process affording a degree of due process to the petitioner.”]; accord, People

v. Schell (2022) 84 Cal.App.5th 437, 444-445.) “Interpreting section 1172.6 to allow the

prosecution to present different theories of guilt at the evidentiary hearing does not

implicate constitutional concerns. Courts have unanimously held that section 1172.6 is

an act of lenity in which the petitioner has no Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial.

[Citation.] It has also been recognized that allowing the prosecution to offer new theories

of guilt at the hearing does not implicate double jeopardy concerns. [Citation.] [¶]

Although [defendant] contends that allowing the prosecution to present a new theory of

guilt in this context implicates his due process rights, he had a full and fair opportunity to

present new and additional evidence at the evidentiary hearing but declined to do so. . . .

‘[B]ecause a section [1172.6] evidentiary hearing does not subject a defendant to the risk

of additional punishment, is not a trial, permits both parties to present new evidence, and

merely considers whether the defendant’s request for leniency meets the necessary

                                             16
criteria, there is no constitutional problem in allowing new theories of murder liability at

that hearing.’” (Schell, at pp. 444-445.)

       Notwithstanding the above, the focus of the trial court’s inquiry was to determine

whether the prosecution could establish, beyond a reasonable doubt, that defendant

remains guilty of second degree murder and attempted murder absent the natural and

probable consequences doctrine. The prosecution maintained its theory of aiding and

abetting while highlighting the evidence that also supports a finding that defendant was

the shooter in the attempted murder. The court considered the evidence and found that

defendant was the direct perpetrator of the attempted murder. This conclusion is

supported by the evidence and the jury’s requests/question during deliberation.

       According to the trial record, the prosecutor argued liability on an aiding and

abetting theory; however, the jury asked whether they could rely on aiding and abetting

principles to conclude that Miguel personally discharged a firearm in count 2, attempted

murder. Immediately prior to that question, the jury requested a readback of the

testimony of two witnesses, the girl who was taking orders at the restaurant and the

mother who was waiting for her daughter to receive their food order. Both witnesses

identified defendant as the one with the gun. The mother identified him as the shooter.

Our opinion from defendant’s direct appeal stated: “The timing of the jury’s note and the

trial court’s response in relation to the jury’s verdicts also indicates that the jury may well

have relied on aiding and abetting principles in finding that Miguel personally discharged

a firearm in count 2. The jury submitted its note to the court at 10:22 a.m. on August 17,

                                              17
the seventh day of deliberations. The trial court responded to the note by 10:44 a.m. By

11:19 a.m., the jury had reached its verdicts.” (Gonzales, supra, E042407.)

       The prosecution’s suggestion that defendant was the direct perpetrator of the

attempted murder (count 2) was not based on any new evidence, and the primary theory

of defendant’s liability for murder (count 1) was aiding and abetting. Regardless of its

rationale in denying resentencing on count 2, the trial court expressly stated its reason for

denying the petition—defendant “did act with an actual intent to kill when he aided and

abetted the murder of Aldo Acosta Rodriguez [(count 1)].” The record supports the

court’s decision.9

                                    III. DISPOSITION

       The order denying the petition for resentencing is affirmed.

       NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS

                                                                McKINSTER
                                                                                 Acting P. J.
We concur:

MILLER
                           J.

CODRINGTON
                           J.

       9  Given our conclusion on the merits of defendant’s claim, we need not address
the alternative issue of ineffective assistance of counsel.

                                             18