Court Opinion

ID: 2737667
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-09-26 22:02:34.85091+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:52:14.104522
License: Public Domain

Filed 9/26/14 P. v. Camacho 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                  NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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
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or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

           IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
                                     FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

THE PEOPLE,
                                                                                           F066952
         Plaintiff and Respondent,
                                                                            (Super. Ct. No. CRM022973A)
                   v.

FRANKEY JAMAR CAMACHO,                                                                   OPINION
         Defendant and Appellant.

                                                   THE COURT*
         APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Merced County. Mark V.
Bacciarini, Judge.
         James Johnson, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
         Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Michael P. Farrell, Assistant Attorney General, Lewis A. Martinez and Rebecca
Whitfield, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
                                                        -ooOoo-

*        Before Poochigian, Acting P.J., Franson, J. and Peña, J.
       A jury convicted appellant Frankey Jamar Camacho of attempted robbery (Pen.
Code, §§ 654/211).1 In a separate proceeding, the court found true a prior prison term
enhancement (§ 667.5, subd. (b)) and allegations that Camacho had a prior conviction
within the meaning of the three strikes law (§ 667, subds. (b)-(i)).
       On March 19, 2013, the court struck the prior prison term enhancement and
sentenced Camacho to a six-year term, the upper term of three years doubled because of
Camacho’s prior strike conviction.
       On appeal, Camacho contends: 1) the court erred when it admitted a statement by
him that was obtained in violation of Miranda;2 and 2) the court committed instructional
error. We will affirm.
                                          FACTS
       Edward Varner worked as a sales representative for Interstate Brands, Hostess
Cake, supplying stores with Hostess products. On May 17, 2012, at approximately 5:30
a.m., while making deliveries, Varner parked, back end first, outside of a 7-Eleven store
in Merced.
       The back of the truck had a sliding door, a metal partition, and a table located
behind the driver’s seat where Varner would put orders together. As Varner prepared an
order, with his back towards the sliding door, he heard someone say, “Hey buddy,” and
then some mumbling. Varner ignored the voice because two to three times a day
homeless people would ask him for handouts. He then heard someone say, “Hey,
buddy,” more aggressively and then he heard the word “wallet.” Varner turned around
and saw a Black male standing at the door with his jacket pulled over his face covering
the lower part and making a motion with his hand under his shirt as if he had a gun.
Varner walked to the door and asked, “What did you say?” The male responded, “Give

1      All further statutory references are to the Penal Code, unless otherwise indicated.
2      Miranda v. Arizona (1966) 384 U.S. 436.

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me your wallet.” Varner leaned out and saw a second Black male, whom he identified in
court as Camacho, standing next to the delivery truck, about a foot behind the first male.3
Varner then said, “What the heck is wrong with you[,]” slammed the door shut, and got
behind the metal partition. A short time later, Varner looked out of the truck, saw
Camacho and the other male run together across the street and down an alley, and he
dialed 911 on his cell phone.
       During the encounter with Varner, Camacho looked at Varner, but did not say
anything. However, according to Varner, from his vantage point Camacho should have
been able to see the whole parking lot, including its two entrances. Additionally,
Camacho was positioned so that if someone were to walk on the sidewalk behind the
truck, he would block the view of what the other male was doing. In Varner’s opinion,
Camacho was shielding the second male from being seen by anyone.
        After Camacho and another male were detained, Varner identified Camacho as
one of the males who attempted to rob him. Officers searched the area where they had
established a perimeter and found a short pair of dark colored pants and a black, tan and
white sweatshirt. The sweatshirt and pants appeared to be the same ones Camacho was
wearing in one of the surveillance videos the prosecution introduced into evidence.
       Merced Police Officer Ronald Luker testified that after responding to a robbery
call, he saw Camacho, who was wearing a red shirt, and another Black male walking at
the corner of S Street and 19th Street.4 As Officer Luker approached them, the other
male took off running eastbound and Camacho began walking westbound. Officer Luker
detained Camacho. After advising Camacho of his Miranda rights, Officer Luker asked
where Camacho was coming from. Camacho responded he was coming from his

3      According to Varner, Camacho was wearing a shirt that was red around the top.
4      The attempted robbery of Varner occurred near the intersection of R Street and
18th Street.

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mother’s house on Phoenix. This placed Camacho walking towards his mother’s house,
which was located northwest of that location.
The Evidence Code Section 402 Hearing
       During Officer Luker’s testimony, the court excused the jury while it conducted an
Evidence Code section 402 hearing to rule on the defense’s Miranda objection to the
admission of Camacho’s statement to Officer Luker that he was coming from his
mother’s house. During the hearing, Officer Luker testified that he read Camacho his
Miranda rights and Camacho seemed to understand them. Camacho did not say whether
or not he would talk to the officer, but since he did not request a lawyer, Officer Luker
continued to speak with him. At that point, the court granted defense counsel’s request to
voir dire the officer.
       In response to defense counsel’s questions, Officer Luker testified that he read
Camacho his Miranda rights from a department-issued card. He also acknowledged that
Camacho then told him that he did not understand his rights. Officer Luker further
testified that he asked Camacho if he had ever had his Miranda rights read to him and
Camacho replied he had and that he did not know why he was having his rights read to
him. Officer Luker explained to Camacho that he was investigating a strong armed
robbery and Camacho was identified as one of the perpetrators. Camacho responded that
he did not know what the officer was talking about. Officer Luker next asked Camacho
if he was on parole for a robbery and he responded hesitantly that he was. Camacho also
said he was coming from his mother’s house.
       Defense counsel then told the court that he did not believe the foregoing responses
showed Camacho understood his Miranda rights and the court asked the prosecutor to
respond. The following colloquy soon followed:

               “THE COURT: [Prosecutor], your response to that?

               “[PROSECUTOR]: Well, Officer Luker followed up with ‘I asked
       him if he ever had his rights read to him and he stated that he had.’ So I see
       that as disingenuous that he didn’t understand.

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              “THE COURT: Well, I agree with that. I agree it’s disingenuous. I
       agree.”
       After further voir dire and argument, the court found that Camacho understood the
Miranda admonitions and overruled the defense objection to Camacho’s statement
stating:

               “The first issue is, the issue of the voluntariness of his statement.
       Based on the questioning by Officer Luker and Mr. Camacho’s response, ‘I
       don’t even understand. I don’t know why you’re bugging me. I didn’t do
       nothing,’ basically rise to be untruthful. I think that he knew why the
       officers were there based on what I’ve seen so far in this case and that was
       part of his plan to absolve himself of responsibility for it. [¶] So I do
       believe that he did understand his rights. And I agree with the prosecutor
       that there was no unequivocal, clear invocation of the rights. So I do find
       his statements were voluntary.”
                                      DISCUSSION
The Miranda Issue
       Camacho contends that since he did not expressly waive his Miranda rights, the
court must have found that he impliedly waived these rights. However, according to
Camacho, since an implied waiver may only be found when a suspect understands his
Miranda rights, he could not have impliedly waived these rights because he stated he did
not understand them. We disagree.

              “The basic rule of Miranda, supra, 384 U.S. 436, and its progeny, is
       familiar: Under the Fifth Amendment to the federal Constitution, as
       applied to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment, ‘[n]o person ...
       shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself ....’
       (U.S. Const., 5th Amend.) ‘In order to combat [the] pressures [of custodial
       interrogation] and to permit a full opportunity to exercise the privilege
       against self-incrimination, the accused must be adequately and effectively
       apprised of his rights’ to remain silent and to have the assistance of counsel.
       (Miranda, at p. 467.) ‘[I]f the accused indicates in any manner that he
       wishes to remain silent or to consult an attorney, interrogation must cease,
       and any statement obtained from him during interrogation thereafter may
       not be admitted against him at his trial’ [citation], at least during the
       prosecution’s case-in-chief [citation].” (People v. Lessie (2010) 47 Cal.4th
       1152, 1162 (Lessie).)

                                             5
             “It is further settled, however, that a suspect who desires to waive
      his Miranda rights and submit to interrogation by law enforcement
      authorities need not do so with any particular words or phrases. A valid
      waiver need not be of predetermined form, but instead must reflect that the
      suspect in fact knowingly and voluntarily waived the rights delineated in
      the Miranda decision. [Citation.] We have recognized that a valid waiver
      of Miranda rights may be express or implied. [Citations.] A suspect’s
      expressed willingness to answer questions after acknowledging an
      understanding of his or her Miranda rights has itself been held sufficient to
      constitute an implied waiver of such rights. [Citations.] In contrast, an
      unambiguous request for counsel or a refusal to talk bars further
      questioning. [Citation.]

             “Although there is a threshold presumption against finding a waiver
      of Miranda rights [citation], ultimately the question becomes whether the
      Miranda waiver was knowing and intelligent under the totality of the
      circumstances surrounding the interrogation.” (People v. Cruz (2008) 44
      Cal.4th 636, 667-668.)

             “In considering a claim that a statement or confession is
      inadmissible because it was obtained in violation of a defendant’s rights
      under Miranda v. Arizona, supra, 384 U.S. 436, the scope of our review is
      well established. ‘We must accept the trial court’s resolution of disputed
      facts and inferences, and its evaluations of credibility, if they are
      substantially supported. [Citations.] However, we must independently
      determine from the undisputed facts, and those properly found by the trial
      court, whether the challenged statement was illegally obtained.’” (People
      v. Bradford (1997) 14 Cal.4th 1005, 1032-1033.)
      Here, Officer Luker read Camacho his Miranda rights after detaining him but
prior to asking him any questions. Camacho did not invoke his Miranda rights until he
stopped speaking with Officer Luker sometime after telling him that he was coming from
his mother’s house. Although Camacho told Officer Luker he did not understand his
Miranda rights, the court did not believe Camacho’s statement.
      As a parolee, Camacho was familiar with the criminal justice system and his
constitutional rights. He also admitted that he had his Miranda rights read to him on
previous occasions and he displayed his familiarity with these rights when he asked
Officer Luker why he was reading them to him. (Cf. Lessie, supra, 47 Cal.4th at p. 1169
[in concluding juvenile understood Miranda warnings, court noted that although there

                                            6
was no evidence the juvenile had previously been given warnings, juvenile was familiar
with justice system by virtue of two prior arrests].) Further, there was no evidence that
Camacho had any type of mental or learning disability that prevented him from
understanding the language used to advise him of these rights. Additionally, the court
could reasonably find that Camacho’s invocation of his rights by refusing to answer any
questions after stating that he was coming from his mother’s house belied his assertion
that he did not understand those rights. Thus, substantial evidence supports the court’s
determination that Camacho was being untruthful when he stated that he did not
understand his Miranda rights.
       Camacho contends that once he told Officer Luker he did not understand his
Miranda rights, the officer was only entitled to ask him questions to clarify this statement
(see e.g. People v. Williams (2010) 49 Cal.4th 405, 428; People v. Sauceda-Contreras
(2012) 55 Cal.4th 203, 219) and that this was not the purpose of the ensuing questions.
He further contends the court used the fact that at some unknown time he waived his
Miranda rights to find that he waived his rights here. Camacho is wrong.
       We agree that Camacho could not waive his Miranda rights if he did not
understand them. Thus, the threshold issue for the trial court was whether Camacho was
being truthful when he stated he did not understand these rights. It is clear from the
court’s quoted comments that it relied on Camacho’s statement that he had been read his
Miranda rights on prior occasions and the other circumstances it cited to conclude only
that Camacho was being untruthful when he said he did not understand these rights. The
court did not, as Camacho contends, accept his assertion that he did not understand his
Miranda rights but nevertheless use his prior contacts with authorities to find a waiver of
these rights. Further, since substantial evidence supports the court’s finding that
Camacho understood his Miranda rights and Camacho waived these rights by continuing
to answer Officer Luker’s questions, there was nothing improper in the officer’s

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continued interrogation of Camacho. Accordingly, we conclude that the court’s
admission of Camacho’s statements to Officer Luker did not violate Miranda.
       In any event, Miranda error is reversible unless it was harmless beyond a
reasonable doubt. (In re Z.A. (2012) 207 Cal.App.4th 1401, 1422.)
       “‘All persons concerned in the commission of a crime, ... whether they directly
commit the act constituting the offense, or aid and abet in its commission, ... are
principals in any crime so committed.’” (People v. McCoy (2001) 25 Cal.4th 1111, 1116-
1117.) “[A] person aids and abets the commission of a crime when he or she, acting with
(1) knowledge of the unlawful purpose of the perpetrator; and (2) the intent or purpose of
committing, encouraging, or facilitating the commission of the offense; (3) by act or
advice aids, promotes, encourages or instigates, the commission of the crime.” (People v.
Beeman (1984) 35 Cal.3d 547, 561.)
       Here, appellant accompanied another male as they walked past a Hostess truck,
apparently casing the truck. He then returned with the male and stood next to him in a
manner that shielded the other male’s illicit conduct from passersby, as the other male
told Varner three times to give him his wallet and simulated a gun under his shirt.
Camacho also fled with the other male after Varner closed the truck door. Additionally,
the jury could reasonably find that Camacho discarded the jacket and pants he was
wearing in an obvious attempt to thwart being identified as a participant in the attempted
robbery of Varner. The jury could also reasonably find from these circumstances that
Camacho must have heard the other male as he demanded Varner turn over his wallet,
that he did not disassociate himself from the other male’s conduct because he intended to
assist him in robbing Varner, and that he aided and encouraged the second male to rob
Varner, albeit unsuccessfully, by standing next to him and shielding him from passersby.
       Camacho did not present any evidence to contradict this evidence. Further, since
the evidence that Camacho aided and abetted the other male in attempting to rob Varner

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was unrebutted, we conclude that if Miranda error occurred, it was harmless beyond a
reasonable doubt.
The Alleged Instructional Error
       Camacho contends the evidence showed only that he accompanied the second
male and that he did not undertake any actions that showed he intended to commit a
robbery. Camacho further contends that one reasonable interpretation of the evidence is
that he may have believed his accomplice intended to ask Varner for some pastries,
which was common for homeless people to do and that he did not form the intent to steal
the victim’s property until after the assault. Thus, according to Camacho, the court erred
by its failure to sua sponte instruct the jury on attempted theft as a lesser included offense
of attempted robbery. We will reject Camacho’s claim of instructional error.

               “A trial court has a sua sponte duty to ‘instruct on a lesser offense
       necessarily included in the charged offense if there is substantial evidence
       the defendant is guilty only of the lesser.’ [Citation.] Substantial evidence
       in this context is evidence from which a reasonable jury could conclude
       that the defendant committed the lesser, but not the greater, offense.
       [Citation.] ‘The rule’s purpose is ... to assure, in the interest of justice, the
       most accurate possible verdict encompassed by the charge and supported by
       the evidence.’ [Citation.] In light of this purpose, the court need instruct
       the jury on a lesser included offense only ‘[w]hen there is substantial
       evidence that an element of the charged offense is missing, but that the
       accused is guilty of’ the lesser offense.” (People v. Shockley (2013) 58
       Cal.4th 400, 403-404, italics added.)

               “‘“On appeal, we review independently the question whether the
       trial court failed to instruct on a lesser included offense.”’” (People v.
       Verdugo (2010) 50 Cal.4th 263, 293.)

               “In deciding whether there is substantial evidence of a lesser offense,
       courts should not evaluate the credibility of witnesses, a task for the jury.”
       (People v. Breverman (1998) 19 Cal.4th 142, 162 (Breverman).)
       “[R]eversal is not warranted unless an examination of ‘the entire cause,
       including the evidence,’ discloses that the error produced a ‘miscarriage of
       justice.’ [Citation.] This test is not met unless it appears ‘reasonably
       probable’ the defendant would have achieved a more favorable result had
       the error not occurred.” (Id. at p. 149.)

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         Since theft is a lesser included offense of robbery (People v. Bradford, supra, 14
Cal.4th 1005), it follows that attempted theft is a lesser included offense of attempted
robbery. (Id. at p. 1055.) However, if the intent to steal arose only after the victim was
assaulted, the robbery element of stealing by force or fear is absent. (Id. at pp. 1055-
1056.)
         During the attempted robbery, Camacho was close enough to see his accomplice
cover his lower face, simulate having a gun under his shirt, and to hear him demand that
Varner turn over his wallet. There was also no apparent reason for Camacho to believe
that Varner would simply hand over his wallet without Camacho or his accomplice using
fear or force to convince him to do so. Further, Camacho did not disavow himself of his
accomplice’s conduct when it became apparent that his accomplice was not attempting to
steal pastries without using force or fear. Nor did Camacho testify regarding when he
formed the intent to steal. Thus, the record does not contain any evidence from which it
can be inferred that Camacho formed his intent to steal only after the victim was
assaulted or any other basis for the court to instruct on the lesser included offense of
attempted theft.
         Camacho misplaces his reliance on People v. Ramkeesoon (1985) 54 Cal.3d 346
(Ramkeesoon) to contend otherwise. In Ramkeesoon, the morning after he spent the night
in the victim’s apartment, the defendant stabbed the victim to death. Before leaving the
apartment, he took the victim’s wallet, keys, and watch. The defendant testified that he
had not thought about taking any of the victim’s property until the assault was completed.
In finding the court erred by its failure to instruct the jury on theft as a lesser included
offense of robbery, the Ramkeesoon court stated:

                 “Clearly the evidence in this case warranted an instruction on theft
         as a lesser included offense. Defendant testified that he had not thought
         about stealing any of [the victim’s] property until after the assault was
         completed.… [Citation.] Although the jury was not required to believe
         defendant’s testimony, it was credible enough to have supported a verdict
         of theft instead of robbery.” (Ramkeesoon, supra, 54 Cal.3d at p. 351.)

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       Ramkeesoon is easily distinguishable because in that case the defendant’s
testimony provided substantial evidence from which the jury could conclude that
defendant was guilty only of theft. As noted, Camacho did not testify and there is no
other evidence in the record that indicates that Camacho aided and abetted the other male
in committing any offense less than attempted robbery. Accordingly, we reject
Camacho’s claim of instructional error.
       In any event, the failure to charge the jury on a lesser included offense is harmless
unless it is reasonably probable the defendant would have received a more favorable
result in the absence of the error. (Breverman, supra, 19 Cal.4th at pp. 164-165.) For the
reasons discussed in the previous section, including that the prosecution evidence was
unrebutted, we conclude that any error in failing to charge the jury on attempted theft was
harmless.
                                     DISPOSITION
       The judgment is affirmed.

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