Court Opinion

ID: 2657217
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-03-19 17:45:42.65824+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:00:21.861580
License: Public Domain

Filed 3/19/14 P. v. Borgen 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                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 APPAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                  DIVISION ONE

                                           STATE OF CALIFORNIA

THE PEOPLE,                                                         D064320

         Plaintiff and Respondent,

         v.                                                         (Super. Ct. No. SCD245215)

LOUIS CHARLES BORGEN,

         Defendant and Appellant.

         APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Runston

G. Maino, Judge. Affirmed.

         Alissa Bjerkhoel, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and

Appellant.

         No appearance for Plaintiff and Respondent.

         In this case, which we review under the procedures set forth in People v. Wende

(1979) 25 Cal.3d 436 (Wende) and Anders v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 738 (Anders),

we affirm the appellant's theft and burglary conviction.
                    FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

         On August 8, 2012, defendant and appellant Louis Charles Borgen was

apprehended outside a Home Depot store by two security guards employed by the store.

The guards had observed Borgen on a security camera when he entered the store with a

companion and went to a display of tools. The guards saw Borgen take tools from the

display and put them in an orange Home Depot bucket without looking at the prices.

         The guards then watched Borgen and his companion go to the more secluded

garden department of the store. At that point, one of the guards was following Borgen

and directly observing him.

         In the garden department, the guard saw Borgen take the tools from the bucket and

put them in his companion's backpack. The guard then observed Borgen and his

companion engage in what looked like an argument. The apparent argument ended when

the companion gave Borgen the backpack and walked back into the main part of the

store.

         Borgen left the store through an exit in the garden department and was

apprehended by the two security guards. Later, he told the guards that he stole the tools

because he knew people who wanted them and would buy them from him. Borgen also

told the guards that initially he only planned to steal a few items but, when people started

watching him, he decided to steal much more. Borgen told the guards that times were

tough and that he needed to steal to make ends meet.

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       Prior to trial, Borgen made two Marsden1 motions, which the trial court denied.

       During jury voir dire, the trial court excused one juror who had a prepaid event

with a member of his family.

       At trial, Borgen testified that when he went into the store he planned to buy a

number of items, including some cleaning supplies, and pay for them with a debit card.

       A jury convicted Borgen of one count of petty theft and one count of burglary.

Borgen admitted three prior petty theft convictions. The trial court sentenced Borgen to

two 2-year terms of local time (Pen. Code,2 § 1170, subd. (h)(1) & (5)), stayed one of the

terms and imposed a restitution fine of $280.

                                       DISCUSSION

       Borgen's appointed appellate counsel has filed a brief setting forth the underlying

facts and procedural history and presenting no argument for reversal but asking this court

to review the record for error in accordance with Wende. Pursuant to Anders, counsel

refers to the following possible, but not arguable, issues:

       1.     Was counsel ineffective in failing to assert an intoxication defense?

       2.     Was counsel ineffective in withdrawing an instruction on attempted theft as

a lesser included offense of petty theft?

       3.     Did the trial court abuse its discretion in denying probation?

       4.     Did the trial court err in imposing the $280 restitution fine?

1      See People v. Marsden (1970) 2 Cal.3d 118, 123-126.

2      All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise indicated.
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       5.     Did the trial court err in denying Borgen's Marsden motions?

       6.     Did the trial court err in excusing a juror?

       7.     If Borgen did not form an intent to steal until after he was at the tool

display, did Borgen's travel from the tool display to the garden area of the store constitute

a second entry?

       8.     Was a unanimity instruction required with respect to when Borgen formed

an intent to steal?

       We granted Borgen permission to file a brief on his own behalf, and he has not

done so. We have reviewed the record—and, in particular, the issues identified by

counsel—and find no arguable grounds for reversal.

       With respect to whether counsel was ineffective at trial, we note both areas of

potential criticism were arguable tactical decisions by counsel and thus not grounds for

disturbing Borgen's conviction. (See Strickland v. Washington (1984) 466 U.S. 668, 689;

In re Andrews (2002) 28 Cal.4th 1234, 1253.)

       In denying probation, the trial court stated: "[Y]ou have a significant prior record.

You have nine prior convictions and at least three felony convictions. And I just can't

find this to be an unusual case to grant you probation." A trial court's decision denying

probation must be upheld unless the defendant can show the decision was irrational or

arbitrary. (People v. Ferguson (2011) 194 Cal.App.4th 1070, 1091-1092.) A single valid

reason will support a sentencing choice. In light of Borgen's record, he cannot show the

trial court abused its discretion in denying him probation.

       Because at the time Borgen committed the thefts he was subject to a $10,000 fine

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under section 1202.4, imposition of a fine above the $240 minimum required at the time

the offense was committed, but below the existing maximum, did not offend the

guarantee against imposition of an ex post facto punishment. (See People v. Snook

(1997) 16 Cal.4th 1210, 1221 [ex post facto prohibition prevents increases in punishment

beyond what was prescribed at time of offense].) Moreover, there is nothing in the

record that indicates the trial court intended to impose the statutory minimum in effect at

the time of the crimes; rather, it is quite possible the trial court determined the minimum

in effect at the time of sentencing was more appropriate. Thus, there was no error or

abuse of discretion in imposition of the $280 restitution fine.

       We have reviewed the transcripts of both Marsden hearings at which Borgen

complained about his dissatisfaction with the offers being made by the district attorney.

As the trial court explained at the hearings, neither counsel nor the trial court can compel

the district attorney to make more lenient disposition offers. The trial court did not abuse

its discretion in denying the Marsden motions.

       The trial court did not abuse its discretion in excusing a prospective juror because

of the hardship posed by interruption of a prepaid family event. (See People v. Tate

(2010) 49 Cal.4th 635, 663 [excusing prospective juror for hardship reviewed for abuse

of discretion]; People v. Bell (1998) 61 Cal.App.4th 282, 287 [family obligations support

excusing prospective juror].)

       Borgen's travel from one part of the Home Depot to the separate and secluded

garden area would support a separate entry such that he would be guilty of burglary if he

had the intent to steal either before he entered the Home Depot or before he went to the

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garden department. (See People v. Sparks (2002) 28 Cal.4th 71, 73; In re M.A. (2012)

209 Cal.App.4th 317, 321; People v. Mackabee (1989) 214 Cal.App.3d 1250, 1257-

1258.) No unanimity instruction was needed with respect to whether the intent to steal

arose before Borgen entered the store or after he entered the store but before he went to

the garden department. (People v. Taylor (2010) 48 Cal.4th 574, 627-628; see also

People v. Russo (2001) 25 Cal.4th 1124, 1135-1136 [in conspiracy case no unanimity

required as to which overt act conspirators committed].)

       We find Borgen was adequately represented by counsel on appeal.

                                      DISPOSITION

       The judgment is affirmed.

                                                                      BENKE, Acting P. J.

WE CONCUR:

HALLER, J.

McDONALD, J.

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