Barela v. Spearman

• Court: District Court, S.D. California
• Decided: April 8, 2020
• Docket: 3:19-cv-01929
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 JESSE ORLANDO BARELA, Case No.: 19cv1929 CAB (AGS)

12 Petitioner, ORDER DENYING PETITION 13 v. FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS and DENYING 14 MARION SPEARMAN, Warden, CERTIFICATE OF 15 Respondent. APPEALABILITY 16 17 I. INTRODUCTION 18 Petitioner Jesse Orlando Barela is a state prisoner proceeding pro se proceeding 19 with a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (“Petition” or 20 “Pet.”). Barela challenges his conviction for attempted murder, corporal injury to a 21 spouse, and child abuse in San Diego Superior Court case no. SCN352354. The Court 22 has read and considered the Petition, [ECF No. 1], the Answer and Memorandum of 23 Points and Authorities in Support of the Answer [ECF No. 6, 6-1], the lodgments and 24 other documents filed in this case, and the legal arguments presented by both parties. For 25 the reasons discussed below, the Court DENIES the Petition and DISMISSES the case 26 with prejudice. The Court DENIES a Certificate of Appealability. 27 / / / 28 / / / 1 II. FACTUAL BACKGROUND 2 This Court gives deference to state court findings of fact and presumes them to be 3 correct; Petitioner may rebut the presumption of correctness, but only by clear and 4 convincing evidence. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(1) (West 2006); see also Parle v. Fraley, 5 506 U.S. 20, 35-36 (1992) (holding findings of historical fact, including inferences 6 properly drawn from these facts, are entitled to statutory presumption of correctness). 7 The state appellate recounted the facts as follows: 8 Barela and Jennifer were married in January 2013. At the time of their marriage, Jennifer had a 12-year-old daughter, Tatyanna P., from a 9 prior relationship. Throughout the entirety of their marriage Barela suffered 10 from bipolar disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He was controlling and abusive toward Jennifer, both verbally and physically. 11

12 In April 2013, Jennifer called the police after Barela physically abused and threatened her. Jennifer told the responding officer that Barela 13 had been physically abusing her almost daily, that he threatened to kill her if 14 she called the police, and that he regularly told her the only way she would leave him is if she was dead. Barela was arrested and convicted of domestic 15 violence. 16 Barela and Jennifer stayed together, and Barela’s controlling and 17 abusive behavior continued. Jennifer described herself as a “prisoner” in her 18 home because Barela would forbid Jennifer from leaving the apartment without him. He repeatedly threatened her, saying he would “end” her, and 19 that if she tried to leave him she would “be in the ground.” In addition, 20 Barela and Jennifer frequently argued about Tatyanna.

21 On November 7, 2015, Barela and Jennifer argued about Tatyanna, 22 who was then 14 years old. That afternoon Barela sent Jennifer text messages about Tatyanna stating, “Yeah, well, I’m tired of her doing 23 whatever she wishes and getting away with it. Not in my fucking 24 house . . . .” That day Tatyanna had sneaked out to attend a football game. When she came home, Barela and Jennifer were arguing, and they continued 25 arguing throughout the evening. Around 9:30 p.m., Barela began sending 26 text messages to his mother complaining about Tatyanna’s behavior and the way Jennifer disciplined her daughter. Around 9:45 p.m., Jennifer and 27 Tatyanna were lying on the living rooms couch watching television. Barela 28 yelled at them because he thought Jennifer should have more strictly 1 pTuantyisahnenda Tshaotyualndn nao fto bre s anlelaokwinedg toou tw, aatncdh tthealet vaiss ipoanr.t oBf atrheel ap wuneinsth tmoe tnhte 2 kitchen and returned with a knife. He used the knife to cut the television 3 cord so that no one could watch television. He grabbed the couch that Jennifer and Tatyanna were lying on and lifted it up, so they both “jumped” 4 off the couch and went into Tatyanna’s bedroom to disengage from the 5 argument. Throughout the argument Barela continued sending text messages to his mother saying, “It all just got out of hand, Ma, all the damn 6 time.” His mother replied that he should “[t]ry to set some boundaries, 7 baby.” To which Barela responded at 10:01 p.m., “There are no boundaries, Ma. I’m done. I’ve lost all control.” 8

9 Minutes after Jennifer and Tatyanna went to Tatyanna’s bedroom, Barela came into the bedroom. He continued to yell about Jennifer’s failure 10 to properly discipline Tatyanna, telling her she was a horrible mother. 11 Jennifer and Tatyanna yelled back and him, and he punched a hole in the wall outside of the bedroom and aid, “[F]uck this.” Barela grabbed an eight- 12 inch knife from the kitchen, returned to Tatyanna’s bedroom, and began 13 stabbing Jennifer, aiming for her head. As he stabbed her Jennifer curled up in the corner of the bedroom and covered her head with her hands. Barela 14 stabbed Jennifer in the head, upper neck, chest, left arm and other areas of 15 her body. Jennifer yelled for Tatyanna to run.

16 Tatyanna ran out of the apartment and Barela chased her with the 17 knife. She ran a considerable distance around the apartment building to her grandparents’ apartment, which was located on the opposite side of the same 18 apartment building. [footnote omitted.] Barela chased Tatyanna with the 19 knife the entire way as she screamed for help. As she got closer to her grandparents’ front door, she screamed for her grandmother and pounded on 20 the front door. Barela caught up to Tatyanna and started stabbing her. 21 When her grandparents opened the door, Tatyanna was on the ground and Barela was stabbing her in the back. Eventually, Tatyanna’s grandmother 22 and neighbors were able to pull Barela away from Tatyanna. He stabbed 23 deep into her chest, causing her lung to collapse, as well as her cheek, back, and deep into her arm. 24

25 After a 911 call, the police and paramedics were dispatched to the apartment complex at approximately 10:04 p.m. Jennifer, who was bleeding 26 profusely, had gone outside and was screaming for help. A neighbor, who 27 was a registered nurse, tended to Jennifer until the paramedics arrived. Another neighbor, who was a Navy medic, tended to Tatyanna. Tatyanna 28 1 wBaarse slatr uygelglleidn ga tt oth ber eNaathvey amnedd bicle teod sintogp h peraovvilidy.i n Wg ahiidl et ob eTiantgy arensntara ainnded t,o 2 “get away” from her. 3 Both Jennifer and Tatyanna were transported to local hospitals. 4 Jennifer’s injuries required surgery. She was placed in the intensive care 5 unit and remained in the hospital for four or five days. As a result of her injuries, Jennifer had lasting damage to her left hand, nerve damage to the 6 left side of her face, as well as short term memory loss. Tatyanna suffered 7 potentially life-threatening injuries requiring surgery and was in the hospital for about a week. Tatyanna did not return to school until about a month 8 after the incident. Tatyanna had scars on her back, wrist, forearm, face, and 9 head and her wrist continues to cause her pain. 10 (Lodgment No. 6, ECF No. 7-19 at 2-6.) 11 III. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND 12 On June 29, 3017, the San Diego District Attorney’s Office filed an Information 13 charging Jesse Orlando Barela, Jr. with two counts of attempted murder (counts one and 14 two), a violation of California Penal Code §§ 187(a) and 664, one count of corporal 15 injury to a spouse (count three), a violation of California Penal Code § 273.5(a) and one 16 count of child abuse (count four), a violation of California Penal Code § 273a(a). 17 (Lodgment No. 1 vol. 1, ECF No. 7-1 at 38-41). As to counts one and two, the 18 information alleged the attempted murder was willful, premeditated and deliberate, 19 within the meaning of California Penal Code § 189. (Id. at 39-40.) As to counts one and 20 three, the Information alleged that Barela personally inflicted great bodily injury under 21 circumstances involving domestic violence, within the meaning of California Penal code 22 § 12022.7(e). (Id.) The Information also alleged that, as to all four counts in the 23 Information, Barela personally used a deadly weapon in the commission of the crime, 24 within the meaning of California Penal Code § 12022(b)(1). (Id. at 38-41.) Counts two 25 and four alleged Barela personally inflicted great bodily injury during the commission of 26 those crimes, within the meaning of California Penal Code § 12022.7(a). (Id. at 39-40.) 27 Finally, as to count three, the Information alleged Barela committed the crime within 28 / / / 1 seven years of a prior domestic violence conviction, within the meaning of California 2 Penal Code § 273.5(f)(2). (Id. at 40.) 3 Following a jury trial. Barela was convicted of all counts and the jury found all the 4 allegations to be true. (Lodgment No. 1 vol. 2, ECF No. 7-5 at 40-48.) Barela was 5 sentenced to two consecutive terms of life with the possibility of parole plus nine years. 6 (Lodgment No. 1 vol. 2, ECF No. 7-3 at 78-81.) 7 Barela appealed his conviction to the California Court of Appeal for the Fourth 8 Appellate District. (Lodgment Nos. 3-5, ECF Nos. 7-16–7-18) The state appellate court 9 upheld his conviction in a written opinion. (Lodgment No. 6, ECF No. 7-19.) Barela 10 then filed a petition for review in the California Supreme Court. (Lodgment No. 7, ECF 11 No. 7-20.) The state supreme court summarily denied the petition. (Lodgment No. 8, 12 ECF No. 7-21.) 13 Barela filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 in 14 this Court on October 3, 2019. (Pet., ECF No. 1.) Respondent filed an Answer and 15 Memorandum in Support of the Answer on November 15, 2019. (Answer, ECF Nos.6, 6- 16 1.) Barela did not file a Traverse. 17 IV. ANALYSIS 18 Barela raises three grounds for relief in his Petition. In ground one he claims he 19 was wrongfully convicted in violation of the Sixth, Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments 20 to the United States Constitution because the prosecutor and the state court did not 21 properly take into account his Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), resulting in him 22 being “overcharged.” (Pet., ECF No. 1 at 6.) In ground two, he contends there was 23 insufficient evidence presented to support his convictions. (Id. at 7.) And in ground 24 three he argues that because he suffers from PTSD and bipolar disorder his convictions 25 and sentence violate the 8th Amendment. (Id. at 8.) As to grounds one and three, 26 Respondent argues the claims are unexhausted but plainly meritless. (Answer, ECF No. 27 6-1 at 5-6, 8-9.) Respondent contends the state court’s resolution of Barela’s second 28 1 ground for relief was neither contrary to, nor an unreasonable application of, clearly 2 established Supreme Court law. (Id. at 6-8.) 3 A. Legal Standard 4 This Petition is governed by the provisions of the Antiterrorism and Effective 5 Death Penalty Act of 1996 (“AEDPA”). See Lindh v. Murphy, 521 U.S. 320 (1997). 6 Under AEDPA, a habeas petition will not be granted with respect to any claim 7 adjudicated on the merits by the state court unless that adjudication: (1) resulted in a 8 decision that was contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of clearly 9 established federal law; or (2) resulted in a decision that was based on an unreasonable 10 determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented at the state court proceeding. 11 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d); Early v. Packer, 537 U.S. 3, 8 (2002). In deciding a state prisoner’s 12 habeas petition, a federal court is not called upon to decide whether it agrees with the 13 state court’s determination; rather, the court applies an extraordinarily deferential review, 14 inquiring only whether the state court’s decision was objectively unreasonable. See 15 Yarborough v. Gentry, 540 U.S. 1, 4 (2003); Medina v. Hornung, 386 F.3d 872, 877 (9th 16 Cir. 2004). 17 A federal habeas court may grant relief under the “contrary to” clause if the state 18 court applied a rule different from the governing law set forth in Supreme Court cases, or 19 if it decided a case differently than the Supreme Court on a set of materially 20 indistinguishable facts. See Bell v. Cone, 535 U.S. 685, 694 (2002). The court may grant 21 relief under the “unreasonable application” clause if the state court correctly identified 22 the governing legal principle from Supreme Court decisions but unreasonably applied 23 those decisions to the facts of a particular case. Id. Additionally, the “unreasonable 24 application” clause requires that the state court decision be more than incorrect or 25 erroneous; to warrant habeas relief, the state court’s application of clearly established 26 federal law must be “objectively unreasonable.” See Lockyer v. Andrade, 538 U.S. 63, 75 27 (2003). The Court may also grant relief if the state court’s decision was based on an 28 unreasonable determination of the facts. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(2). 1 Where there is no reasoned decision from the state’s highest court, the Court 2 “looks through” to the last reasoned state court decision and presumes it provides the 3 basis for the higher court’s denial of a claim or claims. See Ylst v. Nunnemaker, 501 U.S. 4 797, 805-06 (1991). If the dispositive state court order does not “furnish a basis for its 5 reasoning,” federal habeas courts must conduct an independent review of the record to 6 determine whether the state court’s decision is contrary to, or an unreasonable application 7 of, clearly established Supreme Court law. See Delgado v. Lewis, 223 F.3d 976, 982 (9th 8 Cir. 2000) (overruled on other grounds by Andrade, 538 U.S. at 75-76); accord Himes v. 9 Thompson, 336 F.3d 848, 853 (9th Cir. 2003). Clearly established federal law, for 10 purposes of § 2254(d), means “the governing principle or principles set forth by the 11 Supreme Court at the time the state court renders its decision.” Andrade, 538 U.S. at 72. 12 B. Failure to Sufficiently Consider Barela’s PTSD (ground one) 13 In Barela’s first ground for relief he states that he “suffers from PTSD and bipolar 14 disorder” and claims he was wrongfully convicted because “the court did not make a 15 sufficient determination of [his] mental status which led [to me] being overcharged . . . .” 16 (Pet., ECF No. 1 at 6.) Respondent argues this claim is unexhausted and, in any event, 17 meritless because “Barela fails to identify a constitutional right allegedly violated by the 18 purported failure to consider his medical diagnoses in a specific way.” (Answer, ECF 19 No. 6-1 at 5-6.) 20 Although Barela invokes the Sixth, Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments in ground 21 one, as Respondent notes it is not entirely clear what Barela’s claim is or whether it is a 22 separate claim from ground two. In any event, the claims are unexhausted because 23 Barela did not present them to the California Supreme Court either on direct appeal or on 24 state habeas corpus review. (Lodgment Nos. 3-8, ECF Nos. 7-16–7-21.) A federal court 25 may deny a petition with unexhausted claims, however, if it is “perfectly clear that the 26 applicant does not raise even a colorable federal claim.” Cassett v. Stewart, 406 F.3d 27 614, 624 (9th Cir. 2005). 28 / / / 1 The Sixth Amendment guarantees a defendant the right to a speedy and public 2 trial, an impartial jury, to be informed of the charges, to confront the witnesses, to be 3 represented by counsel and to present a defense. U.S. Const., amend. VI. Barela does 4 not allege he was denied any of these rights, and the record reflects he was afforded the 5 rights to which he was entitled under the Sixth Amendment. Barela’s assertion that “the 6 court did not make a sufficient determination of [his] mental status which led [to me] 7 being overcharged . . .” could be interpreted to be a claim that he was denied an 8 opportunity to present a defense, but counsel presented evidence of Barela’s PTSD and 9 bipolar disorder to the jury at trial. (Lodgment No. 2 vol. 6, ECF No. 7-11 at 106-93.) 10 The Eighth Amendment proscribes cruel and unusual punishments. U.S. Const., amend. 11 VIII. Barela has raised an Eighth Amendment challenge to his sentence in ground three 12 and the Court addresses that claim in section IV(D) of this order. The Fourteenth 13 Amendment guarantees a defendant a fair trial. U.S. Const., amend. XIV. Barela’s 14 statement that “the court did not make a sufficient determination of my mental status 15 which led [to me] being overcharged . . .” could be interpreted to be claim that he was 16 denied a fair trial because of his mental illness. But Barela presented his mental defense 17 to the jury at trial and the judge at sentencing. (Lodgment No. 2 vol. 6, ECF No. 7-11 at 18 106-93.) Both the jury and the trial judge considered his mental issues in making their 19 decisions. (Lodgment No. 1 vol. 1, ECF No. 7-3 at 31-55 [statement in mitigation and 20 probation report]; Lodgment No. 2 vol. 9, ECF No. 9-14 [transcript of sentencing].) That 21 they did not come to the conclusions Barela wanted them to does not establish his right to 22 a fair trial was violated. Accordingly, Barela is not entitled to relief as to ground one. 23 Cassett, 406 F.3d at 624. 24 C. Sufficiency of Evidence (ground two) 25 Barela contends in ground two that insufficient evidence was presented to support 26 the premeditation and deliberation elements of his convictions for murder. (Pet., ECF 27 No. 1 at 7.) Respondent argues the state court’s denial of this claim was neither contrary 28 1 to, nor an unreasonable application of, clearly established Supreme Court law. (Answer, 2 ECF No. 6-1 at 6-8.) 3 Barela raised this claim in his petition for review he filed in the California 4 Supreme Court on direct review, which summarily denied the petition. (Lodgment No. 7, 5 ECF 7-20.) Accordingly, this Court must “look through” to the state appellate court’s 6 opinion denying the claim as the basis for its analysis. That court wrote: 7 The crime of attempted murder requires proof of the specific intent to kill coupled with the commission of a direct but ineffectual act toward 8 accomplishing the intended killing. (People v. Smith (2005) 37 Cal.4th 733, 9 739.) For purposes of sentence enhancement, a jury may find that an attempted murder was willful, deliberate, and premeditated. (Pen. Code, 10 § 664, sudb. (a).) “A verdict of deliberate and premeditated first degree 11 murder requires more than a showing of intent to kill. [Citation.] ‘Deliberation’ refers to careful weighing of considerations in forming a 12 course of action; ‘premeditation’ means thought over in advance. 13 [Citations.]” (People v. Koontz (2002) 27 Cal.4th 1041, 1080 (Koontz).)

14 In Anderson, our Supreme Court identified three basic categories of 15 evidence pertinent to the determination of premeditation and deliberation in the context of murder: (1) facts prior to the killing that may be characterized 16 as planning activity; (2) facts about the defendant and victim’s relationship 17 that support a motive for the killing; and (3) facts about the manner of killing, which support an inference that it was done according to a 18 preconceived design. (People v. Anderson (1968) 70 Cal.2d 15, 26-27.) The 19 identified categories of evidence are those we “‘typically’ find sufficient” to uphold first degree murder convictions. (People v. Thomas (1992) 2 Cal.4th 20 489, 517.) But our Supreme Court has also observed that the Anderson 21 factors are simply an “aid [for] reviewing courts in assessing whether the evidence is supportive of an inference that the killing was the result of 22 preexisting reflection and weighing of considerations rather than mere 23 unconsidered or rash impulse.” (People v. Perez (1992) 2 Cal.4th 1117, 1125 (Perez); accord, People v. Streeter (2012) 54 Cal.4th 205, 242.) 24

25 Here, the record contains all three of the Anderson types of evidence to support a finding of premeditation and deliberation for both counts 1 and 26 2. 27 / / / 28 / / / 1 JennifeAr.s tPol acnonuinntg 1 a, ctthiev ijtuyr yd oceosu nldo tr ehaasvoen taob lbye feinxdte nBsairveel at op lsaunpnpeodr tt oa kill 2 finding of premeditation; it can occur in a short period of time. (People v. 3 Brady (2010) 50 Cal.4th 547, 563-564.) Retrieving a weapon before a killing suggests planning. (Perez, supra, 2 Cal.4th at p. 1126 [obtaining a 4 knife from the kitchen showed planning].) Here, Barela’s actions support 5 planning and premeditation. Barela followed Jennifer into the bedroom without a knife, but then left the bedroom in frustration and went to the 6 kitchen to retrieve a large knife. Barela returned to the bedroom and used 7 the knife to stab Jennifer repeatedly. Barela asserts his actions after picking up the knife are inconsistent with planning. He asserts the evidence shows 8 he charged into the room, raised the knife, and started stabbing his wife, 9 which is inconsistent with planning. We reject this assertion. Going to the kitchen to get a larger knife and taking it back to the bedroom definitively 10 shows planning. (Sanchez, at pp. 34-35.) Barela’s argument draws 11 inferences from the evidence to support his contention this was a frenzied attack. While an expert testified that Barela suffered from both bipolar 12 disorder and PTSD at the time of the assaults, which could lead to his being 13 impulsive and behaving irrationally, the jury did not draw the inferences he urges, and we may not do so on appeal. 14

15 The jury could also reasonably find that Barela had motive to kill Jennifer. A history of violence and threats of violence may constitute proof 16 of a motive to commit the offense. (People v. Kovacich (2011) 201 17 Cal.App.4th 863, 893 [“evidence showing ‘quarrels, antagonism or enmity between an accused and the victim of a violent offense is proof of motive to 18 commit’” murder, citations omitted].) The evidence showed that Barela was 19 a controlling and abusive husband throughout their entire marriage and that Barela made prior threats to kill Jennifer, saying he would “end [her],” “put 20 a bullet in [her] head,” and put her “in the ground.” The evidence of 21 violence and threats throughout their marriage is motive evidence suggestive of premeditation. 22

23 In People v. Jackson (1989) 49 Cal.3d 1170, the Supreme Court held that anger at the victim, even when irrational, supplies a motive to support a 24 finding of premeditation and deliberation. (Id. at p. 1200 [unprovoked anger 25 at police officer established motive].) On the day of the stabbing, Barela was frustrated that he could not convince Jennifer to more strictly discipline 26 Tatyanna after she had sneaked out to attend a football game. Just three 27 minutes before the 911 dispatch, Barela texted his mother that no boundaries were being set and he had “lost all control.” The evidence of Barela’s 28 1 cthoantt isnuupepdo rftreuds ttrhaeti ojunr yo’ns tihnef edraeyn coef hthee a scttaebdb winigth s purgegmesetd aitna taidodni itnio sntaalb mbiontgiv e 2 her. 3 Lastly, the jury could reasonably find that Barela was deliberate in his 4 manner of attacking Jennifer. The location of her stab wounds supported the 5 conclusion he was targeting vital areas such as her head and neck, “intimating a preconceived design to kill.” (People v. Elliot (2005) 37 6 Cal.4th 453, 471 [repeated knife wounds as method of killing suggesting 7 premeditation]; Koontz, supra, 27 Cal.4th at p. 1082 [aiming at vital area at close range supports finding of premeditation and deliberation].) 8

9 As to count 2, the jury could have also reasonably found Barela planned to kill Tatyanna. In People v. Memro (1995) 11 Cal.4th 786, 863, 10 our Supreme Court recognized a reasonable jury could conclude that during 11 the time it took the defendant to run 178 feet between victims, the defendant considered his options. (Ibid.) Similarly, here, a reasonably jury could 12 conclude Barela’s actions were considered and premeditated when he chased 13 Tatyanna with a knife for about 300 yards before stabbing her.

14 The jury could also reasonably find that Barela had motive to kill 15 Tatyana. Frustration over inability to control a child’s behavior can be a preexisting motive indicating premeditated murder. (See People v. Jennings 16 (2010) 50 Cal.4th 616, 646 [evidence of a preexisting motive existed when 17 defendant had a history of using physical violence to discipline the child].) Here, the evidence showed Barela and Jennifer would frequently fight about 18 the way Jennifer disciplined Tatyanna, and Barela’s text messages that day 19 show he was particularly angry and frustrated over Tatyanna’s act of attending a football game without permission. Additionally, Barela’s actions 20 on the night of the stabbing, the cutting of the television cord, and the lifting 21 of the couch, illustrate his frustration with Tatyanna’s behavior. This evidence of frustration regarding Tatyanna’s behavior established a motive 22 that supported the inference he premeditated his attempt to kill her. 23 (Jennings, at p. 646.)

24 Finally, the evidence shows Barela was deliberate in his manner of 25 attacking Tatyanna. After chasing Tatyanna considerable distance, Barela stabbed her and only stopped stabbing her when the knife was pulled loose 26 from his hands and he was physically restrained. While restrained, he yelled 27 at a Navy medic tending to Tatyanna, telling the medic to get away from her. 28 1 (dKeloiboenrtaz,t isounp]r.)a , 27 Cal.4th at p. 1082 [preventing medical care showed 2

3 While the evidence may have supported a contrary finding, it is not our role to reweigh the evidence where the circumstances reasonably justify 4 the trier of fact’s findings. (People v. Albillar (2010) 51 Cal.4th 47, 60.) 5 Based on the record before us, we conclude there was substantial evidence to support the jury’s finding of willfulness, premeditation, and deliberation for 6 both counts 1 and 2. 7 8 (Lodgment No. 6, ECF No. 7-9 at 7-11.) 9 The Due Process Clause of the Constitution guarantees defendants the right to be 10 convicted only upon proof of every element of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Juan 11 H. v. Allen, 408 F.3d 1262, 1274 (9th Cir. 2005) (citing In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358, 364 12 (1970)). On federal habeas corpus review of a conviction on sufficiency of evidence 13 grounds, however, a petitioner “faces a heavy burden” to establish a due process 14 violation. Id. In assessing a sufficiency of the evidence claim, a state court must apply 15 the standard announced by the Supreme Court in Jackson v. Virginia, “whether, after 16 viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of 17 fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” 18 Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979) (emphasis in original). While 19 circumstantial evidence can be sufficient to support a conviction, “[s]peculation and 20 conjecture cannot take the place of reasonable inferences and evidence . . . .” Juan H., 21 408 F.3d at 1279; see also Maquiz v. Hedgpeth, 907 F.3d 1212, 1217-18 (9th Cir. 2018); 22 United States v. Lewis, 787 F.2d 1318, 1323 (9th Cir. 2000) (“mere suspicion or 23 speculation cannot be the basis for logical inferences”). Moreover, under AEDPA “the 24 standards of Jackson are applied ‘with an additional layer of deference,’ requiring the 25 federal court to determine ‘whether the decision of the [state court] reflected an 26 “unreasonable application of” Jackson . . . to the facts of this case.’” Maquiz, 907 F.3d at 27 1217 (internal citations omitted). A federal habeas court must “mindful of ‘the deference 28 owed to the trier of fact and, correspondingly, the sharply limited nature of constitutional 1 sufficiency review.’” Juan H., 408 F.3d at 1274 (quoting Wright v. West, 505 U.S. 277, 2 296-97 (1992) ). Deference under AEDPA, however, “does not imply abandonment or 3 abdication of judicial review.” Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 340 (2003). In 4 determining whether sufficient evidence has been presented, the Court refers to the 5 elements of the crime as defined by state law. See Jackson, 443 U.S. at 324, n. 16; Juan 6 H., 408 F.3d at 1276. 7 Barela specifically challenges the sufficiency of evidence to support the 8 premeditation and deliberation element of his attempted murder convictions. (Pet., ECF 9 No. 1 at 7.) California courts have described premeditation and deliberation as follows: 10 “In the context of first degree murder, ‘“premeditated” means “considered beforehand,” and “deliberate” means “formed or arrived at or determined 11 upon as a result of careful thought and weighing of considerations for and 12 against the proposed course of action.”’” (People v. Lee (2011) 51 Cal.4th 620, 636, 122 Cal.Rptr.3d 117, 248 P.3d 651 (Lee).) The required mind 13 state “is uniquely subjective and personal. It requires more than a showing 14 of intent to kill; the killer must act deliberately, carefully weighing the considerations for and against a choice to kill before he or she completes the 15 acts that caused the death.” (People v. Chiu (2014) 59 Cal.4th 155, 166, 172 16 Cal.Rptr.3d 438, 325 P.3d 972.) “[T]he reflection necessary to establish premeditation and deliberation is not measured by duration of time: 17 ‘Thoughts may follow each other with great rapidity and cold, calculated 18 judgment may be arrived at quickly, but the express requirement for a concurrence of deliberation and premeditation excludes from murder of the 19 first degree those homicides . . . which are the result of mere unconsidered or 20 rash impulse hastily executed.’” (People v. Wright (1985) 39 Cal.3d 576, 593, 217 Cal.Rptr. 212, 703 P.2d 1106.) 21

22 People v. Wear, 44 Cal.App.5th 1007, 1020-21 (2020). 23 In People v. Anderson, 70 Cal.2d 15, 26-27 (1968), the California Supreme Court 24 “developed guidelines to aid reviewing courts in assessing the sufficiency of evidence to 25 sustain findings of premeditation and deliberation.” People v. Halvorsen, 42 Cal.4th 379, 26 419-20 (2007). The Anderson court “described three categories of evidence recurring in 27 those cases: planning, motive, and manner of killing.” Id., citing People v. Perez, 2 28 Cal.4th 1117, 1125 (1992) and Anderson, 70 Cal.2d at 27. “Regarding these categories, 1 Anderson stated: “Analysis of the cases will show that this court sustains verdicts of first 2 degree murder typically when there is evidence of all three types and otherwise requires 3 at least extremely strong evidence of [planning] or evidence of [motive] in conjunction 4 with either [planning] or [manner of killing].” Perez, 2 Cal.4th at 1125, citing Anderson, 5 70 Cal.2d at 27. The Anderson guidelines, however, “are descriptive and neither 6 normative nor exhaustive, and . . . reviewing courts need not accord them any particular 7 weight. Halvorsen, 42 Cal.4th at 420. 8 On the night of the crimes, Barela was very upset with Jennifer because he 9 believed she did not discipline her daughter Tatyanna sufficiently for sneaking out of the 10 house to attend a football game. (Lodgment No. 2 vol 4, ECF No. 7-9 at 41.) The 11 subject of Jennifer’s disciplining of Tatyanna was an ongoing issue between Jennifer and 12 Barela. (Id. at 54.) Barela and Jennifer argued for most of the evening because Barela 13 thought Jennifer should have punished Tatyanna more severely by telling her she had to 14 stay in her room and taking away Tatyanna’s television privileges. (Id. at 42.) Tatyanna 15 and Jennifer were lying on the couch watching television while Barela and Jennifer were 16 arguing, which angered Barela. (Id. at 44-45.) Barela picked the couch up while Jennifer 17 and Tatyanna were lying on it and flung it into the air, causing them to jump off of it. 18 (Id. at 45-46; Lodgment No. 2 vol. 5, ECF No. 7-10 at 23.) Barela then went to the 19 kitchen and came back with a knife and cut the television cord with it. (Lodgment No. 2 20 vol. 4, ECF No. 7-9 at 49-50; Lodgment No. 2 vol. 5, ECF No. 7-10 at 23.) Jennifer took 21 Tatyanna to Tatyanna’s bedroom to get away from Barela, but Barela followed them to 22 the bedroom, tried to pull Tatyanna’s door off the hinges and when he could not do so, 23 punched the wall outside Tatyanna’s bedroom. (Lodgment No. 2 vol. 4, ECF No. 7-9 at 24 50, 56-57.) He then left the room and returned with a different, bigger knife and began 25 stabbing Jennifer. (Id. at 57-58.) When Jennifer screamed at Tatyanna that Barela was 26 killing her and to run, Barela chased Tatyanna a significant distance then stabbed her. 27 (Id. at 63-64; Lodgment No. 2 vol. 5 at 32-33.) A reasonable juror could conclude from 28 Barela’s violent and escalating behavior that he had a motive – anger and frustration at 1 Jennifer’s failure to discipline Tatyanna, Tatyanna’s misbehavior and a desire to stop it – 2 to kill Jennifer and Tatyanna. 3 Evidence that Barela had been physically abusive the entire length of their 4 marriage, from 2013-2015 also helped establish motive. (Lodgment No. 2 vol. 4, ECF 5 No. 7-9 at 28-33.) As the state court noted, under California law prior acts of violence 6 and threats against a victim can support a jury’s conclusion that the defendant had a 7 motive to kill the victim. See People v. Kovacich, (2011) 201 Cal.App.4th 863, 893 8 (stating that “evidence showing ‘quarrels, antagonism or enmity between an accused and 9 the victim of a violent offense is proof of motive to commit the offense’”); see also 10 People v. Johnson, 185 Cal.App.4th 520, 524-25 (2010). In addition, Barela made 11 statements in the past that could be reasonably interpreted to be threats to kill Jennifer. 12 During a domestic violence incident in 2013, Barela told her that if she called police he 13 would “get to her” before the police got there. (Lodgment No. 2 vol. 4, ECF No. 7-9 at 14 33.) He also told her he would “end” her, and that the only way she would leave him is if 15 she was “laid to rest.” (Id. at 33-34; Lodgment No. 2 vol. 6, ECF No. 7-11 at 24.) The 16 verbal abuse and threats was a “day-to-day part of [the] marriage.” (Lodgment No. 2 vol. 17 4 at 37.) 18 There was also sufficient evidence from which a reasonable juror could conclude 19 Barela planned the attack. Both Jennifer and Tatyanna testified Barela did not have a 20 knife in his hands when he punched the wall outside Tatyanna’s bedroom. (Lodgment 21 No. 2 vol. 5, ECF No. 7-10 at 21.) After punching the wall, however, he left and returned 22 with a “much bigger” knife and stabbed Jennifer and Tatyanna. (Id. at 29.) This 23 evidence supports a conclusion by the jury that after punching the wall, Barela decided to 24 go to the kitchen to retrieve a bigger knife because he planned to stab Jennifer and 25 Tatyanna. See People v. Perez, 2 Cal.4th 1117, 1164 (1992) (finding that a defendant’s 26 act of entering a house and obtaining a knife from the kitchen was indicative of planning 27 activity). “Under California law premeditation and deliberation can occur in a brief 28 / / / 1 period of time.” People v. Brady, 50 Cal.4th 547, 564 (2010), citing Halvorsen, 42 2 Cal.4th at 419. 3 Finally, there was sufficient evidence for the jury to conclude premeditation and 4 deliberation from the manner of Barela’s attack. Barela chose a large knife and focused 5 his attack on the most vulnerable areas of his victims’ bodies. Jennifer’s wounds were on 6 her head, face and arm. (Lodgment No. 2 vol. 4, ECF No. 7-9 at 63.) One of Jennifer’s 7 neighbors who came to Jennifer’s aid, a navy medic named Jaclyn Place, testified 8 Jennifer was bleeding profusely from the wounds on her head and arm, that the wound on 9 her arm had hit an artery and that Jennifer was in danger of bleeding to death. (Lodgment 10 No. 2 vol. 5 at 151.) Tatyanna testified she heard Jennifer say “He’s killing me” as 11 Barela began to stab Jennifer and that Barela was “aiming for [Jennifer’s] head. (Id. at 12 29, 31.) Barela only stopped his attack on Jennifer when she told Tatyanna to run. When 13 Tatyanna ran from the bedroom, Barela chased her a significant distance and when he 14 caught up with her he stabbed her in the face, arms and back. (Id. at 40-42.) Barela only 15 stopped stabbing Tatyanna when her grandmother wrapped her arm around Barela’s neck 16 from behind and grabbed the hand Barela was using to stab Tatyanna. (Id. at 93.) 17 Tatyanna’s grandfather and two neighbors had to restrain Barela because he was “kicking 18 and flailing” and telling Place to get away from Tatyanna. (Id. at 162.) Tatyanna’s 19 wounds were also life-threatening. Place testified that after tending to Jennifer she ran to 20 attend to Tatyanna who was losing “copious amounts of blood,” was “having a hard time 21 breathing” and was “definitely already turning blue.” (Id. at 157.) Jaclyn thought 22 Tatyanna was going to die. (Id. at 159. The wound in her back punctured Tatyanna’s 23 lung and she was in the hospital for a week. (Id. at 42-43.) 24 Viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, as this Court is 25 required to do, the Court concludes that the state court’s denial of this claim was neither 26 contrary to, nor an unreasonable application of, clearly established Supreme Court law 27 because “any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime 28 beyond a reasonable doubt.” Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319. Nor was the state court’s denial 1 based on an unreasonable determination of the facts. 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(2). Barela is 2 not entitled to relief as to this claim. 3 D. Eighth Amendment (ground three) 4 Barela’s final ground for relief is his claim that his sentence violates the Eighth 5 Amendment. As Respondent notes, this claim is unexhausted. (Answer, ECF No. 6-1 at 6 8-9.) As noted above, however, a federal court may deny a petition with unexhausted 7 claims, however, if it is “perfectly clear that the applicant does not raise even a colorable 8 federal claim.” Cassett, 406 F.3d at 624. 9 “The Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause prohibits the imposition of inherently 10 barbaric punishments under all circumstances.” Graham v. Florida, 560 U.S. 48, 59 11 (2010). The Graham court noted the scope of the Supreme Court’s Eighth Amendment 12 jurisprudence as follows: 13 For the most part, however, the Court’s precedents consider punishments challenged not as inherently barbaric but as disproportionate to the crime. 14 The concept of proportionality is central to the Eighth Amendment. 15 Embodied in the Constitution’s ban on cruel and unusual punishments is the “precept of justice that punishment for crime should be graduated and 16 proportioned to [the] offense.” Weems v. United States, 217 U.S. 349, 367, 17 30 S.Ct. 544, 54 L.Ed. 793 (1910). 18 Id. “Outside the context of capital punishment, successful challenges to the 19 proportionality of particular sentences have been exceedingly rare.” Rummel v. Estelle, 20 445 U.S. 263, 272 (1980). In Hutto v. Davis, (1982) 454 U.S. 370, the Supreme Court 21 noted that Rummel “stands for the proposition that federal courts should be ‘reluctan [t] to 22 review legislatively mandated terms of imprisonment.’” Hutto, 454 U.S. at 374, citing 23 Rummel, 445 U.S. at 274. In California, the punishment for attempted murder is life with 24 the possibility of parole. See Cal. Penal Code §§ 187, 189, 664 (West 2019). Barela was 25 sentenced to life with the possibility of parole for each count of attempted murder for 26 which he was convicted. (Lodgment No. 1 vol. 1, ECF No. 7-3 at 80.) He has made no 27 showing that his sentence was disproportionate to his crimes nor has he presented any 28 1 reason for this court to question the “legislatively mandated term of imprisonment” he 2 ||received. Accordingly, he is not entitled to relief as to this claim. Cassett, 406 F.3d at 3 4 ||V. CONCLUSION 5 For the foregoing reasons, the Petition is DENIED. Rule 11 of the Rules 6 || Following 28 U.S.C. § 2254 require the District Court to “issue or deny a certificate of 7 || appealability when it enters a final order adverse to the applicant.” Rule 11, 28 U.S.C. 8 || foll. § 2254 (West 2019). A COA will issue when the petitioner makes a “substantial 9 || showing of the denial of a constitutional right.”” 28 U.S.C. § 2253 (West 2019); Pham v. 10 || Terhune, 400 F.3d 740, 742 (9th Cir. 2005). A “substantial showing” requires a 11 demonstration that “‘reasonable jurists would find the district court’s assessment of the 12 constitutional claims debatable or wrong.’” Beaty v. Stewart, 303 F.3d 975, 984 (9th 13 || Cir. 2002) (quoting Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000)). Here, the Court 14 || Concludes Barela has not made the required showing, and therefore a certificate of 15 || appealability is DENIED. 16 IT IS SO ORDERED. 17 || Dated: April 8, 2020 (GR 8 Hon. Cathy Ann Bencivengo 19 United States District Judge 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28