(HC) Huston v. Horn

• Court: District Court, E.D. California
• Decided: October 8, 2024
• Docket: 2:21-cv-02277
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 SHAQUILLE HUSTON, No. 2:21-cv-02277 AC 12 Petitioner, 13 v. ORDER AND 14 PATWIN HORN, Warden, FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 15 Respondent.1 16 17 Petitioner is a California state prisoner proceeding pro se with an application for a writ of 18 habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. The action proceeds on the Third Amended Petition, 19 ECF No. 16, which challenges petitioner’s 2017 conviction for first degree murder and related 20 offenses. Respondent has answered, ECF No. 28, and petitioner has filed a traverse, ECF No. 31. 21 BACKGROUND 22 I. Proceedings in the Trial Court 23 A. Preliminary Proceedings 24 Petitioner and co-defendant Dayvon Terrell Stroupe were charged in Sacramento County 25

26 1 A federal petition for writ of habeas corpus must name as respondent the state officer having custody of the petitioner. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254; Rule 2(a) of the Rules Governing Section 2254 27 Cases in the United States District Courts; Smith v. Idaho, 392 F.3d 350, 354-55 (9th Cir. 2004). Accordingly, Patwin Horn, Warden of Kern Valley State Prison (petitioner’s current place of 28 incarceration, see ECF No. 44), is substituted as respondent herein. 1 with the robbery of Vincent Amaya and Alex Amaya, and with Vincent’s murder in the course of 2 the robbery. The case was tried to separate juries in a single proceeding. 3 B. The Evidence Presented at Trial2 4 1. Prosecution Case 5 a. The Crimes 6 Stroupe lived in a duplex in Sacramento. His friends often congregated there to smoke 7 marijuana, eat, and drink. On November 17, 2014, Stroupe, petitioner, Antwain West, and 8 Gregory Cooper were at Stroupe’s duplex smoking marijuana. When they ran out of marijuana, 9 petitioner said he knew where to get some more. 10 Petitioner, who had a gun with him at the duplex, contacted Vincent Amaya asking to buy 11 marijuana. Petitioner told his girlfriend, Briesha M., who was present, that the plan was to 12 take the gun and commit a robbery to get some marijuana. Briesha had stolen her father’s 13 semiautomatic handgun and she later told detectives that it was the firearm involved in the 14 crimes. 15 Petitioner, Stroupe, West and Cooper set out together to get the marijuana, meeting 16 Vincent and Alex Amaya at an apartment complex. The Amayas arrived in Vincent’s Acura, 17 which had a subwoofer and amplifier screwed into the trunk. At the apartment complex, four 18 men robbed Vincent and Alex of the amplifier and marijuana, and Vincent was shot and killed. 19 b. Interview with Alex Amaya 20 Detective Mark Johnson interviewed Alex in the early morning hours after Vincent was 21 killed. At trial, Alex testified that he did not remember many of the details of that night. 22 Accordingly, the prosecution relied on his statement to the detective to establish important facts. 23 In his interview with Detective Johnson, Alex said that four black men were involved in 24 the robbery and murder. In Alex’s interview with the detective and in the trial court, the 25 perpetrators were referenced as suspect numbers one through four. Alex said suspect number one 26 approached Vincent’s car. Suspect number one (later identified as petitioner) was dark-skinned, 27 2 The following summary is adapted from the unpublished opinion of the California Court of 28 Appeal, ECF No. 27-22 at 3-6. 1 skinny, five feet, eight inches tall, and about 19 or 20 years old, wearing a solid gray or white 2 hoodie. Petitioner approached the Acura, and Vincent told him to get in the backseat, which 3 petitioner did. Petitioner said he needed a “quarter,” meaning marijuana. Vincent said he had it, 4 but petitioner stalled for time until suspect number two approached the Acura at the front 5 passenger window. Suspect number two (later identified as Antwain West) was light-skinned, 6 fat, five feet, six inches tall, with an Afro in a bun, and wearing a gray sweater and hoodie. 7 According to Alex, West asked whether Vincent and Alex had marijuana. Vincent was 8 sitting in the driver’s seat and Alex was sitting in the front passenger seat. West pointed a chrome 9 revolver at Alex and Vincent and told them not to move. Petitioner also pulled out a handgun and 10 said, “I don't want you dead, but I wouldn’t waste any time.” Vincent responded by getting out of 11 the car and starting to go around the front of the car, swearing at West and petitioner. West shot 12 Vincent and then ran away. 13 After the shooting, two other black men came from behind other cars. One of them was 14 suspect number three (Stroupe), whom Alex described as dark-skinned, six feet tall, skinny, with 15 a short Afro and wearing a black hoodie. Stroupe had a handgun and approached the passenger 16 side of the Acura. He told Alex to get out of the car and not to make any sudden movements or 17 he would shoot him. When Alex was out of the car, Stroupe told Alex to empty his pockets. 18 Alex showed Stroupe that his pockets were empty, and Stroupe had Alex take off his belt. 19 Stroupe then tried to pistol whip Alex, but he missed. 20 Alex said that petitioner jumped into the front seat of the Acura and put the car in reverse, 21 crashing into another car. He then put the car in drive and jumped out as it rolled forward into a 22 different car. Petitioner opened the trunk and took the amplifier. 23 c. Other Evidence 24 Testing of the Acura revealed Stroupe’s and petitioner’s palmprints on the car. Petitioner 25 told Briesha M. that he took the marijuana and ran and that someone he knew was killed during 26 the robbery. 27 Petitioner admitted in questioning by Detective Mark Johnson after his arrest, three days 28 after the crimes, that he was involved in the crimes. He was to meet Vincent and planned to grab 1 the marijuana and run, but West unexpectedly approached the car and eventually shot Vincent. 2 Detective Ayers interviewed Stroupe three months after the crimes. Stroupe told the 3 detective that it was supposed to be a robbery, but it turned into something else. Petitioner put the 4 whole thing in motion. The four men approached the apartment complex together, and initially 5 two of them approached the car while two of them (including Stroupe) stayed back. 6 2. Co-defendant’s Testimony 7 Stroupe testified in his own defense. He stated that petitioner told him to stay in front of 8 the apartment complex, because the person petitioner was buying from did not deal with people 9 he did not know. While he was waiting in front of the apartment complex, Stroupe heard 10 gunshots, so he ran away. When he returned to his duplex, the other three men were already 11 there. They had marijuana and a white, powdery substance. Petitioner and Cooper were arguing, 12 and petitioner said, “It went bad.” 13 3. Defense Case 14 Petitioner did not present any witnesses. 15 C. Outcome 16 On the murder count, petitioner’s jury was instructed solely on a felony-murder theory. 17 The jury convicted petitioner of first degree murder, with a special circumstance that the murder 18 was committed during the commission of a robbery. However, the jury found not true an 19 allegation that petitioner personally used a firearm. The jury also convicted petitioner of robbery, 20 again finding not true a personal-firearm-use allegation. 21 Petitioner was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for the special 22 circumstance murder. He received a two-year sentence for the robbery, which was stayed. 23 II. Post-Conviction Proceedings 24 Petitioner timely appealed, and the California Court of Appeal affirmed the judgment of 25 conviction on February 24, 2021. ECF No. 27-22.3 The California Supreme Court denied 26 review on May 26, 2021. ECF No. 27-23 at 1. 27 3 The judgment was modified as to a $400 “parole revocation fine,” and the abstract of judgment 28 was ordered corrected to remove an erroneous reference to three-strikes sentencing. Id. at 20. 1 During the pendency of the appeal, petitioner filed a pro se petition for resentencing under 2 Cal. Penal Code section 1170.95. That petition was denied in the trial court, and petitioner 3 appealed the denial. On April 17, 2020, the Court of Appeals dismissed the appeal for lack of 4 jurisdiction. ECF No. 27-28. 5 Following conclusion of his direct appeal, petitioner filed a petition for resentencing under 6 Cal. Penal Code section 1172.6. That petition was denied. ECF No. 27-29. Petitioner did not 7 seek further review. 8 Petitioner filed no applications for collateral relief from the judgment of conviction. 9 STANDARDS GOVERNING HABEAS RELIEF UNDER THE AEDPA 10 28 U.S.C. § 2254, as amended by the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 11 1996 (“AEDPA”), provides in relevant part as follows: 12 (d) An application for a writ of habeas corpus on behalf of a person in custody pursuant to the judgment of a state court shall not be 13 granted with respect to any claim that was adjudicated on the merits in State court proceedings unless the adjudication of the claim – 14 (1) resulted in a decision that was contrary to, or involved an 15 unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States; or 16 (2) resulted in a decision that was based on an unreasonable 17 determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the State court proceeding. 18 19 The statute applies whenever the state court has denied a federal claim on its merits, 20 whether or not the state court explained its reasons. Harrington v. Richter, 562 U.S. 86, 99 21 (2011). State court rejection of a federal claim will be presumed to have been on the merits 22 absent any indication or state-law procedural principles to the contrary. Id. (citing Harris v. Reed, 23 489 U.S. 255, 265 (1989) (presumption of a merits determination when it is unclear whether a 24 decision appearing to rest on federal grounds was decided on another basis)). “The presumption 25 may be overcome when there is reason to think some other explanation for the state court's 26 decision is more likely.” Id. at 99-100. 27 The phrase “clearly established Federal law” in § 2254(d)(1) refers to the “governing legal 28 principle or principles” previously articulated by the Supreme Court. Lockyer v. Andrade, 538 1 U.S. 63, 71-72 (2003). Only Supreme Court precedent may constitute “clearly established 2 Federal law,” but courts may look to circuit law “to ascertain whether…the particular point in 3 issue is clearly established by Supreme Court precedent.” Marshall v. Rodgers, 569 U.S. 58, 64 4 (2013). 5 A state court decision is “contrary to” clearly established federal law if the decision 6 “contradicts the governing law set forth in [the Supreme Court’s] cases.” Williams v. Taylor, 529 7 U.S. 362, 405 (2000). A state court decision “unreasonably applies” federal law “if the state 8 court identifies the correct rule from [the Supreme Court’s] cases but unreasonably applies it to 9 the facts of the particular state prisoner’s case.” Id. at 407-08. It is not enough that the state court 10 was incorrect in the view of the federal habeas court; the state court decision must be objectively 11 unreasonable. Wiggins v. Smith, 539 U.S. 510, 520-21 (2003). 12 Review under § 2254(d) is limited to the record that was before the state court. Cullen v. 13 Pinholster, 563 U.S. 170, 180-181 (2011). The question at this stage is whether the state court 14 reasonably applied clearly established federal law to the facts before it. Id. at 181-182. In other 15 words, the focus of the § 2254(d) inquiry is “on what a state court knew and did.” Id. at 182. 16 Where the state court’s adjudication is set forth in a reasoned opinion, §2254(d)(1) review is 17 confined to “the state court’s actual reasoning” and “actual analysis.” Frantz v. Hazey, 533 F.3d 18 724, 738 (9th Cir. 2008) (en banc). A different rule applies where the state court rejects claims 19 summarily, without a reasoned opinion. In Richter, supra, the Supreme Court held that when a 20 state court denies a claim on the merits but without a reasoned opinion, the federal habeas court 21 must determine what arguments or theories may have supported the state court’s decision, and 22 subject those arguments or theories to § 2254(d) scrutiny. Richter, 562 U.S. at 102. 23 DISCUSSION 24 I. Claim One 25 A. Petitioner’s Allegations and Pertinent State Court Record 26 Petitioner captions his first ground for relief as “conviction obtained by violation against 27 self-incrimination,” but his statement of the claim implicates the sufficiency of the evidence: 28 //// 1 Prosecution used a statement by me for a felony murder theory but never provided any real evidence to prove this theory besides just 2 using the crime itself. 3 ECF No. 16 at 7 (emphasis added). There are no further allegations in support of the claim. 4 In response to respondent’s contention that no Fifth Amendment self-incrimination claim 5 has been exhausted, petitioner explains in his traverse: 6 I was merely stating that due to lack of law I thought that by cooperating I was helping but I really was hurting myself at 19 yrs 7 old I didn’t know the law language that felony murder that constituted felony murder my brain was not fully developed if it 8 was I would have had an attorney present before I made a statement 9 ECF No. 31 at 2. 10 Importantly, the traverse also presents “arguments in rebuttal” which argue the 11 insufficiency of the evidence to establish reckless indifference to life, intent to use force or fear, 12 and major participant role vis-à-vis the robbery. Id. at 3-6. Although petitioner reiterates his 13 theory that his youth undermines his statement, this point is made in the context of a broader 14 argument that the prosecution failed to prove the intent necessary to support the jury’s felony- 15 murder verdict. Id. at 6. 16 B. Petitioner’s Challenge to the Sufficiency of the Evidence 17 1. The Claim is Best Construed as Challenging the Sufficiency of the Evidence 18 Because the petition states the basis for relief on Claim One as the lack of “any real 19 evidence” to prove felony-murder, ECF No. 16 at 7, the undersigned construes Claim One as 20 contending that the conviction was unsupported by evidence sufficient to satisfy due process. 21 2. The Clearly Established Federal Law 22 Due process requires that each essential element of a criminal offense be proven beyond a 23 reasonable doubt. United States v. Winship, 397 U.S. 358, 364 (1970). In reviewing the 24 sufficiency of evidence to support a conviction, the question is “whether, viewing the evidence in 25 the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential 26 elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 27 (1974). If the evidence supports conflicting inferences, the reviewing court must presume “that 28 the trier of fact resolved any such conflicts in favor of the prosecution,” and the court must “defer 1 to that resolution.” Id. at 326. “A reviewing court may set aside the jury’s verdict on the ground 2 of insufficient evidence only if no rational trier of fact could have agreed with the jury.” Cavazos 3 v. Smith, 565 U.S. 1, 2 (2011). 4 3. The State Court’s Ruling 5 This claim was raised on direct appeal. Because the California Supreme Court denied 6 discretionary review, the opinion of the California Court of Appeal constitutes the last reasoned 7 decision on the merits and is the subject of habeas review in this court. See Ylst v. Nunnemaker, 8 501 U.S. 797 (1991); Ortiz v. Yates, 704 F.3d 1026, 1034 (9th Cir. 2012). 9 The Court of Appeal ruled in relevant part as follows: 10 Huston argues there was insufficient evidence that he intended to aid and abet the robbery underlying the felony-murder conviction. 11 He claims that, at most, the evidence shows he intended to take Vincent’s marijuana without the use of force or fear, and therefore 12 he was not engaging in a robbery at the time Vincent was killed, and he cannot be criminally liable for felony murder. 13 Huston’s argument relies on the fact that the jury did not find true 14 the enhancement allegations that he used a firearm in the commission of the murder or robbery. He asserts the jury 15 necessarily found that West shot Vincent. But Huston’s premise, for which he cites no authoritative support, is false. 16 “[A]n inherently inconsistent verdict is allowed to stand; if an 17 acquittal of one count is factually irreconcilable with a conviction on another, or if a not true finding of an enhancement allegation is 18 inconsistent with a conviction of the substantive offense, effect is given to both.” (People v. Santamaria (1994) 8 Cal.4th 903, 911, 19 citing United States v. Powell (1984) 469 U.S. 57 [].) “When a jury renders inconsistent verdicts, ‘it is unclear whose ox has been 20 gored.’ [Citation.] The jury may have been convinced of guilt but arrived at an inconsistent acquittal or not true finding ‘through 21 mistake, compromise, or lenity....’ [Citation.] Because the defendant is given the benefit of the acquittal, ‘it is neither 22 irrational nor illogical to require her to accept the burden of conviction on the counts on which the jury convicted.’ [Citation.]” 23 (Santamaria, at p. 911.) 24 In People v. Nunez (1986) 183 Cal.App.3d 214, 225-228, the court applied the inconsistent-verdicts rule to an enhancement finding. “A 25 jury’s finding on an alleged enhancement that an accused was not armed with a firearm or did not personally use a firearm does not 26 necessarily mean that the accused was not a direct perpetrator of the crime.” (Id. at pp. 225-226.) 27 Huston correctly notes that, to be guilty of felony murder based on 28 robbery, the defendant must have intended to commit a robbery or 1 aid and abet the commission of a robbery before or at the time of the killing. (CALCRIM No. 540B.) Here, however, there is 2 substantial evidence that Huston intended to rob Vincent and Alex before or at the time West shot Vincent. Huston focuses on his 3 statements to Detective Johnson three days after the killing that he only intended to grab the marijuana and run, arguing the 4 prosecution “did not present any evidence that directly controverted or undermined [Huston’s] description of his plan to grab Vincent’s 5 marijuana and flee without the use of force or fear.” 6 To the contrary, there was substantial evidence of an intent to use force or fear to obtain the marijuana (that is, commit a robbery) 7 before or at the time West shot Vincent. Stroupe said it was supposed to be a robbery from the beginning. Huston had a gun at 8 Stroupe’s duplex, and he produced the gun as soon as West approached the car. Huston said, “I don’t want you dead, but I 9 wouldn’t waste any time.” Briesha M. testified that she gave Huston a gun that was involved in the crimes and that Huston told 10 Briesha the plan was to take the gun and commit a robbery to get some marijuana. Even if there was evidence that Huston may have 11 originally planned to take the marijuana without force or fear (evidence such as Huston’s statement to Detective Johnson that he 12 intended only to grab the marijuana and run), we must examine the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict. (Perez, supra, 50 13 Cal.4th at p. 229.) Therefore, Huston’s use of the gun to threaten Vincent and Alex before West shot Vincent established the 14 requisite intent to use force or fear. Huston’s contention that the evidence was insufficient that he intended to commit a robbery or 15 aid and abet a robbery before or at the time of the killing is without merit. 16 17 ECF No. 27-22 at 8-10. 18 Petitioner also argued on appeal that the evidence was insufficient to support the special 19 circumstance finding that the murder was committed during the commission of the robbery. 20 Specifically, he claimed the evidence was insufficient to establish (1) that he intended to aid and 21 abet the robbery before or at the time of the killing, or (2) that he was a major participant in the 22 crime who acted with reckless indifference to human life. Id. at 10. On the first issue the Court 23 of Appeal ruled as follows: Huston claims the evidence was insufficient to establish that he 24 intended to aid and abet the robbery before or at the time of the killing. To prove the robbery-murder special circumstance, the 25 prosecution was required to prove Huston formed the intent to commit the robbery or aid and abet the robbery before or at the time 26 the victim was killed. (People v. Valdez (2004) 32 Cal.4th 73, 105.) In support of his claim, Huston makes the same argument, 27 discussed above, that there was insufficient evidence to establish that he formed the intent to commit robbery or aid and abet the 28 robbery before or at the time of the killing. Having fully discussed 1 how the facts established Huston’s intent to commit robbery before the killing, we likewise reject the argument with respect to the 2 special circumstance finding. 3 Id. 4 As to the major participant issue, the appellate court ruled as follows: 5 We next turn to whether the evidence was sufficient to sustain the robbery-murder special circumstance. Huston argues the evidence 6 was insufficient to establish that he was a major participant in the crime who acted with reckless indifference to human life. 7 The trial court properly instructed the jury that, to find true the 8 robbery-murder special circumstance in a case in which the defendant was not the actual killer, the prosecution must establish: 9 “1. The defendant's participation in the crime [here, robbery] began before or during the killing. [¶] 2. The defendant was a major 10 participant in the crime; [¶] AND [¶] 3. When the defendant participated in the crime, he acted with reckless indifference to 11 human life.” (CALCRIM No. 703.) 12 The robbery-murder special circumstance applies to the actual killer and to aiders and abettors who either act with intent to kill (§ 190.2, 13 subd. (c)) or who are major participants who act with reckless indifference to human life. (§ 190.2, subd. (d).) As the California 14 Supreme Court noted in People v. Banks (2015) 61 Cal.4th 788, 798 (Banks), the elements of the robbery-murder special 15 circumstance in section 190.2, subdivision (d), come from the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Tison v. Arizona (1987) 16 481 U.S. 137 [95 L.Ed.2d 127]. In Tison, the court held that the death penalty cannot be constitutionally imposed on a nonkiller 17 aider and abettor unless that person either intended to kill or was a major participant who acted with reckless indifference to human 18 life. (Id. at p. 158, fn. 12.) This language was codified in section 190.2, subdivisions (c) and (d), by the electorate as part of 19 Proposition 115 and it applies to both the imposition of the death penalty and life without the possibility of parole. (Banks, at pp. 20 797-798, 800, 804.) 21 Major participation requires that a “defendant’s personal involvement must be substantial, greater than the actions of an 22 ordinary aider and abettor to an ordinary felony murder.” (Banks, supra, 61 Cal.4th at p. 802.) Here it is clear that Huston was a 23 major participant in the robbery. There is substantial evidence of the following: Huston said he knew where to get marijuana, he had 24 a gun at Stroupe’s duplex, he told Briesha the plan was to take the gun and commit a robbery to get some marijuana, he contacted 25 Vincent, he stalled inside Vincent’s car until West arrived, he pulled out the handgun in his possession and mentioned not wasting 26 time, he jumped into the front seat of the Acura and crashed into other cars, and he took the amplifier. 27 As for reckless indifference, the court in Banks observed: “Reckless 28 indifference to human life ‘requires the defendant be “subjectively 1 aware that his or her participation in the felony involved a grave risk of death.” ’ ” (Banks, supra, 61 Cal.4th at p. 807, italics 2 omitted.) “Awareness of no more than the foreseeable risk of death inherent in any armed crime is insufficient; only knowingly creating 3 a ‘grave risk of death’ satisfies the constitutional minimum.” (Id. at p. 808.) 4 Recently, the California Supreme Court adopted the Model Penal 5 Code definition of reckless indifference, which requires that the defendant “ ‘consciously disregard[ ] a substantial and unjustifiable 6 risk’ ” of death and that the risk “ ‘be of such a nature and degree that, considering the nature and purpose of the actor's conduct and 7 the circumstances known to him, its disregard involves a gross deviation from the standard of conduct that a law-abiding person 8 would observe in the actor’s situation.’ ” (People v. Clark (2016) 63 Cal.4th 522, 617 (Clark).) This definition recognizes that, in 9 addition to the subjective element of reckless indifference, there is also an objective element. (Id. at p. 622.) “[R]ecklessness is not 10 determined merely by reference to a defendant's subjective feeling that he or she is engaging in risky activities. Rather, recklessness is 11 also determined by an objective standard, namely what ‘a law- abiding person would observe in the actor's situation.’ ” (Id. at p. 12 617.) 13 Whether there is substantial evidence supporting a finding of reckless indifference to human life is a question that requires 14 consideration of the totality of the circumstances. (Banks, supra, 61 Cal.4th at p. 802.) We consider circumstances such as (1) 15 knowledge of weapons, along with use and number of weapons; (2) physical presence at the crime and opportunities to restrain the 16 crime and/or aid the victim; (3) duration of the felony; (4) defendant's knowledge of the co-perpetrator's likelihood of killing; 17 and (5) defendant's efforts to minimize the risks of the violence during the felony. (Clark, supra, 63 Cal.4th at pp. 618-623; see also 18 In re Scoggins (2020) 9 Cal.5th 667, 677.) 19 Huston argues this was a “planned theft that did not anticipate the use of violence; rather, [Huston] simply planned on snatching the 20 marijuana and running ....” And he asserts that “the jury specifically found the gun-use allegation not true ....” As we noted above, the 21 jury’s firearm-use finding does not prevent us from considering the evidence that Huston had a firearm and threatened to use it before 22 West shot Vincent. Huston’s argument is unpersuasive because it considerably understates his involvement in the planning and 23 execution of the robbery. 24 Huston also claims that West’s decision to shoot Vincent was spontaneous and “self-volitional.” However, it was Huston’s 25 planning and execution of the robbery with multiple perpetrators and firearms that led to a grave risk that Vincent would be killed. 26 Huston was the primary mover in planning the armed robbery. He initiated the robbery and participated in the armed threats after 27 West came to the car. Beyond these assertions, Huston does not attempt to analyze the relevant circumstances noted in Clark. 28 1 Because Huston’s argument is not supported by the evidence construed in the light most favorable to the jury’s verdict, and 2 because Huston does not attempt to analyze the circumstances noted in Clark, supra, 63 Cal.4th at pages 618-623, we need not 3 undertake an analysis of those circumstances. Huston’s contention that the evidence was insufficient to support the special 4 circumstance verdict is without merit. 5 Id. at 11-13. 6 4. Objective Reasonableness Under § 2254(d) 7 Although the state court did not cite Jackson v. Virginia, supra, it construed the evidence 8 in the light most favorable to the jury’s verdict and discussed the evidence in relation to all 9 elements of liability, thus applying the correct constitutional standard. The appellate court’s 10 rulings on questions of state law—including the elements of robbery and the robbery-murder 11 special circumstance, and the definitions of “force and fear,” “major participant” and “reckless 12 indifference”—are unreviewable here. See Bradshaw v. Richey, 546 U.S. 74, 76 (2005) (federal 13 habeas court is bound by state court’s interpretation of state law). The only question for this court 14 is whether the state court unreasonably applied the Jackson standard in evaluating the evidence 15 under the governing state law standards for robbery-murder. 16 There is nothing objectively unreasonable about the state court’s analysis. The evidence 17 cited by the court, construed in the light most favorable to the verdict, supports the jury’s 18 conclusions for the reasons explained. Petitioner urges a different interpretation of the evidence, 19 but the California Court of Appeal was obliged under Jackson to give deference to the verdict and 20 this court is obliged under 28 U.S.C. 2254(d) to give deference the state court’s judgment. See 21 Boyer v. Belleque, 659 F.3d 957, 964 (9th Cir. 2011) (recognizing the “double dose of deference” 22 that applies to sufficiency of evidence claims under Due Process Clause and AEDPA). Because 23 this is not a case in which “no rational trier of fact could have agreed with the jury.” Cavazos, 565 24 U.S. at 2, federal habeas relief is unavailable. 25 C. Any Other Intended Claims Must Be Denied as Unexhausted 26 The petition does not clearly allege that petitioner’s statement to the detective was 27 involuntary, or otherwise obtained in violation of his constitutional rights (including the right 28 against self-incrimination), or that its admission into evidence constituted error. As noted above, 1 it seems that petitioner’s comments about his statement relate to its evidentiary value and are 2 forwarded here as part of a sufficiency of the evidence argument. To the extent that petitioner 3 does intend to base a claim for relief on the jury’s consideration of his statement, such a claim is 4 unexhausted and cannot be considered here. 5 Habeas petitioners must exhaust available state court remedies, giving those courts the 6 first opportunity to correct constitutional errors. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(1)(A); Rose v. Lundy, 7 455 U.S. 509, 515 (1982). A petitioner satisfies the exhaustion requirement by fairly presenting 8 his claims to the highest state court before presenting them to the federal court. Baldwin v. 9 Reese, 541 U.S. 27, 29 (2004). A federal claim is fairly presented if the petitioner has described 10 in state court both the operative facts and the federal legal theory upon which his claim is based. 11 See Duncan v. Henry, 513 U.S. 364, 365-66 (1995) (per curiam); Wooten v. Kirkland, 540 F.3d 12 1019, 1025 (9th Cir. 2008); cert. denied, 556 U.S. 1285 (2009). The federal constitutional basis 13 for the claim must be explicitly identified. Duncan, 513 U.S. at 365-66. Federal habeas relief 14 cannot be granted on an unexhausted claim. § 2254(b)(1)(A). An unexhausted claim may, 15 however, be denied on the merits. § 2254(b)(2). 16 Petitioner did not challenge admission of his statement on appeal, see ECF No. 12 (AOB), 17 and he brought no state habeas petitions. Accordingly, any potential claims related to this issue 18 are unexhausted and relief is therefore unavailable. 19 Moreover, any challenge to jury consideration of petitioner’s statement would be 20 meritless. While the jury learned that petitioner had admitted to Detective Johnson that he was 21 involved in the crimes, his statement was consistent with his theory of defense and the theory 22 argued here: that petitioner’s intention was merely to meet Vincent, grab the marijuana without 23 using force or fear, and run—but that West unexpectedly approached the car and shot Vincent. 24 Because petitioner’s statement to the detective was not inconsistent with his defense, its 25 admission cannot have prejudiced him. And as outlined by the Court of Appeal, intent to rob, 26 major participant role, and reckless indifference to life were all proven by other evidence. 27 For all these reasons, Claim One should be denied. 28 //// 1 II. Claim Two: Prosecutorial Suppression of Exculpatory Evidence 2 A. Petitioner’s Allegations and Pertinent State Court Record 3 Claim Two alleges “conviction obtained by the unconstitutional failure of the prosecutor 4 to disclose to the defendant evidence favorable to the defendant.” ECF No. 16 at 7. The 5 supporting facts are stated, in their entirety, as follows: 6 Prosecution failed to provide or present at trial statements from a witness that was present on the scene who testified that I did not act 7 with reckless or endangerment to human life my actions are a key element to the crime not just the crime itself the statements would 8 of disputed prosecution theory which constituted a conviction on felony murder theory 9 10 Id. 11 B. The Claim is Unexhausted 12 No claim was ever submitted to the state courts alleging that the prosecution suppressed 13 exculpatory evidence. Accordingly, federal habeas relief is unavailable. See 28 U.S.C. § 14 2254(b)(1)(A). 15 C. The Claim is Meritless 16 The suppression by the prosecution of evidence favorable to an accused violates due 17 process where the evidence is material either to guilt or to punishment, irrespective of the good 18 faith or bad faith of the prosecution. Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 87 (1963); United States v. 19 Agurs, 427 U.S. 97, 107 (1976). Evidence is material for Brady purposes if there is “a reasonable 20 probability that, had the evidence been disclosed to the defense, the result of the . . . proceeding 21 would have been different.” Cone v. Bell, 556 U.S. 449, 469-70 (2009). For a Brady claim to 22 succeed on collateral review, petitioner must therefore show: (1) that the evidence at issue is 23 favorable, because it is either exculpatory or impeaching; (2) that it was suppressed by the 24 prosecution, either willfully or inadvertently; and (3) that it was material (or, put differently, that 25 prejudice ensued). Banks v. Dretke, 540 U.S. 668, 691 (2004); Strickler v. Greene, 527 U.S. 263, 26 281-82 (1999). 27 Petitioner’s conclusory assertion that the prosecution failed to disclose exculpatory 28 evidence does not provide grounds for relief. The petition does not identify or describe the 1 supposed witness, nor allege what favorable testimony that person would have provided. There 2 are no facts before the court from which the favorability of the evidence, or whether it was 3 suppressed by the prosecution, or its materiality, could possibly be evaluated. Accordingly, 4 petitioner has not stated a claim under Brady. See Runningeagle v. Ryan, 686 F.3d 758, 769-71 5 (9th Cir. 2012) (to state a Brady claim, petitioner must identify the undisclosed evidence); see 6 also Barker v. Fleming, 423 F.3d 1085, 1099 (9th Cir. 2005) (“The mere possibility that an item 7 of undisclosed information might have helped the defense, or might have affected the outcome of 8 the trial, does not establish ‘materiality’ in the constitutional sense.”) (quoting United States v. 9 Croft, 124 F.3d 1109, 1124 (9th Cir. 1997)); Downs v. Hoyt, 232 F.3d 1031, 1037 (9th Cir. 2000) 10 (rejecting a Brady claim in part because petitioner’s arguments were speculative). 11 CONCLUSION 12 For all the reasons explained above, the state courts’ denial of petitioner’s insufficient 13 evidence claim was not objectively unreasonable within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d). All 14 other putative claims are unexhausted. Even without reference to AEDPA standards, petitioner 15 has not established any violation of his constitutional rights. 16 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Clerk of Court shall: 17 1. Randomly assign a U.S. District Judge to this case; 18 2. Update the docked to reflect the substitution of Patwin Horn as Respondent. See n.1, 19 supra. 20 IT IS FURTHER RECOMMENDED that the petition for writ of habeas corpus be denied. 21 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge 22 assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. §636(b)(l). Within twenty-one days 23 after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written 24 objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned 25 “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” If petitioner files objections, 26 he shall also address whether a certificate of appealability should issue and, if so, why and as to 27 which issues. See 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). Any reply to the objections shall be served and filed 28 within fourteen days after service of the objections. The parties are advised that failure to file 1 | objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court’s order. 2 | Martinez v. YIst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 3 | DATED: October 7, 2024 “ 4 Athuwn—Chore ALLISON CLAIRE 5 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 6 7 8 9 10 1] 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 16