IN THE SUPREME COURT OF GUAM
PEOPLE OF GUAM, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
SHAUNN GUMATAOTAO MANGLONA, Defendant-Appellant.
Supreme Court Case No. CRA23-013 Superior Court Case No. CF0737-22
OPINION
Appeal from the Superior Court of Guam Argued and submitted on May 16, 2024 Hagåtña, Guam
Appearing for Defendant-Appellant Appearing for Respondent-Appellee Peter C. Perez, Esq. Nathan Tennyson, Esq. (argued) Law Office of Peter C. Perez Daniel Morris (briefed) DNA Bldg. Assistant Attorneys General 238 Archbishop Flores St., Ste. 802 Office of the Attorney General Hagåtña, GU 96910 590 S. Marine Corps Dr., Ste. 801 Tamuning, GU 96913 People v. Manglona, 2024 Guam 8, Opinion Page 2 of 25
BEFORE: ROBERT J. TORRES, Chief Justice; F. PHILIP CARBULLIDO, Associate Justice; and KATHERINE A. MARAMAN, Associate Justice.
CARBULLIDO, J.:
[1] Defendant-Appellant Shaunn Gumataotao Manglona appeals a conviction of Advanced
Stalking, a felony in the second degree. Manglona argues that the undefined terms “maliciously,”
“repeatedly,” and “in violation of a court order” within the stalking statute are unconstitutionally
vague.1 Manglona also argues that there was insufficient evidence to convict on the element of
acting “maliciously.” We conclude that the stalking statute is not unconstitutionally vague and
that there is sufficient evidence to support a finding Manglona acted maliciously. We affirm.
I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
[2] Manglona was subject to an order of conditional release in a separate case that ordered him
to stay away from the alleged victim, M.M. The release order was issued on October 18, 2022.
Manglona was arrested and charged with advanced stalking for “repeatedly” and “maliciously”
violating this order.
[3] The first incident occurred the same evening the release order was issued; around 2:00
a.m., M.M. heard Manglona knocking on her bedroom window, calling her “babe.” Transcript
(“Tr.”) at 71–72 (Jury Trial, Day 1, Feb. 8, 2023). Manglona tried opening the door and windows
to the house to get in, but they were locked. M.M. called the police, but Manglona left before the
police arrived.
[4] Manglona came to M.M.’s house again about two months later. M.M. called Manglona’s
aunt to pick him up since he was under house arrest at the aunt’s home. Manglona spoke with
M.M. for an hour, asking her to drop the case, before someone arrived to pick him up. The third
1 As we discuss below, contrary to Manglona’s assertions, “violation of a court order” is not an element of advanced stalking. See 9 GCA § 19.70(b) (as amended by Guam Pub. L. 31-009:3 (Mar. 9, 2011)). People v. Manglona, 2024 Guam 8, Opinion Page 3 of 25
incident occurred the next morning. M.M. was on the phone with Manglona’s probation officer
to report him showing up at her house the day before. Manglona knocked on the door, and their
young daughter opened it, allowing him inside the house. M.M. gave the phone to Manglona, and
his probation officer instructed him to leave “immediately,” which he did. Id. at 77; Tr. at 30 (Jury
Trial, Day 2, Feb. 9, 2023). The fourth incident occurred later the same day, in the evening. M.M.
was returning home from running errands when she noticed her neighbor fixing his car outside.
The neighbor signaled to M.M. to leave, and she understood that meant Manglona was there as
well. Manglona was arrested after the final incident. He was charged with one count of Advanced
Stalking as a second-degree felony.
[5] The People relied primarily on the testimony of M.M. to show that Manglona acted
willfully, repeatedly, and maliciously when he violated the court’s protective order. After the
People rested, defense counsel stated on the record that he would not be moving for a judgment of
acquittal:
Your Honor, this is normally my cue to move for a judgment of acquittal. However, I am familiar with the standards that no evidence at all, in the light most favorable to the Government, that there is no evidence that was proffered for a reasonable jury to consider. We concede that, based on the testimony of practically all the witnesses, there [are] questions of fact for the jury to decide whether or not this charge is sustainable. So given that, I am not making a motion for a judgment of acquittal.
Tr. at 40 (Jury Trial, Day 2).
[6] Before closing arguments, during a hearing on proposed jury instructions, the trial court
declared that it did not have definitions for “willfully, maliciously, or repeatedly.” Tr. at 16 (Jury
Trial, Day 3, Feb. 10, 2023). The People stated that they would not oppose including definitions,
but defense counsel maintained that “willful is pretty basic and self-explanatory.” Id. at 20. After
the court noted there were no definitions of these terms provided in the statute, the parties agreed People v. Manglona, 2024 Guam 8, Opinion Page 4 of 25
that no definitions be provided. Id. at 20–21. The court noted that in the past, when the court has
“received questions from the jury such as . . . what does willful mean when there’s no statutory
definition, . . . parties have agreed just to inform the jury that they are just to apply their standard
knowledge of the term, as opposed to a legal definition.” Id. at 20. The court offered to
“wordsmith it if the question ever comes up again. And we’ll try to prepare something in
anticipation of that. And then we can discuss it if we do get a request.” Id. at 22.
[7] The court instructed the jury on the definition of advanced stalking: “A person is guilty of
advanced stalking if he or she willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows or harasses another
person where there is a temporary restraining order or an injunction, or both, or any other Court
order in effect prohibiting the behavior against the same party.” Id. at 106; see also Record on
Appeal (“RA”), tab 43 at 50 (Jury Instrs., Feb. 22, 2023). Although the jury sent a note to the
court asking several questions, it did not ask for the definition of any terms. After deliberating for
less than four hours, the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on the charge of advanced
stalking. Manglona was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment, three of which were suspended.
This appeal timely followed.
II. JURISDICTION
[8] This court has jurisdiction over an appeal from a final judgment of the Superior Court of
Guam. 48 U.S.C.A. § 1424-1(a)(2) (Westlaw through Pub. L. 118-150 (2024)); 7 GCA §§
3107(b), 3108(a) (2005); 8 GCA §§ 130.10–.15(a) (2005).
III. STANDARD OF REVIEW
[9] We review the constitutionality of a statute de novo. People v. Shimizu, 2017 Guam 11
¶ 11. People v. Manglona, 2024 Guam 8, Opinion Page 5 of 25
[10] When a defendant does not move for a judgment of acquittal at trial, we review the
sufficiency of the evidence for plain error. People v. Taisacan, 2023 Guam 19 ¶ 12 (quoting
People v. Maysho, 2005 Guam 4 ¶ 6). Under plain error review, “[w]e will not reverse unless (1)
there was an error; (2) the error is clear or obvious under current law; (3) the error affected
substantial rights; and (4) reversal is necessary to prevent a miscarriage of justice or to maintain
the integrity of the judicial process.” People v. Mendiola, 2023 Guam 12 ¶ 16 (citation omitted).
Although our usual review for the sufficiency of evidence is de novo, the same presumptions apply
when reviewing an unpreserved challenge for plain error: “we view the evidence in the light most
favorable to the government and ask whether the evidence—and any reasonable inferences to be
drawn from it—would allow a reasonable jury to find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable
doubt.” United States v. Freeman, 70 F.4th 1265, 1273 (10th Cir. 2023) (quoting United States v.
Gallegos, 784 F.3d 1356, 1359 (10th Cir. 2015)).
IV. ANALYSIS
A. The Stalking Statute Is Not Unconstitutionally Vague as Applied to Manglona
[11] Manglona argues, “[T]he Advanced Stalking statute does not provide sufficiently definite
warnings as to what is proscribed, when measured by common understanding and practices, and
when read by persons of ordinary intelligence seeking to avoid its violation.” Appellant’s Br. at
18 (Feb. 13, 2024). He claims the statute “fails to prescribe minimal guidelines to govern law
enforcement on the undefined offense elements (1) maliciously, (2) repeatedly, and (3) in violation
of a court order.” Id. at 23. Due to the lack of definitions, Manglona argues the advanced stalking
statute is void for vagueness. Id. at 10–11, 15–16.
[12] Manglona was convicted under Guam’s stalking statute, which provides:
(a) A person is guilty of simple stalking if he or she willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly, follows or harasses another person or who makes a credible threat People v. Manglona, 2024 Guam 8, Opinion Page 6 of 25
with intent to place that person or a member of his or her immediate family in fear of death or bodily injury.
(b) A person is guilty of advanced stalking if he or she violates Subsection (a) of this Section when there is a temporary restraining order or an injunction or both or any other court order in effect prohibiting the behavior described in that Subsection against the same party.
9 GCA § 19.70 (as amended by Guam Pub. L. 31-009:3 (Mar. 9, 2011)). The Legislature passed
the statute in September 1993, joining the majority of jurisdictions in recognizing the law was
“woefully lacking in the adequate protection of persons who are threatened by the menacing
presence of another person.” See P.L. 22-35:1 (Sept. 27, 1993); see also Christine B. Gregson,
Comment, California’s Antistalking Statute: The Pivotal Role of Intent, 28 Golden Gate U. L. Rev.
221, 243 n.143 (1998) (observing 49 states adopted anti-stalking laws between 1990 and 1993).
[13] California was the first state to pass an anti-stalking statute, doing so in 1990. Gregson,
supra, at 221 (citing Cal. Penal Code § 646.9). Like many other jurisdictions that passed an anti-
stalking statute before the publication of a model anti-stalking code, Guam patterned its statute
after California’s. See P.L. 22-35, Comm. Rep. on Bill 265 at 2; cf. Gregson, supra, at 221, 242–
43 & nn.3, 143 (collecting anti-stalking statutes and explaining when each state passed their law).
Compare 9 GCA § 19.70(a)–(b) (as added by P.L. 22-35:3), with Cal. Penal Code § 646.9(a)–(b)
(as added by 1990 Cal. Legis. Serv. 1527 (West)). Any doubts about the source of Guam’s stalking
statute are answered by the legislative history of section 19.70: “Assistant Attorney General John
Glang, a territorial prosecutor, appeared before the committee registering support for the measure
with modifications. A former California prosecutor, Attorney Glang noted that Bill 265 is
patterned after the constitutionally upheld California statute which was enacted in 1990.” P.L. 22-
35, Comm. Rep. on Bill 265 at 1–2. People v. Manglona, 2024 Guam 8, Opinion Page 7 of 25
[14] Guam seems to have the distinction of being the only Model Penal Code jurisdiction that
adopted an anti-stalking statute that prohibits “willful” and “malicious” conduct without defining
either of the terms. See, e.g., S.D. Codified Laws § 22-19A-1 (“No person may: (1) Willfully,
maliciously, and repeatedly follow or harass another person[.]”); S.D. Codified Laws § 22-1-2
(defining malice along with the Model Penal Code’s culpable mental states); see also Gregson,
supra, at 221 n.3 (collecting statutes). Unlike Guam, California has generally not adopted the
Model Penal Code and therefore does not subscribe to the MPC’s hierarchy of culpable mental
states. See, e.g., People v. Mikel, No. 92-00114A, 1993 WL 470410, at *3 (D. Guam App. Div.
Oct. 12, 1993) (discussing Guam’s adoption of Model Penal Code and repeal of California-based
law), aff’d, 34 F.3d 1073 (9th Cir. 1994); Cel-Tech Commc’ns, Inc. v. L.A. Cellular Tel. Co., 973
P.2d 527, 535 (Cal. 1999) (“California has not adopted the Model Penal Code.”). Instead,
California has codified the definition of the common law terms “willfully” and “maliciously” in
its Penal Code. Cal. Penal Code § 7(b)(1), (4) (West 2024).2 Thus, we are asked to determine
whether the Legislature adopted a law that is unconstitutionally vague when it adopted California’s
anti-stalking statute without defining the terms that make up its mens rea element. We conclude
that it did not.
1. The void for vagueness doctrine
[15] “It is a basic principle of due process that an enactment is void for vagueness if its
prohibitions are not clearly defined.” People v. Perez, 1999 Guam 2 ¶ 7 (quoting Grayned v. City
of Rockford, 408 U.S. 104, 108 (1972)), overruled on other grounds by Shimizu, 2017 Guam 11 ¶
40. “The void for vagueness doctrine . . . is a long-standing principle in due process jurisprudence
2 Although the Guam Penal Code contained a definitions section that mirrored California Penal Code section 7, it was repealed when Guam adopted the Model Penal Code’s definition of culpable mental states. Compare Guam Penal Code § 7 (1970), with 9 GCA § 4.30 (2005). People v. Manglona, 2024 Guam 8, Opinion Page 8 of 25
which rests on the premise that ‘[n]o one may be required at peril of life, liberty or property to
speculate as to the meaning of penal statutes.’” People v. Tfong, 2021 Guam 13 ¶ 14 (quoting
Lanzetta v. New Jersey, 306 U.S. 451, 453 (1939)). To determine whether a statute is void for
vagueness, two inquiries are appropriate: first, whether the statute gives fair notice to those persons
potentially subject to it, and second, whether the statute adequately guards against arbitrary and
discriminatory enforcement practices. Shimizu, 2017 Guam 11 ¶ 28. Either of these two
independent grounds may invalidate a criminal law for vagueness. Id.
[16] The U.S. Supreme Court has stated, “All are entitled to be informed as to what the State
commands or forbids.” Lanzetta, 306 U.S. at 453. “[A] statute which either forbids or requires
the doing of an act in terms so vague that men of common intelligence must necessarily guess at
its meaning and differ as to its application violates the first essential of due process of law.”
Connally v. Gen. Const. Co., 269 U.S. 385, 391 (1926). To provide fair notice, “a penal statute
[must] define the criminal offense with sufficient definiteness that ordinary people can understand
what conduct is prohibited.” Tfong, 2021 Guam 13 ¶ 15 (quoting Shimizu, 2017 Guam 11 ¶ 24);
see also Palmer v. City of Euclid, 402 U.S. 544, 545 (1971) (per curiam). However, as the
California Court of Appeal has explained:
[R]easonable certainty is all that is required. A statute will not be held void for uncertainty if any reasonable and practical construction can be given its language. It will be upheld if its terms may be made reasonably certain by reference to other definable sources. [A] statute is sufficiently certain if it employs words of long usage or with a common law meaning, notwithstanding an element of degree in the definition as to which estimates might differ.
Fletcher v. W. Nat’l Life Ins. Co., 89 Cal. Rptr. 78, 96 (Ct. App. 1970) (second alteration in
original) (emphasis added) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted).
[17] Due process also mandates that criminal laws provide “‘ascertainable standards of guilt’ to
avoid the danger of arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement of the law.” Tfong, 2021 Guam 13 People v. Manglona, 2024 Guam 8, Opinion Page 9 of 25
¶ 24 (quoting Shimizu, 2017 Guam 11 ¶ 36). “The absence of an ascertainable standard . . . gives
police officers, prosecutors, and the triers of fact unlimited discretion to apply the law,” id.
(quoting Shimizu, 2017 Guam 11 ¶ 36), permitting “policemen, prosecutors, and juries to pursue
their personal predilections,” Kolender v. Lawson, 461 U.S. 352, 358 (1983) (citation omitted);
see also Grayned, 408 U.S. at 108–09 (“A vague law impermissibly delegates basic policy matters
to policemen, judges, and juries for resolution on an ad hoc and subjective basis, with the attendant
dangers of arbitrary and discriminatory application.”).
[18] As a matter of federal constitutional law, “if a law clearly prohibits a [criminal] defendant’s
conduct, the defendant cannot challenge, and a court cannot examine, whether the law may be
vague for other hypothetical defendants.” United States v. Hosford, 843 F.3d 161, 170 (4th Cir.
2016); see also Broadrick v. Oklahoma, 413 U.S. 601, 608 (1973) (“[E]ven if the outermost
boundaries of [a statute] may be imprecise, any such uncertainty has little relevance . . . where [a
defendant’s] conduct falls squarely within the ‘hard core’ of the statute’s proscriptions . . . .”). As
the U.S. Supreme Court has explained:
“[V]agueness challenges to statutes which do not involve First Amendment freedoms must be examined in the light of the facts of the case at hand.” “One to whose conduct a statute clearly applies may not successfully challenge it for vagueness.” The rationale is evident: to sustain such a challenge, the complainant must prove that the enactment is vague “‘not in the sense that it requires a person to conform his conduct to an imprecise but comprehensible normative standard, but rather in the sense that no standard of conduct is specified at all.’ Such a provision simply has no core.”
Vill. of Hoffman Ests. v. Flipside, Hoffman Ests., Inc., 455 U.S. 489, 495 n.7 (1982) (alteration in
original) (first quoting United States v. Mazurie, 419 U.S. 544, 550 (1975); then quoting Parker v.
Levy, 417 U.S. 733, 756 (1974); and then quoting Coates v. City of Cincinnati, 402 U.S. 611, 614
(1971)). People v. Manglona, 2024 Guam 8, Opinion Page 10 of 25
[19] When deciding whether a statute is unconstitutionally vague, courts apply the traditional
rules of statutory construction, beginning with the plain language of the statute. E.g., People v.
Patterson, 2018 IL App (1st) 160610, ¶ 27. State and federal courts widely agree that “[a] statute
is not necessarily void for vagueness simply because it may be ambiguous or open to two
constructions.” E.g., Mumad v. Garland, 11 F.4th 834, 838 (8th Cir. 2021) (alteration in original)
(quoting Williams v. Brewer, 442 F.2d 657, 660 (8th Cir. 1971)); In re J., 2022 ME 34, ¶ 22, 276
A.3d 510, 518 (“[N]ot every ambiguity, uncertainty or imprecision of language in a statutory
pattern is unconstitutional, and a statute will withstand a vagueness challenge if any reasonable
construction will support it.” (alteration in original) (quoting Beauchene v. State, 2017 ME 153, ¶
15, 167 A.3d 569)); Curtis v. City of Hollywood, 379 So. 3d 1185, 1189 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2024)
(“Vagueness and ambiguity are distinct legal concepts, with different definitions. ‘A statute is
normally regarded as “ambiguous” when its language may permit two or more outcomes.’ ‘[A
statute] is “vague” when it does not clearly announce any required outcome.’” (alteration in
original) (quoting Hess v. Walton, 898 So. 2d 1046, 1049 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2005))).
[20] The D.C. Circuit has explained that “a statute’s vagueness is either susceptible to judicial
construction or is void for vagueness based on the application of traditional rules for statutory
interpretation. United States v. Bronstein, 849 F.3d 1101, 1106 (D.C. Cir. 2017). “‘Only if no
construction can save the Act from this claim of unconstitutionality are we willing to’ strike the
statute.” Id. (quoting Screws v. United States, 325 U.S. 91, 100 (1945)). However, courts are
barred from retroactively “applying a novel construction of a criminal statute to conduct that
neither the statute nor any prior judicial decision has fairly disclosed to be within its scope.” United
States v. Councilman, 418 F.3d 67, 84 (1st Cir. 2005) (en banc) (quoting United States v. Lanier,
520 U.S. 259, 266 (1997)); see also United States v. Salisbury, 983 F.2d 1369, 1380 (6th Cir. 1993) People v. Manglona, 2024 Guam 8, Opinion Page 11 of 25
(“Where . . . a vague statute is so indefinitely defined that a reasonable defendant, at the time she
was charged, could not reasonably foresee a future judicial construction proscribing her conduct,
we believe it is inappropriate for a court to attempt to cure the defect and retroactively apply the
construction to conduct which occurred prior to its holding.”).
2. The term “maliciously” is not vague
[21] Manglona essentially argues that an ordinary person does not have fair notice of what
conduct the stalking statute forbids because “maliciously” is susceptible to multiple definitions.
He states these definitions include: “1. The intent, without justification or excuse, to commit a
wrongful act. 2. Reckless disregard for [sic] of the law or of a person’s legal rights. 3. Ill will;
wickedness of heart.” Appellant’s Br. at 28 (quoting Malice, Black’s Law Dictionary (9th ed.
2009)). Manglona rhetorically asks whether, “when measured by common understanding and
practices, and when considered by persons of ordinary intelligence,” the statute provided fair
warning his conduct was criminalized by the statute; he answers, “[I]t is at least vague as to
whether [his actions] constituted malicious conduct.” Id. at 18–19. But this is not vagueness; it is
merely ambiguity.
[22] We agree with the Florida District Court of Appeal that “[v]agueness and ambiguity are
distinct legal concepts, with different definitions.” Curtis, 379 So. 3d at 1189. A statute is
ambiguous if its terms are susceptible to two or more reasonable interpretations. In re Est. of Leon
Guerrero, 2023 Guam 10 ¶ 45. But a statute is vague only if “no standard of conduct is specified
at all.” Hoffman Ests., 455 U.S. at 495 n.7 (quoting Coates, 402 U.S. at 614). Simply because the
term “maliciously” may be susceptible to multiple interpretations does not render the stalking
statute void for vagueness. Applying our traditional rules of statutory construction, we can
construct the term “maliciously” to avoid any ambiguity—let alone vagueness. People v. Manglona, 2024 Guam 8, Opinion Page 12 of 25
[23] “[W]hen a legislature adopts a statute that is identical or similar to one in effect in another
jurisdiction, it is presumed that the adopting jurisdiction applies the construction placed on the
statute by the originating jurisdiction.” In re Est. of Leon Guerrero, 2023 Guam 10 ¶ 35 (quoting
Sumitomo Constr. Co. v. Zhong Ye, Inc., 1997 Guam 8 ¶ 7). Furthermore, “[t]erms of art—words
that carry an accepted or specialized meaning at common law—are to be construed in light of their
accepted technical meaning unless the legislature has indicated otherwise.” People v. Hosei, 2023
Guam 22 ¶ 65 (quoting People v. Tennessen, 2010 Guam 12 ¶ 10). Thus, because the Legislature
adopted California’s stalking statute, it is presumed to have adopted California’s construction of
the term “maliciously.” And because the term also carries a specialized meaning at common law,
see, e.g., United States v. Kelly, 676 F.3d 912, 917 (9th Cir. 2012) (“[T]he term ‘maliciously’ had
a particular meaning at common law.”), it should be construed in light of its accepted meaning,
see Hosei, 2023 Guam 22 ¶ 65.
[24] Section 7 of the California Penal Code defines the term “maliciously” to “import a wish to
vex, annoy, or injure another person, or an intent to do a wrongful act, established either by proof
or presumption of law.” Cal. Penal Code § 7(b)(4). There are multiple common law definitions
of malice, which vary by jurisdiction and context. United States v. Gray, 780 F.3d 458, 467 n.10
(1st Cir. 2015). However, malice is generally defined as “1. The intent, without justification or
excuse, to commit a wrongful act. 2. Reckless disregard of the law or of a person’s legal
rights. 3. Ill will; wickedness of heart. Malice, Black’s Law Dictionary (9th ed. 2009); People v.
Rogers, 979 N.W.2d 747, 757 (Mich. Ct. App. 2021). We hold that the proper construction to be
placed on the term “maliciously” in the stalking statute is a wish to vex, annoy, or injure, or an
intent to do a wrongful act. This is consistent with both California law and the common law. See
People v. Uecker, 91 Cal. Rptr. 3d 355, 365 n.8 (Ct. App. 2009); Commonwealth v. Lehan, 176 People v. Manglona, 2024 Guam 8, Opinion Page 13 of 25
N.E.3d 1016, 1023–24 (Mass. App. Ct. 2021) (applying common law definition of malice in
context of stalking statute, holding that “‘[t]he concept of malice . . . need not include the element
of hatred, spite, grudge, or ill will,’ but rather only requires that the acts were ‘intentional and
without justification or mitigation.’” (alterations in original) (quoting Commonwealth v. O’Neil,
853 N.E.2d 576 (Mass. App. Ct. 2006))).
[25] This is not a novel construction of the term “maliciously,” and a defendant could
reasonably foresee a future judicial construction proscribing his conduct. See Councilman, 418
F.3d at 84; Salisbury, 983 F.2d at 1380. California courts have long held that the word ‘malice’ is
not unconstitutionally vague because it has a well-established meaning. Fletcher, 89 Cal. Rptr. at
96. In People v. McClelland, 49 Cal. Rptr. 2d 587, 591 (Ct. App. 1996), the California Court of
Appeal observed that a defendant could not argue in good faith that the language of the statute
criminalizing “willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly” harassing another person was
unconstitutionally vague in part because the term “maliciously” had “been part of the Penal Code
lexicon since 1872.”
[26] The definition of the term “maliciously” is sufficiently certain because it is a word of long
usage with a common law meaning, “notwithstanding an element of degree in the definition as to
which estimates might differ.” See Fletcher, 89 Cal. Rptr. at 96 (quoting Lorenson v. Superior
Court, 216 P.2d 859, 866 (Cal. 1950)). We agree with the California courts that a defendant cannot
reasonably contend the term “maliciously” in subsection (a) of the stalking statute is vague. A
person does not have to speculate on the type of “malicious” behavior that the stalking statute
criminalizes; it prohibits willfully, repeatedly harassing another person—either with “a wish to
vex, annoy, or injure” or an “intent to do a wrongful act.” See Cal. Penal Code § 7; Lanzetta, 306
U.S. at 453 (“No one may be required at peril of life, liberty or property to speculate as to the People v. Manglona, 2024 Guam 8, Opinion Page 14 of 25
meaning of penal statutes.”). The stalking statute is not doomed by uncertainty about what type
of malicious conduct is covered and what is not.
[27] We conclude the stalking statute “clearly prohibit[ed]” Manglona’s conduct, and he cannot
challenge “whether the law may be vague for other hypothetical defendants.” United States v.
Hasson, 26 F.4th 610, 616–17 (4th Cir. 2022) (quoting Hosford, 843 F.3d at 170). The statute
required Manglona to conform his conduct to what was perhaps “an imprecise but comprehensible
normative standard,” but this is not a case where “no standard of conduct [wa]s specified at all.”
See Hoffman Ests, 455 U.S. at 495 n.7 (quoting Coates, 402 U.S. at 614). The stalking statute
provided adequate notice to Manglona that his particular conduct was proscribed. See United
States v. Harris, 705 F.3d 929, 932 (9th Cir. 2013). Manglona was on actual notice that his
repeated visits to M.M.’s home were prohibited. Manglona’s probation officer correctly told him
that he could not be at M.M.’s home—while Manglona was physically present in her home.
Despite this warning, Manglona returned to M.M.’s home mere hours later. Similarly, Manglona
cannot maintain that the alleged vagueness in the law resulted in it being applied arbitrarily to him.
For example, he was violating the law while on speaker phone with his probation officer. And it
was not until Manglona returned to M.M.’s home for a fourth time—after being warned by his
probation officer not to return—that he was eventually arrested. Nothing about the enforcement
of the stalking statute against Manglona can be characterized as “arbitrary.”
[28] As used in the stalking statute, the term “maliciously” is not vague as applied to Manglona.
3. Subsection (b) of 9 GCA § 19.70 is not unconstitutionally vague as applied to Manglona
[29] Manglona also argues the phrase “in violation of a court order” is vague “in its failure to
define: (i) what constitutes a violation of a court order, (ii) who determines whether a violation
occurred, the order issuing Judge, or another trier of fact, and (iii) is a prior adjudication of People v. Manglona, 2024 Guam 8, Opinion Page 15 of 25
violation required or not required, and if so, when.” Appellant’s Br. at 22. However, we note
from the outset that the phrase “in violation of a court order” does not appear in the stalking
statute.3 Instead, the statute states: “A person is guilty of advanced stalking if he or she violates
Subsection (a) of this Section when there is a temporary restraining order or an injunction or both
or any other court order in effect prohibiting the behavior described in that Subsection against the
same party.” 9 GCA § 19.70(b).
[30] For a statute to provide fair notice, its terms must allow an ordinary person to understand
what conduct the statute prohibits. Tfong, 2021 Guam 13 ¶ 15. “The touchstone is whether the
statute, either standing alone or as construed, made it reasonably clear at the relevant time that the
defendant’s conduct was criminal.” Lanier, 520 U.S. at 267.
[31] Contrary to Manglona’s arguments, to commit advanced stalking, a defendant need not be
held in contempt or otherwise adjudicated as having violated a court order. Violation of a court
order is its own offense. 9 GCA § 30.40 (as amended by P.L. 32-017:3 (Apr. 11, 2013)). Instead,
the focus is on the defendant’s behavior and whether there was an order in place prohibiting that
behavior. We find persuasive the California Court of Appeal’s explanation of the interplay of
these two subsections:
Applying these principles, it is true that subdivisions (a) and (b) are to be read together. However, it is not the language of the subdivision (a) and the language of the restraining order which must be harmonized, it is that defendant’s behavior must have violated both subdivision (a) and the order. If the defendant’s conduct constitutes repeated following or harassment and defendant has made a credible threat, then defendant has violated subdivision (a). If the same conduct is also prohibited by an existing restraining order against the defendant, then the defendant has violated subdivision (b). Thus, subdivision (b) serves the manifest legislative purpose of providing enhanced punishment to those stalkers who have been ordered to refrain from such conduct in civil proceedings, and, hence, have
3 The phrase was used in a jury instruction and in the amended indictment. RA, tab 43 at 53 (Jury Instrs., Feb. 22, 2023); RA, tab 37 at 1 (Am. Indictment, Feb. 9, 2023). However, Manglona makes no effort to explain what effect, if any, a charging document or jury instruction has on a defendant’s claim that a statute is void vagueness. People v. Manglona, 2024 Guam 8, Opinion Page 16 of 25
been warned that their behavior is unacceptable. We conclude subdivision (b) adequately informed defendant of the conduct which was proscribed.
McClelland, 49 Cal. Rptr. 2d at 592 (citation omitted). Although Guam’s statute has been
modified slightly from California to require harassment or a credible threat (but not necessarily
both), the reasoning about the interplay between the two subsections remains applicable. The
focus is on the defendant’s behavior; the jury is asked to determine whether his behavior violated
subsection (a) and whether there was a court order in effect that prohibited that behavior.
[32] Manglona does not dispute he was subject to an order of conditional release which required
him to stay away from M.M. Appellant’s Br. at 22. Nor could he, as the order bears his signature
below the declaration, “I have received a copy of this order and I understand that a violation of
this order is a Contempt of Court and shall cause me to be arrested and be subject to possible
further criminal charges and/or revocation of my pre-trial release.” People’s Ex. 2 (Order of
Conditional Release for CF0648-22, Oct. 18, 2022) (admitted into evidence at Tr. at 33–35 (Jury
Trial, Day 1)); see also Exs. Admitted – Chain of Custody (Feb. 22, 2023). Subsection (b) provides
fair notice to individuals because individuals are not forced to speculate about whether a court
order prohibiting harassing behavior against a person is in effect. As illustrated by this case, such
orders are not entered secretly; the persons to whom they are addressed are put on actual notice of
the unacceptable behavior the order enjoins.
[33] Manglona’s arguments about arbitrary enforcement of subsection (b) also fail for similar
reasons. He claims that the statute fails to provide minimal guidelines to law enforcement because
the statute is vague regarding “[w]ho determines whether a person is [sic] committed the conduct
in violation of a court order: the police, the order issuing judge, or someone else, and if so, when?”
Appellant’s Br. at 23. This argument ignores the actual text of subsection (b). “Violation of a
court order” is not an element of advanced stalking. If a finder of facts determines that a defendant People v. Manglona, 2024 Guam 8, Opinion Page 17 of 25
is guilty of simple stalking, the only inquiry under subsection (b) is whether there was a court order
“in effect prohibiting the behavior . . . against the same party.” 9 GCA § 19.70(b). Manglona
concedes that “it is undisputed that [he] was subject to a Conditional Order of Release that required
him to stay away from and have no contact with, and to not harass [M.M.].” Appellant’s Br. at 22.
But contrary to his arguments, the fact that “the court never heard the violation reports, he was
never adjudicated to have violated the Order, and there was no action to revoke his release,” id., is
irrelevant. Subsection (b) created no greater risk for arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement
against Manglona than did the court order of protection it contemplated. Manglona cannot show
that subsection (b) was vague as applied to his conduct. It provided him fair notice, and it was not
applied arbitrarily.
4. The term “repeatedly” is not unconstitutionally vague as applied to Manglona
[34] Manglona argues that because the stalking statute does not define “repeatedly” and
“because the court did not instruct the jury on the definition of repeatedly, the danger exists that
Manglona’s jurors, while presumably possessing common intelligence, might have guessed at its
meaning and differed as to its application in their deliberations and in their decision to convict
him.” Appellant’s Reply Br. at 8 (Mar. 28, 2024). The People argue the term “repeatedly” does
not need a statutory definition and that its common understanding can be used. Appellee’s Br. at
13–14 (Mar. 14, 2024).
[35] The U.S. Supreme Court has held that when a statute is attacked as vague, “[i]mpossible
standards of specificity are not required. The test is whether the language conveys sufficiently
definite warning as to the proscribed conduct when measured by common understanding and
practices.” Jordan v. De George, 341 U.S. 223, 231–32 (1951) (citations omitted). The vagueness
doctrine “does not preclude the use of ordinary terms to express ideas which find adequate People v. Manglona, 2024 Guam 8, Opinion Page 18 of 25
interpretation in common usage and understanding.” Budd v. Madigan, 418 F.2d 1032, 1035 (9th
Cir. 1969) (citing Sproles v. Binford, 286 U.S. 374, 393 (1932)). “Mathematical precision is not
required in legislation. Although there may be issues of interpretation regarding the meaning of a
statute, that in itself does not give rise to a finding of unconstitutional vagueness.” Farkas v.
Miller, 151 F.3d 900, 905–06 (8th Cir. 1998) (citing Grayned, 408 U.S. at 110). As the Fourth
Circuit has observed:
[W]e cannot . . . throw[] up our hands and declar[e] a statute vague simply because it does not include the most elaborate or the most specific definitions possible. The test for vagueness “is necessarily a practical rather than hypertechnical one,” and when a statute fails to provide an explicit definition, we may resort to ordinary meaning and common sense . . . .”
United States v. Shrader, 675 F.3d 300, 310 (4th Cir. 2012) (quoting United States v. Biocic, 928
F.2d 112, 114 (4th Cir. 1991)). This issue has been so thoroughly litigated across the United States
that over twenty years ago, the Supreme Court of Kansas observed that “the overwhelming
majority of other jurisdictions” have held that “repeated or repeatedly is a word of common
understanding so that its meaning is not vague. It simply means that the following or harassment
must have occurred more than one time.” State v. Rucker, 987 P.2d 1080, 1093 (Kan. 1999); see
also Budd, 418 F.2d at 1035 (holding criminal statute not vague merely because it “uses ordinary
terms”); Farkas, 151 F.3d at 905–06 (“Mathematical precision is not required in legislation.
Although there may be issues of interpretation regarding the meaning of a statute, that in itself
does not give rise to a finding of unconstitutional vagueness.” (citation omitted)).
[36] Manglona asks us to ignore this overwhelming weight of persuasive authority, essentially
throwing up our hands and declaring the stalking statute vague because it used the ordinary term
“repeatedly” without including a mathematical definition. We decline to do so. As the California
Court of Appeal has observed in People v. Heilman, “[t]here is nothing mysterious or ambiguous People v. Manglona, 2024 Guam 8, Opinion Page 19 of 25
about the term “repeatedly” to lead an actor to reasonably believe he will not be subject to the
penalty under the statute if he engages in willful, malicious following [or harassment] on more
than one occasion.” 30 Cal. Rptr. 2d 422, 427 (Ct. App. 1994).
[37] Manglona does not dispute he showed up at M.M.’s home four times while under an order
to stay away from her. See Appellant’s Br. at 3–6. There is nothing about the term “repeatedly”
that would lead Manglona to reasonably believe he would not be subject to the penalty under the
stalking statute if he engaged in willful, malicious harassment more than once—let alone four
times. As applied to Manglona, the term “repeatedly” conveyed a “sufficiently definite warning
as to the proscribed conduct when measured by common understanding and practices.” See
Jordan, 341 U.S. at 231–32.
[38] We also agree with the Heilman court that “‘repeatedly’ as used in this statute is not so
vague as to create the danger of arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement of the law.” Cal. Rptr.
2d at 427. The requirement that the behavior occur “repeatedly” lowers the risk of arbitrary
enforcement because not until a perpetrator harasses a victim more than once does the conduct rise
to a criminal level. See id. “[T]he commonsense term ‘repeatedly’ when read in light of the entire
statute is not unconstitutionally vague.” Id. at 428. Once a person has willfully and maliciously
harassed another person more than one time, “the crime has been consummated, and there is no
speculation on law enforcement’s part to encourage arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement.”
Tfong, 2021 Guam 13 ¶ 26. The term “repeatedly” is not vague as applied to Manglona.
B. There Is Sufficient Evidence on the Essential Element of Acting “Maliciously”
[39] Finally, Manglona argues that even if the stalking statute is constitutional, there was
insufficient evidence to convict him on the element of acting maliciously. Appellant’s Br. at 24.
The standard of review for sufficiency claims depends on whether trial counsel moved for a People v. Manglona, 2024 Guam 8, Opinion Page 20 of 25
judgment of acquittal. Taisacan, 2023 Guam 19 ¶ 12; Maysho, 2005 Guam 4 ¶ 6. Because
Manglona’s trial counsel did not move for a judgment of acquittal in the Superior Court, we review
the sufficiency of evidence supporting his conviction for plain error. Maysho, 2005 Guam 4 ¶ 6.
Under the plain error standard, Manglona bears the burden of showing an error, obvious under
current law, that affected his substantial rights. People v. Bosi, 2022 Guam 15 ¶ 47. Manglona
“also must show that not reversing would lead to a miscarriage of justice [or pose a] threat to
judicial integrity.” People v. Finik, 2017 Guam 21 ¶ 33 (quoting People v. Quitugua, 2009 Guam
10 ¶ 43 n.9). Like any sufficiency challenge, “this court is ‘concerned with the mere existence or
nonexistence of evidence, not its weight,’” and we “consider the evidence presented at trial in the
light most favorable to the prosecution.” People v. Riosen, 2023 Guam 23 ¶¶ 28–29 (first quoting
People v. Perez, 2021 Guam 18 ¶ 28; and then quoting United States v. Nevils, 598 F.3d 1158,
1164 (9th Cir. 2010)).
[40] Manglona argues there is insufficient evidence to support his conviction on the essential
element of acting “maliciously” because “[t]here was no demonstrated intent to harm, to commit
injury, and no manifestation of wickedness or evil intentions. Instead, the trial evidence
demonstrates that Manglona did not act maliciously. Manglona missed, was concerned about, and
was checking on his children, and asked [M.M.] to dismiss the family violence case.” Appellant’s
Br. at 32–33. He also claims that the jury could not have properly considered the malice element
because “there was no instruction, the instructions given were insufficient to instruct the jury on
what ‘maliciously’ meant and how they were to apply the facts to the unstated law, and the trial
court itself was unclear about the legal definition or standard for ‘maliciously.’” Id. at 33. We
disagree. People v. Manglona, 2024 Guam 8, Opinion Page 21 of 25
[41] The evidence submitted in this case includes testimony by the victim M.M., Manglona’s
probation officer, and the arresting officer. The jury also viewed admitted evidence of Manglona’s
file from the family violence case, the order of conditional release that included the stay away/no
contact order, and four photographs of M.M.’s bruise that precipitated the family violence case
and stay away order. Tr. at 66–70 (Jury Trial, Day 1).
[42] M.M. testified that the police visited Manglona’s house for an unrelated incident, when
they noticed a bruise on her. Id. at 55–56. When asked about the bruise, M.M. stated that
Manglona had been abusing her for the past year. See id. at 53–56, 70. Manglona was issued a
stay away order, and he was to have no contact with M.M. as a condition of his release from
custody. Id. at 71. Despite this, M.M. testified that Manglona went to her house on the same
evening he was released from custody. Id. at 71–72. M.M. testified that Manglona was at her
house around 2:00 a.m. on the evening Manglona was released, trying to open the windows or
doors. Id. at 72–73. M.M. testified she was shaking and scared when she heard him outside, and
she called the police, but Manglona left before the police arrived. Id. at 72–74.
[43] M.M. also testified about three other incidents when Manglona appeared at her house.
During the second incident, Manglona spent an hour asking M.M. to drop the case against him by
writing a letter to the judge. Id. at 75–76; see also Appellant’s Br. at 33 (conceding Manglona
asked M.M. to drop the case). After that was unsuccessful, M.M. testified, Manglona came back
to her house the next day, violating the stay away/no contact order for a third time. Tr. at 77 (Jury
Trial, Day 1). This time, Manglona entered the house before he was confronted by M.M., who
was on the phone reporting Manglona’s behavior the day before to his probation officer. Id.; Tr.
at 30 (Jury Trial, Day 2). Manglona’s probation officer also testified, corroborating the account
that, incredibly, Manglona appeared at M.M.’s house while she was reporting him for showing up People v. Manglona, 2024 Guam 8, Opinion Page 22 of 25
at the house the night before. Tr. at 30 (Jury Trial, Day 2). The probation officer testified that she
told Manglona to leave “immediately.” Id. The fourth incident M.M. testified about was from
later the same evening, when M.M. believed Manglona had returned to her home based on a signal
from her neighbor as she was driving up. See Tr. at 78–79 (Jury Trial, Day 1). M.M. left to report
Manglona to the police, and he was eventually arrested. Id. at 80.
[44] In determining whether there is sufficient evidence to sustain Manglona’s conviction, our
“review is limited to whether there is sufficient evidence to support each element of the crime . . .
for which the defendant is convicted.” People v. Taisacan, 2018 Guam 23 ¶ 18. Because
Manglona challenges the People’s evidence on only the acting “maliciously” element, we review
this evidence “in the light most favorable to the People and determine whether any rational trier of
fact could have found” whether Manglona acted maliciously “beyond a reasonable doubt.” People
v. Song, 2021 Guam 14 ¶ 18 (quoting People v. Wia, 2020 Guam 17 ¶ 35). Our sufficiency-of-
the-evidence test “leaves juries broad discretion in deciding what inferences to draw from the
evidence presented at trial, requiring only that jurors ‘draw reasonable inferences from basic facts
to ultimate facts.’” Riosen, 2023 Guam 23 ¶ 29 (quoting Coleman v. Johnson, 566 U.S. 650, 655
(2012) (per curiam)). “[W]hen ‘faced with a record of historical facts that supports conflicting
inferences’ a reviewing court ‘must presume—even if it does not affirmatively appear in the
record—that the trier of fact resolved any such conflicts in favor of the prosecution, and must defer
to that resolution.’” Id. ¶ 30 (quoting Nevils, 598 F.3d at 1164).
[45] The stalking statute criminalizes acts that violate the statute when committed either with
“a wish to vex, annoy, or injure another person” or “an intent to do a wrongful act.” See, e.g.,
People v. Garcia, No. B231936, 2012 WL 733897, at *3 (Cal. Ct. App. Mar. 6, 2012) (rejecting People v. Manglona, 2024 Guam 8, Opinion Page 23 of 25
defendant’s argument that prosecution must prove both to satisfy stalking statute) (unpublished).4
We conclude that although the prosecution need only present sufficient evidence of either of these
mental states to sustain a conviction, there was sufficient evidence of both. Cf. People v. Flores,
2004 Guam 18 ¶ 21 (“It is clear that section 25.25 was intended to be read in the disjunctive sense,
allowing evidence of force alone as sufficient to convict under section 25.25.”).
[46] There is sufficient evidence that Manglona acted with a wish to vex, annoy, or injure.
Manglona argues that the evidence shows he acted with no ill will towards M.M., but rather,
“Manglona missed, was concerned about, and was checking on his children, and asked [M.M.] to
dismiss the family violence case.” Appellant’s Br. at 33. That a conflicting inference might be
drawn from the evidence does not render the evidence insufficient. See Riosen, 2023 Guam 23 ¶
30 (“It is not within the purview of this Court to reverse the jury’s verdict simply because a ‘more
reasonable’ inference could be made. Rather, the fact that a conflicting inference can be made is
controlling.” (quoting Myers v. State, 27 N.E.3d 1069, 1078 (Ind. 2015))). The jury could have
made other reasonable inferences from Manglona’s actions. For instance, the testimony that he
tried to contact M.M. at two in the morning right after being released from custody for allegedly
committing domestic violence against M.M. also gives rise to a potential inference that he was
acting with a wish to vex, annoy, or injure. See Tr. at 71–73, 81 (Jury Trial, Day 1) (“After
violating four times, I do not know what’s in his head, what he’s trying to do. And then, again, I
do not have any family here to run to or ask for help. I -- I’m just too scared when I think of the
worst thing to happen.”). The jury was presented with ample evidence from which a rational trier
of fact could have found Manglona acted with a wish to vex, annoy, or injure M.M.
4 While we generally refrain from citing unpublished decisions, there are only a handful of California stalking cases, and most of them are unpublished. Cf. People v. Hosei, 2023 Guam 22 ¶ 31 n.2 (“Although a majority of Michigan Court of Appeals decisions [interpreting their criminal sexual conduct statutes] are unpublished, we rely on unpublished opinions to the extent their reasoned analysis is persuasive in the case before us.” (citation omitted)). People v. Manglona, 2024 Guam 8, Opinion Page 24 of 25
[47] There is also sufficient evidence that Manglona acted with the intent to do a wrongful act.
Manglona does not dispute he was under a court order to stay away from M.M. and her home and
to have no contact with her. See Appellant’s Br. at 3, 22. But even on appeal, he concedes that he
went to M.M.’s house and talked to her about dropping the family violence charges being brought
against him. See Appellant’s Br. at 33. This seems to be a concession that there is evidence that
Manglona intended to do a wrongful act—he intentionally went to M.M.’s home to talk to her
despite knowing he had been ordered not to do either. When Manglona spoke with his probation
officer on M.M.’s phone at M.M.’s home, he was put on notice why it was wrongful for Manglona
to be contacting M.M. at her home. See Tr. at 77–78 (Jury Trial, Day 1); Tr. at 30 (Jury Trial, Day
2). Yet despite this conversation, Manglona returned to M.M.’s home mere hours later. See Tr.
at 78–79 (Jury Trial, Day 1). The People presented sufficient evidence of Manglona intending to
do a wrongful act.
[48] The People presented evidence that Manglona repeatedly went to M.M.’s house while he
was under an order to stay away. The People’s evidence is sufficient to show that Manglona did
this with both ill will and an intent to commit a wrongful act. There is sufficient evidence to
sustain Manglona’s conviction for “maliciously” harassing M.M.
V. CONCLUSION
[49] The stalking statute is not unconstitutionally vague as applied to Manglona. Using our
traditional rules of statutory interpretation, we conclude the proper construction of the term
“maliciously” as used in the statute is “a wish to vex, annoy, or injure” or an “intent to do a
wrongful act.” The term “maliciously” is not vague as applied to Manglona’s conduct. Manglona
cannot show that 9 GCA § 19.70(b) is vague as applied to the facts; there was a court order in
place that prohibited the behavior. The term “repeatedly” is not unconstitutionally vague as People v. Manglona, 2024 Guam 8, Opinion Page 25 of 25
applied to Manglona’s conduct because the common meaning of the term is more than once.
Finally, there is sufficient evidence to support Manglona’s conviction on the element of acting
“maliciously.” Therefore, we AFFIRM Manglona’s conviction under the stalking statute.
/s/ /s/ F. PHILIP CARBULLIDO KATHERINE A. MARAMAN Associate Justice Associate Justice
/s/ ROBERT J. TORRES Chief Justice