People v. Baldwin CA2/2

CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedApril 22, 2014
DocketB245434
StatusUnpublished

This text of People v. Baldwin CA2/2 (People v. Baldwin CA2/2) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Baldwin CA2/2, (Cal. Ct. App. 2014).

Opinion

Filed 4/22/14 P. v. Baldwin CA2/2 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION TWO

THE PEOPLE, B245434

Plaintiff and Respondent, (Los Angeles County Super. Ct. No. BA400585) v.

WILLIAM HENRY BALDWIN, JR., et al.,

Defendants and Appellants.

APPEALS from judgments of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County. Jose I. Sandoval, Judge. Affirmed in part, reversed in part and remanded with directions. Theresa Osterman Stevenson, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant William Henry Baldwin, Jr. Jonathan B. Steiner, Ann Krausz, California Appellate Project, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant Justin Ritter. Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Assistant Attorney General, Margaret E. Maxwell and Tasha G. Timbadia, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent. ___________________________________________________ A jury convicted William Baldwin and Justin Ritter of first degree residential burglary in violation of Penal Code section 459.1 Baldwin admitted having suffered four prior prison sentences within the meaning of section 667.5, subdivision (b). The trial court sentenced Ritter to the low term of two years in state prison. In Baldwin’s case, the trial court imposed the low term of two years and an additional four years for the prior prison term enhancements, for a total sentence of six years. Baldwin and Ritter both appeal on the ground the trial court abused its discretion in denying their respective motions to continue the trial in order to seek Pitchess2 discovery. Baldwin also appeals on the grounds that: (1) the trial court violated his constitutional right to counsel when it failed to conduct a second Marsden3 hearing and denied his request for a trial continuance to retain counsel of his choosing; and (2) evidence of his intent to commit a burglary was legally insufficient to support his conviction and requires reversal of the judgment. FACTS Prosecution Evidence Beverly Rowe is the conservator for Jeanette DuBose who owns a home in Los Angeles in an area of expensive homes. In July 2012, someone broke into DuBose’s home, which contained her collection of 70 to 80 pieces of African art. In the 1970’s, the collection had been valued at approximately $65,000 and had been housed in a museum. At the time of the break-in, DuBose’s home was not in a livable condition due to her hoarding, her refusal of help, and the fact she was blind. Rowe had temporarily moved DuBose to Rowe’s home. Rowe was in the process of having DuBose’s home repaired so that DuBose could live there with 24-hour care. There was a large dumpster

1 All further references to statutes are to the Penal Code unless stated otherwise. 2 Pitchess v. Superior Court (1974) 11 Cal.3d 531 (Pitchess). 3 People v. Marsden (1970) 2 Cal.3d 118 (Marsden).

2 in front of the home, the lawn was dead, and some of the windows were boarded up. In July 2012, Rowe was at the home every day while workers performed their duties. Manuel Ortega, a police officer in the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), was working in his off-duty hours as a security guard for Seagraves, Shaw, and Associates (SSA). DuBose’s neighbor across the street, Joane Henneberger, was an SSA client. Ortega responded to a call from Henneberger at approximately 7:17 a.m. regarding intruders in DuBose’s home. Ortega wore his SSA uniform and arrived in a company vehicle. Henneberger pointed out DuBose’s house to Ortega, and he waited outside the house for the LAPD to arrive. Ortega heard noise from the upstairs and walked to the rear of the home. At the sound of approaching sirens, Ortega heard people running downstairs. At trial, Ortega identified Baldwin and Ritter as the two individuals he saw at the scene. He saw one of the defendants come out of a French window followed shortly thereafter by the other defendant. Ortega testified that he saw one statue being carried out and another one that appeared to be floating horizontally out the window, since he could not see who was holding it. Knowing he had “proper backup” at that point, Ortega yelled to the individuals to stop and put their hands where he could see them. One defendant, later identified as Baldwin, looked toward Ortega and turned back into the house, pushing the other defendant inside as he did so. Ortega told the intruders to come out or he would send a dog in after them. They came out with their hands up and were subsequently handcuffed and removed from the scene. Upon entering, Ortega saw some statues next to the French window. LAPD officers searched the house and found no other suspects. Henneberger testified that she became concerned when she saw a white car outside that Sunday morning. The car had no rear license plate and was unfamiliar to her. It drove rapidly away. Moments later, she saw two men scurrying toward the victim’s home and then back to the rear of the home. Henneberger knew DuBose and knew the two White males were not DuBose’s friends. She called the security company and then 911. She saw Ortega approach the rear of the house with his gun drawn and yell for the

3 intruders to put their hands in the air. She became nervous and called 911 again. Both 911 calls were played for the jury. Henneberger had noticed the two individuals in front of the house the afternoon before, “just lingering around.” Defense Evidence Ritter testified on his own behalf. He admitted having been convicted of felonies in 2001, 2003, and 2004. In July 2012, he was homeless for three or four days. He and Baldwin were together, and they encountered two old friends named Tom and “Joe.” Ritter did not know their last names. The other two men told Baldwin and Ritter about an abandoned house where they could “kick it” for the day. The men said they had been squatting in the house. Because he was coming down from a methamphetamine high and his hernia was hurting him, Ritter decided to go to the house with Baldwin and the other two men. They all walked there. Baldwin was also “high.” Ritter believed the house looked condemned. The four of them walked to the back yard and saw that a window was open. Inside they saw nothing but rubbish. Tom said there was a flat spot where Ritter could lie down, so they all climbed in the window. The place smelled like rats. Baldwin sat down and Ritter passed out on the steps. “Jeff” was there also. Ritter woke up to a voice saying, “Come out. . . . It’s the police.” Ritter followed Baldwin out the window, where he saw three policemen and a security guard. Neither Ritter nor Baldwin had anything in their hands when they left the house. Ritter never touched a statue, and he did not enter the house to steal anything—only to sleep. Ritter had no idea where Jeff and Tom went. Ritter denied being in front of the house the day before. DISCUSSION I. Denial of Continuance to File Pitchess Motions (Baldwin and Ritter) A. Defendants’ Arguments Defendants contend the trial court abused its discretion as a matter of law by denying the request for a continuance and ruling that discovery of Ortega’s police personnel records was not available under the Pitchess procedure. The ruling was contrary to existing precedent and an erroneous application of the law. Since good cause

4 was shown in this case, the records were discoverable under the relevant Evidence Code and Penal Code sections.

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People v. Baldwin CA2/2, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-baldwin-ca22-calctapp-2014.