People v. Boivin CA4/2

• Court: California Court of Appeal
• Decided: April 1, 2026
• Docket: E082609
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

Filed 4/1/26 P. v. Boivin CA4/2 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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

FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION TWO

THE PEOPLE,

Plaintiff and Respondent, E082609

v. (Super.Ct.No. SWF2101325)

ROBERT JAMES BOIVIN, OPINION

Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL from the Superior Court of Riverside County. Laura Garcia, Judge.

Affirmed with directions.

Joanna McKim, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and

Appellant.

Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney General,

Charles C. Ragland, Assistant Attorney General, Arlene A. Sevidal and Arlyn Escalante,

Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

1 INTRODUCTION

Robert Boivin (Defendant) was convicted of 18 criminal violations, 17 of which

pertained to his regular sexual abuse of Jane Doe (Doe), the daughter of his girlfriend,

April P. for approximately eight years. Defendant was charged with multiple criminal

violations relating to oral copulation, digital penetration, lewd and lascivious acts, and

rape (Pen. Code, §§ 288.7, subd. (b); 288, subd. (b)(1); 269, subds. (a)(4) and (5); 289

subd. (a)(1)(C); 287, subd. (c)(2)(C); 264 subd. (c)(2))1 and one violation of furnishing

cannabis to of Doe. (Health & Saf. Code, § 11361, subd. (b).) Following a trial by jury,

Defendant was convicted and sentenced to an aggregated term comprising an

indeterminate term of 45 years to life consecutive to a determinate term of 110 years in

prison. He appeals.

On appeal, Defendant argues his convictions must be reversed because (1) the trial

court failed to instruct the jury on nonforcible sexual penetration and oral copulation of a

minor aged 14 or older on counts 11 to 16 as lesser included offenses; (2) there is

insufficient evidence to support the conviction for furnishing cannabis; (3) there is

insufficient evidence to support the convictions for counts 9 through 16 (alleging

violations of §§ 269, subd. (a)(4)-(5), § 289, subd. (a)(1)(C), & § 287, subd. (c)(2)(C));

(4) the prosecutor committed misconduct during arguments to the jury; (5) the court

abused its discretion in imposing the midterm sentence on counts 3 through 8, and 11

through 18, for which remand is required pursuant to Assembly Bill No. 124 (2020-2021

1 All further statutory reference are to the Penal Code unless otherwise indicated.

2 Reg. Sess.), Stats. 2021, ch. 695, § 5); and (6) the abstract of judgment is incorrect. We

affirm with directions to modify the abstract.

BACKGROUND

Doe was 22 years old at the time of trial, born in 2000, and lived in Hemet,

California, until moving to Santa Maria, California, when she was 17 years old. April,

Doe’s mother, met Defendant when Doe was five years old, and soon afterwards,

Defendant moved in with Doe and April. At some point, they moved to another residence

where Defendant’s mother and other family members lived at various times. Doe did not

remember large parts of her childhood.

Shortly after April and Defendant started dating, Defendant moved in with April

and Doe at the apartments where they first lived. Doe remembered there was some

inappropriate touching by Defendant while living at this location, but she did not

remember specifics. Doe called Defendant “dad.”

When Doe was about eight years old and in elementary school, her family moved

from that first apartment into a townhome. Doe lived there with April, Defendant, and

her little sister, R.B., April’s daughter by Defendant. Doe was about 10 years old when

she started middle school in the sixth grade, and she was 13 years old when she entered

high school. She graduated high school when she was 17.

Doe’s earliest memories of Defendant touching her inappropriately were when she

was 10 years old and in either fifth or sixth grade. Doe remembered that when she was

that age, Defendant came into her bedroom for the first time while she was sleeping, and

started massaging her legs, making his way up to her vagina. Doe testified that

3 Defendant would finger her and lick her “down there,” ever since she could remember.

This would happen every day, sometimes twice a day. Doe recalled him licking her in the

vagina until she pushed him away. She would tell him that she did not want him close to

her, but then she would let it happen because if she did not, he would not allow her to do

certain things like hang out with her friends. Defendant would also threaten to leave the

house, and Doe would be scared that she, April, and her little sister would be left without

any money.

Other times when Doe pushed Defendant away, he would push her hands away or

hold her hands or her thighs down so she would not move. Sometimes she would ask

him to stop, and he would, but then he would have a bad attitude towards everyone in the

house until it happened again.

Doe would try to stop the abuse from happening by pushing Defendant’s head

away, but he would sometimes get angry and still do it despite her pushing him away.

There were times when she said “no,” and then the next day, when she asked Defendant

whether she could hang out with friends, Defendant would ask what she would do for

him in return. Even before high school, if she had tried to stop the abuse, Defendant

would tell her she could not have dessert, or watch TV, or he would ground her for some

reason.

Defendant would also grab Doe’s hand and force it onto his penis, and Doe would

pull it away; then she would always refuse and leave the room. This happened multiple

times and most recently when she was 13 years old. Defendant would put his fingers in

4 Doe’s vagina or anus almost every day and even more so when they were in the car on

their way to pick up April from classes she was taking at the time.

Defendant’s oral copulation and fingering of Doe continued all throughout high

school until she moved out of Hemet. There were times in high school where Doe would

seek sexual attention from Defendant, but afterwards, she would feel disgusted with

herself.

The most recent incident with Defendant happened right before Doe moved out of

Hemet. Defendant was hanging out in the front yard with a neighbor, “Bubba.” They

were drinking and smoking, and Doe joined them to play dominoes. Bubba offered Doe

some marijuana, and Doe asked Defendant for permission to smoke it. Defendant and

April allowed Doe to drink and smoke from the time she was 15 years old, as long as she

had their permission. Doe remembered that after drinking and smoking with Bubba and

Defendant, she went inside to sleep on the couch. When she woke up, Defendant was on

top of her having sex with her. She could feel something happening below her waist, and

she realized Defendant’s penis was in her vagina. She was very hazy waking up, but she

kicked Defendant off, and she stayed in her room for the rest of the day until April and

other friends came over to the house. Doe moved to Santa Maria the same week of this

incident.

The only person Doe told about the abuse was an online friend with whom she

texted. April found out about the abuse when she read those text messages on an old

phone that had belonged to Doe. April confronted Defendant, and he said that he had

never forced Doe to do anything. Defendant admitted to sexually penetrating and orally

5 copulating Doe. He told April this had started when Doe was “around 11 when she

became a young woman.” Doe told police officers that the abuse had been going on for

eight to 10 years. Doe remembered Defendant told her—when he had started touching

her at the age of six—that she “could get used to it because it was a different kind of love

that stepparents would show their children.”

Defendant testified in his own defense at trial and admitted he had sexual contact

with Doe. The last time there was sexual contact between them was after Doe turned 18.

Defendant stated that he believed Doe wanted the sexual interactions to take place, and

she never indicated that she did not want to engage in this conduct.

According to Defendant, Doe was 11 and a half at the time he started engaging in

sexual activity with her. Defendant testified that he asked Doe for her permission when

this started. He would ask her if she wanted to “mess around.” Defendant admitted that

he knew what he was doing to Doe was wrong. At one point, when Doe was 14, she

asked Defendant to stop the sexual activity, and he agreed, but then, according to

Defendant, she reinitiated the contact about a month later. Defendant denied ever asking

Doe for sexual favors in exchange for allowing her to go out with friends.

Defendant’s conduct began with touching Doe by tickling her and touching her

vagina. The touching then progressed when he told her he wanted to try something

different and inserted his fingers into her vagina. He knew it was wrong. This, in turn,

progressed to putting his hand down her pants by again asking her if she wanted to try

something new. Defendant did not know if this is something Doe wanted to do, but she

allowed it, and for him, this made it okay. According to Defendant, months later, when

6 Doe was 12, he asked her if she wanted to try something new again, and he asked her to

pull down her pants. Doe obeyed him, and he started orally copulating her. Defendant

felt sexual gratification from this. Defendant admitted that he would put his fingers in

her vagina and orally copulate her two to four times a week from the time she was 11

until she moved out of the house.

Defendant admitted that on the day he and Bubba were smoking and drinking, Doe

also smoked, and she looked “stoned.” He admitted he gave Doe permission to smoke

the marijuana Bubba gave to her. Defendant admitted having sexual intercourse with

Doe and stated that she had taken off her own clothes, and she had helped take off his

clothes. According to Defendant, Doe did not tell him to stop or push him away.

Defendant was charged by an information with two violations involving oral

copulation or penetration with a person under 10 years of age (§ 288.7, subd. (b), counts

1 & 2), six violations of lewd and lascivious acts on a person under 14 by force, violence,

duress, menace, and fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury2 (§ 288, subd. (b)(1),

counts 3-8), oral copulation by force or fear on a person under the age of 14 and seven or

more years younger than Defendant (§ 269, subd. (a)(4), count 9), digital penetration by

force on a child under 14 (§ 269, subd. (a)(5), count 10), three violations alleging digital

penetration by force on a child aged 14 years or older (§ 289, subd. (a)(1)(C), counts 11,

2 Counts 3 and 5 involved allegations of digital penetration of Doe; counts 4 and 6 involved acts of oral copulation, and counts 7 and 8 involved allegations that Defendant forced Doe to touch his penis. Henceforth, we refer to the elements of “force, violence, duress, menace, and fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury” using the shorthand reference to “force or fear.”

7 13, 15), three violations alleging oral copulation by force on a child 14 or older (§ 287,

subd. (c)(2)(C), counts 12, 14, 16), one count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor

above the age of 14 by force and without consent (§ 264, subd. (c)(2), count 17) and one

count of unlawfully furnishing cannabis to a minor over the age of 14. (Health & Saf.

Code, § 11361, subd. (b).)

The information further alleged several aggravating circumstances, within the

meaning of California Rules of Court, rules 4.421(a)(1), (3), (7), and (11).

A jury convicted Defendant as charged on counts 2 through 18, and convicted him

of the lesser included offense of attempted sexual penetration under sections 664 and 289,

subdivision (a)(1), in count 1. The jury also returned findings that in the commission of

the acts alleged in counts 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16, the Defendant did use force,

violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury on a minor age

14 or older.

A court trial was conducted respecting the alleged aggravating factors, in which

the trial court found true that Doe was a particularly vulnerable victim, that Defendant

was in a position of trust or confidence, and that Defendant committed more than one

crime for which consecutive sentences could be imposed.

The trial judge sentenced Defendant to a total determinate term of 110 years, plus

an indeterminate term of 45 years to life. The court imposed a minimum restitution fine

in the amount of $300 pursuant to section 1202.4, which was stayed, suspended a parole

revocation restitution fine in the same amount pending successful completion of parole,

imposed a fine of $300 pursuant to section 290.3, and a fine of $70 pursuant to section

8 264, subdivision (b). The court waived the $40 court operations assessment fee pursuant

to section 1465.8, as well as the $30 conviction assessment fee pursuant to Government

Code section 70373 for each count of conviction.

Defendant timely appealed.

DISCUSSION

1. Whether the Trial Court Erred in Failing to Instruct on a Lesser Offense

Defendant acknowledges that the trial court instructed the jury on various lesser

included offenses respecting counts 11 through 16, involving violations in which

Defendant was alleged to have used force, violence or fear in the commission of the

crimes. On appeal, Defendant argues the trial court was required to instruct sua sponte on

nonforcible sexual penetration as a lesser included offense of forcible sexual penetration

and nonforcible oral copulation as a lesser included offense of forcible oral copulation.

We find no prejudicial error.

a. General Legal Principles Governing Duty to Instruct Sua Sponte

“ ‘The trial court is obligated to instruct the jury on all general principles of law

relevant to the issues raised by the evidence, whether or not the defendant makes a formal

request.’ [Citations.] ‘That obligation encompasses instructions on lesser included

offenses if there is evidence that, if accepted by the trier of fact, would absolve the

defendant of guilt of the greater offense but not of the lesser.’ ” (People v. Rogers (2006)

39 Cal.4th 826, 866.) Stated another way, “ ‘[a] trial court must instruct the jury on a

lesser included offense, whether or not the defendant so requests, whenever evidence that

the defendant is guilty of only the lesser offense is substantial enough to merit

9 consideration by the jury.’ ” (People v. Nieves (2021) 11 Cal.5th 404, 463, citing People

v. Halvorsen (2007) 42 Cal.4th 379, 414, fn. omitted.)

However, ‘‘ ‘ “the existence of ‘any evidence, no matter how weak’ will not justify

instructions on a lesser included offense … .’’ [Citation.] Such instructions are required

only where there is ‘‘substantial evidence’’ from which a rational jury could conclude that

the defendant committed the lesser offense, and that he is not guilty of the greater

offense.’ ’’ (People v. Whalen (2013) 56 Cal.4th 1, 68.) “Substantial support requires

introduction of “‘“‘evidence sufficient to ‘deserve consideration by the jury,’ that is,

evidence that a reasonable jury could find persuasive.’’’’’’ ” (People v. Wilson (2021) 11

Cal.5th 259, 295.)

We review the trial court’s failure to instruct on a lesser included offense de novo.

(See People v. Licas (2007) 41 Cal.4th 362, 367; People v. Manriquez (2005) 37 Cal.4th

547, 581.) We consider the evidence in the light most favorable to the defendant.

(People v. Millbrook (2014) 222 Cal.App.4th 1122, 1137; People v. Turk (2008) 164

Cal.App.4th 1361, 1368, fn. 5.) A trial court’s erroneous failure to instruct on a lesser

included offense generally is subject to harmless error review under the standard of

People v. Watson (1956) 46 Cal.2d 818, 836–837.

Reversal is required only if it is reasonably probable the jury would have returned

a different verdict absent the error or errors complained of (Breverman, supra, 19 Cal.4th

at pp. 165–179; see People v. Seaton (2001) 26 Cal.4th 598, 667), or “when the jury

necessarily decides the factual questions posed by the omitted instructions adversely to

defendant under other properly given instructions.” (People v. Lewis (2001) 25 Cal.4th

10 610, 646, citing People v. Sedeno (1974) 10 Cal. 3d 703, 721.) There is an exception to

this rule that applies when the error deprives the defendant of the federal due process

right to present a complete defense. (People v. Rogers (2006) 39 Cal.4th 826, 868, fn. 16,

citing Beck v. Alabama (1980) 447 U.S. 625, 627, and California v. Trombetta (1984) 467

U.S. 479, 485.)

For purposes of determining a trial court’s sua sponte instructional duties, the

Supreme Court has said that “ ‘ “a lesser offense is necessarily included in a greater

offense if either the statutory elements of the greater offense, or the facts actually alleged

in the accusatory pleading, include all the elements of the lesser offense, such that the

greater cannot be committed without also committing the lesser.” ’ ” (People v. Woods

(2015) 241 Cal.App.4th 461, 473 (Woods), quoting People v. Smith (2013) 57 Cal.4th

232, 240.)

b. Analysis

The People concede that nonforcible sexual penetration (§ 289, subd. (h)) is a

lesser included offense of forcible sexual penetration (§ 269, subd. (a)(5)), and

nonforcible oral copulation (§ 287, subd. (b)) is a lesser included offense of forcible oral

copulation (§ 267, subd. (c)(2) & (3).) However, they argue there was no substantial

evidence from which a jury could conclude that Defendant committed only the lesser, and

not the greater offenses. We agree.

As noted in Woods, the question is whether, in assessing and weighing the

evidence independently, the jury could have reasonably concluded that the defendant

committed nonforcible oral copulation of the victim, a minor, but not forcible oral

11 copulation. (Woods, supra, 241 Cal.App.4th at p. 475.) In this case, in contrast to the

record in Woods, we cannot respond affirmatively to that question.

First, the court did instruct on multiple lesser included offenses, including lewd

and lascivious acts on a child under 14 (§ 288a-no force alleged, respecting counts 3

through 8) (CALCRIM No. 1110), and assault with intent to commit forcible oral

copulation (CALCRIM No. 890), as a lesser included offense within the crime of forcible

oral copulation respecting counts 12, 14, and 16. The court also instructed the jury on the

elements of sexual battery (§ 243.4, subd. (e)(1)) (CALCRIM No. 938, a misdemeanor),

simple battery, and simple assault, as lesser included offenses within the crime of sexual

penetration by force or fear, for counts 11, 13, and 15. Regarding defenses, the court

instructed the jury on consent as a defense to counts 9 through 17.

The trial court did not give, and neither Defendant nor the People requested,

CALCRIM No. 1102, respecting nonforcible penetration of a person under the age of 18

as a lesser included offense as to counts 11, 13, and 15, nor did it give CALCRIM

No. 1082, respecting nonforcible oral copulation of a person under the age 18, as a lesser

included offense as to counts 12, 14 and 16. From this, we can assume error in the failure

to give instructions, sua sponte, on lesser included offenses. But that does not end our

inquiry.

The jury was given instructions on the elements of both forcible oral copulation

and forcible sexual penetration, with force, fear, duress, retribution and menace defined

within the instructions defining the offenses. (CALCRIM Nos. 1045, 1015.) These

instructions each included the proviso that if the victim was found to have consented to

12 the acts, the jury must find the defendant not guilty. In addition, the jury was separately

instructed pursuant to CALCRIM No. 3185, regarding the necessary findings of force or

fear as sentencing factors, separate and apart from the findings made for the individual

counts of conviction.

The jury was also instructed on lesser included offenses within those alleged in

counts 11 through 16, although the court did not instruct using the CALCRIM

instructions on the nonforcible lesser offenses, found in CALCRIM Nos. 1082 and 1102.

Nevertheless, the jury was told that in order to convict, they must find that the People had

met the burden of proving the elements of the crime by proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

(CALCRIM No. 220.)

We acknowledge that the court’s duty to instruct on the lesser offenses is not

obviated by the Defendant’s failure to request them. However, the court did instruct on

other lesser included offenses, including assault with intent to commit forcible oral

copulation (CALCRIM No. 890), as well as sexual battery and simple battery as lesser

included offenses within the crime of sexual penetration by force of fear. Sexual battery

is a lesser included offense of forcible sexual penetration under the accusatory pleading

test, although it is not a lesser offense under the statutory elements test. (People v.

Ortega (2015) 240 Cal.App.4th 956, 967.)

Here, the jury resolved the factual question regarding the force or fear elements in

favor of Doe’s description of the offenses, and it rejected Defendant’s testimony. (See

section 3, post, relating to the sufficiency of the evidence to support the convictions in

counts 9 through 17, where we address Defendant’s separate claim of insufficient

13 evidence of force or fear to support the convictions, the level of force, duress, retribution,

menace and fear to support the convictions for forcible penetration and forcible oral

copulation.)

We further note that the jury made separate true findings on the allegations of use

of force or fear respecting counts 11 through 16. These findings further demonstrate that

the jury resolved the factual issues against the Defendant, rejecting any notion that Doe

consented to continuous molestation or that the acts were not accompanied by force.

Thus, any error in failing to instruct the jury on lesser included offenses is harmless

because the jury necessarily decided the factual questions posed by the omitted

instructions adversely to Defendant under other properly given instructions. (Lewis,

supra, 25 Cal.4th at p. 646.)

Reversal is not required.

2. Whether There is Sufficient Evidence to Support the Conviction for Furnishing

Cannabis

Defendant argues there is insufficient evidence to support his conviction on

count 18, furnishing cannabis to a minor over the age of 14, in violation of Health and

Safety Code section 11361, subdivision (b). Defendant focuses on the fact that there was

no evidence he shared in the ownership or had the right to control the cannabis, insofar as

Bubba had handed the cannabis to Doe.

In evaluating the sufficiency of the evidence to support a conviction, “ ‘“we

review the entire record in the light most favorable to the judgment to determine whether

it contains substantial evidence—that is, evidence that is reasonable, credible, and of

14 solid value—from which a reasonable trier of fact could find the defendant guilty beyond

a reasonable doubt.”’ ’’ (People v. Beck and Cruz (2019) 8 Cal.5th 548, 626, citing

People v. Lindberg (2008) 45 Cal.4th 1, 27.) After viewing the evidence in the light most

favorable to the prosecution, we determine whether any rational trier of fact could have

found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. (Jackson v.

Virginia (1979) 443 U.S. 307, 319.) In so doing, we presume in support of the judgment

the existence of every fact the trier could reasonably deduce from the evidence. (People

v. Edwards (2013) 57 Cal.4th 658, 715.)

Health and Safety Code section 11361, subdivision (b), provides: “A person 18

years of age or over who furnishes, administers, or gives, or offers to furnish, administer,

or give, any cannabis or cannabis products to a minor 14 years of age or older in violation

of law shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for a period of three, four, or

five years.” “Furnish” means to provide, give, afford, or supply. “Give” means to deliver

or transfer or to hand or hand over. A violation of Health and Safety Code section 11361

is committed by the supplying to or handing over of marijuana to a minor. (People v.

Shaffer (1960) 182 Cal.App.2d 39, 43.)

Business and Professions Code section 4026 provides: “ ‘Furnish’ means to

supply by any means, by sale or otherwise.” (See Health & Saf. Code, § 11016

[“ ‘Furnish’ has the same meaning as provided in Section 4048.5 [now § 4026] of the

Business and Professions Code”].) The patterned jury instruction for the offense, as used

in this case, includes a bracketed section which was read to the jury, and which provides

that “A person does not have to actually hold or touch something to furnish it/give it

15 away. It is enough if the person has control over it, or the right to control it, either

personally or through another person.” (CALCRIM No. 2390.)3 This bracketed

language referring to “ ‘right to control’ ” relates to constructive possession. (People v.

Morales (2001) 25 Cal.4th 34, 48, fn.8, citing People v. Barnes (1997) 57 Cal.App.4th

552, 556–557 and Armstrong v. Superior Court (1990) 217 Cal.App.3d 535, 538–539.)

“Constructive possession occurs when the accused maintains control or a right to

control the contraband; possession may be imputed when the contraband is found in a

place which is immediately and exclusively accessible to the accused and subject to his

dominion and control, or to the joint dominion and control of the accused and another.”

(People v. Williams (1971) 5 Cal.3d 211, 215.) Here, viewing the evidence in the light

most favorable to the prevailing party, Doe asked Defendant for permission to smoke

marijuana, and Defendant said “yes,” allowing Bubba to hand the marijuana to Doe. In

light of the evidence that Bubba did not hand the marijuana to Doe until after Defendant

gave permission for Doe to have it, Defendant exercised control over it.

Even in Defendant’s testimony, he agrees he gave permission for Bubba to give

the marijuana to Doe, after Doe asked for it. In the absence of other evidence, the

reasonable inference is that Bubba would not have handed the marijuana to Doe without

Defendant’s permission. The jury, based on this evidence, found the Defendant furnished

3 The language quoted is from a bracketed part of the patterned instruction used by the court in his case. However, the actual language of CALCRIM No. 2390, is slightly different: “[A person does not have to actually hold or touch something to (sell it/furnish it/administer it/give it away). It is enough if the person has (control over it/ [or] the right to control it), either personally or through another person].” (CALCRIM No. 2390.) The differences are insignificant to the analysis.

16 the marijuana to Doe. From this we discern that it concluded that the need for

Defendant’s permission was a manifestation of control over the marijuana, sufficient to

satisfy the elements of the crime.

There is substantial evidence to support the conviction.

3. Whether There is Sufficient Evidence That Defendant Used Force, Violence, Duress,

Menace, or Fear of Immediate Unlawful Bodily Injury in the Commission of the

Offenses in Counts 9 through 16

Defendant argues that there is insufficient evidence to support the convictions in

counts 9 through 16, alleging violations of section 269, subdivision (a)(4), (5), section

289, subdivision (A)(1)(C), and section 287 subdivision (c)(2)(C), because there was

insufficient evidence the Defendant used force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of

immediate unlawful bodily injury. We disagree.

a. Standard of Review and General Legal Principles

We review the convictions, and particularly the elements of force or fear, for

substantial evidence. The review of the sufficiency of evidence to support the

convictions involves a review of the entire record, and we must review it in the light most

favorable to the verdicts. “We determine ‘whether, after viewing the evidence in the light

most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential

elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.’ [Citation.] This determination

‘presumes in support of the judgment the existence of every fact the trier could

reasonably deduce from the evidence.’ [Citation.] Even ‘[e]vidence erroneously

admitted is properly considered in weighing the sufficiency of evidence to support a

17 conviction, notwithstanding its erroneous admission.’ ” (People v. Cardenas (2025)

18 Cal.5th 797, 821.)

The offenses charged in counts 9 and 10 allege acts similar to those alleged in the

remaining counts for purposes of evaluating the element of force or fear, the only

difference is that section 269, subdivision (a)(4) and (5) involve minors under the age of

14. Section 287, subdivision (c)(2)(C) (forcible oral copulation), and section 289,

subdivision (a)(1)(C) (forcible digital penetration) both refer to sexual acts committed

“upon a minor who is 14 years of age or older, when the act is accomplished against the

victim’s will by means of force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and

unlawful bodily injury on the victim or another person.”

“Force” includes the force used to accomplish “ ‘the penetration and the physical

movement and positioning of [the victim’s] body in accomplishing the act.’ ” (People v.

Thomas (2017) 15 Cal.App.5th 1063, 1071 (Thomas), citing People v. Young (1987) 190

Cal.App.3d 248, 258 (Young).) The same definition applies to the rape charge in

count 17. (Thomas, supra, at p. 1071.)

“ ‘[A]n act is forcible if force facilitated the act rather than being merely incidental

to the act.’ ” (People v. Garcia (2016) 247 Cal.App.4th 1013, 1024.) “ ‘[A]cts of

grabbing, holding and restraining that occur in conjunction with the lewd acts themselves’

are sufficient to support a finding that the lewd act was committed by means of force.”

(Ibid., citing People v. Alvarez (2009) 178 Cal.App.4th 999, 1005.)

Testimony by a victim she tried pushing the defendant away, and although that

would make him stop, “ ‘he would try again and try again’ ” right away, has been held to

18 be sufficient force to support a conviction for forcible lewd acts. (People v. Jimenez

(2019) 35 Cal.App.5th 373, 393.) The Defendant’s act of positioning Doe, holding her

still to keep her from moving, and resisting her attempts to push him away were sufficient

to establish force.

The court in Thomas specified two types of circumstances that fall under the

general definition of force: those “where the victim did not want to engage in the act and

the evidence does not otherwise establish the victim’s positive cooperation in act or

attitude,” and those where the victim’s body is moved to accomplish the act. (Thomas,

supra, 15 Cal.App.5th at p. 1071, citing Young, supra, 190 Cal.App.3d at p. 258.) “In

either circumstance, the jury would have to find the force used was sufficient to

overcome the victim’s will.” (People v. Melgoza (2025) 115 Cal.App.5th 632, 645, citing

Thomas, at p. 1072.) In Thomas, the reviewing court concluded that a reasonable jury

could find that the sexual penetration was committed against Doe’s will and with

sufficient force to overcome her will by leading her by the hand into the bathroom,

positioning her body on the sink before digitally penetrating her, when Doe was four or

five years old and testified that she was scared. (Thomas, at p. 1072.)

In Young, involving a charge of forcible rape, the defendant put his arms around

his six-year-old daughter, placed her on top of him, pulled her pants down, and put his

finger in her vagina. The defendant made her slide down to his groin and put his penis in

the victim’s vagina. (Young, supra, 190 Cal.App.3d at pp. 252, 258.) The physical

movement and positioning of the victim was held to be substantial evidence of force.

(Id. at p. 258; see People v. Griffin (2004) 33 Cal.4th 1015, 1024.)

19 The term “duress” is defined by statute: “ ‘ “Duress’’ means a direct or implied

threat of force, violence, danger, or retribution sufficient to coerce a reasonable person of

ordinary susceptibilities to perform an act which otherwise would not have been

performed, or acquiesce in an act to which one otherwise would not have submitted. The

total circumstances, including the age of the victim, and the victim's relationship to the

defendant, are factors to consider in appraising the existence of duress.’ ” (People v.

Torres (2024) 107 Cal.App.5th 513, 531 (Torres); see People v. Soto (2011) 51 Cal.4th

229, 246; People v. Pitmon (1985) 170 Cal.App.3d 38, 50.)

The totality circumstances, including the age of the victim, and the victim’s

relationship to the defendant, are factors to consider in appraising the existence of duress.

(Torres, supra, 107 Cal.App.5th at p. 531.) “ ‘The fact that the victim testifies the

defendant did not use force or threats does not preclude a finding of duress.’ ” (Id., at

p. 532, citing Thomas, supra, 15 Cal.App.5th at p. 1072.)

“Before the judgment of the trial court can be set aside for insufficiency of the

evidence to support the verdict of the jury, it must clearly appear that upon no hypothesis

whatever is there sufficient substantial evidence to support it.” (People v. Redmond

(1969) 71 Cal.2d 745, 755.)

The information alleged in count 9 that Defendant committed an aggravated

sexual assault/oral copulation by force with child under 14 years of age and seven or

20 more years younger than Defendant (§ 269, subd. (a)(4))4; in count 10, it alleged an

aggravated sexual assault/forcible sexual penetration of a child under 14 years of age

(§ 269, subd. (a)(5))5; counts 11, 13, and 15 alleged forcible sexual penetration on a child

14 or older (§ 289, subd. (a)(1)(C))6; while counts 12, 14, and 16 oral copulation by force

of a minor 14 years of age or older (§ 287, subd. (c)(2)(C)).7

Defendant testified that Doe never indicated she did not want Defendant to

commit the sexual acts on her, and that she never tried to push him away. According to

Defendant, she only pushed him away after she had an orgasm, when she would close her

legs and push them down. He denied using any type of force. In his reply brief,

4 Section 269, subdivision (a)(4) provides: “Any person who commits any of the following acts upon a child who is under 14 years of age and seven or more years younger than the person is guilty of aggravated sexual assault of a child: [¶] … [¶] (4) Oral copulation, in violation of paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (c), or subdivision (d), of Section 287 or former Section 288a.”

5 Section 269, subdivision (a)(5), provides: “Any person who commits any of the following acts upon a child who is under 14 years of age and seven or more years younger than the person is guilty of aggravated sexual assault of a child: [¶] … [¶] (5) Sexual penetration, in violation of subdivision (a) of Section 289.”

6 Section 289, subdivision (a)(1)(C), provides: “Any person who commits an act of sexual penetration upon a minor who is 14 years of age or older, when the act is accomplished against the victim’s will by means of force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury on the victim or another person, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for 6, 8, or 10 years.”

7 Section 287, subdivision (c)(2)(C), provides: “Any person who commits an act of oral copulation upon a minor who is 14 years of age or older, when the act is accomplished against the victim’s will by means of force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury on the victim or another person, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for 6, 8, or 10 years.”

21 Defendant focuses on the counts committed when Doe was in high school, during which

years, according to Defendant’s testimony, “he did not force her, … she wanted to

engage. [Doe] did not push [Defendant] away or tell him to stop.”

The Defendant’s version of the evidence does not establish that the convictions are

not supported by substantial evidence. The jury was free to reject Defendant’s self-

serving statements. (People v. Disa (2016) 1 Cal.App.5th 654, 668, citing People v. Silva

(2001) 25 Cal.4th 345, 369.) More importantly, we are required to review the entire

record in the light most favorable to the prevailing party. Defendant’s self-serving

testimony and reliance on Doe’s submission as evidence of her positive cooperation in

“act or attitude” does compel reversal in light of the other evidence submitted to the jury,

which it found to be more credible and reasonable.

Doe testified Defendant would use his hands to “hold [her] thighs in place or hold

[her] hips in place so [she] would not move,” that she was fearful Defendant would leave

the family if Doe did not comply, and that she tried to push his head or shoulders to stop

the touching but that he pushed her hands out of the way and would not stop unless she

asked him to do so a second time. She also testified that she had tried to say no or resist

but when she did, sometimes he would get mad and he would still try to keep going even

though she tried to push his head away. For this reason, she ended up “just kind of letting

it happen because if [she] didn’t, [she] wouldn’t be allowed to go and do certain things

like hang out with [her] friends and stuff.”

Doe further testified that she felt she had no choice, and was thinking of the care

of April and her sister if she had reported the molestations. While Doe acknowledged

22 Defendant did not really say anything to make her fearful, he would get upset and mad at

her, and she did not know if she would get into trouble if she resisted his actions.

Therefore, Doe’s supposed acquiescence in Defendant’s criminal acts of molestation does

not undermine the jury’s verdict that the acts of forcible oral copulation or forcible sexual

penetration when she was over the age of 14.

The instructions informed the jury how to evaluate the allegations of force or fear.

The jury heard all the testimony and rendered verdicts that the acts alleged in counts 11

through 16 were committed by means of force or fear. The Defendant’s self-serving

assertion that she was a willing participant does not render the verdict invalid. There is

substantial evidence to support the findings that the acts of oral copulation on a person 14

years of age or older, or acts of digital penetration on a person 14 or older were

committed by means of force or fear.

4. Whether the Prosecutor Committed Misconduct Warranting Reversal

Defendant contends that reversal is warranted based on the prosecutor’s comments

in closing argument. Specifically, he argues that the prosecutor misstated the law relating

to the issue of consent. We disagree.

a. Background

Defendant focuses his argument on the following passage from the prosecutor’s

summation to the jury, respecting counts 9 through 17: “And keep in mind as well that

not only does she have to have freely and voluntarily consented to something that she

knew all about, but the [D]efendant is not guilty of Charges 9 through 17 based on

consent only if he actually and reasonably believed that [Doe] consented. So, I mean,

23 when you look at his testimony, if you gave him the benefit that in his mind, that there

was this consensual relationship happening, right, that’s still not enough, because was it

reasonable? Would a reasonable person have thought that [Doe] as a child was

consenting to doing these things? Absolutely not.”

The People argue that the claim was forfeited because Defendant failed to object

in the trial court. We agree. (People v. Samayoa (1997) 15 Cal.4th 795, 841 [“a

defendant may not complain on appeal of prosecutorial misconduct unless in a timely

fashion–and on the same ground–the defendant made an assignment of misconduct and

requested that the jury be admonished to disregard the impropriety”]; People v. Mincey

(1992) 2 Cal.4th 408, 471 [where defense counsel objected to prosecutor's closing

argument, trial court sustained objection and counsel requested no further relief,

defendant could not raise issue on appeal].)

Nevertheless, we have discretion to reach forfeited arguments for various reasons,

including to forestall a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. (See, e.g., People v.

Crittenden (1994) 9 Cal.4th 83, 146.)

b. Legal Principles Governing Prosecutorial Misconduct Based on Misstatement

of the Law

“ ‘A prosecutor is allowed to make vigorous arguments and may even use such

epithets as are warranted by the evidence, as long as these arguments are not

inflammatory and principally aimed at arousing the passion or prejudice of the jury.’

[Citation.] ‘[I]t is improper for a prosecutor to appeal to the passion or prejudice of the

jury … .’ [Citation.] ‘[I]t is misconduct for a prosecutor, during argument, to misstate

24 the law [citation], or to invite or encourage the jury to do what the law prohibits.’ ”

(People v. Rivera (2019) 7 Cal.5th 306, 337, citing People v. Whalen (2013) 56 Cal.4th 1,

77.)

The general principles governing this genre of prosecutorial misconduct are

summarized as follows: “ ‘[I]t is improper for the prosecutor to misstate the law

generally [citation], and particularly to attempt to absolve the prosecution from its prima

facie obligation to overcome reasonable doubt on all elements [citation].’ [Citation.]

Improper comments violate the federal Constitution when they constitute a pattern of

conduct so egregious that it infects the trial with such unfairness as to make the

conviction a denial of due process. [Citation.] Improper comments falling short of this

test nevertheless constitute misconduct under state law if they involve use of deceptive or

reprehensible methods to attempt to persuade either the court or the jury. [Citation.] To

establish misconduct, defendant need not show that the prosecutor acted in bad faith.

[Citation.] However, she [or he] does need to ‘show that, ‘‘[i]n the context of the whole

argument and the instructions’’ [citation], there was a reasonable likelihood the jury

understood or applied the complained-of comments in an improper or erroneous manner.’

[Citation.] If the challenged comments, viewed in context, ‘would have been taken by a

juror to state or imply nothing harmful, [then] they obviously cannot be deemed

objectionable.’ ” (People v. Cortez (2016) 63 Cal.4th 101, 130.)

“Conduct by a prosecutor that does not render a criminal trial fundamentally unfair

is prosecutorial misconduct under state law only if it involves the use of deceptive or

reprehensible methods to attempt to persuade either the trial court or the jury.

25 Furthermore, and particularly pertinent here, when the claim focuses upon comments

made by the prosecutor before the jury, the question is whether there is a reasonable

likelihood that the jury construed or applied any of the complained-of remarks in an

objectionable fashion.” (People v. Morales (2001) 25 Cal.4th 34, 44, citing People v.

Ayala (2000) 23 Cal. 4th 225, 283–284.)

c. Analysis

Defendant’s contention that the prosecutor misstated the law in arguing that the

Defendant’s belief that Doe consented to his acts was unreasonable, implies that the

People misinformed the jury of the law of consent, according to the landmark case of

People v. Mayberry (1975) 15 Cal.3d 143. He cites a paragraph from People v. Andrews

(2015) 234 Cal.App.4th 590, 603, in which the reviewing court observed there was a

subjective and objective component to the Mayberry defense. He then argues that “the

prosecutor’s comment was not correct as it implied that where the circumstances involve

a minor, a defendant’s good faith belief as to the minor’s consent could never be

objectively reasonable. This is not so. If it were, there would be no Mayberry instruction

in cases where the victim is under 18 years old.”

The Mayberry rule is grounded on the Supreme Court’s holding in that case, where

it stated: “If a defendant entertains a reasonable and bona fide belief that a prosecutrix

voluntarily consented to accompany him and to engage in sexual intercourse, it is

apparent he does not possess the wrongful intent that is a prerequisite under [section 20]

to a conviction of either kidnaping (§ 207) or rape by means of force or threat (§ 261,

subds. 2 & 3).” (Mayberry, supra, 15 Cal.3d at p. 155.) Thus, a defendant’s reasonable

26 and good faith mistake of fact that the victim consented to sexual intercourse is a defense

to rape. (Id. at p. 155; see People v. Molano (2019) 7 Cal.5th 620, 667.)

Contrary to Defendant’s claim, the prosecutor’s argument did not negate the

availability of the defense of consent for forcible sexual crimes committed against

minors. Instead, the prosecutor urged the jury to find that the Defendant’s belief that Doe

consented to his acts of molestation was not reasonable, given the Mayberry requirement

that the Defendant’s belief that the victim consented be reasonable. Defendant’s

argument focuses on Doe’s submission, however, rather than her consent to his acts. It

was a fair comment on the state of the evidence.

Counsel’s failure to object to the prosecutor’s closing argument cannot succeed on

direct appeal “unless the appellate record discloses ‘ “no conceivable tactical purpose’’ ’

for defense counsel’s omission.” (People v. Lewis (2001) 25 Cal.4th 610, 674–675.)

Because an objection would have been frivolous, and because Defendant’s counsel was

not required to make a frivolous objection, he did not provide ineffective assistance by

failing to object to the prosecutor’s argument.

Therefore, even if the issue had been properly preserved, reversal would be

unwarranted.

5. Whether the Trial Court Abused Its Discretion in Imposing the Midterm Rather Than

the Low Term on Counts 3 Through 8 and 11 Through 18

Defendant argues that the trial court failed to properly exercise its discretion in

imposing the middle term on counts 3 through 8 and 11 through 18, rather than the

27 presumptive low term, in light of Assembly Bill No. 124 (eff. Jan. 1, 2022, Stats. 2021,

ch. 695, § 5.3, adding § 1170, subd. (b)(6).) We disagree.

a. Additional Background

Defendant submitted a sentencing memorandum on September 28, 2023, nearly

two years after the enactment of the amendment to section 1170, subdivision (b)(6). In

his sentencing memorandum, Defendant requested that the trial court impose the

mitigated term for counts 1, 3 through 8, and 11 through 16. He cited rule 4.423(a)(2) of

the California Rules of Court, that the victim was an initiator of, willing participant in, or

aggressor or provoker of the incident; rule 4.423(a)(7), that the defendant believed that he

or she had a claim or right to the property taken, or for other reasons mistakenly believed

that the conduct was legal; rule 4.423(b)(1), that he has an insignificant record of criminal

conduct; rule 4.423(b)(8), that defendant voluntarily acknowledged wrongdoing before

arrest or at an early stage of the criminal process; and rule 4.423(b)(15), that his prior

performance on probation or parole was satisfactory.

The People’s sentencing memorandum sought imposition of the aggravated term.

At the hearing, the trial court conducted a court trial on the aggravating factors, where

both parties submitted on the evidence that had been submitted during the trial.8

After the trial court found the aggravating factors to be true (with the exception of

the factor pertaining to excessive cruelty, viciousness or callousness, and the factor

8 The Defendant’s submission was subject to the evidentiary objections presented during the guilt phase of the trial.

28 pertaining to alleged physical injury, which the court found were not true), the sentencing

court indicated it had read the sentencing memoranda filed by the parties. Defendant

then requested that the court refrain from imposing fines, fees, and restitution, due to his

inability to pay anything other than the mandatory $300 restitution fine,9 and the

prosecutor read aloud Doe’s victim-impact letter. The court then proceeded with the

pronouncement of judgment.

There was no oral discussion of the applicability of the presumptive low term

pursuant to the amendment to section 1170, subdivision (b)(6) at the hearing, and no

mention of the fact Defendant had been subjected to sexual abuse by a baby sitter at the

age of eight, which was disclosed to the probation officer, but was not listed as a

mitigating factor in the probation report, and was not mentioned in Defendant’s

sentencing memorandum or orally at the hearing.

Nevertheless, on appeal, Defendant argues error in the court’s failure to exercise

its discretion in light of Assembly Bill No. 124, and asserts there were mitigating factors

present that would warrant imposition of the low term: Defendant had no felony

convictions; his criminal history consisted of misdemeanors and infractions; some of the

offenses were consensual; he believed the conduct was legal, and he voluntarily

acknowledged wrongdoing at an early stage in the criminal process.

9 Although neither the Defendant nor the court specified that the mandatory minimum of $300 referred to the restitution fine, section 1202.4, subdivision (b), requires imposition of a mandatory $300 restitution fine, unless “it finds compelling and extraordinary reasons for not doing so and states those reasons on the record.” The other statutory fines and fees are not similarly mandatory.

29 The People argue that any error was forfeited by the failure to argue in the trial

court that the mitigating factors cited in this appeal warranted imposition of the low term.

This point is well taken. As a general rule, “all ‘claims involving the trial court’s failure

to properly make or articulate its discretionary sentencing choices’ raised for the first time

on appeal are not subject to review.” (People v. Smith (2001) 24 Cal.4th 849, 852; see

People v. Sperling (2017) 12 Cal.App.5th 1094, 1100–1101 [the defendant waived claim

that the court failed to consider several mitigating factors by failing to object at the

sentencing hearing].)

Thus, arguments that sentencing choices were based on factors that are

“inapplicable, duplicative, and improperly weighed” are forfeited by failing to object at

the sentencing hearing. (People v. Scott (1994) 9 Cal.4th 331, 355.) Because Defendant

failed to raise the mitigating factor relating to his alleged childhood sexual abuse in the

trial court level, he forfeited any argument pertaining to that factor.

However, while we agree with the People in principle on this point, Defendant has

argued that it is unclear if the court considered the amendment to section 1170 in

exercising its discretion. Thus, we will address the merits.

b. General Legal Principles

Determination of the appropriate term is generally within the trial court’s broad

discretion (People v. Ramos (1980) 106 Cal.App.3d 591, 605) and must be affirmed

unless there is a clear showing the sentence choice was arbitrary or irrational. (People v.

Hubbell (1980) 108 Cal.App.3d 253, 260.)

30 The sentencing court may balance aggravating and mitigating factors against each

other in qualitative as well as quantitative terms. (People v. Roe (1983) 148 Cal.App.3d

112, 119.) “ ‘Sentencing courts have wide discretion in weighing aggravating and

mitigating factors [citations], and may balance them against each other in “qualitative as

well as quantitative terms” [citation] … . We must affirm unless there is a clear showing

the sentence choice was arbitrary or irrational.’ ” (People v. Avalos (1996) 47

Cal.App.4th 1569, 1582, citing People v. Gimenez (1975) 14 Cal.3d 68, 72; People v.

Oberreuter (1988) 204 Cal.App.3d 884, 887 (Oberreuter).)

Additionally, “[a]bsent an explicit statement by the trial court to the contrary, it is

presumed the court properly exercised its legal duty to consider all possible mitigating

and aggravating factors in determining the appropriate sentence.” (Oberreuter, supra,

204 Cal.App.3d at p. 888.) Notwithstanding the various amendments to the sentencing

statutes and rules of court vis-à-vis whether there is a presumptive term, these

fundamental principles are still applicable to guide the sentencing courts.

We review a trial court’s sentencing decisions for abuse of discretion. (People v.

Knowles (2024) 105 Cal.App.5th 757, 764.) In Knowles, the reviewing court went on to

explain, “We presume that the trial court acted to achieve legitimate sentencing

objectives.” (Ibid., citing People v. Superior Court (Alvarez) (1997) 14 Cal.4th 968, 977–

978.) The burden is on the party attacking the sentence to clearly show that the court was

unaware of the scope of its discretionary powers, or the sentencing decision was irrational

or arbitrary. (People v. Carmony (2004) 33 Cal.4th 367, 376; People v. Gaines (2023) 93

Cal.App.5th 91, 142; People v. Lee (2017) 16 Cal.App.5th 861, 866.)

31 We may not presume error from a silent record. (People v. Gutierrez (2009) 174

Cal.App.4th 515, 527.) “Unless the record affirmatively demonstrates otherwise, the trial

court is deemed to have considered all the relevant sentencing factors set forth in the

rules.” (People v. Parra Martinez (2022) 78 Cal.App.5th 317, 322 (Martinez); see

Cal. Rules of Court, rule 4.409 [all relevant sentencing factors “will be deemed to have

been considered unless the record affirmatively demonstrates otherwise”]; Knowles,

supra, 105 Cal.App.5th at p. 765.)

c. Sentencing Under the Amendment to Section 1170

Section 1170, subdivision (b), provides in part: “(1) When a judgment of

imprisonment is to be imposed and the statute specifies three possible terms, the court

shall, in its sound discretion, order imposition of a sentence not to exceed the middle

term, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2). [¶] (2) The court may impose a

sentence exceeding the middle term only when there are circumstances in aggravation of

the crime that justify the imposition of a term of imprisonment exceeding the middle term

and the facts underlying those circumstances have been stipulated to by the defendant or

have been found true beyond a reasonable doubt at trial by the jury or by the judge in a

court trial.”

“The plain language and statutory context of [section 1170], subdivision (b) are

clear the Legislature did not intend to impose evidentiary or proof requirements or

restrictions on the imposition of a middle term sentence. (Compare [§ 1170], subd. (b)(1)

with [§ 1170], subd. (b)(2), (6).) In imposing a middle term sentence, all that section

1170 requires is that the court apply the Judicial Council’s sentencing rules and that the

32 court state the facts and reasons for imposing the middle term on the record at the time of

sentencing. (§ 1170, subds. (a)(3), (b)(5), (c); see Cal. Rules of Court, rule 4.401 et seq.

[felony sentencing rules].) Because the statute is clear, we need not resort to other aids to

interpret it.” (People v. Sarmiento-Zuniga (2025) 108 Cal.App.5th 1216, 1223–1224.)

Effective January 1, 2022, section 1170, subdivision (b)(6)(B), provides,

“Notwithstanding paragraph (1), and unless the court finds that the aggravating

circumstances outweigh the mitigating circumstances that imposition of the lower term

would be contrary to the interests of justice, the court shall order imposition of the lower

term if any of the following was a contributing factor in the commission of the offense:

[¶] (A) The person has experienced psychological, physical, or childhood trauma,

including, but not limited to, abuse, neglect, exploitation, or sexual violence. [¶] (B) The

person is a youth or was a youth as defined under subdivision (b) of Section 1016.7 at the

time of the commission of the offense. [¶] (C) Prior to the instant offense, or at the time

of the commission of the offense, the person is or was a victim of intimate partner

violence or human trafficking.” Section 1170, subd. (b)(7), provides, “Paragraph (6) does

not preclude the court from imposing the lower term even if there is no evidence of those

circumstances listed in paragraph (6) present.”

The amendment recognizes that certain factors relating to the defendant may have

a significant impact on his or her propensity to engage in the criminal conduct. Many

cases have acknowledged the profound effect of youth and immaturity on criminal

behavior. (People v. Jones (2022) 86 Cal.App.5th 1076, 1088, fn. 7, 1091 [youth is

necessarily a factor that must be considered as part of the totality of the circumstances].)

33 Similarly, the statutory reference to psychological trauma or a history of abuse may

warrant imposition of the low term. (See § 1016.7, subd. (a)(1)-(3).)

The amendment, therefore, “ ‘establishes a presumption [that the court should

impose] the lower term if the defendant’s youth was ‘‘a contributing factor’’ in his or her

commission of [a] crime ‘‘unless the court finds that the aggravating circumstances

outweigh the mitigating circumstances [such] that imposition of the lower term would be

contrary to the interests of justice.’’ ’ ” (People v. Fredrickson (2023) 90 Cal.App.5th

984, 986–987; People v. Flores (2022) 73 Cal.App.5th 1032, 1039 (Flores).)

Similarly, under section 1170, subdivision (b)(6)(A), also added by way of the

amendment, the presumption favoring the mitigated term applies when a “ ‘person has

experienced psychological, physical, or childhood trauma, including, but not limited to,

abuse, neglect, exploitation, or sexual violence,’ and that trauma ‘was a contributing

factor in the commission of the offense … .’ ” (People v. Banner (2022) 77 Cal.App.5th

226, 240.) Pursuant to this subparagraph, psychological trauma based on mental illness

may be a circumstance qualifying for the lower term presumption in section 1170,

subdivision (b)(6), but psychological trauma must attend the illness, and that trauma must

contribute to the crime under section 1170, subdivision (b)(6). (Id., at p. 241.)

Respecting the assertion that the trial court was unaware of its discretion, we

acknowledge that defendants “ ‘“are entitled to sentencing decisions made in the exercise

of the ‘informed discretion’ of the sentencing court. [Citations.] A court which is

unaware of the scope of its discretionary powers can no more exercise that ‘informed

discretion’ than one whose sentence is or may have been based on misinformation

34 regarding a material aspect of a defendant’s record.’” ” (People v. Salazar (2023)

15 Cal.5th 416, 424.) In such circumstances, the Supreme Court has held that the

appropriate remedy is to remand for resentencing “ ‘ “unless the record ‘clearly

indicate[s]’ that the trial court would have reached the same conclusion ‘even if it had

been aware that it had such discretion.” ’ ” (Ibid., citing People v. Mataele (2022)

13 Cal.5th 372, 437, among other authorities.)

d. Analysis

The Defendant assumes from the trial court’s failure to expressly refer to the

amended provisions of section 1170, subdivision (b)(6) that it was unaware of its

discretion to impose the low term. There are problems with this analysis. First, it ignores

the presumption that official duty was discharged (Evid. Code, § 664), which includes the

presumption that the court was aware of its discretion before discharging its duty. As a

general rule, and in the absence of evidence to the contrary, a trial court is presumed to

know and apply the correct statutory and case law. (People v. Bryant, Smith and Wheeler

(2014) 60 Cal.4th 335, 398, citing People v. Stowell (2003) 31 Cal.4th 1107, 1114.)

Second, the trial court’s repeated statement that it had “chosen” the midterm in

light of aggravating factors indicates it was, in fact, aware of its discretion to impose the

low term, as opposed to imposing the midterm simply as a presumptive term, pursuant to

section 1170, subdivision (b)(1). Given the jury’s findings of aggravation, followed by

the trial court’s findings on two aggravating factors, without consideration of mitigating

factors, the middle term was not the presumptive term in this case.

35 Third, the mitigating factors cited by Defendant (minimal criminal background,

his personal belief that the acts were consensual which the jury rejected, his belief that

molesting Doe was not illegal, and his early acknowledgment of guilt) are not factors that

would warrant imposition of a low term sentence within the meaning of section 1170,

subdivision (b)(2)(6). That provision authorizes imposition of the low term for persons

who have been traumatized by sexual exploitation or are youths or have been a victim of

intimate partner violence, to which the factors related to his minimal criminal background

and performance on probation or parole were not relevant. The only alleged factor in

mitigation that would have triggered section 1170, subdivision (b)(6), is the Defendant’s

alleged sexual molestation, but there is no indication in the record that the alleged

molestation caused emotional or psychological trauma, so it could be properly rejected.

Moreover, the reference to the alleged sexual abuse of Defendant that appears in

the probation report of the interview with Defendant is not supported by the record.

There was no mention of a background of sexual abuse in his testimony, and Defendant

apparently did not even disclose this fact to his trial counsel for inclusion in the

sentencing memorandum, nor was the matter broached orally at the sentencing hearing.

Defendant’s mention of sexual abuse was supported only by his self-serving statement to

the probation officer, as memorialized in the probation report. Further, the record is

devoid of any reference to psychological trauma experienced by Defendant as a result of

the alleged sexual abuse. Thus, absent any support for this postconviction statement, the

trial court could have properly found it carried little weight and was insufficient to

36 support the existence of the physical or psychological trauma mitigating factor under any

standard of proof.

In any event, even considering Defendant’s childhood molestation as a mitigating

factor, it does not automatically entitle the Defendant to a mitigated term. Section 1170,

subdivision (b)(6) states that “Notwithstanding paragraph (1), and unless the court finds

that the aggravating circumstances outweigh the mitigating circumstances that

imposition of the lower term would be contrary to the interests of justice, the court shall

order imposition of the lower term if any of the following was a contributing factor in the

commission of the offense … .” (Italics added.) Thus, mere invocation of child sexual

abuse must be accompanied by evidence of psychological trauma and weighed by the

sentencing court against the aggravating factors.

Here, the court properly rejected the factors in mitigation that were argued in the

trial court relating to Defendant’s belief that the acts were consensual and lawful, which

the jury had to have rejected in order to find him guilty, because a defendant’s subjective

belief that the acts were consensual or lawful where the jury heard, and believed, Doe’s

testimony to the contrary, is not mitigation; it is denial. If a defendant’s self-serving

belief that his conduct was not criminal could be considered as mitigation, the concept

that ignorance of a law is no excuse for a violation thereof (see People v. Snyder (1982)

32 Cal.3d 590, 593) would be turned on its head.

Nor does Defendant’s purported voluntary acknowledgment of wrongdoing at an

early stage in the criminal process compel a low term where, although he admitted the

wrongdoing to April, shortly after April discovered the abuse and confronted him with it,

37 Defendant denied any wrongdoing or inappropriate touching to law enforcement at the

beginning of the investigation, following the report of the crimes. Because this

mitigating factor applies where the acknowledgment is at an early stage of the criminal

process, rather than an acknowledgment made prior to the initiation of the process (see

Martinez, supra, 78 Cal.App.5th at p. 324), this factor would also not compel

consideration of the low term.

We, like the sentencing court, acknowledge that Defendant’s criminal record does

not include any felonies, that the list of factors justifying imposition of the low term is

not exclusive (see Cal. Rules of Court, rule 4.408(a); People v. Covino (1980) 100

Cal.App.3d 660, 671), and that section 1170, subdivision (b)(7) authorizes imposition of

the low term “even if there is no evidence of those circumstances that are enumerated in

paragraph (6) present.” We interpret this provision to mean that other properly supported

mitigating factors other than those enumerated in subdivision (b)(6) of section 1170 may

be considered. The sentencing rules and subdivision (b)(7) of section 1170 presuppose

that the mitigating factors relied upon to invoke the low term provision are valid factors,

and that the nature and quality of those factors outweigh any aggravating factors.

In any event, although the court did not expressly mention section 1170,

subdivision (b)(6), at the sentencing hearing, we presume the court was aware of the

statutory presumption to impose the lower term under certain circumstances. (See People

v. Caparrotta (2024) 103 Cal.App.5th 874, 905 (Caparrotta).) In Caparrotta, the

reviewing court rejected the same argument as that posed here because nothing in the

record established that the trial court was unaware of its obligations under section 1170,

38 subdivision (b)(6) or that it failed to apply that provision. “In the absence of evidence to

the contrary, we presume that the court ‘knows and applies the correct statutory and case

law.’ ’’ (People v. Thomas (2011) 52 Cal.4th 336, 361.) Thus, although the trial court did

not specifically mention section 1170, subdivision (b)(6), it is presumed to have known of

the provision, and is also presumed to be aware of the matters proffered in the sentencing

memoranda and the probation report. In any event, because there were aggravating

factors and because the mitigating factors relied upon do not outweigh them, qualitatively

or quantitatively, the middle term was presumptively correct, and no statement of reasons

was required.

Additionally, even if we assume the court was unaware of the amendment due to

the lack of a specific reference to it at the sentencing hearing, there is no possibility that a

lesser sentence would have been imposed. The sentencing court did consider the

probation report as well as the mitigating factors relied upon by Defendant at the hearing

and concluded the middle term was appropriate because of the aggravating factors.

Without evidence or reference to psychological trauma caused by childhood abuse, the

court was not required to adhere to a presumptive mitigated term. Any failure to consider

the additional factors cited on appeal—pertaining to the factors that Defendant believed

the acts were consensual and lawful—would not change the outcome.

Because the mitigating factors did not warrant a presumption favoring imposition

of the low term and because the mitigating factors relied upon at the sentencing hearing

were outweighed the aggravating factors found true based on the evidence adduced at

trial, even if the trial court were unaware of the provisions of the statutory amendment

39 requiring presumptive imposition of the low term for persons traumatized by childhood

sexual abuse, there is no possibility a lower term would be imposed here.

6. The Abstract Must be Corrected

Defendant argues that the abstracts of judgment (including the abstract of the

determinate sentence and the indeterminate sentence) incorrectly states that Defendant

was convicted by the court. The People agree that the abstracts should be amended.

The abstract of judgment constitutes the commitment and is the order sending the

defendant to prison, and the process and authority for carrying the judgment and sentence

into effect; no other warrant or authority is necessary to justify or require its execution.

(§ 1213; People v. Mitchell (2001) 26 Cal.4th 181, 185, citing In re Black (1967)

66 Cal.2d 881, 890.) It goes without saying that accuracy is essential in a document that

prescribes the execution of sentence and is provided to Criminal Investigation and

Identification. (§ 1213, subd. (a).) This court has the authority to correct clerical errors

at any time. (Mitchell, supra, at pp. 186–187.)

Pursuant to the request of the parties, the clerk is directed to amend both abstracts

of judgment so that they correctly reflect that Defendant was convicted by jury.

40 DISPOSITION

The judgment and sentence are affirmed. The clerk of the superior court is

directed to correct the abstract of judgment to reflect that Defendant was convicted by

jury. The clerk shall forward a copy of the corrected abstract of judgment to the

Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS

RAMIREZ P. J.

We concur:

MILLER J. CODRINGTON J.