People v. Cantrell

7 Cal. App. 4th 523, 9 Cal. Rptr. 2d 188, 92 Daily Journal DAR 8283, 92 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 5336, 1992 Cal. App. LEXIS 781
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedJune 18, 1992
DocketA049479
StatusPublished
Cited by34 cases

This text of 7 Cal. App. 4th 523 (People v. Cantrell) 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. Cantrell, 7 Cal. App. 4th 523, 9 Cal. Rptr. 2d 188, 92 Daily Journal DAR 8283, 92 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 5336, 1992 Cal. App. LEXIS 781 (Cal. Ct. App. 1992).

Opinion

Opinion

MERRILL, Acting P. J.

Following trial by jury, appellant Gary Wayne Cantrell was found guilty of four misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor (Pen. Code, § 272 1 ); three misdemeanor counts of annoying or molesting a child under eighteen (§ 647a, renumbered § 647.Ó by Stats. 1987, ch. 1418, § 4.3, pp. 5229-5230); one felony count of committing a lewd act on a child under fourteen (§ 288, subd. (a)); one misdemeanor count of battery (§ 242); three felony counts of sexual filming of a minor (§ 311.4, subd. (c)); two misdemeanor counts of procuring a minor for an indecent purpose (Lab. Code, § 1308); and two felony counts of penetration by a foreign object (§ 289, subd. (i).) 2 The jury found him not guilty of one felony count of false imprisonment (§ 236). Appellant received a total sentence of ten years and eight months in state prison plus six months in county jail to be served consecutively to the prison term. 3

I

Forty-one-year-old appellant is a resident of Napa, California, where he has apparently lived all of his life. Between 1977 and 1986, he worked for *529 the Napa Fire Department. However, at the end of that period he suffered an injury and was placed on medical disability. Thereafter, he pursued careers as a private investigator and a photographer.

Appellant was a close friend of Diana L. The two had been friends for most of their lives. On January 10, 1972, Diana gave birth to a daughter, Nicole. When Nicole was approximately three years old, Diana met Carol N. who had a daughter, Kristina, about the same age. Kristina, in fact, was bom five days after Nicole. Over the years, the two girls and their mothers developed a close friendship. The two girls even celebrated their birthdays together.

Kristina

Not long after they met, Diana introduced Carol to appellant. Thereafter, appellant had frequent contact with Carol and her two children, Kristina and an older brother. Appellant was like an uncle to the children. He took a particular interest in Kristina.

Beginning in 1981 when Kristina was about 10 or 11 years old, appellant started seeing her regularly. He would take her out to lunch, shopping, or to run errands. He bought her clothes, jewelry and other gifts. During this period, appellant also began photographing Kristina. He showed her how to pose for the camera. He took her to outdoor locations and had her change into different outfits during the photo sessions. Sometimes he had Kristina pose for photographs in his home.

Appellant obtained Carol’s permission to take nude photographs of Kristina’s back to show her physical development over the years. Carol was present the first time appellant had Kristina pose nude. After that, however, such photographs were taken outside her presence. These photographs were taken both indoors (generally appellant’s house including his bedroom) and outdoors.

Kristina was interested in modeling and appellant encouraged her. In January 1984, she enrolled at the Barbizon Modeling School in San Francisco at appellant’s expense. Appellant paid the tuition because Kristina’s mother could not afford it. Appellant transported Kristina to and from the school, bought her the necessary clothes for auditions and helped her put together a portfolio of photographs. He prepared a business contract, executed by Kristina and her mother, which provided that he would receive a percentage of Kristina’s earnings as a model. Appellant arranged for several auditions for Kristina involving commercials and a bit part in a movie. *530 Additionally, he paid for jazz lessons for her so she would have a talent to go along with her modeling.

In June 1984, Carol and her children moved to Las Vegas. Kristina was permitted to remain in Napa for a few months to finish modeling school after which time she joined her family in Las Vegas.

Wesson Oil Audition

After Kristina moved to Las Vegas, appellant arranged for her to audition for a Wesson Oil commercial. Appellant paid the air fare so that Kristina could return to California for the audition and a weekend visit. Plans were for her to stay part of the time with her friend, Nicole, and part of the time with appellant. Appellant indicated to her that in exchange for his financing the trip, he expected her to stay part of the time with him. He picked her up at the Oakland airport on the morning of November 16, 1984. He drove her to his house to drop off the luggage. Once there, he insisted on a photo session. Kristina protested but appellant refused to take her to Nicole’s house until she agreed to pose for pictures.

Appellant had Kristina pose nude in his living room with a stuffed, seven-foot toy soldier whose arm and leg, Kristina was assured, had been strategically placed. Appellant used up a roll of film. Kristina later saw the developed pictures and her breasts and vaginal area were exposed. Kristina did not get the part in the Wesson Oil commercial.

Christmas Visit: 1984

Kristina’s family returned to Napa for a visit at Christmas time in 1984. Appellant, once again, paid for Kristina’s air fare. Appellant picked them up at the airport and took them to his house. Later, they were joined by Nicole and her family. A party ensued. When it grew late, appellant suggested that Kristina and Nicole spend the night at his house. The parents agreed. That night, appellant’s son (age 10 or 11) slept on the floor while Kristina and Nicole slept with appellant in his bed. At first, Nicole was in the middle with appellant and Kristina on either side. Unhappy with the arrangement, appellant made Nicole and Kristina switch places so that Kristina was next to him. During the night, Kristina woke up and found appellant’s finger in her vagina. Pretending to be asleep, she rolled over to extricate herself. The next day, appellant told her that he had awakened during the night and found his finger in her vagina.

Birthday Visit: January 1986

Following the move of Kristina’s family to Las Vegas, appellant suggested that Kristina and Nicole continue the tradition of celebrating their birthdays *531 together. Consequently, Kristina returned to California by plane on January 10, 1986, to celebrate her birthday with Nicole. Appellant paid for her plane fare and picked her up at the airport. From the airport, she went directly to Nicole’s house where she spent the night. The next day, she ran errands with appellant. They stopped at a record store and appellant told her to pick out a cassette tape as his present to her. She chose a cassette by a popular group known as “Kiss Animalize.” 4 When they returned to appellant’s house, Kristina wanted to play her new tape but appellant indicated that he wanted to do something else. He told her that he wanted her to rub his penis. Kristina responded by telling appellant that he was “sick.” Appellant then reproached her for refusing him after all he had done for her. At this point, Kristina gave in and agreed to do as he asked.

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Bluebook (online)
7 Cal. App. 4th 523, 9 Cal. Rptr. 2d 188, 92 Daily Journal DAR 8283, 92 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 5336, 1992 Cal. App. LEXIS 781, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-cantrell-calctapp-1992.