People v. Carrisosa CA5

CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedJanuary 6, 2026
DocketF088701
StatusUnpublished

This text of People v. Carrisosa CA5 (People v. Carrisosa CA5) 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. Carrisosa CA5, (Cal. Ct. App. 2026).

Opinion

Filed 1/6/26 P. v. Carrisosa CA5

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

THE PEOPLE, F088701 Plaintiff and Respondent, (Super. Ct. No. MCR075037) v.

DAVID JOSEPH CARRISOSA, JR., OPINION Defendant and Appellant.

THE COURT* APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Madera County. Katherine Rigby, Judge. Ross Thomas, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Charles C. Ragland, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Kimberley A. Donohue, Assistant Attorney General, Dina Petrushenko and Carly Orozco, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent. -ooOoo-

* Before Franson, Acting P. J., Peña, J., and DeSantos, J. INTRODUCTION A jury convicted David Joseph Carrisosa, Jr. (defendant) of possession for sale of a controlled substance (Health & Saf. Code,1 § 11378, count 1), sale or transportation of a controlled substance (§ 11379, subd. (a), count 2), and misdemeanor possession of a smoking device (§ 11364, subd. (a), count 3). Following a court trial, the trial court also found true an allegation defendant had suffered a prior strike conviction and an aggravating factor allegation. On appeal, defendant argues counts 1 and 2 must be reversed because his counsel provided ineffective assistance by failing to object to a prosecution witness’s opinion testimony that defendant was involved in narcotics transportation and distribution. Defendant contends the officer’s opinion was inadmissible because it impermissibly addressed a question of law, usurped the jury’s function as the trier of fact, and it directly addressed the issue of defendant’s guilt. The People respond that defense counsel was not deficient in failing to object to such testimony. Alternatively, they argue defendant was not prejudiced by his counsel’s failure to object. We affirm. FACTUAL BACKGROUND Defendant was charged with possession for sale of a controlled substance (§ 11378, count 1), sale or transportation of a controlled substance (§ 11379, subd. (a), count 2), and misdemeanor possession of a smoking device (§ 11364, subd. (a), count 3) after he was pulled over for a traffic infraction and officers seized contraband from his person and vehicle. Before trial, defendant asked to bifurcate allegations regarding a prior strike conviction and aggravating factors.

1 All further statutory references are to the Health and Safety Code, unless otherwise indicated.

2. Prosecution Evidence2 Corporal Shawn Fadley testified he had been with the Madera Police Department for approximately six years. Before becoming a corporal, Fadley was assigned to the Special Investigations Unit as a gang and narcotics undercover officer. He would work with confidential informants on narcotics cases and would specifically target people who were selling larger amounts. Fadley explained that he received basic training in the police academy in identifying controlled substances, specifically methamphetamine. He also received additional on-the-field training with a field training officer before he was released to make his own contacts with users. Fadley took additional training online for narcotics sales transportation and identification, a “Police Officer’s Standard Training” (POST)-certified course. Fadley had investigated between 30 to 50 cases that became possible “sales” cases. He had investigated approximately 100 cases involving methamphetamine. When investigating a sale of methamphetamine case, Fadley looked for larger amounts of methamphetamine (more than a gram), scales (because dealers use them to weigh the amounts of methamphetamine), packaging material, such as sandwich bags, and cash in lower denominations for quicker transactions with purchasers. Fadley testified he was on patrol with Detective Adrian Santoyo on August 9, 2022. While stopped at a stop sign, they observed a vehicle pass them without a front license plate, which was a violation of Vehicle Code section 5200, subdivision (a). They conducted an enforcement stop to speak with the driver. The vehicle pulled over; defendant was driving. Fadley testified defendant did not look happy. While on scene, Santoyo asked defendant to get out of the car and he complied. They searched defendant’s person. Defendant had a plastic sandwich baggie containing

2 Before trial, defendant moved to suppress any evidence obtained after he exited his vehicle on the grounds the searching officer did not have reasonable suspicion and lacked probable cause to search defendant. The prosecution opposed the motion, and the trial court denied defendant’s motion to suppress. Defendant filed a motion for reconsideration, which the court also denied.

3. methamphetamine in his left pocket. Defendant was asked if he had anything else illegal in his vehicle and defendant indicated he had a pipe in the center console of the vehicle. Santoyo located the pipe in the vehicle and then the officers detained defendant while they completed a search of the rest of the vehicle. Santoyo found a sock full of cash, approximately $185 in $1 bills, located in the backseat on the driver’s side. Santoyo located packaging material—around 50 sandwich baggies consistent with the one defendant had in his left pocket—and they found three digital scales in the trunk. There was a larger amount of methamphetamine, which Fadley approximated to be 3.8 grams, found hidden inside one of the headrests.3 Fadley testified, from his training and experience, when methamphetamine is possessed “for personal use,” it is not typically hidden inside a vehicle, such as in the passenger headrest. Santoyo also found a black magnetic lockbox located in the trunk of the vehicle. Fadley explained, “[T]ypically when people are involved in narcotics sales, that’s how they’ll transport their narcotics from location to location. They’ll put the narcotics inside of one of those boxes, lock it, and then attach it somewhere in the vehicle to the mechanics of it, typically the undercarriage.” Fadley testified this is not something he would typically see for someone who is using methamphetamine for personal use. Fadley expressed his opinion in response to questioning as follows:

“[PROSECUTOR:] Now, … based on the evidence that you found on scene and the methamphetamine that you found on scene, were you ever formed [sic] an opinion—did your investigation lead you to any belief with regards to [defendant]? “[FADLEY:] Yes. Believed that he was transporting and selling methamphetamine.”

3 The methamphetamine seized at the scene was subsequently tested by a criminalist. One sample was found to contain 2.788 grams of methamphetamine and the other contained 1.011 grams of methamphetamine.

4. Based on this determination, the items located—the methamphetamine, packaging, lockbox, pipe, and scales—were seized and transported back to the police department and booked into property and evidence. The seized magnetic lockbox, scales, and packaging material were introduced as evidence at trial. Fadley testified the lid used to cover one of the scales had a white residue in the corners that was consistent with some sort of narcotic. Fadley’s body camera footage of the incident was introduced as an exhibit at trial and played for the jury. Deputy Jose Garcia testified he had been with the Madera County Sheriff’s Office for approximately two years and he was assigned to the Madera County Narcotics Enforcement Team.

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People v. Carrisosa CA5, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-carrisosa-ca5-calctapp-2026.