Filed 7/28/14
CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION
COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
THE PEOPLE, D063266
Plaintiff and Respondent,
v. (Super. Ct. No. JCF29156)
CHRISTIAN ABRAHAM CASTILLO,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Imperial County,
Christopher J. Plourd, Judge. Affirmed.
Christian C. Buckley, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant
and Appellant.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Julie L. Garland, Assistant Attorney General, Barry J.T. Carlton and Michael T.
Murphy, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
In this case, we reject defendant's contention that the trial court erred when it
denied his pretrial request to enforce a negotiated disposition because there was no agreement for the court to enforce and even assuming defense counsel's representation
was deficient, the defendant could not establish prejudice. We also conclude the trial
court did not err when it denied defendant's motion to suppress evidence of statements he
made to police as having been taken in violation of Miranda v. Arizona (1966) 384 U.S.
436 (Miranda) because the defendant was not in custody when, prior to the execution of a
search warrant on a residence, a police officer asked defendant two questions while the
defendant and two others sat handcuffed in the residence.
GENERAL FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
On a morning in July 2012, members of the El Centro Police Department SWAT
team and other narcotics investigation officers executed a forced entry search of Christian
Abraham Castillo's residence where it was believed that a known drug dealer sold
narcotics. Castillo, his girlfriend Crystal Obeso, and his brother Alfredo Castillo, were
inside the residence. At the time, police did not have any information on Castillo.
During their search, officers found, among other things, a salable quantity of
methamphetamine, cash, a digital scale and a handgun.
A jury convicted Castillo of possessing methamphetamine for sale and being a
felon in possession of a firearm. It also found true the allegation that Castillo was armed
with a firearm when he possessed the methamphetamine for sale. The trial court
subsequently found true the allegation that Castillo had previously been convicted of a
drug-related offense. The trial court sentenced Castillo to a total prison term of nine
years.
2 DISCUSSION
I. Motion to Enforce Plea Bargain
A. Factual Background
Prior to the preliminary hearing, the prosecutor offered five years and stated that if
the offer was rejected, the People would be adding an additional "five-year" firearm
enhancement. Defense counsel explained that when he relayed the initial five-year offer
to Castillo in August, he informed Castillo that if Castillo rejected the offer, the People
would file an amended complaint to add the firearm enhancement and that the additional
charges would raise Castillo's maximum exposure to 11 years in prison. Castillo rejected
the offer.
In early October 2012, defense counsel calendared a motion to disclose the
identity of confidential informants, which was set for hearing on October 24. (All further
date references are to 2012.) During negotiations before the hearing on the motion, the
prosecutor told defense counsel that the People might be open to a counteroffer, wherein
defense counsel inquired about three years. The prosecutor responded, " 'Make me the
offer. We might consider it.' " Castillo, however, never made a counteroffer.
Later that day, defense counsel visited Castillo and talked to him about making an
offer consistent with the prosecutor's suggestion. During that discussion, defense counsel
incorrectly told Castillo that his maximum exposure in the case was seven years eight
months. Defense counsel told Castillo he believed the motion to disclose confidential
informants was "a close call and could go either way." Defense counsel informed
3 Castillo that if he lost the motion to disclose confidential informants, no further plea
offers would be considered and the case would proceed to trial.
If the motion was granted, however, "it was very likely that the case would be
dismissed." Defense counsel advised Castillo that a three-year deal was "very fair" and
recommended that he "make such an offer to avoid the harsher consequences that could
result if he lost his motion and the trial." Castillo informed counsel that he "wanted to
take his chances with the motion, and declined to make a three year offer to settle the
case based partially on this factor."
Sometime thereafter, defense counsel informed Castillo he had misadvised him
regarding his maximum exposure. During that discussion, Castillo responded by saying
he would have chosen to make an offer to settle the case for three years had he known his
exposure was eleven years eight months.
On the first day of trial, the court heard and denied Castillo's Miranda motion.
Later that day, defense counsel informed the court that he had misadvised Castillo on his
potential exposure in the case. Defense counsel argued that Castillo would have made a
three-year offer had he understood his total exposure and that Castillo was moving to
specifically enforce a three-year plea bargain. Given his error, defense counsel felt that
separate counsel should be appointed to file a formal motion on the issue.
The prosecutor told the court that had defense counsel made an offer to resolve the
case that included a three-year prison term, her office "probably" would have accepted
such an offer at that time. The prosecutor also disclosed that she had spoken to defense
counsel the prior evening, but that Castillo was not willing to accept three years and that
4 he wanted a year. At a later hearing, defense counsel confirmed that he had offered one
year in a program plus one year county jail, but the prosecutor declined the offer. The
court denied the oral motion, stating it would consider a written motion, but that "there
has to be an agreement to enforce."
After a jury had been sworn and pre-instructed, Castillo filed a written motion to
enforce the plea bargain. Citing In re Alvernaz (1992) 2 Cal.4th 924 (Alvernaz), Castillo
asked the court to enforce a three-year plea bargain. Alternatively, he asked for a new
trial "with a resumption of the plea bargaining process." The trial court denied the
motion finding that Alvernaz did not control because no offer of three years had been
made or accepted by either party and the evidence did not support Castillo's claim that he
would have taken such a deal at that time even if he had been accurately advised of his
prison exposure. As to this second point, the court explained the following:
"I don't think there is anything about the advice that you gave him, and I'm not convinced that he would have ever made such an offer given he was essentially looking at the motions as a chance to prevail in the case and he was looking at that. That's [what] the evidence tends to show; he was betting on that, so to speak, and not making an offer. He made subsequent offers and so forth. I think even the fact he made an offer later on for less time and was rejected tends to support that."
Before closing arguments, Castillo offered to settle the case for a four-year prison
term, but the district attorney rejected that offer.
B. Analysis
Castillo contends the trial court erroneously denied his pretrial request to enforce a
negotiated disposition because the record demonstrates that defense counsel incorrectly
5 advised him regarding the plea, he would have accepted the plea if he had been properly
advised, the prosecution would have accepted the counteroffer if it had been made and
the court would have accepted the plea. The People assert Castillo's arguments lack merit
because there was no agreement for the court to enforce and even assuming defense
counsel's representation was deficient, Castillo cannot establish prejudice. We agree with
the People.
In criminal proceedings, plea bargaining is a critical stage at which a defendant is
entitled to effective assistance of counsel. (Alvernaz, supra, 2 Cal.4th at p. 933.) The
rendering of ineffective assistance at this stage constitutes a violation of the defendant's
constitutional right to counsel, which is not remedied by a fair trial. (Id. at p. 936.)
Accordingly, when a defendant is misadvised by counsel, rejects a guilty plea based on
that erroneous advice, and is later convicted at trial, the defendant may assert a claim of
ineffective assistance of counsel, even if the defendant receives a fair trial. (Id. at
pp. 934-936.)
To demonstrate constitutionally inadequate representation, a defendant must show
(1) counsel's representation was deficient, i.e., it fell below an objective standard of
reasonableness under prevailing professional norms, and (2) counsel's deficient
performance subjected the defendant to prejudice, i.e., there is reasonable probability
that, but for counsel's failings, the result would have been more favorable to defendant.
(Alvernaz, supra, 2 Cal.4th at pp. 936-937.) We conduct an independent review of the
record to determine if appellant met his burden. (Id. at pp. 944-945.) To demonstrate
prejudice in the context of rejecting a plea bargain, the defendant must prove there is a
6 reasonable probability he would have accepted the plea bargain and the court would have
approved the bargain. (Id. at p. 937.)
Here, it is undisputed that neither party offered a three-year plea bargain.
Because no formal plea offer was made, Alvernaz does not apply. Rather, we examine
the record to determine whether counsel's representation was deficient and whether any
deficient performance subjected the defendant to prejudice. Because defense counsel
incorrectly advised Castillo regarding the maximum sentence, the key question before us
is whether that erroneous advice prejudiced Castillo. To establish prejudice from the
erroneous advice, Castillo must show a reasonable probability that if properly advised by
counsel, he would have tendered a three-year plea offer, that the People would have
accepted the plea offer and that it would have been approved by the trial court. (See
Alvernaz, supra, 2 Cal.4th at p. 937.)
On this record, we cannot conclude that Castillo would have tendered a three-year
plea offer if he had been properly advised. When Castillo rejected the prosecutor's five-
year offer, defense counsel correctly informed him that his potential exposure was 11
years in prison. Defense counsel later misinformed Castillo of his potential exposure
when he suggested that Castillo offer a three-year plea. At that time, defense counsel
advised Castillo that three years would be a "fair outcome" and making the offer avoided
the potential consequences of losing the motion and losing at trial. Castillo rejected this
advice and declined to make the offer, with defense counsel explaining that Castillo
wanted "to take his chances with the motion." Thus, defense counsel's declaration
suggests Castillo declined to make the offer because he hoped to win the motion, not
7 because he was incorrectly told that his potential exposure was seven years eight months,
rather than 11 years.
This conclusion is supported by the exchange between the prosecutor and defense
counsel on the evening before defense counsel made his oral motion to enforce a plea
bargain. At that time, Castillo was not willing to accept three years and instead offered
one year in a program, plus one year in county jail. Accordingly, we conclude the trial
court properly denied Castillo's motion to enforce a negotiated disposition and that any
ineffective assistance was not prejudicial.
II. Alleged Miranda Violation
El Centro Police Officers John Tang and James Thompson testified at the hearing
on Castillo's Miranda motion as follows.
A SWAT team comprised of about five people entered the residence by forcing
the door open. The SWAT team handcuffed Castillo, Alfredo and Obeso and had them
sit on the sofa. The SWAT team left shortly after Officers Tang and Thompson entered
the residence. When Officers Tang and Thompson entered, Officer Thompson
immediately told the individuals that they were not under arrest, that they were being
detained for the purpose of serving a search warrant, and asked who was responsible for
the residence as he did not know the three individuals and did not see anyone listed on
the search warrant. When Officer Thompson asked this question, only he and Officer
Tang were with the three individuals.
8 Officer Thompson testified that he asked who was responsible for the apartment so
that he could serve the search warrant. He explained, "[I]f an individual is listed on the
search warrant, sometimes there are other parties that are responsible for the actual
location. We not only have to serve the individual that is listed on the search warrant, we
also have to serve the responsible party of the location as well." After Castillo responded
that he was responsible for the apartment, Officer Thompson asked if Castillo was
responsible for all of the property in the residence. Castillo responded affirmatively.
Officer Thompson explained that he needed to ask this question because the officers
"were required by law to provide a property receipt for all items taken and [had] to
provide it to the rightful owner. I know that from my experience sometimes different
people who aren't related occupy different rooms, and I need to identify what property
belongs to who for receipts."
For their safety, Officer Thompson had the three individuals step outside while a
canine cleared the residence. Officer Tang did not have a gun drawn and described the
situation as "pretty casual" even though the individuals were handcuffed. While the
individuals were outside, Officer Tang searched Alfredo after confirming that he was on
probation. Officer Tang found methamphetamine on Alfredo and arrested him. Officer
Tang also searched Castillo after obtaining his permission. After the canine search,
Officer Tang had the individuals return to the sofa. Officer Thompson then gave Castillo
a copy of the search warrant to read. About three or four other individuals conducted the
search under Officer Thompson's direction. Castillo was arrested after the search. When
Officer Thompson asked Castillo who he would like to be responsible for the residence as
9 the police could not lock the door, Castillo asked Officer Thompson to call Castillo's
mother.
Based on this evidence, defense counsel argued that Miranda barred the use of
Castillo's statements to Officer Thompson because Castillo was in custody when the
questions were asked and the questions were designed to elicit incriminating information.
The prosecutor argued that Castillo's statements were not the product of interrogation
within the meaning of Miranda because the questions were asked to allow the police to
perform their administrative duties. The trial court concluded that Miranda warnings
were not required because the officer's questions were not designed for interrogation
purposes "either subjectively or objectively" and that when the questions were asked, the
detention was not coercive. Thus, it concluded that Castillo's statements would be
admissible at trial.
B. Legal Principles and Standard of Review
A criminal suspect's statements to police during a custodial interrogation will be
excluded under Miranda if the suspect is not first advised of specific Fifth Amendment
rights. (People v. Thornton (2007) 41 Cal.4th 391, 432; People v. Whitfield (1996) 46
Cal.App.4th 947, 953 (Whitfield).) For Miranda to apply, the suspect must be in
" 'custody,' " and the questioning must meet the legal definition of " 'interrogation.' "
(Whitfield, at p. 953.) "The prosecution has the burden of proving that a custodial
interrogation did not take place." (Ibid.) A trial court's conclusion that Miranda
warnings were not required is subject to de novo review and its underlying findings
10 regarding custody and interrogation are scrutinized for substantial evidence. (People v.
Clair (1992) 2 Cal.4th 629, 678.)
" 'Interrogation' consists of express questioning, or words or actions on the part of
the police that 'are reasonably likely to elicit an incriminating response from the
suspect.' " (People v. Cunningham (2001) 25 Cal.4th 926, 993, quoting Rhode Island v.
Innis (1980) 446 U.S. 291, 301 (Innis).) " ' "The police may speak to a suspect in custody
as long as the speech would not reasonably be construed as calling for an incriminating
response." ' " (People v. Huggins (2006) 38 Cal.4th 175, 198.) The determination of
whether an action is reasonably likely to elicit an incriminating response focuses
primarily on the perceptions of the suspect, rather than the intent of the police. (Innis, at
p. 301.)
While executing a search warrant on a residence, the police may detain the
occupants to prevent flight, minimize the risk of harm to the officers, facilitate orderly
completion of the search and determine the relationship of an individual to the premises.
(Michigan v. Summers (1981) 452 U.S. 692, 702-703, 705 (Summers); People v. Glaser
(1995) 11 Cal.4th 354, 365.) Additionally, an individual that is an occupant of the
premises may be detained for the duration of the search. (Summers, at p. 705.) As our
high court explained, "If the evidence that a citizen's residence is harboring contraband is
sufficient to persuade a judicial officer that an invasion of the citizen's privacy is
justified, it is constitutionally reasonable to require that citizen to remain while officers of
the law execute a valid warrant to search his home." (Id. at pp. 704-705.) Moreover, it is
11 not unreasonable to detain an occupant of the residence in handcuffs for the duration of
the search of the residence. (Muehler v. Mena (2005) 544 U.S. 93, 98 (Muehler).)
C. Analysis
Castillo asserts he was in custody when Officer Thompson asked him if he was
responsible for the residence and if everything in it belonged to him. He asserts that both
questions were intended to result in incriminating statements. Because these questions
were asked prior to Miranda warnings, he contends that his statements should have been
suppressed. We conclude that the totality of the circumstances show Castillo was not in
custody for purposes of Miranda. Even assuming the court erred in allowing the
evidence, the error was harmless.
Looking at the totality of the circumstances, and applying Summers and Muehler,
the police properly detained Castillo during the entirety of the search. As our high court
has stated, "[A] warrant to search for contraband founded on probable cause implicitly
carries with it the limited authority to detain the occupants of the premises while a proper
search is conducted." (Summers, supra, 452 U.S. at p. 705, fns. omitted.) Searching a
suspected drug house is inherently dangerous and the use of handcuffs for the duration of
the search prevented flight, minimized the harm to the officers and did not turn a routine
detention during execution of a search warrant into an arrest. On these facts, we
conclude that Castillo was not in custody when Officer Thompson asked the two
questions.
Based on this conclusion, we need not address at length whether the two questions
asked by Officer Thompson amounted to interrogation under Miranda. Suffice it to say,
12 the trial court here found that the questions were not designed for interrogation purposes
and this conclusion was amply supported by the evidence. (People v. Clair, supra, 2
Cal.4th at p. 678 [trial court's underlying finding regarding interrogation is scrutinized for
substantial evidence].) Accordingly, we find no error in the trial court's denial of the
motion to suppress.
Even assuming, without deciding, that Castillo's statements should have been
excluded, the assumed error was not prejudicial. The admission of incriminatory
evidence in violation of Miranda requires reversal unless the error was harmless beyond
a reasonable doubt. (People v. Aguilera (1996) 51 Cal.App.4th 1151, 1166.) " 'To say
that an error did not contribute to the ensuing verdict is . . . to find that error unimportant
in relation to everything else the jury considered on the issue in question, as revealed in
the record.' " (People v. Neal (2003) 31 Cal.4th 63, 86.)
In making his argument, Castillo focuses exclusively on the prosecutor's closing
argument where she reminded the jury of Castillo's statements to the police that the
residence and everything in it was his. While these statements are important when
viewed in isolation, the statements lose their importance in light of the compelling
evidence that Castillo had dominion and control over the residence and its contents.
"The essential elements of possession of a controlled substance are 'dominion and
control of the substance in a quantity usable for consumption or sale, with knowledge of
its presence and of its restricted dangerous drug character . . . .' " (People v. Palaschak
(1995) 9 Cal.4th 1236, 1242.) The elements may be established by circumstantial
evidence and any reasonable inferences drawn from such evidence. (Ibid.) Possession of
13 controlled substances or other contraband includes constructive possession. (People v.
Francis (1969) 71 Cal.2d 66, 73.) Constructive possession exists when contraband is
found in a location subject to the defendant's dominion and control. (Id. at pp. 70-71.)
As the jury was instructed, possession is established if a person has control or the right to
control the item. (CALCRIM No. 2302.) "The inference of dominion and control is
easily made when the contraband is discovered in a place over which the defendant has
general dominion and control," like his residence. (People v. Jenkins (1979) 91
Cal.App.3d 579, 584.)
Inside a kitchen drawer, police found two working digital scales that could
measure small quantities and plastic bags that could be used to package drugs for sale.
One scale contained a white crystal residue that Officer Thompson believed was
methamphetamine. Police also found a mechanical scale on the kitchen countertop that
could also be used to measure small quantities.
The residence contained two bedrooms. Inside one bedroom, police found an air
mattress and a plastic storage container with drawers. On top of the storage container,
police found two sets of keys. The police were able to use the keys to open safes located
inside another bedroom. Other keys opened one of the doors to the residence.
Inside the storage container, police found a phone bill with Castillo's name on it
and a strip of four photographs of Castillo and Obeso. Next to the storage container,
police found a pair of men's jeans. A wallet inside the jeans contained cash and Castillo's
California identification card. The pockets of the jeans were full of cash separated into
different denominations. One pocket contained $420 and another pocket contained $360.
14 The bedroom mostly contained men's items on one side of the bed and inside the closet.
On the other side of the bed, there was female clothing inside plastic grocery bags that
had been knotted on the top.
The second bedroom contained the two locked fire safes, but no bed or personal
belongings. One of the safes contained a digital scale, some wrapping papers and $6,287
cash in small denominations. The second safe contained a semiautomatic handgun and a
crystal-like substance that police later determined to be methamphetamine. The
methamphetamine had been separated into four packages that weighed a total of 448.2
grams, close to one pound of drugs. This room contained a table that Officer Thompson
believed was a workstation as on it were homemade containers, packaging material made
out of baggies and tape. Police also found a notebook that they later determined to be a
"pay/owe sheet." Officer Thompson described a "pay/owe sheet" as similar to a bank
ledger showing a series of names and numbers showing how much a person owes for a
specific amount of controlled substance. A trash bin inside the room contained what
police believed to be packaging material used to transport controlled substances.
Based upon his inspection of the residence, Officer Thompson believed that only
Castillo lived there. Significantly, Castillo asked police to call his mother to secure the
residence after police completed the search. After reviewing the circumstances of
Castillo's case, a police sergeant familiar with narcotic sales concluded that Castillo
possessed the drugs found in the apartment to sell. The sergeant also testified that it is
common for drug dealers to keep drugs out of their bedroom to allow them to separate
work from their personal life.
15 Separate from Castillo's statements, this evidence established Castillo's dominion
and control over the residence and the items inside of it. Thus, the assumed Miranda
error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.
DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
MCINTYRE, J.
WE CONCUR:
HUFFMAN, Acting P. J.
AARON, J.