People v. Cisneros CA4/2

California Court of Appeal·Decided September 10, 2014·No. E058626·Unpublished

Opinion

Filed 9/10/14 P. v. Cisneros 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NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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, E058626 v. (Super.Ct.No. FWV900532) EDWARD RAMON CISNEROS et al., OPINION Defendants and Appellants.

APPEAL from the Superior Court of San Bernardino County. Michael A. Sachs, Judge. Affirmed as modified.

William J. Capriola, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant, Edward Ramon Cisneros.

Tracy A. Rogers, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant, Joel Jaquez.

Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Julie L. Garland, Senior Assistant Attorney General, A. Natasha Cortina, and Brendon W. Marshall, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

Defendants Edward Ramon Cisneros and Joel Anthony Jaquez entered a Papa John’s Pizza (PJP) on Central Avenue in Chino at closing time. Silvio Guiral was the only employee in the store. Defendants demanded Guiral’s money from his wallet, his personal keys and keys to the PJP’s safe. They threatened Guiral with a gun. Unbeknownst to defendants, a woman outside the store had seen them enter the restaurant and immediately called the police. Numerous Chino police officers arrived and eventually Jaquez engaged them in a shootout. Jaquez and Cisneros were shot, along with an officer. Additionally, during the clash, an innocent bystander was shot and killed by an officer.

Defendants were charged in a 14-count information with murder, four counts of attempted murder, four counts of assault with a firearm on a peace officer, kidnapping to commit robbery (which was dismissed prior to going to the jury), two counts of robbery, burglary and making criminal threats. They were also charged with numerous firearm enhancements. Jaquez was found guilty of all the charges and the enhancements except for murder and two counts of attempted murder. Cisneros was also found guilty of all of the charges and enhancements except murder and three counts of attempted murder.1

1 We will discuss the jury verdict in more detail, post.

Defendants individually and collectively contend on appeal as follows:

1. Cisneros contends that there was insufficient evidence presented to support his convictions of attempted unpremeditated murder of a police officer and assault with a firearm on a police officer.

2. Cisneros and Jaquez contend that they could not be convicted of two counts of robbery against a single victim.

3. If they were properly convicted of the two counts of robbery against a single victim, one of the counts must be stayed pursuant to Penal Code section 654.2 4. Section 654 requires that their sentences on their convictions for making terrorist threats (§ 422) and commercial burglary (§ 459) must be stayed.

5. The restitution fines imposed pursuant to section 1202.4, subdivision (b)

and parole revocation fines pursuant to section 1202.45 must be reduced.

We strike one of the convictions of robbery for both Jaquez and Cisneros. We also stay the sentence on their convictions of making terrorist threats and commercial burglary. We otherwise affirm the judgment.

2 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise indicated.

I

PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

After a joint trial, Jaquez was found guilty of the attempted murders (§§ 664/187, subd. (a)) of Chino Police Officers Nicholas Mutrux (count 2) and David Villaran (count 4). For count 4, the jury found true the special allegations that the murder attempted was premeditated and deliberate, and that he discharged a firearm and personally used a firearm (§ 12022.53, subds. (b) & (c)). Jaquez was also found guilty of assault with a firearm on a peace officer (§ 245, subd. (d)(1)) against Officers Mutrux (count 3); Villaran (count 5); Charles Paul (count 7); and Rodney Tamparong (count 9). For counts 2 and 3, the jury found true the special allegations that he personally and intentionally discharged a firearm that caused great bodily injury and death (§ 12022.53, subd. (d)); personally and intentionally discharged a firearm (§ 12022.53, subd. (c)); and personally used a firearm (§ 12022.53, subd. (b)). For counts 5, 7, and 9, the jury found that Jaquez used a firearm and discharged a firearm (§ 12022.53, subds. (b) & (c)). In addition, Jaquez was found guilty of two counts of robbery against Silvio Guiral (§ 211; counts 11 & 12); second-degree commercial burglary (§ 459; count 13); and making criminal threats (§ 422; count 14).3 For counts 11 and 12, the jury found true the allegations that Jaquez personally used a firearm (§ 12022.53, subd. (b)). For counts 13 and 14, the jury found the firearm use allegations (§ 12022.5.subd. (a)) true.

3 The information initially charged Jaquez and Cisneros in count 12 with robbery against PJP but was later amended to name Guiral as the victim.

The jury was deadlocked on a charge of murder of Daniel Balandran (count 1); the attempted murders of Officers Paul and Tamparong (counts 6 & 8); and the special allegation for count 2 that the attempted murder was premeditated and deliberate. Those counts were dismissed in the interests of justice.4 Cisneros was found guilty of the attempted murder (§§ 664/187, subd. (a)) of Officer Villaran (count 4); assault with a firearm (§ 245, subd. (d)(1)) on Officers Villaran, Paul, Tamparong and Mutrux (counts 3, 5, 7, & 9); two counts of robbery (§ 211) against Guiral (counts 11 & 12); burglary (§ 459; count 13); and making criminal threats (§ 422; count 14). For counts 11 and 12, the jury found true the allegations that Cisneros personally used a firearm (§ 12022.53, subd. (b)), and for counts 13 and 14 that he used a firearm (§ 12022.5, subd. (a)). The jury was deadlocked on counts 1, 2, 6, and 8, and the special allegation of premeditated and deliberate murder on count 4. A mistrial was declared on these counts. The charges were dismissed in the interests of justice.

After a court trial, the evidence established that Jaquez had suffered two prior convictions within the meaning of section 667.5, subdivision (b). The trial court also found true that Cisneros had suffered one prior serious felony conviction (§ 667, subd. (a)(1)); one prior serious or violent felony conviction (§§ 667, subds. (b)-(i), 1170.12, subds. (a)-(d)); served one prior prison term for a violent conviction (§ 667.5, subd. (a)); and two other prior prison terms (§ 667.5, subd. (b)).5

4 Prior to trial, the trial court granted Jaquez’s motion to dismiss count 10 pursuant to section 995.

5 Trial on the prior convictions was bifurcated.

Jaquez was sentenced to a total determinate sentence of 75 years and 4 months, followed by an indeterminate term of 47 years to life. Cisneros was sentenced to a total determinate term of 51 years plus an indeterminate term of 14 years to life.

II

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

A. People’s Case-in-Chief 1. Entry and robbery at PJP (Counts 11-14)

On February 1, 2009, Silvio Guiral was the general manager at the PJP located on Central Avenue in Chino. At approximately 9:45 p.m., he turned off the “OPEN” sign and locked the door. He was the sole employee in the store. He began the process of closing the store. He then heard a loud banging noise.

Guiral turned around and saw two men, identified as Cisneros and Jaquez, approaching him. Cisneros was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and dark jeans. Jaquez had his face covered with a bandana and was holding a gun. He also was wearing dark jeans and a black hoodie. Both Cisneros and Jaquez told him several times that if the police came, they would kill him.

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