People v. Curl CA6

CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedOctober 27, 2025
DocketH051444
StatusUnpublished

This text of People v. Curl CA6 (People v. Curl CA6) 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. Curl CA6, (Cal. Ct. App. 2025).

Opinion

Filed 10/27/25 P. v. Curl CA6 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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

SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

THE PEOPLE, H051444 (Monterey County Plaintiff and Respondent, Super. Ct. No. 22CR004857)

v.

ROYCE DEAN CURL II,

Defendant and Appellant.

A jury convicted defendant Royce Dean Curl II of all four counts listed in the amended information: possession for sale of fentanyl, a controlled substance (Health & Saf. Code, § 11351; count 1); possession of a firearm by a felon (Pen. Code, § 29800, subd. (a)(1); count 2);1 possession of ammunition by a felon (§ 30305, subd. (a)(1); count 3); and possession of a controlled substance with a firearm (Health & Saf. Code, § 11370.1, subd. (a); count 4). The jury also found true an allegation that Curl sustained a prior strike conviction (§§ 667, subd. (d), 1170.12, subd. (b)) for violating section 246.3, subdivision (a), willful discharge of a firearm. On appeal, Curl argues that the judgment should be reversed because certain of his statements to a sheriff’s detective were obtained in violation of Miranda v. Arizona (1966) 384 U.S. 436 (Miranda) and thus should have been suppressed. Curl also argues

1 Unspecified statutory references are to the Penal Code. that substantial evidence does not support the jury’s finding that he sustained a prior strike conviction. We conclude that any error in admitting Curl’s statements to the detective is harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. As a result, we need not determine whether the trial court erred in admitting the statements. We further accept the Attorney General’s concession that substantial evidence does not support the true finding on the prior strike allegation. Accordingly, we will reverse the judgment, allowing the People the opportunity to retry the prior strike allegation. I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND Monterey County Sheriff’s Office officials searched Curl’s residence, car, and person pursuant to a warrant. In the residence shared by Curl and his girlfriend, law enforcement found a loaded firearm, a bag containing about 460 “M30” pills, cash amounting to $5,250, and an additional amount of $50,000 in cash. Sheriff’s officials testified that an M30 pill is stamped to appear to be oxycodone. However, tests revealed that the pills contained fentanyl. The search also discovered two scales containing heroin residue. A search of Curl’s person found $2,515 in cash and an additional 296 M30 fentanyl pills. A. Motion to Suppress Curl’s Statements Curl moved in limine to suppress certain statements he made to a sheriff’s detective, asserting that the detective violated Miranda by interrogating him after he invoked his right to counsel. The prosecution also moved to admit these statements, arguing that the detective did not ask questions of Curl after Curl invoked his right to counsel and that Curl voluntarily gave statements when he reinitiated conversation with the detective. Detective Jesse Pinon testified for the prosecution at the motions hearing. He stated that in the course of executing the search warrant, two officers searched the vehicle described in the warrant and found narcotics. Curl was walking toward the vehicle; the

2 officers searched him and found narcotics on his person as well. Detective Pinon then searched the house and located narcotics, cash, and a gun. Detective Pinon testified that “[o]nce we conducted our search and our investigation at the residence and in the vehicle [Curl] was in possession of,” he advised Curl of his Miranda rights using a standard rights advisement card. At that point, Curl had been handcuffed for 30 to 45 minutes during the search. Detective Pinon testified that after providing a rights advisement and after Curl stated he understood his rights, he asked Curl whether the drugs found in the residence belonged to Curl or Curl’s girlfriend. Curl responded that “everything was his and that he would like a lawyer.” Detective Pinon stopped questioning Curl. Curl was placed under arrest and remained in handcuffs. Detective Pinon testified that the following then occurred: “I was standing near [Curl], and I was in the presence of him when he made some spontaneous statements.” Asked to clarify what he meant, Detective Pinon testified: “He was just ranting, just making statements about what was going on.” Detective Pinon testified that Curl’s statements were not in response to any questions Detective Pinon asked. Detective Pinon testified that Curl’s statements came “[w]ithin a minute” of his earlier invocation of the right to counsel. Detective Pinon testified in the motions hearing that after Curl invoked his right to counsel, “Curl initially said that he had nothing to do with anything.” At trial, Detective Pinon testified that Curl said his girlfriend (not Curl) “had nothing to do with anything.” Regardless of the exact nature of Curl’s statement after invoking his right to counsel, Detective Pinon then “made a statement that these pills that [Curl] had in possession were deadly and responsible for killing people.” On cross-examination at the motions hearing, Curl’s counsel asked Detective Pinon whether his statement about the pills being deadly and responsible for killing people was “directly in response” to Curl’s comment that he had “nothing to do with anything.” Detective Pinon responded: “No. I think that was just the pills that were present, the evidence that was taken from the vehicle. The detectives were still processing the vehicle that he was standing next to.” Detective

3 Pinon also testified that the pills located on Curl’s person were present at the scene, and Curl’s counsel asked: “And so based on looking at those pills, did you make the statement to him that these pills are deadly and responsible for killing people?” Detective Pinon replied: “I think that was in general to even the ones I found inside the residence.” After Detective Pinon stated that the pills were deadly and responsible for killing people, “Curl said that his pills don’t kill people and that he makes sure of that, and that he’s basically almost a chemist. [¶] And, at that point, he said he did what he has to do and that people were out there trying to get him so he had to protect himself.” Detective Pinon testified that he did not ask any questions or make any other statements as Curl made these statements. The trial court orally denied the defense’s motion to suppress the statements. The trial court’s ruling stated: “The Court finds the testimony of Detective Pinon to be credible. There is . . . neither a Fifth nor Sixth Amendment violation.” Other than finding Detective Pinon credible, the trial court made no findings of fact in its ruling. B. Trial Proceedings At trial, Detective Pinon testified that he explained to Curl “why we were at the residence,” and that he informed Curl about the search warrant. Curl asked “who had snitched on him.” Detective Pinon testified that in response: “I informed [Curl] of what we had found, the gun and narcotics in the residence. I asked him if they were his. I -- first I asked if he understood his rights. He said yes. I asked him about the gun and narcotics found in the residence, if they were his or his girlfriend’s.

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People v. Curl CA6, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-curl-ca6-calctapp-2025.