People v. Gill CA6

CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedJuly 21, 2014
DocketH039412
StatusUnpublished

This text of People v. Gill CA6 (People v. Gill 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. Gill CA6, (Cal. Ct. App. 2014).

Opinion

Filed 7/21/14 P. v. Gill CA6 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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, H039412 (Santa Clara County Plaintiff and Respondent, Super. Ct. No. C1101476)

v.

JULISSA IMELDA GILL,

Defendant and Appellant.

Defendant Julissa Imelda Gill appeals her convictions following a jury trial for a count of obtaining money or property by false pretenses (Pen. Code, § 532),1 a count of using personal identifying information without authorization (§ 530.5, subd. (a)), two counts of recording a false instrument (§ 115), and four counts of forging the handwriting of another (§ 470, subd. (b)). On appeal, she argues the trial court abused its discretion when it denied her motion for a new trial, because her trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to pursue a statute of limitations defense. She also contends her convictions for recording a false instrument must be reversed due to insufficient evidence. We conclude the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying her motion for a new trial and substantial evidence supports her convictions for recording false instruments. We affirm.

1 Further unspecified statutory references are to the Penal Code. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND The Information and the Complaint On March 2, 2011, the district attorney filed a felony complaint charging defendant with a count of obtaining money or property by false pretenses (§ 532; count 1), a count of using personal identifying information without authorization (§ 530.5, subd. (a); count 2), two counts of recording a false instrument (§ 115; counts 3 & 5), and two counts of knowingly performing a notarial act on a false or forged trust deed (Gov. Code, § 8214.2; counts 4 & 6). In April 2012, defendant was charged by information with a count of obtaining money by false pretenses (§ 532; count 1), a count of using personal identifying information without authorization (§ 530.5, subd. (a); count 2), two counts of recording a false instrument (§ 115; counts 3 & 5), and four counts of counterfeiting or forging the seal of handwriting of another (§ 470, subd. (b); counts 4, 6, 7 & 8). The information alleged each count was within the applicable four-year statute of limitations, section 803.5 for counts 2, 3, and 5, and section 801.5 for counts 1, 4, 6, 7 and 8. The Jury Trial The People’s Evidence The prosecution claimed defendant, a real estate agent for Century 21 Su Casa, stole the identity of a man named Jose Valdez in order to secure a deed of trust and finance the purchase of a home for her client. In December 2006, Tadas Narauskas, a real estate agent, listed a house on Curtner Avenue for sale, which was purchased by a man represented by defendant, Eddy Niquen. Letty Chow was the loan broker. Niquen said he contacted defendant after receiving a flier at his apartment and gave her his personal documents. Niquen, who spoke little English, signed documents prepared by defendant and purchased the house for $635,000.

2 Niquen did not realize the house was bought using Jose Valdez’s stolen credit. Defendant received a commission for closing the sale. Gilberto Garcia, a friend of defendant, testified that defendant had asked him to sign some of the paperwork associated with the purchase of the house under the name “Jose L. Valdez.” Garcia said defendant told him she needed his help because the individual who needed to sign the documents was out of the country due to an emergency. Garcia said defendant showed him a letter indicating he had power of attorney over Valdez, permitting him to sign on his behalf. Garcia signed two deeds of trust under Valdez’s name, which secured two loans. Narauskas said the original purchase agreement he received listed two individuals as buyers, Frederico Fernandez and Jose Vasquez. Later, he received an addendum to the purchase agreement changing the buyer to “Jose L. Valdez.” Defendant’s name was on this addendum to the purchase agreement. Ultimately, the grant deed indicated the property was transferred to “Jose Valdez” and “Eddy R. Niquen” as joint tenants. Niquen’s name was not on the deeds of trusts securing the loans. Delilah Mendoza, a notary, was present when Garcia signed some of the documents under the name “Jose L. Valdez.” Defendant, Chow, and Narauskas were present during the signing. Defendant did not tell Mendoza that Garcia was signing on behalf of Valdez. Mendoza unwittingly recorded a false driver’s license for “Mr. Valdez” and was not shown a power of attorney. Later, an investigator who received the loan file from the bank testified there were no power of attorney documents in the application packet. Marcos Rodriguez, an accountant, testified he drafted a false letter asserting he rendered tax preparation services to a “Mr. Jose Valdez.” Rodriguez said defendant had asked him to write false documents for her. Rodriguez received $100 per letter from defendant and knew defendant used the letters to secure loans for her clients.

3 Jose Valdez denied knowing defendant. Valdez said he attended a Cinco de Mayo festival in May 2006 and filled out a form with some personal information indicating he was interested in purchasing a house. In October or November 2006, he received a call asking if he would like to loan out his credit for $10,000, which he declined. In January 2007, Valdez and his wife began to talk about buying a house. A month later, Valdez went to Century 21 Su Casa and filled out a form with his information. However, he did not go forward with a purchase. In March 2007, Valdez again became interested in purchasing a home. This time, he heard an advertisement on the radio for Juan Montoya. Valdez called Montoya in mid-March 2007 and told him he was in the process of buying a house. After taking down some of Valdez’s personal information, Montoya asked Valdez why he was interested in purchasing a house when he had just bought one a few months earlier. Surprised, Valdez told Montoya he had never bought a house before. Valdez denied signing documents to purchase the Curtner Avenue house and denied giving anyone permission to complete a purchase under his name. Valdez reported the crime to the police on March 26, 2007. Defendant’s Evidence Defendant testified on her own behalf. She said she knew a man named “Jose Vasquez Valdez,” a different individual than the Jose Valdez that had testified at trial. Vasquez Valdez used to come by the Century 21 Su Casa office to help clean houses and wash windows. He voluntarily offered to help Niquen obtain the loan to purchase the Curtner Avenue home. Defendant said she was helping Niquen build credit and predicted the house could be refinanced in two years. At that point, Niquen could take Vasquez Valdez’s name off the title. Defendant insisted it was common practice for transactions to include other individuals, usually family members or friends, if buyers did not qualify for loans.

4 Defendant said she explained to Niquen that Vasquez Valdez would be on the title and also explained the plan to build his credit and refinance in a few years. Defendant asserted that once a real estate agent turns the buyer over to the loan broker, the agent is typically no longer involved in assisting the buyer with loan applications. Defendant maintained she introduced Niquen and his brothers to Chow, the loan broker. She also introduced Vasquez Valdez to Chow. Defendant said she was familiar with the loan approval process but did not help Chow with the paperwork for Niquen or Vasquez Valdez.

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People v. Gill CA6, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-gill-ca6-calctapp-2014.