People v. Golden

228 Cal. Rptr. 3d 489, 19 Cal. App. 5th 905

Opinion

THE COURT

**

*907Defendant Jerome Clifford Golden, a sexually violent predator (SVP) committed to Coalinga State Hospital (CSH),¹ was charged with possession of child pornography by a registered sex offender ( Pen. Code, ² § 311.11, subd. (b) ). The information further alleged he had been convicted of committing a lewd or lascivious act upon a child under 14 years of age, a qualifying "strike" offense (§§ 667, subds. (b)-(i), 1170.12, subds. (a)-(d)), in 1992 and 1995. The jury found defendant guilty as charged. In a bifurcated proceeding, the trial court found true the prior convictions.³ Thereafter, defendant was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

On appeal, defendant contends a suppression motion and a Romero⁴ motion *492should have been granted. For the reasons set forth below, we affirm the judgment. *908DISCUSSION

I. Defendant's suppression motion was correctly denied.

a. Background .

On March 21, 2012, at approximately 7:00 p.m., Denise Martin, a CSH psychiatric technician, entered the dormitory inhabited by, inter alios, Ronald Rudd, an SVP.⁵ On Rudd's television, Martin saw footage of "an adult male with an erect penis" and a boy "maybe 10 or 11" years of age "giving oral copulation." She and a coworker confiscated Rudd's external hard drive, which "was connected to the TV" and "was playing the video." Martin reported the incident to CSH police. Officer Phillip Wikler conducted a "search for cause"⁶ of Rudd's dormitory, during which Rudd conceded "the child pornography was his" and "wanted to tell [CSH police] everything." In an interview with Wikler and Sergeant Kristopher Peugh, Rudd stated he had purchased the pornography from defendant for $10. At approximately 8:50 p.m., Officer Daniel Garza and others conducted a search for cause of defendant's dormitory section. They seized a memory card from the pocket of defendant's state-issued T-shirt, a four-gigabyte USB flash drive, and around 200 compact discs. Garza patted down defendant and found another memory card in a pants pocket.

In a March 22, 2012, interview with Garza and Sergeant Jerry Duvall, defendant stated he woke up on March 21, 2012, at approximately 8:30 p.m. and saw "a small clear case containing two ... memory cards [i]n it." He "took them out of the case to see what was on them," "put them in his DVD player," and observed child pornography. At the same time, CSH police entered the dormitory. Defendant "put [the memory cards] in a pocket because he didn't know what to do when the officers entered the room." On June 6, 2012, Duvall executed a search warrant, examined the memory cards, and found child pornography.

On February 1, 2013, defendant filed a suppression motion pursuant to section 1538.5, alleging the warrantless search on March 21, 2012, violated the Fourth Amendment. On March 12 and 13, 2013, the superior court heard the motion in conjunction with the preliminary hearing. At the hearing, CSH police testified CSH is a maximum-security psychiatric hospital with a patient *909population of 1,100, between 80 to 85 percent of whom are sexually violent predators. Because CSH is located on the grounds of Pleasant Valley State Prison, a visitor cannot access the hospital unless he or she first passes an inspection by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Various signs throughout CSH advise that all persons, vehicles, and items are subject to search and/or list prohibited items. Officers conduct random searches of patients and their dormitories for contraband daily to maintain institutional security. However, patients often dispose of items in the trash or in the toilet once they realize officers are conducting a search. A *493major problem is the sale of child pornography. According to Sergeant Duvall, CSH is "possibly becoming a distribution hub." In addition, there have been assaults on (1) those "coming forward" to report child pornography; and (2) those who possess the child pornography by fellow patients who "don't like the persons having materials like that."

Following the hearing, the superior court ruled:

"[I]n regards to the motion to suppress pursuant to ... [s]ection 1538.5, ... it's clear that the Fourth Amendment at least does apply. However, ... because there is a civil commitment of [defendant]-and it's my understanding that was pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code [s]ection 6604-the Court finds that [defendant], because he was committed under that code section, it's a civil commitment and there is a significant reduction in any expectation of privacy. In regards to what that expectation of privacy would entail, it seems to me that there is [an] expectation of privacy regarding ... some aspects of his treatment. However, in regards to his living area, ... the Court has to take into consideration the type of facility.... [T]his is a maximum security state hospital. It's located within a state prison. A witness testified as to what is involved in gaining access to the facility, specifically the state hospital. The Court is taking that into consideration. The Court is also taking into consideration the notice or signs that have been posted or are posted ... within the facility and outside the facility.

"In regards to the search for cause, ... it doesn't appear that there are any cases that define what search for cause means, whether that's reasonable suspicion or probable cause. Even if the Court were to use the probable cause standard which is higher than reasonable suspicion, in this case, given the strong security interest of the institution in regards to contraband, ... in this case the child pornography and attempts to keep that outside of the facility, those outweigh any issues regarding the officer's ability then to search for those items. And in this case, they had that probable cause based on the statements of Mr. Rudd, the evidence that was observed by staff, and the prompt action by the state police to then go and obtain whatever evidence they were able to locate based on that information, and that information *910pointed to [defendant]. And so the officers did have probable cause to then seize those items. And then subsequently, ... the officers did obtain a search warrant to actually view the items that were found in [defendant]'s possession.

"So in light of the significant reduced expectation of privacy that [defendant] would have, the Court at this time finds no violation of the Fourth Amendment. Therefore, the Court will deny the defense motion to suppress the evidence that was initially seized and then the evidence that was obtained as a result of any subsequent search warrant as to the actual items and images that were depicted on any media device."

b. Standard of review.

" '[I]t is settled that in ruling on a motion [to suppress] under section 1538.5 the superior court sits as a finder of fact with the power to judge credibility, resolve conflicts, weigh evidence, and draw inferences, and hence that on review of its ruling by appeal or writ all presumptions are drawn in favor of the factual determinations of the superior court and the appellate court must uphold the superior court's express or implied findings if they are supported by substantial evidence.' [Citation.]" ( *494People v. Needham (2000) 79 Cal.App.4th 260, 265, 93 Cal.Rptr.2d 899.) "Substantial evidence is ' "evidence which is reasonable, credible, and of solid value." ' [Citation.]" ( People v. Bohana (2000) 84 Cal.App.4th 360, 368, 100 Cal.Rptr.2d 845.) "The reviewing court then independently reviews the superior court's determination that no Fourth Amendment violation occurred in conducting the search." ( People v. Needham , supra , at p. 265, 93 Cal.Rptr.2d 899.) "If the search or seizure violated the Fourth Amendment, then the evidence seized as a result of that search must be excluded." ( Ibid. , citing Mapp v. Ohio (1961) 367 U.S. 643, 655, 81 S.Ct. 1684, 6 L.Ed.2d 1081.) "On appeal we consider the correctness of the trial court's ruling itself, not the correctness of the trial court's reasons for reaching its decision." ( People v. Letner and Tobin (2010) 50 Cal.4th 99, 145, 112 Cal.Rptr.3d 746, 235 P.3d 62, italics omitted.)

c. Analysis .

"A defendant may move ... to suppress as evidence any tangible or intangible thing obtained as a result of a search or seizure on ... the ... grounds ... [¶] ... [t]he search or seizure without a warrant was unreasonable." (§ 1538.5, subd. (a)(1)(A).) "We review issues relating to the suppression of evidence derived from police searches and seizures under federal constitutional standards." ( People v. Rossetti (2014) 230 Cal.App.4th 1070, 1074, 179 Cal.Rptr.3d 148, citing People v. Bradford (1997) 15 Cal.4th 1229, 1291, 65 Cal.Rptr.2d 145, 939 P.2d 259.)

*911"The Fourth Amendment provides '[t]he right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated....' [Citation.] This guarantee has been incorporated into the Fourteenth Amendment to the federal Constitution and is applicable to the states. [Citation.]" ( People v. Camacho (2000) 23 Cal.4th 824, 829-830, 98 Cal.Rptr.2d 232, 3 P.3d 878.)⁷ The Fourth Amendment " 'contains no provision expressly precluding the use of evidence obtained in violation of its commands' " ( Herring v. United States (2009) 555 U.S. 135, 139, 129 S.Ct. 695, 172 L.Ed.2d 496 ), but the United States Supreme Court "establish[ed] an exclusionary rule that, when applicable, forbids the use of improperly obtained evidence at trial" ( ibid. ). The exclusionary rule prohibits not only "[t]he introduction into evidence of materials seized and observations made during an unlawful search" ( People v. Lamas (1991) 229 Cal.App.3d 560, 568, 282 Cal.Rptr. 296 ) but also "the introduction into evidence of materials and testimony which are the products or indirect results of the illegal search, the so-called 'fruit of the poisonous tree' doctrine" ( ibid. ).

Defendant asserts his suppression motion should have been granted because the CSH police conducted a warrantless search of his "home," i.e., his area of the CSH dormitory, in violation of the Fourth Amendment. "The applicability of the Fourth Amendment turns on whether 'the person invoking its protection can claim a "justifiable," a "reasonable," or a "legitimate expectation of privacy" that has been invaded by government action.' [Citation.]" ( *495Hudson v. Palmer (1984) 468 U.S. 517, 525, 104 S.Ct. 3194, 82 L.Ed.2d 393 ( Hudson ).) " 'At the very core' of the Fourth Amendment 'stands the right of a man to retreat into his own home and there be free from unreasonable governmental intrusion.' [Citation.]" ( Kyllo v. United States (2001) 533 U.S. 27, 31, 121 S.Ct. 2038, 150 L.Ed.2d 94.) However, we do not believe defendant's expectation of privacy in his area of the CSH dormitory "is the kind of expectation that 'society is prepared to recognize as "reasonable." ' [Citation.]" ( Hudson , supra , at p. 525, fn., 104 S.Ct. 3194 omitted.)

Defendant is an SVP. Under the California Sexually Violent Predators Act (SVPA) ( Welf. & Inst. Code, § 6600 et seq. ), an SVP is "a person who has been convicted of a sexually violent offense against one or more victims and who has a diagnosed mental disorder that makes the person a danger to the health and safety of others in that it is likely that he or she will engage in sexually violent criminal behavior" ( id. , § 6600, subd. (a)(1) ). While SVP's " 'are to be viewed "not as criminals, but as sick persons" ' " ( *912People v. Fields 2009) 175 Cal.App.4th 1001, 1017, 96 Cal.Rptr.3d 668 ), they nonetheless are "confine[d] and treat[ed] ... until their dangerous disorders recede and they no longer pose a societal threat" ( Moore v. Superior Court (2010) 50 Cal.4th 802, 815, 114 Cal.Rptr.3d 199, 237 P.3d 530 ). An SVP's commitment to a secured facility like CSH, which " ' "protect[s] the public from [a] dangerous felony offender[ ] with [a] mental disorder [ ]" ' " ( State Dept. of State Hospitals v. Superior Court (2015) 61 Cal.4th 339, 344, 188 Cal.Rptr.3d 309, 349 P.3d 1013 ), is sufficiently analogous to an inmate's incarceration in prison, which "by definition ... [is a] place[ ] of involuntary confinement of persons who have a demonstrated proclivity for anti-social criminal, and often violent, conduct" ( Hudson , supra , at p. 526, 104 S.Ct. 3194 ). Also, akin to prison administrators, CSH staff is "under an obligation to take reasonable measures to guarantee the safety of the [patients]" and "must be ever alert to attempts to introduce ... contraband into the premises...." ( Id. at pp. 526-527, 104 S.Ct. 3194.) Because treatment and rehabilitation of SVP's is the purpose of SVPA commitments, it is especially critical for CSH staff to prevent these individuals from procuring child pornography and other illicit material.

"Determining whether an expectation of privacy is 'legitimate' or 'reasonable' necessarily entails a balancing of interests." ( Hudson , supra , 468 U.S. at p. 527, 104 S.Ct. 3194.) Here, the competing interests are defendant's interest in privacy within his area of the CSH dormitory and society's interests in both the security and order of a maximum-security psychiatric hospital and the treatment and rehabilitation of SVP's. "Virtually the only place [patients] can conceal ... contraband [such as child pornography] is in their [dormitories]." ( Ibid. ) A recognition of privacy rights for SVP's in their dormitories would hamper CSH staff from accessing the dormitories and ferreting out child pornography, the possession of which has become widespread, has incited violence among the patients, and clearly undermines the rehabilitation objective. Searches of the over 800 SVP's and their dormitories, even if done at random, " 'are valid and necessary to ensure the security of the institution and the safety of [patients]' " ( id. at p. 529, 104 S.Ct. 3194 ) as well as promote the rehabilitation objective, giving CSH staff " 'flexibility' " and preventing patients " 'from anticipating, and thereby thwarting, a search for contraband' " ( ibid. ), a key concern at CSH. We also point out the record establishes a CSH dormitory " 'shares none of the attributes of privacy of a home' " ( id. at p. 527, 104 S.Ct. 3194 ): the dormitory itself *496accommodates multiple patients, officers conduct random searches on a daily basis, and various signs throughout the facility warn patients they are subject to such searches.

"We are satisfied that society would insist that [an SVP's] expectation of privacy always yield to what must be considered the paramount interests in institutional security [and rehabilitation]. We believe that it is accepted by our society that '[loss] of ... privacy [is an] inherent incident[ ] of confinement.' [Citation.]" ( Hudson , supra , 468 U.S. at p. 528, 104 S.Ct. 3194.)

*913II. The trial court did not abuse its discretion when it denied defendant's Romero motion.***

DISPOSITION

The judgment is affirmed.

Certified for Partial Publication.*

IT IS ORDERED that the opinion be certified for publication in the Official Reports with the exception of part II. of the Discussion.

Before Levy, Acting P.J., Gomes, J. and Franson, J.

1 Defendant was determined to be an SVP in 1997. Before he was transferred to CSH in 2007, he had been committed to Atascadero State Hospital.

2 Subsequent statutory citations refer to the Penal Code unless otherwise indicated.

3 The record indicates defendant also admitted the 1995 conviction.

4 People v. Superior Court (Romero) (1996) 13 Cal.4th 497, 53 Cal.Rptr.2d 789, 917 P.2d 628 (Romero ).

5 The CSH dormitories accommodate four patients. Each patient's corner has a bed and a privacy curtain that "can enclose ... the majority of the[ ] area." A metal partition also separates the two "front" beds from the two "back" beds.

6 At the preliminary hearing, Wikler described a "search for cause" as "[w]hen a reasonable person with similar experience or training in possession of facts that they believe to be true that a crime has been committed can conduct a search for evidence of this crime."

7 "A similar guarantee against unreasonable government searches is set forth in the state Constitution [citation] but, since voter approval of Proposition 8 in June 1982, state and federal claims relating to exclusion of evidence on grounds of unreasonable search and seizure are measured by the same standard. [Citations.]" (People v. Camacho , supra , 23 Cal.4th at p. 830, 98 Cal.Rptr.2d 232, 3 P.3d 878.)

See footnote *, ante .