People v. Herrera

106 Cal. Rptr. 2d 793, 88 Cal. App. 4th 1353, 2001 Daily Journal DAR 4627, 2001 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 3783, 2001 Cal. App. LEXIS 351
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedMay 10, 2001
DocketB139597
StatusPublished
Cited by21 cases

This text of 106 Cal. Rptr. 2d 793 (People v. Herrera) 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. Herrera, 106 Cal. Rptr. 2d 793, 88 Cal. App. 4th 1353, 2001 Daily Journal DAR 4627, 2001 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 3783, 2001 Cal. App. LEXIS 351 (Cal. Ct. App. 2001).

Opinions

[1356]*1356Opinion

TURNER, P. J.

I. Introduction

Defendants, Juan Gabriel Herrera and Efren Hernandez, appeal from their convictions for first degree murder (Pen. Code,1 § 187) and attempted murder. (§§ 664, 187.) The jury made several special findings which will be discussed shortly. In the published portion of this opinion, we discuss the effect of the section 186.22 gang enhancements on Mr. Hernandez’s indeterminate prison terms. Further, we discuss defendants’ rights to presentence credits in the published portion of this opinion. (§ 12022.53, subd. (e).) We affirm the judgment in part and reverse it in part.

II. Factual Background

We view the evidence in a light most favorable to the judgment. (Jackson v. Virginia (1979) 443 U.S. 307, 319 [99 S.Ct. 2781, 2789, 61 L.Ed.2d 560]; People v. Osband (1996) 13 Cal.4th 622, 690 [55 Cal.Rptr.2d 26, 919 P.2d 640]; Taylor v. Stainer (9th Cir. 1994) 31 F.3d 907, 908-909.) During the month of March 1999, Jose Cruz was confronted by Mr. Herrera, Mr. Hernandez, and Mr. Robles, who were members of a gang. Mr. Cruz had been a member of another gang 10 years prior to March 1999. The trio asked what gang Mr. Cruz was from. Mr. Cruz responded that he “didn’t play that anymore.” The trio told Mr. Cruz that he was in their neighborhood. Mr. Cruz knew Mr. Herrera, Mr. Hernandez, and Mr. Robles by their names and their gang monikers, “Frosty,” “Chato,” and “Tattoo” respectively. When the three men got out of their car and began to walk toward Mr. Cruz, he called for his three brothers to come outside. When Mr. Herrera, Mr. Hernandez, and Mr. Robles realized they were outnumbered, they returned to their car.

At approximately 9:00 p.m. on March 13, 1999, Mr. Cruz went with Ramon Regis and Ismael C. to El Taco Loco restaurant. Ismael C. got out of the car while Mr. Regis and Mr. Cruz waited for a parking space to become available. Ismael C. went to a nearby public telephone. Once they parked, they were confronted by Mr. Herrera, Mr. Hernandez, and Mr. Robles as well as three or four other individuals. Mr. Cruz was confronted by Mr. Hernandez. Mr. Cruz was then asked where he was from and what was he doing there. Mr. Cruz explained again: “I don’t play that; I’m an old man. I don’t play that anymore. I got kids. I’m old enough to be your dad. I don’t play that.” Mr. Herrera repeatedly referred to his gang affiliation. Mr. [1357]*1357Herrera began “throwing up [gang] signs.” Mr. Regis got out of the car stating: “Hey, kickback. I’m from Long Beach too. I’m from [a gang].”

Mr. Hernandez began shooting at Mr. Cruz and Mr. Regis. Mr. Cruz and Mr. Regis were shot as they ran. Mr. Cruz was shot in the ribs. He heard bullets flying past him. Mr. Cruz was shot again in the buttocks. Mr. Hernandez continued to chase and shoot at Mr. Regis. Mr. Herrera followed Mr. Hernandez. Mr. Herrera picked up empty casings fired from Mr. Hernandez’s firearm. Mr. Regis died at the scene of gunshot wounds to his chest and wrist.

III. Discussion

A. The Count 1 Gang Enhancement Imposed on Mr. Hernandez

As noted previously, Mr. Hernandez was convicted as to count 1 of first degree murder. Additionally, as to count 1, the jury found Mr. Hernandez personally used a firearm within the meaning of section 12022.53, subdivisions (d) and (e)(1). The jurors further found that first degree murder was committed “for the benefit of, at the direction of, and in association with a street gang with the specific intent to promote, further and assist in criminal conduct by gang members” within the meaning of section 186.22, subdivision (b)(1). Mr. Hernandez’s count 1 sentence was as follows. For first degree murder, Mr. Hernandez was sentenced to 25 years to life. For personal firearm use, Mr. Hernandez received another 25-year-to-life sentence. For the section 186.22 gang enhancement, defendant received an additional determinate term of three years. On appeal, Mr. Hernandez argues that the three-year section 186.22 enhancement could not be imposed. Rather, he argues that the effect of the section 186.22 finding is that he must serve a 15-year minimum term before he can be considered for parole. Mr. Hernandez argues in part: “When the criminal street gang enhancement is applied to punishments of imprisonment for life, only the minimum parole term provided by section 186.22, subdivision (b)(4), and not the determinate enhancement provided by section 186.22, subdivision (b)(1), is applicable . . . . [¶] Accordingly, it was error to add the determinate street gang enhancements to appellant’s sentence and the enhancements must be stricken and replaced with a minimum period of imprisonment prior to parole of 15 years.” We, with respect, disagree.

For the following reasons, we conclude Mr. Hernandez must, for first degree murder, serve 25 years at a minimum before he may be paroled on the crime charged in count 1. Three statutes, one resulting from the initiative process, are relevant to our conclusion. As relevant to this case, section 190, [1358]*1358subdivisions (a) and (e) defines the sentence for first degree murder where no special circumstances are found to exist as follows: “(a) Every person guilty of murder in the first degree shall be punished by . . . imprisonment in the state prison for a term of 25 years to life. . . . [¶] . . . [¶] (e) Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 2930) of Chapter 7 of Title 1 of Part 3 shall not apply to reduce any minimum term of a sentence imposed pursuant to this section. A person sentenced pursuant to this section shall not be released on parole prior to serving the minimum term of confinement prescribed by this section.” Section 190 has been enacted by various initiatives approved by the voters.

The relevant provisions of the section 186.22 gang enhancement provisions, as it was in effect in 1999 when the murder occurred are as follows: “(b)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (4), any person who is convicted of a felony committed for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with any criminal street gang, with the specific intent to promote, further, or assist in any criminal conduct by gang members, shall, upon conviction of that felony, in addition and consecutive to the punishment prescribed for the felony or attempted felony of which he or she has been convicted, be punished by an additional term of one, two, or three years at the court’s discretion. [¶] . . . [¶] (4) Any person who violates this subdivision in the commission of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for life, shall not be paroled until a minimum of 15 calendar years have been served.” (Stats. 1997, ch. 500, § 2.)2

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106 Cal. Rptr. 2d 793, 88 Cal. App. 4th 1353, 2001 Daily Journal DAR 4627, 2001 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 3783, 2001 Cal. App. LEXIS 351, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-herrera-calctapp-2001.