People v. Lopez

208 Cal. App. 4th 1049, 146 Cal. Rptr. 3d 113, 2012 WL 3590800, 2012 Cal. App. LEXIS 908
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedAugust 22, 2012
DocketNo. F062740
StatusPublished
Cited by22 cases

This text of 208 Cal. App. 4th 1049 (People v. Lopez) 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. Lopez, 208 Cal. App. 4th 1049, 146 Cal. Rptr. 3d 113, 2012 WL 3590800, 2012 Cal. App. LEXIS 908 (Cal. Ct. App. 2012).

Opinion

Opinion

CORNELL, Acting P. J.

INTRODUCTION

A jury convicted Felix Lopez (Lopez) of the murder of Michael Valles. The jury also found numerous enhancements true, resulting in a determinate sentence of eight years four months and an indeterminate sentence of 50 years to life.

Lopez contends his convictions must be reversed because the evidence was insufficient to support the verdict in several respects, and the trial court erroneously instructed the jury in two respects. We reject these contentions and affirm each of the convictions.

Lopez also argues the trial court erred when it sentenced him to an indeterminate term of 14 years to life for attempting to dissuade a witness from testifying, count 5. The trial court relied on Penal Code section 186.22, subdivision (b)(4)(C) to impose this sentence. (All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise specified). As we shall explain, because the jury did not find the act committed by Lopez was accompanied by an express or implied threat of force, section 186.22, subdivision (b)(4)(C) is not applicable to this conviction. We thus will vacate the sentence on this count and remand the matter to the trial court for resentencing.

[1053]*1053Finally, while this appeal was pending, the Supreme Court issued its opinion in People v. Mesa (2012) 54 Cal.4th 191 [142 Cal.Rptr.3d 2, 277 P.3d 743] (Mesa), which holds the sentence for a violation of section 186.22, subdivision (a) must be stayed pursuant to section 654 when the acts establishing the defendant willfully promoted, furthered, or assisted in any felonious criminal conduct by gang members is the same criminal conduct the defendant was convicted of and punished for in the trial. One part of the determinate sentence the trial court imposed on Lopez was a consecutive 16 months for violating section 186.22, subdivision (a), count 4. Because the only evidence presented at trial to support the necessary acts element was the other crimes of which Lopez was convicted and punished, the sentence on count 4 must be stayed. We will thus vacate the sentence on this count as well and remand the matter to the trial court for resentencing.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL SUMMARY

Prosecution Evidence

Alonzo Gonzalez1

Alonzo Gonzalez (Gonzalez) was the owner of Pushing Ink Tattoo Studio (the tattoo shop) in January 2004. In his younger days, Gonzalez was involved in gangs but dropped out about 16 years before when his son was bom. He understood that when a gang labeled someone “no good,” it meant someone was bad and could be beaten up or even killed. Similarly, when a gang put a “green light” on someone, it meant the person was “no good” and a gang member could attack this person.

Gonzalez met Paul Bargas when Bargas brought his girlfriend in for a tattoo. He also tattooed Bargas. Bargas became a friend and often would come to the tattoo shop. Gonzalez met Henry Wernicke when Wernicke came into the tattoo shop with Bargas.

In January 2004, Gonzalez went to the apartment of Daniel Lopez hoping to resolve a dispute between Daniel Lopez’s girlfriend and Gonzalez’s brother’s girlfriend. Bargas, who was at the tattoo shop, followed Gonzalez to the apartment. As Gonzalez was talking with a woman in the doorway, Daniel Lopez said, “that’s Paul Bargas. He’s no good. Green light on Paul Bargas.” Gonzalez told Bargas to leave. Daniel Lopez and two other men followed Bargas when he left.

[1054]*1054The next day Daniel Lopez came into the tattoo shop with Lopez. Gonzalez told the two he did not want his brother to have any problems with them. Lopez told Gonzalez that Bargas was “no good” and, if Gonzalez continued to be friends with Bargas, he also would be “no good.” Lopez wrote his phone number on a piece of paper and told Gonzalez to call him if Bargas showed up at the tattoo shop.

The following day Gonzalez was in the tattoo shop with Mario Sanchez when Bargas and Wernicke arrived. A few minutes later Lopez and Michael Valles entered the shop. Valles took off his gloves and probably shook hands with Gonzalez. Valles then put out his hand to shake with Bargas. Bargas backed up, refusing to shake hands.

Lopez said, “That’s Paul Bargas. He’s no good.” Gonzalez felt that something was going to happen, so he said they had to take it “somewhere else.” Gonzalez saw Lopez make a movement with his hands towards the waistband of his pants. He then heard a gunshot from behind him. Gonzalez ran out of the tattoo shop, and as he was leaving, he heard numerous gunshots.

Gonzalez returned to the tattoo shop a few minutes after the gunshots stopped. The only person in the shop was Valles, who was lying on the floor. Gonzalez did not see any weapons on Valles at any time that day. Valles asked Gonzalez to help him up. Gonzalez told him to stay on the floor and he would call for an ambulance. Linda Gonzalez, Gonzalez’s mother, appeared at the shop at that time.

In May 2005, Gonzalez was called to testify in this matter. He went to the courthouse with his mother and Mario Sanchez. He saw Lopez in the hallway, out of custody. When Lopez walked by Gonzalez, he heard Lopez and Lopez’s sister say, “Fucking snitches.” In the gang world, a snitch is the same thing as an informant, which is a bad thing.

Linda Gonzalez

Gonzalez is Linda Gonzalez’s son. She lived across the street from the tattoo shop. She was in her kitchen when she heard shots being fired from in front of the tattoo shop. She left her apartment and saw Lopez coming from the direction of the tattoo shop. Lopez said he had been shot and was holding his abdomen. Linda Gonzalez ran across the street to the tattoo shop. Gonzalez was upset and crying.

Linda Gonzalez also heard the comments made by Lopez in the courthouse in May 2005. She heard Lopez and a female voice say, “Snitches, you shouldn’t be here.”

[1055]*1055 Mario Sanchez

Sanchez went to Gonzalez’s tattoo shop about 5:00 p.m. on the day of the shooting. He was visiting with Gonzalez when Bargas and Wernicke arrived.

Sanchez went into the bathroom to clean some of the tattooing equipment. While he was doing so, he heard the front door open. Sanchez heard Valles say, “What’s the matter? You don’t shake hands?” Bargas responded, “I’m not going to shake your hand.” Sanchez heard a voice ask, “Are you Paul Bargas?” Bargas denied that he was and then Lopez said, “That’s Paul Bargas.” A voice also said, “You’re Paul Bargas. You’re, no good.” Right after that Sanchez heard gunfire and he ran out the back door. As he was running out, he saw Bargas with two guns in his hands shooting downward. Police officers had arrived by the time Sanchez returned to the tattoo shop.

Sanchez also confirmed the comments that were made in the courthouse in May 2005. He heard Lopez say “snitches” as he, Gonzalez, and Linda Gonzalez walked by.

Paul Bargas

Bargas reviewed his criminal history, which began when he was about 15, and his gang involvement, which began shortly thereafter. He admitted he was a member of the Norteños criminal street gang and associated with other gang members.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

People v. Englebrecht CA4/1
California Court of Appeal, 2025
People v. Tinajero CA2/7
California Court of Appeal, 2025
People v. Madera CA4/3
California Court of Appeal, 2022
People v. Lopez CA5
California Court of Appeal, 2021
People v. Tidmore CA2/4
California Court of Appeal, 2020
People v. Pettie
California Court of Appeal, 2017
People v. Pettie
224 Cal. Rptr. 3d 160 (California Court of Appeals, 5th District, 2017)
Michael Montes v. Jeffrey Beard
695 F. App'x 305 (Ninth Circuit, 2017)
People v. Morales CA5
California Court of Appeal, 2016
People v. Nettles
California Court of Appeal, 2015
People v. Belcher CA4/1
California Court of Appeal, 2015
People v. Rosales CA2/2
California Court of Appeal, 2014
People v. Salazar CA2/5
California Court of Appeal, 2014
People v. Anaya
California Court of Appeal, 2013
People v. Gutierrez CA4/1
California Court of Appeal, 2013
The People v. Anaya CA5
California Court of Appeal, 2013
The People v. Om CA3
California Court of Appeal, 2013
P. v. Guerrero CA2/6
California Court of Appeal, 2013
P. v. Yun CA2/1
California Court of Appeal, 2013

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
208 Cal. App. 4th 1049, 146 Cal. Rptr. 3d 113, 2012 WL 3590800, 2012 Cal. App. LEXIS 908, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-lopez-calctapp-2012.