People v. Michael CA5

CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedMarch 3, 2016
DocketF069013
StatusUnpublished

This text of People v. Michael CA5 (People v. Michael CA5) 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. Michael CA5, (Cal. Ct. App. 2016).

Opinion

Filed 3/3/16 P. v. Michael CA5

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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

FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

THE PEOPLE, F069013 Plaintiff and Respondent, (Super. Ct. No. BF149711A) v.

EARNEST TROY MICHAEL, OPINION Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Kern County. John S. Somers, Judge. Robert Derham, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Michael P. Farrell, Assistant Attorney General, Stephen G. Herndon and Melissa Lipon, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent. -ooOoo- Earnest Troy Michael was convicted of three crimes after he brutally beat his former girlfriend. The trial court also found true the allegation that he suffered a prior conviction for violation of former Penal Code section 12303.3,1 and this crime constituted a serious felony. This prior conviction was used to enhance Michael’s sentence in two ways, resulting in a total sentence of 20 years 8 months in prison. Michael argues the trial court erred in two respects. First, he argues there was insufficient evidence that his prior conviction constituted a serious felony. Second, he asserts the trial court erred by failing to stay the sentence on one of his convictions pursuant to the provisions of section 654. We find no merit to the second argument, but conclude there was insufficient evidence to prove the conviction for violating former section 12303.3 was a serious felony. We reach this conclusion because former section 12303.3 may be violated by various acts, some of which are serious felonies, while others are not. The prosecution failed to introduce evidence to establish the acts committed by Michael constituted a serious felony, instead essentially proving only that he was convicted. Accordingly, we will affirm the convictions, but remand the matter for a new trial on the prior conviction and, if necessary, resentencing. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL SUMMARY The amended information charged Michael with inflicting corporal injury on a former cohabitant (§ 273.5, subd. (a)), dissuading a witness from testifying (§ 136.1, subd. (a)(1)), and severing a phone line (§ 591). Count 1 also alleged Michael personally inflicted great bodily injury within the meaning of section 12022.7, subdivision (e), and all counts alleged Michael had: (1) a prior conviction that constituted a strike within the meaning of sections 667, subdivisions (b)–(i) and 1170.12, subdivisions (a)–(d); (2) a

1 All statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise stated. This section was reenacted without substantive change as section 18740 effective January 1, 2012. (Stats. 2010, ch. 711, § 6.)

2. prior serious felony conviction within the meaning of section 667, subdivision (a); and (3) a prior conviction that resulted in a prison sentence within the meaning of section 667.5, subdivision (b). The issues in this appeal do not require a detailed recitation of the underlying facts, so we will provide only a brief summary. Where additional facts are necessary to resolve an argument, they will be included within the discussion of that issue. The victim, Cathy Slate, testified that she had been in a romantic relationship with Michael, but it ended when he hit her in the face causing a black eye. She obtained a restraining order, but Michael repeatedly violated it. On the day in question, Michael was outside visiting with some of Slate’s nearby neighbors when Slate went outside of her house. When Slate reentered her house, Michael followed her. Inside the house Michael attacked Slate, repeatedly striking her face with his fist. Michael also struck Slate in the face with an iron skillet several times. She had surgery to insert a metal plate from her jaw to her eye to help the bones heal. By the time of trial, the side of her face was still numb. Medical testimony established Michael broke five bones in Slate’s face (two around the eye, her cheekbone, her jaw, and her nose). Evidence presented pursuant to Evidence Code section 1109 established Michael constructed and attempted to detonate three pipe bombs at the apartment of a former girlfriend while she was sleeping. The conviction that resulted from this incident forms the basis of the prior strike and serious felony allegations. The arguments focused on the identity of the perpetrator. The prosecution argued the evidence overwhelming proved Michael beat Slate. The defense argued Slate was not believable because she was a jilted lover, and she identified Michael to exact revenge. The jury found Michael guilty as charged, and found the great bodily injury enhancement true. Michael waived his right to a jury trial on the prior conviction enhancements, which the trial court found true. The trial court sentenced Michael to the aggravated term of four years, doubled to eight years because of the strike prior, plus five years for the great

3. bodily injury enhancement, and five years for the prior serious felony conviction. The sentences on counts 2 and 3 were imposed consecutively at one-third the midterm sentence. The total determinate term was 20 years 8 months in prison. DISCUSSION Prior Serious Felony Enhancement Michael argues the trial court erred in determining that his prior conviction for violating former section 12303.3 was a serious felony. The prosecution alleged in the information, and the trial court found, this conviction constituted a strike pursuant to section 667, subdivisions (b)–(j), and was a serious felony within the meaning of section 667, subdivision (a). As a result of these findings, the sentence on the corporal injury count was doubled, and the trial court imposed an additional five-year enhancement. As relevant here, former section 12303.3 makes unlawful the possession, explosion, or ignition of any destructive device or explosive with the intent to injure, intimidate, or terrify any person, or with the intent to wrongfully injure or destroy any property. The section also criminalizes the attempt to do any of the above acts. Serious felonies are listed in section 1192.7, subdivision (c).2 This section has numerous subparts, which identify various crimes that the Legislature has determined are serious felonies. A violation of former section 12303.3 (or current section 18740) is not now, nor was it in 2010 when Michael was convicted, listed as a serious felony. However, subparts (15), (16) and (17) of this section address explosive devices without specifically enumerating former section 12303.3. Subpart (15) makes “exploding a destructive device or any explosive with intent to injure” a serious felony. Subpart (16) makes “exploding a destructive device or any explosive causing bodily injury, great

2 All references to subpart in this opinion refer to the subparts of section 1192.7, subdivision (c).

4. bodily injury, or mayhem” a serious felony. Subpart (17) makes “exploding a destructive device or any explosive with intent to murder” a serious felony. Accordingly, for a crime to be a serious felony under these subparts, the prosecution must prove two elements: (1) the explosive device exploded and (2) the perpetrator either had the specific intent described in subparts (15) and (17), or the explosion caused bodily injury as described in subpart (16). Michael argues the evidence presented at the trial on his prior conviction was insufficient to establish either of these elements.

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People v. Michael CA5, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-michael-ca5-calctapp-2016.