People v. Mullins

228 Cal. Rptr. 3d 198, 19 Cal. App. 5th 594
California Court of Appeal, 5th District·Decided January 17, 2018·No. C079295·Published·Cited by 42 cases

Opinion

NICHOLSON, J.*

*598Defendants Karre Mullins and Arturo Russell were convicted by jury of robbery involving bank customers at ATM's. Defendant Mullins was also convicted on a count of conspiracy to commit petty theft. Sentenced to determinate terms, defendants appeal. On appeal, they argue: (1) the evidence was insufficient to support robbery convictions, (2) the existence of an identity theft statute precluded convictions for robbery because the identity theft statute is more specific, and (3) the trial court improperly used argumentative language to instruct the jury on robbery. Additionally, defendant Mullins argues: (4) the trial court abused its discretion by sentencing on the conspiracy conviction as a felony rather than as a misdemeanor. And defendant Russell argues: (5) the sentencing minute order and abstract of judgment fail to properly reflect the sentence imposed. We find merit only in the last contention. We therefore affirm and direct correction of the sentencing minute order and abstract of judgment.

BACKGROUND

Because defendants do not challenge evidence concerning their identity, we do not recount identity evidence.

To use a Bank of America ATM, the customer must put the ATM card into the machine and input the personal identification number (PIN). After the customer inputs the number, the card is returned to the customer before a transaction (deposit, withdrawal, and so on) is begun. After completing a transaction, the ATM asks whether the customer is finished or would like another transaction. If the customer chooses to begin another transaction, the customer must input the PIN again but need not reinsert the ATM card.

Defendants Mullins and Russell are both young men. Defendant Mullins is six feet tall and weighs 150 pounds. Defendant Russell is six feet tall and weighs 190 pounds.

On March 9, 2014, before the crimes in this case, Hayward police officers responded to a report of suspicious activity at the ATM's at a branch of Bank of America. Defendants saw the officers and split up. Defendant Mullins *599discarded a list of ATM's in the Hayward area and an ATM receipt. Both defendants were apprehended. Defendant Mullins had $2,360 in his possession, and defendant Russell had *203$745. Neither of them had a Bank of America ATM card.

Count One-Robbery of Sonhai Nguyen

At the time of trial, Sonhai Nguyen was 63 years old, about five feet, five inches tall, and weighed approximately 170 pounds. At trial, he testified through an interpreter.

On March 29, 2014, Sonhai went to a Bank of America branch located on Del Paso Boulevard at approximately 6:15 p.m. to deposit a $500 check through the ATM. There were two ATM's. Sonhai approached the ATM on the right while defendant Mullins stood in front of the ATM on the left. Defendant Mullins was punching buttons on the ATM nonstop, like he was playing a video game.

Sonhai noticed defendant Russell behind him and to the right.

Sonhai inserted his card, input his PIN, and received the card back. He then deposited his check and was ready to push the button indicating he did not want another transaction, but before he had finished at the ATM defendant Russell pushed him aside, touching Sonhai's arm very strongly, and took Sonhai's place in front of the ATM. Perceiving that the situation was dangerous, Sonhai ran back to his car in fear. He was afraid to confront the men.

About $2,000 was taken from Sonhai Nguyen's bank account.

Count Two-Robbery of Tom Nguyen

At the time of trial, Tom Nguyen was 61 years old, five feet, four inches tall, and weighed 138 pounds. He testified through an interpreter.

On the morning of April 7, 2014, Tom went to the Florin branch of Bank of America to withdraw $100. There were four ATM's, and Tom approached the right-most ATM. He noticed defendant Mullins standing close to the ATM's. Defendant Russell was standing at the adjacent ATM, but was looking at the screen of the ATM that Tom was using. Tom inserted his ATM card in the machine and put in his PIN and received the card back. He entered his transaction to withdraw $100, but when he noticed that defendant Russell, a bigger man, was looking at his screen he became afraid that the bigger man would hit him and take his money. When the ATM dispensed the *600$100, Tom took the money and jumped back. Defendant Russell immediately moved over to the ATM that Tom had been using.

After Tom jumped back, he realized he did not press the button on the ATM to indicate he was finished. He saw defendant Russell push buttons on the ATM, grab money from the machine, and put it in his pocket. Still scared, Tom ran into the bank.

In four transactions, defendant Russell took a total of $840 from Tom Nguyen's bank account.

Count Three-Robbery of Thomas Yee (Defendant Russell only)

At the time of trial, Thomas Yee was 51 years old, five feet, nine inches tall, and weighed approximately 270 pounds.

On April 10, 2014, Thomas went to the Del Paso Boulevard branch of Bank of America to make a deposit. There were two ATM's, but both were being used. A person finished using one of the ATM's, but defendant Russell jumped in front of Thomas to that machine. When the other ATM was vacated, Thomas approached it. Thomas put in his ATM card, entered his PIN, and retrieved his card. Thomas completed his deposit and turned to leave but realized he had not pushed the button indicating he was finished with transactions.

*204When he turned back to do so, defendant Russell, who had been at the other ATM, was already in front of the ATM that Thomas had been using. Thomas tried to reach over to see if he had "logged off," but defendant Russell pushed his body in front of Thomas, pushed Thomas's hands away, and said he (defendant Russell) was on the machine.

Not wanting a confrontation, Thomas walked into the bank. Bank employees informed him that five withdrawals for a total of $1,000 had just been made from his account.

Count Four-Conspiracy to Commit Petty Theft (Defendant Mullins only)

On April 11, 2014, defendant Mullins went to Arden Fair Mall with an unidentified male. The two men went to the Bank of America ATM's. The unidentified male approached the ATM's, while defendant Mullins stood back. Soon, however, the two men left the ATM's and strolled through the mall. After a while, the two men returned to the Bank of America ATM's before they eventually were escorted out of the mall by security because they were violating the rules of the mall by wearing saggy pants.

*601Defendant Mullins was charged with conspiracy to commit robbery, but the jury convicted him, instead, of the lesser included offense of conspiracy to commit petty theft.

Sentencing

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

People v. Mullins, 228 Cal. Rptr. 3d 198, 19 Cal. App. 5th 594 (Cal. Ct. App. 2018).

228 Cal. Rptr. 3d 198 (People v. Mullins) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related

People v. Norton CA2/8
California Court of Appeal, 2026
People v. Edwards CA5
California Court of Appeal, 2026
People v. Duran CA4/1
California Court of Appeal, 2026
People v. Jimenez
California Court of Appeal, 2025
People v. Townsel CA4/2
California Court of Appeal, 2025
People v. Cortez CA4/1
California Court of Appeal, 2025
People v. Rivers CA3
California Court of Appeal, 2025
People v. Williams
California Court of Appeal, 2025
People v. Lazocasanave CA4/3
California Court of Appeal, 2025
People v. Cabata
California Court of Appeal, 2025
People v. Cabada
California Court of Appeal, 2025
In re S.E. CA6
California Court of Appeal, 2024
People v. Fagan CA5
California Court of Appeal, 2024
People v. Gonzalez CA3
California Court of Appeal, 2024
People v. Bell CA4/3
California Court of Appeal, 2024
People v. Ortiz CA4/2
California Court of Appeal, 2024
People v. Estrada CA5
California Court of Appeal, 2024
People v. Rupert CA4/2
California Court of Appeal, 2023
People v. Carrillo CA1/1
California Court of Appeal, 2023
People v. Campbell CA4/2
California Court of Appeal, 2023