People v. Pock

19 Cal. App. 4th 1263, 23 Cal. Rptr. 2d 900, 93 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 8029, 93 Daily Journal DAR 13672, 1993 Cal. App. LEXIS 1071
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedOctober 28, 1993
DocketB069312
StatusPublished
Cited by17 cases

This text of 19 Cal. App. 4th 1263 (People v. Pock) 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. Pock, 19 Cal. App. 4th 1263, 23 Cal. Rptr. 2d 900, 93 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 8029, 93 Daily Journal DAR 13672, 1993 Cal. App. LEXIS 1071 (Cal. Ct. App. 1993).

Opinion

Opinion

HAHN, J. *

Procedural History

By an information filed September 7, 1990, appellant and codefendants Phy Chhem, Cheng James Chhem, and David Tam Oum were charged in 12 counts involving murder, robbery, burglary, and forcible rape. After arraignment and entry of plea, appellant’s trial was severed from that of his three codefendants. Appellant’s motion for appointment of cocounsel pursuant to Penal Code section 987.2 was granted. 1

On March 4, 1992, a second amended information was filed naming only appellant. Appellant was charged with one count of murder (count 1) in violation of section 187, subdivision (a), eight counts of first degree residential robbery (counts 2-8 and 11) in violation of section 211, one count of forcible rape while acting in concert (count 9) in violation of section 264.1, and one count of oral copulation by acting in concert with force (count 10) in violation of section 288a, subdivision (d). As to all 11 counts it was alleged that appellant personally used a firearm within the meaning of section 12022.5 or 12022.3, subdivision (a), as to counts 9 and 10, and that a principal was armed with a firearm within the meaning of section 12022, subdivision (a)(1). As to count 1 it was also alleged that the murder was committed while appellant was engaged in the crime of robbery within the meaning of section 190.2, subdivision (a)(17). Appellant reentered a not guilty plea and denied the special allegations.

A trial by jury was begun. During the People’s case-in-chief, appellant personally withdrew his not guilty plea to counts 9, 10, and 11, and entered a plea of guilty as charged in those counts. Appellant also admitted the firearm use and principal armed allegations in those counts. The trial court ruled that no evidence pertaining to those counts would be admitted in the People’s case-in-chief in the guilt phase of the remaining counts.

*1267 Appellant was found guilty as charged in counts 1, 2, and 4-8, with offenses in those counts being found to have been in the first degree. In count 3, the jury found appellant guilty of attempted robbery of the first degree, a lesser included offense of that charged. All firearm use and principal armed allegations were found true. The jury further found the special circumstance allegation in count 1 to be true.

After a penalty phase as to count 1, the jury fixed the penalty at life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

At sentencing, the trial court imposed a total determinate term of 45 years and 4 months. Appellant was sentenced on count 1 to the term prescribed by law of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, to run consecutive to the determinate term. Appellant received credit for 1,026 days including conduct credit.

Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal.

Factual Background

In accordance with the usual rules of appellate review (People v. Johnson (1980) 26 Cal.3d 557, 578 [162 Cal.Rptr. 431, 606 P.2d 738, 16 A.L.R.4th 1255]), the evidence at trial was as follows.

1. Counts 4 and 5.

On July 4, 1990, about 2 p.m., Naly Chum was visiting her sister, Soma Sak, at 1335!/2 St. Louis Street. The front door was closed, but not locked.

Five men, including appellant, came in. All of the men had guns. Appellant pointed his gun at both Ms. Chum and Ms. Sak. He said to be quiet and not scream.

Appellant asked if Ms. Sak had any money or if she had anything to take off. Ms. Sak removed things and gave appellant money.

Appellant told Ms. Chum, “ ‘If you don’t give me things, then I’m going to shoot you and kill you.’ ” He had her take off and give him her bracelet.

Ms. Chum and Ms. Sak were tied up with telephone cord.

Sang Chum, Naly Chum’s husband, had been to Trak Auto obtaining a part for his cousin’s car. When he returned to the house he saw the doors closed and curtains closed on the windows.

*1268 Mr. Chum knocked on the door. Appellant pulled him in the door, and shoved him to the floor. Appellant had a gun. He pulled out Mr. Chum’s wallet, and asked if Mr. Chum had some jewelry or something else. Mr. Chum answered that he did not.

Appellant told Mr. Chum to stay facedown on the floor, which he did. Mr. Chum was tied up with telephone cord.

2. Counts 6 and 7.

On July 9, 1990, Long Ly was at home at 2701 East 14th Street in Long Beach. With Ms. Ly were her parents, three sisters, a nephew, and a brother.

Around 10 a.m. four men, including appellant, came into the house through an unlocked screen door. Two men, one of whom was appellant, had guns. The first man with a gun told everyone to get on the floor and not do anything. Everyone did as ordered.

Chheng Ly had been eating cereal when a man pointed a gun at her and made her come to where the others were in the house. Upon doing so she saw there were four men, including appellant. Appellant pointed a gun at her and told her to take off her necklace. Ms. Ly did as instructed while appellant told her, “ ‘Be careful, be careful, you could die.’ ”

Three of the men, including appellant, began searching the house. Around 10:30 a.m. Yoon Puma came into the house, having completed watering plants in the backyard. She saw three men searching the house.

Appellant saw Ms. Puma’s necklace and took it. He told her to be quiet, and tied her up with telephone cord. He advised her that if she moved he would shoot.

Appellant asked where the money and jewelry were. He said, “ ‘If you don’t bring out all of the money, all the jewelry, I’ll beat you up right now.’ ” Appellant also warned the whole family, ‘“If you don’t bring out everything you have, we’ll kill you, one by one.’ ”

One man ripped out the telephone line. Another man, Jimmy Chhem, demanded Long Ly’s gold bracelet and necklace which she gave to him. Ms. Ly was tied up with a rope or string and then covered with a blanket.

3. Count 8.

On July 10, 1990, around 2 p.m., Ngor Chirk was at home at 1230 Wesley in Long Beach. With her at home were her five children, ages two to eight.

*1269 They were watching television. The front door was closed, but the lock was broken. Four men, including appellant, pushed their way through the front door. All the men had guns.

Appellant grabbed the telephone. He said, “ ‘Don’t, don’t scream, be quiet. If you scream we’re going to shoot you all dead.’ ” He also told Ms. Chirk not to let any of her children cry out or he would kill all of them.

Appellant grabbed Ms. Chirk and said, “ ‘Where do you have your money. ’ ” He had his gun pointed at her forehead between the eyes.

Appellant went into Ms. Chirk’s room and started searching.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
19 Cal. App. 4th 1263, 23 Cal. Rptr. 2d 900, 93 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 8029, 93 Daily Journal DAR 13672, 1993 Cal. App. LEXIS 1071, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-pock-calctapp-1993.