People v. Rickman CA2/8

CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedNovember 30, 2015
DocketB256268
StatusUnpublished

This text of People v. Rickman CA2/8 (People v. Rickman CA2/8) 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. Rickman CA2/8, (Cal. Ct. App. 2015).

Opinion

Filed 11/30/15 P. v. Rickman CA2/8 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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

SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION EIGHT

THE PEOPLE, B256268

Plaintiff and Respondent, (Los Angeles County Super. Ct. No. BA381108) v.

DESTYN ANTHONY RICKMAN,

Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County. David V. Herriford, Judge. Affirmed in part, reversed in part with directions.

Michele A. Douglass, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant.

Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Stephanie C. Brenan and Brendan Sullivan, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

_________________________________ Defendant Destyn A. Rickman was charged with 19 counts of various financial crimes.1 After a jury trial, he was convicted of all charged offenses consisting of forgery (counts 1 & 2), procuring a false instrument (counts 3 & 4), grand theft (counts 5 & 6), money laundering (counts 7 through 11 and 13 through 19) and perjury (count 20). The trial court sentenced Rickman to an aggregate term of six years and four months in state prison. On appeal, Rickman contends: (1) insufficient evidence supports his convictions on counts 16 and 17, (2) the trial court erroneously imposed the white collar enhancement sixteen times instead of once, and (3) the trial court improperly imposed separate punishments for grand theft and forgery. The Attorney General concedes error on the imposition of multiple white collar enhancements but contests the remaining grounds. We agree with Rickman insufficient evidence supports the convictions on counts 16 and 17. We further agree the trial court committed error by imposing the white collar enhancement more than once. We, however, find the trial court properly imposed separate sentences for forgery and grand theft. Therefore, we reverse Rickman’s convictions on counts 16 and 17 and order the sentence modified on the multiple imposition of the white collar enhancements. We otherwise affirm the judgment as modified. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY The “Theft” and Sale of the Family House –– Counts 1 through 6 Rickman and co-defendant Rachel Morales orchestrated a fraudulent transfer of a residential property located in the city of Pasadena. The legal title to the property was in

1 Rickman was charge in the Amended Information as follows: counts 1 and 2 - Penal Code section 470, subdivision (a) [forgery], counts 3 and 4 - Penal Code section 115, subdivision (a) [procuring and offering a false or forged instrument], counts 5 and 6 - Penal Code section 487, subdivision (a) [grand theft], counts 7 through 11 and 13 through 19 - Penal Code section 186.10, subdivision (a) [money laundering], and count 20 - Penal Code section 118, subdivision (a) [perjury]. Rickman was also charged with two special allegations: Penal Code section 186.11, subdivision (a) [white collar penalty enhancement - applicable to all counts except on perjury], and Penal Code section 186.10, subdivision (c)(1)(b) [money laundering penalty enhancement].

2 the name of Francisca Abalos2 who died intestate in 1983. Her grandson, Randolph Abalos, lived in the residence and had moved there soon after her death. The family apparently took no action to change record title to the property. For several decades, Randolph lived in the home without problem. Things changed when his sister, Lucinda Debill, and her boyfriend, Robert Simon, moved in. In April 2008, Randolph and Lucinda received a visit from Morales.3 Claiming she worked for the City of Pasadena’s “Nash Program,” Morales indicated she could assist Randolph in obtaining funds to repair the property. When Randolph told Morales the house remained in his deceased grandmother’s name, Morales stated she had connections and could work something out to get money out of the property. Suspicious, Randolph researched the claims made by Morales. He learned the “Nash Program” did not exist. When Morales called Randolph a few days later, he told her of his findings, that he did not want her services, and that he would call the police if she came back to the property. Undeterred, Morales called Randolph a short time later and said she was sending an appraiser to his home. He told her again he would contact the police. A few months later, Randolph found his sister, Lucinda, talking with an appraiser and Rickman. Shortly thereafter, a letter from the county recorder’s office came in the mail addressed to Lucinda. The letter indicated on April 28, 2009, Francisca signed a grant deed transferring ownership of the property to Lucinda.4 Randolph tried to prevent Lucinda from selling the family home. He successfully recorded a mechanic’s lien against the property. He later learned a signed release of the lien was executed on May 16, 2008. At trial, Randolph testified that his signature on the release was forged.

2 We hereafter use the first names of the members of the Abalos family for sake of clarity. 3 She is not a party to this appeal. 4 Francisca died more than 20 years before she purportedly signed the grant deed.

3 Despite Randolph’s efforts, Lucinda “sold” the house, and received money as a result of the sale. Lucinda left the family home in late April 2008. At the time of the trial, Randolph had not spoken with Lucinda since her departure. One day, Rickman and Andre Avery, the buyer, showed up at the house and said they were there to do repairs. Randolph told the two men they stole his house and showed them his attorney’s card. The men took the card and left. Later, Randolph filed a civil lawsuit to settle the title issues on the property.5 The Money Laundering of the Proceeds from the Sale –– Counts 7-11, 13-19 Approximately a year and a half before these events, Rickman opened an account for DR Investment, Inc. (DR) at Comercia Bank. Rickman was the only signer on the account. On June 4, 2008, the balance in DR’s account was $49.37. The next day, an electronic deposit in the amount of $133,910.47 was made from First National Escrow to DR’s account (count 7). Later the same day, a second electronic deposit was made in DR’s account from First National Escrow to DR’s account in the amount of $80,000 (count 8). In the next several weeks, Rickman made a series of withdrawals from DR’s account as follows: June 5, 2008 in the amount of $45,000 (count 9); June 5, 2008 in the amount of $10,000 (count 10);

5 Avery appears also to have been a victim of fraud in connection with the sale of the house. Rickman represented himself as a real estate agent who could help Avery find a property to purchase. Rickman showed Avery the property and said it was selling for about $300,000. Rickman offered to front a $70,000 down payment. When Avery and Rickman went to a credit union for the $70,000 down payment, Rickman only had $59,000 and Avery gave Rickman $11,000 by in a cashier’s check to complete the $70,000. Rickman thereafter helped Avery obtain a loan from Countrywide for $296,000, secured by a deed of trust, and in opening an escrow account. On May 28, 2008, Avery received a grant deed from Lucinda Debill conveying the property to Avery. The proceeds from the sale transaction were distributed as follows: a $55,000 payment to “Roos Technology”; $133,910.47 to DR Investment; $80,000 to DR Investment; and $80,000 to Lucinda Debill. After the sale transaction was complete, Rickman found ways to keep Avery from seeing the property.

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Bluebook (online)
People v. Rickman CA2/8, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-rickman-ca28-calctapp-2015.