People v. Robbins

228 Cal. Rptr. 3d 468, 19 Cal. App. 5th 660
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal, 5th District
DecidedJanuary 19, 2018
DocketE066284
StatusPublished
Cited by50 cases

This text of 228 Cal. Rptr. 3d 468 (People v. Robbins) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal, 5th District primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Robbins, 228 Cal. Rptr. 3d 468, 19 Cal. App. 5th 660 (Cal. Ct. App. 2018).

Opinion

MILLER, J.

*664A jury found defendant and appellant Eric David Robbins guilty of first degree murder ( Pen. Code, § 187, subd. (a) )1 , and attempted murder ( §§ 187, subd. (a), (664) ). The jury found true the allegations that (1) the murder was committed by means of lying in wait (§ 190.2, subd. (a)(15)); (2) the attempted murder was committed willfully and with premeditation and deliberation (§ 189); and (3) during the murder and attempted murder, defendant personally and intentionally discharged a firearm proximately causing death to another person (§ 12022.53, subd. (d)). The trial court sentenced defendant to prison for a term of life without the possibility of parole, plus a consecutive term of 25 years to life.

Defendant raises nine issues on appeal. First, defendant contends the attempted murder conviction is not supported by substantial evidence. Second, defendant contends the transferred intent theory argued by the prosecution is inapplicable to the lying-in-wait special circumstance.

Third, defendant contends the trial court erred by refusing to instruct on heat of passion voluntary manslaughter. Fourth, defendant contends the trial court erred by refusing to instruct on heat of passion attempted voluntary manslaughter. Fifth, defendant asserts his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to request the jury be instructed on how provocation affects the degree of murder. Sixth, defendant asserts the prosecutor erred by *665failing to ensure his witnesses complied with the in limine ruling prohibiting references to defendant's alleged support of racist organizations. Seventh, defendant contends the cumulative prejudicial effect of the alleged errors in contentions three through six requires the judgment be reversed. Eighth, defendant contends his sentence for attempted murder *472should be life, rather than seven years to life. Ninth, defendant contends the trial court must exercise its discretion as to whether to strike the firearm enhancements. (§ 12022.53, subd. (h).) We reverse part of defendant's sentence with directions and otherwise affirm the judgment.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

The afternoon of August 11, 2013, defendant and his wife, Dawn,2 were aggravated with one another. Throughout the day, Dawn called her mother, Carmen Griego, saying she wanted defendant to leave the home but defendant refused to leave. Defendant began drinking beer and smoking marijuana around 3:00 p.m., consuming approximately 33 beers. Defendant became intoxicated. At approximately 8:30 p.m., after Dawn again called Carmen, Dawn's parents went to defendant's and Dawn's home. When Dawn's parents arrived, defendant and Dawn were arguing.

Dawn's father, Ernest Griego, offered to get a motel room for defendant. Defendant responded, "[T]his is F-ing America. I have rights and I don't have to leave." Defendant walked up to Ernest. Defendant made a fist and stared at Ernest. Carmen told defendant she would call the police if defendant touched Ernest. Defendant backed away. Ernest and Carmen left.

Defendant left the house because he believed Carmen had called the police. Defendant left in his truck. Whenever Dawn made defendant leave the house, he took his guns and golf clubs with him because those items were the most important to him. On this occasion, defendant put an AR-15 rifle and .308 bolt action rifle in his truck. Defendant intended to purchase beer at an AM/PM convenience store and sleep in the desert.

Clarence Jones worked as a security guard at the AM/PM in Victorville. During cashier shift changes, it was Jones's responsibility to ensure that nobody attempted to purchase anything at the AM/PM because the cashiers had to count the money in their drawers. Thus, Jones stood outside the door of the AM/PM telling people they would have to wait 10 minutes to make a purchase. Most of the time people complied with Jones's directive to wait. The customers who were already inside the store at the time of the shift *666change were told the store would be closing briefly and to make their transactions quickly or leave. The cashiers began counting their cash once the store was empty.

Daniel Olivera worked as a cashier at the AM/PM in Victorville. On August 11, 2013, Olivera worked from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. During the 10:00 p.m. cashier shift change, Jones stood outside the AM/PM door telling people they would need to wait 10 minutes to make a purchase.

Defendant approached Jones. Jones told defendant a shift change was taking place and defendant could not enter the store. Defendant said, "I gotta take a piss and pay for some gas." Jones replied, "Sir, we'll be opened in a couple minutes. You're welcome to wait." Defendant became angry because he could see customers in the store lined up at the register. Defendant made racist remarks, such as "nigger," "boy," and used profanity. Jones is black.

Jones said, "[S]ir, I'm only a security guard. I don't have much power here." Defendant reached for the door, in order *473to open it. Jones put his hand on the door to hold it closed. Defendant said, "[O]h so it's like that? [E]njoy your power while you have it." Jones told defendant he could go inside the store, but he could not purchase anything. Defendant replied, "I'll be back, I'll be back."

Defendant reentered his truck. Jones took photographs of defendant leaving, including defendant's truck. Defendant saw Jones photographing him. Jones took photographs because defendant scared Jones. Jones did not capture a photograph of defendant's license plate.

Defendant drove to a field and urinated. While in the field, defendant looked at the AM/PM and thought, "What a nice shot." Defendant was approximately 170 yards from the AM/PM. Defendant set up his .308 rifle on a bipod. The rifle had a scope on it.

Defendant laid prone on the ground, looking through his scope. Defendant "sat there for a long time" waiting. Defendant had a difficult time identifying the different people at the AM/PM so he "crab walk[ed]" forward. Olivera exited the store, and smoked a cigarette with Jones. Jones stepped away to share his cigarette lighter with a customer. Defendant mistook Olivera for Jones. At approximately 10:40 p.m., defendant fired the gun, killing Olivera.

The next day, defendant watched the news and realized he killed Olivera, rather than Jones. Defendant threw away the shoes he wore during the killing and removed the stickers from the back of his truck. Approximately 10 days *667later, defendant drove past the AM/PM looking for Jones. Defendant wanted to "finish the job" by killing Jones with the .308 rifle. Defendant did not see Jones at the AM/PM.

During a police interview, defendant explained that he wanted to kill Jones because "[i]t's a respect thing." Defendant explained that he was angry because Jones refused to let defendant enter the store. Defendant denied that he wanted to kill Jones due to racial animus. Defendant denied that he was a white supremacist.

DISCUSSION

A.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
228 Cal. Rptr. 3d 468, 19 Cal. App. 5th 660, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-robbins-calctapp5d-2018.