Filed 6/23/22 P. v. Rocha CA4/2 Opinion following transfer from Supreme Court NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION TWO
THE PEOPLE,
Plaintiff and Respondent, E077031
v. (Super.Ct.No. RIF1303076)
DANIEL NINO ROCHA, OPINION
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from the Superior Court of Riverside County. Bernard Schwartz, Judge.
Reversed and remanded with directions.
Sheila O’Connor, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Julie L. Garland and Charles C. Ragland, Assistant Attorneys General, A.
Natasha Cortina and Lynne G. McGinnis, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and
Respondent.
1 I.
INTRODUCTION
Defendant and appellant Daniel Nino Rocha appealed the sentence imposed
following remand by this court with the direction that the trial court stay the 16-month
sentence on count 3 under Penal Code1 section 654. Upon remand, the trial court vacated
the sentence, and imposed and then stayed an upper term sentence of three years on
count 3. Defendant again appealed, arguing the trial court lacked jurisdiction to increase
the sentence on count 3 from this court’s dispositional order. We agreed, as did the
People, and remanded the matter to the trial court with directions to reduce the term on
count 3 to a stayed 16-month term.
Defendant thereafter successfully petitioned the California Supreme Court for
review. The Supreme Court transferred the case to us with directions to vacate our earlier
opinion and reconsider our decision in light of new sentencing laws. We vacated our
decision and allowed the parties to file supplemental briefs limited to matters arising after
the previous decision in this matter.
In his supplemental brief, defendant contends the matter should be remanded for a
new sentencing hearing because his case is not yet final, and he will benefit from the
ameliorative changes of the new laws. The People mostly agree. We agree with
defendant that recently enacted Assembly Bill No. 333 (2021-2022 Reg. Sess.) requires
reversal of the true findings on the substantive gang offense and enhancements because
1 All future statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise stated.
2 the new law increased the proof requirements under the gang statute (Pen. Code,
§ 186.22). We therefore remand to the trial court to (1) give the People an opportunity to
retry the offense and enhancements under the law as amended by Assembly Bill No. 333
and (2) if the People elect not to retry defendant, or at the conclusion of retrial, to
resentence defendant under the new sentencing laws. We otherwise affirm the judgment.
II.
PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
On July 12, 2013, a jury found defendant guilty of assault with a firearm (§ 245,
subd. (a)(2); count 1); possession of a firearm by a felon (§ 29800, subd. (a)(1); count 2);
and street terrorism (§ 186.22, subd. (a); count 3). As to count 1, the jury found true that
defendant had personally used a firearm (§ 12022.5, subd. (a)) and had personally
inflicted great bodily injury on the victim (§ 12022.7, subd. (a)). As to counts 1 and 2,
the jury found true that defendant committed the crimes for the benefit of, at the direction
of, or in association with, a criminal street gang (§ 186.22, subd. (b)(1)). In addition,
defendant admitted that he had suffered one prior prison term (§ 667.5, subd. (b)(1)), one
prior serious felony conviction (§ 667, subd. (a)), and one prior strike conviction (§§ 667,
subds. (c), (e)(1), 1170.12, subd. (c)(1)).
On August 30, 2013, the trial court sentenced defendant to an aggregate term of
38 years eight months in prison as follows: the upper term of eight years on count 1, a
consecutive term of three years for the section 12022.7, subdivision (a) enhancement, a
consecutive term of 10 years for the section 186.22, subdivision (b)(1) enhancement, and
3 a consecutive term of 10 years on the section 12022.5, subdivision (a) enhancement; a
consecutive middle term of 16 months on count 2, with a consecutive, stayed, three-year
term for the section 186.22, subdivision (b)(1) enhancement; a consecutive middle term
of 16 months on count 3; plus a consecutive five-year term for the prior serious felony
conviction; and stayed a one-year term for the prior prison term.
Defendant subsequently appealed his conviction and sentence. In a nonpublished
opinion filed October 30, 2014, in case No. E059570, we affirmed the judgment of
conviction, but directed the trial court to stay the 16-month sentence on count 3 pursuant
to section 654. We specifically ordered that, “The judgment is ordered modified to stay
the one-year-four-month sentence on count 3 (participation in a street gang) under
section 654. In all other regards, the judgment is affirmed. The trial court is directed to
prepare a corrected abstract of judgment and to forward it to the Department of
Corrections and Rehabilitation.”
On February 25, 2015, after issuance of the remittitur in case No. E059570, at a
hearing outside the presence of counsel and defendant, the trial court vacated defendant’s
sentence as to count 3, imposed an upper term of three years on that count, stayed the
three-year term under section 654 on count 3, and closed the case.
On September 19, 2018, the court received a letter from the California Department
of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) asking it to recall defendant’s sentence and
resentence him under section 1170, subdivision (d). Specifically, the CDCR noted that,
in People v. Gonzalez (2009) 178 Cal.App.4th 1325 (Gonzalez), the Court of Appeal held
4 that a defendant could not be given separate sentences for enhancements under
sections 12022.7, subdivision (a), and 186.22, subdivision (b)(1)(C)⸺one of the terms
had to be stayed. The CDCR recommended that the trial court comply with the mandates
of Gonzalez.
Upon receiving the letter from CDCR, the trial court appointed counsel to
represent defendant. In their respective briefing, both parties agreed that Gonzalez
controlled and that defendant’s sentence on the section 12022.7, subdivision (a)
enhancement⸺the shorter enhancement term⸺had to be stayed under section 654.
Among other requests, defense counsel asked the court to “correct” the sentence on
count 3 “so that it conform[ed] with the command of the remittitur.” Counsel pointed out
that this court had directed a modification of the original judgment to reflect a 16-month
stay on count 3, but that the trial court had instead imposed a three-year term on that
count before staying it. Counsel argued that the trial court’s order was void and an
excess of jurisdiction.
At a hearing held on April 30, 2021, the trial court followed the recommendation
of the CDCR by staying defendant’s sentence on the section 12022.7, subdivision (a)
enhancement under section 654. The court, however, declined to make any other changes
to defendant’s sentence. As to defendant’s request to reduce the stayed three-year term
on count 3 to 16 months, the court stated: “All right. So, as mentioned, the original
sentence to Mr. Rocha was 38 years eight months. However, after the remittitur, the
Court stayed Count 3 pursuant to [section] 654 and the new sentence was 37 years four
5 months because that 16-month sentence was not allowed under the [C]ourt of [A]ppeal
opinion. The Court had previously simply sentenced him to the upper term of three
years. Rather than staying the 16 months, I stayed the three years. [¶] It doesn’t really
make much difference one way or the other because that time can never be imposed.
When and if Mr. Rocha is paroled, if he violated, he doesn’t get that time. That time can
never be imposed upon him. So there’s no danger of him receiving more time than he
should. So there was no additional issues taken by the Court’s imposition of the three
years which was stayed, and so I think we’ll just stick with that.” The court therefore
imposed a total prison term of 34 years four months.
Defendant timely appealed from the court’s judgment, arguing the trial court
lacked jurisdiction to increase the sentence on count 3 from this court’s dispositional
order. We agreed and remanded the matter to the trial court with directions to reduce the
term on count 3 to a stayed 16-month term. Defendant thereafter successfully petitioned
the California Supreme Court for review. On February 23, 2022, the Supreme Court
transferred the case to us with directions to vacate our November 2021 opinion and
reconsider our decision in light of the new sentencing laws, effective January 1, 2022:
Assembly Bill No. 1540 (Stats. 2021, ch. 719), Senate Bill No. 567 (Stats. 2021, ch. 731),
Assembly Bill No. 124 (Stats. 2021, ch. 695), Senate Bill No. 483 (Stats. 2021, ch. 728),
Assembly Bill No. 518 (Stats. 2021, ch. 441), and Assembly Bill No. 333 (Stats. 2021,
ch. 699).
6 III.
DISCUSSION
Defendant contends that we must remand the matter to the trial court for a new
sentencing hearing in light of new, intervening legislation. The People largely agree.
They agree a remand is appropriate in light of Senate Bill Nos. 567 and 483 and
Assembly Bill Nos. 1540, 124, and 518. They disagree as to Assembly Bill No. 333,
which the People believe does not apply to this case.
A. Assembly Bill No. 1540
Former section 1170, subdivision (d)(1), which was in effect at the time of the trial
court’s order, authorized trial courts to recall sentences upon recommendation from the
CDCR Secretary and to resentence defendants in the same manner as if they had not
previously been sentenced, provided any new sentence is not greater than the initial
sentence. That section required the resentencing court to “apply the sentencing rules of
the Judicial Council so as to eliminate disparity of sentences and to promote uniformity
of sentencing.” (Former § 1170, subd. (d)(1).) It further provided factors to consider in
resentencing including postconviction factors, the defendant’s risk of future violence, and
whether the defendant’s continued incarceration is in the interest of justice. (Ibid.) The
trial court may reduce a defendant’s term of imprisonment and modify the judgment if it
finds the reduction is in the interest of justice. (Ibid.)
On October 8, 2021, the Governor signed Assembly Bill No. 1540, which took
effect on January 1, 2022. (Stats. 2021, ch. 719.) Assembly Bill No. 1540 substantially
7 altered the recall and resentencing process and moved the resentencing provisions in
former section 1170, subdivision (d)(1), to a new section 1170.03. (Stats. 2021, ch. 719,
§ 3.1.) Among other things, section 1170.03 requires the trial court in the resentencing
proceeding to apply ameliorative changes in the sentencing laws (§ 1170.03,
subd. (a)(2)); clarifies and expands the factors the trial court may consider in its initial
decision to recall a sentence (§ 1170.03, subd. (a)(4)); provides that a defendant has a
statutory right to be present at the recall hearing (§ 1170.03, subd. (a)(8)); and, if a
resentencing request is from the Secretary, creates a presumption favoring recall and
resentencing of the defendant, which may only be overcome if the trial court finds the
defendant is an unreasonable risk of danger to public safety (§ 1170.03, subd. (b)(2)).
In part, Assembly Bill No. 1540 was passed to “clarify the intent of the
[L]egislature when it amended [§ 1170] in 2018.” (Sen. Rules Com., Off. of Sen. Floor
Analyses, 3rd reading analysis of Assem. Bill No. 1540 (2021-2022 Reg. Sess.) as
amended Sept. 3, 2021, p. 3.) Because Assembly Bill No. 1540 was passed in part to
clarify legislative intent, it may be considered in interpreting former section 1170,
subdivision (d). (Carter v. California Dept. of Veterans Affairs (2006) 38 Cal.4th 914,
922 [“ ‘if the courts have not yet finally and conclusively interpreted a statute and are in
the process of doing so, a declaration of a later Legislature as to what an earlier
Legislature intended is entitled to consideration’ ”]; People v. McMurray (2022) 76
Cal.App.5th 1035, 1041 [Legislature “repeatedly indicated” that Assembly Bill No. 1540
was intended to “ ‘make clarifying changes’ ” to former section 1170, subdivision (d)(1),
8 “including specifying the required procedure and guidelines when the CDCR
recommends recall and resentencing.”]) Although defendant’s underlying conviction is
final, the order denying his relief is still on appeal before us, and it is undisputed that the
law has changed in the window between decision and review.
As noted above, the parties agree that this court should reverse and remand so that
the trial court may reconsider CDCR’s recommendation by applying section 1170.03.
We also agree. While the parties disagree as to whether the retroactivity rule pursuant to
In re Estrada (1965) 63 Cal.2d 740 (Estrada) applies here, we need not resolve that
dispute given the parties agreement to remand. Further, judicial economy warrants
reversal and remand. Even if this court were to decide that the new law does not apply
here, the Secretary could simply submit a new recommendation letter which would then
be subject to the new law. It would be a waste of judicial resources to decide this case
under the old law.
B. Senate Bill Nos. 567 and 483
Senate Bill No. 567 (2021-2022 Reg. Sess.), which became effective on January 1,
2022, modified section 1170, subdivision (b), to require imposition of the middle term of
imprisonment unless circumstances in aggravation justify imposition of a greater
sentence and are found true beyond a reasonable doubt or stipulated to by the defendant.
(Stats. 2021, ch. 731, § 1.3.) Senate Bill No. 567 thus altered the statutory scheme for
selecting between triad terms under section 1170 subdivision (b). (Stats 2021, ch. 731,
§ 1.3.) In light of this change, in accordance with the agreement of the parties that
9 remand is appropriate, and because these changes apply retroactively to defendant’s
nonfinal judgment (see, e.g., People v. McKenzie (2020) 9 Cal.5th 40, 51; People v.
Stamps (2020) 9 Cal.5th 685, 699), we also find that a remand is necessary to allow the
trial court to exercise its new sentencing discretion under Senate Bill No. 567.
Senate Bill No. 483 added section 1171.1 to the Penal Code. This section states,
“[a]ny sentence enhancement that was imposed prior to January 1, 2020, pursuant to
subdivision (b) of Section 667.5, except for any enhancement imposed for a prior
conviction for a sexually violent offense . . . is legally invalid.” (§ 1171.1, subd. (a).)
Once a trial court is made aware of a sentence which includes such an enhancement, “the
court shall recall the sentence and resentence the defendant.” (§ 1171.1, subd. (c).)2
Once a trial court initiates recall and resentencing, the court must appoint counsel.
(§ 1171.1, subd. (d)(5)). Any resentencing “shall result in a lesser sentence than the one
originally imposed . . . unless the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that
imposing a lesser sentence would endanger public safety.” (§ 1171.1, subd. (d)(1).) In
addition to striking the now invalid prior prison enhancement, the court is also required to
“apply the sentencing rules of the Judicial Council and apply any other changes in law
that reduce sentences or provide for judicial discretion.” (§ 1171.1, subd. (d)(2).) The
court is also prohibited from imposing any upper term for any conviction “unless there
2 Section 1171.1 requires the CDCR to identify people in custody who are serving a sentence that includes a now invalid enhancement and to notify the sentencing courts of their names, dates of birth, and case or docket numbers by March 1 or July 1, 2022 (depending on their sentencing details) and requires the courts to act on the information by October 1, 2022, or December 31, 2023. (§ 1171.1, subds. (b), (c).)
10 are circumstances in aggravation that justify the imposition of a term of imprisonment
exceeding the middle term, and those facts have been stipulated to by the defendant, or
have been found true beyond a reasonable doubt at trial by the jury or by the judge in a
court trial.” (§ 1171.1, subd. (d)(4).) Finally, Senate Bill No. 483 states it was the
Legislature’s intention that “any changes to a sentence as a result of [Senate Bill No. 483]
shall not be a basis for a prosecutor or court to rescind a plea agreement.” (Stats. 2021,
ch. 728, § 1.)
Because defendant’s sentence is not yet final, he is entitled to the changes to recall
and resentencing enacted by Senate Bill No. 483. (See People v. Garcia (2018) 28
Cal.App.5th 961, 972.) The People concede as much, and there is no dispute defendant’s
sentence includes a prior prison enhancement, which is now invalid under section 1171.1
Therefore, defendant is entitled to have the trial court recall his sentence and resentence
him under the limitations section 1171.1 imposes.
In addition, the trial court must give defendant the benefit of any other
ameliorative changes in the law since his original resentencing when resentencing him
again. For instance, when defendant was originally sentenced, the trial court was
required to impose a five-year prior serious felony enhancement under section 667,
subdivision (a), and a firearm use enhancement under section 12022.5, subdivision (a).
Now both are discretionary. (People v. Alexander (2020) 45 Cal.App.5th 341, 344; see
People v. Watts (2018) 22 Cal.App.5th 102, 119.) Therefore, on resentencing, the trial
court should consider whether to reimpose the prior serious felony and firearm use
11 enhancement in addition to applying any other ameliorative changes to the law which
might benefit defendant.
C. Assembly Bill Nos. 124 and 518
Assembly Bill No. 124 amended the provisions also concerning selection of a
prison term from the triad of lower, middle, and upper terms to require a court to
ordinarily impose the lower term, except under limited circumstances, if the defendant
was under the age of 26 (as defendant was in this case) when he or she committed the
crime. (Stats. 2021, ch. 695, § 5, [§ 1170, subd. (b)(2)].) Assembly Bill No. 518 (Stats.
2021, ch. 441, §1) amended section 654 to permit the court to choose the lesser
punishment where an act is punishable by either a lesser or a greater punishment. Since
our remand will necessarily result in resentencing, the trial court will necessarily adhere
to the law then in effect to the extent that it benefits defendant.
D. Assembly Bill No. 333
On October 8, 2021, the Governor signed Assembly Bill No. 333 into law. (Stats.
2021, ch. 699.) This new legislation went into effect on January 1, 2022, and made a
number of significant modifications to the requirements for proving a criminal street gang
enhancement. Section 186.22 makes it a crime to actively participate in a criminal street
gang, and the statute provides for enhanced punishment when a defendant is convicted of
an enumerated felony committed “for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association
with any criminal street gang.” (Former § 186.22, subd. (b)(1).) Defendant’s judgment
includes a conviction (count 3) and two enhancements under this statute.
12 The new law made noteworthy modifications to section 186.22. First, the law
amends the definition of a “ ‘criminal street gang,’ ” requiring proof that the gang is an
organized association, whose members collectively engage in, or have engaged in, a
pattern of criminal activity (§ 186.22, subd. (f)). Previously, the statute defined a
“ ‘criminal street gang,’ ” as “any ongoing organization, association, or group of three or
more persons . . . whose members individually or collectively engage in, or have engaged
in, a pattern of criminal gang activity.” (Former § 186.22, subd. (f).) Second, it amends
the definition of what constitutes a “ ‘pattern of criminal gang activity’ ” by requiring the
last offense to have occurred within three years of the date the current offense is alleged
to have occurred. (§ 186.22, subd. (e)). Previously, the prosecution needed to prove only
that those associated with the gang had committed at least two offenses from a list of
predicate crimes on separate occasions within three years of one another. (Former
§ 186.22, subd. (e).) Third, it narrows the list of crimes that may be used to establish a
pattern of criminal gang activity (compare former § 186.22, subd. (e)(1)-(33), with
§ 186.22, subd. (e)(1)(A)-(Z)). Fourth, it prohibits use of the currently charged offense to
establish a pattern of criminal gang activity (§ 186.22, subd. (e)(2)). Fifth, it defines “to
benefit, promote, further, or assist” as used throughout section 186.22 to mean “to
provide a common benefit to members of a gang where the common benefit is more than
reputational.” (§ 186.22, subd. (g).) And finally, the new law adds section 1109 to the
Penal Code, requiring bifurcation of gang enhancements charged under section 186.22,
subdivision (b) or (d), to be tried separately from the underlying charges upon request
13 from the defense. (Stats. 2021, ch. 699, § 5.) Section 1109 also requires the substantive
offense of active participation in a criminal street gang (186.22, subd. (a)) to be tried
separately from all other counts that do not require gang evidence as an element of the
crime.
“[P]erhaps most notably, Assembly Bill [No.] 333 requires the prosecution to
prove that the benefit the gang derives from the predicate and current offenses is ‘more
than reputational.’ (Stats. 2021, ch. 699, § 3 [enacting § 186.22, subd. (g)].) New section
186.22, subdivision (g), provides, ‘As used in this chapter, to benefit, promote, further, or
assist means to provide a common benefit to members of a gang where the common
benefit is more than reputational. Examples of a common benefit that are more than
reputational may include, but are not limited to, financial gain or motivation, retaliation,
targeting a perceived or actual gang rival, or intimidation or silencing of a potential
current or previous witness or informant.’ ” (People v. E.H. (2022) 75 Cal.App.5th 467,
478 (E.H.).) In summary, section 186.22 now “requires proof of the following additional
requirements with respect to predicate offenses: (1) the offenses must have ‘commonly
benefited a criminal street gang’ where the ‘common benefit . . . is more than
reputational’; (2) the last predicate offense must have occurred within three years of the
date of the currently charged offense; (3) the predicate offenses must be committed on
separate occasions or by two or more gang members, as opposed to persons; and (4) the
charged offense cannot be used as a predicate offense.” (People v. Lopez (2021) 73
Cal.App.5th 327, 345 (Lopez).)
14 The parties agree, as do we, that Assembly Bill No. 333’s substantive changes
apply retroactively to all cases in which the judgment of conviction is not yet final
because the changes “ ‘redefine, to the benefit of defendants, conduct subject to criminal
sanctions.’ ” (E.H., supra, 75 Cal.App.5th at p. 478, quoting Tapia v. Superior Court
(1991) 53 Cal.3d 282, 300-301 & citing Estrada, supra, 63 Cal.2d 744; accord, Lopez,
supra, 73 Cal.App.5th at p. 344 [substantive changes in Assembly Bill No. 333 apply
retroactively to all whose judgments are not yet final on the amendments’ operative
date].)
The People, however, argue that because defendant’s judgment in this case was
final and Assembly Bill No. 333 is not a sentencing law, it does not apply to this case.
The People acknowledge that our Supreme Court in People v. Padilla (2020) 50
Cal.App.5th 244 (Padilla I), recently considered the question of “When a judgment
becomes final, but is later vacated, altered, or amended and a new sentence imposed, is
the case no longer final for the purpose of applying an intervening ameliorative change in
the law?”
Padilla I involved a habeas petitioner who committed a murder when he was 16
years old. He was convicted of the murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of
parole (LWOP) in 1999. (Padilla I, supra, 50 Cal.App.5th at pp. 246-247.) After his
conviction was final, Padilla filed a habeas petition asking to be resentenced. (Id. at
p. 248.) The trial court granted the petition and resentenced him to LWOP. (Ibid.) The
appellate court reversed the trial court’s decision and remanded for reconsideration.
15 (Ibid.) Proposition 57 took effect while the matter was pending in the trial court on
remand. After the trial court reimposed LWOP, Padilla sought transfer to the juvenile
court under Proposition 57. (Padilla I, at p. 248.)
The Court of Appeal held that “a collateral proceeding may reopen the finality of a
sentence for retroactivity purposes, even while the conviction remains final.” (Padilla I,
supra, 50 Cal.App.5th at p. 253.) It found the petitioner’s sentence was no longer final as
it had been vacated by the habeas court, and, even if all matters not encompassed by
resentencing were still final like the finding of guilt, Proposition 57 nonetheless applied
to his resentencing because a juvenile court disposition would be more advantageous to
the petitioner than sentencing him as an adult for the criminal offense. (Padilla I, at
pp. 253-254.) The court explained, “[b]ecause Proposition 57’s primary ameliorative
effect is on a juvenile offender’s sentence, independent of the convictions, we conclude it
applies retroactively to appellant’s nonfinal sentence and requires that he receive a
transfer hearing.” (Id. at p. 255, fn. omitted; accord, People v. Montes (2021) 70
Cal.App.5th 35, 47-48 [we concluded a resentencing under section 1170, subdivision (d),
results in a new sentence and the judgment is no longer final, thereby entitling the
defendant to the ameliorative benefits of Proposition 57]; People v. Ramirez (2021) 71
Cal.App.5th 970, 994-997.)
Recently, on May 26, 2022, our Supreme Court agreed with the Court of Appeal
in Padilla I. (See People v. Padilla (2022) 13 Cal.5th 152 (Padilla II).) After a lengthy
analysis of Estrada, supra, 63 Cal.2d 740, statutory interpretation and constitutional
16 concerns, the Supreme Court concluded “once a court has determined that a defendant is
entitled to resentencing, the result is vacatur of the original sentence, whereupon the trial
court may impose any appropriate sentence.” (Padilla II, at p. 163.) The court
explained: “It is clear that Padilla’s present appeal from his resentencing is part of direct
review of a nonfinal judgment, not collateral review of a final judgment. The court had
the power to impose any sentence available for his crime, including life without the
possibility of parole if it found that sentence appropriate in light of Padilla’s ‘ “youth and
its attendant characteristics.” ’ [Citation.] Indeed, while collateral review is an attack on
a final judgment, that is plainly not the posture here. When Padilla’s new sentence was
imposed, there was no final judgment to attack because his prior sentence had been
vacated.” (Ibid.)
Based on our Supreme Court’s decision in Padilla II, we find that Assembly Bill
No. 333 applies to this case.
In E.H., supra, 75 Cal.App.5th 467, we held that because Assembly Bill No. 333
requires findings by the jury on which they were not instructed, and because the
instructions given permitted the jury to rely on now inapplicable criteria, reversal is
required unless “ ‘it appears beyond a reasonable doubt that the error did not contribute to
th[e] jury’s verdict.’ ” (E.H., at p. 479, quoting People v. Flood (1998) 18 Cal.4th 470,
504.) Defendant contends that reversal is required because no evidence was admitted
to establish that the predicate crimes were no more than reputational and/or any
17 evidence to show the purported members of his gang collectively—as opposed to
individually—engaged in a pattern of criminal gang activity.
Here, according to our prior opinion from defendant’s direct appeal,3 Sergeant
Hobb, a gang expert, testified that “Eastside Banning Sapos gang (ESBS) is the largest
gang in the Banning/Beaumont area. There are three cliques within the gang: the Santos,
the Mad Ass Youngsters, and the Pee Wee Locos. The gang’s primary activities are auto
thefts, drug sales, thefts, burglaries, and possession of guns. Nongang members usually
refuse to cooperate with law enforcement when ESBS is involved because of fear of
retaliation and intimidation by the gang.
“According to Hobb, ESBS committed two predicate crimes. On May 29, 2009,
Hobbs stopped a vehicle driving in a neighborhood where there were reports of
shootings. Three ESBS members were in the car. Hobb found two loaded firearms in the
car.
“The second predicate crime was on January 6, 2010, when five ESBS members,
including defendant, got out of a car at an intersection and chased the 18-year-old victim
and his brother. The brother escaped but the ESBS members severely beat up the victim,
who was wearing a leg brace. A passerby intervened and called the police. Defendant
was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon and a gang enhancement.
3 Taken from this court’s prior nonpublished opinion in defendant’s prior appeal, case No. E059570, which is part of the record on appeal in this case. (People v. Rocha (Oct. 30, 2014, E059570) [nonpub. opn.], at pp. 7-9.)
18 “In Hobb’s opinion, defendant and Gabriel [Herrera] were active ESBS members.
During several police interviews, including in the instant case, defendant admitted
membership and said he had a gang moniker. Defendant also had numerous gang tattoos
and was seen on his brother’s website throwing gang signs. Gabriel also admitted gang
membership, beginning in 2007, and claimed to be a member of the Pee Wee Locos
ESBS clique. He had a moniker and several gang tattoos. Hobb also knew Rosanne
Saubel. He had been in her home and had seen ESBS graffiti on her daughter’s bedroom
walls and door frame.
“Hobb testified he would be suspicious if he saw two ESBS members walking
around a neighborhood, jumping over fences, and looking into backyards. He would
suspect the men were looking for someone or something to steal. In Hobb’s opinion, if
defendant fired a gun at a civilian, the crime would benefit ESBS by instilling fear in the
community and allowing ESBS to operate with impunity, since witnesses and victims
would be afraid to contact law enforcement. Defendant’s possession of a gun also
benefited ESBS, because it was used to protect defendant from other gang members and
law enforcement. Gun possession allowed defendant to harm others and commit crimes.
“According to Hobb, it can be assumed that, if a citizen confronts two gang
members, the gang members will respond violently in defense of their turf, because the
gang’s reputation is at stake. A violent response would benefit the gang. Hobb strongly
believed that defendant’s crimes were committed for the benefit of ESBS. The violence
escalated from a fistfight to discharging a gun against [David] Jackson. Defendant and
19 Gabriel’s violent response demonstrated the gang’s willingness to hurt others and warned
the community of ESBS’s presence in the community. It also showed that ESBS was not
afraid to commit crimes and did not fear law enforcement.” (People v. Rocha (E059570)
at pp. 7-9.)
A review of defendant’s record of conviction shows that no evidence was
presented to prove that the benefit to the gang was more than reputational. As previously
noted, “ ‘Examples of a common benefit that are more than reputational may include, but
are not limited to, financial gain or motivation, retaliation, targeting a perceived or actual
gang rival, or intimidation or silencing of a potential current or previous witness or
informant.’ ” (E.H., supra, 75 Cal.App.5th at p. 478.) Further, nothing established that
members of ESBS “collectively” engaged in a pattern of criminal activity. In addition,
the jury was not required to make any finding on whether or not the members displayed a
pattern of committing qualified crimes collectively.
Accordingly, the case must be remanded to afford the prosecution an
opportunity to retry the enhancements and the gang participation conviction in count 3
and meet its new burden of proof pursuant to Assembly Bill No. 333’s requirements.
(See E.H., supra, 75 Cal.App.5th at p. 480 [“The proper remedy for this type of failure of
proof—where newly required elements were ‘never tried’ to the jury—is to remand and
give the People an opportunity to retry the affected charges.”], citing People v. Figueroa
(1993) 20 Cal.App.4th 65, 71-72, fn. 2 [statutory amendment retroactively adding
20 additional element to offense allowed prosecution to establish additional element on
remand without offending double jeopardy or ex post facto principles].)
IV.
DISPOSITION
We vacate the sentence and reverse the offense of street terrorism or active gang
participation (§ 186.22, subd. (a); count 3) and the true findings on the gang enhancement
(§ 186.22, subd. (b)(1)) allegations attached to count 1 (assault with a firearm) and
count 2 (possession of a firearm by a felon), and remand with directions to (1) give the
People an opportunity to retry the offense and enhancements under the law as amended
by Assembly Bill No. 333; and (2) if the People elect not to retry defendant, or at the
conclusion of retrial, to resentence defendant under the new sentencing laws. In all other
respects, the judgment is affirmed.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
CODRINGTON J. We concur:
RAMIREZ P. J.
McKINSTER J.