People v. Sanchez

24 Cal. App. 4th 1012, 30 Cal. Rptr. 2d 111, 94 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 3156, 94 Daily Journal DAR 5996, 1994 Cal. App. LEXIS 437
California Court of Appeal·Decided April 29, 1994·No. B071169·Published·Cited by 15 cases

Opinions

[1015]*1015Opinion

WOODS (Fred), J.

We are asked to decide this novel question: if a defendant’s lawyer delivers inculpatory writings to the trial court, under seal, may the trial court furnish those writings to the prosecutor without violating either the defendant’s privilege against self-incrimination or the reciprocal discovery statutes (Pen. Code,1 §§ 1054-1054.7)? Our answer is yes. We affirm the first degree murder judgment.

Procedural and Factual Background

By information, Arthur Anthony Sanchez (appellant) was charged with the March 28, 1992, murder of Rufugia Limón Huerta. It was alleged he personally used a deadly weapon, a rope (§ 12022, subd. (b)). Appellant pleaded not guilty and denied the allegation.

On June 10, 1992, the prosecutor filed a motion with the trial court “to produce and . . . unseal documents in the custody of the county clerk.” Defense counsel filed an opposition. On July 7, 1992, Superior Court Judge James H. Piatt, after hearing argument by counsel, granted the motion. Execution of the order was stayed to permit appellant to petition for a writ of prohibition. On August 5, 1992, Division Three of this court summarily denied appellant’s petition. The next day, on August 6, 1992, Judge Piatt personally turned the subject writings over to the prosecutor.

Trial began on September 8,1992. Jury deliberations began September 22, 1992, and later that day the jury found appellant guilty of first degree murder (§ 187) and found true the allegation he had personally used a deadly weapon, a rope. (§ 12022, subd. (b).) The trial court, Superior Court Judge Thomas F. Nuss, denied appellant’s new trial motion and sentenced him to state prison for 26 years to life.

There being no insufficiency of evidence claim, we summarize the evidence. Our perspective favors the judgment. (People v. Barnes (1986) 42 Cal.3d 284, 303-304 [228 Cal.Rptr. 228, 721 P.2d 110].)

That appellant strangled Ruth2 Huerta in his bedroom of his parents’ house in the early afternoon of March 28, 1992, was not disputed. Appellant admitted as much before and during trial. In dispute was only the degree of his culpability.

Appellant and the victim began dating in October 1991 and some months later became engaged. But in late February or early March 1992 their [1016]*1016relationship became strained. Appellant was unemployed, lived with his parents, and was depressed. During a meeting with Ruth appellant became upset and shook her. She said she did not want to see him anymore. Appellant continued to telephone her, became angry, and called her names.

On March 28, 1992, the victim and her 16-year-old sister Roxanne planned to celebrate Roxanne’s good grades by going shopping in the mall and then out to eat. But early that morning appellant called and told Roxanne he wanted to speak to Ruth. Informed she was in the bathroom, he called again. Ruth talked to appellant and they yelled at each other. Finally, Ruth agreed to briefly see appellant.

Before she left, around 1 p.m., Ruth told Roxanne to telephone her at appellant’s house and say there was an emergency, otherwise appellant probably would not let her leave.

A little after 1 p.m. appellant’s uncle arrived at appellant’s house, saw Ruth’s car in the driveway, and spoke briefly to appellant outside the house. The uncle left but returned in about 15 minutes, saw Ruth’s car still in the driveway, talked to appellant for a few minutes outside the house, and left. He had not seen or heard Ruth. Appellant did not appear intoxicated to him; appellant seemed “normal.”

Appellant’s parents returned home about 5:30 p.m. and saw a note from appellant on the kitchen table. It stated: “Mom Dad I love you and I’m so sorry for what has happened. I love you. Please forgive me. I will call you. If anyone calls for Ruth, say that we went to Newport Beach.”

A short time later appellant’s married sister, Sherri Lucero, called her parents and asked if appellant’s bedroom door was locked.3 When told it was, she urged her parents to get into the room. They did. On the floor was an object wrapped in a tarp and covered by a blanket. Appellant’s mother called 911.

The police arrived and found Ruth inside the blanket and tarp coverings, dead, strangled by a double looped rope around her neck. Her ankles, wrists, and elbows were bound with telephone cord.

Appellant, after killing Ruth, drove her car to a bank and used her automated teller machine (ATM) card to withdraw $200. Later, about 6:30 p.m., he drove to his sister Kathy’s house and told her something bad had happened, that someone had been killed.

[1017]*1017The next day, March 29, 1992, accompanied by his sisters, appellant surrendered to the police.

Appellant testified that on March 28, 1992, he consumed quantities of alcohol and cocaine, argued with Ruth at his house, put a rope around his neck and then remembered sitting on the bedroom floor, looking up and seeing Ruth’s eyes staring at him. He did not see the rope around her neck, he only saw her eyes. He was scared and, still seated, flipped the blanket over Ruth. He felt weak, hot, had difficulty standing up, ran around the house yelling, returned to the bedroom, and, in stumbling, pulled Ruth from the bed onto the floor. He tried to lift her in order to carry her to the car and get help but he could not lift her. So he tied her ankles together to lift her, but still could not. He did not remember tying her wrists and elbows and did not remember strangling her.

Discussion

A. Did the trial court err in furnishing the inculpatory writings to the prosecutor?

1. The inculpatory writings.

About a week after the offense, appellant’s sisters Kathy and Sherri decided to air out appellant’s bedroom and also to look for letters. They, along with appellant’s parents, other relatives and friends began looking into the closets of his two bedrooms. In the middle bedroom, where Ruth’s body had been found, Sherri saw a bag in the closet filled with magazines. Among the magazines were papers with appellant’s writing.

In a back bedroom, also used by appellant, Sherri found other papers on the closet floor. Some were balled up. Others were in a little box. They also had appellant’s writing.

The writings were of various sorts. Some were dated (Mar. 26 or Mar. 27 or Mar. 28), some were signed by appellant, and almost all referred to Ruth and appellant’s feelings toward her. One dated “3/26” stated: “I don’t want to hurt my girl but if she’s not going to be mine, she won’t be anyone else’s either. Our love was meant to be ‘Death do us Part'."

Another stated that Saturday “could be the perfect opportunity, to follow through with what may very well be necessary. [1] I really do wish that I had a gun, it would be so much easier and less painfull. Although if it needs to come to this, maybe pain should be felt?”

[1018]*1018Still another appeared to be a murder checklist. On a three-and-one-half-by seven-and-one-half-inch piece of paper were the following numbered entries: “(1) strangle-stab[4

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People v. Sanchez, 24 Cal. App. 4th 1012, 30 Cal. Rptr. 2d 111, 94 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 3156, 94 Daily Journal DAR 5996, 1994 Cal. App. LEXIS 437 (Cal. Ct. App. 1994).

24 Cal. App. 4th 1012 (People v. Sanchez) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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