People v. Struggs CA5

CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedMay 27, 2022
DocketF082234
StatusUnpublished

This text of People v. Struggs CA5 (People v. Struggs CA5) 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. Struggs CA5, (Cal. Ct. App. 2022).

Opinion

Filed 5/27/22 P. v. Struggs CA5

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

THE PEOPLE, F082234 Plaintiff and Respondent, (Super. Ct. No. SC021518B) v.

CEDRIC LYNN STRUGGS, OPINION Defendant and Appellant.

THE COURT* APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Kern County. Michael G. Bush, Judge. Vanessa Place, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Michael P. Farrell, Assistant Attorney General, Christina H. Simpson and Eric L. Christoffersen, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent. -ooOoo-

* Before Poochigian, Acting P. J., Meehan, J. and Snauffer, J. INTRODUCTION In 1981, a jury convicted petitioner Cedric Lynn Struggs1 with the first degree murder (Pen. Code,2 § 187, subd. (a); first count)3 of Alfred Joe Dishman. For this offense, the trial court sentenced petitioner to a term of 25 years to life with an additional one-year term for a firearm enhancement (§ 12022, subd. (a)). (People v. Struggs (Jan. 24, 1983, 15006) [nonpub. opn.].) In 2019, petitioner filed a petition for resentencing on his murder conviction pursuant to section 1170.95. After conducting an evidentiary hearing, the trial court denied relief on the ground petitioner was a major participant in the offense who acted with reckless indifference to human life, a disqualifying factor pursuant to section 1170.95. On appeal, petitioner contends the trial court erred in applying a “sufficiency of the evidence” standard at the section 1170.95, subdivision (d) evidentiary hearing. The People concede error. We accept the People’s concession and reverse. Petitioner additionally argues the court erred in considering the preliminary hearing transcript and hearsay contained within our opinion in petitioner’s direct appeal, and that the evidence presented at the evidentiary hearing was insufficient to support a finding that he exhibited reckless indifference to human life. However, in light of our disposition, we conclude these issues are moot.

1 Petitioner’s true name is “Cedric Lynn Veasey.” 2 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise specified. 3 Petitioner was convicted of additional offenses and enhancements, as described below.

2. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND We provide a brief summary of the facts from the nonpublished opinion in petitioner’s direct appeal.4 On July 16, 1980, Nettie S.5 and Dishman opened the Hudson Oil gas station in Bakersfield, California. Three men entered the office of the Hudson Oil gas station. One of the men pointed a small revolver at Dishman demanding money. Dishman placed his arm over the money bags and the gunman fired a bullet into his chest. Dishman died immediately. As the robbers ran out, the gunman shot Nettie in the right shoulder. Nettie survived. Approximately $2,500 was taken by the robbers. The perpetrators later were identified as Ronald Gene Robinson, Phillip Carter, and petitioner, with Robinson acting as the shooter. (People v. Struggs, supra, 15006.) On September 16, 1980, the Kern County District Attorney filed an information charging petitioner with the first degree murder of Dishman (§ 187, subd. (a); first count), with the special circumstances that the murder was committed in the commission or attempted commission of robbery (§ 190.2, former subd. (a)(17)(i)) and burglary (§ 190.2, former subd. (a)(17)(vii)), along with a firearm enhancement (§ 12022, subd. (a)); assault with a deadly weapon, to wit: a .22-caliber revolver (§ 245, former subd. (a); second count (Nettie)); robbery (§ 211; third count (Dishman & Nettie)) with a firearm enhancement (§ 12022, subd. (a)); and burglary (former § 459; fourth count) with a firearm enhancement (§ 12022, subd. (a)). On February 27, 1981, a jury convicted petitioner of first degree murder (§ 187, subd. (a); first count), assault with a deadly weapon (§ 245, former subd. (a); second count), robbery (§ 211; third count), and burglary (former § 459; fourth count) and found

4 We provide these facts for background purposes only. We do not rely on these facts in resolving the issues presented in this appeal. (See § 1170.95, subd. (d)(3).) 5 Pursuant to California Rules of Court, rule 8.90, we refer to some persons by their first names. No disrespect is intended.

3. true all enhancements and special circumstances. On March 27, 1981, the trial court struck the special circumstances and sentenced petitioner on the first count to a term of 25 years to life, plus a consecutive one-year term for the firearm enhancement (§ 12022, subd. (a)). On the second count, the trial court sentenced petitioner to the upper term of four years, but stayed the term pending completion of the sentence on the first count. On the third count, the trial court sentenced petitioner to the upper term of five years, but stayed the term pending completion of the sentence on the first count. On the fourth count, the trial court sentenced petitioner to the upper term of three years, but stayed the term pending completion of the sentence on the first count. The aggregate term to be served was 26 years to life. On appeal, the Court of Appeal affirmed. (People v. Struggs, supra, 15006.) On February 14, 2019, petitioner, in propria persona, filed a petition for resentencing on his murder conviction pursuant to section 1170.95. In the form petition, petitioner stated a complaint, information, or indictment was filed against him that allowed him to be prosecuted under a theory of felony murder or murder under the natural and probable consequences doctrine; he was convicted of first or second degree murder at trial; and he could not now be convicted of first or second degree murder because of changes made to sections 188 and 189, effective January 1, 2019. He also requested the court appoint counsel during the resentencing process and stated that he was not the actual killer; did not, with the intent to kill, aid, abet, counsel, command, induce, solicit, request, or assist the actual killer in the commission of murder in the first degree; was not a major participant in the felony or did not act with reckless indifference to human life during the course of the crime or felony; and that the murder victim was not a peace officer acting in the performance of his or her duties.6

6 Petitioner also argued that Senate Bill No. 1437 (2017-2018 Reg. Sess.) (Senate Bill No. 1437) applies to his case because he did not participate in the underlying crime as the actual killer, nor did he intentionally aid, abet, counsel, command, induce, solicit,

4. On February 22, 2019, the trial court appointed the Kern County Public Defender’s office to represent petitioner. The People subsequently filed a motion to dismiss the petition on the ground that Senate Bill No. 1437 is unconstitutional. Petitioner, through his counsel, filed a reply arguing that Senate Bill No. 1437 is constitutional. Petitioner then filed a supplemental reply making additional arguments in support of Senate Bill No. 1437’s constitutionality. The People then filed an opposition to the petition on the merits. The trial court subsequently denied the People’s motion to dismiss. Petitioner then filed a reply on the merits of the petition, arguing that he is entitled to resentencing under section 1170.95. On August 12, 2020, the trial court held a hearing on the petition.

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Bluebook (online)
People v. Struggs CA5, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-struggs-ca5-calctapp-2022.