People v. Summerville CA2/4

CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedOctober 22, 2014
DocketB248476
StatusUnpublished

This text of People v. Summerville CA2/4 (People v. Summerville CA2/4) 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. Summerville CA2/4, (Cal. Ct. App. 2014).

Opinion

Filed 10/22/14 P. v. Summerville CA2/4 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 FOUR

THE PEOPLE, B248476

Plaintiff and Respondent, (Los Angeles County Super. Ct. No. TA123921) v.

RANDY SUMMERVILLE, et al.,

Defendants and Appellants.

APPEALS from a judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Allen J. Webster, Jr., Judge. Modified and affirmed as to Defendant Summerville. Affirmed as to Defendant Chaffold. Melanie K. Dorian, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant Summerville. Jolene Larimore, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant Chaffold. Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Assistant Attorney General, Mary Sanchez and Taylor Nguyen, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

_______________________________

In a joint trial of three defendants, the jury convicted Randy Summerville on seven counts pertaining to a May 5, 2011 robbery and kidnapping at the home of Miguel Hernandez, and found personal firearm use and criminal street gang allegations to be true (counts 3 to 9). The jury convicted Demarco Chaffold of a May 11, 2011 robbery of Jose Castellon, and found the personal firearm use allegation to be true, but rejected the criminal street gang allegation (count 11). The jury acquitted Traynell Coleman of all charges. In these appeals by Summerville and Chaffold, we modify Summerville’s sentence pursuant to Penal Code section 654.1 The judgment is affirmed as to Chaffold, and affirmed, as modified, as to Summerville.

PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND In April and May 2011, the following incidents occurred near the Jordan Downs Housing Projects in Los Angeles: (1) the April 17, 2011 robbery of Ervin Bromell (counts 1 and 2); (2) the May 5, 2011 robbery and kidnapping at the Hernandez residence (counts 3 through 10);2 (3) the May 11, 2011 robbery of Castellon (count 11); and (4) the May 15, 2011 attempted murder of Fernando Aviles (counts 12 to 15). The prosecution filed a 15-count information that charged Summerville, Chaffold, and Coleman with one or more of these incidents.3

1 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code. 2 In addition to Hernandez, the other victims in the May 5 incident were George Hernandez (Hernandez’s son) and William Soto (the father of Hernandez’s granddaughter). Because Hernandez and his son share the same last name, we refer to the son by his first name; no disrespect is intended. 3 The information contained the following counts: Count 1 against Summerville and Coleman: Second degree robbery of Bromell on April 17, 2011 (§ 211). Count 2 against Coleman: Possession of a firearm by a felon on April 17, 2011 (§ 12021, subd. (a)(1)). 2

Summerville was charged in connection with three of the incidents, and convicted as to one. The jury acquitted him of the April 17 robbery of Bromell (count 1), and failed to reach a verdict as to the May 11 robbery of Castellon (count 11). But it convicted him of the May 5 robbery and kidnapping at the Hernandez residence (counts 3 to 9),4 and found personal firearm use and criminal street gang allegations to be true. Chaffold was charged in connection with two of the incidents, and convicted as to one. He was charged with the May 15 attempted murder of Aviles (counts 12-14), but

Count 3 against Summerville: Second degree robbery of Hernandez on May 5, 2011 (§ 211). Count 4 against Summerville: Kidnapping of Hernandez to commit another crime on May 5, 2011 (§ 209, subd. (b)(1)). Count 5 against Summerville: Kidnapping of George to commit another crime on May 5, 2011 (§ 209, subd. (b)(1)). Count 6 against Summerville: First degree burglary of an inhabited dwelling house (the Hernandez residence) with intent to commit larceny on May 5, 2011 (§ 459). Count 7 against Summerville: First degree residential robbery of Hernandez on May 5, 2011 (§ 211). Count 8 against Summerville: First degree residential robbery of George on May 5, 2011 (§ 211). Count 9 against Summerville: First degree residential robbery of Soto on May 5, 2011 (§ 211). Count 10 against Summerville: Unlawful driving or taking of a vehicle owned by Hernandez on May 5, 2011 (Veh. Code, § 10851, subd. (a)). Count 11 against Summerville and Chaffold: Second degree robbery of Castellon on May 11, 2011 (§ 211). Count 12 against Coleman (and dismissed at trial as to Chaffold): Attempted willful, deliberate, and premeditated murder of Aviles on May 15, 2011 (§§ 664/187, subd. (a)). Count 13 against Coleman (dismissed at trial as to Chaffold): Shooting at an occupied motor vehicle on May 15, 2011 (§ 246). Count 14 against Coleman (dismissed at trial as to Chaffold): Attempted carjacking of Aviles on May 15, 2011 (§§ 664/215, subd. (a)). Count 15 against Coleman: Possession of a firearm by a felon on May 15, 2011 (§ 12021, subd. (a)(1)). 4 The jury acquitted Summerville of count 10, unlawful driving or taking of Hernandez’s vehicle.

those allegations were dismissed as to him at trial. He was convicted of the May 11 Castellon robbery (count 11), with a personal firearm use finding. The jury rejected the criminal street gang allegation.5 Summerville received a sentence of 25 years to life, with a minimum parole eligibility date of 15 years. Chaffold received a sentence of 13 years. Both timely appealed from the judgment. Facts relevant to their appeals are discussed below.

DISCUSSION I Summerville was convicted on counts 3 through 9 concerning the May 5 robbery and kidnapping at the Hernandez residence. On appeal, he challenges his second degree robbery (count 3) and first degree residential robbery (count 7) convictions as to Hernandez, and first degree residential robbery conviction as to Soto (count 9). He also contends he was sentenced in violation of section 654. A. The May 5 Incident At about 7:00 a.m. on May 5, 2011, Hernandez and his son George were getting into Hernandez’s truck in front of their house when they were approached by two young men. The taller man (later identified as Summerville) was carrying a revolver. He ordered George out of the truck and took his music player. The shorter man took Hernandez’s wallet, which contained $20. The shorter man said, “Let’s walk inside the house and see what’s in there.” Hernandez and George were forced to walk 30 or 40 feet to the front door of their house. George rang the doorbell. Soto (the father of Hernandez’s granddaughter) opened the door. The taller man said, “Don’t move or I will bust the cap.” George understood this to mean I will “shoot you.”

5 Coleman was charged with two of the incidents, and acquitted of both. The jury acquitted him of the April 17 robbery of Bromell (counts 1 and 2) and the May 15 attempted murder of Aviles (counts 12 through 15). Coleman is not a party to this appeal. 4

Hernandez, George, Soto, and Soto’s daughter were taken to a bedroom and made to sit on the floor. George’s cousin, Angel Hernandez, who was sleeping in the garage, was also brought to the bedroom. During a 30-minute period, the men took turns holding the gun and watching the victims, and going through the house and removing electronics and other valuables. At one point, Summerville told George to unplug the computer or he would “pop you on Geo” (a reference to a deceased Grape Street gang member). After taking what they wanted, the men left the house. Hernandez went outside and discovered that his truck was missing. He called the police and reported the incident.

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