People v. Swope CA3

CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedDecember 30, 2021
DocketC091436
StatusUnpublished

This text of People v. Swope CA3 (People v. Swope CA3) 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. Swope CA3, (Cal. Ct. App. 2021).

Opinion

Filed 12/30/21 P. v. Swope CA3 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published,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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT (El Dorado) ----

THE PEOPLE, C091436

Plaintiff and Respondent, (Super. Ct. No. P17CRF0001)

v.

MICHAEL EDWARD SWOPE,

Defendant and Appellant.

A jury found defendant Michael Edward Swope guilty of the murder of John Doe (count 1), assault on a child under 8 years old causing death (count 2—Pen. Code, § 273ab, subd. (a)),1 and three counts of felony child abuse (counts 3-5—§ 273a, subd. (a)). The jury also found true with respect to counts 3 through 5 that defendant

1 Undesignated statutory references are to the Penal Code.

1 personally inflicted great bodily injury on a child under 5 years old. (§ 12022.7, subd. (d).) The court sentenced defendant to 25 years to life in prison for count 2 plus a determinate term of 12 years. The court calculated the determinate term as follows: the middle term of 4 years plus 5 years for the enhancement on count 3, and 16 months (one- third the middle term) plus 20 months for the enhancement on count 4. The court imposed a concurrent term of 4 years plus 5 years for the enhancement on count 5. The court stayed a sentence of 15 years to life on count 1 pursuant to section 654. On appeal, defendant argues his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to seek suppression of: (1) his communications with his wife, and (2) his statement to law enforcement that his daughter jumped on Doe the morning of his death. Defendant also contends the cumulative effect of these alleged instances of ineffective assistance requires reversal. We reject defendant’s assertions of ineffective assistance of counsel. As such, we also reject his assertion of cumulative error. Defendant further argues, and the People concede, that the trial court miscalculated his custody credits. In supplemental briefing, defendant argues, and the People concede, that the matter should be remanded for resentencing in light of recent amendments to section 654. We accept both of the People’s concessions and will remand for the trial court to consider whether to exercise its new discretion under section 654. On remand, the trial court shall correct the calculation of custody credits as described in this opinion. In all other respects the judgment is affirmed. I. BACKGROUND We dispense with a detailed recitation of the facts because it is unnecessary to the issues on appeal. For context, however, we explain that Doe’s mother testified at trial. She said she had been married to defendant for several years when she gave birth to Doe on November 5, 2016. She and defendant have a daughter who was about two and half

2 years old when Doe was born. On the morning of December 18, 2016, defendant’s wife found Doe in his crib, not breathing. Three days later, defendant received a telephone call from El Dorado County Sheriff’s detectives who wanted defendant and his wife to come in to go over more paperwork related to Doe’s death. Defendant’s father-in-law drove the couple to the sheriff’s substation where detectives interviewed them separately. The detectives told defendant’s wife that her baby had died from a head injury and that he had 14 broken ribs. At this point, she told the detectives that defendant was rough with the baby and the baby was not his. The detectives asked her if they could put her and defendant in a room together to see what was said. A video recording of defendant’s interview with detectives and his discussion with his wife was played for the jury. II. DISCUSSION A. Alleged Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Defendant argues his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance in several ways. To establish a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, defendant must show: (1) trial counsel’s representation was deficient because it fell below an objective standard of reasonableness under prevailing professional norms, and (2) “resulting prejudice, i.e., a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s deficient performance, the outcome of the proceeding would have been different.” (People v. Mai (2013) 57 Cal.4th 986, 1009.) “When examining an ineffective assistance claim, a reviewing court defers to counsel’s reasonable tactical decisions, and there is a presumption counsel acted within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance. It is particularly difficult to prevail on an appellate claim of ineffective assistance. On direct appeal, a conviction will be reversed for ineffective assistance only if (1) the record affirmatively discloses counsel had no rational tactical purpose for the challenged act or omission, (2) counsel was asked for a reason and failed to provide one, or (3) there simply could be no satisfactory

3 explanation. All other claims of ineffective assistance are more appropriately resolved in a habeas corpus proceeding.” (People v. Mai, supra, 57 Cal.4th at p. 1009.) 1. Marital Communications Privilege Defendant argues his communications with his wife “pervaded this case” and trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to seek suppression of his statements to his wife under the marital communications privilege. Evidence Code section 980, subject to certain exceptions, allows one spouse to prevent another from disclosing a communication that “was made in confidence between him or her and the other spouse while they were spouses.” One exception, which was identified by neither party on appeal, is set forth in Evidence Code section 985, subdivision (a). Under this provision, there is no privilege “in a criminal proceeding in which one spouse is charged with . . . [¶] [a] crime committed at any time against the person or property of the other spouse or of a child of either.” As defendant was charged with the murder of his wife’s child, any objection on the basis of the martial communication privilege would have been futile. Defendant has failed to establish that his trial counsel was ineffective in failing to object on the basis of the marital communication privilege. (See People v. McPeters (1992) 2 Cal.4th 1148, 1173, superseded by statute on another ground as stated in Verdin v. Superior Court (2008) 43 Cal.4th 1096, 1106 [“Defense counsel is not required to advance unmeritorious arguments on the defendant’s behalf”].) 2. Defendant’s Statement to Law Enforcement Defendant further contends his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to seek suppression of his statement to law enforcement that his daughter jumped on Doe the morning of his death on the grounds that the statement was made

4 involuntarily or that, by the time it was made, the interview had become custodial and no Miranda2 warnings were provided. The interview apparently began with detectives asking for defendant’s cell phone and defendant giving it to them along with the password. The detectives told him more than once that he could stop at any time. The interview lasted about four hours including breaks. Eventually, the detectives told defendant that Doe had a very serious skull fracture that had to have occurred a few hours before his death. Defendant indicated this was where his daughter had kicked Doe about a week earlier. The detectives also told defendant they found fractured ribs that were several weeks old. Defendant said he had told them everything he knew about the injuries. The detectives repeatedly stated they were looking for “the truth.” One detective told defendant he would not be arrested that day and would be leaving on his own accord, but “somebody did something wrong.

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People v. Swope CA3, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-swope-ca3-calctapp-2021.