People v. Thomas CA2/5

CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedApril 13, 2015
DocketB252678
StatusUnpublished

This text of People v. Thomas CA2/5 (People v. Thomas CA2/5) 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. Thomas CA2/5, (Cal. Ct. App. 2015).

Opinion

Filed 4/13/15 P. v. Thomas CA2/5 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 FIVE

THE PEOPLE, B252678

Plaintiff and Respondent, (Los Angeles County Super. Ct. No. TA123047) v.

MARLON J. THOMAS et al.,

Defendants and Appellants.

APPEAL from judgments of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Allen J. Webster, Jr., Judge. Thomas’s judgment is affirmed in part as modified, reversed in part, and remanded. Thompson’s judgment is affirmed as modified. Cannon & Harris, Donna L. Harris, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant Marlon J. Thomas. Lynda A. Romero, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant Tommy D. Thompson, Jr. Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Jonathan J. Kline and Gary A. Lieberman, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent. INTRODUCTION A jury convicted defendant and appellant Marlon Thomas of first degree felony murder (Pen. Code, § 187, subd. (a)1); willful, deliberate, and premeditated attempted murder (§§ 664, subd. (a)/187, subd. (a)); first degree burglary (§ 459); and first degree residential robbery (§ 211). As to Thomas’s murder conviction, the jury found true the special circumstance allegations that Thomas committed the murder during the commission of a first degree residential robbery and first degree residential burglary (§ 190.2, subd. (a)(17)) and that he personally used and personally and intentionally discharged a firearm causing great bodily injury and death (§ 12022.53, subds. (b)-(d)). With respect to the attempted murder conviction, the jury found true the allegation that Thomas personally inflicted great bodily injury (§ 12022.7, subd. (a)) and personally used and personally and intentionally discharged a firearm causing great bodily injury (§ 12022.53, subds. (b)-(d)). With respect to the burglary and robbery convictions, the jury found true the allegations that another person who was not an accomplice was present in the residence and Thomas personally used and personally and intentionally discharged a firearm causing great bodily injury and death. (§ 12022.53, subds. (b)-(d).) The trial court sentenced Thomas to life without the possibility of parole plus 50 years. The jury convicted defendant and appellant Tommy Thompson, Jr. of first degree felony murder (§ 187, subd. (a)) and first degree burglary (§ 459). The jury acquitted Thompson of robbery. (§ 211.) As to Thompson’s murder conviction, the jury found true the allegation that a principal used a firearm (§ 12022, subd. (a)(1)), but found not true the special circumstance allegations that Thompson committed the murder during the commission of a first degree residential robbery and first degree residential burglary (§ 190.2, subd. (a)(17)). As to the burglary conviction, the jury found true the allegations that another person who was not an accomplice was present in the residence and a principal used a firearm. (§ 12022, subd. (a)(1).) The trial court sentenced Thompson to 26 years to life.

1 All statutory citations are to the Penal Code unless otherwise noted.

2 On appeal, Thomas contends that the jury’s true findings on the section 12022.53, subdivisions (b) through (d) firearm allegations with respect to his burglary conviction must be reversed because burglary is not an offense to which section 12022.53 applies; his sentences for his burglary and robbery convictions should have been stayed under section 654; his stayed $280 parole revocation restitution fine must be reversed because his sentence does not include a parole period; and his abstract of judgment must be modified to reflect that he was sentenced to life with, not without, the possibility of parole for his attempted murder conviction and to correct the spelling of his middle name. We order the jury’s true findings on the section 12022.53, subdivisions (b) through (d) firearm allegations as to Thomas’s burglary conviction reduced to a lesser included violation of section 12022.5, subdivision (a) and remand the matter for resentencing; Thomas’s sentences for his burglary and robbery convictions stayed under section 654 and his abstract of judgment modified accordingly; Thomas’s $280 parole revocation restitution fine reversed and stricken from his abstract of judgment; Thomas’s abstract of judgment modified to reflect that Thomas was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole for his attempted murder conviction; and the trial court to determine the correct spelling of Thomas’s name on remand. Thompson contends on appeal that there is insufficient evidence to support his murder and burglary convictions and, if there is sufficient evidence to support his burglary conviction, then the sentence for that conviction should have been stayed under section 654. Thompson joins Thomas’s arguments to the extent that they benefit him. We affirm Thompson’s murder and burglary convictions and order the sentence for his burglary conviction stayed under section 654 and his abstract of judgment modified accordingly.

3 BACKGROUND Terrance Scott was friends with Thompson and Thompson’s mother Jaquita Curtis. At least as of October 2010, Curtis and Thomas were a couple. Roosevelt Scott, Terrance’s brother,2 knew Thompson, Thomas, and Curtis. Terrance sold marijuana and always carried a large amount of money. In October 2010, Roosevelt saw Thompson at Terrance’s apartment. On that occasion, there was some “weed smoking going on.” Between 9:00 and 10:00 on November 10, 2010, Terrance picked up Roosevelt from their parents’ home. They went to a car wash to clean the engine in Terrance’s car, and then to a body shop where they remained for a few hours. While at the body shop, Terrance spoke and texted on his phone. When they left the body shop, Terrance and Roosevelt went to Terrance’s apartment. About 3:40 to 3:50 p.m., Terrance told Roosevelt that he had received a phone call and Thompson was coming up. Terrance opened the door, stuck his head out, and left the door open. Shortly thereafter, Thompson entered the apartment. When Thompson entered, Roosevelt was standing in the kitchen and Terrance was standing “pretty much directly in front of the doorway.” Thompson looked straight ahead at Terrance. Roosevelt said to Thompson, “What’s up brother man?” Thompson did not respond. Thompson turned around and ran out of the apartment. Terrance said, “Hey,” and put his hands in the air. Roosevelt heard a gunshot that came from outside of the apartment, and Terrance dropped to the floor. Roosevelt was unsure if Thompson had run all the way out of the apartment when the shot was fired. Thompson did not make a “gesture” as if to cover himself when the shot went off, did not stop to say anything to Roosevelt or Terrance, and did not return. Roosevelt did not know who fired the gunshot. Within seconds, Thomas entered the apartment and closed the door. Thomas had a gun in his hand and immediately ran to Terrance. Thomas bent over Terrance and

2 Because Terrance and Roosevelt Scott share a last name, we will refer to them by their first names for clarity.

4 asked, “Where’s the money?” Terrance said, “Huh.” Roosevelt heard a second gunshot. Terrance suffered a fatal gunshot wound to his head. Thomas rose up and extended his hand with the gun. Roosevelt lunged and grabbed his phone from the counter, but Thomas took the phone and put his gun to the side of Roosevelt’s head.

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Bluebook (online)
People v. Thomas CA2/5, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-thomas-ca25-calctapp-2015.