People v. Underwood CA6

California Court of Appeal·Decided April 30, 2015·No. H040312·Unpublished

Opinion

Filed 4/30/15 P. v. Underwood CA6 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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

SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

THE PEOPLE, H040312 (Santa Clara County Plaintiff and Respondent, Super. Ct. No. C1079816)

v.

CARLUS ANTHONY UNDERWOOD,

Defendant and Appellant.

Defendant Carlus Anthony Underwood pleaded no contest to four counts of second degree robbery (Pen. Code, §§ 211, 212.5, subd. (c))1 and three counts of felony false imprisonment (§§ 236, 237) arising out of his active participation in the armed robbery of a marijuana collective. After the trial court denied his Romero2 motion, he was sentenced to a total term of 36 years to life and ordered to pay various fines and fees. On appeal, Underwood contends the trial court abused its discretion in denying his Romero motion and should have stricken at least two of his strike priors. Underwood also argues that the penalty assessments imposed in connection with one of his fines, specifically the fine imposed pursuant to section 1202.5, subdivision (a), were improperly calculated and must be reduced.

1 Further unspecified statutory references are to the Penal Code. 2 People v. Superior Court (Romero) (1996) 13 Cal.4th 497. We disagree that there was any abuse of discretion in denying the Romero motion. However, as the People have conceded, the penalty assessments were miscalculated and must be modified. As so modified, we will affirm the judgment. I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND In May 2010, Underwood drove from Yuma, Arizona, to San Jose, California, along with three others, Angel Torres, Mauro Sierra and Robert Singleton. They traveled in Singleton’s silver Honda and planned on buying a car from Torres’ father in San Jose. During the drive, Torres suggested they rob a cannabis club in San Jose and, after discussing the matter further, the men agreed to do so. Torres indicated he did not want to use firearms in the robbery but Underwood said they should. Underwood and his companions arrived in San Jose on May 18, 2010. Although their initial plan was to rob the cannabis club on the day they arrived, they decided to postpone the robbery. Torres’ father traded a blue Honda to them in exchange for Singleton’s silver Honda plus some cash. Torres’ brother-in-law was visiting and overheard Underwood planning the robbery with Torres, Sierra and Singleton. Torres borrowed a shotgun from a friend. The barrel was sawed off and there were bullet shells taped to the side of the shotgun. It was wrapped in a sheet or a towel. Torres and Singleton went to the cannabis club in order to determine its location as well as the layout of the building. They also purchased pepper spray, a pellet gun and duffel bags to use in the robbery. On May 20, 2010, Torres arranged to borrow his cousin’s black Nissan Altima. They met in a parking lot and Torres arrived in a blue Honda, along with Underwood, Sierra and Singleton. Torres’ cousin gave him the keys to her car and arranged to meet him later that day.

2 Singleton drove to the cannabis club in the borrowed Nissan. When they arrived, Underwood, Singleton and Sierra walked toward the building. Underwood carried the pellet gun, while Singleton carried the shotgun. Torres remained behind as the lookout. Sierra rang the doorbell around 12:30 p.m. At the time, there were nine people inside the business: three employees, a doctor, a doctor’s assistant and four customers. Gordon Seifert was working security at the club that day, and as part of his duties, he would answer the door and confirm that customers had marijuana recommendations before allowing them inside. Seifert looked through the peephole when Sierra rang the doorbell and saw Underwood and two other men standing outside. He opened the door and Underwood began asking him some “really strange questions,” including directions to another office and what business was conducted at Seifert’s facility. Seifert said he did not know what other office Underwood was asking about and said “well, we have a medical marijuana facility here.” Underwood pulled a gun out of his waistband, stuck it in Seifert’s stomach and told him to “get the fuck on the floor.” Seifert backed up a few steps and kneeled down. Underwood followed him and put the gun to Seifert’s head, telling him to get down on the floor. Seifert just looked at Underwood, “because I wasn’t about to let him shoot me in the back of the head.” Underwood went over to the door that led into the lobby. He opened it slightly and looked inside, seeing that there were other people in the next room. Underwood closed the door again then kicked it open “like a tough guy.” The door split and swung open. Meanwhile, two other men entered the front door and Seifert saw they were carrying guns as well. One of those men pointed his gun at Seifert’s head and told him to lie down, but Seifert did not comply. All three men walked past him and entered the interior lobby.

3 Amber Kamber, Aaron McCall and Troy Moss were inside the lobby. After Underwood kicked the door open, Sierra walked in carrying the sawed-off shotgun with shells taped to the handle and a razor blade taped to the end of the barrel. He told Kamber, McCall and Moss to “get the fuck on the ground or I’ll start killing people.” Sierra pointed the shotgun at their heads and announced “You guys are fucked now. You are selling shit in my hood.” Dr. Kevin Noonan was in the office with customer Steven Pajuelo when Underwood and the others entered. Sierra grabbed Dr. Noonan, pulled him across the desk and into the lobby where he threw him to the floor. Sierra then grabbed Pajuelo and threw him to the floor of the lobby as well. One of the men punched and kicked Dr. Noonan in the back of the head. One of the three went back and got Seifert, throwing him into the lobby with the other victims. Someone again pointed a gun to Seifert’s head and told him to “lay [sic] down all the way and put your head down.” Seifert saw five or six other patients, along with all of his employees, lying on the floor of the lobby. The men yelled at everyone to stay on the floor but give them their wallets and jewelry. One of the men walked up to each person lying on the ground, put a gun to their head and said “give me your wallet, give me whatever you have, give me your watch.” The victims all complied. McCall gave them his personal identification, driver’s license, social security card and $600. Dr. Noonan gave them his wallet, which contained approximately $500. The men then started asking where the safe was. Andrew Spector, who had been working behind the lobby desk, told them there was no safe, but Sierra called him a liar. Sierra said he knew there was a safe and he would kill Spector if he did not tell them where the safe was. Spector repeatedly denied that there was a safe on the premises. Underwood and Singleton went to the back dispensary where the marijuana was stored. They gave a black duffel bag to Sean Lockwood, who was working in the

4 dispensary and told him to fill it with the jars of marijuana. After Lockwood filled the bag as ordered, he lay down on the floor. In all, the men made off with seven to eight pounds of marijuana, with a street value of $50,000. Underwood grabbed a cash register and began to carry it toward the front door, where he placed it on the ground. He put his hands in his coat pockets and tried to open the door, apparently to avoid leaving fingerprints. Underwood was unable to do so, and Singleton told him to leave the register where it was. Underwood did so.

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