People v. Uy CA3

CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedNovember 14, 2014
DocketC063037A
StatusUnpublished

This text of People v. Uy CA3 (People v. Uy 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. Uy CA3, (Cal. Ct. App. 2014).

Opinion

Filed 11/14/14 P. v. Uy CA3 Opinion following order vacating prior opinion NOT TO BE PUBLISHED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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 (San Joaquin) ----

THE PEOPLE,

Plaintiff and Respondent, C063037

v. (Super. Ct. No. SF107288B)

RATTANY UY,

Defendant and Appellant.

Plaintiff and Respondent, C063481

v. (Super. Ct. No. SF107288A)

CHANREASMEY PRUM,

1 In separate jury trials, defendants Rattany Uy and Chanreasmey Prum were convicted of first degree murder as active participants in, and for the benefit of, a criminal street gang. They were also convicted of three attempted premeditated murders, shooting at an occupied motor vehicle, carrying a loaded firearm by a gang participant, carrying a concealed firearm by a gang participant, possession of a firearm by a felon (as to Prum only), and active participation in a criminal street gang. Of relevance to the issues on appeal, the trial court sentenced defendants as follows: Uy to life in prison without the possibility of parole for murder plus a consecutive 10-year prison term on the Penal Code section 186.22 enhancement;1 and Prum to life in prison without the possibility of parole for murder and three consecutive terms of 15 years to life in prison for attempted murder, plus 10 years (count 4) and additional 15-year-to-life terms (counts 1, 2, 3 and 5) for section 186.22 enhancements. We consolidated the appeals for argument and decision only. In part I we address Uy’s contentions, and in part II we address Prum’s contentions. In his appellant’s opening brief, Uy claimed (A) a statement he made to police is inadmissible because it was not voluntary; (B) the trial court erred in giving the jury a “kill zone” instruction because there was no substantial evidence of the creation of a kill zone; (C) the trial court erred in treating life without the possibility of parole (LWOP) as the presumptive penalty for the murder conviction, Uy’s LWOP sentence is erroneous because the probation report and the trial court did not consider relevant mitigating factors, and Uy’s trial counsel provided ineffective assistance by failing to object to the deficient probation report and failing to argue relevant mitigating factors; and (D) the trial court erred in imposing a 10-year enhancement for benefitting a criminal street gang on the count 1 murder conviction.

1 Undesignated statutory references are to the Penal Code.

2 In an opinion filed on December 31, 2013, we concluded Uy’s contentions lacked merit except for his last contention challenging the 10-year enhancement. The California Supreme Court granted Uy’s petition for review on April 30, 2014, and deferred action in the case pending disposition in People v. Gutierrez (Supreme Ct. No. S206365) and People v. Moffett (Supreme Ct. No. S206771).2 After it filed its opinion in Gutierrez, supra, 58 Cal.4th 1354, the Supreme Court transferred this matter to us with directions to vacate our decision and to reconsider the cause in light of Gutierrez. Uy then asked us for permission to file a supplemental brief to address an issue not previously raised on appeal: that under People v. Chiu (2014) 59 Cal.4th 155 (Chiu), the trial court erred in instructing the jury that an aider and abettor may be guilty of first degree murder under the natural and probable consequences doctrine. We vacated our original opinion in compliance with the Supreme Court’s order and granted Uy’s motion to file a supplemental brief. We directed the parties to file supplemental briefs addressing the effect on this case of the decision in Gutierrez, supra, 58 Cal.4th 1354, and to address the issues identified in Uy’s motion regarding Chiu, supra, 59 Cal.4th 155. Uy and the Attorney General submitted supplemental briefs on those issues. In his supplemental brief, Uy now contends that based on Gutierrez, supra, 58 Cal.4th 1354, we must reverse the count 1 LWOP sentence and remand the case for resentencing. The Attorney General agrees. Uy also contends that under Chiu, supra, 59 Cal.4th 155, we must reverse his count 1 first degree murder conviction because the trial

2 The Supreme Court consolidated the actions in People v. Guiterrez (Supreme Ct. No. S206365) and People v. Moffett (Supreme Ct. No. S206771) to determine whether a presumption in favor of a sentence of LWOP under section 190.5, subdivision (b) violates the Eighth Amendment to the federal Constitution under the principles announced in Miller v. Alabama (2012) 567 U.S. ___ [183 L.Ed.2d 407] (Miller) . (People v. Gutierrez (2014) 58 Cal.4th 1354, 1360-1361 (Gutierrez).)

3 court incorrectly instructed, and the prosecutor improperly argued, that the jury could convict Uy of first degree murder based on the natural and probable consequences doctrine. We now conclude (A) Uy’s statement to police is admissible; (B) substantial evidence supports the “kill zone” jury instruction; (C) we will reverse the LWOP sentence on count 1 and remand the matter for resentencing consistent with Gutierrez, supra, 58 Cal.4th 1354 and Miller, supra, 567 U.S. ___ [183 L.Ed.2d 407]; (D) because, on remand, Uy will receive a sentence of either 25 years to life or LWOP on the count 1 murder conviction, and because section 186.22, subdivision (b)(1) does not increase the penalty for gang-related felonies punishable by indeterminate sentences, we will modify the judgment by striking the 10-year enhancement on count 1 imposed pursuant to section 186.22, subdivision (b)(1); and (E) any error in instructing with CALCRIM No. 403 regarding the natural and probable consequences doctrine was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt based on jury findings that defendant directly aided and abetted premeditated murder. Accordingly, we will reverse the count 1 LWOP sentence, strike the 10-year section 186.22, subdivision (b)(1) enhancement on count 1, remand the matter for resentencing, and otherwise affirm the judgment against Uy. Prum contends (A) the trial court erred in admitting cumulative and irrelevant character evidence; (B) there was insufficient evidence to establish that members of the Bloods street gang engaged in a pattern of criminal gang activity; (C) the trial court erred in instructing the jury with CALCRIM No. 372 [defendant’s flight] because there was no evidence supporting an inference of consciousness of guilt; (D) the jury instruction given for attempted murder (former CALCRIM No. 600) did not accurately explain the kill zone theory; (E) there was insufficient evidence that Prum attempted to kill Renee and her daughters; (F) the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury on the elements for carrying a loaded firearm by a gang participant (count 6) and carrying a concealed

4 firearm by a gang participant (count 7); and (G) the trial court committed various sentencing errors. Regarding Prum’s contentions, we agree that the trial court should have instructed the jury on the elements of carrying a loaded firearm by a gang participant (count 6) and carrying a concealed firearm by a gang participant (count 7), and that the omission requires reversal of those convictions. (People v. Cummings (1993) 4 Cal.4th 1233, 1311-1315 (Cummings).) We also agree with some of Prum’s assertions regarding sentencing error.

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Bluebook (online)
People v. Uy CA3, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-uy-ca3-calctapp-2014.