People v. Vance

• Court: California Court of Appeal
• Decided: August 7, 2023
• Docket: E079750
• Status: Published

Opinion

Filed 8/7/23

CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION TWO

THE PEOPLE,

Plaintiff and Respondent, E079750

v. (Super.Ct.No. FSB032415)

GREGORY VANCE, JR., OPINION

Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL from the Superior Court of San Bernardino County. Steven Malone,

Judge. Affirmed.

Rex Adam Williams, under appointment by the Court of Appeal for Defendant

and Appellant.

Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney

General, Charles C. Ragland, Senior Assistant Attorney General, and Robin Urbanski,

Alan Amann, and Minh U. Le, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

Petitioner Gregory Vance, Jr., his girlfriend (and codefendant) Katherine

Schumann, and the victim were operating a fraudulent check-cashing scheme. Vance and

Schumann suspected the victim of taking more than his share of the proceeds. Armed

1 with knives, they went to the victim’s home. By the time they left, the victim had been

fatally stabbed. According to the prosecution’s evidence, it was Vance who stabbed the

victim; according to petitioner, it was Schumann. Vance was convicted of (among other

things) first degree murder, on a felony murder theory, and sentenced to 56 years to life

in prison.

The trial court denied Vance’s petition under Penal Code section 1172.6 1 to vacate

his murder conviction. He appeals. He contends the trial court erred by:

(1) Considering only the facts as stated in our opinion in Vance’s direct appeal,

rather than the facts as shown by the record of conviction.

(2) Applying an erroneously low burden of proof.

We will hold that Vance’s counsel forfeited the trial court’s erroneous reliance on

our prior opinion by failing to object, and that in the absence of any objection, our prior

opinion constituted substantial evidence.

We will also hold that, in a section 1172.6 proceeding, the trial court’s erroneous

application of an unduly low burden of proof is not reversible per se. Rather, the

appellant has the burden of showing that it is reasonably probable that, in the absence of

1 All further statutory citations are to the Penal Code, unless otherwise indicated.

The petition was actually filed under former section 1170.95. (Stats. 2018, ch. 1015, § 4, amended by Stats. 2021, ch. 551, § 2.) Effective June 30, 2022, former section 1170.95 was renumbered as section 1172.6, with no change in text. (Stats. 2022, ch. 58, § 10.) We will use section 1172.6, somewhat anachronistically, to refer to whichever one of the two statutes was in effect at the relevant time.

2 the error, he or she would have enjoyed a more favorable outcome. As Vance has not

even tried to meet this burden, we cannot say the error was prejudicial.

I

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

In 2003, Vance was found guilty of first degree murder (§ 187, subd. (a); former

§ 189, subd. (a)) and first degree burglary (§§ 459, 460). The only theory of first degree

murder on which the jury was instructed was felony murder.

In a bifurcated proceeding, after waiving a jury trial, Vance admitted one strike

prior (§§ 667, subds. (b)-(i), 1170.12), one prior serious felony conviction enhancement

(§ 667, subd. (a)), and one prior prison term enhancement (§ 667.5, subd. (b)).

He was sentenced to a total of 56 years to life in prison.

In his direct appeal, we affirmed. (People v. Schumann (Aug. 4, 2006, E036689)

[2006 Cal.App. Unpub. LEXIS 6822] [nonpub. opn.].)

In 2019, Vance filed a petition pursuant to section 1172.6. The trial court found

that the petition made a prima facie showing, and it set an evidentiary hearing.

At the evidentiary hearing, the prosecution requested judicial notice of the record

in the underlying case. The trial court did not expressly rule on the request; however, it

said it was relying solely on the facts as stated in our opinion in the direct appeal. 2

2 Specifically, it said: “The opinion of the Court of Appeal affirming the original conviction sets forth a detailed factual account of the evidence presented at trial. The Court relies on the factual summary in that opinion for analysis of this [1172.6] petition.”

3 After hearing argument, it denied the petition. It found “substantial evidence that”

Vance was the actual killer. It also found “substantial evidence that” Vance was a major

participant in the underlying burglary and acted with reckless indifference to human life.

II

LEGAL BACKGROUND

Effective January 1, 2019, the Legislature restricted the scope of the felony murder

rule. (Stats. 2018, ch. 1015, § 3.) Specifically, it amended section 189, concerning the

degrees of murder, so as to provide that the felony murder rule (§ 189, subd. (a)) applies

to a person only if:

“(1) The person was the actual killer.

“(2) The person was not the actual killer, but, with the intent to kill, aided,

abetted, counseled, commanded, induced, solicited, requested, or assisted the actual killer

in the commission of murder in the first degree.

“(3) The person was a major participant in the underlying felony and acted with

reckless indifference to human life . . . .” (§ 189, subd. (e).) 3

At the same time, the Legislature also enacted section 1172.6 (Stats. 2018, ch.

1015, § 4), which provides: “A person convicted of felony murder . . . may file a petition

. . . to have the petitioner’s murder . . . conviction vacated” if “[t]he petitioner could not

3 Or — we note for completeness, although it is not relevant here — unless the victim was a police officer killed in the course of his or her duties and the defendant knew or should have known that. (§ 189, subd. (f).)

4 presently be convicted of murder” as a result of the amendment of section 189.

(§ 1172.6, subds. (a), (a)(3).)

If a petition under section 1172.6 is facially sufficient, the trial court must hold a

hearing to determine whether the petition states a prima facie claim for relief. (§ 1172.6,

subd. (c); People v. Lewis (2021) 11 Cal.5th 952, 957.)

If the petition does state a prima facie claim for relief, the trial court must hold an

evidentiary hearing. At the evidentiary hearing, the prosecution has the burden to prove,

beyond a reasonable doubt, that the petitioner is guilty of murder even under current law.

(§ 1172.6, subds. (d)(1), (d)(3).) If the prosecution fails to meet this burden, the trial

court must grant the petition and vacate the murder conviction. (§ 1172.6., subd. (d)(3).)

IV

THE TRIAL COURT’S RELIANCE ON OUR PRIOR OPINION

Vance contends that our prior opinion was not evidence, and therefore the trial

court’s denial of the petition, which was based solely on our prior opinion, was not

supported by sufficient — or, indeed, by any — evidence.

Section 1172.6, as originally enacted, provided that “the record of conviction” was

admissible at an evidentiary hearing. (Former § 1170.95, subd. (d)(3), Stats. 2018,

ch. 1015, § 4.) However, it was amended, effective January 1, 2022, so as to add the

following italicized language: “At the hearing to determine whether the petitioner is

entitled to relief, . . . [t]he court may . . . consider the procedural history of the case

5 recited in any prior appellate opinion.” (Former § 1170.95, subd. (d)(3), Stats. 2021,

ch. 551, § 2, italics added.)

We have held that, by allowing consideration of “the procedural history” in a prior

appellate opinion, the Legislature intended to prohibit consideration of “the factual

summar[y]” in a prior appellate opinion. (People v. Clements (2022) 75 Cal.App.5th 276,

292 (Clements); accord, People v. Cooper (2022) 77 Cal.App.5th 393, 400, fn. 9.) The

evidentiary hearing here was held well after Clements was decided. Nevertheless, the

trial court relied exclusively on the statement of facts in our prior opinion.

Vance argues that our opinion was not evidence at all. We disagree. It was

substantial evidence; it simply was not admissible evidence.

As a general rule, if inadmissible evidence is admitted without objection, it is

substantial evidence; the failure to object forfeits its inadmissibility. (Evid. Code, § 353,

subd. (a).) Thus, for example, hearsay admitted without objection is substantial evidence

sufficient to support a judgment. (Gallagher v. Connell (2004) 123 Cal.App.4th 1260,

1268.)

Categories of logically relevant evidence that nevertheless cannot be substantial

evidence are rare. One example is that an expert’s opinion on a question of law is not

substantial evidence. (Downer v. Bramet (1984) 152 Cal.App.3d 837, 841.) Likewise, an

expert’s opinion that is based on speculation is not substantial evidence. (People v.

Ramon (2009) 175 Cal.App.4th 843, 851.) And evidence of a prior oral agreement

inconsistent with an integrated written contract is not substantial evidence. (IIG Wireless,

6 Inc. v. Yi (2018) 22 Cal.App.5th 630, 640.) Generally, these categories exist because, for

some policy reason, we do not want the evidence to have any influence on the trier of

fact’s decision.

At an evidentiary hearing under section 1172.6, an appellate opinion summarizing

the facts, as shown in the record, is logically relevant. Our research has not revealed any

legislative history explaining why the Legislature chose to make such an opinion

inadmissible as evidence of the factual background of the case. Presumably, however, it

was because the record itself is better evidence. An appellate opinion necessarily must

leave out at least some of the facts. It may set forth only those facts that are relevant to

the particular issue(s) being raised on appeal, thus omitting facts that will become

relevant later under section 1172.6. And it may inadvertently misstate a fact.

These are good reasons to make an appellate opinion inadmissible. However, they

are not good reasons to preclude the trier of fact from considering an appellate opinion

under any circumstances. For example, a petitioner who feels that an appellate opinion is

accurate and complete may well prefer to offer it to the trial court, in lieu of the entire

record, for convenience. Presumably that is why defense counsel did not object here.

We conclude that, when an appellate opinion is admitted at an evidentiary hearing

under section 1172.6, without objection, it is substantial evidence that the trial court can

consider. Vance forfeited any objection to such consideration. Moreover, because the

opinion was substantial evidence, which simply should have been excluded as

inadmissible, harmless error analysis applies. Vance cannot show that, if the opinion had

7 been excluded, he would have enjoyed a more favorable result. (See People v. Watson

(1956) 46 Cal.2d 818, 836.) Presumably, in that event, the trial court would have

considered the record of conviction; the prosecution had done everything it could to get it

to take judicial notice of that record. Vance has never claimed that our opinion

misrepresented or omitted any material part of the record. Hence, the error was harmless.

V

ERRONEOUSLY LOW BURDEN OF PROOF

Vance contends that the trial court applied an erroneously low burden of proof.

Section 1172.6, as originally enacted, provided that at an evidentiary hearing, “the

burden of proof shall be on the prosecution to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the

petitioner is ineligible for resentencing.” (Former § 1170.95, subd. (d)(3), Stats. 2018,

ch. 1015, § 4, subd. (d)(3).)

Some courts took this to mean that the trial court had to deny the petition as long

as there was substantial evidence to support the original jury’s finding, beyond a

reasonable doubt, that the petitioner was guilty of murder under current law. (E.g.,

People v. Duke (2020) 269 Cal.Rptr.3d 264, 272 (Duke), review granted, Jan. 13, 2021,

S265309, cause transferred and ordered not citable, Nov. 23, 2021.)

Other courts held that the trial court had to grant the petition, unless it found,

independently and beyond a reasonable doubt, that the petitioner was guilty of murder

under current law. (E.g., People v. Lopez (2021) 271 Cal.Rptr.3d 170, 181–182, review

8 granted, Feb. 10, 2021, S265974, cause transferred and ordered not citable, Dec. 22,

2021.)

Section 1172.6 was amended, effective January 1, 2022, to resolve this dispute.

(Stats. 2021, ch. 551, § 2.) It now provides: “At the hearing to determine whether the

petitioner is entitled to relief, the burden of proof shall be on the prosecution to prove,

beyond a reasonable doubt, that the petitioner is guilty of murder or attempted murder

under current California law . . . . A finding that there is substantial evidence to support a

conviction for murder . . . is insufficient to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the

petitioner is ineligible for resentencing.” (§ 1172.6, subd. (d)(3).)

Here, even though the evidentiary hearing was held in July 2022, the trial court

applied the incorrect standard of proof. It denied the petition because it found substantial

evidence that Vance was the actual killer. It also denied the petition, alternatively,

because it found substantial evidence that he was a major participant and acted with

reckless indifference. In fact, this was an even lower burden than the erroneously low

Duke burden; the trial court asked only whether there was substantial evidence, not

whether there was substantial evidence sufficient to convince a jury beyond a reasonable

doubt.

Unhelpfully, Vance does not discuss the applicable harmless error standard.

Rather, he argues that the error is reversible per se.

People v. Garrison (2021) 73 Cal.App.5th 735 (Garrison) held that the precise

error here — applying the wrong burden of proof at an evidentiary hearing under section

9 1172.6 — is not reversible per se. (Id. at pp. 745–747; accord, People v. Garcia (2022)

82 Cal.App.5th 956, 971-972.) Vance tries to distinguish Garrison on the ground that

there, the trial court used the wrong standard of proof, whereas here, the trial court

supposedly used no standard of proof. Not so. In both cases, the error was using a

substantial evidence standard. (Garrison, supra, at p. 745.) Garrison is squarely on

point.

Vance argues that, because section 1172.6, subdivision (d)(3) refers to “the”

evidentiary hearing, there can never be a second evidentiary hearing. This argument is

frivolous. There are many references to “the trial” in the Penal Code (e.g., §§ 190.05,

subd. (g), 190.4, subd. (a), 190.7, subd. (a)(2), 293.5, subd. (b), 656, 663), yet when a

conviction is reversed, a retrial is not generally barred. Rather, the controlling statute is

section 1260, which, as relevant here, provides: “The [appellate] court . . . may, if

proper, order a new trial and may, if proper, remand the cause to the trial court for such

further proceedings as may be just under the circumstances.”

Vance also cites People v. Keel (2022) 84 Cal.App.5th 546. There, the court

found insufficient evidence to support the trial court’s finding that the petitioner acted

with reckless indifference (id. at pp. 556–563), so it remanded with directions to grant the

petition. (Id. at p. 565.)

In an appeal from a conviction, if the appellate court reversed based on

insufficiency of the evidence, double jeopardy bars a retrial. (Burks v. United States

(1978) 437 U.S. 1, 18.) Double jeopardy principles do not apply in section 1172.6

10 proceedings. (People v. Mitchell (2022) 81 Cal.App.5th 575, 589.) Nevertheless, we

accept that, if the prosecution fails to introduce sufficient evidence at the evidentiary

hearing, it is not allowed to keep trying again and again until it does.

In part IV, ante, however, we rejected Vance’s contention that there was

insufficient evidence to support the denial of the petition. Tellingly, he does not argue

that, even if the trial court was allowed to consider our prior appellate opinion, there still

was insufficient evidence that he is guilty of murder under current law. The trial court’s

only relevant error was in applying an erroneously low burden of proof. Accordingly,

this case falls squarely under the general rule that “[b]y seeking reversal of a judgment of

conviction on appeal, ‘“in effect, [a petitioner] assents to all the consequences

legitimately following such reversal, and consents to be tried anew.”’ [Citations.]”

(People v. Eroshevich (2014) 60 Cal.4th 583, 591.)

Garrison declined to decide whether the applicable harmless error standard is the

federal constitutional “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard (see Chapman v. California

(1967) 386 U.S. 18, 24) or the state law “reasonably probable” standard (see People v.

Watson, supra, 46 Cal.2d at p. 836). It seems clear, however, that the state law standard

applies. “A petition under . . . section [1172.6] is not a criminal prosecution. [Citation.]”

(People v. Mitchell, supra, 81 Cal.App.5th at p. 588.) Vance has already been convicted

of murder. The Legislature, in an act of grace and mercy, has provided the section

1172.6 proceeding, which reduces guilt and punishment on terms that the Legislature is

entitled to prescribe. (See People v. Conley (2016) 63 Cal.4th 646, 656 [“the Legislature

11 . . . may choose to modify, limit, or entirely forbid the retroactive application of

ameliorative criminal law amendments if it so chooses”].)

Under these circumstances, most of the federal constitutional protections that

attend a criminal conviction do not apply. (People v. Mitchell, supra, 81 Cal.App.5th at

p. 589 [no constitutional right against double jeopardy]; People v. Myles (2021) 69

Cal.App.5th 688, 703 [no constitutional right against self-incrimination]; People v. James

(2021) 63 Cal.App.5th 604, 611 [no constitutional right to trial by jury]; see also People

v. Lewis, supra, 11 Cal.5th at pp. 972–974 [no constitutional right to counsel; a due

process right to counsel at the evidentiary stage but not at the prima facie stage]; but see

People v. Basler (2022) 80 Cal.App.5th 46, 57–58 [section 1172.6 proceeding is a critical

stage at which petitioner has a federal constitutional right to be personally present].)

This includes the requirement of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. The

Legislature could have provided that the People’s burden of proof is by a preponderance

of the evidence; it could even have provided that a petitioner is not entitled to relief as

long as there is substantial evidence of guilt under current law. Instead, it required proof

beyond a reasonable doubt. However, this is merely a state statutory right; a violation of

the right is subject to the state law harmless error standard.

We need not actually decide whether the error was harmless. Under the state law

standard, Vance has the burden of showing prejudice. (People v. Penunuri (2018) 5

Cal.5th 126, 169; People v. Hernandez (2011) 51 Cal.4th 733, 746.) Instead, he has

staked all of his chips on the proposition that reversal is automatic. He does not argue

12 that even if reversal is not automatic, the error was prejudicial. He has not so much as

supplied us with a statement of facts, which we would need if we were going to consider

prejudice. Even after the People argued that the error was harmless, Vance stuck to his

strategy; he made no effort in his reply brief to show that the error was prejudicial.

Finally, at oral argument, his appellate counsel conceded that, if harmless error analysis

does apply, he cannot show prejudice. We conclude that Vance has forfeited any claim

that the trial court’s application of an erroneous burden of proof was prejudicial.

VI

DISPOSITION

The order appealed from is affirmed.

CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION RAMIREZ P. J.

We concur:

McKINSTER J.

RAPHAEL J.