People v. Zapata CA2/1

CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedJanuary 22, 2015
DocketB253025
StatusUnpublished

This text of People v. Zapata CA2/1 (People v. Zapata CA2/1) 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. Zapata CA2/1, (Cal. Ct. App. 2015).

Opinion

Filed 1/22/15 P. v. Zapata CA2/1 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 ONE

THE PEOPLE, B253025

Plaintiff and Respondent, (Los Ángeles County Super. Ct. No. VA113297) v.

JOSE ZAPATA,

Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Raul A. Sahagun, Judge. Affirmed as modified. Richard D. Miggins, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Victoria B. Wilson, Supervising Deputy Attorney General, and Erika D. Jackson, Deputy Attorney General, for Plaintiff and Respondent. —————————— Defendant Jose Zapata appeals from convictions for murder and attempted murder. He contends the evidence was insufficient to support the jury’s true findings as to carjacking, or that the crimes were committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang. Zapata also contends the court prejudicially erred in refusing to instruct the jury that the prosecution’s key witness was an accomplice, and as to self-defense. Finally, Zapata contends he is entitled to additional presentence custody credits. We conclude that Zapata’s final contention has merit, and the abstract of judgment must be modified to reflect additional credits. None of Zapata’s other contentions has merit and, as to those, we affirm. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND By Information, Zapata was charged with one count of first degree murder (Pen. Code,1 § 187, subd. (a); count 1) and one count of attempted willful, deliberate and premeditated murder (§§ 664, 187, subd. (a); count 2).2 Special circumstances were alleged as to count 1, i.e., that the murder was committed while Zapata was engaged in the commission of a robbery and carjacking in violation of sections 211, 212.5, and 215, and that both offenses fell within the meaning of section 190.2, subdivision (a)(17). As to count 1, a further special circumstance was alleged that Zapata intentionally killed the victim while an active participant in a criminal street gang and the murder was carried out to further the gang’s activities pursuant to section 190.2, subdivision (a)(22). As to both Counts, the Information alleged that a principal personally discharged and used a firearm (handgun) within the meaning of section 12022.53, subdivisions (b), (c), (d), (e), and (e)(1), and that Zapata committed the underlying offense for the benefit of a criminal street gang within the meaning of section 186.22, subdivision (b)(1)(C). Also as to both counts 1 and 2, the Information alleged that Zapata personally discharged a firearm within the meaning of section 12022.53, subdivisions (b),

1 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise indicated. 2Both counts were also alleged against Zapata’s codefendant Erick Rodriguez, who was ultimately acquitted.

2 (c), and (d), and that he committed the underlying offenses for the benefit of a criminal street gang, within the meaning of section 186.22, subdivision (b)(1)(C). A jury found Zapata guilty as charged and found true special circumstance, firearm and gang allegations. Zapata was sentenced to an aggregate prison term of 90 years to life, awarded presentence credits and ordered to pay various fees and fines. FACTUAL BACKGROUND Prosecution evidence Events leading up to and after the crimes On December 6 or 7, 2009,3 Julio Cesar Serrano received a call from Zapata’s brother, “Little Risky.” Little Risky, whom Serrano knew was a gang member, asked Serrano if he knew anyone who wanted to buy a gun. Serrano spoke to his friend Kevin Gonzalez, who lived in San Francisco and wanted to buy a gun, and acted as a middleman between Gonzalez and Little Risky for the gun sale. On the evening of December 7, Serrano was with “Little Risky” and “Little Boy” (who was Zapata’s codefendant Rodriguez),4 when he received a call from Gonzalez who wanted to see the gun. Before leaving to meet Gonzalez, Serrano spent about 30 minutes in an apartment with Rodriguez and Zapata. Sometime after midnight (December 8), Serrano walked to meet Gonzalez at a store. Gonzalez was in his black BMW in the parking lot when Serrano arrived. Serrano and Gonzalez drove to a house where “Little Risky,” Zapata and Rodriguez were located, and Gonzalez unloaded some luggage. Driving in the BMW, Serrano and Gonzalez followed Zapata and Rodriguez, who drove a Lexus, to some railroad tracks on Los Nietos Road. Everyone got out of the cars at the railroad tracks. Zapata pulled a gun

3 Unless otherwise stated, all additional date references are to 2009. 4At trial, Serrano testified that he at first mistakenly identified Rodriguez as “Clever,” and Zapata as “Little Boy.” Serrano later testified that his identifications were mistaken; he had the two names switched. Zapata is “Clever,” and Rodriguez is “Little Boy.” Our factual recitation identifies Zapata and Rodriguez to reflect Serrano’s corrected identifications.

3 from his waistband and showed it to Gonzalez. He described that gun as “light weight,” and said they were waiting for “Big Homey” to bring another one. Gonzalez and Serrano each handled the gun, which Serrano described as a .38 or .357 caliber semi-automatic, for 30 seconds before Gonzalez returned it to Zapata. At that point a helicopter flew near. Zapata said they had to go elsewhere because it was “getting hot.” Everyone got into the BMW, with Zapata and Rodriguez in the back seat, directing Gonzalez to drive to different railroad tracks in an industrial area nearby. They parked near a house and walked toward the tracks. Serrano noticed a lot of Los Nietos gang graffiti. The group talked for about 15 minutes, until Zapata told Serrano to check to see whether Big Homey was coming. After Serrano returned saying he saw no one, Zapata sent Rodriguez to see if Big Homey was coming while the others waited silently for his return. When Rodriguez returned, Zapata stood in front of Serrano and Gonzalez, pulled out a gun, pointed it at them and told them to get on their knees. They did so. Zapata demanded the car keys, their cell phones and money. Gonzalez gave Rodriguez the car keys, and both men gave him their phones, money and wallets. Zapata asked if they had any last words. Gonzalez asked if he could call his mother or girlfriend to tell them he loved them and would not see them again. He was not allowed to make a call. Rodriguez told Zapata to “shoot him in the head.” Zapata shot Gonzalez about five times. He fell face first. There were no raised voices or arguments before the shooting, and no one issued any threat. Everything seemed normal to Serrano. At some point before the shooting, Zapata said, “This is Los Nietos. What the fuck are you doing here?” At trial, Serrano said this was true, but admitted he falsely told the police that Rodriguez and Zapata had stood behind him and Gonzalez. When Zapata shot Gonzalez, Serrano got up and ran. He was shot in his right arm and left foot as he ran, and fell. He lay on the ground until he heard Zapata and Rodriguez run away toward the parked BMW, then went into a nearby business to get someone to call 911. Police and paramedics arrived and Serrano was taken to the hospital.

4 On December 8 Serrano identified Zapata as the shooter in a six-pack lineup. He also identified Zapata as the shooter at trial.

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People v. Zapata CA2/1, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-zapata-ca21-calctapp-2015.