Opinion
2: 09 - cv - 612 - JAM TJB
04-15-2011
KINSON HER, Petitioner, v. FRANCISCO JACQUEZ, Warden, Respondent.
ORDER, FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
I. INTRODUCTION
Petitioner, Kinson Her, is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with a petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Petitioner is currently incarcerated after a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder, premeditated attempted murder and discharging a firearm from a vehicle. The jury also found true that Petitioner caused great bodily injury, discharged a firearm and committed the offense to benefit a criminal street gang. In his amended federal habeas petition, Petitioner raised several claims; specifically: (1) there was insufficient evidence to convict Petitioner of murder and attempted murder ("Claim I"); (2) there was insufficient evidence for the jury to find that Petitioner used a firearm during an enumerated felony ("Claim II"); (3) there was insufficient evidence to support the gang enhancement ("Claim III"); trial counsel was ineffective in several respects ("Claim IV"); the trial court erred in not accepting letters from Petitioner as motions regarding his personal conflicts with his trial counsel ("Claim V"); (6) the trial court erred in denying Petitioner's motion for an interpreter at trial ("Claim VI"); (7) the trial court erred in denying Petitioner's motion to exclude any opinion of a bandana ("Claim VII"); (8) the trial court erred in denying Petitioner's motion to bifurcate the gang enhancement ("Claim VIII"); (9) the trial court erred in allowing the gang expert to give prejudicial testimony about a hypothetical question that misrepresented the facts of the case ("Claim IX"); (10) the trial court erred in allowing the gang expert to characterize Petitioner as a "hard core killer" ("Claim X"); (11) the gang expert's testimony violated the Confrontation Clause ("Claim XI"); (12) the trial court abused its discretion in considering the gang detective as an expert ("Claim XII"); (13) the trial court erred by failing to declare a mistrial during voir dire based on prejudicial questions posed by the prosecutor to the prospective jurors ("Claim XIII"); (14) the trial court erred by failing to declare a mistrial when a prosecution witness had illegal and prohibited communication with the jury ("Claim XIV"); (15) the trial court erred denying Petitioner's "995" motion because Petitioner's sentence violates the Equal Protection Clause as one person serving a life sentence can be released before another person serving a life sentence ("Claim XV"); (16) the trial court erred by admitting prejudicial and inflammatory testimony from a witness who believed that threats and reprisals he had suffered were connected to his testimony against Petitioner ("Claim XVI"); (17) the trial court erred instructing the jury using CALJIC No. 5.55 ("Claim XVII"); (18) the trial court erred in instructing the jury using CALJIC No. 2.71.5 ("Claim XVIII"); (19) the trial court erred using CALJIC Nos. 2.03, 2.06, 2.51 and 2.52 (Claim XIX"); (20) the trial court erred in failing to rewrite CALJIC No. 2.90 ("Claim XX"); (21) the trial court erred in instructing the jury using CALJIC No. 5.17 ("Claim XXI"); (22) prosecutorial misconduct in allowing a witness to communicate with the jurors ("Claim XXII"); (23) Petitioner was deprived of his due process right to be sentenced to a term of either a high, medium or low penalty ("Claim XXIII"); (24) Petitioner's statement to police was obtained in violation of his Constitutional rights ("Claim XXIV"); (25) Petitioner's sentence of twenty-five years to life imprisonment violates the Eighth Amendment as it constitutes cruel and unusual punishment ("Claim XXV"); (26) the Court of Appeal's decision in not remanding for re-sentencing violated Petitioner's due process rights ("Claim XXVI"); and (27) cumulative error ("Claim XXVII"). As explained infra, some of these Claims have been withdrawn by Petitioner as stated in his traverse. For the following reasons, Petitioner's habeas petition should be denied.
II. FACTUAL BACKGROUND
The factual background is taken from the California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District opinion on direct appeal filed November 30, 2007 and filed in this court on September 21, 2010 by Respondent as Lodged Document 6 (hereinafter "Slip Op.").
This case arises from a drive-by shooting involving rival Hmong gangs. Defendants Her and Lao were members or affiliates of the gang "Masters of Destruction" or "Menace of Destruction," better known by the acronym MOD.
On February 3, 2002, Her and Lao attended a Super Bowl party at Xang Thao's home in Meadowview. After the game, they departed with several MOD members in a minivan driven by Her's cousin, Rindy Her (Rindy).
Fifteen miles away, on the north side of town, a Toyota Camry was stolen. At 8:33 p.m. that same evening the stolen Camry drove past an apartment building at 3212 Western Avenue in Sacramento (3212 Western) and fired weapons at Fong Vue, Vue Heu and Yee Xiong, who were standing in front of the driveway. Heu and Xiong were both affiliated with MOD's chief rival, the Hmong Nation Society or HNS. MOD claims its territory in South Sacramento neighborhoods such as Meadowview, Valley Hi and Oak Park. HNS claims the northern part of the city for its territory, including Western Avenue, where the shooting occurred. Fong Vue died a few days later as a result of shotgun wounds to the head. Xiong suffered head injuries, but survived the attack. Xiong tentatively identified Lao as one of the shooters inside the Camry. Police found shotgun pellets around Fong Vue's body. Bullets and fragments from one or more handguns were also found around the driveway. Spent .45-caliber casings were found on the grass between 3212 Western and the adjacent building.
There was evidence that the targeted victims who were standing in front of 3212 Western had returned the gunfire: Although he denied shooting a firearm himself, residue tests on victim Xiong's hands indicated he had recently fired a gun. The rear window of
the Camry was shattered by a bullet that the People's forensic expert determined was likely fired from outside the vehicle and which exited through the front windshield. There were also bullet marks in the rear bumper and spare tire.
Within minutes of the shooting, Police Officer Warren Estrada spotted the Camry making an illegal turn, near Fifth and G Streets in West Sacramento. When he pulled the Camry over, it initially came to a stop, then led Estrada on a high-speed chase through the adjacent neighborhood. At Second and E, three Asian males jumped out of the car and took off running in different directions. Estrada, now on foot, followed one of the fleeing suspects, who came to an embankment, leaped into the river, and began swimming. Estrada jumped in after him, and eventually pulled Lao, who had tired in the current, out of the water. In his wallet, Lao was carrying a piece of paper with the word "MOD" written on it.
Inside the Camry, police found 12-gauge shotgun casings as well as .32-caliber casings. On the floorboard in the back seat was a blue bandana with a fluid stain that was matched to Her's DNA. A blue jacket, later identified as one worn by Her, was found in the back seat of the car. Inside the jacket was a cell phone. The phone rang from a caller identified on the screen as "Xang." [FN 2] Sergeant James Duncan answered, "Where are you at?" The caller responded that they were at the end of the bridge in Old Sacramento, that there were "hella cops around," and that he should meet them on the other side of the bridge.
[FN 2] The telephone number displayed on the phone found in the blue jacket matched that of a cell phone belonging to Xang Thao, one of the Super Bowl party attendees.
Using this information, officers went to Old Sacramento and detained defendant Her's cousin Rindy, John Her, Xang Thao and others, who were standing around Rindy's minivan with Xang's cell phone.
Rindy testified that he and his companions were playing pool after the Super Bowl, when they received a call from Her telling Rindy to pick him up at the Money Store. During the call, Rindy heard Lao's voice in the background, saying, "Hurry up." The group tried to get to the Money store, but West Sacramento was inundated with police, so they drove across the bridge into Old Sacramento, where they were arrested.
At 3:00 a.m. the next morning a street sweeper working in West Sacramento recovered a .380-millimeter Beretta semiautomatic pistol and a .32-caliber Colt semiautomatic pistol lying on the side of the road north of E Street. Officers searching the area where the police chase occurred found a 12-gauge shotgun with a pistol grip near F and Second Streets in West Sacramento.
Police later found three unexpended shotgun shells in Lao's closet that were of the same brand as the shells found in the Camry. Lao's fingerprint was lifted from a passenger door of the Camry. Her's girlfriend, Brenda Ly, testified that Her represented himself to be a member of MOD. Somewhere between 9:00 and 10:00 o'clock on the evening of the shooting, Ly received a call from Her, telling her to pick him up at a pay phone booth in West Sacramento. Ly complied. On the way back to her house, Ly noticed that many police cars and helicopters were in the area and asked Her if he knew anything about it. He answered, "No," but then added, "I didn't want to tell you because I [would] rather have you not know."
Ly and Her slept together that night. Between 10:48 p.m. on February 3 and 2:53 the next morning, about 60 phone calls were made from Ly's cell phone, including some to Minnesota. Ly admitted that she only made "a few" of these calls.
Shortly before 11:00 p.m. on February 3, a series of calls was made to the cell phone of Xang Thao, who was then in police custody. Officer Corey Johnson answered the phone, and a male voice with an Asian accent at the other end repeatedly asked for Xang. Johnson kept telling the caller that Xang was busy. The caller became enraged, referred to himself as "Sac High MOD," and threatened to "kick" Johnson's "f'ing ass" if he did not let him speak to Xang. While most of the calls came from blocked numbers, the last one, at 10:45 p.m., was from a caller identified on the screen as "Brenda" and in fact came from Ly's cell phone. The day after the shooting, Her traveled to Minnesota. Her, who was 15 years old, told his girlfriend he was on a "business trip." While he was in Minnesota, he asked Ly to get him the address for Lao, who was by then incarcerated. In April 2002, Ly sent $220 to Her addressed to "John" Her in Minnesota. In July 2002, Her was arrested in Minnesota and transported back to California.
Detective Aaron Lee testified as an expert on Asian gangs. MOD is the largest Hmong gang in Sacramento. MOD members commit car thefts, homicides, drive-by shootings, robberies and other violent crimes. There is a history of animosity between MOD and its northern rival, HNS. Younger brothers, cousins or relatives of MOD gang members tend to join smaller groups. One of these groups is the Youth Mafia Society, or YMS. After explaining the various factors that go into validating a youth as a gang member, Lee testified that defendant Her has been a validated member of YMS since the year 2000. Defendant Lao is a validated member of MOD, as letters he wrote from jail bear out his affiliation.
Detective Lee described several incidents exemplifying the enduring rivalry and hostility between the MOD's and HNS gang. He told the jury that a gang member who participates in a drive-by
shooting enhances his reputation within the gang and sends a message to the community to fear and respect the gang. Gang members do not normally tread into the territory of their rivals. Presented with a hypothetical drawn from the evidence in this case, Lee opined that a drive-by shooting committed in well-known HNS territory by three MOD members was committed for the benefit of the MOD street gang.(Slip Op. at p. 2-7.)
III. PROCEDURAL HISTORY
After Petitioner was found guilty, he was initially sentenced to life without the possibility of parole on the murder conviction, supplemented by an indeterminate consecutive term of 25 years to life, plus 20 years. (See Slip Op. at p. 2.) On direct appeal, the California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District affirmed the conviction. However, due to Petitioner's age at the time of the offense, the Court of Appeal modified Petitioner's sentence on the murder conviction to twenty-five years to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole.
Petitioner filed a petition for review to the California Supreme Court. In that petition, Petitioner raised five issues; specifically: (1) whether the trial court erred by allowing the gang expert (a) to give unsupported and incendiary opinions, (b) to testify in response to a faulty, hypothetical which both denied Petitioner a fundamentally fair trial and (c) the gang expert's testimony violated the Confrontation Clause ; (2) whether the inflammatory testimony by a witness to the effect that he had suffered reprisals, years earlier, which he believed to be connected to Petitioner denied him a fair trial; (3) whether the Court's instruction to the jury on the theory of pretextual self-defense (CALJIC No. 5.55) constituted reversible error; (4) whether the Court committed error in instructing the jury that imperfect self-defense would be unavailable to one who by his unlawful or wrongful conduct created the circumstances legally justifying his adversary's use of force; and (5) whether Petitioner's sentence of twenty-five years to life, under the facts of this case, constituted cruel and unusual punishment. The California Supreme Court issued a summary denial on March 12, 2008.
In January 2009, Petitioner filed a state habeas petition in the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento. Among the claims included in this state habeas petition were the following: (1) insufficient evidence to convict Petitioner of murder and attempted murder on a direct theory of liability; (2) insufficient evidence to convict Petitioner of murder and attempted murder as an aider and abettor; (3) insufficient evidence to convict Petitioner of murder and attempted murder; (4) insufficient evidence to support the gun enhancement finding; (5) insufficient evidence with respect to the gang enhancement finding; (5) failure of the trial court to conduct a Marsden hearing when Petitioner wrote to the court expressing Petitioner's personal conflicts with trial counsel; (6) Petitioner's statement to police was obtained in violation of his Constitutional rights; (7) trial court error by denying Petitioner's motion to exclude opinion testimony of the bandana; (8) ineffective assistance of counsel through a misstatement by defense counsel during closing argument; (9) trial court error in failing to bifurcate the gang enhancement; (10) ineffective assistance of counsel for failing to investigate a witness named Vang; (11) trial court error by failing to declare a mistrial when a prosecution witness had illegal and prohibited communications with the jurors; (12) ineffective assistance of counsel when counsel failed to move for a mistrial due to a prosecution witness's prohibited conversations with the jury; (13) ineffective assistance of counsel in failing to present a defense expert on behalf of petitioner on his self-defense theory; (14) prosecutorial misconduct when the prosecutor allowed one of its witnesses to talk to the jury; (15) ineffective assistance of counsel for failing to object to the inflammatory characterization of Petitioner by the gang-expert; (16) jury instructional error through the use of CALJIC 1.00, 2.03, 2.06, 2.51, 2.52, 2.90 and 5.17; (17) trial court error in denying Petitioner's "995" motion; (18) due to Petitioner's youth, he was deprived to have three possible sentence terms of high, medium and low penalties; and (19) cumulative error. On March 9, 2009, the Superior Court denied the state habeas petition in a written opinion.
In April 2009, Petitioner filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in the California Court of Appeal. (See Resp't's Lodged Doc. 12). In that petition, Petitioner raised the issues outlined above (amongst others). The California Court of Appeal summarily denied the petition on April 20, 2009.
In June 2009, Petitioner filed a state habeas petition in the California Supreme Court, Case No. S174121. (See Resp't's Lodged Doc. 19.) Among the claims that Petitioner raised in that state habeas petition were the following: (1) there was insufficient evidence to convict Petitioner of murder and attempted murder on a direct theory of liability; (2) there was insufficient evidence to convict Petitioner of murder and attempted murder as an aider and abettor; (3) there was insufficient evidence to convict Petitioner of murder and attempted murder; (4) there was insufficient evidence supporting the use of a firearm during an enumerated felony enhancement; (5) there was insufficient evidence to support the gang enhancement because the prosecution failed to prove Petitioner's membership in an ongoing association of three of more persons; (6) there was insufficient evidence presented concerning the primary activities of YMS, or even MOD; (7) there was insufficient evidence to show that Petitioner acted with the specific intent to promote, further or assist in any criminal conduct by gang members; (8) ineffective assistance of counsel when trial counsel failed to investigate a witness named Vang; (9) ineffective assistance of counsel by failing to object to the prosecution witness' inflammatory characterization of Petitioner; (10) ineffective assistance of counsel for failing to object to the gang expert's characterization of Petitioner as a "hard core killer"; (11) ineffective assistance of counsel for giving an example during closing argument that defeated the theory of self-defense; (12) ineffective assistance of counsel for failing to present an expert witness at trial; (13) ineffective assistance of counsel for failing to request an inquiry into Detective Stigerts communications with the jury; (14) trial court error in failing to accept letters from Petitioner as a motion with respect to Petitioner's conflicts with trial counsel; (15) trial court error in denying Petitioner's request for an interpreter; (16) trial court error in denying Petitioner's motion to exclude any opinion with respect to the bandana; (17) trial court error in denying Petitioner's request to bifurcate the gang enhancement; (18) trial court error in allowing gang expert to give testimony with respect to a hypothetical that misrepresented the facts of the case; (19) trial court error in allowing the gang expert to testify that Petitioner was a "hard core killer"; (20) the gang expert's testimony violated the Confrontation Clause; (21) the trial court abused its discretion in considering the gang detective an expert; (22) trial court error in failing to declare a mistrial during voir dire; (23) trial court error in failing to declare a mistrial when Detective Stigerts had communications with the jury; (24) trial court error in denying Petitioner's "995" motion; (25) trial court error in admitting prejudicial and inflammatory testimony from a witness who believed that threats and reprisals he had suffered years earlier were connected to his testimony against Petitioner; (26) jury instructional error on the theory of pretextual self-defense; (27) jury instructional error on the theory of "adoptive admissions"; (28) jury instructional error in using CALJIC 2.03, 2.06, 2.51 and 2.52; (29) jury instructional error in denying Petitioner's motion to re-write CALJIC 2.90; (30) jury instructional error in using CALJIC 1.00; (31) jury instructional error using CALJIC 5.17; (32) prosecutorial misconduct; (33) due to Petitioner's youth, he was deprived to have three possible terms of high, medium and low penalties; (34) Petitioner's statement to police was obtained in violation of his Constitutional rights; (35) Petitioner's sentence of twenty-five years to life violates the Eighth Amendment and is contrary to widely accepted international norms for the treatment of child offenders; (36) cumulative error. On November 19, 2009, the California Supreme Court summarily denied this state habeas petition. (See Pet'r's Am. Pet. at Appendix IV.)
As those state habeas petitions were proceding through the state courts, Petitioner also filed a different state habeas petition in the California Court of Appeal in August 2009. That petition raised two claims; specifically: (1) Petitioner's sentence of twenty-five years to life imprisonment constituted cruel and unusual punishment; and (2) the California Court of Appeal's decision not to remand for re-sentencing violated Petitioner's due process rights and was prejudicial. On August 27, 2009, the California Court of Appeal denied the state habeas petition and stated the following:
The petition for writ of habeas corpus is denied given that
petitioner seeks to add claims that were not raised in his earlier petition for writ of habeas corpus, and, assuming arguendo, such claims are not otherwise barred (see In re Clark (1993) 5 Cal.4th 750, 767-768), petitioner must first assert these claims in the superior court. (In re Steele (2004) 32 Cal.4th 682, 691-692; In re Hillery (1962) 202 Cal.App.2d 293, 294.)(Resp't's Lodged Doc. 16.)
In August 2009, Petitioner filed a state habeas petition in the California Supreme Court, Case No. S17956. That state habeas petition raised the two issues that Petitioner raised in his August 2009 state habeas petition to the California Court of Appeal. The California Supreme Court denied the state habeas petition on November 19, 2009 by stating that, "The petition for writ of habeas corpus is denied. (See In re Clark (1993) 5 Cal.4th 750.)" (Pet'r's Am. Pet. at Appendix IV.)
Petitioner also filed a state habeas petition in the California Superior Court, County of Sacramento in September 2009. In that state habeas petition, Petitioner raised the same two claims that he raised in his August 2009 state habeas petitions to the California Court of Appeal and the California Supreme Court, specifically: (1) Petitioner's sentence of twenty-five years to life imprisonment constitutes cruel and unusual punishment; and (2) the California Court of Appeal's decision not to remand for re-sentencing violated Petitioner's due process rights and was prejudicial. The Sacramento County Superior Court denied these two claims in a written decision on November 9, 2009.
Petitioner filed a federal habeas petition on March 3, 2009. In the area for describing his claims, Petitioner stated "see motion (petition) attach." However, no additional documents were attached to this petition. Petitioner also requested a stay of the proceedings. On August 26, 2009, then Magistrate Judge Mueller denied the motion to stay without prejudice and dismissed the federal habeas petition. Petitioner was given thirty days to file an amended habeas petition.
Subsequently, Petitioner filed several amended habeas petitions, the last filed on December 17, 2009. On September 13, 2010, Respondent answered the petition. On January 10, 2011, Petitioner filed a motion for leave to file an oversized traverse along with his traverse. On January 25, 2011, Chief Judge Ishii reassigned this matter to the undersigned.
While Petitioner filed several amended habeas petitions, the December 17, 2009 amended habeas petition will be referred to as "Pet'r's Am. Pet." in this findings and recommendations.
IV. APPLICABLE LAW FOR FEDERAL HABEAS CORPUS
An application for writ of habeas corpus by a person in custody under judgment of a state court can only be granted for violations of the Constitution or laws of the United States. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a); see also Peltier v. Wright, 15 F.3d 860, 861 (9th Cir. 1993); Middleton v. Cupp, 768 F.2d 1083, 1085 (9th Cir. 1985) (citing Engle v. Isaac, 456 U.S. 107, 119 (1982)). Petitioner filed this petition for writ of habeas corpus after April 24, 1996, thus the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 ("AEDPA") applies. See Lindh v. Murphy, 521 U.S. 320, 326 (1997). Under AEDPA, federal habeas corpus relief is not available for any claim decided on the merits in the state court proceedings unless the state court's adjudication of the claim: (1) resulted in a decision that was contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States; or (2) resulted in a decision that was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in state court. See 28 U.S.C. 2254(d). Where a state court provides no reasoning to support its conclusion, a federal habeas court independently reviews the record to determine whether the state court was objectively unreasonable in its application of clearly established federal law. See Musladin v. Lamarque, 555 F.3d 830, 835 (9th Cir. 2009); see also Delgado v. Lewis, 223 F.3d 976, 981-82 (9th Cir. 2000), overruled on other grounds, Lockyer v. Andrande, 538 U.S. 63 (2003).
As a threshold matter, this Court must "first decide what constitutes 'clearly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States.'" Lockyer, 538 U.S. at 71 (quoting 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1)). "'[C]learly established federal law' under § 2254(d)(1) is the governing legal principle or principles set forth by the Supreme Court at the time the state court renders its decision.'" Id. (citations omitted). Under the unreasonable application clause, a federal habeas court making the unreasonable application inquiry should ask whether the state court's application of clearly established federal law was "objectively unreasonable." See Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 409 (2000). Thus, "a federal court may not issue the writ simply because the court concludes in its independent judgment that the relevant state court decision applied clearly established federal law erroneously or incorrectly. Rather, that application must also be unreasonable." Id. at 411. Although only Supreme Court law is binding on the states, Ninth Circuit precedent remains relevant persuasive authority in determining whether a state court decision is an objectively unreasonable application of clearly established federal law. See Clark v. Murphy, 331 F.3d 1062, 1070 (9th Cir. 2003) ("While only the Supreme Court's precedents are binding . . . and only those precedents need be reasonably applied, we may look for guidance to circuit precedents.").
The first step in applying AEDPA's standards is to "identify the state court decision that is appropriate for our review." See Barker v. Fleming, 423 F.3d 1085, 1091 (9th Cir. 2005). When more than one court adjudicated Petitioner's claims, a federal habeas court analyzes the last reasoned decision. Id. (citing Ylst v. Nunnemaker, 501 U.S. 797, 803 (1991)).
V. ANALYSIS OF PETITIONER'S CLAIMS
A. Claim I
In Claim I, Petitioner argues that there was insufficient evidence to support the guilty findings with respect to the murder and attempted murder convictions. In addition to arguing that there was insufficient evidence to support these convictions generally, Petitioner also argues that: (1) there was insufficient evidence to convict on a direct theory of liability; and (2) there was insufficient evidence to convict as an aider and abettor. Petitioner raised this Claim on direct appeal to the California Court of Appeal. (See Resp't's Lodged Doc. 1.) However, Petitioner never raised this insufficiency of the evidence Claim to the California Supreme Court in his petition for review on direct appeal. (See Resp't's Lodged Doc. Ex. 7.) Instead, these arguments were next raised by Petitioner in his state habeas petition to the Sacramento County Superior Court. That Court stated the following in analyzing this Claim:
Petitioner first claims that the evidence was insufficient to convict him of murder and attempted murder based on a direct theory of liability or as an aider and abettor.(Resp't's Lodged Doc. 11 at p. 1-2.)
The claim was raised and rejected on appeal, where the Third District Court of Appeal found the evidence sufficient to show that petitioner participated in the drive-by shooting and that he personally discharged a firearm in the commission of the offenses.
A claim is procedurally barred on state habeas corpus when the claim was raised and rejected on appeal (In re Waltreus (1965) 62 Cal.2d 218, reaffirmed in In re Harris (1993) 5 Cal.4th 813, 829). The only exceptions to this procedural bar are: (1) if the claim is based on constitutional error that is both clear and fundamental, and that strikes at the heart of the trial process; (2) if the claim is now couched in ineffective assistance of counsel terms; (3) if the court lacked fundamental jurisdiction over the petitioner of the subject matter; (4) if the court acted in excess of its jurisdiction and the issue is strictly a legal one not requiring a redetermination of the facts underlying the claim; (5) there has been a change in the law affecting the petitioner (Harris, supra, 5 Cal.4th 813, 834, 834 fn. 8, 836, 840-841, 841); or (6) if the claim is that the sentence is unauthorized, as an unauthorized sentence may be corrected at any time (People v. Welch (1993) 5 Cal.4th 228; Harris, supra, 5 Cal.4th 813, 842; People v. Serrato (1973) 9 Cal.3d 753, 763, overruled on other grounds in People v. Fosselman (1983) 33 Cal.3d 572, 583 fn. 1). Petitioner does not show that this claim qualifies for any of these exceptions. As such, the claim is barred.
The California Court of Appeal and the California Supreme Court both summarily denied the state habeas petitions that raised this Claim. The Court "looks through" those silent denials to the last reasoned decision which was from the Sacramento County Superior Court. See Shackleford v. Hubbard, 234 F.3d 1072, 1079 n. 2 (9th Cir. 2000).
The Sacramento County Superior Court denied this Claim pursuant to In re Waltreus, 62 Cal.2d 218, 42 Cal. Rptr. 9, 397 P.2d 1001 (1965). California's Waltreus rule provides that "'any issue that was actually raised and rejected on appeal cannot be renewed in a petition for a writ of habeas corpus.'" See Forrest v. Vasquez, 75 F.3d 562, 563 (quoting In re Harris, 5 Cal. 4th 813, 829, 21 Cal. Rptr. 2d 373, 855 P.2d 391 (1993)). A Waltreus citation does not bar federal review of a habeas claim. See Calderon v. United States District Court (Bean), 96 F.3d 1126, 1131 (9th Cir. 1996). In Ylst, 501 U.S. at 805, the Supreme Court concluded that a Waltreus citation is neither a ruling on the merits nor a denial on procedural grounds and therefore has no bearing on a California prisoner's ability to raise a claim in federal court. See also Forrest, 75 F.3d at 564. A federal court instead must "look through" a denial based on Waltreus to the last explained state court decision. See id.
In Forrest, the court looked through a Waltreus citation to the last state court decision which was an order by the California Supreme Court denying the petition for review on direct appeal because the petition was untimely under Rule 28(b) of the California Rules of Court. However, in this case, the last clear explained decision on this Claim is from the California Court of Appeal's decision on direct appeal which denied this Claim on the merits. Therefore, that decision will be analyzed to determine whether it was an objectively unreasonable application of clearly established federal law and/or resulted in a decision that was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in state court. See Maravilla v. Rimmer, Civ. No. 04-684, 2009 WL 1689599, at *6 (C.D. Cal. June 12, 2009) (noting that where Petitioner failed to raise claim on direct appeal to the California Supreme Court, and California Supreme Court denied claim on state habeas relying on Waltreus, court looks through the California Supreme Court's denial based on Waltreus and analyzes whether the California Court of Appeal's decision on direct appeal was contrary to 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)); Davis v. Butler, Civ. No. 03-426, 2005 WL 1490283, at *6-7 (E.D. Cal. June 15, 2005), aff'd by, 210 Fed. Appx. 584 (9th Cir. 2006).
The California Court of Appeal stated the following in analyzing this Claim on the merits:
Her contends there was "no direct or circumstantial evidence" of his participation in the drive-by shooting at 3212 Western, and subsequent death of Fong Vue. He argues that the evidence shows, at most, that he was present at the scene of the crime and failed to prevent it - evidence not sufficient to convict him beyond a reasonable doubt of first degree murder. We disagree.
When confronted with a claim that the evidence is insufficient to support the verdict, the reviewing court examines the record to determine "'whether it shows evidence that is reasonable, credible and of solid value from which a rational trier of fact could find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.' [Citation.] Further, 'the appellate court presumes in support of the judgment the existence of every fact the trier could reasonably deduce from the evidence.' [Citation.] This standard applies whether direct or circumstantial evidence is involved." (People v. Catlin (2001) 26 Cal.4th 81, 139.) In reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, the well-established test for review, "is whether there is substantial evidence to support the conclusion of the trier of facts, not whether the evidence proves guilt beyond a reasonable doubt." (People v. Wheeler (1977) 71 Cal.App.3d 902, 906, citing People v. Reyes (1974) 12 Cal.3d 486, 497.)
Viewing the record in the light most favorable to the People, we find substantial evidence to support the jury's determination that defendant Her was one of the perpetrators of the drive-by shooting at 3212 Western.
The evidence showed that the shooting was committed by the occupants of the Camry, who stole it in the northern part of Sacramento and drove it to 3212 Western, where the shooting occurred. The perpetrators then fled to West Sacramento, where they abandoned the Camry following a high-speed police chase. The pursuing officer observed three Asian males exit the car, and forensic evidence showed that three different firearms (two handguns and a shotgun) were fired from the Camry.
Lao was undoubtedly one of the shooters, based on his identification by the surviving victim, his aquatic capture after fleeing from the Camry, the shotgun shells found in his closet, and his fingerprint found on the door of the Camry.
Her and Lao were both affiliated with the MOD street gang and Her was a validated member of YMS, a junior version of MOD. Her also attended the Super Bowl party where Lao and other MOD gang members were present. Soon after a group of them left the party, the Camry was stolen. The drive-by shooting occurred a short time later, in the same area.
Immediately after the shooting, law enforcement personnel and police helicopters surrounded the Money Store/Tower Bridge/Old
Sacramento area. During the same time frame, Her called his cousin Rindy, asking to be picked up from the Money Store. Lao's voice could be heard in the background. Her's jacket and a bandana with fluids containing DNA were found in the Camry. There was strong circumstantial evidence that Her used his girlfriend Brenda Ly's phone to call Xang Thao's phone, which was in possession of the police. The caller identified himself as a MOD gang member.(Slip Op. at p. 8-10.)
When Ly picked Her up in West Sacramento around 10:30 p.m. that night, she asked him whether he had anything to do with the police cars and helicopters in the area. His reply, that he did not want to tell her because he preferred that she not know, was a statement from which the jury could infer consciousness of guilt. Circumstantial evidence established that Her made numerous calls from Ly's cell phone in the early hours of the next morning, including some to Minnesota. The day after the shooting, Her fled to Minnesota, where Ly eventually sent him money.
Based on the above evidence, a reasonable jury could find that Her was one of the three assailants who committed the drive-by shooting at 3212 Western that resulted in Fong Vue's death. Because the evidence was sufficient to find that Her was a direct perpetrator, we need not discuss his related contention that the evidence was insufficient to find him guilty as an accomplice.
The Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment "protects the accused against conviction except upon proof beyond a reasonable doubt of every fact necessary to constitute the crime for with which he is charged." In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358, 364 (1970). There is sufficient evidence to support a conviction, if "after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt." Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979). "[T]he dispositive question under Jackson is 'whether the record evidence could reasonably support a finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.'" Chein v. Shumsky, 373 F.3d 978, 982 (9th Cir. 2004) (quoting Jackson, 443 U.S. at 318). A petitioner for writ of habeas corpus "faces a heavy burden when challenging the sufficiency of the evidence used to obtain a state conviction on federal due process grounds." Juan H. v. Allen, 408 F.3d 1262, 1274 (9th Cir. 2005).
A federal habeas court determines the sufficiency of the evidence in reference to the substantive elements of the criminal offense as defined by state law. See Jackson, 443 U.S. at 324 n. 16. Murder is defined by California Law as "the unlawful killing of a human being . . . with malice aforethought," see Cal. Penal Code § 187(a). Murder in the first degree is defined as follows:
All murder which is perpetrated by means of a destructive device or explosive, a weapon of mass destruction, knowing use of ammunition designed to primarily penetrate metal or armor, poison, lying in wait, torture, or by any other kind of willful, deliberate, and premeditated killing, or which is committed in the perpetration of, or attempt to perpetrate arson, rape, carjacking, robbery, burglary, mayhem, kidnapping, train wrecking, or any action punishable under Section 206, 286, 288, 288a, or 289, or any murder which is perpetrated by means of discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle, intentionally at another person outside of the vehicle with the intent to inflict death, is murder of the first degree.Cal. Penal Code § 189. "Attempted murder requires the specific intent to kill and the commission of a direct but ineffectual act toward accomplishing the intended killing." People v. Superior Court, 41 Cal. 4th 1, 7, 58 Cal. Rptr. 3d 421, 157 P.3d 1017 (2007).
Petitioner argues there was no direct or circumstantial evidence of Her's participation in the shooting of Fong Vue and Yee Xiong nor evidence that he aided and abetted in their shooting. Petitioner is not entitled to federal habeas relief on this Claim. Upon reviewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, the evidence in the record reasonably supported the convictions as aptly explained and recited by the California Court of Appeal in its decision on direct appeal. The California Court of Appeal's decision was not an objectively unreasonable application of clearly established federal law nor did it result in a decision that was that was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in state court. Petitioner fails to meet his heavy burden to warrant granting federal habeas relief on this insufficiency of the evidence argument.
B. Claim II
In Claim II, Petitioner argues that there was insufficient evidence to support the finding of the firearm enhancement pursuant to Cal. Penal Code § 12022.53. With respect to the murder count, the jury specifically found as true that Petitioner intentionally and personally discharged a firearm thereby causing the death of Fong Vue within the meaning of Cal. Penal Code § 12022.53(d) and (e)(1). (See Clerk's Tr. at p. 909.) With respect to the attempted murder count, the jury specifically found that Petitioner intentionally and personally discharged a firearm during the attempted murder of Yee Xiong within the meaning of Cal. Penal Code § 12022.53(c) and (e)(1). (See Clerk's Tr. at p. 911.) Petitioner argues that the prosecution failed to prove that he had the requisite mens rea, or that the killing was unjustified. (See Pet'r's Am. Pet. at p. 16.)
This Claim followed a similar procedural history to Claim I in that it was raised on direct appeal to the California Court of Appeal which denied it on the merits but not to the California Supreme Court in Petitioner's petition for review. Petitioner then raised this Claim in his state habeas petitions. It was denied pursuant to Waltreus. (See Resp't's Lodged Doc. 11 at p. 2 ("Petitioner next claims that the evidence was insufficient to support the gun enhancements on all counts. [¶] The claim was raised and rejected on appeal, where the Third District Court of Appeal found the evidence sufficient to show that petitioner participated in the drive-by shooting and that he personally discharged a firearm in the commission of the offenses. As such, it is barred under Waltreus.").) Thus, as with Claim I, the state courts' decisions on the state habeas petitions will be looked through and the California Court of Appeal's decision on direct appeal will be analyzed under the 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d) standard.
On direct appeal, the California Court of Appeal stated the following in deciding this Claim:
For the reasons advanced in the previous argument [Petitioner's claim that there was insufficient evidence to support the murder and attempted murder convictions], Her contends the special firearm findings were devoid of substantial evidence in the record and should be stricken, since there was no evidence he personally discharged a firearm in the commission of the offense.
We reject the argument for the reasons we have just stated. Two handguns and a shotgun were abandoned in the same area of West Sacramento where the stolen Camry led Officer Estrada on a high-speed chase only a few hours earlier. Hence, the trier of fact could
find that all three occupants of the car personally discharged a firearm while driving past 3212 Western.(Slip Op. at p. 11.)
The relevant standard for a sufficiency of the evidence claim was previously outlined in supra Part V.A. As previously noted, the evidence must be construed in the light most favorable to the prosecution. See Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319.
Petitioner is not entitled to federal habeas relief on this Claim. By way of example only, the evidence included Petitioner's DNA being found on a bandana inside the stolen blue Camry. Petitioner's jacket also was found within the stolen blue Camry that committed the drive-by shooting and three guns were present in the stolen blue Camry that perpetrated the drive-by shooting. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, a rational trier of fact could have found that Petitioner intentionally and personally discharged a firearm during the commission of the murder and attempted murder of the victims. The California Court of Appeal's decision was not an objectively unreasonable application of clearly established federal law nor resulted in a decision that was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts as presented in the state court. Thus, Petitioner has failed to satisfy his heavy burden to warrant granting federal habeas relief on this Claim.
C. Claim III
In Claim III, Petitioner argues that there was insufficient evidence supporting the jury's finding of a gang enhancement pursuant to Cal. Penal Code § 186.22(b)(1). Within this Claim, Petitioner makes three distinct arguments; specifically: (1) the prosecution failed to prove Petitioner's membership in an ongoing association of three or more persons; (2) there was insufficient evidence concerning the primary activities of YMS/MOD; and (3) there was insufficient evidence to show that Petitioner acted with the specific intent to promote, further, or assist in any criminal conduct by gang members.
These arguments have a similar procedural histories as do Claims I and II. There was a reasoned decision on the merits by the California Court of Appeal on direct appeal. Petitioner did not raise this Claim to the California Supreme Court in his petition for review on direct appeal. Petitioner then raised this Claim in his state habeas petitions which was deemed barred by the state courts pursuant to Waltreus. (See Resp't's Lodged Doc. 11 at p. 2 ("Petitioner next claims that the evidence was insufficient to support the gang enhancements on all counts. [¶] The claim was raised and rejected on appeal, where the Third District Court of Appeal found the evidence sufficient to show the gang enhancements. As such, it is barred under Waltreus.").) Thus, for the reasons previously outlined with respect to Claims I and II, the California Court of Appeal's decision on direct appeal will be analyzed under the 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d) standard with respect to this Claim. That court stated the following in analyzing this Claim:
Her contends that the evidence was insufficient to support the jury's finding that the shooting was committed to further criminal conduct by gang members within the meaning of section 186.22.
Section 186.22, subdivision (b)(1) provides an enhancement punishment for any crime that has been committed "for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with [a] criminal street gang," and with specific intent "to promote, further, or assist . . . criminal conduct by gang members."
There is no shortage of evidence that this crime was the direct result of hostilities between the MOD gang, to which Her belonged, and the HNS gang, with which two of the targeted victims were affiliated.
There was also evidence that Her and his MOD companions stole a car and traveled to a known HNS neighborhood, where they committed the drive-by shooting targeting HNS members. As the People's gang expert, Detective Lee explained, "reputation is everything in the gang subculture." A drive-by shooting in the territory of a rival gang sends a powerful message to the community that MOD is composed of hard-core killers and therefore the community should fear and respect them. Presented with a hypothetical based on the facts of the case, Lee opined that the shooting would "definitely benefit the MOD criminal street gang. "A drive by shooting is a classic gang case. Drive-by shootings are synonymous with gangs. . . . [¶] You know, this drive-by, these circumstances that you have given me here, it sends a clear message to all of MOD's enemies that, hey, if you mess
with us, you're gonna pay the consequences." "The use of expert testimony in the area of gang sociology and psychology is well established." (People v. Olguin (1994) 31 Cal.App.4th 1355, 1370 (Olguin).)
We conclude that the trier of fact could reasonably find the crime was committed for the benefit of a street gang. (See People v. Duran (2002) 97 Cal.App.4th 1448, 1465; Olguin, supra, 31 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1382-1383.)
While not contesting evidence that he was a validated member of YMS, Her claims that the gang enhancement finding was unsupported because the prosecution failed to prove that YMS was a criminal street gang within the meaning of the statute, i.e., an "ongoing organization, association, or group of three or more persons" sharing a common name or common identifying sign or symbol, that has as one of its "primary activities" the commission of specified criminal offenses; and engages through its members in a "pattern of criminal gang activity." (§ 186.22, subd. (f); see People v. Gardeley (1996) 14 Cal.4th 605, 610 (Gardeley).)
Her's argument reads the enhancement statute too narrowly. The enhancement is triggered when the crime is "committed for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with any criminal street gang, with the specific intent to promote, further, or assist in any criminal conduct by gang members." (§ 186.22, subd. (b)(1), italics added). YMS was a junior "wannabe" gang, populated by younger relatives and friends of the MOD's. Detective Lee described a long record of homicides and other violent crimes engaged in by the MOD gang. Since YMS was a junior street gang operating under the MOD umbrella and Her called himself a MOD, the jury would find that the crime was committed for the benefit of and to promote the criminal activities of the MOD gang, regardless of whether Her himself was a validated member.
Her's argument that there was insufficient evidence to show that crimes of violence and theft were MOD's "primary activities" borders on frivolous. Detective Lee testified extensively as to numerous street crimes engaged in by MOD since extensively as to numerous street crimes engaged in by MOD since the 1990's, including beatings, stabbings, drive-by shootings and car-thefts. [FN 3] The jury was also entitled to consider the present drive-by shooting as evidence of the group's primary activities. (People v. Sengpadychith (2001) 26 Cal.4th 316, 323.) Incontrovertibly, there was substantial evidence that one of MOD's primary activities was the commission of gang crimes enumerated within the statute. (§ 186.22, subd. (e); see Sengpadychith, supra, at pp. 323-324; Gardeley, supra, 14 Cal.4th at p. 620.)
[FN 3] Her's claim that Detective Lee's testimony was based on nothing more than "nonspecific hearsay" is without merit. First, the point was forfeited because Her's trial attorney never lodged a
hearsay objective in the trial court. (Evid. Code, § 353.) Moreover, the fact that a gang expert bases his opinion on hearsay does not render per se such testimony objectionable. (Olguin, supra, 31 Cal.App.4th at p. 1385.)(Slip Op. at p. 11-14.)
Finally, we reject the argument that the prosecution failed to show that Her harbored a specific intent to promote criminal activity by gang members. As stated in People v. Morales (2003) 112 Cal.App.4th 1176, "specific intent to benefit the gang is not required. What is required is the 'specific intent to promote, further, or assist in any criminal conduct by gang members.'" (Id. at p. 1198, italics added.) The evidence we have recited, that Her knowingly aided members of MOD in committing the drive-by shooting, was sufficient of itself to satisfy the specific intent requirement. (Ibid.)
The standard for a sufficiency of the evidence claim has previously been articulated. See supra Part V.A. The substantive elements of the gang enhancement as defined under state law must be analyzed in determining whether Petitioner should be granted habeas relief on this insufficiency of the evidence claim. See Jackson, 443 U.S. at 324 n.16.
California Penal Code § 186.22(b)(1) states that "any person who is convicted of a felony committed for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with any criminal street gang, with the specific intent to promote, further, or assist in any criminal conduct by gang members, shall, upon conviction of that felony, in addition and consecutive to the punishment prescribed for the felony or attempted felony of which he or she has been convicted . . . ." The statute then outlines the relevant punishments depending upon the nature of the felony. See id.
Petitioner's first two arguments within this Claim argue that the prosecutor failed to show sufficient evidence that YMS or even MOD satisfies the definition of a criminal street gang under the statute. California Penal Code § 186.22(f) defines a "criminal street gang" as "any ongoing organization, association, or group of three or more persons, whether formal or informal, having one of its primary activities the commission of one or more of the criminal acts enumerated [in subdivsiion (e) of the statute, the 'predicate offenses'] . . . and whose members individually or collectively engage in or have engaged in a pattern of criminal activity." See also People v. Gardeley, 14 Cal. 4th 605, 617, 59 Cal. Rptr. 2d 356, 927 P.2d 713 (1996) ("[T]he prosecution must prove that the gang (1) is an ongoing association of three or more persons with a common name or common identifying symbol; (2) has as one of its primary activities the commission of one or more of the criminal acts enumerated in the statute; and (3) includes members who either individually or collectively have engaged in a 'pattern of criminal gang activity' by committing, attempting to commit, or soliciting two or more of the enumerated offenses (the so-called 'predicate offenses') during the statutorily defined period.").
Petitioner first argues that the prosecution failed to show that YMS was an ongoing association of three or more persons at the time of the shooting. Detective Lee (the gang expert) testified that Petitioner was a gang member. (See id. at 974.) Lee testified that Petitioner was a validated member of YMS. (See Reporter's Tr. at p. 972.) He stated that YMS is a subgroup of MOD. (See id. at 949.) The following colloquy took place between the prosecutor and Detective Lee during the trial:
Q: You believe Kinson Her, as you testified, it's your opinion that he is a gang member?(Reporter's Tr. at p. 974.) Detective Lee further stated that "Steve Thang, Ceng Vang, Xang Tao, Kinson Her, Kong Vang, and Woodrow Tao" were all members of MOD. (See id. at p. 976.) He also stated that he believed that co-defendant Lao was a MOD member. (See id. at p. 977.) Thus, there were more than three members of the criminal street gang that Petitioner was affiliated with (i.e. YMS/MOD). (See id. at p. 969-72 (detailing several individuals that are members of YMS/MOD).) As previously stated, the evidence in a sufficiency of the evidence claim must be viewed in the light most favorable to the prosecution. See Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319. Petitioner failed to establish that there was insufficient evidence in the record that there was an ongoing association of three or more persons that Petitioner was associated with at the time of the shooting.
A: Oh, yes.
Q: What do you base that opinion on?
A: Well, obviously he was validated from - by Officer Gin back on December 13th of 2000 [as YMS]. [¶] During his previous crimes, he had been arrested with other known TLR, YMS, MOD gang members. [¶] He obviously has an association with individuals such as Xang Tao, Laksu Chau, Peter Lor, and, of course, his brother Xiong Her.
Next, Petitioner argues that there was insufficient evidence that one of the primary activities of YMS/MOD was one of the criminal acts enunciated in the gang enhancement statute. In support of this argument, Petitioner relies on People v. Perez, 118 Cal. App. 4th 151, 12 Cal. Rptr. 3d 821 (2004). In Perez, the California Court of Appeal determined that there was insufficient evidence to support the gang enhancement as the prosecution failed to show that the gang's primary activities were the commission of enumerated crimes. In that case, the evidence produced at trial was deemed insufficient because, as stated by the California Court of Appeal:
Even if we assume that the CLB gang was responsible for the shootings of Asians on February 16 and 18, as well as the shooting of Siuva C., such evidence of the retaliatory shootings of a few individuals over a period of less than a week, together with a beating six years earlier, was insufficient to establish that the group's members consistently and repeatedly have committed criminal activity listed in the gang statute.Id. at 160, 12 Cal. Rptr. 3d 821 (emphasis in original and internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Unlike Perez, there was substantial testimony from the gang expert regarding the fact that one of the primary activities of MOD was engaging in the criminal acts enunciated in the criminal gang enhancement statute. The gang expert testified that MOD is involved in homicides, drive-by shootings and many violent crimes. (See Reporter's Tr. at p. 951.) More specifically, Detective Lee testified to several crimes related to MOD criminal activities in the 1990's through 2001. (See id. at 953-57.) When viewing this evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, it was sufficient to find that one of the primary activities of YMS/MOD was committing crimes enumerated in the gang enhancement statute.
Finally, Petitioner argues that there was insufficient evidence to show that Petitioner acted with the specific intent to promote, further, or assist in any criminal conduct by gang members. Up until recently, there was a divergence of opinion between the California state courts and the federal courts in determining what is the proper inquiry in deciding this type of claim. The Ninth Circuit set forth the a standard for federal habeas courts to use in analyzing such a sufficiency of the evidence claim in Garcia v. Carey, 395 F.1099 (9th Cir. 2005) and Briceno v. Scribner, 555 F.3d 1069 (9th Cir. 2009). Under Garcia/Briceno, a prosecutor had to satisfy two prongs for there to be sufficient evidence to warrant a finding of a gang enhancement pursuant to § 186.22(b)(1). First, the evidence must have showed that the defendant committed the felony "for the benefit of, at the discretion of, or in association with [a] criminal street gang." Briceno, 555 F.3d at 1078 (quoting Cal. Penal Code § 186.22(b)(1)). Second, the evidence must have showed that the defendant committed the crime "with the specific intent to promote, further, or assist in any criminal conduct by gang members." Id. (quoting Cal. Penal Code § 186.22(b)(1)). As noted by the Ninth Circuit, it was important that these two requirements were kept separate and not merged. Furthermore, the second prong inquiry was not satisfied by evidence of mere membership in a criminal street gang alone. See id. (citing Garcia, 395 F.3d at 1102-03 & n.5).
In Garcia, the court found that:
There is nothing in this record, however, that would support an inference that Garcia robbed Bojorquez with the specific intent to facilitate other criminal conduct by the E.M.F. The evidence indicates that Garcia was a gang member and that he robbed Bojorquez in an area known to be in the heart of the gang's "turf." Detective Hernandez, the gang expert, testified that the gang was "turf oriented," and he described three robberies committed by E.M.F. members in El Monte during the few months prior to Garcia's offense. But there is no evidence indicating that this robbery was committed with the specific purpose of furthering other gang criminal activity, and there is nothing inherent in the robbery that would indicate that it furthers some other crime. There is nothing on the record that connects the "turf-orientated" nature of the gang with the commission of robberies generally, or more importantly, with the commission of this robbery in particular. There is no testimony that protection of turf enables any other kind of criminal activity of the gang. The expert's testimony is singularly silent on what criminal activity of the gang was furthered or intended to be furthered by the robbery of Bojorquez.Id. at 1103. Thus, the Ninth Circuit found that there was a lack of evidentiary support for the specific intent to further other gang criminal activity. See id. at 1004.
In Briceno, the Ninth Circuit reaffirmed Garcia despite the fact that the California Appellate Court had held that Garcia misinterpreted California law. See Lopez v. Walker, Civ. No. 08-0598, 2010 WL 1558953, at *12 n. 49 (E.D. Cal. April 19, 2010) ("[E]very California Court of Appeal decision since Briceno has agreed that Briceno and Garcia misinterpreted California law with respect to whether the crime must be committed in furtherance of some other criminal activity, and declined to follow them.").
Conversely, California state courts had interpreted § 186.22(b)(1) differently than the Ninth Circuit. In People v. Vazquez, 178 Cal. App. 4th 347, 353-54, 100 Cal. Rptr. 3d 351 (2009), the California Court of Appeal explained the divergent opinions between the Ninth Circuit and the California state courts on this issue:
In Briceno, supra, and Garcia, supra, the Ninth Circuit held that the specific intent requirement of section 186.22, subdivision (b) is not satisfied by evidence of a defendant's gang membership alone, and instead requires some evidence, aside from a gang expert's "generic testimony," that supports an inference that the defendant committed the crime "'with the specific intent to facilitate other criminal conduct by the [gang].'" (Briceno, supra, 555 F.3d at p. 1079, quoting Garcia, supra, 395 F.3d at p. 1103.) Among other things, according to the Ninth Circuit, the statute requires evidence describing "'what criminal activity of the gang was . . . intended to be furthered'" by the crime. (Id., quoting Garcia, supra, at p. 1103.)
While our Supreme Court has not yet reached this issue, numerous California courts of appeal have rejected the Ninth Circuit's reasoning. As our colleagues noted in People v. Romero (2006) 140 Cal.App.4th 15, 19, 43 Cal.Rptr.3d 862: "By its plain language, the statute requires a showing of specific intent to promote, further, or assist in 'any other criminal conduct (§ 186.22, subd. (b)(1), italics added.)" Thus, if substantial evidence establishes that the defendant is a gang member who intended to commit the charged felony in association with other gang members, the jury may fairly infer that the defendant also intended for his crime to promote, further or assist criminal conduct by those gang members. (Id. at pp. 19-20, 43 Cal.Rptr.3d 862.)
In May 2010, the Ninth Circuit requested that the California Supreme Court answer several questions in Emery v. Clark, 604 F.3d 1102 (9th Cir. 2010) in light of the conflicting interpretations of the California gang enhancement statute in the federal and state courts. Among the questions that the Ninth Circuit requested that the California Supreme Court answer was whether "California's street gang enhancement statute, in particular the element of 'specific intent to promote, further, or assist in any criminal conduct by gang members' in California Penal Code section 186.22(b)(1), require proof that the defendant specifically intended to promote, further, or assist in other criminal gang activity, apart from the offense of conviction?" Id. at 1103 (footnote and citations omitted).
On June 23, 2010, the California Supreme Court granted the request for certification but deferred further action in the Emery matter pending consideration of related issues in another case, specifically People v. Albillar, No. S163905. On December 20, 2010, the California Supreme Court decided People v. Albillar, 51 Cal. 4th 47, 119 Cal.Rptr. 3d 415, 244 P.3d 1062 (2010). In Albillar, the California Supreme Court noted the conflict between the California state and federal courts with respect to the interpretation of section 186.22.(b)(1). See id. at 66. The court expressly rejected the Ninth Circuit's interpretation of the statute by stating that:
we reject the Ninth Circuit's attempt to write additional requirements into the statute. It provides an enhanced penalty where the defendant specifically intends to 'promote, further, or assist in any criminal conduct by gang members.' (§ 186.22, subd. (b)(1).) There is no statutory requirement that this 'criminal conduct by gang members' be distinct from the charged offense, or that the evidence establish specific crimes the defendant intended to assist his fellow gang members in committing.Id. Ultimately, the California Supreme Court held that:
We . . . find that the scienter requirement in section 186.22(b)(1)-i.e., "the specific intent to promote, further or assist in any criminal conduct by gang members" - is unambiguous and applies to any criminal conduct, without a further requirement that the conduct be "apart from" the criminal conduct underlying the offense of conviction sought to be enhanced.
A similar analysis disposes of the related argument, advanced by all three defendants, that section 186.22(b)(1) requires the specific intent to promote, further, or assist a gang-related crime. The enhancement already requires proof that the defendant commit a gang-related crime in the first prong-i.e., that the defendant be convicted of a felony for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a criminal street gang . . . There is no further requirement that the defendant act with the specific intent to promote, further, or assist a gang; the statute requires only the specific intent to promote, further, or assist criminal conduct by gang members.Id. at 66-67. The court concluded by stating that, "[i]n sum, if substantial evidence establishes that the defendant intended to and did commit the charged felony with known members of a gang, the jury may fairly infer that the defendant had the specific intent to promote, further or assist criminal conduct by those gang members." Id. at 68. The court did note however that not every crime that is committed by gang members is related to a gang. See id. at 60.
A federal court interpreting state law is bound by the decisions of the highest state court. See Vernon v. City of Los Angeles, 27 F.3d 1385, 1391 (9th Cir. 1994). As the California Supreme Court has now spoken on what constitutes sufficient evidence under section 186.22(b)(1), the standard set forth in Albillar applies in this case rather than the standard set forth by the Ninth Circuit in Garcia and Briceno. See Bonilla v. Adams, No. 07-55626, 2011 WL 1058181, at *1 (9th Cir. Mar. 24, 2011).
In this case, the gang expert testified that:
reputation is everything in the gang subculture. You want to - you want to have that reputation. You want to build yourself up as being hard core. If you can do a drive by shooting and get away with it, then that's another notch on your belt, but that type of reputation to them translates into that respect and that's ultimately what they are trying to achieve, is that respect, that notoriety within the gang . . . . when you commit a drive-by shooting or 187, that earns that street credibility within the gang. It is sending a clear message that MOD, we're hard core killers. We have this - obviously this infamous history already and we are continuing this legacy. [¶] And ultimately that's what they want. That's what they want to be known as. They want their rivals to fear them. They want people in the community to fear them, and to them, that fear equals respect.(Reporter's Tr. at p. 960-61.) The prosecutor then asked the gang expert the following hypothetical:
Q: I want you to assume for a moment that there are at least three individuals in a car that associate themselves with MOD, that the car is stolen recently, that they drive to Western Avenue and go to a house, with a boat, that they are in possession of a pistol grip shotgun, it's a pump action, that they are in possession of a loaded .32-caliber handgun and a .380 semiautomatic handgun, that they approach the house with the boat, that they fire at least two rounds with the shotgun, several rounds with the .32 and at least one round with the .380. [¶] Do you have an opinion as to whether that particular crime would be for the benefit of the MOD or benefit of the criminal street gang?(Id. at p. 962.) The evidence indicated that Petitioner committed the drive-by shooting with known members of a gang, MOD. As Albillar made clear, where substantial evidence established that the defendant intended to and did commit a charged felony with known gang members, the jury may fairly infer that defendant had the specific intent to promote, further or assist criminal conduct by those gang members. See Albillar, 51 Cal. 4th at 66, 119 Cal. Rptr. 3d 415, 244 P.3d 1062 ("There is no further requirement that the defendant act with the specific into to promote, further, or assist a gang; the statute requires only the specific intent to promote, further, or assist criminal conduct by gang members.") In this case, there was evidence that Petitioner along with Lao intended to commit the drive-by shooting together as the evidence indicated that they were in the stolen Camry together that committed the drive-by shooting. They were each members of the same criminal street gang, namely MOD. The gang expert testified during trial that he believed that Lao was a member of MOD. (See Reporter's Tr. at p. 977.) The gang expert further testified that a drive-by shooting tells the gang's rivals not to mess with that gang. (See id. at p. 962.) Viewing the evidence in the record in the light most favorable to the prosecution, Petitioner's assertions that there was insufficient evidence to support the gang enhancements do not warrant granting federal habeas relief on Claim III.
A: Definitely. A drive-by shooting is a classic gang case. Drive-by shootings are synonymous with gangs. I can't think of one drive-by shooting that I have investigated that is not somehow gang-related. [¶] You know, this drive-by shooting, these circumstances which you have given me here, it sends a clear message to all of MOD's enemies that, hey, if you mess with us, you're gonna pay the consequences.
D. Claim IV
Petitioner raises several ineffective assistance of counsel arguments within Claim IV; specifically Petitioner asserted in his amended federal habeas petition that trial counsel was ineffective by: (1) failing to investigate a witness named Vang; (2) failing to object to a hypothetical question asked of the gang expert which mischaracterized the evidence; (3) failing to object when the gang expert characterized Petitioner as a "hard core killer"; (4) erring in giving an ineffective example during closing argument; (5) failing to present an expert witness at trial; and (6) failing to request an inquiry into Detective Stigerts' purported prohibited communication with the jury.
i. Applicable Law
The Sixth Amendment guarantees effective assistance of counsel. In Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984), the Supreme Court articulated the test for demonstrating ineffective assistance of counsel. First, the petitioner must show that considering all the circumstances, counsel's performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness. See id. at 688. Petitioner must identify the acts or omissions that are alleged not to have been the result of reasonable professional judgment. See id. at 690. The federal court must then determine whether in light of all the circumstances, the identified acts or omissions were outside the range of professional competent assistance. See id.
Second, a petitioner must affirmatively prove prejudice. See id. at 693. Prejudice is found where "there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different." Id. at 694. A reasonable probability is "a probability sufficient to undermine the confidence in the outcome." Id. A reviewing court "need not determine whether counsel's performance was deficient before examining the prejudice suffered by defendant as a result of the alleged deficiencies . . . [i]f it is easier to dispose of an ineffectiveness claim on the ground of lack of sufficient prejudice . . . that course should be followed." Pizzuto v. Arave, 280 F.3d 949, 955 (9th Cir. 2002) (citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 597).
ii. Failing to investigate witness Vang
Petitioner argued in his amended habeas petition that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to investigate a witness named "Vang." However, Petitioner withdrew this argument as stated in his traverse.
iii. Failing to object to the prosecution witness' inflammatory characterization
Next, Petitioner argues that trial counsel was ineffective in failing to object to a hypothetical question posed by the prosecutor to the gang expert. The hypothetical question that was asked of the expert was the following:
Q: I want you to assume for a moment that there are at least three individuals in a car that associate themselves with MOD, that the car is stolen recently, that they drive to Western Avenue and go to a house, with a boat, that they are in possession of a pistol grip shotgun, it's a pump action, that they are in possession of a loaded .32-caliber handgun and a .380 semiautomatic handgun, that they approach the house with the boat, that they fire at least two rounds withe the shotgun, several rounds with the .32 and at least one round with the .380. [¶] Do you have an opinion as to whether that particular crime would be for the benefit of the MOD or benefit of the criminal street gang?(Reporter's Tr. at p. 962.) Petitioner argues that the proposed hypothetical should have been objected to because it misconstrued the evidence in three respects: (1) the description of the three vehicle occupants as MOD members was not proven; (2) there was no sawed-off shotgun in this case; and (3) the hypothetical assumes that the occupants of the vehicle fired first. (See Pet'r's Am. Pet. at p. 24-25.)
The last reasoned decision on these arguments came from the Sacramento County Superior Court which stated the following in denying this ineffective assistance of counsel claim:
Petitioner next claims that defense counsel was ineffective in failing to object to gang expert Lee's opinion that the drive-by shooting was committed for the benefit of the gang, because the
hypothetical question was not rooted from the facts shown by the evidence. Petitioner notes that defense trial counsel's failure resulted in a waiver of the issue on appeal, as determined by the Third District in the appeal.(Resp't's Lodged Doc. 11 at p. 5.)
Petitioner fails to note, however, that petitioner's girlfriend Ly testified at trial that petitioner represented himself to be a member of the MOD gang, that the expert testified that petitioner had been a validated member of a subset of that gang since 2000, and that other evidence showed that the victims were members of a rival gang and that petitioner and his accomplices had driven into territory well know to be that of the rival gang and committed the drive-by shooting. These were sufficient facts upon which to base the opinion that the shooting was for the benefit of the gang. As such, any objection to the opinion would have been denied, had one been made, and defense trial counsel was not ineffective in failing to make the objection (see Strickland v. Washington (1984) 466 U.S. 668).
An attorney's failure to make a meritless objection does not constitute ineffective assistance of counsel. See Matylinsky v. Budge, 577 F.3d 1083, 1094 (9th Cir. 2009) (concluding counsel's failure to object to testimony on hearsay grounds not ineffective where objection would have been properly overruled); Rupe v. Wood, 93 F.3d 1434, 1445 (9th Cir. 1996) ("[T]he failure to take a futile action can never be deficient performance . . . ."). There was evidence in the record that the occupants of the stolen Camry which performed the drive-by shooting were members of MOD. The gang expert testified that both Petitioner and Lao were YMS/MOD members and evidence in the record linked both of them as occupants of the vehicle. With respect to Petitioner's second argument, defense counsel did object to the prosecutor's use of the term "sawed off shotgun" and the trial judge suggested that the prosecutor rephrase it as a "shortened shotgun." (See Reporter's Tr. at p. 962.) Thus, Petitioner's claim that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object is contrary to the record. Finally, evidence in the record included testimony regarding who fired the first shots. (See, e.g., Reporter's Tr. at 174, 178-79). Therefore, Petitioner fails to show that counsel's performance was objectively unreasonable in failing to object to this proposed hypothetical question by the prosecutor to the gang expert. Petitioner is not entitled to federal habeas relief on this argument.
iv. Failure to object to gang expert's characterization of Petitioner as a "hard core killer"
Next, Petitioner argues that trial counsel was ineffective in failing to object when the gang expert referred to Petitioner as a "hard core killer." This argument was raised by Petitioner in his state habeas petitions. However, no court provided a reasoned decision of this Claim. Therefore, the California Supreme Court's summary denial of Petitioner's state habeas petition is applicable. As that was a summary denial, the record will be independently reviewed to analyze whether the California Supreme Court's denial of this argument was an objectively unreasonable application of clearly established federal law or was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the record. See Musladin, 555 F.3d at 835; see also Harrington v. Richter, 131 S.Ct. 770, 784-85 (2011) (stating that a summary denial constitutes a decision on the merits).
The following colloquy took place between the prosecutor and the gang expert during trial:
Q: Now let's talk about Kinson Her. [¶] With respect to Kinson Her, do you believe him - where do you believe he falls in terms of his level of participation and activity as a gang member?(Reporter's Tr. at p. 973.) However, on cross-examination, the gang expert qualified his statement in the following colloquy with Petitioner's trial counsel:
A: I put him right up there at the top -
Q: Explain why.
A: - of being a hard core killer. [¶] He had progressed from his previous times he was arrested, from stealing a vehicle to illegal gun possession in a vehicle, now to a homicide.
Q: [Y]ou were asked questions about levels of participation, people being at certain levels, other levels, and your characterization of him being, quote, at the top, according to your words --
A: Okay.
Q: - is based on your assumption that he is guilty of the crimes he is charged with in this case; isn't that true?
A: Well, I believe - yes, that is true, and if you're going to participate in a drive-by shooting which ultimately leads to a homicide, he would be at the - I would consider a hard core gang member.
Q: Okay. And that's based on your - again, your assumption that he is guilty of the crimes in this case?(Reporter's Tr. at 993-94.)
A: Yes.
Q: So, in other words, you're utilizing this case as a basis for your opinion about his level of participation in a particular gang?
A: Well, if we didn't have this case, I wouldn't be here right now. So . . .
Q: If we didn't have this case, you wouldn't put him as a top level MOD participant, would you?
A: That's correct
Petitioner failed to show to a reasonable probability that the outcome of the proceeding would have been different had trial counsel made this objection. The evidence giving rise to Petitioner's conviction and enhancements was strong. To reiterate, and by way of example only, it included Petitioner's DNA on the bandana found within the stolen Camry which committed the drive-by shooting. Another MOD gang member was identified in the stolen Camry which committed the crime. Evidence produced at trial indicated that drive-by shootings was one of the primary activities of MOD and that HNS was a rival gang to MOD and the shooting occurred in or near HNS territory. The failure of Petitioner's trial counsel to object to the gang expert's characterization as a "hard core killer" did not prejudice Petitioner under the requisite Strickland standard.
v. Trial counsel's errors in closing argument
Petitioner next argued that trial counsel was ineffective during closing argument when he misspoke. However, Petitioner withdrew this argument as stated in his traverse.
vi. Failure to present an expert witness at trial
Petitioner next argues that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to present an expert witness at trial. More specifically, Petitioner states that his trial counsel told him that there was an expert witness willing to testify on his behalf that the people at 3212 Western Avenue fired first. (See Pet'r's Am. Pet. at p. 28.) Petitioner raised this issue in his state habeas petitions. As both the California Supreme Court and the California Court of Appeal issued summary denials, those decisions will be "looked through" to the last reasoned decision which was from Sacramento County Superior Court. That court stated the following in analyzing this claim:
Petitioner next claims that defense trial counsel was ineffective in failing to present an expert witness to testify on his behalf. [¶] Petitioner fails to attach reasonably available documentary evidence such as an affidavit from an expert setting forth what testimony the expert would have given at trial that would have been reasonably likely to have made a difference in the outcome of the trial. As such, the claim fails under Swain and Harris.(Resp't's Lodged Doc. 11 at p. 5.) As outlined above, the state courts denied this argument due to Petitioner's failure to attach relevant documentary evidence in support.
In his answer, Respondent argues that this claim is unexhausted. (See Resp't's Answer at p. 26.) A state prisoner must exhaust state court remedies before petitioning for a writ of habeas corpus in federal court. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b); Duncan v. Henry, 513 U.S. 364, 365 (1995) (per curiam). To exhaust state remedies, the prisoner must "fairly present" both operative facts and federal legal theory supporting his federal claim to the state's highest court, "thereby alerting that court to the federal nature of the claim." Baldwin v. Reese, 541 U.S. 27, 29 (2004).
The Ninth Circuit has held that where a state court holds that a petitioner has not pled facts with sufficient particularity, that it is equivalent to the grant of a demurrer. See Gaston v. Palmer, 417 F.3d 1030, 1039 (9th Cir. 2006), modified on other grounds, 447 F.3d 1165 (9th Cir. 2006). "That deficiency, when it exists, can be cured in a renewed petition" and constitutes a denial of the petition on procedural grounds. See Kim v. Villalbos, 799 F.2d 1317, 1319 (9th Cir. 1986). However, a citation to Swain does not per se indicate that the a claim is unexhausted. See id. at 1319-20. Rather, the federal court is required to determine whether petitioner "fairly presented" his claim to the California Supreme Court. See id.
Under Kim, the state habeas petition must be independently examined to determine whether this argument was capable of being alleged with greater particularity and is therefore unexhausted. See id. at 1320. As previously stated, Petitioner must show two things to be entitled to habeas relief for ineffective assistance of counsel. First, he must show that trial counsel's performance feel below an objective standard of reasonableness. See Strickland, 466 U.S 687-88. Second, he must show that he suffered prejudice, in that there is a reasonable probability that but for counsel's unprofessional errors, Petitioner would have prevailed. See id. at 694. Petitioner was required to allege specific facts that, if proven, would establish that trial counsel's conduct fell below that of a reasonable attorney and that the outcome of the proceeding would have been different. In his state habeas petition, Petitioner provides only generalities regarding the alleged expert witness. He provides no documentary evidence indicating who this expert was nor does he provide any information in the form of an affidavit or similar document indicating what this unnamed expert would have stated if he testified at trial. The state court's denial of this argument for failing to state the claim with sufficient particularity was appropriate under these circumstances. Therefore, the argument is deemed unexhausted.
Nevertheless, even though the argument is deemed unexhausted, an unexhausted claim can still be denied on the merits where the claim is deemed to be not "colorable." See Cassett v. Stewart, 406 F.3d 614, 624 (9th Cir. 2005). Under these circumstances it is easier to analyze this argument under the Strickland prejudice prong. To establish prejudice caused by the failure to call a witness, Petitioner must show that the witness was likely to have been available to testify, that the witness would have given the proffered testimony and that the witness would have created a reasonable probability that the jury would have reached a verdict more favorable to Petitioner. See Grisby v. Blodgett, 130 F.3d 365, 373 (9th Cir. 1997) (speculating as to what a proposed witness would say is not enough to establish prejudice); United States v. Harden, 846 F.2d 1229, 1231-32 (9th Cir. 1988) (no ineffective assistance because of counsel's failure to call a witness where, among other things, there was no evidence in the record that the witness would testify). Petitioner fails to present any type of documentation, such as an affidavit that this unnamed expert would have been available to testify. Furthermore, Petitioner presents no evidence indicating that the unnamed expert would have given the proffered testimony, namely that the people at Western Avenue fired first. Therefore, Petitioner failed to present a colorable ineffective assistance of counsel claim with respect to this argument.
vii. Failure to request inquiry into Detective Stigerts communication with the jury
Next, Petitioner argues that trial counsel failed to inquire into possible prohibited communications that Detective Stigerts, a prosecution witness, had with the jury. Petitioner argues that counsel's conduct fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and that the result of his proceeding would have been more favorable had trial counsel made this inquiry. Petitioner raised this claim in his state habeas petitions. The last reasoned decision on this claim was from the Sacramento County Superior Court which denied the claim due to Petitioner's failure to attach the reporters transcript and failure to set forth the claim with sufficient particularity The Superior Court relied on Swain and Harris in denying this claim.
Even though the state court's denial of this claim for Petitioner's failure to plead with sufficient particularity may deem this claim unexhausted under these circumstances, the unexhausted argument can still be denied on the merits if it is deemed not "colorable." See Cassett, 406 F.3d at 624.
In the middle of the trial, Defendant Lao's counsel (Ms. Rogers) stated to the trial court the following:
Your Honor, at this time I would just like the record to reflect that earlier in the morning the court had to admonish Detective Stigerts, who has been present as the DA's investigative officer, because she had approached the jury and made some comments to the jury. [¶] And, also, there was some conversation about - between the prosecutor and Detective Stigerts about pulling pictures, which the court also admonished the detective about.(Reporter's Tr. at p. 510.) The trial judge responded that:
All right. I will indicate for the record that one of the jurors spilled a large cup of coffee. And we had that wiped up, and I think the detective said something to the juror about the coffee. I admonished her that - just to not have any contact with the jurors even though it was unrelated to the case.
I think it was just a mistake on her part. I do not find that she in
any way intended to ingratiate herself with the jurors or did anything that would amount to a mistrial. She was admonished to not have any contact. Again, it was an incidental comment about a spill of coffee.(Id. at 510-11.)
And I did just caution the DA and the detective to be careful when they're conferring just because we're in a crowded courtroom and to make sure that they either communicate by notes or that she whisper directly in his ear so nothing could possibly be overheard.
Here, the trial court was put on notice (by Lao's counsel) about the purported communication between Detective Stigerts and the jury. The mere fact that Petitioner's counsel did not put this on the record did not fall below an objective standard of reasonableness in that the issue was presented to the trial court by co-defendant's counsel. Therefore, Petitioner cannot meet the first prong of the Strickland test with respect to this argument as the issue was in fact raised in the trial court.
Petitioner also fails to satisfy the second prong of the Strickland test; namely that but for counsel's purported ineffectiveness, the result of the proceeding would have been different. Unless it is de minimus, an unauthorized communication between a juror and a witness or interested party is presumptively prejudicial. See Caliendo v. Warden Cal. Men's Colony, 365 F.3d 691, 696 (9th Cir. 2004). "A communication is possibly prejudicial, not de minimus, if it raises a risk of influencing the verdict." Id. at 697. "[I]f an unauthorized communication with a juror is de minimus, the defendant must show that the communication could have influenced the verdict before the burden of proof shifts to the prosecution." Id. at 696. The defendant must offer sufficient evidence to trigger the presumption of prejudice. See id. at 696. Factors relevant to this inquiry include "the length and nature of the contact, the identity and role at trial of the parties involved, evidence of actual impact on the juror, and the possibility of eliminating prejudice through a limiting instruction." Id. at 697-98.
The state court made a factual finding that the communication between Stigerts and the jury concerned the spillage of a cup of coffee. Petitioner fails to rebut this factual finding by clear and convincing evidence. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(1) ("In a proceeding instituted by an application for a writ of habeas corpus by a person in custody pursuant to the judgment of a State court, a determination of a factual issue made by a State court shall be presumed to be correct. The applicant shall have the burden of rebutting the presumption of correctness by clear and convincing evidence."). Detective Stigerts' reference to the jury regarding the spillage of coffee was de minimus and innocuous in nature and content. Petitioner failed to show that the communication was anything beyond de minimus such that the communication is not deemed presumptively prejudicial. Petitioner is not entitled to federal habeas relief on this ineffective assistance of counsel argument as he failed to satisfy either prong of the Strickland test. Thus, Petitioner failed to show that this argument is "colorable" to warrant granting federal habeas relief.
E. Claim V
In Claim V, Petitioner argued that the trial court erred in not construing letters from Petitioner as motions regarding the personal conflicts Petitioner was having with trial counsel. However, Petitioner withdrew this Claim as stated in his traverse.
F. Claim VI
In Claim VI, Petitioner argued that the trial court erred in failing to provide Petitioner with an interpreter during trial. However, Petitioner withdrew this Claim as stated in his traverse.
G. Claim VII
In Claim VII, Petitioner argues that the trial court erred in denying Petitioner's motion "to exclude any opinion of the bandanna." (Pet'r's Am. Pet. at p. 30-31.) He asserts that the trial court erred because no witness saw any occupant of the vehicle wearing a blue bandana to cover one's head. (See id. at p. 31.) Before trial, Petitioner's trial counsel made a motion in limine regarding certain matters concerning any possible testimony concerning the bandana that was found in the stolen Toyota Camry. The following colloquy took place between counsel and the court on this motion before trial:
MR. IRISH: I'd also indicated as a motion in limine off the record, and would make, that there's - in the discovery there is indications of a bandanna being found in the rear of the vehicle that was detained by law enforcement on the subsequent - subsequent to the shooting that's the subject of this incident, and there was reference in one of the officer's reports that the bandanna was tied in a fashion consistent with wearing it to cover one's face. [¶] And I would move to exclude any opinion evidence of that nature, in that I think the jury can make that determination itself by looking at the bandanna, and that, subject, really is argument by the counsel, whether, in fact, it is or is not tied in that manner that's consistent with covering somebody's face.(Reporter's Tr. at p. 13-14.)
THE COURT: Mr. McCormick?
MR. McCORMICK: I think that's an appropriate thing for - if nothing else, a descriptive nature to the record as to what the condition of the bandanna is, because certainly, it's different if the bandanna has that knot tied in the middle versus at the end, which is consistent with being worn over one's head or one's face to conceal their identity.
THE COURT: I am going to deny that motion. I think that the witness can testify the manner in which the bandanna was tied and could be asked the different ways it can be worn. That is certainly subject to cross-examination.
During trial, the following colloquy took place between the prosecutor and Detective Stigerts with respect to the bandana:
Q: Was there anything unusual about - or that you found to be significant as a homicide investigator about the condition of the bandanna?(Id. at p. 122.) During cross-examination by Petitioner's trial counsel, the following colloquy occurred between Petitioner's counsel and Detective Stigerts:
A: Yeah. It was tied as you would if you would tie it and, basically, fold one flap down and then take the other two corners and tie it around and tie it around like it would go over your head. MR. IRISH: For the record, when she indicated tie it, she made a motion with both her hands to the back portion of her head.
Q: When you rendered the opinion that that was tied in a manner as if it would go over the head, you're talking about tying in the back and put over the top of somebody's head?(Id. at p. 144.)
A: Yes.
In his state habeas petitions, Petitioner argued that the trial court erred denying his motion in limine on allowing this testimony regarding the bandana. The Sacramento County Superior Court was the last reasoned decision on this Claim and stated the following:
Petitioner next claims that the trial court erred in denying his motion to exclude any opinion that the bandana was used in a fashion to cover someone's face or any nature thereof . . . Petitioner fails to attach reporter's transcript of the court's denial of the motion, thus the court cannot assess the claim. Nor does petitioner make a prima facie showing that the ruling was erroneous, or that the admission of the opinion was prejudicial. As such, the claim fails under Swain, Harris, and In re Bower (1985) 38 Cal.3d 865.(Resp't's Lodged Doc. 11 at p. 3.)
Respondent argues that this Claim is unexhausted as the Sacramento Superior Court relied on Swain and Harris to deny this Claim. However, the Sacramento Superior Court also denied this Claim on the merits. Furthermore, the subsequent summary denials by the California Court of Appeal and the California Supreme Court are construed as denials on the merits. See Harrington, 131 S.Ct. at 784. Therefore, this Claim is deemed exhausted and will be analyzed on the merits pursuant to the standard enunciated in 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d).
First, to the extent that this Claim is asserting an error of state law upon the admission of Detective Stigerts' testimony regarding the bandanna, Petitioner's claim is not cognizable on federal habeas review and must be denied. See Estelle v. McGuire, 502 U.S. 62, 71-72 (1991). Second, "[a] habeas petitioner bears a heavy burdern in showing a due process violation based on an evidentiary decision." Boyde v. Brown, 404 F.3d 1159, 1172 (9th Cir. 2005), amended on reh'g by, 421 F.3d 1154 (9th Cir. 2005). The admission of evidence violates due process only if there are no permissible inferences the jury may draw from it. See id. at 1172. Even where a trial court errs in admitting the evidence at issue, such error is deemed harmless unless it had a substantial and injurious effect or influence in determining the fact finder's verdict. See Gill v. Ayers, 342 F.3d 911, 921 (9th Cir. 2003) (citing Brecht v. Abrahamson, 507 U.S. 619, 637 (1993)).
In this case, Detective Stigerts' testimony regarding how the bandana was worn was a permissible inference in light of how it was tied. Thus, the admission of this evidence did not violate Petitioner's due process rights. Furthermore, even if allowing this type of testimony was in error, it did not have a substantial and injurious effect or influence in the verdict as it only related to how the bandana was worn which was a tangential issue to Petitioner's conviction. The case against Petitioner included a great deal of evidence implicating Petitioner as described in supra Part V.A. Therefore, Petitioner is not entitled to federal habeas relief on this Claim.
H. Claim VIII
Next, Petitioner argues that the trial court erred in denying Petitioner's motion to bifurcate the gang enhancement issue. Before trial, the trial judge denied the motion to bifurcate and stated the following:
The court has read and considered the defense motions to bifurcate the gang enhancement, as well as the People's opposition. The court has conducted a weighing process pursuant to Evidence Code Section 352 and considered the applicable case law. The court finds the probative value of this evidence substantially outweighs the prejudicial effect.(Reporter's Tr. at p. 8.)
The defendants are charged with first degree murder with a gang enhancement pursuant to Penal Code Section 186.22(b)(1). The issue of intent in the murder allegation is inextricably tied to the gang evidence.
Based on all the case authority in this area, as well as the facts alleged to have occurred in this case, the motion to bifurcate is denied.
Petitioner raised this Claim in his state habeas petitions. The last reasoned decision on this Claim was from the Sacramento County Superior Court which stated the following:
Petitioner next claims that the trial court erred in denying petitioner's motion to bifurcate the gang enhancements . . . [¶] Petitioner fails to attach the reporter's transcript of the court denying the motion. Regardless, the claims fails, as the crimes were clearly gang-related and gang evidence was going to be
admitted on the substantive charges regardless of whether the gang enhancements were bifucated. As such, the claim fails under Harris and Bower.(Resp't's Lodged Doc. 11 at p. 4.)
Respondent argues that this Claim is procedurally barred. (See Resp't's Answer at p. 51.) A state court's refusal to hear the merits of a claim because of the petitioner's failure to follow a state procedural rule is considered a denial of relief on an independent and adequate state ground. See Harris v. Reed, 489 U.S. 255, 260-61 (1989). The state rule for these purposes is only "adequate" if it is "firmly established and regularly followed." See Bennett v. Mueller, 322 F.3d 573, 583 (9th Cir. 2003) ("[t]o be deemed adequate, the state law ground for decision must be well-established and consistently applied."). The state rule must also be "independent" in that it is not "interwoven with the federal law." Park v. California, 202 F.3d 1146, 1152 (9th Cir. 2000) (citing Michigan v. Long, 463 U.S. 1032, 1040-41 (1983)). Furthermore, procedural default can only block a claim in federal court if the state court, "clearly and expressly states that its judgment rests on a state procedural bar." Harris, 489 U.S. at 263.
When the state court discusses a procedural default but also reaches the merits of a claim, a denial of the claim cannot necessarily be said to have relied on the on the procedural default. See Thomas v. Hubbard, 273 F.3d 1164, 1176 (9th Cir. 2001), overruled on other grounds, Payton v. Woodford, 346 F.3d 1204 (9th Cir. 2003) (citing Harris, 489 U.S. at 263); see also Panther v. Hames, 991 F.2d 576, 580 (9th Cir. 1993). As the Ninth Circuit stated in Panther, "because the Alaska Court of Appeals considered Panther's claims on the merits . . . so can we." 991 F.2d at 580. In Thomas, the Ninth Circuit noted that the state court discussed the issue of procedural default but then went on to deny the claim because any error was harmless. See 273 F.3d at 1176. The Ninth Circuit held: "[i]n so doing, the [state] court left the resolution of the procedural default issue uncertain rather than making a clear and express statement that its decision was based on procedural default." Id.
In this case, the Sacramento County Superior Court discussed the procedural issue but also denied the Claim on the merits. The California Court of Appeal and the California Supreme Court issued summary denials. Under these circumstances, the Claim is not procedurally barred and will be analyzed using the 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d) standard.
In analyzing this Claim, the relevant inquiry is whether the petitioner's right to a fair trial was violated in that the denial of the motion to bifurcate resulted in prejudice great enough to render the trial fundamentally unfair. See Grisby v. Blodgett, 130 F.3d 365, 370 (9th Cir. 1997). Additionally, he purported impermissible joinder must have had a substantial and injurious effect or influence in determining the jury's verdict. See Sandoval v. Calderon, 241 F.3d 765, 772 (9th Cir. 2000). The focus is "particularly on cross-admissibility of evidence and the danger of 'spillover' from one charge to another, especially where one charge or set of charges is weaker than another." Davis v. Woodford, 384 F.3d 628, 638 (9th Cir. 2004); see also Sandoval, 241 F.3d at 772-73 (9th Cir. 2000) (cross-admissibility "dispels the prejudicial impact of joining all counts in the same trial").
In this case, the Superior Court determined that the gang related evidence was going to be admitted on the substantive charges. The gang related evidence went to Petitioner's intent and motive to commit the charged crimes against a rival gang. Additionally, the trial court gave the jury the following limiting instruction with respect to the gang evidence:
Evidence has been introduced for the purpose of showing criminal street gang activities and of criminal acts by gang members, other than the crimes for which defendants are on trial.
This evidence, if believed, may not be considered by you to prove that Defendant is a person of bad character or that he has a disposition to commit crimes. It may be considered by you only for the limited purpose of determining if it tends to show that the crime or crimes charged were committed for the benefit of, at the direction of or in association with a criminal street gang, with the specific intent to promote, further or assist in any criminal conduct by gang members.
For the limited purpose for which you may consider this evidence, you must weigh it in the same manner as you do all other evidence in the case.
You are not permitted to consider such evidence for any other purpose.(Reporter's Tr. at p. 1150.) The jury is presumed to have followed this instruction. See Weeks v. Angelone, 528 U.S. 225, 234 (2000). In light of the cross-admissibility of the gang evidence in this case and the limiting instruction given to the jury, Petitioner failed to show that the denial of the motion to bifurcate rendered his trial fundamentally unfair so as to violate his due process rights. Petitioner is not entitled to federal habeas relief on this Claim.
I. Claim IX, X, XI
In Claim IX, Petitioner argues that the trial court erred in allowing the gang expert to testify to an improper hypothetical question posed by the prosecutor. In Claim X, Petitioner argues that the trial court erred in allowing the gang expert to testify that Petitioner was a "hard core killer." In Claim XI, Petitioner argues that the expert's testimony violated the Confrontation Clause. Petitioner raised these arguments on direct appeal and the California Court of Appeal stated the following:
In response to a hypothetical question from the prosecutor, Detective Lee opined that a drive-by shooting committed in well-known HNS territory by three MOD members was committed for the benefit of the MOD street gang. Her launches a three-pronged attack on the admission of this testimony: (1) Lee's opinion was inadmissible because the hypothetical question was not "rooted in the facts shown by the evidence (citing Gardeley, supra, 14 Cal.4th at p. 618); (2) Lee's characterization of him as a "hard-core killer" was inflammatory and highly prejudicial; and (3) the opinion violated the confrontation clause of the United States Constitution because it was based on the "factual assertions of individuals who were not called to testify and were thus not subject to cross-examination."
None of these arguments has been preserved for appeal because Her's trial attorney failed to make any objection to Detective Lee's opinion testimony when it was given. (Evid. Code, § 353; People v. Kipp (2001) 26 Cal.4th 1100, 1124; People v. Garceau (1993) 6 Cal.4th 140, 179.) And the failure to raise a constitutional challenge to Lee's testimony in the trial court means that his Sixth Amendment argument as been forfeited as well. (People v. Benson (1990) 52 Cal.3d 754, 788.) "[T]he rule that a challenge to the admission of evidence is not preserved for appeal unless a specific
and timely objection was made below stems from long-standing statutory and common law principles." (People v. Anderson (2001) 25 Cal.4th 543, 586.)(Slip Op. at p. 14-15.) Petitioner raised these Claims in his petition for review on direct appeal to the California Supreme Court which issued a summary denial.
No cognizable challenge to Detective Lee's testimony is raised on appeal.
Petitioner did not raise Claims IX or X to the Sacramento County Superior Court in his state habeas petition. Instead, in that court he only argued that the trial court erred in denying the motion to bifurcate (i.e. Claim VIII) and that the gang expert's testimony violated the Confrontation Clause, (i.e. Claim XI). (See Resp't's Lodged Doc. at 10 at p. 23-24.) The Sacramento County Superior Court did not discuss Petitioner's Confrontation Clause argument in its March 2, 2009 opinion. Petitioner did not raise Claims IX and X in his state habeas petition to the California Court of Appeal but did raise Claim XI. As previously stated, the Court of Appeal summarily denied the state habeas petition.
In his state habeas petition to the California Supreme Court, Petitioner raised Claims IX, X and XI. (See Resp't's Lodged Doc. 19 at p. 34-38.) That court issued a summary denial without comment or citation on these Claims.
Respondent argues that these three Claims are procedurally barred in light of the reasoning of the California Court of Appeal's decision on direct appeal. However, in the interests of judicial economy, and because these three Claims are clearly without merit for the reasons described infra, the procedural default argument will not be addressed. See Lambrix v. Singletary, 520 U.S. 518, 525 (1997); Franklin v. Johnson, 290 F.3d 1223, 1232 (9th Cir. 2002) ("Procedural bar issues are not infrequently more complex than the merits issues presented by the appeal, so it may well make sense in some instances to proceed to the merits if the result will be the same."). //
i. Claim IX
As previously stated, in Claim IX Petitioner argues that the trial court erred in allowing the gang expert to respond to a hypothetical posed by the prosecutor during direct testimony that, according to Petitioner, was not based on facts that was supported in the record. However, for the reasons discussed in supra Part V.D.iii, the proposed hypothetical was based on the facts in evidence. Petitioner failed to show that the gang expert's response to a hypothetical based on facts in the evidence violated his due process rights. See, e.g., Granberry v. Haws, Civ. No. 07-6365, 2008 WL 3876884, at *11 (C.D. Cal. Aug. 18, 2008) (explaining that gang expert was presented with a hypothetical fact pattern that the shooter believed the victims were members of a rival gang and that the gang expert's response to the hypothetical was based on facts established by evidence such that counsel was not ineffective for failing to object to it); Vang v. Runnels, Civ. No. 03-5528, 2008 WL 324101, at *11 (E.D. Cal. Feb. 5, 2008) (noting that the state court found that the proposed hypothetical question was rooted in facts shown by the evidence such that Petitioner failed to demonstrate that a hypothetical question infected the trial with unfairness and that absent the hypothetical, the verdict would have been different). Claim IX should therefore be denied.
ii. Claim X
In Claim X, Petitioner argues that the trial court erred in allowing the gang expert to characterize Petitioner as a "hard core killer." This Claim is similar to Petitioner's argument that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to this characterization by the gang expert. In supra Part V.D.iv, it was determined that Petitioner failed to show to a reasonable probability that the outcome of the proceeding would have been different had trial counsel objected to this characterization of Petitioner by the gang expert. In light of the strong evidence implicating Petitioner to these crimes as previously described, Petitioner fails to show that this statement rendered his trial fundamentally unfair. During cross-examination, Petitioner's trial counsel elicited from the gang expert that this statement was based only on his assumption that Petitioner was guilty in this case. (See Reporter's Tr. at p. 993.) Thus, its admission did not have a substantial and injurious effect on the jury's verdict. Under these circumstances, Claim X should be denied.
iii. Claim XI
In Claim XI, Petitioner argues that the gang expert's testimony violated the Confrontation Clause. He states that:
Lee's testimony about specific gangs, their activities and membership was based almost entirely on information imparted to him by others - police officers, alleged gang affiliates, and informers. Thus, Lee was simply conveying, in the guise of expert opinion, the out-of court factual assertions of individuals who were not called to testify and were thus not subject to cross-examination.(Pet'r's Am. Pet. at p. 35.)
The Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment specifically provides that "[i]n all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right . . . to be confronted with the witnesses against him." U.S. CONST., amend VI. In Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 59 (2004), the United States Supreme Court held that the Confrontation Clause bars the state from introducing out-of-court statements which are testimonial in nature, unless "the declarant is unavailable, and only where the defendant has had a prior opportunity to cross-examine." The Confrontation Clause does not, however, bar the use of testimonial statements for purposes other than establishing the truth of the matter asserted. See Crawford, 541 U.S. at 59 n. 9. "Thus, Crawford does not undermine the established rule that experts can testify to their opinions on relevant matters and, may relate the information and sources upon which they rely in forming those opinions." Lopez v. Horel, Civ. No. 07-4169, 2011 WL 940054, at *11 (C.D. Cal. Jan. 19, 2011) (citing Ortiz v. Tilton, Civ. No. 06-1752, 2008 WL 2543440, at *14, 16 (S.D. Cal. May 5, 2008), report and recommendation adopted by, 2009 WL 1796537 (S.D. Cal. Jun. 23, 2009)).
Numerous courts have held since Crawford that "the introduction of otherwise inadmissible evidence in support of a gang expert witness' testimony does not violate the Confrontation Clause." Id.; see also Lopez v. Jacquez, Civ. No. 09-1451, 2010 WL 2650695, at *6 (E.D. Cal. July 1, 2010) ("[T]he Court does not find that an objective application of Crawford would result in a finding that the gang expert's reliance on hearsay testimony to explain his opinion that Petitioner was a member of the West Fresno Nortenos, and that the West Fresno Nortenos area criminal street gang, to be in violation of Petitoner's Confrontation Clause rights), report and recommendation adopted by, 2010 WL 3384691 (E.D. Cal. Aug. 26, 2010); Walker v. Clark, Civ. No. 08-5587, 2010 WL 1643580, at *15 n. 8 (C.D. Cal. Feb. 18, 2010) ("Cason v. Hedgpeth, Civ. No. 08-4576, 2009 WL 1096209, at *13-14 (C.D. Cal. Apr. 22, 2009) (hearsay evidence regarding witness's gang membership did not violate Crawford because it was admitted not for the truth of the matter asserted but to support detective's opinion that witness was a gang member); Thomas v. Chromes, Civ. No. 06-787, 2008 WL 4597214, at *7 (C.D. Cal. Oct. 10, 2008) (gang expert's reliance on gang members' statements as basis for opinion that petitioner was a gang member did not violate Crawford); Ortiz, 2008 WL 2543440, at *16 (gang expert's reliance on field investigation reports, defendants' admissions as to gang member status, and other hearsay as basis for opinion did not violate Crawford because materials were not admitted for truth of the matter asserted and his reliance on them was subject to cross-examination); Nguyen v. Evans, Civ. No. 06-4630, 2008 WL 1994902, at *5 (N.D. Cal. May 5, 2008) (gang expert's testimony regarding information he received from other gang members and victims, which he used as a basis for his opinion, did not violate Crawford); Eddington v. Adams, Civ. No. 06-1770, 2008 WL 397290, at *10 (E.D. Cal. Feb. 8, 2008) (gang expert's reliance on gang member's statement as part of basis for opinion did not violate Crawford)."), report and recommendation adopted by, 2010 WL 1641372 (C.D. Cal. Ap. 20, 2010)
Similar to the cases listed above, the gang expert's testimony in this case did not result in a violation of Petitioner's Confrontation Clause rights and Crawford. Therefore, Petitioner is not entitled to federal habeas relief on Claim XI. //
J. Claim XII
In Claim XII, Petitioner argues that the trial court abused its discretion in considering Detective Lee as a gang expert. Petitioner did not raise this Claim on direct appeal nor in his state habeas petitions in the Superior Court or the Court of Appeal. Petitioner did raise this Claim in his state habeas petition to the California Supreme Court. (See Resp't's Lodged Doc. No. 19 at p. 38-39.) The California Supreme Court's summary denial of that petition is considered a decision on the merits with respect to this particular Claim. See Harrington, 131 S.Ct. at 784.
The determination that Detective Lee was a gang expert did not violate Petitioner's due process rights in that it did not make his trial fundamentally unfair. See, e.g., United States v. Hankey, 203 F.3d 1160, 1169 (9th Cir. 2000) (holding that police officers with years of experience and special knowledge of gangs may qualify as expert witnesses). At trial, Detective Lee outlined his relevant experience and stated the following:
Well, actually, starting back to the academy, we had eight hours of gang awareness training. Three of those hours were solely dedicated to Asian gangs.(Reporter's Tr. at p. 943.) As illustrated above, Detective Lee had years of experience in dealing with gangs, and in particular, Asian gangs. The summary denial by the California Supreme Court of this Claim was not an unreasonable application of clearly established federal law nor did it result in a decision that was from an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the record. See Hankey, 203 F.3d at 1169. Petitioner is not entitled to federal habeas relief on Claim XII.
The first two and a half years of my career, I was a patrol officer primarily in south Sacramento, east Sacramento areas. I dealt with gang members all the time, involved of all different ethnicities.
The next two and a half years I worked Problem Oriented Policing. As a Problem Oriented Police Officer, I was assigned to specific neighborhoods in the south area and east areas of Sacramento. The majority of the complaints were narcotic related and gang related.
The past - little over four years now, I have been investigating Asian gangs. I investigate everything from homicides to drive-by shootings home invasions, basically anything our Asian gangsters are involved in.
K. Claim XIII
In Claim XIII, Petitioner argued that the trial court erred in denying Petitioner's motion for a mistrial due to prejudicial questions the prosecutor asked of the prospective jurors during the voir dire proceedings. However, Petitioner withdrew this Claim as stated in his traverse.
L. Claim XIV
Next, Petitioner argues that the trial court erred in failing to declare a mistrial due to Detective Stigerts communication with the jury. Petitioner raised a similar claim as described previously when he argued that trial counsel was ineffective in failing to make further inquiry into this matter as discussed in supra Part V.D.vii. Respondent argues that this Claim is unexhausted. Even if this Claim is deemed unexhausted, it can still be denied on the merits so long as it is not "colorable." See Cassett, 406 F.3d at 624.
As outlined in supra Part V.D.vii, the state court made a factual finding that the communication between Stigerts and the jury concerned the spillage of a cup of coffee. Petitioner fails to rebut this factual finding by clear and convincing evidence. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(1). Detective Stigerts' communication to the jury regarding the spillage of coffee was de minimus and innocuous in nature and content. Petitioner failed to show that the communication was anything beyond de minimus such that the communication is not deemed presumptively prejudicial. Therefore, Petitioner fails to show that his due process rights were violated and that his trial was rendered fundamentally unfair by this communication. Claim XIV should be denied.
M. Claim XV
In Claim XV, Petitioner argues that indeterminate sentencing cannot exist and that the penalty for the crime charged must be the same number of years for each person committing the same offense. (See Pet'r's Am. Pet. at p. 40-41.) However, Petitioner withdrew this Claim as stated in his traverse.
N. Claim XVI
Next, Petitioner argues that the trial court erred "by admitting prejudicial and inflammatory testimony of a witness that he (the witness) believed that threats and reprisals he had suffered years earlier were connected to his testimony against Kinson Her, when the witness admittedly had no factual basis for this belief." (Pet'r's Am. Pet. at p. 41.) During trial, Rindy Her testified that he had received two telephone calls threatening to kill him if he testified. (See Reporter's Tr. at p. 698.) He also testified that his house was shot up and that he was jumped by members of a gang that were associated with Petitioner. (See id. at 698-99.) Petitioner raised this issue on direct appeal, and the Court of Appeal stated the following:
In the middle of prosecution witness Rindy Her's testimony, the court held an in-chambers hearing, during which Rindy disclosed he had been assaulted, his house had been fired upon, and he had received anonymous calls threatening to kill him if he testified. (Rindy stated that he was worried about testifying, because there were a lot of Kinson Her's friends out there, making him feel unsafe.
Over defendant's objection that the prejudicial effect of the evidence outweighed its probative value (Evid. Code § 352), the trial judge allowed Rindy to describe these acts in front of the jury, for the sole purpose of evaluating his demeanor. Prior to admitting this evidence, the judge gave the following instruction:
"Ladies and gentlemen, at this time I am going to give you a limiting instruction. You must follow this instruction. [¶] You are about to hear testimony concerning some threats and acts of violence directed towards this witness. This evidence is only to be considered in evaluating [Rindy] Her's attitude and demeanor towards testifying. The evidence is not to be considered against Houa Lao and Kinson Her. There's no evidence connecting [codefendants] Houa Lao and Kinson Her to these acts."
Rindy thereupon recounted the acts of witness intimidation and stated his belief that they were committed by gang members associated with his cousin, defendant Her.
Her now claims that the admission of this evidence was prejudicial error, because it "painted [him] in the minds of the jurors as a gang member and a violent individual with violent associates," and was not "fairly relevant" to Rindy's credibility. The argument lacks
merit.(Slip. Op. at p. 16-18.)
"'Evidence a witness is afraid to testify is relevant to the credibility of that witness and is therefore admissible. [Citations.] Testimony a witness is fearful of retaliation similarly relates to that witness's credibility and is also admissible. [Citation.] It is not necessary to show threats against the witness were made by the defendant personally, or the witness's fear of retaliation is directly linked to the defendant for the evidence to be admissible.'" (Olguin, supra, 31 Cal.App.4th at p. 1368, quoting People v. Gutierrez (1994) 23 Cal.App.4th 1576, 1587-1588.) As the court noted in Olguin: "A witness who testifies despite fear of recrimination of any kind by anyone is more credible because of his or her personal stake in the testimony. Just as the fact a witness expects to receive something in exchange for testimony may be considered in evaluating his or her credibility [citation], the fact a witness is testifying despite fear of recrimination is important [in] fully evaluating his or her credibility. For this purpose, it matters not the source of the threat. It could come from a friend of the defendant, or it could come from a stranger who merely approves of the defendant's conduct or disapproves of the victim. . . . [¶] Regardless of its source, the jury would be entitled to evaluate the witness's testimony knowing it was given under such circumstances." (Olguin, supra, at pp. 1368-1369.)
"We will not overturn or disturb a trial court's exercise of its discretion under [Evidence Code] section 352 in the absence of manifest abuse, upon a finding that its decision was palpably arbitrary, capricious and patently absurd." (People v. Jennings (2000) 81 Cal.App.4th 1301, 1314.) Here, the evidence was admitted with a proper cautionary admonition that it was to be considered solely for purposes of its effect on Rindy's demeanor and attitude toward testifying. The jury was also reminded there was no evidence connecting defendants to the acts described. We find no error, prejudicial or otherwise, in the admission of the intimidation testimony.
Respondent argues that this Claim should be deemed unexhausted because his federal habeas petition marks the first time that Petitioner has raised this Claim as an issue of federal law. This argument is incorrect. Petitioner argued on direct appeal that the admission of this testimony violated due process of law. (See Resp't's Lodged Doc. 1 at p. 37.) Petitioner raised this issue citing a deprivation of due process to the California Supreme Court on direct appeal (see Resp't's Lodged Doc. 7 at p. 14.) and in his state habeas petition. (See Resp't's Lodged Doc. 19 at p. 45.) The California Supreme Court summarily denied each of these petitions.
In Ortiz-Sandoval v. Gomez, 81 F.3d 891, 897 (9th Cir. 1996), the Ninth Circuit analyzed whether the trial court's admission of a threat he made against two witnesses rendered his trial fundamentally unfair such that it violated his due process rights. The court noted that "[w]hile a petitioner for federal habeas relief may not challenge the application of state evidentiary rules, he is entitled to relief if the evidentiary decision created an absence of fundamental fairness that "'fatally infected the trial.'" Id. (quoting Kealohapauole v. Shimoda, 800 F.2d 1463, 1465 (9th Cir. 1986)). The court noted that the petitioner "had something to gain by threatening the witnesses: the possible prevention of testimony showing his premeditation and lack of honest belief in self-defense." Id. at 898. Ultimately, the court determined that while there was some danger of prejudice, "the record does not permit a conclusion that the trial court abused its discretion or that the introduction of the evidence rendered the trial fundamentally unfair." Id. (citation omitted). The court noted that the threat was not particularly inflammatory and that the trial court gave a limiting instruction. See id.
This case is even one step removed from the situation in Ortiz-Sandoval (in which the Ninth Circuit found no due process violation as outlined above) in that the purported threats that were admitted into evidence against Rindy Her did not involve threats from Petitioner. In that sense, this case is more similar to United States v. Pierson, 121 F.3d 560 (9th Cir. 1997). In Pierson, the threats were anonymous. Thus, the Ninth Circuit distinguished Ortiz-Sandoval and determined that the district court had not abused its discretion in allowing the witness to testify to the threats. See id. at 563.
Petitioner has failed to show that the admission of the threats against Rindy Her rendered his trial fundamentally unfair so as to violate his due process rights. First, the threats were not made by the Petitioner. Second, the jury was given a limiting instruction immediately prior to Rindy Her's testimony concerning the threats. Under these circumstances, Petitioner's due process rights were not violated. See, e.g., Trejo v. Harrinton, Civ. No. 09-1113, 2010 WL 935744, at *1 (C.D. Cal. Mar. 9, 2010) ("Here, the government did not imply that Petitioner had anything to do with witness Rosales' fear . . . Rosales' fear was relevant to his credibility, and the jury could have permissibly inferred that he was in fear because of other members of Petitioner's gang or some other legitimate reason . . . . Therefore, Petitioner's trial was not fundamentally unfair.") (internal citation omitted). For the foregoing reasons, this Claim for habeas relief should be denied.
O. Claim XVII
In Claim XVII, Petitioner argues that "the court erred by instructing the jury, over objection, on the theory of "pretextual self-defense" under CALJIC No. 5.55, when this instruction was unsupported by the evidence and undermined Petitioner's legitimate self-defense argument." (Pet.'r's Am. Pet. at p. 43.) Petitioner raised this Claim on direct appeal and the California Court of Appeal stated the following:
Her and Lao each assign error to the giving of CALJIC No. 5.55. The instruction, which was given over defense objection, told the jury that the right of self-defense is not available to a person who seeks a quarrel with the intent to create a real or apparent need for exercising the right of self-defense. The prosecutor used the instruction in closing argument to argue that defendants could not rely on the right of self-defense if the evidence showed they deliberately drove into the territory of their HNS rivals with the intent to foment a quarrel.
Defendants claim the instruction should not have been given because there was no evidence that they drove by 3212 Western with the specific intent to create a pretext for self-defense.
We find no reversible error. First, the instruction was simply part of a packet of self-defense instructions requested by defense, all of which the court decided to give and some of which conflicted with others. As the court stated in Olguin: "It was obvious to everyone that not all of those instructions could apply to the case, and the jurors were specifically instructed they were to 'Disregard any instruction which applies to facts determined by you not to exist.' (CALJIC No. 17.31.)" (Olguin, supra, 31 Cal.App.4th at p. 1381.) We presume the jury follows the instructions given. (Ibid.) The California Supreme Court has also observed that an instruction correctly stating a principle of law but not applicable to the facts of the case is usually harmless, having little or no effect "'other than to add to the bulk of the charge.'" (People v. Rollo (1977) 20
Cal.3d 109, 123, quoting People v. Sanchez (1947) 30 Cal.2d 560, 573.)(Slip. Op. at p. 22-24.)
Second, while there was credible evidence that HNS gang members returned the fire of the drive-by shooters, the notion that defendants were exercising their right of self-defense when they drove by the apartment building and riddled it with bullets, is nothing short of fanciful. For the jurors to have accepted this theory, they would have had to conclude that defendants and a third companion drove a stolen car into the heart of enemy gang territory and, while armed to the teeth, were fired upon by HNS members who, serendipitously, happened to be standing outside. Aside from the fact that, as Detective Lee pointed out, a shotgun is not a useful weapon to carry around for self-defense, such a scenario defies both logic and common sense. We conclude there was no substantial evidence to support a jury finding that the occupants of the Camry were exercising their right of self-defense. (See People v. Shelmire (2005) 130 Cal.App.4th 1044, 1054-1055.) [FN 7] [FN 7] When asked at oral argument what evidence in the record showed that the victims fired first, counsel for Lao cited only the fact that one bullet entered the side passenger window of the Camry and exited the "back windshield" (sic), and expert testimony that one gang feels "disrespected" when a rival gang enters its territory. We find this far too flimsy and speculative as basis to support a viable claim of perfect self-defense.
Because there was no substantial evidence of self-defense, the jury could not have been misled by the giving of CALJIC No. 5.55 and the alleged instructional error was harmless. (People v. Flood (1998) 18 Cal.4th 470, 491, Cal. Const., art. VI, § 13.)
A challenge to a jury instruction solely as an error of state law does not state a claim cognizable in a federal habeas corpus action. See Estelle, 502 U.S. at 71-72. To obtain federal collateral relief for errors in the jury charge, a petitioner must show that the ailing instruction by itself so infected the entire trial that the resulting conviction violates due process. See id. at 72. Additionally, the instruction may not be judged in artificial isolation, but must be considered in the context of the instructions as a whole and the trial record. See id. The court must evaluate jury instructions in the context of the overall charge to the jury as a component of the entire trial process. See United States v. Frady, 456 U.S 152, 169 (1982). Furthermore, even if it is determined that the instruction violated the petitioner's right to due process, a petitioner can only obtain relief if the unconstitutional instruction had a substantial influence on the conviction and thereby resulted in actual prejudice under Brecht, 507 U.S. at 637, which is whether the error had substantial and injurious effect or influence in determining the jury's verdict. See, e.g., Hedgpeth v. Pulido, 555 U.S. 57, 129 S.Ct. 530, 532 (2008) (per curiam).
As noted by the California Court of Appeal on direct appeal, the pretextual self-defense instruction was part of a larger jury instruction detailing the theory of self-defense. Taken as a whole, the instruction did not so infect the trial so as to violate Petitioner's due process rights. It is also worth noting that the gang expert testified as to the rival gangs purported territory, thereby supporting giving this instruction. Furthermore, as noted by the California Court of Appeal, the jury was specifically instructed that to "disregard any instruction which applies to the facts determined by you not to exist." (Reporter's Tr. at p. 1297.) A jury is presumed to have followed its instructions. See Weeks, 528 U.S. at 234. If the jury did not believe that Petitioner was seeking a quarrel, this instruction would not have been considered by the jury in determining its verdict. This instruction did not infect the trial so as to violate Petitioner's due process rights. Petitioner is not entitled to federal habeas relief on this Claim.
P. Claim XVIII
In Claim XVIII, Petitioner argued that "[t]he trial court erred in instructing the jury, over objection, on the theory of 'adoptive admissions' (CALJIC 2.71.5), involving Her's post-arrest interrogation by police." (Pet'r's Am. Pet. at p. 46.) However, Petitioner withdrew this Claim as stated in his traverse.
Q. Claim XIX
Next, Petitioner argues that the trial court erred in instructing the jury using CALJIC 2.03, 2.06, 2.51 and 2.52. However, Petitioner withdrew this Claim as stated in his traverse.
R. Claim XX
In Claim XX, Petitioner argues that the trial court erred in failing to rewrite CALJIC 2.90. However, Petitioner withdrew this Claim as stated in his traverse.
S. Claim XXI
In Claim XXI, Petitioner argues that "[t]he trial court's instruction on CALJIC No. 5.17 on imperfect self-defense is erroneous, placing an improper limitation on the defense in circumstances in which the defense should still be legally applicable." (Pet'r's Am. Pet. at p. 49.) At trial, the jury was instructed that:
A person who kills another person in the actual but unreasonable belief in the necessity to defend against imminent peril to life or great bodily injury kills unlawfully but does not harbor malice aforethought and is not guilty of murder. This would be so event though a reasonable person in the same situation, seeing and knowing the same facts, would not have had the same belief. Such an actual but unreasonable belief is not a defense to the crime of voluntary manslaughter.(Reporter's Tr. at p. 1132-33.)
As used in this instruction, an "imminent" peril or danger means one that is apparent, present, immediate and must be instantly dealt with or must so appear at the time to the slayer.
However, this principle is not available and malice aforethought is not negated if the Defendant by his unlawful or wrongful conduct created the circumstances which legally justified his adversary's use of force, attack or pursuit.
This principle applies equally to a person who kills in purported self-defense or purported defense of another person.
Petitioner argues that this instruction was improper because it takes no account of Petitioner's subjective belief as to the situation. Petitioner raised this Claim on both direct appeal and in his state habeas petitions. The last reasoned decision on this Claim was from the Sacramento Superior Court on state habeas review. That court stated the following with respect to this Claim:
Petitioner next claims that it was error to give CALJIC No. 5.17, because the revised language in that instruction is case in objective terms and takes no account of petitioner's subjective belief . . . [¶] CALJIC No. 5.17, however, is not cast in objective terms. Rather, the revised instruction as given at trial instructed on "the actual but unreasonable belief in the necessity to defend against imminent peril," "even though a reasonable person in the same
situation seeing and knowing the same facts would not have had the same belief," when the peril is one that "is apparent, present, immediate and must be instantly dealt with, or must so appear at the time to the slayer." That is subjective, not objective, thus the claim is denied.(Resp't's Lodged Doc. 11 at p. 5-6.)
As stated by the Sacramento County Superior Court, CALJIC 5.17 is subjective rather than objective. Thus, it is contrary to Petitioner's assertion that it fails to take into account Petitioner's subjective beliefs. Petitioner fails to show that the state courts' denial of this Claim was contrary to or an unreasonable application of clearly established federal law or resulted in a decision that was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in the record. Petitioner is not entitled to federal habeas relief on Claim XXI.
T. Claim XXII
In Claim XXII, Petitioner argues that the prosecutor committed misconduct when he "allowed the prosecution's main witness [Detective Stigerts] . . . to talk to the jury during trial." (Pet'r's Am. Pet. at p. 51.) Petitioner raised similar claims when he argued that trial counsel was ineffective in failing to make further inquiry into this matter as discussed in supra Part V.D.viii and that the trial court erred in failing to declare a mistrial due to this communication. See supra Part V.L.
Respondent argues that this Claim is unexhausted. (See Resp't's Answer at p. 40.) Assuming arguendo that this Claim is unexhausted, the Claim could still be denied on the merits if it is deemed not "colorable." See Cassett, 406 F.3d at 624.
A criminal defendant's due process rights are violated if prosecutorial misconduct renders a trial "fundamentally unfair." Drayden v. White, 232 F.3d 704, 713 (9th Cir. 2000) (citing Darden v. Wainright, 477 U.S. 168, 183 (1986)). A habeas petition will be granted for prosecutorial misconduct only when the misconduct "so infected the trial with unfairness as to make the resulting conviction a denial of due process." Darden, 477 U.S. at 181 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). A claim of prosecutorial misconduct is analyzed under the prejudice standard set forth in Brecht 507 U.S. 619. See Karis v. Calderon, 283 F.3d 1117, 1128 (stating that a claim of prosecutorial misconduct is analyzed under the standard set forth in Brecht). Specifically, the inquiry is whether the prosecutorial misconduct had a substantial and injurious effect on the jury's verdict. See Johnson v. Sublett, 63 F.3d 926, 930 (9th Cir. 1995) (finding no prejudice from prosecutorial misconduct because it could not have had a substantial impact on the verdict under Brecht).
As stated in supra Part V.D.vii, the state court made a factual finding that the communication between Stigerts and the jury concerned the spillage of a cup of coffee. Petitioner fails to rebut this factual finding by clear and convincing evidence. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(1). Detective Stigerts' reference to the jury regarding the spillage of coffee was de minimus and innocuous in nature and content. Petitioner failed to show that the communication was anything beyond de minimus such that the communication is not deemed presumptively prejudicial. Petitioner fails to show that his due process rights were violated and that his trial was rendered fundamentally unfair by this communication and/or that any purported misconduct had a substantial and injurious effect on the jury's verdict. Therefore, Petitioner fails to establish even a "colorable" claim for relief in Claim XXII. This Claim should be denied.
U. Claim XXIII
In Claim XXII, Petitioner argues that he should be subject to a high, medium or low penalty for the murder and attempted murder convictions. Petitioner raised this issue in his state habeas petitions. The last reasoned decision was from the Sacramento County Superior Court which stated the following:
Petitioner, in a related claim, claims he should be subject to a determinate sentencing triad for murder. [¶] This is an incorrect statement of the law. Non-capital murder, at the time of the commission of the crimes as well as before and after that time, is punishable under Penal Code § 190 by a life sentence.(Resp't's Lodged Doc. 11 at p. 6.)
Respondent argues that this Claim is unexhausted. (See Resp't's Answer at p. 61.) However, Petitioner raised this Claim in his state habeas petitions and it was denied on the merits. Therefore, the Claim is deemed exhausted.
At the outset, to the extent that Petitioner argues that his sentence violated state law, that issue is not cognizable on federal habeas review. See Estelle, 502 U.S. at 71-72. Furthermore, to the extent this Claim raises a federal dimension, Petitioner fails to show that the state court's denial of this Claim was an unreasonable application of clearly established federal law or resulted in a decision that was based upon an unreasonable determination of the facts in the record in light of the reasoning of the Sacramento County Superior Court denying this Claim. Accordingly, this Claim should be denied.
V. Claim XXIV
In Claim XXIV, Petitioner argues that his statement to police (which was admitted into evidence) was obtained in violation of his constitutional rights. Petitioner argues that the trial court erred in admitting his statement: (1) because of his age, limited education and mental capacity; (2) because the Miranda warnings were not given until the interrogation was well underway; and (3) because Petitioner's right to remain silent were ignored by the police.
Petitioner raised these issues on direct appeal to the California Court of Appeal which stated the following:
On July 2, 2002, Detective John Keller traveled to Minnesota, where he interviewed Her. During trial, Her's counsel made an amorphous [FN 4] oral motion in limine, in which he claimed that Her's statements to Keller were elicited in violation of his rights under Miranda v. Arizona (1966) 384 U.S. 436 . Counsel argued that his client's waiver was not free and voluntary, because he was only 15 years old, had "minimal contact with the justice system" and did not have an adult present during questioning. He also asserted that there was "pre-Miranda custodial interrogation" and that Detective Keller engaged in subterfuge and deceit. The trial court denied the motion, finding that Her had previous contact with the criminal justice system, had previously been advised of his Miranda rights, and that his waiver was knowing, intelligent and voluntary. Echoing trial counsel's arguments, Her claims the trial court's ruling was incorrect.
[FN 4] There is no written motion in the record and counsel never described the remedy he sought. Consequently, we are unable to
ascertain from the record exactly what evidence Her was seeking to exclude from the trial. The trial court characterized the motion as one to suppress Her's statement to Detective Keller.(Slip Op. at p. 18-20.)
We need not reach the merits of the ruling, because Her has totally failed to demonstrate that the admission of his statements to Detective Keller was prejudicial.
Admission of statements obtained in violation of Miranda are subject to review under the harmless error standard of Chapman v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 18, 24 [17 L.Ed.2d 705, 710-711] (Chapman), under which we inquire whether the error may be deemed harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. (See Arizona v. Fulminante (1991) 499 U.S. 279, 310 [113 L.Ed.2d 302, 331-332]; People v. Cunningham (2001) 25 Cal.4th 926, 994.)
In the interview, Her steadfastly denied knowing Lao or anything about the shooting. In his brief, Her makes no attempt to demonstrate that the admission of his statements influenced the jury verdict or significantly affected the outcome of the trial. Prejudice is never presumed; it must be affirmatively demonstrated. "Anyone who seeks on appeal to predicate a reversal of conviction on error must show that it was prejudicial." (People v. Archerd (1970) 3 Cal.3d 615, 643; People v. Bell (1998) 61 Cal.App.4th 282, 291.) Because Her makes no such showing, we must conclude "that the error complained of did not contribute to the verdict obtained" (Chapman, supra, 386 U.S. at p. 24 ) and therefore any error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. [FN 5]
[FN 5] In his factual recitation, Her claims that his statements to Detective Keller were used to search a residence where police discovered letters indicative of gang affiliation and that his denial that he knew defendant Lao was used to show consciousness of guilt. However, since this passage (1) does not appear under a separately headed argument; (2) does not address the issue of prejudice; and (3) is unaccompanied by a single citation to the record, it does not qualify as a cognizable legal argument. (People v. Freeman (1994) 8 Cal.4th 450, 482, fn. 2; People v. California Horse Racing Bd. (1995) 34 Cal.App.4th 1826, 1830.)
Petitioner did not raise these arguments in his petition for review to the California Supreme Court on direct appeal. Petitioner next raised these arguments in his state habeas petitions. The Sacramento County Superior Court stated the following with respect to these arguments, "Petitioner next claims that the trial court abused its discretion in admitting at trial petitioner's statement given to Detective Keller. [¶] The claim was raised and rejected on appeal, and Petitioner fails to show any exception to the Waltreus bar to the claim." (Resp't's Lodged Doc. 11 at p. 3.) The California Court of Appeal and the California Supreme Court issued summary denials on Petitioner's state habeas petition.
Petitioner argues that this Claim is unexhausted. However, for similar reasons as described with respect to Claim I, see supra Part V.A., this Court will look through the state habeas decision which relied on Waltreus to the last reasoned decision which was from the California Court of Appeal on direct appeal which denied this Claim on the merits.
First, Petitioner argues that the trial court erred in admitting his statement. He states that he was only "15 years-old, did not have any adult present during questioning, had minimal contact with the justice system, had not finish [sic] his junior year in high school and was of limited education and mental compacity [sic]." (Pet'r's Am. Pet. at p. 52.)
In Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 444 (1966), the United States Supreme Court declared that a person questioned by law enforcement officers after being "taken into custody or otherwise deprived of his freedom of action in any significant way" must first be warned that he has the right to remain silent, that any statements he does make me be used against him, and that he has a right to the presence of an attorney, either retained or appointed. An officer's duty to administer Miranda warnings arises only where there has been such a restriction on a person's freedom as to render him 'in custody.' Oregon v. Mathiason, 429 U.S. 492, 495 (1977) (per curiam). When a suspect is subjected to a custodial interrogation and not warned of the above rights, the ensuing statements elicited may not be admitted for certain purposes in a criminal trial. See Stansbury v. California, 511 U.S. 318, 322 (1994) (per curiam).
A defendant may waive his Miranda rights, provide the waiver is "voluntary in the sense that it was the product of a free and deliberate choice rather than intimidation, coercion, or deception," and "made with a full awareness of both the nature of the right being abandoned and the consequences of the decision to abandon it." Moran v. Burbine, 475 U.S. 412, 421 (1986). However, an express waiver of Miranda rights is not necessary. See Berghuis v. Thompkins, 130 S.Ct. 2250, 2261 (2010); North Carolina v. Butler, 441 U.S. 369, 373 (1973); United States v. Younger, 398 F.3d 1179, 1185 (9th Cir. 2005) ("In soliciting a waiver of Miranda rights, police officers need not use a waiver form nor ask explicitly whether a defendant intends to waive his or her rights."). A valid waiver of rights may be implied under the circumstances presented in the particular case. Specifically, "a suspect may impliedly waive the rights by answering an officer's questions after receiving Miranda warnings." United States v. Rodriguez, 518 F.3d 1072, 1080 (9th Cir. 2008). However, even if there is a Miranda violation, the erroneous admission of statements taken in violation of Miranda is subject to harmless error analysis under the Brecht standard. See Ghent v. Woodward, 279 F.3d 1121, 1126 (9th Cir. 2002).
At the outset, Petitioner waived his Miranda rights during the interrogation with the detectives. (See Clerk's Tr. at p. 669.) After receiving the appropriate warnings, Petitioner responded to and answered the detective's questions. See Berghuis, 130 S.Ct. at 2261 (noting that a waiver of Miranda rights may be implied through the defendant's silence, along with an understanding of those rights and a course of conduct indicating waiver). When Petitioner was asked if he understood his rights, Petitioner responded that he did. (See Clerk's Tr. at p. 669.) Petitioner also had experience with being given his Miranda rights. (See id. at p. 668.) In Fare v. Michael C., 442 U.S. 707, 725 (1979), the United States Supreme Court stated that the totality of the circumstances approach is adequate to determine whether a juvenile waived his Miranda rights. This approach includes the juvenile's age, experience, education, background, and intelligence, and into whether he has the capacity to understand the warning given him, the nature of his Fifth Amendment rights, and the consequences of waiving those rights. See id.
In this case, the state court did not determine whether Petitioner had waived his Miranda rights as it determined that even if there was a Miranda violation, any error was harmless. As outlined above, the Court of Appeal decided this argument under the stricter Chapman standard as opposed to the standard enunciated in Brecht. Recently, the United States Supreme Court stated that:
[I]n § 2254 proceedings a court must assess the prejudicial impact of constitutional error in a state-court criminal trial under the "substantial and injurious effect" standard set forth in Brecht, 507 U.S. 619, whether or not the state appellate court recognized the error and reviewed it for harmlessness under the "harmless beyond a reasonable doubt standard set forth in Chapman, 386 U.S. 18.Fry v. Pliler, 551 U.S. 112, 121-22 (2007). Thus, the Brecht harmless error standard will be analyzed in reviewing whether any purported Miranda violation warrants federal habeas relief.
As noted by the California Court of Appeal, Petitioner never made any confession in his interview with Detective Keller. He steadfastly denied anything to do with the shooting at 3212 Western. There was strong evidence linking Petitioner to this crime and his gang activity. This included, but was not limited to the physical evidence including Petitioner's DNA being found on the bandana in the stolen Toyota Camry which committed the drive-by shooting, the three guns that were found that were involved in the shooting, the gang expert's testimony and Petitioner's girlfriend Ly's testimony. Thus, assuming arguendo that any Miranda violation occurred by admitting Petitioner's statement due to his age and youth, any error would be deemed harmless under Brecht. The evidence from the interrogation did not have had a substantial and injurious effect on the jury's verdict. There was little evidence that Petitioner stated during his interrogation that implicated him in these crimes.
Petitioner also argues that the Miranda warnings were not given until the interrogation between Detective Keller and Petitioner had already begun. The transcript of the interview was admitted into evidence and the tape of the interview was played to the jury. Before the Miranda warnings were given to Petitioner, the following colloquy took place:
UNKNOWN: This is Kinson.
DET. KELLER: Kinson, how are you?
K. HER: All right.
DET. KELLER: Pat Keller from Sacramento.
K. HER: Hi.
DET. KELLER: How are you? You'll be going home with us.
DET. FESMIRE: Marnie Fesmire, from Sacramento, as well.
DET. KELLER: Detective Fesmire.
DET. FESMIRE: (Unintelligible)
DET. KELLER: Okay. Have a seat in the back there.
DET. FESMIRE: That'd be good.
UNKNOWN: Okay. (Unintelligible)
DET. KELLER: Yeah.
UNKNOWN: (Unintelligible).
DET. KELLER: Okay. I'll - I'll meet you back (unintelligible).
UNKNOWN: Okay.
K. HER: (Unintelligible)
DET. FESMIRE: It's just your picture that we have of you.
DET. KELLER: Hopefully we can get out of here when the time comes.
K. HER: So what you mean about -
DET. FESMIRE: That's you.
K. HER: What about driving back or -
DET. KELLER: Drive?
K. HER: Or fly?
DET. FESMIRE: You're high if you think we're driving.
DET. KELLER: We'll fly back.
K. HER: It's free for me, right?
DET. KELLER: Huh?
K. HER: Is it free for me or (unintelligible)?
DET. KELLER: Yeah, we're paying - we're paying your way.
K. HER: All right.
DET. KELLER: All right?
K. HER: I just want to ask cuz I don't - I don't - I want to know if I'm going to pay after or anything.
DET. KELLER: Pay what?
K. HER: Pay after.
DET. KELLER: To come back?
K. HER: No, to go back. Pay after the flight.
DET. KELLER: No, we're paying.
K. HER: I know.
DET. KELLER: You -
K. HER: I was just asking.
DET. KELLER: You don't have to pay.
DET. FESMIRE: And -
DET. KELLER: Um, --
DET. FESMIRE: You wouldn't get a choice, really, cuz it's a warrant. So - unfortunately.
DET. KELLER: Kinson, where you been staying out here? (Unintelligible)
K. HER: Oh, it's - I think it's 30 - either 1316 or 1613.
DET. KELLER: What?
K. HER: 4th Ave.
DET. KELLER: 4th Ave.?
K. HER: Yeah.
DET. KELLER: Is that here in Minneapolis?
K. HER: Uh-huh.
DET. KELLER: And whose place is that?
K. HER: Oh, um Tom. I was staying with - I don't know if (unintelligible) name, but I was staying with him for like two
weeks or two months.
DET. KELLER: Okay. Tom what?
K. HER: Tom Baker.
DET. KELLER: Is that a relative or just a friend?
K. HER: He's like my in-law. He's like my brother-in-law.
DET. KELLER: Oh, brother-in-law?
K. HER: Like - he's like my auntie's - he's like my auntie's husband.
DET. KELLER: So by marriage he is related?
K. HER: Yeah.
DET. KELLER: Okay. How old is Tom?
K. HER: He's like twenty.
DET. KELLER: Is there a phone number out there?
K. HER: No.
DET. KELLER: How far away is that from, uh, where we're at right now?
K. HER: I'm not even sure.
DET. KELLER: Oh, really?
K. HER: I don't even know where we're at right now.
DET. KELLER: Okay. Okay.
K. HER: I don't know my way around.
DET. KELLER: You know more than we do. So that's where you've been staying since you came back here?
K. HER: Yeah.
DET. KELLER: Do you have any clothes and stuff like that there?
K. HER: Um, nope. Not right now.
DET. KELLER: Where are all your clothes and all that stuff?
K. HER: At my - oh, at my girlfriend's house.
DET. KELLER: Okay. Who's that?
K. HER: Lisa.
DET. KELLER: Lisa what?
K. HER: Lisa Vang.
DET. KELLER: Vang?
K. HER: Yeah.
DET. KELLER: And how old is she?
K. HER: She's eighteen.
DET. KELLER: And what's her address?
K. HER: I don't know her address.
DET. KELLER: What street?
K. HER: Uh, I'm not sure. I got it in the room.
DET. KELLER: Okay, how about a phone for Lisa?
K. HER: Yeah, I (unintelligible) in the room. I don't -
DET. KELLER: Okay. You don't have it? All right. How long you been - has she had your stuff? You don't stay with her?
K. HER: Uh, she was - she was with me for a while (unintelligible).
DET. KELLER: She was staying at, uh, Tom's house?
K. HER: Yeah, for a while.
DET. KELLER: Uh, when did she pick all your stuff up?
K. HER: Uh, I'm not sure. She's - I'm not sure. She wrote to me. She's like - she's - she's like she got my clothes. She gonna send
it to (unintelligible). I'm not sure.
DET. KELLER: So basically after you got rolled up she went and got your stuff -
K. HER: Yeah.
DET. KELLER: - from Tom's house and took it back to her house?
K. HER: Yeah, that's what she said. Yes, sir.
DET. KELLER: Okay. Who's Lisa live with?
K. HER: Uh, her parents.
DET. KELLER: Her mom and dad or -
K. HER: Yeah.
DET. KELLER: And you don't know either of the phone numbers? Both Tom and (unintelligible) --
K. HER: He don't have no phone.
DET. KELLER: Do you have family back here? Other than like brother-in-law and stuff? I mean, immediate family?
K. HER: Yeah, like my brother cousins.
DET. KELLER: Cousins?
K. HER: Yeah.
DET. KELLER: Who - who are they?
K. HER: My cousins. But then I - I - I haven't seen them ever since I got here. I haven't talked to them.
DET. KELLER: Okay. So that's not why you came out here, then, to - to be with them or -
K. HER: (No audible response.)
DET. KELLER: Okay. You know, I'm not sure. I guess you got rolled up because you were the victim in the shooting? Is that what -
K. HER: Yeah.
DET. KELLER: You guys were in a car that got shot up or -
K. HER: Yeah.
DET. KELLER: - somebody got -
K. HER: Yeah.
DET. KELLER: Some girl got shot?
K. HER: Yeah.
DET. KELLER: And that was Lisa's sister that got shot?
K. HER: No, that was Tom's wife.
DET. KELLER: Tom's wife? So your aunt?
K. HER: Yeah.
DET. KELLER: Okay. What's her name?
K. HER: Mee.
DET. KELLER: M-E-E?
K. HER: Yeah.
DET. KELLER: And that's your aunt?
K. HER: Yeah.
DET. KELLER: What's her last name?
K. HER: Her.
DET. KELLER: Baker or -
K. HER: Her.
DET. KELLER: Her? She's the one that got shot in the arm or something?
K. HER: Yeah.
DET. KELLER: She gonna be okay?
K. HER: I don't know. I haven't talked to her.
DET. KELLER: You haven't heard from her?
K. HER: No. Cuz they don't let me call no one. Only my parents.
DET. KELLER: And you've talked to Mom and Dad back in Sacramento?
K. HER: Um, yeah.
DET. KELLER: Cuz they reported you as a -
K. HER: Yeah.
DET. KELLER: - missing person a while back.
K. HER: I called them - I called them - they - they actually knew I was up here, but I don't know, I guess (unintelligible). But I told them when I was up here.
DET. KELLER: I don't blame them for worrying.
K. HER: Yeah.
DET. KELLER: Uh, like I say, they reported you missing, but they do know you - you're in custody and all that?
K. HER: Yeah.
DET. KELLER: People out here called and -
K. HER: No.
DET. KELLER: - talked to them?
K. HER: I don't think they did. I did.
DET. KELLER: What's your home address?
K. HER: 3585 Sandy - uh 18th Street.
DET. KELLER: Uh, and the phone?
K. HER: [redacted].
DET. KELLER: What's Mom's name?
K. HER: Mee.
DET. KELLER: Her?
K. HER: For.
DET. KELLER: T-H-O-R?
K. HER: F-O-R.
DET. KELLER: And Dad?
K. HER: Wayne (unintelligible) Her.
DET. KELLER: Wayne?
K. HER: Yeah.
DET. KELLER: For? Or -
K. HER: Her.
DET. KELLER: - Her, you said? And who else lives there at, uh, 18th Street?
K. HER: Uh, on 18th Street?
DET. KELLER: Yeah, at Mom and Dad's?
K. HER: My brothers and sisters.
DET. KELLER: How many brothers?
K. HER: Like my brother lives next door and my - one - him and my brother own it, two of my brothers. But there's like two different - it's like a duplex.
DET. KELLER: Okay. So you guys are in both houses in the du - duplex? (Unintelligible)
K. HER: It's like next to each other.
DET. KELLER: Okay.
K. HER: Yeah, I live with - I got two brothers that live with me and three sisters.
DET. KELLER: But some of them live in the du -
K. HER: Uh-huh.
DET. KELLER: - duplex next door, right?
K. HER: Yeah.
DET. KELLER: Which - what are the names of the brothers?
K. HER: John. And X-A, Xa.
DET. KELLER: X-A?
K. HER: Yeah. That's - they live - actually, I just live with like one of my brothers.
DET. KELLER: Okay. Which one?
K. HER: John.
DET. KELLER: How old is John?
K. HER: Like seventeen.
DET. KELLER: How old is X-A?
K. HER: Like - he's like a - like an older dude. Like thirty. Thirty (unintelligible) --
DET. KELLER: That ain't that old, dude. Come on.
K. HER: (Unintelligible)
DET. KELLER: Don't insult me.
K. HER: Compared to me. I mean, yeah.
DET. KELLER: Um, which - what are your sisters' names?
K. HER: Julie, Donna and Laura.
DET. KELLER: Donna and what?
K. HER: Laura.
DET. KELLER: Laura? Those are American names or those are birth names?
K. HER: Yeah, they're birth names.
DET. KELLER: Okay. How old is Julie?
K. HER: She's, I think, twenty-one. I think Donna - I don't know. She probably like around twenty.
DET. KELLER: And Laura?
K. HER: Thirteen.
DET. KELLER: So Laura's the youngest?
K. HER: Yeah.
K. HER: And then you?
K. HER: Uh-huh.
DET. KELLER: And then it looks like John?
K. HER: Yeah.
DET. KELLER: Now what is your real name?
K. HER: Kinson.
DET. KELLER: Now is that your American name?
K. HER: Yeah, you could say.
DET. KELLER: Okay. What's your, uh - you're Hmong?
K. HER: Yeah.
DET. KELLER: Okay. What's your Hmong name?
K. HER: I don't got no Hmong name. I don't know if - I don't know if - because they're (unintelligible) all name was American name. But that's the only name I have. I don't have no American
name.
DET. KELLER: Okay. That's Her, right?
K. HER: Yeah.
DET. KELLER: And what's your real birth date?
K. HER: September 20th.
DET. KELLER: September 20th?
K. HER: '86.
DET. KELLER: And you're fifteen?
K. HER: Yeah.
DET. KELLER: Were you born here in the U.S. or -
K. HER: Yeah.
DET. KELLER: Where at?
K. HER: Sacramento.
DET. KELLER: In Sac?
DET. FESMIRE: Do you know where at? What hospital in (unintelligible)?
K. HER: Nope. I don't know.
DET. KELLER: Uh, does your dad work?
K. HER: Uh, nope, not that I know of.
DET. KELLER: No? What about Mom?
K. HER: No.
DET. KELLER: What do they do for money?
K. HER: I don't know.
DET. KELLER: They get some kind of -
K. HER: Welfare.
DET. KELLER: - assistance? Uh, you got any idea why we're back here, Kinson?
K. HER: No. To come pick me up, that's what they said. And what was the warrant for, anyway?
DET. KELLER: Probation.
K. HER: Violation?
DET. KELLER: Yeah. Who's your P.O.? Is it Montana?
K. HER: Yeah. I think -
DET. KELLER: Or somebody else?
K. HER: I'm not sure. I think it's John Montana.
DET. KELLER: It was Montana and then somebody else took it, I think?
K. HER: I'm not sure but - I'm not sure myself. The last time it was like Montana.
DET. KELLER: Okay. Yeah, I think - cuz when I talked to John I think he submitted - you're actually on somebody else's caseload now.
K. HER: So is this a probation violation?
DET. KELLER: Yeah.
K. HER: For going out of state?
DET. KELLER: Yeah, for not being where you're supposed to be. That's part of your probation. And Mom and Dad reported you as a runaway or missing person or something. So (unintelligible) been trying to figure out where you're at. So - and there's some things that we need to talk about, okay?
K. HER: Yeah.
DET. KELLER: Has anybody read your rights since you got rolled up on this thing?(Clerk's Tr. at p. 655-669.) Whereupon, Petitioner was read and waived his Miranda rights.
K. HER: Nope.
DET. KELLER: Okay. Have you had them read before?
K. HER: Um, yeah.
DET. KELLER: Okay. What kind of -
K. HER: (Unintelligible). I don't remember.
DET. KELLER: On some kind of case?
K. HER: Yeah.
DET. KELLER: What are you on probation for, uh, Kinson?
K. HER: For GTA, grand theft auto.
DET. KELLER: You and a million other kids, huh?
K. HER: Like, yeah, (unintelligible).
Petitioner argues that giving the Miranda warnings "mid-stream" violated Missouri v. Seibert, 542 U.S. 600 (2004). He states in his amended federal habeas petition that his pre-Miranda statements led detectives to search Lisa Vang's family home where Petitioner's duffel bag and a series of letters were found which were used as proof of gang affiliation and association with co-defendant Lao. (See Pet'r's Am. Pet. at p. 56.) Additionally, the Petitioner argues that the admission of the post-Miranda interrogation was impermissible because it was used to establish that Petitioner was untruthful in claiming not to know co-defendant Lao. (See id.)
In Seibert, 542 U.S. at 604, the United States Supreme Court held that the "midstream recitation of warnings after interrogation and unwarned confession could not effectively comply with Miranda's constitutional requirement [such that] a statement repeated after a warning in such circumstances is inadmissible." An impermissible two-step interrogation process is one where "a confession [is] obtained after a Miranda warning but preceded by the suspect's earlier, unwarned incriminating statements." United States v. Williams, 435 F.3d 1148, 1152 (9th Cir. 2006). It is impermissible to employ this technique if the midstream Miranda warnings do not effectively appraise the defendant of his constitutional rights. See id. at p. 1157-58. The test used to determine this is whether (1) the use of the interrogation technique by officers was deliberate, see id. at 1159, and (2) the midstream Miranda warnings "adequately and effectively apprised the suspect that he had a 'genuine choice whether to follow up on [his] earlier admission.'" Id. at 1160 (quoting Seibert, 542 U.S. at 615).
At the outset, Petitioner provides no indication that the use of the interrogation technique in waiting to give Petitioner his Miranda rights after some preliminary questions were asked was deliberately done by the detectives. Furthermore, as noted by the California Court of Appeal, Petitioner never made any confession in his interview with Detective Keller. He steadfastly denied anything to do with the shooting at 3212 Western. There was strong evidence linking Petitioner to this crime and his gang activity and there was little to no evidence that was gleaned from the interrogation as Petitioner was steadfast in his denials. This included the physical DNA evidence, the gang expert's testimony and his girlfriend Ly's testimony. Thus, assuming arguendo that any Miranda violation occurred by admitting the pre and post-Miranda statements, any error would be deemed harmless under Brecht. The evidence from the interrogation (both pre and post-warnings) did not have had a substantial and injurious effect on the jury's verdict.
Next, Petitioner argues that his repeated invocations of his right to remain silent were ignored by the detectives after he was given his Miranda warnings. The following colloquies took place between Detective Keller and Petitioner during the interrogation:
K. HER: You need to get on your thing. I don't - I don't even - I don't even know who he is. I don't - okay, so what, I can just be [quiet until like, uh court].(Clerk's Tr. at p. 705-06; see also Resp't's Lodged Doc. 1 at p. 42-43.)
DET. KELLER: Well, yeah, you could. But Ricky's in jail right now on a murder, okay? And he's trying to implicate you as being involved.
K. HER: Involved with him (unintelligible)?
K. HER: So I could just wait until my court date to say anything?
DET. KELLER: If that's what you choose.
K. HER: (Inaudible).
DET. KELLER: Well, you're the one that's gonna be looking at getting charged with murder, okay? And if you're not a shooter or you're not the one that did it, this is the time - this is gonna be the only time we talk to you, okay?
K. HER: Uh-huh.
DET. KELLER: We're gonna go back and we're gonna write up a
warrant requesting you be charged with murder and submit it to the district attorney and the judge. And this is your only opportunity - I mean, if you're not involved you need to tell me because otherwise it's gonna be too late. And once you catch a murder on your record it stays for good.(Clerk's Tr. at p. 710-12.)
K. HER: So, what, we're gonna go back tomorrow?
DET. KELLER: Uh-huh. Why don't you want to be honest about this? Or are you just a cold-blooded killer? Is that the real deal?
K. HER: I ain't no killer. I ain't no cold-blooded killer.
DET. KELLER: Well, then be honest about what happened down there. Tell me about it.
K. HER: What, I can't wait 'til, um, court?
DET. KELLER: You can.
K. HER: Well, that's what I want to do.
DET. KELLER: Okay. All right. Well, when we get back we're gonna write up a warrant requesting you be charged with murder on a drive-by shooting.
K. HER: So if -
DET. KELLER: Gang-related.
K. HER: If I go to court could like my sister - could my sister go?
DET. KELLER: Court's open to the public. Okay?
K. HER: Okay.
DET. KELLER: And after you think about this tonight and whatever, you know, if you decide tomorrow that you want to be honest about this before it's too late, you tell me and we'll talk about it on the plane or whatever. Okay?
K. HER: Uh-huh.
DET. KELLER: Get you back to your cell and figure out where you need to go from there.
(End of Interview)
Petitioner argues that the above colloquies indicate that he subsequently withdrew his Miranda waiver by invoking his right to remain silent. In order to invoke one's Fifth Amendment right to silence, a suspect must do so unambiguously. See Berghuis, 130 S.Ct. at 2260 ("Thompkins did not say that he wanted to remain silent or that he did not want to talk with the police. Had he made either of these simple, unambiguous statements, he would have invoked his right to cut off questioning. Here he did neither, so he did not invoke his right to remain silent.") (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). In this case, Petitioner did not unambiguously invoke his right to remain silent until he told Detective Keller that he wanted to wait until he was in court to make a statement. Petitioner comments leading up to that statement were in question form to Detective Keller regarding the invocation of his right to remain silent. As such, Petitioner fails to show that the admission of his statement violated his right to remain silent as the interrogation ceased after Petitioner unambiguously asserted that right.
Even assuming arguendo that there was a Miranda violation with respect to Detective Keller's failure to allow Petitioner to remain silent, any error was harmless. The admission of Petitioner's statement did not have a substantial or injurious effect on the jury's verdict. The admission of the interrogation into evidence, in which Petitioner denied knowing his co-defendant and denied any wrongdoing with respect to the drive-by shooting did not have a substantial and injurious effect on the jury's verdict. Thus, for the foregoing reasons, Petitioner is not entitled to federal habeas relief on his Miranda violation arguments.
W. Claim XXV
In Claim XXV, Petitioner argues that his sentence of twenty-five years to life imprisonment violated the Eighth Amendment's protection against cruel and unusual punishment. The last reasoned decision on this Claim was from the California Court of Appeal on direct appeal which stated the following:
Petitioner raised this Claim to the California Supreme Court on direct appeal in his petition for review which was summarily denied.
Her claims that a state prison sentence of 25 years to life violates both the state and federal prohibitions against cruel and unusual punishment.
Preliminary, we note the issue has not been preserved for review, since Her's counsel did not challenge the constitutionality of his sentence below. (People v. Norman (2003) 109 Cal.App.4th 221, 229 (Norman); People v. DeJesus (1995) 38 Cal.App.4th 1, 27.)
However, we shall reach the merits of the claim in the interest of judicial economy and to forestall the "inevitable ineffectiveness-of-counsel claim." (Norman, supra, 109 Cal.App.4th at p. 230.)
The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution proscribes "cruel and unusual punishment" and "contains a 'narrow proportionality principle' that 'applies to noncapital sentences.'" (Ewing v. California (2003) 538 U.S. 11, 20 [155 L.Ed.2d 108,
117], quoting Harmelin v. Michigan (1991) 501 U.S. 957, 996-997 [115 L.Ed.2d 836, 866] (conc. opn. of Kennedy, J., joined by O'Connor & Souter, JJ.) That principle prohibits "'imposition of a sentence that is grossly disproportionate to the severity of the crime.'" (Ewing, supra, 538 U.S. at p. 21 , quoting Rummel v. Estelle (1980) 445 U.S. 263, 271 [63 L.Ed.2d 382, 389]), although in a noncapital case, successful proportionality challenges are "'exceedingly rare.'" (Ibid.)
Her relies primarily on People v. Dillon (1983) 34 Cal.3d 441, 479 (Dillon) to advance his disproportionality argument. We are not persuaded. In Dillon, a 17-year-old boy was convicted of first degree felony murder and sentenced to life imprisonment for shooting an armed man who approached him during the defendant's attempted robbery of a marijuana farm. (Id. at pp. 451-452.) Both the judge and jury believed the defendant should be committed to the California Youth Authority, but since he was ineligible, the court had no alternative but to sentence him to life imprisonment. (Id. at pp. 485-487.) Noting that the other participants in the robbery received relatively "petty chastisements" (id. at p. 488), as well as the harshness of the felony-murder rule, the state Supreme Court concluded the defendant's punishment was cruel and unusual within the meaning of article I, section 17 of the California Constitution (id. at pp. 486-489).
By contrast, the jury here found that Her committed a premeditated murder to promote the activities of a criminal street gang. Unlike the youth in Dillon who had no prior trouble with the law, Her was a documented gang member who was on probation when he committed the murder and fled the jurisdiction the next day.
In Demirdjian, supra 144 Cal.App.4th 10, the Court of Appeal for the Second Appellate District, Division Four, upheld the constitutionality of a 25-year-to-life sentence for a defendant who committed two unprovoked murders at the age of 15. (Id. at p. 16.) The court quoted from People v. Guinn (1994) 28 Cal.App.4th 1130, which upheld a sentence of life without parole in the case of a defendant who committed an unprovoked murder at age 17: "[W]hile that punishment is very severe, 'the People of the State of California in enacting the provision [authorizing this punishment] . . . made a legislative choice that some 16- and 17-year olds, who are tried as adults, and who commit the adult crime of special circumstance murder, are presumptively to be punished with LWOP. We are unwilling to hold that such a legislative choice is necessarily too extreme, given the social reality of the many horrendous crimes, committed by increasingly vicious youthful offenders, which undoubtedly spurred the enactment.'" (Demirdjian, supra, 144 Cal.App.4th at p. 16, quoting Guinn, supra 28 Cal.App.4th at p. 1147.)
The logic of Guinn and Demirdjian applies here. Unlike the
youthful offender in Guinn whose sentence totally precludes his release, Her's immediate sentence means that he stands a reasonable chance of leaving the prison walls before he reaches old age. There is nothing shocking or unconscionable about such a disposition. [FN 8](Slip Op. at p. 29-32.)
[FN 8] Her also cites the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the United States Supreme Court case of Roper v. Simmons (2005) 543 U.S. 551, 575 [161 L.Ed.2d 1, 25], which found that imposition of the death penalty for juvenile offenders constituted cruel or unusual punishment. These authorities are so far removed from the present circumstances that the argument built around them requires no separate reply.
We conclude that a life sentence with the possibility of parole for a criminally sophisticated 15 year old convicted of a special-circumstance murder to promote the objectives of a criminal street gang violates neither the Eighth Amendment nor article 1, section 17 of the California Constitution.
At the outset to the extent that Petitioner based this Claim on the California Constitution, it is not cognizable on federal habeas review. See Estelle, 502 U.S. at 67-68 ("In conducing habeas review, a federal court is limited to deciding whether a conviction violated the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States.").
A criminal sentence that is not proportionate to the crime of conviction may indeed violate the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Outside of the capital punishment context, however, the Eighth Amendment "'forbids only extreme sentences that are grossly disproportionate to the crime.'" United States v. Bland, 961 F.2d 123, 129 (9th Cir. 1992) (quoting Harmelin v. Michigan, 501 U.S. 957, 1010 (1991) (Kennedy, J., concurring)). The threshold for an inference of gross disproportionality is high. So long as the sentence does not exceed statutory maximums, it will not be considered cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment. See United States v. Mejia-Mesa, 153 F.3d 925, 930 (9th Cir. 1998); United States v. McDougherty, 920 F.2d 569, 576 (9th Cir. 1990). The Ninth Circuit has observed that "[u]nder Harmelin, it is clear that a mandatory life sentence for murder does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment." United States v. LaFleur, 971 F.2d 200, 211 (9th Cir. 1991). The Supreme Court has noted that "[o]utside of the context of capital punishment, successful challenges to the proportionality of particular sentences have been exceedingly rare." Rummel v. Estelle, 445 U.S. 263, 272 (1980). Furthermore, the Ninth Circuit has explained that "while capital punishment is unique and must be treated specially, mandatory life imprisonment without parole is, for young and old alike, only an outlying point on the continuum of prison sentences. Like any other prison sentence, it raises no inference of disproportionality when imposed on a murderer." See Harris v. Wright, 93 F.3d 581, 585 (9th Cir. 1996) (internal citation omitted).
Petitioner points to no case from the United States Supreme Court holding that juveniles cannot be sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole for homicide. See Graham v. Florida, 130 S.Ct. 2011, 2043 (2010) (opinion of Thomas, J., dissenting) ("The Court holds today that it is 'grossly disproportionate' and hence unconstitutional for any judge or jury to impose a sentence of life without parole on an offender less than 18 years old, unless he has committed a homicide."). The Supreme Court in Graham noted that "[j]uvenile offenders who committed both homicide and nonhomicide crimes present a different situation for a sentencing judge than juvenile offenders who committed no homicide. It is difficult to say that a defendant who receives a life sentence on a nonhomicide offense but who was at the same time convicted of homicide is not in some sense being punished in part for the homicide when the judge makes the sentencing determination." 130 S.Ct. at 2023. Thus, it appears as if the Supreme Court has at least tacitly recognized that life without parole for a juvenile who has committed homicide does not violate the Eighth Amendment. See also Harris, 93 F.3d 581, 585 (9th Cir. 1996) ("[C]apital punishment aside, there's no constitutional (or rational) basis for classifying punishment in distinct, ordinal categories. As the Supreme Court noted in Harmelin, 501 U.S. at 996, 111 S.Ct. 2702, if we put mandatory life imprisonment without parole into a unique constitutional category, we'll be hard pressed to distinguish mandatory life with parole; the latter is nearly indistinguishable from a very long, mandatory term of years; and that, in turn, is hard to distinguish from shorter terms. Youth has no obvious bearing on this problem: If we can discern no clear line for adults, neither can we for youths. Accordingly, while capital punishment is unique and must be treated specially, mandatory life imprisonment without parole is, for young and old alike, only an outlying point on the continuum of prison sentences. See id. at 995-96, 111 S.Ct. at 2701-02. Like any other prison sentence, it raises no inference of disproportionality when imposed on a murderer."); Williams v. Ryan, Civ. No. 05-737, 2010 WL 3768151, at *30 (S.D. Cal. Sept. 21, 2010). Petitioner's reliance on things such as the Convention of the Rights of the Child and cases such as Roper v. Simmons, 543 U.S. 551 (2005) are unavailing and distinguishable as Petitioner did not receive a death sentence.
In this case, Petitioner was not even sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. In light of the fact that Petitioner relies on no Supreme Court case that shows that life with the possibility of parole violates the Eighth Amendment's protection from cruel and unusual punishment, and that the Ninth Circuit has held that life without parole for juveniles raises no inference of disproportionality, the California Court of Appeal's decision denying this Claim was not an unreasonable application of clearly established federal law. Petitioner is not entitled to federal habeas relief on Claim XXV.
X. Claim XXVI
In Claim XXVI, Petitioner argued that the California Court of Appeal erred in modifying Petitioner's sentence of life without the possibility of parole without remanding the matter to the trial court for re-sentencing. However, Petitioner withdrew this argument as stated in his traverse.
Y. Claim XXVII
In Petitioner's final Claim, he argues that "[t]he combined errors of insufficient evidence, ineffective assistance of counsel, trial court errors, jury instructional errors, prosecutor misconduct, and sentencing errors have compounded the prejudice caused by the other, to the petitioner's detriment and are caused for a reversal of the petitioner's case." (Pet'r's Am. Pet. at p. 70.) Petitioner raised this Claim in his state habeas petitions. The last reasoned decision was from the Sacramento County Superior Court which stated that, "[f]inally petitioner claims that the cumulative errors are prejudicial and require reversal of the judgment. [¶] Petitioner has shown no error, and reversal is not required." (Resp't's Lodged Doc. 11 at p. 6.)
The Supreme Court has clearly established that the combined effect of multiple errors violates due process where it renders the resulting criminal trial fundamentally unfair. See Chambers v. Mississippi, 410 U.S. 284, 298, 302-03 (1973). "The cumulative effect of multiple errors can violate due process even where no single error rises to the level of a constitutional violation or would independently warrant reversal." Parle v. Runnels, 505 F.3d 922, 927 (9th Cir. 2007) (citing Chambers, 410 U.S. at 290 n.3). "[C]umulative error warrants habeas relief only where the errors have 'so infected the trial with unfairness as to make the resulting conviction a denial of due process.'" Id. (quoting Donnelly v. DeChristoforo, 416 U.S. 637, 643 (1974). "Such 'infection' occurs where the combined effect of the errors had a 'substantial and injurious effect or influence on the jury's verdict.'" Id. (quoting Brecht, 507 U.S. at 637). Thus, "where the combined effect of individually harmless errors renders a criminal defense 'far less persuasive than it might [otherwise] have been,' the resulting conviction violates due process." Id. (quoting Chambers, 410 U.S. at 294). However, if evidence of guilt is overwhelming, errors are considered "harmless" and the conviction will generally be affirmed. See Parle, 505 F.3d at 928.
In this case, the evidence of Petitioner's guilt was strong as previously described. Therefore, any alleged "errors" did not have had a substantial and injurious effect or influence on the jury's verdict and would be considered harmless. Petitioner is not entitled to federal habeas relief on his cumulative error argument.
VI. PETITIONER'S REQUESTS
A. Motion for Leave to File Oversized Brief
On January 10, 2011, Petitioner filed a motion to file an oversized traverse along with a copy of his traverse. This motion will be granted and the traverse is deemed properly filed.
B. Request for the Appointment of Counsel
Petitioner requests the appointment of counsel. (See Pet'r's Am. Pet. at p. 71.) There currently exists no absolute right to the appointment of counsel in habeas proceedings. See, e.g., Nevius v. Sumner, 105 F.3d 453, 460 (9th Cir. 1996). However, 18 U.S.C. § 3006A authorizes the appointment of counsel at any stage of the case "if the interests of justice so require." In the present case, the interests of justice do not so require to warrant the appointment of counsel. Accordingly, Petitioner's request for the appointment of counsel is denied.
C. Request for an Evidentiary Hearing
Finally, Petitioner requests an evidentiary hearing. (See Pet'r's Am. Pet. at p. 71.) A court presented with a request for an evidentiary hearing must first determine whether a factual basis exists in the record to support petitioner's claims, and if not, whether an evidentiary hearing "might be appropriate." Baja v. Ducharme, 187 F.3d 1075, 1078 (9th Cir. 1999); see also Earp v. Ornoski, 431 F.3d 1158, 1166 (9th Cir. 2005). A petitioner requesting an evidentiary hearing must also demonstrate that he has presented a "colorable claim for relief." Earp, 431 F.3d at 1167 (citations omitted). To show that a claim is "colorable," a petitioner is "required to allege specific facts which, if true, would entitle him to relief." Ortiz v. Stewart, 149 F.3d 923, 934 (9th Cir. 1998) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). In this case, an evidentiary hearing is not warranted for the reasons stated in supra Part V. Petitioner failed to demonstrate that he has a colorable claim for federal habeas relief. Thus, his request will be denied.
VII. CONCLUSION
Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
1. Petitioner's motion to file an oversized brief filed January 10, 2011 is GRANTED, and Petitioner's traverse is deemed properly filed;
2. Petitioner's request for the appointment of counsel is DENIED; and
3. Petitioner's request for an evidentiary hearing is DENIED.
For all of the foregoing reasons, IT IS RECOMMENDED that the petition for writ of habeas corpus be DENIED.
These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Within twenty-one days after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned "Objections to Magistrate Judge's Findings and Recommendations." Any reply to the objections shall be served and filed within seven days after service of the objections. The parties are advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court's order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). In any objections he elects to file, Petitioner may address whether a certificate of appealability should issue in the event he elects to file an appeal from the judgment in this case. See Rule 11, Federal Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases (the district court must issue or deny a certificate of appealability when it enters a final order adverse to the applicant). DATED: April 15, 2011
/s/_________
TIMOTHY J BOMMER
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE