Opinion
E077058
09-29-2022
The PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Noy Estul BOUKES, Defendant and Appellant.
Allen G. Weinberg, Beverly Hills, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Charles C. Ragland, Assistant Attorney General, Steve Oetting and Anthony Da Silva, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
Certified for Partial Publication.
Pursuant to California Rules of Court, rules 8.1105(b) and 8.1110, this opinion is certified for publication with the exception of part II.A.1.
Allen G. Weinberg, Beverly Hills, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant.
Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Charles C. Ragland, Assistant Attorney General, Steve Oetting and Anthony Da Silva, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
OPINION
McKINSTER, J.
A jury found defendant guilty of the first degree murder of victim 1 ( Pen. Code, § 187, subd. (a), count 1), threatening victim 2 (§ 422, count 2), and falsely imprisoning victim 2 (§ 236, count 3). The jury also found true allegations that defendant intentionally murdered victim 1 while he was an active member of a criminal street gang (§ 190.2, subd. (a)(22)) (special circumstance finding); that he personally discharged a firearm during the commission of the murder, proximately causing great bodily injury or death (former § 12022.53, subd. (d); Stats. 2018, ch. 423, § 114; and § 1192.7, subd. (c)(8)); and that the offenses in counts 2 and 3 were committed for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a criminal street gang (former § 186.22, subd. (b)(1)(A); Stats. 2017, ch. 561, § 178).
All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise stated.
In a separate proceeding thereafter, defendant admitted he had suffered three prior prison terms (former § 667.5, subd. (b) ; Stats. 2018, ch. 423, § 65 ) and two prior strike convictions (former § 667, subds. (c), (e)(2)(A) ; Stats. 2018, ch. 1013, § 1 ; former § 1170.12, subd. (c)(2)(A) ; Stats. 2018, ch. 423, § 85 ). (See People v. Boukes (Dec. 4, 2020, E072973) 2020 WL 7089991 [nonpub. opn.] ( Boukes ).) The trial court sentenced defendant to state prison for life without the possibility of parole plus 78 years to life. ( Ibid. )
On appeal from the judgment, we remanded the matter to the trial court for resentencing. ( Boukes, supra , E072973.) The trial court then struck the prior prison term enhancements and imposed, but struck punishment on the gang enhancements attached to counts 2 and 3. Defendant now contends that, pursuant to Assembly Bill No. 333 (2021-2022 Reg. Sess.), the judgments of conviction on counts 1 through 3, and the true findings on all the gang-related allegations, including the special circumstance finding, must be reversed. We reverse the gang enhancements and special circumstance finding; we remand the matter with directions to the trial court. In all other respects, we affirm the judgment.
I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
By order dated December 23, 2021, we granted defendant's request that we take judicial notice of our record in Boukes, supra , E072973, from defendant's appeal of the original judgment. (Evid. Code, §§ 452, subd. (d), 459 ; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(b)(1).)
Defendant, a member of the white supremacist COORS Family Skins gang, (COORS), took his friend, victim 1, "who was also a member of the gang or at least a ‘hang-around,’ to an isolated area of Hemet and shot and killed him over a $550 drug debt owed to the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang." When victim 1's girlfriend, victim 2, tried to get out of the car to help victim 1, "defendant threatened her with a gun, told her to get back in the car, and kept her from leaving." ( Boukes, supra. at p. 2.)
Victim 1 also had "white supremacist" tattoos, such as "swastikas" and a tattoo of "Adolph Hitler." (Boukes, supra , E072973.)
Victim 2 denied she was a member of COORS, though her e-mail address and social media accounts had numerous references to COORS and its symbols. (Boukes, supra , E072973.)
Prior to the killing, defendant approached another drug user and said he was there to "tax" him every week on behalf of the Aryan Brotherhood. Defendant demanded $125, but the drug user gave him nothing. In a second incident, defendant went to the drug user's home unannounced and again demanded $125. The drug user told defendant to get out; defendant said he "would regret it." During a third encounter, defendant went uninvited to the drug user's home at 3:00 a.m., walked through his partly open garage door, and once more demanded $125 on behalf of the Aryan Brotherhood. The drug user pulled out a gun and told defendant to "get out of my fucking house." Defendant replied, "You're going to regret this." ( Boukes, supra , E072973.)
Also before the murder, defendant told a paid informant for the police department that victim 1 was not answering his calls about the $550 he owed "to his big homies"—the Aryan Brotherhood—and defendant "was getting really pissed off about it. Defendant said victim 1 had been "put in the hat," meaning he was in trouble with the Aryan Brotherhood. The informant offered to pay the victim's debt and told defendant "he didn't have to do that shit." But defendant did not take the money. ( Boukes, supra , E072973.)
On the evening of July 18, 2016, victims 1 and 2 were at a friend's house. Victim 2 called defendant, around 10:23 p.m., to come get them. Defendant, driven by someone else, came and picked them up in her car. She stopped the car; defendant and victim 1 got out. Victim 2 remained in the back seat, "probably doing drugs." She then heard two gunshots close to the vehicle. Victim 2 heard no struggle or arguing before the gunshots, and she had not seen defendant with a weapon. Victim 2 opened the car door; defendant told her to get back in the vehicle. When victim 2 again tried to get out, defendant pointed a gun at her and said, "shut the fuck up and get back in the car," and then pushed her back inside. ( Boukes, supra , E072973.)
Although it was dark out, victim 2 saw someone in the yard with a flashlight. One of two residents who heard the gunshots approached the car pointing a flashlight; they saw victim 1 lying on the ground a few feet from the trunk of the car. Defendant crouched down, pulled what appeared to be a jacket over his head, then backed around to the passenger side of the car, and got in. Defendant told victim 2 to "shut the fuck up or he's going to kill [her] too." Victim 2 did not see victim 1 get shot or know who had shot him, but she assumed he had been shot because he did not get back into the car. They then drove off. The two residents who had heard the gunshots saw the car back up to the main road. The resident with the flashlight walked over and saw that victim 1 was lifeless. ( Boukes, supra , E072973.)
When they arrived at the home of the driver's friend, defendant used a paper towel to wipe off what appeared to be blood from his clothing. He told the informant, "I did that fool," meaning that he killed victim 1. Defendant told the informant he had tried to put the body in the back of the car but had to leave it. Defendant said, "he was going to get rid of the two people that seen him kill [victim 1]." Specifically, defendant said he was going to kill or "smoke them" because they were the only two witnesses to the murder. The informant told defendant that they did not deserve to die, and defendant was not "thinking things through" because the uncle of one of them was a respected member of another skinhead gang. ( Boukes, supra , E072973.)
Defendant gave the informant a box with a revolver inside and asked him to get rid of it. The informant told defendant to leave and said he did not want the gun in his house. However, the informant offered to grind the gun down so defendant could get rid of the gun in pieces; defendant left the gun when he departed. The informant immediately tried calling and texting his contact with the police department, but received no answer. ( Boukes, supra , E072973.)
At 5:45 that same morning, defendant returned to the informant's house. The informant spoke to defendant in the garage; defendant said he wanted his gun back. The informant gave defendant the box with the gun and told defendant not to come back to his house. Victim 2 told the informant that defendant had killed victim 1, that she felt guilty about telling defendant where she and victim 1 had been, and that defendant said he was going to kill her too. ( Boukes, supra , E072973.)
Officers who responded to a 911 call about shots fired, discovered victim 1 lying on the pavement in a pool of blood. He had a gunshot wound on the top right side of his head, what appeared to be a large exit wound on the top of his head, and a gunshot wound on his back between the shoulder blades. A bullet was found under his body when he was turned over. Nothing indicated the body had been moved, and it appeared he had been shot and died where he fell. ( Boukes, supra , E072973.)
What appeared to be a copper fragment of a bullet jacket was discovered in the middle of the street. Tire impressions, similar to the tread on tires in the car in which defendant had arrived, were found near the body in patches of dirt on the roadway. To the right of the body, on the pavement and a curb, investigators found bloody partial shoe impressions that were consistent with the soles of defendant's shoes. Officers found no shell casings. ( Boukes, supra , E072973.)
A postmortem examination of the body revealed the bullet that entered victim 1's back passed through his spinal cord and exited just below his Adam's apple. The bullet, which entered the top right side of his head, passed through his brain and exited the left side of his head. ( Boukes, supra , E072973.)
Officers took defendant into custody on the day of the murder. They observed that he was visibly nervous, shaking uncontrollably, and sweating. Defendant kept asking why the officers had stopped him and why he was being arrested. He had what appeared to be heroin in his pockets. ( Boukes, supra , E072973.)
The sole of defendant's right shoe appeared to have blood on it. The shoes later tested positive for the presence of blood, the DNA of which further tested consistent with victim 1's DNA. What appeared to be a spot of blood on the right front leg of defendant's shorts tested presumptively positive for blood. The front passenger seat floorboard of the car reacted positively when sprayed with a chemical reagent used to detect the presence of blood. ( Boukes, supra , E072973.)
Officers interviewed the informant the evening after the murder. He told officers defendant had used a towel to wipe off blood and had thrown the towel in a trash can. The informant also told the officers defendant had two spent, .357 bullet casings with him, which he may have thrown in the trash. Officers searched the informant's house but found no bloody towel or spent shell casings. ( Boukes, supra , E072973.)
After the murder, victim 2 communicated with the informant's wife through social media; victim 2 told her, "I'm so lucky [the informant] stood up for me ... otherwise I would be dead too." Victim 2 also communicated with the other drug user, telling him, "I'm straight fucked up grieving over [victim 1] getting murdered in front of me," and "I wanted to help [victim 1], but I had a gun in my face telling me to get back in the car." Victim 2 wrote, "[W]hat kind of friend does that to a person you claim to be your comrade?" Victim 2 believed victim 1 had been a loyal friend and comrade to defendant. To another friend, she wrote, "By his own fucking comrade, I don't trust now because of what happened." Victim 2 wrote that she did not set up [victim 1] to be murdered; she defended herself from accusations that she had. ( Boukes, supra , E072973.)
From county jail, defendant spoke to someone by phone with whom he discussed Kern Valley, the location of a state prison, where they had "friends." At the time of the call, a suspected "shot-caller" for COORS was incarcerated in Kern Valley. Defendant said, "I may be getting ... a rock. You know, like over all that." A "rock" or "shamrock" is a green, three-leaf clover tattoo worn by members of the Aryan Brotherhood. ( Boukes, supra , E072973.)
Defendant also spoke with someone else from jail whom he told, "if it wasn't for that other person in the car," i.e., victim 2, "I wouldn't even be here." Defendant also said, "I'm not going to beat this shit, but I'm just hoping I get involuntary manslaughter or something, you know, and get a good deal." In another phone conversation, defendant said if he were bailed out of jail, he would flee. ( Boukes, supra , E072973.)
Defendant appealed the judgment challenging, in part, the sufficiency of the evidence to support the jury's findings on the special circumstance allegation and the gang enhancements. ( Boukes, supra , E072973.) We affirmed the judgment but remanded the matter so that the trial court could impose or strike the gang enhancements on counts 2 and 3. ( Ibid. ) We also directed the court to strike the three, one-year prior prison term enhancements. ( Ibid. ) On remand, pursuant to the parties' stipulation, the court struck the prior prison term enhancements and imposed but struck punishment on the gang enhancements on counts 2 and 3.
After defense counsel filed a notice of appeal, this court appointed counsel to represent him. Counsel filed a brief under the authority of People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436, 158 Cal.Rptr. 839, 600 P.2d 1071 ( Wende ) and Anders v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493, setting forth a statement of the case and requesting this court review the record for any potentially arguable issues. By opinion filed September 13, 2021, we affirmed.
On November 15, 2021, defendant filed a motion to stay the issuance of the remittitur and reinstate the appeal, contending that since his appeal was not yet final, Assembly Bill No. 333, which amended section 186.22 (Stats. 2021, ch. 699, § 3 ), should apply retroactively to his case. By order dated December 7, 2021, we vacated our September 13, 2021, opinion, struck defense counsel's Wende brief, and set a briefing schedule. On April 18, 2022, after the parties had completed briefing the case, defendant filed a motion to file a supplemental brief, which we granted. Both appellant and respondent filed supplemental briefs.
II. DISCUSSION
A. Assembly Bill No. 333
Defendant contends that Assembly Bill No. 333 requires reversal and remand of the special circumstance finding ( § 190.2, subd. (a)(22) ) attached to his count 1 conviction and the gang enhancements attached to his count 2 and count 3 convictions. He contends the predicate offenses must now be shown to have been committed "collectively," not individually. Defendant further maintains that "the prosecution did not present evidence that the predicate offenses commonly benefitted a criminal street gang in a manner that was more than reputational" and that "the prosecution relied, in part, on the reputational benefit of the shooting in this case to" defendant's gang.
Assembly Bill No. 333 applies to gang-murder special circumstances. (People v. Lee (2022) 81 Cal.App.5th 232, 245, 296 Cal.Rptr.3d 499 ["[W]e conclude that the term ‘criminal street gang" as incorporated in the gang-murder special-circumstance statute was ‘intended to conform at all times’ and ‘remain permanently parallel’ to section 186.22."].)
In his supplemental brief, defendant cites People v. Burgos (2022) 77 Cal.App.5th 550, 292 Cal.Rptr.3d 587 ( Burgos ) (dis. opn. of Elia, J.), review granted July 13, 2022, S274100, for the proposition that Assembly Bill No. 333's addition of section 1109 (Stats. 2021, ch. 699, § 5 ) and the right of a defendant to have gang enhancements tried separately should apply retroactively to his case. Therefore, defendant maintains he was prejudiced by the evidence presented to support the special circumstance and gang enhancement findings during his trial on the substantive counts; thus, he maintains, that all the judgments of conviction and enhancements must be reversed.
The People agree that Assembly Bill No. 333 applies retroactively. However, the People contend that "remand is unnecessary to prove the gang special circumstance for murder and the gang enhancements because it is beyond a reasonable doubt that the jury would have imposed them," i.e., any error is harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. The People specifically argue "remand is unnecessary because it was stipulated at trial that [defendant] knew that gang members collectively engaged in a pattern of criminal gang activity such that it is beyond a reasonable doubt that the jury would have imposed the special circumstance and the enhancements."
We agree with defendant that the special circumstance and gang enhancement findings must be reversed. However, we disagree with defendant that the bifurcation requirement in section 1109 applies retroactively to defendant.
A gang expert testified that violence is "the ultimate form of currency" for gang members because it earns them respect within the gang, from members of other gangs, and the wider community. ( Boukes, supra , E072973.) Members also earn respect by committing crimes or "putting in work" for the benefit of the gang. Assaults, thefts, threats, and other "antisocial criminal behavior" done for the gang bolsters its reputation. If a gang member is "put in the hat," it means the member is "up for discipline, and somebody needs to handle that discipline." The gang decides how to discipline its members, which might include "a simple assault or a homicide." ( Ibid. )
At the time of the murder, COORS had approximately 50 members in the Hemet/San Jacinto area. Its members wear red clothing (such as red suspenders), they have white power tattoos (such as swastikas and lighting bolts), and they use the numbers 14 and 88 in their tattoos, on their clothing, and on social media. The number 88 is significant in white power gang culture because the eighth letter of the Latin alphabet is H, and HH is short for "Heil Hitler." In addition, white power gangs subscribe to the writings of David Lane, a white supremacist sentenced to prison for murdering a Jewish disc jockey, who wrote about "88 precepts" the white culture must follow to survive. The number 14 refers to the "14 words of David Lane": " ‘We must secure the existence of our people and the future of our white children.’ " ( Boukes, supra , E072973.) COORS members associate with, and sometimes cooperate with, members of rival California white power gangs such as, "Public Enemy Number 1," "Public Death Squad," and the "Hemet Valley Skins." COORS also associate with the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang. The primary activities of COORS included "violent assaults, felony weapons possessions, narcotics sales, ... and auto theft." ( Boukes, supra , E072973.)
In the ranks or hierarchy of skinhead and white supremacist gangs, the Aryan Brotherhood is at the top. Street level members of white supremacist gangs aspire to become members of the Aryan Brotherhood; they can achieve that goal by committing crimes such as selling drugs, collecting debts, and engaging in violent crimes including murder. Members of the Aryan Brotherhood wear "rock" or "shamrock" ("green three leaf clover") tattoos. It is a "bad mistake" for a nonmember to get a "shamrock" tattoo, and such an act could result in "violent consequences." ( Boukes, supra , E072973.)
On August 10, 2008, a member of COORS committed attempted murder, first degree burglary, and active participation in a criminal street gang, offenses for which he was convicted on October 8, 2010. On February 11, 2014, another member of COORS drove a vehicle without the owner's consent, for which he was convicted on June 13, 2014. Yet another member of COORS committed criminal threats on or about July 6, 2014, for which he was convicted on March 24, 2015. On April 6, 2016, a fourth member of COORS committed assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer and felony evading arrest, offenses for which he was convicted on December 15, 2016. On August 22, 2016, a fifth member of COORS was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm for an offense that occurred on May 5, 2016. And a sixth member of COORS was convicted of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of sales on November 22, 2016, for an offense committed on July 8, 2016.
The parties stipulated that defendant was an active participant in COORS, and he knew COORS members engaged in a pattern of criminal gang activity. On March 6, 2013, defendant was convicted of first degree burglary for an offense that occurred on February 8, 2013. The People's gang expert opined that defendant was a member of COORS on the date of victim 1's death.
Answering a hypothetical question posed by the prosecutor, the gang expert opined that if a person were "in the hat"' by the Aryan Brotherhood because he owed the gang $500 for drugs, and a member of COORS were to take that individual to an isolated place and shoot him once in the back and once in the back of the head, and later boast that he might "get a rock over this," the crime would further the activities of both COORS and the Aryan Brotherhood. The benefit to COORS would be the same regardless of the amount owed by the victim and even if the member did not act under direct orders from the Aryan Brotherhood. The COORS gang would benefit because "[i]ndividuals will now pay their drug debts on time; individuals now recognize that you do not mess with the COORS criminal street gang," and the killer's "status increases because he is willing to commit a homicide for the organization." ( Boukes, supra , E072973.) It would signify that "when you buy drugs from the COORS gang and you don't pay your debt, there's a significant consequence for that."
The expert also opined that COORS would benefit if the killer in the hypothetical had threatened a witness to the shooting and told her to get back in the car or he would kill her. Gang members are more effective if they can commit crimes and not have witnesses come forward, so threatening a witness benefits the gang "both in reputation as well as generating income." ( Boukes, supra , E072973.) Similarly, the expert opined COORS would benefit if the killer in the hypothetical had forced the witness into the car against her will and taken her to another location when she had asked to be let out. The gang would benefit because the witness would be frightened and less willing to testify, and anyone else in the vehicle would get the message that they had better not come forward. ( Ibid. )
1. The special circumstance and gang enhancement findings
See footnote *, ante .
2. Section 1109 and bifurcation
Defendant contends the jury's convictions on the substantive offenses and the true finding on the personal use enhancement were prejudiced by the evidence presented on the special circumstance and gang enhancement findings. Defendant argues the presentation of such evidence is now required to be bifurcated via Assembly Bill No. 333's addition of section 1109, which he asserts applies retroactively to his case. Thus, defendant maintains that all his judgments of conviction and the true finding on the personal use enhancement must be reversed. We disagree.
In Burgos, supra , 77 Cal.App.5th 550, 292 Cal.Rptr.3d 587, the majority held that section 1109 operated retroactively, such that a trial in any case in which a former section 186.22 enhancement was not bifurcated from the trial on the remaining offenses and enhancements, was inherently prejudicial. ( Id. at pp. 554, 561, 292 Cal.Rptr.3d 587.) The court held that whether the judgments should ultimately be reversed should be evaluated under an unspecified harmless test, strongly insinuating that the "error" was structural and required per se reversal. ( Id. at pp. 554, 561, 568, 292 Cal.Rptr.3d 587 ["Even assuming we must assess prejudice, however, we conclude appellants suffered prejudice under either the federal or state law standard."]; accord Ramos, supra , 77 Cal.App.5th at p. 1130, 293 Cal.Rptr.3d 170 ["[W]e conclude section 1109 must apply retroactively to all cases not yet final on appeal."]; but see Burgos , at p. 569, 292 Cal.Rptr.3d 587 (dis. opn. of Elia, J.) [contending that § 1109 is not retroactive]; People v. Perez (2022) 78 Cal.App.5th 192, 293 Cal.Rptr.3d 358 ( Perez ) [same]; People v. Ramirez (2022) 79 Cal.App.5th 48, 65, 294 Cal.Rptr.3d 472 ( Ramirez ) [same].)
The Burgos court reasoned that the bifurcation requirement of section 1109 applied retroactively for several reasons. "First, the plain language of Penal Code section 1109 makes it applicable to a distinct class of defendants—those charged with gang enhancements under subdivision (b) or (d) of Penal Code section 186.22." ( Burgos, supra , 77 Cal.App.5th at p. 565, 292 Cal.Rptr.3d 587.) Second, "the legislative findings in Assembly Bill 333 also show the Legislature intended to reduce punishment specifically for people of color—who overwhelmingly comprise the class of defendants charged with gang enhancements. The legislative findings show this was a central motivation for the bill: ‘The gang enhancement statute is applied inconsistently against people of color, creating a racial disparity.’ " ( Id. at pp. 565-566, 292 Cal.Rptr.3d 587 ["These statements make clear that one of the Legislature's foremost reasons for enacting Assembly Bill 333 was to ameliorate the disparate levels of punishment suffered by people of color."].) Third, "the Legislature was aware ... that a statute possibly reducing punishment for a class of persons would apply retroactively." ( Id. at p. 567, 292 Cal.Rptr.3d 587 ["The increased likelihood of acquittal at trial is not the only ameliorative effect of bifurcation."].)
The court in Ramos agreed, noting that "by its plain language, Assembly Bill 333 is an ameliorative change to the criminal law intended to benefit a class of criminal defendants by reducing the potential harmful and prejudicial impact of gang evidence through bifurcation. The legislation is geared to address wrongful convictions and mitigate punishment resulting from the admission of irrelevant gang evidence at trial." ( Ramos, supra , 77 Cal.App.5th at p. 1129, 293 Cal.Rptr.3d 170.) However, the Ramos court held that in applying the People v. Watson (1956) 46 Cal.2d 818, 299 P.2d 243 standard of harmless error, the defendant "was not prejudiced by the failure to bifurcate the gang enhancement allegation." ( Ramos , at p. 1132, 293 Cal.Rptr.3d 170.)
Justice Elia, dissenting in Burgos , would have held that the bifurcation provisions of section 1109 were not retroactive to defendants tried prior to its enactment because section 1109 is not an ameliorative statute. ( Burgos, supra , 77 Cal.App.5th at p. 569, 292 Cal.Rptr.3d 587 (dis. opn. of Elia, J.).) Justice Elia argued that section 1109 made "no change to any crime or defense and makes no change to any punishment provision, and it does not create the possibility of lesser punishment or any other ‘ameliorative’ benefit" such that it should be applied retroactively. ( Id. at p. 572, 292 Cal.Rptr.3d 587.) In Ramirez , Justice Elia, writing for the majority, adopted the reasoning in his dissenting opinion in Burgos. ( Ramirez, supra , 79 Cal.App.5th at p. 65, 294 Cal.Rptr.3d 472.)
The Perez court agreed, noting that "[a]lthough section 1109 is designed to minimize the prejudicial impact of gang evidence, it does not reduce the punishment or narrow the scope of the application of the gang statute." ( Perez, supra , 78 Cal.App.5th at p. 207, 293 Cal.Rptr.3d 358.) "[S]ection 1109 is a procedural statute that ensures a jury will not be prejudiced by the introduction of evidence to support gang enhancement allegations—it does not reduce the punishment imposed." ( Ibid. )
We agree with the courts in Perez and Ramirez , and Justice Elia's dissent in Burgos , that section 1109 does not reduce punishment imposed on gang enhancements and, therefore, does not apply retroactively. Even if we were to hold that it does apply retroactively, we would find in this case that any error in the lack of bifurcation was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. ( E.H., supra , 75 Cal.App.5th at p. 480, 290 Cal.Rptr.3d 506 ["Even if section 1109 applied retroactively to his case ... [defendant] cannot show it is ‘reasonably probable’ he would have obtained a more favorable result if his trial had been bifurcated. [Citation.] This is because when the evidence of guilt on the relevant charges is ‘overwhelming,’ as it was here, it is unlikely the defendant was harmed by the format of the trial."]; accord Ramos, supra , 77 Cal.App.5th at p. 1131, 293 Cal.Rptr.3d 170 ["Nevertheless, we affirm [defendant's] conviction ... because we cannot conclude he was prejudiced by the failure to bifurcate the gang enhancement from the trial on the underlying charges. That is, we cannot conclude it is reasonably probable [defendant] would have obtained a more favorable verdict in the absence of the gang evidence that would not have been presented had the gang enhancement been bifurcated."].)
Here, evidence of defendant's affiliation with COORS and the nature of COORS would have been admissible for reasons aside from any effort to prove the special circumstance and gang enhancement findings, for instance, defendant's motivation for the killing, Second, the prosecution presented overwhelming evidence of defendant's commission of the counts 1 through 3 offenses and the personal use enhancement. That evidence included, but was not limited to, the witness testimonies of victim 2, the two residents of the home at which defendant committed the murder; and the informant; video evidence; physical evidence; and postarrest inculpatory statements made by defendant. Thus, any error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.
III. DISPOSITION
We reverse the judgment as to the special circumstance and gang enhancement findings. The matter is remanded for the trial court to provide the People an opportunity to retry the special circumstance and gang enhancement findings under the law as amended by Assembly Bill No. 333; if the People elect not to retry the special circumstance and gang enhancement findings, the trial court is directed to impose a new sentence without the special circumstance and gang enhancement findings. In all other respects, the judgment is affirmed.
I concur:
RAMIREZ, P. J.
Slough, J., Concurring.
I agree with the majority's disposition of the case because, given the strength of the evidence against Boukes, it's not reasonably probable bifurcating the trial would have produced a more favorable result for him. ( People v. Tran (2022) 13 Cal.5th 1169, 298 Cal.Rptr.3d 150, 515 P.3d 1210.) I write separately because I conclude Penal Code section 1109 is ameliorative and therefore applies to cases that are not yet final. ( In re Estrada (1965) 63 Cal.2d 740, 48 Cal.Rptr. 172, 408 P.2d 948 ( Estrada ).)
I believe section 1109 provides defendants charged with gang enhancements an ameliorative benefit, specifically, a bifurcated trial which is designed to and has the effect of increasing the likelihood of acquittals and reducing punishment for an identified class of persons. In my view, under recent California Supreme Court precedent developing the Estrada rule, that means the Legislature intended the new provision to apply retroactively to the cases of defendants, like Boukes, whose cases are not yet final. ( People v. Frahs (2020) 9 Cal.5th 618, 627-628, 264 Cal.Rptr.3d 292, 466 P.3d 844 ( Frahs ).)
In Frahs , the Supreme Court explained " ‘[t]he Estrada rule rests on an inference that, in the absence of contrary indications, a legislative body ordinarily intends for ameliorative changes to the criminal law to extend as broadly as possible, distinguishing only as necessary between sentences that are final and sentences that are not.’ " ( Frahs, supra , 9 Cal.5th at p. 628, 264 Cal.Rptr.3d 292, 466 P.3d 844.) The question we face is whether the new bifurcation rule is ameliorative. The majority concludes it is not because the rule is procedural in nature and doesn't directly reduce punishment. (Maj. opn. ante , at p. 9.) While that characterization is undoubtedly true, it doesn't end the matter. I think their approach is inconsistent with how the Estrada rule has developed. In Frahs , the Supreme Court considered the retroactive application of new provisions which gave trial courts the discretion to grant pretrial diversion for defendants with mental health disorders. ( Frahs, supra , 9 Cal.5th at pp. 624, 626, 264 Cal.Rptr.3d 292, 466 P.3d 844.) That change too was "procedural" and didn't directly reduce punishment. But the Supreme Court dug deeper. In considering whether the new law was ameliorative under Estrada , they emphasized "by design and function [the change] provides a possible ameliorating benefit for a class of persons —namely, certain defendants with mental disorders—by offering an opportunity for diversion and ultimately the dismissal of charges." ( Frahs , at p. 624, 264 Cal.Rptr.3d 292, 466 P.3d 844, italics added.) They also emphasized the new procedures "carry the potential of substantial reductions in punishment. " ( Id. at p. 631, 264 Cal.Rptr.3d 292, 466 P.3d 844, italics added.) On those grounds, they concluded the legislative changes were ameliorative and applied retroactively to nonfinal cases. ( Id. at pp. 631-632, 264 Cal.Rptr.3d 292, 466 P.3d 844.)
The Supreme Court reached a similar conclusion in People v. Superior Court (Lara ) (2018) 4 Cal.5th 299, 308, 228 Cal.Rptr.3d 394, 410 P.3d 22. There, the Court considered the retroactivity of Proposition 57, which changed the law to prohibit prosecutors from filing charges directly against a minor in an adult criminal case and to give juvenile courts discretion to determine whether a minor can be prosecuted and sentenced as an adult. ( Lara , at p. 308, 228 Cal.Rptr.3d 394, 410 P.3d 22.) In Lara , the Court acknowledged Proposition 57 did not mitigate punishment for any particular crime but held the Estrada rule applies because the new law "reduces the possible punishment" for juveniles. ( Lara , at p. 303, 228 Cal.Rptr.3d 394, 410 P.3d 22.) The Court emphasized "[t]he possibility of being treated as a juvenile in juvenile court—where rehabilitation is the goal—rather than being tried and sentenced as an adult can result in dramatically different and more lenient treatment." ( Ibid. ) The effect of the change was to increase the possibility of a lesser sentence for a class of defendants, making the new provision ameliorative and the Estrada rule apply.
The majority simply ignore these developments in the law. For them, the fact that " [Penal Code] section 1109 does not reduce punishment imposed on gang enhancements" means the new law "does not apply retroactively." (Maj. opn. ante , at p. 9.) I believe Lara and Frahs have already called this kind of analysis into doubt. And I can't see the difference between the facts of those cases and this one. Instead, I agree with the Court of Appeal in People v. Ramos (2022) 77 Cal.App.5th 1116, 1129, 293 Cal.Rptr.3d 170, that "by its plain language, Assembly Bill 333 is an ameliorative change to the criminal law intended to benefit a class of criminal defendants by reducing the potential harmful and prejudicial impact of gang evidence through bifurcation." Since "[t]he legislation is geared to address wrongful convictions and mitigate punishment resulting from the admission of irrelevant gang evidence at trial ... the logic of Estrada applies." ( Ibid. )
I also find persuasive the majority opinion in People v. Burgos , which concluded Penal Code section 1109 is an ameliorative statute because bifurcation increases the possibility of acquittal, "which necessarily reduces possible punishment." ( People v. Burgos (2022) 77 Cal.App.5th 550, 567, 292 Cal.Rptr.3d 587 ( Burgos ).) In a careful and thorough opinion, the Burgos majority marshaled evidence from the legislative findings for the law which showed the Legislature's purpose in including Penal Code section 1109 (Stats. 2021, ch. 699, § 5 ) in Assembly Bill No. 333 (2021-2022 Reg. Sess.) was specifically to reduce punishment. " ‘Bifurcation of trials where gang evidence is alleged can help reduce its harmful and prejudicial impact.’ " ( Burgos , at p. 566, 292 Cal.Rptr.3d 587, quoting Assem. Bill No. 333, § 2, subd. (f).) The findings also noted bifurcation is intended to mitigate the possibility of wrongful convictions and pressure on defendants to accept unfavorable plea deals " ‘rather than risk a trial filled with prejudicial evidence and a substantially longer sentence.’ " ( Burgos , at p. 567, 292 Cal.Rptr.3d 587.)
I agree with the majority in Burgos that, as in Frahs , Penal Code section 1109 "provides a possible ameliorating benefit for a class of persons." ( Frahs, supra , 9 Cal.5th at p. 624, 264 Cal.Rptr.3d 292, 466 P.3d 844.) Here, the new law gives defendants the right to request a bifurcated trial free of otherwise irrelevant and prejudicial gang enhancement evidence. ( Ibid. ; see also Burgos, supra , 77 Cal.App.5th at p. 567, 292 Cal.Rptr.3d 587.) At bottom, section 1109 is ameliorative because it carries "the potential of substantial reductions in punishment for the [defendants]" and provides the benefit of bifurcated trials free from prejudicial gang enhancement evidence. ( Frahs , at p. 631, 264 Cal.Rptr.3d 292, 466 P.3d 844 ; Lara, supra , 4 Cal.5th at pp. 308-309, 228 Cal.Rptr.3d 394, 410 P.3d 22.)
Although I believe Penal Code section 1109 applies retroactively, I would not require retrial of the underlying murder, threat, and false imprisonment convictions or the firearm enhancement because the failure to bifurcate was harmless under People v. Watson (1956) 46 Cal.2d 818, 836, 299 P.2d 243. ( People v. Tran, supra , 13 Cal.5th at p. 1206–07, 298 Cal.Rptr.3d 150, 515 P.3d 1210 ; People v. E.H. (2022) 75 Cal.App.5th 467, 480, 290 Cal.Rptr.3d 506.) First, the evidence of Boukes' guilt on the underlying charges is overwhelming. As the majority note, the evidence against Boukes included the testimony of the person he threatened and imprisoned after he shot her boyfriend and she tried to go to him. (Maj. opn. ante , at pp. 9–10.) In such circumstances, "it is unlikely the defendant was harmed by the format of the trial." ( People v. E.H. , at p. 480, 290 Cal.Rptr.3d 506.) In addition, section 1109 doesn't preclude gang-related evidence in a bifurcated trial if the evidence relates to the underlying charges. ( Ramos, supra , 77 Cal.App.5th at p. 1132, 293 Cal.Rptr.3d 170.) Boukes' affiliation with the gang in this case was relevant to his motive for carrying out the killing. ( Ibid. )
As a result, I concur with the majority's disposition.