Category: 2012

Filed 8/6/12 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA In re W.B., JR., a Person Coming Under the Juvenile Court Law. ___________________________________ ) THE PEOPLE, S181638 Plaintiff and Respondent, Ct.App. 4/2 E047368 v. Riverside County W.B., JR., (Super. Ct. No. RIJ114127) Defendant and Appellant. ____________________________________) Passed in 1978, the Indian Child Welfare Act (25 U.S.C. ? […]

Filed 8/2/12 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, S067353 v. IVAN JOE GONZALES, San Diego County Defendant and Appellant. Super. Ct. No. SCD114421 Defendant Ivan Joe Gonzales was convicted of murdering Genny Rojas.1 The jury found as a special circumstance that the murder was intentional and involved the infliction of […]

Filed 8/2/12 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, S035190 v. ERIC CHRISTOPHER HOUSTON, Napa County Defendant and Appellant. Super. Ct. No. CR 14311 A jury convicted defendant Eric Christopher Houston of the first degree murders of Robert Brens, Judy Davis, Beamon Hill, and Jason White (Pen. Code, ?? 187, subd. […]

Filed 8/2/12 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, S081918 v. KENNETH McKINZIE, Ventura County Defendant and Appellant. Super. Ct. No. CR40930 ___________________________________ ) A jury convicted defendant Kenneth McKinzie of first degree murder (Pen. Code, ?? 187, subd. (a), 189) and found true the robbery-murder and burglary-murder special circumstance allegations […]

Filed 7/30/12 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, S192531 v. Ct.App. 2/8 B222214 JUAN JOSE VILLATORO, Los Angeles County Defendant and Appellant. Super. Ct. No. BA339453 Pursuant to Evidence Code1 section 1108, pattern jury instruction CALCRIM No. 1191 explains to a jury that it may consider a defendant?s uncharged sexual […]

Filed 7/30/12 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, S180612 v. Ct.App. 6 H034154 CHRISTINE BARRETT, Santa Clara County Defendant and Appellant. Super. Ct. No. MH034663 Christine Barrett is an adult who has long been diagnosed with mental retardation and other mental disorders, and who has lived in the community while […]

Filed 7/30/12 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, S030402 v. RICHARD CHRISTOPHER TULLY, Alameda County Defendant and Appellant. Super. Ct. No. H97978 ____________________________________) An amended information charged defendant Richard Christopher Tully with the 1986 murder of Shirley Olsson (Pen. Code, ? 187) and assault with intent to commit rape (id., […]

Filed 7/23/12 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, S067519 v. KEITH TYSON THOMAS, Alameda County Defendant and Appellant. Super. Ct. No. 118686B A jury convicted defendant Keith Tyson Thomas of the first degree murder of Francia Young (Pen. Code, ? 187, subd. (a)),1 of kidnapping her for the purpose of […]

Filed 7/19/12 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, S192784 v. Ct.App. 6 H036143 RICARDO ANTONIO LARA, Santa Clara County Defendant and Appellant. Super. Ct. No. E1007527 Effective January 25, 2010, the Legislature increased the rate at which prisoners in local custody could earn ?conduct credits? against their term of confinement […]

Filed 7/19/12 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, S192751 v. Ct.App. 2 B222399 JAMMAL HANEEF YARBROUGH, Los Angeles County Defendant and Appellant. Super. Ct. No. PA065170 ____________________________________) Burglary is committed when a person ?enters any . . . building? with the intent of committing ?larceny or any felony.? (Pen. Code, […]

Filed 7/16/12 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, S187804 v. Ct.App. 2/8 B218863 PAUL DEAN RUNYAN, Los Angeles County Defendant and Appellant. Super. Ct. No. BA322080 ____________________________________) Defendant, driving while intoxicated, killed another driver instantly in a freeway collision. The accident victim left no surviving family, dependents, or heirs. Defendant […]

Filed 7/16/12 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, S056842 v. JOHN ALEXANDER RICCARDI, Los Angeles County Defendant and Appellant. Super. Ct. No. A086662 ____________________________________) A jury found defendant John Alexander Riccardi guilty of the first degree murders of Constance (Connie) Navarro and Susan (Sue) Jory by use of a firearm. […]

Filed 7/16/12 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA THE PEOPLE , Plaintiff and Respondent, S189317 v. Ct.App. 2/4 B215387 BRANDON ALEXANDER FAVOR, Los Angeles County Defendant and Appellant. Super. Ct. No. BA285265 In this case, a jury found defendant guilty of two counts of robbery, as an aider and abettor, and guilty of two counts […]

Filed 7/12/12 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, S187020 v. Ct.App. 6 H034382 ROBIN BAILEY, Monterey County Defendant and Appellant. Super. Ct. No. SS082741A We granted review to determine whether, after finding insufficient evidence to support a conviction for escape from state prison, an appellate court may reduce the conviction […]

Filed 7/9/12 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, S048440 v. CHRISTOPHER CHARLES LIGHTSEY, ) Kern County Defendant and Appellant. Super. Ct. No. 56801A ____________________________________) A jury in Kern County Superior Court convicted defendant Christopher Charles Lightsey in 1995 of the first degree murder of William Compton (Pen. Code, ? 187)1 […]

Filed 7/5/12 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, S189856 v. Ct.App. 4/1 D055698 PERLA ISABEL GONZALEZ, San Bernardino County Defendant and Appellant. Super. Ct. No. FVA024527 ____________________________________) Defendant Perla Isabel Gonzalez (Perla) recruited her brother and her boyfriend to assault Roberto Canas-Fuentes (Canas).1 After Canas fended off a knife attack […]

Filed 7/5/12 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA In re ETHAN C. et al., Persons Coming Under the Juvenile Court Law. ____________________________________) LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES, Plaintiff and Appellant, S187587 v. Ct.App. 2/1 B219894 WILLIAM C., Los Angeles County Defendant and Appellant. Super. Ct. No. CK-78508 ____________________________________) Under certain circumstances, […]

Filed 7/2/12 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA DONALD SMITH, Petitioner, S188068 v. Ct.App. 1/5 A124763 THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE CITY ) AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO, San Francisco City and Respondent; County Super. Ct. No. 207788 THE PEOPLE, Real Party in Interest. Under Penal Code section 1382, a defendant charged with a felony […]

Filed 7/2/12 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA STATE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL OF CALIFORNIA, AFL-CIO, Plaintiff and Appellant, S173586 v. Ct.App. 4/1 D052181 CITY OF VISTA et al., San Diego County Super. Ct. No. 37-2007- Defendants and Respondents. ) 00054316-CU-WM-NC A charter city entered into certain contracts for the construction of public buildings. […]

Filed 6/28/12 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA UNITED TEACHERS OF LOS ANGELES, ) Plaintiff and Appellant, S177403 v. Ct.App. 2/5 B214119 LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, Los Angeles County Defendant and Respondent. Super. Ct. No. BS116739 After the Los Angeles Unified School District (District) approved the conversion of an existing public school into a […]

Filed 6/28/12 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA In re M.M., a Person Coming Under the Juvenile Court Law. ____________________________________) THE PEOPLE, S177704 Plaintiff and Respondent, Ct.App. 4/2 E045714 v. San Bernardino County Super. Ct. No. J220179 M.M., a Minor, Defendant and Appellant. ____________________________________) Penal Code section 148, subdivision (a)(1) (section 148(a)(1)) makes it a […]

Filed 6/25/12 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA DEBRA COITO, Petitioner, S181712 v. Ct.App. 5 F057690 THE SUPERIOR COURT OF Stanislaus County STANISLAUS COUNTY, Super. Ct. No. 624500 Respondent; STATE OF CALIFORNIA, Real Party in Interest. In California, an attorney?s work product is protected by statute. (Code Civ. Proc., ? 2018.010 et seq.; all further […]