In re Cruse
In re Cruse
Opinion of the Court
Opinion
Defendant, Myron Eric Cruse, has filed a habeas corpus petition challenging his conviction for possession of marijuana for purposes of sale resulting from a guilty plea and an admission that he previously had been convicted in 1986 of a violent or serious felony within the meaning of Penal Code
Charged with cocaine possession in violation of Health and Safety Code section 11350, subdivision (a), there were two alleged prior convictions which subjected defendant to enhanced sentencing pursuant to sections 667, subdivision (e)(2)(A)(ii) and 1170.12, subdivision (c)(2)(A)(ii). It was alleged defendant had previously been convicted in 1986 of violations of sections 245, subdivision (a)(1) and 288a, subdivision (f). Defendant’s attorney, Ms. Oronoz-Crawford, advised defendant that if both of the alleged prior violent or serious convictions allegation were sustained he would be subject to a potential 25-year-to-life sentence. Ms. Oronoz-Crawford also knew that in
In assessing defendant’s ineffective assistance of counsel argument, we apply the established rules for viewing the constitutional effectiveness of criminal defense lawyers. (Strickland v. Washington (1984) 466 U.S. 668, 694 [80 L.Ed.2d 674, 104 S.Ct. 2052]; People v. Carter (2003) 30 Cal.4th 1166, 1211 [135 Cal.Rptr.2d 553, 70 P.3d 981].) The California Supreme Court has held that in evaluating whether a prior conviction is a serious offense, it is permissible to review the preliminary examination transcript. (People v. Reed (1996) 13 Cal.4th 217, 224-231 [52 Cal.Rptr.2d 106, 914 P.2d 184]; People v. Garrett (2001) 92 Cal.App.4th 1417, 1433 [112 Cal.Rptr.2d 643].) The preliminary hearing transcript of the 1986 case indicates that the victim’s jaw was personally broken by defendant. When her jaw was broken, she suffered great bodily injury within the meaning of section 12022.7, subdivision (f). (People v. Escobar (1992) 3 Cal.4th 740, 750 [12 Cal.Rptr.2d 586, 837 P.2d 1100] [extensive bruises and abrasions to the victim’s legs, knees, and elbows plus injury to her neck and the soreness in her vaginal area which impaired her ability to walk]; People v. Harvey (1992) 7 Cal.App.4th 823, 827 [9 Cal.Rptr.2d 17] [nonpermanent hot grease injuries causing protracted discomfort]; People v. Johnson (1980) 104 Cal.App.3d 598, 608 [164 Cal.Rptr. 69] [bone fracture]; People v. Jaramillo (1979) 98 Cal.App.3d 830, 836 [159 Cal.Rptr. 771] [multiple contusions over a child’s body causing swelling and severe discoloration with accompanying pain].)
When a defendant inflicts great bodily injury during the commission of a felony, as occurred in 1986, the resulting crime is a serious offense. Section 1192.7, subdivision (c)(8) states: “ ‘[S]erious felony’ means ...: [f] ... (8) any felony in which the defendant personally inflicts great bodily injury on any person, other than an accomplice ....” The fact that the 1986 offenses did not include a great bodily injury finding is irrelevant. As Reed explains, parts of section 1192.7 refer to conduct rather than specific crimes. (People v. Reed, supra, 13 Cal.4th at p. 223 [“[W]e implemented the intent of the electorate in including, within section 1192.7, terms that referred to conduct rather than to a specific crime”]; People v. Guerrero (1988) 44 Cal.3d 343, 355 [243 Cal.Rptr. 688, 748 P.2d 1150] [“To allow the trier of fact to look to the entire record of the conviction is certainly reasonable: it promotes the efficient administration of justice and, specifically, furthers the evident intent of the people in establishing an enhancement for ‘burglary of a residence’—a term that refers to conduct, not a specific crime”]; see People v. Murphy (2001) 25 Cal.4th 136, 145 [105 Cal.Rptr.2d 387, 19 P.3d 1129]; In re Jensen (2001) 92 Cal.App.4th 262, 267 [111 Cal.Rptr.2d 751].) Section
Defendant asserts though that Ms. Oronoz-Crawford should have argued that the 1986 offenses were not in fact serious felonies. Defendant relies on a noncertified and unsworn medical report found in the 1986 superior court file which states that “no definite fracture ... or other abnormality” was observed by Dr. Mark Stein, a radiologist on March 24, 1986. The report, which bears the victim’s name, further states: “IMPRESSION: NO DEFINITE ABNORMALITIES.” The Attorney General argues that the unsworn and noncertified report is inadmissible on the issue of whether great bodily was sustained by the victim in 1986. We agree.
In People v. Reed, supra, 13 Cal.4th at page 223, the Supreme Court synthesized its rule concerning what may be considered in assessing whether a prior conviction may be used to enhance a sentence as follows: “[T]he trier of fact may look to the entire record of conviction to determine the substance of the prior conviction.” (Citing People v. Guerrero (1988) 44 Cal.3d 343, 355 [243 Cal.Rptr. 688, 748 P.2d 1150].) (See People v. Martinez (2000) 22 Cal.4th 106, 118 [91 Cal.Rptr.2d 687, 990 P.2d 563].) Nonetheless, in order for a portion of the “entire record of conviction” as that term is used in Reed to be considered, it must be admissible evidence. For example in Reed, the Supreme Court explained that the preliminary examination testimony of the victim and a witness of the prior aggravated assaults were admissible as prior recorded hearsay pursuant to Evidence Code section 1291. In Reed, the Supreme Court noted the rule adopted in Guerrero prohibited live testimony as to the nature of the conduct which gave rise to the prior conviction. The Supreme Court concluded the witnesses to the prior aggravated assault were unavailable within the meaning of Evidence Code section 240 thereby rendering their preliminary hearing testimony admissible hearsay pursuant to
In this case, Dr. Stein’s uncertified and unsworn hearsay statement is not part of the admissible “record of conviction” which may be used to prove in this case whether the victim in the 1986 sexual assault case suffered great bodily injury. A physician’s report may be admissible hearsay as a business record if it is properly authenticated and a suitable foundation is presented. (Phillips v. G. L. Truman Excavation Co. (1961) 55 Cal.2d 801, 809-810 [13 Cal.Rptr. 401, 362 P.2d 33]; McDowd v. Pig’n Whistle Corp. (1945) 26 Cal.2d 696, 700-701 [160 P.2d 797]; see Wegner et al., Cal. Practice Guide: Civil Trials and Evidence (The Rutter Group 2002) ¶ 8:1621, p. 8D-147.) Dr. Stein’s report is simply resting in the superior court file maintained as a result of defendant’s prior 1986 sexual assault conviction. Dr. Stein’s report was not received in evidence. No declaration authenticating Dr. Stein’s report is in the 1986 superior court file. No declaration relating the foundational requirements for a business record is in the superior court file. No testimony was received at the preliminary examination or during a pretrial hearing in the 1986 sexual assault litigation which either authenticated or provided business record foundational requirements for Dr. Stein’s report. Hence, Dr. Stein’s report was not admissible evidence in the present case on the question of whether the victim suffered great bodily injury in 1986. Ms. Ordonoz-Crawford was under no duty to make meritless motions or contentions. (People v. Frye (1998) 18 Cal.4th 894, 985 [77 Cal.Rptr.2d 25, 959 P.2d 183]; People v. Price (1991) 1 Cal.4th 324, 387 [3 Cal.Rptr.2d 106, 821 P.2d 610].) Defendant’s ineffective assistance of counsel contentions are without merit.
Grignon, J., and Mosk, J., concurred.
A petition for a rehearing was denied August 12, 2003.
All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise indicated.
Section 667.5, subdivision (c)(8) states: “(c) For the purpose of this section, ‘violent felony’ shall mean any of the following: [IQ ... [I] (8) Any felony in which the defendant inflicts great bodily injury on any person other than an accomplice which has been charged and proved as provided for in Section 12022.7 or 12022.9 ....’’
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.