Home > Opinions > People v. Smith
Citation 60 Cal. 4th 603, 180 Cal. Rptr. 3d 100, 337 P.3d 1159, 14 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 13,134, 2014 Daily Journal D.A.R. 15, 517
Filed 11/20/14
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA
Plaintiff and Respondent,
Ct.App. 4/1 D060317
VINCE BRYAN SMITH,
Defendant and Appellant.
Super. Ct. No. BAF004719
A person who aids and abets a crime is guilty of that crime, sometimes
called the target crime. Additionally, that person is guilty of any other crime a
principal in the target crime commits, sometimes called the nontarget crime, that is
a natural and probable consequence of the target crime. In this case involving
violent criminal street gangs, we must decide whether defendant was properly
convicted of the murders of two of his fellow gang members even though he
neither personally killed them nor desired their deaths. Because, under the
peculiar circumstances of the case, a reasonable jury could find that a principal or
principals in the target crimes committed the murders, and they were a reasonably
foreseeable consequence when defendant aided and abetted the target crimes, we
conclude that he was properly convicted of them. Accordingly, we affirm the
judgment of the Court of Appeal, which reached a similar conclusion.
I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
This factual recitation is taken primarily from the Court of Appeal opinion
authored by Justice Benke.
Three criminal street gangs played a role in this case: the Gateway Posse
Crips (Gateway Posse), the YAH (short for Young Ass Hustlers) Squad, and the
Pueblo Bishop Bloods (Pueblo Bishop). Pueblo Bishop members were known to
carry guns and use them against rival gangs. The Gateway Posse and Pueblo
Bishop were enemies, and there had been a history of violence between them.
Defendant Vince Bryan Smith was a member of Gateway Posse. Each of
the two murder victims, defendant's friend, Vincent McCarthy, and his cousin,
Demetrius Hunt, was either a member or an "associate" of the gang. Defendant's
friend, Julian McKee, was a member of yet another gang, but one that was
affiliated with Gateway Posse.
The YAH Squad began as an unaffiliated dance crew in 2002 and
eventually transitioned into a criminal street gang whose members often carried
guns. At the time of the killings, the YAH Squad had about 10 members. It had
developed an affiliation with Pueblo Bishop because one of its members, Deshawn
Littleton, was also affiliated with that gang. Members of the YAH Squad present
at the killings included Littleton, Jermarr Session, Edward Scott, Aaron Lee,
Lonnie Walton, and Jesus Hernandez. Defendant's younger brother, Robert
McMorris, was a member of the YAH Squad, but he wanted to leave the gang.
In addition to Littleton, Pueblo Bishop members involved in this case
included Tovey Moody (Tovey) and Wealton Moody (Wealton).
Before the killings, YAH Squad members were "upset" with McMorris
(defendant's brother) because he was not adequately representing or participating
in the gang. Gang members participate by earning money for or defending the
gang and its territory. When a gang member is not participating, the member may
receive a "discipline," essentially a beating by fellow gang members. Because
YAH Squad members planned to discipline McMorris, he wanted to quit being a
member of the gang.
A few days before the killings, defendant, appearing "really mad," drove to
a liquor store where YAH Squad members had congregated and asked Edward
Scott, "When you all supposed to be putting hands on my little brother?" After
defendant explained that his younger brother was McMorris, Scott told him that
nobody was supposed to put hands on McMorris because he was "the little
homie." Lonnie Walton, who witnessed this exchange, testified that defendant
threatened to kill one of the group "over [his] brother" and, as defendant was
leaving, it appeared he "threw" the hand sign for Gateway Posse.
There was testimony that Deshawn Littleton, who was also present at this
exchange, and Scott were angry at defendant because he had "disrespected" the
YAH Squad. As the group walked back to their apartments, Littleton pounded his
fists and said that he was "going to beat the fuck out of [McMorris]." Littleton
also mentioned he was going to call Tovey, a member of Pueblo Bishop, about the
incident.
Walton testified that a few days before the killings, while YAH Squad
members were hanging out in a parking lot, Tovey arrived, spoke with Scott and
Littleton, and gave Littleton "something." Scott, Littleton, and Tovey got into a
truck and left. Walton testified he heard multiple gunshots a few minutes later.
Shortly thereafter, Wealton, Walton, and one or more YAH Squad
members went to an apartment where defendant was present. Walton testified that
when they arrived, Tovey and defendant were arguing about the liquor store
incident. Demontre Carroll, 12 years old at the time of these events, testified that
he was visiting a friend at the apartments when he heard the confrontation between
Tovey and defendant.1 He heard Tovey tell defendant, "I heard you came at my
little homie [Littleton] foul," meaning defendant had disrespected YAH Squad.
Defendant responded, "[W]ell, I didn't want my little brother in that shit." Tovey
told defendant he had no problem with defendant's demand. According to
Demontre, defendant threatened to "bring some of [his] homies to make sure none
of this shit pops off," which Demontre took to mean that defendant was going to
bring backup to ensure nothing went wrong when McMorris was "jumped out" of
the YAH Squad. Tovey then remarked to defendant, "I know you're not talking
about gun play." At that point, a neighbor got between defendant and Tovey and
everyone left.
On February 7, 2006, the day of the killings, defendant told his brother he
was taking him to get "jumped out" of the YAH Squad. The Court of Appeal
summarized the evidence about what this meant. "To join a criminal street gang,
potential members often have to be 'jumped in,' which typically involves three or
four members of the gang beating the potential new member for a set period of
time while the new member does his or her best to fight back. Likewise, in order
to get out of a gang, a member must be 'jumped out,' which typically involves a
beating of that member by the same members who jumped him or her into the
gang."
Littleton told YAH Squad members that they were going to fight Gateway
Posse "homies." Defendant picked up McMorris after school, then picked up
McCarthy, Hunt, and McKee to make sure his brother did not get beaten too badly
and things did not get out of hand. McCarthy had a gun. As they drove, they
Demontre was killed in October 2007 in an unrelated incident.
Accordingly, his preliminary hearing testimony was read into the record at trial.
agreed they would shoot back only if shot at first. McMorris told defendant that
YAH Squad members Scott and Lee had jumped him into the gang.
When defendant, McMorris, McCarthy, Hunt, and McKee arrived, they
approached a group of men that had gathered outside some apartments, including
members of the YAH Squad and Pueblo Bishop. Demontre observed Tovey give
Littleton what appeared to be a gun. He said that Tovey also possessed another
gun.
Defendant pointed at Scott and Lee and said, "I want you guys to put my
brother off." Those present decided to do the "jump out" in a field next to the
apartments. The two groups remained separate as they headed to the field. Just
before the fight began, defendant said, "I don't want nobody kicking my brother in
the head." Walton testified that defendant's attempts to give orders to YAH Squad
members did not sit well with them.
At some point, McMorris heard Littleton tell Scott and Lee, "You guys
know what you guys got to do." McMorris began to fight with Scott and Lee.
They got the better of him, and Lee hit McMorris, bloodying him and knocking
him to the ground. Defendant intervened, grabbed his brother, and pulled him up.
What happened next was the subject of much discussion at trial.
Walton testified that YAH Squad member Jesus Hernandez yelled at
defendant, "Fuck that, JR [meaning defendant]. He [meaning McMorris] got put
on by four people." Walton testified this meant that because four people had
jumped in McMorris, four people had to jump him out. In response, defendant
said, "Fuck you." He walked over to Hernandez and took a swing at him.
According to Walton, another Pueblo Bishop member grabbed defendant and told
him to calm down. Walton heard a gunshot from behind, ducked, and then took
off running. As he ran he heard more gunshots. He estimated he heard a total of
seven or eight shots.
McMorris testified that as Hernandez came near the fight, defendant tried to
stop Hernandez and swung at him. McMorris saw Littleton, who had been leaning
on a brick wall nearby, pull out a gun and start shooting. He saw the flash from
the muzzle. McMorris hopped a fence and began running. Walton and Session
also started running.
Demontre testified that several YAH Squad members came at McMorris
after McMorris approached the group. He said that all of them struck McMorris,
who attempted to fight back. With McMorris on the ground, Demontre heard
defendant say, "Fuck this shit." He saw defendant pull out a gun from his pants
and point it at several people. Demontre saw Littleton and Tovey respond by each
pulling out a gun. As he dropped to the grass, Demontre heard several gunshots.
He ran away, observing others also fleeing the scene.
Julian McKee told investigators that he did not see who fired the shots, but
that once the shooting started he saw defendant with a handgun. He said that
defendant was not the shooter, and that the other group did the shooting.
Hunt died at the scene after being shot four times. McCarthy was shot
twice and died later at the hospital. Police investigators recovered two guns, five
expended nine-millimeter bullet casings, and two expended .40-caliber casings.
The bullets recovered from Hunt's body were nine millimeter; the single bullet
recovered from McCarthy's body had the "weight and appearance" of a nine-
millimeter bullet.
The evidence did not make clear who fired the fatal shots. The prosecutor's
theory at trial was that Littleton fired the fatal shots.
The prosecutor charged defendant and several others with various crimes
arising out of these events, including the murders of McCarthy and Hunt.
Although defendant had several codefendants at trial, only he is involved in this
appeal. The prosecution's theory was that defendant was guilty of the murders as
an aider and abettor of those who actually shot the victims.
A jury found defendant guilty of the second degree murders of McCarthy
and Hunt and of one count of active participation in a criminal street gang. (Pen.
Code, §§ 187, subd. (a), 186.22, subd. (a).) It found true an allegation that the
murders were committed for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association
with a criminal street gang. (Pen. Code, § 186.22, subd. (b)(1).)
The Court of Appeal modified the judgment in a manner not relevant here
and, as modified, affirmed the judgment. In so doing, it affirmed the murder
convictions. We granted defendant's petition for review limited to the question of
whether he was properly convicted of murder under the natural and probable
consequence theory of aiding and abetting.
II. DISCUSSION
Defendant was charged with, and convicted of, McCarthy's and Hunt's
murders not on the theory that he actually shot them, but on the theory that he
aided and abetted the person or persons who did.
"Penal Code section 31, which governs aider and abettor liability, provides
in relevant part, 'All persons concerned in the commission of a crime, whether it
be felony or misdemeanor, and whether they directly commit the act constituting
the offense, or aid and abet in its commission . . . are principals in any crime so
committed.' An aider and abettor is one who acts 'with knowledge of the criminal
purpose of the perpetrator and with an intent or purpose either of committing, or
of encouraging or facilitating commission of, the offense.' (People v. Beeman
(1984) 35 Cal.3d 547, 560.)" (People v. Chiu (2014) 59 Cal.4th 155, 161, fn.
omitted.) "[A] person who aids and abets the commission of a crime is a
'principal' in the crime, and thus shares the guilt of the actual perpetrator."
(People v. Prettyman (1996) 14 Cal.4th 248, 259 (Prettyman).)
An aider and abettor is guilty not only of the intended, or target, crime but
also of any other crime a principal in the target crime actually commits (the
nontarget crime) that is a natural and probable consequence of the target crime.
(People v. Chiu, supra, 59 Cal.4th at p. 161; Prettyman, supra, 14 Cal.4th at p.
260.) "Thus, for example, if a person aids and abets only an intended assault, but
a murder results, that person may be guilty of that murder, even if unintended, if it
is a natural and probable consequence of the intended assault." (People v. McCoy
(2001) 25 Cal.4th 1111, 1117.)
A consequence that is reasonably foreseeable is a natural and probable
consequence under this doctrine. "A nontarget offense is a ' "natural and probable
consequence" ' of the target offense if, judged objectively, the additional offense
was reasonably foreseeable. [(People v. Medina (2009) 46 Cal.4th 913, 920.)]
The inquiry does not depend on whether the aider and abettor actually foresaw the
nontarget offense. (Ibid.) Rather, liability ' "is measured by whether a reasonable
person in the defendant's position would have or should have known that the
charged offense was a reasonably foreseeable consequence of the act aided and
abetted." ' (Ibid.) Reasonable foreseeability 'is a factual issue to be resolved by
the jury.' (Id. at p. 920.)" (People v. Chiu, supra, 59 Cal.4th at pp. 161-162.)
Even though the murder victims were defendant's cousin and a friend, and
no doubt he never intended their deaths, he was convicted of their murders under
this natural and probable consequence doctrine. The prosecution's theory was
that, although defendant, a Gateway Posse member, and members of the rival
Pueblo Bishop gang (including the actual gunmen) were normally enemies, they
cooperated in staging the jump out and, in so doing, aided and abetted each other
in committing the target crimes of disturbing the peace and assault or battery. The
prosecutor argued that during the commission of the target crimes, a principal in
those crimes (a member of Pueblo Bishop) committed the murders, and the
murders were the natural and probable consequence of the target crimes.
The trial court instructed the jury on this natural and probable consequence
theory regarding both murder and the lesser included offense of voluntary
manslaughter. It used the language of CALCRIM No. 402, as adapted to the case.
The court informed the jury that "[u]nder some specific circumstances, if the
evidence establishes aiding and abetting of one crime, a person may also be found
guilty of other crimes that occur during the commission of the first crime." Then
it instructed: "Before you may decide whether the defendant is guilty of murder or
the lesser offense of voluntary manslaughter, you must decide whether he or she is
guilty of disturbing the peace or assault or battery. To prove the defendant is
guilty of murder or the lesser offense of voluntary manslaughter, the People must
prove that:
"One, the defendant is guilty of disturbing the peace or assault or battery;
"Two, during the commission of disturbing the peace or assault or battery, a
coparticipant in that crime committed the crime of murder or the lesser offense of
voluntary manslaughter;
"And three, under all the circumstances, a reasonable person in the
defendant's position would have known that the commission of the murder or
voluntary manslaughter was a natural and probable consequence of the
commission of the disturbing the peace or assault or battery.
"A coparticipant in a crime is the perpetrator or anyone who aided and
abetted the perpetrator. It does not include a victim or innocent bystander.
"A natural and probable consequence is one that a reasonable person would
know is likely to happen if nothing unusual intervenes. A consequence is not
reasonably foreseeable if it is merely possible. In deciding whether a consequence
is natural and probable, consider all of the circumstances established by the
evidence. If the murder or voluntary manslaughter was committed for a reason
independent of the common plan to commit the disturbing the peace or assault or
battery, then the commission of murder or voluntary manslaughter was not a
natural and probable consequence of disturbing the peace or assault or battery.
"To decide whether the crime of murder or voluntary manslaughter was
committed, please refer to the separate instructions that I will give you defining
those crimes."
The court also instructed the jury on the elements of disturbing the peace,
assault, battery, murder, and voluntary manslaughter, as well as aiding and
abetting.
Defendant contends the natural and probable consequence doctrine was
misapplied in this case. He argues that not all principals in the target crime may
be guilty of nontarget crimes, but only some. Specifically, he argues that "the
English common law, as incorporated in Penal Code section 31, would not extend
accessory liability to the acts of a person who was not directly aided and abetted
by the accessory." We disagree. The law provides no distinction between those
principals who directly, and those who indirectly, aid and abet the perpetrator who
commits the nontarget crime. "The distinction between an accessory before the
fact and a principal, and between principals in the first and second degree is
abrogated; and all persons concerned in the commission of a crime, who by the
operation of other provisions of this code are principals therein, shall hereafter be
prosecuted, tried and punished as principals . . . ." (Pen. Code, § 971.)
Defendant's liability was based on his being a principal under Penal Code section
31. Under Penal Code sections 31 and 971, "those persons who at common law
would have been termed accessories before the fact and principals in the second
degree as well as those who actually perpetrate the offense, are to be prosecuted,
tried and punished as principals in California." (People v. Beeman, supra, 35
Cal.3d at p. 554.) "The Legislature has determined those who aid and abet and
those who actually perpetrate the offense are principals and equally culpable."
(People v. Davis (1992) 8 Cal.App.4th 28, 45.)
The statutes and, accordingly, the natural and probable consequence
doctrine, do not distinguish among principals on the basis of whether they directly
or indirectly aided and abetted the target crime, or whether they directly or
indirectly aided and abetted the perpetrator of the nontarget crime. An aider and
abettor of the target crime is guilty of any crime that any principal in that target
crime commits if it was a natural and probable, i.e., reasonably foreseeable,
consequence of the target crime.
As noted, the trial court's instructions included this sentence adapted from
CALCRIM No. 402: "If the murder or voluntary manslaughter was committed for
a reason independent of the common plan to commit the disturbing the peace or
assault or battery, then the commission of murder or voluntary manslaughter was
not a natural and probable consequence of disturbing the peace or assault or
battery."
This sentence, if correct, would mean that a nontarget offense, even if
reasonably foreseeable, is not the natural and probable consequence of the target
offense if the jury finds it was committed for a reason independent of the common
plan to commit the target offense. The mere fact that this sentence is in
CALCRIM does not make it legally correct. "[J]ury instructions, whether
published or not, are not themselves the law, and are not authority to establish
legal propositions or precedent." (People v. Morales (2001) 25 Cal.4th 34, 48, fn.
Wondering whether this sentence was correct and, if so, whether the
evidence supported a finding that the murders were not committed for an
independent reason, we solicited supplemental briefs from the parties on the
question of whether the sentence is correct. Both parties argue that the sentence
does not correctly state the law. We agree. To establish aiding and abetting
liability under the natural and probable consequence doctrine, the prosecution
must prove the nontarget offense was reasonably foreseeable; it need not
additionally prove the nontarget offense was not committed for a reason
independent of the common plan to commit the target offense.
It is not clear on what exactly the Advisory Committee on Criminal Jury
Instructions of the Judicial Council based the sentence in question. The
Commentary to CALCRIM No. 402 says, "Although no published case to date
gives a clear definition of the terms 'natural' and 'probable,' . . . we have included
a suggested definition." The cases cited in that commentary do not themselves
support the sentence. It appears likely, however, that the sentence was based on
language appearing in cases involving conspirator liability.
The leading early case concerning the liability of a conspirator for crimes
committed by other conspirators stated that " 'where several parties conspire or
combine together to commit any unlawful act, each is criminally responsible for
the acts of his associates or confederates committed in furtherance of any
prosecution of the common design for which they combine. . . . Each is
responsible for everything done by his confederates, which follows incidentally in
the execution of the common design as one of its probable and natural
consequences, even though it was not intended as a part of the original design or
common plan. Nevertheless the act must be the ordinary and probable effect of
the wrongful act specifically agreed on, so that the connection between them may
be reasonably apparent, and not a fresh and independent product of the mind of
one of the confederates outside of, or foreign to, the common design.' " (People v.
Kauffman (1907) 152 Cal. 331, 334, italics added (Kauffman).) The italicized
language is comparable to the sentence in CALCRIM No. 402 that we are
considering.2
Subsequent cases have reiterated this concept in the context of conspirator
liability. (E.g., People v. Werner (1940) 16 Cal.2d 216, 223 ["[T]he act must not
be the fresh and independent product of the mind of one of the confederates
outside of, or foreign to, the common design."]; People v. Luparello (1986) 187
Cal.App.3d 410, 444 [quoting Werner].)
We must decide whether this limitation on conspirator liability extends to
aiding and abetting liability. Without specifically considering the question,
language in some cases suggests it might. Some cases, for example, have cited
concepts of conspiracy liability and concepts of aiding and abetting liability
seemingly interchangeably. In People v. Durham (1969) 70 Cal.2d 171, this court
noted "the two theories of conspiracy and aiding and abetting" the prosecutor had
advanced to support the murder conviction and said that "[c]onspiracy principles
are often properly utilized in cases wherein the crime of conspiracy is not charged
in the indictment or information," sometimes "to show through the existence of
conspiracy that a defendant who was not the direct perpetrator of the criminal
offense charged aided and abetted in its commission." (Id. at pp. 179, 180, fn. 7.)
It described the issue considered in Kauffman, supra, 152 Cal. 331, as "identical to
that at bar" (Durham, at p. 182), and cited with approval Kauffman's language
As can be noted, although Penal Code sections 31 and 971 use the word
"principal" to designate a person concerned in the commission of a crime, some of
the cases use descriptive words such as "participant" or "confederate."
CALCRIM No. 402 refers to a "coparticipant," which it defines as including the
"perpetrator or anyone who aided and abetted the perpetrator." In this context, we
believe these terms are synonymous. The terms refer to any principal in the crime,
whether a direct perpetrator or aider and abettor.
limiting the defendant's liability for an unintended crime. (Durham, at pp. 182-
183; see People v. Nguyen (1993) 21 Cal.App.4th 518, 531.)
Our opinion in Prettyman, supra, 14 Cal.4th 248, is the closest we have
come to considering this question. There, we discussed Kauffman, supra, 152 Cal.
331, and quoted its language stating that the conspirator is liable for an act of a
confederate " ' "which follows incidentally in the execution of the common design
as one of its probable and natural consequences," ' " and its language stating that
the act must not be " ' "a fresh and independent product of one of the confederates
outside of, or foreign to, the common design." ' " (Prettyman, at pp. 260-261,
quoting Kauffman, at p. 334, italics added in Prettyman.) We then said that
"People v. Kauffman, supra, 152 Cal. 331, involved the liability of conspirators
for substantive crimes in the course of a conspiracy, not the liability of aiders and
abettors, as does this case. But later decisions have applied the 'natural and
probable consequences' doctrine to aiders and abettors [citations] as well as to
conspirators [citations]." (Prettyman, at p. 261.)
Thus, Prettyman makes clear that an aider and abettor, like a conspirator, is
liable for unintended crimes. But does the limitation on conspirator liability for
crimes outside of or foreign to the common design also apply equally to an aider
and abettor? In other words, for an aider and abettor, is it sufficient if the
prosecution proves the nontarget crime was a reasonably foreseeable consequence
of the target crime, or must the prosecution additionally prove that the nontarget
crime was not committed for a reason independent of the common plan? In a case
that predated Prettyman, the Court of Appeal considered this question and
concluded that this limitation on conspirator liability does not apply to an aider
and abettor. (People v. Brigham (1989) 216 Cal.App.3d 1039; see People v.
Anderson (1991) 233 Cal.App.3d 1646 [following Brigham].)
We agree. Although conspiracy and aiding and abetting are similar in that
both involve persons who engage in criminal conduct with someone else — thus
making them sometimes liable for crimes that someone else commits — they are
different in other ways. Conspiracy is an inchoate crime. "A conviction of
conspiracy requires proof that the defendant and another person had the specific
intent to agree or conspire to commit an offense, as well as the specific intent to
commit the elements of that offense, together with proof of the commission of an
overt act 'by one or more of the parties to such agreement' in furtherance of the
conspiracy." (People v. Morante (1999) 20 Cal.4th 403, 416, quoting Pen. Code,
§ 184.) "Criminal conspiracy is an offense distinct from the actual commission of
a criminal offense that is the object of the conspiracy." (Morante, at p. 416.)
Other than the agreement, the only act required is an overt act by any of the
conspirators, not necessarily the defendant, and that overt act need not itself be
criminal. (People v. Russo (2001) 25 Cal.4th 1124, 1135.) Conspiracy thus
criminalizes preparatory conduct at an earlier stage than an attempt to commit a
crime. " ' "As an inchoate crime, conspiracy fixes the point of legal intervention
at [the time of] agreement to commit a crime," and "thus reaches further back into
preparatory conduct than attempt . . . ." ' " (Morante, at p. 417.)
Because a conspirator can be liable for a crime committed by any other
conspirator, and the defendant need not do (or even encourage) anything criminal
except agree to commit a crime, it is reasonable to make a conspirator not liable
for another conspirator's crime that is " 'a fresh and independent product of the
mind of one of the confederates outside of, or foreign to, the common design.' "
(Kauffman, supra, 152 Cal. at p. 334.) But aiding and abetting is different. An
aider and abettor is someone who, with the necessary mental state, "by act or
advice aids, promotes, encourages or instigates, the commission of the crime."
(People v. Beeman, supra, 35 Cal.3d at p. 561.) Because the aider and abettor is
furthering the commission, or at least attempted commission, of an actual crime, it
is not necessary to add a limitation on the aider and abettor's liability for crimes
other principals commit beyond the requirement that they be a natural and
probable, i.e., reasonably foreseeable, consequence of the crime aided and abetted.
If the prosecution can prove the nontarget crime was a reasonably foreseeable
consequence of the crime the defendant intentionally aided and abetted, it should
not additionally have to prove the negative fact that the nontarget crime was not
committed for a reason independent of the common plan.
To be sure, whether an unintended crime was the independent product of
the perpetrator's mind outside of, or foreign to, the common design may, if shown
by the evidence, become relevant to the question whether that crime was a natural
and probable consequence of the target crime. In a given case, a criminal
defendant may argue to the jury that the nontarget crime was the perpetrator's
independent idea unrelated to the common plan, and thus was not reasonably
foreseeable and not a natural and probable consequence of the target crime. But
that would be a factual issue for the jury to resolve (People v. Chiu, supra, 59
Cal.4th at p. 162), not a separate legal requirement.
Accordingly, the sentence at issue in CALCRIM No. 402 does not correctly
state the law of aider and abettor liability. However, because the sentence was
unduly favorable to defendant, giving it cannot have harmed him.
Next, we must decide whether substantial evidence supports defendant's
murder convictions under the natural and probable consequence doctrine. "To
determine whether sufficient evidence supports a jury verdict, a reviewing court
reviews the entire record in the light most favorable to the judgment to determine
whether it discloses evidence that is reasonable, credible, and of solid value such
that a reasonable jury could find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."
(People v. Rountree (2013) 56 Cal.4th 823, 852-853.)
Defendant contends the evidence was insufficient because the jury could
not determine for sure who committed the two murders. The prosecution theory
was that Littleton was the killer. But exactly who shot and killed the two victims
was not entirely clear. There was evidence that both Littleton and Tovey
possessed guns and fired shots. It was not certain which gun Littleton used and
which gun Tovey used. But any such uncertainty did not matter as long as the jury
unanimously agreed, as to each killing, that, whoever the actual gunman was, that
gunman both committed murder, i.e., killed a human being with malice (Pen.
Code, § 187), and was a principal in the target crimes. If the jury made those
findings and also found that defendant aided and abetted the commission of the
target crimes, and the murders were a natural and probable consequence of the
target crimes, it could convict defendant of the murders despite uncertainty as to
who exactly the killer was.
" '[A]s long as each juror is convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that
defendant is guilty of murder as that offense is defined by statute, it need not
decide unanimously by which theory he is guilty. [Citations.] More specifically,
the jury need not decide unanimously whether defendant was guilty as the aider
and abettor or as the direct perpetrator. . . . [¶] . . . [¶] Not only is there no
unanimity requirement as to the theory of guilt, the individual jurors themselves
need not choose among the theories, so long as each is convinced of guilt.
Sometimes . . . the jury simply cannot decide beyond a reasonable doubt exactly
who did what. There may be a reasonable doubt that the defendant was the direct
perpetrator, and a similar doubt that he was the aider and abettor, but no such
doubt that he was one or the other.' (People v. Santamaria (1994) 8 Cal.4th 903,
918-919; see also People v. Beardslee (1991) 53 Cal.3d 68, 92.) Defendant
contends that different facts would support aiding and abetting liability and
liability as a direct perpetrator, but, as we have explained, the jury need not
unanimously agree 'on the precise factual details of how a killing under one or the
other theory occurred in order to convict defendant of first degree murder.'
(People v. Pride [(1992) 3 Cal.4th 195,] 250.) Naturally, in order to return a guilty
verdict, the jury must agree unanimously that each element of the charged crime
has been proved, but the factors that establish aiding and abetting liability are not
included as elements of the crime of murder. (People v. Prettyman (1996) 14
Cal.4th 248, 271." (People v. Jenkins (2000) 22 Cal.4th 900, 1024-1025.)
"The jury must agree on a 'particular crime' [citation]; it would be
unacceptable if some jurors believed the defendant guilty of one crime and others
believed her guilty of another." (People v. Russo, supra, 25 Cal.4th at pp. 1134-
1135.) In this case, this means that "the jury must unanimously agree on guilt of a
specific murder" — McCarthy's murder in one count and Hunt's murder in
another. (Id. at p. 1133.) But additional unanimity is not required. (Id. at pp.
1133-1135.) "Once the discrete event is identified, for example, the killing of a
particular human being, the theory each individual juror uses to conclude the
defendant is criminally responsible need not be the same and, indeed, may be
contradictory." (People v. Davis, supra, 8 Cal.App.4th at p. 45.) It suffices if the
jury unanimously agrees that the prosecution has proven beyond a reasonable
doubt every element necessary to establish guilt of a discrete crime.
The concurring opinion asserts we are deciding the case based on a "novel
theory." (Conc. opn., post, at p. 2.) On the contrary, we are merely applying
settled law to the facts of this case. The author of the concurring opinion would
have us reject defendant's claim on the ground that each juror found specifically
that Littleton fired the shots that killed both victims. Although substantial
evidence would support a verdict on that basis, we are not so sure that was the sole
basis for the verdict given the uncertainty in the evidence and the trial court's
instructions. The court instructed the jury that its "verdict" on each count had to
be unanimous, but it gave no other unanimity instruction. It is possible that one or
more of the jurors were not entirely certain exactly who fired the fatal shots, but
all were convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that, whoever he was, he acted with
malice and thus committed murder.
As we have explained, that finding, if combined with the other findings
beyond a reasonable doubt necessary to convict — that whoever committed the
murder was a principal in the target crimes, that defendant aided and abetted the
target crimes, and that the murders were a natural and probable consequence of the
target crimes — would mean each juror was convinced beyond a reasonable doubt
that defendant was guilty of murder. No additional unanimity is required. The
jury certainly had to find that someone committed murder. But the "jury simply
did not have to find" exactly who that person was. (People v. Culuko (2000) 78
Cal.App.4th 307, 323 [applying these principles in a case involving the natural and
probable consequence doctrine].)
Applying these rules here, the jury could readily have found as to each
murder charge that the actual killer, whether he was Littleton or Tovey Moody or
some other member of Pueblo Bishop, committed a discrete murder, i.e., that he
killed McCarthy as to one count and Hunt as to another, and that he acted with
malice regarding each killing. The jury could also have reasonably found that all
of the possible shooters were aiders and abettors, and therefore principals, in the
target offenses. Each juror could reasonably reject the possibility that some
stranger to the jump out happened to come by at that moment and fired the fatal
shots. The evidence also fully supported a finding that defendant aided and
abetted the target offenses. Accordingly, the jury could reasonably find defendant
guilty of the nontarget murders if they were the natural and probable consequence
of the target offenses.
Finally, the evidence supported the jury's finding that the murders were the
natural and probable consequences of the target offenses of disturbing the peace
and assault or battery. Members of Pueblo Bishop were known to carry guns and
use them against rival gangs, including Gateway Posse. A few days before the
jump out, defendant flashed a gang sign and threatened to kill members of the
YAH Squad "over [his] brother." He also told YAH Squad and Pueblo Bishop
members that he was going to bring some of his "homies" to ensure the jump out
did not escalate. Defendant brought a gun to and helped establish the rules of the
jump out. Rival Crips and Blood gang members both attended and participated in
the jump out and were thus in close proximity to each other. Defendant did in fact
bring fellow gang members to act as backup in case things got out of hand. There
was also evidence that during the jump out itself, defendant pulled out his gun and
pointed it at several people. Under these circumstances, a reasonable jury could
find that the murders were a very foreseeable consequence of the jump out that
defendant aided and abetted.
We affirm the judgment of the Court of Appeal.
CHIN, J.
CANTIL-SAKAUYE, C. J.
BAXTER, J.
WERDEGAR, J.
CORRIGAN, J.
BAMATTRE-MANOUKIAN, J.*
* Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal, Sixth Appellate District, assigned by
the Chief Justice pursuant to article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution.
CONCURRING OPINION BY LIU, J.
At trial, both the prosecution and the defense proceeded on the theory that
Deshawn Littleton shot and killed the two victims in this case, Demetrius Hunt
and Vincent McCarthy. The evidence showed that Littleton went to the jumpout
with a gun. When fighting broke out among the gang members, Littleton pulled
out his weapon and fired several shots. One witness testified that the shots came
from where Littleton, and only Littleton, was standing. Further, the record shows
that Hunt and McCarthy were killed with the same kind of bullet (maj. opn., ante,
at p. 6), making it reasonable to infer that they were killed by the same gun.
During her closing argument, the prosecutor acknowledged that several
individuals fired weapons, but she said, "of course, the suggestion is" that
Littleton killed Hunt and McCarthy. She went on to argue that the jury could
convict defendant Vince Bryan Smith of first degree murder if Littleton acted with
premeditation because Littleton was "the individual who actually fired" the fatal
shots. Later, defense counsel urged the jury to view "the non-target offense
through the eyes of Deshawn Littleton to decide whether or not he in fact
committed murder." Counsel explained that if Littleton fired his weapon in self-
defense, then there was no murder; on the other hand, if Littleton acted with
premeditation, then he killed the victims to serve his own agenda, and thus the
killings were not foreseeable.
On appeal, Smith argues that there was no valid proof of the nontarget
offense of murder, and thus no valid proof of his derivative liability for that
offense, because the evidence was insufficient for the jury to determine who shot
each victim. But this argument fails. As both parties acknowledged at trial, and as
the Attorney General argues on appeal, the evidence was plainly sufficient for the
jury to conclude that Littleton shot and killed both victims. This conclusion,
together with our holding that it does not matter whether Smith directly or
indirectly aided and abetted Littleton as to the target crime (maj. opn., ante, at
pp. 10–11), provides ample basis for us to affirm Smith's murder conviction.
Instead of affirming the judgment on this ground, the court opts to decide
this case on the novel theory that the jury "could convict defendant of the murders
despite uncertainty as to who exactly the killer was." (Maj. opn., ante, at p. 17.)
While conceding that "substantial evidence would support a verdict on [the] basis"
that Littleton shot both victims, the court says "we are not so sure that was the sole
instructions" and that "[i]t is possible that one or more of the jurors were not
entirely certain exactly who fired the fatal shots." (Id. at pp. 18–19.) Of course it
is "possible." But given that (1) both parties proceeded at trial on the theory that
Littleton killed both victims and (2) substantial evidence readily supports this
theory, I do not see why we need to go on and speculate. On this record, it is not
necessary to decide whether Smith could be convicted of murder under the natural
and probable consequences doctrine if the jury was unsure who killed each victim.
But the court decides the issue anyway, applying the rule that in order to
convict a defendant of murder, the jury need not unanimously agree on the theory
by which he is guilty. (See People v. Santamaria (1994) 8 Cal.4th 903, 918–919
(Santamaria).) According to the court, it would not matter if six jurors had
concluded that Littleton (and no one else) shot and killed both victims, while six
other jurors had concluded that Tovey Moody (and no one else) killed both
victims. Despite these inconsistent theories, the court contends, each of the twelve
jurors would have been convinced that two murders occurred; thus, Smith could
be held liable for the murders so long as they were natural and probable
consequences of the jumpout. (Maj. opn., ante, at p. 18.)
Yet we have never applied the Santamaria rule in this way to affirm a
murder conviction under a natural and probable consequences theory. For
support, the court cites a single case, People v. Culuko (2000) 78 Cal.App.4th 307,
not mentioned by either party or by the Court of Appeal below. Culuko held that
the defendant could be convicted of murder either as a direct perpetrator who
killed with malice or as an aider and abettor of a confederate who foreseeably
killed with malice, and that the jury did not need to agree on which theory it found
true. (Id. at p. 323.) Here, there was no suggestion that Smith committed murder
as a direct perpetrator; the only theory of murder was one of natural and probable
consequences. The question is whether Smith can be convicted of murder on this
sole theory if the jury was unsure who (excluding Smith) killed the victims.
Culuko, whatever its merits, did not address this issue. (See McWilliams v. City of
Long Beach (2013) 56 Cal.4th 613, 626 [" ' "[C]ases are not authority for
propositions not considered." ' "].) Given the lack of authority for the approach in
today's opinion, it is no wonder the prosecutor did not advance this theory at trial.
Today's extension of the Santamaria rule is problematic because an
essential element of proving that a defendant committed murder under a natural
and probable consequences theory is valid proof that one (or more) of the
defendant's confederates committed murder. (See People v. Prettyman (1996) 14
Cal.4th 248, 267 [natural and probable consequences liability requires proof that
"the defendant's confederate committed an offense other than the target crime(s)"
(italics omitted)].) Our case law has always held — and today's opinion does not
dispute — that independent and satisfactory proof of the nontarget offense is itself
a necessary element of proving a defendant's vicarious liability for that offense
under a natural and probable consequences theory. A finding by six jurors that
Littleton (and no one else) committed murder, together with a finding by six other
jurors that Moody (and no one else) committed murder, does not add up to a valid
finding that anyone committed the nontarget offense of murder in this case. We
have never said that murder can be proven that way, and we should not adopt a
special rule here.
It is no answer to say that "[t]he jury certainly had to find that someone
committed murder." (Maj. opn., ante, at p. 19.) To say the jury found that
"someone committed murder" is a conclusory play on words. There is no finding
of "murder" under the law simply because each of twelve jurors believes
"someone" killed with malice. Even if Smith's liability for murder does not
depend on whether Littleton or Moody (or anyone else) would be convicted of
murder if tried in a separate proceeding (cf. People v. Wilkins (1994) 26
Cal.App.4th 1089, 1093–1096), it is essential that the jury in this proceeding find
valid proof of the nontarget offense of murder.
As a point of contrast, it would not matter whether the jury could determine
who killed each victim if the jury had found that all possible shooters acted with
malice aforethought toward Hunt and McCarthy. In that scenario, each possible
shooter would have been either a perpetrator or an aider and abettor of the murders
and, as such, would have been liable for murder, no matter who actually shot each
victim. But the jury instructions in this case did not require any such finding as to
all possible shooters, and the record does not compel such a finding beyond a
reasonable doubt.
In sum, a finding by each member of the jury that someone within the
group of possible shooters killed the victims with malice — without any
agreement on the shooter's identity or a unanimous finding that all possible
shooters acted with malice — is not valid proof that anyone committed the
nontarget offense of murder. Without such proof, an essential element of Smith's
liability for murder under a natural and probable consequences theory is missing.
This difficulty is entirely avoidable because there was sufficient evidence for the
jury to conclude that Littleton murdered both victims. In light of the evidence and
arguments advanced by both parties at trial, there is no reason to indulge the
speculative theory of the jury's verdict offered by today's opinion.
For the reasons above, I join the court in affirming Smith's murder
conviction.
See next page for addresses and telephone numbers for counsel who argued in Supreme Court.
Name of Opinion People v. Smith
Original Appeal
Original Proceeding
Review Granted XXX 215 Cal.App.4th 382
Rehearing Granted
Opinion No.
Date Filed: November 20, 2014
County: Riverside
Judge: Patrick F. Magers
Counsel:
Gregory L. Cannon, under appointment by the Supreme Court ,for Defendant and Appellant.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Gary W. Schons
and Julie L. Garland, Assistant Attorneys General, Scott C. Taylor, Meredith S. White, Steven T. Oetting
and Kathryn Kirschbaum, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
Counsel who argued in Supreme Court (not intended for publication with opinion):
Gregory L. Cannon
Cannon & Harris
6046 Cornerstone Court West, Suite 141
Steven T. Oetting
Deputy Attorney General
110 West A Street, Suite 1100
Petition for review after the Court of Appeal ordered sentence modified and otherwise affirmed. The court limited review to the following issue: Was defendant properly convicted of murder under the natural and probable consequences theory of aiding and abetting?
Opinion Information
Date: Citation: Docket Number:
Thu, 11/20/2014 60 Cal. 4th 603, 180 Cal. Rptr. 3d 100, 337 P.3d 1159, 14 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 13,134, 2014 Daily Journal D.A.R. 15, 517 S210898
Opinion Authors
Opinion Justice Ming W. Chin
Concur Justice Goodwin Liu
Brief Downloads
1-s210898-app-pet-rev-052213.pdf (3437105 bytes) - Appellant's Petition for Review
2-s210898-app-opening-brief-merits-102113.pdf (1762990 bytes) - Appellant's Opening Brief on the Merits
3-s210898-resp-answer-brief-merits-012814.pdf (1916941 bytes) - Respondent's Answer Brief on the Merits
4-s210898-app-reply-brief-merits-022114.pdf (1245741 bytes) - Appellant's Reply Brief on the Merits
5-s210898-resp-supp-brief-061614.pdf (666219 bytes) - Respondent's Supplemental Brief
6-s210898-app-supp-brief-061614.pdf (786512 bytes) - Appellant's Supplemental Brief
7-s210898-resp-reply-supp-brief-063014.pdf (337161 bytes) - Respondent's Reply to Supplemental Brief
If you'd like to submit a brief document to be included for this opinion, please submit an e-mail to the SCOCAL website
Annotated by Jennifer Palmer
Defendant Vince Byran Smith was a member of the Gateway Posse gang. Defendant's friend Vincent McCarthy and his cousin Demetrius Hunt, who were also members or associates of the Gateway Posse gang, were killed during a firefight with members of two other gangs, Pueblo Bishop and the YAH Squad.
Defendant's younger brother, Robert McMorris, was a member of the YAH Squad, but wanted to leave the gang. According to the evidence, a gang member can be "jumped out," that is, excused from the gang, by getting beat up by the same members who had initiated him into the gang through a similar beating. The day of the murders, Defendant took his brother McMorris to get "jumped out" of the YAH Squad. Defendant picked up McMorris, McCarthy (who had a gun), Hunt, and another friend McKee. They discussed that they would only shoot the gun if they were shot at first. The firefight that ensued was the subject of much discussion at trial. McKee told investigators that once the shooting started, he Defendant with a handgun. The evidence did not make clear who fired the fatal shots.
The prosecutor's theory at trial was that YAH Squad member Deshawn Littleton fired the fatal shots. The prosecutor charged Defendant with various crimes, including the murders of McCarthy and Hunt, under the theory that the defendant was guilty of the murders as an aider and abettor of those who fired the shots. The prosecutor argued that Defendant had aided and abetted the rival gang members in committing the target crimes of disturbing the peace and assault and battery, and that in the commission of those target crimes, a member of another gang committed the murders, which were a natural and probable consequence of the target crime. The trial court used the language of CALCRIM No. 402 to instruct the jury about the natural and probable consequences theory.
The jury found Defendant guilty of the second degree murders McCarthy and Hunt and of one count of active participation in a criminal street gang. The Court of Appeal affirmed the murder convictions. The Supreme Court granted Defendant's petition for review on the limited question of whether he was properly convicted of murder under the natural and probable consequence theory of aiding and abetting.
The court considered whether Defendant was properly convicted of the murders of two of his fellow gang members under the natural and probable consequences theory of aiding and abetting, even though he did not personal kill them nor did he desire their deaths. The court also considered whether one sentence of the jury instruction from CALCRIM No. 402, regarding the natural and probable consequences, was a correct statement of the law.
The court affirmed the judgment of the Court of Appeal, holding that Defendant was properly convicted of the crimes because a reasonable jury could find that a principal or principals in the target crimes committed the murders, and those murders were a reasonably foreseeable consequence when the defendant aided and abetted the target crimes. Additionally, the court held that one of the sentences of the jury instruction was an incorrect statement of the law, but that it favored the defendant and thus could not have harmed him.
An aider and abettor is one who acts with knowledge of the criminal purpose and with an intent of committing, encouraging, or facilitating the crime. People v. Beeman (1984) 35 Cal. 3d 547, 560. Under Penal Code § 31, an aider and abettor is a "principal" in any crime committed. An aider and abettor thus "shares the guilt of the actual perpetrator." People v. Prettyman (1996) 14 Cal. 4th 248, 259. Moreover, the aider and abettor is also guilty of any other crime a principal in the target crime commits that is a natural and probable consequence—that is, a reasonably foreseeable consequence—of the target crime. People v. Chiu (2014) 59 Cal.4th 155, 161.
The court rejected Defendant's argument that English common law, as incorporated in Penal Code § 31, did not extend accessory liability to the acts of a person who was not directly aided and abetted by the accessory. In rejecting this argument, the court reasoned that Penal Code § 31 and Penal Code § 971 do not distinguish among principals on the basis of whether they directly or indirectly aided and abetted the perpetrator of the nontarget crime. Rather, an aider and abettor of the target crime is guilty of any crime that any principal in that target crime commits if it was a natural and probable (that is, reasonably foreseeable) consequence of the target crime.
The court found that the following sentence in the jury instruction from CALCRIM No. 402 did not state the law correctly: "If the murder or voluntary manslaughter was committed for a reason independent of the common plan to commit the disturbing the peace or assault or battery, then the commission of murder or voluntary manslaughter was not a natural and probable consequence of disturbing the peace or assault or battery." The court explained that this sentence likely came from cases involving conspirator liability, which, the court decided, does not extend to aiding and abetting liability. While there is a limitation on conspirator liability for crimes committed for a reason independent of the common plan, that limitation does not apply to aiding and abetting liability. That is, for aiding and abetting liability, the prosecutor need only prove that nontarget crime was a reasonably foreseeable consequence of the target crime, not that the nontarget crime was committed was in the same common plan as the target crime. However, because the sentence was unduly favorable to Defendant, it could not have harmed him.
The court also rejected Defendant's argument that the evidence was insufficient since the jury could not determine who exactly committed the two murders. While the prosecutor's theory was that Littleton had committed the murder, there was also evidence that it was actually another gang member who pulled the fatal triggers. The court held that if the jury unanimously agreed that the gunman (whoever it actually was) committed murder and was a principal in the target crimes, that Defendant aided and abetted the target crimes, and that the murders were a natural and probable cause of the target crimes, it could convict Defendant of the murders even if the jury was not certain who the exact murderer was.
Finally, the court found that the evidence supported the jury's finding that the murders were the natural and probable consequences of the target offenses since members of the gang were known to carry guns and use them against rival gangs, there had been death threats, and the Defendant had brought a gun and backup fellow gang members.
CONCURRING OPINION BY JUSTICE GOODWIN LIU
Justice Liu's concurring opinion would have rejected Defendant's insufficiency of evidence claim on different grounds. Justice Liu would have held that the jury was unanimous in finding that a single person, Littleton, fired the shots that killed the two victims. He points to evidence in the record that Littleton fired shots, that the shots came from where only Littleton was standing, and that both victims were killed by the same kind of bullet (thus likely by the same gun). He argues that the court did not need to decide the case "on the novel theory" that the jury could be uncertain about the identity of the actual murderer.
Target crime, nontarget crime, aiding and abetting, natural and probable consequences, Penal Code § 31, Penal Code § 971, CALCRIM No. 402, disturbing the peace, assault and battery, murder, conspirator liability, criminal law
Jenny Palmer, Stanford Law School Class of 2015.
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Cite This Case
SCOCAL, People v. Smith , 60 Cal. 4th 603, 180 Cal. Rptr. 3d 100, 337 P.3d 1159, 14 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 13,134, 2014 Daily Journal D.A.R. 15, 517 available at: (https://scocal.stanford.edu/opinion/people-v-smith-34370) (last visited Wednesday July 17, 2019).