Opinion
F074235
03-11-2019
THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. MICHAEL ANGEL CORRAL, Defendant and Appellant.
Gordon S. Brownell, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, Defendant and Appellant. Xavier Becerra, Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Michael P. Farrell, Assistant Attorney General, Julie A. Hokans and Jeffrey A. White, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
ORDER MODIFYING OPINION AND DENYING REHEARING
[NO CHANGE IN JUDGMENT]
It is ordered that the opinion filed herein on March 11, 2019, be modified as follows:
1. On page 19, the first full sentence that begins with "He suggests that even ..." is modified to read:
He suggests that even if the "interrogation ... was not custodial at the outset, it became custodial" once he admitted certain details related to the crimes.
2. On page 19, add footnote 6 at the end of the sentence modified in item No. 1 above. The language of footnote 6 should read as follows:
See footnote 12, post.
This modification requires the renumbering of all subsequent footnotes.
3. On page 19, the second full sentence beginning with "We conclude the trial court properly..." is modified to read:
We conclude the trial court properly admitted Corral's initial confession made early on in the interrogation ("Well, I violated them. I raped 'em."), as the interrogation was not custodial up to and including the point when this initial confession was made.
4. On page 39, add footnote 12 at the end of the paragraph beginning with "Taking into consideration ...."
5. On page 39, the language of footnote 12 should read as follows:
The relevant part of the interrogation is summarized below. It occurred early on, after Colbert told Corral that "the floor" was "open" to him:
"[CORRAL]: Um, but well it all started yesterday, um, in the morning, um, I find out that one of the girls accounts was open on Facebook. And her account was open so I just faked it, you know, faked being her.
"[COLBERT]: Okay.
"[CORRAL]: Um, told 'em that if they wanted to hang out and they said yeah. And I picked 'em up. We were gonna go to a party. But nothing happened. So I just took 'em out somewhere far and then I - well, they said I just proceed in - in violating them.
"[COLBERT]: What do you mean by what they said?
"[CORRAL]: Well I violated them. I raped 'em." (Italics added.)
Corral argues that assuming the interrogation was not custodial at the outset, it became custodial once Corral stated, "So I just took 'em out somewhere far and then I - well, they said I just proceed in - in violating them." We reject Corral's contention that, at a minimum, this statement marks a turning point in the custody analysis. After Corral made this statement, Deputy Colbert asked Corral to clarify what he meant as Corral's statement was unclear. Corral answered: "Well I violated them. I raped 'em." As stated above, we conclude the interrogation was not custodial through this stage.
This modification does not effect a change in the judgment.
The petition for rehearing is denied.
/s/_________
SMITH, Acting P.J. WE CONCUR: /s/_________
SNAUFFER, J. /s/_________
DESANTOS, J. NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115. (Super. Ct. No. LF010559A)
OPINION
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Kern County. John W. Lua, Judge. Gordon S. Brownell, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, Defendant and Appellant. Xavier Becerra, Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Michael P. Farrell, Assistant Attorney General, Julie A. Hokans and Jeffrey A. White, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
-ooOoo-
Michael Angel Corral appeals the judgment of conviction on grounds that (1) his jury trial waiver was not knowing and intelligent, and (2) the trial court prejudicially erred in admitting statements he made during custodial interrogation in the absence of Miranda warnings. We affirm.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
I. Rapes of Natalie and Ashley
A. Respective Testimony of Natalie and Ashley
On March 30, 2015, Natalie and Ashley, 14-year-old friends, spent time hanging out at the Valley Plaza Mall in Bakersfield. They obtained some "weed" and smoked it. Around 10:00 p.m., the girls went to a Jack-In-The-Box restaurant by the mall. While there, Ashley got a Facebook message from her friend "Ruby" about a party taking place in Arvin that night. The girls expressed interest in attending the party. Ruby messaged Ashley, also via Facebook, that Ruby's friend would pick them up in a "red car" and drive them to the party.
Corral came to collect the girls from the mall in a red two-door coupe. Ashley got in the passenger seat and Natalie the back seat. Corral introduced himself as "Robert." Corral stopped at a liquor store where he bought three "Four Lokos" (flavored beer) beverages (with Natalie's money). They eventually arrived at a gym facility in "the middle of nowhere," with a pool and lighted fields. Corral said he would contact the party host to see why nobody was there. He then told Natalie and Ashley that the party was canceled.
The facility was near Lamont and Arvin, on the outskirts of Bakersfield.
Ashley testified that she was not worried at that point because everything "was going good." Specifically, she noted: "We are having a good time. I mean, we are drinking. We got out. There is, like, a little pool."
Natalie testified that they asked Corral to take them back to Bakersfield, to see whether they could find a party there. However, Corral stood around for 20 minutes, purportedly trying to communicate with the girl who was throwing the Arvin party. The girls got back in the car to wait for him. When Corral returned to the car, he suddenly pulled a knife on Ashley (who was sitting in the front passenger seat) and ordered her to "[g]et undressed." Ashley was shocked and asked him whether he was serious; she then had an anxiety attack and passed out. Corral turned to Natalie—who was panicking, crying, and praying—and ordered her out of the car.
After Natalie got out of the car, Corral told her, at knifepoint, to take her clothes off. He cut her "underwear off right on the sides." Corral then ordered her to the ground, pulled down his pants, got on top of her, and put his penis inside her vagina. After "rap[ing]" Natalie on the ground, he made her sit in the car, and "raped" her again. Natalie added: "And then after that, I think he raped me again outside. I am trying to block it out."
When Ashley awoke, Corral, who was still holding the knife, told her to take off all her clothes. He also told her to "chug" her beer. While she was still in the car, Corral cut off her underwear and put his penis in her vagina. Ashley felt pain as Corral put his penis in her vagina. Although Ashley only remembered Corral raping her inside the car, Natalie testified that Corral raped Ashley just outside the car as well. Natalie testified that she saw Corral's penis go inside Ashley's vagina both times, as Natalie was sitting on the dirt right next to the car's open passenger door.
Natalie further testified: "[Corral also] made me lick [Ashley's] private parts. And she had to do the same thing as me, and if we didn't act like we liked it, then he would put the knife to our neck. He said that if we don't want to die, then we have to please each other." This went on for "20 minutes at the most." Natalie added: "[Corral then] made me and Ashley suck his penis." Ashley testified that Corral also made Natalie "lick his butt."
Eventually, Corral started throwing up from drinking. As he was throwing up, the girls were able to slip out and run from the car. Natalie left her bag in the car. As they ran through the woods to a nearby house (Ashley had seen a light shining from the house), Natalie fell and suffered "bruises all over," including on her ankle. Once at the house, they knocked on the door and asked for help. The homeowner called the police, who arrived quickly and took the girls for sexual assault examinations. Natalie clarified that she had lost her phone that night (she possibly left it at the Jack-In-The-Box); Ashley had her phone but it "died" when they "first got to the pool."
Natalie identified Corral during her trial testimony, stating that he was the person who picked them up from the mall; she noted, however, that Corral's hair was "longer, more messy" at that time of the rapes. Natalie also identified a photograph of Corral's car with her bag inside it. Ashley was unable to identify Corral as the person who had picked them up from the mall, stating that he "looks different." However, she said she had seen Corral somewhere before. Ashley said the man who raped them had very little hair, more like "pricklies," and that the defendant's hair was longer than what she remembered. Both girls denied telling the police that the man who raped them had a bald head. (The video of Corral's interrogation on the day following the incident in question shows that Corral had short black hair at the time.)
B. Testimony of Virginia Bustillos (woman who called 911)
Virginia Bustillos lived in a remote area of Arvin. The area had "a lot of trees" but "[o]nly one house." Around 2:00 a.m. on March 31, 2015, "somebody knocked [on her] window" and woke her up. "It was two girls yelling and [saying] they had been raped." Bustillos called 911 and police responded in four minutes.
C. Testimony of Kimberly Gonzalez , Sexual Assault Nurse
Kimberly Gonzalez performs "Sexual Assault Response Team" examinations (SART exams) at San Joaquin Hospital in Bakersfield. Gonzalez described the scope of a SART exam: "The purpose of the exam is to gather complete subjective information from the patient and then take them into the exam room, where I do an objective assessment from head to toe."
On March 31, 2015, at 6:00 a.m., Gonzalez commenced the SART exam process for Ashley. Ashley's vaginal exam did not yield any physical findings or reveal any injuries; however, Ashley had an abrasion on her hip. Gonzalez testified that she did not know whether Ashley was raped but noted that in girls of Ashley's age, "we have a possibility of seeing [an] injury and a possibility of not seeing an injury." Thus, a lack of any injuries was not inconsistent with the fact that "something happened," including intercourse. Gonzalez also collected oral, cervical, vaginal, and anal swabs, as well as a urine sample, from Ashley.
Gonzalez commenced the SART exam process for Natalie at 6:15 a.m. on the same day. Natalie's vaginal exam also yielded no physical findings. However, Gonzalez observed a laceration to the anal folds during an anal exam. Gonzalez also noted that Natalie had "multiple bruises on her body," including "an abrasion to her left ankle." Gonzalez testified that her findings were consistent with the history provided by Natalie. Finally, Gonzalez collected oral, cervical, vaginal, and anal swabs, as well as a urine sample, from Natalie.
D. Testimony of Kelly Woolard , DNA Analyst at Kern Regional Crime Lab
Kelly Woolard, a DNA analyst at the Kern Regional Crime Lab, analyzed swabs collected from Natalie, Ashley, and Corral. DNA analysis involves "autosomal STRs" and "Y-STRs." Woolard explained: "Everybody has [autosomal STRs,] those short tandem repeats section of DNA that come from 22 pairs of chromosomes. The Y-STRs come from the sex-determining chromosome [and is specific to males only]."
Corral was excluded as a contributor of the DNA profile generated from Natalie's vaginal swabs. As for Ashley's vaginal swabs, Corral was excluded as a contributor of autosomal STRs. Regarding the YSTRs in the DNA profile generated from Ashley's vaginal swabs, Woolard testified: "[T]he Y-STR profile that was obtained from the swab was very low level and partial, meaning it was not a complete, full profile. So due to our interpretation guidelines ... I was not able to interpret it because it was so low level. So, therefore, it was just an inconclusive profile." Woolard confirmed, however, that there were no sperm profiles on the vaginal swabs from both Natalie and Ashley; rather the only DNA profiles generated were from "regular [skin or tissue] cells" as opposed to "sperm [cells]." Finally, regarding the penile swab from Corral, both Ashley and Natalie were excluded as contributors to the DNA found on that swab.
The parties stipulated that Ashley's urine tested positive for cannabinoids and Natalie's urine tested positive for cannabinoids and amphetamine.
E. Testimony of Ruby , Ashley's Friend
Ruby was in juvenile hall for seven months starting in February 2015. She did not have access to a computer or cell phone in juvenile hall. Although Ruby had a Facebook account, she could not access it while she was in juvenile hall. Prior to the time she was sent to juvenile hall, she would access her Facebook account via her own cell phone as well as the cell phones of people she knew. Ruby knew Corral and had used his cell phone to access her Facebook account in January 2015. Ashley and Ruby were Facebook friends. At some point, while Ruby was in juvenile hall, an officer showed her messages sent from her Facebook account to Ashley. Ruby did not send those messages.
II. Police Investigation
A. Testimony of Kern County Sheriff's Deputy Anhtu Phan
On March 31, 2015, at approximately 2:00 a.m., Kern County Sheriff's Deputy Anhtu Phan was dispatched to a "residence in the middle of nowhere," on the outskirts of Bakersfield. He explained the nature of the call: "It was a suspicious investigation. We were told that two females had run up to the house, banged on the door, and told the homeowner that they had been raped." On arrival at the house, Phan contacted Ashley and Natalie. "[Ashley] seemed pretty normal. She didn't seem traumatized or anything." "Natalie appeared scared and more traumatized."
Phan first spoke to Ashley. "Ashley described [the perpetrator] as a white male in his early 20s, approximately five foot eight, 250 pounds with a bald head." She specifically used the word, "bald." Phan spoke separately to Natalie. Natalie gave a similar description of the perpetrator and also specifically said he had a "bald head." Subsequently, Phan went to Ashley's house to show her a "photo lineup" that included a photograph of Corral. Ashley identified Corral from his photograph as the person who raped her.
B. Testimony of Kern County Sheriff's Deputy Sean Dunshee
Kern County Sheriff's Deputy Sean Dunshee was dispatched along with Deputy Phan in response to Bustillos's 911 call on March 31, 2015. Dunshee testified: "[While Deputy Phan was talking to the girls], I ... overheard that the attack happened at a gym nearby, and I was aware of a facility which was a residence converted into a gym within approximately half mile of the location that we located the females at." The "area around it is surrounded either by orchards, dirt roads, [and a] Grimmway [Farms] facility."
Dunshee went to the gym location the same day. He testified that he found "beer cans" and "[c]igarette butts" on the property; three of the beer cans were Four Lokos brand. He added: "I located [what] appears to be vomit locations at the scene, different locations, and two pairs of women's underwear." Both pairs of underwear had "straight cut line[s]" through them, indicating they were cut apart by "a sharp object."
C. Corral's Arrest on April 1 , 2015
Later that same evening, at 11:30 p.m. on March 31, 2015, Corral turned himself in at the Arvin Police Department. Dunshee testified: "Arvin Police Department had contacted our dispatch center and advised us a subject had come to their office and wanted to turn themselves in regarding a current ongoing case." Dunshee went to Arvin Police Department, where he met Corral and his mother. Dunshee then transported Corral to the sheriff's substation in Lamont Dunshee recorded his entire interaction with Corral.
Corral was interrogated at the Lamont substation by Senior Deputy Sheriff Jeffrey Colbert (the circumstances surrounding the interrogation, as well as its substance, are addressed post, in the discussion section of this opinion). At the end of the interrogation Corral was arrested and taken for a sexual assault exam. Colbert subsequently executed a search warrant on Corral's car, in which he found female clothing and bags and an Ikea paring knife. Ashley's cell phone was found in Corral's neighborhood.
Corral was charged, by amended information, with two counts of rape by means of force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury on the person (Pen. Code, § 261, subd. (a)(2); counts 1 and 2), and two counts of false imprisonment (§ 236; counts 3 and 4). An enhancement for personal use of a firearm or deadly weapon in the commission of forcible rape (§ 667.61, subd. (e)(3)) and one for forcibly raping more than one victim (§ 667.61, subd. (e)(4)) were alleged in connection with counts 1 and 2.
Subsequent statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise specified.
Criminal proceedings were suspended for almost three months for evaluation of Corral's competency to stand trial but ultimately were reinstated.
Corral waived his right to a jury trial and was subsequently found guilty of all counts by the trial court. The court also found the enhancement allegations to be true. The court sentenced Corral to state prison for 50 years to life (consecutive terms of 25 years to life for counts 1 and 2; additional sentences for counts 3 and 4 were stayed pursuant to § 654).
DISCUSSION
I. Waiver of Jury Trial
Corral argues the trial court failed to provide adequate advisements before accepting his waiver of the right to a jury trial and, as a result, his waiver was not knowing and intelligent. He contends the error is structural and his convictions must therefore be reversed. Applying the "totality of the circumstances" test to evaluate the validity of Corral's jury trial waiver, we reject his contentions and affirm.
A. Background
The following discussion took place between the court and the parties prior to trial:
"THE COURT: This is the time and place set for a jury trial.
"Counsel, we had a conversation in chambers this morning regarding potentially settling this case, and in doing so, there were representations made in chambers regarding whether this matter would go forward as a jury trial or if both sides would waive that right and proceed by way of a court trial. [¶ ] ... [¶ ]
"As far as a jury trial is concerned, [defense counsel], have you talked to your client about whether he wants to proceed by a jury trial or a court trial?
"[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Your Honor, I discussed the matter with him this morning. It is my understanding, at least as of this morning, that he wanted to proceed by way of a court trial and was willing to waive his right to trial by jury.
"Let me just inquire of the defendant again if that's his desire.
"And I discussed the matter with him again, and it's my understanding that he is willing to affirmatively state on the record that he is waiving jury and going by way of court trial. That's his desire.
"THE COURT: Okay. Mr. Corral, before I can accept a waiver of a jury trial, I must advise you of certain rights that you have. Okay?
"THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
"THE COURT: You have the right to a jury trial. That is, you have the right to have the People prove the truth of the charges beyond a reasonable doubt to a jury of 12 individuals selected from within this community, and they would decide, with the presumption of innocence in mind, whether you are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the truth of the charges based only on evidence presented inside of this courtroom.
"Do you understand that right?
"THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
"THE COURT: Now, at a jury trial, you have the right, as you would at a court trial, to confront and cross-examine all witnesses who come forward and testify against you. You also have the right to use the subpoena power of the Court to compel a person to testify on your own behalf and the right to present any defense you wish.
"You have an absolute right against self-incrimination. That is, you have a right not to testify if you choose to. You also have a right to testify if you choose to.
"At whatever trial we have, you also have the right to have an attorney to represent you.
"Now, if you waive your right to a jury trial, you still maintain all of those other rights. The only exception is that the People would have to prove the truth of the charges beyond a reasonable doubt with the presumption of innocence being applied to a court, and the judge would make the decision as the fact finder in the case, not the jury.
"Do you understand that?
"THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
"THE COURT: Do you have any questions regarding your right to a jury trial? Have you had enough time to talk to your attorney about your right to a jury trial?
"THE DEFENDANT: No. Not enough time.
"THE COURT: "You haven't had enough time? Would you like more time to talk to him?
"THE DEFENDANT: Please.
"THE COURT: Sure. We'll take a momentary recess.
"(A recess was taken.)
"THE COURT: Back on the record in People vs. Corral.
"Mr. Corral, have you had sufficient time to talk to your attorney?
"THE DEFENDANT: Yes.
"THE COURT: And regarding your right to a jury trial, are you waiving that right to a jury trial so as to proceed by way of a court trial?
"THE DEFENDANT: Yes.
"THE COURT: So you waive your right to a jury trial?
"THE DEFENDANT: Yes.
"THE COURT: Thank you
"[Prosecutor], the People also have a right to a jury trial.
"At this time do the People waive their right to a jury trial?
"[THE PROSECUTOR]: Yes, we'll waive.
"THE COURT: The Court will accept those waivers and go by way of a court trial."
B. Analysis
Both the state and federal Constitutions confer the right to a jury trial on criminal defendants. (People v. Sivongxxay (2017) 3 Cal.5th 151, 166 (Sivongxxay).) "Although trial by jury is a fundamental constitutional right, a criminal defendant may waive the right." (People v. Cunningham (2015) 61 Cal.4th 609, 636 (Cunningham).) However, "'a defendant's waiver of the right to jury trial may not be accepted by the court unless it is knowing and intelligent, that is, "'"made with a full awareness both of the nature of the right being abandoned and the consequences of the decision to abandon it,"'" as well as voluntary "'"in the sense that it was the product of a free and deliberate choice rather than intimidation, coercion, or deception."'"'" (Sivongxxay, supra, at p. 166.) "The denial of a defendant's constitutional right to a jury trial constitutes structural error that requires reversal regardless of the strength of the evidence supporting the conviction." (People v. Jones (2018) 26 Cal.App.5th 420, 429 (Jones); People v. French (2008) 43 Cal.4th 36, 52, fn. 8; People v. Collins (2001) 26 Cal.4th 297, 311 (Collins).)
Corral does not assert that his jury trial waiver was not voluntary; rather, he contends his waiver was not knowing and intelligent.
"'[W]hether or not there is an intelligent, competent, self-protecting waiver of jury trial by an accused must depend upon the unique circumstances of each case.'" (Sivongxxay, supra, 3 Cal.5th at p. 166.) Thus, our caselaw does not mandate "any specific method for determining whether a defendant has made a knowing and intelligent waiver of a jury trial in favor of a bench trial. We instead examine the totality of the circumstances." (Id. at p. 167.) More specifically, a jury waiver is valid "'"if the record affirmatively shows that it is voluntary and intelligent under the circumstances."'" (People v. Daniels (2017) 3 Cal.5th 961, 991 (Daniels) (lead opn. of Cuéllar, J.); accord, id. at p. 1018 (conc. and dis. opn. of Corrigan, J.; Collins, supra, 26 Cal.4th at p. 310.)
Recently, in Sivongxxay, our Supreme Court provided "general guidance to help ensure that a defendant's jury trial waiver is knowing and intelligent, and to facilitate the resolution of a challenge to a jury waiver on appeal." (Sivongxxay, supra, 3 Cal.5th at p. 169.) Noting that its guidance was "not intended to limit trial courts to a narrow or rigid colloquy," the Supreme Court nonetheless clarified: "Going forward, we recommend that trial courts advise a defendant of the basic mechanics of a jury trial in a waiver colloquy, including but not necessarily limited to the facts that (1) a jury is made up of 12 members of the community; (2) a defendant through his or her counsel may participate in jury selection; (3) all 12 jurors must unanimously agree in order to render a verdict; and (4) if a defendant waives the right to a jury trial, a judge alone will decide his or her guilt or innocence. We also recommend that the trial judge take additional steps as appropriate to ensure, on the record, that the defendant comprehends what the jury trial right entails. A trial judge may do so in any number of ways—among them, by asking whether the defendant had an adequate opportunity to discuss the decision with his or her attorney, by asking whether counsel explained to the defendant the fundamental differences between a jury trial and a bench trial, or by asking the defendant directly if he or she understands or has any questions about the right being waived. Ultimately, a court must consider the defendant's individual circumstances and exercise judgment in deciding how best to ensure that a particular defendant who purports to waive a jury trial does so knowingly and intelligently." (Id. at pp. 169-170; see United States v. Shorty (9th Cir. 2013) 741 F.3d 961, 966 (Shorty) [noting that courts have a "'serious and weighty'" responsibility to determine whether a waiver is knowing and intelligent, and identifying the same four factors for federal district courts to address in jury trial waiver colloquy as Sivongxxay identified for California trial courts], quoting Johnson v. Zerbst (1938) 304 U.S. 458, 465.)
Sivongxxay held the defendant's jury trial waiver was knowing and intelligent where the trial court advised "that he had a right to a jury trial, that a jury consists of 12 people from the community, that he would have the right to participate in the selection of the jury, and that waiver of the right to a jury would mean the judge alone would determine his guilt or innocence and any resulting punishment." (Sivongxxay, supra, 3 Cal.5th at p. 167.) The Sivongxxay court found significant the fact that the defendant "had prior experience with the criminal justice system, having pleaded guilty to two prior offenses in Oregon and one in Washington State," and, "in connection with his guilty plea in Washington, [had] signed a waiver stating that he 'fully under[stood]' his right to a jury trial." (Ibid.) Sivongxxay concluded: "Viewed holistically, the circumstances surrounding defendant's jury waiver demonstrate that it was knowing and intelligent." (Id. at p. 168.)
Sivongxxay rejected the argument that the defendant's jury waiver was deficient because the trial court did not explain that a jury must be impartial and render a unanimous verdict, noting, "'[T]he United States Supreme Court has never held that a defendant, when waiving the right to a jury, constitutionally is entitled to be canvassed by the trial court, let alone to require a specifically formulated canvass' [citations], and we have never insisted that a jury waiver colloquy invariably must discuss juror impartiality, the unanimity requirement, or both for an ensuing waiver to be knowing and intelligent." (Sivongxxay, supra, 3 Cal.5th at p. 168, fn. omitted; accord, Daniels, supra, 3 Cal.5th at pp. 992-993 (lead opn. of Cuéllar, J. ["We continue to eschew any rigid rubric for trial courts to follow in order to decide whether to accept a defendant's relinquishment of this right."]; id. at p. 1018 (conc. and dis. opn. of Corrigan, J.) ["We have consistently eschewed any rigid formula or particular form of words that a trial court must use to ensure that a jury trial waiver is knowing and intelligent."].)
Following Sivongxxay, two published Court of Appeal cases reversed convictions on grounds that the jury trial waiver entered by the respective defendant in each case was not knowing and intelligent. People v. Blancett (2017) 15 Cal.App.5th 1200 (Blancett), considered whether the defendant in a mentally-disordered-offender recommitment hearing knowingly and intelligently waived his right to a jury trial. In Blancett, the defendant's attorney represented to the trial court that the defendant was "'okay'" with having the judge, not a jury, decide the issue of guilt; the trial court then simply inquired, "'That's okay with you?'" and the defendant responded, "'Yes, your honor.'" (Id. at p. 1203.) The Court of Appeal concluded that his waiver was "not knowing and intelligent" (id. at p. 1207) because he "did not waive his right to a jury trial with full awareness of the nature of the right being abandoned and the consequences of the decision to abandon it." (Id. at p. 1206.) Specifically, the trial court did not advise the defendant that he was entitled to a jury trial or "explain the significant attributes or mechanics of a jury trial. [Citation.] Neither did the court inquire whether [the defendant] had sufficient opportunity to discuss the decision with his attorney, whether his attorney explained the differences between a bench trial and a jury trial, or whether [the defendant] had any questions about the waiver." (Ibid.) Furthermore, the defendant had no prior experience with this type of proceeding and the record did not show he was aware he was entitled to a jury trial. (Ibid.)
In Jones, supra, 26 Cal.App.5th 420, the Court of Appeal summarized the record pertinent to the defendant's jury trial waiver as follows: "The record shows that [the defendant] had some discussion with her attorney before the waiver was taken in that it was her attorney who indicated to the trial court that [the defendant] wanted to waive her right to a jury trial. However, the record does not show whether [the defendant's] attorney ever discussed with her the nature of a jury trial, including for example, that the jury would be comprised of 12 of her peers from the community. Further, the trial court did not specifically advise [the defendant] that she had a right to a jury trial, instead only asking her, 'do you understand your right to a jury trial?' She responded, 'Yes, sir.' The only real advisement by the trial court was that, as a result of [the defendant's] waiver, the trial judge 'sitting alone' would 'decide the case.' [She] agreed, again responding, 'Yes, sir.'" (Id. at p. 435.)
The question before the Jones court was "whether this sparse record '"'affirmatively show[ed] that [the waiver was] voluntary and intelligent under the totality of the circumstances.'"'" (Jones, supra, 26 Cal.App.5th at p. 435.) Jones found the record did not show the defendant "understood the nature of the right to a jury trial she was relinquishing," and, in addition, the trial court did not "take steps to ensure that she 'comprehend[ed] what the jury trial right entails.'" (Id. at p. 436.) Jones noted the case was "similar to Blancett, in which the trial court's entire inquiry was whether the defendant was 'okay' with having his case decided by a judge instead of a jury." (Jones, supra, at p. 437.) Jones observed: "The additional statement by [the defendant] that she understood her right to a jury trial does not change the fact that, as in Blancett, [she] 'did not waive [her] right to a jury trial with full awareness of the nature of the right being abandoned and the consequences of the decision to abandon it.'" (Jones, supra, at p. 437.) Jones concluded the record did not "'affirmatively show'" that the defendant's waiver was "'voluntary and intelligent'" under the totality of the circumstances. (Id. at p. 437.)
Turning to the instant case, the record shows that counsel had discussed the possibility of waiving jury trial with the defendant on the morning of the scheduled jury trial in the matter. Subsequently, however, the trial court specifically informed Corral: "You have the right to a jury trial. That is, you have the right to have the People prove the truth of the charges beyond a reasonable doubt to a jury of 12 individuals selected from within this community, and they would decide, with the presumption of innocence in mind, whether you are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the truth of the charges based only on evidence presented inside of this courtroom." The court then asked Corral, "Do you understand that right?" and Corral responded, "Yes, sir." The court also advised Corral that were he to waive his right to a jury trial, "the People would have to prove the truth of the charges beyond a reasonable doubt with the presumption of innocence being applied to a court, and the judge would make the decision as the fact finder in the case, not the jury." The court then asked, "Do you understand that?" and Corral responded affirmatively. The court also explained that at both a jury trial and a court trial, Corral would have the rights to have an attorney represent him, confront witnesses against him, subpoena his own witnesses, and to testify or not (as he chose). Finally, the court took a recess, so Corral could further discuss the issue with his attorney and subsequently confirmed whether Corral had enough time to talk to his attorney (Corral said he had sufficient time). The court then took an express waiver of the right to a jury trial from Corral.
In sum, the court ensured that Corral had the time he needed to talk to his attorney about a potential jury trial waiver and, subsequently, the court itself advised Corral he was entitled to a jury trial and provided critical information about what a jury trial entails. At the same time, the court did not inform Corral about his right to participate in the jury selection process, the impartiality and unanimity requirements that apply to jury trials, the consequences of jury deadlock, and the loss of an independent reevaluation of a jury verdict by the judge. (See, e.g., People v. Collins (1976) 17 Cal.3d 687, 693 ["Among the essential elements of the [California constitutional] right to trial by jury are the requirements that a jury in a felony prosecution consist of 12 persons and that its verdict be unanimous."].) Nor did the court confirm that counsel had discussed these points with Corral and that counsel supported Corral's decision to waive jury trial. In addition, Corral had no prior experience with the criminal justice system (as confirmed in the probation report). (Daniels, supra, 3 Cal.5th at p. 1023 (conc. and dis. opn. of Corrigan, J. [fact that self-represented defendant had pleaded guilty on three prior occasions after receiving advisement to effect "that he could not be convicted unless all 12 jurors agreed [he was guilty]" supported a finding that his instant jury trial waiver was valid without such an advisement.) Furthermore, as the court was aware, the question of Corral's competency to stand trial had arisen in this case, requiring the temporary suspension of criminal proceedings until the court determined Corral was competent for purposes of going to trial. (Shorty, supra, 741 F.3d at pp. 966-967 [noting that "'in-depth'" and comprehensive colloquy is required when there is evidence of "mental or emotional instability," and finding invalid jury trial waiver where the defendant had low IQ and learning disability and trial court only advised him that a jury consists of 12 people and, upon waiver, court would try case].) However, other than generally referencing the competency proceedings, Corral does not elaborate on any impairments that may have affected his ability to knowingly and intelligently waive his right to trial by jury.
Corral was examined by three psychologists. One found him incompetent to stand trial but two found him competent for this purpose.
Although the trial court did not give the complete advisement recommended in Sivongxxay, in the end this case is closer, on the facts, to Sivongxxay, than it is to Blancett or Jones. The court told Corral: "You have the right to a jury trial. That is, you have the right to have the People prove the truth of the charges beyond a reasonable doubt to a jury of 12 individuals selected from within this community, and they would decide, with the presumption of innocence in mind, whether you are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the truth of the charges based only on evidence presented inside of this courtroom." The court then asked Corral, "Do you understand that right?" Corral answered: "Yes, sir." Taking into account the totality of the circumstances, including the fact that Corral was represented by competent counsel, we find that Corral's waiver of his jury trial right was knowing and intelligent. (See United States ex rel. Williams v. DeRobertis (7th Cir. 1983) 715 F.2d 1174, 1180 [upholding jury trial waiver where the defendant "understood that the choice confronting him was, on the one hand, to be judged by a group of people from the community, and on the other hand, to have his guilt or innocence determined by a judge"]; People v. Wrest (1992) 3 Cal.4th 1088, 1105 [upholding jury trial waiver where defendant was advised that unanimous verdict of jury of 12 peers, selected by court and counsel, was necessary to convict but rejecting argument that, for valid waiver, court was required to ensure that defendant understood "'all the ins and outs' of a jury trial"]; People v. Acosta (1971) 18 Cal.App.3d 895, 902; cf. Collins, supra, 26 Cal.4th at p. 305 [knowing and intelligent jury trial waiver is one "'"'made with a full awareness both of the nature of the right being abandoned and the consequences of the decision to abandon it'"'" (italics added)].) II. Necessity of Miranda Warnings During Corral's Police Interrogation
Corral argues his convictions must be reversed because the trial court prejudicially erred in admitting the confession he gave to police. He contends his statement to the police was inadmissible because he was never given Miranda advisements despite being subjected to custodial interrogation. He suggests that even if the "interrogation ... was not custodial at the outset, it became custodial" once Corral confessed, early on, to raping Ashley and Natalie. We conclude the trial court properly admitted Corral's initial confession to the police, as the interrogation was not custodial up to and including the point when the initial confession was made. We need not decide whether the interrogation became custodial after that point and, in turn, whether Corral's subsequent statements were inadmissible as the product of a custodial interrogation, because admission of these statements was, in any event, harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.
Miranda v. Arizona (1966) 384 U.S. 436 (Miranda).
A. Background
Corral moved, in limine, for an Evidence Code section 402 hearing to determine the admissibility of his statements to Deputy Colbert at the Lamont substation. After the case was set for a bench trial, the court denied Corral's in limine request, noting it would consider the admissibility of Corral's police statements when that evidence was presented. The court clarified: "[I]f there is a motion to strike or foundation is not satisfactorily laid, then the Court will exclude all reference to defendant's statements."
Thereafter, during the trial testimony of Deputy Dunshee, the prosecutor played the recording of Dunshee's interaction with Corral at the Arvin Police Department, where Corral had come to turn himself in to police. The prosecutor clarified that this evidence was foundational only: "This recording is being offered for the Miranda issue so we are clear on that." When Deputy Colbert subsequently testified that he questioned Corral in a room at the Lamont sheriff's substation, the prosecutor advised the court she was "going to play the recording" of that encounter. Defense counsel objected on "Fifth Amendment grounds." The court reserved its ruling on the admissibility of the statement until after the recording was played and Colbert had finished testifying. Ultimately, the court ruled: "[T]he Court is going to find that Miranda advisals were not necessary [here] and that the People can use the statements attributable to the defendant in their case-in-chief."
1. Testimony of Deputy Dunshee and Recording of his Interaction with Corral
Deputy Dunshee testified that, upon notification from Arvin Police Department that a person had turned himself in with regard to the instant rape incident, Dunshee was dispatched to transport the person to the sheriff's Lamont substation. Dunshee met Corral, Corral's mother, and an Arvin police sergeant, in the lobby of the Arvin Police Department. Corral was not in restraints. Dunshee transported Corral to the Lamont substation in the backseat of his patrol car. Although Corral was not handcuffed, the backseat was cut off from the front of the car by a cage. Furthermore, the back doors of the patrol car did not have interior door handles, so even if Corral had wanted to get out, he could not have done so.
Dunshee testified that he turned his recorder on before entering the Arvin Police Department. As stated above, the prosecutor played the recording for purposes of laying a foundation for admitting Corral's subsequent interrogation by Deputy Colbert at the Lamont substation. The recording reflected the following exchange between Dunshee, Corral, and Corral's mother:
"[DUNSHEE]: Uh, you wanna turn yourself in? Okay, Do you wanna come with me in my car and we'll take you over to the Lamont Substation and we'll have a little chat?
"[CORRAL]: Yeah. Um....
"MOTHER: (But) what are you going to do to him?
"[CORRAL]: (He's arresting me now).
"[DUNSHEE]: I'm sorry, ma'am?
"[CORRAL]: He's arresting me now.
"MOTHER: Why?
"[CORRAL]: Because he wants to investigate me and talk to me and - and everything else.
"MOTHER: Yes. But I want him to explain to me.
"[CORRAL]: Um, she wants you to explain what's gonna happen.
"[DUNSHEE]: I - I don't even know what's goin' on right now. I'm just told to come over here and pick you up. [¶] ... [¶] ... We - you want me to take mom's phone number? I can call her and let her know what's going on later.
"[CORRAL]: Yeah.
"[DUNSHEE]: Okay. In case she needs to pick you up from Lamont or we can give you a ride back if we need to.
"[CORRAL]: I don't think I'm gonna come back.
"[DUNSHEE]: Oh. Well, we - we don't know what's goin' on yet, so let's - let's...
"[CORRAL]: Well, I know what's goin' on and I ...
"[DUNSHEE]: Do y...
"[CORRAL]: ... know the truth and I'm not gonna lie."
Corral and his mother were conversing in Spanish.
The recording also indicated that Dunshee patted Corral down before placing him in the patrol car. Corral said he had "left everything [at] home," including his wallet, keys, and cellphone. As Dunshee prepared to leave, someone from the Arvin Police Department advised Dunshee that Corral "said he drives a red Ford - Ford Focus." Dunshee responded, "I already have a deputy out at the house right now." Dunshee added: "We have TI goin' out to [process the car]." Thereafter, upon arriving at the Lamont substation, Dunshee opened the door for Corral and then led him into the substation, directing him to an interrogation room within.
Dunshee was one of the officers to respond to the 911 call made by Virginia Bustillos after Ashley and Natalie had run to her house. Dunshee had also gone to the site of the rapes and observed the evidence at the scene.
2. Testimony of Deputy Jeffrey Colbert
Deputy Jeffrey Colbert testified that he became involved in the investigation into the rapes when he was notified by his sergeant that "a double rape had occurred and deputies from the night shift were following up on it as much as they could." Colbert further testified: "I met with the deputies, basically got a debrief of the incident that occurred so that I could assume it and take it over. I spoke to Deputy Phan, who had told me per the victims [that] the meeting between the suspect and the victims had been arranged through Facebook."
Colbert and Phan then identified the Facebook account used to arrange the meeting and did "a records check on the owner of the Facebook account." Colbert explained the owner of the Facebook account was a "14- or 15-year-old juvenile, [Ruby], who at the time was incarcerated at Juvenile Hall and had been since ... March 5." Colbert met Ruby at juvenile hall; Ruby gave him access to her Facebook account. Colbert accessed Ruby's Facebook account and viewed the "messages attempting to meet Ashley and her friend." Ruby also identified the person who sent the messages to Ashley from Ruby's account. Specifically, Ruby said "she ... believed it was a subject by either the name Mike or Michael that lived in Arvin and that she had used his phone to log on to her account in the past." Ruby said that Mike drove a red two-door hatchback. She also described Mike's profile picture to Colbert; she said it depicted Mike sticking out his tongue. Colbert then looked through Ruby's Facebook messages to identify messages with that particular profile picture. In addition, Colbert contacted another "female," Julie, whose name and contact information Ruby had given him, because Julie knew Mike. Colbert obtained a phone number for Mike from Julie. In short, Colbert was looking for a "Mike or Michael using a certain phone number driving a red car that lived in Arvin."
At that point, Colbert was contacted by the Arvin Police Department with news that a man had turned himself in for the rapes. Colbert testified: "I was the one who received the information, and I started, for lack of better words, directing traffic on what to do to prep for the next step." Colbert obtained Corral's name and date of birth from the Arvin Police Department. He also pulled a photograph of Corral, prepared a photo lineup, and sent Deputy Phan to have the girls identify Corral from the photo lineup. Colbert also had a deputy write up search warrant applications to search Corral's house and car (as well as one for a sexual assault examination on Corral's person).
At the same time, Colbert sent Deputy Dunshee to collect Corral from the Arvin Police Department. Colbert testified: "When I had sent Deputy Dunshee to Arvin Police Department with the directions that I gave him, I also sent Deputy Pineda to secure and maintain the vehicle, assuming it was at Arvin [Police Department]. He received information that it was on Walnut - I believe it is 2** Walnut. So he then responded there and secured the vehicle. I - he let me know he was there. And I told him to secure both the residence and the vehicle and let the people know that there was a search warrant pending." Colbert clarified: "I told [Pineda] to ... have the people step out [of the residence] and secure it and hold it until a search warrant was there." Colbert continued: "[The search warrant] was in the process of being written. That was one of the things - once dispatch let us know he went to Arvin [Police Department], I started directing traffic, like I said, and there was a lot of things getting done."
Colbert summarized his actions: "From the time - I was made aware of [Corral's] being at Arvin [Police Department], and his name and date of birth, which is all I needed, were given. I started with a photo lineup. After the photo lineups were done, I continued to direct the deputies on duty, one to do a search warrant, one to secure the vehicle, one to go get him, and one to - because Deputy Phan had already basically built a rapport with the victims, I told him to go get the [identifications]."
When Corral walked into the Lamont substation with Deputy Dunshee, Colbert saw him on the monitor. Colbert testified: "[He] matched the description of the multiple people I talked to based on the Facebook description. The physical build matched. The gender, the race obviously. I believe the hair would have been an issue just based on the victims, but he had short black hair." Colbert further testified: "I had obtained enough probable cause to conduct an investigative search of the vehicle of - I was planning on seizing any evidence and things like that. The search warrant was pretty much bought and paid for before he got to the substation. It had not been executed, and I had not interviewed him yet." A warrant for a sexual assault exam on Corral's person was also obtained. However, Colbert testified that, at this point, he did not definitively know that Corral was the person who had raped the girls.
After conducting all the foregoing preparations, Colbert questioned Corral in the interrogation room where the latter had been waiting for 30 minutes. At no time during the questioning did Colbert give Corral a Miranda advisement. On cross-examination, Colbert gave somewhat conflicting answers on the question whether Corral was free to leave during the questioning, given all the information that Colbert had gathered about the case. Defense Counsel and Colbert had the following exchange:
"Q. Okay. So you meet this guy. He matches the physical description. He gives you the same name of the individual you are looking for. He drives the same kind of car. You already take steps to seize the vehicle, and you are informed by dispatch that the suspect in the rape case has turned himself in; right?
"A. Yes, sir. [¶] ... [¶]
"Q. Okay. So would it be fair to say, from the moment at least that the defendant starts admitting faking a Facebook account matching the description, having the same name, having the same kind of car, and being told that he is the suspect in the rape case, he was not free to leave?
"A. At the time, sir, I had not made the 100 percent decision to make an arrest.
"Q. Sir, I am just asking for a yes or no answer. Was he free to leave from the moment he starts talking about faking a Facebook account, which matches what Ruby had or the investigation that you had already conducted into this fake Facebook account?
"A. He was free to leave as far as my interview went. As far as - if the search warrant [for a sexual assault exam] was done and I needed to get a swab from him and if he would have said, 'Hey, I need to leave,' of course I would have detained him pursuant to the search warrant. But as far as my interview, I had not decided to arrest him. So if he would have said, 'Yeah, I want to leave,' then absolutely he could have left.
"Q. So even though he matched the same name, same description, same kind of car, started talking about faking a Facebook account, you would have let him walk out the door?
"A. Without the positive [identification] from the victims, yes.
"Q. And from the moment he starts telling you that he violated girls, used that term 'violated girls,' you'd still let him walk out the door?
"A. Again, sir, without the - I've made the mistake of jumping the gun and not submitting with all the evidence. I had not made the decision. And, again, if - unless the girls had identified, I was not going to make the arrest that night.
"Q. Not talking about an arrest.
"My question is would you have detained him in custody?
"A. If the search warrant - I mean, there's a couple different variables. If the search warrant was done, I would have detained him to get what I needed pursuant to the search warrant. Again, if it wasn't, I would have had to have tracked him down later, and if he wanted to leave, he could have left."
3. Recording of Corral's Police Interrogation
When Colbert entered the interrogation room where Corral was sitting, he started off by asking Corral his name, date of birth, current address, and cell phone number. When Corral hesitated in giving his cell phone number, Colbert said: "I know you [have a cell phone number] so just go ahead." Corral provided the phone number. Colbert continued with asking Corral's social security number, whether he was working, and whether and where Corral was a student. Colbert then asked what car Corral drove, what color it was, who bought it, and to whom it was registered.
Thereafter, Colbert stated that he knew that Corral had voluntarily turned himself in at Arvin Police Department to talk about "something bad" that he had done. He added: "I've been workin' on [the] case pretty much all day so if I ask you a couple of things I - or, lot of stuff I'm gonna ask you I kind of already have an idea. I'd love to get your side of the story. I mean you - you turn - you went to Arvin [Police Department] on your own. Nobody brought you there or whatever." Corral responded: "[W]ell it all started yesterday, um, in the morning, um, I find out that one of the girls['] accounts [i.e., Ruby's account] was open on Facebook. And her account was open so I just faked it, you know, faked being her." Corral added: "Um, told 'em [i.e., Natalie and Ashley] that if they wanted to hang out and they said yeah. And I picked 'em up. We were gonna go to a party. But nothing happened. So I just took 'em out somewhere far and then I - well, they said I just proceed in - in violating them." Corral confirmed: "Well I violated them. I raped 'em." Corral said the place he took the girls had a pool and a private gym. Corral said he had "never seen [the girls] before." Corral said he was "fucked up in the head" and would hear voices, almost as if he were "[d]ouble thinking [his] own voice," and "need[ed] somebody to talk to."
At one point Colbert asked: "You said - you said kind of vaguely you - you violated them. What happened?" Corral responded: "I raped 'em." Colbert followed up: "Okay. I understand you raped 'em. I mean what went down? Did you ... [¶] ... [¶] ... Did you have a weapon on you?" Corral responded: "A knife." Colbert asked: "What kind of knife?" Corral explained: "Um, it's just those, um, sharp knives. It's just made for like couple uses. It's like - it was blue and it just has little one end sharpened." Colbert asked: "What, kind of like a throw away knife, like just disposable knife?" Corral answered: "Yeah just throw disposables. Yeah."
Colbert then walked Corral through the details of what had occurred by asking specific, step-by-step questions. Corral told him that he took out the knife and told the girls to "take off their clothing." One of the girls passed out but the other girl took off her clothing. Corral had been drinking and kept drinking during this time; he was already drunk but "kept drinking even more." At one point the other girl woke up; Corral told her to take off her clothing and "proceeded to rape her." Colbert asked whether Corral ejaculated; Corral responded: "I don't know." Colbert asked whether Corral inserted his penis "in each one of their vaginas" or "in the anus[?]" Corral said: "I don't know on the first one. The second one I know I inserted." Colbert also asked: "Did you make 'em like give you a blow job or anything like that or do you remember?" Corral said, "[the first one] just kept doing everything" and "it just felt like she was doing it on her own." Afterwards, Corral threw up over and over again. He said: "And then I woke up and I don't - I don't - I didn't see 'em around anymore. I didn't see 'em in the car."
Colbert asked: "Did [the girls] leave anything behind in the red car?" Corral told him they had left a bag behind. Colbert asked: "Did you take one of the girls' cell phones?" Corral responded: "I don't even know." Colbert asked where Corral's phone was, whether Corral had a Facebook account, and what his profile picture looked like. Corral answered that his phone was in his room at home, he did have a Facebook account, and his profile picture showed him "stickin' out [his] tongue."
Colbert then advised Corral: "Okay. Now couple things you said, and I'm gonna kind of go back just because I've been talkin' to people all day. Um, I've been doin' this, nothin' but this since early, early this morning. [¶] ... Um, including talking to Ruby. I've already talked to Ruby. I've been on her Facebook. I've been on her Facebook all day. Um, this didn't just happen yesterday as far as getting on her Facebook right? You've been doin' it for over a month." Corral denied being on Ruby's Facebook previously, insisting, "I just - I just barely found out yesterday in the morning." Colbert asked Corral: "How did - how did you get on Ruby's Facebook?" Corral replied: "It just opened on my phone." Corral explained that Ruby had used his phone to access her account on a previous occasion. Colbert asked what kind of cell phone Corral had and whether it was password protected; Corral advised him of the type of phone and confirmed it was not password protected. Colbert asked whether the knife was still in Corral's car and Corral confirmed it was. Colbert asked what happened to the girls' stuff that was in the car; Corral said he had given a bottle of perfume to his little sister. Colbert asked whether Corral also had made the girls drink the Four Lokos beer but Corral could not remember.
Colbert concluded: "Okay I think that's all the questions I have for now unless you can think of anything. Um, I'll kind of explain to you what happens dude. Um, right now because it's pretty serious ... [¶] ... um, what I do is I, um, search warrants will be written okay? 'Cause I can - I need your phone. And we're gonna search your car very well. They also do what's called, um, a sexual assault exam on you, which means they just, you know, take some swabs and examine you, stuff like that. And all that kind of junk." Colbert confirmed Corral had not changed his clothes or taken a shower. Colbert eventually stepped out of the room, explaining that he needed to talk to "some people outside" and telling Corral to "kick back [but] don't mess around."
When Colbert came back into the interrogation room, he said: "Ok. Uh - so you're here 100% purely voluntary right? You went to Arvin [Police Department] purely voluntarily. We picked you up ... and you were cool with that, right?" Corral did not say anything in response to the questions but appeared to nod, as reflected in the video recording of the interrogation. Colbert then asked Corral, "Ok. So same shorts, same underwear you were wearing this morning?" Corral responded, "I don't even know." Colbert concluded: "OK, Michael. Go ahead and stand up man. OK. I appreciate you comin' down here. And uh - right now you are under arrest ok for um - the two rapes and uh - contributing to the delinquency of a minor basically providing alcohol to a minor. Um - you're gonna be taken to the exam - that's being done by a search warrant so if you don't cooperate then they're just gonna force you to do it. I know you're not - I know you're gonna be cooperative because you've been cool the whole time." Colbert added: "Um - I can talk to you up [until] they appoint you an attorney so if you think of anything else that you wanna talk to me again, feel free. Um - He's gonna put some handcuffs on you because you are going in the car and you are under arrest."
At no point did Colbert provide a Miranda advisement to Corral.
B. Analysis
In Miranda, supra, 384 U.S. at page 444, the United States Supreme Court held that "the prosecution may not use statements, whether exculpatory or inculpatory, stemming from custodial interrogation of the defendant unless it demonstrates the use of procedural safeguards effective to secure the privilege against self-incrimination." Thus, "suspects interrogated while in police custody must be told that they have a right to remain silent, that anything they say may be used against them in court, and that they are entitled to the presence of an attorney, either retained or appointed, at the interrogation." (Thompson v. Keohane (1995) 516 U.S. 99, 107 (Thompson); Miranda, supra, 384 U.S. at pp. 473-474; People v. Nelson (2012) 53 Cal.4th 367, 374 ["'"In order to combat [the] pressures [of custodial interrogation] and to permit a full opportunity to exercise the privilege against self-incrimination, the accused must be adequately and effectively apprised of his rights" to remain silent and to have the assistance of counsel.'"].) Once Miranda warnings have been given, if a suspect makes a clear and unambiguous statement invoking his constitutional rights, "all questioning must cease." (Smith v. Illinois (1984) 469 U.S. 91, 98.)
Miranda warnings are required only when a suspect interrogated by the police is "'in custody.'" (Thompson, supra, 516 U.S. at p. 102; Rhode Island v. Innis (1980) 446 U.S. 291, 301 (Innis) ["Miranda safeguards come into play whenever a person in custody is subjected to either express questioning or its functional equivalent."].) Custodial interrogation means "questioning initiated by law enforcement officers after a person has been taken into custody or otherwise deprived of his freedom of action in any significant way." (Miranda, supra, 384 U.S. at p. 444; People v. Kopatz (2015) 61 Cal.4th 62, 80 (Kopatz); Innis, supra, at p. 301 ["the term 'interrogation' under Miranda refers not only to express questioning, but also to any words or actions on the part of the police ... that the police should know are reasonably likely to elicit an incriminating response."].) The relevant question for determining whether an interrogation is custodial is whether a "reasonable person [would] have felt he or she was not at liberty to terminate the interrogation and leave." (Thompson, supra, 516 U.S. at p. 112.) Two separate determinations are required to resolve this question: (1) what were the circumstances surrounding the interrogation; and (2) given those circumstances, would a reasonable person in the suspect's situation have felt free to terminate the interrogation and leave. (J.D.B. v. North Carolina (2011) 564 U.S. 261, 270 (J.D.B.); Berkemer v. McCarty (1984) 468 U.S. 420, 437-438, 442, fn. 36 (Berkemer) [since Miranda was concerned with coercion, a reviewing court must evaluate "custody" by examining the totality of the circumstances surrounding the limitations on the suspect's freedom as a reasonable suspect would perceive them].) These are objective inquiries. Thus, "'subjective views harbored by either the interrogating officers or the person being questioned' are irrelevant." (J.D.B., supra, at p. 270; People v. Blouin (1978) 80 Cal.App.3d 269 ["The test is not the subjective intent of the interrogator [citation], but rather whether the suspect was actually deprived of his freedom in any significant way or, as a reasonable person, was led to believe his freedom of movement was restricted by the pressures of official authority."].)
In order for an accused's statement, made during custodial interrogation, to be admissible at trial, police must have given the accused a Miranda warning. (See Miranda, supra, 384 U.S. at p. 471.) "If that condition is established, the court can proceed to consider whether there has been an express or implied waiver of Miranda rights." (Berghuis v. Thompkins (2010) 560 U.S. 370, 388.)
Here, it is undisputed that Corral was not advised of his Miranda rights when he was questioned by Deputy Colbert in the interrogation room at the Kern County Sheriff's substation. Similarly, there is no dispute, given the information provided to Colbert by the Arvin Police Department and Colbert's investigation and actions prior to questioning Corral, that Corral was interrogated, i.e., subjected to "express questioning or its functional equivalent" that the police should know was reasonably likely to elicit an incriminating response. (Innis, supra, 446 U.S. at p. 301; see People v. Aguilera (1996) 51 Cal.App.4th 1151, 1161 (Aguilera).) Therefore, the issue before us is whether Corral was "in custody" for Miranda purposes and, in turn, whether the statements he made to Deputy Colbert were inadmissible because of the lack of Miranda warnings.
Whether a person was "in custody" for the purposes of Miranda is a conclusion reviewed de novo. (Thompson, supra, 516 U.S. at pp. 112-113 ["custody" is a mixed question of law and fact].) "On appeal, [a reviewing court will] defer to the trial court's factual findings supported by substantial evidence and independently determine from the factual findings whether appellant was in custody for Miranda purposes." (People v. Davidson (2013) 221 Cal.App.4th 966, 970; see People v. Waidla (2000) 22 Cal.4th 690, 730 ["An appellate court applies the independent or de novo standard of review, which by its nature is nondeferential, to a trial court's granting or denial of a motion to suppress a statement under Miranda insofar as the trial court's underlying decision entails a measurement of the facts against the law."].) The parties do not dispute the facts here (also, the interrogation itself was video recorded), so our review is de novo. Finally, the prosecution bears the burden to prove that the defendant was not in custody, in order to use his statements against him. (People v. Ochoa (1998) 19 Cal.4th 353, 401.)
The United States Supreme Court has stated that "'custody' is a term of art that specifies circumstances that are thought generally to present a serious danger of coercion." (Howes v. Fields (2012) 565 U.S. 499, 508-509 (Fields); see Innis, supra, 446 U.S. at p. 299 ["The concern of the Court in Miranda was that the 'interrogation environment' created by the interplay of interrogation and custody would 'subjugate the individual to the will of his examiner' and thereby undermine the privilege against compulsory self-incrimination."].) Further, as stated above, both our state high court and the United States Supreme Court have clarified that, in determining whether a defendant was in custody in this sense, we must examine the objective circumstances surrounding the interrogation to answer the question, ""'would a reasonable person have felt he or she was not at liberty to terminate the interrogation and leave.'"" (Kopatz, supra, 61 Cal.4th at p. 80, quoting Yarborough v. Alvarado (2004) 541 U.S. 652, 663 (Yarborough).) The United States Supreme Court has considered various relevant circumstances, (see Fields, supra, 565 U.S. at p. 509 (collecting cases)), including: (1) whether the defendant voluntarily approached, accompanied, or agreed to meet with, the police (California v. Beheler (1983) 463 U.S. 1121, 1122 (Beheler); Oregon v. Mathiason (1977) 429 U.S. 492, 495 (Mathiason); (2) the location of the questioning (Maryland v. Shatzer (2010) 559 U.S. 98, 105-106); (3) the duration of the questioning (Berkemer, supra, 468 U.S. at pp. 437-438); (4) statements made during the questioning (Mathiason, supra, at p. 495; Yarborough, supra, at p. 665; Stansbury v. California (1994) 511 U.S. 318, 325 (Stansbury); (5) the presence or absence of physical restraints during the questioning (New York v. Quarles (1984) 467 U.S. 649, 655); and (6) the release of the interrogee at the end of the questioning (Beheler, supra, at pp. 1122-1123; Mathiason, supra, at p. 495). Other courts have considered additional or alternative factors that may also be pertinent to, and even dispositive of, the ultimate determination whether a reasonable person would have believed he could freely walk away from the interrogators. (See United States v. Beraun-Panez (9th Cir. 1987) 812 F.2d 578, 580 (Beraun-Panez); United States v. Kim (9th Cir. 2002) 292 F.3d 969, 973-974 (Kim); People v. Pilster (2006) 138 Cal.App.4th 1395, 1403; Aguilera, supra, 51 Cal.App.4th at p. 1162.) All cases stress that no one circumstance is controlling, rather a reviewing court must look to the totality of the circumstances in deciding whether an individual was subjected to custodial interrogation under Miranda.
The Aguilera court identified the following "relevant circumstances":
"whether contact with law enforcement was initiated by the police or the person interrogated, and if by the police, whether the person voluntarily agreed to an interview; whether the express purpose of the interview was to question the person as a witness or a suspect; where the interview took place; whether police informed the person that he or she was under arrest or in custody; whether they informed the person that he or she was free to terminate the interview and leave at any time and/or whether the person's conduct indicated an awareness of such freedom; whether there were restrictions on the person's freedom of movement during the interview; how long the interrogation lasted; how many police officers participated; whether they dominated and controlled the course of the interrogation; whether they manifested a belief that the person was culpable and they had evidence to prove it; whether the police were aggressive, confrontational, and/or accusatory; whether the police used interrogation techniques to pressure the suspect; and whether the person was arrested at the end of the interrogation." (Aguilera, supra, 51 Cal.App.4th at p. 1162.)
To determine whether the interrogation was custodial, we must first examine the circumstances surrounding the interrogation and then measure the circumstances against the objective legal standard: "'"would a reasonable person have felt he or she was not at liberty to terminate the interrogation and leave."'" (Kopatz, supra, 61 Cal.4th at p. 80, quoting Yarborough, supra, 541 U.S. at p. 663.) Here, Corral, along with his mother, voluntarily came to the Arvin Police Department, stating he had done something bad and wanted to talk to police about the rapes that had occurred earlier that day. However, "[v]oluntary initiation of contact with the police cannot be, under any circumstances, the end of the inquiry into whether a defendant was 'in custody' during the encounter. If an individual voluntarily comes to the police station or another location and, once there, the circumstances become such that a reasonable person would not feel free to leave, the interrogation can become custodial." (Kim, supra, 292 F.3d at p. 975.) United States Supreme Court cases relying on the voluntary initiation of the police encounter so indicate, "as none rely solely on [this] factor." (Ibid.; People v. Saldana (2018) 19 Cal.App.5th 432, 456 [defendant walked to police station on his own, but "voluntary contact with the police is only the beginning of the inquiry" in determining whether the subsequent questioning was custodial].)
Mathiason and Beheler, two federal Supreme Court cases, are instructive for purposes of our analysis, which requires us to assess whether, under the totality of the circumstances, Corral was subjected to custodial interrogation at the Lamont substation. In Mathiason, a police officer investigating a theft left his card at the defendant's apartment with a note asking him to call. The defendant, Mathiason, called the officer and, a short time later, the two met at the state patrol office, approximately two blocks from Mathiason's home. The officer met Mathiason in the hallway, took him to a room, and advised him that he was not under arrest. (Mathiason, supra, 429 U.S. at p. 493.) Mathiason admitted to the theft "within five minutes" of arriving at the office. (Ibid.) "The officer then advised [Mathiason] of his Miranda rights and took a taped confession." (Id. at pp. 493-494.) Thereafter, Mathiason was released "'to go about his job and return to his family,'" pending the district attorney's review of the matter. (Id. at p. 494.) Reversing the Oregon Supreme Court, the federal high court found Mathiason "was not in custody" or "'otherwise deprived of his freedom of action in any significant way,'" when he initially confessed to the theft. (Id. at p. 495.) The federal high court found significant the fact that Mathiason "came voluntarily to the police station, where he was immediately informed that he was not under arrest." (Ibid.) The court also found significant the fact that "[a]t the close of a 1/2-hour interview[,] [Mathiason] did in fact leave the police station without hindrance." (Ibid.)
In Beheler, the defendant, Beheler, and several others attempted to steal some hashish from a drug dealer. One of the others shot and killed the dealer when she refused to relinquish her hashish. Shortly thereafter, Beheler called the police (who arrived immediately) and told them some details about the murder. Beheler voluntarily agreed to accompany the police to the station house. The police "specifically told Beheler that he was not under arrest." (Beheler, supra, 463 U.S. at p. 1122.) "At the station house, Beheler agreed to talk to police about the murder, although the police did not advise Beheler of the rights provided him under [Miranda]. The interview lasted less than 30 minutes. After being told that his statement would be evaluated by the District Attorney, Beheler was permitted to return to his home. Five days later, Beheler was arrested in connection with the [dealer's] murder." (Ibid.) Reversing the California Court of Appeal, the United States Supreme Court concluded that Miranda warnings were not necessary because "Beheler was neither taken into custody nor significantly deprived of his freedom of action. Indeed, Beheler's freedom was not restricted in any way whatsoever." (Id. at p. 1123.)
Other cases helpful for our analysis are United States v. Hayden (9th Cir. 2001) 260 F.3d 1062 (Hayden), United States v. Hudgens (9th Cir. 1986) 798 F.2d 1234 (Hudgens), and Saldana, supra, 19 Cal.App.5th 432. In Hayden, the Ninth Circuit found that Hayden, a theft suspect, who appeared voluntarily and in her own transport for questioning at the local office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), was not in custody for Miranda purposes when "she was told explicitly that she was free to leave at anytime and would not be arrested on that occasion" and did, in fact, go home afterwards. (Hayden, supra, 260 F.3d at pp. 1063, 1064, 1066.) The Hayden court further noted, "[t]here is no evidence that Hayden was incapable of finding her way out of the FBI building or that her ability to leave was in any other way restrained. Nor is there any evidence that the duration of the [questioning] was excessive or that undue pressure was exerted on [her]." (Id. at pp. 1066-1067.)
Similarly, in Hudgens, supra, 798 F.2d 1234, the court found that Hudgens, the defendant, was not subjected to custodial interrogation when he called the FBI, asked to speak to the agent in charge of the robbery of a particular bank (that had been the target of multiple robberies), two agents drove out to meet him in a 7-11 parking lot, and spoke to him in their vehicle for 45 minutes. The Hudgens court reasoned: "Hudgens was not a suspect prior to the time he initiated the conversation with the agents. Hudgens was not physically restrained. There was no evidence of intimidation or coercion. The interrogation was conducted in a subdued low-keyed manner. Hudgens was not patted down, handcuffed, or physically restrained until after he made his statement." (Id. at p. 1236.)
In Saldana, supra, 19 Cal.App.5th 432, the court concluded that a police station interrogation, less than an hour long, regarding alleged sexual molestation was custodial, where the defendant voluntarily agreed to be questioned (calling back a detective who had left a card at his house and going to the police station by himself), was not handcuffed, was questioned by only one detective, and was told at the outset that he was not under arrest and was free to leave but was arrested minutes after leaving the station. (Id. at pp. 436-437, 457, 461.) The court found it significant that Saldana, the defendant, was questioned incommunicado in an interrogation room the door to which was closed, and that the detective, while maintaining a pleasant tone, "asked an unrelenting number of accusatory questions." (Id. at pp. 437, 438, 456, 457, 460 ["At the police station, "'the investigator possesses all the advantages.'""].) The Saldana court concluded, "the accusatory nature of the questioning ... objectively conveyed that Saldana was not free to leave." (Id. at p. 462.)
Here, several factors suggest that Corral's interrogation at the Lamont substation was not custodial, although, taken in context, the interrogation reflects some elements of coercion. Clearly, one of the more significant facts, for purposes of our analysis, is that Corral willingly sought out and initiated the encounter with the police and was relatively forthcoming about the details of the crimes. (See Kim, supra, 292 F.3d at p. 974 ["If the police ask—not order—someone to speak to them and that person comes to the police station, voluntarily, precisely to do so, the individual is likely to expect that he can end the encounter."].) Moreover, Colbert did not engage in aggressive or confrontational questioning that would overtly telegraph that Corral's freedom of movement was restricted; on the contrary, Colbert maintained a professional demeanor throughout and his tone was courteous. (Aguilera, supra, 51 Cal.App.4th at p. 1164 ["on the issue of custody, courts consider highly significant whether the questioning was brief, polite, and courteous or lengthy, aggressive, confrontational, threatening, intimidating, and accusatory"].) Finally, although Corral was in the interrogation room for an hour and a half, he was not in restraints and did not appear uncomfortable.
On the other hand, when Corral arrived at the Arvin Police Department, he was not simply directed to drive over to the sheriff's Lamont substation with his mother who, knowing the police were looking for Corral, had accompanied him to support him and was evidently his ride. (Kim, supra, 292 F.3d at p. 977 ["'The Supreme Court in Miranda noted that separating a subject from others, who might lend moral support to a person questioned and thereby prevent inculpatory statements, was a technique of psychological coercion.'"]; Beraun-Panez, supra, 830 F.2d at p. 127 ["[b]y keeping [defendant] isolated from other people, the officers contributed to the custodial nature of the interrogation"].) After Dunshee arrived, Corral was patted down but not handcuffed and was transported in the backseat of an effectively locked patrol car. While Corral agreed to go with Deputy Dunshee, the manner and mode of his arrival at the Lamont substation, along with his prior knowledge that police were looking for him, would reasonably and objectively be expected to bear on his perception of his freedom of movement once there.
Corral did not drive his own car to Arvin Police Department. His own car was in the driveway of his house.
Corral knew the police were looking for him. He also told his mother that Dunshee was arresting him, and had deliberately left personal effects, such as his wallet and phone, at home before going to the Arvin Police Department. Dunshee did not dispel the perception of arrest as he told Corral he did not know what would happen at the substation; Dunshee also told Corral's mother she would get a phone call to update her as to Corral's situation. --------
At the substation, Corral was placed in an interrogation room, the door to which was closed. Colbert entered after 30 minutes, shutting the door behind him. After asking some preliminary questions, Colbert noted that Corral was cooperating voluntarily but did not clarify that Corral was not under arrest and could leave at any time. Colbert told Corral, "I've been working on [the] case pretty much all day so ... [a] lot of stuff I'm gonna ask you I kind of already have an idea," and then asked him to tell his side of the story. Corral quickly confessed to using Facebook to contact the girls, picking them up, and then raping them at a private gym facility. Corral clearly confessed to very serious crimes against two minor victims, and courts have recognized that ""'[t]he awareness of the person being questioned by an officer that ... the police have ample cause to arrest him, may well lead him to conclude, as a reasonable person, that he is not free to leave, and that he has been significantly deprived of his freedom.'"" (Saldana, supra, 19 Cal.App.5th at p. 458.)
After Corral confessed, Colbert proceeded to asked him detailed and precise questions about how the crimes were perpetrated. At one point, Colbert informed Corral that Colbert had been working intensively on the rape investigation, had spoken to Ruby and others, and had "been on [Ruby's] Facebook all day." Colbert then asked Corral about specific posts on Ruby's Facebook page. (See Stansbury, supra, 511 U.S. at p. 325 ["An officer's knowledge ... may bear upon the custody issue if [it is] conveyed, by word or deed, to the individual being questioned.... [That knowledge is] relevant only to the extent [it] would affect how a reasonable person in the position of the individual being questioned would gauge the breadth of his or her '"freedom of action."'"].) In addition, at the end of the questioning, Corral was arrested and taken for a sexual assault examination.
Taking into consideration the totality of the circumstances, we conclude Corral was not in custody when his interrogation began at the sheriff's substation. Corral voluntarily came to the Arvin Police Department, with the expectation that he would be questioned about the rapes. (Kim, supra, 292 F.3d at p. 974 ["In determining whether suspects were 'in custody' for Miranda purposes, the Supreme Court has considered whether they voluntarily approached or accompanied law officers understanding that questioning would ensue."].) Although Corral was transported to the substation solo in an effectively locked patrol vehicle (rather than advised to go there with his mother), he agreed to go with Deputy Dunshee in the latter's patrol vehicle. Upon arrival at the sheriff's substation, after waiting in an interrogation room for 30 minutes, Corral quickly confessed to contacting the girls through another girl's Facebook account by "fak[ing] being her." He explained he picked up the girls to go to a party but instead took them to a remote private gym near the Grimmway Farms facility in Lamont, where he raped them. Until Corral confessed to raping the girls at the private gym, a reasonable person in his situation would have felt free to terminate the interrogation and leave. (See Aguilera, supra, 51 Cal.App.4th at p. 1162 ["No one factor is dispositive. Rather, we look at the interplay and combined effect of all the circumstances to determine whether on balance they created a coercive atmosphere such that a reasonable person would have experienced a restraint tantamount to an arrest."].) In turn, Corral's initial confession was not the product of a custodial interrogation and was therefore admissible in the prosecution's case in chief.
We need not decide whether the interrogation subsequently evolved into a custodial interrogation—to the extent a reasonable person would not have felt at liberty to walk away after confessing to the rapes—because Corral was not prejudiced by admission of the statements he gave after making his initial confession. (See Mathiason, supra, 429 U.S. at pp. 493-494 [no error where suspect voluntarily met officer and confessed to theft within five minutes, whereupon he was given Miranda warning before a taped confession was taken].)
"'We review Miranda error under the "harmless beyond a reasonable doubt" standard propounded in Chapman v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 18, 24.'" (Saldana, supra, 19 Cal.App.5th 432.) Under the Chapman test, error is found to be nonprejudicial when it appears, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the error did not contribute to the verdict. (Yates v. Evatt (1991) 500 U.S. 391, 402-403, overruled on other grounds by Estelle v. McGuire (1991) 502 U.S. 62, 72, fn. 4.) An error does not contribute to a verdict when it is "unimportant in relation to everything else the jury considered on the issue in question, as revealed in the record." (Id. at p. 403.)
Here, along with Corral's initial confession that we have determined was admissible, the People presented other exceptionally strong and compelling evidence against Corral. Ashley and Natalie testified about receiving Facebook messages from Ruby and getting picked up at the mall by Corral. Ruby testified she had used Corral's phone to access her Facebook account in the past and that, at the time the messages were sent, she was in juvenile hall where she had no access to her Facebook account. Moreover, both Ashley and Natalie testified regarding the details of the rape. Natalie identified Corral as the rapist in open court. Ashley testified she recognized Corral but was not sure where she had seen him before. Ashley did, however, identify Corral in a photographic lineup shortly after the rapes occurred.
Virginia Bustillos testified that on March 31, 2015, she was awakened at 2:00 a.m. by the girls screaming that they had been raped.
Deputy Dunshee went to the private gym facility described by the girls and found two pairs of female underwear with straight cuts in them, cans of Four Lokos, as well as patches of vomit.
Natalie identified Corral's car at trial. Natalie further testified she had left her belongings in the car and the police subsequently recovered the bag and clothing upon searching Corral's car. A knife was also found in Corral's car and Ashley's phone was located near Corral's house.
We recognize the profound impact a defendant's own statements may have on the trier of fact. (See Arizona v. Fulminante (1991) 499 U.S. 279, 296 [a defendant's own statements are uniquely probative and damaging evidence].) However, on the present record, even if Corral's statements following his initial confession were inadmissible under Miranda, this evidence did not contribute to the verdict in view of the fact that the trier of fact could properly consider Corral's initial confession.
DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
/s/_________
SMITH, Acting P.J. WE CONCUR: /s/_________
SNAUFFER, J. /s/_________
DESANTOS, J.