Summary
In People v. Villagran (2016) 5 Cal.App.5th 880, the court held that text messaging could violate section 288 because the touching under section 288 could be constructive.
Summary of this case from People v. CanjuraOpinion
A143768
11-18-2016
The PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Juan Pablo Cruz VILLAGRAN, Defendant and Appellant.
Marylou Elin Hillberg, Sebastopol, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Jeffrey M. Laurence, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Eric D. Share, Supervising Deputy Attorney General, Violet M. Lee, Deputy Attorney General for Plaintiff and Respondent.
Pursuant to California Rules of Court, rules 8.1105(b) and 8.1110, this opinion is certified for publication with the exception of part II.
Marylou Elin Hillberg, Sebastopol, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Jeffrey M. Laurence, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Eric D. Share, Supervising Deputy Attorney General, Violet M. Lee, Deputy Attorney General for Plaintiff and Respondent.
Opinion
Jones, P.J.Using a text messaging application, appellant Juan Pablo Cruz Villagran communicated with a number of girls under 14 years of age, sending them sexually explicit photographs of himself and asking them to send him nude photographs of themselves in return. Based on these text messages, the Contra Costa County District Attorney charged Cruz with multiple counts of attempted violation of Penal Code section 288, subdivision (a) (section 288(a) ). The jury returned guilty verdicts on these counts, and Cruz now appeals.In this court, Cruz challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his convictions. He contends conviction under section 288(a) requires either a physical encounter with the victim or a constructive touching in which the defendant induces the victims to touch themselves or another, with a concurrent sexual intent at the time of the touching. Cruz also contends the trial court erred in instructing the jury on the elements of the section 288(a) offense and in responding to a question from the jury. Finally, he contends his prosecution for attempted violation of section 288(a) violates the rule against prosecution under a more general statute when the conduct at issue is prohibited under section 288.3, a later, more specific statute.
Appellant's full surname is Cruz Villagran, but he is referred to as "Juan Cruz" in the record. We will therefore use the shorter form of his name in this opinion.
All statutory references are to the Penal Code.
We reject Cruz's contentions and will accordingly affirm the judgment. In the published portion of our opinion, we hold that a defendant may commit the crime of attempted lewd and lascivious acts on a child under 14 by communicating with the victim via text messaging. We further hold that the sexual intent and the touching required by section 288(a) need not occur simultaneously. In the final portion of this opinion, we conclude Cruz's convictions under section 288(a) are not prohibited under the special versus general doctrine, because section 288(a) contains an element not contained on the face of section 288.3. In the unpublished portion of the opinion, we reject Cruz's claim of instructional error. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Cruz was convicted of 21 separate offenses arising out of his contacts with five different victims. According to his opening brief, however, "[t]his appeal focuses solely on three counts of conviction for attempted lewd and lascivious contact with a minor under fourteen[.]" We will therefore set forth only the facts pertaining to those three counts.
Jane Doe I
Jane Doe I was 14 years old and in the ninth grade at the time of trial. On September 10, 2011, when she was 11 years old, Jane Doe I met Cruz at her sister's quinceañera, a celebration for girls on their 15th birthday. Cruz was then 23 years old.
When Jane Doe I was 13 years old, Cruz posted a comment on her Instagram page telling her she had a pretty smile. She thanked Cruz, and he asked her to add him as a contact on Kik, a social text messaging application. Jane Doe I did so and started communicating with Cruz using Kik. She told Cruz she was 13 years old.
Over the next three days, the two sent each other messages. At that time, they "were just like talking as friends." On the third day, Cruz sent Jane Doe I a photograph he had taken of himself in the bathroom mirror. The photograph showed Cruz's face and upper body. He was shirtless and wearing a gold necklace. Jane Doe I responded with, "okay," and they continued texting messages. She did not ask Cruz to send more photographs.
About 10 minutes after sending the first photograph, Cruz sent a second. This one showed a close-up of his erect penis. Jane Doe I was surprised and uncomfortable. She could not believe Cruz would send her such a photograph. She replied, "That's not you," and Cruz responded, "Yes, it is. Look at my necklace." The same necklace was visible in both photos.
Within a few minutes of sending the photo of his penis, or almost simultaneously, Cruz asked Jane Doe I, "Send me one." He said, "It's just going to be between me and you." Jane Doe I understood Cruz to be requesting a nude photograph of herself. She refused, telling Cruz, "No. I'm having a sleepover with my friend." Cruz asked her twice for nude photographs, but she told him, "I can't send them. Sorry[.]" Jane Doe I blocked Cruz so that he could no longer contact her. She deleted the photos he had sent her.
Later, Jane Doe I talked to a classmate about the incident. A teacher overheard them and told the school principal. Perhaps two days later, Jane Doe I spoke to a police detective about the incident. Jane Doe III
At the time of trial, Jane Doe III was 13 years old and in the eighth grade. When she was 12 years old and in the seventh grade, Cruz, whom she did not know, commented on a "selfie" photograph she had posted on her Instagram page. Cruz said, "cute smile." Jane Doe III thanked Cruz, and he asked for her Kik contact information, which she provided.
Jane Doe III talked to Cruz on Kik for a day. She told him she was 12 years old. Using Kik, he asked her, "Can you send me a picture of you?" Cruz asked her to send him pictures of her naked body. Jane Doe III did not send any pictures and instead blocked Cruz from communicating with her. His request for pictures made her feel "kind of scared."
Jane Doe V
Jane Doe V was 14 years old at the time of trial. She lived in Brentwood and attended high school.
Between November and December 2014, when Jane Doe V was 13 years old and in the seventh grade, Cruz commented on a picture she had posted on Instagram. He told her she was beautiful, and she thanked him. When Jane Doe V told Cruz she was 13 years old, he said he was 19. They exchanged Kik contact information and communicated for three days.
For the first two days, Jane Doe V and Cruz "got to know each other" and "were talking like friends." Cruz sent her pictures of his drawings of the Virgin Mary and a tiger. Jane Doe V told Cruz he was a "good drawer," and he asked if she wanted to see more of his drawings. After she said yes, Cruz sent her a picture of his penis. The picture showed him holding his penis with his left hand. Immediately thereafter, Cruz sent a second photograph of his penis. The second photo was shot in an upward direction and showed his face, his chest, and his penis, which he was holding.
Cruz told Jane Doe V, "I'm hard for you." He said she should send "nude" pictures of herself and asked for "pictures of [her] boobs." Cruz told her to "take some [pictures] and just send them real quick[.]" Jane Doe V refused. Cruz also told her he had "morning wood" every day. He told her he lived close to the middle school and asked her to come to his house. Jane Doe V felt very uncomfortable with the conversation, and she was annoyed he kept asking her to send pictures. She blocked Cruz on Kik and Instagram.
Information, Trial, and Sentence
On March 28, 2014, the Contra Costa County District Attorney filed an amended information charging Cruz with 25 counts of sexual offenses against minors. As relevant here, the information charged Cruz with three attempts to commit lewd acts upon Jane Doe I, Jane Doe III, and Jane Doe V, all of whom were children under the age of 14 (§§ 288, subd. (a), 664 ; counts 6, 9, 22).
The remaining counts of the information charged Cruz with distributing lewd matter to a minor (§ 288.2, subd. (a); counts 1, 19, 24), contacting a minor for the purpose of engaging in lewd and lascivious behavior (§ 288.3, subd. (a); counts 2, 12, 14, 25), annoying or molesting a minor (§ 647.6, subd. (a)(1); counts 3, 7, 8, 20), attempted exploitation of a child (§ 311.3, subd. (a); counts 4, 10, 18, 23), attempted possession or control of matter depicting a person under 18 years of age in sexual conduct (§§ 311.11, subd. (a), 664; counts 5, 11, 15, 21), attempted distributing/exhibiting lewd matter to a minor (§ 288.2, subd. (a), 664; counts 13, 17), and attempt to commit a lewd act upon a child under age 14 (§§ 288, subd. (a), 664 ; count 16).
Trial was by jury. At the close of the prosecution's case, Cruz's trial counsel moved to dismiss counts 6, 9, 16, and 22. (§ 1118.1.) She argued "[t]here was no request to touch herself, to take off her clothes or to touch her body in any way, and that's what is required under the People's theory of a 288, attempted 288." Counsel contended there was insufficient evidence to prove either that Cruz intended the victims to touch themselves or that he asked them to remove their clothing. Counsel opined the evidence showed "just a desire to receive a picture...." The trial court disagreed, explaining, "The defendant intended the child to take a photograph of herself naked at that time, and therefore he intended that they remove their clothing to do so during the conversation." The court denied the motion to dismiss.
On September 24, 2014, the jury returned its verdicts. Because of the number of victims and counts, we set forth the verdicts in tabular form:
Jane Doe I Count Charge Verdict 1 § 288.2, subd. (a): distributing lewd matter to a minor NG4 Lesser § 313.1, subd. (a): distributing harmful matter to a minor G 2 § 288.3, subd. (a): contacting a minor to engage in lewd or G lascivious behavior 3 § 647.6, subd. (a)(1): annoying or molesting a minor, a G misdemeanor 4 §§ 311.3, subd. (a), 664: attempted exploitation of a child NG
5 §§ 311.1, subd. (a), 664: attempted possession of child G pornography 6 §§ 288, subd. (a), 664: attempt to commit a lewd act on a G minor under 14 Jane Doe II Count Charge under Penal Code Verdict 7 § 647.6, subd. (a)(1): annoying or molesting a minor, a G misdemeanor 8 § 647.6, subd. (a)(1): annoying or molesting a minor, a G misdemeanor Jane Doe III Count Charge under Penal Code Verdict 9 §§ 288, subd. (a), 664: attempt to commit a lewd act on a G minor under 14 10 §§ 311.3, subd. (a), 664: attempted exploitation of a child NG 11 §§ 311.11, subd. (a), 664: attempted possession of child G pornography 12 § 288.3, subd. (a): contacting minor to engage in lewd or G lascivious behavior Jane Doe IV 5 Count Charge under Penal Code Verdict 13 §§ 288.2, 664: attempted distribution of lewd matter to a G minor 14 § 288.3, subd. (a): contacting a minor to engage in lewd or G lascivious behavior
15 §§ 311.11, subd. (a), 664: attempted possession of child G pornography 16 §§ 288, subd. (a), 664: attempt to commit a lewd act on a G minor under 14 17 §§ 288.2, 664: attempted distribution of lewd matter to a G minor 18 §§ 311.3, subd.(a), 664: attempted exploitation of a minor NG
Jane Doe V Count Charge under Penal Code Verdict 19 § 288.2, subd. (a): exhibiting lewd matter to a minor NG Lesser § 313.1, subd. (a): distributing harmful material to a minor G 20 § 647.6, subd. (a)(1): annoying or molesting a minor, a G misdemeanor 21 §§ 311.11, subd. (a), 664: attempted possession of child NG pornography 22 §§ 288, subd. (a), 664: attempt to commit a lewd act on a G minor under 14 23 §§ 311.3, subd. (a), 664: attempted exploitation of a minor NG Lesser § 313.1, subd. (a): distributing harmful material to a minor G 24 § 288.2, subd. (a): exhibiting lewd matter to a minor G 25 § 288.3, subd. (a): contacting a minor to engage in lewd G behavior
[Editor's Note: The preceding image contains the references for footnotes , ]
In this chart, "NG" indicates a not guilty verdict and "G" indicates a guilty verdict.
"Jane Doe IV" was not a minor but instead the investigating officer who posed as a 12-year-old girl and sent messages to Cruz in a sting operation to obtain evidence against him.
On November 24, 2014, the trial court sentenced Cruz to five years in prison. It suspended execution of the sentence and placed him on probation for five years in return for a waiver of all custody credits. The court ordered Cruz to serve 364 days in county jail.
Cruz filed a timely notice of appeal on December 12, 2014.
DISCUSSION
Cruz challenges his convictions on counts 6, 9, and 22 for attempting to commit a lewd act on a child under 14 years of age. (§§ 288(a), 664.) First, he contends violations of section 288(a) require more than virtual communications, even if those communications are obscene. To sustain a conviction under this statute, he argues, "some kind of attempt to make physical contact with the victim is required and here there was none." Second, Cruz argues the trial court erred in giving an instruction on the elements of the section 288(a) offense and in responding to a jury question. Third, Cruz contends his prosecution under section 288(a) violates the proscription against prosecution under a general statute when the conduct at issue is prohibited under a more specific one. We will address these arguments in turn.I. The Convictions on Counts 6, 9, and 22 Are Supported by Sufficient Evidence.
Although Cruz was charged with the same offense in count 16, he concedes the evidence was sufficient with respect to that count.
Cruz contends his convictions on counts 6, 9, and 22 are unsupported by substantial evidence. He argues he simply asked for nude photos of the victims, "without any directions on how or when the girls should photograph themselves in revealing manners." What is lacking in this case, Cruz asserts, is a "showing that [he] had a sexual intent that these young girls touch themselves ... in the taking of these photographs[.]" He argues he "did not ask the girls to touch themselves in any manner but only to reveal their intimate parts to him in ... photographs." Thus, he asserts, without evidence to support a finding he harbored a sexual intent that the girls engage in some kind of sexual touching or conduct when they took the requested nude photographs of themselves, the convictions for these counts cannot be sustained.
Cruz acknowledges these were illegal communications but contends they were prohibited under sections 288.3 and 311.3, not section 288(a).
A. Standard of Review
This court's role in reviewing any claim of insufficiency of the evidence is limited. (People v. Veale (2008) 160 Cal.App.4th 40, 45, 72 Cal.Rptr.3d 360.) On appeal of a conviction under section 288(a), "[t]he proper test for determining a claim of insufficiency of evidence ... is whether, on the entire record, a rational trier of fact could find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. [Citations.] On appeal, we must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the People and must presume in support of the judgment the existence of every fact the trier could reasonably deduce from the evidence. [Citation.]" (People v. Jones (1990) 51 Cal.3d 294, 314, 270 Cal.Rptr. 611, 792 P.2d 643.)
B. Elements of the Section 288(a) Offense
In counts 6, 9, and 22, Cruz was charged with and convicted of attempted violations of section 288(a). "To sustain a conviction of attempted violation of section 288(a), the prosecution has the burden of demonstrating (1) the defendant intended to commit a lewd and lascivious act with a child under 14 years of age, and (2) the defendant took a direct but ineffectual step toward committing a lewd and lascivious act with a child under 14 years of age." (People v. Singh (2011) 198 Cal.App.4th 364, 368, 129 Cal.Rptr.3d 461.) Cruz contends the People failed to prove the first of these two elements. In analyzing this contention we examine first the relevant statutory text and the case law interpreting it.
Section 288(a) provides in relevant part: "Except as provided in subdivision (i), any person who willfully and lewdly commits any lewd or lascivious act ... upon or with the body, or any part or member thereof, of a child who is under the age of 14 years, with the intent of arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust, passions, or sexual desires of that person or the child, is guilty of a felony...." The statute is violated if there is " 'any touching' of an underage child accomplished with the intent of arousing the sexual desires of either the perpetrator or the child." (People v. Martinez (1995) 11 Cal.4th 434, 452, 45 Cal.Rptr.2d 905, 903 P.2d 1037 (Martinez ).) Thus, the offense described by section 288(a) has two elements: " '(a) the touching of an underage child's body (b) with a sexual intent.' [Citation.]" (United States v. Farmer (9th Cir. 2010) 627 F.3d 416, 419.)The touching required by section 288(a) may be constructive. (People v. Meacham (1984) 152 Cal.App.3d 142, 153, 199 Cal.Rptr. 586 (Meacham ), abrogated on another ground by People v. Brown (1994) 8 Cal.4th 746, 756, 35 Cal.Rptr.2d 407, 883 P.2d 949.) That is, "a defendant need not touch the victim in order to violate section 288." (People v. Lopez (2010) 185 Cal.App.4th 1220, 1229, 111 Cal.Rptr.3d 232 (Lopez ).) The required touching may be done by the child on his or her own person provided it was caused or instigated by a perpetrator having the requisite specific intent. (People v. Austin (1980) 111 Cal.App.3d 110, 114–115, 168 Cal.Rptr. 401 (Austin ); accord, People v. Mickle (1991) 54 Cal.3d 140, 176, 284 Cal.Rptr. 511, 814 P.2d 290 ["Where committed for a sexually exploitative purpose, [the actual or constructive disrobing of a child by the accused] is presumptively harmful and prohibited by section 288(a)."]; People v. Roberts (1972) 26 Cal.App.3d 385, 387-388, 103 Cal.Rptr. 25 [defendant charged as aider and abettor of violation of § 288 need not have physical contact with victim].)
In addition to an actual or constructive touching, section 288(a)"requires 'the specific intent of arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust of the child or the accused.' [Citation.]" (People v. Warner (2006) 39 Cal.4th 548, 557, 47 Cal.Rptr.3d 1, 139 P.3d 475.) "Because intent for purposes of ... section 288 can seldom be proven by direct evidence, it may be inferred from the circumstances." (In re Mariah T. (2008) 159 Cal.App.4th 428, 440, 71 Cal.Rptr.3d 542.) In determining whether the defendant acted with the required specific intent, the jury therefore looks to all the circumstances, including the charged act. (Martinez, supra, 11 Cal.4th at p. 445, 45 Cal.Rptr.2d 905, 903 P.2d 1037.) "Other relevant factors can include the defendant's extrajudicial statements [citation], other acts of lewd conduct admitted or charged in the case [citations], the relationship of the parties [citation], and any coercion, bribery, or deceit used to obtain the victim's cooperation or to avoid detection [citation]." (Ibid . )
C. An Attempted Violation of Section 288(a) May Be Committed Via Text Messaging.
Cruz contends "[t]here was no proof of the required concurrence of the sexual intent of a touching with the requested production of nude self-portraits from these girls." He first argues he never tried to meet Jane Does I, III, or V, and he did not attempt to be physically present when the photographs were taken. Cruz's argument fails.
A defendant may violate section 288(a) even if he is not physically present when the touching occurs. For example, in People v. Imler (1992) 9 Cal.App.4th 1178, 11 Cal.Rptr.2d 915 (Imler ), the court held "that one can commit the crime of attempted child molestation by speaking to the victim over the telephone." (Id . at p. 1179, 11 Cal.Rptr.2d 915.) In Imler, the defendant, Imler, called the home of a 12-year-old boy and told him he was holding the boy's father as a hostage. (Id . at p. 1180, 11 Cal.Rptr.2d 915.) Imler demanded ransom and then "ordered [the boy] to disrobe and touch his penis." (Ibid . ) The boy did not touch himself, even though Imler repeatedly told him to do so. The boy falsely told Imler he had complied, and Imler hung up. (Ibid . )
On appeal, Imler contended the evidence was insufficient to establish the crime of attempt. (Imler, supra, 9 Cal.App.4th at p. 1179, 11 Cal.Rptr.2d 915.) The court disagreed, concluding, "Whether the victim complied or not is beside the point. [Citation.] Imler's acts could have resulted in a violation of ... section 288." (Id. at p. 1182, 11 Cal.Rptr.2d 915.) In addition, the court explained: "It matters not that Imler could not touch his victim. 'The touching necessary to violate ... section 288 may be done by the child victim on its own person providing such touching was at the instigation of a person who had the required specific intent.' [Citation.] The accused does not have to commit the lewd act. The defendant's intent may be inferred from his conduct which was to order the victim to commit a lewd act upon himself. [Citation.]" (Ibid . )
Under Imler, it does not matter that Cruz made no effort to meet Jane Does I, III, and V or to be present when they took the photographs he requested. As was true in Imler, the touching required by section 288(a) may be constructive. If the girls had complied with Cruz's request and touched themselves to take nude photos, those acts of touching would have been "imputable to appellant as if the touching had been actually done by his own hands." (Meacham, supra, 152 Cal.App.3d at p. 154, 199 Cal.Rptr. 586.) And if "one can commit the crime of attempted child molestation by speaking to the victim over the telephone" (Imler, supra, 9 Cal.App.4th at p. 1179, 11 Cal.Rptr.2d 915 ), it logically follows that one can commit the offense by communicating with a minor under 14 using a text messaging application such as Kik. Thus, we hold that a defendant may commit the crime of attempt to commit a lewd act on a minor under 14 through the medium of text messaging. (See People v. Hanna (2013) 218 Cal.App.4th 455, 457–460, 160 Cal.Rptr.3d 210 [defendant convicted of violation of § 288(a) based on communications by email and instant messaging]; People v. Crabtree (2009) 169 Cal.App.4th 1293, 1322, 88 Cal.Rptr.3d 41 [defendant properly convicted of attempted violation of § 288(a) after "sexually-charged online chats" with child].)
D. The Intent Requirement of Section 288(a) Is Satisfied if the Perpetrator Acts With the Intent of Arousing or Gratifying His Own or the Child's Sexual Desires.
Cruz also argues the concurrence of sexual intent and act was missing because "[h]e did not direct the girls to touch themselves, or anyone else, in any particular manner for his sexual gratification[.]" (Italics added.) Cruz misapprehends the nature of the intent section 288(a) requires. The intent element of the statute is satisfied if the People prove Cruz acted "with the intent of arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust, passions, or sexual desires of that person or the child [.]" (§ 288(a), italics added.) Cruz's opening brief tells us "[h]e tried to sexually stimulate [the girls] through sending photographs of his penis[.]" He therefore admits he acted with the intent of arousing or appealing to the girls' "lust, passions, or sexual desires." While the People did not have to prove Cruz also acted with the intent of arousing or gratifying his own lust, passions, or sexual desires, the jury could certainly have found he acted with that intent because he requested the nude photographs after sending each girl one or more photos of his erect penis. (See Martinez, supra, 11 Cal.4th at p. 450, 45 Cal.Rptr.2d 905, 903 P.2d 1037 [defendant's intent is "inferred from all the circumstances"].) As Cruz himself says, he "wanted to see naked photographs." The jury could reasonably conclude he wanted the photographs for purposes of his own sexual gratification.
E. The Sexual Intent and Touching Need Not Occur at the Same Time.
Cruz appears to argue the sexual intent and touchings had to occur at the same time. He argues, "[w]ithout additional evidence to support the finding that appellant harbored a sexual intent to include some kind of sexual touching or conduct at the time the girls took their 'selfies,' the convictions ... in counts six, nine, and twenty-two must be reversed." Lopez, supra, 185 Cal.App.4th 1220, 111 Cal.Rptr.3d 232 addressed and rejected a similar argument. In that case, the defendant was convicted of two counts of violating section 288(a) involving his two stepdaughters. They "testified that defendant played 'the money game' with them. He directed them to dress in lingerie or bathing suits, and look for money blindfolded." (Id. at p. 1227, 111 Cal.Rptr.3d 232.) On appeal, the defendant argued there was insufficient evidence to support those two counts "because defendant did not touch the girls, he was not present when they changed their clothes, and there was no evidence he harbored any lewd intent when the girls touched themselves while changing their clothes." (Id. at p. 1230, 111 Cal.Rptr.3d 232.) Like Cruz, the defendant claimed "the requisite concurrence of act and intent is lacking." (Ibid. )
The court disagreed. It first held the evidence supported a finding that there was a touching concurrent with lewd intent. (Lopez, supra, 185 Cal.App.4th at p. 1230, 111 Cal.Rptr.3d 232.) "[T]he touching occurred when, at defendant's direction, the girls removed their clothing and dressed in clothing defendant told them to wear." (Ibid. ) As a matter of first impression, the court also rejected the defendant's contention that there could be no concurrence of the act and his lewd intent because he was not present when the girls changed their clothing. (Id . at pp. 1231–1233, 111 Cal.Rptr.3d 232.) It explained: "Because of the apparent legislative intent to apply section 288 expansively to any sexually motivated touching, including touchings by the victim at the defendant's direction, we conclude section 288 encompasses defendant's act in the instant case of directing the victims to change into provocative clothing for the sexually motivated purpose of watching the girls search for money in the provocative clothing. Defendant committed the touching acts constructively, through the victims as conduits, for the purpose of sexual arousal. Even though defendant may not have experienced sexual arousal at the moment the victims touched themselves when putting on the provocative clothing, defendant's intent when instigating or causing the touchings was lewd and lascivious within the meaning of section 288, since the touchings were sexually motivated and committed for the purpose of defendant's sexual gratification." (Id. at p. 1233, 111 Cal.Rptr.3d 232.)
The same is true here. Although Cruz perhaps would not have experienced sexual arousal at the time the girls took the requested nude photographs, the jury could find he instigated or encouraged the girls to undress and take the photographs to satisfy his sexual desires. As Lopez makes clear, the statute does not require that defendant's intent and the victim's touching occur simultaneously.
We therefore conclude a reasonable jury could find Cruz guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of attempt to commit a lewd or lascivious act on a minor. Sufficient evidence supports the convictions on counts 6, 9, and 22.
II. Neither the Trial Court's Jury Instruction on Section 288(a) nor its Response to the Jury's Question Was Erroneous.
See footnote *, ante .
III. Cruz's Prosecution Under Section 288(a) Does Not Violate the Williamson Rule.
Finally, Cruz contends his convictions for attempted violations of section 288(a) violate the prohibition against prosecution under a general statute when the specific conduct at issue is prohibited under section 288.3, subdivision (a). According to Cruz, the specific conduct at issue here is "sexting." He contends "the Legislature intended this conduct be governed by the more narrow section instead of ... [the] more general and severe statute of section 288, subdivision (a)." As we will explain, we disagree.
Section 288.3, subdivision (a) provides: "Every person who contacts or communicates with a minor, or attempts to contact or communicate with a minor, who knows or reasonably should know that the person is a minor, with intent to commit an offense specified in Section 207, 209, 261, 264.1, 273a, 286, 288, 288a, 288.2, 289, 311.1, 311.2, 311.4 or 311.11 involving the minor shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for the term prescribed for an attempt to commit the intended offense."
A. Cruz's Conduct Went Beyond "Sexting."
Before we assess the legal merits of Cruz's argument, we pause to note our disagreement with his characterization of his conduct in this case. He describes his actions as "sexting," but that term has been defined as "the exchange of sexually explicit text messages, including photographs, via cell phone." (United States v. Broxmeyer (2d Cir. 2010) 616 F.3d 120, 123 ; see People v. Gonzalez (2012) 211 Cal.App.4th 132, 139, 149 Cal.Rptr.3d 366 [referring to "the special case of 'self-produced' pornography (e.g., sexting)"].) As the People point out, however, Cruz's conduct went beyond merely sending sexually explicit text messages. Crucially, "[h]e asked each of the victims, girls under the age of 14, to send sexually explicit photos of themselves to him." It is this aspect of appellant's conduct that forms the basis of the offenses of which he was convicted.
It is certainly true that Cruz sent sexually explicit messages to the girls, messages that included photographs of his erect penis. But here we are focused on his efforts to persuade three girls under the age of 14 to disrobe, photograph themselves, and then send the nude photographs to him. As the California Supreme Court has explained, it is "the defendant's intent to sexually exploit a child" that forms "the 'gist' of the offense" described in section 288(a). (Martinez, supra, 11 Cal.4th at p. 444, 45 Cal.Rptr.2d 905, 903 P.2d 1037.) Cruz's description of his actions simply omits the key element of the crimes of which he was convicted.
B. Governing Law—The Williamson Rule
Cruz's argument is based on what is often referred to as the " Williamson rule." (People v. Murphy (2011) 52 Cal.4th 81, 86, 127 Cal.Rptr.3d 78, 253 P.3d 1216 (Murphy ), citing In re Williamson (1954) 43 Cal.2d 651, 276 P.2d 593.) "Under the Williamson rule, if a general statute includes the same conduct as a special statute, the court infers that the Legislature intended that conduct to be prosecuted exclusively under the special statute. In effect, the special statute is interpreted as creating an exception to the general statute for conduct that otherwise could be prosecuted under either statute." (Murphy, supra, 52 Cal.4th at p. 86, 127 Cal.Rptr.3d 78, 253 P.3d 1216.) The doctrine is "designed to ascertain and carry out legislative intent." (People v. Jenkins (1980) 28 Cal.3d 494, 505, 170 Cal.Rptr. 1, 620 P.2d 587, fn. omitted.)
The Williamson rule applies "if '(1) "each element of the general statute corresponds to an element on the face of the special statute" or (2) ... "it appears from the statutory context that a violation of the special statute will necessarily or commonly result in a violation of the general statute." [Citation.]' [Citation.] It does not apply 'if the more general statute contains an element that is not contained in the special statute and that element would not commonly occur in the context of a violation of the special statute.' [Citation.]" (People v. Medelez (2016) 2 Cal.App.5th 659, 662, 206 Cal.Rptr.3d 402 (Medelez ).) Cruz contends the second of these tests applies in this case.C. A Violation of Section 288.3 Will Not Necessarily Result in a Violation of Section 288(a).
To determine whether the second test is met, we ask whether a violation of the special statute, section 288.3, will necessarily result in a violation of the more general one, section 288(a). (See People v. Jones (2003) 108 Cal.App.4th 455, 464, 133 Cal.Rptr.2d 358.) Section 288.3 prohibits "contact or communication with a minor or an attempt to do so with the specific intent to commit an enumerated sex offense." (People v. Keister (2011) 198 Cal.App.4th 442, 448, 129 Cal.Rptr.3d 566.) A violation of this statute will not necessarily result in a violation of section 288. For example, if Cruz had contacted the victims in this case by text messaging for the purpose of arranging a meeting with them with the intent to commit a violation of section 288(a), he would have violated section 288.3. But he would not necessarily have violated section 288(a). As explained earlier, that section requires a touching, whether actual or constructive, of a child under age 14, coupled with the requisite sexual intent.
Here, the general statute, section 288(a), contains an element—an actual or constructive touching—that is not contained on the face of the more recently enacted special statute, section 288.3. (See Medelez, supra, 2 Cal.App.5th at p. 662, 206 Cal.Rptr.3d 402.) This distinction makes it apparent that "the statutes cover different conduct," and so the Williamson rule does not apply. (Ibid . ) Indeed, "because the general statute contemplates more culpable conduct, it is reasonable to infer that the Legislature intended to punish such conduct more severely." (Murphy, supra, 52 Cal.4th at p. 87, 127 Cal.Rptr.3d 78, 253 P.3d 1216.) We therefore hold that Cruz's convictions for attempted lewd and lascivious acts do not violate the Williamson rule.
DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
We concur:
Needham, J.
Bruiniers, J.