gno.law

People v. Ortiz CA4/1

California Court of Appeal · D087151 · 2026-03-26 · Unpublished

Proceeding
appeal from a judgment
Trial court
Superior Court of Riverside County · No. INF2300059
Trial judge
Samah Shouka
Outcome
affirmed — Affirmed with instructions.
Area
criminal
Panel
Judith D. McConnell (author), O'Rourke, Michele M. Castillo

Analysis

A model's reading — qwen3.8-27b, prompt v1, 2026-10-13T03:28Z · confidence high

The trial court convicted Ortiz of nine counts including attempted murder and rape, denied conduct credit, and issued an abstract of judgment containing clerical errors regarding the charge for count 7 and waived fines. The Court of Appeal affirmed the convictions but instructed the trial court to amend the abstract to correct the charge for count 7, award 54 days of conduct credit, and strike the waived fines.

Ruling reviewedStandardThe courtThe model
Admission of uncharged domestic violence evidence
“we conclude the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the uncharged domestic violence evidence”
abuse of discretionnot reachedagree with court
The court applied the correct standard of review and correctly analyzed the probative value versus prejudice under Evidence Code section 352, noting the similarity of strangulation and the eyewitness testimony. The conclusion that the evidence was admissible is supported by the cited authorities and the specific facts of the case.
Failure to instruct on lesser included offenses for rape
“the court had no duty to instruct on the lesser included offenses”
substantial evidencenot reachedagree with court
The court correctly applied the standard that a lesser included instruction is required only when substantial evidence supports the lesser but not the greater offense. The court properly evaluated the victim's testimony and the lack of DNA evidence, concluding that the evidence of penetration was sufficient to support the rape conviction.
Amendment of abstract of judgment for count 7 charge
“the abstract of judgment should be amended to reflect the conviction for count 7, which is section 245, subdivision (a)(4), assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury”
de novonot reachedagree with court
The court correctly identified that the jury was instructed on assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, not assault with a deadly weapon. It properly treated the discrepancy in the verdict form as a clerical error that could be corrected to reflect the actual verdict.
Sufficiency of evidence for great bodily injury findings
“Collectively, this compelling evidence was more than sufficient to support the convictions for personal infliction of great bodily injury as to count 1 and assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury as to count 7”
substantial evidencenot reachedagree with court
The court correctly applied the substantial evidence standard, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution. The detailed medical evidence of injuries, including loss of consciousness and extensive bruising, sufficiently supported the jury's findings.
Admission of expert testimony regarding enhanced photos
“the court did not abuse its discretion by permitting testimony about the filtered photos”
abuse of discretionnot reachedagree with court
The court correctly reviewed the admission of expert testimony for abuse of discretion. It found that the nurse had sufficient expertise and that the testimony, along with the provision of unfiltered photos, minimized prejudice, making the admission proper.
Denial of conduct credit
“the trial court erred in denying Ortiz his additional 54 days of conduct credit”
de novonot reachedagree with court
The court correctly determined that the trial court erred in denying conduct credit because the People had not properly invoked the one-strike law (section 667.61) in the accusatory pleading. Therefore, the mandatory credit under section 2933.1 applied.
Amendment of abstract of judgment for waived fines
“The abstract of judgment should be amended to strike the references to the fines the court had waived”
de novonot reachedagree with court
The court correctly applied the rule that the oral pronouncement of judgment controls over the abstract of judgment when they are inconsistent. It properly instructed the amendment to strike the fines that the trial court had waived.

Authorities

  • relied: People v. Mani (2022) 74 Cal.App.5th 343 — Challenges to the admission of prior act evidence under Evidence Code section 1109 are reviewed for abuse of discretion.
  • relied: People v. Kerley (2018) 23 Cal.App.5th 513 — Factors for analyzing whether prior acts are more probative than prejudicial under Evidence Code section 352 include similarity, certainty, and inflammatory nature.
  • relied: People v. Culbert (2013) 218 Cal.App.4th 184 — Additional factors for considering prior act evidence include possibility of confusion, remoteness, and time spent on presenting and rebutting evidence.
  • relied: People v. Miranda (2021) 62 Cal.App.5th 162 — A court must instruct on a lesser included offense only when there is substantial evidence for a reasonable jury to find guilt for the lesser offense but not the greater.
  • relied: People v. Mendoza (2015) 240 Cal.App.4th 72 — Rape is defined as any penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or genitalia by the penis.
  • relied: People v. Wallace (2008) 44 Cal.4th 1032 — Ejaculation is not an element of rape.
  • relied: People v. Vargas (2020) 9 Cal.5th 793 — A court is not required to instruct the jury based on weak evidence supporting a lesser included offense.
  • relied: People v. Perez (2018) 4 Cal.5th 1055 — Hands and feet are not deadly weapons as a matter of law.
  • relied: People v. Holt (1997) 15 Cal.4th 619 — A pleading defect is waived if the defense never requests a judgment of acquittal.
  • relied: People v. Frederickson (2020) 8 Cal.5th 963 — We presume the jury understood and followed instructions.
  • relied: People v. Trotter (1992) 7 Cal.App.4th 363 — A verdict form's reference to an erroneous charge is a clerical error rather than a reflection of the true verdict.
  • relied: People v. Mitchell (2001) 26 Cal.4th 181 — A reviewing court has the authority to correct clerical errors at any time.
  • relied: People v. Sandoval (2020) 50 Cal.App.5th 357 — Great bodily injury is defined the same for the purposes of section 245, subdivision (a)(4) and the section 12022.7, subdivision (e) enhancement.
  • relied: People v. Quinonez (2020) 46 Cal.App.5th 457 — Great bodily injury is a factual question for the jury, and proof is often shown through evidence of severity, pain, or medical care required.
  • relied: People v. Wade (2012) 204 Cal.App.4th 1142 — Loss of consciousness constitutes great bodily injury regardless of whether the injury required medical treatment.
  • relied: People v. Escobar (1992) 3 Cal.4th 740 — We affirm if there is substantial evidence to support the jury's findings on great bodily injury, even if circumstances might reasonably be reconciled with a contrary finding.
  • relied: People v. Rowland (1992) 4 Cal.4th 238 — Under the federal due process clause, we determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.
  • relied: People v. Bustos (1994) 23 Cal.App.4th 1747 — Contusions, lacerations, and abrasions can qualify as great bodily injury.
  • relied: People v. Sanchez (1982) 131 Cal.App.3d 718 — Abrasions, lacerations, a long scratch, bruises, small cuts, and swelling can qualify as great bodily injury.
  • relied: People v. Jaramillo (1979) 98 Cal.App.3d 830 — Contusions, swelling, abrasions, and discoloration can qualify as great bodily injury.
  • relied: People v. Pearson (2013) 56 Cal.4th 393 — A trial court's decision to admit or exclude expert testimony is reviewed for abuse of discretion.
  • relied: People v. Govan (2023) 91 Cal.App.5th 1015 — When the defendant is sentenced under section 667.61, the one strike law, the court need not grant such presentence conduct credit.
  • relied: People v. Jimenez (2019) 35 Cal.App.5th 373 — The lack of notice of strikable circumstances in the accusatory pleading precludes the trial court from sentencing the defendant subject to section 667.61.
  • relied: People v. Zachery (2007) 147 Cal.App.4th 380 — When the oral pronouncement of judgment and the abstract of judgment are inconsistent, the oral pronouncement controls.
  • relied: People v. Wilen (2008) 165 Cal.App.4th 270 — A restitution fine does not go directly to the victim; it is deposited to a restitution fund in the state treasury.
  • relied: People v. Tillman (2000) 22 Cal.4th 300 — An argument is waived when the prosecutor did not object in the trial court.

The appellate opinion: sound — The opinion is sound because it correctly applies the relevant standards of review and authorities to each issue, providing a clear and logical analysis. It addresses all of the appellant's arguments and reaches defensible conclusions based on the record.

How this analysis was made · dispute it

unusual disposition

A model's reading — claude-fable-5-1, prompt v1, 2026-10-13T04:29Z · confidence medium

A Riverside County jury convicted Ortiz of attempted murder, forcible sexual penetration, rape, criminal threats, corporal injury, false imprisonment, assault, attempted kidnapping, and domestic battery with enhancements, and the trial court imposed 15 years eight months, denied 54 days of conduct credit, and waived mandatory fines while ordering victim restitution. The Court of Appeal rejected Ortiz's challenges to the Evidence Code section 1109 propensity evidence, the absence of lesser included offense instructions on rape, the sufficiency of the great bodily injury evidence, and the nurse's testimony about filtered injury photos, but affirmed with instructions to amend the abstract to reflect a section 245, subdivision (a)(4) conviction on count 7, award 419 days of presentence credit, and delete the $10,000 fines.

Ruling reviewedStandardThe courtThe model
Admission of uncharged domestic violence against former girlfriend A.C. under Evidence Code sections 1109 and 352
“For all these reasons, we conclude the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the uncharged domestic violence evidence.”
abuse of discretioncorrectagree with court
The court walked through the recognized section 352 factors (similarity, certainty, inflammatory nature, remoteness, time consumed) with record support: shared strangulation pattern, an eyewitness corroborating one incident, acts three to five years old, one incident excluded, and only 11 pages of direct testimony. The charged conduct was more severe than the priors, undercutting undue prejudice. The analysis matches Kerley and Culbert.
No sua sponte instruction on lesser included offenses (attempted rape, assault with intent to commit rape) for the rape count
“A court is not required to instruct the jury based on the weak evidence supporting a lesser included offense.”
unclearcorrectagree with court
The opinion did not expressly state the standard of review, though it applied the substantial-evidence-of-only-the-lesser test from Miranda and Vargas, viewing the evidence favorably to the defendant. Ortiz's testimony was that he 'believed' he did not penetrate and that all contact was consensual; if credited, that supports acquittal rather than attempted rape, and his uncertainty does not contradict A.R.'s detailed testimony and contemporaneous 911 call. The absence of male DNA is consistent with slight penetration or no ejaculation. The result is defensible, though the court did not address Breverman or whether assault with intent to commit rape is actually a lesser included offense of rape.
Count 7: refusal to vacate conviction despite information charging assault with a deadly weapon, to wit hands and feet, under section 245, subdivision (a)(1)
“However, the defense never requested a judgment of acquittal on count 7, thereby waiving the pleading defect.”
de novocorrectagree with court
The court correctly recognized that hands and feet are not deadly weapons as a matter of law (Perez) but held the pleading defect was forfeited by failure to object or move for acquittal below, citing Holt. Ortiz was on notice from the information that the assault theory was hands and feet, and the jury was instructed only on the force-likely theory, so there was no prejudice. The court did not separately discuss due process notice or variance, but Ortiz does not appear to have framed the issue that way.
Count 7: abstract of judgment and verdict form reflecting section 245, subdivision (a)(1) rather than subdivision (a)(4) on which the jury was instructed
“Thus, the verdict form’s reference to the erroneous charge is a clerical error rather than a reflection of the true verdict.”
de novoerror (procedure)agree with court
Because the jury received only the elements of assault by force likely to produce great bodily injury, the presumption that jurors follow instructions (Frederickson) means the verdict necessarily was for that offense. Treating the verdict form's statutory citation as clerical and correcting it under Trotter and Mitchell is consistent with those authorities, and the Attorney General conceded the point.
Sufficiency of the evidence of great bodily injury for the count 1 enhancement and force likely to produce great bodily injury for count 7
“Collectively, this compelling evidence was more than sufficient to support the convictions for personal infliction of great bodily injury as to count 1 and assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury as to count 7.”
substantial evidencecorrectagree with court
Loss of consciousness from strangulation alone qualifies as great bodily injury under Wade, and the record further showed petechiae, scleral hemorrhages, lacerations, knife cuts, puncture marks, extensive bruising and swelling, days of bleeding from the ears, and jaw pain persisting nearly 11 months. Under Escobar and Rowland the jury's finding is amply supported; evidence of actual great bodily injury necessarily supports the force-likely element of count 7.
Admission of the examining nurse's testimony about photos taken with an inverted color filter
“Therefore, the court did not abuse its discretion by permitting testimony about the filtered photos.”
abuse of discretioncorrectagree with court
The nurse described her training, her regular use of the filter, and explained it changes color contrast without altering content; the jury received an unfiltered counterpart for every filtered photo, and defense counsel did not cross-examine on the point. The court also independently reviewed the photos. The opinion treated the issue purely as expert qualification under Evidence Code section 720 and did not discuss whether a new-technique foundation was required, but given the paired unfiltered photos any error would be harmless.
Denial of 54 days of presentence conduct credit based on section 667.61
“Because the People did not invoke section 667.61, the trial court erred in denying Ortiz his additional 54 days of conduct credit.”
de novoerror (law misapplied)agree with court
Section 667.61 applies only when its circumstances are pleaded and proved (subd. (o)), and the court imposed a determinate term, not the indeterminate term the one strike law requires. The denial therefore lacked a legal basis, and 54 days is 15 percent of 365 actual days under section 2933.1. The Attorney General conceded.
Abstract of judgment listing $10,000 restitution and parole revocation fines despite the oral waiver of all fines and fees
“Any such argument was waived when the prosecutor did not object in the trial court.”
de novoerror (other)agree with court
The oral pronouncement controls over the abstract (Zachery) and clerical errors may be corrected at any time (Mitchell). The Attorney General's argument that the waiver lacked compelling and extraordinary reasons is squarely foreclosed by Tillman, which holds the People forfeit a restitution-fine omission by failing to object at sentencing. The court applied those authorities correctly.

Authorities

  • relied: People v. Mani (2022) 74 Cal.App.5th 343 — Admission of Evidence Code section 1109 propensity evidence is reviewed for abuse of discretion.
  • relied: People v. Kerley (2018) 23 Cal.App.5th 513 — Factors for weighing probative value against prejudice of uncharged domestic violence under Evidence Code section 352.
  • relied: People v. Culbert (2013) 218 Cal.App.4th 184 — Additional section 352 factors: jury confusion, remoteness, and time spent on uncharged acts.
  • relied: People v. Miranda (2021) 62 Cal.App.5th 162 — Duty to instruct on lesser included offense arises only on substantial evidence that only the lesser crime was committed; evidence judged by bare legal sufficiency.
  • relied: People v. Vargas (2020) 9 Cal.5th 793 — No duty to instruct on a lesser included offense where the supporting evidence is weak.
  • relied: People v. Mendoza (2015) 240 Cal.App.4th 72 — Sexual intercourse for rape means any penetration, however slight, of the vagina or genitalia by the penis.
  • relied: People v. Wallace (2008) 44 Cal.4th 1032 — Ejaculation is not an element of rape.
  • relied: People v. Perez (2018) 4 Cal.5th 1055 — Hands and feet are not deadly weapons as a matter of law under section 245.
  • relied: People v. Holt (1997) 15 Cal.4th 619 — Pleading defects are waived if not raised in the trial court.
  • relied: People v. Frederickson (2020) 8 Cal.5th 963 — Jurors are presumed to understand and follow the instructions given.
  • relied: People v. Trotter (1992) 7 Cal.App.4th 363 — Clerical errors in verdict forms that do not reflect the jury's actual verdict may be corrected after discharge without modifying the verdict.
  • relied: People v. Mitchell (2001) 26 Cal.4th 181 — A reviewing court may order correction of clerical errors in the abstract of judgment at any time.
  • relied: People v. Sandoval (2020) 50 Cal.App.5th 357 — Great bodily injury is defined the same for section 245, subdivision (a)(4) and section 12022.7.
  • relied: People v. Quinonez (2020) 46 Cal.App.5th 457 — Great bodily injury need not be permanent or protracted; it is a factual question for the jury shown by severity, pain, or medical care.
  • relied: People v. Wade (2012) 204 Cal.App.4th 1142 — Loss of consciousness constitutes great bodily injury regardless of need for medical treatment.
  • relied: People v. Escobar (1992) 3 Cal.4th 740 — Great bodily injury finding is affirmed if supported by substantial evidence even if the record could support a contrary finding.
  • relied: People v. Rowland (1992) 4 Cal.4th 238 — Sufficiency of evidence is reviewed under the same rational-trier-of-fact standard for federal and state due process.
  • relied: People v. Bustos (1994) 23 Cal.App.4th 1747 — Contusions, lacerations, and abrasions can constitute great bodily injury.
  • relied: People v. Sanchez (1982) 131 Cal.App.3d 718 — Abrasions, lacerations, bruises, small cuts, and swelling support a great bodily injury finding.
  • relied: People v. Jaramillo (1979) 98 Cal.App.3d 830 — Contusions, swelling, abrasions, and discoloration can support great bodily injury.
  • relied: People v. Pearson (2013) 56 Cal.4th 393 — Admission or exclusion of expert testimony is reviewed for abuse of discretion.
  • relied: People v. Govan (2023) 91 Cal.App.5th 1015 — Defendants sentenced under section 667.61 need not be granted presentence conduct credit.
  • relied: People v. Jimenez (2019) 35 Cal.App.5th 373 — Section 667.61 cannot be applied unless its circumstances are pleaded in the accusatory pleading.
  • relied: People v. Zachery (2007) 147 Cal.App.4th 380 — The oral pronouncement of judgment controls over an inconsistent abstract of judgment.
  • relied: People v. Wilen (2008) 165 Cal.App.4th 270 — A restitution fine is paid into the state restitution fund and is distinct from victim restitution.
  • relied: People v. Tillman (2000) 22 Cal.4th 300 — The People forfeit a challenge to the omission of a restitution fine by failing to object at sentencing.
  • missed: People v. Breverman (1998) 19 Cal.4th 142 — The controlling Supreme Court framework for the sua sponte duty to instruct on lesser included offenses supported by substantial evidence; the opinion relied on Miranda and Vargas without citing it.

The appellate opinion: sound with gaps — The opinion answers each of the seven contentions with on-point authority, applies the correct standards of review, and properly corrects the count 7 abstract, conduct credit, and fines with the Attorney General's concessions and Tillman. It leaves small gaps: the lesser included offense discussion does not state its standard of review, cite Breverman, or address whether assault with intent to commit rape is a lesser included offense, and the filtered-photo analysis treats the issue only as expert qualification without addressing the foundation argument Ortiz actually raised.

How this analysis was made · dispute it

Opinion

Filed 3/26/26 P. v. Ortiz CA4/1 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN 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.

COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION ONE

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

THE PEOPLE, D087151

Plaintiff and Respondent, (Super. Ct. No. INF2300059)

v. OSCAR DANIEL ORTIZ, JR., Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Riverside County, Samah Shouka, Judge. Affirmed with instructions. Steven S. Lubliner, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Charles C. Ragland, Assistant Attorney General, Colette C. Cavalier and Nora S. Weyl, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent. A jury convicted Oscar Daniel Ortiz, Jr. of attempted murder (Pen.

Code, §§ 187, subd. (a), 664; count 1),1 forcible sexual penetration (§ 289, subd. (a)(1)(A); count 2), rape (§ 261, subd. (a)(2); count 3), criminal threats (§ 422; count 4), corporal injury on a spouse or person in dating relationship (§ 273.5, subd. (a); count 5), false imprisonment (§ 236; count 6), assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury (§ 245, subd. (a)(4); count 7), attempted kidnapping (§§ 207, subd. (a), 664; count 8), and domestic battery (§ 243, subd. (e)(1); count 9). The jury also found he inflicted great bodily injury (§§ 1192.7, subd. (c)(8), 12022.7, subd. (e)) as to counts 1 and 5; used a deadly weapon (§§ 1192.7, subd. (c)(23), 12022, subd. (b)(1)) as to counts 2, 3, 4, and 6; and committed count 9 while on bail (§ 12022.1). On appeal, Ortiz contends: (1) the trial court abused its discretion by admitting evidence of uncharged acts of domestic violence; (2) the court had a sua sponte duty to instruct the jury on lesser included offenses for the rape charge (count 3); (3) the abstract of judgment should be amended to correctly reflect the charge on which the jury was instructed for count 7 (§ 245, subd. (a)(4)); (4) for the attempted murder (count 1) and assault (count 7) charges, there was insufficient evidence he inflicted great bodily injury or used force likely to produce great bodily injury; (5) the trial court erred by permitting the examining nurse to testify about enhanced photos of the injuries; (6) the court erred when it found he was not entitled to conduct credit; and (7) the abstract of judgment should be amended to reflect that the court waived all fines.

1 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise indicated.

2 The Attorney General concedes the abstract of judgment should be amended to reflect the correct charge on which the jury was instructed for count 7, and to award 54 days of conduct credit to Ortiz. We agree. We conclude the abstract of judgment should also be amended to strike any reference to the waived fines. In all other respects, we affirm the judgment. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND In March 2023, the prosecution charged Ortiz with attempted premeditated murder (§§ 187, subd. (a), 664; count 1), forcible sexual penetration (§ 289, subd. (a)(1)(A); count 2), rape (§ 261, subd. (a)(2); count 3), criminal threats (§ 422; count 4), corporal injury on a spouse or person in dating relationship (§ 273.5, subd. (a); count 5), false imprisonment (§ 236; count 6), assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm, to wit hands and feet (§ 245, subd. (a)(1); count 7), attempted kidnapping (§§ 207, subd. (a), 664; count 8), and domestic battery (§ 243, subd. (e)(1); count 9). The information also alleged enhancements for great bodily injury (§§ 1192.7, subd. (c)(8), 12022.7, subd. (e); counts 1 and 5), use of a deadly weapon (§§ 1192.7, subd. (c)(23), 12022, subd. (b)(1)); counts 1–4, 6), and committing felonies while on bail (§ 12022.1; count 9). A. Prosecution Case Ortiz and A.R. began a dating relationship in November 2022. Sometimes they engaged in rough sex play or games. This included slapping and choking. A.R. never agreed to any anal penetration with Ortiz. She had sex toys in her bedroom, but she had never used them with him. In late December 2022, J.S. reached out to A.R. on social media. J.S. claimed to be an on-again off-again girlfriend of Ortiz and said Ortiz had cheated on her. A.R. responded with texts such as, “I got you girl, fuck this 3 bitch,” and “Watch me, he knows already, he ain’t shit,” both referring to Ortiz. One to two weeks later, A.R. and Ortiz were on a date at her apartment. Ortiz confronted A.R. about whether she thought he was a “bitch.” He pulled out the chair from under A.R., and she fell to the floor. He then dragged her by the ankles to the bedroom. This was caught on A.R.’s home surveillance video. In the bedroom, Ortiz held a knife against A.R. and ordered her to take her clothes off. He inserted a sex toy into her vagina and then her anus. He slapped her hard in the back of the head multiple times. Ortiz continued to hold a knife against A.R. while he inserted his penis into her vagina. At some point during the rape, A.R. managed to call 911 from her cell phone. Ortiz stated, “Now I’m really going to have to kill you.” He told A.R. they were leaving and held the knife against her throat. As A.R. tried to run away, he restrained her and poked her stomach with the knife. He also strangled her until she could not breathe. She urinated on herself out of fear. When A.R. tried to fight Ortiz off, he repositioned himself and strangled her again with greater force. A.R. lost consciousness and woke up as law enforcement arrived. A.R. came out of the apartment with blood on her face. She was naked from the waist down. First responders transported her to a hospital for a sexual assault and strangulation exam. The examining nurse photographed A.R.’s injuries using an “inverted filter” that helped make the injuries more visible in the photos. A.R. had injuries to her vagina, rectal area, face, fingers, stomach, and limbs, and in her throat and eyes. She suffered from 4 bruising, lacerations, swelling, scrapes, burst blood capillaries, and lasting pain. Male DNA was not detected in A.R.’s vaginal sample. However, Ortiz’s penile swab contained A.R.’s DNA. B. Defense Case Ortiz testified in his defense. He admitted to losing his temper, pulling the chair out from under A.R., and dragging her to the bedroom. He claimed she initiated kissing and oral sex to deescalate him. He stated he strangled her with her acquiescence, which they had done before. Ortiz confirmed he inserted a sex toy in A.R.’s anus, which made her yelp. The yelp was caught on audio, offscreen, on the surveillance video. Ortiz acknowledged A.R. said it hurt but claimed she never said no or told him to stop. He opined, “due to the fact that things were heated beforehand, it didn’t really seem to bother her that much.” Ortiz denied engaging in vaginal intercourse with A.R. He asserted she became aggressive and grabbed a knife when he accidentally called her by someone else’s name. He pushed her and took the knife away. He acknowledged he easily overpowered her, and he had no injury. He explained A.R. probably received her head injuries from the day prior when he consensually slapped her in the back of the head. He assumed she bled when he accidentally cut her ear while trying to get the knife away. During closing arguments, Ortiz’s trial counsel argued A.R.’s injuries came from consensual rough activity, and A.R. lied to punish Ortiz for cheating on J.S. C. Verdict, Sentencing, and Fines As to count 1, the jury convicted Ortiz of attempted murder but found he did not premeditate or deliberate. It also found he did not use a knife in 5 the commission of this offense. As to the balance of the charges and enhancements, the jury convicted in its entirety. The court imposed a total prison sentence of 15 years eight months. It denied Ortiz the 54 days of conduct credit he had earned while in custody pending trial. The court waived all the mandatory fines and fees but ordered restitution to the victim. DISCUSSION A. Evidence of Uncharged Domestic Violence Ortiz contends the trial court abused its discretion by admitting evidence of uncharged acts of domestic violence. For reasons we shall explain, we disagree. 1. Additional Background Before trial, the prosecutor moved to admit evidence of prior domestic violence perpetrated by Ortiz against A.C., a former girlfriend with whom he had a child. Over the defense’s objection, the court admitted the prior act evidence with the exception of one incident the court found to be unduly prejudicial. Thereafter, A.C. testified about five specific times when Ortiz physically abused her between 2018 and 2020, at least three of which involved strangulation. Her sister also testified about having witnessed one of the strangulation incidents. 2. Analysis Evidence of prior acts is generally not admissible to show a defendant’s propensity to commit the charged offense. (Evid. Code, § 1101, subd. (a).) However, in domestic violence cases, propensity evidence is permitted unless its “probative value is substantially outweighed by the probability that its 6 admission will (a) necessitate undue consumption of time or (b) create substantial danger of undue prejudice, of confusing the issues, or of misleading the jury” under Evidence Code section 352. (Id., § 1109, subd. (a)(1).) Evidence of acts that occurred more than 10 years before the charged offense is generally inadmissible. (Id., subd. (e).) We review challenges to the admission of such evidence for abuse of discretion. (People v. Mani (2022) 74 Cal.App.5th 343, 358.) Here, the evidence qualified as potentially admissible evidence under Evidence Code section 1109, subdivision (a)(1), because it all consisted of violence against a domestic partner, A.C. A.C. had a child with Ortiz, had previously lived with him, and previously was in a relationship with him. Therefore, we must assess whether the evidence at issue was rendered inadmissible under Evidence Code section 352. When analyzing whether a prior act is more probative than prejudicial under Evidence Code section 352, we look at factors such as whether the evidence creates an inference that the defendant had a propensity to commit the charged acts, whether the uncharged acts are similar to the charged offense, the degree of certainty the prior instances of domestic violence occurred, whether the jury might convict to punish the defendant for the uncharged acts, and whether the prior acts were more inflammatory than the charged offense. (People v. Kerley (2018) 23 Cal.App.5th 513, 536–540; see also People v. Culbert (2013) 218 Cal.App.4th 184, 192 [additional factors for consideration include possibility of confusion by jury, remoteness of uncharged offense, and time spent on presenting and rebutting evidence of uncharged offenses].) Here, both the instant case and some of the prior incidents with A.C. involved strangulation, permitting an inference of Ortiz’s propensity to 7 commit domestic violence in this manner. Given A.R.’s and Ortiz’s admitted history of consensual sex involving strangulation and Ortiz’s claim A.R. had motive to lie, the incidents with A.C. were highly probative. Furthermore, A.C.’s sister was an eyewitness to one of the incidents, which made it likely at least one of the prior incidents occurred. The prior acts were not unduly inflammatory either. The instant case was the most severe of all, as it involved sexual violence, threats to kill, and attempted murder. Further, the court excluded evidence of one prior act of domestic violence to minimize undue prejudice. The prior incidents occurred three to five years before the charged offense, well within the presumptive 10-year cutoff. (See Evid. Code, § 1109, subd. (e).) The evidence did not take up undue time. The entirety of A.C.’s testimony took up 20 pages of transcript, with 11 of those being direct examination dedicated to the prior act evidence. For all these reasons, we conclude the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the uncharged domestic violence evidence. B. Instruction on Lesser Included Offenses for the Rape Charge Ortiz contends the court should have sua sponte instructed the jury on lesser included offenses for the rape count, such as attempted rape or assault with intent to commit rape, because the evidence of rape was inconclusive. The court must instruct on a lesser included offense only when there is substantial evidence for a reasonable jury to find guilt for the lesser offense but not the greater. (People v. Miranda (2021) 62 Cal.App.5th 162, 176–177 (Miranda).) In this context, we ascertain whether such evidence is substantial by its “ ‘bare legal sufficiency’ ” rather than its weight. (Id. at p. 177.) We review the evidence in the light most favorable to the defendant. (Ibid.)

8 The crime of rape “is an act of sexual intercourse” (§ 261, subd. (a)), defined as “any penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or genitalia by the penis.” (People v. Mendoza (2015) 240 Cal.App.4th 72, 79.) Ejaculation is not an element of rape. (See People v. Wallace (2008) 44 Cal.4th 1032, 1079.) Here, Ortiz’s trial counsel argued A.R. had a motive to lie and set him up to punish him for wronging J.S. Ortiz testified he was going to penetrate A.R.’s vagina with his penis but he believed he did not. Also, no male DNA was detected in A.R.’s vaginal sample. Ortiz uses this lack of DNA to claim the evidence of rape was not substantial. However, a reasonable jury could find otherwise by inferring Ortiz had not ejaculated or had only engaged in slight penetration. A.R. provided graphic detail as to the rape itself. She testified Ortiz inserted his penis inside her vagina and moved his penis back and forth. She felt the action and saw him in the mirror. She further described his action as “raping” her. He raped her long enough she was able to attempt calling 911 multiple times. Her 911 call, during which she declared, “Oscar Ortiz is raping me,” while the rape was occurring, was played for the jury. Ortiz contends A.R.’s testimony alone is not sufficient because there was contradictory evidence pointing to a lesser included offense. In his testimony, Ortiz did not directly contradict her testimony that he penetrated her vagina with his penis. He testified he did not think he penetrated A.R.’s vagina with his penis, and that he believed he did not penetrate her vagina with his penis. These statements merely expressed his uncertainty. While more information about the specific damage to A.R.’s vagina may have further bolstered the rape charge, the damage to her vagina, coupled with her uncontradicted testimony about penetration, is substantial evidence of rape.

9 A court is not required to instruct the jury based on the weak evidence supporting a lesser included offense. (See People v. Vargas (2020) 9 Cal.5th 793, 827.) This evidence does not show “a jury would conclude the lesser but not the greater offense was committed.” (Ibid.) Thus, the court had no duty to instruct on the lesser included offenses. (See Miranda, supra, 62 Cal.App.5th at pp. 176–177 [court has a duty to instruct on lesser included offense “ ‘ “if there is substantial evidence that only the lesser crime was committed” ’ ”].) C. Amending the Abstract of Judgment for Count 7 The information charged Ortiz with assault with a deadly weapon, his hands and feet, under section 245, subdivision (a)(1). The verdict form for count 7 was consistent with the information, stating, “We, the jury in the above-entitled action, find the defendant, OSCAR DANIEL ORTIZ, JR., GUILTY of a violation of section 245, subdivision (a), subsection (1), of the Penal Code: Assault, to wit: Jane Doe, as charged under Count 7 of the Information.” However, for reasons that are unclear from the record, the court instructed the jury on assault likely to produce great bodily injury for count 7 (§ 245, subd. (a)(4)), rather than assault with a deadly weapon. Specifically, the court provided the jury with a modified version of CALCRIM No. 875 titled “Assault with Deadly Weapon,” which gave the elements for assault likely to produce great bodily injury.2 While reading this instruction to the jury, the court said, “The defendant is charged in Count 7 with assault with 2 CALCRIM No. 875 has bracketed alternatives that can be customized to instruct on either assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury or assault with a deadly weapon.

10 force—assault with a deadly weapon—the defendant is charged in Count 7 with assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury.” There was no objection to the instruction given, and much of the discussion about instructions was off the record.3 Ortiz presents two arguments related to count 7. His primary argument is that his conviction for count 7 must be vacated because the charge as alleged in the information was legally defective on its face. In the alternative, he asks us to order the trial court to amend the abstract of judgment to reflect that he was convicted of assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury, since this was the charge on which the jury was instructed. Ortiz is correct in that count 7, as originally charged, was deficient. The information alleged Ortiz committed assault with a deadly weapon, his hands and feet, pursuant to section 245, subdivision (a)(1). Hands and feet are not deadly weapons as a matter of law. (See People v. Perez (2018) 4 Cal.5th 1055, 1065.) However, the defense never requested a judgment of acquittal on count 7, thereby waiving the pleading defect. (See People v. Holt (1997) 15 Cal.4th 619, 672.) With respect to Ortiz’s secondary argument, the Attorney General concedes the abstract of judgment should be amended to reflect a conviction for assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury. We accept 3 In closing, the prosecutor’s only reference to count 7 was, “Assault with a deadly weapon—I think that’s been sufficiently covered by the Court.” Defense counsel simply said, “And regarding the domestic violence and the assault with the deadly weapon, I will submit to you that you should not find guilty Mr. Ortiz of those either.” Neither discussed the elements of assault with a deadly weapon or assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury.

11 this concession. The jury could not have convicted Ortiz of anything other than assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury because it was never instructed on any other crime for the purposes of count 7. (See People v. Frederickson (2020) 8 Cal.5th 963, 1026 [we presume the jury understood and followed instructions].) Thus, the verdict form’s reference to the erroneous charge is a clerical error rather than a reflection of the true verdict. (See People v. Trotter (1992) 7 Cal.App.4th 363, 370.) We may correct a clerical error on a verdict form when the error does not reflect the jury’s actual verdict. (See id. at pp. 370–371 [clerical correction to verdict forms after jury is discharged is not modification of verdict itself]; People v. Mitchell (2001) 26 Cal.4th 181, 185 (Mitchell) [a reviewing court has the authority to correct clerical errors at any time].) The abstract of judgment should be amended to reflect the conviction for count 7, which is section 245, subdivision (a)(4), assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury. D. Substantial Evidence Supported the Great Bodily Injury Findings Regarding counts 1 and 7, Ortiz contends there was insufficient evidence to support the jury’s findings that he inflicted great bodily injury on A.R.4 Thus, he argues, the convictions denied him due process under both federal and state standards.

4 Given our conclusion to modify the abstract of judgment for count 7 to assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury (§ 245, subd. (a)(4)), count 7 is applicable to this analysis. “Great bodily injury” is defined the same for the purposes of both section 245, subdivision (a)(4) of count 7 and the section 12022.7, subdivision (e) great bodily injury enhancement for count 1. (See People v. Sandoval (2020) 50 Cal.App.5th 357, 361; § 12022.7, subd. (f)(1).)

12 Great bodily injury is “significant or substantial physical injury.” (§ 12022.7, subd. (f)(1).) The distinction between great bodily injury and a nonqualifying injury can be a fine line. (People v. Quinonez (2020) 46 Cal.App.5th 457, 465 (Quinonez).) The injury does not need to cause “permanent,” “prolonged,” or “protracted” damage to the body. (Id. at p. 464.) Proof of great bodily injury is often shown through “ ‘evidence of the severity of the victim’s physical injury, the resulting pain, or the medical care required to treat or repair the injury.’ ” (Ibid.) Abrasions, lacerations, and bruising can qualify. (Ibid.) Loss of consciousness constitutes great bodily injury regardless of whether the injury required medical treatment. (People v. Wade (2012) 204 Cal.App.4th 1142, 1149 (Wade).) Great bodily injury is a factual question for the jury, not a legal question for the court. (Quinonez, supra, 46 Cal.App.5th at pp. 464–465.) We affirm if there is substantial evidence to support the jury’s findings on great bodily injury, even if the “ ‘ “circumstances might reasonably be reconciled with a contrary finding.” ’ ” (People v. Escobar (1992) 3 Cal.4th 740, 750.) When we review the sufficiency of the evidence under the federal due process clause, we determine “ ‘whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.’ ” (People v. Rowland (1992) 4 Cal.4th 238, 269.) We use the same standard for purposes of the state due process clause. (Ibid.) Here, there was evidence that A.R. blacked out when Ortiz strangled her. (See Wade, supra, 204 Cal.App.4th at p. 1149 [loss of consciousness constitutes great bodily injury].) She testified she was still in pain after she was transported to the hospital. According to A.R., her jaw was “super . . . tight,” her throat, neck, and mouth felt swollen, and “pretty much 13 everything” hurt, including her face, head, ears, back, shoulders, and chest. (See Quinonez, supra, 46 Cal.App.5th at p. 464 [resulting pain is relevant to analysis of great bodily injury].) There was also ample evidence from the sexual assault exam, which was conducted on the day of the incident, that A.R. had injuries to her vaginal area, petechiae5 in both eyelids, scleral hemorrhages6 in both eyes, bruising and swelling to her anal area, petechiae in different areas of her throat including the uvula, bruises and little scrapes to her face, knife cuts on her fingers, small puncture marks on the abdomen, and injury on her inner lip. She also exhibited bruising in her ears, right inner arm, left upper arm, both knees, and right chest area. At trial, the examining nurse opined the petechiae in this case showed there was significant pressure and constituted serious injury. She also considered strangulation itself to be a serious injury. Days after the incident, more injuries emerged. There was evidence that A.R. had bruising on her neck, on the inside of her mouth, all over her jaw, along her eyebrow, all over her face, knee, and legs, as well as hand marks all over her arms. The entire side of her face was swollen, she could not move her jaw, her scalp was sore, and her ears were completely bloody for days. The veins in her shoulders were “coming out more than normally.” A.R. testified that, as of the date of her testimony (almost 11 months after the 5 Petechiae occurs when blood capillaries burst because blood is unable to move back down from the brain.

6 Scleral hemorrhaging is caused by the backflow of blood and its inability to return to the heart and lungs.

14 incident), her jaw was “not really right,” and it still hurt.7 (Cf. Quinonez, supra, 46 Cal.App.5th at p. 464 [prolonged damage is not required for great bodily injury].) Collectively, this compelling evidence was more than sufficient to support the convictions for personal infliction of great bodily injury as to count 1 and assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury as to count 7. (See, e.g., People v. Bustos (1994) 23 Cal.App.4th 1747, 1755 [contusions, lacerations, abrasions]; People v. Sanchez (1982) 131 Cal.App.3d 718, 727, 733–734 [abrasions, lacerations, a long scratch, bruises, small cuts, swelling]; People v. Jaramillo (1979) 98 Cal.App.3d 830, 836–837 [contusions, swelling, abrasions, discoloration].) E. Inverted Photos from Sexual Assault Exam Next, Ortiz contends the trial court erred by permitting the examining nurse to testify about enhanced photos of A.R.’s injuries without establishing a foundation for whether the enhancements exaggerated the injuries depicted in the photos. We review a trial court’s decision to admit or exclude expert testimony for abuse of discretion. (People v. Pearson (2013) 56 Cal.4th 393, 443.) Evidence Code section 720 deems a person qualified to testify as an expert if he or she has “special knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education” on the subject to which the testimony relates. When the nurse who examined A.R. took the stand, she explained her background, training, and experience as a forensic nurse and in conducting sexual assault exams. She had conducted 151 sexual assault exams and 7 The incident occurred on January 5, 2023, and A.R. testified on November 29, 2023.

15 83 domestic violence or strangulation exams. She had previously testified approximately 10 times as an expert in these examinations. The nurse testified she personally observed the injuries on A.R. and took photographs as part of the examination. She applied an inverted filter that, in her words, “we use for our exams.” She described an inverted filter in the following terms: “So we have a camera that is supplied by . . . Secured Digital Forensic Imaging. They supply us a camera and software. After the exam, we are able to apply a filter which changes the color of the photo. It does not change the photo itself. It doesn’t change what is there. It just makes injuries easier to see. [¶] An example I like to give is if you were to go out on a bright sunny day and you look at a tree in direct sunlight, you can’t really see the details of the tree. You know that it’s a tree, and you can see the outline of the tree. But then if you put on a pair of sunglasses, you can see the tree—the details a lot easier. So you might be able to see the leaves or a bird on the branch. It’s just changing the colors of what you see, but not changing the tree itself.” For every filtered photo, the prosecutor also provided the jury with an unfiltered version of the photo. The nurse physically indicated the location of the injury in each photo, explained the nature of the injury depicted, and which body part the photo was showing. For one of the photos, she described how the filtered version made it easier to see the outline of the bruise compared to the original. For another photo, she explained the filtered version made the bruising easier to see and the abrasions were also visible. The defense counsel’s cross examination of the nurse did not include any questions about the injury photos or the inverted filter. Based on this testimony, the nurse clearly had a general understanding of the technology and had used it before on a regular basis. Her testimony 16 about the photos helped ensure the jury would not misinterpret the photos or believe the injuries to be worse than they were. Recognizing and describing the contents of such photos did not require additional or separate expertise. Therefore, the court did not abuse its discretion by permitting testimony about the filtered photos. In any event, the jury saw the corresponding unfiltered photos, which minimized any possible prejudice to Ortiz.8 F. Conduct Credit Ortiz contends, and the Attorney General concedes, the trial court erred by denying Ortiz 54 days of conduct credit. We agree. Section 2933.1 permits a person convicted of a felony to accrue up to 15 percent of worktime credit. When the defendant is sentenced under section 667.61, the one strike law, the court need not grant such presentence conduct credit. (People v. Govan (2023) 91 Cal.App.5th 1015, 1036–1037.) By the time he was sentenced, Ortiz had accumulated 54 days of conduct credit. The court denied Ortiz credit for this time, citing section 667.61. However, the People never invoked section 667.61 by alleging the strikable circumstances in the accusatory pleading. (See § 667.61, subd. (o).) The lack of such notice precluded the trial court from sentencing Ortiz subject to section 667.61. (See People v. Jimenez (2019) 35 Cal.App.5th 373, 393–397.) Further, such a sentencing scheme would have required the court to impose an indeterminate term, and it did not. (See § 667.61, subd. (a).)

8 We have independently reviewed the filtered and unfiltered photos in question. The filtered photos have a slight blue tint that shows more contrast between the injury and the rest of the skin. Each photo is a close of up an injury, depicting a small area of the body. The injury is visible in each of the unfiltered photos.

17 Because the People did not invoke section 667.61, the trial court erred in denying Ortiz his additional 54 days of conduct credit. Ortiz’s total time credited should have been 419 days, as he spent 365 actual days in custody. Therefore, we instruct the court to amend the abstract of judgment to reflect that Ortiz has 419 days of presentence credit, including 54 days of conduct credit. G. Mandatory Fines and Fees Ortiz contends the abstract of judgment must also be corrected to reflect that the trial court waived the mandatory fines and fees. The trial court ordered $4,000 in restitution to the victim but waived the separate mandatory fines and fees. It reasoned Ortiz was going to serve 15 years in prison, and the money should go to A.R. and not the court. The prosecutor replied, “Yes, Your honor,” but asked the victim restitution be subject to increase. The abstract of judgment erroneously lists two fines. Item 9.a. notes a $10,000 restitution fine per section 1202.4, subdivision (b), and a $10,000 parole revocation restitution fine per section 1202.45. Item 13 reiterates: “Court orders defendant to pay a restitution fine [PC 1202.4(b)] in the amount of $10,000. Execution is stayed.”9 When the oral pronouncement of judgment and the abstract of judgment are inconsistent with one another, the oral pronouncement controls over the abstract of judgment. (People v. Zachery (2007) 147 Cal.App.4th 380, 9 Victim restitution is distinct from a “restitution fine.” A restitution fine does not go directly to the victim; it is deposited to a restitution fund in the state treasury. (People v. Wilen (2008) 165 Cal.App.4th 270, 283.)

18 385.) The abstract of judgment may be corrected at any time for accuracy. (Mitchell, supra, 26 Cal.4th at pp. 185–188.) On appeal, the Attorney General argues the abstract of judgment need not be amended because the fines have a mandatory minimum that can only be waived by a finding of compelling and extraordinary reasons, and the court’s reasoning here was insufficient. We need not reach this question. Any such argument was waived when the prosecutor did not object in the trial court. (See People v. Tillman (2000) 22 Cal.4th 300, 303.) The abstract of judgment should be amended to strike the references to the fines the court had waived.

19 DISPOSITION We affirm the judgment with instructions that the trial court award Ortiz 54 additional days of conduct credit, for a total presentence credit calculation of 419 days. We further instruct the court to amend the abstract of judgment and corresponding minute order as follows: (1) for count 7, Ortiz was convicted of assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury (§ 245, subd. (a)(4)); (2) Ortiz’s total presentence credit is 419 days; and (3) the $10,000 fines reflected in items 9.a. and 13 of the abstract of judgment should be deleted. The clerk of the superior court shall forward a certified copy of the amended abstract of judgment to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

MCCONNELL, P. J.

WE CONCUR:

O’ROURKE, J.

CASTILLO, J.

Cites, in this corpus