People v. Buendia CA4/1

California Court of Appeal · D064348 · 2014-08-26 · Unpublished

Proceeding: appeal from a judgment
Trial court: Superior Court of San Diego County · No. SCD245795
Trial judge: Michael T. Smyth
Outcome: affirmed — Affirmed.
Area: criminal
Panel: Judith D. McConnell (author), Richard D. Huffman, Sr., Gilbert Nares

Analysis

A model's reading — qwen3.8-27b, prompt v1, 2026-10-13T06:34Z · confidence high

The trial court convicted the defendant of assault with a deadly weapon and sentenced him to eight years in prison, suspended in favor of probation with a jail term. The appellate court affirmed the judgment, finding sufficient evidence to support the conviction under the natural and probable consequences doctrine.

Ruling reviewed	Standard	The court	The model
Sufficiency of evidence for Count 1 (Assault with a Deadly Weapon) under the natural and probable consequences doctrine “Under such circumstances, a reasonable person in Buendia's position would have or should have known the commission of an assault with a deadly weapon was a reasonably foreseeable consequence of the commission of the assault Buendia aided and abetted.”	de novo	error	agree with court The court correctly applied the objective standard for the natural and probable consequences doctrine, relying on People v. Medina and People v. Montes. The evidence that the assailants were gang members who typically carry weapons when in a group was sufficient to establish that an assault with a deadly weapon was a reasonably foreseeable consequence of the simple assault, regardless of the defendant's subjective knowledge of the weapon.

Authorities

relied: People v. Manibusan (2013) 58 Cal.4th 40 — Standard of review for sufficiency of the evidence; reversal is unwarranted unless upon no hypothesis is there sufficient substantial evidence to support the verdict.
relied: People v. Avila (2006) 38 Cal.4th 491 — The natural and probable consequences doctrine holds that aiders and abettors are responsible for harm they naturally, probably, and foreseeably put in motion.
relied: People v. Medina (2009) 46 Cal.4th 913 — Liability under the natural and probable consequences doctrine is measured by whether a reasonable person in the defendant's position would have or should have known the charged offense was a reasonably foreseeable consequence.
relied: People v. Montes (1999) 74 Cal.App.4th 1050 — The test for foreseeability under the natural and probable consequences doctrine is objective; whether the defendant actually knew the perpetrator had a weapon is immaterial.

The appellate opinion: sound — The opinion is sound because it correctly applies the established objective standard for the natural and probable consequences doctrine to the specific facts regarding gang members carrying weapons. It properly resolves the sufficiency of the evidence claim by viewing the record in the light most favorable to the prosecution and relying on binding California Supreme Court authority.

How this analysis was made · dispute it

unusual disposition

A model's reading — claude-fable-5-1, prompt v1, 2026-10-13T04:31Z · confidence low

A San Diego jury convicted Buendia of assault with a deadly weapon and assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury with gang enhancements, and the trial court imposed an eight-year sentence, suspended execution, and placed him on probation. On appeal Buendia argued insufficient evidence supported the deadly-weapon count; the Court of Appeal held substantial evidence supported conviction under the natural and probable consequences theory and affirmed without reaching the direct aiding-and-abetting theory.

Ruling reviewed	Standard	The court	The model
Jury verdict on count 1 (assault with a deadly weapon, Pen. Code § 245(a)(1)) under the natural and probable consequences theory of aider-and-abettor liability was supported by sufficient evidence “Under such circumstances, a reasonable person in Buendia's position would have or should have known the commission of an assault with a deadly weapon was a reasonably foreseeable consequence of the commission of the assault Buendia aided and abetted.”	substantial evidence	correct	agree with court The court correctly stated the Manibusan substantial-evidence standard and the objective foreseeability test from Medina and Avila. Evidence that Buendia instigated and joined a three-on-one gang group assault, plus expert testimony that gang members traveling together typically have at least one armed member, is the type of evidence Medina and Montes held sufficient for foreseeability of an armed escalation. The court properly treated Buendia's actual knowledge of the weapon as immaterial under the objective test, and the expert's concession on that point does not undermine the verdict.
Jury verdict on count 1 under the direct aiding-and-abetting theory (knowledge of and intent to facilitate an assault with a deadly weapon) “Given this conclusion, we need not decide whether there was sufficient evidence to support his conviction under the first theory.”	substantial evidence	not reached	agree with court Declining to reach the alternative theory is proper where a verdict is supported by one legally valid and factually sufficient theory, but the court cited no authority for that step; People v. Guiton supplies the rule and would have closed the gap.

Authorities

relied: People v. Manibusan (2013) 58 Cal.4th 40 — On a sufficiency-of-the-evidence challenge the reviewing court views the whole record in the light most favorable to the judgment and reverses only if no hypothesis supports the verdict.
relied: People v. Avila (2006) 38 Cal.4th 491 — The natural and probable consequences doctrine holds aiders and abettors responsible for harm they naturally, probably, and foreseeably set in motion.
relied: People v. Medina (2009) 46 Cal.4th 913 — Foreseeability under the natural and probable consequences doctrine is objective, measured by what a reasonable person in the defendant's position would or should have known; a gang fistfight escalating to a deadly attack can be a reasonably foreseeable consequence.
relied: People v. Montes (1999) 74 Cal.App.4th 1050 — Whether the aider and abettor actually knew the perpetrator was armed is immaterial because the natural and probable consequences test is objective; escalation of a gang confrontation to use of a deadly weapon is foreseeable.
missed: People v. Guiton (1993) 4 Cal.4th 1116 — When a verdict rests on alternative theories and one is factually sufficient, the conviction stands absent an affirmative indication the jury relied on the unsupported theory, so a reviewing court need not resolve the alternative theory.

The appellate opinion: sound with gaps — The opinion applies the correct substantial-evidence standard and the controlling Supreme Court authority on objective foreseeability, and the facts (instigation of a gang group assault with expert testimony on armed group members) fit squarely within Medina and Montes. It declines to reach the direct aiding-and-abetting theory without citing authority such as Guiton for why affirmance on one sufficient theory suffices, a minor gap that does not affect the result.

How this analysis was made · dispute it

Opinion

Filed 8/26/14 P. v. Buendia 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, D064348

Plaintiff and Respondent, v. (Super. Ct. No. SCD245795)

DAVID AMIR BUENDIA,

Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Michael T.

Smyth, Judge. Affirmed.

David K. Rankin, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant.

Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Julie L. Garland, Assistant Attorney General, Kristine A. Gutierrez and Lynne G. McGinnis, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent. INTRODUCTION A jury convicted David Amir Buendia of assault with a deadly weapon (Pen.

Code, § 245, subd. (a)(1); count 1) and assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury (Pen. Code, § 245, subd. (a)(4); count 2). The jury also found true gang benefit enhancement allegations (Pen. Code, § 186.22, subd. (b)(1)). The trial court sentenced him to eight years in prison, then suspended execution of the sentence and placed him on three years of formal probation, conditioned in part upon him waiving his presentence custody credits and serving 365 days in jail.

Buendia appeals, contending there was insufficient evidence to convict him of count 1. We disagree and affirm the judgment.

BACKGROUND

After an evening out, the victim and two friends went to a taco stand for a bite to eat. They drove there in the victim's car, which the victim's younger brother sometimes uses. The victim ordered his food and sat down with his friends at a nearby table.

Buendia and two male companions walked by talking angrily. They circled the victim's car, pointed at it, and then glared and cussed at the victim and his friends. The victim had never seen Buendia or his companions before.

One of the victim's friends tried to defuse the situation by initiating a conversation with one of Buendia's companions. The conversation ended abruptly with one of Buendia's companions repeatedly remarking, "Fk all you three."

The victim ignored the remarks, picked up his order, and started to eat his food.

Around then, Buendia asked about the victim's younger brother and, in a confrontational 2 manner, told the victim to let his younger brother know Buendia1 was looking for him.

The victim got up, walked toward Buendia, and asked why Buendia was looking for his younger brother. Buendia said the victim's younger brother tried to jump someone close to Buendia. Although the victim tried to explain his younger brother would never fight that way, Buendia continued to insist the victim tell his younger brother Buendia was looking for him and was "going to find him . . . [and] get him."

At some point during this exchange, Buendia and his companions circled the victim, charged him and started throwing punches at him. One of Buendia's companions lunged at the victim with a weapon. The victim quickly took off his jacket and backed away from the men while holding his arms in a defensive position. One of Buendia's companions got close to the victim to throw a few more punches, which the victim blocked. The victim grabbed the man's shirt and pushed him toward Buendia, while continuing to back away. Around then, the victim's older brother happened by and stopped the fight. Although the victim did not realize it at the time, he was stabbed four times during the altercation: once on his forearm, once on his triceps, once around his left ribcage, and once in the back.

Someone called 911 and when police officers responded to the scene, Buendia and his companions "tried to act casual, like nothing was happening." The man who lunged at the victim with the weapon quickly discarded the weapon in some bushes. A police officer later recovered an awl from the bushes.

1 Buendia referred to himself by a moniker. The victim thought Buendia referred to himself as "Toad," but later learned Buendia referred to himself as "Toker." 3 A gang detective interviewed Buendia after the attack. During the interview, Buendia denied being a member, but admitted being an affiliate of the Tiny Locos subset of the Linda Vista 13 street gang (gang). However, Buendia had previously claimed to be a gang member and had been documented as a gang member since 2010. His companions were also documented gang members.

After hearing hypothetical questions mirroring the facts of this case, the detective, who was also a gang expert, opined the assault was done in association with and for the benefit of a the gang. The detective also opined the assailants were promoting, furthering, or assisting criminal conduct by gang members. In addition, the detective opined the two assailants who were not armed would have known the third assailant was armed because, when gang members are together as a group, one or more of them will be armed and the others will want to know who is armed so they know who will be able to help them if they are losing a fight. Nonetheless, the detective acknowledged one gang member might not always know whether another gang member was armed. The detective further acknowledged he was not testifying Buendia actually knew one of his companion's was armed.

DISCUSSION

As to count 1, the People prosecuted Buendia under two separate theories of accomplice liability: (1) Buendia aided and abetted the commission of an assault with a deadly weapon; and (2) Buendia aided and abetted the commission of a simple assault the natural and probable consequences of which was the commission of an assault with a 4 deadly weapon. Buendia contends there was insufficient evidence to convict him under either theory.

In evaluating a sufficiency of the evidence claim, " 'we review the whole record to determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime . . . beyond a reasonable doubt. [Citation.] The record must disclose substantial evidence to support the verdict—i.e., evidence that is reasonable, credible, and of solid value—such that a reasonable trier of fact could find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. [Citation.] In applying this test, we review the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution and presume in support of the judgment the existence of every fact the jury could reasonably have deduced from the evidence. [Citation.]

"Conflicts and even testimony [that] is subject to justifiable suspicion do not justify the reversal of a judgment, for it is the exclusive province of the trial judge or jury to determine the credibility of a witness and the truth or falsity of the facts upon which a determination depends. [Citation.] We resolve neither credibility issues nor evidentiary conflicts; we look for substantial evidence. [Citation.]" [Citation.] A reversal for insufficient evidence "is unwarranted unless it appears 'that upon no hypothesis whatever is there sufficient substantial evidence to support' " the jury's verdict.' " (People v. Manibusan (2013) 58 Cal.4th 40, 87.)

We begin our analysis with the sufficiency of the evidence to support a conviction under the second theory, the natural and probable consequences doctrine. "The natural and probable consequences doctrine is based on the recognition that those who aid and abet should be responsible for the harm they have naturally, probably, and foreseeably 5 put in motion." (People v. Avila (2006) 38 Cal.4th 491, 567.) Under the doctrine, " '[a]

person who knowingly aids and abets criminal conduct is guilty of not only the intended crime [target offense] but also of any other crime the perpetrator actually commits [nontarget offense] that is a natural and probable consequence of the intended crime. The latter question is not whether the aider and abettor actually foresaw the additional crime, but whether, judged objectively, it was reasonably foreseeable. [Citation.]' [Citation.]

Liability under the natural and probable consequences doctrine 'is measured by whether a reasonable person in the defendant's position would have or should have known that the charged offense was a reasonably foreseeable consequence of the act aided and abetted.' "

(People v. Medina (2009) 46 Cal.4th 913, 920.) " '[T]o be reasonably foreseeable "[t]he consequence need not have been a strong probability; a possible consequence which might reasonably have been contemplated is enough." ' " (Ibid.)

Here, the evidence viewed most favorably to the judgment showed Buendia instigated and actively participated in a group assault on the victim. The evidence also showed Buendia and his companions were gang members and that, when gang members are together in a group, one or more of them will typically carry a weapon to ensure the group will not be disadvantaged should they become embroiled in a physical altercation.

Under such circumstances, a reasonable person in Buendia's position would have or should have known the commission of an assault with a deadly weapon was a reasonably foreseeable consequence of the commission of the assault Buendia aided and abetted.

As the applicable test is an objective one rather than a subjective one, whether Buendia actually knew the perpetrator had a weapon is immaterial. (People v. Montes (1999) 74 6 Cal.App.4th 1050, 1056.) Accordingly, we conclude Buendia has not established there was insufficient evidence to support his conviction under the second theory. Given this conclusion, we need not decide whether there was sufficient evidence to support his conviction under the first theory.

DISPOSITION

The judgment is affirmed.

MCCONNELL, P. J.

WE CONCUR:

HUFFMAN, J.

NARES, J.

Cites, in this corpus

People v. Manibusan S094890 · 2013-12-02
People v. Medina S155823 · 2009-06-22
People v. Avila S045982 · 2006-05-15
Truck Insurance Exchange v. Fireman's Fund Insurance A053471 · 1992-05-21