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P. v. Tavares CA4/1

California Court of Appeal · D061438 · 2013-03-14 · Unpublished

Proceeding
appeal from a judgment
Trial court
Superior Court of San Diego County · No. SCN284105
Trial judge
Runston G. Maino
Outcome
affirmed — Affirmed.
Area
criminal
Panel
O'Rourke (author), Cynthia Aaron, Patricia D. Benke

Analysis

A model's reading — qwen3.8-27b, prompt v1, 2026-10-13T06:57Z · confidence high

The trial court convicted Pedro Alexander Tavares of making a criminal threat under Penal Code section 422 based on his verbal statements and gestures toward the victim. The Court of Appeal affirmed the judgment, holding that substantial evidence supported the conviction when the words and gestures were analyzed jointly as part of a continuous incident.

Ruling reviewedStandardThe courtThe model
Sufficiency of evidence for the conviction of making a criminal threat (Pen. Code, § 422).
“We need not decide whether Tavares's words to Reiff, standing alone, constituted a threat, because here, the words did not stand alone. We analyze his words and gestures jointly because they occurred minutes apart and related to one continuous incident.”
substantial evidencecorrectagree with court
The court correctly applied the substantial evidence standard, viewing the record in the light most favorable to the judgment. It properly rejected the defendant's argument to analyze the verbal and non-verbal components separately, noting that the surrounding circumstances, including the subsequent firing of the air gun, clarified the meaning of the ambiguous statements.

Authorities

  • relied: People v. Toledo (2001) 26 Cal.4th 221 — Defines the elements of a criminal threat under section 422 and discusses First Amendment protections for threats.
  • relied: People v. Wilson (2010) 186 Cal.App.4th 789 — Establishes the standard for reviewing sufficiency of the evidence and notes that a prior relationship is not required to prove a criminal threat.
  • relied: People v. Mendoza (1997) 59 Cal.App.4th 1333 — Supports the consideration of surrounding circumstances and special relationships in determining if a threat was made.
  • relied: People v. Solis (2001) 90 Cal.App.4th 1002 — Holds that a trier of fact may consider defendant's mannerisms, affect, and actions to determine if ambiguous language constitutes a threat.
  • relied: In re George T. (2004) 33 Cal.4th 620 — States that a facially ambiguous communication can qualify as a threat when its meaning is clarified by the surrounding circumstances.
  • relied: People v. Martinez (1997) 53 Cal.App.4th 1212 — Supports the finding that a defendant's activities after making a vague threat can support a finding that the words were intended to be taken as a threat.
  • relied: People v. Franz (2001) 88 Cal.App.4th 1426 — Cited by the defendant to argue that a threat must be made verbally; the court distinguished this by analyzing the words and gestures jointly.

The appellate opinion: sound — The opinion is sound because it correctly applies the substantial evidence standard and properly rejects the defendant's attempt to sever the verbal and non-verbal components of the threat. It relies on established California authority to support the proposition that surrounding circumstances can clarify ambiguous statements and that a prior relationship is not a strict requirement for a criminal threat conviction.

How this analysis was made · dispute it

unusual disposition

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

A San Diego jury convicted Tavares of assault with a deadly weapon, making a criminal threat under Penal Code section 422, and misdemeanor vandalism after a parking dispute in which he told a utility meter reader he was watching her and would get her, made watching and throat-slashing gestures, and minutes later shot out her truck window with an air gun; the trial court placed him on three years of formal probation with 365 days in custody. On appeal Tavares argued only that insufficient evidence supported the criminal threat conviction, and the Court of Appeal affirmed, holding that his words and gestures, viewed together with the surrounding circumstances including the subsequent shooting, constituted an unambiguous threat.

Ruling reviewedStandardThe courtThe model
Jury verdict convicting Tavares of making a criminal threat (Pen. Code, § 422, count 2) challenged for insufficiency of evidence that his words and gestures constituted a 'threat'
“Taking into account the surrounding circumstances, the jurors could reasonably conclude Tavares communicated to Reiff that he was watching her and he would harm her. The message communicated was not ambiguous.”
substantial evidencecorrectagree with court
The court correctly declined independent First Amendment review because Tavares raised no constitutional claim (Ricky T., Mosley), then applied the deferential substantial evidence test. Toledo supplies the five elements; George T., Solis, Mendoza and Wilson establish that ambiguous words are read in light of surrounding circumstances including mannerisms and subsequent conduct, and Martinez specifically holds that a vague 'I'll get you' coupled with later conduct supports a section 422 conviction. Analyzing the verbal statement and the gestures together as one continuous incident was proper and answers the Franz argument, since Franz concerned gestures unaccompanied by words whereas here words were spoken. The court also correctly noted that no prior relationship is required when other circumstances give meaning to the threat, and that Tavares expressly disavowed any challenge to the sustained-fear element. The aggressive tone, 'I am going to get you,' the throat-slashing gesture, and firing an air gun at the victim minutes later readily satisfy the substantial evidence standard.

Authorities

  • relied: People v. Toledo (2001) 26 Cal.4th 221 — Sets out the five elements of a section 422 criminal threat and describes the unprotected 'true threat' speech the statute reaches.
  • relied: In re George T. (2004) 33 Cal.4th 620 — A facially ambiguous communication can qualify as a criminal threat when its meaning is clarified by surrounding circumstances.
  • relied: People v. Solis (2001) 90 Cal.App.4th 1002 — In deciding whether ambiguous language is a section 422 threat, the trier of fact may consider the defendant's mannerisms, affect, actions, and subsequent conduct.
  • relied: People v. Mendoza (1997) 59 Cal.App.4th 1333 — All surrounding circumstances, including the parties' prior relationship and quarrels, are examined to determine whether a statement is a threat under section 422.
  • relied: People v. Wilson (2010) 186 Cal.App.4th 789 — States the substantial evidence standard and holds that a criminal threat is judged by all surrounding circumstances without requiring a prior relationship between defendant and victim.
  • relied: People v. Martinez (1997) 53 Cal.App.4th 1212 — A defendant's activities after making a vague threat such as 'I'll get you' support a finding that he intended the words to be taken as a threat.
  • relied: People v. Franz (2001) 88 Cal.App.4th 1426 — Section 422 requires the threat be made verbally, in writing, or by electronic device; defendant invoked it to argue gestures alone are not threats, and the court distinguished it because words accompanied the gestures.
  • relied: People v. Allen (1995) 33 Cal.App.4th 1149 — The victim's knowledge of the defendant's prior conduct is relevant to establishing that the victim was in sustained fear.
  • relied: In re Ricky T. (2001) 87 Cal.App.4th 1132 — Sufficiency challenges to section 422 convictions are reviewed under the substantial evidence test absent an articulated First Amendment claim.
  • relied: People v. Mosley (2007) 155 Cal.App.4th 313 — Substantial evidence review, rather than independent review, applies where no specific First Amendment claim is raised.
  • relied: People v. Cochran (2002) 103 Cal.App.4th 8 — The reviewing court does not reweigh witness credibility determinations made by the jury.
  • relied: People v. Jackson (2009) 178 Cal.App.4th 590 — The Legislature limited section 422 punishment to true threats falling outside First Amendment protection.

The appellate opinion: sound — The opinion identifies the correct standard of review, applies the Toledo elements, and uses well-established authority (George T., Solis, Mendoza, Martinez) to hold that the words and gestures viewed in context, including the later air gun shooting, were an unambiguous threat. It directly answers each of the defendant's arguments, including the Franz verbal-threat point and the no-prior-relationship point, with controlling or persuasive published authority.

How this analysis was made · dispute it

Opinion

Filed 3/14/13 P. v. Tavares 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, D061438

Plaintiff and Respondent, v. (Super. Ct. No. SCN284105)

PEDRO ALEXANDER TAVARES,

Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Runston G. Maino, Judge. Affirmed.

A jury convicted Pedro Alexander Tavares of assault with a deadly weapon and by means of force likely to cause great bodily injury (Pen. Code,1 § 245, subd. (a)(1); count 1), making a criminal threat (§ 422; count 2), and misdemeanor vandalism (§ 594, subd.

(a)(b)(2)(A); count 3). Additionally, the jury found true that Tavares personally used a deadly and dangerous weapon in the commission of the assault. (§§ 12022, subd. (b)(1);

1 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code. 1192.7, subd. (c)(23).) The trial court suspended imposition of sentence and placed Tavares on three years of formal probation with a requirement he spend 365 days in local custody.

Tavares's sole argument on appeal is that insufficient evidence supports his conviction for making a criminal threat (count 2) because his statements to the victim, Kathleen Reiff, and his gestures did not constitute a "threat" within the meaning of section 422. We affirm the judgment.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

On July 22, 2010, at approximately 8:00 a.m., Reiff, a meter reader for San Diego Gas and Electric, sought to park her company truck on Thunder Drive in Oceanside.

Reiff was reversing into a space when Tavares's car pulled in behind her, blocking her ability to park. Reiff waved for Tavares to move, but he initially laughed and ignored her before driving around Reiff's truck and stopping next to her driver's side window. Reiff testified Tavares leaned over and in a "very threatening, very aggressive" and "brutal"

voice said "something to the effect of 'I am watching you.' 'I am going to get you,' or 'I will get you, because I am watching you.' " Reiff testified Tavares had a "very angry tone of voice," and she was fearful but did not tell him anything.

Immediately afterwards, Tavares parked his car about half a block away and began walking towards Reiff's truck. When he was directly across the street from her, he formed a "v" with the index finger and ring finger of his right hand and pointed at his eyes indicating he was watching her. He next pointed his right index finger at Reiff before making a throat-slashing motion with his left hand.

2 Tavares returned to his apartment on Thunder Drive. His roommate observed him in the kitchen appearing to be cocking and pumping an air rifle. Tavares was close to a window facing Reiff's truck.

Two or three minutes after Tavares left Reiff, she was still sitting in her truck and heard a popping noise. Her driver's side window imploded and glass hit her in the face, chest and arms. She screamed and dialed 911.

That morning, Tavares claimed to Oceanside Police Officer Damon Smith that he had to move his car due to the street sweeping, and Reiff took the parking spot he wanted as he was making a U-turn. According to Tavares, he called her a "bitch" because he was angry, parked his car elsewhere, and returned to his apartment to shower.

Firearms examiner Anthony Paul testified that striations on a small BB found on the floorboard of Reiff's car indicated the BB had come from a pump or air gun. Paul testified that the damage to Reiff's truck was consistent with someone firing a BB from an air gun from Tavares's apartment window.

DISCUSSION

Tavares contends that under section 422, insufficient evidence supported his conviction because his conduct did not qualify as a threat. He argues we should analyze his gestures and words separately. He contends his exact words to Reiff are unknown because Reiff merely testified that he said "something to the effect of 'I am watching you.' 'I am going to get you,' or 'I will get you, because I am watching you.' " (Italics added.)

Alternatively, Tavares contends the statement Reiff attributed to him is ambiguous.

3 Tavares argues his "watching you" gesture followed by his throat slashing gesture did not constitute a threat because he made no accompanying verbal sounds.

" 'When a reasonable person would foresee that the context and import of the words will cause the listener to believe he or she will be subjected to physical violence, the threat falls outside First Amendment protection.' " (People v. Toledo (2001) 26 Cal.4th 221, 233, italics omitted.) "In drafting the current version of section 422, the Legislature limited the punishment for criminal threats to this type of unprotected speech." (People v. Jackson (2009) 178 Cal.App.4th 590, 598.) On appeal, Tavares does not articulate a specific claim under the First Amendment of the federal Constitution warranting independent review. Therefore, the First Amendment is not implicated and we evaluate his sufficiency of the evidence challenge under the substantial evidence test.

(See, e.g., In re Ricky T. (2001) 87 Cal.App.4th 1132, 1136; People v. Mosley (2007) 155 Cal.App.4th 313, 322.)

" 'In assessing the sufficiency of the evidence, we review the entire record in the light most favorable to the judgment to determine whether it discloses evidence that is reasonable, credible, and of solid value such that a reasonable trier of fact could find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Reversal on this ground is unwarranted unless it appears "that upon no hypothesis whatever is there sufficient substantial evidence to support [the conviction]." ' " (People v. Wilson (2010) 186 Cal.App.4th 789, 804-805.)

The elements of a section 422 violation are: (1) defendant willfully threatened to commit a crime that would result in death or great bodily injury to another person; (2) he 4 made the threat with the specific intent that it be taken as a threat (whether or not he actually intended to carry out the threat); (3) the threat, on its face and under the circumstances in which it was made, was so unequivocal, unconditional, immediate, and specific as to convey to the person threatened a gravity of purpose and an immediate prospect of execution of the threat; (4) the threat caused the person threatened reasonably to be in sustained fear for his or her own safety; and (5) the threatened person's fear was reasonable under the circumstances. (People v. Toledo, supra, 26 Cal.4th at pp. 227-228;

see also § 422.)

We need not decide whether Tavares's words to Reiff, standing alone, constituted a threat, because here, the words did not stand alone. We analyze his words and gestures jointly because they occurred minutes apart and related to one continuous incident. We look to all the surrounding circumstances to determine if there was substantial evidence to prove the elements of making a criminal threat. (People v. Wilson, supra, 186 Cal.App.4th at p. 814; People v. Mendoza (1997) 59 Cal.App.4th 1333, 1340.) In determining whether ambiguous language constitutes a violation of section 422, the trier of fact may consider defendant's mannerisms, affect, and actions involved in making the threat as well as subsequent actions taken by the defendant. (People v. Solis (2001) 90 Cal.App.4th 1002, 1013.) Thus, a facially ambiguous communication can qualify as a threat when its meaning is clarified by the surrounding circumstances. (In re George T.

(2004) 33 Cal.4th 620, 635.)

Reiff remembered the threat sufficiently to convey its essential words and meaning to the jury. It was for the jury to evaluate the credibility of Reiff's recollections 5 of Tavares's statements and whether they constituted a threat. We do not reweigh that determination on appeal. (People v. Cochran (2002) 103 Cal.App.4th 8, 13.) During the incident, Tavares's demeanor was aggressive and he used a "very threatening" and "angry" tone of voice. Further, his statement that he was going "to get" Reiff was made in the context of a parking dispute, along with a "watching-you" and throat-slashing gesture towards Reiff. He subsequently fired at her with an air gun. (See, e.g., People v. Martinez (1997) 53 Cal. App.4th 1212 [defendant's activities after making vague threat of "I'll get you" supported finding defendant intended those words to be taken as a threat].)

Taking into account the surrounding circumstances, the jurors could reasonably conclude Tavares communicated to Reiff that he was watching her and he would harm her. The message communicated was not ambiguous.

Tavares relies on People v. Franz (2001) 88 Cal.App.4th 1426, 1439, 1442 and argues a threat must be "made verbally"; therefore, his "watching-you" and throat- slashing gestures were not threats because he did not accompany them with any utterance. However, Tavares's contention fails in light of our analysis of his words and gestures jointly as one continuous incident, including the surrounding circumstances.

Tavares also argues that "there was no prior relationship between [him] and Reiff which could provide a context which would elevate [his] words into a threat." Case law acknowledges special relationships may include prior disagreements, previous quarrels, or contentious, hostile or offensive remarks to one another. (People v. Mendoza, supra, 59 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1341-1342.) Although the parties' history may provide relevant context for a threat, a prior or special relationship is not required when other surrounding 6 circumstances render meaning to the threat. (See People v. Wilson, supra, 186 Cal.App.4th at pp. 796-798 [failing to require a finding of a prior relationship between the defendant and the victim].) Further, a prior or special relationship serves to establish section 422's requirement that the threat cause the victim to be in a state of sustained fear.

(See e.g., People v. Allen (1995) 33 Cal.App.4th 1149, 1156 ["The victim's knowledge of defendant's prior conduct is relevant in establishing that the victim was in a state of sustained fear."].) However, Tavares in his opening brief expressly disavowed any challenge to the effect the threat had on Reiff. Therefore, the absence of some special relationship here is not dispositive.

7 DISPOSITION

The judgment is affirmed.

O'ROURKE, J.

WE CONCUR:

BENKE, Acting P. J.

AARON, J.

Cites, in this corpus