People v. Bennett CA4/3

FACTS

The first case concerned a crime against Bennett’s then-18-year- old son, R.B. (the son). The second case concerned crimes against B.F., who is Bennett’s wife and R.B.’s mother (the wife). We summarize the relevant facts of each case separately, below. I.

THE CARJACKING CASE

In the first case, case no. BAF2000509 (the carjacking case), Bennett was charged with carjacking the son’s car (Penal Code, § 215, subd. (a); count 1); assaulting the son with force likely to produce great bodily injury (Pen. Code, § 245, subd. (a)(4); count 2); and felony evasion of a police officer endangering others (Veh. Code, § 2800.2; count 3).

2 In May 2020, the son was driving his family home from a grocery store trip. The son was driving his own car. Bennett was in the front passenger seat, and the wife and their other child, then 12 years old (the daughter), were in the back seat. On the ride home, the son and Bennett began arguing. Bennett had picked up the son’s cell phone, located in the center console, and began looking through e-mails and text messages. The son demanded Bennett give him back the phone. Bennett refused, claiming the wife was using the son’s phone to communicate with…