The People v. Brown CA4/3

FACTS

After enjoying an evening at the Boogie nightclub in Anaheim, Dwayne Washington, Armand Jones, Giovanni Boyd, and Brent Hurd went to a nearby Denny’s restaurant to get something to eat. Jones, Washington, and Boyd were wearing gold chains and diamond stud earrings. Jones also had an expensive watch, and Washington was wearing some popular and expensive shoes. They were celebrating the fact Jones had just finished working in a movie entitled, Freedom Writers. The group paid the Denny’s manager $20 to get seated ahead of a number of other people. A group of women complained, and the guys invited them to join them at their table. Ronnell Spencer, the owner of a clothing store Jones frequented, also sat down with them. After some period of time, Washington and Boyd decided to go to the restroom. Washington was in the restroom with Boyd when a group of four African-

2 American males and one African-American female “dressed like a guy” entered.1 The female was later identified as Brown. Within minutes, a couple more African-American men came into the restroom and blocked the exit. Brown and one of the men approached Washington and said, “Give me all your stuff, cuz.” Washington…