The People v. Williams CA2/3

INTRODUCTION

Defendant and appellant David Williams contends his conviction for failing to register as a sex offender under Penal Code section 2901 must be reversed for two reasons. First, there was insufficient evidence to support the judgment. Second, the trial court failed to instruct the jury on the meaning of “reside.” We reject both contentions and affirm the judgment.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

I. Factual background.

A. The history of defendant’s registration as a sex offender. Defendant stipulated he was convicted, on December 19, 1984, of a felony sex offense and the conviction gave rise to an obligation he register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Registration documents state that the registrant must register annually within five days of his or her birthday. Within five days of moving to a new city or county, a registrant must re-register their new address. He or she also must re-register within five days of changing addresses in the same city. Defendant complied with his annual registration obligations from July 8, 1999 through July 15, 2003, registering his address as 628 South San Julian Street, Los Angeles, a transitional living facility…