The People v. Combs CA1/1

BACKGROUND

Defendant was friends with Williams,1 and the latter introduced him to his cocaine and methamphetamine dealer Ryan Estes, who lived on Silverado Drive in Fairfield. Around 3:30 p.m. on Labor Day, 2008, defendant called Estes and asked to buy methamphetamine. The men met about 20 minutes later, and defendant gave Estes $50 to obtain the drugs. When Estes failed to show up an hour later as agreed, defendant called 1 Williams was tried separately and convicted of first degree murder. His conviction was affirmed in case No. A130138.

1 Estes and sounded ―a little irritated.‖ Estes told him it would take another hour. Estes did not obtain the drugs, but instead bought beer and went to a party. Around 7:00 p.m., defendant called Williams and told him ―he had been ripped off by his buddy for 50 bucks.‖ Williams told him Estes was at home, but there were ―a couple of guys there‖ and he ―shouldn‘t go alone.‖ Defendant was intimidated by Estes because he was ―a big guy.‖ The two made plans to meet at a Popeye‘s Chicken and then go together to Estes‘s house. Defendant met Williams at the restaurant and got in the back seat of his car. Nicole Stewart, Williams‘s pregnant…