People v. Bosch CA2/5

I. Facts

In late November 2020, defendant and others broke into a home and stole high-end equipment from a music studio in the home. Surveillance video inside the home showed defendant to be one of the burglars, and defendant left his fingerprints at the scene.

II. Procedural History

A. Charges The People charged defendant with first-degree burglary (Pen. Code, § 459).

All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise indicated.

2 B. Defendant’s fluctuating status as a self- represented litigant 1. Initial order allowing self-representation Although initially appointed counsel, defendant in October 2023 asked to represent himself. The trial court thereafter advised defendant of the dangers and disadvantages of self- representation, and after defendant maintained his desire to represent himself, granted the request. 2. Abandonment of self-representation In March 2024, defendant asked the trial court to appoint advisory counsel for him (that is, counsel to assist him in preparing for trial), explaining that his “pro per” privileges in custody had been revoked because he had been involved in “an incident” in the “pro per” unit of…