People v. Torres CA4/2

BACKGROUND

C.M. began dating Torres in 2019, and they were together for several years. He

never lived with her, but he stayed overnight at her trailer sometimes. In January 2022,

C.M. went to visit her mother in Los Angeles. Torres did not want her to go and was

angry. When she returned from the visit, she found her belongings on the ground outside

the trailer. Torres had also changed the lock on the fence surrounding the trailer, so C.M.

could not unlock the gate. She climbed under the gate to get inside. Torres was

suspicious and accused her of being unfaithful. He demanded that she leave, even though

it was her trailer. C.M.’s 17-year-old daughter, Jocelyn G., was in the trailer asleep.

Jocelyn awoke to the sound of C.M. and Torres arguing. Torres sounded angry and was

yelling. Jocelyn was scared and stayed in bed, but she heard the argument move outside.

C.M. loaded her belongings into her car and was prepared to leave, and Torres

followed her outside. He grabbed her by the neck and choked her for five minutes

“intermittently.” She estimated that on a 10-point scale, with 10 being the greatest

amount of force, the force that he used was a 10. She was dizzy, felt…