People v. Bragg CA4/3

STATEMENT OF FACTS

On the night of May 18, 2024, J.M. was working the walk-up window at a donut shop in Orange when Bragg came up to the window and said, “Give me all the money in the register.” At first, J.M. thought Bragg was joking because he spoke in a calm manner. But when Bragg dropped one hand below the window counter and repeated the demand several times in a louder voice, J.M. got scared and told him, “I can’t do that. I’m sorry.” Bragg then left the window and began walking toward the back of the shop. A few minutes later, though, he returned to the window and began demanding money from J.M. again, saying, “I need the money in the register.” Bragg was agitated and shouting this time around, but J.M. did not give him any money. J.M.’s coworker called the police, and Bragg was 1 arrested at the scene. In closing argument, defense counsel argued Bragg lacked the intent to commit robbery and compared him to a panhandler who was just asking for money, not aggressively demanding it. However, the jury convicted

1 At trial, surveillance video of the encounters between Bragg and J.M. were played to the jury during the prosecution’s case.

2 Bragg of attempted robbery, and he…