People v. Holt CA2/5

I. Facts1

A. The underlying crime In April 2015, defendant and Lemont Everett Townsend went to the home of Calvin Ousley looking for defendant’s girlfriend. When Ousley opened the security door to let the girlfriend leave, defendant and Townsend pushed their way into the residence. As the girlfriend fled, defendant punched Ousley in the face. While Townsend held Ousley at gunpoint and told him to “Sit [his] ass down,” defendant disconnected the wires connecting Ousley’s 60-inch flat-screen TV, took the time to locate the TV’s remote, and walked out of the residence with the TV and remote. Defendant later sold the stolen TV and pocketed the cash. Thereafter, defendant urged his girlfriend to lie to law

We draw these facts from our prior, unpublished appellate opinion affirming defendant’s conviction. (People v. Townsend et al. (Jan. 12, 2018, B270929).)

2 enforcement by reporting that Ousley had raped her, so that defendant’s actions could thus be somehow excused as a “crime of passion.” Defendant himself prevaricated, alternatively admitting and denying to law enforcement that he had urged his girlfriend to lie on his behalf. B. Prosecution, conviction, appeal…