People v. Sorrells CA2/3

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

In 2008, the People charged Sorrells with a number of crimes related to a series of domestic violence incidents. The People presented evidence at trial showing Sorrells committed domestic violence against five successive female partners. The charges concerned only two of those victims. The jury convicted Sorrells of assault with a firearm, criminal threats, dissuading a witness, false imprisonment by violence, child abuse, assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury, and two counts of corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant. (Pen. Code, §§ 245, subd. (a)(2), 422, 136.1, subd. (b)(3), 236, 273a, subd. (a), 245, subd. (a)(1), 273.5, subd. (a).)1 The jury found true firearm allegations on some counts (§ 12022.5, subd. (a)), and Sorrells admitted a prior serious felony conviction that qualifies as a strike. The trial court sentenced Sorrells to an aggregate term of 41 years in prison, which included upper terms on the base count and the firearm enhancements. On the dissuading a witness count, the court imposed eight months for the offense (one-third

References to statutes are to the Penal Code.

2 the middle term of two years),…