People v. Ford CA1/4

BACKGROUND

Ford was charged with making criminal threats (§ 422) and one count of obstructing a peace officer (§ 148, subd. (a)(1)). The information alleged several circumstances in aggravation, including that the crime involved great violence, great bodily harm, threat of great bodily harm, or other acts disclosing a high degree of cruelty, viciousness, or callousness and that Ford engaged in violent conduct indicating a serious danger to society (Cal. Rules of Court, rules 4.421(a)(1), (b)(1)).2 At trial, evidence was presented that while the victim was cleaning the sidewalk outside of the restaurant where he worked, Ford approached him from behind and hit him with “something cold on [his] neck.” When the victim turned around, Ford began yelling, calling the victim names, and saying that he would kill him. Ford pointed a gun, which was later determined to be a replica, at the victim’s chest and told him that he hated him and wanted to kill him. The interaction ended once police arrived on the scene and arrested Ford. Other witnesses described Ford as speaking in “garbl[ed]” language and yelling incoherently as he walked down the street prior to the incident. The jury found Ford…