People v. Williams CA4/1

INTRODUCTION

Defendant Dante Lee Williams appeals the judgment entered following

a jury trial in which he was convicted of two counts of assault (Pen. Code,1 §§ 241, subd. (b), 245 subd. (a)(4)) and one count of resisting an officer (§ 69). Williams claims the trial court erred when it instructed the jury with the definition of great bodily injury in CALCRIM No. 875. He argues that it is ambiguous and an incorrect statement of the law. We disagree and affirm.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

In September 2023, A.S. was using a leaf blower to clean the parking lot of a 7-Eleven when Williams approached him from behind, grabbed the leaf blower, and threw him to the ground. Williams hit A.S., then got on top of him and continued punching him. A.S. was unable to get up or fight back because the leaf blower was on his back, so he covered his face as Williams punched him. Williams’s attack left A.S. with lacerations to his ear, cheek, lip, face, hands and bloodied clothing and hair. A sheriff’s deputy responded to the scene and, after a short foot pursuit, arrested Williams. While in custody, Williams attempted to bite the responding deputy and then kicked and attempted to bite…