People v. Lemmon CA3

BACKGROUND

In December 2011, defendant and his girlfriend Amanda were living in a home in Redding. Kevin Matthews was defendant’s friend. On December 14, 2011, Amanda received a phone call and then said something to defendant. Defendant asked Matthews to come with him to retrieve Amanda’s belongings from Steven Johnson’s motel room, and Matthews agreed. Defendant used his truck to drive Matthews and codefendant Willam Lee Freed, Jr., to the motel. On the way, defendant said if Johnson did not hand over Amanda’s belongings, they would “ ‘kick his ass if they had to.’ ” Defendant and Freed talked about the motel room — room 117 — where they expected to meet a woman named Shawna. When defendant, Matthews, and Freed arrived at the motel, they noticed three teenage boys outside room 117. Defendant spoke to Amanda by phone to ask if Shawna was alone in room 117. After speaking with her, defendant informed Freed and Matthews that according to Amanda, Johnson had $1,900 and a bag of methamphetamine in his room. Defendant said they would obtain Amanda’s things and take anything else that was there. Defendant had a can of pepper spray. He handed Matthews a crowbar. Matthews said he did not…