People v. James CA3

BACKGROUND

Around midnight on February 4, 2011, Elk Grove Police Officer Andrew Bornhoeft and his partner Officer Phillip Insixiengmay responded to a domestic violence call at Florence Taylor’s Elk Grove home. Officer Bornhoeft found the 69-year-old Taylor standing in the garage. Her face was swollen and discolored, her right eye was discolored, very swollen and completely closed, and her left eye was also discolored and swollen. She also had bruises and contusions on her face. Officer Bornhoeft asked Taylor to come inside and sit. Entering the home, he smelled a strong odor of gasoline and saw a red gasoline can sitting on top of the dryer. What appeared to be fecal matter and vomit were in the kitchen, and dentures were on the floor. Taylor told him that defendant beat and choked her and said he was going to kill both of them that night. She told Officer Bornhoeft that defendant took her car without her permission after the assault. Cosumnes Fire Department paramedic Justin Quarisa arrived at the scene and saw Taylor lying down in the bedroom talking to a police officer. Quarisa noticed Taylor “had a lot of facial injuries.” Taylor told him that she had been struck multiple…