Charron

Defendant Kenneth Charron appeals after a jury found him guilty on charges of grand theft (Pen. Code, § 487, subd. I) and conspiracy to commit grand theft (§§ 182, subds. 1 and 4, and 487, subd. 1.). Allegations as to each count that the loss exceeded $25,000 were found to be true. (See § 12022.6.) His principal contention is that the prosecutor’s exclusion of minorities from the jury mandates reversal of the convictions. (See generally People v. Wheeler (1978) 22 Cal.3d 258 [ 148 Cal.Rptr. 890 , 583 P.2d 748 ].) We conclude the trial court correctly determined that the prosecutor adequately explained the exercise of her peremptory challenges in such a way as to demonstrate they were not based on group bias. (Id. at p. 281.) We also reject Charron’s additional claims of evidentiary and sentencing error. Accordingly, we affirm.

Factual and Procedural Background

In 1980, Linna Forrester worked as a registered sales assistant in the La Jolla office of Paine Webber. Working under the supervision of a stockbroker, Forrester was permitted to handle a few accounts, mostly those of family members and close friends. On July 12, 1980, Forrester was introduced to Charron and his…