People v. Williams

I. INTRODUCTION

Defendant Kenneth Dentario Williams appeals from his conviction of: possession of a firearm by a felon (Pen. Code, § 12021, subd. (a)(1) — count 1); possession of methamphetamine (Health & Saf. Code, § 11377, subd. (a) — a lesser offense in count 2); possession of a controlled substance while armed (Health & Saf. Code, § 11370.1 — count 3); possession of ammunition by a felon (Pen. Code, § 12316, subd. (b)(1) — count 4); and participation in a criminal street gang (Pen. Code, § 186.22, subd. (a) — count 5), along with the true findings on allegations as to counts 2 through 4 that defendant committed the crimes for the benefit of a criminal street gang (Pen. Code, § 186.22, subd. (b)).

Although framed under a variety of headings — trial court abuse of discretion, trial court misconduct, and prosecutorial misconduct — defendant’s principal argument is that it was error to admit evidence about dozens of contacts defendant and fellow gang members had with law enforcement, regardless of whether those contacts had led to convictions or even to arrests, and regardless of whether the evidence had any reliable basis. Although we find plain error in the admission…