Phillips

Before this court, Nathaniel Phillips asserts that sufficient evidence did not support his conviction for a violation of Penal Code section 647.6, subdivision (a)(1) because there was no evidence that he directed his criminal conduct towards a specific child as required by the statute. Based on our review of the statutory language and its purpose to protect all children from sexual predators, we find sufficient evidence to support the conviction. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

On a schoolday in mid-March 2009 about 3:00 p.m., 15-year-old S.L., a Compton High School student, and two friends left the school grounds. They walked on the sidewalk next to the high school; S.L. was walking to Kennedy Elementary School to pick up her younger sister. As they walked, S.L. observed a car parked next to the curb in front of the high school. A man, later identified as Phillips, sat in the driver’s seat of the car. The passenger side door of the car was closed but the window was open. As S.L., who is five feet seven inches tall, walked by the passenger side door she glanced into the car. She saw Phillips masturbating; he had his hand on his…