People v. Murphy CA2/1

BACKGROUND

On June 26, 2012, appellant grabbed 18-year-old S.V. by her arm when she was walking up her apartment building stairs. He held her arm, so she could not break free, told her she was his “bitch,” and said she had to “work” for him on Lankershim, meaning Lankershim Avenue in Los Angeles. Appellant then put his hand inside S.V.’s shirt and touched her breast. Appellant said he knew which apartment she lived in and stated if she did not work for him he would kill her. After S.V. reported the incident to the police, Los Angeles Police Officer Tara Munjekovich of the Vice Unit initiated an undercover operation. Munjekovich arranged a meeting with appellant at which she told appellant she had been working as a prostitute and heard she could make “good money” on Lankershim. Appellant told her she could make about a thousand dollars a night “working” on Lankershim, and offered to “set her up.” When she asked how much money she could keep, he told her he did not let his “girls” keep any money, so she would have to give him all the cash she made. When she asked about competition from other girls, appellant told Munjekovich he “ran the show” and would “take care of everything.” He…