People v. Bland CA2/7

INTRODUCTION

A jury convicted Trickell Leon Bland (appellant) of aggravated mayhem (Pen. Code, § 205, count 1)1 and infliction of corporal injury on a cohabitant (§ 273.5, subd. (a), count 2). As to count 2, the jury found appellant personally inflicted great bodily injury under circumstances involving domestic violence. (§ 12022.7, subd. (e).) Although appellant was also charged with mayhem (§ 203, count 3), the jury did not reach a verdict as to that charge, which was later dismissed. As to count 1, the trial court sentenced appellant to life in prison with the possibility of parole. As to counts 2 and 3, the trial court sentenced appellant to nine and eight years in prison, respectively, and stayed imposition of those sentences pursuant to section 654. The court awarded appellant 263 days of presentence custody and conduct credits. On appeal, appellant raises five arguments: (1) the trial court prejudicially erred when it refused to give a pinpoint instruction on hallucinations; (2) the trial court prejudicially erred when it refused to give a character-evidence instruction; (3) even if the trial court’s rulings as to the hallucinations and character-evidence instructions do…