People v. Renteria CA2/8

FACTS

In September 2011, Renteria was in custody in the Los Angeles County Men’s Central Jail.1 On September 9, 2011, Renteria got out of his cell and ran into a nearby shower area where he used a “shank” made with a razor blade to slash another inmate repeatedly. At the time of the attack, the victim inmate was about to be escorted from the shower area back to his cell, and, in accord with normal jail procedures for moving prisoners, was handcuffed behind his back. The victim inmate was a “cooperator” in investigations into activities of the Surenos and Mexican Mafia gangs in the jail system. Renteria’s appeal does not challenge that substantial evidence showed he was an active functionary of the Surenos gang, and that he committed the attack for the benefit of the gang. In late 2011, the People obtained and filed an indictment charging Renteria with attempted murder (§§ 187, subd. (a); 664), with an allegation of premeditation, and with allegations that he personally used a deadly weapon (§ 12022, subd. (b)(1), and that he committed the offense for the benefit of a criminal street gang (§ 186.22, subd. (b)). The case was tried to a jury in November 2013.

1 The jury in…