People v. Brooks CA2/1

FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS BELOW

A. The People’s Case Landry was a prostitute who worked the streets in Pomona. Landry met defendant Brooks on a “date” and began living with him. She introduced Brooks to her friends as her boyfriend. On a Sunday morning in October 2010 at approximately 2:00 a.m., Brooks and Landry were in their motel room smoking crack cocaine with Vanessa Mayham, Denise Green and others. Mayham testified that she never heard Brooks threaten Landry, and that as far as she knew, there was no physical abuse in their relationship. She had noticed, however,

2 that after Brooks lost his job, Landry had to revert to prostitution to support them both. Landry’s attitude toward Brooks changed as it seemed she “didn’t want to be bothered” with him and they argued in Mayham’s presence. On the morning in question she was smoking crack with Landry but Brooks was only given a little to smoke and he was upset about it. He asked Landry for money but she refused and told him to get his own money. At one point Brooks said something to Landry and she told him to “shut up.” The people in the room were generally ignoring Brooks and he looked embarrassed and angry and was crying.…