People v. Ortiz CA2/3

BACKGROUND

Viewed in accordance with the usual rule of appellate review (People v. Ochoa (1993) 6 Cal.4th 1199, 1206), the evidence established the following. 1. Prosecution evidence. On March 29, 2012,2 Los Angeles Police Officer Robert Castruita arrested Manuel Quintero and found in his possession a key to Room 205 at the Vagabond Inn motel. Castruita obtained a search warrant and searched the room on March 30. He found 111 grams of methamphetamine in a clear plastic bag. He also found a handgun, a digital scale, empty plastic baggies, and a binder containing what appeared to be a pay-owe sheet. According to the Vagabond Inn’s registration records, Quintero and Ortiz had rented Room 205 from March 26 until March 30, although it was Ortiz who checked in. The records showed that on March 30, Quintero and Ortiz moved to Room 203. Then on March 31, Ortiz alone moved to Room 210. Officer Castruita returned to the Vagabond Inn on the night of March 31 and found Ortiz in the parking lot. She told him that she “was staying in Room 210.” After confirming this with the Inn, Castruita detained Ortiz and obtained her consent to search Room 210. In a nightstand, Castruita found a black…