People v. Jones CA4/2

I.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

1. The prosecution’s case

At trial, the prosecution presented the following evidence in the form of recorded

statements by defendants and testimony of an informant, the informant’s brother, the

victim of the attempted robbery, and several police officers.

3 a. The informant and the plan to commit robbery

Johnny Crummie, who has worked as a paid police informant for over 15 years,

testified that in April 2013, he and defendant Bezada were both attending the same class

in Victorville.5 Crummie told the class during introductions that he was from Compton,

that he had been convicted of felonies, and that he had served time in prison on multiple

occasions.

On April 8, 2013, Bezada approached Crummie during a break in class and told

him that he (Bezada) had a robbery “gig” for them. Crummie had no intention of

participating, but went along with the conversation and tried to get as much information

about the robbery as possible so he could inform law enforcement. Bezada told Crummie

they would rob a house that he had previously worked at in Oak Hills. He said it was

owned by a couple that was “old and helpless, so [they] would kill…