People v. Thompson CA5

INTRODUCTION

Appellant/defendant Michael Thompson pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon and was sentenced to nine years pursuant to a negotiated disposition. On appeal, his appellate counsel has filed a brief that summarizes the facts with citations to the record, raises no issues, and asks this court to independently review the record. (People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436 (Wende).) We affirm.

FACTS

On the evening of September 15, 2013, Thomas Cazares was walking around an apartment complex with his wife and child. Defendant walked by, and Cazares noticed defendant was looking at his wife. Cazares asked defendant if there was a problem. Defendant approached Cazares and cursed him. Defendant pulled a knife, and Cazares’s family ran away and called the police. Defendant used his closed fist and punched Cazares twice on the right side of the head. Defendant swung the knife at Cazares five or six times. Cazares suffered three to four stab wounds on his hand. An officer responded and found defendant walking in the area. The officer ordered defendant to the ground. Defendant refused. He used racial slurs and profanity toward the officer, taunted the officer to shoot him,…