People v. Giraldes CA6

I. BACKGROUND

A. Factual Summary2 In 1991, Guillermo Chavez ran a drug ring that sold high grade cocaine. Alexander Fry and Peter Jouron worked for Chavez, distributing cocaine and collecting drug debts. Giraldes sold drugs for Chavez. Willie Lee Shackelford acted as a runner for Giraldes. Shackelford also worked at a used car dealership partly owned by Kourosh Saghafian. Giraldes lived with brothers Rosario and Michael Grasso. Saghafian and the Grasso brothers were among Chavez’s customers. Tension developed between Chavez and Fry and Jouron, in part because Chavez suspected that Fry and Jouron were diluting his cocaine. In October 1991, Chavez told his brother and another man that Fry and Jouron were planning to kill him and that he was going to kill them first. Giraldes disliked Fry and Jouron and told Saghafian he wanted to get rid of them. Giraldes also told Saghafian that he was going to put mercury in Jouron’s drink.

2 We take the facts from our prior opinion in People v. Giraldes, et al. (June 22, 1995, H011038) [nonpub. opn.], (case No. H011038), where they are set forth more fully. On our own motion, we take judicial notice of that prior opinion. (Evid. Code,…