Thiessen

Two juries convicted three defendants based on an incident where driveby shooters wounded both their target, Joseph (“Mexicuz”) Fresquez, and a bystander, Jamila Williams. One jury convicted Sandor Torres (“Loco”) Thiessen of two counts of attempted premeditated murder and two counts of shooting from an occupied vehicle, and found true firearm enhancements appended to each count. (Pen. Code, §§ 664, 187, subd. (a); former § 12034, subd. (c); § 12022.53, subd. (b).) Another jury convicted Juan Jose (“Puppet”) Ramirez and Marvin (“Shorty”) Orantes of one count of attempted premeditated murder and two counts of shooting from a vehicle, but deadlocked on firearm enhancements against Ramirez. The trial court sentenced Thiessen to prison for 14 years to life plus 20 years and sentenced Ramirez and Orantes to prison for seven years to life plus five years. Defendants appealed.

On appeal, Thiessen contends the trial court erred in denying his motion to exclude his inculpatory statements which he argues were involuntary. We disagree. Thiessen also contends no substantial evidence supports the finding that he personally used a firearm. We address this contention in the published…