Forrest

This case arose in the courthouse in Chula Vista when defendant Taheedah Forrest physically attacked and threatened her sister-in-law, Patria Smith, who was testifying as a prosecution witness against Forrest’s brother (Smith’s husband) during his robbery trial. In the present case, a jury convicted Forrest of (1) dissuading a witness (Smith) from testifying (count 1; Pen. Code, § 136.1, subd. (a)(1); all further undesignated statutory references will be to the Penal Code unless otherwise specified) and (2) making a criminal threat (count 2; § 422). As to count 1 the jury found to be true an allegation that Forrest committed and attempted to commit that offense through the use of force and an express and implied threat of force (§ 136.1, subd. (c)(1)). The court sentenced Forrest to three years’ formal probation, conditioned on her serving 365 days in jail with credit for time already served.

On appeal Forrest challenges her convictions, contending (1) the court prejudicially erred by allowing an investigator to testify for the prosecution that he had conducted a threat assessment for the district attorney’s office and had determined that Smith should be placed in a…