People v. Navarez CA1/4

Background This prosecution was the culmination of a multi-agency law enforcement operation in 2015 which focused on the Norteño criminal street gang in Tulare County. The investigation involved wiretaps of about 34 telephones and live surveillance of suspects. The initial complaint charged approximately 80 individuals with 157 gang-related crimes. The defendants were subsequently divided into six groups. Defendant was charged by information with five counts:2 conspiracy to commit murder (count 1; §§ 182, subd. (a)(1), 187); conspiracy to receive a stolen vehicle (count 2; §§ 182, subd. (a)(1), 496d); unlawful driving and taking a vehicle (count 3; Veh. Code, § 10851); participating in a criminal street gang conspiracy (count 4; § 182.5); and street terrorism (count 5; § 186.22, subd. (a).) Count 1 included special allegations that the crime was punishable by life imprisonment (§ 186.22, subd. (b)(5)), and that defendant personally used a deadly weapon (§ 12022, subd. (b)(1)).3 Counts 2 and 3 included the special allegation that each crime was committed for the benefit of and in association with a criminal street gang (§ 186.22, subd. (b)(1)(A)). Counts 4 and 5 specially alleged…