People v. Gomez CA2/5

INTRODUCTION

Defendant appeals his convictions for multiple sexual assaults against a single victim, a minor over the age of 14 years. The court sentenced defendant to four consecutive terms of life without the possibility of parole (LWOP). He argues his sentence was unauthorized because he was not provided with due process notice that he could be sentenced to LWOP. Defendant also asserts that the court prejudicially erred by admitting evidence of his sexual attack on another woman. We affirm.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

1. Defendant’s Sexual Assault of Victim I.Q. On July 23, 2016, around 9:00 p.m., 16-year-old I.Q., the victim in the present case, was walking home alone, looking at her cell phone, and listening to music on her headphones when she passed defendant standing against a wall. Defendant grabbed I.Q. by the hair and asked her if she wanted to die. Defendant pressed an object wrapped in a green towel against her head; I.Q. thought it was a gun. Defendant covered I.Q.’s mouth and pushed her into the passenger seat of a car. Defendant climbed over her and got into the driver’s seat. He then grabbed I.Q. by the hair, pulled her head down toward his lap, and…