People v. Nance CA4/2

I. BACKGROUND

Lafe Humble had moved to Rialto from Kentucky to be closer to family. He

worked part-time for his sister and drove a red truck with out-of-state license plates.

On June 15, 2011, Humble’s sister paid Humble $300 in hundred-dollar bills for

work he had done that day. Humble did not have a bank account, so he added the $300 to

the $1,800 cash he already had in his wallet.

That night, he went to drink at El Toro Bar and Grill. He eventually asked the

bartender to call him a cab while also expressing concern about leaving his truck in the

parking lot overnight. Defendant Whipple, who had been working in the bar section that

night, agreed to drive Humble home in his truck.

Whipple drove Humble in his truck to a gas station. Footage from the gas station

showed that defendant Nance followed Humble’s truck in a blue car. After purchasing

1 Undesignated statutory references are to the Penal Code.

2 gas and making another stop at a convenience store, they made their way to Robin

Peterson’s house, where Whipple lived.

Peterson did not like Whipple bringing strangers to the house. Whipple whispered

to Peterson: “I’m sorry I brought this guy to your house. He has…