People v. Frandsen CA2/8

BACKGROUND

The charges against defendant arose from events that occurred in late 2002. Shane Huang, a friend of defendant’s, grew marijuana illegally at his home in Canoga Park. Sometime in November 2002, Huang discovered evidence of a burglary at his home and the theft of $6,000 worth of marijuana. Huang suspected Ben Wertzberger and Adar Ne’eman of the theft. Wertzberger helped Huang with the grow operation in exchange for a place to stay. Ne’eman was a friend of Wertzberger’s visiting from Israel. (People v. Frandsen (2019) 33 Cal.App.5th 1126, 1129–1130.) On December 2, 2002, defendant, at the request of Huang, went to Huang’s home with his longtime friend, Nick Turner. Wertzberger and Ne’eman were there, seated together on a couch in the living room. Two others, Jamil Kharboutli and Joseph Pistone, were also there, having also been beckoned by Huang who claimed to have caught the marijuana thieves. (People v. Frandsen, supra, 33 Cal.App.5th at pp. 1130–1131.) Huang, with the assistance of defendant, Turner, Kharboutli and Pistone, held Wertzberger and Ne’eman captive inside the house. Huang angrily interrogated and threatened both men for a long time. Defendant is a former…