People v. Aldama CA2/5

I. BACKGROUND

The Los Angeles District Attorney charged defendant with one count of carrying a concealed dirk or dagger in violation of section 21310. The information against defendant additionally alleged he had two prior serious or violent felony convictions. At trial on the charge, Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff Luis Cisneros testified he and his partner were on duty in January 2022 and saw defendant riding a bicycle that appeared to have no brakes. The deputies stopped defendant and saw he was holding an open can of beer. Deputy Cisneros detained defendant, and defendant told him he had two knives in one of his pockets. Deputy Cisneros found the two knives in a sheath “completely concealed” in defendant’s pocket. The knives were over six inches long. The jury found defendant guilty of carrying a concealed dirk or dagger. Defendant admitted one of the prior conviction allegations, but the trial court dismissed that allegation in

2 furtherance of justice. The court sentenced defendant to two years in custody.

II. DISCUSSION

Defendant advances two arguments for reversal. He contends, first, that the trial court erroneously granted the prosecution’s for-cause challenge to a…