People v. Williams CA6

I. BACKGROUND

A. The Evidence Presented at Trial 1. The Prosecution Case On June 16, 2022, Armando Huerta was working for a tree-trimming company in the Santa Cruz mountains. Around noon, after completing a job, he parked his truck on a road under an oak tree, where he could get cell service, and ate his lunch. Williams, who lived near the spot where Huerta parked, approached and asked Huerta what he was doing. When Huerta responded that he was taking his lunch hour, Williams said he was suspicious because there had been robberies in the neighborhood and told Huerta he had guns in his house. Huerta stayed in his truck and worked on invoices, sent e-mails, and made phone calls. About 45 minutes later, Williams returned. This time Williams was angry, he yelled at Huerta and told him he needed to leave, and he called Huerta a child molester and a pervert. Huerta was shocked because he had not seen any children while he was parked. Huerta also was afraid because Williams yelled loud enough that the neighbors could hear these accusations, and Huerta worried that if he left and Williams called the police, it would look like he was guilty and had fled the scene. Huerta therefore…