People v. Pickett CA2/2

I. Facts

A. The underlying crimes One morning in September 1997, defendant entered a liquor store in Artesia, California. He jumped over the counter, pointed a gun at the owner, and announced a holdup. A struggle ensued during which the store owner was shot, and a stray bullet struck a customer at the other side of the counter. Defendant grabbed $9 from the cash register and fled. Defendant then went on a crime spree and committed a string of armed robberies. In late November 1997, he robbed two people at a market in Long Beach, California, and threatened to shoot one of them in the head. In mid-December 1997, he committed a robbery in Torrance, California. In late December 1997, he and an armed companion committed three more robberies in the Long Beach area. Finally, in February 1998,

For the sake of simplicity, we will refer to the section by its new numbering only.

The following facts are drawn from this court’s nonpublished decision in defendant’s direct appeal from his conviction. (People v. Pickett (Mar. 6, 2000, B130830) [nonpub. opn.].)

2 defendant robbed three people in Bellflower, California, and threatened to kill all three of them when one of the male…