Does a court err by failing to instruct on attempted criminal threat as a lesser included offense of criminal threat?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Steffes, B253094 (Cal. App. 2015):

In view of the evidence discussed above, the trial court did not err by failing to instruct on attempted criminal threat as a lesser included offense of criminal threat because there is no substantial evidence that defendant committed the lesser offense, but not the greater. (People v. Breverman, supra, 19 Cal.4th at p. 162.)

The Attorney General correctly states that the trial court orally imposed a one year term for defendant's section 667.5, subdivision (b) enhancement, but neither the minute order for the sentencing hearing nor the abstract of judgment reflects that term. The Attorney General asks that we order the abstract of judgment modified accordingly. Defendant does not address the issue in his reply brief. Although the trial court stated at the sentencing hearing that he was sentencing defendant to a term of 16 years, four months (the total term reflected on the abstract of judgment, but a term that would not include a one year term under section 667.5, subdivision (b)), it expressly stated that it was imposing "an additional year" "for the prior prison term." Accordingly, we order the abstract of judgment modified to reflect the trial court's oral imposition of a one year term for defendant's section 667.5, subdivision (b) enhancement. (People v. Crabtree (2009) 169 Cal.App.4th 1293, 1328.)

Other Questions


Does a court err by failing to instruct on attempted criminal threat as a lesser included offense of criminal threat? (California, United States of America)
What is the test for a jury to consider whether to consider the lesser included charge of attempted voluntary manslaughter as a lesser included offense of attempted premeditated murder? (California, United States of America)
Is there any instructional error in general criminal intent instruction used by the trial court to include counts 4 and 7 in the General Criminal intent instruction? (California, United States of America)
On appeal, if the trial court improperly failed to instruct on a lesser included offense, does the court have to re-examine the facts of the case? (California, United States of America)
Does the Attorney General have any authority to instruct the jury on the lesser included offense of attempted criminal threats? (California, United States of America)
What is the test for a defendant's claim that the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury as to the lesser included offense of involuntary manslaughter? (California, United States of America)
What is the de novo standard of review applied to determine whether the trial court erred in failing to instruct on a lesser included offense? (California, United States of America)
What is the test for applying the independent or de novo standard of review to a failure by a trial court to instruct on an uncharged offense that is assertedly lesser than, and included in the charged offense? (California, United States of America)
Does a jury have a duty to instruct the jury on voluntary manslaughter and attempted voluntary manslaughter as lesser included offenses of murder and attempted murder? (California, United States of America)
When a defendant is charged with conspiracy to commit a lesser included crime, what is the duty of the court to instruct the jury on all necessarily included offenses? (California, United States of America)
X



Alexi white


"The most advanced legal research software ever built."

Trusted by top litigators from across North America.