People v. Branner CA1/5
Court
California Court of Appeal
Decided
June 25, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Importance
43%
Practice Areas
Case Summary
Filed 6/25/25 P. v. Branner CA1/5 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115. IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT DIVISION FIVE THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, A167564 v. GABRIEL BRANNER, (Contra Costa County Super. Ct. No. 01-22-01292) Defendant and Appellant. Defendant Gabriel Branner appeals a final judgment following his convictions for robberies that were committed on the same day against two small businesses. The jury found true various enhancements, including that he was armed with a firearm. The trial court also found true various aggravating factors and found no mitigating factors. On appeal, Branner argues that the court abused its discretion in imposing a consecutive sentence as to one of the robbery counts. Specifically, he contends that the court relied on two aggravating factors that were unsupported by the evidence—that the crime involved a threat of great bodily harm or a high degree of cruelty and that the victims were particularly vulnerable. We disagree and affirm. 1 I. BACKGROUND A. Procedural History A felony information charged Branner with: (1) unlawful conspiracy to commit robbery with an uncharged co-conspirator (Pen. Code,1 § 182, subd. (a)(1); count 1); (2) second degree robbery (§ 211; counts 2 to 4); and (3) unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon (§ 29800, subd. (a)(1); count 5). With respect to count 1, the information alleged that Branner personally used a firearm (§ 12022.5, subd. (a)) and with respect to counts 2 and 4, that he was armed with a firearm (§ 12022, subd. (a)(1)). The information also alleged, with respect to counts 1 to 3, that Branner suffered a prior serious felony conviction (§ 667, subd. (a)(1)) and a prior strike (§§ 667, subds. (d), (e); 1170.12, subds. (b), (c)). Finally, the information alleged various aggravating factors under California Rules of Court, rule 4.421.2 Following trial, the jury found Branner guilty on all counts and found true the arming enhancement (§ 12022, subd. (a)(1)) and the special allegation that he suffered a prior serious or violent felony conviction (§ 667, subd. (a)(1)), which also constituted a prior strike (§§ 667, subds. (d), (e); 1170.12, subds. (b), (c)). Branner waived his right to a jury trial as to the aggravating factors, and the trial court found true six aggravating factors, including that the crime involved great violence, great bodily harm, threat of great bodily harm, or a high degree of cruelty (rule 4.421(a)(1)) and that the victims were particularly vulnerable (rule 4.421(a)(3)). The court also found no mitigating factors. 1 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise specified. 2 Further references to rules are to the California Rules of Court. 2 The trial court sentenced Branner to an aggregate term of 18 years in prison. It designated count 4 (robbery of the first massage spa employee) as the principal term and imposed an aggravated term of five years, doubled to 10 years for the prior strike conviction. On count 2 (robbery of the nail salon employee), the court imposed a consecutive term of one year, doubled to two years for the prior strike. On count 3 (robbery of second massage spa employee), the court imposed a consecutive term of one year and declined to apply the prior strike. On count 5 (possession of firearm), the court imposed a concurrent term of two years. The court then imposed an additional five years for the prior strike (§ 667, subd. (a)) but stayed the imposition of sentence on count 1 (conspiracy) under section 654. Finally, the court struck the arming enhancement pursuant to section 1385 and awarded Branner 359 days of custody credits. Branner timely appealed. B. Robberies On April 30, 2022, around 7:30 p.m., T.L. was working at the cash register of a nail salon in Daly City when he saw two men walk in with masks on.3 He testified that one man was “making the round[s]” while “the other one stay[ed] put just to observe.” The taller of the two men, who was wearing a black top and green pants, approached T.L. and pointed a gun at him. T.L. recalled that the gun was “camo” with a “tan slide
Case Details
Case Details
Legal case information
Status
Decided
Date Decided
June 25, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Court Type
federal
Legal Significance
Case importance metrics
Metadata
Additional information
Quick Actions
Case management tools
Case Summary
Summary of the key points and legal principles
Filed 6/25/25 P. v. Branner CA1/5
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION FIVE
THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, A167564 v. GABRIEL BRANNER, (Contra Costa County Super. Ct. No. 01-22-01292) Defendant and Appellant.
Defendant Gabriel Branner appeals a final judgment following his
convictions for robberies that were committed on the same day against two small businesses. The jury found true various enhancements, including that he was armed with a firearm. The trial court also found true various aggravating factors and found no mitigating factors. On appeal, Branner argues that the court abused its discretion in imposing a consecutive sentence as to one of the robbery counts. Specifically, he contends that the court relied on two aggravating factors that were unsupported by the evidence—that the crime involved a threat of great bodily harm or a high degree of cruelty and that the victims were particularly vulnerable. We disagree and affirm.
1
I. BACKGROUND A. Procedural History A felony information charged Branner with: (1) unlawful conspiracy to commit robbery with an uncharged co-conspirator (Pen. Code,1 § 182, subd. (a)(1); count 1); (2) second degree robbery (§ 211; counts 2 to 4); and (3) unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon (§ 29800, subd. (a)(1); count 5). With respect to count 1, the information alleged that Branner personally used a firearm (§ 12022.5, subd. (a)) and with respect to counts 2 and 4, that he was armed with a firearm (§ 12022, subd. (a)(1)). The information also alleged, with respect to counts 1 to 3, that Branner suffered a prior serious felony conviction (§ 667, subd. (a)(1)) and a prior strike (§§ 667, subds. (d), (e); 1170.12, subds. (b), (c)). Finally, the information alleged various aggravating factors under California Rules of Court, rule 4.421.2 Following trial, the jury found Branner guilty on all counts and found true the arming enhancement (§ 12022, subd. (a)(1)) and the special allegation that he suffered a prior serious or violent felony conviction (§ 667, subd. (a)(1)), which also constituted a prior strike (§§ 667, subds. (d), (e); 1170.12, subds. (b), (c)). Branner waived his right to a jury trial as to the aggravating factors, and the trial court found true six aggravating factors, including that the crime involved great violence, great bodily harm, threat of great bodily harm, or a high degree of cruelty (rule 4.421(a)(1)) and that the victims were particularly vulnerable (rule 4.421(a)(3)). The court also found no mitigating factors.
1 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless
otherwise specified. 2 Further references to rules are to the California Rules of Court.
2
The trial court sentenced Branner to an aggregate term of 18 years in prison. It designated count 4 (robbery of the first massage spa employee) as the principal term and imposed an aggravated term of five years, doubled to 10 years for the prior strike conviction. On count 2 (robbery of the nail salon employee), the court imposed a consecutive term of one year, doubled to two years for the prior strike. On count 3 (robbery of second massage spa employee), the court imposed a consecutive term of one year and declined to apply the prior strike. On count 5 (possession of firearm), the court imposed a concurrent term of two years. The court then imposed an additional five years for the prior strike (§ 667, subd. (a)) but stayed the imposition of sentence on count 1 (conspiracy) under section 654. Finally, the court struck the arming enhancement pursuant to section 1385 and awarded Branner 359 days of custody credits. Branner timely appealed. B. Robberies On April 30, 2022, around 7:30 p.m., T.L. was working at the cash register of a nail salon in Daly City when he saw two men walk in with masks on.3 He testified that one man was “making the round[s]” while “the other one stay[ed] put just to observe.” The taller of the two men, who was wearing a black top and green pants, approached T.L. and pointed a gun at him. T.L. recalled that the gun was “camo” with a “tan slide
Legal Topics
Areas of law covered in this case
Case Information
Detailed case metadata and classifications
Court Proceedings
Document Details
Legal Classification
Similar Cases
Cases with similar legal principles and precedents
Case Details
Legal case information
Status
Decided
Date Decided
June 25, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Court Type
federal
Legal Significance
Case importance metrics
Metadata
Additional information
Quick Actions
Case management tools