415. Conspiracy

[I have explained that the defendant may be guilty of a crime if (he/she) either commits the crime or aids and abets the crime. (he/she) may also be guilty if (he/she) is a member of a conspiracy.]

(The defendant[s]/Defendant[s] < insert name[s]>) (is/ are) charged [in Count ______] with conspiracy to commit <insert alleged crime[s]>.

To prove that (the/a) defendant is guilty of this crime, the People must prove that:

1. The defendant intended to agree and did agree with [one or more of] (the other defendant[s]/ [or] <insert name[s] or description[s] of coparticipant[s]>) to commit <insert alleged crime[s]>;

2. At the time of the agreement, the defendant and [one or more of] the other alleged member[s] of the conspiracy intended that one or more of them would commit <insert alleged crime[s]>;

3. (The/One of the) defendant[s][,] [or <insert name[s] or description[s] of coparticipant[s]>][,] [or (both/ all) of them] committed [at least one of] the alleged overt act[s] to accomplish <insert alleged crime[s]>;

AND

4. At least one of these overt acts was committed in California.

To decide whether the defendant and [one or more of] the other alleged member[s] of the conspiracy intended to commit <insert alleged crime[s]>, please refer to the separate instructions that I (will give/have given) you on (that/those) crime[s].

The People must prove that the members of the alleged conspiracy had an agreement and intent to commit <insert alleged crime[s]>. The People do not have to prove that any of the members of the alleged conspiracy actually met or came to a detailed or formal agreement to commit (that/one or more of those) crime[s]. An agreement may be inferred from conduct if you conclude that members of the alleged conspiracy acted with a common purpose to commit the crime[s].

An overt act is an act by one or more of the members of the conspiracy that is done to help accomplish the agreed upon crime. The overt act must happen after the defendant has agreed to commit the crime. The overt act must be more than the act of agreeing or planning to commit the crime, but it does not have to be a criminal act itself.

[You must all agree that at least one alleged overt act was committed in California by at least one alleged member of the conspiracy, but you do not have to all agree on which specific overt act or acts were committed or who committed the overt act or acts.]

[You must make a separate decision as to whether each defendant was a member of the alleged conspiracy.]

[The People allege that the defendant conspired to commit the following crimes: <insert alleged crime[s]>. You may not find the defendant guilty of conspiracy unless all of you agree that the People have proved that the defendant conspired to commit at least one of these crimes, and you all agree which crime (he/she) conspired to commit.] [You must also all agree on the degree of the crime.]

[A member of a conspiracy does not have to personally know the identity or roles of all the other members.]

[Someone who merely accompanies or associates with members of a conspiracy but who does not intend to commit the crime is not a member of the conspiracy.]

[Evidence that a person did an act or made a statement that helped accomplish the goal of the conspiracy is not enough, by itself, to prove that the person was a member of the conspiracy.]

Bench Notes

Instructional Duty

The court has a sua sponte duty to give this instruction defining the elements of the crime when the defendant is charged with conspiracy. (See People v. Morante (1999) 20 Cal.4th 403, 416 [84 Cal.Rptr.2d 665, 975 P.2d 1071].) If the defendant is charged with conspiracy to commit murder, do not give this instruction. Give CALCRIM No. 563, Conspiracy to Commit Murder. If the defendant is not charged with conspiracy but evidence of a conspiracy has been admitted for another purpose, do not give this instruction. Give CALCRIM No. 416, Evidence of Uncharged Conspiracy.

The court has a sua sponte duty to instruct on the elements of the offense alleged to be the target of the conspiracy. (People v. Cortez (1998) 18 Cal.4th 1223, 1238-1239 [77 Cal.Rptr.2d 733, 960 P.2d 537]; People v. Fenenbock (1996) 46 Cal.App.4th 1688, 1706 [54 Cal.Rptr.2d 608].) Give all appropriate instructions defining the elements of the offense or offenses alleged as targets of the conspiracy.

The court has a sua sponte duty to give a unanimity instruction if "the evidence suggested two discrete crimes, i.e., two discrete conspiracies . . . ." (People v. Russo (2001) 25 Cal.4th 1124, 1135 [108 Cal.Rptr.2d 436, 25 P.3d 641]; see also People v. Diedrich (1982) 31 Cal.3d 263, 285- 286 [182 Cal.Rptr. 354, 643 P.2d 971].) A unanimity instruction is not required if there is "merely possible uncertainty on how the defendant is guilty of a particular conspiracy." (People v. Russo, supra, 25 Cal.4th at p. 1135.) Thus, the jury need not unanimously agree as to what overt act was committed or who was part of the conspiracy. (People v. Russo, supra, 25 Cal.4th at pp. 1135-1136.) However, it appears that a unanimity instruction is required when the prosecution alleges multiple crimes that may have been the target of the conspiracy. (See People v. Diedrich, supra, 31 Cal.3d at pp. 285-286 [approving of unanimity instruction as to crime that was target of conspiracy]; but see People v. Vargas (2001) 91 Cal.App.4th 506, 560-561, 564 [110 Cal.Rptr.2d 210] [not error to decline to give unanimity instruction; if was error, harmless].) Give the bracketed paragraph that begins, "The People alleged that the defendant[s] conspired to commit the following crimes," if multiple crimes are alleged as target offenses of the conspiracy. Give the bracketed sentence regarding the degree of the crime if any target felony has different punishments for different degrees. (See Pen. Code, § 182(a).) The court must also give the jury a verdict form on which it can state the specific crime or crimes that the jury unanimously agrees the defendant conspired to commit.

In addition, if a conspiracy case involves an issue regarding the statute of limitations or evidence of withdrawal by the defendant, a unanimity instruction may be required. (People v. Russo, supra, 25 Cal.4th at p. 1136, fn. 2; see also Related Issues section below on statute of limitations.)

In elements 1 and 3, insert the names or descriptions of alleged coconspirators if they are not defendants in the trial. (See People v. Liu (1996) 46 Cal.App.4th 1119, 1131 [54 Cal.Rptr.2d 578].) See also the Commentary section below.

Give the bracketed sentence that begins with "You must make a separate decision," if more than one defendant is charged with conspiracy. (See People v. Fulton (1984) 155 Cal.App.3d 91, 101 [201 Cal.Rptr. 879]; People v. Crain (1951) 102 Cal.App.2d 566, 581-582 [288 P.2d 307].)

Give the bracketed sentence that begins with "A member of a conspiracy does not have to personally know," on request if there is evidence that the defendant did not personally know all the alleged coconspirators. (See People v. Van Eyk (1961) 56 Cal.2d 471, 479 [15 Cal.Rptr. 150, 364 P.2d 326].)

Give the two final bracketed sentences on request. (See People v. Toledo-Corro (1959) 174 Cal.App.2d 812, 820 [345 P.2d 528].)

Defenses—Instructional Duty

If there is sufficient evidence that the defendant withdrew from the alleged conspiracy, the court has a sua sponte duty to give CALCRIM No. 420, Withdrawal from Conspiracy.

Authority

Elements. Pen. Code, §§ 182(a), 183; People v. Morante (1999) 20 Cal.4th 403, 416 [84 Cal.Rptr.2d 655, 975 P.2d 1071]; People v. Swain (1996) 12 Cal.4th 593, 600 [49 Cal.Rptr.2d 390, 909 P.2d 994]; People v. Liu (1996) 46 Cal.App.4th 1119, 1128 [54 Cal.Rptr.2d 578].

Overt Act Defined. Pen. Code, § 184; People v. Saugstad (1962) 203 Cal.App.2d 536, 549-550 [21 Cal.Rptr. 740]; People v. Zamora (1976) 18 Cal.3d 538, 549, fn. 8 [134 Cal.Rptr. 784, 557 P.2d 75]; see People v. Brown (1991) 226 Cal.App.3d 1361, 1368 [277 Cal.Rptr. 309];

People v. Tatman (1993) 20 Cal.App.4th 1, 10-11 [24 Cal.Rptr.2d 480].

Association Alone Not a Conspiracy. People v. Drolet (1973) 30 Cal.App.3d 207, 218 [105 Cal.Rptr. 824]; People v. Toledo-Corro (1959) 174 Cal.App.2d 812, 820 [345 P.2d 529].

Elements of Underlying Offense. People v. Cortez (1998) 18 Cal.4th 1223, 1238-1239 [77 Cal.Rptr.2d 733, 960 P.2d 537]; People v. Fenenbock (1996) 46 Cal.App.4th 1688, 1706 [54 Cal.Rptr.2d 608].

Two Specific Intents. People v. Miller (1996) 46 Cal.App.4th 412, 423-426 [53 Cal.Rptr.2d 773].

Unanimity on Specific Overt Act Not Required. People v. Russo (2001) 25 Cal.4th 1124, 1133-1135 [108 Cal.Rptr.2d 436, 25 P.3d 641].

Unanimity on Target Offenses of Single Conspiracy. People v. Diedrich (1982) 31 Cal.3d 263, 285-286 [182 Cal.Rptr. 354, 643 P.2d 971]; People v. Vargas (2001) 91 Cal.App.4th 506, 560-561, 564 [110 Cal.Rptr.2d 210].

Secondary Sources

1 Witkin & Epstein, California Criminal Law (3d ed. 2000) Elements, §§ 68-97.

4 Millman, Sevilla & Tarlow, California Criminal Defense Practice, Ch. 85, Submission to Jury and Verdict, §§ 85.02[2][a][i], 85.03[2][d] (Matthew Bender).

6 Millman, Sevilla & Tarlow, California Criminal Defense Practice, Ch. 141, Conspiracy, Solicitation, and Attempt, §§ 141.01, 141.02, 141.10 (Matthew Bender).

Commentary

It is sufficient to refer to coconspirators in the accusatory pleading as "persons unknown." (People v. Sacramento Butchers' Protective Ass'n (1910) 12 Cal.App. 471, 483 [107 P. 712]; People v. Roy (1967) 251 Cal.App.2d 459, 463 [59 Cal.Rptr. 636]; see 1 Witkin & Epstein, California Criminal Law (3d ed. 2000) Elements, § 82.) Nevertheless, this instruction assumes the prosecution has named at least two members of the alleged conspiracy, whether charged or not.

Lesser Included Offenses

The court has a sua sponte duty to instruct the jury on a lesser included target offense if there is substantial evidence from which the jury could find a conspiracy to commit that offense. (People v. Horn (1974) 12 Cal.3d 290, 297 [115 Cal.Rptr. 516, 524 P.2d 1300], disapproved on other ground in People v. Cortez (1998) 18 Cal.4th 1223, 1237-1238 [77 Cal.Rptr.2d 733, 960 P.2d 537]; People v. Cook (2001) 91 Cal.App.4th 910, 918 [111 Cal.Rptr.2d 204]; People v. Kelley (1990) 220 Cal.App.3d 1358, 1365- 1366, 1369 [269 Cal.Rptr. 900]. Alternatively, the court may look to the overt acts in the accusatory pleadings to determine if it has a duty to instruct on any lesser included offenses to the charged conspiracy. (People v. Cook, supra, 91 Cal.App.4th at pp. 919-920, 922; contra, People v. Fenenbock (1996) 46 Cal.App.4th 1688, 1708-1709 [54 Cal.Rptr.2d 608] [court should examine description of agreement in pleading, not description of overt acts, to decide whether lesser offense was necessarily the target of the conspiracy].)

Related Issues

Acquittal of Coconspirators

The "rule of consistency" has been abandoned in conspiracy cases. The acquittal of all alleged conspirators but one does not require the acquittal of the remaining alleged conspirator. (People v. Palmer (2001) 24 Cal.4th 856, 858, 864-865 [103 Cal.Rptr.2d 13, 15 P.3d 234].)

Conspiracy to Collect Insurance Proceeds

A conspiracy to commit a particular offense does not necessarily include a conspiracy to collect insurance proceeds. (People v. Leach (1975) 15 Cal.3d 419, 435 [124 Cal.Rptr. 752, 541 P.2d 296].)

Death of Coconspirator

A surviving conspirator is liable for proceeding with an overt act after the death of his or her coconspirator. (People v. Alleyne (2000) 82 Cal.App.4th 1256, 1262-1262 [98 Cal.Rptr.2d 737.)

Factual Impossibility

Factual impossibility of accomplishing a substantive crime is not a defense to conspiracy to commit that crime. (People v. Liu (1996) 46 Cal.App.4th 1119, 1130-1131 [54 Cal.Rptr.2d 578]; see also United States v. Jimenez

Recio (2003) 537 U.S. 270, 274-275 [123 S.Ct. 819, 154 L.Ed.2d 744] [rejecting the rule that a conspiracy ends when the object of the conspiracy is defeated].)

Statute of Limitations

The defendant may assert the statute of limitations defense for any felony that is the primary object of the conspiracy. The limitations period begins to run with the last overt act committed in furtherance of the conspiracy. (Parnell v. Superior Court (1981) 119 Cal.App.3d 392, 410 [173 Cal.Rptr. 906]; People v. Crosby (1962) 58 Cal.2d 713, 728 [25 Cal.Rptr. 847, 375 P.2d 839]; see Pen. Code, §§ 800, 801.) If the substantive offense that is the primary object of the conspiracy is successfully attained, the statute begins to run at the same time as for the substantive offense. (People v. Zamora (1976) 18 Cal.3d 538, 560 [134 Cal.Rptr. 784, 557 P.2d 75].) "[W]here there is a question regarding the statute of limitations, a trial court may be required to give a form of unanimity instruction obligating the jury to agree an overt act was committed within the limitations period." (See People v. Russo (2001) 25 Cal.4th 1124, 1136, fn. 2 [108 Cal.Rptr.2d 436, 25 P.3d 641] [dicta].) See generally CALCRIM No. 3410, Statute of Limitations and CALCRIM No. 3500, Unanimity.

Supplier of Goods or Services

A supplier of lawful goods or services put to an unlawful use is not liable for criminal conspiracy unless he or she both knows of the illegal use of the goods or services and intends to further that use. The latter intent may be established by direct evidence of the supplier's intent to participate, or by inference based on the supplier's special interest in the activity or the aggravated nature of the crime itself. (People v. Lauria (1967) 251 Cal.App.2d 471, 476-477, 482 [59 Cal.Rptr. 628].)

Wharton's Rule

If the cooperation of two or more persons is necessary to commit a substantive crime, and there is no element of an alleged conspiracy that is not present in the substantive crime, then the persons involved cannot be charged with both the substantive crime and conspiracy to commit the substantive crime. (People v. Mayers (1980) 110 Cal.App.3d 809, 815 [168 Cal.Rptr. 252] [known as Wharton's Rule or "concert of action" rule].)

(New January 2006)