Consecutive Sentences for Crimes in Different Times and Locations

In People v. Jones (1998) 67 Cal.App.4th 724, defendant was sentenced to consecutive 25-years-to-life terms for burglary, forgery and intimidation of a witness. Defendant contended that the burglary was the "'original' crime and the other two offenses were 'in furtherance of the objective of the burglary.'" (Id. at p. 728.) The Court of Appeal concluded that the crimes were not committed on the same occasion and did not arise from the same operative facts. The burglary was committed at a residence, the forgery was based on cashing a check and the dissuading of a witness was based upon the calls and threats made to a witness. (Id. at p. 729.) Consecutive sentences were mandated for the crimes because they occurred at different times and locations and were based on different facts.