People v. Hunter CA2/7

── People v. Hunter CA2/7 ── Court: California Court of Appeal Date: June 04, 2026 Category: General Filed 6/4/26 P. v. Hunter CA2/7 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT DIVISION SEVEN THE PEOPLE, B343311 Plaintiff and Respondent, (Los Angeles County Super. Ct. No. 24ARCF00689) v. LARYRECE HUNTER, Defendant and Appellant. APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Christopher W. Dybwad, Judge. Affirmed. Leonard J. Klaif, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. No appearance for Plaintiff and Respondent. __________________________  INTRODUCTION After the trial court denied his request for mental health diversion, Laryrece Hunter pleaded no contest to assault with a semiautomatic weapon and admitted firearm and great bodily injury allegations. The trial court sentenced Hunter to prison for 12 years. Hunter appeals from the judgment, challenging the order denying his request for mental health diversion. The trial court denied his request for a certificate of probable cause. We appointed counsel to represent Hunter on appeal. After reviewing the record counsel for Hunter filed a brief pursuant to People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436 that did not identify any arguable issues. After independently reviewing the record, we have not identified any either. Therefore, we affirm. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND While stopped at a red light one evening in April 2024, Hunter, without provocation, fired a semiautomatic ghost gun at the car next to him. All four bullets hit the car; two of them struck one of the three people in the car in the leg and buttocks. Hunter fled the scene and threw the gun into a dumpster behind a pizza restaurant, but returned later that night to retrieve the weapon. Police were able to locate Hunter by analyzing cell phone pings, license plate reader data, video footage, and a witness’s identification. The People charged Hunter with three counts of assault with a semiautomatic weapon (Pen. Code, § 245, subd. (b)),1 one count of shooting at an inhabited vehicle (§ 246), and 1 Statutory references are to the Penal Code. 2 one count of possessing a firearm as a felon (§ 29800, subd. (a)(1)). The People alleged that Hunter inflicted great bodily injury, within the meaning of section 12022.7, subdivision (a), and that he personally used a firearm, within the meaning of section 12022.5, subdivisions (a) and (d). The People further alleged Hunter “suffered prior convictions as an adult and sustained petitions in juvenile delinquency proceedings that are numerous and of increasing seriousness, within the meaning of California Rules of Court, rule 4.421(b)(2).” At a pretrial hearing counsel for Hunter advised the trial court Hunter wanted “to pursue mental health diversion” under section 1001.36. Hunter subsequently filed a psychological evaluation by a psychologist. The psychologist stated Hunter “reported that he experiences auditory and visual hallucinations and paranoia and feels that he is watched and is in danger” and that he is “depressed at times and is agitated at times.” The psychologist also stated Hunter admitted that he used methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cannabis prior to committing the current offense and that he “attended the Tarzana Treatment Center in 2024 and completed the three month residential treatment prog