People v. Ellison CA6

── People v. Ellison CA6 ── Court: California Court of Appeal Date: June 04, 2026 Category: General Filed 6/4/26 P. v. Ellison CA6 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT THE PEOPLE, H052931 (Monterey County Plaintiff and Respondent, Super. Ct. No. 23CR008881) v. MICHAEL ELLISON, Defendant and Appellant. Defendant Michael Ellison was convicted by jury of first degree murder (count 1), three counts of assault by a life prisoner (counts 2, 4, and 6), attempted murder of a peace officer (count 3), and attempted murder (count 5). As relevant to the appeal, the jury found defendant committed the murder and both attempted murders with premeditation and deliberation. The charges stemmed from three separate incidents that took place while defendant was in prison. Defendant contends the trial court committed prejudicial error when it granted the prosecution’s request for consolidation of the charges. He further argues consolidation violated his constitutional rights to due process and a fair trial. As we will explain, we see no prejudicial error and will affirm the judgment. I. BACKGROUND A. COUNTS 1 AND 2 At the time of the events in April 2018, defendant was incarcerated at Salinas Valley State Prison. While inmates were exercising in the prison yard, correctional officer Julian Narvaez saw an inmate named Jason Lewis seated at a picnic table with defendant standing behind him. Defendant started punching Lewis in the back, and Narvaez reacted by telling all of the inmates in the yard to get down on the ground. Most of the inmates complied, but defendant and Lewis did not. Lewis “got up from the table and was trying to back away from” defendant but “was unsuccessful at defending himself, falling to the floor.” As Lewis fell, “the strikes that were punches turned into a stabbing-like motion.” Narvaez saw blood on Lewis’s shirt. Defendant crouched next to Lewis and continued stabbing him. He did not stop until officers approached him. The “skirmish line” that responded to the incident included correctional officers Xochitl Gonzales and Rogelio Lopez, Jr., who both testified at trial and corroborated Narvaez’s account. As officers subdued defendant, he attempted to discard an object. Officers recovered the object, which appeared to be an inmate-manufactured weapon. It was made of metal with a cloth handle and was between eight and nine inches long. Lewis later died from his injuries. B. COUNTS 3 AND 4 In July 2019, defendant was housed in the “administrative segregation” wing at Soledad State Prison. Correctional officers Marvin Bonilla and Thomas Cleary escorted defendant to the shower. When Bonilla removed defendant’s handcuffs, defendant “spun around” and “stepped out of the shower.” Defendant said, “Come on” and “rushed” toward Cleary, “swinging” and “punching” at him. The officers unsuccessfully attempted to subdue defendant with pepper spray. Defendant continued swinging his arms at Cleary, making contact with Cleary’s face. Cleary pushed defendant away and Bonilla “tried to get a hold of him,” but Bonilla was unable “to take him down to the floor.” Bonilla slipped and fell on the floor, allowing defendant to break free and rush at Cleary again. Defendant also slipped and fell but continued swinging at Cleary, making contact with Cleary’s leg. Bonilla got up and grabbed defendant from behind, at which p