People v. Ervin

Opinion

CHIN, J.

Defendant Curtis Lee Ervin appeals from a judgment of the Alameda County Superior Court imposing the death penalty following his conviction of first degree murder (Pen. Code, § 187),1 accompanied by a special-circumstance finding that he committed the murder for financial gain (§ 190.2, subd. (a)(1)). Defendant’s appeal is automatic. (§ 1239, subd. (b).) We affirm the judgment in its entirety.

I. Facts

The record shows that codefendant Robert McDonald hired defendant Ervin and codefendant Arestes Robinson to kill McDonald’s former wife, Carlene McDonald, for $2,500. On November…