P. v. Morales CA2/7
Arthur R. Morales appeals from a judgment of conviction entered after he pleaded guilty to two counts of second degree murder. The information charged Morales with two counts of first degree murder, and specially alleged the multiple murders qualified as a special circumstance and Morales personally used a deadly or dangerous weapon in the commission of the offenses. Morales pleaded not guilty to the underlying charges and not guilty by reason of insanity. Subsequently, as part of a negotiated plea, Morales conditionally pleaded guilty to two counts of second degree murder in exchange for dismissal of the first degree murder counts and the special allegations, conditioned on his being found sane in the sanity trial. Morales did not withdraw his plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. After Morales waived his right to a jury trial, the trial court found Morales was sane at the time of commission of the offenses.
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