P. v. Wood
A jury convicted James Richard Wood of (1) misdemeanor sexual battery (count 1: Pen. Code,[1] 243.4, subd. (e)(1), hereafter referred to as section 243.4(e)(1)), and (2) attempting to dissuade a victim and witness (here, Christina H.) from reporting a crime (count 2: 136.1, subd. (b)(1), hereafter referred to as section 136.1(b)(1)), which the court reduced to a misdemeanor. Count 1 was based on evidence that Wood, a photographer Christina hired to take more than 4,000 photographs of her in sexually suggestive and often nude poses for a calendar for her boyfriend, orally copulated her without her consent. Count 2 was based on evidence that, after Christina reported the incident to the police, Wood sent an e-mail to her warning her it was a crime to file a false police report, she would face a costly civil lawsuit if she continued her criminal complaint against him, and she should instruct a certain police detective to "back off" if she wanted to keep her graphic photographs private. The court suspended imposition of sentence, granted Wood summary probation, and committed him to the custody of the sheriff for 120 days.
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