PC 186.22: Criminal Street Gang Laws

Under California law, there are two separate criminal offenses for gang cases, there is the action of actively participating in a Criminal Street Gang, and also an enhancement for committing crimes in furtherance of that gang.

Legal Definition: (a) ”Any person who actively participates in any criminal street gang with knowledge that its members engage in, or have engaged in, a pattern of criminal gang activity, and who willfully promotes, furthers, or assists in any felonious criminal conduct by members of that gang, shall be punished…”

(b) “any person who is convicted of a felony committed for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with any criminal street gang, with the specific intent to promote, further, or assist in any criminal conduct by gang members, shall, upon conviction of that felony, in addition, and consecutive to the punishment prescribed for the felony or attempted felony of which he or she has been convicted…”

For a person to be convicted of a violation of PC 186.22, the prosecution must show that:

1. The defendant actively participated in a criminal street gang;
2. When you participated in the gang, you knew that members of the gang engage in or have engaged in a pattern of criminal gang activity;

AND

3. You willfully assisted, furthered, or promoted felonious criminal conduct by members of the gang either by:

a. directly and actively committing a felony offense; OR b. aiding and abetting a felony offense.

What does this mean?

At least two gang members of that same gang must have participated in committing the felony offense; you can be included as one of those two participants. Active participation means involvement with a criminal street gang in a way that is more than passive or in name only. It isn’t enough to simply say you are a member of a gang, that by itself would only be passive. It means that you are party to criminal activity for the gang, and the crimes you do are for the purpose of making the gang look good, or gain street cred.

A criminal street gang is any ongoing organization, association, or group of three or more persons, whether formal or informal:

1. That has a common name or common identifying sign or symbol;
2. That has, as one or more of its primary activities, any crime listed here:

AND

3. Whose members, whether acting alone or together, engage in or have engaged in a pattern of criminal gang activity.

In order to qualify as a primary activity, the crime must be one of the group’s chief or principal activities rather than an occasional act committed by one or more persons who happen to be members of the group. A pattern of criminal gang activity is generally at least two or more crimes from the above list, one two or more separate occasions with two or more people, that take place within three years of each other, and at least one crime was committed after September 1988. Typically these kinds of crimes can be things such as Robbery, Murder, and Assault with a Deadly Weapon, among many other offenses. What is interesting as well, it doesn’t need to be proven that the offenses you committed were even gang-related, only that they are a listed crime above, and fall into the gang definition above.

You can also be charged under this section if you aid or abetted in the commission of a felony that you didn’t personally commit. You cannot be charged under these sections if you commit a crime alone, it must involve one or more gang members for this to be a crime.

Penalties

Penalties under PC 186.22 vary depending on if you are charged with the crime of being a member, or if you are charged with a crime, with the gang enhancement attached to your crime.

1. PC 186.22(a) Criminal Street Gang Participation: This is a wobbler offense, meaning you can be charged with this crime as a misdemeanor or as a felony offense, depending on the facts of your case, your criminal history, and the gang activity you were apart of. If convicted of this offense as a misdemeanor, you could be sentenced up to one year in County Jail. You would have to serve at least 50% of that time in custody. You would also be subjected to a fine of $1,000 for a misdemeanor conviction. If you are convicted of this section as a felony, you could be sentenced to upwards of 16 months, 2 or 3 years in a State Prison. You can also be subjected to a fine of up to $10,000.
2. PC 186.22(b) Criminal Street Gang Enhancement: This enhancement is based on the underlying offense you are charged with.

1. If you are charged with a “Serious Crime”, you would face an additional term of 5 years added to your maximum sentence. This can be things such as Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Shooting into an inhabited dwelling, or Criminal Threats.
2. If you are charged with a “Violent Crime”, you would face an additional term of 10 years added to your maximum sentence. These would be things such as Murder, Mayhem, and some felony sex crimes.
3. If you are charged with a felony that is not considered “serious” or “violent”, then you could be facing an additional 2, 3, or 4 years added to your maximum sentence. This would be any felony not considered serious or violent.
4. There are specific felonies that, if charged with the gang enhancement here, you could face an additional 15 years added to your maximum sentence. These would be crimes such as Carjacking, Shooting at an Inhabited dwelling, among other offenses, listed above.
5. If are convicted under PC 186.22(d),  the prosecution can turn your misdemeanor charge into a felony if the misdemeanor crime was done for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in any association with gang members, and the crime was done with the specific intent to promote, further, or assist in criminal conduct by gang members. Here, your maximum sentence can become up to 1, 2, or 3 years in a State Prison.

Convictions for participating in Criminal Street Gangs are Strike offenses under California’s Three Strike Law. Keep in mind, that if your underlying offense is also a strike offense, such as Robbery, then you could face an additional strike on your record. This would have severe implications on people trying to Immigrate to the United States as well as people trying to obtain Professional Licenses. This is not a Sex Offense under PC 290 unless the underlying crime is already a sex offense that requires registration. In other words, a conviction for the gang enhancement will not make you register as a Sex Offender, but the offense charged with the enhancement can be one.

Common Defenses

1. Statute of Limitations
2. Insufficient Evidence
3. Violation of Rights

If you are not convicted of the underlying offense that the gang enhancement is attached to, then you cannot be found to have done that crime for the benefit of a criminal street gang, as there would be no crime in that circumstance. In other words, the enhancements must follow an offense, so dismissal of the offense, dismisses your charges AND enhancements.

You can also argue that you are not an active gang member, but a passive member or friend. In many circumstances, people involved in gangs have friends and family who are not members but who may have friends that are in gangs. Being a friend of a gang member does not make you an active participant. An experienced gang lawyer can argue your participation was only passive, and therefore there is insufficient evidence to prove you guilty of being an active participant in a criminal street gang. Note, you must be an active participant in a gang to be found guilty under PC 186.22(a), but you need not be shown to be an active member of a gang to commit an act in furtherance of a criminal street gang under the enhancement charge of PC 186.22(b).

You cannot be found guilty of the gang enhancement if you are not committing a crime for a criminal street gang. Though many prosecutors assume every gang member commits all horrific crimes, it is not always the case. Two brothers, who happen to be apart of a gang, who commit a robbery to help their family afford rent. Maybe their family lost their jobs and livelihood during the Covid-19 pandemic, or going back to the Housing Market Crisis in the mid-2000s. Doing this, is not for the benefit of the gang, but rather, for the family. So even if you are a member of a gang, and the gang has committed crimes, and it is an offense listed above, it doesn’t prove you did it for the benefit of the gang. Having an experience Criminal Defense Attorney can argue there is insufficient evidence to prove you guilty of this offense, because you did the crime not for the benefit of a gang, but for your family. Here, getting the enhancement dismissed or dropped, can be lifechanging in terms of the exposure a person can face in their criminal case.

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Gang-related offenses are among the most complex and aggressively prosecuted cases in Southern California, necessitating a nuanced understanding of the laws and provisions specifically targeting gang affiliation and activities. Under PC 186.22(a) and PC 186.22(b), individuals linked to gangs, or committing crimes on their behalf, face significant legal enhancements that can dramatically extend prison sentences. Successfully challenging these enhancements is crucial, potentially making the difference between a short stint and decades of separation from your family and life as you know it.

At our PC 186.22 Ontario law firm, Inland Empire Criminal Defense, we have a notable history of effectively defending clients against gang charges and related sentencing enhancements. Our team’s in-depth knowledge and strategic approach to these cases have consistently delivered favorable outcomes for our clients, underscoring our dedication to protecting your rights and future.

Why Choose Inland Empire Criminal Defense for Gang-Related Cases?

• Specialized Expertise in Gang Charges: Our attorneys are well-versed in the complexities of gang-related laws, including PC 186.22(a) and PC 186.22(b), ensuring a defense strategy informed by a comprehensive understanding of the relevant legal landscape.
• Proven Track Record: Our firm’s successful history in defending against gang charges and enhancements demonstrates our capability to navigate these challenging cases effectively.
• Commitment to Your Future: Recognizing the stakes, we offer around-the-clock support and a commitment to achieving the best possible outcome for you or your loved one, striving to mitigate the impact of these charges on your life.

Start Your Defense Journey with Confidence

The severity and implications of facing gang-related charges demand immediate and informed legal action. Inland Empire Criminal Defense, located in Ontario, CA, is prepared to provide the experienced and specialized legal representation required to address these allegations head-on.

Contact Inland Empire Criminal Defense Today

If you or someone you care about is confronting gang-related charges or sentencing enhancements under PC 186.22, don’t face this challenge alone. Contact Inland Empire Criminal Defense at 909-939-7126 for a complimentary initial consultation. Our dedicated team is here to provide you with the expert legal counsel and unwavering support necessary to navigate through this critical period, ensuring that every step is taken to protect your rights and secure your future.