California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from People v. Flanigan, A158510 (Cal. App. 2020):
"But even if a course of conduct is 'directed to one objective,' it may 'give rise to multiple violations and punishment' if it is 'divisible in time.' [Citations.] Where the defendant's acts are 'temporally separated' they 'afford the defendant [an] opportunity to reflect and to renew his or her intent before committing the next [offense], thereby aggravating the violation of public security or policy already undertaken.' " (People v. Deegan (2016) 247 Cal.App.4th 532, 542.) Whether section 654 applies is generally a question of fact, and a trial court's finding (even if implied) that a defendant harbored a separate intent and objective for each offense will be upheld on appeal if supported by substantial evidence. (People v. Osband (1996) 13 Cal.4th 622, 730-731.)
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