California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from People v. Melgoza, F068797 (Cal. App. 2016):
"There is rarely direct evidence that a crime was committed for the benefit of a gang. For this reason, 'we routinely draw inferences about intent from the predictable results of action. We cannot look into people's minds directly to see their purposes. We can discover mental state only from how people act and what they say.' [Citation.] 'Commission of a crime in concert with known gang members is substantial evidence which supports the inference that the defendant acted with the specific intent to promote, further or assist gang members in the commission of the crime.' [Citations.]" (People v. Miranda (2011) 192 Cal.App.4th 398, 411-412.)
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