In Re Dapper

454 P.2d 905, 71 Cal. 2d 184, 77 Cal. Rptr. 897, 1969 Cal. LEXIS 244
CourtCalifornia Supreme Court
DecidedMay 28, 1969
DocketCrim. 12720
StatusPublished
Cited by27 cases

This text of 454 P.2d 905 (In Re Dapper) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re Dapper, 454 P.2d 905, 71 Cal. 2d 184, 77 Cal. Rptr. 897, 1969 Cal. LEXIS 244 (Cal. 1969).

Opinions

PETERS J.

Johnny B. Dapper petitions for a writ of habeas corpus.

In August 1966, he was charged with five counts of violating the San Diego Municipal Code: Count 1 [§ 55.30.10], permitting combustible material and debris to accumulate; count 2 [§55.36], allowing rubbish to remain without a permit; count 3 [§ 55.30.7(c)], storing lumber without a permit; count 4 [ § 44.0350], accumulating debris so as to afford a' shelter for rats; and count 5 [§ 55.35], allowing dangerous weeds.

Dapper pleaded guilty to and was sentenced on counts 1 and 5. The other counts were dismissed “in furtherance of justice.” Upon Dapper’s petition, the court granted a petition for a writ of error coram nobis, including in its order a stipulation by the district attorney and Dapper’s court-appointed coünsel that the dismissed counts be reinstated.

A jury trial was held, and Dapper was found guilty on all [187]*187five counts. On count 1, he was sentenced to pay a fine of $500 and serve 180 days in jail; execution of judgment was stayed, and he was placed on probation for three years. On 'count 5, he was sentenced to 180 days in jail; except for three days, execution of sentence was stayed, and he was placed on probation for three years. The sentences were to run consecutively. As a condition of probation, he was required “to 'clean up his property. ’ ’

Dapper contends that he could not be validly prosecuted under counts 2, 3, and 4, because section 1387 of the Penal Code bars the refiling of misdemeanor complaints which have been dismissed.1 He argues that the stipulation to the reinstatement of the dismissed counts is invalid, because it was made over his objection, and shows incompetence of counsel. However, even assuming that Dapper objected to the stipulation at the time it was made and that because of his objection it was improper for counsel to enter into the stipulation, Dapper may not in this proceeding attack the stipulation, and the stipulation does not show incompetence of counsel.

The granting or denying of a petition for writ of error coram nobis is an appealable order, governed by the same procedural rules that apply to appeals from a judgment of conviction. (People v. Griggs, 67 Cal.2d 314, 316 [61 Cal.Rptr. 641, 431 P.2d 225]; In re Horowitz, 33 Cal.2d 534, 537 [203 P.2d 513].) The reinstatement of the dismissed charges may have been an integral part of the order granting the writ, and had Dapper attacked the order on the basis of the part reinstating the charges, the entire order may have been held inseverable. (Cf. Hamasaki v. Flotho, 39 Cal.2d 602, 608-610 [248 P.2d 910]; People v. Dominguez, 256 Cal.App.2d 623, 629 [64 Cal.Rptr. 290]; People v. Williams, 247 Cal.App. 2d 394, 409-410 [55 Cal.Rptr. 550]; People ex rel. Dept. of Public Worhs v. Mascotti, 206 Cal.App.2d 772, 778-779 [23 Cal.Rptr. 846, 24 Cal.Rptr. 679]; People v. Mason, 184 Cal.App.2d 182, 187 [7 Cal.Rptr. 525].) He did not appeal the order granting the writ or move to set aside the order and vacate the writ. He has attacked only the portion of the order which, based on the stipulation, directed reinstatement of the dismissed charges. He has never urged that the order should be set aside in its entirety. Instead, he has taken advantage of [188]*188the order by withdrawing his guilty pleas and proceeding to trial on the merits of all of the charges. We are satisfied that in the circumstances of this 'ease he may not be permitted at this time to attack the order granting the writ after he has taken advantage of those portions which are favorable to him.

The decision of the attorney to enter into the stipulation, even if beyond his authority, does not show that he was incompetent. The record does not show that 'counsel was .unaware of the facts or the law applicable to the coram nobis proceeding, and, so far as appears from the record, the determination to enter into the stipulation may have been the wisest course to follow to secure the vacation of defendant’s convictions. (Cf. In re Hawley, 67 Cal.2d 824, 828-829 [63 Cal.Rptr. 831, 433 P.2d 919].)

Dapper further contends that the municipal court had no jurisdiction to prosecute him under San Diego Municipal Code sections 55.30.10, 55.36, 55.30.7(c), and 55.35 because, although the provisions' were in' effect when the violations' were allegedly committed, “on or about” June 30, 1966, the sections were repealed June 20, 1967,- before the prosecution of Dapper had been reduced to final judgment in October 1967. This,- contention does not apply to count 4, accumulating debris so as to afford a shelter for rats, because that section has not been repealed.

The law-is well-established that “the outright repeal of a criminal statute without a saving clause bars prosecution for violations of the statute committed before the repeal.” (Sekt v. Justice’s Court, 26 Cal.2d 297, 304 [159 P.2d 17, 167 A.L.R. 833].) The rule applies equally to local ordinances. (Spears v. County of Modoc, 101 Cal. 303, 304, 307 [35 P. 869].)

Respondent contends that the San Diego Municipal Code contains such a saving clause. The clause on which respondent relies reads: “Neither the adoption of this Code nor the repeal hereby of any Ordinance of this City shall in-any manner effect [sic] the prosecution for violation of Ordinances, which violations were committed prior to the effective date hereof, ...” (San Diego Mun. Code, §11.04; italics added.) It is patently clear that the savings clause refers to ordinances repealed by the code, and not. to ordinances comprising the code which are subsequently repealed. It is equally clear that the “violations” referred to, prosecution for which is preserved, are violations occurring before the adoption of the code and not violations like those involved here which [189]*189occurred after adoption. In brief, prosecution under the repealed ordinances in this ease is not saved by section 11.04 of the San Diego Municipal Code.2

Respondent next contends that, even absent a valid savings clause. Dapper can be prosecuted under the repealed municipal code sections because San Diego Municipal Code Ordinance 9651 (new series), which repealed the challenged sections, simultaneously enacted the Uniform Fire Code, which, respondent asserts, contains substantially the same provisions as those in the repealed sections.

It is established that the rule which-bars prosecution under a repealed law for offenses occurring before repeal does not apply “where there is an outright repeal and a substantial reenactment, ’ ’ because it will be presumed that the legislative body 1 ‘ did not intend that there should be a remission of crimes not reduced to final judgment.” (Sekt v. Justice’s Court, supra, 26 Cal.2d 297, 306.) “When a statute, although new in form, re-enacts an older statute without substantial change, even though it repeals the older statute, the new statute is but a continuation of the old.

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Bluebook (online)
454 P.2d 905, 71 Cal. 2d 184, 77 Cal. Rptr. 897, 1969 Cal. LEXIS 244, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-dapper-cal-1969.