People v. Bateman

345 P.2d 334, 175 Cal. App. 2d 69, 1959 Cal. App. LEXIS 1299
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedNovember 3, 1959
DocketCrim. 6356
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 345 P.2d 334 (People v. Bateman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Bateman, 345 P.2d 334, 175 Cal. App. 2d 69, 1959 Cal. App. LEXIS 1299 (Cal. Ct. App. 1959).

Opinion

VALLEE, J.

By information defendant was charged in two counts with grand theft. Count I charged that on December 24, 1956, he unlawfully took more than $200 from Bay Wilcox, Jr. Count II charged that on April 26, 1957, he unlawfully took a white Thunderbird automobile from Wilcox. Count I was dismissed. The court, sitting without a jury, found defendant guilty of the offense charged in Count II. Defendant was also charged with a prior conviction of grand theft committed in 1949 which was found to be true. He appeals from the judgment and the order denying a new trial.

Bay C. Wilcox, Jr., first met defendant in early December •1956. Defendant, an automobile broker, went to Wilcox’ office for the purpose of selling him an automobile. Wilcox told defendant he wanted a 1957 Ford Thunderbird, blue in color; that he was going to give it to his father for Christmas. The purchase price was $3,950. Wilcox gave defendant a check for $1,050 as a down payment and defendant agreed to deliver the ear to Wilcox before Christmas, 1956.

*72 On December 24, 1956, defendant delivered a white Thunderbird to Wilcox and agreed to take it back some time after Christmas and deliver a blue Thunderbird in its place. At that time Wilcox gave defendant a check for $2,900, the balance of the purchase price, and defendant gave Wilcox a pink slip for the white car. Wilcox did not take any steps toward registering the white car in his name because he felt he would be turning it back in a few days.

Prom Christmas 1956 until April 1957 Wilcox called defendant frequently and asked him when the blue car would arrive. Each time, defendant promised it would not be long.

On April 26, 1957, defendant took the white car back and gave Wilcox a cheek for $3,500. The check was signed by defendant and represented the price at which Wilcox sold the white ear to defendant. The difference between $3,950, the price paid by Wilcox, and $3,500, the price paid by defendant, was because of depreciation and difference in accessory value. Defendant wrote the following on the reverse side of the $3,500 check at the time he gave it to Wilcox: “Presentation of this check, plus $200.00 and 1957 fee on 1957 T-bird, payment in full on new T-bird as ordered. D. B.”

At the time defendant took the white car back it was understood between Wilcox and defendant that Wilcox would hold the check for “several days”; defendant would arrange to obtain a blue Thunderbird for Wilcox; and Wilcox would return the $3,500 check plus $200 for it. Defendant said “in several days he would have the blue one,” ... “I will put you in direct contact with.the dealer who will sell you a car for $3700,” and that if he did not get the car the check would be payment for the white one.

After April 26, Wilcox contacted defendant “many times” about getting the blue Thunderbird. Each time defendant said he was working on it; that he would have it ‘ ‘ tomorrow. ’ ’ Not having received the blue car, Wilcox deposited the cheek in his account on May 17, 1957. On April 26 defendant had $1,276.45 on deposit in the bank on which the check was drawn. On May 17 he had $177.86. After April 29, 1957, the highest balance defendant had on deposit was $604.01. Defendant had no arrangement for credit with the bank on which the cheek was drawn. The $3,500 check was returned because of insufficient funds. Wilcox never received any part of the $3,500.

Defendant sold the white Thunderbird on April 26, 1957, the day he received it from Wilcox, for $3,550.

*73 In a conversation with defendant after his arrest, a police officer asked him what he did with the money he received for the white car. Defendant stated he had some financial reverses at that time and that he had to spend that money to take care of those reverses, and that he was sick and took some of the money for a hospital bill. The officer asked him what his understanding was as to what he was to do with the money at the time he sold the white car. Defendant stated he was to take the money and buy a blue Thunderbird.

Defendant testified he told Wilcox on April 26, 1957, he did not have $3,500 in the bank, and that he would dispose of the white car; “the proceeds of the money was to be used for the possible purchase of the second blue Thunderbird”; “It was stipulated on the back of the check that the check was to be returned to me, along with two hundred dollars and the license fee, and I would, in turn, use that as the money for the new Thunderbird”; on April 26 he wanted the white car in order to sell it; he made unsuccessful efforts to find a blue Thunderbird; after he sold the white car he became ill; he received $3,550 for the white car and bought three cashier’s cheeks; he used them in the course of his business for the purchase of automobiles; he did not use any of the money for personal purposes; he did not deposit any of the three cashier’s checks in any bank; he never had $3,500 in his bank account after April 26, 1957; after April 26 he did not get Wilcox a blue Thunderbird for the reason that he had taken some losses on two cars in an accident and he had been given a bad check himself.

Defendant’s only point is that the evidence is insufficient to sustain the finding of guilt. It is argued the transaction amounted to a sale of the white car for a promissory note for $3,500 and defendant’s promise to accept the note and other consideration for a blue Thunderbird when one could be obtained. Defendant says: “The real question hinges on whether or not the defendant intended, at the time of the aforesaid transaction, to make the check good which he had given to Wilcox. If he did not intend to make the check good, then it is reasonable to suppose that he never intended to try and obtain a blue Thunderbird for Wilcox either. ’ ’ The People say the evidence supports the implied finding that defendant obtained the white car by false pretenses.

Grand theft includes obtaining an automobile by false pretenses. (Pen. Code, §§484, 487.) Obtaining property by false pretenses is the fraudulent or deceitful acquisition *74 of title and possession. {People v. Ashley, 42 Cal.2d 246, 258 [267 P.2d 271].) The elements of grand theft on the theory of obtaining property by false pretenses are: 1. an intent to defraud; 2. an actual fraud committed; 3. the use of false pretenses to perpetrate the fraud; and 4. reliance on the fraudulent representations in parting with the property. (People v. Baird, 135 Cal.App.2d 109, 114 [286 P.2d 832].) A promise made with an existing intent not to perform may constitute a false pretense within the grand theft statute. (People v. Hodges, 153 Cal.App.2d 788, 792 [315 P.2d 38]; People v. Ames, 61 Cal.App.2d 522, 531 [143 P.2d 92

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345 P.2d 334, 175 Cal. App. 2d 69, 1959 Cal. App. LEXIS 1299, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-bateman-calctapp-1959.