People v. Fuller

236 Cal. App. 2d 889, 46 Cal. Rptr. 435, 1965 Cal. App. LEXIS 888
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedAugust 31, 1965
DocketCrim. 2115
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 236 Cal. App. 2d 889 (People v. Fuller) 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. Fuller, 236 Cal. App. 2d 889, 46 Cal. Rptr. 435, 1965 Cal. App. LEXIS 888 (Cal. Ct. App. 1965).

Opinion

WHELAN, J.

Defendant appeals from a conviction of receiving stolen property. (Pen. Code, § 496, subd. 1.)

On May 19, 1964, certain brass pump ends and wire cable were found to have been stolen from enclosed premises at Indio, in Riverside County, and were discovered in the possession of Donald L. Ruben, a junk dealer at San Bernardino, in San Bernardino County. Ruben had purchased the stolen property from defendant on May 19, 1964, for $49.70; *891 $20 in cash and the balance by check made payable, at defendant’s request, to Raymond Fears. Also at defendant’s request, Fears’ name was given for the record required to be kept by the purchaser. (Bus. &Prof. Code, § 21606.)

Fears, in his car, had carried defendant and the stolen property from the Indio area where it was concealed under a bush to San Bernardino. Defendant had told Fears that the property was received by the defendant from another person in payment of a debt.

After his arrest, defendant was informed by an arresting officer that Fears had said defendant was responsible for the theft of some copper. Defendant responded that Fears took the copper; and, when told that perhaps the purchaser of the metal could identify him, defendant said that he didn’t sell any copper to anyone, and denied that he had been in San Bernardino or that he had been in a car with anybody with any stolen property.

Defendant testified that he had accompanied Fears to the junk dealer at San Bernardino, but otherwise denied the testimony of Fears and Ruben; he denied that he had seen the stolen property before it was unloaded from Fears’ car at San Bernardino and that he had been at the location where the theft had occurred.

At the trial there was testimony that footprints were found leading up to and away from the entrance to the yard from which the property was stolen. In the opinion of an expert, some of the prints were made by the shoe from defendant’s right foot.

While defendant was in custody following his arraignment and before he had consulted with his appointed counsel, the police had him remove his shoes, which were then photographed, and both shoes and photographs thereof were used for comparison with photographs that had been taken of footprints found near the scene of the theft. Defendant delivered his shoes when the officer said, “Give me your shoes.” Defendant testified that he did not do so voluntarily.

The shoes, the photographs thereof and of the footprints were received into evidence, over objection of defendant’s counsel, who argued that under Escobedo v. Illinois, 378 U.S. 478 [84 S.Ct. 1758, 12 L.Ed.2d 977] and People v. Dorado, 62 Cal.2d 338 [42 Cal.Rptr. 169, 368 P.2d 361], the evidence was inadmissible, and that for the same reason the opinion evidence on the subject of the footprints was inadmissible. At *892 the conclusion of the People’s case, defendant’s counsel moved for a mistrial because of the admission of the evidence as to the footprints and shoes. The motion was denied. After both sides had rested, the trial court, of its own motion, struck from evidence the shoes, the photographs of shoes and prints, and the testimony of all the officers concerning the shoes, footprints and photographs. The court immediately admonished the jury that it should not consider any of the matters stricken. This was all done on the basis of reports in a legal newspaper of People v. Anderson (Cal.) 40 Cal.Rptr. 257, 394 P.2d 945, and People v. Dorado, supra, 62 Cal.2d 338, which the judge had read during the noon recess.

Defendant’s counsel again moved for a mistrial, which was denied. Later, in the absence of the jury, defendant’s counsel made a third motion for a mistrial which was denied. The last two motions were made upon the ground that the prejudicial effect of the footprint evidence could not be overcome by striking it with an admonition to the jury.

The defendant was not told by the police officers of his right to counsel and to remain silent before making the statements given at the time of his arrest; nor was he advised of those rights at the time his shoes were taken. Although defendant testified that at his arraignment he had not been advised of his right to counsel, counsel then was appointed for him.

Defendant makes the following contentions:

1. That he has been deprived of his right to counsel because he was not represented at the arraignment; and because his counsel of record on appeal has expressed the opinion that the appeal was without merit, and defendant’s request for other counsel has been denied.

2. That evidence of the statements made by defendant and Fears was improperly admitted. This claim is broadened to cover receipt into evidence of the shoes and photographs in view of defendant’s argument that the giving of the shoes by defendant was in effect an admission.

3. That the error in admitting evidence as to shoes and footprints was not cured by admonitions given to the jury.

4. That cross-examination of Ruben by defendant’s counsel was wrongfully curtailed by sustaining objections to certain questions.

*893 5. That error was committed by dismissing charges against Fears and granting him immunity so as to have him testify against defendant.

6. That defendant was denied a fair and impartial trial. Defendant asserts that his counsel was denied the right to question the jury on voir dire.

At the time of his arraignment in the municipal court, defendant was not represented by counsel. He pleaded not guilty and counsel was appointed for him. Appointed counsel represented him at the trial. This court appointed defendant’s trial counsel to represent defendant on appeal. Counsel, on March 16, 1965, filed in letter form a review of the evidence and of the contentions that had been made at the trial. He expressed his conclusion that the appeal was without merit, and asked to be relieved as counsel. Defendant, upon learning of the position of his appointed attorney, asked to have other counsel appointed. Both of those requests were denied. Defendant has been permitted to file in propria persona two briefs, one in reply to respondent’s brief; and defendant has had possession of copies of the record on appeal. His counsel of record appeared at the time of oral argument and argued vigorously that taking of defendant’s shoes for the purpose of comparison was in derogation of defendant’s rights under the Fourteenth and Fifth Amendments of the federal Constitution. When he wrote his review of the case, defendant’s counsel had concluded that the rule of People v. Dorado, supra, 62 Cal.2d 338, did not apply to the taking of defendant’s shoes. At the time of oral argument he had read People v. Graves * (Cal.App.) 45 Cal.Rptr. 118 and People v. Collier * (Cal.App.) 44 Cal.Rptr.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

People v. Sepeda
66 Cal. App. 3d 700 (California Court of Appeal, 1977)
People v. Lee
249 Cal. App. 2d 234 (California Court of Appeal, 1967)
State v. Mark
216 A.2d 377 (Supreme Court of New Jersey, 1966)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
236 Cal. App. 2d 889, 46 Cal. Rptr. 435, 1965 Cal. App. LEXIS 888, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-fuller-calctapp-1965.