People v. Mitchell

275 Cal. App. 2d 351, 79 Cal. Rptr. 764, 1969 Cal. App. LEXIS 1924
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedJuly 31, 1969
DocketCrim. No. 1710
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 275 Cal. App. 2d 351 (People v. Mitchell) 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. Mitchell, 275 Cal. App. 2d 351, 79 Cal. Rptr. 764, 1969 Cal. App. LEXIS 1924 (Cal. Ct. App. 1969).

Opinion

COUGHLIN, J.

Defendant was convicted of the offense of burglary,- admitted two prior felony convictions; was sentenced to imprisonment in the state prison; and appealed. The judgment was entered on September 14, 1961, and this court [353]*353affirmed on November 7, 1962. (People v. Mitchell, 209 Cal. App.2d 312 [26 Cal.Rptr. 89].) Defendant’s petition for hearing by the California. Supreme Court was denied January 3, 1963. His petition to the United States Supreme Court for certiorari was denied June 17, 1963. Thereupon the judgment became final. On February 23, 1968, the California Supreme Court, on writ of habeas corpus, ordered this court to recall its remittitur and reinstate the appeal on the ground defendant had not been represented by counsel on the appeal. (In re Mitchell, 68 Cal.2d 258 [65 Cal.Rptr. 897, 437 P.2d 289].)

In substance, all contentions presented by counsel on the reinstated appeal, with one exception, were presented by defendant in propria persona on the original appeal; were considered by this court; and were determined without merit.

The one issue not heretofore considered arises out of defendant’s contention the judgment should be reversed because, under the rule announced in Griffin v. California, 380 U.S. 609 [14 L.Ed.2d 106, 85 S.Ct. 1229], on April 28, 1965, which was four years after the trial of the case and almost two years after the judgment became final, certain instructions by the court and comments by the prosecuting attorney constituted error.

The Griffin rule does not apply to cases in which the judgment of conviction became final before .it was announced. (O’Connor v. Ohio, 385 U.S. 92 [17 L.Ed.2d 189, 87 S.Ct. 252, 253] ; Tehan v. United States, 382 U.S. 406 [15 L.Ed.2d 453, 86 S.Ct. 459, 467].) In People v. Rivers, 66 Cal.2d 1000, 1005 [59 Cal.Rptr. 851, 429 P.2d 171], the California Supreme Court held the rules in Escobedo v. Illinois, 378 U.S. 478 [12 L.Ed.2d 977, 84 S.Ct. 1758], and People v. Dorado, 62. Cal.2d 338 [42 Cal.Rptr. 169, 398 P.2d 361], did not apply to reinstated appeals where the original appeal in the case had become final before those rules were announced. The rationale of the decisions in Tehan v. United States, supra, 382 U.S. 406 [86 S.Ct. 459, 464-467] and People v. Rivers, supra, 66 Cal.2d 1000, dictates the conclusion the ruling in Griffin v. California, supra, 380 U.S. 609 [14 L.Ed.2d 106], does not apply to reinstated appeals. (See People v. Garner, 258 Cal.App.2d 420, 427 [65 Cal.Rptr. 780] ; cf. People v. Curry, 265 Cal. App.2d 785, 792 [71 Cal.Rptr. 573].) We hold accordingly.

Contrary to defendant’s reiterated contention, our further examination of the evidence in the ease supports the previous conclusion of this court the evidence sustains the judgment.

[354]*354Hubbs Trucking office in Colton, California, was.burglarized some time between 7 p,m. on March 1, 1961, and 5:30 a.m. on March 2, 1961. The burglar stole $6,540, including 32 $100 bills, from the safe in the office. On the afternoon of March 2, 1961, defendant was waited upon by a waitress at a coffee shop two or three blocks from the burglarized premises. On the morning of March 4, 1961, defendant crossed the border from Mexico into the United States at the San Luis border station; was.dressed in a pair of Levis, field jacket, cap and boots; was asked by the customs inspector what he had bought in Mexico; in response, produced a wristwatch and a sales slip showing the cost thereof to be $450; and said he bought nothing else. The customs inspector was employed by the United States Treasury Department; asked defendant to identify himself; and when the latter produced a wallet, made in Mexico, observed a considerable sum of money therein. The customs inspector asked defendant where he was employed and the latter replied he was a farm worker; then asked him " how he would come by so much money as a farm worker”; and defendant said “he did a lot of gambling”; and thereupon asked defendant to come into the office and submit to a search, which he did without protest. The customs inspector asked a border patrolman, employed by the United States Justice Department, to be present during the search, and the latter complied. The search revealed a sheath-knife with a large blade, attached to defendant’s belt, two rings, two other watches, two bracelets, some .38 caliber cartridges, instructions on cleaning a Colt weapon, a small brush which could be used for this purpose, a key to a check locker, a jail receipt showing defendant had been released from the El Centro jail less than a month before and then had less than $30; and $5,411 in United States currency, including 32 $100 bills.1 The sheath-knife was placed in a desk drawer. The other articles, including the money, were placed on top of the desk. Defendant refused to answer questions as to how he got the money or in what kind of gambling he participated. The border patrolman was suspicious of defendant, apparently believing the money was stolen, and called the sheriff’s office at Yuma, Arizona. In about one-half hour two deputy sheriffs arrived; questioned defendant about the money, in response to which he gave conflicting answers; placed defendant in custody for further investigation; and took possession of the money and [355]*355other property. The evidence supports the conclusion the money in defendant’s possession had been stolen from the Hubbs office. Defendant did not testify; called no witnesses ; and did not present any other evidence that might have shown the source of the money in his possession.

A conviction of burglary is sutained by proof an accused was in conscious possession of property stolen in the burglary, corroborated by other evidence, even though slight, tending to show his guilt. (People v. McFarland, 58 Cal.2d 748, 754 [26 Cal.Rptr. 473, 376 P.2d 449] ; People v. Citrino, 46 Cal.2d 284, 288 [294 P.2d 32].) Corroborating circumstances in the ease at bench are: The defendant was in the city where the burglary occurred on the day of the occurrence, left shortly thereafter, and went to Mexico. (People v. De Leon, 236 Cal.App.2d 530, 534 [46 Cal.Rptr. 241].) His explanation to the customs inspector he obtained the money gambling, in light of all the circumstances, was so fanciful as to support the conclusion it was false. A false explanation is evidence of guilt. (People v. McFarland, supra, 58 Cal.2d 748, 754 ; People v. Wayne, 41 Cal.2d 814, 822 [264 P.2d 547] ; People v. Hanz,

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Related

People v. Clark
2 Cal. App. 3d 510 (California Court of Appeal, 1969)
People v. Mitchell
275 Cal. App. 2d 351 (California Court of Appeal, 1969)

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Bluebook (online)
275 Cal. App. 2d 351, 79 Cal. Rptr. 764, 1969 Cal. App. LEXIS 1924, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-mitchell-calctapp-1969.