People v. Paul

78 Cal. App. 3d 32, 144 Cal. Rptr. 431, 1978 Cal. App. LEXIS 1281
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedFebruary 27, 1978
DocketCrim. 15483
StatusPublished
Cited by19 cases

This text of 78 Cal. App. 3d 32 (People v. Paul) 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. Paul, 78 Cal. App. 3d 32, 144 Cal. Rptr. 431, 1978 Cal. App. LEXIS 1281 (Cal. Ct. App. 1978).

Opinion

*36 Opinion

KELLY, J. *

—Defendant and appellant Bobby Laron Paul was convicted by a jury of three counts, i.e., count one, theft and battery on victim Anderson; count two, battery and assault on victim Schwartz; and count three, conspiracy to commit battery (as a lesser included offense under count three, which initially charged a violation of Pen. Code, § 182, conspiracy to commit robbery). He was sentenced to serve nine months in the county jail for the conviction of conspiracy to commit battery. The sentence was suspended along with the stay of execution on all other convictions. He was placed on three years’ probation, a $350 fine was imposed, and he was ordered to refrain from use of alcohol. Codefendant Strawn pled guilty to related charges and was severed from the case. He testified against appellant. A third defendant, Engle, was also severed.

Appellant is seeking a reversal on all counts. The appeal is divided into two parts; the first part sets forth the alleged errors in the trial which affect his convictions on all counts, and the second part sets forth the alleged errors as to particular counts as more specifically set forth herein.

Errors Affecting Convictions On All Counts

Soon after appellant’s arrest and prior to trial, two police officers gave him a polygraph test with his consent. At trial both of these officers testified, but made no reference to the fact that the defendant had submitted to a polygraph test. The first reference to that fact was made when tapes of appellant’s voluntary statements were offered and admitted with no objection from defense counsel and played before the jury. It is to be pointed out that both the prosecution and defense counsel knew of the existence and contents of the tapes for weeks prior to the trial.

The colloquy on the tapes wherein reference to the polygraph test was discussed is as follows:

“A. I don’t know what to say but I don’t think that there meant [ízc] to be an intentional robbery.
“Q. It turned out that way.
*37 “A. I’m not trying to save my neck or anything but I didn’t know anything about it.
“Q. Are you willing to back that up?
“A. Yes.
“Q. Willing to go on a polygraph?
“A. Yes.
“Q. Okay, will you sign a consent form to go on a polygraph say about four o’clock today?
“A. This afternoon?
“Q. This afternoon.
“A. Uh huh.”

Willingness to take the test was affirmed several more times before the tape ended.

Another tape stated:

“Q. You have submitted to a polygraph test. Is that correct?
“A. Yes.
“Q. Did you submit to this of your own free will?
“A. Yes.
“Q. Did anybody force you in any way?
“A. No.”

In answer to a question from defense counsel on cross-examination, one of the police officers stated that the defendant had taken a polygraph test. Out of the presence of the jury defense counsel continued a voir dire examination of the officer establishing his credentials and the reliability of the polygraph test. The defense then sought to have the results of the *38 polygraph test admitted into evidence, claiming that the prosecution had opened the issue by the introduction of the tapes. The court denied the motion to admit the tapes on the ground that under California law—absent a stipulation from both parties—the results of a polygraph test are not admissible. 1 (People v. Aragon (1957) 154 Cal.App.2d 646, 658 [316 P.2d 370]; People v. Adams (1975) 53 Cal.App.3d 109, 114 [125 Cal.Rptr. 518].) Nor was the defendant permitted to testify that he took the polygraph willingly. The defense contended that since the jury knew from the contents of the tapes of the fact that a polygraph test was taken by the defendant that the results of that test should be disclosed (favorable to the defense), and that the jury should know that the defendant took the test willingly. It should be noted that the actual results of the test were made known to the jury later by the defendant who stated on cross-examination: “I took a polygraph and I passed the polygraph.” That statement was stricken by the court and the jury was advised by the court that willingness to take a polygraph test was not to be considered by them.

Failure to allow these admissions to the jury, argues the appellant, is prejudicial and reversible error since, having heard from the tapes the fact that a polygraph test had been taken but not being told of the results of that test, and knowing that the defendant had taken that test willingly, the jury could conclude that the defendant failed the test, and from the fact that defendant was being prosecuted, the test indicated his guilt. It would appear that the trial strategy of defense counsel *39 backfired, and now this court must decide to what extent, if any, this would constitute prejudicial reversible error.

Clearly, the trial tactics of defense counsel were improper. (People v. Parrella (1958) 158 Cal.App.2d 140, 147 [322 P.2d 83].) In Parrella the district attorney similarly neglected to object to evidence regarding the voluntary taking of a polygraph test which came out on direct examination of appellant by his own attorney. The prosecution then attempted to introduce the results of the testimony on cross-examination. The Court of Appeal cited this as error, stating: “In so proceeding the prosecutor undoubtedly committed error. The law is clear that legitimate cross-examination does not extend to matters improperly admitted on direct. Immaterial and irrelevant testimony cannot be thus brought before the juiy under the guise that it is legitimate cross-examination. [Citations.]” (Ibid.) Though the court found there was error, it was not prejudicial error in view of the trial court’s instructions to the jury that “the question of lie detector has no place in the case” (p. 145), and it was “ ‘not to consider any question about lie detector’ ” (p. 146). This, together with other strong evidence of guilt, was sufficient to cure the situation and the court found that reference to the polygraph test was not prejudicial error.

It is well settled that neither the willingness nor the unwillingness of a witness to take a polygraph test is admissible. (People v. Thornton (1974) 11 Cal.3d 738 [114 Cal.Rptr.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
78 Cal. App. 3d 32, 144 Cal. Rptr. 431, 1978 Cal. App. LEXIS 1281, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-paul-calctapp-1978.