People v. Sanchez

24 Cal. App. 3d 664, 101 Cal. Rptr. 193, 1972 Cal. App. LEXIS 1161
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedMarch 31, 1972
DocketCrim. 4735
StatusPublished
Cited by40 cases

This text of 24 Cal. App. 3d 664 (People v. Sanchez) 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. Sanchez, 24 Cal. App. 3d 664, 101 Cal. Rptr. 193, 1972 Cal. App. LEXIS 1161 (Cal. Ct. App. 1972).

Opinion

*669 Opinion

KAUFMAN, J.

Following defendant’s unsuccessful motions in the superior court to suppress evidence (Pen. Code, § 1538.5, subd. (i)) and to set aside the information (Pen. Code, § 995), the case was submitted on the transcript of the preliminary hearing. The submission on the transcript was tantamount to a guilty plea and was actually part of a negotiated disposition. The court found defendant guilty of possession of marijuana (Health & Saf. Code, § 11530), alleged priors were stricken, probation was denied and defendant was sentenced to state prison.

Defendant appeals from the judgment contending: (1) the record does not disclose a proper advisement and waiver of his privilege against self-incrimination; (2) the evidence is insufficient to support his conviction; and (3) the incriminating evidence resulted from a search and seizure made pursuant to an invalid search warrant. In connection with the latter contention, defendant points to several irregularities in the proceedings in the municipal court prior to filing of the information. Although defendant asserts these irregularities in his arguments concerning the validity of the search warrant, they are more appropriately germane to the question whether defendant’s motion to set aside the information was improperly denied.

Privilege Against Self-Incrimination

The information charged defendant and Joan Kathy Sanchez, also known as Joan Weimer, 1 jointly with one count of possession of marijuana (Health & Saf. Code, § 11530). It was also alleged in the information that defendant had suffered twoi prior convictions of violation of Health and Safety Code, section 11530. Throughout the proceedings below, defendant and the female codefendant were represented by the same privately retained attorney. After their sections 1538.5 and 995 motions were denied, the case was submitted for decision on the basis of the transcript of the preliminary hearing. Following are pertinent excerpts from the transcript of the submission: “Mr. Callen [defense counsel]: Submit on the transcript with the understanding that the priors be stricken and that Mr. Sanchez be found guilty of one count of 11530 of the Health & Safety Code; be referred to probation and Miss Weimer be found guilty of one count of *670 11556, Health & Safety Code [being present where narcotics are being unlawfully used], one year summary probation and as a condition of probation she violate no law and that she submit to search and seizure.

“Mr. Patterson [prosecuting attorney]: I believe for Mrs. Sanchez that the 556 was to be the lesser included of the 530 since it isn’t alleged in that count.
“Mr. Callen: Yes, Your Honor.
“The Court: Mr. Sanchez, is it your desire to waive your right to a trial by either judge or jury?
“Defendant Raymond Sanchez: Yes, sir.
“The Court: And in effect you are going to have a trial by a Judge but you will waive your right to cross examine these witnesses that have testified at the Preliminary.
“Defendant Raymond Sanchez: Yes, sir.
“The Court: And you are going to waive your right to take the stand on your own behalf and explain this offense, although nobody can make you do it? [Italics supplied.]
“Defendant Raymond Sanchez: Yes, sir.
“The Court: And you are going to waive your right to call any witnesses you may desire to testify in your own behalf?
“Defendant Raymond Sanchez: Yes, sir.
“The Court: And you want to submit it on the transcript to this Court knowing that the Court will find you guilty of possession of marijuana?
“Defendant Raymond Sanchez: Yes, sir.
“The Court: And have you discussed this with Mr. Callen?
“Defendant Raymond Sanchez: Yes, sir.
“The Court: Do you have any questions about it?
“Defendant Raymond Sanchez: No, Your Honor.
“The Court: What was the suggested sentence on it?
“Mr. Callen: Mr. Sanchez, he will be referred to Probation Department for a probation report.
“The Court: Mr. Sanchez, the offense has a one to ten; do you understand that this carries a possible sentence of one to ten years, State prison?
*671 “Defendant Raymond Sanchez: Yes, sir.
“The Court: No promises as to what you might get out of this? “Defendant Raymond Sanchez: That is right.”
“The Court: The court will find—Mr. Callen, your concur with the submission?
“Mr. Callen: Yes, Your Honor. The reason for submitting on the report [sic] is the case of People versus White which is up before the U. S. Supreme Court.[ 2 ] That is the reason for submitting.
“The Court: Find the defendant [Raymond Frederick Sanchez] guilty, of 11530.”

In accordance with the understanding stated by defense counsel, the female codefendant was found guilty of a misdemeanor violation of Health and Safety Code, section 11556 and granted summary probation and defendant was found guilty of violating section 11530 and referred to the probation office for investigation and report. Subsequently, again in accordance with the understanding stated by defense counsel, defendant’s alleged prior convictions were ordered stricken.

Unquestionably, defendant is correct in characterizing the submission on the transcript in the case at bench as tantamount to a guilty plea. While defendant argued insufficiency of the evidence at the preliminary hearing and attempts to argue that point on appeal (infra), no such argument or contention was presented to the trial court at the time of submission. On the contrary, the submission was made on the express understanding that defendant would be found guilty of a violation of Health and Safety Code, section 11530, and the court told defendant that he would be found guilty of that offense. Manifestly, the submission of the case in this fashion was part of a negotiated disposition by which, in *672 substance, defendant agreed to plead guilty to the offense charged in exchange for having stricken the alleged prior convictions which, otherwise, might have substantially increased the minimum period of defendant’s imprisonment (see Health & Saf. Code, § 11530). Indeed, according to defense counsel’s statement, the only reason for submitting on the transcript rather than entering a plea of guilty or nolo contendere

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Bluebook (online)
24 Cal. App. 3d 664, 101 Cal. Rptr. 193, 1972 Cal. App. LEXIS 1161, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-sanchez-calctapp-1972.