Court Opinion

ID: 9737211
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 19:18:59.941351+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:23:57.230674
License: Public Domain

NUTTER, J. pro tem.*
Appellant was found guilty of grand theft in violation of section 487, subdivision 3, of the Penal Code in a ease submitted on the testimony contained in the transcript of the preliminary hearing plus the testimony of the appellant. The facts are largely undisputed. They involve a situation wherein appellant on June 24, 1967, entered into a written contract with a car agency rental of an automobile for two days under a rental agreement of $7 per day plus $.07 a mile. Appellant made a cash deposit of $40 at the time of the rental but gave a false name and identification. Approximately 13 hours after the rental at about 12 a.m. of June 25, appellant was arrested while in possession of the automobile, approximately 20 blocks away from the place of rental.
*442Prosecution witnesses consisted of an employee of the rental agency who made the rental and the owner of the credit card whose name was used by appellant in making the rental agreement. Appellant testified that he purchased the identification. The owner of the credit card testified that his wallet including his credit card had been stolen and he never gave appellant permission to use the card or identification. Appellant used the identification and credit card without the permission of the owner and testified he used the false identification because he believed he could not rent the car on his own identification. Appellant testified that he never intended to deprive the owner of his car and intended to return it on the morning when it was due and had the cash to pay any amount in excess of his deposit.
Appellant contends that the evidence is insufficient to support the verdict on the ground that there was no evidence of a specific intent on his part to deprive the owner of his property wholly and permanently. Appellant also contends that the court erroneously permitted the rental agent to testify that he would not have made the automobile available to appellant if he had known appellant had false identification.
The question to be resolved on this appeal is whether there was substantial evidence to support the conclusion of the trial judge that the appellant acted within the requisite intent. Specifically we must determine if the use of the false identification is sufficient to prove the requisite intent in grand theft. What inferences are reasonably deducible from these facts?
“Upon appeal, the reviewing court is bound to view the evidence most favorably in support of its judgment. (People v. Simpson, 43 Cal.2d 553, 571 [275 P.2d 31].) But the [trier of fact’s] discretion is not absolute.” (People v. Bassett, 69 Cal.2d 122 at p. 137 [70 Cal.Rptr. 193, 443 P.2d 777].)
“ ‘ [W]hen a verdict is attacked as being unsupported, the power of the appellate court begins and ends with a determination as to whether there is any substantial evidence, contradicted or uneontradicted, which will support the conclusion reached by the [trier of fact].’ ” (People v. Bassett, supra, at p. 138.)
“In resolving that contention the appellate court is required to determine whether a reasonable trier of fact could have found that the prosecution sustained its'burden of proving the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. (People v. Hall (1964) supra, 62 Cal.2d 104, 109-110 [41 Cal.Rptr. 284, 396 P.2d 700], citing People v. Huizenga (1950) 34 Cal. *4432d 669, 676 [213 P.2d 710].)  The prosecution’s burden is a heavy one: ‘ To justify a criminal conviction, the trier of fact must be reasonably persuaded to a near certainty. The trier must therefore have reasonably rejected all that undermines confidence.’ (People v. Hall, supra, at p. 112.)  Accordingly, in determining whether the record is sufficient in this respect the appellate court can give credit only to ‘substantial’ evidence, i.e., evidence that reasonably inspires confidence and is ‘of solid value’ ...” (People v. Bassett, supra, at p. 139.)
Respondent cited section 484, subdivisions (b) and (c) of the Penal Code of the State of California as, in essence, creating a presumption of fraud upon the use of false identification in the making of a car rental agreement. However, said sections did not become effective until November 8, 1967 (see 6 Cal.'Legislative Service 1967, pp. 2347, 2348), and thus are not applicable as trial of this case was completed on September 21, 1967. Obviously we express no opinion as to the constitutionality of this presumption. The legal effect of this presumption is not before us.
At the time of trial section 484 contained the following language: “The presenting of identification to a renter which bears a false or fictitious name or address and failure to return any motor vehicle . . . within 10 days after the lease or rental agreement has expired, shall be prima facie evidence of fraudulent intent. . . .” The above quoted language requires not only the use of false identification but also a failure to return the vehicle within 10 days after expiration of the term of the agreement. The record reflects that the subject automobile was obtained by the police approximately 13 hours after the making of the rental agreement, obviously less than the two-day period of the agreement. At the time of trial, section 484 created a presumption of a fraudulent intent upon a conjunction of the use of false identification and a failure to return the automobile within the stated time. Under the legislative amendment eliminating the stated time requirement, effective November 8, 1967, there may have been sufficient evidence to convict appellant.
“ The taking must be with the specific intent to steal, i.e., to appropriate property of another and permanently deprive him of its possession. Unless this is proved there is no larceny. (See People v. Photo (1941) 45 C.A.2d 345, 353, 114 P.2d 71; People v. Brown (1894) 105 C. 66, 69, 38 P. 518; People v. Pillsbury (1943) 59 C.A.2d 107, 111, 138 P.2d 320;
*444People v. Farmer (1956) 47 C.2d 479, 482, 304 P.2d 713; People v. Devine (1892) 95 C. 227, 229, 30 P. 378; CALJIC, Nos. 221, 222: Perkins, p. 223; Clark and Marshall, p. 729; 2 Wharton 80; 12 A.L.R. 804; 82 A.L.R.2d 863; infra, § 385.) ” (1 Witkin, Cal. Crimes, § 383, p. 357.)
Of course, the intent must exist at the time of the taking and carrying away.
“The intent to steal is an intent to deprive the possessor permanently. One who takes another’s property for temporary use or concealment, with the intention of returning it, is liable in tort for damages but is not guilty of larceny. (See People v. Brown (1894) 105 C. 66, 69, 38 P. 518; Perkins, p. 224; Clark and Marshall, p. 730; 2 Wharton 86.) ” (1 Witkin, supra, § 384(b), p. 358.)
The intent here must be established by the proof of the circumstances and facts at the time of the rental with the use of false identification. The evidence here pointing to the required intent is less than the joy-riding eases which resulted in conviction reversals on the ground there was only an intent for a temporary taking. As a result of these cases new statutes were enacted to cover “temporary taking.” (See 1 Witkin, supra, § 384(b), p. 358.)
In the ease of People v. Pillsbury, 59 Cal.App.2d 107 [138 P.2d 320], .conviction for grand theft was reversed where a defendant obtained possession of an automobile by falsely stating that he wanted to use the car for the purposes of selling it. The defendant continued to lie whenever he was asked to produce the proceeds of the sale or surrender possession of the car to the owner. The words of the court at pages 111-112 are appropriate here: ‘1 The charge against defendant, theft, includes the offenses formerly known as larceny, obtaining property by false pretenses and embezzlement. Defendant contends and the People admit, that a case of false pretenses does not appear here because defendant obtained no title to the car. This contention is well taken. Both parties also agree that the case is not one of embezzlement because the original taking was the same character as the subsequent detention, defendant contending that both were innocent and the People viewing both as fraudulent and wrongful. Either state of the case would exclude embezzlement from consideration. The question remaining for consideration, as both parties agree, is whether a finding that defendant committed larceny by fraud, trick or device, is supported by the evidence. No doubt the fraud, trick or device clearly appears here. By his own admissions, defendant is shown to have been an unmitigated liar, *445telling a story with no foundation whatever in fact, for the purpose of getting possession of the automobile, and Miss Jerome believed the story and was induced thereby to surrender possession of the car to him, not intending then to part with title. The same can be said of Carl Manikheim, the real owner of the ear. Two of the other essential elements of this crime, as they are stated in People v. Edwards (1925) 72 Cal.App. 102, 112-116 [236 P. 944], clearly appear, that is, that the ear was the property of another, and that it was taken into the sole possession of the defendant.
“But another essential ingredient of the offense is an intent, without claim of right or justification, to deprive the owner of his property wholly and permanently. (15 Cal.Jur. 906; People v. Coon (1940) 38 Cal.App.2d 512, 516 [101 P.2d 565]; People v. Edwards, supra, at p. 116; People v. Payne (1931) 117 Cal.App. 108, 111 [3 P.2d 328].) And where, as here, no actual trespass or act of violence is involved in the original taking, the felonious intent must exist at the time of the taking. (15 Cal.Jur. 908; People v. Edwards, supra; People v. White (1924) 66 Cal.App. 703, 706 [226 P. 962].) Looking at the evidence in this case, we are unable to see any such intent. ’ ’
The words of the court in People v. Tidmore, 218 Cal.App.2d 716 at p. 720 [32 Cal.Rptr. 444] (intent in burglary case), hearing denied by Supreme Court, are appropriate here: ‘11 That the circumstances were suspicious may be conceded, but mere surmise and conjecture are not enough. ’ Since the evidence falls short of the quantum necessary to overcome the presumption of innocence and to meet the burden resting on the prosecution to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, the conviction cannot stand. (See Roberts v. State, supra, 136 Tex.Cr.Rep. 138 [124 S.W.2d 128] ; Hooks v. State, 154 Tenn. 43 [289 S.W. 529]; State v. Brown (Mo.) 217 S.W.2d 546; Dixon v. Commonwealth, 197 Va. 380 [89 S.E.2d 344].) ” See also People v. Bassett, supra, at p. 139, where the court lists several cases where convictions were reversed for failure to prove a requisite specific intent or other state of mind, including cases involving grand theft and embezzlement.
Accordingly, it is unnecessary to discuss the second contention on appeal.
The judgment is reversed.
Róth, P. J., concurred.

 Assigned by the Chairman of the Judicial Council.