Court Opinion

ID: 9452159
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 17:31:36.783304+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:33:05.500540
License: Public Domain

On Appellant’s Petition For Rehearing
Appellant’s petition for rehearing asserts that this court failed to consider twelve of his thirteen assignments of error contained in his appeal from a denial of his petition for a writ of habeas corpus by the district court. This because of a misinterpretation of a letter written by appellant to this court, interpreted by us as a waiver of all points save the applicability to appellant of the California Habitual Criminal Act.
The petition for a rehearing is granted. Our previous opinion is modified by the addition of the following:
Assignments I, II and IV were discussed in detail in our previous opinion and disposed of adversely to appellant.
Assignment III relates to comment on defendant’s failure to take the stand. Appellant relies on Griffin v. State of California, 380 U.S. 609, 85 S.Ct. 1229, 14 L.Ed.2d 106 (1964). In Tehan v. United States ex rel. Shott, 382 U.S. 406, at 419, 86 S.Ct. 459, 15 L.Ed.2d 453 (1966) the Supreme Court held the Griffin rule did not require, and did not have, retrospective application.
Assignment V claims a delay of sentence for fifty days after conviction, while the judge is awaiting a probation report, or convenience of counsel, is a denial of due process. The petition on file discloses this state court recital of the facts:
“On December 6, 1958,1 the date upon which the verdict was returned the court in the exercise of its discretion (Penal Code 1203) referred the matter to the probation officer and set the hearing for January 3, 1958. On the latter date counsel for appellant requested a continuance in order to get application for probation on file.”
Thus appellant, through counsel, waived his right to immediate sentence.
But even had he not done so, appellant's position is based on the provisions of § 1191, California Penal Code, as it read prior to the 1951 amendments, which were in effect at the time of appellant’s sentence. (That amendment gave authority to the trial judge to extend the time for pronouncing judgment beyond twenty-one days, plus ten days for an arrest of judgment.)
The court “must appoint a time for pronouncing judgment, * * * and may further extend the time until the probation officer’s report is received and until any proceedings for granting or denying probation have been disposed of.” West’s California Annotated Penal Code § 1191, and Note. (Emphasis added.)
Even though the defendant is not entitled to or even eligible for probation, the court “may in his discretion refer the matter to the probation officer for an investigation of the facts relevant to sentence.” Calif.Penal Code § 1203, last ¶.
Thus Assignment of Error V is without merit.
Assignment VI rests on appellant’s conclusion that he “was convicted solely on the testimony of Inspector Wiggins.” The recital of facts in the appellate court’s opinion on his direct appeal demonstrates beyond doubt appellant’s conclusion is false. People v. Gillette and Bevins, 171 Cal.App.2d 497, 498, 341 P.2d 398. Therein is described appellant’s identification by the witness Wood, the head food clerk in the Safeway store whom appellant robbed at the point of a gun. Appellant on his direct appeal questioned the value of Wood’s positive identification, by asserting Wood “was an unreliable witness” because of *759his “fear of the gun.” We agree with the appellate court the evidence was competent, and more than sufficient to convict the appellant. His theory has no merit.
Nor was Wiggins’ statement, given to him by defendant at the time of arrest, inadmissible because appellant had no attorney. This is not an Escobedo case, and if it were Johnson v. State of New Jersey, 384 U.S. 719, 86 S.Ct. 1772, 16 L.Ed.2d 882 (decided June 20, 1966), disposes of the matter.
Assignment VII is without merit. Appellant’s petition discloses his reason for his guilty plea. He already had one life sentence hanging over him, and another was supposedly of little consequence to him.
Assignment VIII relates to alleged inefficient representation by counsel at certain times during the state court proceedings. On its face, the charge is insufficient to present the issue as to whether the representation was so grossly inadequate or incompetent as to taint the conviction with unconstitutionality.
Assignment IX relates to prior notice of an intent by the prosecutor to invoke the Habitual Criminal Act. No person is required to be given notice that if he commits a crime certain charges may follow. Appellant was not charged with a separate offense; he was at his trial given a judicial hearing on the applicability of the Act. We know of no notice required by law to be given malefactors, other than the notice implied to all to know the law, at their peril.
Assignment X alleges unseasonable arraignment. The California Appellate Court has already ruled on this point, holding a waiver by appellant by lack of objection. 171 Cal.App.2d 505, 341 P.2d 398.
Assignment XI is alleged insufficiency of the evidence, and Assignment XII is alleged prosecution’s errors (a) in presentation of evidence, (b) in argument to the jury, (c) in argument as to what the sentence should be, and (d) error in failure to record conversations between counsel and court at the bench.
Although neither of these last two assignments of error were included in appellant’s petition below, we have examined them and find them to be without merit.
Finding no error, the denial of the writ of habeas corpus, upon reconsideration, is affirmed.

. “1958” appears in appellant’s petition. It should be “1957”.