Court Opinion

ID: 9790170
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 01:47:48.451668+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:37:26.964780
License: Public Domain

CARTER., J.
I dissent. I cannot agree that there was sufficient corroboration of the accomplice testimony as required by section 1111 of the Penal Code. Insofar as the watch (count 5) is concerned, we see that there was only defendant’s reply that he had had the watch for some time whereas, in reality, he had received it the night before from Dann Rio as, according to defendant, partial payment for attorney fees. There is no evidence in the record to show that defendant knew of the stolen character of the watch as required by section 496, subdivision 1 of the Penal Code. People v. Lopez, 126 Cal.App.2d 274 [271 P.2d 874], relied upon by the majority, was a ease with an entirely different factual situation. In the Lopez ease, the defendant made several different ansivers concerning his possession of stolen property. In the case at bar we have only defendant’s statement that he had had the watch for some time. 'There is nothing to contradict his statement that it was given to him by Rio in part payment of attorney fees, and absolutely nothing to show that he knew of the stolen character of the watch.
With respect to the fur coat (count 6), the record shows that two of defendant’s soiled shirts were in the PAA bag with the fur coat; that the bag was in the same room where defendant was found with the accomplices. The testimony concerning defendant’s possession of the bag containing the fur coat is extremely dubious. The first witness testified that the accomplice had been carrying the blue bag marked with the letters PAA; thereafter the witness was contacted by Officer Hooper, although there had been an order sequestering witnesses, and changed his testimony so that it then showed that defendant had been carrying the PAA bag which contained the fur coat. The only testimony in the record showing defendant might have had knowledge of the stolen character of the coat was that of accomplices.
*277It. should be noted that practically all of the lengthy summations of the evidence in the majority opinion consist of various transactions between the accomplices concerning fur coats and jewelry with the theft or receipt of which defendant was not charged. All of the alleged conversations which would tend to show defendant’s knowledge that the fur and watch were stolen were testified to by accomplices and such testimony was not corroborated. The fact that defendant was present in the room where the fur coat was found is surely not such corroboration as that called for by section 1111 of the Penal Code where it is declared “and the corroboration is not sufficient if it merely shows the commission of the offense or the circumstances thereof. ...” It appears to me that the so-called corroborating evidence requires “interpretation and direction from the testimony of the accomplice” in order to connect the defendant with the commission of the crime charged.
I find no substantiation in the record for the conclusion reached by the majority that the defendant “received the watch and fur coat on a single occasion,” and that there was but one offense involved. Defendant received the watch on the night of April 7th. The only testimony linking him, even in the slightest degree, to the fur coat was concerning events on the 8th of April. There is nothing whatsoever to show that the watch and fur coat constituted a single occasion or part of a single offense. The majority opinion in its endeavor to show that there was corroboration of the accomplice testimony has this to say: “To show that there is inculpatory evidence apart from the testimony of the accomplices we first set forth a summary of such inculpatory evidence. Defendant himself testified as follows: He was a lawyer with practice largely in the field of criminal law. He represented Ferguson [an accomplice], who was charged in a federal case with conspiracy [etc.] . . It is apparent that the majority consider the fact that defendant represented criminals as corroborating evidence of the accomplice testimony. This is, of course, another instance where guilt by association is used to establish the fact of the crime charged. It is also the first case where, to my knowledge, an attorney who represents a person accused of crime has been considered as either an accomplice or as a principal to the crime charged. But here we have defendant’s representation of the accomplices considered as “inculpatory evidence.”
As the court held in People v. Reingold, 87 Cal.App.2d 382, *278393 [197 P.2d 175], “While it is true that the corroborative evidence is sufficient if it, of itself, tends to connect the defendant with the commission of the offense, although it is slight, and entitled, when standing by itself, to but little consideration, nevertheless, the rule is firmly established in our law that more is required by way of corroboration than mere suspicion or even grave suspicion. ...” In the case at bar, all the record shows is “suspicion”-—nothing more. Proof of a mere opportunity to participate in the crime raises no more than a suspicion of guilt and is insufficient corroboration (People v. Braun, 31 Cal.App.2d 593, 601 [88 P.2d 728]) ; association with the actual perpetrators of the crime also gives rise only to a suspicion of guilt that he advised, encouraged and participated in the crime and is insufficient corroboration (People v. Braun, 31 Cal.App.2d 593, 601 [88 P.2d 728] ; People v. Long, 7 Cal.App. 27 [93 P. 387] ; People v. Koening, 99 Cal. 574 [34 P. 238] ; People v. Fagan, 98 Cal. 230 [33 P. 60]). In People v. Petree, 109 Cal.App.2d 184, 188 [240 P.2d 327], the court said: That while conflicting statements may tend to discredit the witness “they are not evidence of the fact” in issue.
When defendant sought to show Officer Hooper’s bias and prejudice by cross-examining him as to the number of times he had contacted Pope, an original eodefendant, conspirator, and witness for the prosecution, the proposed line of questioning was prohibited by the trial court. Although the scope of cross-examination is largely within the discretion of the trial court, a considerable latitude should be allowed to show the witness’ state of mind and possible bias. (People v. Winston, 46 Cal.2d 151, 157 [293 P.2d 40] ; People v. Pantages, 212 Cal. 237, 255 [297 P. 890] ; People v. Evans, 113 Cal.App.2d 124, 127 [247 P.2d 915].) Under the peculiar facts of this case it appears to me that defendant should have been permitted to question Hooper as to the number of times he had been with Pope. It will be recalled that the People dismissed the charges against Pope (after the commencement of the trial) who then became a witness for the People. Inasmuch as there is only Officer Hooper’s statement concerning defendant’s reply when asked about the watch, his statement to defendant about an “anti-police” feeling, and the fact that he contacted Officer Roberts about the “mistake” in his testimony concerning defendant’s possession of the blue bag, marked PAA, it appears to me that the defendant should have been permitted wide latitude in *279cross-examining Officer Hooper to show bias and prejudice against the defendant. When it is considered that the corroborative evidence as to the watch consisted entirely of Officer Hooper’s statement, it becomes immediately apparent that the jury was entitled to have before it any available evidence on the matter of bias and prejudice.
It is argued that it was prejudicial error for the People to make the following statement in that it left the inference with the jury that the prosecution had personal knowledge of the guilt of the defendant: “Maybe this is a good point to bring up right now, but it is not the function of the District Attorney’s office to go around recklessly indicting people and bringing charges against them. Our duties are not to prosecute people just for the sake of making prosecutions. It is our duty to protect the citizens of this County against crimes.” There was no objection by defense counsel and no request at the time for an instruction admonishing the jury, although an instruction was given to the effect that statements of counsel did not constitute evidence in the case. A case somewhat similar is People v. Hale, 82 Cal.App.2d 827 [187 P.2d 121], where the district attorney in his argument to the jury referred to the fact that the grand jury had indicted the defendants “on the theory that both defendants were guilty ...” and after objection by defense counsel which was overruled by the court, the district attorney concluded with this statement: “That is why I say the grand jury was right when they indicted both of them.” The court in the Hale ease held that as to one defendant where the evidence of guilt was “much weaker” the remarks of the district attorney constituted prejudicial and reversible error. It appears that even had there been a request for an admonition at this time the error would not have been cured. The quoted remark assumes the guilt of the defendant and was highly prejudicial under the facts of the case. (People v. Hale, 82 Cal.App.2d 827 [187 P.2d 121] ; People v. Berryman, 6 Cal.2d 331 [57 P.2d 136]; People v. Vienne, 142 Cal.App.2d 172 [297 P.2d 1027]; People v. Talle, 111 Cal.App.2d 650, 676 [245 P.2d 633].)
Another instance of misconduct on the part of the district attorney which appears to have been highly inflammatory and prejudicial is the following statement made during closing argument: “And there has been only the insinuation, the insinuation that all of the People’s witnesses who were accomplices or in any way connected with defendant, were allowed to plead guilty to only one or two Counts. Ladies and gentle*280men of the jury, that is a matter, I believe, of common knowledge, that if there are three or four Counts against some defendant, that defendant is permitted to take a plea to one or more of the Counts. And even after three days of trial they allowed Mr. Moeekel to plead guilty to two Counts of Robbery. Why ? It is obvious. In his sentence the Judge made the sentences run concurrently. Why try him on two or three of four Counts when he can be found guilty on one Count or when he pleads guilty to one or two Counts ? The Judge made the sentences run concurrently. If we took a plea of two Counts against Pope and one Count against Mr. Ferguson, the big receiver, we will offer Mr. Lyons the same consideration. If at any time during this trial he wanted to plead guilty to one Count, or if he would like to do so even now, we will give him the same consideration.” An objection by defense counsel was sustained and the jury was admonished to disregard the remark. Defendant argues that no admonition could have cured the error inasmuch as it stressed his association with others who had pleaded guilty to the very charges for which he was on trial. In my opinion, defendant’s argument is well taken and the remark constituted prejudicial misconduct on the part of the district attorney. (People v. Kirkes, 39 Cal.2d 719 [249 P.2d 1] ; People v. Teixeira, 136 Cal.App.2d 136 [288 P.2d 535] ; People v. Bell, 138 Cal.App.2d 7 [291 P.2d 150].)
In another instance it appears that the district attorney, in his argument to the jury, committed misconduct: “And some of the jewelry is not in evidence. And the reason for that is because we could not show Mr. Lyons’ connection with the other fur coats or with the other jewelry. The fur coat carried in this bag, Exhibit 18 [the bag], was the ermine coat, and that is here, but the fur coat carried by Mr. Ferguson in that cardboard box is not here because we can not show Mr. Lyons’ connection with that fur coat.” It will be recalled that whether defendant carried the blue bag containing the fur coat was a very close issue of fact in the case. This statement assumes that the defendant was carrying the bag and that his guilt had been established. While there was no request for an admonition, it appears that in this instance, as in the preceding ones, an admonition would not have cured the highly prejudicial effect created by the district attorney in assuming personal knowledge of defendant’s guilt.
Another instance of claimed prejudicial misconduct is the district attorney’s reference to the defendant as the “mouth*281piece” for the defendants who had pleaded guilty and whom he had represented and was to represent in other criminal matters. Defendant argues that this was an unwarranted attack upon his character since the term carries with it an unsavory connotation. It is my opinion that defendant’s claim that the term carries an unsavory connotation is well taken. It also appears that the use of the term was unnecessary and that the prosecution should not indulge in defamatory remarks concerning the defendant in any criminal case and that the practice should not be condoned by this court. Standing alone it may not have prejudiced the jury unduly but taken together with the other errors in the case it is difficult to determine just what effect the use of the term may have had.
Defendant argues that he was denied due process of law in that the sentencing of Pope, Ferguson, and Rio was continued from time to time due to continuances in his case; that such postponement of imposing sentences on these accomplices until after the time defendant had been sentenced constituted intimidation and coercion of these witnesses against him. The district attorney admitted that “inducements” had been extended : “Counsel said there were inducements for Pope, Ferguson and Rio to testify, and I would be trying to fool you if I said there was not, ladies and gentlemen. The plain, ordinary, hard facts in this ease are that we had to offer some inducements to Pope, Rio and Ferguson to testify. But were they given complete immunity ? No. Have they been given lesser sentences? No. They were treated like every other criminal or any other person charged with a crime. Rio was given a year in the county jail as a condition of probation. That was apparently his first offense. He was sentenced before he testified here, ladies and gentlemen. He had nothing to gain and nothing to lose when he testified here.
“Me. James CantilloN [attorney for defendant] : I object to that your Honor. There was testimony that the sentence to the burglary charge is still hanging over his head.
‘ ‘ The Court : That has been argued pro and con, of course. You may continue.
“Me. Stovitz: How else would we get any testimony here, ladies and gentlemen, other than by the testimony of the accomplices? These men who will have to live in confinement, who will have to fear the ostracism that comes with being a stool pigeon, how can you get these men to testify? We have *282to say to them, ‘Look, we will tell the Judge you cooperated in this case.’ But are you going to say that the Judge is corrupt when he takes a defendant’s cooperation into consideration? I don’t think you can say that. I think the District Attorney’s office has done its job here, and I think the Police Department has done its job, and I think the judges have done their job, and that is to protect you, ladies and gentlemen.”
Pope, admittedly guilty of burglary, was sentenced to one year in the county jail and the remaining counts against him were dismissed; Rio, also admittedly guilty of burglary, was sentenced to a year in the county jail. What sentence was imposed on Ferguson does not appear, although the district attorney stipulated as follows with defense counsel: “His [Ferguson’s] plea of guilty was entered on May 10, 1955, and the time for the sentence has been continued from time to time due to continuances granted in the Lyons case.” (Emphasis added.)
In People v. Walther, 27 Cal.App.2d 583, 591 [81 P.2d 452], the court said: “When a codefendant who is a coconspirator has been offered immunity from prosecution in reward for his testimony, the cause should be promptly dismissed against him. Otherwise, the maintenance of the action against him throughout the trial may serve to intimidate the witness and furnish an inducement for him to color his testimony. Moreover, retaining a person as a party defendant throughout the trial, who has been promised immunity from prosecution in reward for his evidence may become a mere subterfuge to avoid the necessity of adhering to the established rule that the fact of the existence of a conspiracy may not be proved by the admissions of a coconspirator.” It appears to me that the same rule should apply to sentencing accomplices who have pleaded guilty, in that refraining to do so until they have testified against one accused with them of conspiring, may very well color their testimony in the hope that the sentence imposed on them will be commensurate with the cooperation given by them to the prosecution. The People argue that there was not the slightest evidence that any leniency would be extended to these witnesses “only if their testimony resulted in the conviction of the appellant. ...” It would appear from the district attorney’s statement to the jury (heretofore quoted) that these witnesses had been promised “inducements” is sufficient to show that lenience had been promised them for their testimony against defendant. In People v. Green, 102 Cal.App.2d 831, 839 [228 P.2d 867], a witness had *283been promised immunity if he would give testimony which would result in another being bound over for trial. The court held that “A miscarriage of justice was occasioned through the use by the State of testimony which, because of the condition upon which immunity depended, was impure, dubious and ‘tainted beyond redemption.’ ” The majority holds here that no such condition existed in the case at bar and that no reversible error is shown. While the admitted “inducements” undoubtedly consisted of' leniency in sentencing the accomplices, it appears that the delay in sentencing the accomplices until defendant’s trial was concluded was “in its practical and legal effect, indistinguishable from a threat.” (People v. Green, supra, at p. 838.)
For the foregoing reasons, I would reverse the judgment and order denying a new trial.
Appellant’s petition for a rehearing was denied May 27, 1958. Carter, J., was of the opinion that the petition should be granted.