People v. Moten

Defendant was convicted of violating section 288 of the Penal Code, in that he did “commit a lewd and lascivious act upon and with the body ... of Jeannette Moten,” his daughter, who at the time of trial was 12 years of age. Defendant was represented below by the public defender and appeals in propria persona. The case was tried upon the transcript of the preliminary hearing and upon additional evidence taken at the trial. The prosecution’s witnesses were Jeannette Moten, defendant’s daughter, Mary

The testimony on which the defendant was convicted is as follows: Jeannette Moten testified at the time of the preliminary hearing that she was 12 years old and that defendant is her father. On March 9, 1961, her mother was out of the house working when Jeannette arose in the morning; she went to the bathroom wearing her slip at the time. While she was in the bathroom her father entered and said, “If your mother won’t act like a wife you will.” He pulled at her slip and.tore her underwear and then he rubbed his hands oh her private parts. He said that if she screamed or said anything he was going to kill her. He then began to expose his private parts when her cousin Grace lmocked at the door and he let her go. She ran into the bedroom, picked up a dress and sweater and ran out to her cousin. This all occurred between 7 and 7 :15 a. m. Later that day she told the police what had happened. At the trial the torn panties were introduced into evidence.

Grace White, the cousin, testified that she had come by the house to take Jeannette to school; at that time there was a car in the driveway that was dark green in color; she knocked on the front door and finding it open she pushed it and called. Jeannette came running to her, crying. After a brief conversation with her Grace took her to the police. She also testified at the preliminary hearing that when she was out in front of the house she heard a rumbling in the bathroom and later at the trial she testified that she heard a noise “like there was something falling over.”

At the preliminary hearing defendant’s wife testified that defendant is her husband, that Jeannette Moten is her daughter and that Jeannette was born on August 27, 1948.

Defendant testified in his own behalf. He stated that he had moved out of the family home in January but that he came back once or twice a week after that to sleep with his wife and to contribute what he could to the support of the children. On the morning of March 9th he visited the home at about 2 a. m. His wife let him in and he joined her in bed. They both went to sleep and he awoke about five or ten minutes after six and found his wife gone. He put on his clothes and got in his car and caught up with her at the nearest bus stop, about a half mile from the house, and offered her a ride. She having refused he then went to a restaurant and had breakfast; from there he went to the Department of

On rebuttal defendant’s wife testified that defendant- did not meet her at the bus stop on the morning of March 9th. When she left the house defendant’s car was in the driveway. It was either black, blue or green in color.

Defendant argues generally that the prosecution’s witnesses were incompetent. There was no objection to the testimony of any of the witnesses at the trial, but such an objection would have been fruitless. The only possible argument that could be made is that defendant’s wife is not a “competent” witness under Penal Code section 1322. Although the code section is phrased in terms of competency the decisions establish that the statute relates to a privilege which may be waived by failure to object. (People v. Singh, 182 Cal. 457 , 483 [ 188 P. 987 ]; People v. Wilkins, 135 Cal.App.2d 371 , 379 [ 287 P.2d 555 ]; People v. Odmann, 160 Cal.App.2d 693 , 696 [ 325 P.2d 495 ].) Furthermore, this statute excepts from its operation “eases of criminal violence . . . upon the child ... of one by the other. ...” The crime of taking indecent liberties with a child in violation of section 288 Penal Code is considered an act of violence within the meaning of Penal Code section 1322. (People v. Kasunic, 95 Cal.App.2d 676 [ 213 P.2d 778 ]; People v. James, 9 Cal.App.2d 162 [ 48 P.2d 1011 ].)

Defendant contends that the evidence is not sufficient to support a conviction in that the testimony of the prosecution witnesses was not reliable, they contradicted each other and they perjured themselves. The weight of the evidence is for the trier of fact. (People v. Newland, 15 Cal.2d 678 [ 104 P.2d 778 ].) “A mere conflict in the evidence which involves only a question of the credibility of witnesses does not present a question of law to a reviewing court.” (People v. White, 189 Cal.App.2d 642 , 643 [ 11 Cal.Rptr. 470 ].) “It was with the trial court, as the trier of the questions of fact, to accept as true or reject as untrue the testimony given before it by

Defendant contends that he was not adequately represented at the trial and that his attorney failed to introduce defense witnesses as requested by defendant and failed thoroughly to inquire into the credibility of the witnesses against him. In People v. Monk, 56 Cal.2d 288 [ 14 Cal.Rptr. 633 , 363 P.2d 865 ], the same contentions were made. The court stated at pages 299-300: “He further asserts that the public defender refused to examine the court-appointed psychiatrists, to call witnesses the defendant requested, and to bring defendant transcripts of the court proceedings. The psychiatrists were not called as witnesses, but reports by them were introduced into evidence. Whether they should have been called and examined in court was a matter within the discretion of counsel. Defendant does not state the names of the additional witnesses whom he wished to call nor does he indicate what the nature of their testimony would have been. Therefore there is no basis for assuming that defense counsel did not exercise proper judgment in not calling additional witnesses. . . . Moreover, even if there had been any incompetency on the part of defense counsel, it is questionable whether defendant in the instant case could complain on appeal. A defendant may complain at any time during the trial that his counsel is not adequately representing him thereby affording the trial court an opportunity to correct the situation, but if a defendant fails to avail himself of this privilege at the trial level, he cannot ordinarily after an adverse judgment, first complain of the matter on appeal. . . . Under these circumstances we are not impressed that defendant’s right to a fair trial was violated.”

Further it appears from the record that counsel carefully brought to light, through cross-examination, many eircum

Defendant’s remaining contention is that the motion for new trial should have been granted because of newly discovered evidence. The evidence referred to is that contained in the probation report which appellant asserts further reflects on the credibility of the prosecution witnesses. Section 1181, subdivision 8, Penal Code provides that a new trial may be granted ‘ ‘ [w] hen new evidence is discovered material to the defendant, and which he could not, with reasonable diligence, have discovered and produced at the trial.” Appellant does not tell us what matter the probation report contains which would further reflect on the credibility of the prosecution witnesses, but it is implied that the report sets forth the history of the relationship of appellant and his wife and the unsuccessful marriage. It is not contended that the report contains matter of which the defendant had no knowledge at

The judgment is affirmed.

Fox, P. J., and Herndon, J., concurred.