People v. La Peluso

Defendant appeals from a judgment sentencing him to state prison following his conviction by verdict of a jury of the offense of unlawful transportation of narcotics in

The questions involved are as follows: (1) Were tape recordings of telephone conversations erroneously admitted in evidence in violation of defendant’s constitutional rights, or state or federal law? (2) Did the trial court commit prejudicial error by admitting in evidence statements made by defendant’s codefendant to the police after his arrest? (3) Was the search of the hotel room occupied by defendant illegal, and if so, were the items found therein improperly admitted in evidence? (4) Was defendant’s arrest illegal, and if so, were the items found at the time and place thereof improperly admitted in evidence? (5) Is the evidence insufficient to support the conviction of the charge of transportation for which defendant was sentenced? It is herein concluded that an analysis of the record and the law applicable thereto exacts a negative response to each question and prescribes an affirmance of the judgment.

The Facts

An inspector of the San Francisco Police Department attached to the narcotic detail testified that during the period from January to March 1964, arrangements were made to have a special employee make monitored and recorded telephone calls from the headquarters of the narcotic detail in the Hall of Justice to a number listed for the Atherton Hotel and the extension for room 710 at those premises. A transistorized device was attached adjacent to the telephone used by the special employee, and transmitted the conversation by induction to a tape recorder. Four officers generally were present and the calls were monitored by use of extension telephones. The special employee was aware that the conversations were being recorded and monitored and gave his eon-

The special employee was addicted to narcotics and was under arrest. He was furnished money by the authorities and charges against him were later dismissed. He had been used as an informer by the authorities since 1960 and had been instrumental in furnishing information on which at least three prior convictions of violations of the narcotic laws had been secured.

The inspector did not know of his own knowledge who occupied the room in question at the time of the telephone conversations, but he recognized the defendant’s voice from former acquaintance with him, and found that the codefend ant was the person who appeared in response to and in accordance with the arrangements made in the last telephone conversation held. On voir dire examination, out of the presence of the jury, defendant admitted that the room was registered to him and that he had lived there during the period in question. In the same proceedings, his eodefendant testified he was also registered at the hotel, although under an assumed name, and that he was living with defendant.

The recordings were admitted into evidence, and are before this court as transcribed in the typewritten record. The first call was made January 31, 1964. Pour calls were uncompleted. Apparently six calls, the last of which was before February 16, 1964, were completed to defendant, and four calls were completed to his codefendant, culminating in that of March 3, 1964, which led to the latter’s arrest. These conversations, despite guarded language, indicate that the defendant was familiar with his codefendant’s activities; that he communicated the requests of the special employee to his codefendant; that the codefendant was attempting to secure what the special employee desired; and that in one conversation between February 6th and 16th, the defendant himself offered to get something for his caller if the co-defendant was unsuccessful.

The inspector amplified the partially inaudible record of the last conversation which reflected that defendant’s roommate would meet the special employee and furnish him five "spoons ’ ’ of heroin for $60 a spoon.

The officers went to the vicinity of the hotel. The informer gave them a description of the codefendant and identified the car he used. The suspect came out of the hotel, entered the

Over defendant’s objection the inspector was permitted to testify to a conversation with the codefendant at the scene of his apprehension. Admittedly he was not advised of his right to remain silent, or his right to counsel, or of the fact' that anything he said might be used against him or anyone else. According to the inspector, the codefendant was told he was under arrest, and in response to the inspector's questions indicated that he had no more contraband secreted on his body, but did have more contraband in his room in a night stand between two beds. The inspector related that he started to break down and was crying; that he had no objection to going back and stated he wanted to get the matter cleaned up; that he gave another inspector the key to his room, but said that he did not think the door was locked; and that he told the officers that defendant was in the room, unarmed, and watching television.

It was ascertained that the car driven by the codefendant was registered to defendant. The officers proceeded to room 710 with the codefendant who, according to the inspector, gave them the key and consented to the entry of the room. Two officers went in the unlocked door without using the key, and left the codefendant in the hall with a third officer.

On voir dire, out of the presence of the jury, it was developed that the officers had no warrant or search warrant; that the codefendant was handcuffed upon his apprehension and when he allegedly gave them the key; that he was left about 30 feet down the hall when entry was effected; and that the officers did not knock before entering the room. The co-defendant, who had already plead guilty to transportation of heroin, confirmed that he had the conversation with the informer and started out in defendant’s car to deliver the contraband; that he was apprehended, handcuffed and taken back to the seventh floor of the hotel by the officers; that he stood down the hall with one officer, while the others pushed the door open without knocking; and that he was not taken into the room until three or five minutes later after the officers had commenced searching. He denied that he owned

The defendant also testified, out of the presence of the jury, on the issue of the propriety of the entry into room 710. He stated that he was alone in the room asleep with the door closed when he was awakened by a loud bang on the door and three officers jumped in on him; that the inspector, whom he knew, confronted him with a pistol and grabbed and handcuffed him; that he never heard anybody ask for, nor did he give anyone permission to enter the room; and that no one asked him for permission to search the room. He asked “What's going on?” upon awakening and finding the officers in the room but made no other objection to the entry because he had no choice; and made no objection to the officers’ search of the room because he had no choice after looking at the inspector’s pistol and being handcuffed.

The court overruled defendant’s motion to suppress all evidence which was the product of the entry and search of the room. The inspector testified that he found contraband, which proved to be heroin, in the drawer of the night stand; that in the same drawer were prescription vials and papers, which indicated on their face that they, belonged to defendant, and a shoe shine kit; that defendant admitted that everything in the drawer was his with the exception of the kit and the contraband; and that his codefendant admitted ownership of the last-mentioned articles and the heroin which had been found on his person. The inspector observed another officer find a plastic box which proved to contain marijuana and some heroin, in a dresser drawer. This box bore the fingerprints of the codefendant, but not those of defendant. A search of the room in its entirety and the personal effects of the two occupants yielded nothing else of significance other than $180 in the pillow case of defendant’s bed.

Defendant further points out that the law condemns invasions of privacy. (See Britt v. Superior Court (1962) 58 Cal.2d 469 , 472 [ 24 Cal.Rptr. 849 , 374 P.2d 817 ]; Bielicki v. Superior Court (1962) 57 Cal.2d 602 , 607 [ 21 Cal.Rptr. 552 , 371 P.2d 288 ]; Silverman v. United States (1960) 365 U.S. 505 , 508-512 [ 81 S.Ct. 679 , 5 L.Ed.2d 734 ] ; Jones v. United States (1959) 362 U.S. 257 , 261 [ 80 S.Ct. 725 , 4 L.Ed.2d 697 , 78 A.L.R.2d 233 ] ; Williams v. United States (1959) 263 F.2d 487 , 489; and McGinnis v. United States (1st Cir. 1955) 227 F.2d 598 , 603.) He asserts that the procedure followed here, although concededly not a trespass, as in Silverman, was a reaching out into the privacy of his room to listen to what was said therein. This argument completely overlooks the fact, noted in many of the cases which are reviewed in Fontaine, that by projecting his voice over the wires defendant forsakes the shelter of the privacy of his abode, and submits his words to the risk of dissemination at the place where they

2. Statements of the Codefendant

Defendant contends that the court erred in admitting evidence of statements made by the codefendant at the time of his arrest, in which he admittedly told the officers that there was more contraband in the night stand in the room and that defendant was there, and allegedly gave up his key and consented to the entry and search of the room. He contends that the evidence was hearsay as to him; and that it was inadmissible because it was secured in violation of the principles set forth in People v. Dorado (1965) 62 Cal.2d 338 [ 42 Cal.Rptr. 169 , 398 P.2d 361 ].

The People concede that this evidence of the codefendant’s statements was hearsay and was improperly admitted before the jury in the trial on the merits. This concession appears to be well founded in law. (See People v. Roberts (1953) 40 Cal.2d 483 , 489 [ 254 P.2d 501 ]; Callan v. Superior Court (1962) 204 Cal.App.2d 652 , 664 [ 22 Cal.Rptr. 508 ]; Wong Sun v. United States (1962) 371 U.S. 471 , 490-491 [ 83 S.Ct. 407 , 9 L.Ed.2d 441 ]; and cf. People v. One 1948 Chevrolet Conv. Coupe (1955) 45 Cal.2d 613 , 619-620 [ 290 P.2d 538 , 55 A.L.R.2d 1272 ].) It is then asserted that there was no prejudice to the defendant by the admission of testimony regarding these statements before the jury. This contention appears sound on the merits of the charge of transportation, because other evidence, if properly admitted, conclusively established the prior use by defendant of the telephone through which, and his immediate presence in the room from which the transaction emanated; the existence of contraband in the room in a place where it could be inferred he had knowledge, if not dominion and control of it; and the use of his car in the attempt to affect the delivery. No attempt was made to controvert the facts that contraband was found in the night stand or that defendant was in the room. The statements attributed to the codefendant concerning his key and consent had no direct bearing on the question of the guilt of the defendant; and, in fact, it may be said that the

As hearsay evidence the declarations were not properly, but, as seen, not prejudicially, before the jury. Nevertheless, unless otherwise inadmissible, they could be considered by the court alone on the issue of probable cause raised by the subsequent entry and search of the room and the arrest of the defendant therein. (People v. Haven (1963) 59 Cal.2d 713 , 715, fn. 1 [ 31 Cal.Rptr. 47 , 381 P.2d 927 ]; People v. Gorg (1955) 45 Cal.2d 776 , 780-781 [ 291 P.2d 469 ] ; People v. Boyles (1955) 45 Cal.2d 652 , 656 [ 290 P.2d 535 ] ; Brinegar v. United States (1948) 338 U.S. 160 , 172-174 [ 69 S.Ct. 1302 , 93 L.Ed. 1879 ].) Defendant appears to assert that since the statements were obtained in violation of Dorado, they cannot he used to support probable cause for further action without in effect countenancing the violation of the codefendant’s constitutional rights. He contends that if the statements were obtained in violation of the rights of another, he may properly object to their use against him. (See People v. Martin (1955) 45 Cal.2d 755 , 761 [ 290 P.2d 855 ].) The statements, however, are not the crux of the matter; the incriminating evidence is the evidence which evinced the truth of the matter stated, to wit, the heroin in the drawer with defendant’s personal effects. Inquiry should therefore be directed to determine whether that evidence is “a fruit of the poisonous tree.” (Nardone v. United States (1939) 308 U.S. 338 , 341 [ 60 S.Ct. 266 , 84 L.Ed. 307 ] ; and see Wong Sun v. United States, supra, 371 U.S. 471 , 487-488; People v. Paris (1965) 63 Cal.2d 541 , 546 [ 47 Cal.Rptr. 370 , 407 P.2d 282 ] ; and People v. Bilderbach (1965) 62 Cal.2d 757 , 763-768 [ 44 Cal.Rptr. 313 , 401 P.2d 921 ].) If the codefendant was objecting to the admission of the evidence found in the room it would be necessary to equate statements leading to the discovery of evidence which are secured from a voluntary, but Dorado violative admission or confession, with such leads as obtained from illegal wiretapping (Nardone v. United States, supra), or from verbal or other evidence derived from an unlawful entry and unauthorized arrest. (People v. Faris, supra; People v. Bilderbach, supra; Wong Sun v. United States, supra, 371 U.S. at pp. 484-487; and Silverthorne Lbr. Co. v. United States (1919) 251 U.S. 385 , 392 [ 40 S.Ct. 182 , 64 L.Ed. 319 , 321, 24 A.L.R. 1426 ].) An affirmative answer on

Furthermore, it is noted that in Wong Sun the United States Supreme Court did not display equal solicitude for each defendant. The contraband, which would not have been discovered except for the statements improperly wrung from petitioner Toy, was excluded as to him (371 U.S. at pp. 487-488), but as to petitioner Wong Sun, the opinion states: “We must then consider the admissibility of the narcotics surrendered by Tee. Our holding, supra, that this ounce of heroin was inadmissible against Toy does not compel a like result with respect to Wong Sun. The exclusion of the narcotics as to Toy was required solely by their tainted relationship to information unlawfully obtained from Toy, and not by any official impropriety connected with their surrender by Tee. The seizure of this heroin invaded no right of privacy of person or premises which would entitle Wong Sun to object to its use at his trial. Cf. Goldstein v. United States, 316 U.S. 114 .” (Id. at pp. 491-492.)

The Supreme Court of this state has recognized that one defendant may properly object to the use of illegally obtained and improperly admitted declarations of a codefendant which contain matter which is accusatory of the former, even though a cautionary instruction to only apply the evidence to the latter has been given. (See People v. Aranda (1965) 63 Cal.2d 518 , 525-526 [ 47 Cal.Rptr. 353 , 407

3. The Search of the Boom

“ [A] search is not ‘incidental to an arrest’ unless it is limited to the premises where the arrest is made; is contemporaneous therewith; has a definite object; and is reasonable in scope.” (People v. Cruz (1964) 61 Cal.2d 861 , 866 [ 40 Cal.Rptr. 841 , 395 P.2d 889 ]; and see People v. Faris, supra, 63 Cal.2d 541 , 545; People v. Shelton (1964) 60 Cal.2d 740 , 744 [ 36 Cal.Rptr. 433 , 388 P.2d 665 ]; People v. Haven, supra, 59 Cal.2d 713 , 719; Castaneda v. Superior Court (1963) 59 Cal.2d 439 , 442 [ 30 Cal.Rptr. 1 , 380 P.2d 641 ]; Tompkins v. Superior Court (1963) 59 Cal.2d 65 , 67 [ 27 Cal.Rptr. 889 , 378 P.2d 113 ] ; People v. Gorg, supra, 45 Cal.2d 776 , 781.) The entry and search of the hotel room cannot, therefore, be justified as incidental to the arrest of defendant’s codefendant and the People concede this is so.

“[I]f the defendant or someone with apparent authority, consents to the entry, and the entry is made in good faith, it is not unlawful.” (People v. Howard (1958)

In Castaneda v. Superior Court, supra, 59 Cal.2d 439 , the court found as a matter of law that the prosecution failed to discharge the burden of presenting substantial evidence of consent to the search when the most that could be inferred from the evidence was that the accused, after his arrest, sought to placate the officers and hoped that by agreeing to the search of other premises he would forestall the search of his home and the discovery of incriminating evidence. (59 Cal.2d at pp. 443-444; and see People v. Faris, supra, 63 Cal.2d 541 , 545-546; People v. Shelton, supra, 60 Cal.2d 740 , 745; and People v. Haven, supra, 59 Cal.2d 713 , 720.) In this case, if the officers are to be believed, there was no such evasive conduct as in the last-mentioned cases. The fact that the codefendant was in custody is a matter to he considered

A more serious problem is presented by the question of the right of the codefendant to consent to an entry and search of jointly shared living quarters in derogation of the rights of his cotenant, the defendant. In Tompkins v. Superior Court, supra, the opinion concluded: “Accordingly, we hold that one joint occupant who is away from the premises may not authorize police officers to enter and search the premises over the objection of another joint occupant who is present at the time, at least where as in this case, no prior warning is given, no emergency exists, and the officer fails even to disclose his purpose to the occupant who is present or to inform him that he has the consent of the absent occupant to enter.” ( 59 Cal.2d 65 , 69; and see People v. Cruz, supra, 61 Cal.2d 861 , 866-867; People v. Shelton, supra, 60 Cal.2d 740 , 745-746; People v. Porter (1964) 227 Cal.App.2d 211 , 214 [ 38 Cal.Rptr. 621 ].) The limiting language of Tompkins (see People v. Terry, 61 Cal.2d 137 , 151, fn. 9 [ 37 Cal.Rptr. 605 , 390 P.2d 381 ]), suggests that a joint occupant who is at the premises is not divested of his incidents of possession and control or otherwise hampered because of a necessity to protect the privacy of his roommate. (See People v. Howard, supra-, People v. Hughes, supra-, and People v. Amado, supra, in each of which cases the accused was on the premises and entry was consented to by another.) It is concluded that where entry was effected peaceably with the consent and in the presence of one joint occupant, and without objection by the other, that the latter cannot assert a violation of his rights.

The record does show that defendant never consented to the entry or search. His failure to object, in submission to the express or implied assertion of authority by the officers, cannot be construed as a consent. (People v. Shelton, supra, 60 Cal.2d 740 , 746; People v. Di Blasi (1964) 228 Cal.App.2d 338 , 342 [ 39 Cal.Rptr. 416 ]; People v. Porter, supra, 227 Cal.App.2d 211 , 214-215; and see People v. Cockrell (1965) 63 Cal.2d 659 , 665 [ 47 Cal.Rptr. 788 , 408 P.2d 116 ].) In the absence of the effective consent of the

The borderline quality of the efficacy of the consent of the cotenant on the rights of defendant, dictates that consideration be given to the questions of whether there was reasonable cause to arrest the defendant, and if such arrest was legally effected.

4. The Arrest of Defendant

Even if it be assumed that there was no consent binding on defendant, to the entry and search of the room, the search was nevertheless lawful if it was incident to a valid arrest. (People v. Cockrell, supra, 63 Cal.2d 659 , 665; People v. Maddox (1956) 46 Cal.2d 301 , 304-305 [ 294 P.2d 6 ]; People v. Martin, supra, 45 Cal.2d 755 , 762; People v. Hughes, supra, 183 Cal.App.2d 107 , 115; and see People v. Gilbert (1965) 63 Cal.2d 690 , 706 [ 48 Cal.Rptr. 909 , 408 P.2d 365 ].) Defendant does not seriously question the existence of probable cause for arrest. The facts, herein-above mentioned in connection with the nonprejudicial effect of the admission of hearsay testimony, give rise to probable cause to believe that defendant was a coconspirator with, or aiding and abetting his codefendant in narcotics traffic. He asserts that the failure of the officers to comply with the demand and explanation requirements and provisions of section 844 of the Penal Code vitiates the arrest. A similar contention was raised in Ker v. California (1963) 374 U.S. 23 at pages 37-41 [ 83 S.Ct. 1623 , 10 L.Ed.2d 726 ], wherein the United States Supreme Court upheld the right under California decisional law to enter quietly and without announcement in effecting a legal arrest so as to prevent the destruction of contraband. (See also People v. Gilbert, supra, 63 Cal.2d 690 , 706-707; People v. Cockrell, supra, 63 Cal.2d 659 , 665-666; People v. Maddox, supra, 46 Cal.2d 301 , 305-307;

5. The Sufficiency of the Evidence.

Defendant points to the fact that he was not a party to the telephone call giving rise to the transaction—transportation of narcotics—of which he was convicted. In fact the evidence reflects that he had not talked with the special employee for two or three weeks prior to the occasion in question. He isolates the use of his automobile and the discovery of contraband with his personal effects, and claims neither will support an inference that he did “aid and abet” in the commission of the offense charged, nor, that “not being present [he] . . . advised and encouraged its commission. ’ ’ (Pen. Code, § 31; and see People v. Belenger (1963) 222 Cal.App.2d 159 , 162-167 [ 34 Cal.Rptr. 918 ]; People v. Pearl (1963) 211 Cal.App.2d 783 , 789-790 [ 27 Cal.Rptr. 664 ] ; and People v. Hill (1946) 77 Cal.App.2d 287 , 293-294 [ 175 P.2d 45 ].) In People v. Belenger, supra, it is said: “An aider and abettor is ‘liable for the natural and reasonable or probable consequences of any act that he knowingly aided or encouraged. ’ (People v. Villa, supra, 156 Cal.App.2d 128 , 134 [ 318 P.2d 828 ].) In this case, defendant knew of the wrongfulness of Burton’s acts. He must have known that the use of the automobile was necessary to completion of the crime, and surrendered possession and control of the automobile to the wrongdoer. In People v. Ellhamer (1962) 199 Cal.App.2d 777 , the court noted at page 782 [ 18 Cal.Rptr. 905 ]: ‘Although the guilt of the aider and abettor is dependent upon the actor’s crime, the criminal intent of the aider and abettor is presumed from his actions with knowledge of the actor’s wrongful purpose. ’ [Italics added.] Therefore, there was sufficient evidence for the trial court to have found that defendant aided and abetted Burton in the commission of the crime.” (222 Cal.App.2d at pp. 166-167.) The use of defendant’s automobile by one with whom he resides will support the inference that the surrender of possession and control was conscious and permissive. The presence of defendant in the room immediately after the apprehension of his codefendant gives rise to the inference that he was there a few minutes before and witnessed the codefendant’s preparations for departure on his illicit mission. A finding of knowledge of the particular nefarious act with which he is charged is further supported by his participation

The judgment is affirmed.

Sullivan, P, J., and Molinari, J., concurred.

A petition for a rehearing was denied February 18, 1966, and appellant’s petition for a hearing by the Supreme Court was denied March 22, 1966.