Majority
In a jury trial, defendant was found guilty on two counts of violating section 288 of the Penal Code (lewd acts). Criminal proceedings were adjourned, proceedings were instituted pursuant to section 5501 of the Welfare and Institutions Code (mentally disordered sex offender), defendant’s motion for a new trial was denied, and on January 25, 1966, he was committed to a state hospital for observation and diagnosis for a period not to exceed 90 days. On April 27, 1966, he was recommitted to the hospital for an indefinite time. lie appealed (case No. 32191, herein) from the order committing him to a state hospital (and denying the motion for a new trial). On August 9, 1966, the superintendent of the hospital certified (Welf. & Inst. Code, §§ 5517, 5518) that defendant was not amenable to further treatment. Criminal proceedings were reinstated, and appellant was sentenced to state prison for the term prescribed by law on both counts. Defendant appealed (case No. 13366, herein) from the judgment and sentence.
Appellant contends that certain remarks of the judge, regarding appellant’s attorney, constituted prejudicial misconduct. lie also contends that the court erred: (1) in rulings as to admissibility of evidence; (2) in denying appellant an oppoiiunity to locate a witness; (3) in denying appellant’s motion for mistrial; (4) in giving, and refusing to give, certain instructions to the jury, and (5) in sentencing the appellant.
Patsy and Sandy, aged 9 and 12, respectively, lived in an apartment with their mother and Margaret Hollenbaugh.
On July 27, 3965, their mother was away from the apartment during the evening and did not return until 11:30 p.m.
Patsy testified in substance that: When defendant was at the apartment, before he left with Margaret, he used the telephone and then offered $1.00 to Margaret for the use of the telephone, but she would not take it, and then he gave 50 cents to each of the two girls. After he returned to the apartment that evening, and while Patsy and Sandy were in the bedroom, he told Patsy that he wanted to whisper something to her. He told Sandy to look out the window and see whether her mother or Margaret was coming. Sandy left the room and then he started to put his hand on Patsy’s hips and take her pants down. Then Patsy ran out of the room. Defendant told Sandy, who was in the living room, that he wanted to tell her a secret. Sandy went into the bedroom, and defendant told Patsy to look out the window and see whether anyone was coming. Defendant went into the bedroom. While they were in the bedroom, Patsy was in the living room. Sandy ran out of the bedroom, and defendant said: “Sandy, I wasn’t going to hurt you.” Defendant went into the living room and told Patsy that he wanted to tell her a big secret. They went into the bedroom and he turned the light off, pushed her onto the bed, took her pants down, and licked her body between her legs. He told her to promise that she would not tell her mother. They went into the living room and he asked the girls to promise that they would not tell their mother what he did to them if he left some money for them. He put some money on the couch and told the girls to tell their mother that he was sitting on the couch and that the money fell out of his pocket. Then he left the apartment.
Sandy testified in substance that when defendant returned to the apartment, after having gone from there with Margaret, he asked Patsy to go into the bedroom. They went into that room, and Sandy stayed in the living room. When they came out of the bedroom, he asked Sandy to go into the bedroom, and he said that he had a surprise for her. She went in
The mother of Sandy and Patsy testified in substance that: When she returned to her home about 11:30 p.m. on July 27, 1965, Sandy'was watching television and Patsy was asleep on the couch. Sandy made a complaint about defendant, stating that he “had attacked them,” and that the attack was a “sexual misconduct.” Then she (mother) awakened Patsy, and Patsy made a complaint to her about sex misconduct of defendant. About 7:30 o’clock the next morning, after she (mother) had talked with her ex-husband by telephone, she made a report to the police.
Defendant testified in part as follows: He went to the apartment on July 27, 1965, a little after 10 p.m., to see Margaret. One of the girls there opened the door. He had been playing pool at a bar, and he went into the bathroom and washed chalk off his hands. He asked Margaret to call his friend Jim by telephone, and after she made a call and reported that Jim was not at home, he (defendant) offered to pay Margaret for the telephone charge. She would not take the money, and he gave 50 cents to each of the girls. He and Margaret agreed to go to a bar. She proceeded to go there in her car, and he went there in his car, but she was not there. He waited a few minutes, and then saw a man by the name of Jack, with whom he had been playing pool earlier that evening. Jack wanted to go to Hollywood, and defendant asked him to get into defendant’s ear. After traveling a short time, the defendant stopped his car, in a double-parked position, in front of Margaret’s apartment. He went into the apartment, arriving there about 10:40 p.m., and Jack remained in the car. He asked whether Margaret had returned, and was told that she was not there. He went into the bathroom and washed more chalk off his hands. After talking to Jim by telephone about five minutes, he left his business card and said, “Have Margaret phone me.” Then he left the apartment. He did not touch either of the girls. He was not on the bed with either girl.
Appellant contends that the court erred in receiving evidence of statements made by defendant while he was in the
Appellant further contends that the court erred in permitting Sandy and Patsy “to testify” in that they did not understand that “punishment might follow a failure to tell the truth.” Children under 10 years of age, who appear incapable of receiving just impressions of the facts respecting which they are examined, or of relating them truly, cannot be witnesses. (Code Civ. Proc., § 1880; see Pen. Code, § 1321.) In the present case, Sandy was 12 years of age when she testified (see People v. Valenti, 103 Cal.App. 249 , 250-251 [ 284 P. 485 ].) Patsy, who was 9 years of age when she testified, said that she knew the difference between the truth and a lie, and that she would tell the truth. Whether they were competent to be witnesses was a matter within the discretion of the trial judge. (People v. Trolinder, 121 Cal.App.2d 819 , 823 [ 264 P.2d 601 ]; see People v. Valenti, supra, p. 251].) The court did not err in permitting them to testify.
Appellant also contends that defendant was deprived of an opportunity to present fully a defense that the com
Appellant contends that the court erred in limiting his cross-examination of Sandy and Patsy. As transcript references, pertaining to this contention, he sets forth in his brief the numbers of approximately one hundred pages of the reporter’s transcript and sets forth the numbers of certain
without merit.
Appellant further contends that the court erred in denying him an opportunity to locate and subpoena a witness, namely, the person known as “Jack,” with whom defendant allegedly had played pool. Appellant argues that the court should have granted his request that he be released from jail upon an amount of bail that he could furnish, or released upon his own recognizance, or that he should have been permitted to leave.jail with a police officer to go to the ba.r and try to find Jack. He asserts further that he did not lmow Jack very well, but if defendant could have gone to “the place that Jack frequented there was good probability” that Jack might be located; that Jack could testify that he waited in defendant’s car while defendant went into the apartment. He also argues that the court erred in refusing to grant a continuance of the trial so that defendant could subpoena Jack. Defendant was arraigned on August 24, 1965, and trial was set for October 14, 1965, on which date the trial was continued to November 22. 1965. Defendant did not know Jack’s surname and did not know his address. The
Appellant contends further that the court erred in not allowing him to present evidence that the prosecution suppressed evidence. At the trial defendant’s counsel stated in effect that, during recess when he attempted to interview a prosecution witness in the hallway, the deputy district attorney would not let him talk to the witness, that the deputy told the witness that she did not have to talk to anybody, and further that the district attorney “put words in this woman’s mouth.” The judge then said: “As an officer of this Court, you are representing to me that you have some evidence that the District Attorney put words in this witness’ mouth?” Defendant’s counsel replied in the affirmative, and the judge excused the jury and said that he would hear such evidence. Defendant’s counsel then said that he could not put on any evidence. The judge asked what evidence counsel had as to his statement accusing the district attorney of unethical conduct, and told him to put the evidence on. Counsel said that he could not do that. There was no evidence that the prosecution suppressed any evidence.
Another contention of appellant is that the court erred in denying his motion for an order declaring a mistrial. After the trial had proceeded for seven days, the judge became ill (December 6). The trial was resumed on December 13. Defendant made a motion for an order declaring a mistrial, by reason of the delay and interruption of the trial; and, as an alternative, he made a motion that the transcript of the girls’ testimony be prepared. The motions were denied. There was no showing that a partial reporter’s transcript had been made. Granting or denying a motion for an order declaring a mistrial is a matter within the trial judge’s discretion (People v. Grant, 53 Cal.App.2d 286 [ 127 P.2d 567 ]). Granting a continuance of a criminal trial, on the ground of illness, is discretionary. (In re Ali, 230 Cal.App.2d 585 , 590 [ 41 Cal.Rptr. 108 ]; see People v. Parker, 235 Cal.App.2d 100 , 103-104 [ 44 Cal.Rptr. 909 ]; People v. Mitchell,
Appellant also contends that the court erred in giving certain instructions to the jury. He refers to five instructions by page numbers in the clerk's transcript, and asserts that they related to alleged admissions by him, and that they should not have been given—because the only evidence as to his statements related to exculpatory statements.[1] The instructions were, in substance, general instructions on the subject of admissions. It is not asserted that the instructions included erroneous statements of law, but it is argued that the instructions were not applicable under the evidence. There is no reference to a confession in the instructions, and it was not claimed by the prosecution that he made a confession. An admission “is merely a recital of facts that ‘tend to establish guilt.’ ” (People v. Fitzgerald, 56 Cal.2d 855 , 861 [ 17 Cal.Rptr. 129 , 366 P.2d 481 ].) It is a declaration which “ ‘by itself, is not sufficient, even if true, to warrant an inference of guilt, but which tends to prove guilt when considered with the rest of the evidence. ’ ” (Id.)
In the present case, defendant testified that he returned to the apartment that evening after he had left there earlier in the evening with Margaret. In rebuttal, an officer testified that, prior to the trial, the defendant had said to the officers that he did not return to the apartment that evening. It is true, of course, that defendant’s statement to the officers (that he did not return), when considered by itself, was exculpatory; but when that statement is considered in connection with his testimony in court, that he did return, his first statement may be regarded as a prior inconsistent statement or admission having a material bearing as to his credibility. The court did not err in giving instructions relating to admissions.
Appellant asserts that the court erred in refusing to give the following instruction, requested by him: ‘[1] Failure to make an outcry immediately after the alleged commission of the alleged act is a factor to be considered by you in connection with the question of the credibility of” Sandra and Patricia. He argues to the effect that if the girls had been molested it is likely that they would have made an outcry instead of going to sleep or watching television. There was no
1 In Ms contention regarding the Miranda-Escobedo rule, supra, he regards Ms statements as admissions.
Appellant asserts that the court erred in refusing to give his requested instruction which was as follows: “The court was in error when it told you that presumptions no longer will be evidence this coming January; all presumptions, including the presumption of innocence are evidence.” The court gave the standard or usual instruction that a defendant is presumed to be innocent. The other part of the requested instruction, regarding law in the following January, was not of substantial significance. It was not. error to refuse to give the instruction.
Appellant argues that the court erred in refusing to give his requested instruction, as follows: 1 ‘ There is a presumption that higher evidence would be adverse from inferior being produced. ’1 It does not appear that the instruction was applicable under the evidence presented. The court did not err in refusing to give the instruction.
Appellant contends that certain remarks of the judge, regarding appellant’s counsel, Mr. Kanarek, constituted prejudicial misconduct. He refers to several remarks of the judge which reflected adversely upon counsel’s ability and his manner of trying the case. Some of the remarks were: “Your tenacity is exceeded only by your stupidity.” “But don’t have the question dripping with the innuendoes that you insist upon putting there after I have warned you about the matter.” “Well, don’t preach to her.” “You have stated it to the point of ad nauseam. ” “ [Y] ou are not going to testify indirectly like you have just attempted to do.” “The important thing now is whether or not you are going to be cited to the State Bar.” (Jury not present when this last remark was made.) “You cannot be as stupid as you sound. No one can be that stupid.” (Jury not present when this remark was made.) “ [Y]ou are guilty of collossal rudeness.” “I am doing my best to see that Mr. Bronson gets a-fair trial in spite of you.” “I have never seen such obviously stupid, ill-advised questions of a witness.” (Jury not present when this remark was made.) “Are you paid by the word or by the hour that you consume the Court’s time.” (Verdict had been
As above shown, five of the twelve remarks above-mentioned were made out of the presence of the jury. The remarks, so referred to above, which were made in the presence of the jury were: The first remark regarding “stupidity.” The second, third, fourth, fifth, eighth, and ninth remarks—pertaining, respectively, to: “innuendoes”; “don’t preach”; “ad nauseam”; not “to testify indirectly”; “rudeness”; “a fair trial in spite of you.”
In determining appellant’s contention regarding the remarks it is necessary, of course, to consider the circumstances under which the remarks were made. This opinion would be prolonged unduly if circumstances as to each remark were related in detail. It may be stated generally that counsel for defendant made many unnecessary objections to questions, engaged in unduly extended cross-examination, repeated questions (in substance) as to which objections had been sustained, and repeatedly made arguments after the court had made rulings and after the court had directed him not to argue after the rulings. Prior to the first remark above-mentioned, and after counsel had been cross-examining an officer for an extended period of time and after the officer had answered counsel’s question as to what was said regarding defendant’s rights, defendant’s counsel asked the officer to tell everything the defendant said after the officer had advised him. The judge said: “Sustain the objection. You have had an hour and 20 minutes of cross-examination concerning five questions. We are not going to wrap it all up with an officer telling us everything all over again. Do you have any specific questions to ask this witness concerning the subject matter of this trial?” Then counsel for defendant asked the officer what the defendant was wearing when he was interrogated. Thereupon, the first remark abovementioned was made. Later, when the jury was out of the courtroom, counsel for defendant asked the judge to declare a mistrial because that remark had been made. The judge said: “I warned you when this case started. I took you into chambers and in the record I said, ‘Mr. Kanarek, your reputation has gone before you.’ ... I said to you, ‘I am going to warn you now as to the way I am going to operate this trial, ’ and I said, ‘ The first time I am going to warn you. The second time I am going to warn you in front of your client. The third time I am going to warn you in front of the jury.’ ” At another time, when the jury
Appellant further contends that the court erred in sentencing defendant. He argues that the judge lacked jurisdiction to sentence defendant because the court did not follow procedures prescribed by the Welfare and Institutions Code for treatment of mentally disordered sex offenders. In People v. Succop, 67 Cal.2d 785 [ 63 Cal.Rptr. 569 , 433 P.2d 473 ], the People argued (as in the present case) that matters relating to proceedings under section 5500 et seq. of the Welfare and Institutions Code were moot upon an appeal from the judgment sentencing defendant to state prison. The court rejected that argument, and said that the trial court did not comply with several of the statutory requirements at the proceedings which resulted in defendant’s temporary commitment—the court-appointed psychiatrists did not testify, -defendant was not afforded any opportunity to produce evidence on his own behalf, the parties did not stipulate that the question be submitted on the reports of the psychiatrists, and
2 At the hearing, defendant’s motion "that defendant testify respecting reports’’ of the physician was denied. (No objection was made to the introduction of the reports in evidence.) Defendant also made a motion for a new trial, and in connection therewith, apparently, made motions to call the judge as a witness and to call the bailiff as a witness. Those motions wore denied.
At the oral argument on appeal, the appellant requested permission to augment the record by filing a certified copy of the complaint or affidavit of police officer, E. M. Eggleston, charging defendant with said crimes, and praying that an arrest warrant be issued. The request was denied. A few days after the two appeals herein were submitted, the appellant filed a document entitled, “Motion to File Supplementary Brief; Re-open Oral Argument; Augment Record; Points and Authorities; Declaration.” and “Certified Copy of Affidavit of E. M. Eggleston, a Police Officer ... on Behalf of Request for Warrant of Arrest for Appellant. ...” The motion to file supplemental brief, re-open oral argument, and augment record by including the affidavit by the officer, is denied.
Affirmance of the judgment is an affirmance of the sentence.
The appeal in case Number 12191 is dismissed. The judgment in case Number 13366 is affirmed.
Fourt, J., and Lillie, J., concurred.
A petition for a rehearing was denied August 7, 1968, and appellant’s petition for a hearing by the Supreme Court was denied September 5, 1968. Peters, J., was of the opinion that the petition should be granted.
Cases cited
- People v. Rollins 65 Cal.2d 681 at 691 p. 838
- People v. Valenti 103 Cal.App. 249 at 250-251 p. 838
- People v. Trolinder 121 Cal.App.2d 819 at 823 p. 838
- People v. Stone 239 Cal.App.2d 14 at 20, at 22 p. 840, p. 845
- People v. Carlson 73 Cal.App.2d 933 at 942 p. 840
- People v. Grant 53 Cal.App.2d 286 p. 841
- People v. Ali 230 Cal.App.2d 585 at 590 p. 841
- People v. Parker 235 Cal.App.2d 100 at 103-104 p. 841
- People v. Mitchell 209 Cal.App.2d 312 at 320 p. 842
- People v. Fitzgerald 56 Cal.2d 855 at 861 p. 842
- People v. Jones 184 Cal.App.2d 464 at 469 p. 843
- People v. Succop 67 Cal.2d 785 p. 845
- People v. Succop 65 Cal.2d 483 at 488 p. 846