People v. Rodriguez

On September 15, 1958, defendant appealed from judgment of conviction, and in propria persona filed opening and closing appellate briefs. The judgment was affirmed by this court on April 22, 1959 (People v. Rodriguez, 169 Cal.App.2d 771 [ 338 P.2d 41 ]). Petition for rehearing was denied May 14, 1959, and petition for hearing by the Supreme Court denied June 18, 1959. Subsequently Douglas v. California, 372 U.S. 353 [ 9 L.Ed.2d 811 , 83 S.Ct. 914 ] was decided and pursuant to direction of the California Supreme Court this court recalled the remittitur, vacated the judgment and appointed counsel to represent appellant. This is the second time the appeal has been heard by this court.

Defendant was charged with selling heroin on August 31 and September 3, 1957 (§ 11500, Health & Saf. Code) ; two prior felony convictions were alleged (grand theft, 1944; violation, Dangerous Weapons Control Act, 1954). The cause was submitted on the transcript of the testimony taken at the preliminary hearing. Defendant was found guilty as charged; although he admitted the prior felony convictions, the trial judge made no finding thereon.

Count I

On August 31, 1957, Deputy Burley went to the home of one Womack, an informant, whom he searched, then with Womack drove to 41st and Compton to meet defendant and buy heroin; around 11 a.m. defendant drove up in a 1951 or 1952 green Ford and they both entered the vehicle; after a conversation wherein defendant said of Deputy Burley, ‘1 This man doesn’t use,” he let the deputy out of the car saying, “We will leave him on the comer and I will go around the corner and give him [Womack] the stuff.” The deputy gave Womack $125, then Womack and defendant drove away leaving Burley on the sidewalk. Deputy Sells had been surveilling Burley and observed him with defendant and Womack and saw defendant and Womack drive away; he then picked up Burley and proceeded to 33d and Compton where they observed defendant and Womack conversing. Sells returned

Count II

On September 3, 1957, Womack contacted Deputy Burley who went to his residence where the deputy listened to a telephone conversation on an extension; a male voice asked Womack if he was ready to do business and said, “meet me at 41st and Compton around 11 o’clock.” Again Burley searched Womack and under the surveillance of Deputies Vacio and Guindon went to 41st and Compton. Defendant drove up in a 1953 or 1954 Mercury with two children; Deputy Burley gave Womack $125; Womack entered defendant’s car and they drove away; soon they returned, Womack got out of the car and handed the deputy a small wax paper containing heroin. Around 6 p.m., Deputy Burley went alone to the comer of 57th and Central to pay the balance due on the 11 a.m. transaction; he waited one-half hour and finally defendant drove up in the Mercury; Burley handed him $92; defendant told him he owed $5 more, but could give it to him later; this made up the total of $225 paid to defendant for one ounce of heroin.

Womack, called by the People, testified that he knew Burley ; they had met a man at 41st and Compton on August 31 and September 3 and bought heroin from him. He testified substantially the same as Burley that he made two narcotic purchases at the deputy’s instance in the same manner described by Burley, including the amount of money paid and the amount owing on the second purchase; but he denied that defendant was the man who sold him the heroin on either occasion, and called him “Roy” (last name unknown) not “Rod.”

Defendant denied that he either drove or owned a green Ford or Mercury, lmew Womack on August 31 or September 3 and ever had a transaction involving narcotics; he testified he was in New Orleans at the time in question.

When .the cause was called for trial defendant was present with private counsel. In open court the deputy district attorney said to defendant “You are entitled to have a jury of 12 people here and determine this matter. Counsel has indicated to this court you wish to waive your right to a jury and have the Court hear this matter sitting without a jury, is that whát you want to do?” Defendant responded, “I want to submit the transcript.” The prosecutor repeated, “Submit it on the transcript?” to which defendant stated, “That’s correct.” Defendant’s counsel, who was standing beside him replied, “Counsel joins in the waiver,” to which the prosecutor added, “People join” and then offered the stipulation that the court may read and consider the testimony taken at the preliminary hearing and all exhibits offered and received at, this time, reserving the right of both parties to offer additional testimony. Defense counsel responded: “We will accept the stipulation other than the latter part of additional testimony. Neither side will present any additional testimony.” T^e court said, “All right”; the prosecutor stated: “In other words, the stipulation with the exception that either side may put on additional testimony?” and defense counsel answered, “Yes.”

This is not a situation in which defendant expressed no words in waiver of his right to a jury trial and a waiver could not be implied from his conduct, as in People v. Holmes, 54 Cal.2d 442 , 443 [ 5 Cal.Rptr. 871 , 353 P.2d 583 ], and cases cited therein; here defendant, represented by private counsel, asked by the prosecutor if he wanted to waive his right to a jury and have the court hear the matter sitting without a jury, replied that he wanted “to submit the transcript.” To be certain there was no misunderstanding, the prosecutor repeated, “Submit it on the transcript?” and defendant replied, “That’s correct.” While no stereotype language expressing a jury waiver was used by defendant, it is obvious that his words taken in their ordinary meaning and in context show his intention to waive a jury and submit the cause to the court. Although a defendant’s waiver cannot be inferred and language must be used (People v. Holmes, 54 Cal.

No provision of law requires the judge to personally advise an accused of his right to a trial by jury and that he may waive that right, or requires him to make any finding that defendant understands the waiver. Here the proceedings were had before the trial judge who personally acknowledged the stipulation to submit the matter to' the court sitting without a jury. Having conferred his approval on the proceedings to submit the cause, the judge thereby indicated that he found the waiver to be valid and properly understood by both defendant and his counsel. The trial judge in a criminal case is not obliged to explain to defendant “the nature and consequences of his action in waiving a jury trial where he is, as in the case at bar, represented by counsel and fails to show that either he or his counsel has been misled as to the result which might occur from his waiving a jury trial. . . .” (People v. Lookadoo, 66 Cal.2d 307 , 311 ( 57 Cal.Rptr. 608 , 425 P.2d 208 ].)

Appellant claims that the chain of evidence pointing to his guilt was not established, arguing that while a sale may have taken place on the two occasions there is no proof that he was the seller, a fact he says corroborated by Womack.

Without considering any of Womack’s testimony, we can only conclude that the testimony of the officers sufficiently supports the conclusion that it was defendant who sold the narcotics through Womack to Deputy Burley. As to Womack’s testimony, it was the same as Burley’s except that he maintained the seller was not. the defendant. The trial judge had the right to accept the bulk of Womack’s testimony as true and reject that part relating to the identity of the seller (People v. Matlock, 51 Cal.2d 682 , 695 [ 336 P.2d 505 ] ; People v. Johnston, 48 Cal.2d 78 , 83 [ 307 P.2d 921 ] ; People v.

In a supplemental brief filed by appellant in addition to his counsel’s opening brief, he makes several contentions none of which has merit. First, he claims that in submitting the cause on the preliminary transcript he was deprived of his right of confrontation and cross-examination. It should be noted that defense counsel extensively cross-examined Deputy Burley and was an active participant in the preliminary hearing making numerous pertinent objections, arguments and a motion to dismiss. It is fairly obvious that after being confronted with the testimony taken at the preliminary hearing and discussing the facts with defendant, his counsel, as a matter of trial strategy, advised him to waive a jury trial (People v. Garrison, 246 Cal.App.2d 343 , 351 [ 54 Cal.Rptr. 731 ]) ; it is patent on the face of the record that defendant chose to waive a trial by jury on this advice. Thereafter, defense counsel entered into the stipulation to submit the cause on the transcript. “ [A]ny objection to the use of the preliminary hearing transcript at the trial was waived when defense counsel, in defendant’s presence and without objection by him, joined in the stipulation regarding the use of that transcript. [Citations.]” (People v. Foster, 67 Cal.2d 604 , 606 [ 63 Cal.Rptr. 288 , 432 P.2d 976 ] ; People v. Cruz, 244 Cal.App.2d 137 ,140 [ 53 Cal.Rptr. 354 ].)

The contention that defense counsel at the trial did not undertake essential research and investigation and call witnesses as requested, is not supported by the record; matters not of record cannot be urged on appeal. (People v. Jackson, 230 Cal.App.2d 485 , 490 [ 41 Cal.Rptr. 113 ].)

Finally, appellant says he was not afforded adequate assistance of counsel in that the latter did not fully apprise him of the consequence of the submission of the case on the prelimi

As to the criticism of counsel’s representation of him, “defendant has the burden ... of establishing'his allegation of inadequate representation ‘not as a matter of speculation but as a demonstrable reality.’ ” (People v. Reeves, 64 Cal. 2d 766 , 774 [ 51 Cal.Rptr. 691 , 415 P.2d 35 ].) Appellant has not, sustained this burden. Further, the record fails to show as it did in People v. Ibarra, 60 Cal.2d 460 [ 34 Cal.Rptr. 863 , 386 P.2d 487 ], that he did not have diligent and reasonably competent representation by trial counsel nor does it show that he availed himself of the privilege of complaining at the trial level that his counsel was not adequately representing him. (People v. Monk, 56 Cal.2d 288 , 299 [ 14 Cal.Rptr. 633 , 363 P.2d 865 ].) The explanation for this is found in the factual complexion of the case which demonstrates that counsel exercising his professional judgment adopted such strategy and tactics as he deemed to be in the best interests of his client and that defendant’s dissatisfaction with his conduct of the case did not develop until on appeal. Defense counsel was the “manager of the lawsuit” (Wilson v. Gray, 345 F.2d 282 , 290) in control of the case and had the authority and duty to determine all questions of strategy and trial tactics; and it was within the scope of his authority and he had the right to advise defendant to submit the cause on the preliminary transcript. (People v. Foster, 67 Cal.2d 604 , 606 [ 63 Cal.Rptr. 288 , 432 P.2d 976 ].) That the strategy may have been unrewarding is no ground for the conclusion that counsel was incompetent or lacked diligence in representing his client. (People v. Robillard, 55 Cal.2d 88 , 96 [ 10 Cal.Rptr. 167 , 358 P.2d 295 , 83 A.L.R.2d 1086 ] ; People v. Reeves, 64 Cal.2d 766 , 773 [ 51 Cal.Rptr. 671 , 415 P.2d 35 ].) Trial strategy and tactical decisions of counsel will not be reviewed with the hindsight of an appellate court and except in rare cases it should not attempt to second-guess counsel. (People v. Brooks,

The judgment is affirmed.

Wood, P. J., and Fourt, J., concurred.

A petition for a rehearing was denied September 23, 1969.