People v. Glover

• Citation: 270 Cal.App.2d 255,75 Cal.Rptr. 629
• Decision Date: 27 February 1969
• Docket Number: Cr. 6425
• Court: California Court of Appeals
• Parties: PEOPLE of the State of California, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Ruben GLOVER, Jr., and Oges Roberson, Defendants and Appellants.

Page 629

75 Cal.Rptr. 629

270 Cal.App.2d 255

PEOPLE of the State of California, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Ruben GLOVER, Jr., and Oges Roberson, Defendants and Appellants.

Cr. 6425.

Court of Appeal, First District, Division 3, California.

Feb. 27, 1969.

Armando M. Menocal, III, San Francisco, for appellants.

Thomas C. Lynch, Atty. Gen., of the State of California, Robert R. Granucci, William D. Stein, Deputy Attys. Gen., San Francisco, for respondent.

DAVID, ^* Associate Justice Pro. Tem.

After a jury trial, appellants were each found guilty of attempted robbery in the first degree. (Pen.Code, §§ 664, 211.) Glover, who admitted three prior convictions, was found to have been armed during the attempt. On March 13, 1967, each was sentenced for the term described by law, and thereupon appealed.

The direct evidence of Glover's attempted holdup of the Regal Gas Station at Seventh and Geary in San Francisco was unimpeached. He was arrested in fresh pursuit by passing motorcycle officer Neville, after the gas station attendant, Krushinsky, directed him toward the fleeing Glover.

With Officer Neville in pursuit, Glover ran north on Eighth Avenue, and suddenly angled toward the curb where a 1960 Ford Thunderbird was parked. Its driver, appellant Roberson, was looking back at Officer Neville, and attempting to start the vehicle.

Officer Neville, gun in hand, directed Glover to stop; and directed Roberson to 'place his hands, keep his hands where I could see them and get out of the car.' Roberson complied, asked why he was stopped, said 'that he hadn't done anything.' 'Mr. Glover had stated something to the effect that I was stopping the wrong man, that he hadn't done anything. I asked Mr. Roberson at this time why he was parked at this location. He stated he was just waiting for his friend who had gone around the corner to use the restroom. At this point, Mr. Glover asked for Mr. Roberson, for the sweater. He said, 'Can I ask him' for his sweater, that he was cold. To which Mr. Roberson complied * * * The sweater was in the back seat of the car. He reached in and got it * * * he put the sweater on.'

The admission into evidence of these actions and conversations of the two appellants does not, as claimed, violate the rules of Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694, 10 A.L.R.3d 974.

Roberson was not in custody, but only in temporary detention for interrogation as to the reason for his presence there. No probable cause as to him had arisen, when he gave his exculpatory statement. (Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 22, 88 S.Ct. 1868, 20 L.Ed.2d 889.) In this period of temporary detention a warning under the Miranda formula was not required. (People v. Manis, 268 A.C.A. 709, 723--724, 74 Cal.Rptr. 423.) Such questioning was not more than preliminary investigation, not the process of interrogation which triggers the Miranda rules. (People v. Mercer, 257 Cal.App.2d 244, 64 Cal.Rptr. 861; People v. Autterson, 261 A.C.A. 726, 735, 68 Cal.Rptr. 113; People v. Merchant, 260 A.C.A. 925, 929, 67 Cal.Rptr. 459.)

Glover's request for his sweater, in Roberson's car, and the fact it was in the car, were important elements in the cases against both. The question by Glover, and his retrieval of the sweater, were volunteered, not in response to any interrogation at all. Miranda v. Arizona, Supra, 384 U.S. 436, 478, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 1630, 16 L.Ed.2d 694, 10 A.L.R.3d 974 expressly states that 'Volunteered statements of any kind are not barred by the Fifth Amendment and their admissibility is not affected by our holding * * *.' (See also People v. Mercer, Supra, 257 Cal.App.2d 244, 247--248, 64 Cal.Rptr. 861.)

These conversations of appellants were the only statements made to or in the presence of the police. Being admissible and properly received at the trial, the rule of People v. Aranda, 63 Cal.2d 518, 47 Cal.Rptr. 353, 407 P.2d 265 barring the use of inadmissible statements made by one defendant against a codefendant is inapplicable.

Appellant Glover asserts that the trial judge committed prejudicial error in not permitting him to dismiss his counsel, on the second day of trial, assertedly 'because I don't feel I was represented as of now, all the evidence in the case hasn't been brought out so I would like to have another (attorney) * * * would like to dismiss Mr. McNamara as my attorney, as of right now he no longer represent me.'

For four months from the arraignment on October 28, 1966, Mr. McNamara, on the staff of the county public defender, had represented Glover, with no indication that he desired other representation or that he was dissatisfied, nor yet that he was able to employ other counsel.

Stating to the trial judge, 'I am able now to have better legal defense for myself now', he did not explain such sudden change of circumstances, nor did he indicate the name of any attorney he wished to substitute. The record indicates no deficiency in his legal representation. To continue the jury trial already in its second day and near its conclusion would have disrupted the orderly processes of justice. This would have been unreasonable under the circumstances of the case. (Cf. People v. Crovedi, 65 Cal.2d 199, 208, 53 Cal.Rptr. 284, 417 P.2d 868.)

Likewise, no explanation was made of Glover's sudden ability to procure his own counsel, nor excuse for the dilatory request. The judge may well have concluded that Glover's sudden application was dilatory, prompted by a feeling the cause was going against him. The record, which is the best evidence, shows adequate representation. (People v. Ives, 17 Cal.2d 459, 477, 110 P.2d 408.) Since Glover asserted there was other evidence that should be brought out, the court properly directed him to confer with his attorney regarding it. Even in a criminal case, it is for the best interests of the client as well as judicial administration, that the attorney control the case. (People v. Mattson, 51 Cal.2d 777, 794, 336 P.2d 937.) The indicated nature of the further evidence does not compel any other...