Edward S., In re

• Decision Date: 28 June 1982
• Docket Number: Cr. 39891
• Citation: 133 Cal.App.3d 154,183 Cal.Rptr. 733
• Court: California Court of Appeals Court of Appeals
• Parties: In re EDWARD S., a Person Coming Under the Juvenile Court Law. The PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. EDWARD S., Defendant and Appellant.

Page 733

183 Cal.Rptr. 733

133 Cal.App.3d 154

In re EDWARD S., a Person Coming Under the Juvenile Court Law.

The PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. EDWARD S., Defendant and Appellant.

Cr. 39891.

Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 5, California.

June 28, 1982.

[133 Cal.App.3d 156] Floyd J. Siegal, Los Angeles, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for defendant and appellant.

George Deukmejian, Atty. Gen., Robert H. Philibosian, Chief Asst. Atty. Gen., S. Clark Moore, Asst. Atty. Gen., Robert F. Katz and Gary R. Hahn, Deputy Attys. Gen., for plaintiff and respondent.

ASHBY, Associate Justice.

In proceedings under section 602 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the juvenile court found that appellant committed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon on Carl Glatthorn (Pen.Code, §§ 211, 245, subd. (a)) and that appellant drew a knife on Donald Cress in a threatening manner (Pen.Code, § 417, subd. (a)). Appellant was committed to the Youth Authority.

At about 8:15 on the evening of September 26, 1980, Donald Cress, assistant produce manager of the Safeway store on Vineland in Sun Valley, observed appellant walking out the door of the store with batteries for which he had not paid. When Mr. Cress asked to see appellant's receipt, appellant pulled a hunting knife out of his pocket and waved it at Cress. Fearing injury, Mr. Cress jumped back and told appellant to get out.

At the laundromat a few doors north of the Safeway store Carl Glatthorn had a $1 bill in his hand to place in a change machine. Suddenly he felt a sharp pointed object in his back. Appellant said, "Give me the money." Mr. Glatthorn was afraid. Appellant grabbed the dollar bill and left.

Appellant was arrested in the same neighborhood at 9 p. m. because he fit the description of the suspect in the Safeway and laundromat incidents. In his pockets he had a hunting knife, Safeway batteries, and a $1 bill.

SUFFICIENCY OF EVIDENCE

Contending that the victim Glatthorn did not see the sharp pointed object he felt in his back, appellant argues the evidence is insufficient to show that appellant assaulted him with a knife. However, the Next, pointing to the evidence that Mr. Glatthorn had a dollar bill in his hand which appellant "grabbed," appellant argues the evidence is insufficient to support a finding of robbery, and that it shows at most a snatch, a grand theft from the person. (Pen.Code, § 487, subd. 2.) This argument overlooks the evidence that before grabbing the money appellant put a knife to the victim's back and said, "Give me the money," and that the victim was afraid. The evidence is sufficient to show a taking of property by force or fear. (Pen.Code, § 211; People v. Huston, 163 Cal.App.2d 363, 365, 366, 329 P.2d 334; People v. Welch, 218 Cal.App.2d 422, 423, 31 Cal.Rptr. 926; People v. Lescallett, 123 Cal.App.3d 487, 491-492, 176 Cal.Rptr. 687.)

                circumstantial evidence shows that the object was a knife.  (People v. Hayes, 19 Cal.App.3d 459, 467, 96 Cal.Rptr. 879.)   Only seconds before the laundromat robbery, appellant waved a knife at Mr. Cress.  Appellant was in possession of the same knife when arrested in the neighborhood 45 minutes after the robbery
                

WENDE

Appellant is represented on appeal by court appointed counsel. After setting forth his arguments and authorities concerning sufficiency of the evidence, counsel's brief requests this court "to undertake an independent review of the record to determine for itself whether any additional arguable issues exist," citing People v. Wende, 25 Cal.3d 436, 158 Cal.Rptr. 839, 600 P.2d 1071. We decline this undertaking. The requirements of Wende come into play only when "appointed counsel submits a brief which raises no specific issues or describes the appeal as frivolous." (Id., 25 Cal.3d at p. 441, 158 Cal.Rptr. 839, 600 P.2d 1071; emphasis added.) Since the brief in this case argues two specific issues, Wende is inapplicable. (People v. Johnson, 123 Cal.App.3d 106, 109-110, 176 Cal.Rptr. 390.)

Counsel contends that appellant should be entitled both to review of the contentions presented by counsel and an independent review of the record by the court. He contends it is unconstitutional to deny appellant the "benefit" of an independent review by the court even though counsel has been able to find specific issues to argue. This precise contention was rejected in People v. Johnson, supra, 123 Cal.App.3d at p. 110, 176 Cal.Rptr. 390 (hg. den.). The indigent appellant whose counsel can find no arguable issues is not similarly situated to the indigent appellant whose counsel can find arguable issues. (Id.) Although one has the benefit of the court's independent review, the other has the...