People v. Herod

Citation247 P.2d 127,112 Cal.App.2d 764
Decision Date18 August 1952
Docket NumberCr. 850
PartiesPEOPLE v. HEROD.
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeals

Stanton M. Levy, Fresno, for appellant.

Edmund G. Brown, Atty. Gen., and Frank Richards, Deputy Atty. Gen., for respondent.

MUSSELL, Justice.

In August, 1945, defendant pleaded guilty to Robbery and Grand Theft as charged in an Amended Information filed in the Superior Court of Fresno County. He admitted six prior felony convictions set forth in the Information and was sentenced to the State's prison as an habitual criminal. On December 28, 1951, defendant filed a Petition for a Writ of Error Coram Nobis in the Superior Court above named and now appeals from the order denying the writ.

In his 'Specifications of Error', which is a part of his petition, defendant alleged that the 'judgment-commitment' of the Superior Court was erroneous because facts were withheld from the court; that he was denied a fair trial 'on the merits of his case by extrinsic causes'; that if some existing facts had been brought to the attention of the court by competent counsel, the rendition of the erroneous judgment would have been prevented; that the facts of his case were not legally verified; that the alleged prior convictions were not properly authenticated; that he was denied due process of law by trick and device and extrinsic fraud; and that the proceedings leading up to his conviction were in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.

This appeal is based on two contentions: (1) That defendant was deprived of satisfactory legal representation; and (2) That the District Attorney failed to carry his burden of proof as to the prior felony convictions.

Defendant's contention that he was deprived of satisfactory legal representation is not borne out by the record before us, and even if it were, it is well settled that lack of effective aid of counsel cannot be determined in coram nobis proceedings. People v. James, 99 Cal.App.2d 476, 479, 222 P.2d 117; People v. Krout, 90 Cal.App.2d 205, 208, 202 P.2d 635; In re Sprague, 37 Cal.2d 110, 115, 230 P.2d 633; People v. Watkins, 92 Cal.App.2d 375, 376, 206 P.2d 1118.

The contention that the District Attorney failed to carry his burden of proof as to the prior felony convictions likewise cannot be determined in these proceedings. There is no such burden of proof when, as here, the defendant admitted the convictions in open court. People v. Stone, 69 Cal.App.2d 533, 536, 159 P.2d 701; In re Gilliam, 26 Cal.2d 860, 866, 161 P.2d 793. When a defendant admits prior convictions there is no requirement that the prosecution produce evidence of the nature of the convictions. People v. McConnell, 86 Cal.App.2d 578, 195 P.2d 34. The question whether the prior convictions alleged to have been committed in Texas were felonies in California was determined by defendant's admission in court and is not...

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11 cases
  • People v. Superior Court (Pipkin)
    • United States
    • California Court of Appeals
    • September 15, 1995
    ...Suggs (1956) 142 Cal.App.2d 142, 145, 297 P.2d 1039; People v. Allen (1953) 119 Cal.App.2d 365, 368, 259 P.2d 474; People v. Herod (1952) 112 Cal.App.2d 764, 766, 247 P.2d 127; In re Valenzuela (1945) 71 Cal.App.2d 198, 200, 162 P.2d 301; People v. Stone (1945) 69 Cal.App.2d 533, 536, 159 P......
  • Bevins v. Klinger
    • United States
    • United States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (9th Circuit)
    • August 26, 1966
    ...California Penal Code § 644, Justice Fox (author of the opinion in People v. Gillette and Bevins, supra) cites People v. Herod, 112 Cal.App.2d 764, 766, 247 P.2d 127 (1952),5 People v. McConnell, 86 Cal.App.2d 578, 580, 195 P.2d 34 (1948),6 People v. Lyle, 21 Cal.App.2d 132, 68 P.2d 378 Jus......
  • People v. Banks
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Court (California)
    • December 31, 1959
    ...as to the legal effect of those facts. (People v. Lumbley (1937), 8 Cal.2d 752, 758-760(2, 3), 68 P.2d 354; People v. Herod (1952), 112 Cal.App.2d 764, 766(4), 247 P.2d 127; People v. Ingles (1950), 97 Cal.App.2d 867, 874(2), 218 P.2d 987; People v. Harincar (1942), 49 Cal.App.2d 594, 596(2......
  • Wright v. Craven
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Northern District of California
    • March 25, 1971
    ...v. Niles, 227 Cal.App.2d 749, 39 Cal.Rptr. 11 (1964). There is no such burden as to priors which are admitted. People v. Herod, 112 Cal.App.2d 764, 247 P.2d 127 (1952). Ordinarily, the State must defend and affirmatively show the validity of those priors which the defendant claims are inval......
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