People v. Kipnis

• Decision Date: 25 March 1970
• Docket Number: Cr. 574
• Citation: 85 Cal.Rptr. 547,5 Cal.App.3d 980
• Court: California Court of Appeals Court of Appeals
• Parties: PEOPLE of the State of California, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Richard Allen KIPNIS and Jesse Sharp Collins, Defendants and Appellants.

Page 547

85 Cal.Rptr. 547

5 Cal.App.3d 980

PEOPLE of the State of California, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Richard Allen KIPNIS and Jesse Sharp Collins, Defendants and Appellants.

Cr. 574.

Court of Appeal, Fifth District, California.

March 25, 1970.

[5 Cal.App.3d 983] Bernard G. Winsberg, Los Angeles, under appointment of Court of Appeal, for Kipnis.

Marvin L. Klynn and Earl J. Dunn, Studio City, for Collins.

Thomas C. Lynch, Atty. Gen., Edsel W. Haws and David Cunningham, Deputy Attys. Gen., Sacramento, for respondent.

OPINION

COAKLEY, Associate Justice.

Appellants were convicted of violating Health and Safety Code section 11530, possession of marijuana. They, together with two other defendants, were tried by jury. Kipnis and Collins appeal from the judgments.

FACTS

Shortly before 4 a.m. on May 4, 1967, the Volkswagen in which the appellants and three companions were riding struck a bridge abutment and overturned. The driver was killed and an ambulance transported the appellants and the other two passengers to a hospital.

Officer Carey of the California Highway Patrol arrived at the scene around 5:45 a.m. Among the general debris resulting from the accident, Officer Carey found some cigarette papers and a plastic bag containing 41.40 grams of marijuana. Inside the car he found a blue flight bag which contained three bricks of marijuana, weighing 2673.10 grams. Under orders of the California Highway Patrol the car was impounded, and no unauthorized person had access to it during the 60-day period following the accident. About 8:15 a.m. on the day of the accident, and while hospitalized, the four passengers were placed under arrest by an agent of the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement. He ordered their clothing searched. Marijuana debris was found in the clothing of three of the four passengers, including that of both appellants. A partially smoked marijuana cigarette was found inside a match box in a jacket worn by appellant Kipnis at the time of the accident.

Eighteen days following the accident investigators from the district attorney's office went to the garage for the purpose of searching the car. One of the investigators observed a lady's cigarette case, and, on opening it, found marijuana debris. He returned later that day with a search warrant and conducted a thorough search of the car. His find included: marijuana debris on the front and rear floor boards and in the ashtrays; four partially smoked marijuana cigarettes in the front ashtray; a marijuana cigarette on the rear floor board; a red plastic flight bag containing marijuana debris; and the aforementioned lady's cigarette case containing marijuana debris.

The evidence established that the five occupants of the car were friends, and that at least three of the five had smoked marijuana. The driver's mother testified that her son used marijuana and that the blue flight bag, containing the three bricks of marijuana, belonged to him. Appellant Kipnis offered testimony that the blue jacket belonged to the deceased driver and not to him.

After deliberating an hour, the jury returned verdicts of guilty against the four defendants. Only the defendants Kipnis and Collins are involved in this appeal. Each asserts that the evidence was insufficient to sustain his conviction for possession of marijuana. We disagree.

The applicable law is set forth in these words in People v. Groom, 60 Cal.2d 694, 696--697, 36 Cal.Rptr. 327, 329, 388 P.2d 359, 361:

'Unlawful possession of narcotics is established by proof (1) that the accused exercised dominion and control over the contraband, (2) that he had knowledge of its presence, and (3) that the accused had knowledge that the material was a narcotic. (People v. Redrick, 55 Cal.2d 282, 285, 10 Cal.Rptr. 823, 359 P.2d 255.) The foregoing elements may be established by circumstantial evidence and any reasonable inferences drawn from such evidence. (People v. Jackson, 198 Cal.App.2d 698, 704, 18 Cal.Rptr. 214.) And finally when the sufficiency of the evidence is challenged an appellate court must affirm if the record contains substantial evidence of all elements of the crime. (People v. Contreras, 211 Cal.App.2d 641, 646, 27 Cal.Rptr. 619.)'

Respondent's brief graphically and correctly summarizes the evidence:

'Marijuana literally dripped from the car and its occupants. It was in brick form, manicured form, unsmoked cigarette form, partially smoked cigarette form, and loose debris form. It was found in ashtrays, on the floorboards, in flight bags, in a lady's cigarette case, and in a plastic bag 60 feet from the wrecked car. It was found in debris form in the clothing of three of the four survivors including both appellants. It was found in partially smoked cigarette form in the pocket of a jacket worn by appellant Kipnis.'

Clearly, all the elements of the crime of possession of marijuana, as set forth in People v. Groom, Supra, are present in this case. Only the most naive could conclude otherwise.

Appellant Collins raises additional grounds for reversing the judgment. They are:

I. That the appellants should have been tried by the court and not by a jury.

The record before us discloses that on August 16, 1967, the day set for the start of the trial, appellant Collins being present, a request to continue the trial was granted as to all defendants, and November 1 was set as the new date. The public defender, who was representing the appellants herein and one other defendant, then requested that his clients be permitted to waive jury trial. The appellants expressly joined in this request, and it was granted. On November 1, the case was again continued, due to the failure of appellant Collins and two other defendants to appear. At that time, the public defender requested that the court reinstate a jury trial for his clients, including appellant Collins. Appellant Kipnis was present and joined in the request. The district attorney said he did not object to a jury trial. On November 3, with appellant Collins present, the court stated that the public defender had asked that a jury trial be reinstated. At that point, the defendant Roseberry interrupted to inquire whether he was being represented by the public defender or by retained counsel, and whether the trial by jury was in his best interest. The court observed, in effect, that the type of trial was a strategy decision to be made by defense counsel and that the defendant had no say in the matter. Roseberry replied, 'I can drop him as an attorney,' with which statement the court concurred. The next several pages of the reporter's transcript are consumed in a discussion of (1) a trial date, (2) other counsel, and (3) suppression of evidence. There was no further reference to trial by jury or by court. Appellant Collins was not directly asked, and made no statement as to whether he joined in counsel's request to reinstate the jury trial. Before adjourning the hearing, the court inquired:

'Is everything clear, you understand everything?' No vocal response was made by appellant Collins, and the court said: 'Let the record show that both gentlemen nodded 'yes."

The trial commenced on January 23, 1968. Appellant Collins, represented by the public defender, sat throughout the four-day trial. At no time did he offer any objection to being tried by a jury. He now argues that because he did not expressly withdraw his prior waiver of jury trial, he was denied his right to a trial by the court. For the two separate and independent reasons discussed below, we hold that the appellant's contention is totally without merit and based on most hypertechnical reasoning.

The constitutional guarantee is the right to trial by jury (U.S.Const., 6th Amend.; Cal.Const., art I, § 7). There is no correlative right to a trial without a jury. (Singer v. United States, 380 U.S. 24, 85 S.Ct. 783, 13 L.Ed.2d 630; People v. Whitmore, 251 Cal.App.2d 359, 364, 59 Cal.Rptr. 411.) While the right to waive jury trial is recognized, the right to trial by jury is considered of such paramount importance that the consent of the defendant, his counsel and the prosecution are essential to a waiver of jury trial. (Cal.Const., art. I, § 7; People v. Boulad, 235 Cal.App.2d 118, 123, 45 Cal.Rptr. 104; People v. Whitmore, Supra, 251 Cal.App.2d 359, 59 Cal.Rptr. 411.) And, though a request to waive jury trial may be unanimous, the court retains the right to require a jury trial. (People v. Eubanks, 7 Cal.App.2d 588, 589, 46 P.2d 789.) Waiver of trial by jury is discretionary with the court. (Singer v. United States, Supra, 380 U.S. 24, 85 S.Ct. 783; People v. Eubanks, 7 Cal.App.2d 588, 46 P.2d 789.)

We know of no authority which prevents defense counsel from reconsidering the wisdom of an earlier waiver of jury trial and requesting trial by jury. Of course, if he does so over his client's objection, he must make that fact known to the court so that the court may make inquiries of the defendant and take appropriate action. Absent an objection by the defendant, the court is within its discretion in permitting defense counsel to withdraw his earlier waiver of trial by jury, and to reset the case for jury trial.

Nor are we aware of any rule which forbids the court from reconsidering its earlier acceptance of a waiver of trial by jury and then ordering such a trial on its own motion. Of course, the parties must be given adequate opportunity to object and, if overruled, to revise their trial strategy.

By requesting a reinstatement of trial by jury, counsel for the appellant, in effect, asked permission to withdraw the earlier waiver. We hold that, under the circumstances, there was no abuse of discretion in permitting counsel to withdraw his waiver of jury trial.

Further, and independent of the...