People v. Marinos

• Decision Date: 02 April 1968
• Docket Number: Cr. 13763
• Citation: 67 Cal.Rptr. 452,260 Cal.App.2d 735
• Court: California Court of Appeals Court of Appeals
• Parties: The PEOPLE of the State of California, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Henrietta Harris MARINOS, Defendant and Appellant.

Page 452

67 Cal.Rptr. 452

260 Cal.App.2d 735

The PEOPLE of the State of California, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Henrietta Harris MARINOS, Defendant and Appellant.

Cr. 13763.

Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 1, California.

April 2, 1968.

Mitchell J. Grossman, Los Angeles, under appointment by Court of Appeal, for defendant and appellant.

Thomas C. Lynch, Atty. Gen., William E. James, Asst. Atty. Gen., and Kenneth Scholtz, Deputy Atty. Gen., for plaintiff and respondent.

FOURT, Associate Justice.

This is an appeal from a judgment of possessing marijuana in Superior Court Case No. 287,955 and from a judgment of possessing marijuana in Superior Court Case No. 315,044.

In an information filed in Los Angeles on May 7, 1964, defendant was charged with possessing marijuana on April 14, 1964. She pleaded not guilty and ultimately was found guilty. Proceedings were suspended and probation was granted for five years, a part of the terms being that she pay a $250 fine, that she not use or possess any narcotics or narcotics paraphernalia, that she not associate with narcotics users or peddlers, that she have no dangerous drugs in her possession (without a medical prescription), that she undertake and continue with a prescribed plan for therapy in consultation with a psychiatrist and that she obey all laws.

On March 7, 1967, defendant was found to be in violation of probation. The violation was then set aside. The order of June 9, 1966, revoking probation was vacated and set aside and defendant was restored to probation and probation was modified to provide for a term of five years under the same terms as ordered in Superior Court Case No. 315,044, except the conditions therein providing for a fine.

In an information filed in Los Angeles on December 21, 1965, defendant was charged with possessing marijuana on October 14, 1965. Defendant pleaded not guilty. In a trial without a jury, in which defendant did not testify or offer any evidence in defense of the charge, she was found guilty as charged. On June 9, 1966, defendant was referred to the Department of Corrections for observation and diagnosis and report. The order of June 9th was repeated on August 4, 1966. Criminal proceedings were reinstated and on March 7, 1967, defendant was placed on probation for five years, a part of the terms being that she pay a fine of $150, that she not possess any narcotics or narcotics paraphernalia and that she not associate with narcotics sellers or users and that she obey all laws. Defendant filed a notice of appeal from 'Case #287955 and 315044 appeal from judgment set forth March 7th 1967.'

A resume of some of the facts is as follows: Officer Norris of the Los Angeles Police Department was familiar with the terminology used by narcotics users and with the odor and appearance of marijuana. Officer Norris was defendant at about 2 a.m. on October 14, 1965, in front of a bar where the attendants apparently were attempting to close the place for the night. Defendant was in the doorway embracing the bartender who was attempting to persuade her to leave the place. After leaving the bar defendant approached Officer Norris (who was in plain clothes) and a person named Plotkin, and asked them, Officer Norris and Plotkin, if they would like to go to a sex party where there would also be some 'pot.' Officer Norris advised his partner Officer Scherrer (who was also in plain clothes) of the conversation. Officer Norris, Plotkin and defendant then drove in Plotkin's Lincoln Continental car to defendant's apartment followed by Officer Scherrer and Plotkin's female friend in an unmarked police car. The cars arrived at the defendant's apartment and Officer Norris upon the invitation of defendant entered her apartment. Defendant directed Officer Norris to wait for her in her living room and there Officer Norris heard a small child's voice inquire, 'Is that you, Mommy?' and defendant replied, 'Yes, it's me. I'm going out again, however.' As defendant and Officer Norris were preparing to leave the apartment, Officer Norris having previously been told by defendant that she would 'pick up some pot at her apartment' inquired of defendant, 'Did you remember to get the weed?' and she answered, 'Yes, I've got it.' Officer Norris after going outside advised Officer Scherrer of the conversation with defendant and then invited defendant to ride with them to the party because Plotkin's girl friend wanted to ride with him. Defendant got into the unmarked police car driven by Officer Scherrer and sat between the driver and Officer Norris. As they started to drive off to the party, Officer Norris smelled the odor of marijuana and saw defendant smoking a small loosely wrapped cigarette. Officer Norris said to defendant, 'You have made a mistake. We are police officers.' She quickly flipped the 'roach' past the face of the driver and out the open window on the driver's side. The car was immediately stopped and an effort was made to find the 'roach.' Defendant was placed under arrest for the possession of marijuana and she was advised of all of her constitutional rights. Defendant was 'pretty well intoxicated' at a time about one hour after Officer Norris first saw her and at the time of the arrest. When the roach could not be found in the dark uncurbed street, defendant was asked 'where the rest of the weed' was and she stated that it was in her purse. She then produced a bag partially filled with what the officer believed to be marijuana. When asked where the cigarette papers were she produced them from her brassiere. The items were booked as evidence. Defendant gave several conflicting stories as to where she had secured the marijuana, at one time even stating that she had grown it herself. Counsel for defendant objected to the introduction of the marijuana into evidence apparently upon the ground that defendant was too intoxicated. The court upon its own motion held in effect that the contraband in the purse was discovered through the admissions of defendant, that because of the bizarre conduct of the defendant the prosecution had not 'met their burden of showing her understanding' of her constitutional rights as related to her by the officers and that the physical evidence (marijuana found in the purse) would not be introduced into evidence. The court went on further to relate that such a ruling did not result in an acquittal of defendant and said, 'I just don't have any reasonable doubt that she had a marijuana cigarette in her possession. There isn't a shadow of a doubt in my mind. The officer said it was very loosely...