People v. Martin

Citation58 Cal.Rptr. 481,250 Cal.App.2d 263
Decision Date20 April 1967
Docket NumberCr. 11784
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeals
PartiesThe PEOPLE of the State of California, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Joseph Correia MARTIN, Defendant and Appellant.

Colin W. Graves, * Los Angeles, for appellant.

Thomas C. Lynch, Atty. Gen., Doris H. Maier, Asst. Atty. Gen., Raymond M. Momboisse, Deputy Atty. Gen., for respondent.

ROTH, Presiding Justice.

On June 21, 1965, Joseph Correia Martin was charged by amended information with two counts of robbery, in violation of Penal Code, § 211 and four counts of kidnaping for the purpose of robbery, in violation of Penal Code, § 209. The information also alleged 11 prior felony convictions for breaking and entering, larceny, robbery and burglary, forgery, and fraudulent possession of checks (violation of Penal Code, § 475a).

Martin pleaded not guilty and admitted his priors. The jury found him guilty as charged, fixed the two robbery counts as first degree, and found that he was armed at the time of the commission of the offenses. The court found Martin not to be an habitual criminal within the meaning of Penal Code, § 644(a), found three priors to be inapplicable because of Martin's youth at time of conviction, and sentenced him to state prison on the two robbery counts, sentences on the other counts to run concurrently with stays of execution granted in accordance with the rules set forth in People v. Niles, 227 Cal.App.2d 749, 755, 39 Cal.Rptr. 11.

At approximately midnight on February 28, 1965, Martin entered the Shrimp House, a cafe in Rosemead, and ordered and paid for a cup of coffee. About ten minutes later, he asked the waitress, Mrs. Owens, for change for a quarter. Mrs. Owens opened the cash register. Martin then drew a .45 automatic pistol, told her it was a stick-up, and ordered her to give him all the bills and half-dollars (approximately $420) in the register. He put the money in his pockets. At gun point, he led Mrs. Owens and the cook and dishwasher who were behind the counter in the kitchen, into a storeroom about 30 feet away, instructing them to stay put or he would kill them.

On March 3, 1965, approximately 3:40 a.m., Martin walked into a Texaco service station on Rosemead Boulevard, told the attendant his car had run out of gas and bought 50 cents worth of fuel pumped into a can loaned by the station. He left, and returned about ten minutes later, stating he could not get his car started. Martin went to the 'island' where the pumps and cash drawer were located and began to wipe his hands. He asked for change to make a phone call, took out his wallet, and then said he had lost a $20 bill. The attendant began to look for the bill near the 'island' where Martin had been wiping his hands. Martin pulled a .45 automatic pistol and ordered the attendant to open the cash drawer or he would 'blow (his) brains out.' Martin took approximately $40 from the drawer. He then led the attendant at gun point to an office about 30--35 yards away in the rear of the station. He took the victim's wallet, containing a few dollars, and ordered him to stay in the room for 15 minutes.

Mrs. Owens, the cook, and the gas station attendant each identified Martin in court. Each had also previously picked him out of a police lineup (the dishwasher had left the country and did not testify at trial.) The lineup was composed of five Caucasian men. Martin is Caucasian but described as 'dark complected.' The witnesses testified his most identifying features were 'his eyes' and the 'expression on his face.'

Martin testified, with corroboration, that on the night of the cafe robbery he was in a pizza tavern in Rosemead from 8:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., and that on the night of the Texaco station holdup, he was asleep at a motel in Torrance. The prosecution impeached Martin's testimony by introduction of his 11 prior felonies.

Court-appointed counsel on behalf of Martin on appeal contends that introduction of Martin's prior convictions so prejudiced the jury that he was denied a fair trial; that the lineup was 'stacked' against him; and that he was entitled to counsel at the time of the lineup. Martin, in Pro per in two supplemental briefs, further contends that consolidation of the two robberies into one trial violated Penal Code, § 954; it was error 'to charge' violation of Penal Code, § 209; and the evidence is insufficient to support the guilty verdicts.

Section 2051 of the Code of Civil Procedure provides for impeachment of a witness by proof of his prior conviction of a felony. A defendant can, by admitting his priors and not testifying in his own behalf, avoid having information as to his prior convictions placed before the jury. If a defendant chooses to be a witness at his trial, however, he is subject to impeachment by proof of prior felony convictions as is any other witness. (People v. Cobb, 45 Cal.2d 158, 162--163, 287 P.2d 752; People v. David, 12 Cal.2d 639, 646, 86 P.2d 811.)

While the rule of evidence allowing impeachment of a witness by proof of prior felony convictions has been criticized, and suggestion has been made that such impeachment be limited to crimes bearing on a witness' dishonesty (see, e.g. Gustafson, 'Have We Created a Paradise for Criminals?', 30 So.Cal.L.Rev. 1, 19--20; Holbrook, 'Witnesses,' 2 U.C.L.A.L.Rev. 32, 40), the new Evidence Code, section 788, makes no change in respect of impeachment by proof of past felony conviction. In the instant case, furthermore, the crimes of which Martin had previously been convicted are ones generally considered to have bearing on 'dishonesty', although such classification of crimes is admittedly difficult. (See Witkin, California Evidence, 2d Ed., p. 1146.)

Martin complains that the sheer number of prior convictions put before the jury was prejudicial to his cause. There is nothing, however, which prohibits a prosecutor from showing, if done in good faith (People v. Perez, 58 Cal.2d 229, 238--239, 23 Cal.Rptr. 569, 373 P.2d 617, 3 A.L.R.3d 946), any and all felony convictions which a defendant-witness has suffered. Both the trial court and Martin's counsel were concerned with the possible adverse effect if appellant took the stand and was impeached by his priors. Martin and his attorney concluded, however, that his only defense--that of alibi--necessitated the risk. The prosecutor asked straight-forward impeaching questions giving only the crime, date, and place of conviction. To each question, Martin answered simply 'Yes, sir,' he had been so convicted. The impeachment procedure was proper in all respects.

Martin contends that the police lineup was 'stacked' because of the five men, he was the only one with dark skin. Martin was identified at trial by the three witnesses of the crimes. All testified they recognized him in the lineup for reasons other than and in addition to his coloring. As was pointed out in People v. Parham, 60 Cal.2d 378, 380, 33 Cal.Rptr. 497, 384 P.2d 1001, where defendant complained that at his lineup, each of the five men in turn tried on his hat and coat and they did not fit any but defendant, 'The manner in which the lineup was conducted affects only the weight of the witnesses' testimony, not its admissibility. * * * It was the jury's function to consider the circumstances of the lineup in weighing the witnesses' testimony. The jury's implied finding that identity was established is supported by the evidence.'

Martin contends he was entitled to counsel at the lineup because the accusatory stage had been reached. (Escobedo v. State of Illinois, 378 U.S. 478, 84...

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12 cases
  • Dabney, In re
    • United States
    • California Court of Appeals Court of Appeals
    • 31 Octubre 1968
    ...In fact, the rule which permits such impeachment, although retained, has been subjected to criticism. (See People v. Martin (1967) 250 Cal.App.2d 263, 266-267, 58 Cal.Rptr. 481; Spencer v. State of Texas (1967) 385 U.S. 554, fn. 8, Mr. Chief Justice Warren, dissenting, 87 S.Ct. 648, 17 L.Ed......
  • People v. Laursen
    • United States
    • California Court of Appeals Court of Appeals
    • 21 Enero 1972
    ...Penal Code, the kidnaping must precede the robbery. This is a misconstruction of the code section. People v. Martin, 250 Cal.App.2d 263, at pages 268-269, 58 Cal.Rptr. 481, at page 485, considers this proposition: 'Where, as here, kidnaping occurs after the actual perpetration of a robbery ......
  • People v. Mutch
    • United States
    • California Supreme Court
    • 24 Marzo 1971
    ...in decisions after Cotton. (E.g., People v. Lara, Supra, 67 Cal.2d 365, 395, 62 Cal.Rptr. 586, 432 P.2d 202; People v. Martin (1967) 250 Cal.App.2d 263, 268, 58 Cal.Rptr. 481; People v. Johnson (1966) 242 Cal.App.2d 870, 876, 52 Cal.Rptr. 38; People v. Morrison (1964) 228 Cal.App.2d 707, 71......
  • People v. Bowen
    • United States
    • California Court of Appeals Court of Appeals
    • 22 Diciembre 1971
    ...(People v. Pike (1962) 58 Cal.2d 70, 93, 372 P.2d 656, cert. den. 371 U.S. 941, 83 S.Ct. 324, 9 L.Ed.2d 277; People v. Martin (1967) 250 Cal.App.2d 263, 266--267, 58 Cal.Rptr. 481; People v. Stewart, supra, 240 Cal.App.2d 1, 7, 50 Cal.Rptr. 26; and People v. Chapman (1947) 81 Cal.App.2d 857......
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