People v. Odegard

• Decision Date: 09 May 1962
• Docket Number: Cr. 7710
• Citation: 21 Cal.Rptr. 515,203 Cal.App.2d 427
• Parties: The PEOPLE of the State of California, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Gary Lewis ODEGARD, Defendant and Appellant.
• Court: California Court of Appeals Court of Appeals

Page 515

21 Cal.Rptr. 515

203 Cal.App.2d 427

The PEOPLE of the State of California, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Gary Lewis ODEGARD, Defendant and Appellant.

Cr. 7710.

District Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 4, California.

May 9, 1962.

Gary L. Odegard, in pro. per., for defendant and appellant.

Stanley Mosk, Atty. Gen., Doris H. Maier, Asst. Atty. Gen., and Edward A. Hinz, Jr., Dep. Atty. Gen., for plaintiff and respondent.

JEFFERSON, Justice.

On December 16, 1960, an information was filed by the District Attorney of Los Angeles County charging defendant Gary L. Odegard and Truman R. Nyland with a violation of Penal Code section 211, robbery. After a jury trial they were found guilty and were sentenced to imprisonment in the state prison for the term prescribed by law. Odegard appeals from the judgment and 'from the denial of the motion of said defendant for a new trial.' There is no evidence in the record of a motion for a new trial, and we will assume that this case is on appeal from the judgment.

The facts, viewed favorably to respondent, are as follows: On November 19, 1960, at 8:00 P.M., defendant Odegard and Nyland entered the Gardendale Market in Downey, California, as the last customer was leaving.

Mrs. Betty Stowe, a grocery clerk, asked if she could help them as it was closing time. In response to a question by defendant, she directed them to the milk counter. They took a quart of milk and walked back to the checkstand where Mrs. Stowe was waiting at the cash register. Nyland walked to the end of the counter and defendant put the quart of milk and a dollar bill on the counter. Defendant then ordered Mrs. Stowe to open the cash register. She noticed that Nyland had a gun pointed at her. Defendant again ordered her to open the cash register, which she did. Defendant took the money from the register and put it in his pocket. It was composed of currency and change and amounted to $639.81. Defendant, shortly thereafter, grabbed the arm of Mr. Pat Myers, a clerk employed at the store, and ordered him to let them out of the back door. After this was done, defendant and Nyland fled.

At the trial, Mrs. Stowe, Mr. Pat Myers and Mr. Felton Schultz, employees of the store on duty at the time of the robbery, positively identified defendant and Nyland as the robbers.

Defendant first contends that his arrest 'was entirely without reasonable or probable cause, and whatever evidence was subsequently acquired was taken as a result of an illegal arrest and by unlawful search and seizure.'

Officers Knott and Gibson were on routine radio car patrol in Los Angeles on November 19, 1960, at approximately 9:00 P.M., when they noticed an approaching Ford automobile operated by defendant, who was accompanied by Nyland. The officers noticed that the vehicle had no front license plate. The officers, after turning behind the vehicle, discovered that the license plate on the rear of the car was a Washington plate 'BCX 267,' and that it was only partially attached so that it hung down on one end. The officers drove up alongside the vehicle to get a look at the driver. Defendant turned his head toward the officers with a surprised look. Thereupon the officers stopped the car. Officer Knott approached the driver's side of defendant's vehicle and asked defendant for his operator's license. Defendant replied that he did not have one. Officer Knott asked him for the automobile registration and was handed a registration care in the name of 'Albert Kelly.'

Officer Knott noticed two steel objects on the passenger side of the vehicle, under Nyland's feet: a straight steel bar about 18 inches long and 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch in diameter; and a capped conical bar 6-8 inches long with white adhesive tape around the tapered end.

Defendant and Nyland were requested to step from the vehicle. The officers inspected the two steel objects. After interrogating defendant and Nyland the officers placed them under arrest for carrying concealed weapons.

The officers decided to transport them to Wilshire for further investigation and possible booking. At this time, they asked the two men if they wanted to leave their car legally parked. Defendant and Nyland stated they wanted to place their clothes in the trunk for safekeeping. Defendant and officer Knott put the clothes in the trunk and locked it. Officer Gibson parked the automobile legally and the two men were transported to the Wilshire Station. Approximately one hour later, the automobile was impounded.

On November 21, 1960, police officer Devich received a telephone call from officer Carberry of the Downey Police Department. Officer Carberry, the investigating officer of the robbery, had received a teletype report describing defendant and Nyland. On that day, officer Devich went to the impound garage to search the vehicle. The lock of the trunk was jammed so that the key would not open it. The officer entered through the door, pulled the rear seat loose, extracted a sport coat from the trunk, and noticed a large roll of currency. The officer then directed a mechanic to pry the trunk open. When the trunk was opened, officer Devich found a roll of currency and coins amounting to $637.85, a loaded revolver, and a box of .38 caliber cartridges.

From the facts previously recited it is apparent that officers Knott and Gibson had a duty as law enforcement officers to stop defendant's vehicle for operating on a public highway in violation of Vehicle Code sections 5200 (display of license plates), 5201 (positioning of license plates), and 5202 (period of display), requiring display of license plates. (People v. Nebbitt, 183 Cal.App.2d 452, 457, 7 Cal.Rptr. 8.)

After stopping the vehicle, it was reasonable for the officers to inquire as to driver's license and registration. Defendant was unable to produce a driver's license or satisfactory proof of ownership. Therefore, the officers could have had reasonable cause to believe that the automobile was stolen and that defendant was guilty of theft of the vehicle. (Veh. Code § 10851; People v. Myles, 189 Cal.App.2d 42, 46, 10 Cal.Rptr. 733.)

Section 12020 of the Penal Code prohibits the possession of any instrument or weapon of the kind known as a blackjack, slug shot, billy, sandclub, sandbag, or metal knuckles. Proof of possession alone is sufficient to convict; it is not necessary to prove malicious intent or wrongful use of the instruments. (People v. McKinney, 9 Cal.App.2d 523, 525, 50 P.2d 827.) Under the circumstances the officers could have an honest and strong suspicion that the defendant and Nyland were in possession of instruments or weapons of the kind described in Penal Code section 12020. Thus, the arrest of defendant for violation of this section was lawful.

After arresting defendant the officers had a legal right to impound the vehicle under Vehicle Code section 22651(h). Since the officers had lawful custody of the car, the articles found therein were properly in their possession and no new seizure occurred. (People v. Myles, 189 Cal.App.2d 42, 48, 10 Cal.Rptr. 733; People v. Nebbitt, 183 Cal.App.2d 452, 459-461, 7 Cal.Rptr. 8.) The evidence admitted at the trial was legally obtained as an incident of lawful arrest.

Defendant next contends that he was denied his...