People v. Reynolds

• Decision Date: 06 October 1969
• Docket Number: Cr. 15842
• Citation: 84 Cal.Rptr. 331,276 Cal.App.2d 825
• Court: California Court of Appeals Court of Appeals
• Parties: The PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Appellant, v. Thomas Clark REYNOLDS, Defendant and Respondent.

Page 331

84 Cal.Rptr. 331

276 Cal.App.2d 825

The PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Appellant, v. Thomas Clark REYNOLDS, Defendant and Respondent.

Cr. 15842.

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

Oct. 6, 1969.

Thomas C. Lynch, Atty. Gen., William E. James, Asst. Atty. Gen., Evelle J. Younger, District Atty., Los Angeles County, Harry Wood, Head, Appellate Div., Robert J. Lord, Deputy Dist. Atty., for plaintiff and appellant.

Fred M. Rosenfeld and Frederick J. Glassman, Beverly Hills, for defendant and respondent.

JEFFERSON, Associate Justice.

This is an appeal by the People from an order granting the motion of defendant (made under section 995 of the Penal Code) to set aside an information charging defendant with two counts, offering to sell marijuana and possession of marijuana.

Undercover Narcotics Officer Michael Kelly testified at the preliminary examination. On April 17, 1968, he and another officer went to the Copa Room and took a table directly in front of the bandstand. Defendant played in the band. During a break, defendant walked up to their table and stated that he had heard they were looking for some 'stuff.' (A street term for heroin.) Kelly answered in the affirmative. Defendant said he would make a phone call and then left. When he returned a few minutes later he informed them that he could not get any stuff but could get some 'kilos.' (A term used to indicate a quantity of marijuana, one kilo being equal to 2.2 pounds of marijuana.) Defendant agreed to get them 10 kilos. They were to phone him at a later date after he had talked to his source.

On April 20th Kelly telephoned defendant and asked him if he had 'talked to the guy.' Defendant stated that he had; that the guy wanted $75 a kilo. Kelly agreed to pay this amount and they arranged to meet a few days later to make the exchange. On April 23rd Kelly met defendant in a coffee shop. Defendant was accompanied by a woman. Kelly showed defendant the money for the purchase. Defendant stated that the woman would make the delivery; that he wanted an additional $5 per kilo for himself and that she wanted the same amount. Kelly agreed to this and arrangements were made to call the female later the same evening. At that time she was to deliver the 10 kilos. Defendant said he had to work and would not be present when the actual transfer took place.

For some reason not explained in the record, the sale was never consumated.

On May 1, 1968, Officer Kelly, accompanied by other officers, went to defendant's hotel room. When defendant answered the door he was informed that he was under arrest for offering to sell marijuana. After being advised of his constitutional rights, which he stated he understood, he was asked if the room contained any narcotics. He answered 'No.' A search of the room was then conducted. A 'tobacco tin' with a small amount of marijuana inside was found on a table and a glass vial containing traces of marijuana was found in a dresser drawer. Upon this discovery, defendant was queried by one of the officers about his previous statement that the room did not contain narcotics. Defendant responded that he had forgotten about it; that it belonged to him.

The evidence found in the search was introduced at the preliminary examination.

When, under section 995, the superior court reviews the decision of the magistrate that reasonable or sufficient cause exists to hold a defendant to answer to a charge, the court may not substitute its judgment as to the weight of the evidence presented, nor may it judge the credibility of the witnesses who testified. (People v. Akard, 215 Cal.App.2d 182, 185, 30 Cal.Rptr. 69.) If there is some evidence to support the information, the superior court is not permitted to inquire into its sufficiency. (People v. Azevedo, 218 Cal.App.2d 483, 489, 32 Cal.Rptr. 748.) '(T)he information will be set aside only where there is no evidence that a crime has been committed or there is no evidence to connect the defendant with a crime shown to have been committed.' (People v. Platt, 124 Cal.App.2d 123, 131, 268 P.2d 529, 534.)

Looking at count 1 of the information which charged that defendant offered to sell marijuana, from the testimony of Officer Kelly, the magistrate was clearly entitled to conclude that a reasonable probability existed that defendant was guilty of the offense. Proof of the charge does not require, as the superior court apparently concluded, that money exchange hands. All that is required is that defendant offered to sell marijuana with the specific intention at the time of actually selling it. (People v. Allen, 254 Cal.App.2d 597, 602, 62 Cal.Rptr. 235; see also People v. Brown, 55 Cal.2d 64, 68, 9 Cal.Rptr. 816, 357 P.2d 1072; People v. Jackson, 59 Cal.2d 468, 469, 30 Cal.Rptr. 329, 381 P.2d 1.) Nothing need change hands since 'the requirement of a direct, unequivocal act toward a sale necessary for an attempt to make a sale is not an implied element of an offer to sell.' (People v Brown, supra, 55 Cal .2d at p. 68, 9 Cal.Rptr. at p. 819, ...