People v. Robison

• Decision Date: 27 June 1961
• Docket Number: Cr. 3869
• Citation: 193 Cal.App.2d 410,14 Cal.Rptr. 181
• Court: California Court of Appeals Court of Appeals
• Parties: PEOPLE of the State of California, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Wallace ROBISON, Defendant and Appellant.

Page 181

14 Cal.Rptr. 181

193 Cal.App.2d 410

PEOPLE of the State of California, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Wallace ROBISON, Defendant and Appellant.

Cr. 3869.

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

June 27, 1961.

Hearing Denied Aug. 23, 1961.

Robert M. Brilliant, Albany, for appellant.

Stanley Mosk, Atty. Gen., Arlo E. Smith, John L. Burton, Deputy Attys. Gen., for respondent.

DUNIWAY, Justice.

This is the second case to come before us involving the activities of Officers Toomey and Higgins of the San Francisco police department and an informer named William Russell. See People v. Givens, 191 Cal.App.2d 834, 13 Cal.Rptr. 157. The appeal in the present case is from the judgment whereby defendant was convicted on two counts of an indictment charging the sale of heroin in violation of Health and Safety Code, § 11501 on February 29 and March 23, 1960. It is presented by court appointed counsel.

The procedure of the officers and the informant was strikingly similar to that described in the opinion in Givens, and we therefore do not state it here in detail. Defendant contends that the evidence is insufficient to sustain the convictions. We find it sufficient as to the first count (February 29) but insufficient as to the second count (March 23).

In each instance, after the informer was searched, furnished with money, and 'put on the street,' he was under continuous surveillance by one or the other of the officers, who communicated with each other by 'walkie-talkie' radio. Regarding each occasion, each officer testified that he did not see Russell have 'physical contact' with anyone except defendant. The crucial evidence, however, is different as to the two incidents.

In the February 29 incident, the informer's peregrinations brought him to a point in front of the Eddy Hotel, accompanied by defendant and one Scott. Defendant went into the hotel; Russell and Scott remained on the street. They conversed, but there was no touching of one by the other. After a minute or two defendant returned, and there was a movement of hands--a meeting of hands--what appeared to be an exchange between Russell and defendant. Then Scott and defendant left, and the officer followed Russell, took him into his car, and was handed a bindle of heroin by him. A search revealed that Russell no longer had the money that had been given to him. These facts bring the case squarely within the authorities and principles cited and discussed by us in Givens. The evidence was sufficient.

In the March 23 incident, the facts are similar up to the point where Russell entered a car driven by one Garrison and occupied by defendant. Defendant sat next to Garrison, and Russell next to defendant. The officer testified: 'Q. Did you see anything taking place in the vehicle? A. No, I did not.' Russell then left the car, was picked up by the officer and handed him a fragment of a red balloon, containing heroin. A search again revealed that the money supplied to him was gone.

This evidence is sufficient, in our opinion, to support an inference that Russell bought the heroin from Garrison or from defendant, but we can find nothing in the record that will support the further, and to us essential, inference that he bought from defendant and not from Garrison. The People had the burden of proof and they have not met that burden. People v. Wilkins, 178 Cal.App.2d 242, 2 Cal.Rptr 908 and People v. Fernandez, 172 Cal.App.2d 747, 342 P.2d 309, support the conviction based upon the February 29 incident but not that based upon the incident of March 23. People v. Taylor, 159 Cal.App.2d 752, 324 P.2d 715 is not in point--there, the only person in the car besides the informer was the defendant; it was therefore proper to infer that the informer got the narcotic from the defendant; there was no one else from whom he could have obtained it. In People v. Scott, 170 Cal.App.2d 446, 339 P.2d 162, there was testimony by the other parties from whom the informer might have bought the narcotic which eliminated them as the source. In the case at bar, there is no such testimony. In People v. Mateo, 171 Cal.App.2d 850, 341 P.2d 768 and People v. Gonzales, 186 Cal.App.2d 79, 8 Cal.Rptr. 704, there was also other...