Robert L., In re

• Decision Date: 20 November 1980
• Docket Number: Cr. 36469
• Citation: 112 Cal.App.3d 401,169 Cal.Rptr. 354
• Parties: In the Matter of ROBERT L., a Person Coming Under the Juvenile Court Law. The PEOPLE of the State of California, Petitioner and Respondent, v. ROBERT L., a Minor, Appellant.
• Court: California Court of Appeals Court of Appeals

Page 354

169 Cal.Rptr. 354

112 Cal.App.3d 401

In the Matter of ROBERT L., a Person Coming Under the Juvenile Court Law.

The PEOPLE of the State of California, Petitioner and Respondent, v. ROBERT L., a Minor, Appellant.

Cr. 36469.

Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 2, California.

Nov. 20, 1980.

Hearing Denied Jan. 14, 1981.

George Deukmejian, Atty. Gen., Robert H. Philibosian, Chief Asst. Atty. Gen., Crim. Div., S. Clark Moore, Asst. Atty. Gen., Robert F. Katz, Frederick C. Grab, Deputy Attys. Gen., for petitioner and respondent.

Quin Denvir, State Public Defender, Patricia L. Reber, Deputy State Public Defender, for defendant and petitioner.

ROTH, Presiding Justice.

As the result of two petitions filed respectively April 17 and May 4, 1979, appellant was found to be a person described by Welfare and Institutions Code section 602 in that he had violated Penal Code sections 12020 ¹ (carrying concealed dirk or dagger), 211 (robbery)[112 Cal.App.3d 404] and 487(3) (grand theft auto). He was ordered committed to the California Youth Authority on concurrent terms associated with the described violations of one, two and three years. The appeal is from the judgment (order of commitment).

Most simply stated, appellant on January 29, 1979, was found to be carrying a concealed ice pick of ordinary commercial manufacture when he, among others, was subjected to a precautionary pat down search by officers who, after observing a traffic violation, had stopped the car in which the detainees were riding. Discovery of the ice pick occasioned the first of the petitions enumerated.

The second resulted from a photographic identification of appellant by the victim, as the person who, with numerous others, had participated in relieving one Julian Valdez of the money from his person and in thereafter stealing his car at about 5:30 a. m. on April 28, 1979.

Appellant's sole contention respecting the ice pick charge is that that instrument is not, as a matter of law, a "dirk or dagger" within the meaning of the statute. (See fn. 1.) We find the contention lacking in merit and conclude that, under the circumstances present, the trial court was justified in its determination the ice pick fell within the statutory proscription.

Our view in this respect, again, (see People v. Villagren (1980) 106 Cal.App.3d 720, 727, 165 Cal.Rptr. 470) drives from principles set out in People v. Grubb (1965) 63 Cal.2d 614, 47 Cal.Rptr. 772, 408 P.2d 100. It was there observed that "The Legislature's understandable concern with the promiscuous possession of objects dangerous to the lives of members of the public finds manifestation in section 12020.... (P) ... The Legislature here sought to outlaw the classic instruments of violence and their homemade equivalents; the Legislature sought likewise to outlaw possession of the sometimes-useful object when the attendant circumstances, including the time, place, destination of the possessor, the alteration of the object from standard form, and other relevant facts indicated that the possessor would use the object for a dangerous, not harmless, purpose. (Cf. People v. Freeman (1927) 86 CAL.APP. 374, 376 (260 P. 826).) (p) thus WE hoLd that the statute embraces instruments other than those specially created or manufactured for criminal purposes; ..." (Id. at 620-621, 47 Cal.Rptr. 772, 408 P.2d 100; fn. omitted.)

Here, appellant was detained with five other persons by police at 2:00 a. m. The ice pick was discovered concealed in his waist band. When asked by one of the officers why he had it, appellant replied "You know why I carry it. It is for protection." Nothing further was necessary to show the instrument though "conceived for peaceful purposes, ... was wrapped in the indicia and circumstance of probable assault." (People v. Grubb, supra, 63 Cal.2d 614, 622, 47 Cal.Rptr. 772, 408 P.2d 100; cf. People v. La Grande (1979) 98 Cal.App.3d 871, 159 Cal.Rptr. 709; Bills v. Superior Court (1978) 86 Cal.App.3d 855, 150 Cal.Rptr. 582).

In the adjudication of the second petition hereinabove described appellant asserted by way of defense the alibi he was on the date of the robbery with his girlfriend at a party and otherwise engaged with her in such fashion he could not have been involved in the crime.

In further support of his innocence, it was sought to have introduced the contents of a letter from one Father Santillan, appellant's Catholic priest, to the apparent effect someone else had stated to him that the declarant and not appellant was the culprit. ² The justifying theory proffered was that the declaration, being one against penal interest, was properly admissible as an exception to the hearsay rule, since Father Santillan's refusal to disclose the declarant's identity made him (the declarant) unavailable as a witness. (See Evid.Code, § 1230.) The trial court's rejection of the offered evidence, accordingly, is cited as error. We hold the ruling was proper.

The following colloquy respecting the question provides the basis for our determination:

"MR. FELKER: (Counsel for the prosecution) Your Honor, this does not qualify under any of the exceptions to the hearsay rule.

"Number one, declarations against penal interest, first of all, this person has not been shown to be unavailable, whoever made this. So we are not dealing with unavailability of witnesses.

"THE COURT: Absent that showing?

"MR. SANCHEZ: (Counsel for appellant) Your Honor, I believe I have shown it when I asked this witness (Father Santillan) whether he would reveal the name to me. There is absolutely no way I can produce this witness without knowing the name of him and, therefore, he is unavailable.

"...

"THE COURT: It would have to be subject to foundation. The Court would rule at this time the hearsay objection should stand, but you may inquire further as to availability of the witness.

"...

"Q (Mr. Sanchez) If the Court were to order you (Father Santillan) to be jailed for as long as necessary before you revealed this name to me, what would be your response?

"A I would have to go to jail.

"MR. SANCHEZ: I submit, your Honor, this witness is not available.

"MR. FELKER: Your Honor, we don't know this witness, number one-

"THE COURT: First of all, I think we have to inquire as to the availability of the witness itself, rather than as to the failure to disclose by the witness.

"MR. SANCHEZ: He is not available to me, your Honor. I couldn't produce him in court.

"THE COURT: But he is available somehow.

"The mere fact that the name has not been disclosed doesn't make him unavailable. He is available. He is somewhere. He exists and he is available.

"He would be subject to court process, but for one thing. We don't know his name.

"...

"MR. SANCHEZ: The Court is ruling this witness is available to me?

"THE COURT: The Court is ruling that there has been no showing that the witness falls within the category of unavailable witness, as set forth in the Evidence Code, and under the cases contained.

"...

"MR. SANCHEZ: I will not have this witness return, if the Court is ruling that this witness is available to me within Section 1230.

"THE COURT: The Court, again, is ruling that there has not been a sufficient showing that the witness is, in fact, unavailable as of this time, which is 12:25.

"That is not to preclude counsel from showing that witness is unavailable at subsequent hearings through this witness or any other witness. The Court is only ruling that there has not been a sufficient showing at this time, that the witness is unavailable.

"...

"MR. SANCHEZ: Your Honor, I'm not going to be able to present more evidence of the unavailability of this witness that made a statement to the priest."

Based upon the foregoing, it is clear to us the trial court was of the view an adequate showing of the declarant's unavailability had not been made. Thus while the most obvious source of his identity, i. e., the priest, was foreclosed, nothing was suggested which would indicate other possibilities for discovering his name and whereabouts were or would have been unavailing. By offering only that this information would not be forthcoming from Father Santillan, appellant, so far as the trial court was concerned, failed to satisfy his statutory burden as proponent of the evidence that the witness could not be produced through due diligence. We find no abuse of discretion in that determination. (See People v. Enriquez (1977) 19 Cal.3d 221, 235, 137 Cal.Rptr. 171, 561 P.2d 261; People v. Smith (1971) 22 Cal.App.3d 25, 32, 99 Cal.Rptr. 171.)

It is next contended certain comments made by the prosecution, respecting alleged threats to Julian Valdez, appellant's membership in a gang and whether certain defense witnesses were "covering up" for appellant, constituted prejudicial misconduct. Without detailing these statements, we deem it sufficient to observe both that the trial court, sitting without a jury, made it clear it was not influenced by them ³ and that no objection thereto was made by appellant's trial counsel. Under such circumstances, no error requiring reversal has been shown. (See People v. Green (1980) 27 Cal.3d 1, 27-34, 164 Cal.Rptr. 1, 609 P.2d 468.

Finally, it is maintained appellant was improperly committed to the Youth Authority, since a less restrictive disposition, which would have been appropriate, was not adequately considered by the trial court. We are satisfied, however, that a fair consideration of and justifiable reliance upon appellant's probation report were made below and that we may not properly interfere with the trial court's exercise of discretion in concluding as it did. (See In re Michael R. (1977) 73 Cal.App.3d 327, 140 Cal.Rptr. 716.) So, that report indicated in part that,

"Both Mr. Green (Camp-community...