People v. Deptula, 373 P.2d 430 (Cal. 1962). · Go Syfert
People v. Deptula, 373 P.2d 430 (Cal. 1962). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
99 citation events (13 in the last 25 years) across 13 distinct courts.
Treatment trajectory · 1963 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1963 1994 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 19 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Bryan Hiser
9th Cir. · 2013 · confidence medium
Under Nevada’s statute, consent to entry is not a defense, “so long as the defendant was shown to have made the entry with larcenous intent.” Thomas v. State, 94 Nev. 605 , 584 P.2d 674, 677 (1978) (citing favorably for support People v. Deptula, 58 Cal.2d 225 , 23 Cal.Rptr. 366 , 373 P.2d 430, 431-32 (1962) (en banc)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Riccardi (2×)
Cal. · 2012 · confidence medium
(People v. Deptula (1962) 58 Cal.2d 225, 228 [―the settled interpretation of the statute is that one who enters a room or building with intent to commit larceny is guilty of burglary even though express or implied permission to enter has been given to him personally or as a member of the public‖]; see also People v. Frye (1998) 18 Cal.4th 894, 953, 954 [defendant who enters house with 73 requisite intent is guilty of burglary, even if the victim consents to entry]; People v. Pendleton (1979) 25 Cal.3d 371, 382 [―one may be convicted of burglary even if he enters with consent, provided he…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Frye
Cal. · 1998 · confidence medium
(People v. Talbot (1966) 64 Cal.2d 691, 700 [ 51 Cal.Rptr. 417 , 414 P.2d 633 ], overruled on other grounds in People v. Ireland (1969) 70 Cal.2d 522, 540 [ 75 Cal.Rptr. 188 , 450 P.2d 580 , 40 A.L.R.3d 1323 ].) Thus, a person who enters for a felonious purpose may be found guilty of burglary even if he enters with the owner’s or occupant’s consent. {People v. Sears (1965) 62 Cal.2d 737, 746 [ 44 Cal.Rptr. 330 , 401 P.2d 938 ]; People v. Deptula (1962) 58 Cal.2d 225, 228 [ 23 Cal.Rptr. 366 , 373 P.2d 430 ]; In re Andrew I. (1991) 230 Cal.App.3d 572, 578-579 [ 281 Cal.Rptr. 570 ].) Notwiths…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Felix
Cal. Ct. App. · 1994 · confidence medium
(People v. Deptula (1962) 58 Cal.2d 225, 226-228 [ 23 Cal.Rptr. 366 , 373 P.2d 430 ] [manager of bowling alley burglarized the premises when he stole from the commercial safe, even though he had the keys to the business and had permission to be there at any time].) The invitee’s illegal purpose negates the occupant’s express permission.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Salemme (2×)
Cal. Ct. App. · 1992 · confidence medium
(E.g., People v. Sears (1965) 62 Cal.2d 737, 746 [ 44 Cal. Rptr. 330 , 401 P.2d 938 ]; People v. Deptula (1962) 58 Cal.2d 225, 228 [ 23 Cal. Rptr. 366 , 373 P.2d 430 ]; People v. Brittain (1904) 142 Cal. 8, 10 [ 75 P. 314 ]; People v. Edwards (1971) 22 Cal. App.3d 598, 602 [ 99 Cal. Rptr. 516 ]; People v. Garrow (1955) 130 Cal. App.2d 75, 83 [ 278 P.2d 475 ].) In 1975, the Supreme Court revisited the issue of statutory interpretation of section 459 when the court was presented with the question whether a person can burglarize his or her own home. ( People v. Gauze (1975) 15 Cal.3d 709 [ 125 Ca…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Andrew I. (2×)
Cal. Ct. App. · 1991 · confidence medium
No possessory right in a parental residence is implied by this duty of financial support.” (In re Richard M. (1988) 205 Cal.App.3d 7, 15 [ 252 Cal.Rptr. 36 ].) 1 Furthermore, even if Scott had implied permission to enter his mother’s home, Andrew would still be guilty of burglary. “[0]ne who enters a room or building with intent to commit larceny is guilty of burglary even though express or implied permission to enter has been given to him personally or as a member of the public.” (People v. Deptula (1962) 58 Cal.2d 225, 228 [ 23 Cal.Rptr. 366 , 373 P.2d 430 ]; see also People v. Garro…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Collins (2×)
Cal. · 1986 · confidence medium
Code, § 1042, subd. (d).) In both cases the parties must do the best they can with the information they have, and the appellate court will fill the gap by objectively reviewing the whole record. [23] The act is no less turpid — indeed, it may be more — if the entry is by deceit (see People v. Deptula (1962) 58 Cal.2d 225, 228 [ 23 Cal. Rptr. 366 , 373 P.2d 430 ], and cases cited) rather than by force. [*] Judge, Sacramento Municipal Court, assigned by the Chairperson of the Judicial Council. [1] At latest count there are 27 cases in which we have granted hearing or review pending decision i…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Nunley
Cal. Ct. App. · 1985 · confidence medium
(People v. Gauze, supra, 15 Cal.3d at p. 713 ; People v. Sears (1965) 62 Cal.2d 737, 746 [ 44 Cal.Rptr. 330 , 401 P.2d 938 ]; People v. Deptula (1962) 58 Cal.2d 225, 228 [ 23 Cal.Rptr. 366 , 373 P.2d 430 ]; People v. Brittain (1904) 142 Cal. 8 ; People v. Barry (1892) 94 Cal. 481 [ 29 P. 1026 ].) Anyone who enters a building with the intent to commit a felony is guilty of burglary even though permission to enter has been extended to him personally or as a member of the public.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Thomas v. State
Nev. · 1978 · confidence medium
There is no basis for distinguishing this case, either on the ground that consent was express, rather than implied, see People v. Deptula, 373 P.2d 430, 431-32 (Cal. 1962); State v. Baker, 161 N.W.2d 864 (Neb. 1968), or that the specific intent in question was felonious rape rather than larceny, see Flynn v. State, 93 Nev. 247 , 562 P.2d 1135 (1977).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Gauze
Cal. · 1975 · confidence medium
(See, e.g., People v. Deptula (1962) 58 Cal.2d 225, 228 [ 23 Cal.Rptr. 366 , 373 P.2d 430 ]; People v. Brittain (1904) 142 Cal. 8 [ 75 P. 314 ]; People v. Edwards (1971) 22 Cal.App.3d 598, 602 [ 99 Cal.Rptr. 516 ]; People v. Garrow (1955) 130 Cal.App.2d 75, 83 [ 278 P.2d 475 ].) Barry and its progeny should not be read, however, to hold that a defendant’s right to enter the premises is irrelevant.
cited Cited as authority (rule) People v. Edwards
Cal. Ct. App. · 1971 · confidence medium
(People v. Deptula, 58 Cal.2d 225, 228 [ 23 Cal.Rptr. 366 , 373 P.2d 430 ].) The entry need not constitute a trespass.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Talbot
Cal. · 1966 · confidence medium
Section 459 of the Penal Code provides, in part: “Every person who enters any house, room ... or other building . . . with intent to commit grand or petit larceny or any felony is guilty of burglary. ’ ’ No breaking or use of force is required under our statute, and it is settled that the entry need not constitute a trespass and that “One who enters a room or building with the intent to commit a felony is guilty of burglary even though permission to enter has been extended to him personally or as a member of the public.” (People v. Sears, 62 Cal.2d 737, 746 [14, 15] [ 44 Cal.Rptr. 33…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Huber
Cal. Ct. App. · 1964 · confidence medium
(People v. Deptula, 58 Cal.2d 225, 228 [ 23 Cal.Rptr. 366 , 373 P.2d 430 ]; People v. Michaels, 193 Cal.App.2d 194, 198 [ 13 Cal.Rptr. 900 ] ; People v. Beem, 192 Cal.App.2d 207, 211 [ 13 Cal.Rptr. 238 ]; Pen.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Azevedo
Cal. Ct. App. · 1963 · confidence medium
(See People v. Deptula, 58 Cal.2d 225, 228 [ 23 Cal.Rptr. 366 , 373 P.2d 430 ]; People v. Corral, 60 Cal.App.2d 66, 71 [ 140 P.2d 172 ]; People v. Guareno, 22 Cal.App.2d 82, 84 [ 70 P.2d 504 ].) The committing magistrate could reasonably draw the inference that the defendant was aware of the felonious purpose of the persons present with him at the Childers premises and that he acted in concert with them in the commission of the burglary whereby the shotgun was obtained.
discussed Cited "see" People v. Rodriguez
Cal. Ct. App. · 2018 · signal: see · confidence high
(Gauze, at p. 713; see People v. Deptula (1962) 58 Cal.2d 225, 226-228 [applying Barry and 10 concluding a manager violated § 459 when he entered the business with the intent to commit a felony despite having his own set of keys to the business].) While the defendant's invitation to enter the store in Barry was presumably limited to entry for legal purposes, the court concluded Gauze had an unconditional possessory right to enter his own apartment for any reason and regardless of his intent.
examined Cited "see" People v. Rodriguez (3×)
Cal. Ct. App. 5th · 2018 · signal: see · confidence high
(See People v. Villalobos (2006) 145 Cal.App.4th 310 , 316-317, 51 Cal.Rptr.3d 678 ( Villalobos ), but see People v. Minervini (1971) 20 Cal.App.3d 832 , 840-841, 98 Cal.Rptr. 107 ( Minervini ) [predating Gauze but concluding the fact that defendants acquired and paid for hotel rooms did not mitigate against a finding that they violated § 459 by entering the rooms with the intent to commit theft].) The question the court addressed in Gauze was whether an individual could commit burglary in his or her own home. ( Gauze, supra , 15 Cal.3d at p. 711 , 125 Cal.Rptr. 773 , 542 P.2d 1365 .) There, …
discussed Cited "see" State v. Fondren (2×)
Kan. Ct. App. · 1986 · signal: accord · confidence high
Accord People v. Deptula, 58 Cal. 2d 225 , 373 P.2d 430 (1962); State v. Embree, 130 Ariz. 64 , 633 P.2d 1057 (Ariz. App. 1981).
examined Cited "see" People v. Earl (3×)
Cal. Ct. App. · 1973 · signal: see · confidence high
Code, § 459; see People v. Deptula, 58 Cal.2d 225, 228 [ 23 Cal.Rptr. 366 , 373 P.2d 430 ].) “While the existence of the specific intent charged at the time of entering a building is necessary to constitute burglary in order to sustain a conviction, this element is rarely susceptible of direct proof and must usually be inferred from all of the facts and circumstances disclosed by the evidence.” (People v. Terry, 202 Cal.App.2d 604, 608 [ 20 Cal.Rptr. 915 ].) Appellant’s argument that it would be reasonable *897 to find that appellant entered the AGE store only to browse refers to a ques…
examined Cited "see, e.g." People v. Thomas (3×)
Cal. Ct. App. · 1991 · signal: see also · confidence medium
(People v. Mackabee (1989) 214 Cal.App.3d 1250, 1254-1255 [ 263 Cal.Rptr. 183 ]; People v. Wilson (1989) 208 Cal.App.3d 611, 615 [ 256 Cal.Rptr. 422 ]; People v. Edwards (1971) 22 Cal.App.3d 598, 602 [ 99 Cal.Rptr. 516 ]; People v. Gaytan (1940) 38 Cal.App.2d 83, 87 [ 100 P.2d 496 ].) Thus, it has long been the law of this state that “[a] person is guilty of burglary who enters a room with the intention to commit a theft. [Citations.]” (People v. Edwards, supra, 22 Cal.App.3d at p. 602 [defendant entered the women’s restroom in the cafeteria which was part of a hospital, where he had a r…
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
The PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent,
v.
JOHN JOSEPH DEPTULA, Defendant and Appellant
Crim. 7069.
California Supreme Court.
Jul 24, 1962.
373 P.2d 430
Ellery E. Cuff, Public Defender, Maxwell M. Spencer and James L. McCormick, Deputy Public Defenders, for Defendant and Appellant., Stanley Mosk, Attorney General, William E. James, Assistant Attorney General, and Jack E. Goertzen, Deputy Attorney General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
Gibson.
Cited by 39 opinions  |  Published
GIBSON, C. J.

Defendant was charged by information with the murder of Roger Allen Mosser, and after a psychiatrist appointed by the court had reported that defendant was legally sane, he entered a plea of guilty, and waived a jury trial. The court determined that the murder was committed in the perpetration of both burglary and robbery and was therefore murder of the first degree. [1] The issue of penalty was then tried, and the court fixed defendant’s punishment at death. His motion for a new trial was denied, and the appeal comes to us automatically under the provisions of subdivision (b) of section 1239 of the Penal Code.

Defendant was employed by Donald Godard as a manager in connection with the operation of a bowling alley, café and bar, located in Los Angeles. His usual working hours were from 9 a. m. to 6 or 7 p. m. He was given keys to the bowling alley and was furnished with combinations to the safes. His duties included obtaining change from the “change safe” and placing “change bags” and “his deposit bag” in the safes at night, but he did not have permission to remove money from the premises.

Mosser worked at the bowling alley between 1 a. m. and 9 a. m., doing janitorial and maintenance work, taking care of any customers who were present after 1 a. m., and closing the[*227] doors and locking up after they had left. On July 16, 1961, about 9 a. m., defendant telephoned Godard from the bowling alley, telling him that the safes were open, the money was gone, and Mosser was not there. Godard went to investigate and found that approximately $1,760 was missing. Defendant informed Godard that he had called the police, and when they arrived defendant and Godard reported that it was their theory that Mosser had opened the safe, taken the money, and disappeared.

About two weeks later a forest ranger discovered a dismembered body, subsequently identified as Mosser’s, in a pit toilet in a recreational area in San Gabriel Canyon. Moneybags found with the body were identified as those used in the operation of the bowling alley. In the opinion of the doctor who performed an autopsy death was caused by “a blunt-force injury to the head with skull fractures and intracerebral hemorrhage. ’ ’

Defendant, when questioned by the police, made two free and voluntary confessions, and, although the confessions differed in some respects, defendant admitted in both of them that he had killed Mosser. Taken in the light most favorable to the prosecution, the confessions were to the effect that he went to the bowling alley about 5:30 a. m. on July 16, after having lost some money gambling. He owed money to his landlady and intended to “take the money from the bowling alley if A1 Mosser was asleep; if not, he would do some work. ’ ’ He used his own key to enter and, while standing by the door of the office, saw Mosser sleeping in a chair inside the office. He went to a place about 150 feet away where bowling pins were located, picked up one of the pins, came back to the office, and struck Mosser on the head with the pin. He walked across the office to the safes, leaving the pin on a desk nearby. After opening the safes he thought he observed Mosser move, and he picked up the pin, went over to Mosser, and again struck him on the head. Defendant removed the money remaining in the safes, wiped the safes and bowling pin clean with a towel, and returned the pin to the pit from which he had taken it. He took Mosser’s body to his apartment, where he kept it for several days and then dismembered the body and disposed of it.

The sole question presented is whether the evidence is sufficient to show that the murder was of the first degree. The trial court, as we have seen, determined that the murder was committed in the perpetration of burglary and of robbery.[*228] If its determination was warranted as to either of these felonies, it will, of course, be unnecessary to consider whether there is sufficient evidence with respect to the other.

Burglary is defined as follows: “Every person who enters any house, room ... or other building . . . with intent to commit grand or petit larceny or any felony is guilty of burglary.” (Pen. Code, § 459.) Defendant contends that under a proper construction of the statute the entry must be a trespass in order to constitute an element of burglary and that he could permission to enter. However, the settled interpretation of the statute is that one who enters a room or building with intent to commit larceny is guilty of burglary even not be found guilty of the offense because, as manager, he had though express or implied permission to enter has been given to him personally or as a member of the public. (People v. Brittain, 142 Cal. 8, 9-10 [75 P. 314, 100 Am.St.Rep. 95]; People v. Lowen, 109 Cal. 381, 383 [42 P. 32]; People v. Barry, 94 Cal. 481, 482 [29 P. 1026]; People v. Wilson, 160 Cal.App.2d 606, 608 [325 P.2d 106]; People v. Garrow, 130 Cal.App.2d 75, 83 [278 P.2d 475]; People v. Owens, 98 Cal.App.2d 485, 486-487 [220 P.2d 575]; People v. Vitos, 62 Cal.App.2d 157, 159-160 [144 P.2d 393]; People v. Corral, 60 Cal.App.2d 66, 71 [140 P.2d 172]; People v. Sparks, 44 Cal.App.2d 748, 749-750 [112 P.2d 974]; People v. Ferns, 27 Cal.App. 285, 286-287 [149 P. 802].)

There is ample evidence to support the finding that Mosser was murdered by defendant and that the killing was committed in the perpetration of burglary.

The judgment and the order denying a new trial are affirmed.

Traynor, J., Schauer, J., Me Comb, J., Peters, J., and White, J., concurred.

1

Section 189 of the Penal Code provides: "All murder which ia perpetrated by means of poison, or lying in wait, torture, or by any other kind of wilful, deliberate, and premeditated killing, or which is committed in the perpetration or attempt to perpetrate arson, rape, robbery, burglary, mayhem, or any act punishable under Section 288, is murder of the first degree; and all other kinds of murders are of the second degree. ’