People v. Austell, 223 Cal. App. 3d 1249 (Cal. Ct. App. 1990). · Go Syfert
People v. Austell, 223 Cal. App. 3d 1249 (Cal. Ct. App. 1990). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
22 citation events (18 in the last 25 years) across 3 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: People v. Luna CA2/2 (calctapp, 2021-03-11)
Treatment trajectory · 1999 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1999 2012 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 8 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Luna CA2/2
Cal. Ct. App. · 2021 · confidence medium
(See People v. Austell (1990) 223 Cal.App.3d 1249, 1252 [theory prosecutor disavows will not be deemed to be basis for conviction].) Nor can we infer which theory underlays the jury’s second degree murder verdict from any of the jury’s other findings, as the jury’s only other finding was that Viera personally inflicted great bodily injury using the bumper jack.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Westmontgomery CA4/2
Cal. Ct. App. · 2021 · confidence medium
(People v. Austell, supra, 223 Cal.App.3d at p. 1252 [distinguishing Jaramillo]; see also People v. Garza, supra, 35 Cal.4th at p. 876 .) The People’s election and the instructions established defendant was not prosecuted as the thief.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Castillo CA2/6
Cal. Ct. App. · 2021 · confidence medium
(See People v. Austell (1990) 223 Cal.App.3d 1249, 1252, fn. 3 [the sentence for unlawful driving was stayed pursuant to section 654, where the appellant was convicted of both unlawful driving and receipt of stolen property, because there was one single act constituting a criminal offense under two statutes].) However, the evidence supports that when Castillo committed counts 1 and 2, he harbored a separate intent and objective from when he committed counts 3 and 4.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Carriedo CA2/6
Cal. Ct. App. · 2016 · confidence medium
(See People v. Austell (1990) 223 Cal.App.3d 1249, 1252 [defendant was properly convicted of violating both Vehicle Code section 10851 and section 496 where "[t]he prosecutor expressly told the jury that the prosecution was based on the driving element of Vehicle Code section 10851 and not the taking element"].)5 We also reject appellant's claim that he was sentenced on both counts in violation of section 654.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Vidal
9th Cir. · 2005 · confidence medium
UNITED STATES v. VIDAL 14527 breadth of activity criminalized by and chargeable under § 10851(a).11 Therefore, because § 10851(a) does not qualify categori- cally as an aggravated felony “theft offense” for Sentencing Guidelines enhancement, and because the record does not unequivocally establish that Vidal in fact pled guilty to a “theft offense,” I would reverse the 8-level sentence enhance- ment, vacate Vidal’s sentence, and remand for resentencing. 11 California law is clear that § 10851(a) covers a range of conduct in concert with its larceny and joy-riding statutes, and cont…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Garza
Cal. · 2005 · confidence medium
(Jaramillo, supra, at p. 758 ; People v. Cratty (1999) 77 Cal.App.4th 98, 102-103 [ 91 Cal.Rptr.2d 370 ]; People v. Austell (1990) 223 Cal.App.3d 1249, 1252 [ 273 Cal.Rptr. 212 ].) Here, we must decide whether a defendant who is convicted of a section 10851(a) violation (unlawfully taking or driving another’s vehicle) may also be convicted under section 496(a) of receiving the same vehicle as stolen property when the evidence does not exclude the possibility that the defendant committed both theft and nontheft forms of the section 10851(a) offense by taking the vehicle with an intent to perm…
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Castillo-Cruz v. Holder
9th Cir. · 2009 · signal: see also · confidence medium
See also People v. Austell, 223 Cal. App. 3d 1249, 1252 (Cal. App. Ct. 1990) (holding that dual convictions under the Cali- fornia Vehicle Code § 10851 and California Penal Code § 496 were proper because defendant was not convicted under § 10851 for intending to steal the vehicle but rather for simply driving it); In re Jorge C., 2008 WL 2536076 (Cal. App. Ct. 2008) (unpublished) (upholding conviction under § 496 for a defendant characterized as a “joy rider”).9 9 Although an unpublished opinion of the California Court of Appeals should generally not be cited, unpublished cases are per…
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Castillo-Cruz v. Holder (2×)
9th Cir. · 2009 · signal: see also · confidence low
See also People v. Austell, 223 Cal.App.3d 1249, 1252 , 273 Cal.Rptr. 212 (1990) (holding that dual convictions under the California Vehicle Code § 10851 and California Penal Code § 496 were proper because defendant was not convicted under § 10851 for intending to steal the vehicle but rather for simply driving it); In re Jorge C., 2008 WL 2536076 (Cal.App.2008) (unpublished) (upholding conviction under § 496 for a defendant characterized as a “joy rider”). 9 We conclude that a conviction for receipt of stolen property under § 496 is not categorically a crime of moral turpitude becaus…
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
The PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent,
v.
KEVIN BERTRAM AUSTELL, Defendant and Appellant
B045439.
California Court of Appeal.
Sep 17, 1990.
223 Cal. App. 3d 1249
1990 Cal. App. LEXIS 997
Counsel, Lauri Kay Brown, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant., John K. Van de Kamp, Attorney General, Richard B. Iglehart, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Edward T. Fogel, Jr., Assistant Attorney General, Mark Alan Hart and Sharlene A. Honnaka, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
Ashby.
Cited by 13 opinions  |  Published

Opinion

ASHBY, J.

Kevin Bertram Austell appeals from the judgment entered following a jury trial in which he was convicted of unlawfully driving or[*1251] taking a vehicle and receiving stolen property, with an admission of a prior felony conviction for which he served a prison term. (Veh. Code, § 10851; Pen. Code, §§ 496, 667.5, subd. (b).) He contends: “I. Appellant’s convictions for stealing and receiving the same property are improper. II. Failure to instruct on the intent required for receiving stolen property was prejudicial error.”

Viewed in accordance with the usual rules on appeal (People v. Barnes (1986) 42 Cal.3d 284, 303 [228 Cal.Rptr. 228, 721 P.2d 110]), the evidence established that, on February 12, 1989, Kirsten Dietrich parked Boris Rostov’s 1962 Corvair on Washington Boulevard in Los Angeles County. Its pink slip was in the glove box. Dietrich used an ignition key for the Corvair, but the ignition housing was loose and turning it also started the Corvair. At 8:30 the next morning the Corvair was missing. Rostov and Dietrich did not give appellant consent to take or drive the Corvair.

At approximately 9 p.m. on March 1, 1989, Los Angeles Police Officer Jeffrey Stewart stopped appellant who was driving the Corvair. Appellant had no key, the trunk lock was “punched” and missing, and the Corvair had no license plates and no Department of Motor Vehicle documentation on the window. Appellant had no driver’s license or registration, but he handed the officer an altered pink slip and a stack of miscellaneous documents. [1]

In arguing that it was improper to convict appellant of violating both Vehicle Code section 10851 and Penal Code section 496, appellant misplaces reliance on People v. Jaramillo (1976) 16 Cal.3d 752 [129 Cal.Rptr. 306, 548 P.2d 706]. In Jaramillo the Supreme Court applied the rule that a defendant may not be convicted of both stealing and receiving the same property, i.e., a person cannot be convicted as both the thief and the receiver. (Id. at pp. 757-759.) Since violation of Vehicle Code section 10851 involves either “taking” or “driving,” and thus could literally apply to the thief, convictions on both receiving stolen property and Vehicle Code section 10851 would be improper if the latter conviction were based upon a[*1252] “taking” theory. (Id. at pp. 757-75S.) [2] In Jaramillo the Supreme Court reversed because the record did not show whether the jury’s verdict of guilt as to Vehicle Code section 10851 was based on driving or on stealing the vehicle, both of which had been prosecution theories at Jaramillo’s trial. (Id. at p. 759.) Reversal was required because the record permitted an inference, which was not rebutted, that the jury may have convicted the defendant of violating Vehicle Code section 10851 on the theory that he was the thief. (Ibid.)

Here, however, the record rebuts that inference and shows appellant was not prosecuted as the thief. The prosecutor expressly conceded to the jury there was no evidence, direct or circumstantial, that appellant took the car from where it was parked on February 12. The prosecutor expressly told the jury that the prosecution was based on the driving element of Vehicle Code section 10851 and not the taking element. The defense counsel argued that if appellant did not know the car was stolen when he acquired it from Arthur Lee Phillips, appellant was not guilty of violating Vehicle Code section 10851 because he lacked the intent to deprive the owner of title to or possession of the vehicle. In rebuttal argument to the jury the prosecutor agreed with defense counsel that the issue was whether appellant knew the car was stolen when appellant obtained it.

Thus, although the instructions on Vehicle Code section 10851 were not formally modified to delete reference to taking, the record as a whole shows appellant was not prosecuted as the thief and rebuts any inference the jury convicted him on that theory. Appellant’s conviction on both counts was proper and consistent with People v. Jaramillo, supra, 16 Cal.3d at page 759, because appellant was not found to be both the thief and the receiver. [3]

Appellant’s second contention, that the trial court failed to instruct the jury on the intent required for receiving stolen property, is erroneous factually. The trial court expressly instructed the jury in the language of CALJIC 14.65, that in order to prove the crime of receiving stolen property it must be proved the person “actually knew said property was stolen at the time he bought or received such property.”

[*1253] The judgment is affirmed.

Lucas, P. J., and Turner, J., concurred.

Appellant’s petition for review by the Supreme Court was denied December 13, 1990.

1

Rostov’s name and address were erased from the front of the pink slip and, in their place, someone had written in blue ink Arthur Lee Phillips’s name and the address, 621 East Imperial. This address was subsequently determined to be “bad.” The back of the pink slip, the certification and application for sale, was blank when normally these portions of the pink slip would be completed had there been a sale. A bill of sale signed by Arthur Phillips was also presented to the officer. The bill of sale was written in the same color blue ink as the alterations on the pink slip and indicated the sale took place at 2:01 a.m. on “2-16-89.” Stewart concluded it was not a “true” bill of sale. Appellant told the officer that on February 16,1989, he purchased the Corvair in “mint condition” from Arthur Lee Phillips for $400. Appellant repeated to the investigating officer the claim that he purchased the vehicle.

2

Vehicle Code section 10851, subdivision (a) provides: “Any person who drives or takes a vehicle not his or her own, without the consent of the owner thereof, and with intent either to permanently or temporarily deprive the owner thereof of his or her title to or possession of the vehicle, whether with or without intent to steal the vehicle ... is guilty of a public offense . . . .” (Italics added.)

3

Thus appellant’s interests against multiple punishment were adequately protected by the trial court’s stay of execution of sentence on count I, pursuant to Penal Code section 654. (See People v. Jaramillo, supra, 16 Cal.3d at p. 757 and fn. 5.)