People v. Dukes

California Court of Appeal Dec 8, 1934 No. Crim. 2565Published

Before: Scott

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Holding. An acquittal on a robbery charge does not bar a subsequent prosecution for conspiracy to commit that same robbery when the conspiracy charge is supported by overt acts other than the robbery itself. The jury's erroneous determination of the degree of conspiracy is considered surplusage and does not constitute prejudicial error.

Issues

Whether acquittal on a robbery charge precludes a subsequent prosecution for conspiracy to commit that robbery.
Whether the trial court erred in excluding portions of the transcript from the prior trial.
Whether the testimony of accomplices was sufficiently corroborated under Penal Code section 1111.
Whether the jury's determination of the degree of conspiracy constitutes reversible error.

Disposition. affirmed

Quotations verified verbatim against the opinion

“The crime of conspiracy is a distinct offense from the actual commission of the crime forming the object of the conspiracy”

“Acquittal in that case would preclude further prosecution on the conspiracy charge only if the act of robbery was the sole overt act set out in the later information.”

“The inclusion in the verdicts of the jury’s conclusion as to the degree was surplusage, and did not prejudicially affect either defendant.”

SCOTT, J.,

pro tem.

Defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit robbery, the information setting out nine overt acts prior to the robbery and, as a tenth overt act, the robbe^ itself. Ledbetter was also charged with a prior felony, robbery, conviction of which he admitted. In a previous case defendants had been charged with committing the identical robbery which is alleged as the tenth overt act in the instant case, and had been tried and acquitted on that charge. They entered pleas in this case of not guilty, former acquittal and once in jeopardy. The jury found against each defendant on the two latter pleas and convicted each of the crime of conspiracy to commit robbery. By their verdicts they fixed the degree of such crime as first degree as to Ledbetter and second degree as to Dukes. Defendants appeal from the judgment and order denying their motion for new trial.

[700]

It is contended that acquittal on the robbery charge in the earlier case precluded conviction on the conspiracy charge in this case. The first nine overt acts set out in the information before us are acts other than the act of robbery charged in the first case. Acquittal in that case would preclude further prosecution on the conspiracy charge only if the act of robbery was the sole overt act set out in the later information.

(Oliver

Superior Court,

92 Cal. App. 94 [267 Pac. 764].) “The crime of conspiracy is a distinct offense from the actual commission of the crime forming the object of the conspiracy”

(People

Martin,

114 Cal. App. 392 [300 Pac. 130]), and the acquittal on the former charge is no bar to a successful prosecution in this case.

In support of their pleas of former jeopardy and acquittal, defendants offered in evidence a transcript of evidence taken at the trial of the earlier case. The trial court excluded the portion relating to matters occurring before the day of the robbery. While the testimony thus excluded did fortify the People’s case .on the robbery trial, it was no proper matter to place before the jury in the instant ease, since it was not needed to identify defendants, the offense or the disposition of the earlier ease.

People v. Dukes

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SCOTT, J.,

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