People v. Martin

BROWN (Gerald), P. J.

Defendant Kenneth Martin appeals from a judgment of conviction by a jury of grand theft of welfare funds (Pen. Code, §§ 484, 487, subd. 1).

Martin had the care and custody of his minor children since 1958, his wife having deserted the family. He received aid to needy children funds in I960; this was discontinued when he remanded; the marriage lasted a short time. Martin again applied for aid to needy children funds November 24, 1961. The events beginning with this application provide the basis of this prosecution. In the application Martin made statements of fact relating to eligibility for aid; he furnished information about the names and birthdates of his children, residence, deprivation status, ownership of real and personal property, employment, presence of unrelated adults living with the family, and family income. The truth of these statements is not in issue. Martin signed the application under oath, promising as provided in writing immediately above his signature, to “notify the county welfare department of any real or personal property transactions, change in income or other financial conditions, marriage of any of the above children or remarriage of either parent of these children, of any change in address, or if a parent is absent from the home, any information regarding his address or whereabouts or his return to the home.” There was no provision in the oath or application that he advise the welfare department if, in the future, an unrelated adult were to live with the family.

[772]

. - Payments to Martin of aid for his needy children were resumed. ■ In January 1962 Martin notified the welfare department of a change in address. At that time an unrelated adult female began living in Martin’s home and remained until June 1962. A department official testified this fact made Martin ineligible for aid. Aid was cancelled and Martin.was prosecuted for grand theft. The gravamen of the offense, as stated by the People, is that Martin received funds to which he was not entitled because he withheld material information, thus obtaining funds under false pretenses. It is asserted he withheld informing the department that the unrelated adult female had moved into the home. This assertion is without merit; such information was not required by the application or oath. The oath was deficient in this respect. If the welfare department desired such information from Martin, it should have advised him to furnish it, but he was neither asked nor did he promise to do so. . .