People v. Cavanaugh (1916) · DecisionDepot

People v. Cavanaugh

Name: California Superior Court Tentative Rulings
Creator: DecisionDepot
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

California Court of Appeal May 11, 1916 No. Crim. No. 446.Published

Before: James

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Holding. The court held that the trial court committed prejudicial error by refusing to instruct the jury that the defendant was entitled to an acquittal if the prosecutrix consented to intercourse solely due to a belief that the defendant was an officer threatening arrest, rather than due to threats of bodily injury.

Issues

Whether the trial court erred in refusing to instruct the jury that consent obtained through a belief in the defendant's authority to arrest does not constitute rape under the statute.

Disposition. reversed

Quotations verified verbatim against the opinion

“it appears clear that the instruction offered by the appellant should have been given. And we think the error was prejudicial.”

“it became important to the defendant to have the jury fully advised that he could not be convicted of the crime charged solely because of any belief on the part of the prosecutrix that he was an officer”

Synopsis

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, and from an order denying a new trial. Gavin W. Craig, Judge.

The facts are stated in the opinion of the court.

JAMES, J.

Defendant was convicted of the crime of rape and sentenced to serve a term of fourteen years in the penitentiary. He presented a motion for a new trial, which being denied, an appeal was taken from the order and also from the judgment. The information charged that the crime was accomplished by means of force, and that the prosecutrix was prevented from resisting because of threats made by the defendant that he would kill her; that defendant exhibited a loaded revolver and pointed it at the head of the prosecutrix as an evidence of his ability to carry out his threats. The prosecutrix was a married woman and lived with her four children in the lower part of the city of Los Angeles. She testified that at the time of the alleged assault, her husband was absent in another part of the state, and that she had as a

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roomer a young man who occupied a room in the upper portion of the house. She also stated that at the time of the alleged rape a lady friend was visiting her and was present in an adjoining room. She testified that she went to the door in answer to defendant’s knock and that he made inquiry regarding a room, claiming that he wanted to rent one, and that after showing him through two rooms, and while in one of the bedrooms, defendant caught her by the arm, drew a revolver, and threatened to shoot her if she made any outcry and did not consent to his proposal; that he forced her over upon a bed and thereupon had sexual intercourse with her. She further testified that after the act had been accomplished she went into the kitchen; that he came with her and that while she was busy about her toilet he talked to her! She further testified that defendant claimed to be an officer, and said that he had been sent by the chief of police to arrest the prosecutrix for intoxication. She further testified that defendant returned twice that day, once in the early part of the evening, and the last time at about 11 o’clock that night. She stated that she made no immediate complaint to anyone regarding the conduct of the defendant, and on the occasion of each of his later visits she admitted him into the house and talked with him. Her excuse for so doing was that she believed that he was an officer and would make trouble for her if she did not. At the time of his arrest it was, found that defendant did have some sort of a star, such we assume as might be worn by an officer, and that he had carried a revolver.

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that no statement was made by appellant prior to the completion of the act of intercourse to the effect that he was an officer, but all of that was said afterwards. . . . Had the testimony shown that before or at the time the assault was committed, one of the threats made by appellant had been that he would or was about to arrest the prosecutrix, then the instruction would have been pertinent and timely and we think it would have been error to refuse it.” We have re-examined the testimony given by the prosecutrix. As stated in the former opinion, she did finally say that the alleged statements made by the defendant, to the effect that he was an officer and would arrest her, were made after the intercourse had been had. It is insisted, however, that, inasmuch as the witness at first stated that the defendant made his claim of being an officer and his threat of arrest at the time the witness alleged he pulled the gun and before the intercourse occurred, notwithstanding that she contradicted this finally, it was a matter for the jury to say and determine as to which of her statements they would believe. We are inclined to adopt this view as being the correct one to be taken, and with that conclusion in mind, it appears clear that the instruction offered by the appellant should have been given. And we think the error was prejudicial. The general statement of the prosecutrix showed marks of improbability. It is hardly consistent with the attitude of a woman who has been, at the point of a revolver, compelled to submit to the embraces of an assailant, that no complaint should have immediately been made, and that twice on the same day the prosecutrix should have admitted the same man to her house and there conversed with him. An occurrence such as the prosecutrix described would most naturally seem to call for immediate complaint and the denunciation of the perpetrator at the earliest possible moment. All of these reflections give color to the claim of the public defender, who appeared for the defendant in this case at the trial, that the prosecutrix did consent to the act of intercourse under the belief that Cavanaugh was a peace officer and for the purpose of purchasing immunity from arrest or molestation by him. The mere threat to arrest her would not be a threat to use such force and violence as are described in section 261 of the Penal Code. Defendant on his part admitted that the act of intercourse had taken place between him and the prosecutrix, and

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JAMES, J.

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