People v. Hayes

California Court of Appeal Nov 16, 1931 No. Docket No. 2141.Published

Before: Craig

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Holding. The court held that an information need not allege the degree of robbery or the facts determining it, and that proof of a weapon being loaded is not required to sustain a first-degree robbery conviction when the weapon was used threateningly.

Issues

Whether an information must allege the degree of robbery or the facts determining such degree.
Whether proof that a weapon was loaded is required to sustain a conviction for first-degree robbery when the weapon was used in a threatening manner.

Disposition. Affirmed

Quotations verified verbatim against the opinion

“It is sufficient that an information follow the language of the statute, without alleging the degree of such an offense or the facts from which the degree may be determined.”

“Under the circumstances of such a case it was not required that proof of the actual loading of the weapon which was pointed at a shooting distance with threats should be exacted.”

CRAIG, Acting P. J.

By an information consisting of two counts, filed in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, the appellant was charged with having wilfully, unlawfully and feloniously taken from the person and possession and in the immediate presence of another certain specified amounts of money, by means of force and by putting said person in fear. Pursuant to a trial by jury he was found guilty of robbery of the first degree upon the first count, and guilty of robbery of the second degree upon the second count. A motion for a new trial was made, which was denied, and the defendant appealed from the resultant judgment and from the ruling upon said motion.

According to the testimony of the prosecuting witness, and statements of the defendant to an officer, Hayes caused the prosecuting witness to refer to certain accounts in her place of business, then demanded: “Never mind, you won’t find my name there, it is just a hold-up; give me the money you have in the register”; that upon a second occasion he made a like demand for money; that the amounts of money were extorted as alleged, on the first visit by aiming a revolver at the proprietress, and the next time with one hand in his coat pocket in a threatening manner but without withdrawing a weapon. The defendant’s victim testified that she was exceedingly frightened in each instance. She identified the pistol offered in evidence as one similar to that used in the robbery first mentioned, and an officer swore that Hayes admitted to him that it was the revolver with which he committed the crime first charged. When found by officers among the effects of the accused, the weapon was loaded.

[343]

It is first contended that the verdict of robbery of the first degree is unsupported by allegation, or evidence tending to show, that the first offense was committed by the appellant while armed with a

loaded

dangerous or deadly weapon. It is sufficient that an information follow the language of the statute, without alleging the degree of such an offense or the facts from which the degree may be determined.

(In re Colford,

68 Cal. App. 308 [229 Pac. 63].) And one who feloniously takes personal property in possession of another, from his person or immediate presence, by means of force or fear, is guilty of robbery in the first degree if the crime be committed while the perpetrator is armed with a dangerous or deadly weapon. (Pen. Code, secs. 211, 211a.) Under the circumstances of such a case it was not required that proof of the actual loading of the weapon which was pointed at a shooting distance with threats should be exacted.

People v. Hayes

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