People v. Knoll

JEFFERSON, J. A jury returned a Verdict of guilty against defendant for receiving stolen property in.violation of section 496, Penal Code, as set forth in counts 2 and 3 of the information. A mistrial was declared as to count one; on motion of the People, count one was dismissed. A motion for a new trial was denied. Defendant was placed on probation for a period of five years on the condition that the first year be served in the county jail and that defendant pay a fine of $8,000.

The evidence shows that in the early part of January 1961 a person by the name of Walker, accompanied by one Kuranoff, drove his station wagon to the residence of defendant in Lancaster, California. They, delivered to defendant six portable television sets, an FM radio, two stereo phonographs and a transoceanic radio. Defendant gave Kuranoff $700 for this merchandise. The testimony further shows that defendant arranged with Walker that he should bring any further shipments from Kuranoff to defendant. Thereafter, between the first part of January and the middle of February 1961, Walker made 15 or 16 trips to the premises of defendant.

It’was further testified that the goods would be taken from burglaries to Walker’s home in Bakersfield. Defendant suggested to Walker to take the old Ridge Route because the inspection station closed at 1:30 a. m.; that he should start from Bakersfield after 11 o’clock at night; that he was to make delivery of merchandise to defendant between"6 :30 and 7 :30 a. m. It was further testified that Walker participated with Kuranoff in one burgiary of the Air Reduction Pacific Company in Bakersfield and Walker was paid for making the deliveries of the goods either by cash or money orders from Kuranoff.

Walker testified that he delivered a 3,500-pound load of wire and electrical goods from the Gifford Electric Company in Bakersfield; much of the merchandise was marked with the company’s name. Defendant assisted Walker in unloading the merchandise and directed him to stack the boxes so the firm name would not be visible. The load of electrical goods was then covered with a tarpaulin from the truck; defendant paid Walker $500 for this load in $100 bills. The superintendent of the Gifford Electric Company testified that between February 4 and 6 the business sustained a loss of $3,250 worth of electrical goods in a burglary. The loss was inventoried and turned over to the police and later about two-thirds of [270]the materials lost were identified and recovered from the police.