People v. Matthews
People v. Matthews
Opinion of the Court
In a trial without a jury, defendant was convicted of two counts of violating section 288 of the Penal Code. Proceedings were suspended and probation was granted. He appeals from the judgment, sentence and order granting probation.
Appellant contends, in effect, that the court erred in not considering the testimony of a psychiatrist.
In the summer of 1955, Jean, a girl 10 years of age, her brother Victor, and her girl friend Vickie were on a “hike” on a road near Granada Hills. While appellant, who was a
About a week later, appellant went to Jean’s house and took her and her brother to the pond.
According to her testimony, he then committed acts which were a violation of said section 288.
About two or three weeks later, appellant went to Jean’s home and took her, in his truck, to the middle of an orange grove. According to her testimony, he then committed acts which were a violation of said section 288. She also testified that he told her she was his second wife; and he told her not to tell her mother what had occurred.
In November, 1955, Jean and her girl friend Vickie walked to appellant’s house and played there for a while and then they started looking and calling for him. She testified that he called out that he was in the blacksmith shop; when they went into the shop they saw appellant who had his pants and shorts down around his knees.
A police officer, who arrested appellant, testified that he told appellant he was charged with molesting the girl; that appellant said: he had been awfully careless but he did not think too much about it because they seemed like a family; he went swimming in the pond with the children, and he and they had their shorts on; he did not expose himself intentionally ; he told the children not to tell their parents; he felt Jean’s breast on one occasion; he had called Jean his wife.
Appellant testified that in July or August, 1955, while he was going to one of the ranches, Jean and her brother stopped him and said they were going to the ranch for a picnic lunch; he suggested that they go to a certain place by some trees; they got in his truck and he took them to that place; in the afternoon he took them home; two or three weeks later he took the children to the pond; there were sticks and rocks in the pond; he took his pants off and, while wearing his shorts, waded in the pond and removed sticks and rocks; the children also waded in the pond, wearing their shorts; with reference
It was stipulated that Dr. McNeil, who was called as a witness by appellant, was qualified as a medical doctor. He testified that he is a psychiatrist; he performed a regular psychiatric examination of appellant. Counsel for appellant asked the doctor if he had an opinion as to whether or not the appellant is disposed to become involved in sexual offenses with children. He replied that in his opinion appellant is not disposed to such acts.
The only contention of appellant is that “The Trial Court Committed an Error of Law in That the Court, in Effect, Instructed Itself as the Trier of the Facts, Not to Consider the Testimony of a Capable Psychiatrist.” The contention is based upon a statement of the judge regarding the case of People v. Jones, 42 Cal.2d 219 [266 P.2d 38]. While Dr. McNeil was testifying, counsel for appellant asked for permission to submit “a trial brief on the case of ‘People against Jones’?” The judge replied that he had read that case. After the parties had rested, and while the judge was making statements regarding the case—just prior to rendering the decision, he said, among other things: “Well, as I stated yesterday, the Court has read that Jones ease before and made it a point to read it again since the trial of this matter started, and it isn’t at all in point in this matter at all, because in the Jones case there was the absolute and forthright denial by the defendant that he had done anything that the complaining witness had said that he had done. Whereas in this case, this defendant has very frankly admitted up to certain points that he did what the complaining witness says he did. I might agree with the defendant that he used poor judgment. And I am satisfied, from the evidence, that he hasn’t . . . been entirely truthful with us, frank in every
The judgment is affirmed.
Vallée, J., concurred.
Shinn, P. J., concurred in the judgment.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- THE PEOPLE v. CLYDE MATTHEWS
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published