California Courts of Appeal, 1970

People v. Phillips

People v. Phillips
California Courts of Appeal · Decided August 12, 1970 · Brown, Gerald
10 Cal. App. 3d 488; 89 Cal. Rptr. 142; 1970 Cal. App. LEXIS 1858

People v. Phillips

Opinion of the Court

Opinion

BROWN (Gerald), P. J.

Henry C. Phillips possessed a sawed-off shotgun, and was convicted for violating Penal Code, section 12020.

After the gun was taken from Phillips in a cafe tussle the cafe cook, Mildred Malone, asked Phillips why he had come to the cafe with a gun. He answered some people had tried to rob him that night. This answer was admissible as an admission he intended to exercise dominion and control over the weapon (Evid. Code, § 1220).

Testimony Phillips appeared to be reaching for the shotgun’s trigger was properly admitted as factual and within the witness’ personal knowledge (Evid. Code, § 702).

The crime is possessing a sawed-off shotgun, not requiring its *490criminal use (People v. Stinson, 8 Cal.App.3d 497, 501 [87 Cal.Rptr. 537]; People v. Wasley, 245 Cal.App.2d 383, 385, 386 [53 Cal.Rptr. 877]).

Judgment affirmed.

Coughlin, J., and Whelan, J., concurred.

Appellant’s petition for a hearing by the Supreme Court was denied October 9, 1970.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.