People v. Tabb
Full Opinion (html_with_citations)
*1145 Opinion
A jury convicted Edward Nathaniel Tabb, Sr., of grand theft of personal property worth over $400 (Pen. Code, 1 § 487, subd. (a); count 1), grand theft by an employee (§ 487, subd. (b)(3); count 2) and petty theft with a prior (§§ 484, 666; count 3). Tabb later admitted allegations that he had four prior prison term convictions (§§ 667.5, subd. (b), 668). The trial court sentenced Tabb to a six-year state prison term consisting of a two-year midterm on count 1 plus four consecutive one-year terms for the four prison priors. It imposed a concurrent two-year term for count 3, stayed a two-year term for count 2 under section 654, and ordered victim restitution in the amount of $39,688 (§ 1202.4, subd. (f)).
On appeal, Tabb contends (1) his conviction for grand theft in count 1 must be reversed as a lesser included offense of grand theft by an employee in count 2; (2) there is insufficient evidence to establish certain elements of theft for all of the counts; and (3) there is insufficient evidence to support the restitution award. In supplemental briefing, Tabb contends that at most he should have been convicted of a single count of grand theft because counts 1 and 2 involved the same crime charged under different theories, and the petty theft of count 3 is a lesser included offense of both counts 1 and 2. We agree that on this record, the count 3 petty theft conviction must be reversed. We also agree that because grand theft by an employee is merely a species of grand theft, and the evidence does not permit an inference that Tabbâs thefts from his employer were committed pursuant to separate and distinct intents or schemes, Tabb may be convicted of only one count of grand theft. Accordingly, we shall reverse Tabbâs convictions on counts 2 and 3, and otherwise affirm the judgment.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Between November 13, 2006, and March 31, 2007, Tabb brought materials to sell to A to Z Auto Dismantling (A to Z), a recycling company. Jack Bollina, a manager at A to Z, would take the materials in; identify, separate and weigh them; write Tabb a ticket; and send him to the office to get paid. Tabb would arrive on his bicycle with a yellow backpack and a satchel. At the time, Tabb told Bollina that he worked at NASSCO, a local ship manufacturing company. In fact, starting in mid-January 2007, Tabb worked for BAE Systems (BAE) as a runner or helper for the pipefitters. In the beginning, Tabb brought aluminum cans and bottles to A to Z. Starting on about January 24, 2007, and on a daily basis, Tabb started bringing in materials that could not be purchased on the commercial market: brass, *1146 cupronickel, 2 and occasionally copper. The materials appeared to be used or new parts from ships. When Bollina asked Tabb where he was getting the materials, Tabb said they were throwaway parts that his boss permitted him to take. Becoming suspicious about the fact Tabbâs recycling went from $10 to about $100 in materials each day, Bollina began taking pictures of the parts Tabb brought in and reporting the materials to his boss. He took a total of four pictures.
A to Zâs office manager, Sue Wilson, kept a log of all the items Tabb brought in. She calculated that A to Z paid Tabb approximately $31,098.68 for the materials he brought to them. At some point, she attempted to contact a NASSCO representative, who eventually contacted BAEâs security manager, Ed Lasater, who met with Wilson and reviewed the photographs and inventory. Lasater showed the A to Z pictures to the pipefitter superintendent, who identified them as items that would be in BAEâs pipe shop.
When Tabb later returned to A to Z with a dozen brass fittings, Sue Wilson took photographs and called Lasater, who set up a search of Tabbâs backpack. On April 4, 2007, Lasater conducted a search of Tabbâs backpack and found eight or nine brass couplings and copper wire in his possession, which Tabbâs supervisor determined belonged to the electrical department and was not trash or scrap material. Tabbâs supervisor never gave Tabb permission to take any of the items to A to Z; they were expensive flanges or pieces used for ship repair work, not scrap metal. Tabb did not perform pipe fitting at BAE, and he was never given permission by his supervisor to leave the facility with those items or other items such as cupronickel flanges, brass and butterfly valves, and other fittings. There would be no job-related reason for Tabb to have such items in his possession and there was no policy to permit employees to take those kinds of items off the premises for recycling.
A police officer called to investigate Tabbâs actions viewed a videotape of Tabb at A to Z bringing in brass pipe fittings and placing them on the scale. That video, as well as the photographs taken at A to Z, were also reviewed by Lasater and the superintendent of the pipe shop. BAEâs director of material management, Patrick Frei, reviewed A to Zâs invoice relating to Mr. Tabbâs recycling activities and estimated BAEâs loss in materials to be $39,688.
Tabb testified in his defense. He admitted taking bottles and cans to A to Z for recycling but denied taking any of the items depicted in the A to Z photographs from BAE. He claimed that the copper wire found on April 4, 2007, was his own wire.
*1147 The People charged Tabb in count 1 with grand theft of personal property, alleging that â[o]n or about and betweenâ January 16, 2007 (when Tabb began working for BAE), and April 4, 2007, Tabb unlawfully took money and personal property of BAE of a value in excess of $400. They charged him in count 2 with grand theft by an employee, alleging that on or about and between January 16, 2007, and April 4, 2007, he took personal property from his employer of a value of $400 or more in a 12-consecutive-month period. Tabb was charged in count 3 with petty theft with a prior on allegations that on April 4, 2007, he stole the property of another and had previously been convicted of specified crimes. The jury convicted Tabb on all counts.
DISCUSSION
I. Grand Theft by an Employee Is Not a Separate Offense, but a Species of Grand Theft
Tabb contends his count 1 conviction for grand theft must be reversed as a lesser included offense 3 to the count 2 offense of grand theft by an employee. In supplemental briefing, Tabb argues that all of the theft counts involve the same crime and that as a result his conviction for grand theft (count 1) and his conviction for grand theft by an employee (count 2) are the same theft charged under different theories, improperly aggregating petty thefts into a grand theft. He relies primarily on People v. Bailey (1961) 55 Cal.2d 514 [11 Cal.Rptr. 543, 360 P.2d 39] (Bailey) and People v. Packard (1982) 131 Cal.App.3d 622 [182 Cal.Rptr. 576] (Packard). The People respond that under the only relevant test â the statutory elements test â grand theft is not a lesser included offense of grand theft by an employee because one can commit the latter crime without necessarily committing grand theft. They challenge the relevance of Bailey and Packard to the question of whether Tabb can be convicted of both count 1 and count 2.
Under the facts of this case, the partiesâ arguments as to lesser included offenses are misplaced. In People v. Ortega (1998) 19 Cal.4th 686 [80 Cal.Rptr.2d 489, 968 P.2d 48] (Ortega) (overruled on another point in People v. Reed (2006) 38 Cal.4th 1224 [45 Cal.Rptr.3d 353, 137 P.3d 184]), the court in the context of deciding whether theft is a necessarily included offense of robbery pointed out it was erroneous to âtreat[] every form of theft as a separate offense.â (Ortega, at p. 696.) It explained that the âcrime of theft is divided into two degrees, grand theft and petty theft. (§ 486.) Grand *1148 theft, therefore, is not a separate offense, but simply the higher degree of the crime of theft.â {Ortega, at p. 696.) It further explained that â[s]ection 487 defines grand theft to include theft of property worth more than $400 . . . and the theft of an automobile .... Several other statutes also define certain other forms of theft to be grand theft (e.g., §§ 487a [theft of the carcass of certain animals], 487d [theft of gold dust from a mining claim]). Section 488 states: âTheft in other cases is petty theft.â â (Ortega, at p. 696.) Ortega demonstrates that grand theft by a servant, agent or employee is not a separate offense, but merely a form or species of grand theft.
Here, the jury concluded under unchallenged jury instructions 4 that as to the thefts occurring between January 16, 2007, and April 4, 2007, Tabbâs thefts from BAE were inflicted under a âsingle, overall plan or objective.â As Tabb points out, under these circumstances, he cannot be convicted of multiple grand thefts, let alone be punished for them, under different theories. This conclusion is compelled by Bailey, supra, 55 Cal.2d 514.
Bailey involved a defendantâs felony grand theft conviction â then requiring theft of property worth more than $200 (Bailey, supra, 55 Cal.2d at p. 518) â where the defendant engaged in multiple acts of petty theft with the aggregate of the petty thefts totaling more than $200. In reversing the grant of a new trial on a claim of instructional error, the court stated: âThe test applied in these cases in determining if there were separate offenses or one offense is whether the evidence discloses one general intent or separate and distinct intents. . . . [Wjhere a number of takings, each less than $200 but aggregating more than that sum, are all motivated by one intention, one general impulse, and one plan, the offense is grand theft. [Citations.] ['][] Whether a series of wrongful acts constitutes a single offense or multiple offenses depends upon the facts of each case, and a defendant may be properly convicted upon separate counts charging grand theft from the same person if the evidence shows that the offenses are separate and distinct and were not committed pursuant to one intention, one general impulse, and one plan.â (Bailey, at p. 519; see also People v. Kronemyer (1987) 189 Cal.App.3d 314, 363-364 [234 Cal.Rptr. 442] [a single criminal plan completed by a series of transactions over a period of time, even if they each require execution of separate documents to complete, constitutes one crime]; People v. Drake (1996) 42 Cal.App.4th 592, 596 [49 Cal.Rptr.2d 765] [referring to principle as the *1149 âBailey doctrineâ].) âThe single-intent-and-plan doctrine or test articulated in Bailey has been consistently applied in theft cases.â (People v. Washington (1996) 50 Cal.App.4th 568, 575 [57 Cal.Rptr.2d 774].) Application of Bailey has also generally been limited to thefts involving a single victim. (In re Arthur V. (2008) 166 Cal.App.4th 61, 66-67 [82 Cal.Rptr.3d 148]; In re David D. (1997) 52 Cal.App.4th 304, 309 [60 Cal.Rptr.2d 552].)
In Packard, supra, 131 Cal.App.3d 622, the defendant took money from his employer over a three-year period by submitting false invoices. (Id. at p. 625.) Charged with three counts of grand theft based solely on the fact that the thefts occurred over three calendar years (id. at pp. 625-626), he argued that under Bailey, he could be convicted of only one grand theft because there was âno reasonable basis in the record for concluding [he] had three separate schemes, each based neatly on calendar years, as distinguished from either one general scheme or a separate theft for each invoice and payment.â (Packard, at p. 626.) The People argued that the three counts were authorized by the language of section 487, which proscribed thefts by employees in aggregate amounts over $200 âin any 12 consecutive month period . . . .â (Packard, at p. 626.)
The appellate court rejected the Peopleâs argument: âThis provision, enacted in 1955, simply enables the prosecution, under specified conditions, to cumulate a series of petty thefts into a grand theft, without having to prove a single intent or scheme. [Citation.] The provision does not purport to authorize multiple grand theft prosecutions where a series of takings over several years is done pursuant to a single impulse and plan.â (Packard, supra, 131 Cal.App.3d at p. 626.) The court found the People failed to establish a basis for an inference that the thefts were committed pursuant to three separate yearly schemes. In the absence of any evidence supporting such an inference, the only reasonable conclusion was that the employee had a continuing plan to steal money from his employer by submitting false invoices and thus he could be convicted of only one grand theft. (Id. at pp. 626-627.)
Both Bailey and Packard demonstrate that â[w]hether there were separate independent takings or one general scheme is a question of fact based on the particular circumstances of each case.â (Packard, supra, 131 Cal.App.3d at p. 626; see Bailey, supra, 55 Cal.2d at p. 519 [the question of â[w]hether a series of wrongful acts constitutes a single offense or multiple offensesâ requires a fact-specific inquiry that depends on an evaluation of the defendantâs intent].) Such an inquiry is appropriately left to the fact finder in the first instance, and as with other such factual questions, reviewing courts will affirm the fact finderâs conclusion that the offenses are not âseparate and distinct,â and were âcommitted pursuant to one intention, one general impulse, and one planâ so long as that conclusion is supported by substantial *1150 evidence. (Bailey, supra, 55 Cal.2d at p. 519; see In re Arthur V., supra, 166 Cal.App.4th at p. 69; see also People v. Slocum (1975) 52 Cal.App.3d 867, 888-889 [125 Cal.Rptr. 442] [discussing Bailey principle in terms of requisite jury instruction].) The People do not point to, and we are unable to find, any evidence of separate and distinct intents on the part of Tabb. As in Packard, there is an absence of evidence that Tabbâs thefts were committed pursuant to different schemes or plans depending on the day or other circumstance.
The People maintain that the principles of Bailey and Packard have nothing to do with the question of whether a defendant can be convicted of both grand theft and grand theft by an employee. They argue Bailey is inapposite because the People âdid not proceed only under the theory of theft as part of an overall planâ but rather âsuch was just one possible theory.â The Peopleâs argument does not persuade us to conclude that Tabb is entitled to be convicted of multiple grand thefts arising from the same plan. Having chosen to pursue the theory that Tabbâs petty thefts should be aggregated to convict him of felony grand theft of property worth more than $400, the prosecution was entitled to obtain only one theft conviction, absent evidence that the charged offenses were separate and distinct and they were not committed pursuant to a single general impulse, intention or plan. (Bailey; supra, 55 Cal.2d at p. 519.) Under the circumstances, we reverse the count 2 offense of grand theft by an employee.
II. The Count 3 Petty Theft Conviction Must Be Reversed
Tabb contends his count 3 offense of petty theft with a prior is a lesser included offense of grand theft, requiring reversal of his count 3 conviction. The People concede that petty theft with a prior is a lesser included offense of grand theft, but argue that the count 3 offense here is not because it involved the theft that took place on April 4, 2007, a theft that assertedly had no bearing on Tabbâs grand theft that occurred over the course of different dates in which he stole well over $400 worth of materials. Thus, the People argue: âHere, appellant could have committed the grand theft of personal property between January 16[, 2007] and April 4[, 2007] as charged in Count 1, and the grand theft by employee between those same dates as charged in Count 2, without committing the petty theft on April 4[, 2007] as charged in Count 3.â
It is misplaced to argue that the People may charge Tabb with both petty and grand theft by cumulating some, but not all, of the thefts. The relevant question under Bailey, supra, 55 Cal.2d 514 and Packard, supra, 131 Cal.App.3d 622 is whether Tabbâs thefts result from the same conduct, intent or plan. In deciding this âsame conductâ issue, we may rely on the evidentiary record. (Ortega, supra, 19 Cal.4th at pp. 699-700.) As stated, we are unable to ascertain evidence in the record that would permit a reasonable jury *1151 to conclude Tabb had a separate and distinct intent or plan on April 4, 2007, than on the other days he took BAE property to A to Z. As a consequence, we reverse Tabbâs count 3 conviction for petty theft.
III. Sufficiency of the Evidence of Grand Theft Conviction
Tabb contends there is insufficient evidence to establish his theft from BAE. His argument has two components. First, he argues there is no âsolid, credible evidenceâ of an actual taking of items from BAE for purposes of counts 1 and 2. Second, he argues there is no evidence he had the requisite intent to permanently deprive BAE of property for purposes of count 3. Given our conclusion above as to count 3, we need not reach Tabbâs latter argument.
On Tabbâs challenge to the evidence supporting his grand theft conviction, we evaluate the whole record to ascertain whether there is substantial evidence to support the verdict. (People v. Cole (2004) 33 Cal.4th 1158, 1212 [17 Cal.Rptr.3d 532, 95 P.3d 811].) We â âview the evidence in a light most favorable to respondent and presume in support of the judgment the existence of every fact the trier could reasonably deduce from the evidenceâ â to determine whether a reasonable trier of fact could find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. (People v. Young (2005) 34 Cal.4th 1149, 1175 [24 Cal.Rptr.3d 112, 105 P.3d 487]; see People v. Cole, at pp. 1212-1213.) The same standard applies when the prosecution relies primarily on circumstantial evidence. (People v. Young, at p. 1175.)
As for the taking, Tabb argues that none of the various BAE employees testified that âany of the items brought to A to Z were actually the property of BAE Systems or that this property or any other property was actually taken from the company.â He points out that none of the witnesses testified âthat the objects were so unique that they had to belong to BAEâ or that, with the exception of the taking on April 4, 2007, they saw him take any of the property away from BAE.
Notwithstanding the absence of these evidentiary matters, substantial evidence was presented during the prosecutionâs case to support a finding that Tabb stole the items he brought to A to Z from BAE. The People were not required to prove Tabb took BAE materials with direct evidence. It was sufficient to present evidence that after Tabb began working at BAE, the amount and quality of materials he brought to A to Z increased; that they appeared to be ship parts that Tabb claimed were âthrow-awayâ scraps that his employer permitted him to take; that BAE personnel identified the items in the photographs taken by A to Z personnel of Tabbâs materials as items that would be in BAEâs pipe shop; and that Tabbâs time records virtually *1152 consistently showed that on the days he went to A to Z to recycle materials, he worked at BAE. Further, BAEâs security manager testified that two weeksâ worth of videotapes taken of Tabb entering and leaving the premises showed his backpack appeared to be empty when he entered, and larger, full, and much heavier when he left for lunch.
This evidence, combined with testimony from BAE managers explaining there was no reason for Tabb to have such materials and the company had no policy to allow employees to take materials for recycling, amply warrants an inference that the items Tabb brought to A to Z were materials he stole from BAE. As stated, substantial evidence includes circumstantial evidence and the reasonable inferences the evidence allows. (People v. Rodriguez (1999) 20 Cal.4th 1, 11 [82 Cal.Rptr.2d 413, 971 P.2d 618]; People v. Pierce (1979) 24 Cal.3d 199, 210 [155 Cal.Rptr. 657, 595 P.2d 91] [âCircumstantial evidence may be sufficient to connect a defendant with the crime and to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.â].) And in a case based on circumstantial evidence, our observation in People v. Palmore (2000) 79 Cal.App.4th 1290 [94 Cal.Rptr.2d 784] is germane: â âAlthough it is the duty of the jury to acquit a defendant if it finds that circumstantial evidence is susceptible of two interpretations, one of which suggests guilt and the other innocence [citations], it is the jury, not the appellate court, which must be convinced of the defendantâs guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. â âIf the circumstances reasonably justify the trier of factâs findings, the opinion of the reviewing court that the circumstances might also be reasonably reconciled with a contrary finding does not warrant a reversal of the judgment.â â â â (Palmore, at p. 1298; see also People v. Thomas (1992) 2 Cal.4th 489, 514 [7 Cal.Rptr.2d 199, 828 P.2d 101].) Thus, â âwhere the jury rejects the hypothesis pointing to innocence by its verdict, and there is evidence to support the implied finding of guilt as the more reasonable of the two hypotheses, this court is bound by the finding of the jury.â â (People v. Towler (1982) 31 Cal.3d 105, 118 [181 Cal.Rptr. 391, 641 P.2d 1253].) From the facts presented, the jury reasonably concluded Tabb was guilty of taking parts from BAE for purposes of his grand theft conviction.
IV. Sufficiency of Evidence to Support Restitution Award
Tabb contends there is insufficient evidence to support the trial courtâs award of $39,688 in victim restitution to BAE. Specifically, he argues the amount as testified by Frei, BAEâs director of material management, was not based on replacement cost but rather was an arbitrary and capricious estimate because he had âno idea of exactly what was allegedly taken from BAE.â The People respond that Tabb waived the contention by failing to object to the probation officerâs recommendation as to restitution, but that there is sufficient evidence to support the order in any event.
*1153 We review a trial courtâs restitution order for abuse of discretion. (People v. Gemelli (2008) 161 Cal.App.4th 1539, 1542 [74 Cal.Rptr.3d 901]; In re Anthony M. (2007) 156 Cal.App.4th 1010, 1016 [67 Cal.Rptr.3d 734].) The court does not abuse its discretion if there is a factual or rational basis for the amount of restitution ordered; it â âmust use a rational method that could reasonably be said to make the victim whole, and may not make an order which is arbitrary or capricious.â â (People v. Fortune (2005) 129 Cal.App.4th 790, 794 [28 Cal.Rptr.3d 872], quoting People v. Thygesen (1999) 69 Cal.App.4th 988, 992 [81 Cal.Rptr.2d 886].) Reversal is warranted where the restitution order exceeds the bounds of reason under all the circumstances being considered. (People v. Carbajal (1995) 10 Cal.4th 1114, 1121 [43 Cal.Rptr.2d 681, 899 P.2d 67].) Further âthe standard of proof at a restitution hearing is by a preponderance of the evidence, not proof beyond a reasonable doubt. [Citation.] âIf the circumstances reasonably justify the [trial courtâs] findings,â the judgment may not be overturned when the circumstances might also reasonably support a contrary finding.â (People v. Baker (2005) 126 Cal.App.4th 463, 469 [23 Cal.Rptr.3d 871]; see also People v. Gemelli, at p. 1542.) In reviewing the evidence, we do not reweigh or reinterpret it; we only determine whether there is sufficient evidence to support the inference drawn by the trier of fact. (People v. Baker, at p. 469.)
Here, we need not reach the Peopleâs forfeiture argument, for as we explain, the trial court had a rational and factual basis to award $39,688 in restitution through Freiâs testimony estimating the value of the materials taken by Tabb. Frei, who was in charge of purchasing materials for BAE, testified about the method he used to calculate the value of the items taken by Tabb to A to Z. With respect to the yellow brass, he reviewed A to Zâs pictures of the materials brought in by Tabb and picked a representative sample from BAE: a three-quarter-inch brass coupling. He ascertained the total weight of that material on the invoice kept by A to Z on Tabbâs recycling activities (starting after his employment at BAE), divided it by the weight of one of the brass couplings, and reached a figure of 1,296 as an estimate for the number of couplings taken from BAE. Frei then obtained the contract price of each coupling from the buyer ($29.28) and multiplied that by the number of items to reach a value of $37,947. With respect to the cupronickel, Frei testified he saw from A to Zâs inventory that Tabb had brought in 157 pounds and estimated its value at $10 per pound based on his experience as a materials manager and purchasing supervisor, for a total value of $1,570. He estimated the value of the scrap electrical wire to be $171. All of Freiâs testimony was received without objection. According to Freiâs estimates and calculations, the total loss to BAE was $39,688 in materials.
Contrary to Tabbâs arguments, Freiâs testimony provided a rational and logical method for calculating BAEâs replacement value of the material stolen by Tabb. While A to Z may not have photographed every single item Tabb *1154 brought in for recycling, the photographs it did take showed representative pieces that BAE managers identified at trial as parts used at BAE in pipe fitting. Given the photographic evidence tying the items to Tabb, it was not mere speculation nor was it arbitrary for Frei to ascertain the value of the couplings taken by Tabb by assessing the types of materials Tabb regularly brought to A to Z for recycling. Further, Frei was entitled to reach a value of materials based on his work experience. Tabb made no objection to Freiâs estimates or qualifications at trial.
In People v. Foster (1993) 14 Cal.App.4th 939 [18 Cal.Rptr.2d 1], superseded by statute on other grounds as stated in People v. Birkett (1999) 21 Cal.4th 226, 238-245 [87 Cal.Rptr.2d 205, 980 P.2d 912], the Fourth District, Division Two, of the Court of Appeal held a victimâs testimony of the original cost of a stolen or damaged item was competent evidence of replacement cost and sufficient to support a restitution award. (Foster, at p. 948; see also Gemelli, supra, 161 Cal.App.4th at p. 1543.) The court acknowledged that in many other contexts, an ownerâs opinion of the value of his or her property is sufficient evidence to establish value, and in the context of the relaxed procedure to determine conditions of probation âthere [was] no justification for requiring a more stringent rule . . . .â (Foster, at p. 948.) In Gemelli, the same Court of Appeal, relying on Foster, declined for policy reasons to follow other cases requiring more than âa victimâs statement of loss and a probation officerâs recommendation as prima facie evidence of value to determine an appropriate amount of restitution . . . .â (Gemelli, at p. 1543.) The court explained that the statute governing restitution does not require any particular kind of proof, but a trial court is entitled to consider the probation report and may accept a property ownerâs statement made in a probation report about the value of stolen or damaged property as prima facie evidence of loss. (Ibid.) âOnce the victim makes a prima facie showing of economic losses incurred as a result of the defendantâs criminal acts, the burden shifts to the defendant to disprove the amount of losses claimed by the victim.â (Ibid.)
Here, Tabb has not disproven BAEâs economic losses. At best, his arguments challenging Freiâs method of calculating value raise a question about the weight to be given his testimony, a matter that is not within this courtâs province on our review for substantial evidence. Having found substantial evidence in the record supporting the value of BAEâs loss, we conclude the trial court did not abuse its discretion in its restitution award.
DISPOSITION
The convictions on counts 2 and 3 are reversed. In all other respects the judgment is affirmed. The trial court is directed to prepare an amended *1155 abstract of judgment in accordance with this disposition and to send a copy of the amended abstract to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Haller, Acting P. J., and McIntyre, J., concurred.
Appellantâs petition for review by the Supreme Court was denied May 13, 2009, S171242.
All statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise indicated.
Cupronickel is an alloy of copper and nickel. (Encyclopaedia Britannica Online <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/146752/cupronickel> [as of Jan. 30, 2009].) It is referenced as âcooper nickelâ in the reporterâs transcript.
âThe terms ânecessarily included offenseâ and âlesser included offenseâ have been used interchangeably by the courts in determining whether the rule against multiple convictions applies in any given case.â (People v. Sloan (2007) 42 Cal.4th 110, 115, fn. 2 [64 Cal.Rptr.3d 137, 164 P.3d 568].)
The court instructed the jury with CALCRIM No. 1802 as follows: âIf you conclude that the defendant committed more than one theft, you must then decide if the defendant committed multiple petty thefts or a single grand theft. To prove that the defendant is guilty of a single grand theft the People must prove that: []Q 1) The defendant committed theft of property from the same owner or possessor on more than one occasion; [f] 2) The combined value of the property was over $400; AND []⥠3) The defendant obtained the property as part of a single, overall plan or objective. ['][] If you conclude that the People have failed to prove grand theft, any multiple thefts you have found proven are petty thefts.â