The People v. Naranjo CA4/2

I. FACTS

On June 30, 2010, defendant willfully and unlawfully planted, cultivated,

harvested, dried, and processed marijuana.

On November 18, 2010, Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputy Thomas Davis

searched defendant’s home in Lake Elsinore and found a black mechanic’s-type tool bag

on the top of the bed. The bag contained metal knuckles, along with some knives,

including two “throwing knives” and Swiss Army knives. The deputy testified that the

metal knuckles were “kind of . . . decorative” because there were wings on them. They

also had a small, concealable two-inch blade on the side. Defendant told the deputy they

were a gift and he thought it was legal to possess them.

All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise indicated.

3 Former section 12020, subdivision (a)(1) was renumbered as section 21810 operative January 1, 2012. (Stats. 2010, ch. 711, § 6.)

II. PHOTOGRAPHS DEPICTING KNIVES FOUND TOGETHER

WITH THE METAL KNUCKLES

Defendant contends the trial court erred by allowing photographic evidence of two

large knives that were found with the metal knuckles.

A. Further Background Information

The prosecution offered four photographs…