People v. Williams

Defendant Darrell Williams was found guilty by a jury’s verdicts of receiving stolen property (Pen. Code, § 496) and, having previously been convicted of a felony, with possession of a concealable firearm (Pen. Code, § 12021). He had admitted three prior felony convictions. The appeal is from the judgment entered upon the jury’s verdicts.

No contention is made of a lack of substantial evidence of Williams’ guilt of receiving stolen property. Nor could he reasonably do so for, among other things, he was admittedly in possession of a handgun and bullets stolen in a recent burglary.

For reasons as will presently appear we affirm the judgment.

Upon a so-called Beagle (People v. Beagle (1972) 6 Cal.3d 441 [ 99 Cal.Rptr. 313 , 492 P.2d 1 ]) motion, Williams had sought to suppress evidence of his prior felony convictions for purposes of impeachment should he become a witness on his own behalf. The superior court denied the motion, stating: “Nothing within [the state’s Constitution, article I] section 28, subdivision (d), could affect section 352. Thus, subdivision (f), dealing with the use of priors, is not included within this limitation. Consequently, section 352 cannot…