Golston

Appellant Edward Lee Golston was charged with, and convicted of, one count of forgery (Pen. Code, § 470) and a prior forgery conviction within the meaning of section 667.5, subdivision (b). He was sentenced to the upper term of three years in state prison, plus one year for the prior conviction. He contends on appeal that the trial court erred in (1) ruling that he could be impeached with the prior forgery conviction in the event that he testified and (2) denying his motion to bifurcate the issue of the validity of the prior from the issue of guilt. We find that the trial court erred on both issues, but that the error was nonprejudicial on the facts of this case. We therefore affirm.

The prosecution’s evidence established that Basilisa Bigornia, an accountant for the district attorney’s office, had the duty to issue checks for witness fees. Witnesses who were entitled to such checks sometimes came to her office, which was in the building across the street from the criminal courts building. The witnesses would bring with them a witness fee and expense claim form signed by the prosecuting attorney and judge. The checks were for $12 or $18, depending on the judge’s…