Crooks

Defendant, a prostitute, was convicted of grand theft. The alleged victim was a client whom we shall call Norton. Trial was to the court.

The only question of substance involved in this appeal is the propriety of the admission of certain expert testimony. These are the facts: In the afternoon of January 11, 1965, Norton drove down Western Avenue, alone in his automobile. He saw defendant at a street corner. She motioned him to stop and asked him whether he would like to have a good time. A price of $10 was agreed on. She got into the car and directed him to a house which was in the back of another house. The route which she made Norton take was circuitous. At one point he asked her whether she was “being safe” so that no one would follow them and she said: “Yes.” When they arrived at the house defendant made Norton remove his clothes, which included a money belt. It contained about $420. He put the money belt in his pants pocket.

At that point someone knocked on the door, defendant went to the door, opened it a crack to stick her head out and said something, which Norton could not hear, to the person who was outside.

Defendant removed her clothes except her bra and panties and…