People v. Torgrude CA4/2

I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND2

On March 26, 2020, an informant provided a police officer information about

stolen property located at defendant’s residence. The officer spoke to defendant at the

residence, who consented to a search of the property. The officer located “a newer

Polaris Razor which had been dismantled.” He conducted a registration check of the

vehicle, which reflected that it had been reported stolen on January 19, 2019. The vehicle

report for the Razor reflected that the registered owner was a J. Brown. The legal owner

was reflected as Capital One. In all, the search of defendant’s property revealed a total of

four stolen vehicles and other stolen property.

On August 19, 2020, the People charged defendant by felony complaint with

operating a chop shop (Veh. Code, § 10801, count 1), four counts of receiving stolen

1 Defendant filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus (In re Torgrude, case No. E082847), which we ordered to be considered with this appeal. We shall resolve the petition by separate order.

2 Defendant stipulated that the complaint and police reports would provide the factual basis for his plea. 2 property (Pen. Code, § 496d, counts…