People v. Jefferson
Annotate this CaseOfficer Tedesco observed Jefferson placing an item—later determined to be a loaded and stolen firearm— under the driver’s seat of a gray Bentley that Jefferson had driven to the location. Jefferson then left in another car, as a passenger. At Tedesco’s request, that second car was stopped and Jefferson was found in possession of another firearm that was legally registered to him. A year later, Jefferson was observed by a different officer exiting the same Bentley and placing a bag in the trunk of that vehicle. A subsequent search, pursuant to a warrant, revealed a third firearm in that bag, also legally registered to Jefferson. Based on the stolen firearm concealed in the Bentley, Jefferson was charged with carrying a concealed firearm within a vehicle and carrying a loaded firearm in public. The court introduction of evidence of Jefferson’s possession of the legally registered firearms to prove he had control over the charged firearm and his knowledge that firearm was stolen. The court of appeal held that the court abused its discretion in failing to exclude the registered firearms evidence, but the error was harmless, except with respect to true findings on special allegations that Jefferson had reasonable cause to believe the charged firearm was stolen.
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