People v. S.C.

Opinion

MARGULIES, J.

Appellant S.C. was found to be a ward of the court after police discovered a switchblade knife in his pocket during a search conducted at a private residence. Appellant contends he did not violate Penal Code section 653k (hereafter section 653k), the statute governing possession of a switchblade, because he was not in a “public place or place open to the public” at the time the knife was found. Construing the language of section 653k, we conclude the statute is violated anytime a person carries a switchblade knife on his or her person, regardless of where the possession…