People v. Nguyen

Opinion

GEORGE, C. J.

Relying upon its opinion in People v. Mai (1994) 22 Cal.App.4th 117 [27 Cal.Rptr.2d 141], the Court of Appeal held that a robbery can be committed even if the victim did not possess the property that was taken by force or fear. We disapprove the decision in Mai and reverse, in part, the judgment of the Court of Appeal in the present case.

I

Around 5:30 p.m. on February 10, 1995, a number of employees were celebrating a coworker’s birthday in the lunchroom of G&G Assemblers, a computer assembly business located in Huntington Beach. Also present was Jose Jiminez, the husband…