People v. Edwards

Opinion

RACANELLI, P. J.

Defendant was convicted by the court, sitting without a jury, on four counts of grand theft (Pen. Code, § 487, subd. 1) following denial of her claim of a clergy-penitent privilege (Evid. Code, §§ 1030- 1034). On appeal from the order granting probation, we affirmed the determination of the trial court. We granted rehearing to reconsider defendant’s claim that inculpatory statements made by her to Father Rankin, an Episcopalian priest, were in the nature of a sacramental confession or “penitential communication” privileged from disclosure. We refile our original opinion…