People v. Franco

**1235 *434 Proposition 47, a recent initiative measure, generally makes specified types of forgery misdemeanors if the "value" of the forged instrument does not exceed $950. ( Pen. Code, § 473, subd. (b).) 1 We must decide how to determine the value of a forged check. Because forgery requires the intent to defraud, and the stated value of the forged check indicates the severity of the intended fraud, we conclude that when the check contains a stated value, that amount is its value for this purpose. We affirm the judgment of the Court of Appeal in this case, which reached a similar conclusion,…