People v. Wells

Opinion

HERNDON, J.

Defendant Jesse Dale Wells appeals from the judgment entered upon the verdict of a jury convicting him of child molestation (Pen. Code, § 288), and of assault with intent to rape (Pen. Code, § 220). Defendant was charged with three prior felony convictions: (1) burglary in 1949; (2) burglary and grand theft in 1944; and (3) burglary in 1960. He admitted the first two of the charged priors and the jury found the third to be true.

On the afternoon of September 26, 1967, Teresa, a 10-year-old girl, was walking home from school in Santa Maria by a short cut along the railroad…