CALCRIM No. 1926. Possession of Counterfeit Government, Public, or Corporate Seal (Pen. Code, § 472)

Judicial Council of California Criminal Jury Instructions (2023 edition)

Download PDF
Bg54a
1926.Possession of Counterfeit Government, Public, or
Corporate Seal (Pen. Code, § 472)
The defendant is charged [in Count ] with possessing a counterfeit
(government/public/corporate) seal [or an impression of a counterfeit
(government/public/corporate) seal] [in violation of Penal Code section
472].
To prove that the defendant is guilty of this crime, the People must
prove that:
1. The defendant possessed a counterfeit seal [or an impression of a
counterfeit seal] of (this state[,]/ [or] a legally authorized public
officer[,]/ [or] a court of record[,]/ [or] a corporation[,]/ [or] a
public seal legally authorized or recognized by any state,
government, or country);
2. The defendant knew that the seal [or impression of the seal] was
counterfeit;
3. The defendant willfully concealed the fact that the seal [or
impression of the seal] was counterfeit;
AND
4. When the defendant possessed the seal [or impression of the seal],
(he/she) intended to defraud.
Someone commits an act willfully when he or she does it willingly or on
purpose.
Someone intends to defraud if he or she intends to deceive another
person either to cause a loss of (money[,]/ [or] goods[,]/ [or] services[,]/
[or] something [else] of value), or to cause damage to, a legal, financial,
or property right.
[For the purpose of this instruction, a person includes (a governmental
agency/a corporation/a business/an association/the body politic).]
[It is not necessary that anyone actually be defrauded or actually suffer
a financial, legal, or property loss as a result of the defendant’s acts.]
[Two or more people may possess something at the same time.]
[A person does not have to actually hold or touch something to possess
it. It is enough if the person has (control over it/ [or] the right to control
it), either personally or through another person.]
[The People allege that the defendant possessed the following items:
<insert description of each seal or impression when multiple
items alleged>. You may not find the defendant guilty unless you all
32
Bg54b
agree that the People have proved that the defendant possessed at least
one of these items and you all agree on which item (he/she) possessed.]
New January 2006
BENCH NOTES
Instructional Duty
The court has a sua sponte duty to give this instruction defining the elements of the
crime.
If the prosecution alleges under a single count that the defendant possessed multiple
forged items, the court has a sua sponte duty to instruct on unanimity. (See People
v. Sutherland (1993) 17 Cal.App.4th 602, 619, fn. 6 [21 Cal.Rptr.2d 752].) Give the
last bracketed paragraph, inserting the items alleged. (See also Bench Notes to
CALCRIM No. 3500, Unanimity, discussing when instruction on unanimity is and is
not required.)
Give the bracketed sentence that begins with “For the purpose of this instruction” if
the evidence shows an intent to defraud an entity or association rather than a natural
person. (Pen. Code, § 8.)
Give the bracketed sentence that begins with “It is not necessary” if the evidence
shows that the defendant did not succeed in defrauding anyone. (People v. Morgan
(1956) 140 Cal.App.2d 796, 801 [296 P.2d 75].)
AUTHORITY
Elements. Pen. Code, § 472.
Intent to Defraud. People v. Pugh (2002) 104 Cal.App.4th 66, 72 [127
Cal.Rptr.2d 770]; People v. Gaul-Alexander (1995) 32 Cal.App.4th 735, 745 [38
Cal.Rptr.2d 176].
Intent to Defraud Entity. Pen. Code, § 8.
Unanimity Instruction If Multiple Items. People v. Sutherland (1993) 17
Cal.App.4th 602, 619, fn. 6 [21 Cal.Rptr.2d 752].
LESSER INCLUDED OFFENSES
Attempted Possession of Counterfeit Seal. Pen. Code, §§ 664, 472.
SECONDARY SOURCES
2 Witkin & Epstein, California Criminal Law (4th ed. 2012) Crimes Against
Property, §§ 199-200.
4 Millman, Sevilla & Tarlow, California Criminal Defense Practice, Ch. 85,
Submission to Jury and Verdict, § 85.02[2][a][i] (Matthew Bender).
6 Millman, Sevilla & Tarlow, California Criminal Defense Practice, Ch. 143, Crimes
Against Property, § 143.04[1] (Matthew Bender).
1927-1929. Reserved for Future Use
CRIMINAL WRITINGS AND FRAUD CALCRIM No. 1926
33

© Judicial Council of California.