People of Michigan v. Herbert Dewey Baldridge ( 2017 )

STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, UNPUBLISHED
October 31, 2017
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v No. 333435
Wayne Circuit Court
HERBERT DEWEY BALDRIDGE, LC No. 15-007271-01-FC
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: BORRELLO, P.J., and MURPHY and RONAYNE KRAUSE, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Defendant appeals as of right his jury conviction of second-degree murder, MCL
750.317. The trial court sentenced defendant as a second-offense habitual offender, MCL
769.10, to 300 to 600 months’ imprisonment. For the reasons set forth in this opinion, we affirm
defendant’s conviction, but vacate his sentence and remand for resentencing.
I. BACKGROUND
This appeal arises from the death of Jamiall Jameson following an altercation at Liberty
Liquor Store I in Detroit, Michigan, on June 1, 2013. Billy Baldridge, (Baldridge) defendant’s
cousin, testified that on June 1, 2013, he, defendant, and two other individuals, known as
“Derrell” and “Little Lamont,” drove to the liquor store to buy cigarettes and liquor. According
to Baldridge, he walked into the liquor store first and saw the victim. Defendant and Derrell
entered the store behind Baldrige. When Baldridge turned around, defendant and the victim
were fighting and Baldridge jumped in and threw punches. Based on a surveillance video of the
altercation, Baldridge agreed that it appeared that defendant delivered the first punch. Baldridge
testified that the pair continued to throw punches at the victim until the store owner said that he
was going to call the police, precipitating Baldridge and defendant to leave the store. Baldridge
testified that he and defendant went in different directions following the altercation with the
victim.
Latif Danyal, the owner of the liquor store, testified that he was working in the store with
his cashier on the evening of June 1, 2013. Although he did not personally witness the
altercation, he found a piece of a knife, approximately 4 inches long, on the floor. Not knowing
that the knife had anything to do with the altercation, he picked it up and threw it away so no one
would step on it.
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Following a call from central dispatch at approximately 10:00 p.m., Officer McLean of
the Detroit Police Department and his partner searched vacant lots for approximately 10 minutes
before they found the victim who was yelling and raising his hand. The victim had multiple head
wounds and his white T-shirt was completely covered in blood. It appeared to McLean that the
victim had stab wounds to his stomach. Emergency Medical Services arrived and took the
victim to the hospital where he later died, the autopsy revealing that the victim had three stab
wounds—the fatal wound to his left chest that penetrated the right ventricle of his heart, one to
his right upper abdomen that penetrated his liver, and one in the middle of his abdomen. The
coroner ruled the cause of death homicide.
Police officers began to retrace the victim’s steps leading them eventually back to the
party store where the altercation occurred. There they found a knife blade and knife handle in
the dumpster at the party store. The knife had a 4-inch wooden handle and a 4-inch blade.
Forensic evidence revealed that there were at least three donors of DNA on the knife handle,
however police were unable to make any conclusions regarding the source of the DNA. As to
the knife blade, forensic examiners testified that the victim’s DNA matched the blood on the
knife blade.
After the prosecution rested its case, defendant moved for a directed verdict, arguing in
pertinent part that with regard to the first-degree murder charge, there was no evidence of
premeditation or deliberation. Defendant argued that the incident took place in a heat of passion,
and no planning was involved. The prosecution argued that the best evidence of premeditation
was the video, which showed that defendant immediately attacked the victim when he entered
the store and that the victim was holding only a plastic bottle and a bag. The prosecution also
argued that a rational trier of fact could find that the attack was planned based on the video and
the evidence of a dispute between defendant and the victim. The trial court denied the motion,
finding that it was for the jury to decide whether there was sufficient evidence of premeditation
and deliberation.
Following denial of his motion for a directed verdict, defendant testified on his own
behalf. During his testimony it was revealed that defendant had left the state following the
altercation to help support his girlfriend and child. He was apprehended in On July 31, 2015 in
Arlington Texas and was transported back to Michigan.
At trial, defendant testified that he did not know that the victim was at the store and he
was not carrying a knife. However, as defendant approached the door, he saw the victim and it
appeared that he had something in his hand. Defendant stated he was scared because the victim,
in August 2012 had previously punched defendant, causing him to receive 10 stitches in his chin.
According to defendant, after punching defendant the victim left in his car, drove at people in the
street, then ran into a tree, got out of his car, started running, and shot at defendant and others
with a gun. On a subsequent occasion, the victim had a gun and, upon seeing defendant, said, “I
got a beef with him, I’m going to get rid of him.”
When the victim raised his hand in the liquor store, defendant saw the item in his hand
shining and believed it was a gun. Fearing for his safety, defendant testified he tried to knock the
item out of the victim’s hand and they started fighting. Defendant had recently had a traumatic
brain injury and a brain tumor, so he feared receiving a blow to his head. During the struggle,
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defendant grabbed something from the victim’s hand and swung, however defendant testified
that he did not know that it was a knife and he could not recall stabbing the victim.
During trial, defendant requested that the trial court give M Crim JI 16.9, which is
“Voluntary Manslaughter as a Lesser Included Offense of Murder.” The prosecution objected,
arguing that there was no evidence of provocation because the victim made no gesture or
threatening movement. Defendant argued that he believed the victim raised his hand and that
there was something in the victim’s hand. Defendant added that the video showed that the
stabbing occurred during the fight when there was no time for blood to cool. The trial court
denied defendant’s request to give the instruction and the jury found defendant guilty of the
lesser-included offense of second-degree murder.
On May 16, 2016, defendant’s sentencing hearing was held wherein the prosecution
argued that Offense Variable (OV) 5, psychological injury to a member of the victim’s family,
should be scored at 15 points based on the testimony of the victim’s mother. Defendant argued
that OV 5 was correctly scored at 0 points because there was no evidence of any psychological
injury. The trial court found that the victim’s mother was very tearful on the stand and had to
listen to the call to the 911 operator. The trial court scored OV 5 at 15 points, bringing
defendant’s total OV score to 105 points, which placed him in the C-III cell of the sentencing
grid for Class M2 offenses. See, MCL 777.61. His minimum sentence guidelines range, as a
second-offense habitual offender, was 225 to 468 months or life. The trial court sentenced
defendant to 300 to 600 months’ imprisonment and this appeal ensued.
I. ANALYSIS
A. DIRECTED VERDICT
Defendant argues that the trial court erred by denying his motion for a directed verdict.
Generally, “[i]n reviewing a trial court’s decision regarding a motion for directed verdict, we
review the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution to determine whether a rational
trier of fact could have found that the essential elements of the crime were proved beyond a
reasonable doubt.” People v Schrauben, 314 Mich App 181, 198; 886 NW2d 173 (2016)
(citation and quotation marks omitted). In this case, however, it is unnecessary to review the
evidence. Because defendant was acquitted of first-degree murder, and he does not argue that it
was improper for the jury to consider the lesser offense of second-degree murder, defendant is
not entitled to relief.
In People v Graves, 458 Mich 476, 486-487; 581 NW2d 229 (1998), our Supreme Court
stated:
[A] defendant has no room to complain when he is acquitted of a charge that is
improperly submitted to the jury, as long as the defendant is actually convicted of
a charge that was properly submitted to the jury. Such a result squares with
respect for juries. Further, not to adopt this view is to countenance a misuse of
judicial resources by automatically reversing an otherwise valid conviction.
In People v Moorer, 246 Mich App 680, 682; 635 NW2d 47 (2001), the defendant argued that
the trial court erred by denying his motion for a directed verdict of acquittal of a first-degree
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murder charge. This Court held that because the defendant did not dispute that the charge of
second-degree murder was properly submitted to the jury, “any error arising from the submission
of the first-degree murder charge to the jury was rendered harmless when the jury acquitted
defendant of that charge.” Id. at 682-683.
Nonetheless, the Court in Graves held that if “sufficiently persuasive indicia of jury
compromise are present, reversal may be warranted in certain circumstances.” Graves, 458 Mich
at 487-488. This Court stated that a different result may be reached:
where the jury is presented an erroneous instruction, and: 1) logically
irreconcilable verdicts are returned, or 2) there is clear record evidence of
unresolved jury confusion, or 3) as the prosecution concedes in the alternative,
where a defendant is convicted of the next-lesser offense after the improperly
submitted greater offense. [Id. at 488.]
In this case, defendant does dispute that the charge of second-degree murder, of which he
was convicted, was properly submitted to the jury. Accordingly, any error arising from the
submission of the first-degree murder charge to the jury was rendered harmless when the jury
acquitted him of that charge. See Moorer, 246 Mich App at 682-683. Nonetheless, it is
necessary to determine whether there was “sufficiently persuasive indicia of jury compromise.”
Graves, 458 Mich at 487. The first two situations identified in Graves are not presented here
because the verdict was not logically inconsistent and there is no record evidence of unresolved
jury confusion. See id. at 488. The jury did, however, convict defendant of second-degree
murder, which is the next-lesser offense of the allegedly improperly submitted greater offense of
first-degree murder. See id.On appeal, we cannot glean from defendant’s arguments facts which if true would be
legally sufficient evidence of jury compromise. While under Graves, 458 Mich at 488, the fact
that a defendant is convicted of a next-lesser offense may indicate jury compromise, the mere
fact that defendant was convicted of a next-lesser offense does not automatically indicate jury
compromise. In this case, the trial court instructed the jury that its verdict must be unanimous
and “represent the individual considered judgment of each juror.” It also instructed the jurors not
to “give up an honest opinion about the case because other jurors disagree with you or just for
the sake of reaching a verdict.” Jurors are presumed to follow their instructions. Id. at 486.
Defendant does not challenge the sufficiency of the evidence for his second-degree murder
conviction, or explain how it was the result of jury compromise. On this record there exists only
defendant’s conviction of the next-lesser offense and no other evidence of jury compromise.
Accordingly, any error in the submission of the first-degree premeditated murder charge to the
jury was harmless and no relief is warranted.1
B. JURY INSTRUCTION ON VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER
1
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Next, defendant argues that the trial court erred by denying his request for an instruction
on voluntary manslaughter. In People v Mitchell, 301 Mich App 282, 286; 835 NW2d 615
(2013), this Court stated:
We review a claim of instructional error involving a question of law de
novo, but we review the trial court’s determination that a jury instruction applies
to the facts of the case for an abuse of discretion. However, not all instructional
error warrants reversal. Reversal is warranted only if after an examination of the
entire cause, it shall affirmatively appear that it is more probable than not that the
error was outcome determinative. [T]he effect of the error is evaluated by
assessing it in the context of the untainted evidence to determine whether it is
more probable than not that a different outcome would have resulted without the
error. The verdict is undermined when the evidence clearly supports the
requested lesser included instruction that was not given to the jury. [Citations and
quotation marks omitted.]
This Court further stated:
When a defendant is charged with murder, the trial court must give an
instruction on voluntary manslaughter if the instruction is supported by a rational
view of the evidence. To prove that a defendant committed voluntary
manslaughter, one must show that the defendant killed in the heat of passion, the
passion was caused by adequate provocation, and there was not a lapse of time
during which a reasonable person could control his passions. However,
provocation is not an element of voluntary manslaughter; rather, it is a
circumstance that negates the presence of malice. . . . [T]he degree of
provocation required to mitigate a killing from murder to manslaughter is that
which causes the defendant to act out of passion rather than reason. Further, [i]n
order for the provocation to be adequate it must be that which would cause a
reasonable person to lose control. Whether the provocation was reasonable is a
question of fact; but if no reasonable jury could find that the provocation was
adequate, the court may exclude evidence of the provocation. [Id. at 286-287
(citations and quotation marks omitted; alterations in original.]
To be entitled to an instruction on voluntary manslaughter, “there must be sufficient evidence to
allow a rational trier of fact to find adequate provocation by a preponderance of the evidence.”
People v Darden, 230 Mich App 597, 604; 585 NW2d 27 (1998).
In Mitchell, 301 Mich App at 287-288, this Court concluded that the trial court abused its
discretion by failing to give a voluntary manslaughter instruction where there was evidence to
support a finding of provocation, including that the victim owed the defendant a small sum of
money, the defendant had been threatening and harassing the victim, the victim said he was
going to “beat [defendant’s] ass,” and the victim was the initial aggressor by using profanity and
striking the defendant with a baseball bat. In Darden, 230 Mich App at 604, this Court similarly
found sufficient evidence to support a finding of adequate provocation where the defendant shot
at two men who were stealing a transmission from his yard, a verbal confrontation occurred
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between the defendant and the two men, and the defendant thought that one of the men had a
gun.
In this case, defendant has failed to introduce sufficient evidence of provocation such that
it would negate the killing. 301 Mich App at 286. Although there was evidence that the victim
had been violent toward defendant in the past, there was no indication that the victim said
anything or made any movement toward defendant. There was no evidence that the victim even
saw defendant entering the store. The sight of an even previously-violent person holding a
weapon, without more, would not cause a reasonable person to lose control of his passions. See
Mitchell, 301 Mich App at 286-287. Further, defendant’s fear of receiving a blow to his head
and his testimony that he had a panic attack cannot be considered. See People v Sullivan, 231
Mich App 510, 519-520; 586 NW2d 578 (1998) (“by definition, any special traits of the
particular defendant cannot be considered[;] [t]he fact that defendant may have had some mental
disturbance is not relevant to the question of provocation”), aff’d 461 Mich 992 (2000). Hence,
our review of the record presented in this matter leads us to conclude that the evidence presented
did not allow a rational trier of fact to find adequate provocation by a preponderance of the
evidence. See Darden, 230 Mich App at 604. Accordingly, defendant is not entitled to relief on
this issue.
Defendant’s claim that a voluntary manslaughter instruction should have been given in
addition to the self-defense instruction because the instruction for self-defense was based on the
trial court’s finding that defendant stabbed the victim in a heat of passion is also without merit.
The trial court instructed the jury that in order to find that defendant acted in self-defense,
defendant “must have honestly and reasonably believed that he was in danger of being killed or
seriously injured,” defendant “must have been afraid of death or serious physical injury,” and
defendant “must have honestly and reasonably believed that what he did was immediately
necessary.” Contrary to defendant’s assertion, the defense of self-defense does not require a
finding that defendant acted in a heat of passion, see MCL 780.972(1)(a), and the trial court did
not so instruct the jury. The trial court’s decision to instruct the jury on self-defense does not
establish that it erred by refusing to give an instruction for voluntary manslaughter.
Even if we were to conclude that the trial court erred by refusing to instruct the jury on
voluntary manslaughter, reversal is only required if “the error undermined the reliability of the
jury verdict.” Mitchell, 301 Mich App at 288-289. In Mitchell, the jury made an inquiry
regarding whether it had any option other than convicting the defendant of first-degree murder or
second-degree murder or finding the defendant not guilty strongly suggested that it would have
convicted the defendant of a lesser charge if it had been given the opportunity to do so. Id. at
289. That the jury made such an inquiry seemingly provided the basis on which this Court
granted the requested relief in Mitchell. Here, there was no indication that the jury would have
convicted defendant of a lesser charge and, in fact, the jury rejected defendant’s claim of self-
defense. Accordingly, even presuming instructional error by the trial court in this matter, we
conclude that any error was not outcome determinative. See id.
C. OFFENSE VARIABLE 5
Defendant next argues that the trial court erred by scoring offense variable (OV) 5 of the
sentencing guidelines at 15 points.
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In People v Calloway, ___ Mich ___, ___; 895 NW2d 165 (2017) (Docket Nos. 153636;
153751);2 slip op at 4, the Michigan Supreme Court stated:
A trial court’s factual determinations must be supported by a
preponderance of the evidence and are reviewed for clear error. Whether the
facts, as found, are adequate to satisfy the scoring conditions prescribed by
statute, i.e., the application of the facts to the law, is a question of statutory
interpretation, which an appellate court reviews de novo. [Citations and quotation
marks omitted.]
“OV 5 is scored when a homicide or homicide-related crime causes psychological injury
to a member of a victim’s family.” Calloway, ___ Mich at ___; slip op at 4. MCL 777.35
governs OV 5 and provides:
(1) Offense variable 5 is psychological injury to a member of a victim’s
family. Score offense variable 5 by determining which of the following apply and
by assigning the number of points attributable to the one that has the highest
number of points:
(a) Serious psychological injury requiring professional treatment occurred
to a victim’s family ................................................................................... 15 points
(b) No serious psychological injury requiring professional treatment
occurred to a victim’s family ...................................................................... 0 points
(2) Score 15 points if the serious psychological injury to the victim’s
family may require professional treatment. In making this determination, the fact
that treatment has not been sought is not conclusive.
The Court in Calloway stated that “a trial court properly assesses 15 points for OV 5 when
‘[s]erious psychological injury requiring professional treatment occurred to a victim’s family.’ ”
Calloway, ___ Mich at ___; slip op at 5 (citation omitted). The Court explained:
While MCL 777.35(1)(a) requires the injury to be one “requiring professional
treatment,” the statute does not require proof that a victim’s family member has
already sought or received, or intends to seek or receive, professional treatment.
The second subsection makes this clear by stating that “the fact that treatment has
not been sought is not conclusive,” and by specifying that a 15–point score is
appropriate if the injury “may require professional treatment.”
Although this threshold may seem low, trial courts must bear in mind that
OV 5 requires a “serious psychological injury.” In this context, “serious” is
2
The State, which filed its brief on September 29, 2017, did not cite our Supreme Court’s
decision in Calloway.
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defined as “having important or dangerous possible consequences.” Thus, in
scoring OV 5, a trial court should consider the severity of the injury and the
consequences that flow from it, including how the injury has manifested itself
before sentencing and is likely to do so in the future, and whether professional
treatment has been sought or received. However, even when professional
treatment has not yet been sought or received, points are properly assessed for OV
5 when a victim’s family member has suffered a serious psychological injury that
may require professional treatment in the future. [Id. at ___; slip op at 6-7
(citations omitted).]
The Court rejected this Court’s holding that “in order to properly assess points for OV 5 in the
absence of evidence that a victim’s family member sought or received treatment, there must at
least be evidence that a victim’s family member had a present intention to seek or receive
professional treatment.” Id. at ___; slip op at 7.
In Calloway, the Court held that the trial court correctly concluded that two members of
the victim’s family suffered serious psychological injuries that may require professional
treatment in the future. Calloway, ___ Mich at ___; slip op at 9-10. The Court concluded that
there was ample evidence of the seriousness of the injuries and their long-lasting effects to
support a 15-point score where (1) the victim’s stepfather stated that the victim’s mother was
having a difficult time, (2) the victim’s stepfather said that the incident had a “tremendous,
traumatic effect on him and his family,” (3) the victim’s father stated that his family felt horrible,
noted that the victim had a four-month-old baby, and expressed his pain, and (4) the victim’s
stepfather stated that he had thought about the incident every day and would probably think
about it every day for the rest of his life. Id. at ___; slip op at 9-10.
Here, the trial court did not have the benefit of our Supreme Court’s decision in Calloway
when rendering its decision. Additionally, it appears that the trial court made its decision on how
to score OV 5 prior to hearing from the victim’s mother, Ms. Williams, whose testimony
provides the possible basis for scoring OV 5. Hence, in order to ensure that the trial court has an
opportunity to properly consider Calloway and all of the pertinent testimony adduced both
during trial and at the sentencing hearing, we vacate the trial court’s prior scoring of OV 5 and
remand for a new determination as to the proper score for OV 5.
By way of assistance to the trial court, on remand, we point out the salient factors which
the trial court may take into consideration. In People v Steanhouse, 313 Mich App 1, 39; 880
NW2d 297 (2015), rev’d in part on other grounds __ Mich __ (2017), this Court indicated that
for purposes of scoring OV 5, it is proper to weigh and consider “[t]he trial court’s opportunity to
observe the demeanor of [the victim’s family] during their testimony[,]” along with victim
impact statements made at a sentencing hearing, as well as the traumatic nature of the
circumstances surrounding the offense. Under OV 5, a court is directed to “[s]core 15 points if
the serious psychological injury to the victim's family may require professional treatment.”
MCL 777.35(2). However, “[i]n making this determination, the fact that treatment has not been
sought is not conclusive.” Id.Assuming for the sake of argument that the traumatic nature of the 911 recording and Ms.
Williams’s very tearful trial testimony were inadequate to support the assessment of 15 points for
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OV 5, on remand, the trial court may also take into consideration Ms. Williams’s statement at the
sentencing hearing. If her statement and the other accompanying evidence plainly reveals
serious psychological injury, impacting her health and her ability to sleep, eat, function, and
carry on existing familial relationships, the trial court should assign the correct score to OV 5 to
reflect those findings.
II. DEFENDANT’S STANDARD 4 BRIEF
A. BINDOVER ON FIRST-DEGREE MURDER
In a pro se brief filed pursuant to Administrative Order 2004-6, Standard 4, defendant
argues that the district court abused its discretion by binding him over on the charge of first-
degree premeditated murder.3 Defendant did not preserve this issue by raising it in a motion to
quash in the circuit court. People v Noble, 238 Mich App 647, 658; 608 NW2d 123 (1999).
Therefore, this Court’s “review is limited to determining whether defendant has demonstrated a
plain error that affected substantial rights.” Id.In Moorer, 246 Mich App at 682, this Court held that where the defendant was acquitted
of first-degree murder and failed to dispute that the jury verdict of second-degree murder was
supported by the evidence, any error in the sufficiency of the proofs for first-degree murder at
the preliminary examination was considered harmless. Similarly, defendant was acquitted of the
first-degree murder charge and he does not dispute that the jury verdict of second-degree murder
was supported by the evidence. Therefore, any error in binding defendant over for trial on the
charge of first-degree premediated murder did not affect defendant’s substantial rights.
B. THE VICTIM’S SPECIFIC INSTANCES OF VIOLENCE
Defendant also argues that the trial court abused its discretion by refusing to allow him to
present witness testimony regarding the victim’s specific instances of violence, thereby depriving
him of his constitutional right to present a defense.
“To preserve an evidentiary issue for review, a party opposing the admission of evidence
must object at trial and specify the same ground for objection that it asserts on appeal.” People v
Aldrich, 246 Mich App 101, 113; 631 NW2d 67 (2001). At trial, defendant attempted to call
Tomika Knight to testify regarding specific instances of violence by the victim in order to show
defendant’s state of mind, but the trial court precluded the testimony. Thus, defendant’s
evidentiary challenge is preserved. Defendant did not, however, argue that he was denied the
constitutional right to present a defense. Therefore, his constitutional claim is unpreserved.
This Court reviews a trial court’s decision to exclude evidence for an abuse of discretion
and its preliminary legal questions regarding admissibility de novo. People v Bass, 317 Mich
App 241, 255; 893 NW2d 140 (2016). “An abuse of discretion occurs when the court chooses an
outcome that falls outside the range of reasonable and principled outcomes. [A] trial court’s
3
In its brief on appeal, the State did not address the issues raised in defendant’s Standard 4 brief.
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decision on a close evidentiary question ordinarily cannot be an abuse of discretion.” Id. at 256(citations and quotation marks omitted; alteration in original). “Unpreserved constitutional
issues are reviewed for plain error affecting a defendant’s substantial rights. An error is plain if
it is clear or obvious. An error affected a defendant’s substantial rights if it affected the outcome
of the lower court proceedings.” People v Bosca, 310 Mich App 1, 47; 871 NW2d 307 (2015)
(citations omitted).
In People v Orlewicz, 293 Mich App 96, 104; 809 NW2d 194 (2011), remanded on other
grounds by 493 Mich 916 (2012), this Court explained:
Evidence concerning the aggressive character of a homicide victim, even
if the defendant was unaware of it at the time, is admissible in furtherance of a
self-defense claim to prove that the victim was the probable aggressor. MRE
404(a)(2); People v Harris, 458 Mich 310, 315-316; 583 NW2d 680 (1998).
However, this type of character evidence may only be admitted in the form of
reputation testimony, not by testimony regarding specific instances of conduct
unless the testimony regarding those instances is independently admissible for
some other reason or where character is an essential element of a claim or
defense. MRE 405; Harris, 458 Mich at 318-319. The victim’s character is not
an essential element of defendant’s self-defense claim.
In Harris, 458 Mich at 319, the Court relied on this Court’s decision in People v Cooper, 73
Mich App 660; 252 NW2d 564 (1977), as “indicating that specific acts may not be shown to
establish that the victim was the aggressor; specific acts, however, may be shown to establish
reasonable apprehension of harm.”
During trial, the prosecution filed a motion to preclude defendant from calling witnesses
to testify regarding specific acts of the victim under MRE 404(a)(2) and MRE 405(b).
Defendant intended to present the testimony of Knight, who would testify regarding an act of
violence by the victim in order to show defendant’s state of mind and show that the victim was
dangerous. According to defense counsel, Knight would have testified that the victim struck
defendant, got into his car and drove toward defendant, and then fired shots from a pistol. The
prosecution argued that a witness could testify regarding reputation and opinion, but only
defendant could testify regarding specific instances of conduct. The trial court would not allow
the testimony about the incident unless it came from defendant himself.
Defendant argues that the victim’s specific instances of violence should have been
admitted to show his reasonable apprehension of harm. To the extent that defendant sought to
show his state of mind, or his reasonable apprehension of harm, the evidence was admissible.
Harris, 458 Mich at 319. Accordingly, the trial court abused its discretion by refusing to admit
the evidence for this purpose. Bass, 317 Mich App at 255.
Having found that the trial court in not admitting the testimony, we next turn to whether
the error requires reversal. “[A] preserved, nonconstitutional error is not a ground for reversal
unless after an examination of the entire cause, it shall affirmatively appear that it is more
probable than not that the error was outcome determinative.” People v Lukity, 460 Mich 484,
496; 596 NW2d 607 (1999) (citation and quotation marks omitted). In this case, defendant
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testified on his own behalf at trial and described the exact acts of violence about which Knight
would have testified. As previously stated, defendant testified that in August 2012, the victim
punched him, causing him to receive 10 stitches in his chin. He testified that the victim then
attempted to hit people with his vehicle, and then fired shots at defendant and others with a gun.
Defendant also testified regarding additional acts of violence, including that he saw the victim
with a gun on a subsequent occasion, and upon seeing defendant, the victim said, “I got a beef
with him, I’m going to get rid of him.” Defendant further testified that he had seen the victim
with a gun on at least seven occasions. Given defendant’s testimony regarding the victim’s acts
of violence, we cannot ascertain how the trial court’s refusal to allow Knight’s testimony
affected the outcome of the trial. The complained of testimony was admitted, albeit by the
defendant rather than Knight, however the jury heard all of the testimony that Knight would have
given. Thus, reversal is not warranted. For the same reason, the trial court’s refusal to allow
defendant to call Knight in support of his defense did not affect defendant’s substantial rights.
See Bosca, 310 Mich App at 47.4
C. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL
Lastly, defendant argues that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to negotiate a more
favorable plea offer. Because defendant failed to raise this claim in a motion for a new trial or
request for an evidentiary hearing in the trial court, our review is limited to mistakes apparent
from the record. People v Heft, 299 Mich App 69, 80; 829 NW2d 266 (2012). As explained in
Heft:
A criminal defendant has the fundamental right to effective assistance of
counsel. However, it is the defendant’s burden to prove that counsel did not
provide effective assistance. To prove that defense counsel was not effective, the
defendant must show that (1) defense counsel’s performance was so deficient that
it fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and (2) there is a reasonable
probability that defense counsel’s deficient performance prejudiced the defendant.
The defendant was prejudiced if, but for defense counsel’s errors, the result of the
proceeding would have been different. [Id. at 80-81 (citations omitted).]
“Because the defendant bears the burden of demonstrating both deficient performance and
prejudice, the defendant necessarily bears the burden of establishing the factual predicate for his
claim.” People v Jackson (On Reconsideration), 313 Mich App 409, 432; 884 NW2d 297 (2015)
(citation and quotation marks omitted). In cases where the defendant claims prejudice in having
rejected a plea and standing trial, the defendant must establish that but for the ineffective advice
of counsel, there is a reasonable probability that: (1) “the plea offer would have been presented
4
Defendant’s claim that by requiring him to testify, the trial court denied him his right to remain
silent is neither preserved, as it was not raised below, Aldrich, 246 Mich App at 113, nor
properly presented for review, as it is not identified as an issue in the statement of questions
involved, MCR 7.212(C)(5); People v Fonville, 291 Mich App 363, 383; 804 NW2d 878 (2011).
The issue is also abandoned because defendant fails to provide any meaningful analysis of the
issue. People v McDonald, 303 Mich App 424, 439; 844 NW2d 168 (2013).
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to the court (i.e., that the defendant would have accepted the plea and the prosecution would not
have withdrawn it in light of intervening circumstances),” (2) “the court would have accepted its
terms,” and (3) “the conviction or sentence, or both, under the offer’s terms would have been less
severe than under the judgment and sentence that in fact were imposed.” People v Douglas, 496
Mich 557, 592; 852 NW2d 587 (2014).
Defendant claims that his attorney failed to advise him regarding the risks of proceeding
to trial, including the sentence that he was likely to receive after a conviction at trial. There is no
evidence on the record, however, regarding defense counsel’s discussions with defendant.5
Therefore, defendant fails to establish the factual predicate for his claim. See Jackson, 313 Mich
App at 432. Moreover, defendant does not argue, let alone establish, that there is a reasonable
probability that he would have accepted any plea that was offered. See Douglas, 496 Mich at
592. Rather, he argues that he would have accepted a more reasonable offer and that his attorney
failed to seek and negotiate a better plea than the one that was offered.
At the final conference on January 26, 2016, defense counsel stated that he had talked to
the prosecutor, who offered to allow defendant to plead guilty to second-degree murder and
receive a minimum sentence at the bottom of the guidelines range, which was 22½ to 37½ years.
Defendant indicated that he was not interested in the offer. At an evidentiary hearing on
February 12, 2016, the prosecutor stated that the offer was for a plea to second-degree murder
and a sentence within the guidelines range. The prosecutor stated that the offer would be open
until the pretrial conference on February 22, 2016. At the pretrial conference on February 22,
2016, defense counsel stated that defendant was not interested in the offer for “the bottom end of
the guidelines on a second [degree] murder case.” The prosecutor stated that defense counsel
was free to “have further negotiations upstairs.” The trial court stated that it had given defendant
more time to negotiate, but defense counsel stated that he had not yet gone to the superior’s
office at the prosecutor’s office. At a second pretrial conference on April 5, 2016, defense
counsel stated that the prosecutor was not coming down from 22 years. The prosecutor stated:
My understanding is that’s the offer so far. I don’t have any other
indication that says that counsel has spoken to anybody about a possible reduction
to that. However, I don’t know if that’s possible at this point to reduce it too
much further. But I always welcome counsel to speak to people that can make a
decision on that.
The prosecutor stated that the person who could make such a decision was his supervisor. The
prosecutor stated his understanding that the original offer was no longer available because the
final conference had passed, and it was up to defense counsel to seek a new offer from the
prosecutor’s supervisor. Defense counsel stated that he would call the supervisor and defendant
stated that he wanted him to do so.
5
However, at a motion hearing on March 25, 2016, the prosecutor stated that if defendant were
convicted, the sentence would be life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
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Defendant is incorrect in his conclusory argument that the parties agreed that defense
counsel’s performance was deficient as our review of the record fails to establish that defense
counsel failed to attend any “pre-arranged appointments.” It is true that the trial court and
prosecutor encouraged defense counsel to contact the prosecutor’s supervisor to seek a better
offer and that defense counsel had not yet done so on April 5, 2016. But there is no indication in
the record regarding whether defense counsel subsequently had contact with the prosecutor’s
supervisor. Although an agreement was apparently never reached, defendant has not shown that
his counsel did not contact the supervisor. Without any record evidence of counsel’s actions, or
inactions, defendant fails to establish the factual predicate for his claim. See Jackson, 313 Mich
App at 432. Even if defense counsel’s failure to contact the supervisor further in advance of trial
was unreasonable, defendant still fails to establish that a better offer would have been made by
the supervisor. Defendant asks this Court to remand for a Ginther6 hearing, but he fails to
support his request with an affidavit or other offer of proof regarding the facts to be established
at the hearing. MCR 7.211(C)(1). Therefore, remand is not warranted.
We affirm defendant’s conviction, but vacate the trial court’s scoring of OV 5 and
remand to the trial court to make findings relative to the proper scoring of OV 5 in consideration
of our Supreme Court’s ruling in Calloway and the testimony presented during trial and at the
sentencing hearing. We leave it to the sound judgement of the trial court whether it desires
further testimony on the matter. We do not retain jurisdiction.
/s/ Stephen L. Borrello
/s/ William B. Murphy
/s/ Amy Ronayne Krause
6
People v Ginther, 390 Mich 436; 212 NW2d 922 (1973).
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