People of Michigan v. General Fletcher Jones ( 2017 )

STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, UNPUBLISHED
January 17, 2017
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v No. 329185
Wayne Circuit Court
GENERAL FLETCHER JONES, LC No. 15-002317-FC
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: RIORDAN, P.J., and FORT HOOD and SERVITTO, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Defendant appeals as of right his bench trial convictions of assault with intent to do great
bodily harm less than murder (“AWIGBH”), MCL 750.84, assault with a dangerous weapon
(“felonious assault”), MCL 750.82, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a
felony (“felony-firearm”), MCL 750.227b. The trial court sentenced defendant to 4 to 10 years’
imprisonment for his AWIGBH conviction, two to four years’ imprisonment for his felonious
assault conviction, and a consecutive two-year term of imprisonment for his felony-firearm
conviction. We affirm defendant’s convictions, but remand for resentencing.
I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND
This case arises out of a shooting in Inkster, Michigan, on December 13, 2015. At trial,
Walter Whitner testified that he drove his work van to the parking lot of a strip mall just after
dark in order to pay an employee that worked for him. While Whitner was meeting with the
employee, defendant called and asked where Whitner was. Whitner answered that he was in
Inkster. Defendant said something along the lines that he was nearby and coming to meet
Whitner, but he hung up before Whitner could ask what he wanted.1
1
When asked at trial why defendant would call him, Whitner thought it was because he had
spoken with defendant a few weeks earlier about the possibility of purchasing electronics that
defendant had for sale. However, defendant’s brother, Jason Oliver, testified that he had talked
to Whitner earlier that day, and the plan was for defendant to meet up with Whitner and sell
“lean” to him.
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After Whitner finished his business with the employee in the parking lot, Whitner walked
back to the work van and noticed that defendant and another individual were walking toward the
van. After Whitner reentered his van, defendant walked up and entered the van’s rear passenger-
side door, sitting on a glue bucket located in the middle of the van behind the two front seats. At
the time, Whitner’s friend, Reginald Thomas, was asleep in the front passenger seat.2 Whitner
asked defendant what was going on, and defendant responded by asking if he could get a ride to
John Daly. Whitner said that he could give defendant a ride and asked where defendant’s friend
went. Defendant replied that his friend went inside the Family Dollar located in the strip mall.
Whitner told defendant, “All right. Well, I’m about to grab a pop.” As Whitner stepped out of
the van, defendant said, “Hold on. Hold on.” When Whitner looked back, defendant pulled out
a handgun and pointed it at Thomas, saying, “Give me everything.” Whitner then ran to the back
of the van, at which time defendant began firing gunshots. When Whitner reached the rear of the
van, he pulled out his own handgun.
Within a few seconds, Whitner’s glasses fell off, and he ran to large donation bins in the
parking lot to take cover. He could hear bullets hitting the ground around him as he dove behind
the bins. Meanwhile, Thomas drove Whitner’s work van out of the parking lot. After the van
was gone, Whitner retraced his steps, found his glasses, and ran to a Metro PCS store in the strip
mall for help. He did not realize until he was inside the store that one of the bullets had struck
him in the foot.3
Later, Sergeant Bradley Cox interviewed Whitner, inspected his foot, and inspected the
van for evidence at the impound lot. Cox recovered four 9 mm bullet casings, a prescription
receipt for a codeine-based cough syrup, and a baby bottle, which is commonly used to consume
cough syrup. Cox also learned that a white minivan that had been parked next to Whitner’s work
van had been shot during the incident.
Defendant did not testify at trial, but the parties stipulated to the admission of Cox’s
interview with defendant. During the interview, defendant explained that he had been meeting
with Whitner for five or six months to buy and sell “lean,” a codeine-based cough syrup.
Defendant said that he carried his gun because he knew Whitner carried a gun. Defendant
recounted the events that transpired on December 13, 2014, explaining that he met Whitner to
sell him lean, but Whitner was not satisfied when he inspected the cough syrup. After Whitner
expressed his dissatisfaction with defendant, Whitner stepped out of the van. Defendant told
Cox that he believed, at that time, that Whitner was going to pull out his gun and shoot him.
Accordingly, defendant pulled out his gun first and began firing to protect himself. Defendant
said that he kept shooting when he saw Whitner peek his head around the back of the van and
when he saw that Whitner had a gun in his hand after defendant had exited the vehicle.
Defendant then left the scene and called his brother.
2
The prosecution was unable to locate Thomas, and he did not testify at the preliminary
examination or bench trial.
3
A surveillance video admitted at trial corroborated much of Whitner’s testimony.
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At the end of the trial, the court determined that there was insufficient evidence to find
that defendant had committed armed robbery or that he had the specific intent to murder required
for assault with intent to commit murder. In determining whether defendant was guilty of
AWIGBH, the trial court first considered defendant’s claim that he acted in self-defense. The
trial court concluded that even if defendant had an honest and reasonable belief that justified
deadly force, defendant was no longer acting in self-defense when he continued to fire shots as
Whitner ran away. For that reason, the trial court concluded that defendant was guilty of
AWIGBH. The trial court also determined that the prosecution had established the elements of
felonious assault. Finally, the trial court concluded that defendant was also guilty of felony-
firearm given the fact that he had committed AWIGBH and felonious assault “while possessing
and using a gun.”
II. INCONSISTENT VERDICTS
Defendant first argues that the trial court rendered inconsistent verdicts when it found
defendant guilty of both AWIGBH and felonious assault. We disagree.
A. STANDARD OF REVIEW
Because defendant failed to raise this issue in the trial court, it is unpreserved, see People
v Cameron, 291 Mich. App. 599, 617; 806 NW2d 371 (2011), and reviewed for plain error
affecting his substantial rights, People v Carines, 460 Mich. 750, 752-753, 763-764; 597 NW2d
130 (1999). To demonstrate plain error, a defendant must show that (1) an error occurred, (2) the
error was clear or obvious, and (3) “the plain error affected [the defendant’s] substantial rights,”
which “generally requires a showing of prejudice, i.e., that the error affected the outcome of the
lower court proceedings.” Id. at 763. Even if a defendant establishes a plain error that affected
his substantial rights, “[r]eversal is warranted only when the plain, forfeited error resulted in the
conviction of an actually innocent defendant or when an error seriously affect[ed] the fairness,
integrity or public reputation of judicial proceedings independent of the defendant’s innocence.”
Id. at 763-764 (quotation marks and citation omitted; second alteration in original).
B. ANALYSIS
Although juries may render inconsistent or illogical verdicts, “ ‘a trial judge sitting as the
trier of fact may not enter an inconsistent verdict.’ ” People v Ellis, 468 Mich. 25, 26; 658 NW2d
142 (2003), quoting People v Walker, 461 Mich. 908; 603 NW2d 784 (1999). See also People v
Vaughn, 409 Mich. 463, 465-466; 295 NW2d 354 (1980) (explaining that juries may render
inconsistent verdicts, but “[t]hese considerations change when a case is tried by a judge sitting
without a jury”). An inconsistent verdict occurs when a trial court’s factual findings are
inconsistent with the verdict and the verdict “cannot be rationally reconciled” with the factual
findings. Id. at 27. Accordingly, reversal is warranted if there is a factual inconsistency between
the trial court’s findings and its verdict. See People v Smith, 231 Mich. App. 50, 53; 585 NW2d
755 (1998); People v Williams, 99 Mich. App. 463, 463-465; 297 NW2d 702 (1980).
Defendant argues that his felonious assault conviction is factually inconsistent with his
AWIGBH conviction. It is defendant’s position that a defendant cannot be convicted of
felonious assault pursuant to MCL 750.82 when there is a factual finding that the defendant
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intended to cause great bodily harm, as the felonious assault statute states, in pertinent part, that
“a person who assaults another person with a gun . . . without intending to commit murder or to
inflict great bodily harm less than murder is guilty of a felony . . . .” MCL 750.82(1) (emphasis
added). Stated differently, defendant argues that the verdicts were inconsistent because the trial
court concluded that defendant assaulted Whitner with the intent to cause great bodily harm and,
therefore, a conviction of felonious assault against Whitner for the same offense is inconsistent
because a felonious assault conviction requires the assault to occur without the intent to inflict
great bodily harm or to commit murder. We reject defendant’s claim.
The Michigan Supreme Court considered a similar issue in People v Doss, 406 Mich. 90,
96-97; 276 NW2d 9 (1979), where the defendant argued, and this Court agreed, “that the absence
of malice is an essential element of manslaughter” under MCL 750.329. At that time, the
manslaughter statute provided, “ ‘Any person who shall wound, maim or injure any other person
by the discharge of any firearm, pointed or aimed, intentionally but without malice, at any such
person, shall, if death ensue from such wounding, maiming or injury, be deemed guilty of the
crime of manslaughter.” Doss, 406 Mich. at 97, quoting MCL 750.329 (emphasis added).4 The
Supreme Court disagreed with the defendant and this Court, explaining:
In the instant case, “without malice” is the absence of an element, rather
than an additional element which the people must prove beyond a reasonable
doubt. Malice or “malice aforethought” is that quality which distinguishes
murder from manslaughter and is defined . . . as “the intention to kill, actual or
implied, under circumstances which do not constitute excuse or justification or
mitigate the degree of the offense to manslaughter”. [sic] While the absence of
malice is fundamental to manslaughter in a general definitional sense, it is not an
actual element of the crime itself which the people must establish beyond a
reasonable doubt. [Doss, 406 Mich. at 99 (citation omitted).]
Here, as in Doss, the phrase “without the intent to murder or to inflict great bodily harm”
is “the absence of an element,” and it is not one that the prosecution was required to prove
beyond a reasonable doubt. See id. An intent to inflict great bodily harm distinguishes
AWIGBH from felonious assault, but it does not prevent the trial court from convicting
defendant of both offenses.
Accordingly, defendant’s argument that he cannot be convicted of both offenses because
of an inherent contradiction between the offenses’ elements is unavailing. The trial court found
that defendant had the intent to inflict great bodily harm. Additionally, the trial court determined
that defendant’s conduct met the elements of felonious assault, specifically that defendant
committed an assault with the intent to injure Whitner by firing a dangerous weapon at him (the
same act underlying defendant’s AWIGBH conviction). See People v Nix, 301 Mich. App. 195,
4
While the manslaughter statute, MCL 750.329, has been amended, it remains essentially intact.
Currently, MCL 750.329(1) provides: “A person who wounds, maims, or injures another person
by discharging a firearm that is pointed or aimed intentionally but without malice at another
person is guilty of manslaughter if the wounds, maiming, or injuries result in death.”
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205; 836 NW2d 224 (2013) (stating the elements of felonious assault). Therefore, defendant’s
convictions were entirely consistent. Moreover, we find it noteworthy that the Michigan
Supreme Court has specifically upheld both convictions with regard to the same offenses,
concluding that a defendant’s double jeopardy protections were not violated when he was
convicted of both AWIGBH and felonious assault. People v Strawther, 480 Mich. 900; 739
NW2d 82 (2007).5
Thus, because the verdicts were consistent, defendant has failed to demonstrate a plain
error affecting his substantial rights. See Carines, 460 Mich. at 763-764.
III. DOUBLE JEOPARDY
Defendant next argues that his AWIGBH and felonious assault convictions violate double
jeopardy principles. We disagree.
A. STANDARD OF REVIEW
Because defendant also failed to preserve his double jeopardy challenge, see People v
Strickland, 293 Mich. App. 393, 401; 810 NW2d 660 (2011), our review of this unpreserved
constitutional challenge is limited to plain error affecting defendant’s substantial rights, Carines,
460 Mich. at 752-753, 763-764.
B. ANALYSIS
Both the United States and Michigan Constitutions prohibit placing a defendant twice in
jeopardy for a single offense. US Const, Am V; Const 1963, art 1, § 15; Blueford v Arkansas,
___ US ___; 132 S. Ct. 2044, 2050; 182 L. Ed. 2d 937 (2012); People v Ream, 481 Mich. 223, 227;
750 NW2d 536 (2008). “The Double Jeopardy Clause affords individuals three related
protections: (1) it protects against a second prosecution for the same offense after acquittal; (2) it
protects against a second prosecution for the same offense after conviction; and (3) it protects
against multiple punishments for the same offense.” People v Smith, 478 Mich. 292, 299; 733
NW2d 351 (2007) (quotation marks and citation omitted). At issue here is the third strand of
protection: preventing multiple punishments for the same offense.
As previously mentioned, in Strawther, 480 Mich. 900, the Michigan Supreme Court
expressly rejected this Court’s previous conclusion that a “defendant’s convictions for both
assault with intent to commit great bodily harm (MCL 750.84) and felonious assault (MCL
750.82) violated his double jeopardy protections.” The Court explained, “Because the crimes
5
A Supreme Court order is binding if it is “a final Supreme Court disposition of an application,
and the order contains a concise statement of the applicable facts and the reason for the decision.
Const 1963, art 6, § 6.” People v Crall, 444 Mich. 463, 465; 510 NW2d 182 (1993). See also
DeFrain v State Farm Mut Auto Ins Co, 491 Mich. 359, 369; 817 NW2d 504 (2012) (stating
same).
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have different elements, the defendant may be punished for each.” Id., citing Smith, 478 Mich.
292.6
More recently, in People v Strickland, 293 Mich. App. 393, 401-402; 810 NW2d 660
(2011), this Court reiterated the Supreme Court’s previous conclusion:
The validity of multiple punishments under the double jeopardy provisions of the
United States and Michigan Constitutions is generally determined under the
“same-elements test,” which requires the reviewing court to determine “ ‘whether
each provision requires proof of a fact which the other does not.’ ” [People v
Smith, 478 Mich. 292, 305, 315-316; 733 NW2d 351 (2007), quoting Blockburger
v United States, 284 U.S. 299, 304; 52 S. Ct. 180; 76 L. Ed. 306 (1932).] Our
Supreme Court has determined that convictions of both assault with intent to do
great bodily harm less than murder and felonious assault do not violate the
constitutional double jeopardy protections because the two crimes have different
elements. [People v Strawther, 480 Mich. 900; 739 NW2d 82 (2007).] This Court
is bound to follow decisions of our Supreme Court. [People v Hall, 249 Mich
App 262, 270; 643 NW2d 253 (2002).] Accordingly, Strickland has failed to
demonstrate error.
Therefore, under Strawther and Strickland, defendant’s AWIGBH and felonious assault
convictions did not violate double jeopardy protections. Thus, we affirm his convictions and
reject his claim that he is entitled to resentencing based on the number of points assessed for
PRV 7.7
IV. OFFENSE VARIABLE SCORING
6
In Smith, 478 Mich. at 316, the Court concluded:
Where the Legislature has not clearly expressed its intention to authorize multiple
punishments, federal courts apply the “same elements” test of Blockburger[ v
United States, 284 U.S. 299, 304; 52 S. Ct. 180; 76 L. Ed. 306 (1932),] to determine
whether multiple punishments are permitted. Accordingly, we conclude that the
“same elements” test set forth in Blockburger best gives effect to the intentions of
the ratifiers of our constitution.
7
Defendant argues that because the Legislature’s intent is clear, a Blockburger analysis is
unnecessary. See People v Garland, 286 Mich. App. 1, 4-5; 777 NW2d 732 (2009). According to
defendant, no court has completed the preliminary step of determining whether the Legislature
intended, through the plain language of the felonious assault statute, to prevent a criminal
defendant from being convicted of both felonious assault and AWIGBH. Because we must
follow Michigan Supreme Court decisions, Strickland, 293 Mich. App. at 402, and published
opinions issued by this Court, MCR 7.215(C)(2), (J)(1)—and we find no basis for coming to a
contrary conclusion, cf. MCR 7.215(J)(2)—we reject defendant’s claims and need not consider
this issue further.
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Lastly, defendant argues that this case should be remanded to give the trial court an
opportunity to determine whether OV 4, MCL 777.34, was properly scored. The prosecution
agrees. We conclude that this case should be remanded for resentencing because an assessment
of 10 points for OV 4 was not supported by a preponderance of the evidence in the record.
A. STANDARD OF REVIEW
Defendant preserved these challenges by filing a motion to remand in this Court. See
MCL 769.34(10); People v McChester, 310 Mich. App. 354, 357; 873 NW2d 646 (2015).
[T]he circuit court’s factual determinations are reviewed for clear error and must
be supported by a preponderance of the evidence. 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. [People v Hardy, 494 Mich. 430, 438; 835
NW2d 340 (2013) (footnotes omitted).]
B. ANALYSIS
OV 4 pertains to “psychological injury to a victim.” MCL 777.34(1). The trial court
shall assess 10 points for OV 4 when “[s]erious psychological injury requiring professional
treatment occurred to a victim.” MCL 777.34(1)(a). “The fact that the victim did not seek
professional treatment is not conclusive when scoring the variable,” and an assessment of 10
points is appropriate when there is “some evidence of psychological injury on the record to
justify a 10-point score.” People v Lockett, 295 Mich. App. 165, 183; 814 NW2d 295 (2012). In
scoring the sentencing guidelines, courts may consider the entire record, including the
presentence investigation report (“PSIR”), a defendant’s admissions at a plea proceeding or at
trial, and evidence introduced during the preliminary examination or the trial. People v Johnson,
298 Mich. App. 128, 131; 826 NW2d 170 (2012). Courts also may consider the victim’s impact
statement, a victim’s statements at sentencing, or a victim’s correspondence with the trial court.
See People v Earl, 297 Mich. App. 104, 109-110; 822 NW2d 271 (2012), aff’d 495 Mich. 33
(2014). “[If] a defendant has effectively challenged an adverse factual assertion contained in the
presentence report or any other controverted issues of fact relevant to the sentencing decision,
the prosecution must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the facts are as asserted.”
Johnson, 298 Mich. App. at 131 (quotation marks and citation omitted; alteration in original).
After reviewing the entire record, we agree that there is insufficient evidence to support a
finding of psychological injury by a preponderance of evidence. See Hardy, 494 Mich. at 438.
The only reference to any psychological injury is in the victim impact statement in the PSIR,
which (1) briefly mentions that “Mr. Whitner states he was injured both physically as well as
psychologically,” and (2) further explains that “[Mr. Whitner] states he lost his job for taking off
after he was injured, which caused him psychological injuries.” When read in context, Whitner’s
impact statement appears to indicate that it was the loss of his job that caused psychological
injuries rather than defendant’s offenses against him. Further, Whitner repeatedly testified at
trial that he owned his own carpet business with locations in two cities, and that he hired and
paid “carpet helpers” and “carpet installers” as the owner of this business. Notably, Whitner
testified that the reason why he was at the parking lot when the offense occurred was to pay one
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of his employees. This clear and recurring testimony regarding Whitner’s business wholly
undermines the statement in the PSIR that he “lost his job” for taking time off work.
There is no other testimony or evidence in the record to support a finding of serious
psychological injury. Whitner did not attend defendant’s sentencing and never testified
regarding his claim that he suffered psychological injury. Although he testified at length during
the trial, he never mentioned that he experienced psychological injury as a result of defendant’s
actions. Moreover, it is noteworthy that Whitner testified that he did not realize that he was shot
until he got into the store and inspected his foot. According to Whitner, he was concerned that
the bullet was still in his foot only because he is diabetic, explaining that “it didn’t hurt that
much” and only later “started to hurt a little bit more.” On this record, we cannot conclude that
the statements in the PSIR alone constitute a preponderance of evidence that Whitner
experienced “serious psychological injury requiring professional treatment.” MCL 777.34(1).
See also Hardy, 494 Mich. at 438.
Without the 10 points assessed for OV 4, defendant’s OV score would have been 40
points instead of 50 points. This point reduction places him in OV Level IV instead of OV Level
V and changes the minimum range calculated under the sentencing guidelines from 29 to 57
months to 19 to 38 months. See MCL 777.65. Because the scoring error altered the minimum
range calculated under the sentencing guidelines, defendant is entitled to resentencing. See
People v Francisco, 474 Mich. 82, 89-91, 91 n 8; 711 NW2d 44 (2006).
Thus, we vacate defendant’s sentences and remand this case to the trial court for
resentencing. On remand, the trial court may hear additional testimony relevant to its scoring of
OV 4.
V. CONCLUSION
Defendant has failed to demonstrate that he is entitled to reversal of his convictions.
However, the trial court’s improper scoring of OV 4 requires resentencing.
We affirm defendant’s convictions, vacate his sentences, and remand for resentencing.
We do not retain jurisdiction.
/s/ Michael J. Riordan
/s/ Karen M. Fort Hood
/s/ Deborah A. Servitto
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