People of Michigan v. Damion Lemarr Bell ( 2020 )

If this opinion indicates that it is “FOR PUBLICATION,” it is subject to
revision until final publication in the Michigan Appeals Reports.
STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, UNPUBLISHED
January 30, 2020
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v No. 345825
Kent Circuit Court
DAMION LEMARR BELL, LC No. 18-000103-FH
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: MARKEY, P.J., and GLEICHER and M. J. KELLY, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Defendant, Damion Bell, appeals as of right his jury trial conviction for first-degree home
invasion, MCL 750.110a(2)(b). Because there are no errors warranting reversal, we affirm.
I. BASIC FACTS
On December 15, 2017, Bell got into an argument with Bernadette Scott and she told him
to leave her apartment. She locked the door after he left, but Bell returned around 10:30 p.m.,
asking about his hat. He entered the apartment and, after approximately one minute, he left.
Scott locked the door again, and when Bell came back a second time she did not open the door.
Bell kicked the closed door two times and walked away, so Scott opened the door and told him
to stop kicking her door. She then went back inside her apartment. Video surveillance from the
apartment complex hallway shows Bell pace back and forth a few times, stand in front of Scott’s
door, and kick the door seven times. His kicks broke the lock and doorframe and he entered the
apartment without Scott’s permission. She testified that Bell “started throwing stuff around,
looking for the hat he said he lost, and then I was attacked.” She stated that he punched and
scratched her, but she later clarified that at that time he only scratched her neck. Bell eventually
left the apartment. Yet, after approximately 10 seconds, he came back again. The surveillance
video depicts him pushing her into the apartment, and Scott testified that at that point he
punched, scratched, and grabbed her. Bell left once more, and this time he did not return.
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II. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE
A. STANDARD OF REVIEW
Bell argues that his conviction was not supported by sufficient evidence. This Court
reviews de novo a claim of insufficient evidence. People v Jones, 297 Mich. App. 80, 86; 823
NW2d 312 (2012). “The evidence is reviewed in a light most favorable to the prosecution to
determine whether a rational jury could find that each element of the crime was proved beyond a
reasonable doubt.” Id. In making the determination, this Court must “not interfere with the fact-
finder’s role of deciding the credibility of the witnesses.” People v Solloway, 316 Mich. App.
174, 180; 891 NW2d 255 (2016). Circumstantial evidence and the reasonable inferences that
arise therefrom may be properly relied upon as satisfactory proof of each element of a crime.
People v Mikulen, 324 Mich. App. 14, 20; 919 NW2d 454 (2018).
B. ANALYSIS
First-degree home invasion has alternative elements. People v Wilder, 485 Mich. 35, 43;
780 NW2d 265 (2010). The first element requires the prosecution to prove that the defendant’s
entry into a dwelling was either breaking and entering or entry without permission. Id. The
second element requires the prosecution to prove either (1) the defendant “intends when entering
to commit a felony, larceny, or assault in the dwelling” or (2) “at the time while entering, present
in, or exiting the dwelling [the defendant] commits a felony, larceny, or assault.” Id. Finally, to
prove the third element the prosecution must establish that the defendant is armed with a
dangerous weapon or another person is lawfully present in the dwelling. Id. In this case, with
regard to the second element, the prosecution contended that Bell actually committed an assault
after breaking and entering Scott’s apartment or he committed an assault while entering the
apartment. Accordingly, the prosecution must prove that Bell assaulted Scott. See People v
Meissner, 294 Mich. App. 438, 453; 812 NW2d 37 (2011). Generally, assault is “either an
attempt to commit a battery or an unlawful act that placed another in reasonable apprehension of
receiving an immediate battery. A battery is an intentional, unconsented and harmful or
offensive touching of the person of another.” Id. at 453-454 (quotation marks and citations
omitted).
Scott testified that Bell punched and scratched her. Viewing that evidence in the light
most favorable to the jury, Bell assaulted Scott. In addition, there is no question that Bell’s
actions constituted both a breaking and entry into Scott’s apartment and an entry without
permission. He kicked the door open after being told to leave, and Scott testified he lacked
permission to be in her apartment. Further, it is undisputed that Scott was lawfully in the
apartment when Bell entered. Thus, the only element being challenged on appeal is whether Bell
intended to or actually did assault Scott while he was in her apartment or while he was entering
or exiting her apartment after his unlawful entry.
Bell asserts that no assault took place the first time he entered Scott’s apartment without
permission. In support, he directs this Court to Scott’s testimony equivocating on whether she
was punched in her apartment after Bell kicked her door open. Further, Scott’s testimony does
allow for an inference that the only assault was on camera, i.e., that it occurred in the hallway.
Yet, when reviewing a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, we are not tasked with
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determining whether a rationale view of the evidence supports the defendant’s favored
interpretation of the evidence. Instead, we must view the evidence in the light most favorable to
the jury—the factfinder’s—verdict. Jones, 297 Mich. App. at 86. Viewed in the proper light,
Scott testified that she was attacked inside her apartment after Bell kicked open the door. She
recounted that she was punched and she was scratched. That constitutes sufficient evidence that
she was assaulted. And, even with the uncertainty introduced by Scott’s answers to the cross-
examination, the jury could reasonably infer that Bell broke and entered Scott’s dwelling, that he
committed an assault while in the dwelling, and that when he committed the assault, Scott was
lawfully present in the dwelling. Accordingly, there is sufficient evidence to support Bell’s
conviction.
III. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE
A. STANDARD OF REVIEW
Next, Bell argues that his trial lawyer provided ineffective assistance by failing to request
the jury be instructed on any lesser-included offenses. Generally, a defendant’s claim of
ineffective assistance of counsel is a “mixed question of fact and constitutional law.” People v
LeBlanc, 465 Mich. 575, 579; 640 NW2d 246 (2002). This Court “reviews for clear error the
trial court’s findings of fact and reviews de novo questions of law.” People v Lane, 308 Mich
App 38, 67-68; 862 NW2d 446 (2014). However, because no Ginther1 hearing was held, our
review is limited to mistakes apparent on the record. See People v Wilson, 242 Mich. App. 350,
352; 619 NW2d 413 (2000).
B. ANALYSIS
In order to establish that his lawyer provided ineffective assistance, Bell must establish
(1) that his lawyer provided deficient assistance, i.e., that his performance “fell below an
objective standard of reasonableness,” and (2) that he was prejudiced by his lawyer’s deficient
performance, i.e., “that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional
errors, the result of the proceedings would have been different.” People v Gioglio (On Remand),
296 Mich. App. 12, 22; 815 NW2d 589 (2012), remanded for resentencing 493 Mich. 864
(quotation marks and citation omitted). “Because there are countless ways to provide effective
assistance in any given case, in reviewing a claim that counsel was ineffective courts must
indulge a strong presumption that counsel’s conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable
professional assistance.” Id. (quotation marks and citation omitted).
Bell contends that his lawyer should have requested the jury be instructed on breaking
and entering without permission, which is a lesser-included offense of first-degree home
invasion. See People v Silver, 466 Mich. 386, 392; 646 NW2d 150 (2002) (opinion by TAYLOR,
J). However, the decision to not request the trial court to instruct the jury on a lesser-included
offense can constitute sound trial strategy, People v Sardy, 216 Mich. App. 111, 116; 549 NW2d
23 (1996). “We will not substitute our judgment for that of counsel on matters of trial strategy,
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People v Ginther, 390 Mich. 436; 212 NW2d 922 (1973).
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nor will we use the benefit of hindsight when assessing counsel’s competence.” People v Unger,
278 Mich. App. 210, 242-243; 749 NW2d 272 (2008). “The decision to proceed with an all or
nothing defense is a legitimate trial strategy.” People v Nickson, 120 Mich. App. 681, 687; 327
NW2d 333 (1982). Further, “many calculated risks may be necessary in order to win difficult
cases.” Unger, 278 Mich. App. at 242.
The relevant elements of breaking and entering without permission are that (1) the
defendant broke and entered a building, (2) without permission from the owner. People v
Cornell, 466 Mich. 335, 361; 646 NW2d 127 (2002). The surveillance video clearly depicted
Bell breaking into Scott’s apartment by repeatedly kicking her door until the lock broke and the
door opened. Bell then entered the apartment. Scott testified that he did not have permission to
enter; however, even in the absence of her testimony, the jury could have reasonably inferred
that someone who repeatedly kicks a door to open it does not have permission to enter.
Therefore, as a practical matter, Bell had no viable defense to breaking and entering and, if it had
been presented to the jury, there is a substantial and reasonable probability that he would have
been convicted. Because Bell is a fourth-offense habitual offender, his sentence for breaking and
entering would have been enhanced. See MCL 769.12. Rather than proceed with a defense
strategy that would in all likelihood result in a conviction, Bell’s lawyer pursued a defense that
had the potential to result in Bell being acquitted. In furtherance of that strategy, Bell’s lawyer
impeached Scott’s testimony that she was assaulted in her apartment after Bell kicked open the
door and argued that a necessary element of the offense was missing. The fact that the strategy
was not successful does not mean Bell’s lawyer was ineffective for using it. See People v Petri,
279 Mich. App. 407, 412; 760 NW2d 882 (2008). This claim of ineffective assistance is,
therefore, without merit.
IV. STANDARD 4 BRIEF
Bell raises a number of additional arguments in a pro se supplemental brief filed pursuant
to Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 2004-6, Standard 4. We address each in turn.
A. LACK OF SUBJECT-MATTER JURISDICTION
Bell asserts that the trial court lacked subject-matter jurisdiction because he was not
charged with the crime of assault as an underlying offense to the amended charge of first-degree
home invasion. However, because assault is an element of first-degree home invasion, the
prosecution had no obligation to bring a separate charge of assault. Bell’s claim is without merit.
Moreover, to the extent that Bell argues it was improper to amend the information
following the preliminary examination, we discern no error. MCR 6.112(H) provides that the
court may “before, during, or after trial . . . permit the prosecutor to amend the information . . .
unless the proposed amendment would unfairly surprise or prejudice the defendant.” A
defendant is not unfairly prejudiced when the amended information does “not require a different
defense or evidence” and the elements of the offense that the prosecutor moves to add are
supported by testimony from the preliminary examination. People v McGee, 258 Mich. App. 683,
688, 691; 672 NW2d 191 (2003). Here, before the preliminary examination, the prosecution
advised that the charge may be amended to first-degree home invasion depending on the
evidence presented. Following a hearing, the trial court granted permission to amend the
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complaint, noting that, based upon the evidence presented at the preliminary examination, there
was probable cause to conclude that Bell committed first-degree home invasion, not second-
degree home invasion. At the preliminary examination, Scott testified that she was punched and
scratched by Bell after he kicked open the door to her apartment. Because the amended
information did not require a different defense or evidence and the elements of the offense were
supported by testimony from the preliminary examination, the amendment was not improper.
B. DENIAL OF A LAWYER
Bell next argues that he was denied the effective assistance of a lawyer at a critical stage
of the criminal proceedings because he had a stand-in lawyer at his status conference. Bell had
two status conferences. At the first conference, his lawyer requested an adjournment so that Bell
could view additional evidence. However, at the second conference, a different lawyer appeared.
That lawyer was filling in for Bell’s original lawyer. He explained that he had spoken with Bell
and consulted with Bell’s lawyer, and he represented that Bell did not wish to accept the plea
offer. Bell, who was present, stated that he did not have any questions regarding the plea offer.
Further, he did not raise any challenge to the performance by the stand-in lawyer. Accordingly,
on this record Bell cannot show that he was denied the assistance of a lawyer at the status
conference, nor can he show that he was prejudiced in any way by the presence of a stand-in
lawyer.
C. CONCESSION OF GUILT
Bell also argues that his trial lawyer was ineffective because he conceded that Bell was
guilty of breaking and entering and of assault. However, Bell was not charged with either of
those offenses. Instead, he was charged with first-degree home invasion. Bell’s lawyer did not
concede that Bell was guilty of the charge presented to the jury. His decision to admit some
wrongdoing on Bell’s part—especially when faced with the objective evidence in the
surveillance video—was a matter of trial strategy and does not amount to ineffective assistance.
See Petri, 279 Mich. App. at 412.
D. FAILURE TO INFORM BELL OF PLEA OFFER
Bell next asserts that his lawyer failed to inform him of the plea offer. However, the
record reflects that Bell was present when, acting on his behalf, his lawyer rejected the plea offer
made by the prosecution before the preliminary examination. This claim is wholly without
merit.
Affirmed.
/s/ Jane E. Markey
/s/ Elizabeth L. Gleicher
/s/ Michael J. Kelly
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