People of Michigan v. Damien Lee Lang

CourtMichigan Court of Appeals
DecidedApril 8, 2025
Docket369188
StatusUnpublished

This text of People of Michigan v. Damien Lee Lang (People of Michigan v. Damien Lee Lang) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People of Michigan v. Damien Lee Lang, (Mich. Ct. App. 2025).

Opinion

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PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, UNPUBLISHED April 08, 2025 Plaintiff-Appellee, 9:52 AM

v No. 369188 Kalamazoo Circuit Court DAMIEN LEE LANG, LC No. 2022-002079-FC

Defendant-Appellant.

Before: GADOLA, C.J., and WALLACE and ACKERMAN, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

Defendant appeals as of right his jury convictions for second-degree murder, MCL 750.317, carrying a concealed weapon (CCW), MCL 750.227, possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a felony (felon-in-possession), MCL 750.224f, and two counts of third-degree carrying a firearm during the commission of a felony (felony-firearm), MCL 750.227b. He was sentenced as a fourth-offense habitual offender, MCL 769.12, to 70 to 100 years’ imprisonment for the murder conviction, 10 to 30 years’ imprisonment for the CCW conviction, 10 to 30 years’ imprisonment for the felon-in-possession conviction, and 10 years’ imprisonment for each felony- firearm conviction. We affirm.

I. BACKGROUND

This case arises out of the shooting death of Bryce Salter in the parking lot of the Y Bar in Kalamazoo, Michigan, during the early morning hours of November 11, 2022.

The evidence presented at trial established that Salter and his friend, Anthony Villegas, were at the Y Bar that evening. Defendant, who did not know Salter or Villegas, was also present. At approximately 3:00 a.m., Salter and defendant got into a physical altercation in the parking lot. During the altercation, defendant shot Salter in the back, killing him. Surveillance footage depicting the altercation and shooting was admitted into evidence and played for the jury.

Villegas testified that while he was standing outside the bar, he noticed a commotion in the middle of the parking lot. As he ran toward it, he heard gunshots. He then saw Salter clutching

-1- his chest and stating that he had been shot. However, Villegas did not see the shooting and could not identify defendant as the shooter. He denied that either he or Salter had a gun that evening.

Defendant asserted a theory of self-defense at trial. He testified that the altercation began when he saw Salter reach into defendant’s Dodge Durango, which was parked in the lot. When defendant confronted Salter, Salter threatened to assault him. In response, defendant “lightly shoved” Salter. After Salter continued to make threats, defendant shoved him again, causing him to fall to the ground. Salter then stood up and charged at defendant, initiating a physical altercation. Defendant claimed that during the struggle, Salter repeatedly attempted to reach for a gun tucked into the waistband of defendant’s pants.

Defendant further testified that Villegas approached and punched him, prompting defendant to punch Villegas. According to defendant, Villegas removed his jacket and pulled out a gun.1 As defendant attempted to retreat, he heard someone say, “Blow that bitch,” which he understood to be a directive to shoot. He heard a pop, drew his own gun, and fired one or two gunshots in the direction “of the people that [were] running towards [him].” Defendant then got into his vehicle and left the scene.

Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Detective Stephen Seiser testified that he identified defendant from the surveillance footage and subsequently arrested and interviewed him. During the interview, defendant admitted that he shot Salter but did not claim that he acted in self- defense. Instead, he claimed that he blacked out and did not remember what happened. He was unable to confirm whether anyone else at the bar had a gun.

Detective Seiser later recovered the gun defendant used from the residence where defendant was apprehended. Another officer testified that three fired cartridge casings were collected from the scene, and a firearms and toolmark examiner testified that all three had been fired from defendant’s gun.

After the presentation of evidence, defendant was convicted and sentenced as described above. He now appeals.

II. DISCUSSION

A. PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT

Defendant first submits that he was denied his right to a fair trial due to prosecutorial misconduct. Specifically, he claims that the prosecution improperly injected the issue of gun violence in Kalamazoo during voir dire, its examination of Detective Seiser, and closing argument.

1 Although the surveillance footage is somewhat difficult to discern because of its angle and quality, it does not appear to show Villegas punching defendant or brandishing a gun. In his testimony, defendant acknowledged that the surveillance footage does not reveal whether Villegas had a gun.

-2- 1. PRESERVATION AND STANDARD OF REVIEW

To preserve a claim of prosecutorial misconduct, a defendant must contemporaneously object to the purported misconduct and request a curative instruction. People v Isrow, 339 Mich App 522, 529; 984 NW2d 528 (2021). Defendant did not object on the record to the alleged misconduct, and the prosecution contends that the issue is unpreserved.

However, the record shows that defendant did, in fact, raise the issue with the trial court and request a curative instruction. After the prosecutor asked a prospective juror whether he was “willing to sit and listen to determine if [defendant] is in part responsible for the violence in Kalamazoo,” defendant requested a sidebar. Immediately after, the trial court instructed the prospective jurors that it was their responsibility to decide the case based solely on the evidence and the law. The court also elicited a promise from the jurors to adhere to these principles.

Although an unrecorded sidebar discussion does not necessarily preserve an objection, “[t]he purpose of the appellate preservation requirements is to induce litigants to do what they can in the trial court to prevent error and eliminate its prejudice, or to create a record of the error and its prejudice.” People v Mayfield, 221 Mich App 656, 660; 562 NW2d 272 (1997). Defendant’s immediate request for a sidebar, followed by the trial court’s instruction, supports that the issue was raised and addressed. See People v Cross, 202 Mich App 138, 143; 508 NW2d 144 (1993). Accordingly, this issue is preserved.

We review preserved claims of prosecutorial misconduct de novo to determine whether the alleged misconduct deprived the defendant of a fair trial. See People v Dunigan, 299 Mich App 579, 588; 831 NW2d 243 (2013); see also People v Bahoda, 448 Mich 261, 266-267; 531 NW2d 659 (1995).

2. GENERAL PRINCIPLES GOVERNING PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT

“Issues of prosecutorial misconduct are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by examining the record and evaluating the remarks in context.” People v Mann, 288 Mich App 114, 119; 792 NW2d 53 (2010) (cleaned up). “Prosecutorial comments must be read as a whole and evaluated in light of defense arguments and the relationship they bear to the evidence admitted at trial.” People v Brown, 279 Mich App 116, 135; 755 NW2d 664 (2008).

A prosecutor may not urge jurors to convict as part of their “civic duty.” Bahoda, 448 Mich at 282. That type of argument is improper because it introduces extraneous concerns and encourages jurors to set aside impartial judgment. People v Abraham, 256 Mich App 265, 273; 662 NW2d 836 (2003). Similarly, a prosecutor may not appeal to the jury’s fears and prejudices, Bahoda, 448 Mich at 282, or improperly invoke sympathy for the victim, People v Watson, 245 Mich App 572, 591; 629 NW2d 411 (2001).

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Related

People v. Bahoda
531 N.W.2d 659 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1995)
People v. Hubbard
530 N.W.2d 130 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1995)
People v. Abraham
662 N.W.2d 836 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 2003)
People v. Brown
755 N.W.2d 664 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 2008)
People v. Sawyer
545 N.W.2d 6 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1996)
People v. Carines
597 N.W.2d 130 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1999)
People v. Oliver
427 N.W.2d 898 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1988)
People v. Cross
508 N.W.2d 144 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1993)
People v. Mayfield
562 N.W.2d 272 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1997)
People v. Watson
629 N.W.2d 411 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 2001)
People v. Unger
749 N.W.2d 272 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 2008)
People v. McLaughlin
672 N.W.2d 860 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 2003)
People v. Murray
593 N.W.2d 690 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1999)
People v. Stimage
507 N.W.2d 778 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1993)
People v. Dobek
732 N.W.2d 546 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 2007)
People of Michigan v. Eddie Brown
926 N.W.2d 879 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 2018)
People v. Mann
792 N.W.2d 53 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 2010)
People v. Dunigan
831 N.W.2d 243 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 2013)
People v. Fomby
831 N.W.2d 887 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 2013)

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People of Michigan v. Damien Lee Lang, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-of-michigan-v-damien-lee-lang-michctapp-2025.