People of Michigan v. Marc Curtis Wade

CourtMichigan Court of Appeals
DecidedMarch 21, 2024
Docket365510
StatusUnpublished

This text of People of Michigan v. Marc Curtis Wade (People of Michigan v. Marc Curtis Wade) 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. Marc Curtis Wade, (Mich. Ct. App. 2024).

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PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, UNPUBLISHED March 21, 2024 Plaintiff-Appellee,

v No. 365510 Oakland Circuit Court MARC CURTIS WADE, LC No. 2020-274781-FH

Defendant-Appellant.

Before: O’BRIEN, P.J., and BORRELLO and HOOD, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

Defendant was convicted by a jury of assault with a dangerous weapon (felonious assault), MCL 750.82. He was sentenced to two years’ probation and two days in jail. Defendant appeals as of right and for the reasons set forth in this opinion we affirm.

I. BACKGROUND

This appeal arises out of an altercation between two neighbors, defendant and Quentin Worrell, that occurred in an apartment complex on April 28, 2020, in Waterford, Michigan. Defendant and Worrell’s were neighbors at the apartment complex and they shared a wall. On April 28, 2020, Worrell and his boyfriend, Paul Watson, were admittedly making a lot of noise while playing video games at approximately 4:00 a.m. At that time, Worrell heard a knock at the door and went to investigate while Watson remained inside the apartment. Worrell saw defendant entering defendant’s apartment. Worrell asked defendant if something was wrong and defendant told Worrell that the noise from Worrell’s apartment was keeping defendant awake. Worrell asked defendant if they could handle the issue civilly, “like adults,” and defendant told Worrell, “I’ll come over there and show you adult.” According to Worrell, defendant retreated into his apartment and emerged with a firearm. Worrell testified that defendant held the gun with two hands and aimed it at Worrell’s head and chest for at least two seconds. Defendant then waved the gun in the direction of Worrell’s apartment window before pointing the gun to the ground. As defendant lowered the gun, he pointed it in the direction of Watson, who was still inside of the apartment. Worrell testified that he feared for his own life and Watson’s safety when defendant

-1- pointed the gun at Worrell. Worrell testified that neither he or Watson ever threatened defendant or brandished a weapon at any time during their interaction.

At trial, both Worrell and Watson testified to comments made by defendant during the altercation that Worrell and Watson perceived to be homophobic or bigoted. Worrell testified that defendant referred to Watson as Worrell’s “girlfriend,” even though Watson is male. Worrell perceived this comment as bigotry or indifference. Watson testified that Worrell corrected defendant by stating that Watson was Worrell’s boyfriend. Defendant responded, “I don’t care what—what it is; you guys have been up all—you guys have been keeping me up all night; I have a headache.” Watson believed defendant was referring to Watson as “it” and interpreted this as a homophobic comment.

Immediately after the assault, either Worrell or Watson called the police. Officer Julie Knapp was dispatched to the apartment complex to investigate a possible felonious assault. Defendant gave Officer Knapp permission to enter his apartment to search for other people or safety threats and to locate the weapon involved in the incident. Officer Knapp recovered a rifle in the back bedroom and a handgun on a nightstand in the living room. The handgun was loaded with .40-caliber rounds and was equipped with a magazine with approximately eight bullets. There was a bullet in the chamber. Officer Knapp also recovered an extra magazine next to the handgun on the nightstand.

During closing argument, the prosecution argued that defendant pointed the firearm at Worrell and in the direction of Watson, who was still inside of Watson and Worrell’s apartment. The prosecution also argued that defendant’s only purpose in using “homophobic slurs” was to make Worrell and Watson feel insulted. Defense counsel argued that defendant acted in self- defense. After closing arguments, the trial court instructed the jury, including a jury instruction on self-defense. The jury found defendant guilty of felonious assault. Defendant now appeals.

II. ANALYSIS

In his appeal, defendant first argues that the trial court abused its discretion by permitting the prosecution to question Worrell about his work experience, communication skills, and efforts Worrell made to meet his neighbors when he moved into the apartment complex because the testimony was impermissible character evidence and was not relevant to the jury’s determination of defendant’s guilt.

This Court reviews for an abuse of discretion preserved issues pertaining to a trial court’s decision to admit evidence but reviews de novo “[p]reliminary questions of law, such as whether a rule of evidence or statute precludes the admission of particular evidence . . . .” People v Bynum, 496 Mich 610, 623; 852 NW2d 570 (2014). A trial court abuses its discretion when its decision falls outside the range of reasonable and principled outcomes. People v Rose, 289 Mich App 499, 524; 808 NW2d 301 (2010). Further, “it is an abuse of discretion to admit evidence that is inadmissible as a matter of law.” Bynum, 496 Mich at 623. However, “[a] preserved error in the admission of evidence does not warrant 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 Burns, 494 Mich 104, 110; 832 NW2d 738 (2013) (quotation marks and citation omitted).

-2- This Court reviews unpreserved1 issues pertaining to the admissibility of evidence for plain error affecting a defendant’s substantial rights. People v Chelmicki, 305 Mich App 58, 62; 850 NW2d 612 (2014), citing People v Carines, 460 Mich 750, 763-764; 597 NW2d 130 (1999). “Under the plain error rule, defendants must show that (1) error occurred, (2) the error was plain, i.e., clear or obvious, and (3) the plain error affected a substantial right of the defendant.” People v Pipes, 475 Mich 267, 279; 715 NW2d 290 (2006). “A clear or obvious error under the second prong is one that is not subject to reasonable dispute.” People v Randolph, 502 Mich 1, 10; 917 NW2d 249 (2018) (quotation marks and citation omitted). To establish plain error affecting a substantial right, a defendant must demonstrate that the error affected the outcome of the trial proceedings. Id. When a defendant establishes plain error affecting substantial rights, reversal is only warranted when “the plain, forfeited error resulted in the conviction of an actually innocent defendant” or when the error “ ‘seriously affect[ed] the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings’ independent of the defendant’s innocence.” Carines, 460 Mich at 763, quoting United States v Olano, 507 US 725, 736-737; 113 S Ct 1170; 123 L Ed 2d 508 (1993) (alteration in original). The defendant has the burden of showing that the plain error affected his substantial rights. Carines, 460 Mich at 763.

To prove the crime of felonious assault, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed “(1) an assault, (2) with a dangerous weapon, and (3) with the intent to injure or place the victim in reasonable apprehension of an immediate battery.” People v Nix, 301 Mich App 195, 205; 836 NW2d 224 (2013). “An assault may be established by showing either an attempt to commit a battery or an unlawful act that places another in reasonable apprehension of receiving an immediate battery.” People v Starks, 473 Mich 227, 234; 701 NW2d 136 (2005). A battery is “an intentional, unconsented and harmful or offensive touching of the person of another, or of something closely connected with the person.” Id. (quotation marks and citation omitted).

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Related

United States v. Olano
507 U.S. 725 (Supreme Court, 1993)
People v. Pipes
715 N.W.2d 290 (Michigan Supreme Court, 2006)
People v. Starks
701 N.W.2d 136 (Michigan Supreme Court, 2005)
People v. Jones
662 N.W.2d 376 (Michigan Supreme Court, 2003)
People v. Hawkins
628 N.W.2d 105 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 2001)
People v. Callon
662 N.W.2d 501 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 2003)
People v. Carines
597 N.W.2d 130 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1999)
People v. Noble
608 N.W.2d 123 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 2000)
People v. Aldrich
631 N.W.2d 67 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 2001)
People v. McLaughlin
672 N.W.2d 860 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 2003)
People v. Brooks
557 N.W.2d 106 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1996)
People v. Dobek
732 N.W.2d 546 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 2007)
People v. Roper
777 N.W.2d 483 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 2009)
People v. Bynum
852 N.W.2d 570 (Michigan Supreme Court, 2014)
People v. Burns
832 N.W.2d 738 (Michigan Supreme Court, 2013)
People v. Mills
537 N.W.2d 909 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1995)
People v. Rose
808 N.W.2d 301 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 2010)
People v. Nix
836 N.W.2d 224 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 2013)
People v. Roscoe
846 N.W.2d 402 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 2014)
People v. Chelmicki
850 N.W.2d 612 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 2014)

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People of Michigan v. Marc Curtis Wade, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-of-michigan-v-marc-curtis-wade-michctapp-2024.