People v. Bradley

220 N.W.2d 305, 54 Mich. App. 89, 1974 Mich. App. LEXIS 1206
CourtMichigan Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 25, 1974
DocketDocket 16961
StatusPublished
Cited by32 cases

This text of 220 N.W.2d 305 (People v. Bradley) 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 v. Bradley, 220 N.W.2d 305, 54 Mich. App. 89, 1974 Mich. App. LEXIS 1206 (Mich. Ct. App. 1974).

Opinion

T. M. Burns, P. J.

Defendant William Bradley, Jr., was tried before a jury for the offense of breaking and entering. MCLA 750.110; MSA 28.305. He was convicted on January 17, 1973, and was sentenced on February 5, 1973, to a term of from 10 to 15 years in prison with 132 days credit for time spent in the county jail prior to the disposition of his case. Defendant now appeals his conviction as of right.

After conducting a hearing in accordance with People v Walker, 374 Mich 331; 132 NW2d 87 (1965) (On Rehearing), and determining that a confession was voluntarily made, was it prejudicial error for the trial court to instruct the jury that he had considered the confession and had determined that it was voluntary?

In People v Williams, 46 Mich App 165; 207 NW2d 480 (1973), on which defendant relies, a similar challenge to similar instructions was made. The court in the Williams case held that although it would be better practice not to inform the jury that the court had found the confession voluntarily made, the defendant’s failure to object precluded the assignment of error. Since defense counsel made no objection to the court’s instructions in the present case, defendant is likewise precluded from assigning error. GCR 1963, 516.2; MCLA 769.26; MSA 28.1096; People v Keiswetter, *92 7 Mich App 334; 151 NW2d 829 (1967); People v Williams, supra .

Was it reversible error for the trial court to instruct the jury that the presumption of innocence is not to be a shield for the guilty?

Absent a showing of manifest injustice, this Court will not entertain allegations of erroneous jury instructions where no timely objection to those instructions was interposed before the jury retired to consider its verdict. GCR 1963, 516.2; People v Peace, 48 Mich App 79; 210 NW2d 116 (1973); People v Spaulding, 42 Mich App 492; 202 NW2d 450 (1972), lv den 388 Mich 809 (1972). Defendant made no objection in this case. Therefore, we must consider whether the trial court’s instruction resulted in manifest injustice.

When reviewing an instruction to ascertain whether a defendant has been prejudiced, we will review the instruction as a whole rather than in small excerpts. People v Peace, supra; People v Spaulding, supra. The instructions by the trial court on the presumption of innocence and burden of proof as a whole correctly informed the jury of their duty under the law. Accordingly, we find that the instruction complained of did not unduly prejudice the defendant or result in manifest injustice.

Was it reversible error for the trial court to instruct the jury that there is a presumption that a possessor of stolen goods is the person who committed the theft?

Defendant contends that by charging the jury that possession of stolen property gives rise to a presumption that the possessor was the thief, the trial court improperly shifted the burden of proof onto defendant. We disagree.

The rule in Michigan to which defendant refers *93 was stated in People v McDonald, 13 Mich App 226, 236-237; 163 NW2d 796 (1968):

"[U]nexplained possession of property recently stolen, unaccompanied by other facts or circumstances indicating guilt, will not sustain a conviction for breaking and entering, even though it is some evidence that the possessor is guilty of theft. ” (Emphasis in original.)

And in People v Helcher, 14 Mich App 386, 388; 165 NW2d 669 (1968), we said:

"Possession of recently stolen property permits an inference that the possessor committed the theft.”

While we feel that "presumption” was not the correct word for the trial court to use to describe the relationship between possession of stolen property and the conclusion that the possessor was the thief, we do not feel that such incorrect usage mandates reversal in the instant case.

Defendant’s confession in this case was complete and included an admission of the theft. Also, as previously stated, the trial court’s instructions on the presumption of innocence and burden of proof as a whole correctly informed the jury of their duty under the law.

These two factors, coupled with the fact that the defendant did not object to the instruction now challenged on appeal, leads this Court to the conclusion that the instruction complained of did not result in manifest injustice to the defendant. See People v Peace, supra; People v Spaulding, supra.

Was it reversible error for the trial court to fail to instruct the jury concerning the possibility of conviction of lesser included offenses?

No request was made by defendant for instructions on lesser included offenses, nor did defendant object to the instructions given by the trial court. *94 Furthermore, there is no indication that the defense relied upon any theory of attempt nor did the evidence support that theory. Moreover, the trial court did not affirmatively move to limit the jury’s consideration of lesser included offenses. Under these circumstances, we find no error. See People v Lemmons, 384 Mich 1; 178 NW2d 496 (1970); People v Membres, 34 Mich App 224; 191 NW2d 66 (1971); and People v Midgyett, 49 Mich App 663; 212 NW2d 754 (1973).

Did the trial court abuse its discretion in denying defendant’s motion for a substitution of appointed counsel?

Defendant requested a substitution of appointed counsel and now argues that it was reversible error for the trial court to deny such substitution, citing People v Charles O Williams, 386 Mich 565; 194 NW2d 337 (1972).

In Williams, our Supreme Court found an abuse of discretion since (1) the defendant was asserting a constitutional right — the right to counsel, (2) a bona fide dispute existed with his attorney as to whether to call alibi witnesses, (3) the defendant was not guilty of negligence, (4) the trial court was incorrect in stating that defendant had caused the trial to be adjourned several times.

In the present case, defendant was asserting the same constitutional right as that asserted in Williams, supra. A careful review of the record discloses no negligence on defendant’s part nor any prior adjournments.

Therefore, the only question remaining is whether a bona fide dispute existed between defendant and his counsel. As evidence of such dispute, defendant claims that his counsel made a deal with the prosecution to his prejudice. Defendant did not submit any evidence to prove the *95 existence of such a deal, nor did he offer to show how. this alleged deal prejudiced his defense.

An indigent defendant is entitled to counsel.

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Bluebook (online)
220 N.W.2d 305, 54 Mich. App. 89, 1974 Mich. App. LEXIS 1206, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-bradley-michctapp-1974.