People v. Clark

366 N.W.2d 62, 141 Mich. App. 1

• Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
• Decided: February 20, 1985
• Docket: Docket No. 70969
• Status: Published

Opinion

Per Curiam.

Defendant pled guilty to second-degree murder, MCL 750.317; MSA 28.549, in exchange for the dismissal of one count of first-degree murder, MCL 750.316; MSA 28.548, and one count of conspiracy to commit murder, MCL 750.157a; MSA 28.354(1). Defendant was sentenced to life imprisonment. He appeals as of right.

At two separate proceedings, the trial court informed defendant that the charge to which he was pleading guilty was punishable by a maximum sentence of life in prison and that he would not be eligible for parole. The court further advised defendant that he would not be eligible for probation and that the offense carried a minimum term of two years’ imprisonment. The court then explained the benefit to defendant of a plea to second-degree murder:

'The Court: Now, do you understand that as the Department of Corrections and the Attorney General presently construe the state of the law, that if I do sentence you to life imprisonment, that that would be a mandatory sentence and you couldn’t be paroled? Do you understand that?

"The Defendant: Yes, sir.

"The Court: So, really all you’re getting under the present state of the law, you’re getting the Count II nolle prossed; in other words, thrown out, which is the conspiracy. You can’t have a conspiracy except for first degree murder. So, if you’re pleading guilty to second degree murder, you couldn’t be found guilty of conspiracy. Do you understand that? The Prosecutor would dismiss it.

'The Defendant: Yes, sir.

"The Court: Okay. The second thing is that — you’re getting is the possibility that you might convince me or your attorney might to give you something less than a life sentence. Do you understand that?

"The Defendant: Yes, sir.

"The Court: Do you understand that’s not — I’m not saying that I’m going to do it and, of course, it’s a very great likelihood it’s going to be a life sentence probably? Do you understand that?

"The Defendant: Yes, sir.”

At the second proceeding, the court advised defendant that the benefit of a plea to second-degree murder was the possibility that he would be sentenced to "something less than life imprisonment”. At the same time, however, the court cautioned defendant that he could not "count on” receiving less than life imprisonment.

After learning that defendant intended to plead guilty to second-degree murder, the trial judge informed defendant that "you understand, as I told you the other day, now most people that I’ve sentenced for murder or have been involved with when I was prosecutor or anything else that got second degree murder, most of them got a life sentence”. Later in the proceeding, the court reiterated that "most of the people I’ve sentenced has [sic] been life imprisonment on second degree. Do you understand that?” Defendant was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment.

At sentencing, defense counsel argued that several mitigating factors should be taken into consideration in imposing sentence. Counsel pointed out that defendant was far less culpable than his co-defendant and that he committed the act under the strong influence of the co-defendant. Defendant’s remorse as well as his lack of a prior criminal record were emphasized as legitimate reasons to impose less than life imprisonment. The court then stated the following:

"The Court: * * * either of you want to say? Well, I’m not going to drag this out. It’s pretty short and fair.

"I’m going to sentence you to life imprisonment. I don’t want you to think, though, I disagree with Mr. Crudder (Defense Counsel). I think much of what Mr. Crudder said is borne out and substantiated by the last couple of paragraphs of Dr. Singer’s, the licensed clinical psychologist, report. You’re clearly a leader, never would be a follower [sic]. You never would be able to plan a crime. And you were certainly acting strictly under the leadership of Charlie Glisson, who was a person that was supplying you drugs, apparently had no other relationship than that.

"However, you did commit a very brutal crime, very brutal crime, one that’s shocking really, on a person for really no reason than that Charlie Glisson wanted you to. You may or may not have known you were going to follow through on it when you got there. I don’t know. But I’m satisfied that you’re sincerely sorry for it now. I’m satisfied that your level of intellectual functioning will also place you in the role of a follower. And that you are certainly in many ways less culpable than Mr. Glisson.

"However, there are four factors that the Court should consider. I’m referring, Mr. Crudder, to People against Snow, 386 Mich 586 [194 NW2d 314 (1972)] at Page 592. And I have considered giving you a lesser sentence, in the range of 20 to 40 years, which would give you a chance to be out later on in your life. I think that would be sufficient for the first factor, which is rehabilitation of the offender. Any rehabilitation that was going to take place would certainly take place in that time.

"Now, retribution is factor No. 3. Considering the less culpability that I’ve already alluded to by reason for your lack of intellectual functioning would be satisfied, I think, by that in your case.

"Deterrence of others is No. 4. That would be satisfied in your case.

"But I can’t — I can’t justify having you loose. There’s always going to be Charlie Glissons out there and you’re always going to remain manipulatable. You have demonstrated that you can be manipulated by a leader to do about anything.

"And I think the protection of society in and of itself far outweighs those other three factors.

"And I would prefer to give you something less, but I feel that it would be — it would not be right for the rest of society for them to have — to have you in their midst any further.

"So, accordingly, the Court sentences you to life imprisonment with the State Department of Corrections.”

Defendant appeals, arguing that, as a matter of policy, he should have been allowed to withdraw his plea of guilty to second-degree murder after the trial court had decided it would impose a life sentence but before he was actually sentenced to such, that the lower court improperly maintained a "policy” that life sentences be imposed for convictions of second-degree murder, and that the lower court abused its discretion in sentencing defendant to life in prison following his plea of guilty to second-degree murder. We affirm.

Defendant’s first argument is posited on the Supreme Court’s decision in People v Killebrew, 416 Mich 189; 330 NW2d 834 (1982). Defendant argues that, as a matter of policy, a sentencing judge should allow a defendant the opportunity to withdraw his plea of guilty to second-degree murder where, as here, the plea was obtained in exchange for the dismissal of a first-degree murder charge and the judge nevertheless intends to impose a nonparolable life sentence. We do not find the instant case to be controlled by the holding or the rationale of Killebrew, supra.

The operative language in Killebrew is as follows:

"To most defendants, the distinction between a sentence agreement and a sentence recommendation is little more than a variation in nomenclature.

"A full understanding of the consequences of a plea is impossible where the defendant, believing that he has negotiated a specific length of sentence, tenders his guilty plea, only to find that he is bound by the act of self-conviction, but the trial judge is free to impose any sentence within the statutory range.

"However, it is not our intention to circumscribe the judge’s statutorily granted sentencing discretion.

"Therefore, we now hold that if the plea agreement offered to the court by the prosecutor and defendant includes a non-binding prosecutorial recommendation of a specific sentence, the judge may accept the guilty plea (after consideration of the presentence report), yet refuse to be bound by the recommended sentence. The judge retains his freedom to choose a different sentence. However, the trial judge must explain to the defendant that the recommendation was not accepted by the court, and state the sentence that the court finds to be the appropriate disposition. The court must then give the defendant the opportunity to affirm or withdraw his guilty plea.” 416 Mich 209-210.

As the above language in Killebrew illustrates, the Supreme Court was concerned that most defendants do not understand the distinction between a firm sentence agreement and a mere sentence recommendation. Therefore, the sentencing judge’s refusal to abide by a sentence recommendation should be accompanied by an opportunity for the defendant to withdraw his plea. Here, however, neither a sentence agreement nor a recommendation was promised, made or incorporated into the plea bargain. Indeed, the lower court went to great pains to emphasize that defendant could still be sentenced to life in prison. Although the Killebrew Court cautioned that "most defendants rely on the prosecutor’s ability to secure the sentence when offering a guilty plea[, and] [t]his is true even when the court specifically admonishes the defendant that it is not bound by the prosecutor’s recommendation”, 416 Mich 208, there was never any promise here upon which defendant could rely. Since Killebrew was primarily based upon the notion of fairness as it relates to a defendant’s reliance on the sentence recommendation, we find the absence of any recommendation and accompanying ground for reliance a significant factor.

Furthermore, defendant’s bargain was not illusory or uncertain. The conspiracy charge, along with the first-degree murder charge, was dismissed in exchange for defendant’s plea. There is no requirement that a plea arrangement include a sentencing recommendation. It is permissible for a plea to be based not only on the dismissal of other charges, but also upon "defense counsel’s prediction that the judge will sentence a defendant who pleads guilty more leniently than one who goes to trial”. (Emphasis added.) Killebrew, supra, p 203, fn 6, discussing Brady v United States, 397 US 742; 90 S Ct 1463; 25 L Ed 2d 747 (1970). Here, we must assume that defendant’s decision to plead guilty was based on these two considerations, since defendant was never led to believe by the prosecutor or the court that he would receive a reduced sentence.

We also note that defendant’s claim of error is premised upon a misinterpretation of 1978 Initiative Proposal B, enacted as MCL 791.233b; MSA 28.2303(3), as well as misplaced reliance upon 1979 OAG No 5583, p 438 (October 16, 1979). We have recently held in People v Waterman, 137 Mich App 429; 358 NW2d 602 (1984), that Proposal B leaves intact the provisions of MCL 791.234; MSA 28.2304 which provide that a defendant receiving a nonmandatory life sentence is eligible for consideration for parole once he has served a minimum of ten calendar years of his sentence. Thus, defendant’s bargain was not illusory.

Finally, we note that the record does not indicate that defendant ever made a motion before the sentencing court to vacate his sentence and withdraw his plea. In this connection, the Killebrew Court stated:

"[The procedures we adopt are] quite similar to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure ll(e)(l)-(4), except that under our system, when the judge rejects the recommended sentence, the defendant may affirm or withdraw his plea, whereas under the federal system, the defendant does not have the option to withdraw the plea.

"The rules articulated in this opinion will be applied: (1) to all future trial court decisions where the defendant moves the sentencing court to vacate the sentence and withdraw the plea; (2) to all appeals or applications for leave to appeal filed prior to the date of this opinion where the issue is properly raised; and (3) to the two instant cases.” (Emphasis added.) 416 Mich 212.

Thus, this issue has not been preserved on appeal.

Moreover, because a Killebrew issue is not involved (because the trial court did not disregard a sentence recommendation), even under general appellate principles defendant’s failure to move below to withdraw his plea waives this issue on appeal. People v Baugh, 127 Mich App 245; 338 NW2d 199 (1983).

Defendant’s next contention is that the lower court impermissibly relied upon a "sentencing policy” whereby defendants convicted of second-degree murder would receive life sentences. Defendant is correct that it is improper for a sentencing judge to follow a stated "policy” which runs afoul of the policy of individualized sentencing. Any such practice which utilizes mandatory sentences for crimes not singled out by the Legislature as requiring a minimum term of imprisonment is improper. People v Chapa, 407 Mich 309; 284 NW2d 340 (1979). We disagree, however, that such was done in the present case.

A review of the entire record convinces us that the trial judge’s statements — that in "great likelihood it’s going to be a life sentence” and that "most people * * * that got second-degree murder, most of them got a life sentence” — did not reflect sentencing policy. Rather, the trial judge was concerned that defendant be cognizant of the fact that a plea of guilty would not obviate the possibility that he could still receive a life sentence. The judge did not abdicate his sentencing discretion.

Defendant’s final claim of error is that his sentence was excessive. Pursuant to People v Coles, 417 Mich 523; 339 NW2d 440 (1983), this Court will review the trial court’s exercise of discretion at sentencing to insure that there was no abuse of that discretion "to the extent that it shocks the conscience of the appellate court”. 417 Mich 550. We find no such abuse.

The trial court, as borne out in the lengthy quotation from the sentencing transcript reproduced above, considered the proper factors. See Coles, supra, p 550. In light of the considerations enumerated by the trial court and the fact that the instant crime was particularly heinous (the victim was beaten to death with a tire iron because he was suspected of being a narcotics agent), we cannot say that defendant’s sentence shocks our conscience.

Affirmed.