People v. DeMeyers

454 N.W.2d 202, 183 Mich. App. 286

• Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
• Decided: April 16, 1990
• Docket: Docket 105643
• Status: Published

Opinions

Murphy, J.

After a jury trial, defendant was convicted and sentenced to a prison term of twenty to thirty years for armed robbery, MCL 750.529; MSA 28.797. Defendant appeals as of right. We reverse.

Defendant’s conviction arose out of the armed robbery of a Clark service station on Waverly Road in Eaton County on December 26, 1986.

Attached to the information charging defendant was a list of witnesses pursuant to MCL 767.40a; MSA 28.980(1). In addition to the investigating officers, only Dennis Zank, the clerk on duty during the robbery, and Ramiro Rodriguez, a customer present at the time, were named.

On May 11, 1987, after the jury was sworn, but before defendant’s trial actually commenced, an evidentiary hearing was held to determine the propriety of the identification procedures used in the photographic lineups conducted before defendant’s arrest. While testifying during the hearing, Zank mentioned a third man who had been present at the robbery scene.

The next day, pursuant to defense counsel’s request for CJI 5:2:14, now CJI2d 5.12, the missing witness instruction, the trial court conducted an evidentiary hearing to determine whether the prosecution had exercised due diligence in its attempt to identify all res gestae witnesses. At this hearing, Zank explained that the unidentified witness was a regular customer at the Clark station who came in approximately every other day to purchase cigarettes. Although he did not know the man’s name, Zank was able to describe the two vehicles regularly driven by the man. Zank also testified that he believed he had mentioned this witness’ presence to the investigating officer on the night of the robbery. Furthermore, he was certain that he had told Detective O’Donnell about this witness at the time of the photographic lineups. Following Zank’s testimony, the prosecutor conceded that the unidentified man was a res gestae witness. The trial court adjourned with the prosecutor’s assurance that an effort would be made to locate the missing witness.

On May 13, 1987, a second hearing on the due diligence issue was held. At this time, both investigating office rs testified that neither Zank nor Rodriguez had mentioned the third witness on the night of the robbery. However, Detective O’Donnell agreed that Zank had informed him about the missing witness at the time of the second photographic lineup on January 19, 1987. The detective said he had asked Zank to get the witness’ name, address, and phone number the next time the man came into the store and to tell him that the police wanted to talk to him. At the next photographic lineup, Zank told O’Donnell that he was unable to acquire the information because the witness did not want to be involved. The detective then described his unsuccessful efforts to locate the missing witness following the previous day’s hearing.

At the conclusion of the testimony, the trial court stated that it was unwilling to rule that there was a lack of due diligence by the investigating officers. However, this ruling appears to have been based more on the court’s reluctance to read the missing witness instruction, CJI 5:2:14, now CJI2d 5.12, than on the diligence of the officers’ efforts, which the trial court criticized. If the court determined that the prosecution exercised due diligence, then we believe the trial court’s findings were clearly erroneous.

Under the present res gestae statute, MCL 767.40a; MSA 28.980(1) [§ 40a], the prosecutor has no affirmative duty to endorse and produce all res gestae witnesses. Consequently, there appears to be some question concerning whether the prosecution’s duty to exercise due diligence to locate and produce res gestae witnesses has survived amendment of the former res gestae statute, MCL 767.40; MSA 28.980. See and compare People v Gunnett, 182 Mich App 61; 451 NW2d 863 (1990), with People v Calhoun, 178 Mich App 517, 522; 444 NW2d 232 (1989). However, even under the traditional due diligence standard, the prosecution was only required to do "everything reasonable, not everything possible” to identify, locate, and produce res gestae witnesses. People v Cummings, 171 Mich App 577, 585; 430 NW2d 790 (1988).

Under the present statute, a list of all known witnesses who might be called at trial and all res gestae witnesses known to the prosecutor or investigating law enforcement officers must be attached to the information. § 40a(l). Additionally, the prosecutor is charged with a continuing duty to disclose the identities of further res gestae witnesses as they become known and to provide reasonable assistance to locate witnesses upon request by the defendant. § 40a(2), (5). We conclude that the amended res gestae statute continues to impose a duty on the prosecution, and the investigating law enforcement officers to exercise due diligence in discovering the identities of res gestae witnesses. See Gunnett, supra, p 67. To hold otherwise renders meaningless their continuing duty to disclose known witnesses as set forth in the statute.

It is clear that the prosecutor had no personal knowledge of the existence of this third eyewitness before Dennis Zank’s testimony at the evidentiary hearing on the morning scheduled for defendant’s trial. Furthermore, there is no question that the efforts made to locate the witness that afternoon were diligent and reasonable. Thus, the prosecution clearly provided the reasonable assistance to identify and locate required under §40a(5) once there was actual knowledge of the witness’ existence.

However, this does not change the fact that Detective O’Donnell knew of the existence of this third witness as early as January 19, 1987. By mid-February, he also knew that Zank had been unable to ascertain the man’s identity. Nevertheless, the detective took no further action to locate the witness in the ensuing three months before defendant’s trial.

We note that this Court has excused failure to locate a witness whose identity was unknown when the only lead uncovered on his identification was "that an employee of the store stated that he might recognize this customer upon seeing him again but that he did not know the customer’s identity or how to locate him.” People v Carter, 87 Mich App 778, 784-785; 276 NW2d 493 (1979). However, in the present case, Dennis Zank gave the investigating officer a great deal more information about the missing witness than a vague statement that "he might recognize” him.

We also recognize that the officer was only required to do "everything reasonable, not everything possible” to identify, this witness. Cummings, supra, p 585. Nevertheless, regardless of whether a relaxed standard under MCL 767.40a; MSA 28.980(1) or the "due diligence” standard is applied to this case, we do not believe that everything reasonable was done to identify and locate this witness. See Gunnett, supra. Indeed, as noted by the trial court, a simple request to Dennis Zank to obtain the witness’ license plate number could have led to his identification in the three months before defendant’s trial and the addition of his name to the statutorily required list of res gestae witnesses. Under both the present statute and the traditional standard, the investigating officer’s lack of diligence or reasonable effort must be imputed to the prosecution. See § 40a(2); People v Dye, 431 Mich 58, 77; 427 NW2d 501 (1988), cert den sub nom Michigan v Dye, — US —; 109 S Ct 541; 102 L Ed 2d 571 (1988).

However, defendant is not automatically entitled to a new trial with the addition of the missing witness instruction because the trial court erroneously decided the due diligence issue. Therefore, we remand for an evidentiary hearing to determine whether defendant was prejudiced by the absence of this witness at trial. People v Pearson, 404 Mich 698, 723; 273 NW2d 856 (1979). Because defendant is presumed to have been prejudiced, the prosecutor has the burden to show that the failure to exercise due diligence, or reasonableness, in identifying this witness did not adversely affect defendant’s right to a fair trial. Id., p 725. The prosecutor may produce this missing witness or otherwise show that the missing testimony would not have assisted defendant, would have merely constituted cumulative evidence, that its absence was harmless error, or that the witness could not have been produced at trial even if he had been listed. In that event, defendant’s conviction should be affirmed. However, should the prosecutor fail to meet this burden, defendant is entitled to a new trial at which either the missing witness should be produced or CJI2d 5.12 should be read to the jury. Id., pp 725-726.

Defendant also contends the trial court erroneously refused to suppress evidence of a precustodial photographic lineup which was conducted without counsel present to represent defendant, upon whom the investigation was clearly focused.

In the period from January 19 to February 5, 1987, five different photographic displays were shown to Dennis Zank. Only the last of these, on February 5, contained defendant’s photograph. At that time, Zank identified defendant as the man who had robbed the Clark station. The next day, February 6, Detective O’Donnell showed a six-item photographic display containing defendant’s picture to Ramiro Rodriguez, who also identified defendant as the robber. Defendant was not represented by counsel at either photographic lineup containing his picture. Defendant contends that because he was the focus of the police investigation after Zank had positively identified him, he was entitled to be represented by counsel when the photographic display was shown to Rodriguez. In fact, at the Wade hearing, United States v Wade, 388 US 218; 87 S Ct 1926; 18 L Ed 2d 1149 (1967), Detective O’Donnell agreed that he had "focused” on defendant after Zank identified him.

We agree with defendant’s contention that "focus” is the controlling test for a defendant’s right to counsel at a photographic identification procedure. However, the trial court made no determination concerning whether defendant was the focus of this particular investigation at the time of the February 6, 1987, photographic lineup. Assuming that the investigation was focused upon defendant, there has been no ruling as to whether there was an independent basis for the in-court identification by Mr. Rodriguez.

Subject to certain exceptions of necessity, identification by photograph shall not be used when an accused is in custody. People v Anderson, 389 Mich 155, 186-187; 205 NW2d 461 (1973). When there is a legitimate reason to use a photographic identification procedure, the defendant has the right to counsel. Id. It is the "fact of custody” which requires implementation of this rule, which applies even when the defendant is in custody for a different crime in a different place. People v Anderson, 391 Mich 419, 422; 216 NW2d 780 (1974). However, our Supreme Court has declined to extend the rule requiring presence of counsel to the "pre-custody, pre-questioning, mere suspicion phase” of an investigation. People v Lee, 391 Mich 618, 625; 218 NW2d 655 (1974).

When a defendant is not in custody, but is the focus of an investigation, counsel must be present when the purpose of the photographic identification procedure is to build a case against the defendant by eliciting identification evidence, not to extinguish the case against an innocent bystander. People v Kachar, 400 Mich 78, 89; 252 NW2d 807 (1977), quoting People v Cotton, 38 Mich App 763, 769-770; 197 NW2d 90 (1972). Although Kachar is not binding precedent because the controlling opinion was signed by only two justices, the "focus” test has been consistently applied in subsequent opinions by this Court. People v Johnson (On Remand), 180 Mich App 423, 424-427; 447 NW2d 800 (1989), and cases cited therein; People v McFadden, 159 Mich App 796, 798-799; 407 NW2d 78 (1987), and cases cited therein. Therefore, we conclude that the trial court erred by rejecting "focus” as the test for whether defendant was entitled to the presence of counsel at the February 6, 1987, photographic identification procedure.

Consequently, upon remand, we direct the trial court to also conduct a hearing to determine whether the focus of the police investigation was, in fact, upon defendant after Dennis Zank identified him on February 5, 1987. If the trial court determines that the investigation was not focused upon defendant, evidence concerning the photographic lineup identification by witness Rodriguez need not be suppressed. On the other hand, if suppression of this evidence is necessary because the investigation was focused upon defendant, the trial court must also determine whether there was an independent basis for Rodriguez’s in-court identification of defendant. Kachar, supra. If the trial court finds an independent basis, defendant’s conviction is affirmed. If not, defendant is entitled to a new trial.

Regarding defendant’s claim that he was denied a fair trial by the prosecutor’s improper remarks during closing argument, we have reviewed the arguments in the context of the record and find no such impropriety. People v Burnett, 166 Mich App 741, 754; 421 NW2d 278 (1988). Furthermore, defendant failed to object during closing argument; therefore, appellate review of the allegedly improper remarks is precluded because any prejudicial effect could have been cured by an appropriate instruction. People v Hubbard, 159 Mich App 321, 327; 406 NW2d 287 (1987).

We also conclude, after review of the record, that the prosecution produced sufficient evidence that defendant was armed at the time of the robbery. People v Hampton, 407 Mich 354; 285 NW2d 284 (1979), reh den 407 Mich 1164 (1980), cert den sub nom Michigan v Hampton, 449 US 885; 101 S Ct 239; 66 L Ed 2d 110 (1980). It was not necessary for defendant to display a weapon. The manner in which defendant concealed his hand simulated a gun and led Dennis Zank to believe that defendant had a gun in his pocket. This was sufficient evidence to satisfy the "armed” element of armed robbery, MCL 750.529; MSA 28.797. People v Burden, 141 Mich App 160, 165; 366 NW2d 23 (1985); People v Tullie, 141 Mich App 156, 157; 366 NW2d 224 (1985).

In summary, the trial court’s findings that the prosecution exercised due diligence in attempting to identify and list all known res gestae witnesses in compliance with MCL 767.40a; MSA 28.980(1) is reversed. We also reverse the trial court’s ruling that "focus” is not the test for defendant’s right to counsel at a prearrest photographic identification procedure. This case is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. We do not retain jurisdiction.

Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.

Brennan, P.J., concurred.