People v. Dorsey

206 N.W.2d 459, 45 Mich. App. 230, 1973 Mich. App. LEXIS 1080
CourtMichigan Court of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 23, 1973
DocketDocket 13528
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 206 N.W.2d 459 (People v. Dorsey) 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. Dorsey, 206 N.W.2d 459, 45 Mich. App. 230, 1973 Mich. App. LEXIS 1080 (Mich. Ct. App. 1973).

Opinion

Quinn, P. J.

Defendant’s non-jury trial resulted in his conviction of extortion, MCLA 750.213; MSA 28.410. He was sentenced and he appeals.

In an unnecessarily voluminous brief, defendant raises and discusses seven issues and two sub-issues. Most of the issues as stated do not. comply with GCR 1963, 813.1; they are not set forth in "the briefest terms”. Concisely stated the issues are:

1. Was it reversible error for the prosecuting attorney to ask defendant the nature of a prior charge not resulting in conviction?

2. Was it reversible error for the trial judge to look at the preliminary examination transcript?

3. Did the trial judge commit reversible error in not requiring production of an endorsed witness?

4. Was there testimony at the preliminary examination to establish a threat to complainant?

*232 5. Did the failure of the prosecuting attorney to disclose contempt proceedings against complainant constitute suppression of evidence?

6. Is it reversible error for the trial judge to consider a pending charge against defendant in passing sentence?

7. Does the sentence given violate People v Tanner, 387 Mich 683 (1972)?

The gist of the extortion for which defendant was convicted arose from the complainant’s charge that he caused her to solicit for purposes of prostitution in order to raise money needed by defendant. That after successful solicitation, she was compelled to give defendant money she received from the customer because of defendant’s threats and actions.

Our review of the record does not establish that the prosecuting attorney interrogated defendant as to the nature of a prior charge not resulting in conviction. The record does establish interrogation as to the nature of a prior charge which defendant admitted resulted in his conviction.

Under the following circumstances, the trial judge examined the preliminary examination transcript. During the cross-examination of complainant, the record discloses:

”Q. Now you recall testifying in district court, do you not?
"A. Yes.
"Q. Did you at any time while you were in district court make any statement to the court that Mr. Dorsey threatened you?
”A. Yes, I think I did.
”Q. All right. Why don’t you look at this transcript. You find me anything in that transcript relative to when he threatened you — that he made to you — .
"The Court: Counsel, I wonder for a moment whether *233 a witness has an obligation to examine an entire transcript to find material within it. If you wish to ask her questions about it—
"Mr. Jones: Well, your Honor, the only thing is there is nothing in the transcript relative to testimony that he threatened. No other way—
"The Court: Perhaps by some sort of stipulation by counsel — I don’t like to put the witness in a position that she has to—
"Mr. Jones: I will ask the prosecutor will he stipulate to the fact the examination in the district court that there was no testimony about any threat being made.
"The Court: In the alternative, gentlemen, I assume it is possible for you to ask the court to accept into evidence the transcript for the purpose of making that determination.
"Mr. Payette: Your Honor, I would be willing to place the transcript in evidence at the court’s disposal for purposes of whatever value it may have in impeaching this witness. I believe that’s what Mr. Jones intends to use it for and I have no objection to that.
"The Court: Now I am bearing in mind that ordinarily the transcript is obviously not a part of these proceedings and that impeachment is the general purpose of the use of the transcript. It seems to me slightly unfair to take a witness and say that you look through the whole thing and you find something in there. She may not be schooled, or may be incapable of making a determination, and I am not sure I could accept her answer regardless of what it may be.
"Mr. Jones: I think the stipulation is fine.
"The Court: All right. If you can stipulate and agree that I may examine it for the purpose of impeachment, only that; but not substantive proof only impeachment of her testimony—
"Mr. Jones: Fine.
"The Court: Then I am willing to accept it in evidence.
"Mr. Jones: Fine. Thank you.”

Defendant claims reversible error under the holding in People v Ramsey, 385 Mich 221 (1971). *234 We hold Ramsey inapplicable and we find no error.

The alleged error concerning the nonproduction of a witness relates to Dr. Crawford. He examined complainant 13 days after the events which gave rise to this prosecution. Defendant labels him a res gestae witness in the face of a specific finding by the trial judge that Dr. Crawford was not a res gestae witness and a record which fully supports that finding.

Dr. Crawford had moved to West Virginia prior to trial where he was working in an understaffed hospital. The testimony of Dr. Crawford would have been cumulative in view of the testimony of complainant and officer Wood concerning complainant’s injuries and the photos of those injuries. We consider the claimed reversible error in not producing Dr. Crawford entirely specious.

By assuming that the preliminary examination transcript did not contain evidence of a threat, defendant makes an apparently valid argument that complainant’s trial testimony that she was threatened was coerced by the contempt proceedings brought against her. The testimony of complainant at preliminary examination discloses that defendant would not let her go home unless she went on the street and "hustled” for him and returned her earnings to him, and that defendant physically assaulted her when she failed to give him money. Complainant further testified at preliminary examination that defendant kept her under his control for four days of soliciting and that defendant told her he would not let her go home until she got him some money. The spuriousness of the assumption is apparent and it demonstrates the invalidity of the argument.

Although subpoenaed, complainant failed to ap *235 pear on the original trial date. The same judge before whom the defendant was tried cited her for contempt, and, after hearing, found her in contempt.

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Related

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336 N.W.2d 761 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1983)
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People v. Boyd
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Bluebook (online)
206 N.W.2d 459, 45 Mich. App. 230, 1973 Mich. App. LEXIS 1080, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-dorsey-michctapp-1973.