People v. Dulin

332 N.W.2d 492, 122 Mich. App. 382

• Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
• Decided: January 10, 1983
• Docket: Docket 58599
• Status: Published

Opinions

R. M. Maher, P.J.

Originally charged with second-degree murder, MCL 750.317; MSA 28.549, defendant pled guilty to manslaughter, MCL 750.321; MSA 28.553, pursuant to his plea agreement. In exchange for defendant’s plea, the prosecutor had agreed to reduce the charge to manslaughter. The trial court then informed defendant that if he accepted the prosecutor’s offer it would sentence defendant to a maximum of 18 months incarceration. The trial court, however, had not read defendant’s presentence report before it offered defendant the year-and-a-half sentence. After reading it, the court apparently believed its original offer to be too generous and sentenced defendant to 5 to 15 years imprisonment. Reminded of its earlier agreement, the court allowed defendant to withdraw his plea. The defendant, however, declined to do so.

Defendant argues that he is entitled to specific performance of the sentence agreement. In People v Dixon, 103 Mich App 518; 303 NW2d 32 (1981), upon which defendant relies, a panel of this Court held that a defendent may specifically enforce a trial court’s sentence agreement. I disagree with Dixon and hold that the defendant is not entitled to specific performance of his sentence agreement with a trial court.

Two central policy concerns must be considered by a court deciding whether a defendant is entitled to specific performance of a sentence agreement. First, a party to a contract is ordinarily entitled to the benefit of his bargain. Although permitting a defendant to withdraw his plea restores him to his original position, such a remedy is generally insufficient to fulfill the defendant’s "expectation interest” in the contract. It seems unfair to countenance an intentional breach of contract by a member of the judiciary, while at the same time insisting that any other party to a contract must ordinarily perform the obligations he or she has undertaken.¹ A system that permits trial judges to break their promises with impunity is likely to be perceived by the public, at best, as inconsistent and, at worst, as hypocritical.

This appearance of unfairness, however, is outweighed by society’s interest in individualized sentencing. In order to ensure individualized sentencing, judges must refrain from deciding what sentence to impose until they have reviewed the presentence report. As the Supreme Court stated in People v Triplett, 407 Mich 510, 513-515; 287 NW2d 165 (1980):

"In People v McFarlin, 389 Mich 557, 574; 208 NW2d 504 (1973), this Court emphasized its commitment to the principles that criminal punishment must fit the offender rather than the offense alone and that sound discretion must be exercised in sentencing matters. We stated:

" ’The modem view of sentencing is that the sentence • should be tailored to the particular circumstances of the case and the offender in an effort to balance both society’s need for protection and its interest in maximizing the offender’s rehabilitative potential. While the resources allocated for rehabilitation may be inadequate and some persons question whether rehabilitation can be achieved in the prison setting, this view of sentencing is the present policy of the state. A judge needs complete information to set a proper individualized sentence.’ (Emphasis supplied.) * * *

"To effectuate these goals, it is patent that sentencing inquiries must not be undertaken in a vacuum. Rather such inquiries must be guided by complete and detailed information regarding the offender if the sentence prescribed is to fulfill society’s dual goals of rehabilitation and protection. * * *

"The presentence report is a vital and necessary component of this effort to prescribe informed, individualized punishment in felony matters. * * * Indeed, unlike its discretionary predecessor, 1927 PA 175, ch XI, § 14, the present act mandates that '[b]efore sentencing any person charged with a felony, * * * the probation officer shall inquire into the antecedents, character and circumstances of such person or persons, and shall report thereon in writing to such court or magistrate’. "(Emphasis supplied.) MCL 771.14; MSA 28.1144. * * * In People v Brown, 393 Mich 174, 181; 224 NW2d 38 (1974), this Court explicitly recognized the critical importance of such a document in our holding that sentence may not be pronounced without the aid of a presentence report. It was further held that such a report may not be waived 'even if the prosecutor, judge and defendant deemed it expedient in a particular case’ to do so. Id., 181. Our case law and statutory pronouncements therefore clearly attest to the pivotal significance of both 'the presentence investigation and report in the development of individualized sentencing determinations.”

A trial judge who enters into a binding sentence agreement before reviewing the presentence report has effectively abandoned his obligation to the public and the defendant to make the punishment fit the criminal as well as the crime. The instant case illustrates the danger inherent in allowing trial courts to decide upon a sentence before reviewing the presentence report. Here, a defendant with two prior felony convictions was promised an 18-month prison term for taking the life of a fellow human being by stabbing him with a knife. Such a disposition would have undoubtedly added to the sense of injustice shared by those who are currently serving lengthy prison terms for committing victimless, malum prohibitum crimes.

I hold that a sentence bargain is unenforceable by the defendant unless the trial court has reviewed an updated presentence report before entering into the agreement. If the trial court promises the defendant a particular sentence before it reviews the presentence report, the defendant has the right to withdraw his plea if the court breaks its promise but is not entitled to specific performance.

Since in the case at bar the trial court promised the defendant an 18-month sentence before it reviewed the presentence report, the defendant is not entitled to specific performance.

The defendant, however, is not without a remedy. After learning that the trial court would not fulfill its sentence agreement the defendant had the right to withdraw his plea. The trial court gave the defendant an opportunity to exercise this right, but the defendant, after conferring with his attorney, declined to do so. Defendant’s refusal to withdraw his plea was not a waiver of this right. Quite understandably, the defendant insisted that the trial court comply with this Court’s decision in People v Dixon, supra, by imposing the agreed-upon sentence.² The defendant should not be penalized for failing to predict that the present panel of this Court would not follow Dixon. Now that this Court has declined to follow Dixon, the defendant must be given another opportunity to withdraw his plea.

Remanded to the lower court to permit the defendant to withdraw his plea.

1 Of course, specific performance is only required where the remedy at law — damages—is inadequate. It is safe to say that an award of damages would be inappropriate in the present context.

2 Dixon was decided on February 4, 1981, and the trial court promised the defendant an 18-month sentence on March 2, 1981. However, the record does not show that the trial court was aware of the Dixon case.