People v. Henry

305 Mich. App. 127

• Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
• Decided: May 8, 2014
• Docket: Docket Nos. 306449 and 308963
• Status: Published

Opinions

AFTER REMAND

BORRELLO, P.J.

In these consolidated appeals, in Docket No. 308963, defendant appeals as of right his jury-trial convictions on four counts of armed robbery, MCL 750.529. In Docket No. 306449, defendant appeals as of right his conviction on one count of armed robbery, MCL 750.529. The trial court joined the cases and both were tried before the same jury. The trial court sentenced defendant as a fourth-offense habitual offender, MCL 769.12, to 216 to 420 months’ imprisonment for each conviction. We previously remanded this case to the trial court for an evidentiary hearing to develop a factual record to allow us to address defendant’s Fourth Amendment challenge and his claim of ineffective assistance of counsel.¹ On remand, the trial court conducted an evidentiary hearing and affirmed defendant’s convictions. Having an adequate factual record to facilitate our review, for the reasons set forth in this opinion, we affirm defendant’s convictions and sentences.

Defendant’s convictions arise out of a series of armed robberies that occurred at the L & L Gas Express in Lansing on November 16, November 17, November 20, and December 2, 2010, and one armed robbery that occurred at a nearby Quality Dairy on December 2, 2010. A detailed overview of the relevant facts is set forth in our previous opinion and we need not repeat it here. See People v Henry, unpublished opinion per curiam of the Court of Appeals, issued December 5, 2013 (Docket Nos. 306449 and 308963). The police ultimately arrested defendant on December 5, 2010, at an apartment complex located near the L & L Gas Express after entering an apartment without a warrant. We remanded this case to the trial court to develop a factual record concerning the entry without a warrant and concerning trial counsel’s decision not to raise a Fourth Amendment challenge. Id. The following is an overview of the evidence that was introduced at the evidentiary hearing:

On December 4, 2010, Lansing Police Officer Aaron Terrill responded to a call from an anonymous man in the parking lot of the L & L Gas Express. The man offered information about recent armed robberies in the area. The anonymous man told the officer that the robberies were committed by another man with whom he had smoked crack cocaine at 1100 Dorchester, Apartment 104, two nights before. He told the officer that the suspect was in the apartment at that moment.

Officer Terrill went to Apartment 104 at 1100 Dorchester. He walked around the outside of the building and looked at the windows and doors. Officer Terrill saw no signs of forced entry or anything out of the ordinary. He contacted his supervisor, Sergeant Lee Curtis, and advised him of the situation. Sergeant Curtis told Officer Terrill that he had no authority to enter the apartment, so Officer Terrill left.

The next day at around 11:45 a.m., Officer Terrill was patrolling when he heard a call over the radio about a larceny or robbery at Jackie’s Diner, at 3812 Martin Luther King Boulevard. The restaurant was 0.3 miles from 1100 Dorchester. Officer Terrill radioed other police units about the information he learned the previous day and advised them “that they may want to head to 1100 Dorchester, 104.”

Lansing Police Officer Ellen Larson was one of the officers dispatched to Jackie’s Diner. The time of the incident was 11:45 a.m., according to her police report. She spoke to three or four witnesses. Officer Larson learned that the suspect had been in the restaurant for a long time. At one point, the suspect went into the bathroom. When he came out, he went to the counter and paid $5 for his bill. The suspect told the cashier that there was a problem in the bathroom. The cashier left the cash register and went into the bathroom. The suspect then took a cash drawer from the register. Officer Larson radioed a description of the suspect to other officers, including that the suspect was an African-American male wearing a black puffy coat.

Four witnesses to the incident at Jackie’s Diner left the restaurant and drove around the area looking for the suspect. They spotted him leaving an auto parts store on Martin Luther King at Mary Street, about a quarter of a mile from Jackie’s Diner. The suspect got into a car and drove away. The witnesses followed the vehicle to 1100 Dorchester. They remained in telephone contact with the police dispatcher and provided the suspect’s license plate information. The dispatcher conveyed the witnesses’ information to Lansing Police Officers Rachael Bahl and Jason Pung. The officers proceeded separately to 1100 Dorchester.

Officers Bahl and Pung met the witnesses at the Dorchester apartments. Officer Pung arrived first. The witnesses said that they saw the suspect pull his car into the driveway behind the apartment building. He got out of the car and disappeared down a flight of stairs to the bottom level of the building. Officer Bahl radioed the information from the witnesses to other officers, who proceeded to the apartment building.

The Dorchester apartments are a “rundown multilevel, multiunit complex” with two or three floors. The ground-floor apartments are slightly below ground level, or “somewhat underground.” Access to the units is provided through exterior doors, similar to the design of a motel.

Officer Pung established a point of containment to prevent the suspect from escaping if he was still in the area. The officer received information from the police dispatcher that the suspect may have gone to Apartment 104. Apartment 104 was in the 1100 building, on the ground level, in the same area that the witnesses had indicated. The place from which the suspect disappeared from view is the hallway area that leads to Apartment 104.

Lansing Police Sergeant Joe Brown supervised the operations of the officers responding to the incident at Jackie’s Diner. Sergeant Brown became involved in the investigation at approximately 11:55 a.m., when he received radio information directing him to Apartment 104. Sergeant Brown arrived at the apartment within a half an hour of the time of the initial call from Jackie’s Diner.

Officer Pung stood on the left (hinge) side of the door to Apartment 104, with other officers behind him. Sergeant Brown stood to the right of the door. Officer Pung knocked and announced, “Lansing Police” several times. He received no response. Sergeant Brown noticed that the window to the right of the door was slightly open, about an eighth of an inch. He saw pry marks in the lower-left part of the metal frame. The pry marks suggested that a forced entry had occurred. The window blinds were closed. Sergeant Brown pulled on the window, which slides from left to right, to see if it was locked, and the window opened completely. The location and size of the window would have allowed a person to easily step through the window into the apartment.

Sergeant Brown provided cover while Officer Pung reached through the open window and unlocked the deadbolt lock on the apartment door. The officers entered the apartment through the door. They performed a protective sweep of the apartment and found defendant and Mark Aimery in a back bedroom.

Mark Aimery was the person suspected of committing the theft at Jackie’s Diner.² Lansing Police Officer Ryan Wilcox was one of the officers involved in the sweep of the apartment. He arrived at the apartment building at 11:55 a.m. Officer Wilcox spoke with defendant. Officer Wilcox observed that defendant and Aimery were in the process of or had just finished smoking crack cocaine. A black puffy coat was on the couch. Aimery was arrested.

Defendant was detained. A few hours later, a search warrant for the apartment was obtained and executed.

At the evidentiary hearing, Sergeant Brown testified that when he entered the apartment, he was concerned for the safety of persons inside the apartment. He knew that a felony suspect was in the area and he saw pry marks that could have been fresh, suggesting a forced entry. Sergeant Brown also had information from Officer Terrill about Apartment 104. When the sergeant discovered that the window was unsecure, he “felt it appropriate just to make sure that everybody was okay inside and the apartment was secure.” Because the blinds were closed, Sergeant Brown was unable to see into the apartment to discern whether someone had gained entry or whether there was damage inside the apartment.

Sergeant Brown was asked about his written report, which did not mention pry marks on the window frame, and his statement in the report: “I could not determine if the window had damage from forced entry, due to the vertical blinds getting in the way.” He explained that his reference to not seeing damage pertained to his inability to see into the apartment. The blinds in the window prevented him from assessing whether there was damage or forced entry to the interior of the apartment. Sergeant Brown testified “that it would have been better to articulate that [in the police report]. But I’m clear in my memory that the damage was there on the outside.”

Sergeant Brown identified photographs of the exterior of the apartment building that were taken on December 5, 2010, after the police entered and secured the apartment. The photographs showed the partially open window of Apartment 104. Sergeant Brown testified that except for the degree to which the window was open, the photos accurately depicted what he saw when he arrived at the apartment.

Officer Terrill was shown a photograph of the window of Apartment 104. Officer Terrill recognized the window. He testified that the photograph depicted pry marks on the lower side around the window. He testified that when he observed the window on December 4, 2010, he saw no damage around the window, “there was nothing.”

Officer Pung testified that when he responded to the area of Jackie’s Diner, “the initial call was a robbery. It was later determined to be more of a snatch and grab larceny.” The officer testified that at the apartment, he was concerned about the open window. His experience led him to believe that the apartment was in a high crime area where people do not normally leave windows open. Knowing that a suspect had fled from Jackie’s Diner, Officer Pung was “concern[ed] that someone may have entered unlawfully and that the security needed to be checked.”

Officer Bahl clarified that she was not dispatched to Jackie’s Diner. She responded to check the area, and then proceeded to the Dorchester apartments, while other officers were at the restaurant talking to witnesses. Officer Bahl testified that the length of time from when she first heard the radio report of an incident at Jackie’s Diner to when she was actually speaking to the witnesses at the apartment was no greater than 15 minutes. Officer Bahl said that she was in the immediate area “and information was being relayed to everybody.” “[T]here were numerous officers involved at different locations, information being relayed[.]” Officer Bahl had been involved in some of the earlier investigations of the L & L gas station robberies, which occurred one block south of the apartment building.

Defense counsel elicited testimony from Officers Bahl and Larson that the police had no information that the incident at Jackie’s Diner involved the use of a weapon or threats. However, Officer Bahl clarified that her discussions with the witnesses who followed the suspect pertained only to what they saw after leaving the diner; she did not interview them about what occurred at the diner.

The trial court determined that the entry was proper under the “exigent circumstances exception” to the warrant requirement and that trial counsel was not ineffective by failing to raise a Fourth Amendment challenge.

I. ENTRY WITHOUT A WARRANT

Defendant argues that the police were not justified in entering the apartment without a warrant and claims that the evidence seized during the entry, including clothing that matched clothing worn by the perpetrator of the armed robberies, should have been suppressed.

We review de novo a trial court’s ruling on a motion to suppress evidence. People v Williams, 472 Mich 308, 313; 696 NW2d 636 (2005). The trial court’s factual findings are reviewed for clear error, People v Hyde, 285 Mich App 428, 436; 775 NW2d 833 (2009), and the underlying constitutional issues, including whether a Fourth Amendment violation occurred, are reviewed de novo. People v Gillam, 479 Mich 253, 260; 734 NW2d 585 (2007).

The United States and the Michigan Constitutions guarantee the right to be secure against unreasonable searches and seizures. US Const, Am IV; Const 1963, art 1, § 11; People v Jenkins, 472 Mich 26, 31; 691 NW2d 759 (2005). “Generally, a search conducted without a warrant is unreasonable unless there exist both probable cause and a circumstance establishing an exception to the warrant requirement.” People v Snider, 239 Mich App 393, 407; 608 NW2d 502 (2000) (quotation marks and citation omitted). “One of the exceptions to the Fourth Amendment warrant requirement is the so-called ‘exigent circumstances’ exception.” People v Cartwright, 454 Mich 550, 558; 563 NW2d 208 (1997). “ ‘Hot pursuit’ is a form of ‘exigent circumstances.’ ” People v Rayhon, 125 Mich App 295, 301; 336 NW2d 782 (1983), citing Warden v Hayden, 387 US 294; 87 S Ct 1642; 18 L Ed 2d 782 (1967). “Under the hot pursuit exception, an officer may chase a suspect into a private home when the criminal has fled from a public place.” Smith v Stoneburner, 716 F3d 926, 931 (CA 6, 2013), citing Warden, 387 US at 294, 298-299. Other recognized exigencies include the need to prevent the imminent destruction of evidence, to preclude a suspect’s escape, and where there is a risk of danger to the police or others inside or outside a dwelling. Cartwright, 454 Mich at 558. In the absence of hot pursuit, the police must have probable cause to believe that at least one of the other three circumstances exists, and the gravity of the crime and the likelihood that a suspect is armed should be considered. Id. The validity of a search without a warrant ultimately turns on the reasonableness of the search, as perceived by the police. Id. at 561.³

Under the unique facts and circumstances of this case, we conclude that the trial court did not err by holding that the officers’ entry into the apartment was reasonable. The police were pursuing a fleeing felon from a public place. Witnesses from Jackie’s Diner spotted the suspect coming from the auto parts store in the area and followed him to the apartment building. They were in constant contact with the police dispatcher, and the dispatcher relayed their information to the police officers on the ground. The witnesses directed the officers to the area of the apartment building where the witnesses had observed the fleeing suspect descend the stairs and disappear. Their information provided support for a belief that the suspect had gone into Apartment 104. The officers had information from Officer Terrill that the suspect in the string of armed robberies was staying in Apartment 104. Notably, the evidence established that the entry occurred just 10 or 15 minutes after the initial report of the incident at Jackie’s Diner at 11:45. Officer Bahl was already in the process of interviewing the witnesses at the apartment building within 15 minutes of receiving the information at 11:45 a.m., and she arrived after Officer Pung. Officer Wilcox and Sergeant Brown arrived at the apartment at 11:55. In light of the short distance between the restaurant and the apartment, and the rapidity with which the events unfolded, entry was proper under the hot pursuit exception to the warrant requirement. See Warden, 387 US at 294.

In addition, other exigencies supported the officers’ entry into the apartment. Not only did the officers have reason to believe that the fleeing suspect was in Apartment 104, they also had reason to believe that he might have broken into the apartment, putting innocent people in danger. Cartwright, 454 Mich at 558. Sergeant Brown’s observation of fresh pry marks on the frame of the window of Apartment 104, and the small opening of the window, raised his and Officer Pung’s concerns about a possible break-in. The sergeant testified that the pry marks looked fresh, which is consistent with Officer Terrill’s testimony that he saw no damage to the window frame of Apartment 104 when he was there the previous day. Sergeant Brown explained the alleged discrepancy in his police report about window damage, and the trial court found him to be credible. Photographs taken on December 5, 2010, depict marks on the window frame, which further support his testimony. Furthermore, as the trial court noted, the cash taken from the restaurant was evidence that could have easily been destroyed. Id.

Defendant argues that the police had no basis to believe that the fleeing suspect was armed and dangerous. He emphasizes that the theft at Jackie’s Diner was not an armed robbery. It was a taking of cash from an unattended cash register without a weapon or threats. However, Officers Pung and Terrill testified that the initial radio dispatch to Jackie’s Diner indicated that a larceny or robbery had occurred. Also, the police had information from Officer Terrill about the anonymous tip that the person who had committed several armed robberies in the area was staying at Apartment 104 of the Dorchester apartments. That fact gave the police reason to be concerned about weapons in Apartment 104, regardless of whether the Jackie’s Diner suspect used a weapon and regardless of whether the police believed that that person was the same person who committed the armed robberies.

The hearing on remand addressed the questions and concerns we raised in our prior opinion. Relevant items that previously were outside the record and not appropriate for consideration were admitted at the hearing and are now part of the record. The trial court’s findings were detailed, thorough, and supported by the testimony and exhibits at the hearing. The trial court did not clearly err by making its findings of fact nor did it err by concluding that the entry without a warrant was lawful.

II. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL

Defendant argues that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance.

Whether a defendant was deprived of the effective assistance of counsel presents a mixed question of fact and constitutional law. People v LeBlanc, 465 Mich 575, 579; 640 NW2d 246 (2002). We review the trial court’s factual findings, if any, for clear error, while constitutional determinations are reviewed de novo. Id.

In order to demonstrate that he or she was denied the effective assistance of counsel under either the federal or the state constitution, a defendant must, first, show that trial counsel’s performance was “deficient” and, second, show that the “deficient performance prejudiced the defense.” People v Carbin, 463 Mich 590, 599-600; 623 NW2d 884 (2001) (quotation marks and citation omitted). “To demonstrate prejudice, the defendant must show the existence of a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s error, the result of the proceeding would have been different.” Id. at 600.

Defendant argues that counsel was ineffective for failing to move to suppress evidence the police seized in the apartment following the entry without a warrant. As discussed already, the entry without a warrant was lawful and a motion to suppress evidence obtained as a result of the entry would have been futile. Counsel is not ineffective for failing to advance a meritless position or make a futile motion. People v Fonville, 291 Mich App 363, 384; 804 NW2d 878 (2011).

In a Standard 4 brief, see Administrative Order No. 2004-6, 471 Mich c (2004), defendant contends that counsel was ineffective as a result of failing to make “mandatory pre-investigations,” failing to locate and question alibi witnesses, and failing to make “appropriate objections.” However, defendant fails to articulate, and the record does not reveal, what “preinvestigations” counsel should have made or who the alleged alibi witnesses were, what testimony they could have offered, or how their testimonies would have made any impact at trial. Similarly, defendant does not articulate what objections counsel should have made or how any additional objections would have affected the outcome of the proceeding. Accordingly, defendant has abandoned his argument for review. See People v Kelly, 231 Mich App 627, 640-641; 588 NW2d 480 (1998) (“An appellant may not merely announce his position and leave it to this Court to discover and rationalize the basis for his claims, nor may he give only cursory treatment with little or no citation of supporting authority.”).

III. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE

Defendant contends that there was insufficient evidence to support his conviction for the November 20, 2010, robbery at the L & L Gas Express.⁴ Specifically, defendant contends that the prosecution failed to prove that he assaulted Kelly Buell, the gas station attendant.

We review de novo a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence. People v Ericksen, 288 Mich App 192, 195; 793 NW2d 120 (2010). In conducting our review, we review the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution to determine whether “a rational trier of fact could find that the evidence proved the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” People v Harverson, 291 Mich App 171, 175; 804 NW2d 757 (2010).

“The essential elements of an armed robbery are (1) an assault, and (2) a felonious taking of property from the victim’s person or presence, while (3) the defendant is armed with a weapon described in the statute.” People v Allen, 201 Mich App 98, 100; 505 NW2d 869 (1993). “The offense of assault requires proof that the defendant made either an attempt to commit a battery or an unlawful act that places another in reasonable apprehension of receiving an immediate battery.” People v Watkins, 247 Mich App 14, 33; 634 NW2d 370 (2001). A battery is “an intentional, unconsented and harmful or offensive touching of the person of another, or of something closely connected with the person.” People v Starks, 473 Mich 227, 234; 701 NW2d 136 (2005) (citations and quotation marks omitted).

Here, defendant argues that there was insufficient evidence to show that he attempted to commit a battery against Buell or that he put Buell in reasonable apprehension of being battered. Buell testified that defendant stated “give it to me,” and then when she asked for clarification he said, “you know the deal. Give me the money. Hurry up, you have two seconds.” Buell testified that she knew about the prior robberies and that she understood what defendant meant when he stated, “you know the deal.” A trier of fact could have concluded that it was reasonable for Buell to infer that defendant was referring to the previous robberies when he stated, “you know the deal,” and that defendant was threatening violence when he told Buell that she had “two seconds.” The fact that Buell did not see the scissors defendant was carrying until he was leaving the building would not preclude a rational juror from finding that Buell had a reasonable fear or apprehension of an offensive touching if she did not comply with defendant’s demand. Watkins, 247 Mich App at 33. Moreover, Buell testified that she was afraid defendant was going to come back because she only gave him a small amount of money and her purse was on the counter. In sum, there was sufficient evidence to allow a rational juror to convict defendant of committing the armed robbery on November 20, 2010, beyond a reasonable doubt.

IV WAIVER OF MIRANDA RIGHTS

Defendant next argues that the trial court erred by allowing the prosecutor to introduce evidence of statements he made to the police during a custodial interrogation. Defendant contends that the waiver he signed during the interrogation was invalid because the police did not scrupulously honor his unambiguous assertion of his right to remain silent. Defendant preserved this issue for review by filing a pretrial motion to suppress the statements. People v Aldrich, 246 Mich App 101, 113; 631 NW2d 67 (2001).

“Statements of an accused made during custodial interrogation are inadmissible unless the accused voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently waived his or her Fifth Amendment rights.” People v Gipson, 287 Mich App 261, 264; 787 NW2d 126 (2010), citing Miranda v Arizona, 384 US 436, 444; 86 S Ct 1602; 16 L Ed 2d 694 (1966). “We review de novo a trial court’s determination that a waiver was knowing, intelligent, and voluntary.” Gipson, 287 Mich App at 264. However, we review a trial court’s factual findings on a motion to suppress for clear error. Hyde, 285 Mich App at 436. To the extent we find that constitutional error has occurred, “[w]e review preserved issues of constitutional error to determine whether they are harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.” People v Dendel (On Second Remand), 289 Mich App 445, 475; 797 NW2d 645 (2010). “A constitutional error is harmless if [it is] clear beyond a reasonable doubt that a rational jury would have found the defendant guilty absent the error.” Id. at 475 (quotation marks and citations omitted).

A criminal defendant enjoys safeguards against involuntary self-incrimination during custodial interrogations. Michigan v Mosley, 423 US 96, 99-100; 96 S Ct 321; 46 L Ed 2d 313 (1975); Miranda, 384 US at 444. Included within these safeguards is the right to remain silent during custodial interrogation and the right to cut off police questioning. Mosley, 423 US at 103-104. A defendant may assert his or her right to remain silent at any time, id. at 100, however, the assertion must be unequivocal. People v Davis, 191 Mich App 29, 36; 477 NW2d 438 (1991). When a defendant invokes his or her right to remain silent, the police must “scrupulously honor” the defendant’s request. Mosley, 423 US at 103-104. The police fail to “scrupulously honor” a defendant’s invocation of the Fifth Amendment right “by refusing to discontinue the interrogation upon request or by persisting in repeated efforts to wear down his resistance and make him change his mind.” Id. at 105-106.

If the individual indicates in any manner, at any time prior to or during questioning, that he wishes to remain silent, the interrogation must cease. At this point he has shown that he intends to exercise his Fifth Amendment privilege; any statement taken after the person invokes his privilege cannot be other than the product of compulsion, subtle or otherwise. [Id. at 100.]

In this case, the police read defendant his Miranda rights and defendant acknowledged that he understood those rights. The police then had the following exchange with defendant;

[Detective Kim Kranich]: Okay. So you understand everything that I read to you?

[Defendant]: Yes.

[Detective]: Okay. Are you willing to give up those rights and make a statement to us at this time? Talk to us about what we’re, talk to us about what we’re doing?

[Defendant]: No sir.

[Detective]: So you don’t wanna talk to us?

[Defendant]: I mean you say give up the rights.

[Detective]: Well no, do you wanna give us, give us a statement at this time? You understand what I read to you.

[Defendant]: Yeah.

[Detective]: Those are all your rights.

[Defendant]: Yeah.

[Detective]: Now I’m asking do you wanna make a statement at this time, what we wanna talk to you about?

[Defendant]: Yeap, yes. I understand what you’re saying. Yeah, yeah.

[Detective]: Okay, okay. You wanna make a statement then and talk to us.

[Defendant]: Yes, I’ll make a statement yeah. [Detective]: Okay.

[Defendant]: But I’m not give [sic] up my rights am I?

[Detective Steven McClean]: If you’re uncomfortable about something or if you just simply don’t like us, you can say I’m done, okay. You can interrupt us for that matter, it’s no big deal. We just wanna set the matter straight. This has been coming on for some time.

[Defendant]: Okay. [Emphasis added.]

Defendant then signed a waiver form, waiving his rights, and then made incriminating statements. The trial court denied defendant’s motion to suppress the statements, holding that defendant knowingly waived his Fifth Amendment rights.

Having reviewed the record, we conclude that the trial court erred by holding that defendant unequivocally waived his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent. After the police read defendant his rights and asked him if he was willing to “give up those rights and make a statement,” defendant unequivocally stated “No sir.” In doing so, defendant asserted his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent.⁵ See Berghuis v Thompkins, 560 US 370, 382; 130 S Ct 2250; 176 L Ed 2d 1098 (2010) (a defendant can unambiguously assert the right to remain silent by stating that “he did not want to talk with the police”).

Instead of scrupulously honoring defendant’s assertion of his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, the police sought to assure defendant that he would not be giving up his rights by making a statement. Specifically, when defendant stated, “you say give up the rights,” the detective responded, “Well no, do you wanna give us, give us a statement at this time?” (Emphasis added). The detective informed defendant that his rights were on the form; then stated, “Now I’m asking do you wanna make a statement at this time, what we wanna talk to you about?” In doing so, the police distinguished the act of making a statement from the act of waiving the right to remain silent, when in fact, the two are inextricably linked. Indeed, before signing the waiver, defendant again sought assurance that he was not giving up his rights when he stated, “But I’m not give [sic] up my rights am I?” This response showed that defendant believed that he could make a statement without waiving his Fifth Amendment rights. The police did not respond by accurately informing defendant that by agreeing to talk, he was, in fact, waiving his Fifth Amendment rights. Instead, the police informed defendant that he could stop talking if he wanted to. In doing so, the police concealed from defendant the fact that agreeing to talk constituted a waiver of his constitutional rights. Only then did defendant agree to talk with the police and sign the waiver form. Because the police failed to scrupulously honor defendant’s initial assertion of his right to remain silent, and because the police subsequently led defendant to believe that he was not relinquishing his rights by agreeing to make a statement, the trial court erred by concluding that defendant knowingly and intelligently waived his Fifth Amendment rights. Mosley, 423 US at 100; Miranda, 384 US at 479.

Nevertheless, while the trial court erred by admitting defendant’s statements, we conclude that, given the untainted evidence in this particular case, admission of the statements was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Dendel, 289 Mich App at 475.

The admission of the incriminating statements as it related to the November 17 and November 20, 2010 robberies amounted to harmless error. Here, both victims of the robberies identified defendant as the perpetrator at trial. Richard Mellott, the gas station attendant who was robbed on November 17, and Buell testified that they saw defendant’s face during the robberies. Mellott testified that defendant wore a dark-colored coat with fur trim and Buell testified that defendant wore a gray hooded sweatshirt. The police found a similar coat and a gray/brown reversible hooded sweatshirt in the apartment that defendant occupied at the time of his arrest. As discussed already, this evidence was not obtained in violation of defendant’s Fourth Amendment rights. Further, Buell identified defendant in a police photographic array, stating that he was 90% certain that defendant was the robber. Independent of the police interview, this evidence standing alone was more than enough evidence for a jury to find beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant committed these robberies.

Similarly, the admission of the incriminating statements as it related to the December 2, 2010 Quality Dairy robbery was harmless error. Id. Tamara Miller and Taylor Hatz, the clerks, both testified that they could see defendant’s face during the robbery and they both testified that defendant committed the robbery. Berkley Watson, a customer, also identified defendant as an individual who was in the store at about the time of the robbery. In addition, Miller testified that defendant wore a dark hooded sweatshirt and Hatz testified that defendant wore a textured dark hooded sweatshirt. The police found a textured brown hooded sweatshirt in the apartment defendant occupied at the time of his arrest and an expert testified that the sweatshirt was probably the same one depicted on a surveillance video from the Quality Dairy.

With respect to the November 16 and December 2, 2010 L & L robberies, although Christopher Selover, the gas station attendant, did not identify defendant at trial, there was other significant evidence that would have allowed the jury to convict defendant beyond a reasonable doubt. Selover testified that the same man robbed him on November 16 and December 2. Selover testified that the perpetrator wore a black puffy coat on November 16, and the police found a black puffy coat in the apartment defendant occupied at the time of his arrest. Selover testified that the perpetrator wore a stocking cap with a small visor on it, which was similar to the hat that Mellott testified that defendant wore during the November 17 robbery. Selover testified that the perpetrator wore a camouflage coat with fur trim on December 2, and the police recovered a similar coat in the apartment where defendant was arrested. An expert testified that he was 99% sure that the coat found in the apartment matched the coat depicted in a surveillance video of the robbery and he identified nine unique matching characteristics. Furthermore, Selover testified that the perpetrator had previously entered the store wearing a dark-colored ice company uniform. David Bismack, the Lansing district manager for the Arctic Glacier Ice Company, testified that defendant had previously worked for Arctic Glacier, where he made deliveries and wore a dark-colored shirt with the company’s name on it.

In addition, the man who committed the November 16 robbery used the same modus operandi as the man who robbed Mellott in the same store on November 17. Mellott testified that defendant was the man who entered the store, asked for a Black & Mild brand cigar, and then pointed a gun and demanded money as Mellott turned to give defendant the cigar. Similarly, Selover testified that the man who robbed him on November 16 used the identical method to rob him. Selover testified that the man had a silver handgun and Mellott testified that defendant used a black and silver handgun. Furthermore, Selover testified that, during the December 2 robbery, the perpetrator stated, “you know what the f------ deal is,” which would allow a juror to infer that the man was the same man who had previously robbed Mellott and Buell —i.e., defendant, in accordance with their identification testimony. Finally, Selover testified that the perpetrator went toward the Dorchester apartments after the December 2 robbery, the apartment complex that was close to the L & L Gas Express and where the police ultimately arrested defendant several days later.

In sum, defendant is not entitled to reversal because admission of defendant’s statements was harmless since it is “clear beyond a reasonable doubt that a rational jury would have found the defendant guilty absent the error.” Dendel, 289 Mich App at 475 (quotation marks and citations omitted).

V RIGHT OF CONFRONTATION

Defendant raises two issues in a Standard 4 brief with respect to a confidential informant that the police relied on during their investigation. Specifically, before trial, defendant moved to compel the prosecution to disclose the identity of the confidential informant. The trial court denied the motion.

At trial, Detective Steven McClean testified that at the outset of his investigation, he spoke with the confidential informant. McClean testified that the informant “came forward with the defendant’s name.” However, following a defense objection that the testimony contained hearsay statements, the prosecutor withdrew the question. The trial court did not provide a curative instruction. McClean then testified that based on his conversations with the informant, he came to believe that defendant was responsible for the November 16 and November 17 robberies. McClean testified that he provided the informant $200 for “his assistance in both identifying the person involved and also for his assistance in locating him.” McClean testified that after he formed an opinion regarding who was responsible for the first two L & L robberies, he prepared photographic lineups to present to the victims. The trial court allowed the testimony over defense counsel’s hearsay objection on the ground that it was admissible to show how McClean proceeded with his investigation. During closing and rebuttal arguments, the prosecutor stated that there was significant identification evidence beyond that which the informant provided. Otherwise, the prosecutor did not refer to the informant.

Defendant initially contends that he was denied the right to confront the informant and thereby denied a fair trial.

Defendant failed to preserve this issue for review because he did not object on the same basis in the trial court. People v Grant, 445 Mich 535, 545, 553; 520 NW2d 123 (1994). Whether defendant was denied his right of confrontation involves a question of constitutional law that we review de novo. People v Fackelman, 489 Mich 515, 524; 802 NW2d 552 (2011). We review unpreserved constitutional issues for plain error affecting defendant’s substantial rights. People v Carines, 460 Mich 750, 763, 774; 597 NW2d 130 (1999). Under the plain-error rule, a defendant must show: “1) error . . . occurred, 2) the error was plain, i.e., clear or obvious, 3) and the plain error affected substantial rights.” Id. at 763. To show that an error affected substantial rights, a defendant must show that “the error affected the outcome of the lower court proceedings.” Id. If a defendant satisfies these three requirements, “[r] ever sal is warranted only when the plain, forfeited error resulted in the conviction of an actually innocent defendant or when an error seriously affect[ed] the fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial proceedings’ independent of the defendant’s innocence.” Id. at 763 (quotation marks and citation omitted).

The Confrontation Clause of the United States Constitution provides that “[i]n all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right... to be confronted by the witnesses against him[.]” US Const, Am VI. The Michigan Constitution also affords a defendant this right of confrontation. Const 1963, art 1, § 20; Fackelman, 489 Mich at 525. The Confrontation Clause concerns out-of-court statements of witnesses, that is, persons who bear testimony against the defendant. Id. at 528.

“As a rule, if an out-of-court statement is testimonial in nature, it may not be introduced against the accused at trial unless the witness who made the statement is unavailable and the accused has had a prior opportunity to confront that witness.” Bullcoming v New Mexico, 564 US_,_; 131 S Ct 2705, 2713; 180 L Ed 2d 610, 619 (2011). “To rank as ‘testimonial,’ a statement must have a ‘primary purpose’ of ‘establishing] or proving] past events potentially relevant to later criminal prosecution.’ ” Id. 564 US at_n 6; 131 S Ct at 2714 n 6; 180 L Ed 2d at 620 n 6, quoting Davis v Washington, 547 US 813, 822; 126 S Ct 2266; 165 L Ed 2d 224 (2006). The constitutional concern is out-of-court statements of witnesses, that is, persons “who bear testimony against a defendant.” Fackelman, 489 Mich at 528.

A statement by a confidential informant to the authorities generally constitutes a testimonial statement. However, the Confrontation Clause does not bar the use of out-of-court testimonial statements for purposes other than establishing the truth of the matter asserted. Thus, a statement offered to show the effect of the out-of-court statement on the hearer does not violate the Confrontation Clause. Specifically, a statement offered to show why police officers acted as they did is not hearsay. [People v Chambers, 277 Mich App 1, 10-11; 742 NW2d 610 (2007) (citations omitted).]

In this case, McClean’s testimony regarding the confidential informant’s out-of-court statements was improper. McClean testified that the confidential informant “came forward with the defendant’s name,” and that he came to believe that defendant was responsible for the November 16 and November 17 robberies on the basis of what the informant said, necessarily implying that the informant implicated defendant in the robberies. This testimony was not limited to show why McClean proceeded in a certain direction with his investigation. Id. Instead, the testimony necessarily implied that the informant accused defendant of the first two robberies and that McClean considered the informant credible. The primary purpose of these statements was to “establish!] or prov[e] past events potentially relevant to later criminal prosecution,” and as such, they were testimonial in nature. Bullcoming, 564 US at_ n 6; 131 S Ct at 2714 n 6; 180 L Ed 2d at 620 n 6 (quotation marks and citation omitted). Therefore, because defendant did not have a prior opportunity to cross-examine the informant, admission of the out-of-court statements was improper. Id. 564 US at_; 131 S Ct at 2713; 180 L Ed 2d at 619. Had McClean limited his testimony to an explanation that, on the basis of the information he received from the informant he proceeded in a certain direction with his investigation, it may have been admissible. See Chambers, 277 Mich App at 10-11. And, although the prosecutor “withdrew” his question regarding whether the informant identified the perpetrator, this did not cure the taint of the testimony because the trial court failed to instruct the jury not to consider McClean’s response. See People v Crawford, 458 Mich 376, 399 n 16; 582 NW2d 785 (1998) (noting that, “a limiting instruction will often suffice to enable the jury to compartmentalize evidence and consider it only for its proper purpose . . . .”) Nevertheless, defendant cannot show that the improper testimony affected his substantial rights because he cannot show that it affected the outcome of the lower court proceedings. Carines, 460 Mich at 763-764.

In this case, as discussed already, there was significant evidence that would allow a juror to convict defendant. Specifically, in regard to three of the five robberies, the victims testified that defendant was the perpetrator. In regard to the other two robberies, the perpetrator utilized the same modus operandi. In addition, Selover testified that the person who robbed him previously entered the store wearing an ice company uniform, and the evidence showed that defendant had previously worked for Arctic Glacier, a Lansing-area ice company, and had delivered ice to businesses while wearing the company’s uniform. Additionally, the police recovered clothing from the apartment where defendant was arrested that matched the clothing the perpetrator wore during the robberies. Finally, the prosecutor did not emphasize the informant’s statements during closing or rebuttal argument. On this record, defendant cannot show that the improper aspects of McClean’s testimony affected the outcome of the proceedings and, therefore, he is not entitled to a new trial on this basis. Id.

VI. DISCLOSURE OF THE CONFIDENTIAL INFORMANT

Next, in a supplemental Standard 4 brief, defendant argues that the trial court abused its discretion by denying his request to produce the informant. Defendant also argues that the identity of the confidential informant was material evidence that the prosecutor was obligated to disclose under Brady v Maryland, 373 US 83; 83 S Ct 1194; 10 L Ed 2d 215 (1963).

We review a trial court’s decision whether to order production of a confidential informant for an abuse of discretion. People v Poindexter, 90 Mich App 599, 608; 282 NW2d 411 (1979). “An abuse of discretion occurs when the court chooses an outcome that falls outside the range of reasonable and principled outcomes.” People v Mahone, 294 Mich App 208, 212; 816 NW2d 436 (2011). “This Court reviews de novo a defendant’s claim of a constitutional due-process violation.” People v Jackson, 292 Mich App 583, 590; 808 NW2d 541 (2011).

“Generally, the people are not required to disclose the identity of confidential informants.” People v Cadle, 204 Mich App 646, 650; 516 NW2d 520 (1994), overruled in part on other grounds People v Perry, 460 Mich 55, 64-65; 594 NW2d 477 (1999). However, when a defendant demonstrates a possible need for the informant’s testimony, a trial court should order the informant produced and conduct an in camera hearing to determine if the informant could offer any testimony beneficial to the defense. People v Underwood, 447 Mich 695, 705-706; 526 NW2d 903 (1994). Whether a defendant has demonstrated a need for the testimony depends on the circumstances of the case and a court should consider “the crime charged, the possible defenses, the possible significance of the informer’s testimony, and other relevant factors.” Id. at 705 (quotation marks and citation omitted).

In this case, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by finding that defendant failed to demonstrate a need for the informant’s testimony. Defendant fails to indicate how disclosure of the informant’s identity would have been beneficial to his defense. Here, even assuming defendant had access to the informant and called him as a witness at trial, the jury learned that the informant was paid for providing information and defendant cannot otherwise articulate how calling the informant at trial would have affected the outcome of the proceedings. While the informant gave information to the police that caused the police to focus their investigation on defendant, the witnesses who identified defendant from the crime scene were not basing their identifications on information from the informant. Rather, the witnesses identified defendant on the basis of their own observations at the time of the robberies. In short, the informant would not have offered any material or exculpatory evidence and the trial court did not abuse its discretion by denying defendant’s motion to produce the informant.

Similarly, defendant cannot show that the failure to produce the informant amounted to a Brady violation. The prosecution’s failure to disclose exculpatory or material evidence in its possession constitutes a due process violation regardless of whether a defendant requested the evidence. Brady, 373 US at 87; Jackson, 292 Mich App at 590-591. “[Undisclosed evidence will be deemed material only if it ‘could reasonably be taken to put the whole case in such a different light as to undermine confidence in the verdict.’ ” People v Lester, 232 Mich App 262, 282; 591 NW2d 267 (1998), overruled on other grounds People v Chenault, 495 Mich 142, 146 (2014), quoting Kyles v Whitley, 514 US 419, 435; 115 S Ct 1555; 131 L Ed 2d 490 (1995). Here, as discussed already, the informant would not have offered material or exculpatory evidence and failure to produce the informant did not undermine confidence in the verdict. Accordingly, there was no Brady violation.

VII. ARRAIGNMENT

In his supplemental Standard 4 brief, defendant argues that the trial court lacked subject-matter jurisdiction because defendant signed a waiver of arraignment before the preparation and filing of the information.

Defendant failed to preserve this issue for review because he did not raise it in the trial court. Grant, 445 Mich at 545. To obtain relief, defendant must show plain error that affected his substantial rights. Carines, 460 Mich at 763-764.

Defendant, represented by counsel, waived arraignment on December 29, 2010. On the waiver form, defendant acknowledged having reviewed the information and that he understood the nature of the charges against him. The information indicates that it was filed on January 12, 2011 (i.e., after defendant waived arraignment). Defendant contends that his waiver was invalid under MCR 6.113(B), which requires the prosecutor to “give a copy of the information to the defendant before the defendant is asked to plead.” Defendant argues that the prosecutor could not have provided him a copy of the information before he waived arraignment because that document was not filed until after the waiver.

“The purpose of an arraignment is to provide formal notice of the charge against the accused.” People v Waclawski, 286 Mich App 634, 704; 780 NW2d 321 (2009). In this case, although the information may have been filed in court after defendant waived arraignment, the record supports the conclusion that defendant had an opportunity to review the information before it was filed. Specifically, on the waiver form defendant acknowledged that he had read the information and understood the charges against him. Merely because the prosecutor had not filed the information did not deprive defendant of the opportunity to review the information before he waived the arraignment. In addition, defendant attended the preliminary examination in this case. Thus, defendant was aware of the charges against him even though the trial court did not hold an arraignment. Accordingly, defendant cannot show prejudice. See People v Nix, 301 Mich App 195, 208; 836 NW2d 224 (2013) (“A showing of prejudice is required to merit relief for the failure to hold a circuit court arraignment.”).

Defendant argues that the invalid waiver deprived the circuit court of subject-matter jurisdiction. This argument lacks merit. “Subject matter jurisdiction concerns a court’s abstract power to try a case of the kind or character of the one pending and is not dependent on the particular facts of the case.” People v Lown, 488 Mich 242, 268; 794 NW2d 9 (2011) (quotation marks, citations, and some emphasis omitted). Here, the trial court had subject-matter jurisdiction over defendant. See Const 1963, art 6, §§ 1 and 13; MCL 600.151; MCL 600.601; MCL 767.1.

VIII. DUE PROCESS

Finally, in his supplemental Standard 4 brief, defendant argues that the police used “improper and unjust” identification methods during their investigation that violated his due process rights.

During his investigation, Detective McClean presented photographic lineups to Selover and Buell individually. Neither Selover nor Buell identified defendant in the first lineup. McClean then displayed a second lineup to Selover using a more recent photograph of defendant. The photographs in this second lineup were small. When Selover could not identify defendant, McClean showed Selover a large photograph of defendant and Selover identified defendant as the perpetrator with “100-percent” certainty. McClean then displayed another lineup to Buell using six large photographs including the large photograph of defendant. Buell identified defendant with “90-percent” certainty.

Defendant moved to suppress the identification testimony on the ground that the procedure was unduly suggestive. Following an evidentiary hearing, the trial court suppressed Selover’s identification testimony and refused to allow Selover to identify defendant at trial. The court reasoned that McClean tainted the second photographic lineup he showed to Selover when he displayed a large photograph of defendant next to small photographs of five other individuals. With respect to Buell, the trial court held that “the issue is nonexistent. She was never shown just one photograph. She was shown a collection of six large photographs and made an identification based on that.” At trial, Buell testified that she identified defendant in the photograph lineup and she identified defendant in court as the person who robbed her.

On appeal, defendant contends that the trial court erred. We review de novo a trial court’s ruling on a motion to suppress evidence. Williams, 472 Mich at 313. The trial court’s factual findings are reviewed for clear error, Hyde, 285 Mich App at 436, and the underlying constitutional issues are reviewed de novo. Gillam, 479 Mich at 260. To the extent that defendant raises issues that were not raised in the trial court, we review unpreserved constitutional issues for plain error affecting defendant’s substantial rights. Carines, 460 Mich at 763-764.

“A photographic identification procedure or lineup violates due process guarantees when it is so impermissibly suggestive as to give rise to a substantial likelihood of misidentification.” People v McDade, 301 Mich App 343, 357; 836 NW2d 266 (2013). The suggestiveness of a photographic lineup must be examined in light of the totality of the circumstances. Id.

As a general rule, physical differences between a suspect and other lineup participants do not, in and of themselves, constitute impermissible suggestiveness .... Differences among participants in a lineup are significant only to the extent they are apparent to the witness and substantially distinguish defendant from the other participants in the line-up.... It is then that there exists a substantial likelihood that the differences among line-up participants, rather than recognition of defendant, was the basis of the witness’ identification. [People v Kurylczyk, 443 Mich 289, 312; 505 NW2d 528 (1993) (opinion by GRIFFIN, J.) (quotation marks and citations omitted).]

Here, the only evidence of the photographic lineups admitted at trial concerned the lineups shown to Buell. Defendant has failed to articulate how those lineups were unduly suggestive. McClean showed Buell a lineup of six large photographs of individuals, including one of defendant. Buell identified defendant as the perpetrator. There was nothing about this lineup that was unduly suggestive. Buell explained that the photographs were all large, page-sized photographs of individuals. Defendant does not indicate any unique differences about his photograph that served to make the lineup unduly suggestive and there are none apparent on the record before us. Therefore, we cannot conclude that the trial court clearly erred by allowing Buell to offer identification testimony at trial.

Defendant raises several other ancillary arguments. He contends that the trial court erred by refusing to allow him to introduce evidence of the improper method McClean used in administering the lineup to Selover. However, had the court allowed that information, the jury would have been informed that Selover identified defendant in the lineup. This would have prejudiced defendant, and he moved, successfully, to exclude the evidence on that basis. He cannot now claim that the trial court erred by granting him the relief he requested. See People v Buie, 491 Mich 294, 312; 817 NW2d 33 (2012) (a defendant cannot harbor error as an appellate parachute). Moreover, the trial court did allow defendant to cross-examine the witnesses regarding their inability to identify defendant in the photographic arrays and defendant’s argument to the contrary lacks merit.

Defendant also argues that the identification procedure was improper because his name and photograph were broadcast on television before the preliminary examination. This argument fails. While Selover testified at the preliminary examination that he saw defendant’s photograph on television, Selover was precluded from identifying defendant at trial. Nothing in the record supports that Buell saw defendant on television. Defendant has failed to show error.

IX. CONCLUSION

Having reviewed the record, we conclude that, given the particular facts of this case, defendant was not denied his Fourth Amendment right to privacy or his Sixth Amendment right to the effective assistance of counsel. Additionally, there was sufficient evidence to support the jury’s conviction with regard to the November 20, 2010 armed robbery, the trial court did not err by denying defendant’s motion to produce the confidential informant, defendant was not prejudiced when he waived the arraignment, and defendant was not denied due process with respect to the identification testimony. However, the trial court erred in concluding that defendant waived his Miranda rights and McClean’s testimony concerning out-of-court statements made by an informant was improper and violated the Confrontation Clause. Nevertheless, on the specific record before us, for the reasons set forth in this opinion, we cannot conclude that these errors warrant reversal and a new trial.

Affirmed.

M. J. KELLY, J., concurred with BORRELLO, EJ.

1 People v Henry, unpublished opinion per curiam of the Court of Appeals, issued December 5, 2013 (Docket Nos. 306449 and 308963).

2 Aimery pleaded no contest to a charge of larceny in a building, MCL 750.360, for the theft at Jackie’s Diner. Aimery’s judgment of sentence was admitted at the hearing.

3 We previously determined that defendant has standing to challenge the entry without a warrant. See Henry, unpuh op at 5.

4 This offense was Count 7 of Ingham Circuit Court File No. 10-001265-FC.

5 The dissent contends that defendant did not unequivocally assert his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent when he responded, “No, sir,” when the police asked him if he was willing to give up his rights and make a statement. Notably, the dissent fails to articulate what part of the word “no” is equivocal. This is because there is nothing about the word “no” that is equivocal. “Equivocal” is defined, in relevant part, as “allowing the possibility of more than one meaning or interpretation ... ambiguous.” Random House Webster’s College Dictionary, (1997). The dissent fails to explain how responding “no” to a question allows for the possibility of more than one meaning or how it is deliberately ambiguous. For example, the dissent does not articulate what part of the word “no” means “yes,” “maybe,” “possibly,” or “perhaps.” Presumably this is because the word “no” is unambiguous. See id. (defining “no,” in relevant part, as “a negative expressing.. . denial, or refusal, as in response to a question or request... a denial or refusal”).