People v. Hernandez

200 N.W.2d 447, 41 Mich. App. 594, 1972 Mich. App. LEXIS 1351
CourtMichigan Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 27, 1972
DocketDocket 12554
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 200 N.W.2d 447 (People v. Hernandez) 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. Hernandez, 200 N.W.2d 447, 41 Mich. App. 594, 1972 Mich. App. LEXIS 1351 (Mich. Ct. App. 1972).

Opinion

McGregor, P. J.

Defendant Was charged, in a two-count information, with the offenses of kidnapping, MCLA 750.349; MSA 28.581, and rape, MCLA 750.520; MSA 28.788. He was convicted after a jury trial of the lesser included offense of felonious assault, MCLA 750.82; MSA 28.277, and of rape, MCLA 750.520; MSA 28.788.

Defendant was arrested pursuant to an arrest warrant based on a complaint signed by a detective with the Michigan state police as complaining witness. * 1 At the trial, prior to the taking of testi *596 mony, defendant made a motion to dismiss the complaint and the warrant:

"Mr. Bennett [defense counsel]: In the first place, your Honor, I would move at this time to dismiss the complaint and warrant in this matter, as well as have the information quashed. I would base this motion on this premise, your Honor:

"The complaint and information in this matter states that one Calvin Glassford is the complaining witness and the complainant. There is nothing indicated in the body of the complaint, if the court please, to show this is on his information and belief.

"Now, this is an unusual case in that there are two eyewitnesses in addition to the victim, so I’m not positive at this point that Calvin Glassford has no direct knowledge. However, I am assuming he does not, and if he does not, if the court please, I submit this is a faulty warrant. There is nothing to show that the examining magistrate questioned any other witnesses, as the statute requires, when the information and belief type of warrant is issued.”

The court denied defendant’s motion.

On appeal, the principal issue is whether the complaint, which is purported to be based on actual knowledge but is in reality based on information and belief, should have been dismissed, thereby divesting the court of jurisdiction to try the case.

Defendant concedes that the law of this state upholds the validity of a complaint which, while purporting to be based upon actual knowledge, is in reality based upon information and belief. Defendant contends, however, that if a complaint purports to be based upon personal knowledge and *597 is, in fact, based on information and belief, the allowance of such complaint amounts to condoning perjury and fraud, and thereby constitutes a denial of due process to the defendant.

In People v Mosley, 338 Mich 559, 563-564 (1953), the Court stated:

"The complaint upon its face purports to have been made upon the knowledge of Deputy Sheriff Zeiter. The following is stated therein:

" 'The complaint, on oath and in writing of Frank Zeiter, taken and made before me * * * who being duly sworn, says that heretofore, to-wit, on or about the 22d day of October, A.D. 1951, at the city of Flint, and in the county aforesaid, James Mosley did feloniously and unlawfully endeavor to incite and procure,’ et cetera.

"This Court, in People v Lynch, 29 Mich 274 [1874]; Potter v Barry Circuit Judge, 156 Mich 183 [1909]; and People v Czckay, 218 Mich 660 [1922], settled the question that a complaint which, upon its face, purports to be made upon the knowledge of the affiant, is a sufficient compliance with the statute, and that it is incompetent for a defendant, upon arraignment, to impeach the complaint by showing a lack of knowledge by the complaining witness. The positive statements made upon the oath of the complainant gives the magistrate jurisdiction to issue the warrant. The fact that 'it does not appear there was no examination of witnesses under oath,’ or that the complainant did not adhere to the truth, cannot avoid a warrant. People v Hare, 57 Mich 505 [1885], and People v Schottey, 66 Mich 708 [1887]. Jurisdiction having attached for the issuance of the warrant, it could not be later impeached. Potter v Barry Circuit Judge, supra. ”

Defendant cites Whiteley v Warden, Wyoming State Penitentiary, 401 US 560; 91 S Ct 1031; 28 L Ed 2d 306 (1971), in support of his contention that the complaint and the arrest warrant should have been dismissed. Defendant’s reliance on Whiteley, supra, is misplaced, as that case held that evidence *598 obtained from a search and seizure which was incident to an illegal arrest should not have been admitted into evidence. The Court did not hold, in Whiteley, that an illegal arrest divested the court of jurisdiction over the defendant; in fact, the conclusion was that

"Pursuant to our authority under 28 USC 2106, to make such disposition of the case 'as may be just under the circumstances’, we reverse the judgment of the Tenth Circuit and remand with directions that the writ [of habeas corpus] is to issue, unless the state makes appropriate arrangements to retry petitioner.” Whiteley, supra, p 569.

Once the court obtains jurisdiction over the defendant, proof of an invalid arrest warrant does not divest the court of jurisdiction.

"The universal rule appears to be that the manner in which a defendant is brought before a court is no bar to the court’s jurisdiction to try the case, nor may it successfully be set up as a bar to conviction. "(Emphasis added.) State v Keating, 108 NH 402; 236 A2d 684 (1967). See also People v Miller, 235 Mich 340 (1926); 5 Am Jur 2d, Arrests, § 116, p 796.

"Both Federal and Michigan cases uphold the power of a court to try a defendant regardless of the means used to bring him within the court’s jurisdiction. Ker v. Illinois (1886), 119 US 436 (7 S Ct 225, 30 L Ed 421); Lascelles v. Georgia (1893), 148 US 537 (13 S Ct 687, 37 L Ed 549); Frisbie v. Collins (1952), 342 US 519 (72 S Ct 509, 96 L Ed 541), reh den (1952), 343 US 937 (72 S Ct 768, 96 L Ed 1344); In re Little (1902), 129 Mich 454; People v. Mahler (1950), 329 Mich 155, cert den (1951), 340 US 949 (71 S Ct 529, 95 L Ed 684), cert den (1953), 345 US 943 (73 S Ct 837, 97 L Ed 1369).” People v Martin, 386 Mich 407, 424 (1971).

It should be noted that the detective who swore out the warrant in the instant case could have *599 arrested the defendant without the benefit of the arrest warrant. MCLA 764.15; MSA 28.874 provides:

"Any peace officer may, without a warrant, arrest a person * * * (c) When a felony in fact has been committed and he has reasonable cause to believe that such person has committed it; (d) When he has reasonable cause to believe that a felony has been committed and reasonable cause to believe that such person has committed it.”

To hold now that, by conscientiously seeking and obtaining a warrant, the officer could no longer effectuate a valid arrest would be an illogical if not an anomalous conclusion.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

People v. Ferrigan
302 N.W.2d 855 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1981)
People v. Szymanski
218 N.W.2d 95 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1974)
People v. Collins
217 N.W.2d 119 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1974)
People v. Hoffmeister
217 N.W.2d 58 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1974)
People v. Harden
207 N.W.2d 486 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1973)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
200 N.W.2d 447, 41 Mich. App. 594, 1972 Mich. App. LEXIS 1351, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-hernandez-michctapp-1972.