People v. Hooper

212 N.W.2d 786, 50 Mich. App. 186, 1973 Mich. App. LEXIS 902

• Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
• Decided: October 30, 1973
• Docket: Docket 12909
• Status: Published

Opinion

Targonski, J.

Defendant was convicted by a jury of the crime of larceny in a building 1 and sentenced to a prison term of three to four years.

The complaint charged the appellant took a mini-8 tape player; six tapes; a rear tape speaker; and a steering wheel knob. At the preliminary examination the prosecution moved to delete all items except the tape player from the complaint and the motion was granted.

At the trial, the complainant’s neighbors testified that they observed two men go to the complainant’s garage and the defendant standing outside the garage while the other man went inside. After approximately 45 minutes the other man emerged from the garage carrying what appeared to be a tape player. The witnesses further testified that the men started towards the neighbor’s home, but upon noticing that they were being observed, they threw what they were carrying over a fence and departed. The goods that were thrown over the fence were those that were originally listed in the complaint.

The defendant took the stand and testified that a gas station attendant, named "Bud”, told him that the complaining witness had stolen the defendant’s tape player. The defendant testified that he then went with a man named "Porky” to retrieve his recorder from the complainant’s garage. However, when "Porky” showed him the recorder that he had taken from the car, he realized it was not his recorder and told "Porky” to get rid of it and this is when the objects were thrown over the fence.

The first claim of error raised on appeál is that the information charged the defendant with larceny from a building but the trial court instructed the jury on aiding and abetting, despite the fact that he was not charged, in the information, as an aider and abettor. It is contended now that this procedure resulted in a denial of due process since he was not given notice of the nature of the charges against him.

We do not agree. It is well settled that an aider and abettor may be indicted, tried, and on conviction punished as a principal and no denial of due process results from charging an aider and abettor as a principal. People v Lamson, 44 Mich App 447; 205 NW2d 189 (1972); People v Palmer, 42 Mich App 549; 202 NW2d 536 (1972); People v Dockery, 20 Mich App 201; 173 NW2d 726 (1969); People v Weatherspoon, 6 Mich App 233; 148 NW2d 891 (1967).

The next claim of error concerns the instructions that were given to the jury. At the outset it must be noted that no objection was made in the trial court to the instructions and that as a general rule this precludes appellate review. People v Kinsman, 16 Mich App 611; 168 NW2d 422 (1969); People v Keiswetter, 7 Mich App 334; 151 NW2d 829 (1967). However, the trial judge must instruct as to all the essential elements of the crime and failure to object to an omission in this regard does not preclude appellate review. People v Miller, 35 Mich App 627; 192 NW2d 517 (1971).

The defendant’s first contention, with regard to these instructions is that although the trial court instructed that the taking must be with a "felonious intent” he never instructed that the intent must be simultaneous with the taking and that there must be an intent to permanently deprive the victim of his property. A reading of the entire instructions reveals that although the magic words were not used, the trial judge specifically stated that in order to find the defendant guilty he must have intended to deprive the complainant of his property. Furthermore, the trial court instructed that a larceny does not occur until the accused discovers the property is not his, and decides to take the property from its place. Thus, reviéwing the instructions in their entirety, we hold the trial court adequately informed the jury as to the meaning of "felonious intent”.

The defendant also contends that other instructions were ambiguous and misleading. On appellate review jury instructions must be read in their entirety and not solely as isolated sections or sentences. People v Dye, 356 Mich 271; 96 NW2d 788 (1959); People v Iron, 26 Mich App 235; 182 NW2d 342 (1970). A review of the instructions, when viewed in conjunction with the whole, were not ambiguous or misleading. People v Ely, 35 Mich App 390; 192 NW2d 662 (1971).

Finally, the defendant contends that the trial court directed a verdict as to a finding of fact. This contention is based on the trial judge’s statement that the tape player was not left on the premises, and even if it was, that fact would have no importance. However, there was no objection of this issue in the trial court, and absént a showing of manifest injustice, this precludes appellate review. People v Harper, 43 Mich App 500; 204 NW2d 263 (1972); People v Spaulding, 42 Mich App 492; 202 NW2d 450 (1972).

The correct rule with regard to whether the judge’s comment was improper in this case was stated in People v Wichman, 15 Mich App 110, 114; 166 NW2d 298, 301 (1968), as follows:

"We read these pronouncements of our Supreme Court to mean that the trial judge should not make known his views concerning disputed factual issues, the credibility of witnesses or the ultimate question about to be submitted to the jury.”

In the instant case, the comment made by the trial judge referred to asportation as an element of larceny. However, the ultimate question for the jury to determine was whether the defendant believed that the recorder was really his. Furthermore, there was no conflicting evidence as to whether the recorder was left on the premises. Under these circumstances, there was no error with respect to this comment.

The defendant next contends that the trial judge’s questioning of the defendant, in the pres ence of the jury, constituted reversible error. He claims that the judge revealed that the defendant had been previously arrested, and that the questions were in the form of cross-examination, from which the jury might have inferred that the judge did not believe him.

The questioning complained of occurred while the defendant was testifying and he stated that he had not been picked up until 1971. The court questioned the defendant concerning a court record which stated that he had been picked up in 1970. After having the defendant clarify this matter, the judge immediately ceased the questioning. No objection was made by the defendant to the questioning.

As a general rule, failure to make timely objection precludes appellate review. People v McIntosh, 34 Mich App 578; 191 NW2d 749 (1971); People v Roby, 38 Mich App 387; 196 NW2d 346 (1972). However, since appellate courts cannot condone manifest injustice, this Court can react, even in the absence of timely objection, to error which resulted in a denial of a fair trial. People v Bedsole, 15 Mich App 459; 166 NW2d 642 (1969); People v Roby, supra.

With respect to his second contention, the test to be applied in determining whether error resulted from the judicial questioning of witnesses is that if an examination of the record reveals that the veil of judicial impartiality was pierced by the trial judge, the case must be reversed. People v Wilson, 21 Mich App 36; 174 NW2d 914 (1969); People v Roby, supra. In the instant case, the questioning of the defendant covered two pages of the trial transcript which contained approximately 120 pages of testimony and was not conducted in a manner showing hostility or bias towards the appellant. The obvious and sole purpose of the questioning was to, clarify the defendant’s testimony and to resolve a conflict between the court record and his testimony. It is well within the trial court’s discretion to question witnesses in order to clarify conflicting testimony. People v Dumas, 25 Mich App 535; 181 NW2d 627 (1970); People v Saunders, 25 Mich App 149; 181 NW2d 4 (1970). Thus we cannot say that the veil of judicial impartiality was pierced, and therefore there was no miscarriage of justice.

The defendant also contends that it was error for the trial court to admit a statement made by him to the police where the police did not inform him prior to interrogation that the questioning would cease at his request. The record shows that he was adequately informed of all his other constitutional rights prior to any questioning.

This argument was rejected by this Court in People v Tubbs, 22 Mich App 549, 555-556; 177 NW2d 622, 625 (1970), wherein it was stated:

"We conclude that the foregoing reference to the fact that whenever an individual indicates his desire to remain silent, the questioning must cease, is a rule to govern the conduct of the proceedings and is not the setting out of a special warning requirement. The subject’s warning requirements at that point concerning his right to remain silent have already been given.”

See also People v Thomas Smith, 30 Mich App 34; 186 NW2d 61 (1971); People v Pantoja, 28 Mich App 681; 184 NW2d 762 (1970).

We are aware of this court’s decision in People v Jourdan, 14 Mich App 743; 165 NW2d 890 (1968), where it was held that a subject must be told that questioning will cease whenever he indicates. How ever, after a Careful reading of Miranda 2 we feel that the mentioning of the right to cease questioning was a procedural safeguard rather than a special warning requirement. Thus, we are in agreement with this Court’s reasoning in People v Tubbs, supra, and find no error.

The next claim of error raised on appeal is that the prosecutor’s conduct and remarks prejudiced the appellant and deprived him of a fair trial.

The first claim of prosecutorial misconduct is asking his witnesses questions which elicited inadmissible and misleading testimony. The primary complaint is that the prosecution asked leading and suggestive questions. A review of the record reveals that the prosecutor did ask several leading questions during the examination of witnesses. However, this Court does not believe a case should be reversed merely because a few technically improper questions are asked. In fact, it is hard to find a trial where every question is exactly proper. In order, to require a reversal some prejudice or patterns of eliciting inadmissible testimony must be shown. Neither of these are supported by the record in the instant case. Each time a technically improper question was asked, it was either withdrawn by the prosecution or the prosecution rephrased the question in proper form. We cannot discern a pattern of eliciting inadmissible testimony in the instant case. Furthermore, we cannot find any prejudice to the defendant by the few improper questions that were asked.

The defendant’s next claim of misconduct is that during the prosecution’s cross-examination of the appellant, he shifted the burden of proof. The misconduct complained of was the prosecutor’s statement that "It’s real convenient that today you can’t find them, isn’t it?” This comment concerned the defendant’s failure to call witnesses who he had stated could verify that he was told that the complainant had his tape player.

It is well settled that if a witness knows facts which will be helpful to a defendant in making his defense, and if he is competent and within the reach of the defendant, his failure to produce him ought properly to be a subject of comment by the prosecutor. People v Hunter, 218 Mich 525; 188 NW 346 (1922); People v Falkner, 36 Mich App 101; 193 NW2d 178 (1971), reversed on other grounds, 389 Mich 682 (1973). However, in some instances the manner in which the comment is made can be improper and whether such remarks constitute reversible error depends on the circumstances of the case. People v Flaugher, 228 Mich 101, 103; 199 NW 662, 663 (1924); People v McGarry, 136 Mich 316; 99 NW 147 (1904).

Here, this was the only comment made by the prosecution with regard to the defendant’s failure to call witnesses which he contended would testify that the appellant believed that the tape player in the complainant’s car belonged to him. Under these circumstances, we hold that the prosecutor’s comment was within the permissible scope of comment on a defendant’s failure to produce witnesses which are vital to his defense.

The defendant also claims that the prosecutor expressed his belief that the defendant was guilty. The basis for this contention was that during the cross-examination of the defendant by the prosecutor, the defendant asked him if he was trying to make him look like a liar. To this question the prosecutor answered in the affirmative. A review of the record reveals that there was no objection and that the suggestion that the appellant was lying was offered by the defendant without any solicitation by the prosecution. Under these circumstances, there was no error.

The defendant’s final claim of misconduct is that the prosecution missummarized the evidence during closing argument. However, since there was no objection in the trial court, this precludes appellate review on this issue.

The next contention raised by the defendant is that his conviction must be reversed due to the prosecutor’s repeated reference to prior misconduct which did not result in a conviction.

The defendant failed to object to any of the alleged improper questions and this precludes appellate review unless a manifest injustice is shown. People v Goodwin, 40 Mich App 709; 199 NW2d 552 (1972); People v Roby, supra.

The defendant’s first claim that the following examination of the complaining witness by the prosecution was improper.

"Prosecutor: Did you have a conversation with this defendant?

"Witness: Yes.

"Prosecutor: What did he say?

"Witness: He asked me, would I drop the charges on him? I said I couldn’t do that and then he asked would I say that I didn’t see him in the garage?”

The defendant contends that this testimony put before the jury evidence that he asked the complaining witness to commit two separate offenses— attempted obstruction of justice 3 and inciting or procuring one to commit perjury. 4 We agree with this contention but hold that under the circum stances present in the instant case, this questioning was proper.

The grounds on which this evidence is admissible has been commonly termed as being "consciousness of a weak case”. In 2 Wigmore, Evidence (3d ed), §278, p 120, the rule is stated as follows:

"It has always been understood — the inference, indeed, is one of the simplest in human experience — that a party’s falsehood or other fraud in the preparation and presentation of his cause, his fabrication or suppression of evidence by bribery or spoliation, and all similar conduct, is receivable against him as an indication of his consciousness that his case is a weak or unfounded one; and from that consciousness may be inferred the fact itself of the cause’s lack of truth and merit.”

Michigan has long followed this rule and held that evidence that a defendant has attempted to suppress testimony or induce perjury is admissible. People v Salsbury, 134 Mich 537; 96 NW 936 (1903); People v Adams, 162 Mich 371; 127 NW 354 (1910); People v Randall, 294 Mich 478; 293 NW 725 (1940). This Court recently reaffirmed this long-standing rule in People v Casper, 25 Mich App 1, 7; 180 NW2d 906, 909 (1970), wherein the rule was stated as follows:

"Michigan authority appears uniform in holding that actions by the defendant such as flight to avoid lawful arrest, procuring perjured testimony and attempts to destroy evidence, while possible as consistent with innocence as with guilt, may be considered by the jury as evidence of guilt.”

Thus, in the instant case there was no error in allowing this testimony since it was proper evidence for the jury to consider.

The defendant also contends that the prosecution’s reference to an incident where the defendant threw a rock at the complainant’s windshield was improper. This problem arose in People v Miniear, 8 Mich App 591, 598; 155 NW2d 222, 225 (1967), where a witness was asked if he had robbed a bar. In upholding the trial court’s decision in disallowing the question, this Court stated:

"The distinction may be close, but to ask a witness whether or not he is guilty of a particular crime exceeds the permissible bounds of cross-examination where the purpose is impeachment of credibility.”

However, this incident was brought out during the prosecution’s cross-examination of the defendant and was brought out by the defendant without any solicitation by the prosecution. After the defendant mentioned the incident, the prosecution only asked him two questions concerning the inch dent. Furthermore, throughout the trial the defendant was continually allowed to mention prior incidents where the complainant allegedly shot at him. This incident, offered by the defendant, was mere rebuttal. Thus, we cannot say that this questioning resulted in a miscarriage of justice.

The defendant also complains of the prosecution’s questions concerning his prior thefts. However, again there was no objection, the subject of stealing was opened by the defendant, the prósecution only asked four general questions, and the questions only dealt with the general subject of stealing and not any particular thefts. Therefore, we find that this questioning does not necessitate a reversal.

Finally, with regard to this issue, the defendant claims that it was error for the prosecution to mention the other items taken from the complain ant’s automobile since they had been deleted from the complaint. There was no objection made in the trial court and a review of the record reveals that no miscarriage of justice resulted from this questioning.

The final allegations of error concern the matters that were considered by the trial court in sentencing the defendant. The first question that must be considered, in this regard, is his contention that the appellate courts of this state should adopt a policy of granting appellate review of sentences. This contention was recently rejected in People v Malkowski, 385 Mich 244, 247; 188 NW2d 559, 561 (1971), wherein the limits of appellate review of sentences were stated as follows:

"The trial judge, and the trial judge alone, makes the decision as to what his sentence shall be. The length of sentence is not subject to review if within the limits of the lawful penalty. (MCLA § 769.24 [Stat Ann 1954 Rev § 28.1094]).”

The next contention is that the trial court considered improper matters when it was sentencing the defendant. The basis of this contention is the following statement made by the trial court at sentencing:

"He has a number of misdemeanors. They start out as felonies and they are reduced; felonious assault, reduced to assault and battery; an illegal entry, a year’s probation; attempted larceny under a hundred; one drunk on here; then he had some traffic troubles; another assault and battery; another assault and battery —these are only the convictions — another felonious assault, changed to use of an unregistered gun. I don’t know whether that time you got shot or whether someone else did, but I think it was changed to use of unregistered gun; another time larceny from an automobile, which was reduced to concealing stolen prop erty under $100; and skipping those that he was acquitted on, or not charged, or dismissed; larceny in a building, it says 60 days in jail, you must have taken a plea to simple larceny. I don’t know.

Mr. Fenner: It was an ordinance matter, I believe, your Honor.

The Court: Was it? Oh, under the city ordinance. Illegal entry. That’s all the convictions I can find. I find a raft of them, but most of them wound up as misdemeanors.”

Apparently, the claim of the defendant is that since he was convicted only of lesser included offenses of crimes he was arrested for, the trial judge had no right to consider the original crimes with which he was charged in determining the sentence to be imposed in the instant case.

A reading of the judge’s statement clearly shows that the references to the arrests for felonies which resulted in misdemeanor convictions arose out of the same transactions. Furthermore, there is nothing to indicate that the court considered any arrests. Quite to the contrary, the sentencing judge specifically stated that he was only considering convictions and not arrests. Under these circumstances, there was no error. People v Matthews (Docket No. 12473, decided June 29, 1972 [unreported]).

The defendant also claims that it was improper for the trial court to consider ordinance violation since this is not considered a crime.

It is well settled that a trial judge may consider factors other than those involved in the case before him. People v Camak, 5 Mich App 655; 147 NW2d 746 (1967); People v Peterson, 30 Mich App 215; 185 NW2d 915 (1971). Thus, whether the conviction was for an ordinance violation or a violation of a state statute makes little difference in the instant case. It would be impossible for this Court to determine from this record whether the ordinance violation was a "crime” since the exact violation is not set out and there is some doubt as to whether it was actually the violation of a municipal ordinance rather than some statutory violation.

Furthermore, there is nothing in the record to show any substantial reliance on this matter by the trial judge and in light of the abundance of more serious convictions, we find no need to reverse. People v Matthews, supra.

Finally, the defendant contends that his sentence of three to four years imprisonment violated the Supreme Court’s ruling in People v Tanner, 387 Mich 683; 199 NW2d 202 (1972). In Tanner, it was held that any sentence which provides for a minimum exceeding two-thirds of the maximum sentence is improper. In the instant case, the minimum sentence of three years exceeded two-thirds of the maximum and was in violation of Tanner.

Accordingly, the appellant’s minimum sentence is reduced from three years to two years and nine months.

Affirmed with sentence modified in accordance with this opinion.

McGregor, P. J., concurred. Bronson, J., concurred in the result.

1 MCLA 750.360; MSA 28.592.

2 Miranda v Arizona, 384 US 436; 86 S Ct 1602; 16 L Ed 2d 694; 10 ALR3d 974 (1966).

3 MCLA 750.505; MSA 28.773.

4 MCLA 750.425; MSA 28.667.