People v. McGee
This text of 761 N.W.2d 743 (People v. McGee) 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.
Opinion
Defendant Anthony McGee appeals as of right his jury conviction of carjacking 1 and assault with the intent to rob while armed. 2 The trial court sentenced McGee to concurrent terms of 5 to 20 years’ imprisonment. We affirm. We decide this appeal without oral argument. 3
I. BASIC FACTS
On March 5, 2007, at approximately 4:00 or 4:30 p.m., Roscoe Anderson was repairing a car in the parking lot of the apartment complex where he resided when McGee walked into the parking lot. McGee asked Anderson for a cigarette, and Anderson got into his vehicle to look for a cigarette in his coat pocket. McGee then reached into his coat, brandished a handgun, and told Anderson to “step out” of the car. Anderson felt surprised and threatened, and he complied with McGee’s request. McGee got into the car and drove to the end of the parking lot where he picked up his girlfriend and then left the scene. McGee and his girlfriend turned themselves in to the police several days later.
II. DOUBLE JEOPARDY
A. STANDARD OF REVIEW
McGee argues that his convictions of both carjacking and assault with the intent to rob while armed violate *682 the double jeopardy clauses of the state 4 and federal constitutions. 5 Because McGee raises these double jeopardy challenges for the first time on appeal, they are not preserved for appellate review. 6 However, a double jeopardy issue presents a significant constitutional question that will be considered on appeal regardless of whether the defendant raised it before the trial court. 7 We review an unpreserved claim that a defendant’s double jeopardy rights have been violated for plain error that affected the defendant’s substantial rights, that is, the error affected the outcome of the lower court proceedings. 8 Reversal is appropriate only if the plain error resulted in the conviction of an innocent defendant or seriously affected the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of the judicial proceedings. 9
B. ANALYSIS
Both the United States and the Michigan constitutions protect a defendant from being placed twice in jeopardy, or subject to multiple punishments, for the same offense. 10 “Judicial examination of the scope of double jeopardy protection under both constitutions is confined to a determination of legislative intent.” 11 And the validity of multiple punishments under the Michi *683 gan Constitution is determined under the federal Blockb urger 12 “same elements” standard. 13 If the Legislature clearly intended to impose multiple punishments, the imposition of multiple sentences is permissible regardless of whether the offenses have the same elements, but if the Legislature has not clearly expressed its intent, multiple offenses may be punished if each offense has an element that the other does not. 14 In other words, the test “emphasizes the elements of the two crimes.” 15 “ ‘If each requires proof of a fact that the other does not, the Blockburger test is satisfied, notwithstanding a substantial overlap in the proof offered to establish the crimes .. . .’ ” 16
In People v Parker, the defendant challenged his convictions of carjacking and armed robbery arising out of the same incident, arguing that these convictions violated his federal and state constitutional protections against double jeopardy. 17 The Court disagreed and affirmed his convictions, stating that the “[defendant's carjacking conviction stems from the taking of the automobile at gunpoint, whereas [the] defendant’s armed robbery conviction stems from the subsequent taking of the victim’s wallet and money at gunpoint.” 18 On the basis of this stated rationale, McGee argues that his case is factually distinct from Parker because he stole only the car instead of also stealing the victim’s *684 personal property. In other words, McGee argues that, because the targeted property was only the car itself, both of his convictions are supported by entirely the same evidence and, thus, are violative of the double jeopardy protections. We disagree.
In Parker, the Court differentiated the elements of the two crimes, stating, “It is clear from the language of the carjacking statute that the Legislature intended to prohibit takings accomplished with force or the mere threat of force. In contrast, it is clear from the language of the armed robbery statute that the Legislature intended to prohibit takings accomplished by an assault and the wielding of a dangerous weapon.” 19 Here, although the jury convicted McGee of assault with intent to rob while armed, rather than armed robbery, as in Parker, the same logic applies. 20 The carjacking statute has no requirement that a weapon be used. 21 In contrast, the assault with the intent to rob while armed statute does have as a requirement the use of a *685 weapon. 22 Also, the assault with the intent to rob while armed statute does not require the larceny of a motor vehicle, as does the carjacking statute. While there may indeed be substantial overlap between the proofs offered by the prosecution to establish the crimes, the prosecution must nevertheless prove different elements under these statutory provisions. Moreover, the Legislature specifically authorized two separate convictions arising out of the same transaction in the carjacking statute. 23 Therefore, it is clear that the Legislature intended to separately punish a defendant convicted of both carjacking and assault with the intent to rob while armed, even if the defendant committed the offenses in the same criminal transaction. 24
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
Related
Cite This Page — Counsel Stack
761 N.W.2d 743, 280 Mich. App. 680, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-mcgee-michctapp-2008.