People v. Mysliwiec

890 N.W.2d 691, 315 Mich. App. 414, 2016 WL 2992625, 2016 Mich. App. LEXIS 1051
CourtMichigan Court of Appeals
DecidedMay 24, 2016
DocketDocket 326423
StatusPublished
Cited by19 cases

This text of 890 N.W.2d 691 (People v. Mysliwiec) 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. Mysliwiec, 890 N.W.2d 691, 315 Mich. App. 414, 2016 WL 2992625, 2016 Mich. App. LEXIS 1051 (Mich. Ct. App. 2016).

Opinion

FORT Hood, J.

Defendant was convicted of criminal contempt, MCL 600.1701(g), for violating a condition of the bond set after his arrest for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of liquor. He was sentenced to 68 days in jail with credit for 68 days served. He appeals as of right. We affirm.

*416 Defendant argues that his violation of a bond condition ordered by the trial court was not punishable by criminal contempt. We disagree. Issues of statutory interpretation are reviewed de novo. People v Hartwick, 498 Mich 192, 209; 870 NW2d 37 (2015). Questions of constitutional law, such as whether a defendant has been denied his right to due process, are also reviewed de novo. People v Smith, 498 Mich 466, 475; 870 NW2d 299 (2015).

Contempt of court is defined as a “wilful act, omission, or statement that tends to impair the authority or impede the functioning of a court.” In re Contempt of Robertson, 209 Mich App 433, 436; 531 NW2d 763 (1995). MCL 600.1701 provides statutory authority for a court to punish a person for contempt. It provides, in relevant part, that courts of record

have power to punish by fine or imprisonment, or both, persons guilty of any neglect or violation of duty or misconduct in all of the following cases:
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(g) Parties to actions, attorneys, counselors, and all other persons for disobeying any lawful order, decree, or process of the court. [MCL 600.1701 (emphasis added).]

Courts also have inherent independent authority to punish a person for contempt. Arbor Farms, LLC v GeoStar Corp, 305 Mich App 374, 387; 853 NW2d 421 (2014). This power is important in that it preserves the courts’ effectiveness and power. Id. “[A] party must obey an order entered by a court with proper jurisdiction, even if the order is clearly incorrect, or the party must face the risk of being held in contempt and possibly being ordered to comply with the order at a later date.” Id. (quotation marks and citation omitted; alteration in original). To convict a defendant of crimi *417 nal contempt, the prosecution must prove that the defendant engaged in a willful disregard or disobedience of a court order. DeGeorge v Warheit, 276 Mich App 587, 592; 741 NW2d 384 (2007). Contempt must be clearly and unequivocally shown. Id. “Imprisonment for criminal contempt is appropriate where a defendant does something he was ordered not to do.” In re Contempt of Dudzinski, 257 Mich App 96, 108; 667 NW2d 68 (2003).

In this case, defendant was charged with contempt of court for violating a condition of his bond, specifically the condition that prohibited him from using alcohol. When a court determines that a release on personal recognizance will “not reasonably ensure the appearance of the defendant as required, or will not reasonably ensure the safety of the public, the court may order the pretrial release of the defendant on the condition or combination of conditions that the court determines are appropriate . . . .” MCR 6.106(D).

Defendant argues on appeal that a defendant may not be held in contempt of court for the violation of bond conditions because they are not court orders. We reject this argument. Under Michigan law, a court’s decision in setting bond is a court order. Specifically, a bail decision is an interlocutory order. People v Edmond, 81 Mich App 743, 749; 266 NW2d 640 (1978). Further, the plain and ordinary definition of the word “order” clearly encompasses bond conditions. 1 Black’s Law Dictionary (10th ed) provides that an “order” is “[a] command, direction, or instruction” or “[a] written direction or command delivered by a government offi *418 cial, esp. a court or judge.” Bond conditions necessarily command, direct, or instruct a defendant. Accordingly, bond conditions are court orders within the term’s plain and ordinary meaning.

In this case, the trial court ordered that as a condition of defendant’s bond he could not consume alcohol. The trial judge ordered orally at defendant’s arraignment, “Conditions of your bond, sir, are as follows: You’re not to possess or consume any alcoholic beverage at any time.” This was a command, direction, or instruction made by the trial court, requiring defendant to refrain from using alcohol. The trial court then issued written mittimuses, which required defendant to have no alcohol. 2 A mittimus is “[a] court order or warrant directing a jailer to detain a person until ordered otherwise.” Black’s Law Dictionary (10th ed). Therefore, the trial court’s mittimusses were court orders, and the bond condition prohibiting defendant’s use of alcohol was a court order punishable by contempt.

MCL 765.6b(l) provides that, when a defendant is released subject to conditions necessary for the protection of named persons, a court must inform the defendant that he could be subject to “any other penalties that may be imposed if the defendant is found in contempt of court.” Defendant argues that this provision necessarily implies that a defendant may only be found in contempt of court for violating conditions necessary to protect named persons and not for violating other bond conditions. To support his argument, defendant also cites a bond form approved by the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO), which states:

*419 7. I understand that if I violate items 12 or 13 (if conditions of my release), I am subject to arrest without a warrant and may have my bond forfeited or revoked and new conditions of release imposed, in addition to any other penalties that may be imposed if I am found in contempt of court.
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Item 12. Not harass, intimidate, beat, molest, wound, stalk, threaten, or engage in other conduct that would place any of the following persons or a child of any of the following persons in reasonable fear of bodily injury: spouse, former spouse, individual with whom defendant has a child in common, resident or former resident of defendant’s household.
Item 13. Not assault, harass, intimidate, beat, molest, wound, or threaten a named person or persons .... [SCAO, Form MC 241 (Jan 2008).]

Defendant argues that the SCAO form “demonstrates that under Michigan law, a defendant may be charged with Contempt of Court when violating Personal Protection Orders or Domestic Abuse statutes.” According to defendant, bond conditions are not court orders and are therefore not punishable by contempt.

Defendant’s argument is without merit. First, defendant fails to cite any authority supporting his argument that the terms in the SCAO form provide a binding interpretation of the law or that the form somehow prohibits criminal contempt charges when a defendant violates bond conditions that don’t involve protective conditions related to named persons.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
890 N.W.2d 691, 315 Mich. App. 414, 2016 WL 2992625, 2016 Mich. App. LEXIS 1051, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-mysliwiec-michctapp-2016.