People v. Richard Banks

216 N.W.2d 461, 51 Mich. App. 685, 1974 Mich. App. LEXIS 963

• Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
• Decided: March 5, 1974
• Docket: Docket 15707
• Status: Published

Opinions

Bronson, P. J.

On August 5, 1972, defendant was charged with felonious assault.¹ On August 31, 1972, after a jury trial, he was convicted of "attempted” felonious assault.² Defendant perfected a timely appeal of right.

Early in the morning of August 4, 1972, two Detroit policemen in civilian clothes, riding in an unmarked car, were patrolling in the area of John R and Erskine Streets. The officers were flagged down by a man who complained that he had just been approached and robbed. The man pointed out his alleged assailant. The assailant was still in sight. The officers, still in their car, proceeded toward the defendant (pointed out as the robber). When they reached the defendant the officers exited their car with guns drawn. They ordered the defendant to drop his weapon. The defendant turned and raised the gun to his side — leveling it first at one officer, then the other. He then lowered the shotgun, threw it to the curb and hid behind a nearby trash container.

THE ISSUE

. Must defendant’s conviction for "attempted’’ felonious assault be set aside because there is no offense known in law as attempted felonious assault?

The defendant was charged under MCLA 750.82; MSA 28.277, which reads:

"Any person who shall assault another with a gun, revolver, pistol, knife, iron bar, club, brass knuckles or other dangerous weapon, but without intending to commit the crime of murder, and without intending to inflict great bodily harm less than the crime of murder, shall be guilty of a felony.” (Emphasis ours.)

The "crime” of attempted felonious assault became an issue just prior to the court’s charge to the jury. The court asked, out of the presence of the jury, if either the people or the defendant wished instructions on lesser included offenses. The people suggested simple assault. MCLA 750.81; MSA 28.276. The court said only the "included” attempt would be charged. Defendant had no objection and the people had no objection. The court instructed on the "attempt”, following language in the general attempt statute, MCLA 750.92; MSA 28.287, supra. The jury was charged that they could find the defendant guilty of felonious assault, "attempted” felonious assault, or not guilty. Neither the people nor the defendant had any objection to the charge as given.

The jury probably compromised on a verdict. They found the defendant guilty of "attempted” felonious assault.³ Although defendant may, on the facts shown, have been charged validly with several crimes, if there is no crime denominated "attempted” felonious assault, the conviction cannot stand.

The pivotal question is, does the general attempt statute apply to the crime felonious assault, thereby creating a crime "attempted” felonious assault? The relevant portion of the general attempt statute reads:

"Any person who shall attempt to commit an offense prohibited by law, and in such attempt shall do any act towards the commission of such offense, but shall fail m the perpetration, or shall be intercepted or prevented in the execution of the same, when no express provision is made by law for the punishment of such attempt, shall be punished as follows:” (Emphasis ours.) MCLA 750.92; MSA 28.287.

This statute applies only when "no express provision is made by law” for an attempt.⁴ An attempt within the meaning of the statute has been described as an act immediately and directly tending to the execution of the principal crime, and committed by the defendant under such circumstances that the defendant had the power of carrying his intention into execution.⁵ The principal crime, felonious assault, requires an assault with a dangerous weapon. If both elements are proven the crime is complete and could riot be an attempt. If both elements are consummated the act is considered either an unlawful battery or an unlawful killing. To constitute an attempt some element of the crime must be "attempted” but not completed.

If the use of a dangerous weapon is not proven then the proper charge is simple assault. Possibly where a dangerous weapon was in reach, but never used, a semantic "attempted” felonious assault might be said to exist. But the attempt statute would not apply because the law calls this assault without a weapon a simple assault. In short, it makes "express provision” for the "attempt”.

If the assault element is not proved then unlawful possession of the weapon is the proper charge. The only remaining possibility would require an attempted assault. On our facts the assault element of the statute would have to be attempted but not completed. Can there be an attempt to attempt? This question has been described as like conceiving of the beginning point of eternity or the starting point of infinity.⁶ The argument is over with the statement of the question. If an assault is defined as a separate substantive crime with the element of present ability, then an attempt is logically possible. However, if an assault is defined as an attempted battery then the argument in favor of an attempt becomes a logical circle. The annotation in fn 6 collects the two views. We need not repeat them here. The question has been decided in People v Patskan.7

Patskan, supra, held there can be no attempt to assault. By definition this would be an attempt to attempt or offer. A fortiori there can be no such crime as attempted felonious assault. It was error to charge on this offense.⁸ In light of our disposition of this issue the remaining allegations of error need not be discussed. The conviction must be reversed.

Reversed and remanded.

Walsh, J., concurred.

1 MCLA 750.82; MSA 28.277.

2 Defendant was convicted under the general attempt statute, MCLA 750.92; MSA 28.287.

3 If we were able to conclude that the crime of "attempted” felonious assault existed then the conviction could stand even though the evidence shows a completed offense. People v Baxter, 245 Mich 229, 232; 222 NW 149, 150 (1928). "Such a rule may be illogical, but the people cannot complain, and the defendant must accept it, even though less in measure than his just deserts; * * * .” Baxter, supra, at 232. See, also: People v Miller, 28 Mich App 161; 184 NW2d 286 (1970), and People v Pickett, 21 Mich App 246; 175 NW2d 347 (1970).

4 See: People v Hall, 28 Mich App 662, 663; 184 NW2d 742 (1970).

5 See generally: People v Youngs, 122 Mich 292; 81 NW 114 (1899); People v Coleman, 350 Mich 268; 86 NW2d 281 (1957).

6 See: Anno.: Attempt to commit assault as criminal offense, 79 ALR2d 597, 599.

7 29 Mich App 354, 357; 185 NW2d 398, 400 (1971), rev’d on other grounds, 387 Mich 701; 199 NW2d 458 (1972). Cf. People v Brandon, 46 Mich App 484; 208 NW2d 214 (1973), holding there is no such crime as attempted uttering and publishing.

8 A corollary error is created when prosecutors accept guilty pleas to the nonexistent offense of attempted felonious assault. We are aware of People v Milton, 36 Mich App 702; 194 NW2d 1 (1971), but reject any intimation from this decision that a crime of attempted felonious assault exists which may be charged by the prosecutor in his discretion. In the future prosecutors must refrain from bargaining for guilty pleas to this nonexistent offense which could not be charged in the first instance.