People v. Schofield

Michigan Court of Appeals

People v. Schofield

333 N.W.2d 607, 124 Mich. App. 134

CourtMichigan Court of Appeals

DecidedMarch 10, 1983

DocketDocket 61321

StatusPublished

Cited by12 cases

This text of 333 N.W.2d 607 (People v. Schofield) 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. Schofield, 333 N.W.2d 607, 124 Mich. App. 134 (Mich. Ct. App. 1983).

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Opinion

Per Curiam.

Defendant pled guilty to armed robbery. MCL 750.529; MSA 28.797. Sentenced to from 5 to 15 years imprisonment, he appeals by right.

Defendant was originally charged with armed robbery and felony-firearm. MCL 750.227b; MSA 28.424(2). In exchange for his plea of guilty to the former offense, the prosecutor agreed to drop the felony-firearm charge. Defendant argues that his plea bargain was illusory because he could not have been convicted of felony-firearm. Conviction on that offense is barred, defendant maintains, because he committed the robbery with only a toy gun.

A defendant who pleads guilty pursuant to a plea bargain must be aware of the actual value of the commitments made to him. People v Lawson, 75 Mich App 726; 255 NW2d 748 (1977). If the defendant could not have been convicted of felony-firearm, then the prosecutor’s promise to drop that charge was worthless. We must decide, therefore, whether a defendant who commits an armed robbery with a toy gun may be convicted of felony-firearm.

The use of a toy gun, disguised as a real one, may support a conviction for armed robbery. We *136 conclude, however, that it is insufficient for felony-firearm. The statute prohibits carrying or possessing a "firearm” in the course of a felony or attempted felony. The statutory term "firearm”, however, cannot be reasonably construed to include a toy gun. MCL 8.3t; MSA 2.212(20) defines a firearm as a "weapon from which a dangerous projectile may be propelled by using explosives, gas or air as a means of propulsion” with certain exceptions not applicable here. Toy guns, of course, discharge no projectiles. We conclude that a toy gun is not a "firearm” as that term is used in MCL 750.227b; MSA 28.424(2). The defendant, consequently, could not have been convicted of felony-firearm.

The defendant’s plea bargain was worthless and the defendant, having pled guilty in ignorance of the true value of the bargain, is entitled to withdraw his plea.

Reversed and remanded to afford the defendant an opportunity to withdraw his plea.

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Per Curiam.

Defendant pled guilty to armed robbery. MCL 750.529; MSA 28.797. Sentenced to from 5 to 15 years imprisonment, he appeals by right.

Defendant was originally charged with armed robbery and felony-firearm. MCL 750.227b; MSA 28.424(2). In exchange for his plea of guilty to the former offense, the prosecutor agreed to drop the felony-firearm charge. Defendant argues that his plea bargain was illusory because he could not have been convicted of felony-firearm. Conviction on that offense is barred, defendant maintains, because he committed the robbery with only a toy gun.

A defendant who pleads guilty pursuant to a plea bargain must be aware of the actual value of the commitments made to him. People v Lawson, 75 Mich App 726; 255 NW2d 748 (1977). If the defendant could not have been convicted of felony-firearm, then the prosecutor’s promise to drop that charge was worthless. We must decide, therefore, whether a defendant who commits an armed robbery with a toy gun may be convicted of felony-firearm.

The use of a toy gun, disguised as a real one, may support a conviction for armed robbery. We *136 conclude, however, that it is insufficient for felony-firearm. The statute prohibits carrying or possessing a "firearm” in the course of a felony or attempted felony. The statutory term "firearm”, however, cannot be reasonably construed to include a toy gun. MCL 8.3t; MSA 2.212(20) defines a firearm as a "weapon from which a dangerous projectile may be propelled by using explosives, gas or air as a means of propulsion” with certain exceptions not applicable here. Toy guns, of course, discharge no projectiles. We conclude that a toy gun is not a "firearm” as that term is used in MCL 750.227b; MSA 28.424(2). The defendant, consequently, could not have been convicted of felony-firearm.

The defendant’s plea bargain was worthless and the defendant, having pled guilty in ignorance of the true value of the bargain, is entitled to withdraw his plea.

Reversed and remanded to afford the defendant an opportunity to withdraw his plea.

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333 N.W.2d 607, 124 Mich. App. 134, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-schofield-michctapp-1983.

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