People v. Triplett

413 N.W.2d 791, 163 Mich. App. 339
CourtMichigan Court of Appeals
DecidedSeptember 22, 1987
DocketDocket 90943
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 413 N.W.2d 791 (People v. Triplett) 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. Triplett, 413 N.W.2d 791, 163 Mich. App. 339 (Mich. Ct. App. 1987).

Opinions

Per Curiam.

Defendant was convicted of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, MCL 750.520c(l)(b); MSA 28.788(3)(l)(b), following a jury trial and was sentenced on December 17, 1985, to five to fifteen years imprisonment. Defendant appeals his conviction and sentence as of right. We affirm.

Following the preliminary examination, defendant was charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct under the theory that he had engaged in sexual penetration with the victim, who was at least thirteen but less than sixteen years of age, specifically thirteen years, and that defendant was a member of the same household as the victim. MCL 750.520b(l)(b)(i); MSA 28.788(2)(l)(b)(i). Defendant was the live-in boyfriend of the victim’s mother.

Defendant first claims that the testimony of two police officers indicated to the jury that defendant had failed a polygraph examination, that the testi[342]*342mony should not have been admitted, and that error requiring reversal occurred as a result of its admission.

Michigan State Police Officer John J. Palmatier testified that on July 16, 1985, he conducted a "special interview” with defendant in the presence of Battle Creek Police Detective Robert Baker for the purpose of establishing whether defendant had had sexual intercourse with the thirteen-year-old victim. Initially, defendant said that he could not have raped the victim since on the night in question he had been attending a party at a hotel and was not at the family residence. After talking with defendant for approximately two and one-half hours, Officer Palmatier told defendant that he believed defendant was lying. After this statement to defendant, defendant never denied having sexual relations with the victim, but denied that things had occurred the way she claimed. He also stated that, if he told the truth, he would go to jail since the victim was only thirteen years old. Defendant then refused to say anything more until he had first told the truth to the girl’s mother. During cross-examination, Officer Palmatier repeatedly stated his belief that defendant had lied during the interview.

Detective Baker also testified on the substance of the interview. On direct examination by the prosecutor, the following took place:

Q. I see. Did you indicate he wanted to talk to his girlfriend— Did he still indicate that?
A. Yes, he did. He said that he wanted to make sure that he was the first one to tell her. He wanted to be the one to tell her ñrst that he had failed his—
The Court: Just let it go at that. [Emphasis added.]

[343]*343At the conclusion of the witness’ testimony, defense counsel moved for a mistrial on the ground that, although Baker had been cut off in midsentence, it was clear to the jury that defendant had failed a polygraph examination. The trial court denied the motion.

It is well established that evidence that a polygraph examination was conducted and the results of such examination is inadmissible at trial. People v Barbara, 400 Mich 352, 357; 255 NW2d 171 (1977), reh den 400 Mich 1029 (1977). The reason for exclusion is the lack of trustworthiness of the accuracy of a polygraph examination. People v Williams, 123 Mich App 752, 757; 333 NW2d 577 (1983), lv den 418 Mich 947 (1984). The first question, therefore, is whether the officers’ testimony constituted a clear indication to the jury that defendant had failed the polygraph examination.

In People v Wallach, 110 Mich App 37, 62-63; 312 NW2d 387 (1981), vacated on other grounds 422 Mich 875 (1985), a panel of this Court held that a comment about a "pre-test interview” was not a "self-evident reference to a polygraph examination.” The Wallach Court also noted that nothing in the record suggested that the witness had deliberately attempted to inform the jury of the fact that defendant had taken a polygraph examination.

Similarly, in the instant case, there was no specific or clear reference to the fact that defendant had failed a polygraph examination, nor was Palmatier’s description of the event as a "specialized interview” a "self-evident reference to a polygraph examination.” In addition, nothing in tbe record suggests that either of the police witnesses deliberately attempted to inform the jury that defendant had failed his polygraph examination. We find the testimony of the twm police officers [344]*344was not an improper and inadmissible reference to a polygraph examination.

Defendant’s next claim is that there was no evidence which supported a conviction on the lesser offense of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and therefore no instruction should have been given on that offense.

The trial court instructed the jury on the lesser offense of second-degree criminal sexual conduct at the request of the prosecution. Defense counsel objected, arguing that there was no evidence produced at trial to establish that defendant criminally touched the victim and the jury would have to return a verdict of either guilty or not guilty of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Since second-degree criminal sexual conduct is a felony, the rules set forth in People v Stephens, 416 Mich 252; 330 NW2d 675 (1982), are inapplicable.

As stated by our Supreme Court, an objection by a defendant to the giving of an instruction on a lesser included offense is not controlling. People v Chamblis, 395 Mich 408, 415; 236 NW2d 473 (1975), reh den 396 Mich 976 (1976), overruled in part on other grounds in People v Stephens, 416 Mich 252; 330 NW2d 675 (1982). It is the duty of the trial court to instruct the jury as to the law applicable to the case. MCL 768.29; MSA 28.1052.

The duty of the trial court to instruct on lesser included offenses is determined by the evidence. Chamblis, supra, p 419. When the evidence adduced at trial would warrant conviction on the lesser charge, the trial court may properly instruct the jury on that lesser offense. Chamblis, supra, p 423; People v Ora Jones, 395 Mich 379, 390; 236 NW2d 461 (1975), reh den 396 Mich 976 (1976); City of Troy v McMaster, 154 Mich App 564, 574; 398 NW2d 469 (1986). In addition, the trial court may not instruct on lesser included offenses over [345]*345defendant’s objection unless the language of the charging document gave defendant fair notice that he may face a charge on the lesser offense. Chamblis, supra, p 418. Lastly, it is error for a trial judge to refuse a request for an instruction on a necessarily included lesser offense. People v Shelton, 138 Mich App 510, 515; 360 NW2d 234 (1984).

The parties in this case agree that second-degree criminal sexual conduct is a lesser included offense of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. There is a conflict in this Court on whether second-degree esc is a necessarily included lesser offense of first-degree esc. People v Thompson, 76 Mich App 705, 708; 257 NW2d 268 (1977), lv den 402 Mich 829 (1977), held that second-degree esc was a necessarily included lesser offense since, in order to have sexual penetration, there must have been sexual contact. See also People v Green, 86 Mich App 142, 150; 272 NW2d 216 (1978); People v Secreto, 81 Mich App 1, 3; 264 NW2d 99 (1978), lv den 406 Mich 1019 (1979). However, in People v Garrow,

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457 N.W.2d 136 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1990)
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People v. Triplett
413 N.W.2d 791 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1987)

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413 N.W.2d 791, 163 Mich. App. 339, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-triplett-michctapp-1987.