People v. Artuso

• Decision Date: 06 October 1980
• Docket Number: Docket No. 78-1832
• Citation: 100 Mich.App. 396,298 N.W.2d 746
• Parties: PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Alfred Peter ARTUSO, Defendant-Appellant.
• Court: Court of Appeal of Michigan — District of US

Page 746

298 N.W.2d 746

100 Mich.App. 396

PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Alfred Peter ARTUSO, Defendant-Appellant.

Docket No. 78-1832.

Court of Appeals of Michigan.

Oct. 6, 1980.

Released for Publication Dec. 9, 1980.

Gerald S. Surowiec, Detroit, William R. Stackpoole, Detroit, of counsel, for defendant-appellant.

Frank J. Kelley, Atty. Gen., Robert A. Derengoski, Sol. Gen., William L. Cahalan, Pros. Atty., E. Reilly Wilson, III, Appellate Chief, Asst. Pros. Atty., Diane Odrobina, Asst. Pros. Atty., for plaintiff-appellee.

Before BASHARA, P. J., and RILEY and QUINNELL, ^* JJ.

RILEY, Judge.

Convicted by a jury of receiving and concealing stolen property over the value of $100, contrary to M.C.L. § 750.535; M.S.A. § 28.803, and sentenced to serve two and one-half to five years in prison, defendant appeals raising three issues which we consider seriatim.

Prior to trial, defendant moved to suppress evidence obtained by FBI agents by means of electronic eavesdropping devices. The pretrial evidentiary hearing reveals that Federal agents were running a bogus fencing operation out of a warehouse in Taylor, in which they had installed hidden audio and video recording equipment. The agents were contacted by members of the Michigan State Police who informed them that there was an individual who would introduce the agents to defendant, who had allegedly been selling stolen merchandise. Shortly thereafter, a meeting was arranged between the informant, Robinson, the defendant and two agents, at which time defendant disclosed that he had access to stolen property, including a flatbed trailer. A price was agreed upon and the following day defendant met with an agent to discuss the details. Soon after, defendant met with the agents at the warehouse and advised them that he had dropped off the trailer. The audio and video tape mechanisms recorded defendant receiving $1300 and informing the agents that he could deliver stolen meat as well as Dodge pickup trucks.

The trial court denied defendant's motion to suppress, over defendant's objection that no warrant permitting the monitoring was issued, and the tape was played to the jury.

In People v. Beavers, 393 Mich. 554, 227 N.W.2d 511 (1975), the Supreme Court held that a participant to a conversation could not electronically monitor a conversation which is transmitted to law enforcement officers unless specifically authorized to do so by a search warrant. Beavers specifically declined to consider conversations which a participant simply preserves for later dissemination:

"We do not address those situations which include a participant himself recording the conversation or the use of an electronic device by a third party only to eavesdrop upon a conversation between two parties, one of whom is cooperating with the authorities." (Emphasis is original.) Beavers, supra, 562-563, fn.2, 227 N.W.2d 511.

Relying on People v. Livingston, 64 Mich.App. 247, 236 N.W.2d 63 (1975), this Court extended the rationale of Beavers in People v. Taylor, 93 Mich.App. 292, 287 N.W.2d 210 (1979); People v. Perry, 91 Mich.App. 79, 80, 282 N.W.2d 14 (1979), and People v. Hall, 88 Mich.App. 324, 276 N.W.2d 897 (1979), holding that the police violate the warrant requirement by failing to procure a warrant prior to recording a conversation that a participant simply preserves for later dissemination. Admittedly, one panel has refused to extend the search warrant requirement to participant monitoring. See People v. Dubose, 91 Mich.App. 633, 283 N.W.2d 644 (1977). ¹ However, we are persuaded that the better reasoned analyses which we adopt today is set forth in People v. Perry, supra.

"The intrusion of privacy incurred where a participant transmits a conversation to a third party is equally present as where a participant records the conversation. Thus, defendant is entitled to the same protection from unreasonable searches and seizures."

Since no search warrant was procured in this case, it was reversible error to play the tape recordings to the jury at trial.

Defendant further asserts that the trial court erred in admitting evidence of similar acts committed by the defendant. The audio portion of the video tape contained statements by the defendant that he could deliver other stolen merchandise. Defendant contends he never placed his intent, motive or scheme in issue and that, therefore, this evidence was inadmissible. M.C.L. § 768.27; M.S.A. § 28.1050 allows similar acts testimony to be admitted under certain limited circumstances: ²

"In any criminal case where the defendant's motive, intent, the absence of, mistake or accident on his part, or the defendant's scheme, plan or system in doing an act, is material, any like acts or other acts of the defendant which may tend to show his motive, intent, the absence of, mistake or accident on his part, or the defendant's scheme, plan or system in doing the act, in question, may be proved, whether they are contemporaneous with or prior or subsequent thereto; notwithstanding that such proof may show or tend to show the commission of another or prior or subsequent crime by the defendant."

In People v. Major, 407 Mich. 394, 285 N.W.2d 660 (1979), the Supreme Court enunciated standards for admissibility of evidence of similar acts. To be admissible, the evidence must be probative of either the statutory or judicial purposes and this purpose must be material or "at issue" in the case. Major, supra, 399. Defense counsel placed defendant's intent in issue during opening statement by maintaining defendant was pretending to possess a stolen trailer and pretending to sell the trailer at Robinson's behest. Therefore, it is clear that the evidence was probative not only of defendant's intent but of his motive and plan as well.

We believe that the trial judge adequately considered all aspects of admissibility mandated by Major and the earlier cases controlling at the time of trial. See People v. Wilkins, 82 Mich.App. 260, 266 N.W.2d 781 (1978). Further, he properly weighed the probative value of the similar acts evidence and found it outweighed its prejudicial effect. See People v. Oliphant, 399 Mich. 472, 250 N.W.2d 443 (1976). Therefore, defendant's argument that the testimony was improperly admitted must fail.

Finally, defendant contends he was entrapped because Robinson, the police informant, allegedly supplied him with the contraband, pressured him and played on their friendship to involve him in the sale.

Michigan has adopted the objective test for entrapment which focuses solely on police conduct rather than on the individual defendant's predisposition to commit the offense. People v. Turner, 390 Mich. 7, 210 N.W.2d 336 (1973). A successful claim of entrapment must be proved by a preponderance of the evidence. People v. D'Angelo, 401 Mich. 167, 257 N.W.2d 655 (1977), and this Court will not overturn the trial court's ruling unless clearly erroneous. D'Angelo, supra, 183.

The facts gleaned from the pretrial evidentiary hearing reveal a conflict in testimony. According to testimony of the FBI agent, defendant had told Robinson he had a trailer he wanted to sell and that he wanted Robinson to find a buyer. Shortly thereafter, the meeting occurred, the deal was struck and the exchange of money at the warehouse transpired.

Defendant offered a different story, contending that, unbeknown to the agents, Robinson had stolen and possessed the trailer himself and inveigled the defendant into making the sale so he might complete his "deal" with the police. He maintained that Robinson had asked him to sell a trailer Robinson himself had stolen because the prospective customers were friends of his and would "beat him down in price". Further, he contended he neither owned or possessed the trailer but that he knew it was stolen.

The trial court, in finding that the police activity did not constitute entrapment, found specifically that defendant, rather than Robinson, had possession of the trailer and wanted to unload it.

This Court, in People v. Stanley, 68 Mich.App. 559, 243 N.W.2d 684 (1976), held that under some circumstances, if the police supply contraband which is the basis of an illegal sale, entrapment may be found. If the informant supplies the contraband the same result obtains, as the government after using an informant cannot disown his actions. Stanley, supra, 564, 243 N.W.2d 684. Reviewing the record, we cannot say the trial court's finding that Robinson did not possess the trailer is clearly...