People v. Giacalone, Docket No. 16852

• Decision Date: 29 March 1974
• Docket Number: Docket No. 16852,No. 2,2
• Citation: 217 N.W.2d 444,52 Mich.App. 428
• Parties: PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Joseph GLACALONE, Defendant-Appellant
• Court: Court of Appeal of Michigan — District of US

Page 444

217 N.W.2d 444

52 Mich.App. 428

PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Joseph GLACALONE, Defendant-Appellant.

Docket No. 16852.

Court of Appeals of Michigan, Division No. 2.

March 29, 1974.

Released for Publication May 8, 1974.

Thomas R. McCombs, Flint, for defendant-appellant.

Frank J. Kelley, Atty. Gen., Robert A. Derengoski, Sol. Gen., Robert F. Leonard, Pros. Atty., Donald A. Kuebler, Chief Appellate Counsel, for plaintiff-appellee.

Before LESINSKI, C.J., and HOLBROOK and BASHARA, JJ.

BASHARA, Judge.

Defendant Joseph Giacalone, Loren Jolly and Caesar Montevecchio were charged on December 13, 1967 with armed robbery. M.C.L.A. § 750.529; M.S.A. § 28.797. Defendant Giacalone and Montevecchio were granted motions to be tried separately from Jolly. Giacalone and Montevecchio were sbusequently tried together and found guilty by a jury of armed robbery as originally charged. Defendant Giacalone was sentenced to a term of 50--70 years incarceration. Montevecchio was similarly sentenced but his conviction was reversed due to prejudicial prosecutorial remarks. People v. Montevecchio, 32 Mich.App. 163, 188 N.W.2d 186 (1971). Giacalone appeals raising six issues for this Court's determination including the same prosecutorial statements which prompted reversal of codefendant Montevecchio's conviction.

The following comment was made in the prosecutor's closing argument:

'And, these men were pretty good criminals, they weren't amateurs. They were pros. They knew what they were doing.

'Most amateurs can get a couple of friends to put in a good word for them, and I assure you that a pro can, with stories that you couldn't check out for love nor money.'

Defendant contends that the characterization of him as a professional was inflammatory and prejudiced his right to a fair trial. Defendant, however, did not object to these comments nor did he request a cautionary instruction by the trial judge. The recognized rule that unobjected-to remarks, which could have been cured by cautionary instruction had objection been made, do not merit reversal has lately been affirmed in People v. Plozai, 50 Mich.App. 131, 212 N.W.2d 721 (1973). In that case, the Court held that the labeling of defendant as a murderer could have been cured had timely objection been made. Although another panel of this Court has found the present remarks incurable, we must disagree and therefore find the instant case indistinguishable from the decision in Plozai, supra.

Furthermore, the prosecutor may draw reasonable inferences from the evidence presented and discuss them in his closing argument. The facts contained in the record would indicate that defendant operated in a manner other than as a first-time amateur. The propriety in using the term 'professional' to describe the defendants was examined by this Court in People v. Jolly, 51 Mich.App. 163, 168, 214 N.W.2d 849, 851 (1974):

'The first four quotes concern comment that the defendants were professionals. They were. The record demonstrates that the whole robbery was planned in advance, the store was carefully selected as the target, a getaway car was specially stolen, and prior arrangements to 'fence' the goods were made. The prosecutor's remarks were legitimate comment upon testimonial evidence.'

We are in accord with this statement as it applies to defendant Giacalone and find that the remarks do not mandate reversal of his conviction.

Defendant next contends that it was error to deny his preliminary motion that the prosecution be enjoined from inquiring into his arrest record had he chosen to take the stand. Defendant cites People v. Brocato, 17 Mich.App. 277, 169 N.W.2d 483 (1969), as support for his position. Brocato, supra, prohibited inquiry into prior arrests which did not result in conviction. ¹ However, the trial in the instant case occurred before the decision in Brocato, supra, was released and the question of its retroactivity must once again be decided. This Court had previously held in People v. Ruppuhn, 25 Mich.App. 62, 180 N.W.2d 900 (1970), that Brocato, supra, was not retroactive. The Supreme Court of Michigan reversed, People v. Ruppuhn, 390 Mich. 266, 212 N.W.2d 205 (1973), but without expressly ruling on the question of retroactivity. We again decline to make Brocato, supra, retroactive absent a clear expression that it should be so by the Supreme Court. We are satisfied that the rationale espoused by our Court in Ruppuhn, supra, against retroactivity is still valid and applicable to this case.

The third issue raised by defendant is whether the trial court erred in permitting the prosecution to call codefendant Jolly to the witness stand when he had previously informed the court that he would invoke his privilege against self-incrimination. The sole prosecutorial questioning was as follows:

'Q. What is your name?

'A. Loren Jolly.

'Q. Mr. Jolly, do you...