People v. Henry

• Decision Date: 22 March 2000
• Docket Number: Docket No. 214152.
• Citation: 607 N.W.2d 767,239 Mich. App. 140
• Parties: PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Scott HENRY, Defendant-Appellant.
• Court: Court of Appeal of Michigan — District of US

607 N.W.2d 767

239 Mich. App. 140

PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Scott HENRY, Defendant-Appellant.

Docket No. 214152.

Court of Appeals of Michigan.

Submitted November 3, 1999, at Detroit.

Decided December 17, 1999, at 9:05 a.m.

Released for Publication March 22, 2000.

Jennifer M. Granholm, Attorney General, Thomas L. Casey, Solicitor General, David G. Gorcyca, Prosecuting Attorney, Daniel L. Lemisch, Chief Appellate Division, and Anica Letica, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for the people.

Thomas P. Rabette, J.D., P.C. (by Thomas P. Rabette), Clarkston, for the defendant on appeal.

Before MARK J. CAVANAGH, P.J., and DOCTOROFF and O'CONNELL, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

After a jury trial, defendant was convicted of discharge of a firearm in an occupied structure, M.C.L. § 750.234b(2); MSA 28.431(2)(2), and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, M.C.L. § 750.227b; MSA 28.424(2). Defendant was sentenced to one to four years' imprisonment for the discharge of a firearm conviction and two years' imprisonment for the felony-firearm conviction. Defendant appeals by delayed leave granted. We affirm.

The instant charges arose out of defendant's discharge of a firearm in his home, in the presence of his wife and son. On the night in question, defendant returned home after spending several hours at a bar. There was substantial evidence that defendant was intoxicated. Defendant and his wife had an argument upon his return home. During the argument, defendant lay on his bed and told his wife to leave him alone. At that point, defendant's wife told defendant that he had no self-control. In response, defendant stated something to the effect of, "I'll show you self-control," and retrieved a handgun from a dresser drawer. Defendant put a clip in the gun and fired the gun at the bedroom wall. Defendant's wife and young son fled to a neighbor's house, from which they called the police. The police searched defendant's house and found the gun outside the house, hidden under the deck.

At trial, defendant asserted a voluntary intoxication defense. Defendant testified that he could not remember the events that occurred in his home because of his intoxication and that he was unaware that the gun was discharged in his home until after he arrived at the police station. The jury found defendant guilty as charged.

Defendant first argues that the trial court erred in ruling that the crime of discharge of a firearm in an occupied structure, M.C.L. § 750.234b(2); MSA 28.431(2)(2) is a general intent crime and, therefore, that voluntary intoxication was not a defense. We disagree. This issue presents a question of law, which we review de novo. People v. Connor, 209 Mich. App. 419, 423, 531 N.W.2d 734 (1995).

MCL 750.234b(2); MSA 28.431(2)(2) provides:

An individual who intentionally discharges a firearm in a facility that he or she knows or has reason to believe is an occupied structure in reckless disregard for the safety of any individual is guilty of a felony, punishable by imprisonment for not more than 4 years, or a fine of not more than $2,000.00, or both.

"Specific intent is defined as a particular criminal intent beyond the act done, whereas general intent is merely the intent to perform the physical act itself." People v. Lardie, 452 Mich. 231, 240, 551 N.W.2d 656 (1996). "`[T]he most common usage of "specific intent" is to designate a special mental element which is required above and beyond any mental state required with respect to the actus reus of the crime.'" People v. Langworthy, 416 Mich. 630, 639, n. 9, 331 N.W.2d 171 (1982), quoting LaFave & Scott, Criminal Law, § 28, p. 202. A general intent crime only requires proof that the defendant purposefully or voluntarily performed the wrongful act. Lardie, supra at 241, 551 N.W.2d 656.

To determine whether an offense constitutes a specific intent crime, this Court must look to the intent of the Legislature. People v. Bartlett, 231 Mich.App. 139, 160, 585 N.W.2d 341 (1998). To determine the Legislature's intent, we first look to the specific language of the statute. Id. Here, the statute prohibits "intentionally discharg[ing]" a firearm in an occupied structure. The intent to do the physical act, that is, the intent to discharge a firearm in an occupied structure, satisfies the intent element of the statute. The statute does not require any criminal intent beyond the act done, such as the intent to injure a person or damage property by discharging a firearm. All that is required is proof that defendant purposefully or voluntarily, in other words, "intentionally," discharged a firearm in an occupied structure. Lardie, supra at 241, 551 N.W.2d 656.

This Court has stated that "[w]ords typically found in specific intent statutes include `knowingly,' `willfully,' `purposely,' and `intentionally.'" People v. Davenport, 230 Mich.App. 577, 580, 583 N.W.2d 919 (1998); see also People v. Norman, 176 Mich.App. 271, 275, 438 N.W.2d 895 (1989). However, we do not believe the use of the word "intentionally" in M.C.L. § 750.234b(2); MSA 28.431(2)(2) indicates that the Legislature intended the offense to require a specific intent. Rather, the use of the word "intentionally" in M.C.L. § 750.234b(2); MSA 28.431(2)(2) was intended to prevent an innocent or accidental discharge of a firearm in an occupied structure from constituting a crime. See People v. Karst, 138 Mich.App. 413, 416, 360 N.W.2d 206 (1984) ("In other cases, this Court has reasoned that where the knowledge element of an offense is necessary simply to prevent innocent acts from constituting crimes, the knowledge element is merely a general intent requirement and the offense is not a specific intent crime to which voluntary intoxication is a defense.") See also 21 Am. Jur. 2d, Criminal Law, § 130, p. 215 ("In the absence of qualifying provisions, the terms `intent' and `intentional' in a criminal statute refer to general criminal intent.")

Here, because the statute does not require proof of the intent to cause a particular result or the intent that a specific consequence occur as a result of the performance of the prohibited act, but only requires proof that defendant intentionally discharged the firearm, the trial court correctly concluded that the crime of discharge of a firearm in an occupied structure is a general intent crime.

Defendant next argues that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel because defense counsel asserted a voluntary intoxication defense at trial despite the trial court's ruling that discharge of a firearm in an occupied structure is not a specific intent crime. We disagree. To establish a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must show that counsel's performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and that the representation prejudiced the defendant to the extent that it denied him a fair trial. People v. Pickens, 446 Mich. 298, 302-303, 521 N.W.2d 797 (1994). To demonstrate prejudice, the defendant must show that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's error, the result of the proceedings would have been different. People v. Stanaway, 446 Mich. 643, 687-688, 521 N.W.2d 557 (1994). Defendant must overcome a strong presumption that counsel's assistance constituted sound trial strategy. Id. at 687, 521 N.W.2d 557. Because defendant did not move for a new trial or a Ginther¹ hearing, our review is limited to mistakes apparent from the record. People v. Barclay, 208 Mich.App. 670, 672, 528 N.W.2d 842 (1995).

Voluntary intoxication is a defense only to a specific intent crime. People v. Maleski, 220 Mich.App. 518, 521, 560 N.W.2d 71 (1996). Before trial, the prosecutor requested that the trial court determine whether the offense of discharge of a firearm in an occupied structure required a specific or a general intent. The trial court ruled as follows:

All right. I haven't had—no case law presented to me. I've had nothing presented to me until, as I've got a jury panel waiting out—my ruling is, it's not a specific intent crime. Because it's not a specific intent crime, then the alcohol instruction as a defense will not be given.

The prosecutor then requested that the court direct defense counsel not to argue an intoxication defense and that the court give CJI2d 6.1, which instructs the jury that voluntary intoxication is not a defense to the charged crimes. In response, the trial court commented:

No, you can argue—I don't have a problem with you arguing it because that's all it is, is argument. I'm more concerned about what this jury is going to be instructed with. And they're not going to be instructed that it's a specific intent crime.

Despite the trial court's ruling that discharge of a firearm in an occupied structure is not a specific intent crime, the trial court stated that it would not read CJI2d 6.1 to the jury. The trial court also denied defense counsel's request that the court instruct the jury with respect to CJI2d 6.2, which instructs the jury regarding intoxication as a defense to a specific intent crime.

In his opening statements, defense counsel argued that the evidence would show that defendant's intoxication left him unable to form the intent required for the offense of discharge of a firearm in an occupied structure. Thereafter, defense counsel presented evidence regarding defendant's intoxication on the night in question. At the close of the proofs, the prosecutor requested that the trial court reconsider its prior ruling that it would not instruct the jury that voluntary intoxication is not a defense to the offense of discharge of a firearm in an occupied structure. Upon reconsideration, the trial court reversed its prior ruling and stated that it would, in fact, instruct the jury that voluntary intoxication is not a defense to discharge of a firearm in an occupied structure. Despite that ruling, during closing arguments, defense counsel argued that defendant's intoxication...