People v. McCartney

• Decision Date: 02 December 1976
• Docket Number: Docket No. 27252
• Citation: 250 N.W.2d 135,72 Mich.App. 580
• Parties: PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Robert Vincent McCARTNEY, Defendant-Appellant.
• Court: Court of Appeal of Michigan — District of US

Page 135

250 N.W.2d 135

72 Mich.App. 580

PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Robert Vincent McCARTNEY, Defendant-Appellant.

Docket No. 27252.

Court of Appeals of Michigan.

Dec. 2, 1976.

Released for Publication Feb. 15, 1977.

Richard R. Rashid, Lansing, for defendant-appellant.

Frank J. Kelley, Atty. Gen., Robert A. Derengoski, Sol. Gen., Paul F. Berger, Pros. Atty., for plaintiff-appellee.

Before DANHOF, C.J., and D. E. HOLBROOK and MUNRO, ^* JJ.

D. E. HOLBROOK, Judge.

Robert Vincent McCartney was charged with entry without breaking with the intent to commit a larceny contrary to M.C.L.A. § 750.111; M.S.A. § 28.306, and larceny of property with a value in excess of $100, M.C.L.A. § 750.356; M.S.A. § 28.588. He was twice tried on the above charges and found guilty by a jury on both occasions. This Court, however, reversed both convictions, 46 Mich.App. 691, 208 N.W.2d 547 (1973), and 60 Mich.App. 620, 231 N.W.2d 472 (1975). Prior to commencement of the third trial, defendant filed a written motion for dismissal of the charges. The basis for this motion was that Mr. McCartney had been tried twice and convicted, but had had his convictions reversed on both occasions. In the meantime, Mr. McCartney had served his minimum sentence on the charges, was no longer incarcerated, and was gainfully employed and supporting his family. Defendant in his motion also stated that the prosecution had agreed to concur in the dismissal of the charges and that therefore People v. Matulonis, 60 Mich.App. 143, 230 N.W.2d 347 (1975), controlled requiring dismissal. At a hearing on the motion, the prosecution did agree to concur in defendant's motion. ¹ The trial court refused to grant the motion for dismissal.

This Court by order of August 3, 1976, treated defendant's application for leave to appeal as a complaint for superintending appeal as a complaint for superintending control and substituted the trial judge as party-defendant and ordered that the trial judge show cause why the relief sought in defendant-McCartney's complaint should not be granted.

Although the prosecutor in his argument at the motion hearing stated that it was the people's motion, the record clearly indicates that it was defendant's motion to dismiss and not the prosecution's entry of a nolle prosequi. Obviously, the defendant approached the prosecution and sought a dismissal. Defendant, upon receiving the prosecution's acquiescence, then made his written motion to dismiss.

Mr. McCartney's brief on appeal, as does the prosecution's brief, treats the motion as seeking nolle prosequi. Black's Law Dictionary (4th ed), p. 1198, defines nolle prosequi as 'a formal entry upon the record by * * * the prosecuting officer in a criminal action, * * * by which he declares that he 'will no further prosecute". In Michigan, normally nolle prosequi is a dismissal without prejudice which does not preclude initiation of a subsequent prosecution. People v. Reagan, 395 Mich. 306, 235 N.W.2d 581 (1975). However, a trial court approval has been described as the 'sine qua non' of the decision to nolle prosequi. People v. Reagan, supra, at 317, 235 N.W.2d at 587. See also M.C.L.A. § 767.29; M.S.A. § 28.969. ²

The nature of the trial court's role in approving or disapproving nolle prosequi has been set forth in Genesee Prosecutor v. Genesee Circuit Judge, 391 Mich. 115, 121, 215 N.W.2d 145, 147 (1974):

'(I)n proposing to nolle prosequi, discontinue or abandon a prosecution, the circuit judge reviews the action of the magistrate and prosecuting attorney on the record--the record made before the magistrate at the preliminary examination, and the prosecutor's statement of reasons and 'the evidence filed in the case.' Such review is a judicial review, searching the record to determine whether the magistrate's or prosecutor's decision is in accord with the law, facts and reason of the matter.

'A circuit judge does not enjoy supervisory power over a prosecuting attorney.

He may reverse a magistrate's decision only for abuse of discretion. He may not properly substitute his judgment for that of the * * * prosecuting attorney as if he were * * * acting in a supervisory capacity with respect to the prosecuting attorney. He may reverse or revise their decisions only if it appears on the record that they have abused the power confided to them.' (Footnotes omitted.)

See also People v. Reagan, supra.

We cannot ignore that the Legislature has expressly required the prosecution to undergo certain formalities when seeking to discontinue prosecution. M.C.L.A. § 767.29; M.S.A. § 28.969. Although this statute has been described as designed to protect the defendant and not as limiting the use of nolle prosequi, People v. Curtis, 389 Mich. 698, 209 N.W.2d 243 (1973), we feel the people are nevertheless entitled to the protection of this statute also. There are limits on the prosecution's right to seek nolle prosequi. People v. Curtis, supra; Genesee Prosecutor, supra. We recognize that had the prosecution properly moved for entry of nolle prosequi there would have been a difficult question as to whether the trial court's refusal to grant such an order would have been justified.

In the cases cited, the reasons justifying grant of nolle prosequi often went to the sufficiency of the evidence. In Curtis, supra, the prosecutor sought to nolle prosequi a higher charge because of insufficiency of the evidence. In Reagan, supra, the prosecution originally sought the order because of the results of a polygraph examination which indicated innocence. Normally, nolle prosequi is used in connection with plea bargaining. Where the prosecution properly seeks to nolle prosequi, the trial court's review of that order is limited to whether the prosecutor has abused the power confided to him.

In the instant case, defendant was initially charged in 1971. He was convicted in 1972, and later again convicted on retrial in 1973. The trial court in his response to the show cause order cites People v. Matulonis, supra, as appropriate support for his position.

'Thus, the trial court, taking into consideration such factors as the offense with which the defendant was charged, the surrounding factual circumstances, the lesser included offense of the plea bargain, and the opinions of other interested parties, can refuse to accept a prosecutor's recommendation where it finds that the prosecuting attorney has abused his prosecutorial discretion.' Matulonis, supra, 60 Mich.App. at 149, 230 N.W.2d at 351.

Apparently the trial court felt that the only reason presented to the court as support for the motion to dismiss was the fact that defendant had served two and one-half years in prison. The court was particularly upset because of the great deal of judicial time and effort spent on this case and because juries had twice found the defendant guilty as charged, and he felt the reversals by this Court were due to mere 'technicalities'.

Certainly the people have some interest in the proper prosecution of law violators and correspondingly the trial judge has some authority to see that prosecution is properly carried out. However, separation of powers considerations are very important, the trial judge is a member of the independent judiciary and the prosecutor is an officer of the executive branch of government. People v. Nelson, 66 Mich.App. 60, 238 N.W.2d 201 (1975); People v. Curtis, supra; Genesee Prosecutor, supra.

In the instant case, the agreement to dismiss was not part of a plea bargain. There were apparently no mitigating factors involved in the offense and no surrounding factual circumstances cited as justification for this dismissal other than the fact that defendant had spent two and one-half years in jail and was now employed. We agree with the trial judge that after such an extensive investment of judicial time and effort involving a felony charge, judicial scrutiny into grounds for dismissal was justified. The mere fact that the prosecution and the defendant have agreed to dismiss charges is insufficient to justify such an order. There must be such a showing which would indicate to the court that the prosecution is not abusing its office. People v. Matulonis, supra.

We need not decide whether the fact that the defendant had served enough time to equal his minimum sentence is alone sufficient to justify nolle prosequi. ³ Herein we feel the court was justified in denying Defendant's motion to dismiss, which was vaguely concurred in by the prosecution. Therefore, under the circumstances involved in this case, we feel the trial court's actions were not in error. The trial court was particularly interested in seeing that justice was done and in achieving a determination as to 'whether or not the defendant had served two and a half years in state prison as an innocent man or as a guilty man'. We feel that the determination to dismiss in the instant case was a very serious decision involving the rights of Mr. McCartney and the people. The prosecution apparently took that decision lightly and failed to properly seek an order of nolle prosequi, nor even to adequately justify its concurrence in defendant's motion to dismiss. Judicial scrutiny was justified in the instant case. The termination of prosecution must not be taken lightly, particularly where there is statutory guidance. The trial court does have the duty to see that proper procedure, and justifications, are shown. The trial court in the instant...