People v. Mitchell

• Decision Date: 23 July 1973
• Docket Number: No. 2,Docket No. 13463,2
• Citation: 48 Mich.App. 361,210 N.W.2d 509
• Parties: PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Gary MITCHELL, Defendant-Appellant
• Court: Court of Appeal of Michigan — District of US

Page 509

210 N.W.2d 509

48 Mich.App. 361

PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Gary MITCHELL, Defendant-Appellant.

Docket No. 13463.

Court of Appeals of Michigan, Division No. 2.

July 23, 1973.

Released for Publication Sept. 26, 1973.

James R. Neuhard, State App. Defender, Detroit, for defendant-appellant.

Frank J. Kelley, Atty. Gen., Robert A. Derengoski, Sol. Gen., Thomas J. Kizer, Pros. Atty., for plaintiff-appellee.

Before BRONSON, P.J., and FITZGERALD and O'HARA, ^* JJ.

BRONSON, Presiding Judge.

Defendant was convicted by jury verdict of breaking and entering with intent to commit a felony and setenced to serve a prison term of 5 to 10 years. M.C.L.A. § 750.110; M.S.A. § 28.305. From this conviction defendant appeals as a matter of right, raising three allegations of error: one allegation challenges the prosecution's failure to produce an indorsed accomplice at trial and the remaining allegaions challenge the trial judge's consideration of defendant's juvenile record and dishonorable discharge for sentencing purposes.

The relevant facts may be briefly summarized as follows. Defendant and two companions, Michael McGuire and Clayton Parks, were charged with the instant crime for their participation in the theft of various items from Woody's Sunoco Station in Livingston County. At defendant's trial, Clayton Parks testified for the people. Parks described the breaking and entering by stating that he and defendant confiscated two tires, a case of oil, various tools, and some gauges while McGuire stood watch outside. Although McGuire was indorsed on the information, the prosecution rested its case without his production. Defendant's counsel objected but the trial court accepted the prosecution's argument that it had no obligation to produce this accomplice. ¹

This ruling by the trial judge provides the impetus for defendant's first allegation of error. Defendant spearheads this allegation with a direct attack upon the rationale underlying the accomplice exception to the requirement that the prosecution must indorse all res gestae witnesses. After evaluating the controlling authorities, arguments, and competing considerations, we too are concerned about the propriety of this rule. A shadow of doubt is cast upon its vitality by M.C.L.A. § 767.40a; M.S.A. § 29.980(1) which permits the prosecutor to impeach res gestae witnesses which he is obligated to call. The abundance of unambiguous Supreme Court precedent, whether ill-conceived or not, is binding upon this appellate court and defendant's arguments are more properly addressed to it. The frequency with which this argument is being raised may attract the much needed review by the Supreme Court. See, e.g., People v. Henderson, 45 Mich.App. 511, 206 N.W.2d 771 (1973); People v. Margaret Jones, 48 Mich.App. 334, 210 N.W.2d 396 (1973).

Our current recognition of the accomplice exception to the res gestae indorsement rule, dictated by the strictures of precedent, affords the prosecution no relief. Although the prosecution had no obligation to indorse the accomplice McGuire, it chose to voluntarily indorse him. In view of this voluntary indorsement, the prosecution's undaunted reliance upon the accomplice exception violates notions of logic. It is elementary that the voluntary indorsement of a witness carries with it the attendant burdens of production. In People v. Lummis, 260 Mich. 170, 173, 244 N.W. 438 (1932), the Court stated:

'If, however, he (prosecutor) does indorse the name of a person not a Res gestae witness, He must have him in court, but need not call him as a witness.' (Emphasis added.)

Accord, People v. Whittemore, 230 Mich. 435, 203 N.W. 87 (1925); People v. Zabijak, 285 Mich. 164, 280 N.W. 149 (1938); People v. Kern, 6 Mich.App. 406, 149 N.W.2d 216 (1967); People v. O'Dell, 10 Mich.App. 87, 158 N.W.2d 805 (1968); People v. Ivy, 11 Mich.App. 427, 161 N.W.2d 403 (1968); People v. Woodward, 21 Mich.App. 549, 175 N.W.2d 842 (1970).

The rationale for this rule is found in the statement by the Lummis Court that '(a) defendant has the right to rely on the fact that such a witness will be present'. This direct statement of the realistic trial practices and consequences flowing therefrom cannot be ignored. We see no logical reason for applying a different rule because the indorsed witness is an accomplice for which no original burden of indorsement exists. The present defendant, whose preparation of his case revolved in part around the potential testimony of McGuire, was no less injured when the prosecution rested its case without producing this accomplice. ²

The cited authorities will excuse the nonproduction of an indorsed witness when the prosecution's efforts to obtain his presence at trial are diligent. This due diligence standard should likewise apply to the indorsement of an accomplice. In the case at bar, the prosecution made no effort to produce McGuire, consistent with its belief that no duty existed. Thus, there are no efforts to test against the due diligence standard. The fact that McGuire was in the army and out of the state did not alleviate the requirement that efforts to secure his attendance be made, including utilization of the Uniform Act to Secure the Attendance of Witnesses From Without a State in Criminal Proceedings. M.C.L.A. § 767.91 et seq.; M.S.A. § 28.1023(191) et seq. See, e.g., People v. Crable, 33 Mich.App. 254, 189 N.W.2d 740 (1971); People v. Nieto, 33 Mich.App. 535, 190 N.W.2d 579 (1971); People v. Phillips, 37 Mich.App. 242, 194 N.W.2d 501 (1971); People v. Burke, 38 Mich.App. 617, 196 N.W.2d 830 (1972). ³

The prosecution's case was grounded upon the testimony of Parks, the remaining evidence being circumstantial. Since McGuire, an alleged participant, could testify to commission of the crime, his testimony was critical, and we cannot speculate whether it would be cumulative. Based upon the prosecution's failure to produce an indorsed accomplice, we are constrained to reverse and remand for a new trial. In view of this disposition, the remaining issues need not be considered or discussed.

Reversed and remanded.

O'HARA, Judge (dissenting).

It seems to me there is an irreconcilable conflict betweeen Michigan Supreme Court precedent which has both implicitly and explicitly excused the prosecution from calling an accomplice, though an eyewitness, and the obligation of the people to call all eyewitnesses to a given transaction unless the number is so great as to make the testimony merley cumulative. In the present case, Michael McGuire was an eyewitness and also an accomplice.

Thus it appears that on the one hand the prosecution was obligated to endorse McGuire as a res gestae witness and call him to the stand so that he would be subject to cross-examination by the defense.

On the other hand the prosecutor was excused from calling him under the so-called 'accomplice exception' rule.

Such a situation is intolerable. It is prejudicing the rights of persons accused of crimes and it is placing the prosecution in the position of not knowing what its legal obligation is.

The question is squarely before us because the prosecuting attorney relied on the accomplice exception rule and the trial judge sustained him on that basis. The prosecuting attorney has a virtual litany of law to support him. I certainly agree with Judge Bronson as to the frequency with which the problem arises. As late as 1971 this Court held:

'Although the prosecutor is under a general obligation to indorse...