People v. Ross

• Court: Court of Appeal of Michigan
• Writing for the Court: D. E. HOLBROOK; KAUFMAN
• Citation: People v. Ross, 269 N.W.2d 532, 84 Mich.App. 218 (Mich. App. 1978)
• Decision Date: 19 June 1978
• Docket Number: Docket No. 77-1623
• Parties: PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Jack Richard ROSS, Defendant-Appellant. 84 Mich.App. 218, 269 N.W.2d 532

Page 532

269 N.W.2d 532

PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Jack Richard ROSS, Defendant-Appellant.

Docket No. 77-1623.

84 Mich.App. 218, 269 N.W.2d 532

Court of Appeals of Michigan.

June 19, 1978.

Released for Publication Sept. 18, 1978.

[84 MICHAPP 220] Frank R. Vargas, Saginaw, for defendant-appellant.

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

Before J. H. GILLIS, P. J., and D. E. HOLBROOK and KAUFMAN, JJ.

D. E. HOLBROOK, Judge.

On December 9, 1976, Jack Ross was 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. On May 18, 1977, defendant was convicted by a jury as a third-time habitual offender, contrary to M.C.L. § 769.11; M.S.A. § 28.1083. On June 16, 1977, defendant was sentenced to 6 to 10 years in prison. Defendant appeals as of right.

[84 MICHAPP 221] The facts in the instant case are as follows:

During the evening of February 13, 1976, the back door of the Bedtelyon residence was pried open and several pieces of antique jewelry were taken. The owner of the jewelry identified people's exhibits 2, 3, 4 and 5 as the missing pieces of jewelry. An antique dealer identified people's exhibits 2 through 5 as items Jack Ross offered to sell her. She testified that she was aware of the Bedtelyon breaking and entering which caused her to be wary of the items defendant offered for sale. She called the police and they subsequently arrested the defendant.

The defendant testified that he purchased exhibits 2 through 5 at a flea market and had no knowledge that the items were stolen.

Of the issues raised by defendant, only two warrant discussion.

In a fourth habitual offender trial, how many peremptory challenges is a defendant entitled to?

GCR 1963, 511.5 provides in part as follows:

"Each party in a criminal case shall be entitled to 5 peremptory challenges, unless the offense charged is punishable by death or life imprisonment, in which case the defendant shall be entitled to 20 peremptory challenges and the prosecutor shall be entitled to 15 peremptory challenges."

M.C.L. § 769.13; M.S.A. § 28.1085 sets out the procedures which shall be used when a supplemental information is filed charging a defendant as a habitual offender. The statute provides in part as follows:

"The usual practice in the trial of criminal cases shall be followed in the empanelling of such jury and the trial of said issue and the prosecuting officer and [84 MICHAPP 222] the accused Shall each be allowed 5 peremptory challenges." (Emphasis added.)

The defendant asserts that a person charged as a fourth offender may receive a life sentence and, therefore, GCR 1963, 511.5 is applicable. Also, defendant maintains that GCR 1963, 511.5 conflicts with M.C.L. § 769.12; M.S.A. § 28.1084, and where a court rule and statute conflict, the court rule controls. The prosecution asserts that the statute and court rule are not inconsistent, because the habitual offenders act does not create a substantive crime.

In People v. Shotwell, 352 Mich. 42, 46, 88 N.W.2d 313, 315 (1958), Cert. den. 356 U.S. 976, 78 S.Ct. 1141, 2 L.Ed.2d 1149 (1958), the Court stated as follows:

"Despite that case, (People v. Brown, 253 Mich. 537, 235 N.W. 245, 82 A.L.R. 341 (1931)) however, we further note that substantive crimes are created and defined in our penal code whereas the statutory provisions for second and subsequent offenders are found in our code of criminal procedure. This is some indication, we think, that the legislature did not intend to make a separate substantive crime out of being a habitual criminal but rather, for deterrent purposes, intended to augment the punishment for second or subsequent felonies."

See also, People v. Ungurean, 51 Mich.App. 262, 265, 214 N.W.2d 873 (1974).

GCR 1963, 511.5 specifically refers to criminal cases where the Offense is punishable by life imprisonment. Since the habitual offender act does not create an offense, the statute and the court rule are not inconsistent.

A person charged as a fourth offender is not entitled to 20 peremptory challenges. The trial [84 MICHAPP 223] court properly rejected the defendant's request in this case.

The next issue is whether two prior felonies charged in one information upon which defendant had been convicted can be counted as two felonies under the habitual offenders act.

When the supplemental information was filed charging defendant as a fourth-time felon, two of the prior convictions, breaking and entering of an occupied dwelling and possession of burglary tools, arose out of the same transaction. After testimony was presented of the prior felonies, the jury convicted defendant as a third-time felon. Defendant asserts that it was error for the prosecutor to use two convictions that arose out of the same transaction in a habitual offender supplemental information.

In People v. Lowenstein, 309 Mich. 94, 100-101, 14 N.W.2d 794, 796 (1944), the Michigan Supreme Court stated:

"Nor does the fact that defendant was convicted and sentenced on both counts result in conviction for two felonies such as to subject the defendant to additional punishment under the Habitual Criminal Act. People v. Podsiad (295 Mich. 541, 546, 295 N.W. 257 (1940))."

See also, 2 Gillespie, Michigan Criminal Law & Procedure (2d ed), § 761, p 975.

In the instant case, the two counts did not charge inconsistent offenses. Both arose out of the same transaction, both were provable by the same testimony, only one time and place and subject being involved. It was error to allow the jury to count separately the 1969 breaking and entering and possession of burglary tools convictions as two prior felonies.

Under the facts of this case, we cannot say that [84 MICHAPP 224] the error was harmless. The defendant was charged as a fourth offender. The jury convicted defendant as a third offender. The prosecutor asserts that even if we consider the 1969 breaking and entering and possession of burglary tools convictions as one conviction for habitual offender purposes, the defendant still previously had committed two other felonies and, therefore, his conviction as a third offender was harmless. This would be true if the jury convicted defendant...