Robert Reeves v. Cathleen Stoddard ( 2020 )

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION
File Name: 20a0009n.06
No. 19-1179
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT FILED
Jan 08, 2020
ROBERT REEVES, DEBORAH S. HUNT, Clerk
Petitioner-Appellant,
ON APPEAL FROM THE UNITED
v.
STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
CATHLEEN STODDARD, EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
Respondent-Appellee.
BEFORE: BOGGS, CLAY, and SUTTON, Circuit Judges.
CLAY, Circuit Judge. Petitioner Robert Reeves appeals the district court’s judgment
denying his petition for a writ of habeas corpus, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Reeves argues that
his convictions for arranging for “child sexually abusive activity,” Mich. Comp. Laws
§ 750.145c(2), and using a computer to communicate with a person for the purposes of that crime,
Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.145d(2)(f), violate the Double Jeopardy Clause of the United States
Constitution.
For the following reasons, we AFFIRM the judgment of the district court.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
In October 2007, Petitioner Robert Reeves pleaded guilty to arranging for child sexually
abusive activity and using a computer to communicate with a person for the purposes of
committing a felony. See Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 750.145c(2), 750.145d(2)(f). In his plea, Reeves
admitted that he “contacted a person [he] believed to be 14 years old to have sex with & used the
computer.” (Plea Form, R. 14-4 at PageID #404.) Specifically, Reeves used the internet to
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communicate with an undercover police officer posing as a fourteen-year-old girl between August
2006 and April 2007. He arranged to meet this girl and, when he arrived for that meeting, he was
arrested. After pleading guilty, Reeves was sentenced to six-and-a-half to twenty years of
imprisonment.
Reeves then mounted a series of appeals and post-conviction motions, each of which was
denied. See Reeves v. Campbell, 708 F. App’x 230, 232–34 (6th Cir. 2017) (summarizing
procedural history). As relevant here, the Oakland County Circuit Court rejected Reeves’ motion
for post-judgment relief under Michigan Court Rule 6.502, in which he argued in part that his
convictions violated the Double Jeopardy Clause. The court held that his convictions were
constitutional because they “involve two different statutes with different elements.” (Op. Denying
Mot. for Relief, R. 14-6 at PageID #451.) The Michigan Court of Appeals denied Reeves leave to
appeal this decision and the Michigan Supreme Court affirmed that denial.
Reeves then filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of Michigan. The district court found that Reeves had procedurally
defaulted on his double jeopardy claim and that he had not shown cause and prejudice to excuse
that default. It further concluded that his double jeopardy claim “lack[ed] merit because each
offense contains an element that the other does not,” and denied him a certificate of appealability.
(Op. Denying Pet., R. 16 at PageID #802, n.3; id. at #803.)
This Court granted a certificate of appealability and vacated the district court’s decision as
to Reeves’ double jeopardy claim. We found first that Reeves had procedurally defaulted the claim,
but demonstrated ineffective assistance of counsel, which constituted cause and prejudice to
excuse his procedural default. Campbell, 708 F. App’x at 237–38. We then determined that
Reeves’ case “presents the clearest example of double jeopardy,” applying the test prescribed by
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Blockburger v. United States, 284 U.S. 299 (1932), to find that Reeves’ offenses were the same
because “the lesser offense of arranging for child sexually abusive activity requires no proof
beyond that which is required for the greater offense of using a computer to arrange for child
sexually abusive activity.” 708 F. App’x at 238–40 (citing Blockburger, 284 U.S. at 304; Brown
v. Ohio, 432 U.S. 161, 167–68 (1977)). We concluded that the state court’s decision to the contrary
did not preclude habeas relief because it “was contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application
of, clearly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court.” Id. at 240–41 (citing 28
U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1)). Finally, we determined that the Warden had forfeited arguments that the
state legislature had authorized cumulative punishments for Reeves’ conduct and that Reeves was
subjected to multiple punishments for multiple acts. Id. at 241. However, because we believed the
former argument “could be outcome determinative,” we held that “this is the unusual case where
we would exercise our discretion to remand to the district court an argument that was not raised
below in the first instance,” and so returned the case to the district court. Id. at 242 (citing Taft
Broad. Co. v. United States, 929 F.2d 240, 245 (6th Cir. 1991)).
On remand, the district court determined that the language of Michigan’s statute defining
the offense of using a computer to communicate with a person for the purposes of committing a
crime, Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.145d, “makes clear that it was the intent of the Michigan
Legislature to authorize multiple punishments for the petitioner’s two offenses.” Reeves v.
Stoddard, No. 2:14-cv-10977, 2019 WL 764353 at *3 (E.D. Mich. Feb. 21, 2019). Accordingly, it
held that Reeves’ convictions for both arranging for child sexually abusive activity, Mich. Comp.
Laws § 750.145c(2), and using the computer to commit that crime, Mich. Comp. Laws
§ 750.145d(2)(f), do not constitute double jeopardy. Id. In the alternative, the court held that
Reeves “pleaded guilty to multiple acts which formed the bases for his convictions,” and because
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his convictions penalized multiple acts, they do not violate the Double Jeopardy Clause. See id. at
*5 & n.5.
Reeves’ timely appeal followed.
DISCUSSION
We review the district court’s denial of Reeves’ habeas petition de novo. Watkins v.
Kassulke, 90 F.3d 138, 141 (6th Cir. 1996). In this appeal, we adhere to our prior decision that the
state court’s determination of Reeves’ double jeopardy claim was contrary to clearly established
law, and so the deference due to that decision under the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty
Act does not bar habeas relief. See Campbell, 708 F. App’x at 240–41.
A. Forfeiture
We previously determined that this was an exceptional case in which we should exercise
our discretion to overlook the Warden’s forfeiture of the arguments that the Michigan legislature
had authorized multiple punishments for Reeves’ conduct and that Reeves had committed multiple
acts, meriting multiple punishments. Id. at 242; see also Taft Broad Co., 929 F.2d at 244–45
(discussing exceptions to forfeiture rule). The district court therefore correctly rejected Reeves’
continued contention that he is entitled to a writ of habeas corpus because the Warden forfeited
these arguments. Stoddard, 2019 WL 764353 at *1–2. We also adhere to our original disposition
of this argument, and so affirm the district court’s judgment as to this issue.
B. Legislative Authorization
We turn now to the merits of Reeves’ claim. Reeves argues that his convictions violate the
mandate of the Double Jeopardy Clause that no person shall “be subject for the same offence to be
twice put in jeopardy of life or limb.” U.S. Const. amend. V. The Fourteenth Amendment makes
this prohibition binding on the states. Benton v. Maryland, 395 U.S. 784, 795 (1969). At bottom,
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the Double Jeopardy Clause provides three basic protections: It “protects against a second
prosecution for the same offense after acquittal. It protects against a second prosecution for the
same offense after conviction. And it protects against multiple punishments for the same offense”
imposed in a single trial. Brown, 432 U.S. at 165 (quoting North Carolina v. Pearce, 395 U.S. 711,
717 (1969), overruled on other grounds by Alabama v. Smith, 490 U.S. 794, 799–800 (1989)).
We previously held that Reeves’ convictions constitute multiple punishments for the same
offense. Campbell, 708 F. App’x at 240. However, this determination does not end our inquiry. In
Missouri v. Hunter, 459 U.S. 359, 366 (1983), the Supreme Court held that, “[w]ith respect to
cumulative punishments imposed in a single trial, the Double Jeopardy Clause does no more than
prevent the sentencing court from prescribing greater punishment than the legislature intended.”
Accordingly, a defendant may, in a single trial, receive multiple punishments for the same offense,
so long as “[the] legislature specifically authorizes cumulative punishment under two statutes.” Id.
at 368. The question before this Court, then, is whether the Michigan legislature intended to
authorize cumulative punishments for those convicted of both child sexually abusive activity,
Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.145c(2), and of using a computer to arrange for that activity, Mich.
Comp. Laws § 750.145d(2)(f). If it did, Reeves’ custody was not “in violation of the Constitution
or laws or treaties of the United States,” and he is not entitled to a writ of habeas corpus. 28 U.S.C.
§ 2254(a).
We must accept the Michigan Supreme Court’s construction of Michigan statutes, and so
we look to that court’s decisions as to whether the legislature intended cumulative punishments
for violations of sections 750.145c(2) and 750.145d(2)(f). Hunter, 459 U.S. at 368. As it happens,
the Michigan Supreme Court has not addressed this question. However, the Michigan Court of
Appeals has done so recently, albeit in an unpublished decision. See People v. Sturza, No. 341366,
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2019 WL 2605758 at *5 (Mich. Ct. App. Jun. 25, 2019) (per curiam). In People v. Sturza, the court
held that the language of section 750.145d “clearly expressed [the Michigan legislature’s] intent
to authorize multiple punishments” for those convicted of a violation under sections 750.145d and
750.145c(2). Id. As in other cases in which we apply state law, “[i]n order to determine how the
state supreme court would rule, we look to the decisions of the state’s intermediate courts unless
we are convinced that the state supreme court would decide the issue differently.” Melson v. Prime
Ins. Syndicate, Inc., 429 F.3d 633, 636 (6th Cir. 2005). We therefore treat the Sturza decision as a
prediction of how the Michigan Supreme Court would interpret section 750.145d, because Reeves
has not convinced us that the Michigan Supreme Court would interpret its language differently.
Even absent this decision, the language of section 750.145d clearly demonstrates the
Michigan legislature’s intention to authorize cumulative punishment. That statute establishes:
(3) The court may order that a term of imprisonment imposed under this section be
served consecutively to any term of imprisonment imposed for conviction of the
underlying offense.
(4) This section does not prohibit a person from being charged with, convicted of,
or punished for any other violation of law committed by that person while violating
or attempting to violate this section, including the underlying offense.
Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.145d(3)–(4). The statute also explicitly names section 750.145c (and
thus, its subsections) as an underlying offense that one is proscribed from committing with the use
of a computer. Id. § 750.145d(1)(a).
Michigan case law provides that “[w]hen a statute’s language is unambiguous, ‘the
Legislature must have intended the meaning clearly expressed, and the statute must be enforced as
written.’” Madugula v. Taub, 853 N.W.2d 75, 81 (Mich. 2014) (quoting Malpass v. Dep’t of
Treasury, 833 N.W.2d 272, 278 (Mich. 2013)). The language of section 750.145d unambiguously
expresses the legislature’s intention to authorize cumulative punishments, and we must read it as
written. The legislature twice indicated that an offender may receive a punishment under this
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statute while also receiving a punishment for an underlying offense. As applied to this case, this
language indicates that Reeves may receive a punishment under section 750.145d(2)(f), while also
being punished under section 750.145c(2). Because the legislature has authorized cumulative
punishments for his conduct, Reeves’ convictions do not violate the Double Jeopardy Clause.
Reeves does not present an alternative reading of the language of section 750.145d, but
instead responds that the Double Jeopardy Clause of the Michigan Constitution “does not allow
the state legislature to authorize multiple convictions for offenses that are the ‘same’ under
Blockburger, even in a single trial.”1 (Pet’r Br. at 19 (citing Mich. Const. art. I, § 15).) He argues
that, because “[t]he state legislature’s powers are at all times ‘limited by the constitution of the
state,’” the Michigan legislature could not violate the Michigan Double Jeopardy Clause and,
evidently, we should presume it did not intend to do so. (Id. at 18–19 (quoting McPherson v.
Blacker, 146 U.S. 1, 25 (1892)) (citing Smiley v. Holm, 285 U.S. 355, 368 (1932)).) He notes that
the Michigan Supreme Court has held that the state double jeopardy provision should be
interpreted “consistently with the federal double jeopardy jurisprudence that then existed” at the
time the Michigan Constitution was ratified in 1963. (Id. at 19 (emphasis omitted) (quoting People
v. Davis, 695 N.W.2d 45, 52 (Mich. 2005)) (citing People v. Smith, 733 N.W.2d 351, 367 (Mich.
2007)).) Because Blockburger had been handed down prior to the ratification of the Michigan
Constitution in 1963, but Hunter was not handed down until twenty years after ratification, Reeves
1
We note that we are not permitted to decide state law claims on habeas review. See Pulley
v. Harris, 465 U.S. 37, 41 (1984) (“A federal court may not issue the writ on the basis of a
perceived error of state law.”). However, Reeves’ argument based on the Michigan Constitution is
relevant to his federal claim insofar as federal courts must look to state legislatures’ intent to
authorize cumulative punishments for an offense, and so we consider it only for that purpose.
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says that the Michigan Double Jeopardy Clause does not permit legislative authorization of
multiple punishments for his crime. (Id. at 19–20.)
This argument is unavailing. Despite its statements suggesting that the Michigan
Constitution should be interpreted consistently with federal case law as it stood in 1963, the
Michigan Supreme Court has adopted Hunter. See Smith, 733 N.W.2d at 364 (citing Hunter, 459
U.S. at 368). Reeves concedes as much. Specifically, immediately after explaining that Michigan’s
double jeopardy provision should “be construed consistently with . . . the interpretation given to
the Fifth Amendment by federal courts at the time of ratification,” the Smith court went on to
explain that, in determining whether there is a double jeopardy violation, courts’ first step should
be “determin[ing] whether the legislature expressed a clear intention that multiple punishments be
imposed.” 733 N.W.2d at 363–64 (citing Hunter, 459 U.S. at 368). This holding suggests that the
Michigan Supreme Court interprets its Double Jeopardy Clause to permit the state legislature to
authorize cumulative punishments, even though Hunter was not handed down until after the
Michigan Constitution was ratified.
Indeed, the Michigan Supreme Court has explained that, “[w]here multiple punishment is
involved, the Double Jeopardy Clause acts as a restraint on the prosecutor and the Courts, not the
Legislature.” People v. Mitchell, 575 N.W.2d 283, 284 (Mich. 1998). Accordingly, it has
repeatedly affirmed that the legislature has authorized cumulative punishments for other offenses.
E.g., People v. Miller, 869 N.W.2d 204, 211 (Mich. 2015) (finding that Michigan law “expressly
authorizes multiple punishments for certain operating while intoxicated offenses”); Mitchell, 575
N.W.2d at 285 (“[T]he Legislature’s intent in drafting the felony-firearm statute was to provide
for an additional felony charge and sentence whenever a person possessing a firearm committed a
felony other than those four explicitly enumerated in the felony-firearm statute.”).
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Reeves asks this Court to overlook Michigan courts’ application of Hunter. He argues that
this Court should not interpret section 750.145d to authorize cumulative punishments because
Michigan courts—at the time his briefing was submitted—had not interpreted that provision with
regard to double jeopardy. Instead, he asks this Court to certify this question to the Michigan
Supreme Court. But at this point, the Michigan Court of Appeals has interpreted section 750.145d
to authorize multiple punishments. Sturza, 2019 WL 2605758 at *5. In doing so, that court
expressly rejected the defendant’s argument that “the Legislature lacks the authority to violate the
Double Jeopardy Clause,” and treated this issue as entirely one of legislative intent. Id. Given the
Michigan Supreme Court’s adoption of Hunter and its holdings affirming that the legislature has
authorized cumulative punishments for other offenses, we have no reason to believe that the
Michigan Supreme Court would find otherwise. We are not convinced that there is any need to
certify this question to the Michigan Supreme Court, and we decline to do so.
CONCLUSION
Reeves’ convictions do not violate the Double Jeopardy Clause because the Michigan
legislature authorized multiple punishments for his offense. Having found so, we need not—and
do not—reach the question of whether Reeves’ convictions also penalized multiple acts.
For the foregoing reasons, we AFFIRM the judgment of the district court.
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