People of Michigan v. Romero Julius Potts ( 2022 )

If this opinion indicates that it is “FOR PUBLICATION,” it is subject to
revision until final publication in the Michigan Appeals Reports.
STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, UNPUBLISHED
January 20, 2022
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v No. 350514
St. Clair Circuit Court
ROMERO JULIUS POTTS, LC No. 19-001030-FH
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: BOONSTRA, P.J., and GLEICHER and LETICA, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Defendant appeals as of right his jury trial convictions for possession of more than 50
grams but less than 450 grams of Oxycodone, MCL 333.7403(2)(a)(iii),1 and possession of less
than 25 grams of cocaine, MCL 333.7403(2)(a)(v).2 Defendant was sentenced, as a second-offense
drug offender, MCL 333.7413(1),3 to concurrent terms of 16 ½ to 40 years’ imprisonment and 5 ¼
to 8 years’ imprisonment, respectively.
1
The penalty for this crime is not more than 20 years’ imprisonment “or a fine of not more than
$250,000.00, or both.” MCL 333.7403(2)(a)(iii).
2
The penalty for this crime is not more than 4 years’ imprisonment “or a fine of not more than
$25,000.00, or both.” MCL 333.7403(2)(a)(v).
3
In relevant part, MCL 333.7413 provides:
(1) . . . an individual convicted of a second or subsequent offense under this article
may be imprisoned for a term not more than twice the term otherwise authorized or
fined an amount not more than twice that otherwise authorized, or both.
* * *
(4) For purposes of subsection (1), an offense is considered a second or subsequent
offense, if, before conviction of the offense, the offender has at any time been
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On appeal, defendant argues he was deprived of the effective assistance of counsel at
sentencing because his retained attorney was ill-prepared, relied on outdated caselaw, and failed
to advocate on his behalf. Defendant contends that counsel’s failings prejudiced him because he
would not have incurred the double penalty authorized under the repeat-drug-offender statute if
counsel had simply stipulated to sentence him under the general habitual-offender statute. We
disagree and affirm defendant’s sentences.
I. BACKGROUND
This case arises out of the execution of a search warrant related to defendant’s drug
activities. The police located over 600 pills secreted in the basement and a small amount of crack
cocaine hidden in the garage of defendant’s girlfriend’s home.
The prosecution charged defendant with possession of the Oxycodone and with possession
with intent to deliver the cocaine, MCL 333.7401(2)(a)(iv), providing notice that it sought an
enhanced sentence under the fourth or subsequent habitual-offender statute, MCL 769.12,4 if
defendant was convicted.
convicted under this article or under any statute of the United States or of any state
relating to a narcotic drug, marihuana, depressant, stimulant, or hallucinogenic
drug.
4
In pertinent part, MCL 769.12 provides:
(1) If a person has been convicted of any combination of 3 or more felonies or
attempts to commit felonies, whether the convictions occurred in this state or would
have been for felonies or attempts to commit felonies in this state if obtained in this
state, and that person commits a subsequent felony within this state, the person shall
be punished upon conviction of the subsequent felony and sentencing under section
13 of this chapter as follows:
* * *
(b) If the subsequent felony is punishable upon a first conviction by imprisonment
for a maximum term of 5 years or more or for life, the court, except as otherwise
provided in this section or section 1 of chapter XI, may sentence the person to
imprisonment for life or for a lesser term.
(c) If the subsequent felony is punishable upon a first conviction by imprisonment
for a maximum term that is less than 5 years, the court, except as otherwise provided
in this section or section 1 of chapter XI, may sentence the person to imprisonment
for a maximum term of not more than 15 years.
(d) If the subsequent felony is a major controlled substance offense, the person shall
be punished as provided by part 74 of the public health code, 1978 PA
368, MCL 333.7401 to 333.7461.
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At trial, law enforcement officers testified about the search, the drugs found, the lack of
use paraphernalia, and defendant’s admissions. Defendant challenged the prosecution’s ability to
meet its burden of proof, highlighting the testing of a few pills, the evidence showing that
defendant resided elsewhere, the failure to record defendant’s alleged admissions, and the lack of
evidence showing that defendant intended to deliver the cocaine.
The jury convicted defendant as charged as to the Oxycodone and convicted him of a lesser
possession charge as to the cocaine. Immediately after the jury was dismissed, the trial court
sought to enter a judgment of conviction and addressed the habitual-offender notice, inquiring
whether defense counsel preferred the court to question defendant regarding his prior convictions
or whether counsel could acknowledge them.
At that point, defense counsel questioned whether defendant was charged as a habitual
offender under the general habitual-offender statute or under the repeat-drug-offender statute. The
prosecution indicated that it had elected to proceed under the general habitual-offender statute.
Defense counsel suggested that there was caselaw that required the prosecution to proceed under
the repeat-drug-offender statute, MCL 333.7413; however, he was unprepared to discuss the
applicability of that statute. Counsel then asked for an opportunity to prepare a sentencing
memorandum as the relevant research pertaining to the question was at his office.
The prosecutor opined that caselaw required her to elect between the two statutes, an
opinion that the trial court shared. The court again inquired as to how defense counsel wanted to
proceed. Counsel offered to acknowledge defendant’s prior convictions and submit a
memorandum of law regarding the applicable sentence-enhancement statute. When the court
asked whether the enhancement charged was in the prosecutor’s discretion, defense counsel
answered that he was unsure because he had had an earlier criminal case before a different circuit
court judge who determined that enhancement under the repeat-drug-offender statute was required.
Defense counsel again asked for an opportunity to brief the question. Recognizing that the case
had been charged under the general habitual-offender statute, the trial court afforded counsel a
limited time to brief the question while ensuring that the prosecution’s election to proceed under
the general habitual-offender statute was not a waiver of its ability to proceed under the repeat-
drug-offender statute.
Defendant then admitted to the following prior felony convictions:
 March 2009 – delivery and/or manufacture of less than 50 grams of a controlled
substance,
 March 2009 – attempted maintaining a drug house,
A major controlled substance offense includes a violation of MCL 333.7403(2)(a)(i) to (iv).
MCL 761.2(b). Possession of Oxycodone, MCL 333.7403(2)(a)(iii), is a major controlled
substance offense, but possession of less than 25 grams of cocaine,
MCL 333.7403(2)(a)(v), is not.
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 January 2013 – delivery and/or manufacture of less than 50 grams of a controlled
substance,
 December 2013 – possession of less than 25 grams of a controlled substance, and
 September 2014 – delivery and/or manufacture of less than 50 grams of a controlled
substance.
Defense counsel subsequently filed a brief, citing caselaw supporting his contention that
the prosecution was required to proceed under the repeat-drug-offender statute rather than the
general habitual-offender statute given that defendant’s prior convictions were all drug offenses.
See People v Edmonds, 93 Mich App 129, 135; 285 NW2d 802 (1979) (“As a specific and
comprehensive measure the [controlled substances] act’s sentence-augmentation provision
controls over the general habitual offender statute.”).
In response, the prosecution agreed, and, later, filed a separate sentencing memorandum.
Therein, the prosecutor referenced a post-trial jail call defendant made to his girlfriend where he
asked her to collect monies owed for an earlier drug delivery.
Defense counsel responded to the prosecution’s sentencing memorandum two days before
sentencing. Defense counsel cited People v Lowe, 484 Mich 718; 773 NW2d 1 (2009), for the
proposition that a sentencing court is not required to score Prior Record Variables (PRVs) when a
defendant is sentenced under the repeat-drug-offender statute.
On the day scheduled for sentencing, the prosecution responded that Lowe’s obiter dicta
on that point had been explicitly rejected in People v Peltola, 489 Mich 174; 803 NW2d 140
(2011). The prosecution attached a copy of Peltola to its written response.
At sentencing, the trial court began by addressing defense counsel’s failure to cite to
Peltola. Counsel conceded that he had “overlooked Peltola” and agreed it was controlling. The
court verbalized its displeasure over defense counsel’s error as it could have been misled.
The trial court then asked defense counsel about his position with respect to the jail call
between defendant and his girlfriend. Defense counsel attempted to defer the question to defendant
directly, but the trial court informed counsel that he was there to advocate for his client. Defense
counsel then explained that the jail call was taken out of context and actually pertained to an earlier
loan defendant made to a male coworker to assist him with paying his rent. As for the call’s
“reference to a gram or 1.2,” defense counsel shared that he and defendant had discussed that
defendant discovered marijuana, which he did not want or use, and another person took it. The
court opined that defendant’s actions constituted delivery, but defense counsel insisted that the
marijuana did not belong to defendant or the other person; therefore, it was not delivered.
The prosecutor denied that the jail-call conversation was taken out of context and further
denied that it was related to rent. Instead, according to the prosecutor, defendant explained that he
intended to collect the debt owed for the gram after the first day of trial, but failed to do so because
he had fallen asleep. After the second day of trial, defendant was convicted and his bond was
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revoked so he could not retrieve the money owed. In the prosecutor’s view, defendant advised his
girlfriend to collect an outstanding drug debt for him.
The court followed up with defense counsel, asking if he had any response. Defense
counsel continued to rely on his earlier comments.
The trial court indicated that it had reviewed the tape. The trial court determined that
nothing was taken out of context. The discussion pertaining to “1.2 grams” and “money owed”
occurred in “the same conversational sequence.” Nothing pertaining to rent was discussed.
And, although the parties now agreed that the general habitual-offender enhancement was
inapplicable, that information was not shared with the probation department. Thus, the
presentence investigation report had to be corrected to reflect that defendant’s maximum sentence
for the Oxycodone conviction was forty years’ imprisonment, not life, and that defendant’s
maximum sentence for the cocaine conviction was eight years’ imprisonment, not fifteen.
Moreover, when the prosecutor suggested that the maximum-minimum sentence for the cocaine
conviction would be six years, defense counsel noted that it would be two-thirds of eight years, or
five- and one-quarter years’ imprisonment, not six.
The parties agreed that defendant’s minimum sentencing guidelines’ range began at
99 months. Defense counsel argued that the court should impose the minimum sentence based on
defendant’s current possession convictions and recent employment. The prosecution argued that
the court should exercise its discretion and double defendant’s minimum sentence given his prior
record.
During defendant’s allocution, he apologized for his poor choices. Defendant attributed
his prior criminal behavior to his drug addiction. Defendant claimed that the jail call related to
money he had loaned his cousin for rent and he urged the court to listen to a subsequent jail call.
Defendant further apologized for giving his cousin marijuana that defendant had found in his
pocket.
The trial court opted to exercise its discretion under MCL 333.7413(1) and it doubled
defendant’s minimum sentencing guidelines range to 198 months. See Lowe, 484 Mich at 731-
732 (“MCL 333.7413[1] authorizes the trial court to double both the minimum and maximum
sentences in order to double defendant’s ‘term otherwise authorized.’ ”) The court then sentenced
defendant to that minimum, imposing 16 ½ to 40 years’ imprisonment for the Oxycodone
conviction, and, thereafter, imposing a sentence of 5 ¼ to 8 years’ imprisonment for the cocaine
conviction under MCL 333.7413(1).
After filing a claim of appeal, defendant, represented by new counsel, filed a motion for a
new trial and a Ginther5 hearing or, alternatively, for resentencing. In particular, defendant argued
that his trial counsel requested the imposition of the double penalty and failed to object to evidence
presented at sentencing.
5
People v Ginther, 390 Mich 436; 212 NW2d 922 (1973).
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Following additional briefing, the trial court heard defendant’s motion. Appellate defense
counsel argued that defendant was entitled to resentencing “at a minimum” because his trial
counsel never advised him regarding the applicability of the repeat-drug-offender statute. The
prosecutor maintained that defense trial counsel’s performance was not deficient, and, in any
event, defendant was not prejudiced because, even if the general habitual-offender statute applied,
defendant’s minimum sentencing guidelines were 99 to 320 months’ imprisonment. In contrast,
under the repeat-drug-offender statute, defendant’s minimum sentence remained 99 months’
imprisonment, but could be doubled to 198 months’ imprisonment. And regardless of who raised
the question of which sentence-enhancement statute applied, the trial court’s duty was to correctly
apply the law, which it did.
After hearing the parties’ arguments, the trial court denied defendant’s motion. The trial
court determined that it had properly sentenced defendant under the repeat-drug-offender statute.
Moreover, even if the general habitual-offender statute applied, defendant was exposed to a “far
greater” penalty under that statute than under the repeat-drug-offender statute. And, although the
trial court did not necessarily believe that defense trial counsel had improperly advised defendant,
even if he had, defendant was not prejudiced because there was “probably a snowball[’]s chance
in hell [that] he would have got[ten] a 99[-]month minimum given his [prior criminal] record.”
This appeal followed.
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
“Whether a person has been denied effective assistance of counsel is a mixed question of
fact and constitutional law.” People v LeBlanc, 465 Mich 575, 579; 640 NW2d 246 (2002). “The
trial court’s factual findings are reviewed for clear error, while its constitutional determinations
are reviewed de novo.” People v Matuszak, 263 Mich App 42, 48; 687 NW2d 342 (2004), citing
LeBlanc, 465 Mich at 579. “Clear error exists when the reviewing court is left with a definite and
firm conviction that a mistake was made.” People v Blevins, 314 Mich App 339, 348-349; 886
NW2d 456 (2016) (citation omitted).
III. DISCUSSION
A. APPLICABILITY OF CRONIC
On appeal, defendant first argues this Court should analyze trial counsel’s performance
under United States v Cronic, 466 US 648, 659-661; 104 S Ct 2039; 80 L Ed 2d 657 (1984), rather
than Strickland v Washington, 466 US 668, 687; 104 S Ct 2052; 80 L Ed 2d 674 (1984), because
counsel did not subject the prosecutor’s case to “meaningful adversarial testing.” Cronic, 466 US
at 656. To support his argument, defendant notes that: (1) trial counsel was unprepared to discuss
sentencing issues after the jury returned its verdict, (2) trial counsel advocated using the repeat-
drug-offender statute to sentence defendant, leading to a higher minimum sentencing guidelines
range than defendant would have faced under the general habitual-offender statute, and (3) trial
counsel did not advocate for defendant at sentencing. Defendant also relies on People v Harris,
185 Mich App 100; 460 NW2d 239 (1990), and contends that trial counsel’s failure to investigate
the ramifications and applicability of the repeat-drug-offender statute constitute “prima facie
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evidence of incompetence” under People v Lewis, 64 Mich App 175, 183-184; 235 NW2d 100
(1975). We disagree.
This case does not fall under one of the rare situations outlined in Cronic. Cronic
established three situations when a presumption of prejudice arises from ineffective assistance and
requires a new trial: (1) “the complete denial of counsel,” (2) when counsel “entirely fails to subject
the prosecution’s case to meaningful adversarial testing,” and (3) when the circumstances
surrounding the case “ma[k]e it so unlikely that any lawyer could provide effective assistance that
ineffectiveness [is] properly presumed without inquiry into actual performance at trial.” Cronic,
466 US at 659-661. The second exception, upon which defendant relies, requires counsel’s failure
to be complete. Bell v Cone, 535 US at 685, 696-697; 122 S Ct 1843; 152 L Ed 2d 914 (2002).
The record in this case reveals that counsel prepared two memoranda in anticipation of
sentencing. Counsel reviewed the presentence investigation report with defendant. Counsel
advocated for a minimum sentence under the guidelines and counsel addressed the jail call after
discussing it with defendant. In other words, counsel did not completely fail to represent defendant
at sentencing.
Moreover, defendant’s reliance on Harris is misplaced. In Harris, this Court reversed the
trial court’s denial of the defendant’s motion for a new trial on the basis of ineffective assistance
of counsel under Strickland, not Cronic. Harris, 185 Mich App at 104. This Court determined
that counsel’s performance during trial in combination “with his statements at sentencing”
warranted a new trial. Id. At sentencing, Harris’s counsel argued for a prison term “despite
[Harris’s] request for probation.” Id. at 105. Moreover, Harris’s counsel “made no attempt to
argue that [Harris’s] prison term be short” in spite of the sentencing guidelines’ recommendation
of a minimum sentence of eighteen months to three years’ imprisonment. Id. Instead, Harris’s
“counsel’s conduct at sentencing showed a total failure to advocate on his client’s behalf,”
including failing to “argue for [any] mitigation of the sentence.” Id.
None of the failings attributed to Harris’s counsel occurred in this case. Trial counsel did
not present an argument that was expressly contrary to defendant’s wishes. Trial counsel conferred
with defendant and advocated for the minimum sentence under the guidelines. And, consistent
with the law, counsel advocated for sentence enhancement under the repeat-drug-offender statute
rather than the general habitual-offender statute. See Edmonds, 93 Mich App at 135. See also
MCL 333.7413(1) and MCL 769.12(1)(d), requiring a court to enhance a defendant’s sentence
under Article 7 of the Public Health Code, MCL 333.7101 et seq., “[i]f the subsequent felony is a
major controlled substance offense . . . .” Although application of the repeat-drug-offender statute
potentially increased defendant’s minimum sentencing guidelines for the Oxycodone conviction
from 99 months’ imprisonment to 198 months’ imprisonment, defendant’s maximum sentence was
reduced from life to 40 years’ imprisonment and defendant’s maximum sentence for the cocaine
conviction was reduced from fifteen to eight years’ imprisonment. In comparison, under the
general habitual-offender statute, MCL 769.12(1)(b), although the possibility that the court could
sentence defendant to 99 months’ imprisonment remained, there was also a possibility that the
court could impose a minimum sentence of 320 months’ imprisonment for the Oxycodone
conviction and still remain within the guidelines’ recommendation. MCL 777.13m;
MCL 777.21(3)(c); MCL 777.63. In fact, the trial court remarked that the prosecutor was being
“extremely” or “quite generous” by seeking 198 months’ imprisonment, indicating that it may
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have imposed a higher sentence had defendant been sentenced under the general habitual-offender
statute. Stated otherwise, if the general habitual-offender statute applied, defendant was subject
to a minimum sentence well above the 198 months’ imprisonment he received under the repeat-
drug-offender statute. Thus, unlike the defense counsel in Harris, trial counsel did not advocate
for a harsher sentence by urging the court to apply the correct sentence-enhancement provision.
See also Michigan Rule of Professional Conduct (MRPC) 3.3(a)(2) (“A lawyer shall not
knowingly . . . fail to disclose to a tribunal controlling legal authority in the jurisdiction known to
the lawyer to be directly adverse to the position of his client and not disclosed by opposing
counsel . . . .”).
Admittedly, trial counsel was initially unprepared to discuss sentencing issues after the jury
returned its verdict, but counsel raised the question of which sentence-enhancement provision
should apply as a result of his prior experience in another criminal matter. After some discussion,
both the trial court and the prosecutor were also uncertain about which sentencing-enhancement
provision applied to defendant. Trial counsel then repeatedly sought, and was granted, the
opportunity to brief the issue before sentencing. Moreover, after trial counsel briefed the issue,
the prosecutor agreed that the law required application of the repeat-drug-offender statute. And
despite trial counsel’s error in citing Lowe rather than Peltola, counsel read the controlling case,
admitted his error, and advocated for defendant by presenting potential mitigating factors in an
attempt to convince the trial court to impose the minimum sentence under the guidelines. The
record demonstrates that trial counsel was diligent and did not completely fail defendant at
sentencing. Therefore, Strickland, not Cronic, controls the outcome in this case.
B. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE UNDER STRICKLAND
Defendant argues that trial counsel was ineffective for numerous reasons: (1) he failed to
correct the trial court’s statement that the parties stipulated to apply the repeat-drug-offender
statute, (2) he was unprepared to argue a sentencing issue immediately after the jury returned its
verdict, (3) he “[f]ail[ed] to competently research and draft [a] legal memorandum filed with the
court,” (4) he failed to object to the jail call discussed at sentencing, and (5) he attempted to have
defendant explain the jail call rather than advocating on defendant’s behalf. Finally, defendant
argues that he was prejudiced by trial counsel’s deficient performance because, under the repeat-
drug-offender statute, defendant’s minimum sentencing guidelines’ recommendation and
maximum sentences were doubled, which would not have occurred if he had been sentenced under
the general habitual-offender statute. We disagree.
To succeed on a claim for ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must satisfy the
two-part test established in Strickland, and adopted by our Supreme Court in People v Pickens,
446 Mich 298, 302-303; 521 NW2d 797 (1994). First, “defendant must show that counsel’s
performance was deficient.” Strickland, 466 US at 687. To do so, “the defendant must show that
counsel’s representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness.” Id. at 688. Second,
a defendant must show counsel’s “deficient performance prejudiced” him. Id. at 687. This
requires the defendant to show “a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional
errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. A reasonable probability is a
probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.” Id. at 694. “Unless a defendant
makes both showings, it cannot be said that the conviction or . . . sentence resulted from a
breakdown in the adversary process that renders the result unreliable.” Id. at 687.
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Defendant first argues that trial counsel’s performance was deficient because he failed to
correct the trial court after it said: “I would note that the parties stipulated that [d]efendant should
be sentenced under MCL 333.7413 as a second drug offender.” While it is true the parties
specifically stipulated that the prosecutor did not waive the right to sentence defendant under the
repeat-drug-offender provision after trial, trial counsel later filed a memorandum supporting his
position that defendant’s sentence had to be enhanced under the repeat-drug-offender statute rather
than the general habitual-offender statute. The prosecutor agreed with defendant’s legal position
in the written response she filed.
A stipulation is “[a] voluntary agreement between opposing parties concerning some
relevant point; esp., an agreement relating to a proceeding, made by attorneys representing adverse
parties to the proceeding.” Black’s Law Dictionary (11th ed). Stipulations are “binding upon the
parties” and “should be enforced unless good cause is shown to the contrary.” People v Williams,
153 Mich App 582, 587; 396 NW2d 805 (1986) (citation omitted).
In their written memoranda, the parties agreed that defendant’s sentences should be
enhanced under MCL 333.7413, and trial counsel did not perform deficiently when he failed to
object to the court’s reference to their agreement as a stipulation. But, even if defense counsel had
performed deficiently by failing to object, defendant was not prejudiced when the trial court
properly enhanced his sentences under the repeat-drug-offender statute. Edmonds, 93 Mich App
at 135. See also MCL 333.7413(1) and MCL 769.12(1)(d).6
Defendant next argues that trial counsel was ineffective because he was not versed in the
applicability of the repeat-drug-offender statute. It was not objectively unreasonable for trial
counsel to be unprepared to discuss a sentencing issue immediately after trial. Instead, he
appropriately requested time to further research the sentencing issue and was correct in his initial
assertion that the repeat-drug-offender statute applied to defendant. Trial counsel’s request to file
a sentencing memorandum had no impact on the sentencing date. Therefore, trial counsel’s
representation of defendant did not fall below an objective standard of reasonableness. And, even
if it had, defendant cannot show that but for trial counsel’s deficient performance, the outcome of
the proceedings would have been different because the sentencing court followed the law and
properly applied the repeat-drug-offender statute to enhance defendant’s sentence. Id.
Defendant also argues trial counsel was ineffective because he relied on outdated caselaw
in his response to the prosecutor’s sentencing memorandum. Trial counsel relied on Lowe to
support his position that the trial court should not consider PRVs in determining defendant’s
sentence under the repeat-drug-offender provision. However, Peltola, a case decided after Lowe,
held trial courts should score the PRVs when calculating a defendant’s minimum sentence range
when the defendant’s sentence is subject to the repeat-drug-offender provision. Peltola, 489 Mich
at 190. Peltola was not a recent case, but was decided in 2011. Defendant’s sentencing occurred
6
Specifically, MCL 769.12(1)(d) states, “[i]f the subsequent felony is a major controlled substance
offense, the person shall be punished as provided by part 74 of the public health code, 1978 PA
368, MCL 333.7401 to 333.7461.” Defendant’s Oxycodone conviction was a major controlled
substance offense. MCL 761.2(b) and MCL 333.7403(2)(a)(iii).
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in 2019, eight years after Peltola was decided. Consequently, it should not have been difficult for
trial counsel to find Peltola. Therefore, trial counsel’s performance with respect to his reliance on
Lowe likely fell below an objective standard of reasonableness. Regardless, trial counsel’s
performance did not prejudice defendant. The prosecution’s response cited Peltola. Defense
counsel admitted his oversight, reviewed Peltola, and defendant’s sentencing proceeded under the
correct caselaw.
Defendant further argues that trial counsel failed to advocate for him by failing to object to
the use of the jail call and was unprepared to discuss it. While trial counsel did not object to the
use of the jail call between defendant and his girlfriend, defendant now suggests that this
“evidence” was improperly admitted. But, “proper sentencing, tailored to each individual
defendant, requires a broad inquiry into the defendant’s background.” People v Potrafka, 140
Mich App 749, 753; 366 NW2d 35 (1985). And the rules of evidence, “other than those with
respect to privileges,” do not apply to sentencing proceedings. MRE 1101(b)(3). Accordingly,
the trial court properly considered the jail call at sentencing, and “counsel [was] not ineffective for
failing to raise [a] meritless or futile objection[].” People v Putman, 309 Mich App 240, 245; 870
NW2d 593 (2015).
Moreover, contrary to defendant’s argument, trial counsel discussed the jail call at
sentencing. Although trial counsel initially attempted to defer to defendant to directly respond to
the court’s inquiry about the jail call, trial counsel indicated that he had listened to the telephone
conversation and discussed it with defendant. Trial counsel contended the conversation was taken
out of context. Counsel attempted to characterize the call as discussing a loan to someone so that
that person could pay for rent. And, after obtaining defendant’s permission to reveal the content
of their earlier discussion, counsel explained that “[t]he reference to a gram or 1.2” concerned
marijuana taken by defendant’s cousin. Defendant himself offered these same explanations during
his allocution. And counsel suggested that the court should discount the jail call as defendant’s
convictions involved possession, not delivery. Consequently, defense counsel’s performance did
not fall below an objective standard of reasonableness and, even if it had, defendant has not shown
that he was prejudiced.
Defendant also argues that but for trial counsel raising the question, he would have been
sentenced as a habitual offender rather than a repeat drug offender, reducing his minimum
sentencing guidelines range. Initially, we again note that counsel owes a duty of candor to the
court. See MRPC 3.3(a)(2) (“A lawyer shall not knowingly . . . fail to disclose to a tribunal
controlling legal authority in the jurisdiction known to the lawyer to be directly adverse to the
position of the client and not disclosed by opposing counsel . . . .”). Furthermore, the trial court
or the prosecution could have recognized that the repeat-drug-offender statute applied given the
nature of defendant’s prior convictions. In any event, as previously discussed, defendant was not
prejudiced when the trial court correctly applied the repeat-drug-offender enhancement. Edmonds,
93 Mich App at 135. See also MCL 333.7413(1) and MCL 769.12(1)(d).
Finally, defendant argues that the trial court failed to properly analyze trial counsel’s
conduct and, instead, found that defendant was not prejudiced because he could have received the
same sentence under the general habitual-offender statute as he had under the repeat-drug-offender
statute. But to succeed on his ineffective assistance of counsel claim, defendant had the burden of
showing trial counsel’s performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and that
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defendant was prejudiced by counsel’s deficient performance. Strickland, 466 US at 687-688. If
defendant does not meet one of these prongs, then he cannot succeed on his claim; it does not
matter if trial counsel’s performance was deficient if it did not prejudice defendant. Id. at 687(finding “[u]nless a defendant makes both showings, it cannot be said that the conviction
or . . . sentence resulted from a breakdown in the adversary process that renders the result
unreliable.”).
Affirmed.
/s/ Mark T. Boonstra
/s/ Elizabeth L. Gleicher
/s/ Anica Letica
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