People of Michigan v. Raymond Russell Seigneurie ( 2017 )

STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, UNPUBLISHED
September 7, 2017
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v No. 332270
St. Clair Circuit Court
RAYMOND RUSSELL SEIGNEURIE, LC No. 15-002092-FC
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: TALBOT, C.J., and SAWYER and STEPHENS, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Defendant appeals as of right his three jury trial convictions of first-degree criminal
sexual conduct (CSC I), MCL 750.520b(1)(a) (victim under 13 years old). Defendant was
sentenced to 20 to 30 years’ imprisonment for each conviction. We affirm.
This appeal arises out of the childhood sexual abuse of defendant’s eldest daughter, who
was an adult at the time of trial. Defendant repeatedly engaged in digital penetration of the
victim while she was between the ages of 3 and 10 years old. It was not until the victim gave
birth to her own daughter that she reported the sexual abuse. Defendant raises several arguments
on appeal, all which we find to be unpersuasive. Each is addressed in turn.
I. GREAT WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE
Defendant first argues that the great weight of the evidence did not support his three CSC
I convictions. We disagree.
Defendant failed to preserve this issue for appellate review by moving for a new trial in
the trial court. People v Lopez, 305 Mich App 686, 695; 854 NW2d 205 (2014). We review
unpreserved challenges to the great weight of the evidence for plain error affecting a defendant’s
substantial rights. Id.A new trial may be granted if a verdict is against the great weight of the evidence. MCR
2.611(A)(1)(e). However, a new trial should only be granted when the evidence preponderates
so heavily against a jury’s verdict that a serious miscarriage of justice would otherwise result.
People v Unger, 278 Mich App 210, 232; 749 NW2d 272 (2008). Generally, conflicting
testimony and issues of witness credibility are insufficient grounds for granting a new trial. Id.Unless “directly contradictory testimony was so far impeached that it ‘was deprived of all
-1-
probative value or that the jury could not believe it,’ or contradicted indisputable physical facts
or defied physical realities, the trial court must defer to the jury’s determination.” People v
Lemmon, 456 Mich 625, 645-646; 576 NW2d 129 (1998) (citation omitted).
Defendant’s argument on appeal centers around the fact that the victim’s testimony was
“seriously” impeached at trial. Specifically, the victim had difficulty remembering small details
of the alleged events, and did not testify wholly consistent with her preliminary examination
testimony. Defendant further argues that the victim’s story of being molested over 20 times in
the living room in front of her entire family was “patently incredible or defies physical realities.”
However, witness credibility is a question for the jury, People v Harrison, 283 Mich App 374,
378; 768 NW2d 98 (2009), and this Court does not interfere with a jury’s determination
regarding credibility, People v Noble, 238 Mich App 647, 657; 608 NW2d 123 (1999).
Additionally, as noted above, “conflicting testimony,” such as the conflicting testimony of the
victim and defendant, “and questions of witness credibility are generally insufficient grounds for
granting a new trial.” Unger, 278 Mich App at 232.
Although the victim’s testimony was impeached on small details, much of the victim’s
testimony was actually supported by the testimony of other witnesses. For example, the victim’s
mother, defendant’s wife, testified that although she was unaware of the sexual abuse when it
originally took place, the victim did eventually disclose the abuse during a family meeting. After
that meeting, a blank, calm, and unemotional defendant admitted that he had inappropriately
touched the victim. The victim’s and her mother’s testimony was also consistent regarding at
least one other later incident that took place between defendant and the victim at the family’s
home in Macomb County. The victim’s first husband also testified that he had been made aware
of the relationship between defendant and the victim, and that the victim had made him promise
he would never repeat what he knew. He also testified that the victim had been “real particular”
about having her mother, and not defendant, watch their two young children.
Based on the foregoing, it cannot be said that the evidence “preponderated so heavily
against the jury’s verdict that it would be a miscarriage of justice to allow the verdict to stand” if
defendant was not granted a new trial. Unger, 278 Mich App at 232. Therefore, the jury’s
verdict was not against the great weight of the evidence presented at trial.
II. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL
Second, defendant argues that he received ineffective assistance of counsel at trial.
Specifically, defendant claims defense counsel was deficient for failing to object to the jury
instructions and the jury verdict form. We disagree.
To preserve a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel on appeal, a defendant must
move for a new trial, or request a hearing pursuant to People v Ginther, 390 Mich 436; 212
NW2d 922 (1973), in the trial court. People v Solloway, 316 Mich App 174, 188; 891 NW2d
255 (2016) (citation and footnotes omitted). Defendant did not move for a new trial, or request a
Ginther hearing, in the trial court. Accordingly, because no factual record has been established
on which this Court may evaluate the basis for defendant’s claim, this issue is unpreserved.
Solloway, 316 Mich App at 188.
-2-
“Whether a defendant has been denied the effective assistance of counsel is a mixed
question of fact and constitutional law.” Solloway, 316 Mich App at 187. Generally, a trial
court’s findings of fact, if any, are reviewed for clear error, and questions of law are reviewed de
novo. Id. (citation omitted). However, where no factual record was created with respect to
defendant’s claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, as is the case here, “this Court’s review is
limited to mistakes apparent on the lower court record.” Id. (citation and footnote omitted).
Effective assistance of counsel is presumed, and the defendant bears a heavy burden of
proving otherwise.” People v Lockett, 295 Mich App 165, 187; 814 NW2d 295 (2012) (citation
omitted). When claiming ineffective assistance of counsel, it is defendant’s burden to prove “(1)
counsel’s performance was deficient, meaning it fell below an objective standard of
reasonableness, and (2) but for counsel’s error, there is a reasonable probability that the outcome
of defendant’s trial would have been different.” Solloway, 316 Mich App at 188, citing
Strickland v Washington, 466 US 668, 687; 104 S Ct 2052; 80 L Ed 2d 674 (1984). A defendant
must also show that “but for counsel’s deficient performance, a different result would have been
reasonably probable.” People v Armstrong, 490 Mich 281, 290; 806 NW2d 676 (2011), citing
Strickland, 466 US at 694-696. “[D]efendant has the burden of establishing the factual predicate
for his claim of ineffective assistance of counsel[.]” People v Hoag, 460 Mich 1, 6; 594 NW2d
57 (1999).
Defendant argues on appeal that the criminal sexual conduct jury instructions were
insufficient, and that defense counsel erred by failing to object. Defendant claims that the jury
instructions were insufficient because they confused the jury. Specifically, the jury was
confused regarding which alleged incident was attributed to which of the three counts of CSC I
Defense counsel’s failure to object was therefore prejudicial because the state’s case was weak,
and “but for [defense counsel’s] errors the outcome of his case may have been different.” We
disagree.
Our review of the instructions actually read to the jury, as compared to the Model
Criminal Jury Instructions, reveals that there was no substantive error with the trial court’s jury
instructions. In fact, the jury instructions used in this case match word for word the Model
Criminal Jury Instructions for CSC I. M Crim JI 20.1, 20.3, 20.30b. Accordingly, the jury
instructions used in this case “fairly presented the issues to be tried and adequately protected the
defendant’s rights.” People v Kowalski, 489 Mich 488, 502; 803 NW2d 200 (2011). Because
there was no error with the trial court’s jury instructions, trial counsel was not ineffective for
failing to object, as that objection would have been futile. People v Horn, 279 Mich App 31, 39-
40; 755 NW2d 212 (2008). Failure to make a futile objection does not constitute ineffective
assistance of counsel. Id.Defendant next contends that defense counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the
jury verdict form because it did not delineate which charge related to which allegation.
Defendant argues that defense counsel should have requested that the verdict form be revised to
show “which specific incident occurred when and where, or the time and place of each alleged
offense.” Again, we disagree.
-3-
Defendant claims that the nonspecific verdict form left jurors confused. During the
course of jury deliberations, the jury submitted the following question: “[d]efine the incidents as
represented as counts one, two and three.” The trial judge explained to the jury:
It’s simply alleged there was [sic] at least three separate instances that occurred
here in St. Clair County. And if you need to identify them as the bedroom or the
bathroom or the afghan, that’s your call to make. But there is no specific
incidents directly related to count one or count two or count three.
I don’t know if that helps you out, but in any event you simply need to make a
determination whether there was [sic] one, or there was two, three, or none.
Approximately 20 minutes later, the jury returned a verdict of guilty on all three counts.
Defendant correctly notes that MCR 6.112(D) requires that the information “should
specify the time and place of the alleged offense.” Additionally, the information is required to
contain “the time of the offense as near as may be.” MCL 767.45(1)(b). However, “[n]o
variance as to the time shall be fatal unless time is of the essence of the offense.” Id. Because
the information did not delineate specific dates and times, the verdict form was also devoid of
such detail. Nevertheless, this Court has previously held that “[t]ime is not of the essence, nor is
it a material element, in criminal sexual conduct cases involving a child victim.” People v
Dobek, 274 Mich App 58, 83; 732 NW2d 546 (2007). See also People v Taylor, 185 Mich App
1, 8; 460 NW2d 582 (1990). Furthermore, the trial judge sufficiently clarified the jury’s
confusion regarding which allegation corresponded to which charge, indicating that the jury
could find defendant committed one, two, three, or none of the “separate instances that occurred
here[.]” Accordingly, the jury verdict form was not inadequate, and defense counsel did not
perform deficiently by failing to request that it be revised. Defendant’s claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel is therefore, without merit.
Briefly, we also note in response to defendant’s argument that the trial judge’s refusal to
allow the jurors to take notes during trial compounded their confusion that whether to allow
jurors to take notes during trial is a matter that falls within the trial court’s discretion. MCR
2.513(H); People v Young, 146 Mich App 337, 340; 379 NW2d 491 (1985). Here, the short
length of the trial and the fact that the evidence presented was not complicated does not suggest
that it was an abuse of the trial court’s discretion not to allow the jurors to take notes.
III. “OTHER ACTS” EVIDENCE
Third, defendant argues that the “other acts” evidence admitted in this case pursuant to
MCL 768.27a, was inadmissible, because the “other acts” could not have been charged, as the
statute of limitations had already run. Defendant also claims that defense counsel was
ineffective for failing to object to the admission of the “other acts” evidence on that basis. We
disagree.
Although framed as one issue in defendant’s statement of the questions presented,
defendant’s claim is really two issues: an evidentiary challenge and a second claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel. We therefore address each issue separately.
-4-
A. “OTHER ACTS” EVIDENCE
Defendant failed to preserve this issue by “opposing the admission of evidence” at trial
and specifying “the same ground for objection” on appeal. People v Aldrich, 246 Mich App 101,
113; 631 NW2d 67 (2001).
This Court reviews an unpreserved claim of evidentiary error for plain error affecting a
defendant’s substantial rights. People v Chelmicki, 305 Mich App 58, 62; 850 NW2d 612
(2014); People v Bulmer, 256 Mich App 33, 35; 662 NW2d 117 (2003), citing People v Carines,
460 Mich 750, 763, 774; 597 NW2d 130 (1999). Plain error is shown by proving, “(1) [the]
error must have occurred, (2) the error was plain, i.e., clear or obvious, (3) and the plain error
affected substantial rights.” Carines, 460 Mich at 763. Generally, to show the error affected
substantial rights, it must be proven “that the error affected the outcome of the lower court
proceedings.” Id.Defendant takes issue with the admission of two instances of second-degree criminal
sexual conduct (CSC II), admitted as “other acts evidence,” that took place after the family had
moved to Macomb County. First, the victim testified regarding the time defendant put his hand
up her nightshirt while he was recovering from back surgery. Defendant had called the victim
into the master bedroom and asked her to pick something up off the floor since he was in too
much pain. The victim, who was 11 or 12 years old at the time, was wearing a long nightshirt,
and when she bent over, she felt defendant’s hand “wipe[] against [her vagina]” underneath her
nightshirt. Defendant, who was on pain medication, told the victim, “these are not my hands.”
Another time, when the victim was a teenager, she and defendant were sitting in
defendant’s car after returning from a camping trip. Defendant was sitting in the driver’s seat;
the victim in the passenger seat. While sitting in the driveway, defendant asked the victim if he
could touch her breasts. Defendant did, in fact, touch the victim’s breasts, and then told the
victim that her breasts looked like “Hersey kisses and they were so cute.” Defendant also told
the victim that if she told anyone what he had done, “nobody will believe you, you’re just a little
girl[.]”
Defendant claims that this “other acts” evidence should not have been admitted in this
case, pursuant to MCL 768.27a, because the statute of limitations, MCL 767.24(3), had run on
any potential second-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC II) charges. Thus, because the statute
of limitations had run on any potential CSC II charges, the other acts evidence does not qualify
as a “listed offense” under MCL 768.27a.
MCL 768.27a, provides, in pertinent part:
(1) Notwithstanding [MCL 768.27], in a criminal case in which the defendant is
accused of committing a listed offense against a minor, evidence that the
defendant committed another listed offense against a minor is admissible and may
be considered for its bearing on any matter to which it is relevant.
* * *
(2) As used in this section:
-5-
(a) “Listed offense” means that term as defined in section 2 of the sex offenders
registration act . . . MCL 28.722.
MCL 768.27a(2)(a) directs the reader to MCL 28.722 for the definition of a “listed
offense.” MCL 28.722(j) defines “listed offense,” as “a tier I, tier II, or tier III offense.”
Violations of MCL 750.520c, i.e., CSC II, qualify as a Tier II offense pursuant to MCL
28.722(t)(x). The aforementioned “other acts” perpetrated against the victim by defendant would
qualify as violations of MCL 750.520c(1)(a) (sexual contact and victim is under 13-years old),
and MCL 750.520c(1)(b)(i) (sexual contact and victim is at least 13 but less than 16 years of age
and actor is a member of the same household), respectively. The definition of “sexual contact” is
found in MCL 750.520a(q), which states:
“[s]exual contact” includes the intentional touching of the victim’s or the actor’s
intimate parts or the intentional touching of the clothing covering the immediate
area of the victim’s or actor’s intimate parts, if that intentional touching can
reasonably be construed as being for the purpose of sexual arousal or
gratification, done for a sexual purpose, or in a sexual manner for
(i) [r]evenge[,]
(ii) [t]o inflict humiliation[, or]
(iii) [o]ut of anger.
Defendant asks this Court to conclude that because the “other acts” evidence in this case
was time barred from prosecution by the statute of limitations, MCL 767.24(3), it was
inadmissible under MCL 768.27a. Important to our analysis is that, first, MCL 768.27a only
requires that a defendant committed another “listed offense” under MCL 28.722. A charge or a
conviction is not required. Second, the applicability of the statute of limitations is not mentioned
in either MCL 768.27a or MCL 28.722. Given that MCL 768.27a explicitly makes reference to
MCL 28.722, this suggests that if the Legislature had intended MCL 767.24(3) to apply to “other
acts” evidence in criminal sexual conduct cases, the Legislature would have explicitly made
reference to it. Third, a trial court is still required to balance the probative value of the other acts
evidence against its prejudicial effect pursuant to MRE 403. People v Watkins, 491 Mich 450,
486; 818 NW2d 296 (2012) (citations omitted). This analysis, discussed infra, may include a
temporal element. People v Masroor, 313 Mich App 358, 366; 880 NW2d 812 (2015), lv gtd
People v Steanhouse, 499 Mich 934 (2016), quoting Watkins, 491 Mich at 487-488. Thus, the
age of the “other acts” is still relevant at some point in the analysis regarding whether the other
acts will be admissible against a defendant in a CSC prosecution. Fourth, the Michigan Supreme
Court has held that when “a defendant is charged with a sexual offense against a minor, MCL
768.27a allows prosecutors to introduce evidence of a defendant’s uncharged sexual offenses
against minors . . . .” People v Pattison, 276 Mich App 613, 618-619; 741 NW2d 558 (2007)
(emphasis added). It is illogical to think that where some uncharged offenses constitute relevant
“other acts” evidence, other relevant uncharged offenses would be inadmissible under MCL
768.27a simply because defendant’s conduct evaded the statute of limitations. See also People v
Bailey, 310 Mich App 703, 720; 873 NW2d 855 (2015), where this Court concluded that
uncharged sexual misconduct was relevant evidence admissible under MCL 768.27a.
-6-
This is particularly true in light of the legislative intent behind MCL 768.27a: recidivism.
In Watkins, our Supreme Court took notice of the fact that the Legislature enacted MCL 768.27a
to address “a substantive concern about the protection of children and the prosecution of persons
who perpetrate certain enumerated crimes against children and are more likely than others to
reoffend.” Watkins, 491 Mich at 476. Based on the foregoing, it is highly unlikely that the
Legislature intended the expiration of the statute of limitations to bar relevant “other acts”
evidence in a criminal sexual conduct prosecution. Here, the evidence at issue was relevant to
the case at hand, because it shows how defendant continued to sexually abuse the victim
throughout her childhood and adolescence. Put simply, the “other acts” evidence shows
defendant had a propensity for sexually abusing the victim. Evidence that the abuse continued
showed that it was more probable that the charged offenses occurred than it would be without the
“other acts” evidence. Accordingly, we decline defendant’s invitation to conclude that otherwise
relevant “other acts” evidence is inadmissible under MCL 768.27a if the prior sexual misconduct
falls outside the statute of limitations.
Next, defendant argues that admission of the “other acts” evidence in this case was in
violation of MRE 403. Although MCL 768.27a prevailed over MRE 404(b) in Watkins, MRE
403 still requires that the probative value of any “other acts” evidence, or propensity evidence,
not be substantially outweighed by any prejudice to defendant.
As discussed supra, the “other acts” evidence was relevant to this case, and qualified as a
listed offense as is required by MCL 768.27a. However, pursuant to MRE 403, the probative
value of the “other acts” evidence must not be substantially outweighed by any prejudice to
defendant. Masroor, 313 Mich App at 366. “[W]hen applying MRE 403 to evidence admissible
under MCL 768.27a, courts must weigh the propensity inference in favor of the evidence’s
probative value rather than its prejudicial effect. That is, other-acts evidence admissible under
MCL 768.27a may not be excluded under MRE 403 as overly prejudicial merely because it
allows a jury to draw a propensity inference.” Watkins, 491 Mich at 487.
This does not mean, however, that other-acts evidence admissible under MCL
768.27a may never be excluded under MRE 403 as overly prejudicial. There are
several considerations that may lead a court to exclude such evidence. These
considerations include (1) the dissimilarity between the other acts and the charged
crime, (2) the temporal proximity of the other acts to the charged crime, (3) the
infrequency of the other acts, (4) the presence of intervening acts, (5) the lack of
reliability of the evidence supporting the occurrence of the other acts, and (6) the
lack of need for evidence beyond the complainant’s and the defendant’s
testimony. This list of considerations is meant to be illustrative rather than
exhaustive. [Masroor, 313 Mich App at 366, quoting Watkins, 491 Mich at 487-
488 (citations omitted).]
Trial courts should engage in an MRE 403 analysis for each separate piece of “other acts”
evidence. Masroor, 313 Mich App at 366 (citation omitted). Each piece of “other acts”
evidence admitted may be accompanied by a limiting instruction to “ensure that the jury properly
uses the evidence.” Id. at 366-367 (citation omitted).
-7-
The first piece of “other acts” evidence involved defendant slipping his hand under the
victim’s nightshirt while she was bent over, picking something up off the floor. We conclude
that the probative value of this evidence was not substantially outweighed by any prejudice to
defendant. Defendant maintains that this act was dissimilar to the charged acts of sexual
misconduct. However, although defendant may not have digitally penetrated the victim, as he
did in the charged offenses, the sexual misconduct is not dissimilar in the sense that defendant’s
misconduct involved the same victim and that defendant touched her vagina, as he did during the
prior digital penetrations. Conversely, this shows the pattern of defendant’s sexual misconduct.
Additionally, the abuse underlying defendant’s convictions occurred in the family’s home in St.
Clair County, where they lived until the victim was 10-years old, when the family moved to
Macomb County. The victim recalled that the nightshirt incident occurred when she was 11 or
12 years old. Accordingly, there is a temporal relationship between this incident and the charged
sexual misconduct.
With respect to the incident in defendant’s car, we conclude that the probative value of
this evidence, too, was not substantially outweighed by any prejudice to defendant. This incident
occurred only a few years after the incident where defendant put his hand up the victim’s
nightshirt and touched her vagina. Thus, a temporal relationship continues to exist. Although
defendant touched her breasts in the car, as opposed to her vagina, the incident was similar in the
sense that again, defendant chose her as his victim.
Defendant further argues that admission of this “other acts” evidence confused the jury,
as evidenced by the jury’s request to “define the incidents as represented as counts one, two and
three.” However, defendant misunderstands the jury’s confusion. Seeing as the jury quickly
returned a verdict after their question was answered, it seems clear that the jury was not confused
about whether defendant actually committed these acts, but rather, only which act corresponded
to which charge.
Finally, defendant maintains that the “other acts” evidence “mislead and confused the
jury, given [the victim’s] inconsistent, patently incredible, inherently implausible testimony
which was seriously impeached at trial.” However, as discussed above, it is unlikely that the
jury was confused by this “other acts” evidence, and the credibility of a witness is a question for
the jury. Harrison, 283 Mich App at 378. Based on the foregoing, the “other acts” evidence in
this case was admissible under MRE 403, and defendant’s entire claim with respect to the
admission of “other acts” evidence, fails.
B. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL
Defendant next argues that defense counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the
“other acts” evidence on the ground that the statute of limitations on the “other acts” in this case
had run, and thus, they were inadmissible under MRE 768.27a. We disagree.
As noted supra, defendant did not move for a new trial, or request a Ginther hearing, in
the trial court. Accordingly, because no factual record has been established on which this Court
may evaluate the basis for defendant’s claim, this issue is unpreserved. Solloway, 316 Mich App
at 188. Our review is limited to mistakes apparent on the lower court record. Id. at 187.
-8-
We conclude that the “other acts” evidence was properly admitted pursuant to MCL
768.27a and MRE 403. Accordingly, an objection by defense counsel on the ground that the two
incidents in question were time barred by the statute of limitation, and therefore, were
inadmissible, would have been meritless. Defense counsel is not required to advance a meritless
argument. People v Ericksen, 288 Mich App 192, 201; 793 NW2d 120 (2010). Accordingly,
defendant’s claim of ineffective assistance of counsel is, likewise, meritless.
IV. EX POST FACTO CLAUSE
Fourth, defendant argues that MCL 768.27a is unconstitutional as applied to him,
pursuant to the Ex Post Facto Clauses of the United States and Michigan Constitutions. US
Const, art I, § 10; Const 1963, art 1, § 10. We disagree.
Defendant failed to preserve this issue for appellate review by raising it in the trial court.
People v Hogan, 225 Mich App 431, 438; 571 NW2d 737 (1997). Unpreserved constitutional
claims are reviewed for plain error affecting defendant’s substantial rights. Carines, 460 Mich at
763. Defendant bears the burden of proving plain error by showing “1) [the] error must have
occurred, 2) the error was plain, i.e., clear or obvious, 3) and the plain error affected substantial
rights.” Id. at 763. Generally, to show the error affected substantial rights, it must be proven
“that the error affected the outcome of the lower court proceedings.” Id.“The Ex Post Facto Clauses of the United States and Michigan Constitutions bar the
retroactive application of a law if the law: (1) punishes an act that was innocent when the act was
committed; (2) makes an act a more serious criminal offense; (3) increases the punishment for a
crime; or (4) allows the prosecution to convict on less evidence.” People v Earl, 495 Mich 33,
37; 845 NW2d 721 (2014).
On appeal, defendant argues that because propensity evidence was inadmissible in
criminal sexual conduct prosecutions at the time the abuse at issue took place, defendant’s three
CSC I convictions were premised on “different” testimony than the law required at the time these
incidents took place. Therefore, defendant argues, MCL 768.27a is unconstitutional as applied
to him, because it violates the ex post facto clauses of the Michigan and United States
Constitutions. However, as noted by the prosecution, defendant fails to recognize that this Court
previously addressed this issue in Pattison, where it determined that, “the altered standard [of
MCL 768.27a, namely the admission of propensity evidence,] does not lower the quantum of
proof or value of the evidence needed to convict a defendant” of criminal sexual conduct.
Pattison, 276 Mich App at 619. This is because before MCL 768.27a was enacted, a defendant
could be convicted of criminal sexual conduct solely on the victim’s testimony. Id. This is still
true. See MCL 750.520h (“[t]he testimony of a victim need not be corroborated in [criminal
sexual conduct] prosecutions[.]”); People v Brantley, 296 Mich App 546, 551; 823 NW2d 290
(2012) (a complainant’s testimony alone can support a criminal sexual conduct conviction).
Therefore, the victim’s same testimony, presented without the “other acts,” or propensity,
evidence, “remains legally sufficient to support” defendant’s three CSC I convictions. Pattison,
276 Mich App at 619; see also People v Buie, 298 Mich App 50, 74; 825 NW2d 361 (2012)
(MCL 738.27a is not unconstitutional where “other acts” evidence occurred before the enactment
of the statute); People v Wilcox, 280 Mich App 53, 56; 761 NW2d 466 (2008), rev’d on other
grounds 486 Mich 60 (2010) (“MCL 768.27a does not violate the Ex Post Facto Clause because
-9-
the altered standard for admission of evidence does ‘not lower the quantum of proof or value of
the evidence needed to convict a defendant’” (citation omitted)). Accordingly, defendant’s
argument is devoid of merit.
V. CORRECTION OF DEFENDANT’S PSIR
Finally, defendant argues that all references to the sexual abuse of the victim’s younger
sister by defendant in the PSIR should be redacted, because the victim’s younger sister “was
deceased [at the time of trial] and any allegations of sexual abuse [by defendant] could not be
corroborated and were irrelevant.” Defendant asks this Court to remand this matter to the trial
court for correction of the PSIR prior to its transmission to the Michigan Department of
Corrections. However, as admitted by defendant in his brief on appeal, this issue has already
been addressed and decided, in defendant’s favor, by the trial court. At sentencing, defense
counsel raised an objection to any mention the victim’s younger sister in the PSIR. Defense
counsel argued that any mention of defendant sexually abusing the victim’s younger sister could
not be verified, and therefore, the PSIR should be redacted. The trial court agreed, and ordered
that the PSIR be redacted prior to its submission to the Michigan Department of Corrections.
Accordingly, because this Court can provide no further remedy, this issue is moot. See People v
Sours, 315 Mich App 346, 351-352; 890 NW2d 401 (2016), quoting People v Cathey, 261 Mich
App 506, 510; 681 NW2d 661 (2004) (“An issue is moot when an event occurs that renders it
impossible for the reviewing court to fashion a remedy to the controversy.”).
Affirmed.
/s/ Michael J. Talbot
/s/ David H. Sawyer
/s/ Cynthia Diane Stephens
-10-