People of Michigan v. Mario Willis ( 2015 )

STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, UNPUBLISHED
August 11, 2015
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v No. 320659
Wayne Circuit Court
MARIO WILLIS, LC No. 09-028750-FC
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: HOEKSTRA, P.J., and JANSEN and METER, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Defendant was convicted by a jury of second-degree murder, MCL 750.317, and arson of
a dwelling house, MCL 750.72. Defendant was originally sentenced to 500 to 750 months’
imprisonment for the second-degree murder conviction and 10 to 20 years’ imprisonment for the
arson of a dwelling house conviction. Defendant appealed to this Court, which held that the trial
court erred in failing to justify the extent of its departure from the sentencing guidelines range
and remanded the case to the trial court for resentencing. See People v Willis, unpublished
opinion per curiam of the Court of Appeals, issued November 1, 2012 (Docket No. 298643), p
20. Defendant was resentenced to 500 to 750 months’ imprisonment for the second-degree
murder conviction and 10 to 20 years’ imprisonment for the arson of a dwelling house
conviction. Defendant now appeals as of right from his resentencing. We vacate defendant’s
sentences and remand for resentencing by a different trial judge.
This case arises from an incident in which defendant paid his employee, Darian Dove, to
set fire to a house owned by Megan Daniel (Megan), defendant’s girlfriend at the time of the
incident. The house was damaged in a previous fire, and Megan received insurance proceeds in
order to repair the damage from the first fire. The second fire resulted in the death of Detroit
Firefighter Walter Harris.
I. SENTENCING GUIDELINES DEPARTURE
Defendant first argues that the trial court erred when it sentenced him above the
sentencing guidelines range and that he is entitled to resentencing by a new trial judge. We
agree.
The trial court’s reasons for departing from the sentencing guidelines range are reviewed
for clear error. People v Smith, 482 Mich. 292, 300; 754 NW2d 284 (2008). “A finding is not
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clearly erroneous if there is any evidence to support it.” People v Portellos, 298 Mich. App. 431,
452; 827 NW2d 725 (2012). The trial court’s determination that the reasons for departure are
objective and verifiable is reviewed as a matter of law. Smith, 482 Mich. at 300. The extent of
the departure and the issue whether the trial court’s reasons for the departure are sufficiently
substantial and compelling to justify departure is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. Id. “A
trial court abuses its discretion if the minimum sentence imposed falls outside the range of
principled outcomes.” Id.
In general, a trial court must sentence a defendant within the minimum sentencing
guidelines range. See MCL 769.34(2). However, a trial court may depart from the sentencing
guidelines range if the court has a substantial and compelling reason for the departure and
articulates the reason on the record. See MCL 769.34(3). There are substantial and compelling
reasons that justify departure from the sentencing guidelines range only in exceptional cases.
Smith, 482 Mich. at 299. The reasons for the departure must be objective and verifiable. Id.
“They must be of considerable worth in determining the length of the sentence and should keenly
or irresistibly grab the court’s attention.” Id. The reasons “must be based on actions or
occurrences external to the minds of those involved in the decision, and must be capable of being
confirmed.” People v Horn, 279 Mich. App. 31, 43 n 6; 755 NW2d 212 (2008). Additionally, the
trial court cannot depart from the sentencing guidelines on the basis of “ ‘an offense
characteristic or offender characteristic already taken into account in determining the appropriate
sentence range unless the court finds from the facts contained in the court record, including the
presentence investigation report, that the characteristic has been given inadequate or
disproportionate weight.’ ” Smith, 482 Mich. at 300 (citation omitted).
“For a departure to be justified, the minimum sentence imposed must be proportionate to
the defendant’s conduct and prior criminal history.” Smith, 482 Mich. at 300. The sentence must
be proportionate with regard to the seriousness of the offense that the defendant committed and
to the particular defendant considering his criminal record. Id. at 305. The trial court must
articulate the justification for the particular departure from the sentencing guidelines range. Id.
at 303. The trial court must explain on the record the connection between the reasons for the
sentencing departure and the extent of the sentencing departure. See id. at 304. The court must
also articulate why the sentence is more proportionate to the crime than a sentence within the
sentencing guidelines range would have been. Id. This Court cannot exercise its judgment
regarding the justification for the departure in the place of the trial court. Id. at 304.
A. REASONS FOR DEPARTURE
The trial court erred when it failed to articulate whether the reasons it stated on the record
were the reasons for the departure. “[O]nce an original sentence is vacated, the case is placed in
a presentence posture.” People v Davis, 300 Mich. App. 502, 509; 834 NW2d 897 (2013),
abrogated in part on other grounds by People v Hardy, 494 Mich. 430 (2013) (recognizing the
correct standard of review for a trial court’s factual findings under the sentencing guidelines).
“As a result, at resentencing, ‘every aspect of the sentence is before the judge de novo[.]’ ” Id.
(citation omitted; alteration in original).
The trial court articulated three reasons before it rendered sentence: (1) the “unicity” of
the offense with the prior fire, (2) the foreseeability of harm, and (3) the duty of society and of
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the trial court to protect first responders. The trial court did not clarify whether these concepts
were the reasons for the departure from the sentencing guidelines or the reasons why the
sentence imposed was proportionate to the offense. The trial court erred when it failed to clearly
articulate whether the reasons it stated on the record were the reasons for exceeding the
sentencing guidelines range. Although this Court held that the reasons for departure that the trial
court articulated during defendant’s first sentencing were substantial and compelling, as well as
objective and verifiable, this Court remanded the case for resentencing and for an explanation of
the extent of the sentencing guidelines departure. See Willis, unpub op at 20. Therefore, the trial
court erred when it failed to articulate whether the concepts it stated were the reasons for the
departure or the justification for the extent of the departure since every aspect of the sentencing
was in front of the court de novo. See Davis, 300 Mich. App. at 509.
To the extent that the reasons the trial court stated on the record were the reasons for
departing from the sentencing guidelines range, only two of the three reasons were objective and
verifiable. First, the foreseeability of harm to Harris was a substantial and compelling reason to
depart from the sentencing guidelines and was objective and verifiable based on this Court’s
prior holding. The law of the case doctrine provides, “[I]f an appellate court has passed on a
legal question and remanded the case for further proceedings, the legal questions thus determined
by the appellate court will not be differently determined on a subsequent appeal in the same case
where the facts remain materially the same.” People v Fisher, 449 Mich. 441, 444-445; 537
NW2d 577 (1995) (citation and quotation marks omitted; alteration in original), overruled in part
on other grounds by People v Houthoofd, 487 Mich. 568 (2010). However, “[p]articularly in
criminal cases, the law of the case doctrine is not inflexible and need not be applied if it will
create an injustice.” People v Phillips (After Second Remand), 227 Mich. App. 28, 33; 575 NW2d
784 (1997).
This Court held in the prior appeal that the foreseeability of the risk of harm to Harris
was objective and verifiable and could “keenly and irresistibly grab the court’s attention.”
Willis, unpub op at 19. Therefore, the foreseeability of harm to Harris was a proper factor for the
court to consider based on this Court’s prior holding. See Fisher, 449 Mich. at 444-445. An
injustice will not result from application of the law of the case doctrine since the foreseeability of
harm stems from actions and occurrences external to the minds of those involved in the decision,
and it is capable of being confirmed. See Horn, 279 Mich. App. at 43 n 6; Phillips (After Second
Remand), 227 Mich. App. at 33.
The unicity of the offense with the first fire was also a substantial and compelling reason
to depart from the guidelines because the factor took into account defendant’s financial
motivation for setting the fires. See Smith, 482 Mich. at 299. The factor was also objective and
verifiable since the factor is external to the minds of those involved in the decision and capable
of being confirmed. See Horn, 279 Mich. App. at 43 n 6. However, the trial court’s opinion that
there is a societal duty to protect first responders was not based on actions or occurrences
external to the minds of those involved, and it cannot be confirmed. See id. Therefore, the trial
court erred when it considered the duty of society and the court to protect first responders since
the factor was not objective and verifiable. See id.
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B. ACCURACY OF THE FACTS UNDERLYING THE DEPARTURE
Defendant argues that the trial court erred when it relied on incorrect facts to justify its
departure from the sentencing guidelines range. Defendant challenges the court’s statements at
resentencing that the premises were severely damaged in the first fire and that defendant was
greatly compensated with regard to the first fire. Defendant also argues that the jury did not find
him guilty of a crime with regard to the first fire. However, the court did not rely on inaccurate
facts in departing from the sentencing guidelines range.
Jessie Lamp, Jr., an insurance adjuster, testified at trial that there was smoke damage,
water damage, and damage to the floors, windows, and light fixtures as a result of the first fire.
The trial court did not err in categorizing this damage as “severe.” See Portellos, 298 Mich. App.
at 452. Additionally, Dove testified that defendant aided him in setting the first fire, which
supports the trial court’s statement that defendant participated in the first fire. See id. Although
there was testimony that Megan cashed the insurance check from the first fire, there was also
evidence to indicate that defendant was financially involved with the property. Brian Billops, a
Michigan Basic Property Insurance Association employee, testified that the insurance company
paid an insurance claim of approximately $26,000. The check was endorsed by Megan and by
the adjusting company that she hired to represent her. According to Laura Furr, an employee of
Saxton Mortgage, Megan cashed and endorsed the check. However, Billops also testified that
Megan did not pay for the application with regard to the claim. Additionally, Lamp did not
know whether defendant or Megan cashed the check. In addition, Furr testified that she was
authorized to talk with defendant regarding the mortgage on the property. Dove explained that
defendant wanted to start the initial fire in order to obtain money from the insurance company
and because of the mortgage on the property. Defendant told Dove that the property was
defendant’s property. Thus, there was evidence that defendant received a benefit from the
insurance proceeds. Even assuming that defendant did not receive the insurance money from the
first fire, the trial court also pointed out that defendant had actual knowledge that the firefighters
were heading to the scene of the second fire when he was sitting in a monster truck outside of a
gas station on the firefighters’ route, which also indicated that the harm was foreseeable.
Therefore, there was evidence to support the court’s findings. See id.
Defendant also argues that the trial court erred when it failed to consider his
postsentencing rehabilitation and conduct. “[S]entencing must be individualized and tailored to
the particular circumstances of the case and the offender at the time of sentencing.” People v
Hemphill, 439 Mich. 576, 580; 487 NW2d 152 (1992) (citation and quotation marks omitted).
The court did not state on the record that defendant’s postsentencing rehabilitation and conduct
were inappropriate factors for the court to consider. Defendant fails to explain why the trial
court was required to consider his postsentencing rehabilitation and conduct on the record.
Therefore, there is no indication that the court failed to consider defendant’s characteristics and
the circumstances surrounding defendant’s resentencing. See id.
C. JUSTIFICATION FOR THE EXTENT OF DEPARTURE
Nevertheless, the trial court failed to justify the extent of the departure. As stated above,
the trial court discussed three concepts before rendering sentence: (1) the unicity of the offense
with the event of the first fire, (2) the foreseeability of the harm to Harris, and (3) the duty of
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society and of the trial court itself to protect first responders. The trial court failed to justify the
particular departure since the court failed to explain the connection between the reasons for the
sentencing guideline departure and the extent of the departure. See Smith, 482 Mich. at 303. The
trial court also failed to articulate why the sentence was more proportionate to the crime than a
sentence within the sentencing guidelines range would have been. See id. at 304. The trial court
failed to explain how the sentence was proportionate to the seriousness of the offense and
defendant’s criminal record. See id. at 305. Instead, the court incorrectly articulated the
standard as whether the court treated defendant as it would have treated any other similarly-
situated defendant. The trial court specifically disregarded the principal of proportionality when
it stated, “And therefore, the issue of unicity, in my view, trumps the concern for proportionality
with regard to this sentence.” See id. at 304. Since proportionality is the standard for
determining whether a departure is justified, the trial court erred. See id. Therefore, remand for
resentencing is necessary since the court failed to articulate whether the reasons it stated on the
record were the reasons for departure or the justification for the extent of the departure, the court
relied on a factor that was not objective and verifiable, and the court failed to justify the extent of
the departure.
D. RESENTENCING BY A NEW TRIAL JUDGE
Resentencing by a different trial judge is warranted. This Court examines the following
factors in determining whether resentencing before a different trial judge is warranted:
(1) whether the original judge would reasonably be expected upon remand
to have substantial difficulty in putting out of his or her mind previously-
expressed views or findings determined to be erroneous or based on evidence that
must be rejected, (2) whether reassignment is advisable to preserve the
appearance of justice, and (3) whether reassignment would entail waste and
duplication out of proportion to any gain in preserving the appearance of fairness.
[People v Hill, 221 Mich. App. 391, 398; 561 NW2d 862 (1997) (citations and
quotation marks omitted).]
In People v LeMarbe (After Remand), 201 Mich. App. 45, 47, 49; 505 NW2d 879 (1993), this
Court remanded the case for resentencing by a different trial judge after the defendant was twice
sentenced by the same trial judge. This Court held that resentencing by a different trial judge
was necessary to preserve the appearance of justice and to avoid waste and duplication. Id. at 49.
Resentencing by a different trial judge is warranted in this case since defendant was twice
sentenced by the same trial judge. See Hill, 221 Mich. App. at 398; LeMarbe (After Remand), 201
Mich. App. at 49. Resentencing by a different trial judge will preserve the appearance of justice
since the trial court expressly rejected the principal of proportionality. See Hill, 221 Mich. App.
at 398; LeMarbe (After Remand), 201 Mich. App. at 49. Resentencing by a different trial judge
will also avoid waste and duplication since the trial judge twice sentenced defendant incorrectly.
See Hill, 221 Mich. App. at 398; LeMarbe (After Remand), 201 Mich. App. at 49.
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II. PRIOR RECORD VARIABLES AND OFFENSE VARIABLES
Defendant next argues that the trial court erred when it assessed five points for prior
record variable (PRV) 5. We agree. Defendant also argues that the trial court erred when it
scored offense variable (OV) 1, OV 2, OV 3, and OV 19. We disagree.
“Under the sentencing guidelines, the circuit court’s factual determinations are reviewed
for clear error and must be supported by a preponderance of the evidence.” People v Hardy, 494
Mich. 430, 438; 835 NW2d 340 (2013). Additionally, “[w]hether the facts, as found, are
adequate to satisfy the scoring conditions prescribed by statute, i.e., the application of the facts to
the law, is a question of statutory interpretation, which an appellate court reviews de novo.” Id.
A. PRV 5
PRV 5 governs prior misdemeanor convictions and prior misdemeanor juvenile
adjudications. People v Gibbs, 299 Mich. App. 473, 485; 830 NW2d 821 (2013). MCL
777.55(1)(d) provides that five points should be assessed if the defendant has two or more prior
misdemeanor convictions or prior juvenile adjudications. MCL 777.55(2)(a) provides that the
court must consider “a prior misdemeanor conviction or prior misdemeanor juvenile adjudication
only if it is an offense against a person or property, a controlled substance offense, or a weapon
offense.” MCL 777.55(2)(b) provides that the trial court must “[c]ount all prior misdemeanor
convictions and prior misdemeanor juvenile adjudications for operating or attempting to operate
a vehicle, vessel, ORV, snowmobile, aircraft, or locomotive while under the influence of or
impaired by alcohol, a controlled substance, or a combination of alcohol and a controlled
substance.”
In People v Hannan (After Remand), 200 Mich. App. 123, 128; 504 NW2d 189 (1993),
this Court held that “a criminal conviction obtained in violation of a defendant’s right to counsel
cannot be used to enhance a sentence.” This Court explained that a trial court cannot consider a
prior misdemeanor conviction that was obtained without the presence of counsel or a valid
waiver of the right to counsel. Id. This Court explained that the rationale behind the rule was
that a conviction obtained without the presence of counsel is not sufficiently reliable to be
considered in enhancing a sentence. Id. However, an indigent defendant is entitled to appointed
counsel in a misdemeanor case only if the defendant is “actually imprisoned.” People v
Reichenbach, 459 Mich. 109, 120; 587 NW2d 1 (1998). “ ‘[A]ctual imprisonment is a penalty
different in kind from fines or the mere threat of imprisonment.’ ” Id. at 121 (citation omitted).
The trial court assessed five points for PRV 5. Defendant was previously convicted of
operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, MCL 257.904. According to the
presentence investigation report (PSIR), a defense attorney was not present at the time of
defendant’s conviction and sentencing. Defendant was convicted by plea on November 5, 2003,
and he paid a fine of $170. Defendant was not actually imprisoned for the offense since he only
paid a fine of $170. See Reichenbach, 459 Mich. at 120-121. Therefore, defendant did not have
the right to counsel with regard to the offense, and the trial court did not err in considering the
conviction in scoring PRV 5. See id.
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Nevertheless, the trial court erred when it considered the prior misdemeanor conviction
under PRV 5 because the crime does not constitute a crime against a person or property, a
weapons offense, a controlled substance offense, or a crime regarding the operation or attempted
operation of a vehicle while under the influence of or impaired by alcohol. See MCL 257.904;
MCL 777.55(2)(a) and (b). It is not clear which other prior misdemeanor convictions the trial
court considered when it assessed five points for PRV 5. However, the trial court erred when it
considered another misdemeanor conviction since all of defendant’s four other prior
misdemeanor convictions involved operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license or
other traffic violations. None of the convictions involved crimes against persons or property, a
weapons offense, a controlled substance offense, or the operation or attempted operation of a
vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. See MCL 777.55(2)(a) and (b). Therefore, the trial
court should have assessed zero points for PRV 5. See MCL 777.55(1)(f).
Regardless, the error did not affect the sentencing guidelines range. An error in the
scoring of the offense variables does not require resentencing unless the error alters the
appropriate sentencing guidelines range. See People v Stevens, 306 Mich. App. 620, 628; 858
NW2d 98 (2014). In this case, the reduction of five PRV points would not have affected the
sentencing guidelines range. The PRV total should have been 10 points instead of 15 points, but
the error did not affect the PRV level. See MCL 777.61 (providing the sentencing guidelines
range for the class of offenses under which defendant was convicted). Therefore, this error does
not warrant resentencing. See Stevens, 306 Mich. App. at 628.
B. OV 1 and OV 2
OV 1 governs the aggravated use of a weapon. People v Morson, 471 Mich. 248, 251;
685 NW2d 203 (2004). MCL 777.31(1)(b) provides that 20 points are assessed for OV 1 when
the victim is exposed to an incendiary device, among other devices and substances. MCL
777.31(2)(b) defines the term “incendiary device” as “gasoline or any other flammable
substance, a blowtorch, fire bomb, Molotov cocktail, or other similar device.” OV 2 governs
“the lethal potential of a weapon possessed or used by a defendant during the commission of the
offense.” People v Young, 276 Mich. App. 446, 451; 740 NW2d 347 (2007). MCL 777.32(1)(b)
provides that 15 points are assessed for OV 2 when the defendant uses an incendiary device,
explosive device, or fully automatic weapon during the commission of the offense. MCL
777.32(3)(d) defines “incendiary device” as “gasoline or any other flammable substance, a
blowtorch, fire bomb, Molotov cocktail, or other similar device.”
The trial court assessed 20 points for OV 1 and 15 points for OV 2 at defendant’s
resentencing. This Court held that the trial court did not err in assessing 20 points for OV 1 and
15 points for OV 2 at the original sentencing since gasoline constitutes an “incendiary device.”
Willis, unpub op at 17. Thus, the law of the case doctrine applies to defendant’s claim. See
Fisher, 449 Mich. at 444-445. Furthermore, application of the law of the case doctrine will not
result in an injustice since the definition of an incendiary device with regard to OV 1 and OV 2
includes gasoline. See MCL 777.31(2)(b); MCL 777.32(1)(b); Phillips (After Second Remand),
227 Mich. App. at 33.
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C. OV 3
OV 3 governs physical injury to the victim. People v Armstrong, 305 Mich. App. 230,
245; 851 NW2d 856 (2014). MCL 777.33(1)(c) provides that 25 points are assessed for OV 3
when “[l]ife threatening or permanent incapacitating injury occurred to a victim.”
The trial court assessed 25 points for OV 3 at defendant’s resentencing. This Court held
in its opinion following defendant’s original sentencing that the trial court’s assessment of 25
points for OV 3 was supported by the Michigan Supreme Court’s holding in People v Houston,
473 Mich. 399; 702 NW2d 530 (2005). Willis, unpub op at 17. This Court held that it was bound
to follow Houston. Id. This Court is bound by its prior decision under the law of the case
doctrine. See Fisher, 449 Mich. at 444-445. Furthermore, application of the law of the case
doctrine to defendant’s claim regarding OV 3 will not result in an injustice. In Houston, the
Michigan Supreme Court held that the trial court properly assessed 25 points for OV 3 on the
basis of life threatening or permanent incapacitating injury when the defendant shot the victim in
the head, and the victim died. Houston, 473 Mich. at 401-402, 407. “An elemental tenet of our
jurisprudence, stare decisis, provides that a decision of the majority of justices of the Michigan
Supreme Court is binding on lower courts.” People v Beasley, 239 Mich. App. 548, 559; 609
NW2d 581 (2000). Therefore, the trial court correctly assessed 25 points for OV 3. See
Houston, 473 Mich. at 401-402, 407; Phillips (After Second Remand), 227 Mich. App. at 33.
D. OV 19
OV 19 governs the “ ‘threat to the security of a penal institution or court or interference
with the administration of justice or the rendering of emergency services.’ ” People v Hershey,
303 Mich. App. 330, 342; 844 NW2d 127 (2013) (citation omitted). MCL 777.49(b) provides that
10 points are assessed when “[t]he offender otherwise interfered with or attempted to interfere
with the administration of justice.”
In the opinion from the prior appeal in this case, this Court stated:
Here, while the trial court’s departure reason was not based on defendant’s
perjury, it did involve defendant’s interference with the administration of justice
through the presentation of perjured alibi testimony. While we question the trial
court’s failure to consider this factor under OV 19, the court reasonably could
infer that defendant willfully presented Megan’s perjured testimony at trial to
avoid responsibility for the arson. Thus, we find no error in the trial court’s
finding that Megan committed perjury or in its use of this factor to determine
defendant’s sentence. [Willis, unpub op at 19.]
However, this Court instructed the trial court to “consider whether any involvement by defendant
in orchestrating Megan’s perjury should be scored under OV 19 and, if so, limit its consideration
of this conduct as a basis for departure consistent with MCL 769.34(3)(b).” Id. at 19 n 5.
At resentencing, the trial court assessed 10 points for OV 19. The trial court based its
decision on this Court’s discussion of OV 19 with regard to Megan’s perjured testimony and
defendant’s role in presenting the perjured testimony. Defendant argues that Megan did not
commit perjury and that defendant identified her as a witness during his interview with Detroit
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Police Lieutenant Chuck Simms. However, this Court stated that the trial court properly
considered the fact that defendant willfully presented perjured testimony by Megan in order to
avoid responsibility for the arson. Willis, unpub op at 19. Therefore, the trial court did not err in
finding that Megan committed perjury or that defendant orchestrated the perjury when it assessed
10 points for OV 19. See Fisher, 449 Mich. at 444-445.
Furthermore, application of the law of the case doctrine will not result in an injustice.
Defendant refers to his interview with Lieutenant Simms to support his claim that he had a valid
alibi defense. However, there is no indication in the record that the interview with Lieutenant
Simms was admitted into evidence. See Hardy, 494 Mich. at 438. Furthermore, defendant only
stated in the interview that he went out to dinner with Megan on the night of the incident.
Defendant did not state when he and Megan went out to dinner or what he and Megan did upon
their return from dinner. In fact, defendant explained that he could not remember the details of
that night other than the fact that he went out with Megan and returned home because he suffers
from a closed head injury. Therefore, defendant’s statement during the interview does not render
application of the law of the case doctrine an injustice. See Phillips (After Second Remand), 227
Mich. App. at 33.
III. JUDICIAL FACT-FINDING
Defendant argues that the trial court erred when it engaged in unconstitutional judicial
fact-finding. We disagree.
This Court reviews de novo issues of constitutional law. People v Herron, 303 Mich. App.
392, 399; 845 NW2d 533 (2013), lv held in abeyance 846 NW2d 924 (2014). In Alleyne v
United States, 570 US ___, ___; 133 S. Ct. 2151, 2155; 186 L. Ed. 2d 314, 321 (2013), the United
States Supreme Court held, “Mandatory minimum sentences increase the penalty for a crime. It
follows, then, that any fact that increases the mandatory minimum is an ‘element’ that must be
submitted to the jury.” The Court distinguished the use of judicial fact-finding to increase a
mandatory minimum sentence “from factfinding used to guide judicial discretion in selecting a
punishment ‘within limits fixed by law.’ ” Id. at ___ n 2; 133 S. Ct. at 2161 n 2; 186 L. Ed. 2d at
328 n 2 (citation omitted). In Herron, this Court held that a trial court may utilize judicial fact-
finding to aid the court in exercising its sentencing discretion. Herron, 303 Mich. App. at 403.
This Court reasoned:
While judicial fact-finding in scoring the sentencing guidelines produces a
recommended range for the minimum sentence of an indeterminate sentence, the
maximum of which is set by law, it does not establish a mandatory minimum;
therefore, the exercise of judicial discretion guided by the sentencing guidelines
scored through judicial fact-finding does not violate due process or the Sixth
Amendment right to a jury trial. [Id. at 403-404 (citation omitted).]
The trial court did not err when it considered defendant’s criminal history or the offense
variables since the trial court considered these factors in exercising its sentencing discretion. See
Herron, 303 Mich. App. at 403-404. Accordingly, defendant’s argument fails.
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We vacate defendant’s sentences and remand for resentencing by a different trial judge.
We do not retain jurisdiction.
/s/ Kathleen Jansen
/s/ Joel P. Hoekstra
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