People of Michigan v. Taija Denice Bush ( 2017 )

STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, UNPUBLISHED
June 27, 2017
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v No. 330077
Macomb Circuit Court
TAIJA DENICE BUSH, LC No. 2015-000951-FC
Defendant-Appellant.
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v No. 330589
Macomb Circuit Court
DOMINIC LYNDELL WATERS, LC No. 2015-000940-FC
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: SAWYER, P.J., and GLEICHER and RIORDAN, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
In Docket No. 330077, defendant Taija Denice Bush appeals as of right her jury trial
convictions of armed robbery, MCL 750.529; conspiracy (armed robbery), MCL 750.157a; first-
degree home invasion, MCL 750.110a(2); conspiracy (first-degree home invasion), MCL
750.157a; and unlawful imprisonment, MCL 750.349b. She was sentenced to 8 to 20 years’
imprisonment for her armed robbery, first-degree home invasion, and conspiracy convictions,
and 8 to 15 years’ imprisonment for her unlawful imprisonment conviction.
In Docket No. 330589, defendant Dominic Lyndell Waters appeals as of right his jury
trial convictions of conspiracy (armed robbery), MCL 750.157a; conspiracy (first-degree home
invasion), MCL 750.157a; armed robbery, MCL 750.529; and first-degree home invasion, MCL
750.110a(2). He was sentenced to 12 to 20 years’ imprisonment for each of his convictions.
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In Docket No. 330077, we affirm defendant Bush’s convictions, but remand for
resentencing. In Docket No. 330589, we affirm defendant Waters’ convictions and sentences.
We do not retain jurisdiction.
I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND
This case arises from the robbery of Brenda Wilson’s1 residence on Court Street in
Mount Clemens, Michigan, on December 16, 2014. On the day of the incident, Brenda left work
at 3:00 p.m. and immediately went to her mother’s house, which was “kiddy-corner across the
street” from her own home. When she arrived, Brenda began preparing chitterlings for
Christmas. As she was cleaning them, Brenda looked out the window over the kitchen sink.
At some point between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., at a time when it was still light outside,
Brenda noticed a four-door gray car with a spoiler or “fin” on the back of it pull up on the
opposite side of the street, directly across from the kitchen window. A black woman and three
black men were inside. When Brenda looked up again, she noticed that the woman in the car
was looking at her mother’s house. At trial, Brenda identified defendant Bush as the woman in
the car. Brenda testified that she made eye contact with Bush while she was “looking dead at
her.”
Ultimately, the three men exited the car and walked down the street toward Brenda’s
home. Brenda called her son, Randy Wilson, who was at her house, and told him that something
strange was occurring. Randy said that he would go outside and see what was happening.
Brenda saw her son walk down her driveway and then watched the three men walk “right past,”
within a few feet of her son, “and ke[ep] on walking.” Brenda then saw defendant Bush pick up
the men on the other street and drive away.2
At approximately 10:00 p.m. that evening, Randy called Brenda and asked for a ride to
his girlfriend’s house. After dropping him off, Brenda returned to her own home between 10:15
and 10:30 p.m. Brenda testified:
I pulled in the driveway, I had all the Christmas lights on, and I got out of
the car and I’m looking around. I always look over to my mother’s house, my
nephew’s house and, you know, looking around before I go in the house so I can
go to bed and go to work. I closed my car door, I walked up to my door, open[ed]
the storm door and got to put the key in my door, and I heard some noise. I
turned and I looked and three guys come running off from behind my house.
Brenda recognized the dark-colored Carhartt jacket that one of the perpetrators was
wearing and then noticed that all three men were wearing the same clothes that they had been
wearing earlier that day when they were on her street, except that they were now wearing ski
1
Brenda Wilson will be referred to as “Brenda” in this opinion and her son, Randy Wilson, will
be referred to as “Randy” or “Rand.”
2
At trial, Brenda stated her belief that the group was casing her home.
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masks. The man wearing the Carhartt jacket had a gun and put it to Brenda’s neck. After asking
about the whereabouts of Brenda’s son, the man with the Carhartt jacket told Brenda to be quiet
and open the front door. Subsequently, the men tied Brenda up with “Rip Ties.” Brenda was
aware that she could get her hands out of the ties, but she “just left them behind [her].” The man
in the Carhartt jacket pointed the pistol at Brenda and asked where her son was, where the money
was, and where the weed was. Then, one of the men stayed with Brenda while the rest “were
rambling and pulling stuff out.” He briefly talked with her and ultimately took the cash that
Brenda had in her purse.
The three men went to the back of the house, leaving Brenda alone. Brenda loosened her
hands and got within four or five inches of the gun, which had been left in the dining room.
Brenda then heard the men mention that they should check on her, so she sat back down and put
her hands behind her back. The men continued to loot her house for 45 minutes to an hour.
They also asked for the keys to her Cadillac, ultimately stealing her vehicle. However, Brenda
noted at trial that during the incident, one of the robbers stated to someone on the phone that they
could not find what they were looking for.
Before leaving, the robbers asked if there was anyone that they should call with Brenda’s
minute phone to help her because they did not want to leave Brenda there “like this[.]” When
Brenda said no, one of the men tied up her ankles with duct tape. After the men left, Brenda cut
off the duct tape with a kitchen knife and went to her neighbor’s house to call the police.
Officer Shea Truxell of the Clinton Township Police Department testified that she was
called to a suspicious vehicle just after 11:00 p.m. on December 16, 2014, which had been
reported by a resident on the street. The car was parked approximately one block from the
entrance to Court Street, in a position where it was possible to see Brenda’s home. The car was
an older silver Impala with circular rear lights. The driver of the vehicle was a black female,
whom Truxell identified as defendant Bush at trial. When Truxell asked defendant Bush what
she was doing, Bush stated “that she just wanted to get out of the house for a little while and just
get away for a bit.” Truxell asked her if there was anything the police should be concerned about
at Bush’s home, and Bush replied that “she just wanted to get out.” Defendant Bush vaguely
said “that she lived over on Clemens,” but when Truxell attempted to clarify what she meant,
Bush did not specify whether she meant the city of Mount Clemens or a Clemens Street, etc.
The next day, Sergeant Melissa Stevens and Detective Christopher Fraser of the Macomb
County Sheriff’s Department went to 1888 East Lafayette and conducted surveillance after
running the license plate of the silver Impala that police observed the previous evening. At
approximately 4:00 p.m., while they were watching the address, the silver Impala returned to the
parking lot, and the driver went inside. Around 10 minutes later, a black male, whose
description matched Brenda’s description of the perpetrator (and who was later identified as
Lujuan McCants), exited the residence with another man and entered the Impala with the license
plate number seen near Brenda’s home. The police followed the Impala until it arrived at an
apartment complex on Kelly Road in Eastpointe at approximately 6:00 or 7:00 p.m.
McCants went inside the apartment building on Kelly Road and stayed inside for a couple
of hours. The police then made contact with McCants when he exited the building. After
McCants told the detectives that he had been inside a specific apartment with defendant Bush
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(whom he identified as his girlfriend), Sergeant Stevens went upstairs to speak with Bush. The
police were buzzed into the apartment building, and defendant Bush’s mother allowed them to
enter the unit. None of the items from the robbery were found in the home. However, Stevens
and Lieutenant David Daniels both had an opportunity to speak with defendant Bush in the back
bedroom of the residence.
Subsequently, the police made contact with Markenya Crigler, who lived at 1888 East
Lafayette with her children and McCants. At the time, Crigler had a silver Impala, which was
registered in her daughter’s name. According to Crigler, McCants had access to the Impala
whenever he wanted to use it. When the police came to Crigler’s home, she let them inside and
directed them to the various items that McCants had brought into the residence the previous
night. Specifically, Crigler showed the police children’s toys, hunting items, fur coats, a
television, a DVD player, a Disney scooter, a remote-controlled car, and a “hot wheel,” all of
which had been stolen from Brenda’s home. These items were later returned to Brenda.3
Sergeant Stevens asked Crigler which coat McCants wore on a regular basis, and Crigler pointed
out a brown Carhartt that was hanging in a closet.
After arresting McCants, the police recovered an Alcatel cell phone from McCants’ belt.
Subsequently, the police returned to defendant Bush’s apartment and arrested her. At that time,
the officers seized her Samsung Galaxy S4 cell phone. The police later obtained search warrants
to access the contents of the seized cell phones.
During their investigation, the police discovered several incriminating text messages
between McCants and defendant Waters that appeared to reference, among other things,
defendant Waters’ expectation that he would receive a “cut” from the robbery and McCants’
refusal to provide anything to Waters. An analysis of data retrieved from McCants’ and Waters’
cell phones, as well as cell phone records from their service providers, revealed that text
messages between the two men had been deleted.
On December 18, 2014, defendant Waters voluntarily came to the Macomb County
Sheriff’s Office with Officer Fraser and participated in an interview. Waters explained that he
went with McCants to purchase marijuana from Brenda’s son, “Rand,” at approximately 4:00 or
4:30 p.m. on December 16, 2014. As further discussed later in this opinion, Waters confirmed
during the interview that (1) he was expecting a cut from the robbery, and (2) he told McCants—
after McCants mentioned a desire to return to Brenda’s residence later, and knowing that
McCants has robbed “a lot” of drug dealers in Detroit—that there could be cash inside of
Brenda’s home, given Rand’s livelihood of selling marijuana. Additionally, even though
defendant Waters denied that he set Rand up, and denied any involvement in actually executing
the offense, he expressly confirmed that “it was fair enough to say” that he helped to formulate
3
The stolen Cadillac was recovered and returned to Brenda as well.
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the plan. However, Waters said that he did not know the other two men who helped McCants
execute the robbery, and he was never aware that a woman was involved.4
II. DOCKET NO. 330077
A. SEARCH AND SEIZURE
Defendant Bush first argues that the trial court erred when it denied her motion to
suppress the evidence obtained from her cell phone. Defendant is not entitled to relief because
any error made by the trial court was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.
1. STANDARD OF REVIEW
We recently restated the standard of review applicable to this issue in People v Mahdi,
317 Mich App 446, 457; 894 NW2d 732 (2016):
“We review de novo a trial court’s ultimate decision on a motion to suppress on
the basis of an alleged constitutional violation.” People v Gingrich, 307 Mich
App 656, 661, 862 NW2d 432 (2014). We review for clear error any findings of
fact made during the suppression hearing. Id. “A finding of fact is clearly
erroneous if, after a review of the entire record, an appellate court is left with a
definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been made.” Id. (citation and
quotation marks omitted). We review de novo the issue whether the Fourth
Amendment was violated and the issue whether an exclusionary rule applies.
People v Corr, 287 Mich App 499, 506; 788 NW2d 860 (2010). [Footnote
omitted.]
2. ANALYSIS
As an initial matter, defendant Bush does not contend that the police’s search of the
contents of her cell phone pursuant to the search warrant was unlawful.5 Rather, she contests the
initial seizure of the phone from her home as being unlawful. It is undisputed that the police did
not obtain a warrant for the initial seizure of the phone. Thus, the issue on appeal is limited to
whether the police’s seizure of the phone qualified under one of the exceptions to the warrant
requirement. After holding an evidentiary hearing on defendant Bush’s motion to suppress, the
4
In Waters’ written statement, he stated that he did not know that McCants was going to return
and rob Rand until McCants called him later that night. Additionally, his statement does not
include any indication that he was involved in the armed robbery.
5
Defendant Bush conceded below and acknowledges on appeal that the police obtained a search
warrant before searching the contents of the phone. See Riley v Califonia, ___ US ___; 134 S Ct
2473, 2493-2495; 189 L Ed 2d 430 (2014); Mahdi, 317 Mich App at 458 (“[T]he search of the
contents of a cell phone generally requires a warrant unless a case-specific exception applies.”).
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trial court concluded that the consent and plain view exceptions to the warrant requirement were
applicable in this case and justified the seizure of defendant Bush’s cell phone.
Under the consent exception, a search and seize is permitted “if the consent is
unequivocal, specific, and freely and intelligently given.” Mahdi, 317 Mich App at 457-458.
“Consent to search may be limited in scope, and consent may be revoked. The standard for
measuring the scope of a suspect’s consent under the Fourth Amendment is that of objective
reasonableness—what would the typical reasonable person have understood by the exchange
between the officer and the suspect.” Id. (quotation marks and citation omitted).
The record includes no basis for concluding that the trial court clearly erred when it
found—given its credibility determinations—that defendant’s mother consented to the entry of
the police into the home, and that defendant permitted the police to look at the contents of her
phone for a specific, limited purpose on two separate occasions (i.e., (1) to see what time
McCants had called her, and (2) to look up McCants’ phone number). However, the trial court
made no finding that defendant ultimately consented to the seizure of her phone. Likewise, none
of the witnesses who testified at the suppression hearing indicated that defendant provided
consent to the seizure of her phone in addition to the two other limited instances of consent. See
Mahdi, 317 Mich App at 461. Defendant’s consent to the limited search of the content on her
phone for two particular pieces of information did not constitute consent for the ultimate seizure
of her entire phone. See id. Compare People v Dagwan, 269 Mich App 338, 343-346; 711
NW2d 386 (2005) (a case in which broad consent to search was provided by the defendant). The
limited nature of defendant’s consent in this case is especially obvious, as both Detective Fraser
and defendant Bush testified at the suppression hearing that defendant limited her second
instance of consent to finding McCants’ phone number, and that she specifically stated that she
did not want Detective Fraser to look at anything else. Thus, the trial court erred in concluding
that seizure of defendant’s cell phone was lawful under the consent exception to the warrant
requirement.
Under the plain view exception to the warrant requirement, “a police officer [may] seize
items in plain view if the officer is lawfully in the position to have that view and the evidence is
obviously incriminatory.” Madhi, 317 Mich App at 462 (quotation marks and citation omitted).
“An item is obviously incriminatory, meaning its incriminating nature is immediately apparent, if
without further search the officers have probable cause to believe the items are seizable.” Id.
(quotation marks and citation omitted). The seizure of an item pursuant to the plain view
exception “is legitimate only where it is immediately apparent to the police that they have
evidence before them; the ‘plain view’ doctrine may not be used to extend a general exploratory
search from one object to another until something incriminating at last emerges.” Horton v
California, 496 US 128, 136; 110 S Ct 2301, 2307; 110 L Ed 2d 112 (1990) (quotation marks
and citation omitted). “A fundamental characteristic of the [plain view] doctrine is that it is
exclusively a seizure rationale. No searching, no matter how minimal, may be done under the
auspices of the plain view doctrine.” People v Wilson, 257 Mich App 337, 361; 668 NW2d 371
(2003), vacated in part on other grounds 469 Mich 1018 (2004), quoting Champion, 452 Mich at
101.
Given the trial court’s credibility determinations, the trial court did not clearly err in
concluding that defendant’s mother consented to the police officers’ entry into the home. Once
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the police entered the home, they could properly seize anything in plain view as long as the
incriminating nature of the evidence was immediately apparent. Mahdi, 317 Mich App at 462.
As defendant recognizes in her brief on appeal, the parties do not dispute that defendant’s cell
phone was in plain view. However, it is not evident from the record that the incriminating nature
of the cell phone was immediately apparent. The trial court simply concluded, “Further, the
incriminating nature of the evidence, which was defendant’s link to the armed robbery, was
apparent,” without providing any explanation as to how it was apparent. Additionally, there is
nothing in the record supporting a conclusion that the incriminating nature of the phone was
apparent “without further search.” Mahdi, 317 Mich App at 462, quoting Champion, 452 Mich
at 102 (quotation marks omitted).
Notably, the officers testified that they did not seize the cell phone when they first spoke
with defendant Bush, despite her suspicious acts of “manipulating” the phone throughout the
interview and the fact that her call record with McCants was not consistent with her statements.
Accordingly, based on the officers’ actions at that time, there is no indication that the
incriminating nature of the cell phone was immediately apparent when they first encountered
defendant Bush.6 The testimony presented at the suppression hearing includes no indication that
anything changed in the time between the police officers’ first and second visits to defendant’s
apartment, such that the incriminating nature of the cell phone was somehow more apparent, or
newly apparent, when the police saw her phone for a second time when they returned to arrest
her. Likewise, the record includes no basis for concluding that the police developed or gained
any reason to believe that incriminating evidence was on defendant Bush’s phone during that
intermediate period. Although the police found the stolen items at 1888 East Lafayette in
between the officers’ first conversation with defendant Bush and her arrest, the record includes
no indication that this discovery made the incriminating nature of Bush’s cell phone immediately
apparent, as defendant Bush had no connection to the Lafayette residence. In sum, as in Mahdi,
“the incriminating nature of the . . . cell phone was not immediately apparent. Instead, further
investigation was necessary to establish a connection between the item[] and the suspected
criminal activity.” Mahdi, 317 Mich App at 462.
Contrary to the prosecution’s claim on appeal, it does not appear that the exigent
circumstances exception applies in this case. The exigent circumstances exception requires
“probable cause that the premises to be searched contains evidence or suspects and that the
circumstances constituted an emergency leaving no time for a warrant.” People v Davis, 442
Mich 1, 24; 497 NW2d 910 (1993) (citations omitted). To qualify under the exception, “[t]he
police must . . . establish the existence of an actual emergency on the basis of specific and
objective facts indicating that immediate action is necessary to (1) prevent the imminent
destruction of evidence, (2) protect the police officers or others, or (3) prevent the escape of a
suspect.” People v Snider, 239 Mich App 393, 408; 608 NW2d 502 (2000). The police officers
6
The fact that Detective Fraser testified that he believed, in retrospect, that the officers present
should have seized the phone if there was any suspicion does not undermine the evidence plainly
indicating that the other officers did not find the incriminating nature of the phone immediately
apparent at that time.
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testified at the suppression hearing that they were concerned that defendant Bush was deleting
evidence from her phone while she was manipulating it during their conversations with her.
However, they did not seize her phone when they had that suspicion, and there was no risk that
Bush could continue to destroy evidence when the seizure occurred, as the phone was seized
when defendant Bush was arrested. Likewise, there is no other evidence in the record indicating
a risk that evidence inside, or associated with, her phone would be destroyed at that time. And,
again, the police apparently did not see this risk as significant enough to initially seize the phone
pursuant to the exigent circumstances exception to the warrant requirement when they first spoke
with defendant Bush, as they left the phone with her when they exited the residence.
Additionally, it is not clear that the cell phone would fall within the scope of the
inevitable discovery doctrine. “The inevitable-discovery rule permits the admission of evidence
obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment if the prosecution establishes by a preponderance
of the evidence that the information inevitably would have been discovered through lawful
means.” Mahdi, 317 Mich App at 469.
This Court has cited several factors in determining whether the inevitable-
discovery rule applies, including (1) whether the legal means were truly
independent, (2) whether the use of the legal means and the discovery by the legal
means were truly inevitable, and (3) whether application of the inevitable-
discovery doctrine could incentivize police misconduct or significantly weaken
the protection provided under the Fourth Amendment. [Id. (citation omitted).]
Here, it is questionable “whether the legal means were truly independent,” as the search warrant
for the contents of the phone was obtained after defendant was arrested for the unrelated offense
and after the police already had the phone in their possession. Id. Regardless, even if the seizure
of the phone did not fall within one of the exceptions to the warrant requirement or under the
inevitable discovery doctrine, it is apparent from the record that the admission of evidence from
defendant Bush’s cell phone was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.
A preserved, nonstructural error is harmless, and reversal is not required, if “the
beneficiary of the error . . . prove[s], and the court . . . determine[s], beyond a reasonable doubt
that there is no reasonable possibility that the evidence complained of might have contributed to
the conviction.” People v Anderson, 446 Mich 392, 405-406; 521 NW2d 538 (1994) (quotation
marks and citations omitted). Stated differently, “[a] constitutional error is harmless if it is clear
beyond a reasonable doubt that a rational jury would have found the defendant guilty absent the
error.” People v Mass, 464 Mich 615, 640; 628 NW2d 540 (2001) (quotation marks and citation
omitted).7
Although there was conflicting evidence in the record concerning whether defendant
Bush actually was present when the perpetrators came to Brenda’s home earlier in the day on
December 16, 2014, there was overwhelming evidence, unrelated to the data extracted from her
cell phone, that defendant Bush played a role in the offense. Most significantly, Officer Truxell
7
See also Neder v United States, 527 US 1, 15-16; 119 S Ct 1827, 1837; 144 L Ed 2d 35 (1999).
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came into contact with defendant Bush at approximately 11:00 p.m.—at which time the robbery
was still occurring, according to Brenda’s testimony—while Bush was inside a silver Impala
associated with McCants.8 It is especially noteworthy that defendant Bush was parked
approximately one block from the entrance to Court Street, in a position where it was possible to
see Brenda’s home.
Later, after officers were instructed to be on the lookout for a silver Impala that may have
been involved in a home invasion, Officer Truxell disseminated the license plate number from
the Impala in which Bush had been sitting. The police then connected the same silver Impala in
which Bush was found to McCants’ Lafayette address. Importantly, Crigler’s testimony
confirmed that, in the hours after the robbery, McCants returned to the Lafayette address with the
stolen items in the same silver Impala that defendant Bush had been driving earlier that night.
Although defendant Bush denied any involvement in the robbery and specifically denied
that she had been in Mount Clemens, she expressly admitted to police that she was with McCants
that evening and provided vague or contradictory information regarding their activities and
phone calls. Additionally, Lieutenant Daniels testified that defendant Bush “covered her face”
and “began to cry slightly” after he told her that the police “believed her boyfriend was involved
in a home invasion,” “that a Clinton Township police officer had been called to the scene and she
identified a black female driver in the vehicle at the time of the home invasion,” and that it was
likely that the Clinton Township officer would identify Bush as the driver if she saw Bush’s
picture.
Contrary to defendant Bush’s characterization of the record, much of the incriminating
cell phone evidence admitted at trial concerning defendant Bush came from cell phone records
provided by defendant Bush’s cell phone service provider, not from the contents of her phone.
The record shows that text messages to or from Bush were found on McCants’ phone, meaning
that the police could have obtained defendant Bush’s phone number through a source other than
her own phone. Additionally, the data from the cell phone service providers, not defendant
Bush’s cell phone itself, demonstrated increased contact between McCants and Bush on the day
of the robbery and showed that defendant Bush’s cell phone was in or near Mount Clemens that
day. See United States v Carpenter, 819 F3d 880 (CA 6, 2016), cert gtd ___ US ___; ___ S Ct
___; ___ L Ed 2d ___ (2017). A report including information from defendant Bush’s phone was
admitted at trial, but only a handful of text messages from defendant Bush’s phone were noted
during the cell phone analyst’s testimony. Further, it is noteworthy that the defense heavily
relied on one of these text messages—a message from Bush stating, “Oh, okay, I’ll get dressed,”
at 5:01 p.m.—as exculpatory evidence indicating that she was not present when Brenda observed
other individuals casing her house.
8
Notably, during his closing argument, defense counsel expressly stated that the defense was not
denying that defendant Bush was the woman with whom the police came into contact that night;
instead, the defense’s position was that defendant was merely present and had no knowledge of
or involvement in the robbery.
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There was overwhelming evidence of defendant Bush’s guilt apart from any evidence
retrieved from her cell phone. Even if the trial court erred when it failed to grant defendant’s
motion to suppress, the record clearly shows that this error was harmless beyond a reasonable
doubt. Defendant Bush is not entitled to reversal on this basis. See Mass, 464 Mich at 640;
Anderson, 446 Mich at 405-406.
B. JURY INSTRUCTIONS
Next, defendant Bush argues that she is entitled to a new trial based on the jury
instructions provided by the trial court. We disagree.
1. STANDARD OF REVIEW
As an initial matter, defendant Bush waived her right to appeal any instructional error
when defense counsel expressly affirmed the trial court’s instructions when it finished reading
them. See People v Kowalski, 489 Mich 488, 503; 803 NW2d 200 (2011); People v Carter, 462
Mich 206, 215; 612 NW2d 144 (2000). Nevertheless, even if this issue had not been waived, it
is, at most, unpreserved, as a party must object or request a particular jury instruction before the
jury deliberates to preserve the error for review. MCR 2.512(C); People v Gonzalez, 256 Mich
App 212, 225; 663 NW2d 499 (2003), disapproved on other grounds 496 Mich 967 (2003);
People v Sabin, 242 Mich App 656, 657; 620 NW2d 19 (2000). Although defendant Bush
initially objected to the instruction provided by the trial court, she did not object to the means by
which the trial court rectified the error. Rather, again, she expressly approved the ultimate
manner in which the trial court instructed the jury, which is the gravamen of her claim on appeal.
Our review of unpreserved issues is limited to plain error affecting defendant’s
substantial rights. People v Jackson, 313 Mich App 409, 421; 884 NW2d 297 (2015); see also
Sabin, 242 Mich App at 657 (“Absent an objection or request for an instruction, this Court will
grant relief only when necessary to avoid manifest injustice.”). To demonstrate such an error, a
defendant must show that (1) an error occurred, (2) the error was clear or obvious, and (3) “the
plain error affected [the defendant’s] substantial rights,” which “generally requires a showing of
prejudice, i.e., that the error affected the outcome of the lower court proceedings.” People v
Carines, 460 Mich 750, 763; 597 NW2d 130 (1999). Even if a defendant establishes a plain
error that affected her substantial rights, “[r]eversal is warranted only when the plain, forfeited
error resulted in the conviction of an actually innocent defendant or when an error seriously
affect[ed] the fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial proceedings independent of the
defendant’s innocence.” Id. at 763-764 (quotation marks and citation omitted; second alteration
in original).
2. ANALYSIS
While this issue is waived, we briefly note that defendant’s claim has no merit.
Defendant’s claim of error arises from the instructions provided by the trial court
regarding the extent to which the jury could consider defendant Waters’ statements to the police
in deciding defendant Bush’s guilt. Although the trial court initially instructed the jury that it
could not consider defendant Waters’ statement in determining defendant Bush’s guilt or
innocence, it later repudiated that instruction, clearly indicating that the jury could, in fact,
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consider defendant Waters’ statement for that purpose. During this exchange, the court
emphasized that the jury should disregard its earlier instruction through the following statements:
THE COURT: Okay. Go back to that last statement, sorry about that,
where it begins defendant Dominic Waters’ statement, just cross it out
completely. We’re not going to use that one. Cross it out and if you want to rip it
out of your packet and leave it on the floor so you don’t mistakenly keep it in
there, we consider it, okay? Correct, Mr. Rodnick?
[Bush’s Defense Counsel]: Yes, your honor.
“It is well established that jurors are presumed to follow their instructions.” People v
Graves, 458 Mich 476, 486; 581 NW2d 229 (1998). Defendant Bush identifies no authority on
appeal in support of her claim that the trial court’s failure to ensure that each juror physically
removed the instruction from his or her jury packet undermines or rebuts the presumption that
the jurors followed the clear and unequivocal instructions ultimately provided by the court on the
record. Likewise, defendant has identified no evidence in the record that the jurors did, in fact,
fail to follow the instructions eventually provided by the court. Even if the trial court’s change in
the instructions initially generated some confusion, it is clear that the trial court specifically
clarified the instructions that the jury was supposed to follow. A jury will not be presumed to
have followed an incorrect instruction that has been corrected by the trial court. People v
Hardesty, 139 Mich App 124, 132; 362 NW2d 787 (1984).
Defendant Bush has failed to show that the jury instructions provided by the trial court
constituted plain error affecting her substantial rights, or otherwise caused manifest injustice.
See Jackson, 313 Mich App at 421; Sabin, 242 Mich App at 657.
C. SUPPRESSION OR CONCEALMENT OF EVIDENCE
In her Standard 4 brief, defendant Bush argues that her constitutional rights were violated
when the prosecution “suppressed and failed to disclose exculpatory evidence to the defense.”
We disagree.
1. STANDARD OF REVIEW
Defendant failed to preserve this issue below. People v Metamora Water Serv, Inc, 276
Mich App 376, 382; 741 NW2d 65 (2007); People v Cox, 268 Mich App 440, 448; 709 NW2d
152 (2005), citing MCR 2.611(A)(1)(f), MCR 2.612(C)(1)(b), and People v Darden, 230 Mich
App 597, 605-606, 585 NW2d 27 (1998). Unpreserved constitutional and nonconstitutional
issues are reviewed for plain error affecting substantial rights. Carines, 460 Mich at 762-765.
2. ANALYSIS
Under MCR 6.201(A)(2), the prosecution must, upon request, disclose to the defendant
“any written or recorded statement . . . pertaining to the case by a lay witness whom the
[prosecution] may call at trial . . . .” Additionally, upon request, the prosecuting attorney must
provide the defendant with “any exculpatory information or evidence known to the prosecuting
attorney” and “any police report and interrogation records concerning the case, except so much
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of a report as concerns a continuing investigation.” MCR 6.201(B)(1) and (2). Furthermore,
“the suppression by the prosecution of evidence favorable to an accused upon request violates
due process where the evidence is material either to guilt or to punishment, irrespective of the
good faith or bad faith of the prosecution.” Brady v Maryland, 373 US 83, 87; 83 S Ct 1194; 10
L Ed 2d 215 (1963); see also People v Chenault, 495 Mich 142, 149; 845 NW2d 731 (2014)
(quoting Brady). The elements of a Brady violation are as follows: “(1) the prosecution has
suppressed evidence; (2) that is favorable to the accused; and (3) viewed in its totality, is
material.” Chenault, 495 Mich at 155.
Defendant Bush first argues that the prosecution committed a Brady violation when it
failed to make the contents of Brenda’s police statement available to the defense. Even if the
prosecution actually failed to provide this statement to the defense, defendant Bush has failed to
provide any support for her claim that the statement contained exculpatory information, or any
information that would have been relevant and helpful to her case. Instead, she merely claims
that she “was prejudiced,” without providing any explanation as to how she was prejudiced.
There is nothing in the record indicating that Brenda’s witness statement would have included
any information that was favorable to Bush, see Chenault, 495 Mich at 150 (“Evidence is
favorable to the defense when it is either exculpatory or impeaching.”), and there is no due
process violation if the statement contained material that was not favorable to the accused.
Brady, 373 US at 87.
Likewise, “undisclosed evidence will be deemed material only if it could reasonably be
taken to put the whole case in such a different light as to undermine confidence in the verdict.”
People v Henry (After Rem), 305 Mich App 127, 157; 854 NW2d 114 (2014) (quotation marks
and citations omitted); see also Chenault, 495 Mich at 150. Defendant has not shown, or even
argued, that the content of Brenda’s statement could undermine confidence in the verdict. Thus,
defendant Bush has failed to establish a Brady violation, Chenault, 495 Mich at 155, or a plain
error affecting her substantial rights, see Carines, 460 Mich at 763.
Next, defendant Bush argues that the prosecution committed a Brady violation when it
failed to provide the full report containing her cell phone records from Sprint PCS. Once again,
the record does not support defendant’s claim. To the contrary, the record clearly shows that the
prosecution did not suppress the full report containing her cell phone records. In fact, all of the
records from the cell phone companies, including those concerning defendant Bush’s phone,
were admitted as an exhibit at trial on August 25, 2015, at the prosecution’s request. Notably,
before the records were admitted, the prosecution specifically confirmed with Detective Fraser
that the exhibit included, (1) on a thumb drive, “[a]ll the cell phone records” “[t]hat were sent
from the phone companies” as well as (2) paper copies of keys from the companies, which could
be used to interpret the data in the records. Defendant’s attorney stated that he had no objection
to the admission of that exhibit. The next day, the trial court also recognized that the exhibit
containing the cell phone records had been admitted the previous day.
Because the phone records were, in fact, admitted as evidence, defendant Bush cannot
establish that the prosecution committed a Brady violation, see Chenault, 495 Mich at 149-151,
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155, or otherwise committed a plain error affecting her substantial rights, see Carines, 460 Mich
at 763.9
D. IDENTIFICATION TESTIMONY
Next, defendant argues in her Standard 4 brief that her due process rights were violated
when the trial court admitted Brenda’s “unreliable and unduly suggestive identification into
evidence.” We disagree.
1. STANDARD OF REVIEW
Because defendant did not object to Brenda’s identification of defendant Bush before or
at trial, this issue is unpreserved and reviewed for plain error affecting substantial rights. People
v McCray, 245 Mich App 631, 638; 630 NW2d 633 (2001).
2. ANALYSIS
To establish that an identification procedure violated her right to due process, defendant
Bush must show that the procedure was “so suggestive in light of the totality of the
circumstances that it led to a substantial likelihood of misidentification.” People v Williams, 244
Mich App 533, 542; 624 NW2d 575 (2001) (quotation marks and citation omitted). If a witness
was exposed to an impermissibly suggestive pretrial identification procedure, her in-court
identification of the defendant will not be allowed unless the prosecutor establishes by clear and
convincing evidence that the in-court identification has an untainted, independent basis. People
v Gray, 457 Mich 107, 115; 577 NW2d 92 (1998). The due process protections concerning
unnecessarily suggestive identification procedures do not apply in the absence of state action.
People v Farrow, 183 Mich App 436, 441; 455 NW2d 325 (1990); see also Perry v New
Hampshire, 565 US 228, 248; 132 S Ct 716, 730; 181 L Ed 2d 694 (2012).
Here, defendant does not argue that a pretrial identification procedure was improper or
unduly suggestive. It is undisputed that neither the police nor the prosecution ever conducted a
live lineup, photographic lineup, or show up. Rather, defendant’s argument is premised, in part,
on the fact that no pretrial identification was conducted. However, a criminal defendant has no
constitutional or statutory right to a pretrial identification in Michigan. People v Farley, 75 Mich
App 236, 238; 254 NW2d 853 (1977). Because there was no pretrial identification in this case,
the victim’s identification testimony was fully admissible. The trial court correctly allowed the
jury to assess the credibility of Brenda’s identification testimony. See People v Davis, 241 Mich
App 697, 700; 617 NW2d 381 (2000).
9
Contrary to her claim on appeal, defendant also has failed to demonstrate that the prosecution
knowingly presented perjured testimony. See People v Gratsch, 299 Mich App 604, 619-620;
831 NW2d 462 (2013), vacated in part on other grounds 495 Mich 876 (2013); People v Smith,
498 Mich 466, 475-477; 870 NW2d 299 (2015).
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Defendant Bush also argues that she is entitled to a new trial because Brenda saw her
picture in a newspaper prior to trial, which constituted an unduly suggestive pretrial procedure.
Defendant has identified no evidence that Brenda’s viewing of the newspaper was arranged by
law enforcement or that police officers led Brenda to identify defendant as the perpetrator of the
crimes. Because there was no state action involved in Brenda’s viewing of defendant in the
newspaper, due process does not require suppression of the subsequent identification. See Perry,
565 US at 248. Additionally, this Court rejected an identical claim in People v Barnett, 163
Mich App 331, 335-336; 414 NW2d 378 (1987), where, as here, it was apparent that the
witness’s identification testimony was based on her own perceptions of the defendant, not on the
photograph in the newspaper. See also People v Kurylczyk, 443 Mich 289, 313; 505 NW2d 528
(1993).
Further, even if this Court assumes arguendo that the circumstances surrounding
Brenda’s in-court identification of defendant Bush were suggestive, a review of the record shows
that the evidence at trial sufficiently demonstrated an independent basis for that identification.
See Gray, 457 Mich at 115-116, quoting People v Kachar, 400 Mich 78, 95-96; 252 NW2d 807
(1977) (listing factors courts should consider in determining whether an independent basis exists
for the admission of an in-court identification); Kurylczyk, 443 Mich at 306. The jury was free to
assess the weight and credibility of Brenda’s identification in light of (1) the distance between
the women, (2) the fact that Brenda made her observations through a window, (3) the fact that
Brenda had worked a full day before observing the vehicle, (4) the fact that Brenda later saw a
picture of defendant Bush in the newspaper, (5) any other circumstances that could weaken
Brenda’s ability to accurately observe the woman in the vehicle, and (6) other evidence in the
record indicating that defendant Bush was not present at the scene when Brenda claims that she
saw her. Although defendant Bush contends that there are reasons to question the reliability of
Brenda’s identification, defendant was not prevented from exploring this issue at trial, and the
record clearly reveals that defense counsel did so. It was up to the jury to determine whether
Brenda’s identification was reliable and credible in light of the circumstances highlighted by the
defense. See Davis, 241 Mich App at 700.
Defendant Bush has failed to establish that she is entitled to relief based on Brenda’s
identification testimony at trial.
E. OV 10
Next, defendant contends in her Standard 4 brief that the trial court erred when it assessed
15 points for OV 10. We agree and remand for resentencing.
1. STANDARD OF REVIEW
Defendant failed to preserve this claim by raising it “at sentencing, in a motion for
resentencing, or in a motion to remand filed in the Court of Appeals.” People v Loper, 299 Mich
App 451, 456; 830 NW2d 836 (2013). See also People v Jones, 297 Mich App 80, 83; 823
NW2d 312 (2012). Thus, this Court’s review is limited to plain error affecting defendant’s
substantial rights. Jones, 297 Mich App at 83, citing Carines, 460 Mich at 763-764.
2. ANALYSIS
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Although defense counsel technically waived this issue, defendant is entitled to
resentencing in light of the Michigan Supreme Court’s release of People v Gloster, 499 Mich
199; 880 NW2d 776 (2016), after defendant’s sentencing in October 2015. The trial court erred
in assessing 15 points for OV 10 solely based on the predatory conduct of defendant Bush’s co-
offenders.
OV 10 pertains to the exploitation of a vulnerable victim. MCL 777.40. An assessment
of 15 points is appropriate when “[p]redatory conduct was involved.” MCL 777.40(a). For
purposes of scoring OV 10, “ ‘[p]redatory conduct’ means preoffense conduct directed at a
victim, or a law enforcement officer posing as a potential victim, for the primary purpose of
victimization.” MCL 777.40(3)(a). In Gloster, 499 Mich at 205-207, the Michigan Supreme
Court explained:
MCL 777.40 contains no language directing a court to assess a defendant
points for OV 10 on the basis of conduct by a defendant’s co-offenders in
multiple-offender situations. This is in direct contrast to OVs 1, 2, and 3, all of
which specifically direct a court to assign a defendant the same number of points
that all offenders are assessed in multiple-offender cases. . . . .
Courts cannot assume that the Legislature inadvertently omitted from one
statute the language that it placed in another statute, and then, on the basis of that
assumption, apply what is not there. Because the Legislature has explicitly
provided that all offenders in a multiple-offender situation should receive the
same score for OVs 1, 2, and 3, but excluded that language from other OVs, we
conclude that a defendant shall not have points assessed solely on the basis of his
or her co-offenders’ conduct unless the OV at issue specifically indicates to the
contrary. To conclude otherwise would require this Court to read the multiple-
offender language into the OV at issue, in this case OV 10, in violation of our
principles of statutory interpretation. [Quotation marks and citations omitted.]
Here, as defendant Bush claims, there is no evidence that she participated in predatory
conduct herself. Rather, the only incidents of predatory conduct related to the offense were
performed by the other perpetrators, while defendant Bush was in a vehicle a block or more
away from the scene. This case is factually similar to Gloster, where “the trial court supported
its score by explaining that two of the people defendant drove to Hamtramck ‘went out to the
corner to watch for an appropriate victim . . . .’ ” Gloster, 499 Mich at 209. Similarly, the
evidence admitted at trial consistently indicated that defendant Bush remained in the car during
the offense and did not play a role in waiting for or approaching Brenda during the robbery.
Thus, the trial court erred in assessing 15 points for OV 10.
Without the 15 points erroneously assessed for OV 10, defendant’s total OV score
decreases from 50 points to 35 points. As defendant argues, this change affects the minimum
range calculated under the sentencing guidelines, reducing the minimum range from 81 to 135
months to 51 to 85 months. See MCL 777.62. Thus, defendant has established a plain error
affecting her substantial rights, which requires resentencing, as the erroneous score affected the
guidelines minimum range. See People v Kimble, 470 Mich 305, 312-313; 684 NW2d 669
(2004); see also People v Francisco, 474 Mich 82, 89 n 8; 711 NW2d 44 (2006).
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F. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL
Lastly, defendant Bush raises multiple ineffective assistance of counsel claims in the
brief on appeal filed by her appellate counsel and in her Standard 4 brief. We reject these claims.
1. STANDARD OF REVIEW
“[A] defendant must move the trial court for a new trial or evidentiary hearing to preserve
the defendant’s claim that his or her counsel was ineffective.” People v Lane, 308 Mich App 38,
68; 862 NW2d 446 (2014). Defendant did not move for a new trial or file a motion for a
Ginther10 hearing in the trial court. Thus, our review of this unpreserved issue is limited to
mistakes apparent from the record. People v Lane, 308 Mich App 38, 68; 862 NW2d 446
(2014); People v Sabin (On Second Remand), 242 Mich App 656, 658-659; 620 NW2d 19
(2000). Stated differently, “[i]f the appellate record does not support defendant’s assertions,
[s]he has waived the issue.” Sabin, 242 Mich App at 659.
“A claim of ineffective assistance of counsel is a mixed question of law and fact. A trial
court’s findings of fact, if any, are reviewed for clear error, and this Court reviews the ultimate
constitutional issue arising from an ineffective assistance of counsel claim de novo.” People v
Petri, 279 Mich App 407, 410; 760 NW2d 882 (2008), citing People v LeBlanc, 465 Mich 575,
579; 640 NW2d 246 (2002).
Effective assistance of counsel is presumed and defendant bears the
burden of proving otherwise. To succeed on a claim of ineffective assistance of
counsel, the defendant must show that, but for an error by counsel, the result of
the proceedings would have been different, and that the proceedings were
fundamentally unfair or unreliable.[11] The defendant bears a heavy burden on
these points. Defendant must overcome a strong presumption that counsel’s
performance constituted sound trial strategy. This Court will not substitute its
judgment for that of counsel regarding matters of trial strategy, nor will it assess
counsel’s competence with the benefit of hindsight. [Petri, 279 Mich App at 410-
411 (quotation marks and citations omitted).]
Additionally, defendant Bush carries the burden of establishing the factual basis of her claim.
People v Hoag, 460 Mich 1, 6; 594 NW2d 57 (1999), quoting People v Ginther, 390 Mich 436,
442-443; 212 NW2d 922 (1973).
10
People v Ginther, 390 Mich 436, 443, 212 NW2d 922 (1973).
11
See also People v Vaughn, 491 Mich 642, 669; 821 NW2d 288 (2012) (“[I]n order to receive a
new trial on the basis of ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must establish that
‘counsel’s representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness’ and that ‘there is a
reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding
would have been different.’ ”), quoting Strickland v Washington, 466 US 668, 688, 694; 104 S
Ct 2052; 80 L Ed 2d 674 (1984).
-16-
2. ANALYSIS
Most of defendant Bush’s ineffective assistance of counsel claims are related to her other
claims raised on appeal. To the extent that she challenges defense counsel’s (1) response to the
erroneous instruction provided by the trial court concerning the jury’s consideration of defendant
Waters’ statements; (2) failure to file a motion to suppress Brenda’s in-court identification of
defendant Bush; (3) failure to file a motion requesting a Wade12 hearing concerning Brenda’s
identification testimony; and (4) failure to object to the prosecution’s alleged suppression of
Brenda’s written police statements and the full report containing defendant Bush’s phone
records, these claims fail for the same reasons discussed earlier in this opinion. We cannot find
defense counsel ineffective for failing to file a frivolous motion or make a futile objection. See
People v Riley, 468 Mich 135, 142; 659 NW2d 611 (2003); People v Johnson, 315 Mich App
163, 175; 889 NW2d 513 (2016).13
Defendant Bush also claims that defense counsel provided ineffective assistance when he
failed to interview Brenda, Cringler, Deputy Daniel Cikota, and Investigator Joseph Duncan. As
an initial matter, the record does not support defendant Bush’s claim that defense counsel failed
to interview the named witnesses, as there is no record evidence indicating whether or not
defense counsel interviewed those witnesses before trial. Thus, defendant has waived these
arguments, Sabin, 242 Mich App at 659, as she has failed to establish the factual predicate of her
claim, Hoag, 460 Mich at 6.
Furthermore, defendant Bush’s claim concerning defense counsel’s purported failure to
interview witnesses is largely related to (1) her prior claims concerning the full report of her cell
phone records and (2) discrepancies in the record that may undermine the reliability and
credibility of Brenda’s identification of her. For the reasons previously discussed, defendant has
failed to establish any error with regard to that evidence, and, again, counsel will not be found
ineffective for failing to file a futile motion or raise a meritless objection. See Riley, 468 Mich at
142; Johnson, 315 Mich App at 175. Likewise, for the same reasons, defendant cannot establish
that there is a reasonable probability that any of the purported errors concerning this evidence, or
that defense counsel’s alleged failure to interview or investigate, affected the outcome of the
trial. See Petri, 279 Mich App at 410-411.
Defendant Bush also argues that defense counsel’s purported failure to interview the
witnesses inhibited his ability to identify discrepancies in the time frames referenced by the
witnesses, such that he failed to adequately pursue her “mere presence” defense. However, a
review of the record, including the testimony quoted in defendant’s Standard 4 brief, reveals that
defense counsel elicited testimony in support of defendant’s claim and emphasized evidence
12
United States v Wade, 388 US 218; 87 S Ct 1926; 18 L Ed 2d 1149 (1967).
13
Additionally, with regard to her claim that defense counsel’s response to the trial court’s jury
instructions constituted ineffective assistance, defendant has failed to demonstrate the requisite
prejudice. See People v Gaines, 306 Mich App 289, 300; 856 NW2d 222 (2014).
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during his opening and closing arguments—including discrepancies in the time frames
mentioned by the witnesses and the text sent by defendant at 5:01 p.m. stating, “Okay, I’ll get
dressed”—suggesting that defendant Bush had no involvement in the robbery and was merely
present when it occurred. Thus, defendant cannot claim ineffective assistance of counsel on this
ground, as the record shows that counsel vigorously pursued defendant’s “mere presence”
defense in the manner that defendant Bush advocates on appeal. See People v Chapo, 283 Mich
App 360, 371; 770 NW2d 68 (2009) (“Trial counsel is responsible for preparing, investigating,
and presenting all substantial defenses,” meaning defenses “that might have made a difference in
the outcome of the trial.”) (quotation marks and citations omitted).
Defendant argues that defense counsel was ineffective when he failed to object to the trial
court’s scoring of OV 10, but we need not consider this issue from an ineffective assistance of
counsel perspective given our discussion of the proper scoring of OV 10 earlier in this opinion.
To the extent that defendant Bush’s Standard 4 brief includes additional ineffective assistance of
counsel claims under this issue, we deem them abandoned, as defendant has not articulated a
factual or legal basis for these claims. See People v Kelly, 231 Mich App 627, 640-641; 588
NW2d 480 (1998) (“An appellant may not merely announce his position and leave it to this
Court to discover and rationalize the basis for his claims, nor may he give only cursory treatment
with little or no citation of supporting authority.”).
III. DOCKET NO. 330589
A. STATEMENT TO POLICE
Defendant Waters first contends that he is entitled to a new trial based on the trial court’s
failure to suppress all of the statements that he made to the police, both before and after he
waived his Miranda14 rights. We disagree.15
1. STANDARD OF REVIEW
Because defendant Waters’ failed to preserve this issue, see Metamora Water Serv, Inc,
276 Mich App at 382; People v Gentner, Inc, 262 Mich App 363, 368; 686 NW2d 752 (2004),
our review is limited to plain error affecting his substantial rights, Carines, 460 Mich at 762-765.
14
Miranda v Arizona, 384 US 436; 86 S Ct 1602; 16 L Ed 2d 694 (1966).
15
Defendant Waters appears to briefly suggest in his brief on appeal that the district court erred
when it bound him over for trial based on Detective Fraser’s testimony, and when it failed to
“address” the purported custodial interrogation of Waters at the preliminary examination. To the
extent that defendant Waters intended to claim that his bindover was improper, he has abandoned
that claim. See People v Miller, 238 Mich App 168, 172; 604 NW2d 781 (1999); People v Kelly,
231 Mich App 627, 640-641; 588 NW2d 480 (1998). Furthermore, “an evidentiary deficiency at
the preliminary examination is not ground for vacating a subsequent conviction where the
defendant received a fair trial and was not otherwise prejudiced by the error.” People v Hall,
435 Mich 599, 601; 460 NW2d 520 (1990).
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Further, the defense waived this issue at trial. On the second day of jury selection, while
the trial court was addressing other pretrial matters, the prosecution explained that it planned to
omit from its case in chief any statements that Waters made before he waived his Miranda rights,
implying that it still planned to admit his recorded interview. When the court inquired as to
whether defendant Waters was requesting that outcome, Waters’ counsel replied, “I don’t have
any objection. I originally put together a motion for that. I’m please[d] with the prosecutor’s
position. I have nothing further, your Honor.” After clarifying that defense counsel had no
objection the prosecution’s decision to exclude the pre-Miranda statements, the trial court stated
that the statements made in the police vehicle would be excluded. Subsequently, Waters’
defense counsel stated that he had no objection to the admission of Waters’ interview with
Detective Fraser. Defense counsel’s express satisfaction with the admission of Waters’
statements constitutes waiver of this issue. See Kowalski, 489 Mich at 503; Carter, 462 Mich at
215.
2. ANALYSIS
Regardless of the waiver, defendant Waters has failed to establish any error in the
admission of his statements to the police.
Miranda warnings are not required unless an individual is subjected to custodial
interrogation. In determining whether a person is effectively “in custody,” the
pertinent inquiry is whether there is restraint on freedom of movement in any
significant way such as of the degree associated with a formal arrest. Custody
must be determined on the basis of how a reasonable person in the suspect’s
situation would perceive his or her circumstances and whether the reasonable
person would believe that he or she was free to leave. Whether an individual is
effectively “in custody” is based on the totality of the circumstances. [People v
Roberts, 292 Mich App 492, 504-505; 808 NW2d 290 (2011) (citations omitted).]
Contrary to defendant’s characterization of the record, none of his statements admitted at
trial were custodial statements that he made before waiving his Miranda rights. Defendant
repeatedly claims that the police arrested him before taking him to the sheriff’s office in a squad
car. However, Detective Fraser’s testimony at the preliminary examination blatantly undermines
defendant’s claim. It is apparent from Fraser’s testimony—and further confirmed by defendant
Waters’ obvious surprise when he was arrested at the end of his recorded interview—that
defendant Waters voluntarily accompanied Detective Fraser and another officer to the sheriff’s
office. There is nothing in the record that rebuts Detective Fraser’s testimony indicating that
defendant Waters was not under arrest when he traveled to the sheriff’s office; that he
voluntarily accompanied Fraser and the other officer; and that he voluntarily spoke with them
during the drive. See Roberts, 292 Mich App at 504-505. Furthermore, consistent with the
prosecution’s commitment at the beginning of the trial, none of the statements that defendant
made prior to waiving his Miranda rights were admitted at trial. Defendant has failed to
establish a plain error affecting his substantial rights with regard to any statements that he made
before waiving his Miranda rights in the interview room. See Carines, 460 Mich at 763.
Defendant Waters also argues that his statements should have been suppressed because
he was provided Miranda warnings “midstream,” and the recorded interview played for the jury
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covered the same topics that were discussed before the Miranda warnings were provided. If the
police deliberately refrain from advising a defendant of his rights in order to obtain a confession
and, after obtaining the confession, then advise the defendant of his rights and obtain the same
confession, the Miranda warning is ineffective, and the postwarning statement is inadmissible.
Missouri v Seibert, 542 US 600, 616-618; 124 S Ct 2601; 159 L Ed 2d 643 (2004) (plurality
opinion); id. at 620-621 (KENNEDY, J., concurring). Here, however, there is absolutely no
evidence in the record that would support a finding that the police intentionally failed to apprise
defendant Waters of his rights in order to obtain a confession at that time. To the contrary, it
appears that the police intentionally did not seek a confession from Waters in the vehicle in light
of the fact that the unmarked car was not equipped with recording equipment and they were en
route to an interview room where defendant Waters’ statement would be taped. Thus, the factual
circumstances of defendant Waters’ ride to the sheriff’s office and his subsequent interrogation
make this case distinguishable from other cases, such as Seibert, 542 US 600, where Miranda
warnings are provided mid-interrogation after the police have already secured a confession from
the defendant. See also Oregon v Elstad, 470 US 298, 314; 105 S Ct 1285; 84 L Ed 2d 222(1985) (holding that where police do not use “deliberately coercive or improper tactics” while
questioning a defendant, but fail to advise him of his Miranda rights, the “subsequent
administration of Miranda warnings . . . ordinarily should suffice to remove the conditions that
precluded admission of the earlier statement.”); United States v Carter, 489 F3d 528, 534 (CA 2,
2007) (“[U]nder Elstad, if the prewarning statement was voluntary, then the postwarning
confession is admissible unless it was involuntarily made despite the Miranda warning.”).
Defendant has failed to establish that the trial court’s failure to suppress his statements
constituted a plain error affecting his substantial rights. Carines, 460 Mich at 763.
B. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE
Lastly, defendant Waters argues that the prosecution presented insufficient evidence to
support his convictions. We disagree.
1. STANDARD OF REVIEW
This Court reviews a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence de novo. People v
Henderson, 306 Mich App 1, 8-9; 854 NW2d 234 (2014). “We examine the evidence in a light
most favorable to the prosecution, resolving all evidentiary conflicts in its favor, and determine
whether a rational trier of fact could have found that the essential elements of the crime were
proved beyond reasonable doubt.” People v Dunigan, 299 Mich App 579, 582; 831 NW2d 243
(2013) (quotation marks and citation omitted). This Court’s review is deferential, as “[w]hen
assessing a challenge to the sufficiency of evidence, the trier of fact, not the appellate court,
determines what inferences may be fairly drawn from the evidence and the weight to be accorded
those inferences.” People v Malone, 287 Mich App 648, 654; 792 NW2d 7 (2010), overruled in
part on other grounds by People v Jackson, 498 Mich 246, 268 n 9 (2015); see also People v
Nowack, 462 Mich 392, 400; 614 NW2d 78 (2000) (“The standard of review is deferential: a
reviewing court is required to draw all reasonable inferences and make credibility choices in
support of the jury verdict.”). Accordingly, in reviewing a challenge to the sufficiency of the
evidence, “[w]e do not interfere with the jury’s assessment of the weight and credibility of
witnesses or the evidence . . . .” Dunigan, 299 Mich App at 582. “Circumstantial evidence and
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reasonable inferences arising [from the evidence] may constitute proof of the elements of the
crime.” People v Bennett, 290 Mich App 465, 472; 802 NW2d 627 (2010).
2. ANALYSIS
It is important to note, as an initial matter, that defendant Waters does not challenge
whether the crimes were actually committed by the other perpetrators. Rather, he challenges the
sufficiency of the evidence demonstrating his participation in a conspiracy to commit those
crimes, and he implicitly challenges the aiding and abetting theory serving as the basis of his
nonconspiracy convictions.
The elements of armed robbery are as follows:
(1) the defendant, in the course of committing a larceny of any money or other
property that may be the subject of a larceny, used force or violence against any
person who was present or assaulted or put the person in fear, and (2) the
defendant, in the course of committing the larceny, either possessed a dangerous
weapon, possessed an article used or fashioned in a manner to lead any person
present to reasonably believe that the article was a dangerous weapon, or
represented orally or otherwise that he or she was in possession of a dangerous
weapon. [People v Chambers, 277 Mich App 1, 7; 742 NW2d 610 (2007)
(footnotes omitted).]
The elements of first-degree home invasion are: (1) the defendant broke and entered a dwelling
or entered the dwelling without permission; (2) when the defendant did so, he intended to
commit a felony, larceny, or assault, or he actually committed a felony, larceny, or assault while
entering, being present in, or exiting the dwelling; and (3) another person was lawfully present in
the dwelling or the defendant was armed with a dangerous weapon. MCL 750.110a(2); People v
Wilder, 485 Mich 35, 43; 780 NW2d 265 (2010).
Pursuant to MCL 750.157a, a defendant “who conspires together with 1 or more persons
to commit an offense prohibited by law, or to commit a legal act in an illegal manner is guilty of
the crime of conspiracy . . . .” “Conspiracy is a specific-intent crime, because it requires both the
intent to combine with others and the intent to accomplish the illegal objective.” Mass, 464
Mich at 629; see also People v Justice (After Remand), 454 Mich 334, 345; 562 NW2d 652
(1997). “Establishing that the individuals specifically intended to combine to pursue the criminal
objective of their agreement is critical because [t]he gist of the offense of conspiracy lies in the
unlawful agreement . . . [meaning] . . . [t]he crime is complete upon formation of the agreement .
. . .” Justice, 454 Mich at 345-346 (quotation marks, citation, and footnote omitted; alterations in
original).
Because of the surreptitious nature of criminal conspiracies, “direct proof of the
conspiracy is not essential; instead, proof may be derived from the circumstances, acts, and
conduct of the parties.” Id. at 347. Additionally, “[i]t is not necessary to a conviction for
conspiracy that each defendant have knowledge of all its ramifications. Nor is it necessary that
one conspirator should know all of the conspirators or participate in all of the objects of the
conspiracy.” People v Hunter, 466 Mich 1, 7; 643 NW2d 218 (2002) (quotation marks and
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citations omitted). However, even though “the government need not prove commission of the
substantive offense or even that the conspirators knew all the details of the conspiracy, it must
prove that the intended future conduct they . . . agreed upon include[s] all the elements of the
substantive crime.” Mass, 464 Mich at 629 n 19 (quotation marks and citations omitted;
alterations in original).
The prosecution presented sufficient evidence for a rational jury to find, beyond a
reasonable doubt, that defendant Waters participated in a conspiracy to commit first-degree
home invasion and armed robbery. First, there was substantial evidence from which the jury
could reasonably conclude that defendant Waters intended to combine with McCants in order to
execute a home invasion of Brenda’s residence and robbery of items or money inside, including
(1) the text messages between Waters and McCants discussing whether Waters would get his
“cut,” (2) other text messages likely referring to the robbery, and (3) most importantly, Waters’
statements during his interview with the police.
Waters admitted during the interview that he was expecting a cut from the robbery and
that McCants called him around 10:40 p.m. that night, stating that “they had just robbed a house
and there weren’t nothing in there. All they got was a shot gun and a TV, and that was it.”
Waters later stated that he specifically asked McCants what had happened after the robbery.
Additionally, he expressly acknowledged that, while they were at Brenda’s house purchasing
marijuana, McCants (1) said something to Waters about going back to the house later that night
and, in the context of that statement, (2) asked if Waters thought that there was anything inside
Rand’s house. Defendant Waters said that he replied, “There’s probably something, but
probably not . . . .” However, Waters also said that he told McCants—knowing that McCants
had robbed “a lot” of drug dealers in Detroit16—that Rand sells “a lot” of weed and, as a result,
“probably got some money.” Although Waters repeatedly stated that he did not actually execute
the robbery, he expressly confirmed that it was “fair enough to say” that he “helped formulate
the plan.”
A rational jury could reasonably infer from Waters’ statements, combined with the phone
records indicating extensive contact between Waters and McCants on the day of the robbery,17
that Waters intended future conduct that included the “armed or occupied” element of first-
degree home invasion. See MCL 750.110a(2); Wilder, 485 Mich at 43. Likewise, based on this
evidence, a rational jury could infer (1) that Waters intended that a robbery would be committed
using means of force, violence, assault, or fear, or (2) that the larceny would be committed with a
dangerous weapon, or in conjunction with the representation of having a dangerous weapon. See
Chambers, 277 Mich App at 7. See also Nowack, 462 Mich at 400; Malone, 287 Mich App at
16
Notably, Waters responded affirmatively when Fraser asked if “that’s [McCants’] thing.”
17
On December 16, 2014 alone, Waters contacted McCants 29 times, and McCants contacted
Waters 20 times. The cell phone records also showed that there was “a change of behavior”
between the two men that day, as they were in touch more that day than any other day that
month.
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654. Again, “direct proof of the conspiracy is not essential; instead, proof may be derived from
the circumstances, acts, and conduct of the parties.” Justice, 454 Mich at 347.
Given Waters’ explicit confirmation that he helped to formulate the plan, this case is
distinguishable from conspiracy cases involving first-degree home invasion or armed robbery
offenses where there was absolutely no evidence in the record that the defendant was aware
while developing the conspiracy that the home invasion would be committed while armed or
while the home was occupied, or that the exacerbating elements required for armed robbery
would be present. Thus, we reject defendant Waters’ sufficiency of the evidence claim
concerning his conspiracy convictions.
Defendant Waters also contends that the prosecution presented insufficient evidence for
the jury to conclude that he aided and abetted the first-degree home invasion and armed robbery
offenses. Three elements are required to convict a defendant under an aiding-and-abetting theory
of prosecution:
(1) the crime charged was committed by the defendant or some other person; (2)
the defendant performed acts or gave encouragement that assisted the commission
of the crime; and (3) the defendant intended the commission of the crime or had
knowledge that the principal intended its commission at the time that [the
defendant] gave aid and encouragement. [People v Robinson, 475 Mich 1, 6; 715
NW2d 44 (2006) (quotation marks and citation omitted).]
“An aider and abettor’s state of mind may be inferred from all the facts and circumstances.”
People v Turner, 213 Mich App 558, 568-569; 540 NW2d 728 (1995), overruled in part on other
grounds Mass, 464 Mich at 627-628. “The requisite intent for conviction of a crime as an aider
and abettor is that necessary to be convicted of the crime as a principal.” Mass, 464 Mich at 628
(quotation marks and citation omitted). Uttering “words or deeds that might support, encourage,
or incite the commission of a crime” constitutes evidence of aiding and abetting. Turner, 213
Mich App at 568.
Much of the same evidence that supported defendant’s conspiracy convictions supports
his convictions for aiding and abetting first-degree home invasion and armed robbery. First,
defendant Waters does not dispute that McCants committed the underlying crimes, and the
prosecution presented overwhelming evidence at trial that McCants committed the first-degree
home invasion and armed robbery with two other perpetrators. See Robinson, 475 Mich at 6.
Second, there is sufficient evidence that defendant Waters “performed acts or gave
encouragement that assisted the commission of the crime . . . .” Id. As indicated, Waters was
present at the location of the robbery earlier in the day. Waters expressly acknowledged that, in
conjunction with their trip to the residence, he told McCants—after McCants mentioned a desire
to return to the house later that night—that Rand sells “a lot” of marijuana and “probably” had
cash inside Brenda’s home. Thus, evidence shows that Waters stated “words . . . that might
support . . . the commission of a crime.” Turner, 213 Mich App at 568. Waters also expressly
confirmed that it was “fair enough to say” that he “helped formulate the plan.” Lastly, Waters’
statements and text messages indicating that he expected a “cut” from the robbery provide
circumstantial evidence that Waters intended the commission of the armed robbery and home
invasion when he provided verbal assistance. See Robinson, 475 Mich at 6.
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Thus, the prosecution presented sufficient evidence from which a reasonable jury could
find that Waters aided and abetted the home invasion and armed robbery. See Dunigan, 299
Mich App at 582.
IV. CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated in this opinion, we affirm defendant Bush’s convictions, but
remand for resentencing in Docket No. 330077. In Docket No. 330589, we affirm defendant
Waters’ convictions and sentences. We do not retain jurisdiction.
/s/ David H. Sawyer
/s/ Elizabeth L. Gleicher
/s/ Michael J. Riordan
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