People of Michigan v. Bernard a Fish Sr ( 2016 )

STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, UNPUBLISHED
April 19, 2016
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v No. 325010
Baraga Circuit Court
BERNARD A. FISH, SR., LC No. 2013-001334-FC
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: TALBOT, C.J., and HOEKSTRA and SHAPIRO, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
A jury convicted defendant, Bernard A. Fish, Sr., of two counts of armed robbery,1 two
counts of extortion,2 one count of impersonating a peace officer to commit a crime,3 and two
counts of unlawful imprisonment.4 He appeals as of right. We affirm Fish’s convictions. With
regard to his sentences, we remand the matter for further proceedings.
Suspecting that an active marijuana grow operation existed at a house in Watton, Fish
and his nephew, Donovan Waupoose, decided to rob the house of marijuana and cash. Fish
planned to conduct the robbery, and Waupoose planned to drive a truck and help load the
marijuana. When Fish approached the house, he encountered two men who had recently
purchased the property. These men were not actively growing marijuana, but instead, were
repairing the existing structure and planning to grow medicinal marijuana in the future. Fish,
brandishing a BB gun, told the victims that he was a United States Marshal and was raiding the
house. After Waupoose arrived in the truck, Fish gave his BB gun to Waupoose. While
Waupoose held the men with the BB gun, Fish searched the house. Fish found no useable
marijuana or cash. He did, however, find a real handgun. Fish used this handgun to threaten the
victims. He demanded that they contact a family member by telephone. Fish told this family
member that the victims were being held on $5,000 bond each, and demanded payment. Shortly
1
MCL 750.529.
2
MCL 750.213.
3
MCL 750.215(3).
4
MCL 750.349b.
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after ending this call, Fish marched the victims at gunpoint to a field. Fish left the victims and
fled with Waupoose in the truck. The entire incident was captured on a multi-camera
surveillance system.
Unsatisfied with the result of this robbery, Fish asked Waupoose to contact a friend and
ask to purchase $15,000 worth of marijuana. Fish had no such sum of money, and instead,
planned on conducting another robbery. Waupoose organized the meeting to take place at a bar
in Long Lake, Wisconsin. Fish met the victim in his car and forced him to travel to a remote
area. Fish stole the car, which contained several pounds of marijuana, and after driving away in
the stolen car, called Waupoose. Waupoose met Fish and picked him up, leaving the stolen car
behind.
After the robberies, Fish fled to several states, leading federal authorities on a manhunt.
He was eventually captured, and when he was, told authorities that the robbery of the house in
Watton was staged. According to Fish, the victims, Fish, and the man he robbed in Wisconsin
all planned to fake a robbery at the house. The four planned to split the proceeds. Fish testified
to this version of events at trial. The jury convicted Fish as charged.
I. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE
Fish first contends that there was insufficient evidence to sustain his convictions. We
disagree. As this Court has recently explained:
In determining whether the prosecutor has presented sufficient evidence to
sustain a conviction, an appellate court is required to take the evidence in the light
most favorable to the prosecutor. The question on appeal is whether a rational
trier of fact could find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. All
conflicts in the evidence must be resolved in favor of the prosecution and we will
not interfere with the jury’s determinations regarding the weight of the evidence
and the credibility of the witnesses.[5]
Fish does not contest any particular element or elements of the crimes of which he was
convicted. Rather, he asserts a general challenge: that various witnesses who testified to Fish’s
criminal acts were not credible. Thus, he contends there was “insufficient credible evidence” to
support his convictions. It is well-established in Michigan law that credibility determinations
“are made by the jury which heard the testimony and observed the witnesses, and an appellate
court will not substitute its judgment for that of the jury.”6 The testimony of numerous witnesses
5
People v Bosca, 310 Mich App 1, 16-17; 871 NW2d 307 (2015) (quotation marks, brackets,
and citations omitted).
6
People v Whalen, 129 Mich App 732, 745; 342 NW2d 917 (1984). See also People v Mardlin,
487 Mich 609, 626; 790 NW2d 607 (2010) (“The jury is the sole judge of the facts; its role
includes listening to testimony, weighing evidence, and making credibility determinations.”);
People v Lemmon, 456 Mich 625, 637; 576 NW2d 129 (1998) (“It is the province of the jury to
determine questions of fact and assess the credibility of witnesses.”); People v Noble, 238 Mich
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supported Fish’s convictions. The jury clearly found this testimony credible, and this Court will
not interfere with the jury’s credibility determinations. Fish’s argument lacks merit.
II. EVIDENTIARY ERRORS7
Fish raises several preserved claims of evidentiary error. A trial court’s decision to admit
evidence is reviewed for an abuse of discretion.8 Preliminary questions of law, “such as whether
a rule of evidence or statute precludes the admission of the evidence[,]” are reviewed de novo.9
A. MRE 404(B)
Fish first argues that the trial court erred by allowing the prosecutor to admit evidence of
the second robbery, an uncharged crime, pursuant to MRE 404(b). We disagree.10 “Before
other-acts evidence may be introduced, the prosecution must satisfy a three-part test: (a) there
must be a reason for its admission other than to show character or propensity, (b) it must be
relevant, and (c) the danger of undue prejudice cannot substantially outweigh its probative value,
especially if there are other means of proof.”11 Regarding the first prong, the prosecutor offered
a variety of reasons why evidence of the second crime was admissible other than to demonstrate
character or propensity. The trial court agreed that the evidence was admissible to demonstrate
Fish’s intent, scheme, plan, and motive. These purposes are all permitted by MRE 404(b). Thus,
evidence of the second crime satisfied the first prong of the analysis.
“Nevertheless, the prosecution may not mechanically recite a permissible reason without
explaining how the evidence is relevant.”12 Particularly given Fish’s oft-stated defense, that the
first crime was actually a “fake robbery,” Fish’s intent was a highly relevant issue. On appeal,
Fish argues that the second robbery was not sufficiently similar to the first to be considered
relevant. He contends that while both crimes bore general similarities, i.e., that each was an
armed robbery, there were not enough specific similarities to survive the requirements of MRE
App 647, 657; 608 NW2d 123 (1999) (“This Court does not interfere with a jury’s credibility
determinations.”).
7
Fish attempts to couch his claims of evidentiary error as constitutional in magnitude. Errors in
the admission of evidence are nonconstitutional. People v Whittaker, 465 Mich 422, 426; 635
NW2d 687 (2001).
8
People v Katt, 468 Mich 272, 278; 662 NW2d 12 (2003).
9
Id.10
The trial court also concluded that even if the evidence was not admissible under MRE 404(b),
it was admissible as part of the res gestae of the charged criminal conduct. In light of our
Supreme Court’s recent decision in People v Jackson, 498 Mich 246; 869 NW2d 253 (2015), this
conclusion was in error. In Jackson, our Supreme Court explained that there is no res gestae
exception to MRE 404(b). Id. at 274-275. This error is of no consequence, however, because as
will be explained, the evidence was admissible under MRE 404(b).
11
People v McGhee, 268 Mich App 600, 609; 709 NW2d 595 (2006).
12
Id. at 610.
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404(b). As our Supreme Court has explained, “[d]ifferent theories of relevance require different
degrees of similarity between [other] acts and the charged offense to warrant admission.”13
When the purpose of admitting the evidence is to disprove innocent intent, evidence of other
events “need only be of the same general category as the charged offense.”14 Clearly, the second
crime was of the same general category as the charged offense, and thus, was sufficiently similar
to be relevant.15 Further, “[t]he acts or events need not bear striking similarity to the offense
charged if the theory of relevance does not itself center on similarity.”16 Here, the theory of
relevance need not be premised on mere similarity because the second crime was committed so
soon after the first.17 Accordingly, the second prong of the analysis was satisfied.
Fish also contends that the probative value of the evidence was substantially outweighed
by the danger of unfair prejudice. However, his argument is premised on a belief that the
evidence was admitted to show his propensity to commit crime. As discussed, the evidence was
not admitted to demonstrate propensity. And in any case, the trial court instructed the jury
regarding the proper use of this evidence, stating:
For example, you must not decide that it shows that the Defendant is a bad
person, or that he is likely to commit crimes. You must not convict the Defendant
here because you think he is guilty of other bad conduct. All the evidence must
convince you beyond a reasonable doubt that the Defendant committed the
alleged crimes, or you must find him not guilty.
“It is well established that jurors are presumed to follow their instructions.”18 Any danger of
unfair prejudice was vitiated by the trial court’s instructions. As each prong of MRE 403(b) was
established, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by admitting evidence of the second
robbery.
13
Mardlin, 487 Mich at 622.
14
Id. at 622-623.
15
And in any case, as the trial court noted, there were many specific similarities between the
crimes. In both instances, Fish acted as the robber, while Waupoose acted as the driver. In both
crimes, Fish hoped to steal a large quantity of marijuana. Both crimes also involved the use of a
gun to coerce the victims.
16
Mardlin, 487 Mich at 620.
17
See id. at 617 (“If a type of event linked to the defendant occurs with unusual frequency,
evidence of the occurrences may be probative, for example, of his criminal intent or of the
absence of mistake or accident because it is objectively improbable that such events occur so
often in relation to the same person due to mere happenstance.”).
18
People v Graves, 458 Mich 476, 486; 581 NW2d 229 (1998).
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B. PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION TESTIMONY
Fish next contends that the trial court erred by allowing one victim’s preliminary
examination testimony to be read into evidence pursuant to MRE 804(b)(1). This rule allows
admission of prior testimony if certain requirements are met and the witness is unavailable to
testify at trial.19 A witness may be deemed unavailable if he or she “is absent from the hearing
and the proponent of a statement has been unable to procure the declarant’s attendance . . . by
process or other reasonable means, and in a criminal case, due diligence is shown.”20
Fish contends that the prosecutor did not satisfy the due diligence requirement of MRE
804(a)(5). “The test for whether a witness is ‘unavailable’ as envisioned by MRE 804(a)(5) is
that the prosecution must have made a diligent good-faith effort in its attempt to locate a witness
for trial.”21 “The test is one of reasonableness and depends on the facts and circumstances of
each case, i.e., whether diligent good-faith efforts were made to procure the testimony, not
whether more stringent efforts would have produced it.”22 The record demonstrates that the
witness, who lived in Illinois, had led the prosecutor to believe that he would attend the trial for
many months, only to change his mind a week before trial. The prosecutor contacted several
relatives, hoping these relatives would persuade the witness to appear. The prosecutor also
sought an order of rendition from a court in Illinois, but because of the short timeframe, the order
could not be obtained. Under the circumstances, the trial court did not abuse its discretion when
it concluded that the prosecutor made diligent efforts to procure this witness.
C. WAUPOOSE’S TESTIMONY
Fish contends that the trial court erred by denying his motion to exclude Waupoose’s
testimony. The basis of the motion, and of Fish’s argument on appeal, is Fish’s belief that
Waupoose accessed materials in Fish’s possession, and after viewing this information, changed
his story to implicate Fish. Fish argues that this “unusual situation” violates his due process
rights. He offers no authority that would support such a contention. Further, it is clear that the
true basis of Fish’s argument is that Waupoose’s testimony was not credible. This is no reason
to exclude the testimony. Credibility determinations are for the jury to decide after hearing all of
the evidence, not for the trial court to make under the guise of a motion in limine. The trial court
did not abuse its discretion by denying the motion.
19
The rule provides that “[t]estimony given as a witness at another hearing of the same or a
different proceeding, if the party against whom the testimony is now offered . . . had an
opportunity and similar motive to develop the testimony by direct, cross, or redirect
examination” is an exception to the prohibition against hearsay, so long as the declarant is
unavailable at trial. MRE 804(b)(1).
20
MRE 804(a)(5).
21
People v Bean, 457 Mich 677, 684; 580 NW2d 390 (1998).
22
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III. PROSECUTORIAL ERROR23
Finally, Fish raises several unpreserved claims of prosecutorial error. We review
unpreserved claims of prosecutorial error for plain error affecting Fish’s substantial rights.24
Fish contends that the prosecutor erred by admitting evidence that a SWAT team was
utilized in searching Waupoose’s home. He argues that this evidence was irrelevant and unfairly
prejudicial, and thus, the prosecutor should not have elicited this fact at trial. “A finding of
prosecutorial misconduct may not be based on a prosecutor’s good-faith effort to admit
evidence.”25 There is no evidence, nor any argument by Fish, that the prosecutor did not act in
good faith when he elicited this fact. Thus, Fish has not demonstrated prosecutorial error.
Fish contends that the prosecutor committed error by asking the jury to infer that certain
witnesses did not appear because they may have had something to hide. Prosecutors “are free to
argue the evidence and all reasonable inferences from the evidence as they relate to their theory
of the case.”26 Relying on testimony admitted at trial, the prosecutor noted that each of these
witnesses may have been involved in illegal activities and thus did not wish to appear to testify.
The prosecutor’s arguments simply asked the jury to draw reasonable inferences from the facts
presented at trial, and thus, were not improper.
Fish argues that the prosecutor committed error by failing to elicit every detail of
Waupoose’s plea agreement.27 It is true that a prosecutor “must, upon request of defense
counsel, disclose to the jury the fact that immunity or a plea to a reduced charge has been granted
to the testifying accomplice or coconspirator.”28 Assuming defendant made such a request,29 the
prosecutor complied, eliciting the fact that Waupoose was testifying to an agreement with the
23
Because none of these claims rise to the level of extreme circumstances warranting use of the
phrase “prosecutorial misconduct,” we refer to the claims as those of prosecutorial error. See
People v Cooper, 309 Mich App 74, 87-88; 867 NW2d 452 (2015).
24
People v Pfaffle, 246 Mich App 282, 288; 632 NW2d 162 (2001).
25
People v Dobek, 274 Mich App 58, 76; 732 NW2d 546 (2007).
26
People v Seals, 285 Mich App 1, 22; 776 NW2d 314 (2009).
27
Specifically, Fish contends that the prosecutor was required to elicit the potential penalties
Waupoose faced under his plea agreement, as compared to the charges he could have faced
absent the agreement.
28
People v Mumford, 183 Mich App 149, 152; 455 NW2d 51 (1990) (quotation marks, brackets,
and citation omitted).
29
It is not at all clear that any such request was made. Rather, Fish seems to believe that the
prosecutor had an affirmative duty to make such a disclosure to the jury under Brady v
Maryland, 373 US 83; 83 S Ct 1194; 10 L Ed 2d 215 (1963). While Brady requires a prosecutor
to disclose exculpatory evidence to a defendant, it does not require any disclosures to be made to
the jury.
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prosecutor, and that if he did not provide truthful testimony, additional charges would be
reinstated. Nor is there any indication that Fish was prevented from eliciting any additional
details he wished to have disclosed to the jury on cross-examination.30 Fish fails to demonstrate
any error.
Fish contends that the prosecutor erred by suggesting that Fish’s flight was evidence that
he knew he was guilty because Fish’s state of mind was not a fact in evidence. Again,
prosecutors “are free to argue the evidence and all reasonable inferences from the evidence as
they relate to their theory of the case.”31 The prosecutor did not err by asking the jury to draw a
reasonable inference from the fact of Fish’s flight.
Fish contends that the prosecutor erred by eliciting the fact that Waupoose agreed to
provide truthful testimony as part of his plea agreement. Although a prosecutor may not vouch
for the credibility of his witnesses by insinuating special knowledge of truthfulness, the mere
reference to the fact that a witness has agreed to provide truthful testimony as part of a plea
agreement is not error.32
Finally, Fish contends that the prosecutor erred by arguing that Fish’s version of events
was supported only by his own testimony, and by referring to his theory and counsel’s closing
argument as “yarn.” Fish argues that these comments unfairly denigrated Fish and his theory of
defense. The prosecutor was clearly arguing that Fish’s story was not believable. “A prosecutor
may argue from the facts that a witness is credible or that a witness is not worthy of belief.”33
Further, “prosecutors may use ‘hard language’ when it is supported by evidence and are not
required to phrase arguments in the blandest of all possible terms.”34 The prosecutor’s argument
hardly rises even to the level of “hard language” that would still be permissible.
Fish also argues that while perhaps none of the above claims of error warrant reversal,
their cumulative effect deprived him of a fair trial. “Absent the establishment of errors, there can
be no cumulative effect of errors meriting reversal.”35
30
Cf. Mumford, 183 Mich App at 154 (concluding that the trial court abused its discretion by
refusing to allow the defendant to cross-examine a witness regarding the sentencing
consideration he received for his testimony).
31
Seals, 285 Mich App at 22.
32
People v Bahoda, 448 Mich 261, 276; 531 NW2d 659 (1995). See also People v Jackson (On
Reconsideration), ___Mich App___, ___; ___NW2d___ (Docket No. 322350, December 3,
2015), slip op at 9 (“A prosecutor may, however, make reference to a plea agreement containing
a promise of truthfulness . . . .”).
33
People v Unger, 278 Mich App 210, 240; 749 NW2d 272 (2008).
34
People v Ullah, 216 Mich App 669, 678; 550 NW2d 568 (1996).
35
Dobek, 274 Mich App at 106.
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IV. STANDARD 4 BRIEF ON APPEAL
Fish raises an additional eight issues in a pro se brief filed pursuant to Administrative
Order No. 2004-6, Standard 4. We have carefully reviewed each of the issues raised by Fish,
and conclude that the first seven are without merit. The eighth issue raised by Fish claims error
under our Supreme Court’s recent decision in People v Lockridge.36 Under Lockridge, Fish is
entitled to a Crosby37 remand.
In Lockridge, our Supreme Court held that Michigan’s statutory sentencing guidelines
scheme violated the Sixth Amendment because it “allows judges to find by a preponderance of
the evidence facts that are then used to compel an increase in the mandatory minimum
punishment a defendant receives.”38 The Court remedied this constitutional flaw by holding that
the guidelines “are advisory only.”39 Thus, while trial courts are still required to assess “the
highest number of points possible . . . for all [offense variables (“OVs”)], whether using judge-
found facts or not[,]” the resulting sentencing guidelines range is advisory, and “the sentencing
court may exercise its discretion to depart from that guidelines range without articulating
substantial and compelling reasons for doing so.”40
In certain circumstances, Defendants sentenced prior to Lockridge are entitled to some
measure of relief. Defendants, such as Fish, who did not preserve his or her claim of error must
demonstrate the existence of plain error before resentencing is required.41 Lockridge holds that if
the facts admitted by the defendant or found by the jury are not sufficient “to assess the
minimum number of OV points necessary for the defendant’s score to fall in the cell of the
sentencing grid under which he or she was sentenced[,]” and the sentence was not an upward
departure from the applicable guidelines range, the defendant “can establish a threshold showing
of the potential for plain error sufficient to warrant a remand to the trial court for further
inquiry.”42
Here, Fish’s total OV score was 85 points. Any score below 80 points would place him
in a lower cell.43 The trial court assessed 15 points to OV 1 on the basis that Fish pointed
Heiser’s firearm at a victim. However, the jury’s verdict does not support this conclusion.
Indeed, none of Fish’s convictions required him to possess a firearm at all. Nor did Fish admit to
pointing the gun at a victim. Without these points, Fish’s score would place him in a lower cell.
36
People v Lockridge, 498 Mich 358; 870 NW2d 502 (2015).
37
United States v Crosby, 397 F 3d 103 (CA 2, 2005).
38
Lockridge, 498 Mich at 399.
39
Id.
40
Id. at 392 and n 28.
41
Id. at 392-393.
42
Id. at 395.
43
MCL 777.62.
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The trial court’s sentence was not an upward departure. Accordingly, Fish is entitled to a
remand to the trial court to determine whether the constitutional error caused him prejudice.
In Lockridge, our Supreme Court adopted the remand procedure crafted in United States
v Crosby.44 This procedure allows the trial court the opportunity to consider whether, now
knowing that the sentencing guidelines are merely advisory, it would impose a materially
different sentence.45 “If the trial court determines that the answer to that question is yes, the
court shall order resentencing.”46 The precise procedure is as follows:
[O]n a Crosby remand, a trial court should first allow a defendant an opportunity
to inform the court that he or she will not seek resentencing. If notification is not
received in a timely manner, the court (1) should obtain the views of counsel in
some form, (2) may but is not required to hold a hearing on the matter, and (3)
need not have the defendant present when it decides whether to resentence the
defendant, but (4) must have the defendant present, as required by law, if it
decides to resentence the defendant. Further, in determining whether the court
would have imposed a materially different sentence but for the unconstitutional
constraint, the court should consider only the circumstances existing at the time of
the original sentence.[47]
We direct the trial court to follow this procedure.
V. CONCLUSION
Fish’s convictions are affirmed. With regard to Fish’s sentences, we remand the matter
to the trial court to follow the Crosby remand procedure. We do not retain jurisdiction.
/s/ Michael J. Talbot
/s/ Joel P. Hoekstra
/s/ Douglas B. Shapiro
44
Lockridge, 498 Mich at 395-399.
45
Id. at 397.
46
Id.
47
Id. at 398 (quotation omitted).
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