People of Michigan v. Bruce Harland Butler ( 2015 )

STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, UNPUBLISHED
August 27, 2015
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v No. 319548
Oakland Circuit Court
BRUCE HARLAND BUTLER, LC No. 2011-237958-FC
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: TALBOT, C.J., and CAVANAGH and METER, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
A jury convicted defendant of first-degree premeditated murder, MCL 750.316(1)(a), and
possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, MCL 750.227b. The court sentenced
defendant to life imprisonment without parole for the murder conviction and to a two-year term
of imprisonment for the felony-firearm conviction. Defendant appeals as of right, and we affirm.
Defendant’s convictions arose from the October 6, 2010, shooting death of Michael
Khmoro, a liquor store owner in Southfield, Michigan. Khmoro was shot and killed during the
afternoon, as he was taking the trash from his store to an outside dumpster. Several months after
the shooting, defendant’s brother-in-law, Andrew Roberts, brought a gun to the Southfield Police
Department. Roberts testified that defendant called him on the day of the shooting and asked to
meet. According to Roberts, when they met the next day, defendant gave Roberts a gun that he
had inherited from his father and said he wanted to get rid of it. When Roberts asked defendant
whether anyone had been killed with the gun, defendant became emotional and confessed to
killing Khmoro, but stated that his intent was to kill Khmoro’s brother, apparently over a dispute
involving a lottery ticket. Video surveillance equipment recorded that the shooter drove a black
Buick Envoy, the same type of vehicle that defendant’s wife drove. Roberts urged defendant to
tell his wife and the police about the shooting. Defendant never did so, and Roberts eventually
turned the weapon over to the police. A firearms expert determined that the weapon had fired
the bullets that were removed from Khmoro’s body.
I. IDENTIFICATION EVIDENCE
At trial, the victim’s brother and a co-owner of the liquor store, Mark Khmoro, testified
that he and defendant got into an argument about five or six months before the shooting, when
defendant accused Mark Khmoro of stealing a winning lottery ticket. After defendant was
arrested, Mark Khmoro identified defendant in a photographic lineup. Defendant argues on
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appeal that the trial court erred in failing to suppress this identification evidence. Defendant
contends that the photographic lineup was improper because he was in custody and it was
conducted without the presence of counsel.
We review a trial court’s factual findings rendered when ruling on a motion to suppress
for clear error. People v Tanner, 496 Mich. 199, 206; 853 NW2d 653 (2014). When the trial
court’s suppression ruling involves an interpretation of law or the application of constitutional
standards to uncontested facts, appellate review is de novo. Id. “Clear error exists when the
reviewing court is left with a definite and firm conviction that a mistake was made.” People v
McDade, 301 Mich. App. 343, 356; 836 NW2d 266 (2013).
Both the federal and state constitutional right to counsel, US Const, Am VI, and Const
1963, art 1, § 20, attach only to corporeal identifications that occur at or after the initiation of
adversarial judicial criminal proceedings, People v Hickman, 470 Mich. 602, 607-609; 684
NW2d 267 (2004). Adversary judicial criminal proceedings occur by way of formal charge,
preliminary hearing, indictment, information, or arraignment because such proceedings signify
the commencement of the criminal prosecution to which the Sixth Amendment guarantees are
applicable. Id. at 607. Because the photographic lineup was conducted before defendant was
arraigned, counsel was not required.1
An identification premised on a photographic lineup generally should not occur when the
accused is in custody. People v Anderson, 389 Mich. 155, 186-187; 205 NW2d 461 (1973),
overruled in part on other grounds in Hickman, 470 Mich. at 611; People v Cain, 299 Mich. App.
27, 47; 829 NW2d 37 (2012), vacated in part on other grounds 495 Mich. 874 (2013). However,
circumstances may justify the use of photographs when:
1. It is not possible to arrange a proper lineup.
2. There are insufficient number of persons available with defendant’s
physical characteristics.
3. The nature of the case requires immediate identification.
4. The witnesses are at a place far distant from the location of the in-custody
accused.
1
In Hickman, 470 Mich. at 605, the Court overruled People v Anderson, 389 Mich. 155; 205
NW2d 461 (1973), to the extent that it held that the right to counsel extends to all pretrial
identifications, including those occurring before the initiation of adversarial proceedings.
Although defendant contends that Hickman was wrongly decided and that Anderson should be
followed, his argument must be directed to the Michigan Supreme Court. A majority decision of
the Michigan Supreme Court is binding on lower courts. People v Beasley, 239 Mich. App. 548,
559; 609 NW2d 581 (2000).
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5. The subject refuses to participate in a lineup and by his actions would seek
to destroy the value of the identification. [Anderson, 389 Mich. at 186 n 22
(emphasis in original).]
Contrary to defendant’s assertion, the trial court did not find that the “only reason” for the
photographic lineup was the request of Mark Khmoro to appear at defendant’s arraignment. The
photographic lineup was conducted after 6:00 p.m. on a Friday evening and defendant’s
arraignment was scheduled for the next morning. The detective testified that it was critical that
Mark Khmoro’s identification occur before the arraignment because the case had received
substantial media attention, which created a risk that media coverage would taint any
identification that took place after the arraignment, regardless of whether Mark Khmoro
attended. The detective further testified that he investigated the possibility of conducting a live
lineup, but could not find a sufficient number of subjects similar to defendant’s age (close to 60)
and physical characteristics. The trial court viewed the potential subjects for a live lineup and
agreed that they were “farther afield” than the subjects used in the photographic lineup. The
detective admitted that he did not check other county jails or police stations for comparable
subjects, but indicated that doing so was not feasible given the impending arraignment and that
“under the circumstance[s] this [i.e., the photographic lineup] [was] the only way to do it.”
Because the circumstances established a need for an immediate identification and there were
insufficient persons available with defendant’s physical characteristics to arrange for a live
lineup, the police did not err in conducting a photographic lineup despite the fact that defendant
was in custody. Accordingly, the trial court did not err in denying defendant’s motion to
suppress the identification evidence.2
II. EXCLUSION OF TESTIMONY
Next, defendant argues that the trial court erred in barring the testimony of Steven
Howard, a firearms expert. The record discloses that the trial court precluded Howard from
testifying because of defendant’s repeated failure to comply with the prosecutor’s discovery
requests for a copy of any report generated by a Howard or a summary of Howard’s proposed
testimony in accordance with MCR 6.201(A)(3).
A trial court has discretion to fashion an appropriate remedy for a violation of the court
rules governing discovery. MCR 6.201(J). The trial court’s decision regarding the appropriate
remedy for a discovery violation is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. People v Davie (After
Remand), 225 Mich. App. 592, 597-598; 571 NW2d 229 (1997).
MCR 6.201 governs discovery in a criminal case. People v Phillips, 468 Mich. 583, 587-
589; 663 NW2d 463 (2003). The court rules are interpreted in accordance with the rules of
statutory construction, and where the language of a court rule is unambiguous, it is enforced as
2
Defendant does not specifically argue that the photographic lineup was unduly suggestive, and
our review of the photographic array establishes that there is no basis for doing do. There is no
basis for concluding that the photographic array gave rise to a substantial likelihood of
misidentification. Cain, 299 Mich. App. at 48.
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written without further construction or interpretation. Id. at 589. The use of the term “may” is
permissive, and the use of the term “shall” denotes mandatory, nondiscretionary action. People v
Brown, 249 Mich. App. 382, 386; 642 NW2d 382 (2002).
MCR 6.201 provides, in relevant part:
(A) Mandatory Disclosure. In addition to disclosures required by
provisions of law other than MCL 767.94a, a party upon request must provide all
other parties:
(1) the names and addresses of all lay and expert witnesses whom the
party may call at trial; in the alternative, a party may provide the name of the
witness and make the witness available to the other party for interview; the
witness list may be amended without leave of the court no later than 28 days
before trial;
(2) any written or recorded statement, including electronically recorded
statements, pertaining to the case by a lay witness whom the party may call at
trial, except that a defendant is not obliged to provide the defendant’s own
statement;
(3) the curriculum vitae of an expert the party may call at trial and either a
report by the expert or a written description of the substance of the proposed
testimony of the expert, the expert’s opinion, and the underlying basis of that
opinion;
***
(J) Violation. If a party fails to comply with this rule, the court, in its
discretion, may order the party to provide the discovery or permit the inspection
of materials not previously disclosed, grant a continuance, prohibit the party from
introducing in evidence the material not disclosed, or enter such other order as it
deems just under the circumstances. Parties are encouraged to bring questions of
noncompliance before the court at the earliest opportunity. Wilful violation by
counsel of an applicable discovery rule or an order issued pursuant thereto may
subject counsel to appropriate sanctions by the court. An order of the court under
this section is reviewable only for abuse of discretion.
“When determining the appropriate remedy for discovery violations, the trial court must
balance the interests of the courts, the public, and the parties in light of all the relevant
circumstances, including the reasons for noncompliance.” People v Banks, 249 Mich. App. 247,
252; 642 NW2d 351 (2002). This requires an inquiry into the causes of tardy, or total,
noncompliance, and the objecting party’s demonstration of actual prejudice. Davie (After
Remand), 225 Mich. App. at 598.
Initially, we note that the trial court did not violate Phillips, 468 Mich. at 590-591, by
ordering Howard to create a report. Rather, the trial court only ordered defendant to produce any
report that Howard prepared; indeed, when defense counsel indicated that Howard had not and
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would not be preparing a report, the trial court directed defendant to provide a written summary
of Howard’s proposed testimony.
Regardless of whether an expert prepares a report, MCR 6.201(A)(3) states that “a party
upon request must provide all other parties” with “the curriculum vitae of an expert the party
may call at trial and either a report by the expert or a written description of the substance of the
proposed testimony of the expert, the expert’s opinion, and the underlying basis of that
opinion[.]” Thus, even though Howard did not prepare a report, the plain language of this rule
required defendant to provide, upon request, a written description of the substance of Howard’s
testimony. Defendant asserts that he satisfied this rule by sending a letter to the prosecutor that
provided the following summary of Howard’s anticipated testimony:
Based upon Mr. Howard’s review of discovery provided to the defense by
the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, along with his academic, work
experience and qualifications, we believe that his testimony will assist the jury in
understanding scientific, specialized and technical knowledge relevant to this
criminal case.
Based upon our discussions with Mr. Howard, we believe that the
following is an accurate summary of testimony under Michigan Rule of Evidence
702, 703, and 705 during the defense’s case in chief at trial.
(1) The witness will describe the design, production, manufacturing and
operation of firearms. The tooling and machining behind gun manufacturing will
be explained. This includes dates of manufacturing and firearm models/types.
(2) The witness will describe the design, production, manufacturing and
operation of firearm ammunition. The materials used in manufacturing
ammunition will also be explained. This includes the dates of manufacturing and
ammunition models/types.
(3) The witness will testify to matters relating to ammunition components,
trajectory and ballistics.
(4) The witness will testify to shooting reconstruction, ammunition
identification and bullet, cartridge, and cartridge-bullet aging analysis.
(5) The witness will testify to the identification of bullets and bullet
fragmentation.
We agree with the trial court that this summary was inadequate to satisfy the
requirements of MCR 6.201(A)(3). The “summary” referenced the general subjects of firearms,
ammunition, and firearms testing, but provided no indication of the substance of any proposed
testimony related to those subjects and did not offer any opinions by Howard regarding the
general matters identified. As indicated, the court rule requires that a written description of an
expert’s proposed testimony include the “expert’s opinion, and the underlying basis of that
opinion.” Defense counsel’s letter did not meet the requirements of the court rule.
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The prosecutor filed multiple requests for a report or written description of Howard’s
proposed testimony, and the trial court afforded defendant multiple opportunities to respond to
the prosecutor’s requests. Defendant repeatedly failed to respond by the allowed deadlines, and
ultimately filed a response that did not meet the requirements of MCR 6.201(A)(3). Defendant’s
letter response generally referenced the subject of firearms, but did not offer any insight into the
gist of Howard’s opinions or proposed testimony on the subject. Under these circumstances, the
trial court did not abuse its discretion by excluding Howard’s testimony.
Furthermore, the trial court’s ruling did not violate defendant’s constitutional right to
present a defense. Although “[a] criminal defendant has a state and federal constitutional right to
present a defense,” People v Kurr, 253 Mich. App. 317, 326; 654 NW2d 651 (2002), “an
accused’s right to present evidence in his defense is not absolute,” People v Unger, 278 Mich
App 210, 250; 749 NW2d 272 (2008). “It is well settled that the right to assert a defense may
permissibly be limited by ‘established rules of procedure and evidence designed to assure both
fairness and reliability in the ascertainment of guilt and innocence.’” People v Toma, 462 Mich.
281, 294; 613 NW2d 694 (2000), quoting Chambers v Mississippi, 410 U.S. 284, 302; 93 S. Ct.
1038; 35 L. Ed. 2d 297 (1973). In this case, the trial court only barred defendant from calling
Howard as a witness after defendant repeatedly failed to comply with established rules for
disclosing Howard’s proposed testimony. The trial court’s ruling did not violate defendant’s
constitutional right to present a defense.
Defendant argues that Howard should have been permitted to view the testimony of the
prosecutor’s firearms expert at trial and allowed to offer rebuttal testimony to “negate” the
testimony of the prosecutor’s firearms expert. “Rebuttal evidence is broadly defined as that
given by one party to contradict, repel, explain or disprove evidence produced by the other party
and tending directly to weaken or impeach the same.” People v De Lano, 318 Mich. 557, 570; 28
NW2d 909 (1947) (citation and quotation marks omitted). Rebuttal evidence is limited to
refuting relevant and material evidence. People v Bennett, 393 Mich. 445, 449; 224 NW2d 840
(1975). “The test for error regarding rebuttal evidence is whether it is justified by the evidence it
is offered to rebut.” People v Leo, 188 Mich. App. 417, 422; 470 NW2d 423 (1991).
Although defendant contends that Howard should have been allowed to offer rebuttal
testimony, he failed to make an appropriate offer of proof identifying the testimony he sought to
rebut or explaining what testimony Howard intended to offer in rebuttal. When a trial court
excludes evidence, it is incumbent on the party seeking admission to make an offer of proof, and
error may not be predicated on the exclusion of evidence unless a substantial right of the party is
affected. MRE 103(a)(2); People v Witherspoon, 257 Mich. App. 329, 331; 670 NW2d 434
(2003). Defendant bears “the burden of furnishing the reviewing court with a record to verify
the factual basis of any argument upon which reversal [is] predicated.” People v Elston, 462
Mich. 751, 762; 614 NW2d 595 (2000).
Defendant’s failure to make an offer of proof regarding any rebuttal purpose of Howard’s
testimony precludes us from concluding that defendant’s substantial rights were affected. See
People v Hampton, 237 Mich. App. 143, 154; 603 NW2d 270 (1999).
Defendant also raises a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel in connection with
defense counsel’s handling of this matter. Because defendant did not raise the issue of
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ineffective assistance of counsel in a motion for a new trial or request for a Ginther3 hearing, our
review of this issue is limited to errors apparent on the record. People v Lopez, 305 Mich. App.
686, 693; 854 NW2d 205 (2014). “Whether a defendant received ineffective assistance of trial
counsel presents a mixed question of fact and constitutional law.” People v Armstrong, 490
Mich. 281, 289; 806 NW2d 676 (2011). “To prove that defendant received ineffective assistance
of counsel, he must show (1) that counsel’s performance was deficient in that it fell below an
objective standard of professional reasonableness and (2) that there is a reasonable probability
that the outcome of the trial would have been different but for counsel’s performance.” People v
Roscoe, 303 Mich. App. 633, 643-644; 846 NW2d 402 (2014) (citations and quotation marks
omitted). “There is a presumption that defense counsel was effective, and a defendant must
overcome the strong presumption that counsel’s performance was sound trial strategy.” People v
Johnson, 293 Mich. App. 79, 90; 808 NW2d 815 (2011).
Defendant argues that defense counsel was ineffective for not producing an appropriate
report or other summary of Howard’s proposed testimony once the trial court ruled that such
production was necessary in order for Howard to testify. Decisions regarding witnesses to be
called and the evidence to be presented are presumptively matters of trial strategy that cannot be
second-guessed through hindsight. People v Dunigan, 299 Mich. App. 579, 589-590; 831 NW2d
243 (2013). The burden of establishing the factual predicate for a claim of ineffective assistance
is on the defendant. People v Hoag, 460 Mich. 1, 6; 594 NW2d 57 (1999). The record does not
disclose the reasons for counsel’s vacillating positions regarding his intent to produce a report or
other summery of Howard’s testimony. Although trial counsel initially expressed a willingness
to turn over a report by Howard to the prosecutor, it is possible that an opinion rendered by
Howard was unfavorable, thereby limiting the usefulness of Howard’s testimony. Consequently,
trial counsel arguably sought to limit Howard’s testimony to the role of attempting to rebut the
prosecutor’s expert. Even after the trial court ruled that such a limitation on Howard’s testimony
nonetheless required compliance with MCR 6.201(A)(3), trial counsel relented to the trial court’s
exclusion, possibly to avoid the disclosure that Howard’s testimony may have buttressed the
position of the prosecutor’s expert. In light of the existing record, defendant has not overcome
the presumption of reasonable trial strategy.
Further, even assuming that defense counsel’s conduct could be considered objectively
unreasonable, there is no basis for concluding that defendant was prejudiced. Although
defendant makes blanket assertions that Howard’s testimony would have negated the testimony
of the prosecutor’s expert, a factual foundation for this claim was never presented in the trial
court and has not been presented on appeal. Without any factual indication of the nature of
Howard’s proposed testimony, there is no basis for concluding that there is a reasonable
probability that the outcome of the trial would have been different if Howard had testified.
Therefore, defendant has failed to establish entitlement to appellate relief.
3
People v Ginther, 390 Mich. 436, 443; 212 NW2d 922 (1973).
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III. PRIOR CONSISTENT STATEMENTS
Defendant lastly argues that the prosecutor improperly introduced the prior statements
Andrew Roberts made to witnesses Stacy Matthews and Ray Roberts, as prior consistent
statements to bolster the testimony of Andrew Roberts. Preserved issues of prosecutorial
misconduct are reviewed de novo to determine whether the defendant was denied a fair and
impartial trial. People v Mann, 288 Mich. App. 114, 119; 792 NW2d 53 (2010). This is
essentially an evidentiary issue framed as prosecutorial misconduct. A prosecutor’s good-faith
effort to admit evidence does not constitute misconduct. People v Dobek, 274 Mich. App. 58, 70;
732 NW2d 546 (2007); People v Noble, 238 Mich. App. 647, 660; 608 NW2d 123 (1999). “The
prosecutor is entitled to attempt to introduce evidence that he legitimately believes will be
accepted by the court, as long as that attempt does not prejudice the defendant.” Id. at 660-661.
“As a general rule, neither party in a criminal trial is permitted to bolster a witness’
testimony by seeking the admission of a prior consistent statement made by that witness.”
People v Lewis, 160 Mich. App. 20, 29; 408 NW2d 94 (1987). An exception to this rule allows a
prior consistent statement to be admitted to rebut a charge of recent fabrication. Id. A prior
consistent statement by a witness is not hearsay under MRE 801(d)(1)(B), which provides:
(d) Statements Which Are Not Hearsay. A statement is not hearsay if—
(1) Prior Statement of Witness. The declarant testifies at the trial or
hearing and is subject to cross-examination concerning the statement, and the
statement is . . . (B) consistent with the declarant’s testimony and is offered to
rebut an express or implied charge against the declarant of recent fabrication or
improper influence or motive . . . .
A prior consistent statement may be admitted pursuant to MRE 801(d)(1)(B) if four elements are
established:
(1) the declarant must testify at trial and be subject to cross-examination;
(2) there must be an express or implied charge of recent fabrication or improper
influence or motive of the declarant’s testimony; (3) the proponent must offer a
prior consistent statement that is consistent with the declarant’s challenged in-
court testimony; and (4) the prior consistent statement must be made prior to the
time that the supposed motive to falsify arose. [People v Jones, 240 Mich. App.
704, 707; 613 NW2d 411 (2000) (citations and quotation marks omitted).]
The motive in the second element must be the same motive in the fourth element. Id. at 711.
Andrew Roberts’s prior statements to Stacy Matthews and Ray Roberts were consistent
with his trial testimony, and Andrew Roberts testified at trial and was subject to cross-
examination concerning the statements. Defendant alleged that Andrew Roberts’s testimony was
fabricated or improperly motivated, either to shift suspicion for the shooting away from himself
and onto defendant, or to obtain a reward for information regarding Michael Khmoro’s killer.
We disagree with defendant’s contention that the motive to falsify or fabricate arose at the time
Khmoro was shot. A key inquiry is whether the prior consistent statements were made before
the contact with law enforcement and, if so, the statements arguably preceded the motive to
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fabricate. See People v Fisher, 220 Mich. App. 133, 154-156; 559 NW2d 318 (1996), overruled
in part on other grounds in People v Houthoofd, 487 Mich. 568, 583; 790 Mich. 315 (2010).
Andrew Roberts made the statement to Matthews within 30 days of the shooting, but waited 10
months before turning the gun over to the police. Clearly, this statement was made before any
possible motive to fabricate.4 There was no evidence that Andrew Roberts was suspected of any
involvement in the shooting or any possible reward-seeking before he went to the police.
Andrew Roberts made the statement to Ray Roberts at an unspecified time before defendant’s
arrest. Although the timing of the statement to Ray Roberts is unclear, any possible error in the
admission of this testimony was harmless given that it was cumulative to Matthews’s testimony.
See, generally, People v Dixon, 161 Mich. App. 388, 395; 411 NW2d 760 (1987); see also MCL
769.26.5 We find no basis for reversal.
Affirmed.
/s/ Michael J. Talbot
/s/ Mark J. Cavanagh
/s/ Patrick M. Meter
4
Roberts testified that he did not even know about a possible reward until he spoke with the
police after turning in the gun. He further stated that he did not want or receive a reward.
5
We disagree with defendant’s implication that this possible error in the admission of evidence
was constitutional in nature. However, even if it were, we would nonetheless find it to be
harmless.
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