People of Michigan v. Anthony Michael Frey ( 2023 )

If this opinion indicates that it is “FOR PUBLICATION,” it is subject to
revision until final publication in the Michigan Appeals Reports.
STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, UNPUBLISHED
December 28, 2023
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v No. 360810
Clinton Circuit Court
ANTHONY MICHAEL FREY, LC No. 2020-010685-FH
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: BORRELLO, P.J., and SWARTZLE and PATEL, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Defendant appeals as of right his jury-trial conviction of assault with a dangerous weapon
(felonious assault), MCL 750.82; for which he was sentenced as a second-offense habitual
offender, MCL 769.10, to 30 months’ to 6 years’ imprisonment. We affirm defendant’s conviction
and sentence.
I. BACKGROUND
On May 27, 2020, at approximately 5:30 p.m., Erica Maupin pulled into a gas station in
Eagle Township, Michigan. As Maupin was driving through the lot, she honked her horn several
times to avoid a collision with defendant’s vehicle as it backed out of a parking space. Maupin
pulled around and parked her vehicle at a gas pump. Maupin and her passenger, Kim Faccio, both
exited the vehicle to enter the convenience store. As Maupin walked towards the rear of her
vehicle, defendant pulled his vehicle behind her vehicle and yelled at her through his open driver’s
side window. After a brief exchange, Maupin claimed that defendant appeared to reach for
something, then raised a black pistol, racked it, and pointed it at her through the windshield of his
vehicle. Maupin described hearing a sharp metal-on-metal sound that a firearm makes when a
bullet is loaded into the chamber. Maupin stated, “It was a gun. It scared me. But it made me
mad at the same time.” Maupin explained that she was “caught up in just the adrenaline.” She
walked to the open door of her vehicle, threw her purse and cell phone into the vehicle, walked
back to where she had been standing between two gas pumps near the rear of the vehicle, and told
defendant to “use the gun” and shoot her. Defendant told her to “come closer” to him. As Maupin
stood her ground, another vehicle pulled behind defendant’s vehicle. The occupants of that vehicle
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appeared to know defendant and exchanged words with him. Shortly thereafter, defendant backed
his vehicle up and drove out of the lot. After defendant left, Maupin went inside the convenience
store, told the employees what happened, and instructed them to call the police. Once her
adrenaline subsided, Maupin became emotional, cried, and she experienced fear. She testified that
the incident continues to impact her.
Faccio maintained that she also saw a firearm in defendant’s hand. Based on the angle
defendant was holding the gun, she saw the butt and tip of the firearm, which she described as dark
in color. Faccio served in the army, is a former Michigan state trooper, and has extensive training
in ammunition and weapons. Based on her training and experience, Faccio opined that the firearm
was a semiautomatic. She observed the firearm’s rail in the forward position, which indicated to
her that there was a bullet in the chamber. Faccio further opined defendant had taken a stimulant
based on his agitated and jittery behavior. Faccio described Maupin as “distraught” after the
incident.
When defendant was interviewed by the police six weeks later, he stated he remembered
being at the gas station and the confrontation. He admitted that he smoked marijuana before the
incident, and declared he may have also inadvertently consumed Xanax, which affected his
memories of that day. Defendant explained that he acted out of character when he was under the
influence of drugs. When defendant was asked if he had a weapon while he was at the gas station,
he responded that, to his knowledge, he did not have a gun. But defendant also stated if he did
have a gun, it was not a real gun.
Defendant was charged with and tried on one count of possession of a firearm by a person
convicted of a felony (felon-in-possession), MCL 750.224f; one count of felonious assault; two
counts of carrying or possessing a firearm when committing or attempting to commit a felony
(felony-firearm), MCL 750.227b; and, one count of carrying a concealed weapon (CCW), MCL
750.227. At trial, the defense theory was that there was no evidence that defendant had a firearm
at the time of the incident. The jury convicted defendant of felonious assault, but acquitted him of
the other charges. Defendant was sentenced as already noted, with a minimum guideline
sentencing range of 12 to 30 months’ imprisonment. Defendant moved for a new trial or
resentencing, which the trial court denied. This appeal followed.
II. THE PROSECUTOR’S CLOSING ARGUMENT WAS NOT IMPROPER
Defendant contends he was denied a fair trial because the prosecutor argued facts not in
evidence, encouraged the jury to convict him on the basis of physical characteristics, and inserted
irrelevant and unfairly prejudicial evidence into trial. We disagree.
A prosecutor may not knowingly use false evidence to obtain a conviction and may not
allow false testimony to go uncorrected. People v Smith, 498 Mich 466, 475-476; 870 NW2d 299(2015). We review prosecutorial misconduct issues on a case-by-case basis. People v Mullins,
322 Mich App 151, 172; 911 NW2d 201 (2017). We review “the prosecutor’s remarks in context
to determine whether the defendant was denied a fair and impartial trial.” Id. (cleaned up). “The
prosecutor’s statements are to be evaluated in light of defense arguments and the relationship the
comments bear to the evidence admitted at trial.” Id. (cleaned up). “Generally, prosecutors are
given great latitude regarding their arguments and are free to argue the evidence and all reasonable
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inferences from the evidence as they relate to their theory of the case.” Id. (cleaned up). “Further,
[this Court] cannot find error requiring reversal where a curative instruction could have alleviated
any prejudicial effect.” People v Callon, 256 Mich App 312, 329-330; 662 NW2d 501 (2003).
Curative instructions are sufficient to cure the prejudicial effect of most inappropriate prosecutorial
statements, and jurors are presumed to follow their instructions. People v Unger, 278 Mich App
210, 235; 749 NW2d 272 (2008).
Challenges to a prosecutor’s statement or conduct must be preserved by contemporaneous
objections and requests for curative instructions. People v Evans, 335 Mich App 76, 88; 966NW2d
402 (2020). We review unpreserved challenges for plain error affecting defendant’s substantial
rights, People v Carines, 460 Mich 750, 762-763; 597 NW2d 130 (1999). “To avoid forfeiture
under the plain error rule, three requirements must be met: 1) error must have occurred, 2) the error
was plain, i.e., clear or obvious, 3) and the plain error affected substantial rights.” Id. at 763. To
satisfy the third element, the defendant must show that the error “affected the outcome of the lower
court proceedings.” Id. “[O]nce a defendant satisfies these three requirements, an appellate court
must exercise its discretion in deciding whether to reverse.” Id. “Reversal 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 (cleaned up).
A. STATEMENTS THAT THE FIREARM WAS LOADED
First, defendant contends that the prosecutor argued facts not in evidence when he stated
four times during closing argument that defendant’s firearm was loaded. Because the challenged
statements were not preserved by contemporaneous objections and requests for curative
instructions, Evans, 335 Mich at 88, our review is for plain error affecting defendant’s substantial
rights, Carines, 460 Mich at 762-763.
Contrary to defendant’s assertions, the witness testimony supported a conclusion that
defendant pointed a loaded firearm at Maupin. Maupin testified she heard a sharp metal-on-metal
sound when defendant racked or cocked the firearm before pointing it at her. Faccio stated, in her
experience with weapons, the slide of a semiautomatic firearm will stay back when it is unloaded.
Faccio observed the slide was forward, inferring the chamber was loaded. The police chief
confirmed Faccio’s statement, but left open the possibility that a firearm might have an empty
chamber with the slide forward. Even if there is disagreement or uncertainty in the evidence about
whether the gun was loaded, the prosecutor is free to argue reasonable inferences arising from the
evidence. Mullins, 322 Mich App at 172. We find that the prosecutor did not commit plain error.
See Carines, 460 Mich at 763.
Moreover, the trial court instructed the jury that “[t]he lawyers’ statements and arguments
are not evidence. They are only meant to help you understand the evidence and each side’s legal
theories. You should only accept things the lawyers say that are supported by the evidence or by
your own common sense and general knowledge.” “Jurors are presumed to follow the court’s
instructions, and instructions are presumed to cure most errors.” Mullins, 322 Mich App at 173.
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B. INFERENCES REGARDING DEFENDANT’S CHARACTER
Defendant next argues the prosecutor made improper argument and references regarding
defendant’s character. This argument also lacks merit.
Defendant cites to the following exchange during the prosecutor’s rebuttal closing
argument:
[The Prosecutor]: Defense also points out or attempts to point out that the crying
in the interview was kid in his 20s feeling sorry for himself, oh, oh it’s too much.
You’ve all looked at that Defendant. Look at that Defendant and tell me that’s
some innocent kid in his 20s.
[Defense Counsel]: Objection Your Honor. I don’t even know that Defendant,
look at that Defendant what does that mean?
The Court: Counsel?
[The Prosecutor]: It’s rebuttal Your Honor. The notion was that he’s some poor
kid in his 20s. I’m responding to that. They can see, the jury can see he’s been
identified in court.
The Court: All right. You’re walking a fine line there, Counsel.
[The Prosecutor]: I’ll move on, Your Honor.
Defendant asserts that this was improper argument that impliedly referred to defendant’s
physical appearance such as his race, hair, tattoos, piercings, and clothing. Defendant also argues
that the prosecutor injected a “tough guy” issue in the trial and references several isolated
comments made by the prosecutor during trial; however, defense counsel did not object to any of
the isolated comments he references. We must review the prosecutor’s remarks in context and in
light of defense arguments. Mullins, 322 Mich App at 172. And because all but one of the
challenged statements were not preserved by contemporaneous objections and requests for curative
instructions, Evans, 335 Mich at 88, our review of the unpreserved statements is for plain error
affecting defendant’s substantial rights, Carines, 460 Mich at 762-763.
During trial, defense counsel asked the police chief about defendant’s young age and his
emotional demeanor during the police interview. The police chief testified that defendant broke
down and cried during his interview. The prosecutor rebutted by asking the police chief if
defendant had a gun with him at his interview, which he did not. The prosecutor asked: “Couldn’t
be a tough guy without a gun?” The police chief responded, “correct.” Defense counsel did not
object to the prosecutor’s statement. During closing argument, defense counsel proposed to the
jury there are many reasons, besides guilt, why defendant might have cried during his police
interview. Defense counsel suggested defendant was young, could not remember details about the
incident, and did not know why he was interviewed. The prosecutor responded to defense
counsel’s argument by directing the jury to look at defendant and determine if he is an innocent
young man, as defense counsel had implied. In each instance, the prosecutor was responding to
arguments raised by defense counsel and thus his statements did not amount to error. Further, the
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trial court’s instructions to the jury that the attorneys’ arguments are not evidence is presumed to
have cured any prejudice. Mullins, 322 Mich App at 173.
Defendant next argues the prosecutor made statements during closing argument about
defendant being on methamphetamine, not to discuss his theory of the case, but to inflame the jury
and attack defendant’s character, resulting in an unfair trial. This argument lacks merit. First,
because the challenged statements were not preserved by contemporaneous objections and requests
for curative instructions Evans, 335 Mich at 88, our review is for plain error affecting defendant’s
substantial rights, Carines, 460 Mich at 762-763. Even if there is disagreement or uncertainty in
the evidence about whether defendant was high on methamphetamine during the incident, the
prosecutor is free to argue reasonable inferences arising from the evidence. Mullins, 322 Mich
App at 172. Prosecutors “need not confine argument to the blandest of all possible terms . . . .”
People v Cox, 268 Mich App 440, 451; 709 NW2d 152 (2005) (cleaned up). We find that the
prosecutor did not commit plain error. See Carines, 460 Mich at 763.
III. USE OF ACQUITTED CONDUCT
Defendant next contends he is entitled to be resentenced because offense variables (OVs)
1, 2, 7, and 12 were improperly scored based on acquitted conduct. We disagree.
Under the sentencing guidelines, a trial court’s factual findings “are reviewed for clear
error and must be supported by a preponderance of the evidence.” People v Sours, 315 Mich App
346, 348; 890 NW2d 401 (2016) (cleaned up). “A sentencing court may consider all record
evidence before it when calculating the guidelines, including, but not limited to . . . testimony
taken at . . . trial.” People v Johnson, 298 Mich App 128, 131; 826 NW2d 170 (2012) (cleaned
up). “Whether the facts, as found, are adequate to satisfy the scoring conditions prescribed by
statute, i.e., the application of the facts to the law, is a question of statutory interpretation, which
an appellate court reviews de novo.” Id. (cleaned up).
Criminal defendants are entitled to a sentence that is based on accurate information and
accurate scoring of the sentencing guidelines. People v McGraw, 484 Mich 120, 131; 771 NW2d
655 (2009). Sentencing courts must determine the applicable minimum sentence range under the
sentencing guidelines and take such calculations into account when imposing a sentence; however,
the guidelines are advisory only and not mandatory. People v Lockridge, 498 Mich 358; 870
NW2d 502 (2015). A defendant is entitled to resentencing if there is a scoring error that alters the
defendant’s recommended minimum sentence range under the guidelines. People v Francisco,
474 Mich 82, 89; 711 NW2d 44 (2006).
In People v Beck, 504 Mich 605, 625-626; 939 NW2d 213 (2019), our Supreme Court held
that “the use of acquitted conduct to sentence a defendant more harshly violates due process . . . .”
The Court explained how the use of acquitted conduct is distinguishable from the use of uncharged
conduct:
When a jury has made no findings (as with uncharged conduct, for example), no
constitutional impediment prevents a sentencing court from punishing the
defendant as if he engaged in that conduct using a preponderance-of-the-evidence
standard. But when a jury has specifically determined that the prosecution has not
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proven beyond a reasonable doubt that a defendant engaged in certain conduct, the
defendant continues to be presumed innocent. To allow the trial court to use at
sentencing an essential element of a greater offense as an aggravating factor, when
the presumption of innocence was not, at trial, overcome as to this element, is
fundamentally inconsistent with the presumption of innocence itself. [Beck, 504
Mich at 626-627 (cleaned up).]
We provided guidance on the application of Beck in People v Brown, 339 Mich App 411;
984 NW2d 486 (2021). Because courts have struggled with the implementation of the Beck
majority’s description of “acquitted conduct” as conduct that “has been formally charged and
specifically adjudicated not guilty by a jury,” this Court adopted a “rational-jury approach” that
would focus “on what the parties actually disputed at trial.” Id. at 421, 423.
This approach moves away from prohibiting any and all facts and circumstances
related to any element of the crime, and instead focuses on the key facts and
circumstances that the parties argued about during the trial. This approach is
similar to the “rational jury” standard used in the double-jeopardy context, which
requires examining the record to determine the ground or grounds upon which a
rational jury could have acquitted the defendant. Rather than focus on all of the
conceivable grounds upon which a jury could have theoretically acquitted the
defendant—even those grounds, for example, that were conceded by the defense or
otherwise uncontested by the parties—the focus would be on the grounds that the
parties actually put in dispute at trial. The inquiry must be set in a practical frame
and viewed with an eye to all the circumstances of the proceedings.
* * *
. . . [U]nder the rational-jury approach, the sentencing court could consider facts
and circumstances that were not, in a practical sense, put in dispute at trial, as long
as those facts and circumstances were otherwise consistent with the jury’s acquittal
on a particular charge. Moreover, if a specific fact or circumstance was relevant to
both the acquitted charge and the convicted charge—i.e., if there was an overlap of
relevant conduct—then the trial court could consider that fact or circumstance when
sentencing on the convicted charge. [Id. at 423-425 (cleaned up).]
Defendant first argues OV 1 was improperly assessed 15 points. OV 1 “is aggravated use
of a weapon.” MCL 777.31(1). An assessment of 15 points is warranted when “[a] firearm was
pointed at or toward a victim or the victim had a reasonable apprehension of an immediate battery
when threatened with a knife or other cutting or stabbing weapon.” MCL 777.31(1)(c). “Further,
OV 1 is an offense-specific variable; therefore, in scoring OV 1, a trial court is limited to
considering the sentencing offense alone.” People v Biddles, 316 Mich App 148, 166; 896 NW2d
461 (2016) (cleaned up). Our Supreme Court defined the “sentencing offense in the context of
OVs as the crime of which the defendant has been convicted and for which he or she is being
sentenced.” People v Carter, 503 Mich 221, 227; 931 NW2d 566 (2019) (cleaned up).
Defendant was convicted of one count of felonious assault under MCL 750.82 (“a person
who assaults another person with a gun, revolver, pistol, knife, iron bar, club, brass knuckles, or
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other dangerous weapon without intending to commit murder or to inflict great bodily harm less
than murder is guilty of a felony[.]”) “The elements of felonious assault are (1) an assault, (2)
with a dangerous weapon, and (3) with the intent to injure or place the victim in reasonable
apprehension of an immediate battery.” People v Chambers, 277 Mich App 1, 8; 742 NW2d 610(2007) (cleaned up). By convicting defendant of felonious assault, the jury found beyond a
reasonable doubt that defendant carried or possessed a dangerous weapon during the incident even
though it acquitted him of felon-in-possession, felony-firearm, and CCW. We find that OV 1 was
properly assessed based on the sentencing offense.
Defendant next argues OV 2 was improperly assessed five points. “Offense variable 2 is
lethal potential of the weapon possessed or used.” MCL 777.32(1). An assessment of five points
is warranted when “[t]he offender possessed or used a pistol, rifle, shotgun, or knife or other cutting
or stabbing weapon.” MCL 777.32(1)(d). Defendant was convicted of felonious assault under
MCL 750.82, which requires the use of “a gun, revolver, pistol, knife, iron bar, club, brass
knuckles, or other dangerous weapon . . . .” The jury found beyond a reasonable doubt that
defendant carried or possessed a dangerous weapon during the incident even though it acquitted
him of felon-in-possession, felony-firearm, and CCW. We find that OV 2 was properly assessed
based on the sentencing offense.
Defendant also argues OV 7 was improperly assessed 50 points. “Offense variable 7 is
aggravated physical abuse.” MCL 777.37(1). An assessment of 50 points is warranted when “[a]
victim was treated with sadism, torture, excessive brutality, or similarly egregious conduct
designed to substantially increase the fear and anxiety a victim suffered during the offense.” MCL
777.37(1)(a). Our Supreme Court held: “[I]t is proper to assess points under OV 7 for conduct
that was intended to make a victim’s fear or anxiety greater by a considerable amount.” People v
Hardy, 494 Mich 430, 441; 835 NW2d 340 (2013), superseded in part by statute as stated in People
v Rodriguez, 327 Mich App 573, 579 n 3; 935 NW2d 51 (2019). Because MCL 777.37(1)(a)
specifically references conduct “during the offense,” a sentencing court must focus on conduct that
occurred during the sentencing offense. People v Thompson, 314 Mich App 703, 711; 887 NW2d
650 (2016).
In Hardy, the defendant pointed a shotgun at the victim and racked it during a carjacking.
The defendant claimed that he racked the gun to get the victim to comply, not to increase the
victim’s fear. Hardy, 494 Mich at 445. The Court was not persuaded by the defendant’s argument,
finding that the sentencing court properly assessed 50 points for OV 7 “[b]ecause [the defendant]
took the extra step of racking the shotgun, and because he did so to make his victim fear that a
violent death was imminent, not just possible . . . .” Id. Similarly, in this case, the trial court
considered the evidence that defendant pointed the gun at Maupin and then racked a round into the
chamber. Because felonious assault does not require an element that the gun be racked, the trial
court concluded that defendant “engaged in actions that went beyond the minimal required by the
elements” and, consistent with Hardy, assessed 50 points for OV 7. We find that OV 7 was
properly assessed based on the sentencing offense.
Finally, defendant argues OV 12 was improperly assessed five points because the trial court
acknowledged defendant’s acquitted conduct as the basis for scoring OV 12, which violated Beck.
It is not necessary for us to reach this issue because, even assuming arguendo that OV 12 was
improperly scored, reducing OV 12 to zero would have no effect on defendant’s sentencing
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guidelines range. “Where a scoring error does not alter the appropriate guidelines range,
resentencing is not required.” Francisco, 474 Mich at 89 n 8.
Affirmed.
/s/ Stephen L. Borrello
/s/ Brock A. Swartzle
/s/ Sima G. Patel
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