People of Michigan v. Thelonious Deshane-Ear Searcy ( 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PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, UNPUBLISHED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 21, 2023
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v No. 363580
Wayne Circuit Court
THELONIOUS DESHANE-EAR SEARCY, LC No. 04-012890-01-FC
Defendant-Appellee.
Before: JANSEN, P.J., and CAVANAGH and GADOLA, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
The prosecution appeals the trial court’s October 3, 2022 order granting the motion of
defendant to dismiss his criminal charges of first-degree murder, MCL 750.316(1)(a); assault with
intent to murder (AWIM), MCL 750.83; and possession of a firearm during the commission of a
felony (felony-firearm), MCL 750.227b.1 We reverse and remand for further proceedings.
I. BACKGROUND
On September 5, 2004, a shooting occurred at the corner of Conner Street and Whithorn
Street near the Detroit City Airport in Detroit. That night, an event known as a “Black Party” was
taking place in the area. The area was crowded with traffic and pedestrians. At about 9:00 p.m.,
several eyewitnesses saw a man approach the back of a silver Corvette, which contained the murder
victim and the assault victim, and begin shooting. A bullet struck the assault victim’s hip, causing
him injury, and the murder victim died from multiple gunshot wounds. Although some
eyewitnesses believed the gunshots came from two separate guns, the eyewitnesses did not see a
1
As will be explained below, defendant was convicted of first-degree murder, AWIM, and felony-
firearm in 2005. Defendant was granted a new trial in 2021. People v Searcy (Searcy II),
unpublished per curiam opinion of the Court of Appeals, issued February 11, 2021 (Docket
No. 349169), pp 12-13. The trial court judge who presided over defendant’s first trial did not
preside over the proceedings on remand. However, for purposes of conciseness, we will refer to
one “trial court.”
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second shooter. Latasha Boatright, who witnessed the shootings, saw the shooter run into a nearby
party store. Casings from two different weapons were found at the scene, including seven .45-
caliber casings and eight .40-caliber casings.
Three eyewitnesses identified defendant as the shooter from a photographic lineup. On the
morning of November 30, 2004, law enforcement went to an apartment in an attempt to locate and
arrest defendant. Officers had to force entry into the apartment, and defendant was found hiding
behind drywall. Officers discovered a .45-caliber semiautomatic handgun in the bedroom where
defendant was located. Ballistics testing revealed the .45-caliber casings found at the scene of the
shooting were fired from that gun.
Defendant was charged with first-degree premeditated murder, AWIM, and felony-firearm.
Trial was held over several days in May 2005. The prosecution presented a myriad of witnesses,
and four eyewitnesses identified defendant as the shooter at trial. The prosecutor’s theory revolved
around a claim that defendant mistakenly shot the murder victim in an attempt to kill DeAnthony
Witcher, who drove a Corvette that looked similar to the murder victim’s Corvette. Witcher
testified defendant was upset with him after defendant lost several hundred dollars while gambling
at Witcher’s home in the summer of 2003. According to Witcher, in November 2003, defendant
shot him and continued to threaten him. Although Witcher did not see or hear the shooting on
September 5, 2004, he was in the area in a silver Corvette.
Defendant did not testify at trial. Instead, he presented the testimony of several friends and
family members, each of whom testified that defendant was at a barbecue at the home of his mother
throughout the evening of September 5, 2004. Additionally, defendant’s mother and grandmother
testified the apartment where defendant was arrested belonged to his grandmother, and defendant
was merely visiting at the time of his arrest. Defendant’s grandmother explained the .45-caliber
gun did not belong to defendant and was left in her apartment by a man named Jeffrey Daniels,
who had driven her home one day and was killed in September 2004.
The jury convicted defendant as charged, and he was sentenced. Defendant appealed, and
this Court affirmed his convictions. People v Searcy (Searcy I), unpublished per curiam opinion
of the Court of Appeals, issued October 26, 2006 (Docket No. 263347). Defendant applied for
leave to appeal from this Court’s decision, and our Supreme Court denied leave. People v Searcy,
477 Mich 1112 (2007). Thereafter, defendant filed two motions for relief from judgment, each of
which was denied by the trial court.
In August 2015, Vincent Smothers, who was in prison and had already confessed to being
paid to commit multiple murders, wrote a letter to defendant, admitting he killed the murder victim
“during a botched robbery on Whithorn and Conners [sic] across from the city airport.” In
December 2015, Smothers executed an affidavit, which detailed his involvement in the September
2004 crimes. Specifically, Smothers averred he shot the murder victim with a .40-caliber handgun.
Smothers also implicated Daniels in the crimes, indicating Daniels fired a .45-caliber handgun near
the murder victim’s Corvette. According to Smothers, he tasked Daniels with discarding the guns.
In 2017, defendant filed his third motion for relief from judgment. An evidentiary hearing
took place over several days in March and May 2018. Smothers testified and confessed to
murdering the murder victim. During the hearing, it was discovered a bullet removed from the
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murder victim’s chest had conflicting descriptions. After the envelope was opened and the
contents were examined, it was determined the envelope contained “a .40 S&W . . . fired bullet.”
On December 3, 2018, the trial court issued an opinion and order, denying defendant’s third
motion for relief from judgment. Defendant appealed, and this Court reversed and remanded for
a new trial. People v Searcy (Searcy II), unpublished per curiam opinion of the Court of Appeals,
issued February 11, 2021 (Docket No. 349169), pp 12-13. The prosecution sought leave to appeal
this decision, which was denied. People v Searcy, 507 Mich 1007 (2021).
On April 15, 2022, defendant moved for dismissal of his criminal charges based on
allegations that his due-process rights were violated in relation to the 2005 trial. In relevant part,
defendant alleged: (1) the prosecution suppressed information about the bullet removed from the
murder victim’s chest; (2) the prosecution either suppressed certain video footage from the party
store located near the scene of the shooting or members of law enforcement destroyed the video
footage; and (3) the prosecution failed to provide defendant with information about Witcher’s
arrest history. The prosecution opposed the motion.
In an October 3, 2022 opinion and order, the trial court granted defendant’s motion,
concluding due-process violations occurred in relation to the 2005 trial. The trial court dismissed
defendant’s criminal charges with prejudice. This appeal followed.
II. STANDARDS OF REVIEW
“[T]his Court . . . reviews de novo constitutional claims. . . .” People v Burger, 331 Mich
App 504, 516; 953 NW2d 424 (2020). “This Court reviews a trial court’s decision on a motion to
dismiss charges against a defendant for an abuse of discretion.” People v Ali, 328 Mich App 538,
541; 938 NW2d 783 (2019) (quotation marks and citation omitted). “An abuse of discretion occurs
when the trial court’s decision is outside the range of principled outcomes.” People v Montague,
338 Mich App 29, 37; 979 NW2d 406 (2021) (quotation marks and citation omitted). “The trial
court’s factual findings are reviewed for clear error.” People v Tardy, ___ Mich App ___, ___;
___ NW2d ___ (2023) (Docket No. 360026); slip op at 4. “Clear error exists when the reviewing
court is left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been made.” Id. at ___; slip
op at 4 (quotation marks and citation omitted).
III. ANALYSIS
A. ALLEGED DUE-PROCESS VIOLATIONS IN RELATION TO THE BULLET REMOVED
FROM THE MURDER VICTIM’S CHEST AND WITCHER’S ARREST RECORD
The prosecution argues the trial court improperly dismissed defendant’s criminal charges
based on its conclusion that due-process violations occurred in relation to the alleged suppression
of the information related to the bullet removed from the murder victim’s chest and Witcher’s
arrest record. We agree, although for reasons different from those raised by the prosecution on
appeal.
Defendant essentially argues his due-process rights were violated at the 2005 trial because
the bullet, information concerning the bullet, and Witcher’s arrest history were suppressed in
violation of Brady v Maryland, 373 US 83; 83 S Ct 1194; 10 L Ed 2d 215 (1963). “[T]he
suppression by the prosecution of evidence favorable to an accused upon request violates due
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process where the evidence is material either to guilt or to punishment, irrespective of the good
faith or bad faith of the prosecution.” Id. at 87. “To establish a Brady violation, a defendant must
establish that (1) the prosecution has suppressed evidence; (2) that is favorable to the accused; and
(3) that is material.” Burger, 331 Mich App at 517 (quotation marks and citation omitted). “The
government is held responsible for evidence within its control, even evidence unknown to the
prosecution, without regard to the prosecution’s good or bad faith. . . . Evidence is favorable to
the defense when it is either exculpatory or impeaching.” Id. (quotation marks and citations
omitted).
Defendant and the prosecution focus their attention on events that occurred between 2004
and 2018. However, defendant has already been granted a new trial, rendering most of the parties’
arguments irrelevant. To the extent the trial court sought to punish the prosecution for due-process
violations that occurred in 2005 when dismissing the criminal charges, this was improper. In
People v Aceval, 282 Mich App 379, 391; 764 NW2d 285 (2009), this Court explained:
[T]he crux of the due process analysis in cases of alleged prosecutorial misconduct
is whether the defendant received a fair trial. The remedy when a defendant
receives an unfair trial because of prosecutorial misconduct is a new and,
presumably, fair trial. This remedy naturally flows from the type of harm that the
defendant has suffered. It does not follow that a due process violation should bar
retrial, because such a remedy would be unduly broad and would fail to address the
specific harm the defendant has suffered. [Citations omitted.]
Importantly, “barring retrial on the basis of due process grounds would amount to
punishment of society for [the] misdeeds of a prosecutor because it would permit the accused to
go free.” Id. (alteration in original, quotation marks omitted), citing Brady, 373 US at 87.
Although defendant essentially urges us to affirm the trial court’s decision based on a conclusion
the prosecution engaged in poor conduct in relation to the 2005 trial, this remedy is not consistent
with the holding in Aceval. In Aceval, 282 Mich App at 392, we stated:
Assuming that the acts of the trial judge and the prosecutor in this case violated
Michigan’s Rules of Professional Conduct, and Code of Judicial Conduct, and were
clearly opprobrious, the remedy for their wrongs is accomplished in other forums,
such as the Attorney Discipline Board and the Judicial Tenure Commission. These
codes, however, do not confer upon a defendant any type of constitutional right or
remedy. Rather, the particular constitutional right determines the constitutional
remedy and these codes play no part in such decisions. For these reasons, we do
not take the opportunity here to create a new remedy for a due process violation
arising out of prosecutorial and judicial misconduct. [Citations omitted.]
The remedy for any Brady violations in relation to the 2005 trial is retrial—not dismissal.2
We acknowledge that defendant argues dismissal was proper under MCR 6.201, which governs
2
In so holding, we are in no way commenting on the prosecution’s conduct in relation to the 2005
trial. Indeed, we disagree that the bullet removed from the murder victim’s chest was suppressed.
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discovery in a criminal proceeding. People v Gilmore, 222 Mich App 442, 448; 564 NW2d 158(1997). Under MCR 6.201(B)(1): “Upon request, the prosecuting attorney must provide each
defendant . . . any exculpatory information or evidence known to the prosecuting attorney[.]” If
the prosecution fails to comply with MCR 6.201(B), the trial court, in its discretion, “may order
the party to provide the discovery or permit the inspection of materials not previously
disclosed, . . . or enter such other order as it deems just under the circumstances.” MCR 6.201(J).
“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). If granting a continuance would not serve to protect the above interests, only then
should the trial court utilize other, more severe remedies. People v Clark, 164 Mich App 224,
229-230; 416 NW2d 390 (1987).3
There are no current discovery violations in relation to the bullet or Witcher’s arrest history.
Defendant has been aware of the bullet and that it was not fired from the .45-caliber gun associated
with defendant since 2018. Defendant is also aware of Witcher’s arrest record. Therefore, if
defendant is tried a second time, defendant’s due-process rights to a fair trial and to present a
defense will not be in jeopardy. The trial court abused its discretion by dismissing the criminal
charges based on purported due-process violations concerning the bullet and Witcher’s arrest
record.
The autopsy report, which reflected four bullets or bullet fragments were removed from the murder
victim’s body and turned over to law enforcement, was admitted into evidence at the preliminary
examination. At the preliminary examination, trial counsel stated: “I have seen the [autopsy]
report of the deceased here.” The bullet removed from the murder victim’s chest was assigned
Evidence Tag Number 07191604. In September 2004, which was before defendant was arrested
and found in the proximity of the .45-caliber gun in November 2004, the bullet was mislabeled as
“a nine millimeter shell casing.” Later, in a January 31, 2005 report, Evidence Tag Number
07191604 was labeled as a “.40 caliber, Metal jacket bullet.” This information was contained in a
document labeled “Laboratory Analysis,” which was People’s Exhibit 23. While the Brady
doctrine does not place a burden on the defense to discover Brady information, People v Chenault,
495 Mich 142, 152-155; 845 NW2d 731 (2014), trial counsel should have been aware of the
existence of the bullets removed from the murder victim’s body. Trial counsel would have been
able to examine the bullets on request, and move to have them tested. MCR 6.201(A)(6).
Importantly, “[t]he Brady rule is aimed at defining an important prosecutorial duty; it is not a tool
to ensure competent defense counsel.” Chenault, 495 Mich at 155.
3
“Although cases decided before November 1, 1990, are not binding precedent, MCR 7.215(J)(1),
they nevertheless can be considered persuasive authority.” People v Craig, 342 Mich App 217,
226 n 3; 994 NW2d 792 (2022) (quotation marks and citation omitted).
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B. ALLEGED DUE-PROCESS VIOLATION IN RELATION TO THE VIDEO FOOTAGE
FROM THE PARTY STORE
The prosecution next argues that the trial court improperly concluded due-process
violations occurred in relation to the video footage from the party store. We agree.
The prosecution first disputes the video footage from the party store was in the possession
of law enforcement or the prosecution at any point in time. Record evidence establishes otherwise.
After several eyewitnesses reported seeing the shooter enter a party store near the scene of the
shooting,4 Officer Charles Zwicker filled out an evidence tag. The description of the evidence was
“VHS tape,” which was taken from 11742 Conner Street. The evidence was assigned Evidence
Tag Number 07170504. According to Officer Velma Tutt, 11742 Conner Street was the address
of the party store, and the prosecution appears to concede this on appeal.
On September 10, 2004, the prosecutor signed a form entitled “HOMICIDE WARRANT
CHECKLIST AND FOLLOW-UP REQUEST.” The form included this information:
A laboratory analysis form, which was completed by Officer Stephen Yakimovich, only
reflects one VHS tape was assigned Evidence Number 07170504 and was “record[ed] onto [a]
VHS tape and DVD.” The evidence was turned over to Sergeant William Anderson, who was the
officer in charge. Additionally, the form reflected still images were taken from the tape. Some of
the images, which are of poor quality, appear to be taken from a motor vehicle. Other images
appear to be taken from a party store. The prosecution was unable to provide a feasible explanation
for these images. While the prosecution is correct the laboratory analysis form only reflects one
video was analyzed, and it is clear the prosecution was in possession of a video from a semimarked
police vehicle,5 there was sufficient evidence to determine the Detroit Police Department was in
possession of video footage from the party store. The trial court did not clearly err by making this
finding based on the record evidence.
The trial court concluded a Brady violation occurred with respect to the video footage from
the party store because the prosecution failed to provide it to the defense. However, it is clear the
video footage was either destroyed or misplaced, as opposed to suppressed. See Burger, 331 Mich
App at 517. Therefore, Brady is not the appropriate constitutional framework from which to
decide the arguments on appeal. We will consider whether the government’s failure to preserve
the evidence amounts to a due-process violation.
4
Only one of these witnesses testified at trial.
5
At the 2005 trial, the prosecution presented a 10-second-long video recording from a camera
mounted on the front of a semimarked police vehicle that was in the area of the shootings. Video
footage from the party store was not played at trial.
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Under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, US Const, Am XIV, criminal
defendants must be afforded “a meaningful opportunity to present a complete defense.” California
v Trombetta, 467 US 479, 485; 104 S Ct 2528; 81 L Ed 2d 413 (1984). “[T]he Court has developed
what might loosely be called the area of constitutionally guaranteed access to evidence” to protect
this Fourteenth Amendment right. Id. (quotation marks and citation omitted). The Supreme Court
has established two tests to determine whether a government’s failure to preserve evidence
amounts to a due-process violation. “The first test, established in Trombetta, applies in cases
where the government fails to preserve material exculpatory evidence, while the second test,
established in Arizona v Youngblood, 488 US 51; 109 S Ct 333; 102 L Ed 2d 281 (1988), applies
in cases where the government fails to preserve ‘potentially useful’ evidence.” United States v
Collins, 799 F3d 554, 569 (CA 6, 2015).6
Under Trombetta, 467 US at 489, to be deemed constitutionally material, evidence “must
both possess an exculpatory value that was apparent before the evidence was destroyed, and be of
such a nature that the defendant would be unable to obtain comparable evidence by other
reasonably available means.” In such cases, “[t]he destruction of material exculpatory evidence
violates due process regardless of whether the government acted in bad faith.” Collins, 799 F3d
at 569 (alteration in original; quotation marks and citation omitted). Meanwhile, under the
Youngblood standard, in cases where the government fails to preserve “potentially useful”
evidence, the defendant must demonstrate “bad faith on the part of the police. . . .” Youngblood,
488 US at 58. In order to establish bad faith, a defendant must prove official animus or a conscious
effort to suppress exculpatory evidence. Trombetta, 467 US at 488. The defendant “bears the
burden of showing that the evidence was exculpatory or that the police acted in bad faith.” People
v Johnson, 197 Mich App 362, 365; 494 NW2d 873 (1992).
Defendant failed to establish a due-process violation under Trombetta or Youngblood. Four
eyewitnesses identified defendant as the shooter. Only one eyewitness, Boatright, testified that
she saw defendant enter the party store. Additionally, weeks after the shooting, defendant was
found hiding in a bedroom, which contained a .45-caliber gun tied to the .45-caliber casings found
at the scene of the shooting. This evidence is relevant to consciousness of guilt. See People v
Parrott, 335 Mich App 648, 680; 968 NW2d 548 (2021) (a defendant’s demeanor, nonresponsive
conduct, and statements are relevant to consciousness of guilt). Given this evidence, it cannot be
said the video footage is “material exculpatory evidence,” see Collins, 799 F3d at 569, or “may
. . . exonerate[]” defendant, see People v Hunter, 201 Mich App 671, 677; 506 NW2d 611 (1993).
At best, the video footage would impeach Boatright’s contention that she saw the shooter, who she
identified as defendant, enter the party store.
Moreover, as relevant to defendant’s arguments under Youngblood, defendant failed to
establish bad faith on the part of the police. The record only supports the video footage from the
party store was confiscated and taken into evidence by Officer Zwicker and turned over to Sergeant
Anderson. It is unclear what happened to the video footage after it was taken into evidence. After
the jury was selected and impaneled, the prosecutor stated: “In regard to discovery, there has been
6
“Caselaw from . . . federal courts is not binding precedent but may be relied on for its persuasive
value.” Craig, 342 Mich App at 299 n 7.
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some off-the-record conversations about an in-store video. I’ve never seen a copy of that video,
and I have been told by Lieutenant Anderson—Sergeant Anderson there is not a copy in the Detroit
Police’s possession.” Defendant failed to prove official animus or a conscious effort to suppress
exculpatory evidence. Trombetta, 467 US at 488. It was defendant’s burden to establish bad faith,
see Johnson, 197 Mich App at 365, and he failed to do so. In sum, due-process violations did not
occur under Youngblood or Trombetta, and the trial court erred by concluding otherwise.
IV. CONCLUSION
The trial court abused its discretion by dismissing the criminal charges. We reverse and
remand for further proceedings. We do not retain jurisdiction. Given this holding, we need not
consider the remainder of the parties’ arguments on appeal.
/s/ Kathleen Jansen
/s/ Mark J. Cavanagh
/s/ Michael F. Gadola
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