People of Michigan v. Mondale Jones

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PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, UNPUBLISHED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 12, 2019
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v No. 341971
Wayne Circuit Court
MONDALE JONES, LC No. 16-009815-01-FC
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: FORT HOOD, P.J., and SERVITTO and BOONSTRA, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Defendant appeals by right his jury-trial convictions of two counts of assault with intent
to commit murder (AWIM), MCL 750.83; one count of felon in possession of a firearm (felon-
in-possession), MCL 750.224f; and two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission
of a felony (felony-firearm), MCL 750.227b. The trial court sentenced defendant to concurrent
prison terms of 25 to 50 years for each of his AWIM convictions and two to five years for his
felon-in-possession conviction, to be served consecutively to the statutory 2-year prison term for
each of his felony-firearm convictions. We affirm.
I. PERTINENT FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Early in the morning of September 3, 2016, defendant and Kevin McCotter drove in
McCotter’s car to Beaconsfield Street in Detroit to visit Ja’tara Cole and Lateja Solomon.
McCotter, who possessed a concealed pistol license, had a handgun stored in his car. At about
1:30 a.m., while the foursome was conversing on the street, Cole was approached by her
neighbor, Dashanae Doctor, and they began to argue. When defendant intervened on Cole’s
behalf, a fight broke out between defendant and McCotter, on the one hand, and Doctor and
Doctor’s two minor brothers, TJ-1 and TJ-2, on the other.
Solomon testified that she and Cole went to McCotter’s nearby vehicle, from which
Solomon retrieved McCotter’s handgun, and that she then returned to where the others were
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fighting, intending to give the handgun to McCotter. According to Solomon, Cole, Doctor, and
TJ-1, defendant took the handgun from Solomon and fired six times towards Doctor and TJ-1.1
TJ-1 was shot in the side and another bullet grazed his knee, although he was not seriously
injured. Defendant, however, testified that Solomon handed him the gun and that he fired at the
ground. He also testified that TJ-1 was armed with a gun during the fight and had pointed it at
him.
After the shooting, defendant and McCotter left in McCotter’s car. McCotter testified that
defendant returned his handgun to him as they drove away and admitted to having fired it, but
did not say that TJ-1 had been armed with a gun or that he had acted in self-defense. Cole and
Solomon returned to their home and Doctor assisted TJ-1 back to their home. TJ-1 then went
over to Cole’s house, armed with a gun and accompanied by Doctor and their mother, but no
further violence occurred. Cole, Solomon, Doctor, and TJ-1 all spoke with police and identified
defendant as the shooter.
At trial, defendant argued that he fired the handgun in self-defense. He testified that TJ-1
had pointed a gun at him, that he was in fear for his life when Solomon handed him McCotter’s
handgun, and that he fired it into the ground, intending to scare everyone and to create a
distraction that would enable him and McCotter to escape.
Defendant was convicted and sentenced as described. This appeal followed.
II. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL
Defendant argues that he is entitled to a new trial because his counsel failed to request a
due-diligence hearing or a missing-witness jury instruction after the prosecution failed to
produce Detroit Police Officer Pamela Smith as a witness. We disagree. Defendant did not
move for a new trial or for a Ginther[2] hearing before either the trial court or this Court. People
v Lopez, 305 Mich. App. 686, 693; 854 NW2d 205 (2014). Our review is therefore limited to
mistakes apparent on the record. People v Johnson, 315 Mich. App. 163, 174; 889 NW2d 513
(2016). “The denial of effective assistance of counsel is a mixed question of fact and
constitutional law, which are reviewed, respectively, for clear error and de novo.” People v
Schrauben, 314 Mich. App. 181, 189; 886 NW2d 173 (2016), quoting People v Brown, 279 Mich
App 116, 140; 755 NW2d 664 (2008).
“Criminal defendants have a right to the effective assistance of counsel under the United
States and Michigan Constitutions.” Schrauben, 314 Mich. App. at 189-190, citing US Const, Am
VI; Const 1963, art 1, § 20. “However, effective assistance of counsel is presumed, and the
defendant bears a heavy burden of proving otherwise.” Schrauben, 314 Mich. App. at 190. The
United States Supreme Court has held that “in order to receive a new trial on the basis of
ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must establish that ‘counsel’s representation fell
1
The record reflects that TJ-2 had left the fight and had walked back toward his home.
2
People v Ginther, 390 Mich. 436; 212 NW2d 922 (1973).
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below an objective standard of reasonableness’ and that ‘there is a reasonable probability that,
but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different.’ ”
People v Vaughn, 491 Mich. 642, 669; 821 NW2d 288 (2012), quoting Strickland v Washington,
466 U.S. 668, 688, 694; 104 S. Ct. 2052; 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984). That is, “[w]hen reviewing
defense counsel’s performance, the reviewing court must first objectively ‘determine whether, in
light of all the circumstances, the identified acts or omissions were outside the wide range of
professionally competent assistance.’ ” People v Jackson, 313 Mich. App. 409, 431; 884 NW2d
297 (2015), quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 690. “Next, the defendant must show that trial
counsel’s deficient performance prejudiced his defense—in other words, that ‘there is a
reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding
would have been different.’ ” Jackson, 313 Mich. App. at 431, quoting Vaughn, 491 Mich. at 669.
This Court will not find trial counsel to be ineffective when an objection would have
been futile, nor will it second-guess matters of trial strategy. People v Thomas, 260 Mich. App.
450, 457; 678 NW2d 631 (2004); People v Rockey, 237 Mich. App. 74, 76-77; 601 NW2d 887
(1999). “The defendant ‘bears the burden of demonstrating both deficient performance and
prejudice[;] the defendant [also] necessarily bears the burden of establishing the factual predicate
for his claim.’ ” People v Cooper, 309 Mich. App. 74, 80; 867 NW2d 452 (2015), quoting People
v Carbin, 463 Mich. 590, 600; 623 NW2d 884 (2001) (alteration in Cooper).
Defendant argues that, when the prosecution failed to produce Officer Smith for trial,
defense counsel should have requested a due-diligence hearing and a missing-witness jury
instruction. But while such requests may have been appropriate, and indeed may have been
granted, we conclude that defendant cannot demonstrate prejudice.
“MCL 767.40a(1) requires that the prosecution attach to the information a list of
eyewitnesses and witnesses who might be called at trial.” People v Duenaz, 306 Mich. App. 85,
103; 854 NW2d 531 (2014). “The prosecution is not required to produce at trial the witnesses
listed with the information, but, under MCL 767.40a(2), the prosecution has a continuing duty to
disclose further res gestae witnesses as they become known.” People v Everett, 318 Mich. App.
511, 520-521; 899 NW2d 94 (2017) (citation omitted). “Then, not less than 30 days before trial,
the prosecution must provide a defendant with a list of endorsed witnesses whom the prosecution
‘intends to produce’ at trial.” Id. at 521, quoting MCL 767.40a(3). “A prosecutor who endorses
a witness under MCL 767.40a(3) is obliged to exercise due diligence to produce that witness at
trial.” People v Eccles, 260 Mich. App. 379, 388; 677 NW2d 76 (2004). “Further,
MCL 767.40a(4) requires a showing of good cause for removing a witness from the
prosecution’s witness list.” Duenaz, 306 Mich. App. at 104; Everett, 318 Mich. App. at 518. If the
trial court finds a lack of due diligence, it may instruct the jury that it may infer that the missing
witness’s testimony would have been unfavorable to the prosecution’s case. Eccles, 260 Mich
App at 388.
At the beginning of the fourth day of trial, the prosecution announced that it would not be
calling Officer Smith as a witness. While defense counsel had waived the presence of certain
other witnesses on the prosecution’s witness list, it did not waive the presence of Officer Smith.
The record regarding the circumstances of Officer Smith’s absence at trial is quite limited;
indeed, the only reason provided on the record was that Officer Smith was on furlough.
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Because Officer Smith was an endorsed witness,3 the prosecution had the burden to
produce her as a witness at trial. Eccles, 260 Mich. App. at 388. Further, because defense counsel
was not willing to waive Officer Smith’s presence at trial, the prosecution was required to “make
a showing of good cause to delete [her] from the list.” Everett, 318 Mich. App. at 518. A failure
to exercise due diligence in obtaining the presence of the witness is not considered good cause.
Eccles, 260 Mich. App. at 388. On this record, it appears that had defense counsel requested a
due-diligence hearing, the request may well have been granted, although we are unable to
determine from the existing record whether that inquiry would have necessarily or probably
resulted in a missing-witness instruction.
Regardless of the reasonableness of defense counsel’s failure to challenge the
prosecution’s due diligence in attempting to secure Officer Smith’s testimony, defendant has
failed to show prejudice. Jackson, 313 Mich. App. at 431. As noted, defendant bears the burden
of proving the factual predicate for his arguments on appeal. Cooper, 309 Mich. App. at 80.
Here, the record contains no information regarding what the content of Officer Smith’s testimony
would have been. Defendant suggests that Officer Smith’s testimony would have undermined
TJ-1’s credibility. In support of that argument, defendant cites the trial testimony of Officer
Frank Sanna, who was Officer Smith’s partner, in which he stated that TJ-1 had provided
differing accounts over the course of several interviews on the day of the crime. Defendant
presumes that Officer Smith would have testified similarly. Officer Sanna also stated, however,
that although Officer Smith was his partner, she was not necessarily involved in all of the
interviews. Moreover, the jury had already been provided with Officer Sanna’s testimony and,
consequently, was aware that TJ-1 had provided differing accounts over the course of the
investigation. Even assuming that Officer Smith would have testified that she had also heard
differing accounts from TJ-1, such testimony would have been merely cumulative of Officer
Sanna’s. Failure to present testimony that is cumulative of other testimony admitted at trial is
rarely outcome-determinative. See People v Jordan, 275 Mich. App. 659, 667; 739 NW2d 706
(2007).
Moreover, even if Officer Smith had testified and further undermined TJ-1’s credibility,
defendant does not argue that Officer Smith’s testimony would have undermined the credibility
of the three other witnesses who had also seen defendant shoot at TJ-1 and Doctor. We conclude
that defendant has failed to carry his burden of proving “that there is a reasonable probability
that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been
different.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694; Jackson, 313 Mich. App. at 431.4
3
Although the prosecution contends that the record is unclear regarding whether Officer Smith
was an “endorsed” witness, the only prosecution witness list contained in the lower court record
lists Officer Smith as a witness, and the box next to her name is checked to indicate that she was
an endorsed witness under MCL 767.40a(3). See Everett, 318 Mich. App. at 519 (discussing a
similarly worded witness list).
4
As noted, we cannot determine on the existing record that if defense counsel had requested a
due-diligence hearing, the results of that hearing would have supported a further request for a
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III. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE
Defendant also argues that there was insufficient evidence to sustain his AWIM
convictions. We disagree. We review de novo a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence.
People v Henry, 315 Mich. App. 130, 135; 889 NW2d 1 (2016), quoting People v Ericksen, 288
Mich. App. 192, 195; 793 NW2d 120 (2010). “To determine whether the prosecutor has
presented sufficient evidence to sustain a conviction, we review the evidence in the light most
favorable to the prosecutor and determine ‘whether a rational trier of fact could find the
defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.’ ” People v Smith-Anthony, 494 Mich. 669, 676;
837 NW2d 415 (2013), quoting People v Tennyson, 487 Mich. 730, 735; 790 NW2d 354 (2010).
“The standard of review is deferential: a reviewing court is required to draw all reasonable
inferences and make credibility choices in support of the jury verdict.” People v Bailey, 310
Mich. App. 703, 713; 873 NW2d 855 (2015), quoting People v Nowack, 462 Mich. 392, 400; 614
NW2d 78 (2000).
There is sufficient evidence for a guilty verdict when “a rational trier of fact could find
the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.” Tennyson, 487 Mich. at 735. “The prosecution
need not negate every reasonable theory of innocence, but need only prove the elements of the
crime in the face of whatever contradictory evidence is provided by the defendant.” People v
Henderson, 306 Mich. App. 1, 9; 854 NW2d 234 (2014). “Circumstantial evidence and the
reasonable inferences that arise from that evidence can constitute satisfactory proof of the
elements of the crime.” People v Blevins, 314 Mich. App. 339, 357; 886 NW2d 456 (2016). Any
and all conflicts that arise in the evidence must be resolved “in favor of the prosecution.”
Henderson, 306 Mich. App. at 9. “It is for the trier of fact, not the appellate court, to determine
what inferences may be fairly drawn from the evidence and to determine the weight to be
accorded those inferences.” People v Hardiman, 466 Mich. 417, 428; 646 NW2d 158 (2002).
The elements of AWIM are (1) an assault, (2) with an actual intent to kill, (3) which, if
successful, would make the killing murder. People v Anderson, 322 Mich. App. 622, 632; 912
NW2d 607 (2018). Here, defendant only challenges the intent to kill element. “This Court has
consistently observed that because of the difficulty of proving an actor’s state of mind, minimal
circumstantial evidence is sufficient.” Id. at 633 (quotation marks omitted). A defendant’s
intent to kill can be inferred “from any facts in evidence, including the nature, extent, and
location of [] wounds,” Ericksen, 288 Mich. App. at 196, as well as “the use of a deadly weapon”
and “a motive to kill, along with flight and lying, which may reflect a consciousness of guilt.”
Henderson, 306 Mich. App. at 11 (citation omitted).
missing-witness instruction. In any event, the evidence against defendant was overwhelming; it
is unlikely that an instruction allowing the jury to infer that Officer Smith’s testimony would
have been unfavorable to the prosecution’s case—especially in light of the fact that the jury
actually heard testimony from Officer Sanna that was unfavorable to the prosecution’s case—
would have altered the outcome. Defendant has not demonstrated prejudice.
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The evidence offered at trial supported the jury’s conclusion that defendant intended to
kill TJ-1 and Doctor when he fired the handgun. Defendant and McCotter engaged in a physical
altercation with Doctor, TJ-1, and TJ-2. In the midst of the fight, defendant obtained a handgun,
pointed it at the area where TJ-1, Doctor, and McCotter were fighting; and fired six bullets,
striking TJ-1 twice. Further testimony established that TJ-1 and Doctor were close enough
together that defendant’s shots could have hit either of them.
Again, only minimal circumstantial evidence is required to prove defendant’s intent to
kill. Anderson, 322 Mich. App. at 633. Defendant’s use of a deadly weapon gives rise to an
inference that he intended to kill TJ-1 and Doctor. Henderson, 306 Mich. App. at 11. Further, TJ-
1 was wounded in the torso, which contains important bodily organs. The nature of the wound
inflicted on TJ-1 and its location permitted the jury to infer that defendant intended to kill when
he shot the handgun. Ericksen, 288 Mich. App. at 196. Additionally, the fact that defendant fired
the weapon six times supports the inference that he intended that someone be struck by one or
more of the bullets. Defendant, despite his argument to the contrary, also had a motive to kill,
even though it may not have been a particularly compelling one. See Henderson, 306 Mich. App.
at 11. The evidence showed that defendant was engaged in a serious physical fight, and the jury
could have inferred that defendant intended to win and end that fight by shooting and killing TJ-
1 and Doctor.
Further, although defendant argues that it was McCotter, and not defendant, who brought
the handgun to Beaconsfield Street, premeditation is not an element of AWIM. Anderson, 322
Mich. App. at 632. From the evidence introduced by the prosecution, the jury could have properly
concluded that defendant developed the intent to kill TJ-1 and Doctor during the fight.
For these reasons, there was sufficient evidence to support defendant’s AWIM
convictions. Anderson, 322 Mich. App. at 632.
IV. DEFENDANT’S STANDARD 4 BRIEF
In his Standard 4 brief,5 defendant argues an array of additional issues, largely focused on
what he believes to be clear evidence that TJ-1, Doctor, and Solomon committed perjury; that the
prosecution knowingly offered perjured testimony at trial; and that defense counsel was
ineffective in failing to confront the perjured testimony. We disagree in all respects.
A. PERJURY
The majority of defendant’s arguments concern his assertion that TJ-1, Doctor, and
Solomon committed perjury. A defendant seeking appellate review bears the burden of
“furnishing the reviewing court with a record to verify the factual basis of any argument upon
which reversal was predicated.” People v Elston, 462 Mich. 751, 762; 614 NW2d 595 (2000);
see also People v Bass, 317 Mich. App. 241, 272-273; 893 NW2d 140 (2016) (citation omitted)
5
A supplemental appellate brief filed in propria persona by a criminal defendant under Supreme
Court Administrative Order 2004-6, Standard 4.
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(noting that a defendant alleging perjury bears the burden of proving the testimony was actually
false). However, defendant provides no evidence of perjury, relying instead on his own opinion,
conjecture,6 and the mere fact that other witnesses’ testimony differed from his. Moreover, and
while defendant additionally argues that Solomon’s perjury can be proven by the fact that she
received a plea deal in return for her testimony, the jury was informed of the circumstances that
led to her offering her testimony. Evidence that impacts the credibility of a witness is not
synonymous with evidence of perjury. See Bass, 317 Mich. App. at 275 (holding that while “the
existence of a prior inconsistent statement” impeaches a witness’s credibility, it “is not evidence
that [a witness]’s trial testimony was actually false”). Because there is no support for
defendant’s argument that multiple witnesses perjured themselves, we also find defendant’s
claims of prosecutorial misconduct and ineffective assistance of counsel related to the allegedly
perjured testimony to be without merit.
B. ACTUAL INNOCENCE
Defendant also argues that he is entitled to relief because he is actually innocent of the
AWIM charges. This argument is also premised on the alleged perjury of multiple witnesses.
For the reasons already discussed, defendant’s failure to provide any evidence to prove those
claims is fatal to his arguments on appeal. Bass, 317 Mich. App. at 275. Additionally, we note
that this argument is not properly before us. Caselaw and court rules cited by defendant in
support of this argument concern motions for postconviction relief or petitions for a writ of
habeas corpus. See e.g., Schlup v Delo, 513 U.S. 298; 115 S. Ct. 851; 130 L. Ed. 2d 808 (1995);
Souter v Jones, 395 F 3d 577 (CA 6, 2005); see also MCR 6.500, et seq. Defendant remains free
to raise this issue by a motion for relief from judgment following an appeal or by a petition for
habeas corpus, after he has exhausted his direct appeals.
C. SENTENCING
Finally, defendant argues that he was improperly sentenced as a second-offense habitual
offender. Our review of the record reflects that, although the prosecution filed a habitual
offender notice when filing the felony information, defendant was not sentenced as a second-
offense habitual offender. Therefore, there is no relief that we can grant to defendant on this
claim.
Affirmed.
/s/ Karen M. Fort Hood
/s/ Deborah A. Servitto
/s/ Mark T. Boonstra
6
Defendant specifically argues, albeit without evidence of his marksmanship skills, that if he had
fired the handgun with the intent to kill TJ-1 or Doctor, he would not have missed.
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