People of Michigan v. Ronnie Odell Taylor

STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, UNPUBLISHED
June 9, 2015
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v No. 320693
Kent Circuit Court
RONNIE ODELL TAYLOR, LC No. 13-003900-FC
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: HOEKSTRA, P.J., and O’CONNELL and MURRAY, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Defendant, Ronnie Odell Taylor, appeals as of right his convictions, following a bench
trial, of armed robbery, MCL 750.529, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, MCL 750.157a and
MCL 750.529, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony (felony-firearm), MCL
750.227b, and felon in possession of a firearm (felon in possession), MCL 750.224f. The trial
court sentenced defendant to serve 25 to 50 years’ imprisonment for armed robbery and
conspiracy, 4 to 20 years’ imprisonment for felon in possession, and a consecutive term of 5
years’ imprisonment for felony firearm. We affirm.
I. FACTS
A KFC restaurant was robbed on April 6, 2013. According to Christine Candia, from
about 9:30 to 9:45 p.m. that night, while she was closing up a Biggby Coffee across the street
from the KFC, a black Dodge Durango was in the parking lot outside. After Candia left the store
and approached her car, which was parked next to the Durango, she saw a man in the vehicle
turn and jump like he was frightened and then pull his hood over his face. When Candia
received an alert on her phone about the robbery, she called the police about the Durango.
Stacey Chadbourne testified that she and Leonardo Simmons were with Taylor on the
night of the robbery. According to Chadbourne, Taylor drove them to a Biggby Coffee’s parking
lot and they parked for a few minutes. Taylor then drove them to a BP gas station and asked
Chadbourne to drive. Chadbourne drove back in the direction of the Biggby Coffee, and Taylor
asked Chadbourne to let him off at a corner so that he could “catch a play,” which meant to “go
get some money,” “make money,” or “get something from somebody.” Taylor called about 10
or 15 minutes later for Chadbourne to pick him up.
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According to Anthony Sullivan, a KFC employee, the KFC’s drive-through window
closed at 10:00 p.m. and he left work at that time. Sullivan testified that another employee was
supposed to lock the door behind him, but the door was never locked. Kathryn Kasper and
Valery Reusser testified that they were working in an office in the back of the KFC after it
closed. According to Kasper, she heard the doorbell chime. She looked around a corner and saw
that a black man wearing a ski mask was pointing a gun at her. The man said that he would
shoot her in the leg if she did not give him the money from the safe. Kasper gave the man the
money from the safe and the register drawers, the man left, and she called the police.
Kasper testified that the man was wearing turquoise running pants. Kasper also testified
that the man seemed familiar, but she could not identify him at the time of the robbery. Reusser
testified that the man was wearing a black hoodie and black jeans. According to Reusser, she
recognized that the robber was Taylor from his eyes and his voice. Reusser was familiar with
Taylor because Taylor’s wife had previously worked at the KFC. She had seen Taylor 15 or 20
times, including two or three times that the Taylors gave Reusser a ride home from work in their
Durango. Reusser testified that the door from the dining area to the employee work space was
unique and only people familiar with the restaurant would be able to open it without difficulty.
Deputy Robert Porter testified that when he questioned Reusser, she indicated that the robber
reminded her of Taylor because of his eyes and voice.
According to Deputy Andy Hinds, he began checking the area to look for possible
suspects. Deputy Hinds spoke with Joey Visser-Hatch, a gas station clerk at a BP gas station
about a quarter of a mile away from the KFC. Visser-Hatch told him that a black man matching
Taylor’s height had come into the BP earlier in the evening. After reviewing a surveillance
video and comparing it to a photograph of Taylor, Deputy Hinds determined that the person who
entered the BP was Taylor. According to Visser-Hatch, Taylor purchased gasoline and cigarettes
at about 9:55 p.m., and Taylor’s pants were about the same blue color as the Newport cigarettes
that he purchased.
After his arrest, Taylor gave several inconsistent stories to police. According to Taylor,
who testified at trial, he gave inconsistent stories because he was selling marijuana. When
Chadbourne was driving the Durango, he saw the truck of a man named Brian, who he intended
to sell marijuana to, parked at a gas station. He asked Chadbourne to let him out and come pick
him up when he called. After Taylor sold the marijuana to Brian, he called Simmons and waited
for Chadbourne to pick him up. Taylor testified that he, Chadbourne, and Simmons never
stopped at a Biggby Coffee.
Taylor was convicted of armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, felony-
firearm, and felon in possession. He now appeals.
II. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE
Taylor, through appellate counsel and in his pro-se brief filed pursuant to Michigan
Supreme Court Order 2004-6, Standard 4, contends that there was insufficient evidence of his
identity as the robbery to sustain his conviction. We disagree.
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A claim that the evidence was insufficient to convict a defendant invokes that defendant’s
constitutional right to due process of law. People v Wolfe, 440 Mich. 508, 514; 489 NW2d 748
(1992); In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358, 364; 90 S. Ct. 1068; 25 L. Ed. 2d 368 (1970). This Court
reviews de novo a defendant’s challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his or her
conviction. People v Meissner, 294 Mich. App. 438, 452; 812 NW2d 37 (2011). We review the
evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution to determine whether a rational trier of fact
could find that the crime’s elements were proven beyond a reasonable doubt. People v Ericksen,
288 Mich. App. 192, 196; 793 NW2d 120 (2010).
“[I]dentity is an element of every offense.” People v Yost, 278 Mich. App. 341, 356; 749
NW2d 753 (2008). Positive identification by a witness may provide sufficient evidence of
identity. People v Davis, 241 Mich. App. 697, 699; 617 NW2d 381 (2000). This Court will not
interfere with the trier of fact’s role to determine the weight of the evidence or the credibility of
the witnesses. People v Kanaan, 278 Mich. App. 594, 619; 751 NW2d 57 (2008). We must
resolve any conflicts in the evidence in the prosecution’s favor. Id. This includes conflicting
identification testimony. Davis, 241 Mich. App. at 699.
In his Standard 4 brief, Taylor contends that the prosecution must prove his case to an
“impelling certainty” because the case involved circumstantial evidence. “This is a misstatement
of the law.” Ericksen, 288 Mich. App. at 196. Circumstantial evidence and reasonable inferences
arising from that evidence can sufficiently prove the elements of a crime. Kanaan, 278 Mich
App at 622. The burden of proof in criminal cases is always the “beyond a reasonable doubt”
standard, even when the evidence is circumstantial. Ericksen, 288 Mich. App. at 196.
In this case, Candia testified that on the night of the robbery, a man in a black Durango
was behaving suspiciously in the Biggby Coffee parking lot that faced the KFC. Chadbourne
testified that Taylor drove them to the Biggby Coffee, parked there for a few minutes, then drove
them to a BP gas station. Chadbourne testified that she then drove back toward the Biggby
Coffee and dropped Taylor off at a street corner. According to Reusser, who had seen Taylor 15
or 20 times, she recognized Taylor was the robber from his eyes and voice. Kasper testified that
she did not immediately recognize the robber, but he was wearing turquoise running pants.
Visser-Hatch, the gas station clerk, testified that Taylor was wearing pants about the same blue
color as the Newport cigarettes he purchased.
We must view this evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution and resolve
any conflicting evidence in the prosecutor’s favor. We conclude that sufficient identification and
circumstantial evidence supported the trial court’s finding that Taylor was the robber. On the
basis of the identification and circumstantial evidence, a rational trier of fact could find that
Taylor was the robber beyond a reasonable doubt.
III. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE
In his Standard 4 brief, Taylor contends that both trial and appellate counsel rendered
ineffective assistance because they did not challenge the basis of the trial court’s jurisdiction. As
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far as we are able to determine,1 Taylor contends that trial and appellate counsel were ineffective
when they failed to contend that (1) the trial court did not have subject matter jurisdiction, (2) the
laws under which Taylor was charged are void because they do not have an enacting clause, and
(3) the trial court never acquired jurisdiction over Taylor because it did not serve him with notice
of the charges against him.
A criminal defendant has the fundamental right to effective assistance of counsel. US
Const, Am VI; Const 1963, art 1, § 20; United States v Cronic, 466 U.S. 648, 654; 104 S. Ct. 2039;
80 L. Ed. 2d 657 (1984). Generally, when reviewing an ineffective assistance of counsel claim,
this Court reviews for clear error the trial court’s findings of fact and reviews de novo questions
of law. People v LeBlanc, 465 Mich. 575, 579; 640 NW2d 246 (2002). But when the trial court
has not conducted a hearing to determine whether a defendant’s counsel was ineffective, our
review is limited to mistakes apparent from the record. People v Riley (After Remand), 468 Mich.
135, 139; 659 NW2d 611 (2003).
To prove that his defense counsel was not effective, the defendant must show that (1)
defense counsel’s performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness, and (2) there
is a reasonable probability that counsel’s deficient performance prejudiced the defendant.
Strickland v Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 694; 104 S. Ct. 2052; 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984); People v
Pickens, 446 Mich. 298, 302-303; 521 NW2d 797 (1994). The defendant must overcome the
strong presumption that defense counsel’s performance constituted sound trial strategy. People v
Vaughn, 491 Mich. 642, 670; 821 NW2d 288 (2012). A defendant was prejudiced if, but for
defense counsel’s errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. Id.
We reject Taylor’s claims that trial counsel was ineffective. Counsel need not make
meritless challenges. Ericksen, 288 Mich. App. at 201. None of the challenges Taylor alleges
that counsel should have made have any merit.
First, the trial court had subject matter jurisdiction over Taylor’s case because his charges
were felonies. “Michigan circuit courts are courts of general jurisdiction and unquestionably
have jurisdiction over felony cases.” People v Lown, 488 Mich. 242, 268; 794 NW2d 9 (2011).
Second, each of Taylor’s offenses are under the Michigan Penal Code, which contains an
enacting clause that satisfies the requirements of Const 1963, art 4, § 23. See MCL 750.1 et seq;
1931 PA 328. And third, Taylor was served with a felony advice of rights form on April 9,
2013, which Taylor signed before his preliminary examination on April 22, 2013. The trial court
acquires personal jurisdiction over a defendant when the magistrate binds the defendant over
after holding a preliminary examination or after the defendant waives a preliminary examination.
People v Goecke, 457 Mich. 442, 458; 579 NW2d 868 (1998). Taylor had notice of the charges,
and the trial court had personal jurisdiction over Taylor because it bound him over after holding
a preliminary examination. Because trial counsel was not required to make these meritless
challenges, we conclude that counsel was not ineffective.
1
The handwritten portions of Taylor’s brief are admirably logical and concise, but the typed
portion is nearly incoherent, containing extensive jargon and little coherent argument. However,
we have attempted to determine the basis of Taylor’s argument and address his issues.
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Further, Taylor has not established that appellate counsel rendered ineffective assistance.
A defendant has the right to the effective assistance of appellate counsel, but a defendant’s
challenge to the effectiveness of appellate counsel fails when he or she is unable to show any
possible prejudice. People v Pratt, 254 Mich. App. 425, 430; 656 NW2d 866 (2002). A
defendant cannot establish that he or she was ineffectively assisted by appellate counsel when
counsel failed to raise an issue that the defendant subsequently presented to this Court. Id. at
430-431. Because Taylor was able to raise these issues before this Court in his Standard 4 brief,
he cannot establish that any effectiveness on the part of appellate counsel prejudiced him.
Further, appellate counsel’s decision to select those issues most promising for review is a
strategic decision, People v Reed, 198 Mich. App. 639, 646-647; 499 NW2d 441 (1993), and we
conclude that counsel’s strategic decision not to raise these meritless issues was reasonable.
IV. IDENTIFICATION
In his Standard 4 brief, Taylor contends that the trial court erred by admitting Kasper and
Reusser’s identifications because they were made under impermissibly suggestive circumstances.
We disagree.
Generally, this Court reviews for clear error a trial court’s decision to admit identification
evidence. People v Kurylczyk, 443 Mich. 289, 303; 505 NW2d 528 (1993) (opinion by GRIFFIN,
J.). However, a defendant must raise his or her challenge before the trial court to preserve it.
People v Kimble, 470 Mich. 305, 309; 684 NW2d 669 (2004). Taylor did not raise this issue
before the trial court, and it is unpreserved. Therefore, we will review this issue for plain error.
People v Carines, 460 Mich. 750, 763; 597 NW2d 130 (1999). An error is plain if it was clear or
obvious, and it affected the defendant’s substantial rights if it prejudiced the defendant. Id.
The United States and Michigan Constitutions provide that the state cannot deny a person
“life, liberty, or property without due process of law.” US Const, Am XIV; Const 1963, art 1, §
17. An identification procedure can deny a defendant due process of law if it is impermissibly
suggestive. Kurylczyk, 443 Mich. at 302; Neil v Biggers, 409 U.S. 188, 196-197; 93 S. Ct. 375; 34
L. Ed. 2d 401 (1972). “In order to sustain a due process challenge, a defendant must show that the
pretrial identification procedure was so suggestive in light of the totality of the circumstances
that it led to a substantial likelihood of misidentification.” Kurylczyk, 443 Mich. at 302. When
considering the totality of the circumstances, courts should consider (1) the witness’s opportunity
to view the defendant during the crime, (2) the witness’s degree of attention, (3) the accuracy of
the witness’s prior description, (4) the witness’s level of certainty at the identification, and (5)
the length of time between the crime and the identification. Id. at 306.
In this case, Reusser identified Taylor while he was in prison clothing at the preliminary
examination.2 Accordingly, there is no question that the identification procedure was suggestive.
People v Colon, 233 Mich. App. 295, 305; 591 NW2d 692 (1998). But “[s]imply because an
2
We note that despite Taylor’s contention, Kasper did not identify him at the preliminary
examination.
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identification procedure is suggestive does not mean it is necessarily constitutionally defective.”
Id. at 304.
Reusser was able to view Taylor during the crime and paid close attention to him.
Reusser noted such details as Taylor’s eyes, nose, and the sound of his voice. Reusser was less
than five feet away from Taylor, was able to observe him from a close distance, and could hear
his voice “clearly.” Reusser’s identification did not conflict with a prior description. Reusser
was very certain about her identification:
Q. And, tell me, did you recognize that voice?
A. Oh yeah.
Q. And did you recognize the facial features you could see?
A. Definitely.
Q. And who did you recognize that as belonging to?
A. I recognize it as being him (indicating).
***
Q. Any question in your mind that it’s him?
A. No.
Finally, only a short period of time passed between the robbery and Reusser’s identification—the
robbery occurred on April 6, 2013, and the preliminary examination was on April 22, 2013.
After considering the totality of the circumstances, we conclude that the trial court did
not commit plain error by permitting Reusser to identify Taylor at the preliminary examination.
In this case, Reusser’s identification of Taylor at the preliminary hearing did not lead to a
substantial likelihood of misidentification.
We affirm.
/s/ Joel P. Hoekstra
/s/ Peter D. O’Connell
/s/ Christopher M. Murray
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