People of Michigan v. Robert Franklin Jones

STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, UNPUBLISHED
April 12, 2018
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v No. 333498
Macomb Circuit Court
ROBERT FRANKLIN JONES, LC No. 2015-003810-FH
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: SAWYER, P.J., and HOEKSTRA and MURRAY, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Defendant pleaded guilty to delivery of less than 50 grams of heroin, MCL
333.7401(2)(a)(iv), resisting arrest, MCL 750.81d(1), and possession of marihuana, MCL
333.7403(2)(d). The trial court sentenced defendant to 48 to 480 months’ imprisonment for the
delivery of heroin conviction, second offense, MCL 333.7413(2), and 81 days for the resisting
arrest and possession of marihuana convictions. Defendant filed a delayed application for leave
to appeal, which this Court denied.1 Defendant then sought leave to appeal in the Michigan
Supreme Court. In lieu of granting leave to appeal, the Supreme Court remanded this case “to
the Court of Appeals for consideration as on leave granted.” People v Jones, 500 Mich. 945; 890
NW2d 673 (2017). On remand, because the trial court erred in scoring offense variables (OVs) 3
and 9, we vacate defendant’s sentences and remand to the trial court for resentencing.
On October 1, 2015, defendant sold less than 50 grams of heroin to an undercover police
officer. After the sale was completed, the undercover officer signaled other officers present in
the area to arrest defendant. When the other officers approached the car and announced their
presence, defendant punched the undercover officer in the face. He then resisted the police as
they tried to arrest him, and he had to be restrained using “muscling techniques.” A search of
defendant’s person revealed a bag filled with a small amount of marihuana. As noted, defendant
pleaded guilty to delivery of less than 50 grams of heroin, resisting arrest, and possession of
marihuana. The case is now before us on remand from the Supreme Court.
1
People v Jones, unpublished order of the Court of Appeals, entered August 24, 2016 (Docket
No. 333498).
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On appeal, defendant argues that OVs 3, 9, and 15 were improperly scored. “To preserve
a sentencing issue for appeal, a defendant must raise the issue ‘at sentencing, in a proper motion
for resentencing, or in a proper motion to remand filed in the court of appeals.’ ” People v Clark,
315 Mich. App. 219, 223; 888 NW2d 309 (2016), quoting MCR 6.429(c). Defendant objected to
the scoring of OV 15 at sentencing, but he did not object to the scoring of OV 3 or OV 9, and
defendant did not file a motion for resentencing or a proper motion to remand in this Court.
Therefore, defendant’s claim is preserved with respect to OV 15, but his arguments are
unpreserved with respect to OV 3 and OV 9.
For preserved sentencing errors, “the trial court’s findings of fact are reviewed for clear
error and must be supported by a preponderance of the evidence.” People v McChester, 310
Mich. App. 354, 358; 873 NW2d 646 (2015). “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.” People v
Hardy, 494 Mich. 430, 438; 835 NW2d 340 (2013). “When calculating the sentencing
guidelines, a court may consider all record evidence, including the contents of a PSIR, plea
admissions, and testimony presented at a preliminary examination.” McChester, 310 Mich. App.
at 358.
Unpreserved scoring errors are reviewed for plain error affecting substantial rights.
People v Chelmicki, 305 Mich. App. 58, 69; 850 NW2d 612 (2014). “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.” People v
Carines, 460 Mich. 750, 763; 597 NW2d 130 (1999). “The third requirement generally requires a
showing of prejudice, i.e., that the error affected the outcome of the lower court proceedings.”
Id.
I. OV 3
Defendant argues that OV 3 should not have been scored at five points because the injury
to the undercover police officer occurred after the sentencing offense was complete. We agree.
OV 3 addresses physical injury to a victim. MCL 777.33(1). The trial court must assess
five points if “[b]odily injury not requiring medical treatment occurred to a victim.” MCL
777.33(1)(e). Where “[n]o physical injury occurred to a victim,” a score of zero points is
required. MCL 777.33(1)(f). “ ‘[B]odily injury’ encompasses anything that the victim would,
under the circumstances, perceive as some unwanted physically damaging consequence.”
People v McDonald, 293 Mich. App. 292, 298; 811 NW2d 507 (2011).
“Offense Variables are properly scored by reference only to the sentencing offense except
when the language of a particular offense variable statute specifically provides otherwise.”
People v McGraw, 484 Mich. 120, 135; 771 NW2d 655, 664 (2009). “OV 3 does not specifically
provide otherwise; therefore, we can only take into consideration defendant's sentencing offense
for purposes of scoring OV 3.” People v Biddles, 316 Mich. App. 148, 165; 896 NW2d 461
(2016). Delivery of a controlled substance in violation of MCL 333.7401 is complete upon
delivery of the controlled substance to another person. See People v McBurrows, ___ Mich App
___, ___; ___ NW2d ___ (2017) (Docket No. 338552); slip op at 4.
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In this case, the trial court scored OV 3 at five points because defendant struck the
undercover officer in the face with a closed fist, causing a minor abrasion. However, this injury
occurred after defendant delivered the heroin to the undercover officer. Consequently, the trial
court erred by using an injury that occurred after the completion of the sentencing offense as a
basis to score OV 3.2 See McGraw, 484 Mich. at 133; Biddles, 316 Mich. App. at 165.
II. OV 9
Next, defendant argues that OV 9 was improperly assessed 10 points because the danger
to multiple victims occurred after the sentencing offense was complete. The prosecution
concedes that OV 9 should have been assessed zero points, and we agree.
OV 9 addresses the number of victims. MCL 777.39(1). OV 9 must be scored 10 points
when “[t]here were 2 to 9 victims who were placed in danger of physical injury or death . . . .”
MCL 777.39(1)(c). The trial court should “[c]ount each person who was placed in danger of
physical injury or loss of life . . . as a victim.” MCL 777.39(2)(a). However, in scoring OV 9, a
trial court must not consider conduct after the sentencing offense has been completed. McGraw,
484 Mich. at 121-122, 133-134.
In this case, when resisting arrest, defendant caused a physical altercation that placed
multiple officers in danger of physical injury. However, as with OV 3, the threat to multiple
victims occurred after defendant delivered heroin to the undercover officer and thus after the
sentencing offense had been completed. See McBurrows, slip op at 4. There is no evidence that
anyone was in danger of physical injury or death based on defendant’s conduct during the
delivery of heroin. See McGraw, 484 Mich. at 133-134. Consequently, the trial court erred by
scoring OV 9 at 10 points because, while the officers were in physical danger, the danger to the
officers arose after the commission of the sentencing crime. See id.
III. OV 15
Finally, defendant argues that the trial court erred by scoring OV 15 at five points.
Specifically, defendant asserts that the trial court erred by considering defendant’s additional
sales of heroin, apart from the sentencing offense, to conclude that defendant had engaged in
2
In contrast to this conclusion, the prosecution emphasizes that, under MCL 777.33(2)(d), OV 3
may not be scored five points “if bodily injury is an element of the sentencing offense.” From
this directive, the prosecution argues that the reverse must be true, i.e., if bodily injury is not an
element of the sentencing offense it must be scored. Because bodily injury is not an element of
delivering heroin, the prosecution asserts that the bodily injury to the officer is properly scored
under OV 3. However, whether bodily injury is an element of the offense is a separate question
from whether the legislature intended OV 3 to be scored based on conduct that occurred after the
sentencing offense had been completed. Because the legislature did not intend for OV 3 to be
scored based on conduct occurring after the completion of the offense, see Biddles, 316 Mich
App at 165, the injury to the officer could not be used to score OV 3 notwithstanding the fact that
bodily injury is not an element of the sentencing offense.
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“trafficking.” Defendant’s argument is without merit because his delivery of heroin warranted a
score of five points under OV 15.
OV 15 addresses aggravated controlled substance offenses. MCL 777.45(1). Under OV
15, the trial court must score five points when:
[t]he offense involved the delivery or possession with intent to deliver marihuana
or any other controlled substance or a counterfeit controlled substance or
possession of controlled substances or counterfeit controlled substances having a
value or under such circumstances as to indicate trafficking[.] [MCL
777.45(1)(h).]
As used in this provision, “deliver” “means the actual or constructive transfer of a controlled
substance from 1 individual to another regardless of remuneration.” MCL 777.45(2)(a).
“‘Trafficking’ means the sale or delivery of controlled substances or counterfeit controlled
substances on a continuing basis to 1 or more other individuals for further distribution.” MCL
777.45(2)(c).
Defendant contends that the trial court erred by scoring OV 15 at five points because a
finding of “trafficking” can be made only if his sales of heroin apart from the sentencing offense
are considered. However, his argument is based on a misapprehension of MCL 777.45(1)(h) and
the mistaken belief that OV 15 can only be scored at five points if trafficking is involved.
Contrary to defendant’s argument, in People v Jackson, 497 Mich. 857, 858; 852 NW2d 897
(2014), our Supreme Court explained:
A proper reading of MCL 777.45(1)(h) reveals two alternative bases for scoring
that OV at five points: (1) when the offense involved the delivery or possession
with intent to deliver marihuana or any other controlled substance or counterfeit
controlled substance; and (2) when the offense involved possession of controlled
substances or counterfeit controlled substances having a value or under such
circumstances as to indicate trafficking.
Considering the alternative bases for scoring OV 15 at five points, the trial court did not clearly
err by scoring five points because defendant delivered heroin when he actually transferred
control of heroin from himself to the undercover officer. MCL 777.45(2)(a). This delivery of
heroin—regardless of whether the circumstances were indicative of trafficking—supports the
scoring of OV 15 at five points. MCL 777.45(1)(h); Jackson, 497 Mich. at 858.
Although OV 15 was properly scored, defendant is entitled to resentencing because the
errors in scoring OV 3 and OV 9 affect his advisory minimum sentence range. Specifically,
defendant received a total OV score of 35 points, resulting in an advisory minimum sentencing
range of 34 to 67 months. See MCL 777.13m; MCL 777.65. When OV 3 and OV 9 are properly
scored, defendant’s OV score is reduced to 20 points and the applicable advisory minimum
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sentencing guidelines range is 19 to 38 months.3 See MCL 777.13m; MCL 777.65. Because the
trial court’s scoring error with respect to OV 3 and OV 9 affects the appropriate guidelines
range, defendant is entitled to resentencing. 4 People v Francisco, 474 Mich. 82, 89 n 8; 711
NW2d 44 (2006); Biddles, 316 Mich. App. at 165.
Defendant’s sentences are vacated and the case is remanded for resentencing. We do not
retain jurisdiction.
/s/ David H. Sawyer
/s/ Joel P. Hoekstra
/s/ Christopher M. Murray
3
Of course, because defendant is a repeat drug offender, MCL 333.7413(2) applies, and the trial
court has discretion to double this minimum range. People v Williams, 268 Mich. App. 416, 430
& n 3; 707 NW2d 624 (2005).
4
On appeal, defendant argues that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the scoring
of OV 3 and OV 9. However, given that we have already granted defendant relief related to the
trial court’s errors in scoring OV 3 and OV 9, we need not consider defendant’s ineffective
assistance of counsel claim. See People v Pointer-Bey, __ Mich App __, __; __ NW2d __
(2017) (Docket No. 333234); slip op at 6.
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