People of Michigan v. Philip Desha Hicks

STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, UNPUBLISHED
June 19, 2018
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v No. 336959
Ingham Circuit Court
PHILIP DESHA HICKS, LC No. 16-000163-FC
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: CAMERON, P.J., and METER and BORRELLO, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Defendant was convicted by jury of assault with intent to murder (AWIM), MCL 750.83,
intentional discharge of a firearm in or at a dwelling causing serious impairment, MCL
750.234b(4), and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony (felony-firearm),
MCL 750.227b. Defendant was sentenced to concurrent prison terms of 225 to 480 months for
AWIM and 120 to 240 months for discharging a firearm, to be served consecutive to a two-year
prison term for felony-firearm. For the reasons set forth in this opinion, we affirm.
This case arises out of a shooting that occurred in the early morning of January 1, 2016,
seriously injuring 16-year-old Dalasia Jackson.1 Dalasia’s sister, Tajanay Jackson, was hosting a
party at her apartment with family members and some friends. Dalasia arrived at Tajanay’s
before midnight. Also present were Casniera Biggs, the Jacksons’ cousin; Ivana Andrews-
Demyers, Biggs’s cousin; and Lashaya Bridgeman, Andrews-Demyers’ friend.
After midnight, defendant arrived with his girlfriend, Roya Crusoe. Tajanay and Dalasia
were upset that defendant came to the party because there was a feud between defendant and
Ladale Jackson—Tajanay and Dalasia’s brother. In fact, there had been two prior shootings at
the Jackson family home, one in April 2015 and one in December 2015, and the Jacksons
believed that defendant was the shooter.
1
Because of the number of relatives with the same last name, we use first names to refer to the
members of the Jackson family involved in this case.
-1-
At the party, Dalasia asked defendant and Crusoe to leave because of the conflict with
Ladale. According to Dalasia, defendant replied, “Eff your brother,” and refused to leave.
Dalasia then asked defendant if he was the one “shooting up houses.” In response, defendant
“smirked and laughed.” A fight soon broke out among several party attendees. According to
Andrews-Demyers, Crusoe began hitting her, and defendant then threw Andrews-Demyers to the
floor and punched her twice. Dalasia and Biggs reported that defendant hit Biggs in the face
and, when she fell, stomped on her face. At one point during the fight, several lights broke and it
got dark in the house. There was a dispute at trial about whether the kitchen light was on or
whether it was “pitch black.” At that time, people started running out of the apartment. Dalasia
testified that defendant was the last to leave, and she saw him put his right hand in his pocket as
he was walking out the door. Andrews-Demyers, who had been carried out of the apartment,
was outside by her car, and she saw defendant a few feet behind her. Andrews-Demyers then
saw defendant raise a gun and shoot it toward the apartment. Bridgeman was also outside during
the shooting and described the shooter as a black man, but could not otherwise identify the
shooter. Dalasia was shot in the back and collapsed.
An investigation revealed that the shell casings from the shootings in April and
December 2015 at the Jackson home matched the shell casings from the shooting in this case.
Before trial, the prosecution filed a notice of intent to introduce the prior shootings as other-acts
evidence. After a hearing, the trial court ruled that evidence of those shootings was admissible to
show common scheme, identity, and intent.
At trial, Lansing Police Department Lieutenant Robert Backus and Lansing Police
Department Detective Michael Looney referred in their testimony to defendant’s prior warrants
and probation, and to the fact that his information was in the Michigan Department of
Corrections (MDOC) database. During Looney’s testimony, defense counsel objected and
requested to approach the bench. The trial court instructed Looney to refrain from any mention
of defendant’s criminal history. Defense counsel requested a limiting instruction, which the trial
court agreed to give. After the close of testimony, counsel moved for a mistrial, stating that the
limiting instruction about Backus’s and Looney’s testimony would only highlight the testimony.
Counsel stated that the evidence was “beyond prejudicial” and that there was no way to cure the
error. The trial court ruled that there was “not manifest necessity” for a mistrial because the
court could give a limiting instruction and because the court believed that this jury “seemed very
fair” and “willing to follow the instructions.” Defendant then declined a limiting instruction
despite the trial court’s offer to give one.
The trial court instructed the jury about the use of the other-acts evidence. The court
stated that the jury must “only think about whether this evidence tends to show that the defendant
specifically had the intent to kill or who committed the crime the defendant is charged with.”
The trial court stated that the jury could not use the evidence to prove that defendant was a “bad
person” or “likely to commit crimes.” During deliberation, the jury asked for clarification about
this instruction, stating that jurors “[did not] know what evidence and testimony was relevant” to
the MRE 404(b) instruction. The trial court reminded them to consider the evidence “only for
one of the permissible purposes set forth in the jury instruction.” The jury subsequently returned
verdicts of guilty on all charges.
-2-
On appeal, defendant first argues that the trial court erred in admitting evidence of the
April and December 2015 shootings under MRE 404(b). We disagree.
We review for an abuse of discretion the trial court’s decision to admit this other-acts
evidence. People v McGhee, 268 Mich. App. 600, 609; 709 NW2d 595 (2005); People v Orr, 275
Mich. App. 587, 588; 739 NW2d 385 (2007). A trial court abuses its discretion when it admits
evidence that is inadmissible as a matter of law, McGhee, 268 Mich. App. at 609, or when the
decision is “outside the range of reasonable and principled outcomes,” Orr, 275 Mich. App. at
588-589. When there is a preliminary question of law regarding a decision to admit evidence,
such as whether admissibility of the evidence is precluded by a statute or rule of evidence, this
Court reviews the issue de novo. People v Buie, 298 Mich. App. 50, 71; 825 NW2d 361 (2012).
Under MRE 404(b)(1), “[e]vidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to
prove the character of a person in order to show action in conformity therewith.” However, such
evidence may be admissible for nonpropensity purposes, including “proof of motive,
opportunity, intent, preparation, scheme, plan, or system in doing an act, knowledge, identity, or
absence of mistake or accident when the same is material.” Id. Admission of “other-acts”
evidence involves a four-pronged standard: (1) the prosecution must offer the evidence for a
proper purpose; (2) the evidence must be relevant; (3) the probative value of the evidence must
not be substantially outweighed by its prejudicial effect; and (4) upon request, the trial court may
provide a limiting instruction to the jury. People v VanderVliet, 444 Mich. 52, 55; 508 NW2d
114 (1993). See also People v Denson, 500 Mich. 385, 398; 902 NW2d 306 (2017).
The prosecution offers other-acts evidence for a proper purpose when its purpose is
something other than demonstrating propensity to commit crimes. VanderVliet, 444 Mich. at 63,
74; MRE 404(b)(1). The list of permissible purposes in MRE 404(b)(1) is not exhaustive.
People v Sabin (After Remand), 463 Mich. 43, 56; 614 NW2d 888 (2000). However, the
prosecution must do more than “mechanically recite a permissible reason.” McGhee, 268 Mich
App at 610.
Other-acts evidence is relevant when it has any tendency to make a material fact more or
less probable. Id.; MRE 401. A defendant’s general denial does not prevent other-acts evidence
from being relevant because a general denial puts all elements of an offense at issue.
VanderVliet, 444 Mich. at 77-79; see also People v Martzke, 251 Mich. App. 282, 293; 651 NW2d
490 (2002) (holding that a not guilty plea puts all elements of an offense at issue). Other-acts
evidence is relevant for a purpose other than a propensity for violence if it “tends to show why a
perpetrator committed a seemingly random and inexplicable attack . . . .” Orr, 275 Mich. App. at
591, quoting People v Hoffman, 225 Mich. App. 103, 108; 570 NW2d 146 (1997) (quotation
marks omitted). In Orr, the defendant was charged with murder and felony-firearm, and this
Court upheld the admission of a prior nonfatal shooting by the defendant involving the same
victim to show motive, intent, and absence of mistake. Orr, 275 Mich. App. at 588-590.
The third prong of the test in VanderVliet is simply a restatement of MRE 403.
VanderVliet, 444 Mich. at 70-72; People v Starr, 457 Mich. 490, 498; 577 NW2d 673 (1998).
The relevant portion of MRE 403 states that “evidence may be excluded if its probative value is
substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice.” Any tendency to support a material
fact at issue constitutes sufficient probative value. Starr, 457 Mich. at 497-498; People v Lane,
-3-
308 Mich. App. 38, 55; 862 NW2d 446 (2014). All evidence contrary to the defendant’s case is
prejudicial, but prejudice in the context of an MRE 403 analysis “means more than simply
damage to the opponent’s cause.” People v Vasher, 449 Mich. 494, 501; 537 NW2d 168 (1995).
This Court gives deference to the trial court’s MRE 403 analysis because of its
“contemporaneous assessment of the presentation, credibility, and effect of testimony.”
VanderVliet, 444 Mich. at 81.
In a case involving other-acts evidence under MRE 404(b), the trial court should also
consider “undue prejudice that arises because the evidence also unavoidably reflects the
defendant’s character” when performing the balancing test under MRE 403. People v Jackson,
498 Mich. 246, 259-260; 869 NW2d 253 (2015) (quotation marks and citation omitted). In Orr,
this Court held that the value of the prior shooting evidence “could not be outweighed by its
prejudicial effect” because shooting the same victim during a prior altercation was highly
probative. Orr, 275 Mich. App. at 592.
Finally, an instruction from the trial court to use the evidence only for its proper purposes
“can help mitigate any prejudicial effect” of the other-acts evidence. Id. at 593. Juries are
presumed to follow their instructions. People v Abraham, 256 Mich. App. 265, 279; 662 NW2d
836 (2003).
The trial court did not err when it admitted the other-acts evidence. Defendant put all
elements of the crimes charged at issue when he pleaded not guilty. This evidence was relevant
because it tended to make it more likely that defendant was the shooter, that he intended to fire a
gun at Tajanay’s residence, and that he intended to murder a member of the Jackson family.
McGhee, 268 Mich. App. at 610; MRE 401. The shell casings from all three shootings matched.
There was also eyewitness testimony indicating that defendant was the one who shot Dalasia.
All three shootings involved members of the Jackson family. There was also testimony about an
ongoing feud between defendant and Ladale. Because the shell casings matched for all three
shootings, the prior shootings targeted the Jackson family, and there was evidence of a feud
between defendant and Ladale, the admission of the other-acts evidence gave context to what
otherwise may have been perceived as a “seemingly random” shooting on January 1, 2016. Orr,
275 Mich. App. at 591 (quotation marks and citation omitted). If defendant committed the prior
shootings, it made it more likely that he also committed the shooting at issue and intended to
murder someone on that date. Therefore, the other-acts evidence was relevant.
Defendant argues that the probative value of the evidence was substantially outweighed
by its unfairly prejudicial effect because defendant was not a suspect in the prior shooting, there
was no evidence that he committed the prior shootings, and the credibility of the witnesses
linking him to the shell casings was highly suspect. Contrary to defendant’s arguments,
however, the scope of MRE 404(b) is not limited to evidence about arrests, charges, or
convictions, and has been used to admit uncharged acts. See, e.g., Starr, 457 Mich. at 492, 499.
Since the other-acts evidence bolstered the eyewitness testimony identifying defendant as the
shooter in this case and made it more likely that defendant also committed the shooting on
January 1, 2016, it was highly probative. Evidence that defendant had targeted the Jackson
family in two prior shootings served to negate the assertion that someone else committed this
shooting at a party where a large proportion of the attendees were members of the Jackson
-4-
family. Although the evidence was prejudicial, it was not unfairly prejudicial in light of its high
probative value. MRE 403.
Furthermore, the trial court gave a limiting instruction, instructing the jury to consider the
evidence only for the purposes of determining whether defendant committed the crime and
whether he had the intent to kill. Juries are presumed to follow their instructions, Abraham, 256
Mich. App. at 279, and a limiting instruction can help mitigate any prejudicial effects, Orr, 275
Mich. App. at 593.
Defendant also argues on appeal that the testimony from Looney and Backus about his
prior criminal history was improper other-acts evidence and that the trial court should have
granted defendant’s request for a mistrial on the basis of this testimony. We disagree. A mistrial
should be granted only when “an error or irregularity in the proceedings” causes prejudice to the
defendant or diminishes his chance of a fair trial. People v Wacklawski, 286 Mich. App. 634, 708;
780 NW2d 321 (2009). On appeal, defendant cites no authority in support of his argument that
the testimony about his criminal history was grounds for a mistrial. An issue is waived on appeal
when a defendant fails to cite any authority for his position. People v Pena, 224 Mich. App. 650,
664; 569 NW2d 871 (1997). Further, the prosecution did not solicit the testimony from Backus
or Looney about defendant’s criminal history; instead, this testimony was offered when the
prosecution asked unrelated questions. “[A]n unresponsive, volunteered answer to a proper
question is not cause for granting a mistrial.” People v Gonzales, 193 Mich. App. 263, 266-267;
483 NW2d 458 (1992), quoting People v Lumsden, 168 Mich. App. 286, 299; 423 NW2d 645
(1988). Therefore, it was not an abuse of discretion for the trial court to deny defendant’s
request for a mistrial.
Defendant next argues that trial counsel’s failure to present two witnesses, Diego Terry
and Crusoe, constituted ineffective assistance of counsel. We disagree.
To preserve a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must move for a new
trial or request a Ginther2 hearing raising the issue. People v Heft, 299 Mich. App. 69, 80; 829
NW2d 266 (2012). Defendant filed a motion in this Court to remand for a Ginther hearing,
which was denied.3 However, defendant failed to accompany the motion with any affidavits or
an offer of proof, as required by MCR 7.211(C)(1). Accordingly, this issue is unpreserved.
Generally, whether a defendant was denied the effective assistance of counsel is a mixed
question of fact and law. Heft, 299 Mich. App. at 80. We review for clear error the trial court’s
findings of fact and review de novo the trial court’s legal determinations. Id. However, because
the trial court did not hold an evidentiary hearing, this Court’s review is limited to the facts on
the record. People v Wilson, 242 Mich. App. 350, 352; 619 NW2d 413 (2000).
2
People v Ginther, 390 Mich. 436; 212 NW2d 922 (1973).
3
People v Hicks, unpublished order of the Court of Appeals, entered November 16, 2017
(Docket No. 336959).
-5-
“[A] defendant must show that his counsel’s performance fell below an objective
standard of reasonableness and that counsel’s representation prejudiced him so as to deprive him
of a fair trial.” People v Garza, 246 Mich. App. 251, 255; 631 NW2d 764 (2001). In evaluating a
claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, there is a “strong presumption” that counsel’s actions
constituted sound trial strategy. People v Trakhtenberg, 493 Mich. 38, 52; 826 NW2d 136
(2012). This Court does not “substitute [its] judgment for that of counsel on matters of trial
strategy,” nor do we assess counsel’s competence with the “benefit of hindsight.” People v
Unger, 278 Mich. App. 210, 242-243; 749 NW2d 272 (2008). To establish prejudice, a defendant
“must show the existence of a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s error, the result of
the proceeding would have been different.” People v Carbin, 463 Mich. 590, 600; 623 NW2d
884 (2001). “ ‘A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in
the outcome.’ ” Id., quoting Strickland v Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 694; 104 S. Ct. 2052; 80 L. Ed.
2d 674 (1984).
A defendant claiming ineffective assistance of counsel must establish the “factual
predicate” for his claim. People v Douglas, 496 Mich. 557, 592; 852 NW2d 587 (2014). If the
facts on which a defendant relies to support his claim are not part of the trial court record, “it is
incumbent on him to make a testimonial record at the trial court level in connection with a
motion for a new trial which evidentially supports his claim and which excludes reasonable
hypotheses consistent with the view that his trial lawyer represented him adequately.” People v
Ginther, 390 Mich. 436, 442-443; 212 NW2d 922 (1973) (quotation marks and citation omitted).
Choosing what witnesses to call is a matter of trial strategy, constituting ineffective
assistance of counsel only when failure to do so “deprives the defendant of a substantial
defense.” People v Dixon, 263 Mich. App. 393, 398; 688 NW2d 308 (2004). In Dixon, the
defendant, who was convicted of criminal sexual conduct, alleged ineffective assistance of
counsel based on counsel’s “failing to present the defense of consent.” Id. We disagreed
because the record revealed that counsel “raised the defense of consent through her cross-
examination of the complainant,” attempted “to bolster that defense by attacking her credibility,”
and raised the defense in closing argument. Id. Cf. People v Bass, 247 Mich. App. 385, 392; 636
NW2d 781 (2001) (holding that defense counsel’s performance was deficient, prejudicing the
defense, when counsel failed to call “two known supporting witnesses” and, at an evidentiary
hearing on the matter, counsel testified that she “could not locate her file on the case, could not
recall the case, could not recall whether she had the opportunity to interview [the witnesses]
before trial, could not recall why she did not call [the witnesses] or even what the defense of the
case was, and [did] not have a usual procedure that might indicate what she did on defendant’s
behalf”).
In this case, defendant has failed to establish that his counsel was ineffective. Defendant
argues that defense counsel was ineffective because he failed to call Terry and Crusoe as
witnesses. Defendant contends that defense counsel’s failure to call Crusoe was not valid trial
strategy because Crusoe was with defendant when the shooting occurred, but does not state what
Crusoe’s testimony would have been. He also contends that Terry would have testified that
defendant was not the shooter and that Andrews-Demyers had falsely identified defendant
because she was angry at defendant for breaking off a relationship with her. However, nothing
in the record suggests that Andrews-Demyers ever had a dating or sexual relationship with
-6-
defendant. Defense counsel also extensively cross-examined Andrews-Demyers, and nothing in
her testimony supports defendant’s claims.
Moreover, defendant failed to produce an affidavit or offer of proof outlining what these
witnesses’ testimony would have been. There was nothing in the record to indicate whether trial
counsel interviewed Crusoe or Terry or that either of them would have identified someone other
than defendant as the shooter. Crusoe refused to give a statement. Police officers interviewed
Terry, and defendant claims that testimony elicited from Looney at trial suggests that Terry
identified someone other than defendant as the shooter. However, Looney testified that no
information had been presented to the police that anyone other than defendant was the shooter.
Further, Looney’s testimony about his interview with Terry indicated only that Terry did not
affirmatively identify defendant as the shooter. In fact, Terry repeatedly told Looney during the
interview that he was “drunk” at the party and did not remember what happened. Because
nothing in the record indicates that defense counsel failed to investigate Crusoe or Terry or that
the failure to call Crusoe or Terry as witnesses deprived defendant of a substantial defense,
defendant cannot establish that counsel’s performance fell below an objective standard of
reasonableness.
Defendant argues that these failures undermine confidence in the outcome because,
without testimony from Terry and Crusoe, there was nothing to corroborate defendant’s claim
that he was not the shooter, and because Andrews-Demyers’ testimony was “wildly inconsistent”
with her statements to the police during her interview with them. However, even assuming
arguendo that the failure to call these witnesses fell below an objective standard of
reasonableness, defendant has not demonstrated that the failure to produce their testimony was
outcome-determinative. Defense counsel cross-examined Andrews-Demyers extensively and
pointed out a multitude of inconsistencies in her testimony, and there is nothing in the record to
support defendant’s claim that either Terry or Crusoe would have testified favorably for the
defense.
Finally, defendant argues that the verdict was against the great weight of the evidence.
We disagree.
To preserve a claim that the verdict was against the great weight of the evidence, a
defendant must move for a new trial at the trial court level. People v Cameron, 291 Mich. App.
599, 617; 806 NW2d 371 (2011). Defendant filed a motion for a new trial with his appeal, but
failed to file a motion for a new trial at the trial court level. Accordingly, this issue is
unpreserved. This Court reviews an unpreserved claim that the verdict was against the great
weight of the evidence for plain error affecting substantial rights. Id. at 618. This Court may
consider “[a]ny plain error that affects a party’s substantial rights” regardless of whether it was
brought to the trial court’s attention. Id.
A verdict is against the great weight of the evidence when “the evidence preponderates so
heavily against the verdict that it would be a miscarriage of justice to allow the verdict to stand.”
People v Lacalamita, 286 Mich. App. 467, 469; 780 NW2d 311 (2009). Generally, this Court
may vacate a verdict “only when the evidence does not reasonably support it and it was more
likely the result of causes outside the record, such as passion, prejudice, sympathy, or some other
extraneous influence.” Id.
-7-
Witness credibility is “implicit” in making a determination about whether a verdict is
against the great weight of the evidence. People v Lemmon, 456 Mich. 625, 638; 576 NW2d 129
(1998). This Court does not substitute its view on the issue of witness credibility for that of the
jury “absent exceptional circumstances.” Id. at 642. When “testimony is in direct conflict and
testimony supporting the verdict has been impeached,” we leave the determination of witness
credibility to the jury if “it cannot be said as a matter of law that the testimony thus impeached
was deprived of all probative value or that the jury could not believe it.” Id. at 643 (quotation
marks and citation omitted). “Conflicting testimony, even when impeached to some extent, is an
insufficient ground for granting a new trial.” Id. at 647.
In this case, the evidence supported the verdict. Defendant’s argument on appeal seems
to be that since Andrews-Demyers and Dalasia were the only witnesses to identify defendant as
the shooter, and their credibility was suspect, the verdict was plain error. Since witness
credibility cannot be the basis of a claim that a verdict was against the great weight of the
evidence unless it was so impeached that it was “deprived of all probative value,” Lemmon, 456
Mich. at 643, defendant’s claim fails. Dalasia testified that she saw defendant reach into his
pocket when he was leaving the apartment immediately prior to the shooting and that defendant
“smirked and laughed” when she asked him if he was the shooter on the two prior occasions.
Andrews-Demyers testified that she saw defendant shoot a gun toward the apartment. Defense
counsel also elicited testimony that Dalasia did not actually see defendant with a gun during any
of the three shootings and spent a significant amount of time attempting to impeach Andrews-
Demyers’ credibility. Despite this testimony, the jury apparently found the identification
testimony credible. While there were inconsistencies in Andrews-Demyers’ story, the witnesses’
credibility was not so impeached as to deprive their testimony of all probative value. Lemmon,
456 Mich. at 643. Therefore, the verdict was not against the great weight of the evidence.
Affirmed.
/s/ Thomas C. Cameron
/s/ Patrick M. Meter
/s/ Stephen L. Borrello
-8-