PEOPLE OF MI V MICHAEL JAMES SPOONER
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
UNPUBLISHED
February 28, 1997
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v
No. 185162
Genesee Circuit
LC No. 94-050805-FC
MICHAEL JAMES SPOONER,
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: D.F. Walsh,* P.J., and R.P. Griffin** and W.P. Cynar,* JJ.
MEMORANDUM.
Defendant pleaded guilty in mid-trial to second-degree murder, MCL 750.317; MSA 28.549,
armed robbery, MCL 750.529; MSA 28.797, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, MCL 750.157a;
MSA 28.354(1), possession of a firearm by a felon, MCL 750.224f; MSA 28.421(6), possession of a
firearm during the commission of a felony, MCL 750.227b; MSA 28.424(2), and habitual offender,
second offense, MCL 769.10; MSA 28.1082. He was sentenced in accordance with a plea-based
sentence agreement under People v Cobbs, 443 Mich 276; 505 NW2d 208 (1993), to concurrent
terms of life imprisonment for the second-degree murder, armed robbery, and conspiracy to commit
armed robbery convictions, and 4 to 7-1/2 years’ imprisonment for the possession of a firearm by a
felon conviction, to be served consecutive to a two-year term for the felony-firearm conviction. He
appeals as of right, asserting that he is entitled to withdraw his guilty pleas because of ineffective
assistance of counsel. We affirm. This case has been decided without oral argument pursuant to MCR
7.214(A).
Although defendant alleges that trial counsel misinformed him regarding his parole eligibility date,
he failed to create a separate record factually supporting this claim. See People v Blythe, 417 Mich
*Former Court of Appeals judges, sitting on the Court of Appeals by assignment pursuant to
Administrative Order 1996-10.
**Former Supreme Court justice, sitting on the Court of Appeals by assignment pursuant to
Administrative Order 1996-10.
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430, 438; 339 NW2d 399 (1983). In any event, even if such erroneous advice was given, defendant
did not allege in his motion to withdraw or in his supporting affidavit, nor does he assert on appeal, that
had he been correctly informed about his parole eligibility date, he would not have pleaded guilty but
instead would have proceeded with his ongoing trial. Nor has defendant alleged any facts supporting a
conclusion that eligibility for parole after ten years, but not fifteen, made a difference in his decision to
plead guilty. Accordingly, defendant has failed to establish the requisite prejudice necessary to prevail
on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. Strickland v Washington, 466 US 668, 687; 104 S Ct
2052; 80 L Ed 2d 674 (1984); People v Pickens, 446 Mich 298; 521 NW2d 797 (1994); People v
Corteway, 212 Mich App 442, 444-445; 538 NW2d 60 (1995). Indeed, we find this case
indistinguishable from Hill v Lockhart, 474 US 52; 106 S Ct 366; 88 L Ed 2d 203 (1985), wherein
the United States Supreme Court held that a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel had not been
established under identical circumstances.
Affirmed.
/s/ Daniel F. Walsh
/s/ Robert P. Griffin
/s/ Walter P. Cynar
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