PEOPLE OF MI V STEVEN DWAYNE DAVIS
Annotate this Case
Download PDF
STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
UNPUBLISHED
July 1, 1997
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v
No. 185853
Recorder’s Court
LC No. 94-005271
STEVEN DWAYNE DAVIS,
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: Cavanagh, P.J., and Doctoroff and D.A. Teeple*, JJ.
MEMORANDUM.
Defendant was convicted by jury of possession with intent to deliver less than 50 grams of
cocaine, MCL 333.7401(1) and (2)(a)(iv); MSA 14.15(7401)(1) and (2)(a)(iv), and sentenced to four
to twenty years’ imprisonment. Defendant appeals as of right. We affirm.
Defendant argues that he was deprived of a fair trial by improper remarks made by the
prosecutor during closing and rebuttal arguments. Defendant failed to object to the remarks he now
claims are improper. Accordingly, appellate review is precluded unless the failure to consider the issue
would result in a miscarriage of justice. People v McElhaney, 215 Mich App 269, 283; 545 NW2d
18 (1996). No miscarriage of justice will result in this case absent review.
The prosecutor did not advance improper burden-shifting arguments. Instead, the prosecutor’s
remarks constituted proper argument on the inferences created by defendant’s evidence. People v
Fields, 450 Mich 94, 115; 538 NW2d 356 (1995). Additionally, the prosecutor did not appeal to the
jury to perform the civic duty of supporting the police. People v Farrar, 36 Mich App 294, 298; 193
NW2d 363 (1971). The challenged remarks constituted proper argument on the evidence. Finally, the
prosecutor did not improperly vouch for the credibility of the prosecution witnesses. People v Bahoda,
448 Mich 261, 276;531 NW2d 659 (1995); People v Wise, 134 Mich App 82, 104; 351 NW2d 255
(1984).
* Circuit judge, sitting on the Court of Appeals by assignment.
-1
Defense counsel’s failure to object to the remarks upon which defendant premises his claim of
prosecutorial misconduct did not constitute ineffective assistance. Counsel cannot be considered
ineffective for failing to take a frivolous action. See People v Gist, 188 Mich App 610, 613; 470
NW2d 475 (1991).
Affirmed.
/s/ Mark J. Cavanagh
/s/ Martin M. Doctoroff
/s/ Donald A. Teeple
-2
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.