PEOPLE OF MI V MARC WAYNE POOLE
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
UNPUBLISHED
August 26, 1997
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v
No. 196913
Cass Circuit Court
LC No. 96-008633
MARC WAYNE POOLE,
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: Sawyer, P.J., and Bandstra and E. A. Quinnell*, JJ.
MEMORANDUM.
Defendant appeals by right his plea-bargained convictions of one count each of first- and third
degree criminal sexual conduct, in exchange for which a supplemental information charging him as an
habitual offender, additional counts of first- and third-degree criminal sexual conduct, aggravated
stalking, and felonious assault were dismissed. Defendant asserts on appeal that his sentences of fifteen
to forty years for first-degree criminal sexual conduct and seven to fifteen years for third-degree criminal
sexual conduct, are disproportionate to the offense and the offender, and that his trial counsel was
ineffective in failing to object to the trial court’s scoring of Offense Variable 7.
Given the merely advisory nature of the sentence guidelines, and the trial court’s nearly
unbridled discretion in scoring those guidelines, People v Mitchell, 454 Mich 145; 560 NW2d 600
(1997), defense counsel’s failure to object to the trial court’s scoring of offense variable seven cannot
be shown on this record to be prejudicial so as to establish a cognizable basis for appellate relief on a
theory of ineffective assistance of counsel. People v Pickens, 446 Mich 298; 521 NW2d 797 (1994).
In any event, it is not improper to score offense variables based on factors inherent in an offense.
People v Abbett, 443 Mich 863; 503 NW2d 656 (1993).
Where, as here, defendant has benefited from a plea bargain which reduced the number of
offenses and, as in this case, eliminated habitual offender charges, an appellate court is particularly
reluctant to find an abuse of the trial court’s sentencing discretion when the sentence is otherwise within
the limits established by law. People v Williams, 223 Mich App ___; ___ NW2d ___ (Docket No.
* Circuit judge, sitting on the Court of Appeals by assignment.
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194996, released May 13, 1997). Inasmuch as defendant could have been sentenced to life or any
term of years for the offense of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, it cannot be said on this record that
the sentences imposed are disproportionate to the offenses or the offender. People v Lemons, 454
Mich 234; 562 NW2d 447 (1997).
Affirmed.
/s/ David H. Sawyer
/s/ Richard A. Bandstra
/s/ Edward A. Quinnell
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