PEOPLE OF MI V ERWIN RICHARDSON
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
UNPUBLISHED
September 16, 1997
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v
No. 195839
Ingham Circuit Court
LC No. 95-69721-FC
ERWIN RICHARDSON,
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: Kelly, P.J. and Reilly and Jansen, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Defendant appeals as of right from his jury trial conviction of one count of first-degree criminal
sexual conduct (CSC I), MCL 750.520b(1)(f); MSA 28.788(2)(1)(f). Defendant was sentenced to
serve thirty to sixty years in prison. We affirm.
Defendant first argues that the evidence of bodily injury was insufficient to establish the personal
injury element of CSC I. We disagree. When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence in a criminal
case, this Court must view the e
vidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution to determine
whether a rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime proven beyond a
reasonable doubt. People v Wolfe, 440 Mich 508, 515; 489 NW2d 748, amended 441 Mich 1201
(1992).
The element of personal injury may be satisfied by a showing of either bodily injury or mental
anguish. People v Himmelein, 177 Mich App 365, 376; 442 NW2d 667 (1989), citing MCL
750.520a(j); MSA 28.788(1)(j). Bodily injury and mental anguish do not constitute alternative theories
of guilt upon which jury unanimity is required. Instead, they are merely different ways of defining the
single element of personal injury. People v Asevedo, 217 Mich App 393, 396-397; 551 NW2d 478
(1996). Accordingly, because the instant case was submitted to the jury under both the bodily injury
and mental anguish definitions of personal injury and defendant does not challenge the sufficiency of the
evidence of mental anguish, we need not consider defendant’s challenge to the evidence pertaining to
bodily injury. Id. at 397-398.
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Next, defendant argues that the trial court erred when it instructed the jury that bruises are
sufficient to constitute a bodily injury for purposes of CSC I. We disagree. Instructions to the
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jury should be considered as a whole rather than extracted piecemeal to establish error. People v Bell,
209 Mich App 273, 276; 530 NW2d 167 (1995). Even if somewhat imperfect, there is no error if the
instructions fairly presented the issues to be tried and sufficiently protected the defendant’s rights. Id.
A trial court is required to instruct the jury concerning the law applicable to the case and to fully
and fairly present the case to the jury in an understandable manner. MCL 768.29; MSA 28.1052;
People v Mills, 450 Mich 61, 80; 537 NW2d 909, modified 450 Mich 1212; 539 NW2d 504
(1995). This Court, in Himmelein, supra at 377, held that evidence showing that the victim sustained
“bruises, welts, or other marks to her hands, wrists, shoulder, g
roin and buttocks” was sufficient to
support a finding of bodily injury. In doing so, the Himmelein Court explained that the Legislature
intended evidence of even insubstantial physical injuries to be sufficient to support a conviction of CSC
I. Id. at 377-378. Accordingly, we hold that the trial court’s instruction that evidence of bruises could
support a finding of bodily injury fairly presented the issues to be tried and sufficiently protected the
defendant’s rights. Bell, supra at 276.
Defendant’s third argument on appeal is that he was unfairly prejudiced by the requirement that
he wear a jail identification bracelet at trial and by the presence of a uniformed deputy sheriff in the
courtroom. We disagree.
A defendant is entitled to be brought before the court in proper attire. People v Lewis, 160
Mich App 20, 30; 408 NW2d 94 (1987). Due process is denied when jail garb impairs the
presumption of innocence. See People v Daniels, 163 Mich App 703, 710; 415 NW2d 282 (1987);
Lewis¸ supra at 30-31. However, a defendant must object to his jail garb before the jury is impaneled,
or waive his right to be tried in civilian clothes. People v Turner, 144 Mich App 107, 111; 373
NW2d 255 (1985); see also People v Porter, 117 Mich App 422, 424-426; 324 NW2d 35 (1982).
A trial court’s decision not to intervene when a defendant objects to jail garb is reviewed for an abuse
of discretion. See Turner, supra at 111. In this case, defendant did not object to the jail identification
bracelet until the second day of trial. Moreover, other than the jail identification bracelet, which
resembled a hospital identification bracelet and was referred to by defense counsel as being
“nondescript,” defendant was dressed in civilian clothes. Accordingly, we hold that the trial court did
not abuse its discretion when it chose not to intervene upon defendant’s untimely objection. Turner,
supra at 111.
In order to justify reversal of a conviction on the basis of courtroom security measures, a
defendant must show that prejudice resulted. See People v Loy-Rafuls, 198 Mich App 594, 599; 500
NW2d 480, rev’d in part on other grounds 442 Mich 915; 503 NW2d 453 (1993); People v
Robinson, 172 Mich App 650, 654; 432 NW2d 390 (1988). In this case, defendant’s right to a fair
trial was not unduly prejudiced by the presence of a uniformed deputy sheriff who may have been
standing near defendant for a period of time on one day of defendant’s four-day trial. Cf. People v
Mallory, 421 Mich 229, 249; 365 NW2d 673 (1984); Loy-Rafuls, supra at 598-599.
Defendant’s final argument on appeal is that his conviction must be reversed because of the
improper admission of rebuttal testimony from Jennifer Turnbull and Kristi Lysik. We disagree. The
admission of rebuttal evidence rests within the discretion of the trial court and will
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not be disturbed absent a clear abuse of discretion. People v Figgures, 451 Mich 390, 398; 547
NW2d 673 (1996). If a defendant fails to object to the admission of rebuttal evidence, this Court will
review the issue only for manifest injustice. People v King, 210 Mich App 425, 433; 534 NW2d 534
(1995).
Rebuttal evidence is admissible to contradict, repel, explain, or disprove evidence produced by
the other party. Figgures, supra at 399. The prosecution may not introduce rebuttal evidence that
relates only to a collateral matter. People v Humphreys, 221 Mich App 443, 446; ___ NW2d ___
(1997). In the instant case, defendant did not object to Turnbull’s rebuttal testimony regarding the slip
of paper containing her name and telephone number which was left by Steven Little on the television set
in her apartment. This testimony was presumably offered to rebut defendant’s testimony that Little
intended to steal a “boom box” when he ran back to the apartment after the incident. Because
evidence of Little’s intent in returning to the apartment was collateral to the issue of defendant’s guilt,
see People v Rosen¸ 136 Mich App 745, 759; 358 NW2d 584 (1984), it should not have been
admitted as part of the prosecution’s rebuttal case. Humphreys, supra at 446. For the same reason,
however, its admission did not amount to manifest injustice. King, supra at 433.
Finally, Lysik testified on rebuttal that, in response to her inquiry regarding defendant’s actions
after having sex with complainant, defendant told her, “What was done was done and I was ready to
go.” The trial court allowed Lysik’s testimony over defendant’s objection. On direct examination,
defendant testified that he and Little left complainant’s apartment shortly after defendant had sex with
complainant and while complainant was still in the bathroom. Because defendant’s statement, as offered
through Lysik’s rebuttal testimony, shed further light on defendant’s state of mind as he was leaving
complainant’s apartment, it was responsive to defendant’s evidence in the sense that it helped to explain
his testimony. Figgures, supra at 399. Accordingly, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its
discretion when it admitted Lysik’s rebuttal testimony. Id. at 398.
Affirmed.
/s/ Michael J. Kelly
/s/ Maureen Pulte Reilly
/s/ Kathleen Jansen
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