PEOPLE OF MI V MARTINEZ WYANA
Annotate this Case
Download PDF
STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
UNPUBLISHED
November 21, 1997
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v
No. 198470
Recorder’s Court
LC No. 96-000347
MARTINEZ WYANA,
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: Hoekstra, P.J., and Wahls and Gribbs, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Defendant appeals as of right from his jury trial conviction for possession with intent to deliver
less than fifty grams of cocaine, MCL 333.7401(2)(a)(iv); MSA 14.15 (7401)(2)(a)(iv). Defendant
was sentenced to four to twenty years’ imprisonment for this conviction. We affirm.
Defendant’s first claim on appeal is that the admission of the seized narcotics into evidence
violated his rights under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution. We disagree. This
Court reviews an unpreserved outcome-determinative constitutional issue such as this de novo. People
v Catey, 135 Mich App 714, 722; 356 NW2d 241 (1984).
Here, we find that defendant did not have a reasonable expectation of privacy. U S v Acosta,
965 F2d 1248 (CA 3, 1992). The drugs were found in the common hallway of the second floor of an
apartment building. The building was accessible through two unlocked doors, to visitors, solicitors,
workmen, and other members of the public; therefore, the police officers’ presence, without authority or
invitation, was constitutional. Further, defendant’s denial of ever having possessed or owned the
narcotics and the police finding them unattended in the hallway constituted an abandonment of the
narcotics. People v Rice, 192 Mich App 512, 516; 482 NW2d 192 (1992).
Defendant next claims that he was denied a fair trial and due process because his trial counsel
was ineffective in failing to challenge the admissibility of the seized contraband. Because we have
determined that the evidence in question was properly admitted by the trial court, the defendant’s
-1
derivative claim that his trial counsel’s performance was deficient for failing to object to the admission of
that evidence must also fail. People v Briseno, 211 Mich App 11, 16-17; 535 NW2d 559 (1995).
Defendant further argues that his trial counsel failed to render effective assistance in failing to
challenge the legality of his arrest. However, defendant failed to preserve this issue for appeal because
he did not raise it in the statement of issues presented. People v Yarbrough, 183 Mich App 163, 165;
454 NW2d 419 (1990). Appellate review is therefore inappropriate. Brookshire Big Tree Assoc v
Oneida Twp, ___ Mich App ___; ___ NW2d ___ (Docket No. 190488, issued 8/22/97).
Defendant’s final claim is that the trial court abused its discretion in denying his motion for a
mistrial because the polling of the jury caused a coercive impact on a juror who expressed her
disagreement with the verdict. We disagree. This Court reviews a trial court’s denial of a motion for a
mistrial for an abuse of discretion. People v Messenger, 221 Mich App 171, 175; 561 NW2d 463
(1997).
Here, we find no impropriety because the jurors were merely responding to a poll as directed
by the court. People v Bufkin, 168 Mich App 615, 617; 425 NW2d 201 (1988). The trial court
acted properly by immediately ordering further deliberations to continue after the polling indicated
disagreement among the jurors with the verdict. MCR 6.420(C); MCR 2.512(B)(3). Defendant’s
reliance on People v Wilson, 390 Mich 689; 213 NW2d 193 (1973), and People v Curry, 77 Mich
App 85; 257 NW2d 751 (1977), is not persuasive. In Wilson, the Michigan Supreme Court held that
questions concerning the numerical division of the jury initiated by the trial court constituted reversible
error. In Curry, the trial court unintentionally discovered the numerical division and the identity of the
sole dissenter. Both situations we find distinguishable from discovery of a dissenter during a polling of
the jury, which is the situation presented here.
Affirmed.
/s/ Joel P. Hoekstra
/s/ Myron H. Wahls
/s/ Roman S. Gribbs
-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.