PEOPLE OF MI V ANTHONY ANDREW STRUZYK
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
UNPUBLISHED
December 16, 1997
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v
No. 193527
Oakland Circuit Court
LC No. 95-140512 FH
ANTHONY ANDREW STRUZYK,
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: O’Connell, P.J., and White and C. F. Youngblood*, JJ.
MEMORANDUM.
Defendant was convicted of possession of less than twenty-five grams of cocaine, MCL
333.7403(1) and (2)(a)(v); MSA 14.15(7403)(1) and (2)(a)(v), and sentenced to an enhanced term of
imprisonment of four to eight years, reflecting defendant’s status as a repeat drug offender, MCL
333.7413; MSA 14.15(7413). Defendant appeals as of right. We affirm.
On the record before us, it appears that the trial court abused it discretion when it admitted
evidence of defendant’s prior drug convictions. People v Catanzarite, 211 Mich App 573, 579; 536
NW2d 570 (1995). The record does not specify whether defendant’s prior conviction for conspiracy
to deliver cocaine involved crack cocaine or powdered cocaine. Moreover, the nature of the
“narcotics” involved in defendant’s other prior conviction is not specified in the record. Absent any
specificity and substantially greater justification concerning these prior convictions, the existence of
defendant’s prior drug convictions fails to demonstrate defendant’s familiarity with powdered cocaine.
See e.g., Id. at 578-580. Instead, the prior convictions only establish that defendant may have
possessed cocaine in this case because he possessed a controlled substance or substances in the past, a
purpose prohibited under MRE 404(b). Catanzarite, supra at 580.
Nevertheless, reversal is unwarranted. We conclude that no reasonable probability exists that
the erroneously admitted evidence affected the outcome of trial in light of the strength of the evidence
against defendant. People v Sabin, 223 Mich App 530; 566 NW2d 677 (1997).
* Circuit judge, sitting on the Court of Appeals by assignment.
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Defendant’s sentence does not violate the principle of proportionality in light of defendant’s
extensive criminal record, his failure to take advantage of the rehabilitative opportunities offered him and
his status as a parolee at the time of the commission of the instant offense. People v Hansford (After
Remand), 454 Mich 320; 562 NW2d 460 (1997); People v Spicer, 216 Mich App 270, 276; 548
NW2d 245 (1996); People v Eberhardt, 205 Mich App 587, 591; 518 NW2d 511 (1994).
Affirmed.
/s/ Peter D. O’Connell
/s/ Helene N. White
/s/ Carole F. Youngblood
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