PEOPLE OF MI V JOHN L GOLSTON
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
UNPUBLISHED
December 19, 1997
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v
No. 195505
Recorder’s Court
LC No. 95-010244
JOHN L. GOLSTON,
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: O’Connell, P.J., and White and C. F. Youngblood*, JJ.
MEMORANDUM.
Defendant was involved in a motor vehicle accident causing the death of another. Following a
bench trial, he was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, MCL 750.321; MSA 28.553, and leaving
the scene of an accident. MCL 257.617; MSA 9.2317. He now appeals as of right, and we affirm.
This case is being decided without oral argument pursuant to MCR 7.214(E).
Defendant contends that the trial court erred in finding him guilty of involuntary manslaughter
where “the defendant was bound over on the specific charge of manslaughter with a motor vehicle and
the court lacked jurisdiction [over] both forms of manslaughter.” Defendant is apparently under the
impression that “manslaughter with a motor vehicle” constitutes an offense distinct from manslaughter. It
does not. As explained in People v McIntosh, 400 Mich 1, 5; 252 NW2d 779 (1977),
“[m]anslaughter committed with a motor vehicle is not separately defined as a crime by the common law
or by statute. There is only the general crime of manslaughter (MCLA 750.321; MSA 28.553) which
may, of course, be committed with a motor vehicle.” See also id., n 3.
Defendant was charged with committing manslaughter in contravention of MCL 750.321; MSA
28.553, he was bound over on the charge of manslaughter, id., and he was convicted of manslaughter.
Id. While the criminal complaint does state that defendant was charged with committing “Manslaughter
with Motor Vehicle,” it refers to MCL 750.321; MSA 28.553, as one would expect. There is no
mention of a statute criminalizing specifically “Manslaughter with a Motor Vehicle.” Therefore, we find
defendant’s contention on appeal to be without merit.
* Circuit judge, sitting on the Court of Appeals by assignment.
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Affirmed.
/s/ Peter D. O’Connell
/s/ Helene N. White
/s/ Carole F. Youngblood
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