PEOPLE OF MI V JACK ROBERT DOBSON
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
UNPUBLISHED
March 31, 1998
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v
No. 204894
Iosco Circuit Court
LC No. 97-003440 FH
JACK ROBERT DOBSON,
Defendant-Appellee.
Before: Bandstra, P.J., and MacKenzie and N.O. Holowka*, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
The prosecutor appeals as of right from an Iosco Circuit Court order quashing the information
charging defendant with inciting or procuring one to commit perjury, MCL 750.425; MSA 28.667. We
remand. This case is being decided without oral argument pursuant to MCR 7.214(E).
The prosecutor correctly points out that credibility is a sufficiently material issue to support a
prosecution for perjury. People v Hoag, 89 Mich App 611, 619; 281 NW2d 137 (1979). However,
the prosecutor cites no authority for the proposition that testimony concerning the sexual promiscuity of
a criminal sexual conduct (CSC) victim may be generally admitted on the issue of credibility. In fact,
sexual conduct or reputation as evidence of character and for impeachment is not legally relevant and,
therefore, inadmissible. People v Hackett, 421 Mich 338, 346, 347-348; 365 NW2d 120 (1984);
see also MCL 750.520j; MSA 28.788(10); MRE 404(a)(3). Evidence of past sexual conduct is only
admissible for certain limited purposes not at issue in this case. MRE 404(a)(3); MCL 750.520j; MSA
28.788(10). Accordingly, because any testimony by witness Bridson regarding the promiscuity of the
woman who alleged sexual misconduct on the part of defendant would be inadmissible for the general
purpose of determining that woman’s credibility, because there is no indication in the record that by
using the term “tramp” defendant meant to refer to any characteristic but the alleged CSC victim’s
promiscuity, and because inadmissible evidence, by the very fact that it is inadmissible, could not have
had any effect on the course or outcome of the underlying CSC prosecution, the testimony defendant
sought to procure was not material for purposes of establishing an attempt to procure perjury.
* Circuit judge, sitting on the Court of Appeals by assignment.
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MCL 750.425; MSA 28.667; People v Honeyman, 215 Mich App 687, 691-692; 546 NW2d 719
(1996); People v Sesi, 101 Mich App 256; 300 NW2d 535 (1980). Thus, while defendant did
attempt to procure false testimony, he did not attempt to procure perjury, the false testimony he sought
to procure not being materially false testimony. Honeyman, supra; Sesi, supra.
This does not mean, however, that defendant is entitled to escape criminal prosecution for his
actions. The facts presented in this case might be reasonably construed to support a charge of
obstruction of justice (a willful hampering, obstructing, or interfering with the orderly administration of
the law), a five-year felony, MCL 750.505; MSA 28.773; People v Somma, 123 Mich App 658,
661-662; 333 NW2d 117 (1983), attempted obstruction of justice, MCL 750.92; MSA 28.287;
Somma, supra, or solicitation of obstruction of justice, MCL 750.157b; MSA 28.354(2). Because the
magistrate is authorized to allow a criminal defendant to be proceeded against on charges other than
those originally charged where the evidence adduced at the preliminary examination does not support a
bindover on the original charges, but does support prosecution on other offenses, MCL 766.13; MSA
28.931; MCL 766.14; MSA 28.932; People v King, 412 Mich 145, 152-154; 312 NW2d 629
(1981), this case should be remanded to the district court for a determination whether defendant should
be prosecuted for another offense.
We remand for proceedings consistent with this opinion. We do not retain jurisdiction.
/s/ Richard A. Bandstra
/s/ Barbara B. MacKenzie
/s/ Nick O. Holowka
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