PEOPLE OF MI V HARRIETTE LOUISE SMITH
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
UNPUBLISHED
June 15, 1999
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v
HARRIETTE LOUISE SMITH, a/k/a HARRIETTE
LOUISE BURTON-SMITH,
Nos. 211611 & 211612
Kalamazoo Circuit Court
LC Nos. 92-001586 FH
95-000590 FH
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: Griffin, P.J., and Wilder and R. J. Danhof*, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
In 1993, defendant pleaded no contest to a charge of child abuse, third degree, in violation of
MCL 750.136b(4); MSA 28.331(2). Defendant was sentenced to six months in jail and twenty-four
months’ probation. In 1995, defendant pleaded guilty to operating a motor vehicle while under the
influence of intoxicating liquor in violation of MCL 257.625; MSA 9.2325. Defendant was sentenced
to twelve months in jail and sixty months’ probation. Defendant’s probation under the child abuse
charge was extended in 1996 for twelve months and again in 1997 for an additional twelve months.
In March 1997, defendant was sentenced for violating the terms of her probation by failing to
report to her probation officer and consuming alcoholic beverages. Defendant’s probation was
continued; however, the court imposed an additional term to her probation, that defendant enter and be
successfully discharged from the Southwest Women’s Residential Program. Defendant entered the
program but failed to complete phase IV of the program and was discharged from the program due to
noncompliance.
A hearing was held on the probation violation charge and the trial judge found that defendant
had violated a condition of her probation by failing to successfully complete the program. The court
revoked defendant’s probation and sentenced her to sixteen to twenty-four months’ imprisonment for
the child abuse, third degree, conviction, and two to five years’ imprisonment for the OUIL, third
offense, conviction. Defendant appeals as of right. We affirm.
* Former Court of Appeals judge, sitting on the Court of Appeals by assignment.
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Defendant first contends that her probation violation conviction should be reversed because the
original trial judge that presided over one of her cases did not preside over her probation violation
hearing in the same matter. We disagree.
In the instant case, defendant’s oldest felony file was reassigned by virtue of an administrative
order to the trial judge who handled her most recent felony file. The reassignment was prompted by the
ongoing court reorganization and ensuing transition into the family and trial divisions of the circuit court.
Defendant never raised an objection to the reassignment order.
Defendant’s failure to object forecloses appellate review of this issue. This Court will not permit
a defendant to wait until after a judge has found a probation violation and then object because the
matter has proceeded before the wrong judge. People v McIntosh, 124 Mich App 705, 709-710;
335 NW2d 129 (1983). We do not otherwise find that the alleged error was decisive of the outcome
of the case or resulted in a miscarriage of justice. People v Grant, 445 Mich 535, 548-554; 520
NW2d 123 (1994). As noted above, the trial judge who ultimately revoked defendant’s probation was
familiar with defendant, her criminal history, and progress on probation and was thus qualified to assess
defendant’s current status. Defendant’s argument is therefore without merit.
Next, defendant contends that the lower court failed to properly articulate its reasons for
imposing the sentence. We disagree.
To aid in appellate review and to avoid injustice resulting from errors in sentencing, the trial
court must state on the record the criteria considered and the facts supporting the sentence imposed.
People v Poppa, 193 Mich App 184, 189-190; 483 NW2d 667 (1992). However, the articulation
requirement can be satisfied if the court acknowledges that it is following the guidelines or relying on a
statutorily proscribed minimum. People v Broden, 428 Mich 343, 354; 408 NW2d 789 (1987);
Poppa, supra at 190. In the instant case, the only comments made by the lower court regarding the
sentencing was “[a]ll right. Well, I’ve read the presentence report, and recommendation. And, it
appears that you’ve had a number of opportunities, haven’t been successful with ‘em.” Based on the
facts detailed in the presentence investigation report, we conclude that this is a sufficient statement of the
facts and reasons for the imposition of the sentence.
Last, defendant contends that the prosecutor made an impermissible statement when, before
sentencing, the prosecutor stated that defendant had “kicked a police officer in the testicles during the
pendency of these cases.” We disagree. This incident was contained in the presentence report.
Defendant failed to object to the information and it was not stricken due to inaccuracy; therefore, it was
information that could be considered by the court. MCR 6.425(D)(3).
Affirmed.
/s/ Richard Allen Griffin
/s/ Kurtis T. Wilder
/s/ Robert J. Danhof
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