PEOPLE OF MI V BRUCE ARTHUR WITKOWSKI
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
UNPUBLISHED
November 2, 1999
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v
No. 212731
Wayne Circuit Court
Criminal Division
LC No. 94-012156
BRUCE ARTHUR WITKOWSKI,
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: Whitbeck, P.J. and Gribbs and White, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Defendant Bruce Arthur Witkowski appeals as of right from the sentence imposed on his plea
based conviction of attempted child sexually abusive activity, MCL 750.145c; MSA 28.342a; MCL
750.92; MSA 28.287. We affirm.
I. Basic Facts And Procedural History
Witkowski pleaded nolo contendere to two counts of engaging in child sexually abusive activity,
MCL 750.145c; MSA 28.342a; and one count of assault with intent to commit second-degree criminal
sexual conduct, MCL 750.520g(2); MSA 28.788(7)(2). The court permitted defendant to withdraw a
plea to one count of criminal sexual conduct in the second degree, MCL 750.520c; MSA 28.788(3).
Witkowski appealed, and in People v Witkowski, unpublished opinion per curiam of the Court of
Appeals, issued November 4, 1997 (Docket No. 193315), we affirmed the conviction of assault with
intent to commit criminal sexual conduct in the second degree and one conviction of child sexually
abusive activity, but vacated the second conviction of child sexually abusive activity, and remanded for
further proceedings. On remand, Witkowski pleaded nolo contendere to attempted child sexually
abusive activity. The trial court sentenced Witkowski to forty to sixty months in prison, with credit for
865 days.
II. Sentencing Judge
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Witkowski argues that he is entitled to resentencing because, on remand, the judge originally
assigned to his case did not take his plea and impose sentence, even though the judge was reasonably
available. People v Humble, 146 Mich App 198, 200; 379 NW2d 422 (1985). We disagree. When
the case returned to the trial court on remand, the judge who accepted the original plea was not
reasonably available because he had been assigned to the Civil Division of the Wayne Circuit Court.
Witkowski did not object to the successor judge taking the plea on remand. People v Robinson, 203
Mich App 196, 197-198; 511 NW2d 713 (1993). Therefore, he waived this argument. Id.
III. Reasons For Imposing Sentence
Witkowski argues that he is entitled to resentencing because the trial court did not state its
reasons for imposing sentence. We disagree. To facilitate appellate review, the sentencing court must
articulate on the record the criteria considered and the reasons for the sentence imposed. People v
Fleming, 428 Mich 408, 428; 410 NW2d 266 (1987). The trial court stated that it had considered the
presentence report, the record, and the statements made at sentencing, and based its sentencing
decision on those factors. The consideration of the record necessarily included the statements made at
the original sentencing. At the original sentencing, the trial court stated specific reasons for imposing the
sentences that it did. The trial court’s implicit adoption of those reasons was sufficient. See People v
Alexander-El, 181 Mich App 575, 576; 449 NW2d 925 (1989).
IV. Presentence Report
Witkowski argues that he is entitled to resentencing because the presentence report on which
the trial court relied contained inaccurate information. We disagree. A defendant is entitled to be
sentenced on the basis of accurate information. People v Lee, 391 Mich 618, 639; 218 NW2d 655
(1974). The sentencing court has a duty to respond to challenges to the accuracy of information in the
report. People v Sutton, 158 Mich App 755, 761-762; 405 NW2d 209 (1987). The court may hold
an evidentiary hearing to determine the accuracy of the information, accept the defendant’s version, or
ignore the alleged misinformation when imposing sentence. People v Pierce, 158 Mich App 113, 116
117; 404 NW2d 230 (1987).
Witkowski objected to various statements in the presentence report, including statements in the
investigator’s description of the offense. The trial court made some changes Witkowski requested, and
indicated that it would not consider other statements to which he objected. The implication appears to
be that there were errors in the presentence report. However, even if any inaccurate information
remained in the presentence report after the court ordered it to be redacted, Witkowski has not
demonstrated that any allegedly untrue information influenced the trial court’s sentencing decision.
Pierce, supra. Therefore, the sentencing court did not err by relying on the presentence report.
V. Resentencing
Witkowski argues that he is entitled to resentencing on his convictions of child sexually abusive
activity and assault with intent to commit second-degree criminal sexual conduct because he pleaded
guilty to acts that are, arguably, no longer unlawful under the redefinition of “erotic nudity” in MCL
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750.145c(d); MSA 28.342a(d), effective April 1, 1995. We disagree. MCL 750.145c(d); MSA
28.342a(d), as it read when Witkowski entered his nolo contendere pleas, clearly covered his conduct.
He is not entitled to resentencing.
Affirmed.
/s/ William C. Whitbeck
/s/ Roman S. Gribbs
/s/ Helene N. White
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