PEOPLE OF MI V BILLY DEE SCHWERWIN
Annotate this Case
Download PDF
STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
UNPUBLISHED
September 15, 2000
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v
No. 214495
Bay Circuit Court
LC No. 98-001174-FC
BILLY DEE SCHWERWIN,
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: Talbot, P.J., and Hood and Gage, JJ.
MEMORANDUM.
Defendant was convicted, following a jury trial, of two counts of third-degree criminal sexual
conduct, MCL 750.520d(1)(a); MSA 28.788(40)(1)(a). He was sentenced as an habitual offender,
third offense, MCL 769.11; MSA 28..1083, to a term of eight to thirty years’ imprisonment.
Defendant appeals as of right, and we affirm.
Defendant first argues that the trial court erred in allowing the victim’s doctor to testify regarding
the pain involved in anal penetration. We disagree. The decision to allow the admission of evidence
rests in the discretion of the trial court, and we will reverse only where there is an abuse of discretion.
People v Lukity, 460 Mich 484, 488; 596 NW2d 607 (1999). Review of the record reveals that the
prosecutor established that Dr. Varin Kule had examined hundreds or thousands of patients over the
years and performed rectal examinations. Based on this experience, Dr. Kule opined that anal
penetration by a penis would cause an individual to experience some pain. Defendant did not object to
the foundation established for the basis of the opinion. Accordingly, we cannot conclude that the trial
court abused its discretion in admitting this testimony. Lukity, supra. In any event, even if we could
conclude that an abuse of discretion occurred, Dr. Kule’s testimony was cumulative to the victim’s
testimony regarding the pain he experienced during and after the penetrations. People v Rodriquez (On
Remand), 216 Mich App 329, 332; 549 NW2d 359 (1996).
Defendant next argues that prosecutorial misconduct occurred when the prosecutor attempted
to question defendant regarding events that the trial court had ruled were inadmissible. We disagree.
The test of prosecutorial misconduct is whether the defendant was denied a fair and impartial trial.
People v Rice (On Remand), 235 Mich App 429, 434; 597 NW2d 843 (1999). We review the
-1
prosecutor’s remarks in context to determine whether the defendant was denied a fair and impartial trial.
Id. Review of the record reveals that the prosecutor did not violate the trial court’s ruling regarding
impeachment with prior convictions. Rather, the prosecutor attempted to impeach the witness regarding
a threat involving another individual. However, before the prosecutor could elicit any testimony, defense
counsel objected, and the testimony was excluded. There is no evidence that the prosecutor attempted
to deny defendant a fair and impartial trial or tried to circumvent the ruling of the trial court regarding
impeachment with prior convictions. Accordingly, defendant’s claim is without merit. Rice, supra.
Affirmed.
/s/ Michael J. Talbot
/s/ Harold Hood
/s/ Hilda R. Gage
-2
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.