PEOPLE OF MI V TAMEKA N WRIGHT
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
UNPUBLISHED
May 25, 2001
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v
No. 221308
Wayne Circuit Court
LC No. 99-000914
TAMEKA N. WRIGHT,
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: Jansen, P.J., and Zahra and Owens, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Defendant appeals as of right from her conviction of malicious destruction of property
(MDOP) over $100, MCL 750.377a; MSA 28.609(1), entered after a jury trial. We affirm. This
case is being decided without oral argument under MCR 7.214(E).
Defendant was charged with MDOP and felonious assault, MCL 750.82; MSA 28.277.
Complainant testified that defendant struck her head with an object and then shattered the rear
window of her vehicle, causing damage to the vehicle in excess of $600. The testimony of other
witnesses, while inconsistent in some respects, established that defendant struck complainant’s
vehicle. Defendant acknowledged that she threw her boot at the window and broke it, but
maintained that she did so because she was frightened that complainant was attempting to hit her
with the vehicle. The jury acquitted defendant of felonious assault, but convicted her of MDOP.
A new trial may be granted on some or all of the issues if the verdict is against the great
weight of the evidence. MCR 2.611(A)(1)(e). The test is whether the evidence preponderates so
heavily against the verdict that it would be a miscarriage of justice to allow the verdict to stand.
People v Lemmon, 456 Mich 625, 627; 576 NW2d 129 (1998). People v Gadomski, 232 Mich
App 24, 28; 592 NW2d 75 (1998). If the evidence conflicts, the issue of credibility ordinarily
should be left for the trier of fact. Lemmon, supra at 642-643. Failure to raise the issue by
moving for a new trial before the trial court waives the issue on appeal. People v Winters, 225
Mich App 718, 729; 571 NW2d 764 (1997). The issue may be considered if the failure to do so
would result in a miscarriage of justice. People v Noble, 238 Mich App 647, 658; 608 NW2d
123 (1999).
The elements of MDOP over $100 are: (1) that the property belonged to someone other
than the defendant; (2) that the defendant damaged or destroyed the property; (3) that the
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defendant did so knowing that it was wrong, and with the intent to damage or destroy the
property; and (4) that the extent of the damage exceeded $100. CJI2d 32.2.1 Intent may be
inferred from all the facts and circumstances. People v Nelson, 234 Mich App 454, 459; 594
NW2d 114 (1999).
Defendant argues that she is entitled to a new trial because the verdict was against the
great weight of the evidence. We disagree and affirm defendant’s conviction. Defendant did not
move for a new trial in the trial court, and thus has waived appellate review of this issue.
Winters, supra. The jury was entitled to determine the credibility of the witnesses. Lemmon,
supra. The evidence established that defendant damaged property belonging to complainant, and
that the damage was in excess of $100. Evidence that defendant threw a boot with sufficient
force to break the rear window of complainant’s vehicle would allow a rational trier of fact to
conclude that defendant intended to damage the property. Nelson, supra at 461-462. Failure to
give further consideration to defendant’s arguments would not result in a miscarriage of justice.
Noble, supra. Defendant is not entitled to a new trial. Gadomski, supra.
Affirmed.
/s/ Kathleen Jansen
/s/ Brian K. Zahra
/s/ Donald S. Owens
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The incident which resulted in the charges against defendant occurred in 1998, prior to the
effective date of the amended version of MCL 750.377a; MSA 28.609(1).
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