PEOPLE OF MI V EDWARD LEE KILGORE
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
UNPUBLISHED
March 23, 2004
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v
No. 244916
Wayne Circuit Court
LC No. 02-001763
EDWARD LEE KILGORE,
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: Zahra, P.J., and Saad and Schuette, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Defendant appeals as of right his conviction of first-degree home invasion, MCL
750.110a(2), and his prison sentence of eighty-five months to twenty years. We affirm.
I. FACTS
Complainant, a special education student, testified that defendant entered her home
without permission and sexually assaulted her. The trial court convicted defendant of firstdegree home invasion, but acquitted him of two counts of criminal sexual conduct in the first
degree (CSC I), MCL 750.520b. The trial court found that the evidence established that
defendant entered the home without permission with the intent to commit a felony, but
concluded that complainant’s inconsistent statements regarding the alleged sexual assault
precluded a finding of guilt on the charges of CSC I.
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
When reviewing a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence in a bench trial, we view
the evidence presented in a light most favorable to the prosecution, and determine whether a
rational trier of fact could find that the essential elements of the crime were proven beyond a
reasonable doubt. The trier of fact may make reasonable inferences from direct or circumstantial
evidence in the record. People v Petrella, 424 Mich 221, 268-270, 275; 380 NW2d 11 (1985);
People v Vaughn, 186 Mich App 376, 379-380; 465 NW2d 365 (1990).
In a bench trial, the court must make findings of fact and state separately its conclusions
of law. MCR 6.403. Findings are sufficient if it appears that the trial court was aware of the
issues in the case and correctly applied the law. People v Smith, 211 Mich App 233, 235; 535
NW2d 248 (1995). We review a trial court’s findings of fact for clear error. MCR 2.613(C).
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III. ANALYSIS
A person who breaks and enters a dwelling with intent to commit a felony, larceny, or
assault in the dwelling, a person who enters a dwelling without permission with intent to commit
a felony, larceny, or assault in the dwelling, or a person who breaks and enters a dwelling or
enters a dwelling without permission and, at any time while he or she is entering, present in, or
exiting the dwelling, commits a felony, larceny, or assault is guilty of home invasion in the first
degree if at any time while the person is entering, present in, or exiting the dwelling the person is
armed with a dangerous weapon or another person is lawfully present in the dwelling. MCL
750.110a(2).
Complainant gave inconsistent testimony regarding the alleged sexual assault, but
consistently maintained that defendant entered the home without permission. The trial court was
entitled to accept complainant’s assertion that defendant entered the home without permission,
notwithstanding the fact that it found other portions of complainant’s testimony to be insufficient
to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant committed two counts of CSC I. People v
Marji, 180 Mich App 525, 542; 447 NW2d 835 (1989). Complainant’s testimony that a sexual
assault occurred, while not sufficient to support convictions of CSC I, was sufficient to support
an inference that defendant entered the home with the intent to commit a felony. Vaughn, supra.
The evidence, viewed in a light most favorable to the prosecution, was sufficient to support
defendant’s conviction of first-degree home invasion. Petrella, supra.
The limitations on appellate review of sentences in MCL 769.34(10) are constitutional.
People v Garza, 469 Mich 431, 435; 670 NW2d 662 (2003). Defendant received a minimum
term within the guidelines range. He has not demonstrated that the trial court erred in scoring the
guidelines1 or relied on inaccurate information in imposing sentence. Defendant’s sentence must
be affirmed. MCL 769.34(10).
Affirmed.
/s/ Brian K. Zahra
/s/ Henry William Saad
/s/ Bill Schuette
1
Contrary to defendant’s assertion, the trial court did not change the scoring of Offense Variable
11, MCL 777.41, criminal sexual penetration, to reflect a finding that complainant had been
penetrated.
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