PEOPLE OF MI V ANDRE MARTEZ STALLWORTH
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
UNPUBLISHED
February 8, 2007
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v
No. 266833
Oakland Circuit Court
LC No. 2004-198499-FC
ANDRE MARTEZ STALLWORTH,
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: Sawyer, P.J., and Fitzgerald and Donofrio, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Defendant was convicted by a jury of three counts of armed robbery, MCL 750.529, one
count each of felon in possession of a firearm, MCL 750.224f, and felonious assault, MCL
750.82, and five counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, MCL
750.227b. The trial court sentenced defendant as an habitual offender, second offense, MCL
769.10, to concurrent prison terms of 29 to 60 years for each of the armed robbery convictions, 3
to 7-1/2 years for the felon-in-possession conviction, and 2 to 6 years for the felonious assault
conviction, to be served consecutive to five concurrent two-year terms of imprisonment for the
felony-firearm convictions. He appeals as of right and claims ineffective assistance of counsel
relative to the offense variable scoring at sentencing. Because the record supports the trial
court’s scoring of all four offense variables challenged on appeal, defendant has not established
that his attorney was ineffective and we affirm.
Defendant argues that defense counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the trial
court’s scoring of the sentencing guidelines. Because defendant did not raise this issue in an
appropriate motion in the trial court, our review is limited to errors apparent on the record.
People v Snider, 239 Mich App 393, 423; 608 NW2d 502 (2000) To establish ineffective
assistance of counsel, defendant must show both that counsel’s performance fell below an
objective standard of reasonableness and resulting prejudiced. People v Pickens, 446 Mich 298,
338; 521 NW2d 797 (1994). To establish prejudice, defendant must show that there is a
reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s error, the result of the proceeding would have been
different. People v Johnnie Johnson, Jr, 451 Mich 115, 124; 545 NW2d 637 (1996).
Defense counsel was not ineffective for not objecting to the trial court’s use of
information not reflected in the jury’s verdict to score the guidelines. In support of this
argument, defendant relies on Blakely v Washington, 542 US 296; 124 S Ct 2531; 159 L Ed 2d
403 (2004), in which the United States Supreme Court struck down as violative of the Sixth
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Amendment a determinate sentencing scheme in which the sentencing judge was allowed to
increase the defendant’s maximum sentence on the basis of facts that were not reflected in the
jury’s verdict or admitted by the defendant. Our Supreme Court has held that Blakely does not
apply to Michigan’s indeterminate sentencing scheme. People v Drohan, 475 Mich 140; 715
NW2d 778 (2006); People v Claypool, 470 Mich 715, 730 n 14; 684 NW2d 278 (2004).
Therefore, counsel was not ineffective for not objecting on this basis.
Defendant also argues that defense counsel was ineffective for not objecting to the
scoring of offense variables (OV) 3, 4, 9, and 19. A trial court has discretion in determining the
number of points to be scored, provided that evidence of record adequately supports a particular
score. People v Endres, 269 Mich App 414, 417; 711 NW2d 398 (2006). “Scoring decisions for
which there is any evidence in support will be upheld.” Id.
OV 3 assesses points for physical injury to the victim, MCL 777.33. Ten points are to be
scored if “[b]odily injury requiring medical treatment occurred to a victim.” Five points are
scored if bodily injured occurred not requiring medical treatment, and no points should be scored
if no physical injury occurred to a victim. The phrase “requiring medical treatment” refers only
to the need for medical treatment, not whether the victim actually obtained treatment. MCL
777.33(3). The presentence report indicates that one of the robbery victims, Norbert Fillip,
suffered an injury to his shoulder after defendant struck him in the back of the neck and in the
head area with a pistol, knocking him to the ground. In addition, the trial court noted at
sentencing that bystanders were injured during the police chase and crash that occurred when
defendant and his codefendant fled from the police. Defendant has not demonstrated that
counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the trial court’s scoring of OV 3.
The trial court scored OV 4 at ten points. Pursuant to MCL 777.34(1)(a), OV 4 should be
scored at ten points where “[s]erious psychological injury requiring professional treatment
occurred to a victim.” A ten-point score is proper if the serious psychological injury may require
professional treatment. The fact that treatment has not been sought is not conclusive. MCL
777.34(2). In People v Apgar, 264 Mich App 321, 329; 690 NW2d 312 (2004), lv gtd 474 Mich
1099 (2006), this Court held that OV 4 was properly scored at ten points where “the victim
testified that she was fearful during the encounter with defendant.” In this case, Beverly Drain, a
robbery victim, testified that she was very afraid for herself and her daughter, particularly
because defendant pointed at her stomach and she observed defendant push another victim down.
Drain testified at trial that while she was not physically hurt, she was “emotionally hurt” because
defendant “petrified” her “to death.” We conclude from Drain’s trial testimony that the level of
her fear may require professional treatment and supports the trial court’s score of ten points for
OV 4. Therefore, counsel was not ineffective for failing to object to this scoring decision.
The trial court scored 25 points for OV 9, which is based on the number of victims. The
instructions provide that 25 points are to be scored if there are ten or more victims. MCL
777.39(1)(b). Each person who was placed in danger of injury or loss of life is a victim. MCL
777.39(2)(a). See People v Morson, 471 Mich 248, 261-262; 685 NW2d 203 (2004). In this
case, there were five victims inside the store that was robbed, at least three police officers were
directly involved in the police chase that led to defendant’s apprehension, and numerous other
civilians were also placed in danger of injury during the police chase and resulting crash.
Because it is apparent that more than ten individuals were placed in danger of injury, defense
counsel was not ineffective for not challenging the trial court’s 25-point score for OV 9.
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The trial court scored ten points for OV 19. Ten points are to be scored for this variable
where “[t]he offender otherwise interfered with or attempted to interfere with the administration
of justice.” In People v Barbee, 470 Mich 283, 287-288; 681 NW2d 348 (2004), our Supreme
Court held that the phrase “interfered with or attempted to interfere with the administration of
justice” includes more than just judicial proceedings. It can include conduct affecting the duties
fulfilled by law enforcement officers, including their investigation of crimes. Therefore,
“[c]onduct that occurs before criminal charges are filed can form the basis for interference, or
attempted interference, with the administration of justice, and OV 19 may be scored for this
conduct where applicable.” Id. at 288.
Defendant’s reliance on People v Deline, 254 Mich App 595, 597-598; 658 NW2d 164
(2002), to argue that his prearrest behavior cannot support the trial court’s scoring of OV 19 is
misplaced. Our Supreme Court vacated in part this Court’s decision in Deline “to the extent that
it is inconsistent with the Court’s decision in People v Barbee, 470 Mich 283 (2004).” People v
Deline, 470 Mich 895; 683 NW2d 669 (2004). In this case, defendant interfered with the law
enforcement officers who were trying to arrest him by participating in a multi-city police chase
that resulted in a crash. During that chase, a gun used in the robbery was thrown from the
vehicle that defendant occupied. Under Barbee, this evidence was sufficient to support the trial
court’s scoring of OV 19 at ten points.
Because the record supports the trial court’s scoring of all four offense variables
challenged on appeal, defendant has not established that his attorney was ineffective for failing
to object to the court’s scoring decisions. See People v Harmon, 248 Mich App 522, 531; 640
NW2d 314 (2001).
Affirmed.
/s/ David H. Sawyer
/s/ E. Thomas Fitzgerald
/s/ Pat M. Donofrio
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