PEOPLE OF MI V NATHAN JUNIOR DITTIS
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
UNPUBLISHED
February 12, 2008
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v
No. 275734
Calhoun Circuit Court
LC No. 2006-003393-FC
NATHAN JUNIOR DITTIS,
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: Talbot, P.J., and Cavanagh and Zahra, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Following a jury trial, defendant was convicted of armed robbery, MCL 750.529,
conspiracy to commit armed robbery, MCL 750.157a, kidnapping, MCL 750.349, conspiracy to
commit kidnapping, MCL 750.157a, extortion, MCL 750.213, and conspiracy to commit
extortion, MCL 750.157a. He was sentenced as an habitual offender, fourth offense, MCL
769.12, to concurrent prison terms of 18 to 30 years for the armed robbery, conspiracy to commit
armed robbery, kidnapping, and conspiracy to commit kidnapping convictions, and 10 to 15
years for the extortion and conspiracy to commit extortion convictions. He appeals as of right.
We affirm. This appeal is being decided without oral argument pursuant to MCR 7.214(E).
Testimony at trial indicated that shortly after Rollin Bostwick collected $400 in cash as
rent from Ken Robinson, defendant, holding a BB gun that appeared to be a shotgun under a
cloth, approached and ordered both men to the ground. Defendant took their money and ordered
the men into Bostwick’s truck. Defendant threatened to kill everyone at Bostwick’s address
unless he called his wife and asked her to bring $8,000 to Robinson’s address. Bostwick
complied. Defendant hit Bostwick and Robinson with the gun. Bostwick’s wife called 911 to
procure help. The police arrived at the scene and eventually apprehended defendant.
Defendant’s mother testified that less than two months before the incident, defendant told
her that “Ken” wanted defendant to help him rob a landlord. She convinced him not to
participate. Approximately a week before the incident, she saw Ken at defendant’s house, Ken
took defendant outside, and they spoke for 30 minutes or longer. During defendant’s interview
with the police, he correctly informed the detective that the money was underneath a trashcan in
the room. Defendant told the detective that Ken persuaded him to help rob the landlord.
Defendant argues that the evidence was insufficient to support the conspiracy
convictions. When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence in a criminal case, this Court “must
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view the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution and determine whether a rational
trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable
doubt.” People v Johnson, 460 Mich 720, 723; 597 NW2d 73 (1999).
“Any person who conspires together with [one] or more persons to commit an offense
prohibited by law” is guilty of the crime of conspiracy. MCL 750.157a. “The crime is complete
upon formation of the agreement.” People v Justice (After Remand), 454 Mich 334, 345-346;
562 NW2d 652 (1997) (citation omitted). “No overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy is
necessary.” People v Cotton, 191 Mich App 377, 393; 478 NW2d 681 (1991). The conspiracy
may be proven by “the circumstances, acts, and conduct of the parties” and the reasonable
inferences drawn from that evidence. Justice, supra at 347-348.
Viewed in the light most favorable to the prosecution, defendant’s statement, his
mother’s testimony, and the circumstances of the incident were sufficient to establish the
existence of an agreement between defendant and Ken Robinson to commit the offenses.
Within his challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, defendant contends that the
prosecution failed to submit proof of the conspiracy independent of his statements, in violation
of the corpus delicti rule.1 The corpus delicti rule prohibits the admission of a defendant’s
inculpatory statements in the absence of “direct or circumstantial evidence independent of the
confession establishing (1) the occurrence of the specific injury . . . and (2) some criminal
agency as the source of the injury.” People v Konrad, 449 Mich 263, 269; 536 NW2d 517
(1995) (citation omitted). The rule does not apply “to admissions of fact that do not amount to
confessions of guilt.” People v Rockwell, 188 Mich App 405, 407; 470 NW2d 673 (1991). This
Court reviews a lower court’s decision regarding the application of the corpus delicti rule for an
abuse of discretion. People v King, 271 Mich App 235, 239; 721 NW2d 271 (2006).
Defendant’s mother’s testimony concerning defendant’s report that “Ken” was
attempting to persuade him to participate in robbing a landlord and her observation of a private
conversation between the men approximately a week before the incident was sufficient
circumstantial evidence of the conspiracy. The admission of defendant’s statement to the police
was not an abuse of discretion.
Within defendant’s challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, he also claims that his
conspiracy convictions violate the “no one-man” conspiracy rule. See People v Anderson, 418
Mich 31, 38; 340 NW2d 634 (1983). However, this rule applies to a joint trial of alleged coconspirators, id., and Robinson was not tried with defendant. Thus, there was no violation of this
rule.
Affirmed.
/s/ Michael J. Talbot
/s/ Mark J. Cavanagh
/s/ Brian K. Zahra
1
See People v Konrad, 449 Mich 263, 269; 536 NW2d 517 (1995).
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