PEOPLE OF MI V OSCAR AGUIRRE CISNEROS
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
UNPUBLISHED
February 26, 2008
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v
No. 274029
Kent Circuit Court
LC No. 05-012058-FH
OSCAR AGUIRRE CISNEROS,
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: Talbot, P.J., and Cavanagh and Zahra, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Following a jury trial, defendant appeals as of right from his conviction of possession
with intent to distribute 5 to 45 kilograms of marijuana, MCL 333.7401(2)(d)(ii). He was
sentenced as a second habitual offender, MCL 333.7413(2), to a prison term of 3 years, 6 months
to 14 years. We affirm. This appeal is being decided without oral argument pursuant to MCR
7.214(E).
Defendant first argues that the trial court erred when it allowed a police detective to
testify that defendant’s co-conspirators pleaded guilty to the same offense with which defendant
was charged. Because defendant did not object to the testimony, the issue is unpreserved. MRE
103(a)(1). In a criminal case, unpreserved error is reviewed to determine if a defendant has
demonstrated plain error affecting a substantial right. People v Taylor, 252 Mich App 519, 523;
652 NW2d 526 (2002). Reversal is warranted only if the error resulted in the conviction of an
innocent defendant or the error seriously affected the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of
judicial proceedings. Id.
Generally, the conviction of another person involved in a criminal enterprise is not
admissible at a defendant’s separate trial. People v Kincade, 162 Mich App 80, 84; 412 NW2d
252 (1987). Therefore, the detective’s testimony regarding the co-conspirators’ guilty pleas was
not admissible. However, defendant did not demonstrate that the error affected his substantial
rights. Defendant’s defense was that, although he lived in the apartment with the coconspirators, and possibly picked up a box containing marijuana, there was no evidence that he
was involved with the marijuana and his mere presence in the apartment did not prove
possession. Defense counsel argued, in his closing argument, that the other three men pleaded
guilty and took responsibility for trafficking in marijuana. In contrast, defendant did not plead
guilty because he was not responsible for the drugs. Because the co-conspirators’ guilty pleas
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supported defendant’s defense rather than being used as substantive evidence of defendant’s
guilt, the error did not prejudice defendant and was not plain error affecting substantial rights.
Defendant next argues that he was entitled to credit for time served while awaiting trial,
although he was on parole at the time he committed the offense, because there is no evidence that
he was held on a parole detainer and because bond was set. As defendant recognizes, those with
parole detainers are not entitled to credit for time served on their new sentences. People v
Seiders, 262 Mich App 702, 705; 686 NW2d 821 (2004). However, here the lower court record
indicates that defendant was held on a parole detainer. A pre-bond report, signed by defendant,
states that a parole detainer was in place. In addition, at the end of the preliminary hearing,
defendant’s attorney stated that there was no question on bond because defendant had a parole
hold.
Furthermore, defendant’s failure to raise this issue before the lower court severely
prejudices the prosecution, which was not given the opportunity to present evidence that a parole
detainer was placed on defendant. Defendant did not object to the presentence information
report, which recommended denying credit for time served due to defendant’s parole status, and
did not raise this issue in his motion for resentencing. He, therefore, cannot now complain about
a lack of record regarding a parole detainer.
Affirmed.
/s/ Michael J. Talbot
/s/ Mark J. Cavanagh
/s/ Brian K. Zahra
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