PEOPLE OF MI V JOEY LYNN FIELDS
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
UNPUBLISHED
February 18, 2010
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v
No. 288388
Wayne Circuit Court
LC No. 08-006187-FH
JOEY LYNN FIELDS,
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: Sawyer, P.J., and Saad and Shapiro, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Defendant appeals as of right his bench trial conviction of accosting, enticing, or
soliciting a minor for an immoral purpose, MCL 750.145a. We affirm.
Defendant first argues on appeal that there was insufficient evidence to support his
conviction because the elements of the statute were not met.
“[W]e review a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence in a bench trial de
novo and in a light most favorable to the prosecution to determine whether the
trial court could have found that the essential elements of the crime were proved
beyond a reasonable doubt.” All conflicts with regard to the evidence must be
resolved in favor of the prosecution. Circumstantial evidence and reasonable
inferences drawn from it may be sufficient to prove the elements of the crime.
[People v Wilkens, 267 Mich App 728, 738; 705 NW2d 728 (2005) (citations
omitted).]
Based on our review of the record, we conclude that the prosecution presented sufficient
evidence at trial for the trial court to conclude that defendant accosted, enticed, or solicited the
thirteen-year-old victim when defendant, in the middle of the night and wearing only boxer
shorts, woke the victim, asked her to “come over here” and do him a favor, showed the victim a
$20 bill and offered her money, kneeled next to her and asked whether she “wanted to touch a
real man,” asked her if she was sure that she did not want to touch a real man, asked her if she
had ever touched a real man before, and touched her thighs. These actions, statements, and
questions by defendant show that defendant confronted and touched the victim, sought to
influence her, and tempted her with money and the request for a favor. Further, it is undisputed
that the victim was less than 16 years of age. Finally, based on the evidence and drawing
reasonable inferences from the evidence, a rational fact finder could find beyond a reasonable
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doubt that defendant had the requisite intent. Defendant appeared to be seeking for her to
perform a sexual favor. Defendant touched the victim’s thigh, wore nothing but boxer shorts,
asked for a favor, inquired about her experience in touching “a real man,” and asked the victim if
she wanted to touch “a real man.” His conduct was purposely designed to persuade or bring
about immoral or illegal behavior. Therefore, the evidence shows that defendant intended to
induce the victim to commit an immoral act, to submit to an act of sexual intercourse or an act of
gross indecency, or to any other act of depravity or delinquency. MCL 750.145a.
Defendant also argues on appeal that there was not sufficient evidence to support his
conviction because the testimony of the witnesses conflicted. We find no inherent conflict.
Regardless, none of defendant’s arguments merit reversal on the basis of insufficient evidence.
All of defendant’s arguments relate to the judging of the credibility of witnesses. We do not
make credibility determinations when reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence. People v Avant,
235 Mich App 499, 506; 597 NW2d 864 (1999). We view the evidence in the light most
favorable to the prosecution, People v Hardiman, 466 Mich 417, 421; 646 NW2d 158 (2002),
and must “draw all reasonable inferences and make credibility choices in support of the jury
verdict,” not in support of defendant. People v Nowack, 462 Mich 392, 400; 614 NW2d 78
(2000).
Defendant also argues that the statute is unconstitutionally vague as it was applied to him
because the trial court did not specify in its decision how defendant met the elements of the
crime set forth in the statute. We review de novo challenges “to the constitutionality of a statute
under the void-for-vagueness doctrine.” People v Beam, 244 Mich App 103, 105; 624 NW2d
764 (2000). However, unpreserved claims of constitutional error are reviewed for plain error.
People v Carines, 460 Mich 750, 764; 597 NW2d 130 (1999).
A penal statute is unconstitutionally vague if (1) it does not provide fair notice of
the conduct proscribed, (2) it confers on the trier of fact unstructured and
unlimited discretion to determine whether an offense has been committed, or (3)
its coverage is overly broad and impinges on First Amendment Freedoms.
[People v Vronko, 228 Mich App 649, 652; 579 NW2d 138 (1998).]
Because defendant has not asserted any First Amendment of the United States Constitution, US
Const, Am I, violations,
the constitutionality of the statute in question must be examined in light of the
particular facts at hand without concern for the hypothetical rights of others. The
proper inquiry is not whether the statute may be susceptible to impermissible
interpretations, but whether the statute is vague as applied to the conduct
allegedly proscribed in this case. [Id. (citations omitted).]
“‘To determine whether a statute is void for vagueness, a court examines the entire text of the
statute and gives the statute’s words their ordinary meanings.’” People v Pierce, 272 Mich App
394, 398; 725 NW2d 691 (2006), quoting People v Piper, 223 Mich App 642, 646; 567 NW2d
483 (1997). “[A] criminal defendant may not defend on the basis that the charging statute is
unconstitutionally vague or overbroad where the defendant’s conduct is fairly within the
constitutional scope of the statute.” People v Rogers, 249 Mich App 77, 95; 641 NW2d 595
(2001).
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In this case, the trial court clearly indicated that there was proof beyond a reasonable
doubt that defendant accosted, enticed or solicited the victim to do something immoral, indecent,
or for sexual purposes. Although the trial court did not use the word intent when finding
defendant guilty, it found that defendant was accosting, enticing or soliciting the victim “for
possible or immoral or sexual purpose.” This statement reveals a finding of intent. “Intent is the
purpose to use a particular means to effect [a certain] result.” People v Hoffman, 225 Mich App
103, 106; 570 NW2d 146 (1997) (quotation marks and citations omitted). Moreover, defendant’s
statements, questions, and actions in this case fall squarely within the conduct proscribed in the
statute as set forth above. Pierce, 272 Mich App at 398. Consequently, defendant’s
constitutional challenge fails as applied to the facts of this case. Rogers, 249 Mich App at 95.
Affirmed.
/s/ David H. Sawyer
/s/ Henry William Saad
/s/ Douglas B. Shapiro
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