PEOPLE OF MI V DERRICK LAMONT WILLIAMS
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
FOR PUBLICATION
November 17, 2000
9:10 a.m.
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v
No. 224612
Mason Circuit Court
LC Nos. 98-000396-FH
98-000415-FH
Updated Copy
January 5, 2001
DERRICK LAMONT WILLIAMS,
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: Fitzgerald, P.J., and Hood and McDonald, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Defendant pleaded guilty to a charge of resisting arrest, MCL 750.479; MSA 28.747, but
failed to appear for sentencing. He was subsequently arrested and charged with absconding on a
felony bond, MCL 750.199a; MSA 28.396(1). Defendant moved to quash the information on the
ground that the misdemeanor offense of resisting arrest, which is punishable by imprisonment for
not more than two years, could not support a charge of absconding on a felony bond. After the
trial court denied the motion to quash, defendant pleaded guilty of the absconding on bond
charge and was sentenced to serve two consecutive terms of two years' probation with six months
to be served in jail. Defendant appeals by leave granted. We vacate the absconding conviction
and sentence and remand for further proceedings.
The purpose of the Penal Code is to "define crimes and prescribe the penalties therefor."
Preamble, MCL 750.1 et seq.; MSA 28.191 et seq. The Penal Code defines a "felony" as an
"offense for which the offender, on conviction may be punished by death, or by imprisonment in
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state prison," MCL 750.7; MSA 28.197, and defines a "misdemeanor" as an act or omission that
is not a felony, which is punishable by fine, penalty, forfeiture, or imprisonment, MCL 750.8;
MSA 28.198, or an act prohibited by a statute that imposes no penalty for the violation, MCL
750.9; MSA 28.199. Although a misdemeanor that may result in two years' imprisonment may
be deemed a felony for purposes of the habitual offender, probation, and consecutive sentencing
provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, MCL 760.1 et seq.; MSA 28.841 et seq., it cannot
be deemed a felony for purposes of the Penal Code. People v Smith, 423 Mich 427, 434; 378
NW2d 384 (1985). Resisting arrest is by definition a misdemeanor under the Penal Code, MCL
750.479; MSA 28.747, and, therefore, cannot serve as a felony for purposes of establishing the
crime of absconding on a felony bond. Cf. People v Baker, 207 Mich App 224, 225; 523 NW2d
882 (1994) (resisting arrest, a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than two
years, cannot support a charge of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony).
Thus, we vacate defendant's plea-based conviction and sentence for absconding on a felony bond
and remand this matter to the trial court for entry of a conviction of the misdemeanor offense of
breaking or escaping from lawful custody under any criminal process, MCL 750.197a; MSA
28.394(1),1 and for resentencing on that conviction. See People v Jones, 190 Mich App 509,
514; 476 NW2d 646 (1991).
Defendant's conviction and sentence for absconding on bond are vacated and the matter is
remanded to the trial court for proceedings consistent with this opinion. Jurisdiction is not
retained.
/s/ E. Thomas Fitzgerald
/s/ Harold Hood
/s/ Gary R. McDonald
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1
MCL 750.197a; MSA 28.394(1) provides:
Any person who shall break or escape from lawful custody under any
criminal process, including periods while at large on bail, shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 1
year, or by a fine of not more than $500.00.
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