PEOPLE OF MI V JOHN JILTS MCGUFFEY
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
FOR PUBLICATION
April 30, 2002
9:30 a.m.
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v
No. 227957
Muskegon Circuit Court
LC No. 00-044254-FC
JOHN JILTS MCGUFFEY III,
Defendant-Appellant.
Updated Copy
August 2, 2002
Before: Owens, P.J., and Markey and Murray, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Following a jury trial, defendant was convicted of armed robbery, MCL 750.529,
conspiracy to commit armed robbery, MCL 750.157a, and possession of a firearm during the
commission of a felony, MCL 750.227b. Defendant was sentenced as a second-offense habitual
offender, MCL 769.10, to concurrent terms of thirteen to thirty years' imprisonment for the
armed robbery conviction and ten to thirty years' imprisonment for the conspiracy conviction,
and to a two-year term of imprisonment for the felony-firearm conviction to be served
consecutively to the sentences for the other convictions. Defendant appeals as of right. We
affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand.
Defendant argues that there is insufficient evidence to support his felony-firearm
conviction. A challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence requires us to determine "whether the
evidence, viewed in a light most favorable to the people, would warrant a reasonable juror in
finding guilt beyond a reasonable doubt." People v Nowack, 462 Mich 392, 399; 614 NW2d 78
(2000).
A defendant can be convicted of felony-firearm under an aiding and abetting theory. See
People v Johnson, 411 Mich 50, 54; 303 NW2d 442 (1981). The prosecution is required to
demonstrate that "the defendant procured, counseled, aided, or abetted and so assisted in
obtaining the proscribed possession, or in retaining such possession otherwise obtained." Id.
Thus, a defendant may be guilty of felony-firearm despite the fact that the defendant did not
personally possess the firearm during the commission of the felony. Id. However, it is not
enough that a defendant merely knew that his codefendant possessed a gun during the crime.
People v Jones, 119 Mich App 164, 170-171; 326 NW2d 411 (1982), quoting Johnson, supra at
54.
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In this case, the prosecution argues that there was sufficient evidence because defendant
moved a gun from one house to another. In his statement to police, defendant discussed several
other robberies. Defendant told police that, after the Hollywood Video store robbery, he moved
a shotgun from one home to another home so that the police would not discover it. Defendant's
mother also testified that defendant admitted to her that he had moved a gun. However, there is
no evidence indicating that the gun mentioned by defendant and his mother was the gun used in
the instant offense—the robbery of the Mini-Mart. There is also no evidence of when this gun
was moved in relation to the Mini-Mart robbery. Therefore, we cannot conclude that defendant's
movement of this gun in any way aided or assisted codefendant Arthur Fort with obtaining or
retaining the gun that he used to commit the instant offense.
In the alternative, the prosecution argues that defendant's transportation of Fort, who was
armed with a gun, to the Mini-Mart before the robbery and from the Mini-Mart after the robbery
is sufficient evidence. Specifically, plaintiff urges us to conclude that defendant assisted Fort
with the transportation of the gun to and from the scene of the crime.
We addressed this precise argument in People v Morneweck, 115 Mich App 156, 158;
320 NW2d 327 (1982), when we considered whether the discovery of a gun in the defendant's
apartment and the fact that the defendant drove the getaway car after a robbery was sufficient
evidence to convict the defendant of felony-firearm. We rejected this argument and explained:
The people argue that the jury could reasonably infer that defendant aided
and abetted the retention of the firearm used in the robbery because defendant
drove the getaway vehicle and because she shared control of the apartment in
which the firearm was found. We disagree. Proof that defendant knowingly
assisted in a felony involving a firearm is not sufficient evidence upon which to
convict her of aiding and abetting possession of a firearm during the commission
of a felony. To convict this defendant of so aiding and abetting, it must have been
shown that she knowingly performed some act or encouragement with the intent
to assist her accomplices in keeping possession of the firearm. [Id.]
Similarly, in People v Eloby (After Remand), 215 Mich App 472, 477-479; 547 NW2d 48
(1996), we considered whether there was sufficient evidence to convict the defendant of six
counts of felony-firearm based on eight underlying felony convictions: kidnapping, armed
robbery, and six counts of criminal sexual conduct. In that case, the defendant assisted his
codefendant in kidnapping the victim and taking her to a house where she was sexually assaulted
and robbed. Id. at 477. When the victim was transported to the house, the defendant drove the
car while his codefendant held the gun to the victim's head. Id. We found insufficient evidence
to support the defendant's felony-firearm conviction that was based on the underlying kidnapping
conviction, explaining:
Although it is clear from the facts that defendant aided and abetted the
kidnapping, the complainant stated that she did not see defendant with the gun
until after they were inside the house. Walker possessed the gun at the start of the
kidnapping, and there was never a struggle over its possession. It cannot
reasonably be inferred from these facts that defendant aided and abetted Walker in
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either the acquisition or the retention of the single gun that was seen.
Accordingly, that felony-firearm conviction must be reversed and that sentence
must be vacated. [Id. at 478 (citations omitted).]
In other words, in Eloby, we implicitly rejected the idea that driving a car occupied by an armed
codefendant was sufficient evidence to convict a defendant of felony-firearm.1
Here, unlike Eloby, the underlying felony did not occur in the car or in defendant's
presence. Accordingly, there is even more support for a conclusion that there was insufficient
evidence to support the felony-firearm conviction. Further, there is no evidence that defendant
knowingly performed an "act or encouragement" with the intent to assist his codefendant in
keeping or retaining possession of the firearm. Morneweck, supra at 158. Nor was there any
evidence indicating that defendant's involvement exceeded the mere knowledge that his codefendant was armed. See Jones, supra at 170-171; Johnson, supra at 54. Thus, we conclude
that the Johnson, Jones, Morneweck, and Eloby decisions require us to vacate defendant's felonyfirearm conviction.
Next, defendant argues that the trial court abused its discretion by admitting evidence
concerning the Hollywood Video store robbery. We review for an abuse of discretion a trial
court's decision to admit or exclude evidence. People v Starr, 457 Mich 490, 494; 577 NW2d
673 (1998).
Defendant argues that a detective's testimony improperly suggested that defendant's alibi
for a separate robbery did not "pan out." Defendant contends that this testimony was improperly
admitted because it was neither relevant nor admissible under the rule of completeness, MRE
106. Although defense counsel did object to this testimony below, he only challenged its
relevancy. Thus, defendant has forfeited the issue whether the testimony was improperly
admitted under the rule of completeness. Nevertheless, defendant may avoid forfeiture of this
issue by demonstrating a plain error that affected his substantial rights. People v Carines, 460
Mich 750, 763-765; 597 NW2d 130 (1999).
MRE 106 states: "When a writing or recorded statement or part thereof is introduced by a
party, an adverse party may require the introduction at that time of any other part or any other
writing or recorded statement which ought in fairness to be considered contemporaneously with
it." Thus, the rule of evidence would only be pertinent if defendant sought, but was denied,
permission to have a complete writing or recorded statement introduced. In other words, MRE
106 does not have any bearing on the admissibility of the testimony that the prosecution
introduced, except that it might have allowed defendant to supplement the prosecution's proofs.
Accordingly, there was no error, much less plain error, affecting defendant's substantial rights, as
necessary to avoid forfeiture of this issue. Carines, supra at 763-764.
1
Apparently anticipating this result, the prosecution cites an unpublished case to support its
argument; however, an unpublished opinion of this Court is not binding precedent, MCR
7.215(C)(1).
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However, defendant did argue below that the testimony was irrelevant. The prosecution
countered that defendant, in his first statement to police, denied any involvement at all in any
robberies. The prosecution noted that defendant changed his story when confronted with the fact
that his alibi did not "check out." Thus, the prosecution contended that the testimony was also
relevant to explain defendant's motivation for changing his story. The trial court agreed with the
prosecution's argument, and further opined that defendant's statements were voluntary and part of
a larger sequence of statements given throughout the day that were "more or less a connected
series of statements." Consequently, the trial court ruled that the testimony was admissible.
MRE 402 explains that relevant evidence is admissible and irrelevant evidence is
generally excluded. MRE 401 defines "relevant evidence" as: "evidence having any tendency to
make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more
probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence." Here, the issue whether
defendant was truthful when he told the police that he had an alibi for the night of a separate
robbery related to his credibility. Defendant's credibility was directly at issue in this case
because, initially, defendant denied any involvement with the instant robbery, but later he
admitted that he committed the robbery with Fort. Then, at trial, defendant vehemently denied
that he had helped plan and commit the robbery with Fort. Moreover, the detective testified that
the police attempted to verify defendant's alibi after the first interview, and noted that the second
interview was prompted, at least in part, because defendant's alibi did not "pan out." Thus, this
testimony also explained to the jury why defendant eventually admitted to the police his
involvement in the robbery, thereby supporting the credibility of his second statement.
Defendant's credibility was certainly relevant to the jury's weighing of his statements and
testimony. See People v Mills, 450 Mich 61, 73; 537 NW2d 909 (1995), modified on other
grounds 450 Mich 1212 (1995). Accordingly, we are not persuaded that the trial court erred in
finding the testimony relevant.
However, defendant also contends that the evidence was prejudicial because defendant's
credibility was "a key issue" in the trial. MRE 403 states that even relevant evidence may be
excluded if "its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice."
As noted above, the testimony was relevant because it provided further information for the jury
to consider when evaluating defendant's credibility. Although the inference to be drawn from the
testimony was perhaps "negative" for defendant's case, this fact alone does not mean that there
was a danger of "unfair prejudice." Indeed, the Mills Court recognized that all evidence is
prejudicial to some extent because it is damaging to the other party's case. Mills, supra at 75.
Instead, "unfair prejudice" occurs where either "a probability exists that evidence which is
minimally damaging in logic will be weighed by the jurors substantially out of proportion to its
logically damaging effect," or "it would be inequitable to allow the proponent of the evidence to
use it." Id. at 75-76, quoting Sclafani v Peter S Cusimano, Inc, 130 Mich App 728, 735-736; 344
NW2d 347 (1983).
The detective's testimony suggesting that defendant's alibi did not "pan out" was certainly
probative of the context of defendant's second statement, and also provided an insight into
defendant's credibility. The testimony fell well short of actually tying defendant to a crime in
which he did not participate. Moreover, defendant's lengthy second statement credibly explained
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defendant's noninvolvement in the Hollywood Video store incident. It should be noted that an
audiotape of this statement was played for the jury, and a transcript of this statement was also
admitted into evidence for the jury's review. In this second statement, defendant explained that
he was not sure which of two individuals were with him on the night of the incident—which
would perhaps justify the inability of the police to confirm defendant's alibi with one of the
individuals. Thus, in light of all the evidence available for the jury to consider regarding the
challenged testimony, it does not appear that there was much risk of the jury giving undue
weight to it, nor are we persuaded that it was inequitable for the trial court to admit it into
evidence. Consequently, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by
admitting the evidence.
Next, defendant argues that the trial court erred in scoring prior record variable one (PRV
1). As an initial matter, we note that the parties disagree about whether this issue has been
preserved for appeal. Defendant did not raise this issue either before or during the original
sentencing hearing, although he did raise the issue in his motion for resentencing. On the one
hand, MCL 769.34(10), provides:
A party shall not raise on appeal an issue challenging the scoring of the
sentencing guidelines or challenging the accuracy of information relied upon in
determining a sentence that is within the appropriate guidelines sentence range
unless the party has raised the issue at sentencing, in a proper motion for
resentencing, or in a proper motion to remand filed in the court of appeals.
On the other hand, MCR 6.429(C), as amended on January 26, 1996, states:
A party may not raise on appeal an issue challenging the accuracy of the
presentence report or the scoring of the sentencing guidelines unless the party has
raised the issue at or before sentencing or demonstrates that the challenge was
brought as soon as the inaccuracy could reasonably have been discovered.
As such, the court rule, MCR 6.429(C), and the statute, MCL 769.34(10), are in conflict to the
extent that only the latter allows a defendant to raise a scoring issue on appeal where, as here, it
was raised below only in a motion for resentencing.
Const 1963, art 6, § 5 provides that our Supreme Court "shall by general rules establish,
modify, amend and simplify the practice and procedure in all courts of this state." Generally,
where a court rule established by our Supreme Court conflicts with a statute, the court rule
governs if the matter pertains to practice and procedure. People v Conat, 238 Mich App 134,
162; 605 NW2d 49 (1999). "However, if the statute does not address purely procedural matters,
but substantive law, the statute prevails." Id. at 163.
Here, we believe that the issue of when a guidelines scoring error must be brought to the
trial court's attention falls squarely within the "practice and procedure" aspect of our legal
system. In addition, by imposing reasonable limitations, the court rule aids in the efficient
administration of justice. Accordingly, we conclude that the court rule, MCR 6.429(C), must
prevail over the conflicting statutory provision, MCL 769.34(10). Conat, supra at 163-164.
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Consequently, defendant, having failed to either raise the purported scoring error "at or before
sentencing" or persuasively argue that "the challenge was brought as soon as the inaccuracy
could reasonably have been discovered," is foreclosed from raising a challenge to the scoring of
PRV 1 on appeal.
Similarly, defendant may not challenge the trial court's scoring of offense variable two,
inasmuch as he failed to raise the challenge in a timely manner pursuant to MCR 6.429(C).
Nevertheless, we would note that the victim's testimony provided evidence from which the trial
court could have concluded that a short-barreled shotgun was used to commit the robbery.
Finally, defendant argues that he is entitled to resentencing because the prosecutor and
the police allegedly promised him a lenient sentence. Again, however, we must affirm a
sentence within the guidelines range absent an error in scoring or inaccurate information relied
on in determining the defendant's sentence. MCL 769.34(10); see also People v Babcock, 244
Mich App 64, 73; 624 NW2d 479 (2000).
We affirm defendant's armed robbery and conspiracy convictions, but reverse his felonyfirearm conviction. We remand for the trial court to vacate his felony-firearm conviction and
corresponding sentence. We do not retain jurisdiction.
/s/ Donald S. Owens
/s/ Jane E. Markey
/s/ Christopher M. Murray
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