PEOPLE OF MI V GEORGE JAMES WESTMAN
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
FOR PUBLICATION
May 27, 2004
9:00 a.m.
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v
No. 243956
Wexford Circuit Court
LC No. 02-006636-FH
GEORGE JAMES WESTMAN,
Defendant-Appellant.
Official Reported Version
Before: Murray, P.J., and Neff and Donofrio, JJ.
NEFF, J.
Defendant appeals as of right from his guilty-plea conviction of felony failure to pay
child support, MCL 750.165, and to being an habitual offender, third-offense, MCL 769.11.1
The trial court sentenced him to thirty-five to seventy-two months' imprisonment. We affirm.
I
Defendant pleaded guilty of felony failure to pay child support, MCL 750.165, for
conduct that occurred from "July of 1993 to 2002." He now challenges his conviction on the
ground that an amendment to the statute in 1999, which altered the nature of the offense, renders
his conviction a violation of the Ex Post Facto Clauses of the Michigan and federal constitutions,
Const 1963, art 1, § 10; US Const, art I, § 10. We hold that MCL 750.165 does not violate the
ex post facto prohibition as applied to defendant because defendant's offense was a continuing
offense that began before and continued after the amendment's effective date.
II
Ex post facto laws are prohibited by both the Michigan and federal constitutions. People
v Callon, 256 Mich App 312, 316; 662 NW2d 501 (2003). An ex post facto law is one that
1
Defendant was previously convicted of felony failure to pay child support on January 14, 1980,
and felony nonsupport, MCL 750.161, on July 19, 1993.
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affects the prosecution or disposition of cases involving crimes committed before the law's
effective date by (1) criminalizing conduct that was innocent, (2) making an act a more serious
offense, (3) inflicting greater punishment for a crime, or (4) allowing conviction on lesser
evidence. Id. at 317; People v Haynes, 256 Mich App 341, 350; 664 NW2d 225 (2003).
The Michigan Ex Post Facto Clause does not afford broader protections than its federal
counterpart. Callon, supra at 317. Both clauses are designed to protect citizens against arbitrary
and oppressive legislation and to ensure fair notice of conduct that is criminal. Id.
A
In this case, defendant asserts that the 1999 amendment of MCL 750.165 falls into the
first category of ex post facto laws. That is, the amendment retroactively affected him by
criminalizing action that was legal when it was committed. Defendant asserts that the amended
version of MCL 750.165 permitted his conviction absent a showing that he left the state and that
he refused or neglected to pay child support. Defendant asserts that he would not have been
convicted under the previous law.
Defendant's ex post facto challenge raises questions of law, subject to de novo
consideration on appeal. Callon, supra at 315. "Interpretation of constitutional provisions and
statutory construction are both questions of law we review de novo." Id.
B
Defendant's offense occurred from July 1993 through 2002. MCL 750.165 was amended
effective November 3, 1999. Defendant's offense therefore "straddles" two different versions of
MCL 750.165.
Before November 3, 1999, the elements of felony failure to pay child support were (1) a
court has ordered an individual to pay child support, (2) the individual refused or neglected to
pay child support, and (3) the individual left the state of Michigan. People v Ditton, 78 Mich
App 610, 612-614; 261 NW2d 182 (1977). Under the amended version of MCL 750.165,
evidence that an individual refused or neglected to pay child support and left the state, is no
longer necessary to establish felony failure to pay child support. People v Adams, 262 Mich App
___; ___ NW2d ___ (2004). The amended statute provides:
. . . If the court orders an individual to pay support for the individual's
former or current spouse, or for a child of the individual, and the individual does
not pay the support in the amount or at the time stated in the order, the individual
is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 4 years or by a
fine of not more than $2,000.00, or both. [MCL 750.165(1).]
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Defendant was charged and convicted in August 2002, under the amended statute, and,
accordingly, there was no showing that defendant left the state.2 Nonetheless, these
circumstances evince no violation of the constitutional prohibition against ex post facto laws.
Defendant's failure to pay child support began in 1993 and continued through 2002. His
offense was a continuing one that occurred after the effective date of the statute's amendment.
Because defendant's conduct began before and continued after the statute's amendment, changes
effected by the statute did not operate retroactively with respect to defendant. We concur with
the holding of the California courts on this issue: "'Where an offense is of a continuing nature,
and the conduct continues after the enactment of a statute, that statute may be applied without
violating the ex post facto prohibition.'" People v Grant, 20 Cal 4th 150, 159; 973 P2d 72
(1999), quoting People v Palacios, 56 Cal App 4th 252, 257; 65 Cal Rptr 2d 318 (1997).
The holding in Grant, supra, is consistent with Michigan's view of continuing offenses in
other contexts. Michigan courts have applied a similar analysis in conspiracy cases. See People
v Williams, 78 Mich App 737, 742; 261 NW2d 189 (1977) (conspiracy is usually a continuing
offense, extending over a period, and the prosecution may charge and prove the offense in any
part of such period); People v Owen, 251 Mich App 76, 84; 649 NW2d 777 (2002) (concealing
or storing a stolen firearm can be considered a continuing offense for purposes of the statute of
limitations). Our view is also consistent with our courts' resolution of ex post facto challenges in
particular. See People v Sellors, unpublished memorandum opinion of the Court of Appeals,
issued November 21, 1997 (Docket No. 190927) (no ex post facto violation because of ongoing
nature of the offense and because the defendant participated in the conspiracy after the effective
date of the statutory amendment); People v Tomassi, unpublished opinion per curiam of the
Court of Appeals, issued August 23, 1996 (Docket No. 183823) (no ex post facto violation
where parental kidnapping continued after the effective date of the amended statute).
We hold that because defendant's conduct of failing to pay child support continued after
the effective date of the amended statute, defendant was properly charged and convicted under
the amended version of MCL 750.165. Defendant's conviction does not violate the ex post facto
prohibition.
We also find no merit in defendant's cursory argument that the amended statute operated
as an ex post facto law with regard to his sentencing because the amendment burdened him with
enhanced punishment. Defendant has failed to adequately argue the merits of this claim for our
consideration. People v Watson, 245 Mich App 572, 587; 629 NW2d 411 (2001). Further, even
if the court considered the extent of defendant's arrearage in sentencing, which is not evident
from the record, defendant has not shown that his sentence resulted from the arrearage in
particular as opposed to his overall history of failing to pay child support.
III
2
There was evidence of defendant's refusal or neglect to pay child support, in terms of his
inability to pay, which was previously a defense under § 165. Adams, supra at ___.
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Defendant also challenges his conviction on other grounds. In light of the recently issued
decision in Adams, supra,3 these challenges are without merit.
A
Defendant claims that the trial court failed to establish a sufficient factual basis for his
guilty plea. He asserts that the court failed to elicit additional facts concerning his inability to
pay support. Defendant presumes that his alleged inability to pay would have provided him a
complete defense to the charged offense. This Court has now determined that the inability to pay
is not a defense to felony failure to pay child support. Adams, supra at ___. Defendant's
presumption is therefore incorrect. In any event, the facts elicited by the trial court established
that defendant had the ability to pay.
If a defendant pleads guilty, the trial court, "by questioning the defendant, must establish
support for a finding that the defendant is guilty of the offense charged or the offense to which
the defendant is pleading." MCR 6.302(D)(1). At the plea hearing, after defendant articulated
his guilty plea, the trial court questioned him concerning the factual basis for his plea.
Defendant admitted that he was ordered to pay child support for three children in Wexford
County, and that he failed to pay child support for the children after July 1993 to the extent that
he was able. Defendant stated that he paid some support, but did not pay the full amount, and
could have paid more. Defendant's statements establish his failure to pay despite an ability to
pay.
B
Defendant argues that MCL 750.165 is unconstitutional because it creates strict liability
for the failure to pay child support. He contends that the absence of an intent requirement in
MCL 750.165 exceeds constitutional limitations on a state's police power and deprives him of
his right to due process. We disagree.
"That true strict liability crimes are proper under some circumstances is … well settled in
Michigan." People v Quinn, 440 Mich 178, 188; 487 NW2d 194 (1992). In this case, the
Legislature properly enacted MCL 750.165 as a strict liability offense under its authority to enact
laws protecting the public welfare. Adams, supra at ___; People v Nasir, 255 Mich App 38, 42;
662 NW2d 29 (2003). The state's police power includes the power to regulate for the social
good. People v Lardie, 452 Mich 231, 255; 551 NW2d 656 (1996). Laws enacted for the public
welfare "do not require a criminal intent because the accused generally is in a position to prevent
the harm." Id. at 254; Adams, supra at ___. In this case, defendant was in a position to prevent
the harm by complying with or seeking modification of the court order directing him to pay child
3
Adams was decided after the appeal in this case was heard and has to a certain extent rendered
moot the remaining issues raised by defendant. We briefly address the issues as presented.
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support. Id. at ___. He failed to do so. We find no violation of defendant's right to due process.
Id. at ___.
C
Defendant claims that his counsel was ineffective for failing to advise defendant about
the defense of inability to pay, precluding defendant from asserting the defense on his own
behalf, and for failing to perform research regarding the elements of the offense. In light of the
decision in Adams, supra, which determined that inability to pay is not a defense to felony
failure to pay child support, defendant's claim is without merit.
To establish a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must show that
counsel's performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and that counsel's
representation was so prejudicial that it denied the defendant a fair trial. People v Toma, 462
Mich 281, 302; 613 NW2d 694 (2000). A claim of ineffective assistance of counsel should be
raised by a motion for a new trial or an evidentiary hearing. People v Ginther, 390 Mich 436,
443; 212 NW2d 922 (1973); People v Rodriguez, 251 Mich App 10, 38; 650 NW2d 96 (2002).
Because defendant did not move for a Ginther hearing, this Court's review is limited to mistakes
apparent on the record. Id. at 38.
Defendant acknowledged at the plea hearing that he was capable of paying more child
support than he actually paid. Therefore, an assertion of the defense of inability to pay child
support would have been without basis. Defense counsel is not required to advocate a meritless
position. People v Snider, 239 Mich App 393, 425; 608 NW2d 502 (2000). Further, nothing in
the existing record indicates that defense counsel was unaware that MCL 750.165 had been
amended in 1999 and that the elements of the offense had changed.
Affirmed.
/s/ Janet T. Neff
/s/ Christopher M. Murray
/s/ Pat M. Donofrio
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