PEOPLE OF MI V JOSEPH ALLEN TRAPP
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
FOR PUBLICATION
September 9, 2008
9:05 a.m.
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v
No. 282662
Berrien Circuit Court
LC No. 2007-411918-FH
JOSEPH ALLEN TRAPP,
Defendant-Appellant.
ON REMAND
Advance Sheets Version
Before: Whitbeck, P.J., and Bandstra and Donofrio, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Our Supreme Court has remanded this case for consideration as on leave granted.
Defendant appeals that portion of the judgment of sentence requiring him to pay $300 for the
cost of appointed counsel. We vacate that portion of the judgment and remand this matter for
further proceedings. We have decided this appeal without oral argument, pursuant to MCR
7.214(E).
Defendant pleaded guilty of possession of child sexually abusive material, MCL
750.145c(4). The trial court sentenced defendant as a second-offense habitual offender, MCL
769.10, to a term of two to six years in prison. The trial court also ordered defendant to pay
statutory and court costs and $300 in appointed counsel costs.
This Court denied defendant’s delayed application for leave to appeal, but our Supreme
Court, in lieu of granting leave to appeal, remanded this matter for consideration of the issue
whether the trial court, before ordering reimbursement of the cost of court-appointed counsel,
was required to consider defendant’s present and future ability to pay those costs.
A person who was afforded appointed counsel might be ordered to reimburse the county
for the costs of that representation, if such reimbursement could be made without substantial
hardship. A court need not make specific findings on the record regarding the defendant’s ability
to pay, but must provide some indication that it considered the defendant’s financial situation
before ordering reimbursement. The amount to be reimbursed must be related to the defendant’s
present and future ability to pay. A court must afford the defendant notice and an opportunity to
be heard before ordering payment of appointed counsel expenses. People v Dunbar, 264 Mich
App 240, 251-255; 690 NW2d 476 (2004); MCR 6.005(B).
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MCL 769.1k(1), which became effective on January 1, 2006, provides in pertinent part:
If a defendant enters a plea of guilty or nolo contendere or if the court
determines after a hearing or trial that the defendant is guilty, both of the
following apply at the time of the sentencing or at the time entry of judgment of
guilt is deferred pursuant to statute or sentencing is delayed pursuant to statute:
(a) The court shall impose the minimum state costs as set forth in [MCL
769.1j].
(b) The court may impose any or all of the following:
(i) Any fine.
(ii) Any cost in addition to the minimum state cost set forth in subdivision
(a).
(iii) The expenses of providing legal assistance to the defendant.
(iv) Any assessment authorized by law.
(v) Reimbursement under [MCL 769.1f].
This statute does not eliminate the requirement set forth in Dunbar that the trial court
consider a defendant’s ability to pay before ordering reimbursement of appointed counsel costs.
See People v Arnone, 478 Mich 908 (2007).
Defendant failed to object to the order requiring him to pay attorney fees; therefore, our
review is for plain error. People v Carines, 460 Mich 750, 763-764; 597 NW2d 130 (1999). A
review of the sentencing transcript shows that the trial court gave no indication that it considered
defendant’s ability to pay before ordering reimbursement.
Defendant asserts that he owes the county and the state more than $10,000 and maintains
that he has no ability at present, and will have no ability in the future, to reimburse the county for
the cost of his appointed counsel in this case. The trial court gave no indication that it
considered any such information when ordering defendant to reimburse the county for the cost of
appointed counsel. Therefore, a remand for further proceedings is necessary. Dunbar, supra at
251-255.
We vacate that portion of the judgment of sentence requiring defendant to pay the county
$300 for the cost of his appointed counsel and remand this matter to the trial court for
consideration of defendant’s present and future ability to reimburse the county for the cost of
representation.
An evidentiary hearing is not required on remand. The trial court may rely on an updated
report from the probation department. See id. at 255 n 14. If the trial court concludes that the
reimbursement requirement should be eliminated or modified, it should enter an amended
judgment of sentence to that effect. MCL 769.1k(b)(iii) provides legislative authorization for an
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order requiring payment of fees for a court-appointed attorney; therefore, such an order may be
made part of the judgment of sentence, if appropriate.
We affirm the judgment in all other respects. We do not retain jurisdiction.
/s/ William C. Whitbeck
/s/ Richard A. Bandstra
/s/ Pat M. Donofrio
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