PEOPLE OF MI V STANLEY WAYNE CAMERON
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
UNPUBLISHED
January 4, 2011
APPROVED FOR
PUBLICATION
February 15, 2011
9:10 A.M.
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v
No. 293119
Oakland Circuit Court
LC No. 2008-223245-FH
STANLEY WAYNE CAMERON,
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: OWENS, P.J., and WHITBECK and FORT HOOD, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Defendant Stanley Wayne Cameron appeals by right his conviction for domestic violence
resulting from the assault and battery of his ex-girlfriend, Kristie Yacheson. The trial court
found Cameron guilty of domestic violence third offense.1 The trial court subsequently
sentenced Cameron, as a second offense habitual offender,2 to six months to three years in
prison. We affirm.
I. BASIC FACTS
A. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENT
During the early morning hours of September 19, 2008, Cameron allegedly abused his
ex-girlfriend, Kristie Yacheson. Cameron and Yacheson had lived together and dated off-and-on
from October 2005 until September 2008. At the time of incident, however, Yacheson lived
alone in an apartment on 14 Mile Rd in the City of Royal Oak.
On the evening of September 18, 2008, Yacheson invited several friends to her
apartment. Cameron sent Yacheson a text message asking if he could come over. Although a
1
See MCL 750.81(4).
2
See MCL 769.10.
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court order prohibited Cameron from being at Yacheson’s apartment, Yacheson allowed
Cameron to visit because he acted nice and because she still loved him. Yacheson sent Cameron
a text message saying he could come over as long as he behaved appropriately. Cameron asked
Yacheson if she had any food, and she replied that she did not. Yacheson did not ask Cameron
to bring over food, and she did not expect him to bring food. However, when Cameron arrived
around 8:00 p.m., he brought some food and beer with him. Because she felt safe with her other
friends present, Yacheson let Cameron into her apartment.
Once inside the apartment, Cameron took the food and beer into the kitchen, placed at
least one of the beers into the freezer, and began cooking dinner for everyone. At first, Cameron
behaved appropriately. However, once everyone started drinking, Cameron’s demeanor
changed. Yacheson had 2-3 beers, a couple of shots of whiskey, and a shot or two of brandy.
Cameron drank about the same amount, and he began to show signs of intoxication. Yacheson
became increasingly concerned about Cameron’s behavior because she knew from past
experience that Cameron sometimes became violent when he drank.
At one point, Yacheson and Cameron entered the kitchen while Yacheson’s friends
remained in the living room. While in the kitchen, Yacheson and Cameron began arguing
because Yacheson suggested that Cameron slow down his drinking. Eventually, the arguing
turned into yelling, and Yacheson told Cameron to leave her apartment. Cameron opened the
freezer to retrieve the beer that he brought, but Yacheson said, “no,” and she slammed the freezer
shut. Cameron allegedly then pushed Yacheson twice. The second time that Cameron allegedly
pushed Yacheson, he pushed her against the refrigerator and stove with enough force to knock
the refrigerator and stove askew. Yacheson then tried to push Cameron away, and Cameron
allegedly punched or jabbed her in the stomach. Yacheson told her friends in the other room to
call 911. Again, Yacheson told Cameron to leave, and she pushed Cameron out the door of her
apartment. As Cameron exited, the police arrived.
Officer Donald Scher of the Royal Oak Police Department arrived at Yacheson’s
apartment around 1:06 a.m. on September 19, 2008.3 The dispatch informed Officer Scher that a
no-contact order prohibited Cameron from being near Yacheson’s home. As Officer Scher
approached the apartment building, he saw Cameron leaving the premises on the sidewalk.
Officer Scher recognized Cameron from prior police calls at the apartment. When Officer Scher
yelled for Cameron to stop, Cameron ducked into a locked stairwell at the end of the apartment
building. Officer Scher walked around the building to see where Cameron might exit.
Meanwhile, Officer Kathy Szydlowski of the Royal Oak Police Department, who arrived
about the same time as Officer Scher, spoke with Yacheson. Officer Szydlowski observed
Yacheson crying hysterically. Officer Szydlowski also observed that Yacheson appeared very
frightened of Cameron.
3
At the time of trial, Officer Scher was unavailable to testify, so a redacted version of his
preliminary exam testimony was read into the record without objection.
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When Officer Scher returned to the front of the building, Yacheson pointed out the
direction in which she had seen Cameron leaving. Officer Scher spotted Cameron walking
westbound away from the building. Again, Officer Scher called out for Cameron to stop, but
Cameron began walking faster. Officer Scher lost sight of Cameron as he passed the corner of
the building. Officer Scher gave chase, and as he rounded the corner of the building, he heard
branches moving in a nearby evergreen tree. He saw Cameron trying to hide under the branches
of the tree. Officer Scher radioed that he had found the suspect, and then he arrested Cameron.
Cameron struggled as Officer Scher tried to handcuff him, and Officer Scher had to pepper spray
him. Officer Szydlowski joined Officer Scher and assisted him in handcuffing Cameron.
B. VICTIM’S STATEMENTS TO THE POLICE
After Officer Scher placed Cameron into the back of the police car, Officer Szydlowski
interviewed Yacheson.4 Officer Szydlowski observed that Yacheson appeared to be very upset
and that she remained upset throughout the interview. Yacheson told Officer Szydlowski that
she had some friends over, heard a sound at the door, and Cameron opened the door and came
into the apartment. Yacheson also told Officer Szydlowski that Cameron charged toward her,
backed her into the kitchen and then pushed her against the refrigerator several times. Yacheson
stated that although she tried to get away, Cameron grabbed her from behind and pushed the
front of her body into the refrigerator. Yacheson said that she yelled for her friend to call the
police, and when Cameron heard that the police were coming, he left the apartment. Yacheson
also said that a no-contact order barred Cameron from contacting her, which Officer
Szydlowski’s dispatcher verified. Officer Szydlowski asked Yacheson to write out a statement,
and she did so.
The incident left Yacheson sore, but she did not display any obvious or visible injuries.
During her investigation, Officer Szydlowski did not observe any disarray or signs of a struggle
in the kitchen, nor did she see any injury marks on Yacheson. Furthermore, Yacheson did not
tell Officer Szydlowski that she had invited Cameron to come over to her apartment earlier in the
evening, that he had brought groceries and cooked dinner, and that he had been there for several
hours.
At trial, Officer Szydlowski testified that she wanted to ask Yacheson more questions,
but Yacheson’s extreme emotional state had rendered her incapable of giving any more
information at the crime scene.
C. PRETRIAL MOTION TO EXCLUDE BAD ACTS EVIDENCE
On October 20, 2008, pursuant to MCL 768.27b, the prosecutor sought to introduce
evidence of prior bad acts involving Cameron and Yacheson, as well as Cameron and his exgirlfriend, Pamela Ponder. Over defense counsel’s objection, the trial court ruled that the
prosecutor could introduce other bad acts evidence at trial to show Cameron’s character.
4
The prosecutor filed a pretrial notice of intent to present evidence of the victim’s statements
under MCL 768.27c.
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D. PRIOR BAD ACTS EVIDENCE PRESENTED AT TRIAL
1. PRIOR ACTS AGAINST YACHESON
At trial, Yacheson testified that Cameron had previously physically attacked her. On
March 5, 2006, when Yacheson and Cameron lived at the Admiral Hotel in Clinton Township,
Cameron punched her on the side of her head, and she fell to the ground. Cameron grabbed
Yacheson’s cell phone so that she could not call 911, and he broke her phone when he threw it
aside. Cameron told Yacheson that he would kill her if she called the police. He then stomped
on her and repeatedly hit her. He called her a “whore” and other names as he hit her. Yacheson
called the police.
Yacheson also testified that four additional incidents occurred between June 2006 and
May 2008. In June 2006, Yacheson lived at the Eastland Hotel in Eastpointe. On June 16, 2006,
as Yacheson and Cameron walked outside, Yacheson said hello to a male friend. Cameron then
punched the side of Yacheson’s head. Another incident occurred on June 29, 2006, when
Yacheson and Cameron started arguing about Yacheson’s cell phone. Cameron demanded that
Yacheson hand over the SIM card for her phone, and Yacheson refused. Cameron then punched
her. The fourth incident occurred on January 16, 2008, when Yacheson lived at the apartment in
Royal Oak. Cameron wanted to see Yacheson, but she would not let him enter the apartment.
Cameron, who had been drinking, forced his way in through a screen door to get into the
apartment. Cameron then forced his way into the bedroom, where Yacheson had barricaded
herself, and he took Yacheson’s phone away from her. Cameron punched her in the face. The
fifth incident occurred on May 16, 2008, when Cameron came into Yacheson’s apartment and
punched her. When Yacheson tried to call the police, Cameron broke her flip phone in half. The
neighbors called the police. At trial, Yacheson testified that she had stayed in the off and on
relationship with Cameron despite the assaults because he apologized each time and because she
loved him.
2. PRIOR ACTS AGAINST PONDER
At trial, the prosecutor also elicited testimony that Cameron had also abused another exgirlfriend. Pamela Ponder testified that she dated Cameron for a few months in 2001. In May
2001, she told Cameron that she wanted to end their relationship. Cameron reacted angrily.
Several other incidents occurred within a week of the break-up. During one incident,
Cameron accused Ponder of seeing another man. Cameron hit her on the chin with an open
hand. Another incident occurred when Ponder picked up her six-year-old son from school.
Ponder had a male friend with her. Because it was warm, Ponder rolled down the windows of
her truck. Cameron suddenly ran up and punched Ponder in the throat. A third incident occurred
on May 7, 2001. Ponder feared that Cameron would hurt her or her son because he had made
threats against them. Cameron threw a frozen beer can at Ponder’s face. The impact broke her
nose and broke some of her teeth.
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E. JURY VERDICT
After hearing the evidence, the jury found Cameron guilty of domestic violence.5 The
trial court sentenced Cameron on May 4, 2009. The sentencing guidelines ranged from 2-21
months in prison. Defense counsel asked for a minimum sentence of 10 months in prison
concurrently served. As previously stated, the trial court sentenced Cameron, as a second
offense habitual offender, to six months to three years in prison for domestic violence third,
consecutive to the sentence that Cameron was already serving.6 Cameron now appeals.
II. PRIOR BAD ACTS EVIDENCE
A. STANDARD OF REVIEW
Cameron argues that the trial court should have excluded evidence of his prior bad acts
because it was unfairly prejudicial under MRE 403. Cameron further argues that the jury
convicted him of domestic violence based on Yacheson and Ponder’s testimony about prior
incidents where Cameron hit them. Cameron claims that the jury essentially heard Yacheson and
Ponder’s testimony and then improperly concluded that because Cameron assaulted these women
in the past, he must have assaulted Yacheson this time. As a result, Cameron contends that the
trial court reversibly erred when it determined that the prior bad acts evidence could be
introduced at trial because the prejudicial effect outweighed the probative value of the evidence.
We will not question a trial court’s decision whether to admit evidence absent an abuse of
discretion.7 The abuse of discretion standard involves more than just a difference of opinion.8
“Further, a trial court’s decision on a close evidentiary question ordinarily cannot be an abuse of
discretion.”9
B. LEGAL STANDARDS
During the preliminary hearing on October 9, 2008, Yacheson testified that Cameron had
a pending domestic violence charge for a prior confrontation between Cameron and Yacheson.
Subsequent discovery revealed additional incidents between Cameron and Yacheson, and
Cameron and his ex-girlfriend Ponder. Before trial, the prosecutor moved to introduce these
5
Before trial, the prosecutor had dismissed additional charges of malicious destruction of police
property, MCL 750.377b, and illegal entry, MCL 750.115.
6
Cameron was released on bond at the time of the instant offense. In fact, on the same day
Cameron was arraigned in this case, he was sentenced in case 2008-221126 FH to 1-2 years in
prison for interfering with electronic communications and 1 year for domestic violence second.
Those offenses involved the same victim as this case. Cameron committed the offense in this
case while awaiting sentencing in the prior case.
7
People v Hine, 467 Mich 242, 250; 650 NW2d 659 (2002).
8
Id.
9
Id.; People v Sabin, 463 Mich 43, 67; 614 NW2d 888 (2000).
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prior bad acts at trial. Over defense counsel’s objection, the trial court granted the prosecutor’s
motion and determined that Cameron’s prior bad acts of domestic violence were admissible
under MCL 768.27b. MCL 768.27b(1) states,
Except as provided in subsection 4, in a criminal action in which the defendant is
accused of an offense involving domestic violence, evidence of the defendant’s
commission of other acts of domestic violence is admissible for any purpose for
which it is relevant, if not otherwise excluded under Michigan rule of evidence
403.[10]
The language of MCL 768.27b clearly indicates that trial courts have discretion “to admit
relevant evidence of other domestic assaults to prove any issue, including the character of the
accused, if the evidence meets the standard of MRE 403.”11 In analyzing a sister statute,12 this
Court has previously acknowledged that the Michigan Legislature intended to allow juries “the
opportunity to weigh a defendant’s behavioral history and view the case’s facts in the larger
context that the defendant’s background affords.”13 MCL 768.27a deals primarily with prior bad
acts evidence involving crimes against minors.14 However, because of the similarities in the
language of MCL 768.27a and 768.27b, we believe that the Michigan Legislature intended the
same policy to apply to domestic violence situations under MCL 768.27b. Thus, prior bad acts
evidence of domestic violence can be admitted at trial because “a full and complete picture of a
defendant’s history . . . tend[s] to shed light on the likelihood that a given crime was
committed.”15
10
MCL 768.27b(5)(a)(i) and (ii) define “domestic violence” as, inter alia, “[c]ausing or
attempting to cause physical or mental harm to a family or household member,” or “[p]lacing a
family member or household member in fear of physical or mental harm.” Further, MCL
768.27b(5)(b)(iv) defines “family or household member” as any “individual with whom the
person has or has had a dating relationship.”
11
People v Pattison, 276 Mich App 613, 615; 741 NW2d 558 (2007); see also People v Schultz,
278 Mich App 776, 778; 754 NW2d 925 (2008) (noting that, unlike MRE 404(b), MCL 768.27b
only requires a showing of “the transparency of a person’s character as justification for admitting
evidence.”).
12
MCL 768.27a.
13
Pattison, 276 Mich App at 620 (noting that legislature-created MCL 768.27a alters the courtcreated MRE 404(b)(1) rule of admissibility for other crimes or wrongs, but it does not violate
separation of powers because it is substantive in nature); see also Shultz, 278 Mich App at 778779.
14
MCL 768.27a provides that “in a criminal case . . . [where] the defendant is accused of
committing a listed offense against a minor, evidence that the defendant committed another listed
offense against a minor is admissible and may be considered for its bearing on any matter to
which it is relevant.”
15
Pattison, 276 Mich App at 620.
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C. APPLYING MCL 768.27b TO CAMERON’S PRIOR BAD ACTS
In this case, the prosecutor charged Cameron with domestic violence pursuant to MCL
750.81(2).16 Then, to support the domestic violence charge, the prosecutor moved to admit
evidence of Cameron’s prior bad acts under MCL 768.27b. The statutory language and policy
considerations of MCL 768.27b clearly demonstrate the Michigan Legislature’s intent to allow
prior bad acts evidence to be introduced at trial as long as the evidence satisfies the “more
probative than prejudicial” balancing test of MRE 403, which provides:
Although relevant, evidence may be excluded if its probative value is
substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the
issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, waste of time,
or needless presentation of cumulative evidence.
Accordingly, this Court must make two distinct inquires under the MRE 403 balancing
test. First, this Court must decide whether introduction of Cameron’s prior bad acts evidence at
trial was unfairly prejudicial. Then, this Court must apply the MRE 403 balancing test and
“weigh the probativity or relevance of the evidence” against the unfair prejudice.17 Upon
completion of this second inquiry, this Court can determine whether the trial court abused its
discretion in allowing Cameron’s prior bad acts into evidence.
Under the first inquiry, we conclude that the trial court’s decision to allow evidence of
Cameron’s prior bad acts did not unfairly prejudice Cameron at trial. The “unfair prejudice”
language of MRE 403 “‘refers to the tendency of the proposed evidence to adversely affect the
objecting party’s position by injecting considerations extraneous to the merits of the lawsuit, e.g.,
the jury’s bias, sympathy, anger, or shock.’”18 Moreover, admission of “[e]vidence is unfairly
prejudicial when . . . [the danger exists] that marginally probative evidence will be given undue
or preemptive weight by the jury.”19 However, the Michigan Supreme Court also recognizes that
a prosecutor does not have to use the least prejudicial evidence to make out its case.20 In this
case, the prejudicial effect of other acts evidence did not stir such passion as to divert the jury
from rational consideration of Cameron’s guilt or innocence of the charged offenses.21 In fact,
16
As noted in the General Information, Cameron was initially charged under MCL 750.81(2),
but his charge was enhanced to MCL 750.81(4) because this incident was his third offense.
17
People v Fisher, 449 Mich 441, 452; 537 NW2d 577 (1995).
18
Id. at 451, 452, quoting People v Goree, 132 Mich App 693, 702-703; 349 NW2d 220 (1984);
see also People v Vasher, 449 Mich 494, 501; 537 NW2d 168 (1995) (noting that “[a] party’s
case is always damaged by evidence that the facts are contrary to his contentions, but that cannot
be grounds for exclusion.”).
19
People v Crawford, 458 Mich 376, 398; 582 NW2d 785 (1998).
20
Id.
21
See People v Starr, 457 Mich 490, 503; 577 NW2d 673 (1998).
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the trial court minimized the prejudicial effect of the bad acts evidence by instructing the jury
that the issue in this case was whether Cameron committed the charged offense.
Under the second inquiry, we conclude that any prejudicial effect of the trial court’s
decision to allow evidence of Cameron’s prior bad acts did not substantially outweigh the
probative value of the evidence. A trial court admits relevant evidence to provide the trier of fact
with as much useful information as possible.22 Here, the trial court found that Cameron’s prior
bad acts were relevant and therefore admissible to establish Yacheson’s credibility.23 The trial
court also found that Cameron’s actions were relevant to show that he acted violently toward
Yacheson and that his actions were not “accidental” at the time of the incident. Additionally, the
evidence of Cameron’s actions on six separate occasions with Yacheson and on three separate
occasions with Ponder demonstrated Cameron’s propensity to commit acts of violence against
women who were or had been romantically involved with him.
Therefore, Cameron’s prior bad acts were relevant to the prosecutor’s domestic violence
charge under MCL 768.27b. Any prejudicial effect of admitting the bad acts evidence did not
substantially outweigh the probative value of the evidence, and the trial court did not abuse its
discretion when it allowed Cameron’s prior bad acts evidence to be introduced under MCL
768.27b.
III. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE
A. STANDARD OF REVIEW
As previously stated, on April 20, 2009, a jury found Cameron guilty of domestic
violence third offense.24 Cameron argues that the prosecutor failed to present sufficient evidence
at trial to support a jury’s conviction for domestic violence. When assessing a sufficiency-ofthe-evidence argument, an appellate court will view the evidence in a light most favorable to the
prosecution to determine if it would support a rational jury’s finding that the elements had been
proven beyond a reasonable doubt.25 In applying this standard, a court must “draw all reasonable
inferences and make credibility choices in support of the jury verdict.”26
22
People v Hampton, 407 Mich 354, 367; 285 NW2d 284 (1979).
23
Relevant evidence is any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action. People
v McKinney, 410 Mich 413, 419; 301 NW2d 824 (1981).
24
As noted in the General Information, Cameron was initially charged under MCL 750.81(2),
but his charge was enhanced to MCL 750.81(4) because this incident was his third offense. The
language of MCL 750.81(2) and MCL 750.81(4) is almost identical except that MCL 750.81(4)
makes the domestic assault a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 2 years or a
fine of not more than $2,500.00.
25
People v Nowack, 462 Mich 392, 399-400; 614 NW2d 78 (2000).
26
Id. at 400.
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B. LEGAL STANDARDS
The charged offense, MCL 750.81(2), establishes the following guidelines for a domestic
violence charge:
Except as provided in subsection (3) or (4), an individual who assaults or assaults
and batters his or her spouse or former spouse, an individual with whom he or she
has or has had a dating relationship, an individual with whom he or she has had a
child in common, or a resident or former resident of his or her household, is guilty
of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 93 days or a fine
of not more than $500.00, or both.
The relevant elements of a charged domestic assault offense include (1) the commission
of an assault or assault and battery, and (2) a dating relationship between the parties.27 Cameron
does not dispute that he had a dating relationship with Yacheson.28 However, Cameron denies
that an assault or assault and battery took place on the night of the incident.
The courts have defined a battery as “‘an intentional, unconsented and harmful or
offensive touching of the person of another, or of something closely connected with the
person.’”29 It does not matter whether the touching caused an injury.30 Further, the courts have
defined an assault as “[an] attempt to commit a battery or an unlawful act that places another in
reasonable apprehension of receiving an immediate battery.”31 Thus, every battery necessarily
includes an assault because a battery is the very “consummation of the assault.”32
C. APPLYING THE STANDARDS
In this case, Yacheson testified that Cameron pushed her twice. Yacheson stated that the
second time that Cameron pushed her, Cameron pushed her against the refrigerator and stove
with enough force to knock the refrigerator and stove askew. Yacheson also testified that she
tried to push Cameron away, and Cameron allegedly punched or jabbed her in the stomach.
Officer Szydlowski testified that she arrived on the scene and observed Yacheson crying
hysterically. Officer Szydlowski testified that Yacheson appeared very frightened of Cameron.
27
See MCL 750.81(4); CJI2d 17.2a.
28
In addition, Yacheson’s testimony at preliminary hearing established that she and Cameron
had an on-and-off dating relationship.
29
People v Starks, 473 Mich 227, 234; 701 NW2d 136 (2005) (citations omitted); CJI2d
17.2a(2).
30
People v Terry, 217 Mich App 660, 663; 553 NW2d 23 (1996); CJI2d 17.15.
31
Starks, 473 Mich at 234; CJI2d 17.2a(2).
32
Tinkler v Richter, 295 Mich 396, 401; 295 NW 201 (1940); Terry, 217 Mich App at 662.
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This Court previously determined that a defendant’s “actions sometimes speak louder
than words.”33 “Intent may be inferred from all of the facts and circumstances.”34 Further, “a
defendant’s intent may be inferred from his acts.”35 “Because of the inherent difficulty of
proving a defendant’s state of mind, only minimal circumstantial evidence from which intent
may be inferred need be presented.”36 Therefore, we conclude that the evidence satisfies the
elements of assault or assault and battery under MCL 750.81(2). Cameron’s pushing, punching,
or jabbing Yacheson certainly constituted an intentional, unconsented, and harmful or offensive
touching. Further, regardless of how the touching started, Cameron clearly intended to commit
an intentional touching or place Yacheson in apprehension of an intentional touching.
Accordingly, we conclude that the evidence supported an inference that Cameron intended to
commit an assault or assault and battery against Yacheson.
On appeal, Cameron argues that insufficient evidence existed to support the jury’s guilty
verdict. However, at trial, Cameron did not testify and did not call any witnesses to contradict
the prosecution witnesses’ testimony. The Michigan Supreme Court has long-recognized that “it
is the province of the jury to determine questions of fact and assess the credibility of
witnesses.”37 In this case, the jury listened to Yacheson’s testimony and found it to be credible.
Thus, when viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, a rational jury
could find that the elements of a domestic assault had been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.38
On appeal, Cameron argues that Yacheson invited Cameron over to her apartment, he brought
food, he prepared the food, and he began drinking. Cameron claims that at some point, he
voluntarily decided to leave Yacheson’s apartment. Cameron also argues that when he returned
to the kitchen to retrieve his beer from the freezer, Yacheson slammed the freezer door on his
hand. Cameron asserts that he pushed Yacheson out of the way as he exited the apartment.
Again, Cameron never elicited this testimony during the trial to rebut the evidence against
Cameron. Thus, the jury presumably decided its verdict based on Yacheson’s testimony about
the incident. We conclude that sufficient evidence existed to support a jury’s guilty verdict.
IV. GREAT WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE
A. STANDARD OF REVIEW
Cameron argues that his conviction should be reversed and vacated because the jury’s
verdict went against the great weight of the evidence. An appellate court will review a properly
33
People v Strong, 143 Mich App 442, 452; 372 NW2d 335 (1985).
34
People v Hawkins, 245 Mich App 439, 458; 628 NW2d 105 (2001); Strong, 143 Mich App at
452.
35
People v Ng, 156 Mich App 779, 785; 402 NW2d 500 (1986).
36
Strong, 143 Mich App at 452; People v Bowers, 136 Mich App 284, 297; 356 NW2d 618
(1984).
37
People v Lemmon, 456 Mich 625, 637; 576 NW2d 129 (1998).
38
Nowack, 462 Mich at 399-400.
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preserved great-weight issue by deciding whether “the evidence preponderates so heavily against
the verdict that it would be a miscarriage of justice to allow the verdict to stand.”39 However,
when a party fails to preserve a great-weight issue for appeal, an appellate court will look for
“plain error affecting the defendant’s substantial rights.”40
B. LEGAL STANDARDS
An appellate court will only review issues that are properly raised and preserved at trial.41
The preservation requirement induces litigants “to do what they can in the trial court to prevent
error and eliminate its prejudice, or to create a record of the error and its prejudice.”42 Generally,
an issue is not properly preserved unless a party raises the issue before the trial court and the trial
court addresses and decides the issue.43 To preserve a great-weight claim, a party must move for
a new trial in the trial court.44 An appellate court will review a properly preserved great-weight
issue by deciding whether “the evidence preponderates so heavily against the verdict that it
would be a miscarriage of justice to allow the verdict to stand.”45
In this case, Cameron’s did not move for a new trial, so he failed to preserve the greatweight issue for appellate review. Therefore, we can only review Cameron’s great-weight
argument for plain error affecting his substantial rights. “Any ‘[p]lain error that affects [a
party’s] substantial rights may be considered even though it was not brought to the court’s
attention.’”46 A constitutional right “may be forfeited by a party’s failure to timely assert that
right.”47 To avoid forfeiture, the defendant bears the burden to show that: (1) an error occurred,
(2) the error was plain, i.e., clear and obvious, and (3) the plain error prejudiced substantial
rights, i.e., that the error affected the outcome of the lower court proceedings.48 Further,
39
People v Musser, 259 Mich App 215, 218-219; 673 NW2d 800 (2003) (citations omitted).
40
Id. at 218.
41
People v Stanaway, 446 Mich 643, 694; 521 NW2d 557 (1994); MEA v SOS, 280 Mich App
477, 488; 761 NW2d 234 (2008).
42
People v Mayfield, 221 Mich App 656, 660; 562 NW2d 272 (1997); see also People v Pipes,
475 Mich 267, 277; 715 NW2d 290 (2006).
43
Walters v Nadell, 481 Mich 377, 387; 751 NW2d 431 (2008); People v Grant, 445 Mich 535,
546; 520 NW2d 123 (1994); People v Metamora Water Serv, Inc, 276 Mich App 376, 382; 741
NW2d 61; Polkton Twp v Pellegrom, 265 Mich App 88, 95; 693 NW2d 170 (2005).
44
People v Buck, 197 Mich App 404, 416; 496 NW2d 321 (1992).
45
Lemmon, 456 Mich at 642.
46
People v Carines, 460 Mich 750, 763; 597 NW2d 130 (1999), quoting FR Crim P 52(b).
47
Carines, 460 Mich at 763, quoting United States v Olano, 507 US 725, 731; 113 S Ct 1770;
123 L Ed 2d 508 (1993).
48
Carines, 460 Mich at 763.
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once a defendant satisfies these three requirements, an appellate court must
exercise its discretion in deciding whether to reverse. “Reversal is warranted only
when the plain, forfeited error “‘seriously affect[ed] the fairness, integrity or
public reputation of judicial proceedings” independent of the defendant’s
innocence.’”[49]
C. APPLYING THE STANDARDS
As previously stated, testimony of the prosecution witnesses provided evidence of a
domestic assault or assault and battery. At trial, Yacheson testified that Cameron pushed her and
punched or jabbed her in the stomach. Additionally, Officer Szydlowski testified that she
observed Yacheson crying hysterically and that Yacheson appeared to be very frightened of
Cameron. The prosecutor argues that this testimony supports an inference that Cameron
intentionally committed an assault or assault and battery against Yacheson and that sufficient
evidence exists to allow a rational jury to find that the elements of a domestic assault had been
proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
In contrast, Cameron did not present any witnesses to contradict the prosecutor’s
evidence. The jury heard all of the testimony, the jury deliberated, and then the jury found
Cameron guilty of domestic violence. Now, on appeal, Cameron argues that his conviction
should be reversed and vacated because the evidence presented at trial does not support a guilty
verdict. Cameron claims that Yacheson invited him over to her apartment, he brought food, he
prepared the food, and he began drinking. Cameron further states that at some point, he
voluntarily decided to leave Yacheson’s apartment, and that he returned to the kitchen to retrieve
his beer from the freezer. Cameron alleges that Yacheson slammed the freezer door on his hand
and then he pushed Yacheson out of the way as he exited the apartment.
Despite his assertions to the contrary, we believe that Cameron has failed to show that an
error occurred, that the error was clear and obvious, or that plain error prejudiced his rights by
affecting the outcome of the trial. Further, to the extent that Cameron argues that Yacheson’s
statements to the police were inconsistent with her testimony at trial, “[c]onflicting testimony,
even when impeached to some extent, is an insufficient ground for granting a new trial.”50 We
conclude that the evidence supported the jury’s finding that Cameron intentionally committed an
assault or assault and battery against Yacheson and that the jury’s verdict was not against the
great weight of the evidence.
V. CONCLUSION
The trial court did not abuse its discretion when it allowed Cameron’s prior bad acts
evidence to be introduced at trial under MCL 768.27b. Further, when viewing the evidence in a
49
Id., quoting Olano, 507 US at 736-737, quoting United States v Atkinson, 297 US 157, 160; 56
S Ct 391; 80 L Ed 2d 555 (1936).
50
Musser, 259 Mich App at 219, quoting Lemmon, 456 Mich at 647.
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light most favorable to the prosecution, a rational jury could find that the elements of a domestic
assault had been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Thus, sufficient evidence existed to support
a jury’s guilty verdict. In addition, Cameron’s failed to preserve his great-weight argument for
appeal, and Cameron has failed to show that a plain error occurred at trial. Accordingly, the
jury’s verdict was not against the great weight of the evidence or manifestly unjust.
We affirm.
/s/ Donald S. Owens
/s/ William C. Whitbeck
/s/ Karen M. Fort Hood
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