PEOPLE OF MI V PATRICK CARL JONES
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
UNPUBLISHED
November 8, 1996
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v
No. 175784
LC No. 92-000712
PATRICK CARL JONES,
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: Gribbs, P.J., and Young and W. J. Caprathe,* JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Defendant appeals as of right from his convictions by a jury of armed robbery, MCL 750.529;
MSA 28.797, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, MCL 750.227b; MSA
28.424(2). Defendant was sentenced to two years for the felony-firearm conviction, to be followed by
eight to ten years’ imprisonment for armed robbery. We affirm.
First, defendant argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion to dismiss because the
prosecution violated the 180-day rule, MCL 780.131(1); MSA 28.969(1)(1). We disagree.
MCL 780.131(1); MSA 28.969(1)(1) provides:
Whenever the department of corrections shall receive notice that there is pending in this
state any untried warrant, indictment, information or complaint setting forth against any
inmate of a penal institution of this state a criminal offense for which a prison sentence
might be imposed upon conviction, such inmate shall be brought to trial within 180 days
after the department of corrections shall cause to be delivered to the prosecuting
attorney . . . written notice of the place of imprisonment of such inmate and a request for
final disposition of such warrant, indictment, information or complaint.
Generally, the 180-day period commences either (1) when the prosecutor knows the charged person is
incarcerated or detained and awaiting incarceration; or (2) when the Department of Corrections knows
* Circuit judge, sitting on the Court of Appeals by assignment.
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or has reason to know that a criminal charge is pending against an incarcerated or detained defendant.
MCR 6.004(D)(1).
The 180-day rule requires the prosecutor to make a good faith effort during, and following, the
180-day period to proceed to prepare the case against the inmate for trial. People v Bell, 209 Mich
App 273, 278; 530 NW2d 167 (1995). The prosecutor must justify any delay, People v Wolak, 153
Mich App 60, 64; 395 NW2d 240 (1986), and demonstrate that the case was diligently prosecuted.
People v Farmer, 127 Mich App 472, 477-478; 339 NW2d 218 (1983); People v Forrest, 72
Mich App 266, 279; 249 NW2d 384 (1976). Any delay that is attributable to the defendant can
negate a violation of the 180-day rule. People v Crawford, 161 Mich App 77, 83; 409 NW2d 729
(1987).
The 180-day period began to run on May 18, 1992, when a writ was issued to the Department
of Corrections for defendant’s arraignment in circuit court. We find that the prosecutor proceeded in
good faith to bring defendant to trial within 180 days of this date. Although the case was reassigned to
new judges on two occasions, seven of the delays were attributable to defendant. While defendant was
not ultimately brought to trial until March 1994, we find no violation of the 180-day rule. Therefore, the
trial court did not err in denying defendant’s motion for dismissal.
Moreover, we find defendant’s argument that the trial court acknowledged a violation of the
180-day rule by granting him personal bond pursuant to MCR 6.004(C) in lieu of dismissing the charges
against him to be without merit. The trial court’s action in this regard has no bearing on whether the
prosecution made a good faith effort to bring defendant to trial.
Next, defendant asserts that his due process rights were violated by an impermissibly suggestive
identification procedure used at his preliminary examination. We disagree.
We review the lower court’s decision to admit identification evidence for clear error. People v
Barclay, 208 Mich App 670, 675; 528 NW2d 842 (1995). Erroneously admitted identification
testimony warrants reversal only when the error is not harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. People v
Winans, 187 Mich App 294, 299; 466 NW2d 731 (1991). To find an improper admission of
identification testimony harmless, it (1) must be “so offensive to the maintenance of a sound judicial
system that it never can be regarded as harmless,” and (2) must be harmless beyond a reasonable
doubt. Id. First, as discussed below, the identification of a defendant at the preliminary examination out
of a group of three men is not so offensive to the judicial system that it cannot be considered harmless.
Moreover, in light of another witness’ identification of defendant, we find that any error in the
identification procedure to be harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.
However, we find that the identification of defendant by the witness at the preliminary
examination was not improperly suggestive. At the preliminary examination, defendant moved to
adjourn so that a line up could be held. The motion was denied. Defendant, a black man, was directed
to join five other prisoners sitting in the jury box. Three of these prisoners were white men and two
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were black men. The witness was asked to look around the courtroom and to indicate whether she
saw the man who robbed her. She identified defendant.
We reject defendant’s argument that the fact that the witness was told that defendant was sitting
in the jury box with the other prisoners rendered the identification procedure impermissibly suggestive.
See People v Larry, 162 Mich App 142, 155; 412 NW2d 674 (1987). We also do not agree with
defendant’s assertion that the racial composition of the men necessarily requires that we find the
procedure impermissibly suggestive. In order to establish that physical discrepancies tainted an
identification procedure, the defendant must show that the differences were apparent to the witness and
substantially distinguished him from the other men in the jury box. People v Kurylczyk, 443 Mich 289,
312; 505 NW2d 528 (1993). Defendant has failed to establish that there were physical disparities
between him and the other two black prisoners that substantially distinguished them and that were
apparent to the identification witness. Further, there is no requirement as to the number of people that
must be placed with a defendant for identification purposes, only that the procedure be fair and not
impermissibly suggestive. Moreover, any height disparities between the black men in the group were
substantially remedied by conducting the identification while they were seated. Defendant has failed to
carry his burden of establishing that the identification procedure was impermissibly suggestive. People v
McElhaney, 214 Mich App 269, 286; 545 NW2d 18 (1996).
Defendant argues that his convictions must be reversed the trial court erred in allowing the
prosecution to introduce the preliminary examination testimony of a witness in lieu of her appearance at
trial. We disagree.
Former testimony of a witness may be admitted at a later proceeding if that witness is
unavailable to testify and the party against whom the testimony is being offered had an opportunity to
cross-examine the witness at the time the testimony was given. MRE 804(b)(1). The witness is
deemed unavailable for the later proceeding if she is absent from the proceeding and the party seeking
to admit her statement used due diligence to procure the witness’ attendance. MRE 804(a)(5). The
burden is on the party seeking to admit the statement to demonstrate that a reasonable, good-faith effort
was made to secure the presence of the witness at trial. People v Briseno, 211 Mich App 11, 14; 535
NW2d 559 (1995). While we review the admission of former testimony for an abuse of discretion, a
finding that the proponent of the testimony exercised due diligence is a factual finding that will not be set
aside absent clear error. Id.; MCR 2.613(C).
Here, the trial court’s determination that the prosecution made a diligent, good faith effort to
locate the witness was not without justification and was not error. At the preliminary examination, the
prosecutor and detective instructed the witness to stay in touch with them. The detective contacted the
witness by telephone shortly after the preliminary examination and although she had previously said she
would probably be moving to New York, she made no further indications of possible unavailability.
For a period of three months prior to trial, the detective attempted to find the witness by a
number of means; by the LIEN for her driver’s license in Michigan and New York, by contacting
people at her last known address and employment, and by contacting the post office seeking a
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forwarding address. The trial court’s finding of due diligence was based upon evidence of a reasonable
good faith effort and the admission of the former testimony of the unavailable witness was not error.
Furthermore, we note that other evidence (which included eye witness testimony of a fellow employee
of the unavailable witness) was overwhelming.
Finally, defendant argues that the trial court erred by denying his motion to suppress evidence
found by police in their search of his vehicle without a warrant because the stop of his vehicle was
pretextual. We disagree. The trial court’s decision following a suppression hearing will not be reversed
unless it is clearly erroneous. People v Massey, 215 Mich 639, 641; 546 NW2d 711 (1996).
Where police officers have “‘reasonable suspicion’ that crime is afoot” they may make a valid
investigatory stop. People v Champion, 452 Mich 92, 98; 549 NW2d 849 (1996). Reasonable
suspicion, which is something less than probable cause, involves more than an “inchoate or
unparticularized suspicion.” Id. To justify a valid investigatory stop, the officer must have an objective
manifestation based on the totality of the circumstances that the person stopped was or was about to be
engaged in criminal activity; there must be a particularized and objective basis for the suspicion. Id. at
98-99.
An exception to the warrant requirement allows a full search of the entire passenger
compartment of an automobile once police have m a lawful arrest of its occupant. People v
ade
Catanzarite, 211 Mich App 573, 581; 536 NW2d 510 (1995). Our Supreme Court has recently
summarized the basis upon which a valid arrest may be made:
an arresting officer must possess information demonstrating probable cause to believe
that an offense has occurred and that the defendant committed it.” MCL 764.15; MSA
28.874. Probable cause to arrest exists where the facts and circumstances within an
officer’s knowledge and of which he has reasonably trustworthy information are
sufficient in themselves to warrant a man of reasonable caution in the belief that an
offense has been or is being committed. [People v Champion, supra at 115.]
However, police officers may not use an arrest or stop as a pretext to search for evidence of a
crime. People v Haney, 192 Mich App 207, 209; 480 NW2d 322 (1991). When, without the
reasonable suspicion necessary to support a stop of a person, the officer uses a minor violation to stop
and search, the stop is a mere pretext. Id.
The trial testimony reveals that, in response to a police bulletin, an officer positioned himself a
short distance from the scene of the armed robbery and on a logical escape route. Within minutes of the
incident, the officer spotted defendant, who matched the physical description given by the witnesses,
traveling on the escape route toward a freeway. When the officer followed his vehicle, defendant
looked furtively in his review mirror at the patrol car. The officer also indicated that defendant’s vehicle
had a broken tail light. Defendant was pulled over.
Defendant stopped his car and got out, putting his hand into his pocket as he walked toward the
officers. The search of defendant revealed a large amount of money in his pocket. Defendant was
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informed that he was a suspect in an armed robbery and placed in the patrol car. The officers looked
through the windows of defendant’s vehicle and saw a duffel bag and blue hooded sweatshirt. The
officers had been told that the suspect was wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt. In the search of
defendant’s vehicle, the officers found a .38 caliber, five shot revolver under the sweatshirt. The gun
matched the description of the weapon used in the robbery. Defendant was arrested.
We find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying defendant’s motion to
suppress the evidence. Based on the information made available to the officer through the police bulletin
and defendant’s matching the description of the suspect, there existed a reasonable suspicion for the
stop of defendant. Once the officers saw the hooded sweatshirt matching the description of that worn
by the suspect, there existed additional support for a finding of probable cause to arrest defendant, and
the search of defendant’s vehicle immediately before his arrest was justified. Champion, supra at 115
116; People v Arterberry, 431 Mich 381, 383-384; 429 NW2d 574 (1988).
Affirmed.
/s/ Roman S. Gribbs
/s/ Robert P. Young, Jr.
/s/ William J. Caprathe
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