Case ID: mich-app_18/html/0259-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "J. H. Gillis, P. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

PEOPLE v. HENSON
    1. Criminal Law — Uttering and Publishing False Instrument ■ — Plea of Guilty — Voluntariness of Plea.
    The fact that defendant told the prosecuting attorney that he would like to be treated for his addiction to alcohol does not establish a basis for concluding that the prosecutor promised that defendant would get medical treatment if he pled guilty.
    2. Forgery — Criminal Law — Uttering and Publishing False Instrument — Elements—Obtaining of Money.
    Actual obtaining of money is not necessary to the crime of utter ing and publishing a check without having a checking account; presentation of the check for cashing is sufficient (CL 1948, § 750.131a).
    References for Points in Headnotes
    
       21 Am Jur 2d, Criminal Law §§485, 493, 494.
    
       32 Am Jur 2d, False Pretenses § 19.
    
       21 Am Jur 2d, Criminal Law §§ 107, 108.
    
      3. Forgery — Criminal Law — Uttering and Publishing False Instrument — Plea op Guilty — Alcoholism op Dependant.
    Acceptance by trial court of defendant’s plea of .guilty to uttering and publishing a cheek without having a cheeking account even though the court knew that defendant had a reputation of being an alcoholic was not error where there was no showing in the record that defendant was intoxicated at the time of the offense so as to negate the requisite intent to defraud (CL 1948, § 750.131a).
    Appeal from Hillsdale, Robert W. McIntyre, J.
    Submitted Division 2 March 5, 1969, at Lansing.
    (Docket No. 5,996.)
    Decided June 26, 1969.
    Harry G. Henson was convicted, on his plea of guilty, of uttering and publishing a check without having a checking account. Defendant appeals.
    Affirmed.
    
      Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Robert A. Berengo ski, Solicitor General, and James B. Parker, Prosecuting Attorney, for the people.
    
      Charles G. Gibbons, for defendant on appeal.
    Before: J. H. Gillis, P. J., and Levin and Bronson, JJ.
   J. H. Gillis, P. J.

On May 22, 1968, defendant pled guilty to the crime of uttering and publishing a check without having a cheeking account (CL 1948, § 750.131a [Stat Ann 1962 Rev § 28.326(1)]) and subsequently was sentenced to serve one year and eleven months to two years. Prom this conviction and sentence defendant appeals:"

Defendant contends that it was reversible error for the court to have accepted his plea of guilty because it was induced by promises of medical treatment for alcoholism. The record is devoid of specific language establishing such a promise, although it does appear that the defendant told the prosecuting attorney that he would like treatment for his addiction to alcohol. This does not establish a basis for concluding that the prosecutor promised that defendant would get medical treatment if he pled guilty.

Defendant’s contention that there was no crime committed in that he was apprehended soon after he presented the check for cashing and before any money could be paid to him is without merit. See People v. Jacobson (1929), 248 Mich 639, 642.

Defendant’s final allegation that the court erred by accepting his plea knowing he had a reputation of being alcoholic, is equally without merit. There is no showing in this record that the defendant was intoxicated at the time the offense was committed so as to negate the requisite intent to defraud.

Affirmed.

All concurred.