Case ID: mich-app_119/html/0403-02.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Per Curiam.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

References for Points in Headnotes
    
      PEOPLE v RAYMOND
    Docket No. 57928.
    Submitted May 20, 1982, at Detroit.
    Decided September 9, 1982.
    John A. Raymond was convicted, on a plea of guilty, in Lapeer Circuit Court of delivery of less than 50 grams of cocaine and was sentenced, Norman A. Baguley, J. Defendant appeals. Held:
    
    1. The Legislature’s classification of cocaine as a narcotic drug in the controlled substances statutes does not violate the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses of either the United States or the Michigan Constitutions.
    2. The penalty provision for a conviction under the controlled substances statutes does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment.
    3. The trial court’s failure to inform defendant of the sentencing consequences of proposal "B” does not mandate reversal of his conviction.
    4. Defendant’s contention that the trial court should have informed him that, if a prison sentence were imposed, the indeterminate sentence statute required the court to impose 20 years as the maximum sentence is without merit.
    5. Consideration by the sentencing court of other criminal activities in which defendant had been.previously involved but which did not result in conviction was not improper since defendant does not complain that the information was inaccurate and since he was given the opportunity to respond to the sentencing report.
    6. Resentencing is required because the presentence report _given to defendant and his attorney contained a different sentencing recommendation than did the report which was presented to the sentencing judge.
    
      References for Points in Headnotes
    
       25 Am Jur 2d, Drugs, Narcotics, and Poisons § 17.
    
       21 Am Jur 2d, Criminal Law § 539.
    
       21 Am Jur 2d, Criminal Law § 542.
    
       29 Am Jur 2d, Evidence § 320 et seq.
    
    
       21 Am Jur 2d, Criminal Law § 596.
    Defendant’s right to disclosure of presentence report. 40 ALR3d 681.
    
      7. Defendant’s conviction is affirmed. His sentence is vacated and the case is remanded for résentencing.
    Remanded for resentencing.
    1. Controlled Substances — Cocaine — Constitutional Law — Equal Protection — Due Process.
    The Legislature’s classification of cocaine as a narcotic drug in the controlled substances statutes does not violate the Equal Protection or Due Process Clauses of either the United States or Michigan Constitutions (US Const, Am XIV; Const 1963, art 1, §§ 2, 17).
    2. Controlled Substances — Penalties — Cruel or Unusual Punishment.
    The penalty provision for a conviction under the controlled substances statutes does not constitute cruel or unusual punishment (MCL 333.7401; MSA 14.15[7401]).
    3. Criminal Law — Sentencing — Indeterminate Sentence — Court Rules.
    A trial court, once it has informed a criminal defendant of the maximum sentence which can be imposed for the offense with which the defendant is charged, need not additionally inform the defendant that the indeterminate sentence statute requires the court to impose that maximum sentence (MCL 769.8; MSA 28.1080; GCR 1963, 785.7[l][b]).
    4. Criminal Law — Sentencing.
    A sentencing court did not err by considering other criminal activities in which a defendant had been previously involved but which did not result in conviction where the defendant did not complain that the information was inaccurate and where' he was given the opportunity to respond to the sentencing report.
    5. Criminal Law — Sentencing — Presentence Reports — Sentencing Recommendations.
    A sentencing court erred by failing to advise the defendant and his counsel that the sentencing recommendation in a presentence report had been changed (MCL 771.14; MSA 28.1144; GCR 1963, 785.12).
    
      Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Louis J. 
      
      Caruso, Solicitor General, and Nick O. Holowka, Prosecuting Attorney, for the people.
    
      Richard B. Ginsberg, Assistant State Appellate Defender, for defendant on appeal.
    Before: M. F. Cavanagh, P.J., and N. J. Kaufman and R. A. Benson, JJ.
    
      
       Circuit judge, sitting on the Court of Appeals by assignment.
    
   Per Curiam.

Defendant was convicted, following his plea of guilty, of delivery of less than 50 grams of cocaine in violation of MCL 333.7401; MSA 14.15(7401). He was sentenced to a term of from 7 to 20 years in prison. Defendant appeals his conviction as of right.

Defendant first contends that the Legislature’s classification of cocaine as a narcotic drug in the controlled substances act, MCL 333.7101 et seq.; MSA 14.15(7101) et seq., is unconstitutional as violative of the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses of the United States and Michigan Constitutions. US Const, Am XIV; Const 1963, art 1, §§ 2, 17. For the reasons stated in People v Kaigler, 116 Mich App 567; 323 NW2d 486 (1982), we reject defendant’s contention.

We also reject defendant’s claim that the penalty provision for a conviction under the act constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. People v Campbell, 115 Mich App 369; 320 NW2d 381 (1982); People v McCarty, 113 Mich App 464; 317 NW2d 659 (1982); People v DeLeon, 110 Mich App 320; 313 NW2d 110 (1981); People v Tanksley, 103 Mich App 268; 303 NW2d 200 (1981).

Defendant next complains that the trial court’s failure to inform him of the sentencing consequences of proposal "B”, MCL 791.233b; MSA 28.2303(3), mandates reversal of his conviction. The Supreme Court’s decision in People v Johnson, 413 Mich 487; 320 NW2d 876 (1982), disposes of this issue.

Defendant also claims that the trial court failed to inform him of the maximum sentence which could be imposed as required by GCR 1963, 785.7(l)(b). The rule requires the trial court to tell defendant "the maximum possible prison sentence for the offense”. In this case, the trial court specifically informed defendant that if he were to plead guilty he could receive a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. MCL 333.7401(2)(a)(iv); MSA 14.15(7401)(2)(a)(iv). Defendant claims that the trial court should have additionally informed him that if a prison sentence were imposed, the indeterminate sentence act, MCL 769.8; MSA 28.1080, required the court to impose 20 years as the maximum sentence. We find this contention to be without merit. The court rule imposes no such requirement. In Guilty Plea Cases, 395 Mich 96, 118; 235 NW2d 132 (1975), the Supreme Court stated the following:

"The rule reflects the extent to which this Court is willing to impose on the judge the obligation of informing the defendant of such consequences [sentencing].” See also Johnson, supra.

Defendant also raises two issues with respect to sentencing. He first complains that the sentencing court erred by considering other criminal activities in which defendant had been previously involved which did not result in conviction. Since defendant does not complain that the information was inaccurate, and since he was given the opportunity to respond to the sentencing report, consideration of such activities was not improper. People v Books, 95 Mich App 500; 291 NW2d 94 (1980); People v Andre Alexander, 112 Mich App 74; 314 NW2d 801 (1981).

The other issue defendant raises with respect to sentencing is that resentencing is required because the presentence report given to defendant and to his attorney contained a different sentencing recommendation than did the report which was presented to the sentencing judge. We agree.

It appears that the presentence report given to defendant contained a recommendation that defendant be sentenced to one year in jail. Defendant’s trial counsel asked the court to follow that recommendation. However, it appears that after the report was prepared, the probation department changed the recommendation to recommend that defendant be sentenced to seven years imprisonment. A copy of the amended report was given to the trial court. However, neither defendant nor his attorney were informed of the change.

Although the decision to change the sentencing recommendation was not objectionable, the sentencing court’s failure to advise defendant or his attorney of that change constitutes error. GCR 1963, 785.12; MCL 771.14; MSA 28.1144. Furthermore, since it is clear that defendant’s attorney based his tactics at sentencing on the recommendation contained in the report with which he was presented, the error cannot be deemed harmless and resentencing is required. People v Matzat, 108 Mich App 327; 310 NW2d 231 (1981).

Defendant’s conviction is affirmed. His sentence is vacated and the case is remanded for resentencing. We do not retain jurisdiction.