Case ID: mich-app_95/html/0032-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "L. B. Bebeau, J. D. F. Walsh, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

PEOPLE v WILLIS
    Docket Nos. 78-2851, 78-2852.
    Submitted October 2, 1979, at Grand Rapids.
    Decided January 22, 1980.
    Leave to appeal applied for.
    Billy Willis pled guilty to two charges of armed robbery and two charges of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony at a single plea-taking session in Recorder’s Court of Detroit, Susan D. Borman, J. The two armed robberies were separate and distinct crimes involving different victims, times, and geographical locations, although both occurred on the same day. Defendant was sentenced to one year and one day on each of the armed robberies and to terms of two years on the first felony-firearm conviction and five years on the second felony-firearm conviction. Defendant appeals. On appeal, defendant contends that the mandatory five-year sentence imposed by the trial court for his second felony-firearm conviction was invalid and should have been a two-year sentence. Held:
    
    Multiple convictions arising out of separate incidents pled to at the same time may serve as the basis for subsequent-offender convictions under the felony-firearm statute. The court did not err in sentencing defendant Willis to five years On the second felony-firearm conviction because pleas of guilty to two separate felony-firearm offenses, rendered at a single plea-taking session, satisfy the felony-firearm statutory requirement that a second conviction under the statute mandates a five-year prison sentence.
    Affirmed.
    D. F. Walsh, J., dissented. He would hold that the criminal activity supporting a subsequent conviction under the felony-firearm statute must have occurred after a prior felony-firearm conviction. He would remand for resentencing.
    References for Points in Headnotes
    [1, 2] 39 Am Jur 2d, Habitual Criminals and Subsequent Offenders §§6, 7.
    Chronological or procedural sequence of former convictions as affecting enhancement of penalty for subsequent offense under habitual criminal statutes. 24 ALR2d 1247.
    
      Opinion of the Court
    1. Criminal Law — Felony-Firearm — Plea of Guilty — Separate Crimes — Multiple Convictions — Statutes.
    Pleas of guilty to two felony-firearm charges made at a single plea-taking session but arising out of separate incidents may serve as the basis for subsequent-offender convictions under the felony-firearm statute (MCL 750.227b; MSA 28.424[2]).
    Dissent by D. F. Walsh, J.
    2. Criminal Law — Felony-Firearm — Separate Crimes — Separate Convictions.
    
      Criminal activity supporting a subsequent conviction under the felony-ñrearm statute must have occurred after a prior felonyñrearm conviction.
    
    
      Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Robert A. Derengoski, Solicitor General, William L. Cahalan, Prosecuting Attorney, Edward Reilly Wilson, Principal Attorney, Appeals, and Paul C. Louisell, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for the people.
    
      Lerner & Sobel, for defendant on appeal.
    Before: Cynar, P.J., and D. F. Walsh and L. B. Bebeau, JJ.
    
      
       Former circuit judge, sitting on the Court of Appeals by assignment pursuant to Const Í963, art 6, § 23 as amended in 1968.
    
   L. B. Bebeau, J.

Pursuant to a sentence agreement, defendant on February 14, 1977, pled guilty to two charges of armed robbery, MCL 750.529; MSA 28.797, and two charges of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, MCL 750.227b; MSA 28.424(2). The two armed robberies to which defendant pled guilty were separate and distinct crimes, involving different victims, times, and geographical locations, although both occurred on the same day. Defendant subsequently received concurrent prison terms of two years on the first felony-firearm conviction and five years on the second, in addition to terms of one year and one day on each armed-robbery conviction, the latter to run concurrently with each other but consecutive to the felony-firearm sentences.

The sole issue presented by defendant on appeal which requires discussion is his contention that the mandatory five-year sentence imposed by the lower court for his second felony-firearm conviction was invalid and should have been two years instead. Simply stated, the question is whether defendant’s pleas of guilty to two separate felony-firearm offenses, rendered at a single plea-taking session, satisfied the requirement of MCL 750.227b(l); MSA 28.424(2X1) that "[u]pon a second conviction under this section, the person shall be imprisoned for 5 years”.

The problem presented is no longer one of first impression. In People v Barrett, 93 Mich App 808; 287 NW2d 348 (1979), this Court analyzed a similar fact situation. There, as here, the defendant argued that the felony-firearm statute should be interpreted analogously to Michigan’s habitual offender act, MCL 769.10 et seq.; MSA 28.1082 et seq., so that no enhanced punishment would be proper under MCL 750.227b(l); MSA 28.424(2X1) unless the subsequent felony-firearm offense was committed after the defendant had been convicted of a previous felony-firearm charge. In rejecting this argument the Barrett Court observed (p 815):

"While both statutes are similar in that each is imbued with a general deterrent force common to all criminal statutes, they are strikingly different in language and purpose. The habitual offender act specifically excepts from its coverage the first-time offender whereas the felony-firearm statute applies to all offenders. The habitual offender statute was intended to afford a first offender an opportunity to reform. Thus, a time gap between convictions becomes important. By contrast, the felony-firearm statute is directed at punishing the use of firearms during unlawful acts and, as such, is not concerned with the time at which convictions are received.”

We agree with the result reached in Barrett. The language of the felony-firearm statute is unambiguous and is distinguishable on its face from that of the habitual criminal act. Had the Legislature intended to do so, it coudl easily have incorporated into the felony-firearm statute the clear language already existing in the habitual offender act, and thus dictated the result argued for by defendant. Its failure to do so must be regarded as intentional and meaningful.

Defendant’s allegation that the felony-firearm statute provides inadequate notice is without merit.

Affirmed.

Cynar, P.J., concurred.

D. F. Walsh, J.

(dissenting). I must respectfully dissent. In my judgment in providing for increased terms of imprisonment for subsequent felony-firearm convictions it was the intent of the Legislature to discourage recidivism. The harsh sentencing consequences for subsequent offenders are meant for those who, having already served an additional two-year term of imprisonment for violation of the felony-firearm law, are not dissuaded from again pursuing the same course of conduct.

I would rule that despite the difference in language the felony-firearm act must be given the same interpretation as the habitual offender act and that the criminal activity supporting the subsequent conviction must have occurred after the prior conviction.

I would remand for resentencing.