Case Name: PEOPLE v. McINTOSH
Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1980-11-05
Citations: 101 Mich. App. 422
Docket Number: Docket No. 47083
Parties: PEOPLE v McINTOSH
Judges: Before: R. B. Burns, P.J., and T. M. Burns and D. E. Holbrook, Jr., JJ.
Reporter: Michigan appeals reports; cases decided in the Michigan Court of Appeals.
Volume: 101
Pages: 422–424

Head Matter:
PEOPLE v McINTOSH
Docket No. 47083.
Submitted September 3, 1980, at Grand Rapids.
Decided November 5, 1980.
Willie C. McIntosh pled guilty in Kent Circuit Court, Woodrow A. Yared, J., to armed robbery and felony firearm. Prior to sentencing, the judge and defense counsel held an in-chambers sentencing conference outside the presence of defendant. Defendant appeals, seeking remand for resentencing because of his absence from that conference. Held:
Resentencing is not mandated. There is no need for a criminal defendant to be present at a conference between the judge and defense counsel prior to the sentencing hearing, such a conference not being a critical stage in a criminal proceeding.
Affirmed.
T. M. Burns, J., dissented. He would hold that remand for resentencing is required, since the in-chambers conference resulted in a denial to defendant of an opportunity to effectively exercise his right to allocution. He would remand for resentencing.
Opinion of the Court
1. Criminal Law — Sentencing — Sentencing Conference — Critical Stage.
A criminal defendant need not be present at a conference held between defense counsel and the sentencing judge prior to the sentencing hearing, since such a conference is not a critical stage in the criminal proceedings.
Dissent by T. M. Burns, J.
2. Criminal Law — Sentencing — Sentencing Conference — Right to Allocution — Court Rules.
Remand for resentencing is mandated where the sentencing judge and defense counsel hold an in-chambers sentencing conference without the presence of defendant, because, by being excluded from such a conference, the defendant is denied the opportunity to effectively exercise his right to allocution (GCR 1963, 785.8[2]X
References for Points in Headnotes
21 Am Jur 2d, Criminal Law §§ 289, 304.
21 Am Jur 2d, Criminal Law §§ 271, 304.
Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Robert A. Derengoski, Solicitor General, David H. Sawyer, Prosecuting Attorney, and Carol S. Irons, Chief Appellate Attorney, for the people.
George S. Buth, for defendant on appeal.
Before: R. B. Burns, P.J., and T. M. Burns and D. E. Holbrook, Jr., JJ.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
Defendant pled guilty to armed robbery and felony firearm, contrary to MCL 750.529; MSA 28.797 and MCL 750.227b; MSA 28.424(2).
On appeal defendant asks this Court to remand his case back to the circuit court for resentencing because defendant was not present in the judge's chambers at a presentencing conference. People v Briggs, 94 Mich App 723; 290 NW2d 66 (1980), and People v Worden, 91 Mich App 666; 284 NW2d 159 (1979), hold contrary to defendant's position.
Affirmed.