Case Name: PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Juan Delavonte DAVIS, Defendant-Appellant.
Court: Michigan Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 2018-12-07
Citations: 920 N.W.2d 146
Docket Number: SC: 157245; COA: 341047
Parties: PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
Juan Delavonte DAVIS, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: North Western Reporter 2d
Volume: 920
Pages: 146–146

Head Matter:
PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
Juan Delavonte DAVIS, Defendant-Appellant.
SC: 157245
COA: 341047
Supreme Court of Michigan.
December 7, 2018
Order

Opinion:
By order of October 19, 2018, the prosecuting attorney was directed to answer the application for leave to appeal the December 26, 2017 order of the Court of Appeals. On order of the Court, the answer having been received, the application for leave to appeal is again considered and, pursuant to MCR 7.305(H)(1), in lieu of granting leave to appeal, we VACATE the sentence of the Berrien Circuit Court, and REMAND this case to that court for resentencing. The circuit court clearly erred by assigning 50 points under Offense Variable 15 (OV 15), MCL 777.45. The guidelines variables are scored by reference to the record. People v. Osantowski , 481 Mich. 103, 111, 748 N.W.2d 799 (2008). The trial court's factual determinations are reviewed for clear error and must be supported by a preponderance of the evidence. People v. Hardy , 494 Mich. 430, 438, 835 N.W.2d 340 (2013). Given the small quantity of the controlled substance at issue, the absence of other indicia of possession with the intent to deliver, the uncontested evidence that the substance was found crushed in the defendant's pocket, his history of substance abuse as evidenced by the presentence investigation report, and the fact that he was not charged with delivery of a controlled substance, the record evidence preponderates in favor of the conclusion that the defendant possessed the controlled substance at issue for personal use, and not with "the intent to deliver . in this state," as is required by MCL 777.45(1)(d). Specifically, on this record, the evidence that the one pill at issue was crushed into fragments does not prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant intended to transfer the controlled substance to another individual regardless of remuneration. See MCL 777.45(2)(a). Because the deduction of points erroneously assigned under OV 15 affects the defendant's guidelines range, he is entitled to resentencing. People v. Francisco , 474 Mich. 82, 711 N.W.2d 44 (2006).
We do not retain jurisdiction.