Case Name: PEOPLE v. BANKS
Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1977-02-02
Citations: 73 Mich. App. 492
Docket Number: Docket No. 23423
Parties: PEOPLE v BANKS
Judges: Before: J. H. Gillis, P. J., and M. F. Cavanagh and D. E. Holbrook, Jr., JJ.
Reporter: Michigan appeals reports; cases decided in the Michigan Court of Appeals.
Volume: 73
Pages: 492–495

Head Matter:
PEOPLE v BANKS
Opinion op the Court
1. Criminal Law—Sentences—Minimum Sentences—Maximum Sentences—Indeterminate Sentence Act—Statutes.
A minimum sentence which exceeds two-thirds of the maximum is an improper sentence only where the indeterminate sentence act applies (MCLA 769.8; MSA 28.1080).
2. Criminal Law—Sentences—Indeterminate Sentence Act—Application op Act—Statutes.
The indeterminate sentence act has mandatory application only to those persons convicted for the first time of crime committed after the effective date of the act (MCLA 769.8; MSA 28.1080).
3. Criminal Law—Sentencing—Larceny—Discretion op Trial Judge—Indeterminate Sentence Act—Statutes.
A trial judge in sentencing a defendant after conviction for larceny in a dwelling house, which was the defendant’s third conviction, was not bound by the indeterminate sentence act and was free to sentence the defendant as discretion dictated; absent an abuse of discretion the trial court’s decision will not be disturbed (MCLA 769.8; MSA 28.1080).
Concurrence in Part, Dissent in Part by M. F. Cavanagh, J.
4. Criminal Law—Sentencing—Indeterminate Sentence Act—Habitual Offender Act—Statutes.
A sentence in which the minimum exceeded two-thirds of the maximum was improper for a defendant’s third conviction and the case should be remanded for resentencing for conformity with the indeterminate sentence act where the defendant was not charged under the habitual offender act (MCLA 769.8, 769.12; MSA 28.1080, 28.1084).
Reference for Points in Headnotes
21 Am Jur 2d, Criminal Law §§ 540, 581, 592, 614.
Appeal from Bay, John X. Theiler, J.
Submitted December 13, 1976, at Lansing.
(Docket No. 23423.)
Decided February 2, 1977.
James E. Banks was convicted of breaking and entering, and larceny in a dwelling house. Defendant appeals.
Affirmed.
Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Robert A. Derengoski, Solicitor General, Eugene C. Penzien, Prosecuting Attorney, and Laurence Ramer, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for the people.
Robert M. Donahue, for defendant.
Before: J. H. Gillis, P. J., and M. F. Cavanagh and D. E. Holbrook, Jr., JJ.

Opinion:
D. E. Holbrook, Jr., J.
Defendant was convicted by a jury of breaking and entering, MCLA 750.110; MSA 28.305, and larceny in a dwelling house, MCLA 750.360; MSA 28.592. He was subsequently sentenced to 3 to 15 years imprisonment on the breaking and entering charge and 3 to 4 years imprisonment on the larceny in a dwelling house charge. At the time of sentencing the trial judge noted that the defendant had previously been convicted of another crime for which he received a sentence of 1-1/2 to 15 years imprisonment. Defendant appeals as of right raising two issues, only one of which warrants extended discussion.
Initially defendant contends that the trial court erred in giving an aiding and abetting instruction without sufficient evidence to justify same. This issue may be summarily dismissed. See People v Mann, 395 Mich 472; 236 NW2d 509 (1975). Lastly, defendant contends that the court's sentence of 3 to 4 years for the larceny in a dwelling house conviction violates the indeterminate sentencing act, MCLA 769.8; MSA 28.1080, and the holding by the Supreme Court in People v Tanner, 387 Mich 683, 690; 199 NW2d 202 (1972).
In Tanner, the Court at page 690 stated:
"Convinced as we are, that a sentence with too short .an interval between minimum and maximum is not indeterminate, we hold that any sentence which provides for a minimum exceeding two-thirds of the maximum is improper as failing to comply with the indeterminate sentence act. "(Emphasis supplied.)
It is apparent from the foregoing that the Supreme Court limited its holding that a minimum sentence exceeding two-thirds of the maximum is improper applies only to cases to which the indeterminate sentence act applies.
The indeterminate sentence act, MCLA 769.8; MSA 28.1080, reads in part as follows:
"When any person shall hereafter be convicted for the ñrst time of crime committed after this act takes effect." (Emphasis supplied.)
Since defendant's conviction for larceny in a dwelling house was defendant's third conviction the court was not bound by the indeterminate sentence act and was free to sentence defendant as its discretion dictated. Absent an abuse of discretion, the trial court's decision will not be disturbed. We find no abuse of discretion and defendant's sentence shall stand.
Affirmed.
J. H. Gillis, P. J., concurred.