Opinion ID: 2189786
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the alleged statutory conflict

Text: Defendants allege that provisions of the Penal Code which label particular offenses which are punishable by up to two years in state prison as misdemeanors conflict with provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure which define offenses punishable by more than one year in the state prison as felonies and that the Penal Code label should control. The relevant provisions of each code are set forth below.

The purpose of the Penal Code is to define crimes and prescribe the penalties therefor. Preamble, MCL 750.1 et seq.; MSA 28.191 et seq. The Penal Code includes its own definitional provisions. Crimes are divided into felonies and misdemeanors, MCL 750.6; MSA 28.196. A felony is an offense for which the offender, on conviction may be punished by death, or by imprisonment in state prison. MCL 750.7; MSA 28.197. A misdemeanor is an act or omission that is not a felony, which is punishable by fine, penalty, forfeiture, or imprisonment, MCL 750.8; MSA 28.198, or an act prohibited by a statute which imposes no penalty for the violation, MCL 750.9; MSA 28.199. In some instances, the same provision of the Penal Code labels a crime a felony or misdemeanor and also sets the maximum penalty. See, e.g., MCL 750.75; MSA 28.270 and MCL 750.81a; MSA 28.276(1). In other instances, one provision labels the crime, and another supplies the penalty. A person convicted of a misdemeanor for which the penalty is not specifically designated is punishable by a maximum of ninety days in the county jail or a $100 fine, or both. MCL 750.504; MSA 28.772. A person convicted of a felony for which the penalty is not specifically designated is punishable by a maximum of four years in state prison or a $2,000 fine, or both. MCL 750.503; MSA 28.771. The defendants in the cases at bar have all been convicted of offenses which are labeled misdemeanors and which are punishable by a maximum of two years imprisonment under the Penal Code. MCL 750.414; MSA 28.646, MCL 750.479; MSA 28.747, MCL 750.74; MSA 28.269, MCL 750.92; MSA 28.287. These offenses have been referred to as two-year, circuit court, or high misdemeanors.
The purpose of the Code of Criminal Procedure is to codify the laws relating to criminal procedure. Preamble, MCL 760.1 et seq.; MSA 28.841 et seq. The Code of Criminal Procedure has its own definitional section: As used in this act:    (g) Felony means a violation of a penal law of this state for which the offender, upon conviction, may be punished by death or by imprisonment for more than 1 year, or an offense expressly designated by law to be a felony. (h) Misdemeanor means a violation of a penal law of this state which is not a felony, or a violation of an order, rule, or regulation of a state agency that is punishable by imprisonment or by a fine that is not a civil fine. [MCL 761.1; MSA 28.843. Emphasis added.] An offense labeled a two-year misdemeanor under the Penal Code falls within the definition of felony under the Code of Criminal Procedure. The designation of an offense as a felony for the purposes of the Code of Criminal Procedure has particular consequences. Those convicted of felonies face the possibility of serving longer sentences under at least three provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The habitual offender statute, for example, provides that one's sentence may be enhanced in various prescribed ways where a person has been convicted of a felony, an attempt to commit a felony, or both, whether the conviction occurred in this state or would have been for a felony in this state if the conviction obtained outside this state had been obtained in this state, and that person commits a subsequent felony within this state.... [MCL 769.10; MSA 28.1082.] Similar provisions allow further enhancement where one has previously been convicted of two, three, or more felonies. MCL 769.11, 769.12; MSA 28.1083, 28.1084. The probation statute provides: If the defendant is convicted for an offense which is not a felony the period of probation shall not exceed 2 years. If the defendant is convicted of a felony which is not a major controlled substance offense, the period of probation shall not exceed 5 years. [MCL 771.2; MSA 28.1132.] The consecutive sentencing statute provides: When a person, who has been charged with a felony and pending the disposition of the charge, commits a subsequent offense which is a felony, upon conviction of the subsequent offense or acceptance of a plea of guilty, guilty but mentally ill, or nolo contendere for the subsequent offense, the following shall apply: (a) The sentences imposed for conviction of the prior charged offense and a subsequent offense, other than a major controlled substance offense, may run consecutively. [MCL 768.7b; MSA 28.1030(2).]
For purposes of the habitual-offender statute, all panels of the Court of Appeals have held that two-year misdemeanors may be deemed felonies. People v Rosecrants, 88 Mich App 667; 278 NW2d 713 (1979); People v Davis, 89 Mich App 588; 280 NW2d 604 (1979); People v Rice, 101 Mich App 1; 300 NW2d 428 (1980), rev'd on other grounds 411 Mich 883; 306 NW2d 102 (1981). Likewise, for purposes of the probation statute, all panels have held that two-year misdemeanors may be deemed felonies. People v Stiles, 99 Mich App 116; 297 NW2d 631 (1980), lv den 410 Mich 891 (1981); People v Reuther, 107 Mich App 349; 309 NW2d 256 (1981) (BRONSON, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part ); People v Woodard, 134 Mich App 128; 350 NW2d 761 (1984); People v Hathcox, 135 Mich App 82; 351 NW2d 903 (1984). However, for purposes of the consecutive sentencing statute, panels have split on the question whether two-year misdemeanors may be deemed felonies. Panels holding that two-year misdemeanors may be deemed felonies include People v Comstock, 139 Mich App 276; 361 NW2d 792 (1984); People v Coleman, 141 Mich App 12; 366 NW2d 67 (1985). Those reaching the opposite conclusion include People v Alford, 104 Mich App 255; 304 NW2d 541 (1981); People v Frost, 120 Mich App 328; 328 NW2d 44 (1982). We look to canons of statutory construction in order to determine which of these conflicting interpretations best effectuates the legislative intent.