Opinion ID: 2189422
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: People v Buckey

Text: Defendant Buckey was convicted of assault with intent to commit criminal sexual conduct in the second degree. An earlier trial resulted in a mistrial when the jury was unable to agree upon a verdict. In both proceedings, Buckey was charged with and tried for the completed offense of second-degree criminal sexual conduct. MCL 750.520c(1)(f); MSA 28.788(3)(1)(f). Testimony established that defendant met the complainant at a bar on the evening in question and that after some period of time the two left in a jeep. Defendant drove to a field and stopped the vehicle. The complainant testified that defendant touched her breasts and that he forced her to touch his exposed genitals. She further testified that she struggled with defendant to get out of the jeep and that, when she did get out, defendant grabbed her, pushed her to the ground, and got on top of her. At that point a car pulled up, and she got out from under defendant and ran over to the car. The occupants, four boys, gave her a ride home. The four boys testified to seeing defendant either push the complainant to the ground or hold her on the ground. Defendant gave a statement to the police when he was arrested in which he claimed that the complainant had not objected to his sexual advances. He further stated that she freaked out after she declined his proposition of further sexual activity. He stated that nothing happened on the ground outside of the jeep. At trial, defendant's testimony was consistent with his statement, except for his description of what had happened outside of the jeep. He testified that she had fallen to the ground as she got out of the vehicle. She tried to kick him and may have fallen again as she ran to the boys' car, and he may have fallen at that time as well. During his closing argument in both trials the prosecutor made the following unobjected-to remarks: If you'll recall his cross-examination testimony you'll recall that he testified that he was present at the preliminary examination back in December of 1981. He sat through the whole thing, he heard Debbie DeFord testify, he heard one of the boys testify, and he also admitted that he'd reviewed, to some extent anyway, the police report in connection with this case. Now, there's nothing wrong with this [ sic, his] doing that, per se, reviewing the police report, but the point is, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, that the defendant knew  and also he was the last witness to testify in this case  he knew before he took the witness stand, completely, what the People's proofs were going to be. He knew completely what they were. He also admitted that he sat through proceedings in this case back in February of this year. All of our witnesses, except Trooper Stayer, testified at that time. He indicated on the witness stand he heard them all testify. He testified, himself, back then. He was cross-examined at that time. He indicated that he later heard all the remarks that both I made and his attorney made, concerning that testimony. So, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the point is that the defendant has known for some time precisely what the People's proofs were going to be. He's had plenty of time to try to figure a way around our proofs and also to get prepared to tell his story in a convincing manner. Following his conviction, defendant appealed to the Court of Appeals, arguing, inter alia, that certain questions asked of him on cross-examination [3] and the above-quoted closing argument constituted prosecutorial misconduct which deprived him of his right to a fair trial. All three members of the panel agreed that the prosecutor's closing argument resulted in error requiring reversal, relying on People v Fredericks, 125 Mich App 114; 335 NW2d 919 (1983), and People v Smith, 73 Mich App 463; 252 NW2d 488 (1977), lv den 402 Mich 803 (1977). Judge CYNAR disagreed with the majority's finding that the cross-examination was improper and not harmless beyond a reasonable doubt, writing that a timely objection could have cured any prejudice. People v Buckey, 133 Mich App 158, 167; 348 NW2d 53 (1984) (CYNAR, J., concurring in part ).