Opinion ID: 2220791
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: PEOPLE v HILL

Text: As a result of events that allegedly occurred on October 15, 1991, defendant William Depree Hill was charged by a seven-count information with assault with intent to commit murder [6] (count I), carrying a concealed weapon, [7] carrying a concealed weapon with unlawful intent, [8] three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, [9] and possession of cocaine [10] (counts II to VII). At the time of these alleged crimes, defendant was sixteen years old. The Jackson County prosecutor elected to charge defendant under Michigan's automatic waiver statute. At the preliminary examination on October 24, 1991, defendant was bound over on all charges. Afterward, defendant filed a motion to dismiss counts II to VII on the ground that the circuit court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to try him. The basis for the motion was the argument that only count I allowed the defendant to be tried as an adult under the automatic waiver statute. On December 17, 1991, the circuit judge granted defendant's motion and quashed that part of the information charging him with counts II to VII on the ground that, of the crimes charged, the automatic waiver statute only applied to count I and so the court lacked jurisdiction over counts II to VII. Furthermore, the court noted that the prosecutor's proper course of action would have been to utilize the automatic waiver statute for count I and seek a traditional waiver for counts II to VII. Finally, the circuit judge adjourned the proceedings to allow the prosecutor to seek an interlocutory appeal. The prosecutor sought the Court of Appeals review, but, relying on People v Deans, supra , the Court denied leave to appeal. On August 7, 1992, however, this Court granted the prosecutor's motion for interlocutory leave to appeal and the case was considered with that of defendant Veling. 440 Mich 889.