Court Opinion

ID: 3153919
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-11-12 08:05:59.692918+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:05:29.275590
License: Public Domain

STATE OF MICHIGAN

                           COURT OF APPEALS

PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,                                   UNPUBLISHED
                                                                   November 10, 2015
              Plaintiff-Appellee,

v                                                                  No. 321822
                                                                   Ingham Circuit Court
WILLIAM DESHIREE THOMAS,                                           LC No. 12-000390-FC

              Defendant-Appellant.

Before: GADOLA, P.J., and HOEKSTRA and M. J. KELLY, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

        Defendant, William Deshiree Thomas, appeals by right his jury convictions of first-
degree criminal sexual conduct, MCL 750.520b(1)(e), and first-degree home invasion, MCL
750.110a(2). Because we conclude there were no errors warranting a new trial or other relief, we
affirm.

                                       I. BASIC FACTS

        In March 2012, the victim heard a noise in her home and discovered a man in her kitchen,
who she later identified as Thomas. Thomas wore a white mask over his mouth and a white “do-
rag” on his head and was armed with a knife. The victim yelled at him to get out and attempted
to hit him with an awning crank. Thomas backed the victim into a bedroom and, after a brief
struggle there, he ordered her into a bathroom. Thomas shut the bathroom’s door and forced the
victim to wash.

        After compelling her to wash, Thomas ordered her to remove her clothing and lie on the
floor. He covered her face with a towel and then forcibly raped her. He then sprayed her with
bleach and ordered her into the shower. He stole her purse and told her that if she contacted the
police department he would return and kill her.

       The victim waited a few moments and peeked around the shower curtain. She testified
that she saw the man—without his mask on—frantically searching through the contents of a
wastebasket he had overturned. He looked up and ordered her back into the shower. She waited
several more minutes and then crept from the shower and called the police department. In
addition to the victim’s identification, police officers recovered the do-rag and it had a blood
stain with DNA that tested consistent with a sample taken from Thomas.

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                                II. VICTIM’S IDENTIFICATION

       Thomas first argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress the
victim’s in-court identification. This Court reviews de novo the constitutional standards that
apply to the trial court’s decision on a motion to suppress, but reviews for clear error the factual
findings underlying the decision. People v Williams, 472 Mich. 308, 313; 696 NW2d 636 (2005).

        On the basis of DNA evidence recovered from the scene, officers arrested Thomas. The
victim identified Thomas at the preliminary examination but before that, she saw Thomas’ photo
on the news and once while she was in the police captain’s office. Thomas argues that the latter
showing amounted to deliberate misconduct calculated to lead the victim to believe that the
police officers suspected him.

        “A photographic identification procedure violates a defendant’s right to due process of
law when it is so impermissibly suggestive that it gives rise to a substantial likelihood of
misidentification.” People v Gray, 457 Mich. 107, 111; 577 NW2d 92 (1998). “Most eyewitness
identifications involve some element of suggestion.” Perry v New Hampshire, 565 US ___; 132
S. Ct. 716, 727; 181 L. Ed. 2d 694 (2012). However, the fact that eyewitness identification is
imperfect does not automatically require a trial court to “screen such evidence for reliability
before allowing the jury to assess its creditworthiness.” Id. at ___; 132 S. Ct. at 728. Instead, “a
preliminary judicial inquiry into the reliability of an eyewitness identification” is not required in
cases where the “identification was not procured under unnecessarily suggestive circumstances
arranged by law enforcement.” Id. at ___; 132 S. Ct. at 730.

        Thomas argues that the threshold inquiry in Perry—whether the identification was
“procured under unnecessarily suggestive circumstances arranged by law enforcement”—was
satisfied in this case. He argues that law enforcement arranged the identification in the police
captain’s office by calling the victim to the office, telling her that the officers had an arrest
warrant for her assailant on the basis of a DNA match, and then leaving her alone in the office
with a photograph of Thomas on a computer screen. Although a police officer contacted the
victim and requested her presence at the police station, she was not contacted to make an
identification; Thomas had already been identified from the DNA match and there was no
evidence that officers wanted the victim to examine the photo or confirm Thomas’ identity as her
attacker. Instead, it appears that the victim saw the photo by mere happenstance.

        The evidence shows that the captain was conversing with the victim when he was
interrupted by a phone call. He stepped out of the office to take the call and, while he was
absent, the victim noticed Thomas’ photo on the computer screen even though the screen was
angled away from her. Nothing on this record indicates that law enforcement used unnecessarily
suggestive procedures to procure an identification. Accordingly, Thomas has not established the
threshold inquiry. There was no need for the trial court to screen the evidence for reliability
before permitting it to go before a jury. See id. at ___; 132 S. Ct. at 728. Instead, it was sufficient
to allow the reliability of the victim’s identification to be tested via “the rights and opportunities
generally designed for that purpose.” Id. at ___; 132 S. Ct. at 721. Thomas’ trial lawyer tested
the reliability of the victim’s identification by vigorous cross-examination and through several
other witnesses. Further, the jury was instructed on how to evaluate witness testimony. Thus,
the procedural safeguards highlighted in Perry were utilized in this case. Id.

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       The trial court did not err when it refused to suppress the victim’s identification.

                      III. EXPERT ON EYEWITNESS IDENTIFICATION

        Thomas next argues that the trial court abused its discretion in denying his request for
appointment of an expert in eyewitness identification. We review for an abuse of discretion a
trial court’s decision on a request for the appointment of an expert witness. People v Carnicom,
272 Mich. App. 614, 616; 727 NW2d 399 (2006). A trial court abuses its discretion when its
decision falls outside the range of principled outcomes. Id. at 617.

        “[A] trial court is not compelled to provide funds for the appointment of an expert on
demand.” People v Tanner, 469 Mich. 437, 442; 671 NW2d 728 (2003). Instead, under MCL
775.15, a trial court may appoint an expert witness for an indigent defendant, if the defendant
demonstrates “that there is a material witness in his favor within the jurisdiction of the court,
without whose testimony he cannot safely proceed to a trial[.]” To obtain the appointment of an
expert, the defendant “must demonstrate a nexus between the facts of the case and the need for
an expert.” Tanner, 469 Mich. at 443 (quotation marks and citation omitted). “It is not enough
for the defendant to show a mere possibility of assistance from the requested expert.” Id. There
must be some indication that expert testimony would likely benefit the defense. Id.

        Thomas argues that he could not safely proceed to trial without an expert because the
eyewitness identification was the primary basis of his conviction and was particularly unreliable.
He maintains that he needed an expert to explain how a variety of factors might have affected the
victim’s ability to accurately identify her assailant. He states that the victim’s identification was
unreliable because of the stress she was under, the presence of a weapon, the cross-racial
identification, her failure to describe Thomas’ facial features before the preliminary examination,
her pretrial exposure to his photo, her exposure to him at the preliminary examination after she
viewed his photo without any procedural safeguards, and the circumstances during the offense
that impaired her ability to perceive her assailant’s features. However, he presents no
explanation as to why these issues could not be addressed using cross-examination, closing
arguments, and jury instructions.

         The record shows that Thomas’ trial lawyer vigorously cross-examined the victim on her
identification. During cross-examination, Thomas’ lawyer asked her about the lighting, her
initial statement to the officers, and about her statement to the nurse examiner. Thomas’ lawyer
questioned the victim about who, if anyone, the victim may have told about Thomas’ brow
structure, questioned her on the incident in the captain’s office, and questioned her about
inconsistencies between her trial and preliminary examination testimony. Further, Thomas’
lawyer cross-examined the first responding officer regarding the victim’s initial description of
her assailant. He also questioned the lead detectives about how the viewing of Thomas’
photograph in the captain’s office could have compromised the identification.

        During closing arguments, Thomas’ lawyer challenged the victim’s ability to identify her
assailant given the evidence that the assailant was wearing a mask and it was dark. He also
noted her failure to describe Thomas’ facial features to the officers on the night of the incident
and that the only thing she was able to say about her assailant at that time was that he was black.
He further highlighted inconsistencies in the victim’s testimony and how her identification could

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have been influenced by her exposure to his photograph after being told there was a DNA match.
He pointed out that the lead detectives testified that the department did not show photographs
without formal guarded procedures because it taints the procedure. He argued that the victim
kept it a secret that she had seen the photograph at the station. He also argued that there was no
group of black men in court when the victim identified Thomas at the preliminary examination.
He suggested that the victim bolstered her testimony so that Thomas would be convicted. He
argued that the victim evaded questions by looking to the judge to stop questions and arguing
with him during cross-examination. Notably, the jury was also instructed on the proper
considerations for evaluating eyewitness identification.

       Although Thomas claims an expert was necessary to educate the jury about problems
with eyewitness identification, in People v Cooper, 236 Mich. App. 643, 658; 601 NW2d 409
(1999), this Court noted “the obvious: memories and perceptions [of eyewitnesses] are
sometimes inaccurate.” As evidenced by the record, the problems with eyewitness identification
in general and with the victim’s identification in particular were repeatedly highlighted by
Thomas’ lawyer thorough impeachment of the victim’s identification during the course of the
trial.

        On this record, the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it denied Thomas’ request
for an expert on eyewitness identification.

                             IV. REBUTTAL OF ALIBI DEFENSE

       In a brief submitted on his own behalf, Thomas argues that the trial court erred when it
allowed the prosecutor to present evidence controverting his alibi defense despite the fact that the
prosecutor did not provide him with the notice of intent to rebut that is required under MCL
768.20(2). This Court reviews de novo the proper interpretation and application of a statute.
People v Peltola, 489 Mich. 174, 178; 803 NW2d 140 (2011).

        In October 2013, the prosecutor filed her second amended witness list. Like her first
amended list, it included the following potential lay witnesses: Margaret Gonzalez, Melissa
Morrissey, Beth Sheets, and Jeffrey Pergl. Later that same month, Thomas’ lawyer filed a notice
of alibi under MCL 768.20(1). It is undisputed that the prosecutor did not file a notice of intent
to rebut the alibi. See MCL 768.20(2). Thomas argues that the trial court should have precluded
the prosecutor from presenting witnesses and evidence contradicting his alibi under MCL
768.21(2). Specifically, he argues that Pergl’s testimony that Thomas was not with Morrissey
when she dropped her baby off with the babysitter should have been excluded because it directly
contradicted his alibi. The question is whether a prosecutor can call in his or her case-in-chief
witnesses who are expected to contradict a defendant’s alibi without first filing a notice of intent
to rebut the alibi.

        The primary goal of judicial interpretation of statutes is to ascertain and give effect to the
intent of the Legislature. Peltola, 489 Mich. at 181. Nothing will be read into a clear statute
“that is not within the manifest intent of the Legislature as derived from the words of the statute
itself.” People v Breidenbach, 489 Mich. 1, 10; 798 NW2d 738 (2011) (quotation marks and
citation omitted). “The first criterion in determining the Legislature’s intent is the specific
language of the statute.” People v Droog, 282 Mich. App. 68, 70; 761 NW2d 822 (2009).

                                                 -4-
       Under MCL 768.20(2), a prosecutor must provide a defendant a notice of the names of
the witnesses that the prosecuting attorney proposes to call to controvert the defendant’s alibi
defense:

       Within 10 days after the receipt of the defendant’s notice but not later than 5 days
       before the trial of the case, or at such other time as the court may direct, the
       prosecuting attorney shall file and serve upon the defendant a notice of rebuttal
       which shall contain, as particularly as is known to the prosecuting attorney, the
       names of the witnesses whom the prosecuting attorney proposes to call in rebuttal
       to controvert the defendant’s defense at the trial of the case.

        Thomas’ arguments suggest that “rebuttal” should be broadly interpreted to mean any
witness whose testimony will be inconsistent with his assertion of an alibi—regardless of
whether he or she is called in the prosecutor’s case-in-chief or is called in rebuttal after the
defense rests. We do not believe that rebuttal should be given such an expansive construction.
The notice provision plainly refers to witnesses that the prosecutor intends to call for the specific
purpose of rebutting the defendant’s alibi; it does not refer to the witnesses that the prosecutor
intended to call in his or her case in chief to establish the elements of the crime, even though
those witnesses’ testimony will necessarily contradict the defendant’s alibi. Indeed, Thomas’
interpretation of the statute would lead to an absurd result. If the prosecutor were prohibited
from calling any witnesses that would contradict Thomas’ alibi, then the prosecutor would have
been prohibited from calling the victim because she testified that Thomas was in her home
sexually assaulting her at a time when he claimed he was elsewhere. We will not give the statute
such an absurd construction. People v Tennyson, 487 Mich. 730, 741; 790 NW2d 354 (2010).

        We further note that the intent behind the rebuttal notice requirement in MCL 768.20 is to
prevent surprise at trial. People v Bell, 169 Mich. App. 306, 308; 425 NW2d 537 (1988). In this
case, the prosecutor’s first and second amended witness lists—which were both filed before
Thomas filed his notice of alibi—both indicated that Pergl would be called as a witness in the
prosecutor’s case-in-chief. Further, Thomas’ trial lawyer represented to the court that, on the
basis of the witness’ statements, there was going to be testimony from a prosecution witness that
the witness was with Thomas’ alibi witness. Thus, Thomas’ trial lawyer was plainly aware that
the witness might testify in a way that controverted Thomas’ alibi witness. This is not a case
where the trial process was relegated to a “poker game in which players enjoy an absolute right
always to conceal their cards until played.” People v Travis, 443 Mich. 668, 679; 505 NW2d 563
(1993) (quotation marks and citation omitted). Thomas’ trial lawyer had actual notice that the
witness at issue might undermine Thomas’ alibi defense.

        Finally, in determining whether a trial court abused its discretion in allowing the
testimony of a rebuttal witness when notice under MCL 768.20 was untimely, we consider: “(1)
the amount of prejudice that resulted from the failure to disclose, (2) the reason for
nondisclosure, (3) the extent to which the harm caused by nondisclosure was mitigated by
subsequent events, (4) the weight of the properly admitted evidence supporting the defendant’s
guilt, and (5) other relevant factors arising out of the circumstances of the case.” Id. at 682
(quotation marks and citation omitted). Thomas was aware of the names of the witnesses, the
prosecutor’s intent to present them in her case-in-chief, and the substance of their testimony.
The record also shows that the prosecutor did not give the notice because she did not intend to

                                                -5-
specifically rebut Thomas’ alibi defense, but only intended to present her case-in-chief using the
previously disclosed witnesses. Because Thomas knew who the prosecutor intended to call and
had access to the clearly contradictory statements already provided by those witnesses, there was
little—if any—harm occasioned by the failure to provide additional notice. In other words,
knowing that the prosecutor intended to call Pergl and knowing what Pergl was likely to say
should have been sufficient for Thomas’ trial lawyer to evaluate whether he wanted to proceed
with an alibi defense in light of the evidence.

        Finally, even if there were error, it would not warrant relief. The key element was
identification and there was overwhelming evidence identifying Thomas as the victim’s
assailant. The victim identified Thomas as her attacker, cell phone records put him in the area at
the time of the assault, and DNA from the assailant’s do-rag implicated Thomas. Finally,
Thomas’ own alibi witness was significantly impeached by her own prior inconsistent statement
and by Thomas’ initial statement to officers in which he failed to disclose alibi witnesses even
though he was asked if anyone could attest to his whereabouts on the day of the assault.
Accordingly, even if there were error, it was harmless.

                                   V. OPINION EVIDENCE

        Thomas next argues that the trial court erred when it allowed Megan Johnston, a crime
analyst with the Lansing Police Department who was not qualified as an expert under MRE 702,
to provide improper opinion testimony. “The decision whether to admit evidence is within the
discretion of the trial court and will not be disturbed on appeal absent a clear abuse of
discretion.” People v Aldrich, 246 Mich. App. 101, 113; 631 NW2d 67 (2001).

        Lay opinion testimony is generally admissible when the opinions or inferences are “(a)
rationally based on the perception of the witness and (b) helpful to a clear understanding of the
witness’ testimony or the determination of a fact and issue.” MRE 701. Courts have liberally
applied MRE 701 in order to help develop a clearer understanding of facts for the trier of fact.
People v Oliver, 170 Mich. App. 38, 50; 427 NW2d 898 (1988), mod on other grounds 433 Mich.
862 (1989). Thus, a lay witness may offer an opinion on matters that are related to her
observations, which are not overly dependent upon scientific, technical, or other specialized
knowledge. See id.

         Here, Johnston testified that she constructed maps using data drawn from the records for
the cell phone Thomas was using. She indicated that all of the information on the maps was
taken from phone records generated by Sprint. During cross-examination, she admitted that she
was unfamiliar with how Sprint set up their system. Although Thomas suggests that Johnston
testified that his cell phone was in a particular location, Johnston did not actually state that
Thomas was located in a particular place. Instead, the challenged testimony regarding the maps
was based on Johnston’s perceptions of the phone records that were properly admitted through
the custodian of records at Sprint. The testimony was relevant and helpful to the jury in
determining the exact locations of the towers communicating with Thomas’ cell phone. MRE
401. Her testimony also did not require overly technical or scientific knowledge. And, even if it
were error to allow the testimony, any error was harmless. People v Lukity, 460 Mich. 484, 495-
496; 596 NW2d 607 (1999).

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                                 VI. PERJURED TESTIMONY

        Finally, Thomas argues that his conviction was obtained through the prosecutor’s
knowing use of perjured testimony. This issue is unpreserved because Thomas’s trial lawyer did
not object and request a curative instruction. See People v Bennett, 290 Mich. App. 465, 475; 802
NW2d 627 (2010). This Court reviews unpreserved claims of prosecutorial error for plain error
affecting the defendant’s substantial rights. People v Thomas, 260 Mich. App. 450, 454; 678
NW2d 631 (2004). Moreover, this Court “cannot find error requiring reversal where a curative
instruction could have alleviated any prejudicial effect.” Bennett, 290 Mich. App. at 476.

        A defendant’s right to due process “is violated when there is any reasonable likelihood
that a conviction was obtained by the knowing use of perjured testimony.” People v Gratsch,
299 Mich. App. 604, 619; 831 NW2d 462 (2013), vacated in part on other grounds 495 Mich. 876
(2013). Thus, a prosecutor has “an obligation to correct perjured testimony that relates to the
facts of the case or a witness’s credibility.” Id. However, reversal is not necessary when the
prosecutor does not attempt to conceal contradictions in a witness’s testimony and defense
counsel is afforded a sufficient opportunity to impeach the witness’s credibility with his or her
prior statements. People v Parker, 230 Mich. App. 677, 690; 584 NW2d 753 (1998).

         Thomas highlights an instance where the victim’s testimony about the circumstances
surrounding her identification at trial differed from her testimony at the preliminary examination.
Specifically, during the preliminary examination, she agreed that it was “the first time seeing in
person or on paper, other than the newspaper, anyone even accused of this crime.” At trial, she
testified that she had seen Thomas’ photo in the news and at the police station.

        We conclude that the inconsistency identified by Thomas does not establish that the
prosecutor knowingly used perjured testimony. Although the victim’s testimony regarding
certain details appears to differ from her prior testimony, there is no indication that the
prosecutor sought to conceal these inconsistencies. In fact, the victim’s testimony clearly
indicated that she believed her earlier testimony was still accurate. Thus, ultimately, Thomas’
argument does not involve an issue of perjury but rather, it concerns credibility. His lawyer fully
explored the alleged inconsistency during cross-examination of the victim. The jury was free to
believe or disbelieve all or any portion of her trial testimony. People v Wolfe, 440 Mich. 508,
514-515; 489 NW2d 748 (1992). Further, there is no indication that the prosecutor attempted to
conceal the alleged inconsistency in the victim’s testimony, and it is clear that Thomas’ trial
lawyer had “ample opportunity” to impeach the witness. Parker, 230 Mich. App. at 690. Thus,
Thomas has not established that the prosecutor violated his due process rights by offering, and
failing to correct, perjured testimony at trial.

       Thomas has not established any error warranting a new trial or other relief.

       Affirmed.

                                                            /s/ Michael F. Gadola
                                                            /s/ Joel P. Hoekstra
                                                            /s/ Michael J. Kelly

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