Court Opinion

ID: 9901596
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-11-22 06:05:53.094905+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:21:35.580504
License: Public Domain

If this opinion indicates that it is “FOR PUBLICATION,” it is subject to
                  revision until final publication in the Michigan Appeals Reports.

                           STATE OF MICHIGAN

                            COURT OF APPEALS

PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,                                       UNPUBLISHED
                                                                       November 21, 2023
               Plaintiff-Appellee,

v                                                                      Nos. 360474; 360479
                                                                       Wayne Circuit Court
ELMER LEE JONES,                                                       LC Nos. 21-000017-01-FH; 21-
                                                                               000018-01-FC
               Defendant-Appellant.

Before: MURRAY, P.J., and CAMERON and PATEL, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

        Defendant appeals as of right his bench trial convictions in two consolidated cases. We
consolidated the appeals.1 In Docket No. 360474, defendant was convicted of: (a) one count of
discharge of a firearm from a vehicle, MCL 750.234a; (b) one count of felon in possession of a
firearm (felon-in-possession), MCL 750.224f; (c) one count of third-degree fleeing and eluding
police, MCL 257.602a(3); (d) six counts of assault with a dangerous weapon (felonious assault),
MCL 750.82; (e) eight counts of possession of a firearm in commission of a felony (felony-
firearm), second offense, MCL750.227b; (f) two counts of fourth-degree child abuse, MCL
750.136b(7); (g) one count of domestic violence, MCL 750.81(2); and (h) one count of malicious
destruction of personal property (MDOP), less than $200, MCL 750.377a(1)(d).2 In Docket No.
360479, defendant was convicted of one count of arson (preparation to burn a dwelling), MCL
750.79(1)(d)(vi).

        Defendant argues the trial court erred by joining the cases for trial. Alternatively, defendant
asserts the failure of his trial counsel to move for severance constituted ineffective assistance. We

1
 People v Jones, unpublished order of the Court of Appeals, entered April 6, 2022 (Docket Nos.
360474 and 360479).
2
 Defendant was also charged and acquitted of one count of malicious destruction of fire or police
property, MCL 750.377b.

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conclude that the trial court’s joinder was a proper exercise of its discretion, and a motion for
severance would have been futile. We affirm.

                                        I. BACKGROUND

       Defendant’s convictions arise from two incidents involving Debra Braxton, with whom
defendant had been in a domestic relationship and shared three children. The first incident
occurred during the early morning hours of April 30, 2020, when Braxton and two of her minor
children with defendant, JB and AJ, observed a fire burning next to an outer wall and window of
their home. After the fire was extinguished, Braxton viewed footage from her surveillance
cameras, and identified the man setting the fire as defendant.

        The second incident occurred two days later in an automobile shop’s parking lot. Braxton,
AJ, and Braxton’s three minor grandchildren were in her parked car, and JB was outside of
Braxton’s car. A man, who Braxton identified as defendant, drove a van into the parking lot at a
high rate of speed, pointed a gun out of his driver’s window, and fired multiple shots at Braxton’s
car and its passengers. The shop’s employees witnessed the incident and it was captured on
surveillance footage. Investigating police officers observed bullet holes in Braxton’s car. The
van, driven by defendant, was observed at a traffic signal by police on the same day. When officers
attempted a traffic stop, defendant fled at a high rate of speed, ignored traffic signals, and struck
other vehicles. Defendant eventually stopped the van and was apprehended by police.

        Defendant was charged with crimes arising out of each incident. In case number 21-
000018-01-FC, defendant was charged with arson for the fire at Braxton’s home. In case number
21-000017-01-FH, defendant was charged with 22 crimes, including various weapons charges,
felonious assault, fourth-degree child abuse, domestic violence, and others. At a calendar
conference for both cases in January 2021, the trial court indicated that because the complaining
witness and prosecuting attorney were the same in both cases, it would consolidate the cases for
trial. Neither party objected to the joinder. At a conference in March 2021, the trial court discussed
whether the cases would be tried together or separately, and suggested that they would be tried
separately. Neither the trial court nor the parties referenced the January 2021 discussion that the
cases would be consolidated for trial. At the April 2021 final conference, the trial court determined
that the cases would be joined:

              Trial Court: Are these cases consolidated for purposes of trial? Are they
       the same complaining witness?

               [Prosecutor]: Yes, same complaining witness.

               Trial Court: So I made a ruling earlier that they were consolidated?

               [Prosecutor]: I believe so, Your Honor.

                                                  * * *

                Trial Court: And the number of witnesses for the Prosecution? Well, isn’t
       it all being tried at the same time?

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              [Prosecutor]: Yes, Your Honor. I submitted two separate witness lists. We
       can consolidate and I can resend.

                                                  * * *

              Trial Court: Um, at this point, if it’s the same complaining witness and it’s
       one act following after another, I’m going to—if I have not already ruled to
       consolidated [sic] it for the purposes of trial, I’m ruling that now.

              [Defense Counsel]: Well, there’s a couple of days off from each other
       according to the allegation one on [April] 30th and one on May 2nd.

               Trial Court: Yeah. There is no reason to try them separately. It sounds
       like a continuing kind of behavior counts and a prior [domestic violence] DV action
       it wouldn’t be able to come in under the DV statute. . . .

The trial court entered an order joining the two cases.

       After a two-day bench trial, defendant was convicted of all charges except malicious
destruction of police property. Defendant was sentenced in Docket No. 360474, as a fourth-
offense habitual offender, MCL 769.12, to 10 to 20 years’ imprisonment for discharge of a weapon
from a vehicle; 5 to 10 years’ imprisonment each for his felon-in-possession and fleeing and
eluding convictions; 4 to 15 years’ imprisonment for each count of felonious assault; five years’
imprisonment for each felony-firearm conviction; 12 months’ in jail for each child abuse
conviction; and 3 months and 3 days in jail each for his domestic violence and MDOP under $200
convictions. Defendant was sentenced in Docket No. 360479 to 8 to 20 years’ imprisonment.3
These appeals followed.

                                          II. JOINDER

        Defendant argues that the trial court erred by failing to permit the parties to be heard on
the issue of joinder. Defendant further contends joinder was improper because the two cases were
unrelated. We disagree.4

       A trial court’s decision to consolidate charges is reviewed for an abuse of discretion.
People v Breidenbach, 489 Mich 1, 14-15; 798 NW2d 738 (2011); People v Gaines, 306 Mich
App 289, 304; 856 NW2d 222 (2014). Before deciding whether joinder is permissible, a trial court

3
  Defendant was initially sentenced as a fourth-offense habitual offender, to 10 to 20 years’
imprisonment for his arson conviction, but was later resentenced due to an improper offense
variable point assessment.
4
  Although it is questionable whether defendant properly preserved his claim of error, we have
reviewed this issue as if it was preserved. Because we find no error, it is unnecessary for us to
conduct a plain-error analysis. See People v Carines, 460 Mich 750, 761-762; 597 NW2d 130
(1999) (holding that unpreserved arguments are reviewed for plain error affecting substantial
rights).

                                                -3-
must make a finding of the relevant facts and then determine whether those facts establish that the
offenses are related for purposes of allowing joinder. Gaines, 306 Mich App at 304. The trial
court’s factual findings are reviewed for clear error, and any questions of law are reviewed de
novo. Id. Any error in the joinder of cases does not constitute grounds for disturbing the judgment
unless refusal to take such action appears to be inconsistent with substantial justice. People v
Williams, 483 Mich 226, 243; 769 NW2d 605 (2009).

       Joinder is governed by MCR 6.120, which states in pertinent part:

       (B) Postcharging Permissive Joinder or Severance. On its own initiative, the
       motion of a party, or the stipulation of all parties, except as provided in subrule (C),
       the court may join offenses charged in two or more informations or indictments
       against a single defendant, . . . when appropriate to promote fairness to the parties
       and a fair determination of the defendant’s guilt or innocence of each offense.

               (1) Joinder is appropriate if the offenses are related. For purposes of this
               rule, offenses are related if they are based on

                       (a) the same conduct or transaction, or

                       (b) a series of connected acts, or

                       (c) a series of acts constituting parts of a single scheme or plan.

               (2) Other relevant factors include the timeliness of the motion, the drain on
               the parties’ resources, the potential for confusion or prejudice stemming
               from either the number of charges or the complexity or nature of the
               evidence, the potential for harassment, the convenience of witnesses, and
               the parties’ readiness for trial.

               (3) If the court acts on its own initiative, it must provide the parties an
               opportunity to be heard.

       (C) Right of Severance; Unrelated Offenses. On the defendant’s motion, the court
       must sever for separate trials offenses that are not related as defined in subrule
       (B)(1). [MCR 6.120(B), (C).]

        Defendant first contends the trial court violated MCR 6.120(B)(3) by denying the parties
an opportunity to be heard on joinder. Although the trial court appeared to go back and forth on
the joinder issue, joinder was discussed at three separate conferences before the trial court joined
the cases at the final conference. At each of the three conferences, the trial court expressed
uncertainty about joinder and solicited input from the parties. We conclude that the parties were
provided with an opportunity to be heard pursuant to MCR 6.120(B)(3).

       Defendant further argues joinder was improper because the cases were not related, as
defined in MCR 6.120(B)(1). Offenses are “related” if they consist of the “same conduct” or “a
series of connected acts, or . . . acts constituting parts of a single scheme or plan.” MCR
6.120(B)(1)(a)-(c). Joinder is appropriate when there is a logical relationship between the joined

                                                 -4-
counts. Williams, 483 Mich at 237. Under the plain language of the court rule, there is no temporal
requirement. Id. at 241. We conclude that the trial court did not err by finding that the offenses
were a series of connected acts. Although the acts in this case were two days apart, they were
related to defendant’s attempt to harm or threaten Braxton and her family. Braxton was not only
a common witness, she was a victim of defendant’s conduct in both cases. See People v Collins,
298 Mich App 458, 469-470; 828 NW2d 392 (2012) (finding charges for multiple drug deliveries
to the same individual were “connected acts.”). See also People v Abraham, 256 Mich App 265,
272; 662 NW2d 836 (2004) (finding the offenses were related when they “occurred within a couple
of hours of each other in the same neighborhood, with the same weapon, . . . interspersed with
target shooting at various outdoor objects,” and, importantly, with a single state of mind).

         Joinder is further favored under MCR 6.120(B)(2). Both cases involve the same
prosecutor, defense attorney, and Braxton as the key witness. Separate trials in each case would
have drained the parties’ resources and inconvenienced the key witness. And there was no
indication that the trial court, as the trier of fact, was confused or misled because of the number of
charges or the complexity or nature of the evidence. There is a presumption in a bench trial that
the trial court is familiar with the applicable law and is able to distinguish between admissible and
inadmissible evidence. People v Lanzo Constr Co, 272 Mich App 470, 484-485; 726 NW2d 746
(2006). The trial court correlated its factual findings with the convicted offenses and dismissed
the charge that it deemed was unsupported by its view of the evidence.

        Finally, we examine the admissibility of evidence in separate trials because the joinder of
other crimes cannot prejudice defendant. Williams, 483 Mich at 236-237. Defendant cites the trial
court’s offhand remark that the evidence of each incident would not be admissible in separate trials
“under the DV statute.” The Legislature has stated:

       [I]n a criminal action in which the defendant is accused of an offense involving
       domestic violence or sexual assault, evidence of the defendant’s commission of
       other acts of domestic violence or sexual assault is admissible for any purpose for
       which it is relevant, if it is not otherwise excluded under Michigan rule of evidence
       403. [MCL 768.27b(1).]5

Regardless of the trial court’s comment, evidence from either incident could have been introduced
under MCL 768.27b in separate trials because defendant allegedly attempted to cause harm to
Braxton and his children in both cases. See People v Schultz, 278 Mich App 776, 778; 754 NW2d
925 (2008) (finding MCL 768.27b permits the prosecution to introduce evidence of prior domestic
violence to show a defendant’s character or a defendant’s propensity to commit domestic
violence).

       We conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by finding that the cases were
appropriate for joinder in accordance with MCR 6.120.

5
  Under MCL 768.27b, an offense involving domestic violence includes causing, or attempting to
cause, physical or mental harm to a family member, MCL 768.27b(6)(a)(i), and a family member
includes an individual with whom a defendant has a child in common, MCL 768.27b(6)(b)(iii).

                                                 -5-
                        III. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL

        Defendant alternatively argues that the failure of his trial counsel to move for severance
constituted ineffective assistance, necessitating a new trial. We disagree.

       “Generally, an ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim presents a ‘mixed question of fact
and constitutional law.’ ” People v Hieu Van Hoang, 328 Mich App 45, 63; 935 NW2d 396 (2019),
quoting People v Matuszak, 263 Mich App 42, 48; 687 NW2d 342 (2004). “Constitutional
questions are reviewed de novo, while findings of fact are reviewed for clear error.” Hieu Van
Hoang, 328 Mich App at 63. Because there was no evidentiary hearing to develop defendant’s
claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, our review is limited to errors apparent on the record.
People v Head, 323 Mich App 526, 538-539; 917 NW2d 752 (2018).6

       “To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance, a defendant must, at a minimum, show that
(1) counsel’s performance was below an objective standard of reasonableness and (2) a reasonable
probability exists that the outcome of the proceeding would have been different but for trial
counsel’s errors.” Id. at 539 (cleaned up). Defense counsel should be “strongly presumed to have
rendered adequate assistance and made all significant decisions in the exercise of reasonable
professional judgment.” Strickland v Washington, 466 US 668, 688, 690; 104 S Ct 2052; 80 L Ed
674 (1984); see also People v Vaughn, 491 Mich 642, 670; 821 NW2d 288 (2012). Defense
counsel’s conduct does not fall below an objective standard of reasonableness if the court can
conceive of a legitimate strategic reason for that conduct. People v Clark, 330 Mich App 392,
427; 948 NW2d 604 (2019). Defense counsel is never required to advocate for a meritless position.
People v Snider, 239 Mich App 393, 425; 608 NW2d 502 (2000).

         As we discuss in subsection II of this opinion, the trial court’s joinder was a proper exercise
of its discretion. Thus, a motion to sever the cases would have been futile. Defense counsel was
not ineffective for failing to advocate for a meritless position. See Snider, 239 Mich App at 425.

       Affirmed.

                                                                /s/ Christopher M. Murray
                                                                /s/ Thomas C. Cameron
                                                                /s/ Sima G. Patel

6
 Defendant filed a motion to remand for an evidentiary hearing under MCR 7.211(C)(1)(a) and
People v Ginther, 390 Mich 436; 212 NW2d 922 (1973). We denied the motion without prejudice.
People v Jones, unpublished order of the Court of Appeals, entered April 6, 2023 (Docket Nos.
360474 and 360479). Defendant has not set forth any additional facts that would require
development of a record on remand. See People v Williams, 275 Mich App 194, 200; 737 NW2d
797 (2007). Accordingly, remand is unnecessary.

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