Court Opinion

ID: 3148900
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-23 12:05:07.676204+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:09:37.411099
License: Public Domain

STATE OF MICHIGAN

                           COURT OF APPEALS

PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,                                    UNPUBLISHED
                                                                    October 22, 2015
               Plaintiff-Appellee,

v                                                                   No. 321195
                                                                    Midland Circuit Court
RANDY SCOTT GRANSDEN,                                               LC No. 13-005460-FH

               Defendant-Appellant.

Before: M. J. KELLY, P.J., and MURRAY and SHAPIRO, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

       Defendant was charged with two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, MCL
750.520e(1)(b) (force or coercion). A jury found him guilty of one count, but acquitted him of
the second. We affirm.

       This case arises from an incident that took place on May 28, 2013, at Bushey’s Bar in
Midland County. The complainant, Jean Zunich, testified that while she was sitting at the bar,
defendant grabbed her hand and put it on his penis. She stated that she told him to stop, but did
not jump up because she did not want her brother, who was also present at the bar, to fight
defendant. Her brother testified that he heard his sister say “no” and jerk her hand back, but that
he did not see her hand on defendant’s penis. Zunich testified that later, either when Zunich
went outside to smoke a cigarette or when she left the bar, defendant pulled her into him and
grabbed the right cheek of her “bottom.” Zunich testified that defendant’s cousin asked if she
enjoyed it, and when she said “no,” he laughed. Zunich’s brother testified that he saw defendant
hug his sister, but did not see him grab her buttock.

        Defendant argues defense counsel was ineffective for two reasons: first, because
defendant did not testify on his own behalf, and second, because defense counsel did not object
when the trial court applied the wrong standard of review when deciding defendant’s motion for
directed verdict.1 We disagree.

1
  Defendant failed to preserve this issue in a motion for a new trial or an evidentiary hearing.
See People v Johnson, 144 Mich. App. 125, 129; 373 NW2d 263 (1985). “However, the absence
of a motion for new trial or an evidentiary hearing is not fatal to appellate review where the

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       Criminal defendants have a constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel. Const
1963, art 1, § 20; US Const, Am VI; People v Trakhtenberg, 493 Mich. 38, 51; 826 NW2d 136
(2012). “In order to obtain a new trial, a defendant must show that (1) counsel’s performance
fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and (2) but for counsel’s deficient
performance, there is a reasonable probability that the outcome would have been different.”
Trachtenberg, 493 Mich. at 51, citing People v Armstrong, 490 Mich. 281, 290; 806 NW2d 676
(2011). “Effective assistance of counsel is presumed, and the defendant bears a heavy burden of
proving otherwise.” People v Solmonson, 261 Mich. App. 657, 663; 683 NW2d 761 (2004).

        Defendant first argues that defense counsel was ineffective because defendant did not
testify on his own behalf at trial. “A defendant’s right to testify in his own defense arises from
the Fifth, Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution.” People v
Bonilla-Machado, 489 Mich. 412, 419; 803 NW2d 217 (2011). “Although counsel must advise a
defendant of this right, the ultimate decision whether to testify at trial remains with the
defendant.” Id. If a defendant decides not to testify or acquiesces in defense counsel’s decision
that he not testify, the right to testify is deemed waived. People v Simmons, 140 Mich. App. 681,
684-685; 364 NW2d 783 (1985). Furthermore, “there is no requirement in Michigan that there
be an on-the-record waiver of a defendant’s right to testify,” and the trial court has no duty to
advise a defendant of the right or determine whether a waiver is knowingly and intelligently
made. People v Harris, 190 Mich. App. 652, 661-662; 476 NW2d 767 (1992).

       In this case, defense counsel asked the trial court to adjourn so that he could confer with
defendant about whether defendant was going to testify. The following colloquy occurred when
the proceedings resumed:

               The court: . . . [Defense counsel], you’ve had an opportunity to talk to
       your client with regards to his anticipation of testifying on his own behalf.

               What’s your client’s decision?

               Defense counsel: . . . We did take a break and I had an opportunity to
       discuss with my client his rights to testify in his own behalf, and equally his rights
       not to testify and that no one could comment on his refusal to testify.

               After discussing this matter with him at length, he has agreed arriving at
       his own independent decision that he will not testify. He will waive his right to
       testify and rather invoke his right not to testify in this matter, and we will be
       closing the proofs on behalf of the Defendant.

              The court: [Defendant], you heard what’s been indicated by [defense
       counsel]; is that correct?

               Defendant: Yes.

details relating to the alleged deficiencies of the defendant’s trial counsel are sufficiently
contained in the record to permit this Court to reach and decide the issue.” Id.

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              The court: And you, in fact, were informed and had an opportunity to
       decide whether you wanted to testify in your own behalf; is that correct?

               Defendant: Yes.

              The court: And is your decision after consultation with [defense counsel]
       that you will not testify in your behalf; is that correct?

               Defendant: Yes.

Although the record is unclear as to whether defense counsel advised defendant to testify or not
to testify, it is clear, based on this colloquy, that defendant expressly chose not to testify on his
own behalf. Because defendant waived his right to testify, Simmons, 140 Mich. App. at 685, his
argument that defense counsel was ineffective is without merit.

        Defendant next argues that defense counsel was ineffective for failing to object when the
trial court applied the standard of review for a motion for summary disposition under MCR
2.116(C)(10), instead of the standard of review applicable for reviewing a motion for a directed
verdict as set forth in People v Hampton, 407 Mich. 354; 285 NW2d 284 (1979). Although we
agree that the trial court applied the wrong standard and that defense counsel should have
objected, we conclude that there is not a reasonable probability that the error was outcome
determinative. See Trachtenberg, 493 Mich. at 51-52.

        It is a well-established that “[c]ircumstantial evidence and reasonable inferences drawn
therefrom may be sufficient to prove the elements of a crime.” People v Jolly, 442 Mich. 458,
466; 502 NW2d 177 (1993). “A defendant can be found guilty of criminal sexual conduct in the
fourth degree if he engages in sexual contact with another person and force or coercion is used to
accomplish a sexual contact.” People v Lasky, 157 Mich. App. 265, 271; 403 NW2d 117 (1987);
accord MCL 750.520e(1)(b). Sexual contact is defined as “the intentional touching of the
victim’s or actor’s intimate parts or the intentional touching of the clothing covering the
immediate area of the victim’s or actor’s intimate parts, if that intentional touching can
reasonably be construed as being for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification, done for a
sexual purpose . . . .” MCL 750.520a(q). However, “proof of intentional touching, alone, is
insufficient to establish guilt. The statute further requires that the prosecution prove that the
intentional touch could reasonably be construed as being for [a] sexual purpose.” People v
Piper, 223 Mich. App. 642, 647; 567 NW2d 483 (1997), (internal quotation omitted) (emphasis
and alteration by Piper). Whether “sexual contact” occurred is determined by objectively
viewing the evidence and considering whether the touching could reasonably be construed as
being for a sexual purpose. Id.

        Viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, the testimony
established that defendant grabbed Zunich’s hand and placed it on his penis, defendant’s cousin
asked Zunich if she liked it, and defendant pulled Zunich into a hug and grabbed her right
buttock. Thus, there was enough circumstantial evidence for the jury to conclude beyond a

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reasonable doubt that such conduct was done with a sexual purpose. Piper, 223 Mich. App. at
647. Accordingly, there is not a reasonable probability that, but for the error, the outcome would
have been different. See Trachtenberg, 493 Mich. at 51.

       Affirmed.

                                                            /s/ Michael J. Kelly
                                                            /s/ Christopher M. Murray
                                                            /s/ Douglas B. Shapiro

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