Court Opinion

ID: 9855788
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 06:31:15.603898+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:37:04.372259
License: Public Domain

D. C. Riley, P.J.
(dissenting). I respectfully dissent. The majority contends that the basic issue is whether or not a stick is a dangerous weapon. This is not the crucial issue before us. The thorny question is whether or not MCL 750.529; MSA 28.797 requires that the complainant be assaulted with a dangerous weapon before the defendant can be convicted of armed robbery. I reason that it does.
A person who assaults another, stealing their property, while "being armed with a dangerous weapon, or any article used or fashioned” as a dangerous weapon is guilty of armed robbery. MCL 750.529; MSA 28.797. The statute does not define, nor does case law, the term "being armed”. However, reading the statute as a whole and keeping it internally consistent with the other provisions, I conclude the statute requires that the dangerous weapon be used in the assault of the complainant.
For a nondangerous weapon to be used or fashioned so as to "lead the person so assaulted” to believe it is a dangerous weapon, the complainant must be aware of its use in the assault. By analogy then, it is necessary for the dangerous weapon to be used in the assault so that complainant is aware of it for a conviction of armed robbery to stand.
I would affirm this Court’s earlier opinion in this matter, reversing.