Court Opinion

ID: 9739381
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 20:13:40.242099+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:11.923607
License: Public Domain

Griffin, P.J.
Following a jury trial, defendant was convicted of one count of "assault with intent to commit attempted kidnapping,” two counts of felonious assault, MCL 750.82; MSA 28.277, and one count of attempted kidnapping, MCL 750.349; MSA 28.581. He later pleaded guilty of being an habitual offender, second offense, MCL 769.10; MSA 28.1082. Defendant was sentenced to concurrent prison terms of eight to fifteen years for the conviction of assault with intent to commit attempted kidnapping, 2 Vi to 4 years for the felonious assault convictions, and three to five years for the attempted kidnapping conviction. Defendant now appeals as of right. We affirm in part and reverse in part.
Defendant first argues on appeal that his conviction of assault with intent to commit attempted kidnapping should be vacated because such a crime does not exist as a matter of law. We agree. The elements of the crime of assault with intent to commit a felony are set forth in MCL 750.87; MSA 28.282. The statute provides as follows:
Any person who shall assault another, with intent to commit any burglary, or any other felony, the punishment of which assault is not otherwise in this act prescribed, shall be guilty of a felony, punishable by imprisonment in the state prison not more than 10 years, or by fine of not more than 5,000 dollars.
Although the scope of the statute is broad, it does not include all felonies because the statute requires a specific intent. People v Lipski, 328 *103Mich 194, 197; 43 NW2d 325 (1950); People v Lilley, 43 Mich 521, 529; 5 NW 982 (1880).
Because the essence of the crime of assault with intent to commit a felony is the specific intent to commit the predicate felony, we find it logically inconsistent that an attempt would satisfy the statute. See People v Hammond, 187 Mich App 105, 108; 466 NW2d 335 (1991). Although the crime of attempt requires the specific intent to commit a crime, it is essentially a crime that, through various circumstances, remains uncompleted. One does not commit an assault intending to attempt to commit a crime. Because of this logical inconsistency, we conclude as a matter of law that there is no crime of assault with intent to commit attempted kidnapping. Accordingly, we reverse defendant’s conviction and sentence for assault with intent to commit attempted kidnapping. Id.
Defendant further argues that he was denied a fair trial because the prosecutor improperly elicited testimony by the investigating officers that they received an anonymous tip that defendant was involved in the crime. However, any error in the admission of this testimony was harmless in light of other, overwhelming evidence of defendant’s guilt. MCR 2.613(A); People v Hubbard, 209 Mich App 234, 243; 530 NW2d 130 (1995).
Next, defendant argues that he was denied a fair trial when two jurors testified at a posttrial hearing that they had learned during the course of the trial that defendant had a prior sexual assault conviction. It is well settled that misconduct on the part of a juror will not automatically warrant a new trial. People v Nick, 360 Mich 219, 230; 103 NW2d 435 (1960); People v Sowders, 164 Mich App 36, 47; 417 NW2d 78 (1987). A new trial will not be granted for misconduct unless it affects the impar*104tiality of the jury. People v Rohrer, 174 Mich App 732, 740; 436 NW2d 743 (1989).
Although both jurors admitted learning that defendant had a prior sexual assault conviction, they testified that they did not disclose this information to the other jurors. Rather, the jurors indicated that because they questioned the truth of this information, it did not affect the impartiality of their verdicts. Under these circumstances, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying defendant’s motion for a new trial.
Finally, defendant argues that he was denied a fair trial by the prosecutor’s improper use of a photographic lineup when defendant was readily available for a corporeal lineup. We disagree. Identification by photograph should not be used "when a suspect is in custody or when he can be compelled by the state to appear at a corporeal lineup.” People v Kurylczyk, 443 Mich 289, 298, n 8; 505 NW2d 528 (1993), cert den — US —; 114 S Ct 725; 126 L Ed 2d 689 (1994), citing People v Jackson, 391 Mich 323; 217 NW2d 22 (1974).
In this case, defendant was not in custody at the time of the photographic lineup. Similarly, because defendant was also not under arrest, he could not be compelled to participate in a corporeal lineup. In any event, any error in the admission of this evidence was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt in light of other, overwhelming evidence of defendant’s guilt. Kurylczyk, supra at 315. Accordingly, we conclude that defendant was not denied a fair trial by the admission of the identification testimony.
Defendant’s conviction of assault with intent to commit attempted kidnapping is reversed and vacated. Defendant’s remaining convictions and sentences are affirmed.
*105Smolenski, J., concurred.