Court Opinion

ID: 4517240
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-03-18 09:07:47.9512+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:17:15.957389
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PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,                                     UNPUBLISHED
                                                                     March 17, 2020
               Plaintiff-Appellee,

v                                                                    No. 345797
                                                                     St. Clair Circuit Court
ROLLAND SCOTT DIEGEL,                                                LC No. 18-001213-FH

               Defendant-Appellant.

Before: TUKEL, P.J., and MARKEY and SWARTZLE, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

        Defendant was convicted by a jury of aggravated-domestic violence, MCL 750.81a(2).
The trial court sentenced defendant, as a second-offense habitual offender, MCL 769.10, to six
months in jail. Defendant appeals as of right, raising claims of ineffective assistance of counsel
and prosecutorial error. We affirm.

                                       I. BACKGROUND

        This case arises from a physical altercation that occurred between defendant and his
girlfriend, Alicia Stephenson. Defendant and Stephenson started arguing after they had both been
drinking alcohol, and the verbal argument devolved into a physical altercation. Stephenson
admitted that she was quite intoxicated, and when the case reached trial, she could not recall the
events with much detail. She did recall that defendant hit her in the face and punched a hole in the
wall, but she did not remember whether defendant hit her more than once.

        At trial, several witnesses testified that they spoke to Stephenson on the day after the
altercation, and she told them that defendant hit her more than one time and threw her to the
ground. Several witnesses also testified that they saw Stephenson on the day after the altercation,
and they observed that her face was swollen and bruised. Stephenson sent her friend text messages
containing pictures of her black eye and bruises on her hip, back, leg, and arm. The trial court
admitted these pictures into evidence. Several individuals testified that they encouraged
Stephenson to seek medical treatment, but she declined to do so. Witnesses also testified that
defendant had been involved in three prior instances of domestic violence.

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        During closing argument, the prosecutor informed the jury that it would be instructed
regarding defendant’s other acts of domestic violence, and it was able to consider that evidence as
it deliberated on whether defendant was guilty in this case:

               Now, another jury instruction you’re going to get is something called other
       acts and you heard how I talked about how the Defendant has done things like this
       before. And maybe you sat there and you wondered why are we talking about all
       this other stuff and I mean we talked about the present one too, but why did we talk
       about all this other stuff? Well the reason that we, we did that is because the
       Michigan Legislature felt that domestic violence as it is—the, the dangerousness of
       that crime allows us to bring in other acts to show now if you think, okay, the
       Defendant committed these other acts, then you’re actually allowed to look at that
       as a factor in determining whether he also committed this present domestic
       violence. Now that still needs to be proved beyond a reasonable doubt, but you’re
       able to look back at those other acts and think okay if he did this before I can put
       that as a factor whether he did this again.

The prosecutor went on to argue that Stephenson was protecting her children from physical harm
during the altercation with defendant:

       She wants to protect her children. That’s why she’s there in the first place. Because
       the Defendant does not like how these two older children that aren’t his don’t
       respect him. They’re going to respect him. That’s what’s going to happen. But
       mom comes in front of that and she takes those blows for the kids. She gets thrown
       to the ground and she’s still protecting those children as she says get back in your
       room.

        After the parties presented their closing arguments, the trial court read the jury instructions.
In relevant part, the trial court instructed the jury regarding the elements of aggravated-domestic
violence. In describing the third element of the crime, the trial court stated:

               Third, that the assault caused a serious or aggravated injury. A serious or
       aggravated injury is a physical injury that requires immediate medical treatment or
       that causes disfigurement, impairment of health, or impairment of a part of the
       body. However, medical treatment is not required. To be considered a serious
       injury, a reasonable individual would seek medical treatment.

The trial court did not provide a limiting instruction regarding Stephenson’s prior inconsistent
statements, and neither party requested the instruction nor objected to its absence. The trial court
expressly asked whether counsel had any objection to the jury instructions as given, and defense
counsel answered, “No objection, Judge.” Defense counsel incorporated the trial court’s definition
of a serious injury into his own closing argument. In doing so, defense counsel argued that a
reasonable individual would not have sought medical treatment for Stephenson’s injuries as
evidenced by the fact that others never called an ambulance or insisted that she go to a hospital.

       After deliberating, the jury convicted defendant of aggravated-domestic violence. This
appeal followed.

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                                           II. ANALYSIS

                        A. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL

       Defendant contends that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance of counsel.
Because defendant did not move for a new trial or an evidentiary hearing, nor did he move this
Court to remand the matter, his claims of ineffective of assistance of counsel are unpreserved. See
People v Sabin (On Second Remand), 242 Mich. App. 656, 659; 620 NW2d 19 (2000); People v
Cooper, 309 Mich. App. 74, 79; 867 NW2d 452 (2015). We review unpreserved claims for mistakes
apparent on the record. See People v Johnson, 315 Mich. App. 163, 174; 889 NW2d 513 (2016).

        Whether a defendant has been deprived of the effective assistance of counsel presents a
mixed question of fact and constitutional law. Id. We review a trial court’s findings of fact for
clear error, and review de novo questions of constitutional law. Id. A trial court’s finding is clearly
erroneous if the reviewing court is left with a definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been
made. People v Lopez, 305 Mich. App. 686, 693; 854 NW2d 205 (2014).

        To establish ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must show that trial counsel’s
performance was objectively deficient, and the deficiency prejudiced the defendant. People v
Randolph, 502 Mich. 1, 9; 917 NW2d 249 (2018). “A counsel’s performance was deficient if it
fell below an objective standard of professional reasonableness. The performance prejudiced the
defense if it is reasonably probable that, but for counsel’s error, the result of the proceeding would
have been different.” People v Fyda, 288 Mich. App. 446, 450; 793 NW2d 712 (2010). There is a
“strong presumption that counsel’s conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional
assistance.” People v LeBlanc, 465 Mich. 575, 578; 640 NW2d 246 (2002) (cleaned up). Thus,
defendant must overcome the strong presumption that the challenged action could be considered
sound trial strategy. Id.

             1. AGGRAVATED-DOMESTIC-VIOLENCE JURY INSTRUCTION

        Defendant first argues that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel when defense
counsel failed to object to the trial court’s jury instruction regarding the elements of aggravated-
domestic violence. “A defendant is entitled to have the elements of the crime submitted to the jury
in a way that is neither erroneous nor misleading.” People v Miller, 326 Mich. App. 719, 727; 929
NW2d 821 (2019) (cleaned up). An imperfect instruction, however, “is not grounds for setting
aside a conviction if the instruction fairly presented the issues to be tried and adequately protected
the defendant’s rights.” Id. (cleaned up).

       In the context of aggravated assault, this Court has defined a serious or aggravated injury
as “a physical injury that requires immediate medical treatment or that causes disfigurement,
impairment of health, or impairment of a part of the body.” People v Norris, 236 Mich. App. 411,
415 n 3; 600 NW2d 658 (1999). This definition has been incorporated into the Michigan Model
Criminal Jury Instruction for aggravated-domestic assault: “A serious or aggravated injury is a
physical injury that requires immediate medical treatment or that causes disfigurement,
impairment of health, or impairment of a part of the body.” M Crim JI 17.6.

        When the trial court instructed the jury, the trial court expanded the definition by adding
to the model instruction: “However, medical treatment is not required. To be considered a serious

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injury, a reasonable individual would seek medical treatment.” We discern no error with regard
to the second sentence as it relates to the “medical treatment” prong, but the first sentence directly
contradicts the model instruction—compare “that requires immediate medical treatment” (M Crim
JI 17.6) with “However, medical treatment is not required” (trial court’s added instruction). This
contradictory instruction, although brief, was error, and there appears to be no strategic reason why
defense counsel did not object to it.

        Yet, defendant must show not only deficient performance, but also prejudice from such
performance. Our review of the record confirms that there was no reasonable probability that the
outcome of the proceeding would have been different had defense counsel objected to the errant
instruction. Witness testimony showed that Stephenson had a physical altercation with defendant.
There was also ample evidence of multiple injuries to Stephenson from that altercation, including
a black eye, a “mushy” head, a swollen and bruised face, and bruises on her hip, back, leg, and
arm. Several witnesses testified that they told her to get medical treatment, but she refused.

        Considering the record evidence, there was no reasonable probability that the outcome of
the proceeding would have been different if defense counsel had objected to the trial court’s
modified jury instruction regarding a serious or aggravated injury. The prosecutor presented
sufficient evidence to meet the definition of a serious or aggravated injury, and defendant has failed
to establish a reasonable probability that the trial court’s instruction affected the jury’s
determination. Accordingly, defendant has failed to establish that he was denied the effective
assistance of counsel on his first claim.

              2. PRIOR-INCONSISTENT-STATEMENTS JURY INSTRUCTION

         Defendant next argues that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to request that the trial
court instruct the jury regarding prior inconsistent statements used to impeach a witness.
Stephenson made several prior statements to witnesses that were inconsistent with her trial
testimony that she could only recall getting hit once in the face by defendant. According to
defendant, if the trial court had read M Crim JI 4.5 to the jury, the jury would have been informed
that it could only consider Stephenson’s prior inconsistent statements in relation to her credibility,
and not as substantive evidence of defendant’s guilt. See People v Stanton, 190 Mich. App. 558,
562; 476 NW2d 477 (1991).

        It is possible that defense counsel decided not to request the instruction to avoid drawing
the jury’s attention to the statements. With that said, we need not determine whether defense
counsel’s failure to request the instruction was objectively unreasonable because, like his prior
claim of ineffective assistance, defendant cannot show that he was prejudiced.

        Juries are presumed to follow their instructions. People v Bruner, 501 Mich. 220, 228; 912
NW2d 514 (2018). If defense counsel had requested the limiting instruction, then the jury
presumably would not have considered the prior inconsistent statements regarding the altercation
and the state of her injuries as substantive evidence of defendant’s guilt. Nevertheless, the jury
would still have considered Stephenson’s testimony that defendant hit her in the face and her
daughter’s testimony that defendant threw her to the ground. The jury would also have considered
Stephenson’s testimony that she did not remember all of the details of the altercation, but she sent
pictures to others which showed her resulting injuries. The trial court admitted those pictures into

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evidence, and they showed that Stephenson had extensive injuries. Similarly, the jury would have
considered that several witnesses observed that Stephenson’s face was swollen and bruised on the
day after the altercation. Finally, the jury would have considered the fact that multiple witnesses
encouraged Stephenson to seek medical treatment the day after the altercation.

       Based on the compelling evidence presented at trial that did not involve Stephenson’s prior
inconsistent statements, there was no reasonable probability that the outcome of the proceeding
would have been different if defense counsel had requested the limiting instruction. Accordingly,
defendant’s second claim of ineffective assistance of counsel also fails.

                                   B. PROSECUTORIAL ERROR

        Apart from ineffective assistance of counsel, defendant argues on appeal that the prosecutor
engaged in two instances of misconduct during closing argument. Initially, we note that, apart
from the label used, defendant’s claim is not one of misconduct but rather “prosecutorial error.”
See Cooper, 309 Mich. App. 87-88. The test for prosecutorial error “is whether a defendant was
denied a fair and impartial trial.” People v Dobek, 274 Mich. App. 58, 63; 732 NW2d 546 (2007).
This Court must evaluate instances of prosecutorial error “on a case-by-case basis, reviewing the
prosecutor’s comments in context and in light of the defendant’s arguments.” People v Lane, 308
Mich. App. 38, 62-63; 862 NW2d 446 (2014). Prosecutors are typically afforded great latitude
regarding their arguments and conduct at trial. See People v Bahoda, 448 Mich. 261, 282; 531
NW2d 659 (1995). They are generally free to argue the evidence and all reasonable inferences
from the evidence as it relates to their theory of the case. Id. “The prosecutor may not inject issues
into a trial that are broader than the defendant’s guilt or innocence,” and the prosecutor commits
error when he “invites jurors to suspend their powers of judgment and decide the case on the basis
of sympathy or civic duty.” Lane, 308 Mich. App. at 66.

        There was no objection or request for a curative instruction during closing argument, and
therefore we review the unpreserved claim for plain error affecting substantial rights. People v
Brown, 294 Mich. App. 377, 382; 811 NW2d 531 (2011). Under this review, “defendant must
establish (1) that an error occurred, (2) that the error was plain, and (3) that the plain error affected
defendant’s substantial rights.” People v Kowalski, 489 Mich. 488, 505; 803 NW2d 200 (2011).

        Defendant first argues that, by mentioning why the Legislature enacted a law allowing a
jury to hear evidence of a prior act of domestic violence, the prosecutor appealed to the jury’s
sense of civic duty and injected issues beyond whether defendant was guilty in this case.
Reviewing the statement in context, the prosecutor did not err. He did not ask the jury to suspend
its judgment and decide the case on the basis of civic duty or expand the issues beyond guilt in this
case. Rather, the prosecutor explained to the jury why evidence was presented regarding
defendant’s other acts of domestic violence, and why the jury was able to consider that evidence.
The prosecutor qualified his explanation by stating that the jury still needed to determine that
defendant committed aggravated-domestic violence in this case beyond a reasonable doubt.

        Defendant next argues that the prosecutor erred by arguing that Stephenson was protecting
her children from physical harm during the altercation with defendant. The prosecutor presented
no evidence at trial that defendant ever physically harmed or threatened the children. Yet, the
prosecutor argued during closing that Stephenson “wants to protect her children” and “takes those

                                                  -5-
blows for the kids” while “protecting those children.” Reviewing the prosecutor’s statements in
context, the prosecutor presented several facts that were not supported by the evidence.
Furthermore, these statements did not support the prosecutor’s theory of the case, which was
simply that Stephenson was the victim of aggravated-domestic violence committed by defendant.
Thus, the prosecutor’s statements were improper.

        Yet, defendant has not shown that the error affected his substantial rights. The unrefuted
testimony of multiple witnesses, coupled with the pictures of Stephenson’s injuries documented
on the day after the altercation, strongly supported the verdict. Furthermore, this Court “cannot
find error requiring reversal where a curative instruction could have alleviated any prejudicial
effect.” People v Bennett, 290 Mich. App. 465, 476; 802 NW2d 627 (2010) (cleaned up). The
jurors were instructed that they could only consider the evidence that was properly admitted in the
case and that the lawyers’ statements and arguments were not evidence. Thus, the jury instructions
alleviated the prejudicial effect of the prosecutor’s improper statement made during his closing
argument, and no plain error occurred affecting defendant’s substantial rights.

       Affirmed.

                                                            /s/ Jonathan Tukel
                                                            /s/ Jane E. Markey
                                                            /s/ Brock A. Swartzle

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