Court Opinion

ID: 4230976
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-12-21 08:10:32.735109+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:15:48.822794
License: Public Domain

STATE OF MICHIGAN

                            COURT OF APPEALS

PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,                                       UNPUBLISHED
                                                                       December 19, 2017
               Plaintiff-Appellee,

v                                                                      No. 333778
                                                                       Wayne Circuit Court
DEARTIS ANDRE MOCK,                                                    LC No. 15-006349-01-FH

               Defendant-Appellant.

Before: MURRAY, P.J., and K. F. KELLY and FORT HOOD, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

        Following a jury trial, defendant was convicted of unarmed robbery, MCL 750.530,
receiving and concealing a stolen motor vehicle, MCL 750.535(7), and resisting and obstructing
a police officer, MCL 750.81d(1).1 Defendant was sentenced to serve concurrent terms of 69 to
180 months’ imprisonment for unarmed robbery, 12 to 60 months’ imprisonment for receiving
and concealing a motor vehicle, and 12 to 24 months’ imprisonment for resisting a police officer.
Defendant now appeals as of right challenging the reasonableness of his sentence and the
imposition of costs and fees. We affirm defendant’s sentence, including the imposition of
attorney fees and restitution, but remand to the trial court to establish a factual basis for the court
costs imposed.

                            I. REASONABLENESS OF SENTENCE

      Citing People v Lockridge, 498 Mich 358; 870 NW2d 502 (2015)2 and People v
Milbourn, 435 Mich 630; 461 NW2d 1 (1990), defendant argues that his sentence for unarmed

1
 Defendant was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, MCL 750.82, but the jury found
him not guilty of this count.
2
 While the trial court did not expressly state on the record that it recognized that the sentencing
guidelines were not mandatory post-Lockridge, we note that defendant’s sentencing took place
on June 17, 2016, and we presume that the trial court was aware that it was bound by the
Michigan Supreme Court’s decision in Lockridge. See People v Alexander, 234 Mich App 665,
672; 599 NW2d 749 (1999) (stating that this Court presumes that the trial court knows the
applicable law).

                                                 -1-
robbery was unreasonable and not proportionate to the circumstances or the offender. “A
sentence that departs from the applicable guidelines range will be reviewed by an appellate court
for reasonableness.” Lockridge, 498 Mich at 392. However, in People v Schrauben, 314 Mich
App 181, 196 n 1; 886 NW2d 173 (2016), this Court noted that “Lockridge did not alter or
diminish MCL 769.34(10)[.]” MCL 769.34(10) provides, in pertinent part:

       If a minimum sentence is within the appropriate guidelines range, the court of
       appeals shall affirm that sentence and shall not remand for resentencing absent an
       error in scoring the sentencing guidelines or inaccurate information relied upon in
       determining the defendant’s sentence.

See also People v Jackson, 320 Mich App 514, ___; ___ NW2d ___ (Docket No. 332307)
(2017); slip op at 8 (recognizing, in the context of the defendant’s argument that his sentence
was disproportionate, that where the defendant’s minimum sentence was within the guidelines
range, “it is presumptively proportionate and must be affirmed.”)

       Defendant received a 69-month minimum sentence for his unarmed robbery conviction,
which fell within the 36 to 71 month minimum sentence guidelines range. Defendant does not
argue that there was an error in scoring the guidelines or that the trial court relied on inaccurate
information in determining his sentence. Accordingly, this Court must affirm defendant’s
sentence. MCL 769.34(10); Schrauben, 314 Mich App at 196 n 1.3

                                       II. COURT COSTS

        Next, defendant contends that the trial court erred in ordering him to pay $1,300 in court
costs at sentencing. Because defendant did not object to the imposition of court costs at
sentencing, the issue is not preserved. People v Johnson, 315 Mich App 163, 197; 889 NW2d
513 (2016). This Court reviews an unpreserved “challenge to the trial court’s imposition of court
costs for plain error.” People v Konopka (On Remand), 309 Mich App 345, 356; 869 NW2d 651
(2015).

        When a defendant is convicted, MCL 769.1k(1)(b)(iii) authorizes the trial court to impose
“any cost reasonably related to the actual costs incurred by the trial court without separately
calculating those costs involved in the particular case[.]” MCL 769.1k(b)(iii) lists examples of
such costs, in pertinent part, as follows:

       (A) Salaries and benefits for relevant court personnel.

3
  We note that in People v Steanhouse, 500 Mich 453, 471 n 14; 902 NW2d 327 (2017), the
Michigan Supreme Court recently stated by way of footnote, where both of the defendants in that
case received departure sentences, “we do not reach the question of whether MCL 769.34(10),
which requires the Court of Appeals to affirm a sentence that is within the guidelines absent a
scoring error or reliance on inaccurate information in determining the sentence, survives
Lockridge.”

                                                -2-
       (B) Goods and services necessary for the operation of the court.

       (C) Necessary expenses for the operation and maintenance of court buildings and
       facilities. [MCL 769.1k.]4

        In Konopka, 309 Mich App at 358, this Court concluded that “MCL 769.1k(1)(b)(iii)
independently authorizes the imposition of costs in addition to those costs authorized by the
statute for the sentencing offense.” However, if the trial court does not establish a factual basis
for the court costs imposed, this Court cannot determine whether the costs imposed were
reasonably related to the actual costs incurred by the trial court. Id. at 359-360.

        The trial court ordered defendant to pay $1,300 in court costs at sentencing, but it did not
provide a factual basis for the court costs imposed. When a trial court does not establish a
factual basis for the costs imposed, this Court should remand to the trial court to allow the
defendant to challenge the reasonableness of the costs imposed under MCL 769.1k(1)(b)(iii), or
to afford the trial court the opportunity to alter the amount if appropriate. Konopka, 309 Mich
App at 360. See also People v Stevens, 318 Mich App 115, 120-121; 896 NW2d 815 (2016)
(stating that where the trial court did not articulate a factual basis for costs, remand is the
appropriate measure).

                                     III. ATTORNEY FEES

       Next, defendant argues that the trial court erred in requiring him to pay $400 in court-
appointed attorney fees. Because defendant did not challenge the imposition of attorney fees at
sentencing, the issue is not preserved. See People v Jackson, 483 Mich 271, 292 n 18; 769
NW2d 630 (2009).

       Defendant’s argument that the trial court should have assessed his ability to pay before
ordering him to pay the attorney fees is without merit. In Jackson, 483 Mich at 294, the
Michigan Supreme Court rejected a constitutional challenge to MCL 769.1k, holding that “there
is no constitutionally required ability-to-pay analysis until the fee is actually enforced.” The
Jackson Court further noted that MCL 769.1l provided a procedure for enforcing the fee without
an ability-to-pay assessment, but the Court concluded that this procedure was constitutional
“because the statute’s monetary calculations necessarily conduct a preliminary, general ability-
to-pay assessment before the prisoner’s funds are taken.” Id. at 295. The Court further
explained:

               MCL 769.1l inherently calculates a prisoner’s general ability to pay and,
       in effect, creates a statutory presumption of nonindigency. The provision only
       allows the garnishment of a prisoner’s account if the balance exceeds $50.
       Although this amount would be insufficient to sustain a defendant living among
       the general populace, it is uncontested that a prisoner’s “living expenses” are nil,

4
  MCL 769.1k(b)(iii) was amended by 2017 PA 64, effective June 30, 2017, however the
amendments are not pertinent to this appeal.

                                                -3-
       as the prisoner is clothed, sheltered, fed, and has all his medical needs provided
       by the state. The funds left to the prisoner on a monthly basis are more than
       adequate to cover the prisoner’s other minimal expenses and obligations without
       causing manifest hardship. Thus, we conclude that [MCL 769.1l’s] application
       makes a legitimate presumption that the prisoner is not indigent. [Jackson, 483
       Mich at 295.]

“[I]f a prisoner believes that his unique individual financial circumstances rebut [MCL 769.1l’s]
presumption of nonindigency, he may petition the court to reduce or eliminate the amount that
the remittance order requires him to pay.” Id. at 296.

        To the extent that defendant now contends that the trial court has an obligation to
determine his ability to pay since funds are being withdrawn from his prison account, we note
that defendant has not filed a petition in the trial court raising a challenge to the enforcement of
the imposed fees and offering any proofs setting forth his unique financial circumstances.
Defendant is also hard-pressed to argue that he has not been provided notice with the
enforcement of the remittance order when a copy is included in the lower court file, the trial
court signed it on the same day as the judgment of sentence, and the trial court informed
defendant during the June 17, 2016 sentencing hearing that he would be required to pay $400 in
attorney fees. Moreover, in both the trial court and on appeal, defendant has not put forth any
information to meet the “heavy burden of establishing his extraordinary financial
circumstances.” Id. Put another way, there is nothing in the record to indicate that enforcement
of the remittance order “would work a manifest hardship” on defendant or his immediate family.
Id. at 296-297. Similarly, as noted above, defendant has likewise not demonstrated any error on
the part of the trial court in ordering the $400 court-appointed attorney fee. Thus, defendant’s
arguments in this regard are unavailing.

                                       IV. RESTITUTION

       Finally, defendant challenges the trial court’s restitution order, which requires him to pay
$530. Because defendant failed to object at sentencing, the issue is not preserved, and our
review is for plain error affecting defendant’s substantial rights. People v Newton, 257 Mich
App 61, 68; 665 NW2d 504 (2003).

        Restitution is “designed to allow crime victims to recoup losses suffered as a result of
criminal conduct.” People v Grant, 455 Mich 221, 230; 565 NW2d 389 (1997) (citations
omitted). “The prosecution bears the burden of establishing the proper amount of restitution by a
preponderance of the evidence.” People v Fawaz, 299 Mich App 55, 65; 829 NW2d 259 (2012)
(citations, alteration and quotation marks omitted).

         Defendant claims that there was no documentation presented on the record to support the
amount of restitution ordered, and that he “was not allowed” to contest the amount. We reject
both of these assertions. Defendant’s PSIR included several references to the amount of
restitution owed to the victim and at sentencing, the contents of the PSIR were discussed on the
record, and the parties were given the opportunity to raise challenges to the PSIR. The
prosecution then, without objection, asked for $530 in restitution on the record and the trial court
assessed restitution in the amount of $530. A trial court “is entitled to rely on the information

                                                -4-
in the presentence report, which is presumed to be accurate unless the defendant effectively
challenges the accuracy of the factual information.” Grant, 455 Mich at 233-234 (citation and
footnote omitted). “Absent a dispute, the court [is] not required to make express findings
regarding the amount of restitution.” Id. at 235.

         Defendant argues that People v Orweller, 197 Mich App 136; 494 NW2d 753 (1993) and
People v Gubachy, 272 Mich App 706; 728 NW2d 891 (2007) support his argument that
restitution was improperly imposed. However, Orweller and Gubachy can be distinguished from
the instant case. In Orweller, this Court remanded for resentencing where there was no
testimony at the sentencing hearing to support the restitution award and there was no support in
the presentence report. Orweller, 197 Mich App at 138, 141. In the instant case, the PSIR
clearly contemplated restitution and there was a discussion at sentencing to support the
restitution award imposed. In Gubachy, the victim presented invoices to substantiate the value of
loss resulting from the underlying theft, and this Court found that the restitution award was not
an abuse of discretion. Gubachy, 272 Mich App at 709. While Gubachy is an example of a
court considering documentation that was not provided in defendant’s case, this Court did not
indicate that this level of documentation is required in order to assess restitution.

                                      V. CONCLUSION

       We affirm defendant’s sentence, the trial court’s order to pay the court-appointed
attorney fee in the amount of $400 and the trial court’s restitution order in the amount of $530.
However, we remand to the trial court to determine whether the court costs assessed were
reasonably related to the costs incurred at trial and to either affirm or adjust the court costs
imposed on defendant. We do not retain jurisdiction.

                                                           /s/ Christopher M. Murray
                                                           /s/ Kirsten Frank Kelly
                                                           /s/ Karen M. Fort Hood

                                               -5-