Court Opinion

ID: 4446059
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-10-11 09:05:40.867623+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:53:21.447463
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PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,                                   UNPUBLISHED
                                                                   October 10, 2019
              Plaintiff-Appellee,

v                                                                  No. 343906
                                                                   Genesee Circuit Court
STEDMANN DEONTRELLE SKINNER,                                       LC No. 17-041395-FH

              Defendant-Appellant.

Before: REDFORD, P.J., and JANSEN and LETICA, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

        Defendant appeals, as on leave granted1, the sentences imposed for his plea-based
convictions of possession with intent to deliver less than 50 grams of heroin, MCL
333.7401(2)(a)(iv), possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony (felony-firearm),
MCL 750.227b(1), and possession with intent to deliver alprazolam, MCL 333.7401(2)(b)(ii).
The trial court sentenced defendant to 23 months to 20 years’ imprisonment for possession with
intent to deliver heroin, 23 months to seven years’ imprisonment for possession with intent to
deliver alprazolam, and two years’ imprisonment for felony-firearm, to be served consecutive to
his sentences for possession with intent to deliver heroin, and possession with intent to deliver
alprazolam. We affirm defendant’s sentence for his felony-firearm conviction2, but vacate
defendant’s sentences for his possession with intent to deliver heroin conviction and his
possession with intent to deliver alprazolam conviction, and remand for resentencing on those
convictions only.

1
  See People v Skinner, ___ Mich ___; 928 NW2d 212 (2019), where our Supreme Court ordered
that “in lieu of granting leave to appeal, we REMAND this case to the Court of Appeals for
consideration as on leave granted[.]”
2
  Defendant’s conviction of felony-firearm is not subject to the sentencing guidelines because it
carries a mandatory sentence of two years’ imprisonment. See MCL 750.227b(1); MCL
777.16m.

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                                 I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

        During the execution of a search warrant at the apartment defendant shared with his
girlfriend, Camay White, defendant was found in possession of two grams of heroin,
approximately 40 alprazolam pills, and a .40-caliber Glock 23 handgun that was loaded with 20
.40-caliber live rounds. The police officers also recovered from the apartment 19 live rounds of
ammunition, an empty .40-caliber pistol magazine, a Glock nine-millimeter magazine with 31
live rounds, clear plastic baggies containing marijuana, and $990.

                                         II. ANALYSIS

       Defendant solely argues on appeal that the trial court erroneously scored OV 14 at 10
points where there was no factual basis for the trial court to conclude that defendant was a leader
in a multiple offender situation. We agree.

        “Under the sentencing guidelines, the circuit court’s factual determinations are reviewed
for clear error and must be supported by a preponderance of the evidence.” People v Hardy, 494
Mich. 430, 438; 835 NW2d 340 (2013). “Clear error exists when the reviewing court is left with
a definite and firm conviction that a mistake was made.” People v McDade, 301 Mich. App. 343,
356; 836 NW2d 266 (2013). “Whether the facts, as found, are adequate to satisfy the scoring
conditions prescribed by statute, i.e., the application of the facts to the law, is a question of
statutory interpretation, which an appellate court reviews de novo.” Hardy, 494 Mich. at 438.

        “[Offense variable 14] is the offender’s role.” MCL 777.44(1). Under MCL
777.44(1)(a), when “[t]he offender was a leader in a multiple offender situation,” 10 points are
scored for OV 14. MCL 777.44(2)(a) provides that “[t]he entire criminal transaction should be
considered when scoring this variable.” This statutory language requires that points be assessed
“for conduct extending beyond the sentencing offense.” People v McGraw, 484 Mich. 120, 127;
771 NW2d 655 (2009).

        Because “leader” is not defined in MCL 777.44, a dictionary may be consulted for
guidance. People v Rhodes (On Remand), 305 Mich. App. 85, 90; 849 NW2d 417 (2014). “To
‘lead’ is defined in relevant part as, in general, guiding, preceding, showing the way, directing,
or conducting.” Id., citing Random House Webster’s College Dictionary (2001); see also People
v Dickinson, 321 Mich. App. 1, 22; 909 NW2d 24 (2017). Therefore, “a trial court should
consider whether the defendant acted first or gave directions ‘or was otherwise a primary causal
or coordinating agent.’ ” Dickinson, 321 Mich. App. at 22, quoting Rhodes (On Remand), 305
Mich. App. at 90. A “multiple offender situation” for purposes of scoring OV 14 “is a situation
consisting of more than one person violating the law while part of a group.” Dickinson, 321
Mich. App. at 22 (quotation marks and citation omitted).

       “A sentencing court has discretion in determining the number of points to be scored,
provided that evidence of record adequately supports a particular score.” Id. at 21 (quotation
marks and citation omitted). “A trial court may draw inferences regarding a defendant’s
behavior from objective evidence when sentencing the defendant.” Id. at 23.

        The trial court apparently based its factual determination that defendant was a leader on
(1) the fact that White was sitting with defendant on a couch in the living room at the time of the
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raid, as supported by the agent’s description of the offense in the presentence investigation report
(PSIR), and (2) the prosecutor’s assertions that White’s charges were being reduced and that she
“did not necessarily have much of a role” in the drug operation being run out of the apartment.
However, White’s presence in the apartment at the time of the raid does not establish that
defendant was a leader in the criminal transaction. Further, the prosecutor’s bare assertions
about White’s lesser role in the enterprise do not constitute record evidence supporting the trial
court’s factual finding. See People v McChester, 310 Mich. App. 354, 358; 873 NW2d 646
(2015) (emphasis added) (“When calculating the sentencing guidelines, a court may consider all
record evidence, including the contents of a PSIR, plea admissions, and testimony presented at a
preliminary examination.”). “[I]n the absence of any evidence showing that [defendant] played
some role in guiding or initiating the transaction itself,” it cannot be concluded that defendant
was a leader in a multiple offender situation. Rhodes (On Remand), 305 Mich. App. at 90.

       The reduction of 10 points for OV 14 will result in a change in defendant’s minimum
sentencing guidelines range. Therefore, defendant is entitled to resentencing. People v
Francisco, 474 Mich. 82, 89-90 n 8; 711 NW2d 44 (2006).

        We affirm defendant’s sentence for his felony-firearm conviction, but vacate defendant’s
sentences for his possession with intent to deliver heroin conviction and his possession with
intent to deliver alprazolam conviction, and remand for resentencing on those convictions only.
We do not retain jurisdiction.

                                                             /s/ James Robert Redford
                                                             /s/ Kathleen Jansen
                                                             /s/ Anica Letica

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