Court Opinion

ID: 2993849
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-24 07:07:50.904649+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:36:14.003052
License: Public Domain

STATE OF MICHIGAN

                           COURT OF APPEALS

PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,                                    UNPUBLISHED
                                                                    September 22, 2015
               Plaintiff-Appellee,

v                                                                   No. 321883
                                                                    Wayne Circuit Court
BRYAN MAY,                                                          LC No. 13-009806-FH

               Defendant-Appellant.

Before: K. F. KELLY, P.J., and CAVANAGH and SAAD, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

       Defendant appeals as of right his jury convictions of assault of a pregnant individual
causing death to the fetus, MCL 750.90b(a), assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than
murder, MCL 750.84, and aggravated domestic violence, MCL 750.81a(2). We affirm.

        This case arises from a series of assaults defendant committed against his pregnant
girlfriend who was approximately five months pregnant. Over the course of several days,
defendant pushed her; punched her repeatedly in the stomach while forcing her to hold her hands
behind her head; punched her numerous times in the legs and back; slammed her to the floor at
least three times; beat her on the legs, hand, arms, and back with a piece of plywood; and refused
to take her to the hospital when she complained of stomach pain.

        Defendant first argues that his convictions of assault with intent to do great bodily harm
less than murder and assault of a pregnant individual causing death to the fetus constitute the
same offense for double-jeopardy purposes because the elements of both offenses are the same.
After review of this unpreserved claim for plain error, we disagree. See People v Meshell, 265
Mich App 616, 628; 696 NW2d 754 (2005).

        The United States and Michigan Constitutions protect a person from being twice placed
in jeopardy for the same offense. US Const, Am V; Const 1963, art 1, § 15. One of the
protections afforded by the Double Jeopardy Clause is that it prevents a criminal defendant
“from being sentenced to more punishment than the Legislature intended.” Meshell, 265 Mich
App at 628. Thus, if it is evident that the Legislature intended to authorize cumulative
punishment of the same conduct under two different statutes, the double jeopardy challenge fails.
People v Calloway, 469 Mich 448, 451; 671 NW2d 733 (2003) (citations omitted); People v
Denio, 454 Mich 691, 709; 564 NW2d 13 (1997). To determine if the Legislature intended to
authorize cumulative punishment, factors to consider, in addition to the traditional considerations
                                                -1-
of language and history, include whether the statutes prohibit conduct violative of distinct social
norms or even the same social norms but in a different manner, as well as the amount of
punishment authorized by the statutes. Id. at 708 (citation omitted).

       The fetal protection act, MCL 750.90b, prohibits assault of a pregnant individual and
provides:

       A person who intentionally commits conduct proscribed under [MCL 750.81 to
       750.89] against a pregnant individual is guilty of a crime as follows:

               (a) If the conduct results in a miscarriage or stillbirth by that individual, or
               death to the embryo or fetus, a felony punishable by imprisonment for not
               more than 15 years or a fine of not more than $7,500.00, or both.

      MCL 750.84, in turn, prohibits assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than
murder, and provides:

       (1) A person who does either of the following is guilty of a felony punishable by
       imprisonment for not more than 10 years or a fine of not more than $5,000.00, or
       both:

               (a) Assaults another person with intent to do great bodily harm, less than
               the crime of murder.

                                               * * *

       (3) This section does not prohibit a person from being charged with, convicted of,
       or punished for any other violation of law arising out of the same conduct as the
       violation of this section.

        Defendant’s double-jeopardy challenge fails because the Legislature clearly expressed its
intent to subject a defendant to multiple punishments for conduct that violates both MCL
750.90b and MCL 750.84. MCL 750.90b punishes assaultive conduct against a pregnant women
that results in death of an embryo or fetus, which illustrates the Legislature’s intent to punish
individuals who harm the unborn. People v Kurr, 253 Mich App 317, 322; 654 NW2d 651
(2002). MCL 750.84, on the other hand, punishes assaultive conduct against another person.
People v Harrington, 194 Mich App 424, 429; 487 NW2d 479 (1992). The focus is on the injury
to the individual, rather than the injury to her fetus. Clearly, then, two different interests are
protected by MCL 750.84 and MCL 750.90b and multiple punishments are expressly authorized.
See People v Lugo, 214 Mich App 699, 708; 542 NW2d 921 (1995). Accordingly, defendant’s
double-jeopardy challenge is without merit.

       Defendant next contends that the trial court erroneously assigned 10 points to prior record
variable (PRV) 7 as a result of the double-jeopardy violation discussed above and that his
sentence was, therefore, based on incorrect information. We disagree.

       Prior record variable 7 should be scored at 10 points if the offender has one subsequent or
concurrent felony conviction. MCL 777.57(1)(b). As discussed above, defendant’s double-

                                                 -2-
jeopardy challenge fails. Thus, PRV 7 was properly scored at 10 points for defendant’s
concurrent convictions of assault of a pregnant individual causing death to the fetus, and assault
with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder.

        Finally, defendant argues that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel because
his attorney failed to object to the charges, and convictions, of assault with intent to do great
bodily harm less than murder and assault of a pregnant individual resulting in death of the fetus.
We disagree.

       To establish a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must show that his
attorney’s performance was objectively unreasonable and that he was prejudiced by the deficient
performance. People v Carbin, 463 Mich 590, 599-600; 623 NW2d 884 (2001). Defense
counsel, however, is not required to make a meritless objection. People v Chelmicki, 305 Mich
App 58, 69; 850 NW2d 612 (2014). And in this case, as discussed above, an objection to
defendant being charged with, and convicted of, assault with intent to do great bodily harm less
than murder and assault of a pregnant individual resulting in death of the fetus would have been
meritless. Accordingly, defendant’s ineffective assistance claim is without merit.

       Affirmed.

                                                            /s/ Kirsten Frank Kelly
                                                            /s/ Mark J. Cavanagh
                                                            /s/ Henry William Saad

                                               -3-