Court Opinion

ID: 4185339
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-07-12 11:08:53.230844+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:51:23.988036
License: Public Domain

STATE OF MICHIGAN

                           COURT OF APPEALS

PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,                                   UNPUBLISHED
                                                                   July 11, 2017
               Plaintiff-Appellee,

v                                                                  No. 328571
                                                                   Macomb Circuit Court
BRIAN WAYNE ALEXANDER,                                             LC No. 2014-003072-FH

               Defendant-Appellant.

Before: GADOLA, P.J., and METER and FORT HOOD, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

       Defendant appeals as of right his convictions, following a jury trial, of breaking and
entering a building with the intent to commit larceny, MCL 750.110, and larceny in a building,
MCL 750.360. The trial court sentenced defendant as a fourth-offense habitual offender, MCL
769.12, to concurrent terms of 1-1/2 to 10 years’ imprisonment for the breaking and entering
conviction, and 1-1/2 to 15 years’ imprisonment for the larceny conviction. We affirm.

        The jury convicted defendant of breaking and entering a factory building owned by
Peerless Metal Works in Warren, Michigan, during the late evening hours of June 19, 2014. The
prosecution presented the testimony of the owner and his associate who were still in the factory
after closing, as well as a responding police officer. According to the trial testimony, the two
men observed defendant rummaging through a workbench inside the factory and confronted him.
Defendant hid behind a machine before eventually coming out. Defendant was wearing a
Peerless Metal company logo t-shirt that had been in a back office on a coat hanger; the
company’s computer equipment was also housed in that office. To gain access to that office, it
was necessary to open a closed internal door. Inside that office, computer equipment had been
disturbed and stacked in a neat pile.

        The police were called and, despite the owner’s instructions, defendant left the building,
stating that he was leaving the same way he entered. Defendant had entered the factory through
an opened bay door after wiggling his way through a small opening in an attached gate. The
police quickly arrived and approached defendant at a nearby corner. He was still wearing the
company shirt and two company tools were discovered during a search of his bag. The defense
theory at trial was that no “breaking” occurred, and that defendant only went inside the open bay
door of Peerless Metal to obtain employment. Defendant testified on his own behalf and denied

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that he touched the computer equipment, opened a door to obtain the shirt, or took any tools from
Peerless Metal.

                                  I. SELF-REPRESENTATION

        Defendant was permitted to represent himself at trial, with his appointed attorney serving
as standby advisory counsel. Defendant now argues that structural error occurred because the
trial court failed to secure a valid waiver of his right to counsel by complying with the
requirements set forth in MCR 6.005(D) and People v Anderson, 398 Mich. 361, 367; 247 NW2d
857 (1976). We disagree.

        Because defendant never challenged the validity of his pretrial waiver of counsel in the
trial court, this claim is unpreserved. People v Carines, 460 Mich. 750, 763; 597 NW2d 130
(1999). Therefore, appellate relief is foreclosed unless defendant is able to establish a plain error
affecting his substantial rights. Id.

        The United States and Michigan Constitutions guarantee a defendant’s right to the
assistance of counsel at trial. US Const, Am VI; Const 1963, art 1, § 20; People v Russell, 471
Mich. 182, 187-188; 684 NW2d 745 (2004). To waive the right to counsel the defendant’s
waiver “must be knowing, voluntary, and intelligent.” Id. at 188 (citation omitted). Courts make
every presumption against the waiver. Id. A trial court’s factual findings regarding a waiver are
reviewed for clear error. Id. at 187.

       When confronted with a defendant’s initial request for self-representation, a trial court
must determine, under standards established in Anderson, that:

       (1) the defendant’s request is unequivocal, (2) the defendant is asserting the right
       knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily through a colloquy advising the
       defendant of the dangers and disadvantages of self-representation, and (3) the
       defendant’s self-representation will not disrupt, unduly inconvenience, and burden
       the court and the administration of the court’s business. [Russell, 471 Mich. at
       190.]

A trial court must also satisfy the requirements of MCR 6.005(D). Russell, 471 Mich. at 190.
This court rule provides that a trial court may not permit the defendant’s initial waiver of the
right to counsel without:

               (1) advising the defendant of the charge, the maximum possible prison
       sentence for the offense, any mandatory minimum sentence required by law, and
       the risk involved in self-representation, and

              (2) offering the defendant the opportunity to consult with a retained
       lawyer or, if the defendant is indigent, the opportunity to consult with an
       appointed lawyer.

        But a trial court is not required to follow a “litany approach” to establish compliance with
the requirements of Anderson and MCR 6.005(D). See Russell, 471 Mich. at 191. It is sufficient
for the trial court to substantially comply with the substantive requirements. Id. While the trial

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court must be certain that the requirements for a proper waiver are met, superficial irregularities
will not give rise to an “appellate parachute.” Id. Once a defendant waives his right to counsel,
a trial court is obligated to reaffirm the waiver at any subsequent proceedings in accordance with
MCR 6.005(E).

         This case involves defendant’s self-representation only at trial, although, like the
prosecution, we have considered not only what occurred at trial, but the hearings leading up to
trial, to determine whether the trial court substantially complied with the waiver requirements.
With regard to the first requirement established by Anderson, 398 Mich. at 367, defendant’s
repeated affirmations of his intention to represent himself on all three days of trial clearly
establish that his request for self-representation was unequivocal. On this record, there is no
question that defendant’s request for self-representation was unequivocal. We reach this same
conclusion with respect to the second Anderson requirement, that defendant asserted his right to
self-representation in a knowing, voluntary and intelligent manner. Id. at 368. The trial court
questioned defendant about his knowledge of the court rules, and inquired if he had a court rules
book, or a rules of evidence book. When defendant responded that he knew those rules only
“vaguely,” and did not have either of the books, the trial court cautioned him that he would be
expected to “follow each and every rule,” warned him that there would be “no advantage”
because he was representing himself, and explained that he would be required to “follow the
rules of evidence as they apply to the entire process.” Defendant consistently affirmed his
decision to proceed without counsel, and it is clear from the record that defendant wanted to
control his case, although he worked with standby counsel. The trial court was not required to
pressure defendant into relinquishing his right to waive counsel. See People v Morton, 175 Mich
App 1, 7; 437 NW2d 284 (1989) (recognizing that where a defendant exercises his right to
defend himself, the defendant “need not be badgered and pressured at every turn to give up his
right to defend himself.”). Where defendant reaffirmed his intention to represent himself after he
was told that he would be expected to follow applicable rules of procedure and evidence, we are
satisfied that defendant gave a knowing, intelligent, and voluntary assertion of the right to self-
representation. Substantial compliance with the second Anderson requirement was satisfied.

        We also conclude that there was substantial compliance with the third Anderson
requirement, even though the trial court did not make an express determination that defendant
would not disrupt, unduly inconvenience, or burden the court and the administration of the trial
court’s business. Although the potential for undue disruptions existed because of defendant’s
lack of legal training, the record clearly establishes that the trial court adequately accounted for
this factor by requiring defendant to comply with the rules and procedures of the court and by
warning defendant on more than one occasion that he was expected to follow the rules and
ensuring he had the assistance of standby counsel.

        As defendant observes, the trial court did not advise him of the charges against him and
the maximum possible prison sentence at trial, as required by MCR 6.005(D)(1). However, the
mere fact that a judge does not discuss the charges and possible penalties with a defendant is not
enough to defeat a finding of substantial compliance with the waiver procedures. People v
Adkins (After Remand), 452 Mich. 702, 731; 551 NW2d 108 (1996), overruled on other grounds
by People v Williams, 470 Mich. 634, 641 n 7; 683 NW2d 597 (2004). In challenging this
requirement, defendant fails to acknowledge the numerous exchanges between himself and the
trial court in prior hearings, particularly the prior plea proceeding. At the plea hearing, defendant

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pleaded guilty to both charges of breaking and entering a building with intent to commit larceny
and larceny in a building. Therefore, it is difficult to fathom that defendant was unaware of the
charges. Further, the trial court asked defendant if he “underst[oo]d the maximum penalty [it]
can impose could be any number of years up to life?” Defendant responded, “I do.” At the
sentencing hearing, defendant ultimately withdrew his plea, but before doing so, the trial court,
the attorneys, and defendant engaged in a lengthy discussion about the presentence investigation
report and the sentencing guidelines. In response to one of defendant’s comments, the trial court
commented that “the appropriate punishment should be forty-six months in the State Prison[,]”
and again informed defendant that he was facing a “life [sentence].” Thus, the record establishes
that defendant was aware of the seriousness of the charges. “A waiver is sufficient if the
defendant knows what he is doing and his choice is made with eyes open.” Williams, 470 Mich.
at 642 (quotation marks and citation omitted). Taken as a whole, the record demonstrates that
defendant knew the perils of self-representation and was willing to assume the risk. Further, the
trial court complied with MCR 6.005(D)(2) by offering defendant the opportunity to consult with
his appointed lawyer, which defendant accepted. Defendant remained assisted by standby
counsel during trial, and standby counsel advised defendant on several occasions on the record,
even making certain arguments on defendant’s behalf, and questioned defendant when he
testified. In sum, “[d]efendant was fully apprised of the risks he faced by choosing to represent
himself and he knowingly and voluntarily choose to accept them. He may not now be heard to
complain about his choice.” Williams, 470 Mich. at 645. Accordingly, defendant has not
established any basis for relief with respect to this issue.

                                    II. JURY INSTRUCTIONS

        Defendant also argues that the trial court denied him a fair trial when responding to the
jury’s question during deliberations regarding whether the fence was part of the building that
defendant entered. Defendant contends that the trial court erred by merely redirecting the jury to
M Crim JI 25.1. We disagree.

        Claims of instructional error are reviewed de novo. People v McMullan, 284 Mich. App.
149, 152; 771 NW2d 810 (2009). Due process requires that the trial court “properly instruct the
jury so that it may correctly and intelligently decide the case.” People v Clark, 453 Mich. 572,
584-585; 556 NW2d 820 (1996) (citations omitted). Jury instructions are reviewed in their
entirety to determine whether any error requiring reversal occurred. People v Kowalski, 489
Mich. 488, 501; 803 NW2d 200 (2011). A defendant is entitled to have the jury decide his guilt
or innocence after considering every essential element of the charged offense. Id. An imperfect
instruction will not, however, warrant reversal if the instructions, examined as a whole, fairly
presented the issues to be tried and sufficiently protected the defendant’s rights. Id. at 501-502.

         Defendant claims that the trial court’s responsive instruction was incorrect under People
v Jacques, 456 Mich. 352, 358; 572 NW2d 195 (1998), in which the Michigan Supreme Court,
construing the statutory language of MCL 750.111, stated that “a fence is not a structure that
may be entered into.” Defendant contends that the trial court should have instructed the jury
that, in this case, the fence outside of the building was not a part of the building, and accordingly,
there could be no breaking of the building as a result. In Jacques, the defendant was convicted
of entering without breaking, MCL 750.111, after he gained access to an enclosed soda
distribution center by sliding under the fence “surrounding the center through a six- to eight-inch

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depression in the ground,” and stealing four crushed pop cans that were within the fenced area.
Id. at 353. The Michigan Supreme Court reversed the defendant’s conviction, concluding that
where the defendant crawled under a fence, this did not constitute the crime of entry without
breaking. The Jacques Court explained that “a structure [as contemplated by MCL 750.111]
must be something that one may physically enter into[,]” and that one may not physically enter
into a fence. Id. at 358.

        Even if we were to accept defendant’s claim that the trial court’s response to the jury was
in some way erroneous, an error in instructing the jury is presumed to not warrant reversal, and
defendant bears the burden of proving otherwise. MCL 769.26; People v Lukity, 460 Mich. 484,
495, 496; 596 NW2d 607 (1999). This Court will only reverse if, “ ‘after an examination of the
entire cause, it shall affirmatively appear’ that it is more probable than not that the error was
outcome determinative.” Id. at 495-496, quoting MCL 769.26. Importantly, apart from whether
defendant committed a “breaking” when he wiggled his way through the chained fence, there
was evidence that once inside the factory, he opened an interior office door and stole a company
shirt and was trying to take computer equipment. For purposes of the offense of breaking and
entering with the intent to commit larceny, “any amount of force used to open a window or door,
no matter how slight, is sufficient to constitute a breaking,” People v Toole, 227 Mich. App. 656,
659; 576 NW2d 441 (1998), and “a breaking of an inner portion of a building constitutes the
requisite element for burglary.” Id. (Citation omitted.) Because defendant was not lawfully
permitted to enter the factory or the office inside, opening the interior door of the office was
sufficient to satisfy the element of breaking. We are satisfied that the jury instructions, examined
as a whole, fairly presented the issues to be tried and sufficiently protected defendant’s rights.1

                                   III. INVALID SENTENCE

       Defendant, who withdrew his initial plea of no contest, argues that he is entitled to be
resentenced because the trial court imposed a harsher sentence as punishment for his decision to
exercise his right to a jury trial. We disagree.

        Because defendant did not raise this issue at sentencing or in an appropriate post-
sentencing motion, this issue is unpreserved, and therefore, our review is limited to plain error
affecting his substantial rights. Carines, 460 Mich. at 763-764.

        “A sentencing court cannot base its sentence on a defendant’s decision to exercise his
constitutional right to a jury trial.” People v Brown, 294 Mich. App. 377, 389; 811 NW2d 531
(2011). However, “it is not per se unconstitutional for a defendant to receive a higher sentence
following a jury trial than he would have received had he pleaded guilty.” Id. (Citation
omitted.)

1
  The present case is distinguishable from this Court’s recent decision in People v Bush, 315
Mich. App. 237; 890 NW2d 370 (2016), where in this case, defendant was not charged with first-
degree home invasion, MCL 750.110a(2), and defendant did not lawfully enter the premises
before breaking and entering into the enclosed office.

                                                -5-
         As part of an earlier plea agreement, the trial court had agreed to sentence defendant to
10 months in jail, plus three years’ probation. Defendant later withdrew his plea. Following his
jury trial convictions, the trial court sentenced defendant to concurrent prison terms of 18 months
to 10 years for the breaking and entering conviction, and 18 months to 15 years for the larceny
conviction. However, the record in this case does not support defendant’s argument that the trial
court imposed the 18-month minimum sentences to penalize defendant for proceeding to trial. In
an apparent response to defendant’s allocution, the trial court indicated that defendant would
have received only 10 months in jail if he had not withdrawn his plea, but he “wanted [his] trial,
we’ve had a trial, now the jury’s decided.” The trial court stated that it would impose a “fair
sentence,” and not be “vindictive to anyone who’s exercised their right to have a trial[,]” but
expressed that defendant would not be given the same leniency as one who admits and accepts
responsibility. These remarks do not indicate that the trial court imposed a harsher sentence
because defendant exercised his right to a jury trial, but merely that defendant was not entitled to
the benefit of a concession pursuant to an earlier plea offer that he decided not to accept.

         Moreover, at the sentencing proceeding, the trial court provided detailed reasons for its
18-month minimum sentences, which were at the lower end of the guidelines range of 10 to 46
months’ imprisonment for the breaking and entering conviction. The trial court expressly relied
on defendant’s extensive criminal record, which included five prior felonies and six prior
misdemeanors, and defendant’s status as a fourth-offense habitual offender. Additionally, the
trial court was particularly concerned that defendant committed the current offenses while on
parole. The trial court also observed that according to defendant’s own testimony, he made a
“conscious decision” to “get wasted[,]” despite the fact that his parole prohibited him from
consuming alcohol or drugs. The trial court noted that there was a syringe in defendant’s
backpack, although the jury was not privy to that information. In discussing a fair sentence in
this case, the trial court commented that, given defendant’s criminal record, a 46-month
minimum sentence would be “very justified,” but instead imposed a minimum sentence that was
at the lower end of the guidelines range. Therefore, there is no basis for concluding that the trial
court imposed a harsher sentence to punish defendant for exercising his right to a jury trial.

                                    IV. CROSBY2 REMAND

        Defendant next argues that he is entitled to a Crosby remand because, at sentencing, the
trial court was operating under a misconception of law that the sentencing guidelines were
compulsory. We disagree.

       Because defendant did not object on this basis at sentencing, this issue is unpreserved,
and therefore, review is limited to plain error affecting defendant’s substantial rights. People v
Lockridge, 498 Mich. 358, 392; 870 NW2d 502 (2015).

        Breaking and entering with the intent to commit larceny is a Class D felony subject to the
legislative sentencing guidelines. MCL 777.16f. The guidelines as scored for this conviction
established a minimum sentence range of 10 to 46 months’ imprisonment. It is undisputed that

2
    United States v Crosby, 397 F3d 103 (CA 2, 2005).

                                                -6-
no judicial fact-finding was involved in scoring the guidelines because defendant was not
assessed any points for the offense variables. At the time of sentencing, the trial court was
required to impose a minimum sentence within the guidelines range unless it “has a substantial
and compelling reason” to depart from the applicable range. MCL 769.34(2) and (3). The trial
court sentenced defendant within the guidelines range.

       As defendant observes, after he was sentenced, significant changes to Michigan’s
sentencing scheme were effectuated by the Michigan Supreme Court’s decision in Lockridge,
498 Mich. 358. In that case, the Michigan Supreme Court held that Michigan’s sentencing
guidelines are constitutionally deficient, in violation of the Sixth Amendment, to the extent that
they “require judicial fact-finding beyond facts admitted by the defendant or found by the jury to
score offense variables (OVs) that mandatorily increase the floor of the guidelines minimum
sentence range . . . .” Id. at 364. To remedy this deficiency, the Lockridge Court held that the
guidelines are advisory only. Id. at 365.

        For an unpreserved Lockridge challenge, “all defendants (1) who can demonstrate that
their guidelines minimum sentence range was actually constrained by the violation of the Sixth
Amendment and (2) whose sentences were not subject to an upward departure can establish a
threshold showing of the potential for plain error sufficient to warrant a remand to the trial court
for further inquiry.” Id. at 395 (footnote omitted). “To make a threshold showing of plain error
that could require resentencing, a defendant must demonstrate that his or her OV level was
calculated using facts beyond those found by the jury or admitted by the defendant and that a
corresponding reduction in the defendant’s OV score to account for the error would change the
applicable guidelines minimum sentence range.” Id. at 399.

        Although the guidelines were mandatory at the time defendant was sentenced, there was
no judicial fact-finding impacting the minimum sentencing guidelines range because the trial
court did not score any of the OVs. Because there is no basis for concluding that judicial fact-
finding affected defendant’s OV level, defendant cannot establish that his guidelines range was
actually constrained by a violation of the Sixth Amendment. Consequently, there is no plain
error and no further inquiry is required. Lockridge, 498 Mich. at 393.

                                  V. EXPERT WITNESS FEES

        Finally, defendant argues that the trial court abused its discretion by denying his motion
for fees to obtain an expert in the field of pharmacology. We disagree.

       “This Court reviews for abuse of discretion a trial court’s decision whether to grant an
indigent defendant’s motion for the appointment of an expert witness.” People v Carnicom, 272
Mich. App. 614, 616; 727 NW2d 399 (2006), citing MCL 775.15. An abuse of discretion occurs
when the trial court’s decision falls outside the range of reasonable and principled outcomes.
People v Nicholson, 297 Mich. App. 191, 196; 822 NW2d 284 (2012).

       Authorization for the payment of expert witness fees for an accused is statutorily based.
MCL 775.15. The statute leaves the decision to approve the payment of expert witness fees for a
defendant to the discretion of the trial court when the accused can demonstrate “that there is a

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material witness in his favor . . . without whose testimony he cannot safely proceed to trial . . .
[.]” Id. To obtain the appointment of an expert witness,

         an indigent defendant must demonstrate a nexus between the facts of the case and
         the need for an expert. People v Jacobsen, 448 Mich. 639, 641; 532 NW2d 838
         (1995). It is not enough for the defendant to show a mere possibility of assistance
         from the requested expert. [People v] Tanner, [469 Mich. 437, 443; 671 NW2d
         728 (2003)]. Without an indication that expert testimony would likely benefit the
         defense, a trial court does not abuse its discretion in denying a defendant’s motion
         for appointment of an expert witness. Jacobsen, [448 Mich] at 641. [Carnicom,
272 Mich. App. at 617.]

        The Michigan Rules of Evidence prohibit the admission of evidence that is not relevant.
MRE 402. Defendant offers no legal authority supporting the proposition that testimony from a
pharmacology expert in this case was relevant. Despite defendant’s offered purpose for the
expert witness testimony, his arguments both in his motion and at the motion hearing
demonstrate that he sought to assert a voluntary intoxication or diminished capacity defense,
neither of which were available to defendant to defend himself at trial.

        In his motion, defendant argued that expert witness testimony was necessary because
defendant’s “state of drug and alcohol intoxication” is relevant to “what his intent was at the time
of his entering into the factory[,]” and that “the jury should consider the extent to which drugs
and alcohol affected the Defendant . . . to ascertain whether the Defendant entered the factory
with the intent to steal something . . . [.]” Defense counsel advanced similar arguments at the
motion hearing. Thus, defendant clearly sought the expert testimony to negate his specific intent
by suggesting that he could not have formed the specific intent to steal because of his voluntary
intoxication or diminished capacity caused by his intoxication.

        As defendant recognizes, MCL 768.373 abolished voluntary intoxication as a defense,
subject to one limited exception. Voluntary intoxication is an affirmative defense to a specific
intent crime only if the defendant establishes by a preponderance of the evidence “that he or she
voluntarily consumed a legally obtained and properly used medication or other substance and did
not know and reasonably should not have known that he or she would become intoxicated or
impaired.” MCL 768.37(2). Defendant does not argue that he did not know or reasonably
should not have known that he would become intoxicated or impaired when he consumed
alcohol. In fact, defendant testified at trial that he voluntarily consumed the alcohol to get

3
    MCL 768.37(1) provides, in pertinent part, as follows:
         Except as provided in subsection (2), it is not a defense to any crime that the
         defendant was, at that time, under the influence of or impaired by a voluntarily
         and knowingly consumed alcoholic liquor, drug, including a controlled substance,
         other substance or compound, or combination of alcoholic liquor, drug, or other
         substance or compound.

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“blasted.” Therefore, voluntary intoxication, regardless of how defendant characterizes it, is not
applicable to this case, and, therefore, not relevant.

        Additionally, defendant’s argument for a pharmacology expert also poses a comparison
to the defunct defense of diminished capacity. A diminished capacity defense is no longer viable
in Michigan. People v Carpenter, 464 Mich. 223, 226; 627 NW2d 276 (2001). In Carpenter, the
Michigan Supreme Court observed that the Legislature had enacted a comprehensive statutory
scheme concerning defenses based on mental illness or retardation, and held that, as a result, the
diminished capacity defense is no longer available. Id. 236. Before this legislative activity and
Carpenter, the diminished capacity defense allowed “a defendant, even though legally sane, to
offer evidence of some mental abnormality to negate the specific intent required to commit a
particular crime.” Id. at 232. Here, in spite of his contentions to the contrary, defendant sought
to introduce the expert testimony to support a claim that because of his intoxication, which
caused “bizarre” behavior, he did not have the intent to steal when he entered the factory. This is
indeed what is proscribed by Carpenter.

         In sum, defendant has failed to demonstrate any error in the trial court’s denial of expert
witness fees. Because the underlying premise for the expert testimony was unsound, defendant
cannot make the requisite showing that an expert would have benefitted the defense or that he
could not safely proceed to trial without the expert. Consequently, the trial court did not abuse
its discretion when it denied defendant’s motion for expert witness fees.

       Affirmed.

                                                             /s/ Michael F. Gadola
                                                             /s/ Patrick M. Meter
                                                             /s/ Karen M. Fort Hood

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