Court Opinion

ID: 2809171
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-06-17 12:06:24.285186+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:30:11.198471
License: Public Domain

STATE OF MICHIGAN

                            COURT OF APPEALS

PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,                                     UNPUBLISHED
                                                                     June 16, 2016
               Plaintiff-Appellee,

v                                                                    No. 320837
                                                                     Wayne Circuit Court
SHAUNANNA LAKEISHA GIBSON,                                           LC No. 13-008347-FC

               Defendant-Appellant.

Before: JANSEN, P.J., and SAWYER and FORT HOOD, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

        Defendant appeals as of right her bench trial convictions of assault with intent to do great
bodily harm less than murder (assault with intent to do great bodily harm), MCL 750.84, and
possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony (felony-firearm), MCL 750.227b. The
trial court sentenced defendant to 18 months to 10 years for the assault with intent to do great
bodily harm conviction and 2 years for the felony-firearm conviction. We affirm.

                                 I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

       This case arises from a shooting incident outside a home in Detroit, Michigan. The home
belonged to the victim, Jobrena Hood. Defendant was the ex-girlfriend of Hood’s cousin, Brian
Whitmire, who lived at the home. Early one morning, defendant and Whitmire got into an
argument outside the home. Hood called the police to break up the argument. Whitmire and
defendant left, but defendant subsequently returned and challenged Hood to a fight. Eventually,
defendant left again and returned in her car along with an unidentified man. The man was armed
with a powerful “long gun.” Defendant threw a toy truck against Hood’s home and, when Hood
emerged to investigate, the unidentified man shot Hood.

       Defendant raises four issues on appeal. We address each respectively.

                   II. EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL AT TRIAL

       Defendant argues that her trial counsel was ineffective for opposing the prosecution’s
attempt to admit the preliminary examination testimony of an unavailable witness. We disagree.

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        To properly preserve a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must move
for either a new trial or a Ginther1 evidentiary hearing; failure to make any such motion
“ordinarily precludes review of the issue unless the appellate record contains sufficient detail to
support the defendant’s claim.” People v Sabin (On Second Remand), 242 Mich. App. 656, 658-
659; 620 NW2d 19 (2000). Defendant did not move for a new trial or a Ginther hearing;
therefore, her ineffective assistance of counsel claim is unpreserved.

        “[W]hether defense counsel performed ineffectively is a mixed question of law and fact;
this Court reviews for clear error the trial court’s findings of fact and reviews de novo questions
of constitutional law.” People v Trakhtenberg, 493 Mich. 38, 47; 826 NW2d 136 (2012). Where
no Ginther hearing was conducted to develop the record on appeal, this Court’s review regarding
ineffective assistance is limited to “errors apparent on the record . . . .” People v Buie, 298 Mich
App 50, 61; 825 NW2d 361 (2012).

        When reviewing a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, there is a strong
presumption in favor of the adequacy of counsel and “the defendant bears a heavy burden of
proving otherwise.” People v Lockett, 295 Mich. App. 165, 187; 814 NW2d 295 (2012). To
assert a valid claim of ineffective assistance, “a defendant must show that (1) counsel’s
performance was below an objective standard of reasonableness under prevailing professional
norms[,] (2) there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s error, the result of the
proceedings would have been different,” and (3) the ultimate result was “fundamentally unfair or
unreliable.” Id. The “reviewing court must not evaluate counsel’s decisions with the benefit of
hindsight,” but should “ensure that counsel’s actions provided the defendant with the modicum
of representation” constitutionally required. People v Grant, 470 Mich. 477, 485; 684 NW2d 686
(2004), citing Strickland v Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 689; 104 S. Ct. 2052; 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984).
Counsel will not be deemed ineffective for failing to pursue a meritless or futile position: “The
Sixth Amendment does not require that counsel do what is impossible or unethical.” People v
Mitchell, 454 Mich. 145, 164; 560 NW2d 600 (1997), quoting United States v Cronic, 466 U.S.
648, 656 n 19; 104 S. Ct. 2039; 80 L. Ed. 2d 657 (1984).

        Preliminarily, we note that the trial court’s exclusion of Devonta Smith’s preliminary
examination testimony was proper. The prosecution presented no admissible evidence to support
the fact that it had exercised due diligence in attempting to locate Smith, which is required before
the prosecution can admit such evidence under MRE 804. People v Bean, 457 Mich. 677, 684;
580 NW2d 390 (1998). Accordingly, defendant’s trial counsel was not ineffective for failing to
advance the meritless position that the testimony was improperly excluded. Indeed, defendant’s
trial counsel was ethically precluded from making such an argument if he knew that the law did
not support it. MRPC 3.3(a).

         Moreover, defendant has failed to offer evidence to rebut the presumption that her trial
counsel’s decision regarding Smith’s testimony was based on sound trial strategy: “[D]ecisions
regarding what evidence to present and which witnesses to call are presumed to be matters of
trial strategy . . . .” People v Dunigan, 299 Mich. App. 579, 589-590; 831 NW2d 243 (2013).

1
    People v Ginther, 390 Mich. 436, 443-444; 212 NW2d 922 (1973).

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Because counsel’s trial strategy is presumed to be effective, a defendant challenging counsel’s
decision not to admit certain evidence must rebut the presumption of effectiveness. People v
Payne, 285 Mich. App. 181, 190; 774 NW2d 714 (2009), citing People v Ackerman, 257 Mich
App 434, 455; 669 NW2d 818 (2003). Indeed, our review of the record indicates that
defendant’s trial counsel could have reasonably concluded that Smith’s preliminary examination
testimony would be more damaging to defendant’s case than exculpatory.

       Finally, there is no record evidence to demonstrate that the alleged ineffectiveness
prejudiced defendant or resulted in a fundamentally unfair or unreliable trial. On the contrary,
given the fact that the excluded testimony contained numerous details never introduced at trial,
and those details were incriminating to defendant, defendant has failed to demonstrate prejudice
from its exclusion. Similarly, there is no indication that the testimony would have altered the
outcome—it was at least as harmful to defendant’s position as it was helpful.

                           III. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE

      Defendant argues that the prosecution failed to proffer sufficient evidence to support each
element of the offenses for which she was convicted. We disagree.

        This Court reviews the sufficiency of the evidence presented during a bench trial de
novo. People v Wilkens, 267 Mich. App. 728, 738; 705 NW2d 728 (2005). The evidence is
viewed in the “light most favorable to the prosecutor to determine whether any trier of fact could
find the essential elements of the crime were proven beyond a reasonable doubt.” People v
Robinson, 475 Mich. 1, 5; 715 NW2d 44 (2006). The reviewing “court must ‘draw all reasonable
inferences and make credibility choices in support of the [] verdict.’ ” People v Cameron, 291
Mich. App. 599, 613; 806 NW2d 371 (2011), quoting People v Nowack, 462 Mich. 392, 400; 614
NW2d 78 (2000). This Court will not replace its judgment for that of the factfinder regarding
what inferences can be fairly drawn from the evidence. People v Kosik, 303 Mich. App. 146, 150-
151; 841 NW2d 906 (2013). “Circumstantial evidence and the reasonable inferences that arise
from that evidence can constitute satisfactory proof of the elements of the crime.” Id. at 151,
citing People v Carines, 460 Mich. 750, 757; 597 NW2d 130 (1999).

        Unlike conspiracy or felony murder, “aiding and abetting is not a separate substantive
offense.” Robinson, 475 Mich. at 6. Instead, aiding and abetting “is simply a theory of
prosecution that permits the imposition of vicarious liability for accomplices.” Id. (quotation
marks omitted), quoting People v Perry, 460 Mich. 55, 63 n 20; 594 NW2d 477 (1999). The
aiding and abetting theory, which is described at MCL 767.39, has three elements: (1) the crime
charged was committed by the defendant or some other person; (2) the defendant performed acts
or gave encouragement that assisted the commission of the crime; and (3) the defendant intended
to aid the charged offense, knew the principal intended to commit the charged offense, or,
alternatively, that the charged offense was a natural and probable consequence of the
commission of the intended offense. Robinson, 475 Mich. at 6, 15. To be found guilty under an
aiding and abetting theory, the defendant need not have the same intent as the principal; the
defendant simply must have the intent described in the third element above. Id. at 14.

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                A. ASSAULT WITH INTENT TO DO GREAT BODILY HARM

       Pursuant to MCL 750.84, there are two elements for assault with intent to do great bodily
harm: “(1) an attempt or threat with force or violence to do corporal harm to another (an assault),
and (2) an intent to do great bodily harm less than murder.” People v Brown, 267 Mich. App.
141, 147; 703 NW2d 230 (2005), quoting People v Parcha, 227 Mich. App. 236, 239; 575 NW2d
316 (1997). “Intent to do great bodily harm” is defined as “intent to do serious injury of an
aggravated nature.” Brown, 267 Mich. App. 147, quoting People v Mitchell, 149 Mich. App. 36,
39; 385 NW2d 717 (1986).

        It is undisputed that defendant’s passenger committed an assault against Hood by
shooting her. But defendant argues that no evidence exists to support the conclusion that she
either aided or encouraged the commission of that assault or had the requisite intent to be
convicted of aiding and abetting assault with intent to do great bodily harm.

        Defendant’s argument ignores the fact that circumstantial evidence, and the inferences
drawn from it, can be sufficient evidence to establish the elements of a crime. Indeed, in cases
where the proof of the crime is circumstantial, motive is particularly important. People v Unger,
278 Mich. App. 210, 223-224; 749 NW2d 272 (2008), citing People v Fisher, 449 Mich. 441, 453;
537 NW2d 577 (1995). The evidence demonstrates that defendant had a motive to harm Hood.
Defendant was extremely angry with Whitmire. She was so angry that she tried to hit Whitmire
with her car and also tried to break out the windows of Hood’s home. Even after Whitmire left,
and the police had been called, defendant came back to the home, challenging Hood to a fight
and threatening her. It is undisputed that defendant left in her car, only to return in it a short time
later along with a man who carried a powerful “long gun” capable of shooting ammunition that
could pass through the home and its contents unabated. She threw a toy truck at the home, then
ran back to her car. When Hood came outside to see what was happening, defendant’s passenger
exited the vehicle and opened fire, shooting Hood.

       From those circumstances, the trial court reasonably inferred that defendant left Hood’s
home, picked up the man with the long gun, and returned knowing that the man had the weapon;
it was a powerful long gun that would not be easily concealed in a car’s front passenger seat.
The trial court also inferred from the circumstantial evidence that defendant intentionally lured
Hood out of the home by throwing the toy truck at the home. Finally, the trial court inferred that
she did so either knowing, or having reason to know, that her passenger was going to fire his
weapon at Hood when she emerged from the home.

        The inferences drawn by the trial court are reasonable, and this Court will not disturb the
factfinder’s role of determining what inferences are fairly drawn from circumstantial evidence.
Kosik, 303 Mich. App. at 150-151. Thus, although circumstantial, sufficient evidence existed to
support defendant’s conviction of assault with intent to do great bodily harm under an aiding and
abetting theory. By taking affirmative steps to lure Hood outside so she could be shot, defendant
performed acts or gave encouragement that assisted the commission of the assault, and she did so
either intending to aid the assault or knowing her passenger intended to assault Hood.

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                                    B. FELONY-FIREARM

        “The felony-firearm statute applies whenever a person carries or has a firearm in his
possession when committing or attempting to commit a felony.” People v Moore, 470 Mich. 56,
62; 679 NW2d 41 (2004) (discussing MCL 750.227b). A person aids or abets felony-firearm if
that person “procures, counsels, aids, or abets in [the commission of a felony-firearm offense].”
Id. at 74 (alteration in original). To prove a defendant aided and abetted a felony-firearm
offense, the prosecution must establish

       “that a violation of the felony-firearm statute was committed by the defendant or
       some other person, that the defendant performed acts or gave encouragement that
       assisted in the commission of the felony-firearm violation, and that the defendant
       intended the commission of the felony-firearm violation or had knowledge that
       the principal intended its commission at the time that the defendant gave aid and
       encouragement.” [Id. at 70-71.]

It is determined on a case-by-case basis whether a defendant performed such acts or gave such
encouragement to assist “in the carrying or possession of a firearm during the commission of a
felony.” Id. at 71, quoting Carines, 460 Mich. at 768. “Implicit in the use of a firearm is the
possession of that firearm.” Moore, 470 Mich. at 71.

        As discussed above, this Court will not disturb the factfinder’s determination regarding
what inferences may be fairly drawn from circumstantial evidence. Kosik, 303 Mich. App. at 150-
151. The trial court reasonably inferred from the circumstantial evidence in this case that
defendant intentionally lured Hood outside, with knowledge that defendant’s passenger had a
high-powered firearm that he intended to use to assault Hood. By doing so, defendant aided and
abetted a felony-firearm violation: (1) it is undisputed that defendant’s passenger committed a
felonious assault against Hood using a firearm, (2) defendant performed acts that assisted the
felony-firearm violation by driving her passenger to Hood’s home and luring Hood outside, and
(3) the trial court inferred from the circumstantial evidence that defendant either intended for her
passenger to commit the felony-firearm violation or knew that the passenger intended to commit
that violation at the time defendant gave such aid.

              IV. EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL AT SENTENCING

        Defendant contends that her trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the trial
court’s assessment of 10 points for offense variable (OV) 4 and 25 points for OV 13. We
disagree.

       As discussed above, because defendant failed to move for a new trial or a Ginther
hearing, our review is limited to “errors apparent on the record . . . .” Buie, 298 Mich. App. at 61.
Moreover, the determination of counsel’s effectiveness is a mixed question; we review the trial
court’s factual findings for clear error and review questions of constitutional law de novo.
Trakhtenberg, 493 Mich. at 47.

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                                             A. OV 4

        OV 4 is enumerated at MCL 777.34, and 10 points are properly assessed where “a serious
psychological injury requiring professional treatment occurred to a victim.” Lockett, 295 Mich
App at 182. Proof that the victim sought professional treatment for the psychological trauma
suffered is unnecessary to support the assessment of points for OV 4, but “[t]here must be some
evidence of psychological injury on the record to justify a 10-point score.” Id. at 183, citing
MCL 777.34(2); Wilkens, 267 Mich. App. at 740; People v Hicks, 259 Mich. App. 518, 522; 675
NW2d 599 (2003). Evidence of a victim’s fear during the commission of the charged offense, or
lingering anger afterwards, are sufficient to support the assessment of 10 points for OV 4.
People v Williams, 298 Mich. App. 121, 124; 825 NW2d 671 (2012). Moreover, testimony from a
preliminary examination may be considered in assessing offense variables. See People v
McDonald, 293 Mich. App. 292, 300; 811 NW2d 507 (2011).

        Defendant argues that there is no evidence to support the trial court’s assessment of 10
points for OV 4. Although there is no evidence that Hood sought treatment for psychological
trauma as a result of the injuries she sustained, her testimony at trial and at the preliminary
examination indicated that she was afraid during the commission of the offense and has lingering
“aggravation” as a result. Such evidence was sufficient to justify the assessment of 10 points for
OV 4. Since the trial court’s assessment of points was appropriate, defendant’s trial counsel was
not ineffective for failing to object to it at sentencing. Counsel will not be deemed ineffective for
failure to assert a futile objection. People v Crews, 299 Mich. App. 381, 401; 829 NW2d 898
(2013), citing People v Goodin, 257 Mich. App. 425, 433; 668 NW2d 392 (2003).

                                             B. OV 13

        OV 13 is enumerated at MCL 777.43 and applies where the sentencing offense is part of
a “continuing pattern of criminal behavior.” People v Gibbs, 299 Mich. App. 473, 487; 830
NW2d 821 (2013), quoting MCL 777.43(1). All crimes within a five-year period are counted,
including the sentencing offense and any offenses that did not result in conviction. Id., quoting
MCL 777.43(2)(a). “The sentencing court must assess 25 points if ‘[t]he offense was part of a
pattern of felonious criminal activity involving 3 or more crimes against a person[.]’ ” Id,.
quoting MCL 777.43(1)(c); alteration in original. Under MCL 777.43(1)(c), it is proper to
consider “more than one instance arising out of the same criminal episode” or “multiple
concurrent offenses arising from the same incident.” Id. at 487-488, citing People v Harmon,
248 Mich. App. 522, 524-526, 532; 640 NW2d 314 (2001) (holding that 25 points were properly
assessed for a pattern of felonious criminal activity where a defendant took two nude
photographs of two underage girls, resulting in four distinct criminal acts).

        Defendant admits that it is unclear from the record why the trial court assessed 25 points
for OV 13, but she nevertheless asserts that it is clear that defendant’s trial counsel was
ineffective by failing to object to that assessment. First, because defendant bears the burden of
proof and has failed to cite record evidence supporting her claim of ineffective assistance of
counsel, that claim necessarily fails: a party “may not merely state a position and then leave it to
this Court to discover and rationalize the basis for the claim.” People v Mackle, 241 Mich. App.
583, 604 n 4; 617 NW2d 339 (2000) (citations omitted). Defendant cannot prevail by simply

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announcing that it is clear from the record that she received ineffective assistance of counsel,
citing no record evidence in support of that position.

        Secondly, the trial court’s assessment is justifiable from review of the record; therefore,
defendant suffered no prejudice from her counsel’s allegedly deficient performance. Felony-
firearm is not categorized as a “crime against a person,” so defendant’s felony-firearm conviction
does not contribute to the number of felonious crimes against a person properly considered under
OV 13. See, e.g., People v Bonilla-Machado, 489 Mich. 412, 416; 803 NW2d 217 (2011)
(holding that a crime categorized as a “crime against public safety” could not be used to establish
a pattern of felonious crimes against people under OV 13).

        However, any offenses that did not result in conviction are properly considered. Gibbs,
299 Mich. App. at 487, quoting MCL 777.43(2)(a). Defendant committed a number of other
offenses that support the conclusion that the charged offense was part of a pattern of felonious
criminal activity that involved at least three crimes against people. Defendant was convicted of
assault with intent to do great bodily harm, which establishes one felonious crime against a
person. MCL 777.16d. Likewise, the testimony and evidence adduced at trial indicate that
defendant’s conduct involved several other felonies classified as crimes against a person, for
example: (1) discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle causing physical injury, MCL
750.234a(1)(b), which is a crime against a person under MCL 777.16m; and (2) intentional
discharge of a firearm at a dwelling causing serious impairment of a body function, MCL
750.234b(4), which is a crime against a person under MCL 777.16m. Similarly, defendant’s
attempts to hit Whitmire with her car that same night were certainly an assault with a dangerous
weapon under MCL 750.82(1), which is a crime against a person pursuant to MCL 777.16d.
Likewise, those attempts to hit Whitmire with a car were likely an assault with intent to do great
bodily harm. See, e.g., People v Russell, 297 Mich. App. 707; 825 NW2d 623 (2012) (upholding
a defendant’s conviction for assault with intent to do great bodily harm where the defendant
intentionally hit someone with a car).

       Accordingly, the trial court properly assessed 25 points for OV 13 because it was
permitted to consider the charged offense and other criminal offenses that did not result in
conviction as constituting a pattern of three of more felonious crimes against a person pursuant
to MCL 777.43(1)(c). Gibbs, 299 Mich. App. at 487. Because trial counsel will not be
considered ineffective for failing to raise a futile objection, Crews, 299 Mich. App. at 401,
defendant’s trial counsel was not ineffective by failing to object to the trial court’s proper
assessment of 25 points for OV 13.

                                    V. SCORING OF OV 14

        Defendant argues that she is entitled to resentencing because the trial court erred in
assessing 10 points against defendant for OV 14. We disagree.

        OV 14 is enumerated at MCL 777.44 and “is scored at either 10 points or zero points,
depending on whether the defendant was ‘a leader in a multiple offender situation’ when
considering the ‘entire criminal transaction.’ ” People v Rhodes (On Remand), 305 Mich. App.
85, 87; 849 NW2d 417 (2014), quoting MCL 777.44. We need not determine whether defendant
was a leader for purposes of OV 14 because, “[w]here a scoring error does not alter the

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appropriate guidelines range, resentencing is not required.” People v Francisco, 474 Mich. 82,
91 n 8; 711 NW2d 44 (2006), citing People v Davis, 468 Mich. 77, 83; 658 NW2d 800 (2003).

       Pursuant to MCL 777.16d, assault with intent to do great bodily harm is a Class D felony.
Pursuant to MCL 777.65, where a defendant found guilty of a Class D felony has a total PRV
score of less than nine points, and a total OV score of 75 points or more, the appropriate
guidelines range is 10 to 23 months.

        Defendant’s total PRV score was zero and, before the trial court assessed 10 points
against defendant for OV 14, her total OV score was 80. Thus, even if defendant is correct that
the trial court erred by assessing 10 points for OV 14, that error could not have altered
defendant’s guidelines range; her total OV score exceeded 75 points before the trial court
assessed additional points for OV 14. Therefore, resentencing is unnecessary.

                                       VI. CONCLUSION

        It is not apparent from review of the record that defendant received ineffective assistance
of counsel at either trial or sentencing. Furthermore, sufficient evidence supported defendant’s
convictions, and it is unnecessary to remand for resentencing because the alleged error by the
trial court regarding OV 14 could not have altered the applicable guidelines range.

       Affirmed.

                                                            /s/ Kathleen Jansen
                                                            /s/ David H. Sawyer
                                                            /s/ Karen M. Fort Hood

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