Court Opinion

ID: 4395678
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-05-10 09:05:57.021692+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:51:44.394324
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PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,                                  UNPUBLISHED
                                                                  May 9, 2019
              Plaintiff-Appellee,

v                                                                 No. 343143
                                                                  Wayne Circuit Court
GEORGE DARYL MCFARLAND,                                           LC No. 16-010955-01-FC

              Defendant-Appellant.

Before: MURRAY, C.J., and JANSEN and RIORDAN, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

        Defendant appeals as of right his jury trial convictions for first-degree premeditated
murder, MCL 750.316(1)(a), a felon in possession of a firearm (felon-in-possession), MCL
750.224f, and carrying a firearm during the commission of a felony (felony-firearm), MCL
750.227b. Defendant was sentenced, as a fourth-offense habitual offender, MCL 769.12, to life
imprisonment without the possibility of parole for his first-degree murder conviction, life
imprisonment with the possibility of parole for his felon-in-possession conviction, and two
years’ imprisonment for his felony-firearm conviction. We affirm.

                                     I. BACKGROUND

       This case arises out of the murder of the victim, Anthony Taylor, Jr. (Taylor). Defendant
and Marcia Peeples (Peeples) were married in 2011, but their marriage began to fall apart after
defendant had an affair in 2013. Peeples informed defendant that she wanted a divorce, and she
began seeing Taylor in late summer 2016, though she did not tell defendant that they were
dating. Peeples moved out of defendant’s house after defendant saw text messages on Peeples’s
phone between Peeples and Taylor.

       On December 2, 2016, at around 11:00 p.m., Peeples and Taylor met at a restaurant in
Berkley. They left the restaurant at the same time, though, as they normally did, they stayed on
the phone until they both arrived at their respective homes. Peeples heard Taylor arrive at his
house on Huntington Street in northwest Detroit, where he lived with his father, Anthony Taylor,
Sr. (Taylor Sr.). As Taylor walked up to the house, Peeples heard him say “awe, man” or “awe
naw.” She called Taylor’s name, but only heard a little brushing noise. The next thing that

                                              -1-
Peeples heard was the voice of Taylor Sr. yelling for someone to call 911. Taylor Sr. had heard
gunshots outside his house, and he had gone outside to find Taylor dead, lying in the bushes.

         At trial, the prosecution produced testimony from one of Taylor’s neighbors that a white
utility van matching the description of defendant’s van had been driving around Taylor’s house
prior to the murder. Video footage from another neighbor’s house also showed the white van
driving up and down Huntington Street prior to the murder. Another neighbor had seen the
shooter, and provided a description which roughly matched defendant. Explosive residue, which
could have been gunshot residue, was found on the handle of the driver’s side door of
defendant’s van and inside the driver’s side door. Defendant’s computer had been used to look
up Taylor’s name and address, and websites related to Taylor were bookmarked a total of 17
times on defendant’s computer. Defendant’s cell phone was examined, and it revealed that
defendant had contacted both Peeples and Taylor multiple times in the months prior to the
murder to tell them that they needed to break up. His cell phone was also found to be in the area
of the crime at the time of the murder. Defendant had put Taylor’s name in his phone as “DD
MN,” which the prosecution contended could stand for “Dead Man.”

        While the prosecution theorized that the evidence demonstrated a premeditated and
deliberate murder, defendant theorized that the evidence was indicative of a man going through a
bad break up. The court instructed the jury that it could find defendant guilty of second-degree
murder, but, as previously indicated, the jury convicted defendant of first-degree premeditated
murder, felon-in-possession, and felony-firearm. This appeal followed.

                       II. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL

       Defendant first argues that his trial counsel was ineffective because she failed to argue
second-degree murder during closing arguments. We disagree.

        A defendant preserves the issue of ineffective assistance of counsel by moving in the trial
court either for a new trial or an evidentiary hearing on the issue pursuant to People v Ginther,
390 Mich. 436; 212 NW2d 922 (1973). People v Foster, 319 Mich. App. 365, 390; 901 NW2d
127 (2017). Defendant did neither, and therefore this issue is unpreserved on appeal.

        “Whether a defendant was deprived of the effective assistance of counsel presents a
mixed question of fact and constitutional law.” People v Head, 323 Mich. App. 526, 539; 917
NW2d 752 (2018). Ordinarily, we review trial court’s constitutional determinations de novo and
the trial court’s factual determinations for clear error. Id. A factual determination is clearly
erroneous if the appellate court is “left with a definite and firm conviction that the trial court
made a mistake.” People v Franklin, 500 Mich. 92, 100; 894 NW2d 561 (2017) (quotation marks
and citations omitted). However, if the issue is unpreserved, as is the case here, our “review is
limited to errors apparent on the record.” People v Urban, 321 Mich. App. 198, 206; 908 NW2d
564 (2017).

       “Effective assistance of counsel is presumed, and the defendant bears a heavy burden of
proving otherwise.” Urban, 321 Mich. App. at 206-207 (quotation marks and citations omitted).
To support a conclusion that a defendant’s trial counsel was ineffective, the defendant must
demonstrate that “(1) defense counsel’s performance was so deficient that it fell below an

                                                -2-
objective standard of reasonableness and (2) there is a reasonable probability that defense
counsel’s deficient performance prejudiced the defendant.” People v Putman, 309 Mich. App.
240, 247-248; 870 NW2d 593 (2015) (quotation marks and citations omitted); see also Strickland
v Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687; 104 S. Ct. 2052; 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984). In other words, “ ‘[a]
defendant must overcome a strong presumption that the assistance of his counsel was sound trial
strategy, and he must show that, but for counsel’s error, the outcome of the trial would have been
different.’ ” People v Rosa, 322 Mich. App. 726, 741; 913 NW2d 392 (2018), quoting People v
Sabin (On Second Remand), 242 Mich. App. 656, 659; 620 NW2d 19 (2000).

        A decision to “proceed with an all or nothing defense is a legitimate trial strategy.”
People v Nickson, 120 Mich. App. 681, 687; 327 NW2d 333 (1982). Similarly, when defense
counsel’s strategy is to obtain an outright acquittal, an instruction or argument on lesser offenses
can reasonably be seen as reducing the defendant’s chances of acquittal. People v Robinson, 154
Mich. App. 92, 94; 397 NW2d 229 (1986). See also People v Unger, 278 Mich. App. 210, 242-
243; 749 NW2d 272 (2008) (noting that counsel may reasonably decline to raise certain issues,
which can be consistent with sound trial strategy). A particular trial strategy does not rise to the
level of ineffective assistance of counsel for the sole reason that it does not work. People v
Carll, 322 Mich. App. 690, 702-703; 915 NW2d 387 (2018).

        Defendant has not demonstrated that his trial counsel’s failure to mention second-degree
murder during closing argument was anything other than sound trial strategy. Defense counsel
informed the jury during opening statement that she would be asking for a verdict of acquittal at
the end of the prosecution’s case-in-chief. Defense counsel reaffirmed that request at closing
argument. Defendant’s decision to argue an “all or nothing” defense and to request that the jury
acquit defendant is a legitimate trial strategy. Nickson, 120 Mich. App. at 687. Because the jury
knew that defendant was seeking a not guilty verdict, arguing that second-degree murder applied
could have been seen as an admission of guilt, or it could have reduced the chances that
defendant would be acquitted. Robinson, 154 Mich. App. at 94. Such an argument would also
have been inconsistent with defendant’s theory of the case. Therefore, defendant has not
overcome the presumption that his trial counsel’s decision was sound trial strategy.

        However, even if defense counsel’s decision against arguing second-degree murder was
not a reasonable trial strategy, defendant has also failed to demonstrate prejudice. The jury was
aware that it could convict defendant of the lesser included offense of second-degree murder
because the prosecution argued that the jury could convict defendant of second-degree murder
and trial court instructed the jury that it had the option of convicting defendant of that.
Defendant has not demonstrated that his counsel’s failure to argue second-degree murder was the
reason that the jury convicted him of first-degree premeditated murder over second-degree
murder. Since the jury convicted defendant of first-degree murder even when defense counsel
argued only for acquittal, it presumably would still have convicted defendant of first-degree
murder even if defense counsel had also argued for second-degree murder. Therefore, defendant
has also failed to demonstrate that the outcome of the trial would have been different.

                                                -3-
               III. SUFFICIENCY AND GREAT WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE

       Defendant next argues that there was insufficient evidence to convict him of first-degree
murder, and his conviction was against the great weight of the evidence, because no evidence
suggested that defendant planned the murder or thought about killing Taylor. We disagree.

        We review de novo a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence in a jury trial, while
viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution “to determine whether the trier
of fact could have found that the essential elements of the crime were proved beyond a
reasonable doubt.” People v Gaines, 306 Mich. App. 289, 296; 856 NW2d 222 (2014). All
conflicts in the evidence are resolved in favor of the prosecution, and all circumstantial evidence
and resulting reasonable inferences drawn therefrom can establish satisfactory proof of the
crime. People v Solloway, 316 Mich. App. 174, 180-181; 891 NW2d 255 (2016). “A jury, and
not an appellate court, observes the witnesses and listens to their testimony; therefore, an
appellate court must not interfere with the jury’s role in assessing the weight of the evidence and
the credibility of the witnesses.” People v Mikulen, 324 Mich. App. 14, 20; 919 NW2d 454
(2018). When a defendant’s intent is at issue, the trier of fact can infer intent from circumstantial
evidence, namely the defendant’s words or actions, or from the means or the manner employed
to commit the offense. People v Harrison, 283 Mich. App. 374, 382; 768 NW2d 98 (2009).

        A defendant is guilty of first-degree premeditated murder if he or she commits a
“[m]urder perpetrated by means of poison, lying in wait, or any other willful, deliberate, and
premeditated killing.” People v Oros, 502 Mich. 229, 240; 917 NW2d 559 (2018), quoting MCL
750.316(1)(a) (quotation marks omitted). In other words, the prosecution must prove that the
“defendant intentionally killed the victim and that the act of killing was premeditated and
deliberate.” People v Ortiz, 249 Mich. App. 297, 301; 642 NW2d 417 (2001). “Minimal
circumstantial evidence is sufficient to prove an actor’s state of mind.” Id.

        Premeditation is thinking about a decision beforehand, while deliberation is measuring
and evaluating the major components of a choice. Oros, 502 Mich. at 240. “Premeditation and
deliberation may be established by an interval of time between the initial homicidal thought and
ultimate action, which would allow a reasonable person time to subject the nature of his or her
action to a second look.” Id. at 242, citing People v Gonzalez, 468 Mich. 636, 641; 664 NW2d
159 (2003), and People v Tilley, 405 Mich. 38, 45; 273 NW2d 471 (1979) (quotation marks
omitted). “Premeditation may be established through evidence of the following factors: (1) the
prior relationship of the parties; (2) the defendant’s actions before the killing; (3) the
circumstances of the killing itself; and (4) the defendant’s conduct after the homicide.” People v
Schollaert, 194 Mich. App. 158, 170; 486 NW2d 312 (1992). The determination of whether a
killing was premeditated or deliberate is an issue for the trier of fact, and the necessary state of
mind may be inferred by the defendant’s conduct in light of the circumstances. Oros, 502 Mich.
at 243-244.

        The evidence demonstrates that a reasonable jury could find that defendant killed Taylor
with premeditation and deliberation. A white van that matched the description of defendant’s
vehicle was seen driving around Taylor’s house numerous times prior to the murder. Video
footage from Huntington Street corroborated that testimony. Defendant’s cell phone was also in
the area of the crime at the time of the murder. There was also explosive residue on the handle

                                                -4-
of the driver’s side door of defendant’s van. A neighbor provided a description of the shooter
which roughly matched defendant’s description. Additionally, defendant’s computer had been
used to look up Taylor’s name and address. Websites related to Taylor were bookmarked 17
times on defendant’s computer. The contact name for Taylor in defendant’s phone was “DD
MN,” which, as the prosecution asserted during closing arguments, could stand for “Dead Man.”
Defendant had also called and texted both Peeples and Taylor multiple times in an attempt to
force them to stop seeing each other.

        That evidence, when viewed in a light most favorable to the prosecution, would allow a
jury to conclude that defendant committed first-degree premeditated murder. The jury could
reasonably infer that time had passed between when defendant first had a “homicidal thought”
and later committed the “ultimate action.” Oros, 502 Mich. at 242. Defendant could have
labeled Taylor a “dead man” in his phone, and he had researched Taylor’s address, therefore,
defendant could have wanted to kill Taylor weeks or months prior to Taylor’s murder. The jury
could also have reasonably inferred that defendant decided and intended to murder Taylor on
December 2, 2016, and subsequently, waited for Taylor to arrive home in order to kill him. A
white van was seen driving around Taylor’s house on Huntington Street at least an hour before
Taylor arrived home, thus, defendant could have been patrolling Taylor’s house and waiting for
Taylor to arrive before killing him. Additionally, while defendant had not directly threatened
Taylor, he had intervened in Taylor and Peeples’s relationship. The jury could infer that
defendant wanted to remove Taylor from Peeples’s life. The evidence of the parties’ prior
relationship, defendant’s actions before the killing, and the circumstances of the murder itself is
sufficient evidence of premeditation. Schollaert, 194 Mich. App. at 170. While that evidence is
not direct evidence of defendant’s intent, it is circumstantial evidence from which the jury could
reasonably infer premeditation. Harrison, 283 Mich. App. at 382. The jury could also have
concluded that defendant killed Taylor because there was explosive residue, which could have
been gunshot residue, on the door handle of defendant’s van, defendant’s cell phone was present
in the area at the time of the crime, and the description of the murderer roughly matched
defendant. Defendant also stated during his interview that he knew that Taylor had been killed
because Lachelle told him so; however, Lachelle testified that she did not say that to defendant.
That discrepancy would also have allowed the jury to conclude that defendant killed Taylor
because he should not have known about the murder at the time of his interview. Therefore,
there was sufficient evidence to conclude that “defendant intentionally killed the victim and that
the act of killing was premeditated and deliberate.” Ortiz, 249 Mich. App. at 301.

        Alternatively, defendant contends that his conviction of first-degree murder was against
the great weight of the evidence, but that contention lacks merit. A challenge to the great weight
of the evidence is generally reviewed to determine whether the evidence “preponderates so
heavily against the verdict that it would be a miscarriage of justice to allow the verdict to stand.”
People v Cameron, 291 Mich. App. 599, 617; 806 NW2d 371 (2011) (quotation marks and
citations omitted). However, defendant failed to preserve his great-weight claim by moving for a
new trial before the trial court, thus, that challenge is unpreserved and reviewed for plain error.
Id. at 617-618. “To avoid forfeiture under the plain error rule, three requirements must be met:
1) error must have occurred, 2) the error was plain, i.e., clear or obvious, 3) and the plain error
affected substantial rights.” People v Carines, 460 Mich. 750, 763; 597 NW2d 130 (1999). “The
third requirement generally requires a showing of prejudice, i.e., that the error affected the
outcome of the lower court proceedings.” Id. Reversal is warranted when the plain error leads

                                                -5-
to “the conviction of an actually innocent defendant[,]” or where the error affects the “fairness,
integrity, or public reputation” of the proceeding. Id. at 763-764 (quotation marks and citation
omitted).

        A verdict is against the great weight of the evidence “only when the evidence does not
reasonably support it and it was more likely the result of causes outside the record, such as
passion, prejudice, sympathy, or some other extraneous influence.” People v Lacalamita, 286
Mich. App. 467, 469; 780 NW2d 311 (2009). Resolution of credibility questions is “within the
exclusive province of the jury.” Id. at 470. A new trial is only appropriate if the witness
testimony contradicts “indisputable physical facts or laws,” is “patently incredible” or defies
physical realities, is “so inherently implausible that it could not be believed by a reasonable
juror,” or was “seriously impeached in a case that was marked by uncertainties and
discrepancies.” People v Bosca, 310 Mich. App. 1, 13; 871 NW2d 307 (2015) (quotation marks
and citations omitted).

        In this case, the verdict was reasonably supported by the evidence. Defendant merely
contended that the evidence presented was indicative of a man going through a bad breakup,
rather than a man planning to kill Taylor. The fact that the jury found the prosecution’s
arguments credible and the prosecution’s witnesses to be credible, but disagreed with
defendant’s arguments, does not mean that the verdict “preponderates so heavily against the
verdict that it would be a miscarriage of justice to allow the verdict to stand.” Cameron, 291
Mich. App. at 617 (quotation marks and citations omitted).

       Affirmed.

                                                            /s/ Christopher M. Murray
                                                            /s/ Kathleen Jansen
                                                            /s/ Michael J. Riordan

                                               -6-