Court Opinion

ID: 4193270
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-08-04 12:06:07.028035+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:40:35.387307
License: Public Domain

STATE OF MICHIGAN

                           COURT OF APPEALS

PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,                                   UNPUBLISHED
                                                                   August 3, 2017
               Plaintiff-Appellee,

v                                                                  No. 332438
                                                                   Macomb Circuit Court
RYAN ROBERT CAMARGO,                                               LC No. 2015-001861-FH

               Defendant-Appellant.

Before: SHAPIRO, P.J., and GLEICHER and O’BRIEN, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

        A jury convicted defendant of domestic violence, MCL 750.813, and assault by
strangulation, MCL 750.84, for his late-night assault of his girlfriend in a hotel room. Defendant
raises a meritless challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his convictions. He
also raises several challenges to his sentences, none of which warrant relief. We affirm.

                                       I. BACKGROUND

       On the night of April 27, 2015, defendant and his girlfriend, KH, rented a hotel room
where they played video games, watched movies, and consumed alcohol. KH testified regarding
the evening’s events at defendant’s preliminary examination. She described that defendant
yelled at her and called her names because of her poor video game skills and because she
arranged for someone else to pick her up and take her to work in the morning. Defendant
eventually “calmed down” and KH went to bed. She later awoke from a nightmare and roused
defendant. Defendant flew into a rage and attacked her. Defendant stormed around the room
and ripped the mounted TV from the wall. He then returned to the bed and struck KH several
times, mostly in the head and face.

        Defendant continued the assault by wrapping his hands around KH’s throat, choking her
three times. The first time KH blacked out, the second time she blacked out and urinated, and
the third time she nearly lost consciousness. Afterwards, defendant struck KH again in the face,
causing a large gash that ultimately required four stitches. “[T]here was so much blood” that KH
“thought [she] had lost [her] eye.” Defendant also bit KH on the face. Photographs later taken at
the hospital corroborated KH’s injuries.

      KH was afraid to leave the hotel room because defendant threatened to kill her.
Moreover, in the midst of the attack, defendant attempted to drown himself by putting his head

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under water in the bathtub, requiring KH’s intervention. KH was finally able to escape when
defendant went into the bathroom to relieve himself. She fled the room barefoot and partially
clad. KH waved down a passing motorist, who took her to the hospital.

        Following his preliminary examination, defendant pleaded nolo contendere to the charges
against him. Defendant thereafter violated a no-contact order and convinced KH to rekindle
their romance. Believing KH would not testify negatively against him, defendant withdrew his
plea. At trial, KH testified to a very different version of events, denying that defendant had
assaulted her. Over defendant’s objection, the court admitted KH’s preliminary examination
testimony into evidence. The jury eventually convicted defendant as charged.

                            II. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE

        Defendant contends that the prosecutor presented insufficient evidence to support his
assault by strangulation conviction. Defendant specifically notes that KH provided incredible
and contradictory testimony. We review de novo challenges to the sufficiency of evidence,
viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, People v Harverson, 291
Mich. App. 171, 175-176, 804 NW2d 757 (2010), to determine whether the evidence would
“justify a rational trier of fact in finding the elements of the crime were proved beyond a
reasonable doubt.” People v Phelps, 288 Mich. App. 123, 131-132; 791 NW2d 732 (2010),
overruled in part on other grounds People v Hardy, 494 Mich. 430; 835 NW2d 340 (2013).

        The offense of assault by strangulation is proscribed in MCL 750.84(1)(b), which
prohibits a person from “[a]ssault[ing] another person by strangulation or suffocation.” The
statute defines “strangulation or suffocation” as “intentionally impeding normal breathing or
circulation of the blood by applying pressure on the throat or neck or by blocking the nose or
mouth of another person.” MCL 750.84(2). KH testified at the preliminary examination that
defendant strangled her three times during the attack and described the events in significant
detail. The court required KH to remain in the courtroom at trial and allowed defense counsel to
call her to the stand as well. During her trial testimony, KH recanted her earlier report and
explained that the injuries depicted in the photographs were caused by rough sexual play.

        The jury heard KH’s preliminary examination testimony and observed her trial testimony
first-hand. The jurors chose to believe KH’s initial reports. That testimony provided ample
evidence that defendant assaulted KH by strangulation. Ultimately, defendant asks this Court to
discredit the role of the jury. “It is the province of the jury to determine questions of fact and
assess the credibility of witnesses.” People v Lemmon, 456 Mich. 625, 638; 576 NW2d 129
(1998). We will not interfere with that judgment. People v Kanaan, 278 Mich. App. 594, 619;
751 NW2d 57 (2008). Notably, defendant has not challenged the trial court’s finding that KH
was unavailable under MRE 804, or the admission of KH’s preliminary examination testimony.
The jury credited KH’s original story over her new tale at the trial. And KH’s original story
supported the verdict.

                                       III. SENTENCING

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       Defendant contends that he is entitled to resentencing because the trial court imposed
sentence on judge-found facts in contravention of People v Lockridge, 498 Mich. 358; 870 NW2d
502 (2015). He also argues that the court improperly assessed 15 points for OV 8.

        First and foremost, we reject defendant’s position that remand is required pursuant to
Lockridge. Remand for potential resentencing is only required when the trial court does not
acknowledge that the sentencing guidelines are advisory only. Lockridge, 498 Mich. at 397. The
trial court clearly expressed awareness of Lockridge’s mandates in this case. During the
preliminary examination, the court described the guidelines as “really . . . just advisory.” At
sentencing, the court noted, “the policy of the state of Michigan favors individualized sentencing
for every convicted defendant. The sentence must be tailored to fit the particular circumstances
of the case and the defendant.” These statements were more than sufficient to meet Lockridge’s
demand and there is no basis for a Crosby remand.1

         Moreover, defendant’s OV 8 score was adequately supported. We review for clear error
a trial court’s scoring assessment. The particular score must be supported by a preponderance of
the evidence. People v Hardy, 494 Mich. 430, 438; 830 NW2d 340 (2013). OV 8 must be
assessed at 15 points if “a victim was asported to another place of greater danger or to a situation
of greater danger or was held captive beyond the time necessary to commit the offense.” MCL
777.38(1)(a) (emphasis added). Defendant focuses his appellate argument on the first situation
in which points must be assessed—asportation. However, the trial court indicated that it
assessed 15 points because defendant held KH captive beyond the time necessary to commit the
offense. KH’s preliminary examination testimony supports that defendant forced her to remain
in the hotel room longer than necessary to commit the assault. Defendant threatened to kill KH
if she tried to escape and attempted to drown himself, forcing KH to remain in the room to
prevent his death. KH was only able to flee after defendant went into the bathroom to use the
facility, rather than to feign an attempt at suicide.

         We affirm.

                                                             /s/ Douglas B. Shapiro
                                                             /s/ Elizabeth L. Gleicher
                                                             /s/ Colleen A. O'Brien

1
    United States v Crosby, 397 F3d 103 (CA 2, 2005).

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