Court Opinion

ID: 1805657
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-30 07:29:20.642976+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:47:42.881697
License: Public Domain

21 Mich. App. 636 (1970)
176 N.W.2d 447
PEOPLE
v.
CARDENAS
Docket No. 6,939.
Michigan Court of Appeals.
Decided February 6, 1970.
Leave to appeal denied August 19, 1970.
Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Robert A. Derengoski, Solicitor General, William L. Cahalan, Prosecuting Attorney, Samuel J. Torina, Chief Appellate Lawyer, and Owen J. Galligan, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for the people.
Arthur J. Tarnow (Defenders' Office  Legal Aid and Defender Association of Detroit), for defendant on appeal.
*638 Before: LESINSKI, C.J., and J.H. GILLIS and QUINN, JJ.
Leave to appeal denied August 19, 1970. 383 Mich. 820.
QUINN, J.
Defendant was convicted by jury verdict of possessing or having under his control marihuana, contrary to MCLA § 335.153 (Stat Ann 1957 Rev § 18.1123). He was sentenced and he appeals.
About 4:50 a.m., on May 27, 1968, an automobile owned by defendant but driven by one Buchanan pulled over to the side of the road and stopped. A patrolling police car pulled in behind. The driver of defendant's vehicle came to the police car, produced his driver's license, and when asked for the vehicle registration certificate, he said defendant was the owner. Defendant was still sitting in his automobile.
As the officer approached defendant's automobile to obtain the registration certificate, he saw defendant bend down toward the floor on the driver's side. The officer directed his flashlight through the open door on the driver's side and to the area toward which defendant had bent down. The light disclosed a clear plastic bottle with a white top. On observing the contents of the bottle, the officer thought it contained marihuana and arrested defendant. Subsequent examination determined that the contents were marihuana. Defendant stipulated that he had no license as required by the statute cited above.
Defendant asserts four alleged reversible errors, the first of which is that there is no proof in the record that defendant knew of the presence of marihuana and that such knowledge is a prerequisite for a finding of possession. The marihuana was found in defendant's car in an area thereof toward which defendant was seen to bend down. From these facts, the jury could infer knowledge of the *639 presence of the marihuana, People v. Eaves (1966), 4 Mich. App. 457. On the basis of Eaves and the foregoing facts, defendant's possession of marihuana was established. Possession without a license is a violation of the statute, People v. Eaves, supra, People v. Harper (1962), 365 Mich. 494, and it is admitted defendant had no license.
Defendant next contends that the trial court's failure to instruct the jury on the element of knowledge discussed in the preceding paragraph constitutes reversible error. The trial court read the information to the jury. The information was couched in the language of the statute. This gave the jury the basic elements of the crime charged, People v. Kruper (1954), 340 Mich. 114. No request was made for an instruction on knowledge, and defendant was afforded an opportunity to object to the charge as given. He not only failed to object, he indicated approval of the charge as given. The alleged error relating to instructions is not before this Court. GCR 1963, 516.2.
During cross-examination of a police officer by defense counsel, the following testimony was given:
"Q. Do you know Ronald Buchanan?
"A. Yes, I do.
"Q. How long do you know him?
"A. I have known him since that time I arrested him.
"Q. Did you know him before that time after you found out his name?
"A. No, I did not. Did I know of him?
"Q. Yes, of him?
"A. I knew of him, yes.
"Q. How did you know about him?
"A. I had a teletype stating that the subject was 
"Mr. Chalfin: That's all.
"The Court: Just a moment (to witness) answer the question.
*640 "The Witness: I had a teletype stating that Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Cardenas were seen in the area of several B&E's in Birmingham.
"Mr. Chalfin: I'll object. Your Honor, I will call for a mistrial on that.
"The Court: Denied.
"Mr. Chalfin: I didn't ask anything about this man here.
"The Court: Denied. You asked the question.
"Mr. Chalfin: I asked the question about Ronald Buchanan and not Arthur Cardenas.
"The Court: Just a minute. I want you to show some respect for the court.
"Mr. Chalfin: I apologize.
"The Court: I want you to be quiet for just a minute while I tell you this. You asked him how he knew about this other gentleman, and he told you how he knew. You asked for it. Motion for mistrial is denied. Please proceed."
Later this witness testified that he had no knowledge of any formal charge being made against defendant on any breaking and entering and no proof of any such charge appears in the record.
Defendant claims it was reversible error for the trial court to deny a mistrial. In support of this contention, defendant cites People v. Askar (1967), 8 Mich. App. 95, and People v. Camel (1968), 11 Mich. App. 219.
We find neither case applicable to the case before us. Both Askar and Camel involve proof of former offenses and such proof was elicited on direct examination by the prosecuting attorney from witnesses for the people. Here there was no proof of a former offense and the testimony urged as a basis for mistrial came in on cross-examination by the defendant in response to a question asked by defendant.
*641 The objection made by defendant was proper and it should have been sustained. The trial court should not have forced the witness to answer. However, it does not affirmatively appear on this record that either or both errors resulted in a miscarriage of justice, and we hold they were harmless errors. MCLA § 769.26 (Stat Ann 1954 Rev § 28.1096), GCR 1963, 529.1.
Finally, defendant seeks reversal because he contends the prosecution failed to prove that the substance found in his car was not the exempt portion of the marihuana plant. This contention is based on the statutory definition of marihuana, MCLA § 355.151 (2) (f) (Stat Ann 1969 Cum Supp § 18.1121 [2][f]):
"All parts of the plant Cannabis Sativa. The term `Cannabis' as used in this act shall include all parts of the plant Cannabis Sativa L., whether growing or not, the seeds thereof, the resin extracted from any part of such plant, and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture or preparation of such plant, its seeds, or resin; but shall not include the mature stalks of such plant, fiber produced from such stalks, oil or cake made from seeds of such plant, other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture or preparation of such mature stalks, except the resin extracted therefrom, fibre, oil, or cake, or the sterilized seed of such plant which is incapable of germination. This definition is to include marihuana and all allied plants of the Cannabis family which are habit forming."
A qualified expert testified that the substance here involved was marihuana. This was sufficient for the admission of the substance in evidence absent an objection to its admission on the ground the people had failed to prove the substance was not from the exempted portion of the plant. No objection *642 was made to the admission of the substance in evidence.
Affirmed.
All concurred.