Court Opinion

ID: 3172927
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-01-28 08:04:45.975259+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:17:23.406184
License: Public Domain

STATE OF MICHIGAN

                            COURT OF APPEALS

PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,                                     UNPUBLISHED
                                                                     January 26, 2016
               Plaintiff-Appellee,

v                                                                    No. 323465
                                                                     Wayne Circuit Court
MARQUEL CARLOS WHITE,                                                LC No. 14-002962-FC

               Defendant-Appellant.

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

PER CURIAM.

        Defendant appeals as of right his jury trial convictions of carjacking, MCL 750.529a,
possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony (“felony-firearm”), MCL 750.227b,
armed robbery, MCL 750.529, and two counts of receiving and concealing stolen property, MCL
750.535(7). Defendant was sentenced to 17 to 35 years’ imprisonment for the carjacking and
armed robbery convictions, two to five years’ imprisonment for both receiving and concealing
stolen property convictions, and two years’ imprisonment for the felony-firearm conviction. We
affirm.

                                 I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

        This case arises from multiple criminal acts that occurred throughout Detroit, Michigan,
over the course of two days. First, two men armed with a pistol carjacked a victim in northwest
Detroit, taking her Chrysler Sebring as well as her cellular phone. Another car was stolen on the
eastside of Detroit shortly thereafter. Subsequently, a third carjacking was attempted, which
appeared to be related to the other two incidents. Police officers later observed both stolen
vehicles at a Detroit apartment complex, and defendant was seen with both cars. Police arrested
defendant and another suspect soon afterward.

         The next evening, the victim of the first carjacking and cell phone robbery participated in
a live lineup at the Detroit Detention Center. She positively identified defendant as the man who

                                                -1-
held a gun to her head while taking her Sebring, but she also identified two other “fillers”1 as
being possibilities for the second suspect.

        On June 20, 2014, defendant’s trial counsel filed a motion to compel discovery of
evidence related to the victim’s identification of defendant in the live lineup. In the alternative,
defendant requested the exclusion of the victim’s identification of defendant in the live lineup
and her identification of him at the preliminary examination, arguing that the evidence was
tainted because the lineup was unduly suggestive. The trial court scheduled a hearing on
defendant’s motion on July 18, 2014, during which witnesses were to testify regarding the
lineup, but defense counsel failed to appear at the scheduled hearing. Due to counsel’s absence,
the trial court dismissed the motion. Defense counsel subsequently refiled the motion, but the
trial court did not receive notice of his intent to refile early enough to reschedule a hearing on
August 1, 2014, as the defense had requested.

        On August 4, 2014, the first day of the jury trial, the trial court refused to consider
defendant’s refiled motion, stating that it would have been unable to hold a hearing on the
motion on August 1 due to the lack of notice and concluding that it would not have an
opportunity to rule on the pretrial motion before the trial began. However, it also noted that
identification is always an issue at trial. The jury convicted defendant on all charges.

     II. SIXTH AMENDMENT RIGHT TO THE EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL

        Defendant argues that defense counsel provided ineffective assistance by failing to
appear at the pretrial suppression hearing, and that he is entitled to a new trial because of the
resulting prejudice. However, given defense counsel’s complete absence from the suppression
hearing, we find it necessary to first consider whether defendant has established that counsel’s
performance was so deficient that prejudice is presumed, even though defendant has not framed
his ineffective assistance of counsel claim in this manner. See United States v Cronic, 466 U.S.
648, 659; 104 S. Ct. 2039; 80 L. Ed. 2d 657 (1984). We conclude that (1) defendant was not
denied counsel at a critical stage of the proceedings under the facts of this case, so a presumption
of prejudice does not apply, and (2) defendant has failed to establish that he was prejudiced by
defense counsel’s performance.

                                 A. STANDARD OF REVIEW

        Our review of defendant’s ineffective assistance of counsel claim is limited to mistakes
apparent on the record since he did not move for a new trial or Ginther2 hearing. People v Petri,
279 Mich. App. 407, 410; 760 NW2d 882 (2008). “A claim of ineffective assistance of counsel is
a mixed question of law and fact. A trial court’s findings of fact, if any, are reviewed for clear
error, and this Court reviews the ultimate constitutional issue arising from an ineffective

1
  As a police officer explained at trial, “fillers” are individuals placed in a lineup who are not
suspects in the case.
2
    People v Ginther, 390 Mich. 436, 443; 212 NW2d 922 (1973).

                                                -2-
assistance of counsel claim de novo.” Id., citing People v LeBlanc, 465 Mich. 575, 579; 640
NW2d 246 (2002).

                                           B. ANALYSIS

        Both the United States and Michigan Constitutions entitle a criminal defendant to the
effective assistance of counsel at all critical stages of the proceedings. Strickland v Washington,
466 U.S. 668, 686; 104 S. Ct. 2052; 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984); People v Russell, 471 Mich. 182, 187-
188; 684 NW2d 745 (2004). “Most claims of ineffective assistance of counsel are analyzed
under the test developed in Strickland,” which requires the defendant to demonstrate prejudice in
order to obtain relief. People v Frazier, 478 Mich. 231, 243; 733 NW2d 713 (2007), citing
Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687, 690, 694. However, the United States Supreme Court has identified
three situations where counsel’s performance is so deficient that a presumption of prejudice
applies. Frazier, 478 Mich. at 243; Cronic, 466 U.S. at 659.

        One such situation is when there is a complete denial of counsel at a critical stage of the
proceedings: “The presumption that counsel’s assistance is essential requires . . . [the]
conclu[sion] that a trial is unfair if the accused is denied counsel at a critical stage of his trial.”
Id.; see also People v Willing, 267 Mich. App. 208, 224; 704 NW2d 472 (2005) (“It is well
established that a total or complete deprivation of the right to counsel at a critical stage of a
criminal proceeding is a structural error requiring automatic reversal.”). “Critical stages of the
proceedings are stages where counsel’s absence may harm the defendant’s right to a fair trial. . . .
In other words, the right to counsel applies to preliminary proceedings where rights may be
sacrificed or defenses lost.” People v Green, 260 Mich. App. 392, 399; 677 NW2d 363 (2004)
(quotation marks and citations omitted), overruled on other grounds by People v Anstey, 476
Mich. 436, 447 n 9 (2006). “Critical stages” also include proceedings “where the results might
well settle the accused’s fate and reduce the trial itself to a mere formality,” Maine v Moulton,
474 U.S. 159, 170; 106 S. Ct. 477; 88 L. Ed. 2d 481 (1985), or stages that “h[o]ld significant
consequences for the accused,” Bell v Cone, 535 U.S. 685, 696; 122 S. Ct. 1843; 152 L. Ed. 2d 914
(2002). Stated differently, a stage is “critical” when “potential substantial prejudice to
defendant’s rights inheres in the particular confrontation and the ability of counsel [would] help
avoid that prejudice.” Coleman v Alabama, 399 U.S. 1, 7; 90 S. Ct. 1999; 26 L. Ed. 2d 387 (1970).
See also People v Buckles, 155 Mich. App. 1, 6; 399 NW2d 421 (1986) (“Once adversary judicial
proceedings have been initiated, a defendant’s right to counsel extends to every ‘critical stage’ of
the prosecution, i.e., every stage where the accused is confronted, just as at trial, by the
procedural system, or by his expert adversary, or by both. United States v Wade, 388 U.S. 218; 87
S. Ct. 1926; 18 L. Ed. 2d 1149 (1967).”).

       Critical stages include, inter alia, the arraignment, Coleman, 399 U.S. at 7, the preliminary
examination, id. at 9, a pretrial lineup, Frazier, 478 Mich. at 249 n 20, the entry of a plea, People
v Pubrat, 451 Mich. 589, 593-594; 548 NW2d 595 (1996), and the sentencing hearing, id.
However, this Court has held that a bond revocation hearing is not a critical stage because “it
[does] not have any effect on the determination of [a] defendant’s guilt or innocence.” People v
Collins, 298 Mich. App. 458, 470; 828 NW2d 392 (2012).

      Neither the United States Supreme Court nor the Michigan appellate courts have decided
whether a hearing on a motion to suppress or exclude a witness identification constitutes a

                                                 -3-
“critical stage” of the proceedings. However, some federal circuit courts have considered
whether a hearing on a motion to suppress evidence is a critical stage.3 The United States Court
of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has held that “a pretrial motion to suppress evidence is a critical
stage of the prosecution requiring the presence of counsel for the accused, because in many cases
the crucial issue is the admissibility of evidence found in the defendant’s possession.” United
States v Hamilton, 391 F3d 1066, 1070 (CA 9, 2004) (quotation marks and citation omitted).
Accordingly, in Hamilton, the court held that the taking of testimony at the suppression hearing
from the police officer who searched the defendant’s car and acquired evidence relevant to the
crime violated the defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to counsel during a critical stage of the
proceedings. Id. at 1068-1069, 1071-1072. Similarly, the United States Court of Appeals for the
Third Circuit has held that “[a] pretrial hearing considering the suppression of the defendant’s
confession is such a critical stage because its results might settle the accused’s fate and reduce
the trial itself to a mere formality.” Henderson v Frank, 155 F3d 159, 166 (CA 3, 1998)
(quotation marks and citation omitted).

        Under the circumstances of this case, however, we conclude that defense counsel’s
absence at the hearing on defendant’s motion to suppress the witness’s identification of
defendant did not constitute a denial of counsel at a “critical stage” of the proceedings. First, the
trial court’s dismissal of the motion did not result in the prosecution gaining an unfair or
improper advantage without counsel present, and defendant did not lose a substantial right.
Defendant was merely returned to the status quo ante, in which the lineup evidence was
admissible at trial unless it was again challenged, as the trial court neither granted nor denied
defendant’s motion.

       Further, during the prosecution’s case-in-chief, both the victim of the carjacking and the
police officer who performed the live lineup testified regarding the victim’s identification of
defendant and the circumstances of the live lineup. At that time, defense counsel could have
objected to the testimony or in-court identification, or, within the court’s discretion, made a
motion to suppress the identification evidence. See People v Carroll, 396 Mich. 408, 412; 240
NW2d 722 (1976); People v Lee, 391 Mich. 618, 626-627; 218 NW2d 655 (1974); People v
Gentner, Inc, 262 Mich. App. 363, 368-369; 686 NW2d 752 (2004). Cf. People v Larry, 162
Mich. App. 142, 156; 412 NW2d 674 (1987).4 Defense counsel also had an opportunity to
thoroughly cross-examine both witnesses regarding the circumstances of the live lineup and the
victim’s ability to identify defendant.

3
 The decisions of federal circuit courts are not binding, but they may be persuasive. People v
Fomby, 300 Mich. App. 46, 50 n 1; 831 NW2d 887 (2013).
4
  Additionally, this Court previously held that, in a case where defense counsel “chose to try and
show the alleged suggestiveness [of an identification procedure] through vigorous cross-
examination of the identifying witness and the police officers present at the on-the-scene
identification,” the “defendant was neither denied due process nor his right to a fair trial.”
People v Tucker, 86 Mich. App. 608, 611; 273 NW2d 498 (1978) (quotation marks and citation
omitted).

                                                -4-
        Following that testimony, defense counsel could have moved for a directed verdict on the
basis of insufficient identification evidence. Such a motion would have been akin to a motion to
suppress if he had contested the sufficiency of evidence proving defendant’s identity by
challenging the victim’s lineup identification of defendant and subsequent in-court
identifications on the basis of unduly suggestive lineup procedures. See People v Kurylczyk, 443
Mich. 289, 302-303; 505 NW2d 528 (1993). Without the victim’s identification of defendant,
there arguably would have been insufficient evidence of defendant’s carjacking and armed
robbery charges, as the victim was the only witness of the acts giving rise to those charges. See
Collins, 298 Mich. App. at 470; People v Oliphant, 399 Mich. 472, 489; 250 NW2d 443 (1976) (“
‘Identity’ . . . is always an essential element in a criminal prosecution . . . .”). Likewise, pursuant
to MCR 6.419(A), the trial court had the opportunity to consider sua sponte whether the
evidence presented was sufficient to support a conviction and could have issued a directed
verdict accordingly.

       Therefore, the examination of the witnesses at trial effectively presented the question of
whether the lineup was unduly suggestive to the trial court, at which time defense counsel was
present and had the opportunity to object, make a motion to suppress, further examine the
witnesses, or move for a directed verdict on the basis of insufficient evidence of identity. As
such, given that defense counsel had subsequent opportunities to address the same issues that
were raised in the motion to suppress, the hearing on defendant’s motion was not a “preliminary
proceeding[] where rights may be sacrificed or defenses lost,” Green, 260 Mich. App. at 399, a
proceeding “where the results might well settle the accused’s fate and reduce the trial itself to a
mere formality,” Maine, 474 U.S. at 170, a stage “that held significant consequences for the
accused,” Bell, 535 U.S. at 696, or a stage as to which “potential substantial prejudice to
defendant’s rights inheres in the particular confrontation and the ability of counsel [would] help
avoid that prejudice,” Coleman, 399 U.S. at 7. Thus, under these facts, we conclude that defense
counsel’s complete absence from the suppression hearing did not constitute a complete denial of
counsel at a critical stage of the proceedings, such that a presumption of prejudice is not
applicable in this case. Frazier, 478 Mich. at 243; Cronic, 466 U.S. at 659.

        Next, consistent with defendant’s framing of the issue on appeal, we must analyze
defendant’s claim under the Strickland test. In order to prove that counsel provided ineffective
assistance, a defendant must demonstrate that (1) “ ‘counsel’s representation fell below an
objective standard of reasonableness,’ ” and (2) defendant was prejudiced, i.e., “that ‘there is a
reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding
would have been different.’ ” People v Vaughn, 491 Mich. 642, 669-671; 821 NW2d 288 (2012),
quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 688, 694. “A defendant must also show that the result that did
occur was fundamentally unfair or unreliable.” People v Lockett, 295 Mich. App. 165, 187; 814
NW2d 295 (2012). “Effective assistance of counsel is presumed,” and a defendant bears a heavy
burden of proving otherwise. Petri, 279 Mich. App. at 410. Likewise, a “[d]efendant must
overcome a strong presumption that counsel’s performance constituted sound trial strategy.” Id.
at 411.

       At trial, defense counsel explained that he experienced medical issues a few days before
the hearing on defendant’s motion to suppress and was absent from the hearing because his
“calendar became chaotic and [he] scheduled over th[e] hearing.” Especially in light of this
excuse, it is apparent that defense counsel’s failure to appear at the motion hearing or notify the

                                                 -5-
court of his absence constituted representation that fell below an objective standard of
reasonableness.

        However, defendant has failed to establish that he was prejudiced by defense counsel’s
deficient performance. Although he asserts that the result of the proceeding would have been
different if the trial court had suppressed the victim’s identification of defendant, he expressly
states in his brief on appeal that he “is not suggesting what the lower court’s ruling would have
been.” Likewise, defendant provides no argument on appeal regarding the unduly suggestive
nature of the live lineup, or otherwise demonstrating that the trial court would, or should, have
granted his motion to suppress.5 By merely asserting that the outcome of his trial would have
been different if the identification evidence had been suppressed, without showing—or even
arguing—that the trial court would have granted his motion, defendant has not demonstrated the
requisite prejudice. Vaughn, 491 Mich. at 669-671 (quotation marks and citation omitted).
Additionally, although he also argues that this Court now does not have the opportunity to
review a decision on the motion and determine whether the lineup identification evidence was
properly admitted, this claim similarly fails to establish that there is a reasonable probability that
the outcome of the proceeding would have been different but for defense counsel’s absence.

5
  “An appellant may not merely announce his position and leave it to this Court to discover and
rationalize the basis for his claims, nor may he give only cursory treatment with little or no
citation of supporting authority. An appellant’s failure to properly address the merits of his
assertion of error constitutes abandonment of the issue.” People v Konopka, 309 Mich. App. 345,
366; 869 NW2d 651 (2015).
         Nevertheless, in reviewing defendant’s motion to suppress in the lower court, it appears
that defendant was primarily arguing that the lineup was unduly suggestive because (1) multiple
suspects were placed in the same array, (2) one or more police officers allegedly told the victim
that the perpetrator of the carjacking was in the lineup, and (3) defendant was singled out
because he was only 5’6” while the rest of the fillers were 5’10” or taller. Even if defendant had
addressed these arguments on appeal, he still would not have established, in light of the relevant
Michigan caselaw, that there is a reasonable probability that the outcome of the proceeding
would have been different but for defense counsel’s absence. See People v Sawyer, 222 Mich
App 1, 3; 564 NW2d 62 (1997) (“Physical differences between defendant and the other lineup
participants goes to the weight of the identification and not its admissibility. Additionally, the
fact a victim is told the attacker is in the lineup does not alone render a lineup unduly
suggestive.” [Citations omitted.]); People v Curtis, 34 Mich. App. 616, 617; 192 NW2d 10
(1971) (concluding that the defendant failed to show that a lineup including more than one
defendant was unduly suggestive); People v Williams, 14 Mich. App. 186, 189-190; 165 NW2d
296 (1968) (finding that a lineup including multiple defendants did not violate a defendant’s
rights).

                                                 -6-
        Therefore, defendant’s ineffective assistance of counsel claim must fail, as defendant has
failed to meet his “burden of demonstrating both deficient performance and prejudice.” People v
Carbin, 463 Mich. 590, 600; 623 NW2d 884 (2001).

                                       III. CONCLUSION

        Defense counsel’s absence at the hearing on defendant’s motion to suppress the victim’s
identification of defendant did not result in a violation of defendant’s constitutional right to the
effective assistance of counsel. Under the circumstances of this case, the hearing was not a
critical stage in the criminal proceedings. As a result, we are not required to presume that
defendant was prejudiced by counsel’s absence. Further, under the relevant two-part inquiry,
defendant has failed to establish that there is a reasonable probability that the outcome of the
proceeding would have been different but for defense counsel’s absence. Therefore, we cannot
conclude that defendant is entitled to a new trial on the basis of ineffective assistance of counsel.

       Affirmed.

                                                              /s/ Michael J. Riordan
                                                              /s/ Kathleen Jansen
                                                              /s/ Karen M. Fort Hood

                                                -7-