Court Opinion

ID: 9704418
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 00:34:54.112813+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:22:02.287495
License: Public Domain

T. M. Burns, J.
(dissenting). Prior to trial, defendant made a motion to quash the information raising the defense of entrapment. The trial court reviewed the transcript of the preliminary examination and concluded that the facts presented therein did not constitute the defense of entrapment as a matter of law. The only testimony given at the preliminary examination was that of the undercover agent and the expert who analyzed the heroin. Based solely on this evidence, the trial court denied the motion to quash the information. At trial, the judge instructed the jury on the defense of entrapment, thus leaving the issue to the finders of fact to decide.
Whether or not the defendant in a criminal case was entrapped into committing the offense with which he is charged is a question for the trial judge to decide as a matter of law. People v Habel (On Rehearing), 53 Mich App 399; 220 NW2d 74 (1974) . It is reversible error to submit the issue of entrapment to the jury. People v Sheline, 64 Mich App 193; 235 NW2d 177 (1975).
The test of entrapment is an objective one, focusing upon the conduct of the police. People v Van Riper, 65 Mich App 230; 237 NW2d 262 (1975) . In the instant case, the defendant testified that he was approached by the undercover agent, who asked if he had any heroin for sale. Upon his negative reply, defendant claimed, the agent asked defendant to take him to the residence of a dealer. Defendant testified that he did so because the agent appeared to be suffering from heroin withdrawal. This testimony, if believed by the trial court, might have sustained a finding of entrapment. Cf., People v Soper, 57 Mich App 677; 226 NW2d 691 (1975), People v Turner, 390 Mich 7; *99210 NW2d 336 (1973). Defendant’s testimony, however, was not heard by the judge before he ruled on the question of entrapment. Rather, because the testimony of the defendant and the police agent conflicted, the issue was submitted to the jury. This was reversible error. People v Sheline, supra, People v Van Riper, supra. When the issue was raised prior to trial, an evidentiary hearing should have been conducted at which the testimony of both the agent and the defendant would be heard and considered. Because such a hearing was not held and because the question was left to the jury, I would reverse the conviction and remand for an evidentiary hearing on the issue of entrapment.