Court Opinion

ID: 4093666
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-10-28 17:08:02.342884+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:36:21.432970
License: Public Domain

STATE OF MICHIGAN

                             COURT OF APPEALS

PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,                                   FOR PUBLICATION
                                                                   October 27, 2016
                Plaintiff-Appellant,

v                                                                  No. 330389
                                                                   Oakland Circuit Court
LYMANCE ENGLISH,                                                   LC No. 2014-250982-FH

                Defendant-Appellee.

PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,

                Plaintiff-Appellant,

v                                                                  No. 330390
                                                                   Oakland Circuit Court
BRANDON RENAR SMITH,                                               LC No. 2015-255117-FH

                Defendant-Appellee.

Before: WILDER, P.J., and MURPHY and O’CONNELL, JJ.

O’CONNELL, J (dissenting).

        In these consolidated cases, the prosecution appeals by leave granted1 the trial court’s
dismissal of charges under MCL 333.7410(3) against each defendant for possessing with intent
to deliver drugs within 1,000 feet of a school. The trial court dismissed the charges against the
defendants because the prosecution did not show that English and Smith, who each possessed
drugs within a school zone, intended to deliver those drugs within a school zone. Because I
would conclude that the enhanced penalty statute prohibits possessing drugs “within 1,000 feet
of a school,” I would reverse and remand.

                                 I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

1
    People v English, 499 Mich. 872 (2016); People v Smith, 499 Mich. 873 (2016).

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       During a drug raid at the home of Lymance English, police discovered about 14 grams of
cocaine, marijuana, a digital scale, sandwich bags, and a handgun. Officers determined that
English’s property was within 1,000 feet of a high school. As a result, English’s charges
included one count of possessing with the intent to deliver less than 50 grams of cocaine within a
school zone under MCL 333.7410(3).

        Similarly, during a drug raid on the apartment and car of Brandon Smith, police
discovered 2.2 grams of heroin, baggies, a digital scale, rubber gloves, and a handgun. Officers
also discovered a cell phone with messages ordering heroin. Officers determined that Smith’s
car and apartment were within 1,000 feet of a high school. Smith’s charges included one count
of possessing with the intent to deliver less than 50 grams of heroin within a school zone under
MCL 333.7410(3).

        Following their respective preliminary hearings, English and Smith filed motions before
the trial court to dismiss the charges under MCL 333.7410(3). Both defendants contended that
the trial court must dismiss their charges because the statute required the prosecution to show
that they intended to deliver the drugs within the school zone. According to English and Smith,
there was no indication that either defendant delivered the drugs from their homes or that they
intended to deliver the drugs within the school zone. In both cases, the trial court agreed that
MCL 333.7410(3) required the prosecution to show that the defendant intended to deliver the
drugs within the school zone and dismissed the charges pertaining to MCL 333.7410(3).

                                II. STANDARDS OF REVIEW

        This Court reviews de novo the interpretation and application of statutes. People v
Williams, 475 Mich. 245, 250; 716 NW2d 208 (2006). This Court also reviews de novo the
constitutionality of a statute. People v Douglas, 295 Mich. App. 129, 134; 813 NW2d 337 (2011).

                  III. STANDARDS OF STATUTORY INTERPRETATION

        When interpreting a statute, our goal is to give effect to the intent of the Legislature.
Williams, 475 Mich. at 250. The language of the statute itself is the best indication of the
Legislature’s intent. Id. We must read the statute as a whole and should not read statutory
provisions in isolation. People v Feezel, 486 Mich. 184, 205; 783 NW2d 67 (2010) (opinion by
CAVANAGH, J.) To promote harmony and consistency, we must read subsections of cohesive
statutory provisions together. Id.

       If the language of the statute is unambiguous, we must enforce the statute as written. Id.
Instances of truly ambiguous language are rare. People v Gardner, 482 Mich. 41, 50 n 12; 753
NW2d 78 (2008). But if the statutory language is ambiguous, judicial construction is
appropriate. Feezel, 486 Mich. at 205 (opinion by CAVANAGH, J.).

                                        IV. ANALYSIS

        The Public Health Code prohibits a wide range of conduct concerning, among other
things, controlled substances. MCL 333.1101 et seq. The statute at issue is MCL 333.7410(3),
which provides as follows:

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       An individual 18 years of age or over who violates section 7401(2)(a)(iv)[2] by
       possessing with intent to deliver to another person on or within 1,000 feet of
       school property or a library a controlled substance . . . shall be punished . . . by a
       term of imprisonment of not less than 2 years or more than twice that authorized
       by section 7401(2)(a)(iv) . . . . [Emphasis added.]

This statute, which provides that the sentence is “twice that authorized” by its counterpart MCL
333.7401(2)(a)(iv), is an enhanced sentencing provision.

       Because the only difference between MCL 333.7401(2)(a)(iv), which prohibits
possession of controlled substances, and MCL 333.7410(3) is the location in which the drugs are
possessed, I would conclude that the Legislature intended it to apply to defendants who
possessed drugs within the school zone, regardless of where they intended to deliver them. MCL
333.7410(3) applies when a defendant possesses with intent to deliver a controlled substance
within 1,000 feet of a school or library, regardless of the location of the person to which the
defendant intends to deliver the substance.

        Defendant English contends that two of the possible meanings of MCL 333.7410(3) are
consistent with the trial court’s dismissal of the charges—that the defendant intended to deliver
to a person within 1,000 feet of a school, or that the person to whom the defendant intended to
deliver was within 1,000 feet of a school. The prosecution’s construction is more reasonable to
accomplish the purpose of the statute as an enhanced penalty provision.

        The Public Health Code is “intended to be consistent with applicable federal and state
law and shall be construed, when necessary, to achieve that consistency.” MCL 333.1111. See
Feezel, 486 Mich. at 208 (opinion by CAVANAGH, J.). 21 USC 860(a) prohibits “possessing with
intent to distribute . . . a controlled substance in or on, or within one thousand feet of, the real
property comprising a public or private elementary, vocation, or secondary school,” and anyone
who does so is guilty of a crime with an enhanced minimum sentence. This statute is analogous
with MCL 333.7410(3). Both statutes provide enhanced sentencing provisions for persons who
possess with the intent to distribute a drug within a school zone. While there are minor
differences, such as the statute including requirements regarding the age of the offender, the
types of conduct these statutes prohibit are substantially similar.

        I also find federal law on this point persuasive. Under 21 USC 860(a), it is the location
of the drugs, not the intended location of distribution, that is pertinent to the crime. United States
v Rodriguez, 961 F2d 1089, 1092 (CA 3, 1992); United States v Harris, 313 F3d 1228, 1239-
1240 (CA 10, 2002).3 Construing MCL 333.7410(3) consistent with applicable federal law, the

2
  MCL 333.7401(2)(a)(iv) prohibits a person from “possess[ing] with intent to . . . deliver a
controlled substance” that is a narcotic drug in an amount less than 50 grams.
3
  This is consistent with unpublished cases from this Court which have determined the same, or
in which we have upheld convictions without any discussion of the location of the defendant’s
intended delivery. However, at least one unpublished case has ruled insufficient a jury
instruction that did not specify that the defendant’s intended deliveree was in the school zone.

                                                 -3-
phrase “within 1,000 feet of a school” describes the location where the defendant possesses the
drugs, not the location of the other person or where the defendant intends to deliver the drugs.

        Defendant Smith contends that this construction leads to supposedly absurd results
because a defendant could be guilty of MCL 333.7410(3) for driving through a school zone
while possessing a substance that he or she intends to deliver elsewhere. That a statute appears
to be inconvenient or unwise is not a reason for this Court to avoid applying statutory language.
Johnson v Recca, 492 Mich. 169, 187; 821 NW2d 520 (2012). The purpose of the statute is to
attempt to protect children from exposure to drugs. People v McCrady, 213 Mich. App. 474, 485;
540 NW2d 718 (1995). Given this purpose, requiring drug dealers to drive around school zones
to avoid enhanced sentences appears consistent with the statute. I am less concerned with the
resulting inconvenience to drug dealers than with interpreting the statute consistent with the
Legislature’s intent.

       I would conclude that MCL 333.7410(3) prohibits a defendant from possessing drugs
within a school zone with intent to deliver them regardless of the intended location of delivery.
Accordingly, I would reverse and remand for reinstatement of the charges.

                                                           /s/ Peter D. O’Connell

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