Court Opinion

ID: 2810072
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-06-19 12:12:42.949267+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:30:15.307979
License: Public Domain

STATE OF MICHIGAN

                           COURT OF APPEALS

PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,                                   UNPUBLISHED
                                                                   June 18, 2015
              Plaintiff-Appellee,

v                                                                  No. 319729
                                                                   Genesee Circuit Court
CLEOPHIS HALL,                                                     LC No. 12-031247-FC

              Defendant-Appellant.

Before: STEPHENS, P.J., and BORRELLO and GADOLA, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

       A jury convicted defendant of first-degree premeditated murder, MCL 750.316(1)(a),
felon in possession of a firearm, MCL 750.224f, and possession of a firearm during the
commission of a felony, MCL 750.227b. The trial court sentenced defendant as a fourth habitual
offender, MCL 769.12, to concurrent prison terms of life in prison for the murder conviction and
4 to 10 years for the felon-in-possession conviction, to be served consecutive to a two-year term
of imprisonment for the felony-firearm conviction. Defendant appeals as of right. For the
reasons set forth in this opinion, we affirm.

                                           I. FACTS

        Defendant’s convictions arise out of the fatal shooting of his live-in partner, Joyce
Nelson, outside their shared Flint home early in the morning of June 21, 2012. Neighbors Emma
Hasan and her nephew, Rashid Scott, heard gunshots and looked out their window. They saw
Nelson lying on the ground, bleeding and trying to move or get up. Scott saw defendant drop a
shotgun on the ground and drive away in a red SUV. Two other neighbors, Pearlane and Andre
Purnell, also saw Nelson shortly after she was shot. Nelson died from shotgun wounds to her
chest. Defendant drove to a police station. He was unresponsive and covered in blood, an
officer called for an ambulance. Defendant was transported to Hurley Hospital for a psychiatric
evaluation and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Police officers later
interviewed defendant at the hospital. Defendant admitted shooting Nelson, but claimed that he
shot her accidently while trying to protect her from a group of 25 to 50 people who were trying
to kidnap her. None of the neighbors observed anyone else in the area other than defendant.

                                    II. EVIDENTIARY ISSUES

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        Defendant raises several claims of evidentiary error. We review preserved claims for an
abuse of discretion. People v Dobek, 274 Mich. App. 58, 93; 732 NW2d 546 (2007). An abuse of
discretion occurs when the trial court chooses an outcome that falls outside the range of
reasonable and principled outcomes. People v Unger, 278 Mich. App. 210, 217; 749 NW2d 272
(2008). Decisions concerning a preliminary question of law, such as the interpretation of the
Michigan Rules of Evidence, are reviewed de novo. Dobek, 274 Mich. App. at 93. Unpreserved
claims of evidentiary error are reviewed for plain error affecting defendant’s substantial rights.
People v Benton, 294 Mich. App. 191, 202; 817 NW2d 599 (2011).

             A. EXCLUSION OF EVIDENCE OF NEIGHBORHOOD DRUG DEALING

        Defendant argues that the trial court abused its discretion by excluding evidence of drug
activities in his neighborhood. The trial court sustained the prosecutor’s objection to Andre
Purnell’s testimony about drug-related problems in the neighborhood, and the court also
excluded evidence of a 911 call that defendant made about a drug-related matter two days before
the shooting. The trial court determined that this evidence was not relevant.

        “Generally, all relevant evidence is admissible at trial,” and “[e]vidence which is not
relevant is not admissible.” People v Powell, 303 Mich. App. 271, 277; 842 NW2d 538 (2013)
(citation and internal quotations omitted); MRE 402. “Relevant evidence is ‘evidence having
any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the
action more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence.’” Powell, 303
Mich. App. at 277, quoting MRE 401.

        Defendant argues that evidence of drug-related activities in his neighborhood was
relevant to explain why he possessed a firearm, and to support the defense claim that Nelson was
being attacked by others and that he shot her accidentally while trying to protect her from the
attackers. However, there was no evidence suggesting that the shooting was related to any drug
activity, or that either defendant or Nelson had ever been threatened by, harassed, or were
involved with any drug dealers. Without any such evidence, the mere existence of drug
trafficking in the neighborhood did not have any tendency to explain defendant’s possession of a
gun on the night of the offense, and did not make defendant’s kidnapping explanation more
probable. The trial court did not abuse its discretion by excluding this evidence.

                         B. OPINION TESTIMONY BY POLICE OFFICERS

       Defendant argues that three police officers were erroneously permitted to offer their
opinion of defendant’s guilt.

        “A witness may not opine about the defendant’s guilt or innocence in a criminal case.”
People v Heft, 299 Mich. App. 69, 81; 829 NW2d 266 (2012). Rather, the issue of an accused’s
guilt or innocence is a question for the jury. People v Bragdon, 142 Mich. App. 197, 199; 369
NW2d 208 (1985). It is also “improper for a witness . . . to comment or provide an opinion on
the credibility of another person while testifying at trial.” People v Musser, 494 Mich. 337, 348-
349; 835 NW2d 319 (2013). However, MRE 701 permits a lay witness to state “opinions or
inferences which are (a) rationally based on the perception of the witness and (b) helpful to a
clear understanding of the witness’ testimony or the determination of a fact in issue.” This rule

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permits police officers to testify about their opinions and inferences based on their observations
and rational perceptions as police officers where the opinions are not dependent upon scientific,
technical, or specialized knowledge. People v Oliver, 170 Mich. App. 38, 49-50; 427 NW2d 898
(1988).

       The challenged testimony did not involve any improper opinion of defendant’s guilt, and
it was within the parameters of MRE 701. None of the officers offered an opinion that he or she
believed defendant was guilty. Their testimony pertained to discreet matters that, although
probative of defendant’s guilt, did not involve an opinion regarding the ultimate issue of
defendant’s guilt.

         Officer Herfert had the opportunity to observe defendant during the hospital visit. Her
opinion testimony that defendant appeared to be “acting” was rationally based on her personal
observations of defendant’s demeanor during his explanation of the shooting. Officer Petrich
testified regarding his observations of the crime scene, and he explained how his observations
were consistent with premeditation. He observed multiple spent casings both inside and outside
the house, which indicated to him that the shooter took overt action necessary to chamber each
round of ammunition that was fired. The presence of shotgun damage both inside and outside
the house also indicated that shots were fired over a period of time necessary to move from
inside the house to the driveway. Sergeant Bradford similarly testified regarding the aspects of
the crime scene that he observed, which he opined were consistent with planning. With each
witness, the challenged testimony involved rational inferences based on the witness’s
observations, and did not reach the ultimate issue of defendant’s guilt. Thus, the trial court did
not abuse its discretion in allowing the testimony.

                        C. THE VICTIM’S HEARSAY STATEMENTS

         Defendant next argues that the trial court erred in allowing Barbara Arline to testify
regarding Nelson’s hearsay statements made to her two days before Nelson’s death. Arline
testified that Nelson told her that defendant had been “acting up,” by calling her names and by
picking up a gun while arguing with her.

       Generally, hearsay is not admissible unless it comes within one of the hearsay exceptions
provided in the Michigan Rules of Evidence. MRE 801; Musser, 494 Mich. at 350. The trial
court agreed that Nelson’s statements were hearsay, MRE 801(c), but found that they were
admissible under the state-of-mind exception, MRE 803(3), which provides:

               A statement of the declarant’s then existing state of mind, emotion,
       sensation, or physical condition (such as intent, plan, motive, design, mental
       feeling, pain, and bodily health), but not including a statement of memory or
       belief to prove the fact remembered or believed unless it relates to the execution,
       revocation, identification, or terms of declarant’s will.

        In this case, Nelson’s statements to Arline were not admissible under MRE 803(3). Here,
the statements did not describe Nelson’s plans or intentions, but rather related to past events and
were statements of “memory or belief to prove the fact remembered or believed.” See e.g.
People v Moorer, 262 Mich. App. 64, 73; 683 NW2d 736 (2004) (statements showing past events

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to prove “the fact remembered or believed” are inadmissible under MRE 803(3)). Accordingly,
the trial court erred in determining that the statements were admissible under MRE 803(3).
Nevertheless, admission of the statement was harmless error where there was overwhelming
evidence of defendant’s guilt, including eyewitness testimony. See Moorer, 262 Mich. App. at 74
(“Evidentiary error does not merit reversal unless it involves a substantial right, and after an
examination of the entire cause, it affirmatively appears that it is more probable than not that the
error was outcome determinative.”)

                                  D. DEFENDANT’S “SLEEP TALK”

       Defendant’s fourth evidentiary issue concerns “sleep talk” testimony provided by Travis
Bowles. Bowles testified that he and defendant were housed in the same jail facility and were
among a group of inmates who were chained together. Bowles testified that the two of them
were “sleep deprived” for almost two weeks, during which defendant “stayed up like all the
time” and would make statements about shooting his girlfriend and that “she had it coming.”
Bowles described the statements as “sleep talking mantra type weird stuff.”

        Defendant did not object to this testimony at trial, our review of this issue is limited to
plain error affecting defendant’s substantial rights. People v Carines, 460 Mich. 750, 763; 597
NW2d 130 (1999). An error affects substantial rights when it affects the outcome. Id.

        Initially, because the “sleep talk” statements were not compelled or made during a
custodial interrogation, we find no merit to defendant’s argument that admission of the
statements violated his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. People v Henry (After
Remand), 305 Mich. App. 127, 145; 854 NW2d 114 (2014). Moreover, defendant has not
demonstrated that the testimony in this case qualifies as plain error. Defendant’s statements
were admissible as an admission of a party opponent under MRE 801(d)(2). To the extent
defendant argues that the statements were inadmissible because he was asleep and unconsciously
talking, considering Bowles’ equivocation whether defendant’s statements were made when he
was only sleep deprived as opposed to actually sleeping, even assuming that “sleep talk” is not
admissible, defendant cannot show that his statements qualify as “sleep talk.” For the same
reason, defendant cannot show that defense counsel was ineffective for failing to object to
Bowles’ testimony. See People v Ericksen, 288 Mich. App. 192, 201; 793 NW2d 120 (2010)
(“Failing to advance a meritless argument or raise a futile objection does not constitute
ineffective assistance of counsel.”)

                            III. PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT

       Defendant next argues that he was denied a fair trial by the prosecutor’s improper
statements during jury voir dire and in closing argument.

       We review claims of prosecutorial misconduct on a case-by-case basis, and evaluate the
prosecutor’s remarks in context. People v Bennett, 290 Mich. App. 465, 475; 802 NW2d 627
(2010). The test for prosecutorial misconduct is whether the defendant was denied a fair trial.
Dobek, 274 Mich. App. at 63.

       At the start of voir dire, the prosecutor stated:

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                  We hear a lot about the fact that the prosecution has the obligation of
          proving all the elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. And that the
          defendant is presumed innocent unless all the elements are proven. Does anybody
          though think that my clients, the People of Michigan, are not entitled to a fair
          trial? Does anybody think it’s a one way street? Ms. Peraino, should it be a two
          way street? Are we entitled—my clients entitled to a fair trial? [Emphasis
          added.]

          The prosecutor continued,

                   You can expect in this case that I will be as aggressive as I can be to
          obtain the result that I think that my clients, the People of Michigan are entitled to.
          And that means that you’re going to hear me object and make certain arguments.
          And sometimes it gets very heated, okay. . . . Is anybody going to punish my
          clients, the People of Michigan, because they happen to have an aggressive lawyer
          on this case? [Emphasis added.]

       The prosecutor asked Juror K if his previous experience with the police “would prevent
you from giving my clients a fair shake in the jury room after you’ve heard all the evidence?”
The prosecutor asked Juror S:

                  I’m hired by the Attorney General to represent the People of Michigan,
          they’re my clients. Do you think that that entitles me to any benefit or my clients
          to any benefit.

The prospective juror replied, “No.”

         Juror A admitted that he “had a little streak of getting into trouble” with the legal system,
but he did not have a bad opinion of the police or prosecutors because he “got what [he]
deserved.” The prosecutor then asked, “Think my clients the People of Michigan are entitled to
a fair trial?” The prospective juror replied that they were.

          In another instance, the following exchange occurred:

                   Q. [PROSECUTOR]: [M]y clients the people of Michigan, which we are
          all the people, are they entitled to a fair trial?

                 A. [JUROR Y]: Yes.

                 Q. My clients entitled to a fair trial?

                 A. Oh definitely, yes.

                 Q. Cause there’s no King here; I don’t represent any King.

          At the conclusion of voir dire, the trial court held a bench conference. Defense counsel
stated:

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                To Mr. Whitesman and his questions had referred to the People of the
        State of Michigan and then we are all people . . . . And I don’t think that was
        proper to bring the jury in as a prospective plaintiff in the case. That has the
        effect of doing that.

The prosecutor replied:

               I think that the reality is that I represent the people of Michigan and that’s
        how it’s framed. I made it clear that I’m hired by the government to represent the
        people. And that’s the reality of who I represent.

The trial court stated:

                You know, it’s not the kind of objection I’m going to correct, but, you
        know, I think [defense counsel’s] correct. He’s right in that what you’ve done is
        you’ve told the jury that you represent them. And in a generic sense, yes you do,
        but in the sense of this trial, no you don’t. [Emphasis added.]

        Despite the trial court’s admonishment, during closing argument, the prosecutor
continued with his theme, stating, “On behalf of my clients, the People of Michigan, who are
very real people, I want to thank you for your attention.” He ended with the statement, “On
behalf of my clients, the very real people who seek justice, we’re requesting that you return a
verdict of guilty as to all three.”

         The prosecutor’s repeated assertions that the “people of Michigan” were his clients
amounted to misconduct. Although an introductory statement that includes the phrase “I
represent the people of Michigan,” is acceptable, here, the prosecutor repeatedly told the
prospective jurors, and then the jury, that the people of Michigan were his clients, on no less than
11 separate occasions. The prosecutor stated that he was “hired by the Attorney General to
represent the People of Michigan,” that he did not represent “any King,” but rather resented “the
people of Michigan,” that “we are all people,” and that his “clients” were “very real people who
seek justice.” In constantly repeating this theme, the prosecutor risked leading the jurors to
believe that he represented them. It is well-established that prosecutors may not inject issues into
a trial that are broader than a defendant’s guilt or innocence. People v Abraham, 256 Mich. App.
265, 273; 662 NW2d 836 (2003). Thus, prosecutors may not appeal to the jurors’ sense of civic
duty, id., or attempt to persuade jurors based on the prestige of the office. People v Cowell, 44
Mich. App. 623, 628; 205 NW2d 600 (1973). The prosecutor came close to injecting issues into
the trial that were broader than defendant’s guilt or innocence, played on the prestige of his
office, and bordered on an appeal to the juror’s sense of civic duty. The trial court clearly
explained to the prosecutor the nature of his error and in so doing implicitly cautioned him from
using the verbiage. Despite the trial court’s statement, the prosecutor continued using the same
verbiage. This was improper.

        Although the prosecutor intentionally committed misconduct in this case, contrary to
defendant’s argument, the misconduct did not amount to a structural error warranting reversal.
That is, the error did not rise to the level of the very limited class of errors that constitute
structural errors that “affect the framework of the trial, infect the truth-gathering process, and

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deprive the trial of constitutional protections without which the trial cannot reliably serve its
function as a vehicle for determination of guilt or innocence.” People v Allan, 299 Mich. App.
205, 211-212; 829 NW2d 319 (2013) (citation omitted). Rather, instances of misconduct must
be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine whether, when viewed in context of the entire
proceeding, the misconduct denied defendant a fair trial. Dobek, 274 Mich. App. at 63.

        In this case, the improper statements did not deny defendant a fair trial. The prosecutor
did not offer the references as a reason for finding defendant guilty and there was overwhelming
evidence of defendant’s guilt. In addition, the trial court instructed the jury that it was to “decide
the case based upon the facts and the evidence and the law given to you by the Court and not
your sympathies or prejudices,” and that the lawyers’ statements and comments are not evidence.
See People v Petri, 279 Mich. App. 407, 414; 760 NW2d 882 (2008) (Jurors are presumed to
follow the trial court’s instructions).

                           IV. DEFENDANT’S STANDARD 4 BRIEF

        Defendant raises additional issues in a Standard 4 brief. This brief is written in a
rambling style and is largely incoherent. See People v Kelly, 231 Mich. App. 627, 640–641; 588
NW2d 480 (1998) (“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.”) The brief reiterates claims of evidentiary error
and ineffective assistance of counsel that have already been addressed. Defendant raises an
additional issue suggesting that the prosecutor fabricated evidence that defendant gave a written
confession in the course of a “mass” police investigation. This argument is difficult to
comprehend and we have not found anything in our review of the lower court record to
corroborate any portion of that argument. The prosecutor did not introduce a written confession
into evidence, and no prosecution witness represented that defendant wrote out or signed a
confession. There was testimony that an officer typed defendant’s oral responses in the hospital
interview, but this writing was not offered as an exhibit. To the extent that defendant raises
additional claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, he has not established any errors apparent
from the record or demonstrated any basis for remanding this case for an evidentiary hearing.
People v Nix, 301 Mich. App. 195, 207; 836 NW2d 224 (2013); People v Armisted, 295 Mich. App.
32, 46; 811 NW2d 47 (2011).

       Affirmed.

                                                              /s/ Cynthia Diane Stephens
                                                              /s/ Stephen L. Borrello
                                                              /s/ Michael F. Gadola

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