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People v. Miller, Michigan Court of Appeals, Docket No. 106813 (Dec. 27, 1989) — Summary

Factual and Procedural Background

On August 12, 1987, defendant Jeffrey Scott Miller, age twenty, pled guilty in Barry Circuit Court to two counts of breaking and entering an unoccupied dwelling (MCL 750.110; MSA 28.305). As part of the plea negotiations, the prosecutor agreed not to charge defendant as an habitual offender and to dismiss four pending breaking and entering charges and an additional habitual-offender charge. On September 25, 1987, the trial court sentenced defendant to concurrent prison terms of 6 1/2 to 10 years—a departure from the sentencing guidelines, which called for a minimum range of zero to twelve months. The court stated the basis for departure was that defendant fit the "classic profile of a juvenile delinquent extending his conduct into adulthood."

Defendant appealed as of right on February 22, 1988, arguing that his prior criminal record consisted of uncounseled juvenile adjudications and misdemeanor convictions that could not be used to enhance punishment. This Court granted defendant's motion to remand for a Tucker/Moore hearing (citing United States v. Tucker and People v. Moore) on July 1, 1988, while retaining jurisdiction. After the remand hearing, the trial court denied defendant's motion for resentencing on October 5, 1988. The Court of Appeals then vacated the sentence and remanded for resentencing before a different judge, directing correction of the presentence information report to strike references to prior uncounseled convictions, and declined to retain jurisdiction.

Legal Issues Presented

  1. Whether the trial court's sixfold departure from the sentencing guidelines and imposition of the statutory maximum sentence constituted an abuse of discretion (i.e., a sentence that "shocks the conscience" or is excessive).
  2. Whether uncounseled misdemeanor convictions and juvenile adjudications (without valid waivers of counsel) may be used to enhance punishment at sentencing.
  3. Whether resentencing is required and, if so, whether it should occur before a different judge.

Arguments of the Parties

Defendant's Arguments

  • Defendant asserted on appeal that his prior record consisted of uncounseled juvenile adjudications and misdemeanor convictions that could not be used to enhance punishment.
  • At the Tucker/Moore hearing, defendant established that he was unrepresented by counsel in all but one prior misdemeanor conviction and that valid waivers of counsel had not been obtained.
  • Defense counsel summarized the prior record at sentencing as consisting mainly of traffic offenses and minor misdemeanors (joyriding, improper registration of plates, attempting to obtain alcohol with an altered driver's license, larceny under $100, exhibition driving, minor in possession, altered operating license, driving on suspended license, failing to report a personal injury accident, no proof of insurance, disorderly person), and argued these were not appropriate bases for the substantial departure.

People/Prosecutor's Position

  • As part of the plea agreement, the prosecutor agreed not to charge defendant as an habitual offender and to dismiss several pending charges; the opinion does not further detail prosecutorial argument on sentencing or use of prior convictions.

Table of Precedents Cited

Precedent Rule or Principle Cited For Application by the Court
United States v Tucker, 404 U.S. 443, 92 S. Ct. 589, 30 L. Ed. 2d 592 (1972) Authority for remanding for a Tucker/Moore hearing regarding the use of prior convictions in sentencing. The Court granted defendant's motion to remand for a Tucker/Moore hearing and retained jurisdiction.
People v Moore, 391 Mich. 426; 216 N.W.2d 770 (1974) Referenced in the context of Tucker/Moore proceedings and the trial court's claim that noting an infirmity cured error (see p. 437). Cited to reject the sentencing court's reasoning that acknowledgement on the record of infirm convictions avoided error.
People v Coles, 417 Mich. 523; 339 N.W.2d 440 (1983) Defines when a departure is an abuse of discretion (a sentence that "shocks our conscience") and when a sentence is excessive ("exceeds what all reasonable persons would perceive to be an appropriate social response"). The Court found the sixfold departure and imposition of the statutory maximum to be an abuse of discretion and excessive, citing Coles (pp. 542-543).
People v Olah, 409 Mich. 948; 298 N.W.2d 422 (1980) Holds that a court may not enhance punishment at sentencing because of a misdemeanor or ordinance conviction obtained when defendant was not represented by counsel. Used to conclude the prior uncounseled misdemeanor convictions were constitutionally infirm and could not be considered to enhance punishment; sentencing court erred in relying on them.
Baldasar v Illinois, 446 U.S. 222; 100 S. Ct. 1585; 64 L. Ed. 2d 169 (1980) Federal precedent cited by Olah concerning the invalidity of using uncounseled convictions to enhance punishment. Cited as persuasive authority supporting Olah's rule that uncounseled misdemeanor convictions cannot enhance punishment.
People v Yennior, 399 Mich. 892 (1977) Example of principle that a court may not consider factors violative of a defendant's constitutional rights (e.g., refusal to admit guilt). Cited as part of a line of cases illustrating that constitutional violations cannot be considered at sentencing.
People v Courts, 401 Mich. 57; 257 N.W.2d 101 (1977) Illustrates the principle regarding a defendant's right to trial as a factor not to be punished. Cited to support that constitutionally protected conduct or rights may not be considered to enhance sentence.
People v Earegood, 383 Mich. 82; 173 N.W.2d 205 (1970) Example concerning a defendant's demand for trial by jury as a protected act that cannot be punished. Cited among cases showing impermissible factors at sentencing.
People v Hogan, 105 Mich. App. 473; 307 N.W.2d 72 (1981) Example that refusal to plead guilty is not a proper basis to enhance sentence. Cited to illustrate the general rule against considering constitutionally protected conduct at sentencing.
People v Gray, 66 Mich. App. 101; 238 N.W.2d 540 (1975) Example that maintaining innocence is not a proper basis to enhance sentence. Cited among illustrative authorities supporting the principle.
People v Anderson, 391 Mich. 419; 216 N.W.2d 780 (1974) Example that declining to testify cannot be used to enhance punishment. Cited as further authority for the general rule.
People v Evans, 156 Mich. App. 68, 72; 401 N.W.2d 312 (1986) Holds that resentencing before a different judge may be appropriate because the original sentencing judge cannot be expected to erase prior views. The Court ordered resentencing before a different judge, citing Evans as support for that remedy.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

The Court's analysis proceeded in several steps:

  1. Examination of the record established that the sentencing court imposed a sixfold upward departure from the guidelines, sentencing defendant to 6 1/2 to 10 years where the guidelines called for a minimum range of zero to twelve months. The stated justification was that defendant fit a "classic profile of a juvenile delinquent extending his conduct into adulthood."
  2. The Court reviewed defendant's prior record as summarized by defense counsel at sentencing and determined that the prior record "consisted solely of traffic and other menial misdemeanor offenses."
  3. Applying People v Coles, the Court concluded that the magnitude of the departure (sixfold) and imposition of the statutory maximum was an abuse of discretion and was excessive—i.e., it "shocks our conscience" and "exceeds what all reasonable persons would perceive to be an appropriate social response."
  4. At the Tucker/Moore hearing, defendant proved that most prior misdemeanor convictions were uncounseled and lacked valid waivers of counsel. Relying on People v Olah (and Baldasar v Illinois), the Court held such convictions were constitutionally infirm and could not be used to enhance punishment.
  5. The sentencing court had acknowledged that it considered uncounseled convictions but reasoned that noting the infirmity on the record cured any error. The Court rejected that reasoning, concluding that reliance on constitutionally infirm convictions nonetheless amounted to enhancing punishment and was impermissible under Olah and the line of cases cited (Yennior, Courts, Earegood, Hogan, Gray, Anderson).
  6. Because the sentence was both excessive and based in part on constitutionally infirm prior convictions, the Court concluded that resentencing was required. It further ordered that the presentence information report be corrected to strike references to uncounseled convictions and that resentencing occur before a different judge, citing People v Evans to justify a different-judge remand.

Holding and Implications

Holding: The Court vacated defendant's sentence and remanded for resentencing before a different judge. The presentence information report must be corrected to strike references to prior uncounseled convictions. The Court did not retain jurisdiction.

Implications for the parties:

  • Direct effect: Defendant's original sentence was vacated; defendant is entitled to resentencing without reference to prior uncounseled misdemeanor convictions, and the presentence report must be amended to remove such references.
  • Remedy: Resentencing must be conducted by a different judge to avoid the influence of the original judge's prior expressed views or findings.
  • Broader effect: The opinion applies existing precedent (citations listed above) to the facts; the decision enforces the rule that uncounseled misdemeanor convictions may not be used to enhance punishment and that excessive departures from the guidelines that shock the conscience are an abuse of discretion.

This summary is based exclusively on the content of the provided opinion and does not add information beyond what the opinion contains.

PEOPLE v MILLER

PER CURIAM.

On August 12, 1987, defendant Jeffrey Scott Miller, twenty years of age, pled guilty to two counts of breaking and entering an unoccupied dwelling, MCL 750.110; MSA 28.305, in Barry Circuit Court. The prosecutor agreed not to charge defendant as an habitual offender and to dismiss four pending breaking and entering charges as well as an additional habitual-offender charge. On September 25, 1987, defendant was sentenced to concurrent terms of 6 1/2 to 10 years in prison, a departure from the sentencing guidelines which called for a minimum range of zero to twelve months. The court departed on the grounds that defendant fit the "classic profile of a juvenile delinquent extending his conduct into adulthood."

On February 22, 1988, defendant appealed as of right, claiming his prior criminal record consisted of uncounseled juvenile adjudications and misdemeanor convictions which could not be used to enhance punishment. On July 1, 1988, this Court granted defendant's motion to remand for a Tucker/Moore hearing, United States v Tucker, 404 U.S. 443; 92 S Ct 589; 30 L Ed 2d 592 (1972); People v Moore, 391 Mich. 426; 216 N.W.2d 770 (1974), retaining jurisdiction. On October 5, 1988, the trial court denied defendant's motion for a resentencing. We now vacate defendant's sentence and remand for resentencing before a different judge.

At sentencing, defense counsel accurately summarized defendant's prior record as follows:

The first item was a — was a joyriding; second item again is the proper — improper registration [of] plates; the third, trying to obtain alcohol with an altered driver's license; the fourth is the larceny under a hundred, which I believe would be one prior misdemeanor; the fifth is exhibition driving; sixth is minor in possession and display of an altered operating license; the sixth [sic] is driving on suspend[ed license], failing — failing to report a personal injury accident, no proof of insurance; next, disorderly person; and the next brings us to the current charges.

Clearly, defendant's prior record consisted solely of traffic and other menial misdemeanor offenses. We therefore find the sentencing court's sixfold departure from the sentencing guidelines on this record to have been an abuse of discretion to the extent that it shocks our conscience. People v Coles, 417 Mich. 523; 339 N.W.2d 440 (1983). Further, the sentence imposed was excessive as one which "exceeds what all reasonable persons would perceive to be an appropriate social response to the crime committed and the criminal who committed it." Id., pp 542-543. Here, defendant's convictions were for nonviolent theft offenses, directed against property and not persons. In light of all the circumstances, we find the imposition of the statutory maximum, see MCL 750.110; MSA 28.305, to have been an abuse of discretion.

Further, at defendant's Tucker/Moore hearing, defendant established that he was unrepresented by counsel in all but one prior misdemeanor conviction and that valid waivers of counsel had not been obtained. These convictions were constitutionally infirm and could not be used to enhance punishment. See People v Olah, 409 Mich. 948; 298 N.W.2d 422 (1980). The sentencing court acknowledged that it had considered uncounseled convictions when imposing sentence, but reasoned that it was aware of the infirmity, noted this factor on the record prior to passing sentence, and thus no error occurred. See Moore, supra, p 437. We disagree. In Olah, our Supreme Court held in no uncertain terms that "[a] court may not enhance punishment at sentencing because of a misdemeanor or ordinance conviction obtained when defendant was not represented by counsel," citing Baldasar v Illinois, 446 U.S. 222; 100 S Ct 1585; 64 L Ed 2d 169 (1980). In departing from the guidelines on the basis of constitutionally infirm misdemeanor convictions, we find that the sentencing court "enhanced punishment" and therefore erred. It is well settled that a court may not consider factors violative of a defendant's constitutional rights in passing sentence. See People v Yennior, 399 Mich. 892 (1977) (defendant's refusal to admit guilt); People v Courts, 401 Mich. 57; 257 N.W.2d 101 (1977) (defendant's right to trial); People v Earegood, 383 Mich. 82; 173 N.W.2d 205 (1970) (defendant's demand for trial by jury); People v Hogan, 105 Mich. App. 473; 307 N.W.2d 72 (1981) (defendant's refusal to plead guilty); People v Gray, 66 Mich. App. 101; 238 N.W.2d 540 (1975) (defendant's maintaining his innocence); People v Anderson, 391 Mich. 419; 216 N.W.2d 780 (1974) (defendant's declining to testify).

We conclude that defendant is entitled to a resentencing and a correction of the presentence information report in which references to prior uncounseled convictions shall be stricken. We believe it is appropriate that defendant be resentenced before a different judge. See People v Evans, 156 Mich. App. 68, 72; 401 N.W.2d 312 (1986). We cannot reasonably expect the sentencing judge to erase from his mind previously expressed views and findings involving the defendant. Id.

Remanded for resentencing. We do not retain jurisdiction.

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PEOPLE v. MILLER
(Apr 27, 1989)