People v. Harrison
People v. Harrison
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting). On occasion a case arises which presents difficulties in according the usual deference to a jury’s determination of a defendant’s guilt. A case of this type requires a discriminating analysis on the part of the appellate court. On the one hand, we must consider the deeply rooted aversion to upsetting the determination of 12 jurors based solely upon our own subjective perception of the defendant’s innocence. On the other hand, we must avoid the temptation to affix in a perfunctory manner the label "there was sufficient evidence” and brush aside defendant’s protestations to the contrary solely because a jury has returned a verdict of guilty. With this in mind, the proper standard has been framed so that this Court may properly exercise its appellate function.
"In passing on a motion for a directed verdict of acquittal in a criminal case, the reviewing court must (1) consider only the evidence which has been introduced at the time the motion was made, (2) view that evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, and (3) determine whether that evidence, if credible and believed, would justify a reasonable man in concluding that all elements of the crime were established beyond a reasonable doubt.” People v Fudge, 66 Mich App 625, 631; 239 NW2d 686 (1976).
At trial to ascertain the validity of the charges, the people called three police officers who gave their version of the events which transpired on the night in question. They began their testimony by stating that they made an agreement over the telephone with a Janice, a codefendant at trial, for her to "service” them. Thus, as a result of this conversation, they proceeded to the house where the servicing was to occur.
Upon entering the house, they were taken to a bedroom by Janice. They recounted that, in addition to Janice, there was another woman and a small baby, which this woman was caring for, in the house. The woman took the child into a bedroom and closed the door. Thereafter, various conversations between Janice and the officers concerning the cost and procedure of the "servicing” were entered into. A portion of these conversations concerned the source of several bruises on her body. She responded that they were from her pimp. In their endeavor to reach agreement on all of the arrangements, one of the officers expressed concern with Janice retaining the money prior to completion of their business. The officers testified that Janice became irate and proceeded to bring the woman who was caring for the baby into the room and asked the officers if they would rather have her hold the money. The officers responded affirmatively.
After she was handed the money, the woman left the room and continued to the back room
As a result of these actions, as noted by the majority, defendant was convicted of two crimes. The first of these, receiving the earnings of a prostitute, MCLA 750.457; MSA 28.712, requires that the following elements be established to convict a defendant:
"First, that the defendant [accepted/received/levied/ (or) appropriated] money (or something of value) from a prostitute.
"Second, that the defendant did so knowing the woman to be a prostitute.
"Third, that the defendant did so, knowing the money [or other valuable thing] to be proceeds of the woman’s earnings from prostitution.
"Fourth, that the defendant furnished nothing of value in return for such money [or other valuable thing].” See Proposed Michigan Criminal Jury Instructions, pp 845-846. (Footnote omitted.)
The people focus upon defendant’s presence in the house during the transaction noted above and the ultimate receipt of the money in the hands of the defendant. To be sure, these facts have a significant evidentiary impact and must, therefore, be considered by this Court in its disposition. However, the people ignore much of what is present and, particularly, what is absent from the case. First, defendant received the money from a
Nor does the disposition regarding defendant’s conviction for maintaining, operating, or keeping or aiding and abetting in the maintaining, operating, or keeping of a house of ill-fame or a bawdy house, MCLA 750.452; MSA 28.707, stand in a better light. One may start with the fact that the essential elements of this offense are: (1) the existence of a house of ill-fame or bawdy house; (2) the defendant kept the house or aided in keeping it; (3) the house was resorted to for the purposes of prostitution and lewdness. People v Russell, 110 Mich 46; 67 NW 1099 (1896), People v Mayes, 44 Mich App 482; 205 NW2d 212 (1973).
Again, solely from the evidence recited above, the prosecutor urges we find sufficient evidence to° affirm defendant’s conviction. Once more, I must disagree. I find absolutely no evidence even tending to establish the second element of the offense. Accordingly, I would reverse defendant’s conviction on this offense as well.
Since I would upset the entire verdict of the
Opinion of the Court
Defendant, Clarence Harrison, Jr., was convicted of receiving the earnings of a prostitute, MCLA 750.457; MSA 28.712, and maintaining, operating, or keeping or aiding and abetting in the maintaining, operating, or keeping of a house of ill-fame or a bawdy house, MCLA 750.452; MSA 28.707. He was sentenced to a term in prison of 12-1/2 to 30 years.
On appeal defendant argues that the court committed reversible error in failing to order the prosecutor to endorse one Rose Collins as a res gestae witness.
An accomplice of the defendant need not be endorsed as a res gestae witness even though the charges against her have been dismissed. People v Moore, 29 Mich App 597; 185 NW2d 834 (1971). A review of the record leads us to the conclusion that there was sufficient evidence to charge Rose Collins as an accomplice of the defendant. In fact, she was originally so charged although the proceedings against her were discontinued at the time of preliminary examination.
Moreover, defendant had full knowledge of Rose Collins’ involvement in the incident which formed the basis for the case against him. His motion for endorsement came only after the prosecutor rested his case. The motion was untimely. People v Jones, 38 Mich App 512; 196 NW2d 817 (1972), lv den, 388 Mich 792 (1972). By waiting without excuse until the prosecutor closed his proofs, defendant waived any right he may have had to the endorse
Our careful review of the entire record further persuades us that the defendant’s claims of prose-cutorial misconduct are without merit.
Finally, when viewed in a light most favorable to the prosecution, the evidence justified the trial court’s denial of defense counsel’s motion to dismiss. People v Bailey, 69 Mich App 92; 244 NW2d 616 (1976).
The defendant’s conviction is affirmed.
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