People v. Alan Jones
People v. Alan Jones
Opinion of the Court
A jury found defendants Alan D. Jones and James A. Watts guilty of delivering 225 grams or more, but less than 650 grams of cocaine, MCL 333.7401(2)(a)(ii); MSA 14.15(7401)(2)(a)(ii). The trial court sentenced both defendants to prison for ten to thirty years. Defendants appealed separately as of right, and this Court consolidated
On March 18, 1988, a third defendant, whose appeal is not before us, arranged to sell half a kilogram of cocaine. The buyer turned out to be an undercover police officer. The undercover officer testified that Jones was the person who actually handed the cocaine to him. Watts was at the scene when the delivery took place, and later confessed to the police that the cocaine had been his.
JONES (DOCKET NO. 118919)
A
Defendant Jones claims that the trial court erred in barring him from presenting evidence to the jury that he was acting as a police agent. The trial court excluded the evidence on the basis of its belief that defendant was simply attempting to reargue his entrapment claim before the jury. The trial court had previously determined, following a hearing, that Jones had not been entrapped.
A claim of entrapment is not a denial of criminality; rather, its aim is to bar the government from prosecuting someone for criminal acts. See People v Turner, 390 Mich 7, 21; 210 NW2d 336 (1973). Entrapment is not a defense that negates an essential element of the charged crime. Instead, it presents facts that are collateral to the crime and that justify barring the defendant’s prosecution. People v Juillet, (Brickley, J.) 439 Mich 34, 52; 475 NW2d 786 (1991). In Michigan, entrapment is a question of law for the trial court to decide. People v D’Angelo, 401 Mich 167, 176-177; 257 NW2d 655 (1977).
At the entrapment hearing, defendant argued that he thought he was authorized by the police to
B
However, at trial, defendant Jones was not making just an entrapment claim. He was also making a claim that his actions were not criminal.
Jones contends that because he was a paid confidential police informant and the delivery of the cocaine was performed in the course of his official duties as an informant, the delivery of cocaine was not in violation of the law and his involvement with the police is a valid defense to the charge of delivery. He contends that the jury, not the trial court, must decide whether the facts support his claim. We disagree.
Not every delivery of cocaine is criminal. The intentional delivery of a controlled substance is criminal only when it is not authorized by law. See MCL 333.7401(1); MSA. 14.15(7401)(1). Generally, only licensed persons may possess or distribute controlled substances. MCL 333.7303; MSA 14.15(7303). However, licensure is specifically waived for an "officer or employee of this state, or a political subdivision or agency of this state who is engaged in the enforcement of a state or local law relating to controlled substances and who is authorized to possess controlled substances in the course of that person’s official duties.” MCL
Defendánt does not contend that he was an officer or an employee of the police acting in the course of his official duties, and his testimony does not support such a claim. Therefore, defendant is not entitled to the protection afforded an officer or employee of this state, or a political subdivision or agency of this state under MCL 333.7304(l)(e) and (2); MSA 14.15(7304)(l)(e) and (2). Even if defendant was acting as a paid confidential informant, he was, at best, an agent and not entitled to the protection afforded by the statute to governmental employees performing official duties.
Jones’ intentional involvement in the delivery of drugs to the undercover police officer was not authorized by law. His only arguable defense was entrapment. The trial court properly ruled that the entrapment issue had previously been decided by the court, and could not be presented to the jury. We find no error and, consequently, affirm Jones’ conviction.
Finally, defendant Jones challenges his sentence. Since he was sentenced more than &V2 years ago, this Court decided People v Hill, 192 Mich App 102; 480 NW2d 913 (1991), in which the Court stated criteria for the "substantial and compelling reasons” that would justify deviation from the mandatory minimum sentence imposed under MCL 333.7401(2)(a)(ii) and (4); MSA 14.15(7401)(2) (a)(ii) and (4). We are persuaded that the trial court should reconsider the sentence imposed in light of that case.
Because no determination has been made that the sentence is invalid, a resentencing is not re
WATTS (DOCKET NO. 121805)
Defendant Watts claims that the evidence presented against him, both at the preliminary examination and at the trial, was insufficient. We disagree. At both proceedings, the prosecutor presented evidence that Watts was present at the transaction and that he later admitted to the police that he had supplied the cocaine involved. Viewed in a light most favorable to the prosecution, this is sufficient evidence to show that Watts aided and abetted the delivery.
Watts argues that his statement to the police should not have been admitted into evidence. We disagree. Giving proper deference to the trial court’s special opportunity to judge the credibility of the witnesses, MCR 2.613(C), we do not find the trial court to have erred in finding that Watts made the statement voluntarily after validly waiving his rights.
Watts next contends that the trial court should have ordered his trial severed from that of the other defendants, and that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel when his attorney did not ask the trial court to do so. We find no indication of error on the trial court’s part, and no suggestion that his attorney’s decision was anything other than sound trial strategy. People v
Watts also claims that the trial court erroneously allowed hearsay evidence to be used against him. Not only did defendant fail to preserve this issue by failing to object below, see MRE 103, but, because his own statement and the-'evidence of what happened sufficiently established the existence of a conspiracy, the evidence was not hearsay. MRE 801(d)(2).
Watts contends that the prosecutor impermissibly vouched for the credibility of a witness. During closing argument, the prosecutor noted that had the cocaine not been bought by an undercover police officer, the defendants would not have been arrested, charged, and put on trial. This is not vouching for the undercover officer’s credibility, but merely pointing out the obvious: crimes that the police are not aware of go unpunished.
Defendant Watts also challenges his sentence. For the same reasons given regarding defendant Jones’ sentence, we believe the trial court should reconsider the sentence imposed on Watts.
Defendants convictions are affirmed, and their cases are remanded to the trial court for reconsideration of the sentences imposed. We do not retain jurisdiction.
Concurring Opinion
(concurring). I concur with the majority’s opinion in all but one respect.
When acting in the course of their official duties enforcing drug laws, governmental officers and employees are authorized to procure and possess controlled substances. MCL 333.7304; MSA 14.15(7304). They are also authorized to transfer
I would hold that, as used in MCL 333.7304; MSA 14.15(7304), the term "employee” includes paid police informants. Defendant Jones is claiming that he was a paid police informant acting in the course of his official duties enforcing drug laws when he handed the cocaine to the undercover officer. If this claim were true, then on the facts of this case, Jones would have been authorized by law to make the transfer he made, MCL 333.7304(2); MSA 14.15(7304)(2), and the delivery would not have violated MCL 333.7401(2)(a)(ii); MSA 14.15(7401)(2)(a)(ii). Thus, I find that his claim is not a simple entrapment claim, but a claim that goes to guilt or innocence. He is not claiming that he committed the crime because his will was overborne. He is claiming that he did not commit a crime. I would hold that the trial court erred when it refused to permit Jones to present that claim to the jury.
However, after reviewing the record, I am convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that no rational human being would have believed Jones’ claim. Thus, I find the error harmless.
I concur.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- People v. Alan Jones; People v. Watts
- Cited By
- 5 cases
- Status
- Published