People v. Wyrick
People v. Wyrick
Opinion of the Court
Defendant appeals as of right his jury trial convictions for possession with intent to deliver less than fifty grams of cocaine, MCL 333.7401(2)(a)(iv), and possession of marijuana, MCL 333.7403(2)(d). Defendant was sentenced as a fourth-offense habitual offender, MCL 769.12, to forty-six months to thirty years in prison for the conviction for possession with intent to deliver cocaine, and as a second-offense controlled-substance offender, MCL 333.7413(2), to a consecutive term of sixteen months to two years in prison for the conviction for possession of marijuana, MCL 333.7401(3).
Defendant first argues that trial court erred by ordering his sentences to be served consecutively instead of concurrently. Specifically, defendant contends that his conviction for possession of marijuana, second offense, does not constitute “another felony” within the meaning of the term in the consecutive-sentencing provision of the Public Health Code, MCL 333.7401(3),
Whether the trial court properly imposed consecutive sentences is a question of law, which we review de novo. People v Gonzalez, 256 Mich App 212, 229; 663 NW2d 499 (2003). A consecutive sentence may be imposed only if it is specifically authorized by statute. People v Lee, 233 Mich App 403, 405; 592 NW2d 779 (1999). The version of MCL 333.7401(3) that was in effect on the date the crime was committed in this case provided that a term of imprisonment imposed pursuant to MCL 333.7401(2)(a) “shall be imposed to run consecutively with any term of imprisonment imposed for the commission of another felony.” Therefore, we must determine whether a conviction for possession of marijuana, second offense, constitutes “another felony” for purposes of the consecutive-sentencing provision set out in MCL 333.7401(3).
The primary goal of judicial interpretation of statutes is to give effect to the intent of the Legislature. People v Weeder, 469 Mich 493, 497; 674 NW2d 372 (2004). If a statute is clear, it must be enforced as plainly written; however, if a statute is susceptible to
Our Supreme Court has explained that
[t]he enhancement of punishment through consecutive sentencing is a legislative action taken for the ostensible purpose of deterring certain criminal behavior. With its focus on enhancement of the punishment for commission of certain controlled substances offenses, it is apparent that the aim of [MCL 333.7401(3)] is to deter commission of those offenses by mandating that sentences imposed for the drug crimes enumerated in the statute run consecutively to sentences imposed for other felonies. Absent a convincing indication that the Legislature meant the term to be interpreted in a limited manner, or a convincing argument that limitation would advance the goal of the sentence enhancement provision, a broad definition of “another felony” provides the most sensible and reasonable interpretation of the legislative expression embodied in the statute, in view of the subject matter of the law and the goal of consecutive sentencing. [People v Morris, 450 Mich 316, 327-328; 537 NW2d 842 (1995) (citation omitted).]
Of similar import, MCL 333.1111(2) provides that the Public Health Code “shall be liberally construed for the protection of the health, safety, and welfare of the people of this state.”
Because “felony” is not defined in the Public Health Code, we must accord the word its plain and ordinary meaning, considering the context in which the word is used. People v Disimone, 251 Mich App 605, 610; 650 NW2d 436 (2002). “This Court may consult dictionaries in order to discern the plain and ordinary meaning of terms not defined in the statute.” Id. Because “felony”
We agree with defendant’s contention that the prosecution and the trial court mistakenly relied on the definitions of “felony” found in the Michigan Penal Code, MCL 750.7, and the Code of Criminal Procedure, MCL 761.1(g), to support their position that possession of marijuana, second offense, is a felony. In People v Hughes, 217 Mich App 242, 245-246; 550 NW2d 871 (1996), this Court, relying on Morris, held that the definition of “felony” in the Michigan Penal Code, MCL 750.7, should not be used to determine the scope of the definition of “another felony” in MCL 333.7401(3), because the Michigan Penal Code “specifically provides that the definition provided therein applies to that act only, and the statutory provision in question here is not part of that code, but part of the Public Health Code.” Similarly, the definition of “felony” in the Code of
It is obvious that the Penal Code definitions [of misdemeanor and felony] apply only to the Penal Code. Similarly, the definitions [of misdemeanor and felony] in the Code of Criminal Procedure are limited in application to that code. To apply the definition of misdemeanor in one statute to the operations of the other statute would defeat the purposes of the other statute.
Thus, the definitions of felony found in the Michigan Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure apply to those codes only and should not be used to supplant the Public Health Code’s classification of possession of marijuana as a misdemeanor. Nevertheless, relying on the principles of statutory construction set out earlier, we find that possession of marijuana, second offense, qualifies as “another felony” for which consecutive sentencing was mandatory under MCL 333.7401(3). Therefore, we affirm the trial court’s denial of defendant’s motion for resentencing, even though the court reached the right result for the wrong reason. People v Monaco, 262 Mich App 596, 608; 686 NW2d 790 (2004).
Defendant next argues that he was deprived of his constitutional right to due process when the trial court increased his sentence on the basis of his prior conviction for possession of marijuana when that fact was not decided by the jury. Defendant failed to raise this issue at sentencing or in his motion for resentencing; therefore, our review of this claim of unpreserved, constitutional error is limited to plain error affecting substantial rights. People v Carines, 460 Mich 750, 764, 774; 597 NW2d 130 (1999).
Defendant cites Apprendi v New Jersey, 530 US 466; 120 S Ct 2348; 147 L Ed 2d 435 (2000), for the
Additionally, our Supreme Court has held that “[i]n creating a sentence enhancement provision in the controlled substance act, the Legislature took a factor, the defendant’s prior criminal convictions, a traditional consideration in determining a defendant’s sentence, and authorized a weight to be given that factor, i.e., not more than twice the term authorized.” People v Eason, 435 Mich 228, 232; 458 NW2d 17 (1990). “The statute is directed to facts which relate to the criminal, not to the crime, and nothing in the act suggests a proceeding other than that comporting with the fundamental due process requirement that a sentence must be based on
Defendant next argues that the trial court erred by finding that his convictions were reportable to the Secretary of State. We agree. Defendant failed to raise this issue at sentencing or in his motion for resentenc-ing; therefore, our review of this unpreserved issue is limited to plain error affecting defendant’s substantial rights. People v Sexton, 250 Mich App 211, 227-228; 646 NW2d 875 (2002). We initially note that the judgment of sentence indicates that defendant’s convictions were “reportable to the Secretary of State under MCL 257.625(20)(b).” However, MCL 257.625(20)(a) is the subsection that provides that, if a defendant is found guilty of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of or while impaired due to the consumption of a controlled substance, the trial court shall report the finding to the Secretary of State. Defendant was not operating a motor vehicle at the time of his arrest for the controlled-substanee violations in this case; therefore, his convictions were not properly reportable to the Secretary of State pursuant to MCL 257.625(20)(a).
The prosecution argues that the defendant’s convictions were reportable to the Secretary of State pursuant
Because “[a] sentence is invalid when it is beyond statutory limits, when it is based upon constitutionally impermissible grounds, improper assumptions of guilt, a misconception of law, or when it conforms to local sentencing policy rather than individualized facts,” People v Miles, 454 Mich 90, 96; 559 NW2d 299 (1997), the trial court’s finding that defendant’s convictions were reportable to the Secretary of State constituted an invalid aspect of the sentence. Therefore, a plain error occurred that affected defendant’s substantial rights. Carines, supra at 763. Defendant was prejudiced because the error affected the outcome of the lower court proceedings, i.e., part of his sentence was invalid. Id. Because the error seriously affected the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of the judicial proceedings, defendant is entitled to relief on this unpreserved issue. Id. Therefore, we remand for entry of a corrected
Additionally, in the interest of justice and because this matter must otherwise be remanded for correction of defendant’s sentence, we address an issue not raised by the parties. The trial court enhanced defendant’s sentence for possession with intent to deliver less than fifty grams of cocaine pursuant to the general habitual-offender statute, MCL 769.12. However, if it elected to exercise its discretion to enhance defendant’s sentence for a “subsequent felony” that was a “major controlled substance offense,” the trial court was required to do so under the subsequent-offender provision of the Public Health Code, MCL 333.7413(2).
This Court has held that “[a]s a specific and comprehensive measure the [controlled-substance article’s] sentence-augmentation provision controls over the general habitual offender statute.” People v Edmonds, 93 Mich App 129, 135; 285 NW2d 802 (1979). Further, the fourth-offense habitual-offender statute provides that “ [i]f the subsequent felony is a major controlled substance offense, the person shall be punished as provided by part 74 of the public health code .. ..” MCL 769.12(l)(c). Because possession with intent to deliver less than fifty grams of cocaine, MCL 333.7401(2)(a)(iv), falls within the definition of a “major controlled substance offense” set out in MCL 761.2(a), the trial court, if it elected to exercise its discretion to enhance defendant’s sentence, was required to do so under the subsequent-offender provision of the Public Health Code, which authorizes enhancement to “a term not more than twice the term otherwise authorized . . . .” MCL 333.7413(2).
We affirm defendant’s convictions, set aside the sentence in part, and remand for correction of the judgment of sentence, MCR 6.429(A), as required by this opinion. MCR 7.216(A)(7). We do not retain jurisdiction.
This is known as the Almendarez-Torres exception to Apprendi. Almendarez-Torres v United States, 523 US 224; 118 S Ct 1219; 140 L Ed 2d 350 (1998). In United States v Rodriguez-Gonzalez, 358 F3d 1156, 1158 (CA 9, 2004), the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that when “the earlier offense operates not merely to increase a defendant’s sentence, but to transform his second offense from a misdemeanor to a felony,” the Almendarez-Torres exception to Apprendi is inapplicable, and the prior conviction must be charged in the information in order to be used to increase a defendant’s sentence. However, while defendant relies on Rodriguez-Gonzalez to support his argument, we decline to follow it. We are not bound to follow decisions of federal courts of appeals, People v Harris, 470 Mich 882 (2004), citing Abela v Gen Motors Corp, 469 Mich 603, 607; 677 NW2d 325 (2004), and we find the Rodriguez-Gonzalez analysis unconvincing.
Concurring in Part
(concurring in part and dissenting in part). I respectfully dissent from the majority’s conclusion that possession of marijuana, second offense, constitutes a felony within the meaning of the consecutive sentencing provision of the Fublic Health Code, MCL 333.7401(3).
The Legislature has designated possession of marijuana as a misdemeanor. MCL 333.7403(2)(d). Defen
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.