People of Michigan v. Anthony Ray McFarlane Jr
People of Michigan v. Anthony Ray McFarlane Jr
Opinion
*512 Defendant, Anthony Ray McFarlane, Jr., appeals by right his jury conviction of first-degree child abuse involving his then nine-week-old infant, KM. See MCL 750.136b(2). The trial court sentenced defendant to serve 15 to 25 years in prison for his conviction. On appeal, defendant raises several claims of error that he argues warrant a new trial or resentencing. For the reasons explained below, we affirm defendant's conviction but remand for resentencing.
*513 I. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE
A. STANDARD OF REVIEW
Defendant first argues that the prosecution presented insufficient evidence to support his conviction of first-degree child abuse. This Court reviews a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence by examining the "record evidence de novo in the light most favorable to the prosecution to determine whether a rational trier of fact could have found that the essential elements of the crime were proved beyond a reasonable doubt."
People v. Roper
,
B. ANALYSIS
To establish the elements of first-degree child abuse, the prosecution had to prove-in relevant part-that defendant "knowingly or intentionally cause[d] serious physical ... harm" to KM. MCL 750.136b(2). Serious physical harm means "any physical injury to a child that seriously impairs the child's health or physical well-being, including, but not limited to, brain damage, a skull or bone fracture, subdural hemorrhage or hematoma, dislocation, sprain, internal injury, poisoning, burn or scald, or severe cut." MCL 750.136b(1)(f). Because the Legislature provided that the perpetrator must "knowingly or intentionally" cause the serious physical harm, it is not sufficient for the prosecution to prove that a defendant intended to commit the act that caused the physical harm; the prosecution must prove that the "defendant intended to cause serious physical harm or knew that serious physical harm would be
*514
caused by [his or] her act."
People v. Maynor
,
In this case, the prosecution presented evidence that tended to suggest that defendant injured KM at some point on December 6, 2013, or early in the day on December 7, 2013.
KM's half-sister, KD, who was five years old on the day at issue, testified that she wanted defendant to play with her, but he wanted to play video games. After she began to cry, defendant became angry *346 with her, punished her, and eventually spanked her. She said she went to her room but peeked into the living room when she heard KM crying. She saw defendant shaking KM.
Defendant suggests that KD's testimony was improbable because her timing was off and she failed to earlier disclose the shaking incident. When reviewing challenges to the sufficiency of the evidence, this Court must not interfere with the fact-finder's role in deciding the weight and credibility to give to a witness's testimony-"no matter how inconsistent or vague that testimony might be."
People v. Mehall
,
KD's testimony about the timing was not entirely clear. She did at first imply that the shaking incident occurred sometime immediately before defendant took *515 her to his mother's house, which would have been early on Saturday, December 7, 2013. The children's mother, Dakota Chitwood, testified that KM was already showing signs of fussiness and pain by that time, and Chitwood was home and would likely have been in a position to witness the discipline had it occurred Saturday morning. However, KD later testified that the discipline occurred after she got home from school and before her mother got home from work. From KD's testimony a reasonable finder of fact could infer that the shaking incident occurred on Friday.
The prosecution also presented expert testimony that KM had several injuries. Sarah Brown, D.O., a child abuse pediatrician, testified that KM had blood in the "space between her brain and her skull"-the "subdural space." The bleeding was "all over both sides of her brain." She also had a suspected tibia fracture, and Brown stated that an ophthalmologist observed bleeding in the back of KM's eye, which was referred to as retinal hemorrhages. Brown stated that KM's injuries could have been caused by someone violently shaking KM or by throwing her onto a couch or other soft surface. Brown acknowledged that KM had had a prenatal stroke, which caused the left hemisphere of KM's brain to shrink substantially. But she opined that KM's subdural hematomas and retinal hemorrhages were not attributable to her stroke. There was also testimony that the latter injuries arose during the time frame set forth in KD's testimony. Thus, when Brown's testimony is considered with KD's testimony that she saw defendant shake KM, a jury could reasonably, infer that defendant violently shook KM and that his acts caused her to suffer the identified injuries.
Further, it does not matter that the finder of fact must make multiple inferences to establish these elements.
*516
When considering the sufficiency of the evidence, this Court must consider the inferences that can be fairly drawn from the evidence, and "it does not matter that the evidence gives rise to multiple inferences or that an inference gives rise to further inferences."
People v. Hardiman
,
Because it is difficult to prove an actor's state of mind, the prosecution may rely on minimal circumstantial evidence to prove that the defendant had the required mental state. See
People v. Unger
,
The prosecution presented sufficient evidence to permit a rational trier of fact to find that each element of first-degree child abuse had been proved beyond a reasonable doubt. See
Roper
,
II. INVADING THE PROVINCE OF THE JURY
A. STANDARD OF REVIEW
Defendant next argues that the trial court erred when it allowed Brown to testify that she diagnosed KM with "definite pediatric physical abuse." He maintains that Brown's testimony amounted to an opinion that he was guilty. This Court generally reviews a trial court's decision to allow the admission of testimony for an abuse of discretion. See
Roper
,
This Court reviews de novo whether the trial court properly interpreted and applied the rules of evidence. See
People v. Duncan
,
B. ANALYSIS
A trial court may permit testimony by a "witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education" if the court determines that "scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue...." MRE 702. An expert may offer an opinion at trial if his or her
*348
testimony "is based on sufficient facts or data" if the testimony "is the product of reliable principles and methods," and if the witness "has applied the principles and methods reliably to the facts of the case." MRE 702. The trial court must also ensure that the expert's testimony is relevant.
Bynum
,
This case required expert medical testimony because it was beyond the ken of ordinary persons to evaluate the medical evidence and assess the nature and extent of KM's injuries, the timing of those injuries, and the possible mechanisms of injury implicated by the medical evidence. See
People v. Kowalski
,
Although the ultimate issue rule no longer stands in the way of expert testimony stating opinions on crucial questions to be decided by the trier of fact, it is important that the expert witness not be permitted to testify about the requirements of law which apply to the particular facts in the case or to phrase his opinion in terms of a legal conclusion. In the former case, the claim is that the province of the judge is invaded, while in the latter, the contention is that the province of the jury is invaded. [ People v. Drossart ,99 Mich. App. 66 , 75,297 N.W.2d 863 (1980).]
As our Supreme Court explained in
People v. Peterson
,
"The use of expert testimony in the prosecution of criminal sexual conduct cases is not an ordinary situation. Given the nature of the offense and the terrible consequences of a miscalculation-the consequences when an individual, on many occasions a family member, is falsely accused of one of society's most heinous offenses, or, conversely, when one who commits such a crime would go unpunished and a possible reoccurrence of the act would go unprevented-appropriate safeguards are necessary. To a jury recognizing the awesome dilemma of whom to *520 believe, an expert will often represent the only seemingly objective source, offering it a much sought-after hook on which to hang its hat ." [Emphasis added by Peterson .]
This case involved whether defendant intentionally injured KM by inflicting trauma to her brain. Because there was no external evidence of injury, her injuries involved a classic diagnosis of shaken-baby
*349
syndrome or abusive head trauma. See
Sissoko v. State
,
It remains the prevailing view in the medical community that there are "some internal findings that are highly correlated with abusive head trauma...."
[T]he consensus is that no single finding or combination of findings is pathognomonic for abusive head trauma. Rather, a differential diagnosis must be made based upon the totality of the circumstances in each individual case. A congruence of multiple findings, each of which independently correlates with abusive head trauma, narrows the field of potential diagnoses significantly, however, and absent a clinical history of accidental trauma or evidence *521 of a disease process consistent with those findings, a diagnosis of abusive head trauma may be made. [Id. at 723 ,182 A.3d 874 .]
A minority of physicians and other scientists have identified changes in the understanding of the biomechanics of shaking and evidence that subdural hematomas, retinal hemorrhages, and brain swelling are not unique to head trauma caused by human agency. For that reason, those physicians and scientists believe it is impossible to reliably conclude that a particular child's injuries were the result of inflicted trauma.
Our Supreme Court has recognized the debate within the medical community about the reliability of a diagnosis of shaken-baby syndrome or abusive head trauma.
People v. Ackley
,
As a result of the danger that a jury might give too much weight to an expert's opinion on a matter involving an ultimate issue, our Supreme Court has imposed strict limits on expert testimony that "comes too close" to findings that are left exclusively to the jury.
Peterson
, 450 Mich. at 374,
It is necessary for an expert to testify about the types of injuries typically observed with head trauma in children and to describe the possible mechanisms of injury involved. See
Kowalski
,
Notwithstanding the propriety of a diagnosis of inflicted trauma, we conclude that in cases involving allegations of abuse, an expert goes too far when he or she diagnoses the injury as "abusive head trauma" or opines that the inflicted trauma amounted to child abuse. The ordinary understanding of the term "abuse"-as opposed to neglect or carelessness-implies a level of willfulness and moral culpability that implicates the defendant's intent or knowledge when performing the act that caused the head trauma. An expert may not offer an opinion on the intent or criminal responsibility of the accused.
Bynum
,
Brown-who was admitted as an expert in child abuse pediatrics-testified generally about the nature of KM's condition and injuries. She described the *524 possible mechanisms that could cause the injuries and then stated that KM's injuries were inflicted rather than accidental or the result of her preexisting condition. Brown *351 did not limit her diagnosis to her belief that KM's injuries were best explained as inflicted or not accidental; she opined that this case involved a "definite case of abusive head trauma." It was also evident from her testimony that "abusive head trauma" meant child abuse. She repeatedly told the jury that KM's injuries were "caused by definite pediatric physical abuse," and she stated that "we know that abusive head trauma" causes these injuries because people confess to hospital staff and investigators or other family members after inflicting the injuries. She also agreed that KM had suffered previous abuse even though she was only nine weeks old. She further told the prosecutor that she was correct when the prosecutor noted that Brown looked at the totality of the circumstances before concluding that this case involved "child abuse."
Brown's testimony that KM's injuries were caused by "abusive head trauma" or otherwise amounted to "child abuse" strongly suggested that it was her opinion that whoever inflicted the injuries on KM did so with culpable state of mind; that is, her testimony plainly implicated whether defendant "knowingly or intentionally" caused serious physical harm to KM within the meaning of MCL 750.136b(2). Because Brown was in no better position than the jury to assess the intent that defendant had when he acted, her belief that his actions were abusive or amounted to child abuse were irrelevant and inadmissible as a matter of law. See
Drossart
,
Although Brown opined that KM's injuries were caused by definite pediatric physical abuse, she conceded that she could not say what actually happened to KM. She also testified that there were some people who felt that abusive head trauma was misdiagnosed. Moreover, defense counsel called three witnesses who testified that they did not agree with Brown's diagnosis: Julie Mack, M.D., who was a pediatric radiologist; Douglas Smith, M.D., who was a retired pathologist; and Joseph Sheller, M.D., who was a pediatric neurologist. The experts informed the jury that they did not believe that a medical professional could diagnose abuse. Mack testified that the medical records might give rise to a suspicion of abuse but opined that a medical professional cannot diagnose abuse. Smith also testified that the diagnoses of shaken-baby syndrome or abusive head trauma were founded on flawed studies and that there was great controversy over whether a medical professional could make such diagnoses. Sheller similarly testified that the presence of the symptoms seen in KM would cause a reasonable pediatrician to be concerned about the potential for abuse, but that a suspicion does not mean abuse actually occurred. Sheller stated that the symptoms at issue were not an absolute sign of abuse. Given this testimony, the jury was well aware of the limits on Brown's opinion. Any prejudice occasioned by her characterization of the acts was minimal.
*526 Although the prosecutor mentioned in her closing argument that Brown had characterized the symptoms as having been caused by abuse, she did not argue that the jury should rely on Brown's opinion *352 when deciding whether defendant had the requisite intent to establish first-degree child abuse. Instead, she argued that KD's account of events, the severity of the injuries, and defendant's subsequent actions tended to prove defendant's guilt.
There was evidence that KM became symptomatic while in defendant's care, and KD testified that she saw defendant shake KM at around that same time. The timing and eyewitness account permitted an inference that KM manifested her symptoms at that time because they were inflicted at that moment. A detective also reported that KD had reported that she had heard defendant yell "shut up" to KM. KD stated that defendant punished her when she cried at a time when he wanted to play video games. The evidence tended to suggest that defendant could become angry and frustrated by crying children. Brown also testified that KM's injuries were consistent with having been violently shaken. There was also testimony that defendant warned KD not to tell anyone and threatened to come after a neighbor if she or her husband said anything wrong about his statements to investigators. Defendant's statements suggest that he was conscious of his guilt. See
People v. Sholl
,
The totality of the evidence strongly supported that defendant became angry with KM, violently shook her out of frustration, and caused the injuries at issue. Given the strength of the evidence, to the extent that the trial court plainly erred by allowing Brown to use the labels "abusive head trauma" or "child abuse," we
*527
find it unlikely that the error affected the outcome of the trial. See
Carines
,
C. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE
Defendant also argues that defense counsel's failure to object to Brown's testimony amounted to ineffective assistance. Because the trial court did not hold an evidentiary hearing on defendant's claim that he did not receive the effective assistance of counsel, there are no factual findings to which this Court must defer, and this Court's review is for mistakes that are apparent on the record alone.
Unger
, 278 Mich. App. at 253,
In his closing argument, defense counsel portrayed Brown as biased and untrustworthy. He argued to the jury that Brown's testimony was flawed and that she ignored important medical details and discounted evidence that led to a contrary diagnosis because she wanted to "sustain her beliefs." He also stated that Brown's testimony was nothing more than "her opinion," which could not be trusted because she deliberately left out information.
Given defense counsel's argument, he might reasonably have refrained from objecting to Brown's diagnosis of abusive head trauma and her references to abuse because her claim that she could diagnose child abuse
*528
furthered his argument that she was partial and not worthy of credibility. Because there was a plausible and legitimate strategic reason for defense counsel's decision not to object, it cannot be said that the failure to object fell below an objective standard of reasonableness under
*353
prevailing professional norms. See
Defendant has not established plain error or ineffective assistance that warrants a new trial.
III. EVIDENCE OF TIBIA FRACTURE
On appeal, defendant argues that defense counsel should have objected to the evidence regarding a possible tibia fracture that KM may have had. He states that the testimony constituted improper other-acts evidence barred by MRE 404(b) and maintains that defense counsel's failure to object to the admission of the evidence amounted to ineffective assistance of counsel. Although defendant states that the testimony was inadmissible, he has not offered any substantive analysis of the evidence at issue. He also implies that the prosecutor's use of the evidence in closing was improper, but again he has not offered any meaningful analysis. To the extent that defendant might be arguing that the trial court plainly erred by allowing the evidence or that the prosecutor engaged in misconduct by arguing the evidence, defendant has abandoned those claims on appeal. See
People v. Martin
,
At trial, Brown testified that she examined KM's x-rays from her admission to Bronson Hospital and had some concern. She ordered a new bone survey on December 17, 2013. She testified that the new bone survey revealed that KM had a spiral tibia fracture. Although she acknowledged that the report from Bronson stated that KM's bone survey was normal, Brown stated that she recalled from memory that a physician from Bronson diagnosed KM with two fractures, but she could not forensically confirm one fracture. Brown did not otherwise offer any opinion as to when or how the fracture occurred. The prosecution rested after Brown's testimony.
The defense experts thereafter disagreed about whether the x-rays showed a fracture. Mack testified that the x-rays did not reveal a fracture and that even if she were to hypothesize that the films showed a fracture, she would have concluded that the fracture was "weeks old" by the time of the x-rays. Smith did not offer an opinion on the x-rays other than to observe that the interpretations were inconsistent and depended on evidence of a periosteal reaction that was normally found in children who are growing because the periosteum was an active tissue that helps shape the bone during growth. Sheller, by contrast, agreed that the images showed a fracture, but he disregarded it in his opinion because it occurred before the date of the injuries at issue and was for that reason not relevant to his diagnosis.
The evidence that KM might have suffered a fracture at some point before the events at issue was inadmissible under MRE 402, which prohibits the
*530
admission of irrelevant evidence. In the absence of evidence connecting the fracture to defendant, it did not have "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." MRE 401. Indeed, without evidence from which a jury could reasonably find that KM suffered
*354
the injury while under defendant's care and that the nature of the injury was consistent with having been inflicted by human agency, the evidence was not even relevant to prove conduct in conformity with character, which would ordinarily be improper under MRE 404(b). See
People v. VanderVliet
,
As already discussed, this Court must affirmatively entertain the range of possible reasons that defense counsel might not have objected. See
Unger
, 278 Mich. App. at 242,
*531 In this case, the evidence of a tibia fracture was weak, and defense counsel elicited expert testimony that the evidence did not show a fracture or that the fracture was irrelevant to the diagnosis of the symptoms KM exhibited on the day at issue. The one defense expert who acknowledged the fracture stated that that type of fracture could have an innocent origin. Defense counsel also used the inconsistent and weak evidence of a fracture to challenge the credibility of the prosecution's experts. He suggested that the images that showed there was no fracture were deliberately excluded because it did not fit the prosecution's theory of the case.
On this record, it appears that defense counsel had a legitimate strategic reason for not objecting to testimony about the fracture: he had strong evidence to contradict the evidence, and it allowed him to challenge the credibility of the prosecution's experts. Defendant has not overcome the presumption that counsel employed sound trial strategy. See
IV. OFFENSE VARIABLES 3 AND 7
A. STANDARD OF REVIEW
Defendant next argues the evidence did not show that KM's injuries were life-threatening or permanent, or that he treated her with sadism, torture, excessive brutality, or conduct designed to substantially increase her fear and anxiety. Accordingly, he maintains, the trial court erred when it assigned 25 points under Offense Variable (OV) 3 and assigned 50 points under OV 7.
This Court reviews for clear error a trial court's findings in support of particular score under the sentencing guidelines but reviews de novo whether the
*532
trial court properly interpreted and applied the sentencing guidelines to the findings.
People v. Hardy
,
B. ANALYSIS
"When calculating the sentencing guidelines, a court may consider all record evidence, including the contents of a [presentence investigation report (PSIR) ], plea admissions, and testimony presented at a preliminary examination."
*355
People v. McChester
,
A trial court must assess 25 points under OV 3 if it finds that "[l]ife threatening or permanent incapacitating injury occurred to a victim." MCL 777.33(1)(c). The trial court found that a score of 25 points was appropriate for OV 3. The trial court mentioned the possibility that the leg fracture might be permanently incapacitating but then indicated that there was not enough testimony to know whether the leg fracture or other injuries would amount to incapacitating injuries. Nevertheless, it found that there were permanently incapacitating injuries to the brain and that the injury to the brain was potentially life-threatening.
To the extent that the trial court found that defendant's actions caused a permanent incapacitating injury to KM, we find it clearly erred. See
Hardy
, 494 Mich. at 438,
The record shows that KM had significant subdural bleeding, repeated seizures, and retinal hemorrhage and that these injuries were severe enough that the treating physicians at the hospital where she first reported had her airlifted to a larger hospital. Accordingly, the trial court did not clearly err when it found that KM's injuries were life-threatening and assigned 25 points under OV 3. See MCL 777.33(1)(c).
The trial court also found that defendant used excessive brutality in the commission of the offense. Specifically, it noted the leg fractures and the extent of KM's brain injuries. For that reason, it assigned 50 points under OV 7.
The trial court had to assess 50 points under OV 7 if it found that that a "victim was treated with sadism, torture, excessive brutality, or similarly egregious conduct designed to substantially increase the fear and anxiety a victim suffered during the offense." MCL 777.37(1)(a). Because the Legislature provided that the brutality must be-in relevant part-excessive, the trial court could only assign 50 points if it found that the abuse involved in this case exceeded the brutality that normally encompasses first-degree child abuse. See
Hardy
, 494 Mich. at 442-443,
However, the trial court did not clearly err to the extent that it found that KM was subjected to excessive brutality in the commission of the first-degree child abuse. To be guilty of the charge, defendant had to cause serious physical harm to KM, see MCL 750.136b(2), which means "any physical injury to a child that seriously impairs the child's health or physical well-being," MCL 750.136b(1)(f). Although serious physical harm necessarily includes subdural hemorrhages, a person can commit first-degree child abuse without causing such an injury. And in this case, there was evidence-albeit disputed-that defendant had to have violently shaken or thrown KM to cause the subdural hematomas and other injuries. The severity of the injuries supported a finding that KM was treated with brutality in excess of that which necessarily accompanies the commission of first-degree child abuse. See MCL 777.37(1)(a).
The trial court did not err when it scored OV 3 and OV 7.
*535 V. CLAIMS SUBMITTED UNDER STANDARD 4
Finally, defendant submitted a brief on his own behalf under Administrative Order No. 2004-6, Standard 4, 471 Mich. c, cii (2004), in which he raised numerous claims of errors. Defendant did not raise any of the claims before the trial court. Therefore, they are all unpreserved. See
People v. Bass
,
Defendant argues that the trial court erred by relying on inadmissible evidence to score the sentencing variables. A sentencing hearing is not a criminal trial, and many of the constitutional requirements for criminal trials do not apply to sentencing. For example, the rules of evidence do not apply to sentencing. See
People v. Uphaus (On Remand)
,
Defendant also maintains that the trial court erred by making judicial fact-findings, and he claims that he is entitled to a remand for a hearing as described in
*536
People v. Lockridge
,
Defendant next argues that the trial court erred when it scored OV 10 and OV 13. He claims that there was no evidence to support either score. With regard to OV 10, he also states that victim vulnerability is necessarily subsumed within the offense of child abuse and, for that reason, should not be scored.
The trial court had to assess 10 points under OV 10 if it found that defendant "exploited a victim's physical disability, mental disability, youth or agedness, or a domestic relationship, or the offender abused his or her authority status." MCL 777.40(1)(b). The fact that the offense of first-degree child abuse applies to children, see MCL 750.136b(1)(a), does not mean that the trial court may not consider the victim's youth for purposes of scoring OV 10; it should unless the Legislature provided otherwise. See
Hardy
, 494 Mich. at 441-442,
*537
As for OV 13, the trial court had to assign 25 points under that variable if it found that defendant's offense was part of a "pattern of felonious criminal activity involving 3 or more crimes against a person." MCL 777.43(1)(c). The trial court must count all crimes that occurred within a five-year period, which includes the sentencing offense; further, the court must count all offenses even if the offense did not result in a conviction. MCL 777.43(2)(a). As noted in defendant's PSIR, he was on bond for felonious assault when he committed the present offense, which, when counted with the sentencing offense, constituted two offenses against a person. The trial court did not make any specific findings with regard to a third felony offense, so it is unclear how it arrived at the score of 25 points for this OV. On this record, the trial court clearly erred to the extent that it found that defendant had committed three felony offenses against a person within the past five years. See
Hardy
, 494 Mich. at 438,
The trial court calculated defendant's total OV score to be 110, which placed him in cell VI/C of the resentencing grid with a minimum sentence range of 135 to 225 months. See MCL 777.62. After subtracting 25 points, the new score would place him in cell V/C and the new range would be 126 to 210 months. MCL 777.62. The trial court sentenced defendant to serve a minimum sentence of 180 months in prison, which was within the range provided under cell V/C. Because the error was not preserved for appellate review, defendant cannot show that he is entitled to be resentenced unless he does so through a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel during sentencing. See
People v. Francisco
,
Defendant also asserts that his sentence was not proportionate and amounted to cruel and unusual punishment. Because defendant's sentence was within the range provided under the advisory sentencing guidelines, his sentence was "presumptively proportionate, and a proportionate sentence is not cruel or unusual."
People v. Bowling
,
Defendant also suggests that the trial court erred when it allowed KD to testify by video in violation of his right to confront the witnesses against him. Defense counsel, however, told the trial court that he
*539
had agreed with the prosecutor to allow certain witnesses-lay and expert-to testify via electronic communications. Moreover, defense counsel agreed that one of the witnesses was the mother of KM and KD, Chitwood, who had relocated out of state and was having transportation difficulties. So, he had to have understood that the child witness would also be testifying by video. By agreeing that the witnesses could testify by "any means that is available to allow them to testify," defense counsel waived any claim of error with regard to that procedure. See
People v. Carter
,
Defendant also asserts that the trial court erred when it allowed Brown to testify because she was biased, her opinion was not premised on sound science, and she was improperly allowed to offer an opinion on defendant's guilt. As already discussed, although there is disagreement within the medical community about the diagnosis of abusive head trauma, Brown could offer an opinion as to whether KM's injuries were inflicted by human agency. Further, while Brown's use of the term "abusive" to describe the head trauma may have been improper, that error did not warrant relief. Finally, whether Brown held a personal or professional bias was a proper subject for cross-examination; it was not grounds to preclude her from testifying. See
People v. Layher
,
*540 VI. CONCLUSION
We affirm but remand for resentencing consistent with this opinion. We do not retain jurisdiction.
Murray, C.J., and Markey and Tukel, JJ., concurred.
MRE 403 states that "[a]lthough relevant, evidence may be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, waste of time, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence."
Because we have concluded that defendant's remaining claims were without merit, defense and appellate counsel cannot be faulted for failing to raise those claims. See
People v. Riley
,
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.