Summary
In People v Bennett, 85 Mich. App. 68; 270 N.W.2d 709 (1978), a majority of the panel found a reversible abuse of discretion where the trial court allowed impeachment by evidence of two similar prior offenses when impeachment by other nonsimilar crimes was thought to be sufficient.
Summary of this case from People v. MoseleyOpinion
Docket No. 77-935.
Decided August 7, 1978. Leave to appeal applied for.
Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Robert A. Derengoski, Solicitor General, Peter D. Houk, Prosecuting Attorney, and Michael G. Woodworth, Chief Appellate Attorney, for the people.
Charles A. Palmer, for defendant on appeal.
Before: BASHARA, P.J., and M.J. KELLY and ALLEN, JJ.
Defendant was convicted on December 16, 1976, of larceny from a motor vehicle, MCL 750.356a; MSA 28.588(1), by an Ingham County Circuit Court jury. Immediately following the jury's verdict, defendant pled guilty to an information charging him with being an habitual offender, fourth offense, MCL 769.13; MSA 28.1085. On January 14, 1977, the trial court sentenced defendant to 2-1/2 to 10 years imprisonment. He appeals of right raising three issues, one of which is dispositive.
Defendant argues that the trial judge abused his discretion by allowing the prosecutor to impeach the defendant through the use of defendant's two 1975 convictions for larceny from a motor vehicle. He asserts that since these offenses were identical to the charged crime the jury could not help but be prejudiced. Three other 1975 felony convictions of the defendant were available for impeachment, and were crimes bearing more directly upon his credibility: two convictions for receiving or concealing stolen property over the value of $100, and one conviction for attempted forgery.
In exercising his discretion, the trial judge expressly revealed on the record his understanding of the law, and delineated its application to the facts before him, stating:
"THE COURT: Well, the Court recognizes clearly its responsibility to pass upon the matter of what previous offenses — more correctly, what previous convictions may be inquired into by the Prosecuting Attorney when the Defendant takes the witness stand. This Court further recognizes that previous cases have set forth certain standards that a Court should consider in passing upon this matter. In US versus Mahone, 537 Federal Second 922, a 1976 case, the Court there indicated some five criteria and made reference to Winston on Evidence.
The criteria set forth in the Mahone case are these: One, the impeachment value of the prior crime. Two, the point in time of the conviction and the witness's subsequent history. Three, the similarity between the past crime and the charged crime. The importance of the Defendant's testimony. And, finally, the centrality of the credibility issue.
In an article in the Wayne Law Review, Volume 21, page 470, the author, James K. Robinson, discusses the matter of the use of prior convictions. I make mention of that only because the Court has considered and reviewed it before passing upon this subject. In People versus Townsend, [ 60 Mich. App. 204; 230 N.W.2d 378 (1975)] I don't know whether Mr. Edwards hit this or touched upon this case, a Court of Appeals decision April 7, 1975. The Court there said the fact that prior criminal convictions which the Prosecutor seeks to use to impeach a Defendant's credibility are similar to the offense for which the Defendant is on trial does not require their exclusion. In our case the convictions relied upon by the Prosecutor are in close proximity of time with the case at hand. This lends or tends to cause the Court to lean towards admissibility.
It's to be observed that two of these offenses are for larceny from an auto. Two are receiving and concealing over a hundred, and the final one is for attempted forgery. All deal with or are concerned with dishonesty. Mention of this is for the purpose of attacking credibility, believability, the honesty of the Defendant, if you please, at least in part.
Having all of this in mind, this Court does exercise its discretion and will permit inquiry into these five offenses. It's to be observed that the Prosecuting Attorney is not attempting to utilize offenses ancient in time, far removed or offenses not indicative of dishonesty."
The trial judge, in his discretion, may admit evidence of defendant's prior convictions when the defendant testifies in his own behalf. People v Jackson, 391 Mich. 323; 217 N.W.2d 22 (1974), MCL 600.2159; MSA 27A.2159. The trial judge reflected on the record that he was using his discretion when he ruled in favor of allowing all five of defendant's 1975 convictions into evidence. See People v Cherry, 393 Mich. 261; 224 N.W.2d 286 (1974). This Court has been reluctant to disturb such a discretionary ruling. See e.g. People v Gunter, 76 Mich. App. 483, 490-491; 257 N.W.2d 133 (1977).
We observe that the discretion of the trial judge is not unlimited, and any ruling that the trial judge makes is not automatically correct simply because he has stated on the record that he is exercising his discretion.
Upon a review of the instant facts we hold that the trial judge abused his discretion. Theoretically, he allowed the two prior convictions of larceny from a motor vehicle solely for the purpose of impeaching the credibility of the defendant. The reference to the three other convictions, however, more than adequately served the purpose of impeaching defendant's credibility. The question becomes: How many convictions are allowable to support an impeachment purpose? We hold that the trial judge erred when he allowed the prosecutor to impeach defendant using defendant's past convictions for the identical crime for which he was charged. We note that reference to identical crimes does not necessarily require reversal, but when viewed cumulatively with the three other nonidentical convictions which are more than sufficient to impeach defendant, reversal is required. Cf. People v Townsend, 60 Mich. App. 204, 206; 230 N.W.2d 378 (1975), People v Gunter, supra, at 491. The admission of defendant's prior convictions for the same crime as the one he was charged with tipped the scales so that the prejudicial effect on the defendant outweighed any probative relevance. Cf. People v Stephens, 58 Mich. App. 701, 706; 228 N.W.2d 527 (1975).
The jury was informed that the defendant had been convicted twice in the past of crimes identical to the one on trial. We cannot say that the jury would not believe that defendant was more likely to commit this crime again because of his past conduct. The prejudice is not harmless. See People v Killebrew, 61 Mich. App. 129, 132; 232 N.W.2d 329 (1975), People v Florida, 61 Mich. App. 653, 666-667; 233 N.W.2d 127(1975). See also People v Jackson, supra, at 333.
We hold that the trial judge went beyond the proper scope of admitting evidence to impeach the defendant, and allowed testimony which tended only to prejudice the jury regarding defendant's guilt of the crime charged.
Defendant's other claimed errors require no discussion.
Reversed for a new trial.
ALLEN, J., concurred.
I respectfully dissent. When the trial judge elected to allow all of defendant's prior felony convictions into evidence, he used that discretion which our Supreme Court has so forcefully advised must be implemented. People v Jackson, 391 Mich. 323; 217 N.W.2d 22 (1974), People v Cherry, 393 Mich. 261; 224 N.W.2d 286 (1974).
The majority correctly finds that we have been reluctant to disturb such a ruling. The Supreme Court or the Legislature has not proscribed the use of felony convictions for impeachment purposes. Until that time, I am loathe to say that when a trial judge allows five prior felony convictions into the record rather than three, he is abusing his discretion.
I would affirm the conviction.