PEOPLE v. SHANK (2015)

Defendant, Allan Wayne Shank, appeals by delayed leave granted¹ his sentence following his guilty pleas to felon in possession of a firearm, MCL 750.224f, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony (felony-firearm) MCL 750.227b. The trial court sentenced him as a fourth-offense habitual offender.² MCL 769.12. The trial court sentenced Shank to serve 12 to 25 years' imprisonment for his felon in possession and a consecutive term of two years' imprisonment for his felony-firearm conviction. In consideration of our recent ruling in People v. Steanhouse, –––Mich.App ––––; ––– NW2d –––– (2015), we remand the matter to the trial court for resentencing.

I. FACTS

Police officers received disturbing information that Jerry Hilliard, a prison inmate, had sent an eight year old child a gift and card through Shank, who had been in prison with Hilliard and who has previous convictions of accosting minors for immoral purposes. During the investigation, officers discovered that Hilliard had requested that Shank take a photograph of the child posing in only a necklace. While executing a warrant, officers found a Winchester pump .22 caliber rifle in Shank's hall closet. Officers also found evidence that Shank had sent Hilliard a photograph of what appeared to be a pregnant seven year old child and discovered in Shank's photo album a photograph of a 5–year–old girl exposing her vaginal area, which Shank denied belonged to him.

Shank pleaded guilty to felon in possession and felony-firearm, and the prosecution dropped a charge of possession of child sexually abusive material. The sentencing guidelines recommended a minimum sentence of 7 to 46 months' imprisonment for Shanks' felon in possession conviction. The trial court decided to depart upward, instead sentencing Shank to 12 to 25 years' imprisonment. It gave several reasons for its departure, including that Shank did not have much rehabilitative potential since he had been frequently incarcerated for reoffending, violated probation, parole, and received misconduct citations in prison. The trial court also relied on the concerning nature of Shank's noncriminal behavior. The trial court explained that Shank was “assisting his prison mates in making contact with young children outside the prison system. He's starting to groom children in spite of having served these long sentences․ There's been just no rehabilitation at all.”

II. STANDARDS OF REVIEW

This Court, in Steanhouse, considered the impact of People v. Lockridge, ––– Mich. ––––; ––– NW2d –––– (2015) on departure sentences following our Supreme Courts' opinion in Lockridge. Steanhouse holds that pursuant to Lockridge, this Court must review a defendant's sentence for reasonableness. Lockridge, ––– Mich. at ––––; slip op at 2, 29, citing United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 264; 125 S Ct 738; 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005). Hence, when the trial court departs from the applicable sentencing guidelines range, this Court will review that sentence for reasonableness. People v. Lockridge, ––– Mich. ––––; ––––; slip op at 29. However, as stated in Steanhouse, “The appropriate procedure for considering the reasonableness of a departure sentence is not set forth in Lockridge.” Steanhouse, –––Mich.App at ––––; slip op at 35. After discussion of the approaches Michigan Appellate courts should employ when determining the reasonableness of a sentence, this Court adopted the standard set forth by our Supreme Court in People v. Milbourn, 435 Mich. 630; 461 NW2d 1 (1990).

III. PRINCIPLE OF PROPORTIONALITY.

Under Milbourn, “a given sentence [could] be said to constitute an abuse of discretion if that sentence violate[d] the principle of proportionality, which require[d] sentences imposed by the trial court to be proportionate to the seriousness of the circumstances surrounding the offense and the offender.” Milbourn, 435 Mich. at 636; Steanhouse, ––– Mich.App at ––––; slip op at 37. As such, trial courts were required to impose a sentence that took “into account the nature of the offense and the background of the offender.” Milbourn at 651. As stated in Milbourn:

Where there is a departure from the sentencing guidelines, an appellate court's first inquiry should be whether the case involves circumstances that are not adequately embodied within the variables used to score the guidelines. A departure from the recommended rang in the absence of factors not adequately reflected in the guidelines should alert the appellate court to the possibility that the trial court has violated the principle of proportionality and thus abused its sentencing discretion. Even where some departure appears to be appropriate, the extent of the departure (rather than the fact of the departure itself) may embody a violation of the principle of proportionality. Milbourn, at 659–660.

As set forth in Steanhouse, “factors previously considered by Michigan courts under the proportionality standard included, among others, (1) the seriousness of the offense, (2) factors not considered by the guidelines ․ (3) factors that were inadequately considered by the guidelines in a particular case. Steanhouse, at –––– slip op at 38. (Internal citations omitted).

In this case, the trial court did not have the benefit of our Supreme Court's decision in Lockridge or this Court's decision in Steanhouse. Because of this fact, the trial court's sentence departure centered on the then existing substantial and compelling reason standard which was overturned by Lockridge, ––– Mich. at ––––; slip op at 29. Accordingly, in accordance with this Court's decision in Steanhouse, we remand this matter to the trial court for a Crosby³ hearing. “The purpose of a Crosby remand is to determine what effect Lockridge would have on the defendant's sentence, so that it may be determined whether any prejudice resulted from the error.” People v. Stokes, ––– Mich.App ––––; ––– NW2d ––––; (2015) slip op at 11. Also, pursuant to Stokes, defendant is provided with an opportunity to avoid resentencing by promptly notifying the trial judge that resentencing will not be sought. Stokes, ––– Mich.App at ––––; slip op at 11–12, quoting Lockridge, ––– Mich. at ––––; slip op at 35.

Accordingly, we remand the matter to the trial court to follow the Crosby procedure outlined in Lockridge. Because defendant may be sentenced to a more severe sentence, defendant “may elect to forgo resentencing by providing the trial court with prompt notice of his intention to do so. If notification is not received in a timely manner,” the trial court shall continue with the Crosby remand as explained in Lockridge and Stenhouse. See generally, Stokes, ––– Mich.App at ––––; slip op at 12.

We remand the matter for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. We do not retain jurisdiction.

Defendant, Allan Wayne Shank, is a serial sexual offender with eight felony convictions. After Shank engaged in a disturbing photograph exchange with an inmate, police searched his home and found firearms. His most recent convictions are felon in possession of a firearm, MCL 750.224f, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, MCL 750.227b. The sentencing guidelines recommended a sentence of 7 to 46 months' imprisonment. The trial court departed upward from this recommendation, sentencing Shank to serve 12 to 25 years' imprisonment for his felon in possession conviction and a consecutive term of two years' imprisonment for his felony-firearm conviction. Because I conclude that this Court need look no further than People v. Lockridge, ––– Mich. ––––; ––– NW2d –––– (2015) to resolve this case, I would affirm.

I. STANDARD OF REVIEW

In Lockridge, the Michigan Supreme Court stated that this Court should review a trial court's sentence for reasonableness. Id. at ––––; slip op at 29.¹ The “reasonableness” review “merely asks whether the trial court abused its discretion[.]” Rita v. United States, 551 U.S. 338, 351; 127 S Ct 2456; 168 L.Ed.2d 203 (2007). In Steanhouse, this Court acknowledged that this Court should review sentences for an abuse of discretion. See Steanhouse, ––– Mich.App at ––––; slip op at 23 (stating that a sentence may constitute an abuse of discretion if it violates principles of proportionality). A trial court abuses its discretion when its decision falls outside the range of principled outcomes. People v. Reese, 491 Mich. 127, 139; 815 NW2d 85 (2012).

II. APPLICATION OF LOCKRIDGE

The Lockridge question in this case is whether Shank is entitled to resentencing. Shank contends on appeal that the trial court engaged in improper judicial fact-finding under Alleyne.² The answer to this question hinges on whether Shank, who failed to preserve an Alleyne claim below, has shown plain error. I conclude that Lockridge addresses the question in this case perfectly and answers it in the negative. Shank is not entitled to resentencing.

If a defendant does not challenge the scoring of his offense variables (OVs) at sentencing on Alleyne grounds, our review is for plain error affecting that defendant's substantial rights. Lockridge, ––– Mich. at ––––; slip op at 30. In this case, Shank did not challenge the scoring of his OV scores on Alleyne grounds. Our review is for plain error.

To be entitled to relief under plain error review, a defendant must show that the error affected the outcome of the lower court proceedings. Id. The Lockridge court aptly stated the application of the plain error doctrine in cases—like Shank's—where the defendant did not preserve an Alleyne challenge below and the trial court departed upward:

Because [the defendant] received an upward departure sentence that did not rely on the minimum sentence range from the improperly scored guidelines (and indeed, the trial court necessarily had to state on the record its reasons for departing from that range), the defendant cannot show prejudice from any error in scoring the OVs in violation of Alleyne. [Id. at ––––; slip op at 31 (emphasis added).]

If a defendant's minimum sentence involved an upward departure, that defendant “necessarily cannot show plain error․” Id. at ––––; slip op at 32 n31. “It defies logic that the court in those circumstances would impose a lesser sentence had it been aware that the guidelines were merely advisory.” Id.

In this regard, the Steanhouse court's decision to remand in that case was contrary to the precepts of stare decisis. Like in Lockridge, the defendant in Steanhouse did not challenge the scoring of his OVs on Alleyne grounds. Steanhouse, ––– Mich.App at ––––; slip op at 21. As in Lockridge, the trial court in Steanhouse departed upward from the recommended sentencing range. Id. The Steanhouse court recognized that the defendant could not establish a plain error under Lockridge. However, the court proceeded to review the defendant's sentence and remand for resentencing anyway, directly contrary to the language of Lockridge providing that a defendant was not entitled to resentencing under the exact same circumstances.

I would follow Lockridge without declaring a conflict panel. The reason is simple—this Court need not convene a conflict panel to follow a rule articulated by the Supreme Court, even if a decision of this Court conflicts with the Supreme Court's decision. Charles A Murray Trust v. Futrell, 303 Mich.App 28, 49; 840 NW2d 775 (2013). Until the Supreme Court's decision is overruled by the Supreme Court itself, the rules of stare decisis require this Court to follow its decision. Paige v. City of Sterling Heights, 476 Mich. 495, 524; 720 NW2d 219 (2006). This Court simply “does not have the authority to recant the Supreme Court's positions.” Murray Trust, 303 Mich.App at 49. Under the rule of stare decisis, this Court must follow a decision of the Supreme Court even if another panel of this Court decided the same issue in a contrary fashion. Id. Because Steanhouse ignored the clear directives of the Michigan Supreme Court, it is against the rules of stare decisis to follow the procedures in that case. I cannot in good conscience violate the rules articulated in Lockridge.

A remand under United States v. Crosby, 397 F 3d 103 (CA 2, 2005), is necessary to determine whether prejudice resulted from an error. People v. Stokes, ––– Mich.App ––––; ––– NW2d ––––; (2015) slip op at 11. The Lockridge court stated that no prejudice could result from the type of “error” involved in this case.³ Shank cannot show plain error; therefore, he is not entitled to relief. I conclude that a Crosby remand is not appropriate or necessary in this case.

III. DUE PROCESS

Shank also raises a due process issue, contending that the trial court may not consider his conduct of sending photographs of a young child to Hilliard, an inmate and sex offender, because the prosecutor dropped the charge for possession of child sexually abusive material (child pornography). The majority does not reach this issue because it concludes that remand is appropriate. Because I would not remand, I will address this issue.

It is fundamentally unfair for the prosecution to drop a charge while engaging in plea negotiations, only to “resurrect it at sentencing in another form.” People v. McGraw, 484 Mich. 120, 134; 771 NW2d 655 (2009). That is not what happened in this case.

In this case, the prosecution dropped a charge for possessing child sexually abusive material. The trial court did not rely on the sexually abusive photograph, but instead focused on how Shank's conduct—grooming an acquaintance's child and sending photographs of that child and a pregnant seven-year-old to Hilliard, who was incarcerated for molesting children—showed that he had very little rehabilitative potential and posed a danger to the community. I conclude that the trial court did not violate Shank's due process rights.

IV. PROPORTIONALITY

Shank also raises a proportionality question unrelated to the application of Lockridge and Alleyne—he contends that the trial court's lengthy sentence was not proportional because it was not justified by the circumstances of his crime. Again, I disagree.

Even when the sentencing guidelines were mandatory, the “key test” of a sentence was whether it was proportionate to the seriousness of the matter, rather than whether it strictly adhered to a guidelines range. People v. Milbourn, 435 Mich. 630, 661; 461 NW2d 1 (1990). “[P]unishment should be made to fit the crime and the criminal.” People v. Babcock, 469 Mich. 247, 262; 666 NW2d 231 (2003). One purpose of the sentencing guidelines is to facilitate proportional sentences. People v. Smith, 482 Mich. 292, 321; 754 NW2d 284 (2008).

The trial court stated extensive reasons for why Shank's sentence was proportional. It gave these reasons under a now-defunct label of “substantial and compelling reasons,”⁴ but the fact that the sentencing guidelines are no longer mandatory does not negate that the trial court in this case did in fact consider the proportionality of its sentence. The trial court considered Shank's criminal history, his conduct leading to the charges in this case, and his failure to rehabilitate. Specifically, it found that Shank lacked rehabilitative potential. He was previously incarcerated for accosting minors, but his uncharged conduct raised serious concerns that he would continue to engage in that behavior. Shank violated his probation and parole, including by possessing firearms, and while he was imprisoned he engaged in poor behavior. And Shank continued to pose a danger to children and the community because he could not or would not be rehabilitated. Under these facts, I conclude that the trial court's sentence fell within the range of principled outcomes.

I would affirm.

FOOTNOTES

1.  People v. Shank, unpublished order of the Court of Appeals, entered June 12, 2014 (Docket No. 321534).

2.  This status increased Shank's possible maximum term of imprisonment to life imprisonment. MCL 769.12(1)(b); MCL 750.227b(1).

3.  397 F 3d 103 (CA 2 2005).

1.  The Lockridge Court adopted the reasonableness standard from United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 263; 125 S CT 738; 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005). Lockridge, ––– at ––––; slip op at 29.

2.  Alleyne v. United States, 570 U.S. ––––; 133 S Ct 2151; 186 L.Ed.2d 314 (2013). In Alleyne, the United States Supreme Court held that “any fact that increases the mandatory minimum is an ‘element’ that must be submitted to the jury.” Id. at ––––; 133 S Ct at 2155.

3.  I am concerned about questions of judicial economy implicit in blindly affording Crosby remands to every sentencing question that is raised before this Court post-Lockridge, particularly when challenges to those sentences are unpreserved.

4.  The trial court need no longer articulate substantial and compelling reasons to justify a departure from the sentencing guidelines. Lockridge, ––– Mich. at ––––; slip op at 2. However, the trial court should still articulate reasons for why its sentence is more proportionate than a sentence within the guidelines range, even though these reasons need not be “substantial and compelling.” See Rita, 551 U.S. at 356 (stating that when determining the reasonableness of a sentence, courts should consider the sentencing court's reasons for departing from the guidelines); Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 50; 128 S Ct 586; 169 L.Ed.2d 445 (2007) (stating that a more significant departure will require more justification to be upheld as proportional than a minor departure).

BORRELLO, J.