If this opinion indicates that it is “FOR PUBLICATION,” it is subject to
revision until final publication in the Michigan Appeals Reports.
STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, UNPUBLISHED
May 14, 2020
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v No. 345895
Oakland Circuit Court
SPENCER RICHARD ANDREWS, LC No. 2018-266994-FH
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: MURRAY, C.J., and RONAYNE KRAUSE and TUKEL, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Defendant, Spencer Richard Andrews, appeals as of right his jury convictions of
conspiracy to deliver or possess with the intent to deliver methylenedioxymethamphetamine
(MDMA), MCL 333.7401(2)(b)(i) and MCL 750.157a; delivery or possession with intent to
deliver MDMA, MCL 333.7401(2)(b)(i); possession of the controlled substance ketamine, MCL
333.7403(2)(b)(ii); and possession of the controlled substance amphetamine, MCL
333.7403(2)(b)(ii). The trial court sentenced defendant to concurrent terms of 7 to 20 years’
imprisonment for the conspiracy and delivery or possession with intent to deliver MDMA1
convictions and one to two years’ imprisonment for the possession of controlled substances
convictions. This appeal is being decided without oral argument pursuant to MCR 7.214(E)(1).
We affirm.
I. UNDERLYING FACTS
In November 2017, United States Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) Officers received and
inspected a package that arrived at the John F. Kennedy airport in New York, New York, from
Belgium. The package was addressed to Devin Patrick in Pontiac, Michigan. CBP determined
that the package was suspicious and opened the package to find over 1,000 grams of MDMA. CBP
resealed the package and contacted United States Department of Homeland Security Special Agent
Weidman at the Detroit office. Special Agent Weidman obtained custody of the package and
1
MDMA is often referred to by one of its common street names, Ecstasy.
-1-
contacted the Oakland County Narcotics Enforcement Team (OCNET) to execute a controlled
delivery of the package.
OCNET Detective Charles Harvey Liggett arranged for the package to be delivered on
November 20, 2017, to Patrick’s address, through the United States Postal Service. Royal Oak
Police Department Detective Jason Manning observed the United States postal inspector deliver a
large brown cardboard box to an unidentified person at the front door of Patrick’s residence. At
some point that day, Detective Manning observed a vehicle that was driven by Vince Malone stop
at Patrick’s residence. Defendant and Malone exited the vehicle and entered the house from the
side entrance. Approximately 15 minutes later, defendant exited the house carrying the package
that the postal inspector had delivered. Defendant placed the package in the trunk of the vehicle
and sat in the passenger seat of the vehicle. Malone then drove away from Patrick’s residence.
Oakland County Sherriff’s Office (OCSO) Detective Scott Panin conducted a traffic stop
of Malone and defendant. During a cursory search, police found a large amount of cash on
defendant’s person. Detective Panin also found a cell phone in the passenger seat of the vehicle.
Defendant told Detective Liggett that “he was on his way to deliver a package to his friend
Devon [sic] Patrick, which is where that package was addressed to” when he was stopped.
Detective Liggett responded that defendant’s statement was not true because the police officers
observed defendant arrive and leave Patrick’s house; he also told defendant that was the reason for
the traffic stop. OCSO Corrections Deputy James Richardson searched defendant when he arrived
at the Oakland County jail. Deputy Richardson found one bag with approximately 0.5 grams of a
white powdery substance and another bag with approximately 6.5 crushed tablets or what appeared
to Deputy Richardson to be crushed pills and a 2 or 3-inch metal spoon. Deputy Wiegmann gave
the bags and items that Deputy Richardson had removed from defendant to Detective Liggett.
During the traffic stop, Detective Liggett searched Malone’s vehicle and, in the trunk of
the vehicle, found the package that was addressed to Patrick and a lockbox containing marijuana.
The package was a brown paper box that contained a bass amplifier or speaker box. The speaker
was wooden and, within the speaker, there was a clear plastic bag of MDMA wrapped in foil
cellophane. Detective Liggett testified that the purpose of this wrapping and packaging was to
avoid detection of the odor of the substance.
After the traffic stop, Detectives Liggett and Manning returned to Patrick’s house to
conduct a search pursuant to the search warrant. Detective Manning found a rolled dollar bill with
a white powdery substance and marijuana on a television stand in the basement. Detective
Manning testified that the basement was arranged as Patrick’s bedroom. Detective Manning also
found two glass vials, one of which had a white powdery residue in it, located in a dresser drawer.
According to Detective Manning, glass vials were used to package cocaine, ketamine, and
methamphetamine for sales of those drugs. The police officers also found 190 tabs of LSD, empty
gel capsules, and small clear plastic bags suitable for packaging drugs or pills that were located on
a table near a couch, $150 in a dresser drawer and a black digital scale on the television stand. On
November 21, 2017, Detective Liggett interviewed defendant while he was in police custody. The
jury found defendant guilty of conspiracy to deliver or possess with the intent to deliver MDMA,
delivery or possession with intent to deliver MDMA, possession of ketamine, and possession of
amphetamine.
-2-
II. SEARCH OF DEFENDANT’S CELL PHONE
Defendant argues that the evidence and testimony presented at trial of the contents of his
cell phone were not within the scope of his consent to the search of the phone. Defendant also
argues that he was deprived of his right to effective assistance of counsel regarding this claim. We
disagree.
A. PRESERVATION AND STANDARD OF REVIEW
To preserve an issue regarding a trial court’s evidentiary ruling, a defendant must raise that
particular issue in the trial court and raise the same basis for objection on appeal. People v Gaines,
306 Mich App 289, 306; 856 NW2d 222 (2014). Defendant failed to challenge the scope of the
search of his cell phone at trial. Thus, the issue of the evidentiary ruling is unpreserved.
Unpreserved issues are reviewed for plain error. People v Cain, 498 Mich 108, 116; 869
NW2d 829 (2015).
To avoid forfeiture under the plain error rule, three requirements must be met: 1)
error must have occurred, 2) the error was plain, i.e., clear or obvious, 3) and the
plain error affected substantial rights. The third requirement generally requires a
showing of prejudice, i.e., that the error affected the outcome of the lower court
proceedings. It is the defendant rather than the Government who bears the burden
of persuasion with respect to prejudice. Finally, once a defendant satisfies these
three requirements, an appellate court must exercise its discretion in deciding
whether to reverse. Reversal is warranted only when the plain, forfeited error
resulted in the conviction of an actually innocent defendant or when an error
seriously affected the fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial proceedings
independent of the defendant’s innocence. [People v Carines, 460 Mich 750, 763-
764; 597 NW2d 130 (1999) (quotation marks, citations, and brackets omitted).]
“A ‘clear or obvious’ error under the second prong is one that is not ‘subject to reasonable
dispute.’ ” People v Randolph, 502 Mich 1, 10; 917 NW2d 249 (2018). In the instant context,
prejudice “requires a showing . . . that the error affected the outcome of the lower court
proceedings.” People v Chelmicki, 305 Mich App 58, 69; 850 NW2d 612 (2014) (quotation marks
and citation omitted).
To properly preserve a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must move
for either a new trial or a Ginther2 hearing in the trial court; failure to make any such motion
“ordinarily precludes review of the issue unless the appellate record contains sufficient detail to
support the defendant’s claim.” People v Sabin (On Second Remand), 242 Mich App 656, 658-
659; 620 NW2d 19 (2000). Defendant moved for a remand, but this Court denied his motion
2
People v Ginther, 390 Mich 436; 212 NW2d 922 (1973).
-3-
without prejudice. People v Andrews, unpublished order of the Court of Appeals, entered July 11,
2019 (Docket No. 345895). Thus, the issue of ineffective assistance of counsel is preserved.
Regardless of whether a claim of ineffective assistance is properly preserved, if the trial
court did not hold a Ginther3 hearing, “our review is limited to the facts on the record.” People v
Wilson, 242 Mich App 350, 352; 619 NW2d 413 (2000). However, because defendant moved for
a remand for a Ginther hearing in this Court, and this Court denied the motion without prejudice,
we may consider evidence not in the record for the limited purpose of considering whether we now
believe a remand for a Ginther hearing would be appropriate. See People v Moore, 493 Mich 933,
933; 825 NW2d 580 (2013). “A claim of ineffective assistance of counsel is a mixed question of
law and fact. A trial court’s findings of fact, if any, are reviewed for clear error, and this Court
reviews the ultimate constitutional issue arising from an ineffective assistance of counsel claim de
novo.” People v Petri, 279 Mich App 407, 410; 760 NW2d 882 (2008).
B. ANALYSIS
The United States and Michigan Constitutions prohibit unreasonable searches and seizures.
US Const, Am IV; Const 1963, art 1, § 11. In general, searches or seizures conducted without a
warrant are per se unreasonable. People v Woodard, 321 Mich App 377, 383; 909 NW2d 299
(2017). Evidence obtained from an unreasonable search and seizure must be excluded from trial.
Id. But a warrantless search is not unreasonable if a defendant consents to the search or seizure.
Id. at 383-384. “The consent exception permits a search and seizure if the consent is unequivocal,
specific, and freely and intelligently given.” People v Mahdi, 317 Mich App 446, 460; 894 NW2d
732 (2016). A defendant may limit the scope of his or her consent and may revoke the consent.
Id. at 461. “ ‘The standard for measuring the scope of a suspect’s consent under the Fourth
Amendment is that of “objective” reasonableness—what would the typical reasonable person have
understood by the exchange between the officer and the suspect.’ ” Id. (citation omitted).
Defendant consented to a search of his cell phone so the police could corroborate his
statement that an individual named Zac4 Escobol arranged the drug delivery and that Escobol was
involved in a larger drug trafficking trade. While defendant expressed concern that the search
could uncover personal information, he failed to state that any area of his cell phone was off limits
to the police during their search or to specify for the police any area of his cell phone where this
information could be held other than a single statement that a “few texts” and one phone call might
be relevant. Thus, a typical reasonable person would have understood that the police could search
the entirety of defendant’s cell phone for information about Escobol because the police had no
way to know where exactly on defendant’s cell phone they could find information corroborating
defendant’s allegations about Escobol. Consequently, defendant consented to the search of his
cell phone.
Because it was reasonable that defendant’s pictures and text conversations, even
conversations with other individuals, could corroborate his story that Escobol was a drug dealer,
3
No Ginther hearing was held in this case.
4
Or possibly Zach.
-4-
his consent encompassed a search of all of his cell phone’s texts and pictures. Furthermore,
defendant’s trial attorney was not ineffective for failing to challenge the scope of defendant’s
consent to search his cell phone because any objection would have lacked merit. See People v
Chambers, 277 Mich App 1, 11; 742 NW2d 610 (2007) (“Counsel is not ineffective for failing to
make a futile objection.”). We find no reason to reconsider our previous denial of defendant’s
motion to remand for a Ginther hearing.
III. RELEVANCE OF CELL PHONE RECORDS
Defendant next argues that the contents of his cell phone were not relevant to the charged
offenses, the probative value of the evidence was substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair
prejudice, and the evidence constituted inadmissible other-acts evidence. We disagree.
A. WAIVER
As an initial matter, defendant waived the issue of the admissibility of cell phone records
regarding his communications with Patrick and Escobol. Waiver occurs when a defendant
“affirmatively approve[s]” of an issue before the trial court, only to later argue on appeal that there
was error. People v Jackson, 313 Mich App 409, 420; 884 NW2d 297 (2015). “Because error
requiring reversal cannot be error to which the aggrieved party contributed by plan or negligence,”
a defendant’s approval of a trial court decision waives the right to appeal. People v Gonzalez, 256
Mich App 212, 224; 663 NW2d 499 (2003), disapproved in part on other grounds 469 Mich 967
(2003) (citation and quotation marks omitted). When waiver occurs, any error is extinguished
“and precludes defendant from raising the issue on appeal.” People v Carter, 462 Mich 206, 209,
215; 612 NW2d 144 (2000). At trial, defense counsel asked the trial court to limit admission of
defendant’s phone records to “those [individuals] involved in the conspiracy,” only objecting to
admission of defendant’s phone records that related to communications with such other
individuals. Thus, the issue of the admissibility of defendant’s communications with Patrick and
Escobol is waived because defense counsel affirmatively approved of their admission into
evidence.
B. PRESERVATION AND STANDARD OF REVIEW
Defense counsel objected to the admission at trial of defendant’s communications with
other individuals on that same grounds challenged on appeal. Thus, defendant’s challenge to the
admission of that evidence is preserved. See Gaines, 306 Mich App at 306. But defense counsel
only challenged the admissibility of other information from defendant’s cell phone, such as
photographs and word term searches conducted on the contents of the phone, on grounds different
from those challenged on appeal. Thus, defendant’s challenge to the admission of that evidence
is not preserved. See id.
When properly preserved, this Court “review[s] for an abuse of discretion a trial court’s
decision to admit or exclude evidence,” and reviews any preliminary legal questions of law de
novo. People v Mann, 288 Mich App 114, 117; 792 NW2d 53 (2010). Preliminary questions of
law require a court to determine “whether a rule of evidence or statute precludes admissibility of
the evidence.” People v Lukity, 460 Mich 484, 488; 596 NW2d 607 (1999). “An abuse of
discretion occurs when the court chooses an outcome that falls outside the range of reasonable and
-5-
principled outcomes.” People v Mahone, 294 Mich App 208, 212; 816 NW2d 436 (2011). “A
trial court also necessarily abuses its discretion when it makes an error of law.” People v Al-Shara,
311 Mich App 560, 566; 876 NW2d 826 (2015). “[A] trial court’s decision on a close evidentiary
question ordinarily cannot be an abuse of discretion.” People v Cameron, 291 Mich App 599, 608;
806 NW2d 371 (2011) (quotation marks and citation omitted).
As stated earlier in Part II(A), unpreserved issues are reviewed for plain error. See Cain,
498 Mich at 116.
C. ANALYSIS
Evidence is relevant if it has “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.” People v Martzke, 251 Mich App 282, 293; 651 NW2d 490 (2002) (citation
and quotation marks omitted). “Under this broad definition, evidence is admissible if it is helpful
in throwing light on any material point.” People v Aldrich, 246 Mich App 101, 114; 631 NW2d
67 (2001).
Under MRE 403, however, 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.” “MRE 403 does not prohibit prejudicial evidence; rather, it prohibits evidence that is
unfairly prejudicial. In essence, evidence is unfairly prejudicial when there exists a danger that
marginally probative evidence might be given undue weight by the jury.” People v Dixon-Bey,
321 Mich App 490, 513; 909 NW2d 458 (2017).
“In reviewing the trial court’s decision for an abuse of discretion, the appellate court
must view the evidence in the light most favorable to its proponent, giving ‘the
evidence its maximum reasonable probative force and its minimum reasonable
prejudicial value.’ ” “[T]he draftsmen intended that the trial judge be given very
substantial discretion in ‘balancing’ probative value on the one hand and ‘unfair
prejudice’ on the other, and that the trial judge should not be reversed simply
because an appellate court believes it would have decided the matter otherwise.”
People v Head, 323 Mich App 526, 540-541; 917 NW2d 752 (citations and footnote
omitted; alteration in original).
MRE 404(b) provides, in relevant part:
(1) Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the
character of a person in order to show action in conformity therewith. It may,
however, be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive, opportunity,
intent, preparation, scheme, plan, or system in doing an act, knowledge, identity, or
absence of mistake or accident when the same is material, whether such other
crimes, wrongs, or acts are contemporaneous with, or prior or subsequent to the
conduct at issue in the case.
-6-
MRE 404(b) is a rule of inclusion of circumstances under which other-acts evidence may be
admissible even though it may also give rise to an inference about the defendant’s character.
People v Jackson, 498 Mich 246, 259; 869 NW2d 253 (2015). “Relevant other acts evidence does
not violate [MRE] 404(b) unless it is offered solely to show the criminal propensity of an individual
to establish that he acted in conformity therewith.” People v VanderVliet, 444 Mich 52, 65; 508
NW2d 114 (1993), amended 445 Mich 1205 (1994). If the prosecution shows that the evidence is
offered for nonpropensity purposes, the evidence is admissible unless its probative value is
substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice pursuant to MRE 403. See Jackson,
498 Mich at 259-260.
The elements of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver under MCL
333.7401 are “(1) that a defendant possessed a controlled substance, (2) that the defendant knew
he or she possessed the controlled substance, (3) that the defendant intended to deliver the
controlled substance to someone else, and (4) the amount of the controlled substance, if
applicable.” People v Robar, 321 Mich App 106, 131; 910 NW2d 328 (2017). In order to prove
a conspiracy under MCL 750.157a, the prosecution must demonstrate that two or more persons
agreed to do an unlawful act or that two or more persons agreed to do a legal act using illegal
means. People v Seewald, 499 Mich 111, 118; 879 NW2d 237 (2016). Therefore, the offense of
conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance or possess a controlled substance with the intent to
deliver requires proof of an agreement between two or more persons to deliver or possess with the
intent to deliver a controlled substance. See id.
In this case, the text messages defendant exchanged with Patrick and Escobol on the day
of the controlled delivery were relevant to each person’s involvement in the drug delivery and the
conspiracy to deliver or possess with intent to deliver MDMA. The text messages and photographs
of methamphetamine and drug activity demonstrated that defendant was familiar with various
drugs and drug sales, which was relevant to defendant’s knowledge that he possessed a controlled
substance. Additionally, the text messages regarding defendant’s previous activity selling and
purchasing drugs from as early as July 2016 was relevant to the scope of the conspiracy to deliver
or possess with the intent to deliver MDMA to another person in November 2017. This evidence
was relevant to establishing the conspiracy among defendant, Patrick, and Escobol and was
relevant to challenging the defense that defendant was a drug user and did not know that the
package he was delivering contained drugs. See MRE 401; Martzke, 251 Mich App at 293.
Additionally, the probative value of the text messages and photographs was not
substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. The evidence was probative of
defendant’s knowledge that he possessed a controlled substance and that he intended to deliver or
possess with the intent to deliver the MDMA to another individual. The evidence established that
defendant was involved in purchasing and selling drugs with Patrick and Escobol and that
defendant made arrangements with Escobol and Patrick to participate in the delivery of MDMA
on November 20, 2017. Defendant’s cell phone records were not the type of evidence that would
mislead or confuse the jury. Furthermore, defendant failed to demonstrate that the evidence
inserted extraneous considerations to the merits of the case, such as appeals to the jury’s bias,
sympathy, anger, or shock. See People v Fisher, 449 Mich 441, 451-452; 537 NW2d 577 (1995).
This evidence was much more than marginally probative and, therefore, its prejudicial effect did
not substantially outweigh its probative value. See MRE 403; Fisher, 449 Mich at 453-454.
-7-
Finally, the text messages and photographs did not constitute inadmissible other-acts
evidence. MRE 404(b) applies to prior acts, but not to prior statements. People v Goddard, 429
Mich 505, 518; 418 NW2d 881 (1988). A text message is a form of communication, not an act.
Thus, a text message is a statement and, therefore, is not within the scope of MRE 404(b). Instead,
these text messages should be considered admissions by a party-opponent because they were
defendant’s statements, offered by the prosecution to establish the elements of the offenses against
defendant. See MRE 801(d)(2)(A). Further, the evidence was offered for nonpropensity purposes,
including defendant’s knowledge that the package contained a controlled substance and knowledge
that he was participating in the agreement with Patrick and Escobol to possess, transport, and
deliver the package containing MDMA. The evidence also demonstrated that, based on his
previous drug activity and previous arrangements with Patrick and Escobol for a package of
MDMA to be delivered to Patrick’s address, defendant likely was not mistaken regarding the
contents of the package. Thus, the contents of defendant’s cell phone were offered for a
nonpropensity purposes and did not constitute inadmissible other-acts evidence. See Jackson, 498
Mich at 259-260.
The trial court did not err by admitting the text messages between defendant and the
unnamed individuals who were not involved in the drug conspiracy. Similarly, the trial court did
not err by admitting the other contents of defendant’s cell phone, including the photographs and
the text messages exchanged between defendant, Escobol, and Patrick.
IV. PATRICK’S TEXT MESSAGES
Defendant next argues that the text messages contained in Patrick’s cell phone were not
relevant to the charged offenses and constituted inadmissible hearsay evidence. We disagree
because, as discussed earlier in Part III(A), defendant waived this issue.
V. RELEVANCE OF EVIDENCE FROM PATRICK’S HOUSE
Defendant also argues that evidence obtained from Patrick’s house was not relevant, the
probative value was substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, and the evidence
constituted inadmissible other-acts evidence. We disagree.
A. PRESERVATION AND STANDARD OF REVIEW
Because defendant challenged the relevancy of evidence obtained from Patrick’s residence
at trial, this issue is preserved. See Gaines, 306 Mich App at 306. But defendant failed to argue
at trial or in any motions that this evidence was prejudicial or inadmissible other-acts evidence.
Thus, defendant’s challenge to the admissibility of evidence from Patrick’s residence is
unpreserved as to those grounds. See id.
Defendant’s preserved evidentiary challenge is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. See
Mann, 288 Mich App 117. His unpreserved challenge, however, is reviewed for plain error. See
Cain, 498 Mich at 116.
-8-
B. ANALYSIS
Detective Liggett obtained a warrant to search Patrick’s residence. Defendant does not
argue that the police officers lacked authority pursuant to the warrant to search Patrick’s house or
that the evidence that the police officers seized exceeded the scope of the warrant. Instead, he
argues only that the evidence seized from Patrick’s house was not admissible at trial.
The evidence of drug activity that was obtained from Patrick’s residence was relevant to
the charge of conspiracy to deliver or possess with the intent to deliver MDMA. The evidence
included containers that were used to package and sell drugs and a digital scale to weigh drugs for
sale. Although there was no evidence presented that defendant entered Patrick’s basement or that
any of the evidence seized from Patrick’s house belonged to defendant, the evidence of drug
activity was relevant to the scope of the conspiracy to deliver MDMA. The evidence demonstrated
that Patrick was involved in drug activity, which, on the basis of the packaging materials, could
have included drug sales. This drug activity could have been a part of the conspiracy among
defendant, Patrick, and Escobol, which was supported by evidence that defendant had previously
communicated with Patrick and Escobol regarding the purchase and sale of ketamine and MDMA,
and the fact that defendant received the package with 1,000 grams of MDMA from Patrick’s house.
It was a matter for the jury to determine whether this evidence demonstrated drug activity related
to the conspiracy among defendant, Patrick, and Escobol or whether the drug activity was not
related to the charges against defendant. See Dunigan, 299 Mich App at 582 (explaining that it is
the jury’s role to determine the weight and credibility of the evidence). Because the evidence
seized from Patrick’s residence had a tendency to prove one or more facts of consequence and an
element of the conspiracy offense, the evidence was relevant. See MRE 401; Martzke, 251 Mich
App at 293.
Additionally, the probative value of the evidence of drug activity was not substantially
outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. The evidence was probative of Patrick’s
involvement in the packaging, sale, and delivery of controlled substances. The evidence of drug
activity that could be related to MDMA was probative of the conspiracy among defendant, Patrick,
and Escobol to deliver or possess with the intent to deliver MDMA and that the conspiracy could
have included other sales and deliveries of MDMA in addition to the delivery on November 20,
2017. There was evidence that defendant remained in the house for approximately 15 minutes and
that defendant possessed controlled substances and a metal spoon when the police officers arrested
him, showing that defendant could have obtained the drugs and spoon from Patrick’s house in
furtherance of the conspiracy. Additionally, defendant did not demonstrate that the evidence
confused or mislead the jury. Defendant also failed to demonstrate that the evidence inserted
extraneous considerations to the merits of the case, such as appeals to the jury’s bias, sympathy,
anger, or shock. See Fisher, 449 Mich at 451-452. Thus, the evidence seized from Patrick’s
residence related to drug activity was probative of the elements of the conspiracy offense, and
defendant did not demonstrate that the evidence was inadmissible on the basis of the danger of
unfair prejudice. See MRE 403; Fisher, 449 Mich at 453-454.
Finally, the evidence seized from Patrick’s residence did not constitute inadmissible other-
acts evidence. As stated earlier, MRE 404(b) applies to prior acts. See Goddard, 429 Mich at 518.
To the extent that the evidence suggested that Patrick was a drug user, the evidence did not directly
portray Patrick using controlled substances or suggest that Patrick had previous drug-related
-9-
convictions. The evidence also did not directly portray defendant as a drug user or suggest that
defendant had previous drug-related convictions. Further, the evidence was offered for
nonpropensity purposes, including Patrick’s and defendant’s knowledge that the package
contained a controlled substance and knowledge that they were participating in the agreement with
Escobol to possess, transport, and deliver the package containing MDMA. Accordingly, the
contents of defendant’s cell phone did not constitute inadmissible other-acts evidence. See
Jackson, 498 Mich at 259-260.
VI. OV 19
Defendant argues that the trial court improperly scored offense variable (OV) 19 and that
OV 19 is unconstitutionally vague. We disagree.
A. PRESERVATION AND STANDARD OF REVIEW
Defendant failed to challenge the constitutionality of OV 19 before the trial court. Thus,
this issue is not properly preserved for appellate review. People v Sands, 261 Mich App 158, 160;
680 NW2d 500 (2004). Defendant did, however, challenge the scoring of OV 19 at sentencing.
Thus, the scoring issue is preserved. See MCL 769.34(10); People v Sours, 315 Mich App 346,
348; 890 NW2d 401 (2016).
“Trial courts are afforded broad discretion in calculating sentencing guidelines, and
appellate review of those calculations is very limited. Scoring decisions for which there is any
evidence in support will be upheld.” People v Elliott, 215 Mich App 259, 260; 544 NW2d 748
(1996) (citation omitted). When reviewing a trial court’s scoring decision, the trial court’s “factual
determinations are reviewed for clear error and must be supported by a preponderance of the
evidence.” People v Hardy, 494 Mich 430, 438; 835 NW2d 340 (2013). “A finding of fact is
clearly erroneous if, after a review of the entire record, an appellate court is left with a definite and
firm conviction that a mistake has been made.” People v Antwine, 293 Mich App 192, 194; 809
NW2d 439 (2011) (citation and quotation marks omitted). “Whether the facts, as found, are
adequate to satisfy the scoring conditions prescribed by statute, i.e., the application of the facts to
the law, is a question of statutory interpretation, which an appellate court reviews de novo.” Hardy,
494 Mich at 438. Finally, because defendant’s challenge to the constitutionality of OV 19 is
unpreserved that issue is preserved for plain error. See Cain, 498 Mich at 116.
B. ANALYSIS
The trial court properly assessed 10 points for OV 19 because the evidence and testimony
presented at trial supported the conclusion that defendant interfered with the administration of
justice.
The trial court is required to assess 10 points for OV 19 when “[t]he offender otherwise
interfered with or attempted to interfere with the administration of justice.” MCL 777.49(c). A
trial court may consider conduct that occurs after the defendant completes the sentencing offense
when the trial court scores OV 19. People v Smith, 488 Mich 193, 195, 202; 793 NW2d 666
(2010).
-10-
“[T]he plain and ordinary meaning of ‘interfere with the administration of justice’ for
purposes of OV 19 is to oppose so as to hamper, hinder, or obstruct the act or process of
administering judgment of individuals or causes by judicial process.” People v Hershey, 303 Mich
App 330, 343; 844 NW2d 127 (2013). “Our Supreme Court has determined that the phrase
‘interfered with or attempted to interfere with the administration of justice’ is broader than the
concept of obstruction of justice and that conduct subject to scoring under OV 19 ‘does not have
to necessarily rise to the level of a chargeable offense . . . .’ ” People v Passage, 277 Mich App
175, 179-180; 743 NW2d 746 (2007) (citation omitted). Conduct that interferes with the
administration of justice includes actions that would impede an investigation, such as providing a
false name to the police, attempting to deceive the police during their investigation, or threatening
or intimidating victims or witnesses. Hershey, 303 Mich App at 344; People v Barbee, 470 Mich
283, 288; 681 NW2d 348 (2004). Attempting to deceive police during an investigation can
constitute interference or attempted interference with the administration of justice. See Barbee,
470 Mich at 288; Hershey, 303 Mich App at 344.
In this case, the evidence supports the legal conclusion that defendant interfered with the
police investigation and attempted to deceive the police officers. Defendant provided several
statements to the police officers during his arrest that were not consistent with his statements to
Detective Liggett during their interview. Defendant stated that Patrick did not know Escobol, but
then later stated that Escobol arranged the drug delivery on November 20, 2017, and that he and
Escobol had used Patrick’s address for a previous delivery of MDMA. Defendant also told
Detective Liggett that he would not have picked up the package had he known the amount of
MDMA. However, Patrick made defendant aware of the size of the package, and defendant
nonetheless arrived at Patrick’s to pick up the package of MDMA. By providing the police with
this false information, defendant attempted to obfuscate the police officers’ investigation of the
drug conspiracy and the respective roles of defendant, Patrick, and Escobol in the purchase and
sale of controlled substances. Defendant’s contradictory statements also established that defendant
attempted to minimize his role in the delivery of MDMA and the conspiracy among himself,
Patrick, and Escobol.
There was sufficient evidence to show that defendant attempted to deceive the police
officers. See Barbee, 470 Mich at 288; Hershey, 303 Mich App at 344. This is not to say that OV
19 should necessarily be scored any time a defendant fails to convey the complete truth to a police
officer. Nevertheless, it is appropriate to score OV 19 where a defendant engages in “fabrications
that were self-serving attempts at deception obviously aimed at leading police investigators astray
or even diverting suspicion onto others and away from him.” People v Ericksen, 288 Mich App
192, 204; 793 NW2d 120 (2010). Thus, the trial court did not err by assessing 10 points for OV
19 on the basis of defendant’s interference or attempted interference with the administration of
justice pursuant to MCL 777.49(c). See Barbee, 470 Mich at 288.5
We now turn to defendant’s argument that OV 19 is unconstitutionally vague. Statutes are
presumed to be constitutional and are so construed unless their unconstitutionality is clearly
5
Additionally, “a sentence within the guidelines range is presumptively proportionate.” People v
Powell, 278 Mich App 318, 323; 750 NW2d 607 (2008).
-11-
apparent. People v Deroche, 299 Mich App 301, 305; 829 NW2d 891 (2013). The party
challenging the constitutionality of a statute has the burden of proving its invalidity. People v
Sadows, 283 Mich App 65, 67; 768 NW2d 93 (2009). In determining whether a statute is
unconstitutionally vague, a court must consider the entire text of the statute and accord the words
their ordinary meanings. People v Roberts, 292 Mich App 492, 497; 808 NW2d 290 (2011).
A statute may be challenged for vagueness on three grounds: (1) it is overbroad and
impinges on First Amendment freedoms, (2) it does not provide fair notice of the
conduct proscribed, or (3) it is so indefinite that it confers unstructured and
unlimited discretion on the trier of fact to determine whether an offense has been
committed. Id. (quotation marks and citation omitted).]
Defendant specifically challenges the constitutionality of MCL 777.49 for failure to give
fair notice. To give fair notice, the statute “must give a person of ordinary intelligence a reasonable
opportunity to know what is prohibited.” People v Perez-DeLeon, 224 Mich App 43, 46; 568
NW2d 324 (1997) (citation omitted). A statute is not unconstitutionally vague if its meaning is
“fairly ascertainable by reference to judicial interpretations, the common law, dictionaries,
treatises, or the commonly accepted meanings of words.” People v Lockett, 295 Mich App 165,
174; 814 NW2d 295 (2012) (quotation marks and citation omitted).
As discussed earlier, OV 19 repeatedly has been interpreted as applying to affirmative
conduct that impedes a criminal investigation, even if that conduct occurred after the offense. See,
e.g., Barbee, 470 Mich at 288; Hershey, 303 Mich App at 344. Furthermore, conduct may be
considered to have “interfered with the administration of justice” even if that conduct does not rise
to the level of a criminal obstruction of justice charge. Consequently, a person of ordinary
intelligence has a reasonable opportunity to know what type of conduct is prohibited if he or she
read these opinions. Similarly, Michigan courts have consistently required a defendant to commit
an affirmative act that impedes an investigation or court proceedings to constitute interference with
the administration of justice. See, e.g., Barbee, 470 Mich at 288; Hershey, 303 Mich App at 344.
Thus, MCL 777.49 is not unconstitutionally vague.
VII. CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated earlier, defendant’s convictions and sentences are affirmed.
/s/ Christopher M. Murray
/s/ Amy Ronayne Krause
/s/ Jonathan Tukel
-12-