Opinion
Docket No. 77-2565.
Decided August 22, 1978.
Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Robert A. Derengoski, Solicitor General, Robert F. Leonard, Prosecuting Attorney, and Donald A. Kuebler, Chief, Appellate Division, for the people.
Michael H. Leavitt, for defendant on appeal.
Before: J.H. GILLIS, P.J., and D.E. HOLBROOK and N.J. KAUFMAN, JJ.
Defendant was tried and convicted by a jury of armed robbery, contrary to MCL 750.529; MSA 28.797, and assault with intent to commit murder, contrary to MCL 750.83; MSA 28.278. He was subsequently sentenced to 15 to 30 years in prison and now appeals as of right.
Defendant first contends that the trial court abused its discretion when it denied defendant's motion for a mistrial based upon the testimony elicited during the examination of a prosecution witness who alluded to defendant's past incarceration. We disagree.
The testimony at issue was given in response to the following questions:
"Q [by the prosecutor] Did you know Jessee McQueen [the defendant] in December, 1976?
"A Yes, sir.
"Q How long had you known him up to that time?
"A I first met him, it was either late part of August, first part of September, when he gotten out of county jail."
It cannot be said that the prosecutor anticipated or hoped to elicit prejudicial testimony from the aforementioned line of questioning. Cf. People v Greenway, 365 Mich. 547; 114 N.W.2d 188 (1962).
The case of People v Harry Fleish, 321 Mich. 443; 32 N.W.2d 700 (1948), is dispositive of defendant's claim.
"We think the record does not justify the conclusion that this improper testimony was deliberately injected into the case by the prosecutor. * * * Inadvertent irregularities of this character are bound to occur in the course of prolonged, hotly contested trials, and when, as in the instant case, the objectionable testimony is purged from the record by the trial court, the irregularity should not be held to constitute reversible error in the absence of a persuasive showing of prejudice." People v Fleish, supra, at 462-463. Also see People v Solis, 32 Mich. App. 191; 188 N.W.2d 166 (1971).
Defendant next contends that testimony elicited on cross-examination from a prosecution witness concerning "mug shot" photographs of defendant was prejudicial and requires reversal of his convictions. This argument fails in light of the aforementioned discussion.
Defendant's final allegation of error fails in light of People v Bills, 53 Mich. App. 339; 220 N.W.2d 101 (1974).
Affirmed.
D.E. HOLBROOK, J., concurred.
I must respectfully dissent from that portion of the majority opinion dealing with mug shots. While defense counsel was questioning the investigating officer assigned to this case, Sergeant Hazenfratz, the following colloquy occurred:
"Q Did you ever show pictures of the defendant to anyone?
"A Mug shots.
"Q Who did you show pictures to?
"A Mrs. Curran.
"Q Anyone else?
"A Ah, her grand niece observed them on two occasions.
"Q Was there anyone that you showed any pictures to?
"A Not actual mug shots, I don't believe."
The majority opinion apparently concluded that the "improper testimony was [not] deliberately injected into the case by the prosecutor". In a narrow sense, that is correct; the question was asked by defense counsel. But it strains credulity for the reasons set forth below to suggest that the exchange quoted above should be excused as inadvertent.
First, the improper testimony was offered by a prosecution witness. Although that fact alone is not enough to prove "deliberateness", where the witness is a law enforcement official, especially a police sergeant, it is not too much to suggest that those witnesses should know what legal subjects should not be adverted to during a trial. Certainly, it would not be too much to expect that the prosecutor would caution his witnesses not to refer to mug shots or other inadmissible areas of potential testimony such as polygraphs or whether or not defendant exercised his right to silence upon arrest.
Second, defense counsel studiously avoided using the term "mug shots". In fact, his questions do not, in the least, suggest an answer of "mug shots". The first question demanded a "yes" or "no" answer. The fourth question specifically demanded an answer in terms of a person's name. The second reference to mug shots was definitely nonresponsive.
In People v Heller, 47 Mich. App. 408, 411; 209 N.W.2d 439 (1973), this Court noted:
"[T]hat where a defendant has not taken the stand, an unedited mug shot would impermissibly place the defendant's prior conviction if any before the trier of fact and result in reversible prejudice."
In this case, the verbal imagery was every bit as direct, and just as prejudicial. I would reverse defendant's conviction and remand for a new trial.