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In People v Baham, 321 Mich App 228, 235; 909 NW2d 836 (2017), this Court stated that a defendant's challenge to the factual basis for his plea implicates the accuracy of his plea, and his claim therefore falls squarely within the ambit of MCR 6.310(D).
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No. 331787
09-12-2017
PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff–Appellee, v. Richard Allen BAHAM, Defendant–Appellant.
Bill Schuette, Attorney General, Aaron D. Lindstrom, Solicitor General, Victor A. Fitz, Prosecuting Attorney, and Thomas Hubbert, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for the people. State Appellate Defender (by Jeanice Dagher-Margosian ) for defendant.
Bill Schuette, Attorney General, Aaron D. Lindstrom, Solicitor General, Victor A. Fitz, Prosecuting Attorney, and Thomas Hubbert, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for the people.
State Appellate Defender (by Jeanice Dagher-Margosian ) for defendant.
Before: Hoekstra, P.J., and Murphy and K. F. Kelly, JJ.
Per Curiam.Defendant pleaded guilty of manufacturing methamphetamine, MCL 333.7401(2)(b)(i ) ;), operating or maintaining a laboratory involving methamphetamine, MCL 333.7401c(2)(f) ; and possession of methamphetamine, MCL 333.7403(2)(b)(i ). Defendant filed a delayed application for leave to appeal, which this Court denied. Defendant then sought leave to appeal in the Michigan Supreme Court. In lieu of granting leave to appeal, the Supreme Court remanded "this case to the Court of Appeals for consideration as on leave granted." People v. Baham , 500 Mich. 945, 890 N.W.2d 658 (2017). On remand, because the factual basis for defendant's plea supported his convictions, defendant's convictions did not violate double jeopardy, and defendant was not denied the effective assistance of counsel, we affirm.
In May 2015, the police arrested defendant after discovering that he was operating a mobile methamphetamine laboratory in his vehicle. Defendant was charged with five criminal offenses and given notice that he could be sentenced as a fourth-offense habitual offender, MCL 769.12. The prosecutor offered defendant a plea deal, pursuant to which defendant would plead guilty of manufacturing methamphetamine, operating or maintaining a methamphetamine laboratory, and possession of methamphetamine. In exchange, the prosecutor agreed to dismiss the of charges of maintaining a drug house, MCL 333.7405(1)(d), and operating a vehicle while his license was suspended, second offense, MCL 257.904(3)(b). The prosecutor also agreed that defendant could be sentenced as a second-offense habitual offender, MCL 769.10, as opposed to a fourth-offense habitual offender. At the plea hearing, the trial court engaged in the following colloquy with defendant to ascertain the factual basis for defendant's plea:
The Court : The Count I offense charges you with manufacture of [sic] making some methamphetamine.
Is that true, did you make some methamphetamine?
The Defendant : Yes.
The Court : Did you know the substance that you were manufacturing or making was, in fact, methamphetamine?
The Defendant : Yes, sir.
The Court : And the Count II charge says that you were operating or maintaining a laboratory to make methamphetamine.
Does that mean that you had chemicals or the necessary components to make it?
The Defendant : Yes.
The Court : And did you make it in a building or a residence that was under you control?
The Defendant : Um, a vehicle, yes, sir.
The Court : In a vehicle?
The Defendant : Yes. Yes, I did.
The Court : All right, and was that a vehicle of yours or one you controlled?
The Defendant : Yes.
The Court : Did you know that the stuff was there, the components in the vehicle, that you could use to make meth?
The Defendant : Yes, sir.
The Court : Were you successful, did you end up possessing some methamphetamine as a result of your manufacturing?
The Defendant : One more time, please?
The Court : Were you successful? Did you end up possessing some meth that you made?
The Defendant : Yes.
The Court : Because that's the Count III charge; that's why I'm asking you about that. It says you possessed some methamphetamine.
Is that true, did you possess some methamphetamine that you had cooked or made?
The Defendant : Yes.
The Court : And you knew that substance was, in fact, methamphetamine; is that right?
The Defendant : Yes.
On the basis of on these admissions by defendant, the trial court accepted defendant's guilty plea, finding that it was factually supported. In keeping with the plea bargain, the trial court sentenced defendant as a second-offense habitual offender to concurrent terms of 51 months' to 30 years' imprisonment for manufacturing methamphetamine and operating or maintaining a methamphetamine laboratory as well as a concurrent sentence of 117 days for the possession of methamphetamine. The case is now before us on remand from the Michigan Supreme Court for consideration as on leave granted.
I. PERSONAL-USE EXCEPTION
On appeal, defendant first argues that his guilty plea for manufacturing methamphetamine should be set aside because, as set forth in MCL 333.7106(3)(a), there is a personal-use exception to prohibitions on manufacturing a controlled substance and, absent evidence that defendant did not intend to use the methamphetamine for personal use, the factual basis for his manufacturing conviction was lacking and trial counsel was ineffective for not raising this issue. We disagree.
Initially, we note that defendant never moved to withdraw his guilty plea in the trial court. Under MCR 6.310(D), defendant's failure to file a motion to withdraw his guilty plea bars him from raising on appeal the argument that his plea was not an accurate one. In particular, MCR 6.310(D) states:
A defendant convicted on the basis of a plea may not raise on appeal any claim of noncompliance with the requirements of the rules in this subchapter, or any other
claim that the plea was not an understanding, voluntary, or accurate one, unless the defendant has moved to withdraw the plea in the trial court, raising as a basis for withdrawal the claim sought to be raised on appeal.
Defendant's challenge to the factual basis for his plea implicates the accuracy of his plea, and thus his claim falls squarely within the ambit of MCR 6.310(D). Because a motion to withdraw a plea constitutes a prerequisite for challenging the accuracy of a plea and defendant has not filed such a motion, our direct substantive review of this appellate argument is precluded under MCR 6.310(D). People v. Armisted , 295 Mich. App. 32, 48, 811 N.W.2d 47 (2011).
However, defendant has also raised his argument as an ineffective-assistance claim, asserting that counsel provided ineffective assistance by not raising the personal-use issue in the trial court. While our direct substantive analysis of the personal use issue is precluded by MCR 6.310(D), this rule does not prevent us from considering the personal-use exception in the context of an ineffective assistance argument. As demonstrated by the Supreme Court order in People v. Broyles , 498 Mich. 927 (2015), a claim of ineffective-assistance of counsel can serve as a basis for relief relative to a plea despite a failure to comply with MCR 6.310. Specifically, the Court observed and ruled:
Pursuant to MCR 7.305(H)(1), in lieu of granting leave to appeal, we vacate the Kent Circuit Court’s order denying the defendant’s motion for plea withdrawal and/or to correct an invalid sentence and we REMAND this case to the Kent Circuit Court. That court shall treat the defendant’s January 26, 2015 supplemental
brief and February 20, 2015 supplemental motion as timely filed and evaluate the defendant’s issues on the merits. The defendant’s attorney acknowledges that the defendant did not contribute to the delay in filing a proper motion and admits her sole
responsibility for the error. Because a motion to withdraw a plea or correct an invalid sentence is a prerequisite to substantive review on direct appeal under MCR 6.310 and MCR 6.429, the defendant was effectively deprived of his direct appeal as a result of constitutionally ineffective assistance of counsel. [ Broyles , 498 Mich. at 927–928, 871 N.W.2d 209.]
Following the reasoning in Broyles , while we may not directly address the personal-use exception on appeal, we may consider it to determine whether counsel's failure to properly raise this issue in the trial court, and to file a motion to withdraw a plea on this basis, constituted the ineffective assistance of counsel.
"To establish an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, a defendant must show that (1) counsel’s performance was below an objective standard of reasonableness under prevailing professional norms and (2) there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's error, the result of the proceedings would have been different." People v. Lockett , 295 Mich. App. 165, 187, 814 N.W.2d 295 (2012). "Effective assistance of counsel is presumed, and defendant bears a heavy burden to prove otherwise." People v. Dixon , 263 Mich. App. 393, 396, 688 N.W.2d 308 (2004). "Failing to advance a meritless argument or raise a futile objection does not constitute ineffective assistance of counsel." People v. Ericksen , 288 Mich. App. 192, 201, 793 N.W.2d 120 (2010).
To determine whether counsel provided ineffective assistance of counsel in this case, it is necessary to consider the factual basis for defendant's plea and the applicability of the personal-use exception. Under MCR 6.302(D)(1), if a defendant pleads guilty, "the court, by questioning the defendant, must establish support for a finding that the defendant is guilty of the offense charged or the offense to which the defendant is pleading." "When reviewing whether the factual basis for a plea was adequate, this Court considers whether the fact-finder could have found the defendant guilty on the basis of the facts elicited from the defendant at the plea proceeding." People v. Fonville , 291 Mich. App. 363, 377, 804 N.W.2d 878 (2011). "Where the statements by a defendant at the plea procedure do not establish grounds for a finding that the defendant committed the crime charged, the factual basis for the plea-based conviction is lacking." People v. Mitchell , 431 Mich. 744, 748, 432 N.W.2d 715 (1988).
Whether the conduct admitted by a defendant falls within the scope of the criminal statute at issue is a question of statutory interpretation. People v. Adkins , 272 Mich. App. 37, 39, 724 N.W.2d 710 (2006). The goal of statutory interpretation is to ascertain the legislature's intent. People v. Perry , 317 Mich. App. 589, 604, 895 N.W.2d 216 (2016). We begin with the plain language of the statute, interpreting words according to their ordinary meaning and within the context of the statute in order to give effect to the statute as a whole. Id. "[W]here that language is unambiguous, we presume that the Legislature intended the meaning clearly expressed—no further judicial construction is required or permitted, and the statute must be enforced as written." People v. Barrera , 278 Mich. App. 730, 736, 752 N.W.2d 485 (2008) (quotation marks and citation omitted).
Under the Public Health Code, MCL 333.1101 et seq., methamphetamine is a Schedule 2 controlled substance. MCL 333.7214(c)(ii ). The manufacture of controlled substances is prohibited by MCL 333.7401(1), which states, in relevant part, that "a person shall not manufacture, create, deliver, or possess with intent to manufacture, create, or deliver a controlled substance. ...." "The elements of manufacturing a controlled substance are (1) the defendant manufactured a substance, (2) the substance manufactured was the controlled substance at issue, and (3) the defendant knowingly manufactured it." People v. Bosca , 310 Mich. App. 1, 23, 871 N.W.2d 307 (2015).
In this case, defendant admitted that he made methamphetamine and that he did so knowingly. The question is whether his cooking or making of methamphetamine constitutes the illegal "manufacture" of methamphetamine in light of the personal-use exception set forth in MCL 333.7106(3)(a) as part of the definition of "manufacture." In particular, the term "manufacture" is defined in the Public Health Code as follows:
"Manufacture" means the production, preparation, propagation, compounding, conversion, or processing of a controlled substance , directly or indirectly by extraction from substances of natural origin, or independently by means of chemical synthesis, or by a combination of extraction and chemical synthesis. It includes the packaging or repackaging of the substance or labeling or relabeling of its container, except that it does not include either of the following :
(a) The preparation or compounding of a controlled substance by an individual for his or her own use .
(b) The preparation, compounding, packaging, or labeling of a controlled substance by either of the following:
(i ) A practitioner as an incident to the practitioner's administering or dispensing of a controlled substance in the course of his or her professional practice.
(ii ) A practitioner, or by the practitioner's authorized agent under his or her supervision, for the purpose of, or as an incident to, research, teaching, or chemical analysis, and not for sale. [ MCL 333.7106(3) (emphasis added).]
Given the plain language of § 7106(3)(a), it is clear that an individual who engages in the "preparation or compounding of a controlled substance ... for his or her own use" cannot be found guilty of manufacturing a controlled substance within the meaning of § 7106(3). See People v. Pearson , 157 Mich. App. 68, 72, 403 N.W.2d 498 (1987). However, contrary to defendant's argument, it does not follow that the factual basis for his plea was invalid simply because the trial court did not elicit information to exclude the possibility that defendant intended to use the resulting methamphetamine for his own personal use.
First of all, defendant mischaracterizes § 7106(3)(a) by suggesting that it provides a broad exemption for any manufacturing done for personal use. In actuality, as set forth in § 7106(3), in relevant part, the definition of "manufacture" provides a list of six activities that constitute manufacturing: production, preparation, propagation, compounding, conversion, and processing. From this list of six activities, the § 7106(3)(a) personal-use exception includes only two of these activities: preparation and compounding. "Generally, when language is included in one section of a statute but omitted from another section, it is presumed that the drafters acted intentionally and purposely in their inclusion or exclusion." People v. McFall , 309 Mich. App. 377, 385, 873 N.W.2d 112 (2015) (quotation marks and citation omitted). By defining "manufacture" to include six activities and then including only two of those six activities under the personal-use exception, the Legislature made clear that a personal-use exception applies for "preparation or compounding," but that there is no similar personal-use exception for production, propagation, conversion, or processing. Pearson , 157 Mich. App. at 72, 403 N.W.2d 498. See also Mich. Crim. J.I. 12.1, Use Note 4. The Legislature has thus drawn a clear distinction between "preparation or compounding" as compared to the other methods of manufacturing identified in § 7106(3).
Manufacturing also includes the "packing or repackaging" of a controlled substance as the well as "labeling or relabeling of its container." MCL 333.7106(3). However, it is undisputed that these activities are not at issue in this case and that defendant is not entitled to the exception for practitioners set forth in § 7106(3)(b).
Given this distinction, in considering the meaning of "preparation" and "compounding" in comparison to the other methods of manufacturing, it is also readily apparent that the personal-use exception applies only to a controlled substance already in existence, and it does not encompass the creation of a controlled substance. Pearson , 157 Mich. App. at 71–72, 403 N.W.2d 498. Specifically, as most relevantly defined, the term "preparation" means "the action or process of making something ready for use ...." Merriam–Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th ed). Likewise, in pertinent part, "compounding" denotes the action or process of putting "together (parts) so as to form a whole," such as by combining ingredients. Merriam–Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2014 11th ed) (defining "compound" and "-ing"). Adhering to these ordinary definitions, as we recognized in Pearson , "the plain intent of the statutory personal use exception is to avoid imposing felony liability on individuals who, already in possession of a controlled substance, make it ready for their own use or combine it with other ingredients for use." Pearson , 157 Mich. App. at 71. Typical examples of preparation or compounding often involve marijuana, specifically making marijuana ready for use by "rolling marijuana into cigarettes for smoking" or combining marijuana with other ingredients to make it ready for use by "making the so-called ‘Alice B. Toklas’ brownies containing marijuana." Stone v. State , 348 Ark. 661, 667, 74 S.W.3d 591 (2002) (quotation marks and citations omitted). In both instances, the controlled substance already exists in finished form, and any further action is undertaken merely to enable use of the substance.
We are not alone in this understanding of the personal-use exception as set forth in Pearson . Consistently with Pearson , numerous state courts interpreting the terms "preparation" and "compounding" have concluded that the personal-use exception applies "when [an] individual is] [already in possession of the controlled substance and is simply making it ready for use ... or combining it with other ingredients for use." See, e.g., State v. Wilson , 421 N.J. Super. 301, 308, 23 A.3d 489 (App Div, 2011) ; State v. Bossow , 274 Neb. 836, 845-846; 744 N.W.2d 43 (2008) ; Owens v. State , 325 Ark. 110, 124, 926 S.W.2d 650 (1996) ; State v. Underwood , 168 W. Va. 52, 57-58; 281 S.E.2d 491 (1981) ; State v. Boothe , 285 N.W.2d 760, 762 (Iowa App, 1979). Although decisions from other states are not precedentially binding, they may be considered persuasive. People v Jackson, 292 Mich. App. 583, 595 n 3; 808 N.W.2d 541 (2011). See alsoMCL 333.1111(1) ; MCL 333.7121(2) ; People v. Thompson , 477 Mich. 146, 155 n. 9, 730 N.W.2d 708 (2007).
In contrast to preparation and compounding, the other four methods of manufacturing controlled substances—i.e., production, propagation, conversion, and processing—"contemplate a significantly higher degree of activity involving the controlled substance," and thus these manufacturing activities are felonies regardless of "whether the controlled substance so ‘manufactured’ was for personal use or for distribution." Pearson , 157 Mich. App. at 71, 403 N.W.2d 498 (quotation marks and citation omitted). While we do not attempt to provide an exhaustive account of the activities that constitute production, propagation, conversion, and processing, we note that "production" has been statutorily defined as "the manufacture, planting, cultivation, growing, or harvesting of a controlled substance." MCL 333.7109(6). In turn, "manufacture" means "to make" from materials. Merriam–Webster's Dictionary (11th ed). In comparison, as commonly understood, (1) "propagation" involves "the act or action of propagating," such as to "increase (as of a kind of organism) in numbers," (2) "conversion" is "the act of converting," and (3) "processing" refers to "a series of actions or operations conducing to an end" or "a continuous operation or treatment esp. in manufacture." Merriam–Webster's Dictionary (11th ed) (defining "process" and adding-ing). From these various definitions, courts have recognized that production, propagation, conversion, and processing encompass "planting, growing, cultivating or harvesting of a controlled substance," creating a controlled substance "by any synthetic process or mixture of processes," as well as the alteration or extraction of a controlled substance, such as "taking a controlled substance and, by any process or conversion, changing the form of the controlled substance or concentrating it." State v. Childers , 41 N.C. App. 729, 732, 255 S.E.2d 654 (1979). See also People v. Hunter , 201 Mich. App. 671, 676–677, 506 N.W.2d 611 (1993).
In view of these different methods of manufacturing, following the reasoning set forth in Pearson , we hold that one may not claim the personal-use exception for making or cooking methamphetamine. Making or cooking methamphetamine clearly involves the creation of methamphetamine, meaning that it constitutes production, propagation, conversion, or processing of methamphetamine as opposed to the mere "preparation or compounding" of existing methamphetamine for personal use. Accordingly, the personal-use exception does not apply, and one who knowingly makes or cooks methamphetamine is guilty of manufacturing methamphetamine without regard to whether the methamphetamine will be distributed or used personally.
Our decision today rests in large part on the reasoning and analysis performed by this Court in Pearson , wherein we similarly determined that growing marijuana is not protected by the personal-use exception. Pearson , 157 Mich. App. at 71–72, 403 N.W.2d 498. As a published decision of this Court decided before November 1, 1990, Pearson is not precedentially binding. MCR 7.215(J)(1). Nevertheless, we consider Pearson persuasive and we use it as a guide. See People v. Barbarich , 291 Mich. App. 468, 476 n. 2, 807 N.W.2d 56 (2011).
Other courts interpreting comparable personal-use provisions have likewise determined that making or cooking methamphetamine is not protected by the personal-use exception. See, e.g., Stallard v. State , 225 Md. App. 400, 412, 124 A.3d 1165 (2015) ; Owens , 325 Ark. at 124, 926 S.W.2d 650. Though these cases are not binding, we find them persuasive and consistent with Michigan's statutory provisions. Jackson , 292 Mich. App. at 595 n 3. See also Thompson , 477 Mich. at 155 n. 9, 730 N.W.2d 708.
Turning to the present facts, at the plea hearing, when describing his activities, defendant admitted that he had chemicals and components to make methamphetamine, that he was "manufacturing or making" methamphetamine, and that he had "cooked or made" methamphetamine. Clearly, defendant admitted to the creation of methamphetamine, and his factual admissions were sufficient to support the conclusion that defendant produced, propagated, converted, or processed methamphetamine in contravention of MCL 333.7401(1) and MCL 333.7106(3). In contrast, this level of activity is not consistent with the assertion that defendant engaged in the "preparation or compounding" of existing methamphetamine merely to make it ready for use. Defendant is, therefore, ineligible for the personal-use exception, and it is immaterial whether or not defendant cooked methamphetamine for his own use or for distribution purposes. In sum, the personal-use exception simply had no bearing on this case, and the trial court's failure to exclude the possibility of personal-use does not undermine the factual basis of defendant's plea.
In concluding that the trial court obtained a sufficient factual basis for defendant's plea, we also note that the personal use exception is an affirmative defense to a charge of manufacturing a controlled substance, meaning that it was not an element of the crime on which the trial court had to elicit factual support for defendant's plea. MCL 333.7401(1) creates a general prohibition on the manufacturing of controlled substances. While there are potential exceptions to this general prohibition, pursuant to MCL 333.7531(1) provides that, when offering proof of the elements of the offense, the prosecution has no obligation to negate any exemption or exception in Article 7 of the Public Health Code, which includes the personal-use exception in MCL 333.7106(3). Instead, "[t]he burden of proof of an exception or exception is upon the person claiming it." MCL 333.7531(1). Once the prosecution has presented a prima facie case of manufacturing a controlled substance, the burden shifts to the defendant to present some competent evidence regarding the applicability of the personal-use exception. See MCL 333.7531(1) ; People v. Pegenau , 447 Mich. 278, 293, 523 N.W.2d 325 (1994) (opinion by MALLETT, J.) ; People v. Hartuniewicz , 294 Mich. App. 237, 245–246, 816 N.W.2d 442 (2011). In other words, the personal-use exception functions as an affirmative defense, and the prosecutor is not required to disprove personal use as an element of the offense. Cf. Pegenau , 447 Mich. at 293, 523 N.W.2d 325 ; (opinion by MALLETT , J.); Hartuniewicz , 294 Mich. App. at 245, 816 N.W.2d 442 Accordingly, if defendant believed he was entitled to a personal-use defense, the burden was on defendant to raise the issue as an affirmative defense and to present some competent evidence of preparation or compounding for personal use.
MCL 333.7531(1), which is contained in Article 7 of the Public Health Code, states as follows: "It is not necessary for this state to negate any exemption or exception in this article in a complaint, information, indictment, or other pleading or in a trial, hearing, or other proceeding under this article. The burden of proof of an exemption or exception is upon the person claiming it."
Rather than pursue this defense, defendant pleaded guilty; and, as we have discussed, his admissions provided an adequate factual basis for his plea. Further, because the inapplicability of the personal-use exception is not an element of manufacturing a controlled substance, when accepting defendant's plea, the trial court did not have to exclude the possibility of preparation or compounding for personal use in order to find a factual basis to support the conclusion that defendant's admitted conduct fell within the scope of the criminal statute. See Fonville , 291 Mich. App. at 377, 804 N.W.2d 878 ; Adkins , 272 Mich. App. at 38, 724 N.W.2d 710. In other words, in accepting defendant's plea, the trial court was not obligated to examine defendant regarding potential defenses or to advise defendant of possible defenses. MCR 6.302(B)(1) ; People v. Burton , 396 Mich. 238, 242, 240 N.W.2d 239 (1976). At this juncture, having pleaded guilty and provided an adequate factual basis for his plea, defendant has waived the opportunity to assert a factual defense to the crime charged. People v. Jex , 489 Mich. 983 (2011). Given that defendant's challenges to the factual basis for his plea and his reliance on the personal-use exception are without merit, it is also apparent that counsel did not provide ineffective assistance by failing to raise this meritless issue in the trial court. Ericksen , 288 Mich. App. at 201, 793 N.W.2d 120.
II. DOUBLE JEOPARDY
Next, defendant argues that his convictions for manufacturing methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine violate double jeopardy and that trial counsel provided ineffective assistance by failing to raise this issue below. Specifically, defendant contends that it is impossible to manufacture methamphetamine without also possessing methamphetamine, given that the offense of possession does not contain any element different from the elements required for the offense of manufacturing. Consequently, defendant maintains that he may not be convicted for both manufacturing and possessing the same unit of methamphetamine. We disagree.
It is not apparent that a double-jeopardy challenge would be precluded on direct appeal by MCR 6.310(D). However, even assuming that defendant's double-jeopardy argument is also problematic under MCR 6.310(D), as we have discussed, it would be properly considered in the ineffective-assistance context.
The United States and Michigan Constitutions protect a defendant from being placed in jeopardy twice for the same offense. U.S. Const., Am. V ; Const. 1963, art. 1, § 15. Defendant maintains that conviction and sentencing for both manufacturing methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine violates double jeopardy by imposing multiple punishments for "the same offense." See People v. Calloway , 469 Mich. 448, 450, 671 N.W.2d 733 (2003).
[W]hen considering whether two offenses are the "same offense" in the context of the multiple punishments strand of double jeopardy, we must first determine whether the statutory language evinces a legislative intent with regard to the permissibility of multiple punishments. If the legislative intent is clear, courts are required to abide by this intent. If, however, the legislative intent is not clear, courts must then apply the abstract legal elements test articulated in Ream [ ] to discern legislative intent. [ People v. Miller, 498 Mich. 13, 19, 869 N.W.2d 204 (2015) (2015) (citation omitted).]
People v. Ream , 481 Mich. 223, 238; 750 N.W.2d 536 (2008).
Under the abstracts-legal-elements test, "two offenses will only be considered the ‘same offense’ where it is impossible to commit the greater offense without also committing the lesser offense." Id. In other words, "it is not a violation of double jeopardy to convict a defendant of multiple offenses if each of the offenses for which defendant was convicted has an element that the other does not." Id. (quotation marks, citation and ellipsis omitted). "Because the statutory elements, not the particular facts of the case, are indicative of legislative intent, the focus must be on these statutory elements." People v. Ream , 481 Mich. at 223, 238; 750 N.W.2d 536 (2008).
In this case, defendant was convicted under MCL 333.7401(2)(b)(i ) and MCL 333.7403(2)(b)(i ), neither of which express a clear legislative intent with regard to the permissibility of multiple punishments. See Miller , 498 Mich. at 19, 869 N.W.2d 204. Consequently, whether the Legislature intended multiple punishments for manufacturing and possession of a controlled substance is determined by applying the abstract-legal-elements test.
"With respect to manufacturing methamphetamine, the elements are (1) the defendant manufactured a controlled substance, (2) the substance manufactured was methamphetamine, and (3) the defendant knew he was manufacturing methamphetamine." People v. Meshell , 265 Mich. App. 616, 619, 696 N.W.2d 754 (2005). In comparison, to obtain a conviction under MCL 333.7403(2)(b), the prosecution must prove that the defendant "knowingly or intentionally possess[ed]" methamphetamine. "The element of possession ... requires a showing of dominion or right of control over the drug with knowledge of its presence and character." People v. McKinney , 258 Mich. App. 157, 165, 670 N.W.2d 254 (2003) (quotation marks and citations omitted). Possession may be actual or constructive, joint or exclusive. Id. at 166, 670 N.W.2d 254. "The essential issue is whether the defendant exercised dominion or control over the substance." Id.
Considering these elements, the offenses differ in that one requires the "manufacture" of a controlled substance and the other requires "possession" of a controlled substance. In particular, manufacturing methamphetamine requires proof that the defendant manufactured methamphetamine, while a conviction for possession of methamphetamine does not require proof of manufacturing. Conversely, possession of methamphetamine requires proof that the defendant possessed methamphetamine, while the manufacture of methamphetamine does not require proof of possession. Because each contains an element not required for the other, the two offenses are not the same offense for double-jeopardy purposes. See Miller , 498 Mich. at 19, 869 N.W.2d 204 ; People v. Welshans , unpublished per curiam opinion of the Court of Appeals, issued December 9, 2014 (Docket No. 318040, pp. 7-8.
While unpublished opinions are not precedentially binding, MCR 7.215(C)(1), they may be considered for their persuasive value. People v. Green , 260 Mich. App. 710, 720 n. 5, 680 N.W.2d 477 (2004).
In concluding that manufacturing and possession are not the "same offense," we do not ignore the practical reality that in many, if not most, cases, proof of manufacturing a controlled substance will also establish possession of that controlled substance. See, e.g., Meshell , 265 Mich. App. at 622–623, 696 N.W.2d 754 (considering manufacturing activities as evidence of possession). But we are simply not prepared to state that possession is necessarily inherent in manufacturing or that it would be impossible to manufacture a controlled substance without also possessing it. See Miller , 498 Mich. at 19, 869 N.W.2d 204. Previously, in concluding that possession is not a lesser included offense of delivering a controlled substance, we rejected a similar argument and we cautioned against injecting a possession requirement into the manufacturing and delivery statute, stating:
One might argue that it is impossible for a party to manufacture, deliver or intend to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance without at least constructive possession of it. However, in our estimation, such an analysis unnecessarily adds
the element of constructive possession to the crime. Requiring proof of constructive possession inappropriately creates a doorway through which drug traffickers, particularly those high in the distribution chain, can escape. [ People v. Binder (On Remand) , 215 Mich. App. 30, 35–36, 544 N.W.2d 714 (1996), vacated in part on other grounds 453 Mich. 915, 554 N.W.2d 906 (1996).]
The same is true of manufacturing insofar as individuals responsible for some aspect of manufacturing could attempt to escape responsibility by claiming a lack of dominion or right of control over the controlled substance despite the fact that the plain language of the manufacturing statute includes no element of "possession" with respect to the controlled substance. In actuality, manufacturing a controlled substance may be a process with various steps, and the Legislature broadly defined the term "manufacture" to encompass myriad activities in this process, including tasks that may potentially be carried out without a right of control over the substance, such as labeling containers or mixing the brownie batter to which a controlled substance is added. See People v. Eggers , unpublished per curiam opinion of the Court of Appeals, issued February 14, 2006 (Docket No. 256618), p.5. Depending on the drug and the method of manufacturing, it is also possible that there will be no controlled substance to possess until the manufacturing process is complete, and the fact that one undertakes the manufacture of a controlled substance is no guarantee that there will be a right of control or dominion over the finished product. Ultimately, while manufacturing may often involve possession, it is not invariably the case that one who manufactures a controlled substance will also have possession of the substance manufactured. Because it is not impossible to manufacture a controlled substance without also possessing that controlled substance, there is no double-jeopardy violation arising from convictions for manufacture and possession of the same substance. See Miller , 498 Mich. at 19, 869 N.W.2d 204.
See id. Courts in other jurisdictions have also reached this conclusion. See, e.g., State v. Davis , 117 Wash. App. 702, 709, 72 P.3d 1134 (2003) ("Although possession is usually inherent in manufacture, that is not invariably the case ...."); Galbreath v. State , 213 Ga. App. 80, 81, 443 S.E.2d 664 (1994) ("Possession of marijuana is not a necessary element of the crime of knowingly manufacturing marijuana by cultivating or planting...."); State v. Brown , 106 Or. App. 291, 297, 807 P.2d 316 (1991) ("Each of the statutory provisions defining possession and manufacture of a controlled substance requires proof of an element that the other does not...."); State v. Peck , 143 Wis. 2d 624, 645–646, 422 N.W.2d 160 (1988) ("Possession, however, is not an element of the offense of manufacturing a controlled substance....").
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In this case, defendant admitted both manufacturing methamphetamine and possessing methamphetamine. Although his conviction for possession stems from the possession of the same methamphetamine that he manufactured, possession and manufacturing are distinct offenses. Consequently, defendant's conviction and sentencing for both offenses does not violate double jeopardy. Having concluded that defendant's convictions do not violate double jeopardy, we also reject defendant's argument that counsel provided ineffective assistance by failing to raise this meritless argument in the trial court. See Ericksen , 288 Mich. App. at 201, 793 N.W.2d 120.
Affirmed.
Hoekstra, P.J., and Murphy and K. F. Kelly, JJ., concurred.