Opinion
359130
03-16-2023
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. EFRAN PAREDES, JR., also known as EFREN PAREDES, JR., Defendant-Appellant.
UNPUBLISHED
Berrien Circuit Court LC No. 1989-001127-FH
Before: M. J. KELLY, P.J., and JANSEN and CAMERON, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
In 1989, a jury convicted defendant of first-degree premeditated murder, MCL 750.316(1)(a); first-degree felony murder, MCL 750.316(1)(b); and armed robbery, MCL 750.529. Defendant was a juvenile at the time of his offenses, and sentenced to life without parole (LWOP) for murder and life for armed robbery. In October 2021, following Miller proceedings, the trial court resentenced defendant to LWOP. Defendant appeals as of right. We vacate defendant's sentence and remand for resentencing consistent with this opinion.
Miller v Alabama, 567 U.S. 460; 132 S.Ct. 2455; 183 L.Ed.2d 407 (2012).
At resentencing, the trial court also entered a stipulated order consolidating defendant's two murder convictions into one count supported by two theories and conditionally dismissing the armed robbery conviction. This portion of the trial court's ruling is not at issue on appeal.
In 1989, defendant was convicted of murdering 28-year-old Rick Tetzlaff, an assistant manager at a grocery store where defendant worked as a bagger. The evidence at trial established that defendant acted with premeditation and deliberation. He told friends about his plan to kill Tetzlaff and rob the store, and he enlisted them to act as accomplices. One evening, he went to the store to commit the murder, but he aborted his plan because there were too many people around. Two days later, defendant waited until closing, when he and Tetzlaff were alone in the store. Using the store's PA system, defendant lured Tetzlaff to the back of store, where defendant lay in wait with a gun that he obtained from one of his accomplices. Defendant shot Tetzlaff four times in the head and chest. After the murder, another one of defendant's accomplices, AM, drove defendant home. AM and another of defendant's friends, who was also aware of his murder plans, testified against defendant at trial. Defendant's fingerprints were found on an office cash drawer, to which defendant would not have had access as a bagger. Defendant's stepfather found Tetzlaff's keys in defendant's bedroom and $2,500 in their basement. In 1989, the trial court sentenced defendant to LWOP.
At the time of the murder, defendant was 15 years and 11 months old. Following the Supreme Court's decision in Miller and the determination that Miller applied retroactively to offenders such as defendant, the prosecutor moved to resentence defendant to LWOP. The trial court held a two-day Miller hearing. Among other evidence, the parties presented evidence regarding defendant's conduct while in prison, including his misconduct tickets, his employment with the braille translation program, and his participation in various programs and services. The trial court also heard opinions about defendant's character from members of his family and other supporters.
Following the hearing, the trial court placed a ruling on the record, addressing the Miller factors in detail and concluding that a sentence of LWOP was warranted in this case. The trial court acknowledged defendant's youth at the time of the murder, but reviewing all the factors, the trial court nevertheless concluded that defendant's crimes did not reflect the transient immaturities of youth, such as impetuousness or recklessness. The trial court noted that-unlike the youth in Miller-there was no trauma in defendant's childhood; defendant came from a stable home with an attentive mother and stepfather, he attended a great school, and he did well in school and extracurricular activities. The crime itself also showed considerable planning and deliberation, and defendant was both the leader in the offense and the gunman. Defendant was intelligent and able to participate in his own defense; there was no possibility of a plea to a lesser offense when, at trial and to this day, defendant has staunchly claimed total innocence despite the ample evidence against him. The trial court considered defendant's conduct in prison since the crime, which included positive achievements as well as misconduct. The trial court questioned the sincerity of defendant's positive activities, many of which took place post-Miller, noting that defendant, who was the leader in the plot to murder Tetzlaff, had a history, dating to before prison, of manipulating people and that he appeared interested "in more privileges or access" in prison. In analyzing the Miller factors, the trial court specifically concluded that several of the factors actually favored the prosecutor and supported LWOP. Weighing the Miller factors and the principle of proportionality, the trial court resentenced defendant to LWOP. Defendant now appeals as of right.
As an example, the trial court noted that it was through his positive activities and resulting privileges that defendant was able to violate prison rules to have sex with, and impregnate, his wife while in prison.
On appeal, defendant argues that the trial court abused its discretion by sentencing defendant to LWOP. According to defendant, the trial court misapplied the Miller factors by weighing some factors in favor of LWOP. Defendant also challenges the trial court's factual findings, and defendant asserts that Michigan applies a higher standard to LWOP for juveniles than that set forth in Miller.
We review a trial court's decision to sentence a juvenile to LWOP for an abuse of discretion. People v Taylor, __Mich__,__; __N.W.2d__ (2022) (Docket No. 154994); slip op at 10. "A trial court abuses its discretion when its decision falls outside the range of reasonable and principled outcomes." People v Everett, 318 Mich.App. 511, 516; 899 N.W.2d 94 (2017) (quotation marks and citation omitted). A trial court also abuses its discretion when it makes an error of law or "operates within an incorrect legal framework." Id. (quotation marks and citation omitted). A trial court's factual findings supporting a sentence are reviewed for clear error. Taylor,__ Mich. at __; slip op at 10. Constitutional issues are reviewed de novo. Id.
In Miller v Alabama, 567 U.S. 460, 465; 132 S.Ct. 2455; 183 L.Ed.2d 407 (2012), the United States Supreme Court held "that mandatory life without parole for those under the age of 18 at the time of their crimes violates the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on 'cruel and unusual punishments.' " That is, the Eighth Amendment "guarantees individuals the right not to be subjected to excessive sanctions," a right which "flows from the basic precept of justice that punishment for crime should be graduated and proportioned to both the offender and the offense." Id. at 469 (quotation marks and citations omitted). These basic constitutional precepts require different treatment of juveniles at sentencing because "juveniles have diminished culpability and greater prospects for reform," making them generally "less deserving of the most severe punishments." Id. at 471 (quotation marks and citation omitted). In other words, Miller recognized that "LWOP is an excessive sentence for children whose crimes reflect transient immaturity," Taylor,__ Mich. at__; slip op at 10 (quotation marks and citation omitted), rather than "irreparable corruption," Montgomery v Louisiana, 577 U.S. 190, 208; 136 S.Ct. 718; 193 L.Ed.2d 599 (2016) (quotation marks and citation omitted). Miller did not categorically ban sentences of LWOP for juveniles; nevertheless the Court anticipated that "this harshest possible penalty will be uncommon." Taylor,__ Mich. at __; slip op at 8 (quotation marks and citation omitted).
Later, the Supreme Court concluded that Miller applied retroactively to offenders such as defendant. See Montgomery v Louisiana, 577 U.S. 190, 208-209; 136 S.Ct. 718; 193 L.Ed.2d 599 (2016).
Because "[y]outh matters in sentencing," Miller provided that a sentencing court "must have discretion to consider youth before imposing a life-without-parole sentence ...." Jones v Mississippi,__ US__; 141 S.Ct. 1307, 1316; 209 L.Ed.2d 390 (2021). More specifically, under Miller, before sentencing a juvenile to LWOP, the trial court should first consider five factors:
(1) the juvenile's "chronological age and its hallmark features-among them, immaturity, impetuosity, and failure to appreciate risks and consequences"; (2) the juvenile's family and home environment-"from which he cannot usually extricate himself-no matter how brutal or dysfunctional"; (3) "the circumstances of the homicide offense, including the extent of his participation in the conduct and the way familial and peer pressures may have affected him"; (4) "the incompetencies of youth," which affect whether the juvenile might have been charged with and convicted of a lesser crime, for example, because the juvenile was unable to deal
with law enforcement or prosecutors or because the juvenile did not have the capacity to assist their attorney in their own defense; and (5) the juvenile's "possibility of rehabilitation." [Taylor, __Mich at__; slip op at 8 (citation omitted).]
These factors have been incorporated into Michigan's LWOP sentencing scheme under MCL 769.25. Id. Recently, in a footnote in Taylor, the Michigan Supreme Court also stated that the Miller factors are mitigating factors and cannot be used "as aggravators," meaning that "if a particular Miller factor does not militate against LWOP," "at most that factor will be considered neutral." Id. at __n __; slip op at 20 n 25.
Although the Miller factors must be considered, and cannot be used as aggravators, there are no particular facts that must be found by a trial court in order to conclude that a sentence of LWOP is appropriate for a juvenile. Id. at __; slip op at 15. In particular, a trial court need not make a factual finding of a juvenile's "permanent incorrigibility" before imposing an LWOP sentence. Jones,__ U.S. at __; 141 S.Ct. at 1318; People v Skinner, 502 Mich. 89, 128; 917 N.W.2d 292 (2018). Further, in considering whether to impose a sentence of LWOP for a juvenile, a trial court is not precluded from considering "the traditional objectives of sentencing-punishment, deterrence, protection, retribution, and rehabilitation." People v Garay, 506 Mich. 936 (2020).
Reliance on "other criteria to the exclusion of, or without proper consideration of," the Miller factors would constitute an abuse of discretion, but "mere consideration of the traditional objectives of sentencing or other factors is not, per se, an error of law." Garay, 506 Mich. at 936.
Recently, in Taylor, the Supreme Court set forth additional procedures and standards that should be applied to juvenile LWOP proceedings in Michigan under MCL 769.25. Specifically, the Supreme Court determined that, under MCL 769.25, the default sentence for a juvenile is a term of years. Taylor, __Mich at __; slip op at 13. The prosecutor may, by filing a motion, seek to have a juvenile sentenced to LWOP. Id. at __; slip op at 13-14. However, as the moving party, the prosecutor bears "the burden and risk of nonpersuasion at the Miller hearing." Id. at __; slip op at 14.
Within this framework, the Miller proceedings are "not comparable to an ordinary sentencing hearing in which neither the prosecutor nor the defendant generally bears any particular burden." Id. at__; slip op at 14. Instead, the prosecutor bears the burden of overcoming a presumption that "LWOP is disproportionate." Id. at __; slip op at 16. The prosecutor must "prove facts and circumstances that rebut" this presumption by clear and convincing evidence. Id. at __; slip op at 17. It remains true, however, that there is no particular fact-such as irreparable incorrigibility-that must be shown to warrant a LWOP sentence. Id. at__; slip op at 15-16. Further, neither party bears any particular burden of proof with respect to the Miller factors; "the Miller factors are simply to be 'considered' and the trial court is to make pertinent findings of fact, but there is no burden of proof associated with those particular considerations." Id. at __n__; slip op at 14 n 17. Ultimately, the trial court is charged with considering "all the evidence before it" to "determine whether the presumption has been rebutted in order to impose LWOP." Id. at__; slip op at 17. "This is an exercise in discretion, not a fact-finding mission." Id.
Even if the presumption that LWOP is disproportionate is rebutted, the trial court "is not obligated to impose LWOP." Taylor, __Mich at__ n__; slip op at 17 n 22.
In Taylor, when conducting the Miller resentencing in that case, the trial court did not operate within the framework set forth by the Court in Taylor, and for this reason, the Supreme Court concluded that the defendant was entitled to resentencing with the trial court implementing the Taylor procedures. Id. at, __;__ slip op at 2, 19-20. Because another resentencing was required, the Taylor Court found it unnecessary to address the specifics of the trial court's "use of the Miller factors" at the previous hearing. Id. at __n__; slip op at 20 n 25.
In Taylor, the defendant was convicted of felony murder as an aider and abettor, and there was also a question whether LWOP for a juvenile convicted of felony murder-without the premediated and deliberate intent to kill-constituted cruel or unusual punishment. This Court did not address this issue in its original opinion. Consequently, before remanding to the trial court to implement the new Taylor procedures, the Supreme Court remanded to this Court for consideration of the defendant's felony-murder argument. Taylor, __Mich at__,__; slip op at 2, 20. However, the resolution of these felony-murder issues in Taylor has no potential effect on the current case in which defendant acted with the premeditated intent to kill.
Turning to the facts of this case, the Miller proceedings occurred before the Supreme Court issued its decision in Taylor. As a result, the trial court-and the parties-failed to operate within the framework set forth in Taylor. For example, the prosecutor specifically asserted in the trial court that a Miller resentencing was, in terms of the burden of proof, like an ordinary sentencing at which neither party bore any particular burden. Defense counsel similarly stated during oral arguments in the trial court that there was "no burden of proof." Consistently, the trial court did not place a burden on the prosecutor to rebut, by clear and convincing evidence, that LWOP was a disproportionate sentence. Further, like the trial court in Taylor, the trial court in this case treated some of the Miller factors-that did not militate in defendant's favor-as favoring LWOP, which Taylor now instructs is improper. See id. at__ n__; slip op at 20 n 25. At oral argument, the prosecution conceded that the trial court erred, and that, in light of Taylor, this case needed to be remanded for resentencing. By operating in the wrong legal framework, the trial court abused its discretion, and the appropriate remedy is to remand for a Miller resentencing involving the implementation of the new Taylor framework. See id. at __; slip op at 2, 19-20. In these circumstances, it would also be premature to consider defendant's specific fact-finding arguments related to the trial court's analysis of the Miller factors. See id. at __n __; slip op at 20 n 25.
Finally, we note that defendant asks that if the case is remanded, it be remanded to a new judge. Defendant fails to include this issue in his statement of questions presented, meaning that it has not been properly presented for our review, and it need not be considered. See MCR 7.212(C)(5); People v Unger, 278 Mich.App. 210, 262; 749 N.W.2d 272 (2008). In any event, defendant's request for a new judge is without merit. To determine whether resentencing should occur before a different judge, this Court considers:
(1) whether the original judge would reasonably be expected upon remand to have substantial difficulty in putting out of his or her mind previously-expressed views or findings determined to be erroneous or based on evidence that must be rejected, (2) whether reassignment is advisable to preserve the appearance of justice, and (3) whether reassignment would entail waste and duplication out of proportion to any gain in preserving the appearance of fairness. [People v Hill, 221 Mich.App. 391, 398; 561 N.W.2d 862 (1997) (quotation marks and citations omitted).]
In Hill, for example, we rejected the defendant's argument that a new judge should conduct the resentencing when "the trial court's errors involved questions of law," and "[t]here is no indication, as defendant asserts, that the original trial judge would have substantial difficulty in setting aside his previously expressed views." Id.
Likewise, in this case, the trial court erred by failing to apply the Taylor framework and by treating Miller factors as aggravating circumstances. But such errors of law do not constitute grounds for remanding to a new judge, see id., particularly when, as in this case, the legal standards at issue were unsettled and the framework the trial court should have applied was announced after the proceedings in this case. See Taylor, __Mich at__; slip op 1 (stating the Court's intent to "provide much-needed guidance to criminal defendants, prosecutors, and trial courts on the proper procedure" for juvenile LWOP sentencings). Nothing in the trial court's comments during the Miller resentencing proceedings suggest that the trial court will be unable or unwilling to apply the framework from Taylor or that the trial court will have substantial difficulty setting aside any previously expressed views. See Hill, 221 Mich.App. at 398. Further, reassignment would involve waste and duplication that is simply not necessary to preserve the appearance of fairness. See id. For these reasons, defendant's request for a new judge on remand is denied.
Vacated and remanded for resentencing under the Taylor framework consistent with this opinion. We retain jurisdiction.
ORDER
Pursuant to the opinion issued concurrently with this order, this case is REMANDED for further proceedings consistent with the opinion of this Court. We retain jurisdiction.
Proceedings on remand in this matter shall be completed within 56 days of the Clerk's certification of this order, and they shall be given priority on remand until they are concluded. As stated in the accompanying opinion, this matter is vacated and remanded for resentencing under the Taylor framework. The proceedings on remand are limited to this issue.
The parties shall promptly file with this Court a copy of all papers filed on remand. Within seven days after entry, appellant shall file with this Court copies of all orders entered on remand.
The transcript of all proceedings on remand shall be prepared and filed within 21 days after completion of the proceedings.