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holding that the defendant failed to demonstrate ineffective assistance of counsel because he "merely speculated that an independent expert could have provided favorable testimony"
Summary of this case from People v. AdamowiczOpinion
Submitted April 7, 2009, at Grand Rapids. [Copyrighted Material Omitted] [Copyrighted Material Omitted] [Copyrighted Material Omitted] [Copyrighted Material Omitted]
Michael A. Cox, Attorney General, B. Eric Restuccia, Solicitor General, William A. Forsyth, Prosecuting Attorney, Timothy K. McMorrow, Chief Appellate Attorney, and Gary A. Moore, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for the people.
Peter Ellenson and Scott G. Payne, in propria persona, for the defendant.
Before: SAAD, C.J., and JANSEN and HOEKSTRA, JJ.
JANSEN, J.
Defendant appeals by right his jury-trial convictions in four separate cases, all of which were joined for trial. In Kent Circuit Court Case No. 06-011607-FC, defendant was convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC I), MCL 750.520b(1)(f). In Kent Circuit Court Case No. 06-011875-FC, defendant was convicted of two counts of CSC I, MCL 750.520b(1)(e) (Count 1), and MCL 750.520b(1)(f) (Count 2). In Kent Circuit Court Case No. 06-011944-FC, defendant was convicted of third-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC III), MCL 750.520d(1)(a). In Kent Circuit Court Case No. 06-012819-FH, defendant was convicted of CSC III, MCL 750.520d(1)(b). Defendant was acquitted in a fifth, separate case. We affirm in part and reverse in part.
In Kent Circuit Court Case No. 06-011607-FC, defendant was sentenced as a third-offense habitual offender, MCL 769.11, to life imprisonment.
In Kent Circuit Court Case No. 06-011875-FC, defendant was sentenced as a third-offense habitual offender, MCL 769.11, to life imprisonment for Count 1 and to 40 to 60 years in prison for Count 2.
In Kent Circuit Court Case No. 06-011944-FC, defendant was sentenced as a third-offense habitual offender, MCL 769.11, to 10 to 30 years in prison.
In Kent Circuit Court Case No. 06-012819-FH, defendant was sentenced as a fourth-offense habitual offender, MCL 769.12, to 20 to 40 years in prison.
I
Defendant first argues that he was denied his right to a fair trial when he was forced to appear in court with an unshaven face, wearing leg shackles, and surrounded by armed guards in the courtroom during the first two days of trial. We review a trial court's decision to shackle a defendant for an abuse of discretion under the totality of the circumstances. People v. Dixon, 217 Mich.App. 400, 404-405, 552 N.W.2d 663 (1996). With respect to a defendant's physical appearance during trial, we also review the trial court's decision for an abuse of discretion. See People v. Harris, 201 Mich.App. 147, 151, 505 N.W.2d 889 (1993). We defer to the trial court's superior opportunity to observe the defendant and to determine whether the defendant's appearance prejudicially marks him or her as a prisoner. Id. at 152, 505 N.W.2d 889.
A
Included within the right to a fair trial, absent extraordinary circumstances, is the right to be free of shackles or handcuffs in the courtroom. Dixon, 217 Mich.App. at 404, 552 N.W.2d 663. While this right is not absolute, a defendant " may be shackled only on a finding supported by record evidence that this is necessary to prevent escape, injury to persons in the courtroom or to maintain order." People v. Dunn, 446 Mich. 409, 425, 521 N.W.2d 255 (1994). But even if a trial court abuses its discretion and requires a defendant to wear restraints, the defendant must show that he suffered prejudice as a result of the restraints to be entitled to relief. People v. Horn, 279 Mich.App. 31, 36, 755 N.W.2d 212 (2008). " [A] defendant is not prejudiced if the jury was unable to see the shackles on the defendant." Id. We conclude that the trial court abused its discretion by requiring defendant to wear leg shackles in the courtroom because the court's decision in this regard was not supported by the record evidence. There was quite simply no evidence to suggest that defendant was a flight risk, that he was likely to attempt to escape, or that shackles were needed to maintain order in the courtroom. However, defendant has failed to show that he suffered prejudice. Indeed, the record shows that the defense table in the courtroom was skirted with paper, which prevented the jury from seeing the shackles. Moreover, defendant entered and left the courtroom while the jury was not present. We perceive no actual prejudice to defendant on the facts of this case.
B
We conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion with respect to defendant's personal appearance. It is true that a criminal defendant generally has the right to appear before the court " ‘ with the appearance, dignity, and self-respect of a free and innocent man....’ " People v. Shaw, 381 Mich. 467, 474, 164 N.W.2d 7 (1969) (citation omitted). Defendant contends that he was required to appear before the jury with eight months of beard growth because jail personnel had not allowed him to shave. We cannot conclude that defendant's beard, alone, constituted an impermissibly distinctive reminder of defendant's incarcerated status or prejudicially marked him as a prisoner. See Harris, 201 Mich.App. at 152, 505 N.W.2d 889. Moreover, defendant did not object to his appearance in court until the second day of trial, at which time the trial court took immediate measures to provide him with access to grooming supplies before his next appearance in court. Under these circumstances, we find no abuse of discretion. Defendant was not denied his right to a fair trial.
C
Defendant also refers in his statement of the questions presented to his appearance in court " surrounded by armed guards." Defendant has abandoned this issue by failing to provide any analysis in the text of his brief on appeal. MCR 7.212(C)(7); People v. Anderson, 209 Mich.App. 527, 538, 531 N.W.2d 780 (1995). Even more importantly, we note that the record is devoid of any evidence that defendant was " surrounded" by armed guards at any time during trial. We perceive no error in this regard.
II
Defendant next argues that he was denied the constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel. Although the trial court rejected his motion, defendant preserved his claim of ineffective assistance of counsel by moving for a new trial or Ginther hearing in the court below. People v. Sabin (On Second Remand), 242 Mich.App. 656, 658-659, 620 N.W.2d 19 (2000). Nonetheless, because no Ginther hearing was held, our review is limited to mistakes apparent on the record. Id.; see also People v. Jordan, 275 Mich.App. 659, 667, 739 N.W.2d 706 (2007).
People v. Ginther, 390 Mich. 436, 443, 212 N.W.2d 922 (1973).
In People v. Carbin, 463 Mich. 590, 599-600, 623 N.W.2d 884 (2001), our Supreme Court explained the test for determining whether a criminal defendant has been denied the effective assistance of counsel. A defendant must first show that defense counsel's performance was deficient and, second, that counsel's " ‘ deficient performance prejudiced the defense.’ " Id. at 600, 623 N.W.2d 884 (citation omitted); see also Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). Whether defense counsel's performance was deficient is measured against an objective standard of reasonableness. People v. Toma, 462 Mich. 281, 302, 613 N.W.2d 694 (2000). " To demonstrate prejudice, the defendant must show the existence of a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's error, the result of the proceeding would have been different." Carbin, 463 Mich. at 600, 623 N.W.2d 884.
A
Defendant first contends that defense counsel's failure to meet with him during the time between the preliminary examination and the first day of trial amounted to ineffective assistance of counsel. However, the record reveals that defense counsel was prepared for trial, displayed an adequate knowledge of the evidence, and was fully prepared to cross-examine the prosecution's witnesses. We cannot conclude that counsel's performance in this regard fell below an objective standard of reasonableness. Toma, 462 Mich. at 302, 613 N.W.2d 694. Similarly, defendant asserts that defense counsel's failure to secure his attendance at a " single pretrial hearing" amounted to ineffective assistance of counsel. But the record indicates that defendant waived formal arraignment and that there were no pretrial hearings that took place between the preliminary examination and the first day of trial. Thus, we cannot conclude that defense counsel was ineffective in this regard. B
Defendant next contends that several strategic decisions made by his trial attorney constituted ineffective assistance of counsel. Specifically, defendant asserts that defense counsel should have retained independent expert witnesses to review the work of the prosecution's DNA experts, that defense counsel improperly cross-examined two of the victims, and that defense counsel should not have waived his opening statement. An attorney's decision whether to retain witnesses, including expert witnesses, is a matter of trial strategy. People v. Ackerman, 257 Mich.App. 434, 455, 669 N.W.2d 818 (2003). A defendant must meet a heavy burden to overcome the presumption that counsel employed effective trial strategy. Id. In general, the failure to call a witness can constitute ineffective assistance of counsel only when it " deprives the defendant of a substantial defense." People v. Hoyt, 185 Mich.App. 531, 537-538, 462 N.W.2d 793 (1990). Similarly, the waiver of an opening statement involves " a subjective judgment on the part of trial counsel which can rarely, if ever, be the basis for a successful claim of ineffective assistance of counsel." People v. Pawelczak, 125 Mich.App. 231, 242, 336 N.W.2d 453 (1983). " We will not substitute our judgment for that of counsel on matters of trial strategy, nor will we use the benefit of hindsight when assessing counsel's competence." People v. Unger, 278 Mich.App. 210, 242-243, 749 N.W.2d 272 (2008).
In addition, we note that irrespective of whether defense counsel's decision concerning whether to retain independent experts was proper trial strategy, defendant has merely speculated that an independent expert could have provided favorable testimony. In other words, defendant has failed to show that the retention of an independent expert would have altered the outcome of the lower court proceedings. Carbin, 463 Mich. at 600, 623 N.W.2d 884. Similarly, with respect to defense counsel's cross-examination of the two victims, as well as counsel's decision to forgo an opening statement, defendant has failed to establish that his attorney performed deficiently under an objective standard of reasonableness or that counsel's specific actions affected the outcome of the lower court proceedings. Id.
C
Defendant contends that defense counsel was ineffective for failing to object to defendant's appearance in court with a " wild beard" and leg shackles. As we have already stated, defendant cannot show that the shackles prejudiced him because the jury never saw them. Horn, 279 Mich.App. at 36, 755 N.W.2d 212. Nor has defendant shown that he was in any way prejudiced by his appearance at trial, including the presence of facial hair. Trial counsel is not ineffective for failing to advocate a meritless position. People v. Goodin, 257 Mich.App. 425, 433, 668 N.W.2d 392 (2003). And even assuming that counsel did err by failing to object in this regard, defendant cannot demonstrate that, but for counsel's alleged errors, the outcome of trial would have been different. People v. Mitchell, 454 Mich. 145, 167, 560 N.W.2d 600 (1997).
III
Defendant next argues that the trial court erred by accepting waivers of arraignment by mail, thus denying him the right to engage in plea negotiations. Defendant waived formal arraignment on the informations and pleaded " not guilty" to the charges when he and his attorney signed waiver forms and provided them to the trial court. The trial court properly accepted the waivers and did not deny defendant any of his pretrial rights in this respect. See MCR 6.113(C). Further, we note that defendant's contention that he had the " right" to engage in plea negotiations with the prosecution lacks merit. As our Supreme Court has noted, " neither this Court nor the United States Supreme Court has recognized that the parties have a right to present a plea." People v. Grove, 455 Mich. 439, 469 n. 36, 566 N.W.2d 547 (1997); see also Santobello v. New York, 404 U.S. 257, 261-262, 92 S.Ct. 495, 30 L.Ed.2d 427 (1971). In addition, defendant rejected a plea bargain on the first day of trial and indicated during his testimony that he did so because he " was innocent." We find no error.
IV
Next, defendant argues that the trial court improperly exceeded the sentencing guidelines by sentencing him to 40 to 60 years in prison for Count 2 in Kent Circuit Court Case No. 06-011875-FC. The offense for which defendant was convicted, and which gave rise to this sentencing issue, occurred in August 1989. Therefore, the former judicial sentencing guidelines promulgated by the Michigan Supreme Court would normally apply in this case. MCL 769.34(1); People v. Reynolds, 240 Mich.App. 250, 253, 611 N.W.2d 316 (2000). However, defendant was sentenced for this conviction as an habitual offender, and the judicial sentencing guidelines are inapplicable to the sentencing of habitual offenders. People v. Coy, 258 Mich.App. 1, 23, 669 N.W.2d 831 (2003); People v. Hansford (After Remand), 454 Mich. 320, 323, 562 N.W.2d 460 (1997). " Nevertheless, the principle of proportionality applies." Coy, 258 Mich.App. at 23, 669 N.W.2d 831.
In cases such as this, we review the trial court's sentencing of an habitual offender for an abuse of discretion. Hansford, 454 Mich. at 324, 562 N.W.2d 460. In the context of sentencing before the legislative guidelines, " a trial court does not abuse its discretion in giving a sentence within the statutory limits established by the Legislature when an habitual offender's underlying felony, in the context of his previous felonies, evidences that the defendant has an inability to conform his conduct to the laws of society." Id. at 326, 562 N.W.2d 460.
Defendant's criminal history and underlying felonies showed that he could not conform his conduct to the laws of society, and the sentence imposed by the trial court was within the statutory limits established by the Legislature. Id. Defendant's criminal history at the time he committed the offense at issue showed that he had committed prior violent sexual assaults. With respect to the felony giving rise to the challenged sentence, itself, defendant attacked the victim while she was alone in a field at night. He brutally beat her by punching and hitting her in the face, and he choked her before throwing her to the ground and tying her hands and feet so she could not escape. Defendant threatened to kill the victim and informed her that she would soon be dead. In addition, defendant held a knife to the victim's throat, and forced her to perform fellatio after penetrating her on two separate occasions with his penis. Defendant then left the victim alone, naked, and tied up in a field. The Legislature has prescribed a sentence of " imprisonment for life or for any term of years" for CSC I, MCL 750.520b(2)(a), and has likewise specified that upon sentencing a defendant as a third-offense habitual offender, " [i]f the subsequent felony is punishable upon a first conviction by imprisonment for life, the court ... may sentence the person to imprisonment for life or for a lesser term," MCL 769.11(1)(b). In light of the nature of the sentencing offense, and given defendant's criminal history at the time, we conclude that the sentence of 40 to 60 years in prison did not violate the principle of proportionality. See Coy, 258 Mich.App. at 23, 669 N.W.2d 831. We find no abuse of discretion. Hansford, 454 Mich. at 326, 562 N.W.2d 460.
V
Defendant also argues that the trial court improperly considered his lack of remorse during sentencing. Specifically, defendant argues that the trial court improperly based its sentencing decision on his assertion of innocence. " A sentencing court cannot base a sentence even in part on a defendant's refusal to admit guilt." People v. Dobek, 274 Mich.App. 58, 104, 732 N.W.2d 546 (2007). We look to three factors to determine if a sentencing court improperly considered a defendant's refusal to admit guilt: " (1) the defendant's maintenance of innocence after conviction; (2) the judge's attempt to get the defendant to admit guilt; and (3) the appearance that had the defendant affirmatively admitted guilt, his sentence would not have been so severe." People v. Wesley, 428 Mich. 708, 713, 411 N.W.2d 159 (1987). Applying these factors, it does not appear to us that the trial court improperly attempted to make defendant admit his guilt or improperly considered defendant's refusal to admit guilt at sentencing. While it is true that defendant maintained his innocence at the sentencing hearing, nothing in the record suggests that the trial court would have been more lenient had defendant admitted guilt. Resentencing is not warranted on these facts. Dobek, 274 Mich.App. at 106, 732 N.W.2d 546.
VI
Defendant has raised certain additional claims of error in his supplemental brief, filed in propria persona. We address these issues seriatim.
A
Defendant first contends in his supplemental brief that several laboratory reports containing the results of DNA testing should not have been admitted into evidence under Federal Rules of Evidence 1002 and 1003. As an initial matter, we note that this was a state prosecution in state court, and that the Federal Rules of Evidence were accordingly inapplicable. It is true that MRE 1002 and 1003-like FRE 1002 and 1003-govern the requirement of an original document and the admissibility of duplicate documents into evidence. However, there is quite simply no evidence that the laboratory reports admitted in this case were anything other than accurate and complete copies of the originals. See MRE 1003. Defendant has not sufficiently developed this argument, and we therefore decline to consider it further. " An appellant may not merely announce his position and leave it to this Court to discover and rationalize the basis for his claims, nor may he give only cursory treatment with little or no citation of supporting authority." People v. Kelly, 231 Mich.App. 627, 640-641, 588 N.W.2d 480 (1998).
B
Defendant also contends that the trial court erred by admitting the laboratory reports over his objection in Kent Circuit Court Case Nos. 06-011607-FC and 06-011944-FC because the reports constituted inadmissible hearsay. Defendant asserts that the reports were not admissible pursuant to MRE 803(6) as business records. He also argues that because foundation witness Allisa Gindlesperger did not prepare the reports herself, she was unqualified to provide foundation testimony as a " custodian or other qualified witness." We conclude that the reports constituted inadmissible hearsay, and were admitted in error.
Unlike the laboratory reports admitted in Kent Circuit Court Case Nos. 06-011875-FC and 06-012819-FH, which were prepared by analysts who did testify at trial, a nontestifying analyst prepared the laboratory reports admitted in Kent Circuit Court Case Nos. 06-011607-FC and 06-011944-FC.
At trial there was no dispute that the contents of the laboratory reports amounted to hearsay evidence. MRE 801 and 802. But the trial court admitted the records under MRE 803(6), which excepts from the hearsay rule
[a] memorandum, report, record, or data compilation, in any form, of acts, transactions, occurrences, events, conditions, opinions, or diagnoses, made at or near the time by, or from information transmitted by, a person with knowledge, if kept in the course of a regularly conducted business activity, and if it was the regular practice of that business activity to make the memorandum, report, record, or data compilation, all as shown by the testimony of the custodian or other qualified witness ... unless the source of information or the method or circumstances of preparation indicate lack of trustworthiness.
Our Supreme Court has made clear that a laboratory report prepared by a nontestifying analyst " is, without question, hearsay." People v. McDaniel, 469 Mich. 409, 412, 670 N.W.2d 659 (2003). " As such, pursuant to MRE 802, it is not admissible unless it fits within at least one category of the allowable exceptions outlined in MRE 803 and 804." Id. Because the laboratory reports at issue were adversarial and were intended to establish an element of the CSC charges against defendant through the hearsay DNA evidence they contained, the reports were not admissible as business records under MRE 803(6) or as public records under 803(8). McDaniel, 469 Mich. at 413-414, 670 N.W.2d 659. Furthermore, the erroneous admission of the hearsay laboratory reports was not harmless because the reports were the only evidence that established an essential element of the CSC charges against defendant in Kent Circuit Court Case Nos. 06-011607-FC and 06-011944-FC. Id. at 413, 670 N.W.2d 659.
C
Defendant lastly contends that the admission of the hearsay laboratory reports in Kent Circuit Court Case Nos. 06-011607-FC and 06-011944-FC violated his Sixth Amendment right to confront the witnesses against him. We agree.
The Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment bars the admission of testimonial hearsay unless the declarant is unavailable and the defendant has had a prior opportunity for cross-examination. Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 68, 124 S.Ct. 1354, 158 L.Ed.2d 177 (2004); People v. Walker, 273 Mich.App. 56, 60-61, 728 N.W.2d 902 (2006).
In People v. Lonsby, 268 Mich.App. 375, 392-393, 707 N.W.2d 610 (2005), now-Chief Judge SAAD concluded that a laboratory report prepared by a nontestifying analyst was testimonial hearsay within the meaning of Crawford. In Lonsby, the in-court testimony of one analyst was offered for the purpose of introducing the laboratory report, findings, and conclusions of a different, nontestifying analyst. Judge SAAD concluded that the inculpatory laboratory report, prepared by the nontestifying analyst, constituted testimonial hearsay within the meaning of Crawford. Lonsby, 268 Mich.App. at 392-393, 707 N.W.2d 610. Specifically, Judge SAAD wrote that because there was " no showing that [the nontestifying analyst] was unavailable to testify and that defendant had a prior opportunity to cross-examine her, the admission of the evidence violated defendant's Confrontation Clause rights, as defined by the United States Supreme Court in Crawford. " Lonsby, 268 Mich.App. at 393, 707 N.W.2d 610.
We acknowledge that because the other members of the Lonsby panel concurred in the result only, Lonsby is not binding precedent. See Fogarty v. Dep't of Transportation, 200 Mich.App. 572, 574-575, 504 N.W.2d 710 (1993). However, Judge SAAD's well-reasoned opinion in Lonsby is fully consistent with the United States Supreme Court's recent decision in Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts, 557 U.S. __, 129 S.Ct. 2527, 174 L.Ed.2d 314 (2009). In Melendez-Diaz, the United States Supreme Court concluded that certain affidavits-which certified the out-of-court findings of nontestifying laboratory analysts-constituted testimonial hearsay because they had been prepared for the purpose of establishing an element of the criminal charges against the defendant. The Melendez-Diaz Court concluded that the hearsay affidavits were consequently inadmissible against the defendant " [a]bsent a showing that the analysts were unavailable to testify at trial and that [the defendant] had a prior opportunity to cross-examine them...." Id. at 2527; 129 S.Ct. at 2532 (emphasis in original). Because Judge SAAD'S opinion in Lonsby fully comports with the recent decision in Melendez-Diaz, we adopt the reasoning of Lonsby as our own.
Similar to the facts of Lonsby and Melendez-Diaz, in the instant case, DNA testing was conducted and it resulted in the generation of laboratory reports that were used against defendant at trial. Just as the nontestifying laboratory analysts in Melendez-Diaz knew that their affidavits would later be used in criminal proceedings to establish that the defendant in that case had possessed cocaine, it is clear to us that the nontestifying analyst who generated the reports in the present case must have known that the purpose was to ultimately establish the perpetrator's identity through DNA evidence. Although the witnesses who actually testified concerning the laboratory reports at issue here had basic knowledge concerning DNA testing and the methods used to prepare the reports in general, they had not personally conducted the testing, had not personally examined the evidence collected from the victims, and had not personally reached any of the scientific conclusions contained in the reports. In short, the laboratory reports admitted in Kent Circuit Court Case Nos. 06-011607-FC and 06-011944-FC constituted testimonial hearsay, Lonsby, 268 Mich.App. at 392-393, 707 N.W.2d 610, and " [a]bsent a showing that the analyst[was] unavailable to testify at trial and that [defendant] had a prior opportunity to cross-examine [the analyst]," defendant " was entitled to ‘ be confronted with’ the analyst[ ] at trial," Melendez-Diaz, 557 U.S. at __, 129 S.Ct at 2532, quoting Crawford, 541 U.S. at 54, 124 S.Ct. 1354. No such showing was ever made. Accordingly, the trial court plainly erred by admitting the laboratory reports of the nontestifying analyst in Kent Circuit Court Case Nos. 06-011607-FC and 06-011944-FC.
Of course, although defense counsel did object to the admission of the laboratory reports on the ground that they were inadmissible under the rules of evidence, counsel did not object to the admission of the reports on Confrontation Clause grounds. Therefore, defendant's Confrontation Clause argument was not preserved, People v. Bauder, 269 Mich.App. 174, 177-178, 712 N.W.2d 506 (2005), and we must therefore determine whether the plain constitutional error affected defendant's substantial rights, People v. Carines, 460 Mich. 750, 763-764, 597 N.W.2d 130 (1999). In order to avoid forfeiture under the plain-error rule, it must be shown that the plain error affected the outcome of lower court proceedings. Id. at 763, 597 N.W.2d 130. And even then, we will generally reverse only if the defendant is actually innocent or the error has seriously affected the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of the judicial proceedings independent of the defendant's innocence. Id. at 763-764, 597 N.W.2d 130.
After reviewing the record, we are compelled to conclude that the improperly admitted laboratory reports were decisive to the outcome of defendant's trial. Taken together, the DNA laboratory reports far and away constituted the single most condemning piece of evidence introduced against defendant in Kent Circuit Court Case Nos. 06-011607-FC and 06-011944-FC. Unlike Kent Circuit Court Case No. 06-012819-FH, in which defendant admitted that he had solicited the victim for sex, defendant never admitted to any contact whatsoever with the victims in Kent Circuit Court Case Nos. 06-011607-FC and 06-011944-FC. No other physical evidence linked defendant to the crimes. Indeed, only the DNA evidence contained in the hearsay laboratory reports tied defendant to the victims in Kent Circuit Court Case Nos. 06-011607-FC and 06-011944-FC. Albeit in a different context, this Court has recognized the " significant possibility" that a jury might attribute preemptive or undue weight to improperly admitted DNA evidence. People v. Coy, 243 Mich.App. 283, 302-303, 620 N.W.2d 888 (2000). We simply cannot say that the jury would have convicted defendant in Kent Circuit Court Case Nos. 06-011607-FC and 06-011944-FC if the improper hearsay reports had been excluded from consideration. Defendant has sufficiently demonstrated that the plainly erroneous admission of the testimonial hearsay reports affected the outcome of the lower court proceedings. Carines, 460 Mich. at 763-764, 597 N.W.2d 130.
We also believe that the erroneous admission of the testimonial hearsay evidence affected the fairness and integrity of defendant's trial. Id. at 764, 597 N.W.2d 130. There simply was no other independent and properly admitted evidence of defendant's guilt sufficient to erase or overcome the overwhelming taint of the improperly admitted hearsay reports. See Coy, 243 Mich.App. at 313, 620 N.W.2d 888. Although the Carines plain-error rule sets a high bar for appellate review in cases of unpreserved error, we conclude that the plainly erroneous admission of the testimonial DNA reports in Kent Circuit Court Case Nos. 06-011607-FC and 06-011944-FC affected the fairness and integrity of the judicial proceedings. Carines, 460 Mich. at 764, 597 N.W.2d 130.
In contrast to Kent Circuit Court Case Nos. 06-011607-FC and 06-011944-FC, the laboratory analysts who conducted the DNA testing and prepared the laboratory reports in Kent Circuit Court Case Nos. 06-011875-FC and 06-012819-FH did testify at trial. We perceive no evidentiary or Confrontation Clause error with respect to the admission of the laboratory reports in Kent Circuit Court Case Nos. 06-011875-FC and 06-012819-FH.
VII
Given the preserved evidentiary error and outcome-determinative plain constitutional error discussed earlier, we must reverse defendant's convictions and sentences in Kent Circuit Court Case Nos. 06-011607-FC and 06-011944-FC. In general, the constitutional principle of double jeopardy does not bar reprosecution after a defendant's original conviction has been reversed on appeal. Green v. United States, 355 U.S. 184, 189, 78 S.Ct. 221, 2 L.Ed.2d 199 (1957); United States v. Wilson, 534 F.2d 76, 78 (C.A.6, 1976). The exception to this rule, of course, is that double jeopardy bars reprosecution after a conviction has been reversed on the ground of " evidentiary insufficiency" or " failure of proof at trial." Burks v. United States, 437 U.S. 1, 15-16, 98 S.Ct. 2141, 57 L.Ed.2d 1 (1978). However, we have reversed defendant's convictions in Kent Circuit Court Case Nos. 06-011607-FC and 06-011944-FC on the basis of trial error rather than evidentiary insufficiency. Thus, the prosecution may retry defendant on these charges if it so chooses.
Defendant's convictions and sentences in Kent Circuit Court Case Nos. 06-011875-FC and 06-012819-FH are affirmed. Defendant's convictions and sentences in Kent Circuit Court Case Nos. 06-011607-FC and 06-011944-FC are reversed.
Affirmed in part and reversed in part. We do not retain jurisdiction.