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BlogsPublications | March 20, 2017
1 minute read

MSC denies leave following MOAA on whether prosecutor satisfied notice requirements when seeking enhanced sentence

MCL 769.13 requires a prosecutor seeking an enhanced sentence for a habitual offender to provide the defendant with notice and file proof of service of that notice with the court. In People v. Swift, the Court of Appeals held in an unpublished opinion that providing the defendant with copies of the felony warrant, complaint, and information satisfied the notice requirement as long as those documents indicated an enhanced sentence. It further held that failure to file written proof of service of that notice with the court amounted to harmless error if the defendant did in fact have notice that the prosecution would seek an enhanced sentence.

In October, the MSC ordered mini-oral argument on these issues. Following argument and briefing, the MSC denied leave to appeal and will not issue an opinion. People v. Swift, No. 151439.