People v. Costanza

Stake, J. Defendant Herman Oostanza was tried by jury and convicted under an information charging that he and one Charles Howard “did knowingly accept, receive, levy and appropriate money without consideration from the proceeds of the earnings of * * * a female engaged in prostitution” (Act No. 328, § 457, Pub. Acts 1931 [Comp. Laws Supp. 1940, § 17115-457, Stat. Ann. §28.712]). His motion for a new trial was denied, and he was sentenced to a prison term of 4 to 20 years. Having obtained leave, he appeals. Defendant first contends that his conviction was against the great weight of the evidence. It would serve no purpose to narrate the testimony. Suffice it to say that a self-confessed prostitute called as a witness by the prosecution testified, in substance, that she met the defendant in the city of Flint; that he took her to a hotel and arranged with his co-defendant Howard, a bell boy, for her to engage in prostitution; that it was agreed that her earnings should be divided equally between defendant, Howard, and herself; and that she paid to defendant sums of money received from her prostitution. There was also dther evidence which the jury might *418 properly have considered as corroborating such testimony. While admitting his acquaintance and association with the witness, defendant expressly denied receiving money from her. Such conflicting testimony presented a question of fact for jury consideration. The jury, which saw and heard defendant and other witnesses, was best able to determine the credibility of, and the weight to be accorded, their testimony. There was evidence from which the jury could reasonably find defendant Costanza guilty, beyond a reasonable doubt, of the crime charged. Immediately preceding the trial, on motion of the prosecution, the trial court permitted the names of three additional witnesses to be indorsed upon the information. . Upon defendant’s objection to such indorsement, the court offered to continue the case to enable him to prepare to meet the testimony of the indorsed witnesses. Such offer was declined, and the trial proceeded. Defendant now alleges that such indorsement constituted reversible error. 3 Comp. Laws 1929, § 17254 (Stat. Ann. § 28.980), provides in part: “Names of other witnesses may be indorsed before or during the trial by leave of the court and upon such conditions as the court shall determine.” In People v. Blue, 255 Mich. 675, we said: “Under the code (of criminal procedure), the indorsement of names after filing is wholly within the discretion of the court. The discretion, of course, is judicial, not personal, must be exercised with due regard to protection of the right of an accused to prepare his defense and to be accorded a fair trial. * * * The ultimate question, on review, is whether the court abused its discretion, with the burden ordinarily on the party asserting abuse.” *419 See, also, People v. McCrea, 303 Mich. 213, 267-275. We are convinced that the trial court did not abuse his discretion in permitting the indorsement of such additional witnesses. Defendant next contends that the trial court erred in admitting testimony as to his conversations and association with another prostitute and her payment of money to his codefendant Howard. Such testimony was properly admissible under 3 Comp. Laws 1929, § 17320 (Stat. Ann. §28.1050), as showing defendant’s “intent, * * * scheme, plan or system” in the obtaining of money from prostitutes. See, also, People v. Petropoulapos, 217 Mich. 198; People v. Hopper, 274 Mich. 418. Defendant alleges error by the .trial court in his instructions to the jury. We have carefully examined such instructions and are satisfied that, when considered as a whole, they fully and fairly presented the questions of fact and the rules of law applicable thereto. Defendant’s claim, that he was denied a fair and impartial trial because of the trial court’s remarks and his examination of witnesses, is without merit. He objects to his minimum sentence of four years, because his codefendant Howard was sentenced to a minimum of only one and one-half years. Such sentence was within the maximum limit of 20 years prescribed by Act No. 328, § 457, Pub. Acts 1931. We do not review the trial court’s discretion as to the sentence imposed. The judgment is affirmed. Boyles, C. J., and Chandler, North, Wiest, Btjtzel, Bushnell, and Sharpe, JJ., concurred.