People of Michigan v. Adam Ferguson
Court
Michigan Court of Appeals
Decided
August 12, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Importance
46%
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Case Summary
If this opinion indicates that it is “FOR PUBLICATION,” it is subject to revision until final publication in the Michigan Appeals Reports. STATE OF MICHIGAN COURT OF APPEALS PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, UNPUBLISHED August 12, 2025 Plaintiff-Appellee, 1:56 PM v No. 356714 Saginaw Circuit Court ADAM FERGUSON, also known as ADAM LC No. 91-004624-FC FERGERSON, Defendant-Appellant. Before: YATES, P.J., and YOUNG and WALLACE, JJ. PER CURIAM. Following a remand from the Michigan Supreme Court, defendant, Adam Ferguson,1 appeals as on leave granted an order denying a successive motion for relief from judgment. 2 He contends that his sentences violated the United States and Michigan Constitutions, that his sentences for drug offenses were improper, and that his waiver into adult court was unconstitutional. Ferguson argues that the sentencing court needed to consider the mitigating factors of youth and that Ferguson was improperly given a de facto life sentence for crimes he committed as a minor. We remand for resentencing. I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND This Court, in its 1997 opinion issued after Ferguson’s direct appeal of his convictions, set forth the crimes Ferguson committed and the sentences imposed: Defendant received concurrent sentences of six years, eight months to ten years in prison on the assault with intent to do great bodily harm convictions, 1 As then-appellate counsel mentioned in the 1994 Motion for New Trial, Ferguson’s name is Adam Fergerson but to be consistent with the trial court, we use “Ferguson” throughout these proceedings as well. 2 See People v Ferguson, 511 Mich 1020; 991 NW2d 576 (2023). -1- twenty-five to fifty years in prison each for the armed robbery, kidnapping and conspiracy to commit murder and/or extortion convictions, thirteen to twenty years for extortion, as well as twenty to forty years on the delivery conviction and twenty to forty years on the possession with intent to deliver conviction, twenty to forty years on the conspiracy to deliver conviction, and . . . the mandatory two-year term on the felony-firearm conviction. The sentences for the delivery, possession with intent to deliver, and conspiracy to deliver convictions were to be consecutive to the concurrent terms on the other sentences as well as with each other. As required by statute, the sentence on the felony-firearm conviction was also consecutive, to be served prior to the remaining sentences. [People v Ferguson, unpublished per curiam opinion of the Court of Appeals, issued May 10, 1996 (Docket No. 146333), p 1.] This Court affirmed Ferguson’s convictions but remanded for resentencing on one count, conspiracy to deliver less than fifty grams of cocaine. Id. at 4. At his earliest release date, Ferguson would be 74 years old.3 Ferguson was 17 years old when he committed the offenses at issue in this appeal. In 2020, after his first motion for relief from judgment was denied, Ferguson filed a successive motion for relief from judgment, asserting that his attorneys had been ineffective for failing to raise certain jurisdictional issues and also arguing that his sentences violated the constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment for juveniles; he cited Miller v Alabama, 567 US 460; 132 S Ct 2455; 183 L Ed 2d 407 (2012), and Montgomery v Louisiana, 577 US 190; 136 S Ct 718; 193 L Ed 2d 599 (2016).4 The trial court denied the motion for relief from judgment, concluding that Ferguson had not established a retroactive change in the law to allow for a successive motion for relief from 3 Ferguson contends that if disciplinary credits are not considered, his earliest release date will actually be when he is 84 years old. Whether to consider disciplinary credits in a constitutional analysis of a sentence is a live question in our courts, particularly given the outcome in People v Nard, ___ Mich App ___, ___; ___ NW3d___ (2025) (Docket No. 369185), in which defendant’s parole status, afforded in part due to good time credits, led the Court to conclude that a 60-year minimum sentence was not a de facto life sentence. Here, appellant’s reply brief addresses this issue thoroughly, but we conclude that whether we consider good time credits or not, People v Eads (On Remand), ___ Mich App ___; ___ NW3d ___ (2025) (Docket No. 357332) would control and we
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Decided
Date Decided
August 12, 2025
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Case Summary
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Case Overview
In the case of People of Michigan v. Adam Ferguson, the Michigan Court of Appeals addressed the appeal of Adam Ferguson regarding the constitutionality of his sentences imposed for crimes committed as a juvenile. Following a remand from the Michigan Supreme Court, the court considered Ferguson's claims of cruel and unusual punishment and procedural issues surrounding his successive motion for relief from judgment.
Legal Issues
The primary legal issues addressed in this case include:
- Constitutionality of sentences imposed on a juvenile: Ferguson argues that his sentences violate constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment and that his waiver into adult court was unconstitutional.
- Procedural bar for successive motion for relief from judgment: The trial court denied Ferguson's successive motion, stating no retroactive change in law had occurred.
- Sentencing enhancements for nonviolent drug offenses: The enhancements applied to Ferguson's sentence raised questions about proportionality and fairness, particularly in light of his status as a juvenile.
- Disproportionality of Ferguson's sentence: The court examined whether Ferguson's lengthy minimum sentence was excessive given the nature of his offenses.
Factual Background
- Ferguson was 17 years old when he committed the offenses, which is central to the argument regarding the constitutionality of his sentences.
- He has served over 33 years of his sentence, supporting the argument for resentencing and eligibility for parole consideration.
- Ferguson received a minimum sentence of 67 years due to enhancements for nonviolent drug offenses, raising serious constitutional concerns regarding its proportionality and fairness.
Court's Analysis
The court reasoned that the trial court's denial of Ferguson's motion was based on a misunderstanding of the retroactive application of Miller v. Alabama and Montgomery v. Louisiana. The prosecutor's concession that the motion was not procedurally barred allowed the court to consider Ferguson's claims regarding the constitutionality of his sentences. The court emphasized:
- The enhancements imposed on Ferguson's sentence resulted in a disproportionately long minimum sentence that did not consider his youth.
- A minimum sentence of 50 years for murder is disproportionate, especially when considering non-homicide offenses.
Holdings and Decision
The court made the following key rulings:
- The court remanded for resentencing, emphasizing the need to consider Ferguson's age at the time of the offenses and the implications of his lengthy sentence on the principles of cruel and unusual punishment.
- Ferguson's sentence was deemed unconstitutional under the Michigan Constitution's prohibition against cruel or unusual punishment, reinforcing the principle that juvenile sentences must be proportionate to the offense and the offender's characteristics.
Legal Precedents
The court cited several important precedents, including:
- Miller v. Alabama, 567 U.S. 460 (2012): Establishes that mandatory life sentences without parole for juveniles violate the Eighth Amendment.
- Montgomery v. Louisiana, 577 U.S. 190 (2016): Confirms that Miller applies retroactively on collateral review.
- People v. Eads: Established that long sentences for juveniles must consider their youth and the nature of their offenses.
- People v. Stovall, 510 Mich 313-314 (2013): Set the precedent that parolable life sentences for juveniles are unconstitutional.
- Graham v. Florida, 560 U.S. 48 (2010): Addresses the constitutionality of sentencing juveniles to life without parole for non-homicide offenses.
Practical Implications
The ruling in People of Michigan v. Adam Ferguson has significant implications for:
- Juvenile Law: It reinforces the need for courts to consider the unique circumstances of juvenile offenders when imposing sentences.
- Constitutional Law: The decision highlights the evolving standards of decency that inform the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.
- Future Cases: This case sets a precedent for similar cases involving disproportionate sentencing and the treatment of juvenile offenders in Michigan and potentially other jurisdictions.
Overall, this case underscores the importance of proportionality in sentencing, particularly for juveniles, and the necessity of adapting legal standards to reflect contemporary views on justice and rehabilitation.
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Status
Decided
Date Decided
August 12, 2025
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Court Type
federal
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