People v. Rodriquez

Defendant, Mario Martinez Rodriquez, pled guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct. MCL 750.520b; MSA 28.788(2). After being sentenced to not less than 20 years nor more than 30 years in prison, defendant appeals as of right.

First, defendant claims that it was error for the trial judge to interview the rape victim outside of the presence of the defendant and his counsel. Defendant argues that the ex parte interview conducted by the trial judge with the victim violated defendant’s right to counsel, his right of allocution, his right to be confronted with the witnesses, and his right to…