The prosecution appeals by right the circuit court’s order granting defendant’s motion to quash an information charging defendant with one count of failure to pay court-ordered child support (felony nonsupport), MCL 750.165. We affirm.
Defendant was charged with felony nonsupport for failing to pay court-ordered child support for his two children between November 7, 2000, and November 7, 2005. Following the preliminary examination, the district court found that there was sufficient evidence to bind defendant over for
The prosecution contends that the trial court erred in granting defendant’s motion to quash the information. The prosecution argues that all the elements of felony nonsupport are set forth in MCL 750.165(1). Because the notice requirement set forth in MCL 750.165(2) is not an element of the offense, the prosecution asserts that it was not required to present any evidence regarding notice at the preliminary examination. We disagree.
“A circuit court’s ruling regarding a motion to quash an information and the district court’s decision to bind over a defendant are reviewed to determine whether the district court abused its discretion in making its deci
sion.”
People v Hill,
The statute under which defendant was charged provides, in pertinent part:
(1) If the court orders an individual to pay support for the individual’s former or current spouse, or for a child of the individual, and the individual does not pay the support in the amount or at the time stated in the order, the individual is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 4 years or by a fine of not more than $2,000.00, or both.
(2) This section does not apply unless the individual ordered to pay support appeared in, or received notice by personal service of, the action in which the support order was issued. [MCL 750.165.]
The elements of the crime of felony nonsupport are “(1) the defendant was required by a decree of separate maintenance or divorce order to support a child or current or former spouse, (2)
the defendant appeared in or received notice by personal service of the action in which the order was issued,
and (3) the defendant failed to pay the required support at the time ordered or in the amount ordered.”
People v Monaco,
We are bound by
Monaco I
to the extent that it is not inconsistent with our Supreme Court’s decision in
People v Monaco,
The prosecution conceded below and in its brief on appeal that it failed to present any evidence at the preliminary examination to establish that defendant appeared in, or received notice by personal service of, the action in which the support orders were entered. The prosecution was required to establish that defendant received such notice; it was an element of the offense of felony nonsupport.
Monaco I, supra
at 606. Where a prosecutor fails to present evidence on each of the elements of a charged offense, the district court abuses its discretion in binding over the defendant for trial.
People v Perkins,
The prosecution also argues on appeal that service by certified restricted mail satisfies the personal service requirement in MCL 750.165(2). But, again, the prosecution did not present any evidence below that defendant received by certified restricted mail notice of the actions in which the support orders were entered. Further, the trial court did not decide this issue. Thus, this issue is not properly before this Court. Generally, appellate review is limited to issues the trial court decided.
People v Giovannini,
We affirm.
