Certain statutes specifically authorize a court to suspend a defendant’s sentence. See, e.g., MCL 750.165(4) (felony nonsupport statute specifically authorizes a court to suspend a defendant’s sentence if he or she posts a bond and any sureties required by the court). “Absent statutory authority, a court may not suspend indefinitely the execution of a sentence. To do so would in effect grant the defendant a pardon for his crime.” People v Morgan, 205 Mich App 432, 434 (1994).
“The suspension of a sentence temporarily or indefinitely postpones the imposition or the commencement of the sentence. Whatever power a trial judge has in that regard disappears once the sentence begins.” People v Garcia, 118 Mich App 676, 679 (1982). Accordingly, a court may not suspend a defendant’s sentence once the defendant has started to serve it. Oakland Co Prosecutor v 52nd Dist Judge, 172 Mich App 557, 560 (1988).