NO. 5-03-0273

	IN THE

	APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS

	FIFTH DISTRICT

________________________________________________________________________

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,	)  Appeal from the

							)  Circuit Court of

	Plaintiff-Appellee,				)  Clinton County.

          						)

v.							)  No. 98-CF-82

							)

ANNA M. McCLELLAN,				)  Honorable

							)  Kelly D. Long,

	Defendant-Appellant.			)  Judge, presiding.

________________________________________________________________________

	JUSTICE WELCH delivered the opinion of the court:

	The defendant, Anna M. McClellan, was charged by a second amended information

with aggravated criminal sexual abuse (720 ILCS 5/12-16(c)(1) (West 1998)) for sexually

abusing her minor son in 1995 and 1996.  She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three

years of probation.  The terms of her probation required her to obtain a mental health

evaluation and to complete any counseling recommended as a result of the evaluation.  The

defendant was also required to complete sex offender counseling.  The trial court revoked

her probation on the basis that the defendant had failed to complete sex offender counseling,

and the court sentenced her to five years in prison.  For the reasons that follow, we reverse

the ruling of the trial court.

	The defendant is a 39-year-old woman from Breese, Illinois.  This case involves her

oldest son, T.B., now 21 years old.  In June 1998, when T.B. was 15, his biological father

and stepmother informed law enforcement that they suspected that the defendant had

sexually abused T.B. over a 12-year period.  T.B. informed authorities that the sexual abuse

had begun when he was three or four but that he did not remember much of it.  He recalled that it began again in 1995 and continued thereafter.  Given the timing of the latest abuse,

he suspected that he was the father of his mother's youngest son.  

	On June 11, 1998, the State charged the defendant by information with one count of

predatory criminal sexual assault of a child (720 ILCS 5/12-14.1(a)(1) (West 1998)).  The

State filed an amended information on January 27, 1999, adding a second count for

aggravated criminal sexual assault (720 ILCS 5/12-14(b)(i) (West 1998)).  Although not

made a part of the record, it appears that the State filed a second amended information on

July 21, 1999, adding a third count for aggravated criminal sexual abuse (720 ILCS 5/12-

16(c)(1) (West 1998)).  The defendant pleaded guilty to the third count in exchange for the

State dismissing the first two counts and recommending three years of probation.  The trial

court sentenced her to three years of probation, from July 21, 1999, until July 21, 2002.  The

probation order stated that the defendant was required to obtain a mental health evaluation

and complete any counseling recommended as a result of the evaluation, in addition to

completing sex offender counseling. 

	A summary of the defendant's counseling history follows.  The mental health

evaluation required by the probation order was performed by Karol Kiel, M.A., who

provided individual therapy to the defendant from January 6, 2000, until March 1, 2001.  The

written report of the evaluation, entitled "Mental Health Assessment", is not dated.  The

defendant had been seeing Kiel to work on personal issues, including emotional stress

resulting from the sexual abuse charges and her divorce.  Kiel recommended in the report

that the defendant continue individual therapy and treatment for sex offenders.  Nothing in

the record demonstrates that the defendant followed Kiel's recommendation that she continue

individual therapy.

	The defendant entered group therapy for sexual offenders with Darlene Diamond-

Bushue, M.A., in September 1999.  She attended and participated in Diamond-Bushue's group for two years.  On September 8, 2001, Diamond-Bushue discharged the defendant and

authored a progress report which states that the defendant maintained her innocence through

the course of treatment and was being discharged because she had reached maximum benefit

as a result of her denial of guilt.  Diamond-Bushue recommended that the defendant obtain

individual therapy with a female sex offender specialist to address any unresolved issues. 

Again, nothing in the record demonstrates that the defendant engaged in the specialized

individual therapy recommended by Diamond-Bushue in September 2001.

	The defendant reentered group therapy with Diamond-Bushue on November 19, 2001,

approximately one month after she had been discharged.  Therapy continued until June 2002

and concluded in conjunction with the termination of her probation.  Diamond-Bushue

authored two additional documents during this second period of therapy with the defendant. 

The first document, dated March 25, 2002, entitled "Client Staffing Evaluation", was

authored by Diamond-Bushue four months into this second period of therapy.  Diamond-

Bushue noted that the defendant had made progress in all the areas evaluated, including

behavior control, group therapy involvement, understanding criminal thinking, and

appreciation of the harm and costs of crimes.  However, Diamond-Bushue noted that the

defendant had made minimal or no progress in her ability to disclose her abusive history, and

she recommended that the defendant continue in group therapy, which she did.  Diamond-

Bushue stated in her August 5, 2002, "Discharge Summary" that the defendant had

consistently attended and actively participated in group therapy sessions and demonstrated

knowledge and understanding of the concepts presented.  Diamond-Bushue further stated

that the defendant was able to confront other group members about their offenses and to

provide insight.  Nonetheless, at the end of the defendant's third and final year of probation

and counseling, Diamond-Bushue discharged her "unsuccessfully" based on her "lack of

accountability regarding sexual abuse allegations".  She recommended that the defendant participate in a sex offender evaluation and a clinical polygraph examination to determine

her level of risk to children.  Like the individual therapy recommended by Kiel and

Diamond-Bushue in 2001, there is no evidence in the record that reflects that the defendant

participated in a sex offender evaluation or polygraph examination as recommended.

	During her second course of treatment with Diamond-Bushue, the defendant contacted

Marie Clark, M.A., of the Behavioral Science Institute on November 5, 2001.  It is not clear

from the record whether she treated with Clark voluntarily.  It is also not clear whether Clark

specialized in female sex offenders, as had been recommended by Diamond-Bushue two

months earlier.  Regardless, it appears that the defendant did not obtain any therapy from

Clark at all.  She only completed an intake evaluation over the course of three appointments

in November and December 2001.

	In summary, after our review of the documentation of the defendant's group sex

offender counseling, individual therapy, and evaluations, it appears that she first attended

group sex offender counseling with Diamond-Bushue from September 1999 until June 2002,

which was interrupted for one to two months following her first discharge.  From January

6, 2000, until March 1, 2001, she attended individual therapy with Kiel, who authored the

mental health evaluation required by the probation order.  Last, the defendant completed the

intake process with Clark over three visits in November and December 2001 but did not

engage in any therapy during that time.

	On July 3, 2002, shortly after the defendant was discharged from therapy by

Diamond-Bushue for the second time, the State filed a petition to revoke probation, alleging

that the defendant had violated the terms of her probation by failing to support her lawful

dependents and by failing to complete sex offender counseling.  The petition was filed less

than three weeks before the defendant's probationary period expired.  The defendant filed a

memorandum in opposition to the State's petition.  She argued that she had complied with the trial court's probation order in every respect and that the trial court could not revoke her

probation because she was not "cured" or because she did not benefit from the court-ordered

therapy.  She relied solely on People v. Prusak, 200 Ill. App. 3d 146, 558 N.E.2d 696 (1990) (holding that a condition placed on the sex offender's probation–to complete a treatment

program–was not violated when the offender was asked to leave group therapy when he

would not accept responsibility for his sexual misconduct).

	The parties filed a stipulation related to the State's revocation petition.  The parties

agreed to the following facts.  They agreed that the defendant had been ordered to complete

sex offender counseling.  She attended therapy with Diamond-Bushue from September 1999

until September 2001 and from October 2001 until March 20021.  The parties also agreed that the defendant had attended and participated in all the group sessions required and had

demonstrated appropriate effort on homework assignments and contributed to group

discussions.  She had made good progress in every respect except she had not admitted the

offense.  The parties attached exhibits to the stipulation: Diamond-Bushue's progress report,

client staffing evaluation, and discharge summary.  It appears, however, that Kiel's mental

health assessment required by the probation order was omitted from the parties' stipulation.

	The trial court heard argument on the State's petition to revoke on October 28, 2002. 

The parties' arguments focused mostly on the applicability and propriety of Prusak, upon which the defendant relied.  The trial court took the matter under advisement and on

November 6, 2002, revoked the defendant's probation "for her failure to complete sex

offender counseling."  The docket entry states in pertinent part:

		"4) Whether or not defendant is willing to admit the acts for which she is on

probation has not been considered by this court on the issue of whether defendant has

violated the probation order.

		5) Paragraph 13 of the probation order states, 'The defendant shall complete

sex offender counseling.'

		6) Defendant has not completed sex offender counseling.  The stipulation

submitted by counsel and defendant indicates that defendant requires continued group

therapy, a sex offender specific evaluation[,] and further individual therapy.  This

counseling has not been completed.

		7) Defendant has not requested an extension of the term of probation to

complete sex offender counseling."

	The defendant filed a posttrial motion or alternative motion to reconsider, arguing that

she had completed sex offender counseling as required by the probation order even though

she had not admitted the offense.  She again relied solely on People v. Prusak, 200 Ill. App. 3d 146, 558 N.E.2d 696 (1990). 

	Prior to the trial court hearing this motion, the defendant's probation officer filed a

presentence investigation report on January 2, 2003.  He stated that the defendant had

complied with all probation conditions except for the successful completion of sex offender

counseling.  He stated that counseling services had concluded in conjunction with the

termination of her probation and that she had attended counseling regularly.  The

circumstance of the probation violation was that she never admitted her responsibility

regarding the offense and had been discharged unsuccessfully from treatment as a result.

	The parties appeared before the trial court on the defendant's motion to reconsider and

for sentencing on January 29, 2003, at which time the defendant requested a continuance to

allow her to voluntarily complete additional counseling, testing, and evaluation with Marie Clark, M.A.  The trial court allowed the continuance, reserved ruling on her motion to

reconsider, and stated, "It is Defendant's intention to address issues raised by Counselor

Darlene Diamond-Bushue's Discharge Summary of 8/5/2002."  The defendant contacted

Clark on January 30, 2003, and participated in the intake process at Behavioral Science

Institute during four visits in February and March of 2003.

	Two additional circumstances delayed matters further.  Over the course of February,

March, and April 2003, the defendant's counsel withdrew at her request and she obtained a

new attorney.  She was arrested on April 8, 2003, for violating the terms of her bond when

she left the state to remarry.  According to Clark, the defendant's husband cancelled her April

9, 2003, appointment with Clark because she had been incarcerated and her bond was

revoked.  She made no further appointments with Clark.

	On April 17, 2003, the trial court held a sentencing hearing and heard argument on

the defendant's previously filed motion to reconsider.  The defendant argued that she had

complied with the conditions of her probation in every respect and that her probation had

been revoked only because she had not admitted her involvement in the offense and had

maintained her innocence.  The State argued that the trial court should deny the defendant's

motion to reconsider on the basis that she had failed to complete sex offender counseling

recommended by the counselor, and it argued that the court should refrain from emphasizing

whether or not she failed to admit her guilt.

	The trial court denied the defendant's motion to reconsider and clarified its ruling of

November 6, 2002, revoking the defendant's probation.  The court stated that it based its

revocation on Diamond-Bushue's reports that the defendant needed group therapy, a sex

offender evaluation, and further individual therapy.  The court explained that when it initially

revoked her probation on November 6, 2002, these had not been completed and that they still

had not been completed.  The trial court stated:

		"Contrary to Mr. Courtney's argument I never took a position that Ms.

McClellan had to be cured.  I am not sure and I am certainly not an expert on sex

offender treatment, but I think it would be the same as an alcoholic person or a person

who has an addiction to drugs that maybe you can't cure somebody, but you can

control it, and I never intended probation required that she be cured."

Prior to sentencing, the trial court considered the presentencing investigation report and

addendum and heard argument on mitigation and aggravation factors.  The defendant asked

the trial judge on her own behalf that she be allowed to complete the counseling she had

begun with Clark prior to her incarceration.  The trial court denied her request and sentenced

her to five years in the Department of Corrections with credit for time previously served. 

The defendant appeals.

	To revoke the defendant's probation, the State has the burden of demonstrating, by a

preponderance of the evidence, that the defendant violated a condition of her probation.  730

ILCS 5/5-6-4(c) (West 2002).  The trial court has discretion in deciding whether to revoke

probation, and we will not disturb the court's ruling unless it is against the manifest weight

of the evidence.  People v. Prusak, 200 Ill. App. 3d 146, 149, 558 N.E.2d 696, 698 (1990).  We find that the State did not carry its burden of demonstrating by a preponderance of the

evidence that the defendant violated a condition of her probation, and as a result we find that

the trial court's finding of a probation violation was against the manifest weight of the

evidence.

	On appeal, the defendant argues that the trial court improperly revoked her probation

on the basis that she failed to complete sex offender counseling, because she consistently

attended and fully participated in therapy for more than 21⁄2 years and because the only

reason she was discharged unsuccessfully was that she denied that the sexual abuse had

occurred.  She relies exclusively on People v. Prusak, 200 Ill. App. 3d 146, 558 N.E.2d 696 (1990).  The State contends that the holding in Prusak has been limited by the Second District and is distinguishable from the present case.  Although both parties rely heavily on Prusak, we conclude that the outcome of this case is determined not by Prusak, but by this case's unique facts.

	Our review of this matter is simplified because those facts are largely undisputed. 

The defendant was sentenced to three years of probation, from July 21, 1999, until July 21,

2002.  The defendant's probation order listed the conditions of probation in separate,

numbered paragraphs.  Paragraph 6 of the order required the defendant to seek employment

and to support all lawful dependents.  Paragraph 9 required the defendant to obtain a mental

health evaluation and to complete the follow-up counseling recommended as a result of the

evaluation and as directed by the probation officer.  Paragraph 13 stated, "The defendant

shall complete sex-offender counseling."  Although the State takes the position that the

defendant's failure to complete the follow-up counseling recommended as a result of her

mental health evaluation constitutes a failure on the part of the defendant to complete sex

offender counseling, we do not believe that her failure to follow those recommendations is

in any way relevant to this appeal.  The State's petition to revoke probation alleged that the

defendant violated the terms of her probation by failing to support her lawful dependents and

by failing to complete sex offender counseling.  It did not allege that the defendant had failed

to complete the follow-up counseling recommended as a result of her mental health

evaluation.  Accordingly, the petition referenced paragraphs 6 and 13 of the probation order,

not paragraph 9.  Furthermore, as the record makes clear, the trial court's explicit reason for

revoking the defendant's probation was "her failure to complete sex offender counseling,"

which also invokes paragraph 13 of the probation order.  Accordingly, to determine whether

the trial court erred in revoking probation, this court must consider the requirements of

paragraph 13 of the probation order, not the requirements of paragraph 9.

	Paragraph 13 states, in its entirety, "The defendant shall complete sex-offender

counseling."  Clearly, the key to deciding this case is determining what is meant by the verb

"complete" in reference to the sex offender counseling ordered by the court.  We conclude

that the State reads that term too broadly in the context of this probation order.  Although the

trial court claimed it never took the position that the defendant had to be cured to fulfill the

conditions of her probation but was revoking her probation because she had not followed

certain "recommendations" made by the defendant's counselor, we conclude that unlike

paragraph 9 of the order, which specifically requires the completion of recommended follow-

up counseling, paragraph 13 contains no such language and, therefore, no such requirement. 

The stipulation of facts relative to the petition to revoke probation clearly and unequivocally

states that, during the defendant's term of probation, the defendant "attended all sessions

required and participated in the group sessions as required" (emphasis added) and "demonstrated appropriate effort on homework assignments and contributed to group

discussions."  In light of the defendant's compliance with all the requirements demanded of her during her term of probation, we cannot conclude that the defendant's failure to follow

up on the recommendations of the defendant's counselor that the defendant needed further group and individual therapy and a sex offender evaluation to determine the level of risk she

posed to children constitutes a failure to complete sex offender counseling sufficient to

justify revoking the defendant's probation and incarcerating her for five years.  The State had

three years in which to develop the requirements of the defendant's probation and to clearly

and explicitly explain those requirements to the defendant.  During that time, the defendant

complied with all the requirements the State developed and did everything she had been

asked her to do, with the exception of admitting guilt.  The fact that the defendant may not

be cured at the end of her term of probation is irrelevant, and the fact that her counselor

made further recommendations for treatment does not mean that the defendant did not complete the sex offender counseling required by her probation order. 

	In the everyday use of our language the verb "complete" is a somewhat open-ended

one, with dictionary definitions running the gamut from "to make whole, entire, or perfect"

to "end after satisfying all demands or requirements."  Webster's Third New International

Dictionary 465 (1993).  In law, however, concreteness is required, and we conclude that by

attending and participating in all the requirements of her probation, the defendant

"completed" her counseling as required by her probation order.  With regard to sex offender

counseling, following up on additional recommendations made by her counselor at the

conclusion of her term of probation was optional, not required.

	The position of the State seems to be that "complete" means "to make whole, entire,

or perfect," the trial court's protestations that it did not require the defendant to be cured

notwithstanding.  However, adopting such a position creates a situation, such as that present

in this case, where a defendant would either have to voluntarily choose to extend the term

of the defendant's probation and remain in some sort of sex offender counseling

noncompletion limbo indefinitely, even when that defendant has participated in every activity

required of the defendant during the initial probation term but has simply failed to follow up

on additional recommendations, or face incarceration.  It has long been the law of Illinois

that an offender on probation must be reasonably informed in writing of what conduct is

expected of the offender.  People v. Saucier, 221 Ill. App. 3d 287, 291-92, 581 N.E.2d 852, 855-56 (1991).  In the case at bar, the defendant did everything she had been asked to do,

with the exception of admitting guilt.  It is simply not appropriate for the State to now claim

that she failed to complete the requirements of her probation.

	As discussed above, to revoke the defendant's probation, the State had the burden of

demonstrating, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the defendant failed to complete sex

offender counseling.  For the reasons stated above, we conclude that the State did not meet its burden with regard to this particular probation order and this particular defendant's conformity thereto.  Accordingly, we conclude that the trial court erred in revoking the

defendant's probation, and we reverse the ruling of the trial court.

	Reversed.

	JUSTICE KUEHN, specially concurring:

	Because I do not believe that the State can transform counseling needs beyond the

probationary period into a violation of a probationary condition that requires the completion

of sex offender counseling and because I am convinced that this defendant, having satisfied

the sex offender counseling provision of probation, was not obliged to seek punishment in

excess of the sentence she successfully served, I specially concur.

	JUSTICE CHAPMAN, dissenting:

	I respectfully dissent.  The majority takes the view that the individual counseling

recommended by the defendant's therapists was optional and not required by the probation

order and that the defendant's failure to follow their recommendations does not mean that she

did not complete sex offender counseling.  I disagree.  The probation order in this case

required the defendant to obtain a mental health assessment and to complete the follow-up

counseling recommended by the assessment.  The order also required her to complete sex

offender counseling.  Kiel recommended in her assessment that the defendant seek continued

individual therapy and sex offender treatment.  Diamond-Bushue recommended in her

progress report and discharge summary that the defendant obtain individual therapy with a

therapist specializing in female sex offenders and participate in a sex offender evaluation and

polygraph examination to assess her level of risk to children.  The record is void of evidence demonstrating that the defendant followed through with these recommendations, and it is

clear that her failure to do so formed the basis for the trial court's decision in this case. 

	Unlike the majority, I find it noteworthy that the defendant had not requested an

extension of the term of her probation to complete counseling in accordance with her

therapists' recommendations at the time the trial court revoked her probation.  Almost six

months passed between the time her probation was revoked and the time of her sentencing. 

The trial court even continued one hearing at her request specifically to afford her another

opportunity to complete additional counseling, testing, and evaluation.  This did not happen. 

	Thus, I would find that the record supports the trial court's finding that the defendant

violated her probation and that the judgment is not against the manifest weight of the

evidence.  For these reasons, I respectfully dissent from the majority's opinion reversing the

ruling of the trial court. 

	NO. 5-03-0273

	IN THE

	APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS

	FIFTH DISTRICT

___________________________________________________________________________________

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,	)  Appeal from the

							)  Circuit Court of

	Plaintiff-Appellee,				)  Clinton County.

          						)

v.							)  No. 98-CF-82

							)

ANNA M. McCLELLAN,				)  Honorable

							)  Kelly D. Long,

	Defendant-Appellant.			)  Judge, presiding.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Opinion Filed:	December 2, 2004

___________________________________________________________________________________

Justices:	Honorable Thomas M. Welch, J.

	Honorable Clyde L. Kuehn, J., 

	Specially concurs 

	Honorable Melissa A. Chapman, J., 

	Dissents

___________________________________________________________________________________

Attorney	N. Scott Rosenblum, Rosenblum, Schwartz, Rogers & Glass, P.C., 120 South

for	Central Avenue, Suite 130, Clayton, MO 63105

Appellant	

___________________________________________________________________________________

Attorneys	Hon. Stan Brandmeyer, Clinton County State's Attorney, Clinton County Courthouse,

for	850 Fairfax, Carlyle, IL 62231; Norbert J. Goetten, Director, Stephen E. Norris, 

Appellee	Deputy Director, Sharon Shanahan, Contract Attorney, Office of the State's 

	Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor, 730 E. Illinois Hwy. 15, Suite 2, P.O. Box 2249,

	Mt. Vernon, IL 62864

___________________________________________________________________________________