2020 IL App (4th) 190090-U 

NO. 4-19-0090 

IN THE APPELLATE COURT

OF ILLINOIS

FOURTH DISTRICT

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, 

Plaintiff-Appellee, 

v. 

HECTOR U. ROSAS, 

Defendant-Appellant. 

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Appeal from 

Circuit Court of 

Champaign County 

No. 13CF1962 

Honorable 

Thomas J. Difanis, 

Judge Presiding.

 JUSTICE HOLDER WHITE delivered the judgment of the court. 

 Justices Knecht and Harris concurred in the judgment. 

ORDER

¶ 1 Held: The appellate court reversed and remanded, concluding the trial court erred 

where, in postconviction proceedings, it determined trial counsel’s failure to 

timely file a postplea motion and Rule 604(d) certificate, constituted ineffective 

assistance of counsel but allowed defendant to file a late notice of appeal instead 

of a new postplea motion. 

¶ 2 In November 2018, defendant, Hector U. Rosas, filed an amended postconviction 

petition alleging ineffective assistance of trial counsel for failing to timely file a motion to 

withdraw his guilty plea and certificate pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 604(d) (eff. July 

1, 2017). Following a January 2019 hearing, the defendant prevailed on his ineffective 

assistance of counsel claim, and the trial court allowed for the late filing of a Rule 604(d) 

certificate and the late filing of the notice of appeal. 

¶ 3 Defendant appeals, arguing (1) the trial court correctly found defendant was 

denied the effective assistance of counsel but it erred by not allowing defendant leave to file a 

FILED

March 20, 2020 

Carla Bender

4th District Appellate

Court, IL

NOTICE

This order was filed under Supreme 

Court Rule 23 and may not be cited 

as precedent by any party except in 

the limited circumstances allowed 

under Rule 23(e)(1). 
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new postplea motion and (2) alternatively, his sentence should be vacated and his case should be 

remanded for a new sentencing hearing because the court failed to afford sufficient weight to 

substantial mitigation evidence. For the following reasons, we reverse the trial court’s judgment 

and remand. 

¶ 4 I. BACKGROUND

¶ 5 In October 2014, defendant, Hector U. Rosas, pleaded guilty to predatory criminal 

sexual assault of a child, a Class X felony (720 ILCS 5/12-14.1(a)(1) (West 2012)). In 

November, defendant, while represented by counsel, filed a pro se motion to withdraw his guilty 

plea. On December 1, 2014, the trial court sentenced defendant to 30 years’ imprisonment. On 

January 9, 2015, defense counsel filed a motion titled “amended motion to withdraw guilty plea 

and vacate the judgment or, in the alternative, to reconsider sentence.” On January 14, 2015, 

counsel filed a Rule 604(d) certificate. That same month, the court held a hearing on counsel’s 

motion. The court denied the amended motion to withdraw guilty plea and vacate the judgment 

or, in the alternative, to reconsider sentence. 

¶ 6 Defendant appealed, and in June 2017, this court concluded it lacked jurisdiction 

because counsel failed to timely file a motion to withdraw defendant’s guilty plea. Accordingly, 

this court dismissed defendant’s appeal. 

¶ 7 In April 2018, defendant filed a pro se postconviction petition. That same month, 

the trial court appointed the Champaign County public defender’s office to represent defendant 

in postconviction proceedings. In August 2018, defendant, while represented by counsel, filed 

an amended postconviction petition alleging various claims of ineffective assistance of appellate 

counsel. In November 2018, counsel filed an amended postconviction petition alleging 

ineffective assistance of trial counsel for failing to timely file a motion to withdraw his guilty 
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plea and certificate pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 604(d) (eff. July 1, 2017). Counsel 

alleged the absence of a timely postplea motion deprived defendant the opportunity to obtain 

appellate review of his guilty plea and sentence. 

¶ 8 The State filed a response and conceded the Rule 604(d) certificate and the 

motion to withdraw defendant’s guilty plea were “filed outside of the 30-day window and that 

there exists in the records suggestions that counsel should have been aware of defendant’s desire 

to move to withdraw.” The State noted defendant believed that, should he prevail on his 

postconviction claim, the matter should proceed to a hearing on his motion to withdraw his guilty 

plea and to reconsider his sentence. The State argued the trial court already held a hearing on his 

motion to withdraw his guilty plea and the court’s denial of that motion constituted res judicata

or law of the case. The State relied on People v. Ross, 229 Ill. 2d 255, 891 N.E.2d 865 (2008), 

and argued that where the effect of counsel’s errors was the denial of appellate review, the court 

should allow a late notice of appeal even though that remedy was not specifically dictated by 

statute. 

¶ 9 In January 2019, the trial court held a hearing on defendant’s postconviction 

petition. Defense counsel explained the court could allow for the late filing of a Rule 604(d) 

certificate and a late notice of appeal. The State indicated it discussed the matter with 

defendant’s trial attorneys and there was not an acceptable explanation for the failure to timely 

file the postplea motion. 

¶ 10 The trial court took judicial notice of the January 2015 hearing on defendant’s 

untimely postplea motion. The court ordered defendant be allowed to file a late Rule 604(d) 

certificate and a late notice of appeal. The court’s written order indicated it denied in part and 

granted in part defendant’s postconviction petition where the court denied defendant’s request to 
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withdraw his plea and order a new trial, but granted defendant leave to file a late Rule 604(d) 

motion and a late notice of appeal. Counsel filed a “successive Rule 604(d) motion.” Counsel 

noted he consulted with defendant and reviewed the trial court file, the report of proceedings of 

the guilty plea, and the report of proceedings of the sentencing hearing. The Rule 604(d) motion 

further stated counsel reviewed the amended motion to withdraw defendant’s guilty plea, filed by 

counsel on January 9, 2015, and it adequately set forth defendant’s claims and required no 

additional amendments. On January 29, 2019, counsel filed a “successive notice of appeal.” On 

February 26, 2019, appellate counsel filed an amended notice of appeal. 

¶ 11 This appeal followed. 

¶ 12 II. ANALYSIS

¶ 13 On appeal, defendant argues (1) the trial court correctly found defendant was 

denied the effective assistance of counsel but it erred by not allowing defendant leave to file a 

new postplea motion and (2) alternatively, his sentence should be vacated and his case should be 

remanded for a new sentencing hearing because the court failed to afford sufficient weight to 

substantial mitigation evidence. Specifically, defendant argues the trial court never had 

jurisdiction to consider defendant’s untimely postplea motion and, as a result, the motion and its 

denial are nullities. People v. Flowers, 208 Ill. 2d 291, 308, 802 N.E.2d 1174, 1184 (2003). The 

State concedes the trial court lacked jurisdiction to hear defendant’s untimely postplea motion. 

The State further concedes the appropriate remedy requires defendant be granted leave to file a 

new postplea motion for the trial court to consider. 

¶ 14 Where, as here, the issues on appeal are purely legal, our review is de novo. 

People v. Herrin, 385 Ill. App. 3d 187, 190, 895 N.E.2d 1075, 1077 (2008). 
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¶ 15 Here, the trial court concluded defendant’s ineffective assistance of counsel claim 

deprived him of appellate review of the voluntariness of his guilty plea and the propriety of his 

sentence. Accordingly, the court allowed defendant to file a late Rule 604(d) notice and a late 

notice of appeal. However, the trial court lacked jurisdiction to rule on defendant’s untimely 

postplea motion. People v. Bailey, 2014 IL 115459, ¶ 26, 4 N.E.3d 474 (the trial court loses 

jurisdiction 30 days after the entry of the judgment if no timely postjudgment motion is filed). 

Because the trial court lacked jurisdiction to hear defendant’s untimely postplea motion, its 

ruling on the merits of the motion was void. Id. ¶ 28. Accordingly, there is no postplea 

judgment to review on appeal and the trial court’s actions in permitting the filing of a late Rule 

604(d) motion, and a late notice of appeal did not perfect this court’s jurisdiction over 

defendant’s case.

¶ 16 We acknowledge the trial court’s reliance on Ross, 229 Ill. 2d 255. In Ross, the 

defendant was convicted, sentenced, and he filed a posttrial motion. Id. at 258. The trial court 

denied the posttrial motion and no direct appeal was filed. Id. Nearly two years later, the 

defendant filed a pro se postconviction petition alleging, in part, that he received ineffective 

assistance of counsel where counsel failed to file a timely notice of appeal. Id. at 259. The case 

proceeded through the postconviction petition process and the trial court concluded defense 

counsel was ineffective for failing to file a notice of appeal. Id. The court allowed the defendant 

to file a late notice of appeal nunc pro tunc to the date of sentencing. Id.

¶ 17 In the ensuing appeal, the State argued the appellate court lacked jurisdiction 

because the notice of appeal was untimely. Id. The Illinois Supreme Court allowed the State’s 

petition for leave to appeal. Id. at 260. The supreme court examined remedies available to a 

postconviction petitioner whose trial counsel failed to file a notice of appeal. Id. at 257. The 
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supreme court affirmed the trial and appellate court’s judgment allowing the defendant to file a 

late notice of appeal. Id.

¶ 18 The Illinois Supreme Court noted the United States Supreme Court extended the 

protections of Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984) to ineffective-assistance claims 

where defense counsel failed to file a notice of appeal. Ross, 229 Ill. 2d at 261 (citing Roe v. 

Flores-Ortega, 528 U.S. 470 (2000)). “ ‘[W]hen counsel’s constitutionally deficient 

performance deprives a defendant of an appeal that he otherwise would have taken, the 

defendant has made out a successful ineffective assistance of counsel claim entitling him to an 

appeal.’ ” Id. (quoting Flores-Ortega, 528 U.S. at 484). 

¶ 19 The supreme court concluded the defendant satisfied the Strickland two-prong 

ineffective assistance of counsel analysis. Id. at 261-62. The supreme court concluded (1) that 

counsel’s failure to file a notice of appeal was substandard where the defendant communicated 

his desire for a direct appeal and (2) “prejudice may be presumed when defense counsel’s 

ineffectiveness rendered appellate proceedings nonexistent, essentially denying the defendant’s 

right to appeal.” Id. at 262. The supreme court then turned to consider “what relief a 

postconviction court may order to remedy defense counsel’s failure to file a notice of appeal.” 

Id. at 263. 

¶ 20 The supreme court concluded postconviction petition proceedings were not a 

substitute for a direct appeal and noted it had previously declined to bind a defendant to the acts 

of defense counsel in cases involving appeals dismissed for want of prosecution. Id. at 269. A 

line of appellate cases developed where defendants whose attorneys failed to file notices of 

appeal could file late notices of appeal. Id. at 270. The supreme court held that “when a 

postconviction petitioner demonstrates that defense counsel was ineffective for failing to file a 
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notice of appeal, the trial court may allow the petitioner leave to file a late notice of appeal.” Id.

at 271. 

¶ 21 We agree with the parties and the trial court that the reasoning in Ross is 

applicable in this case. However, Ross dealt with situations in which counsel failed to file a 

notice of appeal, that failure was raised in a postconviction petition, and the trial courts allowed 

the defendants to file late notices of appeal. Here, defense counsel failed to file a timely postplea 

motion pursuant to Rule 604(d). After the dismissal of his direct appeal, defendant filed a 

postconviction petition alleging the failure to timely file a postplea motion was ineffective 

assistance. The trial court agreed, took judicial notice of the hearing on defendant’s untimely 

postplea motion, and allowed defendant to file a late notice of appeal. However, the court lacked 

jurisdiction to hold that hearing and its judgment denying the untimely postplea motion was 

void. Flowers, 208 Ill. 2d at 307 (circuit court’s order was void because the court lacked 

jurisdiction over untimely Rule 604(d) motion). “A void order does not cloak the appellate court 

with jurisdiction to consider the merits of an appeal.” Id. Accordingly, we find ourselves in the 

same position as on defendant’s direct appeal. 

¶ 22 Defendant was correct to file a postconviction petition alleging ineffective 

assistance of trial counsel for failure to timely file a postplea motion. See id. (where counsel 

failed to file a timely Rule 604(d) motion, the defendant had an alternate remedy to seek relief 

via a postconviction petition proceeding). Our review of the record shows the parties and the 

trial court appeared to agree that failure constituted ineffective assistance of counsel, as do we. 

However, the court ordered the wrong remedy based on the reasoning in Ross. Applying the 

reasoning from Ross in this case, it is clear the appropriate remedy following the third-stage 

postconviction petition hearing should have been to allow defendant to file a new postplea 
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motion and, if he received an unfavorable ruling, to appeal. We recognize the trial court took 

judicial notice of the first hearing it held on defendant’s untimely postplea motion. However, the 

court lacked jurisdiction to hold that hearing and the judgment entered on the untimely postplea 

motion was void. The court taking judicial notice of those proceedings does not change that fact. 

¶ 23 Accordingly, we reverse and remand for the trial court to allow defendant to file a 

new posttrial motion. If defendant does not prevail on the new posttrial motion, he may file a 

notice of appeal, which would proceed as though he were on direct appeal from the trial court’s 

ruling for the very first time. This remedies trial counsel’s ineffective performance by allowing 

the trial court jurisdiction to hear and decide defendant’s posttrial motion. Consequently, it will 

cloak this court with jurisdiction over that ruling on appeal, preserving defendant’s constitutional 

right to direct appeal in accordance with Ross, 229 Ill. 2d at 269. 

¶ 24 III. CONCLUSION

¶ 25 For the reasons stated, we reverse the trial court’s judgment and remand with 

instructions. 

¶ 26 Reversed and remanded with instructions.