2016 IL App (1st) 122626

No. 1-12-2626 

THIRD DIVISION

January 27, 2016 

______________________________________________________________________________ 

IN THE

APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS

FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT

______________________________________________________________________________ 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, 

Plaintiff-Appellee, 

v. 

RASHON PIKE, 

Defendant-Appellant. 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

Appeal from the Circuit Court 

of Cook County. 

No. 11 CR 1487 

The Honorable 

Joseph J. Kazmierski, 

Judge Presiding. 

______________________________________________________________________________

JUSTICE PUCINSKI delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion. 

Justice Lavin concurred in the judgment and opinion. 

Justice Hyman dissented, with opinion. 

OPINION

¶ 1 We hold that the admission of DNA expert testimony of a 50% probability of inclusion 

for a random person in the population as a possible contributor to a mixed DNA profile was error 

because it was irrelevant, as it did not tend to make the issue of defendant's identification more 

likely than not. However, the admission of this evidence was not plain error because the error 

was not serious and the evidence was not closely balanced because both victims identified 

defendant and, as such, defendant's forfeiture of both issues due to his failure to object is 
1-12-2626 

-2- 

effective. The jury in this case was not confused by this evidence, and we believe juries generally 

are capable of appropriately weighing properly presented DNA evidence. 

¶ 2 We also hold in this case that there is no requirement that the court recite all counts 

against a defendant in admonishment of a waiver of the right to counsel pursuant to Illinois 

Supreme Court Rule 401(a) (Ill. S. Ct. R. 401(a) (eff. July 1, 1984)). Rather, Rule 401(a) requires 

admonishment of the "nature of the charge." There was no error in the court's second 

admonishment to defendant in this case where the court stated the nature of the charge and the 

possible maximum punishment but did not recite every count against defendant. 

¶ 3 BACKGROUND

¶ 4 Defendant, Rashon Pike, was charged by indictment with twelve counts: (1) armed 

robbery with a firearm; (2) habitual criminal; (3) unlawful use or possession of a weapon by a 

felon; (4) another count for unlawful use or possession of a weapon by a felon; (5) 

possession/use of a firearm by a felon; (6) another count of possession/use of a firearm by a 

felon; (7) aggravated unlawful use of a weapon based on a prior conviction; (8) another count of 

aggravated unlawful use of a weapon based on a prior conviction; (9) another count of 

aggravated unlawful use of a weapon based on a prior conviction; (10) another count of 

aggravated unlawful use of a weapon based on a prior conviction; (11) attempted residential 

burglary; and (12) aggravated unlawful restraint. 

¶ 5 Defendant was arraigned on February 10, 2011, at which time defendant was appointed a 

public defender. 

¶ 6 On June 2, 2011, defendant asked to proceed pro se. The court admonished defendant of 

the charges pending against him and some of the elements of those crimes. After hearing this 

admonishment, defendant chose to be represented by counsel.
1-12-2626 

-3- 

¶ 7 On September 12, 2011, defendant, who had written a letter to his counsel indicating he 

wished to represent himself, informed the court that he wanted to represent himself. The court 

admonished defendant as follows: 

 "You have the right to represent yourself. You also have the right to an attorney if 

you couldn't afford one, but I just want to tell you that you're facing the charges of armed 

robbery, armed habitual criminal, a number of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon 

 charges, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, attempt residential burglary and 

aggravated unlawful restraint. The armed robbery charge carries with it a term in the 

penitentiary – a possible term in the penitentiary anywhere from 6 years to 30 years. 

Getting a penitentiary sentence, you'd have to serve a period of two years – excuse me, 

three years mandatory supervised release, which is like parole, when you get out of the 

penitentiary. 

 The armed habitual criminal also is a Class X felony. The range of sentence on that 

charge goes from 6 to 30 years as well. That charge also carries with it an 85 percent 

sentence that you'd have to serve that as – if convicted of that charge." 

¶ 8 The assistant State's Attorney interjected: 

 "[ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: Judge, I don't mean to interrupt, but the 

armed robbery is specifically charged as armed with a firearm, which it carries an 

 enhancement of 15 years." 

¶ 9 The court then further admonished defendant as follows: 

 "In addition to the term of sentences you can get an armed robbery, if the jury finds or 

the trier of facts [sic] finds that you were armed with a firearm, an additional 15 years has 
1-12-2626 

-4- 

to be added onto at that charge [sic], so you're looking at possibly 6 years up to 45 years 

as a sentence that could be imposed.

 The aggravated – excuse me, the unlawful use of weapon by felon are Class 2 

 felonies. All the Class 2 felonies that you're charged with – 

 Is he Class X by background?

 [ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: He is, Judge.

 THE COURT: If you're convicted of those charges, the range of sentence on that 

charge goes from 6 years to 30 years also, with that same three years mandatory 

supervised release period.

 The attempt residential burglary is a Class 2 felony, so that range of sentence applies 

on that charge as well.

 The aggravated unlawful restraint, is that a Class 4? 

 [ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: Yes.

 THE COURT: That's a Class 4 felony, so the range of sentence on that charge goes 

from – 

 [ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: Judge, I believe it's a [Class] 3. It's a 3.

 THE COURT: Okay. The range of sentences on that charge goes from two years to 

five years, but because you have certain convictions in your background, that time can go 

all the way up to ten years as a maximum sentence on that sentence alone. Getting a 

penitentiary sentence there, that carries with it a one year mandatory supervised release 

 period. 

 That's the range of sentences you could get on these charges if you're convicted on 

 that. 
1-12-2626 

-5- 

 Do you understand that? 

 DEFENDANT: Yes.

 THE COURT: Do you understand the nature of the charge here, too, armed robbery. 

You took property from the person or presence of another while armed with a firearm. 

The other charges, they're possession of a firearm, when you had a prior conviction of a 

felony and also the attempt residential burglary that you made a substantial step to enter 

someone's dwelling place. That's the nature of the charge and all these counts of this 

particular charge that's facing you.

 Do you understand that? 

 THE DEFENDANT: Yes.

 THE COURT: Do you also understand that if you can't afford an attorney, I would 

appoint one to represent you. You have one right now. You also could have your attorney 

 of your choice to represent you in open court. 

 Do you understand also that those options are open to you as well? 

 THE DEFENDANT: Yes.

 THE COURT: Do you understand all these particular points that I talked to you about 

as far as representing yourself so far?

 THE DEFENDANT: Yes.

 THE COURT: You also understand that I'm not going to be your attorney in the case, 

so I can't help you try your case wherever it happens to be, and you'll be held to the same 

 standard as you would as if you were an attorney in the case.

 Do you understand that? 

 THE DEFENDANT: Yes.
1-12-2626 

-6- 

 THE COURT: Are you sure this is what you want to do? 

 THE DEFENDANT: Yes.

 THE COURT: Okay. The public defender is given leave to withdraw." 

¶ 10 But by December 5, 2011, defendant requested counsel and the court reappointed the 

public defender. Appointed counsel represented defendant on the following two court dates and 

filed a motion to quash arrest and suppress evidence, which the court denied at a hearing on 

January 19, 2012. 

¶ 11 Also on January 19, 2012, the court ruled that the armed robbery with a firearm, 

attempted residential burglary, and aggravated unlawful restraint charges (counts I, XI and XII) 

needed to be severed from the other charges because the other charges required evidence of prior 

convictions at trial, which could potentially affect the jury's verdict on counts I, XI, and XII

(armed robbery, attempted residential burglary, and aggravated unlawful restraint). The State 

elected to proceed to trial first on counts I, XI, and XII of the indictment (armed robbery, 

attempted residential burglary, and aggravated unlawful restraint), and the court set a date for 

trial. 

¶ 12 On February 16, 2012, defendant again indicated he desired to represent himself. The 

following proceedings were on the record: 

 [ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: Judge, we had writ [defendant] in today and

 counsel and I [sic] in the hopes 

 [DEFENDANT]: Excuse me, Your Honor. 

 THE COURT: Hold on one second. This gentleman who is standing right next to you 

is your attorney. He is a very experienced attorney. So I would suggest that you talk to 

him first before you say anything to the court because anything you say is being taken 
1-12-2626 

-7- 

down by this lady, the court reporter, and this lady over here is the – who is the State's 

Attorney she may use it against you. She will. Okay. So talk to your attorney first. 

 [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Judge, Mr. Pike has previously represented himself pro se. 

He indicates at this time that he sent a letter to me. I'm not yet in receipt of it. Although I 

have no reason to doubt him, and he is asking the court to consider allowing him to 

represent himself.

 THE COURT: Okay. Is that correct, Mr. Pike? 

 [DEFENDANT]: Yes.

 THE COURT: Mr. Pike, you want to represent yourself. That's fine. That's your 

prerogative.

 [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Resume representing himself. 

 THE COURT: Resume representing himself. Here is a couple of things [sic] about 

that. This is not a ping-pong game that goes back and for the where you get to decide 

today I want an attorney to represent me. Tomorrow I don't. Okay. It is going to be the 

last time you make that decision. All right. You need to decide if that is what you want to 

 do. 

 Let me tell you a couple of things though. I am sure you have probably heard this 

before if you have represented yourself. I want you to understand that presenting a 

defense is not a simply matter of telling one's story but requires and adheres to various 

 technical rules governing the conduct of a trial. 

 A lawyer, the one standing right next to you, has substantial experience and training 

in trial procedure and the prosecution will be represented by an experienced attorney. I 

told you at the onset [sic]. A person unfamiliar with legal procedures may allow the 
1-12-2626 

-8- 

prosecutor an advantage by failing to make objections to inadmissible evidence and may 

not make effective use of such rights as to voir dire of jurors which is during jury 

selection and may make tactical decision [sic] that produce unintended consequences. 

 If you proceed pro se, you will be not allowed to complain [sic] on appeal about the 

competency of this representation. The effectiveness of your defense may well be 

 diminished by dual roles as an attorney and an accused. You will receive no special 

consideration from the court. You will receive no extra time for preparation or greater 

library time since you are in the penitentiary. The lawyer can render important assistance 

upon determining the existence of possible defenses to charges against you through 

consultation with the prosecutor regarding possible reduced charges or lesser penalties 

and in the event of a conviction by presenting to the court matters which might lead to a 

lesser sentence.

 In the event the court accepts your decision to represent yourself, you will not be 

given an opportunity to change your mind during the trial. If the court in its discretion – 

in its discretion will not appoint stand by counsel. There will be no one to assist you at 

any stage of the trial.

 Do you understand all of things [sic] I have just said to you? 

 [DEFENDANT]: Yes.

 THE COURT: All right. Do you understand what the sentencing range is on that 

charge, sir?

 [DEFENDANT]: No, I do not because of the simple fact that the firearms which was 

dismissed [sic] which made them eligible for the extended terms.
1-12-2626 

-9- 

 THE COURT: So you don't know what your sentence could be. Is that what you are 

trying to tell me?

 [DEFENDANT]: Yes.

 [ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: I would also indicated [sic] the firearm 

charges have not been dismissed. This is a 12 count indictment, judge, which covers 

everything from armed robbery, attempt residential burglary, agg[ravated] UUW, armed 

habitual criminal, aggravated unlawful restraint. 

 [DEFENDANT]: How is it an armed robbery – 

 THE COURT: Hold on. This is not a discussion between you and the State. This is a 

discussion between you and myself where I am going to be asking questions and you are 

 going to be answering those questions. 

 [DEFENDANT]: Okay.

 THE COURT: So, State, is it my understanding that the most serious offenses is [sic] 

a class X felony at this time.

 [ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: It is a class X felony with the enhancement 

of 15 years for being armed with a firearm.

 THE COURT: Okay. So a class X felony is punishable from 6 to 30 years in the 

Illinois Department of Correction[s]. 30 to 60 years extended term, a fine up to $25,000 

and three years mandatory supervised release which is commonly referred to as parole 

that you will serve at the end of any time in the penitentiary. And as the State has pointed 

 out there is also a 15 year enhancement on this case. So that would be added on if the jury 

were to find that. And so you may also be subject to consecutive sentencing based on the 
1-12-2626 

-10- 

charges which I don't know what the facts of your case are. But if the State is seeking that 

and it is allowed by law you may be subject to that.

 Do you understand that? 

 [DEFENDANT]: Yes.

 THE COURT: All right. And do you understand that you have the right to counsel. 

 And that if you are indigent to have counsel appointed to you by the court. 

 [DEFENDANT]: Yes.

 THE COURT: All right. And understanding all of this, do you still wish to proceed 

 without the benefit of counsel? 

 [DEFENDANT]: Yes.

 THE COURT: All right. How old are you? 

 [DEFENDANT]: I am 26.

 THE COURT: How far did you go in school? 

 [DEFENDANT]: I graduated high school. 

 THE COURT: What high school was that? 

 [DEFENDANT]: I got my GED in Centralia Correctional Center. 

 THE COURT: So you have a GED, not a high school diploma. You have no college 

classes?

 [DEFENDANT]: No. 

 THE COURT: Do you have any legal training? 

 [DEFENDANT]: No.

 THE COURT: All right. And you have other criminal background; is that correct? 
1-12-2626 

-11- 

 [DEFENDANT]: Yes.

 THE COURT: So you have been through the process before? 

 [DEFENDANT]: Yes.

 THE COURT: And have you been representing yourself on any of those other prior 

occasions? 

 [DEFENDANT]: No.

 THE COURT: You have been represented by an attorney before. 

 [DEFENDANT]: Yes. 

 THE COURT: All right. Well, sir, it does not seem to me that this would be the most 

 prudent move on your part to be represented by yourself. It would seem to me that you 

would want to be represented by an attorney especially one with vast experience as the 

lawyer who is standing right next to you, but it's your decision. If you want to do that, it's 

 up to you. But you are playing with fire, do you understand that? 

 [DEFENDANT]: Yes.

 THE COURT: All right. Knowing everything that I have told you, do you understand 

I am not going to be appointing stand-by counsel. So it's not like you are going to have an 

attorney standing there to tell you what to ask and what to do during the course of this 

trial? Right? 

 [DEFENDANT]: So I am not going to be able to have stand by counsel to help me 

with the litigation of the legal [sic].

 THE COURT: No. I started out that was one of my first points to tell you [sic]. That 

if you recall I told you at the very beginning that this is not simple matter [sic] of telling 

 one's story. It requires adherence to various technical rules governing the conduct at trial. 
1-12-2626 

-12- 

And a lawyer has substantial experience and training in trial procedure and the attorney 

on the State's side will be an experienced lawyer. So if you are asking to have stand-by 

counsel to help you formulate questions and help with you [sic] with your theory of the 

 case, you will not be allowed to have stand-by counsel.

 [DEFENDANT]: Okay. I still wish to go pro se. 

 THE COURT: Okay. All right then. You will be going pro se. And it is set for a jury 

trial; is that correct?"

¶ 13 The trial court granted the assistant public defender leave to withdraw and asked the State 

to order the transcript of its admonishments to defendant about proceeding pro se. Defendant

demanded trial and the court gave an interim status date for the State to retender discovery to 

defendant. 

¶ 14 On February 23, 2012, the parties appeared before Judge Kazmierski. The court asked 

defendant whether he elected to proceed pro se on the last court date and defendant responded, 

"Right, sir." On the next court date, February 27, 2012, the trial date was postponed so the trial 

court could decide motions filed by defendant. The jury trial date was reset for April 9, 2012. 

¶ 15 On April 9, 2012, the parties appeared and the court asked defendant, "You still want to 

do this by yourself?" Defendant replied, "Yes." The State nol-prossed count XII of the 

indictment (aggravated unlawful restraint) and proceeded on count I (armed robbery with a 

firearm) and count XI (attempted residential burglary). The State indicated that one witness had 

experienced a death in the family and jury selection was postponed until April 11, 2012. 

¶ 16 Defendant then represented himself for the remainder of the proceedings, including

throughout trial. The jury was selected on April 11, 2012, and trial began on April 12, 2012. 
1-12-2626 

-13- 

¶ 17 At trial, the victim, Willie Creator, testified. Willie testified that he was 54 years old and 

that he lived at Englewood and Stewart Avenues with his wife of eight years, Geraldine. On the 

evening of the alleged crimes, December 29, 2010, Willie picked up Geraldine after work, they 

bought a pizza and drove home together arriving at around 10:20 p.m. Geraldine got out of the 

car, passed through the front gate and entered their house while Willie parked the car. Geraldine 

turned off the house alarm by punching in the code. Geraldine closed the front door but left the 

keys in the lock and did not shut the inner door to the house. Willie took his bag and their dinner 

from the car and headed toward their house. As he did so, Willie saw three men on the opposite 

side of the street looking at him. They walked toward him. As Willie entered the gate, one of the 

men charged at Willie with a handgun. Willie identified this individual as defendant. According 

to Willie, defendant threatened him as the other two men came up behind Willie and pushed 

guns into his back. One held a shotgun while the other held a handgun. Defendant held a 

handgun and told Willie, "[G]et up the stairs or else I'll kill you." The other two men came inside 

the yard also and tried to push Willie up the front stairs with their weapons. Defendant said, "get 

up the stairs, n***, or else I will kill you." Willie verbally and physically resisted and yelled 

loudly in an attempt to warn his wife and said to defendant, "[W]hy are you going to do this, 

please, you don't have to do this." Defendant walked up the front stairs of the house while the 

other two men stayed behind Willie. Willie saw defendant try to get inside the house with the 

door keys that Geraldine left in the lock of the door. Willie told the men that if they were going 

to kill him, they were going to have to kill him outside, and tried to back down the stairs. 

Eventually the two men gave up and ran west down Englewood Avenue. When defendant saw 

his accomplices running away, he ran down the stairs, grabbed the bag Willie was carrying, and 

also ran off westbound on Englewood Avenue.
1-12-2626 

-14- 

¶ 18 Willie then got in his car and drove around the corner, where he found a police officer. 

Willie told the officer what happened and provided a description of the offenders and then 

returned home. Fifteen minutes later, officers came to his home with defendant in custody, 

whom Willie positively identified. Willie further testified that the street lights were on during the 

commission of the crime. Willie could not provide a description of the offenders' hairstyles 

because they wore hooded sweatshirts, referred to as "hoodies." Willie did not recall informing 

the police that the offenders' pants and shoes were black. 

¶ 19 Geraldine, Willie's wife, also testified. Geraldine testified that when she and Willie 

arrived home on December 29, 2010, at about 10:30 or 10:35 p.m., the porch lights and interior 

lights were off. The Christmas tree lights were on and the church across the street had its exterior 

lights on. After Geraldine exited the car, she walked through the front gate and up the front 

exterior stairs, opened the outer glass storm door and the main wooden door, entered the house 

and turned off the alarm. She left the keys in the wooden door so that her husband could use the 

keys to lock the gate. Soon thereafter, Geraldine heard Willie screaming, so she ran to the front 

door where she saw two men with guns near her husband and a third man on the porch. 

Geraldine testified that the man on the porch was trying to open the wooden door using the keys 

she had left in the lock and that she could see him through the glass window in the wooden door. 

Geraldine identified this individual as defendant. Geraldine testified that the wooden door was 

closed but not locked, and that defendant was "working the key" but unable to get inside. 

Geraldine held the door shut because defendant was trying to push it open. As Geraldine looked 

out the window, she called 911. Geraldine estimated that defendant tried to open the door for 5 to 

10 minutes before the other two men fled. Defendant then followed the two men, grabbing 

Willie's bag as he left. Willie's bag contained tools and coats they planned to donate for homeless 
1-12-2626 

-15- 

children. Geraldine then moved to the front window and did not see Willie or his car. Thinking 

Willie may have been abducted by the men, she called 911 again. Willie soon returned and, 20 

minutes later, the police arrived with defendant. Geraldine identified defendant as the offender 

on the porch. Geraldine could "somewhat" see defendant's face during the incident and recalled 

defendant was wearing black pants and a black shirt that may or may not have been a hoodie. 

¶ 20 Officer Lester Vaughn testified that on the night of the offense he was on patrol with two 

partners when they received a flash message of a robbery by three black males described as 5 

feet 9 inches tall, 170 pounds, and 20 to 25 years old. Vaughn was driving past the 6300 block of 

Parnell Avenue, a block and a half from the scene, when he saw defendant running northbound 

on Parnell Avenue toward 63rd Street. Vaughn apprehended defendant and brought him to the 

scene of the victim's residence for identification. At the scene, Willie and Geraldine both 

identified defendant as the offender and defendant was placed under arrest at 10:53 p.m. Vaughn 

radioed for other officers who searched the area and took defendant to the 7th District police 

station. Vaughn testified that defendant was wearing a black hoodie, blue jeans, and brown 

boots. At the time of his arrest, defendant was not in possession of a gun or a bag. 

¶ 21 Officer Raymond Urbanski was assigned to Unit 153, a city-wide mobile strike force on 

the date of the occurrence and participated in a systematic search of the area of the victims' 

home. Urbanski testified that at 11 p.m. he received a call from another officer indicating that 

weapons were found at 6303 S. Parnell Avenue. Urbanski went to that address and found a 

sawed-off shotgun and a semi-automatic handgun lying in the snow at the foundation of a house. 

Urbanski left the weapons for the evidence technicians to collect, who recovered them at 11:30 

p.m. 
1-12-2626 

-16- 

¶ 22 Officer Brian Devan, an evidence technician, testified that he photographed and 

processed the scene at the victims' home and then responded to 6306 South Parnell Avenue, 

where he photographed and recovered two weapons from the front lawn at that address. One 

weapon was a shotgun and the other weapon was a semi-automatic handgun. Officer Devan took 

the weapons and ammunition recovered from inside the weapons to the police station and 

swabbed the serrated portions of the guns for possible DNA testing. Officer Devan inventoried 

all the items, and the swabs from the guns were sent to the Illinois State Police Crime Laboratory 

for analysis. Officer Devan testified that there was moisture and snow on the guns when he 

recovered them. 

¶ 23 Cook County State's Attorney's Office Investigator Alfred Perez testified that he took a 

buccal swab from defendant on April 7, 2011. Investigator Perez described the procedure he used 

to obtain defendant's buccal swab and testified that he inventoried the swab after collecting it. 

¶ 24 Forensic scientist Katrina Gomez testified that she is employed by the Illinois State 

Police Forensic Science Center in Chicago. Gomez was accepted as an expert in forensic biology 

and DNA analysis without objection. Gomez was assigned to analyze the evidence collected in 

this case. Gomez was trained in short tandem repeat (STR) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) 

DNA testing and testified that the swabs did not contain sufficient DNA to develop a profile.

Gomez then spoke with forensic scientist Lisa Fallara about the possibility of performing Ychromosome STR (Y-STR) analysis on the DNA extract from the gun swabs. Gomez then sealed 

the items and forwarded them to Fallara for Y-STR testing. 

¶ 25 The swabs were then analyzed by a Illinois State Police forensic scientist Lisa Fallara, 

who was trained in Y-chromosome STR (Y-STR) analysis. Fallara was accepted as an expert in 

biology and DNA analysis without objection. Fallara testified that Y-STR testing is generally 
1-12-2626 

-17- 

accepted in the scientific community. Whereas traditional DNA testing looks at several areas of 

DNA along with several different chromosomes, Y-STR testing looks at several different 

locations only on the male Y chromosome; it is essentially male DNA testing. Fallara explained 

that Y chromosome DNA is passed down from the paternal line, so that a brother, father and 

father's father will all have the same Y-STR DNA profile. Fallara explained that Y-STR analysis 

is better suited for obtaining profiles from a limited amount of DNA. Fallara testified that Y-STR 

testing was required because there was a small amount of DNA on the sample from the gun and 

that it is probable that snow could remove DNA from a surface. 

¶ 26 Fallara conducted Y-STR testing on defendant's buccal standard as well as the extracted 

DNA from the swabs from the 9-millimeter handgun. Fallara identified a low-level mixture of 

two Y-STR profiles on the DNA swabs from the 9-millimeter handgun at three locations, which 

was interpreted as a mixture of two males' DNA. Fallara was only able to do comparisons and 

statistics at one locus. When Fallara compared this profile with defendant's buccal swab DNA 

profile, she determined that defendant could not be excluded as a contributor. Fallara calculated a 

frequency estimating how rare the profile is in the general population, and testified that 

approximately 1 in 2 unrelated African-American males, 1 in 2 unrelated Caucasian males, and 1 

in 2 unrelated Hispanic males cannot be excluded from having contributed to the mixture based 

on a 95% confidence limit for each population. Therefore, the profile was consistent with one in 

every two unrelated African-American, Caucasian, and Hispanic males. Defendant did not object 

to the admission of this evidence at trial and instead proceeded to cross-examine her. 

¶ 27 On cross-examination by defendant, Fallara explained that defendant is included as a 

potential contributor to the mixture but that she could not identify defendant as the contributor. 

Fallara further explained her statistical calculation by stating, "I would say that every two 
1-12-2626 

-18- 

randomly selected people, one out of those two could not be excluded." Fallara explained that the 

profile database used for Y-STR statistical calculations is purely for statistical purposes, not 

identification purposes. Fallara further explained, "When I have a profile identified from an 

evidence stain, I make a comparison to any standards that are submitted in the case, and I will 

either include or exclude somebody from a profile, and I'm not 100 percent saying that they are 

the donor, I'm saying they are potential donor [sic]. In this case, I had a mixture, so that's why I 

had to use the words cannot be excluded because there was more than one DNA type, not just 

one DNA type that I compared." Defendant asked Fallara on cross-examination, "Okay so you 

also stated that I cannot be excluded, does that also go for I cannot technically be included 

either?" Fallara explained, "I would state that I could not exclude you from the mixture. You 

would be included as [a] potential contributor, but I could not identify you as the contributor." 

¶ 28 The jury found defendant guilty of armed robbery with a firearm and attempted

residential burglary. The court denied defendant's pro se posttrial motion for a new trial on 

August 6, 2012. The court sentenced defendant to 20 years for the armed robbery with a firearm 

conviction, with a 15-year enhancement for carrying a firearm, for a total of 35 years' 

imprisonment for that conviction, and 20 years for the attempted residential burglary conviction, 

upon finding the offense was subject to mandatory Class X sentencing based on defendant's 

criminal history. The sentences were imposed concurrently. The court then explained that 

defendant's sentences would be served at 50%. Defendant timely appealed.

¶ 29 ANALYSIS

¶ 30 I. DNA EVIDENCE

¶ 31 A. DNA IS COMPLICATED BUT JURIES GET IT
1-12-2626 

-19- 

¶ 32 The major issue in this case is whether there was plain error in the admission of the DNA 

statistical probability expert testimony. Fallara testified that the method for calculating DNA 

probability statistics is generally accepted in the DNA scientific community. There was no 

objection at trial nor does defendant raise any Frye challenge (Frye v. United States, 293 F. 1013 

(D.C. Cir. 1923)) on appeal to the science or general acceptance or Fallara's method of 

identification and method of probability calculation in this case. Defendant's only plain error 

challenge to the probability calculation is relevance. Defendant argues that the trial court erred in 

admitting the DNA evidence because the "random match probability" of 50% rendered the 

evidence irrelevant and more prejudicial than probative. Defendant acknowledges that he made 

no objection at trial and did not raise this issue in a post-trial motion, thereby forfeiting it (People 

v. Enoch, 122 Ill. 2d 176 (1988)), but argues that the court's admission of the expert testimony 

constitutes plain error. The plain error doctrine allows for the review of a forfeited issue if error 

in fact occurred and: (1) the evidence was closely balanced; or (2) the error was so substantial 

that it deprived defendant of a fair trial. People v. Herron, 215 Ill. 2d 167, 178-79 (2005). 

¶ 33 Testimony is admissible if it is relevant to an issue in dispute (People v. Patterson, 192 

Ill. 2d 93, 114-15 (2000)). "Relevant evidence" is defined under our rules of evidence as 

"evidence having any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the 

determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without the 

evidence." Ill. R. Evid. 401 (eff. Jan. 1, 2011). See also People v. Harvey, 211 Ill. 2d 368, 392 

(2004); People v. Morgan, 197 Ill. 2d 404, 455-56 (2001) (relevant evidence means any evidence 

that has a tendency to make the existence of a fact that is of consequence in the proceedings 

either more or less probable than it would be without the evidence). Probability is probability 

"tested in the light of logic, experience, and accepted assumption as to human behavior." People 
1-12-2626 

-20- 

v. Patterson, 192 Ill. 2d 93, 115 (2000). Generally, "all relevant evidence is admissible unless 

otherwise provided by law." People v. Cruz, 162 Ill. 2d 314, 348 (1994); People v. Kirchner, 

194 Ill. 2d 502, 539 (2000). 

¶ 34 "Relevance is a threshold requirement [for admissibility] that must be met by every item 

of evidence." People v. Dabbs, 239 Ill. 2d 277, 289 (2010). See also Bangaly v. Baggiani, 2014 

IL App (1st) 123760, ¶ 155 (reciting that the first requirement even for expert testimony is that 

"the testimony must be relevant to a material fact in the case"). Identification evidence is, of 

course, relevant because "[t]he prosecution has the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt 

the identity of the person who committed the crime." In re Keith C., 378 Ill. App. 3d 252, 257-58 

(2007) (citing People v. Slim, 127 Ill. 2d 302, 306 (1989)). A court may, however, exclude 

evidence, even if it is relevant, if the prejudicial effect of the evidence substantially outweighs its 

probative value. People v. Walker, 211 Ill. 2d 317, 337 (2004). 

¶ 35 1. DNA Basics: Types of Testing 

¶ 36 In order to properly address this issue, it is necessary to provide a brief background and 

explanation of DNA terms and differing statistical probabilities in criminal cases. DNA, or 

deoxyribonucleic acid, is the fundamental building block for an individual's entire genetic 

makeup – our hereditary blueprint passed on to us by our parents. DNA is composed of the 

familiar double-helix strand of nucleotide base pairs which form the sugar-phosphate "double 

ladder" backbone of the DNA on a chromosome. Chromosomes are found in the nucleus of a 

cell. "Within the nucleus of each human cell are 23 pairs of chromosomes composed of 

deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, which contains the coded information that provides the genetic 

blueprint that determines the physical structure and characteristics for each individual." People v. 

Rokita, 316 Ill. App. 3d 292, 298 (2000). A variant of the DNA sequence at a given locus on a 
1-12-2626 

-21- 

chromosome is called an "allele." In re Jessica M., 399 Ill. App. 3d 730, 743 (2010) (citing John 

M. Butler, Forensic DNA Typing: Biology & Technology Behind STR Markers 13-17 (2001)). 

Markers used for human identity testing are found in the DNA either between the genes or within 

genes and are not the portions that code for genetic variation but are still highly variable. See id.

at 744 (citing National Research Council, The Evaluation of Forensic DNA Evidence 14 (1996)). 

"The location of 'markers' in these highly polymorphic or variable regions is called a 'locus' 

(plural 'loci')." Id. at 743 (citing John M. Butler, Forensic DNA Typing: Biology & Technology 

Behind STR Markers 13-17 (2001)). Humans have two alleles at each genetic locus, with one 

allele inherited from each parent. Alleles are represented by "peaks" that appear on an 

electropherogram, which is a genetic chart used in DNA testing. With the exception of identical 

twins, no two people have the same DNA. Id.

¶ 37 A good summary of the science of DNA can be found in United States v. Yee, 134 F.R.D. 

161 (N.D. Ohio 1991): 

 "The human genome is composed of twenty-three pairs of chromosomes 

 containing approximately six billion individual nucleotide bases comprising 

 approximately three billion nucleotide base pairs. Each chromosome consists of two 

 long chains of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) linked together by hydrogen bonding 

between complementary pairs of nucleotide bases. The overall physical structure of 

the DNA molecule, otherwise called a double helix formation, has been likened to a 

ladder the sides of which are twisted or coiled along its longitudinal axis. 

*** 

 Most of the DNA belonging to a species is identical. In humans 99% of the genes are 

the same for all persons, thereby accounting for the abundant shared characteristics of 
1-12-2626 

-22- 

all human beings. Some DNA is, however, different from person to person,

 population to population, race to race. These differences, which account for our unique 

characteristics as individuals, as well as the differences between ethnic groups and races, 

are the result of the variation in the base sequences of the genes that encode for these 

 individualizing characteristics." Id. at 169.1

¶ 38 In its earliest form, DNA forensic technology focused upon the parts of the DNA 

molecule where there is significant variation (polymorphism) of base pair patterns, called 

"Variable Numbers of Tandem Repeats" (VNTRs), but through the years, the technology now 

focuses on a class of polymorphisms in DNA called "Short Tandem Repeats" (STRs), which are 

even shorter in base pair length. These STRs are readily amplified by a process known as 

"polymerase chain reaction" (PCR) technology. In re Jessica M., 399 Ill. App. 3d at 744. The 

number of repeats in STR markers can be highly variable among individuals, which makes them 

particularly desirable for forensic identification. Id. (citing John M. Butler, Forensic DNA 

Typing: Biology & Technology Behind STR Markers 53 (2001)). The number of repeats of a 

specific STR sequence present at a given locus, combined over a designated number of loci, 

creates a unique DNA "profile" of an individual. Id. (citing John M. Butler, Forensic DNA 

Typing: Biology & Technology Behind STR Markers 18 (2001)). 

¶ 39 Y–STR testing examines the Y chromosome that is passed from father to son. People v. 

Zapata, 2014 IL App (2d) 120825, ¶ 11; People v. Barker, 403 Ill. App. 3d 515, 527-28 (2010) 

(citing and quoting Jules Epstein, "Genetic Surveillance"–The Bogeyman Response to Familial 

 

1 Yee is a very early and fascinating DNA case in which the principal issues were whether the 

FBI's methodology for sampling DNA and generating statistical probabilities were sufficient to 

meet the standards for what was, at the time, a novel scientific theory or procedure. It includes a 

lengthy, detailed description of DNA, DNA sampling, DNA statistical gathering, Frye issues and 

more in readable terms.
1-12-2626 

-23- 

DNA Investigations, 2009 U. Ill. J.L. Tech. & Pol'y 141, 148). Y–STRs are short repeats found 

solely in the male-specific Y chromosome that code for male sex determination, 

spermatogenesis, and other male-related functions. Id. at 527. The DNA segments that are the 

focus of Y-STR testing are inherited as a block through an individual's paternal lineage which is 

known as a " 'haplotype—"a set of closely linked genetic markers present on one chromosome 

which tend to be inherited together." ' " Zapata, 2014 IL App (2d) 120825, ¶ 15 (quoting State v. 

Bander, 208 P.3d 1242, 1246 (2009), quoting National Forensic Science Technology Center, 

President's DNA Initiative: DNA Analyst Training Glossary, 

http://www.nfstc.org/pdi/glossary.htm# H (last visited May 12, 2009)). " 'All men in the same 

paternal lineage have the same DNA profile at these markers on their Y chromosomes.' " Id.

(quoting Bander, 208 P.3d at 1246).

¶ 40 For identification purposes, Y-STR testing is limited because "all individuals in a 

paternal line will have the same Y-STR DNA profile. [Citation.] A match between a suspect and 

evidence using the Y-STR procedure means only that the suspect could have contributed the 

DNA in the forensic stain, as could his brother, father, son, uncle, paternal cousin, or a distant 

cousin from his paternal lineage." (Emphasis added.) People v. Stoecker, 2014 IL 115756, ¶ 29 

(citing John M. Butler, Fundamentals of Forensic DNA Typing 366 (2010)). But Y-STR DNA 

testing can conclusively exclude a suspect from the pool of possible suspects. See Zapata, 2014 

IL App (2d) 120825, ¶ 15; Barker, 403 Ill. App. 3d at 527. Y–STR analysis is essentially the 

same as the PCR–STR regular DNA comparison and analysis, except that Y–STR analysis 

permits isolation of male DNA in a mixed source sample. See Zapata, 2014 IL App (2d) 120825, 

¶ 15. It is well established that Y-STR testing is generally accepted. Id. at 5. 

¶ 41 2. Steps in DNA Testing
1-12-2626 

-24- 

¶ 42 "There are three general steps in DNA testing: (1) creating a DNA 'profile' of a sample;

(2) determining whether the profiles of different samples 'match'; and (3) if the samples match, 

estimating the statistical probability of a random match." People v. Dalcollo, 282 Ill. App. 3d 

944, 948 (1996). 

¶ 43 If the first step, retrieving a DNA profile or partial profile in relation to the crime, is 

successful, then the second step is to compare that profile to the suspect's profile. The DNA 

expert analysis is biological and goes toward identification to determine if there is a "match," 

which is a laboratory determination that the suspect cannot be excluded as the source of genetic 

material found at the crime scene or on the victim. In re Jessica M., 399 Ill. App. 3d 730, 744 

(2010) (citing People v. Watson, 257 Ill. App. 3d 915, 930 (1994), aff'd, 214 Ill. 2d 271 (2005)). 

¶ 44 When the DNA profile of a known individual (a victim or a suspect) matches the DNA 

profile from the crime scene evidence the individual is "included" as a potential source of that 

evidence. A DNA profile shown to occur rarely in the population (for example, 1 time in 5 

million people) would more strongly suggest that the individual is the source of the biological 

evidence than would a more common DNA profile (for example, 1 time in 5,000 people). 

Inclusion does not necessarily mean that a suspect is guilty. When the DNA profile from an 

individual (a victim or a suspect) does not match the DNA profile generated from the crime 

scene evidence, the referenced individual is "excluded" as a donor of the evidence. Exclusion 

does not necessarily mean the suspect is innocent. Id.

¶ 45 The final step is to provide a statistical context for the match, i.e., to calculate the 

probability of a random "match" using the population genetic statistics database. See In re 

Jessica M., 399 Ill. App. 3d 730, 744 (2010). In 1993, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) 

completed an exhaustive worldwide population survey for its population database used in these 
1-12-2626 

-25- 

statistical calculations. People v. Dalcollo, 282 Ill. App. 3d 944, 960 (1996) (citing United States 

Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, I-A VNTR Population Data: A 

Worldwide Study (1993). The United States DNA Advisory Board2 explains that "[w]hen a 

comparison of DNA profiles derived from evidence and reference samples fails to exclude an 

individual(s) as a contributor(s) of the evidence sample, statistical assessment and/or 

probabilistic reasoning are used to evaluate the significance of the association." DNA Advisory

Board, Statistical and Population Genetics Issues Affecting the Evaluation of the Frequency of 

Occurrence of DNA Profiles Calculated From Pertinent Population Database(s), 2 Forensic Sci. 

Comm. No. 3 (2000), http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/lab/forensic-sciencecommunications/fsc/july2000/index.htm/dnastat.htm (DNA Advisory Board).3

 

¶ 46 3. DNA Statistics: Different Statistics for Different Uses

¶ 47 The use of population statistics databases evolved out of the necessity to estimate the 

random match probability of a possible source of a DNA profile occurring within the appropriate 

reference population. In re Jessica M., 399 Ill. App. 3d at 745. The statistical probability of 

finding a DNA profile in the general population is a critical step in DNA analysis. People v. 

Watson, 2012 IL App (2d) 091328, ¶ 27 (citing People v. Miller, 173 Ill.2d 167, 185 (1996)). See 

also Miller, 173 Ill. 2d at185 ("For a [DNA] match to be meaningful, a statistical analysis is 

required. The statistical analysis determines the frequency in which a match would occur in a 

database population."); Committee on DNA Technology in Forensic Science, et al., DNA 

 

2

 The DNA Advisory Board (DAB) was a 13-member, congressionally mandated entity created 

and funded by the DNA Identification Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. § 14132 (2012); Violent Crime 

Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, Pub. L. No. 103-322, 108 Stat. 1796 (1994)). 3 The FBI's website states that the "Forensic Science Communications (FSC, ISSN 1528-8005) 

is a peer-reviewed forensic science journal published quarterly in January, April, July, and 

October by FBI Laboratory personnel. It is a means of communication between forensic 

scientists." The FBI Federal Bureau of Investigation, About FSC, https://www.fbi.gov/aboutus/lab/forensic-science-communications/aboutfsc.html.
1-12-2626 

-26- 

Technology in Forensic Science 74 (1992) ("To say that two patterns match, without providing 

any scientifically valid estimate (or, at least, an upper bound) of the frequency with which such 

matches might occur by chance, is meaningless."). 

¶ 48 DNA probability calculations have long been generally accepted and admissible. People 

v. Lipscomb, 215 Ill. App. 3d 413 (1991). See also People v. Dalcollo, 282 Ill. App. 3d 944, 960 

(1996) (holding that the FBI's calculation of statistical probabilities, as derived by the product 

rule, is generally accepted in the scientific community). Such DNA statistics are admissible as 

relevant to identification, and any challenge to their reliability usually goes only to the weight to 

be given to the evidence. People v. Redman, 135 Ill. App. 3d 534, 540 (1985). See also

Lipscomb, 215 Ill. App. 3d at 436. A statistic is necessary to understand the significance of the 

inclusion as a potential contributor. As one court explained, "[w]ithout the probability 

assessment, the jury does not know what to make of the fact that the patterns match: the jury 

does not know whether the patterns are as common as pictures with two eyes, or as unique as the 

Mona Lisa." Yee, 134 F.R.D. at 181. 

¶ 49 a. Single Source DNA Sample: Random Match Probability 

¶ 50 Where there is one distinct single source of the suspect's DNA profile obtained in relation 

to the crime, typically the statistic that is calculated is the "random match probability," which is 

the statistical likelihood that a random person (unrelated to the defendant) would match the DNA 

profile. National Research Council, Committee on DNA Forensic Science, The Evaluation of 

Forensic DNA Evidence 127 (1996); John M. Butler, Advanced Topics in Forensic DNA

Typing: Interpretation 314 (1st ed. 2014); In re Jessica M., 399 Ill. App. 3d at 744 (citing 

Watson, 257 Ill. App. 3d at 918-19). 

¶ 51 One of the leading experts in this field explains random match probability as follows: 
1-12-2626 

-27- 

 "Random match probability is not the chance that someone else is guilty or that 

 someone else left the biological material at the crime scene. Likewise it is not the chance 

of the defendant not being guilty or the chance that someone else in reality would have 

that same genotype. Rather random match probability is simply the estimated 

frequency at which a particular STR profile (given genetic inheritance models) would be 

expected to occur in a population as determined by allele frequencies from that 

population group. This RMP may also be thought of as the theoretical chance that if 

you sample one person at random from the population, they will have the particular 

 DNA profile in question." (Emphasis in original.) John M. Butler, Advanced Topics in 

DNA Typing: Interpretation 293 (1st ed. 2014). 

¶ 52 There is some confusion regarding the term "random match probability" and doubts 

regarding juries' understanding of the meaning of this probability calculation. As a reference 

manual from the Federal Judicial Center explains, "it has been suggested that jurors do not 

understand probabilities in general, and infinitesimal match probabilities will so bedazzle jurors 

that they will not appreciate the other evidence in the case or any innocent explanations for the 

match." Federal Judicial Center, Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence, 537-38 (2d ed. 2000). 

The reference manual goes on to elaborate: 

 "A more sophisticated variation on this theme is that the jury will misconstrue the 

random match probability–by thinking that it gives the probability that the match is 

random. *** The words are almost identical, but the probabilities can be quite different. 

The random match probability is the probability that (A) the requisite genotype is in the 

sample from the individual tested if (B) the individual tested has been selected at random.

In contrast, the probably that the match is random is the probability that (B) the 
1-12-2626 

-28- 

individual tested has been selected at random given that (A) the individual has the 

requisite genotype." (Emphases in original.) Id. at 538. 

¶ 53 To illustrate: 

"To appreciate that the equation is fallacious, consider the probability that a lawyer 

picked at random from all lawyers in the United States is a federal judge. This 'random 

match probability' is practically zero. But the probability that a person randomly selected 

from the current federal judiciary is a lawyer is one. The 'random judge probability' 

P(judge given lawyer) does not equal the transposed probability P(lawyer given judge)." 

(Emphasis in original.) Id. at 539. 

¶ 54 b. Mixed Source DNA Samples: Probability of Inclusion/Exclusion 

¶ 55 In cases of mixed DNA samples, the DNA Advisory Board4 has endorsed two methods 

for calculating statistical ratios: (1) the combined probability of inclusion (or its reverse, the

combined probability of exclusion) calculation; or (2) the likelihood ratio calculation. DNA 

Advisory Board, Statistical and Population Genetics Issues Affecting the Evaluation of the

Frequency of Occurrence of DNA Profiles Calculated from Pertinent Population Database(s), 2 

Forensic Sci. Comm. No. 3, ¶ 21 (2000) (DNA Advisory Board). 

¶ 56 A "probability of inclusion" is the probability that an unrelated person randomly chosen 

from the population is included as a potential contributor of the mixed DNA profile. The 

probability of inclusion statistic provides an estimate of the portion of the population that has a 

genotype composed of at least one allele5 observed in the mixed profile. John M. Butler, 

 

4

 The DNA Advisory Board (DAB) was a 13-member, congressionally mandated entity created 

and funded by the DNA Identification Act of 1994.

5

 Allele (Peak): One of two or more alternative forms of a gene, a peak appears on an 

electropherogram for each allele that is detected. That is, on each chart of the DNA strand the 
1-12-2626 

-29- 

Advanced Topics in Forensic DNA Typing: Interpretation 320 (1st ed. 2014). The "random man 

not excluded" approach uses the combined probability of inclusion where all possible genotypes 

are given equal weight. Id. A single "probability of inclusion" calculation "involves summing all 

of the observed alleles at a locus and then squaring this value to obtain the combination of all 

possible genotypes." Id. at 314. 

¶ 57 c. Mixed Source DNA Sample: Likelihood Ratios 

¶ 58 A likelihood ratio "compares an evidence match relative to coincidence. It is the statistic 

reflecting the relative probability of a particular finding under alternative theories about its 

origin." William C. Thompson, Laurence D. Mueller, & Dan E. Krane, Forensic DNA Statistics: 

Still Controversial in Some Cases, The Champion (Dec. 2012). Its calculation estimates how 

much more likely it is that the suspect is the source of the evidence than it is that the evidence 

originated from a randomly selected member of the population unrelated to the suspect. National 

Research Council, Committee on DNA Forensic Science, supra at 127-28. Under the likelihood 

ratio approach, "[t]wo competing hypotheses are set up: the hypothesis of the prosecution ***, 

which is that the defendant committed the crime, and the hypothesis of the defense ***, that 

some unknown individual committed the crime." John M. Butler, Advanced Topics in Forensic 

DNA Typing: Interpretation, 322 (1st ed. 2014). The likelihood ratio is then the probability of 

the evidence given the prosecution's hypothesis over the probability of the evidence given the 

defense's hypothesis. Id. That is, it is the ratio between the likelihood that a given profile came 

from a particular individual and the likelihood that it came from a random unrelated person. U.S. 

Department of Justice, DNA for the Defense Bar 17 (June 2012).

 

alleles peak up, producing a chart that looks very much like the more familiar heart beat patterns 

on an EKG. 
1-12-2626 

-30- 

¶ 59 The imprecise use of the terms "random," "likely," and "probable" can add to confusion 

over what exactly has been compared, making it all the more important for experts and attorneys 

to choose their descriptive words carefully. 

¶ 60 4. Prosecutor's Fallacy

¶ 61 A common mistake in attempting to understand the varying DNA statistical probability 

calculations is to conflate either a probability of inclusion/exclusion, or a random match 

probability, with the probability (or likelihood ratio) that a particular defendant is or is not the 

source of the DNA. This mistaken assumption is referred to as the "prosecutor's fallacy," which 

"is the assumption that the random match probability is the same as the probability that the 

defendant was not the source of the DNA sample." McDaniel v. Brown, 558 U.S. 120, 128 

(2010) (quoting National Research Council, Committee on DNA Forensic Science, The 

Evaluation of Forensic DNA Evidence 133 (1996)). Alternatively, it is called the "fallacy of the 

transposed conditional." Brief of 20 Scholars of Forensic Evidence as Amici Curiae in Support of 

Respondent, McDaniel v. Brown, 558 U.S. 120 (2010). "In other words, if a juror is told the 

probability a member of the general population would share the same DNA is 1 in 10,000 

(random match probability), and he takes that to mean there is only a 1 in 10,000 chance that 

someone other than the defendant is the source of the DNA found at the crime scene (source 

probability), then he has succumbed to the prosecutor's fallacy." McDaniel, 558 U.S. at 128. 

"This faulty reasoning may result in an erroneous statement that, based on a random match 

probability of 1 in 10,000, there is a 0.01% chance the defendant is innocent or a 99.99% chance 

the defendant is guilty." Id.

6 This is an important distinction to make, and yet it is a distinction 

 

6

 There is also a "defendant's fallacy," which is: "to assume that in a given population, anyone 

with the same profile as the evidence sample is as likely to have left the sample as is the suspect. 
1-12-2626 

-31- 

that has not been clearly explained in our jurisprudence in Illinois. This same error can occur 

with the use of the probability of inclusion or probability of exclusion, which can be confused 

with source probability. 

¶ 62 The prosecutor's fallacy is "the incorrect belief that the chance of a rare event happening 

is the same as the chance that the defendant is innocent." Helen Joyce, Beyond Reasonable 

Doubt, +Plus Magazine (Aug.31, 2002) https://plus.maths.org/content/beyond-reasonable-doubt.

"For instance, most United States senators are men, but very few men are senators. 

Consequently, there is a high probability that an individual who is a senator is a man, but the 

probability that an individual who is a man is a senator is practically zero." Federal Judicial 

Center, supra at 131 n.167. "The obvious but absolutely wrong thing to do is to say: 'The rarity 

of this profile is 1 in 2 million. So there's only a 1 in 2 million chance that it came from someone 

other than the suspect... We've got him!' " Philip Dawid & Rachel Thomas, It's a match!, +Plus 

Magazine (July 12, 2010), https://plus.maths.org/content/os/issue55/features/dnacourt/index. 

This is the prosecutor's fallacy – "misinterpreting the match probability (the probability that a 

random person's profile matches the crime sample) as the probability this particular person is 

innocent on the basis of the evidence." Id. 

¶ 63 Compare the following variations on the same numbers. Assume that the correct 

statement is: The chance is 1 in 7000 that some particular person other than the suspect would 

leave a stain like the actual stain (random match probability). Now turn it around for the 

prosecutor's fallacy: The chance is 1 in 7000 that someone, anyone, other than the suspect left the 

stain. Then consider how often the same facts are carelessly paraphrased: The chance is 1 in 

7000 for someone other than the suspect to produce the observed evidence. 

 

National Research Council, Committee on DNA Forensic Science, supra at 133. In this case we 

are presented only with an instance of the prosecutor's fallacy. 
1-12-2626 

-32- 

¶ 64 It is a fallacy because it falsely equates that the probability that the suspect might be the 

donor (source probability) can be computed from the DNA evidence alone, which implies

illogically that other evidence in the case makes no difference at all. See Charles H. Brenner, Ph. 

D., Forensic mathematics of DNA matching, http://dna-view.com/profile.htm. 

¶ 65 5. Is it the Mona Lisa? 

¶ 66 Defendant confuses several different types of DNA statistics. First, defendant refers to 

the 50% figure in this case as a "random match probability," but the 50% figure is not a random 

match probability; it is the probability of inclusion. Here, there was no complete "match" made 

in this case between defendant's DNA and the DNA on the gun due to the fact that the DNA 

obtained from the gun yielded only a partial mixed Y-STR profile, indicating a mixed 

contribution from two males. Further, Fallara's statistical calculation was done for only the 

partial profile at one locus. The 50% figure in this case is not a computation of the probability 

that a person chosen at random from the population would "match" the DNA on the gun but, 

rather, represents the percentage of the population that could have contributed to the mixture in 

the partial profile found on the gun at that locus. Although the prosecutor did not elicit testimony 

of the term "probability of inclusion" specifically from the witness, Fallara clearly testified that 

the 50% figure represented the statistic that a person randomly chosen from the population 

"could not be excluded," or was included as a potential contributor to the mixed sample, 

calculated for a single locus, which is a probability of inclusion. 

¶ 67 Defendant also commits the mistake of the prosecutor's fallacy, conflating the probability 

of inclusion with the wholly separate concept of source probability, i.e., the probability that 

defendant specifically is the source of the DNA. Defendant argues that the probability of 

inclusion in this case was irrelevant because "[t]he chances that Pike could not be excluded from 
1-12-2626 

-33- 

the profile were exactly equal to the chance that any other man on the street at that time could 

not be excluded." (Emphasis added.) This is not the case; defendant was unequivocally included

in the group of potential contributors to the profile. The 50% statistic refers solely to the odds 

that a random person also would be included as a potential contributor to the partial DNA profile 

found on the gun. This figure says nothing about the probability that defendant in particular 

would be the source of the DNA. This evidence means that a person chosen from the general 

population has a 50% chance of also matching the mixed partial DNA profile found on the gun. 

It does not mean, as defendant apparently misunderstands, that the likelihood of defendant's 

specific identification is 50%. The 50% figure does not represent, as defendant argues, 

defendant's "odds of inclusion." Fallara clearly testified that defendant was in fact included in the 

pool of potential contributors. There is no "coin flip"; defendant was already included. 

¶ 68 Defendant also argues, "That [defendant] shares a genetic profile with the contributor, 

along with half of the population, does not in fact make the likelihood that he handled the 

weapon more likely – it makes the likelihood exactly the same as before." (Emphasis added.)

This is also not true. An estimation of how much more likely it is that the suspect is the source of 

the evidence than that the evidence came from a random person would be a likelihood ratio 

calculation. See National Research Council, supra at 127-28 (NRC II). Indeed, such a statistic 

would have been relevant in this case. But a likelihood ratio is a different calculation that was not 

done by Fallara in this case. Defendant again confuses the calculation of inclusion probability 

with a calculation of source probability. 

¶ 69 6. So What? Was it Relevant? How Close is Too Close? 

¶ 70 Having clarified that the nature of the statistical figure in this case is a probability of 

inclusion (the probability that any person chosen at random in the population would also be 
1-12-2626 

-34- 

included as a contributor to the mixed DNA profile from the gun), and not any probability 

regarding the likelihood of defendant being the source of the DNA, we address whether the DNA 

expert testimony in this case was relevant.

¶ 71 The fact that defendant could not be excluded and was included as a potential contributor 

(the second step of DNA analysis in a criminal case) is indeed relevant. As the State argues, the 

fact that defendant was included as a potential contributor corroborates both of the victims' 

eyewitness identifications and tends to support the State's theory that defendant committed the 

crimes. For example, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia has explained 

that nonexclusion DNA evidence "remains probative, and helps to corroborate other evidence 

and support the Government's case as to the identity of the relevant perpetrators." United States 

v. Morrow, 374 F. Supp. 2d 51, 65 (D.D.C. 2005). See also Redman, 135 Ill. App. 3d at 540 

(holding that generally such DNA statistics are admissible as relevant to identification, and any 

challenge to their reliability goes only to the weight to be given the evidence). 

¶ 72 But the statistic in this case was that 50% of the population also is included as potential 

contributors. Defendant cites to and echoes the same argument found in People v. Harbold, 124 

Ill. App. 3d 363 (1984), where the defendant similarly argued that a blood typing statistical 

probability calculation of 1 in 500 was plain error because it was irrelevant and prejudicial. Id. at 

383. Back then, this court agreed and held the admission of this evidence was plain error because 

of the danger of the prosecutor's fallacy in misunderstanding the difference between random 

match probability and source probability and because the circumstantial evidence was factually 

close. See id. 

¶ 73 Of course, we have come a long way since 1984 with the development of DNA 

identification evidence and in our understanding of statistical probabilities. Since the holding in 
1-12-2626 

-35- 

Harbold, courts in our State have recognized and repeatedly held that testimony regarding DNA 

statistical probabilities is generally accepted and admissible. People v. Lipscomb, 215 Ill. App. 

3d 413, 432 (1991); People v. Johnson, 262 Ill. App. 3d 565, 569 (1994); People v. Pope, 284 Ill. 

App. 3d 695, 701-05 (1996); People v. Dalcollo, 282 Ill. App. 3d 944, 960 (1996); People v. 

Miller, 173 Ill. 2d 167, 185 (1996). Normally the probability of inclusion is admissible, even if 

that probability is rather high. See, e.g., People v. Smith, 2012 IL App (1st) 102354, ¶ 75 

(holding that DNA expert testimony that the probability of inclusion for the partial profile on the 

gun was 1 out of 11 and so defendant could not be excluded from a group of 600 million people 

as possible contributors to the DNA mixture was properly admitted and the weight of this 

testimony was a matter for the jury to decide).

¶ 74 But there are no reported decisions in our State that have addressed the issue of relevance 

where the DNA inclusion probability statistic admitted at trial is only 50%. There are federal 

decisions that have addressed this issue under a similar relevancy definition, and the weight of 

this authority is that such evidence should be excluded. In Morrow, while the court found other 

DNA statistical evidence admissible, it reserved its final ruling regarding a nonexclusion match 

with a random match probability of only 1:2, specifically concerned about the "probative value." 

Morrow, 374 F. Supp. 2d at 66. 

¶ 75 In United States v. Graves, 465 F. Supp. 2d 450 (E.D. Pa. 2006), the court held 

nonexclusion DNA matches with random match probabilities of 1:2900 and 1:3600 were 

admissible but held that a nonexclusion match with a random match probability of only 1:2 was 

inadmissible after concluding the probative value of admitting this evidence would be 

"substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice and confusion of the issues" because 
1-12-2626 

-36- 

"half of the relevant population cannot be excluded as a contributor to the DNA sample." Id. at 

459. 

¶ 76 7. Error But Not Plain Error

¶ 77 We hold that the admission of expert testimony of the 50% inclusion probability statistic 

in this case was error because the statistic was irrelevant. The probability of inclusion of 50% of 

the population as a potential contributor to the mixed DNA profile on the gun did not tend to 

make defendant's identification more or less probable, and so as a whole the DNA expert 

testimony in this case was irrelevant. 

¶ 78 But while the admission of this evidence was error, it was not serious error. On this point, 

the fact that 50% of the population could have been potential contributors of the mixed DNA 

found on the gun weighs against defendant's argument for finding substantial prejudice. Here, we 

agree with the State's argument: 

 "Fallara's testimony about the nature of Y-STR analysis and the limited scope of her 

 opinion was clearly expressed to the jury, who then properly was tasked with determining 

what, if any, weight to give to the Y-STR evidence in this case. On cross-examination by 

defendant, Fallara explicitly testified that defendant is included as a potential contributor 

 to the mixture but that she could not identify defendant as the contributor." 

¶ 79 B. CSI Effect: No Empirical Evidence That It Exists

¶ 80 We do not share the concerns of our colleague regarding the existence of a "CSI Effect"

7

and any confusion in weighing DNA evidence due to pop culture television shows or cases 

where wrongfully convicted individuals are exonerated by DNA evidence. 

 

7

 "CSI" is a reference to a popular fictional television show called CSI: Crime Scene 

Investigation. 
1-12-2626 

-37- 

¶ 81 Regarding the so-called "CSI Effect" that some commentators have postulated forensic 

crime television shows have on jurors. Initial concern about the existence of a CSI Effect arose 

only from media commentary and surveys of lawyers' opinions and speculation. This concern 

was mostly voiced as a fear that jurors will acquit defendants where there is an absence of 

forensic evidence because jurors allegedly expect such evidence in every case because of popular 

forensic crime shows. 

¶ 82 A 2013 study by researchers at Walden University analyzed data from 60 jurors in a midAtlantic city who participated in malicious wounding cases. They concluded that their findings 

"provide[] some support for the notion that prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges have 

legitimate concerns about the impact of juror decision-making as a result of the influence of 

watching television crime shows." 7 Corey Call, Amy K. Cook, John D. Reitzel, & Robyn D. 

McDougle, Seeing Is Believing: The CSI Effect Among Jurors in Malicious Wounding Cases,

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences, Walden University 62 (2013). However, they 

also noted that "[i]t is possible that such shows have played a role in shaping the perceptions of

individuals who regularly watch them, but there is a great deal of uncertainty about whether the 

effects of watching such shows have had a significant and patterned effect on juror-decision 

making." Id. And they concluded that "given the many influences that possibly confront jurors 

during trial such as perceived injustices, mistrust of police officers, concerns of legitimacy of the 

criminal justice system, and prior experiences with the system, we cannot isolate the true 

significance of the CSI effect in comparison to other jury influences." Id. at 63.

¶ 83 In other words, the popular notion that there is a "CSI Effect" as something that motivates

jurors cannot be demonstrated by any current reliable empirical study. All we have are anecdotal 

stories and media hype.
1-12-2626 

-38- 

¶ 84 Earlier empirical studies detailed below came to the same conclusion. There are many 

influences on juror behavior and no current reliable data on the effect of CSI-type shows on juror 

expectations for high value forensic evidence or what its lack does to juror decision making. 

¶ 85 The argument that popular television shows may skew how jurors view evidence or the 

criminal justice system itself also is not new. A similar concern was raised in the late 1980s 

regarding the rising popularity of "real life" court shows such as "The People's Court," and their 

influence on jurors' expectations and views of actual trials. See Tom R. Tyler, Viewing CSI and 

the Threshold of Guilt: Managing Truth and Justice in Reality and Fiction, 115 Yale L.J. 1050, 

1055 & n.16 (2006) (citing Wende Vyborney Dumble, And Justice for All: The Messages 

Behind "Real" Courtroom Dramas, in Television Studies: Textual Analysis 103, 112 (Gary 

Burns & Robert J. Thompson eds., 1989)). Yet, the juries' role in our justice system continued to 

function and there was no breakdown in the criminal justice system due to these television 

shows. 

¶ 86 The citations provided by our colleague also do not support any broad general statement 

that pop culture or forensic crime television shows affect jurors' analysis of actual DNA evidence 

in courtrooms or have led to any belief that all DNA evidence is infallible. These law review 

articles do not cite to any actual studies or precedent in support of this broad general view and, 

indeed, either actually recognized that there is widespread dispute as to whether the so-called 

"CSI Effect" even exists or merely state the idea as a general assumption without any supporting 

facts. See Tamara F. Lawson, Before the Verdict and Beyond the Verdict: The CSI Infection 

Within Modern Criminal Jury Trials, 41 Loy. U. Chi. L.J. 119, 121 n.1 (2009) (recognizing in 

the very first footnote that "[s]cholars and practitioners disagree regarding the existence of the 

CSI Effect"); Jonathan J. Koehler, Linguistic Confusion in Court: Evidence from the Forensic 
1-12-2626 

-39- 

Sciences, 21 J.L. & Pol'y 515, 517 (2013) (generally stating that "confusion in the DNA and 

fingerprint areas has been documented and is relatively common" without providing any citation 

to such "documented" confusion). 

¶ 87 In fact, the myth of the "CSI Effect" has been roundly debunked. The studies that have 

been done show that, in fact, there is no such effect. The National Institute of Justice's study 

found that "[a]lthough CSI viewers had higher expectations for scientific evidence than non-CSI

viewers, these expectations had little, if any, bearing on the respondents' propensity to convict." 

Donald E. Shelton, The "CSI Effect": Does It Really Exist?, NIJ Journal No. 259 (2008). See 

also Kimberlianne Podlas, "The CSI Effect": Exposing the Media Myth, 16 Fordham Intell. Prop.

Media & Ent. L.J. 429, 461 (2006) (suggesting that "frequent viewers of CSI are no more 

influenced by CSI factors than are non-frequent viewers."); The "CSI Effect" and Other Forensic 

Fictions, 27 Loy. L.A. Ent. L. Rev. 87 (2006-07) (concluding that "[c]ontrary to the hype, the 

empirical data does not support the existence of a CSI Effect"); Investigating the "CSI Effect" 

Effect: Media and Litigation Crisis in Criminal Law, 61 Stan. L. Rev. 1335, 1361 (2009) (study 

of linear regressions of acquittal rates before and after the airing of CSI found no statistically 

significant difference in the rate of acquittals and, thus, no CSI Effect). One study showed that, if 

anything, jurors who watch such shows are in fact more critical of the evidence and less likely to 

convict. See N.J. Schweitzer & Michael J. Saks, The CSI Effect: Popular Fiction About Forensic 

Science Affects the Public's Expectations About Real Forensic Science, 47 Jurimetrics J. 357 

(2007). 

¶ 88 Of course we acknowledge social cognitive theory that popular culture can influence 

jurors' views and behaviors (see Kimberlianne Podias, Impact of Television on CrossExamination and Juror "Truth", 14 Widener L. Rev. 479 (2009) (acknowledging that television's 
1-12-2626 

-40- 

legal narratives can cultivate assumptions and expectations about law)). But generally "[l]egal 

scholars have *** noted that even if media influences jurors, that by no means necessarily 

translates into changed verdicts." Simon A. Cole & Rachel Dioso-Villa, Investigating the "CSI 

Effect" Effect: Media and Litigation Crisis in Criminal Law, 61 Stan. L. Rev. 1335, 1341 (2009). 

The findings are that, "[a]lthough the reliability of investigative technologies such as fingerprints 

and DNA evidence is often overstated, for the most part the expectations of summoned jurors for

scientific evidence in particular types of cases is reasonable and comports with the reality of 

investigation procedures." Donald E. Shelton, et al., A Study of Juror Expectations and Demands 

Concerning Scientific Evidence: Does the "CSI Effect" Exist?, 9 Vand. J. Ent. & Tech. L. 331, 

358 (2006). 

¶ 89 Yet, despite the lack of empirical evidence of any "CSI Effect," the belief that shows like 

"CSI" change jury verdicts persists among some people. This fear may be what led the State in 

this case to present the irrelevant 50% inclusion probability DNA evidence. 

¶ 90 Instead, what may be afoot is a broader "tech effect." See id. at 362 (survey of more than 

1,000 people called for jury duty in Michigan state court found that there were significant 

expectations and demands for scientific evidence but little or no indication of a link between 

those preconceptions and watching particular television shows; suggesting that "increased 

expectations of and demands for scientific evidence is more likely the result of much broader

cultural influences related to modern technological advances *** a 'tech effect' "). The 

backgrounds and experiences of jurors today are different than they were in previous 

generations. In 2000, Generation-Xers (Gen-X)8 comprised approximately 40% of the people in 

jury pools. See Gregory J. Morse, Techno-Jury: Techniques in Verbal and Visual Persuasion, 54 

 

8 Gen-X normally calculated as the generation born after the World War II baby boom; generally 

those born between 1964 and 1979. 
1-12-2626 

-41- 

N.Y.L. Sch. L. Rev. 241, 242 (2010) (commenting how "[t]he backgrounds and experiences of 

jurors today are different than they were in previous generations," specifically the "Gen-X" who 

"grew up on television and came of age in the era of personal computers"). 

¶ 91 There is some evidence that, despite the fact that jurors are not changing their verdicts in 

response to any "CSI Effect," some jurors who watch such shows are instead slightly more likely 

to expect to at least have such forensic evidence presented. See Donald E. Shelton et al., A Study 

of Juror Expectations and Demands Concerning Scientific Evidence: Does the "CSI Effect" 

Exist?, 9 Vand. J. Ent. & Tech. L. 331, 349 (survey of more than 1,000 potential jurors in a 

Michigan state court finding that a relatively small proportion of respondents expected to see 

scientific evidence in situations where it is usually less relevant to the crime in question, notably, 

12.2% expected DNA evidence in any theft case). But this cannot be said to cause prejudice to 

defendants in courtrooms, given the actual real advances in forensic science. See Simon A. Cole 

& Rachel Dioso-Villa, Investigating the "CSI Effect" Effect: Media and Litigation Crisis in 

Criminal Law, 61 Stan. L. Rev. 1335, 1347 (2009) ("Presumably, jurors' expectations should, 

appropriately, increase over time, in response to actual advances in forensic technology."); 

Donald E. Shelton, et al., A Study of Juror Expectations and Demands Concerning Scientific 

Evidence: Does the "CSI Effect" Exist?, 9 Vand. J. Ent. & Tech. L. 331, 368 ("It is not only 

appropriate but constitutionally expected that those jurors and their verdicts will reflect the 

changes that have occurred in popular culture."). 

¶ 92 There are myriad other pop culture influences as well, including the Internet and social 

media, which are part of jurors' lives. This fact does not ipso facto mean that jurors cannot then 

pay attention to and weigh the evidence in a given case, in a real courtroom, or that certain 

forensic scientific evidence poses a danger of prejudice. Pop culture influences are too numerous 
1-12-2626 

-42- 

to list. There will undoubtedly be untold further advances in science and forensic evidence, 

which will also then be commented upon and become a part of pop culture. But the answer is to 

then do just as was done with DNA evidence and any new science: subject the science to the 

rigors of Frye; adequately explain the evidence to juries; and, for the defense, conduct vigorous 

cross-examinations of expert testimony regarding such evidence. Also, both legal and public 

discussion of the use of forensic evidence in courtrooms can inform the public and jurors. See

Richard Catalani, A CSI Writer on the CSI Effect, 115 Yale L.J. Pocket Part 76 (2006) ("[B]etter 

informed juries can't be a bad thing."). 

¶ 93 C. No Juror Confusion over DNA Statistics 

¶ 94 As to juror confusion over DNA statistics, DNA evidence and the attendant statistical 

probability calculations have been part of our judicial system for quite some time now. 

Confusion regarding DNA evidence outweighing the probative value of the evidence is an old 

argument that was advanced at the beginning of the admission of DNA evidence in our courts

when the science of DNA analysis was relatively new, but for more than 20 years, around the 

time of the second National Research Council Report, DNA evidence has been consistently held 

to be reliable and admissible. More than 20 years ago, this court recognized that "[a] jury is 

capable of properly weighing DNA evidence and is unlikely to be swayed or dazzled by 

statistical evidence, including probability estimates, to the point that it ignores evidence showing 

a tester failed to follow proper procedures in developing the evidence." People v. Stremmel, 258 

Ill. App. 3d 93, 106 (1994) (adopting the holding in United States v. Jakobetz, 955 F.2d 786 (2d 

Cir. 1992)). This court held that "[t]he role of the court should focus on the admissibility of a 

particular type of scientific evidence and allow the jury to discharge its duties of weighing the 
1-12-2626 

-43- 

evidence, making credibility determinations, and ultimately deciding the facts." Stremmel, 258 

Ill. App. 3d at 106. 

¶ 95 The holding still holds true. There is no need to go back in time to resurrect an argument 

heard at the beginning of the admission of DNA evidence–that juries do not understand the 

evidence or are confused or are so mesmerized by the statistics that they cannot appropriately 

make determinations at criminal trials. There is also no need to overstate the role of DNA 

evidence, especially in a case such as this one, where the limited value of the evidence was 

clearly testified to by the expert. 

¶ 96 Not all DNA evidence possesses an "aura of infallibility." Rather, the DNA evidence is 

qualified by the statistical probabilities in any given case. There are certain cases where the 

statistical probability DNA evidence is indeed overwhelming, as where the likelihood of a 

random match is extremely small. On the other hand, there are cases where it has exonerated 

wrongfully convicted individuals by showing that those individuals do not match and are 

actually excluded. And there are also other cases where the DNA evidence simply is 

inconclusive, as in this case. 

¶ 97 While we agree with our colleague to the extent that, in certain cases, the DNA evidence 

certainly can be extremely persuasive to a jury, such as where the random match probability is 

incredibly small (for example, 1 in 10 billion), this is not true in the case before us, where the 

expert clearly testified to only a 50% probability of inclusion and also clearly testified that she 

could not identify defendant specifically.

¶ 98 There simply is no empirical data or evidence to support the view that pop culture 

references or television shows have so impacted jurors that they are unable to objectively 
1-12-2626 

-44- 

understand and weigh DNA evidence in criminal trials and that their verdicts are affected. We 

thus find such concern to be unfounded. 

¶ 99 Arguing that certain forensic evidence, such as DNA evidence, is more prejudicial than 

probative and poses a danger of "wrongful conviction" based on completely unfounded–and 

disproven – assumptions that jurors believe all such evidence because of television shows or 

other pop culture influences (despite any explanation of the evidence by experts at trial) is 

patronizing and does not give the jury the credit it deserves. It is also a dangerous argument 

because it evinces a lack of trust in jurors and, by implication, our jury system. See Hon. Donald 

E. Shelton, et al., A Study of Juror Expectations and Demands Concerning Scientific Evidence: 

Does the "CSI Effect" Exist?, 9 Vand. J. Ent. & Tech. L. 331, 368 ("The constitutional stature of 

juries in our system is based on the principle that individual judgments of guilt or innocence, like 

issues of other governmental representation, should be made by ordinary citizens."). 

¶ 100 We do recognize that expert testimony on statistical probability explaining DNA 

evidence can be confusing in certain cases. We thus note that, while not necessary in terms of 

foundation, the State should elicit testimony on direct examination of its experts to explain the 

type of DNA identification statistic presented and its significance to prevent confusion by 

defendants. Also, appropriate instructions may assist in understanding the meaning of the 

different types of statistics and prevent confusion such as the prosecutor's fallacy. To combat the 

problem of the prosecutor's fallacy, the Committee on DNA Forensic Science of the National 

Research Council has suggested the following instruction to define the random match 

probability: 

 "In evaluating the expert testimony on the DNA evidence, you were presented with a 

number indicating the probability that another individual drawn at random from the 
1-12-2626 

-45- 

[specific] population would coincidentally have the same DNA profile as the [blood 

 stain, semen stain, etc.]. That number, which assumes that no sample mishandling or 

 laboratory error occurred, indicates how distinctive the DNA profile is. It does not by 

itself tell you the probability that the defendant is innocent." (Internal quotation marks 

 omitted.) NRC II, supra at 213 n.93. 

¶ 101 But in this case we find the expert's testimony was clear and there was no jury confusion. 

There is no indication in the record that the jury succumbed to the prosecutor's fallacy regarding 

the meaning of the statistic or that the jury was at all confused by her testimony. 

¶ 102 We hold that the error in this case in admitting the 50% probability of inclusion statistic, 

though error, was not so serious as to constitute plain error, and thus defendant fails to satisfy the 

serious error prong to show plain error. The error was not of such magnitude as to deny 

defendant fair trial. In this case, Fallara clearly indicated that the 50% combined probability of 

inclusion referred to the percentage of the population that could have contributed to the mixed 

profile, clarified that defendant was included within this group, and also clearly testified that 

50% of the population is also included in the group of potential contributors to the partial DNA 

profile off the gun. The expert in this case also clearly testified that she could not specifically 

identify defendant. This evidence was presented accurately and there could be no mistake that 

defendant in fact was only included as a potential contributor, along with 50% of the population, 

and in fact was not identified as "matching" the DNA. 

¶ 103 We also hold that evidence of defendant's guilt was not so closely balanced, as there was 

eyewitness identification by both victims. A single witness's identification of the accused is 

sufficient to sustain a conviction if the witness viewed the accused under circumstances 

permitting a positive identification. Slim, 127 Ill. 2d at 306. The identification evidence was very 
1-12-2626 

-46- 

strong. Both of the victims positively identified defendant as the perpetrator. One of the same 

studies which debunked the "CSI Effect" found that in fact jurors were more likely to convict 

even without any scientific evidence when eyewitness testimony is presented. See A Study of 

Juror Expectations and Demands Concerning Scientific Evidence: Does the "CSI Effect" Exist?, 

9 Vand. J. Ent. & Tech. L. 331, 354, 357 (2006). Defendant thus also fails to satisfy the first 

prong required to show plain error. See Herron, 215 Ill. 2d at 178-79. Because defendant failed 

to show either prong of plain error, defendant's forfeiture of this issue is effective. 

¶ 104 We believe that jurors are capable of fairly evaluating all the evidence presented, 

including the irrelevant forensic evidence such as the 50% probability DNA evidence in this 

case, and thus we further hold that the admission of this evidence, though error, does not rise to 

the level of plain error. Our holding that the error was not plain error is a clear message 

reaffirming faith in our jury system. 

¶ 105 We also believe juries are capable of understanding and appropriately weighing DNA 

evidence and are constitutionally entrusted to do so. Juries can separate fact from fiction. 

¶ 106 II. Defendant Knowingly and Intelligently Waived His Right to Counsel 

¶ 107 The other issue in this case is whether the trial court substantially complied with Illinois 

Supreme Court Rule 401(eff. July 1, 1984) before accepting defendant's waiver of his right to 

counsel. Defendant argues that the court did not substantially comply with Rule 401(a) in 

rendering its admonishment to defendant regarding his decision to elect to proceed pro se on 

February 16, 2012 because the court did not recite "all 12 pending charges and the sentencing 

ranges attached to those charges" in its admonishment on February 16, 2012. Defendant argues

that any prior admonishment does not suffice because defendant had counsel in the interim. 

Defendant seeks to have his conviction reversed and his case remanded for a new trial. The State 
1-12-2626 

-47- 

argues that the court did substantially comply with its admonishment to defendant on February 

16, 2012 regarding defendant's decision to proceed pro se. 

¶ 108 Defendant acknowledges he failed to raise this alleged error in a posttrial motion, thereby 

forfeiting the issue (People v. Enoch, 122 Ill. 2d 176 (1988)), but argues that the court's 

admonishment in this case constitutes plain error. The plain error doctrine allows for the review 

of a forfeited issue if error in fact occurred and: (1) the evidence was closely balanced; or (2) the 

error was so substantial that it deprived defendant of a fair trial. People v. Herron, 215 Ill. 2d 

167, 178-79 (2005). 

¶ 109 The sixth amendment of the United States Constitution entitles a defendant to counsel. 

U.S. Const., amends. VI, XIV; see also People v. Hughes, 315 Ill. App. 3d 86 (2000). A 

defendant may waive this right and proceed without counsel only if he "voluntarily and 

intelligently elects to do so." People v. Baker, 92 Ill. 2d 85, 90 (1982); see also Ill. S. Ct. R. 401 

(eff. July 1, 1984). Because the right to counsel is fundamental, we may review a failure to 

substantially comply with Rule 401(a) under the plain-error doctrine despite a defendant's failure 

to properly preserve such an error. People v. Vazquez, 2011 IL App (2d) 091155, ¶ 14 (citing 

People v. Vernon, 396 Ill. App. 3d 145, 150 (2009), and People v. Stoops, 313 Ill. App. 3d 269, 

273 (2000)). Before addressing whether defendant's claim satisfies the plain error doctrine, 

defendant must first show that a clear or obvious error occurred. People v. Hillier, 237 Ill. 2d 

539, 545 (2010). See also People v. Piatkowski, 225 Ill. 2d 551, 565 (2007) ("the first step is to 

determine whether error occurred").

¶ 110 Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 401(a) (eff. July 1, 1984), the trial court shall not 

permit a waiver of counsel by a person accused of an offense punishable by imprisonment 

without first addressing defendant in open court and informing him of and determining that he 
1-12-2626 

-48- 

understands the following: (1) the nature of the charge; (2) the minimum and maximum sentence 

prescribed by law, including penalties the individual faces due to prior convictions; and (3) that 

he has the right to counsel and, if he is indigent, to have counsel appointed for him by the court. 

¶ 111 Defendant argues only that the first and second required admonishments were not met, 

and does not argue that the court's recitation of the third required admonishment was deficient. 

¶ 112 We note that strict compliance with Rule 401(a) is not necessary in every case. See

People v. Meeks, 249 Ill. App. 3d 152 (1993). "Even where admonishments are prescribed, only 

substantial compliance–rather than strict compliance–is required." People v. Reid, 2014 IL App 

(3d) 130296, ¶ 12. Illinois has recognized two categories of substantial compliance with Rule 

401. People v. Koch, 232 Ill. App. 3d 923, 926 (1992). Substantial compliance occurs when any 

failure to fully provide admonishments does not prejudice defendant because either: (1) the 

absence of a detail from the admonishments did not impede defendant from giving a knowing 

and intelligent waiver; or (2) defendant possessed a degree of knowledge or sophistication that 

excused the lack of admonition. People v. LeFlore, 2013 IL App (2d) 100659, ¶ 52; see also

People v. Coleman, 129 Ill. 2d 321, 340 (1989); People v. Ware, 407 Ill. App. 3d 315, 348 

(2011). When a defendant is admonished in substantial compliance with Rule 401(a), there is a 

valid waiver of counsel. People v. Haynes, 174 Ill. 2d 204, 236 (1996). 

¶ 113 An otherwise inadequate admonition may be constitutionally sufficient, and therefore 

does not constitute error, if the absence of a detail did not impede the defendant from giving a 

knowing and intelligent waiver. People v. Black, 2011 IL App (5th) 080089, ¶ 20. The court may 

find substantial compliance with Rule 401(a) where the record indicates that the defendant 

knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waived his right to counsel, and the admonishments he 

received did not prejudice his rights. People v. Haynes, 174 Ill. 2d 204, 236 (1996); People v. 
1-12-2626 

-49- 

Phillips, 392 Ill. App. 3d 243, 262 (2009). As the court explained in People v. LeFlore, 2013 IL 

App (2d) 100659, "[t]he difference between 'strict compliance' and 'substantial compliance' has 

been described as 'essentially superficial.' " Id., ¶ 52 (quoting People v. Gilkey, 263 Ill. App. 3d 

706, 711 (1994)). What must be shown is that: 

" 'any deficiency in the admonishments must not prejudice the defendant, either because 

he was already aware of the information that was omitted or because his degree of legal 

sophistication made it evident that he was aware of the information that compliance with 

the rule would have conveyed. In other words, *** the dispositive issue to be 

determined when deciding whether a waiver of counsel *** is valid is whether the waiver 

of counsel was knowingly, understandingly and effectively made, in light of the entire 

record.' [Citation.]" Id. (quoting Gilkey, 263 Ill. App. 3d at 711). 

¶ 114 While a finding whether a defendant's waiver of counsel was knowing and voluntary is 

reviewed for an abuse of discretion (People v. Baez, 241 Ill. 2d 44, 116 (2011)), the legal issue of 

whether the court failed to substantially comply with Supreme Court Rule 401(a) admonishments 

is a question of law that we review de novo. Black, 2011 IL App (5th) 080089, ¶ 20. 

¶ 115 Defendant argues that the court was required to state all the counts against him to satisfy 

the first required admonition of the nature of the charge, and that any prior admonishment of the 

counts against him cannot suffice to satisfy this requirement when defendant had counsel in the 

interim and then again requested to waive his right to counsel. 

¶ 116 It is true that if a defendant receives a valid admonishment of waiver of the right to 

counsel but then requests and receives counsel and then later again indicates a desire to waive 

counsel, the defendant must be readmonished. "Under the continuing waiver rule, a valid waiver 

of counsel generally continues throughout later stages of the proceedings, including posttrial 
1-12-2626 

-50- 

stages. [Citation.] The continuing waiver rule, however, is subject to two exceptions: (1) the 

defendant later requests counsel or (2) other circumstances suggest that the waiver is limited to a 

particular stage of the proceedings. [Citation.]" (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Ware, 407 Ill. 

App. 3d at 342. The State argues that readmonishment was not necessary because defendant "did 

not request counsel for a distinct stage of proceedings," seemingly conflating the two exceptions 

into one, but these are distinct exceptions. The case before us presents the first exception to the 

continuing waiver rule, as defendant was initially admonished but later requested and received 

counsel and then, before trial, again wished to waive his right to counsel. The court is required to 

readmonish a defendant in substantial compliance with Supreme Court Rule 401(a) upon a 

second request to waive counsel. People v. Cleveland, 393 Ill. App. 3d 700, 702 (2009), 

overruled in part on other grounds, People v. Jackson, 2011 IL 110615. Thus, the court in this 

case was required to readmonish defendant on February 16, 2012, in substantial compliance with 

Supreme Court Rule 401(a). 

¶ 117 But there is no requirement that the court specifically recite all the counts against a 

defendant in order to substantially comply with the first required admonishment of the nature of 

the charge. The first admonishment required under Rule 401(a) is only the "nature of the charge." 

Ill. S. Ct. R. 401(a)(1) (eff. July 1, 1984). The plain language of the rule does not require 

recitation of all pending counts. It has long been established that this rule requiring that 

defendant be advised of nature of charge against him and consequences thereof if found guilty 

does not require the trial court to state to defendant all facts which do or may constitute the 

offense. See People v. Harden, 78 Ill. App. 2d 431, 444 (1966) (interpreting the phrase "nature 

of the acts constituting the offense" under the previous Illinois Supreme Court Rule 26(3) (Ill.

Rev. Stat. 1963)). In People v. Phillips, 392 Ill. App. 3d 243, 263 (2009), this court held a waiver 
1-12-2626 

-51- 

of counsel admonishment regarding the nature of the charges sufficient even where the trial court 

had previously incorrectly admonished the defendant that the charge was a Class 2 felony where 

"[t]he charges were fairly simple: [the defendant] was accused of hitting a deputy sheriff in the 

face. There was nothing particularly complicated or sophisticated about these charges."

Similarly, in this case, the charges were fairly simple and defendant clearly was admonished and 

knew that the nature of the charges against him were for armed robbery with a firearm and 

attempted residential burglary. 

¶ 118 Although defendant required readmonishment on February 16, 2012, to determine 

whether there was substantial compliance with Rule 401(a) we still look to the entire record. 

"[S]ubstantial compliance will be sufficient to effectuate a valid waiver if the record indicates 

that the waiver was made knowingly and voluntarily, and the admonishment the defendant 

received did not prejudice his rights." People v. Haynes, 174 Ill. 2d 204, 236 (1996) (citing 

People v. Coleman, 129 Ill. 2d 321, 333 (1989), and People v. Johnson, 119 Ill. 2d 119, 132 

(1987)). Here, the court had previously admonished defendant extensively regarding the nature 

of the charges against him and again reiterated that the nature of the charges was armed robbery. 

¶ 119 During the admonishment on February 16, 2012, defendant did not indicate that he did 

not understand the nature of the charges against him. Rather, defendant indicated he did not 

understand the extended term sentencing range for the armed robbery with a firearm charge 

when he believed all the charges involving a firearm were dismissed. But the court indicated that 

the armed robbery with a firearm charge, the most serious offense, was a Class X felony 

punishable from 6 to 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections and punishable by a 30 to 

60-year extended term with a 15-year enhancement. The court then asked defendant if he 
1-12-2626 

-52- 

understood this, and defendant indicated he did. There was substantial compliance with the 

required admonishment of the nature of the charge pursuant to Rule 401(a)(1). 

¶ 120 The State also argues that the prosecutor fully informed defendant of all the counts 

against him and thus they were spread of record, but defendant argues that this was insufficient 

and that the court itself must specifically admonish him of all the counts. Here, we find support 

in precedent for looking to the record to determine whether there was substantial compliance 

with Rule 401(a). In People v. Toy, 407 Ill. App. 3d 272, 283 (2011), this court held that the trial 

court substantially complied with Rule 401(a) governing defendant's waiver of counsel, where 

defendant received a listing of all charges and sentences for several pending cases, and later, he 

received specific information of the charges and penalties for the case, the court told defendant to 

read and review the documents and advised him to ask questions about anything he did not 

understand, and defendant acknowledged receiving these documents on the record. The record in 

this case indicates that defendant was aware of the all the counts against him. 

¶ 121 We hold that admonishing a defendant of all the specific counts against him or her is not 

required under Supreme Court Rule 401(a)(1); all that is required in admonishment of the charge 

is that defendant be admonished of the "nature of the charge." Ill. S. Ct. R. 401(a)(1) (eff. July 1, 

1984). Here, defendant was admonished of the nature of the charges against him. 

¶ 122 Defendant also argues that the court failed to substantially comply with the second 

required admonishment under Rule 401(a) because it informed defendant of the sentencing range 

for the armed robbery charge only, and not for any of the lesser charges. A trial court's 

admonitions regarding the maximum sentence which could be imposed on defendant must be 

accurate before a court may accept waiver of counsel. People v. Koch, 232 Ill. App. 3d 923, 927

(1992). On the other hand, precedent consistently has held that no prejudice arises from the 
1-12-2626 

-53- 

failure to advise a defendant of the minimum sentence he might receive where the sentence he 

actually receives is below the maximum sentence of which he has been advised. People v. 

Adams, 255 Ill. App. 3d 95, 97 (1993) (citing People v. Phillips, 195 Ill. App. 3d 560, 562 

(1990), and People v. Johnson, 119 Ill. 2d 119, 134 (1987)). 

¶ 123 On this point we agree with the State that Haynes is dispositive. In Haynes, the Illinois 

Supreme Court held that the trial court's failure to inform a defendant of minimum and maximum 

sentences possible for the burglary charge did not invalidate the defendant's waiver of right to 

counsel, where the defendant was fully aware of range of sentences possible for most serious 

charge against him, first degree murder, including the possibility of the death sentence. Haynes, 

174 Ill. 2d at 243. In this case, the court substantially complied with Rule 401(a) in its 

admonishment of the applicable minimum and maximum sentences. The court informed 

defendant that the most serious charge he faced was a Class X felony, which was punishable by 6 

to 30 years' imprisonment or an extended term of 30 to 60 years. The court also informed 

defendant that a further 15-year enhancement could be added to any sentence, and that defendant 

could be subject to consecutive sentencing. Defendant then expressly stated that he understood 

the sentencing range. 

¶ 124 Defendant attempts to distinguish Haynes because Haynes did not involve a second 

waiver after reappointment of counsel and argues that the only proposition in Haynes that is 

applicable to this case is that earlier admonishments are not always insufficient. But the rationale 

in Haynes regarding the specific point on admonishment of the applicable sentencing range is 

indeed applicable to this case, as the court here also correctly admonished defendant of the 

maximum range of his possible total sentence. We acknowledge that a proper readmonishment 

was necessary, but we hold that the court did in fact substantially comply with Rule 401(a) when, 
1-12-2626 

-54- 

after having had counsel reappointed, defendant again requested to waive counsel. We believe 

the holding in Haynes that the court's admonishment of the applicable sentencing range 

substantially complied with Rule 401(a) where the court advised the defendant of the maximum 

penalty governs, and we hold that the court's admonishment regarding the possible sentencing in 

this case similarly substantially complied with Rule 401(a). We further note that although the 

most serious punishment in Haynes was the death penalty, and that the defendant in Haynes had 

standby counsel, we find that the reasoning is equally applicable to this case. 

¶ 125 Defendant cites to no authority finding a failure to satisfy Rule 401(a) because of a 

failure to recite the minimum sentence for lesser charges. Rather, a failure to comply with Rule 

401(a) and resulting prejudice have been found where the court understates the maximum

aggregate penalty. See, e.g., People v. Bahrs, 2013 IL App (4th) 110903, ¶ 50. Similar to

Haynes, the court in this case clearly admonished defendant of the maximum range of sentences 

for the most serious charge, armed robbery, and so substantially complied with Rule 401(a). 

¶ 126 Further, precedent is clear and well-established that no prejudice arises from any failure 

to advise a defendant who wishes to represent himself of the minimum sentence he might receive 

where sentence he actually received is below maximum sentence of which he has been advised. 

People v. Adams, 255 Ill. App. 3d 95, 97 (1993). Defendant in this case was sentenced to a term 

below the maximum sentence of which he was admonished. Thus, the trial court substantially 

complied with Rule 401(a), and defendant suffered no prejudice. 

¶ 127 Even assuming for the sake of argument that the admonishment regarding the nature of 

the charge or the sentencing range was somehow insufficient, there is no evidence to suggest that 

defendant was prejudiced and would have acted any differently had the court strictly complied 

with Rule 401(a) on the date it granted defendant's request to proceed pro se. Defendant 
1-12-2626 

-55- 

indicated several times that he wanted to waive his right to counsel and proceed pro se and did 

so. See People v. Ware, 407 Ill. App. 3d 315, 348 (2011) (the trial court substantially complied 

with Rule 401(a) where there was "absolutely no indication in the record that, had defendant 

been fully admonished" in a later proceeding, he would have acted any differently because he 

had been admonished a number of times previously "and those admonitions did not change [his] 

decision to repeatedly reject his appointed counsel"). 

¶ 128 Here, however, we hold that the court did comply with Rule 401(a) and sufficiently 

admonished defendant of the nature of the charges against him and the applicable sentencing 

range, and thus we find no error. Therefore, we hold that defendant's argument is not subject to 

plain error review, as there was no error. 

¶ 129 CONCLUSION

¶ 130 Defendant has not shown plain error in the trial court's admission of the expert testimony 

of the 50% probability of inclusion for the Y-STR DNA evidence and that defendant was 

included within this 50% of the population and could not be excluded. 

¶ 131 Defendant also has not shown plain error in the court's admonishment regarding 

defendant's waiver of his right to counsel, as the court's admonishment here substantially 

complied with Supreme Court Rule 401(a) and the record shows defendant's waiver of his right 

to counsel was knowing and voluntary. 

¶ 132 Affirmed. 

¶ 133 JUSTICE HYMAN, dissenting.

¶ 134 I agree with my colleagues that the trial court erred in admitting the DNA evidence, as it 

did not even pass the most basic evidentiary test: relevance. But, I disagree with the majority's 
1-12-2626 

-56- 

conclusion that this error did not meet the plain error test because I believe the error was clear 

and obvious, and the evidence presented at trial was closely balanced.

¶ 135 To meet the plain error standard, a defendant has the burden to show that a "clear and 

obvious error" occurred, and either (1) the evidence is so closely balanced that the error alone 

threatens to sway the scales of justice against defendant, regardless of the seriousness of the 

error, or (2) the error is so egregious that it affects the trial's fairness and challenges the integrity 

of the judicial process, regardless of the closeness of the evidence. People v. Thompson, 238 Ill. 

2d 598, 613 (2010). As to the first prong, the majority discounts the error by saying that it was 

not "serious," (supra ¶ 1) but under the closely balanced test, the error's seriousness does not 

matter. As to the second prong, I agree with the majority. 

¶ 136 While there is unanimity among us that admission of the DNA evidence constituted error, 

the issue then turns to whether a clear and obvious error exists and the majority says no. The 

majority criticizes the oft-discussed "CSI effect," after the popular crime-scene investigative 

television series. The CSI shows and the occasional high-profile news report of a years' old 

conviction being reversed based on DNA evidence has an impact on the public's perception of 

DNA evidence. Generally, the public perceives the results of DNA evidence as conclusive when 

actually, the results only indicate that the defendant could not be eliminated as a suspect. The 

problem adversely affects both the defense and prosecution. The defense worries the jury will 

place too much emphasis on DNA, which can easily be misunderstood, manipulated, and 

misrepresented; the prosecution worries that without scientific evidence, the jury will be 

unwilling to convict. See Tamara F. Lawson, Before the Verdict and Beyond the Verdict: The 

CSI Infection Within Modern Criminal Jury Trials, 41 Loy. U. Chi. L.J. 119 (2009); Jonathan J. 

Koehler, Linguistic Confusion in Court: Evidence from the Forensic Sciences, 21 J.L. & Pol'y 
1-12-2626 

-57- 

515 (2013) (confusion in understanding DNA evidence has been documented and is relatively 

common). 

¶ 137 Experts disagree on whether the "CSI Effect" exists. But even without the influence of 

popular culture, juries rely on DNA evidence because they are encouraged to do so. DNA 

evidence possesses an aura of infallibility and can potentially impress on the jury that the case 

against the defendant appears more compelling and more potent than other evidence and, 

therefore, the potential for a wrongful conviction increases. See Kimberly Cogdell Boies, Misuse 

of DNA Evidence is Not Always a "Harmless Error": DNA Evidence, Prosecutorial Misconduct, 

and Wrongful Conviction, 17 Tex. Wesleyan L. Rev. 403, 405 (2011) ("Given the widespread 

belief in the reliability of DNA evidence, prosecutors must be held to the highest standard, when 

DNA evidence is involved."). 

¶ 138 The State certainly encouraged the jury to rely on the DNA evidence; the State used the 

DNA evidence again and again to bolster its case. Indeed, the State's case needed bolstering; 

otherwise, the evidence consists of Pike's mere presence in the vicinity of the Creator home and 

two guns found in the snow (neither of which were linked by any other evidence to Pike), along 

with an overly suggestive identification. Of the State's eight witnesses, three of them testified 

exclusively about the DNA evidence. During closing argument, the State referenced the DNA 

evidence no fewer than seven times. The importance of the DNA evidence to the State's case 

supports the conclusion that the error was obvious. 

¶ 139 But we need not determine whether the scientific or forensic nature of the inadmissible 

evidence made it more or less likely that the jury would convict. The evidence was not even 

relevant, as the majority correctly points out, and this should have been obvious to the trial court. 

See Ill. R. Evid. 401 (relevant evidence has tendency to make fact more or less probable); R. 402 
1-12-2626 

-58- 

(eff. Jan. 1, 2011) (irrelevant evidence inadmissible); People v. Dabbs, 239 Ill. 2d 277, 289 

(2010) (relevance is "threshold requirement" that must be met by every piece of evidence). 

Regardless of whether the evidence was forensic or completely nontechnical, its inadmissibility 

is clear.

¶ 140 Next, we must determine whether the case is so closely balanced that the erroneous 

admission of the DNA evidence could have swayed the scales of justice against Pike. The 

majority concludes that the evidence was not closely balanced, finding the eyewitness testimony

sufficient to support the conviction. But sufficiency is a "separate question" from whether the 

evidence is closely balanced. People v. Piatowski, 225 Ill. 2d 551, 566 (2007) (finding evidence 

closely balanced so as to meet plain error test, even though eyewitness testimony sufficient to 

convict). The fact that a reasonable juror could convict does not render the State's evidence 

stronger than it was; the evidence could be closely balanced while still being sufficient to find 

Pike guilty.

¶ 141 Without the DNA evidence, the State's case boils down to two points: Pike's proximity to 

the Creator house and the guns in the snow, and the Creators eyewitness identifications. Both 

the judicial and executive branches of Illinois have recognized the potential of eyewitness 

testimony to inculpate the wrong person. See George H. Ryan, Report of the Governor's 

Commission on Capital Punishment 127-28 (Apr. 15, 2002); People v. Tisdel, 338 Ill. App. 3d 

465, 467-68 (2003). Courts throughout the country have reached similar conclusions. See 

People v. Starks, 2014 IL App (1st) 121169, ¶¶ 85-90 (Hyman, P.J., specially concurring, joined 

by Pucinski, J.) (listing other state and federal courts that have noted unreliability of eyewitness 

identifications). Our pattern jury instructions deal with this problem by instructing jurors to 

consider, among other things, "[t]he opportunity the witness had to view the offender at the time 
1-12-2626 

-59- 

of the offense," "[t]he witness's degree of attention at the time of the offense," and "the witness's 

earlier description of the offender." Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions, Criminal, No. 3.15 

(approved Oct. 17, 2014). 

¶ 142 The same considerations addressed by the instruction apply to Willie and Geraldine. 

Neither of them had ever met defendant. It was late on a December evening, their home's porch 

lights and interior lights were off, and any illumination came from Christmas lights inside their 

house and exterior lights from the church across the street. Willie saw the man he identified as 

defendant charging at him with a handgun just as two armed men came up behind him and 

pushed guns into Willie's back. And Geraldine "somewhat" viewed the intruder's face through a 

glass panel while she dialing 911 with one hand and holding the door closed with the other. 

Both Willie and Geraldine experienced a terrifying, stressful ordeal. Unsurprisingly, neither 

Willie nor Geraldine were able to provide police with a detailed description of the suspects, 

listing all three men as young, black, with average height and weight, wearing dark clothing. To 

say that defendant "fit the description" is to say nothing at all.

¶ 143 Further, Willie's and Geraldine's identifications of Pike—through no fault of their own—

were even less reliable than the average eyewitness identification, as the police conducted a 

"showup" rather than a lineup. Our Illinois Supreme Court, and this court, have stated that this 

form of identification—where witnesses are presented with a suspect alone, rather than one 

suspect in a group of nonsuspects—may be unduly suggestive. People v. Blumenshine, 42 Ill. 2d 

508, 512 (1969) (show-ups carry "a dangerous degree of improper suggestion"); People v. 

Murdock, 259 Ill. App. 3d 1014, 1021-22 (1994). 

¶ 144 Pike's proximity to the guns, without the DNA evidence, had little probative value. 

While the jury could infer that these two guns were two of the guns used in the crime, and that 
1-12-2626 

-60- 

defendant's presence near them meant that defendant possessed those guns, a reasonable juror 

could equally infer (1) the guns were those used in the robbery, but defendant was only 

coincidentally near them when he was apprehended, or (2) defendant did indeed possess those 

guns and left them in the snow, but the guns could not be conclusively linked to the robbery at 

the Creator house, or (3) neither the defendant nor the guns had any connection to the robbery. 

The connection between the guns and the robbery was tenuous at best. Willie Creator testified 

that the perpetrators had two handguns and a shotgun, and later testified that he recognized both 

weapons presented at trial. But there was no evidence that the weapons found were distinctive in 

any way, nor did Willie describe the weapons used by size, color, or model that could help a jury 

conclude that the weapons found in the snow were indeed those used against Willie. It is 

completely understandable that Willie would have been unable to provide this information to 

police, given the fear he was under during the incident. But it underlines the weakness of the 

State's case that the connections among Pike, the guns, and the robbery needed to be supported 

by such paltry identification testimony.

¶ 145 The presence of two guns in the snow raises an additional question: three men were 

involved in the robbery, and each was armed. Willie and Geraldine testified that the other two 

perpetrators fled first while Pike struggled to open the front door. If Pike was responsible for 

ditching the two guns in the snow, when did he acquire one of the other perpetrator's guns in 

time to dispose of it, since the other perpetrators had already fled by the time Pike ran from the 

house? If the guns found in the snow were, in fact, those used in the robbery, it is more likely 

that they were both disposed of by the perpetrators who fled together—not by the individual at 

the front door, who, under the State's theory, was Pike. 
1-12-2626 

-61- 

¶ 146 Finally, Pike's proximity to the Creator house when he was apprehended does not much 

help the State's case. According to the police testimony, Pike was seen a block and a half away 

from the Creator house when the police approached him. But police also testified that Pike was 

spotted running northbound on South Parnell Avenue—not running away from the Creator 

house, but towards the scene. If Pike was fleeing a failed robbery, he was doing a spectacularly 

bad job of it. 

¶ 147 Given the weakness of the State's case, I would conclude that the evidence was closely 

balanced and find plain error. See Piatkowski, 225 Ill. 2d at 567-70 (finding plain error where 

only evidence against defendant was weak eyewitness identification). We cannot be certain that 

the DNA evidence swayed the scales of justice against Pike, but "[w]e deal with probabilities, 

not certainties; we deal with risks and threats to the defendant's rights. When there is error in a 

close case, we choose to err on the side of fairness, so as not to convict an innocent person." 

People v. Herron, 215 Ill. 2d 167, 193 (2005). 

¶ 148 None of this is to say that we should not have faith in our jury system, or in jurors' 

abilities to sift through and properly weigh evidence (even complicated scientific evidence). But 

the premise of the plain error doctrine—indeed, all appellate review—relies on the notion that 

faith in jurors is not enough to ensure public confidence in the outcomes of criminal trials. The 

cherished constitutional principle of a just and fair trial depends on the judiciary for its vitality 

and strength. When an error is clear and obvious, and the evidence closely balanced, it is the 

courts that must act to protect the rights of defendants. 

¶ 149 Accordingly, I would reverse Pike's convictions and remand the case for a new trial.