2020 IL App (4th) 180232-U 

NO. 4-18-0232 

IN THE APPELLATE COURT

OF ILLINOIS

FOURTH DISTRICT

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, 

Plaintiff-Appellee, 

v. 

CHRISTINE ELIZABETH ROUSH, 

Defendant-Appellant. 

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Appeal from the 

Circuit Court of 

McLean County 

No. 17CF726 

Honorable 

Robert L. Freitag, 

Judge Presiding. 

 JUSTICE DeARMOND delivered the judgment of the court.

 Justices Turner and Holder White concurred in the judgment. 

ORDER

¶ 1 Held: The appellate court affirmed, finding the trial court’s sentence was not excessive 

and defendant’s trial counsel was not ineffective at sentencing. 

¶ 2 In July 2017, the State charged defendant, Christine Elizabeth Roush, with two 

counts of murder for stabbing and killing her natural mother, Teresa Poehlman. 720 ILCS 

5/9-1(a)(1), (a)(2) (West 2016). In December 2017, defendant pleaded guilty to count I in 

exchange for the dismissal of count II and the dismissal of another felony case. The sentencing 

range for count I was 20 to 60 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, and truth-insentencing guidelines required defendant to serve 100% of her sentence. 730 ILCS 5/3-6-

3(a)(2)(i) (West 2016)). In January 2018, the trial court sentenced defendant to 40 years in the 

Illinois Department of Corrections. In February, defendant filed a motion to reconsider the 

sentence, contending the sentence of 40 years was excessive. The trial court denied the motion, 

and defendant appealed. 

FILED

August 3, 2020

Carla Bender

4th District Appellate

Court, IL

NOTICE

This order was filed under Supreme 

Court Rule 23 and may not be cited 

as precedent by any party except in 

the limited circumstances allowed 

under Rule 23(e)(1). 
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¶ 3 On appeal, defendant raises two challenges to her sentence: (1) the trial court 

failed to consider certain factors in mitigation and overemphasized factors in aggravation, 

resulting in an excessive sentence and (2) defense counsel was ineffective for failing to present 

and argue mitigating evidence through the use of an expert witness, Dr. Terry Killian, 

commission a mitigation report, or present the fitness report as evidence at sentencing. We 

disagree and affirm. 

¶ 4 I. BACKGROUND

¶ 5 In July 2017, the State charged defendant with two counts of murder, both as 

Class M first degree murder offenses. The first count alleged defendant, without lawful 

justification and with intent to kill Teresa Poehlman, stabbed Teresa Poehlman with a knife, 

thereby causing her death. 720 ILCS 5/9-1(a)(1) (West 2016). The second count alleged 

defendant stabbed Teresa Poehlman with a knife, knowing that such an act created a strong 

probability of death to Teresa Poehlman, thereby causing her death. 720 ILCS 5/9-1(a)(2) (West 

2016). According to the coroner, Teresa Poehlman died from dozens of stab and incised, or 

cutting, wounds to her neck and chest. She also suffered multiple fractures of the neck consistent 

with strangulation. In December 2017, defendant pleaded guilty to count I in exchange for the 

dismissal of count II and the dismissal of another felony case. The factual basis for the plea 

revealed Teresa Poehlman was defendant’s biological mother and had recently come to the area 

to meet with defendant. When defendant was initially interviewed, she denied any involvement 

but acknowledged she and Matthew Isbell had been with the victim the day before her body was 

discovered. Matthew Isbell provided a statement to police indicating he drove defendant and 

Teresa to Funks Grove Nature Preserve in McLean, Illinois, where defendant struck Teresa in the 
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back of the head with a tire iron, strangled her, and repeatedly stabbed her. Defendant left 

Teresa’s body in the nature preserve and returned to Isbell’s truck covered with blood. 

¶ 6 In January 2018, the trial court conducted a sentencing hearing. Although the 

presentence investigation report (PSI) contained a great deal of information about defendant’s 

psychiatric history, the court and counsel had already received much of this information 

previously. An 11-page psychiatric evaluation was submitted by defendant’s counsel at a hearing 

on defendant’s sanity and fitness to stand trial, which had been held a month before the plea and 

two months before sentencing. The evaluation, conducted by Dr. Terry Killian, outlined 

defendant’s previous and present psychiatric issues, her family history, drug usage, criminal 

history, and mental status. Based on the report, defendant’s counsel acknowledged his concerns 

about defendant’s mental status had been addressed and he agreed she was fit to stand trial. The 

PSI also detailed defendant’s psychiatric history and noted her sleep disturbances, which she said 

had intensified while housed in the McLean County jail. Defendant reported “experiencing 

nightmares, increased startle responses, flashbacks, and high anxiety.” She also recounted a 

psychiatric history, which included several suicide attempts and a consistent pattern of alcohol 

and drug abuse since she was 13 years old. The PSI included information from Dr. Killian’s 

forensic evaluation as well defendant’s own recitation of her history of physical and sexual 

abuse. She indicated to Dr. Killian she was sexually abused by multiple men when she was 

younger, sometimes at the direction of her mother, and was abused by all of her boyfriends over 

the years. Teresa relinquished her parental rights when defendant was three years old, and 

thereafter, defendant was raised by Teresa’s first cousin and her husband. When defendant 

became a teenager, she became aware of her mother prostituting herself, and she claimed Teresa 

was frequently intoxicated, stealing from family, and “going in and out of various jails and 
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prisons.” Although Dr. Killian found defendant fit to stand trial, he diagnosed her with 

post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and polysubstance 

abuse disorder. He concluded, although defendant severely abused alcohol and drugs leading up 

to the murder, she did not have any “crazy, or psychotic thoughts, delusional ideas or auditory 

hallucination.” 

¶ 7 As evidence in aggravation, the State first called Scott Denton, a forensic 

pathologist who performed the autopsy on Teresa Poehlman. The State introduced a total of five 

autopsy photographs which showed the extent of Teresa’s Poehlman’s injuries, including 

multiple stab and incised wounds on her neck. Denton testified there were a total of at least a 

dozen stab wounds to Teresa’s neck. He said the “carotid artery was about 40 percent cut, the 

jugular vein was completely cut, *** so it was deep to the sides of the neck.” In addition, he 

noted there was evidence Teresa was strangled, and on her chest, he found approximately a 

dozen more stab wounds. The chest stab wounds were located from Teresa’s collarbone down to 

her chest, puncturing her heart twice. Denton also described evidence of blunt-force trauma to

the back of her head, splitting the skin of her scalp. According to Dr. Denton, death would have 

occurred from either the stab wounds or the strangulation, independently. 

¶ 8 Detective Beverlin, with the McLean County Sheriff’s Office, testified he was 

contacted by patrol to respond to the scene of the murder. He found Teresa on her back inside a 

brushed area in Funk’s Grove Nature Preserve in McLean, Illinois. He said his murder 

investigation uncovered a text message on defendant’s cell phone, dated July 1, 2017, at 

approximately 8:33 p.m., which said, “I’m killing my bio piece of s*** tonight.” As part of his 

investigation, he reviewed surveillance video from a hotel and gas station, which showed 

defendant, Teresa, and codefendant, Matthew Isbell, together shortly before the murder and 
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within 15 minutes of the text message. Surveillance video showed them together at a truck stop 

at 2:36 a.m. on July 2, and then two hours later, defendant and Isbell are seen returning to the 

hotel without Teresa. Beverlin later interviewed Isbell, who said defendant approached him in 

the hotel on July 1, 2017 (which was a Saturday), and said she needed to “take care of her 

mother” “that night” because Teresa planned to report defendant as a prostitute the following 

Monday and this would prevent defendant from regaining custody of her daughter. Beverlin also 

testified about taking a statement from defendant in which she denied any involvement in the 

murder. The State completed their evidence in aggravation by presenting two victim impact 

statements: one from Teresa’s father was read into the record, while the other from Teresa’s 

sister was submitted. 

¶ 9 In mitigation, defendant presented five letters of support from family and friends 

and called four witnesses. Three of the witnesses included defendant’s adoptive mother, father, 

and sister. The testimony revealed the family adopted defendant when she was three years old 

and she was in constant turmoil caused by the abuse she suffered before the adoption. Her 

adoptive father and mother testified they currently visit and speak with defendant several times a 

week and noticed a positive change in her since she has been taking her medications while 

incarcerated. All three said they will continue to provide positive support for defendant and will 

be there for her in the future. Defendant also called Rick Giovanetto, a family friend who helped 

defendant get enrolled in counseling. He testified he has visited her several times while 

incarcerated and has witnessed a more positive change since she has been taking medication 

while incarcerated. He also said defendant has expressed a lot of remorse concerning the incident 

and he will continue to show support for her. 
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¶ 10 The State argued the murder was a calculated, planned attack against defendant’s 

own mother and “[t]he stabbings and cuttings on her mother’s body illustrate the brutality with 

which this murder occurred. She not only slashed her neck repeatedly, she nearly completely 

severed the jugular, and then stabbed her repeatedly in the chest twice puncturing her mother’s 

heart.” Focusing on the brutality of the offense against “the very person who gave her life,” the 

State recommended defendant serve 50 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. 

¶ 11 Defense counsel noted the PSI outlined defendant’s struggles with substance 

abuse, PTSD, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, which “is attributable to a documented history of 

neglect and abuse, both physical and sexual, which has had profound effects on her behavior.” 

He argued she took responsibility for her actions by pleading guilty, is remorseful, and has 

potential for rehabilitation. Defense counsel recommended defendant be sentenced to 25 years in 

the Illinois Department of Corrections. 

¶ 12 After defendant’s statement in allocution, the trial court indicated it considered 

the information in the PSI, evidence presented at the sentencing hearing, facts presented at the 

time of the plea, defendant’s statement in allocution, the recommendations of counsel, and all 

relevant statutory factors in aggravation and mitigation. The court began its comments by noting 

the tragedy of the situation and how seriously it takes its sentencing responsibilities: 

“The court has a responsibility now to determine and impose 

sentence, and in doing so, the court is directed and guided by the 

law. The court is to consider all of the circumstances that are 

relevant, to consider everything that is presented in aggravation, 

everything that is presented in mitigation, and then fashion a 

sentence that takes all of that into account. In many ways, it’s kind 
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of a global view, very different than the view of the various parties 

and the people who are touched in real life by these kinds of 

events.” 

Before noting this crime seemed to be “planned out” and didn’t just happen “on the spur of the 

moment,” the trial court acknowledged each side had a particular perspective but that the court 

was to “look at everything.” The court considered the nature and circumstances of the offense as 

well as “a great deal of mitigation,” including defendant’s youth, defendant’s background, and 

that defendant pleaded guilty, accepted responsibility, and “has expressed what the court will 

indicate now, I believe, to be sincere remorse.” The court expressly noted the turmoil of 

defendant’s early life, through no fault of her own, but also recognized she had been taken in and 

provided with “a good, solid, nurturing upbringing” with the Riggenbach family. Defendant’s 

expressed desire to change was accepted by the court as true and taken into consideration in 

imposing a sentence. However, the court said, the seriousness and “senselessness” of the crime 

was, in the court’s opinion, “just mind boggling.” Before imposing sentence, the court stated: 

“In considering all of the evidence in aggravation and mitigation, 

the court does believe that a departure downward from the 

maximum potential penalty is appropriate given the mitigation that 

I’ve reflected on and the other mitigation contained in this case. 

However, the court is also of the opinion that the cold, calculated, 

and brutal nature of this crime demands that a sentence be imposed 

that is significant, that will indicate the court’s belief in the need 

for not only deterrence of this defendant, but of others, but it is 

appropriate to the circumstances of the crime.” 
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The court then sentenced defendant to 40 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. 

¶ 13 In February 2018, defendant filed a motion to reconsider the sentence, arguing the 

trial court’s 40-year sentence was excessive. At the hearing on defendant’s motion in March 

2018, while acknowledging “the court was scrupulous in considering the factors in aggravation 

and mitigation,” defendant asked the trial court to reweigh those same factors because defendant

was abusing drugs and alcohol before the murder, which “significantly clouded her judgment and 

her decision making.” Counsel noted defendant was also “suffering from serious mental illness at 

the time of this incident,” including depression, anxiety, and PTSD that was traceable to a history 

of abuse and neglect in her childhood. Defendant argued counseling and medication could 

alleviate any threat she posed and that she professed sincere remorse and a desire to change. 

Defendant pointed to her family and community support, evidenced at the sentencing hearing, 

and reiterated her request for a 25-year sentence.

¶ 14 Noting all of the factors referenced by defense counsel were previously presented 

at the sentencing hearing, the State argued the trial court properly weighed them in conjunction 

with the brutality and senselessness of the offense. It suggested there was no basis for 

reconsidering the sentence. The court informed the parties, in preparation for the hearing on the 

motion to reconsider, it reviewed the PSI again and recalled the evidence presented at the 

sentencing hearing. The court outlined the legal bases upon which a defendant may seek 

reconsideration of a sentence—to bring to the court’s attention any legal errors in the imposition 

of sentence, or to give the court the opportunity to reconsider the reasoning and propriety of a 

sentence given—and stated, “I do believe that the court gave significant weight to the mitigation 

in this case. I do believe that if I didn’t say it directly, I’ll say it now, the court believes that just 

the nature of this crime, it’s brutal and calculated nature, would support a sentence far in excess 
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of the court’s sentence in this case, closer to the maximum of 60 years, but because of the 

mitigation the court believes that the sentence that was imposed is appropriate on balance.”

¶ 15 This appeal followed. 

¶ 16 II. ANALYSIS

¶ 17 On appeal, defendant argues the trial court failed to properly consider mitigation 

at sentencing, imposed an excessive sentence, and defense counsel was ineffective for failing to 

present mitigating factors at sentencing, including failing to call Dr. Killian as an expert witness 

and provide a mitigation report. We disagree and affirm.

¶ 18 A. Excessive Sentence

¶ 19 A trial court has broad discretion in imposing a sentence. People v. Patterson, 217 

Ill. 2d 407, 448, 841 N.E.2d 889, 912 (2005). “ ‘In determining an appropriate sentence, a 

defendant’s history, character, and rehabilitative potential, along with the seriousness of the 

offense, the need to protect society, and the need for deterrence and punishment, must be equally 

weighed.’ ” People v. Hestand, 362 Ill. App. 3d 272, 281, 838 N.E.2d 318, 326 (2005) (quoting 

People v. Hernandez, 319 Ill. App. 3d 520, 529, 745 N.E.2d 673, 681 (2001)). This does not 

necessarily mean each factor carries the same import, but that they are entitled to the same 

consideration. An earlier Hernandez court (People v. Hernandez, 204 Ill. App. 3d 732, 740, 562 

N.E.2d 219, 225 (1990)), addressing the same issue, observed that “[t]he weight to be accorded 

each factor in aggravation and mitigation in setting a sentence of imprisonment depends on the 

circumstances of each case.” In fact, the seriousness of the offense is the most important factor. 

See People v. Jackson, 2014 IL App (1st) 123258, ¶ 53, 23 N.E.3d 430; People v. Murray, 2020 

IL App (3d) 180759, ¶ 30, 148 N.E.3d 235 (the seriousness of the offense is considered the most 

important factor in determining a sentence). “A defendant’s rehabilitative potential and other 
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mitigating factors are not entitled to greater weight than the seriousness of the offense.” People 

v. Pippen, 324 Ill. App. 3d 649, 652, 756 N.E.2d 474, 477 (2001). 

¶ 20 Defendant contends the trial court failed to consider certain mitigating factors 

stemming from defendant’s childhood trauma, victimization, and history of abuse or failed to 

give sufficient weight to those factors. However, we have said before, “[o]n review, we are not to 

focus on a few words or sentences of the sentencing court but, rather, should consider the record 

as a whole.” People v. Palen, 2016 IL App (4th) 140228, ¶ 66, 64 N.E.3d 181. First, “[a] trial 

court is not required to detail precisely for the record the exact process by which it determined 

the penalty, nor is it required to articulate consideration of mitigating factors.” People v. Gordon, 

2016 IL App (1st) 134004, ¶ 51, 56 N.E.3d 467. Further, the court is not required to recite and 

assign a value to each factor it has considered. People v. McGuire, 2017 IL App (4th) 150695, 

¶ 38, 92 N.E.3d 494. Next, “we adhere to a presumption that the sentencing court considered all 

relevant factors and any mitigation evidence presented.” Jackson, 2014 IL 123258, ¶ 48; see also 

Pippen, 324 Ill. App. 3d at 652. And lastly, but by no means of least importance, defendant 

appears to purposely ignore the actual words of the trial court as it imposed sentence. It was for 

this reason we included the court’s comments above. The trial court began by noting it had 

considered “the information contained in the presentence report, considered the evidence 

presented today at this hearing, considered the statement of facts presented at the time of the 

defendant’s plea, the court has considered the recommendations of counsel, the defendant’s 

statement here today in allocution, as well as all of the relevant statutory factors in aggravation 

and mitigation.” In People v. Alexander, 239 Ill. 2d 205, 213, 940 N.E.2d 1062, 1066 (2010), our 

supreme court, when confronted with a similar claim of an excessive sentence, listed those things 

it considered significant in determining whether the trial court considered appropriate factors in 
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aggravation and mitigation: “the trial judge stated that he considered the presentence 

investigation reports, arguments of counsel, and defendant’s statement.” It noted the court 

outlined the factors in aggravation it considered most important and expressed an opinion 

regarding mitigating factors in general. Alexander, 239 Ill. 2d at 213-14. Here, the trial court 

emphasized how seriously it took its sentencing responsibility, stating that “the court is to 

consider all of the circumstances that are relevant, to consider everything that is presented in 

aggravation, everything that is presented in mitigation, and then fashion a sentence that takes all 

of that into account.” Noting the nature of the offense itself, the court nonetheless acknowledged, 

“[t]here’s also a great deal of mitigation that the court is, ought to, and will consider.” The court 

referenced defendant’s youth, her background, her acceptance of responsibility, and her “sincere 

remorse,” noting the state of her “early life” and how there was “nothing fair about it. None of 

that was [her] fault. I recognize that.” 

¶ 21 Defendant claims the trial court “failed to acknowledge the evidence of the vast 

support of [defendant’s] family and community.” Like the remainder of defendant’s claims 

related to sentencing, the record belies this assertion as well. The court specifically mentioned 

defendant’s adoptive family and the “good, solid, nurturing upbringing” they provided and how 

some of defendant’s comments in allocution reflected her ultimate appreciation of it. The court

also referenced the content of at least one of the letters submitted on defendant’s behalf and how 

both the writer and the court were of the opinion defendant has the capacity for rehabilitation and 

change. At the conclusion of its explanation, the court specifically noted “a departure downward 

from the maximum potential penalty is appropriate given the mitigation that I’ve reflected on and 

the other mitigation contained in this case,” but that the “cold, calculated, and brutal nature of 

this crime demands that a sentence be imposed that is significant” to serve as a deterrent not only 
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for defendant, but for others as well. There is nothing wrong with that perspective. “A sentencing 

court is not required to award a defendant’s rehabilitative potential ‘greater weight than the 

seriousness of the offense.’ ” People v. Bryant, 2016 IL App (1st) 140421, ¶ 17, 55 N.E.3d 97 

(quoting Alexander, 239 Ill. 2d at 214). “Because the trial court is in a better position to observe 

the witnesses and consider the relevant factors, its sentencing determination is entitled to great 

deference.” People v. Kenton, 377 Ill. App. 3d 239, 245, 879 N.E.2d 402, 407 (2007). 

Accordingly, when a sentence falls within the statutory range of sentences possible for a 

particular offense, it is presumed reasonable. People v. Moore, 41 Ill. App. 3d 3, 4, 353 N.E.2d 

191, 192 (1976). 

¶ 22 Given this deference, “ ‘[a]bsent an abuse of discretion by the trial court, a 

sentence may not be altered upon review.’ ” People v. Hensley, 354 Ill. App. 3d 224, 234, 819 

N.E.2d 1274, 1284 (2004) (quoting People v. Kennedy, 336 Ill. App. 3d 425, 433, 782 N.E.2d 

864, 871 (2002)). An abuse of discretion will be found “where the sentence is ‘greatly at 

variance with the spirit and purpose of the law, or manifestly disproportionate to the nature of the 

offense[,]’ ” Alexander, 239 Ill. 2d at 212 (quoting People v. Stacey, 193 Ill. 2d 203, 210, 737 

N.E.2d 626, 629 (2000)), or where the court’s sentencing decision is “arbitrary, fanciful, 

unreasonable, or where no reasonable person would take the view adopted by the trial court.” 

People v. Etherton, 2017 IL App (5th) 140427, ¶ 26, 82 N.E.3d 693. 

¶ 23 Here, the nature of the offense and the relationship of the victim to the defendant 

made this, as the court said, “not only a serious crime, not only a tragic thing, but something that 

was completely unnecessary *** the senselessness of this event is just mind boggling.” 

Defendant stabbed her mother to death by stabbing and slashing her throat at least a dozen times, 

stabbing her upper chest a dozen times, hitting her in the head with a tire iron, and strangling her. 
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This was done, not because of an argument or struggle, but to keep her from disclosing defendant 

was engaged in prostitution, thereby impacting her ability to regain custody of her two-year-old 

daughter. She pleaded guilty to murder, a Class M Felony, punishable by a sentence of 20 to 60 

years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-20 (West 2016). The trial 

court’s 40-year sentence fell within the relevant sentencing range, and it was imposed only after 

a very thorough and well-articulated explanation by the trial court. We will not disturb such a 

sentence as an abuse of discretion simply because the defendant would prefer we weigh the 

factors differently. “It is not our duty on appeal to reweigh the factors involved in the circuit 

court’s sentencing decision.” People v. Hageman, 2020 IL App (3d) 170637, ¶ 19, 146 N.E.3d 

793. 

¶ 24 Parenthetically, defendant raised these claims on appeal, after having the benefit 

of the comments of both her own counsel and the court at a hearing on her motion to reconsider 

the sentence where defendant’s counsel began his argument thusly: “I know the court was 

scrupulous in considering the factors in aggravation and mitigation, but we’re asking the court to 

reweigh those factors; and we respectfully submit that the sentence imposed was excessive.” 

Counsel then mentioned several factors in mitigation referenced here: substance abuse and 

mental health issues, PTSD caused by her history of physical and sexual abuse, and her capacity 

for rehabilitation. In denying the motion, the trial court explained it had reread the PSI and the 

evidence previously presented at sentencing. The court carefully explained the purposes of a 

motion for reconsideration, noting defendant claimed no legal errors, but merely sought to have 

the court reconsider its sentence, and it explained the seriousness with which the court takes such 

motions. The court then, without naming each one, said it “gave significant weight to the 
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mitigation in this case” and that it believed the sheer “brutal and calculated nature” of the crime 

would have warranted a sentence closer to the maximum of 60 years, but for all the mitigation. 

¶ 25 Trial judges who so scrupulously record their rationale and reasoning for 

imposition of a sentence, and who give thoughtful consideration to all it entails, should not be the 

subject of such baseless claims. 

¶ 26 B. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

¶ 27 Defendant also contends trial counsel was ineffective for not presenting the live 

testimony of Dr. Killian, commissioning a “mitigation report,” or presenting the fitness report as 

evidence at sentencing.

¶ 28 A defendant’s claim of ineffective assistance of counsel is analyzed under the 

two-pronged test set forth in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). People v. Veach, 

2017 IL 120649, ¶ 29, 89 N.E.3d 366. To prevail, “a defendant must show both that counsel’s 

performance was deficient and that the deficient performance prejudiced the defendant.” People 

v. Petrenko, 237 Ill. 2d 490, 496, 931 N.E.2d 1198, 1203 (2010). To establish deficient 

performance, the defendant must show “counsel’s performance ‘fell below an objective standard 

of reasonableness.’ ” People v. Valdez, 2016 IL 119860, ¶ 14, 67 N.E.3d 233 (quoting 

Strickland, 466 U.S. at 688). Claims based on defense counsel’s trial strategy are normally 

immune from ineffective assistance of counsel claims. People v. West, 187 Ill. 2d 418, 432, 719 

N.E.2d 664, 673 (1999). To establish prejudice, the defendant must show there is a reasonable 

probability that, but for counsel’s errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. 

People v. Evans, 209 Ill. 2d 194, 219-20, 808 N.E.2d 939, 953 (2004) (citing Strickland, 466 

U.S. at 694). “ ‘A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in 

the outcome.’ ” People v. Peeples, 205 Ill. 2d 480, 513, 793 N.E.2d 641, 662 (2002) (quoting 
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Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694). 

¶ 29 Since a defendant must satisfy both prongs of the Strickland standard, failure to 

meet either prong precludes a finding of ineffective assistance of counsel. People v. Clendenin, 

238 Ill. 2d 302, 317-18, 939 N.E.2d 310, 319 (2010). “We review a defendant’s claim of 

ineffective assistance of counsel in a bifurcated fashion, deferring to the trial court’s findings of 

fact unless they are contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence, but assessing de novo the 

ultimate legal question of whether counsel was ineffective.” People v. Manoharan, 394 Ill. App. 

3d 762, 769, 916 N.E.2d 134, 141 (2009). 

¶ 30 Defendant claims it was objectively unreasonable for trial counsel to fail to 

investigate or present evidence of defendant’s abuse and then fail to call Dr. Killian as an expert 

witness at sentencing. Defendant cites People v. Morgan, 187 Ill. 2d 500, 719 N.E.2d 681 

(1999), in support. Morgan involved a first degree murder where the defendant claimed he 

received ineffective assistance of counsel at several stages, including sentencing. Morgan, 187 

Ill. 2d at 540. After the defendant was found guilty, he was sentenced to death during the capital 

sentencing phase. Morgan, 187 Ill. 2d at 516. In vacating Morgan’s death sentence, our supreme 

court held that mitigating evidence is an extremely important component of “ ‘the Illinois capital 

sentencing scheme.’ ” (Emphasis added.) Morgan, 187 Ill. 2d at 541 (quoting People v. Perez, 

148 Ill. 2d 168, 194, 592 N.E.2d 984, 996 (1992)). The court explained, “ ‘Once an aggravating 

factor is found sufficient to impose the death penalty, there must be mitigating evidence 

sufficient to preclude the imposition of the death penalty.’ ” Morgan, 187 Ill. 2d at 541 (quoting

Perez, 148 Ill. 2d at 194). The court went on to state that “[b]ecause of the critical importance of 

mitigating evidence, it is well established that defense counsel has a duty to make a reasonable 

investigation for mitigation evidence to present at the capital sentencing hearing ***.” Morgan, 
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187 Ill. 2d at 541. Morgan involved the necessity of defense counsel to investigate and provide 

mitigating evidence when the defendant faced the death penalty, unlike this defendant, who 

faced a term of years. Further, because of the unique process involved in capital litigation, the 

need for mitigation was statutorily required. See 720 ILCS 5/9-1(g) (West 1994) (stating the 

jury’s decision on the death penalty must be unanimous and defense counsel only needs to 

convince one jury of the sufficiency of mitigating evidence). Additionally, the letters of support, 

mitigation testimony at sentencing, and defense counsel’s arguments included evidence of 

defendant’s history of physical and sexual abuse, mental health issues, and difficult upbringing. 

Further, the trial court had the benefit of Dr. Killian’s report prior to defendant’s plea and was 

already aware of the circumstances surrounding defendant’s childhood, as well as her mental 

health issues. We therefore find defendant’s reliance on Morgan inapt and unpersuasive to 

reverse a trial court’s sentence within the statutory guidelines. 

¶ 31 Although counsel may have considered a “mitigation report” prior to defendant’s 

plea, as evidenced by the opening paragraph of Dr. Killian’s report, for whatever reason, he 

chose not to do so; perhaps because of the thorough nature of the report and the fact it contained 

all the relevant information defendant would have sought from him otherwise. Further, defendant 

has failed to provide any authority to support her claim defense counsel was required to procure 

an expert witness at sentencing, or indicating a failure to do so is ineffective assistance of 

counsel. In fact, defendant fails to point to what crucial information could have been provided or 

issue raised by Dr. Killian that was not already before the court, or would be through the PSI, 

testimony of other witnesses, or letters written on defendant’s behalf. The PSI provided a 

detailed summary of defendant’s substance abuse, mental health issues, sexual abuse, and 

problems associated with her mother. Had Dr. Killian been called, the State would then have had 
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the opportunity to cross-examine him to reinforce his conclusion defendant “was not suffering 

from the type or severity of psychiatric illness which would have rendered her incapable of 

adequately appreciating the criminality of her alleged conduct,” and that he found no evidence of 

such in either the police reports or her own disclosures to him. The report also contained 

additional incriminating statements and information about defendant, which the State could have 

chosen to highlight through cross-examination as well. Dr. Killian would have had to 

acknowledge the level of planning and efforts to cover up the crime in which defendant engaged 

and how that evidenced a well thought out, calculated plan to kill her own mother. It is 

reasonable to conclude counsel’s decision was one of strategy rather than error. “Decisions 

concerning what witnesses to call and what evidence to present on a defendant’s behalf are 

viewed as matters of trial strategy. Such decisions are generally immune from claims of 

ineffective assistance of counsel.” People v. Munson, 206 Ill. 2d 104, 139-40, 794 N.E.2d 155, 

175 (2002). An effort to avoid allowing the state to cross-examine Dr. Killian on these matters 

would appear objectively reasonable, and since defendant must show counsel’s performance fell 

below an objective standard of reasonableness under Strickland’s first prong, she fails. See 

People v. Dupree, 2018 IL 122307, ¶ 44, 124 N.E.2d 908. 

¶ 32 Defendant is required to satisfy both prongs of Strickland, and the failure to 

satisfy either precludes a finding of ineffective assistance. Clendenin, 238 Ill. 2d at 317-18. We 

therefore need not address the prejudice prong at all. Suffice it to say, everything defendant 

might have sought through testimony or a “mitigation report” was clearly before the court, and 

considering the thorough and mindful approach of the trial court at sentencing, defendant could 

not show prejudice. 

¶ 33 III. CONCLUSION
- 18 - 

¶ 34 For the reasons stated, we affirm the trial court’s judgment. 

¶ 35 Affirmed.