ILLINOIS OFFICIAL REPORTS

Appellate Court

People v. Britton, 2012 IL App (1st) 102322

Appellate Court

Caption

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

ANTHONY BRITTON, Defendant-Appellant.

 District & No. First District, Fifth Division

Docket No. 1-10-2322

Filed

Rehearing denied

September 14, 2012

October 16, 2012

Held

(Note: This syllabus

constitutes no part of

the opinion of the court

but has been prepared

by the Reporter of

Decisions for the

convenience of the

reader.)

On appeal from a conviction for unlawful possession of heroin with intent

to deliver, the appellate court rejected defendant’s contention that there

was a breakdown in the chain of custody of the seized drugs that

amounted to reversible error, and the trial court did not abuse its

discretion in denying his motion seeking disclosure of the surveillance

location used by the police.

Decision Under 

Review

Appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County, No. 09-CR-21113; the

Hon. John T. Doody, Jr., Judge, presiding.

Judgment Affirmed in part and vacated in part.
Counsel on

Appeal

Michael J. Pelletier, Alan D. Goldberg, and Philip D. Payne, all of State

Appellate Defender’s Office, of Chicago, for appellant. 

Anita M. Alvarez, State’s Attorney, of Chicago (Alan J. Spellberg, Joan

F. Frazier, and Lauren N. Bressack, Assistant State’s Attorneys, of

counsel), for the People.

Panel JUSTICE HOWSE delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.

Presiding Justice McBride concurred in the judgment and opinion.

Justice Epstein specially concurred, with opinion.

OPINION

¶ 1 A jury found defendant guilty of possession of 1.2 grams of heroin with intent to deliver

and he was sentenced to 71⁄2 years in prison. On appeal, defendant contends that his

conviction should be reversed because of a breakdown in the chain of custody of narcotics

evidence used to sustain the conviction. Defendant also contends that the trial court erred

when it denied his motion to compel disclosure of the surveillance location utilized to

observe him engage in two narcotics transactions. Defendant finally contends that he was

improperly assessed a $200 DNA indexing fee.

¶ 2 In a pretrial motion and subsequent renewal of that motion, defense counsel moved the

court to compel disclosure of the surveillance location of Officer Lawrence Olivares, who

conducted surveillance of defendant on October 15, 2009 beginning at approximately 2:30

p.m. Each of two trial court judges presiding at different times over defendant’s case heard

argument on the motion, conducted in camera hearings with Olivares, and subsequently

denied the motion. After examining Olivares, Judge MaryRoberts concluded that since there

was no issue of identification, the location would not be disclosed. Judge Thomas Doody

concluded that the concern for officer and public safety outweighed defendant’s interest in

disclosure in this case, and also stated that defendant had the right to cross-examine Olivares

on the weather conditions, lighting, distance, elevation, and obstructions.

¶ 3 At trial, Olivares testified that on October 15, 2009, at approximately 2:30 p.m., he set

up a narcotics surveillance in the area of Roosevelt and Whipple, a known narcotics area

from which he had made previous arrests, along with Officer Mata and Sergeant Blas. He

was the surveillance officer while Mata and Blas were the enforcement officers. Olivares

conducted the surveillance from a covert vehicle, from which he observed defendant standing

in front of a liquor store located at 3034 West Roosevelt Road, at the intersection of

Roosevelt and Whipple. Defendant walked back and forth in front of the liquor store, but he

never left the corner of Roosevelt and Whipple.

¶ 4 Olivares testified about the weather and traffic conditions, explaining that Roosevelt is

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a busy street with four lanes of traffic and that there was moderate vehicular and foot traffic.

He testified that it was a clear day and nothing obstructed his view. Olivares was

approximately 150 to 200 feet away from defendant, on ground level while in his vehicle.

He used binoculars to observe defendant, and at different times during the surveillance,

Olivares had both a frontal view and side view of defendant. Defendant was wearing a black

skull cap, a black jacket with gray sleeves, and blue jeans. Olivares had neverseen defendant

prior to this date.

¶ 5 Approximately five minutes after Olivares began his surveillance, he observed an

unknown African-American man approach defendant and give defendant an unknown

amount of cash, and then the two men walked across Roosevelt to Douglas Park, where

defendant reached up into a small tree and removed a plastic bag, removed an item from the

bag, and gave it to the man. Defendant then placed the plastic bag back in the tree. There was

a blue recycling bin next to the tree. When they crossed the street, the two men were

approximately 50 feet closer to Olivares. After giving the item to the unknown man,

defendant walked back across Roosevelt to the liquor store. Olivares could not see what was

in the plastic bag.

¶ 6 Olivares continued his surveillance. Approximately 15 minutes later, another unknown

African-Americanman approached defendant. The two men crossed Roosevelt, the unknown

man gave defendant an unknown amount of cash, and defendant reached up into the same

tree and grabbed the plastic bag, removed an item from it, and gave it to the unknown man.

Defendant then put the plastic bag back into the tree and the man walked away. Defendant

walked back to the liquor store. Olivares could not see what the item was that defendant gave

to the man. Based upon his experience, Olivares believed defendant to have engaged in two

narcotics transactions.

¶ 7 Olivares radioed to Blas and Mata and described defendant as “a male black with a black

skull cap, black jacket and gray sleeves, blue jeans,” and told them defendant was standing

by the liquor store on Roosevelt and Whipple. Olivares remained in radio contact with Blas

and Mata until they detained defendant, and Olivares confirmed they had the correct person.

Olivares then directed Blas to the suspected narcotics. Blas crossed Roosevelt, went to the

tree next to the blue recycling bin, reached up and removed the plastic bag. Blas notified

Olivares that the bag contained suspected narcotics.

¶ 8 Although Olivares acknowledged that he momentarily lost sight of defendant when a big

truck drove by, Olivares testified that he never lost sight of defendant or the tree. Aside from

Blas and defendant, no one else went to the immediate area of the tree or touched the plastic

bag or tree. Olivares could not testify to the specific location of the tree that defendant went

to on October 15, 2009, because People’s Exhibit 3, a photograph of the area where the tree

was located, did not have the blue recycling bin in the photograph. Olivares did not take

photographs or a video recording of the surveillance because he was engaged in a short-term,

daily investigation, whereas video and photographs are normally taken for long-term

conspiracy investigations.

¶ 9 Olivares wrote the arrest report and the case report, and in both reports he indicated that

four Ziploc bags were recovered. He learned this number was incorrect when the crime lab

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informed him that five Ziploc bags were inside the sandwich bag.

¶ 10 During cross-examination of Olivares, defense counsel elicited that Olivares was in the

vicinity of Douglas Park, that cars were parked along Roosevelt, and that Olivares lost sight

of defendant when trucks passed. Olivares could not see what items were exchanged between

defendant and the two unknown African-American men who approached him. He did not

indicate on his original case incident report that the bags had any color or prints, and he

estimated the weight of the suspect heroin to be 0.4 grams, with an estimated street value of

$60. On redirect, Olivares clarified that although there were trees in Douglas Park, the trees

were not blocking his view of defendant or of the tree.

¶ 11 Sergeant Ronald Blas testified that he was in radio contact with Olivares and detained

defendant based upon the description that Olivares provided. When Blas first saw defendant,

defendant was crossingWhipple at the intersection of Whipple and Roosevelt. Blas and Mata

detained defendant and received radio confirmation from Olivares that they detained the

correct person. Then, Olivares directed Blas to the tree and Blas recovered a clear plastic

sandwich bag which contained what he believed to be four green and white smaller Ziploc

bags, each containing suspected heroin. He counted the Ziploc bags without taking them out

of the sandwich bag. He later learned there were five bags, not four. After radioing to his

partners that he recovered suspected narcotics, defendant was placed into custody. When they

went back to the 10th District police station, Blas gave the sandwich bag holding the smaller

Ziploc bags of suspected heroin to Mata. The narcotics were in Blas’ constant care, custody,

and control from the time he recovered them from the tree to the time he gave them to Mata.

On cross-examination, Blas testified that he did not see any hand-to-hand transactions or

buyers.

¶ 12 Officer Ricardo Mata confirmed Blas’ and Olivares’ testimony regarding detaining

defendant. Additionally, Mata also testified that while at the station, he conducted a custodial

search of defendant and recovered $21. Mata then received the narcotics from Blas, and Mata

inventoried it under number 11818390. Mata counted the Ziplocs bags of narcotics through

the larger plastic bag, and he believed there were four bags. He did not empty the sandwich

bag to count the Ziploc bags. Mata identified People’s Exhibit 4(a) as the Ziploc bags of

suspected narcotics he inventoried in this case on October 15, 2009, and People’s Exhibit

4(b) as the plastic sandwich bag that held the smaller Ziploc bags.

¶ 13 Mata inventoried the narcotics by placing them in a plastic bag, labeling it with the type

of suspected narcotics–heroin, describing how the narcotics were packaged, assigning a

unique inventory number, and heat-sealing the package. Mata testified that at the time of

inventorying the narcotics and of providing grand jurytestimony, he believed there were four

Ziploc bags, but he later learned there were five. He testified that there was no difference in

the narcotics he inventoried and the narcotics he testified to.

¶ 14 On cross-examination, Mata admitted that although he did not observe Blas retrieve the

items from the tree in Douglas Park, the items nevertheless stayed in Blas’ possession until

they relocated to the station. He also testified that he did not indicate on his inventory report

that the clear plastic bags had any green markings on them and that he did not indicate any

markings on the report at all.

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¶ 15 Linda Jenkins, forensic chemist for the Illinois State Police, testified that she recovered

the narcotics from the Illinois State Police drug chemistry vault in a sealed condition. When

Jenkins counted the bags, she emptied them out and noticed that there were five Ziploc bags

and not four, as the inventory report indicated. She sent a discrepancy report to the Chicago

police department but did not receive a response. Jenkins testified to a reasonable degree of

scientific certainty that the substance tested positive for heroin and weighed 1.2 grams. On

cross-examination, Jenkins testified that the items she tested had the same inventory number

and that the inventory report did not indicate green and yellow markings on the Ziploc bags.

However, the bags were clear, as the inventory report described.

¶ 16 Following Jenkins’ testimony, the State moved to admit People’s Exhibits 4(a) and 4(b),

but defense counsel objected, arguing that the State failed to lay a proper foundation. The

trial court admitted the evidence over defendant’s objection. After the State rested, the

defense moved for a directed finding, which the trial court summarily denied. The jury found

defendant guilty of possession of heroin with intent to deliver. In defendant’s motion for a

new trial, defense counsel argued that the trial court erroneously admitted People’s Exhibit

Numbers 4(a) and 4(b) due to a lack of a proper chain of custody, but the trial court denied

the motion, finding there was a proper chain. Defendant was sentenced to 71⁄2 years of

imprisonment. Among other fines and fees, the trial court imposed a $200 DNA indexing

fee.

¶ 17 On appeal, defendant contends, first, that his conviction for possession with intent to

deliver should be reversed due to a breakdown in the chain of custody for the narcotics.

When reviewing the trial court’s ruling on the sufficiency of a chain of custody, courts of

review will reverse the trial court’s ruling only upon a finding of abuse of discretion. People

v. Howard, 387 Ill. App. 3d 997, 1004 (2009).

¶ 18 As an initial matter, in orderto convict a defendant of unlawful possession of a controlled

substance, the State must prove that the material recovered from the defendant is in fact a

controlled substance. People v. Woods, 214 Ill. 2d 455, 466 (2005). In narcotics cases, in

which the physical evidence is not readily identifiable or may be susceptible to tampering,

contamination, or exchange, the State must establish a chain of custody. Id. at 467. The State

establishes a prima facie showing of a sufficient chain of custody for narcotics by

establishing that reasonable protective measures were taken to ensure that the evidence has

not been tampered with, substituted or altered between the time of seizure and forensic

testing. Id. at 468. Once the State makes its prima facie showing, the burden shifts to the

defendant to produce evidence of actual tampering, alteration or substitution. The burden

then again shifts to the State to rebut the defendant’s claim. Id. The defendant is not required

to show evidence of actual tampering or substitution unless the State first establishes its

prima facie showing that it is improbable that the evidence was compromised. Id. If there has

been no evidence that the evidence was compromised, the State does not need to exclude

every possibility of tampering or contamination. People v. Lundy, 334 Ill. App. 3d 819, 826

(2002) (quoting People v. Bynum, 257 Ill. App. 3d 502, 510 (1994)). It need only show that

it took reasonable protective measures after the evidence was seized and that it is unlikely

that the evidence has been altered. Id.

¶ 19 The State made a prima facie showing of a sufficient chain of custody. The disparity

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between the number of Ziploc bags that Blas recovered from the tree and the number tested

by Jenkins was a single bag. The testifying officers all admitted to being mistaken about the

number of packets and admitted that they did not empty the contents of the plastic sandwich

bag to count the individual Ziploc bags. There is no evidence in the record that Olivares

weighed the bags on a scale. Rather, Olivares testified that Mata merely showed him the

evidence. Further, both the arrest and incident reports he prepared indicate that Olivares

estimated the weight to be 0.4 grams.

¶ 20 Further, the State presented sufficient evidence of handling and safekeeping between

Mata and Jenkins. Mata inventoried the narcotics by placing them in a plastic bag, labeling

it as heroin, the type of suspected narcotics, describing the packaging as clear bags, assigning

it a unique inventory number, and heat-sealing the package. Jenkins received the evidence

in a heat-sealed condition under the same inventory number. Although the inventory report

did not indicate that the Ziploc bags had green and yellow markings, Jenkins testified that

the bags were nevertheless clear, as the inventory report described. The fact that Olivares,

Mata, and Blas mistakenly counted four Ziplocs without taking the bags out of the plastic

sandwich bag to individually count them, and Jenkins did in fact empty the contents to find

five bags, does not amount to such a breakdown in the chain of custody that it warrants a

finding of abuse of discretion for the trial court’s accepting People’s Exhibits 4(a) and 4(b)

into evidence.

¶ 21 Defendant relies on People v. Terry, 211 Ill. App. 3d 968 (1991), and People v. Gibson,

287 Ill. App. 3d 878 (1997), to support his argument that there was a complete breakdown

in the chain of custody, thus warranting this court’s reversal of defendant’s conviction on the

basis of the State’s failure to prove the element of possession. However, both of defendant’s

cited cases are distinguishable. The disparities in Terry are significantly different from the

present case because not only was there a 10-packet disparity in the number of packets

recovered versus the number tested in Terry, but also the description of the actual substance

was significantly different. Terry, 211 Ill. App. 3d at 972-73. In Terry, the officer recovered

and inventoried white powder, while the forensic chemist tested a substance “saturated in a

yellow uremic substance.” Id. at 973. Finally, the inventorying officer estimated the weight

to be 8 grams, while the actual weight established by the forensic chemist was 12 grams. Id.

¶ 22 In Gibson, this court held that the State failed to prove a sufficiently complete chain of

custody where the inventorying officer weighed narcotics and found the narcotics to weigh

approximately 2 grams, but the stipulated testimony of the forensic chemist found the

narcotics to weigh 9.3 grams, an almost five-fold increase. Gibson, 287 Ill. App. 3d at 882.

Additionally, unlike the evidence of handling and safekeeping between Blas, Mata, and

Jenkins presented in the present case, there was also no evidence regarding handling and

safekeeping between the inventorying officer and the chemist in Gibson, nor was there

evidence of the procedures the inventorying officer employed to ensure the safekeeping of

the narcotics. Id. Based upon the foregoing, we cannot conclude that the trial court abused

its discretion in ruling the State presented sufficient evidence of a proper chain of custody

for People’s Exhibits 4(a) and 4(b), and in admitting those exhibits.

¶ 23 Defendant next contends that the trial court erred when it denied his motion to compel

disclosure of Olivares’ surveillance location. Defendant did not raise this issue in his posttrial

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motion, thus it was waived. People v. Enoch, 122 Ill. 2d 176 (1988) (in order to preserve an

error for appeal, the error must be objected to and included in the posttrial motion).

Defendant invokes the plain error doctrine to bypass the principles of waiver. The plain error

doctrine allows a reviewing court to consider an unpreserved error when a clear or obvious

error occurred and (1) the evidence is closely balanced or (2) the error is so serious that it

affects the fairness of defendant’s trial and challenges the integrity of the judicial process.

People v. Piatkowski, 225 Ill. 2d 551, 565 (2007); see also Woods, 214 Ill. 2d at 471-72. In

reviewing a plain error contention, this court first determines whether error occurred at all.

See People v. Bannister, 232 Ill. 2d 52, 65 (2008); People v. Brant, 394 Ill. App. 3d 663, 677

(2009).

¶ 24 In support of his contention of error, defendant cites People v. Price, 404 Ill. App. 3d 324

(2010), and People v. Criss, 294 Ill. App. 3d 276 (1998), to argue that the surveillance

location privilege does not apply here because it only applies where its application protects

private citizens who allow police to perform surveillance on their property and to encourage

their continued cooperation. However, the case law does not support defendant’s contention.

In Price, 404 Ill. App. 3d at 332, this court concluded that to carry its initial burden of proof

of showing that the privilege should apply in a given case, the State must present evidence

that the location was either: (1) on private property with the permission of the owner, or (2)

in a location that is useful and whose utility would be compromised by disclosure. In the

pretrial context, once the State carries its burden of proof, the defense bears the burden of

persuasion and can defeat the privilege by making a “ ‘strong showing that disclosure of the

location is material or necessary to his defense and that his need for the information

outweighs the public’s interest in keeping the location secret.’ ” Id. (quoting Criss, 294 Ill.

App. 3d at 281). The trial court must balance the public interests against defendant’s need

for disclosure to defend himself at trial. Factors to be considered in this balancing include

but are not limited to “the crime charged, the possible defenses, the possible significance of

the [witness’s] testimony, and other relevant factors.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Id.

To make its determination, the trial court should order an in camera hearing during which

the witness must reveal the surveillance location. People v. Knight, 323 Ill. App. 3d 1117,

1127 (2001).

¶ 25 The State met its initial burden of proof by presenting evidence during the hearing on

defendant’s motion that the officers continue to use the surveillance location and revealing

the location would compromise future investigations and officer safety. Moreover, both trial

court judges who presided over defendant’s case conducted in camera hearings with Olivares

and denied the motion to compel disclosure. Judge Doody, presiding judge over defendant’s

trial, concluded that concern for officer and public safety outweighed defendant’s interest in

disclosure and admonished the defense of its right to cross-examine Olivares on the weather

conditions, lighting, distance, elevation, and obstructions. Judge Roberts also concluded that

because identity was not at issue, the privilege would be applied.

¶ 26 Defendant further argues that withholding the location violated his rights to prepare a

defense and to cross-examine. A criminal defendant has the fundamental right to confront

the witnesses against him, including the right to cross-examine those witnesses. U.S. Const.,

amends. VI, XIV; Ill. Const. 1970, art. I, § 8; see also Criss, 294 Ill. App. 3d at 279; Knight,

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323 Ill. App. 3d at 1121-22. “A trial court may not deprive a defendant of the right to

question witnesses; however, it may limit the scope of cross-examination.” Criss, 294 Ill.

App. 3d at 279. The appellate court determines whether the lower court abused its discretion

to the point of resulting in manifest prejudice in deciding to exclude certain testimony. Id.

The State has a qualified privilege regarding the disclosure of secret surveillance locations.

Id. at 281. The need for disclosure is decided on a case-by-case basis, balancing the public

interest in keeping the location secret with the defendant’s interest in preparing a defense.

Id. The defendant must demonstrate the need for disclosure; mere speculation is not

sufficient. Id. Further, disclosure of a surveillance location will be compelled at trial if the

allegedly privileged information is material to the issue of guilt. Knight, 323 Ill. App. 3d at

1127. A defendant’s right to cross-examine becomes more important in those instances

where the witness is more critical to the government’s case. Id.

¶ 27 In the present case, defendant did not make a strong enough showing that the exact

location of the surveillance location was material or necessary to his defense, or that his need

outweighed the public interest in keeping the location secret. Criss, 294 Ill. App. 3d at 281.

Defendant does not claim mistaken identity or an alibi defense. When defendant stood in

front of the liquor store, he was 150 to 200 feet away from Olivares, but when defendant

crossed the street, he was 50 feet closer to Olivares. Olivares further testified that he was

using binoculars to observe defendant and that he never lost sight of defendant, save when

a large truck momentarily drove past defendant. When Blas and Mata detained defendant,

Olivares confirmed he was the right person. Olivares also never lost sight of the tree where

the narcotics were concealed. He did not leave his surveillance location until after defendant

was placed in custody and the narcotics were recovered. See contra Knight, 323 Ill. App. 3d

at 1120, 1128 (This court found prejudicial error when the trial court applied the

nondisclosure privilege where the offender’s identity was contested, the surveillance officer

was not using binoculars, and both officers admitted to losing sight of the alleged offender

for one to two minutes as they drove from the surveillance point.).

¶ 28 Defense counsel was allowed sufficient latitude to question Olivares’ credibility, eliciting

from Olivares that there was vehicular and pedestrian traffic and that Olivares was parked

in the vicinity of Douglas Park. Defense counsel also questioned Olivares on whether the

trees along the parkway to Douglas Park obstructed his view, and inquired about the route

that defendant took when he paced in front of the liquor store. Olivares radioed a detailed

physical description of defendant and his location. Blas and Mata confirmed Olivares’

testimony when they testified about detaining defendant based upon the location and

description provided by defendant. We cannot say, based upon the evidence adduced at trial,

that the trial court abused its discretion in not compelling the disclosure of the surveillance

location. Because the court did not err when it applied the surveillance location privilege,

there could be no plain error.

¶ 29 Finally, defendant contends that the $200 DNA indexing fee he was ordered to pay

should be vacated because his DNA was previously collected and placed into the Illinois

database pursuant to a prior conviction. The Illinois Supreme Court held in People v.

Marshall, 242 Ill. 2d 285, 303 (2011), that the DNA Indexing fee cannot be assessed against

defendants whose DNA is already in the Illinois State DNA database due to a prior

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conviction. See also People v. Leach, 2011 IL App (1st) 090339, ¶¶ 38-40. The State agrees

that defendant was incorrectly assessed the fee and that the fee should be vacated.

Accordingly, we vacate the $200 fee.

¶ 30 For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court of Cook County

finding defendant guilty of possession of more than 1 but less than 15 grams of heroin with

intent to deliver and vacate the imposition of the $200 DNA indexing fee. We affirm the

judgment in all other aspects.

¶ 31 Affirmed in part and vacated in part.

¶ 32 JUSTICE EPSTEIN, specially concurring.

¶ 33 I concur with the judgment in this case because I do not believe defendant showed that

the trial court erred in concluding that the surveillance location privilege applied, and

therefore there could be no plain error. I also believe that the trial court here properly held

in camera examinations to determine if the State could meet its initial burden of proof. The

problem is that this court does not know what transpired during the examination. Therefore,

I write separately because of concerns I have with the instant case and also to suggest a

procedure that I believe should be followed by Illinois trial courts once the State invokes the

privilege.

¶ 34 The majority states that “[t]he State met its initial burden of proof by presenting evidence

during the hearing on defendant’s motion that the officers continue to use the surveillance

location and revealing the location would compromise future investigations and officer

safety” (supra ¶ 25). But the record does not contain any of the “evidence” that was

presented. Although the trial court here properly held an in camera examination (two times),

to determine if the State could meet its initial burden of proof, there is no transcript and we

do not know what transpired during the examination. I believe the procedure followed here

precludes meaningful review. Also, although the majority correctly notes that, contrary to

defendant’s assertions, the surveillance location privilege is not restricted to only those

instances where private citizens or private property is involved, the State nonetheless must

present evidence to the trial court to show that the surveillance point was “in a location that

is useful and whose utility would be compromised by disclosure.” People v. Price, 404 Ill.

App. 3d 324, 332 (2010). Here, the State argued in the trial court that “the location in this

case is something that is used continually by police officers and disclosing that would

severely threaten the officers’ safety and future operations of narcotics surveillance of this

area surrounding Douglas Park, which is where this offense was committed.” Again, when

defendant renewed his motion for disclosure of the surveillance location, the State argued

that “in the interest of officer safety and the fact that this is a spot that the officers continue

to use, a high narcotics area, and the safety of the individuals involved who allowed the

officers to be around and to use this spot, that is an overarching concern here in this case

here.” Argument, however, is not evidence.

¶ 35 Defendant contends that the surveillance location privilege does not apply in this case

where the officer observed the events “from a public road in a public park.” However, I do

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not believe that this court is able to conduct a meaningful review of defendant’s claim

because the record does not contain any of the evidence that was presented by the State

during the in camera examination of Officer Olivares. There is no Illinois case precisely on

point. Therefore, I believe that, when the State invokes the surveillance location privilege,

Illinois trial courts should follow a procedure similar to that outlined by the New Jersey

Supreme Court in State v. Garcia, 618 A.2d 326 (N.J. 1993). Similar to Illinois, New Jersey

requires the State to “first convince a court that disclosure [of a surveillance location] would

compromise an important public interest.” Garcia, 618 A.2d at 332. New Jerseyalso requires

the trial court to hold an evidentiary hearing “at which the State may attempt to justify

application of the privilege.” Id. However, as the Garcia court explained:

“At that hearing the court should make a sealed record sufficiently detailed to facilitate

appellate review. Defense counsel shall not attend the hearing.” Id.

¶ 36 In spite of my concerns, I nonetheless agree with the majority’s disposition of this issue

because, although the record here does not contain a transcript of the in camera hearing, the

burden was on appellant to present this court with an adequate record. Foutch v. O’Bryant,

99 Ill. 2d 389, 391 (1984); see also People v. Fair, 193 Ill. 2d 256, 264 (2000) (applying

Foutch in criminal appeal). In the absence of a sufficiently complete record, a reviewing

court will presume that the trial court’s ruling had a sufficient legal and factual basis and will

resolve all doubts against the appellant. Foutch, 99 Ill. 2d at 392.

¶ 37 Foutch has been applied in the context of in camera proceedings. In Kamelgard v.

American College of Surgeons, 385 Ill. App. 3d 675, 685 (2008), this court applied Foutch

in concluding that we could not determine whether the trial court was correct because

documents examined by the trial court in camera were not made part of the record, a burden

borne by the appellant. Also, in In re Marriage of Smith, 132 Ill. App. 3d 694, 704 (1985),

the appellant contended that the trial court erred in denying his request to allow his attorney

to see opposing counsel’s original time sheets where opposing counsel had used the original

time sheets at trial to refresh his recollection. The Smith court noted that the trial court had

inspected the original time sheets in camera, compared the hours on those sheets with the

hours listed on the sheets attached to the fee petition, and had denied access based on work

product privilege. Id. at 704. This court applied Foutch in rejecting appellant’s argument. Id.

As the Smith court stated, “because the record does not contain the original time sheets, we

cannot say the trial court erred in holding that the time sheets were work product.” Id.

¶ 38 Based upon the principles stated in Foutch, I must presume that the trial court correctly

concluded that the State met its initial burden of demonstrating that the surveillance location

privilege applied in the instant case. However, in order to allow meaningful review in future

cases and determine if the State actually met its burden, I believe Illinois trial courts should

follow the earlier outlined procedure that would allow this court to engage in an actual

review of the evidence presented by the State during the in camera examination.

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