Case Name: The People of the State of Illinois, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Richard Lee Clelland, Defendant-Appellant
Court: Illinois Appellate Court
Jurisdiction: Illinois
Decision Date: 1973-06-29
Citations: 12 Ill. App. 3d 912
Docket Number: No. 72-98
Parties: The People of the State of Illinois, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Richard Lee Clelland, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Illinois Appellate Court Reports, Third Series
Volume: 12
Pages: 912–917

Head Matter:
The People of the State of Illinois, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Richard Lee Clelland, Defendant-Appellant.
(No. 72-98;
Third District
June 29, 1973.
DIXON, J., dissenting.
Steve Hurley, of Defender Project, of Ottawa, for appellant.
Jay H. Janssen, Assistant State’s Attorney, of Pekin, for the People.

Opinion:
Mr. JUSTICE STOUDER
delivered the opinion of the court:
Defendant, Richard Clelland, was charged with and found guilty by a jury of the offenses of armed robbery, robbery and theft. The Circuit Court of Tazewell County entered judgments of conviction for each of the offenses but sentenced defendant to 4 to 12 years in the penitentiary only on the armed robbery conviction.
The parties concede the three offenses each arose from the same act or conduct within the rule discussed and applied in People v. Schlenger, 13 Ill.2d 63, 147 N.E.2d 316, and People v. Whittington, 46 Ill.2d 405, 265 N.E.2d 679. In applying this rule the trial court sentenced defendant only on the most serious offense, armed robbery. The sole issue presented on this appeal is the narrow issue of whether the court should have entered judgments of conviction on the other two offenses even though no sentences were imposed or, according to the defendant, whether the entry of judgments of conviction on these charges was error.
Generally, the problems related to multiple offenses committed by the same defendant have involved questions of whether the offenses arose from the same act or conduct. If the multiple offenses arise from the same act or conduct it is clear that only one sentence for the most serious offense may be imposed. (People v. Whittington, 46 Ill. 2d 405, 265 N.E.2d 679). The effect or application of the rule on the other offenses has not received extensive discussion and the applicable rule has usually depended on dispositional phraseology. (See, People v. Lilly, 9 Ill.App.3d 46, 291 N.E.2d 207 (leave to appeal granted).) Where the trial court's action regarding multiple offenses arising from the same act or conduct has been found to be erroneous, the court in recent cases has employed such dispositional language as, " the judgment entered on the defendant's conviction of attempted armed robbery is reversed" (People v. Prim, 53 Ill.2d 62, 289 N.E.2d 601), or "For the reasons given, the judgments of the Circuit Court of Lake County and Will County are affirmed, except for that portion of the judgment of the Circuit Court of Lake County convicting the defendant of aggravated battery, which portion is reversed." (People ex rel. Walker v. Pate, 53 Ill. 2d 485, 292 N.E.2d 387. See also, People Hoffman, 9 Ill.App.3d 842, 293 N.E.2d 16, and People v. Steen, 9 Ill.App.3d 448, 292 N.E.2d 513). In People v. Perry, 47 Ill. 2d 402, 266 N.E.2d 330, only one sentence was imposed where multiple offenses were charged and the court in an appeal from a post conviction proceeding approved the conviction and sentence without indicating the effect of its approval on the lessor charges.
In People v. Leggett, 2 Ill.App.3d 962, 275 N.E.2d 651, followed in People v. Short, 4 Ill.App.3d 832, 281 N.E.2d 783, the court concluded that even though a single sentence had been imposed for the most serious offense, a judgment of conviction for another offense arising from the same act or conduct was improper. The court adopted and applied the rationale of People v. Schlenger, 13 Ill.2d 63, 147 N.E.2d 316, to the effect that an offender should not be punished twice for the same act or conduct. The court referred to the effect of convictions for other offenses on the defendant's potential for parole. To this consequence might be added the effects on the defendant's future prospects for employment, rehabilitation and general reputation; If in the instant case the convictions for the offenses of robbery and theft are permitted to stand, it is difficult to avoid the conclusion either legally or practically that defendant has been convicted of three felonies. While not sentenced for three felonies, a distinction is one which neither court, parole board, employer nor fellow citizen is likely to appreciate. We believe the rule of Leggett is consistent with the objective of punishing an offender only once for the same act or conduct.
In accord with the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the Circuit Court of Tazewell County is affirmed as it relates to the defendant's conviction and sentence for armed robbery. The judgments of convictions for robbery and theft are reversed.
Judgment affirmed in part and reversed in. part.
Alloy, P. J., concurs.