Title: People v. Devenny
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: 91291
State: Illinois
Issuer: Illinois Supreme Court
Date: April 18, 2002

Docket No. 91291-Agenda 10-January 2002.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Appellant, v. 
 								JEREMY DEVENNY, Appellee.

Opinion filed April 18, 2002.


	JUSTICE THOMAS delivered the opinion of the court:
	The sole issue in this case is whether the 15-year sentencing
enhancement for armed robbery while in possession of a firearm
(720 ILCS 5/18-2(a)(2), (b) (West 2000)) is valid and enforceable.
We hold that it is not.

BACKGROUND
	Defendant, Jeremy Devenny, was charged by indictment with
robbery (720 ILCS 5/18-1 (West 2000)) and armed robbery while
in possession of a firearm (720 ILCS 5/18-2(a)(2) (West 2000)).
Although armed robbery is classified generally as a Class X
felony, subsection (b) of the armed robbery statute provides that,
for armed robberies while in possession of a firearm, "15 years
shall be added to the term of imprisonment imposed by the court."
720 ILCS 5/18-2(b) (West 2000). Prior to trial, defendant filed a
motion arguing that the 15-year sentencing enhancement both
violates the proportionate penalties clause of the Illinois
Constitution (Ill. Const. 1970, art. I, §11) and constitutes an
unlawful double enhancement. The circuit court of Du Page
County agreed with both of defendant's arguments, invalidated the
15-year enhancement, and dismissed the armed robbery count. The
State immediately appealed under Supreme Court Rule 604(a)(1)
(145 Ill. 2d R. 604(a)(1)). Because the trial court's ruling
invalidates a statute of this state, the appeal was taken directly to
this court. 134 Ill. 2d R. 603.


ANALYSIS
	A statute is presumed constitutional, and the party challenging
the statute bears the burden of demonstrating its invalidity. In re
K.C., 186 Ill. 2d 542, 550 (1999). This court has a duty to construe
a statute in a manner that upholds its validity and constitutionality
if it reasonably can be done. People v. Malchow, 193 Ill. 2d 413,
418 (2000). Whether a statute is constitutional is a question of law
that we review de novo. Malchow, 193 Ill. 2d  at 418.
	This appeal is controlled by our decision People v. Walden,
No. 90976 (April 18, 2002). In Walden, this court concluded that
the 15-year sentencing enhancement for armed robbery while in
possession of a firearm violates the proportionate penalties clause
of the Illinois Constitution and therefore is unenforceable. Walden,
slip op. at 5. Given the identity of issue between this appeal and
Walden, we hold that the trial court's order invalidating the 15-year enhancement in this case was proper.

CONCLUSION
	The judgment of the circuit court of Du Page County is
affirmed, and the cause is remanded for further proceedings
consistent with this opinion.
Affirmed and remanded.