Opinion ID: 2148851
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Introduction of Religious Practices Evidence

Text: Defendant next contends that he was denied his first amendment right to the free exercise of his religion where his religious activities were introduced in aggravation during his sentencing hearing. Specifically, defendant complains of his cellmate's, Benjamin Lieu's, testimony concerning the religious rituals defendant practiced and the religious materials defendant read while in their cell. The State argues that defendant failed to object to the introduction of this testimony and, as a result, he has waived the issue for purposes of appeal. See People v. Enoch, 122 Ill.2d 176, 186, 119 Ill.Dec. 265, 522 N.E.2d 1124 (1988) (holding that to properly preserve an issue for review, both a trial objection and a written post-trial motion are required). Our review of the record reveals that defendant failed to make a contemporaneous objection to the introduction of his religious activities at trial. We therefore find any error waived. Defendant contends, however, that this court should review his free exercise claim under the plain error doctrine. Even where a defendant fails to properly preserve an issue for review, plain errors affecting substantial rights may be considered if (1) the evidence is closely balanced or (2) the error is of such magnitude that it deprives the defendant of a fair sentencing hearing. People v. Fields, 135 Ill.2d 18, 60, 142 Ill.Dec. 200, 552 N.E.2d 791 (1990). Since we conclude that the trial court did not err in admitting the religious activities evidence, we shall not review defendant's claim under the plain error rule. In Dawson, the United States Supreme Court emphasized that there is no per se bar to the admission of evidence concerning beliefs or activities which are protected under the first amendment; rather, the evidence is admissible if it bears a relationship to the charged crime. Dawson, 503 U.S. at 165-66, 117 L.Ed.2d at 317, 112 S.Ct. at 1098. Dawson indicates, then, that evidence of constitutionally protected religious activities is admissible if used for something more than general character evidence. Here, the testimony concerning the religious rituals defendant practiced and the religious materials he read was not introduced as mere character evidence; rather, it was tied to the murder of his victim. See Dawson, 503 U.S. at 166, 117 L.Ed.2d at 317, 112 S.Ct. at 1098. At trial, Jean Rogoz testified that when she asked defendant why he set the mattress on fire and burned the victim, defendant replied, To free his spirit. Similarly, Lieu testified at trial that defendant told him that he hit the victim several times because the victim's spirit was very strong. At the sentencing hearing, Lieu testified that defendant chanted and tossed an eagle feather about while naked in his cell, claiming that these actions would cause the spirits to come. Not only did Lieu's testimony at the sentencing hearing corroborate Rogoz's testimony at trial, it also shed light on defendant's peculiar statements following the crime. The evidence suggests that defendant's religious beliefs informed his actions during the murder of the victim. As such, we find unpersuasive defendant's assertion that the religious activities evidence introduced at the sentencing hearing constituted nothing more than irrelevant character evidence held impermissible under Dawson. The trial court thus did not err in admitting this evidence in aggravation at the sentencing hearing.