Opinion ID: 2248921
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 15

Heading: Consecutive vs. Concurrent Sentencing

Text: Defendant's next issue for review is whether the consecutive sentences for attempted murder should be made concurrent. He argues that by virtue of having the sentence of death imposed upon him, he is not subject to consecutive terms of imprisonment for the remaining sentences, relying upon People v. Terrell (1989), 132 Ill.2d 178, 138 Ill.Dec. 176, 547 N.E.2d 145. Although the State would concede the point, we find it proper to disagree. The decision in Terrell is distinguishable. The Terrell court found the imposition of consecutive sentences untenable because the first of two sentences by which the consecutive nature would be determined was a death sentence. However, the Terrell court had previously found that the death sentence was not a sentence which would subject the defendant to compliance under the consecutive sentencing statute. ( Terrell, 132 Ill.2d at 229, 138 Ill.Dec. 176, 547 N.E.2d 145.) Thus, the defendant there could not be subjected to consecutive sentences. According to the statute, [t]he court shall not impose consecutive sentences for offenses which were committed as part of a single course of conduct during which there was no substantial change in the nature of the criminal objective, unless, one of the offenses for which defendant was convicted was a Class X or Class 1 felony and the defendant inflicted severe bodily injury, in which event the court may enter sentences to run consecutively. (Ill.Rev. Stat.1985, ch. 38, par. 1005-8-4(a).) Both attempted murders are subject to Class X sentences, and the record reveals severe bodily injury in the gunshot wound to Brian Walkowiak. These requirements having been met, the trial judge was not precluded from imposing consecutive 30-year sentences for the two attempted murder convictions. Defendant is correct only insofar as the 30-year sentences cannot run consecutive to the death sentence.