Opinion ID: 2017830
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Motion to Vacate Proceedings

Text: On June 22, 1992, defendant moved to vacate his guilty plea on the grounds that it was not knowingly or intelligently entered. Defendant argued that his counsel was ineffective for failing to properly advise him concerning the consequences of pleading guilty. Specifically, defendant argued that he was not advised by his attorney that he could waive a trial by jury and that defendant could request a bench trial. In addition, defendant claimed that he was not advised that by entering a guilty plea he was waiving the issue of whether Illinois courts had jurisdiction over the murder charge. The circuit court held a hearing on the motion to withdraw defendant's guilty plea. The defense called Andrea Lyon, an experienced death penalty defense attorney, as its only witness. Lyon testified that she discussed defendant's case with one of defendant's attorneys. Lyon further testified that she was surprised to learn during this conversation that defendant had pleaded guilty without negotiation and without defense counsel's conducting an extensive investigation of potential mitigation. Two witnesses testified for the State. James Reed, a deputy jailor with the Bureau County sheriff's department, spoke with defendant on June 20, 1992, at the jail. At that time, defendant told him that he did not want to withdraw his plea. Troy Wren, the Bureau County probation officer, also spoke with defendant on June 23, 1992, and defendant told him that he pleaded guilty in order to avoid trial. After hearing arguments, the circuit court denied defendant's motion. The court ruled that it had admonished defendant regarding the consequences of entering a guilty plea, including the fact that defendant was waiving the right to have his guilt determined by the court. The court further ruled that it did not believe that by pleading guilty defendant waived the jurisdictional defect that defendant claimed existed in the case. The sentencing hearing was then set to begin August 17, 1992.