Opinion ID: 2032236
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: While working as an investment representative at Edward Jones, defendant, James P. Graves, misappropriated a $20,000 check entrusted to him by a 71-year-old man and his 93-year-old mother. Defendant later pleaded guilty to unauthorized theft of more than $10,000 but not more than $100,000, an offense that ordinarily is a Class 2 felony carrying a sentence of 3 to 7 years in prison. 720 ILCS 5/16-1(a)(1), (b)(5) (West 2000); 730 ILCS 5/5-8-1(a)(5) (West 2000). However, because the victims in this case were 60 years of age or older, defendant was eligible for an extended-term sentence of 7 to 14 years in prison. 730 ILCS 5/5-5-3.2(b)(4)(ii), 5-8-2(b)(4) (West 2000). The circuit court of Bureau County imposed an extended-term sentence of 12 years and ordered defendant to pay the victims $20,000 in restitution. Before the appellate court, defendant first argued that his extended-term sentence was unconstitutional under the United States Supreme Court's decision in Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000). In support, defendant noted that the statutory aggravating factor in this case i.e., the age of the victimswas neither charged in the indictment nor proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Citing this court's decision in People v. Jackson, 199 Ill.2d 286, 263 Ill.Dec. 819, 769 N.E.2d 21 (2002), the appellate court held that defendant's guilty plea waived any Apprendi -based challenges to his sentence. 332 Ill.App.3d 685, 688, 266 Ill.Dec. 173, 773 N.E.2d 1243. In the alternative, defendant argued that his 12-year sentence violates the proportionate penalties clause of the Illinois Constitution (Ill. Const.1970, art. I, § 11). In support, defendant argued that, although the offense of unauthorized theft of $20,000 from a victim over the age of 60 is identical to that of theft by deception of $20,000 from a victim over the age of 60, the former offense carries a prison term of 7 to 14 years while the latter offense carries a prison term of only 3 to 7 years. The appellate court agreed with defendant, explaining that [s]ince the two offenses require the same elements [citations], yet carry significantly different penalties, we find that the penalties are unconstitutionally disproportionate. 332 Ill.App.3d at 690, 266 Ill.Dec. 173, 773 N.E.2d 1243. Accordingly, the appellate court vacated defendant's extended-term sentence and remanded the cause for proper sentencing. 332 Ill.App.3d at 691, 266 Ill.Dec. 173, 773 N.E.2d 1243. Finally, defendant argued that the $20,000 restitution payment should be redirected from the victims to Edward Jones. According to defendant, Edward Jones has already reimbursed the victims for their $20,000 loss, and thus the payment of an additional $20,000 to the victims would constitute an unjustified windfall. The appellate court did not reach the merits of this argument, instead remanding the cause for further fact finding. 332 Ill.App.3d at 691, 266 Ill.Dec. 173, 773 N.E.2d 1243. We allowed the State's petition for leave to appeal. 177 Ill.2d R. 315(a).