Opinion ID: 3135116
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: People v. Barefield

Text: Barefield was charged with four counts of unlawful possession of four stolen motor vehicles (625 ILCS 5/4–103(a)(1) (West 1996)) and one count of aggravated possession of stolen motor vehicles (625 ILCS 5/4–103.2(a)(1) (West 1996)), relating to the same four motor vehicles. Prior to trial, Barefield’s counsel presented an oral motion in limine to preclude the State from introducing evidence of his prior felony conviction for burglary to a motor vehicle. In the alternative, Barefield requested that the mere-fact method of impeachment be used to inform the jury only that Barefield had a prior conviction and the year of that conviction. The State agreed to the mere-fact method of impeachment. The trial court granted Barefield’s request to use mere-fact impeachment. Barefield testified during direct examination that he had a prior felony conviction from “a couple of years ago.” He further testified he had no knowledge any of the automobiles were stolen, and he denied possessing any of the stolen automobiles. The jury found Barefield guilty of all five offenses. The trial court sentenced Barefield to 15 years in prison for the aggravated possession count and four 7-year prison terms for each of the simple possession counts, all to run concurrently. Barefield filed a posttrial motion but did not contest the trial court ruling on his motion in limine . On appeal, Barefield argued the trial court erred by using the mere-fact impeachment method. He further argued his four convictions for simple possession should be vacated as carved from the same physical acts that formed the basis of the aggravated possession conviction. The appellate court found Barefield had waived both issues. As to the mere-fact impeachment issue, the appellate court held Barefield induced the error and, in light of the overwhelming evidence of guilt, the error was harmless. The appellate court further held Barefield’s convictions did not violate the one-act, one-crime rule of People v. King , 66 Ill. 2d 551 (1977). The appellate court reasoned that, unlike the simple possession counts, the aggravated possession count required proof of possession within a certain time period. The appellate court further reasoned the two statutes at issue specifically provide that each individual offense shall not include the offense set forth in the other provision. The dissent disagreed that Barefield had induced the error concerning mere-fact impeachment, but concurred that defendant had not been prejudiced by the error because the trial court had balanced the prejudicial effect of the convictions against their probative value. The dissent also determined that the four simple possession convictions were subsumed by the aggravated possession conviction and should be vacated. Barefield appeals, essentially renewing the arguments he made before the appellate court.