Opinion ID: 3135612
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Warren Averett

Text: Defendant Warren Averett was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver (720 ILCS 570/401(c)(1) (West 2004)). Prior to trial, he moved in limine to bar the State from using his prior convictions as impeachment. Averett sought to exclude evidence of his conviction of possession of a controlled substance in 1999 and his convictions of delivery of a controlled substance in 1999 and 2000. The circuit court of Cook County reserved its ruling on the admissibility of the prior convictions for impeachment purposes, stating “the court’s policy here is, I will not make a decision in regards to that until I hear the testimony of [defendant] and determine whether or not it becomes relevant to those three convictions.” Based on the trial court’s decision to defer ruling on his motion in limine, Averett chose not to testify at trial. Defense counsel stated Averett did not want to risk being impeached with his prior convictions if the trial court ruled adversely on his motion in limine. After being admonished on his right to testify, Averett confirmed he did not want to testify. Regarding Averett’s claim based on the jury’s question, the record shows that approximately 45 minutes after deliberations began, the jury sent a note asking, “Where is the $60 found on the defendant? Why was this not submitted as evidence?” The jury’s note also stated, “Clarify the charges of intent to sell defined by the Court?” The trial court consulted with the prosecutor and defense counsel on drafting a response. With the parties’ agreement, the trial court responded with a note stating, “You have heard all of the testimony and received all of the evidence and the instructions on the law. Please continue to deliberate.” The jury found Averett guilty of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and the trial court sentenced him to eight years’ imprisonment. On appeal, Averett argued that the trial court abused its discretion -2- in refusing to rule on his motion in limine until after he testified and that the trial court failed to answer properly the jury’s question requesting clarification of the charges. The appellate court disapproved of the trial court’s blanket policy of refusing to rule on motions in limine until after hearing the defendant’s testimony. The appellate court, nevertheless, held that the issue was not reviewable because Averett failed to testify. The appellate court also held Averett waived his challenge to the trial court’s response to the jury’s question. Further, the plain-error rule did not apply because the trial court did not abuse its discretion in responding to the question. The appellate court, therefore, affirmed the trial court’s judgment, but modified the fines, fees, and costs order to reflect monetary credit for the time Averett spent in custody prior to sentencing. 381 Ill. App. 3d 1001.