Opinion ID: 2185279
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 13

Heading: Consideration of Improper Evidence in Sentencing

Text: Based on comments made by the trial judge when explaining the court's sentencing decision, defendant argues that the trial court improperly took into account the mere fact of his pending murder charge in the shooting of Gerardo Gonzalez without considering any evidence of the crime. Defendant also argues that the trial court's comments reveal that it improperly found defendant eligible for the death penalty on the additional bases of felony murder and murder of a witness to a crime. The State argues that defendant has waived this issue by failing to either object at trial or to raise it in his post-trial motion. We agree. Defendant has waived this issue. Moreover, defendant does not argue for application of the plain error doctrine nor does he claim that counsel was ineffective for failing to preserve this issue for review. Consequently waiver applies.