Court Opinion

ID: 3135642
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-22 17:40:16.127765+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:16:56.408303
License: Public Domain

ILLINOIS OFFICIAL REPORTS
                                         Supreme Court

                                People v. Kladis, 2011 IL 110920

Caption in Supreme         THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Appellant, v. MARINA
Court:                     KLADIS, Appellee.

Docket No.                 110920
Filed                      December 30, 2011

Held                       A squad-car video recording of a misdemeanor DUI arrest was
(Note: This syllabus       discoverable, and there was no abuse of discretion in sanctioning its
constitutes no part of     destruction, subsequent to a timely request to produce, by barring the
the opinion of the court   arresting officer’s testimony as to what was on the tape.
but has been prepared
by the Reporter of
Decisions for the
convenience of the
reader.)

Decision Under             Appeal from the Appellate Court for the First District; heard in that court
Review                     on appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County, the Hon. William H.
                           Wise, Judge, presiding.

Judgment                   Affirmed; cause remanded.
Counsel on                Lisa Madigan, Attorney General, of Springfield, and Anita Alvarez,
Appeal                    State’s Attorney, of Chicago (Alan J. Spellberg, Annette Collins and John
                          E. Nowak, Assistant State’s Attorneys, of counsel), for the People.

                          Edward M. Maloney, of Ahern, Maloney, Moran & Block, of Skokie,
                          Louis A. Berns, of Favil David Berns & Associates, LLC, of Northlake,
                          Robert B. Marcus and Michael Maksimovich, of Lyons, and Katie M.
                          Anderson, of Chicago (Ralph Ruebner, of Chicago, of counsel), and
                          Danielle L. Berns and Nikki G. Ashmore, law students, for appellee.

Justices                  JUSTICE FREEMAN delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
                          Chief Justice Kilbride and Justices Thomas, Garman, Karmeier, Burke,
                          and Theis concurred in the judgment and opinion.

                                            OPINION

¶1        Defendant, Marina Kladis, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI)
      (625 ILCS 5/11-501(a)(2) (West 2006)). She requested that the State produce the video
      recording of the stop made by the camera located in the arresting officer’s vehicle. After the
      State destroyed the recording, the circuit court of Cook County granted defendant’s motion
      for sanctions and barred the State from introducing testimony concerning what was contained
      on the videotape. The State filed a certificate of substantial impairment and a notice of
      appeal. The appellate court affirmed. 403 Ill. App. 3d 99. We granted the State’s petition for
      leave to appeal and now affirm the judgment of the appellate court.

¶2                                        BACKGROUND
¶3        On May 3, 2008, defendant was arrested for DUI by Northlake police officer Phillip
      Gaske. On May 8, 2008–five days after her arrest and 25 days prior to the first court date on
      June 3, 2008–defendant filed and hand delivered to the State’s Attorney’s office a petition
      to rescind her statutory summary license suspension. Defendant also filed and delivered on
      the same date a document captioned “Notice to Produce at Summary Suspension Hearing.”
      The notice was premised upon our Rule 237 (Ill. S. Ct. R. 237 (eff. July 1, 2005)) and
      requested that at the first court date the State produce the arresting officer along with copies
      of various reports and “any and all video tapes of defendant” while she was in custody.
¶4        On June 3, 2008, at approximately 1:30 p.m., the parties appeared in court for the first

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     time.1 Because the State had not yet produced the materials defendant had previously
     requested, defense counsel made an oral motion for discovery, pursuant to People v. Schmidt,
     56 Ill. 2d 572 (1974), which included the videotape. Because the State claimed that it did not
     know whether such a tape existed, Officer Gaske–who was present for the hearing–was
     questioned. Gaske confirmed that his squad car had a camera mounted to the windshield
     which had recorded his encounter with defendant.
¶5       The State thereafter agreed to produce all the requested materials–including the
     videotape–to defense counsel.2 Later in the day on June 3, the State mailed written discovery
     to counsel and a request for the video recording to the Northlake police department. By
     agreement, the hearing on defendant’s petition to rescind the statutory summary suspension
     of her driver’s license was entered and continued to June 17, 2008.
¶6       When the parties returned to court on that date, the State tendered to defense counsel a
     two-page business record from the Northlake police department. This document stated that
     pursuant to departmental policy, video recordings are automatically purged within 30 days
     of arrest, and that the tape requested by defendant had been erased at 4:24 a.m. on June 3,
     2008, just hours before the parties first appeared in court. Because the requested evidence
     had been destroyed, and in view of the fact that, but for its absence, defendant would have
     been ready to proceed on her petition to rescind the statutory summary suspension, the court
     granted her leave to file a written motion for sanctions against the State.3 The court scheduled
     a hearing on the sanctions motion for June 26, 2008, and further ordered that the hearing on
     the petition to rescind the statutory summary suspension would proceed immediately after
     the court ruled on the motion for sanctions.
¶7       Upon their return to court on June 26, the parties discovered that the judge handling this
     case had been transferred, and they appeared before a different judge who was unfamiliar
     with what had previously transpired. The parties stipulated to the facts in the case up to that
     point, and then engaged in brief argument on defendant’s sanctions motion.
¶8       The court found that the “Notice to Produce” which accompanied defendant’s petition
     to rescind her statutory summary suspension placed the State on clear notice that she wished
     to have a copy of the video recording at the first court date–a fact which the State did not

             1
              No transcripts exist for the June 3, 2008, court date or for the proceedings subsequently held
     on June 17, 2008. However, during a court hearing on June 26, 2008, the parties stipulated as to what
     transpired on those earlier dates.
             2
               We note that at no time did the State dispute that it received defendant's Rule 237 request
     for production of the video recording, nor did the State object to defendant’s oral Schmidt motion
     to preserve and produce the same recording referenced in her earlier request for production. The
     record, therefore, unquestionably establishes that the State was fully on notice regarding defendant's
     repeated requests to obtain the recording, a fact supported by its ready agreement during this hearing
     to produce it.
             3
              This motion, which was premised on our Rule 219 (Ill. S. Ct. R. 219 (eff. July 1, 2002)),
     was filed on June 20, 2008.

                                                  -3-
       dispute. The State, however, did nothing in response. The court observed that the State
       “could have called the police department and got the tape prior to the time that it ran out” or
       it “could have filed an answer *** stating it’s not our obligation [to produce the tape] yet
       because we don’t deem this to be a discovery motion *** [because it includes] things
       requested in here that we don’t have to supply to you.”
¶9         Noting that this was “the third case I have had like this in three weeks” where a defendant
       asked the State to preserve a video recording and it was destroyed, the court found the
       recording of defendant’s traffic stop to be “an important piece of evidence” and held that
       imposition of a sanction against the State for its destruction was proper. The court
       determined that it would bar the State from introducing testimony relating to what was
       contained on the tape. However, because no one had seen the recording, defendant called
       Officer Gaske to establish its contents and thereby clarify the scope of the court’s ruling.
¶ 10       Gaske testified that the in-car video system begins recording five seconds prior to the
       activation of the emergency lights. At that time, the microphone he wears is also activated.4
       According to Gaske, the tape would have captured the following: images of defendant’s car
       five seconds prior to the stop; the manner in which defendant pulled over and curbed her
       vehicle; defendant’s actions when he approached her vehicle; the manner in which defendant
       opened her car door and exited her vehicle; and defendant’s performance of the field sobriety
       tests. Gaske stated that he turned off the emergency lights prior to transporting defendant to
       the station, and it was then that the recording ended.
¶ 11       The court then clarified its sanction ruling, holding that “[t]he video may not be used for
       any purpose from five seconds prior to the lights going on at the time that the defendant was
       stopped getting out of the car until she was taken away via the arrest.” The court specified,
       however, that any driving or actions of defendant prior to this were admissible, as were any
       of her actions after she was placed under arrest.
¶ 12       The court then proceeded to conduct the hearing on defendant’s petition for recision of
       the statutory summary suspension of her driver’s license. Although defendant answered
       ready, the State requested leave to immediately file a notice of appeal of the sanctions ruling.
       However, because the State did not ask the court to certify an interlocutory appeal on the
       sanctions issue and because there was no final judgment in the statutory summary suspension
       matter at that time, the State’s request was denied.
¶ 13       The hearing on defendant’s petition proceeded. Based upon the evidence presented, the
       court held that Officer Gaske had no probable cause to stop, detain and arrest defendant.
       Accordingly, defendant’s petition to rescind the statutory summary suspension of her driver’s
       license was granted.
¶ 14       Defense counsel then made an oral motion to quash arrest and suppress evidence in

               4
                After defendant’s arrest, Gaske realized that the microphone was not on, and believed that
       the recording of that encounter would not have had audio.

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       defendant’s criminal DUI case. The court instructed counsel to file a written pleading5 and
       the parties set a return date by agreement. The State then renewed its request for leave to file
       an appeal, which was granted. The State thereafter filed an appeal of the sanctions ruling in
       the statutory summary suspension case. However, it later voluntarily dismissed that action.
       Accordingly, that ruling is not at issue here.
¶ 15        The parties returned on September 2, 2008. The court inquired of the State whether it
       wished to “relitigate the sanctions for purposes of trial.” The State responded that “[t]here
       is going to be a lot of the same testimony, and we were here, basically, for arguments and for
       ruling [on] the criminal case at hand.” The court then granted defendant’s motion for
       sanctions in the DUI case, stating that its ruling would be “exactly the same” as on June 26.
       The court held that “the video may not be used, or any testimony regarding what is on the
       video pertaining to just before the officer stopped the defendant and the time that the
       defendant was placed in the squad car, which would mean anything that happened on the
       street prior to her being placed in the squad car.” As it had in the summary suspension
       matter, the court again clarified that any relevant evidence of defendant’s conduct which
       occurred before and after the recording would be admissible.
¶ 16        After the court had ruled, the State maintained that the court’s decision on the sanctions
       motion substantially impaired its ability to prosecute defendant. Based upon the court’s
       understanding of the State’s position, it granted the State leave to file a certificate of
       substantial impairment and a notice of appeal of the sanction order.
¶ 17        The appellate court upheld the sanctions imposed by the trial court in the DUI case. 403
       Ill. App. 3d 99. Applying Schmidt, the court held that the video recording was discoverable,
       and that the State was placed on notice that it should not be destroyed. Nevertheless, the
       State took no action in response to defendant’s discovery request, which set the stage for the
       deletion of the recording. The appellate court further determined that the sanction imposed
       by the trial court was proportionate to the State’s discovery violation and that there was no
       abuse of discretion.
¶ 18        We granted the State’s petition for leave to appeal (Ill. S. Ct. R. 315 (eff. Feb. 26, 2010)).

¶ 19                                          ANALYSIS
¶ 20       The State does not dispute that it was placed on notice by defendant to produce the
       recording of her stop and arrest in the civil statutory summary suspension proceedings. The
       State also does not contest that its inaction resulted in the destruction of this recording, and,
       in fact, concedes that the sanction was proper in that matter.
¶ 21       The State does contend, however, that its conduct has no import with respect to
       defendant’s criminal DUI case. Asserting that discovery in misdemeanor actions is strictly
       limited by our decision in People v. Schmidt, 56 Ill. 2d 572 (1974), and noting that video
       recordings are not included within Schmidt’s list of discoverable items, the State maintains

               5
                Defendant filed her “Motion to Quash Arrest and Suppress Evidence Illegally Seized” on
       July 10, 2008.

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       that it had no obligation to produce the recording. The State therefore concludes that its
       failure to preserve the recording was not sanctionable in the DUI case and the trial court
       abused its discretion by doing so. We disagree.

¶ 22                                    A. Discovery Violation
¶ 23        The State contends that because the trial court had no discretion to order discovery in a
       misdemeanor case beyond the limited areas set forth in People v. Schmidt, 56 Ill. 2d 572
       (1974), it therefore erred in imposing sanctions against the State. A trial court’s decision to
       impose sanctions is reviewed under an abuse of discretion standard. People v. Ramsey, 239
       Ill. 2d 342, 429 (2010). A trial court abuses its discretion when its decision is “fanciful,
       arbitrary, or unreasonable to the degree that no reasonable person would agree with it.”
       People v. Ortega, 209 Ill. 2d 354, 359 (2004).
¶ 24        We must first determine whether the State’s failure to produce and preserve the video
       recording of the stop and arrest in defendant’s misdemeanor DUI case constitutes a discovery
       violation. This court addressed the scope of discovery required in a misdemeanor case nearly
       40 years ago in People v. Schmidt, 56 Ill. 2d 572 (1974). There, the defendant was charged
       with a misdemeanor DUI. She sought pretrial discovery of various reports, including a
       “Driving While Intoxicated Arrest Report,” which the State refused to produce. Id. at 573.
¶ 25        In holding that the requested report should have been tendered to the defendant, we
       observed that it was only one of a number of items a misdemeanor defendant may discover:
                     “The State is required to furnish defendants in misdemeanor cases with a list of
                witnesses (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1971, ch. 38, par. 114-9), any confession of the defendant
                (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1971, ch. 38, par. 114-10), evidence negating the defendant’s guilt
                (Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 10 L. Ed. 2d 215, 83 S. Ct. 1194), and, in this
                particular case, the results of the breathalyzer test (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1971, ch. 95½, par.
                11-501(g)). Additionally, the report which the defendant seeks will be available at
                trial for use in impeachment of the prosecution witness who prepared it. (People v.
                Cagle, 41 Ill. 2d 528.)” Id. at 575.
       This ruling was based on “the discovery provided [for] by case law and statute” at that time,
       and distinguished its limited scope from the broader discovery available for felony cases
       under our Rule 411. Id. at 574-75. Our decision to limit discovery in misdemeanor matters
       was based on “our awareness of the very substantial volume of less serious cases and the
       impact upon their expeditious disposition” if broader discovery were required. Id. We
       concluded that there was “no reason to depart from th[e] view” that the scope of discoverable
       items noted in that opinion was “adequate for the lesser offenses” at the time of that ruling.
       Id. at 575.
¶ 26        The State misapprehends our decision in Schmidt and interprets it in a far too narrow
       manner. Schmidt determined the scope of discovery in misdemeanor cases by considering
       relevant decisions, statutes, and custom and practice as it existed in 1974. From this survey,
       the Schmidt court drew together a number of items which share important evidentiary value
       and are relevant to those charged with offenses in crafting a defense. Indeed, our case law
       with respect to discovery at that time was clear. We previously held that pretrial discovery

                                                  -6-
       “presupposes a range of relevance and materiality which includes not only what is admissible
       at the trial, but also that which leads to what is admissible.” Krupp v. Chicago Transit
       Authority, 8 Ill. 2d 37, 41 (1956). The State overlooks the nature and relevancy of these
       discovery items, instead focusing on the incorrect concept that Schmidt set forth a rigid list
       which it believes should remain static and not take into account the fundamental changes
       which have occurred in law and society since that ruling.
¶ 27        Relevancy is “determined by reference to the issues, for generally, something is relevant
       if it tends to prove or disprove something in issue.” Bauter v. Reding, 68 Ill. App. 3d 171,
       175 (1979). In the nearly four decades since we decided Schmidt, video recordings made by
       in-squad car cameras in misdemeanor DUI cases have become as relevant to the issue of
       proving or disproving guilt as the materials specifically mentioned in Schmidt. As such,
       allowing their discovery furthers the objectives of pretrial discovery to “enhance the truth-
       seeking process, to enable attorneys to better prepare for trial, to eliminate surprise and to
       promote an expeditious and final determination of controversies in accordance with the
       substantive rights of the parties.” D.C. v. S.A., 178 Ill. 2d 551, 561 (1997).
¶ 28        Since the time of Schmidt, the use of video recordings as evidence at trial has become a
       common practice to allow a defendant the opportunity to present an effective defense and to
       further the truth-seeking process. We recently reaffirmed the general admissibility of such
       evidence (People v. Taylor, 2011 IL 110067), and courts across the country are increasingly
       relying on video recordings to present an objective view of the facts in a case. See, e.g., Scott
       v. Harris, 550 U.S. 372 (2007) (relying on a squad car video recording, Supreme Court
       reversed lower court’s denial of summary judgment on claim against the officer for the use
       of excessive force; Court found that a videotape capturing the events in question clearly
       contradicted the version of the story told by the driver and adopted by the court of appeals,
       and stated that the court of appeals should have viewed the facts in the light depicted by the
       videotape); United States v. Prokupek, 632 F.3d 460 (8th Cir. 2011) (reversing the district
       court’s denial of the defendant’s motion to suppress on the basis that the officer’s testimony
       at the suppression hearing was clearly contradicted by his contemporaneous statements
       captured on the squad-car video recording).
¶ 29        In sum, we conclude that the routine video recording of traffic stops has now become an
       integral part of those encounters, objectively documenting what takes place by capturing the
       conduct and the words of both parties. We therefore hold that this important and relevant
       evidence falls within the scope of materials held to be discoverable under Schmidt. We
       therefore clarify that under Schmidt, these video recordings are discoverable in misdemeanor
       DUI cases.
¶ 30        This conclusion is supported by several recent legislative enactments regarding
       recordings of traffic stops made by law enforcement officers. Although the passage of these
       laws occurred subsequent to defendant’s arrest in this case, the great importance placed by
       the General Assembly upon the production and preservation of video recordings made by
       squad car cameras during law enforcement actions confirms our recognition of their
       significant evidentiary value and relevance.
¶ 31        In late 2008 our legislature mandated that Illinois State Police squad cars be equipped

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       with recording equipment. 20 ILCS 2610/30(b) (West 2008) (Pub. Act 95-1009 (eff. Dec.
       15, 2008)). The law specified that both video and audio must be captured (id.) and required
       that these recordings be maintained for a storage period of at least 90 days before being
       destroyed. 20 ILCS 2610/30(f) (West 2008).
¶ 32        The following year, the General Assembly clarified and broadened the production and
       preservation safeguards for police recordings. It established the general rule that when any
       law enforcement agency makes an in-squad video and audio recording in connection with
       either law enforcement or investigative duties, that recording shall be retained for a minimum
       period of 90 days. 720 ILCS 5/14-3(h-15) (West 2010) (Pub. Act 96-670 (eff. Aug. 25,
       2009)). Significantly, the legislature has also mandated an extended period of storage for
       certain recordings. Where “the recordings *** are made as a part of an arrest or *** are
       deemed evidence in any criminal, civil, or administrative proceeding” they cannot be
       destroyed except “upon a final disposition and an order from the court.” Id. We note that this
       heightened protection is triggered either where, as here, an arrest occurred or where the
       recording is considered to be evidence in any criminal, civil or administrative proceeding.
       Significantly, the General Assembly placed no restriction on this latter factor, encompassing
       all proceedings.
¶ 33        The transcript of the debates of the 2009 enactment reveals that the General Assembly
       intended that the routine recording of traffic stops by squad car cameras would be of benefit
       to both citizens and law enforcement agencies by providing an objective record of what
       occurred during the encounter. This is illustrated by remarks made by the sponsor of this
       provision, who explained that “[i]t’s a tool for law enforcement, but I also believe it is a tool
       for the citizens, too, because then there is actual proof of what was said or what was done.
       So I think it’s a protection for both.” 96th Ill. Gen. Assem., House Proceedings, April 2,
       2009, at 84-85 (statements of Representative Dugan).
¶ 34        These enactments express the clear legislative intent that the purpose of recording traffic
       stops and preserving these recordings for later production is to assist in the truth-seeking
       process by providing objective evidence of what occurred between the law enforcement
       officer and the citizen. As noted in the legislative history, the General Assembly enacted
       these laws with the view that these recordings could be useful to both the State and the
       defendant. If the recording reflects the defendant committing an offense, the State could use
       it to cement his or her guilt. The reverse is also true: if the recording does not clearly reflect
       commission of a crime, the defendant could use it in support of his or her defense. In either
       instance, the recording assists the trier of fact in seeking the truth and at arriving at a just
       result.
¶ 35        The State contends, however, that requiring discovery of video recordings in
       misdemeanor DUI cases is unduly burdensome and will delay the judicial process. Noting
       that the limited scope of misdemeanor discovery set forth in Schmidt was partially driven by
       consideration of the large number of misdemeanor actions and the desire to efficiently move
       them through the system, the State contends these same considerations apply with equal force
       today. We believe that the particular facts of this case undermine the State’s general
       assertions.

                                                  -8-
¶ 36       The record indicates that defendant’s request was not one that was unique in any way.
       The State never formally objected to the request, nor did it contend that it fell outside of
       Schmidt. Further, we note that during oral argument before this court, counsel for the State
       was asked to comment on the fact that the State had readily agreed to produce and preserve
       the videotape in this matter. He responded: “We have no problem tendering these videos in
       a particular case. If the defendant asks for it, and it is available, we will do so. *** It’s just
       a matter of collegiality.”
¶ 37       The video recording is relevant and admissible evidence because it reveals what
       transpired during the traffic stop which serves to further the truth-seeking function of a trial.
       This evidence may be helpful to both the defendant and the State. Indeed, the flow of cases
       actually going to trial may be eased upon allowing defendants and their counsel to review
       these recordings: those which reflect events favorable to the State may result in defendants
       willing to enter pleas which they otherwise may not have contemplated. This also advances
       the purpose of our DUI statutes to ensure that our roads remain safe from impaired drivers.
¶ 38       We therefore agree with the courts below that upon receiving the written Rule 237 notice
       to produce the video recording five days after defendant was arrested–and 25 days before it
       was destroyed–the State was placed on notice and should have taken appropriate steps to
       ensure that it was preserved.6
¶ 39       In sum, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in finding that the video
       recording of defendant’s stop and arrest was subject to discovery in her misdemeanor DUI
       case and that the State committed a discovery violation by allowing the destruction of the
       recording. We next address the question of whether the sanction imposed by the trial court
       was appropriate for the discovery violation.

¶ 40                        B. Reasonableness of the Discovery Sanction
¶ 41        The State contends that the discovery sanction imposed by the trial court was too harsh
       for the circumstances presented in this case and, therefore, amounted to an abuse of
       discretion. According to the State, the sanction was “effectively a dismissal of the charges
       as it prevented the officer from testifying about all of the relevant facts showing that
       defendant was driving under the influence of alcohol.” We reject the State’s contentions.
¶ 42        The correct sanction to be applied for a discovery violation is a decision appropriately
       left to the discretion of the trial court, and its judgment shall be given great weight. People
       v. Morgan, 112 Ill. 2d 111, 135 (1986). The trial court is in the best position to determine an
       appropriate sanction based upon the effect the discovery violation will have upon the

               6
                Although the Rule 237 notice was filed in the civil summary suspension proceeding, the
       State explained at oral argument that the summary suspension proceeding and the criminal DUI case
       proceed in tandem, before the same judge and with the same State’s Attorneys handling both matters.
       Although the better practice would be for the defendant to request production of the video recording
       in both proceedings, we have no doubt that in this case the State was aware of the need to preserve
       the recording. Indeed, defendant also made an oral motion for discovery pursuant to Schmidt during
       the proceedings on the first court date.

                                                   -9-
       defendant. People v. Koutsakis, 255 Ill. App. 3d 306, 314 (1993). As stated, an abuse of
       discretion exists only where the decision of the trial court is fanciful, arbitrary, or
       unreasonable to the degree that no reasonable person would take the view adopted by the trial
       court. Ortega, 209 Ill. 2d at 359.
¶ 43        The record clearly establishes that the discovery sanction imposed by the trial court did
       not preclude the State from prosecuting defendant. The court’s sanction ruling was narrowly
       tailored, and provided that “[t]he video may not be used for any purpose from five seconds
       prior to the lights going on at the time that the defendant was stopped getting out of the car
       until she was taken away via the arrest.” Notably, the court also clearly specified that any
       driving or actions of defendant prior to the start of the recording were admissible, as were
       any of her actions after she was placed under arrest.
¶ 44        Accordingly, under the court’s ruling, Officer Gaske was not barred from testifying;
       rather, his testimony was limited to observations regarding events other than those captured
       on the purged recording. Thus, the State could have questioned Officer Gaske concerning any
       erratic driving on the part of defendant prior to her being stopped. Gaske could also have
       been questioned about defendant’s behavior after he deactivated the lights and placed her in
       his squad car to transport her back to the police station, which occurred immediately after
       defendant performed the field sobriety tests. Gaske could have offered any observations of
       indications of intoxication at that time, including whether defendant exhibited bloodshot and
       glassy eyes, slurred speech or an odor of alcohol. He also could have testified to any
       problems with balance or dexterity defendant may have had as she arrived at the police
       station for processing. Thus, contrary to the State’s assertion that the court’s sanction
       “removed all possible proof that defendant had been driving under the influence of alcohol,”
       the State could have questioned Gaske on any of these points. It declined to do so.
¶ 45        As stated, the authority to impose reasonable sanctions for discovery violations lies
       within the sound discretion of the trial court. Here, the court properly exercised its discretion
       in choosing from the spectrum of available options and narrowly tailoring its sanction to bar
       the State from introducing testimony regarding what was contained in the video recording.
       Contrary to the State’s assertion that the sanction was disproportionate to the discovery
       violation because it “excluded all evidence that defendant was guilty beyond a reasonable
       doubt,” the record establishes that the State made the conscious decision not to participate
       in the trial and to forgo the opportunities available to present evidence apart from that which
       was barred under the sanction.
¶ 46        Accordingly, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in imposing this
       sanction against the State. We therefore affirm the sanction order entered by the trial court
       against the State. We remand this cause to the trial court for further proceedings on the
       State’s prosecution of defendant’s misdemeanor DUI case.

¶ 47                                     CONCLUSION
¶ 48      For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the appellate court is affirmed. This cause is
       remanded to the circuit court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

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¶ 49   Affirmed;
¶ 50   cause remanded.

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