Court Opinion

ID: 6327468
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-03-28 20:03:59.506652+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:22:25.604288
License: Public Domain

2022 IL App (2d) 200600-U
                                       No. 2-20-0600
                                 Order filed March 28, 2022

      NOTICE: This order was filed under Supreme Court Rule 23(b) and is not precedent
      except in the limited circumstances allowed under Rule 23(e)(1).
______________________________________________________________________________

                                            IN THE

                            APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS

                              SECOND DISTRICT
______________________________________________________________________________

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE                ) Appeal from the Circuit Court
OF ILLINOIS,                           ) of Lee County.
                                       )
      Plaintiff-Appellee,              )
                                       ) Nos. 17-CF-250
v.                                     )       18-CF-53
                                       )
THOMAS W. FIALA,                       ) Honorable
                                       ) Jacquelyn D. Ackert,
      Defendant-Appellant.             ) Judge, Presiding.
______________________________________________________________________________

      JUSTICE BRENNAN delivered the judgment of the court.
      Justices Zenoff and Jorgensen concurred in the judgment.

                                           ORDER

¶1    Held: The record did not support defendant’s argument that postplea counsel breached
            his duties under Rule 604(d) by failing to include two particular claims in counsel’s
            amended motion to withdraw defendant’s guilty pleas. As for the first claim—that
            plea counsel was ineffective for misadvising defendant that certain pending cases
            would be dropped in exchange for his pleas—postplea counsel was not at fault for
            failing to raise it, because defendant first mentioned it at the hearing on the amended
            motion to withdraw the pleas. As for the second argument—that the trial court in
            sentencing defendant did not give due mitigation consideration to his guilty pleas—
            postplea counsel was not obligated to adopt this claim of defendant’s, and, in any
            event, the claim would not have succeeded.
2022 IL App (2d) 200600-U

¶2     Defendant, Thomas W. Fiala, appeals from the dismissal of his amended motion to vacate

his guilty plea, arguing that postplea counsel failed to comply with Illinois Supreme Court Rule

604(d) (eff. July 1, 2017). For the reasons that follow, we affirm.

¶3                                      I. BACKGROUND

¶4     On October 27, 2017, defendant was charged (in case No. 17-CF-250) by amended

information with two counts of making a false application or affidavit (MFA) (15 ILCS

335/14C(a)(1), (a)(3) (West 2016)). On December 20, 2018, defendant was charged (in case

No. 18-CF-53) by information with one count of armed violence (720 ILCS 5/33A-2(a) (West

2018)), two counts of aggravated battery (id. § 12-3.05(c), (a)(1)), one count of unlawful

possession of a weapon by a felon (UPWF) (id. § 24-1.1(a)), one count of unlawful use of a weapon

(id. § 24-1(a)(8)), and one count of battery (id. § 12-3(a)(1)).

¶5     A plea hearing took place on October 31, 2019, at which defendant, who was represented

by private counsel, agreed to plead guilty (in case No. 17-CF-250) to one count (count II) of MFA,

a Class 4 felony (15 ILCS 335/14C(a)(3), (b)(1) (West 2016)), and (in case No. 18-CF-53) to one

count (count IV) of UPWF, a Class 3 felony (720 ILCS 5/24-1.1(a), (e) (West 2018)). In exchange,

the State agreed to nolle pros the remaining counts; there was no agreement on the sentence.

Defendant confirmed his understanding of the agreement, the charges, and the potential sentences.

He also confirmed that he understood that the State made no promises on sentencing, that the court

would determine the sentence on each count, and that the sentences would be consecutive.

Defendant acknowledged that he was giving up his right to a trial, which included his right to

present witnesses. Defendant confirmed that no one was forcing him to plead guilty and that no

one promised him anything, apart from the plea agreement, to induce his guilty plea.

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2022 IL App (2d) 200600-U

¶6     The trial court heard the factual bases for the pleas. The State asserted that, as to the offense

of UPWF, the evidence would establish that, on March 17, 2018, a Dixon police officer was

dispatched for a disturbance at PatiO’s in Dixon. Upon arrival, several witnesses stated that

defendant possessed a switchblade during the disturbance. Defendant then admitted that he

possessed a switchblade. Defendant had previously been convicted of a felony. As to the offense

of MFA, the evidence would establish that a Secretary of State police officer investigated a claim

that defendant applied for an identification card under the name of Danelle J. Fiala. Defendant

confirmed to the investigating officer that the digital images connected with the identity of

defendant and that of Danelle J. Fiala were both images of defendant. Defendant claimed it was

an error and stated that he did not know how to get in touch with Danelle. Defendant’s brother,

David Fiala, confirmed that Danelle died in 1955. A death certificate confirmed Danelle’s death.

¶7     The trial court found the factual bases sufficient and accepted defendant’s guilty pleas. The

court nol-prossed counts I, II, III, V, and VI in case No. 18-CF-53 and count I in case No. 17-CF-

250, and it ordered a presentencing investigation.

¶8     A sentencing hearing took place on December 18, 2019. The State requested a sentence of

three years on the MFA conviction and eight years on the UPWF conviction, to be served

consecutively. Plea counsel requested a one-year sentence on the MFA conviction and a two-year

sentence on the UPWF conviction. The trial court sentenced defendant to three years on the MFA

conviction and to the maximum sentence of ten years on the UPWF conviction, to be served

consecutively.

       On January 14, 2020, defendant filed a pro se “Motion for Withdrawal of Guilty Plea,”

stating only that he wished to withdraw his guilty plea in both cases. Plea counsel did file a

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2022 IL App (2d) 200600-U

“Motion to Vacate Guilty Plea,” on January 15, 2020, asking for time to supplement the motion

after complying with Rule 604(d) (eff. July 1, 2017).

¶9      On February 21, 2020, defendant filed a second pro se “Motion for Withdrawal of Plea.”

In it, he stated that he instructed plea counsel to withdraw the guilty pleas but that counsel failed

to do so. In addition, he stated:

        “[Plea counsel] told me in court the reason my critical witness Detective Plumb from Ogle

        Co. Sherrifs [sic] Dept. was’nt [sic] there was because he intended to commit purgury [sic]

        on the stand! The other 4 witnesses also were not subpoenad [sic]. [Plea counsel] made this

        decision behind my back at the last minute against my instructions! Moreover ther [sic] is

        also the mysterious neglect of the Establishment surveilance [sic] tape wich [sic] [the State

        and plea counsel] would’nt [sic] use because Like the owner, the barmaid and myself

        would say It showed exactly what happened! That i was assaulted, beaten and robbed!!!!

        [Plea counsel] also attempted to have me sign an appellate motion relinquishing him from

        any further responsibilities for these two cases! But I refused. Somethings [sic] seriously

        afoul here and i intend to prove it at all costs!”

¶ 10    On March 10, 2020, plea counsel filed a motion to withdraw as counsel, citing defendant’s

possible claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. The trial court granted the motion and

appointed the Lee County Public Defender’s Office to represent defendant in the postplea

proceedings.

¶ 11    On July 2, 2020, postplea counsel filed a “Motion to Withdraw Plea of Guilty and Vacate

Judgment.” Counsel asserted: (1) defendant’s plea was not knowing or voluntary, (2) defendant is

actually innocent, (3) plea counsel was ineffective for failing to use video surveillance to exonerate

him of the UPWF charge and for failing to call certain witnesses, and (4) defendant’s sentences

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2022 IL App (2d) 200600-U

were excessive in that the court “did not take into account the appropriate factors in mitigation

and/or relied too heavily on the factors in aggravation.”

¶ 12   Also on July 2, 2020, postplea counsel filed a certificate under Rule 604(d) (eff. Jul 1,

2017), stating:

                  “1. I have consulted with the Defendant in person, by mail, by phone or by

       electronic means to ascertain the defendant’s contentions of error in the entry of the plea

       of guilty and in the sentence;

                  2. I have examined the trial court file and report of proceedings of the plea of guilty

       and the report of proceedings in the sentencing hearing; and

                  3. I have made any amendments to the motion necessary for the adequate

       presentation of any defects in those proceedings.”

¶ 13   On September 30, 2020, postplea counsel filed a “First Amended Motion to Withdraw Plea

of Guilty and Vacate Judgment.” Counsel reasserted the claims that (1) defendant’s plea was not

knowing or voluntary, (2) defendant is actually innocent, and (3) plea counsel was ineffective for

failing to use video surveillance to exonerate him of the UPWF charge and for failing to call certain

witnesses. Counsel eliminated the claim that defendant’s sentences were excessive and replaced it

with the following two paragraphs:

                  “The Defendant claims he was not given any ‘consideration’ for his guilty plea in

       18 CF 53, notwithstanding the State’s open court dismissal of Counts I, II, III, V & VI per

       Defendant’s open plea to Count IV in 18 CF 53, a Class 3 felony. (The dismissed counts

       included a Class X felony, a Class 3 felony, a Class 4 felony and a Class A Misdemeanor).

                  *** The Defendant contends he was entitled to more consideration to enter his open

       plea in both matters captioned herein since the Court sentenced the Defendant to the

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2022 IL App (2d) 200600-U

       maximum term possible in 18 CF 53 (10 years [Department of Corrections (DOC)].

       Defendant contends that there is a lack of the required consideration since his sentence was

       the maximum permitted by law, although the Court stated that no promises were made by

       the State to defendant as to what the Court’s sentence would be and that the Court alone

       would be determining the sentence of 2 to 10 years [DOC].”

The motion asked the trial court to “allow defendant to withdraw the plea of guilty entered herein,

vacate the judgment and set this case for pre-trial conference and disposition.”

¶ 14   Also on September 30, 2020, postplea counsel filed a second certificate under Rule 604(d)

(eff. July 1, 2017), which was identical to his previous certificate.

¶ 15   A hearing on the motion to withdraw defendant’s guilty plea took place on October 13,

2020. On direct examination by postplea counsel, defendant agreed that he acknowledged at the

plea hearing that he was entering an open plea, that the State had made no promises about

sentencing, that the court would determine the sentence on each count, and that the sentences

would run consecutively. He also confirmed that he was admonished as to the sentencing range

for each offense, that he recognized his rights and agreed to waive them, and that no one forced

him to plead guilty.

¶ 16   However, defendant claimed that none of his statements at the plea hearing were

“voluntary,” because they were based on plea counsel’s advice “to keep things simple” and to

“[j]ust answer as [counsel] instructed [him].” Defendant testified that he “had no choice” but to

rely on plea counsel’s advice because he “was in a hypoglycemic instability.” Defendant testified:

“[Plea counsel] never clarified what terms I was pleading guilty to. He led me to believe that [case

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2022 IL App (2d) 200600-U

No. 18-CF-53] as well as Ogle County were going to be dropped.”1 Defendant testified that plea

counsel “[led] him to believe that the evidence and argument [could] be made to exonerate the

[MFA charge].”

¶ 17   Defendant testified that no promises were made to induce his plea, “aside from [plea

counsel] telling [him] that Ogle and [case No. 18-CF-53] would be abolished.” He also testified

that he “was never made aware that all the terms were to be served consecutively.” He further

elaborated:

       “[Plea counsel] said that I would be looking at perhaps the most of two years on [case

       No. 18-CF-53] if not getting it exonerated altogether. I would be looking at the minimum

       based on circumstantial evidence for [case No. 17-CF-250] and he further told me that the

       State’s Attorney in Ogle County would dismiss the cases once these were completed in Lee

       County.”

When asked whether he was forced to plead guilty, he replied: “Nobody had a gun to my head.”

¶ 18   Defendant also testified that, at the time of the plea, he did not understand the trial court’s

admonishments. He did not recall waiving his right to a trial. He stated: “[W]hy in God’s earth

would I deny my right to call five—make that six—specific witnesses, including Detective Plum,

who could exonerate me from that charge? Why would I do that?” He testified that plea counsel

       1
           During the pendency of this action, defendant had been arrested in Ogle County and

charged with aggravated battery, domestic battery, and disorderly conduct, stemming from an

incident that occurred on June 21, 2019, between defendant and his mother (case Nos. 19-CF-146

and 19-OP-121).

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2022 IL App (2d) 200600-U

never used the video showing that defendant had been “assaulted, beaten and robbed” and did not

call the witnesses who could exonerate him.

¶ 19   Defendant was also questioned by postplea counsel about the sentences he received:

              “Q. Okay. It’s your contention that you were sentenced in excess of what you

       should have been given considering the fact that you pled guilty. Is that right?

              A. Absolutely.

              Q. Okay. What was your sentence in the first matter?

              A. That would be [case No. 18-CF-53]?

              Q. Yes.

              A. I got the maximum sentence on that.

              Q. It’s your contention that you should not have received the maximum because the

       State didn’t give you any consideration?

              A. Absolutely not.

              Q. Make—can you make that clear for us? Do you—do you think you got

       consideration for entering that plea?

              A. Oh, absolutely not.

              Q. Okay. Notwithstanding the fact that prior to your plea the State stated that for

       your plea in [case No. 18-CF-53] they dismissed Counts 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 of that charge,

       which included a Class X felony, a Class 3 felony and 4 Felony for which you would have

       been extended term also. Do you contend today that that was not consideration?

              A. No, it’s not consideration because none of that ever happened. That was

       fabricated charges.

              Q. Okay. Thank you.”

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2022 IL App (2d) 200600-U

¶ 20   At the end of his examination of defendant, postplea counsel inquired: “Are you satisfied

that I brought up all the concerns that we talked about that you wanted me to bring before the

Court?” Defendant responded, “I think you covered—I think you covered them just fine[.]”

¶ 21   In closing arguments, postplea counsel argued:

               “Your Honor, [defendant] submits respectfully that all of his detailed testimony

       given this afternoon is in full support of his first amended motion to withdraw plea of guilty

       and vacate judgment in that his plea was not knowing, it was not voluntary, and it was

       brought about through ineffective assistance of counsel. Thank you.”

¶ 22   The trial court denied the motion, noting defendant’s statements and acknowledgments at

the plea hearing. The court noted that, at the plea hearing, defendant was advised that it was an

open plea (the nature of which the court explained) and acknowledged that he understood (1) the

charges, (2) the possible penalties, (3) that the State made no promise on sentencing, (4) that the

court would decide the individual sentences on the counts, and (5) that the sentences would be

consecutive. The court also noted that defendant acknowledged the rights that he would waive if

he pleaded guilty. The court further observed that the State agreed to dismiss five counts, one of

which was a Class X felony, and that, without such concessions, defendant would have faced a

much longer sentence than what was ultimately imposed. The court also noted that defendant never

indicated that he had difficulty hearing the proceedings or that he was having any health issues.

The court also remarked that defendant expressed no concerns on the day of the plea, despite his

past willingness to voice concerns.

¶ 23   This timely appeal followed.

¶ 24                                      II. ANALYSIS

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2022 IL App (2d) 200600-U

¶ 25   Defendant argues that postplea counsel failed to comply with Rule 604(d) (eff. July 1,

2017), because counsel failed to make “necessary” amendments to defendant’s pro se motion to

withdraw his guilty plea. More specifically, defendant argues that postplea counsel (1) failed to

include defendant’s claim “that [defense] counsel was ineffective for misadvising [defendant] that

two pending cases would be dismissed if he plead guilty although [defendant] testified to this

during the hearing on the motion” and (2) “failed to raise a viable sentencing issue in a motion to

reconsider sentence.”

¶ 26   Rule 604(d) “governs the procedure to be followed when a defendant wishes to appeal from

a judgment entered upon a guilty plea.” (Internal quotation marks and citation omitted.) People v.

Curtis, 2021 IL App (4th) 190658, ¶ 29. The rule provides, in pertinent part, as follows:

               “No appeal from a judgment entered upon a plea of guilty shall be taken unless the

       defendant, within 30 days of the date on which sentence is imposed, files in the trial court

       a motion to reconsider the sentence, if only the sentence is being challenged, or, if the plea

       is being challenged, a motion to withdraw the plea of guilty and vacate the judgment.

               ***

               The motion shall be in writing and shall state the grounds therefor. *** The motion

       shall be presented promptly to the trial judge by whom the defendant was sentenced ***.

       The trial court shall then determine whether the defendant is represented by counsel, and

       if the defendant is indigent and desires counsel, the trial court shall appoint counsel.

               *** The defendant’s attorney shall file with the trial court a certificate stating that

       the attorney has consulted with the defendant either by phone, mail, electronic means or in

       person to ascertain defendant’s contentions of error in the sentence and the entry of the

       plea of guilty, has examined the trial court file and both the report of proceedings of the

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2022 IL App (2d) 200600-U

        plea of guilty and the report of proceedings in the sentencing hearing, and has made any

        amendments to the motion necessary for adequate presentation of any defects in those

        proceedings.” Ill. S. Ct. R. 604(d) (eff. July 1, 2017).

¶ 27    It is well established that counsel must strictly comply with the certificate requirements of

Rule 604(d). See People v. Janes, 158 Ill. 2d 27, 33, 35 (1994). If counsel does not, we must

remand the matter to the trial court “for the filing of a new Rule 604(d) certificate, for the filing of

a new motion to withdraw guilty plea or to reconsider sentence, and for a new hearing on the

motion.” See People v. Gorss, 2022 IL 126464, ¶ 31. In addition, even where a Rule 604(d)

certificate is valid on its face, remand is required if the record refutes the certificate. People v.

Bridges, 2017 IL App (2d) 150718, ¶ 8. Here, there is no dispute that postplea counsel’s Rule

604(d) certificate is valid on its face. Thus, the issue is whether, as defendant claims, the record

refutes the certificate and demonstrates that postplea counsel failed to comply with the rule by

failing to make “necessary” amendments. “Whether counsel complied with Rule 604(d) is a legal

question that we review de novo.” Gorss, 2022 IL 126464, ¶ 10.

¶ 28    Defendant first argues that the record refutes postplea counsel’s certificate and

demonstrates that counsel failed to comply with Rule 604(d), because postplea counsel never

amended the motion to include defendant’s claim that plea counsel was ineffective for misadvising

defendant that certain pending cases would be dismissed if he pleaded guilty. Relying on People

v. Curtis, 2021 IL App (4th) 190658, the State responds that the record does not refute postplea

counsel’s certificate, because (1) before defendant’s testimony at the motion hearing, nothing

indicates that he wanted to raise such a claim, and (2) the transcript from the plea hearing reflects

that defendant was properly admonished and acquiesced to the terms of the plea. We agree with

the State.

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2022 IL App (2d) 200600-U

¶ 29    Curtis is instructive. There, the defendant pleaded guilty to two drug offenses, and the State

dismissed several other pending charges, including being an armed habitual criminal and UPWF.

Id. ¶¶ 4-5. The State presented evidence at the sentencing hearing that the defendant possessed

firearms and had traded illegal drugs for a gun. Id. ¶¶ 10-11. Plea counsel objected to any

testimony regarding the weapons. Id. ¶ 12. The trial court overruled the objection, and, in

sentencing the defendant, noted that it did not place substantial weight on the fact that the

defendant traded illegal drugs for a firearm. Id. ¶¶ 12,16-17. Later, the defendant filed a letter,

which the trial court construed as a motion to withdraw the guilty plea and reconsider the sentence.

Id. ¶ 18. In the letter, defendant argued that he was “ ‘hurt’ ” by the evidence presented at the

sentencing hearing of “ ‘the gun charge that was dropped.’ ” Id. He further argued that plea counsel

told him that someone else claimed ownership of the gun, which was why the State was willing to

drop the “ ‘gun charge.’ ” Id. The defendant argued that, when the State later argued at sentencing

that the defendant possessed the weapon, he felt that he had been “tricked” into pleading guilty.

Id. The defendant was appointed counsel, who filed a Rule 604(d) certificate and an amended

motion to withdraw the defendant’s guilty plea or, alternatively, reconsider his sentence. Id. ¶ 21.

The amended motion alleged that the defendant would not have pleaded guilty had he known that

the weapons charges would be used against him at sentencing. Id. ¶¶ 19, 21. At the hearing on the

amended motion, the defendant testified that he pleaded guilty only because plea counsel told him

that the weapons charges would not be used against him. Id. ¶ 22. The trial court denied the motion.

Id. ¶ 25.

¶ 30    The defendant appealed, arguing that, although postplea counsel filed a facially valid Rule

604(d) certificate, the record refuted postplea counsel’s “certification that [counsel] made the

amendments necessary to [the] defendant’s pro se filing to adequately present defects in the guilty

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2022 IL App (2d) 200600-U

plea proceedings.” Id. ¶ 37. Specifically, the defendant argued that postplea counsel “should have,

but failed, to allege [that] withdrawal of [the defendant’s] pleas was warranted due to [plea

counsel’s] ineffectiveness in giving ‘affirmative misadvise’ regarding the use of evidence relating

to [the] defendant’s dismissed weapons charges.” Id.

¶ 31   The Fourth District determined that the record did not refute postplea counsel’s

certification. Id. The court found nothing in the record, before the defendant’s testimony at the

hearing, that supported his claim that plea counsel improperly advised him about the effect of the

dismissed weapons charges or that even indicated his desire to raise such a claim. Id. ¶ 38. The

court noted that the defendant’s pro se motion raised no claim that plea counsel provided improper

or erroneous advice about pleading guilty. Id. In addition, the court noted that the transcript of the

plea hearing reflected only that the defendant was properly admonished and that his pleas were

knowing and voluntary. Id. The court found, moreover, that the claim omitted from the motion

itself was “in essence” presented, through the defendant’s testimony at the motion hearing. Id.

¶ 39. The Fourth District concluded that postplea counsel strictly complied with Rule 604(d). Id.

¶¶ 38, 41.

¶ 32   Here, as in Curtis, we find nothing in the record, before defendant’s testimony at the motion

hearing, to support defendant’s claim that plea counsel improperly advised him that certain charges

would be dismissed if he pleaded guilty. Contrary to defendant’s assertion, his pro se motion did

not raise any such claim. Defendant’s reference in his pro se motion to conversations with plea

counsel concerning the availability of certain witnesses would not have alerted postplea counsel

to a claim that plea counsel misadvised defendant that certain charges would be dismissed. In

addition, the transcript of the guilty plea hearing reflects only that defendant was properly

admonished and that defendant’s guilty pleas were knowing and voluntary. Defendant was advised

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2022 IL App (2d) 200600-U

of the terms of the pleas and agreed with them. (We note that defendant’s claim that he believed

that “[case No. 18-CF-53] would be abolished” is puzzling given that he expressly pleaded guilty

to count IV in that case.) Defendant stated that no one was forcing him to plead guilty and that no

promises, apart from the plea agreement, had been made to him. “It is well settled that a defendant

must alert the court at the guilty plea proceeding if his decision to plead guilty was influenced by

something counsel told him that differed from the terms of the plea as described in court.” Diaz,

2021 IL App (2d) 191040, ¶ 24. He did not do so here—either when he pleaded guilty or when he

filed his pro se motion. “[A] facially valid Rule 604(d) certificate cannot be rebutted solely by a

defendant’s spurious claim that counsel misadvised him before he pleaded guilty, when the record

reflects something completely contrary.” Id. ¶ 30.

¶ 33   Moreover, as in Curtis, postplea counsel “in essence” put the claim that was missing from

the amended motion before the trial court through defendant’s testimony. Defendant testified that

his plea was involuntary because plea counsel “led [defendant] to believe that [case No. 18-CF-

53] as well as Ogle County were going to be dropped.” Defendant testified that no promises were

made to him when he pleaded guilty, “aside from [plea counsel] telling [him] that Ogle and [case

No. 18-CF-53] would be abolished.” The trial court rejected defendant’s argument, based on

defendant’s assurances at the plea hearing.

¶ 34   Defendant’s reliance on People v. Winston, 2020 IL App (2d) 180289, does not warrant a

different conclusion, as it is readily distinguishable. In Winston, this court considered, (in what

was the defendant’s third appeal from the denial of her motion to withdraw her guilty plea),

whether postplea counsel failed to comply with Rule 604(d) despite filing a facially valid

certificate. Id. ¶¶ 1, 12. After the defendant filed a pro se postplea motion to “ ‘change plea,’ ”

appointed postplea counsel filed an amended motion alleging that the defendant’s guilty plea was

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2022 IL App (2d) 200600-U

involuntary because the defendant was unaware that a felony conviction would adversely affect

her educational and employment opportunities. Id. ¶ 3. At the hearing, postplea counsel also

argued that there were “ ‘some questions’ ” as to whether the evidence was sufficient to prove the

defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and that “ ‘justice would be better served’ ” by setting

the case for trial. Id. The court denied the motion. On appeal, we vacated and remanded, because

postplea counsel failed to properly certify his compliance with Rule 604(d). Id. ¶¶ 1, 3.

¶ 35   On remand, postplea counsel filed a facially valid certificate. People v. Winston, 2017 IL

App (2d) 160574-U, ¶ 9. At the hearing, which took place in the defendant’s absence, counsel

indicated that he had no new arguments to offer and presented “an exceedingly brief, incomplete,

and unenlightening summary” of the grounds contained in the original motion. Id. ¶ 13. The trial

court denied the motion. Id. ¶ 6. We reversed on appeal due to the inadequacy of the hearing,

noting that it “did not reflect the appropriate focus and consideration of [the] defendant’s motion.”

Id. ¶¶ 2, 13. In so doing, we noted that “[c]ounsel even failed to acknowledge the additional

insufficiency of the evidence argument he put forth orally at the first hearing that had not been part

of his written motion to withdraw defendant’s guilty plea.” Id. ¶ 13.

¶ 36   On the second remand, postplea counsel filed another facially valid Rule 604(d) certificate.

Winston, 2020 IL App (2d) 180289, ¶¶ 4, 12. At the hearing on the motion to withdraw, counsel

argued that the evidence was insufficient to prove defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and

elicited testimony from the defendant to that effect. Id. ¶¶ 4-5, 15. In support, counsel attempted

to admit as exhibits four statements from witnesses that were included in police reports, but the

State objected. Id. ¶ 8-9. The court sustained the objection and asked postplea counsel whether he

wanted to continue the hearing to bring in witnesses. Id. ¶ 10. Counsel declined the court’s offer,

maintaining that the statements he sought to admit were similar to the defendant’s testimony. Id.

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The court denied the motion to withdraw the plea, reasoning that, despite having the opportunity

to do so, the defendant failed to present evidence to support her claim. Id.

¶ 37   On appeal, we determined that postplea counsel’s failure to raise and support the

insufficiency-of-the-evidence claim in the amended motion refuted counsel’s Rule 604(d)

certificate. Id. ¶ 16. We found that, because counsel argued that the evidence was insufficient to

prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, “counsel was obligated to advance that

argument in an amended motion supported by affidavits from the witnesses whose testimony

supposedly would have exonerated defendant.” Id. ¶ 15.

¶ 38   Here, unlike in Winston, postplea counsel did not expressly adopt and then fail to properly

support defendant’s claim that his plea was involuntary due to counsel’s alleged misadvice that

certain charges would be dropped. Instead, as noted, this claim was raised by defendant for the

first time at the motion hearing. In addition, the court heard defendant’s testimony and rejected it

as rebutted by defendant’s testimony at the plea hearing.

¶ 39   Defendant also argues that the record refutes counsel’s certificate and demonstrates that he

failed to comply with Rule 604(d), because postplea counsel “failed to raise a viable sentencing

issue in a motion to reconsider sentence.” In response, the State cites People v. Jordan, 209 Ill.

App. 3d 983, 986 (1991), for the proposition that Rule 604(d) does not apply to motions to

reconsider sentence. The State argues that the question is whether defendant can establish that he

was prejudiced by postplea counsel’s failure to file a motion to reconsider the sentence. The State

is incorrect. When Jordan was decided, Rule 604(d) did not require postplea counsel to review the

transcript of the sentencing hearing. The version applicable here, however, did so require. See Ill.

S. Ct. R. 604(d) (eff. July 1, 2017).

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2022 IL App (2d) 200600-U

¶ 40   Nonetheless, defendant’s argument fails. Defendant again relies on Winston. Defendant

argues that postplea “counsel’s amended motion as well as the questions that he asked [defendant]

provided the contours of an excessive sentence claim.” According to defendant, because counsel,

as in Winston, acknowledged the issue, counsel’s failure to present the excessive sentence claim

in the proper form refutes the certificate. We disagree.

¶ 41   Again, we find Winston distinguishable. There, counsel did more than just acknowledge

the issue—he expressly argued it and unsuccessfully attempted to admit evidence to support it.

Counsel then declined the court’s offer to continue the hearing and bring in witnesses. Here,

postplea counsel did not expressly argue at the motion hearing that defendant’s sentences were

excessive. To be sure, in the initial motion to withdraw defendant’s guilty plea, which postplea

counsel filed on July 2, 2020, counsel did raise an express claim that defendant’s “sentences were

excessive and that the Court did not take into account the appropriate factors in mitigation and/or

relied too heavily on the factors in aggravation.” However, postplea counsel did not make that

excessive sentence claim in the “First Amended Motion.” Instead, counsel replaced it with

defendant’s claim that “he was not given any ‘consideration’ for his guilty plea ***,

notwithstanding the State’s open court dismissal” of five other counts and that “he was entitled to

more consideration to enter his open plea in both matters *** since the Court sentenced [him] to

the maximum term.” We disagree with defendant that this language and defendant’s testimony

required counsel to raise an excessive sentence claim in a motion to reconsider his sentence.

Although defendant may have believed that the trial court did not give him “consideration” for

entering his plea because the dismissed charges were “fabricated,” counsel was not obligated under

Rule 604(d) to adopt this allegation and craft it into an excessive sentence claim. See Diaz, 2021

IL App (2d) 191040, ¶ 26. As the record reflected and the trial court noted, in exchange for

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defendant’s plea, the State dismissed several other charges, one of which was a Class X felony that

would have subjected defendant to much longer sentences than what was imposed. Thus, a motion

for reconsideration of defendant’s sentence, based on defendant’s claim that he did not receive

“consideration” for his guilty plea, would have been futile and, as such, was not necessary.

¶ 42   Based on the foregoing, we find no support for defendant’s argument that the record refutes

counsel’s facially valid Rule 604(d) certificate.

¶ 43                                    III. CONCLUSION

¶ 44   For the reasons stated, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court of Lee County.

¶ 45   Affirmed.

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