Court Opinion

ID: 7804113
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-08-26 22:02:25.358202+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:29:47.220089
License: Public Domain

2022 IL App (2d) 210366-U
                                         No. 2-21-0366
                                   Order filed August 26, 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 Lake County.
                                       )
      Plaintiff-Appellee,              )
                                       )
v.                                     ) No. 20-CF-1102
                                       )
MILES R. MICHEL,                       ) Honorable
                                       ) Mark L. Levitt,
      Defendant-Appellant.             ) Judge, Presiding.
______________________________________________________________________________

       JUSTICE BRENNAN delivered the judgment of the court.
       Justices Hudson and Birkett concurred in the judgment.

                                             ORDER

¶1     Held: Defendant’s Wisconsin stalking conviction was not substantially similar to a
             domestic battery conviction under Illinois law and, therefore, could not be used to
             enhance defendant’s domestic battery conviction to a Class 2 felony. We vacate
             defendant’s sentence, reduce his domestic battery conviction to a Class 3 felony,
             and remand for resentencing.

¶2     Following a jury trial, defendant, Miles R. Michel, was found guilty of domestic battery

(720 ILCS 5/12-3.2(a)(2) (West 2020)) and criminal trespass to a residence (id. § 19-4(a)(2)). The

trial court enhanced defendant’s domestic battery conviction to a Class 2 felony based on its belief

that defendant had four qualifying prior convictions (see id. § 12-3.2(b)), namely three prior
2022 IL App (2d) 210366-U

domestic battery convictions in Illinois and one prior stalking conviction in Wisconsin (see Wis.

Stat. Ann. § 940.32(2) (West 2008)). The court sentenced defendant to concurrent prison terms of

51 months for domestic battery and 36 months for criminal trespass to a residence. Following the

denial of his motion for reconsideration of his sentence, defendant timely appealed. On appeal,

defendant contends that the trial court committed reversible plain error when it enhanced his

domestic battery conviction to a Class 2 felony, because his Wisconsin stalking conviction was

not a prior qualifying conviction under the domestic battery statute. According to defendant, the

trial court should have enhanced his domestic battery conviction to only a Class 3 felony and

sentenced him accordingly. We agree. Therefore, we vacate defendant’s domestic battery sentence,

reduce his domestic battery conviction to a Class 3 felony, and remand for resentencing.

¶3                                     I. BACKGROUND

¶4     On August 5, 2020, defendant was indicted on one count of criminal trespass to a residence

(720 ILCS 5/19-4(a)(2) West 2020)). In a second indictment, filed on October 7, 2020, the State

added two counts of “ENHANCED” domestic battery (see id. § 12-3.2(b)). Count II alleged that

“defendant knowingly made contact of an insulting or provoking nature with [the victim], a family

or household member of the defendant, in that said defendant struck [the victim] about the body.”

Count III alleged that “defendant knowingly made contact of an insulting or provoking nature with

[the victim], a family or household member of the defendant, in that said defendant grabbed [the

victim] about the body.” In addition, each domestic battery count alleged that, at the time of the

offense, defendant “had four or more prior convictions for domestic battery under 720 ILCS 5/12-

3.2, in the Circuit Court of Lake County case numbers 17CM3627, 18CF264, and 18CF630, or for

a conviction in another jurisdiction for an offense substantially similar to stalking under 720 ILCS

5/12-7.4, in Kenosha County, Wisconsin case number 2009CF1047.”

                                               -2-
2022 IL App (2d) 210366-U

¶5     Following a jury trial, defendant was found guilty of criminal trespass to a residence and

domestic battery as alleged in count II, and not guilty of domestic battery as alleged in count III.

¶6     During sentencing, the State asked the trial court to elevate defendant’s domestic battery

conviction to a Class 2 felony:

               “Your Honor, the State in asking for a sentence here is asking Your Honor to

       consider the three prior Lake County domestic battery convictions as I listed out before in

       17-CF-3627, 18-CF-264, and 18-CF-630.

               In addition, we are asking you to consider as a fourth prior conviction a Kenosha

       County case 2009-CF-1047, a stalking as we believe it to be a substantially similar offense

       as required by the statute to have four prior convictions to make it a class-2. Even without

       that, it’s a class-3, two to five years[.]”

¶7     The State provided the trial court with a certified copy of a judgment of conviction entered

against defendant in the Kenosha County Circuit Court. The judgment indicated that, on October

20, 2009, defendant was found guilty of “Stalking,” a “Felony I,” based on a violation of

“940.32(2).” Defendant was also found guilty of “Criminal Trespass to Dwelling,” a misdemeanor.

The Kenosha court sentenced defendant to three years’ probation on each offense.

¶8     Defendant’s presentence investigation report (PSI) provided additional information about

the Kenosha County convictions. According to the PSI, on September 22, 2009, defendant was

arrested in Wisconsin for the following offenses: “Intimidate Victim/Use or Attempt Force,

Stalking, Battery, Criminal Trespass to Dwelling, Criminal Damage to Property (2cts), Disorderly

Conduct and Obstructing an Officer.” Police reports indicated that, “on September 7, 2009[,] the

defendant sent the victim threatening text messages throughout the day which included threatening

to kill her. On September 8, 2009[,] the defendant went to her home breaking the front door down.”

                                                     -3-
2022 IL App (2d) 210366-U

Defendant “slapped [the victim] in the face and shoulder” and also “picked the victim up by the

neck and threw her to the ground.” On December 15, 2009, “the court withheld the sentence and

placed defendant on three years’ probation for [the] offenses of[ ] Stalking and Criminal Trespass

to Dwelling. All remaining counts were withdrawn.”

¶9        Defense counsel asked for a sentence of intensive probation with periodic imprisonment.

However, counsel did not challenge the State’s position that defendant was eligible for Class 2

sentencing.

¶ 10      The trial court sentenced defendant to concurrent prison terms of 51 months for domestic

battery and 36 months for criminal trespass to a residence. In imposing sentence, the trial court

stated:

                    “Although you are extendable, and I do find the State has proven the underlying

          felony cases that qualify you for a class-2 felony. I am sentencing you within a range of a

          lower class felony, and I am not extending you on a class-4 although I believe you are

          eligible.”

¶ 11      Defendant moved for reconsideration of his sentence, arguing that it was excessive. On

June 28, 2021, the trial court denied the motion. That same day, defendant filed a notice of appeal.

On August 17, 2021, we granted defendant leave to file an amended notice of appeal. 1

          1
              The initial judgment order, dated June 22, 2021, erroneously excluded the domestic

battery conviction, entering judgment on only criminal trespass to a residence and erroneously

indicating that the sentence for that offense was 51 months. An amended judgment order was filed

on July 23, 2021, adding the domestic battery conviction and providing that it was a Class 2 felony

with a 51-month sentence. In addition, it corrected the sentence for criminal trespass to a residence.

                                                  -4-
2022 IL App (2d) 210366-U

¶ 12    This timely appeal followed.

¶ 13                                       II. ANALYSIS

¶ 14   Defendant argues that the trial court erred in enhancing his domestic battery conviction to

a Class 2 felony, because defendant did not have four prior qualifying convictions. Specifically,

defendant contends that under the plain language of section 12-3.2(b) of the Criminal Code of

2012 (Criminal Code) (id. § 12-3.2(b)), the court could not use his Wisconsin stalking conviction

as an enhancing conviction. The State responds that the trial court properly considered defendant’s

stalking conviction as an enhancing conviction because it was substantially similar to a domestic

battery conviction under section 12-3.2.

¶ 15   Defendant concedes that he forfeited this claim by failing to raise it below. See People v.

Bannister, 232 Ill. 2d 52, 76 (2008) (to preserve a sentencing claim for appeal, a defendant must

make a contemporaneous objection at the sentencing hearing and raise the issue in a postsentencing

motion). Nevertheless, defendant asks us to excuse the forfeiture and review the error under the

second prong of the plain-error doctrine. See People v. Foster, 2021 IL App (2d) 190116, ¶ 9. The

plain-error doctrine permits review of an otherwise forfeited error when

       “ ‘(1) a clear or obvious error occurred and the evidence is so closely balanced that the

       error alone threatened to tip the scales of justice against the defendant, regardless of the

       seriousness of the error, or (2) a clear or obvious error occurred and that error is so serious

However, it erroneously provided that the sentences were consecutive. A second amended

judgment order was filed on August 17, 2021, correctly reflecting that the sentences were

concurrent rather than consecutive. However, this judgment erroneously stated that the domestic

battery conviction was a Class 4 felony.

                                                -5-
2022 IL App (2d) 210366-U

       that it affected the fairness of the defendant’s trial and challenged the integrity of the

       judicial process, regardless of the closeness of the error.’ ” People v. Russell, 2022 IL App

       (2d) 190733, ¶ 44 (quoting People v. Piatkowski, 225 Ill. 2d 551, 565 (2007)); see Ill. S.

       Ct. R. 615(a) (eff. Jan. 1, 1967).

“To obtain sentencing relief under the second prong of the plain-error doctrine in the sentencing

context, a defendant must show a clear or obvious error and that ‘the error was so egregious as to

deny the defendant a fair sentencing hearing.’ ” Russell, 2022 IL App (2d) 190733, ¶ 50 (quoting

People v. Hillier, 237 Ill. 2d 539, 545 (2010)). We review this case for second-prong plain error.

¶ 16   Resolution of defendant’s argument requires us to construe statutory language. The

interpretation of a statute involves a question of law, which we review de novo. People v. Simpson,

2015 IL 116512, ¶ 29. The fundamental rule of statutory interpretation is to ascertain and give

effect to the legislature’s intent. Id. The most reliable indicator of the legislature’s intent is the

statutory language, given its plain and ordinary meaning. Id. When the statute’s language is clear

and unambiguous, it must be applied as written, without resorting to extrinsic aids of statutory

construction. People v. Smith, 2016 IL 119659, ¶ 27.

¶ 17   Section 12-3.2(a) of the Criminal Code provides:

               “(a) A person commits domestic battery if he *** knowingly without legal

       justification by any means:

               (1) Causes bodily harm to any family or household member;

               (2) makes physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature with any family or

       household member.” 720 ILCS 5/12-3.2(a) (West 2020).

Section 12-3.2(b), which addresses sentencing, provides that “[d]omestic battery is a Class A

misdemeanor.” Id. § 12-3.2(b). However, as is relevant here, “[d]omestic battery is a Class 2 felony

                                                -6-
2022 IL App (2d) 210366-U

if the defendant had 4 or more prior convictions under this Code for domestic battery (Section 12-

3.2), or 4 or more prior convictions under the law of another jurisdiction for any offense which is

substantially similar.” Id.

¶ 18    Here, there is no dispute that defendant had three prior domestic battery convictions under

section 12-3.2 of the Criminal Code (see id.). The question is whether defendant’s prior stalking

conviction in Wisconsin qualified as an “offense which is substantially similar” to domestic battery

such that it constituted a fourth prior conviction to enhance the defendant’s domestic battery

conviction to a Class 2 felony. See id.

¶ 19    The Wisconsin stalking statute (see Wis. Stat. Ann. § 940.32 (West 2008)) delineates three

degrees of stalking, depending on the presence of aggravating factors—Class I felony, Class H

felony, and Class G felony. See People v. Warbelton, 2009 WI 6, ¶ 39, 759 N.W.2d 557. The

Kenosha County judgment of conviction was under section 940.32(2), which defines simple

stalking, a Class I felony:

        “(2) Whoever meets all of the following criteria is guilty of a Class I felony:

                (a) The actor intentionally engages in a course of conduct directed at a specific

        person that would cause a reasonable person under the same circumstances to suffer

        emotional distress or to fear bodily injury to or the death of himself or herself or a member

        of his or her family or household.

                (b) The actor knows or should know that at least one of the acts that constitute the

        course of conduct will cause the specific person to suffer serious emotional distress or place

        the specific person in reasonable fear of bodily injury to or the death of himself or herself

        or a member of his or her family or household.

                                                -7-
2022 IL App (2d) 210366-U

               (c) The actor’s acts cause the specific person to suffer serious emotional distress or

       induce fear in the specific person of bodily injury to or the death of himself or herself or a

       member of his or her family or household.” Wis. Stat. Ann. § 940.32(2) (West 2008).

“ ‘Course of conduct’ means a series of 2 or more acts carried out over time” and includes, among

other things, “[a]ppearing at the victim’s home” and “[c]ontacting the victim by telephone.” Id.

§ 940.32(1)(a)(4), (1)(a)(6). The stalking offense may be enhanced to a Class H felony if any of

five aggravating factors are present. See id. § 940.32(2m)(a)-(e). The stalking offense may be

enhanced to a Class F felony if any of three aggravating factors are present, including that “[t]he

act results in bodily harm to the victim.” See id. § 940.32(3)(a).

¶ 20   The State argues that defendant’s Wisconsin stalking conviction is substantially similar to

domestic battery because both offenses “involve similar acts of physical violence against the

victim.” In support of its argument, the State cites to section 940.32(3)(a) of the Wisconsin stalking

statute, which, as noted above, lists “bodily harm to the victim” as an aggravating factor that

elevates stalking to a Class F felony. See id. The State also points to the PSI, which sets forth the

events that gave rise to defendant’s arrest and includes an allegation that defendant “slapped [the

victim] in the face and shoulder” and “picked the victim up by the neck and threw her to the

ground.”

¶ 21   The State’s argument fails upon consideration of the Wisconsin offense for which

defendant was convicted. Defendant was not convicted under section 940.32(3)(a) of the

Wisconsin stalking statute. The Kenosha County judgment of conviction indicates that defendant

was convicted of Class I felony stalking under section 940.32(2). Given the elements of Class I

felony stalking and the allegations in the PSI, the bases for defendant’s stalking conviction were

his “[a]ppearing at the victim’s home,” his [c]ontacting the victim by telephone,” or both. See id.

                                                -8-
2022 IL App (2d) 210366-U

§ 940.32(1)(a)(4), (1)(a)(6). Although the PSI informs that defendant also had physical contact

with the Kenosha victim, such contact is not an element of Class I felony stalking, but rather is

instead an element of Class F felony stalking for which defendant was not convicted (see id.

§ 940.32(3)(a). Indeed, as the PSI indicates, the other charges “were withdrawn.” Moreover, as

defendant points out, the State does not argue that the Wisconsin stalking victim was a “family or

household member” (720 ILCS 5/12-3.2(a) (West 2020)). Section 12-3.2(a) requires that the

defendant “[c]ause[ ] bodily harm to any family or household member” or “make[ ] physical

contact of an insulting or provoking nature with any family or household member.” Id. § 12-

3.2(a)(1), (a)(2). Unlike the Illinois domestic battery statute, section 940.32(2) of the Wisconsin

stalking statute has no such requirement.       This provides another basis for concluding that

defendant’s conviction under section 940.32(2) of the Wisconsin stalking statute is not

substantially similar to a conviction of domestic battery under section 12-3.2(a) of the Criminal

Code.

¶ 22    Accordingly, because defendant did not have four prior convictions of domestic battery or

a substantially similar offense, his domestic battery conviction could not be enhanced on that basis

to a Class 2 felony for sentencing purposes. Having found that a clear and obvious error has

occurred, we grant relief because the error is so egregious as to deprive defendant of his right to a

fair sentencing hearing. See, e.g., Russell, 2022 IL App (2d) 190733, ¶¶ 54-55 (imposing an

extended-term sentence where the defendant’s two offenses did not arise from unrelated courses

of conduct was an error “so egregious as to deprive [the] defendant of his right to a fair sentencing

hearing”).

¶ 23    Defendant concedes that, under section 12-3.2(b) of the Criminal Code, he was eligible for

Class 3 sentencing. See 720 ILCS 5/12-3.2(b) (West 2020) (domestic battery is a Class 3 felony if

                                                -9-
2022 IL App (2d) 210366-U

defendant had three prior domestic battery convictions). Accordingly, he asks that we vacate his

sentence, reduce his conviction to a Class 3 felony, and remand for resentencing. The State

responds that, because defendant’s 51-month sentence is well within the sentencing range for a

Class 3 felony (see 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-40(a) (West 2020) (sentence of imprisonment for a Class 3

felony “shall be a determinate sentence of not less than 2 years and not more than 5 years”), we

should simply reduce defendant’s conviction to a Class 3 felony and affirm his sentence.

¶ 24   Although the State correctly notes that defendant’s 51-month sentence is within the range

for a Class 3 felony, it is only nine months less than the maximum of that range. The trial court

imposed that sentence under the mistaken belief that the applicable range was the three-to-seven-

year range for a Class 2 felony. See id. § 5-4.5-35 (sentence of imprisonment for a Class 2 felony

“shall be a determinate sentence of not less than 3 years and not more than 7 years”). The court’s

sentence was below the midpoint for a Class 2 prison term. Thus, we cannot say that, had the court

been aware that the proper range was instead two to five years, it would have imposed the same

sentence. Accordingly, we remand for resentencing.

¶ 25                                   III. CONCLUSION

¶ 26   For the reasons stated, we vacate the sentence on defendant’s domestic-battery conviction,

reduce that conviction to a Class 3 felony conviction, and remand to the circuit court of Lake

County for resentencing.

¶ 27   Affirmed as modified in part and vacated in part.

¶ 28   Cause remanded.

                                              - 10 -