Court Opinion

ID: 9721393
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 08:58:05.835802+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:24:25.446334
License: Public Domain

Mr. JUSTICE KARNS, dissenting: I do not believe that the defendant received a fair trial. Pittman was convicted on the testimony of Robert Gubin, who had 21 prior convictions for possession of drugs. As the majority opinion points out, he admittedly arranged the drug purchase in order to obtain leniency for himself. His testimony is subject to close scrutiny (People v. Bazemore (1962), 25 Ill. 2d 74, 182 N.E.2d 649), and the court should be particularly mindful to assure defendant a fair trial. I consider the cross-examination of defendant’s witness Reggie Taylor to be reversible error. It told the jury that Pittman had twice been on trial and allowed the jury to infer that defendant was a “veteran” of prior criminal trials who likely had a record of prior convictions. In a case I consider close on the facts, I believe the admission of this evidence constituted reversible error. I also believe the court imposed a consecutive sentence without making the explicit findings mandated by section 5 — 8—4(b) of the Unified Code of Corrections. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1979, ch. 38, par. 1005 — 8—4(b).) The court so held in People v. Green (1980), 83 Ill. App. 3d 982, 404 N.E.2d 930. I further doubt that the record supports the imposition of a consecutive sentence. The defendant had never been charged with the delivery of narcotics prior to the instant offense. Defendant is married, the father of five children, has completed three years of college and is trained as a journeyman pipefitter.