Court Opinion

ID: 3135478
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-22 17:37:53.415809+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:36:52.064618
License: Public Domain

Docket No. 104414.

                              IN THE
                      SUPREME COURT
                                 OF
                 THE STATE OF ILLINOIS

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Appellant, v. JOHN
                 NAYLOR, Appellee.

                    Opinion filed July 24, 2008.

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

                              OPINION

    Following a bench trial in the circuit court of Cook County,
defendant, John Naylor, was convicted of several offenses relating to
the sale of heroin. Finding a violation of People v. Montgomery, 47 Ill.
2d 510 (1971), the appellate court reversed defendant’s convictions
and remanded the cause for a new trial. 372 Ill. App. 3d 1. We
allowed the State’s petition for leave to appeal (210 Ill. 2d R. 315(a))
and now affirm the appellate court.

                        I. BACKGROUND
   In April 2000, defendant was indicted on six counts relating to
possession of heroin with intent to deliver and delivery of heroin. On
August 11, 2004, the State entered a nolle prosequi as to two counts,
and defendant was tried on the remaining four: possession of heroin
with intent to deliver, delivery of heroin, possession of heroin with
intent to deliver while on Chicago Housing Authority (CHA)
property, and delivery of heroin on CHA property. 720 ILCS
570/401(d), 407(b)(2) (West 2000). Defendant waived a jury and the
court conducted a bench trial.
    The State’s case in chief consisted of the testimony of two
Chicago police officers and an evidence stipulation. Chicago Police
Officer John Lewis testified as follows. On March 9, 2000, Officer
Lewis was assigned to the narcotics and gang investigation section of
the Chicago police department. He was working at 4429 South
Federal Street, which is part of the Robert Taylor Homes, a CHA
property. Officer Lewis and other police officers were conducting
“Operation Corridor,” which was an operation to suppress narcotics
activity in the Robert Taylor Homes. Officer Lewis’ role was to make
a controlled narcotics purchase.
    At approximately 10:20 a.m., Officer Lewis, in civilian dress,
entered 4429 South Federal Street and proceeded to the fourth floor
of the north stairwell with three other police officers in civilian dress:
Officers Boggan, Boyd, and Espinosa. The officers met three
individuals standing in the stairwell, one of whom asked Officer Lewis
if he wanted “white.” Based on his undercover experience, Officer
Lewis understood “white” to refer to heroin. Officer Lewis identified
defendant in court as the individual with whom he spoke. In response
to defendant’s solicitation, Officer Lewis said, “Yeah, one.” He
tendered to defendant a $10 bill from the department’s “1505 fund.”
This refers to a fund of United States currency with prerecorded serial
numbers, which the department uses to purchase illegal narcotics in a
controlled environment. In return for the $10, defendant gave to
Officer Lewis one tinfoil packet. Officer Boyd stood behind Officer
Lewis in line for a purchase. All four officers made purchases. Officer
Lewis did not know from whom the other officers made their
purchases.
    After the officers made their purchases, they retraced their steps
down the stairwell and immediately exited the building together. They
returned to their vehicles and radioed the descriptions of defendant
and the other two individuals who were standing in the stairwell.

                                   -2-
Police officers subsequently brought them out of the building. Officer
Lewis saw defendant 10 to 15 minutes later, when Chicago Police
Officer William McKenna led defendant out of the building. Officer
McKenna gave to Officer Lewis the prerecorded $10 bill. Officer
Lewis did not see Officer McKenna recover the prerecorded $10 bill
from defendant. At some point Officer Lewis opened the packet and
saw a white powder he suspected was heroin. He inventoried the
packet with the prerecorded $10 bill.
    Chicago Police Detective Deon Boyd testified as follows. At the
beginning of every month, officers using the prerecorded fund
personally record the serial numbers of the currency they use to make
undercover drug purchases. On March 9, 2000, Detective Boyd was
working as an undercover police officer with Officer Espinosa at 4429
South Federal Street, and he saw Officers Lewis and Boggan at that
location. At least 20 Chicago police officers were involved in the
operation. When Detective Boyd entered the building, several persons
directed him to take the north stairwell to the fourth floor. When
Detective Boyd reached the fourth floor, he saw a line of individuals
purchasing narcotics. Officer Lewis was leaving when Detective Boyd
got in line. When Detective Boyd reached the front of the line, he
came into contact with a man whom Boyd identified in court as
defendant. Detective Boyd said to defendant, “Let me get two.”
Defendant reached into a clear plastic bag, retrieved two tinfoil
packets, and handed them to Detective Boyd. In exchange, Detective
Boyd gave to defendant a prerecorded $20 bill. Detective Boyd did
not see from whom Officers Lewis and Boggan bought drugs.
    Detective Boyd and Officer Espinosa retraced their steps, exited
the building, and returned to their undercover vehicle. They radioed
the enforcement team that they completed the transactions and they
described defendant. The enforcement team entered the building,
converged on the fourth-floor stairwell, and arrested defendant “and
several other individuals.” Detective Boyd knew specifically that one
of the individuals arrested was Kohler Parks, from whom he saw
Officer Espinosa buy drugs. The enforcement team brought them all
down. Detective Boyd saw Officer McKenna bring defendant out of
the building. Officer McKenna gave to Detective Boyd the
prerecorded $20 bill. Detective Boyd never saw Officer McKenna
recover the prerecorded $20 bill from defendant. At some point

                                 -3-
Detective Boyd opened the packet and saw a white powder he
suspected was heroin. He inventoried the packet with the prerecorded
$20 bill.
     After Detective Boyd testified, the State offered a stipulation. If
called as a witness, Timothy Tripp would testify as follows. He is a
forensic chemist with the Illinois State Police Crime Laboratory. Tripp
tested the powder from each of the tinfoil packets that Officer Lewis
and Detective Boyd inventoried and submitted for analysis. The
substance in the packet inventoried by Officer Lewis tested positive
for the presence of 0.1 gram of heroin, and the substance in one of the
packets inventoried by Detective Boyd tested positive for the presence
of 0.1 gram of heroin. Defendant affirmatively agreed to the
stipulation.
     Defendant testified on his own behalf. On March 9, 2000,
defendant was living in a ninth-floor apartment at 4429 South Federal
Street. Sometime after 10 a.m., defendant left his apartment to pick up
his son from kindergarten, which ended at 10:45 a.m. Defendant was
walking down the stairs from his apartment when police officers
attacked him, announced their office, and sprayed mace in his face. He
denied selling drugs that day, and he denied possessing money from
drug sales. Defendant did not remember on which floor he
encountered the officers. Defendant could remember only being
arrested with “a lot of people” and placed in a police wagon with five
or six others. Defendant knew of Kohler Parks only as a neighbor in
the building. Defendant testified: “I don’t know him [Parks]
personally.” At the close of defendant’s testimony, the defense rested
its case.
     In rebuttal, the State offered as evidence a certified copy of
defendant’s December 1990 conviction for aggravated battery.
Defendant’s trial counsel objected to its admission because the prior
conviction was more than 10 years old. The trial court overruled
defendant’s objection, finding that defendant’s prior conviction was
less than 10 years old from when defendant allegedly committed the
charged offenses. The court admitted into evidence the certified copy
of defendant’s prior conviction. The State rested its case.
     At the close of arguments, the trial court found defendant guilty
on all counts. The court subsequently sentenced defendant to six

                                  -4-
years’ imprisonment and imposed $2,720 in fines, fees, assessments,
and costs.
    Before the appellate court, defendant contended, inter alia, that
the State violated People v. Montgomery, 47 Ill. 2d 510 (1971), by
admitting into evidence a prior conviction that was over 10 years old
at the time of trial to impeach his credibility. The appellate court
observed that defendant’s trial counsel failed to preserve the issue for
appellate review by including it in a posttrial motion. However, the
court concluded that the evidence was closely balanced and reviewed
the issue. See 134 Ill. 2d R. 615(a). The court originally found no
error. It held that defendant’s prior conviction was admissible for
impeachment because it was less than 10 years old at the time
defendant allegedly committed the charged offenses. Defendant filed
a petition for rehearing, and the appellate court withdrew its opinion.
    The appellate court filed a new opinion, holding that defendant
was erroneously impeached with his prior conviction. 372 Ill. App. 3d
1. Again observing that defendant procedurally forfeited the issue, the
court reviewed the issue pursuant to the plain-error doctrine of
Supreme Court Rule 615(a) (134 Ill. 2d R. 615(a)). The court agreed
“with the case law that applies the 10-year time period in Montgomery
as running from the date of conviction or release from confinement,
whichever is later, to the date of trial.” 372 Ill. App. 3d at 7.
Consequently, the court concluded that defendant was improperly
impeached with a prior conviction that was nearly 14 years old at the
time of trial. Accordingly, the appellate court reversed defendant’s
convictions and remanded the cause for a new trial. 372 Ill. App. 3d
at 6-9. We allowed the State’s petition for leave to appeal. 210 Ill. 2d
R. 315(a).

                          II. ANALYSIS
    The State assigns error to the appellate court’s reversal of
defendant’s convictions on two grounds. First, the State observes that
defendant procedurally forfeited the issue of whether he was
impeached in violation of Montgomery. The State contends that the
appellate court incorrectly applied the plain-error rule to excuse
defendant’s procedural default. Second, the State contends that the
endpoint of Montgomery’s 10-year time period should not be the date

                                  -5-
of trial, but rather the earlier date of when defendant allegedly
committed the charged offense.
    Although defendant’s trial counsel objected to the admission of
the prior conviction at trial, defendant concedes that counsel failed to
include this issue in his posttrial motion. “Both a trial objection and a
written post-trial motion raising the issue are required for alleged
errors that could have been raised during trial.” (Emphases in
original.) People v. Enoch, 122 Ill. 2d 176, 186 (1988). Therefore,
this issue is procedurally forfeited. See, e.g., People v. Moss, 205 Ill.
2d 139, 168 (2001); People v. Young, 128 Ill. 2d 1, 38-40 (1989).
    The appellate court excused defendant’s procedural default under
the plain-error doctrine of Supreme Court Rule 615(a) (134 Ill. 2d R.
615(a)). This doctrine serves as “ ‘a narrow and limited exception to
the general [rule of procedural default].’ ” People v. Szabo, 113 Ill. 2d
83, 94 (1986), quoting People v. Pastorino, 91 Ill. 2d 178, 188
(1982). We recently described the doctrine as follows:
         “We now reiterate that the plain-error doctrine allows a
         reviewing court to consider unpreserved error when (1) a
         clear or obvious error occurs 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 occurs and that error
         is so serious that it affected the fairness of the defendant’s trial
         and challenged the integrity of the judicial process, regardless
         of the closeness of the evidence.” People v. Piatkowski, 225
Ill. 2d 551, 565 (2007), explaining People v. Herron, 215 Ill.
2d 167, 186-87 (2005).
Accord People v. Hall, 194 Ill. 2d 305, 335 (2000).
    Under both prongs of the plain-error doctrine, “ ‘the burden of
persuasion remains with the defendant.’ ” Piatkowski, 225 Ill. 2d at
565, quoting Herron, 215 Ill. 2d at 187. When a defendant fails to
establish plain error, the result is that the “procedural default must be
honored.” People v. Keene, 169 Ill. 2d 1, 17 (1995). In addressing the
State’s plain-error contention, it is appropriate to determine whether
error occurred at all. People v. Hudson, 228 Ill. 2d 181, 191 (2008);
People v. Sims, 192 Ill. 2d 592, 621 (2000). This requires “ ‘a

                                    -6-
substantive look’ ” at the issue. People v. Johnson, 208 Ill. 2d 53, 64
(2003), quoting Keene, 169 Ill. 2d at 17.

                 A. Did the Trial Court Commit Error?
     Before the appellate court, defendant contended that the trial court
violated Montgomery in admitting defendant’s prior conviction for
impeachment. This case requires consideration of Montgomery’s 10-
year time limit for impeaching a witness by evidence of a prior
conviction. The State contends that in a criminal trial where the
defendant testifies, the endpoint of the time limit should not be the
date of trial, as the appellate court held, but rather the date when
defendant allegedly committed the charged offense.
     At common law, any person convicted of an infamous crime was
deemed incompetent to be a witness and was not permitted to testify
in any civil or criminal trial. This disqualification was based on the
belief that conviction of such a crime rendered the prospective witness
inherently unworthy of trust. People v. Spates, 77 Ill. 2d 193, 201-02
(1979); see generally 2 J. Wigmore, Evidence §§519 through 521
(Chadbourn rev. ed. 1979). In Illinois, this harsh rule is abrogated in
civil cases by section 8–101 of the Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS
5/8–101 (West 2006) (originally enacted at 1867 Ill. Laws 183)), and
in criminal cases by section 115–16 of the Code of Criminal Procedure
of 1963 (725 ILCS 5/115–16 (West 2006) (originally enacted at Ill.
Rev. Stat. 1874, ch. 38, par. 426)). These statutes provide that no
person shall be disqualified to testify based on a prior conviction, but
such conviction may be admitted to affect the credibility of the
witness. 725 ILCS 5/115–16 (West 2006); 735 ILCS 5/8–101 (West
2006); Spates, 77 Ill. 2d at 202.
     When the defendant testifies in a criminal case, the State may not
impeach the defendant’s testimony by cross-examination as to his or
her prior conviction, but rather only by introducing the record of the
prior conviction. People v. Moses, 11 Ill. 2d 84, 88 (1957); see J.
Corkery, Illinois Civil & Criminal Evidence §609.101, at 336 (2000).
When a defendant testifies on his own behalf, the record of the
defendant’s prior conviction is not introduced, and cannot be
considered, for the purpose of proving the defendant’s guilt or
innocence of the crime for which the defendant is being tried; rather,

                                  -7-
it is admissible only for the purpose of discrediting the defendant as a
witness. People v. Cox, 195 Ill. 2d 378, 384 (2001); see People v.
Nichols, 235 Ill. App. 3d 499, 509 (1992); People v. Wilson, 43 Ill.
App. 3d 583, 584 (1976). Relying on the predecessor provision of
section 115–16 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, this court
held: “The introduction of such record of conviction for the purpose
of affecting the credibility of a witness, or the defendant who has
voluntarily testified, is provided for by statute. That statute fixes no
limitation as to the time of such previous conviction.” People v.
Buford, 396 Ill. 158, 162 (1947); see, e.g., People v. Smith, 90 Ill.
App. 2d 310, 320 (1967) (relying on Buford, upholding admission of
prior conviction that was 26 years old at the time of defendant’s trial).
     Indeed, prior to this court’s decision in Montgomery, this court
did not recognize any discretion in a trial court to decide whether to
permit impeachment through admission of a prior conviction. People
v. Ray, 54 Ill. 2d 377, 382 (1973). Prior to Montgomery, “it was the
settled rule that proof of conviction of an infamous crime was always
admissible for the purpose of affecting the credibility of a witness.”
(Emphasis added.) People v. Lowery, 1 Ill. App. 3d 851, 852 (1971).
The trial court was required to admit such evidence to impeach the
credibility of a defendant who testified. This rule often presented a
defendant in a criminal proceeding with a no-win dilemma: either the
defendant testified and was impeached by any prior conviction
available to the State, regardless of the conviction’s probative value
or potential prejudice, or the defendant refused to testify, thereby
denying the trier of fact the opportunity to hear his or her side of the
story and implying guilt from the failure to testify. See People v.
Medreno, 99 Ill. App. 3d 449, 450-51 (1981). This was the law in
Illinois up to 1971, when this court decided People v. Montgomery.
     In Montgomery, this court reconsidered the predecessor provision
to section 115–16 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The
Montgomery court rejected the view expressed in Buford that a trial
judge must admit evidence of a witness’ prior conviction, however
irrelevant and prejudicial, simply because the prosecutor chooses to
offer it. Because the statute provides that a prior conviction “may” be
shown to impeach the credibility of a witness, the Montgomery court
reasoned that the admissibility of the prior conviction should be a
matter within the discretion of the trial judge. Montgomery, 47 Ill. 2d

                                  -8-
at 515; see People v. Williams, 161 Ill. 2d 1, 36 (1994) (discussing
Montgomery).
    The Montgomery court next adopted the 1971 proposed draft of
Rule 609 of the Federal Rules of Evidence (proposed Rule 609),
quoting at length therefrom. Montgomery, 47 Ill. 2d at 516-19,
quoting 51 F.R.D. 391, 393 (1971). The Montgomery rule provides
that
            “for the purpose of attacking a witness’ credibility,
        evidence of a prior conviction is admissible only if (1) the
        crime was punishable by death or imprisonment in excess of
        one year; or (2) the crime involved dishonesty or false
        statement regardless of the punishment. [3] In either case,
        however, the evidence is inadmissible if the judge determines
        that the probative value of the evidence of the crime is
        substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice.
        Montgomery, 47 Ill. 2d at 516. In addition, evidence of a
        conviction under this rule is inadmissible if a period of more
        than 10 years has elapsed since the date of conviction or
        release of the witness from confinement, whichever is later.
        Montgomery, 47 Ill. 2d at 516.” People v. Williams, 173 Ill.
2d 48, 81 (1996).
See J. Corkery, Illinois Civil & Criminal Evidence §609.101, at 326-
27 (2000).
    Congress ultimately enacted Rule 609 in a different form.
However, this court did not intend that the standards for impeachment
announced in Montgomery would change to correspond to Federal
Rule 609 as enacted. This court intended that the provisions of
proposed Rule 609, as adopted in Montgomery, should be followed
in future cases. People v. Yost, 78 Ill. 2d 292, 295 (1980). We also
observe that this court expanded the Montgomery rule to apply to civil
proceedings and abolished the distinction between “infamous” crimes
and misdemeanors regarding the admissibility of prior convictions in
civil and criminal trials. Knowles v. Panopoulos, 66 Ill. 2d 585, 589
(1977).
    Relevant to this case, the Montgomery rule provides:
            “ ‘(b) Time Limit. Evidence of a conviction under this rule
        is not admissible if a period of more than 10 years has elapsed

                                 -9-
         since the date of conviction or of the release of the witness
         from confinement, whichever is the later date.’ ” Montgomery,
         47 Ill. 2d at 516, quoting 51 F.R.D. 391 (proposed Rule
         609(b)).
The Advisory Committee’s note explained that proposed Rule 609(b)
established a specific time limit that should be construed as imposing
an outer limit on the trial judge’s discretion. Montgomery, 47 Ill. 2d
at 519, quoting 51 F.R.D. 393, Advisory Committee’s note. This
court has repeatedly viewed a prior conviction that lies beyond the
prophylactic 10-year limit as outside of the trial court’s discretion.
See, e.g., People v. Warmack, 83 Ill. 2d 112, 123-25 (1980); People
v. Yost, 78 Ill. 2d 292 (1980). In conformity with this view, our
appellate court has consistently interpreted proposed Rule 609(b) as
eliminating discretion from the trial court to admit evidence of a prior
conviction for impeachment purposes where a period of 10 years has
elapsed from the date of the conviction or the release of the witness
from confinement, whichever is later. People v. Gandy, 227 Ill. App.
3d 112, 127 (1992) (collecting cases); People v. Yost, 65 Ill. App. 3d
386, 389 (1978), aff’d, 78 Ill. 2d 292 (1980). Further, the proponent
of the prior conviction has the responsibility of presenting evidence of
a subsequent release date. Absent such evidence, a trial court must not
resort to any presumptions regarding a release date and must employ
the date of conviction. Yost, 78 Ill. 2d at 297.
     In the present case, defendant’s prior conviction was entered in
December 1990. In its brief before this court, the State concedes that
it did not present evidence of a release date and, therefore,
defendant’s date of conviction is the operative date for purposes of
Montgomery. Defendant was tried in August 2004, which was 13
years and 8 months subsequent to defendant’s prior conviction.
However, the trial court considered the endpoint of Montgomery’s
10-year time limit to be the date defendant allegedly committed the
charged offenses, March 2000, which was nine years and three months
subsequent to the prior conviction. Consequently, the trial court found
that defendant’s prior conviction fell within Montgomery’s 10-year
time limit and, over objection, admitted the prior conviction into
evidence. The appellate court ultimately reversed, holding that the
endpoint of Montgomery’s 10-year time limit is the date of trial. 372
Ill. App. 3d at 6-7. We agree with the appellate court.

                                 -10-
     In Montgomery, this court calculated the age of the defendant’s
prior conviction as “21 years before the trial of this case.” (Emphasis
added.) Montgomery, 47 Ill. 2d at 512. However, the State views this
calculation as of no consequence. In its brief before this court, the
State observes that in Montgomery the defendant’s prior conviction
was entered “more than 10 years after [sic] the subsequent offense,
arrest, trial and testimony. Therefore, there was no reason for this
Court to analyze which of the potential ending dates should be
applied.” Indeed, the State contends that this “is an issue of first
impression in Illinois.”
     We cannot accept this contention. In Montgomery, this court fully
understood the meaning of its calculation in relation to the defendant’s
trial. “The focus of Montgomery was on crimes which bear upon the
defendant’s truthfulness as a witness.” Williams, 161 Ill. 2d at 39. The
reason for impeaching a witness with a prior conviction is to affect the
credibility of the witness’ testimony at trial. When a criminal defendant
testifies at trial, the purpose of impeachment is to show background
facts that directly relate to “testimonial deception,” i.e., whether the
trier of fact ought to believe the defendant’s testimony rather than the
testimony of conflicting witnesses. Williams, 161 Ill. 2d at 37, quoting
Gordon v. United States, 383 F.2d 936, 940 (D.C. Cir. 1967);
Montgomery, 47 Ill. 2d at 516. The Montgomery rule placed that
determination within the trial court’s discretion, with the 10-year time
limit as a bar to its exercise.
     Further, in subsequent cases, this court has repeatedly applied
Montgomery’s 10-year time limit by measuring the age of the prior
conviction in relation to the defendant’s trial. See, e.g., People v.
Lawler, 142 Ill. 2d 548, 563-64 (1991) (observing that defendant’s
prior convictions were in 1979, he was released in 1986, and the trial
was in 1988); People v. Reddick, 123 Ill. 2d 184, 202-03 (1988)
(observing that defendant’s trial was held within 10 years of the
witness’ release from prison for the witness’ prior conviction);
Warmack, 83 Ill. 2d at 124 (concluding that “the conviction occurred
11 years before trial, did not result in confinement and therefore lay
beyond the 10-year limit”); Yost, 78 Ill. 2d at 293-94 (calculating prior
conviction at 10 years and 10 months earlier than “the defendant had
testified at trial”). Also, when this court has discussed other aspects
of the Montgomery rule, it has repeatedly described the 10-year limit

                                  -11-
in relation to the defendant’s trial. See, e.g., People v. Harvey, 211 Ill.
2d 368, 383 (2004) (“the witness’ conviction or release from
confinement, whichever date is later, occurred less than 10 years from
the date of trial”); Cox, 195 Ill. 2d at 383; People v. Atkinson, 186 Ill.
2d 450, 456 (1999). Far from being “an issue of first impression in
Illinois,” we conclude that the rule is evident.1
     To be sure, in the 37 years subsequent to Montgomery, a few
appellate court decisions have expressed contrary language. In each
case, the court calculated the Montgomery 10-year time limit in
relation to the date when the defendant allegedly committed the
charged offense. See, e.g., People v. Brown, 334 Ill. App. 3d 854, 864
(2002); People v. McKay, 279 Ill. App. 3d 195, 202 (1996); People
v. Harris, 220 Ill. App. 3d 848, 853 (1991); People v. Spurlark, 74 Ill.
App. 3d 43, 53 (1979). In each of these cases, the court did not–and
could not–cite to any authority for its calculation. In light of this
court’s consistent view of Montgomery’s 10-year time limit, and the
appellate court’s widespread conformance therewith, the mistake in
these few appellate court decisions was most likely inadvertent, but
erroneous nonetheless.
     Also, the State’s proposed calculation of Montgomery’s 10-year
time limit, in relation to the date when the defendant allegedly
committed the charged offense, would not make sense in the majority
of trials where the witness will not have a charged offense. To the
extent that the State proposes a separate rule for criminal defendants
who testify on their own behalf, such a suggestion is not well-taken.

   1
    In the years following Montgomery, our appellate court has expressed
widespread conformity with this court’s calculation of the 10-year time
limit in relation to the defendant’s trial or the witness’ trial testimony.
See, e.g., Gandy, 227 Ill. App. 3d at 127; People v. Harlan, 75 Ill. App.
3d 168, 172 (5th Dist. 1979); People v. Overturf, 12 Ill. App. 3d 441,
445 (4th Dist. 1973); People v. Petty, 3 Ill. App. 3d 951, 954 (4th Dist.
1972); O’Bryan v. Sandrock, 276 Ill. App. 3d 194, 195 (3d Dist. 1995);
People v. Parsons, 88 Ill. App. 3d 45, 46 (3d Dist. 1980); People v.
Whirl, 351 Ill. App. 3d 464, 467 (2d Dist. 2004); People v. Link, 100 Ill.
App. 3d 1000, 1007 (2d Dist. 1981); Nichols, 235 Ill. App. 3d at 509;
People v. Norwood, 164 Ill. App. 3d 699, 703 (1st Dist. 1987); People
v. Owens, 46 Ill. App. 3d 978, 993 (1st Dist. 1977).

                                   -12-
As our discussion indicates, impeachment by use of a prior conviction
applies to any witness, not only to a criminal defendant. In Knowles,
this court expanded Montgomery to govern civil trials. Knowles, 66
Ill. 2d at 589.
     Given that Montgomery’s 10-year time limit operates to remove
a witness’ prior conviction from the trial court’s discretion, the State
argues that its proposed calculation of the 10-year time limit promotes
efficient trial management. According to the State, setting the
endpoint of Montgomery’s 10-year time limit as the date when the
defendant allegedly committed the charged offense lengthens the time
line in which the trial court can exercise its discretion, “which allows
the trial judge to consider the greatest range of circumstances which
may be relevant to whether a defendant’s prior conviction should be
admitted to impeach his credibility and to consider the equities of
admission on a case-by-case basis.”
     We cannot maximize a trial court’s discretion at the price of
deprecating the rationale of Montgomery’s 10-year limit. “The
philosophy underlying this time limitation is that 10 years of
conviction-free living demonstrates sufficient rehabilitation in the
witness’ credibility to attenuate any probative value, thus making
those prior convictions per se inadmissible.” Medreno, 99 Ill. App. 3d
at 451. Or, put another way, after 10 years from the witness’
conviction or release from confinement, whichever is later, “the
conviction has lost its relevance to the issue of credibility.” Gandy,
227 Ill. App. 3d at 127. Indeed, the State’s proposed calculation of
Montgomery’s 10-year limit, based on when the defendant allegedly
committed the charged offense, presumes that the defendant must be
guilty. To state this presumption is to reject it. However, we observe
that the running of the 10-year time limit could be tolled on the
ground that a defendant’s “effort to manipulate the judicial system
negates the positive inference supposedly to be drawn from ten years
of law abiding behavior.” 28 C. Wright & V. Gold, Federal Practice
& Procedure §6136, at 261 (1993).
     We now expressly hold what is plainly evident in this court’s many
applications of the Montgomery rule, and what the appellate court has
widely recognized in conformity therewith. Montgomery’s 10-year
time limit should be calculated in relation to the date of the

                                 -13-
defendant’s trial. 2 To the extent that Brown, McKay, Harris, and
Spurlark apply a different calculation, those decisions are hereby
overruled. Accordingly, we agree with the appellate court that the
circuit court erred in calculating Montgomery’s 10-year time limit in
relation to the date when defendant allegedly committed the charged
offenses, thereby finding that defendant’s prior conviction came within
the time limit.

              B. Bench Trial: Was the Error Reversible?
     Having recognized that the trial court committed error in
admitting into evidence defendant’s prior conviction of aggravated
battery to impeach his testimony, we must next determine, under our
plain-error rule, whether reversible error occurred. Absent reversible
error, there can be no plain error. Herron, 215 Ill. 2d at 187; People
v. Johnson, 208 Ill. 2d 53, 64 (2003). Under the plain-error doctrine,
a defendant may persuade a reviewing court to excuse a procedural
default and consider unpreserved error where: (1) the evidence is
closely balanced so as to preclude argument that an innocent person
was wrongfully convicted; or (2) the alleged error affected the fairness
of the defendant’s trial and challenged the integrity of the judicial
process. Hall, 194 Ill. 2d at 335. In this case, defendant argues that
the evidence presented at his trial was closely balanced. We agree.
     We acknowledge that the court conducted a bench trial. Of
course, the rules of admissibility of evidence are the same whether a
trial be had with or without a jury. People v. Arendarczyk, 367 Ill.
534, 538 (1937). However, when a trial court is the trier of fact a
reviewing court presumes that the trial court considered only

   2
    Our holding accords with the predominant view of courts that have
addressed this issue. See, e.g., Haley v. United States, 799 A.2d 1201,
1205 (D.C. App. 2002); Hodge v. State, 332 Ark. 377, 396, 965 S.W.2d
766, 775-76 (1998); State v. Axiotis, 569 N.W.2d 813, 815-16 (Iowa
1997); People v. Coddington, 188 Mich. App. 584, 596, 470 N.W.2d
478, 485 (1991); State v. Brown, 357 N.C. 382, 390, 584 S.E.2d 278,
283 (2003); State v. Demeritt, 148 N.H. 435, 442, 813 A.2d 393, 399
(2002); State v. Scriven, 339 S.C. 333, 344, 529 S.E.2d 71, 77 (App.
2000).

                                 -14-
admissible evidence and disregarded inadmissible evidence in reaching
its conclusion. People v. Robinson, 30 Ill. 2d 437, 439 (1964); People
v. Wallenberg, 24 Ill. 2d 350, 354 (1962). Thus, although error
occurred, we must determine whether the error is such that would
require reversal of defendant’s convictions. See, e.g., Sims, 192 Ill. 2d
at 628-29 (assuming error, court found it to be harmless, reasoning
that absent reversible error, there could be no plain error).
     We conclude that the trial court’s erroneous admission of
defendant’s prior conviction to impeach his testimony constitutes
reversible error. We base our conclusion on both the law and the
record before us.
     As a matter of law, we must presume that the trial court
considered defendant’s prior conviction “only with respect to the
purpose for which it was competent.” People v. Lacey, 24 Ill. 2d 607,
611 (1962). However, Montgomery’s 10-year time limit rendered
defendant’s prior conviction incompetent to impeach his testimony.
When the evidence was admitted, it served no proper legal purpose.
Therefore, there is no basis upon which we can presume that the trial
court’s evidentiary ruling does not require reversal. See People v.
Jackson, 202 Ill. 2d 361, 371 (2002).
     As a matter of fact, the presumption that a court in a bench trial
considered only competent evidence in reaching its finding “may be
rebutted where the record affirmatively shows the contrary.” People
v. Gilbert, 68 Ill. 2d 252, 258-59 (1977). After defendant testified, the
following colloquy occurred:
             “THE COURT: *** Defense, any other witnesses?
             [Defense Counsel]: No. We will rest.
             THE COURT: All right. State?
             [Prosecutor]: Yes, Judge. By way of rebuttal, State is
        offering the certified copy of conviction of this defendant
        under 90 CR 1551101. This is the certified copy of conviction.
                                  ***
             [Defense Counsel]: For the record I think we would
        object.
             [Prosecutor]: The charge is, Judge–
             THE COURT: Hold on. Hold on. Go ahead.

                                  -15-
            [Prosecutor]: The charge for which he was found guilty
        was aggravated battery. Four years Illinois Department of
        Corrections.
            THE COURT: And that sentence was on December 14th,
        1990?
            [Prosecutor]: That’s correct, Judge.
            THE COURT: Okay. And your objection.
            [Defense Counsel]: I think–Well, there is a question of the
        ten years, when it begins. Is it from the conviction or does it
        come when the person is released from custody if they receive
        a custodial–
            [Prosecutor]: Based upon timing after release from
        custody in jail, Judge.
            THE COURT: Okay. And since that is the issue, when
        were you released from custody?
            [Prosecutor]: Some time after December 14th, 1990,
        Judge. It’s a 1990 conviction, therefore, the case arouse [sic]
        in 1990 and he was given four years Illinois Department of
        Corrections.
            In any event, we have not reached December 14th, 2004,
        so it’s–he was given the four years Illinois Department of
        Corrections, Judge, when this case–
            THE COURT: Right. This case was in December of 2000,
        correct?
            [Prosecutor]: On March of 2000.
            THE COURT: On March of 2000.
            [Prosecutor]: When this case sprung into being. We agree
        we are outside however–
            THE COURT: At the time of the incident it was inside of
        ten?
            [Prosecutor]: Yes.
            THE COURT: Your objection will be overruled in regards
        to that certified copy coming into evidence.”
The court then heard closing arguments prior to convicting defendant
of the charged offenses.

                                 -16-
    “ ‘Where an objection has been made to the evidence and
overruled, it cannot be presumed that the evidence did not enter into
the court’s consideration. The ruling itself indicates that the court
thought the evidence proper.’ ” People v. Hampton, 96 Ill. App. 3d
728, 731 (1981), quoting People v. De Groot, 108 Ill. App. 2d 1, 11
(1968); see People v. Alford, 111 Ill. App. 3d 741, 744 (1982);
People v. Fair, 45 Ill. App. 3d 301, 306 (1977). In this case, the
above-quoted colloquy shows that the trial court considered
defendant’s prior conviction to fall within Montgomery’s 10-year time
limit. Indeed, the court actively participated with the State in
searching for the erroneous date. We must conclude that the trial
court improperly considered this incompetent evidence and,
consequently, committed reversible error.3

      C. Should Defendant’s Procedural Default Be Excused?
    Having concluded that the trial court committed reversible error,
we must next determine whether the evidence presented at
defendant’s trial was closely balanced. “When error occurs in a close
case, we will opt to ‘err on the side of fairness, so as not to convict an
innocent person.’ ” Piatkowski, 225 Ill. 2d at 566, quoting Herron,
215 Ill. 2d at 193. Following closing arguments, the trial court
reviewed the evidence presented. After recounting the testimony of
the two police officers, the court recounted defendant’s testimony in
toto as follows:
             “The defense argues that though [sic] the confusion here
        the officers didn’t make the purchase from [defendant].
        [Defendant] has testified he just came out of his house walking
        downstairs or running the [sic] down the stairs and he is
        maced. He doesn’t say who maces him, where the mace was

    3
     Nowhere in the above-quoted colloquy, in either the court’s words
or in counsel’s arguments, is it shown that Montgomery’s balancing test
was considered. The court expressly considered only whether the prior
conviction fell within the 10-year rule. Nevertheless, there is no error if
the trial court does not expressly articulate the balancing test as long as
the record makes clear that the court was applying the Montgomery rule.
Williams, 173 Ill. 2d at 83.

                                   -17-
         at, but that’s all he remembers. I believe he used the term ‘All
         I can remember’ at least six times.
              He testifies that the next thing he remembers really is being
         downstairs being separated into–from the paddy wagon into
         a squad–a car he said. He does know Kohler Parks, but he
         doesn’t remember seeing that individual.”
The appellate court agreed with defendant “that the evidence was
closely balanced and that the admission of the evidence of his prior
conviction for impeachment may have influenced the trial court’s
credibility determination.” 372 Ill. App. 3d at 6.
     Before this court, the State assigns error to the appellate court’s
conclusion that the evidence at defendant’s trial was closely balanced.
In its reply brief, the State argues:
         “Defendant’s trial did not boil down to a credibility contest
         between the police officers and defendant. *** Defendant
         overlooks the fact that two police officers testified that
         defendant sold drugs to them, that the marked funds used to
         buy the drugs were returned to the purchasing officers by the
         arresting officer, and that defendant stipulated that the
         substance in the tinfoil packets inventoried by the two police
         officers tested positive for heroin. Thus, this case is not a mere
         credibility determination.” (Emphases in original.)
The State misapprehends the nature of the evidence presented at
defendant’s trial.
     The trial in the present case was indeed a contest of credibility. On
one side, the two officers testified that defendant sold them heroin. On
the other side, defendant testified that he had left his apartment to pick
up his son from school when he was mistakenly swept up in a drug
raid. Defendant’s testimony is credible in that it is consistent with
much of the officers’ testimony and the circumstances of his arrest.
Both defendant and the officers were relating their respective versions
of the same underlying incident–a drug raid in a residential housing
complex. Given these opposing versions of events, and the fact that
no extrinsic evidence was presented to corroborate or contradict
either version, the trial court’s finding of guilty necessarily involved
the court’s assessment of the credibility of the two officers against that

                                   -18-
of defendant. Indeed, in its appellant’s brief, after quoting a portion of
the trial court’s recitation of defendant’s testimony, the State argues:
         “Based on these statements by the trial court, it is clear that it
         believed the testimony of the officers and rejected defendant’s
         testimony ***. More importantly, it is evident that the trial
         judge did not find defendant’s account of what happened
         credible because defendant could not remember what
         happened or who allegedly sprayed mace at him.” (Emphases
         added.)
Thus, the State apparently acknowledges that defendant’s convictions
turned on the trial court’s assessment of defendant’s credibility.
     The State’s emphasis that two police officers testified against
defendant does not make the State’s case overwhelming. The State
presented only the testimony of the two officers regarding the sale of
the heroin. Each officer admitted that he never saw Officer McKenna
recover the prerecorded currency from defendant. For whatever
reason, the State did not call Officer McKenna to testify. Arguably,
defendant’s erroneously admitted incompetent prior conviction was
the State’s only successful attack on defendant’s testimony.
     Therefore, at the close of the testimony in this case, the trial court
was faced with two different versions of events, both of which were
credible. Moments after erroneously admitting incompetent evidence
for the purpose of impeaching defendant’s credibility, the court
concluded that it believed the officers’ version of events.4 Based on
this record, we “opt to ‘err on the side of fairness’ ” (Piatkowski, 225
Ill. 2d at 566, quoting Herron, 215 Ill. 2d at 193), and reverse
defendant’s convictions and remand the cause for a new trial.
     Despite the occurrence of reversible error, our dissenting
colleagues are of the opinion that defendant should not receive a new
trial because the evidence adduced at defendant’s trial was not closely
balanced. The dissent characterizes this court as improperly

    4
     Indeed, the trial court’s view of defendant’s credibility apparently
clouded its memory of defendant’s testimony. Detective Boyd testified
that Kohler Parks was another individual whom he knew was arrested in
the raid. Defendant clearly denied knowing Parks. However, according
to the trial court, defendant testified that he knew Parks.

                                   -19-
substituting our judgment for that of the trier of fact and reweighing
the evidence. Slip op. at 24 (Thomas, C.J., dissenting, joined by
Garman and Karmeier, JJ.). After repeating the testimony adduced at
trial and the trial court’s findings, the dissent concludes: “[I]t is clear
that the trial court could find that defendant was not a credible witness
even absent the admission of his prior conviction.” Slip op. at 25
(Thomas, C.J., dissenting, joined by Garman and Karmeier, JJ.). We
disagree. Of course this evidence was closely balanced. The evidence
boiled down to the testimony of the two police officers against that of
defendant. Further, no additional evidence was introduced to
contradict or corroborate either version of events. Thus, credibility
was the only basis upon which defendant’s innocence or guilt could be
decided. See, e.g., People v. Agee, 307 Ill. App. 3d 902, 906 (1999);
People v. Gagliani, 210 Ill. App. 3d 617, 627 (1991).
     Also, the dissent warns that this court “has created a rule holding
that if the evidence at trial involves a contest of credibility, and the
defendant testifies contrary to the prosecution’s witnesses, the
evidence will always be closely balanced.” Slip op. at 26 (Thomas,
C.J., dissenting, joined by Garman and Karmeier, JJ.). This fear is
unreasonable. It is axiomatic that whether the evidence in a criminal
trial is closely balanced depends solely on the evidence adduced in that
particular case. Accordingly, our holding in this case in no way creates
any legal rule that will “always” produce a particular result.
     Rather, in this case, the essential task of the trial court, as the trier
of fact, was to determine whose version of events to believe. The
evidence of defendant’s prior conviction, which the trial court
erroneously considered, may have played an unacceptable part in the
trial court’s decision. Under the circumstances of this particular case,
we cannot say that the improper impeachment did not prejudice
defendant’s right to a fair trial. See, e.g., People v. Schuning, 106 Ill.
2d 41, 48-49 (1985); Norwood, 164 Ill. App. 3d at 703 (viewing
evidence as not overwhelming and holding that erroneously admitted
prior conviction may have played an important role in the credibility
determination of the trier of fact; “That possibility requires that
defendant be given a new trial”), citing Schuning, 106 Ill. 2d at 48-49;
Whirl, 351 Ill. App. 3d at 467-68 (holding that Montgomery violation
in that case “adversely affect[ed] the integrity of the criminal
process”); Parsons, 88 Ill. App. 3d at 47 (holding that “[u]nder the

                                    -20-
circumstances of the instant case we cannot agree that the error
[Montgomery violation] was harmless”); People v. Luna, 81 Ill. App.
3d 246, 250 (1980) (given “the importance of the credibility issue in
this case, we cannot say that the admission of defendant’s prior
conviction did not have effect upon the jury’s verdict”).
    The dissent fails to apprehend the serious nature of the trial
court’s reversible error, which this court explained 37 years ago in
Montgomery. Defendant’s prior conviction came into this case only
because he took the witness stand to testify in his own defense. The
sole purpose of admitting defendant’s prior conviction was to damage
his credibility as a witness. The probative value of that prior
conviction is based on the assumption that one who was convicted of
aggravated battery 13 years ago will more likely than not testify falsely
today. The prejudicial effect of this evidence is “unmistakable.”
Montgomery, 47 Ill. 2d at 514. Montgomery rendered defendant’s
prior conviction, being over 10 years old, legally incompetent.
    However, the trial court erroneously considered this incompetent
evidence. A court has no right to override the rules of evidence at trial
merely because the case is tried to the court sitting without a jury.
People v. Reichert, 352 Ill. 358, 361 (1933). This court explained
long ago:
        “A defendant charged with crime has a right to a fair and
        impartial trial according to the rules of law requiring the
        exclusion of incompetent and prejudicial evidence. Regardless
        of his depravity of character or how full of crime his past life
        may have been, he is entitled to be tried only upon competent
        evidence and to stand before the jury unprejudiced by
        improper reference to his former crimes. The law does not
        provide one method for trying innocent persons and another
        for trying guilty persons. All persons are presumed to be
        innocent of the crime with which they are charged until they
        have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt according
        to the established methods of procedure.” People v. Lund, 382
Ill. 213, 217 (1943).
Defendant deserved no less at his trial.
    Although we conclude that the evidence is closely balanced, we
nevertheless find, after carefully reviewing the record, that the

                                  -21-
evidence was sufficient to prove defendant guilty beyond a reasonable
doubt. We therefore find that there is no double jeopardy impediment
to a new trial. By this finding, however, we reach no conclusion as to
defendant’s guilt that would be binding on retrial. See, e.g.,
Piatkowski, 225 Ill. 2d at 566-67; People v. Tenney, 205 Ill. 2d 411,
442 (2002); People v. Nelson, 193 Ill. 2d 216, 228 (2000). Due to our
disposition of this cause, we need not address the parties’ alternative
arguments.

                         III. CONCLUSION
     For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the appellate court is
affirmed.

                                                             Affirmed.

    CHIEF JUSTICE THOMAS, dissenting:
    I agree with the majority that Montgomery’s 10-year time limit
should be calculated in relation to the date of defendant’s trial.
However, I disagree with the majority’s conclusion that the evidence
in this case was closely balanced and, therefore, that the error in this
case was reversible. Accordingly, I dissent from the majority’s
judgment affirming the reversal of defendant’s convictions and
remanding for a new trial.
    The evidence at defendant’s bench trial was as follows. Officer
John Lewis testified for the State that, on March 9, 2000, he was
working undercover at 4429 South Federal Street in Chicago. Around
10:20 a.m., Officer Lewis took the north stairwell to the fourth floor
of the building, where he was met by defendant. Defendant was
standing with two other individuals. Defendant was wearing a blue
leather jacket and blue jeans. Defendant asked Officer Lewis if he
wanted “white,” which Officer Lewis knew referred to heroin. Officer
Lewis told defendant that he wanted one and gave defendant a
prerecorded $10 bill. Defendant gave Officer Lewis a tinfoil packet
that was later tested and identified as heroin. Officer Lewis then left
the building and radioed the physical and clothing description of
defendant. Approximately 10 to 15 minutes later, Officer William
McKenna brought defendant out of the building. Officer Lewis

                                 -22-
identified defendant as the person who had sold him the heroin.
Officer McKenna later returned Officer Lewis’ $10 prerecorded fund
to him.
    Officer Deon Boyd testified that on March 9, 2000, he was
working undercover at 4429 South Federal Street in Chicago. When
he entered the building, several persons in the corridor directed
Officer Boyd to the fourth-floor stairwell. When he reached the fourth
floor, Officer Boyd saw a line of individuals purchasing narcotics.
Officer Lewis was leaving when Officer Boyd got in line. Officer Boyd
testified that when he got to the front of the line, he was face to face
with defendant. Officer Boyd told defendant “Let me get two,”
meaning two packages of narcotics. Officer Boyd gave defendant a
$20 prerecorded bill, and defendant gave Officer Boyd two tinfoil
packets. The parties stipulated that those packages tested positive for
the presence of heroin. Officer Boyd then returned to his undercover
vehicle and radioed defendant’s description to the enforcement team.
Officer McKenna brought defendant out of the building. Officer
McKenna subsequently gave Officer Boyd his $20 in prerecorded
funds. Officer Boyd believed that two or three other arrests were
made simultaneously with defendant’s arrest. Officer Boyd testified
that an individual named Kohler Parks was arrested with defendant.
    Defendant testified that on March 9, 2000, he was living at 4429
South Federal Street, apartment 902. Defendant testified that he was
arrested on March 9, 2000, but denied that he had made any narcotics
deliveries to any police officer, and denied that he was in possession
of any money from drug sales. Defendant said that he was arrested
with more than 15 other persons. Defendant said that he knew of
Kohler Parks, but denied that he knew him personally. Defendant
stated that on the day he was arrested, he was walking down the stairs
to pick up his son from school. Defendant said that as he was walking
down the stairs, he was sprayed in the face with mace and was jumped
on, and then heard someone identify himself as a police officer. On
cross-examination, defendant testified that all he remembered was
coming down the stairs and being sprayed with mace. Defendant said
that he was by himself in the stairwell when he was maced. Defendant
did not know what floor he was on when he was maced.

                                 -23-
     In finding defendant guilty, the trial court recounted the testimony
of the police officers, then discussed defendant’s testimony. The trial
court stated:
               “The defense argues that th[r]ough the confusion here the
          officers didn’t make the purchase from [defendant].
          [Defendant] has testified he just came out of his house walking
          downstairs or running the [sic] down the stairs and he is
          maced. He doesn’t say who maces him, where the mace was
          at, but that’s all he remembers. I believe he used the term ‘All
          I can remember’ at least six times.
               He testifies that the next thing he remembers really is being
          downstairs being separated into–from the paddy wagon into
          a squad–a car he said. He does know Kohler Parks, but he
          doesn’t remember seeing that individual.”
     Based upon the preceding evidence, the majority finds that the trial
in this case was a contest of credibility and that, therefore, the
evidence was closely balanced. The majority notes that the two
officers testified that defendant sold them heroin, while defendant
claimed that he was walking down the stairwell to pick up his son
from school when he was maced and arrested. The majority finds that,
“[g]iven these opposing versions of events, and the fact that no
extrinsic evidence was presented to corroborate or contradict either
version, the trial court’s finding of guilty necessarily involved the
court’s assessment of the credibility of the two officers against that of
defendant.” Slip op. at 18-19. The majority finds that “defendant’s
erroneously admitted incompetent prior conviction was the State’s
only successful attack on defendant’s testimony.” Slip op. at 19. The
majority concludes that the trial court was faced with two credible
versions of events, and moments after erroneously admitting
incompetent evidence for the purposes of impeaching defendant’s
credibility, the court concluded that it believed the officers’ version of
events. Slip op. at 19. The majority therefore affirms the reversal of
defendant’s conviction and remandment for a new trial.
     In reaching its conclusion, the majority has improperly substituted
its judgment for that of the trier of fact and has reweighed the
evidence. It is well settled that it is the function of the trier of fact to
assess the credibility of witnesses, to determine the appropriate weight
of the testimony, and to resolve conflicts or inconsistencies in the

                                   -24-
evidence. People v. Evans, 209 Ill. 2d 194, 211 (2004). A trier of fact
is “not required to accept any possible explanation compatible with the
defendant’s innocence and elevate it to the status of reasonable doubt”
(People v. Herrett, 137 Ill. 2d 195, 206 (1990)), nor is reversal
warranted simply because a defendant claims that a witness was not
credible (Evans, 209 Ill. 2d at 211-12). Thus, a trier of fact may
disregard exculpatory accounts or other evidence that tends to
support or be consistent with a defendant’s innocence and rest its
decision instead on circumstantial evidence of guilt presented by the
State. People v. Locascio, 106 Ill. 2d 529, 537 (1985).
     Here, the trial court determined that the two police officers were
credible and that defendant was not. Based upon the record, it is clear
that the trial court could find that defendant was not a credible witness
even absent the admission of his prior conviction. Although the
majority believes that the erroneously admitted prior conviction
convinced the trial court that the officers were more credible than
defendant, it is clear from the trial court’s statement that it was
defendant’s testimony, particularly his repeated lack of recall, that
convinced the trial court that defendant was not credible. In contrast
to defendant’s general denial and lack of recall, the testimony of the
officers was consistent concerning the events surrounding defendant’s
arrest. Both officers testified that they purchased heroin from
defendant using prerecorded bills, then returned to their undercover
vehicles and radioed defendant’s description to the enforcement team.
Each officer saw Officer McKenna bring defendant out of the
building, and each officer identified defendant as the individual that
sold them heroin. Officer McKenna later returned the prerecorded bills
to the officers. The mere fact that defendant testified to a version of
events that contradicted the police officers did not render the evidence
in this case closely balanced.
     I also note that, as further support for its finding that the evidence
was closely balanced, the majority suggests that the trial court did not
accurately remember defendant’s testimony. In a footnote, the
majority states that “the trial court’s view of defendant’s credibility
apparently clouded its memory of defendant’s testimony” because the
trial court stated that defendant testified he knew Kohler Parks, while
defendant “clearly denied knowing Parks.” Slip op. at 19 n.4. In fact,
defendant testified that he “knew of” Kohler Parks, but denied

                                   -25-
knowing him personally. Given defendant’s testimony that he “knew
of” Kohler Parks, I disagree with the majority that the trial court’s
memory of defendant’s testimony was “clouded.”
    Whether evidence is closely balanced necessarily is determined on
a case-by-case basis. The majority, however, effectively has created
a rule holding that if the evidence at trial involves a contest of
credibility, and the defendant testifies contrary to the prosecution’s
witnesses, the evidence will always be closely balanced. Based upon
the facts of this case, I believe that the trial court properly determined
that the police officers were credible and that defendant was not.
Therefore, I would find that the evidence was not closely balanced and
that the error in admitting defendant’s prior conviction was harmless
error. Consequently, I would affirm defendant’s conviction. For that
reason, I respectfully dissent from the majority’s judgment affirming
the reversal of defendant’s conviction and remanding for a new trial.

    JUSTICES GARMAN and KARMEIER join in this dissent.

                                  -26-