Court Opinion

ID: 9725758
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 12:09:06.676081+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:25:19.469109
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE LORENZ delivered the opinion of the court: Following a jury trial, defendant Joseph Rodriguez was convicted of two counts of murder (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1981, ch. 38, par. 9 — 1), and was sentenced to natural life in prison. He contends on appeal that a suggestive in-court identification by a witness and improper comments by the prosecutors deprived him of a fair trial. He also contends that the imposition of a natural life sentence upon a minor violates the United States and Illinois constitutions. Our disposition is based on the following facts. Renaldo Hernandez testified that he had known defendant for years and that he and defendant were members of the Kool Gang. In 1981, a dispute arose between the Kool Gang and another southwest side street gang, the Villalobos. According to Hernandez, his gang believed that Charles Palmer, a member of the Villalobos, had a Kool Gang jersey. Defendant discussed the jersey with Charles Palmer several times during the summer and fall of 1981. On December 12, 1981, defendant and Hernandez observed Joey and Theresa Palmer walking homeward; they mistook Joey for his brother, Charles. Defendant asked Hernandez if he wanted to kill them, and Hernandez responded that it was up to defendant. Hernandez went home for a gun. which he said he had been holding for defendant. Defendant took the gun and positioned himself in hiding along Joey and Theresa’s route. As Joey and Theresa passed him, defendant crossed the street, then sneaked up behind the two, raised the gun, and shot Joey in the back of the head. Theresa began screaming and defendant shot her twice, turned to run, then shot her a third time. Hernandez testified that he and defendant ran away, separated, and hid. On cross-examination, Hernandez admitted that he had lied in a previous statement to an assistant State’s Attorney and in his testimony before the grand jury. After his attorney advised him that he could be sentenced to a term of natural life in prison, Hernandez struck a deal: he would testify against defendant and plead guilty to obstructing justice in exchange for the State’s Attorney’s recommendation that he be sentenced to four years’ imprisonment. Theresa Santana testified that she lived across Halsted Street from the victims, and that she had known defendant for several years. Santana was descending a stairway outside her residence in the evening hours of December 12, 1981, when she saw Joey and Theresa Palmer walking home. She recognized defendant as he crossed Halsted Street toward her, but before she could greet him, he turned and jogged at an angle back across the street. Santana testified that defendant unzipped his jacket, pulled a gun, shot Joey once or twice and shot Theresa two or three times. She said that defendant then ran away. Santana stated that she spoke to the police on the evening of the shooting and gave them a description, but she did not name defendant. The next day, the police showed her some photos, including a photo of defendant, but she again failed to identify him. Finally, two days after the incident, Santana identified defendant from a high school yearbook picture. She explained that she did not identify him earlier because she was afraid that his gang would retaliate; she stayed inside her house for three or four weeks after the shooting. On cross-examination, Santana admitted that she spoke with private investigator Robert Beseth on December 19, 1981. She said that Beseth never showed her any written statement, and she generally denied making the statements which defense counsel’s questions attributed to her. Danny O’Neal Morris testified that he was sitting near a window in his second-floor apartment at about 5:45 p.m. on December 12, 1981, when he heard four gunshots. He looked out the window, which overlooks an alley adjoining Halsted Street, and saw two men run through the alley. Morris said that he did not see the first man’s face, but the man was 5 foot 8 inches, 160 pounds, with a medium complexion, an “afro” hairstyle and a brown jacket. He described the second man as a 5 feet 6 inches Latino, 135 pounds, with black hair parted in the middle, a black leather jacket, and a gun. Morris testified that he saw the second man’s face for a few seconds, and he positively identified defendant as that man. Over defendant’s objection, Morris identified defendant in a lineup photograph as well as in open court, although he had not attended the lineup nor made any pretrial identification. The victims’ mother testified that she heard shots and went downstairs to discover her daughter, bleeding and motionless, and her son, still conscious, not knowing what had happened. Charles Palmer, the victims’ brother, substantially corroborated Hernandez’ testimony concerning the dispute between the gangs. In addition, police officers described various stages of the investigation, and a pathologist opined that the victims died from bullet wounds. Private investigator Robert Beseth testified for the defense. He said that on December 19, 1981, he spoke with Theresa Santana at her home. She told him that she did not initially identify defendant for three reasons: his hairstyle was not the same as she remembered, he did not have bags under his eyes as she remembered, and she was afraid. Beseth stated that he wrote a report of the interview immediately afterward, had the report typed two days later and asked Santana to sign it, but she declined, saying that the police and her parents told her not to sign anything. During closing arguments, Assistant State’s Attorney Timothy McMahon argued that Theresa Santana was understandably reticent to identify defendant, and he remarked that “after the police and her mother and her relatives reassure her not to be afraid, you will be protected, she tells the police [defendant’s name].” Defense counsel responded that this comment was not supported by the evidence. In rebuttal, Assistant State’s Attorney Brian Telander stated, “[A]s long as he brought it up, I’ll tell you. Three weeks after this, we had to move her to Texas.” The trial court overruled defense counsel’s objection. Telander continued, “Do you think she enjoyed testifying against gang members? Do you think she enjoyed not going to school and leaving town? You know that’s not true.” The prosecutors also advised the jury that defense counsel’s responsibility was “to try to get his client off,” and that defense counsel lied in his argument. The prosecution attempted to minimize the impact of the deal with Hernandez, stating that he was “not guilty of murder.” Following deliberations, the jury returned verdicts of guilty on two counts of murder. The trial court entered judgment on the verdicts and sentenced defendant to natural life in prison. Defendant filed a timely notice of appeal. Opinion Defendant first contends that the trial court improperly permitted Danny O’Neal Morris to identify defendant from a photograph of a lineup which Morris never attended. Because he was conspicuously seated at the defense table, defendant reasons, the identification procedure was so suggestive as to deprive him of a fair trial. Defendant relies upon Moore v. Illinois (1977), 434 U.S. 220, 54 L. Ed. 2d 424, 98 S. Ct. 458, and Foster v. California (1969), 394 U.S. 440, 22 L. Ed. 2d 402, 89 S. Ct. 1127. Foster involved a series of suggestive pretrial confrontations during which the eyewitness progressed from “not sure” to “convinced” of his identification. (394 U.S. 440, 441-42, 22 L. Ed 2d 402, 405-06, 89 S. Ct. 1127, 1127-28.) The Foster court stated that the suggestiveness of the procedure “made it all but inevitable” that the victim would identify the accused, and held that the procedure was so unreliable as to violate due process. (394 U.S. 440, 443, 22 L. Ed. 2d 402, 407, 89 S. Ct. 1127, 1129.) Recognizing that the reliability of an eyewitness identification is ordinarily a matter for the jury, the Foster court reiterated that such evidence must be excluded where procedures are so unnecessarily suggestive as to give rise to a substantial likelihood of irreparable mistaken identification. 394 U.S. 440, 442, 22 L. Ed. 2d 402, 406, 89 S. Ct. 1127, 1128. See Simmons v. United, States (1968), 390 U.S. 377, 384, 19 L. Ed. 2d 1247, 1253, 88 S. Ct. 967, 971. Moore involved a one-on-one confrontation between the victim and the accused at a preliminary hearing. The Moore court emphasized the inherent dangers of suggestive pretrial identification procedures: “ ‘[T]he first line of defense must be the prevention of unfairness and the lessening of the hazards of eyewitness identification at the lineup itself. The trial which might determine the accused’s fate may well not be that in the courtroom but that at the pretrial confrontation, with the State aligned against the accused, the witness the sole jury, and the accused unprotected against the overreaching, intentional or unintentional, and with little or no effective appeal from the judgment there rendered by the witness — “that’s the man.” ’ ” Moore v. Illinois (1977), 434 U.S. 220, 225, 54 L. Ed. 2d 424, 431, 98 S. Ct. 458, 463, quoting United States v. Wade (1967), 388 U.S. 218, 235-36, 18 L. Ed. 2d 1149, 1162-63, 87 S. Ct. 1926, 1936-37. The court noted that if the accused had been represented by counsel, counsel could have requested a less suggestive lineup, he could have asked the victim to attempt an identification while the accused sat in the audience, and he could have cross-examined the victim to test the identification before it became certain. (434 U.S. 220, 230 n.5, 54 L. Ed. 2d 424, 435 n.5, 98 S. Ct. 458, 465-66 n.5.) The Moore court stated that some or all of the suggestiveness could have been avoided and held that the preliminary hearing showup procedure violated the accused’s right to counsel. 434 U.S. 220, 230-31, 54 L. Ed. 2d 424, 435-36, 98 S. Ct. 458, 465-66. Foster and Moore reveal the flaw in defendant’s argument: the rationale for suppressing an identification tainted by extrajudicial suggestiveness simply does not apply here. Suppression seeks to avoid the risk that a suggestive pretrial identification will result in a mistaken or deceptively certain identification at trial. Danny O’Neal Morris attempted no pretrial identification, and so the risk is minimal that his identification in court was influenced by extrajudicial suggestiveness. It is true that Morris identified defendant under suggestive circumstances at trial, but it does not follow that defendant was denied due process. In People v. Finch (1970), 47 Ill. 2d 425, 266 N.E.2d 97, cert. denied (1971), 404 U.S. 836, 30 L. Ed. 2d 68, 92 S. Ct. 122, the defendant argued that he was denied due process when a witness identified him for the first time at trial while he was seated at the counsel table. The Finch court rejected this argument, partly because the defendant failed to object and partly because the witness had an independent basis for the identification. (47 Ill. 2d 425, 430-31.) In People ex rel. Blassick v. Callahan (1972), 50 Ill. 2d 330, 279 N.E.2d 1, our supreme court distinguished from in-court identification police lineups, and relied on Finch for the proposition that “an in-court identification of itself does not deprive a defendant of due process.” (50 Ill. 2d 330, 335.) Similarly, this court has repeatedly held that a defendant has no absolute right to avoid identification at trial, suggestive circumstances notwithstanding. See People v. Patterson (1980), 88 Ill. App. 3d 168, 176, 410 N.E.2d 396; People v. Kavanaugh (1980), 85 Ill. App. 3d 783, 789, 408 N.E.2d 23; People v. Gregory (1976), 43 Ill. App. 3d 1052, 1057-58, 357 N.E.2d 1251; People v. Petty (1973), 10 Ill. App. 3d 975, 979, 295 N.E.2d 275.  In our view, suggestiveness at trial, absent the taint of extrajudicial suggestiveness, does not offend due process because the trial itself affords the defendant adequate protection. The defendant receives the full benefit of a trial by jury, under the guidance of an impartial judge, with representation by counsel and witnesses subject to oath and cross-examination. We stress cross-examination, “the greatest legal engine ever invented for the discovery of truth.” (V Wig-more, Evidence sec. 1367 (Chadbourne rev. 1974).) Where a witness first identifies the defendant at trial, defense counsel may test the perceptions, memory and bias of the witness, contemporaneously exposing weaknesses and adding perspective in order to lessen the hazards of undue weight or mistake. (Cf Moore v. Illinois (1977), 434 U.S. 220, 230 n.5, 54 L. Ed. 2d 424, 435 n.5, 98 S. Ct. 458, 465-66 n.5.) We emphasize, too, that the jury is capable of observing and weighing the suggestiveness of an in-court identification, if that identification is unaffected by extrajudicial suggestiveness. (See IV Wig-more, Evidence sec. 1130 (Chadbourne rev. 1972) (in-court identification has “little testimonial force”).) As Mr. Justice Black commented: “[T]he jury is the sole tribunal to weigh and determine facts. That means that the jury must, if we keep faith with the Constitution, be allowed to hear eyewitnesses and decide for itself whether it can recognize the truth and whether they are telling the truth. It means that the jury must be allowed to decide for itself whether the darkness of the night, the weakness of a witness’ eyesight, or any other factor impaired the witness’ ability to make an accurate identification. To take that power away from the jury is to rob it of the responsibility to perform the precise functions the Founders most wanted it to perform.” Foster v. California (1969), 394 U.S. 440, 447, 22 L. Ed. 2d 402, 409, 89 S. Ct. 1127, 1131 (Black, J., dissenting).  In this case, Morris saw the face of the person who carried the gun for only a couple of seconds, but he testified that his attention was drawn by the gunshots. He described two men to the police that evening, and the descriptions fit defendant and Hernandez. He positively identified defendant in court nine months later. The totality of circumstances indicated that Morris’ identification was sufficiently reliable to permit him to testify. (See People v. Manion (1977), 67 Ill. 2d 564, 571, 367 N.E.2d 1313, cert. denied (1978), 435 U.S. 937, 55 L. Ed. 2d 533, 98 S. Ct. 1513; People v. Finch (1970), 47 Ill. 2d 425, 429-30, 266 N.E.2d 97, cert. denied (1971), 404 U.S. 836, 30 L. Ed. 2d 68, 92 S. Ct. 122.) At trial, Morris identified defendant from a photograph of a lineup, and after asking defendant to remove his eyeglasses, identified him at counsel table. Defense counsel cross-examined Morris concerning lapse of time since the shooting, and-commented in closing argument about the suggestiveness of the identification. Defendant was not deprived of a fair trial simply because the testimony was imperfect. Just as the jury could consider the imperfect testimony of Hernandez and Santana, we believe that the jury was entitled to hear Morris’ testimony. We trust that the jury reached its verdict based on all of the evidence.  Defendant next contends that improper comments by the prosecutors deprived him of a fair trial. He argues that their remarks concerning Theresa Santana’s relocation under a witness protection program violated a motion in limine. Defendant argues further that the prosecutor cast aspersions on defense counsel and misstated Hernandez’ culpability. The State argues generally that the comments were waived, proper or harmless. In general, matters in evidence and reasonable inferences .therefrom are proper subjects of comment to the jury. (People v. Warmack (1980), 83 Ill. 2d 112, 125-26, 413 N.E.2d 1254; People v. Hairston (1970), 46 Ill. 2d 348, 375, 263 N.E.2d 840, cert. denied (1971), 402 U.S. 972, 29 L. Ed. 2d 136, 91 S. Ct. 1658.) A reviewing court should assess arguments of counsel in the context of the whole trial, and should sustain a conviction unless it appears that improper comment substantially prejudiced the accused. See People v. Baptist (1979), 76 Ill. 2d 19, 28-29, 389 N.E.2d 1200; People v. Tate (1970), 45 Ill. 2d 540, 545-46, 259 N.E.2d 791, cert. denied (1971), 401 U.S. 941, 28 L. Ed. 2d 222, 91 S. Ct. 944.  The record reveals that Assistant State’s Attorney McMahon first referred to “protection” for Santana, and that defense counsel properly argued that no evidence supported this remark. Assistant State’s Attorney Brian Telander’s rebuttal argument contained the following colloquy: “MR. TELANDER [assistant State’s Attorney]: [D]id Theresa Santana say she wanted protection? As long as he [defense counsel] brought it up, I’ll tell you. Three weeks after this, we had to move her to Texas. MR. KULL [defense counsel]: Objection, objection. THE COURT: That’s not the evidence, that’s not the evidence. Overruled, proceed. MR. TELANDER: For three weeks she sat in her house. THE COURT: Excuse me, where she is at now has nothing to do with the case, ladies and gentlemen of the jury. * * * MR. TELANDER: I think it’s asking a lot to have her come back now and have her pick her life and that’s it, adiós, out of Chicago. How much can you ask of her? MR. KULL: Objection. THE COURT: Overruled. * * * MR. TELANDER: Do you think she enjoyed testifying against gang members? Do you think she enjoyed not going to school and leaving town? You know that’s not true.” The prosecutors’ remarks in rebuttal were improper, inflammatory and not based on evidence. Because the prosecutor first raised the protection issue, and because defense counsel’s responsive remark was proper, we reject the State’s argument that the comments in rebuttal were invited. We conclude that the trial court erred in overruling defendant’s objections to these clearly improper remarks.  We find, however, that these comments were not a material factor in defendant’s conviction, and so do not warrant reversal. The evidence of defendant’s guilt, considered in toto, was overwhelming. The only issue in the case was identification. Two independent eyewitnesses, both familiar with defendant, identified him as the shooter. A third witness heard shots and immediately thereafter saw a man, identified as defendant, running away from the scene with a gun in his hand. The State produced evidence of motive which was corroborated by members of rival gangs. By contrast, the improper remarks by the prosecutors bolstered the credibility of one witness, and did so only tangentially. The primary impact of the remarks was to indicate that Theresa Santana was afraid of defendant and his gang, an inference supported by the evidence. Further, although the trial judge overruled defendant’s objections, he admonished the jury that the prosecutors’ comments were irrelevant and unsupported in the evidence. We conclude, therefore, that these remarks did not prejudice defendant to the point of requiring reversal. See People v. Baptist (1979), 76 Ill. 2d 19, 29-30, 389 N.E.2d 1200.  We find further that the prosecutors improperly cast aspersions on defense counsel and misstated law in order to minimize the impact of the plea bargain with Hernandez. (See People v. Brown (1983), 113 Ill, App. 3d 625, 447 N.E.2d 1011; People v. Monroe (1981), 95 Ill. App. 3d 807, 420 N.E.2d 544.) However, these comments were fleeting and oblique, and in view of the strength of the evidence, we do not believe that they affected the jury’s deliberations. Defendant complains of other comments, but we deem any error to have been waived by defendant’s failure to object contemporaneously and his failure to specify such comments in his post-trial motion. (See People v. Carlson (1980), 79 Ill. 2d 564, 576-78, 404 N.E.2d 233.) In view of the number of objectionable remarks made by the prosecutors in this case, we feel compelled to remind Assistant State’s Attorneys McMahon and Telander that their duty to protect the rights of the people of Illinois includes a duty to safeguard the rights of criminal defendants. See People v. Lyles (1985), 106 Ill. 2d 373, 411-12.  Finally, defendant contends that the imposition of a natural life sentence upon a 16 year old violates the United States and Illinois constitutions. He maintains that section 5 — 8—1(a)(1)(c) of the Unified Code of Corrections (the Code) (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1981, ch. 38, par. 1005 — 8—1(a)(1)(c) violates the Illinois Constitution’s due process clause (Ill. Const. 1970, art. I, sec. 2), the separation of powers provision (Ill. Const. 1970, art. II, sec. 1), and the “objective of restoring the offender to useful citizenship.” (Ill. Const. 1970, art. I, sec. 11.) He also argues that his sentence amounts to cruel and unusual punishment prohibited by the eighth amendment to the Federal Constitution. U.S. Const., amend. VIII. In People v. Taylor (1984), 102 Ill. 2d 201, 464 N.E.2d 1059, our supreme court held that the mandatory natural life sentencing provision violated neither the separation of powers doctrine, nor the objective of restoring offenders to useful citizenship. Taylor is dispositive of the like claims of the instant defendant. Further, because one of the defendants who was sentenced to natural life imprisonment in Taylor was 16 years old at the time of the crime (102 Ill. 2d 201, 204), we consider Taylor to be at least persuasive authority for the rejection of defendant’s argument here, that his youth requires special consideration. With respect to due process, defendant asserts that this natural life sentence contradicts the express intent of the legislature to exempt minors from enhanced criminal penalties. He points to the exemptions for persons under age 17 from extended-term sentencing (see Ill. Rev. Stat. 1981, ch. 38, par. 1005 — 5—3.2(b)) and for persons under age 18 from the death penalty (see Ill. Rev. Stat. 1981, ch. 38, par. 9 — 1(b)). Defendant reasons that the legislature could not have intended to exempt minors from the death penalty, but to subject them to its alternative, natural life imprisonment. The State maintains that the provision is rationally based on a policy of permanent segregation from society, and that it applies to anyone who commits multiple murder, regardless of age. We agree with the State.  Statutes are presumed constitutional, and the burden of showing invalidity is on the party challenging the statute. (People v. La Pointe (1981), 88 Ill. 2d 482, 499, 431 N.E.2d 344.) The legislature is empowered to classify offenses and prescribe penalties, and such power will be nullified by a court only if the statute violates a constitutionally assured right. People ex rel. Carey v. Bentivenga (1981), 83 Ill. 2d 537, 542, 416 N.E.2d 259.  We see no inconsistency in a legislative scheme which subjects minors to natural life imprisonment but mercifully exempts them from the death penalty, for “the penalty of death is qualitatively different from a sentence of imprisonment, however long.” (Woodson v. North Carolina (1976), 428 U.S. 280, 305, 49 L. Ed. 2d 944, 961, 96 S. Ct. 2978, 2991.) The cases relied upon by defendant, People v. Wisslead (1983), 94 Ill. 2d 190, 446 N.E.2d 512 and People v. Wagner (1982), 89 Ill. 2d 308, 433 N.E.2d 267, are easily distinguished: both cases invalidated statutory schemes which imposed more serious punishment for less serious criminal conduct. The plain meaning of section 5 — 8—l(a)(lXc) is that, regardless of age, a defendant found guilty of murdering more than one victim must be sentenced to a term of natural life in prison. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1981, ch. 38, par. 1005— 8 — 1(a)(1)(c); see People v. Hudson (1981), 95 Ill. App. 3d 350, 355-56, 420 N.E.2d 271.) The provision is reasonably designed to protect a legitimate interest (see People v. La Pointe (1981), 88 Ill. 2d 482, 501, 431 N.E.2d 344), and its application to this defendant was consistent with due process.  We find defendant’s argument concerning cruel and unusual punishment to be meritless. Drawing an analogy between the death penalty and natural life in prison, defendant argues that the preclusion of evidence in mitigation renders section 5 — 8—1(a)(1)(c) violative of the eighth amendment. Our supreme court implicitly rejected this analogy in People v. Taylor (1984), 102 Ill. 2d 201, 464 N.E.2d 1059, by reversing that portion of the appellate court decision which depended upon it. (See People v. Taylor (1983), 115 Ill. App. 3d 621, 626-27, 450 N.E.2d 1256, aff’d in part, rev’d in part (1984), 102 Ill. 2d 201, 464 N.E.2d 1059.) The death penalty is different in kind from any period of imprisonment. (Woodson v. North Carolina (1976), 428 U.S. 280, 305, 49 L. Ed. 2d 944, 961, 96 S. Ct. 2978, 2991.) The legislature determined that where a defendant committed two or more murders, no set of mitigating circumstances would permit a penalty less than natural life in prison. The Constitution compels no contrary determination. For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the circuit court of Cook County is affirmed. Pursuant to People v. Agnew (1985), 105 Ill. 2d 275, 473 N.E.2d 1319, the State’s Attorney’s fee request is hereby granted, and a fee of $75 is assessed against defendant. Affirmed. MEJDA, P.J., and SULLIVAN, J., concur.