Court Opinion

ID: 9908171
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-12-07 22:03:06.469015+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:48:57.632854
License: Public Domain

2023 IL App (5th) 230855-U
             NOTICE
                                                                                               NOTICE
 Decision filed 12/07/23. The
                                                                                    This order was filed under
 text of this decision may be                NO. 5-23-0855
                                                                                    Supreme Court Rule 23 and is
 changed or corrected prior to
                                                                                    not precedent except in the
 the filing of a Petition for                    IN THE                             limited circumstances allowed
 Rehearing or the disposition of
                                                                                    under Rule 23(e)(1).
 the same.
                                   APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS

                               FIFTH DISTRICT
______________________________________________________________________________

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,            )     Appeal from the
                                                )     Circuit Court of
      Plaintiff-Appellee,                       )     Vermilion County.
                                                )
v.                                              )     No. 23-CF-612
                                                )
DAVID B. LEWIS,                                 )     Honorable
                                                )     Charles C. Hall,
      Defendant-Appellant.                      )     Judge, presiding.
______________________________________________________________________________

         JUSTICE MOORE delivered the judgment of the court.
         Justices Cates and Barberis concurred in the judgment.

                                              ORDER

¶1       Held: The circuit court’s order detaining the defendant was not an abuse of discretion
               where the trial court’s determinations were not unreasonable or arbitrary.

¶2       The defendant, David B. Lewis, appeals the circuit court of Vermilion County’s October

5, 2023, order regarding the defendant’s pretrial release pursuant to Public Act 101-642 (eff. Jan.

1, 2023), commonly known as the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today (SAFE-T)

Act (Act). 1 See Pub. Acts 101-652, § 10-255, 102-1104, § 70 (eff. Jan. 1, 2023); Rowe v. Raoul,

2023 IL 129248, ¶ 52 (lifting stay and setting effective date as September 18, 2023).

         1
         The Act has been sometimes referred to as the “SAFE-T Act” or the “Pretrial Fairness Act.”
Neither name is official, as neither appears in the Illinois Compiled Statutes or the public act. See Rowe v.
Raoul, 2023 IL 129248, ¶ 4 n.1.
                                                     1
¶3                                     I. BACKGROUND

¶4     The defendant is a convicted felon with convictions that include drug trafficking, mob

action, aggravated battery, and unlawful transport of firearms. On October 2, 2023, police

responded to a report of a gunshot-like noise and subsequent bullet hole in the reporters’ residence

wall. Shortly thereafter, the defendant, who was the residents’ neighbor, apologized to the residents

and stated that he had been cleaning a gun when it accidentally discharged and shot a hole through

their walls. Defendant also indicated that he had cut his hand on the gun. Defendant’s neighbors

saw the cut, and the gun had blood on it. The gun was also reported as stolen.

¶5     On October 3, 2023, the defendant was charged by information with four felony counts.

Count I alleged unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon convicted of a forcible felony in

violation of section 24-1.1(a) of the Criminal Code of 2012 (Code) (720 ILCS 5/24-1.1(a) (West

2022)), a Class 2 felony. Count II alleged unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon convicted

of a felony under the Illinois Controlled Substances Act in violation of section 24-1.1(a) of the

Code (id.), a Class 2 felony. Count III alleged unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon in

violation of 24-1.1(a) of the Code (id.), a Class 3 felony. Count IV alleged reckless discharge of a

firearm in violation of section 24-1.5(a) of the Code (id. § 24-1.5(a)), a Class 4 felony. That same

day, the State filed a verified petition seeking to deny pretrial release. The State alleged that

defendant was charged with a qualifying offense, that he posed a real and present threat to the

safety of persons or the community, and that no condition or combination of conditions could

mitigate the real and present threat to the safety of persons or the community.

¶6     On October 5, 2023, the circuit court held a pretrial detention hearing wherein, after

considering the State’s proffer and the arguments of counsel, the circuit court entered a written

order of detention. In the order, the circuit court found by clear and convincing evidence that

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(1) the proof was evident or the presumption great that defendant had committed a qualifying

offense; (2) defendant posed a real and present threat to the safety of any person or persons in the

community, based upon the specific articulable facts of the case; and (3) no conditions could

mitigate the real and present threat to safety. Specifically, the circuit court found that less

restrictive conditions would not assure the safety of others due to the following facts: the nature

of the charges, which were Class 2, 3, and 4 felonies (with the Class 2 felonies being

nonprobationable); defendant was possessing a firearm after being convicted of a forcible felony;

defendant recklessly discharged the firearm and endangered an individual’s bodily safety; the

firearm was reported stolen; some mental health issues had been reported; and defendant had an

extensive criminal history—11 prior cases, with some involving weapons.

¶7     The defendant timely filed a notice of appeal the following day. After the Office of the

State Appellate Defender (OSAD) was appointed to represent defendant in this appeal, OSAD

filed a notice “In Lieu of Rule 604(h) Memorandum.” Therefore, we need only consider the

arguments contained in the defendant’s notice of appeal. We now turn to our analysis and

additional facts will be included below where necessary.

¶8                                          II. ANALYSIS

¶9     First, we begin our analysis by determining which issues raised by the defendant are

properly before us. In his notice of appeal, the defendant only challenges the trial court’s finding

that the State met its burden in proving the defendant dangerous in that he poses a real and present

threat to the safety of other and the community, and that the State met its burden in proving that

no condition(s) can mitigate the threat posed. Thus, as to the other issues not raised in the notice

of appeal, the defendant has forfeited review as to those points. Ill. S. Ct. R. 341(h)(7) (eff. Oct. 1,

2020) (“Points not argued are forfeited ***.”).

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¶ 10   Now, having determined the remaining three claims to be sufficiently brought before us

pursuant to Rule 604(h), we turn to our analysis of them.

               “We have historically reviewed bail appeals under Illinois Supreme Court Rule

       604(c)(1) (eff. Sept. 18, 2023) using an abuse of discretion standard. People v. Simmons,

       2019 IL App (1st) 191253, ¶ 9, 143 N.E.3d 833. ‘An abuse of discretion occurs when the

       circuit court’s decision is “arbitrary, fanciful or unreasonable,” or where “no reasonable

       person would agree with the position adopted by the [circuit] court.” ’ Simmons, 2019 IL

       App (1st) 191253, ¶ 9 (quoting People v. Becker, 239 Ill. 2d 215, 234, 940 N.E.2d 1131,

       1142 (2010)); see People v. Johnson, 2019 IL App (3d) 190582, ¶ 8, 147 N.E.3d 756 (‘We

       will review the decision of the [circuit] court [on a motion for review under Rule 604(c)]

       for an abuse of discretion.’).

               Rule 604(h), as amended due to the Act, provides a new procedure for these

       appeals. See Ill. S. Ct. R. 604(h) (eff. Sept. 18, 2023). But the Act neither mandates nor

       suggests a different standard of review. A defendant appealing under Rule 604(h) may

       claim the State failed to fulfill its burden by ‘clear and convincing evidence.’ See Ill. S. Ct.

       R. 604(h)(1)(iii) (eff. Sept. 18, 2023). However, we are not reviewing the State’s evidence

       anew. Instead, we are reviewing the circuit court’s evaluation of that evidence for an abuse

       of discretion. ‘[W]e will not substitute our own judgment for the trier of fact on issues

       regarding the weight of the evidence or the credibility of the witnesses.’ People v. Vega,

       2018 IL App (1st) 160619, ¶ 44, 123 N.E.3d 393. Under the Code, the circuit court was

       invested with the responsibility to consider the various factors listed in section 110-6.1(g)

       (real and present danger), as well as those in section 110- 6.1(a)(1)-(8) (feasibility of less

       restrictive conditions) before finding detention to be appropriate. ‘[I]n reviewing the circuit

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       court’s ruling for an abuse of discretion, we will not substitute our judgment for that of the

       circuit court, “merely because we would have balanced the appropriate factors

       differently.” ’ Simmons, 2019 IL App (1st) 191253, ¶ 15 (quoting People v. Cox, 82 Ill. 2d

       268, 280, 412 N.E.2d 541, 547 (1980)).” People v. Inman, 2023 IL App (4th) 230864,

       ¶¶ 10-11.

¶ 11   The defendant’s first remaining claim is that “[t]he State failed to meet its burden of

proving by clear and convincing evidence that defendant poses a real and present threat to the

safety of any person or persons or the community, based on the specific, articulable facts of the

case.” The defendant explains his position by stating, “Facts were alleged that at most the

defendant (albeit a convicted felon) was at home with a hand gun [sic] that fired accidentally. Facts

do not arise to the level of present threat to either a specific person or persons or the community.”

¶ 12   Under section 110-6.1(g) of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (725 ILCS 5/110-

6.1(g) (West 2022)), the trial court is provided with several factors to consider in making its

decision regarding a defendant’s dangerousness. The trial court then analyzes those factors within

the context of the specific facts of the case. Again, we review whether the trial court properly

considered one of the factors under the abuse of discretion standard. Inman, 2023 IL App (4th)

230864, ¶ 11. As a result, “in reviewing the circuit court’s ruling for an abuse of discretion, we

will not substitute our judgment for that of the circuit court, ‘merely because we would have

balanced the appropriate factors differently.’ ” People v. Simmons, 2019 IL App (1st) 191253, ¶ 15

(quoting People v. Cox, 82 Ill. 2d 268, 280 (1980)).

¶ 13   Here, the trial court explicitly stated it considered and found the following in its order: the

nature of the charges, which were Class 2, 3, and 4 felonies (with the Class 2 felonies being

nonprobationable); defendant was possessing a firearm after being convicted of a forcible felony;

                                                 5
defendant recklessly discharged the firearm and endangered an individual’s bodily safety; the

firearm was reported stolen; some mental health issues had been reported; and defendant had an

extensive criminal history—11 prior cases, with some involving weapons.

¶ 14   Thus, where a felon, with an extensive criminal history involving weapons, is in possession

of a stolen weapon, is allegedly cleaning the weapon outside on his porch, and is doing so in a

reckless manner wherein the firearm discharges and shoots a projectile into a neighbor’s home

piercing their walls, we do not find that the trial court’s determination is “arbitrary, fanciful, or

unreasonable, or where no reasonable person would agree with the decision.”

¶ 15   The defendant’s second claim suffers the same fate. In reaching its determination as to

these matters, the trial court must consider: (1) the nature and circumstances of the offense

charged; (2) the weight of the evidence against the defendant; (3) the history and characteristics of

the defendant; (4) the nature and seriousness of the specific, real and present threat to any person

that would be posed by the defendant’s release; and (5) the nature and seriousness of the risk of

obstructing or attempting to obstruct the criminal justice process. 725 ILCS 5/110-5(a) (West

2022). The statute lists no singular factor as dispositive. Id.

¶ 16   As previously stated in our analysis of the defendant’s first claim, the trial court found that

a variety of factors supported denial of pretrial release. The record does not refute this. Thus, in

light of our review of the record, we find that the trial court’s findings were not unreasonable,

arbitrary, or fanciful. The trial court contemplated possible conditions that could have been ordered

but decided that given the extensive criminal history of this individual, especially the portion

involving weapons, the defendant’s disregard for the law or safety of others (evidenced by his

possession of a stolen firearm while being a convicted felon), and the fact that this dangerous act

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allegedly occurred at home where the defendant suggests the trial court should have confined him

to, these conditions were not viable.

¶ 17                                    III. CONCLUSION

¶ 18   For the foregoing reasons, we find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in its

issuance of the October 5, 2023, order detaining the defendant.

¶ 19   Affirmed.

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