Court Opinion

ID: 9943255
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-02-22 22:03:15.591621+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:46:37.648294
License: Public Domain

2024 IL App (1st) 232315
                                                                               SIXTH DIVISION

                                                                                February 22, 2024

                                         No. 1-23-2315B
 ______________________________________________________________________________

                                             IN THE
                                APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
                                        FIRST DISTRICT
 ______________________________________________________________________________
 THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS                          )   Appeal from the Circuit Court
                                                              )   of Cook County.
          Plaintiff-Appellee,                                 )
                                                              )
     v.                                                       )
                                                              )   No. 2023CR05346
 VERONICA CASTILLO                                            )
                                                              )   Honorable
          Defendant-Appellant.                                )   Judge Margaret M. Ogarek
                                                              )   Judge, presiding.

          JUSTICE C.A. WALKER delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
          Presiding Justice Oden Johnson and Justice Hyman concurred in the judgment and opinion.

                                            OPINION

¶1    Defendant Veronica Castillo appeals the circuit court’s order continuing her pretrial

detention pursuant to article 110 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (Code) (725 ILCS

5/art. 110 (West 2022), as amended by Public Act 101-652, § 10-255 (eff. Jan. 1, 2023), and Public

Act 102-1104, § 70 (eff. Jan 1, 2023) (commonly referred to as the “Safety, Accountability,

Fairness and Equity-Today (SAFE-T) Act” (Act)). On appeal, she argues that the State failed to
No. 1-23-2315B

demonstrate through clear and convincing evidence that: (1) no condition or combination of

conditions could protect the community from any real and present threat posed by her release, and

(2) there were no conditions of release that would reasonably ensure her appearance. For the

following reasons, we reverse and remand for new proceedings, at which the circuit court shall

determine whether Castillo should remain detained based on the specific, articulable facts of the

case.

¶2                                        BACKGROUND

¶3      Castillo was arrested on April 15, 2023, and charged with one count each of home invasion

(720 ILCS 5/19-6(a)(2)) (West 2022)), battery (id. § 12-3(a)(1)), and child endangerment (id.

§ 12C-5(a)(1)). The State amended their charges, replacing the battery charge with criminal

damage to property (id. § 21-1(a)(1)). The circuit court initially denied Castillo bail on April 16,

2023. Following enactment of the Act on September 18, 2023, counsel for Castillo filed a petition

to grant pretrial release on November 15, 2023. The State then filed a petition for a pretrial

detention hearing on November 29, 2023. The circuit court held a hearing on both petitions on

December 6, 2023.

¶4      Counsel for Castillo proffered that she is a lifelong resident of Cook County who graduated

high school and received a nursing assistant certificate from Job Corps. Castillo has three children,

one with developmental delays, and all are currently in her mother’s care since she has been

detained. While in detainment, Castillo has participated in numerous programs to make positive

changes to herself, including group therapy, substance abuse treatment, and parenting classes.

Counsel noted that Castillo secured in-patient treatment at the Haymarket Treatment Center

(Haymarket), and upon release, Castillo would transfer to Haymarket to continue treatment.

Counsel suggested that Castillo be placed under electronic home monitoring (EHM) at Haymarket,

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with no movement from that location until her bond is addressed or her treatment at Haymarket is

complete. Should treatment go well at Haymarket, counsel suggested releasing Castillo to her

mother’s home. Counsel stated that Castillo understands that she is not to contact the victims of

the April 15, 2023 incident, and she only seeks the opportunity to continue improving herself while

being able to spend more time with her children.

¶5    The State proffered that around 6:30 a.m. on April 15, 2023, Castillo, along with two male

codefendants, went to the home of Herman Lopez to drop off their shared child. At the time, Lopez

was sleeping with his current girlfriend, Olga Gelacio, when they heard loud knocking at the front

door. When Lopez opened the door, Castillo began yelling at him. Lopez then closed the door yet

opened it later to retrieve his child. Upon reopening the door, Castillo saw Gelacio, ran into the

home, and lunged at her. The other codefendants then entered the home and attacked Lopez and

Gelacio. Lopez chased the codefendants out of the home with a knife, restrained Castillo, and told

Gelacio to call 911.

¶6     As Gelacio called 911, the codefendants picked up bricks and threw them into the home’s

windows. The codefendants then kicked down the front door and reentered the home. Lopez chased

away the defendants, who fled in a green Buick. When officers stopped the Buick, the victims

identified the defendants as the attackers. Police then arrested the defendants. At the stop, officers

noticed Castillo’s son in the back seat.

¶7     Regarding Castillo’s background, the State proffered that while Castillo had no prior

convictions, she was arrested twice for domestic battery against Lopez. Counsel for Castillo noted

the State dropped both domestic battery charges. In addition, counsel for Castillo noted that she

had prior orders of protection against Lopez before those arrests. Counsel for Castillo also noted

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that pretrial services gave her a score of one and one for new criminal activity and failure to appear,

respectively.

¶8    The circuit court granted the State’s petition for pretrial detention, finding the State

established via clear and convincing evidence that Castillo committed a forcible felony in home

invasion, she presented a real and present danger to the victims, and there were no conditions or

combination of conditions that would mitigate the danger or her willful flight. The court stated,

“the current condition, which is detention, is necessary to ensure the appearance of the defendant

and the safety of the persons involved in the case, specifically [the victims].” The court continued,

“[the court finds that Castillo] poses a real and present threat to the safety of [the victims] and no

combination of conditions, including [EHM] at Haymarket and ultimately to her mother’s address,

will provide for their safety.”

¶9    In the order denying pretrial release, the judge stated that less restrictive conditions would

not avoid a real and present danger to the safety of any person or persons or the community

because: (1) the victims initially closed the door on Castillo, but she barged in and escalated the

event; (2) Castillo has two prior domestic battery arrests upon Lopez and that they share a child;

and (3) on the date of the incident, despite the presence of a minor, Castillo attacked the victims.

Furthermore, the judge stated that no condition or combination of conditions can mitigate

Castillo’s willful flight because she fled the location of attack and was apprehended by police.

¶ 10 On December 8, 2023, Castillo filed her notice of appeal and checked a box stating that the

State failed to meet its burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that no condition or

combination of conditions can mitigate the real and present threat to the safety of any person or

persons or the community, based on the specific, articulable facts of the case, or defendant’s willful

flight. Castillo claimed that the State did not make any arguments that there are no conditions that

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No. 1-23-2315B

could mitigate the real and present threat and that counsel for Castillo presented an alternative in

EHM that would prohibit her from leaving Haymarket’s facility. In addition, Castillo checked a

box stating that the circuit court erred in its determination that no condition or combination of

conditions would reasonably ensure her appearance for later hearings or prevent her from being

charged with a subsequent felony or Class A misdemeanor. Castillo claimed the court did not

consider whether EHM placement and release to Haymarket would assure her appearance and

prevent new charges. She also pointed to the one and one pretrial scores, along with her zero prior

criminal convictions and zero failures to appear at court proceedings.

¶ 11                                      JURISDICTION

¶ 12 Castillo appeals from the circuit court’s order of December 6, 2023. She filed this notice of

appeal on December 8, 2023, and thus the notice was timely, and this court has jurisdiction

pursuant to the Code. See 725 ILCS 5/110-6.1(j), 110-6.6 (West 2022); Ill. S. Ct. R. 604(h) (eff.

Dec. 7, 2023).

¶ 13                                      ANALYSIS

¶ 14 On appeal, Castillo first argues the State failed to meet its burden to show there were no

conditions or combination of conditions that would mitigate her real and present threat to the safety

of the victims. She next argues the circuit court erred in determining there were no conditions to

ensure her appearance or prevent her from being charged with a subsequent crime because it did

not consider EHM placement at Haymarket, her pretrial scores or lack of a prior record.

¶ 15 Under the Code, all persons charged with an offense shall be eligible for pretrial release

before conviction. 725 ILCS 5/110-2(a) (West 2022). Pretrial release may be denied upon a

verified petition by the State and following a hearing. Id. § 6.1(a). At the hearing, the State bears

the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that: (1) the defendant committed an

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No. 1-23-2315B

offense listed in the statute; (2) the defendant poses a real and present threat to the safety of any

person, persons, or the community, based on the specific, articulable facts of the case; and (3) no

condition or combination of conditions can mitigate that real and present threat or the defendant’s

willful flight. Id. § 6.1(e). If the circuit court determines that the defendant should be denied

pretrial release, the court is required to make a written finding summarizing the reasons for denying

pretrial release. Id. § 6.1(h)(1).

¶ 16    Appellate decisions conflict as to the precise standard of review to apply to pretrial release

orders of the circuit court. In People v. Romero, 2024 IL App (1st) 232023-U, ¶ 31-32, another

panel of this court details this disagreement, where some courts hold that review is fully subject to

the abuse of discretion standard, some courts hold that it is subject to the “manifest weight of the

evidence” standard, and others hold that review is “twofold,” where the circuit court’s factual

findings are reviewed under the “manifest weight of the evidence” standard, yet the ultimate

determination for pretrial release is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. See People v. Trottier,

2023 IL App (2d) 230317, ¶ 13.

¶ 17    We find the “twofold” approach in Trottier is well reasoned. The circuit court’s factual

findings regarding whether the State presented clear and convincing evidence that mandatory

conditions of release would fail to protect any person or the community or the defendant has a high

likelihood of willful flight to avoid prosecution is reviewed under the manifest weight of the

evidence standard. Id. A finding is against the manifest weight of the evidence only if the opposite

conclusion is clearly evident or if the finding itself is unreasonable, arbitrary, or not based on the

evidence presented. People v. Krisik, 2018 IL App (1st) 161265, ¶ 53 (citing People v. Deleon,

227 Ill. 2d 322, 332 (2008)).

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No. 1-23-2315B

¶ 18   The circuit court’s ultimate determination regarding pretrial release is reviewed under the

abuse of discretion standard. Trottier, 2023 IL App (2d) 230317, ¶ 13. An abuse of discretion

occurs where the circuit court’s decision is arbitrary, unreasonable, or fanciful or where no

reasonable person would have taken the position adopted by the circuit court. People v. Heineman,

2023 IL 127854, ¶ 59. In reviewing a circuit court’s ruling for abuse of discretion, we will not

substitute our judgment for that of the circuit court unless no reasonable person would take the

view adopted by the court. People v. Simmons, 2019 IL App (1st) 191253, ¶ 15.

¶ 19   The State first claims Castillo’s argument that the State did not prove no conditions could

mitigate the risk of her willful flight is forfeited. The State points to People v. Clark, 2023 IL App

(5th) 230878-U, where the Fifth District ruled a defendant’s claim in his notice of appeal was

forfeited when he checked a box on the notice of appeal form to assert a claim that the state failed

to meet its burden but did not provide any elaboration, reference to the record, or cite any authority

in support of his claim.

¶ 20   It is reasonable to conclude that by approving the pretrial release notice of appeal form, the

Illinois Supreme Court expects appellants to at least include some rudimentary facts, argument, or

support for the conclusory claim they have identified by checking a box. People v. Inman, 2023

IL App (4th) 230864, ¶ 13. We find Castillo did not forfeit her argument that the State did not

prove no conditions could mitigate her willful flight. The State likens Castillo’s notice of appeal

to the one presented in Clark, but Castillo presents an explanation to support her claims that the

State did not present clear and convincing evidence. In Clark, the court noted while the defendant

claimed “the State failed to meet its burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that the

proof is evident or the presumption great that defendant committed [reckless discharge of a

firearm],” the defendant did not provide any further explanation to support his claim. Clark, 2023

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No. 1-23-2315B

IL App (5th) 230878-U, ¶ 6. Here, Castillo checked the box on her notice of appeal form claiming

“the State failed to meet its burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that no condition

or combination of conditions can mitigate the real and present threat to the safety of any person or

persons or the community, based on the specific articulable facts of the case, or the defendant’s

willful flight.” She explained that pretrial release would only be to Haymarket, and she would be

under EHM and be prohibited from leaving the facility. This explanation addresses both how less

restrictive conditions could possibly mitigate her threat to the victims and prevent her willful flight

from prosecution.

¶ 21   Turning to Castillo’s claims, she first argues the State did not prove by clear and convincing

evidence there were no condition or combination of conditions that would mitigate the real and

present threat to the victims’ safety, even though her counsel presented an alternative in EHM at

Haymarket. As such, denial of pretrial release was improper.

¶ 22   In response, the State argues the record provides ample support for the circuit court’s denial

of pretrial release. The State asserts their proffer included Castillo’s prior domestic battery arrests

that involved Lopez. Moreover, the circuit court considered and rejected Castillo’s request for

EHM at Haymarket after considering the nature and circumstances of the crime and her prior

arrests. The State also claims Castillo’s argument that the State did not argue no condition or

combination of conditions could mitigate her threat to the victims is unavailing, citing People v.

Perez, 2024 IL App (2d) 230416-U, ¶ 29.

¶ 23 Under the Code, the State must show by “clear and convincing evidence” that no condition

or combination of conditions can mitigate the real and present threat to the safety of any person or

persons or the defendant’s willful flight. 725 ILCS 5/110-6.1(e)(3) (West 2022). Clear and

convincing evidence is “that quantum of proof that leaves no reasonable doubt in the mind of the

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No. 1-23-2315B

fact finder about the truth of the proposition in question.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.) In re

Tiffany W., 2012 IL App (1st) 102492-B, ¶ 12.

¶ 24 In finding no condition or combination of conditions could mitigate the threat to the victims,

the circuit court considered that after Lopez reopened the door, Castillo escalated the incident by

running in and attacking Gelacio, and Castillo and Lopez’s child was in the car during the incident.

The court also noted Castillo’s prior domestic battery arrests upon Lopez.

¶ 25 We find the circuit court’s finding that no mitigating conditions existed was against the

manifest weight of the evidence because the State’s evidence did not address whether EHM, or

any other less restrictive condition, could mitigate Castillo’s threat to the safety of any person or

persons or the community or her willful flight. The State’s proffer provided that Castillo committed

a forcible felony and presented a real and present threat to the victims, but no mention of whether

less restrictive conditions of release would mitigate her threat to the victims or her willful flight.

The State bears the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that no condition could

mitigate the defendant’s threat or their willful flight under section 110-6.1(e)(3) of the Code.

¶ 26   People v. Stock, 2023 IL App (1st) 231753, is illustrative on this point. There, another panel

of this court ruled the circuit court’s finding that there were no conditions to mitigate the

defendant’s threat was against the manifest weight of the evidence. At the pretrial detention

hearing, the State made a factual proffer detailing the events of the incident. Id. ¶ 5. On appeal, the

court noted the factual proffer from the State was insufficient to show that no conditions could

mitigate the threat posed by the defendant. Id. ¶ 18. In so finding, the Stock court stated, “If the

base allegations that make up the sine qua non of a violent offense were sufficient on their own to

establish [that no conditions could mitigate the threat posed], then the legislature would have

simply deemed those accused of violent offenses ineligible for release.” Id.

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No. 1-23-2315B

¶ 27    Here, Castillo does not contest that she was charged with a forcible felony in home

invasion, or she poses a real and present danger to the victims. Instead, she argues EHM at

Haymarket and, eventually, her mother’s home is a less restrictive condition that could mitigate

her danger or willful flight. It is the State’s burden to prove there are no conditions that could

mitigate the danger to the victims or Castillo’s willful flight, a burden the State failed to meet by

only relying on the factual proffer and Castillo’s prior domestic battery arrests, which, as Stock

explained, is insufficient. Id. ¶ 19 (the circuit court cannot infer on behalf of the State that there is

no conceivable condition or combination of conditions that could mitigate the threat).

¶ 28    The State argues that under Perez, 2024 IL App (2d) 230416-U, they can rely on the police

synopsis and defendant’s history to assert their claim. This argument fails because the evidence

presented must still meet their burden for all the elements under the statute. In Perez, the State

relied on the police synopsis that detailed the defendant stating he wanted to kill the victim and

“Hispanics” as evidence pertaining to his dangerousness to the community. Id. ¶ 10. The circuit

court, however, did not rely on the police synopsis alone to determine that lesser conditions would

not mitigate the defendant’s threat or his willful flight. Id. ¶ 12. Instead, the court considered the

defendant’s behavior during the pretrial hearing, including his refusal to obey court orders,

outbursts, and usage of slurs, to determine that because of his inability or unwillingness to control

himself in court or follow court orders, lesser conditions would not assure safety or the defendant’s

appearance in court. Id. Conversely, the Court here relies on the State’s proffer, which do not speak

to Castillo’s ability or willingness to control herself or obey court orders. Without additional

evidence to support the claim that lesser conditions could not mitigate the threat to the victims or

Castillo’s willful flight, the State has not met their burden for all elements of the statute. As such,

the circuit court’s factual findings are against the manifest weight of the evidence.

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No. 1-23-2315B

¶ 29    We now turn to the ultimate determination of pretrial release, which we review for abuse

of discretion. Trottier, 2023 IL App (2d) 230317, ¶ 13. Under the Code, if the circuit court orders

detention, it must make a written finding summarizing the court’s reasons for concluding that the

defendant should be denied pretrial release, including why less restrictive conditions would not

avoid 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, or prevent the defendant’s flight from prosecution. 725

ILCS 5/110-6.1(h)(1) (West 2022). Failure of the circuit court to address these conditions falls

short of the “clear legislative directive” for courts to address less restrictive conditions of release.

People v. Martin, 2023 IL App (4th) 230826, ¶ 23. By failing to address the conditions of release,

in writing, a circuit court fails to “make a record adequate to allow meaningful review of its

exercise of discretion.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Id. ¶ 24.

¶ 30    In applying section 110-6.1 of the Code (725 ILCS 5/110-6.1 (West 2022)), several courts

have contemplated what constitutes a sufficient written finding when the circuit court orders

pretrial detention. In People v. Andino-Acosta, 2024 IL App (2d) 230463, ¶ 19, the Second District

held that an explicit and individualized oral ruling may satisfy the statute. In Andino-Acosta, the

court considered Justice Boie’s dissent in People v. Odehnal, 2024 IL App (5th) 230877-U, ¶ 18,

where in denying pretrial release, the circuit court made detailed, fact-specific findings as to why

pretrial release was denied. Andino-Acosta, 2024 IL App (2d) 230463, ¶ 16. In his dissent, Justice

Boie referred to In re Madison H., 215 Ill. 2d 364 (2005), where the Illinois Supreme Court

considered a similar statute that required the circuit court to make a written finding for determining

whether a parent is unfit to raise a child. The supreme court found that explicit oral findings stated

during a hearing are sufficient for written findings after they are transcribed because they then

provide an opportunity for review of their validity on appeal. Odehnal, 2024 IL App (5th) 230877-

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No. 1-23-2315B

U, ¶ 21 (citing In re Madison H., 215 Ill. 2d at 372-75). The Andino-Acosta court ruled to assess

the sufficiency of a trial court’s findings under section 110-6.1 of the Code, the circuit court’s

written findings must be read in conjunction with its oral statements. Adino-Acosta, 2024 IL App

(2d) 230463, ¶ 19.

¶ 31    While we agree with the court in Andino-Acosta, a circuit court must still provide an

explanation of its consideration of less restrictive conditions in its verbal ruling as transcribed or

in its written order. In People v. Peralta, 2023 IL App (1st) 231897-U, ¶ 13, a different panel of

this court reviewed a pretrial detention order where the circuit court stated that less restrictive

conditions would not mitigate the defendant’s threat to the community or his willful flight because

the defendant “fired multiple shots on a city street [due] to an altercation at a liquor store. His

[pretrial services] score corresponds with a 3.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.) The court found

that the explanation fell short of the requirements of section 110-6.1 because the circuit court did

not indicate that it considered or indicated why less restrictive conditions would not mitigate the

threat. Id. The court remanded the matter to the circuit court and directed it to consider the

possibility of less restrictive conditions and explain why such alternatives would or would not be

effective. Id.

¶ 32    We find this matter similar to Peralta because the circuit court abused its discretion by not

explaining why less restrictive conditions would not mitigate Castillo’s threat to the victims or her

willful flight in its oral statements or written order. At the pretrial release hearing, the judge stated

that no combination of conditions, including EHM at Haymarket and ultimately Castillo’s

mother’s address, would provide for the safety of the victims. The judge does not provide further

explanation in the transcript of the hearing as to why no conditions would provide for the victims’

safety. In the written order, the judge found that less restrictive conditions would not avoid the real

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No. 1-23-2315B

and present danger because “the victims initially closed the door on [Castillo], but [she] barged in

and escalated the event. [Castillo] has two prior [domestic battery] arrests upon [Lopez], [and]

they share a child. On this date despite the presence of [a] minor, [Castillo] attacked [the victims].”

The court continued that less restrictive conditions would not prevent Castillo’s willful flight

because “[she] fled [the] location of attack and was apprehended by police.”

¶ 33   While these factors stated in the order are certainly reasons why defendant is being charged

and poses a risk of harm to a person or community, they do not indicate why lesser restrictions

would not mitigate the danger or Castillo’s willful flight. See People v. Turner, 2024 IL App (1st)

232082-U, ¶ 21. Castillo has zero criminal convictions, and the charges related to her prior

domestic battery arrests were dropped. Pretrial services gave Castillo scores of one for new

criminal activity and one for failure to appear. Castillo has participated in a series of treatment

programs while detained to improve herself, including group therapy, substance abuse treatment,

and parenting classes. Neither the oral statements from the transcript of the hearing or the written

detention order explain why less restrictive conditions would not mitigate Castillo’s threat to the

victims or her willful flight, as required under the Code. Martin, 2023 IL App (4th) 230826, ¶ 23.

¶ 34   In assessing both the oral statements and written order, the circuit court did not explain its

reasons why less restrictive conditions to Castillo’s pretrial release would not mitigate the real and

present threat to the victims or her willful flight. As such, we conclude that its denial of pretrial

release was an abuse of discretion. Accordingly, we remand this matter to the circuit court for

compliance with the Act, specifically to consider alternatives to detention, including “zero

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No. 1-23-2315B

tolerance” EHM at Haymarket and eventually Castillo’s mother’s home, and explain why these

alternatives will or will not mitigate her threat to the victims or her willful flight. 1

¶ 35                                        CONCLUSION

¶ 36 For the foregoing reasons, we reverse the circuit court’s pretrial detention order and remand

for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

¶ 37 Reversed and remanded.

        1
          We do not consider Castillo’s other argument that that the circuit court erred in determining that
no condition or combination of conditions would reasonably ensure her appearance for later hearings or
prevent being charged with a subsequent felony. Under the Code, when a defendant has previously been
granted pretrial release, it may be revoked if they are charged with a felony or Class A misdemeanor and
following a hearing. 725 ILCS 5/110-6(a) (West 2022). At the hearing, the State bears the burden of proving
by clear and convincing evidence that no condition or combination of conditions would reasonably ensure
the defendant’s appearance in future hearings or prevent them from being charged with a subsequent felony
or Class A misdemeanor. Id. Here, Castillo’s hearing in December was to determine pretrial release for the
first time under the Code. Because the court has not previously granted pretrial release, section 110-6(a)
does not apply.

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No. 1-23-2315B

                     People v. Castillo, 2024 IL App (1st) 232315

Decision Under Review:    Appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County, No. 2023-CR-
                          05346; the Hon. Margaret M. Ogarek, Judge, presiding.

Attorneys                 Sharone R. Mitchell Jr., Public Defender, of Chicago (Ross K.
for                       Holberg, Assistant Public Defender, of counsel), for appellant.
Appellant:

Attorneys                 Kimberly M. Foxx, State’s Attorney, of Chicago (Mariela
for                       Guzman, Assistant State’s Attorney, of counsel), for the People.
Appellee:

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