Court Opinion

ID: 4347138
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-12-04 23:07:41.407584+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:20:59.069868
License: Public Domain

2018 IL App (1st) 160157 

                                            No. 1-16-0157

                               Opinion filed on December 4, 2018.

                                                                                  Second Division

                                               IN THE 

                              APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS

                                        FIRST DISTRICT

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,                  )      Appeal from the
                                                      )      Circuit Court of
                      Plaintiff-Appellee,             )      Cook County.
                                                      )
       v.                                             )      No. 12 CR 5124
                                                      )
KEITH TALBERT,                                        )      The Honorable
                                                      )      James B. Linn,
                      Defendant-Appellant.            )      Judge Presiding.

       JUSTICE LAVIN delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
       Presiding Justice Mason and Justice Pucinski concurred in the judgment and opinion.

                                             OPINION

¶1     Following a jury trial, defendant Keith Talbert was found guilty of the first degree

murder of Antonio Johnson, the attempted first degree murder of Annette Johnson, and the

aggravated discharge of a firearm in the direction of Anthony Wardlow. Defendant received a

cumulative sentence of 100 years in prison. On appeal, defendant asserts that the trial court

abused its discretion by permitting the jury to hear evidence of prior bad acts committed by his

cousin, Richard Talbert, just weeks before the shooting. Defendant also contends that trial
No. 1-16-0157

counsel was ineffective where counsel promised, but did not deliver, testimony identifying a

different perpetrator. For the following reasons, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.

¶2                                         I. Background

¶3     In 2011, Annette lived with her sons Antonio and Anthony at 732 North Springfield.

Antonio was a 15-year-old high school student and Anthony had recently been released from

prison, where he served a sentence for aggravated robbery. The State’s theory at trial was that

animosity existed between the Johnson-Wardlow family and defendant’s cousin Richard because

the family opposed Richard’s activity as the neighborhood drug dealer. In addition, the trial court

granted, over defendant’s objection, the State’s motion in limine to present evidence of Richard’s

prior interaction with the Johnson-Wardlow family. According to the State, on the afternoon of

September 25, 2011, Richard instructed defendant to shoot members of the family.

¶4     In contrast, defendant asserted that he had been misidentified as the shooter. His trial

counsel gave the following opening statement:

                “We’ll present you with four witnesses. Three witness who were standing exactly

       in front of the house when the shooting took place. Two of these witnesses actually grew

       up with Antonio and were friends of his. Two of these witnesses actually saw the car and

       looked at the face of the shooter as this event took place.

                                               ***

                They decided to come here for this trial in order to prevent the loss of two lives,

       Antonio and [defendant] himself.”

¶5     At trial, Ashley Wardlow, Annette’s daughter, testified that on September 25, 2011, she

drove Annette to the grocery store. When they returned to Annette’s home, the two women,

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No. 1-16-0157

Antonio, and Anthony unloaded groceries. No one else was in front of the house or across the

street at that time.

¶6      From inside the house, Ashley heard four or five gunshots. One bullet came through the

window. Annette was shot in the arm, and Antonio lay unresponsive on the porch, bleeding

through his nose and mouth. After Ashley called 911, Annette and Antonio were taken to the

hospital, and Ashley spoke to police officers at the scene.

Ashley testified that Antonio had no problems with anyone in the neighborhood but Anthony had

problems with Richard. That being said, Ashley also testified that she did not know if Anthony,

Annette, or Antonio had problems with defendant.

¶7      Anthony testified that in 2011, boys who were 17 years old or younger regularly sold

drugs in front of his family’s home. Richard wanted Anthony to sell drugs for “them,” apparently

referring to Richard and his fellow gang members, but Anthony declined. At some point, Annette

was in a store when Richard indicated he was going to harm Anthony. In addition, Richard was

in front of Annette’s house in early September 2011 when he threatened to burn it down.

Defendant was not present for that threat. Hours later, another individual set the home ablaze.

Meanwhile, drug sales continued in front of the house.

¶8      On September 25, 2011, Anthony and Antonio were waiting outside the house for

Annette and Ashley to come home with groceries. Defendant, who had short dreadlocks and

went by the nickname Kee-Kee, drove by in a cream or beige Cadillac. Anthony had seen

defendant around the neighborhood but did not know his name at that time. Richard was sitting

in the passenger seat of the Cadillac. Richard pointed to Anthony and appeared to say to

defendant, “that bitch-ass nigger right there.” Defendant looked at Anthony and “[s]hook his

head, like I got you.” After the Cadillac left, Annette and Ashley returned home. The Cadillac

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No. 1-16-0157

returned as well, however, only five minutes after it had left. Now alone in the car, defendant

yelled, “hey, Anthony, get your bitch-ass out here.” Anthony then looked at defendant, who

pointed his gun out the car window and fired five or six shots, striking Antonio in the head and

Annette in the arm. Antonio subsequently died.

¶9     Later at the scene, Anthony described the incident and the perpetrator for the police.

Although Anthony originally testified that he was not paying attention to whether defendant’s

dreadlocks were dyed, Anthony subsequently acknowledged telling the police that the tips of

defendant’s dreadlocks were brown. Anthony also related the family’s problem with drug sales

outside their home. The next day, Anthony identified defendant as the shooter from a photo array

and similarly identified Richard from a photo array. Anthony identified defendant from a lineup

in February 2012, although he looked somewhat different at that time.

¶ 10   Annette testified that when she learned that Richard had sent teenagers to sell drugs in

front of her house and hide drugs in her shrubs, she asked Richard to stop them. The situation did

not change, prompting Annette to call 911 whenever she saw drug dealers outside. At some

point, she began providing information to Detective James Sajdak and allowed the police to do

surveillance from her attic. Detective Sajdak’s own trial testimony confirmed this. Additionally,

Annette testified that Richard repeatedly came over to speak to Anthony, who wanted nothing to

do with Richard. Moreover, Annette testified that in early September 2011, Richard and an

associate of his had words with Anthony outside their house. Richard was angry and exclaimed,

“burn the bitch.” Hours later, her house was set on fire while the family was home. Annette did

not see Richard at the time of the fire.

¶ 11   As to the day of the shooting, Annette testified that when she and Ashley returned home,

Antonio, Anthony, his girlfriend, and Annette’s cousin were there. Anthony was talking with

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No. 1-16-0157

Antonio and Annette on the porch when a young, brown-skinned man with dreadlocks and a scar

on his eyebrow approached in a car. In court, Annette identified that young man as defendant and

testified that she had not seen him before. He yelled, “Anthony, with your bitch ass,” and fired

five or six shots at them. Annette froze after being shot in the arm. When another shot was fired,

she dove to the side of the porch where Antonio fell on her.

¶ 12   Afterward, Annette said she had been shot in the arm and told Antonio to get off of her.

When Annette pulled herself out from underneath him, she saw a trickle of blood run down the

side of his neck. Anthony told him not to move while Ashley called 911. At the hospital, Annette

told Detective David March what she had seen. She also said that the vehicle was light in color,

possibly grey or beige, but she was not entirely sure. Annette further testified that she mentioned

the problem of drug sales in front of her house. She identified defendant from a photo array the

next day and identified him from a lineup in February 2012, although he no longer had

dreadlocks. When the bullet later fell out of her arm, she gave it to Detective March.

¶ 13   Detective March testified that at the scene, he spoke to Anthony, who described the

offender as a black male in his twenties and approximately six feet, one inch tall, with a medium

complexion. According to Anthony, he had black dreadlocks with brown tips. Anthony said he

had seen the offender in the neighborhood several times but did not know his name. Anthony

later said his nickname was Kee-Kee. According to Anthony, the offender was driving an older

cream-colored, four-door Cadillac and that he fired eight or nine times from the car. While the

offender was alone in the car at the time of the shooting, the offender had driven by the house

with a black male named Richard shortly before the shooting. Anthony added that his family had

ongoing tensions with individuals who were selling drugs on their block, including Richard.

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No. 1-16-0157

¶ 14   At some point, Detective March interviewed Annette, who recalled three or four shots

and believed the car was light colored or grey. Annette did not report having personal problems

with defendant. Detective March also testified that not many people were at the scene when he

arrived and no other witnesses came forward. Officer Matthew Gordon similarly testified that

only family members provided information at the scene. According to Officer Gordon, it was not

easy to get witnesses to come forward in this area.

¶ 15   Detective Patrick Deenihan testified that, shortly after the shooting, he went to the

hospital and learned that Antonio was in critical condition with a gunshot wound to his head. He

then spoke with Annette, who gave a detailed description of the shooting. She said the offender

was a thin, black male of medium complexion who wore his hair in dreadlocks. According to

Annette, he was driving a grey-colored vehicle and she heard three or four shots. She did not

relate any prior issues with the offender.

¶ 16   The next day, Detective Deenihan learned from Anthony and Annette that they recently

had problems with drug dealers in the community. They also said that Officer Sajdak had

arrested someone connected to the individual who had been in the car with the offender. Upon

the detective’s inquiry, Officer Sajdak said he had not arrested anyone but had made contact with

certain individuals, including Darryl Talbert. Darryl was associated with 521 North Springfield

and when Detective Deenihan searched that address in the police database, he found that many

individuals, including Richard, had also used that address. The detective stated, “That all fit

based on the address, 521 North Springfield, first name Richard, last name Talbert.”

Additionally, defendant was associated with that address and his photograph was consistent with

Annette and Anthony’s description of the shooter. Anthony and Annette subsequently identified

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No. 1-16-0157

defendant as the shooter from a photo array. From another photo array, Anthony identified

Richard as the person with defendant in the vehicle shortly before the shooting.

¶ 17   The evidence showed that the police informed the Department of Revenue that it was

looking for information concerning a 2000 Cadillac STS with the license plate L955943. The

police learned from the department on October 17, 2011, that the vehicle was last seen at 4852

North Krueger Avenue. The police then had the vehicle towed for processing. We note that

photos of the vehicle showed it was actually white. Ellen Chapman testified that while the

gunshot residue kit collected from the car revealed no gunshot residue, particles could effectively

be removed by wiping or washing a surface. Moreover, firearms examiner Jennifer Hanna

determined that a bullet jacket and two bullets fired in this incident came from a .38-caliber class

firearm. Defendant was arrested in Milwaukee on January 24, 2012, and was transported to

Chicago approximately two weeks later.

¶ 18   Anna Ngyuen testified that defendant was her husband but they were separated. She also

knew Richard, who was defendant’s cousin. In 2011, she purchased a 2000 Cadillac STS from a

friend. Both she and defendant drove it but they had just one set of keys, which defendant

controlled. She did not see the Cadillac or defendant on September 25, 2011.

¶ 19   When the State rested its case, trial counsel presented the testimony of four witnesses on

defendant’s behalf. It is undisputed that they did not testify in the manner that counsel had

promised the jury they would testify.

¶ 20   Darrin Murdock testified that on the afternoon of the shooting, she said hello to Antonio

when passing his house but did not see Annette there. Murdock continued walking and was

around the corner when the shooting began. According to Murdock, she “really couldn’t see

anything.” Although Murdock saw a gray/silver vehicle, she did not see the person driving it.

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No. 1-16-0157

Murdock had seen defendant in the neighborhood but did not know him. Furthermore, Anthony

was known for having a bad attitude but Antonio was a good person. Murdock left before the

police arrived. She denied being reluctant to speak to defense counsel.

¶ 21   Nicole Payton, Murdock’s mother, testified that she and her daughter, Khadija Ricks,

were walking home from the store and saw Antonio sitting on the porch with his mother and his

friend Tyler. Anthony was standing in the doorway. Two to three minutes after seeing them, the

shooting occurred. Payton ducked down by the trees and saw a red car go by. She was not sure

whether she saw that car before or after the shooting, however. Payton then ran home and did not

speak to the police. She had no problem with defendant and did not see him on the day of the

shooting. She knew of Richard but did not specifically know him. Furthermore, she had no

problem with Anthony, although he was argumentative.

¶ 22   Ricks testified that she was a friend of Antonio. Ricks was walking with Payton when she

saw Antonio, Tyler, and Annette on the porch. Anthony was standing in the doorway. Ricks and

Payton continued walking and crossed paths with Murdock. When the shooting occurred, Ricks

ran straight home without looking back or seeing the shooter. She did not recall whether she saw

any cars drive by. Furthermore, she did not come forward to talk to the police because she was

scared of Anthony. While Ricks personally had no problem with Anthony, he was always angry.

Ricks knew defendant but did not associate with him or see him on the day of the shooting. She

also knew who Richard was but did not personally know him.

¶ 23   According to Lukeba Wright, the shooting occurred when she was at a bus stop. She got

down on the ground and saw a dark grey vehicle pass by. When asked why she did not try to talk

to the police, she responded, “For what? I ain’t dealing with that.” Wright was reluctant to come

to court and did not know Antonio, Anthony, or defendant.

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No. 1-16-0157

¶ 24   In closing, defense counsel argued:

                “As a defense[,] we did bring forth some witnesses. They were not, they didn’t

       really want to be here, to keep it frank. Now the State did bring up why did it take them

       three years to come forth and give testimony.

                                                ***

                Matthew Gordon, the first police officer to take the stand, said in his seven years

       on the force, people are not forthcoming in that neighborhood to come forward and give

       evidence. They shied away from problems, they shied away from anything that was

       involved with the police or the court.

                He also said when he came there, his job was to push people away from the crime

       scene. Which is what he did. And the people after they had been shot, after the shooting

       went down, they ran, everyone went in their own direction. One of our witnesses said she

       got on the bus and went home. Three other witnesses said they went home.

                We had a young lady named Darrin, she was on the stand. She wasn’t the most

       articulate person in the world, but she was doing her best. She was sure Antonio Johnson

       was a friend of hers, she was sure she saw him that day. She was sure when she got to the

       corner of Chicago Avenue she heard shooting and saw a gray car come by.

                Furthermore, you have her mother and sister, who walk in the opposite direction

       when the shooting occurred. They didn’t see anything. They didn’t see [defendant], they

       didn’t see the car. They ducked for cover.”

Additionally, defense counsel argued it was important that witnesses saw a “gray” car because

the police processed a cream colored car, which tested negative for gunshot residue. Counsel

further argued that defendant did not have a scar on his eyebrow.

                                                  9

No. 1-16-0157

¶ 25   The jury found defendant guilty of first degree murder, attempted first degree murder and

aggravated discharge of a firearm. Subsequently, defendant obtained new counsel and filed a

motion for a new trial. Defendant challenged, among other things, the admission of prior bad acts

that involved Richard but not defendant. Furthermore, defendant argued that trial counsel was

ineffective for failing to present the testimony promised in his opening statement. The trial court

denied defendant’s motion and subsequently sentenced him to 44 years in prison for murder and

an additional 25-year enhancement for personally discharging a firearm. That 69-year term was

to be served consecutively to his 31-year sentence for attempted murder and concurrently with

his 15-year sentence for aggravated discharge of a firearm.

¶ 26                                        II. Analysis

¶ 27                               A. Richard’s Prior Bad Acts

¶ 28   On appeal, defendant asserts the trial court erroneously admitted evidence that Richard

threatened the Johnson-Wardlow family weeks before the shooting in question. The trial court’s

evidentiary rulings will not be disturbed absent an abuse of discretion. People v. Colon, 2018 IL

App (1st) 160120, ¶ 12. Additionally, reviewing courts will find an abuse of discretion only

where the trial court’s decision was fanciful, arbitrary, or unreasonable to the degree that no

reasonable person would agree with it. Id. Conversely, no abuse of discretion will be found

where reasonable minds could differ about the admissibility of the evidence. People v. Heller,

2017 IL App (4th) 140658, ¶ 55.

¶ 29   Defendant argues that the trial court abused its discretion because the State presented no

evidence that defendant participated in or knew about the prior incident. He also argues that

prejudice outweighed any probative value of the evidence because it portrayed Richard, rather

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No. 1-16-0157

than defendant, as a violent person. As pertinent precedent, we follow People v. Pikes, 2013 IL
115171.

¶ 30   There, the defendant was charged with the murder of Lorne Mosley. The State sought to

admit evidence that shortly before Mosley’s murder, the codefendant and other fellow members

of the Four Corner Hustlers engaged in a shooting. In the prior incident, Gangster Disciples

drove through the Four Corner Hustlers’ territory and the codefendant shot at one. Another

Gangster Disciple then drove into the codefendant, however. There was testimony that the driver

was later with Mosley when he was shot. Furthermore, the defendant and his codefendant made

statements indicating they intended to seek revenge. Id. ¶¶ 3, 5, 7, 8.

¶ 31   While the trial court found the prior shooting was admissible in defendant’s trial for

Mosley’s murder, the appellate court disagreed, citing concerns involving the admission of

“other-crimes” evidence. The supreme court sided with the trial court. Id. ¶¶ 2, 3, 15, 28.

¶ 32   The supreme court observed that other-crimes evidence is admissible where relevant for

any purpose other than to show the defendant’s propensity to engage in crimes, such as to show

motive or intent. Id. ¶ 11. Yet, the State must show that the defendant committed or participated

in the commission of the crime. Id. ¶ 15. The Pikes court found that while permitting the jury to

hear evidence of a defendant’s other crimes might lead the jury to convict him for being a bad

person, that concern is absent when the State seeks the admission of evidence of an uncharged

crime committed by someone else and the State need not show that the defendant committed that

crime. Id. Simply put, a crime committed by someone other than the defendant is not “other­

crimes evidence.” See id. ¶¶ 16, 20. Because the defendant was not alleged to have been

involved in the prior incident, the supreme court applied ordinary relevance principles. Id. ¶ 20.

                                                 11 

No. 1-16-0157

¶ 33   The supreme court found the evidence showed that defendant was motivated to help the

codefendant retaliate for his injury, rejecting the notion that the jury did not need to hear that the

codefendant shot at a rival gang member. Id. The shooting explained that the codefendant was

not a randomly struck bystander and it would be illogical to uncouple the prior shooting from the

codefendant being hit by a car. Id. In addition, the evidence carried no inference of guilt by

association, as the evidence showed the defendant was not at the prior shooting. Id. ¶ 25. The

probative value of this evidence far outweighed any prejudice. Id. ¶ 26.

¶ 34   The Pikes decision directly refutes defendant’s contention that his absence from the arson

threat and subsequent arson attempt rendered that evidence inadmissible. Rather, his absence

renders principles governing other-crimes evidence inapplicable. Moreover, Pikes shows that any

potential prejudice in admitting the evidence was ameliorated by his absence in the prior event.

Defendant nonetheless contends the evidence was inadmissible because the State presented no

evidence that defendant was aware of the arson incident. In response, the State argues that Pikes

did not impose a knowledge requirement. We observe, however, that Pikes had no reason to

consider whether a defendant must always know of a third person’s prior bad act for it to be

admissible, as the evidence there showed the defendant did know about the prior incident.

Notwithstanding this distinction, Pikes guides our determination.

¶ 35   The supreme court has determined that relevance controls our inquiry. Thus, where

evidence of a prior incident would not be relevant without the defendant’s knowledge of it, the

State may be required to show that the defendant had such knowledge. Where evidence of a prior

act is relevant regardless of the defendant’s knowledge, however, we find no purpose would be

served by imposing a knowledge requirement. Accordingly, we must determine whether the

arson incident was relevant absent evidence of defendant’s awareness.

                                                  12 

No. 1-16-0157

¶ 36   Illinois Rule of Evidence 402 (eff. Jan. 1, 2011) states that “[a]ll relevant evidence is

admissible, except as otherwise provided by law.” In contrast, irrelevant evidence is

inadmissible. Id. To be relevant, evidence must have “any tendency to make the existence of any

fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than

it would be without the evidence.” Ill. R. Evid. 401 (eff. Jan. 1, 2011). Even relevant evidence

may be excluded where the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion, or delay substantially

outweighs the evidence’s probative value. Ill. R. Evid. 403 (eff. Jan. 1, 2011). The same is true

where the danger of misleading the jury substantially outweighs the probative value. Id.

¶ 37   We find the evidence involving Richard’s prior interactions with the Johnson-Wardlow

family was relevant in this case, regardless of defendant’s knowledge. Motive is not an element

of murder but evidence tending to show that the defendant had a motive for killing the decedent

is relevant, as such evidence renders it more probable that the defendant was the individual who

killed the decedent. People v. Smith, 141 Ill. 2d 40, 56 (1990). To be competent, evidence of

motive must, at least minimally, tend to demonstrate the motive alleged by the State. Id.

Furthermore, “[t]he motive must be attributable to the defendant on trial at the time the [present]

crime was committed.” Id. at 57. This rule avoids the danger that the State will present the jury

with highly inflammatory matter that is of little or no probative value under the guise of motive.

Id.

¶ 38   Anthony testified that minutes before the shooting, defendant drove by with Richard, who

pointed to Anthony and was heard to say, “that bitch-ass nigger right there.” Contrary to defense

counsel’s representation at oral argument, Richard, rather than defendant, pointed at Anthony.

This supports an inference that Richard ordered defendant to do something to Anthony. A jury

could also infer from Anthony’s testimony that defendant, by gesturing with his head, had agreed

                                                13 

No. 1-16-0157

to do Richard’s bidding. Furthermore, a jury could infer from defendant’s subsequent actions

that Richard had instructed him to fire at Anthony. This clearly supports a finding that defendant

was complying with his cousin Richard’s order to shoot at the Johnson-Wardlow family. Thus,

we categorically reject defendant’s assertion that “the State presented no evidence from which

the jury could infer that [defendant] was motivated by any desire to further the purposes of, or to

seek vengeance on behalf of his cousin, Richard.”

¶ 39   Moreover, evidence of the prior arson threat and attempt were necessary to explain why

Richard would order defendant to fire at the family. Stated differently, Richard’s motive was

relevant here too, not just defendant’s motive. Cf. Smith, 141 Ill. 2d at 56 (stating that when the

State attempts to prove facts constituting a motive, the State must show that the defendant knew

of those facts). Richard’s prior interactions with this family made it more probable that he would

instruct defendant to shoot at the family in this case and made it more probable that defendant

shot at the family. Without such evidence, the shooting would be essentially explicable.

¶ 40   Defendant acknowledges on appeal that, “[t]he testimony of Richard’s drug sales, his

threats to the Johnson-Wardlow family, and the arson case may well have been probative of

whether [defendant] had a motive to kill—but only if the evidence had been somehow tied to

[defendant.]” Based on defendant’s interaction with Richard minutes before the shooting, a jury

could surely find that the arson incident was tied to defendant. Accordingly, we find the evidence

was relevant and properly admitted.

¶ 41   In reaching this decision, we reject defendant’s reliance on People v. Lopez, 2014 IL App

(1st) 102938-B, ¶¶ 6, 23-24. There, the reviewing court found Pikes to be distinguishable

because there was no evidence that the murder at issue, committed against a worker at a factory,

was connected to a prior attack on a different individual outside that factory. While the

                                                 14 

No. 1-16-0157

defendant’s codefendants had been involved in the prior attack, that attack did not demonstrate

that they had animosity toward the factory workers or a motive to commit the otherwise

inexplicable present offense. Id. ¶ 24. The court stated that “[w]hile it is possible that revenge

was a motive, absent any evidence, the State’s assertion rests on pure conjecture.” (Emphasis in

original.) Id.; but see People v. Morales, 2012 IL App (1st) 101911, ¶ 28 (finding, in the

codefendant’s appeal from the same case as in Lopez, that the State’s theory that the men killed

the factory worker in retaliation for sheltering the victim in the first attack explained the murder

at hand). Furthermore, the court distinguished Pikes on the basis that witnesses therein had heard

the defendant and codefendant indicate that they wanted to kill a rival gang member in revenge

for the prior incident, whereas the State presented no evidence in Lopez to show that the second

crime was retaliation for the first or that the two crimes were otherwise related. Lopez, 2014 IL

App (1st) 102938-B, ¶ 24. Moreover, Lopez found there was no evidence that the defendant

knew about the prior incident. Id.

¶ 42   Unlike Lopez, here the State presented specific evidence that defendant was doing

Richard’s bidding. Thus, Richard’s motive was important, regardless of whether defendant was

aware of it. In these circumstances, defendant did not need to know about the prior conflict

between Richard and Anthony in order to for those incidents to be relevant. Cf. People v.

Moreno, 238 Ill. App. 3d 626 (1992) (where there was no suggestion that the defendant was

acting at his codefendant’s direction and where intent, rather than identity was at issue, the prior

fight between the codefendant and victim was not relevant absent evidence that the defendant

knew about the fight).

¶ 43   We also find Smith to be distinguishable. There, the State’s theory of motive was that the

defendant murdered a prison guard on behalf of the King Cobras’ leader due to the guard’s

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No. 1-16-0157

intolerance of gang activity, but there was no evidence that the defendant was an active member

of the King Cobras or that he was acting on behalf of the gang or its leader. Smith, 141 Ill. 2d at

58-59. Additionally, the evidence did not suggest that the defendant knew the gang leader

harbored animosity toward the guard. Id. at 59. “The only evidence even arguably tending to tie

the alleged motive to defendant was the testimony that defendant had been seen, on certain

occasions, in the presence of [the gang leader].” Id. The supreme court found the evidence was

“simply too slim a thread upon which to tie the State’s theory of motive.” Id.

¶ 44   Unlike Smith, the State presented evidence supporting a finding that defendant was acting

on Richard’s behalf.

¶ 45   As stated, evidence of the prior arson incident was relevant to Richard’s motive and,

circumstantially, to defendant’s motive. Any prejudicial effect did not outweigh the probative

value of the evidence. The evidence had great probative value given that it explained an

otherwise inexplicable shooting. Conversely, the risk of unfair prejudice was slight, as the jury

was well aware that Richard, to the exclusion of defendant, was involved in the prior threat

against the Johnson-Wardlow family. There is little, if any, risk that the evidence would lead the

jury to convict defendant for being a bad person rather than for his conduct in the present

offense. Moreover, the prosecutor’s reference to Richard’s prior acts in closing argument did not

render the evidence any more prejudicial, particularly considering that both Anthony and

Annette identified defendant as the shooter. We reiterate that the prosecutor’s arguments were

relevant to explain why Richard would have ordered defendant to fire shots on the day in

question. Cf. People v. Dukes, 12 Ill. 2d 334, 342-43 (1957) (finding it was “improper for the

prosecutor to do or say anything in argument the only effect of which will be to inflame the

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No. 1-16-0157

passion or arouse the prejudice of the jury against the defendant without throwing any light on

the question for decision” (emphasis added)).

¶ 46                           B. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

¶ 47   Next, defendant asserts that trial counsel was ineffective because his opening statement

promised the jury it would hear exonerating testimony from four witnesses in support of

defendant’s mistaken identity theory but he failed to present such evidence.

¶ 48   To demonstrate that counsel was ineffective, a defendant must show that (1) counsel’s

representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and (2) but for counsel’s errors,

there is a reasonable probability that the result of the proceedings would have been different.

Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984); People v. Peterson, 2017 IL 120331, ¶ 79.

The failure to satisfy either prong defeats an ineffective assistance of counsel claim. People v.

Simpson, 2015 IL 116512, ¶ 35.

¶ 49   To establish that counsel’s performance was deficient, a defendant must demonstrate that

his performance was objectively unreasonable under prevailing professional standards. People v.

Veach, 2017 IL 120649, ¶ 30. In addition, defense counsel’s errors in judgment or mistakes in

strategy do not alone establish that his representation was constitutionally defective. Peterson,

2017 IL 120331, ¶ 80. Rather, ineffective assistance of counsel will be found only if counsel’s

strategy was so unsound that he entirely failed to meaningfully test the State’s case. Id. In

assessing counsel’s strategy, we must not use hindsight. Id. ¶ 88.

¶ 50   Defense counsel may be ineffective where he promises the testimony of a particular

witness during opening statements but does not provide that promised testimony at trial. People

v. Bryant, 391 Ill. App. 3d 228, 238 (2009). That being said, defense counsel’s failure to present

the testimony promised during his opening statement does not constitute per se ineffective

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No. 1-16-0157

assistance. People v. Winkfield, 2015 IL App (1st) 130205, ¶ 20. His decision to abandon a

strategy during trial may be reasonable based on the circumstances or based on unexpected

events. People v. Kirklin, 2015 IL App (1st) 131420, ¶ 138. Reviewing courts must indulge a

strong presumption that counsel’s action resulted from sound trial strategy. Bryant, 391 Ill. App.
3d at 238. 

¶ 51    At the hearing on defendant’s motion for a new trial, the following colloquy ensued:

                “MR. FINE [(POSTTRIAL COUNSEL)]: [Trial counsel] did call witnesses, but

        they did not support what the defense attorney promised the jury during opening

        statement.

                THE COURT: He got flipped.

                MR. FINE: I’m not sure if he got flipped or whether he just never spoke with

        those witnesses.

                THE COURT: Is it ineffective assistance of counsel if the lawyer gets flipped by a

        witness? By flipped, so the record is clear, I’m referring to where witnesses tell lawyers

        in preparation for testimony one thing, they get on the witness stand and they say

        something differently. Does that mean the counsel is ineffective if that happens?

                MR. FINE: Judge, I recognize that happens on a regular basis. But I think that— 

                THE COURT: It happens to the State’s Attorney all the time.

                MR. FINE: All the time. But, Judge—

                THE COURT: It happens to the defense around here too. 

                MR. FINE: Absolutely. It’s happened to all of us. But I think that, number one is, 

        I’m not confident that he interviewed these witnesses, and I have nothing to substantiate

        that with. But he should have had an investigator or a third party—

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No. 1-16-0157

                THE COURT: Did you talk to those people?

                MR. FINE: I’ve tried to reach out to the attorney to get their contact information.

                THE COURT: If he had said—If they had said something different consistent

       with what he told the jury he expected the evidence to show, what they said to other

       people even if there was a prover [sic] present, that wouldn’t have been admissible. That

       wouldn’t be substantive evidence. It wouldn’t be 115-10 type evidence, would it?

                MR. FINE: Well, he would have had an opportunity at least to either ask for a

       sidebar or ask for a recess to interview the remaining witnesses instead of calling them

       one after the other to basically say we didn’t see anything, we’re not witnesses in the

       case, which is contrary to what the defense attorney told the jury during opening

       statements.

                THE COURT: Were these people named in the police report as being present?

                MR. MURPHY: No.”

¶ 52   As stated, the parties do not dispute that the defense witnesses did not testify in the

manner trial counsel promised the jury they would testify. The record supports this. The record

does not, however, show why counsel did not deliver the promised evidence. Contrary to

defendant’s suggestion, the record does not show that counsel failed to speak to and sufficiently

investigate the witnesses. Posttrial counsel was “not sure” whether (1) counsel failed to speak

with the witnesses or (2) those witnesses gave trial counsel information consistent with counsel’s

opening statement but testified differently, i.e., flipped. Posttrial counsel admittedly had “nothing

to substantiate” defendant’s allegation that trial counsel failed to interview witnesses. Moreover,

trial counsel’s decision to present testimony of witnesses not named in police reports strongly

suggests that counsel did investigate those witnesses. To the extent that defendant has evidence

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No. 1-16-0157

of trial counsel’s alleged deficiency that exists outside the record, the Post-Conviction Hearing

Act (725 ILCS 5/122-1 et seq. (West 2018)) may provide a more appropriate means of seeking

redress.

¶ 53   When the basis of a defendant’s ineffective assistance of counsel claim is based on

matters not of record, the claim cannot be brought on direct appeal. Kirklin, 2015 IL App (1st)
131420, ¶ 127. Where the record is silent as to counsel’s strategy, the defendant’s ineffective

assistance of counsel claim may be more appropriately raised in a collateral proceeding.

Peterson, 2017 IL 120331, ¶ 81 (citing Veach, 2017 IL 120649, ¶¶ 44-46). Where “the record on

appeal was not developed to establish either the reasons of the trial attorney or the motives of the

witnesses, this issue cannot be resolved on direct appeal.” Kirklin, 2015 IL App (1st) 131420,

¶ 138; but see People v. Briones, 352 Ill. App. 3d 913, 919 (2004) (stating on direct appeal that

counsel was required to make a record showing that the defendant changed his mind about

testifying or that counsel’s strategy changed due to unexpected events, and declining to presume

that counsel’s failure to present defendant’s promised testimony resulted from trial strategy).

¶ 54   Defendant correctly states that when counsel fails to present promised testimony and that

failure cannot be attributed to unforeseeable events, counsel’s broken promise may be found to

be unreasonable, as little is more harmful than the failure to present important evidence promised

in an opening statement. Briones, 352 Ill. App. 3d 913 at 918. This record, however, does not

permit us to exclude the possibility that trial counsel diligently interviewed the witnesses and that

those witnesses substantially changed their account of events without warning. Compare

Winkfield, 2015 IL App (1st) 130205, ¶ 27 (declining to find ineffective assistance of counsel

where the record was silent as to whether the promised witnesses did not testify because of

deficient representation, a failure to cooperate, or some unforeseen event), with Bryant, 391 Ill.
20 

No. 1-16-0157

App. 3d at 236-39 (finding on direct appeal that trial counsel’s strategy was unreasonable where

counsel explained his strategy at a posttrial hearing and the explanation showed counsel’s failure

to call promised witnesses was not the result of their unavailability or reluctance), and People v.

Davis, 287 Ill. App. 3d 46, 55-56 (1997) (finding that where defense counsel was surprised by

the State seeking the admission of the defendant’s prior conviction and failed to present the

defendant’s promised testimony, counsel was ineffective for failing to investigate). Furthermore,

in closing arguments, trial counsel clearly attempted to mitigate the absence of the promised

evidence, arguing that the witnesses were reluctant and emphasizing the exculpatory evidence

that was presented. See Winkfield, 2015 IL App (1st) 130205, ¶ 23. Defendant has not shown on

this record that trial counsel was deficient or ineffective.

¶ 55                                       III. Conclusion

¶ 56   The trial court did not abuse its discretion by admitting evidence of a third party’s

relevant prior bad acts. Additionally, defendant cannot demonstrate that trial counsel was

ineffective. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.

¶ 57   Affirmed.

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