Court Opinion

ID: 3148324
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-22 18:47:23.039205+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:06:29.022262
License: Public Domain

ILLINOIS OFFICIAL REPORTS
                                         Appellate Court

                           People v. Nelson, 2013 IL App (1st) 102619

Appellate Court            THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.
Caption                    KEITH NELSON, Defendant-Appellant.

District & No.             First District, Sixth Division
                           Docket No. 1-10-2619

Filed                      July 12, 2013
Rehearing denied           August 13, 2013

Held                       Defendant’s convictions and sentences for aggravated criminal sexual
(Note: This syllabus       assault were upheld over his contentions that “other crimes” evidence was
constitutes no part of     improperly introduced and that the testimony of one DNA analyst
the opinion of the court   involved in his case violated his right to confront the witnesses against
but has been prepared      him, since the trial judge considered the similarities and dissimilarities
by the Reporter of         between the charged assault and the other offense and his decision to
Decisions for the          admit the evidence of the other assault despite the dissimilarities was not
convenience of the         unreasonable, arbitrary or fanciful, and was not an abuse of his discretion,
reader.)
                           and the fact that the State called only the forensic supervisor of the team
                           of technicians who performed the preliminary work leading up to the
                           DNA analysis presented by the supervisor did not violate defendant’s
                           right to confront the witnesses against him.

Decision Under             Appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County, No. 08-CR-12212; the
Review                     Hon. William G. Lacy, Judge, presiding.

Judgment                   Affirmed.
Counsel on                 Michael J. Pelletier, Alan D. Goldberg, and Charles W. Hoffman, all of
Appeal                     State Appellate Defender’s Office, of Chicago, for appellant.

                           Anita M. Alvarez, State’s Attorney, of Chicago (Alan J. Spellberg, Tasha-
                           Marie Kelly, Amy M. Watroba, and Koula A. Fournier, Assistant State’s
                           Attorneys, of counsel), for the People.

Panel                      JUSTICE REYES delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
                           Presiding Justice Lampkin concurred in the judgment and opinion.
                           Justice Gordon specially concurred, with opinion.

                                             OPINION

¶1           Following a jury trial held in the circuit court of Cook County, defendant Keith Nelson
        was found guilty of one count of aggravated kidnaping and three counts of aggravated
        criminal sexual assault. The trial court sentenced defendant to four consecutive 25-year terms
        in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Defendant now appeals, arguing: (1) the trial court
        erred in allowing the State to introduce “other crimes” evidence to show defendant’s intent,
        motive and propensity to commit sex crimes; and (2) his constitutional right to confront the
        witnesses against him was violated by the State’s presentation of expert testimony from a
        DNA analyst. For the following reasons, we affirm.

¶2                                          BACKGROUND
¶3          Defendant was charged by indictment with aggravated kidnaping and aggravated criminal
        sexual assault. The charges arose from a May 26, 2006, incident in which C.G. was forcibly
        taken to the backyard of a building at 7214 South Calumet Avenue in Chicago, where she
        was sexually assaulted.
¶4          Prior to trial, the State filed a motion in limine to introduce “other crimes” evidence
        demonstrating defendant sexually assaulted S.C. in a separate incident. Pursuant to section
        115-7.3 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (Code) (725 ILCS 5/115-7.3 (West
        2006)), the State sought to introduce this evidence to establish not only defendant’s intent
        and motive, lack of consent, modus operandi and common scheme or design, but also his
        propensity to commit sex offenses, based on the proximity and time and similarity of the
        assaults against C.G. and S.C. Following a hearing, the trial court granted the State’s motion,
        over the defendant’s objection that the evidence was more prejudicial than probative.
¶5          The State also filed a pretrial motion in limine seeking to present DNA evidence through
        testimony from Matthew Quartaro of Orchid-Cellmark (Cellmark), a private laboratory
        which performs DNA analyses for law enforcement agencies, criminal defense lawyers and

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       private individuals. The motion indicated Cellmark conducted DNA testing in this case. The
       State acknowledged Quartaro “is not the analyst who performed the mechanical aspects of
       the DNA testing,” but he was one of the forensic supervisors who bears responsibility for
       Cellmark’s DNA testing. The State also asserted Quartaro reviewed the data generated by
       the analysts who worked on this case, checked the work to ensure it was done properly,
       verified the chain of custody and ensured the evidence was properly stored and handled, and
       ultimately he reached independent conclusions from the test data. At the hearing on the
       motion, defense counsel objected on the grounds Quartaro’s testimony was hearsay and
       would violate defendant’s right to confront the witnesses against him under the sixth
       amendment to the United States Constitution. The trial court granted the State’s motion.
¶6         At trial, C.G. testified that in May 2006, she was 17 years old and living with her cousin
       at 7208 South Calumet Avenue in Chicago. On May 25, 2006, C.G.’s boyfriend dropped her
       off in front of her residence at approximately 11 or 11:30 p.m. C.G. did not have a key, so
       she rang the doorbell, but no one answered. C.G. told her boyfriend he could leave because
       her cousin’s best friend, Ashley, and a boy named Jordan were sitting in a parked automobile
       in front of the residence. C.G. talked with Ashley and Jordan until Ashley left. C.G. and
       Jordan then drove the automobile around the block to get something to eat, after which they
       returned to the residence. According to C.G., Jordan said he had to leave, so C.G. exited the
       vehicle and sat on the front porch for a while.
¶7         C.G. testified she became impatient and decided to walk to the corner of 72nd Street and
       Calumet Avenue. When C.G. reached the corner she noticed a man she later identified as
       defendant walking toward her. C.G. turned around and commenced walking back toward her
       residence. According to C.G., defendant approached her and asked, “What’s your name?”
       C.G. also testified defendant was wearing a black sleeveless shirt, shorts and a black,
       fingerless glove. C.G. described defendant as muscular, with “a lot of facial hair” and “a lot
       of tattoos.” C.G. specifically noticed tattoos of the face of Jesus and a cross on his left side.1
¶8         C.G. further testified she did not want to speak to defendant, so she provided false
       answers to his questions. When C.G. and defendant reached the portion of the street opposite
       the residence, C.G. requested the use of defendant’s cell phone. Defendant handed C.G. the
       cell phone and she dialed her cousin’s telephone number, but there was no response. C.G.
       returned the cell phone to defendant and said goodbye.
¶9         According to C.G., as she stepped in front of the residence, defendant lunged at her. C.G.
       testified defendant attempted to grab her and she struck him. C.G. also testified defendant
       grabbed her right hand and bit her below the thumb. C.G. further testified defendant punched
       her face several times. When C.G. began screaming for defendant to stop, he placed his
       forearm against her throat and choked her. C.G. began to lose consciousness and fell to the
       ground.
¶ 10       C.G.’s next recollection was defendant walking her down 72nd Street and turning into
       an alley. C.G. testified she again lost consciousness and, when she regained it, realized

               1
               Though C.G. testified the tattoo was on defendant’s left side, the record on appeal includes
       a photograph showing these tattoos are located on defendant’s left upper arm.

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       defendant had pinned her against the wall of a garage with his arm. According to C.G.,
       defendant ordered her to remove her clothes. When she refused, defendant ripped her pants
       open and forced her to the ground on all fours. C.G. further testified defendant again choked
       her until she lost consciousness.
¶ 11        When C.G. again regained consciousness, defendant was inserting his penis into her
       vagina. C.G. told defendant to stop; defendant responded he would kill her if she did not shut
       up. According to C.G., defendant then inserted his penis into her anus, then again in her
       vagina, then again in her anus, then again in her vagina. C.G. requested defendant stop
       because she needed to defecate. Defendant refused to stop, responding, “If you shit on me,
       I’m going to kill you.” C.G. further testified defendant turned her around and forced his penis
       into her mouth. Defendant turned C.G. around again, choking her while stating, “I bet the
       next time you see me you’re gonna want to talk to me.”
¶ 12        Defendant left the area, in the direction of 72nd Street, while C.G. remained on the
       ground. C.G., after waiting a while, walked toward 73rd Street then back down Calumet
       Avenue toward 72nd Street. C.G. testified she walked “the long way” because she was afraid
       to walk directly toward 72nd Street. According to C.G., she was naked below the waist,
       except for socks. As she approached the street, C.G. observed her cousin and screamed her
       cousin’s name. C.G. waited on the front porch for the police to arrive. C.G. was hysterical
       when the police arrived and had difficulty speaking to them because her throat hurt. C.G. did
       not recall whether she had conversations with the first responding police officers. C.G. was
       subsequently transported to St. Bernard Hospital by ambulance. C.G. testified she was
       examined by physicians there, including swabbing of her mouth, vagina and anus.
¶ 13        C.G. acknowledged she did not know defendant prior to the incident. C.G. testified that
       on June 15, 2006, she spoke to a police detective at Area 2 police headquarters and worked
       with a sketch artist. On June 2, 2008, C.G. identified defendant as the man who sexually
       assaulted her on May 26, 2006, from a photo array shown to her by a police detective. On
       June 6, 2008, C.G. identified defendant as her attacker during an in-person lineup. C.G. also
       identified photographs depicting: the garage and back yard where the assault occurred; the
       clothing she left behind at the scene; the bite mark on her hand and bruises on her arm, elbow
       and face following the assault; and the tattoo of the face of Jesus she observed on defendant’s
       left arm.
¶ 14        Latoya Jones testified that on May 25, 2006, she lived in a second-floor apartment at
       7214 South Calumet Avenue. When she arrived home at approximately 10 p.m., she saw a
       young woman who lived at 7208 South Calumet Avenue sitting on her front porch. Later in
       the evening, she heard a woman’s screams that sounded as though they came from her yard,
       or the next yard over. Jones testified she went to her window, but did not see anything. Jones
       did not telephone the police.
¶ 15        Chicago police officer William Stec testified he was employed as an evidence technician
       for the Chicago police department for the past 13 years. Officer Stec testified he was working
       on the evening of May 25, 2006, into the early morning hours of May 26, 2006. Officer Stec
       was assigned to process a crime scene located at 7214 South Calumet Avenue at
       approximately 2:20 a.m. Officer Stec photographed the scene and observed blue panties,

                                                -4-
       black pants, a pair of shoes and a silver belt on the grass next to the garage. Officer Stec
       recovered and inventoried these items. According to Officer Stec, the pants did not appear
       to be torn and the belt buckle was not broken off from the belt.
¶ 16        Dr. Jihun Lee testified he was an emergency room resident at St. Bernard Hospital on
       May 26, 2006. Dr. Lee examined C.G. and found no trauma to her external genitalia or anus,
       which is not uncommon in sexual assault cases. Dr. Lee observed C.G. had swelling to her
       left jaw, bruising on her neck, hemorrhaging and swelling around her eyes, and a bite mark
       on her right hand. Dr. Lee opined the injuries around her eyes could be the result of trauma
       or choking. Dr. Lee also identified photographs of these injuries.
¶ 17        Maria Duce testified she was a nurse at St. Bernard Hospital on May 26, 2006. Duce
       testified she collected samples from C.G. for a sexual assault kit. Duce swabbed C.G.’s
       mouth, vagina and anus and took scrapings from under C.G.’s fingernails. Duce identified
       the sexual assault kit she prepared.
¶ 18        The parties stipulated that if called as a witness, Nora Alberto would testify she also was
       a nurse at St. Bernard Hospital on May 26, 2006, and assisted in C.G.’s treatment. Alberto
       would testify the sexual assault kit collected by Dr. Lee was sealed and provided to Chicago
       police officer Robert McGivney. The parties also stipulated that if called as a witness, officer
       McGivney would testify he was employed as an evidence technician for the Chicago police
       department on May 26, 2006. Officer McGivney would also testify he received the sexual
       assault kit and a bag of clothing at St. Bernard’s Hospital, both of which he inventoried.
¶ 19        Jennifer Bell, a forensic scientist for the Illinois State Police, testified she received the
       sexual assault kit for C.G.’s case on August 22, 2007. According to Bell, C.G.’s vaginal and
       anal swabs both tested positive for the presence of semen, but the oral swab did not. Bell
       preserved all of the swabs, along with C.G.’s blood standard, for DNA testing.
¶ 20        Quartaro, who supervises a team of eight DNA analysts at Cellmark, as well as testing
       samples himself, was declared an expert in the field of forensic DNA analysis without
       objection. Quartaro testified Cellmark was asked to perform forensic DNA analysis on
       samples under a Cellmark case number associated with a Chicago police department case
       number. According to Quartaro, on January 16, 2008, Cellmark received a vaginal swab, a
       rectal swab and a reference blood sample from C.G. to determine whether Cellmark could
       identify any unknown DNA from the swabs.
¶ 21        Quartaro described the procedures utilized at Cellmark, which works in an assembly line
       or team format, so that people who excel at specific tasks perform those specific tasks.
       According to Quartaro, there are individuals who examine the evidence to determine which
       portions are sent for DNA testing. There are also individuals who extract or purify DNA
       from those samples. Quartaro testified the bulk of the work is performed by robotic
       instrumentation in the wet chemistry lab. Finally, there are individuals who examine the data
       generated from this process and prepare a report.
¶ 22        Quartaro further testified that in this case, he examined the evidence received from the
       Illinois State Police and took cuttings to send for DNA testing. Quartaro also reviewed the
       data and documentation and performed the analysis on the data generated from the case.
       Quartaro authored the report in this case for Cellmark.

                                                  -5-
¶ 23       Quartaro testified Cellmark was able to obtain a DNA profile from the reference blood
       standard collected from C.G. Cellmark had information that semen previously had been
       identified from C.G.’s vagina and rectal swabs. A DNA profile for C.G. was identified from
       the swabs, as was a DNA profile for an unknown male. Quartaro further testified, over a
       defense objection, that the proper controls were run in this case to ensure the instruments
       were functioning properly. In addition, Quartaro testified, again over a defense objection, that
       a proper chain of custody was maintained over the samples at all times. Cellmark then
       shipped the remaining evidence to the Illinois State Police. Quartaro testified all of his
       conclusions were within a reasonable degree of scientific certainty.
¶ 24       On cross-examination, Quartaro acknowledged he did not personally receive the evidence
       in this case and he did not know where or under what conditions the evidence was stored
       prior to January 16, 2008. Quartaro also acknowledged other individuals performed the
       purification of the DNA samples and oversaw the robotic instrumentation in this case.
       Quartaro testified he analyzed the data and wrote the report and there was another person,
       named Kelly Bird, who conducted a technical review of his report. When defense counsel
       asked whether it was Kelly Bird’s job to summarize what had transpired, Quartaro responded
       Bird’s job was to review the documentation and data in the case file and then examine his
       report to ensure they both drew the same conclusions.
¶ 25       Defense counsel also asked how Quartaro knew Cellmark’s controls were in proper
       order. Quartaro explained Cellmark runs two controls at each stage of the process. The first
       is a negative control used to ensure Cellmark is not introducing any DNA into samples
       during processing. The second is a positive control, which is a known sample used to
       determine the process is working correctly. According to Quartaro, the documentation
       reflected the process worked correctly in this case.
¶ 26       Chicago police detective Connolly testified that on May 30, 2008, he learned defendant’s
       DNA was contained in a database and defendant’s DNA profile matched the previously
       unidentified male in C.G.’s case. On June 2, 2008, he showed C.G. a photo array, from
       which she identified defendant as the person who sexually assaulted her on May 26, 2006.
       Detective Connolly testified he issued an investigatory alert for defendant, but did not obtain
       an arrest warrant. On June 19, 2008, Detective Connolly observed defendant at 7908 South
       Wabash Avenue. When Detective Connolly ordered defendant to stop, defendant ran inside,
       where Detective Connolly discovered him in a locked closet. Detective Connolly placed
       defendant in custody and escorted him to Area 2 police headquarters. Detective Connolly
       testified C.G. identified defendant as her assailant during an in-person lineup conducted the
       following day.
¶ 27       Ralph Vucko, an investigator employed by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office,
       testified that on June 20, 2008, he took a buccal swab sample from defendant’s mouth.
       Vucko also testified he placed the swab in a security locker and transported it to the Chicago
       police department on June 26, 2008.
¶ 28       Ronald Tomek, a forensic scientist employed by the Illinois State Police Forensic Science
       Center, was proffered as an expert in forensic DNA analysis without objection. Tomek
       testified that on July 2, 2008, he received defendant’s buccal swab from the Chicago police

                                                 -6-
       department and was able to obtain a DNA profile suitable for comparison from that swab.
       On July 28, 2008, Tomek compared the DNA profile he generated from defendant’s buccal
       swab with the male DNA profile generated by Cellmark from the vaginal and rectal swabs
       taken from C.G. Using a chart with columns representing the profiles generated from the
       buccal, vaginal and rectal swabs, Tomek opined the DNA profiles matched at each of the 13
       loci tested. According to Tomek, that particular profile is expected to occur in approximately
       1 in 2.5 quintillion blacks, 1 in 107 quintillion whites, and 1 in 25 quintillion Hispanics.
       Tomek opined the DNA profile from the vaginal and rectal swabs matched defendant’s DNA
       profile.
¶ 29       S.C. testified she was 18 years old in 2006. On May 5, 2006, after leaving a party, S.C.
       returned to her aunt’s home at 646 E. 90th Street, where she was living at the time.
       According to S.C., neither her aunt nor her cousin answered the door, so she walked to the
       bus stop. At approximately 1 a.m., she telephoned a friend to obtain a number for a taxicab
       company, telephoned to request a cab and waited by the bus stop at 87th Street and Martin
       Luther King Drive.
¶ 30       S.C. also testified the taxicab did not arrive and she observed a black, four-door truck
       pull up and stop in proximity to her. S.C. described the truck as similar to a sports utility
       vehicle. S.C. testified a man she later identified as defendant exited the driver’s side of the
       vehicle, approached her and asked whether she was waiting for a bus. According to S.C.,
       defendant was wearing a red sleeveless jersey at the time and had tattoos on his arms.
¶ 31       S.C. further testified defendant grabbed her arm, put his other arm around her neck and
       forced her into the backseat of the truck with him. At this juncture, S.C. noticed another male
       occupied the driver’s seat. S.C. pulled on the truck’s door handle, but the door was locked.
       The second male drove the truck northward, then turned into an alley.
¶ 32       S.C. testified defendant ordered S.C. to remove her pants. S.C. pleaded with defendant
       not to hurt her, but defendant struck her head and choked her until she removed her pants.
       According to S.C., defendant also removed his pants and inserted his penis into her vagina
       as she pleaded for defendant to stop. The second male said, “Man, just let her go.”
¶ 33       In addition, S.C. testified defendant forced her to perform oral sex on both defendant and
       the second male, whom defendant referred to as “Lee.” Defendant also forced S.C. to give
       him a hug and a kiss before allowing her to get dressed and releasing her from the vehicle.
       Defendant also took her money. S.C. telephoned a friend, who came and escorted her to the
       University of Chicago Hospital, where a sexual assault kit was prepared. S.C. recalled
       speaking to Detective Connolly at the hospital. S.C. further testified that on January 23,
       2008, she identified defendant as her assailant from a photo array Detective Connolly showed
       her.
¶ 34       After the State rested its case, defendant moved for a directed finding. The trial court
       denied the motion. Defendant rested without presenting evidence on his own behalf.
       Following closing arguments and jury instructions, the jury deliberated and found defendant
       guilty of one count of aggravated kidnaping and three counts of aggravated criminal sexual
       assault (involving penetration of penis to the mouth, vagina and anus).
¶ 35       On July 12, 2010, defendant filed a posttrial motion for a new trial. On July 27, 2010, the

                                                -7-
       trial judge heard and denied defendant’s posttrial motion, then proceeded to a sentencing
       hearing. After hearing the evidence in aggravation and mitigation, the trial judge sentenced
       defendant to four consecutive 25-year terms in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
       Defendant apparently filed a motion to reconsider sentence, although the copy of this motion
       included in the record on appeal is undated. On August 26, 2010, the trial judge denied the
       motion to reconsider. Defendant filed a timely notice of appeal to this court on the same date.

¶ 36                                        DISCUSSION
¶ 37       On appeal, defendant argues: (1) the trial court erred in allowing the State to introduce
       “other crimes” evidence to show defendant’s intent, motive and propensity to commit sex
       crimes; and (2) his constitutional right to confront the witnesses against him was violated by
       the admission of Qartaro’s testimony without the testimony of other technicians involved in
       the DNA analysis in this case. We address the arguments in turn.

¶ 38                        The Admission of “Other Crimes” Evidence
¶ 39        Defendant maintains the trial court abused its discretion in admitting the evidence of the
       sexual assault on S.G. Under the common law, “other crimes” evidence generally is
       inadmissible if offered only to demonstrate the defendant’s propensity to commit the charged
       crime. People v. Donoho, 204 Ill. 2d 159, 169 (2003). Evidence regarding other crimes
       generally is admissible if offered to prove intent, modus operandi, identity, motive, absence
       of mistake, or any relevant fact other than propensity. Id. at 170. In this case, the State sought
       to offer S.G.’s testimony to show not only intent and motive, but also defendant’s propensity
       to commit sex crimes.
¶ 40        Section 115-7.3 of the Code (725 ILCS 5/115-7.3 (West 2006)) provides an exception
       to the general rule in criminal cases, permitting evidence a defendant charged with
       aggravated criminal sexual assault has committed other sexual offenses to show the
       defendant’s propensity to commit sex offenses. See Donoho, 204 Ill. 2d at 176. Like the
       common law, however, section 115-7.3 permits such evidence to be admitted only if: (1) it
       is relevant; and (2) its probative value is not outweighed by its prejudicial effect. Id. at 177-
       78. Section 115-7.3 further provides that, in weighing probative value against prejudicial
       effect, a court may consider: “(1) the proximity in time to the charged or predicate offense;
       (2) the degree of factual similarity to the charged or predicate offense; or (3) other relevant
       facts and circumstances.” 725 ILCS 5/115-7.3(c) (West 2006).
¶ 41        Trial courts should “be cautious in considering the admissibility of other-crimes evidence
       to show propensity by engaging in a meaningful assessment of the probative value versus the
       prejudicial impact of the evidence.” Donoho, 204 Ill. 2d at 186. “When weighing the
       prejudicial effect of admission, a court should consider whether the other-crimes evidence
       will become the focus of the trial, or whether it might otherwise be misleading or confusing
       to the jury.” People v. Perez, 2012 IL App (2d) 100865, ¶ 47. Nevertheless, a trial court’s
       decision to admit “other crimes” evidence will not be reversed unless the court abused its
       discretion. Donoho, 204 Ill. 2d at 182. A trial court abuses its discretion if its determination
       is unreasonable, arbitrary, or fanciful, or if no reasonable person would adopt the court’s

                                                  -8-
       view. Id.
¶ 42       Defendant relies primarily upon People v. Johnson, 406 Ill. App. 3d 805, 811 (2010), in
       which this court ruled that although factual similarities will increase the probative value of
       such evidence, factual dissimilarities will increase the prejudicial effect.2 The Johnson court
       ruled it was error (albeit harmless error) to admit “other crimes” evidence in that case, given
       the existence of significant dissimilarities between the two assaults, combined with the trial
       court’s failure to conduct any sort of “meaningful” analysis of the prejudicial effect of the
       other-crimes evidence. Id. at 812. Defendant notes the other uncharged assault in Johnson
       was dissimilar from the charged offense insofar as it involved two assailants, the use of a
       vehicle, and nonidentical types of penetration. See id. at 807-08. Defendant thus argues
       Johnson is controlling here.
¶ 43       Defendant’s analysis of Johnson is incomplete. The Johnson court noted those
       dissimilarities, but also noted in the other, uncharged offense, the victim testified defendant
       blew cocaine in her face and gave her alcohol during the assault, and anally penetrated
       her–two additional circumstances which differed from the assault testimony from the victim
       of the charged offenses. Id. at 811. This court also noted the similarities in Johnson were
       general in nature: (1) both victims were abducted while walking past alleys; (2) both victims
       were taken to an abandoned building before being assaulted; (3) the assailant used physical
       force and threatened to kill both victims if they did not comply with his demands; (4)
       defendant vaginally and orally penetrated both victims with his penis; and (5) both victims
       were adults when the assaults occurred–one victim was 42 years old and the other was 33
       years old. Id.
¶ 44       This case lacks some of the dissimilarities found in Johnson. Moreover, the similarities
       here are stronger than in Johnson. For example, the offenses in this matter occurred within
       a three-week span of each other; in Johnson, one assault occurred on March 2, 2002, while
       the other did not occur until November 9, 2003. Id. at 806-07. The ages of the victims were
       also closer–17 and 18 years old–than those in Johnson. Although Johnson does not discuss
       the location of the assaults, the record shows the assaults here both occurred on the south
       side of Chicago. In Johnson, the charged assault occurred at 9:30 p.m., while the other
       occurred during the early evening at 5 p.m. Id. In contrast, both assaults in this case occurred
       in the early morning hours. In addition, both assaults in this case specifically involved
       defendant choking the victims and striking both in the head.
¶ 45       Furthermore, unlike Johnson, the transcript of the hearing on the State’s motion in this
       case demonstrates the trial judge engaged in a meaningful analysis of both the similarities
       and dissimilarities between the two assaults in this case. The transcript indicates the trial

               2
                Defendant also argues the assaults at issue here were less similar than those at issue in
       Donoho, People v. Boand, 362 Ill. App. 3d 106 (2005), and People v. Boyd, 366 Ill. App. 3d 84
       (2006). Our supreme court has held “[w]here such evidence is not being offered under the modus
       operandi exception, ‘mere general areas of similarity will suffice’ to support admissibility.” Donoho,
204 Ill. 2d at 184 (quoting People v. Illgen, 145 Ill. 2d 353, 372-73 (1991)). The existence of
       differences between the offenses does not necessarily defeat admissibility, as no two offenses are
       identical. Donoho, 204 Ill. 2d at 185 (citing Illgen, 145 Ill. 2d at 373).

                                                    -9-
       judge decided to admit the evidence after “acknowledging there are some dissimilarities,”
       particularly the number of assailants and the use of a car in the uncharged offense, in light
       of the similarities, particularly the proximity in time and location of the offenses. Given the
       record in this case, we conclude the trial court’s ruling was not unreasonable, arbitrary, or
       fanciful, and a reasonable person could adopt the court’s view. Accordingly, we conclude the
       trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the evidence of the assault on S.G.
       Donoho, 204 Ill. 2d at 182.3

¶ 46                               Admission of the DNA Testimony
¶ 47       Lastly, defendant argues his constitutional right to confront the witnesses against him was
       violated where the trial court admitted Quartaro’s testimony regarding Cellmark’s DNA
       analysis, because Quartaro was not the technician who personally oversaw the robotic testing
       of the DNA samples at issue here. The sixth amendment’s confrontation clause provides
       “[i]n all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right *** to be confronted with
       the witnesses against him.” U.S. Const., amend. VI. This part of the sixth amendment is
       known as the confrontation clause and applies to the states through the fourteenth
       amendment. People v. Stechly, 225 Ill. 2d 246, 264 (2007). The issue of whether defendant’s
       sixth amendment confrontation rights were violated involves a question of law, which we
       review de novo. People v. Lovejoy, 235 Ill. 2d 97, 141-42 (2009).
¶ 48       In Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 68 (2004), the United States Supreme Court
       held the confrontation clause bars the admission of testimonial statements of a witness who
       did not appear at trial unless he was unavailable to testify, and the defendant had a prior
       opportunity for cross-examination. The Court declined to specifically define what constitutes
       a “testimonial” statement, but gave some guidance on the question: “Whatever else the term
       covers, it applies at a minimum to prior testimony at a preliminary hearing, before a grand
       jury, or at a former trial; and to police interrogations” Id. at 68. The Crawford Court further
       opined “[t]he [Confrontation] Clause also does not bar the use of testimonial statements for
       purposes other than establishing the truth of the matter asserted.” Id. at 59 n.9.
¶ 49       In subsequent cases, the Court has further clarified. In Davis v. Washington, 547 U.S.
813, 822 (2006), the Court elaborated on what makes an out-of-court statement
       “testimonial,” distinguishing between two types of statements that might be made to a police
       officer. One category of statement is nontestimonial; the other is testimonial:
           “Statements are nontestimonial when made in the course of police interrogation under

               3
                Defendant claims the evidence was unfairly prejudicial, even if properly admitted, based
       on the State’s closing argument. Defendant relies on People v. Bedoya, 325 Ill. App. 3d 926, 938
       (2001), which did not involve evidence introduced to show propensity. The State, having properly
       sought the admission of this evidence to show propensity, was entitled to argue the point. The State
       is afforded a great deal of latitude in presenting closing argument and is entitled to argue all
       reasonable inferences from the evidence. See, e.g., People v. Nieves, 193 Ill. 2d 513, 532-33 (2000).
       In addition, having found no abuse of discretion in admitting the testimony, this court need not
       address defendant’s argument that the prejudice therefrom was not harmless error in this case.

                                                  -10-
           circumstances objectively indicating that the primary purpose of the interrogation is to
           enable police assistance to meet an ongoing emergency. They are testimonial when the
           circumstances objectively indicate that there is no such ongoing emergency, and that the
           primary purpose of the interrogation is to establish or prove past events potentially
           relevant to later criminal prosecution.” Id.
       The Davis Court recognized this last clause–“that the purpose *** is to establish or prove
       past events potentially relevant to later criminal prosecution”–could apply to out-of-court
       statements not made during police interrogations. The Court limited its holding in this way
       because the statements at issue in Davis were made during police interrogations. In a
       footnote, however, the Court clarified it did not mean to “imply *** that statements made
       in the absence of any interrogation are necessarily nontestimonial.” Id. at 822 n.1.
¶ 50       Justice Thomas objected to the majority’s primary purpose test as unpredictable. Id. at
       834 (Thomas, J., concurring in the judgment in part and dissenting in part). According to
       Justice Thomas, out-of-court statements that lack “some degree of solemnity” are not
       testimonial in nature. Id. at 836 (Thomas, J., concurring in the judgment in part and
       dissenting in part). He would find affidavits, depositions, prior testimony, and confessions
       sufficiently solemn “to constitute formalized statements” subject to the rule established by
       Crawford. Id. at 836-37 (Thomas, J., concurring in the judgment in part and dissenting in
       part).
¶ 51       Subsequently, the Supreme Court has issued varying opinions applying Crawford to the
       admission of forensic reports and testimony. In Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts, 557 U.S.
305 (2009), the issue was whether a certificate from a state laboratory attesting the substance
       analyzed was cocaine was testimonial hearsay when offered in evidence against a defendant
       charged with drug distribution and trafficking. The Melendez-Diaz Court, in a 5 to 4
       decision, ruled the forensic analyst’s certificates were within the “core class of testimonial
       statements” in Crawford. Id. at 310. The Supreme Court found “[t]he ‘certificates’ are
       functionally identical to live, in-court testimony, doing ‘precisely what a witness does on
       direct examination.’ ” Id. at 310-11 (quoting Davis v. Washington, 547 U.S. 813, 830
       (2006)). Indeed, under Massachusetts law, the sole purpose of the affidavit was evidentiary.
       Melendez-Diaz, 557 U.S. at 311. Accordingly, the Court concluded the introduction of the
       certificate in violation of the confrontation clause was error under Crawford. See id. at 329.
¶ 52       Two other aspects of Melendez-Diaz are particularly notable for the purpose of this
       appeal. First, the majority opinion noted in partial response to the dissent:
           “[W]e do not hold, and it is not the case, that anyone whose testimony may be relevant
           in establishing the chain of custody, authenticity of the sample, or accuracy of the testing
           device, must appear in person as part of the prosecution’s case. While the dissent is
           correct that ‘[i]t is the obligation of the prosecution to establish the chain of custody,’
           post, at [335], this does not mean that everyone who laid hands on the evidence must be
           called. As stated in the dissent’s own quotation, ibid., from United States v. Lott, 854
F.2d 244, 250 (C.A.7 1988), ‘gaps in the chain [of custody] normally go to the weight
           of the evidence rather than its admissibility.’ It is up to the prosecution to decide what
           steps in the chain of custody are so crucial as to require evidence; but what testimony is

                                                -11-
            introduced must (if the defendant objects) be introduced live. Additionally, documents
            prepared in the regular course of equipment maintenance may well qualify as
            nontestimonial records.” Melendez-Diaz, 557 U.S. at 311 n.1.
       Second, Justice Thomas, a deciding vote, wrote a concurrence distancing himself from
       consideration of the purpose of the out-of-court statement and repeating his prior position
       that the confrontation clause is implicated only by extrajudicial statements “ ‘contained in
       formalized testimonial materials.’ ” Id. at 329 (Thomas, J., concurring) (quoting White v.
       Illinois, 502 U.S. 346, 365 (1992) (Thomas, J., concurring in part and concurring in the
       judgment, joined by Scalia, J.)).
¶ 53        In Bullcoming v. New Mexico, 564 U.S. ___, 131 S. Ct. 2705 (2011), the Supreme Court
       considered whether a defendant in a prosecution for driving while under the influence of
       intoxicating liquor had the right under the sixth amendment to confront the analyst who
       certified the blood-alcohol analysis report. Id. at ___, 131 S. Ct. at 2710. The prosecution had
       admitted the test results through the testimony of a scientist other than the one who
       performed the test. Id. at ___, 131 S. Ct. at 2709. The Court concluded the blood-alcohol test
       results were testimonial in nature because the report was “created solely for an ‘evidentiary
       purpose’ *** in aid of a police investigation.” Id. at ___, 131 S. Ct. at 2717 (quoting
       Melendez-Diaz, 557 U.S. at 311). The absence of formal certification or notarization of the
       report did not remove it from the scope of the confrontation clause, because the formalities
       attending the creation of the report and its purpose were “more than adequate” to classify it
       as testimonial. Id. at ___, 131 S. Ct. at 2717.
¶ 54        Bullcoming, like Melendez-Diaz, produced a divided opinion. Justice Ginsburg wrote for
       the majority, but Justices Thomas and Kagan joined only in part. Notably, Justice Thomas
       did not join footnote 6 of the majority opinion, which again tied the question of whether a
       statement is testimonial to the “primary purpose” of the out-of-court statement. See id. at ___
       n.6, 131 S. Ct. at 2714 n.6.
¶ 55        Moreover, Justice Sotomayor joined in part and filed a separate opinion concurring in
       part in Bullcoming. In her partial concurrence, Justice Sotomayor highlighted four facts not
       presented by the case, three of which are potentially relevant to this appeal. First, the person
       testifying was not “a supervisor, reviewer, or someone else with a personal, albeit limited,
       connection to the scientific test at issue.” Id. at ___, 131 S. Ct. at 2722 (Sotomayor, J.,
       concurring in part). Second, the expert was not “asked for his independent opinion about
       underlying testimonial reports that were not themselves admitted into evidence.” Id. at ___,
       131 S. Ct. at 2722 (Sotomayor, J., concurring in part). Third, Bullcoming was not a case “in
       which the State introduced only machine-generated results.” Id. at ___, 131 S. Ct. at 2722
       (Sotomayor, J., concurring in part).
¶ 56        In Williams v. Illinois, 567 U.S. ___, 132 S. Ct. 2221 (2012) (plurality op.), the Court
       considered whether the confrontation clause was violated by the admission of expert opinion
       testimony from a forensic DNA analyst from the Illinois State Police regarding DNA analysis
       performed by Cellmark. Justice Alito authored a plurality opinion, joined by Justices
       Roberts, Kennedy, and Breyer. These four justices were the dissenters in Melendez-Diaz and
       Bullcoming. The plurality concluded the expert’s testimony was not barred, because

                                                -12-
       Cellmark’s report could be a basis for the expert’s opinion and the trial judge was presumed
       to have considered it for that purpose, not the truth of the matter asserted. See Williams, 567
       U.S. at ___, 132 S. Ct. at 2240 (plurality op.).
¶ 57        The Williams plurality also independently concluded the admission of the actual DNA
       profile for its truth would not have violated the confrontation clause. Id. at ___, 132 S. Ct.
       at 2242 (plurality op.). The plurality noted that in all but one of the post-Crawford cases
       finding a confrontation violation, the abuses shared two characteristics: “(a) they involved
       out-of-court statements having the primary purpose of accusing a targeted individual of
       engaging in criminal conduct and (b) they involved formalized statements such as affidavits,
       depositions, prior testimony, or confessions.” Id. at ___, 132 S. Ct. at 2242 (plurality op.).
       In Davis v. Washington, 547 U.S. 813, 829-32 (2006), an informal statement elicited in the
       course of the police interrogation was found to be testimonial in nature. However, in every
       case, including Davis, the “statement at issue had the primary purpose of accusing a targeted
       individual.” Williams, 567 U.S. at ___, 132 S. Ct. at 2243 (plurality op.). “Thus, the plurality
       concluded in Williams that not all forensic reports offered by the State are testimonial
       statements.” People v. Leach, 2012 IL 111534, ¶ 118.
¶ 58        Justice Thomas concurred in the judgment in Williams and “agree[d] with the plurality
       that the disclosure of Cellmark’s out-of-court statements through the expert testimony ***
       did not violate the Confrontation Clause.” Williams, 567 U.S. at ___, 132 S. Ct. at 2255
       (Thomas, J., concurring in the judgment). He did not agree, however, with the plurality’s
       rationale, instead reached his conclusion “solely because Cellmark’s statements lacked the
       requisite ‘formality and solemnity’ to be considered ‘ “testimonial’ ” for purposes of the
       Confrontation Clause.” Williams, 567 U.S. at ___, 132 S. Ct. at 2255 (Thomas, J., concurring
       in the judgment) (citing Michigan v. Bryant, 562 U.S. ___, ___, 131 S. Ct. 1143, 1167 (2011)
       (Thomas, J., concurring in the judgment)).
¶ 59        Justice Breyer authored a concurring opinion, writing he would have preferred
       reargument to address broader questions regarding the general application of the
       confrontation clause to crime laboratory reports and underlying technical statements.
       Williams, 567 U.S. at ___, 132 S. Ct. at 2244-45 (Breyer, J., concurring). One of Justice
       Breyer’s concerns is relevant to this appeal:
            “[A]ssume that the admissibility of the initial laboratory report into trial had been directly
            at issue. Who should the prosecution have had to call to testify? Only the analyst who
            signed the report noting the match? What if the analyst who made the match knew
            nothing about either the laboratory’s underlying procedures or the specific tests run in the
            particular case? Should the prosecution then have had to call all potentially involved
            laboratory technicians to testify? Six to twelve or more technicians could have been
            involved. (See Appendix, infra, which lists typically relevant laboratory procedures.)
            Some or all of the words spoken or written by each technician out of court might well
            have constituted relevant statements offered for their truth and reasonably relied on by
            a supervisor or analyst writing the laboratory report. Indeed, petitioner’s amici argue that
            the technicians at each stage of the process should be subject to cross-examination.”
            Williams, 567 U.S. at ___, 132 S. Ct. at 2246-47 (Breyer, J., concurring).

                                                  -13-
¶ 60       The dissenting opinion in Williams, authored by Justice Kagan, notes Breyer’s concern:
           “He principally worries that *** a State will have to call to the witness stand ‘[s]ix to
           twelve or more technicians’ who have worked on a report. See ante, at 2247; see also
           ante, at 2245-2246, 2253-2255. But none of our cases–including this one–has presented
           the question of how many analysts must testify about a given report. (That may suggest
           that in most cases a lead analyst is readily identifiable.) The problem in the cases–again,
           including this one–is that no analyst came forward to testify. In the event that some future
           case presents the multiple-technician issue, the Court can focus on ‘the broader “limits”
           question’ that troubles Justice BREYER, ante, at 2248. But the mere existence of that
           question is no reason to wrongly decide the case before us–which, it bears repeating,
           involved the testimony of not twelve or six or three or one, but zero Cellmark analysts.”
           (Emphasis omitted.) Williams, 567 U.S. at ___ n.4, 132 S. Ct. at 2273 n.4 (Kagan, J.,
           dissenting, joined by Scalia, Ginsburg and Sotomayor, JJ.).
¶ 61       Elsewhere, in arguing the case is controlled by precedent, the Williams dissent asserts:
           “ ‘[W]hen the State elected to introduce’ the substance of Cellmark’s report into
           evidence, the analyst who generated that report ‘became a witness’ whom Williams ‘had
           the right to confront.’ ” Williams, 567 U.S. at ___, 132 S. Ct. at 2268 (Kagan, J.,
           dissenting, joined by Scalia, Ginsburg and Sotomayor, JJ.) (quoting Bullcoming, 564
           U.S. at ___, 131 S. Ct. at 2716).
       According to the dissent, under the Court’s prior analysis, “the substance of the report could
       come into evidence only if Williams had a chance to cross-examine the responsible analyst.”
       Williams, 567 U.S. at ___, 132 S. Ct. at 2267 (Kagan, J., dissenting, joined by Scalia,
       Ginsburg and Sotomayor, JJ.). The dissent also criticized the majority’s formulation in
       examining the purpose for which the statement was made, noting Melendez-Diaz and
       Bullcoming merely asked whether the statement was made for the purpose of providing
       evidence. Williams, 567 U.S. at ___, 132 S. Ct. at 2273-74 (Kagan, J., dissenting, joined by
       Scalia, Ginsburg and Sotomayor, JJ.).
¶ 62       The State argues Williams is controlling in this case. Defendant argues Williams is
       distinguishable because that case involved a bench trial, whereas this case is an appeal from
       a jury trial. Defendant also argues the fractured opinion in Williams is not controlling on the
       law and urges this court to rule in his favor based on Melendez-Diaz and Bullcoming.
¶ 63       Neither party is entirely correct. Granted, the first portion of the Williams plurality
       opinion does distinguish between bench trials and jury trials. For example, the Williams
       plurality notes the rules of evidence in federal and Illinois courts typically bar admission of
       the facts and data underlying expert opinions in jury trials. Williams, 567 U.S. at ___, 132
       S. Ct. at 2234-35 (plurality op.). The plurality also acknowledges the dissent “would have
       force” in the context of a jury trial, where, “[a]bsent an evaluation of the risk of juror
       confusion and careful jury instructions, the testimony could not have gone to the jury.”
       Williams, 567 U.S. at ___, 132 S. Ct. at 2236 (plurality op.). In contrast, in a bench trial, it
       is presumed the trial judge, as the trier of fact, understood the contested portions of the expert
       testimony were not admissible to prove the truth of the matter asserted. Williams, 567 U.S.
       at ___, 132 S. Ct. at 2236-37 (plurality op.).

                                                 -14-
¶ 64       Nevertheless, the second, independent portion of the Williams plurality opinion does not
       depend on the difference between a bench trial and a jury trial. Rather, as the Illinois
       Supreme Court notes in Leach (which involved the application of Williams to the
       admissibility of an autopsy report), the second, independent portion of Williams establishes
       that not all forensic reports offered by the State are testimonial. See Leach, 2012 IL 111534,
       ¶ 118. This was also Justice Thomas’s conclusion, although he disagreed with the plurality
       regarding the reason Cellmark’s report was not testimonial. Williams, 567 U.S. at ___, 132
       S. Ct. at 2255 (Thomas, J., concurring in the judgment). Accordingly, assuming, arguendo,
       that Quartaro’s testimony was based in part on out-of-court statements, there would still be
       no violation of the confrontation clause. See People v. Negron, 2012 IL App (1st) 101194,
       ¶ 48 (“We glean the central holding of Williams from the narrow grounds on which Justice
       Thomas agreed with the plurality.”).4
¶ 65       Moreover, our conclusion would be the same absent Williams. The testifying expert in
       this case is a Cellmark supervisor. Defendant argues the State was required to present
       testimony from the technician who loaded the DNA samples onto the robotic instrumentation
       and oversaw the testing in the wet chemistry lab. Thus, this case involves the question
       adverted to but not technically before the Williams Court regarding the number of analysts
       the State must call to satisfy the confrontation clause.
¶ 66       Even prior to the Supreme Court’s decision in Williams, this court expressed skepticism
       of the idea the confrontation clause “would require each and every individual involved in the
       testing and analysis of DNA to testify at trial,” where the testifying expert was a Cellmark
       representative who performed an independent review of the analysts’ work. Johnson, 406 Ill.
       App. 3d at 818 (dicta).5 Post-Williams, we find State v. Lopez, 45 A.3d 1 (R.I. 2012),
       persuasive on this issue. In Lopez, “Matthew Quartaro, a supervisor at Cellmark, testified as
       an expert witness on behalf of the state regarding the results of the DNA testing.” Lopez, 45
A.3d at 10. At trial:
           “Quartaro testified that he did not personally observe the analysts who conducted the
           cutting, extraction, or quantification, nor did he perform those steps. In fact, Quartaro
           indicated that he never physically touched the evidence in this case. Despite this, he
           testified that he had been ‘involved in the entire process’ by other means. Specifically,

               4
                 In his reply brief and a motion to cite supplemental authority, defendant cites cases from
       other states and federal courts discounting the Williams plurality opinion and relying on Melendez-
       Diaz and Bullcoming. In light of Leach and Negron, we find the authorities defendant cites
       unpersuasive.
               5
                The Johnson court ruled the testimony admissible on the ground it was not introduced to
       prove the truth of Cellmark’s findings. Johnson, 406 Ill. App. 3d at 818. Subsequently, a majority
       of the United States Supreme Court indicated a likely disagreement with that particular conclusion.
       Williams, 567 U.S. at ___, 132 S. Ct. at 2256 (Thomas, J., concurring in the judgment); id. at ___,
       132 S. Ct. at 2268 (Kagan, J., dissenting, joined by Scalia, Ginsburg and Sotomayor, JJ.). However,
       as noted earlier, the issue of the number of analysts constitutionally required to testify in a case like
       this one was not squarely at issue in Williams.

                                                    -15-
           Quartaro explained that he ‘evaluate[d] all the profiles, ma[d]e sure that *** the best
           possible profile [s] [were obtained] from the evidence[,] *** compared all the profiles,
           drew conclusions on those, calculate[d] statistics, [and] prepared [a] report.’ The only
           portion of Quartaro’s report admitted into evidence was an allele table, which presented
           the numerical-DNA profile of each of the seven samples tested. Quartaro testified that
           he prepared this chart based on his analysis of computer-generated graphs, which
           consisted of ‘raw data’ obtained from the PCR-testing stage. Quartaro’s report and
           conclusions then were reviewed by another analyst at Cellmark, Kelli Byrd.” Id. at 10-11.
       In Lopez, as in this case, the defendant argued such testimony violated his sixth amendment
       right to confront the analysts who conducted the preliminary stages of the DNA testing. The
       Supreme Court of Rhode Island distinguished the case from Bullcoming on the basis
       Quartaro did not act as a surrogate witness because he was “integrally involved” in the
       process of the DNA testing. Id. at 13. Acting as a Cellmark supervisor, he directed the DNA
       testing, reviewed the case file, ensured the proper protocols were observed, personally
       reviewed and analyzed the raw data and articulated his own conclusions. Id. at 13
¶ 67       The Lopez court acknowledged cross-examination of Quartaro did not necessarily address
       every possibility of bias or error in the DNA testing. Id. at 16. Nevertheless:
           “[t]he Supreme Court made it clear that the Confrontation Clause does not mandate ‘that
           anyone whose testimony may be relevant in establishing the chain of custody,
           authenticity of the sample, or accuracy of the testing device, must appear in person as
           part of the prosecution’s case.’ ” Id. (quoting Melendez-Diaz, 557 U.S. at 311 n.1).
       Accordingly, the Lopez court concluded the fact that Quartaro used data from the work of his
       analysts “did not bestow upon defendant the constitutional right to confront each and every
       one of those subordinate analysts.” Id. The court held:
           “[W]here defendant had ample opportunity to confront Quartaro–the witness who
           undertook the critical stage of the DNA analysis, supervised over and had personal
           knowledge of the protocols and process of all stages involved in the DNA testing,
           reviewed the notes and data produced by all previous analysts, and testified to the
           controls employed by the testing lab to safeguard against the possibility of testing
           errors–the Confrontation Clause was satisfied.” Id.
       Other courts similarly reject the argument that the confrontation clause requires testimony
       from every person involved in performing a forensic DNA analysis. E.g., Aguilar v.
       Commonwealth, 699 S.E.2d 215, 222 (Va. 2010); Vann v. State, 229 P.3d 197, 210-11
       (Alaska Ct. App. 2010); United States v. Boyd, 686 F. Supp. 2d 382, 385 (S.D.N.Y. 2010),
       aff’d, 401 F. App’x 565 (2d Cir. 2010).
¶ 68       In this case, Quartaro was more involved in the DNA testing process than the expert in
       Lopez, as he took the cuttings to send to DNA testing in the first instance. Moreover, similar
       to Lopez, Quartaro independently reviewed the data and documentation in this case,
       performed the analysis on the data, and authored the report for Cellmark. Furthermore,
       Quartaro described the controls Cellmark used and testified the proper controls were run in
       this case to ensure the instruments were functioning properly. Indeed, in this case Quartaro
       testified the chain of custody was maintained as to all of the samples. What remains are

                                               -16-
       potential questions regarding the authenticity of the sample, which normally goes to the
       weight of the evidence rather than its admissibility. See Melendez-Diaz, 557 U.S. at 311 n.1.
       Accordingly, even assuming, arguendo, that Williams was not applicable to this case,
       defendant’s argument fails.
¶ 69        Defendant raises two related subissues in passing in his brief. First, defendant complains
       in a single sentence, without citation to authority, that the State introduced a chart illustrating
       the results of Cellmark’s testing. The record on appeal indicates the exhibit at issue was used
       during testimony of Tomek, not Quartaro. The transcript of Tomek’s testimony indicates
       defense counsel raised “no objection” to the use of the chart. The record on appeal contains
       no written response to the State’s motion in limine to admit Quartaro’s testimony; the
       transcript of the hearing on the motion contains no objection referring to the chart. Tomek’s
       use of the chart was not raised as a grounds for a new trial in defendant’s posttrial motion.
       Accordingly, this issue is forfeited because defendant failed to raise it at trial or in his motion
       for a new trial. People v. Woods, 214 Ill. 2d 455, 470 (2005); People v. Eastling, 386 Ill.
       App. 3d 884, 887-88 (2008). Furthermore, in instances of forfeiture, it is defendant’s burden
       to establish plain error and “when a defendant fails to present an argument on how either of
       the two prongs of the plain-error doctrine is satisfied, he forfeits plain-error review.” People
       v. Hillier, 237 Ill. 2d 539, 545-46 (2010). Indeed, our supreme court has admonished this
       court to consider constitutional questions only where the case cannot be determined on other
       grounds. People v. White, 2011 IL 109689, ¶ 148 (and cases cited therein). Thus, we decline
       to relax the forfeiture rule in this case.6

               6
                 The special concurrence takes exception with our discussion of defendant’s forfeiture of
       these issues and suggests the majority has mischaracterized defendant’s comment about the
       introduction of the chart of DNA test results. The special concurrence alludes to two paragraphs of
       defendant’s brief, in which the chart is mentioned precisely once, in passing, in a single sentence on
       page 18 of the brief. That sentence states, “As in Bullcoming, merely presenting the testimony of
       Quartaro and a chart showing results of the DNA testing, and not the actual Cellmark analyst who
       performed the testing, failed to provide the defense the required opportunity to ‘ expose *** lapses
       or lies on [the analyst’s] part.’ ”
                The special concurrence asserts the exhibit at issue related to the testimony from both
       Tomek and Quartaro, but the record indicates the chart was used by Tomek. The issue of the
       introduction and use of the chart is a complex and significantly different question from the issue of
       Quartaro’s testimony in general. Compare Lopez, 45 A.3d at 12-16, with id. at 16-20. In this case,
       an analysis of the issue would be further complicated by the fact the chart was used by Tomek, not
       Quartaro. The issues raised by Tomek’s testimony relying on Cellmark’s work is not necessarily
       identical to the issues raise by Quartaro’s testimony regarding the work performed by Quaratro and
       his subordinates. The two paragraphs from defendant’s brief which the special concurrence refers
       to do not address these issues. The special concurrence suggests the burden was on the State to argue
       the chart raises different issues. We disagree, as defendant mentions the chart in one sentence and
       defendant’s legal authority does not address the issues raised by the chart.
                Moreover, defendant did not object to the admission of the chart at trial or in his posttrial
       motion. As our supreme court instructs us, one of the most important functions of the appellate court
       is to determine whether an issue has been forfeited, so as to avoid unnecessary expenditure of

                                                   -17-
¶ 70       Second, defendant maintains Quartaro improperly bolstered his testimony by
       volunteering on cross-examination, in response to the question of whether Bird merely
       summarized what transpired at Cellmark regarding this case, that Bird reviewed his report
       and agreed with its conclusion. Similar to defendant’s first passing objection, the trial
       transcript indicates defense counsel did not object to the testimony or move to strike it.
       Defendant raised the issue of Quartaro’s testimony about aspects of the DNA testing process
       in his posttrial motion, but did not specifically challenge his testimony about Bird on either
       constitutional or ordinary evidentiary grounds. In general, “a defendant must both specifically
       object at trial and raise the specific issue again in a posttrial motion to preserve any alleged
       error for review.” Woods, 214 Ill. 2d at 470. In addition, defendant did not request plain-error
       review, thereby forfeiting it. Hillier, 237 Ill. 2d at 545-46. Thus, for the reasons already
       stated, we decline to relax the rule of forfeiture. See White, 2011 IL 109689, ¶ 148.

¶ 71                                     CONCLUSION
¶ 72       In sum, we conclude the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting “other
       crimes” evidence in this case. We also conclude defendant failed to show the admission of
       Quartaro’s testimony violated his sixth amendment right to confront the witnesses against
       him, because the confrontation clause did not require the State to produce other Cellmark
       technicians to testify regarding the preliminary steps in the DNA analysis prepared by
       Quartaro. Defendant forfeited his other objections to the expert testimony in this case. For
       all of the aforementioned reasons, the judgment of the circuit court of Cook County is
       affirmed.

¶ 73       Affirmed.

¶ 74       JUSTICE GORDON, specially concurring.
¶ 75       I agree with the majority’s disposition of the case, but write separately to clarify three
       points.
¶ 76       First, in paragraphs 69 and 70, the majority states that defendant waived consideration
       of two “subissues” by not requesting plain-error review. However, although the State
       discussed generally the larger confrontation clause issue, it did not assert in its appellate brief
       that defendant forfeited these issues by failing to raise them in the trial court or in a posttrial

       judicial resources. People v. Smith, 228 Ill. 2d 95, 106 (2008). Therefore, this court should not
       refrain or deviate from fulfilling this function as set forth by our supreme court simply because the
       State fails to mention the issue. Indeed, our supreme court has “repeatedly cited the general principle
       that courts will address constitutional issues only as a last resort, relying whenever possible on
       nonconstitutional grounds to decide cases.” People v. Jackson, 2013 IL 113986, ¶ 14 (and cases cited
       therein). In this case, the complex and unsettled constitutional issue regarding the chart need not be
       addressed, given our long-established and uncontroversial rules of forfeiture.

                                                   -18-
       motion, and thus, the State forfeited its right to claim waiver on this ground. People v. De
       La Paz, 204 Ill. 2d 426, 433 (2003) (“It is well established that the State may waive
       waiver.”); People v. Lacy, 407 Ill. App. 3d 442, 461 (2011).
¶ 77        For example, in People v. Hillier, 237 Ill. 2d 539, 546 (2010), the defendant argued to
       our supreme court “that the State forfeited its forfeiture argument by failing to raise it in the
       appellate court.” In response, the State “filed copies of the appellate court briefs with [our
       supreme] court to establish that it did indeed argue forfeiture in the appellate court.” Hillier,
237 Ill. 2d at 546 n.3. The defendant then conceded this point at the oral argument before our
       supreme court. Hillier, 237 Ill. 2d at 546 n.3. Since the State had, in fact, raised the issue of
       forfeiture in its appellate brief, our supreme court held that the defense had failed to meet its
       burden of establishing plain error by failing to argue it in its subsequent brief. Hillier, 237
Ill. 2d at 545-46.
¶ 78        In contrast to Hillier, the State in the case at bar did, in fact, forfeit forfeiture by failing
       to argue in its appellate brief that defendant had failed to assert these issues either in the trial
       court or in a posttrial motion. As a result, the majority should have addressed these issues
       under a harmless-error review in its analysis. However, since I believe that the outcome
       would be the same under either harmless-error or plain-error review, I specially concur.
¶ 79        The majority writes: “The special concurrence suggests the burden was on the State to
       argue the chart raises different issues.” Supra ¶ 69 n.6. I do not understand this sentence in
       the context of my special concurrence. What I have stated, quite simply, is that the State
       waived the issue of forfeiture.
¶ 80        Second, the majority writes: “defendant complains in a single sentence, without citation
       to authority, that the State introduced a chart illustrating the results of Cellmark’s testing.”
       Supra ¶ 69. This statement is factually incorrect. Defendant’s brief contains a two-paragraph,
       full-page discussion concerning the chart, including a discussion of the United States
       Supreme Court’s decision in Bullcoming v. New Mexico, 564 U.S. ___, 131 S. Ct. 2705
       (2011). The first sentence of the first paragraph is a thesis sentence, introducing defendant’s
       discussion of how “the chart” and Quartaro’s testimony raised the same issues “[a]s in
       Bullcoming.” The first sentence, or thesis sentence, of the second paragraph continues this
       discussion referring back to “the DNA evidence,” which includes the DNA evidence named
       in the immediately preceding paragraph: the chart and Quartaro’s testimony. Thus, any
       suggestion that defendant forfeited this claim by failing to provide reasoned legal argument
       or citation to relevant authority would be incorrect and misplaced. Supra ¶ 69 n.6.
¶ 81        The majority asserts that the chart relates only to Tomek’s testimony but not to
       Quartaro’s testimony. Supra ¶ 69 n.6. It relates to both. At trial, Quataro testified that he
       supervised a team of eight DNA analysts at the Cellmark laboratory and that he authored
       Cellmark’s report. However, he admitted that he did not oversee the tests used in this case.
       Then Tomek, who is employed by the Illinois State Police, used the chart, which illustrated
       the results of tests done by both Cellmark and the Illinois State Police crime lab, in order to
       offer his opinion that defendant’s DNA profile matched the DNA profile generated by the
       Cellmark lab. Quartaro’s testimony laid the foundation for the information in the chart that
       defendant now challenges on appeal. Thus, on the facts and arguments made before us, the

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       issues related to the chart are not significantly different from the issues related to Quartaro’s
       testimony.
¶ 82       The majority cites State v. Lopez, 45 A.3d 1, 12-16 (R.I. 2012), for the proposition that
       the “use of the chart is a complex and significantly different question from the issue of
       Quartaro’s testimony in general.” Supra ¶ 69 n.6. In Lopez, the Rhode Island Supreme Court
       considered whether an allele table contained “mere machine-generated” data and was thus
       nontestimonial. Lopez, 45 A.3d at 17. In the case at bar, the State has not raised this
       argument and thus, it is not before us.
¶ 83       In addition, I specially concur on another issue that I believe the majority handled
       improperly. The State argues to this court in its appellate brief that defendant’s confrontation
       rights were fully satisfied by his opportunity to cross-examine the DNA supervisor, and cites
       in support Bullcoming v. New Mexico, 564 U.S. ___, 131 S. Ct. 2705 (2011). I agree.
¶ 84       On appeal, defendant does not suggest any questions that he would have asked the
       nontestifying DNA analysts and that he could not have asked their supervisor. By contrast,
       the United States Supreme Court found a confrontation clause violation in Bullcoming v.
       New Mexico, 564 U.S. ___, ___, 131 S. Ct. 2705, 2715 (2011), stating: “Significant here,
       Razatos had no knowledge of the reason why Caylor had been placed on unpaid leave. With
       Caylor on the stand, Bullcoming’s counsel could have asked questions designed to reveal
       whether incompetence, evasiveness, or dishonesty accounted for Caylor’s removal from his
       work station.” By contrast, in the case at bar, defendant does not identify any questions that
       he could not pose to the supervisor and that only the analysts could answer. The majority
       does not discuss this issue in its decision.
¶ 85       For the foregoing reasons, I specially concur.

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