Court Opinion

ID: 9925458
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-01-19 21:04:23.572038+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:20:48.617113
License: Public Domain

2024 IL App (1st) 2129-U
                                             No. 1-23-2129B
                                      Order filed January 18, 2024
                                                                                          Sixth Division

 NOTICE: This order was filed under Supreme Court Rule 23 and is not precedent except in the
 limited circumstances allowed under Rule 23(e)(1).
 ______________________________________________________________________________
                                                 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. 23 111251101
                                                                  )
 EDWIN QUINTERO,                                                  )   Honorable
                                                                  )   Maryam Ahmad,
           Defendant-Appellant.                                   )   Judge, Presiding.

           JUSTICE ODEN JOHNSON delivered the judgment of the court.
           Justices C.A. Walker and Tailor concurred in the judgment.

                                               ORDER

¶1        Held: The trial court abused its discretion where it found that no condition or combination
                of conditions could mitigate defendant’s willful flight but did not articulate specific
                alternative restrictions that it considered and did not specify why those specific
                alternatives would not mitigate defendant’s likelihood of willful flight.

¶2        Defendant-appellant Edwin Quintero, by and through his attorney, brings this appeal under

Illinois Supreme Court Rule 604(h) (eff. Sept. 18, 2023) challenging the trial court’s order entered
No. 1-23-2129B

on September 28, 2023, pursuant to what is commonly known as the Pretrial Fairness Act. 1

Defendant was charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle, aggravated fleeing and damage

greater than $300, and aggravated assault of a peace officer with a motor vehicle. After hearing,

the trial court granted the State’s petition to detain defendant, on a willful flight risk basis, and

denied defendant pretrial release. Defendant filed a timely notice of appeal on October 5, 2023,

and a Rule 604(h) memorandum, and the State filed a memorandum in response. For the following

reasons, we reverse and remand.

¶3                                         BACKGROUND

¶4      A summary of the relevant evidence proffered by the parties during the hearing on the

State’s Petition for Detention is as follows: On September 27, 2023, officers received a license

plate reader hit for a stolen vehicle and attempted to curb the vehicle. The vehicle did not stop until

it subsequently crashed and became stuck between a wall and light pole. An officer exited his

squad car, walked in front of the crashed vehicle, and demanded that the occupants exit the vehicle.

According to the State, defendant was in the driver’s seat. The vehicle then accelerated in the

direction of the officer but did not hit him. The front driver’s side tire blew out. Another squad car

approached the vehicle on the left side and a city work truck moved in front of the vehicle, making

it difficult for the vehicle to drive away. At this point, defendant got out of the crashed vehicle and

attempted to run but was detained within a half block of the vehicle. Defendant reportedly made

        1
          In 2021, the General Assembly passed two separate acts that “dismantled and rebuilt Illinois’s
statutory framework for the pretrial release of criminal defendants.” Rowe v. Raoul, 2023 IL 129248, ¶4
(discussing Pub. Act 101-652, § 10-255, 102-1104, § 70 (eff. Jan. 1, 2023) (amending 725 ILCS 5/art.
110) (the Pretrial Fairness Act) and Pub. Act 102-1104 (eff. Jan. 1, 2023) (the Follow-Up Act).

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No. 1-23-2129B

post-Miranda statements indicating that while he knew the vehicle was stolen, he did not try to hit

the police officer.

¶5      In mitigation, the defense proffered that defendant was 19 years old and a lifelong resident

of Chicago. His mother and pregnant fiancée, with whom he already had one child, were present

in court during the detention hearing to support him. Defendant had completed three years of high

school, received a food handling certificate, and worked as a dishwasher at a restaurant.

¶6      The State conceded that defendant had no punishable background. His entire criminal

history consists of a pending minor traffic matter for failing to obey a traffic signal, and a dismissed

domestic battery case that resulted in an order of protection against him. He missed one traffic

court date but had no failures to appear or violations on the order of protection. As such, he scored

a two for new criminal activity and a one for failure to appear on the pretrial services assessment.

¶7      Nevertheless, the State argued that defendant had a high likelihood of willful flight because

of his multiple attempts, during the instant encounter, to avoid arrest. Defendant responded that it

was improper to conflate alleged flight from police officers with intention to thwart the judicial

process to avoid prosecution because the police officers are not members of the judiciary, and

further that there were conditions that could be imposed short of detention.

¶8      The trial court agreed with the State that “flight from law enforcement officers is flight

from prosecution because officers trigger the prosecution process.” Accordingly, the trial court

found that defendant had a high likelihood of flight to elude prosecution and ordered that the

defendant be detained and remanded to the custody of the Cook County Sheriff pending trial. The

trial court then read defendant his rights and then noted for the record that “no least restrictive

condition, based on these allegations, can ensure defendant’s return to court or mitigate the risk to

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No. 1-23-2129B

public safety.” The trial court further indicated in the detention order that no condition or

combination of conditions could mitigate defendant’s willful flight because “defendant has shown

an inability to comply with the commands of law enforcement officers, in disregard of his safety,

and others. He has also demonstrated his refusal (unless forced) to comply and accede to the

judicial system.” The trial court also stated that defendant posed a real and present threat to the

safety of any person or persons or the community because “defendant refused to comply with law

enforcement officers; he crashed into a building and pole trying to flee and drove at an officer. It

took a city truck and another car to stop him.”

¶9     Defendant’s appeal was timely filed within 14 days, thereby conferring jurisdiction upon

this court. In considering this appeal, we have reviewed the following documents that were

submitted pursuant to Rule 604(h): defendant’s Notice of Pretrial Fairness Act Appeal, defendant’s

supporting memorandum, and the State’s response memorandum.

¶ 10                                       ANALYSIS

¶ 11   On appeal, defendant does not contest that the State met its burden of proving by clear and

convincing evidence that the proof was evident and the presumption great that he committed a

qualifying offense or that the charges are detainable under 725 ILCS 5/110-6.1 (West 2022).

Instead, defendant challenges whether the State met its burden of proving by clear and convincing

evidence that he had a high likelihood of willful flight to avoid prosecution and that no condition

or combination of conditions could mitigate that risk. Id. § 5/110-6.1(e)(3). Defendant contends

that the legislature dramatically changed the statutory framework for pretrial release and in so

doing intentionally deleted the “flight from arrest” language of section 110-5(a) (725 ILCS 5/110-

5(a) (West 2022)), but left “flight from prosecution” in section 110-1(f) (725 ILCS 5/110-1(f)

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No. 1-23-2129B

(West 2022)). He contends that the change evidenced the legislature’s intent to remove ‘flight

from arrest’ as a consideration when determining pretrial release. Additionally, defendant contends

that the trial court erred in determining that no condition or combination of conditions would

reasonably ensure his appearance for later hearings or prevent defendant from being charged with

a subsequent felony or Class A misdemeanor; and in sua sponte considering whether defendant

posed a real and present threat to the safety of any person or persons or the community without a

verified petition filed by the State on that basis.

¶ 12    The State responds that defendant misstates the 2022 version of section 110-5(a) of the Act

and instead refers to the 2021 version prior to its amendment. Additionally, the State contends

that the amendment to section 110-5(a) allows the trial court to consider the nature and seriousness

of the risk of obstructing or attempting to obstruct the criminal justice process that would be posed

by defendant’s release, which would include his evasion of arrest. 725 ILCS 5/110-5(a)(5) (West

2022). The State further contends that the Act does not list any factors to consider whether a

defendant has a high likelihood of willful flight to avoid prosecution, and the plain language of

section 110-5(a)(5) does not limit what facts the trial court can consider when making such a

determination. Further, the State argues that it is irrelevant that a definition for willful flight was

included in section 110-1(f) (725 ILCS 5/110-1(f) (West 2022)) because that term does not appear

in section 110-5(a)(5). Based on the language contained in section 110-5(a)(5), the State contends

that the avoidance of arrest is included in the obstruction of or attempt to obstruct the criminal

justice process because all cases subject to the Act are dependent upon arrest. Defendant’s use of

violence and multiple attempts to avoid arrest, including twice trying to elude the police by car

and once on foot, fully established that no conditions would mitigate defendant’s willful flight

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No. 1-23-2129B

where he did not place the safety of others above his own self-interest in avoiding arrest, hence

proving that no conditions could mitigate defendant’s willful flight.

¶ 13     However, the State agrees that the trial court erred in making a sua sponte finding that

defendant’s continued detention was justified where he posed a real and present threat to the safety

of any person or persons or the community because it did not file a verified petition setting forth

the grounds, including specific articulable facts, that defendant posed a real and present threat to

the safety of any person(s) or the community as required by 725 ILCS 5/110-6.1(d)(1) (West

2022).

¶ 14     Pretrial release is governed by Article 110 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963

(Code) (725 ILCS 5/110-1 et seq (West 2022)). Under the Code, all persons charged with an

offense are eligible for pretrial release before conviction. 725 ILCS 5/110-2(a) (West 2022).

¶ 15     Pursuant to the Code, a defendant’s pretrial release may be denied only in certain statutorily

limited situations. 725 ILCS 5/110-6.1 (West 2022). Upon the State’s filing of a verified petition

requesting denial of pretrial release, the State has the burden of proving by clear and convincing

evidence that the proof is evident or the presumption great that the defendant has committed a

qualifying offense, that the defendant’s pretrial release poses a real and present threat to the safety

of any person or the community or a flight risk, and that less restrictive conditions would not avoid

a real and present threat to the safety of any person or the community and or prevent the

defendant’s willful flight from prosecution. 725 ILCS 5/110-2; 5/110-6.1(a)(1.5), (4), (8) (West

2022).

¶ 16     At all pretrial hearings, the prosecution has the burden of proving by clear and convincing

evidence that any condition of release is necessary. 725 ILCS 5/110-2(b) (West 2022). In any order

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No. 1-23-2129B

for detention, the court shall make a written finding summarizing the court’s reasons for

concluding that the defendant should be denied pretrial release, including why less restrictive

conditions would not avoid a real and present threat to the safety of any person or persons or the

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

flight from prosecution. 725 ILCS 5/110-6.1(h)(1) (West 2022). Section 110-1(f) defines willful

flight as “intentional conduct with a purpose to thwart the judicial process to avoid prosecution;

isolated instances of nonappearance in court alone are not evidence of the risk of willful flight;

and reoccurrence and patterns of intentional conduct to evade prosecution and affirmative steps to

communicate or remedy any missed court date can be considered. 725 ILCS 5/110-1(f) (West

2022).

¶ 17     A circuit court’s finding that the State presented clear and convincing evidence that

mandatory conditions of release would fail to protect any person or the community, and/or that the

defendant had a high likelihood of willful flight to avoid prosecution, or that the defendant failed

to comply with previous conditions of pretrial release thereby requiring a modification or

revocation of the previously issued conditions of pretrial release, will not be reversed unless those

findings are against the manifest weight of the evidence. People v. Vingara, 2023 IL App (5th)

230698, ¶ 10. “A finding is against the manifest weight of the evidence only if the opposite

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

evidence presented.” People v. Deleon, 227 Ill.2d 322, 332 (2008). Under this standard, we give

deference to the trial court as the finder of fact as it is in the best position to observe the conduct

and demeanor of the witnesses.” Deleon, 227 Ill. 2d at 332.

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No. 1-23-2129B

¶ 18    Here, the trial court based its decision to deny defendant pretrial release primarily on its

determination that defendant posed a flight risk to avoid prosecution under the Act. The trial court

emphasized and reiterated both orally and in the written order that “flight from law enforcement

officers [was] flight from prosecution because officers trigger the prosecution process;”

“Defendant has shown an inability to comply with the commands of law enforcement officers;”

and “Defendant refused to comply with law enforcement officers[-] he crashed into a building and

pole trying to flee and drove at an officer.” This was despite defendant’s pretrial assessment score

of one for failure to appear and two for new criminal activity. And, notwithstanding defendant’s

minimal criminal history, family support, and employment.

¶ 19    We must therefore determine whether the trial court properly considered evading police

during arrest as “willful flight to avoid prosecution” as contemplated by the Act.

¶ 20    This is an issue of statutory interpretation which we review de novo. People v. Gutman,

2011 IL 110338, ¶ 12. The primary objective of statutory construction is to ascertain and give

effect to the legislature’s intent. Id. The most reliable indicator of legislative intent is the language

of the statute, given its plain and ordinary meaning. Id. We view the statute as a whole, construing

words and phrases in light of other relevant statutory provisions and not in isolation. Id. Each word,

clause, and sentence of a statute must be given a reasonable meaning, if possible, and should not

be rendered superfluous. Id. The court may consider the reason for the law, the problems sought

to be remedied, the purposes to be achieved, and the consequences of construing the statute one

way or another. Id. Also, a court presumes that the legislature did not intend to create absurd,

inconvenient, or unjust results. Id. Pursuant to the rule of lenity, ambiguous criminal statutes will

generally be construed in the defendant’s favor. Id. However, the rule of lenity is subordinate to

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No. 1-23-2129B

our obligation to determine legislative intent, and it will not be construed so rigidly as to defeat

legislative intent. Id.

¶ 21    As noted above, the trial court may deny pretrial release only after a hearing on verified

petition filed by the State if the person has a high likelihood of willful flight to avoid prosecution

and is charged with any felony described in subdivisions (a)(1) through (a)(7) of this Section or a

felony offense other than a Class 4 offense. 725 ILCS 5/110-6.1(a)(8) (West 2022). Section 110-

1(f) defines willful flight. 725 ILCS 5/110-1(f) (West 2022). However, section 110-5(a)(5) allows

the trial court to consider the nature and seriousness of the risk of obstructing or attempting to

obstruct the criminal justice process that would be posed by defendant’s release. 725 ILCS 5/110-

5(a)(5) (West 2022).

¶ 22    We do not find the language of the Act to be ambiguous and find that the legislature’s

intent can be ascertained from the plain language of the Act. Looking at section 5/110-6.1(a)(8) of

the Act, we find that its plain language, coupled with the definition of willful flight as found in

section 110-1(f) clearly refers to a defendant’s willful avoidance of prosecution in court by failing

to appear at court hearings and similar behaviors. Under a plain reading of this section, a defendant

evading arrest would not trigger “willful flight from prosecution” of section 110-6.1(a)(8) because

arrest does not equal prosecution; the prosecution of the offense has not begun. However, we do

find that the trial court could consider evasion of arrest under section 110-5(a)(5) of the Act when

considering pretrial release as that section specifically refers to obstruction or the attempted

obstruction of the criminal justice system that would be posed by defendant’s release. Arrest is

clearly part of the criminal justice system. Thus, we find that the trial court’s consideration of

defendant’s evasion of arrest was proper under the Act.

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No. 1-23-2129B

¶ 23   Next, defendant contends that the State failed to meet its burden of proving by clear and

convincing evidence that no condition or combination of conditions can mitigate his willful flight

under section 110-6.1(e)(3) of the Act (725 ILCS 5/110-6.1(e)(3) (West 2022)). He points to the

State’s failure to specifically address any one condition or any combination of conditions and why

those conditions would be insufficient.

¶ 24   The State responds that defendant’s use of violence and multiple attempts to avoid arrest,

including twice trying to elude the police by car and once on foot fully established that no

conditions would mitigate defendant’s willful flight where he did not place the safety of others

above his own self-interest in avoiding arrest.

¶ 25   Section 110-6.1 of the Act (725 ILCS 5/110-6.1 (West 2022)) provides that all defendants

shall be presumed eligible for pretrial release and the State has to prove by clear and convincing

evidence that no condition or combination of conditions set forth in subsection (b) of Section 110-

10 can mitigate the defendant’s willful flight for offenses listed in paragraph (8) of subsection (a).

That paragraph includes forcible felonies such as those defendant is charged with. Contrary to the

State’s assertion, the record does not indicate that the trial court considered any less restrictive

means to pretrial detention. The Act requires that in any order for detention, the court shall make

a written finding summarizing the court’s reasons for concluding that the defendant should be

denied pretrial release, including why less restrictive conditions would not avoid a real and present

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

facts of the case, or prevent the defendant’s willful flight from prosecution. 725 ILCS 5/110-

6.1(h)(1) (West 2022). There is no evidence in the record that the trial court considered any

alternatives to defendant’s detention in violation of the Act; thus, we conclude that its order

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No. 1-23-2129B

denying pretrial release was an abuse of discretion and remand for consideration of defendant’s

detention alternatives. In doing so, we are not making any finding that defendant is entitled to or

must receive pretrial release; we are remanding based on our finding that the record contains no

evidence that the trial court considered any detention alternatives as required by the statute prior

to ordering defendant’s confinement.

¶ 26    We also find that the portion of the trial court’s detention order that concluded that

defendant’s pretrial release posed a real and present threat to the safety of any person or persons,

or the community was error. As both parties agree, the State did not file a verified petition setting

forth the grounds, including specific articulable facts, that defendant posed a real and present threat

to the safety of any person(s) or the community, thus such finding was error, and we reverse that

portion of the trial court’s findings.

¶ 27                                       CONCLUSION

¶ 28    For the foregoing reasons, we reverse the order of the Circuit Court of Cook County

requiring defendant’s pretrial detention entered on September 28, 2023, and remand for

consideration of defendant’s detention alternatives. Mandate shall issue instanter.

¶ 29    Reversed and remanded.

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