Court Opinion

ID: 3142724
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-22 17:57:03.884586+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:06:11.222567
License: Public Domain

ILLINOIS OFFICIAL REPORTS
                                        Appellate Court

                           People v. Wright, 2013 IL App (3d) 100522

Appellate Court            THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.
Caption                    LAVORIS LARENZO WRIGHT, Defendant-Appellant.

District & No.             Third District
                           Docket Nos. 3-10-0522, 3-10-0523 cons.

Rule 23 Order filed        June 12, 2013
Motion to publish
allowed                    July 16, 2013
Opinion filed              July 16, 2013

Held                       Defendant’s convictions and sentences for armed robbery and attempted
(Note: This syllabus       armed robbery were upheld on appeal where the indictment apprised
constitutes no part of     defendant of the precise offense charged with sufficient specificity and
the opinion of the court   the 15-year sentencing enhancement mandated by section 18-2(b) of the
but has been prepared      Criminal Code was properly imposed, but the mittimus was modified so
by the Reporter of         as to require defendant to provide only one DNA sample and pay only
Decisions for the          one DNA analysis assessment, and finally, defendant’s request to offset
convenience of the         that assessment with the per diem presentence incarceration credit was
reader.)
                           rejected on the ground that the assessment is a fee that is not subject to
                           the credit.

Decision Under             Appeal from the Circuit Court of Peoria County, Nos. 09-CF-911, 09-CF-
Review                     912; the Hon. Glenn H. Collier, Judge, presiding.

Judgment                   Affirmed as modified.
Counsel on                 Santiago A. Durango, of State Appellate Defender’s Office, of Ottawa,
Appeal                     for appellant.

                           Jerry Brady, State’s Attorney, of Peoria (Terry A. Mertel and Nadia L.
                           Chaudhry, both of State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor’s Office, of
                           counsel), for the People.

Panel                      JUSTICE HOLDRIDGE delivered the judgment of the court, with
                           opinion.
                           Justices Schmidt and O’Brien concurred in the judgment and opinion.

                                            OPINION

¶1           Following a stipulated bench trial, defendant, Lavoris Larenzo Wright, was found guilty
        of armed robbery (720 ILCS 5/18-2(a)(2) (West 2008)) and attempted armed robbery (720
        ILCS 5/8-4(a), 18-2(a)(2) (West 2008)), for which he was sentenced to concurrent terms of
        21 and 10 years of imprisonment, respectively. Defendant filed a motion for the court to
        reconsider the sentence, which was denied. Defendant appealed, arguing that: (1) the
        indictment charging armed robbery was void; (2) the trial court erred in imposing two orders
        for defendant to submit a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sample and DNA analysis fee; and
        (3) the trial court erred in imposing a 15-year sentencing enhancement on the armed robbery
        conviction. We affirm as modified.

¶2                                              FACTS
¶3          In case No. 09-CF-911, defendant was charged with armed robbery of the convenience
        store Mark’s Market. The indictment alleged that on August 17, 2009, defendant committed
        armed robbery in that “while armed with a dangerous weapon, a firearm” he took money
        from William Randle by threatening imminent use of force in violation of section 18-2(a)(2)
        of the Criminal Code of 1961 (Code) (720 ILCS 5/18-2(a)(2) (West 2008)). In case No. 09-
        CF-912, defendant was charged with attempted armed robbery, with allegations that on
        August 17, 2009, he performed a substantial step toward the commission of armed robbery
        by entering the Subway while armed with a firearm and demanding money from James
        Hinds.
¶4          On June 6, 2010, defendant was found guilty of both counts in a stipulated bench trial.
        In exchange for a negotiated plea agreement, defendant stipulated to the evidence that the
        State would have presented at trial.
¶5          Specifically, the parties stipulated that Randle would have testified that on August 17,

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       2009, he was working at Mark’s Market when two men entered with bandanas covering their
       faces. One man pointed a gun at Randle and demanded money. Randle placed the money tray
       from the cash register on the counter. One of the men took all the paper currency, and the
       robbers fled. Randle gave a description of the two robbers to police. An in-store video
       recording generally corroborated Randle’s account.
¶6          In his oral and videotaped statements to police, defendant admitted that he had been
       approached by one of the other suspects about committing a robbery. Defendant agreed to
       become involved with the robberies because he needed the money. Defendant obtained a
       handgun from his house and drove around with two other males looking for places to rob.
       They decided to rob Mark’s Market. Defendant took the money from the cash register tray
       in Mark’s Market while another male pointed the gun at the clerk. After taking the money,
       all three men fled. They continued to drive around looking for more places to rob and
       decided to rob a Subway restaurant. Defendant went into the Subway to commit the robbery
       but became nervous. Defendant and the other two suspects fled from the Subway in a
       vehicle. Subsequently, they were pulled over by police.
¶7          The parties stipulated that Hinds would have testified that on August 17, 2009, he was
       working at Subway when two suspects, whose faces were covered with bandanas, entered
       the restaurant, pointed a gun at him, and demanded money. When another employee came
       out of the stockroom, the suspects fled. Another witness would have testified that a third
       suspect fled with the other two suspects. After receiving a description of the suspects, Officer
       Chris White of the Peoria police department stopped a vehicle in which defendant was riding
       in the backseat. White observed a bandana located on the driver’s lap. A loaded handgun and
       a stack of money were located in the center console of the vehicle.
¶8          Hinds identified the two males riding in the front of the car as the suspects involved in
       the Subway incident. The other witness identified defendant as the third person involved in
       the Subway incident.
¶9          The court found defendant guilty of armed robbery. In accordance with the parties’
       agreed-upon sentence, the court sentenced defendant to concurrent terms of imprisonment
       of 10 years for attempted armed robbery and 21 years for armed robbery. Pursuant to section
       18-2(b) of the Code, defendant’s sentence for armed robbery included a mandatory 15-year
       enhancement because a firearm was wielded during the robbery. See 720 ILCS 5/18-2(b)
       (West 2008). Additionally, as part of the sentence in each case, defendant was also ordered
       to submit a DNA sample and pay a $200 DNA analysis assessment. Defendant filed a motion
       to reconsider sentence, which the trial court denied. Defendant appealed.

¶ 10                                        ANALYSIS
¶ 11                                       I. Indictment
¶ 12                            A. Previous Abolishment of Offense
¶ 13      Defendant argues that his conviction for armed robbery should be reversed because the
       2009 indictment charged him with a category of armed robbery that had been abolished in
       2000 and therefore was void. Defendant’s argument as to the defectiveness of the indictment
       was raised for the first time on appeal. Where a defendant challenges the sufficiency of an

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       indictment or information for the first time on appeal, the reviewing court need only
       determine whether the charging instrument apprised defendant of the precise offense charged
       with enough specificity to prepare his defense and allow pleading a resulting conviction as
       a bar to future prosecution arising out of the same conduct. People v. Maggette, 195 Ill. 2d
336 (2001). Stated differently, the question on appeal is whether the defect in the charging
       instrument prejudiced the defendant in preparing his defense. People v. Childs, 407 Ill. App.
3d 1123 (2011).
¶ 14        Prior to January 1, 2000, the armed robbery statute provided, in pertinent part, that a
       person commits armed robbery when he commits a robbery “while he or she carries on or
       about his or her person, or is otherwise armed with a dangerous weapon.” 720 ILCS 5/18-
       2(a) (West 1998). Section 18-2(b) indicated that the offense was a Class X felony.
¶ 15        Effective January 1, 2000, the Illinois legislature amended the Code by enacting Public
       Act 91-404, which added sentencing enhancements for felonies committed with a firearm.
       Pub. Act 91-404 (eff. Jan. 1, 2000). In amending the armed robbery statute, the legislature
       created two distinct categories of armed robbery: armed robberies committed without a
       firearm and armed robberies committed with a firearm. See 720 ILCS 5/18-2(a) (West 2000).
¶ 16        The amended language of the armed robbery statute in section 18-2 of the Code provides:
                “(a) A person commits armed robbery when he or she [commits a robbery]; and
                     (1) he or she carries on or about his or her person or is otherwise armed with a
                dangerous weapon other than a firearm; or
                     (2) he or she carries on or about his or her person or is otherwise armed with a
                firearm; or
                     (3) he or she, during the commission of the offense, personally discharges a
                firearm; or
                     (4) he or she, during the commission of the offense, personally discharges a
                firearm that proximately causes great bodily harm, permanent disability, permanent
                disfigurement, or death to another person.” 720 ILCS 5/18-2(a) (West 2000).
       Section 18-2(b) was also amended, mandating that for a violation of subsection (a)(2), (a)(3),
       or (a)(4), respective terms of 15, 20, or 25 years of imprisonment shall be added to the term
       of imprisonment imposed by the court. 720 ILCS 5/18-2(b) (West 2000).
¶ 17        In this case, the 2009 indictment charged defendant with committing armed robbery
       “while armed with a dangerous weapon, a firearm” on August 17, 2009, and specified that
       the charge was pursuant to section 18-2(a)(2) of the Code. From the language of the statute,
       it is clear that the State intended to prosecute defendant for a violation of section 18-2(a)(2).
       See People v. Barnett, 2011 IL App (3d) 090721, ¶ 4 (by the State electing to obtain a single-
       count indictment in which it described the object as “ ‘a dangerous weapon, a handgun,’ ”
       the State intended to prosecute defendant for a violation of section 18-2(a)(2)); People v.
       Toy, 407 Ill. App. 3d 272, 293 (2011) (affirming defendant’s conviction for armed robbery
       under section 18-2(a)(2) where defendant was charged under section 18-2 (without an
       identifying subsection), the indictment alleged that defendant was “ ‘armed with a dangerous
       weapon, to wit: a gun,’ ” and the evidence at trial established defendant was armed with a

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       firearm). Therefore, the indictment was not void in that defendant was charged with armed
       robbery with a firearm in violation of section 18-2(a)(2).

¶ 18                              B. Mutually Exclusive Offenses
¶ 19        Defendant also claims that the indictment was void for alleging mutually exclusive
       offenses of armed robbery with a dangerous weapon (720 ILCS 5/18-2(a)(1) (West 2008))
       and armed robbery with a firearm (720 ILCS 5/18-2(a)(2) (West 2008)). Section 18-2(a)
       makes clear that “dangerous weapon” and “firearm” are two different offenses under two
       different subsections. Toy, 407 Ill. App. 3d at 291. A robbery while armed with a “dangerous
       weapon other than a firearm” under section 18-2(a)(1) and robbery while armed with “a
       firearm” under section 18-2(a)(2) are mutually exclusive in that the two crimes do not
       contain the same elements. Barnett, 2011 IL App (3d) 090721. If a defendant is charged with
       armed robbery based on using a “dangerous weapon,” then the weapon cannot be a firearm.
       Id. If defendant is charged with armed robbery with a firearm, the State need not prove the
       condition of the firearm to be dangerous; a firearm is dangerous per se and “[p]roof that the
       weapon is a firearm alone suffices.” Id. ¶ 38 (reversing defendant’s conviction for armed
       robbery with a firearm where jury issued a special finding that the State failed to prove that
       he was armed with a firearm).
¶ 20        As discussed above, the indictment charged defendant with committing armed robbery
       “while armed with a dangerous weapon, a firearm” pursuant to section 18-2(a)(2) of the
       Code. The State proceeded with a single-count indictment that simultaneously described the
       object as “a dangerous weapon” and “a firearm,” arguably creating a hybrid charge of
       sections 18-2(a)(1) and 18-2(a)(2). However, as discussed above, there was no uncertainty
       that defendant was being charged pursuant to section 18-2(a)(2) in that the robbery was
       alleged to have involved a firearm.
¶ 21        Furthermore, defendant has shown no prejudice in the preparation of his defense. The
       State presented uncontradicted evidence that the robberies involved a firearm, which is
       dangerous per se. Randle testified that he was threatened with a gun at Mark’s Market. Hinds
       testified that defendant’s cohort pointed a gun at him. White testified that a loaded handgun
       and a stack of money was located in the center console of the getaway vehicle, in which
       defendant was riding in the backseat. Defendant made statements in which he admitted that
       he obtained a gun from his house for the purpose of committing the robberies, his cohort
       pointed a gun at Randle, and he entered the Subway in an attempt to commit a robbery. The
       indictment apprised defendant of the precise offense charged with enough specificity so that
       he could prepare his defense, and the language of the indictment did not prejudice defendant.

¶ 22                           II. Duplicate DNA Sample and Fee
¶ 23       Here, defendant was ordered to submit a DNA sample and pay a $200 DNA analysis
       assessment in both case No. 09-CF-911 and case No. 09-CF-912. Defendant argues, and the
       State concedes, that duplicate DNA samples and fees are not authorized.
¶ 24       Section 5-4-3 of the Unified Code of Corrections requires a defendant convicted of a
       felony to submit a DNA sample for entry into the DNA database maintained by the Illinois

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       State Police, and authorizes the imposition of a $200 DNA analysis assessment. See 730
       ILCS 5/5-4-3 (West 2008). However, the statute does not authorize duplicate samples and
       fees. People v. Marshall, 242 Ill. 2d 285 (2011). Accordingly, we modify the mittimus in
       case No. 09-CF-912 to reflect the vacatur of the requirement that defendant submit a DNA
       sample and pay the $200 DNA analysis assessment.
¶ 25       We decline defendant’s request to offset the remaining $200 DNA analysis assessment
       in case No. 09-CF-911 with a $5 per diem presentencing credit pursuant to section 110-14
       of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. See 725 ILCS 5/110-14 (West 2008). The $200
       DNA analysis assessment was a fee as opposed to a fine and, therefore, was not subject to
       offset by section 110-14 presentencing credit. People v. Johnson, 2011 IL 111817.

¶ 26                        III. Fifteen-Year Sentencing Enhancement
¶ 27        Defendant argues that the trial court erred in imposing a 15-year enhancement to his
       armed robbery sentence pursuant to section 18-2(b) of the Code. 720 ILCS 5/18-2(b) (West
       2008). Defendant requests that this case be remanded for resentencing because the sentencing
       enhancement was invalidated by our supreme court in People v. Hauschild, 226 Ill. 2d 63
       (2007), superseded by statute as stated in People v. Clemons, 2012 IL 107821 (providing that
       Hauschild remains law as to the meaning of the armed violence statute prior to its
       amendment by Public Act 95-688 (eff. Oct. 23, 2007)).
¶ 28        In Hauschild, our supreme court held that the 15-year sentencing enhancement under the
       armed robbery statute violated the proportionate penalties clause of the Illinois Constitution
       (Ill. Const. 1970, art. I, § 11). Hauschild, 226 Ill. 2d 63. At that time, the armed robbery
       statute (720 ILCS 5/18-2(a)(2) (West 2000)) imposed a more severe sentence than did the
       armed violence statute (720 ILCS 5/33A-2(a) (West 2000)) for the same conduct. Hauschild,
       226 Ill. 2d 63. The proportionate penalties clause prohibits imposing different penalties for
       offenses involving identical elements. People v. Sharpe, 216 Ill. 2d 481 (2005). A
       proportionate penalties violation, under the identical elements test, occurs when two offenses
       have identical elements but disparate sentences. Hauschild, 226 Ill. 2d 63. Only the statute
       with the greater penalty will be found to violate the proportionate penalties clause. Sharpe,
       216 Ill. 2d 481.
¶ 29        Subsequent to Hauschild, the legislature amended the armed violence statute by enacting
       Public Act 95-688 (eff. Oct. 23, 2007) in order to cure the proportionate penalties problem.
       Public Act 95-688 did not amend the armed robbery sentencing enhancements held
       unconstitutional in Hauschild, but instead amended the armed violence statute so that
       robbery could not be a predicate offense for armed violence. Hauschild, 226 Ill. 2d 63. The
       result of the amendment was that the offenses of armed violence and armed robbery no
       longer had identical elements, thereby remedying the disproportionate penalty problem
       between the two statutes. Id.
¶ 30        Here, defendant argues that Public Act 95-688 did not revive the sentencing enhancement
       that had been declared unconstitutional in Hauschild because once it was declared
       unconstitutional, the statute was void ab initio, and should have been treated as if it never
       existed. The State argues that Public Act 95-688 revived the sentencing enhancement in the

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       armed robbery statute by remedying the proportionate penalties problem. Our supreme court
       recently resolved this issue, holding that Public Act 95-688 revived the sentencing
       enhancement for armed robbery. See People v. Blair, 2013 IL 114122 (when a statute
       violates the proportionate penalties clause under the identical elements test, that violation is
       entirely dependent upon the existence of the comparison statute; the legislature may remedy
       the violation by amending the unconstitutional statute, the comparison statute, or both
       statutes). Therefore, the trial court did not err in imposing a 15-year enhancement on
       defendant’s armed robbery conviction, as mandated by section 18-2(b) of the Code.

¶ 31                                  CONCLUSION
¶ 32      We affirm the judgment of the circuit court of Peoria County as modified.

¶ 33      Affirmed as modified.

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