Court Opinion

ID: 3144735
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-22 18:04:30.082244+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:07:23.225641
License: Public Domain

No. 2--07--1246   Filed: 12-14-09
______________________________________________________________________________

                                                 IN THE

                                 APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS

                              SECOND DISTRICT
______________________________________________________________________________

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE                ) Appeal from the Circuit Court
OF ILLINOIS,                           ) of Kane County.
                                       )
      Plaintiff-Appellee,              )
                                       )
v.                                     ) No. 05--CF--1942
                                       )
SEAN P. ZELENY,                        ) Honorable
                                       ) William H. Weir,
      Defendant-Appellant.             ) Judge, Presiding.
______________________________________________________________________________

        JUSTICE O'MALLEY delivered the opinion of the court:

        Sean P. Zeleny appeals his convictions of three counts of home invasion (720 ILCS

5/12--11(a)(2) (West 2004)). He contends that he was not brought to trial within 160 days as

required by section 103--5(b) of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (speedy-trial statute) (725

ILCS 5/103--5(b) (West 2004)). Although the trial court wrongly determined that Zeleny agreed to

an initial trial date that delayed trial beyond the speedy-trial term, Zeleny later did agree to a date that

was outside the term. Thus, that delay was attributable to him, and he was brought to trial within

160 days. Accordingly, we affirm.

                                           I. BACKGROUND

        Zeleny was arrested on August 25, 2005. On September 2, 2005, while still in custody,

Zeleny made a written speedy-trial demand and then agreed to postpone setting trial until September

6, 2005. On September 6, 2005, trial was set within the speedy-trial term, but on October 21, 2005,
No. 2--07--1246

Zeleny sought forensic testing of evidence. Zeleny was released from custody and placed on

electronic monitoring on October 27, 2005, and he renewed his written speedy-trial demand. The

court ultimately granted Zeleny's motion for testing, which resulted in numerous agreed delays until

March 22, 2007. During that time, on April 7, 2006, a status hearing was held and Zeleny was not

present. Zeleny's counsel indicated that Zeleny might have been mistakenly told that he did not need

to appear that day, and the court stated that it would not worry about that appearance.

       On March 22, 2007, defense counsel stated that she was ready to set the case for trial and

requested a date in July. Trial was then set for July 9, 2007, by agreement of the parties.

       On June 12, 2007, the State filed a motion to continue the trial date. A hearing was held on

June 19, 2007, and, during the State's argument on the motion, defense counsel stated:

               "Judge I have no objection.

               We have talked about potential weeks, and I don't know what your Honor's calendar

       is like. My office would be asking for September 10th or September 17th. [The assistant

       State's Attorney] may have some issues with those."

The parties then discussed possible dates and decided to set trial for September 24, 2007, with a

pretrial conference on September 20, 2007. The following colloquy then occurred:

               "THE COURT: Is that all right?

               MR. ENGERMAN [assistant State's Attorney]: Are you agreeing to this date?

               MS. STOCK [defense attorney]: Yes, that's fine.

               THE COURT: September 20th at 11 for pretrial.

               MS. STOCK: Are you showing it on the State's motion for continuance?

               THE COURT: Yes.

                                                -2-
No. 2--07--1246

               MS. STOCK: We have no objection.

               MR. ENGERMAN: To--so you are not demanding?

               MS. STOCK: No, but I do want this to reflect this is your request.

               MR. ENGERMAN: Oh, absolutely.

               THE COURT: That's fair.

               MS. STOCK: No objection."

       On September 20, 2007, Zeleny moved to dismiss on speedy-trial grounds. At the hearing

on the motion, the State argued that Zeleny waived his speedy-trial demand when he failed to appear

on April 7, 2006. The State also argued that, on March 22, 2007, when Zeleny agreed to a July 9,

2007, trial date, he agreed to a date that was beyond the 160-day speedy-trial term. The trial court

agreed with the State on both arguments and denied the motion to dismiss. Zeleny was convicted,

and his motion for a new trial was denied. He appeals.

                                          II. ANALYSIS

       The parties spend large portions of their briefs discussing how certain time periods are

allocated in the speedy-trial calculation, but ultimately they agree on most calculations. Where they

disagree is on the effect of Zeleny's agreement to the July 9 and September 24, 2007, trial dates and

whether he failed to appear on April 7, 2006.

       Relying primarily on principles from a Third District case, People v. LaFaire, 374 Ill. App.
3d 461, 464 (2007), Zeleny argues that the trial court miscalculated when the 160-day speedy-trial

term began and that, when he agreed to a July 9, 2007, date, it was within the term, resulting in no

delay of trial attributable to him. He argues that when that period is taken out of consideration, he

was not brought to trial within 160 days. The State agrees with Zeleny's time calculations but argues

                                                -3-
No. 2--07--1246

that, even if July 9, 2007, fell within the speedy-trial term, his "agreement" to that date was a delay

attributable to him. In the alternative, the State argues that Zeleny later agreed to the September 24,

2007, trial date, which fell outside the speedy-trial term. Thus, the State contends that the period

from June 12, 2007, until the date of trial was attributable to Zeleny and resulted in his being brought

to trial within 160 days.

          "The right to a speedy trial is guaranteed by the Federal and Illinois Constitutions (U.S.

Const., amends. VI, XIV; Ill. Const. 1970, art. I, §8)." People v. Staten, 159 Ill. 2d 419, 426 (1994).

A criminal defendant in Illinois also has a statutory right to a speedy trial. 725 ILCS 5/103--5 (West

2004). The speedy-trial statute enforces the constitutional right to a speedy trial, and its protections

are to be liberally construed in favor of the defendant. People v. Buford, 374 Ill. App. 3d 369, 372

(2007). "[T]he statutory right to a speedy trial is not the precise equivalent of the constitutional

right." Staten, 159 Ill. 2d at 426. "Proof of a violation of the statutory right requires only that the

defendant has not been tried within the period set by statute and that defendant has not caused or

contributed to the delays." Staten, 159 Ill. 2d at 426. The trial court's ultimate determinations will

be upheld on appeal absent an abuse of discretion. Buford, 374 Ill. App. 3d at 372. On a legal

question, however, the standard of review is de novo. People v. King, 366 Ill. App. 3d 552, 554

(2006).

          Section 103--5(a) of the speedy-trial statute provides an automatic 120-day speedy-trial right

for a person held in custody on the pending charge and does not require such a person to file a

demand to exercise that right. 725 ILCS 5/103--5(a) (West 2004). Section 103--5(b) of the

speedy-trial statute contains a 160-day speedy-trial right for a person released on bond or

                                                   -4-
No. 2--07--1246

recognizance, and the period begins to run only when the accused files a written speedy-trial

demand. 725 ILCS 5/103--5(b) (West 2004).

       "[A] defendant is subject to whatever speedy-trial statute applies at the time he or she makes

a speedy-trial demand." People v. Wooddell, 219 Ill. 2d 166, 177 (2006). Here, the parties agree

that Zeleny was not in custody when he made his demand and that the 160-day period of section

103--5(b) applies.

       Section 103--5(b) provides:

               "Every person on bail or recognizance shall be tried by the court having jurisdiction

       within 160 days from the date defendant demands trial unless delay is occasioned by the

       defendant, by an examination for fitness ordered pursuant to Section 104--13 of this Act, by

       a fitness hearing, by an adjudication of unfitness to stand trial, by a continuance allowed

       pursuant to Section 114--4 of this Act after a court's determination of the defendant's physical

       incapacity for trial, or by an interlocutory appeal. The defendant's failure to appear for any

       court date set by the court operates to waive the defendant's demand for trial made under this

       subsection." 725 ILCS 5/103--5(b) (West 2004).

       "Section 103--5(f) provides that '[d]elay occasioned by the defendant shall temporarily

suspend for the time of the delay the period within which a person shall be tried.' " People v.

Patterson, 392 Ill. App. 3d 461, 467 (2009), quoting 725 ILCS 5/103--5(f) (West 2004). Thus, a

defendant waives the right to a speedy trial under section 103--5(b), where, by his or her affirmative

act, he or she contributes to an actual delay of the trial or expressly agrees to the continuance on the

record. People v. Cunningham, 77 Ill. App. 3d 949, 952 (1979). " 'A defendant is considered to

have occasioned a delay when he requests a continuance, agrees to a continuance, or when his

                                                  -5-
No. 2--07--1246

actions otherwise cause or contribute to the delay.' " Patterson, 392 Ill. App. 3d at 467, quoting

People v. Hatch, 110 Ill. App. 3d 531, 537 (1982). " '[I]n seeking a discharge, the defendant bears

the burden of showing that his right to a speedy trial has been violated.' " Patterson, 392 Ill. App.
3d at 467, quoting People v. Boyce, 51 Ill. App. 3d 549, 554 (1977). " 'This burden includes a

demonstration that he caused no delay, which fact must be affirmatively established by the record.' "

Patterson, 392 Ill. App. 3d at 467, quoting Boyce, 51 Ill. App. 3d at 554.

        Under section 103--5(b), mere acquiescence to a date suggested by the trial court is not a

delay attributable to the defendant. People v. Wynn, 296 Ill. App. 3d 1020, 1027 (1998). Also,

although the defendant carries the burden of proving a violation of section 103--5(b), where the

record is silent or the defendant fails to object to a delay requested by the State, the delay cannot be

attributed to the defendant. People v. Howard, 205 Ill. App. 3d 702, 708 (1990); see People v.

Reimolds, 92 Ill. 2d 101, 106 (1982).

        In LaFaire, the defendant participated in scheduling a mutually agreeable trial date that fell

within the 160-day speedy-trial period. The Third District distinguished that act from agreeing to

a trial date that fell outside the 160-day period, citing a case stating that defense counsel's agreement

to a trial date within the speedy-trial period did not toll the speedy-trial clock. LaFaire, 374 Ill. App.
3d at 464, citing People v. Workman, 368 Ill. App. 3d 778 (2006).

        LaFaire is in line with our supreme court's holding in People v. Cordell, 223 Ill. 2d 380

(2006), a case construing the meaning of the term "delay" in section 103--5(a), which is identical to

the term "delay" in section 103--5(b). In Cordell, the defendant's attorney did not object to setting

a trial date that was outside section 103--5(a)'s 120-day limit. The defendant then filed a pro se

posttrial motion arguing that his attorney was ineffective for failing to object and move for a

                                                   -6-
No. 2--07--1246

dismissal under section 103--5(a). The trial court denied the motion and the defendant appealed.

Cordell, 223 Ill. 2d at 382-84.

        The supreme court affirmed, explaining that "delay" includes "[a]ny action by either party

or the trial court that moves the trial date outside of [the] 120-day window." Cordell, 223 Ill. 2d at

390. A narrower construction would ignore the plain language of the statute and would also

eliminate trial courts' flexibility to propose trial dates that fall outside the statutory 120-day period.

Cordell, 223 Ill. 2d at 390. If a trial court proposes a trial date outside the statutory period, the

defendant may preserve his speedy-trial right by objecting to the proposed date on that ground. But

what he may not do under section 103--5(a) is acquiesce in the setting of a date outside the period,

then later obtain a dismissal on the ground that he was denied a speedy trial. In the former situation,

the defendant is using section 103--5(a) "as a shield" to protect his right to be tried promptly; in the

latter situation, he is using section 103--5(a) as a "sword after the fact" to defeat a conviction and

"obstruct justice." Cordell, 223 Ill. 2d at 390.

        Here, the parties correctly agree that the trial court mistakenly attributed to the State the

period between Zeleny's arrest and when he filed his speedy-trial demand. The parties also correctly

agree that as of March 22, 2007, 45 days were attributable to the State and that July 9, 2007, was day

154. Thus, when trial was set for July 9, 2007, it was set within the speedy-trial term. Under

LaFaire, that period was not attributable to Zeleny because there was no actual delay of trial.

        The State contends that any agreed trial date, whether before or after the 160-day period has

run, is an agreed delay attributable to the defendant, but it relies on cases that did not specifically

address the issue or that involved the setting of dates after the speedy-trial term would have run. A

dissent in LaFaire also took the position that any date set by agreement, whether within or outside

                                                   -7-
No. 2--07--1246

the speedy-trial term, equates to an act of delay attributable to the defendant. LaFaire, 374 Ill. App.
3d at 467 (Carter, J., dissenting). But, although that dissent cited Cordell, its reasoning was at odds

with our supreme court's definition of "delay." Here, trial was set within the 160-day term. There

was no "delay" at that point.

       Although under LaFaire, Zeleny is correct that no delay beginning on March 22, 2007, was

attributable to him, he fails to address the delay of trial from June 19 to September 24, 2007, stating

only that he does not dispute statements from the trial court attributing that period to the State. The

State argues that under Zeleny's own logic, on June 19, 2007, he expressly agreed to a delay of trial

outside the 160-day term, and thus the entire period from June 19 to September 24, 2007, was

attributable to him. The issue of those dates was never directly argued to the trial court. However,

"we may affirm a ruling on grounds different from those stated by a lower court." People v.

Eyler,133 Ill. 2d 173, 213 (1989).

       On June 12, 2007, the State brought a motion to continue but, at the June 19, 2007, hearing,

defense counsel actively participated in a discussion about setting a new trial date, expressly stated

that there was no objection, and expressly stated her agreement to the trial date. When asked, "so

you are not demanding?" defense counsel stated "no," but clarified that she wanted the record to

reflect that the continuance was at the State's request. Trial was set for September 24, well outside

the 160-day period.1 In light of her level of participation in deciding the trial date and her statement

that there was no objection, defense counsel did not merely acquiesce to a trial date suggested by the

       1
           As of March 22, 2007, when trial was first set for July 9, 2007, 45 days were attributable to

the State. Attributing the period until June 19, 2007, to the State, 134 days had expired on that date.

Thus, the September 24, 2007, trial date was well outside the 160-day period, at 231 days.

                                                   -8-
No. 2--07--1246

court. Instead, she expressly agreed to a continuance and to a date that delayed trial beyond the 160-

day term. It does not matter that the continuance was based on the State's motion, when Zeleny

expressly agreed to the delay. See People v. Hampton, No. 2--08--0368, slip op. at 9 (September 18,

2009). Thus, the period from June 19, 2007, until trial was attributable to Zeleny and he was brought

to trial within 160 days. Accordingly, we affirm. Because we affirm on that basis, we do not address

whether Zeleny waived his speedy-trial demand when he did not appear in court on April 7, 2006.

                                        III. CONCLUSION

       Zeleny was brought to trial within 160 days. Accordingly, the judgment of the circuit court

of Kane County is affirmed.

       Affirmed.

       ZENOFF, P.J., and BOWMAN, J., concur.

                                                 -9-