Court Opinion

ID: 6497996
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-05 21:03:00.784144+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:51:36.384806
License: Public Domain

NOTICE
                                     2022 IL App (4th) 200671-U                          FILED
This Order was filed under                                                              July 5, 2022
Supreme Court Rule 23 and is
                                            NO. 4-20-0671                              Carla Bender
not precedent except in the
limited circumstances allowed                                                      4th District Appellate
under Rule 23(e)(1).                                                                     Court, IL
                                    IN THE APPELLATE COURT

                                            OF ILLINOIS

                                        FOURTH DISTRICT

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,                          )     Appeal from
             Plaintiff-Appellee,                                )     Circuit Court of
             v.                                                 )     McLean County
  ROBERT ALLIN DAVIS JR.,                                       )     No. 17CF746
             Defendant-Appellant.                               )
                                                                )     Honorable
                                                                )     William A. Yoder,
                                                                )     Judge Presiding.

                  JUSTICE HOLDER WHITE delivered the judgment of the court.
                  Justices Cavanagh and Steigmann concurred in the judgment.

                                               ORDER

 ¶1       Held: The appellate court affirmed, concluding the trial court did not abuse its discretion
                when it resentenced defendant to four years in prison for obstructing justice
                following the revocation of his probation.

 ¶2               Defendant, Robert Allin Davis Jr., appeals from the McLean County circuit

 court’s judgment sentencing him to four years in prison for obstructing justice (720 ILCS

 5/31-4(a)(1) (2016)). On appeal, defendant argues the trial court abused its discretion when it

 resentenced him to four years in prison based on his conduct while on probation rather than for

 obstructing justice. The State argues the trial court did not abuse its discretion and its sentence

 was proper. We affirm.

 ¶3                                      I. BACKGROUND

 ¶4                             A. Charges and Revocation of Probation
¶5             In July 2017, the State charged defendant by information with obstructing justice,

a Class 4 felony. Id. § 31-4(b)(1). The information alleged defendant “knowingly concealed

physical evidence by refusing to cooperate with the execution of a search warrant for the seizure

of the blood of *** defendant, pulling his arm away from Samantha Sholtis and refusing to allow

the collection of a blood sample with intent to obstruct the prosecution of *** defendant.”

Defendant was also charged with driving under the influence (DUI) in McLean County case No.

17-DT-380 based on allegations arising from the same incident. In July 2017, defendant’s

obstructing justice charge was superseded by indictment.

¶6             In May 2019, defendant entered into a negotiated plea agreement with the State.

In exchange for defendant’s plea of guilty to obstructing justice and DUI, the State agreed to a

sentence of 24 months’ probation. Defendant stipulated to the factual basis presented by the

State, and the trial court accepted defendant’s plea as knowing and voluntary.

¶7             In December 2019, the State filed a petition to revoke defendant’s probation,

alleging he violated the conditions of his probation when he (1) was charged with driving while

his license was revoked, reckless conduct, and criminal damage to property in June and July

2019 and (2) failed to report to his probation officer (PO) from June to November 2019. In

March 2020, defendant admitted the latter allegation. In exchange for his admission, the State

agreed to recommend defendant be resentenced to 90 days in the McLean County jail, after

which he would remain on probation as ordered in his original plea agreement with the State.

¶8             In June 2020, the State filed a second petition to revoke defendant’s probation,

alleging defendant violated the conditions of his probation when he failed to (1) report to his PO

from April to May 2020, (2) provide his PO with proof of his residence and employment, and

(3) undergo a drug and alcohol assessment as directed by his PO. In August 2020, defendant

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admitted the first and third of the aforementioned allegations in the State’s petition with no

agreement as to sentencing, and the trial court ordered the preparation of a presentence

investigation report (PSI).

¶9             In October 2020, the PSI was filed. Relevant to the arguments presented on

appeal, the PSI included information regarding the following: (1) defendant’s criminal history,

(2) defendant’s multiple failures to comply with the terms of his sentences to conditional

discharge and probation in the past, and (3) twelve lines of text regarding the facts of the

obstructing justice offense charged in this case. The PSI further stated defendant did not

cooperate in the preparation of the report. At the conclusion of the report, under the heading

“Investigator’s Summary,” the author stated as follows:

                       “These two cases make the defendant’s fourth probation disposition as an

               adult, with the three prior probation events all having ended in unsuccessful

               terminations. During this current term of probation the defendant has failed to

               report as directed, failed to provide verification for having completed the required

               DUI evaluation and treatment, failed to keep the probation department informed

               of his current residence and employment, has new criminal offenses pending, has

               pending warrants for failure to appear for Court, and has provided nothing to

               reasonably conclude future compliance with the terms of probation. It is the

               opinion of this officer that the defendant is still a threat to both the community

               and himself, and continued probation would deprecate the seriousness of these

               offenses. This officer recommends revocation from probation and [a] sentence to

               the Illinois Department of Corrections.”

¶ 10                                  B. Sentencing Hearing

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¶ 11           Defendant’s case proceeded to a sentencing hearing in November 2020.

¶ 12           As evidence in aggravation, the State read aloud the probable cause statement

related to the obstructing justice charge, which stated there were two young children in

defendant’s vehicle when defendant was arrested for DUI, a charge to which he later pleaded

guilty. Further, after officers conducted field sobriety tests during the traffic stop, defendant

refused to provide a urine sample. Officers then obtained a search warrant to collect defendant’s

urine and blood samples, and he was brought to OSF Health Center. Upon nurse Sholtis’s

attempt to prepare defendant’s arm for a blood draw, defendant “violently jerked his arm away”

and shouted, “ ‘I am not f*** giving you s***.’ ”

¶ 13           During argument, the State recommended defendant be sentenced to four years in

prison, noting defendant was eligible for extended-term sentencing. The State based its

recommendation on the facts that defendant failed to (1) participate in the preparation of the PSI,

(2) report to his probation officer, (3) attend treatment, and (4) refrain from committing crimes

while on probation. The State further highlighted defendant’s criminal history, including his

unsuccessful discharges from conditional supervision, probation, and parole. Finally, the State

argued,

                       “The defendant has left us with no other alternatives at this point that if

               he’s not going to comply with probation, then another community-based sentence

               would absolutely deprecate the seriousness of the offense. It’s a DUI with kids in

               the car and then he’s refusing to provide a breath sample and after he’s had

               numerous criminal priors before and he’s not doing his alcohol treatment, so he’s

               still absolutely a threat.”

                                                 -4-
¶ 14           Defense counsel argued for a sentence of 364 days in the county jail. Defense

counsel emphasized that the DUI offense leading to his obstructing justice charge involved a

relatively low blood alcohol content (BAC) and his offense did not cause or threaten serious

harm to anyone. Further, defendant had maintained employment and had obtained suitable

housing for his children. Additionally, defendant was attempting to secure custody of his

youngest child, whose mother had recently died, and attended parenting time with his older

child. Defendant argued a 364-day sentence would prevent him from losing his housing and

allow him to care for his children. Defendant also made a statement in allocution, acknowledging

he made mistakes and requesting lenience based on his stable housing, employment, and desire

to be present for his children.

¶ 15           The trial court sentenced defendant to four years in prison. In pronouncing its

sentence, the court stated it considered the PSI, exhibits, evidence in aggravation and mitigation,

arguments of the parties, defendant’s statement in allocution, and the statutory factors in

aggravation and mitigation. The court concluded based on defendant’s history, the likelihood he

would successfully complete a community-based sentence was “almost non-existent.” The court

further highlighted defendant’s history “of criminal offenses, drug abuse, substance abuse,

violent offenses, violent allegations, the lack of any evidence that he at any point intended to

comply with the terms of his probation,” and the fact “[t]his was a second petition to revoke

probation after having been resentenced on the first.” The court further found that in reading the

PSI, it “stung how little regard the defendant had for even trying to comply with the terms of the

probation or comply with the law.” Ultimately, the court concluded a community-based sentence

would deprecate the seriousness of the offense and be inconsistent with the ends of justice.

                                                -5-
¶ 16            Defendant filed a motion to reconsider his sentence, arguing it was excessive. The

trial court denied the motion, concluding the sentence was appropriate based on defendant’s

“lack of compliance on probation, *** considering all of those factors, all of the evidence

presented, and all of the sentencing factors that the Court is supposed to consider.”

¶ 17            This appeal followed.

¶ 18                                       II. ANALYSIS

¶ 19            On appeal, defendant argues the trial court abused its discretion when it sentenced

him to four years in prison based on his conduct while on probation rather than his obstructing

justice conviction. The State argues the trial court’s sentence did not constitute an abuse of

discretion. We agree with the State and affirm the trial court’s judgment.

¶ 20                                     A. Applicable Law

¶ 21            We first note that on appeal defendant acknowledges he forfeited any claim his

sentence was improper when he failed to (1) object at the sentencing hearing and (2) raise the

issue in his postsentencing motion. See Ill. S. Ct. R. 615(a) (eff. Jan. 1, 1967). Accordingly, he

asks us to review the issue for plain error.

¶ 22            Under the plain-error doctrine, this court may consider a forfeited claim when

“(1) a clear or obvious error occurred and the evidence is so closely balanced that the error alone

threatened to tip the scales of justice against the defendant, regardless of the seriousness of the

error, or (2) a clear or obvious error occurred and that error is so serious that it affected the

fairness of the defendant’s trial and challenged the integrity of the judicial process, regardless of

the closeness of the evidence.” People v. Piatkowski, 225 Ill. 2d 551, 565 (2007); see Ill. S. Ct.

R. 615(a) (eff. Jan. 1, 1967). The first step in a plain error analysis is determining whether an

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error occurred at all. People v. Thompson, 238 Ill. 2d 598, 613 (2010). Defendant bears the

burden of persuasion in plain-error review. People v. Eppinger, 2013 IL 114121, ¶ 19.

¶ 23           “ ‘The Illinois Constitution provides penalties are to be determined both

according to the seriousness of the offense and with the objective of restoring the offender to

useful citizenship.’ ” People v. Pina, 2019 IL App (4th) 170614, ¶ 18 (quoting People v. Daly,

2014 IL App (4th) 140624, ¶ 26, and citing Ill. Const. 1970, art. I, § 11). “ ‘This constitutional

mandate calls for balancing the retributive and rehabilitative purposes of punishment, and the

process requires careful consideration of all factors in aggravation and mitigation.’ ” Id. (quoting

Daly, 2014 IL App (4th) 140624, ¶ 26).

¶ 24           Generally, the trial court has broad discretion in sentencing a criminal defendant,

and this court will not reverse a sentence absent an abuse of discretion. See People v. McGuire,

2017 IL App (4th) 150695, ¶ 38. “ ‘A sentence within the statutory limits will not be deemed

excessive unless it is greatly at variance with the spirit and purpose of the law or manifestly

disproportionate to the nature of the offense.’ ” Id. (quoting People v. Higgins, 2016 IL App (3d)

140112, ¶ 29, and citing People v. Fern, 189 Ill. 2d 48, 54 (1999)).

¶ 25           In Pina, 2019 IL App (4th) 170614, ¶ 30, this court explained the process of

resentencing a criminal defendant following the termination of probation as follows:

                       “Upon revocation of a defendant’s probation, the trial court resentences

               the defendant to a disposition that would have been appropriate for the original

               offense. [Citation.] Although the sentence imposed after revocation of probation

               may not constitute punishment for conduct which was the basis of revocation, the

               defendant’s conduct on probation is to be considered by the trial court in

               assessing the defendant’s potential for rehabilitation ***. [Citation.] [I]t is

                                                -7-
               appropriate for a defendant who conducts himself poorly while on probation to

               receive a more severe sentence than he originally received. [Citation.] Also, a

               sentence imposed after probation is revoked may differ from the sentence which

               could have been imposed had probation not been granted. [Citation.]” (Internal

               quotation marks omitted.)

To determine whether the trial court improperly punished a defendant for his conduct while on

probation, this court considers whether the record “clearly show[s] that the [trial] court

considered the original offense.” People v. Hess, 241 Ill. App. 3d 276, 284 (1993). “To make that

determination, reviewing courts may consider the remarks of the trial court during sentencing.”

People v. Varghese, 391 Ill. App. 3d 866, 876 (2009).

¶ 26                                       B. This Case

¶ 27           Here, we find no clear or obvious error occurred. Although defendant

acknowledges his four-year sentence was within the extended-term sentencing range for

obstructing justice, a Class 4 felony (see 720 ILCS 5/31-4(b)(1) (West 2016); 730 ILCS

5/5-4.5-45(a) (West 2016); id. § 5-5-3.2(b)(1)), he nonetheless contends the trial court’s sentence

constituted an abuse of discretion based on its comments regarding defendant’s conduct while on

probation. We disagree.

¶ 28           Specifically, the record “clearly show[s] the court considered the original offense”

given the court noted it considered the PSI, evidence presented in mitigation and aggravation,

and the arguments of the parties—all of which included the details of defendant’s conviction for

obstructing justice. Here, the State read into the record the probable cause statement, which

described the circumstances of defendant’s DUI (including the fact that children were in the car)

and defendant’s refusal to provide a blood sample, which led to the charges in this case.

                                                -8-
Additionally, defense counsel noted defendant’s DUI involved a relatively low BAC and argued

his behavior during the refusal did not threaten serious harm. We reject defendant’s contention

the author of the PSI stated “next to nothing” about the facts of the obstructing justice charge.

Our review of the PSI shows the author included sufficient detail to apprise the trial court of the

nature and circumstances of the offense. Additionally, because defendant refused to participate in

the preparation of the PSI, which the trial court later allowed defendant to amend, any challenge

to the information contained therein is not well-taken.

¶ 29           Moreover, the court’s comments regarding defendant’s conduct while on

probation were entirely proper given its duty to consider how that conduct related to defendant’s

rehabilitative potential. See Pina, 2019 IL App (4th) 170614, ¶ 30; Ill. Const. 1970, art. I, § 11.

When read in context, the court’s references to defendant’s failure to comply with probation

spoke to its consideration of whether he was likely to comply with the terms of a

community-based sentenced—a factor the court was required to consider in mitigation but

ultimately found did not apply in this case. See 730 ILCS 5/5-5-3.1(a)(10) (West 2016)

(requiring the court to consider whether the defendant is “particularly likely to comply with the

terms of a period of probation”). Although we acknowledge the trial court said little about the

obstructing justice and DUI charges, we agree with the State that “[t]he court referenced

defendant’s conduct on probation in the broader context of considering what sentence would

serve to rehabilitate defendant.”

¶ 30           Here, because we find no clear or obvious error occurred, we need not proceed

further in our plain error analysis and affirm the trial court’s judgment. See Pina, 2019 IL App

(4th) 170614, ¶ 29.

¶ 31                                    III. CONCLUSION

                                                -9-
¶ 32   For the reasons stated, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.

¶ 33   Affirmed.

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