Court Opinion

ID: 9523228
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 02:37:28.638165+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:04:44.092643
License: Public Domain

Mr. JUSTICE CRAVEN, dissenting: I dissent. In Williams, the IUinois Supreme Court again held that if the sentence provisions of a statute were more favorable to the defendant by reason of enactment during the time that the appeal was pending, the defendant is entitled to the benefit of the more favorable intervening statute. The opinion in Williams cites and relies upon and follows the cases of People v. Morgan (1974), 59 Ill. 2d 276, 319 N.E.2d 764; People ex rel. Weaver v. Longo (1974), 57 Ill. 2d 67, 309 N.E.2d 581; People v. Chupich (1973), 53 Ill. 2d 572, 295 N.E.2d 1; People v. Harvey, (1973), 53 Ill. 2d 585, 294 N.E.2d 689. The majority opinion in this case seeks to distinguish Williams, but the attempt is unsuccessful. In this case, the conduct of the defendant at the time of the conduct and at the time of the negotiated plea constituted involuntary manslaughter and was subject to a penalty of not less than 1 nor more than 10 years as a Class 3 felony. While the appeal was pending, Public Act 79-679, approved September 3,1975, effective October 1,1975, effectively changed the offense with which this case is concerned from involuntary manslaughter to reckless homicide and the penalty provision was changed and the penalty possibilities were those for a Class 4 felony with a penitentiary sentence of not less than 1 nor more than 3 years. The majority opinion somehow or other concludes that the defendant is not entitled to the change because of the change with reference to the substantive offense. There is a change as to the substantive offense but no matter how one construes the statutory language, the fact of the matter is the defendant in this case received a sentence of not less than 1 nor more than 10 years for conduct, the penalty for which is now not less than 1 nor more than 3 years, and he is denied the obvious benefit of such intervening favorable change. I would affirm the conviction and reduce the sentence.