Court Opinion

ID: 9405603
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-06-28 20:05:04.78169+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:20:23.136958
License: Public Domain

2023 IL App (1st) 210943-U
                                             No. 1-21-0943
                                       Order filed June 28, 2023
                                                                                         Third 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. 16 CR 16625
                                                                 )
 SERGIO BECERRA,                                                 )   Honorable
                                                                 )   Charles P. Burns,
           Defendant-Appellant.                                  )   Judge, presiding.

           JUSTICE BURKE delivered the judgment of the court.
           Justices Reyes and D.B. Walker concurred in the judgment.

                                               ORDER

¶1        Held: The circuit court’s summary dismissal of defendant’s postconviction petition is
                affirmed where defendant failed to present the gist of a constitutional claim that he
                did not understand the terms of his plea agreement or that his trial counsel
                misadvised him about the terms of his guilty plea.

¶2        Defendant Sergio Becerra appeals from an order of the circuit court of Cook County

summarily dismissing his pro se petition for relief filed under the Post-Conviction Hearing Act

(Act) (725 ILCS 5/122-1 et seq. (West 2020)). On appeal, defendant contends his petition stated
No. 1-21-0943

the gist of a constitutional claim that his guilty plea was not knowingly, intelligently, and

voluntarily made because he did not understand the terms of the plea agreement when he pled

guilty. Defendant also contends his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance because counsel

misadvised him that he was pleading guilty to one count and failed to explain he was pleading

guilty to two separate counts with consecutive sentences. For the reasons below, we affirm.

¶3     Defendant was charged with eight counts of attempted first degree murder and two counts

of aggravated battery for shooting and injuring Emmanuel Roa and Raul Negron with a firearm.

Six of the attempted first degree murder counts alleged defendant personally discharged a firearm

while committing the offense. Two counts alleged defendant caused great bodily harm to the

victims, and two counts alleged he caused them permanent disfigurement.

¶4     On November 20, 2018, trial counsel informed the court that he received an offer from the

State and that there was “a strong probability” defendant would accept the offer. Counsel requested

a continuance to “discuss the particulars with my client.” Counsel asked to return to court on

November 29 “for plea.”

¶5     On November 29, 2018, the prosecutor informed the court that the parties had reached an

agreement “on Count 9 and Count 10.” Defense counsel stated, “[t]hat’s correct.” The prosecutor

further stated, “it would be nine years on each count, it would be consecutive, for a total of 18 at

85%.” The following colloquy then occurred:

                “THE COURT: Mr. Becerra, Count 9 reads that on or about the date of September

       28th, 2016, you committed the offense of aggravated battery in that, in committing the

       battery, you knowingly discharged a firearm other than a machine gun or a firearm

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No. 1-21-0943

       equipped with a silencer, and you caused injury to Emmanuel Roa, that’s R-o-a, to wit, you

       shot Emmanuel Roa about the body.

                Count 10 reads aggravated battery also. The same date of September 28, 2016, that

       you, in committing a battery, knowingly discharged a firearm other than a machine gun or

       firearm equipped with a silencer, and you caused injury to Raul Nigron, to wit, you shot

       Raul Nigron about the body.

                Do you understand the charges against you, sir?

                THE DEFENDANT: Yes, your Honor.

                THE COURT: How do you plea on these charges, guilty or not guilty?

                THE DEFENDANT: Guilty.”

¶6     The court admonished defendant that by pleading guilty, he was giving up his right to a

jury trial and bench trial. Defendant confirmed he understood and had signed a jury waiver form.

The court further admonished defendant that he was giving up his rights to see and hear the

witnesses testify in court, to question the witnesses, to subpoena and call witnesses to testify at

trial, and to have the State prove the charges against him beyond a reasonable doubt. Defendant

confirmed he understood.

¶7     The trial court continued the admonishments, as follows:

                “THE COURT: These are Class X felonies where you’re looking at 6 to 30 years

       in the penitentiary. Because there’s multiple victims, they have to run consecutively, so

       essentially, you’re looking at 12 to 60 years in the penitentiary; be fined $25,000; and you’d

       be on a period of three years mandatory supervised release, commonly known as parole

       upon being discharged from the penitentiary in this matter.

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No. 1-21-0943

                Probation is not [a]n option because of the charge.

                Do you understand the range of sentencing possibilities you face right now, sir?

                THE DEFENDANT: Yes.

                THE COURT: Has there been any force, threats or promises to get you to plead

       guilty today?

                THE DEFENDANT: No.

                THE COURT: Are you pleading guilty of your own free will?

                THE DEFENDANT: Yes.

                THE COURT: Sir?

                THE DEFENDANT: Yes.

                THE COURT: How old are you?

                THE DEFENDANT: 19.

                THE COURT: How far did you go in school?

                THE DEFENDANT: I just recently graduated high school, in August.

                THE COURT: Did you have an occasion to talk to your attorney about your

       decision to plead guilty today?

                THE DEFENDANT: Yes.

                THE COURT: Are you satisfied with how your attorney has represented you?

                THE DEFENDANT: Yes, your Honor.”

¶8     The prosecutor informed the court that defendant was 17 years old at the time of the

offense. The prosecutor then provided the following factual basis for the plea:

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No. 1-21-0943

                “If this matter proceeded to trial, the State would call Emmanuel Roa and Raul

       Nigron who would testify and identify the Defendant in open court that on September 28th,

       2016, at approximately 11:51 p.m., near 4708 South Kedvale in Chicago, Mr. Roa and Mr.

       Nigron were at the Illinois Bar and Grill, and they stepped outside to smoke after eating

       and playing pool.

                As Mr. Nigron reached into - - inside the car to get out a cigarette, he observed the

       Defendant dressed in a black hooded sweatshirt fidgeting with his hands. Mr. Roa observed

       the Defendant darting up to the car and pull out a firearm, yell – and yelled to Mr. Nigron

       – Mr. Roa yelled to Mr. Nigron to get away.

                The Defendant pulled out a black handgun and pulled the trigger, shooting

       Emmanuel Roa in the face and Raul Nigron in the buttocks as Mr. Nigron ran away.

                Both police officers and ambulance arrived, both victims were transported to Mt.

       Sinai Hospital for treatment.

                The State would also present testimony from Detective Graves of the Chicago

       Police Department who would testify and identify the Defendant in open court that through

       their investigation, they learned that the shooter went by a name of KK and had a first name

       of Sergio.

                A photo array was put together and Emmanuel Roa positively identified the

       Defendant in the photo array at the hospital. The Defendant was subsequently placed into

       custody.”

¶9     Defense counsel stipulated to the factual basis. The trial court found defendant understood

the nature of the charges, possible penalties, and his rights. The court found the factual basis

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No. 1-21-0943

supported the plea and that defendant entered his plea freely, voluntarily, and intelligently. The

court found defendant guilty of “Count 9 and Count 10.”

¶ 10   When discussing defendant’s criminal history, defense counsel informed the court that

defendant previously pled guilty to a charge of unlawful use of a weapon but subsequently

rescinded the plea, and the charge was still pending before another judge. When the court asked

about the injuries to Roa and Negron, the two victims in this case, the prosecutor stated that Roa

suffered a “significant” gunshot wound to the face which passed through the bridge of his nose

and caused “permanent brain damage.” Negron had a bullet that remained lodged in his leg. The

prosecutor stated that she spoke with both victims about an offer in December 2017. The

prosecutor stated, and defense counsel agreed, that they had been “negotiating this case for a

while.” They also agreed the shooting was gang related.

¶ 11   Defendant confirmed he signed a waiver of a presentence investigation report. Defendant

told the court that he had “done a lot at juvenile.” Counsel explained that, while in custody,

defendant received his high school diploma and barber certificate.

¶ 12   The trial court sentenced defendant to nine years’ imprisonment “on each count.” The court

noted the sentences had to run consecutively, for an aggregated term of 18 years. The court

explicitly asked defendant if he had any questions about his sentence. Defendant replied, “[n]o,

your Honor.” The court advised defendant of his right to appeal, and that he would have to file a

motion to withdraw his guilty plea within 30 days prior to filing an appeal. The State nol-prossed

the remaining charges. The record further shows the State impounded physical evidence including

a firearm with a magazine and 2 bullets, a gun box, holster, gun lock, 2 empty magazines, 5 live

rounds, 11 fired cartridge cases, an expended shell casing, and a test-fired expended shell casing.

                                               -6-
No. 1-21-0943

¶ 13   On December 13, 2019, more than a year after his guilty plea hearing, defendant filed a

pro se motion to reduce his sentence. Defendant asserted his sentence should be reduced because

he was a juvenile at the time of the offense and his mind was not “fully functional” at that time.

Defendant stated that he had since improved as a person and citizen, graduated from high school,

and was enrolled in college classes.

¶ 14   The trial court found that it lacked jurisdiction to consider defendant’s untimely motion. In

addition, the court stated that defendant’s request was improper because the court could not

reconsider the sentence in light of rehabilitation achieved after being incarcerated. The court noted

defendant’s sentence was negotiated between the parties. Accordingly, the court denied

defendant's motion.

¶ 15   On March 10, 2021, defendant filed the instant pro se postconviction petition under the

Act. Therein, defendant alleged his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance because counsel

failed to contact and investigate one of the victims who never implicated defendant as the person

who shot him. Defendant claimed counsel was ineffective for allowing him to plead guilty to two

counts of aggravated battery when one of the victims told police he did not know who shot him.

Defendant argued that if counsel had investigated both victims’ statements, he would have noted

they were either “contradicting, conflicting or corroborating.” In addition, defendant claimed

counsel should have filed a motion to quash arrest and suppress evidence on one of the counts

because the victim did not know who shot him. Defendant stated that if counsel had been effective,

defendant would have gone to trial rather than pleading guilty, and there is a reasonable probability

he would not have been convicted of two counts of aggravated battery.

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No. 1-21-0943

¶ 16   Defendant also alleged that the two offenses occurred at the same time during a single

course of conduct and, therefore, under the one-act, one-crime rule, his sentences should have run

concurrently rather than consecutively. Defendant claimed his counsel was ineffective for not

making this argument in court.

¶ 17   Defendant attached to his petition his own affidavit in which he averred that, “prior to

accepting this plea deal,” he repeatedly asked counsel to investigate and contact the victim who

did not identify him as the shooter. Defendant claimed the victims’ statements were contradictory

because one victim identified him as the shooter but the other did not. Defendant further stated,

“[m]y attorney had told me that I was taking a plea deal to one count, now I see that it was two

counts that ran consecutive. Had I known this I would have never took a plea deal.” Defendant

claimed there was no reason for counsel to allow him to plead guilty “to this count in particular”

where counsel did not investigate all the evidence in the case.

¶ 18   The circuit court summarily dismissed defendant’s postconviction petition. The court

found that the record contradicted defendant’s claims that counsel was ineffective for failing to

investigate one of the victims and allowing defendant to plead guilty to two counts where one of

the victims did not identify him as the shooter. The court pointed out that the factual basis for the

guilty plea stated that both victims would testify at trial and identify defendant in court, thereby

implicating defendant as the gunman who shot them both. The court further stated that decisions

regarding whether to file motions to quash arrest and suppress evidence are matters of trial strategy

that do not support claims of ineffective assistance of counsel. Nevertheless, the evidence showed

defendant’s arrest was lawful. The court concluded that defendant failed to establish that there was

any deficiency in counsel’s advice.

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No. 1-21-0943

¶ 19    In addition, the court found that defendant’s claim regarding the one-act, one-crime

principle was incorrect. The court noted there were two victims in the case, each of whom was

severely injured. Therefore, defendant had to be convicted of two counts. The court concluded that

defendant’s allegations were frivolous and patently without merit and summarily dismissed his

postconviction petition.

¶ 20    On appeal, defendant contends his petition stated the gist of a constitutional claim that his

guilty plea was not knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily made because he did not understand

the terms of the plea agreement when he pled guilty, thereby violating his right to due process.

Defendant also contends his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance because counsel

misadvised him that he was pleading guilty to one count and failed to explain he was pleading

guilty to two separate counts with consecutive sentences.

¶ 21    The Act provides a three-stage process whereby a prisoner can file a petition asserting that

his conviction was the result of a substantial denial of his federal or state constitutional rights. 725

ILCS 5/122-1 (West 2020); People v. Knapp, 2020 IL 124992, ¶ 43. We review the circuit court’s

first stage summary dismissal of defendant’s postconviction petition de novo. People v. Hatter,

2021 IL 125981, ¶ 22. Under this standard, the reviewing court makes its own independent

assessment of the allegations and is “ ‘free to substitute its own judgment for that of the circuit

court to formulate the legally correct answer.’ ” People v. Edwards, 197 Ill. 2d 239, 247 (2001)

(quoting People v. Coleman, 183 Ill. 2d 366, 388 (1998)).

¶ 22    Our supreme court has held that a postconviction petition may be summarily dismissed as

frivolous or patently without merit only if it has “no arguable basis either in law or in fact.” People

v. Hodges, 234 Ill. 2d 1, 16 (2009). A petition lacks an arguable basis when it is based on fanciful

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No. 1-21-0943

factual allegations or an indisputably meritless legal theory, such as a theory that is completely

contradicted by the record. Id. At the summary dismissal stage, all well-pled allegations in the

petition must be taken as true unless they are contradicted by the record. Coleman, 183 Ill. 2d at

381-82. A postconviction proceeding is not a substitute for a direct appeal but, instead, is a

collateral attack upon the conviction that allows only limited review of constitutional claims that

could not be raised on direct appeal. People v. Tate, 2012 IL 112214, ¶ 8.

¶ 23   Defendant first contends his petition presented the gist of a claim that his guilty plea was

not knowing and voluntary because he did not know he was pleading guilty to two counts and that

the sentences would run consecutively. Defendant acknowledges that, in his postconviction

petition, he framed the allegation as a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. He argues,

however, that the facts in his petition also support a claim that he did not understand the terms of

the plea agreement before he entered his guilty plea.

¶ 24   Defendant raises three points in support of this argument. First, defendant argues he was

19 years old at the time of his plea and unfamiliar with the court system. He had no prior experience

in adult criminal court and his only experience in juvenile court was a rescinded guilty plea.

Defendant points out that in his 2019 motion to reduce sentence, he explained that his mind was

not “fully functional” at the time of the offense due to being a juvenile. He claims that explanation

supports his allegation here that he did not understand the terms of the plea agreement.

¶ 25   Second, defendant claims the trial court violated Illinois Supreme Court Rule 402(b) (eff.

July 1, 2012) when it failed to confirm the terms of the plea agreement “personally” with him in

open court. Defendant argues that the court failed to explain the terms of the agreement and failed

to confirm those terms by questioning him before accepting his guilty plea. Defendant states that

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No. 1-21-0943

he is not challenging the trial court’s admonishments but, instead, is arguing that the court’s failure

to comply with Rule 402 shows his guilty plea was not knowingly and voluntarily made.

¶ 26   Third, defendant argues that, even if the trial court partially complied with Rule 402, the

admonishments used “legal terms” that he “may not have understood” due to his inexperience, and

because his agreement was based on what defense counsel had explained to him. Defendant has

not identified the “legal terms” he “may not have understood.”

¶ 27   Finally, defendant argues his “serious allegation” warrants the appointment of counsel

because he has not yet had the opportunity to have counsel assist him with raising his challenge to

the knowing and voluntary nature of his guilty plea. Defendant asserts: (1) the trial court failed to

adequately admonish him about his right to have counsel assist him with drafting a motion to

vacate his guilty plea; (2) he never filed a direct appeal and, thus, did not have counsel to argue he

was not properly admonished of his right to have counsel assist him with a motion to vacate his

plea; and (3) he filed his postconviction petition pro se and the circuit court summarily dismissed

it without appointing him counsel.

¶ 28   The State responds that defendant’s allegation that he did not understand the terms of the

plea agreement is rebutted by the record which clearly shows defendant agreed to plead guilty to

two counts of aggravated battery in exchange for consecutive prison sentences of 9 years, for a

total of 18 years’ imprisonment to be served at 85%. The State argues that defendant responded to

all the trial court’s questions, agreed that he understood the terms of the agreement, and did not

ask for clarification even when the court gave him opportunities to do so. The State further argues:

(1) that defendant’s age and lack of court experience did not render his plea involuntary; (2) the

record shows the trial court substantially complied with Rule 402(b); and (3) defendant failed to

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No. 1-21-0943

cite any precedent that his status as a layman undermined his understanding of the principles that

were conveyed to him.

¶ 29    Under our de novo review, this court must first determine whether defendant’s allegation

that he did not understand the terms of the plea agreement, based on his three arguments above,

was raised in his pro se postconviction petition or whether he is raising it for the first time on

appeal and, thus, it is waived. The Act dictates that defendant’s postconviction petition must

“clearly set forth the respects in which petitioner’s constitutional rights were violated.” 725 ILCS

5/122-2 (West 2020). “Any claim of substantial denial of constitutional rights not raised in the

original or an amended petition is waived.” 725 ILCS 5/122-3 (West 2020). It is well-established

that defendant is precluded from raising an issue on appeal that was not alleged in the

postconviction petition he filed in the circuit court. People v. Jones, 213 Ill. 2d 498, 505 (2004).

¶ 30    The question on appeal from the dismissal of a postconviction petition is whether the

allegations in the petition, when liberally construed and taken as true, are sufficient to invoke relief

under the Act. Id. The allegations, although limited in detail and liberally construed, “must

nevertheless clearly set forth the respects in which petitioner’s constitutional rights were violated.”

(Emphases in original.) People v. Reed, 2014 IL App (1st) 122610, ¶ 57 (2014). This court may

not excuse an appellate waiver caused by defendant’s failure to include issues in his postconviction

petition. Jones, 213 Ill. 2d at 508; Reed, 2014 IL App (1st) 122610, ¶ 43.

¶ 31    Here, when liberally construed, we find that defendant’s pro se postconviction petition did

not raise an allegation that his guilty plea was not knowingly and voluntarily made because he did

not understand the terms of the plea agreement. Defendant did not allege any facts in his petition

regarding his age or his lack of familiarity and experience with the court system. Defendant did

                                                 - 12 -
No. 1-21-0943

not state that his mind was not “fully functional” at the time of the offense due to being a juvenile.

Defendant raised that claim in his 2019 motion to reduce sentence. He did not raise it in the instant

postconviction petition.

¶ 32   Nor did defendant raise any facts in his petition regarding the trial court’s admonishments

at the plea hearing. Defendant made no allegation that the court failed to comply with Rule 402,

or that it erred in any other manner during the plea hearing. Similarly, defendant’s petition did not

state any claim that the court used legal terms he did not understand. Defendant’s assertion on

appeal that he “may not have understood” some unidentified legal terminology is vague and

speculative.

¶ 33   We therefore conclude that defendant failed to raise an allegation in his postconviction

petition that he did not understand the terms of the plea agreement. Defendant has raised this issue

for the first time on appeal. Accordingly, the issue is waived, and this court is precluded from

considering it. Jones, 213 Ill. 2d at 508.

¶ 34   Defendant next contends his pro se postconviction petition raised the gist of a claim that

his guilty plea was not knowingly and intelligently made because his trial counsel gave him

erroneous advice about the terms of the plea agreement, thereby rendering ineffective assistance.

Defendant claims counsel misadvised him that he was pleading guilty to one count and failed to

explain he was pleading guilty to two separate counts with consecutive sentences. Defendant

acknowledges the trial court admonished him about the charges. He argues, however, that the

record does not clearly show whether he thought he was pleading guilty to only one count, or

whether he understood that the court’s admonishments “in legalese” were different from what

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No. 1-21-0943

counsel had told him. Defendant argues he was prejudiced by counsel’s erroneous advice because

he would not have accepted the plea offer if he knew it was for two counts that ran consecutively.

¶ 35   The State responds that defendant’s claim is rebutted by the record which shows defendant

was present in court when the prosecutor and trial counsel informed the court that the parties had

reached a plea agreement for two counts with 9 years for each count, to be served consecutively,

for a total of 18 years’ imprisonment. The State points out that defendant confirmed for the court

that he had discussed his decision to plead guilty with counsel and was satisfied with counsel’s

representation. The State further argues that defendant’s conclusory statement that he would not

have pled guilty is insufficient to establish prejudice. Instead, defendant was required to show that

a decision to reject the plea offer would have been rational under the circumstances, which he

failed to do. The State asserts that, if there had been a trial, both victims would have testified

defendant shot them and, if convicted, defendant faced significantly higher sentences between 21

years and life imprisonment for each count. The State argues that defendant received a windfall by

pleading guilty to the least serious offenses and receiving sentences at the low end of the range.

¶ 36   Claims of ineffective assistance of counsel are evaluated under the two-prong test set forth

by the United States Supreme Court in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). People v.

Veach, 2017 IL 120649, ¶ 29. To support a claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel,

defendant must demonstrate that counsel’s representation was deficient, and as a result, he suffered

prejudice that deprived him of a fair proceeding. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687. Specifically,

defendant must show that counsel’s performance was objectively unreasonable and that there is a

reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s deficient performance, the outcome of the proceeding

would have been different. Veach, 2017 IL 120649, ¶ 30. However, at the first stage of

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No. 1-21-0943

postconviction proceedings, allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel are judged by a lower

pleading standard, and a petition raising such claims may not be summarily dismissed if it is

arguable that counsel’s performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness, and it is

arguable that defendant was prejudiced. Tate, 2012 IL 112214, ¶¶ 19-20.

¶ 37   We note that, in his postconviction petition, defendant alleged counsel was ineffective

because counsel failed to investigate one of the victims who could not identify him as the shooter,

and counsel failed to argue that the two counts of aggravated battery with consecutive sentences

should have been one count with one sentence under the one-act, one-crime doctrine because both

counts were based on the same physical act. Defendant has abandoned those claims on appeal and,

instead, now claims counsel misadvised him about the terms of the plea agreement. For factual

support of his argument, defendant relies on two sentences in his affidavit attached to his petition

where he stated, “[m]y attorney had told me that I was taking a plea deal to one count, now I see

that it was two counts that ran consecutive. Had I known this I would have never took a plea deal.”

¶ 38   However, defendant contradicted this statement elsewhere in his petition. In his one-act,

one-crime argument, defendant stated,

       “I asked my counsel to see if he can get both counts ran concurrent due to the fact that the

       evidence supports one conviction instead of two. But counsel never attemted [sic] to secure

       less time. Counsel has a duty to assist me, by him failing to attempt to secure less time

       renders him ineffective.”

¶ 39   Defendant’s petition therefore establishes that counsel told him that the plea agreement

was for two counts and that the sentences would run consecutively. Defendant claimed in his

petition that he specifically asked counsel to try to have the sentences run concurrently, but counsel

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No. 1-21-0943

never attempted to do so and, thus, was ineffective. Because defendant contradicted himself within

his petition, his claim that counsel misadvised him of the terms of the plea agreement is frivolous

as it has no arguable basis in law or in fact. Hodges, 234 Ill. 2d at 16. Consequently, defendant has

not presented an arguable claim that counsel provided ineffective assistance which caused his

guilty plea to be unknowingly and involuntarily made. Tate, 2012 IL 112214, ¶¶ 19-20.

¶ 40   In addition, the record shows that, at the plea hearing, the trial court clearly explained the

two separate counts to defendant as “Count 9” for committing the offense of aggravated battery

by shooting and injuring Emmanuel Roa, and “Count 10” for aggravated battery for shooting and

injuring Raul Negron. Defendant confirmed he understood the charges against him. The court then

asked defendant, “[h]ow do you plea on these charges, guilty or not guilty?” Defendant answered,

“[g]uilty.” Shortly thereafter, defendant confirmed with the court that he had discussed his decision

to plead guilty with counsel, and that he was satisfied with counsel’s representation. Hence, the

record also contradicts defendant’s claim that he did not know he was pleading guilty to two

separate counts of aggravated battery.

¶ 41   For these reasons, we conclude that defendant’s pro se postconviction petition failed to

present the gist of a constitutional claim that his guilty plea violated due process because it was

not knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily made. The allegations in defendant’s petition had no

arguable basis in law or in fact. Accordingly, the circuit court’s summary dismissal of defendant’s

postconviction petition was proper.

¶ 42   We therefore affirm the judgment of the circuit court of Cook County summarily

dismissing defendant’s pro se postconviction petition.

¶ 43   Affirmed.

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