Court Opinion

ID: 9725605
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 11:55:41.772433+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:12:14.478985
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE COUSINS, specially concurring in part and dissenting in part: On the one hand, I concur with the majority holding that both convictions and sentences for armed violence in the instant case violate the state constitutional provisions relative to proportionate penalties with respect to the crimes of aggravated vehicular hijacking and armed robbery. I agree that this issue is governed by Illinois Supreme Court’s Christy and Lewis decisions. People v. Christy, 139 Ill. 2d 172, 564 N.E.2d 770 (1990); People v. Lewis, 175 Ill. 2d 412 (1996). On the other hand, I do not concur with the majority holding that the trial court improperly based its sentences for the armed robbery and aggravated vehicular hijacking convictions in part on the armed violence convictions. There is no disagreement that the court, in imposing the sentence, stated inter alia: "The facts are not only aggravating, the evidence is overwhelming. The Illinois Armed Violence Statute since this was legislated effective January 1st, 1995, to require a minimum fifteen year sentence. That certainly is met with at least some controversy from some members of the bar. What I found the defendant guilty of is being armed with a category one weapon in the manner and form in the indictment. The legislature must have had an act in mind like Mr. Beard performed when they legislated the fifteen year minimum sentence for a person armed with a category one weapon, performed the conduct which was done by Mr. Beard. I personally find the facts very aggravating, the sentence of this court for aggravated vehicular hijacking is fifteen years Illinois Department of Corrections, for armed violence there is a concurrent sentence of fifteen years Illinois Department of Corrections, for armed robbery concurrent sentence of fifteen years Illinois Department of Corrections.” (Emphasis added.) Relative to the court’s statement, the majority writes: "The judge’s remarks reveal that he felt compelled to sentence the defendant to 15-year terms for the armed robbery and aggravated vehicular hijacking, despite the statutory guidelines permitting minimum sentences of between six and seven years, respectively.” 287 Ill. App. 3d at 939. I disagree with this interpretation of the trial court’s statement. In the instant case, the applicable statutory penalty range for armed robbery is 6 to 30 years’ imprisonment. 720 ILCS 5/18—2 (West 1994); 730 ILCS 5/5—8—1(a)(3) (West 1994). Also, the applicable statutory penalty range for aggravated vehicular hijacking is 7 to 30 years’ imprisonment. 720 ILCS 5/18—4 (West 1994); 730 ILCS 5/5—8—1(a)(3) (West 1994). The trial court stated "I personally find the facts very aggravating.” In my view, this comment is a predicate for a sentence in excess of a minimum statutory penalty. Further, other remarks by the court at the sentencing establish that the court considered mitigating as well as aggravating factors in imposing the sentence. In this regard, the court began at sentencing by stating: "Mr. Beard, you’re 20 years old, you showed little remorse for the actions that bring you before this court.” The court then recounted the actions and concluded with the words preceding and next to the sentence for aggravated vehicular hijacking, "I personally find the facts very aggravating.” These words, in particular, and other statements by the trial court, generally, are in derogation of a holding on appeal that the remarks of the trial court indicate a disregard for the statutory guidelines permitting minimum sentences of between six and seven years. Before reversing or vacating a sentence of a trial court it must be clearly evident that the sentence was improperly imposed. See People v. Ward, 113 Ill. 2d 516, 526, 499 N.E.2d 422 (1986). Accordingly, I dissent from the part of the holding on appeal vacating the aggravated vehicular hijacking and armed robbery sentences and remanding for resentencing.