Court Opinion

ID: 5130787
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-12-01 21:05:44.583702+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:23:20.298153
License: Public Domain

2021 IL App (2d) 200496-U
                                         No. 2-20-0496
                                Order filed November 30, 2021

      NOTICE: This order was filed under Supreme Court Rule 23(b) and is not precedent
      except in the limited circumstances allowed under Rule 23(e)(1).
______________________________________________________________________________

                                            IN THE

                             APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS

                              SECOND DISTRICT
______________________________________________________________________________

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE                ) Appeal from the Circuit Court
OF ILLINOIS,                           ) of Winnebago County.
                                       )
      Plaintiff-Appellee,              )
                                       )
v.                                     ) No. 15-CF-881
                                       )       15-CF-882
                                       )       15-CF-883
                                       )
CHARLES S. DeHAAN,                     ) Honorable
                                       ) John S. Lowry,
      Defendant-Appellant.             ) Judge, Presiding.
______________________________________________________________________________

       JUSTICE BRENNAN delivered the judgment of the court.
       Justices Hutchinson and Birkett concurred in the judgment.

                                           ORDER

¶1     Held: Consecutive sentences were not an abuse of discretion where the record supported
             the trial court’s finding that such sentences were necessary to protect the public
             from defendant, a physician, who sexually abused multiple elderly and disabled
             patients. The cause was remanded for the trial court to exercise its discretion to
             decide whether the sentences should be concurrent or consecutive to a federal
             sentence that defendant was serving when sentenced on the state charges.

¶2     Defendant, Charles S. DeHaan, appeals his consecutive sentences for three counts of

aggravated battery (720 ILCS 5/12-3.05(d)(2) (West 2012)). When defendant was sentenced on

these convictions, he was serving a federal prison sentence. He contends that (1) the trial court
2021 IL App (2d) 200496-U

abused its discretion by running his aggravated-battery sentences consecutively to one another,

and (2) his counsel was ineffective for agreeing that the state sentences must run consecutively to

the federal sentence. We affirm the imposition of consecutive sentences on the state convictions.

However, we vacate that part of the sentencing order requiring the state sentences to run

consecutively to the federal sentence. We remand for the trial court to determine whether the state

sentences should be consecutive or concurrent to the federal sentence.

¶3                                     I. BACKGROUND

¶4     On April 15, 2015, defendant, a medical doctor, was charged with four counts of

aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a physically handicapped person (id. § 11-1.60(a)(4)) and four

counts of criminal sexual abuse (id. § 11-1.50(a)(2)). In August 2018, he was charged with three

counts of aggravated battery. The latter counts alleged that defendant knowingly made contact of

an insulting or provoking nature by touching the breasts of L.F.S., S.P.P., and S.L.L., knowing that

L.F.S. was handicapped and that S.P.P. and S.L.L. were over 60 years old.

¶5     In August 2018, defendant pleaded guilty to the aggravated battery charges, and the other

charges were dismissed. The factual basis for the plea showed that the victims were defendant’s

patients. L.F.S. was a disabled woman who reported that defendant had touched her breast. S.P.P.

and S.L.L. each resided in an assisted living facility and reported that defendant touched their

breasts without permission. At the time of the plea, defendant was serving a nine-year federal

sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of Medicare fraud. The State told the court that any

sentence imposed in the state case will be “mandatory consecutive” to the federal sentence, per the

federal trial court’s order. Defense counsel did not object. Sentencing was delayed until June

2019 because defendant suffered a stroke.

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¶6     Sentencing in the federal case had taken place in April 2017. The trial court sentenced

defendant based only on the fraud charges, leaving it to the state court to determine the sexual

misconduct charges. The federal court specifically stated:

              “As the disposition in this case will be separated from the dispositions in the

       pending state criminal cases, the court finds that it is appropriate under the authority set

       forth in the Supreme Court’s opinion of Setser vs. United States, 566 U.S. 231 [(2012)], to

       order that the sentence imposed in this case will run consecutively with any sentence that

       may later be imposed in the state court for any of the pending criminal charges relating to

       the sexual misconduct.

              So the sexual misconduct will be litigated in the state court. He will be assigned a

       punishment for those charges. This case is separate. He will be assigned punishment for

       the Medicare fraud, but the punishment won’t be concurrent. He won't be serving any

       prison sentence or jail sentence at the same time for both charges.

              Under the framework that I am using, the sentence that is imposed in this case will

       have no bearing on the sentence that will [be] imposed in the state court in the event the

       defendant is convicted of one or more of the pending charges. By ordering my sentence to

       be consecutive to any subsequent state court sentence, the court is taking into account the

       fact that the guideline range in this case does not punish the defendant in any way for the

       alleged sexual misconduct as the government argues in its motion, but it also allows for

       those charges to be fully litigated before a determination is made on what sentence will be

       most appropriate based on the sexual misconduct.”

¶7     At the June 2019 sentencing in the state case, the State again asserted that the federal court

ordered that any state sentences would be consecutive to the federal sentence. The trial court

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stated, “[T]hat’s my understanding, as well,” and asked, “Defense agrees?” Defense counsel

answered, “Yes.”

¶8        In support of its recommended sentence, the State submitted transcripts of the victims’

testimony in the federal case, their police statements, and their victim impact statements. S.L.L.

wrote in her impact statement that defendant came to her apartment at an assisted living center to

fit her for a power wheelchair. Defendant sexually abused her and asked her to perform sex acts.

Defendant told her that, if she told anyone, no one would believe her. After she moved to other

locations, she found that defendant was the physician for those places. She refused to see him and

moved to a private apartment. She provided similar testimony in the federal case. In her police

statement, she wrote that defendant wore scrubs but no underwear and that his penis was visible

through his scrubs. She wrote that defendant fondled her legs, buttocks, and breasts and then

exposed himself to her.

¶9        L.F.S. wrote in her impact statement that defendant provided poor medical care and that he

“played with [her] breast every month” in her apartment. In federal court, she testified that, during

every visit, defendant “[p]layed with [her] breast” and had her “shak[e]” his penis. In her police

statement, she wrote that defendant fondled her breasts, exposed himself, and asked her to rub his

penis. He would also masturbate and put his semen in a bag, which he would then put in his

pocket.

¶ 10      S.P.P. wrote in her police statement that defendant fondled her breasts. She wrote in her

impact statement about the psychological difficulties she faced after being a victim.

¶ 11      The State presented evidence that defendant sexually abused other elderly or disabled

patients. Some of these victims testified in the federal case. For instance, J.S., who was 63 and

disabled, testified in a deposition for the federal case that defendant sexually abused her every

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three to four weeks over three years, and he made visits that were not medically scheduled. On

one occasion, defendant came to examine her after she reported having a vaginal cyst. Defendant

did not wear gloves and refused to remove his finger from her vagina when she complained of

pain. He then masturbated in front of her. He was not wearing underwear under his medical

scrubs. Defendant wiped his semen down her mouth and told her, “ ‘That’s my love for you.’ ”

¶ 12   J.S. testified to multiple other acts of sexual abuse. Defendant would place his ear on her

chest rather than use a stethoscope, fondle her breasts under the guise of a breast exam, lick or bite

her breasts, masturbate in front of her, and force her to assist him while masturbating. On one

occasion, defendant tied his penis up against his abdomen using his scrub ties and asked J.S.,

“Aren’t I clever?” J.S. also testified that defendant would call her on the phone and “talk dirty.”

When J.S. hung up, defendant would call back repeatedly until she unhooked her phone line.

Defendant repeatedly threatened J.S. not to tell anyone, stating that no one would believe her.

¶ 13   The State presented police statements from three other women alleging that defendant

sexually abused them.      The State also submitted documents relating to the suspension of

defendant’s medical license. These documents contained allegations of sexual abuse from multiple

victims. Defendant was convicted in the federal case after submitting billing for over 400 patients

that he never saw, some of whom were deceased when he claimed to have visited them. While on

home confinement awaiting sentencing in the federal case, defendant left his home 67 times,

claiming that he was performing public service at a church. That service could not be confirmed;

defendant apparently forged a church member’s name on a volunteer form. Defendant’s bond in

the federal case was later revoked.

¶ 14   Defendant presented letters in support of his good character and gave a statement in

allocution. Defendant accepted responsibility for his crimes and apologized to his victims and his

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family. He also spoke about his health following his stroke. Defense counsel asked for probation

or, alternatively, that any sentences of incarceration be made concurrent.

¶ 15   The trial court discussed the mitigating and aggravating circumstances at length and

sentenced defendant to three years’ incarceration on each count, with the sentences to be served

consecutively. The court cited section 5-8-4(c)(1) of the Unified Code of Corrections (Code) (730

ILCS 5/5-8-4(c)(1) (West 2018)) and explained the basis for its decision, stating first that

defendant preyed upon highly vulnerable victims who depended on home medical care. Second,

the extent and duration of the criminal conduct were alarming. Third, defendant’s conduct “was

particularly egregious in terms of its audacity to invade the sanctity of his homebound patients’

own homes to victimize them” in an “incredibly degrading” and “harmful” way. The court added:

       “Again, I recognize the future—in the future the defendant will not be authorized to provide

       medical care to patients. He has lost his medical license. Still the nature and extent of the

       defendant’s criminal thinking attached to his pattern of criminal conduct leads the Court to

       find a consecutive sentence is necessary to protect the public.”

Describing defendant as a “manipulative criminal” and a “predator,” the court stated that

defendant’s ability to “set aside [his] reputable character” and engage in criminal activity made

him a danger to the community. Defendant’s motion to reconsider the sentence was denied, and

he appeals.

¶ 16                                      II. ANALYSIS

¶ 17   Defendant first contends that the trial court abused its discretion in running the three state

sentences consecutively to one another. He argues that, because of his advanced age, medical

conditions, and loss of his medical license, he is unlikely to engage in further criminal conduct,

making protection of the public unnecessary. We disagree.

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2021 IL App (2d) 200496-U

¶ 18   Section 5-8-4(a) of the Code states:

       “When an Illinois court (i) imposes multiple sentences of imprisonment on a defendant at

       the same time or (ii) imposes a sentence of imprisonment on a defendant who is already

       subject to a sentence of imprisonment imposed by an Illinois court, a court of another state,

       or a federal court, then the sentences shall run concurrently unless otherwise determined

       by the Illinois court under this Section.” 730 ILCS 5/5-8-4(a) (West 2018).

¶ 19   Section 5-8-4(a) “establishes a presumption that sentences are to be concurrent unless the

court makes an adequately grounded finding that consecutive sentences are necessary.” People v.

Hoffman, 2020 IL App (2d) 180853, ¶ 33. A court may impose consecutive sentences “[i]f, having

regard to the nature and circumstances of the offense and the history and character of the defendant,

it is the opinion of the court that consecutive sentences are required to protect the public from

further criminal conduct by the defendant.” 730 ILCS 5/5-8-4(c)(1) (West 2018). In imposing

consecutive sentences under section 5-8-4(c)(1), the court must set forth on the record the basis

for doing so. Id. The court need not recite the language of section 5-8-4(c)(1), but the record must

reflect its belief that consecutive sentences were necessary to protect the public. People v.

Buckner, 2013 IL App (2d) 130083, ¶¶ 36-37. Because the trial court is in the best position to

consider the defendant’s credibility, demeanor, general moral character, mentality, social

environment, and habits, its imposition of a consecutive sentence will not be reversed on appeal

absent an abuse of discretion. Id. ¶ 36. If the record does not support the trial court’s determination

that consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public, an abuse of discretion has occurred.

Id. Discretionary consecutive sentences should be imposed sparingly. People v. O’Neal, 125 Ill.

2d 291, 298 (1988).

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¶ 20      Although we recognize that discretionary consecutive sentences should be imposed

sparingly, the record here shows that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in ordering

consecutive sentences. The court specifically referred to the language of section 5-8-4(c)(1),

noting that defendant’s crimes were particularly egregious and thus necessitated consecutive

sentences for the protection of the public. Defendant argues that, based on his age, medical

conditions, and loss of his medical license, he will lack the opportunity to commit further crimes.

But the record also shows that defendant engaged in significant predatory behavior and was willing

to repeatedly disregard both the law and the terms of his federal bond. While perhaps defendant’s

opportunities to reoffend will be made more difficult by having less access to vulnerable victims,

the record reflects that defendant is, as the trial court noted, a “manipulative criminal” and a

“predator.” The court’s finding that defendant posed a continuing danger to the public was well

supported. Thus, the court did not abuse its discretion in imposing consecutive sentences on the

state convictions.

¶ 21      Defendant next argues that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel when his

attorney agreed that the state sentences must run consecutively to the federal sentence. We agree.

¶ 22      To establish ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must show that (1) his counsel’s

representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and (2) but for counsel’s errors,

there is a reasonable probability that the result of the proceedings would have been different.

Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 688, 694 (1984); People v. Griffin, 148 Ill. 2d 45, 57

(1992).

¶ 23      As noted, section 5-8-4(a) of the Code provides in part that, when a court imposes a prison

sentence on a defendant “who is already subject to a sentence of imprisonment imposed by an

Illinois court, a court of another state, or a federal court, then the sentences shall run concurrently,

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2021 IL App (2d) 200496-U

unless otherwise determined” by the court. (Emphasis added.) 730 ILCS 5/5-8-4(a) (West 2018).

Thus, the default position of section 5-8-4(a) is that all Illinois state sentences will be concurrent

to any sentence—state or federal—that the defendant is currently serving. Id. The only applicable

exception to this default position is in section 5-8-4(c)(1), which permits the court in its discretion

to impose consecutive sentences if the court finds that such sentencing is necessary to protect the

public from further criminal conduct by the defendant. See id. § 5-8-4(c)(1); People v. McKinney,

2011 IL App (1st) 100317, ¶ 52.

¶ 24   As we previously noted, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in determining that the

state sentences should be served consecutively to one another. However, the trial court did not

exercise its discretion at all to determine whether the state sentences should be served

consecutively to the federal sentence. Instead, the court accepted the State’s position that it was

mandatory, under the federal sentencing order, that the state sentences run consecutively to the

federal sentence.

¶ 25   However, the State’s position was erroneous. The federal court’s order meant that time

served on the state sentence would not be factored in calculating defendant’s release date in the

federal case. However, the federal order in no way obligated the state court to make its sentences

consecutive to the federal sentence. Thus, the trial court had the discretion to make the state

sentences concurrent to the federal sentence. Had the trial court done so, defendant would receive

credit on his state sentence while serving the federal sentence, notwithstanding the federal order.

The State and the trial court misunderstood state and federal comity, and defense counsel was

ineffective for acquiescing. Had counsel argued that the trial court did have the discretion to run

the state sentences concurrently to the federal sentence, the court would have been alerted to the

need to exercise discretion in deciding the issue. As for the proper relief, we note that, where a

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trial court imposes a certain sentence due to a misapprehension of the applicable law, remandment

for resentencing is required. People v. Kang, 269 Ill. App. 3d 546, 553 (1995). Accordingly, we

vacate the part of the sentencing order running the state sentences consecutively to the federal

sentence, and we remand for a new sentencing hearing at which the trial court shall exercise its

discretion to determine whether the state sentences should be concurrent or consecutive to the

federal sentence.

¶ 26                                  III. CONCLUSION

¶ 27   For the reasons stated, we affirm in part and vacated in part the judgment of the circuit

court of Winnebago County. The cause is remanded for resentencing as directed.

¶ 28   Affirmed in part and vacated in part. Cause remanded with directions.

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