Court Opinion

ID: 9955911
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-03-29 18:03:38.520293+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:15:38.944595
License: Public Domain

2024 IL App (1st) 221579-U

                                                                             SECOND DIVISION
                                                                                 March 29, 2024

                                          No. 1-22-1579

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 JUDICIAL DISTRICT
______________________________________________________________________________

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,            )     Appeal from the
                                                )     Circuit Court of
      Plaintiff-Appellee,                       )     Cook County.
                                                )
v.                                              )     No. 10 CR 826501
                                                )
PONNELL BUCHANAN,                               )     Honorable
                                                )     Michael Hood,
      Defendant-Appellant.                      )     Judge Presiding.
_____________________________________________________________________________

       JUSTICE McBRIDE delivered the judgment of the court.
       Justice Ellis concurred in the judgment.
       Presiding Justice Howse specially concurred.

                                             ORDER

¶1     Held: No error occurred in the second stage dismissal of defendant’s postconviction
             petition where defendant received reasonable assistance from his appointed
             postconviction counsel.

¶2     Defendant Ponnell Buchanan appeals the trial court’s second stage dismissal of his

postconviction petition, arguing that his postconviction counsel provided unreasonable assistance

under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 651(c) (Ill. S. Ct. R. 651(c) (eff. July 1, 2017))

because postconviction counsel failed to: (1) include a nonfrivolous claim related to defendant’s
No. 1-22-1579

guilty plea, (2) shape defendant’s claims of ineffective assistance of plea counsel into the proper

legal form, and (3) attach a verification affidavit.

¶3     In May 2010, defendant was charged by information with armed robbery, aggravated

kidnaping, aggravated vehicular hijacking, vehicular invasion, possession of a stolen motor

vehicle, and aggravated unlawful restraint arising out of incident that occurred on April 18, 2010.

In June 2010, a behavior clinical exam (BCX) was ordered for defendant. He was subsequently

found unfit to stand trial and was committed to the Department of Human Services (DHS) for

one year. In June 2011, DHS informed the trial court that defendant was then fit to stand trial. In

September 2011, the Forensic Clinical Services filed its report finding that defendant was fit to

stand trial and that defendant was legally sane at the time of the alleged offenses.

¶4     In February 2013, the State filed notice of its intent to seek a natural life sentence

pursuant to section 5-4.5-95(a) of the Unified Code of Corrections (Code) (730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-

95(a) (West 2010)) because defendant had two prior Class X convictions for armed robbery.

Defendant’s first armed robbery conviction was from 1990 and he received a sentence of six

years. He was later convicted in 2001 for armed robbery under six separate cases and received

concurrent sentences of 24 years for each case.

¶5     In June 2013, defendant’s plea counsel informed the court that defendant wished to

accept an offer from the State to plead guilty to lesser charges in exchange for a total sentence of

60 years, to be served at 50 percent. Counsel also disclosed that the public defender’s office

spent private monies to resolve the issue of defendant’s sanity. Counsel spoke with defendant

prior to the hearing and counsel described defendant as “very clear, he was very concise with

regards to his decision as to getting this matter over with.” The State confirmed its offer to

reduce the armed robbery charge to aggravated robbery and that defendant would also plead

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No. 1-22-1579

guilty to vehicular invasion. Both charges were Class 1 offenses. The court addressed defendant

and confirmed that defendant understood the plea agreement. The court further admonished

defendant that based on defendant’s background, he was subject to Class X sentencing with a

range of 6 to 30 years, and defendant confirmed that he understood. The court also admonished

defendant that the 30-year terms would be served consecutively for a total of 60 years and

defendant would be entitled to day-for-day credit, and defendant again indicated his

understanding.

¶6     The trial court admonished defendant about his right to stand trial and trial by jury and

that by pleading guilty, he was waiving those rights. Defendant responded that he understood.

The State then detailed the following factual basis.

                 “[I]f this case went to trial, it would be stipulated by and between the parties that

                 Rosa Smith would testify and tell your Honor that on April 18th of 2010 she was

                 the owner of a 2004 Cadillac; that she was operating that vehicle in the 1500

                 block of North Lotus on that date at about 12:30 in the afternoon when the

                 defendant, whom she would identify in open court, and another came along

                 indicating that they were armed with a firearm. The defendant entered the vehicle,

                 drove away with her still in the vehicle, and she was able to jump out. Her purse

                 and its contents, including a driver’s license, credit card, and other items, were in

                 the car.

                            The -- she contacted the police. And the police were able to use OnStar to

                 locate the car, which at -- by this point was empty. They set up a surveillance

                 [sic]. The defendant, whom the officers, including Officer Castanza, Sergeant

                 Stack, Officer Diaz, would testify and would identify the defendant, exited a

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No. 1-22-1579

                 house and went into the vehicle. A small chase ensued. Defendant crashed the car.

                 He was apprehended and found to have in his possession her driver’s license as

                 well as a credit card. Miss Smith would tell you she didn’t give consent for him to

                 have any of these items or to enter her vehicle with any part of his body.”

¶7        The court then imposed the sentence as agreed by the parties. The court further

questioned defendant if he had any questions concerning his plea or sentence, and defendant

responded that he did not. The court also asked if defendant was satisfied with his attorney and

defendant answered, “No. Not really no.” When the court then asked if defendant wished “to

stand on this plea of guilty,” defendant responded, “Yes, I accept the plea. But am I satisfied?

No, no, but I’m accepting it at the same time.” Defendant further confirmed that his counsel

explained everything to him regarding the plea.

¶8        On October 3, 2014, defendant filed his pro se postconviction petition, as well as a pro se

petition for relief from judgment under section 2-1401 of the Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS

5/2-1401 (West 2012)). 1 In his postconviction petition, defendant raised two claims related to

the ineffective assistance of his plea counsel. First, he contended that he was denied due process,

equal protection, and his right to a fair trial because he sought to discharge his appointed public

defender for failing to communicate with him in a reasonable manner and failing to prepare a

defense but the trial court “refused to conduct any inquiry” into his allegations of ineffective

assistance. Second, he asserted the following claims of ineffective assistance of plea counsel: (1)

counsel’s failure to object and to not allow defendant to plead guilty and then counsel allowed

defendant to be “erroneously” sentenced to two consecutive terms of 30 years; (2) counsel failed

to prevent defendant’s misunderstanding of the law and apprise him that he “could not be

1
    Defendant has not appealed the dismissal of his petition for relief from judgment.
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No. 1-22-1579

sentenced and/or subjected to consecutive sentencing,” and (3) counsel allowed defendant’s

sentences to be doubly enhanced because he was sentenced as a Class X offender with the terms

to be served consecutively. Defendant signed and swore his petition before a notary. He did not

attach any other documentation to his petition. Defendant cited sentencing statutes, but he did not

cite any case law in support of his claims. Defendant’s 2-1401 petition alleged that his sentence

was null and void because he received a doubly enhanced sentence.

¶9     On December 31, 2014, the trial court docketed defendant’s petition without comment.

Postconviction counsel filed her appearance for defendant on January 23, 2015. On December

31, 2020, postconviction counsel filed her certificate in accordance with Rule 651(c) (Ill. S. Ct.

R. 651(c) (eff. July 1, 2017)) that day. Counsel’s Rule 651(c) certificate was filed and stated:

                          “1. I have consulted with the petitioner, PONNELL BUCHANAN by

                letter and/or by phone to ascertain his contentions of deprivations of constitutional

                rights;

                          2. I have reviewed the trial file of the Public Defender[].

                          3. I have reviewed Cook County Hospital records.

                          4. I reviewed Chester Mental Health Hospital medical records.

                          5. I have reviewed medical records from the Illinois Department of

                Corrections medical records.

                          6. I have reviewed the results of the original Behavioral Clinical

                Examination.

                          7. I after receiving authorization from Mr. Buchanan, I forwarded Mr.

                Buchanan’s medical history/records to Dr. J.L., a clinical psychologist for medical

                                                    5
No. 1-22-1579

                review. She did not find anything irregular with the previous psychological

                conclusions of fitness.

                        7. [sic] I have obtained and examined the transcript of his guilty plea and

                sentencing in this case;

                        8. [sic] I have not filed an Amended Petition for Post-Conviction Relief.

                The pro se petition for relief does adequately sets [sic] forth the petitioner’s

                claims of deprivation of his constitutional rights.”

¶ 10    In April 2022, the State filed a motion to dismiss defendant’s postconviction petition and

argued that defendant’s petition should be dismissed because (1) he failed to attach a verification

affidavit; (2) his claim that the trial court failed to address his assertion of ineffective assistance

of plea counsel is insufficient and lacks any details to discern his complaint regarding his

attorney; and (3) his claims of ineffective assistance of plea counsel lacked merit because his

claims are premised on the assumption that his sentence was unlawful, but that assumption was

incorrect. At the next status hearing, postconviction counsel asked for time to review the State’s

motion for her to determine if she needed to file a response. At the June 2022 status hearing,

postconviction counsel informed the court that she had “nothing further to add.”

¶ 11    In October 2022, the trial court conducted the second stage postconviction hearing and

heard arguments on the State’s motion to dismiss. Defendant was present in court for the

hearing. Postconviction counsel made the following statement regarding defendant’s petition.

                        “With regards to Mr. Buchanan’s pro se petition, I did not supplement

                that, because based upon the things that I had discovered, I conducted with Mr.

                Buchanan to find out exactly what was going on.

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No. 1-22-1579

                        And I reviewed this file of the Public Defender’s Office. I reviewed the

                records from Cook County Hospital. I reviewed the Chester Mental Health,

                Chester Mental Health [sic] records. I reviewed the results of the original

                behavioral clinical examination after authorization from Mr. Buchanan. I

                reviewed his medical history from the doctor that we obtained to review the

                clinical psychologist Dr. JL to review his medical – his medical records. She did

                not find anything irregular with regards to the previous psychological conclusions

                of fitness that were obtained.

                        I examined -- I obtained and examined the transcript of Mr. Buchanan’s

                guilty plea and sentencing. And as a result of all of those things listed previous, I

                did not file a supplement to the pro se petition.”

¶ 12    The State restated its arguments from the motion to dismiss. Following the State’s

argument, the court gave defendant the opportunity to address the court. Defendant informed the

court that he was “ignorant of the law,” he was “poor,” and he “suffer[s] from schizophrenia.” He

alleged that during sentencing, his plea counsel “typed out a paper for [him] to read” and he read that

paper before the judge and plea counsel “took advantage of [his] mental ill condition.” He asserted

that counsel told him that he “would be out soon and to read that paper ***.”

¶ 13    Defendant further detailed his prior mental health issues in seeking treatment in 2009 and

2010, prior to the commission of the offenses in this case. He stated that at that time, he “was not in

[his] right mind,” but a doctor said he was malingering.

¶ 14    When the court reminded defendant that the proceeding was regarding his postconviction

petition, defendant responded, “I paid a guy to do that for me because I didn’t know nothing about

that.” Postconviction counsel interrupted defendant to clarify defendant’s claims. Counsel also

repeated that she had a psychologist review defendant’s record and the psychologist did not find

                                                   7
No. 1-22-1579

support that defendant was unfit. The trial court then granted the State’s motion to dismiss. In its

ruling, the court noted that it had reviewed the “voluminous case file,” read the transcripts, and

“listened closely” to the arguments, including defendant’s statements. The court found defendant

received the benefit of the bargain in his plea agreement with the State. The court made extensive

findings on the record.

                          “Mr. Buchanan, you were initially charged with armed robbery, agg

                kidnaping, aggravated vehicular hijacking, unlawful vehicular invasion,

                possession of a stolen motor vehicle, and aggravated unlawful restraint.

                          On June 27th of 2013, you were in front of Judge Sullivan with your

                attorney, and you entered a plea of guilty to the reduced charge of aggravated --

                strike that -- the reduced charge of aggravated robbery and vehicular invasion.

                          Now in exchange for that, before that was reduced, the sentence could

                have been natural life. The bargain that you received, albeit you disagree that it

                was a bargain, the bargain you did receive under the law, as I read it, was two 30-

                years sentences to be served consecutively. The remaining counts were then

                dismissed. It was a day-for-day credit sentence. ***

                          Prior to those reductions, prior to that effort by the State, and I’m inferring

                the work of your attorney, to get them to come off the natural life, that would be

                [plea counsel], that it would have been a natural life. But the plea was to those

                two cases. Now those two charges were Class 1’s, but based on your background,

                you were sentenced as Class X offender 6 to 30.

                          Now, the Post-Conviction Act requires the petition to be verified by

                affidavit and have attachments in the form of affidavits, records, or other evidence

                supporting the allegations. The verification affidavit is a separate requirement

                                                     8
No. 1-22-1579

                from the supporting attachments. It may not be satisfied by one of the two alone.

                Mr. Buchanan in this case didn’t provide verification affidavit or affidavits or

                records or other evidence. There’s been argument, but I have no other evidence.

                Based on that technicality, the PC would be denied.

                       But I want to go on and talk about the other claims or assertions you make.

                Your first claim is that you were denied due process and equal protection, and as

                every knows a PC is a – you need a Constitutional violation, so this gives you

                entre [sic] into PC world because of those words.

                       Your claim is that you were denied a right to a fair trial because your

                court-appointed attorney refused to communicate with you in a reasonable manner

                or prepare a defense.

                       I’ve looked at the claim for ineffective assistance of counsel. You do not

                address either one. I mentioned that case of [Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S.

                668 (1984)]. That’s the seminal case in ineffective assistance of counsel. You

                don’t address any of the elements of Strickland, nor is there an affidavit detailing

                the ineffectiveness claimed.

                       What I have in front of me is an attorney who negotiated a natural life

                sentence down to a sentence of years with the opportunity to get out of prison.

                There’s no cause of action. There’s no legal theory. That claim, that first claim,

                would be denied.

                       The second assertion is that [plea counsel] was ineffective for allowing

                you to accept a plea offer, which included a sentence that was not authorized by

                law, or for failing to educate you on consecutive sentencing, as it applied to your

                                                  9
No. 1-22-1579

                charge, or for allowing the sentence to be doubly enhanced. This is not a double

                enhancement case. And the State’s pleadings and arguments are clear on setting

                forth exactly why.

                       There was no double enhancement. So your attorney has no grounds to

                challenge a double enhancement because a double enhancement doesn’t exist.

                The sentence is authorized -- it is an authorized sentence under the law.

                       You were previously convicted of armed robbery in 1990. You were

                convicted, after release from the penitentiary, convicted of a second armed

                robbery in 2001, along with series of other armed robberies. Had you been

                convicted of the armed robbery which you were charged before the amendment,

                you could have been subject to a mandatory life sentence.

                       Instead, you chose, based on the transcript, to plead guilty to that reduced

                charge of two Class 1 offenses: The agg robbery and the vehicular invasion.

                       You were a Class X offender by background, sir. And although the

                sentence is the maximum 30 years, it’s an authorized sentence. And it’s a

                sentence that you agreed to in open court with the Honorable Judge Sullivan.

                       The Court had the discretion under the law to make these sentences

                consecutive. 730 ILCS 5/5-8-4(c) allows consecutive sentence if, and I’m reading

                from the statute: ‘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.’

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No. 1-22-1579

                       That’s very different than saying you can’t be rehabilitated. That’s saying

                that you’re a danger to the public based on your background.

                       The prosecution cited that in that -- with regard to consecutive sentencing,

                the six armed robberies for which you were convicted from *** 1996, as well as a

                PSMV, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, out of DuPage County from 1999.

                And the trial court specifically went over this with you in the plea. It’s in there.

                ***

                       On Page 8 of the transcript, Judge Sullivan went over that exact language

                with you. And she stated: Do you understand that? And you stated, you did.

                       Again, there’s no constitutional violation. And so your second claim

                would be dismissed as well.”

¶ 15   This appeal followed.

¶ 16   On appeal, defendant argues that he received unreasonable assistance from his

postconviction counsel. Specifically, defendant contends that: (1) counsel failed to amend his

petition to include a nonfrivolous claim that his guilty plea was not made knowingly or

voluntarily because the parties and the court erroneously informed defendant that he was subject

to a mandatory natural life sentence; (2) counsel failed to shape defendant’s claims of ineffective

assistance of plea counsel into the proper legal form; and (3) counsel failed to attach a

verification affidavit. The State maintains that postconviction counsel provided reasonable

assistance to defendant as required under Rule 651(c) (Ill. S. Ct. R. 651(c) (eff. July 1, 2017)).

¶ 17   The Post-Conviction Act (the Act) provides a tool by which those under criminal

sentence in this state can assert that their convictions were the result of a substantial denial of

their rights under the United States Constitution or the Illinois Constitution or both. 725 ILCS

5/122-1(a) (West 2018); People v. Coleman, 183 Ill. 2d 366, 378-79 (1998). Postconviction relief
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No. 1-22-1579

is limited to constitutional deprivations that occurred at the original trial. Id. at 380. A

proceeding brought under the Act is not an appeal of a defendant’s underlying judgment, instead

it is a collateral attack on the judgment. People v. Evans, 186 Ill. 2d 83, 89 (1999).

¶ 18    At the first stage, the circuit court must independently review the postconviction petition

to determine whether “the petition is frivolous or is patently without merit.” 725 ILCS 5/122-

2.1(a)(2) (West 2018). A postconviction petition advances beyond the first stage in one of two

ways. People v. Huff, 2024 IL 128492, ¶ 19. “First, it advances if it is reviewed by the circuit

court as mandated by the Act and is not dismissed as frivolous or patently without merit.” Id.

(citing People v. Urzua, 2023 IL 127789, ¶ 32). Second, a postconviction petition advances to

the second stage if the circuit court fails to rule on the petition within the 90-day period required

by the Act. Id.; see also 725 ILCS 5/122-2.1(a) (West 2018).

¶ 19    At the second stage, the defendant may request counsel to be appointed to represent him

or her, if necessary (725 ILCS 5/122-4 (West 2018)), and the State is allowed to file responsive

pleadings (725 ILCS 5/122-5 (West 2018)). At this stage, the circuit court must determine

whether the petition and any accompanying documentation make a substantial showing of a

constitutional violation. See Coleman, 183 Ill. 2d at 381. If no such showing is made, the petition

is dismissed. If a substantial showing of a constitutional violation is set forth, then the petition is

advanced to the third stage, where the circuit court conducts an evidentiary hearing. 725 ILCS

5/122-6 (West 2018).

¶ 20    Here, the trial court docketed defendant’s petition for second stage review on December

31, 2014, which was within the 90-day statutory period. Postconviction counsel was

subsequently appointed in January 2015.

¶ 21    “There is no constitutional right to counsel in proceedings under the Act; rather, the right

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No. 1-22-1579

to counsel is ‘a matter of legislative grace,’ derived from the Act.” Huff, 2024 IL 128492, ¶ 21

(quoting People v. Custer, 2019 IL 123339, ¶ 30). Further, “a defendant in postconviction

proceedings is entitled to only a ‘reasonable’ level of assistance, which is less than that afforded

by the federal or state constitutions.” People v. Pendleton, 223 Ill. 2d 458, 472 (2006). “[T]he

distinction is rational ‘because trial counsel plays a different role than counsel in post-conviction

proceedings.’ ” People v. Addison, 2023 IL 127119, ¶ 19 (quoting People v. Owens, 139 Ill. 2d

351, 364 (1990)). “While a defendant is presumed innocent prior to trial, a postconviction

petitioner has already been stripped of the presumption of innocence.” Huff, 2024 IL 128492,

¶ 21. “Since the petitioner, rather than the State, initiates the proceeding by claiming that

constitutional violations occurred at trial, counsel’s role is to ‘shape their complaints into the

proper legal form and to present those complaints to the court’ rather than to ‘protect

postconviction petitioners from the prosecutorial forces of the State.’ ” Id. (quoting Addison,

2023 IL 127119, ¶ 19).

¶ 22   “To ensure that postconviction petitioners receive reasonable assistance, Rule

651(c) delineates specific duties that postconviction counsel must undertake in postconviction

proceeding.” Id. ¶ 22. Rule 651(c) provides that postconviction counsel file a certificate stating

that he or she (1) consulted with the defendant to ascertain his contentions of deprivation of

constitutional right, (2) examined record of the proceedings at the trial, and (3) amended the

defendant’s pro se petition, if necessary, to ensure that defendant’s contentions are adequately

presented. Ill. S. Ct. R. 651(c) (eff. July 1, 2017). “The filing of a Rule 651(c) certificate gives

rise to a rebuttable presumption that post-conviction counsel provided reasonable assistance.”

People v. Profit, 2012 IL App (1st) 101307, ¶ 19. “It is defendant’s burden to overcome this

presumption by demonstrating his attorney’s failure to substantially comply with the duties

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No. 1-22-1579

mandated by Rule 651(c).” Id. We review whether counsel substantially complied with Rule

651(c) de novo. People v. Bass, 2018 IL App (1st) 152650, ¶ 13. Under a de novo standard, we

give no deference to the trial court’s judgment or reasoning. People v. Carlisle, 2019 IL App

(1st) 162259, ¶ 68. “De novo consideration means that the reviewing court performs the same

analysis that a trial judge would perform.” Id.

¶ 23   As previously stated, postconviction counsel filed her Rule 651(c) certificate in

December 2020, which set forth:

                          “1. I have consulted with the petitioner, PONNELL BUCHANAN by

                letter and/or by phone to ascertain his contentions of deprivations of constitutional

                rights;

                          2. I have reviewed the trial file of the Public Defender[].

                          3. I have reviewed Cook County Hospital records.

                          4. I reviewed Chester Mental Health Hospital medical records.

                          5. I have reviewed medical records from the Illinois Department of

                Corrections medical records.

                          6. I have reviewed the results of the original Behavioral Clinical

                Examination.

                          7. I after receiving authorization from Mr. Buchanan, I forwarded Mr.

                Buchanan’s medical history/records to Dr. J.L., a clinical psychologist for medical

                review. She did not find anything irregular with the previous psychological

                conclusions of fitness.

                          7. [sic] I have obtained and examined the transcript of his guilty plea and

                sentencing in this case;

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No. 1-22-1579

                       8. [sic] I have not filed an Amended Petition for Post-Conviction Relief.

                The pro se petition for relief does adequately sets [sic] forth the petitioner’s

                claims of deprivation of his constitutional rights.”

¶ 24   Defendant first contends that postconviction counsel was unreasonable for failing to raise

a new argument that the parties at defendant’s plea hearing “were mistaken” that defendant was

facing a mandatory natural life sentence if convicted of the more serious charge of armed

robbery. According to defendant, the “entire” basis of the State’s plea concession was “illusory”

because one of his prior Class X convictions occurred when he was 16 years and is no longer

classified as a qualifying offense under the habitual criminal statute. See 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-95

(West 2022). Defendant asserts that because he was “improperly induced” to plead guilty, his

plea was not voluntarily or intelligently made. The State responds that defendant was correctly

informed of the potential sentencing ramifications in effect at the time of his plea and

accordingly, postconviction counsel was not obligated to raise this additional claim.

¶ 25   “Fulfillment of the third obligation under Rule 651(c) does not require postconviction

counsel to advance frivolous or spurious claims on defendant’s behalf. If amendments to a pro

se postconviction petition would only further a frivolous or patently nonmeritorious claim, they

are not ‘necessary’ within the meaning of the rule.” People v. Greer, 212 Ill. 2d 192, 205 (2004).

The supreme court has “repeatedly held that the purpose of Rule 651(c) is to ensure that counsel

shapes the petitioner’s claims into proper legal form and presents those claims to the court.”

People v. Perkins, 229 Ill. 2d 34, 43-44 (2007) (citing People v. Pinkonsly, 207 Ill. 2d 555, 568

(2003), quoting People v. Owens, 139 Ill. 2d 351, 364-65 (1990)).

¶ 26   Additionally, the supreme court in Pendleton observed that “ ‘post conviction counsel is

only required to investigate and properly present the petitioner’s claims.’ ” (Emphasis in

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No. 1-22-1579

original.) Pendleton, 223 Ill. 2d at 472 (quoting Davis, 156 Ill. 2d at 164). “Rule 651(c) only

requires postconviction counsel to examine as much of the record ‘as is necessary to adequately

present and support those constitutional claims raised by the petitioner.’ ” Id. at 475 (quoting

Davis, 156 Ill. 2d at 164). “Postconviction counsel is not required to comb the record for issues

not raised in the defendant’s pro se post-conviction petition.” People v. Helton, 321 Ill. App. 3d

420, 424-25 (2001). A postconviction petitioner is “not entitled to the advocacy of counsel for

purposes of exploration, investigation and formulation of potential claims.” Davis, 156 Ill. 2d at

163.

¶ 27   In his pro se petition, defendant argued that his plea counsel was ineffective because she

allowed defendant to be “erroneously” sentenced to two 30-year terms, to be served

consecutively, which he contended was not “authorized by statute.” Defendant specifically

focused on the trial court’s imposition of consecutive sentences pursuant to section 5-8-4(c)(1) of

the Code and contended that his sentences had been improperly “doubly enhanced.” See 730

ILCS 5/5-8-4(c)(1) (West 2012).

¶ 28   According to defendant, postconviction counsel should have been able to ascertain from

reading these claims by defendant as well as the transcripts from the June 2013 plea hearing that

the habitual criminal statute did not apply to one of his prior convictions. Defendant points to his

1990 conviction for armed robbery that was committed when he was 16 years old and relies

extensively on the supreme court’s decision in People v. Stewart, 2022 IL 126116.

¶ 29   In Stewart, the court considered “whether the legislature intended a prior felony

conviction to be a qualifying offense for Class X sentencing if the same offense would have

resulted in a juvenile adjudication had it been committed on the date of the present offense.” Id.

¶ 16. The Stewart court held that the defendant’s “conviction for an offense committed when he

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No. 1-22-1579

was 17 years old was not a qualifying offense for Class X sentencing under the [relevant] version

of section 5-4.5-95(b) of the Code.” Id. ¶ 22. Defendant argues that based on the holding in

Stewart, he “did not receive the benefit of any bargain as the general recidivism provisions of the

[Code] did not apply to his prior conviction for an offense committed when he was a juvenile.”

¶ 30       The supreme court in Stewart relied on the legislature’s recent amendment to the habitual

criminal statute. Id. ¶19. “Public Act 101-652 (eff. July 1, 2021) amended section 5-4.5-95(b)(4)

of the Code to provide that the first qualifying offense for Class X sentencing must have been

‘committed when the person was 21 years of age or older.’ ” Id. (quoting Pub. Act. 101-652 (eff.

July 1, 2021) (amending 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-95(b)(4))). While the Stewart court’s analysis focused

on subsection (b) of the habitual criminal statute, the same amendments were made to subsection

(a), which is at issue here. Public Act 101-652 added the following limiting language that the

section would not apply unless “The first offense was committed when the person was 21 years

of age or older.” Pub. Act 101-652 (eff. July 1, 2021). Defendant thus asserts that his 1990 armed

robbery conviction was not a proper predicate offense for sentencing under the habitual criminal

statute.

¶ 31       However, the flaw in defendant’s argument is that at the time of his plea agreement, no

age-related requirements existed to limit the adjudication of an habitual criminal. Defendant’s

plea predated both Stewart and Public Act 101-652 by several years. In June 2013, the habitual

criminal statute stated:

                         “Every person who has been twice convicted in any state or federal court

                  of an offense that contains the same elements as an offense now (the date of the

                  offense committed after the 2 prior convictions) classified in Illinois as a Class X

                  felony, criminal sexual assault, aggravated kidnapping, or first degree murder, and

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                who is thereafter convicted of a Class X felony, criminal sexual assault, or first

                degree murder, committed after the 2 prior convictions, shall be adjudged an

                habitual criminal.” 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-95(a)(1) (West 2012).

Under this statute, “Except when the death penalty is imposed, anyone adjudged an habitual

criminal shall be sentenced to a term of natural life imprisonment.” Id. §5-4.5-95(a)(5). Armed

robbery was a Class X felony. See 720 ILCS 5/18-2(b) (West 2012). As previously observed,

defendant had two prior armed robbery convictions from 1990 and 2001. Thus, under the plain

language of the habitual criminal statute, defendant could have received a natural life sentence if

convicted of the armed robbery charge.

¶ 32   Defendant’s argument fails because his assertion would have required postconviction

counsel to be clairvoyant regarding both legislation and case law that did not exist. Public Act

101-652 was not signed by Governor Pritzker until February 22, 2021, nearly two months after

postconviction counsel filed her Rule 651(c) certificate. Additionally, the supreme court’s

decision in Stewart was not issued until October 20, 2022, six days after the trial court dismissed

defendant’s postconviction. We cannot say that postconviction counsel was unreasonable for

failing to raise new arguments for which the authority did not exist. See People v. Morgan, 2015

IL App (1st) 131938, ¶ 77 (“Counsel cannot be deemed ineffective for failing to investigate

witnesses that she did not know existed” and accordingly, “effective counsel need not

be clairvoyant”).

¶ 33   Defendant also argues that the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 (Juvenile Court Act) does not

now classify his 1990 armed robbery as an exception to juvenile jurisdiction, and therefore,

would not qualify as a predicate offense under the habitual criminal statute. 705 ILCS 405/5-

130(a)(1) (West 2022). Defendant’s argument lacks merit. At the time of defendant’s plea,

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section 5-130(a)(1) of the Juvenile Court Act specifically included “armed robbery when the

armed robbery was committed with a firearm” as one of the enumerated crimes excluded from

juvenile jurisdiction and subject to prosecution under the criminal law of the State. 705 ILCS

405/5-130(a)(1) (West 2012). No objection was made regarding the applicability of the 1990

armed robbery conviction as a predicate offense, which was included in both the February 2013

notice by the State to seek a natural life sentence and recounted in open court at the plea hearing.

¶ 34    In his reply brief, defendant contends for the first time that the 1990 armed robbery

conviction “may or may not now be classified as a Class X felony.” According to defendant, the

armed robbery statute in effect when defendant was convicted in 1990 did not differentiate

between being armed with a dangerous weapon and armed with a firearm. See Ill. Rev. Stat.

1985, ch. 38, ¶ 18-2. Section 18-2 was amended in 2000 to include separate subsections for a

dangerous weapon other than a firearm under 18-2(a)(1) and a firearm under 18-2(a)(2). See 720

ILCS 5/18-2 (West 2000). Defendant’s argument is based on speculation that the 1990

conviction did not involve a firearm. However, we need not consider this claim because this

argument was not raised in defendant’s opening brief. “Points not argued are forfeited and shall

not be raised in the reply brief, in oral argument, or on petition for rehearing.” Ill. S. Ct. R.

341(h)(7) (eff. May 25, 2018). Accordingly, defendant has forfeited this argument on appeal.

¶ 35    Therefore, we find that defendant has failed to rebut the presumption that postconviction

counsel substantially complied with Rule 651(c) and provided reasonable assistance because

postconviction counsel was not obligated to raise new claims in an amended or supplemental

petition.

¶ 36    Defendant next asserts that his postconviction counsel provided unreasonable assistance

in violation of Rule 651(c) because she failed to shape his claims into viable constitutional

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issues. According to defendant, his own remarks at the hearing on the motion to dismiss

demonstrated that nonfrivolous factual support for his claims existed. Specifically, he points to

his comments that his plea counsel was ineffective for failing to prepare a defense and to prevent

defendant’s misunderstanding of the law, as well as defendant’s assertions that he was suffering

a mental health crisis at the time of the offenses and his plea was made unknowingly. The State

maintains that amendments to a pro se petition are not necessary when it would only advance

frivolous claims.

¶ 37   Recently, the supreme court in People v. Huff considered whether postconviction counsel

is obligated to amend frivolous claims or seek to withdraw. Huff, 2024 IL 128492, ¶ 13. In that

case, the defendant filed a pro se postconviction petition arguing that “his natural life sentence,

based on the trial judge’s finding that the offense was ‘exceptionally brutal and heinous,’ was

unconstitutional under Apprendi [v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000)].” Id. ¶ 8. The petition

automatically advanced to the second stage without review by the trial court. Id. ¶ 9. The

appointed postconviction counsel did not amend the defendant’s petition, filed a Rule 651(c)

certificate, and did not make any additional arguments at the subsequent hearing on the State’s

motion to dismiss. Id. The trial court dismissed the defendant’s petition. Id.

¶ 38   Before the appellate court, the defendant argued that “because his pro se petition was

deficient on its face, postconviction counsel acted unreasonably by neither amending the petition

nor moving to withdraw if she believed his petition could not be cured by an amendment.” Id.

¶ 10. Another panel in this division affirmed the dismissal. Id.

¶ 39   On appeal to the supreme court, the issue was “whether postconviction counsel’s decision

to file a Rule 651(c) certificate and stand on petitioner’s pro se postconviction petition, rather

than either amending the petition or moving to withdraw, rebutted the presumption of reasonable

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assistance.” Id. ¶ 13. The defendant argued that his “pro se petition was frivolous as written and

required dismissal during second-stage proceedings absent an amendment to state a nonfrivolous

claim,” and thus, his postconviction counsel was obligated to either amend the petition or

withdraw. Id. ¶ 14. According to the defendant, “his showing that postconviction counsel rested

on the petition rebutted the presumption of reasonable assistance, requiring remand for further

second-stage proceedings with newly appointed counsel.” Id. The defendant did not identify any

necessary amendments to his pro se petition that could have been made by counsel to allow the

petition to survive dismissal, but instead argued that his claim was frivolous. Id. ¶ 24. Rather, the

defendant contended that his postconviction counsel had only one option, to withdraw. The State

responded that counsel was only required to make the amendments necessary to shape the

defendant’s claims into the proper legal form but was not required to make frivolous

amendments or find new claims beyond those identified by the defendant. Further, the State

observed that postconviction counsel’s Rule 651(c) certificate created the presumption that no

amendments were available and the defendant failed to rebut the presumption by identifying

anything in the record that shows that counsel failed to make a necessary amendment or

suggesting any amendments counsel could have made. Id. ¶ 25.

¶ 40   The Huff court reviewed its previous decision in People v. Greer, 212 Ill. 2d 192 (2004),

in which the supreme court had held that “[n]othing in the Act prevented postconviction counsel

from moving to withdraw if he or she determined that the petition was frivolous or patently

without merit and that the attorney’s ethical obligations therefore prohibited him or her from

continuing representation.” Huff, 2024 IL 128492, ¶ 27 (citing Greer, 212 Ill. 2d at 209). The

court in Huff observed that the Greer court had posed the hypothetical, “ ‘What is defense

counsel to do after he or she determines that defendant’s petition is frivolous? Is counsel to stand

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mute at all subsequent proceedings? How can counsel, ethically, “present the petitioner’s

contentions” when counsel knows those contentions are frivolous?’ ” (Emphasis in original.) Id.

¶ 28 (quoting Greer, 212 Ill. 2d at 206).

¶ 41   The Huff court reasoned that the Greer hypothetical suggested that “if appointed counsel

knows that a petitioner’s claims were frivolous or patently without merit, then counsel has an

ethical duty to withdraw.” Id. ¶ 29. However, the supreme court further noted that nothing in the

record suggested that postconviction counsel knew that the petition was frivolous or patently

without merit. Id. Additionally, “the court, not counsel, is the ultimate arbiter of whether ‘the

claims in the petition are meritorious’ and “[d]ifferent counsel may differ in their opinions

regarding the merits of the petition.” Id. (quoting Urzua, 2023 IL 127789, ¶ 41).

¶ 42   The Huff court concluded that the defendant failed to rebut the presumption of reasonable

assistance by postconviction counsel. “Postconviction counsel’s Rule 651(c) certificate created a

presumption that no required amendments were available. There was no showing that

postconviction counsel knew that petitioner’s claim was frivolous or patently without merit.” Id.

¶ 34. The supreme court also differentiated postconviction counsel’s decision to rest on the

petition from instances in which the counsel confessed or informed the court that the claims

lacked merit. Id. ¶ 31.

¶ 43   While the question posed in Huff differs slightly from defendant’s claim, we find the

supreme court’s reasoning to be instructive. Although the trial court docketed defendant’s

petition for second stage review, the court did not make any findings on the record that

defendant’s claims were not frivolous. We point out that defendant also filed a section 2-1401

petition at the same time and both filings were docketed in the status order. Further, there is

nothing in the record to suggest that postconviction counsel found defendant’s claims to be

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frivolous or patently without merit. Defendant has not asserted that counsel should have sought

to withdraw when she did not amend his petition, but rather, that her failure to amend amounted

to unreasonable assistance. However, following Huff’s guidance, an attorney is not unreasonable

for standing on the original petition and filing a Rule 651(c) certificate where the petition cannot

be amended to raise viable nonfrivolous claims.

¶ 44   As defendant admits, his claims lacked both specificity and the requisite legal framework

for ineffective assistance claims, including any allegation that he was prejudiced. He suggests

that counsel should have amended the petition to reference the appropriate legal standard and

provide documentary support. Defendant points to his own statements made during the hearing

in which defendant stated that plea counsel gave him a typed paper for him to read and plea counsel

“took advantage of [his] mental ill condition.” He asserted that plea counsel told him that he “would

be out soon and to read that paper ***.” He contends that postconviction counsel should have

provided documentary support “in the vein of the information” defendant offered at the hearing

and specifically referenced defendant’s statement that he was suffering a mental health crisis at

the time of the offense and his plea was made unknowingly.

¶ 45   However, defendant fails to assert what documents would have supported defendant’s

allegations and it is unclear what more counsel could have done regarding defendant’s mental

health issues. Postconviction counsel in her Rule 651(c) certificate and in her comments to the

court stated that she had reviewed defendant’s mental health records, including the initial BCX.

She further stated that she had a psychologist review defendant’s mental health records and the

psychologist was unable to find any irregularities.

¶ 46   Moreover, as defendant concedes, his petition did not include allegations related to his

mental health. As previously discussed, postconviction counsel is only required to investigate

and properly present defendant’s claims. Pendleton, 223 Ill. 2d at 472. Defendant’s petition
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No. 1-22-1579

alleged that his plea counsel was ineffective for failing to communicate with him in a reasonable

manner, failing to prepare a defense, failing to challenge his sentence as a double enhancement, and

failing to challenge the erroneous imposition of consecutive sentences. It is unclear how defendant’s

mental health at the time of the offense was relevant to these claims. Contrary to defendant’s

assertions, his own statements at the hearing do not indicate that additional documentary support

for the claims set forth in his petition exists. Postconviction counsel was not obligated to pursue

claims from a pro se petition that counsel believed lack merit. See People v. Bass, 2018 IL App

(1st) 152650, ¶ 16 (“not every petition can be amended to state a substantial constitutional

claim”); People v. Johnson, 232 Ill. App. 3d 674, 678 (1992) (failure to amend a petition does

not establish unreasonable assistance without showing that petition could have been successfully

amended).

¶ 47   Additionally, while defendant contends that postconviction counsel was unreasonable for

failing to set forth the relevant legal framework, he fails to explain discuss what authority

counsel should have included. He does not cite any case law related to ineffective assistance

claims in support, including the seminal case involving ineffective assistance of counsel claims,

Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). He does not argue that the plea counsel’s

performance was deficient and as a result, he suffered prejudice. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687-

88. For “a guilty-plea defendant ‘must show that there is a reasonable probability that, but for

counsel’s errors, he would not have pleaded guilty and would have insisted on going to trial.’ ”

People v. Brown, 2017 IL 121681 (quoting Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, 59 (1985)). Defendant

does not assert either in his petition or on appeal that he would not have pleaded guilty if not for

plea counsel’s alleged errors. Rather, defendant explicitly stated on the record at the plea hearing

that while he was dissatisfied with plea counsel’s representation, he wanted to accept the plea.

¶ 48   Defendant also does not provide any suggestion of what documentary evidence could
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No. 1-22-1579

have supported his claims and that postconviction counsel was unreasonable for failing to attach

these supporting documents. Defendant points to his statement at the hearing that plea counsel

took advantage of his mental health issues and directed him to read from a preprinted paper at

the plea hearing as support for his existing claims. Even if defendant’s statements regarding his

mental health at the time of the offense related to his contention that plea counsel failed to

prepare a defense, the record clearly belies this fact because defendant’s mental health at the time

of the offense was extensively documented and postconviction counsel reviewed those records

before filing her Rule 651(c) certificate. Therefore, we conclude that defendant has not overcome

the presumption that his postconviction counsel’s representation was reasonable and

substantially complied with Rule 651(c).

¶ 49    Finally, defendant contends that postconviction counsel was unreasonable for failing to

amend his petition to include the required verification affidavit. The Act re quires a

postconviction petition to include a verification affidavit. 725 ILCS 5/122-1(b) (West 2018).

“The verification affidavit, ‘like all pleading verifications, confirms that the allegations are

brought truthfully and in good faith.’ ” People v. Hommerson, 2014 IL 115638, ¶ 9 (quoting

People v. Collins, 202 Ill. 2d 59, 67 (2002)). The sworn verification described in section 122-1,

like all pleading verifications, confirms that the allegations are brought truthfully and in good

faith. Collins, 202 Ill. 2d at 67. The failure to include a verification affidavit can be raised as a

basis for dismissal by the State during second stage proceedings. Hommerson, 2014 IL 115638,

¶¶ 13-14.

¶ 50    It is uncontested that defendant’s pro se petition failed to include a verification affidavit

and postconviction counsel did not amend or supplement the petition with this affidavit. In its

motion to dismiss, the State argued for dismissal on this basis. However, at the hearing, the trial

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No. 1-22-1579

court declined to dismiss for the lack of a verification affidavit. The court acknowledged the

procedural default, but proceeded to consider defendant’s petition on the merits. Despite the

court’s ruling, defendant maintains that postconviction counsel was unreasonable for failing to

cure this defect.

¶ 51    The the purpose of Rule 651(c) is to ensure that counsel shapes the defendant’s claims

into proper legal form and presents those claims to the court, including attempts to overcome

procedural bars. Perkins, 229 Ill. 2d at 44. “An adequate or proper presentation of a petitioner’s

substantive claims necessarily includes attempting to overcome procedural bars *** that will

result in dismissal of a petition if not rebutted.” Id.

¶ 52    After carefully reviewing the record on appeal, we find that defendant has failed to

overcome the presumption that counsel provided reasonable assistance during the second stage

proceedings. While we acknowledge that the Act required a certified verification affidavit from

defendant, counsel’s failure to amend defendant’s pro se petition to include a verification

affidavit did not result in dismissal of the petition. At the conclusion of the hearing on the State’s

motion to dismiss, the trial court dismissed the petition on the merits. While the court

acknowledged the lack of a verification affidavit, the court explicitly declined to dismiss on that

basis and made extensive findings on the merits. In so doing, the court essentially accepted the

allegations therein as having been brought truthfully and in good faith, notwithstanding counsel’s

failure to include a verification affidavit. See Hommerson, 2014 IL 115638, ¶ 9 (the verification

affidavit confirms that the allegations are brought truthfully and in good faith). Since the court

had an independent and sufficient basis to dismiss the petition’s claims, postconviction counsel’s

failure to remedy the lack of a notarized verification affidavit was inconsequential. Given the

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dismissal on the merits, we find that defendant has not rebutted the presumption that counsel

provided reasonable assistance.

¶ 53   Based on the foregoing reasons, we affirm the decision of the circuit court of Cook

County.

¶ 54   Affirmed.

¶ 55   PRESIDING JUSTICE HOWSE, specially concurring:

¶ 56   I concur in the majority’s outcome in this case. However, it is my opinion, that this court

lacks authority to hear claims of unreasonable assistance of postconviction counsel in

proceedings on defendant’s initial postconviction petition because the initial petition does not

allege unreasonable assistance of postconviction counsel. Therefore, we have no authority to

review it under the Act. The appellate court does not have supervisory authority and issues not

raised in an initial postconviction petition are waived. People v. Jones, 213 Ill. 2d 498, 508

(2004). Because the outcome of this proceeding would be the same if the court affirmed the trial

court’s judgment dismissing the petition on its merits or dismissing the petition on the ground

defendant’s claims are not eligible for determination in this proceeding, I concur in the

majority’s disposition.

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