Court Opinion

ID: 3145135
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-22 18:06:38.182563+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:06:38.221719
License: Public Domain

No. 2-08-0599  Filed: 6-10-10
______________________________________________________________________________

                                              IN THE

                               APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS

                              SECOND DISTRICT
______________________________________________________________________________

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE                ) Appeal from the Circuit Court
OF ILLINOIS,                           ) of Lake County.
                                       )
      Plaintiff-Appellee,              )
                                       )
v.                                     ) No. 07--CF--3565
                                       )
JERRY B. HOLMAN,                       ) Honorable
                                       ) Christopher R. Stride,
      Defendant-Appellant.             ) Judge, Presiding.
______________________________________________________________________________

       JUSTICE McLAREN delivered the opinion of the court:

       Defendant, Jerry B. Holman, was convicted by a jury of possession of a controlled substance

with intent to deliver (720 ILCS 570/401(c)(2) (West 2006)). He was sentenced to 14 years'

imprisonment plus a 3-year term of mandatory supervised release (MSR). On appeal, defendant

argues that: (1) the trial court erred in failing to grant his motion to suppress evidence; (2) he was

denied his right to due process when the trial court prohibited defense counsel from using

demonstrative evidence during cross-examination; (3) the trial court erred in imposing a fee for

reimbursement of court-appointed counsel; and (4) the trial court erred in sentencing defendant to

a three-year term of MSR where he was convicted of a Class 1 felony that carries only a two-year

MSR term. We affirm in part, vacate in part, and remand.

                                        I. BACKGROUND
No. 2--08--0599

       Prior to trial, defendant's attorney left the public defender's office but was granted leave to

continue to represent defendant pro bono as private counsel. The succeeding assistant public

defender was then allowed to withdraw as counsel. After a short exchange between the trial court

and the attorneys present, the trial court assessed a public defender fee of $1,200.

       The following evidence was adduced at trial. Waukegan police officer Joshua Amann testified

that on September 15, 2007, he was patrolling a bike path in Waukegan that he described as an area

having "a lot of graffiti" and "activity." At 9 p.m., Amann saw two men walking toward his parked

squad car. One man, Donald Dagen, was carrying what Amann believed was a 40-ounce bottle of

alcohol. The other man, defendant, was not carrying anything. Amann announced he was a police

officer and turned on his squad car's spotlight. He ordered them loudly to "come here." Dagen put

the bottle down near the bike path. Then he and defendant veered off the path and crouched behind

some bushes. At this point, Amann could see only the tops of their heads. Amann called for backup

and again ordered the two men to come over and talk to him. After "a few seconds," defendant and

Dagen emerged from the bushes and approached the squad car. Amann had them stand with their

hands on the squad car until two other police officers arrived approximately a minute or two later.

The officers then patted down both men. Amann testified that they did not find any weapons or

contraband on either man.

       While the backup officers watched defendant, Amann searched the bushes in the area where

he saw Dagen and defendant crouch down. He found a bag containing 20 individually wrapped

"crack" cocaine rocks sitting on a leaf that was growing underneath the bushes. Dagen and defendant

were placed under arrest and handcuffed. They were transported to the police station in separate

squad cars. Amann noticed defendant moving around in the backseat of his squad. He told defendant

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No. 2--08--0599

he always searched his car after transporting anyone. Amann testified that defendant replied that he

was "throwing crack rocks in the back of [his] squad car." After defendant was brought into the

station for booking, Amann searched the car while it was in the police garage and found 10

individually packaged crack rocks on the floor of the car.

        Three officers then conducted a "strip search" of defendant and found seven individually

wrapped "crack" cocaine rocks in the elastic of his underwear.

        Waukegan police department Lieutenant Jon Oliver, the State's expert witness in narcotics,

testified regarding the packaging and the weight of the packages of cocaine. During cross-

examination of Oliver, defense counsel used a whiteboard to record Oliver's responses regarding

factors that he routinely considered in determining whether a person possessed narcotics with the

intent to sell them. Initially, the trial court allowed defense counsel to proceed over the State's

objection to the use of the board. When defense counsel wrote "facts are better than assumptions"

on the board, the trial court sustained the State's objection on the ground that the phrase was

argumentative. The trial court allowed defense counsel to continue using the board to record a few

more of Oliver's responses such as "cell phone," "money," and "scales," until the State renewed its

objection. After ruling that the use of the board unfairly highlighted the officer's testimony during his

cross-examination and was unfairly prejudicial, the trial court told defense counsel that he could:

        "make a list of all the things the officer testifies to that are factors and those things that are

        not, and in his closing argument he is certainly entitled to produce an exhibit which reflects

        those items. But I find that in cross-examination, before the State has rested its proofs, and

        before we have even gotten to a defense case, [sic] that the effect of this exhibit is purely

        prejudicial."

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No. 2--08--0599

        Defendant was convicted of one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with

intent to deliver. 720 ILCS 570/401(c)(2) (West 2006).

                                           II. ANALYSIS

                             A. Denial of Motion to Suppress Evidence

        Defendant first argues that the trial court erred by denying his motion to suppress the evidence

because the cocaine was recovered as a result of his unconstitutional seizure. Courts of review apply

a two-part standard of review when faced with a challenge to a trial court's ruling on a motion to

suppress evidence. People v. Luedemann, 222 Ill. 2d 530 (2006). First, the trial court's findings of

historical fact are reviewed only for clear error, and deference is afforded to any inferences the

factfinder drew from those facts. Luedemann, 222 Ill. 2d at 542. We will not disturb the trial court's

factual findings unless they are against the manifest weight of the evidence. Luedemann, 222 Ill. 2d

at 542. "A finding is against the manifest weight of the evidence only if the opposite conclusion is

clearly evident or if the finding itself is unreasonable, arbitrary, or not based on the evidence

presented." People v. Deleon, 227 Ill. 2d 322, 332 (2008). This deferential standard of review is

grounded in the reality that the trial court is in a superior position to determine and weigh the

credibility of the witnesses, observe the witnesses' demeanor, and resolve conflicts in their testimony.

People v. Richardson, 234 Ill. 2d 233, 251 (2009). However, the reviewing court is free to assess

the facts in relation to the issues presented in the case and may draw its own conclusions when

deciding what relief should be granted. Luedemann, 222 Ill. 2d at 542. We review de novo the trial

court's ultimate legal ruling on the motion to suppress. Luedemann, 222 Ill. 2d at 542.

        The fourth amendment to the United States Constitution and article I, section 6, of the Illinois

Constitution protect citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures. U.S. Const., amend. IV; Ill.

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No. 2--08--0599

Const. 1970, art. I, §6. A person is "seized" within the meaning of the fourth amendment when, in

view of the surrounding circumstances, a reasonable person would believe he was not free to leave,

and the person submits to the police order. People v. Thomas, 198 Ill. 2d 103, 111 (2001).

       In Thomas, the defendant did not submit to the police order and fled from the police, first on

a bicycle and then on foot, and prevented what would have been an unlawful stop: "Had the

defendant stopped when his path was obstructed, had he submitted to [the police officer's] show of

authority, a seizure of the kind offensive to our constitution would have occurred. [The officer]

would have effected an investigatory stop absent the requisite degree of suspicion to support it. The

stop would have constituted an unreasonable seizure of the defendant's person. However, [the

officer's] attempt to effect an unlawful stop did not implicate the fourth amendment because the

defendant took flight and prevented it." Thomas, 198 Ill. 2d at 112, quoting People v. Thomas, 315
Ill. App. 3d 849, 857 (2000).

       In this case, Amann was patrolling a bike path in an area that was known for "a lot of graffiti"

and "activity." At 9 p.m., Amann saw two men walking toward his parked squad car. One of them

was carrying what Amann believed was a 40-ounce bottle of alcohol. The second man, defendant,

was not carrying anything. Amann announced he was a police officer and turned on his squad car's

spotlight. He ordered them loudly to "come here." It was at this point that defendant's companion

put down the bottle he was carrying and he and defendant "veered" off the path and into the bushes.

Amann could still see where they were, and when they emerged from the bushes 5 to 10 seconds

later, they approached his squad car. Moments later, backup officers had arrived. The search of the

bushes where Amann observed defendant and his companion stoop down revealed cocaine "resting

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No. 2--08--0599

on a leaf." Immediately after the cocaine was found in the bushes, Amann placed defendant under

arrest.

          Defendant argues that Amann had no justifiable basis for initiating a Terry stop, because the

facts of this case establish only a mere hunch on the part of the officer, rather than specific articulable

facts that, when taken together with rational inferences, warranted the intrusion. See Terry v. Ohio,

392 U.S. 1, 20-21, 20 L. Ed. 2d 889, 905-06, 88 S. Ct. 1868, 1879-80 (1968). However, the stop

itself did not produce any "fruit of the poisonous tree." Therefore, the cases cited by defendant are

inapposite, as the circumstances differ in that this search was not the product of an improper Terry

stop.

          We must point out that we do not agree with the State's argument that the police were

justified in making a Terry stop because defendant "evaded" the police officer. This does not appear

to be an "unprovoked flight" on the part of defendant, as asserted by the State. However, a perimeter

search by an experienced officer led to the discovery of the cocaine. A reasonable inference is that

defendant, who later was found to possess 17 similar packages of cocaine, placed it on the leaf in the

area where he had been observed spending a few moments during his evening stroll.1 See People v.

Long, 369 Ill. App. 3d 860, 869 (2007) (police officers had probable cause to arrest defendant for

possession of baggies of cocaine found on floor under bar table near defendant's feet, despite presence

of 35 to 40 patrons in the bar).

          The amount of time that had passed and the proximity of defendant to the bushes render

reasonable the inference that defendant possessed the cocaine. Defendant abandoned the drugs

          1
              Common sense would indicate that the positioning of a bag of crack rocks "on a leaf" was

somewhat precarious and would not have remained as placed for very long.

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No. 2--08--0599

before he was seized. He was not seized until he returned to the path, approached the squad car, and

submitted to the order. The allegedly unlawful seizure at the time of submission did not result in the

recovery of any evidence. Thus, the arrest based on the drugs found during the perimeter search was

proper, and the search incident to that arrest was valid.

                            B. Denial of Use of Demonstrative Evidence

        Defendant next contends that the trial court's decision to prohibit the use of the whiteboard

during cross-examination of the State's expert witness was an abuse of discretion that denied

defendant his right to due process and a fair trial. The use of demonstrative evidence lies within the

sound discretion of the trial court, and we review the trial court's decision for an abuse of that

discretion. People v. Williams, 275 Ill. App. 3d 242, 248 (1995). " 367 Ill. App. 3d 653, 664 (2006). An abuse of discretion occurs when

the trial court's decision is "fanciful, arbitrary, or unreasonable" to such a degree that no reasonable

person would agree with it. People v. Campos, 349 Ill. App. 3d 172, 175 (2004).

        During cross-examination of Oliver, the State's expert witness in narcotics, defense counsel

used a whiteboard to record Oliver's testimony regarding factors that he routinely considered in

determining whether, in his opinion, a person possessed narcotics with the intent to sell them.

Initially, the trial court allowed defense counsel to proceed over the objection of the State. The trial

court sustained the State's objection on the ground that the phrase "facts are better than assumptions"

was argumentative. The trial court allowed defense counsel to continue using the board to record

Oliver's responses, until the State renewed its objection. At this point, the trial court informed

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No. 2--08--0599

defense counsel that he was entitled to prepare an exhibit for use during closing argument, but ruled

that the use of the board unfairly highlighted the officer's testimony during his cross-examination and

was prejudicial.

       To be allowed, demonstrative evidence must be relevant to an issue of the case. "Certain

demonstrative aids, such as those which illustrate and thus assist the jury in understanding testimonial

evidence, may be allowed at trial. [Citation.] However, an exhibit which merely summarizes clearly

understandable testimony and thereby serves only to memorialize particular evidence should be

disallowed." People v. Williams, 161 Ill. 2d 1, 67-68 (1994); see Simmons v. City of Chicago, 118

Ill. App. 3d 676, 684-85 (1983) (disallowance of the use of overhead slides to accompany a defense

witness's testimony was a proper exercise of the court's discretion because the evidence was

cumulative); People v. Kinion, 105 Ill. App. 3d 1069, 1076-77 (1982) (allowance of a chart

summarizing the opinion testimony of an expert witness was an abuse of discretion). Any layman

would understand the terms such as "money," "cell phone," and even "scales" as testified to by this

witness. In other words, while this witness was an expert, his testimony on cross-examination

concerned matters that could be readily understood by the jury from his oral testimony.

       Further, the record reflects that defense counsel gave no indication to the trial court of his

intention to use the board as a visual aid. After he began to write on it, the trial court overruled the

State's objection, and it was only after defense counsel began to write what can only be considered

his own interpretation of Oliver's testimony that the trial court sustained the State's objections.

During a sidebar conference, the court informed defense counsel that he was free to use a chart

during his closing argument, but ruled that, at that point in the trial, the use of the board had become

prejudicial and was disallowed.

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No. 2--08--0599

       In his reply brief, defendant asserts that "defense counsel needed the whiteboard to effectively

cross-examine the only State's witness testifying as to an element of the offense." He further asserts

that he had "no other way to present his defense." We consider these assertions to be an

overstatement in that the whiteboard was being used to merely write down responses that defense

counsel was eliciting from the witness during cross-examination. The testimony was not technical

and was clearly understandable. Had defense counsel chosen to use a chart of the very same

testimony, he would have been allowed to do so during his closing argument. Claiming that he had

no defense without the board is meritless hyperbole.

       This was a matter for the trial court to decide and we will not interfere absent an abuse of

discretion. Therefore, we conclude that the trial court did not err in preventing defense counsel from

using the whiteboard as demonstrative evidence during cross-examination.

                              C. Fee Imposed for Appointed Counsel

       The State concedes error, stating in its brief that "[t]he defendant complains that the trial court

improperly imposed a fee of $1,200 for the services of the public defender's office. The record

indicates that he is correct." Further, "[t]he record does not show that the defendant was given notice

of the fact that reimbursement was to be considered by the court, and was not given the opportunity

to present evidence regarding the payment order. Additionally, the record does not show the trial

court considered the defendant's financial affidavit." The State concludes that the requirements of

section 113--3.1(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedures of 1963 (Code) (725 ILCS 5/113--3.1(a)

(West 2006)) were not followed. See People v. Roberson, 335 Ill. App. 3d 798, 804 (2002).

Therefore, we vacate the reimbursement order and remand for a hearing on defendant's ability to pay

for the services of his court-appointed attorney pursuant to section 113--3.1(a) of the Code.

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No. 2--08--0599

                                 D. Mandatory Supervised Release

       Defendant argues that his three-year term of MSR was erroneous and should have been a term

of two years under the provisions of the sentencing statute. Because interpreting a statute presents

a question of law, our review is de novo. People v. Donoho, 204 Ill. 2d 159, 172 (2003).

       Defendant was convicted of possession of cocaine with the intent to deliver, a Class 1 felony.

Due to his previous convictions he was sentenced under the "habitual offender" statute, which

mandates that when a defendant is convicted of a Class 1 or 2 felony, after having twice been

convicted of a Class 2 or greater felony, such defendant shall be sentenced as a Class X offender. 730

ILCS 5/5--5--3(c)(8) (West 2006). The trial court sentenced him to 14 years' imprisonment with a

3-year term of MSR.

       The identical issue was raised in a recent case before this court, People v. McKinney, No.

2--08--0584 (March 25, 2010), where the defendant was convicted of a Class 2 felony, but sentenced

as a Class X offender because of his criminal history. This court concluded that the term of MSR

applicable to Class X felonies should apply and that "such a defendant 192 Ill. 2d 36 (2000), argues that "the plain language of

the statute is clear--the class of conviction, not the sentence, determines what will be the offender's

term of MSR." With language equally applicable to this case, the McKinney opinion distinguished

Pullen: "The statute considered in Pullen does not specify what sentence a Class X offender receives.

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No. 2--08--0599

Rather, it merely limits the extent to which separate sentences for separate offenses may be served

consecutively." McKinney, slip op. at 8.

       Defendant also asserts that this court should not be persuaded by the decisions in People v.

Watkins, 387 Ill. App. 3d 764 (2009); People v. Smart, 311 Ill. App. 3d 415 (2000); and People v.

Anderson, 272 Ill. App. 3d 537 (1995). Defendant suggests that this entire line of cases is wrongly

decided. These cases were extensively analyzed by this court in McKinney, which then concluded:

       "Although we agree with the result reached in Anderson, Smart, and Watkins, we find them

       overreaching to the extent that they relied on public policy reasons rather than the plain

       language of the relevant statutes. See In re Estate of Snodgrass, 336 Ill. App. 3d 619, 624

       (2003) (noting that considerations of public policy should not lure courts away from a

       statute's clear language). In our view, the plain language of the applicable statutes dictates

       that defendants sentenced as Class X offenders shall receive the same three-year MSR term

       imposed on defendants convicted of Class X felonies." McKinney, slip op. at 6.

       We agree that the statutory mandate means that "defendant shall receive a sentence that one

convicted of a Class X felony would receive, i.e., a prison term ranging from 6 to 30 years followed

by a 3-year term of MSR." McKinney, slip op. at 8. Therefore, defendant, who was convicted of a

Class 1 felony but sentenced as a Class X offender because of his criminal history, is subject to an

MSR term of three years. See 730 ILCS 5/5--5--3(c)(8), 5--8--1(d)(1) (West 2006).

                                       III. CONCLUSION

       The judgment of the circuit court of Lake County is affirmed in part and vacated in part, and

the cause is remanded.

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No. 2--08--0599

      Affirmed in part and vacated in part; cause remanded.

      HUTCHINSON and BURKE, JJ., concur.

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