People v. Blair , 2015 IL App (4th) 130307 ( 2016 )

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People v. Blair, 2015 IL App (4th) 130307
Appellate Court THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.
Caption CHE BLAIR, a/k/a CHE’R BLAIR, Defendant-Appellant.
District & No. Fourth District
Docket Nos. 4-13-0307, 4-13-0308 cons.
Filed June 30, 2015
Decision Under Appeal from the Circuit Court of Sangamon County, Nos. 12-CF-542,
Review 12-CF-543; the Hon. Peter C. Cavanagh, Judge, presiding.
Judgment Affirmed.
Counsel on Michael J. Pelletier, of State Appellate Defender’s Office, of
Appeal Springfield, and Alan D. Goldberg and Stephen L. Gentry, both of
State Appellate Defender’s Office, of Chicago, for appellant.
John Milhiser, State’s Attorney, of Springfield (Patrick Delfino,
David J. Robinson, and Allison Paige Brooks, all of State’s Attorneys
Appellate Prosecutor’s Office, of counsel), for the People.
Panel JUSTICE HARRIS delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
Justices Knecht and Turner concurred in the judgment and opinion.
OPINION
¶1 In January 2013, defendant, Che Blair, a/k/a Che’r Blair, entered an open guilty plea to the
Class 4 offense of driving while license suspended or revoked (625 ILCS 5/6-303(d-3)
(West 2010)) in Sangamon County case No. 12-CF-542 (docketed case No. 4-13-0307).
Following a March 2013 trial, a jury convicted defendant of a separate Class 3 charge of
driving while license suspended or revoked (625 ILCS 5/6-303(d-4) (West 2010)) in
Sangamon County case No. 12-CF-543 (docketed case No. 4-13-0308). The trial court
sentenced defendant to concurrent prison terms of seven years in case No. 12-CF-543 and three
years in case No. 12-CF-542.
¶2 In this consolidated appeal, defendant asserts that (1) his convictions should be reduced to
Class A misdemeanors because the evidence was insufficient to support his Class 3 and Class 4
felony convictions where his driver’s license had already been revoked at the time of the
statutory summary suspension; (2) his 7-year sentence in case No. 12-CF-543 is excessive; and
(3) he is entitled to an additional 249 days of sentencing credit in case No. 12-CF-543 for time
served in an unrelated case.
¶3 I. BACKGROUND
¶4 On June 26, 2012–while defendant was in custody on an unrelated charge–the State
charged defendant by complaint with the Class 3 felony offense of driving while license
suspended or revoked (625 ILCS 5/6-303(d-4) (West 2010)) in two separate cases, i.e., case
Nos. 12-CF-542 and 12-CF-543. The complaints alleged that defendant committed the offense
of driving while license revoked on November 26, 2011, and March 17, 2012, respectively.
The trial court ordered a $5,000 recognizance bond in both cases. On July 5, 2012, the State
filed informations in both cases charging defendant with the same offenses charged in the
complaints.
¶5 On January 8, 2013, defendant entered an open plea of guilty to driving while license
suspended or revoked in Sangamon County case No. 12-CF-542. As part of the agreement, the
State announced in court that it amended the information to reflect the charge was a Class 4
felony (625 ILCS 5/6-303(d-3) (West 2010)), although no formal amendment to the
information is contained in the record before us. On January 31, 2013, defendant filed a motion
to withdraw his guilty plea, alleging his plea was not knowing, intelligent, or voluntary.
¶6 On March 5, 2013, defendant’s jury trial for the Class 3 felony offense of driving while
license suspended or revoked in Sangamon County case No. 12-CF-543 commenced.
¶7 Jeffrey Coker, a Springfield police officer, testified that at approximately 3 a.m. on March
17, 2012, he was on patrol when he noticed a red Ford Crown Victoria driving without its
headlights. Coker initiated a traffic stop and identified defendant as the driver of the vehicle.
After determining that defendant’s driver’s license was revoked, he issued defendant citations
for driving while license revoked and driving without headlights.
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¶8 Christopher Bax, a court liaison with the Secretary of State’s office, testified regarding
defendant’s driving abstract, which was admitted into evidence. Bax testified that defendant
was issued a statutory summary suspension after he was stopped for driving under the
influence of alcohol (DUI) on January 22, 2007, and that on March 17, 2012, defendant’s
driver’s license was suspended, “at least in part,” for the statutory summary suspension. On
cross-examination, Bax acknowledged that respondent’s statutory summary suspension was
eligible “to be lifted” on October 26, 2007, but it remained in effect as of March 17, 2012.
While Bax could not testify as to the reason the suspension was not lifted in this case, he agreed
that suspensions may remain in effect until the required fees are paid. On
re-cross-examination, Bax testified that a statutory summary suspension may also remain in
effect if someone is convicted of driving on a suspended or revoked license.
¶9 Defendant testified on his own behalf and admitted that he was driving on March 17, 2012,
at a time when he knew he did not have a valid driver’s license.
¶ 10 At the close of evidence, defendant was found guilty of driving while license suspended or
revoked.
¶ 11 On March 6, 2013, defendant filed a motion for acquittal or, in the alternative, a motion for
a new trial in case No. 12-CF-543. On March 19, 2013, the trial court denied defendant’s
motion and proceeded to sentencing in both cases. The court sentenced defendant to
concurrent prison terms of seven years in case No. 12-CF-543 and three years in case No.
12-CF-542. Defendant was awarded 16 days of sentence credit for the period from March 4,
2013, through March 19, 2013. On March 20, 2013, defendant filed a motion to reconsider his
sentence in both cases, which the court denied on April 11, 2013. Also on April 11, 2013, the
court denied defendant’s motion to withdraw his guilty plea in case No. 12-CF-542. On May 2,
2013, defendant filed a motion to amend the sentencing judgment, asserting that he was
entitled to a total of 266 days of credit for time served in custody for the period of June 19,
2012, through March 19, 2013. Defendant’s motion to amend the sentencing judgment was
filed after his April 18, 2013, notice of appeal and was not ruled on in the trial court.
¶ 12 This appeal followed.
¶ 13 II. ANALYSIS
¶ 14 In this consolidated appeal, defendant asserts that (1) his convictions should be reduced to
Class A misdemeanors because the evidence was insufficient to support his Class 3 and Class 4
felony convictions where his driver’s license had already been revoked at the time he was
assessed a statutory summary suspension; (2) his 7-year sentence in case No. 12-CF-543 is
excessive; and (3) he is entitled to an additional 249 days of sentencing credit in case No.
12-CF-543 for time spent in custody in an unrelated case.
¶ 15 A. Sufficiency of the Evidence
¶ 16 Defendant first asserts that his Class 3 and Class 4 felony convictions for driving while
license suspended or revoked should be reduced to Class A misdemeanors (see 625 ILCS
5/6-303(a) (West 2010)) and the causes remanded for resentencing. He argues that the State’s
evidence was insufficient to support his convictions for the enhanced Class 3 and Class 4
felonies of driving while license suspended or revoked (625 ILCS 5/6-303(d-3), (d-4) (West
2010)) because his driver’s license was already revoked at the time he was assessed the
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statutory summary suspension. According to defendant, the plain and ordinary meaning of the
term “revocation” supports the conclusion that a license can be revoked only once–a
conclusion he contends makes the statutory summary suspension assessed on his license a
nullity that cannot support the sentence enhancements in this case.
¶ 17 Resolution of this issue requires us to determine whether the statute under which defendant
was convicted allows for a statutory summary suspension to be assessed against a revoked
driver’s license. As the issue is one of statutory construction, our review is de novo. People v.
Heritsch, 2012 IL App (2d) 090719, ¶ 7, 972 N.E.2d 305; People v. Smith, 2013 IL App (2d)
121164, ¶ 8, 999 N.E.2d 809 (noting that the issue on appeal, i.e., whether driving privileges
that have been revoked are subject to a later statutory summary suspension, is principally one
of statutory construction). “When construing a statute, our goal is to determine and effectuate
the legislature’s intent, best indicated by giving the statutory language its plain and ordinary
meaning. [Citation.] This court will not depart from the statute’s plain language by reading in
exceptions, limitations, or conditions in conflict with the legislature’s intent. [Citation.]”
In re Detention of Hardin, 238 Ill. 2d 33, 40, 932 N.E.2d 1016, 1020 (2010).
¶ 18 The statutes under which defendant was convicted provide, in relevant part, as follows:
“Any person convicted of a fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, or ninth violation of this
Section is guilty of a Class 4 felony and must serve a minimum term of imprisonment
of 180 days if the revocation or suspension for a violation of Section 11-401 or 11-501
of this Code, *** or a statutory summary suspension or revocation under Section
11-501.1 of this Code.” 625 ILCS 5/6-303(d-3) (West 2010).
“Any person convicted of a tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, or fourteenth violation
of this Section is guilty of a Class 3 felony, and is not eligible for probation or
conditional discharge, if the revocation or suspension was for a violation of Section
11-401 or 11-501 of this Code, *** or a statutory summary suspension or revocation
under Section 11-501.1 of this Code.” 625 ILCS 5/6-303(d-4) (West 2010).
¶ 19 Initially, we note the State argues defendant cannot challenge the legal sufficiency of the
evidence against him in case No. 12-CF-542 because he pleaded guilty. See People v. Hunter,
331 Ill. App. 3d 1017, 1025, 772 N.E.2d 380, 386-87 (2002) (a defendant may not question the
legal sufficiency of the evidence against him following a guilty plea). Defendant counters that
“both he and his attorney made it clear that [he] was only pleading guilty to driving, not to the
sentencing enhancement.” To support his contention, defendant points to discussions that
occurred with the trial court on February 19, 2013. However, our review of the transcript from
defendant’s open guilty plea on January 8, 2013, reveals that defendant pleaded guilty with full
knowledge he was pleading guilty to a Class 4 felony. Although initially charged as a Class 3
felony, the State amended the information prior to defendant’s guilty plea. The February 19,
2013, discussions cited by defendant mainly concerned a proposed negotiated agreement in
case No. 12-CF-543–a case in which defendant eventually proceeded to trial after the court
ruled a conviction would subject defendant to Class 3 felony penalties. Based on the above,
defendant clearly pleaded guilty to the Class 4 felony offense of driving while license
suspended or revoked in case No. 12-CF-542.
¶ 20 Defendant next contends that if he did plead guilty to the enhanced offense, the sentence
was void and therefore may be challenged at any time. According to defendant, the sentence
was void “because his suspension or revocation was not issued pursuant to a DUI or statutory
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summary suspension.” Whether the sentence was authorized and valid depends on whether the
statutory summary suspension that defendant challenges was effective.
¶ 21 Defendant relies heavily on Heritsch, a Second District case which is factually similar to
this case. In Heritsch, the defendant was convicted of aggravated driving with a revoked or
suspended license (625 ILCS 5/6-303(d-5) (West 2008)) and was sentenced as a Class X
offender (see 730 ILCS 5/5-5-3(c)(8) (West 2008)). Heritsch, 2012 IL App (2d) 090719, ¶ 1,
972 N.E.2d 305. On appeal, the defendant argued that the State did not prove the aggravating
factor, i.e., that his driver’s license had been revoked for DUI at the time of the 2008 offense of
which he was convicted. Id. Rather, the defendant argued that “his license had been revoked
continuously since 1991 and that ‘the revocation’ that made this so was based on a drug
offense, not DUI.” Id. ¶ 6, 972 N.E.2d 305. While noting that the defendant’s driving abstract
reflected his driver’s license (the same license that was revoked in 1991) was also revoked in
2001 for DUI, the Heritsch majority opined that “a revoked driver’s license remains revoked
until a new license is issued.” Id. ¶ 9, 972 N.E.2d 305. The majority concluded that because
defendant’s driver’s license was revoked in 1991 and no other license was ever issued to him
by the Secretary of State, the 2001 revocation of defendant’s previously revoked license for
DUI had no effect. Id. The majority acknowledged that its “holding appears to place defendant
in a better position than he would have been had his license not been revoked until 2001, after
he committed DUI.” Id. ¶ 11, 972 N.E.2d 305. However, in the majority’s opinion, the plain
language of section 6-303(d-5), which referred to “ ‘the revocation or suspension,’ ” implied
“only one pertinent triggering event.” (Emphases in original.) Id. ¶ 10, 972 N.E.2d 305
(quoting 625 ILCS 5/6-303(d-5) (West 2008)).
¶ 22 Justice Birkett dissented from the Heritsch majority. In his opinion, the majority’s
interpretation of “the revocation” language in section 6-303(d-5) of the Illinois Vehicle Code
(Code) (625 ILCS 5/6-303(d-5) (West 2008)) was too narrow, ignored the clear intent of the
legislature, and was at odds with numerous provisions of the Code. Heritsch, 2012 IL App (2d)
090719, ¶ 18, 972 N.E.2d 305 (Birkett, J., dissenting).
¶ 23 In Smith, 2013 IL App (2d) 121164, 999 N.E.2d 809, the Second District was faced with a
similar issue as was presented in Heritsch. The Smith defendant was charged with driving
while license suspended (625 ILCS 5/6-303(a) (West 2012)) during a time when a statutory
summary suspension of his license was in effect (see 625 ILCS 5/11-501.1 (West 2012)),
resulting in enhanced Class 2 felony penalties (625 ILCS 5/6-303(d-5) (West 2012)). Smith,
2013 IL App (2d) 121164, ¶¶ 1-2, 999 N.E.2d 809. Relying on Heritsch, the defendant filed a
motion to dismiss the charge against him, asserting that the statutory summary suspension
entered on his driver’s license was a nullity because his license had already been revoked at the
time the suspension was assessed. Id. ¶ 2, 999 N.E.2d 809. The trial court agreed, but rather
than dismissing the charges, the court ordered the State to amend the charge to a misdemeanor.
Id. On appeal, the State argued that Heritsch was wrongly decided. Id. ¶ 5, 999 N.E.2d 809.
The Smith court–in a unanimous opinion authored by Justice Birkett, the dissenter in
Heritsch–agreed with the State. Id. ¶ 6, 999 N.E.2d 809.
¶ 24 The Smith court observed that the question before it was one of statutory interpretation,
citing the well-settled principle that “[w]hen the language of a statute is clear and
unambiguous, courts may not depart from the language by incorporating exceptions,
limitations, or conditions that the General Assembly did not express.” Id. ¶ 9, 999 N.E.2d 809.
However, the court noted that “ ‘[a] literal interpretation is not controlling where the spirit and
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intent of the General Assembly in enacting a statute are clearly expressed, its objects and
purposes are clearly set forth, and a literal interpretation of a particular clause would defeat the
obvious intent [citation]; where literal enforcement of a statute will result in great injustice that
was not contemplated by the General Assembly [citation]; or where a literal interpretation
would lead to an absurd result [citation].’ ” Id. (quoting Grever v. Board of Trustees of the
Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, 353 Ill. App. 3d 263, 266-67, 818 N.E.2d 401, 404-05
(2004)).
¶ 25 Relying on these principles, the Smith court noted as follows:
“If the statutory definition of ‘revocation’–the ‘termination *** of a person’s
license or privilege to operate a motor vehicle’ (emphasis added) (625 ILCS 5/1-176
(West 2012))–is given its most literal meaning, the argument that revocation is a
singular occurrence might appear to be an ontological truism: after one’s license or
privilege to operate a vehicle is terminated, it no longer exists and therefore cannot
again be terminated. By the same logic, a revoked license could not be suspended
either. It is reasonably clear from examination of the Code as a whole, however, that
the General Assembly did not intend for the term ‘revocation’ to be read so literally. To
the contrary, ‘revocation’ appears to be used, in part, as a term of art that refers to a
formal act of the Secretary and its attendant legal consequences. Thus, section 6-205(a)
places no express limitation on the number of times the Secretary may revoke a driver’s
license. Nor does section 6-205(a) expressly limit revocation to cases where no prior
revocation is in effect.” Id. ¶ 11, 999 N.E.2d 809.
¶ 26 The Smith court found support for its conclusion that a revocation of a driver’s license does
not preclude future revocations or suspensions of the same license in other sections of the
Code, noting terms and phrases which would be rendered superfluous or meaningless if
revocation was considered a singular occurrence (see 625 ILCS 5/6-208(b)(1.5), 6-205(c)(2)
(West 2008)). Smith, 2013 IL App (2d) 121164, ¶ 12, 999 N.E.2d 809. Further, the court
opined that a literal interpretation of the term “revocation” would lead to absurd results. For
example, the court noted that a driver whose license had been revoked would have no incentive
to comply with the implied consent law, and thus, could without consequence refuse chemical
testing if arrested for DUI and “could theoretically apply for a new driver’s license during the
period when an otherwise similarly situated licensed driver would be prohibited from driving.”
(Emphasis in original.) Id. ¶ 15, 999 N.E.2d 809. Accordingly, the court held, “when a
motorist’s driving privileges are subject to statutory summary suspension under the implied
consent law, the suspension is valid notwithstanding any prior revocation or suspension of the
motorist’s driving privileges. Such a suspension may therefore be the basis for an enhanced
penalty for violating section 6-303(a) while the suspension is in effect.” Id. ¶ 6, 999 N.E.2d
809.
¶ 27 In People v. Webber, 2014 IL App (2d) 130101, 11 N.E.3d 890, the Second District was
presented with another opportunity to address the issue raised in Heritsch and Smith. The
defendant in Webber was charged with the Class 4 felony offense of driving while license
revoked due to a DUI conviction (625 ILCS 5/6-303(a), (d-2) (West 2012)). Webber, 2014 IL
App (2d) 130101, ¶ 3, 11 N.E.3d 890. Like the defendant in Smith, Webber–also relying on
Heritsch–filed a motion to dismiss the charge against him, asserting that at the time of his DUI,
his driver’s license had already been revoked, and thus, the revocation for DUI that appeared
on his driving record “was of no effect and therefore could not be the basis for enhancing the
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[driving while license revoked] to a felony.” Id. ¶ 1, 11 N.E.3d 890. The trial court agreed and
dismissed the charge. Id. On appeal, the State again argued–as it did in Smith–that Heritsch
was wrongly decided. Id. The Webber majority agreed with the analysis in Smith and declined
to follow Heritsch. (While acknowledging the Smith and Webber courts disagreed with
Heritsch, defendant points out that the Webber opinion was not unanimous. We recognize the
Webber opinion was not unanimous, but we note that the dissenting justice in that case was on
the majority panel of Heritsch.)
¶ 28 The Smith and Webber courts noted that during the pendency of the respective appeals
before them, the General Assembly amended section 6-303 of the Code, adding subsection
(a-10), which provides as follows:
“A person’s driver’s license, permit, or privilege to obtain a driver’s license or permit
may be subject to multiple revocations, multiple suspensions, or any combination of
both simultaneously. No revocation or suspension shall serve to negate, invalidate,
cancel, postpone, or in any way lessen the effect of any other revocation or suspension
entered prior or subsequent to any other revocation or suspension.” Pub. Act
98-418, § 5 (eff. Aug. 16, 2013); Pub. Act 98-573, § 5 (eff. Aug. 27, 2013).
See Webber, 2014 IL App (2d) 130101, ¶ 12, 11 N.E.3d 890; Smith, 2013 IL App (2d) 121164,
¶ 17, 999 N.E.2d 809.
¶ 29 Both courts determined that the General Assembly crafted the amendment to clarify its
intent regarding the former version of the statute and to repudiate the interpretation of the
statute adopted by the Heritsch majority. Id.; Webber, 2014 IL App (2d) 130101, ¶ 13, 11
N.E.3d 890. “ ‘An amendment, which in effect construes and clarifies a prior statute must be
accepted as the legislative declaration of the meaning of the original act, where the amendment
was adopted soon after the controversy arose concerning the proper interpretation of the
statute.’ ” In re Detention of Lieberman, 201 Ill. 2d 300, 323, 776 N.E.2d 218, 231 (2002)
(quoting 1A Norman J. Singer, Sutherland on Statutory Construction § 22.31, at 379-80 (6th
ed. 2000)).
¶ 30 In light of the General Assembly’s declaration of the meaning of the former act, we agree
with the Smith and Webber courts’ interpretation of section 6-303 of the Code as the law
existed at the time of the subject offenses, and we specifically find the prior revocation of
defendant’s driving privileges did not render his subsequent statutory summary suspension a
nullity for purposes of the enhanced driving while license suspended or revoked charges.
Accordingly, we conclude that the evidence was sufficient to support defendant’s Class 3 and
Class 4 felony convictions where his driving abstract reveals that his driver’s license was under
a statutory summary suspension at the time of the November 26, 2011, and March 17, 2012,
offenses.
¶ 31 B. Excessive Sentence
¶ 32 Defendant next asserts that his seven-year sentence in case No. 12-CF-543 is excessive.
¶ 33 In imposing sentence, the Illinois Constitution requires the trial court to balance the
defendant’s potential for rehabilitation with the seriousness of the offense. Ill. Const. 1970, art.
I, § 11. “This constitutional mandate calls for balancing the retributive and rehabilitative
purposes of punishment, and the process requires careful consideration of all factors in
aggravation and mitigation.” People v. Daly, 2014 IL App (4th) 140624, ¶ 26, 21 N.E.3d 810.
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“A reasoned sentence must be based on the particular circumstances of each case.” Id. We
afford great deference to the trial court’s sentencing judgment “[b]ecause of the trial court’s
opportunity to assess a defendant’s credibility, demeanor, general moral character, mentality,
social environment, habits, and age.” Id. We review a trial court’s sentencing decision for an
abuse of discretion. Id. “An abuse of discretion may be found even if the sentence is within the
statutory limitations if the sentence is greatly at variance with the purpose and spirit of the
law.” People v. Kenton, 377 Ill. App. 3d 239, 245, 879 N.E.2d 402, 407 (2007).
¶ 34 According to defendant, the trial court’s decision to sentence him to seven years in prison
in case No. 12-CF-543 cannot be reconciled with the factors a trial court must consider in
sentencing a defendant. Citing People v. Calhoun, 404 Ill. App. 3d 362, 389, 935 N.E.2d 663,
686 (2010), defendant notes that the seriousness of the crime is the single most important
factor in fashioning an appropriate sentence. Defendant concludes–without argument or
citation to authority–that his offense was not of such a serious nature as to justify a seven-year
prison sentence. Defendant then cites a number of mitigating factors which, in his opinion,
should have been given more weight by the court, including the following: (1) he did not
intend to threaten or cause harm to anyone; (2) he drove only because his two companions
were too intoxicated to drive; and (3) his incarceration creates an excessive hardship on his two
small children. See 730 ILCS 5/5-5-3.1(a) (West 2012).
¶ 35 A Class 3 felony normally carries a sentencing range of 2 to 5 years; however, due to
defendant’s criminal history, he was eligible for an extended-term sentence ranging from 5 to
10 years. 625 ILCS 5/6-303(d-4) (West 2010); 730 ILCS 5/5-8-2 (West 2012); 730 ILCS
5/5-5-3.2(b) (West 2012). The presentence investigation report reveals that defendant’s
criminal history dates back to 2001 and includes 17 Class A misdemeanors (10 of which are for
driving on a suspended or revoked license), 1 Class C misdemeanor, and 3 felonies (including
the Class 4 felony in case No. 12-CF-542). The State requested an eight-year prison sentence.
Defense counsel requested a sentence in the two- to three-year range, noting that the
overwhelming majority of defendant’s criminal history consisted of misdemeanor offenses,
that defendant drove only to protect himself and his passengers, and because a lengthy
sentence would impose an excessive hardship on his young children. Defendant made a
statement in allocution, promising to “work diligently at being rid of the behavior that landed
me here.”
¶ 36 Prior to imposing sentence, the trial court indicated it had considered the arguments of the
parties, the testimony, defendant’s driving abstract, defendant’s statement in allocution, as
well as “the factors of aggravation and mitigation that apply in this particular case.” The court
noted that defendant had an extensive criminal record and had been given many breaks in his
other cases. The court also noted defendant had been unsuccessful on probation in the past and
had been previously sentenced to six years in prison for unlawful possession of a controlled
substance and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. The court then imposed a
seven-year prison sentence.
¶ 37 Based on the above, we find that the trial court properly considered the relevant sentencing
factors in this case. Therefore, the court did not abuse its discretion in sentencing defendant to
seven years in prison in case No. 12-CF-543.
¶ 38 Defendant also asserts the trial court erroneously considered his prior convictions for
driving with a revoked or suspended license in sentencing him at the upper end of the
sentencing range because those same convictions served as the basis to elevate the instant
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offense in case No. 12-CF-543 to a Class 3 felony. However, as pointed out by the State,
defendant did not raise this claim in his motion to reconsider the sentence, and thus, he has
forfeited it. People v. Harris, 366 Ill. App. 3d 1161, 1164, 853 N.E.2d 912, 915 (2006). Even if
the issue was not so forfeited, our review of the record does not support defendant’s
contention. In sentencing defendant, the court stated, “with a criminal record such as this, the
Court has to sentence you appropriately,” but it did not go on to specifically identify any prior
offenses. Given that defendant’s criminal record included multiple offenses unrelated to
driving, his argument is without merit.
¶ 39 C. Sentencing Credit
¶ 40 Last, defendant contends that he is entitled to an additional 249 days of sentencing credit in
case No. 12-CF-543 for the time spent in custody following his arrest in an unrelated case. The
State disagrees, asserting that the trial court ordered a recognizance bond in the instant case on
June 26, 2012, and that the bond was neither surrendered nor revoked until March 5, 2013.
Although the State stipulates that defendant was taken into custody on June 19, 2012, for an
unrelated offense and remained in custody through sentencing in the instant case, it asserts that
defendant is only entitled to the 16 days of credit he was awarded by the trial court. In the
alternative, defendant asserts that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to move to
withdraw his bond in the instant case.
¶ 41 Section 5-4.5-100(b) of the Unified Code of Corrections (730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-100(b) (West
2012)) provides that an offender shall receive sentence credit for the number of days spent in
custody as a result of the offense for which the sentence was imposed. The “statutory right to
receive credit for time served is mandatory and forfeiture rules do not apply.” People v. Dieu,
298 Ill. App. 3d 245, 249, 698 N.E.2d 663, 666 (1998).
¶ 42 Here, defendant was already in custody on an unrelated matter on June 26, 2012, the date
he was charged with the instant offense. On June 26, 2012, the trial court ordered a $5,000
recognizance bond on each of the driving while license suspended charges and informed
defendant, “[y]ou will not be held in custody on these cases.” The bond was eventually
revoked at the State’s request on March 5, 2013, following defendant’s conviction.
¶ 43 1. Effect of the Recognizance Bond
¶ 44 In People v. Arnhold, 115 Ill. 2d 379, 383, 504 N.E.2d 100, 101 (1987), the Illinois
Supreme Court concluded that “a defendant who is out on bond on one charge, and who is
subsequently rearrested and returned to custody on another charge, is not returned to custody
on the first charge until his bond is withdrawn or revoked.” Accordingly, the court held that the
defendant “was not simultaneously in custody on more than one charge until he withdrew his
bond on the initial charges.” Id. at 384, 504 N.E.2d at 102. Although the facts of this case differ
from Arnhold in that defendant was already in custody for an unrelated offense at the time he
was charged with the instant offense and the trial court issued the $5,000 recognizance bond,
Arnhold is controlling. Applying the principles established in Arnhold, we find that defendant
was not in legal custody for the offense at issue here until his bond was revoked on March 5,
2013. Thus, defendant is not entitled to an additional 249 days of sentence credit pursuant to
section 5-4.5-100(b) of the Unified Code of Corrections (730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-100(b) (West
2012)).
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¶ 45 2. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claim
¶ 46 Defendant argues in the alternative that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to
promptly move to withdraw his bond so that he would receive simultaneous sentence credit.
Defendant cites People v. DuPree, 353 Ill. App. 3d 1037, 820 N.E.2d 560 (2004), and People
v. Centeno, 394 Ill. App. 3d 710, 916 N.E.2d 70 (2009), for the proposition that “there is no
reason for counsel failing to withdraw bond in the instant case.” In DuPree, the Fifth District
concluded that counsel should have moved to withdraw the bond posted in order to allow the
defendant to earn simultaneous credit. DuPree, 353 Ill. App. 3d at 1049, 820 N.E.2d at 570.
Likewise, in Centeno, the Third District majority noted that “[h]ad [the defendant] received
effective assistance, counsel would have moved to surrender the defendant in exoneration of
his bond.” Centeno, 394 Ill. App. 3d at 714, 916 N.E.2d at 73. Justice Schmidt dissented,
noting that defendant’s ineffective assistance of counsel claim was not supported by the record
where the record was silent regarding defendant’s or counsel’s positions on whether to seek
exoneration of the bond, and he opined that defendant’s claim would be more appropriately
addressed in a postconviction petition, where a sufficient record could be developed. Id. at 715,
916 N.E.2d at 74 (Schmidt, J., dissenting).
¶ 47 Although we can identify no apparent reason in the record for trial counsel’s failure to
withdraw defendant’s bond in the instant case, the lack of such evidence does not foreclose the
possibility that counsel had a legitimate reason for not withdrawing defendant’s bond. Thus,
we decline to rule on defendant’s ineffective assistance of counsel claim as it would be better
brought under the Post-Conviction Hearing Act (725 ILCS 5/122-1 to 122-7 (West 2012))
where an adequate record can be developed.
¶ 48 III. CONCLUSION
¶ 49 For the reasons stated, we affirm the trial court’s judgment. As part of our judgment, we
award the State its $50 statutory assessment against defendant as costs of this appeal. 55 ILCS
5/4-2002 (West 2012).
¶ 50 Affirmed.
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