People v. Bell ( 2012 )

ILLINOIS OFFICIAL REPORTS
Appellate Court
People v. Bell, 2012 IL App (5th) 100276
Appellate Court THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.
Caption CAROL J. BELL, Defendant-Appellant.
District & No. Fifth District
Docket No. 5-10-0276
Filed May 3, 2012
Held Defendant’s conviction for attempted possession of anhydrous ammonia
(Note: This syllabus was upheld over her contention that the jury was not instructed that a
constitutes no part of “substantial step” is an essential element of the offense, since Woods and
the opinion of the court Paluch establish that a “substantial step” is an essential element of the
but has been prepared offense but defendant waived the issue by failing to object at trial or raise
by the Reporter of the issue in her motion for a new trial, and for purposes of a plain-error
Decisions for the analysis, the record showed defendant was convicted on an accountability
convenience of the theory, the jury was properly instructed on accountability, the evidence
reader.)
relevant to the “substantial step” taken by her companion to steal
ammonia was overwhelming, and the omission of the attempt definitional
instruction did not amount to plain error.
Decision Under Appeal from the Circuit Court of Shelby County, No. 09-CF-159; the
Review Hon. Michael P. Kiley, Judge, presiding.
Judgment Affirmed as modified; motion denied.
Counsel on Michael J. Pelletier, Johannah B. Weber, and Robert S. Burke, all of State
Appeal Appellate Defender’s Office, of Mt. Vernon, for appellant.
Deborah Riley, State’s Attorney, of Shelbyville (Patrick Delfino, Stephen
E. Norris, and Jennifer Camden, all of State’s Attorneys Appellate
Prosecutor’s Office, of counsel), for the People.
Panel JUSTICE STEWART delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
Justices Spomer and Wexstten concurred in the judgment and opinion.
OPINION
¶1 A jury convicted the defendant, Carol J. Bell, of attempted possession of anhydrous
ammonia in violation of section 25(a)(1) of the Methamphetamine Control and Community
Protection Act (720 ILCS 646/25(a)(1) (West 2008)). On appeal, the defendant maintains
that her right to a jury trial was denied by the circuit court’s failure to instruct the jury that
an essential element of the offense of attempt includes a “substantial step.” For the following
reasons, we affirm the defendant’s conviction.
¶2 BACKGROUND
¶3 The State originally charged the defendant with unlawful possession of anhydrous
ammonia, but the State later amended the charge to attempted unlawful possession of
anhydrous ammonia. At the defendant’s jury trial, the following evidence was presented.
¶4 Illinois State Police Investigator Clay Woodard testified that on October 20, 2009, he was
involved in a stakeout at a fertilizer plant to “curb the theft of anhydrous ammonia that is
used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.” The fertilizer plant had various tanks on its
property for storage of anhydrous ammonia.
¶5 At approximately 10:52 p.m. during the stakeout, Woodard saw a vehicle driving in the
vicinity of the tanks. Woodard observed a “larger male” get out of the passenger side of the
vehicle and run across the fertilizer plant’s parking lot toward a group of anhydrous ammonia
tanks. The suspect was carrying a bag. Woodard tried to quietly approach the suspect, but
Woodard heard the suspect drop the bag and take off running. Woodard ran after the suspect
and took him into custody. He was later identified as Jason Swango.
¶6 Woodard retrieved the bag that Swango had dropped, and inside the bag he found a 20-
pound propane tank that is commonly used for a gas grill. The tank, however, had been
camouflaged and had a modified fitting on its top. Woodard testified that he had found
similar tanks being used at methamphetamine laboratories. Sergeant Matt McCormick with
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the Illinois State Police also testified that Swango’s modified propane tank was something
that was typically used to steal anhydrous ammonia.
¶7 The vehicle that Swango exited was driven by the defendant. When Swango jumped out
of the defendant’s car, the defendant drove away from the tanks, but she returned to the area
of the tanks and was stopped and arrested by Officer Reeves of the Shelby County sheriff’s
office. After her arrest, Woodard questioned the defendant. During the questioning, the
defendant admitted that she was a methamphetamine user and had purchased
pseudoephedrine pills for Swango in the past for the manufacture of methamphetamine.
Swango compensated her a half a gram of methamphetamine per box of pseudoephedrine.
¶8 The defendant also told Woodard that on the date of the incident, Swango asked her if
she would drive him to the fertilizer plant so that he could steal some anhydrous ammonia.
She said that she did not know where to go but that Swango directed her as she drove. She
told Woodard that she had expected to be compensated by Swango with gas money,
cigarettes, and some of the methamphetamine manufactured with the anhydrous ammonia.
¶9 The defendant testified, however, that on the day of the incident, Swango called her and
asked for a ride to his girlfriend’s house. She agreed and drove to his house to pick him up.
Swango had a bag with him when he got in the defendant’s car, and the defendant testified
that she did not ask Swango what he had in the bag. The defendant testified that on their way
to Swango’s girlfriend’s house, Swango directed the defendant to turn down a particular
country road. The defendant assumed that Swango was looking for his girlfriend.
¶ 10 After driving for a period of time, they approached what she later learned was a fertilizer
plant, and Swango directed the defendant to stop. According to the defendant, Swango then
opened the car door and grabbed his bag. The defendant asked Swango what he was doing,
Swango replied that everything will be fine, and he added, “Come back by and get me.” The
defendant testified that she initially did not know that the place where they stopped was an
anhydrous plant but figured it out when Swango jumped out of her vehicle.
¶ 11 The defendant claimed she was “freaked out” because she did not know where she was,
and she took off down the road to head home. She made a couple of turns and ended back
in front of the plant again where she was stopped and arrested by Officer Reeves.
¶ 12 The defendant testified that she attempted to explain to the officers that she was merely
giving Swango a ride to his girlfriend’s house, but the officers kept interrupting her, telling
her “no,” and telling her what she was doing at the plant and what her plans were. She denied
telling the officers that she agreed to go with Swango to steal anhydrous ammonia and denied
telling them that she would be paid in gas money, cigarettes, and methamphetamine made
with the anhydrous ammonia. She claimed to have no idea that Swango was going to steal
anhydrous ammonia when she picked him up.
¶ 13 She testified that the interrogation lasted for over an hour and that she was taken to the
county jail when it ended. At the conclusion of the evidence, the jury convicted the defendant
of attempted possession of anhydrous ammonia. The circuit court subsequently sentenced the
defendant to four years’ imprisonment in the Department of Corrections. The defendant
timely filed a notice of appeal of her conviction and sentence.
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¶ 14 ANALYSIS
¶ 15 The first issue the defendant raises on appeal is that the punishment for attempted
possession of anhydrous ammonia is unconstitutionally disproportionate to the punishment
for general attempt of the same crime and unconstitutionally disproportionate when
compared to other punishments provided in the Methamphetamine Control and Community
Protection Act (720 ILCS 646/1 to 9999 (West 2008)). At oral argument, however, the
defendant expressly withdrew this issue from our consideration; therefore, we will not decide
it.
¶ 16 The second issue the defendant raises on appeal is that she was denied a fair trial as a
result of the circuit court failing to instruct the jury that an essential element of the offense
of attempt is a substantial step toward the commission of the underlying offense.
¶ 17 Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions, Criminal, No. 6.05 (4th ed. 2000) (hereinafter IPI
Criminal 4th No. 6.05), provides a definitional instruction of attempt as follows: “A person
commits the offense of attempt when he, [without lawful justification and] with the intent
to commit the offense of ________, does any act which constitutes a substantial step toward
the commission of the offense of _______.” This instruction was not given to the jury in the
present case.
¶ 18 Before the defendant’s jury trial began, the circuit court conducted a “preliminary run-
through of the instructions,” but the court did not make a record of this preliminary jury-
instruction conference. Apparently, IPI Criminal 4th No. 6.05 was discussed at this
preliminary jury-instruction conference.
¶ 19 At the conclusion of the evidence, the circuit court conducted the formal jury-instruction
conference, and the following took place:
“THE COURT: People’s Instruction No. 14 is IPI Criminal No. 6.05.
[The prosecutor]: Your Honor, I think you requested I take that attempt out when we
were in our pre, because you thought that the statute itself explained that.
THE COURT: So that has been withdrawn?
[The prosecutor]: Yes.
THE COURT: Okay. I show 14 as *** Non-IPI based on statute 720 ILCS
646/25(a)(1). The definition of the offense.
[Defense counsel]: No objection.
THE COURT: That will be given.”
¶ 20 People’s Instruction No. 14 defined the offense as follows: “A person commits the
offense of attempted unlawful possession of anhydrous ammonia when she knowingly
attempts to engage in the possession of anhydrous ammonia with the intent that the
anhydrous ammonia be used to manufacture methamphetamine.” Nothing in the instructions
informed the jury that a “substantial step” is an essential element that the State must prove
to convict someone of attempted unlawful possession of anhydrous ammonia. The defendant
argues that the jury should have been given IPI Criminal 4th No. 6.05.
¶ 21 In response to the defendant’s argument, the State argues that the language of the statute
that defines the offense of attempted unlawful possession of anhydrous ammonia does not
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include a “substantial step” as an element. The State maintains that, while the general attempt
statute includes a “substantial step” as an element of that offense (720 ILCS 5/8-4(a) (West
2008)), the offense of attempted unlawful possession of anhydrous ammonia is defined
separately from the general offense statute (720 ILCS 646/25(a)(1) (West 2008)). Therefore,
the State concludes, the legislature took attempted possession of anhydrous ammonia out of
the purview of the general attempt statute and elected not to include a substantial step in
defining that offense. Accordingly, the State argues that the circuit court properly ruled that
the jury should not receive a “substantial step” instruction. We disagree with the State.
¶ 22 In People v. Woods, 24 Ill. 2d 154, 156, 180 N.E.2d 475, 476 (1962), the defendant was
convicted under a statute that provided for imprisonment for whoever “attempts to procure
or produce an abortion or miscarriage.” (Emphasis added.) Ill. Rev. Stat. 1959, ch. 38, ¶ 3.
Although the statute did not define the offense to include a “substantial step” requirement,
the supreme court, nonetheless, held that “an attempt does exist where a person, with intent
to commit a specific offense, performs acts which constitute substantial steps toward the
commission of that offense.” Woods, 24 Ill. 2d at 158, 180 N.E.2d at 478.
¶ 23 Likewise, in People v. Paluch, 78 Ill. App. 2d 356, 222 N.E.2d 508 (1966), the defendant
was charged under a statute that made it a misdemeanor for anyone to “attempt to practice
barbering without a valid and current certificate of registration as a registered barber.”
(Emphasis added.) Ill. Rev. Stat. 1965, ch. 16¾, ¶ 14.92(b)(1). Again, similar to the
attempted possession of anhydrous ammonia statute, the legislature defined this offense apart
from the general attempt statute and without expressly stating that a “substantial step” was
a required element of the offense. Nonetheless, the Paluch court looked to the general
attempt statute (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1965, ch. 38, ¶ 8-4(a)) and concluded that “[t]wo elements
must be present to constitute an attempt: (1) an intent to commit a specific offense, and (2)
an act which is a substantial step towards its commission.” Paluch, 78 Ill. App. 2d at 358,
222 N.E.2d at 509.
¶ 24 In the present case, the offense of attempted possession of anhydrous ammonia is defined
apart from the general attempt statute and does not expressly include a “substantial step” as
an element of the offense. Nonetheless, Woods and Paluch establish that a “substantial step”
is a required element of the offense because “ ‘[m]ere preparation to commit a crime ***
does not constitute an attempt to commit it.’ ” Paluch, 78 Ill. App. 2d at 360, 222 N.E.2d at
510 (quoting Woods, 24 Ill. 2d at 158, 180 N.E.2d at 478). Accordingly, the circuit court
erred in not giving IPI Criminal 4th No. 6.05.
¶ 25 However, our conclusion that the circuit court should have given IPI Criminal 4th No.
6.05 does not end our analysis. The defendant failed to object at trial to the circuit court’s
failure to give IPI Criminal 4th No. 6.05 and did not raise the issue in her motion for a new
trial. The error, therefore, was not properly preserved for our review. The defendant asks us
to review the error under the plain-error doctrine.
¶ 26 In People v. Herron, 215 Ill. 2d 167, 186-87, 830 N.E.2d 467, 479 (2005), the Illinois
Supreme Court held that “the plain-error doctrine bypasses normal forfeiture principles and
allows a reviewing court to consider unpreserved error when either (1) the evidence is close,
regardless of the seriousness of the error, or (2) the error is serious, regardless of the
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closeness of the evidence.” Under the first prong, the defendant must prove “ ‘prejudicial
error,’ ” by showing that “the evidence was so closely balanced that the error alone severely
threatened to tip the scales of justice against him.” Id. at 187, 830 N.E.2d at 479. Under the
second prong, the defendant must prove that “the error was so serious that it affected the
fairness of the defendant’s trial and challenged the integrity of the judicial process.” Id. at
187, 830 N.E.2d at 479-80. Prejudice to the defendant is presumed under the second prong
because of the importance of the right involved, “ ‘regardless of the strength of the
evidence.’ ” (Emphasis in original.) Id. at 187, 830 N.E.2d at 480 (quoting People v. Blue,
189 Ill. 2d 99, 138, 724 N.E.2d 920, 941 (2000)).
¶ 27 The defendant contends that, under the second prong of the plain-error doctrine, the trial
court’s failure to give IPI Criminal 4th No. 6.05 deprived her of a fair trial such that
automatic reversal is required and that the error is not subject to harmless-error analysis. We
disagree and find the supreme court’s analysis in People v. Hopp, 209 Ill. 2d 1, 805 N.E.2d
1190 (2004), to be instructive concerning our plain-error analysis in the present case.
¶ 28 In Hopp, a jury found the defendant guilty of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.
On appeal, the supreme court considered whether the trial court committed plain error by
failing to give a required jury instruction defining first-degree murder. Id. at 4, 805 N.E.2d
at 1192. Neither party tendered a jury instruction defining first-degree murder, the object
offense of the conspiracy. Id. at 6, 805 N.E.2d at 1193. The court considered whether this
error constituted a “substantial defect” for plain-error purposes. Id. at 7, 805 N.E.2d at 1194.
¶ 29 The Hopp court stated that “the erroneous omission of a jury instruction rises to the level
of plain error only when the omission creates a serious risk that the jurors incorrectly
convicted the defendant because they did not understand the applicable law, so as to severely
threaten the fairness of the trial.” Id. at 8, 805 N.E.2d at 1194. The supreme court was critical
of the appellate court’s decision that reversed the Hopp defendant’s conviction. The appellate
court reversed the conviction because it found that the omission was a substantial and
prejudicial defect. The supreme court noted, however, that the appellate court did not refer
to the record to explain how the trial was rendered unfair. Id. at 10, 805 N.E.2d at 1196. The
supreme court stated: “[W]e have never held any such omission to be plain error without
considering the effect that the omission had on defendant’s trial. On the contrary, ***
omission of the definition of a term used to instruct the jury on the essential issue in the case
is not necessarily plain error.” Id. The Hopp court then turned to the facts of the case to
determine whether the erroneous omission of an instruction defining first-degree murder rose
to the level of plain error.
¶ 30 The court emphasized that the defendant was required to show that the omission of the
instruction caused a severe threat to the fairness of her trial. Id. at 12, 805 N.E.2d at 1197.
Its analysis required it to answer two preliminary questions: (1) what would a correct
instruction have told the jury and (2) what was the essential disputed issue in the case? Id.
With respect to the first question, the court concluded, “[H]ad the jury in this case been
properly instructed, it would have been given a definition of first degree murder that, when
combined with the instructions on conspiracy, would make clear the State must prove
defendant intended that her husband *** be killed.” Id. at 14, 805 N.E.2d at 1198. With
respect to the second question, the court noted that the essential disputed issue in that case
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was whether the defendant intended that her husband be killed. Id.
¶ 31 Finally, in resolving the issue of plain error for the omitted definitional instruction, the
court noted that “the evidence on the issue of defendant’s intent was overwhelming.” Id. at
15, 805 N.E.2d at 1198. The court highlighted evidence that the defendant participated in
numerous discussions about killing her husband and criticized various methods of killing
him. Id. The court also noted that the evidence presented at the trial included the defendant’s
videotaped statement. Id. The court stated, “The mere fact that defendant offered an
exculpatory explanation for her conduct is insufficient to show that it is likely that the jury
concluded that the State failed to prove that defendant intended that [her husband] be killed.”
Id. Rather, “[t]he evidence on the disputed issue, whether defendant intended that [her
husband] be killed, was overwhelming.” Id. at 18, 805 N.E.2d at 1200. Therefore, the
omission of the definitional instruction did “not rise to the level of plain error.” Id. at 19, 805
N.E.2d at 1200.
¶ 32 Likewise, in the present case, we must examine whether the omission of the attempt
definitional instruction created “a serious risk that the jurors incorrectly convicted the
defendant because they did not understand the applicable law, so as to severely threaten the
fairness of the trial.” Id. at 8, 805 N.E.2d at 1194. “This standard is a difficult one to meet.”
People v. Sargent, 239 Ill. 2d 166, 191, 940 N.E.2d 1045, 1059 (2010).
¶ 33 We will begin our analysis, as the supreme court did in Hopp, by answering the two
preliminary questions: (1) what would a correct instruction have told the jury and (2) what
was the essential disputed issue in the case? Concerning the first question, as noted above,
the correct instruction would have told the jury that a person commits the offense of attempt
when he, with the intent to commit the underlying offense, does any act which constitutes
a substantial step toward the commission of that offense. Therefore, had the jury in this case
been properly instructed, it would have been given a definition of attempt that, when
combined with the instructions on attempted possession of anhydrous ammonia, would make
clear that the State must prove a “substantial step” as an element of that offense.
¶ 34 With respect to the second question, the evidence at the trial established that the essential
disputed issue in this case involved whether the defendant was accountable for the actions
of Swango–whether the defendant, with the intent to promote or facilitate the commission
of attempted possession of anhydrous ammonia, knowingly solicited, aided, abetted, agreed
to aid, or attempted to aid Swango in the planning or his commission of attempted possession
of anhydrous ammonia.
¶ 35 The evidence presented at the trial included statements the defendant made to the
arresting officers, admitting that she drove Swango to the fertilizer plant to aid him in his
attempt to possess anhydrous ammonia for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine.
She told the officers that she drove Swango to the fertilizer plant for that specific purpose
and, in return, Swango agreed to give her gas money, cigarettes, and some of the
methamphetamine manufactured with the anhydrous ammonia that Swango attempted to
possess. The defendant, however, testified that she agreed to give Swango a ride to his
girlfriend’s house, that Swango directed her to drive down some country roads, and that she
did not know what was going on until Swango jumped out of the car and ran toward the
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anhydrous ammonia tanks at the plant. She testified that, at that point, she just wanted to get
out of there and go home.
¶ 36 Accordingly, the essential issue at the trial did not concern any “attempt” aspect of the
offense with respect to the defendant’s conduct, but instead concerned the defendant’s
accountability based on her aiding and abetting Swango in his attempt. This essential issue
concerned IPI Criminal 4th No. 5.03, the accountability instruction, which was properly
given to the jury.
¶ 37 With the answers to the two preliminary questions in mind, we turn to the issue of
whether the omission of the attempt definitional instruction created “a serious risk that the
jurors incorrectly convicted the defendant because they did not understand the applicable
law, so as to severely threaten the fairness of the trial.” Hopp, 209 Ill. 2d at 8, 805 N.E.2d at
1194. It did not.
¶ 38 Because the defendant was found guilty based on an accountability theory, the evidence
relevant to the offense of attempted possession of anhydrous ammonia is the evidence
surrounding Swango’s attempt to possess anhydrous ammonia, not the defendant’s. Similar
to Hopp, the evidence relevant to the “substantial step” taken by Swango to possess
anhydrous ammonia was overwhelming. In addition, in the present case, it was also
undisputed.
¶ 39 Woodard testified about staking out the anhydrous ammonia tanks at the fertilizer plant.
He saw the defendant drive up in her car (evidence of the defendant aiding and abetting) and
saw Swango jump out of the car and run toward the anhydrous ammonia tanks with a bag in
his possession (evidence of Swango’s substantial step). Woodard tried to quietly approach
Swango near the tanks, but as Woodard got closer, Swango dropped his bag and took off
running. Both Swango and the bag were taken into police custody. Inside Swango’s bag,
Woodard found a propane tank that had been modified in a way that was commonly used for
stealing anhydrous ammonia. None of the evidence concerning Swango’s substantial step to
possess anhydrous ammonia was disputed at the trial. Instead, it was corroborated by the
defendant’s own testimony. Accordingly, on the issue of attempted possession of anhydrous
ammonia, evidence of Swango’s “substantial step” was overwhelming and was not a
disputed issue during the trial. The disputed issue at the trial concerned the defendant’s
accountability for Swango’s actions, and the jury was properly instructed with the
accountability instruction. Therefore, the omission of the attempt definitional instruction did
“not rise to the level of plain error.” Hopp, 209 Ill. 2d at 19, 805 N.E.2d at 1200. There is no
danger that the jury incorrectly convicted the defendant, because it was not instructed
concerning Swango’s “substantial step” to unlawfully possess anhydrous ammonia.
¶ 40 The next issues the defendant raises on appeal concern credits for her presentence
custody. She argues that her mittimus should be amended to grant her credit against her
sentence of imprisonment for three days of confinement prior to the trial. In addition, the
defendant argues that she should receive a $15 credit against her drug fine, a credit of $5 per
day for each day she was in custody prior to her sentencing. The State concedes that the
defendant is entitled to three days’ credit and a total credit of $15 against her drug fine, but
it argues that she has already received two days’ credit and a $10 credit and, therefore, is
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entitled to only one more day of credit and another $5 credit toward her drug fine. The State
seeks to supplement the record with postappeal documents reflecting that the defendant has
been credited with two days of sentencing credit and a $10 reduction in her drug fine. We
ordered the State’s motion to supplement the record to be taken with the case.
¶ 41 Because the parties agree concerning the total number of days of credit (three) and the
total dollar amount of credit ($15) for the defendant’s presentence custody, we do not need
to grant the State’s motion to supplement the record. Accordingly, the State’s motion to
supplement the record is denied. We modify the defendant’s sentencing order, without
remand, to reflect a total of three days’ credit for time served in presentence custody and to
reflect a total of $15 in credit against her drug fine. See People v. McCreary, 393 Ill. App.
3d 402, 409, 915 N.E.2d 745, 750 (2009).
¶ 42 The final argument that the defendant raises on appeal is that the $25 assessment for the
State Police Services Fund pursuant to section 5-9-1.1-5 of the Unified Code of Corrections
(730 ILCS 5/5-9-1.1-5 (West Supp. 2009)) took effect on January 1, 2010, subsequent to the
date of the offense. Accordingly, the defendant argues that the circuit court improperly
imposed the $25 assessment pursuant to that statute. The State confesses that if the fine has
been assessed, it should not have been. Accordingly, we further modify the defendant’s
sentencing order to reflect that the defendant is not to be assessed $25 pursuant to section 5-
9-1.1-5.
¶ 43 CONCLUSION
¶ 44 For the foregoing reasons, the defendant’s conviction for attempted possession of
anhydrous ammonia is hereby affirmed. The defendant’s sentence is affirmed as modified.
¶ 45 Affirmed as modified; motion denied.
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