People v. Hoekstra ( 2007 )

No. 2--05--0443 Filed 2/22/07
IN THE
APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
SECOND DISTRICT
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE ) Appeal from the Circuit Court
OF ILLINOIS, ) of Stephenson County.
)
Plaintiff-Appellee, )
)
v. ) No. 03--CF--178
)
ROGER J. HOEKSTRA, ) Honorable
) Charles R. Hartman,
Defendant-Appellant. ) Judge, Presiding.
PRESIDING JUSTICE GROMETER delivered the opinion of the court:
Defendant, Roger J. Hoekstra, filed a pro se postconviction petition (see 725 ILCS 5/122--1
et seq. (West 2004)) in the circuit court of Stephenson County, alleging that his attorney rendered
ineffective assistance at trial. Defendant had previously entered a guilty plea to a charge of burglary
(720 ILCS 5/19--1 (West 2004)) and was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment. Defendant also
asserts that the mittimus should be amended. The circuit court found that the petition did not state
the gist of a meritorious claim and dismissed it. Defendant now appeals, and, for the reasons that
follow, we affirm.
This case arose from a burglary that occurred at Mr. Ed's tavern in Winslow, Illinois. The
establishment's owner, Ed Metz, awoke when he heard a noise coming from his bar, which is
adjacent to his residence. He entered the bar and observed defendant flee through the back door.
Metz went to the back door and saw defendant enter a van. The van departed to the north. He called
No. 2--05--0443
the sheriff's department, and a deputy was dispatched at about 3:52 a.m. At 4:02 a.m., a van was
stopped by Green County deputies, who took defendant into custody. In addition to defendant,
another individual was in the van. Green County is in Wisconsin. Stephenson County deputies took
custody of defendant and transported him to Mr. Ed's. Metz identified defendant. Additional facts
will be presented below as they pertain to the issues defendant raises.
Defendant claims that trial counsel was ineffective for two related reasons. First, he argues
that trial counsel should have filed a motion to quash his arrest and suppress evidence because no
reasonable suspicion existed to justify a Terry stop at the time he was first detained. Second, he
asserts that trial counsel erred in failing to file a motion to quash and suppress based on the facts that
Illinois deputies took him into custody in Wisconsin and transported him back to Illinois. Regarding
the latter point, defendant claims that the Illinois deputies lacked authority to act in Wisconsin and
that extradition procedures should have been followed.
This case comes to us following the summary dismissal of a postconviction petition, so
review is de novo. People v. Simms, 192 Ill. 2d 348, 360 (2000). Following the filing of a
postconviction petition, a trial court may, within 90 days, dismiss it if it is frivolous or patently
without merit. People v. Jones, 211 Ill. 2d 140, 144 (2004). To survive dismissal at this stage, the
petition need present only the gist of a constitutional claim. People v. Gaultney,174 Ill. 2d 410, 418
(1996). This is a low standard, and a petitioner need present only a limited amount of detail and
need not support the claim with legal argument or citation to authority. People v. Edwards, 197 Ill.
2d 239, 244 (2001). All well-pleaded factual allegations contained in the petition are to be taken as
true. People v. Williams, 364 Ill. App. 3d 1017, 1022 (2006). The Post-Conviction Hearing Act
(725 ILCS 5/122--1 et seq. (West 2004)) provides a remedy for substantial violations of a
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defendant's rights under either the state or the federal constitution. People v. Leason, 352 Ill. App.
3d 450, 453 (2004).
Since both of defendant's claims allege the ineffective assistance of counsel, the standards
set forth in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674, 104 S. Ct. 2052 (1984), apply.
People v. Albanese, 104 Ill. 2d 504, 526-27 (1984). To succeed on such a claim, a defendant must
show both that his counsel's performance "fell below an objective standard of reasonableness"
(Strickland, 466 U.S. at 688, 80 L. Ed. 2d at 693, 104 S. Ct. at 2064) and that "there is a reasonable
probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been
different." Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694, 80 L. Ed. 2d at 698, 104 S. Ct. at 2068. To satisfy the first
portion of the Strickland test, a defendant must show that his attorney's performance fell below an
objective standard as measured by prevailing professional norms. People v. Spann, 332 Ill. App. 3d
425, 430 (2002). There is a strong presumption, which a defendant must overcome, that counsel's
performance "falls within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance." People v. Miller,
346 Ill. App. 3d 972, 982 (2004). Decisions involving judgment, strategy, or trial tactics will not
support a claim of ineffective assistance. People v. Lindsey, 324 Ill. App. 3d 193, 197 (2001).
Regarding the prejudice portion of the analysis, a defendant, following a guilty plea, need
demonstrate only a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's errors, he or she would have
refrained from entering a guilty plea and insisted on proceeding to trial. Miller, 346 Ill. App. 3d at
982.
We will first address defendant's claim that trial counsel should have filed a motion to quash
and suppress based on the lack of reasonable suspicion to conduct a Terry stop. Under Terry v.
Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 20 L. Ed. 2d 889, 88 S. Ct. 1868 (1968), and its progeny, a police officer may
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briefly detain an individual to investigate potential criminal conduct if he or she has a reasonable and
articulable suspicion that criminal activity is afoot. People v. Hubbard, 341 Ill. App. 3d 911, 915
(2003). In determining whether a detention was warranted, a court must consider the totality of the
circumstances, viewed from a commonsense perspective. Hubbard, 341 Ill. App. 3d at 915. A
reasonable suspicion is more than a hunch, but it is less than probable cause and far less than proof
by a preponderance of the evidence. United States v. Sokolow, 490 U.S. 1, 7, 104 L. Ed. 2d 1, 10,
109 S. Ct. 1581, 1585 (1989). The analysis is objective, requiring the court to assess whether "the
facts available to the officer at the moment of the [stop would] ' "warrant a man of reasonable
caution in the belief" that the action taken was appropriate.' [Citation]." People v. Moss, 217 Ill.
2d 511, 529 (2005).
Two additional principles guide our inquiry. First, the collective knowledge of all of the
officers involved in the apprehension of defendant may be considered in determining whether a
reasonable suspicion existed. See People v. Fox, 155 Ill. App. 3d 256, 263 (1987) ("Where officers
are working together, the knowledge of each is the knowledge of all, and the arresting officer has the
right to rely on the knowledge of the officer giving the command together with his own personal
knowledge. [Citations.] Probable cause for an arrest may be established on the basis of all the
information by the officers working in concert [citations], and, even if such knowledge is not told
to the arresting officer, it may be considered by the trial court in determining whether there was
probable cause so long as such information was somehow placed in the record [citation]"). Second,
any actions defendant took prior to the time he submitted to the authority of the police officers who
initially stopped him may also be considered in determining whether the police had a reasonable
suspicion of criminal activity to justify the stop. People v. Brodack, 296 Ill. App. 3d 71, 75 (1998)
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("In other words, absent physical force, a police show of authority in activating lights and siren does
not amount to a stop until the defendant submits to the show of authority").
Defendant relies on one allegation in arguing that his counsel rendered ineffective assistance
at trial in this regard. Defendant points out that Richard Roodhouse, a Stephenson County deputy,
testified that Metz stated that the person he chased from his tavern got into a blue van. The van
defendant was in was actually green. If this were the only relevant fact, we would likely agree with
defendant. However, the record reveals other facts that the police could have relied on in stopping
defendant. The stop occurred shortly after the burglary and about nine miles away from Mr. Ed's.
That a defendant is stopped in the vicinity of a crime shortly after it occurred has been held to be
indicative of a reasonable suspicion that the defendant had committed the crime. People v. Hubbard,
341 Ill. App. 3d 911, 915 (2003). While many cases that rely upon this factor in support of a finding
of reasonable suspicion involve distances of much less than nine miles, in People v. Mascarenas, 666
P.2d 101, 108 (Colo. 1983), the Supreme Court of Colorado found that a reasonable suspicion
existed where the defendant was found 17 miles from a crime scene. Indeed, one Illinois case found
that, despite the passage of four hours, the fact that the defendant was located five miles from the
scene of a crime was a factor in finding that probable cause existed to arrest the defendant. People
v. Williamson, 319 Ill. App. 3d 891, 898 (2001).
Moreover, we note that defendant was stopped at about 4 a.m. in an area that is not populous.
We take judicial notice that the population of Stephenson County is under 50,000 and the population
of Green County is about 35,000. DiModica v. Department of Employment Security, 164 Ill. App.
3d 445, 448 (1987) (court may judicially notice population). That the van was stopped in the middle
of the night in an area that was not very populous indicates that there were likely not many other
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similar vehicles in the vicinity. Cf. People v. Dyer, 141 Ill. App. 3d 326, 331 (1986) (rural setting
and absence of other vehicles in area contributed to officer's reasonable suspicion); People v. Waln,
120 Ill. App. 3d 73, 77 (1983) (despite absence of description of vehicles, officer justified in
stopping the only two cars he observed in the area). Additionally, Metz stated that the van departed
in a northerly direction. Defendant was apprehended in Wisconsin, which is north of Illinois. That
the van was observed moving in the direction it was reported to be heading further strengthens the
basis that the Green County deputies had for stopping it. People v. Bujdud, 177 Ill. App. 3d 396, 402
(1988) (considering fact that officer observed vehicle coming from direction of crime as contributing
to basis for Terry stop); People v. Jackson, 145 Ill. App. 3d 789, 793 (1986) ("In addition, [the police
officer's] first sighting of the van coincided in time, distance and direction with the information from
the radio messages").
Defendant's behavior immediately preceding the seizure also contributed to a reasonable
suspicion that he had committed a crime. As we noted previously, all information prior to the time
a defendant submits to the authority of a police officer may be considered in determining whether
a reasonable suspicion exists. Brodack, 296 Ill. App. 3d at 75; Village of Gurnee v. Gross, 174 Ill.
App. 3d 66, 70 (1988) ("We conclude, however, that the reckless driving complaint to the police
department, Officer Agos' observation of defendant's car, which matched the description, license
number and general location of the car in corroboration of the complaint, coupled with defendant's
lack of response to the officer's request to pull his car over, were sufficient to permit an investigatory
stop" (emphasis added)). As the Green County deputies were attempting to stop it, a jacket and a
pair of gloves were thrown from the van. That the occupants of the van were discarding clothing
leads to a strong inference that they were trying to conceal something, namely their identities, if they
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feared that the clothing could be identified, or the clothing itself, if it was stolen. We can conceive
of no innocent reason to be discarding such items from a moving vehicle. Parenthetically, we note
that littering is an offense in Wisconsin (Wis. Stat. Ann. §287.81 (West 2002)), which would have
provided an independent basis for a seizure. See City of Milwaukee v. Nelson, 149 Wis. 2d 434,
458, 439 N.W.2d 562, 571 (1989).
Finally, we do not find persuasive defendant's argument that Metz's description of the van
as blue, as opposed to green, would have invalidated the stop. Quite simply, it was night, and, in the
dark, both green and blue may be viewed as dark colors. The District of Columbia Court of Appeals
has aptly observed that "a mistake regarding an item's color when 'observations occurred in the early
hours of the morning under artificial lighting conditions' would not be deemed fatal where points of
similarity exist." Umanzor v. United States, 803 A.2d 983, 996 (D.C. App. 2002), quoting Brown
v. United States, 590 A.2d 1008, 1019 (D.C. App. 1991). In fact, a North Carolina court found that
a witness's description of a car as blue or green was a factor that supported a conviction. State v.
Carroll, 85 N.C. App. 696, 701, 355 S.E.2d 844, 847 (1987). Contrary to defendant's argument, we
believe that Metz's description of the van as blue, though it was actually green, was yet another factor
that made it reasonable for the Green County deputies to effect a stop.
In sum, on this issue, defendant has not set forth the gist of a constitutional claim that his
counsel was ineffective. The failure to file a motion that would have been futile does not constitute
ineffectiveness. People v. Wilson, 164 Ill. 2d 436, 454 (1994). More importantly, the decision
regarding whether to file a motion is typically a matter of trial strategy and is entitled to great
deference. Wilson, 164 Ill. 2d at 454-55. That the stop of defendant was not challenged based on
the discrepancy between the description Metz gave and the actual color of the van is simply
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inadequate to establish that trial counsel's performance fell below an objective standard of
reasonableness. Accordingly, we reject defendant's argument on this point.
Defendant also contends that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to file a motion to quash
and suppress based on the fact that Illinois law enforcement personnel entered Wisconsin, took
defendant into custody, and transported him back to Illinois. Defendant essentially makes two
complaints. First, he contends that the deputies from Illinois lacked the authority to take custody of
him in Wisconsin. Second, he asserts that he was illegally transported across the state line. We find
both arguments ill-taken.
We reject defendant's proposition that Illinois police lacked the authority to take him into
custody in Wisconsin. The trial court, in dismissing defendant's postconviction petition, relied on
State v. Slawek, 114 Wis. 2d 332, 338 N.W.2d 120 (Wis. App. 1983), a case that recognized the
ability of a law enforcement officer in Illinois to make a citizens arrest in Wisconsin. Defendant
distinguishes Slawek by pointing out that it involved the actual witnessing of a crime and the
subsequent arrest by Illinois officers, while the instant case involves only taking custody of defendant
after an arrest had already been made by law enforcement personnel from Wisconsin. We agree with
defendant that Slawek is not directly on point. However, we also note that defendant cites nothing
to suggest that an Illinois police officer could not enter Wisconsin, take custody of a subject, and
return him to Illinois. Since defendant cites nothing in support of the proposition that an Illinois law
enforcement officer lacks the authority to enter another state and bring a suspect back to Illinois,1
1
Defendant does cite section 107--4 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (725 ILCS
5/107--4 (West 2002)), which concerns the authority of law enforcement officers of this state to
make arrests in other jurisdictions of this state as well as the authority of law enforcement officers
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this argument is waived. People v. Acevedo, 191 Ill. App. 3d 364, 365 (1989). In any event, it
appears meritless in light of Slawek.
Defendant also argues that his rights were violated when he was returned to Illinois across
the state line. He cites the Uniform Criminal Extradition Act (Act) (725 ILCS 225/1 et seq. (West
2002)) to this effect. In essence, then, defendant's complaint is that he was moved from Wisconsin
to Illinois without proper extradition procedures being followed. It has, however, been held that the
failure of defense counsel to raise irregularities in the extradition process is not per se evidence of
incompetence. People v. Cartee, 86 Ill. App. 3d 895, 900 (1980); see also People v. Simmons, 67
Ill. App. 3d 1045, 1054-55 (1978).
Moreover, it is well established that the fact that a fugitive is returned to the state by improper
means does not impair the jurisdiction of the court to try the fugitive. People v. Pardo, 47 Ill. 2d 420,
423 (1970); People v. Klinger, 319 Ill. 275, 279 (1925); Cartee, 86 Ill. App. 3d at 900. Thus, it is
not enough for defendant simply to point to the manner in which he was returned to Illinois. That
alone provides no basis for undoing his conviction. Defendant, however, argues not that the trial
court lacked jurisdiction over him; rather, he asserts that the failure to comply with proper
extradition procedures could have formed the basis for a motion to quash his arrest and suppress
evidence flowing therefrom and that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to file such a motion.
The problem with defendant's argument, however, is that the extradition clause of the federal
constitution creates no individual rights. The clause itself states:
of other states to conduct arrests within Illinois. As this case involves an Illinois officer taking
custody of a suspect in a foreign state, section 107--4 is not on point. This citation is the only
authority defendant provides in support of this portion of his argument.
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"A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other Crime, who shall flee
from Justice, and be found in another State, shall on Demand of the executive Authority of
the State from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the State having Jurisdiction
of the Crime." U.S. Const., art. IV, §2, cl. 2.
Thus, it does not purport "to confer any right on the fugitive." Barton v. Norrod, 106 F.3d 1289,
1297 (6th Cir. 1997). Instead, " 'the extradition clause is a procedural provision which does not
conflict with or affect any provision of the constitution or its amendments protecting the rights of
individuals.' " People ex rel. Hogan v. Ogilvie, 35 Ill. 2d 95, 97 (1966), quoting People ex rel.
Gilbert v. Babb, 415 Ill. 349, 357 (1953). The clause confers rights and duties upon states rather
than individuals. See Klinger, 319 Ill. at 278 ("The right of the Governor of the asylum State to
decline to honor a demand for extradition is a right of the State, and is in nowise based on the
personal right of the fugitive, and where no objection is made by the court or authorities who have
jurisdiction over the fugitive, he has no right to object to the exercise of jurisdiction over him by the
court of another State. When the requisition has been honored and the fugitive surrendered
thereunder, such surrender will operate as a waiver of jurisdiction of the asylum State"); see also
People v. Boswell, 148 Ill. App. 3d 915, 917 (1986) ("[E]xtradition of fugitives from justice is an
absolute right of the demanding State"). In fact, a state may, if it so chooses, "provide for the
surrender of fugitives on terms less exacting than those imposed by Federal law." People ex rel.
Dimas v. Shimp, 83 Ill. App. 3d 150, 154 (1980).
Similarly, defendant's citation to the Act (725 ILCS 225/1 et seq. (West 2002)) is of no avail.
Defendant makes only a general citation to the Act and does not explain how a violation of the Act
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would warrant the remedy of quashing and suppression. We are aware of no case law that would
support defendant's position, and defendant does not call our attention to any.
Since the extradition clause provides defendant with no rights, and since the Act does not
provide such a remedy, it is difficult to see how an irregularity in the extradition process could
provide a basis for the suppression of evidence.2 Any attempt by trial counsel to secure the
suppression of evidence by invoking that clause would have necessarily failed. As such, trial
counsel's failure to file a motion on this basis cannot be deemed ineffective assistance of counsel.
Finally, we address defendant's contention that the mittimus needs to be amended and
clarified. He asserts that since he was convicted of a Class 2 felony, even though he was sentenced
as a Class X offender, he is required to serve only two years' supervised release. See 730 ILCS 5/5--
8--1(d) (West 2002). The State agrees that defendant need complete only two years' supervised
release. The Department of Corrections (DOC) website, however, shows that defendant is scheduled
to complete three years' supervised release. Defendant asks that the mittimus be amended to clearly
state that he was convicted of a Class 2 felony and need serve only two years' supervised release.
The State contends that this is not necessary, for the mittimus clearly states that defendant was
convicted of a Class 2 felony, and the error was made not by the court system but by the DOC. We
agree with the State; the mittimus is clear. Defendant should therefore raise this error with the DOC
rather than with us.
2
Analogously, the suppression of evidence under the fourth amendment may be accomplished
only by an individual whose rights have been violated. People v. Taylor, 245 Ill. App. 3d 602, 609
(1993). In this instance, there is simply no right upon which defendant can base his claim that
counsel should have filed a motion to quash arrest and suppress evidence.
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In light of the foregoing, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court of Stephenson County
dismissing defendant's postconviction petition. Neither of the issues he advances sets forth the gist
of a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel.
Affirmed.
HUTCHINSON and CALLUM, JJ., concur.
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