People v. Jaimes ( 2014 )

2014 IL App (2d) 121368
No. 2-12-1368
Opinion filed November 6, 2014
______________________________________________________________________________
IN THE
APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
SECOND DISTRICT
______________________________________________________________________________
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE ) Appeal from the Circuit Court
OF ILLINOIS, ) of Winnebago County.
)
Plaintiff-Appellee, )
)
v. ) No. 10-CF-1621
)
RICARDO JAIMES, ) Honorable
) John R. Truitt,
Defendant-Appellant. ) Judge, Presiding.
______________________________________________________________________________
JUSTICE SCHOSTOK delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
Justices Jorgensen and Birkett concurred in the judgment and opinion.
OPINION
¶1 Following a jury trial, the defendant, Ricardo Jaimes, was convicted of first degree
murder (720 ILCS 5/9-1(a)(1) (West 2010)) and attempted first-degree murder (720 ILCS 5/8-
4(a), 9-1(a)(1), (West 2010)). He was sentenced to a total of 70 years’ imprisonment. On
appeal, the defendant argues that: (1) he was not convicted beyond a reasonable doubt; (2) the
trial court erred in admitting gang-related evidence; and (3) he was deprived of the effective
assistance of counsel. We affirm.
¶2 BACKGROUND
¶3 On June 23, 2010, the defendant and his brother Isaac were charged by indictment with
the first-degree murder (720 ILCS 5/9-1(a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3) (West 2010)) of Demarkis Robinson
2014 IL App (2d) 121368
and the attempted first-degree murder (720 ILCS 5/8-4(a), 9-1(a)(1) (West 2010)) of William
Patrick. The trial court granted the defendant’s motion to sever the brothers’ trials.
¶4 Between September 24 and 27, 2012, the trial court conducted a jury trial. The State’s
evidence established that Patrick had prior convictions of mob action and possession of a firearm
without a firearm owner’s identification (FOID) card and that he was a member of the Insane
Unknowns street gang. That gang was a rival of the Latin Kings. Robinson was his close friend
and also a member of the Insane Unknowns.
¶5 On May 27, 2010, Patrick and his aunt, Wanda Perez, were visiting his grandmother’s
house at 1129 6th Avenue in Rockford. Robinson was also there. Robinson spent time on the
front porch with Patrick, Perez, and other family members. While on the porch, Perez noticed a
gray Tahoe sport utility vehicle (SUV) quickly approach and then stop near the 8th Street and 6th
Avenue intersection. Because its approach grabbed her attention, she told Patrick and Robinson
to watch the SUV. Patrick watched it drive past the house slowly, with the driver’s side of the
vehicle facing the house. Perez momentarily played with her phone, but when she looked up she
noticed the driver make a hand gesture with two fingers pointing downward. Perez did not
closely view the vehicle’s occupants. Perez believed that the gesture was a gang sign. Both
Robinson and Patrick were present when the gesture was made. Patrick explained that the hand
gesture was an act of disrespect to the Insane Unknowns. Then, Patrick observed the driver
display a gang sign for the Latin Kings. Patrick testified that the driver’s hand gestures were
grounds to start a fight.
¶6 Patrick took his nieces into the house because “anything could start to happen.” The
Tahoe was traveling toward 7th Street, but Robinson and Patrick walked toward 9th Street.
Shortly after Robinson and Patrick left, Perez heard what sounded like one close gunshot. She
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then called Robinson’s father, Samuel, and told him that she heard a gunshot and that Robinson
and Patrick were running toward his house. The call was made at 3 p.m.
¶7 Patrick and Robinson passed through an alley and turned onto 5th Avenue. When they
exited the alley 15 to 20 minutes after first seeing the Tahoe, Patrick, while speaking on his
phone, saw the Tahoe, with the same driver, pass them very slowly. Patrick observed that the
passenger had a bandana around his face, which signified to Patrick that the occupants of the
Tahoe were going to start shooting. Patrick picked up a brick and threw it at the Tahoe so that it
would keep moving. Geraldine Horton was walking by as this occurred. (Horton had previously
been convicted of drug-related charges and she had other charges pending against her.) She
heard glass break and saw the SUV stop a few feet before a stop sign. Lacressa Dangel was
driving by as this occurred. (Dangel had previously been convicted of prostitution, theft, and
drug-related charges. She also had traffic charges pending against her.) Dangel felt and saw
something hit the back of her car on her northbound journey along 9th Street, between 2:45 and 3
p.m. She stopped her car north of 5th Avenue and saw a silver SUV facing west on 5th Avenue.
She observed the scene unfold through her rearview mirror.
¶8 Horton, Patrick, and Dangel watched as: (1) the Tahoe’s passenger door opened; (2) a
passenger exited and walked toward the back of the vehicle; and (3) the passenger used two
hands to hold, point, and fire a firearm four or five times. Dangel believed that the gun looked
like a skinny BB gun and that the shooter was a Hispanic male. Patrick believed that the firearm
looked like a rifle, and he heard five to eight shots fired. He ducked behind a tree, and Robinson
veered off into an alleyway.
¶9 After the passenger stopped firing, he returned inside the waiting vehicle, and the vehicle
sped off down 5th Avenue. Horton saw the driver as he passed; his eyes were wide open, and he
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gripped the steering wheel with locked and tensed arms. Horton later told the police that the
driver looked scared. At trial, she testified that the driver was surprised to see her. She
described both the driver and the passenger as Hispanic.
¶ 10 In response to the phone call from Perez, Samuel ran toward the area where the shots
were fired. About 15 to 20 minutes later, Samuel found Robinson’s shirt and then saw Robinson
lying naked under a faucet. Samuel picked up the clothing from the yard and brought it to his
son. Samuel saw that Robinson was in and out of consciousness and he called 911. Robinson
then told Samuel, “that damn Richard shot me.” From a previous discussion with his son,
Samuel had learned that Richard and Robinson had been in a fight at Rockford East High
School, Richard was a Latin King who attended East High School, and Robinson had
encountered Richard at Perez’s mother’s house a month before the shooting.
¶ 11 Police officers responded to the scene and discovered five spent .22-caliber shell casings
in the street. The casings were run over and deformed, but they were in a small grouping.
Robinson was transported to SwedishAmerican Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
¶ 12 On May 28, 2010, Dr. Mark Peters performed an autopsy on Robinson. Dr. Peters opined
that Robinson died of a gunshot wound to the abdomen that caused internal bleeding,
hemorrhagic shock, and blood loss. Though such an injury could cause instant death, a person
could walk and live with such an injury for 30 minutes before dying. Dr. Peters recovered from
Robinson’s body a bullet that appeared consistent with .22-caliber ammunition.
¶ 13 On May 28, 2010, Patrick spoke to Rockford police officers about the incident and gave
his statement. He was upset, shaking, and crying. In his statement, Patrick did not mention that
he threw a brick at the silver Tahoe or that Robinson walked up to the vehicle and spoke to the
occupants. Though he had not seen the driver before, Patrick knew that the driver was a Latin
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King, based upon the display of the Latin Kings’ gang sign. From a photo array, Patrick
identified the defendant as the driver of the Tahoe and Isaac as the shooter.
¶ 14 Also on May 28, 2010, Rockford police officers interviewed Dangel. She identified Isaac
as the shooter. She was not able to identify the driver of the vehicle.
¶ 15 On May 29, 2010, the police arrested both the defendant and Isaac. The police
discovered the defendant’s Tahoe at the house where he was arrested. When the Tahoe was
inspected, the police found a spent .22-caliber casing under the rear passenger seat.
¶ 16 Patrick and Perez subsequently identified the defendant’s Tahoe as the one they saw on
the day of the shooting. Both Horton and Dangel told the police that the defendant’s Tahoe
looked like the one involved in the shooting.
¶ 17 Illinois State Police forensic scientist David Welte compared the five spent cartridges
found on the street with the one found in the Tahoe. He concluded that all six casings were fired
from the same .22-caliber firearm. Although he determined that the bullet recovered from
Robinson was the same caliber as the six casings, he could not determine if it was fired from the
same firearm, because, as the firearm used in the shooting was never recovered, he was not able
to compare it to that firearm.
¶ 18 On February 7, 2011, Patrick went to the office of the defendant’s attorney, David Vella.
He was accompanied by someone who identified himself as a Vice Lord from Chicago. Patrick
told Vella that the written statement he had given to the police was false and that he had laughed
when it was read. He told Vella that he could not identify the driver or the shooter, because
hoods and masks covered their faces. At trial, Patrick testified that his statement to Vella was
false and that he had made it because he had been threatened.
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¶ 19 In September 2012, Patrick told an assistant State’s Attorney that he did not want to
testify. Patrick explained that people had threatened him. He was concerned about his safety.
Patrick indicated that he could still identify the driver of the Tahoe from a photo array, but not
the shooter. (At trial, he testified that he could identify the shooter as well.) Patrick also made
no reference to Robinson talking to the occupants of the Tahoe. (At trial, he testified that
Robinson and the occupants said a couple of words when the vehicle first pulled up.)
¶ 20 The State introduced evidence that the defendant was a Latin King. Specifically, Gary
Anderson, a Winnebago County corrections officer, said that the defendant told him that he was
a Latin King and that he needed to be segregated from other gangs. The State also introduced
testimony from Rockford police officer Marc Posley, an expert on street gangs. He explained
the significance of gang members’ hand gestures and their rivalries with other gangs.
¶ 21 Following the denial of his motion for a directed verdict, the defendant presented two
witnesses. Rockford police officer Courtney Tillman Listhrup, a school liaison officer at East
High School, testified that on May 14, 2010, Isaac complained to her that someone had broken
the driver’s-side and rear windows of his Chevy Suburban. Officer Jeffrey Schroder was called
to impeach Patrick’s testimony.
¶ 22 At the close of the trial, the jury found the defendant guilty of first-degree murder and
attempted first-degree murder. Following the denial of his posttrial motion, the trial court
sentenced the defendant to a total of 70 years’ imprisonment. The defendant thereafter filed a
timely notice of appeal.
¶ 23 ANALYSIS
¶ 24 The defendant’s first contention on appeal is that he was not convicted beyond a
reasonable doubt. Specifically, the defendant argues that the State failed to prove that he was
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present at the shooting or that he possessed the requisite intent for convictions of the charged
offenses.
¶ 25 It is not the province of this court to retry the defendant. People v. Collins, 106 Ill. 2d
237, 261 (1985). The relevant question is “ ‘whether, after viewing the evidence in the light
most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential
elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.’ ” (Emphasis in original.) Id. (quoting
Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979)). “The sufficiency of the evidence and the relative
weight and credibility to be given the testimony of the witnesses are considerations within the
exclusive jurisdiction of the fact finder.” People v. Atherton, 406 Ill. App. 3d 598, 608 (2010).
The evaluation of the testimony and the resolution of any conflicts or inconsistencies that appear
are also wholly within the province of the finder of fact. Collins, 106 Ill. 2d at 261-62.
¶ 26 The offense of first-degree murder is shown when the State proves, beyond a reasonable
doubt, that, in performing the acts that cause the death of an individual, the defendant “either
intends to kill or do great bodily harm to that individual or another, or knows that such acts will
cause death to that individual or another.” 720 ILCS 5/9-1(a)(1) (West 2010).
¶ 27 The offense of attempted murder is shown when the State proves, beyond a reasonable
doubt, that the defendant, with the specific intent to kill, commits any act that constitutes a
substantial step toward the commission of murder. 720 ILCS 5/8-4, 9-1 (West 2010). The
question of a defendant’s intent is one of fact, to be determined by the trier of fact, and can be
inferred from the surrounding circumstances, such as the character of the attack, the use of a
deadly weapon, and the severity of injury. People v. Valentin, 347 Ill. App. 3d 946, 951 (2004).
¶ 28 Considering the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, we first address whether
the evidence established that the defendant was the driver of the vehicle involved in the shooting.
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We believe that it did. Patrick identified the defendant as the driver, one day after the murder
and at trial. Patrick and Dangel identified Isaac as the passenger. Patrick and Perez identified
the defendant’s vehicle as the one involved in the shooting. Horton and Dangel indicated that
the defendant’s vehicle looked similar to the one involved in the shooting. Further, a shell casing
found in the defendant’s vehicle matched the casings recovered at the crime scene. Based on this
evidence, the jury could reasonably conclude that (1) the defendant’s vehicle was at the shooting;
(2) Isaac was the passenger in the vehicle; and (3) the defendant was driving the vehicle.
¶ 29 In so ruling, we reject the defendant’s argument that, because Patrick gave numerous
accounts as to what occurred, and because of his bias against the Latin Kings, his testimony was
not credible. We note that all of the inconsistencies in his statements as well as his bias against
the Latin Kings were brought to the jury’s attention. Further, other than the statement that he
made to Vella, which the circumstances suggest was made under duress, he consistently
identified the defendant as the driver of the vehicle. It was within the purview of the jury to
determine that Patrick’s identification of the defendant was credible. See Collins, 106 Ill. 2d at
261-62.
¶ 30 We also reject the defendant’s argument that Patrick did not have a sufficient opportunity
to observe who was driving the vehicle. In assessing identification testimony, a court considers
the following factors: (1) the witness’s opportunity to view the criminal at the time of the crime;
(2) the witness’s degree of attention; (3) the accuracy of the witness’s prior description of the
criminal; (4) the witness’s level of certainty at the identification confrontation; and (5) the length
of time between the crime and the identification confrontation. Neil v. Biggers, 409 U.S. 188,
199-200 (1972); People v. Slim, 127 Ill. 2d 302, 307-08 (1989). The trier of fact determines the
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weight to be given identification testimony. People v. Calderon, 369 Ill. App. 3d 221, 232
(2006).
¶ 31 As to the first factor, Patrick twice encountered the defendant in daylight on a “hot, nice
day.” When the defendant first drove past Patrick and Robinson, the driver’s side of the vehicle
faced them and the windows were rolled down. Patrick saw the driver flash gang signs. Around
2:45 p.m., as Patrick exited the alley onto 5th Avenue while speaking on his phone, he saw the
Tahoe, with the same driver, slowly passing again. Thus, Patrick’s testimony demonstrated that
he observed the defendant prior to the shooting without any obstruction. See People v. Masse,
237 Ill. App. 3d 348, 354 (1992). Because Patrick had two chances to see the defendant in broad
daylight, the jury could reasonably conclude that Patrick had a sufficient opportunity to observe
the defendant.
¶ 32 As to the second factor, the defendant argues that Patrick’s degree of attention was
insufficient to allow him to make a positive identification of the defendant. Specifically, the
defendant contends that Patrick’s cell-phone use distracted him during the shooting. We note
that, although Patrick was using his cell phone during his second encounter with the vehicle, he
was not using it during the first encounter, when he observed the vehicle from the porch. The
jury could conclude that Patrick was paying sufficient attention to what was occurring so as to
identify the defendant.
¶ 33 As to the third factor—the accuracy of the witness’s description—there was no detailed
testimony. The record indicates only that Patrick described the events to police officers a day
after the shooting.
¶ 34 As to the fourth factor—the witness’s level of certainty—we note that Patrick identified
the defendant one day after the incident and again at trial. The defendant asserts that Patrick’s
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identification was uncertain, because his identification statements equivocated during the two-
year span before trial. However, the only time that Patrick could not identify the defendant was
when he gave a statement of recantation to Vella. Recantation statements are highly suspect and
unreliable. People v. Brooks, 187 Ill. 2d 91, 132 (1999). As such, the jury was free to reject
Patrick’s recantation statement and find sufficient certainty from his other statements and his
trial testimony.
¶ 35 Finally, as to the fifth factor—the length of time between the crime and the
identification—Patrick identified the defendant only one day after the murder occurred. This
clearly supports a finding that the identification was valid. Cf. Slim, 127 Ill. 2d at 313
(determining that identification made 11 days after crime supported finding that identification
was valid).
¶ 36 We next address the defendant’s argument that the State failed to prove the defendant
accountable for the offenses because it failed to present any evidence that the defendant intended
to aid and abet a murder and an attempted murder.
¶ 37 To sustain a conviction based upon an accountability theory, the State must establish that
the defendant: (1) solicited, ordered, abetted, or agreed or attempted to aid another in the
planning or commission of the offense; (2) participated before or during the commission of the
offense; and (3) had the concurrent, specific intent to promote or facilitate the commission of the
offense. 720 ILCS 5/5-2(c) (West 2010); People v. Craigen, 2013 IL App (2d) 111300, ¶ 33. To
prove intent, the State must present evidence that the defendant shared the criminal intent of the
principal or that there was a common criminal design. People v. Fernandez, 2014 IL 115527, ¶
13.
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¶ 38 While mere presence at the scene of a crime, alone, does not render a person accountable,
it is a factor that may be considered with other circumstances when the trier of fact determines
accountability. 720 ILCS 5/5-2(c) (West 2010). Other factors that may be considered are the
maintenance of a close affiliation with the companion after the commission of the crime, flight
from the scene, and the failure to report the crime. Craigen, 2013 IL App (2d) 111300, ¶ 33.
Active participation in the offense is not a requirement for guilt under a theory of accountability.
People v. Taylor, 164 Ill. 2d 131, 140 (1995). A jury can infer a defendant’s accountability from
his approving presence at the scene of the crime and from evidence of conduct showing a design
on the defendant’s part to aid in the offense. People v. Tinoco, 185 Ill. App. 3d 816, 823 (1989).
Further, to obtain a conviction based on accountability, the State must prove that the principal
actually committed the offense. People v. Chirchirillo, 393 Ill. App. 3d 916, 922 (2009).
¶ 39 Again, taking the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, we believe that the
jury could conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was guilty of murder and
attempted murder under a theory of accountability. The evidence indicates that the defendant
instigated the altercation when he disparaged the gang that Robinson and Patrick were in. Based
on Samuel’s testimony, the jury could find that the defendant knew that Robinson was in a rival
gang and that Robinson would find his hand gestures insulting. Patrick explained that the
defendant’s actions indicated that he was looking to start a fight. Consistent with this perceived
desire to start a fight, the defendant was driving very slowly while Isaac was wearing a bandana
around his face and holding a rifle. Patrick explained that Isaac’s wearing the bandana indicated
that he was about to start shooting. After Patrick threw a brick at the defendant’s vehicle, the
defendant stopped abruptly, which allowed Isaac to get out of the vehicle and shoot at both
Robinson and Patrick. The defendant drove away quickly after Isaac returned to the vehicle.
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Based on all of this evidence, the jury could reasonably infer that the defendant intended to aid
and abet the murder of Robinson and the attempted murder of Patrick.
¶ 40 In so ruling, we note that the defendant correctly points out that flashing gang symbols
does not by itself establish an intent to commit a crime. See People v. Gonzalez, 142 Ill. 2d 481,
485 (1991) (citing instances of flashing gang symbols that did not immediately precede violent
altercations). Similarly, a defendant’s knowledge that his passenger has a gun does not establish
by itself that the defendant approved of his passenger using that gun to commit a crime. See
People v. 186 Ill. 2d 439, 448 (1999) (driver found not guilty of aggravated discharge of a
firearm even when he knew that his passenger had a gun). However, in Gonzalez and Taylor, the
defendant’s actions were much less indicative of an intent to assist with the commission of a
crime. As set forth above, considering the totality of the defendant’s conduct in this case, the
jury could infer that the defendant aided and abetted Isaac in committing the charged crimes.
¶ 41 The defendant further argues that the State did not establish that he and Isaac were acting
in concert, because it did not establish that Isaac was in a gang. The defendant contends that, as
Isaac was the alleged principal in a “gang-related” shooting, Isaac’s lack of gang status was
relevant. Because there was no evidence that Isaac was a gang member, the defendant insists
that there is absolutely nothing that proves that he should have known that Isaac intended to step
out of the Tahoe and shoot at two people who were not his rivals.
¶ 42 Although the record does not establish that Isaac and the defendant were in the same
gang, the evidence does establish that the defendant and Isaac are brothers. The jury could
reasonably infer that Isaac and the defendant’s familial relationship was a basis for them to work
in concert. Moreover, even absent a shared gang affiliation, there was other evidence that
suggested that the defendant was aware of and approved of Isaac’s plan to shoot at the victims.
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As described above, the defendant instigated the altercation by flashing provocative gang
symbols at the victims. Shortly thereafter, the defendant was slowly driving by the victims while
Isaac was wearing a bandana across his face and was armed with a rifle. It would be counter to
human experience for the jury to conclude that the defendant was not aware that Isaac was about
to commit a crime. See People v. Calahan, 272 Ill. App. 3d 293, 299-300 (1995) (explaining
that it is a well-recognized aspect of criminal conduct that the perpetrator will seek to conceal his
identity). The defendant gave Isaac an opportunity to shoot at the victims when he stopped his
vehicle abruptly. He then fled from the scene and did not report the crime. These circumstances
support a finding that the defendant was accountable for Isaac’s actions.
¶ 43 The defendant also emphasizes that one cannot be found guilty on a theory of
accountability if the principal is not guilty. See Chirchirillo, 393 Ill. App. 3d at 922. He points
out that Isaac was acquitted of the charged offenses. However, just because a different jury
acquitted Isaac does not mean that the jury in the instant case could not find that he was in fact
the shooter. Cf. People v. Martinez, 389 Ill. App. 3d 413, 418 (2009) (acquittal of a codefendant
does not establish the defendant’s innocence and should not be given conclusive effect against
the State in favor of a stranger to that trial).
¶ 44 Further, the defendant points out that, after the shooting, Horton described the driver as
appearing scared. The defendant argues that the logical inference from this observation was that
the driver was scared at what the shooter was doing and that he did not acquiesce in the shooter’s
actions. An equally plausible inference, however, was that the driver was scared or surprised at
seeing someone who might be able to identify him later as having been involved in the crime.
Of course, it was for the jury to determine which of these competing inferences was correct.
People v. Janik, 127 Ill. 2d 390, 401 (2001).
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¶ 45 The defendant next argues that he was deprived of a fair trial when Samuel falsely
testified that his son’s dying words were “that damn Ricardo shot me.” The defendant contends
that, because the evidence against him was so threadbare, Samuel’s false testimony necessarily
had a devastating impact on the fairness of his trial. The defendant insists that the trial court
therefore erred in not granting a mistrial sua sponte.
¶ 46 Prior to trial, the trial court ruled that Robinson’s statement to Samuel, “that damn
Richard shot me,” would be admissible as a dying declaration. At trial, on direct examination,
Samuel testified that Robinson’s statement was “that damn Ricardo shot me.” Samuel then
testified to how his son was taken to a hospital and how he subsequently learned that his son had
died. At this point, defense counsel objected, arguing that Samuel’s testimony, using the
defendant’s name, “Ricardo,” was substantially different from the statement using the name
“Richard,” which the trial court had allowed as a dying declaration. The trial court responded
that defense counsel could cross-examine Samuel as to the exact name that Robinson had used.
After the trial court’s ruling, the State asked for “the record [to] reflect that [Samuel] is clearly
distraught on the witness stand, weeping, audibly sobbing.” On cross-examination, Samuel
acknowledged that the name his son had actually used was “Richard.”
¶ 47 Even where defense counsel does not request a mistrial, the trial court has the discretion
to grant one. People v. Monroe, 366 Ill. App. 3d 1080, 1094 (2006); see also People v. Williams,
201 Ill. App. 3d 207, 221 (1990) (the trial court has the responsibility to see that the proceedings
are conducted in an orderly manner with proper decorum, and the control of the conduct of the
trial rests within its discretion). However, we do not believe that the trial court here abused its
discretion in not granting a mistrial. See People v. Sambo, 197 Ill. App. 3d 574, 584 (1990)
(determining that whether to order a mistrial is within the trial court’s discretion). Although the
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defendant complains about Samuel’s “highly emotional” testimony that Robinson identified the
defendant (“Ricardo”) as the person who shot him, the record is not clear as to whether Samuel
was “clearly distraught” when discussing his son’s dying declaration or when discussing how he
learned of his son’s death. In any event, the trial court was in a better position to assess whether
Samuel’s “highly emotional” testimony had an improper effect on the jury. See People v.
Beltran, 2011 IL App (2d) 090856, ¶ 68 (trial court was in better position to assess whether
prosecutor’s use of an “emotional voice” improperly inflamed the passions of the jury or
prejudiced the defendant); see also People v. Davis, 378 Ill. App. 3d 1, 13 (2007) (trial court is in
far superior position than reviewing court to assess witness’s tone of voice). Based on this
record, we believe that the trial’s court handling of this issue—allowing defense counsel to bring
out on cross-examination that in fact Robinson had identified “Richard,” not “Ricardo,” as his
shooter—did not deprive the defendant of a fair trial.
¶ 48 The defendant’s next contention on appeal is that the trial court abused its discretion
when it allowed evidence of his past gang activity. The defendant argues that, since he had
already conceded his gang affiliation, such evidence constituted improper character evidence,
which deprived him of a fair trial.
¶ 49 In response, the State argues that this issue is forfeited because the defendant did not raise
it at trial or in his posttrial motion. However, a review of the record indicates that the defendant
preserved this issue by raising it both at trial and in his posttrial motion. Thus, we will consider
the merits of his contention.
¶ 50 The State presented four witnesses to establish that the defendant was in the Latin Kings
street gang. Gary Anderson testified that on June 4, 2010, the defendant approached him and
informed him that he was a Latin King and that “he needed to stay away from other gangs.”
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¶ 51 Westley Kemp of the Winnebago County sheriff’s department testified that he was
assigned to Harlem High School as a school resource officer. On January 22, 2008, he learned
that graffiti had been discovered in one of the bathrooms. The defendant acknowledged that he
had drawn the markings.
¶ 52 John Anderson testified that he worked at a juvenile detention center. On October 15,
2006, he conducted a booking interview with the defendant. The defendant indicated that he was
a member of the Latin Kings.
¶ 53 Posley testified that he had specialized training in street gangs. He was familiar with
gang symbols, handshakes, hand gestures, codes, territories, and other indicia. He described the
symbols and hand gestures of the Latin Kings and the Insane Unknowns. He described those
two gangs as rivals. Posley reviewed a picture that the defendant had drawn in the Harlem High
School bathroom on January 22, 2008, and he testified that the markings were Latin Kings
graffiti. Based on the defendant’s drawing the graffiti as well as telling John Anderson and Gary
Anderson of his gang affiliation, Posley believed that the defendant was a member of the Latin
Kings.
¶ 54 Although jurors might have negative feelings about street gangs, it is not necessary to
exclude gang-affiliation evidence if it is otherwise relevant and admissible. People v. Blue, 205
Ill. 2d 1, 15 (2001). Evidence that relates to the defendant’s gang membership or activities may
be admitted at trial, despite its prejudicial effect, to establish a common purpose or design or to
provide a motive for an otherwise inexplicable act. People v. Patterson, 154 Ill. 2d 414, 458
(1992); People v. Knox, 241 Ill. App. 3d 205, 211 (1993). Relevant gang-related evidence is not
excluded simply because it is prejudicial; rather, it is admissible as long as it is relevant to an
issue in dispute and its probative value is not substantially outweighed by its prejudicial effect.
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People v. Johnson, 208 Ill. 2d 53, 102 (2003); Knox, 241 Ill. App. 3d at 211. A trial court’s
decision regarding the admission of gang-related evidence will not be disturbed absent an abuse
of discretion. People v. Villarreal, 198 Ill. 2d 209, 232 (2001).
¶ 55 We do not believe that the trial court abused its discretion in admitting the gang-related
evidence. The State’s theory of why the defendant and Robinson were involved in an altercation
at school was that they were in rival gangs. Gary Anderson’s and John Anderson’s testimony
was therefore relevant, as both testified that the defendant had identified himself to them as a
Latin King. Posley’s testimony was relevant, as it established that, not only did the defendant
claim to be a Latin King, he acted like a Latin King when he drew Latin Kings graffiti at school.
Posley’s testimony that the Latin Kings and the Insane Unknowns were rival gangs was also
clearly relevant. See People v. Hamilton, 328 Ill. App. 3d 195, 202 (2002) (evidence of gang
membership and rivalries is relevant when it establishes reasons for deadly gang behavior).
¶ 56 In so ruling, we reject the defendant’s argument that the presentation of any gang-related
evidence was unnecessary, and therefore unduly prejudicial, because defense counsel conceded
in opening statements that the defendant was in a gang. Opening statements are not evidence.
Defense counsel’s concession did not preclude the State from presenting evidence to support its
theory of the case. See People v. Mason, 274 Ill. App. 3d 715, 723 (1995) (State had the right to
present evidence that the defendant was a gang member, in order to demonstrate motive).
¶ 57 We also find that the defendant overstates how “excessive” the State’s gang-related
evidence was. Gary Anderson and John Anderson testified to little more than that the defendant
had identified himself as a Latin King. Kemp testified that the defendant had acknowledged
drawing graffiti in the school bathroom. Posley’s testimony, although more extensive, pertained
only to the issues in the case (significance of gang hand gestures and symbols, rivalries between
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gangs). We do not believe that the trial court abused its discretion in allowing such evidence to
establish the defendant’s gang affiliation. Cf. id. at 720-22 (gang-related evidence found to be
excessive where State presented evidence that had no bearing on case, such as elements of gang
life and details on various Chicago gangs and their affiliations with two large national
organizations).
¶ 58 The defendant further asserts that evidence that he had been at a juvenile detention center
was improper in light of our supreme court’s decisions in People v. Villa, 2011 IL 110777, ¶ 41,
and People v. Montgomery, 47 Ill. 2d 510 (1971). In those cases, our supreme court held that
juvenile adjudications are not admissible against a defendant unless they are used to impeach a
testifying defendant who has misled the jury about his criminal history or opened the door by
testifying about his prior adjudications. Villa, 2011 IL 110777, ¶¶ 46, 49; Montgomery, 47 Ill.
2d at 516. The defendant acknowledges that the State did not actually introduce any evidence of
a juvenile adjudication. However, he complains that evidence of his interaction with a juvenile
detention officer was just as bad because “[c]ommon sense dictates that one is not subject to
detention as a juvenile without some process and adjudication for wrongdoing.”
¶ 59 We find the defendant’s argument unpersuasive. As noted above, the State had the right
to present evidence that the defendant was in a gang. See Mason, 274 Ill. App. 3d at 723. In
presenting that evidence, the State also had the obligation to provide a proper foundation for it.
See People v. Nieves, 193 Ill. 2d 513, 537-38 (2000) (testimony that lacks a proper foundation as
to the witness’s personal knowledge of events amounts to no evidence at all). Thus, it was not
improper for the State to solicit John Anderson’s testimony that he was working at a juvenile
detention facility when he learned from the defendant that the defendant was a Latin King.
Moreover, the testimony was minimal, as Anderson did not testify to why the defendant was at
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the juvenile detention facility. Cf. People v. Markiewicz, 246 Ill. App. 3d 31, 40 (1993) (trial
court does not err where it carefully limits evidence of other crimes to that which is relevant to
the issues on which the other-crime evidence is admitted). As neither Knox nor Montgomery
barred the evidence at issue, and as the evidence was limited to the defendant’s identifying
himself as a Latin King, we cannot say that the trial court abused its discretion in admitting that
evidence. See Villarreal, 198 Ill. 2d at 232.
¶ 60 That being said, we do not believe that it was necessary for the State to introduce John
Anderson’s testimony, because it was duplicative of Gary Anderson’s testimony, i.e, the
defendant identified himself as a Latin King. Just because a prosecutor can introduce certain
evidence does not mean that he or she should. The prosecutor’s interest in a criminal
prosecution “ ‘is not that it shall win a case, but that justice shall be done.’ ” Strickler v. Greene,
527 U.S. 263, 281 (1999) (quoting Berger v. United States, 295 U.S. 78, 88 (1935)). Although
we have determined that the gang-related evidence described above was not excessive to the
point of being unduly prejudicial, we believe that the evidence was close to crossing that
forbidden threshold. We therefore urge the State to be more circumspect in its use of such
cumulative evidence in similar cases in the future.
¶ 61 The defendant’s final contention on appeal is that he was deprived of the effective
assistance of counsel. Specifically, he argues that defense counsel was ineffective for (1)
eliciting evidence in support of the State’s case and (2) proceeding with a strategy that, if taken
to its logical conclusion, supported the State’s theory of the defendant’s guilt.
¶ 62 In his opening statement, defense counsel asserted that the jury might be presented with
credible evidence that (1) Isaac was at the scene of the crime; (2) Isaac had a motive to be there;
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and (3) the defendant’s vehicle was there. However, defense counsel insisted that there would be
no credible evidence that the defendant was there or that he had any motive to help Isaac.
¶ 63 In questioning Samuel, defense counsel elicited testimony that Robinson had been in a
fight with “Richard” at East High School and that “Richard” was a Latin King. Defense counsel
elicited from Lithsrup that, at school on May 14, 2010, Isaac complained to her that someone had
broken windows on his Chevy Suburban.
¶ 64 In closing arguments, defense counsel argued that “Richard really is Isaac.” He noted
that Isaac and Robinson went to the same high school. Defense counsel argued that Isaac had a
motive to shoot Robinson, because he “was getting revenge for his car windows getting broken
out.” Defense counsel then pointed to both Robinson’s dying declaration and Dangel’s
testimony that Isaac was in fact the one who had shot Robinson. Defense counsel further argued
that the defendant’s vehicle’s presence at the scene did not mean that the defendant was there.
Defense counsel further insisted that the defendant had no motive to shoot Robinson and that
there was no proof that he had helped Isaac.
¶ 65 In reviewing a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, the standards set forth in
Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (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)
and that “there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result
of the proceeding would have been different” (id. at 694). A defendant is entitled to competent
representation, not perfect representation. People v. West, 187 Ill. 2d 418, 432 (1999). Errors in
strategy do not constitute ineffective assistance of counsel. People v. Gonzalez, 407 Ill. App. 3d
1026, 1038 (2011). Only when a strategic decision is shown to be so ill-chosen that it permeates
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the entire trial with obvious unfairness will the strategy constitute ineffective assistance of
counsel. People v. Manning, 241 Ill. 2d 319, 343 (2011).
¶ 66 Here, we do not believe that defense counsel’s strategy rose to the level of ineffective
assistance of counsel. Defense counsel was confronted with some difficult evidence: two
witnesses placed Isaac at the scene of the crime and four witnesses placed the defendant’s
vehicle there. Rather than argue that all of those witnesses were mistaken, and thereby possibly
undermine his own credibility, defense counsel chose to concede that evidence and instead argue
that there was no credible evidence that placed the defendant himself at the scene of the crime.
As Patrick was the State’s only witness who placed the defendant at the crime scene—and as he
gave multiple conflicting accounts about what happened on the day in question―defense
counsel’s strategy that focused on attacking Patrick’s credibility was not unreasonable.
¶ 67 In so ruling, we reject the defendant’s argument that defense counsel was ineffective for
eliciting evidence that Isaac had an independent motive to kill Robinson, i.e., revenge. Although
defense counsel, not the State, presented evidence that provided a motive for Isaac’s actions, the
record indicates that this was part of defense counsel’s strategy to point all of the blame away
from the defendant and toward Isaac. This evidence did not help the State prove part of its case
that it otherwise failed to prove. Cf. People v. Jackson, 318 Ill. App. 3d 321, 327-28 (2000)
(defense counsel was ineffective where his strategy established an element of the offense that
had not been established in the State’s case).
¶ 68 CONCLUSION
¶ 69 For the reasons stated, the judgment of the circuit court of Winnebago County is
affirmed.
¶ 70 Affirmed.
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