People v. Schnoor , 2019 IL App (4th) 170571 ( 2019 )

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Appellate Court Date: 2020.05.06
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People v. Schnoor, 2019 IL App (4th) 170571Appellate Court THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.
Caption VINCENT P. SCHNOOR, Defendant-Appellant.
District & No. Fourth District
No. 4-17-0571
Filed November 12, 2019
Decision Under Appeal from the Circuit Court of Sangamon County, No. 15-CF-1189;
Review the Hon. Ryan M. Cadagin, Judge, presiding.
Judgment Affirmed.
Counsel on James E. Chadd, Patricia Mysza, and John R. Breffeilh, of State
Appeal Appellate Defender’s Office, of Chicago, for appellant.
Daniel K. Wright, State’s Attorney, of Springfield (Patrick Delfino,
David J. Robinson, and Thomas R. Dodegge, of State’s Attorneys
Appellate Prosecutor’s Office, of counsel), for the People.
Panel JUSTICE STEIGMANN delivered the judgment of the court, with
opinion.
Presiding Justice Holder White and Justice DeArmond concurred in
the judgment and opinion.
OPINION
¶1 In November 2015, the State charged defendant, Vincent P. Schnoor, with aggravated
robbery (720 ILCS 5/18-1(b)(1) (West 2014)), financial institution robbery (id. § 17-10.6(f)),
and misappropriation of financial institution property (id. § 17-10.6(a)).
¶2 In March 2016, defense counsel moved “for a fitness exam to determine whether a
bona fide doubt exists with respect to” defendant’s fitness to stand trial. The trial court
appointed a psychiatrist who later submitted a report in which he concluded that defendant was
fit to stand trial. In April 2016, the parties stipulated to the findings and conclusions in that
report.
¶3 In February 2017, the trial court conducted a plea conference pursuant to Illinois Supreme
Court Rule 402(d) (eff. July 1, 2012) at which the State indicated it would agree to 15 years in
prison in exchange for defendant’s guilty plea. The court stated that the State’s offer was
reasonable and appropriate. However, defendant rejected the State’s offer.
¶4 In May 2017, a jury trial was held at which the State introduced evidence of other crimes—
namely, (1) a witness testified that he found contraband unconnected to these charges in
defendant’s vehicle and (2) the State presented a recorded interview of defendant in which he
admitted that he robbed automated teller machines (ATMs/ATM). The jury found defendant
guilty.
¶5 In July 2017, at a hearing on defendant’s motion for a new trial, defendant pro se presented
written complaints about problems he perceived in the trial proceedings. The trial court did not
inquire into defendant’s complaints at that time. The court later denied the posttrial motion and
sentenced defendant to 25 years in prison.
¶6 Defendant appeals, arguing that (1) he was denied due process when the trial court failed
to conduct an independent fitness inquiry and instead relied on the parties’ stipulation,
(2) defense counsel was ineffective for failing to object to other-crimes evidence, (3) the trial
court erred when it failed to conduct an inquiry pursuant to People v. Krankel, 102 Ill. 2d 181,
464 N.E.2d 1045 (1984), regarding defendant’s written complaints, (4) the trial court violated
defendant’s right to due process by imposing a longer sentence because defendant exercised
his right to a trial, and (5) defendant’s sentence was harsh and excessive. We disagree and
affirm.
¶7 I. BACKGROUND
¶8 A. The Charges
¶9 In November 2015, the State charged defendant with aggravated robbery (720 ILCS 5/18-
1(b)(1) (West 2014)), financial institution robbery (id. § 17-10.6(f)), and misappropriation of
financial institution property (id. § 17-10.6(a)). At arraignment, the trial court admonished
defendant that, due to his criminal record, both robbery charges would be deemed Class X
felonies if he were convicted.
¶ 10 B. The Fitness Proceedings
¶ 11 In March 2016, defense counsel moved “for a fitness exam to determine whether a
bona fide doubt exists with respect to” defendant’s fitness to stand trial. The trial court
appointed a psychiatrist, Dr. Terry Killian, to examine defendant and prepare a report regarding
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defendant’s fitness to stand trial. Killian later submitted a report in which he concluded that
defendant was fit to stand trial. In April 2016, the parties stipulated to the findings and
conclusions in that report. The trial court accepted the stipulation and set the case for trial. The
record contains no further discussion about defendant’s fitness.
¶ 12 C. The Rule 402 Conference
¶ 13 In February 2017, the trial court conducted a plea conference pursuant to Illinois Supreme
Court Rule 402 (eff. July 1, 2012) at the parties’ request. During the conference, the State
advised the court that a guilty verdict would result in a mandatory Class X sentence due to
defendant’s criminal record. The State informed the court that because defendant used a fake
handgun and confessed to robbing the bank, the State was willing to accept a negotiated plea
for 15 years in prison. (The prosecutor did not specify to which charge the proposed plea
agreement would apply.) The State further stated that it would recommend 15 to 18 years in
prison if defendant entered an “open plea.”
¶ 14 Defense counsel stated that defendant was willing to plead guilty in exchange for 10 years
in prison and asked the court if it would sentence defendant in excess of 15 years if he entered
into an open plea. The court stated that the State’s offer of 15 years was reasonable and
appropriate and also stated that a sentence imposed pursuant to an open plea might be above
or below the State’s recommendation, depending on the evidence presented at sentencing.
¶ 15 Defendant rejected the State’s plea offer and declined to enter a guilty plea. In May 2017,
defendant rejected the State’s amended plea offer for 14 years in prison. Prior to trial, the State
dismissed the misappropriation of financial institution property charge.
¶ 16 D. The Jury Trial
¶ 17 Defendant’s jury trial was conducted in May 2017. During the State’s case-in-chief,
numerous witnesses testified. Their testimony indicated that in November 2015, defendant
robbed Marine Bank in Springfield, Illinois. He covered his face with a mask and used a fake
firearm. After the robbery, defendant got into a car crash with another person, who called the
police.
¶ 18 The police ultimately tracked defendant down and brought him in for questioning, during
which he made numerous incriminating statements. After defendant was arrested, he contacted
his coworker, Larry Bass, to get money from defendant’s hotel room. While in that room, Bass
and defendant’s employer, Robert Ewa, found a large sum of currency. Ewa picked up some
of that currency and later turned it over to the police. The currency was traceable to Marine
Bank by serial number. The police found and searched defendant’s vehicle and recovered
numerous incriminating items from it, including a BB gun.
¶ 19 Kevin Echols testified that, in November 2015, he discovered that a laptop computer,
radios, a jacket, and other personal items were missing from his vehicle. Later in November
2015, Echols was shown photographs that depicted the person robbing the bank, and Echols
recognized the jacket the robber was wearing in those photographs as the one missing from his
vehicle. Echols testified that the jacket was from American Family Insurance and had been
given to him by his girlfriend, who worked for American Family Insurance. Echols was shown
a photograph from a County Market grocery store surveillance video. The photograph shows
a man with his face uncovered and wearing a jacket. Echols identified the jacket as his and as
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the same one that was missing from his vehicle and that was in the photograph of the bank
robber. Other witnesses identified the man in the County Market surveillance video as
defendant.
¶ 20 Detective Timothy Zajicek of the Springfield Police Department testified that he
interrogated defendant, and a recording of that interrogation was played for the jury.
Approximately 20 minutes into the video, defense counsel objected to a statement in which
defendant admitted to robbing ATMs. The State responded that it had made all the redactions
requested by defense counsel. Defense counsel withdrew her objection, stating that they agreed
that mention of the ATM burglaries would be redacted from the video, and she accepted the
State’s assurances that the video complied with their agreement. However, defense counsel did
not renew her objection when the ATM crimes were repeatedly mentioned in the rest of the
recorded interrogation viewed by the jury.
¶ 21 Defendant testified at trial and admitted that he robbed the Marine Bank. However,
defendant explained he thought his employer, Ewa, was going to kill defendant unless he
robbed the bank to give Ewa money. Defendant also testified that he mistakenly believed his
coworker, Larry Bass, was a federal law enforcement officer and that Bass told defendant to
rob the bank as part of a federal sting operation targeting Ewa.
¶ 22 On cross-examination, defendant acknowledged that he did not mention his belief he was
a part of a sting operation when he initially was interrogated by the police. Instead, he wrote a
statement for the police during the interrogation in which he said that he thought he had two
choices: (1) either kill Ewa or (2) cause an investigation of Ewa by going to his bank and
causing a “suicide by another person incident.” He also acknowledged that he initially told the
police he was not involved in the bank robbery.
¶ 23 In closing argument, defense counsel acknowledged the overwhelming evidence against
defendant but asserted that defendant had proved the affirmative defenses of compulsion and
mistake of fact.
¶ 24 The jury found defendant guilty of aggravated robbery and financial institution robbery.
¶ 25 E. The Allegations of Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
¶ 26 In June 2017, defense counsel filed a motion for a new trial. In July 2017, the trial court
conducted a hearing on that motion at which defense counsel told the court that defendant felt
that counsel had not addressed in the posttrial motion all the issues defendant wanted
addressed. Defense counsel also informed the court that prior to the hearing, defendant gave
counsel a document on which defendant had written the additional issues defendant wanted
addressed, and counsel attached that document to her posttrial motion as “Defendant’s
Addendum.” That document reads as follows:
“1. The usage of other crimes evidence involving the idea created a prejudicial
effect that outwit [sic] it’s [sic] probative value when combined with Agent Echols
testimony.
2. The state failed to establish chain of custody for def’s handwritten statement for
the time period of 9:14:31pm to
3. The usage of other crimes evidence involving atm’s.”
¶ 27 Defense counsel asked the trial court to amend her motion by incorporating therein the
arguments in “Defendant’s Addendum.” The court granted her request and then denied the
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motion.
¶ 28 F. Sentencing
¶ 29 Immediately following the hearing on the motion for a new trial, the trial court conducted
the sentencing hearing at which neither party offered any evidence. The State recommended
25 years in prison and argued in support thereof that (1) defendant’s conduct threatened serious
harm, (2) defendant has a history of criminal activity, (3) the sentence should be designed to
deter others, and (4) the trial court should give defendant a greater sentence “because a lenient
sentence in this case could send a message that one could commit a notorious, serious crime,
get to take the stand, manufacture a completely outrageous story and receive a lenient sentence,
and that’s not the correct message that this court should send ***.” The State also argued that
the court should consider defendant’s plans to use helicopters to break other people out of
prison as an indication that the prospect of incarceration did not deter him from future criminal
plans.
¶ 30 Defense counsel argued that (1) defendant acted under a strong provocation, (2) there were
grounds tending to excuse or justify his conduct, (3) his criminal conduct was induced or
facilitated by someone other than defendant, and (4) defendant’s mental health and traumatic
childhood should be considered in mitigation. Defense counsel recommended a sentence of 12
to 14 years in prison.
¶ 31 The trial court stated that in sentencing defendant, it had considered all the evidence at trial,
the presentence investigation report, the arguments of the attorneys, the statement of allocution,
and all relevant factors in aggravation and mitigation. The court then sentenced defendant to
25 years in prison. Immediately thereafter, defense counsel stated she would place a motion to
reconsider sentence on file to be heard the following day.
¶ 32 G. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Inquiry
¶ 33 The following day, the trial court conducted a hearing on the motion to reconsider sentence.
After the court denied the motion, defense counsel notified the court that defendant wanted to
address the court regarding ineffective assistance of counsel claims. Defendant specifically
mentioned a Krankel hearing, but the court did not conduct a Krankel hearing at that time.
¶ 34 The next day, the trial court conducted what it described as a “Krankel hearing, as it’s
called, based off People vs. Krankel,” in which it would inquire into defendant’s allegations of
ineffectiveness. Defendant told the court he received “ineffective assistance of counsel”
because (1) defense counsel, the State, and the court violated his right to a speedy trial by not
following procedures for continuances, (2) defense counsel failed “to inform the court” of
pro se motions filed by defendant, and (3) defense counsel failed to investigate possible
conflicts between defendant and Judge Graves, who initially was the presiding judge in this
case before she recused herself.
¶ 35 The remainder of the inquiry proceeded as follows:
“THE COURT: Thank you, Mr. Schnoor. Ms. Evans [(defense counsel)], did you
do everything in your power to bring this case to trial in a timely manner?
MS. EVANS: I—I did, Your Honor.
THE COURT: Did you consider all motions, and you know, make your decisions
on which motions to file and argue based off of trial strategy?
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MS. EVANS: Yes, sir.
THE COURT: I’m going to find that Mr. Schnoor’s claim is without merit.”
¶ 36 This appeal followed.
¶ 37 II. ANALYSIS
¶ 38 Defendant appeals, arguing that (1) he was denied due process when the trial court failed
to conduct an independent fitness inquiry and instead relied on the parties’ stipulation,
(2) defense counsel was ineffective for failing to object to other-crimes evidence, (3) the trial
court erred when it failed to conduct an inquiry pursuant to Krankel regarding defendant’s
written complaints, (4) the trial court violated defendant’s right to due process by imposing a
longer sentence because defendant exercised his right to a trial, and (5) defendant’s sentence
was harsh and excessive. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.
¶ 39 A. The Fitness Inquiry
¶ 40 Defendant first argues he was denied due process because the trial court did not conduct
an independent fitness inquiry. By an “independent fitness inquiry,” defendant means that the
court was required to conduct a hearing on the question of defendant’s fitness to stand trial at
which the court would “exercise its own independent judicial discretion” instead of “blindly”
accepting the attorneys’ stipulations to the findings in Killian’s report. The State concedes that
the court erred by not conducting an independent fitness inquiry but argues the error was
harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. We do not accept the State’s concession and disagree
with both parties because, on the facts of this case, defendant was not entitled to an independent
fitness inquiry as a matter of law.
¶ 41 1. The Applicable Law
¶ 42 “The due process clause prohibits the prosecution of a defendant who is unfit to stand trial.”
People v. Westfall, 2018 IL App (4th) 150997, ¶ 52, 115 N.E.3d 1148 (citing People v. Gillon,
2016 IL App (4th) 140801, ¶ 20, 68 N.E.3d 942). A defendant is unfit to stand trial if, because
of his mental or physical condition, he is unable to understand the nature and purpose of the
proceedings against him or to assist in his defense. 725 ILCS 5/104-10 (West 2014). A
defendant is presumed to be fit. Id.¶ 43 In relevant part, section 104-11 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (Code) states
as follows:
“(a) The issue of the defendant’s fitness for trial, to plead, or to be sentenced may be
raised by the defense, the State or the [c]ourt at any appropriate time before a plea is
entered or before, during, or after trial. When a bona fide doubt of the defendant’s
fitness is raised, the court shall order a determination of the issue before proceeding
further.
(b) Upon request of the defendant that a qualified expert be appointed to examine
him or her to determine prior to trial if a bona fide doubt as to his or her fitness to stand
trial may be raised, the court, in its discretion, may order an appropriate examination.
However, no order entered pursuant to this subsection shall prevent further proceedings
in the case. An expert so appointed shall examine the defendant and make a report as
provided in Section 104-15.” Id. § 104-11(a), (b).
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¶ 44 In People v. Hanson, 212 Ill. 2d 212, 222, 817 N.E.2d 472, 477 (2004), the supreme court
concluded that “[t]he mere act of granting a defendant’s motion for a fitness examination
cannot, by itself, be construed as a definitive showing that the trial court found a bona fide
doubt of the defendant’s fitness.” The supreme court further concluded that “if after the
[fitness] examination the trial court finds no bona fide doubt, [then] no further hearings on the
issue of fitness would be necessary.” Id. at 217.
¶ 45 “A bona fide doubt exists when the facts raise a real, substantial, and legitimate doubt
regarding a defendant’s mental capacity to meaningfully participate in his defense.” Westfall,
2018 IL App (4th) 150997, ¶ 54. “Relevant factors that the trial court may consider in assessing
whether a bona fide doubt exists include (1) the defendant’s behavior and demeanor, (2) prior
medical opinions regarding the defendant’s competence, and (3) defense counsel’s
representations about the defendant’s competence.” Id. (citing People v. Rosado, 2016 IL App
(1st) 140826, ¶ 31, 61 N.E.3d 1132). “If the trial court concludes that no bona fide doubt exists,
then it need not conduct a fitness hearing.” Id. (citing Hanson, 212 Ill. 2d at 217).
¶ 46 2. This Case
¶ 47 The first and most important question this court must address is the following: Did the trial
court appoint a psychiatrist because the trial court found a bona fide doubt existed regarding
defendant’s fitness to stand trial, or, alternatively, did the trial court appoint a psychiatrist to
examine defendant to help determine whether a bona fide doubt exists in the first place? Had
the court taken the latter action, its doing so would be consistent with—and authorized by—
section 104-11(b) of the Code (725 ILCS 5/104-11(b) (West 2014)).
¶ 48 Here, nothing in the record indicates that the court had a bona fide doubt about defendant’s
fitness to stand trial. The court’s written order for examination filed March 7, 2016, makes no
reference to its having a bona fide doubt. The report of proceedings from the March 7, 2017,
hearing in which defense counsel raised this issue is even clearer. At that hearing, defense
counsel said, “at this time I would make a Motion for a Fitness Exam to determine whether a
bona fide doubt exists with respect to Mr. Schnoor’s fitness.” (Emphasis added.)
¶ 49 Considering the entirety of this record, we conclude that the trial court did not have a
bona fide doubt as to defendant’s fitness when the court appointed a psychiatrist to examine
defendant; instead, the court appointed the psychiatrist pursuant to subsection 104-11(b) to
assist in the determination of whether a bona fide doubt existed at all. Accordingly, defendant
was not entitled to a fitness hearing after the psychiatrist’s report was submitted to the court
and parties (see Hanson, 212 Ill. 2d at 217), and the court committed no error by agreeing to
the parties’ stipulation regarding the report’s conclusions.
¶ 50 Although we have concluded that the trial court appropriately handled (1) the appointment
of a psychiatrist to examine defendant and (2) the parties’ stipulation regarding the
psychiatrist’s report, we nonetheless suggest that trial courts in similar situations explicitly
state on the record that the court did not have a bona fide doubt of the defendant’s fitness to
stand trial when the court appointed the psychiatrist to examine the defendant. To be even more
clear, the court might even state that its appointment of a psychiatrist is being made pursuant
to section 104-11(b) of the Code. Or perhaps the court could say both. These additional remarks
by the trial court would help to make clear that the trial court understood the statutory
framework of section 104-11 of the Code.
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¶ 51 The parties cite People v. Contorno, 322 Ill. App. 3d 177, 750 N.E.2d 290 (2001), and
People v. Cook, 2014 IL App (2d) 130545, 25 N.E.3d 717, both of which are readily
distinguishable from the present case. In each of those cases, the trial court found a bona fide
doubt regarding the defendant’s fitness, unlike this case in which no such finding was made.
See Contorno, 322 Ill. App. 3d at 178 (“Defense counsel moved for a fitness examination, and
the court found that a bona fide doubt existed regarding defendant’s fitness.”); Cook, 2014 IL
App (2d) 130545, ¶ 3 (“The trial court found a bona fide doubt as to defendant’s fitness to
stand trial and ordered a fitness evaluation.”).
¶ 52 B. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
¶ 53 Next, defendant argues that he received ineffective assistance of counsel because defense
counsel failed to object to irrelevant, inadmissible, and prejudicial other-crimes evidence. The
evidence at issue was (1) a recorded admission from defendant that he robbed ATMs and
(2) evidence of contraband found in defendant’s vehicle.
¶ 54 1. The Law Governing Ineffective Assistance Claims
¶ 55 All defendants enjoy the constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel. U.S. Const.,
amends. VI, XIV; Ill. Const. 1970, art. I, § 8. To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of
counsel, a defendant must demonstrate that counsel’s performance was deficient and that the
deficient performance prejudiced the defendant. People v. Bradford, 2019 IL App (4th)
170148, ¶ 14, 123 N.E.3d 1285.
¶ 56 To establish deficient performance, a defendant must show his attorney’s performance fell
below an objective standard of reasonableness. Id. It is not sufficient for a defendant to show
that counsel’s representation was imperfect because the constitution guarantees only a
reasonably competent attorney. Harrington v. Richter, 562 U.S. 86, 110 (2011) (citing
Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984)). Instead, a defendant must show his
lawyer’s representation undermined the proper functioning of the adversarial process to the
extent that the defendant was denied a fair trial. Id. (citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 686).
¶ 57 To prevail on an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, a defendant must satisfy both
prongs of the Strickland test. People v. Carlisle, 2015 IL App (1st) 131144, ¶ 73, 35 N.E.3d
649 (citing People v. Colon, 225 Ill. 2d 125, 135, 866 N.E.2d 207, 213 (2007)); People v.
Evans, 209 Ill. 2d 194, 220, 808 N.E.2d 939, 954 (2004). If such a claim can be disposed of
because the defendant suffered no prejudice, we need not address whether counsel’s
performance was deficient. People v. Jackson, 2018 IL App (3d) 170125, ¶ 24, 116 N.E.3d
996.
¶ 58 2. This Case
¶ 59 Defendant’s ineffective assistance of counsel claim fails because he clearly was not
prejudiced by the introduction of the other-crimes evidence at issue. The evidence of his guilt
was overwhelming: the weapon and disguise used in the crime were found in his vehicle, the
recorded interview in which he essentially confesses to the bank robbery was played for the
jury, and currency traceable to the Marine Bank was found in his hotel room. Further, he
admitted to robbing the bank in his testimony during trial. Defendant asserted the affirmative
defenses of compulsion and mistake of fact, but the jury rejected them and found him guilty.
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¶ 60 We view this case as being similar to Carlisle, 2015 IL App (1st) 131144, ¶ 74, in which
the First District wrote that “[t]he overwhelming evidence of defendant’s guilt in this case
precludes defendant from being capable of showing that there was a reasonable probability
that the outcome of the case would have been different if defense [counsel’s performance had
not been deficient.]”
¶ 61 Because defendant’s ineffective assistance of counsel claim fails to satisfy the prejudice
prong of that claim, we reject his claim and need not address whether defense counsel’s
performance was deficient.
¶ 62 C. Krankel Inquiry
¶ 63 Next, defendant argues that the trial court erred when it failed to conduct a Krankel inquiry
in relation to defendant’s claim that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to
other-crimes evidence. We disagree because (1) defendant’s complaint about the other-crimes
evidence did not trigger a Krankel inquiry and (2) the Krankel inquiry that the court in fact
conducted was sufficient for the claims that were actually raised.
¶ 64 1. Krankel Hearings in General
¶ 65 The common law procedure first recognized in Krankel “serves the narrow purpose of
allowing the trial court to decide whether to appoint independent counsel to argue a defendant’s
pro se posttrial ineffective assistance claims.” People v. Patrick, 2011 IL 111666, ¶ 39, 960
N.E.2d 1114. The only issue to be decided at a Krankel hearing is whether new counsel should
be appointed. Id.¶ 66 a. Triggering Krankel
¶ 67 A Krankel hearing is required “when a defendant raises a pro se posttrial claim of
ineffective assistance of trial counsel.” People v. Ayres, 2017 IL 120071, ¶ 11, 88 N.E.3d 732.
A defendant must clearly assert a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel to trigger a Krankel
hearing. People v. Roddis, 2018 IL App (4th) 170605, ¶ 55, 119 N.E.3d 52. When such a claim
is merely implicit or could be subject to different interpretations, a Krankel inquiry is not
required. Id.; People v. Thomas, 2017 IL App (4th) 150815, ¶ 26, 93 N.E.3d 664.
¶ 68 Typically, a defendant must at least mention his attorney in connection with his complaints
for them to be considered ineffective assistance of counsel claims. See, e.g., Thomas, 2017 IL
App (4th) 150815, ¶ 26 (finding a hearing was not required where defendant failed to mention
his attorney in his letter to the trial court complaining about his sentence); People v. King, 2017
IL App (1st) 142297, ¶ 20, 80 N.E.3d 599 (Krankel not implicated when defendant, without
mentioning her attorney, claimed error because a witness was not called).
¶ 69 Defendant cites People v. Demus, 2016 IL App (1st) 140420, 47 N.E.3d 596, and People
v. Lobdell, 2017 IL App (3d) 150074, 83 N.E.3d 502, in support of his argument that a
defendant need not use the words “ineffective assistance of counsel” to trigger a Krankel
inquiry. Although defendant’s assertion is correct, both Demus and Lobdell involved situations
in which the defendant explicitly mentioned his attorney as a part of his complaint, unlike the
situations in Thomas, King, and this case. These cases illustrate what, at a minimum, a
defendant must say to trigger a Krankel inquiry: (1) he has a complaint about trial proceedings
and (2) that complaint involves something his attorney did or failed to do. When the defendant
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does not inform the trial court that defendant’s complaint about trial proceedings concerns
defense counsel, conducting a Krankel hearing based upon some generic complaint is not
necessary.
¶ 70 b. The Sufficiency of the Krankel Inquiry
¶ 71 A reviewing court should consider three factors when determining whether a Krankel
inquiry was sufficient: (1) whether there was some interchange between the trial court and
defense counsel regarding the facts and circumstances surrounding the allegedly ineffective
representation, (2) the sufficiency of defendant’s pro se allegations of ineffective assistance,
and (3) the trial court’s knowledge of defense counsel’s performance at trial and the sufficiency
of the defendant’s allegations on their face. People v. Moore, 207 Ill. 2d 68, 78-79, 797 N.E.2d
631, 638 (2003). None of these factors are mandatory, and no bright-line rule exists about what
is a sufficient inquiry and what is not. The Illinois Supreme Court specifically used permissive
rather than mandatory language in describing the utilization of these factors. People v. Jolly,
2014 IL 117142, ¶ 30, 25 N.E.3d 1127 (characterizing the actions above as “permissible and
usually necessary,” “may,” and “is permitted,” respectively).
¶ 72 2. This Case
¶ 73 Defendant filed a pro se addendum to defense counsel’s motion for a new trial that
contained three complaints, as follows:
“1. The usage of other crimes evidence involving the idea created a prejudicial
effect that outwit [sic] it’s [sic] probative value when combined with Agent Echols
testimony.
2. The state failed to establish chain of custody for def’s handwritten statement for
the time period of 9:14:31pm to
3. The usage of other crimes evidence involving atm’s.”
¶ 74 None of the above complaints mentioned defendant’s attorney or ineffective assistance of
counsel. When defense counsel provided the trial court with that addendum at the hearing on
his posttrial motion, counsel stated, “we would like to incorporate those issues that he raises
[in the addendum], which I am told include an allegation of my ineffectiveness.” However,
counsel’s statement was the only mention of any allegation of ineffectiveness at that hearing,
and the court did not conduct a Krankel hearing at that time.
¶ 75 Defendant acknowledges that the next day, after sentencing, the trial court did conduct a
Krankel hearing. Defendant does not appear to argue that the court erred when it determined
that the claims raised in that hearing did not warrant the court’s appointment of new counsel
for defendant to further pursue a claim that defendant’s trial counsel was ineffective. Instead,
defendant argues that the court erred by not inquiring about the claims raised in the addendum
the previous day.
¶ 76 The first question is whether the pro se addendum should have triggered a Krankel inquiry.
Defendant’s addendum did not explicitly mention anything related to his attorney. Like the
circumstances in King and Thomas, defendant in this case complained about the trial court
proceedings without mentioning that his complaint involved something his attorney did or
failed to do. Therefore, defendant was not entitled to a Krankel hearing based upon the contents
of the addendum.
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¶ 77 Nonetheless, the trial court decided to conduct a Krankel hearing the next day at the
sentencing hearing, so the second question is whether the Krankel inquiry the court then
conducted was sufficient.
¶ 78 An interchange between defense counsel and the trial court occurred in which the court
questioned counsel about the quality of her representation. The court then also provided
defendant ample opportunity to explain his claims. When defendant appeared to stray from
matters related to the effective assistance of counsel, the court asked defendant if he had any
further ineffective assistance of counsel claims. Defendant said he did not and made no
mention of concerns about other-crimes evidence. He did not tell the court that he believed the
complaints in the addendum showed counsel was ineffective, and he did not mention the
addendum at all.
¶ 79 The trial court provided defendant all the opportunity the law requires for defendant to
flesh out his claims of ineffective assistance. We disagree with defendant’s contention that the
court was somehow obligated under these circumstances to remind defendant of the other-
crimes issue he had mentioned the previous day in his addendum and to ask defendant if he
wanted to include that issue at the Krankel hearing.
¶ 80 Because the trial court properly conducted a Krankel inquiry (even though the court was
arguably not required to do so based upon the addendum) and that inquiry was sufficient under
the law, no error occurred.
¶ 81 D. Defendant Was Not Punished for Exercising His Right to Trial
¶ 82 Defendant argues that his due process rights were violated because (1) the State
recommended a longer sentence than it would have agreed to if defendant had pleaded guilty
and (2) the trial court imposed a longer sentence because defendant exercised his right to a
trial. We disagree because (1) when a defendant is convicted at trial after rejecting the State’s
offer during plea negotiations, the State is not bound by its offer and (2) the trial court is not
bound by a proposed plea agreement when the court did not itself make an offer to a defendant
regarding what sentence it would impose if he pleaded guilty.
¶ 83 1. The Law
¶ 84 a. The State Is Not Bound by Plea Negotiations That Defendant Rejected
¶ 85 This court previously disposed of the notion that the State is in any way bound by an offer
it made in negotiations with a defendant when that defendant has rejected the State’s offer and
been convicted after trial. See People v. Wheeler, 2019 IL App (4th) 160937, ¶ 50, 126 N.E.3d
787. “[T]he State’s offer during plea negotiations is an improper basis upon which to attack
the length of a criminal sentence imposed after trial.” Id. States attorneys enjoy wide discretion
in the initiation and management of criminal cases, and this discretion includes plea bargaining.
Id. ¶ 51. We note that the United States Supreme Court has recognized the importance of plea
negotiations, stating that “well over three-fourths of the criminal convictions in this country
rest on pleas of guilty, a great many of them no doubt motivated at least in part by the hope or
assurance of a lesser penalty than might be imposed if there were a guilty verdict after a trial
to judge or jury.” Brady v. United States, 397 U.S. 742, 752 (1970). Requiring that a
prosecutor’s sentencing recommendation after trial may not exceed the sentence the prosecutor
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was willing to settle for if defendant had pleaded guilty makes no sense and would have serious
adverse consequences on the plea-bargaining process.
¶ 86 We now reiterate what we said in Wheeler: If the State makes a plea offer to a defendant,
the State is not bound by that offer should the defendant reject that offer and be convicted after
trial. Further, the State’s prior offer is not a legitimate basis upon which defendant may attack
the length of his sentence when he has been convicted after trial.
¶ 87 b. The Trial Court Is Not Bound by Plea Negotiations
¶ 88 “ ‘A trial court may not punish a defendant for exercising his right to a trial.’ ” People v.
Musgrave, 2019 IL App (4th) 170106, ¶ 69 (quoting People v. Sturgeon, 2019 IL App (4th)
170035, ¶ 113, 126 N.E.3d 703). It must be clearly evident that a harsher sentence resulted
from a defendant’s demand for a trial. Id. (citing People v. Jones-Beard, 2019 IL App (1st)
162005, ¶ 26)
¶ 89 Fundamentally, the trial court is not bound in any way by the State’s sentencing
recommendation. Sturgeon, 2019 IL App (4th) 170035, ¶ 117. “[T]he mere fact that the
defendant was given a greater sentence than that offered during plea bargaining does not, in
and of itself, support an inference that the greater sentence was imposed as a punishment for
demanding a trial.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Id. ¶ 113.
¶ 90 2. This Case
¶ 91 In the present case, the State offered defendant a 15-year sentence in a Rule 402 conference
the trial court conducted. During the conference, the State summarized defendant’s criminal
history and described some of the details of the offense and monetary loss. The trial court said
that such a sentence was “appropriate” and “reasonable” but noted that if defendant opted for
an open plea, the sentence could be more or less depending on what was presented at the
sentencing hearing. Ultimately, after defendant was convicted, the State recommended 25
years in prison, and the court sentenced him to 25 years in prison. We reject defendant’s
contention that anything about this sequence of events violated his right to due process.
¶ 92 First, as previously stated in our discussion of Wheeler, the State is not bound by an offer
it made in plea negotiations that defendant rejected. The State’s plea offer has no bearing on
what the State may recommend in sentencing when a defendant is convicted after trial.
¶ 93 Second, when considering defendant’s claim that the trial court abused its discretion by
imposing an unduly harsh sentence on defendant, we emphatically reiterate that what the State
may have offered defendant during plea negotiations is irrelevant. See Musgrave, 2019 IL App
(4th) 170106, ¶ 76 (holding that the mere fact that the trial court sentenced the defendant to a
longer prison term than the one offered during plea negotiations does not show that it was
“ ‘clearly evident’ that the trial court punished [the] defendant for rejecting a plea agreement
and proceeding to trial”). The only situation in which this rule would not apply is if (1) the
court itself is an active participant in the plea-bargaining process and (2) it is the court who in
fact makes a plea offer of its own to the defendant. We recognize, of course, that such conduct
by the trial court would be improper and a violation of Rule 402, but we also understand that
there may be trial courts in Illinois that in fact engage in such conduct—that is, the trial court
literally becomes the party bargaining with a defendant over what sentence the court will
impose if the defendant pleads guilty. Of course, such an error can only come about if the court
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holds a Rule 402 conference in the first place. (On this point, we reiterate what we wrote in
Sturgeon and repeated in Musgrave: “ ‘Rule 402(d) permits but does not require trial courts to
engage in such conferences, and many experienced trial judges refuse to engage in such
conferences because those judges deem them both unseemly and unnecessary.’ ” (Emphases
in original.) Id. ¶ 86 (quoting Sturgeon, 2019 IL App (4th) 170035, ¶ 118).
¶ 94 In the present case, the trial court was not a party to the plea negotiations and did not make
an offer at any time to defendant. Essentially, all the court said was that it was not unwilling
to put its judicial imprimatur on the proposed guilty plea agreement. By telling the parties it
would accept the agreement, all the court was saying is that it could tolerate the agreement,
nothing more. We note that the rejection of a plea agreement, by contrast, is an extraordinary
and rare act in which the court voices its unwillingness to tolerate the State’s offer. When, as
here, the court did not create an offer, the court need not—and should not—consider plea
negotiations when determining the appropriate sentence for a defendant.
¶ 95 E. Defendant’s Sentence Was Not Excessive
¶ 96 Defendant argues that his sentence was harsh and excessive. We disagree.
¶ 97 1. The Law
¶ 98 The Illinois Constitution requires that “[a]ll penalties shall be determined both according
to the seriousness of the offense and with the objective of restoring the offender to useful
citizenship.” Ill. Const. 1970, art. I, § 11. In determining a sentence, the trial court’s decision
is given great deference. People v. Alexander, 239 Ill. 2d 205, 212, 940 N.E.2d 1062, 1066
(2010).
¶ 99 The standard of review when a defendant contends his sentence is excessive is whether the
trial court’s sentencing determination constituted an abuse of discretion. People v. Rucker, 260
Ill. App. 3d 659, 664, 633 N.E.2d 146, 150 (1994). An abuse of discretion occurs when the
sentence differs greatly from the spirit and purpose of the law or is manifestly disproportionate
to the nature of the offense. People v. Snyder, 2011 IL 111382, ¶ 36, 959 N.E.2d 656. The
defendant must affirmatively establish that the sentence was based on improper considerations.
People v. Williams, 2018 IL App (4th) 150759, ¶ 18, 99 N.E.3d 590.
¶ 100 2. This Case
¶ 101 Defendant argues that his sentence is excessive in view of (1) the severity of the offense,
(2) his mental illness, and (3) his rehabilitative potential. We conclude that the sentence of 25
years was not excessive.
¶ 102 First, his criminal conduct was quite severe. Although no one was hurt, he committed a
bank robbery in a very threatening manner by pointing a fake gun at a bank teller. We note that
although the weapon was later found to be a BB gun and not to be a deadly firearm, this does
nothing to diminish the terror felt by the people in the bank who truly may have believed their
lives were in danger. Further, defendant did not accept responsibility for his actions, instead
concocting a delusional story that purported to excuse him of any wrongdoing.
¶ 103 Second, defendant’s claimed mental illness does not support his claim that the sentence
was excessive. Defendant committed felonies in the past while suffering from the same mental
illness he claims to have been suffering from when he committed the crimes in this case. “[A]
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defendant’s mental or psychological impairments are not inherently mitigating.” Wheeler,
2019 IL App (4th) 160937, ¶ 44. Instead, the Illinois Supreme Court has held that a judge at
sentencing may consider mental health issues as either aggravating or mitigating depending
“on whether the individual hearing the evidence finds that it evokes compassion or
demonstrates possible future dangerousness.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.) People v.
Madej, 177 Ill. 2d 116, 139, 685 N.E.2d 908, 920 (1997). It is unclear to what extent the trial
court considered defendant’s claimed mental illness; to the extent that the court did at all, the
court would have not erred if it considered his mental health to be a factor in aggravation.
¶ 104 Third, the record contains little evidence of rehabilitative potential. Defendant has a
significant and serious criminal history. In 1996, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for
residential burglary. In 2006, he violated his parole and returned to prison. In 2007, he was
sentenced to four years and six months in prison for threatening a public official. In 2008, he
violated his parole and returned to prison. In 2008, he was sentenced to 12 months of probation
for misdemeanor domestic battery. In 2009, defendant’s probation was revoked, and he was
sentenced to 90 days in jail. In 2011, defendant was sentenced to nine years and six months in
prison for possession of a stolen vehicle.
¶ 105 We conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by sentencing defendant to 25
years in prison.
¶ 106 III. CONCLUSION
¶ 107 For the reasons stated, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.
¶ 108 Affirmed.
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