People v. Irons

FILED
June 30, 2017
2017 IL App (4th) 150295 Carla Bender
4th District Appellate
NO. 4-15-0295 Court, IL
IN THE APPELLATE COURT
OF ILLINOIS
FOURTH DISTRICT
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, ) Appeal from
Plaintiff-Appellee, ) Circuit Court of
v. ) Champaign County
JEREMY A. IRONS, ) No. 15CF13
Defendant-Appellant. )
) Honorable
) Thomas J. Difanis,
) Judge Presiding.
_____________________________________________________________________________
JUSTICE POPE delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
Presiding Justice Turner and Justice Knecht concurred in the judgment and opinion.
OPINION
¶1 On March 17, 2015, defendant, Jeremy A. Irons, was convicted of aggravated
domestic battery and intimidation and later sentenced to consecutive terms of 14 years and 6
years in prison. Defendant appeals, making the following arguments: (1) he was deprived of his
right to a fair trial because the trial court allowed the jury to hear excessive other-crimes
evidence; (2) his sentence was excessive in light of his youth, criminal background, and lack of
serious injury to the complainant; and (3) his assessments should be reduced from $553 to $351.
We affirm defendant’s conviction and prison sentence but remand for the trial court to reduce
defendant’s outstanding assessments from $553 to $351.
¶2 I. BACKGROUND
¶3 In January 2015, the State charged defendant with aggravated domestic battery
(720 ILCS 5/12-3.3 (West 2014)) and intimidation (720 ILCS 5/12-6(a)(1) (West 2014)). In
February 2015, the State filed a motion to admit defendant’s prior acts of domestic violence
pursuant to section 115-7.4 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (Procedure Code) (725
ILCS 5/115-7.4 (West 2014)). At the hearing on the motion, the State noted (1) the acts involved
Sada Hoskins (the alleged victim in this case) and defendant and (2) occurred within a six-month
period before the charged incident. The State argued this evidence explained why Hoskins stayed
in close proximity to defendant after he battered her. Defendant had threatened he would kill
Hoskins if she told anyone of the abuse. The court granted the motion after weighing the
probative value against the prejudicial impact of the evidence. At the same hearing, the court
arraigned defendant on two additional counts of domestic battery.
¶4 At trial, Hoskins testified she was living with her mother, Rosie Chenault, in
Danville and dating defendant on December 31, 2014, when the charged offenses occurred. She
met defendant on the Internet in September 2014. He lived in Chicago at the time, and she would
drive there to see him. As their relationship progressed, defendant became abusive. Defendant
slapped her and called her names when she talked to other men or viewed their Facebook pages.
He first hit her in front of his grandmother’s house after he asked her about talking to other men
on the phone. He next hit her while they were driving on Lake Shore (presumably in Chicago)
because of her Facebook activity. Defendant had all the passwords to her social media accounts.
¶5 Defendant also abused her at his cousin’s apartment in Chicago, choking her
when she yelled for help and hitting her hard enough to leave a scar on her nose. She and
defendant went to South Shore Hospital, where a hospital worker called the police. Defendant
left in Hoskins’s car. Her mother had to pick her up at the hospital. After this incident, Hoskins
said she was done with defendant, but she later took him back, blaming herself for what
happened.
-2-
¶6 On another occasion, she and defendant were driving at night in Chicago in her
car. She told defendant she did not want to be with him any longer. He accused her of cheating
on him, took her keys and phone, and left her alone in the car in an unfamiliar area of the city.
She walked to a gas station and called the police. She and defendant reunited again after a text
message and a phone call.
¶7 According to Hoskins, defendant made her call him before she left for work at 6
a.m. and talk to him while she was driving. He did not want her to give anyone else a ride. She
could not take her phone into her workplace, but defendant wanted her to call him on her breaks.
At the end of December, defendant started accusing her of having sex with another man while on
the phone with defendant. He became angry when she denied this.
¶8 The charged incidents occurred on December 31, 2014, and the early morning
hours of January 1, 2015. While driving from Danville to Champaign, defendant again accused
Hoskins of having sex with another man while she was on the phone with defendant. He reached
across the car and slapped Hoskins on the left side of her face. In Champaign, defendant began
hitting her, telling her to admit she cheated on him. She lied and said she was unfaithful.
Defendant then banged her head on the interior side of the car until she “blacked out.” He told
Hoskins she was lucky he did not bust her head through the car window. Defendant also slapped
and choked her during this incident and threatened to kill her if she told anyone. He said he had a
prior standoff with the police and could easily get a gun.
¶9 Defendant and Hoskins then went to his mother’s house. She told defendant she
wanted to go home, but he said no. Defendant told Hoskins not to say anything to his mother
because he had no problem hitting her in front of his mother. While in the house, Hoskins wore a
hat, which she pulled to the side of her face to hide her injuries. After midnight, defendant took
-3-
Hoskins home but told her not to let her mother see her face. Hoskins promised not to tell her
mother. Once inside, though, she went straight to her mother’s room. She and her mother called
the police, and Hoskins went by ambulance to the hospital in Danville.
¶ 10 Rosie Chenault, Hoskins’s mother, testified she was in bed watching television
when Hoskins arrived home. When Hoskins entered her room, Chenault saw her swollen face.
She had never seen Hoskins’s face look like it did that night.
¶ 11 Illinois State Police trooper Nicholas Orndorff testified he spoke with Hoskins at
the hospital, took her statement, and took photographs of her observable injuries. He
immediately noticed her facial injuries, including swollen contusions above each of her eyes, red
marks on the right side of her head, and a swollen lip. Hoskins showed Orndorff a red mark
around her neck. He then went to Champaign and arrested defendant. The State introduced into
evidence photographs of Hoskins’s injuries.
¶ 12 Defendant’s mother, Leslie Lee, offered the following testimony on his behalf.
Defendant and a young woman came to her house on the evening of December 31, 2014. She did
not remember the woman’s name but was introduced and observed the woman, including her
face. Lee did not notice any injuries, and the woman and defendant were affectionate with each
other.
¶ 13 Vaughn Cunningham, a family friend, also testified for defendant. She saw
defendant on New Year’s Eve with a woman he called his “female” and was within a few feet of
the woman, who seemed neither distressed nor injured.
¶ 14 The jury found defendant guilty of domestic battery, aggravated domestic battery,
and intimidation.
-4-
¶ 15 Defendant’s presentence report showed he was convicted of obstructing justice in
July 2001 as a juvenile and sentenced to 12 months’ probation. In March 2002, in a petition for
adjudication, the State alleged defendant committed criminal sexual abuse and aggravated
battery. In April 2002, defendant was resentenced to three years in the Department of
Corrections (DOC), Juvenile Division, following defendant’s admission he violated his
probation. The sexual abuse petition was dismissed at the victim’s request. In June 2004,
defendant was adjudicated delinquent on a burglary charge and sentenced to a DOC youth
center. As an adult, defendant was convicted of attempted aggravated robbery, resisting a peace
officer, and several traffic-related offenses.
¶ 16 At defendant’s sentencing hearing, the trial court heard evidence defendant
abused other women. Gabrielle Hayes testified she dated defendant for a year, and they had a
child together. Defendant mistreated her during their relationship, knocking her down when she
was seven months pregnant “for not doing something that he expected me to do or we agreed on
doing.” She also described an incident when defendant kicked in her parents’ garage door and
punched her face into a wall. Defendant threatened to kill her multiple times.
¶ 17 Dale Rawdin, an investigator for the Champaign County State’s Attorney’s
Office, testified he investigated contact between defendant and Tormeka Foreman. Defendant
called Foreman from the jail numerous times in violation of an order of protection. Rawdin
listened to some of the recordings of the calls, which he described as “confrontational” and
“argumentative.”
¶ 18 David Smysor, an Urbana police detective, testified he also had investigated
defendant. In December 2009, defendant’s mother called the police because defendant had a rifle
in her apartment and threatened her with the weapon. After a five hour standoff with the police,
-5-
defendant tried to escape out a bathroom window but was apprehended by the police. The police
recovered a .270-caliber bolt-action rifle in the apartment. Defendant’s mother told Smysor that
defendant was prone to outbursts of anger. Charges against defendant based on this incident were
later dismissed.
¶ 19 Smysor investigated another domestic incident between defendant and his mother
in June 2010. Defendant became angry when his mother would not let him use her car. He made
three long gouges in the hood of the vehicle with a knife and then approached her with the
weapon. She told the police she felt threatened. Their argument continued inside her apartment.
Defendant then left and broke out the rear passenger window of the car. Charges with regard to
this incident were also dropped.
¶ 20 Officer David Sawlaw of the Rantoul police department testified he responded to
a report of domestic battery to Keshia Evans by defendant in August 2011. Evans told the police
she and defendant were arguing, and defendant threw her to the ground, straddled her, and
choked her. When a child entered the room, defendant let her up. The next morning, defendant
choked her again, and she and her child fled the apartment in their pajamas and went to the
police station. The police were never able to locate defendant.
¶ 21 The State asked the trial court to sentence defendant to 14 years on the aggravated
domestic battery count and impose a consecutive sentence on the intimidation conviction. The
court noted no statutory mitigating factors applied to defendant for this offense. According to the
court, defendant’s age, 27, was the only mitigating factor. In aggravation, the court noted
defendant’s prior criminal history and deterrence. The court stated, “The history, character and
condition of this Defendant indicates that he is an incredibly violent individual with women and
he maintains control” and "is the ultimate definition of what a domestic batterer is.” The court
-6-
sentenced defendant to the maximum 14-year sentence on the aggravated domestic battery
charge, with a consecutive six-year term on the intimidation conviction, noting defendant is an
“incredibly dangerous young man.”
¶ 22 This appeal followed.
¶ 23 II. ANALYSIS
¶ 24 A. Other-Crimes Evidence
¶ 25 Defendant argues he was deprived of his constitutional right to a fair trial because
the trial court allowed the jury to hear excessive evidence of his other bad acts involving
Hoskins. Defendant states the prejudicial impact of this evidence far outweighed its probative
value, and the evidence should not have been admitted because the acts were not similar to the
charged offense and included numerous general accusations. We will only find a trial court erred
with regard to an evidentiary determination if the trial court abused its discretion, which occurs
when a ruling is “arbitrary, fanciful, unreasonable, or when no reasonable person would adopt
the trial court’s view.” People v. Ward, 2011 IL 108690, ¶ 21, 952 N.E.2d 601.
¶ 26 Evidence of other crimes or bad acts by a defendant is ordinarily inadmissible to
establish a defendant’s propensity to commit crimes. People v. Pikes, 2013 IL 115171, ¶ 11, 998
N.E.2d 1247. However, section 115-7.4 of the Procedure Code (725 ILCS 5/115-7.4 (West
2014)) allows for other-crimes evidence to be admitted in domestic violence prosecutions “so
long as the evidence is relevant and its probative value is not substantially outweighed by the risk
of undue prejudice.” People v. Dabbs, 239 Ill. 2d 277, 291, 940 N.E.2d 1088, 1097 (2010).
Section 115-7.4 states:
“(a) In a criminal prosecution in which the defendant is accused of an
offense of domestic violence as defined in paragraphs (1) and (3) of Section 103
-7-
of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, or first degree murder or second
degree murder when the commission of the offense involves domestic violence,
evidence of the defendant’s commission of another offense or offenses of
domestic violence is admissible, and may be considered for its bearing on any
matter to which it is relevant.
(b) In weighing the probative value of the evidence against undue
prejudice to the defendant, the court may consider:
(1) the proximity in time to the charged or predicate offense;
(2) the degree of factual similarity to the charged or predicate
offense; or
(3) other relevant facts and circumstances.” 725 ILCS 5/115-7.4
(West 2014).
As the statute makes clear, the court must still balance the probative value of the evidence
against the risk of undue prejudice. People v. Dabbs, 239 Ill. 2d at 290-91, 940 N.E.2d at 1097.
¶ 27 Based on the record in this case, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by
allowing Hoskins to testify, pursuant to section 115-7.4, of prior instances of abuse by defendant.
All of the incidents in question concerned defendant and Hoskins and took place within a
relatively short period of time. These incidents showed a common cause for the abuse, i.e.,
defendant’s suspicion Hoskins was involved with other men. At trial, the State did not offer
domestic violence evidence of incidents involving other women.
¶ 28 Defendant points out the appellate court has required a new trial where the State’s
use of even one prior crime has prejudiced the defendant. See People v. Thigpen, 306 Ill. App. 3d
29, 39, 713 N.E.2d 633, 640 (1999); People v. Nunley, 271 Ill. App. 3d 427, 432-33, 648 N.E.2d
-8-
1015, 1018-19 (1995). Defendant’s reliance on Thigpen and Nunley is misplaced because neither
of those cases involved section 115-7.4. The trial court here did not abuse its discretion in
admitting evidence of these other acts.
¶ 29 B. Jury Instruction
¶ 30 Defendant acknowledges the trial court instructed the jury consistent with Illinois
Pattern Jury Instructions, Criminal, No. 3.14 (4th ed. 2000) (hereinafter, IPI Criminal 4th), to
consider other-crimes evidence for the limited purpose of defendant’s “criminal intent, motive,
lack of mistake, [and] propensity to commit domestic violence” before the jury deliberated.
However, defendant argues the court erred by not instructing the jury before the other-crimes
evidence was introduced.
¶ 31 A committee note to IPI Criminal 4th No. 3.14 states: “At the time the evidence
which is the subject of this instruction is first presented to the jury, the Committee recommends
that an oral instruction should be given to explain to the jury the limited purpose of this evidence,
unless the defendant objects to that instruction.” IPI Criminal 4th No. 3.14, Committee Note, at
104. In People v. Roe, 228 Ill. App. 3d 628, 635-36, 592 N.E.2d 596, 601 (1992), this court
noted a contemporaneous instruction could assist the jury in understanding why it is being
permitted to hear evidence of the defendant’s other bad acts and reduce the likelihood this
evidence would prejudice the defendant in the jury’s eyes by simply showing his propensity to
commit crime.
¶ 32 In People v. Denny, 241 Ill. App. 3d 345, 360-61, 608 N.E.2d 1313, 1324 (1993),
this court stated: “Because of the significant prejudice to a defendant’s case that the admission of
other crimes evidence usually risks, we hold that trial courts should not only instruct the jury in
accordance with [Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions, Criminal, No. 3.14 (2d ed. 1981)] at the close
-9-
of the case, but also orally from the bench (unless defendant objects) at the time the evidence is
first presented to the jury.” However, this court also stated a trial court’s failure to sua sponte
provide this instruction is not plain error. Denny, 241 Ill. App. 3d at 360, 608 N.E.2d at 1323.
¶ 33 When evidence of prior bad acts is admitted pursuant to section 115-7.4, unlike
other cases where such evidence is admitted only on a tangential item, such as intent or motive, it
can be admitted to show a defendant’s propensity to commit acts of domestic violence. As this
court recently stated, “In the interest of edification, we reiterate that other-crimes evidence
admitted pursuant to section 115-7.4 of the Code (725 ILCS 5/115-7.4 (West 2014)) may be
considered by the jury for any relevant matter, including the defendant’s propensity to commit
the charged crime.” (Emphasis added.) People v. Heller, 2017 IL App (4th) 140658, ¶ 65, 71
N.E.3d 1113. As a result, a trial court sua sponte instructing the jury it can consider such
evidence as evidence of a defendant’s propensity to commit the charged act of domestic violence
makes little sense. When evidence of other bad acts is being admitted pursuant to section 115-
7.4, this type of instruction would not benefit the defendant. As a result, the trial court did not err
in failing to sua sponte instruct the jury before Hoskins testified.
¶ 34 C. Sentence
¶ 35 Defendant next argues his sentence was excessive because he could have received
3 years in prison, but the court sentenced him to 20 years. The trial court sentenced defendant to
the maximum extended term of 14 years in prison for aggravated domestic battery and a
consecutive 6-year sentence for intimidation. Defendant argues this was excessive considering
his age, 26, at the time of the offense, and what he describes as a “negligible criminal
background,” including one prior felony conviction for attempted aggravated robbery, which he
committed when he was 17. We will not disturb a defendant’s sentence unless we find the trial
- 10 -
court abused its discretion. People v. Johnson, 347 Ill. App. 3d 570, 573-74, 807 N.E.2d 1171,
1175 (2004).
¶ 36 Defendant failed to preserve this issue by filing a motion to reconsider the
sentence. He asks us to consider this argument pursuant to the plain-error doctrine. Because the
trial court did not err in sentencing defendant, we need not discuss the plain-error doctrine.
¶ 37 “A reasoned judgment as to the proper sentence to be imposed must be based
upon the particular circumstances of each individual case.” People v. Perruquet, 68 Ill. 2d 149,
154, 368 N.E.2d 882, 884 (1977). Based on the record in this case, the trial court did not abuse
its discretion in sentencing defendant. While defendant was young, he had prior juvenile and
adult offenses. He had a violent nature and was not able to control his behavior. He also had a
history of abusing women. The court stated defendant was “the ultimate definition of what a
domestic batterer is.” It stated the most important factor in fashioning defendant’s sentence was
the deterrent factor because the evidence showed defendant had continuously battered and
attempted to exercise control over various women, including the victim in this case, for over five
years. Further, defendant did not understand the severity of his conduct, arguing during his
sentencing hearing he should receive the minimum sentence because he had not killed anybody
and Hoskins was still walking. Because the trial court did not abuse its discretion in sentencing
defendant, defendant was not prejudiced by his trial counsel’s failure to file a motion to
reconsider his sentence. As a result, we need not consider defendant’s argument regarding the
effectiveness of his trial counsel.
¶ 38 D. Fines and Fees
¶ 39 Defendant next argues the trial court improperly imposed $47 in assessments
against defendant for a second domestic battery count. The State concedes the court erred in
- 11 -
imposing $47 in assessments on this second count of domestic battery. We accept the State’s
concession.
¶ 40 Defendant also argues his presentence custody credit should have been applied
against the following assessments: (1) $90 juvenile expungement fee; (2) $50 court finance fee;
and (3) $15 State Police operations fee. Defendant was in custody for 107 days prior to
sentencing and is entitled to $535 in presentence custody credit. The State concedes this point,
and we accept the State’s concession.
¶ 41 On remand, the trial court shall reduce the outstanding amount owed by defendant
from $553 to $351 ($553-$47-$90-$50-$15=$351).
¶ 42 III. CONCLUSION
¶ 43 We affirm defendant’s conviction and prison sentence but remand for the trial
court to vacate defendant’s $47 assessment for the second count of domestic battery and to apply
defendant’s presentence custody credit against his $90 juvenile expungement fee, $50 court
finance fee, and $15 State Police operations fee, thereby reducing the amount owed by defendant
from $553 to $351.
¶ 44 Affirmed; cause remanded with directions.
- 12 -