People v. Thomas

FILED
2017 IL App (4th) 150815 December 22, 2017
Carla Bender
NO. 4-15-0815 4th District Appellate
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. ) McLean County
CHRISTIAN DIOR THOMAS, ) No. 14CF617
Defendant-Appellant. )
) Honorable
) Robert L. Freitag,
) Judge Presiding.
JUSTICE DeARMOND delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
Presiding Justice Turner and Justice Knecht concurred in the judgment and
opinion.
OPINION
¶1 In January 2015, the trial court found defendant, Christian Dior Thomas, guilty of
armed robbery with a firearm and aggravated vehicular hijacking. At the March 2015 sentencing
hearing, the court sentenced defendant to 26 years in prison on the aggravated vehicular
hijacking conviction.
¶2 On appeal, defendant argues (1) he was denied the effective assistance of counsel
and (2) the trial court erred by not conducting an inquiry under People v. Krankel, 102 Ill. 2d
181, 464 N.E.2d 1045 (1984). We affirm.
¶3 I. BACKGROUND
¶4 In June 2014, a grand jury indicted defendant on single counts of armed robbery
with a firearm (count I) (720 ILCS 5/18-2(a)(2) (West 2014)) and aggravated vehicular hijacking
(count II) (720 ILCS 5/18-4(a)(4) (West 2014)). In count I, the State alleged defendant
committed the offense of armed robbery with a firearm when he knowingly took property, a
Chevrolet Tahoe, by threatening the use of imminent force while armed with a firearm. In count
II, the State alleged defendant committed the offense of aggravated vehicular hijacking when he
knowingly took a motor vehicle, a Chevrolet Tahoe, by threatening the imminent use of force
while carrying a firearm on or about his person.
¶5 Following a January 2015 bench trial, the trial court found defendant guilty on
both counts. In March 2015, during the sentencing hearing, it was determined that defendant
could be sentenced on only one count because of the one-act, one-crime rule, and the State asked
for a judgment on the aggravated-vehicular-hijacking conviction. The court informed the parties
it believed the sentence would be served at 50% because the State did not allege or prove great
bodily harm (730 ILCS 5/3-6-3(a)(2)(iii) (West 2014)), but it was willing to hear arguments from
both sides. The State agreed it did not plead great bodily harm, nor would the evidence support a
finding of great bodily harm. Defense counsel stated he originally “had no doubt that it was an
85 percent sentence,” but upon reviewing the statute, he agreed the court was correct in its
assessment of the sentence. After further discussion and arguments on aggravating and
mitigating factors, the court sentenced defendant to 11 years with a 15-year add-on in the Illinois
Department of Corrections.
¶6 After the sentencing hearing, defendant filed a motion for a new trial and a
motion to reconsider the sentence. The trial court deemed the motion for a new trial untimely and
denied the motion to reconsider the sentence. This appeal followed.
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¶7 II. ANALYSIS
¶8 A. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
¶9 Defendant argues he received ineffective assistance of counsel because his
attorney told him the plea offers would be served at 85%, which was not possible given the
pleadings in the bill of indictment. We disagree.
¶ 10 A defendant’s claim of ineffective assistance of counsel is analyzed under the
two-pronged test set forth in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). People v.
Henderson, 2013 IL 114040, ¶ 11, 989 N.E.2d 192. To prevail on such a claim, “a defendant
must show both that counsel’s performance was deficient and that the deficient performance
prejudiced the defendant.” People v. Petrenko, 237 Ill. 2d 490, 496, 931 N.E.2d 1198, 1203
(2010). To establish deficient performance, the defendant must show his attorney’s performance
fell below an objective standard of reasonableness. People v. Evans, 209 Ill. 2d 194, 219, 808
N.E.2d 939, 953 (2004) (citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687). “Effective assistance of counsel
refers to competent, not perfect representation.’ ” Id. at 220 (quoting People v. Stewart, 104 Ill.
2d 463, 491-92, 473 N.E.2d 1227, 1240 (1984)). Mistakes in trial strategy or tactics do not
necessarily render counsel’s representation defective. See People v. Kyse, 220 Ill. App. 3d 971,
974, 581 N.E.2d 285, 287 (1991) (finding defense counsel’s decision not to tender an affirmative
defense of voluntary intoxication was a trial tactic and did not constitute ineffective assistance of
counsel).
¶ 11 To establish the second prong of Strickland, “[a] defendant establishes prejudice
by showing that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, there is a reasonable probability that the
result of the proceeding would have been different.” People v. Houston, 229 Ill. 2d 1, 4, 890
N.E.2d 424, 426 (2008). A “reasonable probability” has been defined as a probability, which
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would be sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome of the trial. Id. “A defendant must
satisfy both prongs of the Strickland test and a failure to satisfy any one of the prongs precludes a
finding of ineffectiveness.” People v. Simpson, 2015 IL 116512, ¶ 35, 25 N.E.3d 601.
“Although a defendant has no constitutional right to plea bargain,
if the State chooses to bargain, the defendant has the right to the
effective assistance of counsel in negotiations with the State.
[Citation.] Moreover, the right to the effective assistance of
counsel extends to the defendant’s decision to reject a plea offer,
even if the defendant subsequently receives a fair trial.” People v.
Brown, 309 Ill. App. 3d 599, 604, 723 N.E.2d 362, 366 (1999)
(citing People v. Curry, 178 Ill. 2d 509, 517, 687 N.E.2d 877, 882
(1997)).
¶ 12 In this case, the prosecutor and defense counsel were mistaken in their belief the
sentence would be served at 85%. Under section 3-6-3(a)(2)(iii) of the Unified Code of
Corrections (730 ILCS 5/3-6-3(a)(2)(iii) (West 2014)), defendant would receive “no more than
4.5 days of sentence credit for each month of his *** imprisonment” upon the court “enter[ing] a
finding *** that the conduct leading to conviction for the enumerated offense [of armed robbery
or aggravated vehicular hijacking] resulted in great bodily harm to a victim.” As the State failed
to prove great bodily harm, resulting in the trial court declining to make such a finding, the
conduct falls under section 3-6-3(a)(2.1) of the Unified Code of Corrections, which states “[f]or
all offenses, other than those enumerated in subdivision (a)(2)(i), (ii), or (iii) *** a prisoner who
is serving a term of imprisonment shall receive one day of sentence credit for each day of his or
her sentence of imprisonment.” 730 ILCS 5/3-6-3(a)(2.1) (West 2014). While the State offered
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several plea deals to defendant—the lowest alleged plea deal being 21 years—these deals were
all to be served at 85%. Only at the sentencing hearing did the court correct the misconception of
the parties and note defendant could not get 85%, as the State requested. The court then
sentenced defendant to a total of 26 years at 50%. After discovering he was misinformed,
defendant sent a letter to the court, seeking an appeal of his sentence and/or a reduction of his
sentence, saying that if he knew his sentence would be served at 50%, he “might have” taken the
State’s plea offer of 21 years.
¶ 13 In People v. Williams, 2016 IL App (4th) 140502, 54 N.E.3d 934, this court
discussed in detail the burden on a defendant asserting an ineffective assistance of counsel claim
based on plea negotiations. Citing the Illinois Supreme Court’s holding in People v. Hale, 2013
IL 113140, ¶ 19, 996 N.E.2d 607, this court noted how the requirements for establishing
prejudice in plea negotiations discussed in Curry had since been addressed by the United States
Supreme Court in Missouri v. Frye, 566 U.S. 134 (2012), and Lafler v. Cooper, 566 U.S. 156
(2012). Williams, 2016 IL App (4th) 140502, ¶ 27, 54 N.E.3d 934. In cases where a defendant
claims but for counsel’s ineffective assistance, he might have accepted a plea offer, the Hale
court added an additional factor, which required a defendant to also show a reasonable
probability the offer would not have been withdrawn by the State or rejected by the court. Hale,
2013 IL 113140, ¶ 19, 996 N.E.2d 607.
“Thus, to prevail on a claim that a trial attorney’s given
deficient performance denied a defendant his constitutional right to
the effective assistance of counsel during guilty-plea negotiations
with the State, a defendant must also demonstrate that (1) a
reasonable probability existed that the defendant would have
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accepted the guilty-plea offer absent counsel’s deficient
performance and (2) the guilty-plea offer would have been entered
without the prosecution rescinding the offer or the court’s refusing
to accept the parties’ agreement. [Citations.]” Williams, 2016 IL
App (4th) 140502, ¶ 29, 54 N.E.3d 934.
¶ 14 We find defendant cannot satisfy the prejudice prong of the Strickland standard
for two reasons. First, nothing in the record indicates the State would not have increased its offer
upon recognition of the error about the percentage of time defendant would serve. See People v.
Powers, 2011 IL App (2d) 090292, ¶ 8, 961 N.E.2d 906. In Powers, the defendant alleged the
State made several plea offers to him to serve the sentence at 85%, with the lowest sentence
being 14 years at 85%. Id. ¶ 6. The defendant claimed he was eligible to serve only 50%, and his
counsel was ineffective because he would have taken the plea deal if it was accurately conveyed
to him. Id. ¶¶ 6, 7. The Second District found the defendant’s argument “a counterfactual
conditional, a conclusion based on a false premise.” Id. ¶ 7.
“Defendant’s premise is that, had his attorney been competent in
raising the correct good-conduct credit calculation, the State would
have stood by the offer of 14 years with the more generous credit
applying. This premise is both speculative and counterintuitive.
Not only is there nothing in the record to support this premise,
common sense leads one to conclude that the State would have
amended its offer upwards when it learned of the proper good-
conduct credit calculation.” Id.
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The court noted the defendant did not accept the plea deal and there was no “meeting of the
minds on that offer.” Id. ¶ 8. “However, there was a meeting of the minds regarding the State’s
intention in extending the offer: defendant would serve at least 11.9 years in prison.” Id. The
court found the same result could have been achieved by offering a plea of 24 years, and thus,
there was “no showing of a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s deficient performance,
the result of the proceeding would have been different.” Id. As a result, the court denied the
defendant’s claim of ineffective assistance of counsel because he could not prove prejudice. Id.
¶ 15 In this case, as in Powers, there was a meeting of the minds regarding the State’s
intention in extending the offer with a requirement that defendant serve 17.85 years (21 years
served at 85%). To reach the same result served at 50%, the State could have offered 36 years,
which was possible under the sentencing range available for aggravated vehicular hijacking. See
720 ILCS 5/18-4(b) (West 2014) (indicating a violation of subsection (a)(4) is a Class X felony
with a 15-year add on); 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-25(a) (West 2014) (stating the sentence for a Class X
felony is 6 to 30 years in prison). As such, defendant cannot show the outcome would have
changed as a result of counsel’s lack of knowledge about the percentage of time served under the
statute.
¶ 16 In addition, counsel’s failure to inform the defendant of a collateral consequence
of his guilty plea, i.e., actual time served, will not normally provide a basis for relief. People v.
Frison, 365 Ill. App. 3d 932, 851 N.E.2d 890 (2006). “[T]he failure to inform a defendant of a
consequence of a guilty plea is material only if the consequence is a direct consequence of the
guilty plea. [Citations.] Collateral consequences on the other hand, provide no basis for
reversal.” Id. at 934, 851 N.E.2d at 892-93.
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¶ 17 The Powers court discussed Frison, noting how “[a] direct consequence is one
that is definite, immediate, and largely automatic in its effect on a defendant’s punishment, while
a collateral consequence does not relate to the length of the sentence that is imposed.” Powers,
2011 IL App (2d) 090292, ¶ 9. The court pointed out how the focus, in such an analysis, is on the
sentence imposed, not the time to be actually served. Id.
¶ 18 Although defendant’s counsel claimed at oral argument our supreme court has
done away with the “direct vs. collateral” consequences analysis when a defendant is given
incorrect advice by counsel as a result of its decision in People v. Correa, 108 Ill. 2d 541, 485
N.E.2d 307 (1985), such is not the case. The court in Correa merely noted how a failure by
counsel to properly advise a defendant of the collateral consequences of deportation pursuant to a
plea of guilty, after being specifically asked whether he was subject to deportation, could result
in a finding of ineffective assistance, even though deportation was a collateral consequence. Id.
at 551-52, 485 N.E.2d at 311. A failure to advise of such consequences is still considered a
collateral consequence, which does not amount to ineffective assistance.
¶ 19 The Illinois Supreme Court confirmed the continued existence of the “direct vs.
collateral” consequences analysis necessary in assessing claims of ineffective assistance at guilty
pleas in People v. Manning, 227 Ill. 2d 403, 883 N.E.2d 492 (2008). Although the court found it
inapplicable to the particular facts of their case, the court noted how the direct-consequences
doctrine requires a defendant must understand the direct results of any plea he enters. Id. at 415,
883 N.E.2d at 501. “ ‘[A] trial court’s obligation to ensure that a defendant understands the direct
consequences of his or her plea encompasses only those consequences of the sentence that the
trial judge can impose.’ ” (Emphasis omitted.) Id. (quoting People v. Williams, 188 Ill. 2d 365,
372, 721 N.E.2d 539, 544 (1999)).
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¶ 20 Both Correa and People v. Young, 355 Ill. App. 3d 317, 822 N.E.2d 920 (2005),
were cited by defendant’s counsel as support for his position that erroneous advice regarding
collateral consequences may form the basis for an ineffective assistance of counsel claim. It is
particularly important to note however, both cases involved affirmative erroneous statements or
misinformation in response to specific inquiries by the defendant. Correa, 108 Ill. 2d 541, 485
N.E.2d 307; Young, 355 Ill. App. 3d 317, 822 N.E.2d 920.
¶ 21 The second reason defendant cannot show prejudice is defendant claims he
“might have” taken the deal, not that he would have taken the deal. To succeed on a claim of
ineffective assistance of counsel, defendant has to show a probability sufficient to undermine the
confidence in the outcome of the trial. Houston, 229 Ill. 2d at 4, 890 N.E.2d at 426. His wavering
statement in his letter to the trial court fails to show a reasonable probability existed, if given the
21-year plea deal at 50%, defendant would not have proceeded to trial. If the noncommittal
statement “might have” satisfies the prejudice prong under Strickland, it would completely
dismantle the nature of the proof required to show prejudice in guilty pleas, as many defendants
would claim they might have taken the plea deal if the sentence after trial proved to be harsher
than the plea offered. However, the standard is “a probability sufficient to undermine confidence
in the outcome” of the trial, and defendant’s lackadaisical assertion is clearly insufficient to
undermine the confidence in the outcome of the trial. Id. As such, counsel’s performance at trial
was not constitutionally ineffective.
¶ 22 B. Krankel Inquiry
¶ 23 Defendant argues he was entitled to a Krankel inquiry on his claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel. We disagree.
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¶ 24 “[W]hen a defendant presents a pro se posttrial claim of ineffective assistance of
counsel, the trial court should first examine the factual basis of the defendant’s claim.” People v.
Moore, 207 Ill. 2d 68, 77-78, 797 N.E.2d 631, 637 (2003). “[A] pro se defendant is not required
to do any more than bring his or her claim to the trial court’s attention.” Id. at 79, 797 N.E.2d at
638. “[W]hen a defendant brings a clear claim asserting ineffective assistance of counsel, either
orally or in writing, this is sufficient to trigger the trial court’s duty to conduct a Krankel
inquiry.” People v. Ayres, 2017 IL 120071, ¶ 18. “If a defendant does not make a valid
ineffective assistance claim, [he] does not trigger the need for the trial court to inquire.” People
v. King, 2017 IL App (1st) 142297, ¶ 15, 80 N.E.3d 599 (citing People v. Taylor, 237 Ill. 2d 68,
927 N.E.2d 1172 (2010)). “The issue of whether the circuit court properly conducted a
preliminary Krankel inquiry presents a legal question that we review de novo.” People v. Jolly,
2014 IL 117142, ¶ 28, 25 N.E.3d 1127.
¶ 25 In this case, defendant wrote a letter to the trial court after sentencing, which
stated, in part:
“I would also like a motion filed for a reduction of sentence. I was
sentenced 3/5/15 to 26 years at 50%. I would like this motion filed
due to the fact that during my time in the county I was offered
three plea deals at 85% not knowing that I had the option of 50%.
If told I had the option of 50% or even told that I could not get a
85% offer due to the nature of my offense, at my plea offer of 21
yrs at 85% if known I could get 50% I might have taken the plea
instead of going to trial.”
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Defendant argues he made an implicit claim of ineffective assistance of counsel in his letter to
the court.
¶ 26 Courts have found a defendant is entitled to a Krankel inquiry when the defendant
makes an explicit or “clear” complaint of trial counsel’s performance or ineffective assistance of
counsel. See Ayres, 2017 IL 120071, ¶ 18 (finding the defendant was entitled to a Krankel
inquiry after claiming ineffective assistance of counsel in his petition to withdraw his guilty
plea); Moore, 207 Ill. 2d at 81, 797 N.E.2d at 639-40 (finding the defendant’s claim in open
court that his attorney could not adequately represent him entitled him to a Krankel inquiry);
People v. Giles, 261 Ill. App. 3d 833, 848, 635 N.E.2d 969, 979-80 (1994) (finding the trial court
inquired into defendant’s allegation of counsel’s incompetence in a pro se posttrial motion and
found it without merit); People v. Finley, 222 Ill. App. 3d 571, 584, 584 N.E.2d 276, 284-85
(1991) (finding the defendant was entitled to a Krankel inquiry after the defendant wrote letters
to the judge claiming his attorney failed to call witnesses on his behalf). People v. Lobdell, 2017
IL App (3d) 150074, cited by defendant as supplemental authority, is inapposite. In Lobdell, the
court found the defendant was entitled to a Krankel inquiry when he wrote a letter to the trial
court, claiming his attorney did not bring up fourth and fifth amendment claims. Id. ¶ 37. Such is
not the case before this court. In instances where the defendant’s claim is implicit and could be
subject to different interpretations, a Krankel inquiry is not required. See Taylor, 237 Ill. 2d at
77, 927 N.E.2d at 1777 (finding a defendant’s statement, which could be subject to multiple
interpretations, including regret over a rejected plea deal, was not sufficient to trigger a Krankel
inquiry); King, 2017 IL App (1st) 142297, ¶ 20, 80 N.E.3d 599 (finding the defendant was not
entitled to Krankel inquiry when, at sentencing, the defendant claimed error in that a witness was
not called without mentioning her attorney).
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¶ 27 Here, defendant did not mention his attorney in his letter to the trial court. In
addition, when considered in context, the court was aware, by the time it received defendant’s
letter, that both parties had been operating under the misconception defendant’s charges were
subject to sentencing at 85%. In addition, the defendant was present before the court when both
the State and his counsel were informed of their error in calculating the actual sentence to be
served. The letter sent to the judge two days after the sentencing hearing requested a “motion for
appeal” and a “motion for a reduction of sentence” be filed on his behalf. Defendant’s letter,
under these circumstances, could have easily appeared to be his hoping to somehow get another
chance at a lesser sentence.
¶ 28 As he made no mention of his attorney, or any assertion of ineffective assistance,
the letter was subject to many interpretations, including defendant’s ex post facto regret at not
taking the State’s alleged offer.
¶ 29 The trial court had before it the defendant’s presentence report, in which he
maintained his innocence of the offenses charged. It also heard defendant during his opportunity
for allocution at the conclusion of the sentencing hearing make no comment about the
differences in actual time to be served and again assert his innocence of the offense. The court
was also aware, from its review of the presentence report, that the defendant was no stranger to
the criminal justice process. Coupled with the fact that he also sought to file a notice of appeal,
his assertion that he “might have taken the plea” may have carried even less weight.
¶ 30 There is no question our courts have lessened the burden on defendants, unskilled
in the law, to make an assertion sufficient to warrant a Krankel inquiry. However, it is equally
clear courts of review are, and reasonably should be, reluctant to require trial courts to somehow
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glean an ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim from every obscure complaint or comment made
by a defendant.
¶ 31 Defendant argued the State was suggesting that a defendant was required to use
the magic words “ineffective assistance of counsel” before a trial court need conduct the type of
inquiry required by Krankel. This is not true. The court held in Ayres that judicial economy is
best served by allowing an express claim of ineffective assistance of counsel to trigger a Krankel
inquiry. Ayres, 2017 IL 120071, ¶ 21. However, for a defendant to make a “clear claim” of
ineffective assistance of counsel, the defendant must at least mention his attorney. The trial court
was in a position to review defendant’s letter within the context of the circumstances surrounding
the plea and sentencing. Here, defendant did not request the appointment of new counsel, or
reference his counsel in any way, which might have directed the court’s attention to some
perceived deficiency in trial counsel’s representation. See Finley, 222 Ill. App. 3d at 576, 584
N.E.2d at 279. As defendant’s letter falls short of a “clear claim asserting ineffective assistance
of counsel” (Ayres, 2017 IL 120071, ¶ 18), he is not entitled to a Krankel inquiry.
¶ 32 III. CONCLUSION
¶ 33 For the reasons stated, we affirm the trial court’s judgment. As part of our
judgment, we award the State its $75 statutory assessment against defendant as costs of this
appeal.
¶ 34 Affirmed.
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