People v. Burns

Illinois Official Reports
Appellate Court
People v. Burns, 2013 IL App (1st) 120929
Appellate Court THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.
Caption EDWARD BURNS, Defendant-Appellant.
District & No. First District, Sixth Division
Docket No. 1-12-0929
Filed December 31, 2013
Rehearing denied February 7, 2014
Held Despite the decision of the Illinois Supreme Court in Aguilar,
(Note: This syllabus defendant’s conviction for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon based
constitutes no part of the on a prior felony conviction was affirmed, since the prohibition on the
opinion of the court but possession of firearms by a felon has been recognized for many years
has been prepared by the as conduct that falls outside the protection of the second amendment,
Reporter of Decisions and in defendant’s case, the aggravated unlawful use of a weapon
for the convenience of statute merely regulates the possession of a firearm by a person with a
the reader.) prior felony conviction.
Decision Under Appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County, No. 09-CR-12950; the
Review Hon. Thomas M. Davy, Judge, presiding.
Judgment Affirmed.
Counsel on Michael J. Pelletier, Alan D. Goldberg, and Adrienne N. River, all of
Appeal State Appellate Defender’s Office, of Chicago, for appellant.
Anita M. Alvarez, State’s Attorney, of Chicago (Alan J. Spellberg,
Assistant State’s Attorney, of counsel), for the People.
Panel JUSTICE REYES delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
Presiding Justice Rochford and Justice Hall concurred in the judgment
and opinion.
OPINION
¶1 Following a bench trial in the circuit court of Cook County, defendant Edward Burns
(defendant) was found guilty of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon (AUUW) (720 ILCS
5/24-1.6 (a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3)(A), (d) (West 2008)) and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Defendant was convicted of a Class 2 offense, based on a prior felony conviction, and
sentenced as a Class X offender. On appeal, defendant argues his convictions must be reversed
pursuant to the Illinois Supreme Court’s decision in People v. Aguilar, 2013 IL 112116, reh’g
denied, No. 112116 (Ill. Dec. 19, 2013), which held the Class 4 form of section 24-1.6 (a)(1),
(a)(3)(A), (d) of the AUUW statute facially violates the right to keep and bear arms, as
guaranteed by the second amendment to the United States Constitution (U.S. Const., amend.
II). Aguilar, 2013 IL 112116, ¶ 22. For the following reasons, we affirm defendant’s
conviction.
¶2 BACKGROUND
¶3 The record on appeal discloses the following facts. On October 7, 2009, defendant was
charged by indictment with violating the armed habitual criminal statute (720 ILCS
5/24-1.7(b) (West 2008)), two counts of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon (UUWF) (720
ILCS 5/24-1.1 (West 2008)), and eight counts of AUUW (720 ILCS 5/24-1.6 (West 2008)).
The armed habitual criminal charge was based on prior convictions for possession of a
controlled substance and AUUW. The UUWF charges were based on the prior AUUW
conviction. Four of the AUUW charges refer to the prior AUUW conviction, while the four
remaining AUUW charges refer to the prior conviction for possession of a controlled
substance. On November 28, 2011, immediately prior to the commencement of the trial, the
State moved to dismiss counts V, VII, IX, and XI by nolle prosequi. The dismissed counts
charged various forms of AUUW on the ground that defendant had not been issued a valid
firearms owner identification card.
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¶4 At trial, Chicago police officer Tim McDonough testified that on June 13, 2009, at
approximately 4 a.m., he and Officer Mark Sobczyk were patrolling in a marked police vehicle
and responded to a radio report of gunfire in the vicinity of 73rd Street and Blackstone Avenue.
While proceeding to that location, the police officers were flagged down by the owner of a
black sports utility vehicle, who notified the officers of gunfire and pointed down 73rd Street.
¶5 As the police officers approached the intersection of 73rd Street and Blackstone Avenue,
Officer McDonough observed three individuals entering a four-door Nissan Maxima facing
eastward on 73rd Street. Officer McDonough also noticed a female driver he had not observed
entering the vehicle. Officer McDonough parked the police vehicle directly in front of the
Nissan.
¶6 As Officer McDonough exited his vehicle, he observed the front-seat passenger, whom he
identified in court as defendant, exit the Nissan while holding a handgun. Officer McDonough
shouted, “Get your hands up,” whereupon defendant turned, tossed the handgun into the
Nissan, and fled westbound on foot. Officer McDonough chased defendant, who turned
southward and threw another object to the ground during the chase. Officer McDonough
testified this object was a semiautomatic magazine containing ammunition.
¶7 According to Officer McDonough, defendant eventually ran back toward the Nissan.
Officer McDonough transmitted this information over his radio. Officer McDonough
subsequently learned defendant was apprehended by Officer Sobczyk. When Officer
McDonough returned to the location of the Nissan, he observed Officer Hernandez recover the
handgun from the floorboard of the passenger seat of the Nissan. Officer McDonough also
testified the handgun contained one round of ammunition, but was missing the clip. Officer
McDonough further testified the magazine he recovered while chasing defendant fit the
handgun recovered from the Nissan.
¶8 Officer Sobczyk’s testimony was substantially consistent with Officer McDonough’s
testimony. Officer Sobczyk additionally testified he secured the Nissan and radioed for backup
when Officer McDonough pursued defendant. Officer Sobczyk received Officer
McDonough’s radio call regarding defendant running back toward the Nissan, and Officer
Sobczyk started walking toward an alley between Dante and Blackstone Avenues on 73rd
Street. Shortly thereafter, defendant emerged from the alley and Officer Sobczyk placed him in
custody.
¶9 Following the police testimony, the State introduced certified copies of two convictions:
one for possession of a controlled substance and one for AUUW. The trial court admitted the
convictions without objection. Defendant then moved for a directed finding. The trial court
denied the motion.
¶ 10 Tenika Burns (Tenika), defendant’s wife, testified that on June 13, 2009, she was driving
herself, defendant, Otis Burns (Otis), and Larry Lester to a nightclub. During the drive, Otis
received a telephone call, after which he directed Tenika to drive them to 73rd Street and
Blackstone Avenue. While parked, a police vehicle parked in front of her vehicle.
¶ 11 According to Tenika, defendant and Lester exited her vehicle, but she did not observe
defendant toss a handgun into her vehicle. While one police officer pursued defendant and
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Lester, another officer directed her and Otis to exit her vehicle and place their hands on the
trunk. Tenika observed a police officer recover a handgun from her vehicle, which Otis
identified as belonging to him. She then observed defendant emerge from the alley and police
place him into handcuffs and escort him to a police vehicle.
¶ 12 Lester testified in a manner substantially similar to Tenika. Lester additionally testified
Otis placed a handgun under the passenger seat when the police parked their vehicle in front of
them. Lester also testified he fled the vehicle and was apprehended at the intersection of 74th
Street and Dante Avenue. Lester further testified he never heard Otis admit to being the owner
of the handgun at the scene of the police stop.
¶ 13 Defendant testified he did not possess a handgun when the police parked in front of
Tenika’s vehicle. According to defendant, he fled in the mistaken belief a protective order
Tenika had obtained remained in force. Defendant denied tossing the handgun into Tenika’s
vehicle and discarding ammunition while being pursued by the police. Defendant testified he
walked back to Tenika’s vehicle and surrendered to the police.
¶ 14 In rebuttal, the State called Officer Kubiak, who testified she and Officer Hernandez were
involved in arresting defendant. According to Officer Kubiak, when she arrived at the scene of
the incident, Otis and Tenika were in the Nissan. Officer Kubiak also testified Otis never
admitted he was the owner of the handgun recovered from the passenger floorboard of the
vehicle. Officer Sobczyk also testified in rebuttal that Otis never admitted he was the owner of
the handgun.
¶ 15 Following closing arguments, the trial court found defendant guilty of violating the armed
habitual criminal statute, two counts of UUWF, and eight counts of AUUW.
¶ 16 On January 3, 2012, defendant filed a motion to reconsider. In the motion, defendant first
argued the State relied on two certified copies of convictions, one of which (possession of a
controlled substance with intent to deliver) was under the name of Edward Burns, while the
other (AUUW) was under the name of Damion Smith. Defendant argued the State failed to
adduce any evidence that he is the same person as Damion Smith. Second, defendant argued
the State failed to prove he knowingly possessed a firearm.
¶ 17 On January 6, 2012, the trial court held a hearing, commencing with a pro se motion
alleging ineffective assistance of defense counsel, which the trial court denied. The trial court
then heard argument on the motion to reconsider. The trial court denied the motion regarding
the argument the State failed to prove defendant knowingly possessed a firearm. The trial
court, however, granted the motion to reconsider in part regarding the State’s failure to adduce
any evidence defendant is the same person as Damion Smith. The trial court observed this
ruling applied to the UUWF and armed habitual criminal charges, but not the remaining
counts, where the prior felony conviction is not an element of the offense.
¶ 18 On February 10, 2012, the trial court proceeded to sentence defendant on the two
remaining AAUW counts (counts VI and X). Following argument on the issue of whether
defendant should be sentenced as a Class X offender, and hearing factors in aggravation and
mitigation of the offense, including testimony from Tenika, the trial court sentenced defendant
on count 6 of the indictment to 10 years in prison for violating section 24-1.6(a)(1), (a)(3)(A)
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of the AUUW statute. 720 ILCS 5/24-1.6(a)(1), (a)(3)(A) (West 2008). The sentencing order
reflects defendant, having been convicted of a Class 2 offense, was sentenced as a Class X
offender. The sentencing order does not reflect a sentence upon count X of the indictment,
which addressed a violation of section 24-1.6(a)(2), (a)(3)(A) of the AUUW statute. 720 ILCS
5/24-1.6(a)(2), (a)(3)(A) (West 2008).
¶ 19 On March 12, 2012, defendant filed a timely notice of appeal to this court. Defendant filed
an initial brief arguing his conviction cannot stand because section 24-1.6(a)(1), (a)(3)(A) of
the AUUW statute unconstitutionally infringes upon his right to keep and bear arms, as
guaranteed by the second amendment to the United States Constitution (U.S. Const., amend.
II). On September 12, 2013, shortly before defendant filed his reply brief, our supreme court
determined section 24-1.6(a)(1), (a)(3)(A) of the AUUW statute was unconstitutional on its
face. Aguilar, 2013 IL 112116, ¶ 22. On September 19, 2013, defendant filed an emergency
motion in this court, seeking a summary reversal of his conviction and an immediate issuance
of a mandate to this effect. On September 23, 2013, the State filed a reply in opposition to the
emergency motion. On September 25, 2013, defendant filed a reply in support of his motion.
On September 30, 2013, this court entered an order denying the emergency motion. Also on
September 30, 2013, the State filed a motion for leave to file a surreply in opposition to the
emergency motion, which this court denied as moot on October 2, 2013. In addition, on
October 4, 2013, this court entered an order setting an expedited supplemental briefing
schedule pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 343(c) (eff. July 1, 2008). On December 12,
2013, this court held oral argument in this case.
¶ 20 On December 19, 2013, our supreme court entered a modified opinion on denial of the
State’s petition for rehearing in Aguilar. Aguilar, 2013 IL 112116. In the modified opinion, the
court noted:
“In response to the State’s petition for rehearing in this case, we reiterate and
emphasize that our finding of unconstitutionality in this decision is specifically limited
to the Class 4 form of AUUW, as set forth in section 24-1.6(a)(1), (a)(3)(A), (d) of the
AUUW statute. We make no finding, express or implied, with respect to the
constitutionality or unconstitutionality of any other section or subsection of the AUUW
statute.” Aguilar, 2013 IL 112116, ¶ 22 n.3.
Chief Justice Garman dissented from the denial of rehearing, concluding the supreme court
would have benefitted from further deliberation because the State’s petition for rehearing had
“fundamentally redefined” the issue in the case. See Aguilar, 2013 IL 112116, ¶¶ 33, 36
(Garman, C.J., dissenting). Justice Theis also dissented, observing in part “the implication of
the court’s holding is that the so-called ‘Class 2 form of the offense,’ which enhances the
penalty for felons, could potentially remain enforceable.” Aguilar, 2013 IL 112116, ¶ 47
(Theis, J., dissenting).
¶ 21 DISCUSSION
¶ 22 The sole issue in this case is whether the Class 2 form of section 24-1.6(a)(1), (a)(3)(A), (d)
of the AUUW statute (720 ILCS 5/24-1.6(a)(1), (a)(3)(A), (d) (West 2008)) violates the right
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to keep and bear arms, as guaranteed by the second amendment to the United States
Constitution (U.S. Const., amend. II). Section 24-1.6 of the AUUW statute provides in part:
“(a) A person commits the offense of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon when he
or she knowingly:
(1) Carries on or about his or her person or in any vehicle or concealed on or
about his or her person except when on his or her land or in his or her abode or fixed
place of business any pistol, revolver, stun gun or taser or other firearm; or
(2) Carries or possesses on or about his or her person, upon any public street,
alley, or other public lands within the corporate limits of a city, village or
incorporated town, except when an invitee thereon or therein, for the purpose of the
display of such weapon or the lawful commerce in weapons, or except when on his
or her own land or in his or her own abode or fixed place of business, any pistol,
revolver, stun gun or taser or other firearm; and
(3) One of the following factors is present:
(A) the firearm possessed was uncased, loaded, and immediately accessible
at the time of the offense[.]
***
(d) Sentence. Aggravated unlawful use of a weapon is a Class 4 felony; a second or
subsequent offense is a Class 2 felony for which the person shall be sentenced to a term
of imprisonment of not less than 3 years and not more than 7 years. Aggravated
unlawful use of a weapon by a person who has been previously convicted of a felony in
this State or another jurisdiction is a Class 2 felony for which the person shall be
sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 3 years and not more than 7
years.” 720 ILCS 5/24-1.6 (West 2008).
Defendant relies on the original decision in Aguilar, in which the supreme court determined
section 24-1.6(a)(1), (a)(3)(A) of the AUUW statute on its face violates the right to keep and
bear arms, as guaranteed by the second amendment to the United States Constitution. Aguilar,
2013 IL 112116, ¶ 22. When a statute is held facially unconstitutional, the statute is said to be
void ab initio. People v. Blair, 2013 IL 114122, ¶ 28. A statute declared void ab initio “was
constitutionally infirm from the moment of its enactment and is, therefore, unenforceable.”
Blair, 2013 IL 114122, ¶ 30.
¶ 23 The State argues that Aguilar does not apply to convicted felons such as defendant. Aguilar
was found guilty of the Class 4 form of the offense of the AAUW statute and sentenced to 24
months’ probation. See Aguilar, 2013 IL 112116, ¶ 7. The decision in Aguilar relies on the
Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision in Moore v. Madigan, 702 F.3d 933 (7th Cir.
2012), which our supreme court has interpreted as applying to the Class 4 form of the offense.
Aguilar, 2013 IL 112116, ¶¶ 19-22. In contrast, the record on appeal in this case establishes
defendant was sentenced under the Class 2 form of the offense. The State, while conceding the
substantive elements of the offense in this case were identical to those in Aguilar, contends
defendant here was actually convicted of a different, albeit related, form of the offense.
¶ 24 In general, where a statute initially sets forth the elements of the offense, then separately
provides sentencing classifications based on other factors, these factors only enhance the
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punishment and do not create a new offense. See People v. Van Schoyck, 232 Ill. 2d 330, 338
(2009) (driving while under the influence statute); People v. Robinson, 232 Ill. 2d 98, 112
(2008) (involuntary manslaughter statute); People v. Green, 225 Ill. 2d 612, 619-20 (2007)
(robbery statute); People v. Smith, 2012 IL App (1st) 102354, ¶ 110 (attempt statute); see also
People v. White, 2011 IL 109616, ¶ 26 (“[F]irst degree murder is a single offense–there is no
separate offense of ‘armed murder’ or ‘enhanced murder.’ ”). The modified opinion in
Aguilar, however, specifies the decision “is specifically limited to the Class 4 form of
AUUW.” Aguilar, 2013 IL 112116, ¶ 22 n.3; compare People v. Delvillar, 235 Ill. 2d 507, 510
(2009) (referring to a defendant pleading guilty to “aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by a
felon”). Indeed, the modified opinion in Aguilar refers to the “Class 4 form of the offense”
repeatedly. Aguilar, 2013 IL 112116, ¶¶ 1, 7, 11, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 30. The modified
ruling left open the issue of whether any other section or subsection of the AUUW is
unconstitutional. Aguilar, 2013 IL 112116, ¶ 22 n.3. Given the nature of the ruling in Aguilar,
and its multiple references to the Class 4 form of the offense, we agree “the implication of the
court’s holding is that the so-called ‘Class 2 form of the offense,’ which enhances the penalty
for felons, could potentially remain enforceable.” Aguilar, 2013 IL 112116, ¶ 47 (Theis, J.,
dissenting). Accordingly, we turn to consider the constitutionality of the Class 2 form of the
offense in the AUUW statute.
¶ 25 In Aguilar, our supreme court observed that the right to keep and bear arms is subject to
meaningful regulation. Aguilar, 2013 IL 112116, ¶ 21. Such regulations may include, but are
not limited to, “ ‘longstanding prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons and the
mentally ill, or laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and
government buildings, or laws imposing conditions and qualifications on the commercial sale
of arms.’ ” (Emphasis added.) Aguilar, 2013 IL 112116, ¶ 26 (quoting District of Columbia v.
Heller, 554 U.S. 570, 626-27 (2008)). Indeed, the United States Supreme Court described such
provisions as “presumptively lawful.” Heller, 554 U.S. at 627 n.26. Based on similar
reasoning, this court has rejected second amendment challenges to other statutes restricting the
possession or use of firearms by felons. E.g., People v. Neely, 2013 IL App (1st) 120043, ¶ 12
(upholding the UUWF statute); People v. Garvin, 2013 IL App (1st) 113095, ¶¶ 26-41
(upholding the armed habitual criminal and UUWF statutes); People v. Davis, 408 Ill. App. 3d
747, 750 (2011) (same).
¶ 26 Aguilar is further instructive on the mode of constitutional analysis to be employed. In that
case our supreme court affirmed Aguilar’s other conviction for unlawful possession of a
firearm (UPF). Aguilar, 2013 IL 112116, ¶ 30. Aguilar’s age–17 years old at the time of the
offense–was the basis for his conviction under the UPF statute. Aguilar, 2013 IL 112116, ¶ 25.
Our supreme court, based on the almost 150-year history of laws banning the juvenile
possession of firearms, concluded “the possession of handguns by minors is conduct that falls
outside the scope of the second amendment’s protection.” Aguilar, 2013 IL 112116, ¶ 27.
¶ 27 In this case, the history of prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons has been
expressly recognized by the United States Supreme Court and the Illinois Supreme Court.
Heller, 554 U.S. at 626; Aguilar, 2013 IL 112116, ¶ 26. Thus, we conclude the possession of
firearms by felons is conduct that falls outside the scope of the second amendment’s
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protection. 1 In this case, the Class 2 form of AUUW at issue merely regulates the possession of
a firearm by a person who has been previously convicted of a felony. Accordingly, defendant’s
constitutional challenge to the Class 2 form of the offense in the AUUW statute fails.
¶ 28 CONCLUSION
¶ 29 For all of the aforementioned reasons, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court of Cook
County.
¶ 30 Affirmed.
1
Prior to Aguilar, this court applied intermediate scrutiny to a constitutional challenge of the
AAUW statute involving possession of a firearm by an individual convicted of a felony, concluding the
statute is a valid exercise of the important governmental interest in protecting the health, safety and
general welfare of its citizens. People v. Brisco, 2012 IL App (1st) 101612, ¶¶ 51-57. Accordingly,
even assuming for the sake of argument that the possession of firearms by felons is conduct that falls
inside the scope of the second amendment’s protection, we would nevertheless uphold the
constitutionality of the specific statute involved in this appeal.
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