People v. Nelson

FILED
2016 IL App (4th) 140168 March 10, 2016
Carla Bender
NO. 4-14-0168 th
4 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. ) Sangamon County
BRANDON J. NELSON, ) No. 07CF1080
Defendant-Appellant. )
) Honorable
) John W. Belz,
) Judge Presiding.
PRESIDING JUSTICE KNECHT delivered the judgment of the court, with
opinion.
Justices Steigmann and Appleton concurred in the judgment and opinion.
OPINION
¶1 Defendant, Brandon J. Nelson, appeals the second-stage dismissal of his
postconviction petition under the Post-Conviction Hearing Act (Act) (725 ILCS 5/122-1 to 122-7
(West 2012)). Defendant argues (1) postconviction counsel failed to provide reasonable
assistance by not providing necessary documentation to support his claims; (2) the Sangamon
County circuit clerk, rather than the trial court, improperly imposed fines on defendant after
sentencing; (3) he is entitled to 14 additional days of credit against his sentence; and (4) Illinois's
statute triggering the automatic transfer of juveniles to adult court (705 ILCS 405/5-130 (West
2008)) violates the eighth amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment (U.S.
Const., amend. VIII). We affirm but remand for the imposition of mandatory fines and
applicable monetary credit against those fines.
¶2 I. BACKGROUND
¶3 In September 2007, the State charged defendant with three counts of first degree
murder (720 ILCS 5/9-1(a)(1), (a)(2) (West 2006)), alleging defendant tossed a concrete block
on Devyn Greff's head, causing Greff's death.
¶4 At a jury trial, testimony established Greff, the victim, was involved in a fight
with defendant's uncle, Antowin Nelson. That night, Antowin, riding his bike alone,
encountered Greff and Greff's roommate, Jeremy Younker. The testimony differs on the events
that led to the physical altercation but shows defendant and another male arrived at some point to
assist his uncle. During the dispute, Antowin punched Greff, causing Greff to fall straight back,
with his head striking the concrete. Younker believed Greff was "knocked out," because he was
lying "on his back and his arms were stiff." One witness testified Greff was motionless except
his teeth were chattering. Antowin left the scene, but defendant approached Greff from "around
the corner" and tossed a "cinder block" onto Greff's head.
¶5 Dr. Jessica Bowman, a pathologist, testified Greff died from blunt-force trauma to
his head. She opined the trauma causing Greff's death occurred when the concrete block struck
Greff. Dr. Bowman stated Antowin's punch did not cause Greff's death.
¶6 The jury found defendant guilty. He was sentenced to a prison term of 40 years,
with credit for 855 days presentence custody. Defendant pursued a direct appeal, and this court
affirmed defendant's conviction and sentence. People v. Nelson, 2011 IL App (4th) 100096-U,
¶ 3. A detailed summary of the trial testimony appears in that disposition. See id.
¶7 In July 2012, defendant filed a pro se petition under the Act, asserting claims of
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ineffective assistance of counsel and actual innocence. Defendant asserted trial counsel provided
ineffective assistance by not challenging Dr. Bowman's credentials. Defendant also asserted the
evidence showed Greff suffered two blows to his head before he was struck by the concrete
block: Antowin's punch and the resulting fall. Defendant emphasized Greff's teeth were
chattering before the cinder block landed on his head, and "teeth-chattering is a sign of traumatic
brain injury." Defendant attached to his petition multiple newspaper articles regarding Dr.
Bowman and printouts from websites, showing teeth chattering may indicate traumatic brain
injury (see, e.g., Tremor, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tremor (last visited Feb. 29,
2016). In August 2012, counsel was appointed to represent defendant in postconviction
proceedings.
¶8 In October 2013, postconviction counsel filed an amended petition.
Postconviction counsel argued, in part, trial counsel was ineffective for failing to hire an
independent expert to rebut Dr. Bowman's testimony and appellate counsel was ineffective for
not raising the issue on direct appeal. Counsel also maintained trial counsel's performance was
deficient because he did not emphasize Dr. Bowman lacked board certification and Greff
sustained multiple blows to his head before his death. Counsel asserted, had trial counsel
retained another pathologist, "there is a reasonable probability that the jury could have
determined that the killing blow was Mr. Greff's head striking the concrete immediately
following [Antowin's] punch." Counsel emphasized Dr. Bowman did not opine whether Greff
could have suffered the fatal injury when his head struck the concrete driveway.
¶9 The State moved to dismiss defendant's petition. The State argued, in part,
defendant's contentions regarding Dr. Bowman's testimony were conclusory and defendant failed
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to allege any facts supporting an evidentiary hearing. The trial court determined defendant
provided no facts to support his allegations, found no substantial violation of defendant's
constitutional rights, and dismissed the amended petition.
¶ 10 This appeal followed.
¶ 11 II. ANALYSIS
¶ 12 A. Reasonable Assistance of Postconviction Counsel
¶ 13 On appeal, defendant first argues postconviction counsel provided unreasonable
assistance when he failed to make necessary amendments to the pro se postconviction petition to
present adequately his claim regarding Dr. Bowman's findings. Defendant contends counsel
failed to provide reasonable assistance because he did not attach affidavits to satisfy the
prejudice prong of Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984).
¶ 14 The Act provides a means by which criminally convicted individuals may argue
their convictions resulted from a substantial denial of their constitutional rights. People v.
Hodges, 234 Ill. 2d 1, 9, 912 N.E.2d 1204, 1208 (2009). Proceedings under the Act are initiated
by the filing of a petition that "clearly set[s] forth the respects in which petitioner's constitutional
rights were violated." 725 ILCS 5/122-2 (West 2012). At this stage, although a petitioner need
only provide a limited amount of detail in his petition, the petitioner is not excused from
providing factual details surrounding the alleged constitutional deprivation. People v. Delton,
227 Ill. 2d 247, 254, 882 N.E.2d 516, 519-20 (2008). Section 122-2 of the Act requires the
petitioner to attach factual documentation to support the petition or explain the absence of such
documentation. 725 ILCS 5/122-2 (West 2012). Such documentation "must identify with
reasonable certainty the sources, character, and availability of the alleged evidence supporting
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the petition's allegations." Delton, 227 Ill. 2d at 254, 882 N.E.2d at 520. The failure to attach
such documentation or explain its absence justifies dismissal of the petition at the first stage of
proceedings. People v. Collins, 202 Ill. 2d 59, 66, 782 N.E.2d 195, 198 (2002).
¶ 15 If the petition is not dismissed at the first stage, it advances to the second stage,
where, if necessary, the court appoints counsel for the petitioner. People v. Snow, 2012 IL App
(4th) 110415, ¶ 14, 964 N.E.2d 1139. At this stage, appointed counsel is expected to ensure the
petitioner's complaints are adequately presented and to provide reasonable assistance. People v.
Suarez, 224 Ill. 2d 37, 42, 46, 862 N.E.2d 977, 979-80, 982 (2007). To meet these goals, our
supreme court drafted Illinois Supreme Court Rule 651(c) (eff. Feb. 6, 2013). The rule requires
appointed counsel to consult with the petitioner to ascertain his contentions, examine the record
of the trial proceedings, and make any amendments to the pro se petition necessary for an
adequate presentation of the petitioner's complaints. People v. Kuehner, 2015 IL 117695, ¶ 20,
32 N.E.3d 655.
¶ 16 Rule 651's mandate requiring counsel to make necessary amendments is not
limitless. For example, case law establishes counsel is "under no obligation to actively search
for sources outside the record that might support general claims raised in a post-conviction
petition." People v. Johnson, 154 Ill. 2d 227, 247, 609 N.E.2d 304, 314 (1993). Our supreme
court also held, if a pro se petitioner fails to specify a particular witness to support a claim,
appointed counsel is under no obligation to go on a "fishing expedition" to find a witness. Id. at
247-48, 609 N.E.2d at 314.
¶ 17 Analogous to this case, our supreme court held, in People v. Williams, 186 Ill. 2d
55, 61, 708 N.E.2d 1152, 1155 (1999), Rule 651(c) does not require appointed counsel to
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provide an affidavit or other documentation from an unidentified expert witness. In Williams,
the defendant, convicted of murder, filed a pro se postconviction petition, alleging, "trial counsel
was ineffective for failing to obtain the assistance of a blood-type expert to type the blood on
[the victim's] clothing." Id. at 59, 708 N.E.2d at 1154. The trial court appointed counsel, who
filed an amended postconviction petition which included the above claim, but counsel did not
attach affidavits to the amended petition. Id. On appeal from the dismissal of his postconviction
petition, the Williams defendant argued his postconviction counsel failed to comply with Rule
651(c) by not supporting the claims in the amended petition with affidavits or other evidence. Id.
The Williams court, relying on Johnson, found postconviction "counsel clearly had no obligation
to seek out a blood-type expert." Id. at 61, 708 N.E.2d at 1155. The court held "[d]efendant, not
his appointed post-conviction counsel, was responsible for providing this information." Id.
¶ 18 Defendant contends this court should not follow Williams, but should apply
People v. Turner, 187 Ill. 2d 406, 719 N.E.2d 725 (1999), released six months after Williams.
Defendant maintains the Turner decision shows postconviction counsel's conduct was
unreasonable because he failed to support with affidavits the allegation the petitioner was
prejudiced.
¶ 19 Turner, involving multiple failures by appointed counsel, is distinguishable. In
Turner, counsel was appointed at the second stage of proceedings but did not amend the pro se
petition. Id. at 409, 719 N.E.2d at 727. The trial court dismissed the postconviction petition
upon finding the claims were barred by res judicata or waived because the petitioner could have
raised the claims earlier. Id. On appeal, the petitioner argued he was denied his right to
reasonable assistance of counsel because appointed counsel failed to amend the petition to
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preserve his claims. Id. at 412, 719 N.E.2d at 729. The court agreed, concluding appointed
counsel made multiple errors in not amending the petition. The court first found counsel failed
to provide reasonable assistance by not making a simple change to preclude the trial court's
finding of waiver. Id. at 412-13, 719 N.E.2d at 729. The court found, "[i]f petitioner's counsel
had amended the post-conviction petition to allege ineffective assistance of appellate counsel for
failing to raise petitioner's claims on direct appeal, these claims would not have been barred by
waiver." Id. at 413, 719 N.E.2d at 729. The court further noted appointed counsel "failed to
amend the petition to include an allegation that petitioner was prejudiced by the allegedly
ineffective assistance of his trial counsel." Id. Last, the court noted appointed counsel failed to
attach any affidavits to support the claims or offer any explanation for their absence. Id. at 414,
719 N.E.2d at 729-30. Based on "the totality of circumstances in this case," the court held
appointed counsel's performance was unreasonable. Id.
¶ 20 Turner does not undermine Williams's applicability to this case. Turner's finding
of unreasonable representation involved multiple facts not present here. Appointed counsel in
Turner "failed to make a routine amendment to the post-conviction petition which would have
overcome the procedural bar of waiver and elected to stand on a pro se petition, which omitted
essential elements of petitioner's constitutional claims and contained virtually no evidentiary
support." Id. In contrast, Williams involves only one: whether appointed counsel had an
obligation to seek an expert to support the pro se claims when the defendant has not met his
burden of providing such evidence. Williams, 186 Ill. 2d at 61, 708 N.E.2d at 1155.
¶ 21 Williams controls. Following Williams, we find postconviction counsel did not
fail to provide reasonable representation by failing to conduct a search to find an expert who
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would support defendant's claims.
¶ 22 B. Fines Imposed by the Circuit Clerk
¶ 23 Defendant next contends this case must be remanded for the proper assessment of
fines. Defendant argues the trial court, after imposing a 40-year sentence, ordered "court costs."
Defendant maintains the circuit clerk, rather than the trial court, assessed multiple fines,
including a $50 "Court Systems" fine and a $5 "Child Advocacy" fine, and did not apply the
proper credit to those fines. According to defendant, these assessments are improper under
People v. Folks, 406 Ill. App. 3d 300, 306, 943 N.E.2d 1128, 1133 (2010).
¶ 24 The State concedes the error and agrees the case must be remanded to the trial
court to impose the correct assessments and determine monetary credit. We note the State does
not address defendant's arguments regarding each specific fine.
¶ 25 We agree defendant's fines must be vacated. The imposition of fines is a judicial
act. People v. Alghadi, 2011 IL App (4th) 100012, ¶ 20, 960 N.E.2d 612. Circuit clerks have no
authority to impose fines, even those that are mandatory. Id. Fines imposed by circuit clerks are
"void from their inception." Id. Void judgments may be challenged at any time and do "not
depend on the Post-Conviction Hearing Act for [their] viability." People v. Brown, 225 Ill. 2d
188, 199, 866 N.E.2d 1163, 1169 (2007). We therefore vacate the fines imposed on defendant
and remand for the imposition of mandatory fines and the determination of applicable credit
against those fines.
¶ 26 C. Sentence Credit for Time Spent in Custody
¶ 27 Defendant next argues the trial court failed to credit him properly for time he
spent in custody awaiting trial under section 5-8-7(b) of the Unified Code of Corrections (730
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ILCS 5/5-8-7(b) (West 2006)). Defendant maintains he is entitled to credit for 869 days, 14 days
more than the 855 days for which he received credit. Defendant acknowledges he is raising this
issue for the first time on appeal from the dismissal of his postconviction petition, but contends
he may properly do so under People v. Roberson, 212 Ill. 2d 430, 440, 819 N.E.2d 761, 767
(2004), and People v. Caballero, 228 Ill. 2d 79, 83-84, 885 N.E.2d 1044, 1046-47 (2008).
¶ 28 The State does not challenge defendant's computation of time spent in presentence
custody, but argues defendant may not raise the statutory claim under the Act. In support, the
State relies on three appellate decisions: People v. Bates, 179 Ill. App. 3d 705, 534 N.E.2d 1019
(1989) (Fourth District), People v. Uran, 196 Ill. App. 3d 293, 553 N.E.2d 758 (1990) (Third
District), and People v. Reed, 335 Ill. App. 3d 1038, 782 N.E.2d 955 (2003) (Fourth District). In
each of these cases, the courts held the postconviction petitioners were barred from seeking
additional sentencing credit— a statutory claim—under the Act. See Bates, 179 Ill. App. 3d at
709, 534 N.E.2d at 1021 (concluding "the issue is not of constitutional stature"); Uran, 196 Ill.
App. 3d at 294, 553 N.E.2d at 759-60 ("For the trial court to obtain jurisdiction over a post-
conviction petition, the petitioner must allege a substantial denial of his constitutional rights.");
Reed, 335 Ill. App. 3d at 1040, 782 N.E.2d at 956-57 ("We have consistently held such issues are
statutory only and not of constitutional magnitude and, thus, not subject to scrutiny under the
[Act].").
¶ 29 Although the record establishes defendant is entitled to credit for 14 additional
days spent in custody, the issue is whether this court has the power to grant defendant the credit
he seeks. According to the Supreme Court of Illinois, the Act, by which defendant pursues this
claim, is "jurisdictional in nature," limiting "the subject matter reviewable under that Act."
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People v. Ferree, 40 Ill. 2d 483, 484, 240 N.E.2d 673, 674 (1968). The jurisdiction granted by
the Act is limited to situations in which " 'a substantial denial of rights under the Constitution of
the United States or of the State of Illinois' is alleged." People v. Owens, 34 Ill. 2d 149, 150, 214
N.E.2d 749, 750 (1966) (quoting Ill. Rev. Stat. 1963, ch. 38, § 122-1); see also People v. Ward,
48 Ill. 2d 117, 120, 268 N.E.2d 692, 694 (1971). More recently, in People v. Mitchell, 189 Ill. 2d
312, 329, 727 N.E.2d 254, 265 (2000), the court did not use the term "jurisdiction," but
recognized "the allegation of a deprivation of a statutory right is not a proper claim under the
Act."
¶ 30 Despite these holdings, defendant relies on two cases, Roberson and Caballero, as
establishing this court has authority to grant him the relief he requests on an appeal under the
Act. Defendant cites both cases after quoting Roberson for the following proposition: A
sentence that fails to credit the defendant for time in custody "is void and may be challenged at
any time." Roberson, 212 Ill. 2d at 440, 819 N.E.2d at 767.
¶ 31 Roberson's statement, however, no longer reflects the law in Illinois. The
Roberson court, upon pronouncing such sentences void, relied on its earlier decision, People v.
Arna, 168 Ill. 2d 107, 113, 658 N.E.2d 445, 448 (1995). See Roberson, 212 Ill. 2d at 440, 819
N.E.2d at 767. Arna pronounces the void sentencing rule—a rule recently abrogated by People
v. Castleberry, 2015 IL 116916, ¶ 15, 43 N.E.3d 932. In Castleberry, the Court held "the failure
to comply with a statutory requirement or prerequisite does not negate the circuit court's subject
matter jurisdiction." (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Id. Thus, the trial court's failure to
impose the proper sentence credit in this case does not make his sentence void and challengeable
at any time.
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¶ 32 Caballero also does not establish this court has authority to grant defendant's
request for section 5-8-7(b) sentence credit pursuant to a claim brought under the Act. In
Caballero, the issue on appeal was whether a court of review may grant the per diem credit of
section 110-14 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (725 ILCS 5/110-14 (West 2002)) to a
petitioner who first requests the credit on appeal from the dismissal of his postconviction petition
under the Act. Caballero, 228 Ill. 2d at 81, 885 N.E.2d at 1048. Section 110-14 provides "[a]ny
person incarcerated on a bailable offense who does not supply bail and against whom a fine is
levied on conviction of such offense shall be allowed a credit of $5 for each day so incarcerated
upon application of the defendant." 725 ILCS 5/110-14 (West 2002).
¶ 33 In analyzing this claim, the Caballero court noted no cases in Illinois covered the
issue before it, but observed three appellate court cases, People v. Wren, 223 Ill. App. 3d 722,
585 N.E.2d 1216 (1992) (Fifth District), People v. Andrews, 365 Ill. App. 3d 696, 850 N.E.2d
888 (2006) (Third District), and People v. Brown, 371 Ill. App. 3d 972, 864 N.E.2d 767 (2007)
(First District), dealt with sentencing credit under section 5-8-7(b). Caballero, 228 Ill. 2d at 83-
84, 885 N.E.2d at 1046. The court then observed it found "the rationale of Wren, Andrews and
Brown *** persuasive to the issue of an application for a monetary credit under section 110-14
being raised for the first time on an appeal in a postconviction hearing." Id. at 84, 885 N.E.2d at
1047. The Caballero court observed Wren found it could grant such credit " 'in the interests of
an orderly administration of justice' [citation]" and treat the request as a motion to amend the
sentencing judgment. (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Id. (quoting Wren, 223 Ill. App. 3d at
731, 585 N.E.2d at 1216). The court summarized Andrews as following Wren and concluding
Wren was "better reasoned" than Reed and more judicially efficient. Id. at 85, 885 N.E.2d at
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1047 (citing Andrews, 365 Ill. App. 3d at 700, 850 N.E.2d at 888). Regarding the Brown
decision, the Caballero court observed the Brown court considered the issue on remand
following a supervisory order that directed the appellate court to permit "the State another
opportunity to respond to defendant's request for additional sentencing credit; to determine the
merits of defendant's sentencing-credit request and to grant him further sentencing credit, if
required." Id. at 86, 885 N.E.2d at 1048. The Brown court followed Andrews and ordered the
sentencing judgment corrected, upon acknowledging the State did not dispute the sentencing-
credit issue. Id. at 86-87, 885 N.E.2d at 1048.
¶ 34 The Caballero court then addressed the appellate court decisions of Bates, Uran,
and Reed and their holdings "a claim for sentencing credit under section 5-8-7(b) of the Unified
Code involves a statutory right and is not cognizable in a postconviction proceeding." Id. at 87,
885 N.E.2d at 1048. Tellingly, the Caballero court did not find these decisions erroneous.
Instead, the court applied similar reasoning and found section 110-14, like section 5-8-7(b), was
a statutory claim not cognizable under the Act. Id. The court then, relying on the language of
section 110-14, found section 110-14 expressly permitted the award of credit on " 'application of
the defendant' " without a limitation on when the application may be made. Id. at 87-88, 885
N.E.2d at 1049.
¶ 35 The court then stated its holding as follows:
"While we hold that a claim for monetary credit under
section 110-14 is a statutory claim and therefore not cognizable as
a separate issue upon which to base relief under the [Act], we also
hold that this statutory claim may be considered as an ‘application
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of the defendant' made under the statute and may be raised at any
time and at any stage of court proceedings, even on appeal in a
postconviction proceeding. Accordingly, if, as in this case, the
basis for granting the application of the defendant is clear and
available from the record, the appellate court may, in the ‘interests
of an orderly administration of justice,' grant the relief requested."
Id. at 88, 885 N.E.2d at 1049.
¶ 36 A petition for presentence credit under section 5-8-7(b) raised on appeal from the
dismissal of a postconviction petition does not satisfy both prerequisites in the holding of
Caballero. Section 5-8-7(b) mandates "[t]he offender shall be given credit on the determinate
sentence or maximum term and the minimum period of imprisonment for time spent in custody
as a result of the offense for which the sentence was imposed." 730 ILCS 5/5-8-7(b) (West
2006). No language authorizes an "application of defendant" at any time. The only
circumstance in this case that mirrors the one in Caballero is that the "interests of an orderly
administration of justice" favor resolving the issue before it instead of requiring additional court
filings. Caballero, however, simply does not hold the jurisdictional limitations of the Act may
be ignored to consider all statutory claims when "the interests of an orderly administration of
justice" favor it.
¶ 37 We disagree with defendant's interpretation of the last sentence of the above
quote. Defendant maintains the sentence authorizes this court to grant him relief so long as the
basis for his request is clear and available from the record and the interests of an orderly
administration of justice favor the award of credit.
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¶ 38 We do not read the sentence so broadly. The last sentence is limited to section
110-14 claims. The sentence before it specifically addresses section 110-14, recognizing it is a
statutory claim permitted under the Act because of its language permitting an "application of the
defendant." The last sentence, on which defendant relies, follows with key words that link the
two requisites together, such as "[a]ccordingly," "as in this case," and "application of the
defendant."
¶ 39 Defendant has not established this court has jurisdiction over his statutory claim.
We adhere to our precedent in Bates and Reed and find we cannot grant him the relief he seeks.
Defendant is not, however, left without remedy. He may petition the trial court to correct the
simple error in arithmetic, as trial courts retain jurisdiction to correct nonsubstantial matters of
inadvertence or mistake. See Baker v. Department of Corrections, 106 Ill. 2d 100, 477 N.E.2d
686 (1985).
¶ 40 D. The Constitutionality of the Automatic-Transfer Statute
¶ 41 Defendant, who was 17 years old at the time of the offense, last argues his
automatic transfer under section 5-130 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 (705 ILCS 405/5-130
(West 2008)) to adult criminal court violates the eighth amendment of the Constitution (U.S.
Const., amend. VIII). Defendant recognizes the supreme court recently rejected a similar claim
and found section 5-130 constitutional (see People v. Patterson, 2014 IL 115102, ¶¶ 100-11,
127, 25 N.E.526), but asserts he is raising the argument to preserve the issue for federal review.
¶ 42 Given defendant's concession, we need not summarize and address defendant's
arguments on this issue. Defendant's arguments are substantially similar to those raised and
found insufficient in Patterson. Because Patterson is binding on this court, defendant's
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challenge to the constitutionality of section 5-130 fails.
¶ 43 III. CONCLUSION
¶ 44 We affirm the trial court's dismissal of defendant's amended postconviction
petition. We vacate the fines imposed by the circuit clerk and remand to the trial court for the
assessment of mandatory fines and the application of appropriate credit against those fines. As
part of our judgment, we grant the State its statutory assessment of $50 against defendant as
costs of this appeal.
¶ 45 Affirmed in part and vacated in part; cause remanded with directions.
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