People v. Jones

PRESIDING JUSTICE COOK

delivered the opinion of the court:

Defendant Kyle Jones pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) in violation of section 11 — 501(a)(1) of the Illinois Vehicle Code (Code) (625 ILCS 5/11 — 501(a)(1) (West 1994)) and was sentenced to 10 months’ conditional discharge. Defendant appeals his sentence, alleging the trial judge abused his discretion by denying a sentence of court supervision because of the trial judge’s personal belief that supervision is never appropriate for DUI offenders. We reverse and remand.

Defendant was arrested for DUI in May 1995. He submitted to a breath test which indicated a blood-alcohol concentration (BAG) of 0.13. Defendant was charged with (count I) DUI in violation of section 11 — 501(a)(2) of the Code (625 ILCS 5/11 — 501(a)(2) (West 1994)), and (count II) DUI in violation of section 11 — 501(a)(1) of the Code (625 ILCS 5/11 — 501(a)(1) (West 1994)). Pursuant to a plea agreement, the State dismissed count I and defendant pleaded guilty to count II. The presentence report showed that defendant was 20 years old at the time of his arrest. Defendant had no prior criminal record, but had a 1993 speeding ticket.

According to the presentence report, the night of defendant’s arrest, he had attended a small party and consumed five beers. Defendant regretted leaving the party and acknowledged that he should have acted more responsibly, but, according to the presentence report, "does not feel he was under the influence of alcohol and was capable of driving *** home.” At his sentencing hearing, defendant stated that, when he left the party on the night of his arrest, he believed he was sober enough to drive. He explained that he now knew that driving under those conditions "was the wrong thing to do.”

Defendant described his arrest as a "real eye-opener” and stated that he did not consume any alcohol between the date of his arrest and his twenty-first birthday. Defendant reported that he had never used any illegal drugs. Defendant stated that he would never again operate a motor vehicle after drinking alcohol, nor would he ever be a passenger in a car being driven by a person who had been drinking. Defendant also reported that he had been evaluated at Piatt County Mental Health Center. Defendant received a Level I classification. This means defendant is characterized as a "Minimal Risk.” See 92 Ill. Adm. Code § 1001.410, at 92-1001-13 (1996). As a result of this evaluation, it had either been recommended or mandated that defendant attend 10 hours of remedial education, but defendant had not done so because "they were busy.” He was planning on completing that program over the semester break and before returning to school at Eastern Illinois University (EIU) in Charleston.

At the time of his sentencing hearing, defendant had received his associate’s degree and was pursuing a bachelor’s degree in physical education with a minor in English at EIU. Defendant hoped to work as an English teacher and a coach, eventually obtaining either a master’s degree or a Ph.D. in sports psychology. Defendant volunteered as an assistant at basketball workshops, teaching second-through fifth-grade students the fundamentals of the game. At his sentencing hearing, defendant expressed his concerns that a DUI conviction would have a negative impact upon his ability to get a job.

The probation officer who had prepared defendant’s presentence report recommended defendant be sentenced to six months’ conditional discharge with certain conditions. The assistant State’s Attorney noted that "[t]here is no question that the defendant has been doing some good things in his community, [he] has enrolled in school which we also like to see, [and he] has plans for the future. Again, in a contrast to many of the people that come through the court system.” The State asked the court to sentence defendant to 12 months’ conditional discharge, impose a $400 fine, and force defendant to comply with the conditions recommended by the probation officer.

In determining defendant’s sentence, the judge noted that defendant had not completed the Piatt County Mental Health Center educational program. The trial judge also stated that he had read the report of the alcohol evaluator, and that the report stated that defendant’s answers to the evaluator "were not reliably consistent and were evasive.” The trial court sentenced defendant to 10 months’ conditional discharge. Defendant was ordered to pay a fine of $350 plus costs and a monthly probation fee. Additionally, defendant was required to (1) complete all counseling as recommended by the probation office, (2) complete alcohol treatment, and (3) attend a victim-impact panel. Defendant filed a motion to reconsider sentence.

In the motion to reconsider sentence filed December 27, 1995, defense counsel first noted the decision in People v. Bolyard, 61 Ill. 2d 583, 338 N.E.2d 168 (1975). In Bolyard, the supreme court found that the trial judge had abused his discretion by arbitrarily denying probation because the defendant fell within the trial judge’s category of disfavored offenders. Bolyard, 61 Ill. 2d at 587, 338 N.E.2d at 170. Defense counsel next noted this court’s decision in People v. Foster, No. 4—94—0451 (1994) (unpublished order under Supreme Court Rule 23), rev’d on other grounds, 171 Ill. 2d 469, 665 N.E.2d 823 (1996). At the trial court level, Foster was decided by the same judge as in the present case. This court dismissed Foster’s appeal for noncompliance with Rule 604(d) (145 Ill. 2d R. 604(d)), but noted that if this were not the result, the case would need to be remanded for resentencing before a different judge because the judge’s comments reflected a belief that supervision was never an appropriate sentence for a DUI offender.

Defense counsel noted that since the trial court’s sentencing of Foster in May 1994, the same judge had heard three DUI cases in which the defendant asked for court supervision. In all three cases, the judge denied the request. He cited People v. Wright, No. 94— TR — 524 (Cir. Ct. Piatt Co.), People v. Gibbs, No. 94 — TR—990 (Cir. Ct. Piatt Co.), and People v. Marlow, No. 94 — TR—943 (Cir. Ct. Piatt Co.), rev’d, 272 Ill. App. 3d 1133 (1995) (unpublished order under Supreme Court Rule 23). In Marlow, this court quoted its discussion of the sentencing issue in Foster at length before noting that defendant Marlow was denied supervision, in part, due to "the trial judge’s antagonism to the law of supervision.” Marlow, No. 4 — 94—1028, slip order at 8 (June 30, 1995) (unpublished order under Supreme Court Rule 23). The case was remanded for resentencing before a different judge.

Defendant’s motion to reconsider also noted that since May 1994, supervision had been granted in nine Piatt County DUI cases, all of which had been heard by other judges. Finally, defense counsel noted that since May 1994, motions to substitute judges had been filed in 15 separate DUI cases where the instant judge had been originally assigned to hear the case.

At the hearing on defendant’s motion to reconsider sentence, the trial judge distinguished Bolyard on the grounds that the trial judge there had announced a fixed policy of denying probation for defendants convicted of sexual offenses. Defense counsel asked the court to take judicial notice of the Rule 23 decisions of this court in Foster and Marlow and suggested this court therein had relied upon Bolyard to find that the trial judge had a policy that he "couldn’t give supervision in DUI cases.” Defense counsel asked the court to take judicial notice of a number of cases referenced in the motion to reconsider and brought into evidence through the individual docket sheets maintained by the circuit clerk. The trial judge denied having any such policy, stating that the "only thing the court is doing is looking at the supervision statute [(730 ILCS 5/5 — 6—1(c) (West 1994))] and applying the statute literally.” The trial judge further stated that he was "somewhat disappointed” that the appellate court suggested that he had an antagonistic feeling toward supervision and that he was only trying to follow the law.

The trial court then pointed to section 6 — 205(a)(2) of the Code, which provides for the mandatory suspension of driving privileges for anyone convicted of DUI. 625 ILCS 5/6 — 205(a)(2) (West 1994). The trial judge noted that the Code does not have a supervision statute and that section 6 — 205(a)(2) was enacted to enhance public safety and welfare on the highways. The trial judge then asked defense counsel whether he thought that "the supervision statute in any way, or an order of supervision attempts to evade the policy of’ section 6 — 205(a)(2) of the Code. Defense counsel replied, "Absolutely not,” noting that the supervision statute contains language denying supervision to a person who, within the last 10 years, has already been convicted of DUI. See 730 ILCS 5/5 — 6—1(c) (West 1994).

Focusing on the requirement that a defendant needs to show that the public interest would best be served by an order of supervision (see 730 ILCS 5/5 — 6—1(c) (West 1994)), the trial judge asked defense counsel if he thought that "the public is best served by the court not following the public policy of safety and public welfare as set forth in the [Vjehicle [C]ode in 6 — 205(a)(2).” Defense counsel replied that he thought public policy is best served by applying all of the statutes. The trial judge stated that he may be misinterpreting the supervision statute and noted that the appellate court "has not addressed the specific concerns of that statute in its remands back to this court. And it would hope that it would do so in this case.” The trial court denied defendant’s motion to reconsider; defendant appeals.

The imposition of a sentence is a matter of judicial discretion, and the standard of review to determine whether a sentence is excessive is whether a trial court abused that discretion. People v. McCain, 248 Ill. App. 3d 844, 850, 617 N.E.2d 1294, 1299 (1993). Where a sentence falls within the statutory guidelines, it will not be disturbed on review unless it is manifestly disproportionate to the nature of the case. People v. Nussbaum, 251 Ill. App. 3d 779, 783, 623 N.E.2d 755, 758 (1993). However, a trial court must in fact exercise its discretion and may not refuse to consider an alternative simply because the defendant is in a class disfavored by the court. See People v. Zemke, 159 Ill. App. 3d 624, 628, 512 N.E.2d 374, 377 (1987); Bolyard, 61 Ill. 2d at 587, 338 N.E.2d at 170. Under certain circumstances, the trial court may grant supervision if it finds that (1) the offender is not likely to commit further crimes; (2) the defendant and the public would best be served if the defendant were not to receive a criminal record; and (3) in the best interests of justice an order of supervision is more appropriate than a sentence otherwise permitted under the Unified Code of Corrections (Unified Code). 730 ILCS 5/5— 6 — 1(c) (West 1994).

Defendant argues that the trial judge, notwithstanding his comments to the contrary, has a personal policy against granting court supervision in DUI cases. Defendant also argues that the trial court "has stubbornly continued in its belief that the court supervision statute does not apply to DUI offenders,” and that the trial judge has done so in contravention of the recent Rule 23 orders of this court. As evidence, defendant points to the Piatt County DUI cases mentioned in his motion to reconsider sentence. Defendant also argues that, at the very least, the trial court has misapplied the law and that this application creates an absurd result that could not have been intended by the legislature.

It is not clear that the trial judge continues to have a personal policy against granting court supervision in DUI cases. The trial judge expressly stated that he does not have a personal policy against granting court supervision in DUI cases. We choose to take him at his word. A trial court has a duty to follow the decisions of the appellate court. See State Farm, Fire & Casualty Co. v. Yapejian, 152 Ill. 2d 533, 539, 605 N.E.2d 539, 542 (1992). In the absence of evidence to the contrary, we will assume the trial court properly fulfilled its duties.

In the present case, the trial judge expressed his consternation that this court had not "addressed the specific concerns of that statute in its remands back to this court.” We assume "that statute” is section 6 — 205(a)(2) of the Code. 625 ILCS 5/6 — 205(a)(2) (West 1994). A fair reading of the transcript shows that the trial judge reads section 6 — 205(a)(2) of the Code as overriding section 5 — 6—1 of the Unified Code. In other words, it appears as though this judge has denied court supervision in DUI cases because, in his opinion, section 6 — 205(a)(2) of the Code sets forth a public policy (keeping drunk drivers off the road) that will always outweigh the public’s best interests in seeing that a defendant does not have a permanent criminal record. Under this logic, section 6 — 205(a)(2) of the Code creates a barrier to court supervision that is impossible for a defendant to surmount. We do not believe this is a correct reading of the statute.

If the trial court is convinced that a DUI defendant is not likely to commit another offense (one of the requirements for court supervision), then the public policy considerations evinced by section 6 — 205(a)(2) of the Code are significantly lessened. At that point, it may well be in the public’s best interests that a one-time offender not have a permanent criminal record. The propriety of supervision is within the domain of the legislature, not the judiciary. The legislature has provided persons convicted of DUI, under certain circumstances, with a second chance to keep their criminal record clean and nonexistent. The courts of this State should not use countervailing public policies to preclude supervision in all instances.

The trial judge, believing that the public policies evinced in section 6 — 205(a)(2) of the Code preclude the granting of court supervision in DUI cases, misapplied the law. Since the trial judge believed, as a matter of law, that court supervision could not be granted, we cannot say he exercised discretion in fashioning defendant’s sentence. Accordingly, we vacate defendant’s sentence and remand the cause for a new sentencing hearing.

Vacated and remanded.

GREEN, J., concurs.