People v. Anderson

NOTICE: This order was filed under Supreme Court Rule 23 and is not precedent except
in the limited circumstances allowed under Rule 23(e)(1).
2023 IL App (3d) 210558-UOrder filed March 30, 2023
____________________________________________________________________________
IN THE
APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
THIRD DISTRICT
2023
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ) Appeal from the Circuit Court
ILLINOIS, ) of the 14th Judicial Circuit,
) Rock Island County, Illinois,
Plaintiff-Appellee, )
) Appeal No. 3-21-0558
v. ) Circuit No. 20-CF-629
)
NYLE R. ANDERSON, ) Honorable
) Norma Kauzlarich,
Defendant-Appellant. ) Judge, Presiding.
____________________________________________________________________________
JUSTICE HETTEL delivered the judgment of the court.
Justices McDade and Brennan concurred in the judgment.
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ORDER
¶1 Held: The court substantially complied with Rule 402A.
¶2 Defendant, Nyle R. Anderson, pled guilty to bringing contraband into a penal institution
and was sentenced to 30 months’ probation. Defendant subsequently admitted to violating the
terms of his probation and was resentenced to four years’ imprisonment. On appeal, defendant
asks that we vacate the judgment and remand the matter to allow defendant to withdraw his
admission to the petition to revoke his probation because the Rock Island County circuit court
failed to properly admonish him under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 402A (eff. Nov. 1, 2003).
We affirm.
¶3 I. BACKGROUND
¶4 On November 19, 2020, defendant entered a fully negotiated guilty plea to the offense of
bringing contraband into a penal institution (720 ILCS 5/31A-1.1(a)(1) (West 2020)). The court
accepted the plea and imposed the parties’ agreed sentence of 30 months of reporting probation
and 180 days in jail, which was stayed pending defendant’s compliance with the terms of his
probation. The court admonished defendant that he faced a sentencing range of three to seven
years’ imprisonment. Defendant indicated that he understood the sentencing range, was choosing
to plead guilty, and was not threatened or promised anything to sign the guilty plea. The court
found defendant entered the plea voluntarily.
¶5 On May 25, 2021, the State filed a petition to revoke defendant’s probation alleging, that
defendant failed to report to several scheduled appointments with probation, make himself
available for a home visit, obtain a substance abuse evaluation, and provide a valid address. The
court appointed counsel to represent defendant.
¶6 On July 1, 2021, defendant admitted that he violated the terms of his probation and
entered an admission to the allegations in the State’s petition to revoke. A document titled
“Admission of Probation Violation” appears in the record. The document is signed by defendant
and dated July 1, 2021. The document states:
“I, the undersigned, Defendant in the above entitled cause, hereby admit
violation of my probation conditions as alleged in the Petition to Revoke (Modify)
Probation filed May 25, 2021 in this Court.
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I hereby waive my right to a Probation Revocation Hearing before a Judge
of this Court, and consent to a hearing for resentencing.”
¶7 Before the court accepted defendant’s admission, the following colloquy occurred:
“THE COURT: Do you understand that you do not have to admit that you
violated the terms of your probation, you can force the State to show more
probably than not [that you] in fact violated the terms of your probation through a
hearing. Do you understand that that is your right associated with this petition to
revoke?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, Your Honor.
THE COURT: That by admitting that you violated that term of probation
we are not having a hearing of any kind do you understand that?
THE DEFENDANT: Correct, Your Honor.
THE COURT: Is that what you wish to do?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, Your Honor
THE COURT: Is anybody forcing you, threatening you, tricking you,
promising you anything to get you to admit that you violated the terms of your
probation?
THE DEFENDANT: No, Your Honor.”
The court found defendant’s admission to be knowing and voluntary. The State’s factual basis
indicated that defendant tested positive for a controlled substance, 1 failed to report to several
scheduled appointments with probation, make himself available for a home visit, obtain a
1
The State did not amend the petition to revoke to include the positive drug test. Defendant does
not contest this issue.
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substance abuse evaluation or complete any recommended treatment, and provide probation with
a valid address. The court accepted the defendant’s admission and found that defendant violated
the terms of his probation “by way of every allegation that the State just read into the record.”
The court informed defendant that he faced 3 to 14 years’ imprisonment if his prior criminal
history made him extended-term eligible. Defendant indicated that he understood but inquired as
to his eligibility for extended-term sentencing. The court responded that based on defendant’s
prior out-of-state conviction, extended-term sentencing was “a possibility.”
¶8 At the conclusion of the sentencing hearing, the court sentenced defendant to four years’
imprisonment. Defendant appealed.
¶9 II. ANALYSIS
¶ 10 Defendant argues that his judgment should be vacated and the matter should be remanded
with instructions to allow defendant to withdraw his admission to the petition to revoke his
probation because the court failed to substantially comply with Rule 402A prior to accepting
defendant’s admission to the petition to revoke probation. Specifically, defendant argues that the
court failed to admonish defendant personally in open court and determine that defendant
understood (1) the specific allegations in the petition to revoke, (2) that he had a right to a
hearing with an attorney present and a right to appointed counsel, (3) that he had a right to a
hearing where defendant could confront witnesses and present evidence, and (4) regarding his
extended-term eligibility.
¶ 11 At the outset, we note that defendant acknowledges that he did not raise his claim in a
motion to reconsider sentence but he contends that his claim is not subject to forfeiture where he
is not required to preserve an improper admonishment claim, citing People v. Bailey, 2021 IL
App (1st) 190439, ¶¶ 24-25; People v. Whitfield, 217 Ill. 2d 177, 188 (2005) (where “[i]t is
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undisputed that the circuit court failed to admonish defendant in accord with the rule.*** [I]t
would be incongruous to hold that defendant forfeited the right to bring a *** claim.”). The State
does not address any potential forfeiture issue.
¶ 12 Rule 402A provides:
“(a) *** The court shall not accept an admission to a violation, or a
stipulation that the evidence is sufficient to revoke, without first addressing the
defendant personally in open court, and informing the defendant of and
determining that the defendant understands the following:
(1) the specific allegations in the petition to revoke probation ***;
(2) that the defendant has the right to a hearing with defense
counsel present, and the right to appointed counsel if the defendant is
indigent and the underlying offense is punishable by imprisonment;
(3) that at the hearing, the defendant has the right to confront and
cross-examine adverse witnesses and to present witnesses and evidence in
his or her behalf;
(4) that at the hearing, the State must prove the alleged violation by
a preponderance of the evidence;
(5) that by admitting to a violation, or by stipulating that the
evidence is sufficient to revoke, there will not be a hearing on the petition
to revoke probation, *** so that by admitting to a violation, or by
stipulating that the evidence is sufficient to revoke, the defendant waives
the right to a hearing and the right to confront and cross-examine adverse
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witnesses,and the right to present witnesses and evidence in his or her
behalf; and
(6) the sentencing range for the underlying offense for which the
defendant is on probation ***.
(b) *** The court shall not accept an admission to a violation, or a
stipulation sufficient to revoke without first determining that the defendant’s
admission is voluntary and not made on the basis of any coercion or promise. ***
The court, by questioning the defendant personally in open court, *** shall
determine whether any coercion or promises *** were used to obtain the
admission.” Ill. S. Ct. R. 402A(a) (b) (eff. Nov. 1, 2003).
¶ 13 The circuit court must substantially comply with the requirements of Rule 402A to satisfy
due process. People v. Ellis, 375 Ill. App. 3d 1041, 1046 (2007). Substantial compliance entails
“a specific and affirmative showing in the record that the defendant understood each of the
required admonitions.” Id. Substantial compliance may be “achieved in ways other than reciting
all of Rule 402A to a respondent when the respondent admits to violating probation.” In re
Westley A.F., 399 Ill. App. 3d 791, 796 (2010). In determining whether the circuit court
substantially complied with Rule 402A, we consider the entire record, including what occurred at
earlier proceedings. Id. Each case must be considered on its own facts, “with the primary focus
on the length of time between the admonishments and the admission of the violation.” People v.
Saleh, 2013 IL App (1st) 121195, ¶ 14. Whether reversal is required depends on whether
defendant has been denied “real justice” or been prejudiced by the inadequate admonishment.
People v. Davis, 145 Ill. 2d 240, 250 (1991). A claim that the circuit court failed to substantially
comply with Rule 402A is subject to de novo review. Saleh, 2013 IL App (1st) 121195, ¶ 14.
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¶ 14 In the present case, we find that the circuit court’s admonishments substantially complied
with Rule 402A. First, the record shows that, upon defendant’s admission, the State recited each
of the alleged probation violations stated in its previously filed petition to revoke probation and
one additional violation, that defendant tested positive for a controlled substance. Following the
recitation, the court acknowledged “every allegation,” and thereafter defendant indicated that he
understood the proceedings.
¶ 15 Second, defendant was represented by appointed counsel during his petition to revoke
proceedings. Therefore, we find that the court’s failure to inform defendant that he had the right
to representation did not prejudice defendant because he exercised his right to counsel at the
hearing in which he admitted to the allegations of the petition to revoke. See Davis, 145 Ill. 2d at
250.
¶ 16 Third, the court did not inform defendant that he had the right to confront witnesses and
present evidence at a hearing. However, the court did admonish defendant that he had the right to
have a hearing to contest the State’s alleged violations. We find that this admonishment
substantially complied with the rule.
¶ 17 Fourth, as to the court’s admonishment regarding defendant’s extended-term eligibility
and sentencing range, the court did not give defendant a maximum range for an extended-term
sentence prior to accepting defendant’s admission. However, the court advised defendant of the
standard minimum and maximum sentencing range that he faced when he pled guilty eight
months prior to his admission on the petition to revoke and later indicated that he could be
subject to an extended-term sentence. Given these facts, the court’s failure to explicitly state the
extended-term range—only part of the sentencing range that did not affect defendant’s minimum
possible sentence—prior to accepting defendant’s admission, was sufficient to demonstrate
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substantial compliance with Rule 402A. See cf. Ellis, 375 Ill. App. 3d at 1047-48 (where the
court improperly admonished defendant of both the minimum and maximum sentencing range
for his original offense, defendant could not enter a voluntary admission to his petition to
revoke). Moreover, defendant cannot establish that he was denied real justice or prejudiced by
the improper admonishment where his sentence was not more onerous than the admonishment.
See Davis, 145 Ill. 2d at 250; see also People v. Thompson, 375 Ill. App. 3d 488, 494 (2007) (a
defendant suffers prejudice when he receives “a more onerous sentence than the one he was told
he would receive.”). Defendant also cannot establish prejudice as he did not allege that he would
have pursued a contested hearing if he had known that he was extended-term eligible or his
maximum sentencing range prior to his admission. See People v. Williams, 2012 IL App (2d)
110559, ¶ 18 (to establish prejudice based upon an improper admonishment, defendant must
establish that he would have pled differently if properly admonished).
¶ 18 We conclude that these facts, in conjunction with the court’s admonishments that
defendant had the right to a hearing to require that the State “show more probably than not” that
defendant violated the terms of his probation, that by entering his oral and written admission,
defendant waived his right to a hearing on the petition to revoke, and the finding that defendant’s
admission was voluntarily made, establishes that the court substantially complied with the
requirements of Rule 402A.
¶ 19 In reaching our holding, we reject defendant’s argument that the First District’s decision
in Saleh stands for the proposition that incomplete Rule 402A admonishments alone establish
prejudice and a sufficient basis for reversal. See Saleh, 2013 IL App (1st) 121195, ¶ 14 (each
case must be considered on its own facts). In Saleh, the court’s admonishment was limited to
confirmation that defendant had conversed with his attorney about the alleged probation
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violations and defendant’s desire to enter an admission. Id. ¶ 6. The State provided no recitation
of defendant’s alleged violations, and the court failed to provide any Rule 402A admonishments
or determine that defendant understood the stipulation, the rights being waived, the potential
consequences of the stipulation, and that defendant’s admission was voluntarily made. Id. Thus,
the appellate court found that the circuit court’s failure to substantially comply with Rule 402A
prejudiced defendant, requiring reversal. Id. ¶ 16. In contrast, the instant court provided the
majority of Rule 402A admonishments and the record clearly establishes that it substantially
complied with the rule.
¶ 20 III. CONCLUSION
¶ 21 The judgment of the circuit court of Rock Island County is affirmed.
¶ 22 Affirmed.
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