In Re Interest of Longley

306 N.E.2d 527, 16 Ill. App. 3d 405, 1973 Ill. App. LEXIS 1545
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedDecember 10, 1973
Docket57859
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 306 N.E.2d 527 (In Re Interest of Longley) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Court of Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re Interest of Longley, 306 N.E.2d 527, 16 Ill. App. 3d 405, 1973 Ill. App. LEXIS 1545 (Ill. Ct. App. 1973).

Opinion

Mr. PRESIDING JUSTICE BURKE

delivered the opinion of the court:

On February 2, 1972, a petition for adjudication of Wardship was filed in the Circuit Corut of Cook County alleging that respondent, Gary Darwin Longley, a minor, had committed the offense of Unlawful Use of Weapons. Specifically the petition alleged that respondent “knowingly carried on or about his person a pistol, Meltor .25 caliber automatic pistol serial 259178-265494, in violation of Chapter 38, Section 24 — 124 [sic], Illinois Revised Statutes." On March 2, 1972, at the conclusion of a hearing conducted concerning the petition, respondent was adjudged to be a delinquent. He appeals.

When this case was called for hearing on March 1, 1972, the Assistant State’s Attorney informed the trial judge that the People were ready to proceed and that the petition alleged a violation of Unlawful Use of Weapons, “Chapter 38, Section 24 — 1—4.” Respondent’s counsel stated that he was “ready for trial” and requested that the trial judge hear the respondent’s motion to suppress.

At the hearing on the motion to suppress, Officer Warren Rylko of the Chicago Police Department was called as a witness by respondent. Officer Rylko testified that on February 1, 1972, he and his partner, Officer Earl Rosen, were investigating an armed robbery that occurred at a drugstore located at 1501 Jarvis, Chicago, Illinois. The robbery at the drugstore occurred at approximately 2:00 P.M. and the Officers were looking for a suspect described as “male white, fair complected, in his middle teens, five-eight to five-ten in height, of medium build, wearing an army fatigue jacket” and aimed with an automatic weapon. Officer Rylko stated that at 2:15 P.M. on February 1, 1972, he and his partner observed respondent standing on a corner near a bus stop at approximately 7560 North Hermitage Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. This location was approximately four blocks from where the armed robbery of the drugstore had occurred a short time prior thereto. Respondent Gary Longley was at the time wearing an army fatigue jacket, blue jeans, was fair complected and appeared to be in his middle teens. Officer Rylko testified that respondent resembled the suspect and respondent gave “vague” answers to some of Officer Rylko’s questions. Officer Rylko further testified that he noticed a lump in the upper right portion of respondent’s jacket, "shaped like an automatic, L-shaped effect,” and therefore he and Officer Rosen conducted a “patdown” search for the protection’of himself, his partner and their fellow citizens on the street. A blue automatic pistol was recovered from respondent’s upper right coat pocket. Officer Rylko subsequently identified People’s Exhibit Number 1, a “blue steel automatic pistol, .25 caliber” as being the weapon he recovered from respondent.

Officer Earl Rosen of. the Chicago Police Department was called as a witness by respondent. Officer Rosen substantially corroborated- the testimony of Officer Rylko.

Respondent testified in his own behalf that on February 1, 1972, he was standing on a comer near .Howard Street when a squad car pulled up. The officers exited their car and Officer Rosen put a gun to respondent’s head. The officers then searched respondent and found the weapon in question, a .25 caliber pistol.

At the conclusion of the testimony concerning respondent’s motion to suppress, the trial judge denied respondent’s motion. Respondent’s counsel then stipulated that the testimony adduced during the course of the hearing on the motion to suppress would be the same as the testimony at trial. After having heard the arguments of counsel, the trial court adjudged respondent to be a delinquent.

Respondent contends that the petition for adjudication of Wardship failed to allege a violation of law. The petition for adjudication of Wardship filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County on February 2, 1972, states in relevant part as follows:

'In that Gary Darwin Longley has on, or about 1 Feb. 72 at Cook County, Illinois, committed the offense of Unlawful Use of Weapons in that he, knowingly carried on or about his person a pistol; Meltor .25 Cal. automatic pistol serial 259178-265494, in violation of Chapter 38, Section 24 — 124 [sic], Illinois Revised Statutes.”

■ Respondent contends that the failure of the People to specify the correct section, namely Ill. Rev. Stat. 1971, ch. 38, par. 24 — 1(a) 4, is reversible error. Both parties to this appeal are in agreement that the allegations in the petition for adjudication of Wardship must meet the requirements of an indictment.

We are of the opinion that the incorrect citation in the petition is a formal defect and cannot be considered reversible error. Ill. Rev. Stat. 1971, ch. 38, par. Ill — 5; People v. Hampton, 105 Ill.App.2d 228, 245 N.E.2d 47.

Respondent also contends that the petition advised him that he has violated an "non-existent statute” (“Chapter 38, Section 24 — 124 [sic]”) and there was no way to prepare a defense to such a charge.

We are of the opinion that respondent was apprised with reasonable certainty of the offense with which he was being charged. The petition specifically stated that the respondent was being charged with “Unlawful Use of Weapons,” and there was a full description of the pistol and the date of the offense. Moreover, on March 1, 1972, at the hearing on respondent’s motion to suppress, the Assistant State’s Attorney indicated the statute upon which the People were proceeding. In the presence of respondent’s counsel, the Assistant State’s Attorney stated to the court: “Your Honor, this is a petition alleging Unlawful Use of Weapon; Chapter 38, Section 24 — 1—4. Tire State is ready for trial.” Respondent’s 'counsel stated: “The defendant [respondent] is ready for trial at this time * 9 *.” The preceding colloquy indicates that there was adequate notice of the charge being adjudicated with full acceptance and understanding by respondent’s counsel before the trial commenced.

We are of the opinion that the respondent was fully informed of the charge and he has no solid ground upon which to complain. People v. Hampton, 105 Ill.App.2d 228, 245 N.E.2d 47. See also People v. Delafosse, 36 Ill.2d 327, 223 N.E.2d 125; People v. Blanchett, 33 Ill.2d 527, 212 N.E.2d 97; People v. Hill, 68 Ill.App.2d 369, 216 N.E.2d 212; People v. Petropoulos, 59 Ill.App.2d 298, 208 N.E.2d 323, affd, 34 Ill.2d 179, 214 N.E.2d 765.

Respondent contends that “assuming that the State meant to charge Respondent with a violation of Ch. 38, Sec. 24 — 1, that Section called Unlawful Use of Weapons, the charge is still inadequate.” Respondent argues that the only part of this statute which could conceivably fit the factual situation of this case is section 24 — 1(a)(4) which states:

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Related

People v. McGovern
379 N.E.2d 937 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1978)
People v. Blakes
370 N.E.2d 869 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1977)

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Bluebook (online)
306 N.E.2d 527, 16 Ill. App. 3d 405, 1973 Ill. App. LEXIS 1545, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-interest-of-longley-illappct-1973.