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).
2024 IL App (3d) 230407-U
Order filed October 30, 2024 ____________________________________________________________________________
IN THE
APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
THIRD DISTRICT
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ) Appeal from the Circuit Court ILLINOIS, ) of the 18th Judicial Circuit, ) Du Page County, Illinois, Plaintiff-Appellee, ) ) Appeal No. 3-23-0407 v. ) Circuit No. 22-CF-16 ) TARANCE L. BANKS, ) Honorable ) Michael W. Reidy, Defendant-Appellant. ) Judge, Presiding. ____________________________________________________________________________
JUSTICE ALBRECHT delivered the judgment of the court. Justices Holdridge and Peterson concurred in the judgment. ____________________________________________________________________________
ORDER
¶1 Held: (1) Separate convictions for being an armed habitual criminal and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon violated the one-act, one-crime doctrine. (2) The evidence was sufficient to prove defendant’s prior felony conviction. (3) The statutes under which defendant was convicted are facially constitutional.
¶2 Defendant, Tarance L. Banks, appeals his armed habitual criminal (AHC) and unlawful
use of a weapon by a felon (UUWF) convictions, arguing: (1) his UUWF conviction violates the
one-act, one-crime doctrine, (2) the State did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant
had a prior 2018 felony conviction, and (3) the statutes criminalizing the possession of weapons by felons is unconstitutional both facially and as applied to defendant. We affirm in part and vacate
in part.
¶3 I. BACKGROUND
¶4 Following a bench trial, defendant was convicted of AHC (720 ILCS 5/24-1.7(a)(3) (West
2022)) and UUWF (id. § 24-1.1(a)). Both convictions relied on a prior 2018 conviction for the
manufacture or delivery of cannabis (720 ILCS 550/5(d) (West 2018)) as a predicate felony
offense. At trial, the State provided a certified copy of conviction for three prior felonies, including
the 2018 conviction. Defense counsel stipulated to the admissibility of the certified copies as self-
authenticating but asserted that she was not admitting that defendant was a felon.
¶5 During closing arguments, defense counsel claimed that the State failed to prove defendant
was “Tarance L. Banks” as named on the certified copy of conviction for the 2018 offense because
that name was not identical to the name “Tarance Banks” listed on the indictment. In rejecting
counsel’s argument, the court noted the names were identical except for the middle initial, the
unique spelling of defendant’s first name appeared in both documents, and the certified copy
included a birthdate consistent with defendant’s approximate age based on his appearance. The
court subsequently denied defendant’s posttrial motion to reconsider the issue, emphasizing that
defendant never contested that he was not the individual identified in the 2018 conviction record.
¶6 Defendant was sentenced to concurrent terms of six years’ imprisonment for UUWF and
eight years’ imprisonment for AHC. During the sentencing hearing, defense counsel argued that
the imposition of two separate sentences violated the one-act, one-crime doctrine. Defendant raised
the issue again in his motion to reconsider sentence, which was denied.
¶7 II. ANALYSIS
2 ¶8 On appeal, defendant asserts (1) his UUWF conviction violates the one-act, one-crime
doctrine, (2) the evidence was insufficient to sustain an AHC conviction because the State failed
to prove defendant had two or more prior qualifying offenses, and (3) the statutes under which
defendant was convicted are unconstitutional. We address each argument in turn.
¶9 A. One-Act, One-Crime Violation
¶ 10 Under the one act-one crime doctrine, a defendant cannot be convicted of multiple offenses
that stem from the same physical act. People v. Coats, 2018 IL 121926, ¶ 11. When more than one
conviction is predicated on the same physical act, a sentence should be imposed for the most
serious offense and the lesser offenses should be vacated. People v. Artis, 232 Ill. 2d 156, 170
(2009). Whether a violation of the one-act, one-crime doctrine occurred is reviewed de novo.
People v. Smith, 2019 IL 123901, ¶ 15.
¶ 11 Here, defendant’s AHC and UUWF convictions were based on the same physical act of
possessing a firearm. The State concedes, and we accept, that the UUWF conviction must be
vacated pursuant to the one-act, one-crime doctrine as it is a lesser included offense of AHC. See
People v. Travis, 2024 IL App (3d) 230113, ¶ 47. Accordingly, we vacate defendant’s UUWF
conviction.
¶ 12 B. Sufficiency of the Evidence
¶ 13 Defendant further argues the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to convict him of
AHC because the State failed to prove he was convicted of the requisite number of qualifying
felonies as an element of the offense. At the outset, defendant contends that the issue is subject to
de novo review as a question of law because the 2018 certified copy of conviction did not establish
a presumption of identity. We disagree. Defendant’s challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence
requires us to determine, after viewing the evidence and all reasonable inferences therefrom in the
3 light most favorable to the prosecution, whether any rational trier of fact could have found that the
State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant was the person convicted of the qualifying
2018 felony. See People v. Brown, 325 Ill. App. 3d 733, 735 (2001); People v. White, 311 Ill. App.
3d 374, 381 (2000); People v. Coleman, 409 Ill. App. 3d 869, 873 (2011). Regardless, under either
standard our decision remains the same.
¶ 14 To sustain a conviction for AHC, the State had to prove defendant: (1) possessed a firearm,
and (2) was convicted of two or more qualifying offenses. See 720 ILCS 5/24-1.7(a) (West 2022).
Defendant contends only that there was insufficient evidence to prove he was convicted of a second
qualifying offense because the State failed to establish that he was the same individual named in
the 2018 certified copy of conviction.
¶ 15 A certified copy of conviction may be used to prove a defendant’s prior conviction. White,
311 Ill. App. 3d at 380. If the name on the certified copy is identical to the name of the defendant,
identity is presumed. Brown, 325 Ill. App. 3d at 735. If the presumption does not arise or is
rebutted, additional evidence must be presented to show that the defendant is the same person
named in the certified copy. White, 311 Ill. App. 3d at 380.
¶ 16 Defendant asserts the 2018 certified copy of conviction naming “Tarance L. Banks” was
insufficient to create a presumption of identity because it is not identical to the name listed on the
indictment as “Tarance Banks.” At the outset, defendant provides no legal basis to support his
contention that the name of the defendant, for the purpose of establishing a presumption of identity,
is determined solely by the name that appears on the indictment. See People v. Woods, 2024 IL
App (3d) 230592, ¶ 31 (“this court is not a depository into which the parties may dump the burden
of argument and research”).
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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).
2024 IL App (3d) 230407-U
Order filed October 30, 2024 ____________________________________________________________________________
IN THE
APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
THIRD DISTRICT
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ) Appeal from the Circuit Court ILLINOIS, ) of the 18th Judicial Circuit, ) Du Page County, Illinois, Plaintiff-Appellee, ) ) Appeal No. 3-23-0407 v. ) Circuit No. 22-CF-16 ) TARANCE L. BANKS, ) Honorable ) Michael W. Reidy, Defendant-Appellant. ) Judge, Presiding. ____________________________________________________________________________
JUSTICE ALBRECHT delivered the judgment of the court. Justices Holdridge and Peterson concurred in the judgment. ____________________________________________________________________________
ORDER
¶1 Held: (1) Separate convictions for being an armed habitual criminal and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon violated the one-act, one-crime doctrine. (2) The evidence was sufficient to prove defendant’s prior felony conviction. (3) The statutes under which defendant was convicted are facially constitutional.
¶2 Defendant, Tarance L. Banks, appeals his armed habitual criminal (AHC) and unlawful
use of a weapon by a felon (UUWF) convictions, arguing: (1) his UUWF conviction violates the
one-act, one-crime doctrine, (2) the State did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant
had a prior 2018 felony conviction, and (3) the statutes criminalizing the possession of weapons by felons is unconstitutional both facially and as applied to defendant. We affirm in part and vacate
in part.
¶3 I. BACKGROUND
¶4 Following a bench trial, defendant was convicted of AHC (720 ILCS 5/24-1.7(a)(3) (West
2022)) and UUWF (id. § 24-1.1(a)). Both convictions relied on a prior 2018 conviction for the
manufacture or delivery of cannabis (720 ILCS 550/5(d) (West 2018)) as a predicate felony
offense. At trial, the State provided a certified copy of conviction for three prior felonies, including
the 2018 conviction. Defense counsel stipulated to the admissibility of the certified copies as self-
authenticating but asserted that she was not admitting that defendant was a felon.
¶5 During closing arguments, defense counsel claimed that the State failed to prove defendant
was “Tarance L. Banks” as named on the certified copy of conviction for the 2018 offense because
that name was not identical to the name “Tarance Banks” listed on the indictment. In rejecting
counsel’s argument, the court noted the names were identical except for the middle initial, the
unique spelling of defendant’s first name appeared in both documents, and the certified copy
included a birthdate consistent with defendant’s approximate age based on his appearance. The
court subsequently denied defendant’s posttrial motion to reconsider the issue, emphasizing that
defendant never contested that he was not the individual identified in the 2018 conviction record.
¶6 Defendant was sentenced to concurrent terms of six years’ imprisonment for UUWF and
eight years’ imprisonment for AHC. During the sentencing hearing, defense counsel argued that
the imposition of two separate sentences violated the one-act, one-crime doctrine. Defendant raised
the issue again in his motion to reconsider sentence, which was denied.
¶7 II. ANALYSIS
2 ¶8 On appeal, defendant asserts (1) his UUWF conviction violates the one-act, one-crime
doctrine, (2) the evidence was insufficient to sustain an AHC conviction because the State failed
to prove defendant had two or more prior qualifying offenses, and (3) the statutes under which
defendant was convicted are unconstitutional. We address each argument in turn.
¶9 A. One-Act, One-Crime Violation
¶ 10 Under the one act-one crime doctrine, a defendant cannot be convicted of multiple offenses
that stem from the same physical act. People v. Coats, 2018 IL 121926, ¶ 11. When more than one
conviction is predicated on the same physical act, a sentence should be imposed for the most
serious offense and the lesser offenses should be vacated. People v. Artis, 232 Ill. 2d 156, 170
(2009). Whether a violation of the one-act, one-crime doctrine occurred is reviewed de novo.
People v. Smith, 2019 IL 123901, ¶ 15.
¶ 11 Here, defendant’s AHC and UUWF convictions were based on the same physical act of
possessing a firearm. The State concedes, and we accept, that the UUWF conviction must be
vacated pursuant to the one-act, one-crime doctrine as it is a lesser included offense of AHC. See
People v. Travis, 2024 IL App (3d) 230113, ¶ 47. Accordingly, we vacate defendant’s UUWF
conviction.
¶ 12 B. Sufficiency of the Evidence
¶ 13 Defendant further argues the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to convict him of
AHC because the State failed to prove he was convicted of the requisite number of qualifying
felonies as an element of the offense. At the outset, defendant contends that the issue is subject to
de novo review as a question of law because the 2018 certified copy of conviction did not establish
a presumption of identity. We disagree. Defendant’s challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence
requires us to determine, after viewing the evidence and all reasonable inferences therefrom in the
3 light most favorable to the prosecution, whether any rational trier of fact could have found that the
State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant was the person convicted of the qualifying
2018 felony. See People v. Brown, 325 Ill. App. 3d 733, 735 (2001); People v. White, 311 Ill. App.
3d 374, 381 (2000); People v. Coleman, 409 Ill. App. 3d 869, 873 (2011). Regardless, under either
standard our decision remains the same.
¶ 14 To sustain a conviction for AHC, the State had to prove defendant: (1) possessed a firearm,
and (2) was convicted of two or more qualifying offenses. See 720 ILCS 5/24-1.7(a) (West 2022).
Defendant contends only that there was insufficient evidence to prove he was convicted of a second
qualifying offense because the State failed to establish that he was the same individual named in
the 2018 certified copy of conviction.
¶ 15 A certified copy of conviction may be used to prove a defendant’s prior conviction. White,
311 Ill. App. 3d at 380. If the name on the certified copy is identical to the name of the defendant,
identity is presumed. Brown, 325 Ill. App. 3d at 735. If the presumption does not arise or is
rebutted, additional evidence must be presented to show that the defendant is the same person
named in the certified copy. White, 311 Ill. App. 3d at 380.
¶ 16 Defendant asserts the 2018 certified copy of conviction naming “Tarance L. Banks” was
insufficient to create a presumption of identity because it is not identical to the name listed on the
indictment as “Tarance Banks.” At the outset, defendant provides no legal basis to support his
contention that the name of the defendant, for the purpose of establishing a presumption of identity,
is determined solely by the name that appears on the indictment. See People v. Woods, 2024 IL
App (3d) 230592, ¶ 31 (“this court is not a depository into which the parties may dump the burden
of argument and research”). Notably, we find that the absence of a middle initial on the indictment
here can be reasonably inferred to be an inadvertent omission. Defendant was initially charged in
4 the original complaint as “Tarance L. Banks” and most of the documents filed throughout the
entirety of the proceedings—including defense counsel’s notice of appearance and defendant’s
bond slip—identify defendant as “Tarance L. Banks.” Moreover, defendant never contended that
he was not “Tarance L. Banks” or that he had been misidentified on any court filings as “Tarance
L. Banks.” These circumstances raise a reasonable inference that defendant’s name is Tarance L.
Banks, rendering the discrepancy in the indictment inconsequential. See People v. Ferraro, 79 Ill.
App. 3d 465, 468-69 (1979) (variance between defendant’s name listed on complaint as “Rose
Marie Farraro” and proof of actual name being “Mary Rose Ferraro” was immaterial where
defendant failed to raise the issue, posted bond under the charged name, and defense counsel filed
an appearance under the same).
¶ 17 Based on our review of the record, we find the middle initial variance here does not defeat
the initial presumption of identity. See People v. Smith, 2021 IL App (1st) 190421, ¶ 90 (circuit
court judgments may be affirmed on any basis supported by the record). We conclude that the trier
of fact could have found, based on the evidence and all reasonable inferences, that defendant was
the same person named in the certified copy of conviction. Therefore, the evidence was sufficient
to establish defendant’s prior convictions as an element of the charged offense.
¶ 18 In coming to this conclusion, we reject defendant’s reliance on Brown for the proposition
that the presumption of identity is defeated when the difference in name is due to a middle initial.
See Brown, 325 Ill. App. 3d at 735. In Brown, the defendant, John E. Brown, asserted he was not
the same “John Brown” named in the certified conviction and the difference in name was
sufficient to defeat the presumption of identity because both the first and last names were
“extremely common.” Id. Unlike Brown, defendant’s first name has a distinctive spelling that is
identical on both the indictment and the certified copy. Further, defendant made no claim that he
5 had not committed the 2018 offense reflected in the certified copy. See Smith, 2021 IL App (1st)
190421, ¶ 62 (additional procedural requirements beyond presumption of identity are
unnecessary where a defendant does not deny the prior conviction).
¶ 19 C. Constitutionality of UUWF and AHC Statutes
¶ 20 Lastly, defendant contends that the statutes he was convicted under are unconstitutional.
We recently upheld the facial constitutionality of the UUWF and AHC statutes utilizing the
historical analogue framework established by the United States Supreme Court in New York State
Rifle & Pistol Ass’n, Inc. v. Bruen, 597 U.S. 1 (2022). Travis, 2024 IL App (3d) 230113, ¶¶ 25,
33. Bruen developed a two-part process for evaluating whether a statute regulating firearms is
constitutional. Bruen, 597 U.S. at 27. The analysis considers “(1) whether defendant’s conduct
falls within the plain text of the second amendment and, if so, (2) whether there is a justification
for the regulation rooted in history and tradition.” Travis, 2024 IL App (3d) 230113, ¶ 24. In
Travis, our application of the Bruen test determined that: (1) felons are members of “the people”
under the plain text of the second amendment; and (2) the disarmament of felons under the
challenged statutes is consistent with the nation’s longstanding history and tradition of comparable
regulations prohibiting criminals and dangerous individuals from possessing firearms. Id. ¶¶ 25,
33. We agree with this analysis. Accordingly, we adhere to Travis and hold that the UUWF and
AHC statutes are facially constitutional under both the United States and Illinois Constitutions.
¶ 21 As defendant’s UUWF conviction must be vacated (supra ¶ 11), his as-applied challenge
to the AHC statute is the only constitutional issue that remains. See People v. Bass, 2021 IL
125434, ¶ 30 (courts should only reach constitutional issues if necessary to decide a case).
However, defendant failed to raise the issue previously in the circuit court. See Travis, 2024 IL
App (3d) 230113, ¶ 17 (as-applied constitutional challenges are generally required to have been
6 raised prior to appeal). Even if we found the record to be sufficiently developed to prevent
forfeiture, defendant presents no discernable argument as to why the statute is unconstitutional
when applied to the particular facts and circumstances of his case. See id. ¶ 35 (“An as-applied
challenge requires a showing that the statute violates the constitution as it applies to defendant’s
particular facts and circumstances ***.”). Consequently, defendant has forfeited consideration of
this claim. See Woods, 2024 IL App (3d) 230592, ¶ 31 (claims that fail to develop supporting
arguments are forfeited without further consideration).
¶ 22 III. CONCLUSION
¶ 23 The judgment of the circuit court of Du Page County is affirmed in part and vacated in part.
¶ 24 Affirmed in part and vacated in part.