People v. Bristow

291 N.E.2d 189, 8 Ill. App. 3d 805, 1972 Ill. App. LEXIS 2127
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedNovember 28, 1972
Docket55100
StatusPublished
Cited by20 cases

This text of 291 N.E.2d 189 (People v. Bristow) 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
People v. Bristow, 291 N.E.2d 189, 8 Ill. App. 3d 805, 1972 Ill. App. LEXIS 2127 (Ill. Ct. App. 1972).

Opinion

Mr. JUSTICE LEIGHTON

delivered the opinion of the court:

A two-count indictment charged defendants Clinton Bristow, John Trimble and Roland Person with burglary and criminal damage to property. They were tried by a jury that acquitted them of burglary but found them guilty of the criminal damage charge. After hearing and overruling post-trial motions, the trial court heard evidence in aggravation and mitigation. It appears from this evidence that Clinton Bristow was 20 years old; John Trimble and Roland Person, 19 years old; that they were junior-year students at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois; and that prior to this prosecution, none of them had ever been arrested for, charged with, or convicted of a crime. The comt admitted each defendant to three years probation.

In this appeal, they present two issues. (1) Whether there is a fatal variance between allegations of the indictment and the proof as to ownership of the property which was the subject of criminal damage. (2) Whether the evidence proved beyond a reasonable doubt that defendants were guilty of criminal damage to property.

This evidence shows that at approximately 8:30 P.M. on March 4,1969, a group of about 20 Northwestern University students entered the Triangle fraternity house in Evanston, Illinois. Other than that suggested by the group’s conduct, the record does not disclose the reason for this entry. While in the house approximately two minutes, the students broke thirteen windows, damaged furniture, smashed dishes, chairs and lamps. A fraternity member, Anthony Kestian, saw defendant Trimble in the group. Another fraternity member, John Lamb, saw defendant Bristow (also in the group) throw a lamp and then saw Bristow and Trimble overturn chairs. Lamb also saw defendant Person run out the back door of the fraternity house when the students fled. The police were called and Lamb told them he could identify three of the students. At the same time, he gave the names of Bristow and Trimble. The next day, after examining photographs, Lamb was able to recall the name of the defendant Roland Person. Later, defendants were arrested and the indictment followed.

In the count that charged criminal damage to property, it was alleged “* * # that [defendants] knowingly damaged a building, to-wit: fraternity house of Triangle Housing Association, a corporation * * At the trial, the State proved that the fraternity house was owned by Northwestern University; and that at the time in question, the building was leased to the Housing Association of Northwestern University Chapter of Triangle, an Illinois corporation. During presentation of the defense, the State accepted a stipulation and agreed that there was no Illinois corporation named Triangle Housing Association but that there was a corporation chartered in this State and known as the Housing Association of Northwestern University Chapter of Triangle. This revealed a difference between what was aUeged in the indictment and what was proved. It is this difference that gives rise to the issue whether there is a fatal variance between the allegations of the indictment and the proof.

In the prosecution of offenses against persons or property, the charge must allege the name of the person or property injured, if known. (People v. O’Brien, 404 Ill. 236, 238, 88 N.E.2d 486.) If the offense is against property, the aUegation of ownership is essential. The allegation must be proved. (People v. Mosby, 25 Ill.2d 400, 402, 185 N.E.2d 152; People v. Ogden, 123 Ill.App.2d 46, 259 N.E.2d 361.) This is required by our law so that a defendant can plead either former conviction or acquittal if a second prosecution is brought for the same offense. People v. Flaherty, 396 Ill. 304, 310, 71 N.E.2d 79; People v. McClure, 93 Ill.App.2d 450, 235 N.E.2d 677.

Variances between allegations of a charge and evidence which can affect a criminal trial are limited to differences between the pleading of essential elements of a crime and the proof. (People v. Sheehan, 407 Ill. 545, 551, 95 N.E.2d 878; People v. Jamison, 92 Ill.App.2d 28, 235 N.E.2d 849.) To vitiate a criminal trial, however, a variance must be material and of such character that it misleads a defendant in the making of his defense or exposes him to double jeopardy. (People v. Adams, 46 Ill.2d 200, 204, 263 N.E.2d 490; People v. Figgers, 23 Ill.2d 516, 179 N.E.2d 626.) The variance must result in substantial injury to a defendant either by causing a jury to be misled or by hindering the defendant in the intelligent presentation of his case. (People v. Nelson, 17 Ill.2d 509; 512, 162 N.E.2d 390.) Where property of another is involved, a variance between allegations of ownership and proof is not fatal if evidence shows that rights of possession and ownership of the property are in some person, legal or natural, other than the defendant. (People v. Henry, 68 Ill.App.2d 48, 51, 214 N.E.2d 550.) On this principle, our Supreme Court has held that the variance was not fatal when defendant was charged with breaking into the premises of the “Night Owl Bar-B-Q” and it was proved that the property was owned by “Carol’s Service Station Night Owl Bar-B-Q.” (People v. Allen, 17 Ill.2d 55, 58, 160 N.E.2d 818.) This holding and many like it, recognize that if evidence proves ownership in someone other than the defendant, a variance in the owner’s name is not material unless it appears that a jury was misled or that substantial injury was done to the accused. People v. Callahan, 324 Ill. 101, 154 N.E. 463; compare People v. Palmer, 4 Ill.App.3d 309, 280 N.E.2d 754.

In the case before us, the indictment charged criminal damage to a fraternity house which in fact was the house of the fraternity in question. Neither defendants nor the jury was misled by proof that as to the house, possessory interests of the fraternity was in a corporation of a name different from the one alleged in the indictment. There is no showing that this proof subjected defendants to substantial injury or hindered them in the presentation of their case. It appears that the building in question did not belong to any of the defendants. It is certain that if a second prosecution were brought for the same offense, defendants can refer to the record of these proceedings to establish prior jeopardy. (See People v. King, 50 Ill.App.2d 421, 430, 200 N.E.2d 411.) Therefore, we conclude that the record does not show a fatal variance between aUegations of the indictment and the proof concerning ownership of the property which was the subject of criminal damage. (See People v. Van Hyning, 72 Ill.App.2d 168, 219 N.E.2d 268

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Bluebook (online)
291 N.E.2d 189, 8 Ill. App. 3d 805, 1972 Ill. App. LEXIS 2127, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-bristow-illappct-1972.