People v. Burdine

839 N.E.2d 573, 362 Ill. App. 3d 19, 298 Ill. Dec. 250, 2005 Ill. App. LEXIS 1114
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedNovember 10, 2005
Docket1-03-3529
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 839 N.E.2d 573 (People v. Burdine) 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. Burdine, 839 N.E.2d 573, 362 Ill. App. 3d 19, 298 Ill. Dec. 250, 2005 Ill. App. LEXIS 1114 (Ill. Ct. App. 2005).

Opinion

JUSTICE MURPHY

delivered the opinion of the court:

Following a bench trial, the defendant, Tavares Burdine, was found guilty of aggravated battery. 720 ILCS 5/12 — 4(b)(6) (West 2002). The victim was a paramedic for the Chicago fire department engaged in the execution of his official duties. Defendant was sentenced to 18 months’ probation. The circuit court also ordered the defendant to submit a biological sample for genetic marker testing pursuant to section 5 — 4—3 of the Unified Code of Corrections (Code of Corrections) (730 ILCS 5/5 — 4—3 (West 2002)).

On appeal, defendant contends that: (1) his conviction should be reversed because the State failed to prove him guilty of the allegations in the indictment beyond a reasonable doubt; (2) he was denied a fair trial because the judge relied on facts outside the record and was biased against him; (3) the trial court failed to admonish him regarding his appeal rights as required by Supreme Court Rule 605(a) (210 111. 2d R. 605(a)) and the case should be remanded for proper admonishments; and (4) section 5 — 4—3 of the Code of Corrections is unconstitutional as applied because it constitutes an unreasonable search. For the reasons that follow, we affirm the decision of the trial court.

I. BACKGROUND

At approximately 4:20 a.m. on April 1, 2001, members of defendant’s family called the paramedics because they believed defendant was ill or having a seizure. Chicago fire department paramedics Robert Ertl and Katherine Giblin responded to the call. Ertl testified that on this date he was dressed in a sweatshirt with the official Chicago fire department insignia while Giblin was dressed in uniform with Chicago fire department and ambulance patches.

Upon their arrival, Ertl and Giblin entered through the rear of the home. Defendant’s mother, Letha Burdine, identified herself to Ertl and Giblin and took them to a guest bedroom off the kitchen where they found defendant lying on the floor unresponsive. Ertl testified that Letha insisted the paramedics examine defendant and take him to the hospital.

The paramedics attempted to rouse defendant by kicking his foot, calling his name, and shaking his shoulders, but were unable to wake him. Defendant’s eyelids fluttered during these attempts to rouse him, so the paramedics administered additional field tests to determine if defendant was unconscious. Based on these tests, the information provided to them, and defendant’s presenting an odor of alcohol and intoxicated appearance, the paramedics believed that defendant was intoxicated and feigning unconsciousness.

At or around this time, two police officers from the Chicago police department arrived on the scene on a routine call. The police officers came and oversaw the activities in and around the bedroom where the paramedics were tending to defendant. The police did not assist the paramedics at this time.

The paramedics were then able to raise defendant from the floor and he awoke. Letha told defendant that the people there were paramedics and encouraged defendant to cooperate and go to the hospital with them. The paramedics next began attempts to pick defendant up and move him to a collapsible chair in the room. Defendant however protested and was uncooperative. Letha testified that at this time the police officer “caught an attitude” and she began requesting the paramedics and police officers leave.

However, Ertl testified that it was Chicago fire department policy that intoxicated individuals may not refuse care and are to be transported to the hospital. Ertl then got behind defendant, wrapped his arms under defendant’s armpits and attempted to grab defendant’s wrists to prop him up. At this time, defendant became even more combative and bit Ertl’s left forearm.

Defendant did not break the skin of Ertl’s arm with his bite; however, Ertl felt pain and immediately pushed defendant away from his arm. Ertl testified that at or around the time defendant bit him, he believed the defendant also punched him, kicked him, and kicked his mobile recording system. However, Ertl could not definitively state that defendant punched or kicked him.

At or around the time Ertl pushed defendant away, a melee broke out between the police, paramedics and partygoers at the house. Eventually the melee was brought under control by the police. Defendant was placed under arrest, handcuffed, carried out to a squad car and taken by the police to the hospital. Ertl had his arm examined at this time. The skin was not broken, but his arm was red and swollen in the area that defendant bit him.

At the close of the evidence, the trial court found Burdine guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of aggravated battery of a paramedic. Defendant subsequently filed a motion for judgment of acquittal or a new trial. Following argument and a review of the transcript of the trial, the court denied the motion.

At the sentencing hearing, the State offered no aggravating factors. Defendant offered factors in mitigation and suggested that probation would be an appropriate sentence. On November 6, 2003, defendant was sentenced to 18 months’ probation and, pursuant to section 5 — 4—3, ordered to submit blood specimens to the Illinois Department of State Police, Division of Forensic Services and Identification. On November 16, 2003, defendant timely filed his notice of appeal. Defendant did not file a posttrial motion contesting his sentence of probation.

II. ANALYSIS

A. Conformance of Evidence With the Indictment

Defendant first claims that the State failed to present evidence at trial in conformance with the indictment. Therefore, defendant claims, he was not proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and his conviction must be reversed.

A battery is committed when one intentionally or knowingly causes bodily harm to another without legal justification. 720 ILCS 5/12 — 3 (West 2002). The aggravated battery statute provides that a person commits aggravated battery when he commits battery on an individual known to be a fireman engaged in the official execution of his duties. 720 ILCS 5/12 — 4(b)(6) (West 2002). The evidence presented clearly proved defendant guilty of aggravated battery. Defendant knowingly bit an on-duty fireman on the arm causing him bodily harm. Defendant, however, claims this evidence does not conform to the indictment.

Defendant’s indictment states, in pertinent part, “Tavares Bur-dine committed the offense of aggravated battery in that he, in committing a battery, other than by the discharge of a firearm, intentionally or knowingly caused bodily harm to Robert Ertl, to wit: Tavares Burdine struck Robert Ertl about the body, knowing Robert Ertl to be a fireman ***.” Defendant claims that because it was not proven that he hit Ertl with a fist or kicked Ertl, but rather bit him, the State did not prove each element as charged.

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Bluebook (online)
839 N.E.2d 573, 362 Ill. App. 3d 19, 298 Ill. Dec. 250, 2005 Ill. App. LEXIS 1114, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-burdine-illappct-2005.