People v. Burlington
Opinion
JUSTICE TURNER delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
¶ 1 In October 2014, the State charged defendant, Tyler R. Burlington, with one count of burglary ( 720 ILCS 5/19-1(a) (West 2014) ). After a February 2015 trial, a jury found defendant guilty of burglary. Defendant filed a posttrial motion. At a joint April 2015 hearing, the Macon County circuit court denied defendant's posttrial motion and sentenced him to seven years' imprisonment. Defendant filed a motion to reconsider his sentence, which the court granted. After a second sentencing hearing in July 2015, the court sentenced defendant to six years' imprisonment. Defendant appeals, asserting (1) the State failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt he entered a Menards store without authority, (2) the court erred by allowing his prior burglary convictions to be used as impeachment evidence, (3) he is entitled to two additional days of sentencing credit, and (4) this court should vacate his fines imposed by the circuit clerk and the electronic citation fee. We affirm in part as modified, vacate in part, and remand the cause with directions.
¶ 2 I. BACKGROUND
¶ 3 The State's information alleged that, on October 10, 2014, defendant committed burglary, in that he, without authority, knowingly entered the building of Menards in Forsyth, Illinois. Burglary is a Class 2 felony. 720 ILCS 5/19-1(b) (West 2014). However, based on defendant's criminal history, the parties and the circuit court believed defendant was subject to Class X sentencing. See 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-95(b) (West 2014).
¶ 4 In February 2015, the circuit court commenced defendant's jury trial on the burglary charge. The State presented the testimony of Donald Langlois, Menards assistant general manager, and Eric Dowdy, deputy sheriff. It also presented footage from the Menards surveillance cameras. Defendant testified on his own behalf. The evidence relevant to the issues on appeal is set forth below.
¶ 5 At around 8 p.m. on October 10, 2014, Langlois was working at Menards. One of his duties was loss prevention, and he was responsible for observing the footage from the 42 surveillance cameras inside Menards. Defendant entered the store, went directly to a digital camera recording system, removed the system from the shelf, walked through the cash register area, and attempted to leave the store. After being stopped by a cashier, defendant attempted to return the item at *580 the service desk for cash. Langlois was watching the attempted return in real time and could hear the conversation between defendant and the employee at the service desk through the microphone located on the service desk. Defendant denied stealing the item. While at the service counter, defendant purchased a screwdriver. While Langlois was on the stand, the State played a video from the Menards surveillance cameras. The video did not have any audio. Langlois identified defendant on the video as the man wearing a Superman sweatshirt. He also identified defendant in court as the man he saw on the video.
¶ 6 Deputy Dowdy testified he was on duty the night of October 10, 2014, and responded to a call at Menards around 8:47 p.m. Upon arrival, he made contact with defendant, who was wearing a black and teal Superman hoodie, jeans, and a blue stocking cap. Defendant waived his rights under
Miranda v. Arizona
,
¶ 7 Before defendant testified, defense counsel made a motion to exclude defendant's prior convictions for burglary (People v. Burlington, No. 09-CF-731 (Cir. Ct. Macon County) ) and retail theft (People v. Burlington, No. 12-CF-1536 (Cir. Ct. Macon County) ). Counsel did not challenge the admission of defendant's prior conviction for residential burglary (People v. Burlington, No. 09-CF-1912 (Cir. Ct. Macon County) ) and aggravated driving under the influence (DUI) (People v. Burlington, No. 09-CF-865 (Cir. Ct. Macon County) ). After hearing the parties' arguments, the court barred the use of defendant's aggravated DUI conviction for impeachment purposes but allowed the admission of the other three convictions.
¶ 8 Defendant testified he had prior convictions for burglary, residential burglary, and retail theft. When he went to Menards on the night in question, his intent was to buy a screwdriver, and he did so. Defendant denied entering the store with an intent to steal. According to defendant, he walked into the store and asked the guy next to the service desk where the screwdrivers were. He then went to the screwdrivers. Thereafter, he began walking around the store to see what else he wanted. Defendant did not find anything else. Eventually, he picked up the camera and thought he might "take it." Defendant then decided to pay for one item and then act like he was going to walk out. Moreover, he was the one that stopped the woman and asked her where the service desk was. He walked all the way around the store and then went to the service desk. Defendant purchased the screwdriver and talked to them about returning the camera. The service desk never gave him money or a gift card, and he never left the store with a stolen item. Defendant further testified he told Deputy Dowdy he owed someone $200 and decided to take the item to pay his debt when he was already in the store. Defendant testified he made up the story about owing someone money to get out of trouble. Additionally, defendant testified a 20-minute gap existed between the first and the second clip. During that period is when he talked to the man next to the service desk, obtained the screwdriver, and walked around the store.
*581 ¶ 9 One of the jury instructions the circuit court gave the jury was Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions, Criminal, No. 3.13 (approved Oct. 17, 2014) (hereinafter IPI Criminal No. 3.13), which states the following: "Evidence of a defendant's previous conviction of an offense may be considered by you only as it may affect his believability as a witness and must not be considered by you as evidence of his guilt of the offense with which he is charged."
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JUSTICE TURNER delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
¶ 1 In October 2014, the State charged defendant, Tyler R. Burlington, with one count of burglary ( 720 ILCS 5/19-1(a) (West 2014) ). After a February 2015 trial, a jury found defendant guilty of burglary. Defendant filed a posttrial motion. At a joint April 2015 hearing, the Macon County circuit court denied defendant's posttrial motion and sentenced him to seven years' imprisonment. Defendant filed a motion to reconsider his sentence, which the court granted. After a second sentencing hearing in July 2015, the court sentenced defendant to six years' imprisonment. Defendant appeals, asserting (1) the State failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt he entered a Menards store without authority, (2) the court erred by allowing his prior burglary convictions to be used as impeachment evidence, (3) he is entitled to two additional days of sentencing credit, and (4) this court should vacate his fines imposed by the circuit clerk and the electronic citation fee. We affirm in part as modified, vacate in part, and remand the cause with directions.
¶ 2 I. BACKGROUND
¶ 3 The State's information alleged that, on October 10, 2014, defendant committed burglary, in that he, without authority, knowingly entered the building of Menards in Forsyth, Illinois. Burglary is a Class 2 felony. 720 ILCS 5/19-1(b) (West 2014). However, based on defendant's criminal history, the parties and the circuit court believed defendant was subject to Class X sentencing. See 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-95(b) (West 2014).
¶ 4 In February 2015, the circuit court commenced defendant's jury trial on the burglary charge. The State presented the testimony of Donald Langlois, Menards assistant general manager, and Eric Dowdy, deputy sheriff. It also presented footage from the Menards surveillance cameras. Defendant testified on his own behalf. The evidence relevant to the issues on appeal is set forth below.
¶ 5 At around 8 p.m. on October 10, 2014, Langlois was working at Menards. One of his duties was loss prevention, and he was responsible for observing the footage from the 42 surveillance cameras inside Menards. Defendant entered the store, went directly to a digital camera recording system, removed the system from the shelf, walked through the cash register area, and attempted to leave the store. After being stopped by a cashier, defendant attempted to return the item at *580 the service desk for cash. Langlois was watching the attempted return in real time and could hear the conversation between defendant and the employee at the service desk through the microphone located on the service desk. Defendant denied stealing the item. While at the service counter, defendant purchased a screwdriver. While Langlois was on the stand, the State played a video from the Menards surveillance cameras. The video did not have any audio. Langlois identified defendant on the video as the man wearing a Superman sweatshirt. He also identified defendant in court as the man he saw on the video.
¶ 6 Deputy Dowdy testified he was on duty the night of October 10, 2014, and responded to a call at Menards around 8:47 p.m. Upon arrival, he made contact with defendant, who was wearing a black and teal Superman hoodie, jeans, and a blue stocking cap. Defendant waived his rights under
Miranda v. Arizona
,
¶ 7 Before defendant testified, defense counsel made a motion to exclude defendant's prior convictions for burglary (People v. Burlington, No. 09-CF-731 (Cir. Ct. Macon County) ) and retail theft (People v. Burlington, No. 12-CF-1536 (Cir. Ct. Macon County) ). Counsel did not challenge the admission of defendant's prior conviction for residential burglary (People v. Burlington, No. 09-CF-1912 (Cir. Ct. Macon County) ) and aggravated driving under the influence (DUI) (People v. Burlington, No. 09-CF-865 (Cir. Ct. Macon County) ). After hearing the parties' arguments, the court barred the use of defendant's aggravated DUI conviction for impeachment purposes but allowed the admission of the other three convictions.
¶ 8 Defendant testified he had prior convictions for burglary, residential burglary, and retail theft. When he went to Menards on the night in question, his intent was to buy a screwdriver, and he did so. Defendant denied entering the store with an intent to steal. According to defendant, he walked into the store and asked the guy next to the service desk where the screwdrivers were. He then went to the screwdrivers. Thereafter, he began walking around the store to see what else he wanted. Defendant did not find anything else. Eventually, he picked up the camera and thought he might "take it." Defendant then decided to pay for one item and then act like he was going to walk out. Moreover, he was the one that stopped the woman and asked her where the service desk was. He walked all the way around the store and then went to the service desk. Defendant purchased the screwdriver and talked to them about returning the camera. The service desk never gave him money or a gift card, and he never left the store with a stolen item. Defendant further testified he told Deputy Dowdy he owed someone $200 and decided to take the item to pay his debt when he was already in the store. Defendant testified he made up the story about owing someone money to get out of trouble. Additionally, defendant testified a 20-minute gap existed between the first and the second clip. During that period is when he talked to the man next to the service desk, obtained the screwdriver, and walked around the store.
*581 ¶ 9 One of the jury instructions the circuit court gave the jury was Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions, Criminal, No. 3.13 (approved Oct. 17, 2014) (hereinafter IPI Criminal No. 3.13), which states the following: "Evidence of a defendant's previous conviction of an offense may be considered by you only as it may affect his believability as a witness and must not be considered by you as evidence of his guilt of the offense with which he is charged."
¶ 10 At the conclusion of the trial on February 24, 2015, the jury found defendant guilty of burglary. On April 7, 2015, defendant filed a motion for a new trial or for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict, asserting the State failed to prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. At a joint April 10, 2015, hearing, the circuit court denied defendant's posttrial motion and sentenced him as a Class X offender to seven years' imprisonment for burglary. In the written sentencing judgment, the court gave defendant sentencing credit for the period of October 12, 2014, to April 9, 2015. The court did not impose any fines. On April 23, 2015, defendant filed a notice of appeal, and this court dismissed the appeal at defendant's request ( People v. Burlington , No. 4-15-0296 (July 1, 2015) (unpublished order dismissing the appeal) ).
¶ 11 On May 8, 2015, defendant filed a motion to reconsider his sentence, contending he should not have been sentenced as a Class X offender. The State did not object, and the circuit court allowed the motion. On July 24, 2015, the court held a new sentencing hearing, at which defendant was sentenced on the Class 2 felony. The court sentenced defendant to six years' imprisonment and gave defendant sentencing credit for the period of October 12, 2014, to July 23, 2015. The court again did not impose any fines.
¶ 12 On August 5, 2015, defendant filed a timely notice of appeal in sufficient compliance with Illinois Supreme Court Rule 606 (eff. Dec. 11, 2014), but the notice indicated the appealed judgment was only his sentence. On August 19, 2015, defendant filed a timely amended notice of appeal under Illinois Supreme Court Rules 606(d) (eff. Dec. 11, 2014) and 303(b)(5) (eff. Jan. 1, 2015), appealing both his conviction and sentence. Thus, this court has jurisdiction of defendant's appeal under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 603 (eff. Feb. 6, 2013).
¶ 13 II. ANALYSIS
¶ 14 A. Reasonable Doubt
¶ 15 Defendant first asserts the State failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt he entered Menards without authority, contending the term is ambiguous and this court should take into consideration the same factors considered by our supreme court in
People v. Bradford
,
¶ 16 The fundamental rule of statutory construction requires courts to ascertain and give effect to the legislature's intent.
Bradford
,
*582
Bradford
,
¶ 17 Section 19-1(a) of the Criminal Code of 2012 ( 720 ILCS 5/19-1(a) (West 2014) ) provides, in part, the following: "A person commits burglary when without authority he or she knowingly enters or without authority remains within a building, * * * or any part thereof, with intent to commit therein a felony or theft." As our supreme court has explained, the burglary statute provides for two ways to commit the offense of burglary: "(1) by entering without authority and with the intent to commit a felony or theft or (2) by remaining without authority and with the intent to commit a felony or theft."
Bradford
,
¶ 18 Defendant contends the "without authority" language in the first type of burglary is ambiguous like the supreme court found with the second type of burglary in
Bradford
. He further asserts an intent to steal does not remove one's authority to be in the store. However, the
Bradford
court did not find the "without authority" language ambiguous. It simply concluded the defendant presented the only reasonable reading of the burglary statute.
Bradford
,
¶ 19 Fifty years ago, in
People v. Weaver
,
*583
¶ 20 The
Weaver
court disagreed with the defendant's contention. It explained the statute required an entry that is (1) without authority and (2) with the intent to commit a felony or theft.
Weaver
,
¶ 21 Our supreme court followed its holding in
Weaver
in the case of
People v. Blair
,
¶ 22 In
Rudd
,
¶ 23 As stated, defendant's argument relies on our supreme court's decision in
Bradford
. There, the court held "an individual commits burglary by remaining in a public place only where he exceeds his physical authority to be on the premises."
Bradford
,
¶ 24 In reaching the aforementioned conclusion, the
Bradford
court rejected the State's argument that was adopted by this court. Citing
Weaver
, this court concluded that, "just as a defendant's entry is 'without authority' if it is accompanied by a contemporaneous intent to steal, so too must a defendant's remaining be 'without authority' if it also is accompanied by an intent to steal." (Emphases omitted.)
People v. Bradford
,
¶ 25 The supreme court also found this court's holding conflicted with the legislative intent behind the enactment of the retail theft statute.
Bradford
,
¶ 26 Last, the supreme court found our interpretation of the "remaining within" language was at odds with the historical development of the burglary statute.
Bradford
,
¶ 27 We find the supreme court's decision in Bradford does not affect the holding of Weaver and its progeny. While it rejected the State's interpretation of the second type of burglary based on Weaver 's holding, the decision in no way indicated Weaver was no longer good law for the first type of burglary. The supreme court specifically only addressed the second type of burglary. The Bradford decision did not state an entry into a public building with a criminal intent is now a lawful entry. Additionally, unlike the second type of burglary, the "burglary found in building" provision's development over time does not impact the first type of burglary.
¶ 28 As to the impact of the enactment of the retail theft statute on the first type
*585
of burglary, our supreme court has previously recognized a defendant can be convicted of the first type of burglary and retail theft for one incident. In
People v. Miller
,
"Not all of the elements of retail theft are included in the offense of burglary and retail theft contains elements that are not included in burglary. Retail theft requires a 'taking' whereas burglary does not. Likewise, retail theft requires that the defendant fail to pay for the merchandise. Burglary does not. Lastly, the requisite intents of each offense are different. Thus, it is possible to commit burglary without necessarily committing retail theft." Miller ,238 Ill. 2d at 176 ,345 Ill.Dec. 59 ,938 N.E.2d 498 .
The Miller decision indicates the first type of burglary and retail theft are two separate offenses that can both stand for the entry and later taking committed during the same incident, undermining the assertion the first type of burglary eviscerates the retail theft statute.
¶ 29 Moreover, applying defendant's interpretation that the intent to commit a theft does not remove one's authority to enter a retail store eliminates many types of burglary that do not involve retail theft. For example, in
People v. Drake
,
¶ 30 Additionally, if the legislature did not agree with the supreme court's interpretation of the "without authority" language as to the first type of burglary and the Illinois courts' application of that language to incidents where the person entered a business with the intent to commit a retail theft, it could have amended the burglary statute to eliminate that application. It has not done so. Illinois courts have applied
Weaver
's interpretation of the first type of burglary repeatedly and consistently for 50 years, and thus the legislature has had ample time to contravene that interpretation. This consistent judicial interpretation of the "without authority" language in the first type of burglary is considered a part of the statute until the legislature amends it contrary to that interpretation. See
People v. Woodard
,
¶ 31 Accordingly, we reject defendant's argument and continue to follow Weaver 's holding that entry of a public building with *586 the intent to commit theft constitutes an entry "without authority."
¶ 32 We recognize our holding is inconsistent with the Third District's holding in
People v. Johnson
,
¶ 33 B. Impeachment with Prior Convictions
¶ 34 Defendant next contends the circuit court erred by allowing him to be impeached with his prior residential burglary and burglary convictions. Defendant acknowledges he failed to raise this issue in his posttrial motion, and thus he has forfeited it. See
People v. Enoch
,
¶ 35 The plain-error doctrine permits a reviewing court to consider unpreserved error under the following two scenarios:
"(1) a clear or obvious error occurred and the evidence is so closely balanced that the error alone threatened to tip the scales of justice against the defendant, regardless of the seriousness of the error, or (2) a clear or obvious error occurred and that error is so serious that it affected the fairness of the defendant's trial and challenged the integrity of the judicial process, regardless of the closeness of the evidence."
*587 People v. Sargent ,239 Ill. 2d 166 , 189,346 Ill.Dec. 441 ,940 N.E.2d 1045 , 1058 (2010).
We begin our plain-error analysis by first determining whether any error occurred at all.
Sargent
,
¶ 36 In
People v. Montgomery
,
"(1) the prior crime was punishable by death or imprisonment in excess of one year, or involved dishonesty or false statement regardless of the punishment; (2) less than 10 years has elapsed since the date of conviction of the prior crime or release of the witness from confinement, whichever is later; and (3) the probative value of admitting the prior conviction outweighs the danger of unfair prejudice." People v. Mullins ,242 Ill. 2d 1 , 14,350 Ill.Dec. 819 ,949 N.E.2d 611 , 619 (2011) (citing Montgomery ,47 Ill. 2d at 516 ,268 N.E.2d 695 ).
The third factor requires the circuit court to conduct a balancing test, weighing the prior conviction's probative value against its potential prejudice.
Mullins
,
¶ 37 Here, both of defendant's convictions meet the first two prongs of the test, and thus only the third prong is at issue. Defendant asserts that, since he could be impeached with the retail theft conviction, the circuit court abused its discretion by also admitting the burglary and residential burglary conviction because they are the same offense for which he was on trial. In support of his argument, he cites
People v. Encalado
,
*588
However, the reviewing court found the circuit court did not abuse its discretion by allowing the defendant, who was on trial for three counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault, to be impeached with his prior conviction for predatory criminal sexual assault.
Encalado
,
¶ 38 This case is similar to our supreme court's decision in
People v. Atkinson
,
¶ 39 Here, the record shows the circuit court conducted the balancing test set forth in the third prong of the
Montgomery
test and found the probative value of the prior residential burglary and burglary convictions outweighed the danger of unfair prejudice. Like in
Atkinson
, defendant's testimony was his sole defense, and thus defendant's prior convictions were crucial in measuring his credibility. See
Atkinson
,
¶ 40 Accordingly, we find the circuit court did not abuse its discretion by allowing defendant's impeachment with his prior burglary and residential burglary convictions.
*589 ¶ 41 C. Sentencing Credit
¶ 42 Defendant further contends he is entitled to two additional days of sentencing credit because he was arrested on October 10, 2014, and the circuit court only awarded him sentencing credit for the period of October 12, 2014, to July 23, 2015. The State concedes the issue.
¶ 43 Section 5-4.5-100(b) of the Unified Code of Corrections (730 ILCS 5/5-4.5100(b) (West 2014) ) addresses sentence credit and provides, in pertinent part, the following: "[T]he offender shall be given credit on the determinate sentence or maximum term and the minimum period of imprisonment for the number of days spent in custody as a result of the offense for which the sentence was imposed." This court has explained, "[a] defendant should receive credit against his sentence for any part of a day that he is held in custody."
People v. Peterson
,
¶ 44 D. Fines and Fees
¶ 45 Last, defendant challenges the fines imposed in his case, as well as the $5 electronic citation fee. The State agrees with defendant's contentions.
¶ 46 "Although circuit clerks can have statutory authority to impose a fee, they lack authority to impose a fine, because the imposition of a fine is exclusively a judicial act." (Emphases omitted.)
People v. Smith
,
¶ 47 We find the following assessments are fines: (1) the $15 State Police operations assessment (labeled "State Police Ops") (
People v. Millsap
,
¶ 48 Additionally, defendant argues the $5 electronic citation fee ("E-Citation Fee") does not apply to this case. The State concedes the issue. Section 27.3e of the Clerks of Courts Act ( 705 ILCS 105/27.3e (West 2014) ) provides the $5 electronic citation fee "shall be paid by the defendant in any traffic, misdemeanor, municipal ordinance, or conservation case upon a judgment of guilty or grant of supervision." Thus, we agree with the parties the $5 electronic citation fee does not apply to defendant's criminal conviction and vacate the fee.
¶ 49 III. CONCLUSION
¶ 50 For the reasons stated, we vacate the improperly imposed fines set forth supra ¶47 and the $5 electronic citation fee, affirm as modified the Macon County circuit court's judgment in all other respects, and remand the cause with directions. As part of our judgment, we award the State its $75 statutory assessment against defendant as costs of this appeal.
¶ 51 Affirmed in part as modified and vacated in part; cause remanded with directions.
Justices Knecht and DeArmond concurred in the judgment and opinion.
2018 IL App (4th) 150642 (People v. Burlington) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.