People v. Carrasquilla

522 N.E.2d 139, 167 Ill. App. 3d 1069, 118 Ill. Dec. 684, 1988 Ill. App. LEXIS 263
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedMarch 8, 1988
Docket86-1292
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 522 N.E.2d 139 (People v. Carrasquilla) 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. Carrasquilla, 522 N.E.2d 139, 167 Ill. App. 3d 1069, 118 Ill. Dec. 684, 1988 Ill. App. LEXIS 263 (Ill. Ct. App. 1988).

Opinion

JUSTICE O’CONNOR

delivered the opinion of the court:

Defendant, Miguel Carrasquilla, appeals a conviction for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and the imposition of a fine in the amount of $22,500. The following issues are raised on appeal: (1) whether the trial court erred in assessing a fine against defendant in the amount of $22,500 where the fine was satisfied by the seizure of a bail deposit paid by defendant’s family and defendant lacked financial resources to pay the fine; (2) whether the State failed to prove defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt; (3) whether certain remarks and conduct of the trial court directed toward defendant and his counsel constituted reversible error; and (4) whether section 5 — 9—1.1 of the Unified Code of Corrections (111. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 38, par. 1005 — 9—1.1), establishing a fine based on “street value” of drugs, is unconstitutionally vague.

At trial, Officer Richard Lopardo testified that on June 25, 1985, he placed the building located at 830 North California Avenue under surveillance between 8 and 9 p.m. He was accompanied by four other officers. At about 11:55 p.m., he executed a search warrant for the second-floor apartment in the building. Defendant opened the door. His wife, Gladys Carrasquilla, was present along with their three children. After conducting a search, Officer Lopardo seized three bags of cocaine which were discovered in a suitcase in the rear bedroom closet of the apartment. After discovering the bags and field testing the substance, the officer continued the search and found two additional bags of cocaine in a kitchen cabinet. The combined weight of the cocaine totalled 3,888.61 grams.

The defendant testified that on June 25, 1985, he left his home between 3 and 3:30 in the afternoon to drive his sister-in-law to the corner of California and Division, where she made a phone call. Defendant admitted that he had a phone in his apartment. After she made the phone call, he drove her home and then drove to Arlington Heights, where he delivered a station wagon he had repaired. He testified that he arrived in Arlington Heights at 4:30 p.m. He and the owner of the station wagon then went to a liquor store where they purchased some alcohol. While at the liquor store, defendant saw a friend, Juan Garibay. Defendant returned to his home between 11 and 11:30 p.m. He stated that he did not know there were narcotics in the apartment.

Defendant’s wife corroborated his testimony with respect to the time he left the apartment and the time he returned. She testified that at 6 p.m. that night, a man named Armando Lizbaro came over and asked to leave a suitcase in the apartment. She stated that his request was not unusual and that she put the suitcase in her bedroom so that it would not be in the way of the children.

Defendant was found guilty. At the sentencing hearing, the State indicated that the value of the cocaine was approximately $400,000. The trial court fined defendant $22,500, which was to be taken from the bail deposit. Defense counsel objected as the bond was not defendant’s money but money provided by members of defendant’s family.

Defense counsel introduced a motion to reduce the fine and maintained that the court had failed to hold a hearing to determine defendant’s financial resources as required by section 5 — 9—1 (111. Rev. Stat. 1983, ch. 38, par. 1005 — 9—1). The trial judge stated that the bond originally had been $2,500,000 until he reduced it to $22,500. The court then held a hearing to determine defendant’s ability to pay the fine. At the hearing, Officer Claude Posilovich testified for the State regarding the street value of the cocaine. He stated that one gram of cocaine sells for $100 to $110. On that basis he estimated the value of the cocaine in issue here to be approximately $400,000. Following testimony of defendant and his parents regarding the source of the bond money, the trial court affirmed the $22,500 fine. Defendant now appeals.

Defendant’s first contention is that the trial court improperly imposed the $22,500 fine under section 5 — 9—1 (111. Rev. Stat. 1983, ch. 38, par. 1005 — 9—1). That section provides in pertinent part:

“Sec. 5 — 9—1. Authorized fines.
(a) An offender may be sentenced to pay a fine which shall not exceed for each offense:
(1) for a felony, $10,000 or the amount specified in the offense, whichever is greater;
* * *
(b) A fine may be imposed in addition to a sentence of conditional discharge, probation, periodic imprisonment, or imprisonment.
* * *
(d) In determining the amount and method of payment of a fine, the court shall consider:
(1) the financial resources and future ability of the offender to pay the fine; and
(2) whether the fine will prevent the offender from making court ordered restitution or reparation to the victim of the offense.” (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1983, ch. 38, par. 1005 — 9—1.)

Defendant maintains that the fine was improper as the trial court failed to consider his financial resources; the evidence shows he lacks the ability to pay any fines levied; the procedural hearing held after the fine was assessed was a sham; and the bail deposit was improperly seized as the monies belonged to family members.

The State maintains that the defendant was fined not under section 5 — 9—1, but under section 5 — 9—1.1 (111. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 38, par. 1005 — 9—1.1) and that the fine imposed should have reflected the estimated street value of $400,000 rather than the lesser amount of $22,500. Section 5 — 9—1.1 provides for a mandatory fine in drug-related offenses as follows:

“When a person has been adjudged guilty of a drug related offense involving possession or delivery of cannabis or possession or delivery of a controlled substance as defined in the Cannabis Control Act, as amended, or the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, as amended, in addition to any other penalty imposed, afine shall be levied by the court at not less than the full street value of the cannabis or controlled substances seized.
‘Street value’ shall be determined by the court on the basis of testimony of law enforcement personnel and the defendant as to the amount seized and such testimony as may be required by the court as to the current street value of the cannabis or controlled substance seized.” (Emphasis added.) (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 38, par. 1005-9-1.1.)

The legislative history of section 5 — 9—1.1 indicates that the mandatory fine was designed to prevent drug trafficking and to act as a deterrent, as the accused would know in advance the possible monetary penalty that would be imposed. See People v. Harmison (1985), 108 Ill. 2d 197, 204-06, 483 N.E.2d 508; People v. Moffit (1985), 138 Ill. App.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
522 N.E.2d 139, 167 Ill. App. 3d 1069, 118 Ill. Dec. 684, 1988 Ill. App. LEXIS 263, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-carrasquilla-illappct-1988.