People v. Castillo

865 N.E.2d 208, 372 Ill. App. 3d 11, 309 Ill. Dec. 845, 2007 Ill. App. LEXIS 242
Appellate Court of Illinois·Decided March 19, 2007·No. 1-05-0822·Published·Cited by 19 cases

Opinion

PRESIDING JUSTICE McBRIDE

delivered the opinion of the court:

On February 14, 2004, defendant, Romeo Castillo, was charged with domestic battery and aggravated battery of a police officer. The State nol-prossed the charges on March 9, 2004. Defendant was transferred to the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) for a parole violation. On March 31, 2004, the State refiled the aggravated battery charge against defendant. On August 11, 2004, the date defendant was released from the IDOC, defendant was served with an arrest warrant for the aggravated battery charge and taken into custody. A bench trial was held on December 1, 2004, and following the trial, defendant was found guilty of the aggravated battery. At sentencing, the trial court initially sentenced defendant as a Class X offender to a term of 10 years’ imprisonment. However, the trial court later vacated defendant’s sentence of 10 years and imposed a sentence of 8 years in the IDOC.

Defendant appeals, arguing that: (1) defendant’s right to a speedy trial was violated; (2) the State failed to prove defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt; (3) the trial court abused its discretion in sentencing defendant to eight years’ imprisonment; and (4) defendant is entitled to an additional 151 days of credit for time spent in custody.

On February 13, 2004, defendant was arrested for domestic battery against Dolores Almanza and aggravated battery against Officer Gregory Garibay. Defendant was charged with these offenses on February 14, 2004. The trial court noted defendant’s demand for trial. At his next trial date, the trial court noted “defendant’s continuing demand for trial.” On March 9, 2004, defendant made a demand for trial and the State nol-prossed the charges. Defendant was not released from custody due to a parole violation. He was transferred to the IDOC on March 12, 2004.

On March 31, 2004, the State indicted defendant for the aggravated battery of Officer Garibay. An arrest warrant was issued for defendant on April 23, 2004. On August 11, 2004, defendant was released from the IDOC and taken into custody on the arrest warrant. Defendant was arraigned on the aggravated battery charge the next day. All continuances following the arraignment were by agreement.

A bench trial was conducted on December 1, 2004. Prior to the start of trial, defendant’s attorney orally moved to dismiss the charge based upon a violation of defendant’s speedy trial rights. The trial court denied the motion and found there was no showing that the State’s nolle prosequi of the original charges was an attempt to toll the running of the speedy trial term and defendant made no demand for trial while in the IDOC pursuant to the interstate detainers act.

The following evidence was presented at the trial.

Officer Gregory Garibay testified that he is a Chicago police officer. On February 11, 2004, Officer Garibay received a complaint of a domestic battery alleged against defendant. The alleged victim was Dolores Almanza. Defendant was not arrested on that date.

On February 13, 2004, Officer Garibay was contacted by Almanza’s daughter. Based on what Almanza’s daughter told Officer Garibay, he went to the Stony Island Motel, located on Stony Island, near 92nd Street in Chicago. About five squad cars and a sergeant responded to that location. Officer Garibay stated that he was in uniform and driving a marked squad car.

Officer Garibay spoke with the motel clerk and found out that defendant was staying in room 53. He proceeded to room 53. The motel room doors are on the outside of the building. As he was walking toward that room, Officer Garibay saw a man walking away from room 53. Officer Garibay testified that he yelled, “Hey, stop,” to that person. Officer Garibay said that he yelled at the man in order to determine whether the man he saw walking away was defendant. Officer Garibay had retrieved a photograph of defendant prior to his arrival at the motel. Officer Garibay stated that the man turned, looked, and began to run. Officer Garibay recognized the man as defendant.

Officer Garibay began to chase defendant and continued to yell at defendant, “police, stop, police, stop.” Defendant continued to run. Officer Garibay ran after defendant for about three-quarters of a block before he caught up with defendant. Officer Garibay stated that he placed his hands on defendant’s shoulders, and then defendant turned and struck him in his left eye with a closed fist. Officer Garibay testified that he was still able to hold onto defendant, but his arms were sliding down defendant’s body. Eventually, Officer Garibay was holding onto defendant’s legs. While he was sliding down, Officer Garibay felt pain in his right shoulder and heard “a popping noise.” He could not move his right arm, but was still able to hold onto defendant’s legs.

Officer Garibay said that another officer, Officer Espanoza, arrived and tackled defendant. Defendant was arrested and placed into custody.

Officer Garibay testified that he sought treatment at the hospital. After an examination, Officer Garibay was informed that he had a torn rotator cuff and bruising and swelling to his left eye. Officer Garibay was out of work for two months as a result of his injuries.

Officer Garibay testified that he did not make a report in this case; his partner, Officer Espanoza, did. When defense counsel presented a tactical response report for this case, Officer Garibay stated that he did not prepare it. It was prepared by his sergeant, Anita Madena. He read the report and signed it. Defendant’s attorney pointed out that on the report, the box for assailant battery was not marked, but the one for assailant assault, imminent threat of battery was marked.

The State rested following Officer Garibay’s testimony. Defendant moved for a directed finding, which the trial court denied.

Defendant testified on his own behalf. Defendant stated that he was 41 years old. He said that he has a prosthesis in his left eye and is blind in that eye.

Defendant testified that on February 13, 2004, he was at the Stony Island Motel with Dolores Almanza. They were “planning something.” At one point when defendant left the room, he saw police officers. He said he realized something was “going wrong.” He stated that they called to him and he put his hands in the air. Then, all of sudden he felt someone hit him on his blind side. He fell and broke his glasses. Defendant stated that he cannot run because he cannot see on his left side. He will fall or trip. Defendant denied striking any police officers. Defendant said that Officer Espanoza tackled him.

On cross-examination, defendant said that Officer Garibay was not involved. Defendant denied seeing Officer Garibay. Defendant denied Officer Garibay trying to grab him. Defendant stated that he did not know he was wanted for domestic battery. Defendant said that Almanza’s daughter was upset because of a dispute with defendant’s ex-girlfriend. Defendant testified that he and Almanza were planning to leave town because Almanza was tired of her daughter getting involved in their business. Defendant testified that he cannot run because his knee is “kind of split in three or four spots.”

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People v. Castillo, 865 N.E.2d 208, 372 Ill. App. 3d 11, 309 Ill. Dec. 845, 2007 Ill. App. LEXIS 242 (Ill. Ct. App. 2007).

865 N.E.2d 208 (People v. Castillo) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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