People v. Cox

474 N.E.2d 248, 130 Ill. App. 3d 1073, 86 Ill. Dec. 251, 1985 Ill. App. LEXIS 1615
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedFebruary 26, 1985
Docket4-84-0276
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 474 N.E.2d 248 (People v. Cox) 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. Cox, 474 N.E.2d 248, 130 Ill. App. 3d 1073, 86 Ill. Dec. 251, 1985 Ill. App. LEXIS 1615 (Ill. Ct. App. 1985).

Opinion

JUSTICE TRAPP

delivered the opinion of the court:

Defendant, Julian Cox, was issued a traffic ticket charging him with improper lane usage (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1981, ch. 951/2, par. 11— 709) and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1981, ch. 951/2, par. 11—501). The State and Cox reached a tentative plea agreement. Pursuant to the agreement, Cox pleaded guilty to a charge of reckless driving. At the plea hearing, prior to the court’s concurrence, the court inquired if Cox had any prior convictions. The assistant State’s Attorney responded that there were none. Judgment was entered, and Cox was fined $300 plus court costs and was sentenced to four months’ conditional discharge.

Shortly thereafter, another assistant State’s Attorney advised the court that Cox did, in fact, have a previous conviction for driving under the influence. The court, in Cox’ presence, vacated the plea and reset the cause for trial. Cox’ motion to dismiss praying for specific enforcement of the plea bargain and to vacate the trial date was denied by the court.

The charge of improper lane usage was dismissed by the State prior to trial. At trial, Officer Kenneth Dicken testified that, at about 12:30 a.m., on December 4, 1982, he was driving west on West Williams Street in Danville on routine patrol. He was accompanied by another officer, a local television reporter and a cameraman. He observed an automobile approaching him which was being driven on the shoulder of the road.

Officer Dicken turned around and followed the automobile, driven by Cox, for several blocks. Because a light mist was falling, he could see that the tracks left by Cox’ automobile on the wet pavement were erratic. As he neared the vehicle, he also observed that the car veered over the center line and back to the curb several times, nearly missing the telephone poles along the road. Officer Dicken pulled the automobile over. When Cox rolled down his window, Officer Dicken detected a strong odor of alcohol on Cox’ breath. Officer Dicken also observed that Cox’ eyes were bloodshot and that his speech was slurred. Cox had difficulty in producing his driver’s license and passed over it several times.

Officer Dicken asked Cox to get out of his automobile and requested that he perform a field sobriety test. Cox stumbled and could not stand up by himself. Nor could he perform the “finger-to-nose” test. Based on his 16 years as a police officer, Officer Dicken concluded that Cox was intoxicated and placed him under arrest.

Brenda Vaughn, the television reporter who was accompanying Officer Dicken, testified that Cox stumbled, slurred his speech, and that he could not perform the finger-to-nose test, the walking test, or the coin test. The State admitted into evidence a videotape of Cox driving his automobile and of portions of tests performed by Cox at the police station.

Cox testified that he takes Lanolin, Peritrate, and Librium three times a day at meal time for nervousness and a serious heart condition. He testified that as a result of his disabling condition, he is dizzy upon arising from a sitting position, he cannot stand for long periods of time, and he cannot stabilize himself in a squatting position. He further testified that, as his medication wears off, these conditions intensify.

Cox testified on the evening in question he took his medication with dinner and then left home to go for a drive. He testified that he drove out to Kickapoo State Park; that he stopped at Charlie’s and drank one beer; and that he stopped at the Black Bear, played cards for about five hours, and drank three beers. Cox further testified that neither his defrosters nor his heater were working in his automobile on the night in question and that his tires were in very poor condition. He also testified that his reduced ability to drive was due to the wearing off of his medication and the poor condition of his automobile.

Donna Cox, the defendant’s wife, testified that although Cox was a little nervous when she picked him up from the station, he did not appear to be intoxicated. She also testified that her husband is very unsteady on his feet when he does not take his medication on time.

The jury found Cox guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol. Cox was fined $100 plus court costs, sentenced to one year’s probation, and ordered to perform 100 hours of public service work.

On appeal, Cox argues that in vacating the plea and judgment, the trial court exceeded its authority under Supreme Court Rule 402(d)(2) and placed Cox in jeopardy twice for the same offense. (87 Ill. 2d R. 402(d)(2).) Cox also contends that, at trial, the State improperly referred to Cox’ post-arrest silence during closing argument.

Cox argues that the trial court failed to comply with the requirements of Rule 402(d)(2). In response, the State argues that the Rule has no application to the present case. We agree.

Under Supreme Court Rule 402(d)(2), where a trial judge concurs in a plea agreement and subsequently withdraws his concurrence, he must give the defendant the option to affirm or withdraw his plea. As the Committee Comments to the Rule indicate, the Rule governs the procedure on pleas of guilty prior to sentencing.

“Under subparagraph (d)(2), the judge, if he considers it appropriate, may be advised, in advance of the plea, of the tentative plea agreement and indicate his conditional concurrence or (if, with consent of the defendant, he then receives evidence in aggravation or mitigation) concurrence. Such concurrence or conditional concurrence is to be stated for the record when the plea is received, but if the judge later determines before sentencing that a more severe disposition is called for he must so advise the defendant and give him an opportunity to withdraw the plea.” (Emphasis added.) Ill. Ann. Stat., ch. 110A, par. 402, Committee Comments, at 531 (Smith-Hurd 1976).

In the present case, the trial court concurred in the plea agreement and sentenced Cox. The requirements of the Rule were fully complied with. The Rule has no application to the vacating of plea agreements.

We find that the trial court did not exceed its authority in vacating Cox’ judgment entered on the plea agreement. A trial court retains jurisdiction over a judgment for 30 days after its entry for purposes of vacating, modifying, or setting aside the judgment to correct errors in its rendition. (People v. Heil (1978), 71 Ill. 2d 458, 376 N.E.2d 1002; People v. Watson (1946), 394 Ill. 177, 68 N.E.2d 265; People v. Hamel (1946), 392 Ill. 415, 64 N.E.2d 865.) As the supreme court noted in Heil,

“The relevant statutes, and the rules promulgated by this court, demonstrate the intent that in criminal as well as civil matters the circuit court be given the opportunity to reconsider final appealable judgments and orders within 30 days of their entry. (See, e.g., Ill. Rev. Stat. 1977, ch. 38, pars. 116—1, 116— 2, 1005—8—1(d); 58 Ill.

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Bluebook (online)
474 N.E.2d 248, 130 Ill. App. 3d 1073, 86 Ill. Dec. 251, 1985 Ill. App. LEXIS 1615, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-cox-illappct-1985.