People v. Cummings

2023 IL App (1st) 220520, 243 N.E.3d 840

• Court: Appellate Court of Illinois
• Decided: June 30, 2023
• Docket: 1-22-0520
• Status: Published

Opinion

2023 IL App (1st) 220520

No. 1-22-0520

Opinion filed June 30, 2023.

First Division

______________________________________________________________________________

IN THE

APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS

FIRST DISTRICT

______________________________________________________________________________

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, ) Appeal from the ) Circuit Court of Plaintiff-Appellee, ) Cook County. ) v. ) No. 20 CR 8485 ) DENNIS CUMMINGS, ) The Honorable ) Timothy J. Joyce, Defendant-Appellant. ) Judge Presiding. ______________________________________________________________________________

PRESIDING JUSTICE LAVIN delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion. Justices Hyman and Coghlan concurred in the judgment and opinion.

OPINION

¶1 Following a jury trial, defendant Dennis Cummings was found guilty of aggravated

criminal sexual assault and aggravated kidnapping, then sentenced to an aggregate term of 24

years’ imprisonment. On appeal, defendant contends the trial court erred in denying his motion

to quash arrest and suppress evidence because police lacked probable cause for his arrest and his

DNA was then seized pursuant to an invalid warrant. Defendant further maintains the court erred

in admitting other-crimes evidence because there was no proof that another crime had been No. 1-22-0520

committed. He also contends the court failed to balance the probative versus prejudicial value of

that evidence, as required. Last, defendant contends the trial court was biased against him and

acted as a prosecutor rather than a neutral arbiter. We affirm.

¶2 BACKGROUND

¶3 At trial, the State presented evidence that one winter evening in 2019, under the train

tracks on the south side of Chicago, defendant vaginally and orally raped the victim, A.J.,

ejaculating in her mouth. The victim was unable to identify defendant, but he nevertheless was

arrested after police noted an association between his DNA, already in the national DNA

database, and the DNA profile collected from the victim’s mouth immediately after the crime.

The Illinois State Police DNA database is part of a larger national criminal justice database

called the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). See 730 ILCS 5/5-4-3(f) (West 2018); 410

ILCS 70/6.4 (West 2018); 20 Ill. Adm. Code 1285.20 (2012); see also Maryland v. King, 569

U.S. 435, 444-45 (2013) (describing CODIS). Police then performed a buccal or cheek swab on

defendant, pursuant to a signed and dated warrant, and this confirmed the presence of

defendant’s DNA in the victim’s oral swab.

¶4 Prior to trial, and while represented by counsel, defendant filed a motion to quash arrest

and suppress evidence, arguing that he was illegally arrested inside his home on July 14, 2020,

absent probable cause, a warrant, and exigent circumstances. He maintained the exclusionary

rule required suppression of all evidence resulting from the arrest, including any testing done. At

the hearing on the motion, Chicago police officer Michael Pettis testified that he worked for the

department’s Fugitive Apprehension Unit, targeting suspects subject to arrest based on probable

cause or a warrant, and he was charged with finding and apprehending defendant. Although

Officer Pettis did not have a warrant to arrest defendant or search his home, Officer Pettis

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previously had learned from another officer that, according to CODIS, there was a “DNA hit” to

defendant in A.J.’s rape case. Officer Pettis had also learned that defendant previously had been

arrested for gun possession and allegedly was armed during the sexual assault. Officer Pettis and

his partner went to defendant’s southside home, surveilled it, and arrested defendant just outside

his home before calling additional officers to transport defendant. None of the officers entered

defendant’s home.

¶5 Soon after this hearing and following detailed admonitions by the court, defendant fired

his private defense attorney and chose to proceed pro se. Defendant withdrew the original

motion to quash arrest and suppress evidence and, in its place, filed a pro se “Motion to Release

Defendant from Custody Immediately,” appending the transcript of Officer Pettis’s testimony.

Defendant did not present any other evidence in support of his motion but rather reiterated

arguments that he was arrested inside his home absent probable cause, a warrant, and exigent

circumstances and the exclusionary rule therefore applied. He maintained officers “were not

acting under any color of the law but criminally as kidnappers” in violation of the fourth

amendment. Following extensive argument and interruptions by defendant, the court denied his

motion to suppress. The court found that, even crediting defendant’s argument that the arrest

took place in his home without a warrant, defendant still was not entitled to relief. Citing New

York v. Harris, 495 U.S. 14 (1990), the court found there was no evidence seized at that time,

and therefore nothing to suppress.

¶6 Although not presented in the State’s case-in-chief at trial (see infra ¶¶ 37-41), the State

submitted a pretrial motion to submit other-crimes evidence asserting that in 2018 defendant

forced a woman named C.D., whom he met on a social media dating site, to have oral sex, and

similarly ejaculated in her mouth. See 725 ILCS 5/115-7.3 (West 2018). C.D. then went to the

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hospital, where she outcried and a rape kit was performed. C.D. made a police report identifying

defendant as the offender, although she ultimately declined to participate in any further

investigation, and the case was suspended. The record contains a Chicago police “case

supplementary report” (JB230625) reflecting these facts. The record also established that a male

DNA profile (defendant’s) was found on the neck swabs from C.D. Via her rape kit, defendant’s

DNA therefore was apparently entered into the Illinois State Police DNA database and then

uploaded to CODIS.

¶7 As to the other-crimes motion, the State argued the two offenses were close in time (eight

months apart); similar in nature, insofar as both victims were young, raped orally with defendant

ejaculating in their mouths, and in secluded areas absent the victims’ consent; and the offenses

were relevant. Notably, the motion did not focus on the admission of DNA evidence under the

other-crimes theory but rather on the admission of the facts described by C.D. in the police

report. In response to this proffer, defendant argued that he never gave his DNA “to anybody”

prior to July 2020, and this was a “fraud upon the court.” The court allowed the State’s motion.

¶8 Defendant, for his part, filed two pretrial motions to substitute the trial judge, Timothy J.

Joyce, for cause. Extensive hearings and argument by defendant before Judge Erica L. Reddick

followed. Contrary to defendant’s arguments otherwise, Judge Reddick found there was no

prejudice or bias by Judge Joyce. Rather, evidence showed he was fair and patient with

defendant. In spite of this, defendant accused Judge Joyce of being a “criminal” and conspiring

with the State multiple times, even as the cause proceeded before the jury.

¶9 At trial, the victim, A.J., testified that around 6 p.m. on January 15, 2019, she was

walking to her south side home after visiting a convenience store, when she saw a man wearing a

hoodie, black pants, and a mask revealing only his eyes. He stopped A.J. under an overpass by

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the train tracks and demanded money while holding a silver revolver. A.J. said that she had no

money, and the man responded, “you got something else you can do to pay.” With a gun still in

hand, he then led her up to the train tracks, made her disrobe, and with her back to him tried to

insert his penis inside her vagina. When that failed, he forced his penis into A.J.’s mouth, made

her give him oral sex, and ejaculated. Since defendant still had a gun, A.J. assured him she would

not call the police, and he left.

¶ 10 A.J. then ran home and called the police, who responded shortly thereafter, and she spoke

to them about the sexual assault. The officers, on surveying the crime scene, noticed fresh

footprints in the snow near the train. A.J. was transported to the hospital that same evening of

January 15. There, a criminal sexual assault evidence collection kit, more commonly known as a

rape kit, was administered. See 410 ILCS 70/1a (West 2018). 1 This entailed collecting, among

other things, vaginal swabs, oral swabs, a buccal swab of the inside of A.J.’s cheek for DNA

reference, and her clothes for examination. In May 2020, A.J. viewed a photographic array, but

she identified a man other than defendant.

¶ 11 A.J.’s boyfriend testified that he awoke on the evening in question, finding A.J. crying.

She stated she was on her way back from the store when a man took her at gunpoint to the train

tracks and raped her, trying first vaginally and then raping her orally.

¶ 12 Chin Hong Shek, a forensic DNA analyst, testified that he worked for Bode Technology,

contracted by the Illinois State Police, and was assigned to conduct DNA analysis on the

evidence collected from A.J.’s rape kit, including oral, face, and neck swabs. The lab also

1 Section 1a of the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act (410 ILCS 70/1a (West 2018)) provides that “ ‘Illinois State Police Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit’ means a prepackaged set of materials and forms to be used for the collection of evidence relating to sexual assault. The standardized evidence collection kit for the State of Illinois shall be the Illinois State Police Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit.”

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collected a “DNA standard” from A.J. herself. Sperm from the oral swabs yielded a DNA profile

from a male contributor. According to standard practice, Shek forwarded these results and the

physical evidence to the Illinois State Police.

¶ 13 Chicago police Detective Sherry Odunsi-Crawl testified that after A.J.’s rape kit was

tested at the crime lab, a “DNA association” with defendant emerged, making him the “named

offender” in A.J.’s rape case. 2 Detective Odunsi-Crawl explained that, “There was a DNA

association with another case[,] with him being the named offender in that case,” as well.

Defendant was subsequently arrested on July 14, 2020. Fifteen days later, on July 31, 2020,

Detective Odunsi-Crawl obtained a separate buccal swab from defendant to confirm the

association between his DNA and that of A.J.’s.

¶ 14 Officer Pettis testified at trial much the same as at the suppression hearing, adding that

defendant’s home was several blocks south of the crime scene. Instead of testifying about the

“DNA hit,” as he had previously, Officer Pettis testified that defendant was “a named offender”

in the case being investigated and that Officer Pettis had a photo of defendant, which came from

the Chicago Police Department’s system. He again testified that the officers did not go into

defendant’s home or draw weapons when they arrested defendant.

¶ 15 Megan Neff, a forensic scientist with the Illinois State Police, testified that she received a

sealed buccal swab collected from defendant and that a DNA profile emerged that was suitable

for comparison purposes. Neff also received the DNA data from the oral and neck swabs from

Bode Technology. Neff then compared defendant’s DNA profile to the DNA data extracted from

In a prior pleading, the State asserted that the CODIS association was discovered on May 13, 2

2020, and A.J. viewed the photo array on May 20, 2020.

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the oral swabs, taken from A.J. 3 Following review of the two profiles, Neff concluded that

defendant’s DNA profile was present in the sperm fraction collected from A.J.’s oral swab and

that this DNA profile would be expected to occur in approximately one in 1.9 quintillion (18

zeroes) unrelated individuals. Her opinions were based on her education, training, experience,

and methodologies, which were generally accepted in the scientific community. In addition, she

testified proper controls were used and a proper chain of custody had been maintained. In

response to the court’s question of “[w]ould this be termed a match?” Neff stated that defendant

could not be “e[x]cluded.” She testified a “match” only occurred if there was a “complete

profile” analyzed.

¶ 16 The State rested, and defendant rested without presenting any evidence. The jury found

defendant guilty of aggravated kidnapping and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault

(penis to mouth and penis to vagina). Defendant attempted to file a motion for a new trial, but the

court struck the motion after determining it was not properly signed by defendant and appeared

to have been prepared and filed by someone who was not a licensed attorney. Defendant was

sentenced to 10 years and 8 years for the aggravated criminal sexual assault counts and 6 years

for the aggravated kidnapping count, all to run consecutively, for a total of 24 years’

imprisonment. 4 In addition, the court sentenced defendant to an additional 60 days’

imprisonment after finding defendant in direct criminal contempt of court for his numerous

interruptions during jury selection. The court also entered a civil no-contact order against

defendant (and defendant through third parties) after the State noted the victim had been

3 The State specifically asked Neff: “And did you compare the DNA profile from Dennis Cummings to the male DNA profile identified from the sperm fraction from the oral swabs in this case?” Neff responded, yes. 4 The State nol-prossed the separate gun charge against defendant in No. 19-CR-11944.

7 No. 1-22-0520

contacted on Facebook by someone requesting that the charges be dropped in this case, or

something to that effect.

¶ 17 Defendant appealed.

¶ 18 ANALYSIS

¶ 19 As set forth, defendant raises a number of claims on appeal related to his suppression

motion, evidentiary errors, and judicial bias. The State at the outset maintains defendant forfeited

these claims by failing to object both at trial and in a posttrial motion. See People v. Jackson,

2022 IL 127256, ¶ 15 (noting a trial objection and a posttrial motion are required to preserve an

issue on appeal). We agree. We note that the trial court struck defendant’s posttrial motion

because, in filing it, defendant utilized the services of an unlicensed attorney, which is

prohibited. See Downtown Disposal Services, Inc. v. City of Chicago, 2012 IL 112040, ¶ 19. On

appeal, defendant does not challenge the court’s finding or ask that his posttrial motion be

reinstated. Accordingly, defendant has forfeited his claims.

¶ 20 Defendant nevertheless maintains that we may consider these unpreserved errors under

the plain error doctrine, where 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 the

error is so serious that it affected the fairness of the defendant’s trial and challenged the integrity

of the judicial process regardless of how close the evidence was. People v. Piatkowski, 225 Ill.

2d 551, 565 (2007); see also People v. Hassan, 253 Ill. App. 3d 558, 566-67 (1993). Yet, the

plain error rule does not operate in the nature of a general savings clause (People v. Hayes, 139

Ill. 2d 89, 143 (1990), abrogated on other grounds by People v. Tisdel, 201 Ill. 2d 210 (2002)),

and the first step in such an analysis is to determine whether any error occurred at all (People v.

Hutt, 2023 IL 128170, ¶ 29).

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¶ 21 Suppression Motion and Warrant

¶ 22 Turning to the merits, defendant first contends the trial court erred in denying his motion

to quash arrest and suppress evidence. When reviewing the trial court’s ruling on a motion to

suppress evidence, we ordinarily apply a two-part standard of review. People v. Eubanks, 2019

IL 123525, ¶ 33. We give great deference to the court’s factual findings and will reverse them

only if they are against the manifest weight of the evidence, while we review de novo the court’s

legal ruling on whether evidence should be suppressed. People v. Cregan, 2014 IL 113600, ¶ 22.

A reviewing court may consider all trial evidence in determining whether the court’s decision

denying a motion to suppress was correct. People v. Murdock, 2012 IL 112362, ¶¶ 35-36. To

prevail at the trial level, the defendant bears the burden of producing evidence and establishing a

prima facie case that the search/seizure was unreasonable before the burden then shifts to the

State. Cregan, 2014 IL 113600, ¶ 23; People v. Thornton, 2020 IL App (1st) 170753, ¶ 23. Also,

the ultimate burden always remains with the defendant. Thornton, 2020 IL App (1st) 170753,

¶ 23.

¶ 23 Here, defendant argues police lacked probable cause to arrest him inside his home absent

a warrant on July 14, 2020. Defendant maintains that, as a result, he was “not in lawful custody

when the buccal swab was taken at the police station,” on July 31, 2020, and it should have been

excluded. He further argues that the search warrant utilized to perform the swab was fatally

defective because the warrant lacked a time, date, and judicial signature when issued.

¶ 24 Both the United States Constitution and the Illinois Constitution protect every person

from unreasonable searches and seizures. U.S. Const., amend. IV; Ill. Const. 1970, art. I, § 6.

Reasonableness under the fourth amendment generally requires a warrant supported by probable

cause. Thornton, 2020 IL App (1st) 170753, ¶ 25. Probable cause exists where the facts and

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circumstances, considered as a whole, are sufficient to justify a belief by a reasonably cautious

person that the defendant has committed a crime. People v. Hopkins, 235 Ill. 2d 453, 472 (2009).

Any search or seizure within a home without a warrant is presumptively unreasonable. People v.

Davis, 398 Ill. App. 3d 940, 948 (2010); Hassan, 253 Ill. App. 3d at 567.

¶ 25 Here, defendant’s argument is premised on the fact that the police actually entered his

home. Defendant, however, did not present any evidence that police entered his home, nor did

the trial court make any such factual finding. Instead, Officer Pettis expressly testified that the

police did not enter defendant’s home but arrested him outside on the front steps. Where

probable cause exists, police may effectuate a warrantless arrest on a person in public without

violating the fourth amendment. Davis, 398 Ill. App. 3d at 951; People v. McGee, 2015 IL App

(1st) 130367, ¶ 47.

¶ 26 The question then becomes whether the police had probable cause to arrest defendant.

The evidence shows they did. At the suppression hearing, Officer Pettis testified that a fellow

police officer informed him of a CODIS “DNA hit,” identifying defendant in A.J.’s rape case.

Officer Pettis also learned that defendant had previously been arrested for gun possession, a fact

defendant does not now dispute, and he was allegedly armed during the sexual assault against

A.J. At trial, evidence showed that at the time of defendant’s arrest, sperm from A.J.’s oral swabs

had yielded a DNA profile from a male contributor. Detective Odunsi-Crawl emphasized that a

“DNA association” with defendant emerged after A.J.’s rape kit was tested at the crime lab, and

further, it was established that defendant lived only several blocks south of the crime scene. This

associational match, combined with A.J.’s sexual assault allegations, was sufficient to sustain

probable cause to support defendant’s arrest under Illinois law. See infra ¶¶ 27-29.

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¶ 27 Defendant nonetheless argues probable cause did not exist because his “DNA originally

submitted to CODIS came from an uncharged case with unsubstantiated claims.” Defendant

refers to the case involving C.D., and he claims the DNA evidence in CODIS was a “mistake.”

See supra ¶¶ 6-7. This probable cause challenge fails for multiple reasons. One, C.D.’s case is

not at issue before this court. Two, defendant failed to offer any evidence challenging C.D.’s

case or the entry of his DNA into CODIS at the suppression hearing, and again, he did not argue

the “unsubstantiated claims” invalidated his DNA match to A.J. in the present rape case, where

her claims were in fact substantiated.

¶ 28 More significantly, this argument is a red herring. The Sexual Assault Survivors

Emergency Treatment Act (410 ILCS 70/1 et seq. (West 2018)), which “facilitate[s] the

prosecution of persons accused of sexual assault,” permits the Illinois State Police to analyze and

test collected evidence. Id. § 6.4(a). That evidence in turn may be compared to DNA information

maintained by the Illinois State Police and national databases. Id.; see also 730 ILCS 5/5-4-3

(West 2018); 20 Ill. Adm. Code 1285.10(a) (2012) (results from DNA collection “shall be

available for future criminal investigations and other forensic analysis purposes”). That is exactly

what was done with respect to A.J. Moreover, section 5-4-3(o) of the Unified Code of

Corrections (730 ILCS 5/5-4-3(o) (West 2018)), which addresses the Illinois State Police

collection of DNA specimens, specifically states: “Mistake does not invalidate a database match.

The *** arrest[ ] or conviction of a person based upon a database match or database information

is not invalidated if it is determined that the specimen was obtained or placed in the database by

mistake.”

¶ 29 In other words, we read these provisions in pari materia to mean that it matters not how

defendant’s DNA arrived in the database. See id.; People v. Rinehart, 2012 IL 111719, ¶ 26.

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Rather, what is significant is whether there was a “match” or association between the offender

named in the database and the present victim. See 730 ILCS 5/5-4-3(o) (West 2018); see also

People v. Hickey, 178 Ill. 2d 256, 286 (1997) (noting, a preliminary match between the

defendant’s DNA and the DNA from the rape victim would support probable cause to issue a

search warrant for the defendant’s blood sample); 20 Ill. Adm. Code 1285.10(b) (2012) (“A

match between casework evidence DNA samples from a criminal investigation and DNA

samples from a state or federal offender DNA database may be used only to sustain probable

cause for the issuance of a warrant to obtain a separate DNA sample for confirmation.”).

¶ 30 We thus find sufficient probable cause existed to support the arrest outside defendant’s

home in this case. However, even assuming the arrest took place inside defendant’s home, we

agree with the trial court that defendant’s fourth amendment claim still fails. It is well established

that “[e]ven an arrest made during a warrantless nonconsensual entry of a home does not vitiate a

defendant’s subsequent custody[,] nor does it require suppression” of subsequent evidence

collected (i.e., the buccal swab) “outside the home, so long as the authorities had probable cause

to arrest the suspect.” People v. Segoviano, 189 Ill. 2d 228, 244 (2000); see also Harris, 495 U.S.

at 18 (noting an arrest inside a home absent a warrant but with probable cause does not render

the continued custody of a suspect unlawful); United States v. Crews, 445 U.S. 463, 474 (1980)

(noting an illegal arrest without more is not a bar to subsequent prosecution, nor a defense to a

valid conviction).

¶ 31 Here, as set forth, police had probable cause to arrest defendant based on the DNA

association between defendant and A.J. and other circumstances. Consequently, the buccal swab

taken on July 31, 2020, pursuant to a warrant, was not an exploitation of any alleged illegal entry

into defendant’s home. See Harris, 495 U.S. at 19-20. That is, the buccal swab “was not the fruit

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of the fact that the arrest was made in the house rather than someplace else.” Id. at 20. Defendant

thus failed to sustain his burden of producing evidence at the motion-to-suppress hearing and

establishing a prima facie case that his arrest was illegal or that any subsequent search or seizure

was unreasonable. See Cregan, 2014 IL 113600, ¶ 23; Thornton, 2020 IL App (1st) 170753,

¶ 32 And, that brings us to our next point. Contrary to defendant’s contention otherwise, the

search warrant relied upon to retrieve defendant’s DNA was not facially defective because it was

marked with the time (12:44 p.m.), date (July 31, 2020), and issuing judge’s handwritten

signature (Judge Diana Kenworthy). See Maryland 569 U.S. at 446 (noting using a buccal swab

on a person’s inner cheek to obtain DNA is a search). Defendant points out that the impounded

record contains a complaint for search warrant wherein those elements are missing; the

information was left blank. This latter search warrant appears as an exhibit attached to

defendant’s pro se “Motion to Dismiss for Prosecutorial Misconduct and Malicious

Prosecution,” filed on November 19, 2021. The State nonetheless counters that the trial exhibits

entered into evidence contain the completed complaint for search warrant.

¶ 33 As set forth, defendant did not properly raise this issue before the trial court, and his

opening brief fails to even acknowledge the search warrant trial exhibit. He has therefore

forfeited the matter. Ill. S. Ct. R. 341(h)(7) (eff. Oct. 1, 2020) (noting an appellant’s argument

must contain his contentions with citation to the authorities and pages of the record relied on;

points not argued are forfeited and cannot be raised in the reply brief). Moreover, we presume

the trial court’s ruling was in conformity with the law and the facts, and defendant as the

appellant bears the burden of overcoming that presumption. McCann v. Dart, 2015 IL App (1st)

141291, ¶ 15. Given that, plus the completed complaint entered into evidence at trial, we

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presume police relied on this facially valid warrant in conducting defendant’s buccal swab on

July 31, 2020. Based on the foregoing, defendant’s fourth amendment and related claims fail.

¶ 34 Other Crimes Evidence

¶ 35 Defendant next contends the court erred in admitting other-crimes evidence as to the

alleged rape of C.D. He also contends the court failed to balance the probative versus prejudicial

value of the evidence, as required.

¶ 36 While other-crimes evidence is generally inadmissible to show propensity (People v.

Thompson, 2020 IL App (1st) 171265, ¶ 86), section 115-7.3 of the Code of Criminal Procedure

of 1963 (Code) (725 ILCS 5/115-7.3 (West 2018)) is an exception permitting the State, in sex

offense prosecutions, to introduce evidence of a defendant’s other sex offenses if the evidence is

otherwise admissible under evidentiary rules and has relevancy. In weighing the probative value

of the evidence against any undue prejudice to the defendant, a court may consider the proximity

in time to the charged offense, the degree of factual similarity between the two offenses, and any

other relevant facts or circumstances. Id. § 115-7.3(c). While a court must meaningfully assess

these factors, a court need not conduct this balancing test on the record before making its

determination. People v. Petrakis, 2019 IL App (3d) 160399, ¶ 22. We review a trial court’s

ruling on the admissibility of evidence for an abuse of discretion. Thompson, 2020 IL App (1st)

171265, ¶ 84; People v. Kraybill, 2014 IL App (1st) 120232, ¶ 41.

¶ 37 Defendant now claims trial error, emphasizing that he was never arrested or charged with

a crime against C.D., and although she reported a rape, he proposes the interaction could have

been entirely consensual. Defendant relies on cases like People v. Miller, 55 Ill. App. 3d 421,

426 (1977), noting that evidence of other crimes cannot be admitted until it is shown another

crime actually took place. For its part, the State acknowledges that although it sought and

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secured the right to introduce section 115-7.3 evidence involving C.D., it ultimately did not

pursue this proffer at trial. The State thus maintains that defendants’ contentions are moot

because the State did not in fact introduce other-crimes evidence to prove defendant’s propensity

to commit sex crimes in its case-in-chief. See In re Shelby R., 2013 IL 114994, ¶ 15 (noting a

matter is moot if no controversy exists or if events have occurred that foreclose the reviewing

court from granting effectual relief to the complaining party). For the reasons to follow, we agree

with the State.

¶ 38 Here, Detective Odunsi-Crawl testified on direct examination that defendant “Dennis

Cummings” became the “named offender” in A.J.’s case when “[t]here was a DNA association

with another case[,] with him being the named offender in that case.” (Emphases added.) The

State then asked, “And did that DNA association come up once [A.J.’s] criminal sexual assault

kit had been tested at the crime lab?” Detective Odunsi-Crawl responded, yes. Detective Odunsi-

Crawl testified that defendant was then arrested and his buccal swab taken on July 31, 2020.

¶ 39 In its case-in-chief, the State did not present evidence that defendant had committed a

crime, let alone that it was sexual in nature. C.D. did not testify, nor did any hospital worker,

police officer, or DNA scientist, as to the alleged offense. Moreover, Detective Odunsi-Crawl

did not mention the nature of the prior offense, name a prior victim, or explain that defendant’s

original DNA had been logged into CODIS or any other law enforcement related database.

Similarly, there was no suggestion that defendant’s DNA was part of a database of convicted

felons. We therefore reject defendant’s contention that the term “named offender” specifically

implied he committed or was convicted of a sexual assault against C.D. The testimony was

ambiguous, as Detective Odunsi-Crawl failed to even cite a police agency source of defendant’s

DNA. The State’s opening similarly reflected vague references to “a database” and no mention

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of C.D. 5 Simply put, the State never introduced evidence of the uncharged rape of C.D. to

establish defendant’s propensity for rape in A.J.’s case. See 725 ILCS 5/115-7.3 (West 2018).

¶ 40 Moreover, this testimony was relevant, limited, and not unduly prejudicial. Indeed, the

consequential steps in a criminal investigation are admissible and relevant when necessary and

important to fully explain the State’s case to the jury, notwithstanding that these steps reference

other-crimes evidence. People v. Jackson, 232 Ill. 2d 246, 267 (2009); People v. Cerda, 2021 IL

App (1st) 171433, ¶ 111 (noting such testimony is allowed even though the jury may infer

prejudicial prior criminal activity). Viewing Detective Odunsi-Crawl’s testimony in context, we

note the trial evidence showed there was a time gap of about a year-and-a-half between A.J.’s

2019 rape and defendant’s 2020 arrest. Seventeen days passed between when defendant was

arrested on July 14, 2020, and his buccal swab was taken on July 31, 2020. During opening

statements, defendant highlighted this time gap, asserting there could not have been a DNA

match to the victim at his arrest because his buccal swab was not performed until days later.

Defendant emphasized that he had never been convicted of a crime or given away his DNA, so it

was unfathomable how his DNA was in “some database.” In addition, the jury heard from A.J.

that she could not describe defendant’s face to police or identify him from the photo array; she

did not know defendant at that time.

¶ 41 Thus, Detective Odunsi-Crawl’s testimony, that there was a “DNA association with

another case,” and defendant was “the named offender in that case,” was necessary and important

5 Defendant complains that the State referenced C.D.’s rape case in opening statements when the prosecutor said, “Again, it came back to Dennis Cummings.” The record belies this claim. It shows the State first noted that A.J.’s rape kit and oral swabs yielded a “a male DNA profile” and “sperm fraction,” which was “searched in a database and it came back to Dennis Cummings.” The State continued, noting that following defendant’s arrest and buccal swab, “the male DNA profile found in [A.J.’s] mouth was associated with this defendant. Again, it came back to Dennis Cummings.” This latter sentence directly referenced A.J.’s case.

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to explain how defendant’s DNA first entered the database and how he was identified before

police arrested him and conducted a full buccal swab confirming his DNA inside A.J.’s mouth.

See Jackson, 232 Ill. 2d at 273-74. Additionally, Detective Odunsi-Crawl’s testimony was

limited to the fact that defendant’s DNA bore an association to A.J.’s rape kit, which had been

lab tested. See id. at 274; see also People v. Nieves, 193 Ill. 2d 513, 530 (2000) (noting other-

crimes evidence presented as steps in a criminal investigation must also specifically connect the

defendant with the crimes for which he is being tried); People v. Maldonado, 402 Ill. App. 3d

411, 426-27 (2010) (same). This was permissible investigatory process testimony, not offered to

establish defendant’s propensity to commit crime. See Cerda, 2021 IL App (1st) 171433, ¶ 111.

As such, it was not other-crimes evidence that would unduly persuade the jury of defendant’s

guilt. See id. It could also be considered part of the narrative involving the charged crime. See

People v. Pikes, 2013 IL 115171, ¶ 20 (noting other crimes evidence may be admitted when

“part of the ‘continuing narrative’ of the charged crime” (quoting People v. Adkins, 239 Ill. 2d 1,

33 (2010))). We find no abuse of discretion in the admission of this evidence, nor any error. See

Thompson, 2020 IL App (1st) 171265, ¶ 84. As stated, defendant did not contemporaneously

object or seek a limiting instruction.

¶ 42 Rather, we agree with the State that to the extent any other-crimes evidence was

introduced and emphasized, it resulted from defendant’s own cross-examination of Detective

Odunsi-Crawl:

“Q. I just want to ask that how is it that District 5 had me as a named offender—a

sex offender, I assume, when I have never been charged as a sex offender or have never

been questioned about me being a sex offender or I have never given my DNA to anyone

ever, the police to be exact?

17 No. 1-22-0520

A. I would love to answer your question. I really don’t quite understand your

question.

Q. I’ll reask it. I was just asking how is it that District 5 has me, Dennis

Cummings—in the police report it says named offender, Dennis Cummings. How am I a

listed offender at the 5th District when I have never been accused or charged with any

sexual case ever and I have never, ever given my DNA ever?

A. Okay. So your DNA was—you were an associate to another case, another case

that your DNA was identified in.

Q. What exactly is this case? I have no knowledge of this case still to this day.

A. There was another criminal sexual assault case that you were a named offender

in.”

¶ 43 In response to this, on redirect examination, the State asked Detective Odunsi-Crawl

whether she was aware of another sexual assault investigation from 2018 with a victim named

C.D. The detective responded, yes, and further noted pursuant to the State’s questioning that

there was a rape kit submitted to the crime lab for DNA testing in C.D.’s case. The testing

revealed “a male profile found on the neck swabs of that rape victim,” and defendant was a

“named offender” in that criminal sexual assault case. Detective Odunsi-Crawl thus testified that

the DNA profiles from C.D.’s case were already in the database. Pursuant to the State’s

questioning, Detective Odunsi-Crawl explained that there was a “hit” with C.D.’s case when

A.J.’s DNA profiles were also placed in the database.

¶ 44 Where, as here, the defense opens the door to a particular subject on cross, the State may

on redirect question the witness to clarify or explain matters brought out on cross. People v.

Thompkins, 121 Ill. 2d 401, 444 (1988). Defendant’s strategy was to expose details of C.D.’s

18 No. 1-22-0520

case. Although he did not testify or present any evidence, defendant conveyed to the jury through

his cross of Detective Odunsi-Crawl that he had never before been charged with a sexual assault

or given police his DNA, and he invited her to explain “What exactly is this case?” Thus, what

would have otherwise been ambiguous testimony about a DNA “association” morphed into a

more detailed discussion of C.D.’s alleged sexual assault and how defendant’s DNA entered the

database. Defendant’s own cross informed the jury that he had been accused of committing a

crime that was sexual in nature. He himself offered this propensity evidence. Where defendant

invited the error of which he now complains, his claim has no merit. See People v. Tompkins,

2023 IL 127805, ¶ 54 (noting a party cannot advance a theory or argument on appeal that is

inconsistent with the position taken below).

¶ 45 Similarly, plain-error review is forfeited when the defendant invites the error. People v.

Harding, 2012 IL App (2d) 101011, ¶ 17; see also People v. Patrick, 233 Ill. 2d 62, 77 (2009)

(declining to address plain error where the defendant procured the error); People v. Bates, 2018

IL App (4th) 160255, ¶ 74 (noting plain error does not apply to affirmative acquiescence). We

also conclude that even assuming any error in admitting “named offender” or “DNA association

with another case,” this did not rise to the level of first-prong plain error because the evidence

was not closely balanced. Rather, there was substantial, if not overwhelming, evidence that A.J.

was raped by defendant. A.J. immediately outcried and conveyed the details of her rape

consistently to her boyfriend, the hospital nurse, and at trial. The circumstantial evidence

showing footprints in the snow by the train and the proximity of defendant’s home to the location

of the offense further supported A.J.’s claim. Significantly, A.J.’s testimonial evidence that she

was raped orally, and the then unknown offender ejaculated in her mouth, when combined with

the scientific evidence establishing that defendant’s DNA could not be excluded from A.J.’s oral

19 No. 1-22-0520

swab, unquestionably showed defendant was the perpetrator of this aggravated criminal sexual

assault.

¶ 46 Likewise, assuming this category of claim could even qualify as second-prong plain

error, the claim still fails. See People v. Clark, 2016 IL 118845, ¶¶ 42, 46-47. We are not

persuaded that the State’s limited reference to “named offender” or “DNA association with

another case,” deprived defendant of a fair trial or constituted prejudice under second-prong

plain error. See People v. Garcia, 2017 IL App (1st) 133398, ¶ 75; see also Hayes, 139 Ill. 2d at

146 (noting, a detective’s testimony that a witness identified defendant’s photo from a book at

the “Area 1 Violent Crimes” did not deprive the defendant of a fair trial). The State’s closing and

rebuttal, contrary to defendant’s contentions, focused almost exclusively on A.J.’s case, with

only passing references to the associated case (although not C.D. specifically) and the evidence

that defendant invited during his cross of Detective Odunsi-Crawl. Given this record, including

the trial focus on A.J. and DNA evidence showing defendant was the perpetrator of the sexual

assault against her, there was no danger that the jury convicted defendant based on the alleged,

uncharged other crime involving C.D. See Garcia, 2017 IL App (1st) 133398, ¶ 75; People v.

Rios, 2022 IL App (1st) 171509, ¶ 64 (noting that the erroneous admission of other-crimes

evidence requires reversal only it was a material factor in the defendant’s conviction such that,

without the evidence, the verdict likely would have been different); see also Jackson, 232 Ill. 2d

at 265 (noting evidentiary rulings will not warrant reversal unless the record shows substantial

prejudice affecting the trial outcome). That is, even absent the allegedly erroneous evidence, the

jury still would have found defendant guilty. See id. Defendant has not fulfilled his burden of

persuasion as to plain error. See Bates, 2018 IL App 4th 160255, ¶ 74. For these reasons,

defendant’s other-crimes contentions fail.

20 No. 1-22-0520

¶ 47 Defendant also contends the trial court failed to conduct an adequate balancing test to

determine whether other-crimes evidence should be admitted. Given our above-stated

determination, we agree with the State that defendant’s claim is moot. See Shelby R., 2013 IL

114994, ¶ 15. Again, the State did not offer other-crimes evidence for propensity to commit sex

crimes in its case-in-chief. Nevertheless, although a trial court need not make an on-the-record

finding as to other-crimes evidence, the court expressly did so here:

“The court is well familiar with Section 115-7.3 of the code of criminal

procedure. The court is well familiar with the case such as People versus Donoho, D-o-n-

o-h-o, a case from the Illinois Supreme Court in this area in our jurisdiction. The court is

also familiar with such case as People versus Taylor. *** In viewing the court’s [State’s]

proffer, the court determines the appropriate value outweighs any prejudice or effect, that

motion will be allowed.”

While the court clearly misspoke in stating “appropriate value,” rather than “probative,” it cited

the proper legal authority before concluding that other-crimes evidence was permitted here. 6 See

In re Custody of G.L., 2017 IL App (1st) 163171, ¶ 43 (noting we generally presume that a trial

court knows and follows the law). This was proper. See Petrakis, 2019 IL App (3d) 160399,

¶ 22.

¶ 48 Judicial Bias

¶ 49 Last, defendant contends the trial court was biased against him and at various points

assumed the role of prosecutor. We disagree.

6 Defendant writes that there “is no indication the court relied on the State’s motion.” However, the record shows the court asked whether the State wished to stand on its written motion and also referenced the motion in its ultimate finding. Defendant’s claim is therefore rebutted by the record.

21 No. 1-22-0520

¶ 50 A trial judge is presumed to be impartial, and the burden of overcoming this presumption

rests on the party asserting prejudice. Eychaner v. Gross, 202 Ill. 2d 228, 280 (2002). That party

must present evidence of prejudicial trial conduct and evidence of the judge’s personal bias,

which can stem from an extrajudicial source and also the facts/events at trial. Id. Yet, judicial

rulings alone almost never constitute a valid basis for a claim of judicial bias or partiality. Liteky

v. United States, 510 U.S. 540, 555 (1994). Also, ordinarily, a judge’s opinions based on trial

facts and events during the proceedings, as well as any critical, disapproving, or hostile remarks,

do not support a bias or partiality challenge. Id.; Eychaner, 202 Ill. 2d at 281. Only if these

matters “display a deep-seated favoritism or antagonism that would make fair judgment

impossible,” can such a challenge be sustained. Liteky, 510 U.S. at 555. Disqualifying a judge for

judicial bias is limited to “the most extreme circumstances.” People v. Conway, 2023 IL 127670,

¶ 51 In support of his bias claim, for example, defendant points to the trial court’s interjection

during the questioning of Officer Pettis by defendant’s then private counsel for the suppression

motion. Defendant points to other instances at trial, such as during defendant’s opening

statement, his cross of A.J., and his cross of Detective Odunsi-Crawl, wherein the court sustained

an objection even though no objection was pending by the State. Defendant maintains this

caused prejudice insofar as “it influenced the jurors to view the court as an advocate” for the

State, rather than a neutral arbiter.

¶ 52 We have reviewed the record in full, including these various instances of alleged judicial

bias and prosecutorial conduct, and find defendant has failed to sustain his burden of establishing

bias. As to the suppression hearing, the defense asked Officer Pettis if he had a warrant for

defendant’s arrest and to search his home, to which Officer Pettis said no. Defense counsel then

22 No. 1-22-0520

queried, “Who makes the determination whether or not it’s probable cause for you to go to

someone’s home?” and the trial court interjected, “I’m going to sustain that because I’ll make

that determination.” Defendant’s claim of error fails for several reasons. First, defense counsel

(and defendant when he later appended this testimony to his suppression motion) acquiesced to

the court’s ruling by stating, “I understand.” See People v. Lawrence, 2018 IL App (1st) 161267,

¶ 54 (noting a defendant cannot complain of an error to which he affirmatively acquiesces).

Second, it is well established that whether probable cause exists is a legal determination

garnering de novo review. See Cregan, 2014 IL 113600, ¶ 22. It is not a matter for a witness to

determine, so the court’s curtailment of the testimony was perfectly appropriate. Third,

regardless, erroneous rulings cannot serve as a basis for bias. See Liteky, 510 U.S. at 555.

¶ 53 As to defendant’s opening statement, the court only interjected when defendant began to

inform the jury that the search warrant for his DNA was invalid. The court noted this pretrial

matter was already resolved and inappropriate for opening statements. Defendant also began to

inform the jury about his bond hearing, and the court similarly asked defendant to “[m]ove on,”

since such pretrial matters were no longer at issue. As to A.J.’s cross, defendant said, “I just

would like to know were you accusing me of this crime specifically?” to which the court stated,

“Sustained. Sustained. She has not accused you of this crime. She has not identified you.” As to

Detective Odunsi-Crawl’s cross and in response to her statement that defendant was a named

offender in another sexual assault case, defendant said, “I was never questioned about this case,

never questioned about the—,” before the court interjected, “Sustained. Sustained. Mr

Cummings.” The court asked defendant to present a question and said, “If you want to testify to

these facts later, you can, but we’re not in your case. It’s not the time for you to testify. It’s time

for you to ask questions.”

23 No. 1-22-0520

¶ 54 Rather than exhibiting any bias, this evidence reflects the court’s inherent authority to

control its own courtroom, docket, and manage defendant’s pro se inefficiencies and

nonmeritorious litigation. See People v. Bramlett, 347 Ill. App. 3d 468, 472 (2004); see also

People v. Faria, 402 Ill. App. 3d 475, 479 (2010) (noting a trial court has a responsibility to

achieve prompt and convenient dispatch of court proceedings). While the court perhaps

misspoke in stating “sustained,” at various points, defendant does not challenge the court’s actual

rulings in the examples cited above. Curtailing defendant’s discussion during opening statements

of the already-decided suppression motion and asking defendant not to testify during his cross of

a witness all are reasonable requests by the court and intended to advance the proceedings. See

Faria, 402 Ill. App. 3d at 482.

¶ 55 Further, as the State notes, the court’s comments cannot be viewed in isolation;

allegations of judicial bias or prejudice must be viewed in context. See id. Notably, defendant

was disrespectful, hostile, and obstreperous throughout the two years of official court

proceedings, even as the court corrected defendant’s many misunderstandings of the law and

criminal procedure. Defendant repeatedly accused the judge of being corrupt, a criminal, and

conspiring with the State to manufacture or cover up evidence. For example, prior to jury

selection and before the venire, defendant announced he was illegally being forced to trial and

stated, “Objection. For the record the judge is a criminal.” After repeatedly interrupting Judge

Joyce while he spoke to the jury, defendant again stated, “You a criminal. I’m telling them all.

You a criminal. He a criminal.” Defendant was held in criminal contempt of court for this

disruptive behavior and removed from the room at that time. During the jury questioning and

selection, he then continuously banged on the doors of lock-up, “making a racket.” In spite of

24 No. 1-22-0520

defendant’s assertions, his two pretrial motions to substitute Judge Joyce for cause due to bias

and prejudice were handily rejected after extensive hearings.

¶ 56 The court’s cited comments thus reflected an unwillingness to be manipulated by

defendant and the grave task the court had before it. The record shows the court instead exhibited

extreme patience and balance towards an unruly litigant. For all these reasons, defendant has

failed to establish any bias or prejudice.

¶ 57 CONCLUSION

¶ 58 For the reasons stated, we find no error and therefore need not engage any further in the

plain error analysis. See People v. Williams, 2022 IL App (2d) 200455, ¶ 104. We affirm the

judgment of the circuit court.

¶ 59 Affirmed.

25 No. 1-22-0520

People v. Cummings, 2023 IL App (1st) 220520

Decision Under Review: Appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County, No. 20-CR- 8485; the Hon. Timothy J. Joyce, Judge, presiding.

Attorneys Douglas H. Johnson, of Kathleen T. Zellner & Associates, P.C., for of Warrenville, for appellant. Appellant:

Attorneys Kimberly M. Foxx, State’s Attorney, of Chicago (Enrique for Abraham, Erin K. Slattery, and David H. Iskowich, Assistant Appellee: State’s Attorneys, of counsel), for the People.