People v. Farr

2020 IL App (1st) 171514-U

• Court: Appellate Court of Illinois
• Decided: July 8, 2020
• Docket: 1-17-1514
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

2020 IL App (1st) 171514-U

THIRD DIVISION July 8, 2020

No. 1-17-1514

NOTICE: This order was filed under Supreme Court Rule 23 and may not be cited as precedent by any party except in the limited circumstances allowed under Rule 23(e)(1). ______________________________________________________________________________

IN THE APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT ______________________________________________________________________________

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, ) Appeal from the ) Circuit Court of Plaintiff-Appellee, ) Cook County. ) v. ) No. 15 CR 11379 ) DAVID FARR, ) Honorable ) Alfredo Maldonado, Defendant-Appellant. ) Judge Presiding. ______________________________________________________________________________

JUSTICE HOWSE delivered the judgment of the court. Presiding Justice Ellis and Justice McBride concurred in the judgment.

ORDER

¶1 Held: The judgment of the circuit court of Cook County is affirmed; the trial court substantially complied with Illinois Supreme Court Rule 401(a) when it informed defendant of the potential sentencing range of the charged offenses, provided defendant with a copy of the indictment, and where defendant clearly understood counsel would be appointed for him if he could not afford an attorney; the proper measure of the value of the stolen property was the full, fair cash market value of the real property taken; and the State adduced sufficient evidence of the market value of the stolen property at the time of the offense to prove defendant stole property valued in excess of $1 million.

¶2 Defendant, David Farr, was charged with two counts of theft, one count of financial

institution fraud, three counts of continuing a financial criminal enterprise, twelve counts of

burglary, and six counts of unlawfully clouding title. after he recorded allegedly fraudulent

documents in the office of the Cook County Recorder of Deeds related to six homes that were in

foreclosure in Chicago. Farr obtained possession of the homes and used one as his personal 1-17-1514

residence, and rented five others to other individuals. Following a jury trial defendant was found

guilty of theft, financial institution fraud, and continuing a financial criminal enterprise. The

circuit court of Cook County merged the convictions into one count of theft of property with a

value in excess of $1 million, a Class X felony, and sentenced defendant to 14 years’

imprisonment. In this appeal defendant argues he was improperly admonished when he waived

his right to counsel and the State failed to prove the value of the property was in excess of $1

million dollars.

¶3 For the following reasons, we affirm.

¶4 BACKGROUND

¶5 At his arraignment the trial court asked defendant if he had “the financial ability to hire a

private attorney” and defendant responded he did not. The court appointed the Office of the

Cook County Public Defender to represent him and defendant responded “That would be fine.”

When defendant appeared in court before a different trial judge because of a recusal by the

original trial judge, the judge again asked defendant if he had “the money to hire a lawyer to

represent [him] in this case?” Defendant responded he did not and the court appointed the public

defender to represent him. Defendant then asked if his bond could also be lowered. The trial

court instructed defendant to speak to his attorney and offered to provide defendant with a copy

of the charging documents. Defendant’s attorney then entered his appearance, acknowledged

receipt of the indictment, waived formal reading of the charges, and entered a plea of not guilty.

¶6 On the next court date defendant’s attorney informed the trial court defendant had asked

him to withdraw and that defendant wanted to represent himself. Thereupon the following

exchange occurred:

“THE COURT: What Class am I dealing with here?

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MR. JAKALSKI [Assistant State’s Attorney]: Class X.

THE COURT: Okay. You’re charged with the offense should you be

found guilty the minimum is six years, the maximum is 30, and it is not

probationable so it’s a penitentiary case so I don’t know what the facts of the case

are, I apologize.

MR. FARR [Defendant]: Yes.

THE COURT: I need to advise that if you represent yourself in these

particular matters I would hold you to the same degree as I would hold any

attorney that is in front of me representing—

THE DEFENDANT: I object to that due to Haines v. Kerns that I am not

an attorney and you can not keep to the same standards of that of an attorney.

That is case law as well.

THE COURT: Well, I disagree with that case, and I’m tell [sic] you I’m

following the law of the State of Illinois when I indicate that to you there’s no

additional advantages to the individual that represents himself in the case.

THE DEFENDANT: Okay we’ll [sic] I’m not representing myself pro se,

sir. I’m representing myself in propria pur suri juris.

THE COURT: I understand you representing yourself in this. I recognize

because I have been doing this a long time. Lots of people have lots of different

ideas, and I respect that.

***

[Defendant asked to “state some things on the record.”]

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THE COURT: Okay. I need to go through a series of questions with you,

are representing yourself once I determine that you can represent yourself.

THE DEFENDANT: Yes.

THE COURT: Whatever you choose to do is fine okay. Okay how old are

you?

THE DEFENDANT: If I answer these questions, am I still putting my

[sic] under a certain type jurisdiction of the court by answering all of your

questions?

THE COURT: You are under the jurisdiction of this court.

THE DEFENDANT: Is the jurisdiction assumed, sir, or it is by threat,

duress, and coercion?

THE COURT: No, it’s assumed. You are physically in front of me. I

have jurisdiction.

THE DEFENDANT: But it also is by fact. [J]urisdiction has been

discovered by threat, duress, and coercion because I am in one of the uniforms of

the State in which I do not belong. I belong to the United States, the United States

of Republic, which is a different government, and I’m also according to my birth

certificate, which is authenticated, and which is authenticated in a seat of

government that says full faith and credit, sir.

That means that my jurisdiction is different from the jurisdiction of this

Court, and since my jurisdiction is from a different jurisdiction, the State now has

the right to negotiate my affairs, and I have the right to negotiate my affairs the

way I see fit.

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However, those affairs have been violated due to those jurisdictions that I

have just spoken of, and those two elements of jurisdiction that this Court have

never proven by way of an affidavit those jurisdictions are personal jurisdiction

subject matter jurisdiction and neither one of those jurisdictions have been proved

by what signature at all.

However, I’m at this point to negotiate the terms of the contract which

I’ve already sent to secretary -- not the Secretary of State, but the Attorney

General of this State giving them a -- an analysis or a violation of fees that they

ever should retain for any set reason that was not pertaining to a crime of that

nature; however, today, sir –

THE COURT: Let me just interrupt you for a second, please.

THE DEFENDANT: Okay go ahead.

THE COURT: It appears that you have done vast research on this case, I

will allow you to represent yourself.

THE DEFENDANT: Yes.”

¶7 Defendant then moved to “withdraw the guilty plea and to terminate the counsel” and for

“a change of venue to federal court.” Defendant also asked the trial court to appoint standby

counsel. The court denied defendant’s request for standby counsel and explained that “otherwise

you put an attorney, the standby attorney in jeopardy.” Defendant responded “I understand.”

The hearing then proceeded with defendant attempting to litigate several matters including a

motion to suppress evidence. The court informed defendant he would receive all of the

documents tendered to the Public Defender on the next court date after redactions by the State.

The State indicated it was prepared to tender 156 pages of discovery but in light of defendant’s

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self-representation it needed to redact certain information and would provide it to defendant on

the next court date. At a subsequent court date defendant accepted “presentment on an

indictment *** for value.” At a court date in September 2016 defendant objected to his self-

representation being characterized as “pro se.” The trial court admonished defendant that he had

“elected to represent [him]self in this matter” and asked if defendant understood that he had a

right to counsel and had been told that at the beginning of the case. Defendant agreed that was

correct and that an Assistant Public Defender had been appointed to him at one time.

¶8 Before trial began, the trial court informed defendant the State was proceeding only on

Counts 1, 3, 5, and 19 through 24 of the indictment. The State dismissed the remaining counts.

The State informed the court that the charging document had been tendered to defendant and

defendant responded “I thought that was a true bill.” The court then informed defendant it would

read to the jury “in its entirety the counts of the indictment” the State was proceeding on. The

court read the complete indictment on the relevant charges for the jury.

¶9 The properties at issue in this appeal may be designated, in no particular order, using the

streets on which they are located in the city of Chicago as the (1) Wood property, (2) Esmond

property, (3) Damen property, (4) 106th property, (5) Prospect property, and (6) Longwood

property. If greater detail regarding an individual property is necessary to an understanding of

our disposition of defendant’s appeal we will provide it in context.

¶ 10 As it pertains to the issues on appeal, the undisputed facts adduced at trial were that

defendant filed fraudulent paperwork in the office of the Cook County Recorder of Deeds

(Recorder) on each property, defendant lived in the Wood property, and defendant rented or

leased the remaining properties to other individuals. At trial, Donald Kaiser, a special agent with

the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) testified that defendant told him defendant owned the

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Wood property. Special Agent Kaiser testified that regarding properties he did not move into,

“he rented out or put people in.” Special Agent Kaiser testified defendant told him that

defendant told those individuals that defendant owned the properties. Defendant also stated that

he “handles *** removal and replacement of locks” on the properties. Officer Charles Udell, a

detective with the Chicago Police Department who is assigned to the financial crimes unit,

testified he and a partner went to the Longwood property and recovered a lease of the property

identifying defendant as the person who was the lessor or the landlord of the Longwood

property.

¶ 11 Tondalaya Thomas, an employee of the Recorder’s office, testified that filing a fraudulent

document in the Recorder’s office has “a huge impact because the banks, the homeowners

depend on [the] record for the chain of title. So when you file a fraudulent document, you are

clouding the chain of title. So it’s difficult for a homeowner to sell the property, it’s difficult for

a homeowner to buy a property, it’s difficult for the bank to even proceed on with the property.”

Thomas testified to similar documents defendant filed regarding the Wood, Esmond, 106th,

Longwood, and Damen properties. Thomas testified the effect of defendant’s filings was “like

*** putting a lien on the property.” She explained this makes it “hard for the people, if you try

to sell the home—it’s hard for you to try to sell the home because you [sic] trying to clear up the

title. You’re trying to uncloud the title.”

¶ 12 Detective Patrick McCafferty, a detective assigned to the Chicago Police Department

Economic Crimes Financial Crimes Task Force with the FBI, testified regarding his investigation

into all six properties. Detective McCafferty testified fraudulent documents were filed in the

Recorder’s office on all six properties. He stated, “They were ownership documents, adverse

possession documents, and other documents.” Detective McCafferty identified and testified that

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similar documents were filed in the Recorder’s office as to all six properties. As part of his

investigation, Detective McCafferty spoke to defendant. Defendant told Detective McCafferty

“how he owned the other residences.” Detective McCafferty testified someone other than the

legal owner occupied all of the properties.

¶ 13 Detective Brian Finnegan of the Chicago Police Department Financial Crimes Unit

identified a possessory mechanic’s lien, a “notice of non-abandonment and secured interest of

property,” and an “affidavit, adverse possession” against the Wood property, and a “notice of

non-abandonment and secured interest of property” against the 106th property, the Damen

property, and the Longwood property. Detective Finnegan identified defendant’s signature on all

of the documents.

¶ 14 Randy Conatser testified he is the real estate owned foreclosure manager at Fannie Mae.

Fannie Mae owned the Wood property beginning in May 2014; the Esmond property beginning

in July 2013; and the Damen property beginning in July 2013. Fannie Mae sold those properties

after July 1, 2014. The State asked Conatser if he recalled “the fair market value” of the Wood

property and Conatser responded, “The unpaid principle balance on that property was $267,146,

and we eventually told [sic] that property for $175,000.” Conatser testified the sale took place

after July 1, 2015. The State asked if Fannie Mae had any damages as a result of “these

properties being taken over.” Conatser testified that as to the Wood, Esmond, and Damen

properties:

“[W]e were deprived of the property so we therefore could not market the

property, we could not sell the property. We’ve had to employ locksmiths after

the fact when we did get possession back of the property in order to get back

inside the property. We had to pay code violations and taxes. We had to actually

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pay to have the property cleaned and trashed out once we did get possession of

the property, not to mention lock boxes to the realtors that were cut off and

disposed of somehow.”

¶ 15 Sharon Kelly testified at defendant’s trial that she is a field representative for a realty

company. She testified that after the Wood property was vacated it was ultimately sold. She

also testified that a home is more likely to be sold if it is vacant.

¶ 16 Karen Riney testified she is employed with Wells Fargo Bank. Wells Fargo held a loan

on the 106th property. Wells Fargo foreclosed the loan and took ownership of the property in

May 2012. The State asked Riney, “[W]hat was the value of the property *** in May of 2012?”

and she responded, without objection, “$190,000.” The 106th property sold after June 2015.

Well Fargo foreclosed and took ownership of the Prospect property in September 2013. Riney

testified the “appraised value” of the Prospect property at the time was $85,000 and the original

loan amount on the property was $330,000. Wells Fargo conveyed the Prospect property to the

Department of Housing and Urban Development in May 2014 for a transfer price of

approximately $356,000. Regarding both the 106th property and the Prospect property, Riney

testified Well Fargo was damaged as a result of the lack of being in possession of the property

because it “had several expenses in regard to securing the property, changing the locks, boarding

it up several times.” Riney testified Wells Fargo was not able to sell the property while it was

being possessed by someone else.

¶ 17 Lloyd testified she purchased the Longwood property in 2004 for $261,000. In 2013 the

property was in pre-foreclosure. Lloyd reached a deal with her bank for a short sale of the

Longwood property but the short sale did not happen because “squatters were in the property.”

Lloyd testified that her inability to get people who were living in her home out affected the short

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sale of her home and caused it to “fall through.” Lloyd eventually “just outright [lost] the house”

on Longwood causing her “substantial financial injury.”

¶ 18 Kevin Nolan testified that in fall 2014 he was a realtor in Chicago and he was responsible

for the Damen property. In September 2014 he went to the property and saw the “for sale” sign

was missing. Nolan testified that when his realty company listed the Damen property for sale the

value of the property was “about three hundred and fifty-five thousand dollars.” Nolan testified

that price was based on a “broker price opinion” which is “like a report that we do and we take

six comparables in the area, three that have sold in recent months and then three that are

currently listed. We do our adjustments comparing on bedrooms, square footage, condition of

the house.” Barbara Thouvenall testified she is the managing broker and owner of the same

realty company Nolan worked for. Fannie Mae owned the Damen property that her company

serviced. Thouvenall testified that it was fair to say that if a property is unlawfully occupied you

are unable to sell it. Thouvenall testified her company also received an assignment from Fannie

Mae to service the Esmond property.

¶ 19 Thouvenall discovered the Esmond property was occupied and testified that it remained

occupied through June 2015. The State asked if prior to the occupation Thouvenall was “able to

make an assessment on the value of that property.” She testified that she was, the property was

vacant when she received it, and she did an evaluation report for the seller. Thouvenall

described the process of assessing the value of a property as follows:

“Well, you take the property and you look at it and then you try to find

three properties that have sold recently that are similar to that property, similar in

condition, location, number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, and three

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properties that are on the market now. You take all of that material and put it

together and you come up with an estimate of the value.”

Thouvenall testified that the type of estimate she described is called in the industry a Broker

Price Opinion or BPO. Thouvenall formulated a BPO for the Esmond property, and her opinion

of the value of that property, when “we first saw it [in 2013] when it was vacant it was worth

about seventy-five thousand dollars.” Thouvenall did another BPO in June 2015 after the

Esmond property was no longer occupied. Her opinion as to the value of the property at that

time was that “it was worth about a hundred and twenty thousand dollars.” Thouvenall testified

that the reason for the difference was “[b]ecause the market was finally going up. The worst of

the market crisis was over. People could get loans again. There were buyers out there. People

had jobs. They could go ahead and make a commitment to buy something again.”

¶ 20 The State asked Thouvenall whether “generally any issues *** arise when you’re

attempting to sell a house that has been occupied by what people commonly refer to as

squatters.” Thouvenall testified there were issues that arise and described them as follows:

“Well, there’s a stigma to it. People are worried that something went on in

the property or maybe a crime was committed or they don’t know how the

property was maintained. To go in and to see a property where there were people

who were there not legally I think is upsetting to most people when they’re

thinking about home being a place of safety and security and happiness.”

¶ 21 The State introduced the documents defendant filed in the Recorder’s office into evidence

as well as documents purported to be leases for the Longwood, Damen, and Esmond properties.

Defendant presented no evidence. Following closing arguments, the jury found defendant guilty

of financial institution fraud exceeding $1 million, guilty of theft exceeding $1 million, and

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guilty of continuous financial crimes enterprise. At a subsequent hearing on posttrial motions

defendant requested and the trial court appointed the Public Defender’s Office to represent

defendant for sentencing. Defendant’s attorney filed a posttrial motion which the trial court

denied. Following a sentencing hearing the trial court found that defendant’s convictions merge

into the count for Class X felony theft. The court sentenced defendant to 14 years’

imprisonment. The court denied defendant’s motion to reconsider sentence.

¶ 22 This appeal followed.

¶ 23 ANALYSIS

¶ 24 On appeal defendant argues (1) the trial court committed reversible, plain error in

accepting defendant’s waiver of his right to counsel for trial because the trial court failed to

properly admonish him under or to substantially comply with Illinois Supreme Court Rule 401(a)

(eff. July 1, 1984); and (2) the State failed to prove defendant guilty of theft in excess of $1

million where (a) the proper measure of valuation of the theft in this case is the “use value” of

the properties and the State failed to prove their use value exceeded $1 million, or, alternatively,

(b) the State failed to prove the value of the properties at the time of the offense exceeded $1

million. We address each argument in turn.

¶ 25 Waiver of the Right to the Assistance of Counsel

¶ 26 First, defendant argues the trial court failed to inform him (1) of the charges he faced and

(2) that he could continue to have counsel at no cost throughout trial, causing defendant to begin

trial “without the benefit of fully contemplating the significance of his decision to proceed pro

se” rendering his waiver of counsel invalid. Defendant argues the case must be remanded for a

new trial at which defendant can be properly admonished. Defendant concedes he failed to

preserve this error for review by raising it in the trial court and in a posttrial motion but argues

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the trial court’s error rises to the level of plain error. A defendant’s waiver of the right to the

assistance of counsel is governed by Illinois Supreme Court Rule 401(a) which reads as follows:

“Any waiver of counsel shall be in open court. The court shall not permit

a waiver of counsel by a person accused of an offense punishable by

imprisonment without first, by addressing the defendant personally in open court,

informing him of and determining that he understands the following:

(1) the nature of the charge;

(2) the minimum and maximum sentence prescribed by law, including,

when applicable, the penalty to which the defendant may be subjected because of

prior convictions or consecutive sentences; and

(3) that he has a right to counsel and, if he is indigent, to have counsel

appointed for him by the court.” IL S. Ct. R. Rule 401(a).

Although defendant failed to preserve this issue for review, “[t]he plain error doctrine allows for

the review of a forfeited issue if error in fact occurred and: (1) the evidence was closely

balanced; or (2) the error was so substantial that it deprived defendant of a fair trial. [Citation.]”

People v. Pike, 2016 IL App (1st) 122626, ¶ 108. In this case defendant does not argue the

evidence was closely balanced, only that the lack of counsel in the absence of a valid waiver

constitutes “ ‘a plain and serious error.’ ” This court has held that “[b]ecause the right to counsel

is fundamental, we may review a failure to substantially comply with Rule 401(a) under the

plain-error doctrine despite a defendant’s failure to properly preserve such an error.” Id. ¶ 109.

However, “[b]efore addressing whether defendant’s claim satisfies the plain error doctrine,

defendant must first show that a clear or obvious error occurred.” Id. Accordingly, we turn to

the question of whether any error occurred in the trial court’s acceptance of defendant’s waiver

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of his right to the assistance of counsel. See People v. Wright, 2017 IL 119561, ¶ 87, quoting

People v. Thompson, 238 Ill. 2d 598, 613 (2010) (“ ‘The first step of plain-error review is

determining whether any error occurred.’ ”). “We review a trial court’s determination on the

issue of self-representation for an abuse of discretion. [Citations.] An abuse of discretion occurs

only where the trial court’s ruling is arbitrary, fanciful, or unreasonable, or where no reasonable

person would take the view adopted by the trial court.” People v. Perkins, 2018 IL App (1st)

133981, ¶ 44.

¶ 27 First, defendant argues the trial court never told him what the nature of the charges

against him were. Specifically, defendant argues the trial court failed to inform him “of the

name of the offenses with which he was charged, let alone the specifics of the allegations with

regard to the locations and addresses of properties, and the alleged value of the properties.” The

State responds the record indicates substantial compliance because defendant received the

charging instrument in this case which contained all 24 counts against defendant and prior to jury

selection the trial court read every count in the indictment to the jury in defendant’s presence.

Defendant agrees that only substantial compliance with Rule 401(a), rather than strict

compliance, is required. See People v. Maxey, 2018 IL App (1st) 130698-B, ¶ 41, citing People

v. Campbell, 224 Ill. 2d 80, 84 (2006). Our “supreme court has held that ‘substantial compliance

will be sufficient to effectuate a valid waiver if the record indicates that the waiver was made

knowingly and voluntarily, and the admonishment the defendant received did not prejudice his

rights.’ [Citations.]” Id. ¶ 41. We find there was substantial compliance with Rule 401(a) in

this case.

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¶ 28 “[T]he entire record may be considered in determining whether or not there was an

understanding by the accused of the nature of the charge.” People v. Krantz, 58 Ill. 2d 187, 192

(1974). In People v. Wright, 2017 IL 119561, ¶ 53, our supreme court found as follows:

“Similar to Coleman, Johnson, and Haynes, and in marked contrast to

Campbell, under the circumstances in this case, there was substantial compliance

with Rule 401(a). After defendant initially asserted that he desired to proceed pro

se, the trial court provided him with a copy of the charging instrument and

admonished him that he was subject to a possible sentence of 21 to 60 years for

the charged offenses and that he was entitled to have a public defender represent

him.” (Emphasis added.) Wright, 2017 IL 119561, ¶ 53.

¶ 29 In this case, the trial court also provided defendant with a copy of the charging

instrument. (We note the colloquy upon which our supreme court relied in Wright to find

substantial compliance with Rule 401(a) did not include a reading of the charges. See Wright,

2017 IL 119561, ¶¶ 51-52.) In Krantz, where the question was whether the defendant

understood the nature of the charge prior to accepting a guilty plea (Krantz, 58 Ill. 2d at 191), our

supreme court held as follows:

“Though no formal inquiry had been made of the defendant as to whether

he understood the nature of the charge, this court affirmed the conviction. It was

said: ‘The recital of the anticipated testimony of the witnesses for the

prosecution, in the presence of the defendant and his attorneys, without protest

and indeed with acquiescence; demonstrates to our satisfaction that the

defendant’s conduct falls within the charge to which he pleaded guilty.” Krantz,

58 Ill. 2d at 193.

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Krantz is instructive because here, again, prior to the start of trial (that is, before voir dire began

(see IL S. Ct. R. 431 (eff. July 1, 2012), People v. West, 397 Ill. App. 3d 289, 295 (2009)) the

trial court recited the precise charges detailed in the indictment against defendant, without protest

and “indeed with acquiescence,” and this too “demonstrates to our satisfaction” that “the trial

court satisfied the requirements of Rule [401] in informing [defendant] of *** [the] nature of the

charge against him.” See id. at 193. This court has also found substantial compliance with Rule

401(a) where the defendant is “fully admonished” of the nature of the charges “prior to the start

of trial.” People v. Phillips, 392 Ill. App. 3d 243, 263 (2009).

¶ 30 “The essentials have been complied with if an ordinary person in the circumstances of the

accused would understand them as conveying the information required by the rule.” Krantz, 58

Ill. 2d at 193. Further, just as in Phillips, in this case, “defendant does not claim that he suffered

any prejudice” from allegedly not being told “the names of the offenses with which he was

charged, let alone the specifics of the allegations with regard to the locations and addresses of

properties, and the alleged value of the properties.” See id., citing People v. Johnson, 119 Ill. 2d

119, 134 (1987) (substantial compliance found where the defendant suffered no prejudice). We

note that “[d]efendant carries the burden of persuasion under both prongs of the plain error rule.”

Maxey, 2018 IL App (1st) 130698-B, ¶ 36.

¶ 31 Additionally, there is nothing in the record to indicate defendant was not aware of or did

not understand the information. See id. This court determines “whether there has been

substantial compliance in any given case [based] upon the facts before us in light of the purpose

of the rule we are called upon to interpret.” Id. ¶ 43. “The purpose of the rule is to ensure that a

waiver of counsel is knowingly and intelligently made.” (Internal quotation marks and citations

omitted.) People v. Reese, 2017 IL 120011, ¶ 62. Defendant has not argued or pointed to

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anything in the record to indicate his waiver of counsel was not knowing and intelligent because

defendant allegedly did not know the nature of the charges against him. Therefore, this

argument fails.

¶ 32 Next, defendant argues the trial court did not substantially comply with Rule 401(a)

because the trial judge did not tell him that “if he was indigent, [he had the right] to have counsel

appointed for him by the court.” Defendant asserts “there is no indication on the record that he

knew that counsel was going to be available to him free of charge because of his indigence

throughout trial.” The State responds defendant “admitted in open court that he had been told he

had a right to counsel and that he had a public defender appointed to represent him before he

elected to represent himself.” The State notes two different trial judges asked defendant whether

he could afford to hire a private attorney and, when defendant responded he could not, the court

appointed the Office of the Cook County Public Defender to represent defendant. Thus, the

State argues, based on this record, defendant’s decision to waive his right to have counsel

appointed to represent him was made knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily. We agree. See

supra ¶ 5.

¶ 33 In People v. Anthony, 42 Ill. App. 3d 102, 104 (1976), the defendant argued “the [trial]

court’s failure to explain to him the indigency requirements for appointed counsel deprived him

of the opportunity to consider the availability of such counsel.” This court rejected that

argument noting “that the [trial] court advised [the defendant] that it would appoint a public

defender if it determined that he could not afford an attorney.” Anthony, 42 Ill. App. 3d at 104.

This court found that the defendant “only stated that he did not wish to be represented by a

lawyer.” Id. The court held that the legal authorities the defendant cited did not support his

contention that if the defendant has stated that he does not desire to be represented by a lawyer

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following the court’s admonition that it will appoint an attorney if the defendant cannot afford

one the court must either advise the defendant of the indigency requirements or make a

determination of the defendant’s indigency. Id. Defendant has not cited any authority which

supports the proposition that where the trial court informs the defendant that it would appoint the

public defender to represent him if he cannot afford an attorney (twice), that is not sufficient to

support a finding of substantial compliance with the rule. See People v. Brzowski, 2015 IL App

(3d) 120376, ¶ 46 (“Finally, defendant was never told during either trial that he had ‘the right to

counsel and, if he is indigent to have counsel appointed for him by the court,’ as required by the

Rule. Ill. S. Ct. R. 401(a)(3) (eff. July 1, 1984).”). Here, the court twice asked defendant if he

could afford an attorney and defendant twice answered no before the court appointed an attorney

to represent him. Also, once again defendant failed to argue how he was prejudiced by allegedly

not knowing that if he was indigent he had the right to have counsel appointed to represent him,

an assertion refuted by the record. See Maxey, 2018 IL App (1st) 130698-B, ¶¶ 36, 41 (the

defendant carries the burden of persuasion under the plain error rule; and substantial compliance

will be sufficient to effectuate a valid waiver where the admonishment the defendant received

did not prejudice his rights). Accordingly, this argument also fails.

¶ 34 Finally, defendant asserts in conclusory fashion that the trial judge in this case never told

him the sentencing range for burglary and that this “was valuable information that would have

been essential in negotiating a plea agreement.” This argument fails for two reasons. Primarily,

“[d]efendant has forfeited th[is] contention[] by failing to cite authority and by failing to present

a developed argument.” People v. Olsson, 2016 IL App (2d) 150874, ¶ 22. Even if not forfeited,

this court had held that where the trial court “clearly admonished [the] defendant of the

maximum penalties allowed *** he was not prejudiced [by the failure to admonish him of a

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lesser sentence he could receive] when he received less than the maximum sentence.” People v.

Phillips, 195 Ill. App. 3d 560, 562 (1990).

¶ 35 We find the trial court substantially complied with Rule 401(a) in this case when it

explained the maximum Class X penalty and that defendant has failed to demonstrate any

prejudice from any alleged defect in the admonitions. Therefore, the trial court’s acceptance of

defendant’s waiver of his right to counsel is affirmed.

¶ 36 Valuation of the Stolen Property

¶ 37 We now turn to defendant’s argument the proper means of valuing the stolen property in

this case was the “use value” of the property and, nonetheless, the State failed to prove the

“market value” of the stolen property at the time of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. “The

State has the burden to prove every element of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt.” People

v. Cunningham, 2019 IL App (1st) 160709, ¶ 28.

“Generally, we view a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence on an

element of the charged offense in the light most favorable to the prosecution and

determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found the essential

elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. [Citation.]” People v. Toliver,

2016 IL App (1st) 141064, ¶ 13, citing People v. Amigon, 239 Ill. 2d 71, 78

(2010) (“A reviewing court may only overturn a jury’s finding by concluding that

no reasonable trier of fact could have found the requisite elements of the offense

proven beyond a reasonable doubt.”).

The State charged defendant with theft, a Class X felony. Theft is defined, in pertinent part, as

follows:

“(a) A person commits theft when he or she knowingly:

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(1) Obtains or exerts unauthorized control over property of the owner; or

(2) Obtains by deception control over property of the owner;

and

(A) Intends to deprive the owner permanently of the use or benefit

of the property; or

(B) Knowingly uses, conceals or abandons the property in such

manner as to deprive the owner permanently of such use or benefit; or

(C) Uses, conceals, or abandons the property knowing such use,

concealment or abandonment probably will deprive the owner permanently of

such use or benefit.

(b) Sentence.

(6.3) Theft of property exceeding $1,000,000 in value is a Class X felony.

(c) When a charge of theft of property exceeding a specified value is brought, the

value of the property involved is an element of the offense to be resolved by the

trier of fact as either exceeding or not exceeding the specified value.” 720 ILCS

5/16-1 (West 2016).

¶ 38 “It is well-settled law that the value of stolen property is the fair cash market value at the

time and place of the theft.” People v. Perry, 224 Ill. 2d 312, 336 (2007). Defendant argues he

“never took possession of the entire properties.” Defendant states his fraudulent paperwork was

insufficient to give him “control of a possessory interest in the entire properties” and, therefore,

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the State “proved, at most, that [defendant] committed theft as to the rental/use value of the

properties.” (Emphasis added.) Defendant relies on our supreme court’s decision in Perry,

which he states is controlling. In this case defendant argues that his “occupation of the

properties concerned [only] the use of the properties.” Defendant argues he “did not obtain

permanent possession from the owners of any of the properties,” therefore “the State should have

presented evidence of the use value of the properties.” We disagree.

¶ 39 In Perry, after having first determined that “the use of a hotel room is property within the

meaning of [the theft] statute” our supreme court turned to “whether, when the property at issue

is the use of a hotel room, it is possible to permanently deprive the owner of its use or benefit.”

Id. at 334. “If not, [a] defendant cannot be convicted under section 16-1(a)(2)(A) for its theft.”

Id. Again, a person commits theft when he or she knowingly obtains or exerts unauthorized

control over property of the owner and intends to deprive the owner permanently of the use or

benefit of the property or uses the property in a manner as to, or knowing such use probably will,

deprive the owner permanently of such use or benefit. 720 ILCS 5/16-1 (West 2016).

¶ 40 To answer the question of whether the State proved the permanent deprivation element of

the offense of theft our supreme court began with holding that the defendant was “mistaken

when he suggest[ed] that the statute requires permanent control by the defendant or permanent

loss of possession by the owner.” Perry, 224 Ill. 2d at 335. The court noted that the property at

issue was “the use of a hotel room” (emphasis added) (id.) and that a hotel room “can be

analogized to a store’s inventory of goods” (id.). The court stated that the hotel has rooms

“which it can rent to members of the public” and so “[o]ne night in one room is a thing of value”

(id.) and, “thus, within the statutory definition of property in section 15-1” (id. at 332). Our

supreme court found that “each night of occupancy that is obtained by [theft by] deception

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permanently deprives the owner of the beneficial use of the hotel room.” Id. at 335-36. In Perry,

the defendant acknowledged that “the hotel ‘was deprived of the rental value it should have

received for the room on each of the nights’ that he and his family [fraudulently] occupied the

suite” and our supreme court did not quibble with that characterization of the hotel’s loss. Id. at

336. The court found no authority for the defendant’s suggestion the State had the burden to

prove the hotel room would have been occupied had the defendant and his family had not been

there. Id. Our supreme court then relied upon the rate for the room “negotiated by [the]

defendant” (id.) to find that the record supported finding “that the value of the stolen property

exceeded $10,000” (id.).

¶ 41 The residences at issue in this case, however, cannot fairly be “analogized to a store’s

inventory of goods.” First, in Perry, the defendant did not obtain control over the entire hotel—

he only obtained control over one room. On an individual room basis the hotel could do no more

than “rent [it] to members of the public 365 nights each year.” See id. at 335. Thus, all that the

defendant in Perry deprived the hotel of was “the rental value it should have received for the

room on each of the nights” the defendant and his family occupied the room. See id. at 336. In

this case defendant obtained control over the entire residence regardless of whether he obtained

an ownership interest in the residence. Contrary to his assertion the evidence proves defendant

did control the full value of the properties and it was only his “attempts” at obtaining title

ownership that were futile.

“For purposes of theft, the concept of obtaining or exerting control

‘includes but is not limited to the taking, carrying away, or the sale, conveyance,

or transfer of title to, or interest in, or possession of property.’ 720 ILCS 5/15-8

(West 2010). This concept applies ‘to the initial taking or carrying away

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[citation], and *** the unauthorized possession need not begin at the time of the

original taking.’ [Citation.] It does not matter how briefly the defendant

controlled the property, as long as the defendant did have control at some point.

See People v. Murray, 262 Ill. App. 3d 1056, 1061 (1994) (‘[T]o establish the

crime of theft the State must prove that the defendant obtained “unauthorized”

control, however brief, over the property of another with the intent to permanently

deprive the owner of the use and benefit thereof.’)” People v. Oglesby, 2016 IL

App (1st) 141477, ¶ 216.

¶ 42 Defendant’s control over the entire residence (home and land) deprived the true owners

of more than “the rental value” they could have received had they even sought to rent the

properties. The evidence clearly established the properties were for sale, not rent. Regardless of

the intent of the owner of a residential property, unlike a single hotel suite in a large hotel, it is

not something the true owner can only rent or lease to another. “A common idiom describes

property as a ‘bundle of sticks’—a collection of individual rights.” Schweihs v. Chase Home

Finance, LLC, 2015 IL App (1st) 140683, ¶¶ 31, 41.

“Property, in the constitutional sense, is frequently described conceptually

as a ‘bundle of sticks,’ with each stick in the bundle representing a different right

that is inherent in the ownership of the physical thing that we typically think of as

property, such as a parcel of land. Those rights include the right of possession,

the right to use the property, the right to dispose of or transfer the property, and

the right to exclude others from the property. Although every stick in the bundle

is potentially important in assessing a takings claim, the right to exclude others,

including the government, is frequently described as the most ‘fundamental’ and

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‘treasured’ of all property rights.” Kristine S. Tardiff, Analyzing Every Stick in

the Bundle: Why the Examination of A Claimant’s Property Interests Is the Most

Important Inquiry in Every Fifth Amendment Takings Case, Fed. Law., October

2007, at 30, 31 (2007) (and cases cited therein). See also United States v. General

Motors Corp., 323 U.S. 373, 378 (1945) (property rights include “the right to

possess, use and dispose of it”).

¶ 43 Defendant does not, and cannot, dispute that he took control of the properties at issue in

this case. The evidence is undisputed that defendant changed the locks on the residences. The

evidence also established that defendant deprived the owners of the properties of their right to

possess, transfer, dispose of, use and, most importantly, exclude others from the property. The

evidence established beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant erected no trespassing signs on

the properties. Defendant turned authorities and other persons authorized to be on the properties

(real estate agents the owners assigned to the properties) away. The occupancy of the properties

made them at minimum more difficult to sell. Finally, the owners did not authorize any of the

occupants of the properties to be on or to reside in the properties.

¶ 44 Additionally, “permanent possession from the owners” is not required to establish

“control” of the property as defendant suggests, “as long as [defendant] did have control at some

point” with “the intent to permanently deprive the owner of *** the benefit thereof.” See

Oglesby, 2016 IL App (1st) 141477, ¶ 216. Although defendant does not dispute the “permanent

deprivation” element of theft we find the evidence in this case is sufficient to prove beyond a

reasonable doubt that defendant had both control and possession of all of the properties with the

intent to permanently deprive the owners of their use and benefit. The evidence established

defendant filed paperwork purporting to demonstrate adverse possession of the properties.

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Adverse possession “means the assertion of ownership incompatible with that of the true owner

and all others.” Knauf v. Ryan, 338 Ill. App. 3d 265, 269 (2003). “[O]btaining ownership of

land through adverse possession means that the original owner has been divested of his title.”

Nationwide Financial, LP v. Pobuda, 2014 IL 116717, ¶ 33. Despite the fact defendant’s

paperwork was incompetent it is sufficient evidence from which a reasonable trier of fact could

infer defendant’s intent to permanently deprive the true owners of the use or benefit of the

properties. See People v. Reed, 2018 IL App (1st) 160609, ¶ 38 (“evidence of intent will often

be proven by the surrounding circumstances of the event”).

¶ 45 We find Illinois law clear in this area and therefore have no need to turn to the foreign

authority defendant cites in support of his argument on appeal. We hold the evidence is

sufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant exerted unauthorized control of the

properties with the intent to deprive the owners permanently of the use or benefit of the

properties beyond the ability to rent the properties to others irrespective of whatever use

defendant put the properties to while he was in control of them; and, therefore, that the correct

measure of damages was the “fair cash market value at the time and place of the theft.” Perry,

224 Ill. 2d at 336. Accordingly, we turn to defendant’s argument the State failed to prove the

fair cash market value of the properties at the time defendant had control of them.

¶ 46 Sufficiency of the Evidence of Fair Market Value

¶ 47 Defendant next argues the State failed to prove the fair market value of the properties at

the time of the taking because the evidence “lacked any detail and assurances that the value

[testified to by the State’s witnesses] was equal to the fair market value of the property” at the

time of the offense. “[V]alue is a material element of the offense which must be specifically

found by the jury.” People v. Harden, 42 Ill. 2d 301, 306 (1969). The State initially responds

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defendant has in fact raised a challenge to the adequacy of the foundation for its witnesses’

testimony, rather than a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, which defendant has

forfeited by failing to raise an objection to the foundation for the witnesses’ testimony in the

court below. People v. DeLuna, 334 Ill. App. 3d 1, 19 (2002) (where the defendant never

objected to foundation for opinion the “issue of foundation is waived”). We reject the State’s

contention defendant’s argument goes to the foundation for the witnesses’ testimony. We

believe the issue raised is the sufficiency of the evidence of market value at the time of the

offense. Nonetheless, to the extent any of defendant’s contentions on appeal do go to the

foundation for the witnesses’ testimony, they are forfeited.

¶ 48 Turning to the merits, first, as to the Wood and Longwood properties, defendant argues

the State’s evidence provided values “at a time other than the time of the offense.” The

indictment alleged defendant committed the theft “on or about January 1, 2012 and continuing

on through June 30, 2015.” Conatser testified that the Wood property sold for $175,000 in

November 2015, and Lloyd testified she purchased the Longwood property in 2004 for

$261,000. Defendant argues that “[f]or both the Wood and the Longwood property, therefore,

the State failed to offer evidence of a proper value at the time of the offense.” The State cites

Harden, 42 Ill. 2d at 305-06, for the proposition that “[t]he opinion testimony of one who has

sufficient knowledge of the property and its value to give a reasonable estimate, received without

objection, is sufficient, in the absence of contrary evidence, to establish value.” In this case, the

State argues, its witnesses had more than sufficient knowledge to assess the value of the

properties and their testimony went uncontradicted and unrebutted; therefore, the evidence amply

supported a valuation of the six homes as exceeding $1 million.

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¶ 49 “Generally, where the value of property is relevant, it must be proved, and the proof must

show the fair cash market value at the time and place of the theft.” People v. Newton, 117 Ill.

App. 2d 232, 235 (1969).

“It is clear that ‘value’ in the statute means ‘fair cash market value’ and that such

value must be proved by the state in order to establish a felony rather than merely a

misdemeanor. [Citation.] Cost is not the standard, whether it be original cost or

replacement cost. [Citations.] On the other hand, cost along with testimony as to the

condition, quality and obsolescence or modernness may afford a basis for a finding of

value at the time of the offense.” People v. Cobetto, 32 Ill. App. 3d 696, 701 (1975).

We look to the record as a whole to determine whether the evidence was sufficient to establish

the fair cash market value of the property at the time of the offense. Id. at 701-02.

¶ 50 In People v. Dell, 77 Ill. App. 2d 318, 324 (1966), the defendant argued her conviction

must be reversed because “there was no evidence of the fair cash market value of the [property]

at the time and place of the theft.” The property at issue was “129 pairs of trousers, having a

value exceeding One Hundred Fifty Dollars.” Id. at 321. The “only evidence introduced as to

the value of the pants was the testimony of Norman Cutler.” Id. at 325. “Cutler was *** asked

as to his opinion as to the ‘value’ of the trousers in People’s Exhibit No. 1. He replied ‘$250’.

No evidence was offered by the defense to rebut that evaluation.” Id. The court found:

“It has been held that testimony in regard to the value of stolen property

may be received in response to a question as to its ‘value’ or ‘worth’ and be

sufficient proof, by itself, of the market value at the time of the alleged crime in

the absence of any objection. [Citations.]

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In view of his past experience in the business, Cutler was qualified to give

his opinion as to the value of the trousers before the court, and, since no evidence

to the contrary was offered, that opinion, as expressed, was adequate evidence of

the market value of the property.” Dell, 77 Ill. App. 2d at 325.

¶ 51 In this case, as to the Wood property, Conatser testified Fannie Mae came into possession

of the property on July 2, 2013, during the period alleged in the indictment. The State

specifically asked Conatser, “do you recall what the fair market value of that property was when

Fannie Mae had taken it over?” Conatser testified, “The unpaid principle balance on that

property was $267,146, and we eventually [sold] that property for $175,000” after July 1, 2015.

Conatser also testified a buyer took sale of the Wood property in November 2015. Defendant

offered “no evidence to the contrary.” Dell, 77 Ill. App. 2d at 325. On appeal, defendant does

not challenge Conatser’s qualifications to give his opinion as to the value of the Wood property.

We concede Conatser’s testimony consists of an unpaid balance on a loan made at an unknown

time and that the final sale price occurred a few months after the period of the ongoing theft

alleged in the indictment.

¶ 52 However, “[i]t is not the role of the reviewing court to retry the defendant. [Citation.]

Rather, it is the responsibility of the trier of fact to resolve conflicts in the testimony, weigh the

evidence, and draw reasonable inferences from the facts.” People v. Gray, 2017 IL 120958, ¶

35. “[A] reviewing court will not substitute its judgment for that of the trier of fact on issues

involving the weight of the evidence or the credibility of the witnesses. [Citation.]” People v.

Brown, 2013 IL 114196, ¶ 48. Here, the jury could reasonably infer that the fair market value of

the property at the time of the theft was the eventual sale price of the property just a few months

later. The trier of fact is entitled to draw reasonable inferences from both direct, and

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circumstantial, evidence, and a court will not disregard those permissible inferences merely

because other inferences might have been drawn unless those findings are manifestly without

support. See Rhodes v. Sigler, 27 Ill. App. 3d 1, 3 (1975), Berry v. Industrial Comm’n, 99 Ill. 2d

401, 407 (1984). In this case, we find sufficient evidentiary support for a reasonable inference

that the sale price Conatser testified to was the market value at the time of the theft. The

evidence established the owner’s desire and attempt to sell the property during the period of the

theft and the relevant sale occurred shortly after the end of the period alleged in the indictment.

There is evidence is the record that during the relevant time period the housing market was

“going up” but the unpaid balance on the existing bank loan was significantly higher than the

ultimate sale price. The trier of fact heard evidence about the general nature of the home,

regardless of any “improvements” during the period of the theft, and the character of the

neighborhood. We note that home values are not a matter that are outside the ken of the average

juror. “[A] trier of fact is allowed to consider the evidence in light of his or her own knowledge

and observations in the affairs of life.” People v. Newton, 2018 IL 122958, ¶ 28.

¶ 53 Further, the jury could reasonably infer that the sale price a few months after the theft

ended reflected fair market value at the time of the theft. Fair cash market value is a question of

fact for the trier of fact and the trier of fact may rely on the competent, relevant evidence before

it along with reasonable inferences drawn therefrom. 1 Defendant does not argue it is

1 “The standard for determining the value of property at the time and place of the theft is the property’s fair cash market value and evidence presented to support a conviction for a felony amount, although given through the testimony of witnesses not addressing the precise fair cash market value, is sufficient. [Citation.] Wooldridge testified that he owned the car, he identified it, described it, and said that it was worth more than $300. He was competent to testify to the value of the car and the weight to be given to his testimony was for the jury to decide.” People v. Adams, 156 Ill. App. 3d 444, 451 (1987), vacated on other grounds, 119 Ill. 2d 560 (1988). - 29 - 1-17-1514

unreasonable to infer the fair market value at the time of his theft of the Wood property from the

sale price “several months later” or that the sale was not sufficiently close in time to the period

alleged in the indictment to establish the fair market value at the time of the theft, especially in

light of the unrebutted testimony. See Dell, 77 Ill. App. 2d at 325. See also, generally, Munjal v.

Baird & Warner, Inc., 138 Ill. App. 3d 172, 186 (1985) (“there was no evidence presented as to

the value the property had with the defects at the exact time of sale. However, Krueger’s

estimates were made within nine months of the sale. We do not think such a time period was

enough to render Krueger’s opinions irrelevant or mislead the jury as to the value the property”),

overruled on other grounds by Avery v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., 216 Ill. 2d

100, 192 (2005). The jury’s verdict is based on a reasonable inference from the evidence. This

court will not substitute its judgment for that of the jury on matters involving reasonable

inferences from the evidence. People v. Green, 2017 IL App (1st) 152513, ¶ 102. Defendant’s

arguments as to the Wood property fail.

¶ 54 Turning to the Longwood property, we agree with defendant that Lloyd’s testimony,

alone, as to its “purchase price [in 2004] was *** an insufficient measure of the property’s value

between 2012 and 2015.” “As the court in [Brown], stated: ‘The criterion used in determining

value in theft cases is the fair cash market value at the time and place of the theft. [Citations.]

Cost is not the standard, whether it be original cost or replacement cost. [Citations.]’ ” People v.

Castro, 109 Ill. App. 3d 561, 568-69 (1982). However, this court does not look to Lloyd’s

testimony alone. In People v. Cobetto, 32 Ill. App. 3d 696, 701 (1975), the court stated:

“In the instant case none of the questions directed toward the witnesses on

the issue of value referred to fair cash market value. We must therefore look at

the record as a whole to determine whether the testimony concerning value which

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was elicited by these questions referred to original cost, replacement cost, fair

cash market value or some other standard of measuring value.” Cobetto, 32 Ill.

App. 3d at 701.

Therefore, we must look to the record as a whole to determine whether the State elicited

sufficient evidence to establish beyond a reasonable doubt the fair cash market value of the

Longwood property at the time of the offense. Our supreme court, which reversed the lower

court’s decision in Cobetto, held that:

“The standard for determining whether the value of property at the time

and place of the theft exceeded the statutory amount *** is the property’s fair

cash market value. [Citation.] Evidence presented may be sufficient, however, to

support a conviction for the felony amount, though the testimony of witnesses

was not addressed precisely to the ‘fair cash market value.’ [Citations.]”

Cobetto, 66 Ill. 2d at 491.

We are also reminded by our supreme court not to engage in “sheer formalism” in making that

determination. Cobetto, 66 Ill. 2d at 491. Our supreme court quoted the dissenting appellate

court justice in that case who wrote that, “To say that the value of the property involved *** does

not exceed $150 requires that one abandon common sense in favor of stringent technicality.”

(Internal quotation marks and citation omitted.) Id. We are also mindful that “the relevant

inquiry is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any

rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable

doubt. [Citation.] In that case, a reviewing court will not reverse a criminal conviction unless

the evidence is so unreasonable, improbable or unsatisfactory as to create a reasonable doubt.”

People v. Rowell, 229 Ill. 2d 82, 98 (2008).

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¶ 55 Regarding the Longwood property, the “other proof” bearing on the “valid finding as to

[fair cash market] value] at the time of the offense (see Todaro, 14 Ill. 2d at 601), in addition to

Lloyd’s testimony as to “cost alone” (id.), includes Zerlinda Davis’ testimony about her potential

occupancy of the Longwood property during the relevant time period. Davis testified as to the

condition of the property, what was needed, and that otherwise it “was a beautiful house.” She

also testified that the neighborhood it was in “was [a] very nice, beautiful, safe community” with

“so many resources *** for kids and for families.” Davis compared the Longwood property and

the Esmond property and testified the “property on Longwood was bigger, more beautiful, not as

much needed to be done.” Detective McCafferty testified that the exterior of the house “was

nice” and that the living room “looked fine.” Detective Purdy described the property as “a

single-family split level house.” The trial court admitted and the State published photographs of

the property to the jury during the period of its theft. Detective Udell testified he executed a

search warrant at the Longwood property. Detective Udell testified the kitchen was in disarray

and “was unidentifiable as a kitchen because *** the kitchen looked like it was being constructed

or worked on. There was cabinets but no counter tops, there was like construction, like home

repair items around.” The court admitted pictures of the kitchen into evidence and the State

published them to the jury.

¶ 56 Considering the record as a whole, we find that Lloyd’s testimony as to cost, together

with the other proof recited above, affords the basis for a valid finding as to value. Todaro, 14

Ill. 2d at 601. As we stated, the jury is permitted to consider the evidence in light of their

common knowledge and experiences in life, and the general range of home values in nice

neighborhoods is a subject of such common knowledge and experience. It was for the jury to

weigh all of the evidence, including the original cost of the home and its current condition, to

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determine whether the State proved the fair cash market value beyond a reasonable doubt.

Taking the evidence as a whole in a light most favorable to the prosecution, as we must, we hold

the State adduced sufficient evidence for a valid finding as to the fair cash market value of the

Longwood property at the time of the theft.

¶ 57 Defendant separately argues the State failed to prove the sales price was equal to the

properties’ fair cash market value for the Wood, Longwood, and Prospect properties because the

State failed to adduce evidence “that the cost of the properties was attributable to an arm’s

length’s sale.” Defendant relies upon our supreme court’s decision in Todaro, 14 Ill. 2d at 601,

for the proposition that where proof of the value of stolen property “is required, the criterion is

the fair cash market value of the property and not its cost.” Todaro, 14 Ill. 2d at 601, citing

People v. George, 398 Ill. 318 (1947), People v. Long, 391 Ill. 529 (1945). Specifically,

regarding the Prospect property, defendant argues the fact the evidence established that the

transfer price to HUD was “four times its appraised value” is proof “that the State failed to

present reliable testimony for the value of the property at the time in question.” Defendant

argues, without citation to authority or evidence, that given the disparity in appraised value and

the transfer price, “there are no assurances that the conveyance was at arm’s length.”

¶ 58 Defendant fails to cite any authority in support of imposing an “arm’s length transaction”

requirement on the State’s evidence of the fair cash market value of real property for purposes of

the theft statute. Defendant only argues that “for real property, *** ‘other proof’ [in addition to

cost, to ‘afford [a] basis for a valid finding as to value’ (Todaro, 14 Ill. 2d at 601 2)] could be

2 “While the George case is authority for the proposition that proof of cost alone does not establish the fair cash market value at the time and place of the receipt of the property, the opinion clearly indicates that cost, together with other proof, may afford the basis for a valid finding as to value.” Todaro, 14 Ill. 2d at 601. - 33 - 1-17-1514

obtained by showing that the sales price was set through an arm’s length transaction.”

(Emphasis added.) In support of that proposition, defendant relies on this court’s decision in

Cook County Board of Review v. Property Tax Appeal Board, 384 Ill. App. 3d 472, 480 (2008).

¶ 59 Defendant’s reliance on County Board of Review is somewhat misplaced, as that case

dealt not with theft of real property but with a property tax assessment of real property. Cook

County Board of Review, 384 Ill. App. 3d at 473. Nonetheless, in that case this court did find as

“Illinois law requires that all real property shall be valued at its fair cash

value, estimated at the price it would bring at a fair, voluntary sale. [Citations.]

Fair cash value is synonymous with fair market value. [Citations.] Market values

generally are the standard to be used in valuing property for tax purposes.

[Citation.]

In the absence of a contemporaneous sale between parties dealing at arm’s

length that would be practically conclusive on the issue of market value, valuation

methods are employed to estimate the property’s fair market value. [Citation.]

There are three basic valuation methods: the comparison approach, the income

approach, and the reproduction cost approach.

In the absence of market value set by a contemporaneous arm’s-length

sale, [t]he sales comparison approach *** is the preferred method and should be

used when market data [are] available. [Citation.] The sales approach is often

referred to as the market approach because it relies on sales of comparable

properties in the open market to reach a determination of the subject property’s

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true value.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Cook County Board of Review,

384 Ill. App. 3d at 480-81.

¶ 60 We specifically note this language because defendant later separately argues in effect that

the use of the “sales comparison approach” was inappropriate in this case when defendant attacks

two of the realtors’ testimony in this case based on a Broker Price Opinion (BPO) of the subject

properties. There is evidence in the record establishing that a BPO is based on the sales

comparison approach which, according to the authority cited by defendant, is “the preferred

method and should be used.” Id. In this case, defendant argues that for the Esmond and Damen

properties, “the State’s only evidence of the value was the [BPO].” Defendant, citing section 1-

10 of the Illinois Real Estate License Act, argues that “under Illinois law, a BPO does not

adequately reflect the market value of a property;” rather, it is “ ‘[a]n estimate of the probable

selling price of a particular interest in real estate.’ 225 ILCS 454/1-10 (West 2018).” 3

¶ 61 Defendant fails to draw a distinction between “the probable selling price of a particular

interest in real estate” and the “fair cash market value.” Further, the Real Estate License Act of

2000 draws a distinction between a BPO and an appraisal of property by a State certified real

estate appraiser and not between an estimate of probable selling price and fair cash market value.

See 225 ILCS 454/1-10 (West 2018) (“A broker price opinion shall not be considered an

appraisal within the meaning of the Real Estate Appraiser Licensing Act of 2002.”); 225 ILCS

10-45(b)(7) (West 2018) (BPO shall include a statement that “[t]his is a broker price

3 “ ‘Broker price opinion’ means an estimate or analysis of the probable selling price of a particular interest in real estate, which may provide a varying level of detail about the property’s condition, market, and neighborhood and information on comparable sales. *** A broker price opinion shall not be considered an appraisal within the meaning of the Real Estate Appraiser Licensing Act of 2002, any amendment to that Act, or any successor Act.” 225 ILCS 454/1-10 (West 2018). - 35 - 1-17-1514

opinion/comparative market analysis, not an appraisal of the market value of the real estate, and

was prepared by a licensed real estate broker *** who was not acting as a State certified real

estate appraiser”). We fail to see how that distinction makes a difference for purposes of

assessing the fair cash market value of stolen property and, regardless, any difference it does

make was a factor in the weight to be afforded the testimony and not its competence to establish

the elements of the offense. Defendant’s argument concerning the Esmond and Damen

properties, that the State failed to adduce evidence of their fair market value because the

testimony was based on a BPO, fails.

¶ 62 Returning to defendant’s “arm’s length transaction” argument, as previously noted,

defendant has pointed to nothing in the theft statute requiring specific evidence of an arm’s

length transaction when the State presents evidence of sales price to prove fair cash market value

of stolen property. On the contrary, our supreme court has held that “[t]he opinion testimony of

one who has sufficient knowledge of the property and its value to give a reasonable estimate,

received without objection, is sufficient, in the absence of contrary evidence, to establish value.”

Harden, 42 Ill. 2d at 305-06. Contrary to defendant’s argument on appeal, the decision in People

v. Brown, 36 Ill. App. 3d 416 (1976), is decidedly unhelpful in this regard. In that case, the

defendants argued the evidence of the value of the property failed to support a conviction for

felony theft. Brown, 36 Ill. App. 3d at 420. There, the court did note that to establish “fair cash

market value at the time and place of the theft,” cost “is not the standard, whether it be original

cost or replacement cost.” Id. “On the other hand, although proof of cost alone is insufficient,

cost together with other proof, relating to condition, quality and modernness or obsolescence,

may afford the basis for a valid finding as to value.” Id. at 421. The court found that “none of

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the questions, propounded to the witnesses on the issue of value, related to fair cash market

value.” Id.

¶ 63 Here, by contrast, the jury heard extensive “other proof” that bore directly on the fair

cash market value of the subject properties at the time and place of the theft including the

condition and structure of the homes and the nature and character of the neighborhoods in which

they were located. The additional evidence, beyond mere cost, is additional evidence that “may

afford the basis for a valid finding as to value.” Id. Regardless, the Brown court specifically

limited its holding to the facts of that case. The court specifically wrote that “the nature of the

equipment involved here and the absence of evidence relating to fair cash market value together

with the other factors mentioned, lead us to conclude that the evidence of value was insufficient

to support a conviction for felony theft.” Id. We note that the “other factors” at play in Brown

included the fact that out of a myriad of pieces of stolen stereo equipment, there was no evidence

to establish “which items of stereo equipment were found in the defendants’ possession.” Id. at

420.

¶ 64 Moreover, “[i]n [People v. Hansen, 28 Ill. 2d 322, 340 (1963)] the Supreme Court held

that where, at the time of the theft, the retail market is the only market open for sale, the retail

price determines market value.” People v. Briseno, 2 Ill. App. 3d 814, 816 (1972), citing

Hansen, 28 Ill. 2d at 340. This court has held that “a willing seller and a willing buyer for a

determined price, establishes the fair market value of merchandise.” People v. Heinz, 87 Ill.

App. 3d 1, 3 (1980). Most of the authorities involve personal property rather than real property;

but we see no reason why, and more importantly defendant has pointed to no authority stating,

the principles expressed in the existing authorities do not apply to fair cash market valuation of

real property for purposes of the theft statute. Whether or not the State also adduced evidence

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that the transactions to which its witnesses referred when testifying to the value of the properties

were “arm’s length transactions” goes to the weight to be afforded their testimony and not to its

admissibility or its competence to establish fair cash market value. Specifically, the jury heard

the testimony concerning the variance between the assessed value of the Prospect property and

the transfer cost to HUD. It was for the jury to determine what weight to give that testimony in

light of the discrepancy and we will not substitute our judgment for theirs. Gray, 2017 IL

120958, ¶ 35, see Harden, 42 Ill. 2d at 305-06, People v. McNeal, 2019 IL App (1st) 180015, ¶

33 (“arguments about the persuasiveness of his or her conclusions go to weight not

admissibility”). Accordingly, defendant’s argument concerning the need for proof of an arm’s

length transaction fails.

¶ 65 Finally, we now turn to defendant’s argument that the “bare assertion of the 106th Street

property’s value without evidence of the basis of the opinion was insufficient to prove its value

beyond a reasonable doubt.” Defendant complains on appeal that the only evidence of the value

of the 106th property was Riney’s opinion the property was worth $190,000 in 2012 and the

property sold after June 30, 2015; Riney did not testify how the value in 2012 related to the value

in 2015; she did not testify whether the “value” was the “market value” as required by section

5/15-9 of the Criminal Code of 2012 (720 ILCS 5/15-9 (West 2018) 4); and, there “was no

testimony that Riney had any qualification in valuing property or that *** she had ever viewed or

visited the 106th Street property[,] [a]s such, Riney’s testimony was insufficient to prove the

4 For the applicability of section 15-9 to real property, as opposed to commercial instruments as its plain language suggests, see 3 Substantive Criminal Law § 19.4(b) (3d ed.) Value of the property: grand larceny vs. petit larceny, Wayne R. LaFave (“Modern statutes usually state that market value is to be the ordinary method of valuation.”) (citing 720 ILCS 5/15-9 (West 2018)). - 38 - 1-17-1514

property’s value beyond a reasonable doubt.” The last argument is the quintessential

“foundation” objection which the State immediately argued defendant had forfeited. We agree.

¶ 66 The necessary requirements for the admission of opinion evidence include “a foundation

establishing personal knowledge of the facts that form the basis of the opinion.” People v. Jones,

241 Ill. App. 3d 228, 232 (1993).

“This court has previously held that a defendant’s objection to the

foundation for the admission of evidence is waived on appeal when no objection

on foundational grounds was made to the evidence in the trial court. [Citation.]

A timely objection in the trial court as to the foundation of technical evidence is

necessary to give the State the opportunity to correct any deficiency in the proof.

[Citation.] Moreover, the State’s failure to lay the proper technical foundation

under Rule 703 is not reviewable under the plain error doctrine. [Citation.]”

People v. Sparks, 335 Ill. App. 3d 249, 254 (2002).

As for defendant’s remaining arguments concerning Riney’s testimony, we note that as with the

other evidence of value in this case her testimony stood unrebutted. “The opinion testimony of

one who has sufficient knowledge of the property and its value to give a reasonable estimate,

received without objection, is sufficient, in the absence of contrary evidence, to establish value.”

Harden, 42 Ill. 2d at 305-06. Even had defendant not forfeited the issue, we note Riney testified

she was “a senior financial crime investigator for mortgage investigation” for Wells Fargo Bank,

and the State asked Riney, “Are you familiar with the property that was located at or is located at

1635 West 106th Street in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois?” Riney responded, “Yes, I am.” We

will not disturb the jury’s determination of the credibility of Riney’s testimony or the proper

weight to afford it (supra, ¶ 52, citing Brown, 2013 IL 114196, ¶ 48). See, e.g., People v.

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Williams, 201 Ill. App. 3d 207, 219 (1990) (“Defendant maintains that Dr. Reifman’s interview

was too brief , and too distant from the time of the crimes, to deserve any weight. This argument

goes to the weight of the testimony, which is a decision for the trier of fact.”). Defendant has

forfeited any objection to Riney’s “knowledge of the property and its value to give a reasonable

estimate.” The jury found her testimony “sufficient *** to establish value.” Defendant’s

argument at to the 106th property fails.

¶ 67 In sum, defendant’s arguments the State failed to prove the fair cash market value of each

of the properties at the time of the theft fail. Accordingly, defendant’s conviction and sentence

for Class X felony theft are affirmed.

¶ 68 CONCLUSION

¶ 69 For the foregoing reasons, the circuit court of Cook County is affirmed.

¶ 70 Affirmed.

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