People v. Fisher

632 N.E.2d 689, 259 Ill. App. 3d 445, 198 Ill. Dec. 359, 1994 Ill. App. LEXIS 534
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedApril 15, 1994
Docket5-92-0403
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 632 N.E.2d 689 (People v. Fisher) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Court of Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Fisher, 632 N.E.2d 689, 259 Ill. App. 3d 445, 198 Ill. Dec. 359, 1994 Ill. App. LEXIS 534 (Ill. Ct. App. 1994).

Opinion

JUSTICE RARICK

delivered the opinion of the court:

The State appeals from the order of the circuit court which dismissed a charge of armed violence against defendant, Chester Fisher. Defendant was tried by a jury in the circuit court of Pope County on charges of armed violence, aggravated battery, and attempted first-degree murder. The jury found defendant guilty of aggravated battery. A mistrial was declared as to the armed violence and attempted first-degree murder charges. The court subsequently dismissed the charge of armed violence on the basis that the jury’s verdict, which found defendant guilty of aggravated battery, an included offense of armed violence, was tantamount to a not guilty finding on the armed violence charge. The State appeals the dismissal of the armed violence charge. The attempt charge was not dismissed and is not an issue in this appeal.

Before addressing the State’s argument that the court erred in dismissing the armed violence charge, there is a preliminary matter we must address. Defendant argues this court is without jurisdiction to hear the State’s appeal because the State failed to file a motion asking the trial court to reconsider its decision. Defendant relies on People v. Macke (1992), 224 Ill. App. 3d 815, 587 N.E.2d 1113, in which this court held that a defendant’s failure to file a motion to reduce his sentence as required by section 5 — 8—1(c) of the Unified Code of Corrections (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 38, par. 1005 — 8—1(c)) precluded appeal of the sentence. Defendant argues that because the State in the instant case did not file a motion to have the judge reconsider its decision, the State did not comply with the dictates of Macke and this court is without jurisdiction to hear the State’s appeal. We find no merit to defendant’s argument. In the recent case of People v. Lewis (1994), 158 Ill. 2d 386, our supreme court held that the legislature in enacting section 5 — 8—1(c) did not require, rather than merely permit, a motion to reduce the sentence of a defendant wishing to appeal the severity of that sentence. The Lewis decision effectively overruled the portions of the Macke decision on which defendant in this cause relies.

We now turn to the substance of the State’s appeal. Evidence was presented at trial that the victim, Michael Bates, had a 71/2-year romantic involvement with Laura Oshe. After Oshe broke up with Bates, she dated defendant. On April 14, 1990, Bates punched defendant in the nose causing defendant’s nose to bleed. Defendant returned home and placed a shotgun in his pickup truck. While driving around the Golconda area, defendant noticed Oshe and Bates by the side of the road and pulled behind their vehicles, and Bates, while carrying a tire iron in each hand, approached defendant. Defendant, who was now outside of his truck, fired the shotgun twice. Bates received numerous wounds to his backside.

Without objection by either party, the jury received the following instructions which are pertinent to this appeal:

"The defendant is charged with the offense of armed violence. The defendant has pleaded not guilty. Under the law, a person charged with armed violence may be found not guilty of armed violence and not guilty of aggravated battery, or may be found guilty of armed violence or guilty of aggravated battery.
You are to decide based upon the evidence and the law in this case whether to return a verdict of not guilty of armed violence and not guilty of aggravated battery, a verdict of guilty of armed violence, or a verdict of guilty of aggravated battery.” Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions, Criminal, No. 2.01R (2d ed. Supp. 1989).
"When you retire to the jury room you first will elect one of your members as your foreperson. He or she will preside during your deliberations on your verdict.
Your agreement on a verdict must be unanimous. Your verdict must be in writing and signed by all of you, including the foreperson.
The defendant is charged with the offense of armed violence. Under the law, a person charged with armed violence may be found not guilty of armed violence and not guilty of aggravated battery, or may be found guilty of armed violence or guilty of aggravated battery.
You are to decide based upon the evidence and the law in this case whether to return a verdict of not guilty of armed violence and not guilty of aggravated battery, a verdict of guilty of armed violence, or a verdict of guilty of aggravated battery.
Accordingly, you will be provided with three verdict forms pertaining to the charge of armed violence: 'not guilty of armed violence and not guilty of aggravated battery,’ 'guilty of armed violence,’ and 'guilty of aggravated battery.’
From these three verdict forms, you should select the one verdict form that reflects your verdict and sign it as I have stated. Do not write at all on the other two verdict forms. Sign only one of the verdict forms.
* * *
If you find the State has proved the defendant guilty of both armed violence and aggravated battery, you should select the verdict form finding the defendant guilty of armed violence and sign it as I have stated. Under these circumstances, do not sign the verdict form finding the defendant guilty of aggravated battery.” Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions, Criminal, No. 26.01R (2d ed. Supp. 1989) (IPI Criminal 2d).

The jury retired to deliberate at 4:40 p.m. The first note the court received from the jury stated, "Need dictionary.” After conferring with counsel, the court denied the request, concluding that a dictionary would be an inappropriate outside resource.

At approximately 11 p.m., a second note was sent which stated, "Judge, we are deadlocked (hung jury). Please advise next step.” After conferring with counsel, the court called the jury into the courtroom and questioned the foreman of the jury. The foreman responded that the jury was deadlocked on all charges and more time deliberating would not break the deadlock. The court then gave the Prim instruction (see People v. Prim (1972), 53 Ill. 2d 62, 289 N.E.2d 601), and the jury resumed deliberations.

The court received a third note, which stated: "We need assistance, please clarify aggravated battery, armed violence, also does the above go along together? Thank you. Vic English, Foreman.” After conferring with counsel, the court wrote to the jury it could not clarify armed violence and aggravated battery any more than as stated in the jury instructions and asked the jury to clarify the question, "Does the above go along together?” The jury replied: "In the jury instructions, the papers contradict each other. Please see attached papers (the underlined parts) and to clarify the question. Please advise about the part underlined and with the stars. Thank you.”

The portion of IPI Criminal 2d No. 26.01R (Supp. 1989) underlined and starred by the jury is as follows:

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Bluebook (online)
632 N.E.2d 689, 259 Ill. App. 3d 445, 198 Ill. Dec. 359, 1994 Ill. App. LEXIS 534, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-fisher-illappct-1994.