People v. Harrison

508 N.E.2d 1226, 156 Ill. App. 3d 39, 108 Ill. Dec. 649, 1987 Ill. App. LEXIS 2535
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedMay 29, 1987
Docket2-86-0092
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 508 N.E.2d 1226 (People v. Harrison) 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. Harrison, 508 N.E.2d 1226, 156 Ill. App. 3d 39, 108 Ill. Dec. 649, 1987 Ill. App. LEXIS 2535 (Ill. Ct. App. 1987).

Opinion

JUSTICE NASH

delivered the opinion of the court:

After entering a plea of guilty to the offense of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 56½, par. 1401(a)), defendant, Robert Harrison, was fined $8,000 and sentenced to a term of 10 years’ imprisonment. He appeals, contending the court erred in considering the profit he was to receive from the sale of cocaine as an aggravating factor in imposing sentence.

At the sentencing hearing, Special Agent Lawrence Oliver of the Lake County Metropolitan Enforcement Group testified that defendant offered to act as a middleman and sell Oliver four ounces of cocaine for $8,000. Defendant was to retain $800 of the purchase price for the transaction. Defendant delivered the cocaine to Oliver on March 12,1985, and was placed under arrest.

Officer Richard Davies of the Vernon Hills police department testified that on November 28, 1984, defendant had been arrested for driving a stolen motor vehicle and possession of cocaine. He stated that defendant subsequently attempted to bribe Davies and another officer by first offering them the drugs and then offering them $10,000 to dispose of the narcotics. Defendant was out on bond from these offenses when the incident underlying the present conviction occurred.

Officer James Wilson of the Northbrook police department testified that on February 18, 1985, he was off-duty in a tavern and defendant struck him with a pistol in the face. He stated that he did not report the incident or press charges against defendant.

The State also admitted an evidence deposition of Kenneth Odom which stated that Odom was struck by defendant in a Baton Rouge, Louisiana, tavern where defendant was working as a bouncer in 1983. Defendant subsequently pleaded guilty to the offense of battery and was placed on two years’ probation. He was still on probation at the time of the present offense.

The State further offered into evidence a report by Karen Purves, a drug counselor, which stated that defendant demonstrated a psychological addiction to alcohol and drugs, had a history of involvement in violent activities, and did not evidence a readiness to be involved in a treatment program.

Dr. Sharon Strauss, a clinical psychologist, testified for defendant and stated that defendant’s alcohol and cocaine addictions had led him to engage in criminal conduct despite the fact that he did not have a criminal personality. She concluded that defendant was highly motivated for drug treatment and had an excellent potential for rehabilitation. Tony Lindsey, a drug prevention coordinator, testified that defendant had participated regularly in a weekly drug education group and had an excellent chance of rehabilitation.

Henry Reed, an assistant jail superintendent at Lake County jail, testified that defendant had been a model prisoner during his 10-month incarceration and was selected as a jail trustee. Betty Lindquist, a probation officer, testified with respect to defendant’s award-winning high school, collegiate and semiprofessional football career.

Defendant also offered into evidence a report by Dr. Leon Goldman, which stated that it was probable a drug rehabilitation program and psychotherapy would succeed in rehabilitating defendant. Also admitted into evidence were letters from a prison chaplain, an attorney acquainted with defendant, and defendant’s high school coach which stated that defendant had a good character and excellent potential for rehabilitation.

The trial court found in mitigation that defendant had potential for rehabilitation and found as factors in aggravation that defendant would have received compensation of $800 for committing the offense, that he had a history of criminal activity, and that a sentence was necessary to deter others from committing the same crime. The trial court imposed the sentence from which defendant appeals, subsequently denied a motion by defendant to withdraw his guilty plea on the ground that the sentence was excessive, and this appeal followed.

Defendant’s sole contention on appeal is that the trial court imposed an excessive sentence because it improperly concluded that the receipt of proceeds from an illegal drug sale may constitute compensation under 5—5—3.2(a)(2) of the Unified Code of Corrections (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 38, par. 1005—5—3.2(a)(2)). That section provides the court may consider the fact that “the defendant received compensation for committing the offense” as an aggravating factor in imposing sentence.

The State initially argues that defendant waived this issue by failing to raise it in his motion to withdraw his guilty plea. (People v. Sierra (1984), 122 Ill. App. 3d 822, 823, 461 N.E.2d 1079; People v. Bartik (1981), 94 Ill. App. 3d 696, 698, 418 N.E.2d 1108, appeal denied (1981), 85 Ill. 2d 567.) We first note that defense counsel did not raise the issue in his argument at the sentencing hearing, and this case is thus different from the circumstances addressed in People v. Saldivar (1986), 113 Ill. 2d 256, 266, 497 N.E.2d 1138, where our supreme court declined to apply the waiver rule in considering a similar issue. However, the waiver rule is one of administrative convenience rather than jurisdiction and plain errors or defects affecting substantial rights may be noticed on review though not brought to the attention of the trial court. (People v. Smith (1985), 106 Ill. 2d 327, 333, 478 N.E.2d 357; People v. Bailey (1985), 132 Ill. App. 3d 399, 406, 476 N.E.2d 1360, appeal denied (1985), 108 Ill. 2d 573.) We consider the issue presented is one which may affect substantial rights and will not apply the waiver rule in this instance.

Sentencing is a matter for the sound discretion of the trial court and a reviewing court will not disturb a sentencing order unless it represents an abuse of that discretion. (People v. Morrison (1985), 137 Ill. App. 3d 171, 185, 484 N.E.2d 329, appeal denied (1986), 111 Ill. 2d 593; People v. Williams (1985), 130 Ill. App. 3d 758, 762, 474 N.E.2d 1330.) However, when a sentencing court improperly considers a factor in aggravation and it cannot be determined how much weight that factor was accorded, a new sentencing hearing is required. People v. Conover (1981), 84 Ill. 2d 400, 405, 419 N.E.2d 906; People v. Garrett (1987), 152 Ill. App. 3d 212, 213, 504 N.E.2d 237.

In People v. Conover (1981), 84 Ill. 2d 400, 419 N.E.2d 906, the court determined that compensation for committing the offense under the aggravation statute could not include proceeds from a burglary because receipt of such proceeds was implicit in most burglaries.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
508 N.E.2d 1226, 156 Ill. App. 3d 39, 108 Ill. Dec. 649, 1987 Ill. App. LEXIS 2535, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-harrison-illappct-1987.