People v. Iniguez

838 N.E.2d 65, 361 Ill. App. 3d 807, 297 Ill. Dec. 578, 2005 Ill. App. LEXIS 1032
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedOctober 18, 2005
Docket1-02-1182
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 838 N.E.2d 65 (People v. Iniguez) 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. Iniguez, 838 N.E.2d 65, 361 Ill. App. 3d 807, 297 Ill. Dec. 578, 2005 Ill. App. LEXIS 1032 (Ill. Ct. App. 2005).

Opinions

JUSTICE WOLFSON,

delivered the opinion of the court:

Defendant Jeff Iniguez was convicted of first degree murder and aggravated battery. The trial court sentenced him to 40 years in prison for murder and a concurrent 5-year term for aggravated battery. On appeal, defendant contends: (1) the trial court erred in instructing the jury on the reliability of eyewitness testimony; (2) he was denied a fair trial by the admission of prejudicial and excessive gang evidence; (3) the indictment against him was deficient; (4) the State’s eyewitness testimony was insufficient to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt; and (5) the State failed to prove his guilt on a theory of accountability. We reverse and remand.

FACTS

Ian Bomkamp, Oscar Martinez, and defendant were tried together before a jury for the first degree murder and aggravated battery of Walter Warlyn. The following evidence was presented at their trial.

The victim’s father, Roland Warlyn, testified he owned a building in Chicago that housed his catering business. The victim lived in the apartment in the building and worked at Roland’s catering business. Roland was aware that the victim was a heroin user and a member of a street gang. On December 16, 1998, Roland gave the victim permission to borrow a white Ford catering van to go out for the evening. When Roland arrived at work the following morning, he noticed the lights in the building had been left on and fast-food cups were lying on the floor. The victim did not show up for work. Roland learned later that day that his son had been killed.

Chicago police officer D. Finley testified that on December 17, 1998, he was dispatched to Legion Park to investigate a possible death. Finley arrived at Legion Park and saw the victim lying facedown. Finley could not feel a pulse on the victim and called for an ambulance. Once the victim’s body was turned over, Finley noticed severe trauma to the victim’s head and face and a bullet wound to the victim’s temple. Finley also noticed a large tattoo on the victim’s abdomen. Finley believed the tattoo represented membership in the Imperial Gangsters street gang. He found a set of Ford keys in the victim’s pocket. A white Ford van parked approximately 100 yards from Legion Park matched the set of keys.

Chicago police officer Vito Ricciardi testified that he arrested Jill DeShon on a drug charge unrelated to this case in February 1999. After the arrest, DeShon told Ricciardi she had information relating to the victim’s killing. Based on this information, Ricciardi began investigating Bomkamp, Martinez, and defendant.

DeShon testified that on the evening of December 16, 1998, she went to Legion Park with some friends. Bomkamp, a ranking member of the Simon City Royals street gang, was with DeShon in the park. DeShon left the park by herself to meet Bonnie Lopez at a nearby restaurant. DeShon brought Lopez back with her to the park where Bomkamp had remained. DeShon testified that at some point after returning to the park, Martinez, also a ranking member of the Simon City Royals gang, and defendant arrived. Martinez and defendant were accompanied by two men whom DeShon did not know. The group stayed at the park drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana. DeShon did not drink but she smoked some marijuana.

DeShon said the group left the park in Martinez’s car at approximately 10 or 11 p.m. They drove around looking for drugs and eventually stopped at a social club. Although DeShon and Lopez were allowed to use the restroom, the doorman would not let the others inside the club. DeShon saw the victim at the door talking with Bomkamp, Martinez, defendant, and the two unknown men. The victim left the club with the group. DeShon got into Martinez’s car with Martinez, defendant, Lopez, and the two men. DeShon saw the victim and Bomkamp leave in a white van. While in the car, DeShon heard defendant say they were going to beat up the victim.

The victim and Bomkamp followed the others to Legion Park. Once at the park, DeShon and Lopez sat down on a bench. The rest of the group stood nearby. DeShon saw Bomkamp, Martinez, defendant, and the two unknown men start hitting the victim with their fists. The victim fell to the ground and yelled for them to stop. The men then began kicking the victim. Bomkamp left the group and walked in the direction of a fence located near the park’s perimeter. DeShon believed the Simon City Royals commonly hid guns near the fence. Bomkamp returned with a gun and shot the victim. After hearing the gunshot, DeShon told Lopez, who was drunk at the time, to stand. The women walked over to Martinez’s car and got inside. Martinez, defendant, and one of the other men got into the car with them. The other man stayed behind and fired off more gunshots. DeShon saw Bomkamp go to the victim’s van but did not see what, if anything, he did to the van. Bomkamp and the other shooter joined the rest of the group in the car and drove away. Defendant, DeShon, and Lopez were dropped off near DeShon’s house. Defendant told DeShon not to say anything about what she had seen at the park.

DeShon said she was arrested by Officer Ricciardi on a drug charge on February 4, 1999. Approximately one week later, DeShon called Ricciardi and told him what happened on December 16, 1998. De-Shon’s mother convinced her to contact police after she was arrested. DeShon said she had not contacted police earlier because defendant had threatened her. DeShon testified that the police did not offer her a deal in exchange for her testimony against Bomkamp, Martinez, and defendant.

On cross-examination, DeShon admitted using a variety of drugs, including LSD, cocaine, mushrooms, PCI^ Valium, amphetamines, and marijuana. DeShon admitted she had been arrested for unlawful use of a weapon and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. After her arrest, she told police about the shooting. Deshon pleaded guilty to the charges, was placed on probation, and immediately broke the terms of her probation. She moved to Colorado and dropped out of a drug rehabilitation program. DeShon remained a fugitive until March 27, 2001.

DeShon denied telling police about the murder to get lenity on those charges. DeShon gave a written statement to police and testified before the grand jury. In both instances, she said she met the victim on the evening of December 17, 1998. When asked about her previous statement, DeShon testified she “did not know” the victim was found dead the morning of December 17, 1998. DeShon admitted she provided a time line of the shooting to police in February 1999, but did not remember telling a detective the victim was killed between 10 and 10:30 p.m.

Doctor Tae Lyong An, a forensic pathologist for Cook County, testified he performed an autopsy on the victim. Dr. An saw several abrasions and bruises on the victim’s face and body. He also saw three gunshot wounds — two entry wounds and one exit wound. Tests showed that the victim had consumed cocaine, heroin, and alcohol before he was killed. Dr. An believed the victim’s death was caused by multiple gunshot wounds.

Oscar Montanez testified he was a member of the Imperial Gangsters street gang and knew the victim as a fellow gang member. Montanez said members of his gang wear the colors black and pink and receive tattoos depicting the Imperial Gangster crown.

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People v. Iniguez
838 N.E.2d 65 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 2005)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
838 N.E.2d 65, 361 Ill. App. 3d 807, 297 Ill. Dec. 578, 2005 Ill. App. LEXIS 1032, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-iniguez-illappct-2005.