THIRD DIVISION June 30, 2008
No. 1-06-1939
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, ) Appeal from ) the Circuit Court Plaintiff-Appellee, ) of Cook County. ) v. ) No. 04 CR 836 ) HAROLD JENKINS, ) Honorable ) Lawrence P. Fox, Defendant-Appellant. ) Judge Presiding.
JUSTICE THEIS delivered the opinion of the court:
Following a jury trial, defendant Harold Jenkins was convicted of one count of
aggravated possession of stolen firearms (720 ILCS 5/16-16.1 (West 2004)) and two counts of
possession of a stolen firearm (720 ILCS 5/16-16 (West 2004)) and was sentenced to four years’
imprisonment. On appeal, defendant claims that his convictions should be reversed because (1)
the indictment was barred by the statute of limitations; (2) the statutes under which he was
convicted are ex post facto laws because they impermissibly criminalize conduct and increase
penalties for offenses that occurred before their enactment; (3) the trial court erred in excluding
testimony of defense witnesses; and (4) the trial court erred in instructing the jury on the
elements of the offenses. Alternatively, defendant argues that his trial counsel was ineffective for
failing to request the proper jury instructions. For the following reasons, we affirm. 1-06-1939
Defendant is a former lieutenant with the Maywood Police Department. As a condition
of bond in another criminal case, defendant was ordered to surrender all of his weapons to
Joseph Thomas of the Illinois Attorney General’s firearms unit. On September 26, 2002,
Thomas seized 21 weapons from defendant’s home, including a.357-caliber Marlin rifle and a
.45-caliber Ruger pistol. All of the guns were inventoried and their serial numbers traced to
discover their original purchasers, according to standard protocol. The Marlin rifle was
originally purchased by Horace Reedy and the Ruger pistol was originally purchased by Jason
Taylor. When he was a Maywood police officer, defendant arrested both men for weapons
violations and confiscated these particular weapons as a result of the arrests.
Defendant was indicted by a grand jury on January 8, 2004, and charged with two counts
of possession of a stolen firearm and one count of aggravated possession of not less than two,
but not more than five, stolen firearms. Defendant filed a motion to dismiss the indictment,
arguing that the statute of limitations on these possession offenses had expired. According to
defendant, the limitations periods began to run when defendant acquired the stolen firearms.
Defendant argued that the State failed to allege when the guns were acquired, but the
circumstantial evidence indicates that they were acquired well beyond the limitations period.
Furthermore, possession offenses have not been designated by the legislature as continuing
offenses, which designation would have extended the limitations period. The court denied
defendant’s motion.
The State’s theory of the case was that defendant acquired these weapons from the
evidence locker at the Maywood Police Department some time after the criminal prosecutions of
Reedy and Taylor, when the guns were no longer needed as evidence. Although defendant was
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not charged with theft, the State alleged that defendant knew that the Marlin rifle and Ruger
pistol found in his home were stolen from the Maywood Police Department.
Defendant sought to introduce testimony of four witnesses, including two former
Maywood police chiefs, who would testify generally about the existence of an unwritten policy
at the Maywood Police Department allowing officers to take confiscated weapons for their own
personal use after the close of the criminal case involving those weapons. The State filed a
motion in limine to exclude that testimony, arguing that none of these witnesses would testify
about when or by whom the policy was created and, thus, the testimony would lack a proper
foundation and would be inadmissible hearsay. Moreover, it was irrelevant because none of the
witnesses would testify that they personally gave or allowed defendant to take either of the guns
at issue in this case. The court barred the witnesses’ testimony for the reasons advocated by the
State.
The case then proceeded to trial. Officer Anthony Winburn testified that he and
defendant arrested Reedy on March 22, 1980, for firing the Marlin rifle while on the back porch
of his home. Defendant seized the rifle from Reedy and gave it to Officer Winburn, saying that
“it looked like a good gun for hunting.” Officer Winburn inventoried the gun and locked it in
the evidence locker at the Maywood police station. Officer Winburn did not permit anyone to
take the rifle after that point.
Taylor then testified that he lawfully purchased the Ruger pistol on July 23, 1992. That
day, Taylor went to the Maywood Police Department to report the theft of a different gun.
While there, he was arrested by defendant for a weapons violation that did not involve the Ruger
pistol. An hour after he was placed in a holding cell, defendant took Taylor to an interview room
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and showed him ten of the handguns that defendant apparently confiscated from Taylor’s home
while he was in custody, including the Ruger pistol he picked up earlier that day. Taylor said
that was the last time he saw the Ruger pistol.
When Taylor returned to the police station several days later to retrieve his weapons,
defendant told him that they would not be returned to him because he no longer had a valid
Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card. On redirect examination, he stated that he did not
report any of the confiscated weapons as being stolen because “they [were not] stolen.
[Defendant] had them.”
Officer Jose Mazieregos also testified that as a lieutenant in the Maywood Police
Department’s internal investigations division, he investigated alleged police misconduct. He
assisted with the Attorney General’s investigation of defendant regarding the weapons seized
from his home, specifically the Ruger pistol and the Marlin rifle, although he was not asked to
elaborate on the nature or results of that investigation. He testified that nobody in the Maywood
Police Department gave defendant permission to be in possession of the Ruger pistol or the
Marlin rifle that were stored in the evidence locker at the Maywood Police Department.
The defense rested without presenting any evidence. After the court denied defendant’s
motion for a directed verdict, the parties and the court discussed the jury instructions. After the
court read each proposed instruction, the parties were permitted to comment or object. The court
indicated that two of the instructions related to possession of a stolen firearm were not Illinois
Pattern Jury Instructions (IPI). The State indicated that there were no IPI instructions on that
offense. Defense counsel stated, “Judge, it is a non-IPI instruction. It certainly contains the
elements that are involved in the indictment. So, I won’t object.” As to the instruction for
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aggravated possession of stolen firearms, defense counsel stated, “This is another non-IPI. I
don’t have any objection. I believe it states the elements.”
After closing arguments, the jury was given the following instruction on possession of a
stolen firearm:
“To sustain the charge of possession [of a] stolen firearm[,] the State must
prove the following propositions.
First, that the property that the defendant possessed, firearm, to wit; a
Ruger model P 890, 45 calibre [sic] pistol, serial No. 66033592.
And [the] second proposition is that when the defendant did so[,] he was
not entitled to possess said firearm.
And [the] third proposition is, that the defendant knew said firearm was
stolen.
If you find from your consideration [of] all evidence that any one of these
propositions has not been proved beyond a reasonable doubt, you should find the
defendant not guilty.
If you find from your consideration of all the evidence that each one of
these propositions has been proved beyond a reasonable doubt, you should find
the defendant guilty.”
The same instruction was given with respect to the Marlin rifle. The jury was also instructed
that “Possession may be actual or constructive. A person has actual possession when he has
immediate or exclusive control over a thing.” The court also instructed the jury on the
definitions of “constructive possession” and “firearm.”
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The court then read the following instruction:
“To sustain the charge of aggravated possession [of] stolen firearm[s,] the
State must prove the following propositions.
First proposition, that the defendant possessed two firearms, to wit; a
Ruger model 980, 45, pistol serial No. 66033519. And a Marlin model 1894, 357
calibre [sic] rifle, serial number 21191688.
And [the] second proposition is that when the defendant did so[,] he was
And, [the] third proposition, that the defendant knew *** said firearms
were stolen. ***
If you find from your consideration of all the evidence that any one of
these propositions has not been proved beyond a reasonable doubt, you should
find the defendant not guilty.
If you find from your consideration of all the evidence that each one of
these propositions has been proved beyond a reasonable doubt, you should find
The jury convicted defendant on all three counts. Defendant filed a motion for a new
trial, which was denied. This timely appeal followed.
Defendant first argues that the circuit court erred when it failed to dismiss the indictment
as barred by the statute of limitations. He contends that the court erroneously determined that
sections 16-16 and 16-16.1 of the Illinois Criminal Code of 1961 (Code) (hereafter, the
possession statutes) were “continuing offenses” that extended the three-year limitations period
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set forth in section 3-5(b) of the Code (720 ILCS 5/3-5(b) (West 2004)). He argues that the State
failed to meet its burden of proving that the legislature intended for the possession statutes to be
construed as continuing offenses. Because the court’s interpretation of a statute was the basis for
denying dismissal, we apply a de novo standard of review. People v. Jones, 223 Ill. 2d 569, 580,
861 N.E.2d 967, 974 (2006).
Section 3-5(b) of the Code provides that “a prosecution for any offense *** must be
commenced within 3 years after the commission of the offense if it is a felony ***.” 720 ILCS
5/3-5(b) (West 2004). To determine whether the indictment was brought within the limitations
period, we first must determine when the crimes of possession of a stolen firearm and aggravated
possession of stolen firearms were “committed.”
Initially, we note that this is a case of first impression. Neither of the possession statutes
have been construed by any Illinois court. Thus, we begin our analysis by examining the
language of the possession statutes, which is “the surest and most reliable indicator of the
legislature’s intent.” People v. Hudson, 228 Ill. 2d 181, 191, 886 N.E.2d 964, 971 (2008).
Section 16-16(a) of the Code provides that “[a] person commits possession of a stolen
firearm when he or she, not being entitled to the possession of a firearm, possesses or delivers
the firearm, knowing it to have been stolen or converted.” 720 ILCS 5/16-16(a) (West 2004).
Section 16-16.1(a)(1) of the Code provides that “[a] person commits aggravated possession of a
stolen firearm when he or she *** not being entitled to the possession of not less than 2 and not
more than 5 firearms, possesses or delivers those firearms at the same time or within a one year
period, knowing the firearms to have been stolen or converted.” 720 ILCS 5/16-16.1(a)(1)
7 1-06-1939
(West 2004). Because this excerpted language of the possession statutes is virtually identical,
our discussion below applies to both statutes.
Defendant argues that the possession crimes are “committed” at the time of the original
theft of the stolen firearms. He contends that his position is bolstered by the fact that the
possession statutes are contained within article 16 of the Code, which governs theft.
Specifically, the possession statutes should be construed in pari materia with section 16-1 of the
Code governing the offense of theft, which is considered to have been committed at the time of
the actual taking and is not considered a “continuing offense.” See People v. Kimbro, 182 Ill.
App. 3d 572, 538 N.E.2d 826 (1989); People v. Steinmann, 57 Ill. App. 3d 887, 373 N.E.2d 757
(1989). Additionally, he cites to the legislative history of the possession statutes to support his
argument.
Prior to the enactment of the possession statutes in 2000, section 16-1(a)(4) of the Code
would have governed the offense of possession of stolen firearms. Section 16-1(a)(4) provides
that “[a] person commits theft when he knowingly [o]btains control over stolen property
knowing the property to have been stolen or under such circumstances as would reasonably
induce him to believe the property was stolen.” 720 ILCS 5/16-1(a)(4) (West 2004). The Code
defines the phrase “obtains or exerts control” over property as including “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 2004).
However, the legislature amended article 16 of the Code in 2000 to create the two new
possession statutes, which contain language different from and more specific than those
contained in section 16-1(a)(4). When the legislature uses certain language in one part of a
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statue and different language in another, we may assume different meanings were intended.
Hudson, 228 Ill. 2d at 193, 886 N.E.2d at 972. Here, the legislature isolated the specific offense
of “possession” from the broader prohibition against “the taking, carrying away, or the sale,
conveyance, or transfer of title to, or interest in, or possession of” any type of stolen property.
The legislature also isolated the possession of a specific type of stolen goods. Rather than
prohibiting the possession of any type of stolen goods, sections 16-16 and 16-16.1 prohibit only
the possession of stolen firearms. Thus, we must determine the legislature’s intent in creating a
specific prohibition against the possession of one or more stolen firearms.
In the absence of a definition supplied by the statute itself, the words of the statute must
be given their plain and ordinary meaning. People v. Pierce, 226 Ill. 2d 470, 476, 877 N.E.2d
408, 410 (2007). However, we must also construe statutes consistently and in their proper
context. People v. Trainor, 196 Ill. 2d 318, 332, 752 N.E.2d 1055, 1063 (2001). Where a word
is used in different sections of the same statute, that word is presumed to have the same meaning
throughout the statute, unless a contrary legislative intent has been clearly expressed. People v.
Maggette, 195 Ill. 2d 336, 349, 747 N.E.2d 339, 347 (2001). Thus, we must look to the
definition of a term as it is used elsewhere in the same section.
A defendant violates sections 16-16 and 16-16.1 when he “possesses” firearms he knows
to have been stolen. The Code does not specifically define the term “possession.” However,
according to Black’s Law Dictionary, “to possess” means “to have in one’s actual control; to
have possession of.” Black’s Law Dictionary 1183 (7th ed. 1999). Similarly, “possession” is
defined as “the continuing exercise of a claim to the exclusive use of a material object.” Black’s
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Law Dictionary 1183 (7th ed. 1999). The plain and ordinary meaning of possession connotes the
continuing, uninterrupted act of retaining an object in one’s control or custody.
Moreover, this court previously has held that under section 16-1, “unauthorized
possession need not begin on the day of the original theft but may be shown by possession at the
time of the arrest.” People v. Helm, 10 Ill. App. 3d 643, 646, 295 N.E.2d 78, 80 (1973)
(explaining that a defendant could be found guilty of theft for merely being in possession of a car
that was reported stolen while he was incarcerated). Accord People v. Quick, 15 Ill. App. 3d
300, 302, 304 N.E.2d 143, 145 (1973). Accordingly, the legislature could only have intended for
the possession statutes to prohibit the continuing, uninterrupted act of retaining stolen firearms in
one’s control or custody, regardless of when they were acquired. Moreover, a possession crime
is “committed” at the time of the offender’s arrest, not at the time of the original theft. See
Helm, 10 App. 3d at 646, 295 N.E.2d at 80.
In this case, because the possession crimes were “committed” when defendant was
arrested on September 26, 2002, the statute of limitations period began to run on that date.
There is no dispute that the indictment was filed on January 8, 2004, within 3 years of
defendant’s arrest. Therefore, the indictment was timely and the circuit court did not err in
denying defendant’s motion to dismiss.
We reject defendant’s argument that the possession crimes were “committed” at the time
he acquired the stolen weapons. Defendant relies on Kimbro, 182 Ill. App. 3d at 573, 538
N.E.2d at 827, in support of his position, but that case is distinguishable from the facts before us.
In Kimbro, the defendant stole a tractor in 1975 and was arrested for that crime thirteen years
later. However, unlike the present case, the defendant was charged with theft under section 16-
10 1-06-1939
1(a)(1) of the Code, which is violated when one knowingly “obtains or exerts unauthorized
control over property of the owner.” Kimbro, 182 Ill. App. 3d at 573, 538 N.E.2d at 827 (citing
Ill. Rev. Stat. Ann. 1987, ch. 38, par. 16-1(a)(1), the wording of which is identical to the current
version of the statute, 720 ILCS 5/16-1(a)(1) (West 2004)). Ultimately, the charges against the
defendant were dismissed because the court determined that the original theft occurred in 1975;
thus, the statute of limitations had run and theft was not considered a “continuing offense” that
extended the limitations period. Kimbro, 182 Ill. App. 3d at 573, 538 N.E.2d at 827.
Possession of the stolen tractor was not at issue in Kimbro. If it were, the charge could
have been sustained because possession may be established at the time of the arrest and need not
have been traced back to the day of the original theft. See Quick, 15 Ill. App. 3d at 302, 304
N.E.2d at 145. Thus, defendant’s reliance on Kimbro here is misplaced.
Additionally, both Kimbro and defendant cite to People v. Steinmann, 57 Ill. App. 3d
887, 373 N.E.2d 757 (1989), as authority for the proposition that theft occurs at the time of the
taking and is not a continuing offense. However, the defendant in Steinmann also was charged
with theft under section 16-1(a)(2) of the Code for “knowingly exert[ing] unauthorized control
over” a gun and “depriv[ing] the owner permanently of the use and benefit of said [gun]” by
selling it to a third party without the owner’s authority, and he was convicted. Steinmann, 57 Ill.
App. 3d at 891, 373 N.E.2d at 760.
Aside from the fact that the events in Steinmann were “atypical,” and bear little
resemblance to the present case, the purported authority relied upon is dicta. Steinmann, 57 Ill.
App. 3d at 892, 373 N.E.2d at 760. The court overturned the defendant’s conviction because the
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evidence was insufficient; it only later discussed the statute of limitations issue in anticipation of
further review by the supreme court. Steinmann, 57 Ill. App. 3d at 893, 373 N.E.2d at 761.
Notwithstanding that fact, the court determined that based upon the unique facts of the
case and the definition of theft advanced in Helm, the theft could only have occurred once and
was not a “continuing offense.” Steinmann, 57 Ill. App. 3d at 894, 373 N.E.2d at 762. However,
the court did not invoke the Helm court’s discussion of the nature of possession because the
mere possession of the stolen gun was not at issue. Steinmann, 57 Ill. App. 3d at 894, 373
N.E.2d at 761. Thus, because Steinmann also failed to address possession, it is also inapplicable
here.
Defendant committed the possession offenses at the time of his arrest and the indictment
was filed within the three-year limitations period for those offenses. Therefore, we need not
determine whether the possession statutes should be considered “continuing offenses” that
extend the limitations period.
Defendant next argues that the application of section 16-16.1 of the Code in this case
violated the prohibition against ex post facto laws because it criminalized conduct that was not
illegal before January 1, 2000, the effective date of the statute. Moreover, he contends that
section 16-16 impermissibly increased the penalty for the offense that was formerly considered
possession of stolen property, also an ex post facto violation. In response, the State asserts that
defendant forfeited the issue. Defendant concedes that the issue was not raised in the court
below, but that this court should nevertheless review the issue for plain error.
To preserve an issue for review, the defendant must not only object at trial but also raise
the issue before the circuit court in a posttrial motion. People v. Herron, 215 Ill. 2d 167, 175,
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830 N.E.2d 467, 472 (2005), citing People v. Enoch, 122 176, 186, 522 1124, 1130 (1988).
Failure to do so results in forfeiture of review. Herron, 215 Ill. 2d at 175, 830 N.E.2d at 472 .
However, we may review unpreserved errors for plain error when (1) the evidence
presented in a criminal case is closely balanced; or (2) the error is so fundamental and of such
magnitude that the accused is denied the right to a fair trial and the integrity of the judicial
process is undermined. Hudson, 228 Ill. 2d at 191, 886 N.E.2d at 971. In addressing an issue
under plain error review, we must first determine whether an error occurred at all. Hudson, 228
Ill. 2d at 191, 886 N.E.2d at 971. To determine whether an alleged error is “plain,” we must
examine it substantively. Hudson, 228 Ill. 2d at 191, 886 N.E.2d at 971. Thus, we must first
consider whether the circuit court erred in applying the possession statutes in this case in
violation of the prohibition against ex post facto laws.
A law is considered ex post facto where it is retroactive, in that it applies to events
occurring prior to its enactment, and it is disadvantageous to a defendant. People v. Malchow,
193 Ill. 2d 413, 418, 739 N.E.2d 433, 438 (2000); Toia v. People, 333 Ill. App. 3d 523, 528, 776
N.E.2d 599, 604 (2002). A law is disadvantageous to a defendant if: (1) it punishes as a crime
an act previously committed and innocent when done; (2) it makes the punishment for a crime
more burdensome after its commission; or (3) it deprives one charged with a crime of any
defense available at the time when the act was committed. Malchow, 193 Ill. 2d at 418, 739
N.E.2d at 438; Toia, 333 Ill. App. 3d at 528, 776 N.E.2d at 604.
Here, the possession statutes are not retroactive, and thus, are not ex post facto laws. As
we have already explained, the crimes of possession of stolen firearms and aggravated
possession of stolen firearms are committed at the time of the arrest because the defendant
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possessed the contraband at the time of the arrest. See Helm, 10 App. 3d at 646, 295 N.E.2d at
80. In this case, defendant was arrested on September 26, 2002, nearly three years after
enactment of the possession statutes. The possession statutes were not applied retroactively to
events that occurred prior to the enactment of those statutes. Accordingly, the circuit court did
not err in applying the possession statutes in this case. Where there was no error, there can be no
plain error. Hudson, 228 Ill. 2d at 199, 886 N.E.2d at 975.
Defendant next argues that the circuit court abused its discretion in granting the State’s
motion in limine to preclude four defense witnesses from testifying at trial and thereby denied
him the right to present his defense. The court determined that the proffered testimony lacked a
proper foundation, was inadmissible hearsay, and was not relevant to the issues in this case.
The circuit court has the inherent authority to admit or exclude evidence, including
evidence presented in a motion in limine. People v. Bennett, 376 Ill. App. 3d 554, 571, 876
N.E.2d 256, 271 (2007). Generally, a court of review will not disturb the circuit court’s ruling
on evidentiary issues absent an abuse of discretion, which occurs when the ruling is arbitrary,
fanciful or unreasonable, or when no reasonable person would take the same view. Bennett, 376
Ill. App. 3d at 571, 876 N.E.2d at 271.
According to defendant’s brief, the four witnesses, all of whom were current or former
Maywood police officers, would have testified that the Maywood Police Department had an
unwritten policy “allowing guns returned by the court in gun cases to be given to officers for
their own use.” Defendant then cites to the State’s motion in limine.
The motion in limine indicates that the State received “reports consisting of interviews
with [the four defense witnesses] conducted by a defense investigator” and attached copies of
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those transcripts to the motion. Specifically, “Exhibit A [of the State’s motion in limine]
consists of the interview with Solomon Smith; Exhibit B consists of the interview with Leon
Melton; Exhibit C consists of the interview with James Stenson; [and] Exhibit D consists of the
interview with Thomas Duffy.” However, those transcripts are not included in the record on
appeal, nor did defendant provide us with his written response to the motion in limine.
Defendant also cites to an alleged offer of proof made by defense counsel at the hearing on the
motion in limine.
As the appellant in this case, defendant bears the burden of providing this court with a
sufficiently complete record of the proceedings below to support his claim of error. Foutch v.
O’Bryant, 99 Ill. 2d 389, 391-92, 459 N.E.2d 958, 959 (1984). Absent a complete record on
appeal, it will be presumed that the circuit court’s order was in conformity with the law and had
a sufficient factual basis. Foutch, 99 Ill. 2d at 392, 459 N.E.2d at 959. Any doubts that may
arise from the incompleteness of the record will be resolved against the appellant. Foutch, 99 Ill.
2d at 392, 459 N.E.2d at 959.
Neither the hearing transcript nor the State’s motion, without exhibits, are sufficient to
allow us to review defendant’s claim that the court abused its discretion by barring the
witnesses’ testimony. The alleged offer of proof made by defense counsel at the hearing was
nothing more than a restatement of the general claim that the Maywood Police Department had
an unwritten policy of giving guns to police officers for their personal use. Nevertheless, it is
clear that the court considered additional information in arriving at its decision. The assistant
State’s attorney made repeated references at the hearing to the contents of the “interview
reports,” which appear to be the same interview transcripts that should have been included in the
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record on appeal as exhibits to the State’s motion in limine. Additionally, the court remarked
that unlike the present case, the witnesses’ testimony was “premised on a court case being
disposed of.” However, defendant provides us with no evidence or explanation of the court case
that apparently was integral to the court’s evaluation of the testimony. Without a record
sufficient to support defendant’s claim of error, we must presume that there was an adequate
factual basis for the court’s decision and that it was made in conformity with the law.
Finally, defendant argues that the circuit court erred in not instructing the jury on the
definitions of “stolen property” and “theft” in accordance with the IPI instructions for possession
of a stolen motor vehicle (625 ILCS 5/4-103(a)(1) (West 2004)). Illinois Pattern Jury
Instructions, Criminal, Nos. 23.35, 23.36 (4th ed. 2000). Specifically, he argues that “the mens
rea in the [possession of a stolen motor vehicle] statute is identical to that of the offenses with
which [defendant] was charged.” Therefore, because the applicable instructions for the “most
directly analogous” offense were already well-established, the court should have given those
instructions here.
Defendant concedes that this instructional issue was not preserved for appeal because he
did not raise this issue in the court below, but again urges us to apply the plain error doctrine.
The plain error doctrine applies to the review of unpreserved instructional errors. Hudson, 228
Ill. 2d at 191, 886 N.E.2d at 970; 210 Ill. 2d R. 451. Again, however, we must first determine
whether error occurred at all where the circuit court instructed the jury pursuant to the non-IPI
instructions agreed upon by the parties rather than the IPI instructions for possession of a stolen
motor vehicle. See Hudson, 228 Ill. 2d at 191, 886 N.E.2d at 970-71.
16 1-06-1939
Supreme Court Rule 451(a) provides that in criminal cases, the circuit court “shall” use
the applicable IPI jury instruction. People v. Hudson, 222 Ill. 2d 392, 399, 856 N.E.2d 1078,
1082 (2006); 210 Ill. 2d R. 451(a). However, if there is no IPI instruction governing a particular
criminal charge, the court has the discretion to give a non-IPI instruction to the jury that is
“simple, brief, impartial and free from argument.” Hudson, 222 Ill. 2d at 399, 856 N.E.2d at
1082; 210 Ill. 2d R. 451(a).
In this case, it is undisputed that there is no applicable IPI instruction governing either
simple or aggravated possession of stolen firearms. Accordingly, at the jury instruction
conference, the State tendered a non-IPI instruction for possession of a stolen firearm, which
defense counsel recognized “certainly contains the elements that are involved in the indictment.”
Defense counsel also recognized that the State offered a non-IPI instruction for aggravated
possession of stolen firearms and stated, “I don’t have any objection. I believe it states the
elements.” The court then provided those instructions to the jury.
The circuit court did not err in doing so. The non-IPI instructions given in this case
accurately set forth all of the elements of the crimes of possession of a stolen firearm and
aggravated possession of stolen firearms. The instructions were simple, brief, impartial and free
from argument. The circuit court had no duty to sua sponte give the jury IPI instructions that are
analogous to a different offense, especially where defense counsel presented no such instructions
to the court. See People v. Curry, 296 Ill. App. 3d 559, 567, 694 N.E.2d 630, 637 (1998), citing
People v. Layhew, 139 Ill. 2d 476, 485-86, 564 N.E.2d 1232, 1236 (1990). Therefore, the court
did not abuse its discretion where it provided adequate non-IPI instructions to the jury rather
17 1-06-1939
than providing IPI instructions for an arguably analogous offense. As there was no error here,
we need not address the issue further.
Alternatively, defendant argues that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to offer
IPI Instructions 23.35 and 23.36 relating to possession of a stolen motor vehicle. To prevail on a
claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, defendant must satisfy the two requirements set forth
in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674, 693, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 2064
(1984). See also People v. Albanese, 104 Ill. 2d 504, 473 N.E.2d 1246 (1984). Under
Strickland, defendant must show (1) that counsel made an error so serious that his conduct fell
below an objective standard of reasonableness; and (2) there is a reasonable probability that but
for counsel’s error, the result of the trial would have been different. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687-
88, 80 L. Ed. 2d at 693-94, 104 S. Ct. at 2064-65; People v. Gill, 264 Ill. App. 3d 451, 460, 637
N.E.2d 1030, 1037 (1992).
Defense counsel’s failure to submit a proposed jury instruction does not create a
presumption of ineffective assistance of counsel. Gill, 264 Ill. App. 3d at 460, 637 N.E.2d at
1037. Rather, defendant bears the burden of showing that the proposed instructions would have
been given to the jury and that the outcome at trial would have been different as a result. Gill,
264 Ill. App. 3d at 460, 637 N.E.2d at 1037. We must evaluate the reasonableness of counsel’s
conduct from counsel’s perspective in light of the totality of the circumstances. Gill, 264 Ill.
App. 3d at 460, 637 N.E.2d at 1037.
Here, the non-IPI instructions given to the jury were nearly identical in form to
Instruction 23.36. Thus, in effect, defendant contends that trial counsel was ineffective for
failing to make the novel legal argument that the court should also provide the “Definition of
18 1-06-1939
Possession of Stolen or Converted Vehicle,” pursuant to Instruction 23.35, as well as the
definitions of “stolen property” and “theft,” pursuant to its Committee Notes.
Counsel’s failure to make that argument did not prejudice defendant because that
argument likely would have failed. Unlike the possession offenses at issue in this case,
possession of a stolen motor vehicle requires proof that the defendant intended to permanently
deprive the owner of possession of the car. People v. Henry, 203 Ill. App. 3d 278, 280, 560
N.E.2d 1205, 1206 (1990). It is that additional element that gave rise to the IPI Committee’s
instruction to provide the jury with definitions for “stolen property” and “theft.” See Illinois
Pattern Jury Instructions, Criminal, No. 23.35 and Committee Notes (4th ed. 2000). The instant
possession offenses do not require such proof of actual theft or intent to permanently deprive the
owner of possession of the firearms. Giving a jury inapplicable instructions would have caused
confusion; thus, it is unlikely that the court would have given Instruction 23.35. See People v.
Mohr, 228 Ill. 2d 53, 67-68, 885 N.E.2d 1019, 1027 (2008). Therefore, we reject defendant’s
contention that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to submit these jury instructions in the
court below.
For all of the foregoing reasons, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court.
QUINN, P.J., and GREIMAN, J., concur.
19 REPORTER OF DECISIONS - ILLINOIS APPELLATE COURT _________________________________________________________________
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
HAROLD JENKINS,
Defendant-Appellant. ________________________________________________________________
Appellate Court of Illinois First District, Third Division
Filed: June 30, 2007 _________________________________________________________________
JUSTICE THEIS delivered the opinion of the court.
Quinn, P.J., and Greiman, J., concur. _________________________________________________________________
Appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County Honorable Lawrence P. Fox, Judge Presiding _________________________________________________________________
For PLAINTIFF- Richard A. Devine, State’s Attorney APPELLEE, James E. Fitzgerald, Assistant State’s Attorney Noah Montague, Assistant State’s Attorney Angela Zak Ordway, Assistant State’s Attorney Richard J. Daley Center, Room 309 Chicago, IL 60602
For DEFENDANT- Patricia Unsinn, State Appellate Defender APPELLANT, Heidi Linn Lambros, Assistant Appellate Defender 203 North LaSalle Street 24th Floor Chicago, IL 60601