People v. Joupperi

334 N.E.2d 846, 31 Ill. App. 3d 558, 1975 Ill. App. LEXIS 2822
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedAugust 27, 1975
Docket74-214
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 334 N.E.2d 846 (People v. Joupperi) 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. Joupperi, 334 N.E.2d 846, 31 Ill. App. 3d 558, 1975 Ill. App. LEXIS 2822 (Ill. Ct. App. 1975).

Opinion

Mr. JUSTICE GUILD

delivered the opinion of the court:

The defendant herein was jointly indicted with Thomas M. Roop for attempt murder, attempt robbery and conspiracy. In a bench trial he was found guilty of attempt murder and subsequently entered a plea of guilty to attempt robbery, conspiracy and delivery of a controlled substance. He was granted a severance from the trial of his codefendant and on February 26, 1974, he was sentenced to 4-12 years for attempt murder, 2-6 years for attempt robbery, 1-3 years for conspiracy and 1-3 years for the charge of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance. No appeal was taken from the conviction of the delivery of the controlled substance.

Defendant has raised three issues in this appeal. The first is whether the indictment charging the defendant with attempt murder failed to state, an offense. The second issue is whether the trial court erred when it imposed judgments of conviction and sentences upon the defendant for the two offenses of attempt robbery and conspiracy. The last contention of the defendant is that the sentences imposed were excessive.

L. Robert Magnuson, an undercover agent for the Illinois Bureau of Investigation (IBI), met the defendant at his residence and arranged for the delivery and purchase of a large quantity of amphetamines. After two more contacts by the undercover agent, arrangements were made to meet the defendant at his home on the night of June 27, 1973. Agents Magnuson, the undercover agent, and William Doster, another undercover agent, drove to the defendant’s residence with $4000 in cash. Magnuson went to the door and advised Joupperi that he had the money. Joupperi agreed to count the money in the car, and after the money had been counted out by Doster, Joupperi invited the agents into the house to discuss the transaction in detail. The money was placed under the driver’s seat, and Joupperi, Doster and Magnuson entered the Joupperi residence through the front door. When Magnuson entered the living room he saw an unknown man whom Joupperi identified as his brother from California. As Magnuson walked toward a couch, the unknown man, who later was identified as John Graham, struck Doster in the head, -■'knocking him back into the bedroom. As Agent .Magnuson- observed .this he drew his gun,' but before he could firé it he "was shot by '-Thomas M. Roop, the third man in the Joupperi residence.' Agent 'Doster shot and .-.killed John Graham and Agent Magnuson wounded Thomas Roop in the shoulder. Joupperi and Roop ran from the house and were apprehended by backup personnel for the two undercover agents.

On defendant Joupperi’s motion, a severance was granted and, tin a plea of not guilty in a bench trial, the defendant was found guilty of attempt murder. On the same date the defendant withdrew his. plea of not guilty to the charges of attempt robbery and conspiracy and entered . a plea of guilty to the same. On February 26, 1974,' he was sentenced on all'three charges. -.

In the bench trial wherein the defendant was found guilty of attempt murder, the defendant testified that he never intended to obtain the amphetamines for Magnuson-but that his intent was to take the $4000 from Magnuson and Doster and that he had requested John Graham and Thomas Roop to help him take the money from the men and that they would then split the proceeds. The defendant: further testified that he ' knew.1 that Roop had a gun but that he did not expect that it-would be used except for the purpose of holding Magnuson and Doster at bay while they took the money. The defendant, Graham and Roop did not ■know at any time that Magnuson and Doster were IBI agents. The defendant also made the above statement to the Aurora police department . at the time of his arrest. . ..

Defendant asserts • that the- indictment herein is clearly sufficient to charge Thomas Roop-with the offense of attempt murder but it'does not charge defendant Joupperi with that offense. In support of this contention • defendant contends that there is no description of defendant Joupperi s '■intent to commit the substantive-offense of murder-or a substantial step taken by him in furtherance thereof. In support of this-contention the defendant has cited People v. Woodward (1973), 55 Ill.2d 134, 302 N.E.2d 62, and People v. Richardson (1965), 32 Ill.2d 497, 207 N.E.2d 453. We find that neither of these cases support the argument of the.defendant The substance of these two cases deals' with the necessity of- alleging an intent to' commit a specific offense and a substantial step towards -commission of that-offense in indictments charging an attempt. In neither -case-was the question of an accomplice or codefendant involved.

The supreme court has specifically covered the- situation we find in the case before us in People v. Kessler (1974); 57 Ill.2d-493, 315 N.E.2d 29; People v. Hubbard (1973), 55 Ill.2d 142, 302 N.E.2d 609; People v. Armstrong (1968), 41 Ill.2d 390, 243 N.E.2d 825, and People v. Cole (1964), 30 Ill.2d 375, 196 N.E.2d 691. In People v. Kessler the supreme court, in quoting from People v. Cole, made the following statement:

“Stated differently, circumstances may show there is a common ■ design to do an unlawful act to which all assent, and whatever is done in furtherance of the design is the act of all, mating each person guilty of the crime. People v. Rybka, 16 Ill.2d 394; People v. Marx, 291 Ill. 40; People v. Washington, 26 Ill.2d 207, 209.” 57 Ill.2d 493, 498, 315 N.E.2d 29, 32-33.

In Kessler the defendant Kessler was the driver of the car where two other defendants entered the premises and shot one of the proprietors. The defendant Kessler remained in the motor vehicle outside the premises. In the case before us, the defendant not only was the perpetrator of the plan to take the money from Magnuson and Doster by armed force but he was physically present and a party to the shooting and striking of the- two IBI agents. We agree with the State’s attorney in his statement that in order to convict the defendant of attempt murder in this case that it was not necessary to prove that the defendant had a specific intent to commit attempt murder or committed an overt act in furtherance thereof. It was only necessary to prove a common design to commit robbery which encompassed the criminal act of attempt murder done in furtherance of the plan and intended act. We, therefore, find Kessler to be controlling •in the factual situation before us and that defendant’s argument that the indictment was not such as to enable him to fully prepare for his defense is without merit. As he well knew, he was charged with the attempt murder of the agent Magnuson as an aider and abetter of defendant Roop. We feel that the indictment clearly states the offense with which defendant was charged under the elements of accountability as set forth in sections 5 — 1 and 5 — 2 of the Criminal Code (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1973, ch. 38, §§ 5 — 1 and 5 — 2).

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Bluebook (online)
334 N.E.2d 846, 31 Ill. App. 3d 558, 1975 Ill. App. LEXIS 2822, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-joupperi-illappct-1975.