THIRD DIVISION November 10, 2010
No. 1-09-0661
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, ) Appeal from the Circuit Court ) of Cook County, Illinois. Plaintiff-Appellee, ) ) v. ) No. 07 CR 24455 ) BRUCE LAMPLEY, ) Honorable Michael Brown, ) Judge Presiding. Defendant-Appellant. )
JUSTICE MURPHY delivered the opinion of the court:
Following a jury trial, defendant, Bruce Lampley, was found guilty of burglary (720 ILCS
5/19-1 (West 2006)). Based on his criminal history, and pursuant to the Unified Code of
Corrections (730 ILCS 5/5-5-3(c)(8) (West 2006)), defendant was sentenced as a Class X
offender to 14 years’ imprisonment. On appeal, defendant contends that: (1) the trial court
interfered with his right to testify when it deferred ruling on his motion in limine to bar the
introduction of his prior convictions; (2) the trial court failed to properly question potential jurors
as to whether they understood and accepted the principles outlined in People v. Zehr, 103 Ill. 2d
472 (1984), and Supreme Court Rule 431(b) (177 Ill. 2d R. 431(b)); (3) the trial court imposed
an excessive sentence; and (4) the trial court erred in imposing a three-year term of mandatory
supervised release (MSR) instead of a two-year term as required for Class 2 felonies. For the
reasons that follow, we affirm defendant’s convictions and sentence. No. 1-09-0661
I. BACKGROUND
Defendant was arrested on November 12, 2007, for burglary and possession of burglary
tools. Defendant elected to proceed to a jury trial on the charges. The State moved to nol-pros
the possession of burglary tools charge and proceeded to trial on the one count of burglary.
During jury selection, when the venire was brought into the courtroom, the trial court admonished
the entire panel on several concepts and principles of law. In particular, prior to swearing in and
questioning the venire, the trial court advised:
“In other words, the expression ‘where there’s smoke, there’s fire’ has no
place in a court of law.
In fact, under our law a defendant is presumed to be innocent of the
charges against him in the indictment.
This presumption of innocence remains with the defendant throughout
every stage of the trial and during your deliberations on a verdict. It must be kept
in your mind at all times during the presentation of evidence.
This presumption of innocence is not overcome unless from all of the
evidence in the case you are convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the
defendant is guilty.
The defendant is not required to prove his innocence, nor is he required to
testify or present any evidence whatsoever on his behalf.
The State has the burden of proving the guilt of the defendant beyond a
reasonable doubt, and this burden remains on the State throughout every stage of
the trial and during your deliberations on a verdict.”
Following a lunch break, the jury panel was sworn and questioning of the venire began.
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The trial court immediately proceeded by asking “four questions of all of you at the same time.”
The court requested that the prospective jurors stand if their answers to any of the questions were
in the affirmative. The trial court asked the venire if they knew any of the parties or attorneys
involved and whether they were currently involved in any litigation. After excusing two
prospective jurors involved in litigation, the trial court continued to query the venire as follows:
“Folks, the third question is this: As I have previously stated, the defendant
is presumed innocent and does not have to offer any evidence on his own behalf
but must be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt by the State.
Does anyone here have any problems with those concepts? If so, please
stand up?
***
Folks, the fourth and final question for you is this: As I have also
previously stated, the defendant does not have to testify on his own behalf.
If the defendant decides not to testify, you must not hold that decision
against the defendant.
If the defendant decides not to testify, is there anyone here who believes
that, regardless of what I have just said, you would hold that decision against the
defendant? If so, please stand up.
Let the record reflect that no one has stood up.”
The jury was selected and sent home to return the next day for trial. Before the jury was
called, the trial court considered defendant’s motion in limine to bar the use of evidence of
defendant’s five prior convictions for burglary to impeach his credibility. The trial court stated
that it would enter and continue the motion until the close of the State’s case, because at that
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point a prior ruling would be “advisory” and was not warranted.
The State presented the testimony of Sharon Handelsman. Handelsman, a resident
physician, testified that on the morning of November 12, 2007, she parked her 1996 Geo Prism in
the Rush Presbyterian Hospital parking garage. After parking, she placed her purse in the trunk
of her car and closed and locked the trunk and doors of her car before going into the hospital to
work her shift. Handelsman testified that she returned to her vehicle at approximately 4:30 p.m.
and could not open the trunk of her car with her key. She entered her car, opened the trunk with
the latch release inside her car, and retrieved her purse from the trunk. She then discovered that
her cell phone and wallet (containing her driver’s license, cash and credit cards) were missing.
Handelsman testified that she drove toward the exit and asked the parking attendant to
notify the security office that those items were missing from her purse. She spoke with a security
officer and parked her vehicle at the side of the parking garage. Handelsman was escorted to the
security office, where the officers showed her the items that were stolen. She then left the garage,
leaving her car there for security to investigate.
Dennis Garden, a security guard at the parking garage testified that at 4:35 p.m. on
November 12, 2007, he saw a man he identified as defendant carrying a backpack and exiting the
parking garage. Defendant walked west on West Harrison Street and continued to walk when
Garden called for him to stop. Garden called the dispatcher to report defendant’s appearance and
location.
Edward Altman, another security officer at the parking garage, testified that he saw
defendant, who matched the description given by Garden, crossing West Harrison Street. Altman
stopped defendant at the northwest corner of the intersection of West Harrison Street and South
Wood Street. Altman testified that when he asked to look in defendant’s backpack, defendant
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allowed him to do so. Altman found women’s jewelry and a half-open wallet that displayed a
white woman’s driver’s license. Altman testified that other officers arrived on the scene and he
then placed defendant in custody and handcuffed him. Altman patted down defendant and
discovered a razor knife in his pocket. At the security office, the officers also discovered a
camera, a CD player, cellular phone, screwdriver, and CDs in defendant’s bag.
Altman testified that the driver’s license in the bag belonged to Handelsman. Handelsman
arrived later at the security office and identified the wallet and cellular phone as hers. She stated
that the items had been taken that day from the trunk of her car. Altman testified that the security
officers contacted Chicago police.
The State also presented evidence concerning a fingerprint lift taken from the trunk of
Handelsman’s car on November 12, 2007. The latent fingerprint was compared with a known
fingerprint standard of defendant. The ridge details of the two fingerprints were found to be a
match. Additionally, a videotape taken from the parking garage video surveillance system was
offered into evidence. The video depicted an African-American man wearing a baseball cap and
backpack walk toward Handelsman’s car, open the trunk, enter the trunk, stand up with his
backpack and walk away from the vehicle. Later, the videotape showed a white female approach
the vehicle, have difficulty opening the trunk, and then pop the trunk from inside the vehicle. Due
to the grainy quality of the image, no positive identification could be made with the video.
The State rested and defendant moved for a directed verdict. The trial court denied the
motion and considered defendant’s motion in limine to bar the introduction of prior convictions.
The State indicated that, if defendant took the stand, it would seek to introduce evidence of
defendant’s 2001 conviction for burglary in order for the jury to properly weigh defendant’s
credibility. The trial court rejected defendant’s argument that evidence of the conviction was too
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prejudicial and denied the motion. The court recognized the prejudicial impact as the prior
conviction was for the same kind of crime, but since it occurred within 10 years and had probative
value as a crime of dishonesty, the use of proper jury instructions could minimize that prejudice.
Defendant chose to testify. Defendant testified that he was homeless and on November
11, 2007, he had slept at the Rush Presbyterian Hospital parking garage and as he was leaving the
garage, defendant found a wallet and cellular telephone on the ground. Defendant put them in his
backpack, which already contained DVD movies, CDs, earrings, a Palm Pilot, a Nikon camera,
watches and other items. As he left, defendant passed one officer and then another officer. The
second officer stopped him and asked to look into his backpack. Defendant testified he was taken
into custody and eventually transported to the police station about 1.5 hours later.
Defendant testified that when he arrived at the police station, a uniformed police officer
driving a gold GMC vehicle pulled up next to the squad car that he was in. The officer got out of
the car, walked to the trunk and removed defendant’s backpack. Defendant testified that he was
let out of the squad car and he and the two other officers stood at the rear of the gold GMC
talking. While they talked, defendant leaned against the GMC vehicle. Defendant denied stealing
the wallet and cellular phone.
On rebuttal, the State presented the testimony of Officer Donald Verdon. Verdon testified
that he drove Handelsman’s car to the police station and parked 50 to 60 feet from the squad car
containing defendant. Verdon testified that when he arrived, defendant had already been escorted
into the police station. Verdon further testified that defendant did not touch the trunk of
Handelsman’s vehicle at any time in his presence.
The jury found defendant guilty. Defendant filed a motion for new trial, the motion was
denied, and defendant was sentenced. The parties offered arguments in aggravation and
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mitigation. The State cited to defendant’s extensive history of burglary convictions and lack of
rehabilitation despite years in prison and a lack of truthfulness in his postsentence investigation
interview where he denied a past drug problem. The State sought the mid to upper range of the
statutory provision for Class X felonies of 6 to 30 years. Defendant conceded that he was eligible
to be sentenced as a Class X felon, but argued in mitigation that his current conviction was not for
an act of violence and that his prior convictions were almost all over 10 years old. The trial court
considered the factors and sentenced defendant to 14 years’ imprisonment. Defendant filed a
motion to reconsider sentence, which was denied, and this appeal followed.
II. ANALYSIS
A. Defendant’s Montgomery Motion
Defendant first argues that the trial court erred when it deferred ruling on his motion in
limine seeking to bar the State from introducing his 2001 conviction for burglary for purposes of
impeachment. The trial court did not conduct the balancing test pursuant to People v.
Montgomery, 47 Ill. 2d 510, 516 (1971), until after the State rested its case. Defendant did not
include this issue in his posttrial motion and the State argues that this issue was not preserved for
review. People v. Enoch, 122 Ill. 2d 176, 186 (1988). Defendant argues that his claim should be
considered under plain-error review. People v. Herron, 215 Ill. 2d 167, 186-87 (2005).
The plain-error doctrine allows a reviewing court to review an unpreserved error when
either (1) the evidence is close, regardless of the seriousness of the error, or (2) the error is
serious, regardless of the closeness of the evidence. Herron, 215 Ill. 2d at 186-87. Under the
first prong, the defendant must show that the evidence at trial was so closely balanced that the
error alone “threatened to tip the scales of justice against him.” Herron, 215 Ill. 2d at 187. For
the second prong, the defendant must prove that the error was so serious that it affected the
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fairness of the trial and questions the integrity of the judicial process. Herron, 215 Ill. 2d at 187.
We first must determine whether the trial court committed any error at all. Defendant
argues that the trial court’s decision to defer ruling on his motion in limine limited his ability to
proactively deal with his prior convictions during opening arguments. Furthermore, defendant
argues that his credibility was absolutely crucial to his case. His presentation of the facts - that he
simply found the wallet and cell phone - was diametrically opposed to the State’s theory of what
happened. Therefore, defendant contends that establishing his credibility was essential and
required ruling on his motion at the earliest possible moment.
Defendant argues that People v. Patrick, 233 Ill. 2d 62 (2009), holds that when a trial
court has sufficient information but fails to make a ruling on a motion in limine concerning the
admissibility of prior convictions, it commits reversible error. In Patrick, the trial court followed
a blanket policy in every criminal case in refusing to rule on the defendant’s motion in limine on
the admissibility of prior convictions until after the defendant testified. Patrick, 233 Ill. 2d at 74.
Our supreme court found that the defendant was unjustifiably required to make a tactical decision
without the ability to evaluate the impact it would have on his defense, for which the defendant’s
testimony was critical. Patrick, 233 Ill. 2d at 75. Because the trial court’s refusal was not based
on any specific facts, but purely due to the blanket policy, “the trial court abused its discretion by
refusing to exercise any specific discretion.” Patrick, 233 Ill. 2d at 74.
While the trial court in this case did not follow an absolute blanket policy and ruled on
defendant’s motion at the close of the State’s case-in-chief, defendant points to the Patrick
court’s discussion of the impact on a defendant of deferring such a decision. He argues that he
was prejudiced by having to make tactical decisions, such as whether to introduce evidence of his
prior convictions during opening arguments to lessen the prejudicial effect of them, without the
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ability to evaluate the impact on his defense. See Patrick, 233 Ill. 2d at 75. Defendant argues
that this court has followed Patrick in cases such as People v. Hogan, 388 Ill. App. 3d 885, 891-
94 (2009), and People v. Hernandez, 394 Ill. App. 3d 527, 533 (2009), and asserts this emerging
line of case law supports a finding that the trial court abused its discretion.
The State responds that Patrick only stands for the proposition that a defendant has a right
to have all of the relevant information before he chooses to exercise his constitutional right to
testify, not after he testifies. The State asserts that the trial court complied with Patrick by
deciding defendant’s motion in limine before defendant decided whether or not to testify and,
therefore, no error was made. The State adds that, in considering the prejudice to a defendant in
this situation, our supreme court has recently added to this discussion and consideration of
Patrick and in People v. Averett, 237 Ill. 2d 1 (2010). In following Patrick in concluding that
deferring ruling until after the defendant testified was an abuse of discretion, the Averett court
further found that this did not violate the defendants’ constitutional rights to testify. Averett, 237
Ill. 2d at 17.
We agree that the facts of this case are distinguishable from Patrick and the line of cases
cited by defendant because a ruling was made prior to the decision to testify. While the ultimate
holdings might not be fully applicable here, these cases all discuss how a trial court abuses its
discretion when faced with an uncomplicated evidentiary issue but defers ruling. The parties here
do not develop arguments concerning the information before the trial court when defendant
presented his motion in limine and whether the trial court could have made an intelligent decision
even earlier. Based on the record and the trial court’s prompt consideration of the motion
following denial of defendant’s motion for directed verdict, under Patrick, we do not find that the
trial court abused its discretion. We note that based on the discussion in Patrick, it would be
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preferred practice for the trial court to rule on the admissibility of prior convictions prior to trial.
In the event there are compelling facts that necessitate deferral of such a decision, the trial court
should make those concerns of record.
Even assuming the trial court erred, that error was not so serious as to call into question
the integrity of the judicial process. As argued by the State, defendant had the benefit of the
ruling on the motion prior to the presentation of his case and his decision to testify. The harm of
any error, following the dicta in Patrick, is limited to defendant’s tactical decision to raise the
issue of his prior convictions during opening statements. The evidence in this case was
overwhelming against defendant and any tactical choice concerning defendant’s prior convictions
before the ruling on the motion in limine would not have been so crucial as to change the jury’s
verdict.
The State presented testimony from the security guards who apprehended defendant and
searched his backpack as well as Handelsman, who identified the stolen items. The surveillance
video was presented that showed a man dressed like defendant go into the trunk of Handelsman’s
car as well as video that corroborated Handelsman’s testimony that she was unable to access her
trunk with her key when she returned to her car. Evidence of a fingerprint lifted from the trunk of
Handelsman’s car that matched defendant’s prints was also presented. Therefore the alleged error
did not threaten to tip the scales of justice against defendant and his conviction is affirmed.
B. Supreme Court Rule 431(b)
Next, defendant argues that his conviction should be reversed because the trial court did
not properly question prospective jurors about the principles enumerated in People v. Zehr, 103
Ill. 2d 472 (1984), and required pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 431(b) (177 Ill. 2d R. 431(b)).
In Zehr, our supreme court held that “essential to the qualification of jurors in a criminal case is
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that they know” that the defendant: (1) is presumed innocent; (2) is not required to offer any
evidence on his own behalf; (3) must be proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt; and (4) may
decide not to testify on his own behalf and that cannot be held against him. Zehr, 103 Ill. 2d at
477. It follows that this qualification must come at the outset of trial because if a juror has a bias
against any of these basic guarantees, an instruction given at the end of the trial will have little
effect. Zehr, 103 Ill. 2d at 477. Rule 431(b) was amended in 2007 to impose a sua sponte duty
on the trial court to question each individual juror as to whether he or she understands and
accepts the Zehr principles. People v. Gilbert, 379 Ill. App. 3d 106, 110 (2008).
The State argues that defendant forfeited this issue by failing to object at trial or raise the
issue in his posttrial motion and defendant again argues that this issue should be considered under
plain-error review. In numerous recent cases, this court has applied the reasoning of People v.
Glasper, 234 Ill. 2d 173 (2009), to the amended version of Rule 431 in concluding the error at
trial was not structural and, therefore, not subject to automatic reversal. See People v.
Magallanes, 397 Ill. App. 3d 72, 94-97 (2009). Our supreme court recently affirmed this
conclusion and held that such an error does not necessarily render a trial fundamentally unfair or
unreliable and does not require automatic reversal. People v. Thompson, No. 109033, slip op. at
9-10 (October 21, 2010).
In Thompson, the trial court violated Rule 431(b) in that it failed to question the
prospective jurors on the third principle and whether they accepted the first principle. Thompson,
slip op. at 6-7. While compliance with Rule 431(b) is certainly important, the Thompson court
determined, as in Glasper, that this was not a structural error requiring reversal. Thompson, slip
op. at 9-10. Since the defendant forfeited appellate review of this issue by failing to object at trial
or raise the issue in his posttrial motion, the court also considered the forfeiture rule and plain-
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error doctrine. It concluded that, where there is no compelling reason to relax the forfeiture rule,
such as evidence of a biased jury, the plain-error rule may be followed to allow review of a
defendant’s claim of a 431(b) violation. Thompson, slip op. at 11.
Having determined the trial court erred in failing to comply with Rule 431(b) and the
defendant did not argue that the evidence was closely balanced, the court considered whether the
error was so serious it affected the fairness of the trial. The court noted that the amended rule
does not indicate that compliance is indispensable for a fair trial. Therefore it found that the
holding in Glasper stands and a violation does not implicate a fundamental right or constitutional
protection. Thompson, slip op. at 12-13. Defendant did not present any evidence of jury bias and
therefore failed to meet his burden of showing that the error affected the fairness of his trial and
did not satisfy the second prong of plain-error review. Thompson, slip op. at 13. The court
concluded by declining the defendant’s request for a bright-line rule of reversal for every violation
of Rule 431(b). Thompson, slip op. at 14.
In the instant case, defendant forfeited this issue and has not presented a compelling
reason to relax that rule. Therefore, we first consider whether the trial court erred. Rule 431(b)
provides as follows:
“[T]he court shall ask each potential juror, individually or in a group,
whether that juror understands and accepts the following principles: (1) that the
defendant is presumed innocent of the charge(s) against him or her; (2) that before
a defendant can be convicted the State must prove the defendant guilty beyond a
reasonable doubt; (3) that the defendant is not required to offer any evidence on
his or her own behalf; and (4) that the defendant’s failure to testify cannot be held
against him or her; however, no inquiry of a prospective juror shall be made into
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the defendant’s failure to testify when the defendant objects.
The court’s method of inquiry shall provide each juror an opportunity to
respond to specific questions concerning the principles set out in this section.”
177 Ill. 2d R. 431(b).
In this case, the parties agree that the trial court admonished the entire panel on the four
factors. However, defendant argues that it is clear that the trial court failed to comply with Rule
431(b) as “it is simply not enough to recite the principles and ask a question about them.” We
agree with defendant that this failure to ask more than whether any of the venire had “any
problems with those concepts” was error. The trial court in the instant case admonished the
venire on each of the Zehr principles and asked if the prospective jurors had “any problems” with
the principles. We agree that the trial court should have followed a straightforward questioning
of the Zehr principles as outlined by Rule 431(b) and, as a result, committed error. Pursuant to
Thompson, we do not find that the trial court’s approach requires automatic reversal; rather, we
conduct a plain-error review.
In applying the first prong of the plain-error rule, we have already concluded that the
evidence against defendant was overwhelming and defendant’s argument that the evidence was
closely balanced is rejected. For the second prong, the failure to specifically question each juror
on each individual principle was not so serious to overcome the overwhelming evidence. The jury
was questioned on all four principles. While the trial court could have done a better job
complying with the spirit of Rule 431(b) to assure understanding and acceptance of each principle,
this was not reversible error.
The record indicates that not only were the prospective jurors admonished of the
principles, they were given a clear opportunity to speak. No evidence or questions of bias were
13 No. 1-09-0661
raised by either party regarding any of the jurors. Accordingly, not only was the evidence
overwhelming, but the jury was apprised of the principles, and questioned sufficiently to elicit
comments. There was no error so serious to question the fairness of defendant’s trial and require
reversal.
C. Excessive Sentence
Next, defendant argues that the trial court abused its discretion in sentencing him to a term
of 14 years’ imprisonment. For sentencing issues, we consider whether the trial court abused its
discretion in handing down a sentence. People v. Shaw, 278 Ill. App. 3d 939, 953 (1996). As
defendant notes, it is imperative that the trial court carefully consider the personal history of the
defendant and the nature and circumstances of the crime in imposing a sentence. People v.
Maldonado, 240 Ill. App. 3d 470, 485-86 (1992). However, as the sentencing court is in the best
position to analyze these factors as well as the defendant’s credibility, demeanor, general moral
character, mentality, social environments, habits, age, and potential for rehabilitation, great
deference is granted its decision. People v. Ramos, 353 Ill. App. 3d 133, 137 (2004).
Defendant asserts that this deference is not unfettered and notes this court has not shied
away from reversing a sentence where factors have not been considered, even where the sentence
imposed lies within the statutory guidelines. He cites People v. Steffens, 131 Ill. App. 3d 141,
151-53 (1985), People v. Center, 198 Ill. App. 3d 1025, 1032-35 (1990), and People v. Gibbs, 49
Ill. App. 3d 644, 648 (1977). In fact, as highlighted by the Center court, our constitution
mandates balancing of the retributive and rehabilitative purposes of punishment by considering the
nature of the offense with the objective of restoring the offender to useful citizenship. Center,
198 Ill. App. 3d at 1032-33, citing Ill. Const. 1970, art. I, §11. Nevertheless, where the factors
have been considered, it is within the trial court’s discretion to determine what significance is
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given to each aggravating and mitigating factor. People v. Saldivar, 113 Ill. 2d 256, 272 (1986).
Unless the sentence is grossly disproportionate to the nature of the offense committed, the
sentence should be affirmed. People v. Phillips, 265 Ill. App. 3d 438, 449 (1994).
Defendant argues that the trial court ignored several mitigating factors, in particular that
his offense did not involve violence or a threat of harm and the “minimal proceeds” of the
burglary were returned to the victim. He contends that this case is similar to Center, where the
defendant was eligible for sentencing as a Class X offender based on two prior Class 2 felony
convictions. Center, 198 Ill. App. 3d at 1032. In Center, the defendant had been convicted four
years’ earlier, at age 19, of the robbery of a bicycle from a 9-year-old boy and for the burglary of
the same laundromat for which his conviction at issue involved. Defendant was sentenced as a
Class X felon to 15 years’ imprisonment with the trial court stating, without elaboration, that it
had considered all the factors raised. Center, 198 Ill. App. 3d at 1034.
This court found the term imposed excessive as it was nine years more than the minimum
for Class X felonies and one year more than the maximum extended sentence for the crime. The
court noted that the circumstances of the offense showed the laundromat was closed, the
defendant was a lookout, no proceeds were obtained, and none of defendant’s convictions
involved or resulted in bodily harm. Furthermore, the court cited to defendant’s personal
background of being raised in a normal home environment, a high school graduate, employed, and
accepted into a firefighter-paramedic training program. Accordingly, the court concluded that a
15-year sentence did not further the objectives of rehabilitation and restoration to useful
citizenship. Center, 198 Ill. App. 3d at 1035.
In this case, defendant notes that his criminal history, though more extensive than the
defendant’s in Center, is also entirely nonviolent. He notes that his history does not paint the
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picture of a dangerous criminal, but of a nonviolent homeless man who erred in breaking into the
trunk of a car. He asserts that this sentence, more than quadruple of his prior sentence, is
excessive and does not serve the purpose of rehabilitation.
We agree with the State that, considering the discretion vested in the trial court, the
factors presented in aggravation and mitigation, and that the sentence imposed falls well within
the statutory guidelines, we do not find the sentence excessive. The State notes that, where
mitigation evidence is before a court, it is presumed that the court considered that evidence,
absent evidence to the contrary. People v. Canet, 218 Ill. App. 3d 855, 864 (1991). In handing
down the sentence, the trial court stated that it reviewed the evidence before it, including
defendant’s presentence investigation report, which contained the information defendant uses for
support.
It is important to note that defendant’s most recent conviction resulted in a sentence of
four years’ probation; however, that turned into a three-year prison term when defendant violated
the terms of his probation. While the jump from that to a 14-year sentence is large, based on the
information before the trial court, it is not per se excessive. As the trial court noted, that sentence
resulted from defendant’s election to be treated as a drug addict. Furthermore, unlike Center,
defendant had five prior felony convictions and served terms in prison. The prior convictions
were not merely for robbery of a bicycle and a Class 2 burglary. Defendant is an elementary
school dropout with a history of drug issues and five prior convictions. Based on the record, the
trial court did not abuse its discretion in imposing a sentence well within the statutory guidelines.
D. Defendant’s Term of Mandatory Supervised Release
Finally, defendant argues that the three-year MSR term imposed by the trial court was in
error. Defendant argues that, while his record allowed the trial court to sentence him as a Class X
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offender, he contends that he committed a Class 2 offense that requires only a two-year term of
MSR. Defendant contends that the three-year term imposed is void. Defendant contends that our
supreme court’s reasoning in People v. Pullen, 192 Ill. 2d 36 (2000), requires correction of the
mittimus to reflect the proper MSR term of two years. We disagree with defendant’s application
of Pullen and agree with the State that defendant was properly sentenced.
In Pullen, because of his prior convictions, the defendant was sentenced as a Class X
offender following his negotiated plea of guilty to five counts of burglary. Defendant’s sentence
resulted in an aggregate term of 30 years’ imprisonment, two years’ greater than the sum of
maximum permissible extended-term sentences for two Class 2 offenses. Pullen, 192 Ill. 2d at
42-43. There was no dispute that the defendant was to be sentenced as a Class X offender, but
the issue was whether the maximum was the sum of the maximum permissible extended-term
sentences for Class X or Class 2 offenses. The Pullen court concluded that the offense was
explicitly defined as a Class 2 felony and the character and classification of those offenses
remained, regardless of whether the defendant was subject to the sentence enhancement or not.
Therefore, since the sentence imposed exceeded the maximum aggregate term for Class 2
felonies, the sentence was void. Pullen, 192 Ill. 2d at 46.
Unlike in Pullen, this case does not involve the character and classification of the
convictions. This case is in line with the decisions of this court on this issue. See People v.
Anderson, 272 Ill. App. 3d 537 (1995); People v. Smart, 311 Ill. App. 3d 415 (2000); People v.
Watkins, 387 Ill. App. 3d 764 (2009); People v. Lee, 397 Ill. App. 3d 1067 (2010). Each of these
cases found that by the plain language of the statute, the MSR term is part of the sentence. In
fact, the Lee court specifically rejected defendant’s argument here that Pullen mandates a change
in his MSR term. Lee, 397 Ill. App. 3d at 1072-73. Therefore, when subject to the enhancement,
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the MSR term for Class X offenses attaches to the sentence imposed.
III. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, we affirm defendant’s convictions and sentence.
Affirmed.
QUINN, P.J., and STEELE, J., concur.
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Plea se Use REPORTER OF DECISIONS – ILLINOIS APPELLATE COURT Following (Front Sheet to be Attached to Each Case) Form:
Complete THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, TITLE of Case Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
BRUCE LAMPLEY,
Defendant-Appellant.
Nos. 1-09-0661 Docket No. Appellate Court of Illinois First District, THIRD Division COURT
Opinion November 10, 2010 Filed (modified upon rehearing) (Give month, day and year)
JUSTICE MURPHY delivered the opinion of the court: JUSTICES Quinn, P.J., and Steele, J., concur [s]
Lower Court and Trial Judge(s) in form indicated in the margin: APPEAL from the Circuit Ct. of The Honorable Michael Brown , Judge Presiding. Cook County, Criminal Div.
Indicate if attorney represents APPELLANTS or APPELLEES and include For attorneys of counsel. Indicate the word NONE if not represented. APPELLANTS, John Doe, of Chicago. Attorneys for Petitioner-Appellant: Michael J. Pelletier, State Appellate Defender Patricia Unsinn, Deputy Defender Jessica Wynne Arizo, Asst. Appellate Defender 203 N. LaSalle Street, 24th Floor Chicago, IL 60601 Phone: (312) 814-5472
Attorneys for Respondent-Appellee: Anita Alvarez, State’s Attorney of Cook County Of counsel: Allen J. Spellberg, Carol L. Gaines, Molly E. Donnelly, Asst. State’s Attorneys For 309 Richard J. Daley Center APPELLEES, Chicago, IL 60602 Smith and Smith of Chicago, Phone: (312) 603-3362 Joseph Brown, (of Counsel) 19