People v. Ledesma

2025 IL App (1st) 232458-U

• Court: Appellate Court of Illinois
• Decided: May 12, 2025
• Docket: 1-23-2458
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

2025 IL App (1st) 232458-U No. 1-23-2458 Order filed May 12, 2025 First Division

NOTICE: This order was filed under Supreme Court Rule 23 and is not precedent except in the limited circumstances allowed under Rule 23(e)(1). ______________________________________________________________________________ IN THE APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS FIRST DISTRICT ______________________________________________________________________________ THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, ) Appeal from the ) Circuit Court of Plaintiff-Appellee, ) Cook County. ) v. ) No. 22 MC1 196566 ) GUILLERMO LEDESMA, ) The Honorable ) Robert Kuzas, Defendant-Appellant. ) Judge Presiding.

JUSTICE LAVIN delivered the judgment of the court. Justice Cobbs concurred in the judgment. Justice Pucinski specially concurred.

ORDER

¶1 Held: Defendant’s convictions for battery affirmed where his intentional pushing of two individuals was objectively insulting and provoking.

¶2 Following a bench trial, defendant Guillermo Ledesma was found guilty of two counts of

misdemeanor battery and sentenced to one year of conditional discharge and 40 hours’ community

service. On appeal, defendant contends the evidence was insufficient to prove that he knowingly No. 1-23-2458

caused bodily harm to the two individuals or made contact of an insulting or provoking nature with

them. We affirm.

¶3 Defendant was charged by misdemeanor complaints with battery against Marty Flood and

James Murphy. The complaints alleged that defendant, without legal justification, knowingly and

intentionally caused bodily harm to Flood and Murphy by pushing them. The statutory citations

included in the complaints, however, cited to the provision for battery premised on physical contact

of an insulting or provoking nature (720 ILCS 5/12-3(a)(2) (West 2022)).

¶4 At trial, Murphy testified that he worked for a stadium management company staffing

events at Soldier Field. On September 3, 2022, Murphy was working a concert that included a

standing room only “pit” near the stage. This section required a special ticket to enter. Murphy

stood near the west entrance to the pit, which was crowded. He wore a uniform comprising a shirt

and hat with company and Soldier Field logos and an identification lanyard around his neck. A

few female ushers from a security company stood in front of Murphy checking tickets and

providing wristbands to enter the pit area.

¶5 At approximately 9:20 p.m., Murphy observed defendant, whom Murphy identified in

court, push the female ushers and proceed to the pit. Defendant “kept going through even though

he didn’t have the proper credentials or ticket.” Murphy told defendant, “That’s far enough. You

can’t go in there.” Defendant, who was facing Murphy, pushed Murphy twice and then swung

towards his chest. Murphy radioed for back up. Defendant did not speak to anyone during this

altercation, was not listening to anyone’s instructions or commands, including from police officers

when they arrived, and seemed highly intoxicated. Murphy suffered no injuries but “felt

threatened” when defendant pushed him.

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¶6 On cross-examination, Murphy testified that individuals stood near the entrance to the pit

informing attendees who could and could not enter the pit. Murphy testified that pits were a

separate area and not necessarily “mosh pits.” Defendant tried to enter the pit area, “which was an

area he was not allowed in because he did not have a ticket.” The court asked Murphy whether

defendant’s contact was insulting and provoking to him, and Murphy answered, “Yes.” Murphy

also testified that he spoke with Chicago police officers that night and “probably” told them that

defendant punched him in addition to pushing him, but he was not certain because he was “right

back out in the pit working.” When presented with a copy of his complaint, Murphy acknowledged

that it only stated that defendant pushed him.

¶7 On redirect examination, Murphy testified that he was not “being moshed around in the

crowd.” Defendant did not accidentally bump into Murphy, but shoved Murphy after shoving the

security staff in front of him.

¶8 Flood testified that on September 3, 2022, he was working as event staff at Soldier Field

and wore his uniform consisting of a hat, shirt, and badge with Soldier Field logos. Around 9 p.m.,

Flood was standing near the west entrance to the pit when he “got hit” from behind. He was not

sure if it was a punch or push. Flood turned and observed a man he identified in court as defendant.

Flood also observed defendant push two female ushers and “barge through.” Flood held

defendant’s arms to stop him from being aggressive with people and pushing a young man in front

of him. Backup was called, and officers took defendant away. Defendant appeared intoxicated and

unresponsive to event staff.

¶9 On cross-examination, Flood acknowledged that when he was pushed from behind, he

could not see who pushed him, and he “assume[d] it was the person next to [him] pushing through

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on everybody else.” Flood did not have injuries or visible marks and did not receive medical

attention. The pit entrance was 3½ to 4 feet wide. The pit area was crowded with people trying to

enter, most of whom promptly presented their tickets to the ushers. Anyone not presenting the

proper ticket was turned away. Flood agreed that “a lot of people” were trying to enter the pit, but

they were not pushing.

¶ 10 On redirect examination, Flood testified that when he turned after he was pushed, defendant

was right behind him.

¶ 11 Defendant testified that on the night of September 3, 2022, he attended a concert at Soldier

Field for a “hard core” band for which he had purchased a ticket in the general admission section.

At approximately 9:10 p.m., while the band played and his “adrenalin was pumping,” he headed

to the “mosh pit” entrance. Someone there grabbed his wrists. Defendant “didn’t really care,” and

he continued walking toward the stage. Defendant was pulled back, so he pushed forward. After

“they didn’t let go,” defendant “pushed them off” him. He was then “tackl[ed],” saw 8 to 10 people

with red shirts, and heard them “mumbling tickets.” No one identified themselves as security,

police, guards, or employees of Soldier Field, and no one told him he was under arrest. Defendant

did not have anything to drink or consume any drugs that day.

¶ 12 On cross-examination, defendant testified that he had a ticket to enter the pit. No one asked

him for a ticket or wristband to enter the pit. Once in the pit, he felt people grabbing both his wrists,

but he proceeded forward. He then “felt somebody pull [him] back,” so he “poked” and saw a lot

of red shirts. The people were pulling him, and he “pushed back.” Security was not working near

the pit, no one announced themselves as security, and he was not aware of any Soldier Field

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personnel working in the pit because there was “no announcement.” Only when the people in red

shirts tackled him to the ground did he became aware that there was security in the pit area.

¶ 13 On redirect examination, defendant testified that as he was walking toward the pit area, he

did not know the people in red shirts were security personnel, and they did not wear anything

indicating they were security.

¶ 14 The trial court found defendant guilty of both counts of battery. The court explained that it

weighed the evidence and the witnesses’ credibility and applied the appropriate statutory law and

presumptions. The trial court found People v. Peck, 260 Ill. App. 3d 812 (1994), which examined

whether conduct was insulting or provoking, to be “precisely on point.” The trial court also found

defendant’s testimony and credibility “unbelievable” and “self-serving.”

¶ 15 Defendant filed a motion for a new trial. In denying defendant’s motion, the trial court

noted the evidence showed that Murphy and Flood were attempting to stop defendant from

entering the pit because he did not produce the required ticket.

¶ 16 Following a hearing, the trial court sentenced defendant to one year of conditional

discharge and 40 hours’ community service. Defendant made an oral motion to reconsider his

sentence, which the court denied.

¶ 17 On appeal, defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence showing he knowingly

caused bodily harm and made contact of an “insulting or provoking nature” to Murphy and Flood.

¶ 18 As an initial matter, the parties disagree on the applicable standard to review the sufficiency

of the evidence as to the battery against Flood. Defendant posits that this court should review the

guilty finding de novo, arguing that he does not challenge the facts or Flood’s credibility, but that

the undisputed facts were insufficient to prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. On the other

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hand, the State contends that the trial court is entitled to deference as the finder of fact because

defendant is challenging the inferences the court made as to whether he struck Flood.

¶ 19 We agree with the State. In raising his insufficiency of the evidence claim, defendant

challenges the inferences the trial court drew from Flood’s testimony, which presents a fact

determination not subject to de novo review. See People v. Loggins, 2019 IL App (1st) 160482,

¶ 32 (stating that de novo review is not applicable where “the parties disagree about the inferences

that can be drawn from the trial evidence”). We therefore reject defendant’s request to review this

case de novo and instead apply the familiar standard of review for a challenge to the sufficiency

of the evidence. See People v. Lattimore, 2011 IL App (1st) 093238, ¶ 36 (rejecting the defendant’s

request to apply a de novo standard of review where he contested the inferences drawn from the

evidence).

¶ 20 Where a defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain his conviction, the

question for the reviewing court is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable

to the State, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond

a reasonable doubt. People v. Cline, 2022 IL 126383, ¶ 25. This standard applies whether the

evidence is direct or circumstantial. People v. Aljohani, 2022 IL 127037, ¶ 66. Under this standard,

all reasonable inferences from the evidence must be allowed in favor of the State. People v. Lloyd,

2013 IL 113510, ¶ 42.

¶ 21 The credibility of the witnesses, the weight to be given to their testimony, the resolution of

any conflicts in the evidence, and the reasonable inferences to be drawn from the evidence are

within the province of the trier of fact, and we will not substitute our judgment for that of the trier

of fact on these matters. People v. Gray, 2017 IL 120958, ¶ 35. In weighing the evidence, the fact

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finder is not required to disregard the inferences that naturally flow from that evidence, nor must

it search for any possible explanation consistent with innocence and raise it to the level of

reasonable doubt. Cline, 2022 IL 126383, ¶ 41. Testimony will only be found insufficient where

the record “compels the conclusion that no reasonable person could accept it beyond a reasonable

doubt.” People v. Cunningham, 212 Ill. 2d 274, 280 (2004). A defendant’s conviction will be

reversed only if the evidence is so unreasonable, improbable, or unsatisfactory as to justify a

reasonable doubt of the defendant’s guilt. Cline, 2022 IL 126383, ¶ 25.

¶ 22 A person commits battery when he knowingly without legal justification by any means (1)

causes bodily harm to an individual, or (2) makes physical contact of an insulting or provoking

nature with an individual. 720 ILCS 5/12-3(a) (West 2022). A person acts knowingly when he is

“consciously aware” that that result of his conduct, described by the statute defining the offense,

“is practically certain to be caused by his conduct.” 720 ILCS 5/4-5(b) (West 2022). Circumstantial

evidence and inferences from a defendant’s conduct can prove a knowing mental state. People v.

Phillips, 392 Ill. App. 3d 243, 259 (2009).

¶ 23 An objective test is applied to determine whether a reasonable person under the

circumstances would find the nature of physical contact “insulting or provoking.” People v.

Davidson, 2023 IL 127538, ¶ 16. This objective test does not require the State to prove that a

victim of a battery “subjectively felt insulted or provoked by the contact.” Id. ¶ 25. The context of

the defendant’s contact, including the relationship between the people involved and the purpose

behind that contact, can distinguish between innocuous contact and contact of an “insulting or

provoking nature.” Peck, 260 Ill. App. 3d at 814-15 (defendant spitting at police officer was

insulting or provoking); see also People v. DeRosario, 397 Ill. App. 3d 332, 334 (2009)

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(“defendant intentionally sat where he was bound to come in contact with the victim and *** he

knew that this conduct would provoke her”).

¶ 24 Defendant contends that the trial court did not explicitly reference which prong of the

battery statute it applied to find him guilty and, therefore, argues the sufficiency of the evidence

as to each prong. The State responds that defendant was found guilty of battery for knowingly

making contact of an insulting and provoking nature. We find no ambiguity in the trial court’s

ruling. In finding defendant guilty, the court referenced Peck, a case addressing whether a battery

was of an “insulting or provoking nature” under an objective standard. See Peck, 260 Ill. App. 3d

at 814. The court’s remarks demonstrate that it applied the “insulting or provoking nature” prong

of the battery statute. Therefore, we need not address defendant’s claims of insufficient evidence

of bodily harm to sustain a battery conviction.

¶ 25 Turning first to the battery against Murphy, in viewing the evidence in the light most

favorable to the State, we conclude that a rational trier of fact could have found that defendant

knowingly made contact of an insulting or provoking nature. Entrance to the pit area was restricted.

Ushers checked tickets and distributed wristbands to attendees with the proper ticket for entrance

to the restricted area. According to Murphy, defendant did not have the required ticket but was

nonetheless attempting to enter the pit area. After pushing past the two female ushers, Murphy told

defendant to stop. Defendant, who was facing Murphy, then pushed Murphy twice and swung

towards his chest. Defendant’s contact with Murphy, which occurred after defendant had been

stopped from entering the pit area, can reasonably be inferred to have been knowing and intentional

and not merely accidental or incidental. Applying an objective standard, we find that a reasonable

person who was trying to do his job limiting attendees into a restricted area to those with the

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required ticket would find defendant’s conduct insulting or provoking. We therefore find that the

evidence was sufficient to prove defendant guilty of battery against Murphy beyond a reasonable

doubt.

¶ 26 Similarly, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, a rational trier of

fact could have found that defendant knowingly made contact of an insulting or provoking nature

with Flood. Flood was hit from behind, turned, and saw defendant right behind him pushing the

two female ushers, then continue to “barge through” the area. The trial court, as finder of fact,

reasonably inferred that defendant pushed Flood. Moreover, being hit from behind by someone

would be insulting or provoking to any reasonable person working as event staff near an area that

required a specific ticket for entry. We therefore find that the evidence was sufficient to prove

defendant guilty of battery against Flood beyond a reasonable doubt.

¶ 27 Nonetheless, defendant contends that any contact with Murphy and Flood was incidental

and not knowing and intentional. Specifically, he contends that any contact occurred near the

narrow, loud, and crowded entrance to the mosh pit where defendant claims he did not see any

security or staff, no one had asked to see his ticket, and he had a right to be in that area. He further

contends that no one saw him make contact with Flood and evidence establishing the manner in

which contact was made with Flood was lacking. However, the court heard defendant’s version of

events and found his testimony “unbelievable” and “self-serving.” Defendant is essentially asking

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this court to reweigh the evidence, reach different inferences, and make credibility determinations,

which we cannot do. Gray, 2017 IL 120958, ¶ 35. 1

¶ 28 In conclusion, the evidence was sufficient to prove defendant guilty beyond a reasonable

doubt of battery against Murphy and Flood.

¶ 29 For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court of Cook County.

¶ 30 Affirmed.

¶ 31 JUSTICE PUCINSKI, specially concurring

¶ 32 I agree the State proved defendant guilty of battery where his intentional pushing of two

individuals was objectively insulting and provoking.

¶ 33 I write only to point out that the objective standard here for the battery was proved by the

State without any help from the judge.

¶ 34 The trial judge improperly inserted himself into the proceedings as part of the prosecution

when he asked Murphy whether the defendant’s contact was insulting and provoking to him, a

subjective reaction. This puts the court into the position of attempting to assist the prosecution’s

case, which is unacceptable.

¶ 35 However, since the standard of proving that the touch was insulting and provoking is

objective, this was unnecessary. It was an error, but harmless.

1 In arguing the evidence was insufficient to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, defendant also posits that the trial court engaged in “speculation, burden shifting, eliciting evidence to strengthen the State’s case, and refusing to admit relevant evidence of surrounding context.” To the extent defendant purports to challenge the court’s evidentiary rulings, these arguments are largely conclusory and unsupported with a developed legal analysis. See Benton v. Little League Baseball, Inc., 2020 IL App (1st) 190549, ¶ 47 (this court “is not merely a repository into which parties may dump the burden of argument and research, nor is it the obligation of this court to act as an advocate”).

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