People v. Miller

318 N.E.2d 739, 23 Ill. App. 3d 149, 1974 Ill. App. LEXIS 1801
Appellate Court of Illinois·Decided October 9, 1974·No. 73-103·Published·Cited by 10 cases

Opinions

Mr. JUSTICE EBERSPACHER

delivered the opinion of the court:

Upon his plea of guilty the defendant, David Miller, was convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor child (Ill. Rev. Stat., ch. 23, § 2381(a)). From the judgment of the circuit court of Edwards County, the defendant has brought this appeal.

The defendant was charged by information filed November 16, 1972, which stated:

“That on October 26, 1972, in Edwards County, David Miller committed the offense of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor Child in that the said David Miller, a male person over the age of 17 years did knowingly cause Debbie Weisenberger, a female child under the again of 18 years to become a delinquent child, in that he knowingly caused Debbie Weisenberger to be present upon a public street, in the City of Albion, Illinois, after the hour of 11:00 P.M., in violation of Paragraph 2361(a), Chapter 23, Illinois Revised Statutes.”

An warrant of arrest was issued, defendant was arrested and bail set at $10,000 on the same date. On the following day, November 17, the defendant was first brought before the court, acknowledged receipt of a copy of the information, the information was read to him and upon being asked if he understood the charge indicated that he did by “nodding his head yes.” After further explanation of the charge and without being advised of the possible penalty he was asked: “Do you have any questions about the charges filed against you and the possible penalties?” to which the defendant responded by nodding his head no..

This was followed by the following colloquy:

“By the Court: I have given you a copy of the Information. You are entitled to have a lawyer represent you?
Defendant: No.
By the Court: How much money is in his possession.
Sheriff: $100.00.
By the Court: If you desire to have a lawyer the money you have would have to be expended toward hiring an Attorney, expenses for an Attorney. When expenses for an Attorney went beyond funds you have available it is my obligation to appoint a lawyer to represent you.”

No further inquiry was made to determine defendant’s indigency. On several subsequent occasions during the cotuse of the proceedings, the court advised the defendant that he was entitled to be represented by a lawyer. However, on only one of those occasions, the first above recited, did the court make an effort to advise the defendant that he had right to appointed counsel.

After further proceedings it was determined defendant was 20 years of age and defendant was sentenced to the Illinois State Farm at Vandalia for 1 year and assessed a fine of $40 and costs. Defendant remained incarcerated at the State Farm from November 17, 1972, until May 31, 1973, when he was released on bail pending appeal, by this court.

Among numerous other contentions, the defendant asserts that the court erred in accepting the defendant’s guilty plea as the defendant was not represented by counsel and did not knowingly and intelligently waive his right to counsel.

In Argersinger v. Hamlin (1972), 407 U.S. 25, 32 L.Ed.2d 530, 92 S.Ct. 2006, the United States Supreme Court held that the sixth amendment to the Constitution of the United States (made applicable to the States through the fourteenth amendment, Gideon v. Wainwright (1963), 372 U.S. 335, 9 L.Ed.2d 799, 83 S.Ct. 792) required:

“[T]hat absent a knowing and intelligent waiver, no person may be imprisoned for any offense, whether classified as petty, misdemeanor, or felony, unless he was represented by counsel at his trial.” 407 U.S. at 37, 32 L.Ed.2d at 538.

In the instant case,' the defendant was convicted and sentenced to the maximum of 1 year’s incarceration without the aid or assistance of counsel. Thus, unless he knowingly and intelligently waived his right to counsel, and to appointed counsel if he was indigent, his conviction and sentence must be reversed. Argersinger v. Hamlin (1972), 407 U.S. 25, 32 L.Ed.2d 530, 92 S.Ct. 2006.

In Illinois, the standard for determining whether a defendant in a criminal case is entitled to the appointment of counsel is whether the defendant is “indigent”. Ill. Rev. Stat, ch. 38, §§ 109 — 1(b)(2), 113— 3(b); Supreme Court Rule 401(a)(3), Ill. Rev. Stat., ch. 110A, § 401(a) (3).

We are aware of no requirement that a defendant be entirely without funds to be found indigent. Thus, the admonition given by the trial court wherein it was stated and inferred that the defendant must be entirely without funds before counsel would be appointed is error. We must, therefore, conclude that the waiver of right to counsel was not knowingly and intelligently made.

See also People v. Slaten (1973), 13 Ill.App.3d 317, 320-321, 300 N.E.2d 46, 49:

“The record discloses that at no time during defendant’s three appearances before the court was any inquiry made with a view to ascertaining whether or not defendant was indigent. At the time the plea was taken the court made no inquiry concerning defendant’s ability to secure counsel or whether he had made any effort to do so, nor did he inquire whether or not defendant wished to proceed without counsel. It is also apparent from the record that the passing reference to the right to counsel, made at the time this plea was taken on February 28,1967, may be characterized as the sort of routine inquiry’ proscribed in People v. Bush, 32 Ill.2d 484, 207 N.E.2d 446, where the court said with reference to right to counsel ‘a finding of waiver is not lightly to be made [Citations] and the record must show that an accused was offered counsel and that he intelligently and understandingly rejected the offer. [Citations.] In order that the court may be sure that an accused fully understands his right to counsel and intentionally relinquishes that right, something more than a routine inquiry by the court is required.’ We view this portion of the case as being controlled by People v. Hessenauer, 45 Ill.2d 63, 256 N.E.2d 791, where the court held ‘Because of the critical nature of the arraignment, an accused is entitled to the assistance of counsel wehther or not he requests it. [Citations.] A finding of waiver will not be made unless it appears from the record that at each critical stage of the proceeding the trial judge specifically offered, and the accused knowingly and understandingly rejected, the representation of appointed counsel.’ These requirements were not met here and we therefore reverse.”

On this one contention alone this cause must be reversed and remanded with directions to allow defendant to plead anew after a proper hearing on the question of his indigency.

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People v. Miller, 318 N.E.2d 739, 23 Ill. App. 3d 149, 1974 Ill. App. LEXIS 1801 (Ill. Ct. App. 1974).

318 N.E.2d 739 (People v. Miller) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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