People v. Moss

2025 IL App (5th) 250099-U

Opinion

NOTICE 2025 IL App (5th) 250099-U NOTICE Decision filed 05/09/25. The This order was filed under text of this decision may be NO. 5-25-0099 Supreme Court Rule 23 and is changed or corrected prior to not precedent except in the the filing of a Petition for IN THE limited circumstances allowed Rehearing or the disposition of under Rule 23(e)(1). the same. APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS

FIFTH DISTRICT ______________________________________________________________________________

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, ) Appeal from the ) Circuit Court of Plaintiff-Appellee, ) Jefferson County. ) v. ) No. 24-CF-351 ) LARRY C. MOSS, ) Honorable ) Jerry E. Crisel, Defendant-Appellant. ) Judge, presiding. ______________________________________________________________________________

JUSTICE SHOLAR delivered the judgment of the court. Justices Welch and Cates concurred in the judgment.

ORDER

¶1 Held: The circuit court’s orders granting the State’s verified petition to deny pretrial release and denying defendant’s motion for relief are affirmed where no condition, or combination of conditions, alleviates defendant’s dangerousness.

¶2 Defendant, Larry C. Moss, appeals the circuit court’s November 19, 2024, order denying

his pretrial release and the January 22, 2025, order denying his motion for relief. On appeal, he

argues that the court erred by finding that no condition or combination of conditions would ensure

defendant’s appearance for subsequent hearings or being charged with a subsequent felony or

Class A misdemeanor. For the following reasons, we affirm.

1 ¶3 I. BACKGROUND

¶4 On November 12, 2024, defendant was charged, by information, 1 with one count of

aggravated arson in violation of section 20-1.1(a) of the Criminal Code of 2012 (720 ILCS 5/20-

1.1(a) (West 2024)), a Class X felony. The charges alleged that defendant, while committing an

arson, knowingly partially damaged an apartment building and at the time defendant knew or

should have reasonably known that one or more persons were present therein. The same day, the

State filed a verified petition to deny defendant pretrial release. Also on November 12, 2024, the

State filed a petition to revoke pretrial release in 24-CF-336. The petition to revoke alleged

defendant committed a new offense at a time when he was already on pretrial release for his alleged

commission of a hate crime.

¶5 The matter proceeded to a hearing on the State’s petitions on November 19, 2024. The

State proceeded by proffer and described the events which resulted in the underlying charges of

each case. Relevant to this appeal, the State proffered that if the aggravated arson case proceeded

to trial, Officer Crawford from the Mt. Vernon Police Department would testify that on November

8, 2024, he responded to 1140 Maple Street, Apartment 14 in Mt. Vernon for a report of defendant

catching a trash can on fire by throwing a cigarette into it. Upon arriving on scene, Officer

Crawford contacted defendant, who was sitting outside the apartment, which had smoke coming

from it. Defendant stated he did not know what happened. Later that day, Officer Crawford

returned to the residence after receiving a report of a fire inside.

¶6 That State further proffered it would call Trent Myers to testify. Myers would testify that

on the day in question, he had been at 1140 Maple Street, which is an apartment complex with

multi-family dwelling units. Myers would further testify that defendant attempted to start a fire in

1 The information was superseded by a bill of indictment on November 21, 2024. 2 apartment 14 while Myers was present. Myers would also testify that defendant tried to ignite the

carpet by using a lighter and newspaper. Myers would testify that he extinguished the fire multiple

times by stepping on it but left the apartment to walk the dog. Upon returning, Myers found that

defendant successfully started the fire, which quickly spread.

¶7 The State proffered it would also call defendant’s wife, Cheryl Moss, to testify. Cheryl

Moss would testify that prior to the incident in question, she took defendant to enter a medical

detox program, but he was kicked out upon his arrival. She would testify that on their way home,

defendant made several alarming statements, including threats to harm their grandson and to burn

down their apartment building. Cheryl Moss would also testify that defendant previously started a

fire in the trash can of their apartment.

¶8 The State noted defendant’s criminal history, particularly, a 2009 case in Georgia in which

defendant was convicted of terroristic threats, arson, and obstructing an officer. The State also

referenced defendant’s numerous DUI convictions, a burglary conviction, and theft convictions,

which dated back to 1980.

¶9 Defendant proceeded by proffer. Defense counsel stated that if called to testify, defendant

would inform the court that he was 69 years of age, he resided in Mt. Vernon, and was in “terrible

health.” Defendant would testify he suffered from diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,

and a myriad of heart issues. Defendant would also testify he suffered from congestive heart

failure, and his appendix was recently removed. Counsel argued the allegations made by the State

are “just offering for proof for the purpose of the detention hearing, and he’s an innocent man as

he sits here.” Counsel also argued defendant’s poor health precluded him from being a danger to

anyone. Defense counsel proffered that defendant was a horrible alcoholic and “[i]f he stops

drinking, he will likely die.”

3 ¶ 10 The State argued that it showed by clear and convincing evidence that defendant committed

a qualifying offense, aggravated arson, when he set his apartment on fire, which was part of an

apartment complex containing multiple families. The State contended defendant posed a real and

present threat to the safety of any person or persons in the community. Specifically, the State

argued that defendant posed a threat to anyone that lives in the apartment complex as well as

defendant’s wife and their grandson. The State asserted that no condition or combination of

conditions could mitigate the real and present threat to the safety of those persons. The State argued

that home confinement or ankle monitoring would be insufficient, as defendant tried to burn down

his own home. The State also asked the court to make a finding that it was necessary to revoke

defendant’s pretrial release in 24-CF-336 to prevent defendant from committing subsequent

felonies or Class A misdemeanors.

¶ 11 In response, defendant first addressed the petition to revoke his pretrial release in 24-CF-

336. Defendant argued that the circuit court was “presented with the option to revoke it, to modify

it, or to sanction him.” Defendant argued that the court could place further conditions on defendant

or sanction him for 30 days.

¶ 12 With regard to 24-CF-351, defendant argued the petition to deny pretrial release should be

denied based on defendant’s health issues. Defendant argued he lost his son and stepson within the

last year. Defendant argued the court could place counseling, anger management, and sobriety

conditions upon him. Defendant further suggested the court could require him to report daily to

pretrial services. Defendant argued, “There are a million different things you can do, short of

keeping him in custody that endangers his health and places liability upon the jail in this county.”

¶ 13 Following argument, the circuit court noted defendant’s arguments were contradictory.

Defendant argued conditions of sobriety could be imposed; however, defendant previously

4 indicated that he was an irretrievable alcoholic that must consume alcohol or he will die. The court

stated, “I don’t know what good it does to mandate sobriety upon someone who probably is going

to consume alcohol no matter what I say unless he’s in jail and has no options for it.” The circuit

court found, in 24-CF-351, that defendant committed a qualifying offense of aggravated arson, a

Class X felony, that defendant posed a real and present threat to the safety of any person or persons

in the community, and that no condition or combination of conditions would mitigate that threat.

The court noted that defendant’s health issues did not prevent him from allegedly setting the fire.

As such, the court granted the State’s petition to deny pretrial release. With respect to the petition

to revoke in 24-CF-336, the circuit court sanctioned defendant to 30 days in the county jail, with

credit only for time served.

¶ 14 On November 19, 2024, the circuit court entered its order for detention and found the proof

was evident or the presumption great the defendant committed a qualifying offense, defendant

posed a real and present threat to the safety of any person or persons or the community, and no

condition or combination of conditions could mitigate the real and present threat to the safety of

any person or persons. The court found that less restrictive conditions would not assure the safety

of any person or persons or the community due to the “nature of the offense—defendant started

fire at his own apartment which is part of a building shared with other families.” The court included

the same reasoning for why defendant should be denied pretrial release. Also on November 19,

2024, the court entered its order for sanctions, ordering defendant to imprisonment in the county

jail for 30 days, with day for day credit to apply.

¶ 15 On December 3, 2024, defendant filed a motion for relief and immediate release. In his

motion, defendant argued that the court erred by granting the “State’s Petition to Revoke Pretrial

Release and the State’s Verified Petition to Deny Defendant Pretrial Release” because the State

5 failed to meet its burden of proving, by clear and convincing evidence, that no condition or

combination of conditions of release would reasonably ensure defendant’s appearance for later

hearings or prevent defendant from being charged with a subsequent felony or Class A

misdemeanor. The motion argued that the court failed to consider defendant’s (1) ties to the

community, (2) willingness to abide by any terms of pretrial release, (3) employment, (4) poor

health status, and (5) lack of relevant criminal history.

¶ 16 On January 22, 2025, the circuit court held a hearing on defendant’s motion for relief.

Defendant asked the court to reconsider the detention order. Defendant noted that he was in the

custody of Pulaski County, because Jefferson County was not able to care for him due to his health

issues. Defendant argued he should be granted pretrial release with conditions, such as an ankle

monitor.

¶ 17 In response, the State summarized the facts of the underlying charges. The court inquired

into defendant’s criminal history, which included terroristic threats for which defendant received

a 10-year sentence in Georgia. The State argued there were no conditions of release which would

ensure the safety of anyone living with defendant. On rebuttal, defendant argued that defendant’s

issues stem from alcohol use. Defendant noted that he was over 60 days sober, and pretrial services

had the authority to require daily alcohol monitoring. Defendant argued that none of his criminal

history is relevant.

¶ 18 Following arguments, the circuit court denied defendant’s motion for relief. The court

noted the severity and dangerousness of defendant’s actions and the potential tragedy that could

have occurred by setting a residential building on fire. The court concluded there is “no condition

or combination of conditions which would convince the court that [defendant] would abide by its

rulings, its order to cooperate with Pretrial Services and not violate the law and so on.”

6 ¶ 19 On January 22, 2025, defendant’s motion for relief was denied by docket entry. Defendant

filed a timely notice of appeal on February 10, 2025, in 24-CF-351. Defendant does not appeal the

imposition of sanctions in 24-CF-336.

¶ 20 II. ANALYSIS

¶ 21 On appeal, defendant argues that the court erred by finding that no condition or

combination of conditions would ensure defendant’s appearance for subsequent hearings or being

charged with a subsequent felony or Class A misdemeanor. For the following reasons, we affirm.

¶ 22 Pretrial release—including the conditions related thereto—is governed by statute. See Pub.

Act 102-1104, § 70 (eff. Jan. 1, 2023). A defendant’s pretrial release may be denied only in certain

statutorily limited situations. 725 ILCS 5/110-6.1 (West 2024). In order to detain a defendant, the

State has the burden to prove by clear and convincing evidence that (1) the proof is evident or the

presumption great that the defendant has committed a qualifying offense, (2) the defendant’s

pretrial release poses a real and present threat to the safety of any person or the community or a

flight risk, and (3) less restrictive conditions would not avoid a real and present threat to the safety

of any person or the community and/or prevent the defendant’s willful flight from prosecution. Id.

§ 110-6.1(e).

¶ 23 In considering whether the defendant poses a real and present threat to the safety of any

person or the community, i.e., making a determination of “dangerousness,” the trial court may

consider evidence or testimony concerning factors that include, but are not limited to, (1) the nature

and circumstances of any offense charged, including whether the offense is a crime of violence

involving a weapon or a sex offense; (2) the history and characteristics of the defendant; (3) the

identity of any person to whom the defendant is believed to pose a threat and the nature of the

threat; (4) any statements made by or attributed to the defendant, together with the circumstances

7 surrounding the statements; (5) the age and physical condition of the defendant; (6) the age and

physical condition of the victim or complaining witness; (7) whether the defendant is known to

possess or have access to a weapon; (8) whether at the time of the current offense or any other

offense, the defendant was on probation, parole, or supervised release from custody; and (9) any

other factors including those listed in section 110-5 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963

(id. § 110-5). Id. § 110-6.1(g).

¶ 24 To set appropriate conditions of pretrial release, the trial court must determine, by clear

and convincing evidence, what pretrial release conditions, “if any, will reasonably ensure the

appearance of a defendant as required or the safety of any other person or the community and the

likelihood of compliance by the defendant with all the conditions of pretrial release.” Id. § 110-

5(a). In reaching its determination, the trial court must consider (1) the nature and circumstances

of the offense charged; (2) the weight of the evidence against the person; (3) the history and

characteristics of the person; (4) the nature and seriousness of the specific, real, and present threat

to any person that would be posed by the person’s release; and (5) the nature and seriousness of

the risk of obstructing or attempting to obstruct the criminal justice process. Id. The statute lists

no singular factor as dispositive. See id.

¶ 25 Our standard of review of pretrial release determinations was recently clarified by the

Illinois Supreme Court. See People v. Morgan, 2025 IL 130626, ¶¶ 43-44, 54. Therein, the court

found that when live witness testimony is presented at a pretrial detention hearing, a circuit court’s

ultimate detention decision under section 110-6.1, in addition to any underlying factual findings

supporting the decision, will not be disturbed on review unless found to be contrary to the manifest

weight of the evidence. Id. ¶ 43.

8 ¶ 26 However, not all pretrial release cases include live witness testimony because the statute

allows for presentation of evidence by proffer. See 725 ILCS 5/110-6.1(f)(2) (West 2024). In such

instances, “when parties to a pretrial detention hearing proceed solely by proffer, the reviewing

court stands in the same position as the circuit court and may therefore conduct its own independent

review of the proffered evidence and evidence otherwise documentary in nature.” Morgan, 2025

IL 130626, ¶ 51. Therefore, where the pretrial detention hearing proceeds solely by proffer, the

reviewing court is not bound by the circuit court’s factual findings and may therefore conduct its

own independent de novo review of the proffered evidence and evidence otherwise documentary

in nature. Id. ¶ 54. As the parties proceeded by proffer at the pretrial detention hearing, our review

is de novo.

¶ 27 Defendant’s notice of appeal claims that the State failed to meet its burden of proving by

clear and convincing evidence that (1) the proof was evident or the presumption great that

defendant committed the charged offense; (2) defendant posed a real and present threat to the

safety of any person or persons or the community, based on the specific articulable facts of the

case; and (3) no condition or combination of conditions could mitigate defendant’s real and present

threat to the safety of any persons or the community, or defendant’s willful flight. Defendant’s

fourth issue claims the court erred in its determination that no conditions or combination of

conditions would reasonably ensure defendant’s appearance for later hearings or prevent defendant

from being charged with a subsequent felony or Class A misdemeanor. Notably, only one of these

issues was raised in defendant’s motion for relief.

¶ 28 On appeal, defendant’s appointed counsel, the Office of State Appellate Defender, filed a

notice stating it would not be filing a Rule 604(h)(7) memorandum (Ill. S. Ct. R. 604(h)(7) (eff.

Apr. 15, 2024)). Accordingly, our review is limited to the single issue properly raised in

9 defendant’s motion for relief. Id. This court will not consider issues raised in the notice of appeal

that were not previously presented to the trial court. Ill. S. Ct. R. 604(h)(2) (eff. Apr. 15, 2024)

(“Upon appeal, any issue not raised in the motion for relief, other than errors occurring for the first

time at the hearing on the motion for relief, shall be deemed waived.”).

¶ 29 Here, defendant’s motion for relief solely contended the State failed to prove, by clear and

convincing evidence, that no condition or combination of conditions would ensure defendant’s

appearance for later hearings or from being charged with a subsequent felony or Class A

misdemeanor. He then claimed, in support of this proposition, that the circuit court failed to

consider defendant’s ties to the community, his willingness to abide by pretrial conditions, his

employment opportunities, his poor health status, and his lack of relevant criminal history.

¶ 30 We first note that the State was not required to prove, in the instant appeal, by clear and

convincing evidence, that no set of conditions would ensure that defendant would not be charged

with a subsequent felony or Class A misdemeanor because that is the standard for revocation of

pretrial release, not denial of pretrial release. See 725 ILCS 5/110-6(a) (West 2024). The relevant

standard for the case at bar required the State to prove by clear and convincing evidence that no

condition or combination of conditions could mitigate “the real and present threat to the safety of

any person or persons or the community” or mitigate defendant’s willful flight.

¶ 31 We reviewed the proffers presented by the State and defendant. Defendant was charged

with aggravated arson in violation of section 20-1.1(a) of the Criminal Code of 2012 (720 ILCS

5/20-1.1(a) (West 2024)), a Class X felony. Here, the State’s proffer established that defendant

started a fire in his own residence, which was a part of a multi-family apartment complex. The

proffer established that defendant attempted to start a fire in his apartment on multiple occasions.

Further, defendant was already on pretrial release for his alleged commission of a hate crime.

10 Defendant’s criminal history revealed a 2009 case in Georgia in which defendant was convicted

of terroristic threats, arson, and obstructing an officer. His criminal history also revealed numerous

DUI convictions, a burglary conviction, and theft convictions, which date back to 1980.

¶ 32 Here, given the proffers, we find that no condition, or combination of conditions, would

mitigate defendant’s dangerousness to those he lives with or the community. Accordingly, we

affirm the circuit court’s order granting the State’s petition to detain and denying defendant’s

motion for relief.

¶ 33 III. CONCLUSION

¶ 34 For the reasons stated herein, we affirm the orders of the circuit court of Jefferson County

granting the State’s petition to deny release and the denial of defendant’s motion for relief.

¶ 35 Affirmed.