No. 2--04--1221 filed: 7/19/06 ______________________________________________________________________________
IN THE
APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
SECOND DISTRICT ______________________________________________________________________________
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE ) Appeal from the Circuit Court OF ILLINOIS, ) of Du Page County. ) Plaintiff-Appellee, ) ) v. ) No. 03--DV--1152 ) JAMES F. MULVEY, ) Honorable ) Kenneth L. Popejoy, Defendant-Appellant. ) Judge, Presiding. ______________________________________________________________________________
JUSTICE KAPALA delivered the opinion of the court:
A Du Page County jury found defendant, James F. Mulvey, guilty of two counts of domestic
battery (720 ILCS 5/12--3.2(a) (West 2002)). Thereafter, the trial court sentenced defendant to
terms of probation. Defendant appeals, contending that he is entitled to a new trial because the trial
court erred in (1) refusing to instruct the jury on the affirmative defense of reasonable discipline of a
child, (2) failing to sustain his objection to prior-inconsistent-statement testimony, and (3) failing to
give a limiting instruction to the jury regarding prior inconsistent statements. We affirm the
judgment of the circuit court of Du Page County.
I. FACTS
The complaint charged domestic battery (720 ILCS 5/12--3.2(a)(2) (West 2002)) in that on
June 28, 2003, defendant "intentionally made physical contact of an insulting nature with Paul M.
Buck, a family member of said defendant in that said defendant struck Paul M. Buck in the face with No. 2--04--1221
his fist." Before trial, the State added a second count of domestic battery (720 ILCS 5/12--3.2(a)(1)
(West 2002)), alleging that "defendant knowingly and without justification caused bodily harm to
Paul Buck in that defendant struck Paul Buck in the head with his fist."
The cause was tried in September 2004. Teresa Ashleman testified that she and her five
children, Paul, John, Patricia, Tim, and Peter, live with defendant. Defendant is the biological father
of the four younger children and has been "acting father" to Paul since Paul was five years old.
According to Ashleman, Paul is slightly "mentally retarded" with an intelligence quotient of 74.
Paul also has epilepsy, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders, and learning disabilities.
Ashleman explained that at approximately 8 p.m. on June 28, 2003, Tim and Paul were
upstairs playing video games. Defendant ran upstairs, and Ashleman saw defendant back Paul up
into the back bedroom. Ashleman ran into the bedroom, where she saw defendant kneeling on Paul
and holding Paul's hands down on the bed. Ashleman pulled defendant off of Paul, and they all went
downstairs. Paul went into the kitchen and took some crackers from 11-year-old John. John
protested by yelling and throwing some Styrofoam cups at Paul. Defendant took Paul by the arm to
escort Paul up the stairs. Paul sat or lay down on the stairs because he did not want to be escorted
upstairs. Paul started kicking and hitting, and defendant tried to hold him down. Peter was sitting at
the base of the stairs and "kind of got squashed" by defendant and Paul. Ashleman said that Paul
may have accidentally kicked Peter. Ashleman said that she grabbed Peter and got him out of the
way. At that point in Ashleman's testimony, the following exchange ensued:
"[ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: Was the defendant hitting Paul?
[ASHLEMAN]: He was holding him down on the stairs and--
[ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: My question was, was he hitting him?
[ASHLEMAN]: I don't believe he was hitting him.
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[ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: Okay. He wasn't hitting him in the head?
[ASHLEMAN]: No. He was doing something like this, a motion like this, on his--
around his head, and his other hand was near his head.
[ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: Okay. Did the defendant ever grab Paul by
the legs and pull him down the stairs?
[ASHLEMAN]: Yes he did. I did see that.
[ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: And did you ever see him punch Paul?
[ASHLEMAN]: I did not see him punch, no, I did not.
I thought that he had, but I did not see that.
***
[ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: But your testimony right now is that you
never saw Jim punch Paul around the head and shoulder area?
[ASHLEMAN]: No. I thought that he was, I did think that he was."
Ashleman testified further that she pulled defendant off of Paul and stood between them.
Ashleman pushed defendant backward and yelled at defendant because she was angry and wanted
defendant to let her handle Paul. Next, Paul threw cracker crumbs in defendant's direction.
Ashleman denied that, in response, defendant threw a punch past her toward Paul. Paul ran into the
kitchen and when John refused to help Paul, Paul punched John. Paul was trying to exit the kitchen
because defendant was coming after him. Ashleman grabbed defendant by the shirt, the shirt ripped,
and defendant and Paul collided and went down onto the kitchen floor. Ashleman saw Paul's head
hit the floor. Ashleman got scared and called 911. At that point in Ashleman's testimony, the
following exchange ensued:
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"[ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: Okay. Did you see Jim punch Paul in the
head?
[ASHLEMAN]: No.
[ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: You didn't see him punch him in the head
repeatedly?
[ASHLEMAN]: No. I believe I exaggerated.
[ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: Okay. That's not my question.
[ASHLEMAN]: Okay.
[ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: Did you ever ask Jim to get off of Paul?
[ASHLEMAN]: I did.
[ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: Were you afraid for Paul's life?
[ASHLEMAN]: I was afraid because he has epilepsy.
[ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: Were you afraid for his life?
[ASHLEMAN]: Not for his life.
[ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: You weren't afraid that the defendant was
going to kill Paul?
[ASHLEMAN]: I was afraid enough to call the police."
Ashleman explained that as she called 911 defendant went outside to smoke a cigarette, and Paul
went into the family room. When Warrenville officers arrived, Ashleman tried to tell Officer Ken
Dawson what happened.
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Ashleman identified the three-page written statement that she wrote and signed and gave to
Dawson the day after the incident. Ashleman admitted that she wrote in her statement (1) that
defendant was mad at Paul, so he held him down on the stairs "while he punched him on and around
the head and shoulders"; (2) that after Paul threw what was left of his cracker at defendant,
"[defendant] through [sic] a punch at Paul's head right past [her]"; (3) that after wrestling Paul to the
kitchen floor, defendant "proceeded to punch Paul repeatedly in the head and around the shoulders
with closed fists very hard"; (4) that she "begged [defendant] to get off of Paul and leave him alone";
and (5) that she "thought Paul would be killed." Ashleman also admitted that on June 28, 2003, she
told the police that defendant punched Paul in the face with his fists several times during two
separate incidents. Ashleman admitted further that she did not tell the police that Paul bit defendant.
Ashleman's written statement was admitted into evidence. It read:
"Paul took one of John's crackers and John protested by yelling and throwing a
plastic cup at Paul. Paul was standing in the hallway with the cracker when Jim got off of
the couch and came towards Paul. Jim said, 'that's it, you're going upstairs' and grabbed
Paul's arms and tried to force Paul upstairs. Peter was sitting on the stairs and Paul's knees
came down on Peter's head accidentally while Jim pushed Paul down on the stairs. I yelled,
'you're squashing Peter!' to both of them and I got Peter out from under Paul. Jim was now
madder at Paul because of Peter getting hurt so he put one knee down on Paul to hold him
down on the stairs while he punched him on and around the head and shoulders. I managed
to pull Jim off of Paul but Paul was kicking Jim now so Jim pulled Paul down off of the
stairs by his legs. Paul was lying on the floor behind me and Jim was standing in front of
me. I was trying to reason with Jim to leave Paul alone while Paul was squeezing the back
of my legs and trying to punch my legs because he was very upset. Paul managed to get up
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behind me while I was talking loudly with Jim. From behind me, Paul threw what was left
of his cracker at Jim and then Jim threw a punch at Paul's head right past me. Paul ran into
the kitchen and got behind John and begged John to help him. Paul said, 'save me, save me'
while his hands were on John's shoulders from behind. John said, 'no, I'm not going to help
you, get away from me,' and tried to get Paul off of him. Paul then punched John hard on the
temple once. John came out of the kitchen crying and holding his head. Jim then ran into
the kitchen towards Paul with me grabbing his shirt by the collar trying to hold him back
from Paul. Jim jumped on Paul in the kitchen and wrestled Paul to the floor, breaking a
stove knob and turning the gas on with another knob in the fall. Jim proceeded to punch
Paul repeatedly on the head and around the shoulders with closed fists very hard. I begged
him to get off of Paul and leave him alone but I thought Paul would be killed because I could
not pull Jim off of Paul either. I then called 911 and asked for police help immediately.
During this time Paul was still under Jim getting hurt and punched. I saw Paul's head come
up and slam down on the tile floor--back of his head. Then Jim finally got off of Paul and
went outside where the police had arrived. /s
Teresa R. Ashleman."
On cross-examination, Ashleman said that after defendant was released from jail she noticed
that there was skin missing from his finger and that there was a very bad bruise on his upper thigh
near his groin. Ashleman also said that after the incident she telephoned the police station in an
effort to change her written statement, but she claimed that the officers would not let her.
Dawson testified that he responded to the Mulvey residence on the evening in question.
Dawson said that Ashleman was upset. At that point in the testimony the following exchange
occurred:
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"[ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: Did Teresa tell you that the defendant
punched her son?
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Objection, your honor; hearsay.
[ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: Judge, I'm impeaching--perfecting my
impeachment of the witness, Teresa Ashleman. It's an exception to the hearsay rule.
THE COURT: Defense, your final word on it?
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Your Honor, she already testified.
As far as perfecting the impeachment, I need to be able to cross examine the witness
regarding this particular statement.
I don't know what the officer is going to say.
If it's an out-of-court statement offered for the truth, it's hearsay.
THE COURT: The--
[ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: Judge--I'm sorry. Procedurally--
THE COURT: The objection is overruled. The question can stand.
You may answer the question, sir.
[OFFICER DAWSON]: Basically, when we walked in the door, she told us that her
boyfriend beat up her retarded son.
[ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: And did she tell you that the defendant
punched her son Paul?
[OFFICER DAWSON]: Yes.
[ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: Did she say he punched him several times?
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[ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: Did she tell you that the defendant wrestled
Paul to the ground and punched him in the head with a closed fist?
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Your Honor, I'm going to interpose a continuing objection
to any statements that Teresa--
THE COURT: Your continued objection is noted for the record.
The objection is overruled. You may answer.
[OFFICER DAWSON]: Yes, she did.
[ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: Did she tell you that she was standing
between the defendant and Paul when the defendant reached around her and punched the
defendant--or Paul in the head?
[OFFICER DAWSON]: Yes she did.
[ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: Did she tell you that Paul ran towards his
brother, John, for help and that John wouldn't help him?
[OFFICER DAWSON]: Correct.
[ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: And did she tell you that the defendant ran
towards Paul in the kitchen and wrestled him to the ground?
[ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: Did she happen to tell you anything about
the defendant having his finger bit?
[OFFICER DAWSON]: No, she did not.
[ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: Did she happen to tell you that her son, John,
was punched by Paul and got knocked out?
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[ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: Did she tell you that the defendant had--
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Your Honor, the State has already called Ms. Ashleman.
If they want to know what Ms. Ashleman told the police officer, they had the
opportunity to ask that, but this police officer--
THE COURT: And they did ask her that and she did testify to that and he can
confirm that.
Continue on. Objection is overruled.
[ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: Did she tell you that defendant was
defending himself?
[ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: Did she tell you that Paul was the aggressor
at any time?
[ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: Did she ever tell you that Paul was-- that
Paul bit the defendant in the thigh?
[ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY]: Did Teresa tell you that she was scared for
the safety of her children and she wasn't sure what the defendant would do?
[OFFICER DAWSON]: Yes, she did."
Dawson testified further that Paul was crying hysterically and had a bloody nose. Defendant
admitted to Dawson that he hit Paul with a closed fist in the head and stomach. Defendant did not
claim that he hit Paul in self-defense. After he and Dawson arrived at the police department,
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defendant said that he needed medical attention because he thought that his hand was broken.
Dawson observed defendant's hand and saw no bite marks or ripped skin.
At a pretrial hearing regarding Paul's competence to testify, it was established that he was
born on July 24, 1984, attended the Clairwoods Academy for the mentally disabled, and reads and
performs math at a fourth-grade level. After examining Paul, the trial judge determined that he was
competent to testify at trial.
At trial, Paul testified to the following. Defendant is his stepfather. On June 28, 2003, his
mother called the police and they came to his house. Paul did not remember what defendant did to
him after defendant saw him hit John. After further questioning, Paul said that he did remember
defendant telling him to go to his room and that he and defendant were wrestling. Paul said that
defendant held him down, but he denied that defendant punched him. Paul explained that he bit
defendant in order to get up. Paul said that he tripped over his two-year-old brother Peter by
accident and defendant got mad. When Paul's mother got in between defendant and Paul, defendant
reached around and hit Paul on the forehead. Paul said that he ran into the kitchen and asked his
brother John for help. When John refused, Paul got mad and "knocked John out." Defendant saw
Paul hit John. Defendant rushed at Paul in the kitchen. Defendant wrestled Paul down again and
held him on the floor. Defendant was not hitting him. When Paul tried to get away, he hit his head
on the floor and got a bloody nose.
On cross-examination, Paul agreed that he takes medication for behavioral problems but did
not take his medication on the date of the incident. On the evening in question, he was upstairs
playing video games with his five-year-old brother, Tim. He got mad at Tim and hit him.
Defendant came into the room and told him to go to his room. Paul agreed further that he hit
defendant with his chair. After his mother came into the room, Paul went downstairs and into the
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kitchen, where he took some cheese and crackers from John. Defendant came into the kitchen, took
him by the arm, and tried to take him upstairs. He ran to the stairs and fell on top of Peter. While
defendant was grabbing Paul, his mother pulled one of defendant's arms away from him. At that
point, Paul bit defendant's hand and did not let go for a while. He then ran to John and asked for his
help. When John refused, Paul punched John in the head. Defendant grabbed hold of Paul and they
fell to the floor. Paul hit his head on the stove as they fell. When his mother came in and tried to get
defendant off of him, Paul bit defendant's leg hard. His mother called the police.
After the State rested its case, defendant made a motion for a directed verdict, which was
denied. The defense called defendant's daughter, Patricia Mulvey, who testified that she saw the
argument between Paul and defendant in the kitchen but did not see defendant punch Paul. Rather,
defendant was holding Paul's hands back and defendant fell on top of Paul. Patricia also saw Paul
run over Peter on the stairs. Patricia said that defendant grabbed Paul's elbow and lifted him off of
Peter. Patricia saw defendant hold Paul down on the stairs and saw Paul bite defendant's finger.
Defendant testified that at approximately 8 p.m. on June 28, 2003, he saw Paul hit Tim as
they were playing video games upstairs. Defendant told Paul to go to his room and Paul refused.
After defendant tilted Paul out of his chair, Paul picked up another chair and swung it at defendant.
Defendant said that he was able to block the blow and then grabbed the chair out of Paul's hands.
Paul turned, ran into the back bedroom, and jumped onto the bed. Defendant said that he went after
Paul while he yelled for Ashleman. While lying on the bed, Paul tried to kick defendant, so
defendant went to Paul's side, grabbed his arms, and got on top of Paul on the bed. Defendant held
Paul there until Ashleman arrived and then he released Paul and left the room.
Shortly thereafter Paul and Ashleman came downstairs. Paul went to the kitchen and
grabbed some crackers away from John. John started to scream and threw a stack of cups at Paul.
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Defendant told Paul to go to his room. Paul crushed the crackers and "tossed them." Defendant said
that he reached out and took Paul by the arm and said, "upstairs now." While defendant attempted to
lead Paul to the stairs, Paul pulled away and ran over Peter on his way up the stairs. When
defendant bent down to pick up Peter, Paul kicked defendant and then Peter. Defendant immediately
grabbed Paul's arms and lay on top of him so he would not kick Peter again. Ashleman came and
took Peter out from underneath them and told defendant to get off of Paul. Defendant told Ashleman
that he could not let Paul go. With that, Ashleman started to pull defendant and got one of his arms
free. Paul took defendant's free arm and bit defendant's index finger as hard as he could. Ashleman
got between defendant and Paul and told defendant to calm down. Defendant told Ashleman that he
was not the one who needed to calm down. With that, Paul made a throwing motion and defendant
reached for Paul's shirt. Defendant denied punching or attempting to punch Paul. Paul ran into the
kitchen and "slugged [John] on the side of the head." Ashleman grabbed defendant's shirt as he tried
to go into the kitchen. The shirt ripped and defendant proceeded into the kitchen. Defendant asked
John if he was alright, and John went into the bathroom. According to defendant, when Paul started
to run from the kitchen, defendant wrapped his arms around Paul in a "bear hug" and pushed Paul
back towards the counter. Defendant was telling Paul to calm down but Paul kept trying to break
loose. Defendant said that they started to slip and hit the stove on the way to the floor. Ashleman
put her arms around defendant and pulled him up away from Paul. At that point, Paul had slid down
between defendant's legs and "took a great big bite out of the inside of [defendant's] thigh."
Defendant once again wrapped his arms around Paul. Ashleman got up and ran for the telephone.
Paul was thrashing and kicking while Ashleman was yelling at defendant to let Paul go. Defendant
told her that he could not let Paul go. Defendant explained that he could not let Paul go because
Paul had just bit him, punched John, and kicked Peter. Defendant kept telling Paul to settle down.
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Paul pulled away from defendant and hit his head hard on the floor. With that, Paul stopped
fighting. Defendant asked Paul if he was okay, and Paul said yes. Defendant let Paul up and told
him to go sit in the living room. Defendant went outside and had a cigarette.
Defendant denied punching Paul during the incident or telling a police officer that he
punched Paul in the face with a closed fist. When asked why he did not tell the police that he was
acting in self-defense, defendant said, "[t]hey would have taken Paul to jail. He was 18." When
asked why he did not want Paul to go to jail, defendant said, "[h]e's retarded."
The trial court instructed the jury on the affirmative defenses of justifiable use of force in
defense of one's self and in defense of others. The trial court refused to instruct the jury on the
defense of justifiable use of force in imposing reasonable parental discipline of a child. After
hearing closing arguments, the jury retired to deliberate and returned verdicts of guilty. Thereafter,
the trial court denied defendant's posttrial motion for a new trial. The trial court sentenced defendant
to concurrent terms of probation. Defendant timely appeals.
II. ANALYSIS
A. Jury Instruction on Reasonable Discipline of a Child
Defendant's first appellate contention is that the trial court erred in refusing to instruct the
jury on the common-law defense of justifiable use of force in the reasonable parental discipline of a
child. Defendant tendered a proposed nonpattern jury instruction that provided that "[a] parent is
legally justified in using reasonable force when necessary as part of the reasonable discipline of a
child." In support of this instruction, defendant cited People v. Roberts, 351 Ill. App. 3d 684 (2004),
wherein the Fourth District deemed an identical jury instruction to be "an accurate, simple, brief,
impartial, and nonargumentative statement of the law." Roberts, 351 Ill. App. 3d at 690.
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The defense of justifiable use of force in imposing reasonable parental discipline of a child is
deeply rooted in the common law of this state. See, e.g., People v. Ball, 58 Ill. 2d 36, 39 (1974);
Fletcher v. People, 52 Ill. 395, 397 (1869); Roberts, 351 Ill. App. 3d at 688; In re F.W., 261 Ill. App.
3d 894, 898 (1994); People v. Sambo, 197 Ill. App. 3d 574, 580-81 (1990); People v. Tomlianovich,
161 Ill. App. 3d 241, 242 (1987); People v. Walker, 130 Ill. App. 3d 58, 60 (1985); People v. Virgin,
60 Ill. App. 3d 964, 968 (1978). Additionally, as pointed out by the Roberts court:
"[T]he domestic battery statute refers to the definitions found in 'subsection (3) of section
112A--3 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963.' 720 ILCS 5/12--3.2(a)(1) (West 2002)
(referring to 725 ILCS 5/112A--3(3) (West 2002)). Subsection (1) of section 112A--3
defines 'abuse' to 'not include reasonable direction of a minor child by a parent or person in
loco parentis.' 725 ILCS 5/112A--3(1) (West 2002)." Roberts, 351 Ill. App. 3d at 689.
The State does not take issue with the holding in Roberts but, rather, the State argues that the
evidence presented at trial did not support giving the jury the instruction, because the evidence did
not establish that defendant was Paul's parent or was in loco parentis or that Paul was a "child." We
note that the trial court did not rely on either of these rationales in refusing to give the jury
instruction at issue. Nevertheless, we may affirm the trial court on any basis that is supported by the
record. People v. Dinelli, 217 Ill. 2d 387, 403 (2005). Because we agree that Paul was not a "child"
for purposes of the defense, defendant was not entitled to the instruction regarding reasonable
parental discipline of a child. Accordingly, we need not consider whether defendant was Paul's
parent or was in loco parentis.
Where there is some evidence to support a defense instruction, the trial court's refusal to
instruct the jury constitutes an abuse of discretion. People v. Hari, 218 Ill. 2d 275, 296 (2006). Very
slight evidence upon a given theory of a case will warrant the giving of an instruction. Hari, 218 Ill.
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2d at 296. However, in this case, defendant's alternative theory that he was using force justifiably in
imposing reasonable parental discipline of a child was not available to him unless Paul was in fact a
"child." The definition of the term "child" for purposes of the common-law defense of justifiable use
of force in the reasonable parental discipline of a child is an issue of first impression in this state.
This is a question of law, subject to de novo review. See People v. Caballes, 221 Ill. 2d 282, ___
(2006).
It is uncontroverted that Paul was 18 years old on the date in question. In fact, the incident
occurred less than one month before Paul's nineteenth birthday. Citing Thornhill v. Midwest
Physician Center of Orland Park, 337 Ill. App. 3d 1034, 1052 (2003), for the proposition that the age
of majority in the State of Illinois is 18, the State takes the position that the term "child" for purposes
of the defense means a child less than 18 years of age. In response, defendant argues that a person
does not cease being a "child" of his parent merely because he reaches the age of majority. Thus, the
State would have us hold that only parents of minor children, less than 18 years of age, can lawfully
utilize reasonable corporal punishment to discipline their children and, in turn, have the benefit of
the corresponding defense to a charge of criminal aggression against a child. On the other hand,
defendant would have us hold that every parent can lawfully utilize reasonable corporal punishment
to discipline his or her child, regardless of the child's age.
We agree with the State's position and hold that, for purposes of the common-law defense of
justifiable use of force in the reasonable parental discipline of a child, the term "child" is limited to
persons less than 18 years of age. Defendant's interpretation leads to unreasonable applications of
the defense in situations involving parents and their adult offspring. Under such an interpretation, a
55-year-old father could lawfully utilize reasonable corporal punishment to discipline his 35-year-
old daughter. Defendant cites no authority for the proposition that the defense is available to parents
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charged with crimes of aggression against their adult offspring, nor has he convinced us to extend
the parental corporal punishment defense to parents with children who are 18 years of age and older.
The State's interpretation, on the other hand, is consistent with the legislature's recognition of
the privilege of reasonable parental discipline as it exists in other contexts. For example, in
addressing domestic violence orders of protection, the legislature used the term "minor child" in
excepting from the definition of "abuse" the reasonable direction of a minor child by a parent or
person in loco parentis. See 725 ILCS 5/112A--3(1) (West 2002). Also, subsection (c) of the
domestic battery statute requires defendants convicted of various offenses in the presence of a child
to serve a mandatory minimum imprisonment of 10 days or perform 300 hours of community
service, or both. 720 ILCS 5/12--3.2(c) (West 2002). That subsection further provides that " 'child'
means a person under 18 years of age." 720 ILCS 5/12--3.2(c) (West Supp. 2005).
In addition, the facts of this case demonstrate that a parent's use of corporal punishment to
correct the behavior of his or her adult children, as opposed to the utilization of an alternative form
of discipline, can easily escalate into mutual combat. This form of domestic violence exposes the
combatants, as well as the other inhabitants of the household, to serious physical and emotional
harm. This heightened safety concern serves as a sound policy rationale for the denial of the defense
of reasonable parental discipline of a child to parents charged with crimes of aggression against their
adult children.
In sum, because Paul was not a "child" at the time defendant used force on him, we conclude
that there was no evidence presented at trial warranting the proposed jury instruction on the
justifiable use of force in the reasonable parental discipline of a child. Accordingly, we find no
abuse of discretion in the trial court's refusal to give the jury defendant's proposed instruction.
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B. Prior-Inconsistent-Statement Testimony
Defendant's second appellate contention is that the trial court erred in failing to sustain his
objection to Dawson's testimony regarding Ashleman's prior inconsistent oral statements. Defendant
advances three arguments in support of this contention: (1) proof of Ashleman's prior inconsistent
oral statements should have been foreclosed because her prior inconsistent written statement had
already been proven, (2) the State did not lay the proper foundation for Dawson's testimony
regarding Ashleman's prior inconsistent oral statements, and (3) Dawson's testimony regarding
Ashleman's prior inconsistent oral statements was overly lengthy.
Defendant's arguments are waived, as defendant did not object at trial on these three specific
bases or raise them in his posttrial motion. Defendant's trial objection to Dawson's testimony was on
the basis of hearsay, and in his posttrial motion he wrote that "the Court erred in allowing Officer
Dawson to testify to the hearsay statements of Teresa Ashleman." Both an objection at trial and
inclusion of the alleged error in a written posttrial motion are necessary to preserve the error for
review. People v. Enoch, 122 Ill. 2d 176, 186 (1988). A specific objection waives all other grounds.
People v. O'Neal, 104 Ill. 2d 399, 407 (1984). The rule requiring a specific objection is especially
appropriate where a defendant's lack of a timely and specific objection deprives the trial court of the
ability to correct deficiencies in the foundational proof at trial. People v. Woods, 214 Ill. 2d 455,
470 (2005).
Waiver aside, assuming arguendo that the trial court erred in admitting Ashleman's prior
inconsistent oral statements to Dawson, defendant has failed to establish that he suffered any
prejudice, in light of the fact that Ashleman made nearly verbatim statements in her prior
inconsistent written statement, which was admissible as substantive evidence pursuant to section
115--10.1(c)(2)(A) of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. 725 ILCS 5/115--10.1(c)(2)(A)
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(West 2002) (a prior inconsistent statement is substantively admissible where it narrates, describes,
or explains an event or condition of which the witness had personal knowledge and is proved to have
been written or signed by the witness). Because Ashleman's oral statements to Dawson were merely
cumulative of other properly admitted testimony, any error in their admission was harmless. See
People v. Bradford, 106 Ill. 2d 492, 500-01 (1985) (lack of proper foundation for prior inconsistent
statement harmless given extent to which witnesses' testimony had already been impeached through
another properly admitted prior inconsistent statement); People v. Sims, 285 Ill. App. 3d 598, 610
(1996) (the improper admission of a prior inconsistent statement made to police detectives was
harmless because it was cumulative of witness's prior inconsistent statement before grand jury,
which was properly admitted as substantive evidence under section 115--10.1(c)(1)). For these
reasons, we cannot conclude that defendant is entitled to a new trial based on his second appellate
contention.
C. Limiting Instruction
Defendant's last appellate contention is that the trial court failed to give a limiting instruction
regarding Ashleman's prior inconsistent oral statements. The State argues that Ashleman's prior
inconsistent oral statements to Dawson were substantively admissible under section 115--10.1 (725
ILCS 5/115--10.1 (West 2002)) such that an instruction limiting the jury's consideration of those
statements to impeachment only would have been inappropriate. However, even if defendant was
entitled to such a limiting instruction, he waived his third appellate contention by not tendering a
limiting instruction or raising the issue in his posttrial motion. A claim on appeal that the trial court
erred in failing to give a limiting instruction with respect to the jury's consideration of a prior
inconsistent statement is waived by a defendant's failure to tender a limiting instruction and raise the
issue in a posttrial motion. People v. Gacho, 122 Ill. 2d 221, 253 (1988). In addition, defendant's
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failure to request a limiting instruction left the jury with the capability to consider the evidence
substantively. In the absence of plain error, which defendant is not here asserting, if no request is
made to have the jury advised that a prior inconsistent statement was admitted solely to impeach, the
statements may be considered as substantive evidence by the jury. People v. Camp, 128 Ill. App. 3d
223, 231 (1984); M. Graham, Cleary & Graham's Handbook of Illinois Evidence '613.3, at 501;
'801.8, at 648 (8th ed. 2004). Accordingly, defendant is not entitled to a new trial based on his last
appellate contention.
III. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court of Du Page County.
Affirmed.
GROMETER, P.J., and BYRNE, J., concur.
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