People v. Nance

324 N.E.2d 652, 26 Ill. App. 3d 182, 1975 Ill. App. LEXIS 1864
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedMarch 5, 1975
Docket74-35
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 324 N.E.2d 652 (People v. Nance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Court of Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Nance, 324 N.E.2d 652, 26 Ill. App. 3d 182, 1975 Ill. App. LEXIS 1864 (Ill. Ct. App. 1975).

Opinion

Mr. PRESIDING JUSTICE EBERSPACHER

delivered the opinion of the court:

A juiy found the defendant, William L. Nance, guilty of the crime of aggravated battery. Following a hearing in aggravation and mitigation, the circuit court of Jefferson County sentenced the defendant to a term of periodic imprisonment for 1 year, the conditions of which term being that the defendant spend weekends in the county jail. The trial court also fined the defendant $250 and ordered him to pay the costs not only of the proceeding but also of his incarceration. As a further condition of the sentence, the court prohibited the defendant from owning, possessing or consuming alcoholic beverages for 1 year.

The defendant raised the following issues on appeal; (1) whether the indictment was insufficient for failing to allege an element of the crime; (2) whether the trial court erred in giving an instruction alleged to be defective; (3) whether the defendant was proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt; (4) whether the trial court abused its discretion in imposing a sentence of periodic imprisonment and in attaching restrictive conditions thereto.

On January 27, 1973, the grand jury indicted defendant charging him with the offense of aggravated battery. Defendant attacks the sufficiency of the indictment which charged:

“[H]e did intentionally without legal justification make physical contact of a provoking nature with peace Officer Dale Martin, knowing Dale Martin to be a peace officer engaged in the execution of his official duties in violation of paragraph 12 — 4b—6, chapter 38, Illinois Revised Statutes.”

By statute, an indictment must set forth the nature and elements of the offense charged. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1973, ch. 38, par. 111 — 3(a)(3); People v. Harvey, 53 Ill.2d 585, 294 N.E.2d 269.) In People v. Crane, 3 Ill.App.3d 716, 279 N.E.2d 134, this court determined that actual physical harm must be proved to sustain a conviction of aggravated battery under subsections (3) through (7), and under subsection (9) of section 12 — 4(b) of the Criminal Code (Ill. Rev. Stat, ch. 38, par. 12 — 4(b)). The provisions of the Code relevant to this appeal are set out in pertinent part below:

“§ 12 — 3. Battery.
(a) A person commits battery if he intentionally or knowingly without legal justification and by any means,
(1) causes bodily harm to an individual, or
(2) makes physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature with an individual.”
§ 12 — 4. Aggravated Batteiy.
(a) A person who, in committing a battery, intentionally or knowingly causes great bodily harm, or permanent disability or disfigurement commits aggravated battery and shall be imprisoned in a penal institution other than the penitentiary not to exceed one year or in the penitentiary from one to 10 years.
(b) A person who, in committing battery either:
* * *
(6) Knows the individual harmed to be a peace officer, or a person summoned and directed by him, or a correctional officer * * *;
* * *
(9) * * * commits aggravated battery and shall be imprisoned in a penal institution other than the penitentiary not to exceed one year or in the penitentiary from one to 5 years.” (Emphasis supplied.) (Ill. Rev. Stat, ch. 38, pars. 12 — 3, 12— 4.)

Evidence of mere physical contact of a provoking nature is insufficient to constitute the “harm” required by section 12 — 4. In the instant case, brought under section 12 — 4(b) (6), the indictment failed to allege that Officer Martin suffered harm. Although the indictment charged the defendant with conduct constituting a criminal battery, it is fatally defective in charging an aggravated battery. Accordingly, we reverse the conviction of the charge of aggravated battery. People v. Crane, 3 Ill.App.3d 716, 279 N.E.2d 134.

Having thus decided, we need not consider the defendant’s other contentions with reference to his conviction for aggravated battery.

Defendant next argues that the evidence was insufficient to convict him of a criminal battery, a lesser included offense of the crime of aggravated battery. A reviewing court will not disturb a guilty verdict on ground of insufficient evidence unless it is so unsatisfactory, improbable or unreasonable and so palpably contrary to the evidence as to justify the court in entertaining a reasonable doubt of defendant’s guilt. (People v. Rogers, 132 Ill.App.2d 501, 270 N.E.2d 186; People v. Hill, 61 Ill.App.2d 16, 208 N.E.2d 874.) Conflict in testimony does not in itself establish a reasonable doubt. (People v. Clanton, 16 Ill.App.3d 593, 306 N.E.2d 486.) It is within the province of the jury whether or not to believe the testimony it hears. (People v. Zuniga, 53 Ill.2d 550, 293 N.E.2d 595.) The credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given to their testimony are solely for the jury. (People v. Harris, 53 Ill.2d 83, 288 N.E.2d 873.) Where there is clearly conflicting testimony, the jury weighs the evidence and decides whose testimony is credible. The evidence must be so contrary to the verdict as to be unreasonable to cause reasonable doubt as to the defendant’s guilt. (People v. Holliman, 22 Ill.App.3d 95, 316 N.E.2d 812.) Stated in another manner:

“The State must prove a defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, however, the positive testimony of just one credible witness is enough to convict a defendant.” (People v. Brandys & Demorrow, 15 Ill.App.3d 379, 385, 304 N.E.2d 471, 475.)

Here, though conflicting stories were told, Officer Martin said his arm was taken and that he saw William Nance do it. Consequently, we find that there existed sufficient evidence to sustain the jury’s verdict that defendant was guilty of battery beyond a reasonable doubt.

The defendant further claims that the element of- intent to batter was not proven. In particular the defendant contends that the evidence failed to show that he intended to provoke Officer Martin.

“A person commits a battery if he intentionally or knowingly without legal justification and by any means, * * * makes physical contact of * * * a provoking nature with an individual.” Ill. Rev. Stat., ch.

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Bluebook (online)
324 N.E.2d 652, 26 Ill. App. 3d 182, 1975 Ill. App. LEXIS 1864, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-nance-illappct-1975.