People v. Porter

2020 IL App (1st) 170216-U
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedFebruary 13, 2020
Docket1-17-0216
StatusUnpublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 2020 IL App (1st) 170216-U (People v. Porter) 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. Porter, 2020 IL App (1st) 170216-U (Ill. Ct. App. 2020).

Opinion

2020 IL App (1st) 170216-U No. 1-17-0216 Order filed February 13, 2020 Fourth Division

NOTICE: This order was filed under Supreme Court Rule 23 and may not be cited as precedent by any party 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. 14 CR 12787 ) DEMARCUS PORTER, ) Honorable ) Maura Slattery Boyle, Defendant-Appellant. ) Judge, presiding.

JUSTICE LAMPKIN delivered the judgment of the court. Presiding Justice Gordon and Justice Burke concurred in the judgment.

ORDER

¶1 Held: Defendant’s convictions for attempt first degree murder are affirmed over his contentions that the evidence was insufficient and he was denied the effective assistance of trial counsel.

¶2 Following a bench trial, defendant Demarcus Porter was found guilty of six counts of

attempt first degree murder (720 ILCS 5/8-4(a) (West 2014); 720 ILCS 5/9-1(a)(1) (West 2014)),

one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm (720 ILCS 5/24-1.2(a)(2) (West 2014)), and one

count of aggravated battery (720 ILCS 5/12-3.05(e)(1) (West 2014)). The trial court merged the No. 1-17-0216

findings and sentenced defendant to three concurrent 31-year prison terms for attempt first

degree murder. On appeal, defendant contends that he was not proven guilty beyond a reasonable

doubt when the victim did not identify him in court and the victim’s prior inconsistent statements

were not reliable. Defendant further contends that he was denied the effective assistance of

counsel by trial counsel’s failure to object to the admission of a recording of a phone call that

lacked an adequate foundation. We affirm. 1

¶3 We set forth the proceedings and evidence relevant for understanding the issues on

appeal.

¶4 Brian Bedford testified that at the time of trial he was in prison due to a conviction for

aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. On the morning of June 22, 2014, as he crossed the

intersection of 69th Street and Talman Avenue in Chicago, a person came around a tree and shot

him. The shooter was around two feet from Bedford, but he could not see the shooter’s face. He

then clarified that although the shooter’s face was partially covered by a t-shirt, he saw a portion

of the face between the eyes and facial tattoos of the numbers seven and two. He knew a “few

people” who had that tattoo. Bedford heard “maybe three” gunshots. The shooter fled, then

turned around to “finish shooting.” At this point, Bedford saw his face again. Two other men

with firearms were also present. He did not see any of the three men in court. After the shooter

and his companions left, Bedford’s girlfriend Hope Wright appeared and transported him to the

hospital. Bedford was shot 12 times in the chest, ribs, arms, buttocks, and groin.

¶5 The day after the shooting, detectives visited Bedford at the hospital. He told them that

“Hustle” Porter, someone he grew up with and had known for 20 years, shot him. Bedford also

In adherence with the requirements of Illinois Supreme Court Rule 352(a) (eff. July 1, 2018), 1

this appeal has been resolved without oral argument upon the entry of a separate written order.

-2- No. 1-17-0216

wrote this information in a note that he identified in court. It stated, “I got love for him still,”

“Hustle Porter,” and “Try your best to get him before I do.” Bedford then identified defendant in

court as Hustle. On June 26, 2014, a detective visited Bedford at the hospital and showed him a

photographic array. At trial, Bedford identified the photo advisory form that he signed as well as

the photo array itself. Defendant was the subject of the photo identified in the array. At trial,

Bedford identified his signature on the picture of defendant, the handwritten phrase “He shot

me,” and the handwritten date of June 26, 2014.

¶6 On July 2, 2014, while still at the hospital, Bedford made a written statement to a

detective and two assistant state’s attorneys (ASAs). At trial, Bedford identified the statement,

which bore his signature on each page, and the accompanying photograph of defendant which

Bedford signed and labeled “Hustle Demarcus Porter.” In the photograph, defendant has a “72”

facial tattoo. At trial, Bedford admitted that he said in the statement to the ASAs that he

recognized Hustle because of the facial tattoos, that Hustle and the other men pointed firearms at

him, and that Hustle discharged a firearm at him. He also acknowledged saying that while he was

on the ground, Hustle shot him several more times and that Hustle was the subject of the

photograph.

¶7 During cross-examination, Bedford admitted that he was previously in jail for possession

of cannabis and crack, but denied being jailed for “robberies” or using crack. In addition to

Hustle, “Suave” was also present when Bedford was shot.

¶8 Wright testified that she had a previous conviction for possession of a controlled

substance and was in a relationship with Bedford in June 2014. When she arrived at 69th and

-3- No. 1-17-0216

Talman to pick Bedford up, he was on the ground and conscious but not able to talk. Wright and

another woman helped Bedford into her vehicle and she transported him to a hospital.

¶9 Chicago police detective Mark Baxtrom testified that he met with Bedford at a hospital

on June 23, 2014. Bedford was in pain and had difficulty talking, but was coherent. When

Baxtrom asked Bedford who shot him, Bedford wrote, in pertinent part, “ ‘Hustle Porter, street

name. Try your best to get him before I do.’ ”

¶ 10 Chicago police detective Roland Rios testified that on June 26, 2014, he showed Bedford

a photographic array which included defendant’s photograph and asked Bedford who shot him.

Bedford picked the photo of defendant and said “that is Hustle.” After learning that defendant

was arrested on July 2, 2014, Rios and two ASAs visited Bedford at a hospital and Bedford

signed a written statement. Bedford also identified a photograph of defendant as Hustle, the

person who shot him.

¶ 11 Dr. Jane Lee testified that she treated Bedford in the emergency room. He had been shot

multiple times and had 12 gunshot wounds, including injuries to both arms, chest, right thigh,

back, and buttocks.

¶ 12 The State offered into evidence the photographic array advisory form, the photographic

array, Bedford’s handwritten note, and the written statement that Bedford signed. The defense

did not object, and the trial court admitted the items into evidence.

¶ 13 Defendant testified that he had previously been charged with attempt murder and found

not guilty. He did not know where he was on the afternoon of June 22, 2014. Defendant knew

Bedford, but never spoke to him, had contact with him, or shot him. Defendant identified

“Suave” as Dexter McCray and denied that McCray had any facial tattoos. During cross-

-4- No. 1-17-0216

examination, defendant acknowledged that he went by “Hustle” and that Bedford was known as

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Related

People v. Porter
2024 IL App (1st) 231330-U (Appellate Court of Illinois, 2024)

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