People v. Potochney

2022 IL App (2d) 191011-U

• Court: Appellate Court of Illinois
• Decided: January 21, 2022
• Docket: 2-19-1011
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

2022 IL App (2d) 191011-U No. 2-19-1011 Order filed January 21, 2022

NOTICE: This order was filed under Supreme Court Rule 23 and is not precedent except in the limited circumstances allowed under Rule 23(e)(l). ______________________________________________________________________________

IN THE

APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS

SECOND DISTRICT ______________________________________________________________________________

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ) Appeal from the Circuit Court ILLINOIS, ) of Kane County. ) Plaintiff-Appellee, ) ) v. ) No. 16-CF-1755 ) ANTHONY POTOCHNEY, ) Honorable ) Linda Abrahamson Defendant-Appellant. ) Judge, Presiding. ______________________________________________________________________________

ORDER

JUSTICE BIRKETT delivered the judgment of the court. Justices McLaren and Schostok concurred in the judgment.

¶1 Held: The circuit court’s denial of defendant’s request to conduct post-plea proceedings pro se was not an abuse of discretion and defendant was not prejudiced by the trial court’s failure to advise him of the potential of discretionary, consecutive sentences resulting from his guilty plea.

¶2 Defendant, Anthony Potochney, entered a partially negotiated plea (with no agreement as

to sentencing) to three counts of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol (625 ILCS 5/11-

501(d)(1)(F), 11-501(d)(1)(C) (West 2016) (counts I, V, and VIII) and one count of failure to stop

after having a vehicular accident involving personal injury or death (625 ILCS 5/11-401(a) (West

2016)) (count XI). The circuit court of Kane County sentenced defendant to an aggregate 13-year 2022 IL App (2d) 191011-U

term. Defendant appeals, arguing that the circuit court erred by: 1) abusing its discretion in failing

to allow defendant to represent himself in postplea proceedings; and 2) failing to properly

admonish him pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 402(a) (eff. July 1, 2012). We affirm.

¶3 I. BACKGROUND

¶4 We summarize the relevant facts from the record on appeal. On October 7, 2016, defendant

was driving southbound on Broadway Street in Aurora, when his vehicle crossed over into

oncoming traffic and struck a minivan that held four occupants: T.J., her minor daughter, K.J., and

two of K.J.’s minor friends, E.M. and J.M. Defendant was driving 85 miles per hour approximately

one second before hitting T.J.’s van, despite the posted speed limit being 35 miles per hour.

¶5 After striking the minivan, defendant fled the scene on foot. Medics arrived on scene and

transported K.J. to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. E.M. and J.M. were also

transported to the hospital and were treated for their injuries, which included a bruised lung and a

hip fracture.

¶6 Defendant was apprehended in the nearby area and taken into custody. He strongly smelled

of alcohol and burnt cannabis and exhibited slowed, slurred speech. His eyes were “bloodshot and

glossy.” A police officer recovered a “Ziploc baggie of a plant-like substance” in defendant’s

pocket, which was later determined to be cannabis. Defendant was also taken to the hospital, where

blood tests confirmed his blood-alcohol level as being .193. Additionally, tests indicated the

presence of cannabis metabolites within defendant’s blood. While at the hospital, defendant told

an officer that “he knew his license was gone[,] that he knew he had one too many drinks to drive[,]

that he only drinks; that he doesn’t do meth; and that he [was] on Xanax, but it [was pursuant to]

a prescription.” At a subsequent police interview, defendant admitted drinking “approximately six

Coors Lights and four drinks of Captain Morgan” before the accident, as well as having smoked

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cannabis.

¶7 On December 21, 2016, defendant was charged with nine counts of aggravated driving

under the influence of alcohol (625 ILCS 5/11-501(d)(1)(F), 11-501(d)(1)(C) (West 2016)) (counts

I-III and V-X), one count of reckless homicide (720 ILCS 5/9-3(a) (West 2016)) (count IV), and

three counts of failure to stop after having a vehicular accident involving personal injury or death

(625 ILCS 5/11-401(a) (West 2016)) (counts XI-XIII). On January 25, 2017, defendant was

arraigned. The circuit court advised defendant that any sentences resulting from a conviction for

counts XI, XII, or XIII would need to be served consecutive to any sentences resulting from the

remaining counts. However, the court did not mention the possibility of any discretionary

consecutive sentences stemming from the remaining counts.

¶8 On October 27, 2017, defendant indicated that he wished to enter a partially negotiated

plea as to counts I, V, VIII, and XI. In return, the State agreed to dismiss the remaining charges,

but the parties did not reach any agreement regarding sentencing. The trial court reviewed the

nature of the charges implicated in the deal as well as the possible sentences and fines resulting

therefrom. Specifically, the circuit court admonished defendant that count I constituted a Class 2

felony. Additionally, it informed defendant that count I was non-probationable unless the court

found “extraordinary circumstances,” and subject to a prison term of 3 to 14 years, which would

need to be served at 85 percent, to be followed by two years of mandatory supervised release. The

court further admonished defendant that counts V and VIII were probationable, Class 4 felonies

subject to a prison term of 1 to 12 years, because, as the State pointed out at the time, “special

sentencing on those counts [was required] because it’s an aggravated DUI.” The court further

advised defendant that count XI constituted another Class 4 felony, which was probationable,

subject to a sentence of 1 to 3 years, which would be followed by an MSR term of one year. The

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court advised defendant that any sentence resulting from count XI would have to be served

consecutively:

“If you were in fact imprisoned on Count 11 plus any other count, your time in

prison could not be served at the same time on that Count 11, but it would have to come

after the time on another count, meaning they couldn’t be concurrent, at the same time, but

one would follow the other consecutively.”

However, the court did not advise defendant of the possibility that any of the other relevant counts

were subject to discretionary consecutive sentencing.

¶9 Defendant acknowledged his understanding of the court’s admonitions, and, after

conferring with his defense counsel, Assistant Public Defender Ron Dolak, defendant indicated

that he still wished to plead guilty. Defendant further acknowledged that, in lieu of pleading guilty,

he had a right to plead not guilty, and to have his choice of either a jury or bench trial. The circuit

court told defendant that it wanted “to give [him] all the time [he] need[ed]” to digest this

information before entering his plea, before asking defendant if he felt “okay” about the instant

proceedings. Defendant responded, “I’m feeling all right, I guess.” The court mentioned the

possibility of continuing the matter to a later date, but the State indicated that, if defendant did not

enter his plea on October 27, 2017, then the State would seek a trial date. The defendant indicated

that he was “good,” and again expressed his understanding of the court’s earlier admonitions. The

court further advised defendant:

“[Y]ou also know that the entry of your plea is without any agreement with the State as to

what the recommended sentence would be, so that we’re going to put your whole case over

for a sentencing hearing. Court services will prepare a report, and we may have evidence

and testimony and I will decide what the sentence will be.”

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The court asked whether defendant needed more time to confer with defense counsel, and

defendant responded that he did not, agreeing that defense counsel had “take[n] all the time [he]

needed to cover [the] plea forms.” Defendant further agreed that he was satisfied with defense

counsel’s work on his case and denied that anybody had threatened him or promised anything to

induce his guilty plea. Defendant indicated that he had signed his plea forms “freely and

voluntarily,” and that he wanted to enter his pleas. After hearing the State’s factual basis for the

case, to which defendant stipulated, the trial court accepted defendant’s pleas, finding they had

been made “freely and voluntarily” and with defendant’s “understanding [of] the possible

consequences and penalties that [he] could be facing.”

¶ 10 On March 29, 2018, defendant’s presentence investigation report (PSI) was filed, and the

parties appeared for defendant’s sentencing hearing. The PSI provided that defendant was first

diagnosed with mental health issues when he was in middle school. As a result of those issues,

defendant experienced auditory hallucinations, in that he heard people “cursing at him” when they

spoke to him. Additionally, he had been hospitalized in the past for “psychiatric reasons” and

“anger.” In 2005, defendant was prescribed Risperdal—an antipsychotic drug. Defendant had

previously found the medication to be “effective,” but eventually ceased using Risperdal and

continued “hearing ‘wicked voices’ from age [18] to age [22].” Defendant claimed to deal with

[the voices] by praying and trying to ignore them.”

¶ 11 The PSI also described how, after being placed in Treatment Alternative Court (TAC),

defendant was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and attention deficit hyperactivity

disorder, before again being “put on” Risperdal and Xanax. Two weeks prior to the incidents

leading to his latest arrest, defendant stopped taking his Risperdal once again, until he was jailed

for the instant offenses. In February 2018, he stopped using Risperdal indefinitely.

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¶ 12 According to the PSI, defendant scored in the “ ‘[b]elow [a]verage’ level of cognitive

functioning,” as indicated by his “limited vocabulary” and “struggle[s] to comprehend the meaning

of words.” Nonetheless, defendant was “deemed to meet the legal criteria for fit to stand trial” and

determined to be “at the [a]verage range of intellectual functioning,” despite testing “[b]elow

[a]verage” with regards to “word knowledge, reasoning ability[,] and range of general

information.”

¶ 13 The PSI also discussed defendant’s religious fervor; defendant believed that his auditory

hallucinations were the result of ‘God speaking to [him]’ ” and that he was able to “ ‘listen in ***

what’s going on in hell.’ ” As detailed by the PSI, when asked about the prospect of any future

relationships he may have, defendant responded, “ ‘I asked God to tell me where to go in the bible,

heard a soft voice that told me to go to that place in the bible, Jesus is the word, felt like I was

being attacked by the devil, was worried about what to say to the judge and then felt had to ask

God for help and he took me to the bible and I rebuked Satan and the worry went away.’ ”

¶ 14 In sum, the PSI found that defendant’s “symptoms are consistent with a diagnosis of

Schizoaffective Disorder, Bipolar Type, Multiple Episodes, Currently in Acute Episode.” It

continued, “this is a persistent and chronic mental illness that requires on-going medication and

treatment to assist with stabilization.” Regarding defendant’s decision to forgo his medication, the

PSI opined that defendant “[was] not aware of how his symptoms may increase as a result of his

noncompliance with medication.”

¶ 15 Turning back to the hearing, the court asked defendant whether he was up to date with his

medications. Defendant responded, “Your Honor, to tell you the truth, I believe the medication

that I was taking I have—I have been saved in Jesus’ name and healed in Jesus’ name. So I recently,

like a month-and-a-half ago, stopped taking the medication.” In light of this, the court asked

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defendant whether the lack of medication has “made it harder for [him] to understand what is

happening [or] think clearly.” Defendant responded:

“There is a downside—a [sic] effect. And then there is a positive effect due to being

so—taking it for such a long time.

And I—it seems like sometimes like—that—due to today, recently when I stopped

taking it, that medication, you know, it was—”

The court interrupted defendant and asked defense counsel whether he had any concerns of

defendant’s mental capacity. Defense counsel indicated that he didn’t “have a bona fide doubt as

to [defendant’s] fitness at [that] point.” Upon further questioning from the court, defendant

indicated that he was “thinking okay,” and agreed that nothing was “bothering [him] mentally,

physically, or emotionally that [made] it hard for [him] to understand what [was] happening.”

¶ 16 The parties presented their witnesses in aggravation and mitigation. Of relevance, Lindsey

Liddicoatt testified that she was the treatment alternative court program (TAC) coordinator for

Kane County Court Services, and that defendant was a participant in TAC as a result of a prior,

unrelated conviction for aggravated battery. Liddicoatt further testified as to the treatment that

defendant received as part of TAC, which included the prescription of certain medications that he

needed to take “as part of the [TAC].” Liddicoatt described how defendant graduated from TAC

in May 2016, and how after graduating, defendant was offered the opportunity to continue with

certain programs, including “psychiatry[,] *** case management, therapy, group therapy, et

cetera.” Despite TAC administrators making sure that defendant “had the opportunity to have

appointments set up,” and despite her recommendation that defendant continue treatment,

defendant had told Liddicoatt that he did not wish to receive any more treatment from TAC after

his graduation. However, defendant did convey to Liddicoatt that he wished to continue treatment

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with an alternative provider in Aurora. Defendant attended at least one meeting with the Aurora

provider.

¶ 17 On cross-examination, Liddicoatt testified that defendant was referred to TAC as a result

of a “mood disorder not otherwise specified,” meaning defendant “wouldn’t have met criteria for

full-on bipolar/schizophrenia.” When asked whether defendant’s mental illness was “cured” at the

time of his graduation, Liddicoatt responded, “No. But he was at a point where he was stable. And

he did not—he no longer needed the services that the court was providing. He would still benefit

from the services in the community, though.”

¶ 18 After having presented their evidence in aggravation and mitigation, 1 the parties proceeded

with their arguments, and defendant made a statement in allocution to the court. The court

sentenced defendant to 10 years’ incarceration for count I, two years’ incarceration for counts V

and VIII, and one year for count XI. It further ordered that the sentences for counts V and VIII

would be served concurrent to one another, “but consecutive to the time that [defendant must]

serve on [c]ount [I].” Additionally, it ordered that the 10-year sentence for count [I] would be

served “mandatorily consecutive” to the remaining counts, for an aggregate term of 13 years. 2

¶ 19 On April 20, 2018, defendant filed his motion to reconsider sentence. On May 3, 2018, the

parties appeared for a hearing on the motion. After defendant asked the court to reconsider its

sentence in light of defendant’s “mental illness,” the court denied defendant’s motion. On May 10,

2018, defendant filed his amended notice of appeal. On January 28, 2019, this court entered an

order remanding the cause so that defense counsel could file a valid Rule 604(d) certificate. The

1 While defendant did tender four letters of mitigation to the court, they were not read into

the record or entered into evidence. 2 Defendant raises no issues on appeal regarding the sentence imposed.

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January 28, 2019, order further granted defendant “the opportunity to file a new motion to

withdraw [his] guilty plea and/or reconsider the sentence,” if such a motion was necessary.

¶ 20 On July 22, 2019, the parties appeared before the circuit court for a status hearing, in which

defense counsel told the court that defendant “want[ed] to proceed pro se.” The court questioned

defendant as to his age and schooling. The court also asked defendant whether he had a current

mental health diagnosis, and defendant answered, “Um, I have forgotten.” Defendant further

explained that he had previously spoken with a psychiatrist and was trying to get back on his

medication. The court specifically asked whether defendant knew the name of his mental illness,

and defendant responded, “I just got—I’m ups and downs, just like everyone else, but I feel I’m

handling my problems in a healthy way.” However, defendant admitted that he still was not using

any medications, because his psychiatrist purportedly found “[that] even in a controlled

environment[, he] would not take [his] medication.” Defendant described how he had weaned

himself off the medication “due to side effects [he] was having.” When asked whether his

psychiatrist suggested to him that he should “take some medicine,” defendant responded:

“She believe [sic] at this moment in time that the way I speak to her and the way

that I’m handling my mental health and—the way I’m handling my mental health is a

healthier way than taking more drugs that led to anxiety and stuff like that. Because

Risperdal had gave [sic] me anxiety, and that’s what led me to taking Xanax. Two weeks

before the car accident[,] I stopped taking my Risperdal.”

Defendant further suggested that, according to a psychiatrist he had conferred with during his

incarceration, “praying, [reading the] Bible, eating healthy, working out, [and] talking to positive

people and counselors was the healthiest way” to handle his illness. However, defendant

acknowledged having asked “somebody” to “take medicine,” because he believed “it was going

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to help [him] with [his] court issue,” as he was having trouble remembering the facts surrounding

his guilty plea. Additionally, defendant stated that taking the medicine would make him “look

good.” The court asked defendant to elaborate why he had previously wanted to take his medicine.

Defendant answered:

“I just told you to—because they—the State and also I’ve heard from, I think—I

believe it was you in the transcripts saying that due to being in a controlled environment, I

wouldn’t even follow what the [c]ourt has ordered me with taking medication and meet the

psychiatrists is saying, but I—well, I don’t want—that’s farther on.”

¶ 21 The court then asked defendant whether he knew “what decision [he] had to make next”

for his defense. Defendant acknowledged that he had three options: 1) “to file the certificate for

the [a]ppellate [c]ourt;” 2) “to file a motion for reconsider [sic] sentence;” and 3) pursue “a motion

to file a motion to take back [his] guilty plea.” The court asked whether defendant understood that

those three options required “some technical skill about what to write in any of those motions or

certificates.” Defendant answered, “Yes. With the help of God, I believe I can accomplish it.” The

court responded, “All due respect to God, he may not have graduated law school, and [defense

counsel] did. So[,] [defense counsel] has those skills and you do not.” The court reiterated the

technical skill necessary for defendant to represent himself, leading defendant to say:

“Yes, ma’am. I’m—I’m—you know, I’m asking for help in certain ways, and

[defense counsel] ain’t agreeing with me. He’s say [sic] it’s irrelevant. What I’m telling

him to put in motion [sic] for to reconsider [sic] sentence and for what happened in the

past, I don’t want to bring it up much. But that’s—I feel with my heart that that’s the best

option if—unless if you have somebody in mind. I know—I don’t want to take this case—

take back my guilty plea and waste the taxpayers’ money.”

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¶ 22 The court advised defendant that it would not be able to hear any irrelevant matters from

his “writings or in [his] pleadings,” and asked whether defendant understood. Defendant

responded, “I’m kind of a little lost. I’m sorry.” The court acknowledged that defendant had a lot

of “things [he wanted] to say” in a prospective motion to withdraw or a motion to reconsider but

stressed that anything he submitted to the court must be relevant to his defense. Eventually,

defendant acknowledged he understood as much. The court asked defendant whether he

understood that his lack of familiarity with applicable court rules and procedures may prejudice

his defense. Defendant responded, “No. I don’t understand that, because I can easily look it up in

the law books.” The court noted that it was not going to make any further inquiries on the subject

and concluded that defendant did not have “the capacity” to make any “decision or waiver”

concerning his counsel.

¶ 23 On September 30, 2019, defense counsel indicated that defendant wished to proceed with

his motion to reconsider. Defendant interjected, telling the court that he would like to enter a pro

se “motion to withdraw [his] guilty plea,” which he had brought to court with him. The court

reminded defendant that he was still represented by defense counsel, and that defendant should

speak with him concerning the motion. The parties set another status date so that defense counsel

could have time to confer with defendant.

¶ 24 On October 25, 2019, a new assistant public defender, Judy Kullenberg, filed a motion to

withdraw plea on behalf of defendant. On November 18, 2019, Kullenberg filed a Rule 604(d)

certificate, and the parties appeared for arguments as to defendant’s motion, which incorporated

defendant’s prior pro se motion to withdraw his guilty plea, providing that defendant was “under

the [i]nfluence of [p]sychotropic medication” during his plea hearing, and as a result of this, he

was unable to “understand or comprehend the scope of what was taking place” when he entered

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his guilty plea. Defendant further alleged being coerced into entering the plea deal by Dolak.

¶ 25 While Kullenberg conversed with the court, defendant interrupted her, presenting a pro se

motion to “dismiss this cause on the grounds of not being able to uphold [defendant’s]

constitutional rights.” The court denied the motion and continued with the hearing. Kullenberg

called defendant to testify in support of his motion. As Kullenberg questioned him, he became

argumentative at times, breaking off into tangents that invoked religious imagery and his

“amendment right[s]” in a disordered, often incomprehensible manner. At a later point in his

testimony, defendant acknowledged having been prescribed medication “for mental health,” which

he had been using during his plea hearing. Defendant confirmed that he was not currently “taking

that medication.”

¶ 26 Dolak testified on the State’s behalf and rebutted many of the points made in defendant’s

motion. He further testified that he had defendant complete a “psychological exam” for

“communication purposes,” and while he had “questions about [defendant’s] mental status,” he

did not have a “bona fide doubt of his fitness.”

¶ 27 After the parties made their arguments, the court denied defendant’s motion. In doing so,

the court pointed out that the record rebutted defendant’s assertions that his guilty plea was not

knowing or voluntary. The court then asked the parties, “I think that we do have a motion to

reconsider sentence still out there, is that correct?” Kullenberg advised the court that she had a

copy of defendant’s motion to reconsider, which Dolak had filed on April 20, 2018, and that she

was prepared to adopt the motion for argument. The State also indicated that it was prepared to

argue the motion.

¶ 28 While the parties and the court were discussing the latter motion, defendant continued to

interrupt the proceedings, protesting the court’s ruling as to his motion to withdraw his guilty plea,

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as well as its denial of his earlier request to proceed pro se:

“You said, you know, you’re not smart enough to be your own attorney, and I said,

no, [y]our Honor. I said, I can go to the law library, and you said, denied. What kind of

type of ruling is that? That’s a ruling—and it’s documented, and if it’s not, then this system

is taking out of the transcripts.”

Despite the court’s warnings, defendant continued to interrupt the proceedings, until the circuit

court ordered him to be removed from the courtroom. After the parties presented their arguments,

the court denied defendant’s latest motion to reconsider. Defendant timely appeals.

¶ 29 II. ANALYSIS

¶ 30 On appeal, defendant argues the circuit court abused its discretion in refusing to allow

defendant to represent himself during postplea proceedings. Defendant also argues that the trial

court did not substaintially comply with Rule 402(a) when it did not admonish defendant before

accepting his guilty plea.We consider each of these arguments in turn.

¶ 31 A. Right to Self-Representation

¶ 32 First, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it denied defendant’s

request to represent himself in the post-plea proceedings. In Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806,

821 (1975), the U.S. Supreme Court found that the sixth amendment right to counsel inversely

provides litigants the right to represent themselves in criminal proceedings. However, in order to

be valid, a defendant’s waiver of counsel must be made voluntarily, knowingly, and

understandingly. People v. Redd, 173 Ill. 2d 1, 21 (1996). “Before a criminal defendant’s waiver

of counsel will be deemed valid[,] the trial court must determine that defendant has the ability to

understand the proceedings, that he knows the significance and consequences of his decision, and

that his waiver was not coerced.” Id. Several factors should be considered in determining the

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validity of a waiver of counsel, such as a defendant’s background, experience, and conduct.” Id.

“[T]he Constitution permits States to insist upon representation for those competent enough to

stand trial ***[,] but who still suffer from severe mental illness to the point where they are not

competent to conduct trial proceedings by themselves.” Indiana v. Edwards, 554 U.S. 164, 178

(2008). Also, “[a] defendant's lack of civility and decorum *** is a valid basis for denying his

request for self-representation.” People v. Rainey, 2019 IL App (1st) 160187, ¶ 74. The entire

record should be considered in determining whether a waiver was knowing and voluntary. Redd,

173 Ill. 2d at 21. We reverse a trial court’s decision concerning a defendant’s request to represent

him or herself only upon an abuse of discretion. People v. Burton, 184 Ill. 2d 1, 25 (1988).

¶ 33 For instance, in Edwards, the defendant was charged with attempted murder, battery with

a deadly weapon, criminal recklessness, and theft after shooting at a security guard during a failed

attempt to steal a pair of shoes from a department store. 554 U.S. at 167. After three competency

hearings, it was determined that the defendant suffered from schizophrenia and was unfit for trial.

Id. at 168. He was then committed to a state mental facility. Id. Months later, the facility reported

that the defendant had become fit to stand trial. Id. One year later, on the eve of trial, the defendant

requested to represent himself, but his request was seemingly denied by the trial court. Id. at 169.

He was ultimately convicted of criminal recklessness and theft. Id. The State sought to retry

defendant for the attempted murder and burglary charges, and the defendant again requested to

represent himself at this second trial, but his request was once again denied. Id. In denying his

request, the trial court noted the defendant’s continued struggles with schizophrenia, and found

that, while defendant may have been competent to stand trial, he was not competent to defend

himself. Id. After the second trial, he was found guilty of attempted murder and burglary. Id.

¶ 34 The defendant appealed, and an Indiana appellate court reversed, finding that the defendant

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was deprived of his constitutional right to self-representation. Id. The Supreme Court of Indiana

affirmed the appellate court’s decision. Id. However, the U.S. Supreme Court vacated the judgment

of the Supreme Court of Indiana, concluding that the U.S. Constitution permitted states to limit a

defendant’s right of self-representation when that defendant “lacks the mental capacity to conduct

his trial unless represented.” Id. at 174. The U.S. Supreme Court further suggested that the trial

court’s denial of the defendant’s attempts to proceed pro se did not constitute error, reasoning that

“the trial judge, particularly one such as the trial judge in this case, who presided over one of

[defendant’s] competency hearings and his two trials, will often prove best able to make more fine-

tuned capacity decisions, tailored to the individualized circumstances of a particular defendant.”

Id. at 177. Since Edwards, ensuing Illinois decisions have noted that “[s]ubsequent cases applying

[the case] have found that a defendant was properly denied the right to proceed pro se where ***

the defendant suffered from schizophrenia and refused to take his medication.” People v. Sheley,

2012 IL App (3d) 090933 (2012), ¶ 24. 3

¶ 35 Here, defendant argues that the circuit court abused its discretion by refusing defendant’s

clear and unequivocal request for self-representation. In support of this argument, defendant argues

that the circuit court’s decision was not based on defendant’s lacking mental capacity, but instead,

improperly stemmed from defendant’s “lack of legal ability.” Defendant further argues that,

although “a state may insist upon representation by counsel for defendants competent to stand trial

but suffering from ‘severe mental illness,’ ” no doubt was ever raised below concerning

defendant’s competency or fitness to stand trial or plead guilty. Defendant points out that, “when

3 Specifically, the Sheley court cited to a Texas decision, Ji v. State, 316 S. W. 3d 860 (Tex.

Ct. App. 2010) in support of this proposition. Sheley, 2012 IL App (3d) 090933, ¶ 24.

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[defendant’s] fitness to stand trial or plead guilty was evaluated pursuant to a previous[, unrelated]

case, he was deemed fit.” Moreso, while defendant acknowledges that he does suffer from

schizophrenia, he suggests that, pursuant to Sheley and Rainey, his illness was not severe enough

to render him incapable of waiving counsel.

¶ 36 We find these arguments unpersuasive for several reasons. First, while defendant correctly

points out that a defendant should not be denied the right of self-representation for his or her lack

of legal expertise, the record sufficiently establishes that the trial court’s denial was based on

defendant’s diminished capacity, and not his lack of legal acumen. Edwards, 554 U.S. at 172. On

July 22, 2019, when defendant first requested to represent himself in the post-plea proceedings,

the circuit court immediately asked defendant about his age, level of schooling, and current mental

health diagnosis. We note that these topics all pertain to defendant’s capacity, and not his legal

experience. The court further asked defendant numerous questions concerning his mental illness

and spent considerable time ascertaining whether defendant was currently taking medication for

his schizophrenia. Again, these topics are directly relevant to defendant’s mental capacity.

¶ 37 When denying defendant’s request for self-representation, the circuit court explicitly stated

that defendant lacked “the capacity” to make any “decision or waiver” of his defense counsel. As

such, the circuit court’s statement affirmatively rebuts defendant’s arguments that its decision was

improperly based on defendant’s insufficient legal capabilities. Furthermore, the decision was not

an abuse of discretion where the court was aware that defendant: 1) had a prolonged history of

experiencing auditory hallucinations; 2) believed he could converse with God and listen to sounds

emanating from Hell; 3) had scored below average in cognitive functioning; 4) was—like the

defendant in Edwards—diagnosed with schizophrenia; 5) had stopped taking his antipsychotic

medication despite the reported need for on-going treatment; 6) was previously diagnosed with

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bipolar disorder; 7) responded to the court’s relevant questions in a disjointed, borderline

nonsensical manner; 8) could not remember whether he had a mental health diagnosis; and 9)

acknowledged that he could not remember the circumstances surrounding his guilty plea. 4

¶ 38 It is true that the circuit court did ask defendant some questions regarding the legal aspects

of his case and advised defendant that self-representation necessarily involved “some technical

skill,” which defendant lacked. The court further asked defendant whether he understood that any

arguments he made while defending himself would need to be relevant. However, in our view, this

line of questioning does not indicate that the trial court’s denial was based on defendant’s lack of

legal expertise. Instead, we understand these questions to be the trial court's attempt to ascertain

whether defendant adequately understood the magnitude of the challenge self-representation

would present, as well as a gentle attempt to dissuade defendant from undertaking what the trial

manifestly believed to be an unwise decision.

¶ 39 Second, while defendant points out that his competence to stand trial or enter a guilty plea

4 We note that the record shows that defendant had a history of interrupting various court

proceedings, and, on November 18, 2019, defendant even had to be escorted out of the courtroom

as a result of his disruptive behavior. Such behavior similarly indicates that the trial court correctly

denied defendant’s request for self-representation. People v. Ward, 208 Ill. App. 3d 1073, 1084

(1991) (“a trial judge may terminate self-representation by a defendant who engages in serious and

obstructionist misconduct”). While some of defendant’s behavioral issues occurred after the circuit

court denied his request to waive counsel and were therefore not considered by the court, we can

affirm the court’s decision for any basis appearing in the record. People v. Sanchez, 2013 IL App

(2d) 120445, ¶ 27.

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had not previously been called into question, pursuant to Edwards, a defendant who has been found

competent to stand trial may nonetheless lack the mental capacity to waive counsel. Edwards, 554

U.S. at 172. Additionally, the record indicates that, at the time defendant entered his guilty plea,

he was still using antipsychotics to treat his schizophrenia. However, by the time he requested to

represent himself in the post-plea proceedings, he had stopped taking his medication. For these

reasons, defendant’s competence leading up to the entry of his guilty plea could not serve as a

baseline establishing his capacity, as it existed on July 22, 2019, when he requested to proceed pro

se.

¶ 40 Finally, defendant's reliance on Sheley and Rainey to establish that the trial court abused

its discretion in denying his request to represent himself in the postplea proceedings is misplaced.

In Sheley, the defendant was charged with aggravated battery, aggravated assault, and criminal

damage to property after allegedly dismantling a chair and throwing its legs at a group of

correctional officers. 2012 IL App (3d) 090933, ¶ 2. After the defendant orally moved to represent

himself, a neurologist was asked to examine the defendant in a different, pending case, and

reported that the defendant was “ ‘consistently alert, responsive, and oriented to person, place,

time, and reason for the evaluation.’ ” Id. ¶ 4. However, the neurologist also noted that the

defendant had a history of poor anger management, an explosive personality, and had engaged in

“crack cocaine binges” when he was not in jail. Id. The defendant also tested in the normal IQ

range, had normal executive function, understood and was able to explain his pending charges,

and displayed an understanding of general court procedures and trial proceedings. Id. ¶ 5. The

neurologist ultimately diagnosed the defendant with “cognitive disorder not otherwise specified,

cocaine and alcohol abuse, and personality disorder not otherwise specified.” Id. ¶ 6. He also found

the defendant to possess “the basic mental ability to render him fit to stand trial” and reported that

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the defendant “had the capacity to knowingly and intelligently appreciate his right to counsel.” Id.

While the neurologist believed that defendant could organize and prepare for trial, he also believed

that the defendant was incapable of “ ‘realistically appreciat[ing] the consequences and potential

pitfalls of waiving his right to counsel,’ ” leading the neurologist to conclude that defendant lacked

the capacity to represent himself effectively. Id.

¶ 41 After being admonished as to the ramifications of waiving his counsel and after being

arraigned, the defendant stated that he decided to accept a public defender as his counsel. Id. ¶ 9.

Months later, before discovery had been completed, the defendant once again moved for leave to

represent himself. Id. ¶ 10. A psychiatrist’s report was attached to the motion, noting that the

defendant “demonstrated a thorough understanding of the charges against him[self]” and

diagnosing the defendant with “cocaine-induced hallucinations, which were in remission, and

‘probable’ antisocial personality disorder.” Id. ¶ 11. Still, the psychiatrist determined that

defendant exhibited no paranoia and that he “was fit to waive counsel.” Id. After evaluating both

the neurologist’s and psychiatrist’s reports, the court denied defendant’s motion, finding:

“ ‘[B]ecause of *** the ease with which an uninitiated, inexperienced individual who

doesn't know the law[,] because of the ease with which experienced counsel could draw

out damaging information and/or admissions from you that might not even be important

for this trial in front of a jury but which might very well be lethal to you in your capital

murder case, I'm denying your request to represent yourself here.’ ” Id. ¶ 14.

¶ 42 The appellate court reversed, explaining that “the record fail[ed] to show that [the]

defendant suffered from a “ ‘severe mental illness’ ” that would affect his competency to conduct

his own defense,” as specifically reported by the psychiatrist. Id. ¶ 25. The court also reasoned

that, while the neurologist had earlier opined that the defendant was incapable of self-

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representation, “[h]e also refrained from diagnosing [the] defendant as suffering from a specific

mental illness.” Id. Furthermore, according to the appellate court, the defendant had demonstrated

to both the neurologist and psychiatrist that he “understood the charges against him[self], that he

was knowledgeable regarding courtroom proceedings, *** that he was coherent and capable of

participating effectively in a conversation,” and that—despite one isolated outburst he had

previously made—his courtroom demeanor “also demonstrated his ability to represent himself.”

Id. ¶¶ 25-26.

¶ 43 While defendant argues that many of the factual circumstances in the instant matter mirror

those in Sheley, we believe the case to be plainly distinguishable. First, unlike the defendant in

Sheley, defendant had a longstanding diagnosis of schizophrenia, which, at the time defendant

made his request, was untreated by medication. In fact, in his lengthy statement of allocution,

defendant acknowledged his own struggles with his mental health issues and suggested that those

issues may be hereditary, as defendant’s father, uncle, and grandfather all purportedly had

struggles with similar disabilities. While defendant argues that this mental illness was not severe

enough “as to necessitate the continued appointment of [a] public defender,” as we have stated

earlier, defendant’s various symptoms—as reported by the PSI—certainly evince the severity of

defendant’s schizophrenia. Indeed, cases applying Edwards have found that defendants suffering

from untreated schizophrenia, such as defendant, were properly denied the right to self-

representation. See id. ¶ 24. Some cases have even found that a schizophrenic defendant who is

using medications may properly be denied the right to represent him or herself. See People v.

Perkins, 2018 IL App (1st) 133981, ¶ 48 (denial of defendant’s request to proceed pro se was

proper where “[t]he record show[ed] that[,] at the time [the] defendant made the request to

represent himself, the trial court was aware there was an issue raised concerning [the] defendant’s

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mental capacity and statements that [the] defendant was schizophrenic and taking psychotropic

medication”).

¶ 44 Unlike in Sheley, here, no psychiatrists opined that defendant was competent to represent

himself. Also, while the Sheley defendant seemingly was able to coherently conduct himself before

the court, here, after defendant stopped using his medications, he displayed disjointed thinking, as

evidenced by his various responses to the circuit court’s questions, and defendant also had a history

of interrupting court proceedings.

¶ 45 Finally, while the trial court in Sheley reasoned that the defendant’s request to proceed pro

se should be denied for an improper reason, being “the ease with which experienced counsel could

draw out damaging information and/or admissions from [the] defendant,” the circuit court here

was explicit in explaining that defendant’s request was denied for a legitimate reason—defendant’s

lack of capacity. For all of these reasons, we find Sheley to be distinguishable.

¶ 46 Likewise, defendant’s reliance on Rainey is similarly unavailing. There, the appellate court

found that the defendant’s clear and unequivocal request to waive counsel was properly denied

where defendant had a history of “seriously obstructionist” conduct before the court. Rainey, 2019

IL App (1st) 160187, ¶ 80. In reaching this conclusion, the appellate court found that, while the

trial court there remarked that defendant was “ ‘not capable of representing himself,’ ” other

contextualizing statements that the trial court made established that defendant’s request was not

improperly denied for his lack of legal ability, but because the trial court properly found that

defendant was incapable of representing himself in a dignified manner. Id.

¶ 47 Here, defendant argues that, unlike the trial court in Rainey, the circuit court here did not

make any contextualizing statements suggesting that defendant’s request was denied for any

legitimate reasons, such as a lack of capacity. For this reason, defendant suggests that the court’s

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denial could only have been a result of defendant’s lack of legal abilities. Once more, we disagree.

¶ 48 Prior to discussing the legal aspects of defendant’s case, the court engaged defendant in an

extended colloquy regarding his age, education, and mental health history—all of these topics

relate to defendant’s mental capacity and refute defendant’s suggestion that the court was only

preoccupied with defendant’s legal ability. Also, unlike the trial court in Rainey, the trial court

here clearly explained that it was denying defendant’s request because he lacked the capacity to

waive counsel. Therefore, unlike Rainey, there was no need for any “contextualizing remarks” to

clarify the circuit court’s reasoning in denying defendant’s request to proceed pro se. For all of

these reasons, we find that the circuit court did not abuse its discretion in denying defendant’s

request.

¶ 49 B. Rule 402 Admonitions

¶ 50 Next, defendant contends that the circuit court failed to sufficiently admonish defendant as

required by Illinois Supreme Court Rule 402. Rule 402 pertains to the procedures involving plea

discussions and agreements. Ill. S. Ct. R. 402 (eff. July 1, 2012). “Pursuant to Illinois Supreme

Court Rule 402, every defendant who enters a plea of guilty has a due process right to be properly

and fully admonished.” People v. Whitfield, 217 Ill. 2d 177, 188 (2005). Prior to accepting a plea

of guilty, Rule 402 requires a trial court to inform a defendant of the following:

“(1) the nature of the charge; (2) the minimum and maximum sentence prescribed by law,

including, when applicable, the penalty to which the defendant may be subjected because

of prior convictions or consecutive sentences; (3) that the defendant has the right to plead

not guilty, or to persist in that plea if it has already been made, or to plead guilty; and (4)

that if he or she pleads guilty there will not be a trial of any kind, so that by pleading guilty

he or she waives the right to a trial by jury and the right to be confronted with the witnesses

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against him or her; or that by stipulating the evidence is sufficient to convict, he or she

waives the right to a trial by jury and the right to be confronted with any witnesses against

him or her who have not testified.” Ill. S. Ct. R. 402(a).

According to Rule 402, “a court’s failure to state the penalty to which the defendant may be

subjected because of consecutive sentences renders a defendant's plea involuntary.” People v.

McCracken, 237 Ill. App. 3d 519, 521 (1992). A defendant is deprived of his due process rights

when a court fails to “substantially comply” with these directives. Whitfield, 217 Ill. 2d at 195. We

review a court’s compliance with Rule 402(a) de novo. People v. Johnson, 2021 IL App (2d)

180775, ¶ 11.

¶ 51 Here, defendant argues that, before he entered his guilty plea, the circuit court failed to

inform him of the maximum sentence prescribed by law in this case, as it failed to explain the

possibility of discretionary consecutive sentences being imposed on counts V and VIII. Defendant

argues that, consequently, because the circuit court did impose a discretionary consecutive

sentence as to count V, the circuit court’s defective admonitions rendered his plea unknowing and

involuntary. In support of this argument, defendant points out that, despite the fact that he had been

admonished “that he could receive an aggregate sentence ranging from probation to 17 years[’]

imprisonment,” his actual “maximum exposure due to the possibility of discretionary and

mandatory consecutive sentences was actually an aggregate prison term of 41 years.” Defendant

suggests that this large discrepancy between the circuit court’s admonitions and the actual,

applicable sentencing ranges further establish that defendant’s plea cannot be considered to have

been knowing or voluntary.

¶ 52 In response to these arguments, the State asserts that the circuit court substantially

complied with Rule 402 by admonishing defendant of the applicability of any mandatory

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consecutive sentences, and that it was not required to give similar admonitions “as to consecutive

terms that may be imposed at the discretion of the court.” The State further argues that, even if we

were to find that the court erred in admonishing defendant as to his applicable sentencing range,

we should not disturb the circuit court’s sentence, as defendant has not shown any prejudice

resulting from such an error.

¶ 53 As a preliminary matter, defendant admits that he did not properly preserve this argument.

People v. Enoch, 122 Ill. 2d 176, 186 (1988). Normally, a defendant’s failure to raise an issue in a

motion to withdraw a plea of guilty results in forfeiture. McCracken, 237 Ill. App. 3d at 520.

Nevertheless, defendant asserts that the issue may be reviewed under plain error, or as a result of

defense counsel’s ineffective assistance. However, we need not consider whether either doctrine

allows our review of the issue, because even if were to suppose that the issue had been preserved

and the circuit court did err in admonishing defendant, defendant has not shown a denial of real

justice or prejudice resulting from the admonitions.

¶ 54 A trial court’s failure to properly admonish a defendant does not automatically warrant

reversal or vacatur of a plea. People v. Fuller, 205 Ill. 2d 308, 323 (2002). In determining whether

a court’s failure to substantially comply with Rule 402’s directives require reversal, we consider

“whether real justice has been denied or whether the defendant has been prejudiced by the

inadequate admonishment.” Id. To show prejudice in this context, a defendant must demonstrate

that, but-for the trial court’s erroneous admonitions, he would not have pleaded guilty. People v.

Williams, 2012 IL App (2d) 110559, ¶ 18.

¶ 55 For example, in People v. Torres, 228 Ill. 2d 382, 384 (2008), the defendant entered into a

blind guilty plea to two counts of first-degree murder. Prior to accepting his plea, the trial court

admonished the defendant that the sentencing range for the charges spanned between 20 and 60

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years. Id. at 386. However, unbeknownst to the defendant at the time, the actual applicable

statutory minimum was 45 years, as the result of a 25-year firearm enhancement. Id. at 398. The

defendant was ultimately sentenced to 45 years’ incarceration. Id. at 389. While appealing the

dismissal of his postconviction petition, the defendant argued that he should have been allowed to

vacate his plea as a result of the improper admonishment. Id. at 398. However, our supreme court

disagreed, noting that the defendant was sentenced “exactly as he had been admonished,” meaning

he could not establish a deprivation of real justice or prejudice. Id. at 399-400.

¶ 56 In People v. Baker, 133 Ill. App. 3d 620, 621 (1985), the defendant pleaded guilty but

mentally ill to charges of home invasion, indecent liberties with a child, and attempted deviate

sexual assault. The parties did not agree upon a sentence that the defendant would receive as a

result of his plea. Id. At the guilty-plea hearing, the court did not admonish the defendant that he

was subject to consecutive sentencing. Id. at 622. However, the court did mention that the

defendant could be sentenced to up to 30 years’ incarceration. Id. The “[d]efendant was sentenced

to six years’ imprisonment for home invasion and four years’ imprisonment for indecent liberties

with a child and attempted deviate sexual assault; the latter two sentences [were] to be served

concurrently, but consecutive to the sentence for home invasion.” Id. at 621.

¶ 57 The defendant subsequently filed a motion to vacate his plea, arguing that the court failed

to admonish him of the possibility of receiving consecutive sentences—a problem that was

exacerbated when the defendant in fact received consecutive sentences. Id. The appellate court

affirmed, noting that the defendant could not establish prejudice where “his actual aggregate

sentence was much less than 30 years” and fell squarely within the trial court’s admonitions. Id. at

622.

¶ 58 Here, defendant never alleged that he would not have pleaded guilty but-for the trial court’s

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improper admonitions.5 Nonetheless, we find that the record rebuts such an inference. Prior to

accepting defendant’s plea, the circuit court advised defendant of the applicable sentencing ranges

for each of the counts. The court described how a sentence resulting from count XI would be served

consecutively with any other sentences from “any other count.” As argued in his briefs, defendant

understood these admonitions to mean that he was subject to “an aggregate sentence ranging from

probation to 17 years[’] imprisonment.” Defendant was subsequently sentenced to an aggregate

term of 13 years’ imprisonment, which fell under this expected range. Therefore, like the

defendants in Torres and Baker, defendant was sentenced “exactly as he had been admonished,”

meaning he cannot establish prejudice resulting from the court’s admonitions. Torres, 228 Ill. 2d

at 399-400. Otherwise put, defendant cannot establish prejudice where the imposition of his

discretionary sentences resulted in a lessor, aggregate term than contemplated by the court’s

admonitions of the maximum applicable sentence.

¶ 59 Nonetheless, defendant argues that McCracken, 237 Ill. App. 3d 519, and People v. Hayes,

336 Ill. App. 3d 145 (2002) warrant a different result. We disagree.

¶ 60 In McCracken, the defendant pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol and

5 Defendant acknowledges that he never made this argument, providing that “[h]e is not

permitted to make new factual claims at this stage of litigation.” We are unaware of any authority

establishing that such an argument is a factual claim which defendant could not have made as part

of his plain error or ineffective assistance claims. Nonetheless, if defendant is unable to point to

any portions of the record to—at a minimum—create the inference that he would not have pleaded

guilty but-for the trial court’s improper admonitions, it seems unlikely that defendant was in fact

prejudiced.

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driving while his license was revoked. 237 Ill. App. 3d at 519. Prior to accepting the defendant’s

plea, the trial court told the defendant that he was subject to an extended-term sentence of up to

six years if convicted, and that his sentences would run concurrently to each other, “unless

someone told [him] ahead of time they were going to be otherwise.” Id. at 520. The court, however,

did not admonish the defendant about the possibility that his sentence would run consecutive to

another, previously imposed sentence for a prior DUI. Id. Following a sentencing hearing, the trial

court sentenced the defendant to an extended term of six years for the DUI charge, to run

consecutive to his prior, unrelated sentence. Id. On appeal, the appellate court vacated the

defendant’s plea, finding that the trial court’s admonitions led defendant to believe “that his

sentences would not be consecutive.” Id. at 521-22.

¶ 61 McCracken is distinguishable from the instant matter. There, the trial court’s admonitions

led the defendant to believe that, after pleading guilty to his charges, he would only remain

incarcerated for up to six years. Id. at 520. Thus, after submitting his plea, the defendant was

surprised to learn that he would instead be incarcerated for a total of nine years. Id. at 521. Because

the defendant in McCracken effectively received a longer sentence than he had bargained for, the

trial court’s admonitions resulted in prejudice. Id. Here, on the other hand, defendant is unable to

show prejudice, as he was sentenced in accordance with the circuit court’s admonitions.

¶ 62 In Hayes, the defendant entered an open plea to possession of a controlled substance with

intent to deliver within 1000 feet of a church. 336 Ill. App. 3d at 146. During the plea hearing, the

trial court admonished defendant that, based on his background, he was subject to mandatory Class

X sentencing, which entailed a sentence ranging from 6 to 30 years’ incarceration, to be followed

by 3 years of mandatory supervised release. Id. at 150. However, like the trial court in McCracken,

the trial court in Hayes did not admonish the defendant that his sentence could possibly run

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consecutively to another seven-year prison term that he had received in a previous, unrelated case.

Id. Defendant was ultimately sentenced to six years’ incarceration for the possession offense, to

be served consecutive to his prior, unrelated sentence. Id. On appeal, the appellate court noted that

the failure to admonish a defendant properly does not automatically call for the vacatur of a guilty

plea unless the faulty admonitions resulted in a deprivation of real justice or prejudice. Id. at 151.

Nonetheless, without specifically explaining how the defendant was prejudiced, the appellate court

vacated his guilty plea, finding that the improper admonitions rendered his plea involuntary. Id. at

152-53.

¶ 63 Here, defendant argues that, pursuant to Hayes, “the simple fact that the trial [court] failed

to admonish the [defendant] that [he] could be subjected to consecutive sentences was dispositive.”

As such, defendant essentially argues that, because the trial court erred in admonishing defendant

as to the possibility of consecutive sentences, and because he did in fact receive consecutive

sentences, he does not need to otherwise show prejudice in order to be entitled to vacate his plea.

Such an argument explicitly contradicts several decisions from our supreme court. People v. Davis,

145 Ill. 2d 240, 250 (1991) (“[w]hether reversal is required depends on whether real justice has

been denied or whether defendant has been prejudiced by the inadequate admonishment”); Torres,

228 Ill. 2d at 399 (no basis to vacate guilty plea where the defendant’s sentence comported with

the trial court’s improper admonitions, resulting in a lack of prejudice). Consequently, because

defendant has failed to show any prejudice resulting from the circuit court’s admonitions, we

decline his request to vacate his plea, or, in the alternative, to modify his sentence.

¶ 64 III. CONCLUSION

¶ 65 For the reasons stated, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court of Kane County.

¶ 66 Affirmed.

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