People v. Reed

366 N.E.2d 1137, 51 Ill. App. 3d 479, 9 Ill. Dec. 626, 1977 Ill. App. LEXIS 3140
Appellate Court of Illinois·Decided August 29, 1977·No. 13359·Published·Cited by 18 cases

Opinion

Mr. JUSTICE REARDON

delivered the opinion of the court:

Indictment was returned against defendant Sam Norman Reed for the May 8, 1973, armed robbery of Richard McGinnis. In a jury trial defendant was found guilty of robbery, a violation of section 18 — 1 of the Criminal Code of 1961 (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1973, ch. 38, par. 18 — 1). He was sentenced to a 3- to 9-year indeterminate imprisonment term. This sentence was to run consecutive to the sentences to be served by defendant in California. On appeal, defendant contends that he was ineffectively represented by counsel, that the evidence was insufficient to support the robbery conviction, and that the consecutive sentence was improper.

This court has previously been confronted with this factual situation in People v. Thomas (1975), 26 Ill. App. 3d 408, 325 N.E.2d 404. For our purposes we need not set forth as detailed a factual description as presented in Thomas.

At trial, defendant admitted to being present during the armed robbery of the McGinnis residence perpetrated by Paul Johnson and James Thomas. He testified that he had earlier met Johnson and Thomas and went with them to the McGinnis residence. Defendant knocked on the door and it was opened by McGinnis. Defendant testified that Johnson and Thomas then proceeded to commit the armed robbery upon the people inside. Defendant related that he went inside and watched the offense but did not participate. He further related that he wore a stocking over his head because one of his companions told him to do so to avoid recognition. He also admitted that he left with Johnson and Thomas. Defendant testified that he did not report the robbery because he is a heroin addict and feared being put into jail. Three victims identified defendant as a participant in the robbery.

On October 25 and October 29, 1973, respectively, Thomas and Johnson went on trial for the May 8, 1973, armed robbery. They were represented by Marvin Gesell, the public defender for McLean County. They each raised an alibi defense. In a separate trial on March 17,1975, defendant was tried for the May 8, 1973, armed robbery. He also was represented by Mr. Gesell. Defendant’s defense was that he was present but that he was not a willing participant in the robbery.

Defendant first contends that his counsel owed professional loyalty to defendant and to Johnson and Thomas and, since their defenses conflicted he was denied effective legal assistance. In some cases the circumstances surrounding dual legal representation are so conflicting that it can be concluded “per se” that defendant was denied effective legal assistance. (See People v. Kester (1977), 66 Ill. 2d 162, 361 N.E.2d 569; People v. Johnson (1970), 46 Ill. 2d 266, 265 N.E.2d 869; People v. Ware (1968), 39 Ill. 2d 66, 233 N.E.2d 421.) We do not so find in this case. There is also no actual prejudice shown here. The alleged prejudice, that Gesell could not call his other clients to testify, is speculative. There is no indication that Gesell would have called them or that their testimony would have been helpful to defendant. A defendant must show he was prejudiced by being represented by the same counsel as his co-defendant and that the result might have been different had he been represented by different counsel. (People v. Somerville (1969), 42 Ill. 2d 1, 245 N.E.2d 461; People v. McCasle (1966), 35 Ill. 2d 552, 221 N.E.2d 227.) In this case defendant has failed to show actual prejudice or that the result might have been different with different counsel.

Defendant also contends that the evidence was not sufficient to support the verdict of guilty for robbery although he concedes that there was substantial justification for returning a guilty verdict for armed robbery. Clearly, if the armed robbery elements were proved, the elements of robbery were also proved. Defendant argues that, consistent with the evidence presented, the jury could only have returned a verdict for armed robbery, rather than a verdict for robbery. In effect, defendant is asserting that the jury should not have been instructed on and given verdict forms for the lesser included offense of robbery. Defendant, however, neglects to mention that it was he who requested and submitted the instructions and verdict forms for the offense of robbery. Nor does the defendant mention that his trial counsel in both opening and closing arguments suggested to the jury that a verdict of guilty of robbery was a proper verdict. We find that defendant is estopped from raising this argument on appeal because a defendant cannot try his case before the jury on one theory and then depart on a radically new direction with a different inconsistent theory on appeal. (Johnson v. United States (1943), 318 U.S. 189, 87 L. Ed. 704, 63 S. Ct. 549; People v. Realmo (1963), 28 Ill. 2d 510, 192 N.E.2d 918.) Since defendant actually invited, procured, participated, and acquiesced in the alleged error, he cannot now use it as a vehicle for reversal. (People v. Roper (1971), 133 Ill. App. 2d 910, 272 N.E.2d 667 (abstract), cert. denied (1972), 405 U.S. 922, 30 L. Ed. 2d 794, 92 S. Ct. 961.) In any event defendant waived the issue on appeal by failing to raise it in his post-trial motion. People v. Rogers (1975), 32 Ill. App. 3d 788, 336 N.E.2d 784; People v. Sparks (1975), 26 Ill. App. 3d 278, 325 N.E.2d 49.

Defendant further contends that the imposition of the consecutive sentence constituted error because (1) the trial judge failed to state that a consecutive sentence was required for the protection of the public and (2) the trial judge failed to give particular consideration to the nature of the offense or the history and character of the defendant. We find no merit to the latter argument as the record clearly discloses that the trial judge did consider the nature of the robbery offense and the history and character of the defendant.

Section 5 — 8—4(b) of the Unified Code of Corrections provides:

“(b) The court shall not impose a consecutive sentence unless, having regard to the nature and circumstances of the offense and the history and character of the defendant, it is of the opinion that such a term is required to protect the public from further criminal conduct by the defendant, the basis for which the court may set forth in the record.” (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1973, ch. 38, par. 1005 — 8— 4(b).)

It is our view that the legislature framed this statute in language that relieves the trial judge of any obligation to make an express finding in the record that the imposition of a consecutive term of imprisonment was required to protect the public from further criminal conduct by the defendant.

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People v. Reed, 366 N.E.2d 1137, 51 Ill. App. 3d 479, 9 Ill. Dec. 626, 1977 Ill. App. LEXIS 3140 (Ill. Ct. App. 1977).

366 N.E.2d 1137 (People v. Reed) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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