People v. Richardson

2023 IL App (4th) 220355-U

Opinion

NOTICE 2023 IL App (4th) 220355-U FILED This Order was filed under May 23, 2023 Supreme Court Rule 23 and is NO. 4-22-0355 Carla Bender not precedent except in the 4th District Appellate limited circumstances allowed IN THE APPELLATE COURT Court, IL under Rule 23(e)(1). OF ILLINOIS

FOURTH DISTRICT

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, ) Appeal from the Plaintiff-Appellee, ) Circuit Court of v. ) Livingston County JOSHUA RICHARDSON, ) No. 18CF142 Defendant-Appellant. ) ) Honorable ) Jennifer H. Bauknecht and ) Matthew J. Fitton, ) Judges Presiding.

JUSTICE HARRIS delivered the judgment of the court. Justices Cavanagh and Knecht concurred in the judgment.

ORDER ¶1 Held: The appellate court affirmed, holding that:

(1) the trial court’s misleading admonition did not render defendant’s jury waiver invalid;

(2) defendant was not deprived of his right to a fair trial before an unbiased trier of fact;

(3) defendant failed to establish the trial court failed to accurately recall crucial trial evidence in finding him guilty;

(4) the trial court did not violate defendant’s right to be present at all critical stages of the proceedings by viewing an admitted video recording in chambers;

(5) the cumulative effect of multiple errors did not deprive defendant of a fair trial; and (6) the trial court’s finding that defendant failed to demonstrate possible neglect of the case at a preliminary inquiry pursuant to People v. Krankel, 102 Ill. 2d 181 (1984), was not manifestly erroneous.

¶2 Defendant, Joshua Richardson, appeals his convictions for four counts of

predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and two counts of criminal sexual assault. Defendant

argues: (1) his jury waiver was not knowing and voluntary, (2) he was deprived of his right to a

fair trial by an unbiased trier of fact, (3) he was deprived of his right to a fair trial because the

trial court based its finding of guilt on misremembered evidence, (4) the trial court violated his

constitutional right to be present at all critical stages of the proceedings, (5) the cumulative effect

of multiple errors deprived him of a fair trial, and (6) the matter should be remanded for further

posttrial proceedings because he demonstrated possible neglect of the case during a preliminary

inquiry pursuant to People v. Krankel, 102 Ill. 2d 181 (1984). We affirm.

¶3 I. BACKGROUND

¶4 Defendant was charged with four counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a

child (720 ILCS 5/11-1.40(a)(1) (West 2018)). Specifically, the amended information alleged

defendant placed his penis in the vaginas and mouths of his daughters, F.R. and D.R., at a time

when he was 18 years old or older and the victims were under the age of 13 years old. The

amended information alleged the offenses concerning F.R. occurred “[o]n or about August 13,

2014 through May 15, 2018,” and the offenses concerning D.R. occurred “[o]n or about July 19,

2008 through July 19, 2015.” Defendant was also charged with two counts of criminal sexual

assault (id. § 11-1.20(a)(3)) in that, on or about July 19, 2015, through May 15, 2018, he placed

his penis in the mouth and vagina of D.R. when D.R. was under the age of 18 years old.

¶5 On October 11, 2018, defendant appeared before the trial court with counsel and

waived his right to a jury trial in the instant case and in Livingston County case No. 18-CF-161,

-2- which was also pending. Defendant indicated no one forced him to waive his right to a jury trial,

no one promised him anything, and he understood his waiver meant that the court alone would

determine whether the State had met its burden of proof rather than a jury. The court stated,

“And once you waive your right to a jury trial, you cannot get it back. So if you decide later

today or next week or whenever we start the trial that you’d rather have a jury, you will not get a

jury trial. It would only be a bench trial.” Defendant indicated he understood. The court later

asked, “Knowing that this is a permanent waiver of your right to a jury trial, do you still wish to

waive that right?” Defendant replied, “Yes, ma’am.” The court found defendant had knowingly

and voluntarily waived his right to a jury trial and set the matter for a bench trial.

¶6 Following a bench trial in Livingston County case No. 18-CF-161, defendant was

convicted of four counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child for offenses involving

two of his sisters, including S.W. On February 1, 2019, the trial court imposed consecutive life

sentences on all four counts.

¶7 On April 25, 2019, a bench trial commenced in the instant case. Immediately prior

to the trial, the trial court conducted a hearing on the State’s previously filed motion to admit

S.W.’s testimony under section 115-7.3 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (Code) (725

ILCS 5/115-7.3 (West 2018)). The State asserted S.W. “would be testifying to basically the same

matters that were testified to in [Livingston County case No.] 18-CF-161.” The State indicated

that S.W. would testify concerning an incident that occurred when she was approximately 10

years old in which defendant called her into his bedroom and placed his tongue, hand, and penis

on her vagina. The court granted the motion, finding the prejudicial effect of the evidence was

outweighed by its probative value. The court found, based on its recollection of S.W.’s testimony

in the prior case and the State’s proffer, that there were considerable factual similarities between

-3- S.W.’s proposed testimony and the charged offenses, including the ages of the victims, the type

of sexual conduct alleged, and the relationship between defendant and the victims.

¶8 The State called 10-year-old F.R. as its first witness. F.R. testified that she was six

years old the first time she remembered defendant touching her inappropriately by rubbing his

penis on her vagina. After this incident, defendant told her he would go to jail if she told anyone

what happened. F.R. did not tell anyone about this incident because she was afraid defendant

would hurt her if she did. F.R. also testified that, from the time she was seven years old until she

was nine years old, defendant touched her inappropriately each time she visited him, which was

every other weekend. At night, after everyone had gone to bed, defendant would make F.R.

touch his penis with her hand and mouth or would place his penis in her vagina. F.R. stated she

was afraid that if she told anyone about this conduct, defendant would hurt her by pulling her

hair or choking her since he had done that before to punish her. She testified that she did not

disclose the conduct during her first interview at the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) because

she was afraid defendant would hurt her. However, during her second interview, she discussed

what had happened. The State later moved to admit a video recording of this interview into

evidence. Defendant’s counsel indicated he did not object, and the court admitted it into

evidence.

¶9 D.R., who was 16 years old at the time of the trial, testified she was 6 years old

the first time defendant touched her inappropriately by placing his hands on her vagina.

Defendant told her that other parents did this to their children, too, and it was “fine.” When D.R.

was six or seven years old, defendant began placing his penis on her hand and in her mouth. The

first time he placed his penis in her mouth was in his gold-colored car one night. D.R. stated she

knew the incident in the car occurred in winter because she remembered it being cold. D.R.

-4- testified that defendant began placing his penis in her vagina when she was eight years old, and

he did this every weekend she visited him. She moved into defendant’s residence when she was

13 years old, and he continued to touch her inappropriately until his arrest, which occurred when

she was 15 years old. Defendant told D.R. that if she told anyone about his conduct, he would

kill himself or kill everyone around him. D.R. stated she saw defendant rub his penis on F.R.’s

vagina and direct F.R. to place her hands and mouth on his penis.

¶ 10 S.W., who was 22 years old at the time of the trial, testified that defendant was

her brother and was approximately 17 years older than her. Defendant lived in her father’s house

with her for a couple of months when she was 11 years old. During that time, defendant called

her into his bedroom one night, and he placed his fingers, tongue, and penis in her vagina. She

did not tell anyone about the incident at the time because she did not think they would believe

her. She told her sister and friend about it a couple of years later.

¶ 11 Defendant testified that he had heard D.R. testify regarding “incidents” that

occurred in a gold-colored car. Defense counsel asked, “And at the time that [D.R.] describes

these events as happening, can you describe the vehicle you had?” Defendant replied, “Um, from

about mid August to mid September, I had a gold Dodge Intrepid. After that, the motor blew in

that vehicle. I ended up buying my brother’s blue Dodge *** pickup.” Defendant testified that he

never had any sexual contact with either F.R. or D.R. Certified copies of defendant’s convictions

for aggravated battery, aggravated vehicular hijacking, and predatory criminal sexual assault of a

child were admitted as impeachment evidence.

¶ 12 After hearing closing arguments, the trial court continued the matter so that it

could review the video recording of F.R.’s CAC interview. At the next hearing, the court

indicated it had viewed the video recording and reviewed its trial notes. The court found

-5- defendant guilty of all six counts. The court found F.R. and D.R. to be credible witnesses. The

court stated:

“[S.W.] was a credible, consistent witness and shows really the pattern that this

Defendant had for assaulting and abusing young girls from a very young age, six,

seven years old, and then using very controlling behavior to keep them under his

thumb so to speak for years and years at a time and just robbing these young girls

of their childhood.”

¶ 13 The trial court found defendant was not a credible witness, noting defendant had

“no affect” and “stone cold eyes” during his testimony. The court stated defendant’s “simple no I

did not answers” as to whether he sexually assaulted D.R. and F.R. were “simply not credible at

all.” The court also found defendant “certainly ha[d] bias” and had “a stake in the outcome of

this.” The court stated defendant “exercised control and stared down these girls while they

testified.” It noted some of defendant’s testimony corroborated the victims’ testimony, including

that “he owned a gold Dodge Intrepid at the relevant time period.”

¶ 14 At the sentencing hearing, a presentence investigation report and victim impact

statements from the victims and one of their mothers were submitted. Defendant made a

statement in allocution in which he stated he never sexually abused his daughters, and he was not

“this monster” that the trial court and “those from without” were portraying him to be. Defendant

stated he did not intend to direct a “stone cold stare” at his daughters, as the court had found, but

he had always looked “pissed off” when he was serious and focused. Defendant also stated there

was physical evidence and witness testimony that would have proven his innocence that was not

presented, despite his requests that it be presented.

-6- ¶ 15 The trial court imposed consecutive sentences of natural life imprisonment on

each of the four counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and 15 years’

imprisonment on the two counts of criminal sexual assault. The court stated:

“I’ve got four victims. I have absolutely no doubt that there are more than four

victims of [defendant]. But I have four victims who had the strength and courage

to come forward and where [defendant] had physically and emotionally abused

them and sexually abused them from a very young age.”

The court stated defendant’s failure to accept responsibility made it “extremely difficult to see

how there would be any potential for rehabilitation.” The court stated: “[Defendant] is a monster.

He is a danger to this community. The State is absolutely correct that it is necessary for the

protection of these young ladies, his daughters, his sisters and I agree his grandchildren someday

need to be protected from him.”

¶ 16 On direct appeal, defendant raised the first five claims raised in the instant appeal,

as well as a claim that the trial court erred by failing to conduct a preliminary inquiry pursuant to

Krankel into his pro se posttrial claims of ineffective assistance of counsel. People v.

Richardson, 2021 IL App (4th) 190682-U, ¶ 2. We remanded the matter for a preliminary

Krankel inquiry before a new judge. Id. ¶ 27. We declined to address the remaining issues

defendant raised but noted he could raise the issues in a subsequent appeal following the Krankel

proceedings on remand. Id. ¶ 24.

¶ 17 On remand, defendant, pro se, filed four written “declarations” detailing his

claims of ineffective assistance of trial counsel. In the documents, he alleged that, on October 9,

2018, trial counsel called defendant in jail and told him Andrea Hagen, defendant’s fiancée, had

pled guilty to “a charge of participating in a sexual act” with one of the alleged victims and had

-7- agreed to testify against defendant. Counsel then advised defendant against proceeding with a

jury trial. Defendant told counsel he was opposed to waiving a jury trial and needed more time to

think about it. Two days later, defendant was brought to court, and counsel indicated he had

arranged a hearing for defendant to waive his right to a jury trial in both of the cases pending

against him. Counsel stated defendant would have “no chance with a jury” and would “for sure

be found guilty” with Hagen testifying against him. Defendant was “caught off guard” and

agreed to waive his right to a jury trial “reluctantly and under duress.” Defendant stated that, a

few days later, he learned Hagen did not plead guilty to a charge of “participating in a sexual

act” with one of the alleged victims, and she never agreed to testify against him. Defendant

alleged counsel “purposely lied to [him]” in order to get him to waive his right to a jury trial.

¶ 18 In the declarations, defendant also stated his trial counsel was ineffective for

failing to object to the trial court’s inaccurate statement of the law concerning his jury waiver,

“bring to the court’s attention” that it had misremembered evidence in finding him guilty, and

move for a substitution of judge following his trial in Livingston County case No. 18-CF-161

due to the “undeniable biased and hostile feelings” the trial court displayed toward him during

that trial. Defendant asserted he told counsel he wanted a different judge for the trial in this case.

¶ 19 Defendant also asserted in the written declarations that his trial counsel was

ineffective for failing to present exonerating evidence. Specifically, defendant alleged medical

examinations of F.R. and D.R. were conducted after his arrest in May 2018. Defense counsel

told defendant that records of these exams existed, but he indicated the State would not allow

them to be “brought out as evidence” to support defendant’s claim of innocence. Defendant

alleged the records would have proven his innocence because they would have shown that “at no

point in time” was F.R. or D.R. ever sexually assaulted.

-8- ¶ 20 Defendant also argues his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to introduce

evidence of “Messenger” messages between his two ex-wives, Delissa Leonard and Tracy

Richardson, who were the mothers of D.R. and F.R. Defendant stated Tracy gave him a paper

copy of messages she had exchanged with Leonard in which they conspired to “set [defendant]

up” with false accusations of sexual abuse involving D.R. and F.R. Defendant asserted he gave

these messages to Janine Boggs, his former attorney. Boggs assured him she would give the

messages to his public defender. Defense counsel in the instant case confirmed he had received

the messages and told defendant they would be “brought up during trial proceedings,” but they

never were.

¶ 21 Defendant also argued his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to interview and

call multiple witnesses who would have supported and proven his innocence to testify on his

behalf. These witnesses included, among others, Hagen, Dayna Richardson (defendant’s

daughter), David Richardson (defendant’s son), and Boggs. Defendant summarized what he

believed each of these witnesses would have testified to.

¶ 22 A hearing was held on defendant’s pro se claims of ineffective assistance of

counsel before a different judge than the one who had presided over the trial. At the hearing, the

trial court indicated it would take judicial notice of the written declarations and asked defendant

to summarize his arguments. Defendant read one of his four written declarations, which set forth

his main arguments. Defendant noted that the other written declarations contained more detailed

information concerning the witnesses who should have been called by trial counsel and the

evidence counsel should have presented.

¶ 23 In response, trial counsel stated that, after both the instant case and Livingston

County case No. 18-CF-161 had been set for trial, he advised defendant he had been informed

-9- that Hagen would be pleading guilty to permitting the sexual abuse of one of the alleged victims

in the instant case. Counsel advised defendant he did not believe Hagen would be a beneficial

witness to him because she had already admitted “to allowing something to have happened.” He

also told defendant he did not believe it would “go over well in front of a jury” if the defense

called Hagen as a witness and she admitted “those things had occurred and that she was aware of

them.” Counsel stated he had also been advised by an assistant state’s attorney that Hagen would

be on the State’s witness list, and Hagen’s counsel had previously indicated he had advised her

not to testify as a witness for defendant.

¶ 24 Counsel stated that, after Hagen’s plea, he spoke to defendant over the phone

concerning possibly waiving his right to a jury trial. Counsel told defendant he would be brought

to court to execute the jury waiver, but he did not tell him exactly when because the court date

had not been set yet. When defendant was brought to court, counsel again discussed the benefits

and dangers of a jury trial versus a bench trial, and defendant chose to waive his right to a jury

trial “of his own free will.” Counsel told defendant he believed for several reasons that a bench

trial would be better in the instant case. However, he advised defendant that it was ultimately

defendant’s choice.

¶ 25 Counsel noted defendant had discussed wanting a different judge after the trial in

in Livingston County case No. 18-CF-161. Counsel explained to defendant that he did not

believe there was a basis for filing a motion to substitute the judge for cause based on the judge

finding him guilty in Livingston County case No. 18-CF-161.

¶ 26 Counsel stated there were “certain types of evidence” defendant believed would

be beneficial that “may not have been relevant” and “may not have been admissible.” Counsel

stated a victim’s alleged sexual experiences with other individuals would not have been relevant

- 10 - or admissible, and a victim’s experience of physical or mental abuse with other individuals

would not have been relevant. Counsel stated he explained to defendant that the evidence they

presented had to have relevance to the case as a whole and “could not be hearsay in nature where

someone is commenting on what somebody else says, could not be of the nature of what

someone else believes did or didn’t happen.”

¶ 27 Counsel initially stated that no medical exams had been done on the victims.

Defendant then gave more detailed allegations concerning medical exams that were done during

a juvenile case prior to the instant case. Regarding these allegations, counsel stated that a

juvenile case had been filed against defendant concerning all of his daughters in addition to the

criminal cases, and he represented defendant during the juvenile case as well. Counsel stated he

discussed the evidence with defendant at that time. Counsel indicated he told defendant “there

was no physical evidence, there was no DNA evidence, there was nothing which we could use to

put forth a defense in that particular respect due to the fact that these were allegations that had

occurred some time ago, and so, that evidence would not be available to us.”

¶ 28 The trial court stated it had considered defendant’s filings and the arguments

made at the hearing. The court found that whether a bench trial would be more beneficial than a

jury trial was a matter of strategy, and defendant ultimately agreed to proceed with a bench trial

after discussing the matter with counsel. With regard to counsel’s failure to file a motion to

substitute judge following the trial in Livingston County case No. 18-CF-161, the court stated:

“[T]he fact that a judge rules against you in one case, in and of itself, unless there is a clear

showing of prejudice, which apparently there was not in this matter, that does not exclude that

judge from trying the other case.” The court found that trial counsel had not fallen below the

level of providing an adequate defense. The court found the issues raised by defendant were

- 11 - “strategic in nature” and found that defendant had not proven that his counsel had not

“performed to the level of his profession.” This appeal followed.

¶ 29 II. ANALYSIS

¶ 30 On appeal, defendant argues: (1) his jury waiver was not knowing and voluntary,

(2) he was deprived of his right to a fair trial by an unbiased trier of fact, (3) he was deprived of

his right to a fair trial because the trial court based its finding of guilt on misremembered

evidence, (4) the trial court violated his constitutional right to be present at all critical stages of

the proceedings, (5) the cumulative effect of multiple errors deprived him of a fair trial, and

(6) the matter should be remanded for further posttrial proceedings because he demonstrated

possible neglect of the case during the preliminary Krankel inquiry.

¶ 31 A. Jury Waiver

¶ 32 Defendant argues his jury waiver was not knowing and voluntary because it was

made following the trial court’s inaccurate admonishment. Specifically, defendant contends the

court incorrectly advised him that his jury waiver was permanent and that he would not receive a

jury trial if he later changed his mind regarding the waiver. Defendant asserts this admonition

was incorrect because, while he did not have an absolute right to withdraw his jury waiver, the

court was required to consider a request to withdraw the jury waiver and could deny such a

request only after exercising its discretion. Defendant contends he would have had grounds for

requesting to withdraw his jury waiver after the court expressed “strong opinions about [his]

character and credibility as a witness” following the bench trial in in Livingston County case No.

18-CF-161. Defendant also asserts that the court’s misleading admonition amounted to a

“blanket policy” that it would not permit him to withdraw his waiver under any circumstances,

- 12 - and it prevented him from making a knowing and voluntary decision about whether to seek to

withdraw his jury waiver.

¶ 33 “The right to a trial by jury is a fundamental right guaranteed by our federal and

state constitutions.” People v. Bracey, 213 Ill. 2d 265, 269 (2004). A defendant may waive the

right to a trial by jury, but a jury waiver must be knowingly and understandingly made to be

valid. Id. The question of whether a jury waiver is valid turns on the particular facts and

circumstances of each case, and the trial court need not impart to the defendant any “set

admonition or advice.” Id. at 269-70. “A jury waiver will not be held invalid where a defendant

unambiguously chooses a bench trial with his counsel at his side unless some prejudice to the

defendant is alleged and proved.” People v. Akis, 63 Ill. 2d 296, 300 (1976). Once a defendant

has voluntarily elected to waive his right to a jury trial, the defendant cannot withdraw the

waiver as a matter of right. People v. Catalano, 29 Ill. 2d 197, 202 (1963). “Whether the accused

will be permitted to withdraw the waiver is ordinarily within the discretion of the trial court

unless the circumstances indicate that the defendant did not realize the consequences of his jury

waiver.” Id.

¶ 34 Defendant acknowledges he failed to preserve this issue by raising it in the trial

court but argues we may consider it under either prong of the plain error doctrine. Under the

plain error doctrine, we may review unpreserved error when “a clear and obvious error occurs

and: (1) the evidence is closely balanced; or (2) that error is so serious that it affected the fairness

of the defendant’s trial and challenged the integrity of the judicial process.” People v. Bannister,

232 Ill. 2d 52, 65 (2008). The first step under either prong of the plain error doctrine is to

determine whether a clear or obvious error occurred. People v. Sebby, 2017 IL 119445, ¶ 49.

- 13 - ¶ 35 We find the Second District’s decision in People v. McIntyre, 2022 IL App (2d)

200535, to be instructive. In McIntyre, the trial court advised the defendant at the time he waived

his right to a jury trial that, once he waived the right, he could not “ ‘change [his] mind and take

it back.’ ” Id. ¶ 3. On appeal, the defendant argued his jury waiver was not valid because the trial

court’s erroneous admonition left him with the mistaken impression that there was no possibility

he could withdraw the waiver. Id. ¶ 6. The defendant acknowledged he had forfeited the issue

but argued it was reviewable under the second prong of the plain error doctrine. Id. ¶¶ 7, 11. The

McIntyre court held that, while the trial court’s admonition was misleading, it did not affect the

validity of the jury waiver because the defendant was not prejudiced by the admonition. Id. ¶ 9.

The court stated: “Since defendant was willing to make an irrevocable waiver of the right to a

jury, we have no reason to believe he would have been unwilling to make a potentially revocable

waiver.” Id. The McIntyre court acknowledged that the misleading admonition could have

affected the defendant’s postwaiver decision-making but found any error in that regard did not

rise to the level of second-prong plain error. Id. ¶¶ 10-12.

¶ 36 Here, like in McIntyre, the trial court’s admonition concerning defendant’s jury

waiver was misleading. The court advised defendant that if he decided after the waiver that he

would rather have a jury trial, he would not receive a jury trial and would only have a bench trial.

This comment conveyed that, once defendant waived his right to a jury trial, there would be no

possibility to withdraw the waiver. While defendant was not entitled to withdraw the jury waiver

as a matter of right, he could have still moved to withdraw the waiver, and the decision as to

whether to grant the motion would have been within the trial court’s discretion. Id. ¶ 8; see

People v. Todd, 178 Ill. 2d 297, 316 (1997).

- 14 - ¶ 37 However, as in McIntyre, we find the court’s misleading admonition did not affect

the validity of defendant’s jury waiver because defendant suffered no prejudice regarding his

decision to waive a jury trial. As the McIntyre court noted, if defendant was willing to make an

irrevocable waiver of his right to a jury trial, there is no reason to believe he would not have been

willing to make a possibly revocable waiver. See McIntyre, 2022 IL App (2d) 200535, ¶ 10; see

also Todd, 178 Ill. 2d at 316 (holding the defendant was not prejudiced by his counsel’s inclusion

of a provision in his jury waiver form stating he would be forever barred from requesting a jury

if the court accepted his waiver because the challenged provision indicated the consequences of

waiver were more onerous than they actually were and imposed a disincentive for waiver).

¶ 38 We acknowledge, as did the McIntyre court, that the trial court’s misleading

admonition could have affected defendant’s postwaiver decision-making. However, the only

question before us in this appeal is whether the misleading admonition rendered defendant’s jury

waiver invalid, and we have concluded that it did not. As defendant never moved to withdraw his

jury waiver in the trial court and has not argued on appeal that his trial counsel provided

ineffective assistance by failing to file a motion to withdraw his jury waiver, we are not tasked

with deciding any potential postwaiver claims of error.

¶ 39 We conclude defendant has not established that a clear or obvious error occurred

with regard to his claim that the trial court’s admonition rendered his jury waiver invalid, and,

accordingly, he is not entitled to relief under the plain error doctrine. See Bannister, 232 Ill. 2d at

71 (“Having found no error, there can be no plain error.”).

¶ 40 B. Judicial Bias

¶ 41 Defendant argues he was deprived of his right to a fair trial because the judge who

presided over the trial was biased against him due to the information she learned and conclusions

- 15 - she drew as the trier of fact during the bench trial in Livingston County case No. 18-CF-161.

Specifically, defendant notes the trial judge in Livingston County case No. 18-CF-161 found that

he was not a credible witness and that his language and manner while testifying showed he was

hiding things, thought he was “ ‘smooth,’ ” and thought he would be able to “ ‘talk his way out

of it.’ ” People v. Richardson, 2021 IL App (4th) 190184-U, ¶ 9. Defendant also notes the judge

found S.W. to be a credible witness in the prior case. Id. Defendant further notes that during the

sentencing hearing in in Livingston County case No. 18-CF-161, which is included in the record

in this appeal, the judge stated defendant manipulated his victims and continued to “lie and

manipulate to get himself out of trouble.”

¶ 42 Defendant acknowledges he failed to raise this argument in the trial court.

However, he argues forfeiture should not bar review of this issue because the conduct of the trial

court was at issue. See People v. Sims, 192 Ill. 2d 592, 636 (2000) (“[T]he procedural default, or

waiver, rule is not rigidly applied where the basis for the objection is the conduct of the trial

judge.”). Alternatively, defendant argues the issue may be reviewed under either prong of the

plain error doctrine. See Bannister, 232 Ill. 2d at 65. Even if we were to find defendant’s failure

to preserve the issue does not bar our review of it, we find defendant has failed to establish he

was deprived of his right to a fair trial due to judicial bias.

¶ 43 “In a criminal prosecution, the defendant has a constitutional right to a fair trial

before an unbiased and open-minded trier of fact.” People v. Hardin, 2012 IL App (1st) 100682,

¶ 14; U.S. Const., amends. VI, XIV; Ill. Const. 1970, art. I, § 8. “ ‘A trial judge is presumed to be

impartial, and the burden of overcoming this presumption rests on the party making the charge of

prejudice.’ ” People v. Covington, 395 Ill. App. 3d 996, 1009 (2009) (quoting Eychaner v.

Gross, 202 Ill. 2d 228, 280 (2002)). “A judge’s rulings alone almost never constitute a valid

- 16 - basis for a claim of judicial bias or partiality.” Eychaner, 202 Ill. 2d at 280. Moreover, the fact

that a judge has ruled adversely to a party in a civil or criminal case ordinarily does not

disqualify the judge from sitting in subsequent civil or criminal cases in which that person is a

party. People v. Vance, 76 Ill. 2d 171, 178 (1979). “Rather, the party making the charge of

prejudice must present evidence of prejudicial trial conduct and evidence of the judge’s personal

bias.” Eychaner, 202 Ill. 2d at 280.

“ ‘[O]pinions formed by the judge on the basis of facts introduced or events

occurring in the course of the current proceedings, or of prior proceedings, do not

constitute a basis for a bias or partiality motion unless they display a deep-seated

favoritism or antagonism that would make fair judgment impossible. Thus,

judicial remarks during the course of a trial that are critical or disapproving of, or

even hostile to, counsel, the parties, or their cases, ordinarily do not support

a bias or partiality challenge.’ ” Id. at 281 (quoting Liteky v. United States, 510

U.S. 540, 555 (1994)).

A showing of “animosity, hostility, ill will, or distrust” against the defendant is necessary to

establish “the actual prejudice which would interfere with a fair determination of defendant’s

guilt or innocence.” Vance, 76 Ill. 2d at 181-82.

¶ 44 We find the challenged comments the trial court made following the trial and

during the sentencing hearing in Livingston County case No. 18-CF-161 did not show the judge

displayed such a high degree of antagonism against defendant as to make fair judgment

impossible in the instant case. It was appropriate for the judge, as the trier of fact in Livingston

County case No. 18-CF-161, to assess the credibility of defendant’s and S.W.’s testimony in that

case. See People v. Swenson, 2020 IL 124688, ¶ 36. These credibility determinations did not

- 17 - show the judge was incapable of being impartial in this case. While the judge’s findings at the

sentencing hearing in Livingston County case No. 18-CF-161 concerning defendant’s

manipulation of his victims were certainly critical and disapproving, we do not find the remarks

rose to the level of showing a “ ‘deep-seated *** antagonism that would make fair judgment

impossible.’ ” Eychaner, 202 Ill. 2d at 281 (quoting Liteky, 510 U.S. at 555).

¶ 45 We reject defendant’s argument that the record shows the judge’s findings and

opinions formed during the trial in Livingston County case No. 18-CF-161 carried over to the

instant case. Specifically, defendant notes the judge referenced her recollection of S.W.’s

testimony in Livingston County case No. 18-CF-161 in finding S.W.’s testimony was admissible

in the instant case under section 115-7.3 of the Code (725 ILCS 5/115-7.3 (West 2018)).

However, the judge referenced her recollection of S.W.’s prior testimony only after the State

indicated S.W.’s testimony in the instant case would concern “basically the same matters” as in

the prior case. The judge’s reference to S.W.’s prior testimony for the limited purpose of

determining whether sufficient factual similarities existed between her proffered testimony and

the charged offenses did not show the judge was biased.

¶ 46 Defendant also notes that, during the sentencing hearing in the instant case, the

judge referenced there being “four victims,” and likely more than that, even though the charges

in the instant case only concerned two victims. Defendant contends this shows the judge

“combined these cases in her mind, depriving [him] of an impartial trier of fact in this case.”

However, it was appropriate for the court to consider the defendant’s criminal history—including

his convictions in Livingston County case No. 18-CF-161—at the sentencing hearing. See

People v. Thompson, 222 Ill. 2d 1, 35 (2006).

- 18 - ¶ 47 Defendant contends the judge also showed her bias when she called him a

“monster” during the sentencing hearing in the instant case. Notably, however, the judge made

this comment only after finding defendant guilty of sexually assaulting two of his minor

daughters on multiple occasions, and the comment was responsive to defendant’s assertion

during his statement in allocution that he was not “this monster” that the court and “those from

without” were portraying him to be. This comment, while inflammatory, does not by itself lead

us to conclude the trial judge was not impartial when she sentenced defendant.

¶ 48 C. Misremembered Evidence

¶ 49 Next, defendant argues his right to due process was violated because the trial

court based its finding of guilt on misremembered evidence. Specifically, defendant argues the

trial court was incorrect in finding S.W.’s testimony showed he had a pattern “for assaulting and

abusing young girls from a very young age, six, seven years old, and then using very controlling

behavior to keep them under his thumb so to speak for years and years at a time.” Defendant

notes that S.W. testified concerning only one incident of sexual conduct that happened when she

was 11 years old. Defendant also argues the court was incorrect when it stated he partially

corroborated D.R.’s testimony by testifying that he “owned a gold Dodge Intrepid at the relevant

time period.” Defendant contends his testimony showed he only had the gold-colored Dodge

Intrepid in the summer, while D.R. testified the incident in the car happened in the winter.

¶ 50 Defendant acknowledges he failed to raise this issue in the trial court but argues

that forfeiture should not bar review of this claim because the conduct of the court is at issue. See

Sims, 192 Ill. 2d at 636. Defendant also argues that the issue is reviewable under either prong of

the plain error doctrine, which permits us to review unpreserved error when “a clear and obvious

error occurs and: (1) the evidence is closely balanced; or (2) that error is so serious that it

- 19 - affected the fairness of the defendant’s trial and challenged the integrity of the judicial process.”

Bannister, 232 Ill. 2d at 65. The first step under either prong of the plain error doctrine is to

determine whether a clear or obvious error occurred. Sebby, 2017 IL 119445, ¶ 49.

¶ 51 Our supreme court has held that a trial court’s failure to recall and consider

testimony crucial to the defendant’s case results in a denial of a defendant’s due process rights.

People v. Mitchell, 152 Ill. 2d 274, 323 (1992). “Where the record affirmatively indicates that the

trial court did not remember or consider the crux of the defense when entering judgment, the

defendant did not receive a fair trial.” People v. Simon, 2011 IL App (1st) 091197, ¶ 91; see

People v. Bowie, 36 Ill. App. 3d 177, 180 (1976). However, “if a trial court’s ‘minor

misstatement’ of the evidence did not affect the basis of the ruling, it does not violate due

process.” People v. Williams, 2017 IL App (1st) 150795, ¶ 39 (quoting People v. Schuit, 2016 IL

App (1st) 150312, ¶ 107).

¶ 52 We find defendant has not shown an error occurred in this case because it is not

apparent from the challenged comments that the trial court’s recollection of the trial testimony

was incorrect. With regard to the court’s comment that defendant testified that he owned a

gold-colored Dodge Intrepid during the “relevant time period,” we note that this comment was

somewhat vague and that both defendant’s and D.R.’s testimony lacked specificity as to the

precise timeline of events. D.R. testified the incident in the car happened sometime when she

was six or seven years old. She stated it happened in the winter because she remembered it being

cold outside. When asked what vehicle he had at the time of the incident D.R. described,

defendant stated he owned a gold-colored Dodge Intrepid from “about mid August to mid

September.” Even accepting defendant’s argument that this testimony shows he sold the gold

Dodge Intrepid sometime in September, we do not believe it was necessarily incorrect for the

- 20 - court to describe this as being during “the relevant time period,” especially given the expansive

period of time in which D.R. testified the abuse occurred.

¶ 53 It is also not clear from the trial court’s comments that it misremembered

evidence when it indicated that S.W.’s testimony showed defendant’s pattern “for assaulting and

abusing young girls from a very young age, six, seven years old, and then using very controlling

behavior to keep them under his thumb so to speak for years and years at a time.” Both F.R. and

D.R. testified that defendant first engaged in sexual conduct with them when they were six or

seven years old and that they did not tell anyone because defendant had made them afraid.

Although S.W. was older than F.R. and D.R. when defendant sexually assaulted her and she only

testified concerning one incident of assault, her testimony showed defendant had a long pattern

of sexually assaulting young girls. To the extent the court’s comments concerning S.W.’s

testimony were incorrect, the comments constituted only a minor misstatement of the evidence

and did not affect the basis of the court’s ruling. See id..

¶ 54 D. Right to Be Present

¶ 55 Defendant argues his constitutional right to be present at all critical stages of the

proceedings was violated when the trial court privately viewed the recording of F.R.’s CAC

interview. “Under the United States Constitution a criminal defendant has a general right to be

present at every stage of his trial.” People v. Lofton, 194 Ill. 2d 40, 66 (2000). “[A] defendant is

guaranteed the right to be present at any stage of the criminal proceeding that is critical to its

outcome if his presence would contribute to the fairness of the procedure.” Id. at 67.

¶ 56 Defendant failed to preserve this argument by raising it in the trial court but

requests that we review it under both prongs of the plain error doctrine. See Bannister, 232 Ill. 2d

- 21 - at 65. The first step under either prong of the plain error doctrine is to determine whether a clear

or obvious error occurred. Sebby, 2017 IL 119445, ¶ 49.

¶ 57 In support of his argument that the trial court violated his right to be present by

viewing the recording outside his presence, defendant relies on the First District’s decision in

People v. Lucas, 2019 IL App (1st) 160501. The Lucas court held the trial court violated the

defendant’s right to be present when it viewed a video recording of squad car camera footage

outside her presence before admitting it into evidence. Id. ¶¶ 5-6, 21. The Lucas court reasoned

the video was a significant portion of the evidence against the defendant, there was no evidence

the defendant was aware of the contents of the video, the defendant’s absence thwarted her

ability to assist in her defense, and her presence while the court viewed the video would have

contributed to the fairness of the proceedings against her. Id. ¶¶ 14-20. In People v. Flagg, 2021

IL App (1st) 191692-U, ¶ 51, an unpublished decision, the First District extended the holding in

Lucas to a trial court’s viewing of admitted evidence outside the presence of the defendant.

¶ 58 Though not cited by either of the parties, we find our recent decision in People v.

Aquisto, 2022 IL App (4th) 200081, to be dispositive. In Aquisto, this court rejected the

reasoning in Flagg. Id. ¶¶ 82-83. The Aquisto court held that a judge’s viewing of admitted

evidence in chambers is not a “ ‘proceeding,’ ” and, accordingly, a judge viewing admitted video

evidence in chambers does not violate a defendant’s right to be present at all critical stages of the

proceedings. Id. ¶ 83 (citing People v. Maniwa, 2021 IL App (4th) 190796-U, ¶ 31).

¶ 59 In the instant case, the video recording of F.R.’s interview was admitted without

objection before the trial court viewed it privately in chambers. Accordingly, pursuant to the

reasoning set forth in Aquisto, the court did not violate defendant’s constitutional right to be

present at all critical stages of the proceedings because its viewing of the admitted video

- 22 - recording was not a “proceeding.” See id. Thus, no error occurred when the court viewed the

video recording outside defendant’s presence, and, accordingly, defendant may not obtain relief

under the plain error doctrine. See Bannister, 232 Ill. 2d at 71.

¶ 60 E. Cumulative Error

¶ 61 Defendant argues that, even if the four foregoing claimed errors are not

individually grounds for a new trial, the cumulative effect of the errors deprived him of a fair

trial. “[W]here errors are not individually considered sufficiently egregious for an appellate court

to grant the defendant a new trial, but the errors, nevertheless, create a pervasive pattern of unfair

prejudice to the defendant’s case, a new trial may be granted on the ground of cumulative error.”

People v. Howell, 358 Ill. App. 3d 512, 526 (2005). As we have found that no error occurred

with respect to any of these four claimed errors, there can be no cumulative error. See People v.

Green, 2017 IL App (1st) 152513, ¶ 118.

¶ 62 F. Krankel Inquiry

¶ 63 Defendant argues he demonstrated during the preliminary Krankel inquiry that his

trial counsel possibly neglected his case such that the matter should be remanded for the

appointment of independent counsel to represent him in presenting his posttrial claims of

ineffective assistance of counsel. Specifically, defendant argues he showed possible neglect of

the case in that trial counsel failed to (1) present exculpatory evidence, including records of

online messaging and medical records; (2) interview or call witnesses who would have provided

testimony supporting his theory of defense; (3) provide him with correct information concerning

Hagen’s guilty plea; (4) correct the trial court’s misstatement of the law; (5) inform the court it

had misremembered the trial evidence; and (6) request a substitution of judge for cause.

- 23 - ¶ 64 A common law procedure that developed from our supreme court’s decision in

Krankel is triggered when a defendant raises a pro se posttrial claim of ineffective assistance of

counsel. People v. Jolly, 2014 IL 117142, ¶ 29. Under this procedure, new counsel is not

automatically appointed when a defendant raises such a claim. Id. Rather, the trial court must

first conduct an inquiry to examine the factual basis of the claim. People v. Roddis, 2020 IL

124352, ¶ 35. “If the court determines that the claim lacks merit or pertains only to matters of

trial strategy, then the court need not appoint new counsel and may deny the pro se motion.” Id.

However, if the allegations show possible neglect of the case, the court should appoint new

counsel to represent the defendant at a hearing on his claims of ineffective assistance of counsel.

Id. ¶¶ 35-36.

¶ 65 During a preliminary Krankel inquiry, “some interchange between the trial court

and trial counsel regarding the facts and circumstances surrounding the allegedly ineffective

representation is permissible and usually necessary in assessing what further action, if any, is

warranted on a defendant’s claim.” People v. Moore, 207 Ill. 2d 68, 78 (2003). The trial court is

permitted to ask counsel about the facts and circumstances surrounding the defendant’s pro se

allegations, briefly discuss the allegations with defendant, and base its evaluation of the

defendant’s allegations on its knowledge of defense counsel’s performance at trial. Jolly, 2014

IL 117142, ¶ 30. The trial court may consider both the factual and legal merits of the defendant’s

claims. Roddis, 2020 IL 124352, ¶ 61.

¶ 66 1. Standard of Review

¶ 67 Initially, the parties disagree as to the applicable standard of review. Defendant

argues his claim should be subject to de novo review, while the State argues it should be

reviewed under the manifest error standard. Our supreme court has held that the question of

- 24 - whether the trial court has conducted a proper Krankel inquiry presents a legal question that is

reviewed de novo. People v. Jackson, 2020 IL 124112, ¶ 98. However, if the court has properly

conducted a Krankel inquiry and reached a determination on the merits of the Krankel motion,

the court’s decision will be reversed only if it was manifestly erroneous. Id. “Manifest error is

error that is clearly evident, plain, and indisputable.” Id. Here, defendant does not challenge the

procedure employed by the trial court in conducting the Krankel inquiry, but rather argues the

court erred in ultimately finding defendant failed to demonstrate possible neglect of the case.

Accordingly, the manifest error standard of review applies. See Id. ¶¶ 98, 106.

¶ 68 We reject defendant’s argument that the de novo standard should be applied in

this case because the judge who presided over the Krankel inquiry was not the same judge who

presided over the trial and, accordingly, was in no better position to evaluate his claims than this

court. Defendant cites Roddis, 2020 IL 124352, ¶ 56 (quoting Moore, 207 Ill. 2d at 79), for the

proposition that the deferential manifest error standard is applied because the trial court can

“ ‘base its evaluation of the defendant’s pro se allegations of ineffective assistance on its

knowledge of defense counsel’s performance at trial and the insufficiency of the defendant’s

allegations on their face.’ ” However, the foregoing passage from Roddis does not concern the

justification for the use of the manifest error standard, but rather describes some of the matters

the court may consider when evaluating a defendant’s Krankel claims. See id. We decline to

carve out an exception to the application of the manifest error standard of review for situations

where a different judge than the one who presided over the trial conducts the Krankel inquiry.

¶ 69 2. Failure to Present Exculpatory Evidence

¶ 70 Defendant argues he showed at the Krankel inquiry that his trial counsel possibly

neglected the case by failing to present “exculpatory evidence,” including records of medical

- 25 - exams of F.R. and D.R. and “Messenger” messages in which his ex-wives allegedly conspired to

falsely accuse him of sexually assaulting the victims.

¶ 71 “Decisions concerning which witnesses to call at trial and what evidence to

present on defendant’s behalf ultimately rest with trial counsel.” People v. Reid, 179 Ill. 2d 297,

310 (1997). Such decisions are matters of trial strategy and are generally immune from claims of

ineffective assistance of counsel unless “counsel’s chosen trial strategy is so unsound that

counsel entirely fails to conduct any meaningful adversarial testing.” Id. “[C]ounsel’s tactical

decisions may be deemed ineffective when they result in counsel’s failure to present exculpatory

evidence of which he is aware, including the failure to call witnesses whose testimony would

support an otherwise uncorroborated defense.” People v. King, 316 Ill. App. 3d 901, 913 (2000).

¶ 72 While trial counsel did not expressly address defendant’s allegations concerning

the “Messenger” messages at the preliminary Krankel inquiry, he indicated that there were

“certain types of evidence” defendant believed would be beneficial that “may not have been”

admissible and that he explained to defendant that trial evidence “could not be hearsay in

nature.” The State contends that the foregoing comments applied to the “Messenger” messages

because such messages would have been inadmissible hearsay. Defendant contends counsel

could have called his ex-wives to testify and lay a proper foundation for the messages. He further

contends the messages were not hearsay because they could have been used “for impeachment

and to cast doubt on the truthfulness of the allegations made by F.R. and D.R.”

¶ 73 “ ‘Hearsay’ is a statement, other than one made by the declarant while testifying

at the trial or hearing, offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted,” and it is

generally inadmissible. Ill. R. Evid. 801(c) (eff. Oct. 15, 2015); Ill. R. Evid. 802 (eff. Jan. 1,

2011). “When the statement is used for other purposes [than proving the truth of the matter

- 26 - asserted therein], such as impeachment ***, it is not hearsay.” Kincaid v. Ames Department

Stores, Inc., 283 Ill. App. 3d 555, 566 (1996).

¶ 74 Here, assuming the “Messenger” messages described by defendant exist, they

would only cast doubt on the truthfulness of F.R.’s and D.R.’s trial testimony if they were

admitted for their truth. That is, the messages could only be used to impeach the credibility of

F.R. and D.R. if their content was accepted as true. See People v. Virgin, 302 Ill. App. 3d 438,

448 (1998) (“Where a witness is impeached by a contradictory statement made out of court by

another person, as opposed to by the witness himself, then the out of court statement is offered

for its truth in order to attack the credibility of the witness.”). Accordingly, the messages would

be hearsay statements—i.e., out-of-court statements offered for the truth of the matter asserted—

despite their potential to cast doubt on the credibility of F.R.’s and D.R.’s testimony. As

defendant has not set forth any exception to the rule against hearsay that would apply, he has not

shown possible neglect of the case due to trial counsel’s failure to introduce these messages at

trial.

¶ 75 With regard to the alleged evidence of the victims’ medical exams, counsel

initially stated no such exams had taken place. Counsel also stated that, because the offenses

were alleged to have occurred “some time ago,” no physical evidence was available to the

defense. Even if we were to accept defendant’s assertion that F.R. and D.R. were examined in

2018 and that the examinations revealed no evidence of sexual assault, defendant’s additional

assertion that these examinations would have shown the victims were sexually assaulted “at no

point in time” during the years-long periods alleged in the amended information is facially

absurd. Accordingly, it is not clearly evident that the trial court erred in failing to appoint new

counsel to advance this claim.

- 27 - ¶ 76 3. Failure to Interview or Call Witnesses

¶ 77 Defendant next argues that he showed possible neglect of the case by his trial

counsel in that trial counsel failed to interview and call Hagen, Dayna, Boggs, and David to

testify as witnesses at the trial. “[D]ecisions concerning whether to call certain witnesses on a

defendant’s behalf are matters of trial strategy, reserved to the discretion of trial counsel.” People

v. Enis, 194 Ill. 2d 361, 378 (2000). “Such decisions enjoy a strong presumption that they reflect

sound trial strategy, rather than incompetence [citation], and are, therefore, generally immune

from claims of ineffective assistance of counsel [citation].” Id.

¶ 78 We find defendant did not show possible neglect of the case regarding his

counsel’s failure to call these witnesses to testify at trial. In the Krankel proceedings, defense

counsel explained he did not call Hagen as a witness because she had pled guilty to permitting

the sexual abuse of one of the victims and her attorney had indicated he would advise her not to

testify as a defense witness in the instant case. Defense counsel also stated he expressed concerns

that, if he called Hagen, she might admit “those things had occurred and that she was aware of

them.” Accordingly, the trial court could have found counsel’s decision not to call Hagen as a

witness was strategic.

¶ 79 While defense counsel did not expressly address his failure to call Dayna as a

witness, defendant’s assertions concerning Dayna’s expected testimony indicate there were

strategic reasons not to call her. Defendant asserted Dayna would have testified that Leonard

(D.R.’s mother) forced her to make false accusations of sexual abuse against defendant two years

earlier, which would have made it more likely that Leonard also encouraged D.R. to make false

accusations. However, defense counsel could have reasonably determined that putting forth

- 28 - evidence that Dayna had previously accused him of sexual misconduct would have been

detrimental to defendant’s case, even if she testified her prior accusations were not true.

¶ 80 Defendant also argues counsel should have elicited testimony from Boggs and

David concerning D.R. being abused by Leonard’s boyfriend and defendant receiving custody of

D.R. in 2015 after she ran away from Leonard’s home. Defendant contends Boggs could have

also testified concerning the existence of the “Messenger” messages exchanged by his ex-wives.

However, such testimony would have little relevance to the case other than to tangentially

support a theory that Leonard directed D.R. to make false accusations against defendant and that

D.R. did so because she feared further abuse by Leonard’s boyfriend. Defense counsel did not

choose to present this theory at trial, and defendant has not shown what evidence could have

been presented that Leonard actually made such a request of D.R. As we have discussed, the

“Messenger” messages were hearsay, and defendant has not pointed to a hearsay exception that

would allow the substance of the statements to be admitted. Supra ¶ 74.

¶ 81 4. Jury Waiver

¶ 82 Defendant argues he showed possible neglect of the case in that his trial counsel

manipulated him into waiving his right to a jury trial by misleading him concerning Hagen’s

plea. Specifically, defendant contends his counsel falsely told him that Hagen had pled guilty to

a charge of participating in a sexual act with an alleged victim in the instant case and had agreed

to testify against him. Defendant contends he agreed to waive his right to a jury trial because

counsel told him he would have “no chance with a jury” with Hagen testifying against him.

Defendant acknowledges that his trial counsel disputed these facts but contends this factual

dispute should be resolved at an evidentiary hearing rather than a preliminary Krankel inquiry.

- 29 - ¶ 83 Here, the trial court’s determination that defendant did not show possible neglect

of the case with respect to this claim was not manifestly erroneous. At the Krankel inquiry, the

court heard from both defendant and trial counsel concerning the factual basis for this claim.

Defense counsel indicated he told defendant that he had been advised Hagen would be pleading

guilty to permitting the abuse of one the minor victims. Counsel also indicated the prosecutor

had advised him the State would be listing Hagen as a witness. Counsel stated he advised

defendant that he believed a bench trial would be more beneficial than a jury trial but that the

ultimate decision belonged to defendant. In delivering its ruling, the court noted counsel had

indicated he and defendant discussed the dangers and benefits of a bench trial versus a jury trial,

and the court found the question of whether to pursue a bench trial or a jury trial was a matter of

strategy. Under these circumstances, it is not clearly evident the court erred in finding defendant

did not show possible neglect of the case with respect to his claim that counsel manipulated him

into waiving his right to a jury trial.

¶ 84 5. Failure to Correct Trial Court’s Misstatement of Law

¶ 85 Defendant also argues he showed possible neglect of the case by his trial counsel

in that counsel failed to correct the trial court when it stated that once defendant waived his right

to a jury trial, he could not withdraw the jury waiver for any reason. In support of this argument,

defendant relies solely on his argument set forth in section II-A of this order. However, we have

found the court’s misleading admonishment did not render defendant’s jury waiver invalid.

Supra ¶ 37. Accordingly, the court’s finding that defendant did not show possible neglect of the

case with regard to this claim was not manifestly erroneous.

¶ 86 6. Failure to Inform Trial Court Concerning Misremembered Facts

- 30 - ¶ 87 Defendant contends he showed possible neglect of the case in that his trial

counsel failed to inform the trial court that it had misremembered evidence concerning when

defendant had owned the gold-colored car and the content of S.W.’s testimony. As we previously

discussed, it is not clear from the court’s challenged statements that it failed to accurately recall

this evidence. Supra ¶¶ 52-53. Accordingly, the court’s finding that defendant failed to establish

possible neglect of the case with regard to this claim was not manifestly erroneous.

¶ 88 7. Failure to Request a Substitution of Judge for Cause

¶ 89 Defendant argues he showed possible neglect of the case in that his trial counsel

failed to file a motion to substitute judge for cause after the trial in Livingston County case No.

18-CF-161 even though defendant requested that counsel file such a motion. Defendant contends

there was substantial evidence demonstrating the judge was actually prejudiced against him. See

supra ¶ 41. Defendant notes that the only reason counsel offered for his failure to file a

substitution motion was his belief that there were no grounds for such a motion, which defendant

contends was incorrect.

¶ 90 A defendant seeking a substitution of judge for cause must establish actual

prejudice by making a showing of “ ‘animosity, hostility, ill will, or distrust’ ” against the

defendant. People v. Patterson, 192 Ill. 2d 93, 131 (2000) (quoting Vance, 76 Ill. 2d at 181). We

previously found that the challenged comments made by the trial court during the trial and

sentencing hearing in Livingston County case No. 18-CF-161 did not show sufficient antagonism

toward defendant to make fair judgment impossible in the instant case. Accordingly, the Krankel

court’s finding that there was no clear showing of prejudice that would have supported a motion

for substitution of judge was not manifestly erroneous.

¶ 91 III. CONCLUSION

- 31 - ¶ 92 For the reasons stated, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.

¶ 93 Affirmed.

- 32 -