People v. Ryan

392 N.E.2d 1380, 74 Ill. App. 3d 886, 30 Ill. Dec. 335, 1979 Ill. App. LEXIS 2824
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedAugust 21, 1979
Docket78-102
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 392 N.E.2d 1380 (People v. Ryan) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Court of Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Ryan, 392 N.E.2d 1380, 74 Ill. App. 3d 886, 30 Ill. Dec. 335, 1979 Ill. App. LEXIS 2824 (Ill. Ct. App. 1979).

Opinion

Mr. JUSTICE WOODWARD

delivered the opinion of the court:

Defendant, Robert Ryan, was charged by information with the offense of burglary. Defendant entered a plea of guilty to the charge and was sentenced to two to six years’ imprisonment. Thereafter, defendant moved to vacate his guilty plea, or in the alternative, for a reduction in sentence. Both motions were denied, and defendant appeals.

Initially, defendant had pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on February 9, 1977; however, at a pretrial conference held on July 8,1977, defendant withdrew his plea of not guilty and entered a plea of guilty to the burglary charge. The trial court admonished defendant pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 402 (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1977, ch. 110A, par. 402), including the fact that the trial court can impose a term of imprisonment of one to 20 years, a possible fine of *10,000 and that there was a mandatory parole period of three years. Defendant indicated that he understood the admonishments.

On August 12,1977, a sentencing hearing was held. It was conducted in two stages; the first portion was devoted to hearing testimony on defendant’s application for probation. Defendant’s psychiatrist, Dr. Schumack, testified that defendant had voluntarily admitted himself to Mercy Center in Aurora on April 6, 1977. After extensive testing, it was determined that defendant was psychotic or out of touch with reality; however, defendant was responding well to treatment by drugs. Further, it was discovered that defendant was suffering from an auditory perceptual problem, which Dr. Schumack explained as being one of assimilating ideas or making sense out of words, so that in stressful situations the spoken words of others made no sense to defendant. According to Dr. Schumack defendant was making progress and would not be involved in delinquent behavior in the future, nor was he a danger to society; on the other hand, however, incarceration would be extremely destructive to defendant. A Batavia police captain, defendant’s employer and defendant’s mother all testified as to defendant’s improvement since his hospitalization and release. A probation officer testified that during an interview several months previous defendant was friendly, cooperative and mentioned that he thought his sentence would be reduced; however, when the probation officer mentioned the possibility of incarceration, defendant’s attitude changed. However, on cross-examination, the probation officer admitted he had not had any contact with defendant since his stay at Mercy Center. The State recommended that defendant be denied probation. The trial court denied probation, finding that imprisonment of the defendant was necessary for the protection of the public, and that a sentence of probation would deprecate the seriousness of defendant’s conduct and would be inconsistent with the ends of justice.

The sentencing hearing then proceeded with the trial court hearing evidence in aggravation and mitigation. Defendant’s girlfriend testified as to their marriage plans and defendant’s improvement in attitude towards himself and other people. Defense counsel then made a motion that defendant be permitted to make application to a work-release program. In sentencing, the trial court indicated it would consider the motion at the close of all the evidence on aggravation and mitigation together with the other factors. The State presented no additional evidence and made no sentencing recommendation. The trial court then asked defendant if he had anything to say. Defendant indicated that he did not understand the trial court’s question, but after prompting by his attorney, defendant stated that while he thought he should be punished for the offense, he wanted to go on work release to keep his job, pay his bills and still see his psychiatrist.

In imposing sentence the trial court stated:

“Again, the Court imposing sentence at this time is a result of your own conduct in — not only in the past, but also two offenses for which you stand convicted at this time.”

The trial court then sentenced defendant to two to six years’ imprisonment and to pay court costs. The court then admonished defendant of his right to appeal or withdraw his guilty plea. When the trial court asked defendant if he understood the admonishments, defendant responded, “No, it’s too far over my head.” The trial court then further explained the defendant’s right to appeal or to withdraw his guilty plea, and defendant responded, “Okay.”

Thereafter on August 29,1977, defendant filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea, or in the alternative to reduce his sentence. At the hearing on the motion, Dr. Schumack again testified as to defendant’s admittance to Mercy Center, suffering an acute psychotic episode and his successful treatment through the use of drugs. On cross-examination Dr. Schumack testified that defendant was able to communicate with him, though occasionally not making direct responses to questions. On redirect examination he explained that an individual suffering from such a perceptual problem may give answers he feels the other listener wants; such a person could easily be led by a person in authority such as his father or attorney.

Defendant’s attorney at the time of his guilty plea testified that defendant was vague and very unresponsive in conversations with him. He stated that there was an offer by the State of two years’ probation with six months’ imprisonment. However, in light of the imprisonment condition which it was believed would set defendant back in his treatment, in a discussion among defendant, his father and the attorney it was agreed that it was more advantageous for defendant to plead “cold” and ask for probation. The attorney testified that in his discussions with defendant he had indicated defendant would receive a sentence of six months in the county jail followed by a term of probation; that the maximum he would receive in this situation would be one to three years’ imprisonment; that defendant did not understand that he could get more than that; and that the attorney was responsible for that misapprehension. Defendant’s father testified he had told defendant that there were three alternatives facing him, namely, a jury trial, the State’s plea offer, or a “cold plea” with a maximum of one to three years and a good chance of probation, and it was his and the attorney’s suggestion that defendant take the “cold plea.” Defendant testified that he believed he would receive probation. After hearing arguments, the trial court found that defendant was competent to plead, that the plea was voluntary and the sentence appropriate.

Defendant contends that the trial court erred in denying the motion to withdraw his guilty plea. He argues that the plea was not voluntarily and understanding^ made. Defendant relies on the testimony that his father and his attorney assured him that he would most likely get probation and that defense counsel admitted he failed to take adequate steps to advise defendant of the sentencing possibilities with a “cold plea.”

Whether or not a defendant should be allowed to withdraw a plea of guilty is within the trial court’s discretion and such a decision will not be disturbed on appeal, unless there is an abuse of discretion.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

People v. Van Ostran
522 N.E.2d 851 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1988)
People v. Clark
510 N.E.2d 1256 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1987)
People v. Kraus
461 N.E.2d 1036 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1984)
People v. Smithey
458 N.E.2d 87 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1983)
People v. Turner
443 N.E.2d 1167 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1982)
People v. Benedetto
428 N.E.2d 1169 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1981)
People v. Paul
417 N.E.2d 251 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1981)
People v. Cohn
414 N.E.2d 543 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1980)
People v. Galvan
407 N.E.2d 558 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1980)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
392 N.E.2d 1380, 74 Ill. App. 3d 886, 30 Ill. Dec. 335, 1979 Ill. App. LEXIS 2824, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-ryan-illappct-1979.