People v. Schwing

272 N.E.2d 779, 133 Ill. App. 2d 100, 1971 Ill. App. LEXIS 1658
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedMay 13, 1971
Docket53723, 53724 cons.
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 272 N.E.2d 779 (People v. Schwing) 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. Schwing, 272 N.E.2d 779, 133 Ill. App. 2d 100, 1971 Ill. App. LEXIS 1658 (Ill. Ct. App. 1971).

Opinion

Mr. PRESIDING JUSTICE McNAMARA

delivered the opinion of the court:

After a jury trial, defendants, George Schwing and Lorenzo Medrano, were found guilty of the illegal sale of narcotics and each was sentenced to terms of 10 to 15 years. On appeal defendants contend that certain comments of the prosecutor during closing argument constituted reversible error; that the trial court improperly rejected certain photographic evidence; that they were not proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt; and that the trial court erroneously denied defendant’s motion to suppress the evidence. The facts as brought out at the hearing on the motion to suppress the evidence and at trial are as follows.

In October 1967 a former narcotics addict informed Officer Felix Muniz of the Chicago Police Department that he would be able to make a controlled purchase of narcotics. Muniz searched the informer, determined that he had no narcotics on his person, and supplied him with a twenty dollar bill. The officer then drove the informer to a restaurant at 120 South Halsted Street in Chicago. While the informer was in the restaurant, Officer Muniz stood outside at the curb and testified that he was able to observe what transpired in the restaurant. Muniz observed a conversation between the informer and the two defendants. The informer handed the twenty dollar bill to defendant Medrano. Medrano in turn gave the money to defendant Schwing, who placed it in his pocket. Schwing went next door to a hotel. When he returned he handed a tinfoil packet, subsequently found to be heroin, to Medrano who passed it on to the informer. Officer Muniz then entered the restaurant, arrested defendants, and after a struggle recovered the money from Schwing. After he arrested defendants, Officer Muniz brought both men up to Schwing’s apartment in the adjoining hotel. He found no contraband in the apartment. Muniz testified that he had recorded the serial number of the twenty dollar bill, but had misplaced the slip of paper on which he had recorded the number.

Two investigators for the Public Defender testified for the defense that they had been at the scene of the occurrence in July 1968, and that in their opinion it was impossible to see into the restaurant from the curb.

Defendants first contend that certain comments made by the prosecutor during closing argument were so unfair and prejudicial so as to have constituted reversible error. They cite four illustrations of such comments: (1) several times the prosecutor referred to defendants as “mopes”; (2) he stated that the jury did not represent the defendants, but rather represented the people throughout the community; (3) he made several references on the effects of criminal acts on society; and (4) he stated that the defense was a “smoke screen” and questioned the truthfulness of defense counsel. We shall treat each of the comments separately.

Defendants made no objection to the prosecutor’s reference to them as “mopes”. As a general rule, where a party fails to object to claimed error, the error is waived on appeal. (People v. Underhill (1967), 38 Ill.2d 245, 230 N.E.2d 837.) And under the circumstances of the instant case we hold that any error by virtue of the comment was waived. We recognize the principle that a prosecutor’s statements may be so highly prejudicial that even in the absence of objection, the right of a defendant to a fair trial may require reversal. (See People v. Moore (1956), 9 Ill.2d 224, 137 N.E.2d 224, 137 N.E.2d 246.) However we are of the opinion that the above characterization of defendants were not of such a nature as to require reversal in the absence of objection.

The prosecutor commented to the jury that they did not represent the defendants, but rather all of the people of the State of Illinois. This remark was made in response to defense counsel’s statement that the jury represented the defendants. Thus defendants cannot complain. Where comments and arguments are invited by remarks of defense counsel, a defendant will not be allowed to claim prejudice as a result of a reply by the prosecutor. (People v. Lewis, 25 Ill.2d 442, 185 N.E.2d 254; People v. Hardaway (1969), 108 Ill.App.2d 325, 247 N.E.2d 626.) Similarly the prosecutor’s statements questioning the truthfulness of defense counsel and describing the defense as a “smoke screen” were prompted by statements of defense counsel accusing the prosecution of lies. Moreover, while intemperate language cannot be excused, a reading of the entire record on this point indicates that the comments were not of sufficient magnitude as to require reversal of the judgment. People v. Burnett (1963), 27 Ill.2d 510, 190 N.E.2d 338.

Defendant also maintains that the prosecutor’s reference to the effect of criminal acts upon society constituted reversible error, but we find the argument to be without merit. It has been held consistently that “it is always proper for the prosecutor to dwell on the evil results of crime and to urge fearless administration of the law. People v. Halteman, 10 Ill.2d 74; People v. Moore, 9 Ill.2d 224.” People v. Williams (1962), 26 Ill.2d 190, 194, 186 N.E.2d 353.

Defendants next contend that the trial court erred in refusing to admit into evidence certain photographs offered by defendants. The crime occurred on the afternoon of October 4, 1967. On July 24, 1968, an investigator for the Public Defender took pictures of the restaurant in question. The photographs purported to show that the sun’s reflection off the restaurant window would block a person’s view of the inside of the restaurant. In refusing to admit the photographs into evidence, the trial judge commented that the position of the sun in October was considerably different than in July, and that he thought that the photographs would mislead the jury as to the physical makeup of the area.

In order for photographs to be admitted into evidence, there must be a showing that the pictures portray certain facts relevant to an issue of case and that they be verified as a correct representation of the facts. (People v. Lobb, (1959) 17 Ill.2d 287, 161 N.E.2d 325; Baggett v. Ashland Oil & Refining Co. (1968), 92 Ill.App.2d 433, 236 N.E.2d 243.) It is ordinarily within the discretion of the trial judge whether photographs should be admitted into evidence. People v. Thomas (1967), 88 Ill.App.2d 71, 232 N.E.2d 259.

We believe that the trial court’s reasons for refusing to admit the photographs into evidence were logical and correct. They were offered by the defense to show that the reflection of the sun would have prevented the police officer from seeing into the restaurant. In view of the long gap in time and the difference in season, it is obvious that no proper foundation for their introduction was laid.

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Bluebook (online)
272 N.E.2d 779, 133 Ill. App. 2d 100, 1971 Ill. App. LEXIS 1658, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-schwing-illappct-1971.