People v. Stahlman

431 N.E.2d 694, 103 Ill. App. 3d 402, 59 Ill. Dec. 193, 1982 Ill. App. LEXIS 1383
Appellate Court of Illinois·Decided January 8, 1982·No. No. 80-300·Published·Cited by 3 cases

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

The defendant, Armin E. Stahlman, was convicted

of unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of more than 30 grams but less than 500 grams of a substance containing cannabis. Defendant, age 30, was sentenced to probation, which subsequently was revoked. After a sentencing hearing on May 29, 1980, defendant was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment on the unlawful possession of a controlled substance conviction and three years’ imprisonment on the unlawful possession of cannabis conviction, such sentences to run concurrently. On appeal, defendant contends (1) that he is entitled to a new sentencing hearing because the court failed to order an updated presentence report and (2) that the court abused its discretion in sen-fencing defendant by considering that defendant had been dealing in drugs, when the record allegedly contains no evidence of “dealing.”

Before defendant was sentenced to probation on March 2, 1979, a presentence report was prepared and filed in the record. The presentence investigation revealed that defendant had been convicted of two counts of burglary and one count of attempt burglary in 1970 and sentenced to probation. It further established that in 1973 defendant had been convicted of illegal possession of cannabis, possession of a hypodermic syringe and disorderly conduct and that in 1976 he had been convicted of unlawful possession of a prescription form. In 1974, he had a charge disposed of under section 410 of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1973, ch. 56M, par. 1410). The presentence report further indicated that defendant has been employed by the Zeigler Coal Company since July 19, 1974, and that he has never been married and has no dependents. Defendant has a high school education and has attended college. At the first sentencing hearing, the testimony established that defendant’s father has been paralyzed from the waist down since May 23, 1975, and has relied a great deal on defendant to take him places.

Defendant’s probation was revoked, on the basis of his having committed forgery and his unlawful possession of a prescription form, after defendant admitted the allegations of the petition to revoke probation. The State’s Attorney then stated that it was his understanding that defendant would waive a presentence report and on the foregoing basis, the State would also waive a presentence report. Defense counsel stated that he had advised defendant that he had a right to an updated presentence report but that defendant preferred to tell the court where he had been during the year in which he had been on probation and be sentenced that day rather than wait for an updated presentence report. The court personally addressed the defendant and advised him of his right to another presentence report, and defendant stated that he waived the presentence report. The court stated that it was fairly familiar with defendant due to his court appearances and would concur in the waiver of a new presentence report.

Defendant then testified that he is presently living with his girlfriend and three of her children and that he and his girlfriend planned to get married during miner’s vacation. Defendant is a general laborer for the Zeigler Coal Company and had worked steadily for the last six months after a long layoff. Defendant then stated his prior criminal record. Defendant had not been arrested or otherwise in trouble, except for the charges which led to revocation of probation, since being sentenced to probation. The parties then stated that they had no objection to the court considering the presentence report already on file, and both parties made sentencing recommendations.

Defendant relies on People v. Youngbey (1980), 82 Ill. 2d 556, 413 N.E.2d 417, in which defendants were convicted at a bench trial. After the court denied their motions for a new trial, both the State and defendants waived the presentence report and requested an immediate sentencing hearing. The trial court held that section 5—3—1 of the Unified Code of Corrections (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1979, ch. 38, par. 1005—3—1) was unconstitutional as an invasion of the sentencing powers of the court. Section 5—3—1 provides:

“Presentence Investigation. A defendant shall not be sentenced for a felony before a written presentence report of investigation is presented to and considered by the court.
However, the court need not order a presentence report of investigation where both parties agree to the imposition of a specific sentence, provided there is a finding made for the record as to the defendant’s history of delinquency or criminality, including any previous sentence to a term of probation, periodic imprisonment, conditional discharge, or imprisonment.”

Our supreme court ruled that section 5—3—1 is constitutional and that a defendant cannot waive a presentence investigation unless both parties agree to a specific sentence. Thus, Youngbey indicates that a presentence report must be provided in the record absent a stipulation to sentence by the parties and a finding of prior criminal activity. In the case at bar, a presentence report was, in fact, made after defendant was found guilty; however, the issue in the instant case remains whether such presentence report is sufficient to comply with the statute when the parties waive an update as defendant did in the case at bar.

The question was answered by People v. Higgins (1980), 92 Ill. App. 3d 27, 416 N.E.2d 9. In Higgins, defendant was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in a bench trial. Following the submission of a presentence report, she was sentenced to probation and given a three-year sentence. Although Higgins waived the preparation of an updated presentence investigation, on appeal she maintained that she was entitled to a new sentencing hearing because a proper or updated presentence report had not been prepared. The appellate court ruled that the requirement of a presentence report did not apply to sentencing for a felony where probation was revoked.

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

People v. Stahlman, 431 N.E.2d 694, 103 Ill. App. 3d 402, 59 Ill. Dec. 193, 1982 Ill. App. LEXIS 1383 (Ill. Ct. App. 1982).

431 N.E.2d 694 (People v. Stahlman) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related

People v. Sargent
540 N.E.2d 981 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1989)
People v. Harris
473 N.E.2d 1291 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1985)
People v. Moore
450 N.E.2d 855 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1983)