People v. Steptore

281 N.E.2d 642, 51 Ill. 2d 208, 1972 Ill. LEXIS 414
CourtIllinois Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 30, 1972
Docket42480
StatusPublished
Cited by47 cases

This text of 281 N.E.2d 642 (People v. Steptore) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Illinois Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Steptore, 281 N.E.2d 642, 51 Ill. 2d 208, 1972 Ill. LEXIS 414 (Ill. 1972).

Opinions

MR. JUSTICE GOLDENHERSH

delivered the opinion of the court:

Defendant, Ike Steptore, was found guilty by a jury in the circuit court of Cook County of the offense of robbery and sentenced to a term of 15 to 20 years in the penitentiary.

Defendant was indicted along with four other persons for the offenses of murder and robbery, but his motion for a severance was granted and he was tried separately. He was found not guilty of the murder charge. At the time of trial, defendant was 16 years old and had no prior criminal record.

On July 10, 1968, at 10:57 P.M., the Chicago Fire Department received a report of a fire at 1411 South Keeler. In the bedroom of the dwelling at that address, the firemen found the remains of the occupant, Marie Smrz. The witnesses who investigated the fire for the State testified that the fire had been started about 10:45 P.M., an accelerant had been used, and the blaze had been confined to the bedroom. They had found drawers of a dresser in the dining room opened and a jewelry drawer pulled out.

Willie McLaughlin, a friend of defendant, testified that at about 9:30 that evening, defendant, a boy named Walter and he had entered the back door of Mrs. Smrz’ house by kicking in the glass and unlocking the door. While the witness and defendant remained in the kitchen, Walter searched the house. McLaughlin admitted he took a clock radio, and the trio left the house. They then met several other boys, including Willie Coleman.

Coleman testified that, after meeting defendant and the others, he and his girl friend, Delores Johnson, left the group and went together to a back yard area, from which they could see the back porch of Mrs. Smrz’ house. Both Coleman and Miss Johnson testified that they saw defendant and four other boys on Mrs. Smrz’ back porch. One boy kicked in the door, and they entered the house. A few minutes later defendant and one other boy, Robert Dismukes, left the house and went down the stairs leading from the back porch. Defendant was carrying a piece of cake. Another boy, Walter Montgomery, was still on the porch, near the back door. Dismukes called up to Montgomery something about “it ain’t worth it.” Montgomery then reentered the house, but defendant and Dismukes remained outside. About 15 minutes later they saw Montgomery and the other two boys leave the house. Coleman then went to Dismukes’ home, where he heard the news that Mrs. Smrz’ house was on fire. He further testified that defendant was not at Dismukes’ home at that time.

A written, question-and-answer, but unsigned statement given by defendant to the Chicago police was admitted into evidence. Defendant said that he had gone into the house with Montgomery, Dismukes and two others, and, while the other four boys searched for money, he took a piece of cake from the refrigerator and left with Dismukes. About 15 minutes later the other boys left, and defendant then noticed the house was burning.

Robert Dismukes and his sister testified on behalf of defendant that defendant was at Dismukes’ home from 5:30 P.M. to approximately 10:30 P.M. on the evening in question. Defendant took the stand and testified to the same alibi. In rebuttal to the testimony of Dismukes, an assistant State’s Attorney testified that Dismukes had told him defendant and Dismukes were in Mrs. Smrz’ house just prior to the fire.

Defendant initially contends that he was denied his right to a speedy trial because of the trial court’s denial of his petition for discharge pursuant to section 103 — 5 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, hereafter referred to as the 120-day rule. (Ill.Rev.Stat. 1967, ch. 38, par. 103 — 5.) Defendant was taken into custody on July 30, 1968. On November 25, 1968, the court granted the State’s motion for an extension of the 120-day term to December 5, 1968. (Ill.Rev.Stat. 1967, ch. 38, par. 103 — 5(c).) On November 25, defendant filed a written petition for discharge under the 120-day rule, alleging in the petition that “prior to the 6th day of December, 1968, more than 120 days have passed without his having been brought to trial without any delay on his part.”

On December 5, defendant, whose case had not at that time been severed from that of his four co-indictees, appeared in court for trial. Although two of the other defendants were not prepared for trial because of pending motions, both defendant and the People announced ready for trial. At approximately 4:30 P.M., 12 of the venire were called into the jury box and after being sworn were dismissed with instructions to return at 12:30 the following afternoon. The record shows that immediately before the jurors were called and sworn defendant’s attorney orally moved to discharge the venire because certain of them had been in the courtroom while defendant’s attorney had been engaged in the defense of another defendant, charged with rape, in a case not in any way related to this one. The court, without ruling on any of the motions, continued the matter for further hearing to the next day, December 6.

On December 6, a Friday, the motion to discharge the venire was allowed and the petition for discharge pursuant to the 120-day rule was continued for hearing to Monday, December 9, in order to allow the State time to answer the petition.

Defendant argues that the calling of the 12 members of the venire on December 5 did not serve to toll the 120-day term because in fact there was at that time another trial in progress before the same trial judge, which trial was not completed until December 6. Defendant contends that because no voir dire examination was commenced either on December 5 or December 6 the trial did not begin within the extended period.

The record shows that on December 6, 1968, the circuit court entered an order which recites that the case “coming on before the court for a hearing on the Motion to Discharge the Venire heretofore selected *** the court *** doth allow said motion and *** said motion *** is hereby allowed *** and this cause *** is hereby held on call for December 9, 1968.” Subsequently the record reflects an order that the case be “continued until December 10, 1968,” the People’s written answer to the petition for discharge filed on November 25, 1968, an order continuing the case to December 16, “with subpoenas,” a continuance to December 17, an “amended list of witnesses” filed by the People, defendant’s “Motion to Suppress Confession,” a continuance to December 19, 1968, a motion for and an order granting a severance, and several other orders not here pertinent. The trial was commenced on March 6, 1969.

We do not reach the question of whether calling and swearing of the jurors, without further proceedings, commenced defendant’s trial within the contemplation of the 120-day rule. Although counsel for the parties do not agree as to what the record shows, it is apparent that the venire was discharged on the basis of defendant’s motion. The delays thereafter encountered are attributable at least in part to defendant’s subsequently filed motions, and the trial court did not err in denying his petition for discharge.

Defendant’s next contention involves the testimony of an assistant State’s Attorney called by the People in rebuttal. Over defendant’s objection, he testified to a conversation with Robert Dismukes, defendant’s coindictee and one of his alibi witnesses.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
281 N.E.2d 642, 51 Ill. 2d 208, 1972 Ill. LEXIS 414, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-steptore-ill-1972.