People v. Thomas

341 N.E.2d 178, 34 Ill. App. 3d 1002
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedJanuary 22, 1976
Docket74-284
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 341 N.E.2d 178 (People v. Thomas) 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. Thomas, 341 N.E.2d 178, 34 Ill. App. 3d 1002 (Ill. Ct. App. 1976).

Opinion

Mr. JUSTICE GUILD

delivered the opinion of the court:

The single issue presented herein is whether the proceedings transferring the action against the minor defendant, Jeffrey Lynn Thomas, to the adult court complied with the transfer provisions of the Juvenile Court Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1973, ch. 37, par. 702 — 7). Defendant, who was sentenced to 2-6 years upon acceptance of his plea of guilty to the offense of theft over $150 following the transfer, argues that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to accept his plea because his transfer was improper.

On April 29, 1974, the State’s Attorney of Carroll County filed a petition for adjudication of wardship concerning the defendant who was then 16 years of age. The petition alleged that the defendant knowingly exerted unauthorized control over a certain Fleetwood Cadillac Eldorado having a value in excess of $150, intending to permanently deprive its owner of its use or benefit. Also on April 29, the State’s Attorney filed a petition praying that the court enter an order permitting prosecution of the minor under the criminal laws of the State of Illinois and that he be treated as an adult instead of a juvenile. At the detention hearing the court was advised that the minor had made a statement wherein he admitted that he and another boy escaped from the Boys Youth Camp at Savanna, walked several miles and stole the Cadillac automobile. Hie vehicle was found near the home of the minor. At the conclusion of the hearing the court entered an order which found probable cause, ordered the minor to be held in detention and set a date for a hearing on the petition to transfer to adult court.

At the hearing on the motion to transfer, the court advised Thomas of the motion, of the rights which obtain if he were tried as an adult instead of as a juvenile, and advised him of the possible sentences which could be imposed upon conviction as an adult of the offense charged. The Pubhc Defender, defendant’s appointed counsel, then told the court that his client objected to the petition for transfer. The minor then stated that he would rather be treated as a juvenile. A 35-minute recess was then called to allow Thomas an opportunity to confer with his counsel. Immediately following the recess, counsel advised tire court that in the discussion between the minor, his counsel, the State’s Attorney and a parole officer wherein “everything had been explained to defendant” defendant stated that he “would be willing to stipulate to being tried as an adult.” Tire State’s Attorney then recited defendant’s extensive record dating back to January, 1968, which included several offenses of theft and several escapes. Following a statement by the parole officer, tire court stated, “I will transfer it on stipulation.” Subsequently, the court ordered that defendant be treated as an adult for purposes of prosecution, “it having been stipulated by all parties that the minor be transferred to adult court.”

Defendant was then indicted for and pled guilty to the offense of theft over $150 and was sentenced to a term of 2-6 years in the juvenile division of the Department of Corrections.

Essentially, defendant’s contention that the court failed to comply with the transfer provisions of the Juvenile Court Act is twofold. Defendant argues first that the transferring judge must consider the six factors set forth in section 2 — 7(3)(a) of the Juvenile Court Act when the transfer is to be made on motion of the State’s Attorney under section 2 — 7(3) and when the transfer is to be made upon motion of the minor with the consent of his counsel under section 2 — 7(5). Defendant goes on to argue that the transferring judge failed to consider or take evidence on five of the six factors. Second, defendant argues that even if these factors need not be considered when transfer is to be made under section 2 — 7(5), the instant transfer was defective because tire stipulation to transfer was entered into by defendant foHowing improper admonitions or advice by the transferring judge, including misstatements of law. In this context, defendant additionally contends that the stipulation which he entered into does not constitute the “filing of a motion” required to transfer under section 2 — 7(5).

The first portion of defendant’s argument herein clearly lacks merit as is evident from a careful reading of section 2 — 7 of the Juvenile Court Act. Section 2 — 7 sets forth two methods by which a transfer from juvenile to adult court may be effectuated. Under one method, a hearing is held upon motion of the State’s Attorney pursuant to section 2 — 7(3). The court in conducting this transfer hearing is directed by subsection (3) (a) to consider the factors set forth therein in making its determination as to whether to permit prosecution under the criminal laws. (See, e.g., People v. Banks (1975), 29 Ill.App.3d 923, 331 N.E.2d 561.) Under the second method, pursuant to section 2 — 7(5), the minor, with the consent of his counsel, may file a motion that criminal prosecution be ordered. Under this procedure, no hearing is required by statute. The statute states that if such a motion is filed, the court shall enter its order accordingly. In paraphrasing this section, the Supreme Court in People v. Sprinkle (1974), 56 Ill.2d 257, 260, 307 N.E.2d 161, 162, stated that: » if said motion is filed, then the court shall so order.” (Emphasis added.) It thus appears that not only is no hearing required when transfer is to be made upon defendant’s motion, but that the court lacks discretion as to whether or not to grant the motion made in accord with section 2 — 7(5). Under the statute it is the minor with the consent of his counsel who has been granted the option to be tried under the criminal laws of this State. The nature of the discretion which is vested in the minor to be tried as an adult, subject only to the consent of his counsel, was stated by the Supreme Court in People v. Jiles (1969), 43 Ill.2d 145, 149, 251 N.E.2d 529, 531, as follows:

“Under the Illinois Juvenile Court Act the juvenile and his attorney have an uncontrolled discretion to choose to be proceeded against in the criminal court. They may make that choice without regard to any considerations relating to the public interest, or even to the ultimate best interest of the juvenile. No judge has any authority to interfere with that choice.”

It is apparent, therefore, that the factors set forth in subsection (3) (a) of section 2 — 7 have no application to a transfer pursuant to subsection (5). Thus, the court’s failure to consider these factors in the present case does not affect the validity of the transfer if it is otherwise valid under the statute.

We turn then to defendant’s argument that the judge’s comments to the minor were improper. Specifically, defendant objects to the following comments of the judge:

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Bluebook (online)
341 N.E.2d 178, 34 Ill. App. 3d 1002, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-thomas-illappct-1976.