People v. Traufler

505 N.E.2d 21, 152 Ill. App. 3d 987, 105 Ill. Dec. 895, 1987 Ill. App. LEXIS 2113
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedFebruary 24, 1987
Docket4-86-0472
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 505 N.E.2d 21 (People v. Traufler) 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. Traufler, 505 N.E.2d 21, 152 Ill. App. 3d 987, 105 Ill. Dec. 895, 1987 Ill. App. LEXIS 2113 (Ill. Ct. App. 1987).

Opinion

JUSTICE LUND

delivered the opinion of the court:

The defendant, George Nelson William Traufler, was found guilty by a Champaign County jury of the offense of attempt (criminal sexual assault) (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 38, pars. 8 — 4, 12 — 13) and sentenced to a term of seven years’ imprisonment. He appeals, arguing it was error for the trial court to refuse to instruct the jury on the offense of criminal sexual abuse, alleging it is an included offense of attempt (criminal sexual assault).

The evidence shows that on March 8, 1986, the victim was doing her laundry in the apartment building’s small laundry room. The defendant peered in the door and asked in graphic terms if she would engage in cunnilingus with him and then stated that he wished to engage in sexual intercourse with her. After telling the defendant to leave, the victim attempted to close the door. The defendant pushed the victim against the wall, grabbing one of her breasts and attempting to pull off her sweatshirt and pants. The victim fought the defendant off by scratching his eyes. The defendant was apprehended a short time later by the police.

The State argues defendant waived this allegation of error by not tendering an appropriate jury instruction. Defendant did object to State’s instruction No. 5 but did not tender one consistent with his objection.

The colloquy, at the time of the instruction conference, was as follows:

“THE COURT: No objection, People’s 4 is given. People tender their instruction No. 5, which is IPI 2.01.
MR. DEDMAN: I object, and my objection is as follows: Even though she dismisses Count II, I think Count II is a lesser included of this charge, and they should be instructed as to a lesser included offense.
THE COURT: Which is?
MS. HIRSCH: The Count II was criminal sexual abuse, and in that case it was alleged that he grabbed her breasts. And I argue it’s not a lesser included, it’s a different crime.
THE COURT: I agree with the state. It’s not a lesser included of attempted criminal sexual assault, and so the objection is overruled, and People’s 5 is given. All right. People re-tender their instruction No. 3 — wait a minute.”

Our supreme court has held that the failure to object at trial to an asserted error in jury instruction waives the issue. In addition, a party may not raise, on appeal, the failure to give an instruction unless he or she tendered it at trial. Further, objections not raised in a post-trial motion are deemed waived for appellate review. (People v. Berry (1984), 99 Ill. 2d 499, 460 N.E.2d 742; People v. Huckstead (1982), 91 Ill. 2d 536, 440 N.E.2d 1248; People v. Tannenbaum (1980), 82 Ill. 2d 177, 415 N.E.2d 1027.) Exceptions to the waiver rule are provided for where “substantial defects” are present and “the interests of justice require.” (87 Ill. 2d R. 451(c).) “Plain errors or defects affecting substantial rights may be noticed although they were not brought to the attention of the trial court.” 87 Ill. 2d R. 615(a).

We recognize that the present facts are close to those in People v. Brophy (1981), 96 Ill. App. 3d 936, 422 N.E.2d 158. In Brophy, the trial court, where there was evidence of self-defense, did not give an instruction stating that it was the State’s burden to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that defendant acted without lawful justification. Defense counsel voiced objection, requested “an opportunity to prepare a proper instruction,” but was ignored by the trial judge. The objection was included in the post-trial motion. Brophy held no waiver.

Traufler’s trial counsel objected to the State’s instruction at the time of trial and renewed his objection in a post-trial motion. Defendant’s offering of an instruction might appear to be an act of futility, considering the court’s abrupt ruling. However, we do not know what the effect would have been had the trial court been furnished a written instruction. The policy of requiring the written instruction, if error is to be preserved for review, relates to assisting the court in making the correct decision. It clarifies the defendant’s position. We find the present case is different from Brophy in that here counsel did not request permission to file the suggested instruction. Defendant waived the objection by failure to submit the instruction.

We find there is no substantive defect or plain error which would avoid waiver under Supreme Court Rule 451(c) (87 Ill. 2d R. 451(c)) or under Supreme Court Rule 615(a) (87 Ill. 2d R. 615(a)) because the defendant was not entitled to the requested instruction.

The defendant alleges that criminal sexual abuse (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 38, par. 12 — 15) is an included offense of attempt (criminal sexual assault). Included offense is defined in section 2 — 9 of the Criminal Code of 1961 (Code) (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 38, par. 2— 9), which states:

“ ‘Included offense’ means an offense which
(a) Is established by proof of the same or less than all of the facts or a less culpable mental state (or both), than that which is required to establish the commission of the offense charged. * * * M

The courts have stated that an included offense is an offense which contains some, but not all, of the elements of the greater offense and contains no element not included in the greater. People v. Pumphrey (1983), 115 Ill. App. 3d 1031, 451 N.E.2d 961; People v. Hefley (1982), 109 Ill. App. 3d 74, 440 N.E.2d 173.

Defendant argues that this court is bound by its prior decision in People v. Creamer (1986), 143 Ill. App. 3d 64, 492 N.E.2d 923. In that case, it was held that aggravated criminal sexual abuse is an included offense of aggravated criminal sexual assault. It is clear that the sole difference between the offense of criminal sexual assault and criminal sexual abuse is the act of penetration. (143 Ill. App. 3d 64, 492 N.E.2d 923.) The current case is different since it involves the attempt and not the underlying offense.

The supreme court has attempted to clarify the law with reference to the right of the accused to have submitted to the jury an instruction on an uncharged offense which carries a lighter penalty than the charged offense.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
505 N.E.2d 21, 152 Ill. App. 3d 987, 105 Ill. Dec. 895, 1987 Ill. App. LEXIS 2113, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-traufler-illappct-1987.