People v. Triplett

487 N.E.2d 39, 138 Ill. App. 3d 1070, 93 Ill. Dec. 595, 1985 Ill. App. LEXIS 2782
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedDecember 2, 1985
Docket83-1765
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 487 N.E.2d 39 (People v. Triplett) 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. Triplett, 487 N.E.2d 39, 138 Ill. App. 3d 1070, 93 Ill. Dec. 595, 1985 Ill. App. LEXIS 2782 (Ill. Ct. App. 1985).

Opinion

JUSTICE QUINLAN

delivered the opinion of the court:

Defendant, Brian Triplett, also known as Brian Daniels, was convicted of two counts each of home invasion, armed robbery, and aggravated battery. He was sentenced to 60 years for each home invasion conviction, 60 years for each armed robbery conviction, and 10 years for each aggravated battery conviction. The aggravated battery sentences were to be served concurrently with each other and the other sentences. The home invasion sentences were to be served concurrently with each other and consecutively with the armed robbery sentences. On appeal defendant argues: (1) one conviction for armed robbery was improper; (2) one conviction for home invasion was improper; (3) the two convictions for aggravated battery were improper; and (4) the sentences imposed were improper.

We affirm in part, vacate in part, and remand.

On January 4, 1982, Emma Mattis and Margaret Bernak, widowed sisters aged 77 and 72 respectively, lived alone together in a house at 5815 South Clarmont Street in Chicago. On that evening they noticed a man looking into their house through the living room window. Mrs. Bernak tried to call the police but the wires to the telephone had been cut from outside the house. Mrs. Mattis heard the front door rattling, and went to the door to try to keep it closed. The door sprang open pushing her against the wall and causing her to fall to the floor. Two men burst into the house. One man began to hit Mrs. Mattis on her head and shoulders while the other went into her sister’s bedroom. Mrs. Mattis saw one of the men beating her sister with a doorjamb. She tried to stop the beating but was unsuccessful. She ran out of the house screaming for help. Some young men from the neighborhood came and began to chase the two men, who ran out of the house. Mrs. Bernak and Mrs. Mattis each testified that jewelry boxes belonging to Mrs. Bernak were taken but that no wallet, no cash, and nothing belonging to Mrs. Mattis, was taken. Mrs. Mattis and Mrs. Bernak were hospitalized for two and three weeks, respectively, for treatment of their injuries.

Carl Gilcrest testified he and the defendant committed the instant home invasion and robbery. Gilcrest had pleaded guilty to armed robbery, two counts of home invasion, and two counts of battery, with the understanding that the State would recommend a prison term of 30 years. Gilcrest testified that on January 4, 1982, he and defendant planned to steal a car but Gilcrest lost the screwdriver with which they planned to break into it. Defendant then suggested they commit a burglary, and pointed out the victims’ house. It was the defendant that ripped the telephone wires out of the back of the house, pulled open the screen door, and kicked in the front door. Gilcrest stated he saw defendant strike the woman at the door three times. He admitted that he then picked up a dooijamb, which had broken off, and began to beat one of the women to keep her quiet. Gilcrest testified that the defendant did not hit either woman with the piece of wood. Gilcrest said he became frightened and ran out of the house and defendant followed him carrying jewelry boxes. Sometime after the robbery, defendant told Gilcrest that he, defendant, got $150 in cash from the robbery. Gilcrest never saw the cash and never received any proceeds from the robbery.

After his arrest, defendant made a statement to an assistant State’s Attorney in which he admitted committing the instant robbery and home invasion with Gilcrest. In the statement, he claimed Gilcrest had suggested the crime after their plan to steal a car was foiled when Gilcrest lost a screwdriver and he also denied that he beat either of the victims. In fact, defendant stated he tried to stop Gilcrest from beating Mrs. Bernak with the stick. He said he ran out of the house carrying a jewelry box and wallet while Gilcrest was still beating one of the women with the wooden stick. As he was being chased by the victims’ neighbors, defendant dropped both the jewelry box and the wallet.

First, defendant argues he was improperly convicted of armed robbery against Mrs. Mattis because there was insufficient evidence that anything was taken from Mrs. Mattis. We agree.

In People v. Gaines (1981), 88 Ill. 2d 342, 430 N.E.2d 1046, the defendant held a gun and told two men “this is a stickup.” The evidence indicated that only one victim relinquished property to the defendant. The supreme court reversed the robbery conviction of the second man. The court stated, “[tjhere is no evidence whatever that the defendant took anything of value from Davis. We therefore agree that the conviction of the defendant of the armed robbery of Davis must be reversed.” (88 Ill. 2d 342, 368.) The State responds that there is evidence that cash was taken from the house.

However, this court in People v. Robinson (1981), 92 Ill. App. 3d 397, 416 N.E.2d 65, reversed a robbery conviction even though there was some testimony that cash was taken from all of the people present. We stated, “We believe it would be unreasonable to determine that the vague generalities stated by [one of the witnesses] in describing the crime merit greater credibility than the testimony of the victim herself, which is quite specific, as well as the conforming testimony of another victim of the robbery, also quite specific.” 92 Ill. App. 3d 397, 399.

Similarly in the case at bar, the only indication that anything of value may have been taken from Mrs. Mattis was based on the hearsay testimony of Gilcrest and an assistant State’s Attorney regarding alleged statements of the defendant that a wallet and/or cash was taken from the house. We do not believe that these statements prove defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt of the armed robbery of Mrs. Mattis. This is especially true where here both victims testified specifically that nothing of value belonging to Mrs. Mattis was taken.

Although we reverse defendant’s conviction for armed robbery against Mrs. Mattis, we do not find persuasive defendant’s argument that he is entitled to a new trial because the trial court’s failure to grant him a directed verdict on the robbery against Mrs. Mattis prejudiced defendant regarding the other offenses charged. We believe the evidence regarding the home invasion, robbery and batteries was overwhelming. That evidence included the confession of defendant as well as the testimony of his accomplice, Gilcrest. Thus, we are convinced, on the basis of the record here, that the failure of the trial court to direct a not-guilty verdict for defendant on the robbery of Mrs. Mattis did not taint the other convictions. See People v. Johnson (1981), 102 Ill. App. 3d 122, 429 N.E.2d 905.

The State, on the other hand, argues that if we determine that the armed robbery conviction against Mrs. Mattis is improper we should reduce the offense to attempted armed robbery. The State relies on People v. Robinson (1981), 92 Ill. App. 3d 397, 416 N.E.2d 65.

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Bluebook (online)
487 N.E.2d 39, 138 Ill. App. 3d 1070, 93 Ill. Dec. 595, 1985 Ill. App. LEXIS 2782, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-triplett-illappct-1985.