People v. Ware

297 N.E.2d 289, 11 Ill. App. 3d 697, 1973 Ill. App. LEXIS 2498
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedApril 19, 1973
Docket55770
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 297 N.E.2d 289 (People v. Ware) 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. Ware, 297 N.E.2d 289, 11 Ill. App. 3d 697, 1973 Ill. App. LEXIS 2498 (Ill. Ct. App. 1973).

Opinion

Mr. JUSTICE LORENZ

delivered the opinion of the court:

A jury found defendant, Frank Ware, guilty of both aggravated kidnapping and rape, and defendant, Elizabeth Ware, guilty of aggravated kidnapping and deviate sexual assault. Frank was sentenced to concurrent terms of 25-50 years for aggravated kidnapping and 10-20 years for rape. Elizabeth received concurrent terms of 20-30 years for aggravated kidnapping and 7-14 years for deviate sexual assault. Frank Ware and Elizabeth Ware are husband and wife. Both defendants appeal.

The issues presented for review are as follows: Whether defendants were found guilty of each offense beyond a reasonable doubt, whether defendant, Elizabeth Ware, was denied her right to a speedy trial, and whether the defendants’ sentences were excessive.

The State’s case consisted of testimony of Chicago policemen, F.B.I. officers, and the two complaining witnesses Maryann Vani and Mary Leah Van Daele. The defendants produced no witnesses and chose not to testify. The facts, as established by the corroborating testimony of the two gills, are summarized.

Around midnight Sunday, August 3, 1969, the two girls met defendants near the “Old Town” area of Chicago. Since the girls would pass through Maywood, Illinois, on their way home, they offered defendants a ride there upon learning that defendants resided in Maywood. The four exited the Eisenhower Expressway at Homan Avenue upon defendants’ request, proceeding to the rear of an apartment building. Frank Ware then pulled a gun and demanded the two girls park the car and enter a dark apartment.

In the apartment the defendants lit a single candle and forced the complaining witnesses to lie down on a mattress. The girls were ordered to sniff glue from a paper bag. When they refused, Frank punched Mary Leah in the stomach and Elizabeth slapped Maryann in the face to force compliance. After Frank left the apartment to get some beer and wine, Elizabeth ordered Mary Leah and Maryann to strip naked. Elizabeth also stripped naked. After Frank returned and removed all of his clothes, the two girls were ordered to drink wine, smoke marijuana, and dance in the nude. Then Elizabeth engaged Mary Leah in deviate sexual conduct, and Frank engaged Maryann in sexual intercourse. Both girls resisted the actions of the defendants.

The next morning Frank and Elizabeth discussed how to get a ransom, got details as to the girls’ families, and then Frank went out of the apartment and upon his return told the girls he had made arrangements with their parents and that they would bring the money. He told the girls that he convinced their parents that if they gave trouble he would kill the girls, that when he got the money they would be released. During the morning the girls discussed tying sheets together for the purpose of escaping. When they stood next to the window, Frank yelled at them to get away. Maryann, accompanied by Elizabeth, left the apartment twice that morning. She phoned her mother to urge her to just bring the money and not notify the police because if she did, somebody would be hurt. Her mother knew about the ransom money because her mother had been previously called by Frank, and her mother became hysterical on the phone. Her sister then got on the phone and said the money was ready. Although Mary Leah was alone in the apartment for a brief period of time, she was afraid to attempt escape because Frank had warned her of Black Panthers guarding the apartment. That day Frank engaged Maryann and Mary Leah in sexual intercourse, Elizabeth engaging Maryann in another act of deviate sexual conduct. The two girls were forced to drink “spiked” tea and submit to numerous injections with a syringe.

On the evening of August 4, 1969, Frank proceeded to the 4-Star and Alex Theaters to rendezvous with the parents of the two gills. He received the sum of $2000 from each parent. After the last exchange, he was arrested by the F.B.I. and the Chicago Police who had him under continuous surveillance. Elizabeth was arrested at approximately 9:00 P.M. as she left the apartment with Maryann and Mary Leah. During questioning, Frank acknowledged the sexual activity, but claimed that it occurred with the girls’ consent. The girls admitted that they were physically unmarked, but claimed to have resisted the defendants’ advances by yelling, pleading, crying, and, in one instance, biting the aggressor.

On September 10, 1969, the defendants were arraigned, both being represented by private counsel. On February 11, 1970, a new attorney, representing both defendants, replaced the original one. On May 25, 1970, the second attorney withdrew. On July 10, 1970, a third private attorney filed an appearance, and was granted leave to withdraw on the same date, the Public Defender replacing him. Both defendants, admittedly, were responsible for delays in the trial up until July 10, 1970 by reason of their filing a variety of motions. On August 28, 1970, an Amended Motion to Dismiss Charges was filed, containing the names of both defendants and the signature of Frank only. Hearings on the Motion to Dismiss were held on July 27, 1970 and August 24, 1970 on behalf of both defendants. Although Elizabeth did not address the court, she was present at all times and never expressed the slightest reservation about the proceedings. On November 13, 1970, Elizabeth filed a Petition for Discharge under Ill. Rev. Stat. 1969, ch. 38, sec. 103 — 5(a), alleging that the trial was delayed 126 days, and that she did not cause the delay. The trial began on November 19, 1970.

OPINION

Defendants’ theory is that the girls consented to the sexual acts and the confinement and concocted the idea of ransoming themselves to their parents. The State has the burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the act of sexual intercourse and deviate sexual conduct was performed forcibly and against the will of the victim. (People v. De Frates (1965), 33 Ill.2d 190 N.E.2d 467; People v. Sanders (1967), 82 Ill.App.2d 159, 227 N.E.2d 79; People v. Myers (1968), 92 Ill.App.2d 129, 234 N.E.2d 811.) However, “useless or foolhardy” acts of resistance are not necessary. (People v. De Frates (1965), 33 Ill.2d 190, 194, 210 N.E.2d 467, 469.) In that case, the only evidence of danger was a statement made by defendant; “Shut up or I’ll beat you.” In the case at bar, the two girls were in a strange apartment, stricken with fear from a gun threat, slapped and punched by defendants, and forced to smoke marijuana, drink “spiked” tea, and submit to a syringe injection. Thus, under the De Frates standard, the State has met its burden. At any rate, the girls did resist most of the defendants’ advances by yelling, pleading, crying, and, in one instance, biting the aggressor. These actions are inconsistent with the contention of the defense that the girls consented to the sexual acts.

Defendants’ reliance on the lack of bruises or marks on the bodies of the two girls as tending to prove consent to the sexual acts is misplaced. In People v. Pennington (1966), 75 Ill.App.2d 62, 220 N.E.2d 879

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Bluebook (online)
297 N.E.2d 289, 11 Ill. App. 3d 697, 1973 Ill. App. LEXIS 2498, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-ware-illappct-1973.