People v. Williams

2016 IL App (1st) 133812, 55 N.E.3d 1237
Appellate Court of Illinois·Decided June 17, 2016·No. 1-13-3812·Unpublished·Cited by 1 cases

Opinion

2016 IL App (1st) 133812 No. 1-13-3812 Opinion filed June 17, 2016

FIFTH DIVISION

IN THE APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS FIRST DISTRICT

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ) Appeal from the Circuit Court ILLINOIS, ) of Cook County. ) Plaintiff-Appellee, ) ) v. ) No. 12 CR 5877 ) ANTONIO WILLIAMS, ) The Honorable ) James B. Linn, Defendant-Appellant. ) Judge, presiding.

JUSTICE GORDON delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion. Justices Lampkin and Burke concurred in the judgment and opinion.

OPINION

¶1 After a bench trial, defendant Antonio Williams was found guilty and

sentenced to concurrent 14-year terms each for armed robbery and aggravated

vehicular hijacking, and to an additional concurrent 5-year term for aggravated

unlawful restraint. No. 1-13-3812

¶2 On this direct appeal, both defendant and the State ask this court to

reinstate defendant’s negotiated plea agreement. Prior to defendant’s bench

trial, the trial court had already accepted defendant’s guilty plea and sentenced

defendant pursuant to a negotiated plea agreement between defendant and the

State. Without first vacating the guilty plea, the trial court directed the parties to

proceed to trial. After the bench trial, defendant was convicted of more offenses

and received a higher sentence. For the following reasons, we reinstate the plea

agreement and correct the mittimus to reflect the negotiated sentence.

¶3 BACKGROUND

¶4 An indictment charged defendant with two counts of armed robbery, two

counts of vehicular hijacking, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, burglary,

and two counts of aggravated unlawful restraint. The indictment alleged that, on

January 11, 2012, defendant forcibly took money and a vehicle from James

Cooper. Separate counts alleged that the offenses were committed with a

firearm and with a dangerous weapon other than a firearm. Defendant who was

born on March 13, 1993, was 18 years old at the time of these offenses.

¶5 On March 5, 2013, defendant requested a Rule 402 conference which

was held and then continued to March 20, 2013. Ill. S. Ct. R. 402 (eff. July 1,

1997) (governing plea negotiations and guilty pleas). On March 20, 2013, 2 No. 1-13-3812

defendant pled guilty to counts II and IV, which were for armed robbery and

aggravated vehicular hijacking.

¶6 Count II of the indictment charged defendant with armed robbery with a

dangerous weapon other than a firearm, “to wit: a bludgeon,” in violation of

section 18-2(a)(1) of the Criminal Code of 1961 (720 ILCS 5/18-2(a)(1) (West

2010)).1 Concerning the sentence for this offense, the statute states: “Armed

robbery in violation of subsection (a)(1) is a Class X felony.” 720 ILCS 5/18-

2(b) (West 2010).2 For a Class X felony, “[t]he sentence of imprisonment shall

be a determinate sentence of not less than 6 years and not more than 30 years.”

730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-25(a) (West 2010).3

¶7 For count IV, defendant was charged with aggravated vehicular hijacking

with a dangerous weapon, other than a firearm, “to wit: a bludgeon,” in

violation of section 5/18-4(a)(3) of the Criminal Code of 1961. 720 ILCS 5/18-

1 The Criminal Code of 2012 did not take effect until January 1, 2013, which was almost a year after the alleged offense was committed. However, this particular statutory section has been in effect, unchanged, since January 1, 2000.

2 This statutory language has also been in effect, unchanged, since January 1, 2000.

3 This quote is the same as in the current statute which took effect on June 22, 2012. 730 ILCS 5-4.5-25(a) (West 2014). 3 No. 1-13-3812

4(a)(3) (West 2010). 4 Concerning the sentence, the statute provides:

“Aggravated vehicular hijacking in violation of subsection (a)(3) is a Class X

felony for which a term of imprisonment of not less than 7 years shall be

imposed.” 720 ILCS 5/18-4(b) (West 2010).

¶8 During the plea hearing, the State presented a factual basis for the two

offenses, and the trial court found defendant guilty on those two counts, stating:

“I find there’s a factual basis for the plea. I find him guilty on Counts 2 and 4.

Judgment’s [sic] entered on the findings.” The State then nol-prossed the

remaining counts. When discussing factors in mitigation and aggravation, the

assistant State’s Attorney (ASA) observed that defendant had no adult criminal

history but that he had three juvenile delinquency adjudications for battery. 5

¶9 After listening to factors in aggravation and mitigation, the trial court

stated:

“THE COURT: The government has agreed to dismiss the charges

involving the firearms–there was an understanding that the defense–

4 For a discussion of amendments to section 18-4, which is “Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking,” please see footnote 8.

5 The presentence report indicated only two adjudications of delinquency, but that one of the adjudications was based on two counts. 4 No. 1-13-3812

based on a plea of guilty, Counts 2 and 4 will be 12 years in the

penitentiary.

DEFENSE COUNSEL: That’s correct, [Y]our Honor.

THE COURT: I will follow that agreement between the parties. I

find it within the realm of reason. Credit for 425 days served.

Statutory DNA ordered. Over the defense objection, costs will be

satisfied by the time served.”

¶ 10 After stating to the defendant that “you’ve plead guilty and been

sentenced,” the trial court then admonished defendant concerning his appeal

rights, including the requirement to file a written motion if he wanted to

withdraw his plea. The trial court then asked defendant if he had “any questions

at all,” and defendant responded:

“DEFENDANT: I’d like to say something.

THE COURT: Sure.

DEFENDANT: People who rape little girls get lesser time than I’m

getting. I’m getting sentenced for time that people get for trying to kill

people. A man can shoot a man in the leg, and his case will be a 4 to 15.

5 No. 1-13-3812

THE COURT: This is very simple. If you don’t want to do this, I’ll

withdraw–let you withdraw the plea right now. And I’ll set you down for

trial.

DEFENDANT: Just give me the time though. It’s already been done.

THE COURT: You can undo this. Just relax. It’s not personal. I don’t

know you. They tell me–you’re pleading guilty to jacking cars from

people.

DEFENDANT: I’m just saying–at 85 percent off my adult case

though. It’s plenty of kids running around here right now my age caught

on attempt murder and comped (sic)[6] out and got 13 at 85, 12 at 85. I’m

getting the same amount of the time I can get for shooting somebody,

Joe.[7]

I didn’t kill nobody and shoot nobody. I didn’t hit this man.

THE COURT: Did you do the car jacking? You don’t have to resolve

this. If you think this is too much and unfair, we’ll have a trial. It doesn’t

matter to me.

6 The “(sic)” is present in the original transcript.

7 “Joe” is also in the original transcript. 6 No. 1-13-3812

DEFENDANT: They got they [sic] time without a trial though. Why

should I have to go through a trial to get something lowered.

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People v. Williams, 2016 IL App (1st) 133812, 55 N.E.3d 1237 (Ill. Ct. App. 2016).

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