People v. ChildsPeople v. Childs
delivered the opinion of the court:
Following a jury trial in the circuit court of McLean County, defendant Kevin Childs was convicted of residential burglary (
I. PROCEEDINGS IN THE TRIAL COURT
In the indictment, one count of aggravated criminal sexual assault charged defendant with committing an act of forcible sexual penetration (defendant’s penis and the victim’s vagina) by use of a knife. The second count of aggravated criminal sexual assault made the same allegations, except that the act of penetration involved the victim’s mouth and defendant’s penis. The charge of aggravated kidnaping alleged that defendant had carried the victim from one place to another with intent secretly to confine her against her will and committed the felony of aggravated criminal sexual assault on her.
Assistant Public Defender Amy Davis was appointed to represent defendant. At a hearing in April 1993, for appointment of expert witness, defendant told the court he wanted Davis dismissed as his attorney. He accused her of not investigating his witnesses, not working with him, and being unfamiliar with his case. The court denied defendant’s request.
Davis filed a motion to withdraw as counsel in June 1993, alleging that defendant was objecting to certain actions she had taken on his behalf. When she attempted to see defendant at the county jail, she was informed that he would not see her and he would represent himself. Davis requested leave to withdraw, as it had become impossible for her to communicate with defendant. At the hearing on the motion, defendant complained that Davis had discussed his case with other inmates and that she was not spending time on his case or telling him anything that was happening. The trial court allowed the motion.
Assistant Public Defender Richard Koritz was appointed to represent defendant. At the pretrial hearing, Koritz indicated to the court that defendant had expressed a desire to have counsel from outside the public defender’s office appointed. Defendant indicated his objection was that Koritz works in the same office as Davis. The court denied the motion.
On September 22, 1993, the day the jury trial was to begin and prior to selecting the jury, Koritz advised the court that defendant had filed a request with the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC) to investigate him. Koritz advised the court that he had just been given a copy of the complaint earlier that morning. He indicated the atmosphere between defendant and himself had been "poisoned” by the filing of this complaint, and he made an oral motion to withdraw personally from defendant’s case. The ARDC complaint alleged that (1) Koritz had advised defendant to plead guilty to residential burglary but had earlier told him that, technically, the charge was not residential burglary and Koritz failed to explain this; (2) Koritz refused to file a motion to suppress a tape recording of a conversation between defendant and C.G., the victim; (3) Koritz refused to obtain telephone records of calls placed from C.G.’s home which defendant claimed would have exonerated him on the residential burglary charge; (4) Koritz failed to talk with defendant’s nephew, whom he and C.G. visited during the alleged kidnaping, and to anyone at a gas station where they also stopped; and (5) Koritz had failed to obtain C.G.’s hospital records and motel records of a room rented by C.G.
When the trial judge asked defendant what he wanted him to do, defendant asked that competent representation be appointed. The judge indicated that both attorneys who had been appointed to represent defendant were very competent and that he was not going to appoint any other attorneys. The judge gave defendant a choice of going to trial without having an attorney, going to trial with Koritz as his attorney, or hiring his own counsel within the next hour. Defendant complained that Koritz had not talked with any of his other witnesses. Defendant indicated he could not afford an attorney and stated he would not choose any of the three offered options. He attempted to persuade the trial court to make his decision for him, stating it was the decision of the court. Finally, defendant stated he did not want Koritz to represent him and that he was prepared to accept the "consequences” of going to trial without an attorney. The trial court then allowed Koritz’ motion to withdraw. Defendant stated he had not said he was willing to represent himself, and he admitted he did not know how to pick a jury or make an opening statement. He simply said he did not want Koritz to represent him. When asked how defendant would try his case without an attorney, he stated that he felt it was the court’s responsibility to give him proper representation.
The trial judge stated he had seen defendant’s ARDC complaint, and he commented:
"I see the stuff you are complaining about and I can tell you for a fact the things you are complaining about, the one I can tell about here you don’t have anything here. There is no basis for a Motion to Suppress on what you say here because she recorded the statement, or you recorded the statement, either one, there is no basis for a Motion to Suppress. Suppression applies to government recording statements; not some private person. So see, you don’t know what you are talking about here.”
The judge also said:
"I wouldn’t have got rid of him [(Koritz)] before when you wanted to so, you think I am not going to so, you are going to get rid of him yourself by firing him in Court.”
When the trial judge asked if both parties were ready for the jury to be brought in, the following exchange occurred between the judge and defendant:
"THE COURT: Okay. Are you ready for the jurors to be brought up, both sides?
[Prosecutor]: The State is ready, your Honor.
THE DEFENDANT: I have no questions for the jury. I don’t plan to represent myself. If you want this trial to go on, we will let it go on. You can let it go on as is. I know I am not an attorney. You know I am not an attorney so, you can let it go on as is.
THE COURT: You don’t you don’t [sic] plan on representing yourself?
THE DEFENDANT: I don’t feel I have the qualifications to represent myself.
THE COURT: Well, it was your choice. You’re saying it is my choice. The record is clear. The Appellate Court will decide.”
Following jury selection and opening statements, the trial court offered to have Koritz represent defendant for the balance of the trial. After arguing with the judge for some time, defendant declined.
At trial, C.G. testified that prior to November 15, 1992, defendant resided with her for periods of time at her home. On that date, she received a temporary order of protection against defendant. The plenary order was entered on December 4, 1992. In that order, defendant was ordered to vacate C.G.’s residence and was prohibited from entering or remaining in the residence. On December 21, 1992, she had been out to dinner with some friends and returned home about 8 p.m. When she entered the back porch door, she noticed chips of wood, as if the door had been tampered with. She started to run off the porch when defendant came up behind her from inside the house and pulled her inside. He threw her up against the refrigerator and made threatening statements about killing her. There was a large knife on the kitchen table.
Defendant took her into the living room and continued to threaten to kill her. Her tape recorder that she uses in connection with her job was there and defendant turned it on, saying he wanted ■to remember what she sounded like when she begged. Defendant told her to take off her clothes so she could not run away. When she realized the next day that her conversation with defendant was on the tape, she took it to the police. The tape was played for the jury.
C.G. testified that defendant’s mother called two times during the evening and left messages, wanting to know if C.G. was okay. Defendant called his mother back and had C.G. call her to tell her everything was okay. She tried to convince his mother that she was okay, but the mother indicated she was not convinced and she was going to call the police. Defendant also made another call from her telephone. Defendant’s brother came to the door and told defendant the police were coming and that he should leave. Defendant then told C.G. to put her clothes on, that they were leaving. She did what he told her to because she was afraid; she knew from past incidents that he was faster than she was. She never felt free to leave by herself. Defendant took the knife from the kitchen. They took her car, and defendant drove to the house of a friend she did not know. They also stopped at a gas station and defendant purchased some beer and juice. He made her go in with him; she did not say anything to anyone at the store because she was frightened. Defendant still had the knife. Then they went to a motel, where he told her to use one of her credit cards to pay for a room. Defendant asked the clerk for a room at the back of the motel. After they entered the room, he again forced her to take off her clothes so she could not run away. Defendant placed the knife on a table in the room. He was drinking the beer and making threatening remarks. He told her if she could have sex with any man, she could have sex with him. She told him she would do whatever he wanted her to do because she was afraid he was going to kill her. She submitted to vaginal sex. In addition, she had oral sex with defendant which involved her mouth to defendant’s penis and his mouth to her vagina. They arrived at the motel between 11:30 p.m. and 12 a.m., and defendant allowed her to leave about 4 a.m. When she arrived home, she called the police.
On cross-examination by defendant, C.G. testified that a photograph of the motel room showed a beer can with a hole and burn marks, which was used by defendant to smoke cocaine. On examination by the court, C.G. testified the knife defendant had in her kitchen and in the motel room was not herá — she had never seen it prior to that night.
Officer Randy McKinley of the Bloomington police department testified that he is a crime scene investigator. He observed that the back door to C.G.’s residence appeared to have been forced open from the outside. In the motel room, he found what appeared to be a steak knife lying on the floor near one of the beds. Defendant asked no questions of the witness.
Violet Singleton, defendant’s mother, testified on behalf of the State that she called C.G. because she knew defendant was there; she told him to leave. When she spoke with C.G., she sounded nervous, as if she was upset. C.G. called her later that night, laughing and saying everything was okay. Defendant asked no questions of his mother.
Officer Mark Provenzano of the Bloomington police department testified that he participated in the arrest of defendant at the motel. When he arrived at the motel room, he noticed a large hunting knife on the floor between the two beds. Also on the floor was a bandanna that had been tied into the shape of a mask, folded in half, and tied in a knot in the back. Defendant asked no questions of Provenzano.
Officer Michael Ripsch of the Bloomington police department testified that he saw the hunting knife on the floor and, in addition, he removed a kitchen knife from defendant’s clothing when he arrested him. Defendant asked no questions of Ripsch.
After the State rested its case, defendant moved for a mistrial because of his lack of legal counsel. That motion was denied.
Defendant called Nancy Johnson as a witness. She was working at the motel the night defendant and C.G. came in for a room. C.G. and defendant discussed the matter of payment for the room in a joking manner. There seemed to be no anger. Defendant was standing away from the desk, back toward the entrance. C.G. used a credit card to pay for the room.
Stacey Walworth, general manager of the motel, testified that she was at the motel when defendant and C.G. came in to register. She was about to leave and recalled that defendant and C.G. joked about what credit card to use for payment. This was about 10 p.m. C.G. did not appear to be afraid. Two days later, C.G. called her and said she had been raped in the motel and asked that her credit card not be charged.
After the jury began its deliberations and out of defendant’s presence, the trial court allowed Koritz to make a record concerning his response to defendant’s allegations of ineffectiveness. He said he requested that defendant contact him and advise what witnesses he wished Koritz to talk with, which defendant did not do. Koritz attempted to contact defendant and was told by his mother that defendant was out of town and that she would relay the message. In Koritz’ opinion, the critical witnesses were Johnson and Walworth. Defendant did not give him the address of the house where he and C.G. stopped on the way to the motel. Koritz did not contact anyone at the gas station because there would have been a number of people coming and going and, since nothing happened there with defendant and C.G., he could just argue to the jury that two stops were made and everything was normal. He also contacted two crime labs for cocaine testing of physical samples given by C.G. and was told that it was too late to test for cocaine because it would have deteriorated. Defendant would not discuss the tape recording with him after defendant had listened to it.
At the sentencing hearing on November 23, 1993, defendant appeared pro se and made an oral motion for a new trial, which was denied. The presentence report shows defendant had an extensive juvenile history. In 1975, as an adult, he was convicted of armed robbery and sentenced to four to eight years’ imprisonment. In 1979, he had a misdemeanor charge. In 1989, defendant was convicted in California of battery with serious bodily injury and assault by means likely to produce great bodily harm. He was sentenced to four years’ probation and one year in jail. He was on probation at the time the offenses in this case were committed. In 1991, he was convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol and given 18 months’ court supervision. Defendant reported the regular use of alcohol and use of cocaine, cannabis, "acid,” and "speed.”
No evidence was presented at the sentencing hearing. The prosecutor recommended eight-year sentences, to be served consecutively, for count I (residential burglary), count III, count IV (aggravated criminal sexual assault), and count VI (aggravated kidnaping); and a one-year sentence on count V (violation of order of protection), pursuant to section 5 — 8 — 4(a) of the Unified Code of Corrections (Code) (
The material in sections II and III is not to be published pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 23. 166 Ill. 2d R. 23.
IV. WAIVER OF COUNSEL
Defendant next argues that the trial court failed to substantially comply with Supreme Court Rule 401(a) (134 Ill. 2d R. 401(a)) when it failed to admonish him of the nature of the charges and the range of penalties to which he was subject. He also argues he did not make a knowing and intelligent waiver of counsel. Rule 401(a) provides that prior to allowing a defendant to waive counsel, the trial court must inform the defendant of (1) the nature of the charge; (2) the minimum and maximum sentences prescribed by law, including the possibility of consecutive sentences, if applicable; and (3) the right to counsel and, if indigent, to have counsel appointed.
Only substantial compliance with the rule is required to effectuate a valid waiver of counsel, if the record indicates waiver was made knowingly and intelligently. (See People v. Langley (1992),
Defendant urges us to reach this issue on the basis of plain error, as he failed to file any post-trial motion. Because the right to counsel is a fundamental right, we find that plain error review is warranted.
There can be no question in this case that the trial court failed to substantially comply with the rule. Therefore, no waiver can be found. The State argues that defendant was familiar with the nature of the charged offenses and the possible penalties involved. However, the record does not support this contention. Although defendant knew he was charged with Class X offenses, there is no indication he knew what the penalties were or that he was subject to consecutive sentences. The only admonition given defendant by the trial court was that he was entitled to appointed counsel. This is not substantial compliance.
There are cases which hold that a defendant is not entitled to appointed counsel of his choice and that a defendant may not use his right to counsel to thwart the timely administration of justice. (See People v. West (1990),
The material in sections V and VI is not to be published pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 23 (Official Reports Advance Sheet No. 15 (July 20, 1994), R. 23, eff. July 1, 1994).
VII. CONSECUTIVE SENTENCING
Defendant argues that the trial court erred in making his residential burglary and aggravated unlawful restraint convictions consecutive. He maintains that consecutive sentences were not required as to those offenses. He further argues that in the eyent the trial court sentenced him under
Even though this case must be remanded for a new trial, the question of consecutive sentences will undoubtedly arise again in the event of a conviction. We decline to find waiver on this issue. It has been held that the statutory sentencing requirements of
The rationale for the trial court’s sentencing decision is unclear. At sentencing, the State argued for mandatory consecutive sentences under
"(a) When multiple sentences of imprisonment are imposed on a defendant at the same time, *** the sentences shall run concurrently or consecutively as determined by the court. *** The court shall not impose consecutive sentences for offenses which were committed as part of a single course of conduct during which there was no substantial change in the nature of the criminal objective, unless one of the offenses for which defendant was convicted was a Class X or Class 1 felony and the defendant inflicted severe bodily injury, or where the defendant was convicted of a violation of Section 12 — 13 or 12 — 14 of the Criminal Code of 1961, [i.e., criminal sexual assault or aggravated criminal sexual assault,] in which event the court shall enter sentences to run consecutively. ***
(b) The court shall not impose a consecutive sentence except as provided for in subsection (a) unless, having regard to the nature and circumstances of the offense and the history and character of the defendant, it is of the opinion that such a term is required to protect the public from further criminal conduct by the defendant, the basis for which the court shall set forth in the record.” (Emphasis added.)730 ILCS 5/5 — 8 — 4(a) ,(b) (West 1992).
The question here is whether the language of
There is scant case law on this issue. Our independent research has yielded only three cases that have squarely dealt with this question. In People v. Ivey (1994),
In Williams, a first district case, the defendant was convicted of four counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault and two counts of aggravated kidnaping. The trial court sentenced him to consecutive prison terms on all offenses. One of his arguments on appeal was that the sentences for aggravated kidnaping should have been concurrent, rather than consecutive, because
In People v. Johnson (1994),
Defendant here argues Johnson did not hold that section 5 — 8— 4(a) of the Code requires consecutive sentences for all offenses occurring in a single course of conduct, where one of the offenses is an enumerated offense. However, had this not been an implicit holding of the case, this court could not have affirmed the sentences. The offenses of which the defendant in Johnson was convicted were committed in a single course of criminal conduct. There is no support in the facts of that case for any other conclusion. Generally, a trial court lacks discretion to impose consecutive sentences, where the offenses were committed in a single course of conduct during which there was no substantial change in the criminal objective. (See People v. Magnus (1994),
While acknowledging the views expressed by the First and Third District Appellate Courts, we choose to adhere to the precedent set in Johnson and hold that the trial court here was required under
Accordingly, defendant’s convictions and sentences are reversed and the cause remanded.
Reversed and remanded.
COOK, P.J., and GREEN, J., concur.