delivered the opinion of the court;
Fоllowing a jury trial, defendant, Jose Flores, was convicted of possession with the intent to deliver cocaine and possession with the intent to deliver cannabis and sentenced to concurrent terms of 14 years’ and 3 years’ imprisonment, respectively. On appeal, defendant contends that the trial court abused its discretion by failing to rеsolve jury confusion during deliberations. Defendant further contends that the trial court improperly barred the jurors from discussing and sharing their trial notes during deliberations. Defendant finally contends that his mittimus must be corrected to accurately reflect the number of days credit he received for time spent in custody.
Defendant does not challenge the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his conviction; therefore, we briefly summarize only those facts necessary for the disposition of the instant appeal. On November 17, 2004, the police executed a search warrant at 4636 South Paulina Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, based upon information from an informant that he had purchased cocaine at that location. While executing the warrant, the police discovered defendant in the apartment with cocaine and cannabis and further recovered narcotics distribution materials and over $3,000 in cash in a bedroom closet. Defendant was arrested and confessed that the drugs belonged to him. Defendаnt was subsequently charged with one count of possession of 400 to 900 grams of cocaine with the intent to deliver (720 ILCS 570/401(a)(2)(C) (West 2004)) and one count of possession of 30 to 500 grams of cannabis with the intent to deliver (720 ILCS 550/5(d) (West 2004)).
Upon commencement of defendant’s trial, the court advised the jurors that they were allowed to take notes during the trial, but the notes shоuld remain confidential. The court further instructed the jurors to primarily rely on their own recollection of the evidence and not let their or any other juror’s notes replace their memory. At the close of evidence, the jury ultimately found defendant guilty of both charged counts; however, during deliberations, the jury asked, “If the drugs are over 400 G and less than 900 G or over 30 G and less than 500, is it automatically intent according to the law?” The trial court shared the jury’s question with defense counsel and the State. The parties agreed with the court’s response that, “You have heard all the testimony and received all the evidence and instructions, please continue to deliberate.” Defendant was later sentenced as previously described. This timely appeal followed.
We review the legal issues presented in this appeal de novo. People v. Herron,
Defendant first contends that the trial court abused its discretion in failing to resolve jury confusion during deliberations. In the alternative, defendant argues that his counsel was ineffective for not objecting to the trial court’s suggested response to the jury’s inquiry. The State responds that defendant has waived review of this issue on appeal.
At the outset, we note that defendant concedes he did not preserve this issue for our review because he did not object to the court’s proposed responsе at trial and did not raise the issue in his posttrial motion. People v. Enoch,
Notwithstanding, defendant urges this court to apply the plаin error analysis to his claim. Pursuant to the plain error rule, a reviewing court may consider an issue that was not properly preserved if the evidence is closely balanced or where the error is so fundamental and of such magnitude that it deprived the defendant of a fair trial. Harvey,
We must first determine whether defendant’s complained-of “error” actually constitutes an error because application of the plain error rule presumes that an error occurred in the trial court. Herron,
In the case at bar, the jury asked, “If the drugs are over 400 G and less than 900 G or over 30 G and less than 500, is it automatically intent according to the law?” and, after consulting with both parties, the court responded that, “You have heard all the testimony and received all the evidence and instructions, pleasе continue to deliberate.” The jury was previously instructed with the elements of possession with intent to deliver both cannabis and a controlled substance and was further provided the legal definition of intent. Specifically, the jury received Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions, Criminal, Nos. 17.06, 17.18 and 5.01A (4th ed. 2000) (hereinafter IPI Criminal 4th Nos. 17.06, 17.18 and 5.01A), where the jurors were instructed:
“To sustain the charge of possession with intent to deliver cannabis when the substance containing the cannabis weighed more than 30 grams but not more than 500 grams, the State must prove the following propositions:
First Proposition: That the defendant knowingly possessed with intent to deliver a substance containing cannabis; and
Second Proposition: That the weight of the substance possessed was more than 30 grams but not more than 500 grams.
If you find from your consideration of all the evidence that each one of these propositions has been proved beyond a reasonable doubt, you should find the defendant guilty.
If you find from consideration of all the evidence that any one of these propositions has not been proved beyond a reasonable doubt, you should find the defendant not guilty.” IPI Criminal 4th No. 17.06.
The jurors were further instructed with IPI Criminal 4th No. 17.18:
“To sustain the charge of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance when the substance containing the controlled substance weighed 400 grams or more but less than 900 grams, the State must prove the following propositions:
First Proposition: That the defendant knowingly possessed with intent to deliver a substance containing cocaine, a controlled substance; and
Second Proposition: That the weight of the substance containing the controlled substance was 400 grams or more but less than 900 grams.
If you find from your consideration of all the evidence that each one of these propositions has been proved beyond a reasonable doubt, you should find the defendant guilty.
If you find from your consideration of all the evidence that any one of these propositions has not been proved beyond a reasonable doubt, you should find the defendant not guilty.”
Moreover, IPI Criminal 4th No. 5.01A defines intent as “[a] person intends to accomplish a result or engage in conduct when his conscious objective or purpose is to accomplish that result or engage in that conduct.”
The State argues that the instructions received by the jury were legally adequate. Defendant disagrees on the basis that there was no instruction resolving whether intent could ever be presumed, thereby allowing the jury to potentially conclude that intent to deliver is presumed when a defendant possesses the amounts of controlled substances recovered in defendant’s case. Defendant instead argues that the jury should have been provided with a nonexhaustive list of factors that can be considered in determining whether an individual intended to deliver a controlled substance, namely, inter alia, possessing an amount too large for personal consumption; the purity of the controlled substance; possessing large amounts of cash; possessing drug paraphernalia; and packaging of the contrоlled substance. People v. Robinson,
Discounting the fact that defendant raises this request for the first time on appeal, we conclude that instructing the jury as requested would have potentially confused the jury or may have caused the court to express an opinion that would have influenced the jury’s verdict. See Childs,
Defendant next contends that the trial court improperly prohibited the jurors from discussing and sharing their trial notes during deliberations. Specifically, defendant argues that, prior to trial and at the close of evidence, the court erroneously instructed the jurors that their notes were for their use only and could not be shared with other jurors. The State responds that defendant failed to preserve this issue and has therefore waived review of it on appeal. In the alternative, the State argues that the trial court did not err in instructing the jurors that they must keep their actual notes confidential.
Defendant concedes that he failed to preserve this issue because he did not object to the trial court’s instructions related to the jury’s note-taking and did not include the claim in his posttrial petition. People v. Enoch,
Prior to the introduction of the trial evidence, the judge instructed the jurors:
“You have the right to take notes during the cоurse of this trial. Note pads have been provided for your convenience. Please place your name on the cover of your note pad. No one else will be allowed to look at your notes at any time.
You do not have to take notes. This is entirely up to you. I have no preference one way or anоther. If you do take notes don’t let that stop you from listening to all of the evidence.
You may use your notes to refresh your memory at any time. Your notes are for your own use only, not for any other jurors. Do not show them to anyone at any time. That includes other jurors and it includes a time when you are deliberating on your verdict.
You should rely upon your own memory of the evidence. If your notes conflict with your memory or if someone else’s notes conflict with your memory you are free to use your own memory of the evidence. Just because a juror has taken notes does not mean that his or her memory of the evidence is any better than the memory of a juror who has not tаken notes.
Your notes will not leave this courtroom. They will be collected by the deputy sheriff when you leave the courtroom. At the end of the trial the notes will be collected and destroyed by the deputy sheriff. No one will be allowed to look at the notes before they are destroyed. Your notes if you choose to take them are entirely your own.”
Then, at the close of evidence and prior to the jury’s deliberations, the court instructed the jurors with IPI Criminal 4th No. 1.05, which provides:
“Those of you who took notes during trial may use your notes to refresh your memory during jury deliberations.
Each juror should rely on his or her recollection of the evidence. Just because a juror has tаken notes does not necessarily mean that his or her recollection of the evidence is any better or more accurate than the recollection of a juror who did not take notes.
When you are discharged from further service in this case, your notes will be collected by the deputy and destroyed. Throughout that proсess, your notes will remain confidential and no one will be allowed to see them.”
Further, section 115 — 4(n) of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (Code) (725 ILCS 5/115 — 4(n) (West 2004)) posits:
“The members of the jury shall be entitled to take notes during the trial, and the sheriff of the county in which the jury is sitting shall provide them with writing materials for this purpose. Such notes shall remain confidential, and shаll be destroyed by the sheriff after the verdict has been returned or a mistrial declared.”
Reading the trial court’s instructions in combination with the statute, we find that no error occurred. Both the statute and the IPI instruct that jurors may take notes, but the notes shall remain confidential. See 725 ILCS 5/115 — 4(n) (West 2004); IPI Criminal 4th No. 1.05. The obvious purpose for the confidentiality requirement is to prevent jurors from being overly influenced by written notes instead of using their memory of the facts to decide the case. Directly in fine therewith, the court admonished the jurors not to place too much emphasis on their notes, but rather to draw upon their recollections of the testimony and evidence presented at trial. Moreover, instructing the jurors not to physically share their notes yet advising the jurors that any conflicts with their individual or fellow jurors’ notes should be resolved in favor of their personal memory of the facts plainly accomplishes the purpose of the statute and jury instruction. We find support in Representative Cullerton’s comments regarding the statute, where he stated that “we make it clear that these notes shall be confidential, that they will be destroyed by the sheriff, after the verdict ***. So the purpose of this Bill is to define, give a little more flesh to this right of a juror to take notes, to make it clear that these notes will be destroyed after a verdict.” 83d Ill. Gen. Assem., House Proceedings, April 5, 1983, at 31 (statеments of Representative Cullerton). Accordingly, we find no error in the trial court’s instructions regarding jury note-taking. Furthermore, even assuming, arguendo, that the court’s admonishments exceeded the bounds of the statute and jury instruction, we find that any error was harmless where the evidence supporting the jury’s verdict was overwhelming. Strong,
Defendant finally contends, and the State concedes, that his mittimus must be corrected to accurately reflect the number of days he spent in custody prior to sentencing.
Defendant’s mittimus currently reflects that he received credit for 572 days spent in custody; however, defendant actually spent 574 days in custody prior to his sentencing. Remand is unnecessary to correct defendant’s mittimus because, under Supreme Court Rule 615(b)(1) (134 Ill. 2d R. 615(b)(1)), this court has authority to order the clerk to make the necessary correction. People v. McCray,
Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court of Cook County and order the circuit clerk to correct defendant’s mittimus as instructed.
Affirmed; mittimus corrected.
QUINN, EJ., and CUNNINGHAM, J., concur.