delivered the opinion of the court:
Fоllowing a bench trial in the circuit court of De Kalb County, defendant, Demetrius Glenn, was convicted of six counts of drug-related offenses stemming from the delivery of cocaine and heroin within 1,000 feet of a church. Three counts were related to the delivery of less than one gram of a substance containing cocaine to an undercover officer, and the other three were related to delivery of less than one gram of a substance containing heroin. Defendant was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment. Defendant previously appealed to this court, alleging three errors. First, he contended that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to move for the disclosure of an informant until after defendant testified at trial. Second, he argued that several of the counts of which he was convicted should be vacated because they are lesser included offenses and that multiple convictions violate the one-act, one-crime rule. Third, he asserted that he was not properly admonished regarding how to preserve sentencing errors for appeal. We agreed with the latter two contentions, and, therefore, wе affirmed in part, vacated in part, and remanded.
The State then appealed to our supreme court. While denying the State’s petition for leave to appeal, the supreme court directed us to vacate our judgment and reconsider this case in light of its recent decision in People v. Henderson,
I. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL
Defendant first argues that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to move for the disclosure of a police informant until after the trial had commenced. Defendant raised an entrapment defense. See 720 ILCS 5/7 — 12 (West 2000); People v. Placek,
According to defendant, the woman accompanied him and Nachman on the day of the incident. Before asking him to get drugs for Nachman, she joked with defendant, hugged him, and kissed him. She then directed defendant to places where drugs could be acquired. They were unable to obtain drugs at the first two locations, but were successful in obtaining crack cocaine at the third. Defendant testified that he made no profit on the transaction; however, he did ask Nachman if he could keep a piece of cocaine, which he intended to smoke later. He acknowledged that the heroin was his and that he had acquired it before meeting Nachman that day. He denied having anything to do with the cutting or testing of the drugs. Defendant testified that he had stopped dealing drugs prior to the day of the incident. He acknowledged that he had a previous conviction of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and also admitted prior drug use. Nachman asked defendant if he could contact defendant again, and defendant replied affirmatively. In resolving this issue, for reasons that we will explain below, we will accept defendant’s version of the facts, as well as other evidence favorable to him adduced from other sources. We note that the testimony of the State’s witnesses differed significantly from defendant’s.
Defendant argues that he received ineffective assistance of counsel because his attorney failed to seek to ascertain the identity of the informant and tо present her testimony at trial. To establish a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must show both that counsel’s performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and that, but for counsel’s errors, a reasonable probability exists that the result of the proceeding would have been different. Strickland v. Washington,
As defendant raised the defense of entrapment, we must assess counsel’s alleged ineffectiveness in terms of how it could have affected this defense. Defendant’s claim of entrapment is based upon the informant’s use of his attraction to her, which, defendant asserts, allowed the informant to manipulate him into obtaining drugs. Entrapmеnt requires that a defendant show both that the State improperly induced him or her to commit a crime and that he or she was not otherwise predisposed to commit the offense. Placek,
Defendant faces a major hurdle in his attempt to establish prejudice. As he acknowledges, the record does not disclose what the informant’s testimony would have been. This alone would normally be enough to defeat defendant’s claim. See People v. Holman,
Defendant also attempts to show prejudice by asserting that the testimony of the informant may have corroborаted his testimony and contradicted that of Nachman. As such, it might have enhanced defendant’s credibility and diminished Nachman’s. This argument is highly speculative, given that we do not know how the informant would have testified, and does not show any real probability that the result of the trial would have been different. See Holman,
The first factor we must consider when assessing whether a defendant was predisposed to commit an offense, such that an entrapment defense is unavailable, is the defendant’s reluctance or willingness to commit the crime. Placek,
Second, defendant’s familiarity with drugs was well established. Placek,
Third, his willingness to accommodate the needs of other users is dеmonstrated by the same facts that go to the first prong of the test. Placek,
The fourth factor is whether defendant was willing to profit from the offense. Placek,
Fifth, we must consider defendant’s prior and current drug use. Placek,
The sixth factor to consider is whether defendant participated in cutting or testing the drugs. Placek,
Finally, the seventh factor is whether defendant had ready access to a supply of drugs. We note that defendant had heroin before his encounter with Nachman, which he presumably got from somewhere. Further, he stated that Nachman could cаll him again, indicating that he would be able to provide drugs in the future.
In sum, only the first and sixth factors weigh in favor of defendant. As explained above, given the circumstances of this case, neither is very compelling. Regarding the first, defendant apparently displayed some reluctance to help Nachman obtain drugs; however, even on defendant’s own testimony, this reluctance was minimal. Perhaps the sixth could be dispositive in a close case, but it is insufficient to prevail on its own. As the trial court noted, “the fact that [defendant] was trying to impress a girl by getting her cocaine certainly is not entrapment.” Beyond the fact that the informant “preyed” on his attraction to her, defendant points to nothing to sustain his claim of entrapment, and he even acknowledges, “I wouldn’t actually say she talked me into it.”
Accordingly, we find that, assuming that counsel’s performance was deficient in failing to move for disclosure of the informant’s identity in a timely fashion, defendant has not shown that he suffered prejudice as a result. Defendant cannot, therefore, make out a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. Johnson, 128 111. 2d at 271.
II. WHETHER ALL SIX CONVICTIONS CAN STAND
Defendant next argues that he was improperly convicted of six drug-related offenses as a result of his encounter with Nachman. Count I charged that defendant committed the offense of unlawful delivery of cocaine. 720 ILCS 570/401(d) (West 2000). Count II alleged that defendant delivered cocaine within 1,000 feet of a church. 720 ILCS 570/407(b)(2) (West 2000). Count III alleged that defendant possessed less than 15 grams of a substance containing cocaine. 720 ILCS 570/402(c) (West 2000). Count IV charged that defendant delivered a substance containing heroin. 720 ILCS 570/401(d) (West 2000). Count V alleged that defendant delivered heroin within 1,000 feet of a church. 720 ILCS 570/407(b)(2) (West 2000). Count VI charged defendant with possession of less than 15 grams оf a substance containing heroin. 720 ILCS 570/402(c) (West 2000). Defendant contends that counts I, III, IV and VI are, in fact, lesser included offenses in the crime of delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a church. 720 ILCS 570/ 407(b)(2) (West 2000). Thus, according to defendant, they must be vacated. The State does not contest defendant’s argument as it pertains to count VI.
In determining whether these offenses must be vacated, the first step is to inquire as to whether defendant’s conduct constituted separate acts or a single act. People v. Rodriguez,
The State cоntends that convictions of both the possession and delivery of the cocaine can stand because defendant asked for a piece of the cocaine, which he retained, while the rest was delivered to Nachman. Such an interpretation ignores the reality that this was one transaction where defendant acquired some cocaine and delivered the bulk of it to Nachman. Obviously, defendant possessed all of the cocaine prior to giving it to Nachman. After the transaction, he continued to possess a small portion of it. We attach no significance to the fact that defendant briefly turned over all of it to Nachman and then, almost immediately, a small quantity was returned to him. It was the same cocaine, it was one transaction, and therefore it was one act.
The State also argues that delivery within 1,000 feet of a church (720 ILCS 570/407(b)(2) (West 2000)) is a sentence enhancer of the crime of delivery of a controlled substance (720 ILCS 570/401(d) (West 2000)), rather than a separate offense. Assuming, for the sake of argument, that the State is correct, this argument is beside the point. Defendant stands convicted of six counts, two of which are of delivery and two of which are of delivery within 1,000 feet of a church for the two substances delivered. As such, the lesser counts cannot stand.
Therefore, we vacate defendant’s convictions of counts I, III, IY and VI and the sentences imposed on them. We remand this cause so the trial court may enter an appropriate order reflecting two convictions of delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a church.
III. SUPREME COURT RULE 605(a)
Defendant’s final argument is that he was not properly admonished as to how to preserve sentencing issues in accordance with Supreme Court Rule 605(a) (210 Ill. 2d R. 605(a)). Indeed, defendant was not advised that any issue not raised in a motion to reconsider would be waived (210 Ill. 2d R. 605(a)(3)(C)), and he did not file any such motion. The State agrees that defendant received insufficient admonitions; however, it counters that no remand is necessary because defendant suffered no prejudice. In our original opinion (People v. Glenn,
It is now settled law that a defendant must show that he or she was prejudiced or denied real justice as a consequence of a trial court’s failure to admonish that defendant propеrly under Rule 605(a). What remains somewhat unclear is the meaning of the phrase “prejudiced or denied real justice.” In Henderson,
Conversely, in this case, defendant did raise a sentencing issue in his original brief. Defendant pointed to the trial judge’s finding that the threat of serious harm to others was an aggravating factor. Defendant then cited several cases holding that the threat of harm to others should not be considered as an aggravating factor in drug delivery cases because that factor was already accounted for when the legislature classified the offense and set the range of potential punishment. See, e.g., People v. McCain,
Simply pointing out some issue that could be raised without being deemed frivolous, no matter how futile it ultimately turns out to be, would deprive Henderson of any real content. In virtually every case, there is some issue that the parties could contest without running afoul of Supreme Court Rule 137. 155 Ill. 2d R. 137. Thus, a defendant cannot avoid Henderson with a simple recitation of a nonfrivolous issue. On the other hand, whatever a defendant need show to demonstrate prejudice or a denial of real justice, it must be less than that which is necessary to show plain error. Requiring a showing of that magnitude would deprive Rule 605(a) of any content. After all, a defendant can seek plain error review of virtually any error, albeit often unsuccessfully. Remedying the lack of proper admonishments, which resulted in the potential waiver of an issue, by requiring a defendant to establish plain error is no remedy at all, as that is the course a defendant who has, in fact, waived an issue must follow. The outer parameters, then, of the showing a defendant must make are clear. Parenthetically, we do not believe that the Henderson court’s reference to plain error (Henderson,
In Henderson, the supreme court gave courts of review an indication that they possess a great deal of discretion in these matters in determining how to proceed. In that case, the court wrote:
“If defendant had presented actual sentencing challenges in his appeal, the appellate court would at least hаve been alerted to the existence of these issues. The court then could have taken whatever actions it deemed appropriate, including hearing the challenges itself or remanding them to the trial court.” (Emphasis added and omitted.) Henderson,217 Ill. 2d at 468 .
This passage states that the defendant must “present” an issue on appeal so that the appellate court will be “alerted to” the issue. Thus, the court appears to have contemplated something less than full briefing of the issue, at least in some situations. However, by stating that an appellate court сould hear the issue itself, it implied that a full, plenary resolution of the issue might be appropriate under certain circumstances. Most significantly, the court charged that a court such as ours may take “whatever action it deem[s] appropriate.” The power to take whatever action is appropriate suggests discretion.
Now, as to how great a showing a defendant must make to demonstrate prejudice or a denial of real justice, we can conclude only that it depends upon the circumstances and that such inquiries necessarily will be practical and situation specific. Given the discretion to take whatever action is appropriate by the supreme court, we can conclude only that a defendant must demonstrate to us that he or she has been denied some real opportunity to litigate something of substance and that some remedy is necessary — most likely an opportunity to be heard on that issue. After all, by vesting us with discretion, the supreme court presumably wanted us to exercise it to correct something that needs correcting. It follows, then, that a defendant must “alert” us to something that requires some action. While we may not be able to define the standard a defendant must meet more precisely in this case and think it wise to allow such a standard to develop as courts confront more cases such as this one, we do believe that the showing made by defendant in this case is sufficient to satisfy that standard.
Some additional guidance can be found in Henderson. In that case, the supreme court cited approvingly the First District’s resolution of People v. Polk,
Nevertheless, the State argues that a remand is not necessary and suggests that we should resolve the error on the merits against defendant. It claims that a remand would be a waste of time and judicial resources. Certainly, such considerations are entitled to some weight (see People v. Burdine,
However, we disagree with the State’s assertion that the issue defendant raises lacks merit. The State argues that the trial court’s finding regarding the threat of harm to others did not affect defendant’s sentence. We, however, cannot say with any degree of certainty that this proposition is true. We disagree with the State’s characterization of the trial court’s remark as “very brief and passing.” Though the trial court’s mention of this faсtor was brief, it was hardly passing. Indeed, the trial court made an express finding that the harm threatened to others was an aggravating factor. Moreover, it made this finding almost immediately (five transcribed sentences) before it sentenced defendant. The State also asserts correctly that the trial court accepted its argument that when an offender repeatedly offends, the sentence he or she receives should be greater than an earlier sentence. Defendant had previously been sentenced to eight years for an earlier offense, and this time thе trial court imposed a sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment. This argument does not establish that the trial court did not place any weight on the improper aggravating factor; quite simply, nine years is also more than eight. Because we cannot determine what weight, if any, the trial court placed on an improper aggravating factor, we cannot allow defendant’s sentence to stand.
Accordingly, we believe that the proper resolution of this appeal is to simply vacate defendant’s sentence and remand so that defendant can be resentenced. Given the discretion vested in us by our supreme court in resolving these appeals (Henderson,
IV CONCLUSION
In light of the foregoing, we affirm defendant’s two convictions of delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a church and we vacate the remainder of the convictions. We also vacate defendant’s sentence. This cause is remanded so that the trial court may conduct a new sentencing hearing and resentence defendant.
Affirmed in part and vacated in part; cause remanded with directiorfs.
BYRNE and KAPALA, JJ., concur.
