The PEOPLE of the State of Illinois, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
David E. JENKINS, Defendant-Appellant.
Appellate Court of Illinois, Second District.
*1233 Thomas A. Lilien, Deputy Defender (Court-appointed), Patrick M. Carmody (Court-appointed), Office of the State Appellate Defender, Elgin, for David E. Jenkins.
Joseph H. McMahon, Kane County State's Attorney, St. Charles (Stephen E. Norris, Deputy Director, Sharon Shanahan, State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor, of counsel), for the People.
OPINION
Justice HUTCHINSON delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
¶ 1 Following a jury trial, defendant, David E. Jenkins, was found guilty of obstructing justice (720 ILCS 5/31-4(a) (West 2008)) and was sentenced to an 18-month term of conditional discharge and 100 hours of public service. Defendant contends on appeal that the trial court erred by (1) limiting his examination of his wife and son about a conversation with an Elgin police officer that led to his prosecution, and (2) admonishing his son about the privilege against self-incrimination. We reverse.
¶ 2 The indictment charged defendant with obstructing justice in March 2009, "in that defendant with the intent to obstruct the prosecution of David T. Jenkins, knowingly furnished false information to Officer Barnard, a police officer, as to whether he had a son." There is no dispute that David T. Jenkins was defendant's then 17-year-old son.
¶ 3 At trial, during his opening statement, defense counsel assured the jury that it would hear a different account of defendant's brief conversation with Barnard. Defense counsel indicated that defendant was speaking with his son on a *1234 cellular telephone when Barnard arrived, and defendant's son heard the conversation over the telephone. In addition, defendant's wife, Carol Jenkins, was present during the exchange between Barnard and defendant. Defense counsel indicated that defendant's wife and son would give the following account of the exchange between Barnard and defendant:
"A male police officer comes up and says I'm looking for David Jenkins. I'm he. Do you own a white Mustang? No, I don't, but my son does. Does he go by Junior? No he doesn't he goes by David Theodore Jenkins. Is he here? No. Do you know where he is? No. He lives with his mother."
¶ 4 The State's first witness was Elgin police officer Jason Barnard, who testified that he spoke to defendant at defendant's home. Barnard identified himself as a police officer and told defendant that he was investigating a minor traffic accident and looking for "a" "David Jenkins." Defendant indicated that he was David Jenkins. Based on his investigation, Barnard expected the driver of the Mustang to be younger than defendant, so he asked defendant whether there was a "Junior David Jenkins." Defendant responded that there was not. Barnard testified that he then asked defendant whether he had "a son named David Jenkins." According to Barnard, defendant answered "no." Barnard testified, "At that point I asked him, so you don't have a son named David Jenkins who drives a white Mustang?" According to Barnard, defendant said that he did not.
¶ 5 Barnard further testified that Officer Heather Farrell approached, and defendant thereafter stated that he did have a son named David Jenkins, who did not own the Mustang but whose mother owned it. Barnard testified that he placed defendant "under arrest for obstruction."
¶ 6 On cross-examination, Barnard admitted that defendant was being truthful when defendant told him that he was David Jenkins. Barnard admitted that there was a woman present during the conversation with defendant, but he could not recall what she was doing during the conversation. Barnard could not recall whether he made any statements to her, and he could not recall whether she made any statements to him. Barnard admitted that he spoke with defendant "[m]aybe two minutes, if that," prior to arresting him.
¶ 7 Elgin police officer Heather Farrell testified that she was on duty with Barnard. Farrell testified that she heard the conversation between Barnard and defendant. Farrell testified that "[t]he conversation they were having was whether or not he had a son named David Jenkins, and the Defendant had said no."
¶ 8 On cross-examination, Farrell acknowledged that there was a white female standing on the stairs just inside the door, approximately six feet from her and Barnard and defendant. Farrell testified that she observed the female in the background throughout the conversation.
¶ 9 Before the defense proceeded with its case-in-chief, the State asked the trial court to advise defendant's son of his fifth amendment privilege against self-incrimination. The State indicated that, if defendant's son testified that he overheard the conversation between defendant and Barnard, he might risk being prosecuted for eavesdropping. The State also argued that anything defendant's son heard over the telephone would be inadmissible hearsay. With respect to the hearsay issue, defense counsel responded that defendant's *1235 son's testimony would contradict, and thereby impeach, Barnard's testimony and was admissible for that purpose. Defense counsel also argued that, although defendant's son heard the conversation over the telephone, he was no less competent than defendant's wifewho was physically present during the conversationto testify as to what he heard. That suggestion prompted the State to object that defendant's wife's testimony would also be inadmissible hearsay. The trial court ruled that defendant "[could] certainly use [his wife's and son's testimony] to impeach the officer's testimony," but could not bolster his own testimony "by having [his wife and son] parrot what he is going to say he said."
¶ 10 Before defendant's son took the stand, the trial court warned him that his testimony might subject him to prosecution for eavesdropping and advised him of the privilege against self-incrimination. Defendant's son initially chose to testify. However, when the questioning turned to the subject of whether he had overheard the conversation between defendant and Barnard, the trial court reiterated that defendant's son might face a charge of eavesdropping as a result of his testimony and that he could not be compelled to testify. At that point, defendant's son declined to testify further.
¶ 11 Defendant then called his wife, Carol Jenkins, as a witness. Defense counsel asked whether Barnard told defendant that he was looking for David Jenkins. The State objected, stating, "This isn't impeachment." The trial court sustained the objection. Defense counsel next inquired whether the officer asked defendant if he was David Jenkins. The State objected and a sidebar ensued at which the trial court implied that the answer to the question would be inadmissible because it would not contradict Barnard's testimony. Defense counsel next inquired whether the officer asked if David T. Jenkins lived at defendant's residence. The State objected that "[i]t doesn't contradict anything the officer testified to." The trial court sustained the objection. The trial court also sustained the State's objection when defense counsel asked whether the officer had asked about David T. Jenkins' whereabouts. Defense counsel asked no further questions about the conversation between defendant and Barnard.
¶ 12 Defendant testified that Barnard initially indicated that he was looking for David Jenkins. Defendant said that he was David Jenkins. Barnard asked whether defendant owned a white Mustang. Defendant responded that he did not but his son did. Barnard asked if defendant knew where his son was. Defendant responded that he did not; he lived in Algonquin with his mother. Barnard asked if defendant's son "goes by Junior." Defendant responded that his son "goes by David Theodore Jenkins."
¶ 13 Following the close of evidence, defendant moved for a mistrial. The motion was accompanied by a written offer of proof indicating that Carol Jenkins was prepared to testify that the conversation between defendant and Barnard was as follows:
"Officer, `I'm looking for David Jenkins. Are you David Jenkins?'
Defendant, `Yes, I'm David Jenkins.'
Officer, `Do you have a son named David Jenkins Jr.?'
Defendant, `No, I do not. I have a son named David Theodore Jenkins.'
Officer, `Does he live here?'
*1236 Defendant, `No, he does not.'
Officer, `Well you know where he is?'
Defendant, `I don't know where my son is.'
Officer, `Does he have a white Mustang?'
Defendant, `Yes, he does.'"
¶ 14 According to the offer of proof, had defendant's son not invoked his privilege against self-incrimination, he would have testified that he overheard the following conversation between defendant and the police officer:
"Officer, `Are you David Jenkins?'
[Defendant], `I'm he.'
Officer, `Is your son Jr.?'
[Defendant], `No, he is Theodore.'
Officer, `Do you own a white Mustang.'
[Defendant], `No, my son does.'
Officer, `Is your son here?'
[Defendant], `No. He lives with his mother.'
Officer, `You're under arrest.'"
¶ 15 After defendant rested, the trial court conducted a conference on jury instructions. The parties presented their closing arguments, and the trial court instructed the jury. Following deliberations, the jury found defendant guilty of obstructing justice. The trial court entered judgment on the verdict. Defendant thereafter filed a motion for a new trial, which the trial court denied.
¶ 16 At sentencing, the trial court commented:
"[It is] frustrating to the Court that this * * * is cleared up in seconds when the female officer comes around the corner, makes the connection with [defendant], and because of her prior history with [defendant] and his son, * * * it's within seconds that it becomes obvious that there is a son that he has lied to Officer No. 1.
There's no dollars expended in some lengthy investigation that results from his lying. This is something that's cleared up within seconds."
The trial court thereafter sentenced defendant to an 18-month term of conditional discharge and 100 hours of public service. Defendant filed a timely notice of appeal.
¶ 17 Defendant first contends that the trial court erred when it ruled that the testimony of defendant's wife and son about the conversation between defendant and Barnard was inadmissible hearsay. As our supreme court has noted, "[h]earsay is an out-of-court statement offered to establish the truth of the matter asserted [citations] and testimony about an out-of-court statement which is used for a purpose other than to prove the truth of the matter asserted in the statement is not hearsay." People v. Banks,
¶ 18 We agree with defendant that the questions Barnard posed to him and the answers he gave were not hearsay. *1237 Occurrence witnesses testify "because they witnessed or participated in the transactions or events that are part of the subject matter of the litigation." Tzystuck v. Chicago Transit Authority,
¶ 19 The State's assertion that defendant's own statements (as related in the offer of proof) were hearsay is meritless. Defendant's statements would have been offered not to prove the truth of the matters assertedthat defendant was David Jenkins, that he had a son named David Theodore Jenkins (not David Jenkins, Jr.), and that his son owned or drove a Mustangbut rather to contradict Barnard's testimony. According to the State, "the testimony of [defendant's] wife and son was offered to show the truth or falsity of defendant's statements to police, which is clearly inadmissible hearsay." To the contrary, given the State's theory of the crime, evidence that defendant told Barnard that he had a son named David Theodore Jenkins would impeach the State's theory that defendant truly intended "to obstruct the prosecution of David T. Jenkins [when he] knowingly furnished false information to Officer Barnard, a police officer, as to whether he had a son." The State submitted evidence that defendant purportedly made other statements and that those statements were untrue. The State's case necessarily fails if defendant did not in fact make the statements that the State attributed to him. The State's argument seems to assume that, even if defendant told Barnard that he had a son named David Jenkins, he would still be guilty of obstructing justice unless that statement was true. The most obvious flaw in the argument is that, whatever defendant told Barnard, he did not bear the burden of proving that his statements were true. Rather, the State bore the burden of proving that defendant's statements were false. See Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions, Criminal, No. 2.03 (4th ed. 2000) (providing that the "State has the burden of proving the guilt of the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt, and this burden remains on the State throughout the case. The defendant is not required to prove his innocence."). Thus, if the jury believed that defendant told Barnard that he had a son named David Jenkins who owned or drove a white Mustang, it would have been required to acquit defendant unless the State offered evidence that those statements were untrue.
¶ 20 Defendant next contends that the trial court abused its discretion when it *1238 admonished his son about the privilege against self-incrimination. Defendant argues that his son's testimony would not have afforded the State any grounds for charging his son with eavesdropping. Defendant's son invoked the privilege against self-incrimination before any questioning about the conversation he heard over the cell phone.
¶ 21 Eavesdropping on a law enforcement officer's conversation is a Class 1 felony if the officer was engaged in his or her official duties. 720 ILCS 5/14-4(b) (West 2008). A person commits eavesdropping when he or she "[k]nowingly and intentionally uses an eavesdropping device for the purpose of hearing * * * any part of any conversation * * * unless he does so * * * with the consent of all of the parties to such conversation." 720 ILCS 5/14-2(a)(1) (West 2008). The term "eavesdropping device" means "any device capable of being used to hear or record oral conversation or intercept, retain, or transcribe electronic communications whether such conversation or electronic communication is conducted in person, by telephone, or by any other means; Provided, however, that this definition shall not include devices used for the restoration of the deaf or hard-of-hearing to normal or partial hearing." 720 ILCS 5/14-1(a) (West 2008).
¶ 22 In People v. Armbrust,
"It is well recognized that a phone does not constitute an eavesdropping device unless it has been altered in such a manner that it can no longer perform its customary functions of transmitting and receiving sounds. People v. Gervasi,89 Ill.2d 522 , 526-27,61 Ill.Dec. 515 ,434 N.E.2d 1112 (1982). Accordingly, an unaltered phone is not considered an eavesdropping device, even where the receiver is tilted so that another person may listen in or a person listens on an extension. People v. Shinkle,128 Ill.2d 480 , 489,132 Ill.Dec. 432 ,539 N.E.2d 1238 (1989) (where an officer listened on an extension with his hand covering the mouthpiece, the phone was not transformed into an eavesdropping device because the officer's hand did nothing to alter the phone's ability to transmit sound); People v. Gaines,88 Ill.2d 342 , 363,58 Ill.Dec. 795 ,430 N.E.2d 1046 (1981) (a phone was not an eavesdropping device where an officer listened on an extension, because the eavesdropping statute is not directed at phones that have not been functionally altered); People v. Bennett,120 Ill. App.3d 144 , 149,75 Ill.Dec. 544 ,457 N.E.2d 986 (1983) (a switchboard was not an eavesdropping device because it could transmit messages); People v. Petrus,98 Ill.App.3d 514 , 517,54 Ill.Dec. 5 ,424 N.E.2d 755 (1981) (a phone was not considered an eavesdropping device where the receiver was held so that both the officer and the informant could hear what the defendant was saying). The addition of a separate device to a phone to allow others to hear, however, does convert the phone into an eavesdropping device. See People v. Perez,92 Ill. App.2d 366 , 372-73,235 N.E.2d 335 (1968) (apparatus that screwed onto the phone receiver to allow others to hear constituted an eavesdropping device)." Armbrust,2011 IL App (2d) 100955 , ¶ 7,353 Ill.Dec. 718 ,956 N.E.2d 580 .
¶ 23 Under the principles discussed in Armbrust, it is clear that a cellular *1239 telephone is not an eavesdropping device unless it has been functionally altered. See id. (citing Gervasi,
¶ 24 We next determine whether the trial court's errors in precluding defendant's wife and defendant's son from testifying were harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. In doing so, we consider defendant's need to testify to present a defense as part of that inquiry. See People v. Averett,
¶ 25 In reversing the trial court's judgment, we must necessarily address the double jeopardy implications. The double jeopardy clause (U.S. Const., amend. V; Ill. Const. 1970, art. I, § 10) prohibits retrial for the purpose of affording the prosecution another opportunity to supply evidence that it failed to present in the first proceeding, even if that first proceeding resulted in a jury finding of guilty. Burks v. United States,
¶ 26 The appropriate standard of review in ruling on the sufficiency of the evidence is whether, after viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the State, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. People v. Brooks,
¶ 27 Upon careful and thorough review of the record in the light most favorable to the State, this court finds the evidence insufficient to support the jury's verdict of guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The State was required to prove that (1) defendant knowingly furnished false information to Barnard "as to whether he had a son," and (2) it was furnished with the intent to obstruct the prosecution of his son, David T. Jenkins. See People v. Gray,
¶ 28 It is our duty to carefully examine the evidence and, if we are of the opinion that the evidence is insufficient to establish the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, we must reverse the judgment. Id. at 270,
¶ 29 Because the State's evidence is insufficient to sustain defendant's conviction, we determine that defendant would be subject to double jeopardy. A retrial of defendant is, therefore, barred. See Burks,
¶ 30 For the foregoing reasons, we reverse the judgment of the circuit court of Kane County.
¶ 31 Reversed.
Justices ZENOFF and BIRKETT concurred in the judgment and opinion.
