*1 Illinois Official Reports
Appellate Court
People v. Nieto
,
Appellate Court THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Caption MICHAEL NIETO, Defendant-Appellant.
District & No. First District, Second Division
No. 1-12-1604 Filed June 30, 2020
Decision Under Appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County, No. 06-CR-4475; the Hon. Rosemary Grant Higgins, Judge, presiding. Review Judgment Affirmed in part and vacated in part.
Cause remanded with directions. Counsel on James E. Chadd, Patricia Mysza, and Jeffrey Svehla, of State Appellate Defender’s Office, of Chicago, for appellant. Appeal
Kimberly M. Foxx, State’s Attorney, of Chicago (Alan J. Spellberg, Tasha-Marie Kelly, and Lori M. Rosen, Assistant State’s Attorneys, of counsel), for the People.
Panel JUSTICE LAVIN delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
Justices Pucinski and Coghlan concurred in the judgment and opinion. *2 OPINION
¶ 1 Defendant Michael Nieto appeals from the trial court’s order summarily dismissing his
pro se
petition under the Post-Conviction Hearing Act (Act) (725 ILCS 5/122-1
et seq.
(West
2012)). On appeal, defendant argues that his sentence is unconstitutional as applied under the
eighth amendment to the United States Constitution (U.S. Const., amend. VIII), and Illinois’s
proportionate penalties clause (Ill. Const. 1970, art. I, § 11). In our original opinion, we vacated
defendant’s sentence and remanded for resentencing pursuant to
Miller v. Alabama
, 567 U.S.
460 (2012), and
Montgomery v. Louisiana
,
directed us to vacate our prior judgment and
“consider the effect of this Court’s opinions in People v. Buffer ,2019 IL 122327 , and People v. Holman , 2017 IL 120655, on the issue of whether defendant’s sentence constitutes a de facto life sentence in violation of the Eighth Amendment and Miller v. Alabama ,567 U.S. 460 (2012), and determine if a different result is warranted.” People v. Nieto , No. 120826 (Ill. Mar. 25, 2020) (supervisory order).
Having already vacated our prior judgment, we now consider the matter in light of Buffer and Holman and find that the same result is warranted. [1] I. BACKGROUND A. Trial The evidence presented at defendant’s jury trial generally showed that on July 14, 2005,
defendant, age 17, was riding in a black Ford Expedition with three other Latin Kings. While in a residential neighborhood, the young men encountered a red Jeep Cherokee whose occupants, victim Richard Soria and victim Israel Fernandez, allegedly used a sign disrespecting the Latin Kings. The Ford chased the Jeep. Ultimately, defendant, the front-seat passenger, shot at the Jeep, fatally shooting Soria in the head and injuring Fernandez. Defendant subsequently told his brother-in-law that defendant had just “lit up some flakes” and that one victim received a “dome shot.” The jury found defendant guilty of the first degree murder of Soria and the aggravated battery with a firearm of Fernandez. Additionally, the jury found that defendant personally discharged a firearm that proximately caused Soria’s death. B. Sentencing The presentence investigative report (PSI) stated, among other things, that defendant’s highest level of education was the eighth grade. He was expelled from his freshman year of high school for fighting. In 2006, defendant failed the GED exam but planned to retake it and earn a business degree. Although defendant was unemployed, he had previously done some remodeling work and sold drugs to support himself. According to the PSI, defendant stated that his father was in poor health, having been shot
and stabbed at various times, and had been incarcerated for defendant’s entire life. Defendant also stated that he was primarily raised by his maternal grandmother because his mother was a
drug addict. For two years, defendant and his mother lived with her boyfriend. Her boyfriend, however, decided he did not want defendant to live with them. As a result, defendant lived with his paternal grandfather in Texas, where he remained until 2002. At that time, defendant’s mother summoned him back to Chicago due to his grandmother’s poor health. Defendant received counseling after his grandmother’s death and believed that he could benefit from further counseling but had not requested it because it was “too much trouble.” Defendant subsequently lived with friends or on his own. Defendant also reported that his only friend happened to be a gang member with a criminal record. We note that defendant’s brother-in- law testified that at the time of the offense, defendant occasionally lived with his family. Defendant, who smoked marijuana daily, had committed armed robbery, attempted robbery, and possession of cannabis as a minor. Tragically, he had pending charges of involuntary manslaughter and reckless discharge of a firearm for accidentally killing his younger brother, Elias Nieto, on December 24, 2005, after the present offense. At sentencing, Detective Robert Girardi testified he learned that defendant possessed a gun
that jammed and then discharged, accidentally shooting Elias. Defendant held Elias’s hand on the way to the hospital and unsuccessfully tried to resuscitate him. Detective Girardi was informed that defendant had asked his mother to come to the police station, but she refused to see him. Following the detective’s testimony, the State presented the victim impact statements of Soria’s father, sister, and brother-in-law. The State argued that defendant deserved the maximum sentence available, while defense counsel argued that even the aggregate minimum sentence of 51 years would ensure that defendant would not be released until he was almost 70 years old. The trial court stated that it considered all the evidence, arguments, and defendant’s
offenses. In aggravation, the court found that defendant shouted gang slogans and used a firearm belonging to his gang to fire multiple times at unarmed victims, who were Satan Disciples. Additionally, no serious provocation was involved. Afterward, defendant told fellow gang members that he “lit up some flakes.” The court also found that defendant and his companions used police scanners to get information and avoid prosecution. The court further found that not only was defendant’s criminal conduct likely to recur, but it did recur, given the shooting of Elias. The court also observed that defendant blamed Elias for defendant’s own decision to tell the police that Satan Disciples shot Elias, which potentially caused the police to pursue rival gang members. Nonetheless, the court recognized defendant’s “considerable remorse for his brother’s death and regret at what he considered to be an accidental shooting.” With respect to gang activity, the court considered deterrence:
“I do find that his ongoing criminal activity is an indication to this court that his gang, the Latin Kings, and the Satan Disciples as well, should know that this sentence is necessary to deter others from committing similar crimes. The use of gangs and gang violence for revenge, either on the Satan Disciples’ part or on the Latin Kings’ as a consequence of this action or Mr. Nieto’s action.”
The court also rejected defense counsel’s suggestion that defendant lacked the opportunity to receive therapy. Instead, the court found the PSI showed he had the opportunity but decided it was too much trouble to take advantage of. The court further stated, “[h]is character and attitude as displayed over the course of his life does not indicate to me significant rehabilitative potential.” With that said, the court also stated as follows:
“I have taken into consideration your young age. I have taken into consideration the fact that everybody, no matter what crimes they commit, can do something to change their lives. You will have to do that something, Mr. Nieto, in the Illinois Department of Corrections. But you can do something. Perhaps you can work with the gangs there and somehow rectify the wrongs you did when you committed the murder of Richard Soria, [the aggravated battery with a firearm of] Israel Fernandez, and inadvertently the death of your own brother.
You can change it by pointing out to those people who perhaps will be able to someday walk the streets and advise them and work with the programs in the Illinois Department of Corrections to change their lives. You can be a pivotal person in that change if you are willing to do that. I do believe that there is something good in you. I don’t believe that on the streets you are capable of doing that good. I believe that the influence of the gangs and the strength and control they had over you in addition to your character did not permit you the opportunities that you will have in the Illinois Department of Corrections to help change somebody else’s life and maybe save a life or two.
I believe that when you are shaking your head you are doing it in a positive way, and that you can do something positive for your mother, for your brother, and rectify his death and somehow make good on that.”
The court sentenced defendant to 35 years in prison for first degree murder, 25 years for the personal discharge of a firearm, and 18 years for aggravated battery with a firearm, all to be served consecutively for a total of 78 years. Defendant moved for the court to reconsider, given that he was only 17 years old on the
date of the offense and would be required to serve 75.3 years of his sentence after receiving sentencing credit. Defendant argued that his sentence did not adequately reflect his potential for rehabilitation and restoration to useful citizenship. Furthermore, defendant argued that recent studies showed long prison sentences do not affect deterrence and that the court’s statement regarding sending a message to gang members was against the prevailing academic view. The court denied defendant’s motion. C. Direct Appeal We affirmed the judgment on direct appeal, rejecting, among other things, defendant’s
assertion that his sentence was excessive. People v. Nieto , No. 1-09-0670 (2011) (unpublished order under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 23). Specifically, defendant argued that his 78-year sentence was the equivalent of a life sentence and negated the possibility of restoring him to useful citizenship. We stated, “[t]here is no dispute that this young man represents a rather tragic figure and that the arc of his life has been unredeemably sad.” Nonetheless, we adhered to the legal presumption that the trial court considered all mitigating evidence, absent any contrary indication. We did not, however, question whether the trial court was able to discern what factors were aggravating and mitigating. D. Petition Under the Act On February 21, 2012, defendant filed a pro se petition under the Act, raising several
claims not at issue here. The trial court summarily dismissed defendant’s petition on April 5,
*5
2012, and defendant filed a timely notice of appeal. Subsequently, however, the United States
Supreme Court held in
Miller
,
assert that their convictions were the result of a substantial denial of their rights under the
United States Constitution, the Illinois Constitution, or both.
People v. Tate
,
challenge in his petition, which was filed prior to . He also contends, however, that this particular claim is not subject to forfeiture. In our original opinion, we agreed, notwithstanding the State’s argument to the contrary. Although the supreme court’s mandate did not direct us to reconsider our prior finding that forfeiture does not apply, we observe that the opinions issued over the last four years would not have led us to a different determination. 1. Just as we did when addressing forfeiture in our initial opinion, we begin our tortuous
journey with
People v. Davis
,
proceeding, the statutory scheme requiring him to be sentenced to natural life in prison for a crime committed as a juvenile because rendered his sentence void. ¶¶ 4, 24. Our supreme court found that while a statute is void ab initio where facially unconstitutional, the *6 sentencing statute requiring the defendant to be sentenced to natural life in prison was not facially unconstitutional because it could be validly applied to adults. Id. ¶¶ 5, 25, 27, 30. Nonetheless, the court concluded that the mandatory term of natural life without parole was unconstitutional as applied to this juvenile defendant. Id. ¶ 43. Additionally, Miller applied retroactively to the defendant’s collateral proceeding because Miller created a new substantive rule. Id. ¶¶ 34, 38. Specifically, Miller placed a particular class of persons covered by the statute beyond the State’s power to impose a particular category of punishment. Id. ¶ 39. The supreme court also found the defendant established cause for not raising the claim in an earlier proceeding because Miller ’s new substantive rule was not previously available. Id. ¶ 42. 2. Thompson The following year, our supreme court issued its decision in People v. Thompson , 2015 IL 118151. There, the defendant was convicted of two counts of first degree murder, committed when he was 19 years old, and was sentenced to natural life in prison. Id. ¶¶ 6-7. In contrast to the defendant in , defendant Thompson’s petition, filed pursuant to section 2-1401 of the Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5/2-1401 (West 2010)), did not challenge the constitutionality of his sentence ( Thompson , 2015 IL 118151, ¶¶ 13-14). The petition was dismissed on the State’s motion, and the defendant appealed, arguing for the first time that his sentence was unconstitutional as applied under . Id. ¶¶ 15-17. Before the supreme court, the defendant recognized that expressly applied to minors
under 18 years of age but argued that ’s policy concerns applied with equal force to a 19-year-old. Id. ¶ 21. Additionally, the defendant argued that because his as-applied constitutional challenge constituted a challenge to a void judgment, he could raise it at any time. Id. ¶ 30. Our supreme court observed that judgments are void where jurisdiction is lacking or where
a judgment is based on a facially unconstitutional statute, which is void ab initio . Id. ¶¶ 31-32. The defendant’s as-applied challenge, however, fit within neither category. Id. ¶ 34. Additionally, the supreme court rejected the defendant’s assertion that it was illogical to permit a defendant to raise facial constitutional challenges to a sentence at any time but not as-applied challenges. Id. ¶¶ 35-36. A facial challenge requires demonstrating that a statute is unconstitutional under any set of
facts.
Id.
¶ 36. But
cf. People v. Harris
,
juvenile maturity and brain development applied to the defendant’s case, nor any factual development of whether ’s rational should be extended to minors over 18 years old. ¶ 38. Accordingly, “defendant forfeited his as-applied challenge to his sentence under by raising it for the first time on appeal.” ¶ 39. This rationale would suggest that a defendant may overcome forfeiture where the record contains all facts necessary to review his as-applied challenge, raised for the first time on appeal. *7 Moreover, the supreme court rejected the defendant’s reliance on People v. Luciano , 2013
IL App (2d) 110792, and
People v. Morfin
,
appeal from the denial of his petition filed under the Act that his life sentence was
unconstitutional as applied under
Miller
.
Luciano
,
raise his as-applied challenge for the first time on appeal, as defendant Luciano did, our
supreme court did not state that
Luciano
was wrong in that regard. Instead,
Thompson
distinguished
Luciano
and
Morfin
on their merits: specifically, the defendants in those cases
were minors, whereas the defendant in
Thompson
was not. See
Thompson
,
U.S. at 206. Specifically, substantive rules set forth categorical constitutional guarantees that
place certain laws and punishments beyond the State’s power to impose. at 200-01. The
Court found that while did not bar punishment for all juvenile offenders, it did bar life
without parole for all but the rarest juvenile offender and, consequently, was substantive.
Compare
id.
at 208, with ,
Court found that Miller ’s procedural component did not change the result, as substantive legal changes may, on occasion, be attended by a procedure permitting a prisoner to demonstrate that he falls within the category of persons no longer subject to punishment. Montgomery , 577 U.S. at 209-10. Moreover, when a new substantive rule of constitutional law controls a case’s outcome,
state collateral review courts must give the rule retroactive effect. Id. at 199. A court lacks authority to leave in place a conviction or sentence that violates a substantive rule, regardless of whether the judgment became final before the rule was announced. Id. at 203. The Court further stated, “[i]f a State may not constitutionally insist that a prisoner remain in jail on federal habeas review, it may not constitutionally insist on the same result in its own postconviction proceedings.” Id. at 204. Our original opinion found that after Davis and Montgomery , clearly applies
retroactively to collateral proceedings. We also found, however, that Thompson and Montgomery suggested that Illinois’s procedural rules regarding forfeiture could not be applied to juvenile defendants raising claims, emphasizing Montgomery ’s unconditional finding that state courts lacked authority to leave intact a sentence that violates . 4. Merriweather Following our initial decision in this case, the Fourth District of this court disagreed. In
People v. Merriweather
,
120655. There, the State argued that the defendant forfeited his as-applied claim by, among other things, failing to raise it in his motion for leave to file a successive petition. Id. ¶ 27. The supreme court agreed with the defendant’s contention that the State had forfeited any forfeiture under the facts of that case but added that it would nonetheless have reached the merits of his claim. ¶¶ 28-29. The supreme court noted the differences between facial and as-applied challenges, but
found that in Davis , the supreme court had “excused the defendant’s failure to raise an as- applied claim sooner because the record was sufficiently developed to address that type of claim.” ¶¶ 29-31. We note that Davis did not provide the explanation offered in Holman . We also note that neither , nor Holman ’s explanation of Davis , used the word forfeiture. *9 In any event, Holman found that “ Thompson instructs that a defendant must present an as- applied constitutional challenge to the trial court in order to create a sufficiently developed record. creates a very narrow exception to that rule for an as-applied claim for which the record is sufficiently developed for appellate review.” ¶ 32. Because all necessary facts were in the record, and in the interests of judicial economy, the supreme court chose to address the merits of the defendant’s claim. This would seemingly suggest that forfeiture does not apply to a claim where the
record is sufficiently developed. Unfortunately,
Holman
expressly declined to resolve the
appellate court’s dispute regarding whether forfeiture applies in those circumstances. ¶ 32
n.5. But
cf. People v. Buffer
,
issued only after the circuit court dismissed defendant’s petition and the record is sufficiently
complete to review defendant’s claim. We can conceive of no policy to be furthered by finding
forfeiture occurred here. See also
People v. Warren
,
We nonetheless found that a juvenile defendant’s sentences may cumulatively constitute a de facto life sentence under the eighth amendment. See People v. Gipson , 2015 IL App (1st) 122451, ¶ 61. We also determined that following Montgomery , the requirements of applied to both mandatory and discretionary life sentences. Furthermore, we determined that defendant’s cumulative 78-year sentence constituted a discretionary, de facto life sentence, while noting that even the minimum cumulative sentence would have been 51 years in prison. [3] Finally, we found that where the record affirmatively shows that the trial court, in imposing a life sentence on a juvenile, failed to comprehend the ways in which juveniles are constitutionally different from adults, the defendant is entitled to relief. More specifically, we found that while a trial court is not required to expressly make findings as to each youth-related factor identified by , a defendant is entitled to relief where the record affirmatively indicates that the trial court has deviated from the principles discussed therein.
*10 2. Subsequent Illinois Supreme Court Holdings After our opinion was issued, the Illinois Supreme Court held in People v. Reyes , 2016 IL
119271, ¶ 9 ( per curiam ), that “sentencing a juvenile offender to a mandatory term of years that is the functional equivalent of life without the possibility of parole constitutes cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the eighth amendment.” Thus, Reyes confirmed that Miller applies to de facto life sentences. The supreme court subsequently concluded in Holman that “ applies to discretionary sentences of life without parole for juvenile defendants” and found that the trial court must specifically consider the characteristics of youth mentioned in . Holman , 2017 IL 120655, ¶¶ 40, 43-44. Finally, Buffer succinctly set forth what a juvenile offender must do to prevail under : The defendant must show that (1) he “was subject to a life sentence, mandatory or discretionary, natural or de facto ,” and (2) the sentencing court failed to consider the unique characteristics attending youth. Buffer , 2019 IL 122327, ¶ 27. The supreme court further clarified that a sentence of 40 years or greater constitutes a de facto life sentence without parole. ¶ 40. 3. Defendant’s Sentencing Hearing Following Buffer , defendant’s cumulative 78-year sentence was indisputably a life
sentence. Additionally, the record shows that the sentencing court failed to understand and consider the unique characteristics attending youth. Life in prison without parole is disproportionate unless the juvenile defendant’s crime
reflects irreparable corruption.
Montgomery
,
sentencing judge take into account ‘how children are different, and how those differences
counsel against irrevocably sentencing them to a lifetime in prison.’ ”
Montgomery
, 577 U.S.
at 208 (quoting ,
had not yet been adopted by the Supreme Court, the trial court’s findings do not imply that it believed defendant was the rarest of juveniles whose crime showed that he was permanently incorrigible. The court clearly found that for the foreseeable future, defendant was likely to engage in further criminal conduct due to the Latin Kings’ influence over him and the tragic shooting of his brother. Given juveniles’ susceptibility to peer pressure and recklessness, this is hardly surprising. Yet, susceptibility to peer pressure and recklessness erode with age. Indeed, the trial court found that in the future, defendant could do something positive. Specifically, he could change his life and even help other gang members change their ways, albeit in prison. Additionally, the court found defendant’s sentence was necessary to deter not only him, but other gang members. We now know, however, that defendant’s sentence is not *11 likely to deter anyone. See id. (observing that deterrence is diminished in juvenile sentencing because juveniles’ recklessness, immaturity and impetuosity make them less likely to consider possible punishment). As we recognized on direct appeal, the trial court expressly considered defendant’s “young
age.” See also
People v. Holman
, 2016 IL App (5th) 100587-B, ¶ 43 (observing that we
presume the court considers mitigating evidence before it). With that said, the record shows
that the court did not consider the corresponding characteristics of defendant’s youth.
In support of defendant’s sentence, the State notes the aggravating factors found by the
trial court, defendant’s prior convictions, the unsatisfactory termination of probation, the death
of his brother, his gang violence, his pride in announcing that he “lit up some flakes” and “hit
a dome shot,” his use of police scanners, and his decision to shoot unarmed victims. Yet,
examining these factors through the lenses of may have led to a shorter sentence.
Under these circumstances, we vacate defendant’s sentence and remand for a new
sentencing hearing. See
Buffer
,
The judgment is affirmed in all other respects. Affirmed in part and vacated in part. Cause remanded with directions.
Notes
[1] Justice Coghlan has replaced Justice Mason, who retired while the State’s appeal was pending.
[2] Retroactivity may, as a practical matter, preclude a finding of forfeiture or waiver. See,
e.g.
,
In re
Rolandis G.
,
[3] Defendant’s first degree murder conviction carried a sentencing range of 20 to 60 years. 730 ILCS 5/5-8-1(a)(1)(a) (West 2006). That conviction was also subject to a mandatory, consecutive firearm enhancement of 25 years. Id. § 5-8-1(a)(1)(d)(iii). In addition, defendant’s Class X aggravated battery conviction required a sentence of between 6 and 30 years in prison. 720 ILCS 5/12-4.2(a)(1), (b) (West 2006). Furthermore, defendant was required to serve consecutive sentences. See 730 ILCS 5/5-8-4(a) (West 2006) (stating that “[t]he court shall impose consecutive sentences if *** one of the offenses for which defendant was convicted was first degree murder or a Class X or Class 1 felony and the defendant inflicted severe bodily injury”).