People v. Anderson
People v. Anderson
Opinion
¶ 1 Defendant, Tyyuan Anderson, appeals from his convictions of armed violence, unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, and unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. In his direct appeal, defendant challenges the sufficiency of the State's evidence, the comments of the prosecutor during closing argument, the constitutionality of his sentence, whether there was a violation of the one-act, one-crime doctrine, and the imposition of fines and associated credits. We affirm defendant's convictions and sentence but vacate the improperly imposed fine and remand for the trial court to amend the sentencing judgment and impose the fine authorized by statute with the application of the appropriate per diem credit.
¶ 2 I. BACKGROUND
¶ 3 On July 1, 2015, the State charged defendant with (1) armed violence ( 720 ILCS 5/33A-2(a), 33A-3(a) (West 2014) ) (count I), a Class X felony, for knowingly possessing cocaine ( 720 ILCS 570/402 (West 2014) ) while armed with a handgun; (2) unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon ( 720 ILCS 5/24-1.1(a) (West 2014) ) (count II), a Class 3 felony, for knowingly possessing a firearm after having been *266 convicted of possession of a stolen motor vehicle in Macon County case No. 14-CF-783; (3) unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver ( 720 ILCS 570/401(c)(2) (West 2014) ) (count III), a Class 1 felony, for knowingly possessing with the intent to deliver between 1 and 15 grams of cocaine; (4) unlawful possession of a controlled substance ( 720 ILCS 570/402(c) (West 2014) ) (count IV), a Class 4 felony, for knowingly possessing less than 15 grams of cocaine; (5) unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver ( 720 ILCS 550/5(b) (West 2014) ) (count V), a Class A misdemeanor, for knowingly and unlawfully possessing with the intent to deliver between 2.5 and 10 grams of cannabis; and (6) unlawful possession of cannabis ( 720 ILCS 550/4(b) (West 2014) ) (count VI), a Class B misdemeanor, for knowingly and unlawfully possessing between 2.5 and 10 grams of cannabis.
¶ 4 The charges against defendant stem from a June 24, 2015, encounter between detectives from the Decatur Police Department's street-crimes unit and three males, one of whom was defendant. The three males were walking in the middle of a street at approximately 11:30 p.m. According to the officers' sworn statements, one officer asked defendant to come toward him. Rather than comply with the officer's request, defendant fled on foot in the opposite direction. Both officers gave chase and were able to take defendant into custody after he fell over a brush pile in a nearby residential backyard. Officers found a black Glock 27 handgun lying approximately two to three feet in front of defendant. In defendant's right pocket, officers found seven bags of cannabis and a separate bag containing nine individually packaged bags of suspected crack cocaine. At the time of his arrest, defendant was on probation for a stolen-vehicle conviction (Macon County case No. 14-CF-783).
¶ 5 Defendant's jury trial began on November 10, 2015. Detective Scott Rosenberry testified he and Detective James Callaway were on a "proactive enforcement operation" at approximately 11:30 p.m. on June 24, 2015, in cooperation with other Decatur police officers focusing on high-crime areas within the city. The detectives were dressed in plain clothes and black tactical vests with "police" written on the front and back. They were in a white unmarked Chevrolet Impala equipped with interior red and blue lights, a siren, and a driver-side mounted spotlight. As they traveled westbound in the 400 block of West Leafland Avenue, they observed three males walking in the roadway. Rosenberry used his spotlight to "light up the area," and the officers got out of the vehicle to approach the subjects. Rosenberry called to one of the subjects, later identified as defendant, to come to him. Defendant, who was wearing shorts and a hooded sweatshirt with the hood up and pulled tightly to reveal only the front portion of his face, fled on foot. Rosenberry said he yelled, " 'Police. Stop,' " but defendant disregarded his commands and continued to run. Defendant ran through the backyards of nearby houses but fell over a large brush pile and ended up on his stomach. Rosenberry said he noticed defendant kept his hands "tucked inside towards the front of his waistband near his stomach" as he ran. Rosenberry put defendant's arms behind his back as defendant lay on the ground until Callaway arrived and secured defendant in handcuffs. Upon illuminating the area with a flashlight, the officers saw a Glock 27 handgun with a 15-round magazine lying two to three feet in front of defendant. The gun was secured and later sent to the Illinois State Police (ISP) crime lab for fingerprint testing.
¶ 6 Rosenberry said the officers conducted a search incident to defendant's arrest and found a clear plastic Baggie in the *267 pocket of defendant's shorts containing seven individually wrapped packages of a substance, which was field-tested positive for cannabis, and a separate knotted Baggie with nine individually packaged, field-tested-positive rocks of crack cocaine. The State introduced as exhibits photographs of the contraband and the contraband itself.
¶ 7 On cross-examination, Rosenberry testified the foot pursuit of defendant lasted no more than 20 seconds before he fell. He said defendant was wearing "basketball shorts," which, as far as he could remember, were not secured with a belt. Rosenberry did not see defendant holding a gun nor did he see defendant throw or drop a gun. Rosenberry said he was "still securing" defendant while Callaway searched him. Rosenberry saw Callaway take the drugs and a cellular telephone from defendant's pocket. Rosenberry identified the handgun during his testimony and testified it appeared the gun had dirt in the "checkering on the grip." The Baggie, containing all of the drugs found, was knotted at the top and tied shut. Inside the bag were seven individual knotted Baggies containing cannabis. An eighth bag was knotted closed and contained nine individual Baggie corners with a rock of crack cocaine in each.
¶ 8 Decatur police officer Steve Hagemeyer testified he was on patrol that evening and responded to the scene after the detectives' call for assistance. When he approached the backyard where defendant had been apprehended, he shown his flashlight around the area and saw a Glock semiautomatic handgun lying two to three feet from defendant. On cross-examination, Hagemeyer testified he did not know how the gun came to be in that location nor did he see defendant with the gun at any time.
¶ 9 Detective James Callaway testified, corroborating much of Rosenberry's testimony. He said they attempted to make contact with defendant and the two other males because they were "improperly walking in the roadway." He said when Rosenberry asked defendant to approach them, both officers were out of the vehicle and the word "Police" on their vests would have been visible. Callaway testified consistently with Rosenberry's testimony regarding the foot pursuit, apprehension of defendant, discovery of the gun, and search of defendant's pockets yielding the drugs.
¶ 10 Callaway spoke with defendant after his arrest. Defendant told Callaway he ran from them because he "thought someone was after him." He said "he guessed" he realized it was the police during the pursuit. Callaway identified the gun and the bags of drugs as those recovered at the scene.
¶ 11 On cross-examination, Callaway testified he secured a search warrant for the cellular phone found in defendant's pocket in an attempt to find information on the gun or drugs. Callaway did not find any incriminating photographs or text messages. On the night of the incident, Callaway did not see defendant with the gun, and defendant denied carrying it. However, in Callaway's opinion, defendant dropped the gun when he fell. The gun was tested for latent fingerprints but not deoxyribonucleic acid (commonly known as DNA). According to Callaway, defendant told him he ran because he thought "someone was trying to get him" because "of everything going on." Callaway confirmed there had been recent shootings in the area. When Callaway informed defendant he would be charged with armed violence, defendant stated he had not harmed anyone. Defendant said he knew nothing about a gun.
¶ 12 Kristin Stiefvater, a drug chemist with the ISP crime lab, testified she *268 weighed the substance believed to be crack cocaine and then performed a color test and mass spectrometry. The total weight of the nine separate plastic bags was 0.7 grams and the contents tested positive for cocaine.
¶ 13 Gary Havey, a forensic scientist also with the ISP crime lab, testified he tested the handgun for latent fingerprints and could conclude only that the handgun had been touched. He found "ridge detail" on the handgun but nothing suitable to either identify or exclude any person.
¶ 14 Decatur police officer David Dailey testified as the State's expert in the field of narcotics distribution and use. Dailey said the majority of cocaine in Decatur comes from the source cities of Chicago and Indianapolis, whereas the majority of cannabis comes from California and Colorado. He said the typical dosage unit for crack cocaine is 0.2 grams and 0.5 grams for cannabis. The street value for crack cocaine is $100 per gram and $10 per gram for cannabis. After Dailey's review of the investigative reports in this case, he said in his opinion, to a reasonable degree of certainty, the cocaine and cannabis were possessed with the intent to distribute. His opinion was based on the weight and packaging of each substance in addition to the absence of paraphernalia. He said without paraphernalia, defendant had no means to consume either drug. On cross-examination, Dailey testified the street value of the drugs found on defendant totaled $126.70, $70 of cocaine and $56.70 of cannabis.
¶ 15 At the close of the State's case, the trial court read two stipulations to the jury. First, the parties agreed defendant had been convicted of a prior felony on June 24, 2015. Second, Decatur police officer Troy Kretsinger, an expert in the field of cannabis identification, determined to a reasonable degree of scientific certainty that the substance weighing 5.6 grams was cannabis but, if called to testify, he would have no basis to form an opinion regarding defendant's intent for its use. The State rested.
¶ 16 Defendant moved for a directed verdict, arguing the State failed to present sufficient evidence for the jury to determine defendant possessed (1) the cannabis and cocaine with the intent to deliver, (2) the handgun, and (3) between 1 and 15 grams of cocaine to satisfy the Class 1 felony offense as charged in count III. The trial court denied defendant's motion, finding the State presented a prima facie case for counts I, II, IV, V, and VI, and indicated it would allow the State to instruct the jury as to count III on a lesser offense.
¶ 17 The State made an oral motion to amend count III to conform it with the evidence presented at trial. The State asked the information be amended to reflect that defendant allegedly possessed less than one gram of cocaine with the intent to deliver, changing the offense from a Class 1 felony to a Class 2 felony. The trial court granted the motion, allowing the State to amend count III by interlineation.
¶ 18 Defendant did not present any evidence. Prior to closing arguments, the trial court advised the jury of the following: "What the lawyers say to you during arguments is not evidence and should not be considered by you as evidence. The lawyers are permitted to draw conclusions and reasonable inferences from the evidence previously presented to you." During the State's closing argument, the prosecutor argued the concepts of "constructive possession" and "circumstantial evidence" as those terms related to the handgun. The prosecutor stated:
"So to believe this defendant didn't possess the handgun, you would have to believe that it had just been lying loaded in this yard and just been left there. Is *269 that reasonable? No. Do people leave loaded handguns laying in plain view in a yard? No-"
Defense counsel objected, claiming "[t]hat's not in evidence. We had no testimony as to whether or not how often this occurs or it doesn't occur." The trial court overruled the objection.
¶ 19 The jury found defendant guilty of armed violence (count I), unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon (count II), unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver (count III), and unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver (count V).
¶ 20 On December 11, 2015, defendant filed a motion for a new trial, alleging several trial errors, including some of those presented in this appeal. At a hearing on December 30, 2015, the trial court denied defendant's motion. The court then proceeded to sentencing. Neither party presented evidence other than the presentence investigation report (PSI). The State recommended 20 years in prison for the armed-violence conviction and concurrent 10-year terms on the other merged offenses. Defendant recommended 15 years in prison for the armed-violence conviction and concurrent 5-year terms on the other merged offenses. After considering the PSI, defendant's criminal history, his age, and arguments of counsel, the court sentenced defendant to 16 years for the armed-violence conviction (count I), two concurrent five-year terms for the unlawful-possession-of-a-weapon-by-a-felon (count II) and the unlawful-possession-of-a-controlled-substance-with-the-intent-to-deliver (count III) convictions, and 60 days in jail for the unlawful-possession-of-cannabis-with-the-intent-to-deliver conviction (count V). The court ordered a $2,000 mandatory assessment on count III, a $100 lab fee, and a $126 street-value fine. The court awarded defendant $995 in per diem credit to be applied toward his fines.
¶ 21 This appeal followed.
¶ 22 II. ANALYSIS
¶ 23 A. Possession of the Handgun
¶ 24 Defendant first contends the State failed to prove him guilty of armed violence and unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon because it failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt he possessed the handgun. The police officers testified they never saw defendant with the handgun nor did they see him throw or drop the weapon. They only saw the handgun lying on the ground two to three feet from defendant when the area was illuminated by a flashlight. Defendant claims this evidence was insufficient to support the possession element of the offenses. We disagree.
¶ 25 Initially, we note the parties disagree over the standard of review. Defendant claims no relevant facts are in dispute and therefore our review is
de novo
. See
People v. Smith
,
"When considering a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence in a criminal case, our function is not to retry the defendant. [Citation.] Rather, our inquiry is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could *270 have found the essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. [Citation.] This means that we must allow all reasonable inferences from the record in favor of the prosecution. [Citation.] 'We will not reverse a conviction unless the evidence is so improbable, unsatisfactory, or inconclusive that it creates a reasonable doubt of defendant's guilt.' " People v. Lloyd ,2013 IL 113510 , ¶ 42,369 Ill.Dec. 759 ,987 N.E.2d 386 (quoting People v. Collins ,214 Ill. 2d 206 , 217,291 Ill.Dec. 686 ,824 N.E.2d 262 (2005) ).
¶ 26 1. Armed Violence
¶ 27 The State charged defendant with armed violence predicated on unlawful possession of a controlled substance while armed with a handgun, a Category I weapon ( 720 ILCS 5/33A-1(c)(2), 33A-2(a) (West 2014) ). Our supreme court has emphasized the purpose of the armed-violence statute is to deter felons from using dangerous weapons, thereby minimizing the deadly consequences that may result when a felony victim resists.
People v. Condon
,
¶ 28 2. Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon
¶ 29 The State also charged defendant with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon. 720 ILCS 5/24-1.1(a) (West 2014). A defendant violates this statute if he "knowingly posses[es] on or about his person *** any firearm *** if the person has been convicted of a felony under the laws of this State or any other jurisdiction." 720 ILCS 5/24-1.1(a) (West 2014). Unlike the proof required for a conviction for armed violence, here, the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt the defendant had a prior felony conviction. 720 ILCS 5/24-1.1(a) (West 2014). However, like the proof required for a conviction for armed violence, the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt the defendant possessed the gun. This element may be satisfied with proof the defendant had constructive possession,
i.e.
, he knew of the gun and it was in his immediate and exclusive control.
People v. Hester
,
¶ 30 3. Constructive Possession
¶ 31 Possession of contraband may be actual or constructive.
People v. Neylon
,
¶ 32 "Actual possession need not be demonstrated if constructive possession can be inferred."
Neylon
,
¶ 33 Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, we conclude a rational trier of fact could have found beyond a reasonable doubt defendant, a convicted felon, had knowledge of, and had immediate access to, the loaded handgun. Detective Rosenberry testified defendant's hands were "tucked inside towards the front of his waistband" as he fled from the police, and while he was still on the ground being secured, the gun was found two to three feet away. From this evidence, we find it was reasonable for the jury to believe defendant was armed with the handgun while he was being pursued by the police.
¶ 34 Defendant cites several cases in support of his argument. However, we find the evidence in this case is distinguishable from that presented in defendant's cited authority. For example, in
People v. Wright
,
¶ 35 Also distinguishable are the facts set forth in the First District's decision in
*272
Sams
. See
Sams
,
¶ 36 Our supreme court has " 'consistently held that a conviction may be based solely on circumstantial evidence.'
People v. Patterson
,
¶ 37 B. Sufficiency of the Evidence of Armed Violence
¶ 38 Next, defendant argues, because he was not in possession of the handgun at the time of his arrest, he could not be considered "armed with a dangerous weapon" for the purposes of his armed-violence conviction. As such, the issue before us is whether defendant was "armed" as that term is defined in the armed-violence statute. "A person is considered armed with a dangerous weapon for purposes of this Article, when he or she carries on or about his or her person or is otherwise armed with a Category I, Category II, or Category III weapon." 720 ILCS 5/33A-1(c)(1) (West 2014). The supreme court has further refined the definition of " 'otherwise armed' " to mean having immediate access to or timely control over the weapon.
Condon
,
¶ 39 As briefly mentioned above, the purpose of the armed violence statute is to deter felons from using weapons during the commission of an offense.
Smith
,
*273
¶ 40 In
Smith
, the supreme court concluded the defendant did
not
have the required access to or control over the weapon in question at the time the police entered the residence because the defendant had dropped the gun out of a window.
Smith
,
¶ 41 Here, a reasonable jury could have found from the evidence defendant possessed the gun in question in that he was likely carrying the gun on his person during the police pursuit and then either dropped it or discarded it when he fell. Regardless, defendant had "immediate access to or timely control over the weapon" while he committed the felony offense of unlawful possession of a controlled substance. (Emphasis omitted.)
Condon
,
¶ 42 C. Claim of Prosecutorial Misconduct
¶ 43 Defendant also contends the prosecutor improperly argued during closing argument that it was unreasonable to believe anything other than it was defendant's gun lying in the yard. Defendant points to two specific instances in the prosecutor's closing argument. First, the prosecutor stated: "So to believe this defendant didn't possess the handgun, you would have to believe that it had just been lying loaded in this yard and just been left there. Is that reasonable? No. Do people leave loaded handguns laying in plain view in a yard? No." Second, the prosecutor, during rebuttal, commented on defendant's silence during police questioning as evidence of his guilt. The prosecutor stated:
"But remember the testimony of Detective Callaway, [defendant] didn't continually deny having the gun. When Detective Callaway first confronted him with the gun, he-he said nothing. He was silent. He asked him about it several times and there was no response. Then later in the interview, he begins to deny it. It's a different thing than the entire time saying, ['W]hat gun? I didn't have it.' "
¶ 44 Defendant claims, given the "highly contested" issue in this case of whether defendant possessed the gun, the prosecutor's comments greatly prejudiced him in light of the overall close evidence in the case. Defendant contends the State's entire case relied on inferences and circumstantial evidence and, thus, the prosecutor's improper comments in closing argument swayed the jury toward a guilty verdict and jeopardized his right to a fair trial.
¶ 45 The first contested comment was sufficiently preserved for appeal by counsel's objection at trial and the inclusion of the issue in his posttrial motion.
*274
See
People v. Piatkowski
,
¶ 46 Defendant failed to sufficiently preserve the issue related to the second comment by neither objecting during the trial nor including the issue in his posttrial motion. See
People v. Enoch
,
¶ 47 "Whether statements made by a prosecutor at closing argument were so egregious that they warrant a new trial is a legal issue this court reviews
de novo
."
Wheeler
,
¶ 48 When reviewing a prosecutor's comments during closing argument, the reviewing court asks whether the comments engendered "substantial prejudice against a defendant such that it is impossible to say whether or not a verdict of guilt resulted from them."
Wheeler
,
¶ 49 As defendant observes, there was no physical evidence and no eyewitness testimony tying him to the handgun. In its prosecution, the State relied solely on inferences and circumstantial evidence. Defendant's defense at trial was that he denied having any knowledge of the gun. Thus, defendant claims, the prosecutor's improper remarks spoke directly to the determinative issue of whether defendant possessed a gun.
*275 ¶ 50 1. Prosecutor's First Comment
¶ 51 Defendant contends the prosecutor improperly argued facts not in evidence when she urged the jurors to rely on their personal experiences about the reasonableness of someone leaving a loaded gun laying in plain view in a yard. As stated above, this issue was properly preserved for appeal, and thus, we must determine whether the trial court erred by overruling defendant's objection and allowing the prosecutor's comments to stand. If we find error, we then determine whether the error was harmless. See
McLaurin
,
¶ 52 While prosecutors should not make comments that could cause the jury to speculate about facts not in evidence (
People v. Howell
,
¶ 53 We find defendant mischaracterizes the prosecutor's statement as an argument of facts not in evidence. By urging the jury to consider the unreasonableness of someone leaving a loaded weapon lying in plain view in a yard, the prosecutor was simply asking jurors to use their common sense and to conclude that such a scenario was improbable. Here, the prosecutor's comment was a permissible request to the jury to draw an inference from the evidence presented, not a misstatement of facts or an argument of facts not in evidence. On this issue, we find no error. Instead, we observe it was simply effective and permissible advocacy. As we stated in
People v. Dunlap
,
"[F]elony criminal trials are serious matters with high stakes, and we expect advocates in our adversarial system of justice-both prosecutors and defense attorneys-to 'use all of their forensic skills to persuade the jury of the wisdom or justice of their respective positions.' "
¶ 54 2. Prosecutor's Second Comment
¶ 55 We now address the prosecutor's comment about defendant's post-
Miranda
silence, doing so under the first step of a plain-error analysis. "The first step of plain-error review is determining whether any error occurred."
People v. Thompson
,
¶ 56 Generally, remarks by a prosecutor regarding a defendant's postarrest silence are improper when used to create an inference of guilt.
People v. Edwards
,
*276 ¶ 57 Here, defendant contends the prosecutor improperly commented on defendant's silence during his police interview, implying evidence of his guilt. The prosecutor stated:
"But remember the testimony of Detective Callaway, [defendant] didn't continually deny having the gun. When Detective Callaway first confronted him with the gun, he-he said nothing. He was silent. He asked him about it several times and there was no response. Then later in the interview, he begins to deny it. It's a different thing than the entire time saying, ['W]hat gun? I didn't have it.' "
The prosecutor made this comment during her rebuttal closing argument. During the trial, the prosecutor asked Callaway if, during the interview, he had asked defendant "about the firearm that was located." Callaway said he had. The prosecutor asked if he had discussed with defendant the "potential charges *** given the location of the cocaine and the firearm." Callaway said he had and defendant responded he "didn't hurt anyone." On cross-examination, defense counsel asked Callaway if defendant denied carrying a gun. Callaway said yes.
¶ 58 On redirect examination, the following exchange occurred:
"Q. When you asked-when you began to ask him about the gun, at some point in the interview he began to deny carrying a gun, correct?
A. Yes.
Q. When you first asked him about the gun, what was his response?
A. He became silent and wouldn't respond.
Q. And did you ask him several questions about the gun?
A. Yes.
Q. Did-would he respond at all to any of those questions?
A. No."
¶ 59 On recross-examination, defense counsel attempted to clarify the issue with the following questions:
"Q. And then now when you talk about him not answering questions about the gun, he never at any point said he had a gun, correct?
A. That's correct.
Q. In fact, the only answer he gave was he didn't know what you were talking about?
A. Correct."
¶ 60 During defendant's closing argument, counsel argued defendant "continually throughout this interview denie[d] knowing anything about the gun. So it's not like he admitted to possessing it. There's nothing of that at all. He continually denie[d]." In response, at the beginning of her rebuttal argument, the prosecutor addressed counsel's statement that defendant "continually denied having the gun." The prosecutor attempted to clarify that defendant did not " continually deny having the gun." (Emphasis added.) The prosecutor wanted the jury to know that defendant initially said nothing, but later in the interview, he denied having the handgun.
¶ 61 Putting the contested comment in context, as we are required to do (
People v. Burgess
,
¶ 62 Our supreme court has held that otherwise improper argument by the State will not be considered error when the comments are based on reasonable inferences drawn from the evidence or invited by the closing argument of defense counsel.
People v. Kliner
,
¶ 63 D. As-Applied Constitutional Challenge to Armed-Violence Sentence
¶ 64 Defendant contends, for the first time on appeal, the statute mandating a minimum 15-year sentence on his armed-violence conviction ( 720 ILCS 5/33A-3(a) (West 2014) ) violated both the Illinois and United States Constitutions as applied to him because the trial court was precluded from considering "the signature qualities of [defendant]'s youth in issuing his sentence." Defendant was arrested less than two weeks after he turned 18. He claims his 16-year sentence for armed violence, predicated on his possession of 0.7 grams of cocaine, was disproportionate to the crime considering his age, lack of criminal history, and the fact the sentence frustrates the purpose of restoring him to useful citizenship. See Ill. Const. 1970, art. I, § 11.
¶ 65 Statutes are presumed constitutional, and a court must construe a statute so as to affirm its constitutionality if possible.
People v. Dinelli
,
¶ 66 Relying on the United States Supreme Court and Illinois Supreme Court line of cases addressing the adult sentencing scheme as applied to youthful adults, defendant argues the trial court here was wrongly precluded from sentencing defendant, a youthful offender, to anything less than the mandatory minimum of 15 years. Accordingly, defendant claims, the court was unable to fully consider a lesser sentence that would afford him an opportunity for meaningful rehabilitative potential.
¶ 67 Defendant also relies on
State v. Lyle
,
*278
See
Miller v. Alabama
,
¶ 68 E. Intent to Deliver
¶ 69 Defendant next contends his convictions related to his possession of cocaine and cannabis should be reduced to simple possession because the State failed to prove he intended to deliver, rather than personally use, the drugs. The evidence in this case demonstrated defendant possessed 0.7 grams of crack cocaine and 5.6 grams of cannabis. The State's expert witness, Officer Dailey, testified the typical personal dosage unit for crack cocaine is 0.2 grams and 0.5 grams for cannabis. In Dailey's opinion, the drugs in defendant's possession were intended to be sold based upon the weight, the packaging, and the absence of paraphernalia.
¶ 70 "Where a criminal conviction is challenged based on insufficient evidence, a reviewing court, considering all of the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, must determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found beyond a reasonable doubt the essential elements of the crime."
People v. Brown
,
¶ 71 In
Robinson
, our supreme court recognized a criminal defendant's intent to deliver a controlled substance is usually proved by circumstantial evidence.
People v. Robinson
,
¶ 72 The
Robinson
court expressly stated, "[t]he question of whether the evidence is sufficient to prove intent to deliver must be determined on a case-by-case basis" (
Robinson
,
¶ 73 A reasonable jury could have relied on Dailey's testimony that it was likely defendant intended to deliver the packages he was carrying, based on the following: (1) both drugs were in individually wrapped packages, (2) he was carrying more doses than typically used for personal use, (3) he was carrying no means to consume the drugs himself, and (4) as the jury concluded, he possessed a handgun. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, we conclude the evidence in this case was sufficient to support an inference defendant intended to deliver the cocaine and the cannabis.
¶ 74 F. One-Act, One-Crime
¶ 75 Defendant also contends his convictions for unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver should be vacated under the one-act, one-crime doctrine because they constitute the underlying felonies of his armed-violence conviction and are carved from the same physical act. We disagree.
¶ 76 The State charged defendant in count I with armed violence, alleging he knowingly possessed cocaine while armed with a handgun. See 720 ILCS 5/33A-2(a) (West 2014). In count II, the State charged defendant with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon. See 720 ILCS 5/24-1.1(a) (West 2014). In count III, the State charged defendant with unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver cocaine. See 720 ILCS 570/401(c)(2) (West 2014). Defendant insists his convictions under counts II and III cannot stand.
¶ 77 The one-act, one-crime doctrine was first espoused by our supreme court in
People v. King
,
¶ 78 Defendant relies on
People v. Williams
,
¶ 79 In
People v. White
,
"that defendant's convictions for armed violence and unlawful possession of a weapon were based on separate acts. Though defendant may have possessed the weapon and the drugs close in time, or even simultaneously, we conclude nevertheless that each possession was a separate act. Although both offenses shared the common act of possession of a weapon, armed violence required the additional act of possession of the drugs, and unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon required the additional element of status as a felon. Accordingly, the two offenses did not result from precisely the same physical act." White ,311 Ill. App. 3d at 386 ,243 Ill.Dec. 973 ,724 N.E.2d 572 .
¶ 80 In a recent decision, our supreme court was asked to reconcile
Williams
and
White
. See
People v. Coats
,
¶ 81 Because defendant's possession of a handgun and his possession of drugs were separate acts, there is no violation under the first step of the
King
doctrine. See
Coats
,
¶ 82 Here, defendant was convicted of armed violence, which required his possession of the gun at the time he unlawfully possessed cocaine. See 720 ILCS 5/33A-2(a) (West 2014). He was also convicted of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, which required his possession of a gun and having been convicted of a prior felony. See 720 ILCS 5/24-1.1(a) (West 2014).
*281
Each offense, though sharing the common act of possessing the weapon, required an additional act not required by the other. Thus, the two offenses did not result from the same physical act. See
White
,
¶ 83 G. Sentencing Judgment
¶ 84 Finally, defendant challenges the imposition of certain fines and fees and the application of the proper per diem credit. For his first argument, defendant contends the sentencing judgment should reflect he was convicted of the unlawful possession of less than 1 gram of cocaine ( 720 ILCS 570/401(d) (West 2014) ), a Class 2 felony, not 1 gram or more but less than 15 grams of cocaine ( 720 ILCS 570/401(c)(2) (West 2014) ), a Class 1 felony. The State concedes this issue, and we accept the State's concession. On remand, we order the trial court to amend the sentencing judgment to accurately reflect defendant's conviction of unlawful possession of cocaine with intent to deliver in count III as a Class 2 felony rather than a Class 1 felony.
¶ 85 Defendant also questions whether his per diem credit of $5 per day (for a total of $995) for each day spent in pretrial custody was awarded toward his fines. At the sentencing hearing, the trial court assessed defendant $2000 as a drug-assessment fine pursuant to section 411.2(a)(2) of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act ( 720 ILCS 570/411.2(a)(2) (West 2014) (the required assessment for a Class 1 felony is $2000) ). Because defendant was actually convicted of a Class 2 felony, he claims the court should have assessed a fine of $1000 pursuant to section 411.2(a)(3). See 720 ILCS 570/411.2(a)(3) (West 2014) (the required assessment for a Class 2 felony is $1000). Applying his $995 per diem credit to the required $1000 fine, defendant would be left with a $5 balance instead of the $1005 he claims is shown on the "fines and fees order," which we do not find as part of the record before us.
¶ 86 The State claims the $2000 assessment should not be disturbed because defendant should have actually been assessed $3000 pursuant to section 411.2(a)(1). See 720 ILCS 570/411.2(a)(1) (West 2014) (the required assessment for a Class X felony is $3000). Because defendant was convicted of a Class X offense when "he unlawfully possessed cocaine while armed with a handgun," the State claims, defendant should be assessed the Class-X required assessment. We disagree with the State's interpretation of this statute.
¶ 87 Section 411.2(a) states as follows: "Every person convicted of a violation of this Act , *** shall be assessed for each offense a sum fixed at: (1) $3,000 for a Class X felony; (2) $2,000 for a Class 1 felony; (3) $1,000 for a Class 2 felony ***." (Emphasis added.) 720 ILCS 570/411.2(a) (West 2014). The statutory language is clear that the assessments only apply to violations of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act ( 720 ILCS 570/100 to 603 (West 2014) ), not the Criminal Code of 2012 ( 720 ILCS 5/1-1 to 49-6 (West 2014) ). Defendant's Class X conviction of armed violence is governed by sections 33A-2 and 33A-3 of the Criminal Code of 2012 ( 720 ILCS 5/33A-2(a), 33A-3(a) (West 2014) ). Thus, we conclude defendant's drug fine should have been assessed as a Class 2 felony in the amount of $1000 ( 720 ILCS 570/411.2(a)(3) (West 2014) ) less the per diem credit awarded in the amount of $995. We vacate the improperly imposed fine and remand with directions for the trial court to impose the appropriate *282 fine as authorized by statute and award the appropriate per diem credit.
¶ 88 III. CONCLUSION
¶ 89 For the reasons stated, we affirm the trial court's judgment, remand for the trial court to amend the sentencing judgment to reflect the proper class felony for count III (a Class 2 felony), vacate the improperly imposed fine, and remand with directions for the trial court to impose the appropriate fine as authorized by statute as set forth above. As part of our judgment, we award the State its $75 statutory assessment against defendant as costs of this appeal.
¶ 90 Affirmed in part and vacated in part; cause remanded with directions.
Justices Steigmann and DeArmond concurred in the judgment and opinion.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- The PEOPLE of the State of Illinois, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Tyyuan ANDERSON, Defendant-Appellant.
- Cited By
- 11 cases
- Status
- Unpublished