SECOND DIVISION
MARCH 20, 2001
1-98-4203
| PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee v. CRAIG CHILDRESS, Defendant-Appellant. | ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) | Appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County No. 96 CR 25194 The Honorable Michael Bolan, Judge Presiding. |
JUSTICE COUSINS delivered the opinion of the court:
The defendant, Craig Childress, was convicted of attempted aggravatedcriminal sexual assault following a bench trial and sentenced to 29 years inprison. Defendant was acquitted of attempted murder. The defendant filed atimely notice of appeal.
On appeal, the defendant argues that: (1) he was denied his right to a speedytrial; (2) the trial court abused its discretion in ruling that the prosecutioncould introduce evidence of defendant's prior crimes in rebuttal to show intent;(3) the State failed to prove defendant guilty of attempted aggravated criminalsexual assault beyond a reasonable doubt; (4) defendant's conviction forattempted aggravated criminal sexual assault was legally inconsistent with hisacquittal for attempted murder; (5) multiple sentencing errors entitle defendantto a new sentencing hearing; and (6) he was denied the effective assistance ofcounsel.
BACKGROUND
Defendant was charged with attempted first-degree murder (count I) and twocounts of aggravated criminal sexual assault (counts II and III).
Before trial, defendant filed several pro se motions to dismissdefense counsel from the public defender