No. 3--01--0674
IN THE
APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
THIRD DISTRICT
					    A.D., 2003
| THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE | ) | Appeal from the Circuit Court | 
| OF ILLINOIS, | ) | of the 9th Judicial Circuit, | 
| ) | Knox County, Illinois, | |
| Plaintiff-Appellee, | ) | |
| ) | ||
| v. | ) | No. 99--CF--307 | 
| ) | ||
| DANIEL ALLEN GOSSAGE, | ) | Honorable | 
| ) | Stephen C. Mathers, | |
| Defendant-Appellant. | ) | Judge Presiding. | 
JUSTICE SCHMIDT delivered the opinion of the court:
Pursuant to a partially negotiated plea agreement, defendantDaniel Allen Gossage pleaded guilty to one count of predatorycriminal sexual assault of a child, a Class X offense (720 ILCS5/12-14.1(a)(1) (West 1998)). In exchange for the plea, theState dismissed two other charges. Defendant was subsequentlysentenced to 17