People v. Goodwin

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People v. Goodwin

State: Illinois

Court: 4th District Appellate

Docket No: 4-06-0354 Rel

Case Date: 04/21/2008

Preview:NO.

4-06-0354

Filed 4/21/08

IN THE APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS FOURTH DISTRICT THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. STEPHEN G. GOODWIN, Defendant-Appellant. ) Appeal from ) Circuit Court ) of Macon County ) No. 05CF486 ) ) Honorable ) John K. Greanias, ) Judge Presiding _________________________________________________________________ JUSTICE MYERSCOUGH delivered the opinion of the court: In February 2006, following a jury trial, the jury convicted defendant, Stephen G. Goodwin, of escape (720 ILCS 5/31-6(c) (West 2004)), unlawful possession of a converted vehicle (625 ILCS 5/4-103(a)(1) (West 2004)), burglary (720 ILCS 5/19-1(a) (West 2004)), aggravated kidnaping (720 ILCS 5/102(a)(2) (West 2004)), aggravated unlawful possession of a converted vehicle (625 ILCS 5/4-103.2(a)(7)(A) (West 2004)), and aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer (625 ILCS 5/11-204.1(a)(4) (West 2004)). In June 2005, at a pretrial

hearing on a motion to receive a new attorney, the trial court held defendant in direct criminal contempt for an outburst of profanity. The court sentenced defendant to 180 days in the

Macon County jail. In March 2006, the trial court sentenced defendant to concurrent prison terms of 7 years for escape, 3 years for

fleeing, 15 years for possession of a converted vehicle, and 30 years for aggravated kidnaping, all running consecutive to the sentence in another case. Defendant appeals, arguing that (1) the trial court erred in making his contempt sentence consecutive to any future sentence which might be imposed; (2) his contempt sentence was excessive; and (3) the State failed to prove him guilty of kidnaping beyond a reasonable doubt. I. We affirm.

BACKGROUND

In April 2005, the State charged defendant with escape (720 ILCS 5/31-6(c) (West 2004)), unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle (625 ILCS 5/4-103(a)(1) (West 2004)), burglary (720 ILCS 5/19-1(a) (West 2004)), aggravated kidnaping (720 ILCS 5/102(a)(2) (West 2004)), aggravated unlawful failure to obey an order to stop (625 ILCS 5/4-103.2(a)(7)(a) (West 2004)), and aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer (625 ILCS 5/11-204.1(a)(4) (West 2004)). The unlawful-possession-of-a

stolen-vehicle charge was later amended to unlawful possession of a converted vehicle (625 ILCS 5/4-103(a)(1) (West 2004)), and the aggravated-unlawful-failure-to-obey-an-order-to-stop charge was amended to aggravated unlawful possession of a converted vehicle (625 ILCS 5/4-103.2(a)(7)(A) (West 2004)). As is relevant to this appeal on the aggravated kidnaping charge, the information alleged that on April 3, 2005, - 2 -

defendant intentionally escaped from Decatur police officer Christopher Copeland and entered a Dodge Caravan with the intent to commit a theft. The information further alleged defendant

knowingly and secretly confined Carmen Howard, a child under the age of 13 years, and refused to stop when Decatur police officer Chad Shull signaled for him to do so. On June 10, 2005, at a pretrial hearing, defendant interrupted the proceedings several times complaining about his attorney. When the trial court refused to interrupt the discus-

sion of other issues to address defendant's accusation that his attorney was "working with" the assistant State's Attorney, defendant said "[t]his mother-fucking court is crooked." The

court immediately found defendant in direct criminal contempt and orally sentenced him to 180 days in the Macon County jail, stating: "Mr. Goodwin, I find you are in direct criminal contempt of court for swearing by audibly saying 'mother-fucker' in open court. I

sentence you to 180 days in the Macon County [j]ail for contempt which sentence will run consecutive to the sentence you are currently serving and any other sentence that is subsequently imposed on you in the pending cases." On June 20, 2005, defendant handed the trial court a - 3 -

letter apologizing for his outburst.

That same day, defendant

also verbally apologized to the court during a pretrial hearing on defendant's motion to proceed pro se. On June 24, 2005, at a hearing on defendant's motion to dismiss count IV (aggravated kidnaping), the State asked the trial court to enter a written finding of direct criminal contempt. The court responded that it would consider defendant's

letter as an oral motion to modify the sentence and to vacate the finding of contempt. The court stated:

"Again, Mr. Goodwin [(defendant)] *** you have filed a written apology to the [c]ourt which I have now received. What I am going

to do with respect to that is, I am going to take that as an oral motion to *** modify the sentence and to vacate the finding of contempt and I'm going to take that under advisement at this time until, basically, we get done with the case. So, it will leave

that--the possibility of me vacating all or part of the sentence and vacating the finding of contempt open so that it again that will be possible. If I don't do that right now,

then, once 30 days passes, I can't do that; so, I'm leaving that possibility open right - 4 -

now *** and I will prepare a written order, and I'll provide [a] copy of that to both [defendant] and you, [defense counsel], once I've prepared and filed that written order." On June 27, 2004, the trial court entered a written order finding defendant in direct criminal contempt and sentencing him to 180 days in the Macon County jail, to be served "consecutive to [d]efendant's other sentence previously imposed." Although the "Findings" section of the written order referred to the oral sentence given on June 10 and the corresponding docket entry where the written order recited that the court had "sentenced [d]efendant to 180 days in the Macon County [j]ail to run consecutive to the sentence previously imposed in another case and any other sentences imposed in the future for criminal offenses charged in this case," the sentence contained in the decretal portion of the written order corrected what the court said orally on June 10, in its docket entry, and in the findings of the written order. The "previously imposed" sentence referred to was for theft over $300. On March 8, 2005, the Macon county circuit

court sentenced defendant to four years in the Illinois Department of Corrections (DOC) for that charge. Defendant asked to be

released on a $100,000 recognizance bond for a week before he had to report to serve his sentence. He was given a three-day stay

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and ordered to report for his sentence on March 11, 2005. Defendant did not report and a warrant was issued for his arrest. On February 6, 2006, the jury trial commenced on five charges (the State was granted a motion just before trial to nolpros the burglary charge). Kevin Howard testified, as is rele-

vant to this appeal, that on April 3, 2005, he and his 11-monthold daughter, Carmen, were sitting in a minivan belonging to Kevin and his wife Dorian, as it was idling in the driveway at 2822 Cardinal Drive. Kevin was in the driver's seat and Carmen

was in a child's car seat, facing forward, belted to the seat directly behind the driver's seat. doors of the van were tinted. Kevin saw a man, whom he identified as defendant, being chased by a police officer. Defendant ran up along side the van, Kevin got out He headed The windows behind the front

crossed in front of it, then ran around the house. to see what was happening. He left his door open.

back to the van, but saw defendant again.

This time, defendant

jumped into the driver's seat of the minivan, shut the door, and locked the doors. The evidence at trial conflicted on whether

the driver's window of the van was open and whether, as defendant drove off in the van, Kevin yelled that there was a child in the car or "stop, get out of my car." The evidence at trial indicated that defendant drove away, accelerating quickly, with the child still strapped in her - 6 -

car seat in the car.

Kevin and Dorian chased on foot briefly, Decatur

with Dorian screaming that there was a baby in the car.

police officers Nathan Binkley and Christopher Copeland, who were attempting to take defendant in on the outstanding warrant, ran back to their squad car. Officer Chad Shull, who was also on the

scene, gave chase in his patrol car, and Kevin and his sister-inlaw got in another vehicle and also chased defendant. After

driving a short way, Kevin and his sister-in-law asked some passersby whether they had seen the van. The passersby said they

had seen the van and pointed Kevin and his sister-in-law in the direction they had seen it travel. had no police cars behind it. Kevin spotted the van, which

Kevin and his sister-in-law turned

around and followed the van, but they then lost sight of it. Officers Nathan Binkley and Christopher Copeland also attempted to locate the van. They did find it, following it Officers

briefly before their commander called off the pursuit.

Chad Shull and Chad Larner pursued the defendant in the minivan for a longer time. During this time, defendant drove at speeds

of 75 to nearly 100 miles per hour, ran red lights, crossed a median, and drove in oncoming traffic lanes to drive around stopped traffic. The pursuit was terminated by Sargent Squires Officer Chad Shull and Chad Larner

(first name not in evidence).

slowed and lost sight of the van, but they continued driving. Shortly after that, Officer Chad Shull saw people - 7 -

pointing toward an apartment complex at the next intersection. Officer Chad Shull saw the van on the curb at that intersection. Officers Chad Shull and Chad Larner arrived at the van about the same time and found that Kevin had arrived before any police officers. Kevin had not seen the van since the first time he Officer Chad Larner estimated that the van was The record indicates Immediately Carmen was

lost sight of it.

out of his sight for about two minutes.

that Officer Chad Shull also lost sight of the van. after he arrived, Kevin removed Carmen from the van.

crying, and both parents noted that her face was red and splotchy, which is how it looked when she has been crying. At trial, defendant testified in his own defense. He

admitted that he knew there was a warrant for his arrest, and he did not want to be taken in on it. Defendant testified he was

going to hide in the van but decided to drive away when one of the officers tried to spray him with mace. He said the windows

were closed, and he heard a man yell at him to get out of the van, but did not hear anything about a child in the van. He said

he did not look behind him, music was playing in the van, and he never heard Carmen. He also said that he spent a considerable

amount of the time he was running from police talking to his girlfriend on Kevin's cell phone. The jury found defendant guilty on all charges. March 22, 2006, the trial court vacated the (nonaggravated) - 8 On

possession-of-a-converted-vehicle conviction, and sentenced defendant to concurrent sentences of 7 years' imprisonment for escape, 30 years' imprisonment for kidnaping, 15 years' imprisonment for aggravated possession of a converted vehicle, and 3 years' imprisonment for eluding, all running consecutive to defendant's March 8, 2005, sentence for theft over $300 in Macon County case No. 04-CF-752. This appeal followed. II. ANALYSIS Defendant raises three issues on appeal. Defendant

argues (1) the trial court erred in making his contempt sentence consecutive to any future sentence the court might impose, (2) his contempt sentence was excessive, and (3) the State failed to prove him guilty of kidnaping beyond a reasonable doubt. A. This Court Lacks Jurisdiction To Review the Trial Court's Order on Timing and Duration of Defendant's Contempt Sentence Defendant argues the trial court erred by ordering his contempt sentence run consecutive to any future sentence the court might impose in the pending case. The State concedes it

would have been improper for the court to order the contempt sentence run consecutive to any future sentence but argues (1) defendant forfeited any error regarding the finding of contempt by failing to obtain a final ruling from the court; and (2) in the alternative, this court lacks jurisdiction to address the alleged errors because defendant did not appeal the order within - 9 -

30 days.

This court will address the State's arguments first. 1. The June 27, 2005, Order Was Final The State claims that the trial court never ruled on

defendant's motion to modify or vacate.

The State notes that the

court did enter a written order of contempt on June 27, 2005. The State argues, however, that the order was not a final judgment of contempt because the court stated on June 24, 2005, that it was taking the motion under advisement until completion of the case. We disagree.

Although the trial court stated that it would take the motion under advisement until completion of the case, the court clearly reconsidered that statement when it entered the June 27, 2005, order. At the same time the trial judge said he would decide the motion at the end of the case, he said that he knew the decision on the motion would have to be made quickly. The judge At

said that he would have to decide within 30 days, if at all.

the same hearing, this case was set for pretrial on September 6, 2005, and trial was set for the term beginning September 19, 2005. Because the case was clearly not going to trial within 30

days, and the judge was clearly cognizant of the limited time he had to reconsider, the judge could not have meant after the trial when he said at "the end of the case." The judge then said that

he would keep the issue open for the moment but would issue a - 10 -

written order.

Placed in context, when the judge said "the end

of the case," he apparently meant that after the pretrial hearing he would consider modifying or vacating the finding of contempt, and he then would issue a written order. He issued the final

order three days later with no modification. 2. This Court Lacks Jurisdiction To Consider Defendant's Appeal of His Contempt Sentence Because Defendant Failed To Timely Appeal The State also argues that this court lacks jurisdiction to consider the issues of timing and excessiveness of defendant's contempt sentence because defendant did not appeal within 30 days of the entry of the final order of contempt. "An order finding a person or entity in contempt of court which imposes a monetary or other penalty" is final for purposes of appeal. 155 Ill. 2d R. 304(b)(5). An appeal must be 188

filed within 30 days of the entry of the order appealed. Ill. 2d R. 606(b).

Because defendant did not file an appeal within 30 days of the order entered by the trial court on June 27, 2005, this court lacks jurisdiction to consider the issues defendant raises with regard to timing and excessiveness his contempt sentence. B. Defendant Was Not Awarded Sentence Credit in Excess of What He Was Entitled The State also argues that the trial court awarded defendant sentence credit in excess of what he was entitled. In their briefs, neither party discusses the appropriateness of the - 11 -

State raising the issue.

The State did not cross-appeal. The State,

The

State raised this issue in its appellee brief.

however, is in the position of an appellant by raising this issue and is thus restricted by Supreme Court Rule 604(a)(1) (188 Ill. 2d R. 604(a)(1)), which lists the few permissible grounds for an appeal by the State. People v. Kent, 40 Ill. App. 3d 256, 265-

66, 350 N.E.2d 890, 898 (1976). Challenging the calculation of credit for time served is not among the list of bases for a State's appeal. R. 604(a)(1). 210 Ill. 2d

If the State had filed a cross-appeal, the cross-

appeal would fail on this basis. The State asserts, however, that the trial court's determination of sentencing credit is a void judgment, which may be attacked at any time. City of Chicago v. Roman, 184 Ill. 2d The State argues the result

504, 510, 705 N.E.2d 81, 85 (1998).

of giving what the State believes is too much credit for time served is that the court exceeded its authority by giving a lesser sentence than the statute imposed. 510, 705 N.E.2d at 85. However, the trial court here sentenced defendant to six months' jail time consecutive to the four-year sentence he was then serving for theft. Consecutive sentences are discrete Roman, 184 Ill. 2d at

and individual; thus, the contempt sentence will begin once the theft sentence is complete. People v. Pack, 224 Ill. 2d 144, - 12 -

148, 862 N.E.2d 938, 941 (2007).

As the defendant points out,

this just means he has not yet started serving the contempt sentence. Although defendant was sentenced to six months in the

county jail for contempt, a docket entry dated June 24, 2005, indicated the trial court transferred defendant to DOC to serve time on the theft charge. Defendant spent the entire time that

the State presumes he was serving his contempt sentence in the custody of DOC with the exception of a few days in August 2005, when he was awaiting a hearing on several motions he had filed in this case. This corroborates defendant's contention that he has

not yet served the contempt sentence. C. State Proved Defendant Guilty of Aggravated Kidnaping Beyond a Reasonable Doubt Defendant last argues the State did not prove the aggravated-kidnaping charge beyond a reasonable doubt. Defendant

claims that the State failed to prove "secret confinement" because everyone knew the baby was in the van and the baby could be observed by a person looking inside the van's window. Generally, where a defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence, the test is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. People v. Ward, 215 Ill. 2d It is not the function of People v. Slinkard,

317, 322, 830 N.E.2d 556, 559 (2005).

the appellate court to retry the defendant. - 13 -

362 Ill. App. 3d 855, 857, 841 N.E.2d 1, 3 (2005). However, when the facts are not in dispute, and the reviewing court is interpreting whether those facts meet the definition of a statutory term, the question is one of law. People v. Lamborn, 185 Ill. 2d 585, 590, 708 N.E.2d 350, 354 (1999); People v. Smith, 191 Ill. 2d 408, 411, 732 N.E.2d 513, 514 (2000). Here, the issue is whether the undisputed facts of

the case constitute "secret confinement" under section 10-1(a) of the Criminal Code of 1961 (720 ILCS 5/10-1(a) (West 2004)). The

question is one of law and this court will review the finding of "secret confinement" de novo. Lamborn, 185 Ill. 2d at 590, 708

N.E.2d at 354; Smith, 191 Ill. 2d at 411, 732 N.E.2d at 514 A kidnaping occurs when a person knowingly and secretly confines another person against his will. (West 2004). 720 ILCS 5/10-1(a)(1)

Confinement of a child under the age of 13 is

considered "against his will" if done without the consent of the parents or legal guardian, and, where the victim is under 13, the crime also become aggravated kidnaping. 2(a)(2) (West 2004). The precedent in Illinois is clear and consistent: person holding another in a car on the public highways constitutes secret confinement. People v. Bishop, 1 Ill. 2d 60, one 720 ILCS 5/10-1(b), 10-

64, 114 N.E.2d 566, 568 (1953); People v. Hamil , 20 Ill. App. 3d 901, 908, 314 N.E.2d 251, 256 (1974). - 14 In Bishop, 1 Ill. 2d at

64, 114 N.E.2d at 568, the court rejected the argument that there can be no secret confinement where the victim was forcibly confined in a car that was driven around for four hours. In

Hamil, 20 Ill. App. 3d at 908, 314 N.E.2d at 256, the element of secret confinement was established where the defendant confined the victim in the car while driving down several alleys, then stopped where the victim could not open the door. Defendant

argues the police and the Howards lost visual contact with the van for only a short time. However, there is no minimum time of

confinement set forth in the kidnaping statute. In this case, the facts demonstrated that defendant was driving in a van at a high rate of speed and attempting to elude capture. He had Carmen in the van and managed, for a time, to

succeed in getting away from her family and the police. Defendant argues that Carmen was not secretly confined under the analysis in People v. Pasch, 152 Ill. 2d 133, 187-88, 604 N.E.2d 294, 316-17 (1992). In Pasch, the supreme court found

the defendant not proved guilty of aggravated kidnaping beyond a reasonable doubt where the State failed to prove secret confinement in a hostage standoff where the defendant never attempted to keep the victim's location (in the victim's apartment) a secret and the victim's sister was aware of the victim's location at all times. Defendant argues that Carmen was

not secretly confined because her parents and the police knew she - 15 -

was in the minivan from the time defendant drove it away until Kevin found the van and removed Carmen. Pasch is distinguishable

because defendant was driving a van with Carmen in it, attempting to elude detection, not holding her in a fixed location where her presence was widely known Defendant also argues that the child was visible through the window of the van, which was operated on public roads, so Carmen was never removed from the public awareness. In

People v. Trotter, 371 Ill. App. 3d 869, 876-77, 864 N.E.2d 281, 287 (2007), overruled on other grounds by People v. Harrison, 226 Ill. 2d 427, 441, 877 N.E.2d 432, 439 (2007), the appellate court found the defendant was not proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt where the defendant took a child without the parents' consent, boarded a light-rail train, rode it for a while, disembarked, spoke with a suspicious police officer, walked to a gas station while the police officer kept her in sight, and went to the bathroom where she was ultimately arrested. The court in

Trotter found that secret confinement was not proved because the victim was never removed from the public awareness. Ill. App. 3d at 877, 864 N.E.2d at 287. Again, however, Carmen was not in clear view of the public, as she would be on a train or bus, or had she been taken through a gas station in view of an employee and had briefly been taken to a public restroom. She was strapped in the child seat - 16 Trotter, 371

of a van with tinted windows.

Even if Carmen were visible in the There would

van, her presence there would not arouse suspicion.

be no indication to the public that her being in the van was without her parents' permission. Finally, defendant asserts that this situation is comparable to People v. Lamkey, 240 Ill. App. 3d 435, 439, 608 N.E.2d 406, 409 (1992), because, defendant asserts, Carmen was visible through the van window. The court found the State failed

to prove secret confinement in Lamkey, where the victim was held and sexually assaulted behind a glass door a couple steps off of a busy Chicago street. N.E.2d at 409. Lamkey, 240 Ill. App. 3d at 439, 608

Confinement, though, is much more "secret" when

it involves a very small child in a child seat in a moving vehicle than it is when a sexual assault is being perpetrated behind a glass door clearly visible from a busy street. Clearly, defendant had Carmen secretly confined within the meaning of the statute, and defendant was therefore correctly found guilty of aggravated kidnaping beyond a reasonable doubt. III. CONCLUSION

For the reasons stated, we affirm the trial court's judgment. As part of our judgment, we grant the State its

statutory assessment of $50 against defendant as costs of this appeal. Affirmed. - 17 -

McCULLOUGH and STEIGMANN, JJ., concur.

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