People v. Lush

SUPREME COURT CASES

Laws-info.com » Cases » Illinois » 4th District Appellate » 2007 » People v. Lush

People v. Lush

State: Illinois

Court: 4th District Appellate

Docket No: 4-05-0893 Rel

Case Date: 04/18/2007

Preview:NO. 4-05-0893 IN THE APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS FOURTH DISTRICT THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. DORIS C. LUSH, Defendant-Appellant.

Filed 4/18/07

) Appeal from ) Circuit Court of ) Sangamon County ) No. 03CF422 ) ) Honorable ) Robert J. Eggers, ) Judge Presiding. _________________________________________________________________ PRESIDING JUSTICE STEIGMANN delivered the opinion of the court: In May 2005, a jury convicted defendant, Doris C. Lush, of two counts of reckless homicide of Vicky Goins (720 ILCS 5/93(a), (c)(1), (c)(2) (West 2002)) (counts I and II), three counts of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol (aggravated DUI (alcohol)) (625 ILCS 5/11-501(a)(1), (a)(2), (d)(1)(C) (West 2002)) (counts III, IV, and VII), aggravated driving under the influence of cannabis (aggravated DUI (cannabis)) (625 ILCS 5/11501(a)(6) (West 2002)) (count V), and failure to stop at a traffic-control signal (625 ILCS 5/11-306 (West 2002)) (count VI). The trial court later sentenced her to 10 years in prison

on count I, 10 years in prison on count II, 3 years in prison on count IV, and 3 years in prison on count V, with those sentences to be served concurrently. pay a $200 fine on count VI. The court also ordered defendant to (The court did not enter judgment

on counts III and VII, having determined that they merged into defendant's convictions on counts I and II, respectively.) Defendant appeals, arguing that (1) she cannot stand convicted of both counts of reckless homicide because to do so violates the one-act, one-crime rule; (2) aggravated DUI (alcohol) and aggravated DUI (cannabis) are both lesser-included offenses of reckless homicide; (3) one of her two aggravated DUI convictions must be vacated because she cannot stand convicted of both aggravated DUI (alcohol) and aggravated DUI (cannabis) under the one-act, one-crime rule; and (4) the trial court violated her due-process rights by failing to advise her of the option of receiving a sentence under the more favorable reckless-homicide statute that was in effect at the time of her sentencing. Because we conclude that (1) defendant cannot stand convicted of both counts of reckless homicide under the one-act, one-crime rule and (2) aggravated DUI (alcohol) is a lesser-included offense of reckless homicide, we vacate counts I and IV and otherwise affirm defendant's convictions and sentences. I. BACKGROUND In May 2005, the State filed the following amended charges against defendant regarding a May 4, 2003, accident: (1)

two counts of reckless homicide, in that defendant, while acting in a reckless manner, (a) drove while the alcohol concentration in her blood was .08 or above and disobeyed a traffic light, - 2 -

causing a crash and Goins' death (720 ILCS 5/9-3(a), (c)(1) (West 2002)) (count I), and (b) drove while under the influence of alcohol and disobeyed a traffic light, causing a crash and Goins' death (720 ILCS 5/9-3(a), (c)(2) (West 2002)) (count II); (2) three counts of aggravated DUI (alcohol), in that defendant (a) drove while the alcohol concentration in her blood was .08 or above and had two prior DUI convictions (625 ILCS 5/11-501(a)(1), (d)(1)(C) (West 2002)) (count III), (b) drove while under the influence of alcohol to a degree that she was unable to drive safely and had two prior DUI convictions (625 ILCS 5/11501(a)(2), (d)(1)(C) (West 2002)) (count IV), and (c) drove while under the influence of alcohol and disobeyed a traffic light, causing a crash and Goins' death (625 ILCS 5/11-501(a)(2), (d)(1)(C) (West 2002)) (count VII); (3) aggravated DUI (cannabis), in that defendant drove with cannabis present in her urine and had two prior DUI convictions (625 ILCS 5/11-501(a)(6) (West 2002)) (count V); and (4) failure to stop at a traffic-control device, in that defendant entered an intersection while the light was red (625 ILCS 5/11-306 (West 2002)) (count VI). Because the parties are familiar with the evidence presented at defendant's jury trial, which was held later in May 2005, we discuss it only to the extent necessary to place defendant's arguments in context. The evidence showed that during the

early evening hours of May 4, 2003, defendant was driving a Ford - 3 -

Explorer east on Laurel Street in Springfield.

Defendant ran a

red light at the intersection of Laurel and Eleventh Street, colliding with a blue Chrysler that was being driven by Goins. Goins died later that night during emergency surgery at St. John's Hospital. Defendant also was transported to St. John's

for treatment, where a routine toxicology test (performed at 7 p.m.) showed that her blood-serum alcohol content was .24 and her urine tested positive for cannabinoids. Defendant's treating

physician testified that defendant showed signs of intoxication. Forensic toxicologist Daniel Brown testified that defendant's whole blood alcohol content at 7 p.m. on May 4, 2003, was .209 grams per deciliter. (Her blood-serum alcohol content was higher

because serum contains a higher percentage of water and attracts more alcohol.) Brown calculated that at the time of the inci-

dent, defendant's whole blood alcohol content was .21 grams per deciliter. Brown also opined that at the time of the incident,

defendant's reaction time, motor skills, and eye-hand coordination were "greatly impaired." victed defendant of all counts. In June 2005, the trial court sentenced defendant to 10 years in prison on count I, 10 years in prison on count II, 3 years in prison on count IV, and 3 years in prison on count V, with those sentences to be served concurrently. ordered defendant to pay a $200 fine on count VI. - 4 The court also (The court On this evidence, the jury con-

sentenced defendant on counts I and II under section 9-3(e) of the Criminal Code of 1961 (720 ILCS 5/9-3(e) (West 2002)), which provided that reckless homicide involving DUI (alcohol or drugs) was classified as a Class 2 felony punishable by 3 to 14 years in prison. As earlier stated, the court did not enter judgment on

counts III and VII, having determined that they merged into defendant's convictions on counts I and II, respectively.) This appeal followed.

II. ANALYSIS A. Defendant's Claim That Her Reckless-Homicide Convictions Violate the One-Act, One-Crime Rule Defendant first argues that she cannot stand convicted of both counts of reckless homicide (which involved only one victim--namely, Goins) because to do so violates the one-act, one-crime rule set forth in People v. King, 66 Ill. 2d 551, 566, 363 N.E.2d 838, 844-45 (1977). The State concedes that this

court should vacate defendant's conviction under count I, and we accept the State's concession. See People v. Henderson, 329 Ill.

App. 3d 810, 828, 768 N.E.2d 222, 237 (2002) (in which the appellate court vacated one of the defendant's reckless-homicide convictions because only one decedent was involved). Accord-

ingly, we vacate defendant's reckless-homicide conviction under count I. B. Defendant's Claim That Aggravated DUI (Alcohol) and - 5 -

Aggravated DUI (Cannabis) Are Both Lesser-Included Offenses of Reckless Homicide Defendant next argues that aggravated DUI (alcohol) and aggravated DUI (cannabis) are both lesser-included offenses of reckless homicide. We agree only that aggravated DUI (alcohol)

is a lesser-included offense of reckless homicide. In general, courts have taken two different approaches to identifying lesser-included offenses--the abstract-elements approach and the charging-instrument approach. People v. Bowens, Our

307 Ill. App. 3d 484, 492, 718 N.E.2d 602, 609 (1999).

supreme court has expressed its preference for the charginginstrument approach. See People v. Kolton, 219 Ill. 2d 353, 360-

61, 848 N.E.2d 950, 954-55 (2006) (discussing People v. Novak, 163 Ill. 2d 93, 643 N.E.2d 762 (1994) (in which the supreme court adopted the charging-instrument approach)). "The charging

instrument approach looks to the allegations in the charging instrument to see whether the description of the greater offense contains a 'broad foundation' or 'main outline' of the lesser offense." Kolton, 219 Ill. 2d at 361, 848 N.E.2d at 954-55.

Under the charging-instrument approach, the decision whether an offense is lesser included involves a case-by-case determination "using the factual description of the charged offense in the indictment." Kolton, 219 Ill. 2d at 367, 848 N.E.2d at 958. "A

lesser offense will be 'included' in the charged offense if the factual description of the charged offense describes, in a broad - 6 -

way, the conduct necessary for the commission of the lesser offense and any elements not explicitly set forth in the indictment can reasonably be inferred." 848 N.E.2d at 958. With these principles in mind, we first review the statutory definition of aggravated DUI (alcohol) and determine whether the facts alleged in count II of the charging instrument (charging reckless homicide) contain a broad foundation or main outline of the offense of aggravated DUI (alcohol). Section 11Kolton, 219 Ill. 2d at 367,

501(a)(2) of the Illinois Vehicle Code, which defines the offense of DUI (alcohol), provides, in pertinent part, as follows: "(a) A person shall not drive or be in actual physical control of any vehicle within this State while: *** (2) under the influence of alcohol[.]" 625 ILCS 5/11-501(a)(2) (West 2002). Section 11-501(d)(1)(A) of the Vehicle Code provides that "[e]very person convicted of committing a violation of this [s]ection shall be guilty of aggravated driving under the influence" if the offense was her third similar conviction. 5/11-501(d)(1)(A) (West 2002). 625 ILCS

However, prior DUI convictions do People v.

not constitute an element of an aggravated DUI charge.

Robinson, 368 Ill. App. 3d 963, 977, 859 N.E.2d 232, 247 (2006); - 7 -

see also 725 ILCS 5/111-3(c) (West 2002) (when the State seeks an enhanced sentence because of a prior conviction, "the fact of such prior conviction and the State's intention to seek an enhanced sentence are not elements of the offense"). Count II of the charging instrument alleged that defendant committed the offense of reckless homicide in that she "while acting in a reckless manner, performed acts likely to cause the death of or great bodily harm to [Goins], in that said defendant operated a motor vehicle *** while under the influence of alcohol and disobeyed a traffic light ***, causing a crash between her motor vehicle and [Goins'] motor vehicle, thereby causing the death of [Goins]." We conclude that count II sets forth a main outline of aggravated DUI (alcohol). In particular, we note that count II

provided that defendant operated a motor vehicle "while under the influence of alcohol." That language explicitly tracks the

language of section 11-501(a)(2) (625 ILCS 5/11-501(a)(2) (West 2002)), which defines aggravated DUI (alcohol). See People v.

Green, 294 Ill. App. 3d 139, 149, 689 N.E.2d 385, 392 (1997) (concluding that aggravated DUI (alcohol) is a lesser-included offense of reckless homicide). In so concluding, we reject the State's contention that - 8 -

aggravated DUI (alcohol) is not a lesser-included offense of reckless homicide because the prior DUI convictions that enhanced the offense of DUI (alcohol) to aggravated DUI (alcohol) were elements of the offense not set forth in count II. As stated

above, prior DUI convictions do not constitute an element of an aggravated DUI charge. Thus, we need not consider whether count

II contains a broad foundation or main outline of prior DUI convictions. We next review the statutory definition of aggravated DUI (cannabis) and determine whether the facts alleged in count II contain a broad foundation or main outline of the offense of aggravated DUI (cannabis). Section 11-501(a)(6) of the Illinois

Vehicle Code, which defines the offense of DUI (cannabis), provides, in pertinent part, as follows: "(a) A person shall not drive or be in actual physical control of any vehicle within this State while: * * * (6) there is any amount of a drug, substance, or compound in the person's breath, blood, or urine resulting from the unlawful use or consumption of cannabis ***." 626

ILCS 5/11-501(a)(6) (West 2002). - 9 -

Reviewing the allegations of count II, we conclude that count II does not set forth a broad foundation or main outline of aggravated DUI (cannabis). In particular, count II does not

allege that defendant operated a motor vehicle while under the influence of, or with the presence in her body of, a substance containing cannabis. Instead, count II alleged that defendant We thus

operated a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

conclude that aggravated DUI (cannabis) is not a lesser-included offense of reckless homicide. Accordingly, because aggravated DUI (alcohol) is a lesser-included offense of reckless homicide, we vacate defendant's aggravated DUI (alcohol) conviction (count IV). Because

we have done so, we need not address defendant's argument that one of her two aggravated DUI convictions must be vacated because she cannot stand convicted of both aggravated DUI (alcohol) and aggravated DUI (cannabis) under the one-act, one-crime rule set forth in King, 66 Ill. 2d at 566, 363 N.E.2d at 844-45. C. Defendant's Claim That the Trial Court Violated Her Due-Process Rights Last, defendant argues that the trial court violated her due-process rights by failing to advise her of the option of receiving a sentence under the more favorable reckless-homicide statute that was in effect at the time of her sentencing. disagree. In general, a defendant is entitled to elect to be - 10 We

sentenced either under the law in effect at the time she committed the offense or the law in effect at the time of sentencing. People v. Hollins, 51 Ill. 2d 68, 71, 280 N.E.2d 710, 712 (1972); People v. Martinez, No. 1-04-2023, slip op. at 8-9 (January 12, 2007), ___ Ill. App. 3d ___, ___, ___ N.E.2d ___, ___. However,

if the newly enacted statute changed the nature or substantive elements of an existing offense (as opposed to merely reducing the applicable punishment), the defendant is not entitled to choose the statute under which she may be sentenced and, instead, should be convicted and sentenced under the law in effect at the time she committed the offense. Martinez, slip op. at 9, ___

Ill. App. 3d at ___, ___ N.E.2d at ___; see also People v. Land, 178 Ill. App. 3d 251, 260, 533 N.E.2d 57, 63 (1988) (if the newly enacted statute "change[s] the nature or substantive elements of the offense, rather than only the punishment, a defendant cannot take advantage of the mitigation of the punishment in the new law"). In this case, on May 4, 2003 (the date of the offense), section 9-3 of the Criminal Code generally classified reckless homicide as a Class 3 felony, punishable by two to five years in prison (720 ILCS 5/9-3(d)(2) (West 2002); 730 ILCS 5/5-8-1(a)(6) (West 2002)). In addition to that general classification,

section 9-3(e) provided, in pertinent part, as follows: "[I]n cases involving reckless homicide in - 11 -

which the defendant was determined to have been under the influence of alcohol or any other drug or drugs as an element of the offense, or in cases in which the defendant is proven beyond a reasonable doubt to have been under the influence of alcohol or any other drug or drugs, the penalty shall be a Class 2 felony, for which a person, if sentenced to a term of imprisonment, shall be sentenced to a term of not less than 3 years and not more than 14 years." 3(e) (West 2002). Effective July 18, 2003 (approximately two months after the offense and two years prior to defendant's sentencing), the legislature amended section 9-3 of the Criminal Code (Pub. Act 93-213,

Download People v. Lush.pdf