Illinois Appellate Court
Criminal Court
Juvenile Sentencing
(Modified upon denial of rehearing 2/4/14.) Defendant, then age 17, was convicted, after bench trial, of murder, aggravated kidnapping, and sexual criminal sexual assault of 16-year-old victim. At sentencing hearing, trial court expressly considered Defendant's PSI, which included his age. Court exercised its discretion in sentencing Defendant to natural life imprisonment, and natural life sentence was not unconstitutional, as it was discretionary, not mandatory; and court properly considered his youth as a mitigating factor, as well as heinous nature of offense. (SIMON and PIERCE, concurring.)