People v. Lawson

Defendant was convicted, after jury trial, of four counts of home invasion and aggravated kidnapping, and sentenced to natural life in prison. Three of Defendant's four convictions for home invasion are vacated, pursuant to one-act, one crime rule. Defendant's 2003 armed robbery sentence, which did not include firearm sentencing enhancement, is not void as he was properly sentenced without enhancement four years before ligislature cured proportionate penalties clause violation. Defendant's first Class X felony conviction (armed robbery) occurred when he was 17, but his second Class X (armed robbery) conviction occurred five years later. Natural life sentence was properly imposed, and is not unconstitutional. Defendant's adjudication as armed habitual offender, of which he had fair and ample warning, punished him for new and separate crime he committed as an adult after two prior Class X felonies. (HALL and ROCHFORD, concurring.)