Defendant was convicted of 5 counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and 5 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, and sentenced to 5 terms of natural life. Some offenses occurred when Defendant was a minor; victims were Defendant's minor sisters and half-sisters. Court properly admitted testimony on other crimes, as they were proximate in time, within 2 years of charged offenses, similar physical acts, and probative value of other-crimes evidence outweighed its prejudicial effect. Court erred in sentencing Defendant to natural life on counts committed when Defendant was a minor, and on counts which each involved only one victim. Thus, those mandatory natural-life sentences violate 8th-Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.(POPE and HOLDER WHITE, concurring.)
Illinois Appellate Court
Criminal Court
Sentencing