People v. Anaya

Defendant was convicted, after jury trial, of 9 counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault and sentenced to 10 years. In closing argument, State did not make repeated attempts to lure jury to enter into an empathetic identification with the victim, but made only an isolated remark, asking jury to put themselves in the victim’s shoes. Prosecutor’s comment that “she was raped, and everyone in this room knows it” was invited by defense counsel’s observation in closing argument. Court did not abuse its discretion in sentencing.   (McBRIDE and ELLIS, concurring.)