People v. Catchings

Defendant was convicted, after jury trial, of 2 counts of aggravated domestic battery and 2 counts domestic battery of his girlfriend. Court did not err in allowing State to use Defendant's 2011 conviction for possession of a weapon by a felon for impeachment, as it was relevant to and probative of Defendant's credibility. State's reference to Defendant's felon status did not contravene Supreme Court's rejection of "mere-fact" impeachment, as reference was a necessary part of the felony that State used to impeach his credibility. Any error in court's use of IPI criminal no. 3.12 was harmless, as it did not affect outcome of trial. (HOLDRIDGE and LYTTON, concurring.)