People v. Savage

Illinois Appellate Court
Criminal Court
Sentencing
Citation
Case Number: 
2020 IL App (1st) 173135
Decision Date: 
Wednesday, September 30, 2020
District: 
1st Dist.
Division/County: 
Cook Co., 4th Div.
Holding: 
Reversed and remanded.
Justice: 
GORDON

Defendant, age 22 at time of offense, was convicted of 1st degree murder and attempted 1st degree murder and sentenced, in 1995, to a total of 85 years. Court erred in dismissing his postconviction petition. Petition alleges that he was a drug addict since age 9 (and this is confirmed in hospital records), that he was using drugs every day at time of offense, and that he was attempting to rob a drug house when the offenses occurred. Record did not show that court consider attributes of young adulthood or these attributes in light of Defendant's lifelong drug addiction. Sentencing occurred long before the statements and findings of later courts as to considerations of youth and its attendant characteristics. (HALL and REYES, concurring.)