People v. Boyd

Defendant was convicted, after bench trial, of armed robbery and aggravated battery offenses. Court denied Defendant's motion for new trial, and prior to imposition of sentence, Defendant requested a "stay" in order to assert a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. Krankel counsel was appointed and filed a motion for new trial, which court denied. Court sentenced to 17 years for armed robbery and an additional 15 years for possessing a firearm. Krankel counsel preserved the claim that trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance of counsel by failing to object to trial court's entry of judgment on 2 counts. Court properly exercised its discretion in denying Defendant's 2nd motion for new trial, as no practical reason justified trial counsel demanding entry of judgment on either of those 2 counts, and declining to do so was a reasonable strategic decision, and as court's judgments remained subject to alteration up until that time they became final. No clear error in court's sentence, as it was well within the permissible sentencing range and court thoroughly considered mitigating factors and properly exercised its discretion.  (GORDON and MARTIN, concurring.)