Illinois Appellate Court
Criminal Court
Post-Conviction Hearing Act
Defendant, after a direct appeal and remand, pled guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to 24 years in prison. Defendant filed a pro se petition for post-conviction relief contending that his counsel was ineffective for misstating the sentence he could face following a re-trial. Defendant also alleged his counsel threatened to quit if defendant did not accept a plea. The trial court dismissed the petition at the first stage. The appellate court reversed and remanded for further proceedings, finding that the petition made an arguable claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. (PUCINSKI and WALKER, concurring)