People v. Langston

Defendant was found guilty of three counts of home invasion with a dangerous weapon and three counts of home invasion causing injury. The trial court merged the six counts of home invasion into one and sentenced defendant to 20 years in prison. The trial court also found that the 20 year sentence was required to be consecutive to five year concurrent sentences imposed in a separate case arising out of the same incident. On appeal, defendant argued that the State failed to prove him guilty of home invasion beyond a reasonable doubt where evidence on an element of the offense was impeached, that the trial court erred in imposing mandatory consecutive sentences where the record did not support a finding of severe bodily injury, and that the imposition of an aggregate 25-year sentence was improper where it amounted to a life sentence and where the trial court did not properly balance the aggravating and mitigating factors. The appellate court affirmed, finding that evidence was sufficient to find defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, that the conduct caused severe bodily injury, and that the trial court did not err in sentencing. (WELCH and CATES, concurring)