This case presents question as to whether defendant’s trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to imposition of $57 in fines as part of defendant’s sentence of 24 years on predatory criminal sexual assault of child charge. While defendant argued that his counsel was ineffective for failing to object to $25 judicial facilities fee and $100 VCVA assessment that would have been reduced to $68 had such objection been made, Appellate Court, in rejecting defendant’s claim, found that defendant’s contention concerned only de minimus amount of monetary assessments that did not render counsel's representation of defendant constitutionally deficient. In his petition for leave to appeal, defendant argued that imposition of said fines was done in violation of ex post facto principles, and relative small amount of said fines should have no bearing on whether his trial counsel had constitutional duty to object to said fines. (Dissent filed.)
Illinois Supreme Court PLAs
Criminal Court
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel