People v. Burge

This case presents question as to whether trial court properly denied defendant’s motion to withdraw her guilty plea to misdemeanor theft charge, where defendant alleged that she was unaware at time of entry of guilty plea that she would lose her job if she had pleaded guilty, and where trial court did not inform her of any collateral consequence of her theft conviction on her current job or her ability to obtain future job, as required under section 113-4(c)(4)(B) of Code of Criminal Procedure (775 ILCS 5/113-4(c)(4)(B)). Appellate Court, in affirming trial court, found that admonishments under section 113-4(c) were directory and otherwise did not apply to defendant’s plea because she did not plead guilty at arraignment. Appellate Court further noted that instant theft occurred during course of defendant’s employment, and that common sense dictated that defendant should have been aware that her job and her prospects for future employment would be negatively impacted by her guilty plea.