Illinois Appellate Court
Criminal Court
Closing Argument
Defendant was convicted, after jury trial, of unlawful possession of controlled substance with intent to deliver. Subsequent search of Defendant revealed four plastic bags of cocaine, $1922 in cash, and a cell phone which rang 50 times in 90 minutes after arrest. Prosecutor's comments, in opening statement, that Defendant was carrying cocaine and cash because he "hadn't sold out yet" and was "somebody we don't want on the streets" did not prejudice Defendant; court promptly sustained objections to remarks, and explained to jury that they were just argument. Prosecutor was free to argue, in closing, that evidence was indicative of intent to deliver. (APPLETON and KNECHT, concurring.)