Defendant was convicted, after jury trial, of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Court properly admitted multiple hearsay statements victim made to others pursuant to Section 115-10 of Code of Criminal Procedure, as Defendant did not challenge court's reliability determinations. Courts are not required to narrowly construe Section 115-10. Court's voir dire procedures, which included specific questions court posed to 3 separate panels of venire members, were not deficient. Court balanced dignity of propsective jurors as to their reasonable expectations of privacy with purpose of voir dire to exclude those who are unwilling or unable to be impartial. Remanded for hearing pursuant to Section 113-3.1 of Code to determine whether fee for court-appointed counsel should be imposed. (APPLETON, concurring; TURNER, specially concurring.)
Illinois Appellate Court
Criminal Court
Hearsay