Defendant was convicted, after bench trial, of 3 counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault and sentenced to natural life in prison. Officers, who came to Defendant's home in response to neighbor's 911 call, saw items in plain view in the bedroom, which they reasonably believed were associated with Defendant's assault on a 17-year-old prostitute, they were justified in seizing those items and court properly denied Defendant's motion to suppress. Court properly allowed 16-year-old woman whom Defendant had sexually assaulted, given similarities with present charge including that Defendant used alias on chat line, and threatened victim with knife and forced her to engage in sex. No ineffective assistance of counsel in defense counsel's strategic decision to withdraw motion, filed by another attorney, to suppress statements Defendant made to police after arrest. (HYMAN and NEVILLE, concurring.)
Illinois Appellate Court
Criminal Court
Motion to Suppress