Defendant was convicted of 2 counts of 1st degree murder based on theory of accountability and sentenced to mandatory natural life in prison without possibility of parole. Defendant was 19 and a member of a street gang at time of offense.Growing body of scientific evidenced that the young adult brain, at age 19, is still developing, rendering young adults more similar to juveniles than mature adults. Defendant received the same sentence as the shooter, who was age 17 at time of offense and who received new sentencing hearing after issuance of U.S. Supreme Court's 2012 decision in Miller v. Alabama. Defendant's sentence violates proprtionate penalties clause of Illinois Constitution as applied to him. Remanded for new sentencing hearing. (CONNORS and DELORT, concurring.)
Illinois Appellate Court
Criminal Court
Murder