This case presents question as to whether defendant was properly convicted of being sex offender while in school zone under section 11-9.3(a) of Criminal Code, 720 ILCS 5/11-9.3(a), where defendant was found in parking lot while attending Queen of Martyrs Fest on weekend evening, where there was no school adjoining parking lot, but where said parking lot was used by Queen of Martyrs parish and school that was located across street from said parking lot and was separated by intervening public street. Appellate Court, in affirming defendant’s conviction, found that defendant had knowledge that parking lot was “real property comprising a school,” as required by section 11-9.3(a), where: (1) there were rides and many children present at festival; (2) school was situated between parking lot and church; and (3) advertisements for festival mentioned children’s activities taking place in school. (Dissent filed.)
Illinois Supreme Court PLAs
Criminal Court
Reasonable Doubt