Defendant appealed his conviction for first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a firearm, arguing that the juvenile court erred when it transferred his case to adult court, that he received ineffective assistance of counsel when his attorney allowed a biased juror to serve on his jury, that the State failed to prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and that the trial court failed to properly consider his youth and its attendant circumstances at sentencing. The appellate court affirmed, concluding that the trial court properly weighed the factors before transferring his case to adult court, that defendant could not show any prejudice regarding his claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, and that the evidence was sufficient to support his conviction. The court also explained that the trial court was not required to discuss each sentencing factor on the record and that it had sufficient evidence of the defendant’s youth and “made more than a passing mention of them.” (HOLDRIDGE and McDADE, concurring)
Illinois Appellate Court
Criminal Court
Juvenile Sentencing