Defendant, who was 17-years-old at the time of the offenses, was convicted of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder and was sentenced to a mandatory life term for the murder and a consecutive 30-year term for the attempted murder. Changes in state and federal law resulted in defendant being re-sentenced to a 60-year term for the murder and a consecutive 20-year term for the attempted murder and defendant appealed, arguing that his sentence violated the eighth amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the proportionate penalties clause of the Illinois Constitution. The appellate court affirmed, finding that defendant’s sentence was constitutional and that the trial court did not abuse its discretion during sentencing. (MARTIN and D.B. WALKER, concurring)
Illinois Appellate Court
Criminal Court
Sentencing