People v. Ackerman

2014 IL App (3d) 120585

Opinion filed May 12, 2014
_____________________________________________________________________________

IN THE

APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS

THIRD DISTRICT

A.D., 2014

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ) Appeal from the Circuit Court
ILLINOIS, ) of the 12th Judicial Circuit,
) Will County, Illinois.
Plaintiff-Appellee, )
) Appeal No. 3-12-0585
v. ) Circuit No. 09-CF-334
)
NEIL ACKERMAN, ) The Honorable
) Daniel J. Rozak,
Defendant-Appellant. ) Judge, presiding.
_____________________________________________________________________________

JUSTICE CARTER delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
Justice Holdridge specially concurred, with opinion.
Justice Wright concurred in part and dissented in part, with opinion.
_____________________________________________________________________________

OPINION

¶1 The defendant, Neil Ackerman, was convicted of solicitation of murder for hire (720

ILCS 5/8-1.2(a) (West 2008)) and was sentenced to 30 years of imprisonment. On appeal, the

defendant argues that: (1) the circuit court erred when it dismissed his postconviction petition as

frivolous and patently without merit; (2) he is entitled to two additional days of sentencing credit

for presentence incarceration; and (3) he is entitled to a $5-per-day credit toward his court

systems fee and to a reduction in his Violent Crime Victims Assistance (VCVA) Fund fine. We

affirm as modified and remand with directions.
¶2 FACTS

¶3 On February 11, 2009, the defendant was charged by complaint with solicitation of

murder for hire (720 ILCS 5/8-1.2(a) (West 2008)). The complaint alleged that the defendant

solicited Milton Bass to murder Deanna Musilek in exchange for money. The complaint was

superseded by an indictment one week later.

¶4 The case went to trial in October 2009. During the trial, the State presented evidence that

the defendant was incarcerated in Will County in early 2009 when he solicited his cellmate,

Bass, to murder Musilek in exchange for money. Bass relayed this information to authorities,

and eventually authorization was obtained to record Bass's conversations with the defendant.

While wearing a wire, Bass had a conversation with the defendant regarding the murder-for-hire

scheme.

¶5 On the second day of trial, after five witnesses had testified, the parties informed the

circuit court of two matters. First, the parties told the court that defense counsel had previously

represented Bass in a domestic battery case in which Bass had pled guilty. The defendant told

the court that he did not have a problem with defense counsel's prior representation of Bass.

¶6 Second, defense counsel informed the court that his supervisor, Greg DeBord, worked on

this case when DeBord was working in the prosecutor's office. Defense counsel told the court

that he did not consult with DeBord on this case, however. The court asked the defendant if he

was willing to proceed with defense counsel's representation, and the following discussion took

place:

"[THE DEFENDANT]: Yeah. I mean [sic] trust [defense counsel] and I

trust [co-counsel for the defense] here. But it's just that what can I do -- get a

whole different attorney from a different Public Defender's Office? I mean he

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works, the guy that was with the State's Attorney now works with the Public

Defender's Office is nothing, you know, can't get a Public Defender from a

different county or something to jump in and help me.

[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: I advised [the defendant] there is something that

could be done and it would be up to the Court, that he doesn't have to -- he could

object to the [sic] if he would like; that he is not forced to go to trial or he is not

forced to, you know, acquiesce with the fact that Mr. DeBord was involved in this

case. So it is up to him what he wants to do.

[THE PROSECUTOR]: Just so the record is clear, the fact Mr. DeBord is

over in their office has nothing to do with this case.

[Defense counsel] was going to consult with him regarding an issue the

defendant wanted to raise.

[THE COURT]: That was the Motion to Suppress?

[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: No. You know what, that was true, but I didn't

consult with him. But I think he had something to do with the overhear.

[THE PROSECUTOR]: I'm not saying that.

[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: That was an issue I wanted to make sure was

clear. I did not consult with him at all.

I had the intent and [the prosecutor] was like remember he was, I said, oh

yeah, you're right. I think the bigger issue that I had as his attorney, I had a duty

to let him know that his case in particular I found out that Mr. DeBord did have

something to do with it, I guess, authorizing the overhear, if I'm not mistaken."

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¶7 After it was discussed that DeBord could have been the one who signed off on the

overhear, the prosecutor told the court that he did not see any problem with defense counsel

continuing the representation given that no consultation took place between DeBord and defense

counsel. After defense counsel agreed, the court again asked the defendant if he understood the

situation. The defendant stated, "What are my choices? I'm not saying I want to change lawyers,

but being technically in my eyes the enemy is now working with my lawyer, you know." The

court responded with further discussion and inquiry regarding defense counsel's prior

representation of Bass, as the court saw that issue as potentially being more problematic. When

the court asked the defendant how he felt about it, the defendant stated, "I'm satisfied with my

attorneys. I'm just a little worried about, not the fact that he represented Milton Bass in the past

but a supervisor was in on this case from the beginning, you know. I just found out really about

ten minutes ago."

¶8 Next, the following discussion took place:

"[THE PROSECUTOR]: Judge, there is a series of cases that Mr. DeBord

had and was in charge of and was part of in terms of being in our office and

Public Defender's office, he's separating himself from and has had no discussions

about that, no influence on this case.

[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: That's correct.

[THE COURT]: And just one more time. You have not consulted with

Mr. DeBord on this case?

[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: I have not.

[THE COURT]: [Co-counsel for the defense], have you?

[CO-COUNSEL FOR THE DEFENSE]: No, Judge.

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 [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: We have direct orders [sic] certain cases where,

you know, that were filed, you know, while he was there, and then, you know,

certain cases filed after he was there we can only consult with him on the cases

that were after Mr. DeBord came over to our office.

[THE COURT]: That's the policy of your office?

[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Yes.

[THE COURT]: So anything existing at the time Mr. DeBord went to the

Public Defender's Office is off limits to him?

[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: That is correct.

[THE COURT]: And that's the Public Defender himself [sic] policy.

[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: That's correct. In regards to this case it kind of

slipped my mind, I was going to ask him about a -- it might not have been so

specific, but kind of generally, and then [the prosecutor] was like, oh, wait a

minute, make sure you don't do that, and I'm glad he did that. That's why I was

thinking about doing that and then I heard -- when looking through discovery I

think Mr. DeBord had something to do with this case.

[THE COURT]: Okay.

[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: So I wanted to make sure that was on the record

just in case the defendant found out later. Just want to be up front, your Honor.

[THE COURT]: As well you should be.

Anything else, [defendant]?

[THE DEFENDANT]: No, sir. Thank you.

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 [THE COURT]: You're fully informed; you are satisfied with [defense

counsel] and [co-counsel for the defense]?

[THE DEFENDANT]: Yes, sir.

[THE COURT]: You want to proceed; is that correct?

[THE DEFENDANT]: Yes, sir."

Thus, the trial continued without any change in counsel.

¶9 After the trial, the jury returned a guilty verdict. The defendant was later sentenced to 30

years of imprisonment. The court's sentencing order gave the defendant credit for presentence

incarceration from February 13, 2009, to December 17, 2009. The defendant was also assessed

numerous monetary charges, including a $200 deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fee, a $50 court

systems fee, and a $25 VCVA Fund fine. On direct appeal, this court vacated the defendant's

$200 DNA fee because his DNA was already on file in the DNA database from a previous case,

but otherwise affirmed the defendant's conviction and sentence. People v. Ackerman, 2011 IL

App (3d) 091057-U, ¶ 29.

¶ 10 On May 14, 2012, the defendant filed a pro se postconviction petition in which he alleged

ineffective assistance of appellate counsel. In his petition, the defendant alleged, inter alia, that

appellate counsel failed to argue that defense counsel labored under a conflict of interest because

defense counsel's supervisor, Greg DeBord, had previously worked in the prosecutor's office.

The petition alleged that DeBord was involved in obtaining the authorization to record Bass's

conversations with the defendant.

¶ 11 On June 8, 2012, the circuit court issued a written order in which it dismissed the

defendant's petition as frivolous and patently without merit. The defendant appealed.

¶ 12 ANALYSIS

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¶ 13 On appeal, the defendant argues that: (1) the circuit court erred when it dismissed his

postconviction petition as frivolous and patently without merit; (2) he is entitled to two

additional days of sentencing credit for presentence incarceration; and (3) he is entitled to a $5-

per-day credit toward his court systems fee and to a reduction in his VCVA Fund fine.

¶ 14 First, the defendant argues that the circuit court erred when it dismissed his

postconviction petition as frivolous and patently without merit.

¶ 15 At the first stage of postconviction proceedings, the circuit court must independently

review the petition to assess its substantive merit. 725 ILCS 5/122-2.1 (West 2010). If the court

determines that the petition is frivolous or patently without merit, the court must dismiss the

petition. 725 ILCS 5/122-2.1(a)(2) (West 2010). A petition is frivolous or patently without

merit if it has no arguable basis in either law or fact. People v. Tate, 2012 IL 112214, ¶ 9.

¶ 16 To establish ineffective assistance of appellate counsel, a defendant must establish that:

(1) appellate counsel's failure to raise an issue was objectively unreasonable; and (2) had

appellate counsel raised the issue, it is reasonably probable that the defendant's conviction or

sentence would have been reversed. People v. Ward, 187 Ill. 2d 249, 258 (1999). "Appellate

counsel is not obligated to brief every conceivable issue on appeal, and it is not incompetence of

counsel to refrain from raising issues which, in his or her judgment, are without merit, unless

counsel's appraisal of the merits is patently wrong." People v. Easley, 192 Ill. 2d 307, 329

(2000). A defendant is not prejudiced by appellate counsel's decision to forego raising an issue if

the underlying issue lacks merit. People v. Stephens, 2012 IL App (1st) 110296, ¶ 109.

¶ 17 The sixth amendment right to effective assistance of counsel includes the right to

conflict-free counsel. People v. Taylor, 237 Ill. 2d 356, 374 (2010). In determining whether

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 defense counsel labored under a conflict of interest, the initial step is to determine whether a per

se conflict existed. Id. Here, the defendant does not argue that a per se conflict existed.

¶ 18 Next, we look to when the potential conflict was raised. See People v. Spreitzer, 123 Ill.

2d 1, 17-18 (1988). "If counsel brings the potential conflict to the attention of the trial court at

an early stage, a duty devolves upon the trial court to either appoint separate counsel or to take

adequate steps to ascertain whether the risk of conflict was too remote to warrant separate

counsel." Id. at 18. In this case, while defense counsel did notify the court of the potential

conflict, he did not do so until the second day of trial, which was after five witnesses had already

testified. Thus, defense counsel did not raise the matter at an "early stage." See, e.g., People v.

Clark, 374 Ill. App. 3d 50, 65 (2007) (ruling that the circuit court was not obligated to conduct

an inquiry into the potential conflict when it was not brought to the court's attention before trial).

¶ 19 Even though it had no duty to inquire into the potential conflict, the circuit court did so in

this case and found that no conflict existed. Here, the court conducted a detailed inquiry into

defense counsel's potential conflict and determined that defense counsel had not consulted with

DeBord and that the public defender's office was structured in such a way that DeBord was

insulated from all cases that existed at the time he was with the prosecutor's office. Under these

circumstances, we hold that no conflict existed. See People v. Munson, 265 Ill. App. 3d 765,

770-71 (1994) (discussing potential conflicts in the context of an assistant public defender and

his supervisor and noting the impact the office's structure can have on the determination of

whether a conflict actually existed).

¶ 20 While it is true that the defendant's burden of presenting a gist of a constitutional claim in

this regard is low (People v. Hardin, 217 Ill. 2d 289, 303 (2005)), we hold that the record defeats

the defendant's claim. Accordingly, because the underlying issue is without merit, appellate

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 counsel was not ineffective for failing to raise the potential conflict issue on direct appeal, and

the circuit court did not err when it dismissed the defendant's postconviction petition as frivolous

and patently without merit.

¶ 21 Second, the defendant argues that he is entitled to two additional days of credit for

presentence incarceration. The State concedes that the defendant is entitled to this credit.

¶ 22 In relevant part, section 5-8-7(b) of the Unified Code of Corrections provides that a

defendant is entitled to credit for time spent in presentence custody. 730 ILCS 5/5-8-7(b) (West

2008). A defendant who is in simultaneous presentence custody on unrelated charges is entitled

to receive sentencing credit under section 5-8-7 on both offenses. People v. Robinson, 172 Ill. 2d

452, 463 (1996). Credit for the second offense is calculated from the date on which it was

charged. People v. Chamberlain, 354 Ill. App. 3d 1070, 1075 (2005).

¶ 23 In this case, the defendant was charged with the instant offense on February 11, 2009.

However, the circuit court gave the defendant credit only from February 13, 2009. We hold that

the defendant is entitled to two additional days of presentence credit, and we order the circuit

court clerk to enter a modified mittimus to reflect that credit. See Ill. S. Ct. R. 615(b); People v.

Rivera, 378 Ill. App. 3d 896, 900-01 (2008).

¶ 24 Third, the defendant argues that he is entitled to a $5-per-day credit toward his $50 court

systems fee and to a reduction of his VCVA Fund fine. The State concedes the defendant is

entitled to this relief.

¶ 25 Initially, we note that the defendant raises this issue for the first time on appeal.

However, a question of whether the defendant's sentence conformed to a statutory requirement is

an allegation that the sentence is void. See People v. Millsap, 2012 IL App (4th) 110668, ¶ 26.

"It is a well-settled principle of law that a void order may be attacked at any time or in any court,

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 either directly or collaterally." People v. Thompson, 209 Ill. 2d 19, 25 (2004). Moreover,

"courts have an independent duty to vacate void orders and may sua sponte declare an order

void." Thompson, 209 Ill. 2d at 27; see also People v. Dickey, 2011 IL App (3d) 100397, ¶ 31.

¶ 26 Questions regarding the appropriateness of fines, fees, and costs imposed by a sentencing

court are reviewed de novo. People v. Elcock, 396 Ill. App. 3d 524, 538 (2009).

¶ 27 Section 110-14(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 provides:

"Any person incarcerated on a bailable offense who does not supply bail and

against whom a fine is levied on conviction of such offense shall be allowed a

credit of $5 for each day so incarcerated upon application of the defendant.

However, in no case shall the amount so allowed or credited exceed the amount of

the fine." 725 ILCS 5/110-14(a) (West 2008).

¶ 28 In this case, the defendant contends that his $50 court systems fee, which is authorized by

section 5-1101 of the Counties Code (55 ILCS 5/5-1101 (West 2008)), is actually a fine. In

support of his argument, the defendant cites to People v. Graves, 235 Ill. 2d 244 (2009). In

Graves, a defendant was convicted of possession of a stolen motor vehicle and was sentenced to

nine years of imprisonment. Id. at 247. The circuit court also ordered the defendant to pay

various monetary charges, including a "$10 mental health court fee" and a "$5 youth

diversion/peer court fee." Id. at 248. The mental health court fee was assessed pursuant to

section 5-1101(d-5), which provides that the fee is "placed in the county general fund and used to

finance the county mental health court, the county drug court, or both." 55 ILCS 5/5-1101(d-5)

(West 2008). The youth diversion/peer court fee was assessed pursuant to section 5-1101(e),

which provides that the fee "must be deposited into an account specifically for the operation and

administration of a teen court, peer court, peer jury, youth court, or other youth diversion

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 program." 55 ILCS 5/5-1101(e) (West 2008). Further, section 5-1101(e) provides that the clerk

must remit the fees collected on a monthly basis to those courts or program, less 5%, which was

to be retained by the clerk as fee income to the clerk's office. 55 ILCS 5/5-1101(e) (West 2008).

¶ 29 The Graves court then emphasized the critical difference between a fee and a fine, which

was that a fee is intended to compensate the state for any costs it incurred in prosecuting the

defendant. Graves, 235 Ill. 2d at 250. The Graves court found that the mental health court and

youth diversion/peer court fees charged in that case were actually fines because they "do not seek

to compensate the state for any costs incurred as the result of prosecuting the defendant." Id. at

251. In its discussion of section 5-1101, the Graves court also stated the following:

"We find that section 5-1101 of the Counties Code also sets forth 'fines and

penalties,' although they are labeled 'fees to finance court system.' 55 ILCS 5/5-

1101 (West 2006). In addition to the two subsections under which fines were

imposed in this case, section 5-1101 also authorizes monetary penalties to be paid

by a defendant on a judgment of guilty or a grant of supervision for violation of

certain sections of the Illinois Vehicle Code or of the Unified Code of

Corrections. See 55 ILCS 5/5-1101(a), (c), (d) (West 2006)." Graves, 235 Ill. 2d

at 253.

¶ 30 In this case, the defendant's $50 court systems fee was assessed pursuant to section 5-

1101(c)(1) and was to be deposited into the county's general fund that is used to finance the

county's court system. 55 ILCS 5/5-1101(c)(1), (g) (West 2008). Pursuant to the supreme

court's statement in Graves, we hold that the court systems fee assessed in this case was actually

a fine. Graves, 235 Ill. 2d at 253; see also People v. Smith, 2013 IL App (2d) 120691, ¶ 21

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 (holding that assessments under section 5-1101(c) are fines); People v. Wynn, 2013 IL App (2d)

120575, ¶ 17 (same).

¶ 31 Our holding that the defendant's $50 court systems fee was actually a fine has two

consequences. First, the defendant is entitled to a $50 credit against that fine due to the time he

spent in presentence incarceration. 725 ILCS 5/110-14(a) (West 2010). Second, the defendant's

VCVA Fund fine must be amended. The defendant was assessed a $25 fine pursuant to section

10(c)(1), which applies only when no other fine has been imposed. 725 ILCS 240/10(c)(1)

(West 2010). Because a fine was in fact imposed in this case, the defendant's fee should have

been assessed under section 10(b), which authorizes a fine of "$4 for each $40, or fraction

thereof, of fine imposed." 725 ILCS 240/10(b) (West 2010). Given that the defendant was

assessed $50 in fines, we vacate the defendant's $25 VCVA Fund fine and impose an $8 VCVA

Fund fine. 1 See Ill. S. Ct. R. 615(b); People v. Martino, 2012 IL App (2d) 101244, ¶ 56.

¶ 32 CONCLUSION

¶ 33 For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court of Will County that

dismissed the defendant's postconviction petition as frivolous and patently without merit. We

also hold that the defendant is entitled to two additional days of credit for presentence

incarceration, to a $50 credit against his court systems fine, and to a reduction of his VCVA

Fund fine to $8. We remand the case for the entry of an order to ensure the defendant receives

these credits.

¶ 34 Affirmed as modified; remanded with directions.

¶ 35 JUSTICE HOLDRIDGE, specially concurring.

1
Because a VCVA Fund fine is not subject to the provisions of section 110-14 (725 ILCS

240/10(c) (West 2010)), the defendant is not entitled to a credit against this $8 fine.

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¶ 36 I agree with the finding that the defendant did not receive ineffective assistance of counsel

with respect to potential conflict of interest of trial counsel. I, therefore, concur in the judgment

which affirmed the dismissal of his pro se postconviction petition for failure to state the gist of a

meritorious claim.

¶ 37 As the State concedes the trial court's order erroneously credited the defendant with 310 days

of pre-sentence credit rather than 312 days, based upon this concession, I simply would modify the

trial court's order to reflect the proper amount of presentence credit.

¶ 38 Further, as the State also concedes the defendant is entitled to a $5-per-day credit toward his

$50 court system fee and to the reduction of his VCVA Fund fine from $25 to $8, I again would

simply grant the defendant's requested relief on the State's concession alone.

¶ 39 For these reasons, I concur only in the judgment of the court.

¶ 40 JUSTICE WRIGHT, specially concurring in part and dissenting in part.

¶ 41 Like the majority, I conclude that the judge’s written order should have allowed 312 days

of credit for time served, rather than 310 days. I agree this error is easily corrected by a

ministerial act of this court without the necessity of remand. People v. Caballero, 228 Ill. 2d 79,

88 (2008). I also agree with the majority’s conclusion that defendant did not receive ineffective

assistance of counsel with respect to a potential conflict of interest of trial counsel. Thus, I

concur this contention contained in the pro se postconviction petition did not state the gist of a

constitutional claim.

¶ 42 However, the pro se postconviction petition also alleges that the failure to raise the $5-per-

day issue on direct appeal similarly resulted from the ineffective assistance of appellate counsel.

Under these circumstances, I respectfully conclude the pro se postconviction petition sufficiently

states the gist of a constitutional claim based on the ineffective assistance of appellate counsel,

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 who failed to attack the sentence on the basis of voidness. See People v. Armstrong, 329 Ill.

App. 3d 150, 152-53 (2002). Therefore, I respectfully dissent from that portion of the majority’s

decision that affirms the summary dismissal of the pro se postconviction petition.

¶ 43 Unlike the majority, I do not believe this court should remedy appellate counsel’s

ineffective assistance on direct appeal by correcting the sentencing error that existed, but was not

challenged, at the time of the direct appeal, due to purported ineffective assistance of appellate

counsel as claimed in defendant's handwritten notations in his pro se postconviction petition.

Since defendant’s pro se postconviction petition does not challenge the amount of the $25

VCVA fine in his postconviction petition or make any contention alleging a constitutional issue

exists because the sentencing order is void (due to the amount of the VCVA fine), I respectfully,

but stubbornly, point out this court is without authority to reduce the VCVA fine in this case.

¶ 44 I submit the reduction of the VCVA fine to $8 in this case requires our resolution of the

conflicting approaches other districts of our appellate court have adopted when considering

whether the court systems fee operates as a fine or fee. In this case, defendant does not seek a

statutory credit to reduce the VCVA fine to $8 which could be viewed as a simple ministerial act

by this court.

¶ 45 Here, on direct appeal the VCVA fine could have been, but was not, challenged by

appellate counsel. See Hudson v. City of Chicago, 228 Ill. 2d 462, 485 (2008). Our task in this

appeal is not to correct these sentencing errors that were missed on direct appeal but, rather, to

consider whether the trial court properly summarily dismissed this pro se postconviction petition

on the grounds set forth in the pro se postconviction petition. I am confident that a remand for

further postconviction proceedings will allow the trial court to cure these errors, and potentially

other sentencing errors, postconviction counsel may choose to raise on remand.

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¶ 46 I acknowledge this court, on direct appeal, vacated an improper DNA analysis fee

without remand. However, the DNA analysis fee in this case was set forth in a written order

signed by the judge. Unlike the DNA fee vacated by this court, the VCVA fine at issue in this

appeal was not incorporated into a written court order. Here, a careful review of the record

shows the trial judge ordered defendant to pay a $200 DNA analysis fee and, in a separate order,

ordered defendant to pay “the costs of prosecution.” Neither order mentions any fines at all.

¶ 47 Absent a court order imposing a specific fine, it is wellestablished that the clerk of a

court, as a nonjudicial member of the court, has no power to levy either fine at issue in this

appeal. See People v. Williams, 2013 IL App (4th) 120313, ¶ 16; see also People v. Rexroad,

2013 IL App (4th) 110981, ¶¶ 52-53. Moreover, there is nothing in the record that convinces me

the trial court reviewed, approved, or intended to incorporate the clerk’s calculations into the

sentencing order. 2

¶ 48 I agree the majority’s approach to reduce the VCVA fine is efficient and ensures the error

is immediately corrected. However, in a postconviction context, the trial court should be

assigned the task of correcting its own errors when they are brought to the trial court’s attention

in a pro se postconviction petition stating the gist of a constitutional claim. This court’s previous

willingness to correct these errors, without remand, has not diminished the number or frequency

of such sentencing errors with respect to fees and fines in the trial courts.

2
A judge may properly order a VCVA fine in the amount of $25 when the conviction
results from a crime of violence. 725 ILCS 240/10 (c)(1) (West 2008). Yet, this defendant’s
conviction is not defined as a “crime of violence” pursuant to section 2(c) of the Crime Victims
Compensation Act. 740 ILCS 45/2(c) (West 2008). According to statute, defendant's conviction
required the trial judge to order defendant to pay a mandatory $20 VCVA fine in the absence of
other fines. There is nothing in this record to suggest the court approved the clerk’s calculations
or intended to order a VCVA fine of $25.

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¶ 49 I speak from personal experience when recognizing it is difficult for any judge with a

heavy criminal case load to quickly navigate through the complex sentencing statutes, from the

bench, during a contested sentencing hearing. Understandably, a judge may delegate the task of

compiling mandatory fines and costs to the court staff. However, unless the judge carefully

reviews and later adopts a nonjudicial person’s calculations, the practice of delegation without

sufficient judicial oversight is a process ripe with opportunities for unintentional error and void

sentences. Recognizing whether a fee, such as the court systems fee, operates as a fine (with a

corresponding statutory impact on the amount of a VCVA fine) is worthy of its own complicated

computer software program but depends entirely on the accuracy of the data entered by a

nonjudical staff member.

¶ 50 These small, separate, mandatory penalties may be viewed by some to represent an

insignificant component of the sentencing process. However, these mandated monetary

assessments collectively grow into much larger funds when distributed by the circuit clerk

according to statute. The statutorily created funds benefit worthy agencies without financially

burdening law-abiding taxpayers to fund those services.

¶ 51 When in doubt during a sentencing hearing, a trial judge might consider requesting the

prosecuting attorney to advise the court of all mandatory monetary penalties to be imposed. I

submit the State’s Attorney, rather than a court clerk, should bear the burden of ensuring the

sentencing statutes are strictly and uniformly enforced. In the alternative, the court could set one

additional status date after sentencing for the parties to review the clerk’s assessment of fees and

fines before the court incorporates those monetary consequences into a written order.

¶ 52 Based on this record, I decline the joint invitation of the parties, created by the State’s

concession of error, to reduce the amount of the VCVA fine at this time. At the risk of making

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much ado about nothing, I conclude all sentencing issues, allegedly neglected on direct appeal by

appellate counsel, should be addressed, and then corrected, by the trial court following a remand

from this court for further postconviction proceedings.

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