ILLINOIS OFFICIAL REPORTS
Appellate Court
People v. Carr, 2013 IL App (3d) 110894
Appellate Court THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.
Caption KENT CARR, Defendant-Appellant.
District & No. Third District
Docket No. 3-11-0894
Filed June 24, 2013
Rehearing denied July 26, 2013
Held Defendant’s conviction for criminal damage to government-supported
(Note: This syllabus property in the course of an arrest for driving under the influence of
constitutes no part of alcohol was upheld on appeal, regardless of the fact that the fleet
the opinion of the court maintenance officer for the State Police stated during his testimony that
but has been prepared he “assumed” the State Police vehicle defendant damaged was purchased
by the Reporter of and maintained with State funds, since his assumption about the funds
Decisions for the used for the squad car did not negate the substance of his testimony.
convenience of the
reader.)
Decision Under Appeal from the Circuit Court of La Salle County, No. 10-CF-216; the
Review Hon. Cynthia J. Raccuglia, Judge, presiding.
Judgment Affirmed.
Counsel on Michael J. Greco (argued), of Chicago, for appellant.
Appeal
Brian Towne, State’s Attorney, of Ottawa (Terry A. Mertel and Nadia L.
Chaudhry (argued), both of State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor’s
Office, of counsel), for the People.
Panel PRESIDING JUSTICE WRIGHT delivered the judgment of the court,
with opinion.
Justice Carter concurred in the judgment and opinion.
Justice Schmidt specially concurred, with opinion.
OPINION
¶1 After a bench trial, the court found defendant, Kent Carr, guilty of one count of criminal
damage to government-supported property (720 ILCS 5/21-4(1)(a) (West 2010)), one count
of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) (625 ILCS 5/11-501(a)(2) (West 2010)),
driving with a suspended license (625 ILCS 5/6-303(a) (West 2010)), and speeding 40 miles
per hour over the speed limit (625 ILCS 5/11-601(b) (West 2010)). On appeal, defendant
argues the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions for criminal damage to
government-supported property and DUI. We affirm.
¶2 FACTS
¶3 On May 25, 2010, the State charged defendant by way of indictment with criminal
damage to government-supported property by alleging defendant knowingly damaged an
Illinois State Police squad car. The charging documents for defendant’s other offenses do not
appear in the record.
¶4 Defendant’s bench trial took place on September 13, 2011. The State called Trooper
Zachary McNelly as its first witness. McNelly testified that, on May 8, 2010, while on patrol,
he was traveling eastbound on Interstate 80 and, at approximately 6:30 p.m., he was near
mile marker 82. At that location, he observed a silver minivan, driven by defendant, traveling
at a high rate of speed. McNelly activated his front radar and determined that the speed of
the vehicle was 105 miles per hour. As a result of the radar reading, McNelly activated his
oscillating lights, crossed over the center median to turn west, and stopped defendant’s van.
¶5 McNelly approached the passenger side of the minivan and noticed a child,
approximately two years old, sitting on defendant’s lap. McNelly requested defendant to
produce a driver’s license. Defendant responded to this request by stating that his license was
suspended. After McNelly noticed a strong odor of alcohol emitting from defendant’s
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vehicle, defendant admitted he had consumed two alcoholic beverages. McNelly then asked
defendant to perform three field sobriety tests, all of which defendant failed.
¶6 McNelly arrested defendant and placed him in the back of his squad car. Since defendant
was very tall, he sat in the squad car with his feet on the backseat and his back against the
window of the rear driver’s side. Once seated in the vehicle, defendant became extremely
agitated and began yelling and screaming. As McNelly recited defendant’s Miranda rights,
McNelly heard a loud sound and saw the rear passenger window was shattered. McNelly
surmised that defendant kicked the window with his foot.
¶7 The State submitted a video from McNelly’s squad car into evidence for the court’s
consideration. The video documented the field sobriety tests and also showed defendant
screaming as McNelly read him his Miranda rights.
¶8 On cross-examination, defendant questioned McNelly regarding his sworn report
indicating defendant refused a breath test at the county jail. McNelly agreed he did not offer
defendant a breath test due to concerns about officer safety.
¶9 Next, Trooper Michael Ketter testified that he worked as a fleet maintenance officer for
the Illinois State Police. He stated Central Management Systems of the State of Illinois
(CMS) purchased and maintained all of the squad cars and other equipment used by the
Illinois State Police. The following exchange then occurred:
“Q. [Assistant State’s Attorney]: And how is [CMS] funded, do you know?
A. Through taxes, I’m assuming, for the State of Illinois.
Q. So the state police squad cars are purchased and maintained with State of Illinois
funds?
A. Yes, they are.”
¶ 10 After the court denied defendant’s motion for a directed verdict, the defense called
Trooper Kenneth Patterson and Deputy Jack Cavanaugh. According to these officers,
defendant attempted to escape from the broken window in McNelly’s squad car.
Consequently, Cavanaugh’s vehicle was selected to transport defendant to the county jail
because it was the only “cage car” vehicle available.
¶ 11 Defendant testified in his own defense. He stated that his two-year-old daughter was
potty-training, and she crawled into his lap while he was driving because she had to use the
bathroom. According to defendant, he pulled over to the side of the road so he could put a
“pull-up” on the child before McNelly approached the vehicle to investigate.
¶ 12 Defendant denied that he was impaired, but admitted he had consumed two drinks,
including one drink immediately prior to his interaction with the officer. Defendant stated
that due to his height and a knee injury, he was uncomfortable in the squad car. As he was
adjusting himself, he placed his foot against the window. Defendant stated the ball of his foot
applied enough pressure to break the glass, but he did not forcibly kick the window.
¶ 13 Defendant also admitted he was upset, but only because on the way to the jail, McNelly
was driving 95 miles per hour with his daughter in his squad car. Defendant denied being
transported to the jail in Cavanaugh’s car, and instead maintained that he only ever rode in
McNelly’s car.
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¶ 14 The court found defendant guilty of speeding, driving on a suspended license, DUI, and
criminal damage to government property. The court stated defendant’s credibility was called
into question because Trooper Patterson and Deputy Cavanaugh had no motive to lie about
transporting defendant to jail in a different vehicle, and yet defendant insisted he was never
transferred from McNelly’s car. The court also relied on the video from McNelly’s car to find
that defendant was intoxicated. Defendant was sentenced to 30 months’ probation, 146 days
in the La Salle County jail, and 1,000 hours of community service. Defendant appeals.
¶ 15 ANALYSIS
¶ 16 Defendant argues the State did not prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that he damaged
government-supported property because the fleet maintenance officer testified he was
“assuming” the damaged squad car was purchased and maintained with State funds generated
by taxes. Consequently, defendant claims the evidence was insufficient to support his
conviction for criminal damage to government-supported property and requests this court to
reverse his conviction for that offense. Defendant also contends the State’s evidence was
insufficient to prove him guilty of DUI. The State responds that there was sufficient evidence
to convict defendant of both offenses beyond a reasonable doubt.
¶ 17 When faced with a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, the reviewing court must
view the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution and determine whether any
rational trier of fact could have found the elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable
doubt. People v. Collins, 106 Ill. 2d 237, 261 (1985). The trier of fact is responsible for
determining witness credibility, the weight to be given to their testimony, and the reasonable
inferences to be drawn from the evidence. People v. Jimerson, 127 Ill. 2d 12, 43 (1989).
¶ 18 In this case, the State was required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant
knowingly damaged government-supported property without the consent of the State. 720
ILCS 5/21-4(1)(a) (West 2010). The statute defines “government supported” as “any property
supported in whole or in part with State funds.” Id. To prove this element of the offense, the
State called Trooper Ketter, the fleet manager, to provide testimony addressing whether the
damaged squad car qualified as “government supported” property.
¶ 19 Relying on People v. Bartlett, 175 Ill. App. 3d 686 (1988), defendant argues Trooper
Ketter’s testimony, standing alone, did not provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt
concerning whether the squad car, in this case, constituted government-supported property.
After a careful reading of Bartlett, we conclude Bartlett is not on point and does not provide
persuasive authority for defendant’s contention that the State’s evidence was lacking.
¶ 20 In Bartlett, the State did not dispute the insufficiency of the evidence concerning whether
the jail cell, purportedly damaged when the defendant threw excrement on the wall,
constituted government-supported property. Instead, the State asked the appellate court to
bolster the State’s evidence after the fact and on appeal by taking judicial notice of “the
manner in which police lockups are funded.” Id. at 691. The appellate court refused to take
judicial notice of a fact necessary to cure a weakness in the State’s evidence below.
¶ 21 Unlike Bartlett, the State in this case has not requested this court to take judicial notice
of any “missing” fact. Instead, the State relies on fleet manager Ketter’s testimony that State
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funds are used to maintain police vehicles to support its argument that the damaged squad
car qualified as government-supported property. Trooper Ketter’s assumption regarding the
origination of those State funds is irrelevant and does not negate the substance of his
testimony which established the squad car constituted government-supported property. We
conclude this testimony was sufficient to prove McNelly’s squad car was “supported in
whole or in part with State funds” beyond a reasonable doubt. 720 ILCS 5/21-4(1)(a) (West
2010).
¶ 22 Next, regarding his DUI1 conviction, defendant argues this conviction was “tainted”
because McNelly’s DUI report inaccurately stated defendant refused to take a breath test
when, in fact, McNelly did not offer defendant an opportunity to complete a breath test.
During cross-examination, the officer candidly admitted his report was inaccurate.
¶ 23 The trial court, aware of the inconsistency, was free to consider this evidence when
evaluating McNelly’s credibility. Instead, the court made a determination that defendant’s
testimony was not credible because defendant testified he rode in McNelly’s squad car to the
station when, in fact, defendant was transported in Cavanaugh’s vehicle. Upon reviewing the
entirety of the record, we conclude the trial court’s findings were supported by the record.
¶ 24 CONCLUSION
¶ 25 For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the circuit court of La Salle County is
affirmed.
¶ 26 Affirmed.
¶ 27 JUSTICE SCHMIDT, specially concurring.
¶ 28 I concur in the majority’s opinion, but write separately to further address defendant’s
argument that the State failed to prove that he damaged government-supported property.
Defendant kicked the window out of a vehicle operated by an Illinois State Police trooper.
The car had the words “State Police” written on the outside of the vehicle. Mounted to the
vehicle were Illinois State Police license plates. That was enough evidence; Ketter’s
testimony was fine, but unnecessary.
¶ 29 Defendant relied heavily upon the case of People v. Bartlett, 175 Ill. App. 3d 686 (1988),
in support of his argument. To my knowledge, no court has followed Bartlett, although some
courts have distinguished Bartlett. See, e.g., People v. Henderson, 223 Ill. App. 3d 131
1
We initially note that defendant did not include the case number for the DUI, 10-DT-244,
on his notice of appeal, thus documents relating to the charge were not included in the record on
appeal. However, because the notice of appeal must be liberally construed, we elect to consider the
alleged errors associated with both convictions that purportedly occurred during the same trial.
People v. Decaluwe, 405 Ill. App. 3d 256, 263 (2010).
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(1991); People v. Smith, 2012 IL App (2d) 101199-U.2 For the reasons set forth below, I
believe that Bartlett was wrongly decided.
¶ 30 Albert Bartlett was arrested by the Addison police, originally for battery. Addison police
took him to the Addison police station, where Bartlett further struggled with police. Officers
placed Bartlett in a holding cell while they completed the arrest reports. Noticing a foul
smell, officers returned to the holding cell area, where they determined that Bartlett had
smeared human excrement on the cell wall. He was then charged with criminal damage to
State-supported property.
¶ 31 The appellate court reversed, holding that the State failed to prove that the holding cell
in the Addison police department met the definition of State-supported property. On appeal,
the State argued that the court could take judicial notice of the manner in which police
lockups are funded. The Bartlett court declined “to supply the proof of a missing element of
the offense which would require this court, in effect, to assume the role of advocate for the
State on appeal, and would be contrary to the principles of proper judicial review. [Citation.]
Instead, we will act only on the record as presented rather than assume a state of facts
unwarranted by the record.” Bartlett, 175 Ill. App. 3d at 691.
¶ 32 I respectfully submit that the Bartlett court overlooked the principle of judicial review,
which provides that “ ‘[a] conviction can be sustained upon circumstantial evidence as well
as upon direct, and to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt does not mean that the jury must
disregard the inferences that flow normally from the evidence before it.’ ” People v.
Patterson, 217 Ill. 2d 407, 435 (2005) (quoting People v. Williams, 40 Ill. 2d 522, 526
(1968)). A reasonable inference, if not the only reasonable inference, to be drawn from the
evidence in Bartlett was that the police lockup was State-supported property as described by
the statute. There was no need to take judicial notice. Contrary to the Bartlett court and the
majority here, I believe there was no “missing” fact in Bartlett. I am not as confident as the
majority is that the State, in Bartlett, conceded the insufficiency of the evidence. We would
need to assume that the appellate court addressed each of the State’s arguments. That does
not always happen.
¶ 33 The statute in question (720 ILCS 5/21-4 (West 2010)) addresses criminal damage to
“any property supported in whole or in part with State funds, funds of a unit of local
government or school district, or Federal funds administered or granted through State
agencies without the consent of the State.” 720 ILCS 5/21-4(1)(a) (West 2010). What
reasonable inference could be drawn with respect to either a state, county, or municipal
police squad car or municipal police department booking areas and holding cells, other than
they are property supported in whole or in part with State funds, funds of a unit of local
government, or federal funds administered or granted through State agencies? The law has
never required a party to jump through hoops to prove the obvious. There was no reason to
require the State to call a vehicle fleet supervisor to testify that the squad car was supported
by government funds. Bartlett was wrongly decided.
2
I cite to this Rule 23 order as an example of how courts are dealing with Bartlett, not as
authority for my position.
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