People v. Pryor

Fourth Division
March 22, 2007

No. 1-04-3434

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, ) Appeal from the
) Circuit Court of
Plaintiff-Appellee, ) Cook County
)
v. ) No. 02 CR 31449
)
PHABIAN PRYOR, ) Honorable
) Joseph G. Kazmierski,
Defendant-Appellant. ) Judge Presiding.

JUSTICE NEVILLE delivered the opinion of the court:

Following a jury trial in the circuit court of Cook County, defendant, Phabian Pryor, was

convicted of aggravated vehicular hijacking (720 ILCS 5/18-4(a)(4) (West 2002)) and vehicular

hijacking (720 ILCS 5/18-3(a) (West 2002)). The trial court sentenced defendant to two concurrent

prison terms of nine years. Defendant now appeals, presenting the following issues for our review:

(1) whether the State failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant was armed with a

firearm; (2) whether the trial court erred in failing to properly respond to a note that the jury sent out

during its deliberations; (3) whether defendant’s vehicular hijacking conviction must be vacated

under Illinois’ one-act, one-crime rule, where, based on defendant’s contention, it was carved from

precisely the same act as the aggravated vehicular hijacking conviction; (4) whether the mittimus

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should be corrected to reflect defendant’s conviction of one count of aggravated vehicular hijacking

and one count of vehicular hijacking; and (5) whether defendant’s sentence of nine years for

vehicular hijacking was excessive.

BACKGROUND

The record contains the following pertinent facts. Defendant was indicted on two counts of

aggravated vehicular hijacking (720 ILCS 5/18-4(a)(4) (West 2002)) and two counts of aggravated

unlawful restraint (720 ILCS 5/10-3.1(a) (West 2002)). The State proceeded on the aggravated

vehicular hijacking counts. One count alleged that on September 19, 2002, defendant knowingly

took a 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier from the person or immediate presence of Marquis Bonner, by the

use of force or by threatening the imminent use of force, and that defendant was armed. The other

count alleged that on September 19, 2002, defendant knowingly took a 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier

from the person or immediate presence of Tamika Bonner “by the use of force or by threatening the

imminent use of force and that he carried on or about his person or was otherwise armed with a

firearm.”

THE STATE’S CASE

The State’s evidence at trial included the testimony of Marquis Bonner, Tamika Bonner and

Officer Joseph Hodges. According to Marquis Bonner, sometime after 1:40 a.m., on September 19,

2002, he and Tamika left Tamika’s house in the Western suburbs of Chicago to drive to their

cousin’s house at 79th Street and California Avenue. Tamika drove her car, a green Chevrolet

Cavalier. After driving for 10 or 15 minutes on an expressway, Marquis and Tamika realized they

were lost so they stopped at a pay phone at a gas station on the corner of 113th or 115th and Halsted

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Street in order to call her cousin to ask for directions. Tamika got out of the car to call her cousin.

When she realized that the phone was not working, she told her brother. Marquis got out of the car

to help her. Marquis noticed two men walking around nearby, one of whom Marquis identified as

defendant. While Marquis was attempting to use the phone, defendant and his companion walked

toward Marquis and Tamika and told Marquis to get in the car. At the same time, defendant pulled

a silver object, which appeared to be a gun, from his waistband and pressed it against Marquis’s

stomach. Marquis testified that the object felt like “a circle object” against his stomach and “he felt

like it could have been a gun,” but he could not see the entire object. Defendant threatened to shoot

Marquis if he did not get in the car. Marquis refused and defendant backed him up against the car

and pulled his shirt over his head. Marquis’s shirt came off and he ran while his sister ran in the

opposite direction.

Marquis ran down the street away from the car, but returned to the gas station a few minutes

later and noticed that the car was gone. He recovered his T-shirt and flagged down two nearby

police officers. He told them what happened, and the police car took off in the direction that

Marquis thought the car had gone. A few minutes later two other police officers picked up Marquis

and drove him to the scene where Tamika’s car had been crashed. The police took Marquis to a

paddy wagon and asked him if the person inside was the same person who took his sister’s car.

Marquis identified the defendant as the same man who took his sister’s car, and he identified the

defendant in court.

According to the testimony of Tamika Bonner, in the early morning hours of September 19,

2002, she was going to drop her brother off at their cousin’s house at 79th Street and California

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Avenue. She was not familiar with the area and, as a result, she and her brother got lost. They

stopped at a gas station at 115th and Halsted to call their cousin. Tamika tried to use the telephone.

However, the phone was inoperable, so her brother got out of the car to help her. Two men

approached them and told them to take a ride with them. When one of the men grabbed her

brother’s shirt, Tamika ran. She identified the defendant as one of the two men that approached her

and her brother that night. She called her father from a pay phone a few blocks away. Tamika’s

father picked her up, and they drove around looking for her brother. When they could not find him,

they went home. After she returned home, she received a phone call from a woman who claimed

that Tamika had hit her truck. Later that day Tamika received a phone call from her brother and

the police and she went to the police station to view a lineup. Tamika identified the defendant as

one of the men who took her car the night before.

According to the testimony of Chicago police officer Joseph Hodges, he and his partner

were on patrol on 115th Street in a marked squad car. As they approached Halsted Street they

noticed a young African-American, shirtless male trying to flag them down. The man told the

officers that he had just been held up by two black males and they drove his car southbound on

Halsted Street. The man told the officers that he had been with his sister but he did not know where

she was. Officer Hodges told the man to remain where he was and the officers drove off in the

direction the man thought the car had gone.

Approximately one minute later, the officers saw a green Chevrolet Cavalier approaching

a stoplight at Halsted and 119th Streets. Officer Hodges pulled the police car in front of the

Cavalier so that it could not move forward and he saw two black males inside. The driver of the car

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proceeded to drive the car in reverse attempting to get away. After driving approximately 30 feet

in reverse, defendant hit a minivan parked on the street. Both offenders fled on foot. Officer

Hodges chased the men on foot while his partner stayed with the Cavalier. Both offenders ran into

an alley and then they split up. Officer Hodges chased defendant out of the alley, then defendant

turned left on 118th Street, where Officer Hodges lost sight of him for 5 or 10 seconds.

As soon as the offenders exited from the vehicle, Officer Hodges broadcasted a description

of the two men over his police radio. When he approached Halsted Street, he saw the defendant

run across Halsted and observed another squad car approaching defendant. The other officers had

defendant on the ground and Officer Hodges went back through the alley but was unable to find the

other offender. Officer Hodges saw defendant in the back of a paddy wagon and he also observed

that Marquis Bonner was near the paddy wagon.

Officer Hodges recalled that defendant went to the hospital after the incident, but he did not

recall who transported him to the hospital. In addition, he did not recall seeing defendant injured

in any way.

PRYOR’S CASE

Keisha Winston testified that on the night of September 19, 2002, several individuals

including herself, Ronald Pierre Thatch, and defendant were hanging out and drinking at her

residence. At around 2:30 or 3 a.m., Winston, Thatch and defendant left her house and drove

around looking to buy marijuana from someone on the street. They saw a couple of men standing

around, so Thatch pulled over and defendant got out to ask if they had any marijuana. Defendant

disappeared into the alley with the men and then he came running out of the alley. After Winston

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observed the defendant running out of the alley, she saw a police car back up and hit defendant,

knocking him down and striking him twice. A paddy wagon pulled up and the police put defendant

in the paddy wagon. Finally, the police brought a man to the paddy wagon and the man looked up

and shook his head.

Winston and her boyfriend went to the police station to get more information, but they were

sent home. They observed all of the activity from the car’s rearview mirror from approximately

one-half block away and defendant’s face looked like it was bruised and bleeding when he was put

into the paddy wagon.

Thatch testified that he was at Winston’s residence with several other people on the night

of September 19, 2002, after midnight. They were all drinking and some were smoking marijuana.

Around 2:30 a.m., Thatch, Winston and defendant drove around for approximately 30 minutes to

look for more marijuana. At around 118th Street and Green, Thatch pulled over and defendant went

into the alley with three or four men for 30 or 40 seconds. Defendant then ran out of the alley and

was hit by a police car that was chasing him in reverse. Defendant fell to the ground and got up, and

the police car hit him again. The police then put defendant in a paddy wagon. Defendant was

bleeding, and there was blood on his white tank top. The police brought a man to the paddy wagon

and the man looked at defendant and shook his head. Thatch approached the officers to ask about

the arrest but they told him to leave before he was arrested. He went to the police station later that

night and found out that defendant had been arrested for aggravated vehicular hijacking.

Pryor testified that he was at Keisha Winston’s house at around 2:30 or 3 a.m. on September

19, 2002, with her boyfriend Ronald Thatch and several other people. Defendant, Winston and

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Thatch left for a few minutes to go find some marijuana. Defendant asked some men standing

around on the street if they had any marijuana and the men said they did and they told defendant to

follow them into the alley. As soon as defendant bought the marijuana, he saw a police car coming

through the alley toward him. Defendant ran in the opposite direction and tried to throw the

marijuana away while all of the other men fled. Defendant testified that the police hit him with

their car twice as he was trying to run away, and he stumbled and fell the second time he was hit.

As a result, he sustained injuries to his face and head.

After he fell the second time, defendant testified that the police beat him up and put him in

a paddy wagon. The police brought a man to the paddy wagon, asked him if defendant robbed him

or stole his car, and the man said no. The defendant was taken to Roseland Hospital, where he

received treatment for his wounds, and then he was taken to the police station. Detectives Craig

Levin and Richard Glenky interviewed defendant at the police station regarding the events in the

early morning hours of September 19, 2002. Defendant denied telling the detectives that shortly

before he was arrested he had sex with a girl named Samantha at 115th or 116th Street and Racine

Avenue. Defendant also denied that he told the detectives that he paid $5 for marijuana that he

bought from a man at 117th and Halsted Streets. Defendant did state that he told the detectives that

he ran away from the police and threw the marijuana in an unknown location so that he would not

have it on him.

THE STATE’S REBUTTAL CASE

Detective Levin was called to testify in the State’s rebuttal case. He testified that defendant

told him during an interview that, in the early morning hours of September 19, 2002, defendant had

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sex with a girl named Samantha near 115th Street and Racine Avenue. Around 3 a.m., defendant

decided to purchase some marijuana and left her house.

During the course of the interview, defendant told the detective that he went to 117th and

Halsted Streets, met a man and bought $5 worth of marijuana. Shortly after that, the police pulled

up, shined a light on defendant, and he ran and threw the marijuana away. After the police

apprehended the defendant, they told him he was under arrest for armed robbery and put him in the

back of a paddy wagon.

Defendant did not tell Detective Levin that he had been struck by a police car, nor did he

tell the detective that the police officers beat him. The detective did not see blood on defendant’s

tank top, nor did he see any scratches on defendant.

The State also called Officer Gia Czubak to testify. She testified that at 3:41 a.m. on

September 19, 2002, she and her partner, Officer Jorovis, received a radio description of a person

involved in a hijacking heading northbound from 119th Street. The officers were at 120th and

Halsted Streets, and they saw defendant running westbound on 118th across Halsted Street. Officer

Czubak parked the police car and her partner chased the defendant. Defendant fell, got up, and

continued to run another 30 feet and was taken into custody by Officers Czubak and Jorovis.

Officer Czubak did not notice anyone in the alley, did not notice anyone sitting in a car, and did not

notice any cars nearby on 118th Street.

A paddy wagon arrived and defendant was placed inside. Officer Czubak stated that no

civilians approached the officers to ask about the events that had occurred. Defendant was taken

in the paddy wagon to 119th and Halsted Streets where the victim of the hijacking was waiting with

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other officers. The victim viewed defendant in the back of the paddy wagon.

After deliberating, the jury found defendant guilty of the aggravated vehicular hijacking of

Marquis Bonner and the vehicular hijacking of Tamika Bonner. The trial court denied defendant’s

motion for a new trial and arrest of judgment. At the conclusion of the sentencing hearing, the trial

court sentenced defendant to two concurrent prison terms of nine years. The trial court denied

defendant’s motion to reduce his sentence and defendant filed this timely appeal.

ANALYSIS

A. Failure of Proof Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

Defendant first contends that the State failed to prove that he carried on his person, a

firearm, because one witness testified at trial that he was not sure if defendant had a gun and the

other witness testified that she did not see a gun. Defendant asks this court to reduce defendant’s

aggravated vehicular hijacking conviction to vehicular hijacking and impose the appropriate

sentence.

When considering a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence on appeal, it is not the

function of the reviewing court to retry the defendant. People v. Collins, 106 Ill. 2d 237, 261

(1985). Rather, the relevant question is " 'whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most

favorable to the State, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime

beyond a reasonable doubt.' " People v. Perez, 189 Ill. 2d 254, 265-66 (2000), quoting People v.

Taylor, 186 Ill. 2d 439, 445 (1999). The weight to be given the witnesses' testimony, the witnesses'

credibility, and the reasonable inferences to be drawn from the evidence are all the responsibility

of the fact finder. People v. Steidl, 142 Ill. 2d 204, 226 (1991). In addition, circumstantial evidence

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is sufficient to sustain a criminal conviction, so long as the elements of the crime have been proven

beyond a reasonable doubt. People v. Hall, 194 Ill. 2d 305, 330 (2000); People v. Gilliam, 172 Ill.

2d 484, 515 (1996). "The trier of fact need not, however, be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt

as to each link in the chain of circumstances. It is sufficient if all of the evidence taken together

satisfies the trier of fact beyond a reasonable doubt of the defendant's guilt." Hall, 194 Ill. 2d at

330. Defendant argues that the State failed to prove that he had committed vehicular hijacking

while armed with a gun. 720 ILCS 5/18-4(a)(4) (West 2002). Here, defendant maintains that,

because his claim that he was not proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt does not entail any

assessment of the credibility of witnesses, but only the question of whether a settled set of facts

sufficed to meet the reasonable doubt standard, such a claim presents purely a question of law,

which this court reviews de novo. We must reject defendant’s argument. Defendant maintains that

the facts do not establish that he was armed with a firearm. The State contends that the witnesses’

testimony coupled with other circumstantial evidence established that defendant was armed when

he took Tamika’s car. By questioning whether the evidence proved an element of the offense of

aggravated vehicular hijacking, defendant is challenging the sufficiency of the evidence at trial and

the factual findings of the jury; therefore, the issue presented is a question of fact and not of law.

It is axiomatic that the State can rely upon circumstantial evidence to prove defendant’s guilt.

People v. Williams, 40 Ill. 2d 522, 526 (1968); People v. Kelley, 338 Ill. App. 3d 273, 278 (2003).

Moreover, where the evidence presented at trial produces conflicting inferences, the trier of fact

resolves the conflict. People v. McDonald, 168 Ill. 2d 420, 447 (1995).

Defendant contends that the evidence at trial did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that

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he was armed with a gun while committing the crime of vehicular hijacking. Defendant further

asserts that the jury rendered a guilty verdict without any competent evidence that he used a gun

during the crime. We reject defendant’s contention. It is well settled that proof of the existence or

use of a dangerous weapon can be established by circumstantial evidence. People v. Partee, 157

Ill. App. 3d 231, 266 (1987); People v. Myatt, 66 Ill. App. 3d 642, 646, (1978); People v. Rice, 109

Ill. App. 2d 391, 395 (1969); see also People v. Harrison, 359 Ill. 295, 299 (1935). The trier of fact

is entitled to rely on circumstantial evidence to establish that a dangerous weapon was used. People

v. Willis, 241 Ill. App. 3d 790, 796 (1992); see also People v. Dupree, 69 Ill. App. 3d 260, 264

(1979) (conviction for armed robbery may be sustained even though the weapon was neither seen

nor accurately described by the victim).

The prosecution presented sufficient circumstantial evidence that defendant was armed with

a gun. Marquis testified that he saw defendant holding a silver object which appeared to be a gun.

Marquis further testified that when defendant pressed the object against his stomach, it felt like “a

circle object” and “felt like it could have been a gun.” Finally, Marquis testified that defendant

threatened to shoot him.

Similarly, in People v. Chapman, 94 Ill. App. 3d 602 (1981), defendant, convicted of armed

robbery, argued that the State was unable to prove that he used a weapon during the commission

of the crime. As in the instant case, the victim in Chapman testified that she saw “a dark brown

metal object which she thought was a gun,” and she also saw “the cylinder of the gun.” Chapman,

94 Ill. App. 3d at 606. The Chapman court held that the victim’s testimony provided sufficient

evidence for a jury to determine that a dangerous weapon was used in the commission of the crime.

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The aforementioned cases make it clear that the presence of a dangerous weapon can be

established by circumstantial evidence. Applying these principles to the instant case, we conclude

that there was sufficient evidence for the jury to find that defendant was armed with a gun while

committing the crime of vehicular hijacking. Defendant threatened to shoot Marquis, and when

defendant pressed an object against his stomach, Marquis said it felt like "a circle object." Further,

defendant’s testimony was unworthy of belief. According to defendant, he ran out of the alley after

buying marijuana at the exact same time that the police happened to be pursuing the two men who

hijacked the vehicle from Marquis and Tamika. The marijuana was never recovered from the alley

or defendant’s person. After viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, we find

the jury, the trier of fact, could find the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.

Accordingly, we hold that the defendant was found guilty of the crime of aggravated vehicular

hijacking beyond a reasonable doubt.

B. The Trial Court’s Response to the Jury Note

1. Invited Error

Defendant next challenges the trial court’s response to the jury’s note which contained a

question regarding the aggravated vehicular hijacking charge. During jury deliberations, a question

was posed to the court regarding the State’s burden of proof for the offense of aggravated vehicular

hijacking. The court responded by notifying the jury that they had all of the law and evidence and

to continue to deliberate. Defendant maintains that the jury used a subjective standard (the victim’s

belief) to determine if he was armed with a gun rather than the standard of whether he was actually

armed with a gun. Defendant asks this court to reverse his conviction for aggravated vehicular

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hijacking and remand for a new trial.

The State initially responds that defendant has waived any argument regarding the trial

court’s response to the jury note by failing to object to the court’s response at trial. We agree. The

record shows that during deliberations, the jury submitted a question to the judge requesting

clarification of the State’s burden of proof for the offense of aggravated vehicular hijacking. The

following discussion occurred:

“Assistant State's Attorney: The State’s response, your Honor, our

suggestion will be that they have heard all of the evidence and they

have the law, to please continue to deliberate.

Defense Counsel: Exactly what I would have said Judge.

THE COURT: Hmm, hmm.

Assistant State's Attorney: We agree.

THE COURT: Would either side want me to say something in

addition to that, like something to the effect that this is for you to

decide, that’s already in the instructions. You have all the law and the

evidence, you may continue to deliberate.

Defense Counsel: Fine.

Assistant State's Attorney: Yes.

THE COURT: You have all the law and evidence, please

continue to deliberate.

Defense Counsel: Fine.”

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This colloquy establishes acquiescence, which is beyond mere waiver. Under the doctrine

of invited error, an accused may not request that the trial court proceed in one manner and then later

contend on appeal that the trial court's course of action was in error. See People v. Carter, 208 Ill.

2d 309, 319 (2003); People v. Villarreal, 198 Ill. 2d 209, 227 (2001); People v. Lowe, 153 Ill. 2d

195 (1992); People v. Segoviano, 189 Ill. 2d 228, 240-41 (2000). The purpose of the invited error

rule is to prohibit a defendant from unfairly obtaining a second trial on the basis of error that he

injected into the proceedings. People v. Cortes, 181 Ill. 2d 249, 283 (1998), citing Ervin v. Sears,

Roebuck & Co., 65 Ill. 2d 140, 144 (1976). To allow a defendant to object, on appeal, to the trial

court's response to the jury's question that he agreed to at trial would offend all notions of fair play.

Carter, 208 Ill. 2d at 319.

In Carter, defendant was charged with first degree murder for shooting and killing his

neighbor. The defendant testified that while he did shoot at the victim, he did not intend to kill him.

The trial court asked defendant if he wanted the jury to be instructed on involuntary manslaughter

and he said he did not, even though his attorney wanted the jury to be so instructed. On appeal, the

defendant raised the failure of the trial court to instruct the jury on involuntary manslaughter as an

issue. Defendant’s conviction was affirmed, and in its holding, our supreme court cited the doctrine

of invited error. Action taken at defendant’s request precludes defendant from raising the requested

course of conduct as error on appeal. Carter, 208 Ill. 2d at 319. Like the defendant in Carter, the

defendant in this case acquiesced when he failed to object to the trial court’s proposed response to

the jury's question. Accordingly, he may not complain about the trial court's response in this appeal.

2. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

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Alternatively, defendant contends that he received ineffective assistance of counsel when

his trial counsel failed to request a proper response to the jury’s question. To show ineffective

assistance of counsel, a defendant must first show that his counsel’s performance fell below an

objective standard of reasonableness. This requires showing that counsel made errors so serious

that: (1) counsel was not functioning as the counsel guaranteed the defendant by the sixth

amendment, and (2) counsel’s poor performance must have resulted in prejudice to the defendant,

i.e., counsel's errors were so serious as to deprive the defendant of a fair trial, a trial whose result

is reliable. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674, 693, 104 S. Ct. 2052,

2064 (1984). A defendant must satisfy both prongs of the Strickland test, and the failure to satisfy

either prong precludes a finding of ineffective assistance of counsel. People v. Patterson, 192 Ill.

2d 93, 107 (2000). Defendant has failed to show prejudice or that there is a reasonable probability

that, but for counsel’s agreement to the trial court’s response to the jury’s question, the result of the

proceedings would have been different. Defendant has also failed to show that counsel’s

performance was so inadequate and his errors so serious that he was not functioning as the counsel

guaranteed by the sixth amendment. People v. Smith, 195 Ill. 2d 179, 188 (2000). In the instant

case, defendant failed to satisfy either prong of the Strickland test; therefore, his argument does not

support his claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687, 80 L. Ed. 2d at

693, 104 S. Ct. at 2064 .

C. One-Act, One-Crime Rule

Defendant next contends that since he took only one car, one time, one of his two

convictions was improper. He asks this court to vacate his conviction for vehicular hijacking and,

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based thereon, to issue a corrected mittimus. The State initially responds that defendant waived

review of multiple convictions arising from a single act because he failed to raise it in the trial court.

Defendant states that trial counsel’s failure to raise this issue below affects defendant’s substantial

rights and, therefore, constitutes plain error. The plain error doctrine allows a reviewing court to

consider a trial error which has been defaulted because it was not properly preserved under two

limited circumstances: “(1) where the evidence in a criminal case is closely balanced, or (2) where

the error is so fundamental and of such magnitude that the accused was denied a right to a fair trial.”

People v. Harvey, 211 Ill. 2d 368, 387 (2004).

It is well settled that a claim that multiple convictions were improper can be waived by

failing to raise the issue before the trial court. People v. Gray, 171 Ill. App. 3d 860, 865-66 (1988).

The record shows, and defendant concedes, that he did not preserve the issue below, and therefore,

it is waived. However, we will explore the plain error claim. Prior to discussing plain error, we

first determine whether any error occurred at all. See, e.g. People v. Sims, 192 Ill. 2d 592, 621-23

(2000); People v. Wade, 131 Ill. 2d 370, 375-76 (1989).

Relying on the one-act, one-crime rule of People v. King, 66 Ill. 2d 551 (1977), defendant

argues that his conviction for vehicular hijacking should be vacated because his convictions for

aggravated vehicular hijacking and vehicular hijacking were based on one act: stealing one car.

Distinguishing this case from King, the State argues that defendant was properly convicted of both

offenses because this case involves two separate victims.

In King, our supreme court held that prejudice results to a defendant only in those cases

where more than one offense is carved from the same physical act. King defined an act as “any

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overt or outward manifestation which will support a different offense." King, 66 Ill. 2d at 566.

Analysis under King requires two steps. We must first determine whether defendant’s conduct was

a single physical act or consisted of separate acts. If we determine that defendant’s conduct

consisted of separate acts, we must then consider whether the multiple convictions are lesser

included offenses. Multiple convictions are improper only where there is a single physical act or

the convictions arise from lesser included offenses. People v. Rodriguez, 169 Ill. 2d 183, 186

(1996); People v. Pearson, 331 Ill. App. 3d 312, 321-22 (2002). According to defendant: “In

determining whether the charges arise out of the same act, the court need only look at the physical

act involved.”

Defendant’s assertion ignores the number of victims in this case. Our supreme court long

ago distinguished King, explaining that crimes committed against separate victims constitute

separate criminal acts. People v. Thomas, 67 Ill. 2d 388, 389-90 (1977), citing People v. Butler,

64 Ill. 2d 485 (1976). Where a single act injures multiple victims, the consequences affect,

separately, each person injured. Thus, there is a corresponding number of distinct offenses for

which a defendant may be convicted. People v. Gard, 236 Ill. App. 3d 1001, 1013-14 (1992). “In

Illinois it is well settled that separate victims require separate convictions and sentences.” People

v. Shum, 117 Ill. 2d 317, 363 (1987).

In the instant case, there are two victims. Both Marquis and Tamika Bonner were threatened

by defendant. Both were told to get in the car and take a ride with defendant and his partner. Each

victim was subjected to the taking of the car by force. Since there are two separate victims, there

are two separate acts and, therefore, because the convictions do not arise from lesser included

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offenses, separate convictions and concurrent sentences are proper.

However, defendant argues that the aggravated vehicular hijacking statute (720 ILCS 5/18-

4(a) (West 2002)) provides for only one conviction for a taking of a motor vehicle, regardless of

the number of vehicles. The State argues that the plain language of the statute does not preclude

multiple convictions based on multiple victims during a single incident.

The controlling principles are familiar. The cardinal rule of statutory interpretation is to

ascertain and give effect to the intent of the legislature. In determining the legislative intent, a court

should first consider the statutory language. A court must consider the entire statute and interpret

each of its relevant parts together. Where the statutory language is clear, it will be given effect

without resort to other interpretive aids. However, where the statutory language is ambiguous, a

court may consider other interpretive aids, such as legislative history, to resolve the ambiguity and

determine legislative intent. People v. Maggette, 195 Ill. 2d 336, 348 (2001) (and cases cited

therein).

Section 18-3 of the Criminal Code of 1961 (Code) defines vehicular hijacking as follows:

“A person commits vehicular hijacking when he or she takes a motor vehicle from the person or

immediate presence of another by the use of force or by threatening the imminent use of force.”

(Emphasis added.) 720 ILCS 5/18-3(a) (West 2002). Section 18-4(a) of the Code provides that a

person commits aggravated vehicular hijacking when he or she violates section 18-3 and, inter alia,

he or she carries on or about his or her person, or is otherwise armed with, a firearm. 720 ILCS

5/18-4(a)(4) (West 2002). Section 2-15 of the Code defines a “person” as an “individual” or a legal

entity. 720 ILCS 5/2-15 (West 2002). The Code further defines “another” as a person or persons

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as defined in the Code other than the offender. 720 ILCS 5/2-3 (West 2002). Thus, “another”

likewise refers to an “individual.”

Defendant argues that the vehicular hijacking statute “focuses on the taking of a particular

type of property, a motor vehicle, rather than the person from whom the property is taken,” and that

“ it is the act of taking under the specified circumstances that constitutes the offense.” Defendant’s

argument might have merit only if the vehicular hijacking statute were phrased as being committed

against “one or more persons,” such as in the home invasion statute. 720 ILCS 5/12-11(a) (West

2002)1. Our courts have long construed this language as indicating that only one offense can be

carved from one entry in a home invasion, regardless of the number of victims within the dwelling.

Through this statutory language, the legislature focused on the entry aspect of the offense, rather

than the number of victims. See People v. Cole, 172 Ill. 2d 85, 102 (1996); People v. Sims, 167 Ill.

2d 483, 522-23 (1995). If the legislature had phrased the vehicular hijacking statute as being

committed against “persons,” then the intent would be that only one offense can be carved from one

taking, despite multiple victims.

However, this is not the statutory language at issue in the instant case. The plain language

of the vehicular hijacking statute is phrased as being committed against an individual. Our courts

have long construed similar language in the robbery statute (720 ILCS 5/18-1(a) (West 2002)) as

allowing a separate count for each victim. See, e.g., Butler, 64 Ill. 2d at 488-89; People v.

1
The home invasion statute provides in pertinent part: "A person who is not a peace
officer acting in the line of duty commits home invasion when without authority he or she
knowingly enters the dwelling place of another when he or she knows or has a reason to know
that one or more persons is present ***. " (Emphasis added.) 720 ILCS 5/12-11(a) (West 2002).

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Morrison, 137 Ill. App. 3d 171, 178 (1985). Section 2-3 of the Code clearly defines “another” as

a person or persons other than the offender. 720 ILCS 5/2-3 (West 2002). Section 18-3 of the Code

provides that a person commits vehicular hijacking when he or she takes a motor vehicle from the

person or immediate presence of another by the use of force or by threatening the imminent use of

force. 720 ILCS 5/18-3(a) (West 2002).2 Tamika is the “person” (“individual” as defined in the

Code) from whom the car was taken because it was her car and she was threatened. The car was

also taken from the presence of “another” and that was Marquis. The vehicle was in Marquis’s

immediate presence and he was threatened with what he believed to be a gun. Although the

convictions resulted from the same physical act, two people were separately victimized in this case

and the trial court correctly entered two convictions. Therefore, we reject defendant’s argument.

In his reply brief, defendant argues that “the appropriate number of judgments and sentences

the court may impose for aggravated vehicular hijacking depends on how many ‘takings’ occurred

rather than how many victims were present. Because only one car was taken, only one conviction

can stand.” We disagree. The statute clearly provides that a person commits aggravated vehicular

hijacking when he or she violates section 18-3 and, inter alia, he or she carries on or about his or

her person, or is otherwise armed with, a firearm. 720 ILCS 5/18-4(a)(4) (West 2002). Section

18-3 provides that "[a] person commits vehicular hijacking when he or she takes a motor vehicle

from the person or immediate presence of another by the use of force or by threatening the

2
With an exception not pertinent to the instant case (see People v. Cooksey, 309 Ill. App.
3d 839 (1999)), the language of the vehicular hijacking statute employs “the same language that
we have in terms of robbery.” 88th Ill. Gen. Assem., Senate Proceedings, April 15, 1993, at 283
(statements of Senator Hawkinson).

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imminent use of force." (Emphasis added.) 720 ILCS 5/18-3(a) (West 2002). The statute does not

provide that punishment for committing aggravated vehicular hijacking depends upon how many

takings occurred.

Defendant also argues that the analogy “to cases involving crimes against persons is

irrelevant and should fail because crimes against persons focus on injury and death, rather than the

issue in this case, the taking of property.” This contention not only ignores the plain language of

the vehicular hijacking statute, but also ignores “the reason and necessity for the law, the evils

sought to be remedied, and the purpose to be achieved.” People v. Frieberg, 147 Ill. 2d 326, 345

(1992). During the legislative debates on what would become Public Act 88-351, the sponsor of

the bill, Senator Hawkinson, explained as follows: “Unfortunately, in our society from time to time

a new - - new genre of crimes comes along. We’re all to familiar with the tragedies around the

country of - - of car hijacking where someone armed or unarmed attacks a car, and either snatches

the driver out; sometimes the driver, as we read yesterday about one story, is dragged, because

they’re caught in the rush, and - - and caught a seat belt or something and dragged and seriously

injured or killed; sometimes these carjackings occur where a young child is the passenger in the car

and is taken for ride after a mother or father is - - is yanked from the car.” 88th Ill. Gen. Assem.,

Senate Proceedings, April 15, 1993, at 281 (statements of Senator Hawkinson). This explanation

of the reason, necessity, or purpose of the vehicular hijacking statute has more to do with the injury

to the victim than the taking of property. Where a single act injures multiple victims, the

consequences affect, separately, each person injured. Butler, 64 Ill. 2d at 489; Gard, 236 Ill. App.

3d at 1013-14.

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Although only one vehicle was taken, crimes were committed against two separate

individuals. Therefore, two separate convictions will stand and the one-act, one-crime rule does

not apply. Having found no error, there can be no plain error. See, e.g., People v. Nicholas, 218

Ill. 2d 104, 121 (2005).

D. Mittimus

Defendant asks this court to order the issuance of a corrected mittimus indicating one

conviction for each vehicular hijacking and aggravated vehicular hijacking. Both the defendant and

the State agree that the mittimus does not reflect defendant’s convictions of one count of aggravated

vehicular hijacking of Marquis Bonner and one count of vehicular hijacking of Tamika Bonner.

Where the mittimus incorrectly reflects the jury’s verdict, the proper remedy is to amend the order

to conform to the judgment entered by the court. People v. Brown, 255 Ill. App. 3d 425, 438

(1993). Pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 615(b), this court may correct the mittimus without

remanding the case to the trial court (134 Ill. 2d R. 615(b)). People v. Mitchell, 234 Ill. App. 3d

912, 921 (1992); People v. Casiano, 212 Ill. App. 3d 680, 690 (1991). Accordingly, the mittimus

shall be corrected to reflect defendant’s convictions of one count of aggravated vehicular hijacking

of Marquis Bonner and one count of vehicular hijacking of Tamika Bonner.

E. Excessive Sentence

Defendant argues that the sentence imposed by the trial court was excessive and the trial

judge abused his discretion by failing to consider mitigating factors in defendant’s favor and

defendant’s potential for rehabilitation. Defendant asks this court to reduce his sentence for

vehicular hijacking to a sentence more in accordance with his potential for rehabilitation. It is long

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settled that the trial court has broad discretionary powers in choosing the appropriate sentence a

defendant should receive. People v. Jones, 168 Ill. 2d 367, 373 (1995); People v. Bowman, 357 Ill.

App. 3d 290, 303 (2005); People v. Matthews, 306 Ill. App. 3d 472, 484 (1999). Illinois courts

have repeatedly emphasized the undesirability of a reviewing court substituting its judgment or

preference as to punishment for that of the sentencing court. People v. Hicks, 101 Ill. 2d 366, 375

(1984); People v. Pittman, 93 Ill. 2d 169, 178 (1982); People v. Vance, 76 Ill. 2d 171, 182 (1979).

Where the sentence chosen by the trial court is within the statutory range permissible for the crime

for which the defendant was charged, that sentence may not be disturbed absent an abuse of

discretion. Jones, 168 Ill. 2d at 373-74.

In the instant case, defendant’s sentences were within the statutory range. Section 18-4(b)

of the Criminal Code of 1961 provides that aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm is a Class

X felony, which carries a term of not less than seven years. 720 ILCS 5/18-4(b) (West 2002).

Under section 5-8-1(a)(3) of the Unified Code of Corrections, a Class X felony must not carry a

sentence of more than 30 years. 730 ILCS 5/5-8-1(a)(3)(West 2002). Defendant’s sentence of nine

years for aggravated vehicular hijacking was two years over the minimum sentence and 21 years

under the maximum sentence. Section 5-8-1(a)(4) of the Unified Code of Corrections provides that

vehicular hijacking, defendant’s other conviction, is a Class 1 felony, which carries a sentence of

4 to 15 years. 730 ILCS 5/5-8-1(a)(4)(West 2002). Defendant’s sentence of nine years for

vehicular hijacking is five years above the minimum term and six years below the maximum.

The court specifically noted in the record that defendant was found guilty of count I of the

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indictment, the charge of aggravated vehicular hijacking, and count II of the indictment, the lesser

included offense of vehicular hijacking. The court further noted that based upon the nature of those

charges, it did not believe that the minimum sentence was warranted in this case. After carefully

reviewing the record, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in sentencing

defendant to two concurrent prison terms of nine years.

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the circuit court of Cook County is affirmed.

The mittimus shall be corrected to reflect defendant’s convictions of one count of aggravated

vehicular hijacking of Marquis Bonner and one count of vehicular hijacking of Tamika Bonner.

Affirmed; mittimus corrected.

QUINN, P.J., and MURPHY, J., concur.

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