People v. Stafford

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Appellate Court Date: 2016.11.08
09:22:45 -06'00'

People v. Stafford, 2016 IL App (4th) 140309

Appellate Court THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.
Caption DAVID P. STAFFORD, Defendant-Appellant.

District & No. Fourth District
Docket No. 4-14-0309

Filed September 1, 2016

Decision Under Appeal from the Circuit Court of Woodford County, No. 02-CF-26;
Review the Hon. John B. Huschen, Judge, presiding.

Judgment Affirmed.

Counsel on Michael J. Pelletier, Jacqueline L. Bullard, and James Ryan Williams
Appeal (argued), all of State Appellate Defender’s Office, of Springfield, for
appellant.

Gregory A. Minger, State’s Attorney, of Eureka (Patrick Delfino and
Allison Paige Brooks (argued), both of State’s Attorneys Appellate
Prosecutor’s Office, of counsel), for the People.

Panel PRESIDING JUSTICE KNECHT delivered the judgment of the court,
with opinion.
Justices Turner and Harris concurred in the judgment and opinion.
 OPINION

¶1 In August 2003, a jury found defendant, David P. Stafford, guilty of four counts of first
degree murder (720 ILCS 5/9-1(a)(1), (2) (West 2002)) and one count of first degree felony
murder (residential burglary) (720 ILCS 5/9-1(a)(3), 19-3(a) (West 2002)). The trial court
sentenced defendant to natural life in prison (720 ILCS 5/9-1(b)(6)(a), (b), (c) (West 2002)).
On appeal, defendant argued the trial court abused its discretion when it sentenced him to
natural life in prison, and this court affirmed the trial court’s judgment. People v. Stafford, No.
4-03-1011 (Feb. 23, 2006) (unpublished order under Supreme Court Rule 23).
¶2 In June 2013, defendant filed a pro se postconviction petition alleging his life sentence was
unconstitutional under the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Miller v. Alabama, 567
U.S. ___, 132 S. Ct. 2455 (2012), because he was 17 years old when the crime was committed
and his life sentence violated the eighth amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
U.S. Const., amend. VIII. The State moved to dismiss the petition because defendant received
a discretionary life sentence, in contrast to the mandatory life sentence challenged in Miller.
The trial court granted the State’s motion, and this appeal followed.

¶3 I. BACKGROUND
¶4 A. Trial
¶5 The evidence presented at trial showed on March 6, 2002, Cherie Gillson was murdered in
the bedroom of her Eureka, Illinois, home. The victim had at least 45 discrete stab wounds in
multiple locations, including her face, arms, legs, and stomach. A doctor testified, based on
several of the wounds, “severe” force had been used. The victim’s nine-year-old son was
asleep in the basement at the time of the killing. The victim’s son found his mother later in the
morning and called for help. On March 7, 2002, the victim’s neighbors informed the police
they found a blue leather jacket, stained with blood and with dark hair caught in the zipper, in
their yard. Defendant’s father later identified the jacket as belonging to defendant.
¶6 On March 17, 2002, the police recorded defendant’s confessional statement. Defendant,
then 17 years old, claimed he went into the victim’s home to steal videotapes. Defendant stated
he knew the victim, as she was a school bus monitor, and she had previously let him borrow
videotapes. He thought he heard a sound coming from one of the bedrooms. He grabbed a knife
from the victim’s kitchen in case he was discovered. Defendant opened the door to the victim’s
room and stabbed her in the stomach when she walked toward the door. The victim hit
defendant, which enraged him, and he continued to stab her. Defendant lay down next to the
victim as she died. Defendant stated he held her and said, “Good-bye bitch.” After he
determined the victim was deceased, he went into the kitchen to wash his hands and proceeded
to steal videotapes from her entertainment center. Defendant later said he did not know what he
would have done if the victim’s son had walked into the room. After defendant’s confessional
statement, the police conducted a search of his bedroom. The police found two videotapes,
which matched the tapes defendant said he had taken from the victim’s home. Defendant’s
fingerprints also matched the latent prints found on the victim’s remaining videos.
¶7 The jury found defendant guilty of four counts of first degree murder (720 ILCS
5/9-1(a)(1), (a)(2) (West 2002)) (counts I, II, III, and IV) and one count of first degree felony
murder (residential burglary) (720 ILCS 5/9-1(a)(3), 19-3(a) (West 2002)) (count V) for the

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 stabbing of Cherie Gillson.

¶8 B. Sentencing
¶9 On October 6, 2003, the trial court held a sentencing hearing. Defendant’s father testified
regarding defendant’s childhood. Defendant’s parents divorced when he was two years old.
His father was given custody, and defendant seldom heard from his mother. Defendant had a
number of behavioral issues. For example, he was caught playing with his penis on a school
bus and took a knife from home onto the school bus. Defendant showed signs of aggression
toward women and “ha[d] a problem with their authority.” Prior to sentencing, defendant’s
father wrote a letter to the trial court, expressing his love for his son but also his fear defendant
would hurt more people if he were ever released into society again.
¶ 10 The presentence investigation report (PSI) demonstrated defendant had a troubled history.
Defendant’s highest level of education was the tenth grade. In 1993, when defendant was eight
years old, a teacher reported defendant had social and emotional problems: he liked to play he
was stabbing people, and he said when he grew up, he wanted to be a murderer. In 1997, when
defendant was 12 years old, a teacher noted defendant spoke with great bravado regarding how
he attacked a peer and sent him to the hospital, cut an adult with a beer bottle, and threatened
another adult with a gun, and he threatened a female student with a knife. Defendant’s school
records also show he was suspended from school for fighting and on a separate occasion, he
was suspended for assaulting a student and threatening a bus driver.
¶ 11 From ages 12 to 17, defendant was placed in approximately 13 facilities and shelters in
Iowa, which he claimed was due to “anger and voices in [his] head.” In May 1997, defendant
was court-ordered to a shelter for sexually abusing his two younger brothers, ages 8 and 10.
While at the shelter, he had numerous sexual issues; for example, he was fixated on sexual
subjects, accused a roommate of sexually abusing him, and complained to staff he masturbated
to the point of soreness. In June 1997, defendant was court-ordered to inpatient evaluation due
to a strange discussion with his guardian ad litem referencing Satan. Defendant was diagnosed
with conduct disorder and parent-child problems. The staff observed he had an inflated
self-esteem, bragged about sexual conquests, and bragged about his knowledge of gangs.
¶ 12 In July 1997, defendant was placed in a psychiatric medical institute for children, where he
was hospitalized for two weeks due to a major episode of aggression. In its evaluation, the
institute noted defendant was of above average intelligence and diagnosed him with major
depression, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and conduct disorder (childhood onset
type). He was consistently unable to comply with the rules, was caught in sexually
inappropriate situations, was prone to stealing, and showed no remorse for sexually abusing his
brothers. Defendant assaulted a female staff member, which ultimately led to his unsuccessful
discharge.
¶ 13 In May 1998, he began a court-ordered perpetrators program. In October 1999, he was
discharged, and it was the staff’s opinion defendant would continue to commit sexual crimes
against those whom he saw as weaker than him without close supervision. In February 2000,
defendant was placed in another perpetrator program and was discharged after a month
because the staff was unable to provide protection to the community and residents due to
defendant’s “violent fantasies.” He was then placed at a mental institution. Once stabilized, he
was discharged to a shelter, where there were incidents of inappropriate touching.

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¶ 14 From December 2000 to August 2001, defendant temporarily lived with his father and
attended a special education program. In July 2001, his father requested defendant be placed in
a shelter due to his inappropriate sexual and criminal behavior. Defendant’s father stated he
was stealing underwear from his stepmother and other people in the community and stole
videotapes from a local police officer. Defendant also broke into a home, where he stole money
and expensive stereo equipment.
¶ 15 From August 2001 to December 2001, defendant was placed in a shelter, where he
received psychiatric treatment. The staff noted he did very well controlling himself, no longer
appeared to be depressed, no longer had sexual fantasies, and was meeting his anger
management goals. In December 2001, defendant’s father stated he was not employed and
wanted defendant to return home, where he could supervise him and arrange for his
counseling. The temporary home arrangement was successful, and his father stated defendant
was doing very well. Defendant’s father noted he began to act strangely in March 2002. He
noted defendant would leave the house in the middle of the night, and one time he walked
around the house with a baseball bat for no reason. On March 5, 2002, one day before the
stabbing in the present case, defendant was court-ordered to be permanently placed at home
with supervision.
¶ 16 Defendant created a number of problems in jail while awaiting trial in the present case. He
arranged a jail escape plan where he planned to use his eyeglasses as a weapon, was aggressive
with his cellmate, destroyed property, threatened to “shank” someone, used obscene language,
engaged in sex acts with a cellmate, and passed notes between cells, all in violation of the jail’s
rules. One of the notes defendant passed referenced one of the officers and said defendant was
“exactly [two] seconds away from splitting skulls.” Defendant self-reported he was involved in
12 fights while in jail that were not recorded.
¶ 17 The trial court sentenced defendant to natural life in prison. In imposing its sentence, the
court stated:
“[T]he only difficulty *** the court struggles with here is the defendant’s age. He is a
young man. I know—although the court certainly acknowledges that young people are
entitled, if you will, to learn from their mistakes. But the acts of the defendant here are
too senseless and too vicious to give a great deal of weight to his age, particularly given
the history here, *** [and] the multiple attempts by the State of Iowa to rehabilitate the
minor without success ***.
And although defendant is of a young age chronologically, he is not in terms of the
efforts that have been expended to attempt to correct his behavior.”
¶ 18 On October 9, 2003, defendant filed a motion to reconsider, which the trial court denied.

¶ 19 C. Appeal from the Sentence
¶ 20 On appeal from his conviction and sentence, defendant argued the trial court abused its
discretion in sentencing him to natural life in prison. Among other things, defendant disagreed
with the court’s assessment of youth as a mitigating factor. Stafford, slip order at 7. This court
found the trial court did not abuse its discretion in sentencing defendant to natural life in prison
and the court adequately considered defendant’s rehabilitative potential, as it mentioned age
was the factor it struggled with the most. Id.

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¶ 21 D. Postconviction Petition
¶ 22 On June 14, 2013, defendant filed a pro se postconviction petition. Defendant argued under
Miller, 567 U.S ___, 132 S. Ct. 2455, he was entitled to a new sentencing hearing because his
life sentence was unconstitutional under the eighth amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual
punishment. U.S. Const. amend. VIII. The trial court appointed counsel to assist with the
petition, and trial counsel filed a certificate in compliance with Illinois Supreme Court Rule
651(c) (eff. Apr. 26, 2012), indicating he determined no amendments to the pro se petition
were necessary.
¶ 23 On December 2, 2013, the State filed a motion to dismiss (735 ILCS 5/2-615 (West 2012)).
The State argued the Miller decision found a mandatory life sentence for juveniles
unconstitutional, unlike the discretionary life sentence defendant received.
¶ 24 On March 27, 2014, the trial court granted the State’s motion to dismiss.
¶ 25 This appeal followed.

¶ 26 II. ANALYSIS
¶ 27 On appeal, defendant argues we should remand for resentencing because (1) his natural life
sentence is void because it was not authorized by statute and, (2) under Miller, his
discretionary life sentence was imposed without individualized considerations of youth and all
that accompanies it. The State argues (1) defendant’s sentence is not void and, even if it was,
Illinois has abolished the void sentence rule he relies upon and (2) defendant is not entitled to a
new sentencing hearing under Miller. We address each of these contentions in turn.

¶ 28 A. Void Sentence Rule
¶ 29 On appeal from the dismissal of his postconviction petition, defendant argues for the first
time his life sentence is void because it was not authorized by statute. More specifically,
defendant argues the felony murder statute the State used to enhance his sentence required him
to be 18 years old at the time of the offense, and he was only 17. See 720 ILCS 5/9-1(b)(6)
(West 2002).
¶ 30 Our supreme court abolished the void sentence rule, which stated a sentence not authorized
by law is void and can be attacked at any time. People v. Castleberry, 2015 IL 116916, ¶ 19, 43
N.E.3d 932; see People v. Arna, 168 Ill. 2d 107, 658 N.E.2d 445 (1995). Defendant asserts
Castleberry cannot retroactively apply to his case, and in support thereof, he filed a motion to
cite additional authority, asking this court to adopt the First District’s determination
Castleberry cannot be applied retroactively. See People v. Smith, 2016 IL App (1st) 140887,
¶ 30. The State argues Castleberry does apply retroactively and, therefore, defendant cannot
challenge his sentence as void.
¶ 31 In Smith, the First District examined Teague v. Lane, 489 U.S. 288 (1989) (plurality
opinion), to determine whether Castleberry applied retroactively. Smith, 2016 IL App (1st)
140887, ¶¶ 24-26. “Under Teague, a judicial decision that establishes a new rule applies to all
criminal cases pending on direct review. [Citation.] New rules will not apply to convictions
that are final at the time the new rule is announced ***.” Id. ¶ 24. “ ‘[A] case announces a new
rule if the result was not dictated by precedent existing at the time the defendant’s conviction
became final.’ ” Id. ¶ 25 (quoting Teague, 489 U.S. at 301). The defendant in Smith argued
Castleberry announced a new rule and was not dictated by precedent existing when his case

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 became final in 1999, and therefore he should be allowed to challenge his sentence under Arna.
Id. ¶ 27. The defendant also relied on the specific language used in Castleberry for the
proposition it created a new rule, such as when the supreme court stated it was “ ‘departing
from precedent’ ” and “ ‘abolished’ ” the void sentence rule. Id. (quoting Castleberry, 2015 IL
116916, ¶ 19, 43 N.E.3d 932).
¶ 32 The First District held “Castleberry did not announce a new rule but merely abolished the
rule stated in Arna, thereby reinstating the rule in effect before Arna: a sentence that did not
comply with statutory guidelines was only void if the court lacked personal or subject matter
jurisdiction.” Id. ¶ 29. The court continued to note, “[b]ecause Castleberry did not announce a
new rule and cannot be applied retroactively, defendant has the right to challenge his sentence
unauthorized by the sentencing statute *** pursuant to Arna and Thompson. Castleberry only
applies prospectively from the date of pronouncement, November 15, 2015.” Id. ¶ 30.
¶ 33 We agree with the First District—Castleberry did not create a new rule but merely
abolished one. However, we decline to adopt its conclusion. Because Castleberry did not
create a new rule, its holding does apply retroactively. See Teague, 489 U.S. at 301. Due to the
abolition of the void sentence rule in Castleberry, the rule pre-Arna is reinstated: a sentence
can only be challenged at any time as void if the court lacked personal or subject matter
jurisdiction. People v. Davis, 156 Ill. 2d 149, 156, 619 N.E.2d 750, 754 (1993). Because
defendant does not challenge the trial court’s personal or subject matter jurisdiction, under
Castleberry, we need not address whether his sentence is void.

¶ 34 B. Defendant’s Petition
¶ 35 The Post-Conviction Hearing Act (Act) (725 ILCS 5/122-1 to 122-7 (West 2012))
“provides a method by which persons under criminal sentence in this state can assert that their
convictions were the result of a substantial denial of their rights under the United States
Constitution or the Illinois Constitution or both.” People v. Tate, 2012 IL 112214, ¶ 8, 980
N.E.2d 1100. An action under the Act is a collateral attack on the trial court proceedings, and
issues that could have been raised on appeal, but were not, are forfeited. Id.
¶ 36 There are three stages for postconviction proceedings in a noncapital case. At the first
stage, the trial court determines, while taking the allegations as true, whether the petition is
frivolous or without merit. 725 ILCS 5/122-2.1(a)(2) (West 2012). A petition is deemed
frivolous or without merit when it has no arguable basis in either law or in fact. People v.
Hodges, 234 Ill. 2d 1, 16, 912 N.E.2d 1204, 1212 (2009). If the petition survives the first stage,
it will advance to the second stage, where counsel may be appointed to an indigent defendant
and the State is now a respondent to the litigation. 725 ILCS 5/122-4, 122-5 (West 2012). At
this stage, the court must determine whether the petition makes “a substantial showing of a
constitutional violation” when liberally construed in light of the trial record. (Internal
quotation marks omitted.) Tate, 2012 IL 112214, ¶ 10, 980 N.E.2d 1100; People v. Coleman,
183 Ill. 2d 366, 382, 701 N.E.2d 1063, 1072 (1998). If a substantial showing is made, the
proceeding will advance to the third stage for an evidentiary hearing. 725 ILCS 5/122-6 (West
2012). If a substantial showing is not made at the second stage, the petition is dismissed.
¶ 37 In his postconviction petition, defendant argued he was entitled under Miller to a new
sentencing hearing because his life sentence was unconstitutional under the eighth
amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment. On appeal from the dismissal of his
postconviction petition, he asks this court to remand to the trial court for a new sentencing

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 hearing, where the court should consider individualized considerations of youth and all that
accompanies it. Defendant’s petition was dismissed at the second stage. The trial court’s
dismissal of a postconviction petition at the second stage is reviewed de novo. People v. Snow,
2012 IL App (4th) 110415, ¶ 15, 964 N.E.2d 1139.
¶ 38 In Miller, the United States Supreme Court held mandatory life sentences for juveniles
violates the eighth amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment. Miller, 567 U.S. at ___,
132 S. Ct. at 2464. This decision followed two other significant cases concerning juvenile
sentencing. Roper v. Simmons, 543 U.S. 551, 578 (2005) (prohibiting a trial court from
imposing the death penalty on a defendant who was under the age of 18 when the crime was
committed); Graham v. Florida, 560 U.S. 48, 74 (2010) (prohibiting a trial court from
sentencing a juvenile to life without parole for an offense other than homicide). The Court
reached this conclusion “not only on common sense—on what ‘any parent knows’—but on
science and social science as well.” Miller, 567 U.S. at ___, 132 S. Ct. at 2464. In previous
decisions, the Court noted studies indicating only a small portion of adolescents who engage in
illegal activity actually develop ingrained patterns of problem behavior. Id. Studies have also
supported a fundamental difference in brain development between adolescents and adults, for
example, parts of the brain involved in behavior control. Id. at ___, 132 S. Ct. at 2464. The
Court believed a child’s culpability is lessened because of transient rashness, proclivity for
risk, and inability to assess consequences, and as the child ages, deficiencies will be reformed.
Id. at ___, 132 S. Ct. at 2464-65.
¶ 39 After the Miller decision came Montgomery v. Louisiana, 577 U.S. ___, 136 S. Ct. 718
(2016), which expanded on the holding from Miller. In Montgomery, the Court stated Miller
applies retroactively and state courts must give Miller effect in collateral proceedings. Id. at
___, 136 S. Ct. at 732. Miller did not ban all life sentences for juveniles, but reserved this
sentence for “the rare juvenile offender whose crime reflects irreparable corruption.” (Internal
quotation marks omitted.) Id. at ___, 136 S. Ct. at 734. The Court went on to note, even if a trial
court considers a child’s age when issuing a life sentence, the sentence will still violate the
eighth amendment if the crime reflects “unfortunate yet transient immaturity.” (Internal
quotation marks omitted.) Id. at ___, 136 S. Ct. at 734. Other courts have interpreted
Montgomery to expand to discretionary life sentences, and under Miller, these juveniles must
be given an opportunity to demonstrate they belong to the larger population of juveniles not
subject to natural life in prison without parole. People v. Nieto, 2016 IL App (1st) 121604,
¶ 47, 52 N.E.3d 442. In McKinley v. Butler, 809 F.3d 908, 910-11 (7th Cir. 2016), the United
States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit noted “[t]here is more to Miller” and
sentencing courts must consider how children are different.
¶ 40 In this case, the State argued to the trial court defendant’s petition should be dismissed
because he received a discretionary life sentence, in contrast to the mandatory life sentence for
juveniles banned in Miller. The court dismissed defendant’s petition without a written order or
an explanation on the record for the basis of the dismissal. As discussed, the holding in Miller
is not exclusive to mandatory life sentences for juveniles. See Montgomery, 577 U.S. at ___,
136 S. Ct. at 734. Even though the trial court did not explain its reason for dismissing
defendant’s petition, a reviewing court may affirm the court’s dismissal on any grounds
substantiated by the record. Snow, 2012 IL App (4th) 110415, ¶ 17, 964 N.E.2d 1139.
¶ 41 On appeal from the dismissal of defendant’s petition, he argues his sentencing hearing did
not comport with Miller, and he requests this court to vacate his sentence and remand for a

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 proper hearing considering “youth and all that accompanies it.” Defendant has filed Nieto,
McKinley, and Montgomery as additional authority in support of his argument. The State
argues defendant has failed to persuade he is entitled to a new sentencing hearing because the
trial court gave full consideration to the mitigation of defendant’s youth and age-related
characteristics.
¶ 42 In Nieto, the First District examined the decisions in Miller and Montgomery to determine
whether a juvenile’s de facto life sentence violated the eighth amendment. In Nieto, the
defendant, age 17, was a member of the Latin Kings and fatally shot one person and injured
another, who allegedly used a sign disrespecting the Latin Kings. Nieto, 2016 IL App (1st)
121604, ¶ 4, 52 N.E.3d 442. After the shooting, the defendant told his brother-in-law he “ ‘lit
up some flakes’ ” and one victim received a “ ‘dome shot.’ ” Id. A jury found defendant guilty
of first degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm. Id.
¶ 43 The PSI showed the defendant’s highest level of education was the eighth grade. Id. ¶ 6. He
was expelled from school during his freshman year of high school for fighting. Id. He was
unemployed but did some remodeling work and sold drugs to support himself. Id. The
defendant stated he resided with his maternal grandmother because his mother was a drug
addict and his father was in poor health, having been shot and stabbed multiple times. Id. ¶ 7.
The defendant smoked marijuana daily. Id. ¶ 8. As a minor, he previously committed armed
robbery, attempted armed robbery, and possession of cannabis. Id. During the proceedings for
the charges of first degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm, he had pending
charges of involuntary manslaughter and reckless discharge of a firearm for accidentally
killing his younger brother. Id.
¶ 44 In sentencing the defendant, the trial court considered a number of factors: gang activity,
firearm use, lack of serious provocation, statements the defendant made to his brother-in-law
following the incident, use of police scanners to avoid prosecution, recidivism (the killing of
his brother during the pending charges), remorse for his brother’s death, gang activity
deterrence, age, and lack of rehabilitative potential. Id. ¶ 10. The court believed the defendant
could be part of “ ‘a pivotal change’ ” to work with the gangs in prison and rectify his
wrongdoings. Id. ¶ 12. The court went on to state, it “ ‘believ[ed] there is something good in
[the defendant].’ ” Id. The court sentenced him to 35 years of imprisonment for first degree
murder, 25 years of imprisonment for reckless discharge of a firearm, and 18 years for
aggravated battery with a firearm, to be served consecutively, for a total of 78 years. Id.
¶ 45 The defendant filed an appeal and argued, among other things, his sentence was excessive.
Id. ¶ 16. The First District affirmed his sentence. Id. The defendant filed a postconviction
petition arguing, under Miller, his de facto life sentence was unconstitutional. Id. ¶ 18. On
review from the first-stage dismissal of the defendant’s postconviction petition, the court
stated, “[a]lthough the trial court exercised its discretion in imposing defendant’s sentence, the
court’s reasoning did not comport with the juvenile sentencing factors recited in Roper,
Graham, Miller[,] and Montgomery.” Id. ¶ 52.
¶ 46 In deciding whether the defendant was entitled to a new sentencing hearing, the reviewing
court stated, in pertinent part, as follows:
“[T]he trial court’s findings do not imply that it believed defendant was the rarest of
juveniles whose crime showed that he was permanently incorrigible. The court clearly
found that for the foreseeable future, defendant was likely to engage in further criminal
conduct in light of the Latin Kings’ influence over him and the tragic shooting of his

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 brother. Given juveniles’ susceptibility to peer pressure and recklessness, this is hardly
surprising. Yet, susceptibility to peer pressure and recklessness erode with age. Indeed,
the trial court found that in the future, defendant could change his life and even help
other gang members change their ways. Although the court found defendant would
have to do that in prison, contributing to the prison population differs from the
opportunity to contribute to society. Additionally, the court found defendant’s sentence
was necessary to deter not only him, but other gang members. We now know, however,
that defendant’s sentence is not likely to deter anyone. See [Miller, 567 U.S. at ___,
136 S. Ct. at 726] (observing that deterrence is diminished in juvenile sentencing
because juveniles’ recklessness, immaturity[,] and impetuosity make them less likely
to consider possible punishment).” (Emphasis in original.) Id. ¶ 55.
Even though the trial court considered the defendant’s young age, “examining these factors
through the lenses of Miller may have led to a shorter sentence.” Id. ¶ 56. The court remanded
to the trial court for resentencing of the defendant. Id. ¶ 59.
¶ 47 Based on the record before us, defendant is not entitled to a new sentencing hearing. We
find defendant’s case distinguishable from Nieto. The First District stressed the trial court’s
reasoning in Nieto was inconsistent with research regarding juveniles and their rehabilitative
ability. Id. ¶ 55. For example, the defendant was a member of the Latin Kings and the
sentencing court noted peer pressure played a large role in his actions. Id. (the reviewing court
noted this is an improper factor to heavily weigh because “susceptibility to peer pressure and
recklessness erode[s] with age”). The sentencing court also stated it wanted to use the
defendant’s sentence as a deterrent for the defendant and other gang members. Id. (the
reviewing court found the defendant’s sentence is not likely to deter anyone because
“juveniles’ recklessness, immaturity[,] and impetuosity make them less likely to consider
possible punishment”). As a result, the First District found the rationale behind the defendant’s
sentence inconsistent with scientific research.
¶ 48 In the case at bar, the trial court did not attribute defendant’s actions to peer pressure or use
his sentence as a deterrent. Further, in contrast to Nieto, the court did not rely on any factors
debunked by science. Rather, defendant’s sentence was imposed to keep the community safe.
Defendant’s father expressed his concern at the sentencing hearing regarding defendant’s
possible release and believed imprisonment was necessary, as he was worried if defendant was
ever released back into society, he would continue to hurt people.
¶ 49 Defendant broke into the home of an acquaintance, his school bus monitor, to steal
videotapes. The record shows the victim previously allowed defendant to borrow tapes from
her and defendant noted he liked to talk with her. While rummaging through the victim’s video
collection, he heard a noise coming from the victim’s bedroom. Defendant grabbed a knife just
in case he was discovered and saw the victim as he opened the door. As she walked toward the
door, he, unprovoked, stabbed her up to 45 times in the face, arms, legs, and stomach. He
became enraged as she attempted to fight him off. When defendant determined her to be
deceased, he laid her on the bed and held her as he said “Good-bye bitch.” He then washed his
hands and resumed looking through her video collection and stole whatever he wanted.
¶ 50 The PSI relied on by the trial court showed there were a number of attempts to assist
defendant in dealing with his behavioral issues. At the age of eight, defendant expressed to one
of his teachers he wanted to be a murderer when he grew up and he liked to pretend he was
stabbing people. At the age of 12, another teacher reported he bragged about fighting with

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 other students and members of the community. Also at the age of 12, defendant sexually
abused his two younger brothers, who were ages 8 and 10. Following this abuse, defendant was
court-ordered into a shelter and remained in different shelters and facilities for the next five
years. Shelter reports indicate defendant was caught in sexually inappropriate situations, was
prone to stealing, showed no remorse for sexually abusing his brothers, and assaulted staff
members. He was also discharged from shelters due to his violent fantasies and the shelters’
inability to keep others safe due to defendant’s behavior. When defendant was temporarily
placed at home with his father, he was caught stealing underwear from his stepmother and
others in the community. He was also caught stealing videotapes from a police officer and
stereo equipment from a member of the community. After defendant returned to the shelter, he
was given another opportunity to temporarily reside with his father, and his father reported
defendant was doing well. One day after defendant was court ordered to reside with his father
permanently with supervision, the stabbing in the present case occurred.
¶ 51 While in jail awaiting trial in the present case, defendant caused a number of problems. He
devised a jail escape plan where he intended to use his eyeglasses as a weapon, was involved in
at least 12 fights, engaged in sex acts with his cellmate, passed notes between cells, used
obscene language, destroyed property, threatened to “shank” someone, and, in a note,
referenced an officer and said he was “exactly [two] seconds away from splitting skulls.”
¶ 52 Although the trial court did not explicitly state defendant was one of the rarest of juvenile
offenders whose crime showed a life sentence is appropriate, the court’s reasoning certainly
conveys the same conclusion. There was a plethora of documents and records filed with the
court to consider at sentencing. Defendant’s history showed a pattern of physical and sexual
aggression, usually aimed toward women. The court stated it struggled with defendant’s age
the most, as it believed juveniles are entitled to learn from their mistakes. However, due to the
senselessness and viciousness of defendant’s crime, the court did not believe defendant
deserved another chance. The court stated, “[a]nd although defendant is of a young age
chronologically, he is not in terms of the efforts that have been expended to attempt to correct
his behavior,” and therefore, a life sentence was the only viable sentence. The record is devoid
of any indication the court considered an improper factor or rationale when it issued
defendant’s sentence. The court expressed an understanding that “children are different” and
noted juveniles are “entitled” to learn from their mistakes. We find the court properly
considered defendant’s age under Miller and based on the circumstances of the crime and
defendant’s history, a natural life sentence was appropriate.

¶ 53 III. CONCLUSION
¶ 54 For the reasons stated, we affirm the trial court’s dismissal of defendant’s postconviction
petition. As part of our judgment, we award the State its $75 statutory assessment as costs of
this appeal. 55 ILCS 5/4-2002(a) (West 2014).

¶ 55 Affirmed.

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