People v. Torres , 2015 IL App (1st) 120807 ( 2015 )

2015 IL App (1st) 120807No. 1-12-0807
Opinion filed May 27, 2015
Third Division
IN THE
APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
FIRST DISTRICT
) Appeal from the Circuit Court
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, ) of Cook County.
)
Plaintiff-Appellee, )
) No. 10-CR-107
v. )
)
PABLO TORRES, ) The Honorable
) Evelyn B. Clay,
Defendant-Appellant. ) Judge, presiding.
)
JUSTICE HYMAN delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
Presiding Justice Pucinski and Justice Mason concurred in the judgment and opinion.
OPINION
¶1 Defendant Pablo Torres was charged by indictment with attempted murder (720 ILCS
5/8-4(a), 9-1 (West 2008)); four counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault (720 ILCS 5/12-
14(a)(2), 12-14(a)(3), 12-14(a)(4) (West 2008)); and aggravated kidnapping (720 ILCS 5/10-
2(a)(3) (West 2008)). The charges stemmed from events that occurred between November 25
and 27, 2009, at a motel in Chicago. A jury found Torres not guilty of attempted murder but
convicted him of aggravated battery as a lesser-included offense of attempted murder, four
counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault, and one count of aggravated kidnapping. The trial
court merged the four counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault and sentenced Torres to
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concurrent terms of 21 years in prison for aggravated criminal sexual assault and 6 years for
aggravated kidnapping, with a consecutive 6-year term for aggravated battery.
¶2 Torres argues three grounds for reversing his convictions and remanding for a new trial:
(1) the trial court improperly allowed testimony regarding two prior acts of domestic violence by
Torres against Maria P.; (2) the State inadequately summarized, as required by statute (725 ILCS
5/115-7.4(c) (West 2012)), a prior act of domestic violence; and (3) the trial court erred when it
failed to instruct the jury as to the State's burden of proving lack of consent beyond a reasonable
doubt.
¶3 We affirm Torres' convictions and sentences. First, the trial court properly allowed the
State to adduce evidence of two earlier attacks by Torres against Maria that occurred within two
months of the charges. Second, the State's supplemental motion to allow the other-crimes
evidence provided an adequate summary of the evidence as required by statute. 725 ILCS 5/115-
7.4(c) (West 2008). Third, Torres neither tendered an instruction regarding his consent defense
during the conference nor did he raise the issue in his motion for a new trial; thus, he forfeited
the issue of jury instructions as to consent. Furthermore, no error occurred where the jury was
instructed as to the elements of the offense of aggravated criminal sexual assault, the State's
burden of proof, and the presumption of innocence.
¶4 BACKGROUND
¶5 Before the events in November 2009, Torres and Maria P. dated for a couple of months,
but Maria ended the relationship in late October after he beat her while they were on a date.
Maria obtained an order of protection against Torres. Nevertheless, shortly afterward, on
November 25, despite the order of protection, Maria P. accompanied Torres to a motel where
Torres refused to allow Maria to leave; punched her in the face, arms, and legs; and had sex with
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her once. On November 27, Torres drove her home. Maria called the police and was interviewed
and photographed on November 30 and December 1. The police then arrested Torres and
charged him with several offenses. At trial, he raised a defense of consent, asserting that Maria
willingly accompanied him to the motel and acquiesced to sexual intercourse.
¶6 Before trial began, the State moved in limine to allow evidence of prior unrelated acts
committed by Torres in 1995 and 1999 against two women with whom he had romantic
relationships, and the October 2009 incident involving Maria which resulted in an order of
protection. The trial court denied the State's motion pertaining to the other women as being
remote in time, but allowed the State's motion regarding the October 2009 incident.
¶7 In a supplemental motion in limine, the State sought to admit evidence of another
incident that occurred at a restaurant in September 2009. The State's summary included the
following: Torres "became enraged" when Maria received a phone call from her employer,
"call[ing] her names and hit[ting] her in the face." They left the restaurant and went to Torres'
house. Although Maria told him she wanted to go home, she stayed overnight because he "did
not want her to leave." The State learned of this incident after the investigator for the defense
interviewed Maria. Defense counsel did not object to this evidence. The trial court allowed the
State's motion.
¶8 State's Evidence
¶9 Maria, who testified through an interpreter, dated Torres during September and October
2009. They met at a bar on the south side of Chicago where she was a waitress. On their first
date at a restaurant, Torres looked at her "in a very strange way" like he wanted to kill her. Maria
described their second date, a walk together in a park, as "normal." In September 2009, during
their third date while at a restaurant, Maria received a call on her cell phone from her boss who
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wanted her to come to the bar to work. She declined, after which her boss put a customer on the
phone to say hello. This angered Torres. He started calling Maria insulting names which made
her cry and attracted the attention of a waitress who came over to see if Maria was "okay."
Torres and Maria then left the restaurant and went to Torres' car. There, Torres slapped her,
pulled her hair, and choked her while he drove. He told her she would "pay for this when we get
home," and that she must do everything he told her or "he could hurt [her] badly." Torres drove
to his house where she stayed overnight after he refused to let her go home. Maria did not call
the police out of fear.
¶ 10 Maria continued to date Torres because "he told me to forgive him." Maria testified that
she did forgive him. Later in October, Torres took her to a tattoo parlor and had his name
"Pablo" tattooed on her wrist even though Maria did not want the tattoo. Torres hugged her
tightly, which Maria understood to mean she "better" obey his wishes.
¶ 11 In the early hours of October 25, 2009, Torres picked up Maria after work and brought
her to his house. She went into the bathroom to wash her face. When she came out, he attacked
her, hitting her many times on her face and legs. He choked her and told her not to scream. She
realized that he had seen a call from a male friend on her cell phone. After a long time, he
stopped and calmed down. He asked for forgiveness. He would not let her leave until much later.
Again, she did not call the police. On October 28, she went to the hospital.
¶ 12 At this point in her testimony, the trial court called for a side bar and admonished the
State to discontinue questions about October 25 because Maria was relating too much detail
about the uncharged offense. Defense counsel moved for a mistrial, which the trial court denied.
¶ 13 Maria testified that after meeting with police officers at the hospital, she obtained an
order of protection. Torres continued calling her cell phone and home phone. On November 21,
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she went to a hotel with him where they spent the night and had sex. Maria explained that she
went with Torres that night because she was "scared" and "terrified." Torres apologized and she
forgave him.
¶ 14 Charged Offenses
¶ 15 On November 25, the day before Thanksgiving, Maria agreed to go to a restaurant with
Torres to talk. Torres sent his brother, Javier, for Maria. Javier drove her to a supermarket
parking lot where they met Torres. Maria got into Torres' car. Instead of going to a restaurant, he
drove to a far away motel on the north side of Chicago. Maria had only a jacket and purse with
her. On the way, Torres bought Maria hot tea at a McDonald's because she was coughing. Torres
checked into the motel and came out "pretty fast." When they went inside their room, which was
in the back of the motel, Torres grabbed Maria's purse and used her cell phone to call Maria's
daughter, Maritza. He told Maritza that "your mother's with me and she's okay. She's fine."
Torres then broke Maria's cell phone and threw it away. He also disconnected the motel
telephone; however, he reconnected it after an employee came to their room and told him it
could not remain disconnected.
¶ 16 Maria sat down at the end of the bed and drank the tea. She told Torres that she was
going back to work on November 27, the day after Thanksgiving. She had been unable to work
for a month due to injuries from the "beating that [she] got." Torres became angry and started to
beat her, threw the hot tea on her, spit on her face, and threw her on the bed by her hair. He
started to squeeze her neck and she fainted. When she regained consciousness, she went to sit in
a chair and he began to punch her in the face and kick her. After a long time, he stopped and told
her to take her clothes off. She did so slowly because she hurt and then lay down on the bed.
Torres punched her in the mouth and blood began to "spurt everywhere." He threw a towel at
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her, grabbed her and threw her up against the mirror in the bathroom. She saw that her face was
swollen and disfigured. He told her to wash her face and take the blood off, and then said "let's
go to bed." She again lay down and pretended to sleep while he held her tightly. Whenever she
moved slightly, he would check to see if she was sleeping. Torres slept on and off but Maria
could not sleep.
¶ 17 The next morning, November 26 (Thanksgiving), Torres' landlady called his cell phone
to let him know that the police were looking for him. Torres told Maria that he wanted her to
"drop the charges." In the early afternoon, a maid knocked on the door and asked if they wanted
clean towels. Torres instructed Maria to sit in the chair near the door. He opened the door a little
but Maria could not see the maid from where she sat. Later, Torres ordered food but Maria could
not eat.
¶ 18 In time, Torres began to act differently, speaking softly, and asking her to forgive him.
He said he wanted to have sexual relations with her. She refused because she was in pain, but he
held her hands above her head and had intercourse with her. Afterward, he fell asleep but held
her with both his arms. He set the alarm for 5 a.m. because he had to report to work. In the
morning, Torres drove her home.
¶ 19 No one was at home when she arrived. She called her daughter, Maritza, who had stayed
nearby for the two nights Maria was gone. Maritza returned immediately. Maria called the police
the same afternoon but felt too exhausted to go to the hospital. Maritza gave Maria pain pills and
she slept.
¶ 20 On November 29, the police interviewed Maria at her home and also photographed her
injuries. On November 30, Torres called Maria on her home phone and told her that if she
involved the police or if he went to jail, he would kill her. During that evening through the next
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morning, Torres called her about 50 times. On December 1, she went to the police station and the
police took photographs of her bruised face, arms, and legs.
¶ 21 On cross-examination, Maria admitted that when Torres went to check in at the motel
office, he left her alone in a running car. She explained that she did not try to leave because she
was afraid. And, she did not try to leave the motel room while Torres used the bathroom because,
after the beating, she could not walk. She also did not try to make any telephone calls. Torres
twice ordered food delivered, but she did not call out to the delivery person. Maria stated that she
continued to date Torres because he threatened her and she feared him. She did not tell anyone
that she was afraid of him.
¶ 22 Defense's Evidence
¶ 23 Chicago police officer Salazar testified in the defense's case-in-chief. On November 29,
2009, he interviewed Maria. She told him that Torres struck her, choked her, and grabbed her by
the hair. She told him that 30 minutes later Torres "penetrate[ed her] vagina with his penis."
¶ 24 Chicago police detective James Corcoran testified that he and Assistant State's Attorney
Holly Kremin interviewed Maria regarding the events of November 25-27, 2009. Through an
interpreter, Maria told them that Torres raped her twice and that three phone calls were made
from the motel room on Maria's cell phone.
¶ 25 Torres' brother, Javier, testified that Torres did not live with him and their parents. Torres
did not have much contact with his parents or siblings. Torres never came for holidays and
usually skipped spending the Thanksgiving holiday with his family. Javier stated that, as a favor
to Torres, he picked up Maria on November 21 and drove her to meet Torres. Maria entered
Javier's car willingly and told him she was excited to see Torres. When they arrived at a Target
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store parking lot where Torres was waiting, Torres got out of his car and opened the passenger
door for Maria. Torres did not grab or push her.
¶ 26 On November 25, Torres again asked Javier to pick up Maria for him. Torres did not tell
Javier where they were going or his plans for Thanksgiving. On December 1, when Torres was
arrested, he called Javier and asked Javier to post bail.
¶ 27 John Edward Byrne, a private detective, testified that Torres' defense attorney hired him
to investigate the case. Byrne discovered Maria's address through a computer search. Byrne went
to Maria's residence to interview her but no one answered the first-floor doorbell and the door to
an enclosed back porch that led upstairs was locked. On June 22, 2011, Byrne discovered the
back porch door had been left unlocked, so he went to the third floor and knocked on the back
door. Maria's daughter, Maritza, answered. Byrne gave Maritza his business card and identified
himself as a private investigator working for the defense. Maritza then called her mother to the
kitchen. Maria's parents were present in the apartment. Byrne then interviewed Maria, with
Maritza translating from English to Spanish and vice versa. Byrne took notes during the
interview and, after typing up a six-page report, he destroyed his notes. Maria did not tell Byrne
that Torres grabbed her and pulled her out of Javier's car and threw her into his car. Nor did
Maria tell him that Torres choked her, slapped her, pulled her hair, or that he was physically
abusive before they had sex on the last night in the motel.
¶ 28 Torres did not testify. The defense rested.
¶ 29 In closing, defense counsel argued that Maria consented in that, according to Javier's
testimony, she was excited to see Torres and willingly got into his car when Javier dropped her
off at the supermarket where people were around. Additionally, he argued that Maria did not try
to escape despite several opportunities.
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¶ 30 Jury Instructions
¶ 31 During the jury instruction conference, defense counsel tendered an instruction regarding
aggravated battery as a lesser-included offense of attempted murder. The trial court allowed the
instruction over the State's objection. Defense counsel then indicated he had nothing further as to
instructions.
¶ 32 The trial court instructed the jury as follows:
"Evidence has been received that the Defendant has been involved in offenses other
than those charged in the indictment. This evidence has been received on the issues of the
Defendant's motive, criminal intent, absence of innocent state of mind, and hostility
toward Maria [P.] and may be considered by you only for those limited purposes.
It is for you to determine whether the Defendant was involved in those offenses and if
so, what weight should be given to this evidence on the issues of motive, criminal intent,
absence of innocent state of mind, and hostility towards Maria [P.]"
Criminal sexual assault was defined as: "an act of sexual penetration upon the victim by the use
of force or threat of force." The court further instructed the jury that, in order to sustain the
charge of aggravated criminal sexual assault, the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt
that: (1) the defendant committed an act of sexual penetration; (2) the act was committed by the
use of force or threat of force; and (3) the defendant caused bodily harm, or the defendant acted
so as to threaten or endanger the life of the victim, or the criminal sexual assault was perpetrated
during the course of the commission of aggravated kidnapping. A separate instruction defined
"force or threat of force" as the "use of force or violence or the threat of force or violence
including but not limited to when the accused has overcome the victim by use of superior
strength, physical restraint or physical confinement."
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¶ 33 The jury also was instructed as to the State's burden of proof and the presumption of
innocence of the defendant.
¶ 34 The jury retired to deliberate at 1:15 p.m.; at 2:51 p.m. the jury sent a note to the court
asking “What was the room number and location of the room in relation to the front desk?” By
agreement the trial court responded, "You have all of the evidence. Continue your deliberations."
¶ 35 The jury convicted Torres of aggravated criminal sexual assault, aggravated kidnapping,
and aggravated battery as a lesser included offense of attempt murder.
¶ 36 ANALYSIS
¶ 37 Torres argues that: (1) the trial court improperly allowed testimony on the September and
October 25 acts of domestic violence; (2) the State provided an inadequate summary of a prior
act of domestic violence; and (3) the trial court erred by failing to instruct the jury regarding his
consent defense. We affirm.
¶ 38 Prior Acts
¶ 39 First, Torres argues that the trial court permitted the State to present extensive and
unnecessary detail to the jury in the proof of other crimes. He complains that the amount of detail
Maria's testimony related regarding the October incident prejudiced him in the eyes of the jury.
The State counters that the testimony was necessary and relevant to establish Torres' lack of
innocence and intent and also Maria's state of mind. Further, the trial court instructed the jury
regarding the limited use of other crimes evidence.
¶ 40 Under section 115-7.4 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (725 ILCS 5/115-
7.4(a) (West 2008)) (Code), "evidence of the defendant's commission of another offense or
offenses of domestic violence is admissible, and may be considered for its bearing on any matter
to which it is relevant." 725 ILCS 5/115-7.4(a) (West 2010). The evidence must be relevant and
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its probative value must not be substantially outweighed by the risk of undue prejudice. People v.
Dabbs, 239 Ill. 2d 277, 291 (2010). But, "[e]ven if offered for a permissible purpose, such
evidence will not be admitted if its prejudicial effect substantially outweighs its probative value.
[Citation.] The admissibility of other-crimes evidence is within the sound discretion of the trial
court, and its decision on the matter will not be disturbed absent a clear abuse of that discretion.
[Citation.]" Id. at 284.
¶ 41 The State moved in limine to allow evidence of prior acts committed by Torres against
two women and Maria, with all of whom he had romantic relationships. The trial court denied
the State's motion pertaining to the prior acts against the two women as being remote in time, but
allowed the State's motion as to two incidents involving Maria that occurred in the months
immediately before this incident. During the September 2009 incident, Torres' and Maria's third
date, Torres became angry and called her a "f***in bitch, f***in whore." He continued to call
her names and slapped her. When they were in his car, he pulled her hair and choked her and
said she was "going to pay for this" and he "could hurt her badly" if she did not do everything he
told her to do. He would not allow her to leave the car, and once inside his house, he would not
let her go home.
¶ 42 On October 25, 2009, Torres picked Maria up after work and brought her to his house
where he attacked her, choked her, and instructed her not to scream. Afterward, he became calm
and asked for her forgiveness. He would not let Maria leave his house that night. The next day
when she arrived home, she did not call the police. On October 28 she went to the hospital and
later after meeting with police officers at the hospital, she obtained an order of protection.
¶ 43 Before Maria testified about the October 25 incident, the trial court instructed the jury
that it was about to hear other-crimes evidence for consideration on the issues of motive,
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criminal intent, absence of intent, state of mind, and hostility toward Maria. The trial court also
gave the jury a virtually identical instruction (using the past tense and substituting "evidence" for
"testimony") after closing arguments.
¶ 44 Torres characterizes portions of Maria's testimony as "additional evidence of prior crimes
and bad acts." He specifically points to the first date testimony where she said Torres looked at
her as if he wanted to kill her, and her testimony that he became enraged after grabbing her cell
phone and finding calls from a male friend. Torres analogizes this case to People v. Nunley, 271
Ill. App. 3d 427 (1995), and People v. Thigpen, 306 Ill. App. 3d 29 (1999), claiming that the
degree of detail in Maria's testimony amounted to a mini-trial of the other crimes. Both cases are
inapposite.
¶ 45 In Nunley, our court found reversible error when the trial court allowed testimony about
the circumstances of the defendant's confession to a murder he committed 16 months earlier. The
defendant spontaneously confessed to the murder while under arrest for aggravated battery of his
mother. Several prosecution witnesses testified about the uncharged aggravated battery,
including details about the defendant stabbing his mother in an attempt to decapitate her and
killing her dog when it tried to protect her. Nunley, 271 Ill. App. 3d at 432. While we agreed with
the trial court that it was proper to admit some evidence of the later crime to explain the
defendant's confession, "the true purpose of this evidence was to portray defendant as a man of
bad character." Id. Thus, in admitting evidence of other crimes, the trial court must be alert to
limiting the details to what is necessary to illuminate the issue for which the other crime was
introduced; the admission of the evidence should not lead to a mini-trial of the collateral offense.
Id.
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¶ 46 In Thigpen, our court reversed the defendant's murder conviction where the jury heard
extensive details of a previous double murder, including a photograph of the deceased victims.
The charged crime involved a drive-by shooting at night at a crowded intersection, while the
double murder was a daytime kidnapping followed by a shooting in a deserted area. Thigpen,
306 Ill. App. 3d at 36. Although our court found the other crimes evidence had some relevance to
show a common plan (gang-related shooting) and to prove identity (perpetrator driving a gray
car), the evidence presented unnecessary detail and, therefore, any probative value was
substantially outweighed by undue prejudice. Id. at 35.
¶ 47 As the State argued at the posttrial hearing, Torres' prior actions were offensive, but were
not offenses. Fundamental aspects of the State's case include Torres' volatile personality, Maria's
reluctance to reveal to anyone how he treated her, and the escalation of violence. The trial court
twice instructed the jury to use the evidence for a limited purpose. Maria's testimony not only
established the basis on which her relationship with Torres rested, the earlier events also
mirrored the circumstances of the charged offenses. Therefore, the trial court properly allowed
the evidence of the prior acts (proximity in time, same victim, factual similarity—beating with
fists on face, legs; choking; name-calling); the relevance and probative value of this evidence
does not outweigh the risk of undue prejudice. We find no abuse of discretion.
¶ 48 Summary of Other-Crimes Evidence
¶ 49 Torres' second argument relates to his first regarding the other-crimes evidence, but more
specifically, challenges the adequacy of the State's summary of the September 2009 incident.
Torres claims that the State provided an inadequate summary of the evidence in its motion in
limine, thus preventing the trial court from properly analyzing the evidence and preventing
Torres from adequately opposing its admission. Torres complains that Maria's testimony about
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the September 2009 incident improperly expanded on the disclosure in the State's amended
motion to admit her testimony. Torres asserts unfair surprise by the amount of detail Maria
testified to regarding the September incident because the State's motion in limine indicated Maria
"was hit in the face" and called names. Torres further asserts that he did not object to the State's
amended motion in limine to allow evidence of the September 2009 incident because of the
State's inadequate factual summary. He requests a new trial as a remedy.
¶ 50 Section 115-7.4(c) of the Code requires: "In a criminal case in which the prosecution
intends to offer evidence under this Section, it must disclose the evidence, including statements
of witnesses or a summary of the substance of any testimony, at a reasonable time in advance of
trial, or during trial if the court excuses pretrial notice on good cause shown." (Emphasis added.)
725 ILCS 5/115-7.4(c) (West 2010). The term "summary" is not defined.
¶ 51 The interpretation of a statute presents a question of law and, thus, is subject to de novo
review. Our analysis "must begin with the language of the statute itself, which is the most
reliable indicator of legislative intent." People v. Simpson, 2015 IL 116512, ¶ 29. The court of
review gives the statutory language the fullest, rather than the narrowest, possible meaning to
which it is susceptible. Id.¶ 52 The parties assert there have been no cases in Illinois interpreting the term "summary,"
and we found none. We can, nevertheless, find guidance in legislative enactments that use
identical language. Illinois Rule of Evidence 404(c) (eff. Jan 1, 2011), provides:
"In a criminal case in which the prosecution intends to offer evidence under subdivision
(b), it must disclose the evidence, including statements of witnesses or a summary of the
substance of any testimony, at a reasonable time in advance of trial, or during trial if the
court excuses pretrial notice on good cause shown." (Emphasis added.)
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Addressing the admissibility of other crimes evidence under this rule of evidence, our court has
held that the proposed evidence must bear "some threshold similarity to the crime charged";
however, less similarity between the crime charged and the evidence of other crimes is allowed
when used to show any exception other than to prove modus operandi. People v. Haley, 2011 IL
App (1st) 093585, ¶ 56.
¶ 53 In the context of motions in limine to exclude evidence, a "summary" involves something
less than a full disclosure of every detail of a witness's testimony. For example, in People v.
Pelo, 404 Ill. App. 3d 839 (2010), the Fourth District discussed the requirements of an informal
offer of proof by defense counsel. An informal offer of proof would be sufficient if counsel
informed the court, "with particularity, (1) what the expert testimony will be, (2) by whom it will
be presented, and (3) its purpose." Id. at 875. The court stated "an informal offer of proof is
inadequate if counsel *** merely summarizes the witness' testimony in a conclusory manner."
(Emphasis added and internal quotation marks omitted.) Id. at 875-76. See also People v.
Stevenson, 2014 IL App (4th) 130313, ¶ 28 ("An offer of proof is inadequate if it is a mere
summary ***."). It follows, then, that a "summary" need not contain all that is required by an
offer of proof; a lesser amount of detail and particularity suffices.
¶ 54 We turn to the question of whether the State provided an adequate summary of the
evidence regarding September 2009. A motion in limine addresses a trial court's power to admit
or exclude evidence, and we review an evidentiary ruling for an abuse of discretion. Id. ¶ 26. The
State's motion in limine, properly brought under the statute allowing this type of other crimes
evidence, provided details as to time, place, the victim, and acts that were committed by Torres.
We find that the trial court acted within its discretion when it granted the motion as to the prior
acts against Maria.
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¶ 55 Torres also contends the September 2009 incident was inadmissible and may have
affected the outcome. He cites People v. Reed, 361 Ill. App. 3d 995 (2005), where the defendant
argued that the State impermissibly adduced evidence of a previous uncharged offense against
the child victim to show that he had a propensity to commit sex crimes. The court held, under
section 115-7.3 of the Code, uncharged sex offenses may be admissible to prove the defendant's
propensity to commit the charged sex offense if three conditions exist: (1) the evidence had a
"threshold factual similarity" to the charged offense; (2) it did not constitute hearsay; and (3) was
relevant. (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Id. at 1000. Each condition has been satisfied
here—(1) the facts between the earlier incident and the charged incident are strikingly alike, (2)
no hearsay prohibition exists because Maria testified to the events, and (3) the evidence tends to
prove propensity and, hence, satisfies the relevance factor. See 725 ILCS 5/115-7.4 (West 2010).
¶ 56 Jury Instructions
¶ 57 Torres concedes that he did not tender an instruction defining the defense of consent, nor
did he assert in his posttrial motion that it was error to omit the instruction, but argues that the
trial court's failure to instruct the jury regarding the State's burden to prove lack of consent
beyond a reasonable doubt constituted "grave error" and violated his due process right to a fair
jury trial. "[T]he failure to object at trial to an asserted error in jury instructions [forfeits] the
question" and "no party may raise on appeal the failure to give an instruction unless he tendered
it at trial.” People v. Huckstead, 91 Ill. 2d 536, 543 (1982). Moreover, Torres did not raise this
issue in his posttrial motion for a new trial; therefore, he cannot now complain. Id.¶ 58 Forfeiture aside, Torres asserts that this court should review the jury instruction issue for
plain error. Under this doctrine, "[t]o obtain relief, defendant must first show that there was a
clear or obvious error. [Citation.] The burden of persuasion remains with defendant, and the first
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step in plain error review is to determine whether any error occurred. [Citation.]" People v.
Roman, 2013 IL App (1st) 102853, ¶ 19.
¶ 59 Torres defended the sexual intercourse as a consensual act, thereby focusing on the issue
of consent. Maria testified that she did not consent to having sex with Torres. The only other
witness who was present, Torres himself, did not testify. The trial court instructed the jury on all
elements of the crimes charged, the burden of proof, and the presumption of innocence.
Additionally, the trial court instructed the jury that, to sustain the charge of aggravated criminal
sexual assault, the first two propositions the State must prove were that Torres "committed an act
of sexual penetration" and the act "was committed by the use of force or threat of force."
¶ 60 A victim's consent is relevant to determining whether criminal sexual assault occurred.
People v. Haywood, 118 Ill. 2d 263, 274 (1987). Our supreme court stated forcing an individual
to perform an act renders the act nonconsensual; and "if one freely consents to the performance
of an act upon oneself, clearly that person has not been forced." Id. Further, "it is obvious that if
the prosecution shows that there was an act of sexual penetration by force, that evidence
demonstrates that the act was nonconsensual." Id. In other words, proving the element of force
implicitly shows nonconsent. Indeed, a finding of force negates the possibility of consent as a
defense. Id.¶ 61 This court in People v. Roberts, 182 Ill. App. 3d 313 (1989), addressing the question of
plain error, held no plain error occurred because the jury instructions, to which the defendant
offered no objection, adequately stated the law of consent. Id. at 318. The court noted that
defendant was not required under the instructions to prove consent, and the jury may weigh
"force" evidence against "consent" evidence to determine the presence of force, or a threat of
force. Id. See People v. Rollins, 211 Ill. App. 3d 86, 91 (1991) (force issue and consent issue
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represent two sides of same coin); People v. Denbo, 372 Ill. App. 3d 994, 1004 (2007) (by
proving force, State necessarily proves nonconsent).
¶ 62 Under normal circumstances, when a defendant raises consent as a defense to a sexual
assault charge and requests that the jury be instructed on that defense, the court should include
the bracketed language in Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions, Criminal, No. 11.58 (4th ed. 2000),
which requires the State to prove "that [the complainant] did not consent to the act of sexual
penetration." Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions, Criminal, No. 11.58 (4th ed. 2000) (hereinafter,
IPI Criminal 4th). The companion instructions to IPI Criminal 4th No. 11.58, which define
consent and inform the jury that consent is a defense to a charge of aggravated criminal sexual
assault, should likewise be given. Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions, Criminal Nos. 11.63, 11.63A
(4th ed. 2000). But we cannot say that where, as here, the defendant does not request those
instructions, the court's failure to give them sua sponte constitutes "grave error" regardless of the
circumstances of the case.
¶ 63 We recognize that People v. Coleman, 166 Ill. App. 3d 242 (1987), reached a contrary
result. There the court found plain error occurred because the trial court did not instruct the jury
that the State was required to prove lack of consent beyond a reasonable doubt in order for the
jury to find the defendant guilty of aggravated criminal sexual assault. But, we adhere to the
more flexible approach set forth in Roberts. As the ruling in Rollins stated: "[W]e are persuaded
that the holding in Roberts, which examines all the circumstances, including all the instructions
to the jury, the statements of counsel, and the weight of the evidence, is the proper approach,
rather than Coleman, which appears to adopt a per se rule of grave error when the jury is not
specifically instructed in an issues instruction that the State has the burden to prove nonconsent."
Rollins, 211 Ill. App. 3d at 89.
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¶ 64 As the State points out, defense counsel may well have had a strategic reason to refrain
from requesting that the jury be instructed on consent. One theme of the defense at trial was that
there were many contradictions in Maria's testimony and the jury could find that, like the other
occasions on which they engaged in consensual sex, Maria agreed to have sex with Torres
because she "forgave" him. Maria testified that she told Torres she did not want to have sex
because she was in too much pain from the earlier beating, but Torres told her he would be
"gentle" with her. Defense counsel argued that even if the jury believed Maria's version of
events, any force used by Torres ceased the previous day when he stopped beating her. Under IPI
Criminal No. 11.63A, the jury would have been instructed that "the lack of verbal or physical
resistance or submission by the victim resulting from the use of force or threat of force by the
defendant shall not constitute consent." Thus, this instruction would have permitted the jury to
find that notwithstanding the cessation of the physical assault, Maria did not consent to have sex
with Torres. Consequently, under the circumstances, the error, if any, in the trial court's failure to
instruct the jury on consent is neither "grave" nor does it warrant reversal of the jury's verdict.
¶ 65 Further, the jury also convicted Torres of aggravated kidnapping, necessarily rejecting
the defense theory that Maria willingly went to and remained at the motel. Torres does not
challenge the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain this conviction on appeal and since the jury
found that Maria was held in the motel room against her will, the likelihood that if the jury had
been instructed on consent, it would then have found that the sex was consensual is virtually
nonexistent. Thus, Torres cannot establish prejudice as a result of this claimed error. See People
v. Pitsonbarger, 142 Ill. 2d 353, 377 (1990) ("Although it is not mandated in every case, *** it is
constitutionally permissible for a reviewing court to determine that given the facts of the
individual case, the result would be the same had the defect in the [jury] instructions not been
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present."); People v. Austin, 133 Ill. 2d 118, 124 (1989) ("[A]ny error in giving or refusing
instructions will not justify a reversal when the evidence in support of the conviction is so clear
and convincing that the jury's verdict would not have been different.").
¶ 66 Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
¶ 67 Finally, Torres argues ineffective assistance based on his counsel's failure to request the
instruction. In an analogous case, People v. Mims, 403 Ill. App. 3d 884, 890-91 (2010), where
defendant faced charges of committing an act of sexual penetration while armed with a firearm,
the court held, contrary to the defendant's argument, that the jury did not need the consent
instruction to find defendant not guilty because if the jury believed the defendant, then the State
failed to prove force by a firearm, a necessary element of the offense. As we already determined,
Torres failed to request the instruction regarding consent, the failure of the trial court to give the
instruction sua sponte was not error, and nothing in the record indicates that the result would
have been different had defense counsel requested the instruction. Accordingly, his claim of
ineffective assistance of counsel must be rejected.
¶ 68 CONCLUSION
¶ 69 We affirm the judgment of the circuit court of Cook County.
¶ 70 Affirmed.
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