People v. Nagel , 2022 IL App (3d) 210089-U ( 2022 )

NOTICE: This order was filed under Supreme Court Rule 23 and is not precedent except
in the limited circumstances allowed under Rule 23(e)(1).
2022 IL App (3d) 210089-UOrder filed November 30, 2022
____________________________________________________________________________
IN THE
APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
THIRD DISTRICT
2022
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ) Appeal from the Circuit Court
ILLINOIS, ) of the 21st Judicial Circuit,
) Kankakee County, Illinois,
Plaintiff-Appellee, )
) Appeal No. 3-21-0089
v. ) Circuit No. 18-CF-389
)
TYLER J. NAGEL, ) Honorable
) Kathy S. Bradshaw-Elliott,
Defendant-Appellant. ) Judge, Presiding.
____________________________________________________________________________
JUSTICE DAUGHERITY delivered the judgment of the court.
Justices McDade and Hettel concurred in the judgment.
____________________________________________________________________________
ORDER
¶1 Held: (1) Defense counsel did not have a per se conflict of interest, (2) counsel did not
provide ineffective assistance, and (3) the court did not impose an improper
double enhancement at sentencing.
¶2 Defendant, Tyler J. Nagel, appeals his convictions, arguing that he did not receive the
benefit of conflict-free counsel when his attorney previously worked for the State. Defendant
further contends that counsel was ineffective for advising him that he would serve only 50% of
his sentence instead of 85%, and the court imposed an improper double enhancement. We affirm.
¶3 I. BACKGROUND
¶4 The State charged defendant with aggravated arson (720 ILCS 5/20-1.1(a) (West 2018)),
aggravated stalking (id. § 12-7.4(a)(3)), two counts of violation of an order of protection (id.
§ 12-3.4(a)(1)), and criminal damage to property (id. § 21-1(1)(a)). The court appointed the
public defender’s office.
¶5 The public defender’s office later reassigned defendant to a new attorney when his first
attorney left the office. When defendant’s new attorney first appeared, he stated that he needed a
conflict waiver signed by defendant. Counsel stated that before joining the public defender’s
office, he was employed at the Kankakee County State’s Attorney’s Office and had appeared on
defendant’s prior case. The prior case involved the same victim and had resulted in the order of
protection that defendant was now being charged with violating. At the next court date, counsel
told the court that defendant signed a waiver of conflict.
¶6 The potential conflict was discussed again at a later court date when defendant’s attorney
stated that he was working at the state’s attorney’s office when the current case was filed but had
no other involvement in the case. The State clarified that counsel appeared on the first date of
defendant’s misdemeanor case where the order of protection was presented and signed by the
court but did not believe that there was a conflict. Counsel stated that if he had any other
involvement other than the first appearance, he did not remember it. Counsel filed defendant’s
waiver, which stated:
“I, the undersigned, have been apprised by my currently appointed
attorney, [defense counsel], that he was previously assigned to my case in his
prior role as prosecutor or at the very least he was a prosecutor while my case was
pending. He explained to me the extent of his involvement, if any, he had in the
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case to the best of his memory. He explained to me that this creates a potential
‘conflict of interest’ and that I can have him taken off my case if I wish. He also
explained to me that I can waive this conflict and allow him to continue to
represent me.”
Underneath the acknowledgement was handwritten “and that I can revoke this waiver at any
time.” Defendant signed the waiver. The court asked defendant if he waived the conflict, and
defendant orally confirmed that he did.
¶7 Before trial, defense counsel stated that defendant rejected the State’s plea offer that
included a sentencing cap of 15 years’ imprisonment. The State also rejected defendant’s
counteroffer. Defendant proceeded to a jury trial and was found guilty of all five counts.
¶8 At sentencing, the court acknowledged that defendant had taken several classes while in
jail and stated that he would receive credit in his sentence. The State informed the court that
defendant would only be sentenced on counts I and II, because the criminal damage to property
conviction merged with the aggravated arson conviction and the violations of orders of
protection convictions merged with the aggravated stalking conviction. The State further stated
that aggravated arson was a Class X felony with a sentencing range of 6 to 30 years’
imprisonment where 85% of the sentence must be served. Defense counsel disagreed that
defendant must serve 85%, stating that he believed it should be served at 50%, but that he could
be mistaken. The court reviewed the sentencing statute and confirmed that defendant was
required to serve 85% of his sentence.
¶9 The court sentenced defendant to 15 years’ imprisonment, 85% of which must be served.
The court explained
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“[T]here’s no more dangerous a crime than stalking. Okay. Stalking is one of the
most dangerous crimes there are in this country. It’s so dangerous that the law has
now set the bond statute showing that if somebody is charged with stalking, that
no bond should be set. So stalking is extremely dangerous. And in this case I—I
believe, [defendant], you are extremely dangerous.”
¶ 10 Defense counsel filed a motion to reconsider, arguing that his sentence should be reduced
by one year. Counsel argued that the court stated that defendant would get credit for the classes
he had taken in jail but the Department of Corrections would not allow it because defendant was
statutorily required to serve 85% of his sentence. The court denied defendant’s motion.
¶ 11 After the court’s ruling, defense counsel stated he wanted to make a record regarding his
mistake that defendant would only have to serve 50% of his sentence. Counsel stated that he told
defendant after the trial that he was required to serve 50% but could not remember if he told
defendant this before trial.
¶ 12 Defense counsel then filed a “Motion for Specific Performance/New Sentence,” asking
the court to impose a new sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment to be served at 50%. Counsel
argued he advised defendant he would only have to serve 50% of his sentence, and when the
State first submitted its 15-year offer, counsel projected defendant would only have to serve 7½
years, in addition to the good-conduct credit defendant earned taking classes in jail. Defendant
only learned he would have to serve 85% of his sentence at sentencing. Defendant argued that he
would not have proceeded to trial if he had known he would have to serve 85% of his sentence.
The State argued that a sentence served at 50% would constitute an illegal plea, and if the State
had realized its error during plea negotiations, it would have adjusted its original offer to reflect a
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more appropriate offer. The court denied defendant’s motion finding that defendant had not been
prejudiced and could not support ineffective assistance of counsel claims. Defendant appeals.
¶ 13 II. ANALYSIS
¶ 14 A. Conflict of Interest
¶ 15 Defendant contends his counsel labored under a conflict of interest, and that he never
validly waived this conflict. The parties dispute whether a conflict exists when defense counsel
represented the State during a pretrial court proceeding in defendant’s prior case.
¶ 16 Every defendant has a constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel, which
includes the right to counsel free from conflicting interest or inconsistent obligations. U.S.
Const., amends. VI, XIV; Ill. Const., art. I, § 8; People v. Hernandez, 231 Ill. 2d 134, 142
(2008). Illinois courts have recognized two categories of conflicts of interest: per se and actual.
People v. Fields, 2012 IL 112438, ¶ 17. “A per se conflict of interest exists where certain facts
about a defense attorney’s status, by themselves, engender a disabling conflict.” Id. That is, “a
per se conflict arises when a defendant’s attorney has a tie to a person or entity that would
benefit from an unfavorable verdict for the defendant.” Id. Our supreme court has reasoned that
“the knowledge that a favorable result for the defendant would inevitably conflict with the
interest of [counsel’s] client, employer or self might ‘subliminally’ affect counsel’s performance
in ways difficult to detect and demonstrate.” People v. Spreitzer, 123 Ill. 2d 1, 16 (1988). Also,
such a conflict may “unnecessarily subject the attorney to ‘later charges that his representation
was not completely faithful.’ ” Id. at 16-17 (quoting People v. Stoval, 40 Ill. 2d 109, 113 (1968)).
¶ 17 A per se conflict exists: “(1) where defense counsel has a prior or contemporaneous
association with the victim, the prosecution, or an entity assisting the prosecution; (2) where
defense counsel contemporaneously represents a prosecution witness; and (3) where defense
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counsel was a former prosecutor who had been personally involved with the prosecution of
defendant.” Fields, 2012 IL 112438, ¶ 18. If a per se conflict is found, the defendant is not
required to show that the conflict affected the attorney’s actual performance. Id. A per se conflict
is automatic grounds for reversal unless the defendant waives the conflict. Id. Such a waiver
must be knowing, and defendant must be adequately informed of the existence of the conflict and
its significance before the waiver may be accepted. People v. Olinger, 112 Ill. 2d 324, 339
(1986).
¶ 18 In this case, counsel appeared at defendant’s first court date on a prior case and was not
involved in the instant case when he was a prosecutor. After the first court date on defendant’s
prior case, a different attorney prosecuted the case. This appearance alone is not enough to create
a per se conflict. See People v. Franklin, 75 Ill. 2d 173, 179-80 (1979) (an attorney’s prior work
as a prosecutor does not preclude the attorney from representing defendant when he was not
directly involved in the current prosecution); see also People v. Alexander, 2019 IL App (4th)
170425, ¶ 23 (counsel did not have a conflict when he prosecuted defendant on a previous case
but was not involved in the current case against defendant). Defense counsel’s involvement in
defendant’s prior case merely created a “fairly tenuous” tie to the prosecution that would not
affect his interests in representing defendant in his current case. Spreitzer, 123 Ill. 2d at 22. Thus,
defense counsel’s employment history did not create a conflict of interest.
¶ 19 B. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
¶ 20 Defendant next argues that he received ineffective assistance where counsel advised him
that he would only have to serve 50% of his sentence, when, in fact, it was to be served at 85%.
To establish a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, defendant must meet the two-prong test
in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 688 (1984). Under Strickland, a defendant must show
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that his counsel’s performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and that he
was prejudiced by the deficient performance. Id. The State concedes that counsel’s performance
was deficient but argues that defendant has not established prejudice. Claims of ineffectiveness
of counsel may be rejected on prejudice grounds alone, “for lack of prejudice renders irrelevant
the issue of counsel’s performance.” People v. Coleman, 183 Ill. 2d 366, 397-98 (1998).
¶ 21 To show prejudice, defendant must demonstrate a reasonable probability that, but for
counsel’s erroneous advice, he would not have proceeded to trial and would have accepted the
plea offer. People v. Hale, 2013 IL 113140, ¶ 18. When it comes to a plea, defendant must
provide objective evidence that the rejection of the offer was based on counsel’s erroneous
advice. Id. Defendant must provide more than just his “self-serving” testimony to determine
whether there was prejudice. Id.¶ 22 Defendant argues that, had he known he would have to serve 85% of his sentence, he
would likely have accepted the State’s final plea offer of 50% of 15 years’ imprisonment.
However, the only evidence defendant offered to support this argument was his own self-serving
testimony that he would most likely have accepted the State’s offer. Defendant has not provided
any “independent, objective” evidence to suggest he would have accepted the plea if he was fully
informed. See id.¶ 23 Further, defendant could not have received the sentence the State offered because the
court does not have the authority to impose a sentence that does not conform to statutory
guidelines. See People v. White, 2011 IL 109616, ¶ 29 (finding that where a sentence fails to
include mandatory conditions, it is not valid, and any plea agreement for such a sentence is
void). Specifically, the parties’ intent that defendant serve 50% of his sentence would not
control, as the court may not impose a sentence that is not authorized by law. Id. ¶ 23. Moreover,
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defendant rejected the State’s offer and was subsequently sentenced to a 15-year term by the
court. Defendant cannot show prejudice when the sentence he received was equivalent to the
term he would have been required to serve if he had accepted the State’s offer. Because we find
that defendant has failed to show prejudice, we hold that defendant did not establish that he
received ineffective assistance of counsel.
¶ 24 C. Sentencing
¶ 25 Defendant argues he was subjected to an improper sentence double enhancement when
the court considered whether he threatened or caused harm as an aggravating factor when it was
implicit in the offense. Defendant acknowledges that he did not raise this issue with the circuit
court but argues it can be reviewed under the second prong of the plain error doctrine.
¶ 26 The plain error doctrine allows a reviewing court to consider an unpreserved sentencing
error where: (1) the evidence at the sentencing hearing was closely balanced, or (2) the error was
so egregious that defendant was denied a fair sentencing hearing. People v. Hall, 195 Ill. 2d 1, 18
(2000). Defendant has the burden of persuasion under both prongs. People v. Naylor, 229 Ill. 2d
584, 593 (2008). To obtain relief under this doctrine, a defendant must first show that a “clear or
obvious error” occurred. People v. Piatkowski, 225 Ill. 2d 551, 565 (2007).
¶ 27 Double enhancement occurs when a single factor is used both as an element of the
offense and as a basis for imposing a harsher sentence, or when the same factor is used twice to
elevate the severity of the offense. People v. Phelps, 211 Ill. 2d 1, 11-13 (2004). Here, defendant
argues that the court’s statement that his actions were “extremely dangerous” and that stalking is
“one of the most dangerous crimes there are” amounts to a double enhancement, because it
considers that defendant threatened or caused harm to the victims—an inherent element in the
offenses of aggravated arson (720 ILCS 5/20-1.1(a) (West 2018)) and aggravated stalking (id.
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§ 12-7.4(a)(1)). However, defendant here was convicted of aggravated stalking under section 12-
7.4(a)(3) of the Code rather than section 12-7.4(a)(1), and bodily harm is not an inherent element
of aggravated stalking under subsection (a)(3). Id. § 12-7.4(a)(3). Moreover, a circuit court may
consider the nature of the circumstances and the seriousness of the offense during sentencing.
People v. Hunter, 101 Ill. App. 3d 692, 695 (1981). The court’s statement that defendant’s
actions were “extremely dangerous” alone is insufficient to show that it improperly subjected
defendant to a double enhancement. Therefore, we find no error, and thus no plain error, in the
court’s sentencing decision.
¶ 28 III. CONCLUSION
¶ 29 The judgment of the circuit court of Kankakee County is affirmed.
¶ 30 Affirmed.
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