People v. Pettis , 2017 IL App (4th) 151006 ( 2017 )

FILED
May 31, 2017
2017 IL App (4th) 151006 Carla Bender
4th District Appellate
NO. 4-15-1006 Court, IL
IN THE APPELLATE COURT
OF ILLINOIS
FOURTH DISTRICT
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, ) Appeal from
Plaintiff-Appellant, ) Circuit Court of
v. ) Champaign County
KEVIN P. PETTIS, ) No. 13CF1092
Defendant-Appellee. )
) Honorable
) Heidi N. Ladd,
) Judge Presiding.
JUSTICE HOLDER WHITE delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
Justices Steigmann and Appleton concurred in the judgment and opinion.
OPINION
¶1 In November 2015, defendant, Kevin P. Pettis, filed a third motion for discharge,
alleging a speedy-trial violation. The State, in turn, asserted it had not exceeded the time in
which to bring defendant to trial, arguing it had a total of 240 days: (1) the initial 120 days (725
ILCS 5/103-5(a) (West 2012)) plus (2) 120 additional days for the purpose of collecting
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) testing results (725 ILCS 5/103-5(c) (West 2012)). The trial court
granted defendant’s motion, and the State filed a certificate of impairment.
¶2 The State appeals, asserting the trial court erred by granting defendant’s third
motion for discharge. We reverse and remand for further proceedings.
¶3 I. BACKGROUND
¶4 Because this appeal centers on the issue of a speedy-trial violation, we outline
only those facts necessary to resolve this appeal.
¶5 On July 7, 2013, defendant was arrested and later charged with (1) armed habitual
criminal (720 ILCS 5/24-1.7(a) (West 2012)), (2) aggravated unlawful possession of a firearm by
a felon (720 ILCS 5/24-1.1(a) (West 2012)), and (3) reckless discharge of a firearm (720 ILCS
5/24-1.5(a) (West 2012)). Defendant remained in custody throughout these proceedings. On July
8, 2013, the State filed a motion to compel defendant to submit a DNA sample, which the trial
court granted on July 15, 2013.
¶6 On September 4, 2013, the State filed a motion for a continuance pursuant to
section 103-5(c) of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (Code) (725 ILCS 5/103-5(c) (West
2012)), requesting 120 additional days for the Illinois State Police crime laboratory (lab) to
complete its processing of defendant’s DNA. In its motion, the State asserted it had exercised
due diligence in securing defendant’s DNA and transporting it to the lab for processing, but the
lab had not yet completed its processing. On September 9, 2013, the trial court granted the
motion to continue over defendant’s objection, finding the State had exercised due diligence in
obtaining the DNA results. The case was thereafter continued for a pretrial conference on
September 24, 2013.
¶7 On September 24, 2013, the State filed a second motion to continue, also pursuant
to section 103-5(c) of the Code. The trial court, over defendant’s objection, granted the motion
after finding the State exercised due diligence and scheduled the case for a pretrial conference on
October 22, 2013.
¶8 In the meantime, on October 16, 2013, the lab completed its testing and submitted
the results for peer review. If anyone from the State’s Attorney’s office had inquired about the
progress of the testing, a lab technician would have disclosed that the testing had been completed
-2-
and was pending peer review. At the State’s request, the lab technician would have attempted to
secure the peer-reviewed results on the same day.
¶9 On October 22, 2013, the State filed its third motion to continue, again under
section 103-5(c) of the Code. The motion does not contain any mention that testing had been
completed pending peer review. The same day, the trial court again found the State exercised due
diligence and granted the motion over defendant’s objection. On October 27, 2013, the lab
completed its peer review and it mailed the results to the State on October 28, 2013.
¶ 10 On November 19, 2013, defendant filed a motion to continue pursuant to section
114-4 of the Code (725 ILCS 5/114-4 (West 2012)), requesting more time to consult with
counsel and to await the results of an independent investigation, which the trial court granted.
Thereafter, on December 5, 2013, defendant filed two motions: (1) a motion to quash arrest and
suppress evidence and (2) a motion to suppress evidence pursuant to Franks v. Delaware, 438
U.S. 154 (1978) (Franks motion). On February 14, 2014, the court granted defendant’s motion to
suppress evidence; however, the Franks motion remained pending. The parties then agreed to
schedule the case for a pretrial conference on February 18, 2014.
¶ 11 At the February 18, 2014, pretrial conference, defendant announced ready for
trial, and the trial court scheduled the trial for March 3, 2014. On March 3, 2014, rather than
proceeding to trial, the State filed a certificate of impairment and appealed the court’s February
14, 2014, ruling on the motion to suppress evidence. This court reversed the trial court’s decision
and remanded for further proceedings. See People v. Pettis, 2015 IL App (4th) 140176, 32
N.E.3d 744. The mandate from this court was issued on July 23, 2015.
¶ 12 Following the July 23, 2015, issuance of the appellate court mandate, on August
11, 2015, the trial court, on its own motion and without the parties present, scheduled the case
-3-
for a pretrial conference on September 15, 2015. On September 15, 2015, defendant requested a
hearing date on the pending Franks motion, which the court scheduled for September 22, 2015.
Following the hearing, the court took the matter under advisement and scheduled no further court
dates. On October 2, 2015, the court entered a written order denying defendant’s motion and
thereafter scheduled the case for a pretrial conference on October 20, 2015.
¶ 13 On October 20, 2015, the parties scheduled the case for trial on November 2,
2015, the first day of the next trial term. However, on November 2, 2015, the State moved to
continue after electing to try an unrelated case. Over defendant’s objection, the trial court granted
the motion to continue and scheduled the case for trial on November 4, 2015. On November 4,
2015, the State filed a motion to continue pursuant to section 144-4(c)(2) of the Code (725 ILCS
5/114-4(c)(2) (West 2014)) due to witness unavailability. The court granted the motion over
defendant’s objection and rescheduled the trial for November 16, 2015.
¶ 14 On November 9, 2015, defendant filed his third motion for discharge, citing a
speedy-trial violation. Following a November 16, 2015, hearing, the trial court granted
defendant’s motion for discharge. The court determined, once the DNA evidence became
available, the State could no longer draw from the additional 120 days granted by the court for
the purpose of obtaining DNA testing results. The court found the State’s request for a
continuance under section 114-4 of the Code from November 4, 2015, until November 16, 2015,
resulted in a violation of defendant’s statutory speedy-trial rights. The court noted the State could
have extended the speedy-trial time by filing their motion under section 103-5(2) of the Code,
but the motion filed pursuant to section 114-4(c)(2) did not extend the statutory speedy-trial
period. Moreover, the State did not orally represent its intention of seeking an extension pursuant
-4-
to section 103-5(c) or provide the necessary evidence for the court to make a finding of due
diligence that would permit the State an extension of the speedy-trial term.
¶ 15 The State filed a certificate of impairment, and this appeal followed.
¶ 16 II. ANALYSIS
¶ 17 On appeal, the State asserts the trial court erred by granting defendant’s third
motion for discharge for a speedy-trial violation. In evaluating speedy-trial issues, we consider
two standards of review. “The trial court’s determination as to who is responsible for a delay of
the trial is entitled to much deference, and should be sustained absent a clear showing that the
trial court abused its discretion.” People v. Kliner, 185 Ill. 2d 81, 115, 705 N.E.2d 850, 869
(1998). For example, the abuse-of-discretion standard would apply where the court determines
whether defendant agreed to, caused, or objected to a delay. See id. However, the ultimate
question as to whether defendant’s statutory right to a speedy trial has been violated is a question
of law subject to de novo review. People v. McGee, 2015 IL App (1st) 130367, ¶ 25, 44 N.E.3d
510.
¶ 18 In examining this speedy-trial issue, we begin our analysis by calculating the
dates that are not attributable to defendant.
¶ 19 A. Calculating Dates
¶ 20 The State contends it is responsible for 162 days of delay, whereas defendant
asserts 249 days are attributable to the State. The following dates are pertinent to our calculation
of the speedy-trial term. We note, for calculating the number of days in each time period, we
exclude the first date and include the last date. See People v. Ladd, 185 Ill. 2d 602, 608, 708
N.E.2d 359, 362 (1999) (in calculating the speedy-trial period, the court must exclude the first
day and include the last day).
-5-
¶ 21 1. July 7, 2013, Through November 19, 2013
¶ 22 The parties agree these dates are attributable to the State, as any continuances
were granted upon the State’s request and over defendant’s objection. See People v. Littleton,
2014 IL App (1st) 121950, ¶ 77, 14 N.E.3d 555 (a delay is not attributable to a defendant unless
that defendant caused or contributed to the delay). Accordingly, we calculate 135 days are
attributable to the State during this period.
¶ 23 2. November 19, 2013, Through February 18, 2014
¶ 24 The parties agree these dates are attributable to defendant, as the delays arose
from defendant’s requests for continuances and for hearings on his motion to quash arrest and
suppress evidence. 725 ILCS 5/103-5(a) (West 2012).
¶ 25 3. February 18, 2014, Through March 3, 2014
¶ 26 At a pretrial conference on February 18, 2014, which followed the trial court’s
decision to grant defendant’s motion to suppress evidence, the parties scheduled defendant’s trial
for the next available setting—March 3, 2014. Defendant argues this delay is attributable to the
State because he demanded trial. The State, on the other hand, points out defendant still had a
pending Franks motion, and therefore, it asserts any delay should be attributable to defendant as
long as that motion remained open. See People v. Jones, 104 Ill. 2d 268, 277, 472 N.E.2d 455,
459 (1984). The State did not provide us with a transcript of this particular proceeding, but the
docket entry provided as part of the record indicates defendant moved to schedule the matter for
trial.
¶ 27 Generally, a delay between the filing of a motion to suppress evidence and the
trial court issuing its order on this motion is attributable to the defendant. Id. However, in People
v. Terry, 61 Ill. 2d 593, 596, 338 N.E.2d 162, 164 (1975), the supreme court held where a
-6-
defendant demands trial, it is a signal the defendant has abandoned the motion in favor of
proceeding to trial. “Whether delay should be attributed to the defense depends on whether the
defendant’s actions in fact caused or contributed to a delay.” Ladd, 185 Ill. 2d at 608, 708 N.E.2d
at 362.
¶ 28 Although defendant relies heavily on the exception carved out by Terry, the Terry
case involved an unusual set of circumstances that are not present in the case at bar. In Terry, the
defendant filed numerous pretrial motions that went unheard throughout the course of the case.
Terry, 61 Ill. 2d at 595, 338 N.E.2d at 163. After 99 days, the defendant filed a demand for trial
and, after the expiration of the speedy-trial period, he filed a motion for discharge, which the trial
court subsequently granted. Id. On appeal, the supreme court acknowledged the general rule that
the defendant is charged with the delay occasioned by the filing of his pretrial motions. Id. at
595, 338 N.E.2d at 164. However, the court noted the need for an exception to the general rule
based on the circumstances in Terry because, in the 99-day period preceding the defendant’s
demand for trial, the State repeatedly ignored court orders to respond to the defendant’s motions
and set the matter for trial. Id. Thus, when the defendant filed his demand for trial, an action
inconsistent with an intention to have his pending motions answered, the State should have
recognized the defendant’s intention to abandon those pretrial motions. Id. at 596, 338 N.E.2d at
164.
¶ 29 Terry is distinguishable from the present case. Here, defendant had a Franks
motion pending at the time he announced ready for trial. Although the defendant in Terry also
had pending motions, the lengthy delay—more than 250 days—between the filing of those
motions and the motion for discharge clearly indicated the defendant’s intention of abandoning
those motions. Such is not the case here. Defendant sought a hearing on the Franks motion until
-7-
the trial court issued a dispositive ruling on his other motion to suppress evidence. He then
immediately sought a trial but did not move to withdraw the Franks motion; rather, the motion
was scheduled for a hearing after this court remanded the case for further proceedings. In this
matter, the State did not cause any delay related to defendant’s Franks motion.
¶ 30 Taking these facts into consideration, we see no reason to apply the unusual
exception created by Terry and, instead, apply the general rule set forth in Jones. Accordingly,
we conclude this period of time, where defendant had the Franks motion pending, is attributable
to defendant.
¶ 31 4. March 3, 2014, Through July 23, 2015
¶ 32 During this period of time, the case was on an interlocutory appeal. The parties
agree the period of time the case was on appeal is attributable to defendant (Ill. S. Ct. R.
604(a)(4) (eff. Feb. 6, 2013)).
¶ 33 5. July 23, 2015, Through September 15, 2015
¶ 34 This court issued its mandate on July 23, 2015, and on August 11, 2015, the trial
court scheduled the case for a pretrial conference on September 15, 2015. The State argues there
is no transcript of this hearing to determine whether defendant agreed to schedule the case for a
pretrial conference. However, the docket indicates the court scheduled the matter for a pretrial
conference without the parties present, which means defendant had no opportunity to agree or
object to the date scheduled by the court.
¶ 35 Regardless, the State next asserts defendant’s Franks motion remained pending,
making any delay attributable to defendant. Jones, 104 Ill. 2d at 277, 472 N.E.2d at 459. As
noted above, we agree. We therefore conclude this period of time is attributable to defendant.
¶ 36 6. September 15, 2015, Through October 2, 2015
-8-
¶ 37 At the September 15, 2015, pretrial, defendant requested a hearing on the Franks
motion, for which the trial court entered a written order on October 2, 2015. Because defendant
occasioned this delay, we attribute this time period to defendant. 725 ILCS 5/103-5(a) (West
2012).
¶ 38 7. October 2, 2015, Through October 20, 2015
¶ 39 Defendant asserts the period from October 2, 2015, through October 20, 2015,
should be attributable to the State because the trial court scheduled the matter for pretrial on its
own motion after issuing its ruling on the Franks motion to suppress. See Kliner, 185 Ill. 2d at
119, 705 N.E.2d at 871 (a delay occasioned by the court’s schedule and where the defendant is
given no choice is not attributable to the defendant). The State contends this time period should
be attributed to defendant because the delay resulted from the court’s ruling on defendant’s
Franks motion. We agree with the State.
¶ 40 The trial court issued its written order on October 2, 2015, then scheduled the case
for a pretrial conference on October 20, 2015, for the parties to schedule a trial date. In Kliner,
the case relied upon by defendant, the trial court, on its own motion, rescheduled the defendant’s
trial date due to the court’s unavailability on the previously scheduled day. Id. at 119-20, 705
N.E.2d at 871. Thus, the defendant in Kliner in no way contributed to or caused the delay. Such
is not the case here. Rather, the delay—the court scheduling the case for a pretrial conference
after issuing its written order—resulted from defendant’s Franks motion and, accordingly, is
attributable to defendant.
-9-
¶ 41 8. October 20, 2015, Through November 4, 2015
¶ 42 The parties agree the period from October 20, 2015, through November 4, 2015,
is attributable to the State based on the State’s motions to continue. This period consists of 15
days attributable to the State.
¶ 43 9. November 4, 2015, Through November 16, 2015
¶ 44 The State concedes these days are attributable to the State because its motion to
continue pursuant to section 114-4(c)(2) of the Code does not toll or extend the speedy-trial date.
People v. Toolate, 62 Ill. App. 3d 895, 899, 379 N.E.2d 927, 929 (1978). Thus, these 12 days are
attributable to the State.
¶ 45 In considering all of the aforementioned calculations, we conclude 162 days are
attributable to the State. We now examine whether the State violated defendant’s right to a
speedy trial.
¶ 46 B. Extension of the Speedy-Trial Deadline
¶ 47 The State asserts the trial court’s September 9, 2013, order extending the speedy-
trial term an additional 120 days provided the State with a total of 240 days to bring defendant to
trial. Defendant, on the other hand, argues the State had only 120 days from September 9, 2013,
to bring him to trial.
¶ 48 Generally, under section 103-5(a) of the Code, “[e]very person in custody in this
State for an alleged offense shall be tried by the court having jurisdiction within 120 days from
the date he [or she] was taken into custody.” 725 ILCS 5/103-5(a) (West 2012). However, “[i]f
the [trial] court determines that the State has exercised without success due diligence to obtain
results of DNA testing that is material to the case and that there are reasonable grounds to
believe that such results may be obtained at a later day, the court may continue the cause on
- 10 -
application of the State for not more than an additional 120 days.” 725 ILCS 5/103-5(c) (West
2012). Where the court grants the State additional time to procure DNA testing results under
section 103-5(c), the State interprets these provisions as granting the State a cumulative period of
240 days to bring a defendant to trial.
¶ 49 In People v. Johnson, 323 Ill. App. 3d 284, 751 N.E.2d 621 (2001), this court
addressed the calculation of the speedy-trial period after the State has moved for a continuance
under section 103-5(c). In Johnson, the State filed a motion to continue pursuant to section 103-
5(c) of the Code approximately one month after defendant’s arrest, requesting an additional 120
days to procure DNA testing results. Id. at 286, 751 N.E.2d at 623. The defendant later filed a
motion for discharge based on the violation of his speedy-trial rights, which the trial court
denied. Id.
¶ 50 This court affirmed the trial court, concluding, “section 103-5(c) allows the trial
court to continue cases involving DNA testing for a maximum of 120 days beyond the initial
120-day period provided in section 103-5(a), for a total maximum period of 240 days, without
violating a defendant’s speedy-trial rights.” Id. at 289, 751 N.E.2d at 625. This court went on to
note, “section 103-5(c) makes it incumbent upon the State to apply for such a continuance, and
the length of any extension up to the maximum necessarily depends upon the State’s request.” Id.
In so finding, we rejected the defendant’s argument that the additional 120 days granted under
section 103-5(c) began running on the date of the trial court’s order. Id. In People v. Colson, 339
Ill. App. 3d 1039, 1041, 791 N.E.2d 650, 651 (2003), we reiterated that the trial court’s decision
to grant 120 additional days for procuring DNA testing results under section 103-5(c) resulted in
the State having 240 days to bring the defendant to trial.
- 11 -
¶ 51 Here, like in Johnson, the State filed its motion to continue pursuant to section
103-5(c) early in the initial 120-day speedy-trial period and requested an additional 120 days to
procure DNA testing results, which the trial court granted after finding the State had acted with
due diligence. Defendant argues the holding in Johnson does not entitle the State to an additional
120 days, but the length of the delay depends on the State’s request. We agree the holding in
Johnson does not require the trial court to grant the State an additional 120 days; however, in this
case, like in Johnson, the State requested 120 days, and the court granted that request.
¶ 52 Defendant also asserts Johnson did not address whether the State demonstrated
sufficient diligence that would entitle it to a 120-day extension. However, section 103-5(c)
requires only that the court find: (1) the State has exercised, without success, due diligence to
obtain DNA results; (2) the DNA evidence is material to the case; and (3) there are reasonable
grounds to believe that such evidence may be obtained at a later day. 725 ILCS 5/103-5(c) (West
2012). Under defendant’s analysis, once the State obtained the DNA evidence, the remainder of
the additional 120 days granted pursuant to section 103-5(c) should be rescinded. We decline to
adopt this approach.
¶ 53 Defendant relies on Colson, 339 Ill. App. 3d 1039, 791 N.E.2d 650, to support his
argument. In Colson, the State requested and received a 120-day extension of the speedy-trial
period pursuant to section 103-5(c) for the purpose of obtaining DNA evidence. Id. at 1041, 791
N.E.2d at 651. However, the DNA evidence became available on day 114 of the initial 120-day
speedy-trial period. Id. at 1046, 791 N.E.2d at 655. On the date of the defendant’s trial, 135 days
after his arrest, the defendant filed a motion for discharge for a violation of his speedy-trial
rights, which the trial court subsequently denied. Id.
- 12 -
¶ 54 On appeal, the defendant asserted the trial court abused its discretion when it
found the State exercised due diligence in obtaining the DNA results where the State delayed
nearly three months before submitting evidence to the crime laboratory for testing. Id. This court
affirmed, concluding the trial court did not abuse its discretion by finding the State had exercised
due diligence. Id. at 1048, 791 N.E.2d at 657.
¶ 55 The Colson court specifically rejected the Fifth District’s approach in People v.
Battles, 311 Ill. App. 3d 991, 999, 724 N.E.2d 997, 1003 (2000), of requiring the State to take
certain steps to prove its due diligence, such as explaining its attempts to procure the DNA at the
earliest possible date or its efforts to expedite the testing. Rather, Colson adopted a broader
approach of examining due diligence on a case-by-case basis. Colson, 339 Ill. App. 3d at 1047-
48, 791 N.E.2d at 656. Like the present case, in Colson, the DNA results were obtained within
the initial 120-day period. That fact did not change this court’s assessment of the State’s due
diligence.
¶ 56 Defendant relies on People v. Garrett, 104 Ill. App. 3d 178, 180, 432 N.E.2d
1305, 1307 (1982), for the assertion that the State was required to demonstrate “due diligence to
obtain the missing evidence or that there was any prospect of obtaining the evidence at a later
date if the time period for trial were extended.” (Emphases added.) However, that statement is
dicta and has nothing to do with the analysis of the case. Rather, the issue in Garrett was
whether the trial court properly considered the State’s motion to continue to be a request
pursuant to section 103-5(c), an issue not present in the case at bar.
¶ 57 Based on the trial court’s September 9, 2013, order granting the State an
additional 120 days pursuant to section 103-5(c), we conclude the State was entitled to 240 total
- 13 -
days to bring defendant to trial. Therefore, because only 162 days of delay are attributable to the
State, we conclude the trial court erred in granting defendant’s motion for discharge.
¶ 58 C. Best Practices
¶ 59 In this case, the State filed its motion seeking an additional 120 days in
September 2013, long before the expiration of the initial speedy-trial period. The trial court
found the State exercised due diligence in its attempts to procure the evidence by that date,
granted the motion to extend the speedy-trial deadline for an additional 120 days, and scheduled
the case for a series of reviews to determine the status of the DNA evidence. Although we find
no apparent abuse in this case, procedurally, this approach may allow the State to delay a case
for a period significantly longer than necessary to procure the DNA evidence. For example, here,
where the DNA evidence was available prior to the expiration of the initial speedy-trial period,
the court’s ruling permitted the State to delay up to an additional 120 days for the purpose of
obtaining testing results it had already received.
¶ 60 A better practice would be to avoid granting the entire 120 days unless the
circumstances strongly suggest such an extension is necessary. Periodic review dates as utilized
in this case, coupled with an order extending the speedy-trial period for a portion of the 120
days, would help to ensure only the time actually needed is given. If the State is unable to obtain
the test results within the initial extension, the court, upon the request of the State, may grant
additional extensions up to the 120 days allowed by the statute. Additionally, defendants should
not hesitate to request that if the court is inclined to grant a continuance, it do so for a period of
less than 120 days. In making these suggestions, we do not intend to obligate the trial court to
proceed as we have proposed.
- 14 -
¶ 61 III. CONCLUSION
¶ 62 For the foregoing reasons, we reverse the trial court’s judgment and remand for
further proceedings.
¶ 63 Reversed and remanded.
- 15 -