{ "id": 1586050, "name": "People of the State of Illinois, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Clarence Wallace, Defendant-Appellant", "name_abbreviation": "People v. Wallace", "decision_date": "1969-12-10", "docket_number": "Gen. No. 53,525", "first_page": "426", "last_page": "431", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "117 Ill. App. 2d 426" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "246 NE2d 465", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "108 Ill App2d 77", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 2d", "case_ids": [ 1595881 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-2d/108/0077-01" ] }, { "cite": "208 NE2d 629", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "60 Ill App2d 447", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2605014 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-2d/60/0447-01" ] }, { "cite": "205 NE2d 503", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "56 Ill App2d 93", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5285692 ], "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "98" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-2d/56/0093-01" ] }, { "cite": "253 NE2d 688", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "115 Ill App2d 431", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 2d", "case_ids": [ 1588317 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-2d/115/0431-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 528, "char_count": 7887, "ocr_confidence": 0.611, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.7249234501145058e-07, "percentile": 0.7044991812263959 }, "sha256": "1a3711346b3e866be91ec3f5b503e7d9693fc9224e5dafa4de2d0aa76a951fef", "simhash": "1:9fa6d5c967ae8831", "word_count": 1304 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T19:26:52.203981+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "People of the State of Illinois, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Clarence Wallace, Defendant-Appellant." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "MR. JUSTICE LEIGHTON\ndelivered the opinion of the court.\nDefendant was charged with attempt to murder, unlawful use of a weapon, and knowingly carrying concealed on his person a pistol within five years of his release from a penitentiary. After a nonjury trial, he was found guilty of attempt to murder. The court sentenced defendant to serve eight to twenty years.\nDefendant appeals. His brief presented two issues for review: (a) whether the trial court correctly accepted defendant\u2019s waiver of trial by jury; and (b) whether the sentence, if it is valid, is too severe and should be reduced. During oral argument, defendant\u2019s counsel conceded that recent decisions of this court made the jury waiver contention untenable. Accordingly, counsel asked and we allowed withdrawal of this point. Therefore, the sole issue in this appeal is whether the sentence is too severe.\nOn February 16, 1968, at about 2:00 p. m., William Callaghan, a Chicago policeman, in uniform and in a squad car, was driving north on Normal Boulevard. Near West 60th Street, Callaghan saw a green 1963 Chevrolet driving east with two occupants, one a driver and the other a front seat passenger, whose youthful appearance attracted his attention. He decided to curb the vehicle. Using his blue flasher, Callaghan stopped the Chevrolet approximately four feet in front of his squad car, at or near 315 West 60th Street.\nAs Callaghan left his vehicle, he saw defendant, the driver of the Chevrolet, get out. He heard the occupant say to the driver, \u201cBe cool, man. Be cool.\u201d The driver replied, \u201cNo. We can\u2019t take a chance.\u201d Callaghan then saw that defendant had a gun. Callaghan ran to the other side of the street, keeping defendant in his view, and took refuge behind a tree. Defendant drew his gun and fired at Callaghan. Callaghan returned the fire. Defendant fired four or five shots; Callaghan, six. After the gunfire, defendant and the occupant ran into the building at 315 West 60th Street. A short time later, defendant came out and ran behind the building into an alley. As he did, he stopped and fired one more shot at Callaghan. The car in which defendant was riding was later taken to a police auto pound.\nFour days later, on February 20, Callaghan in the company of two fellow policemen, went to a pool hall. There he saw defendant. Callaghan approached him, told him he was under arrest. When he asked why, he was told he was under arrest for attempting to shoot Callaghan. Defendant resisted the arrest, causing Callaghan to break a hand. Defendant was subdued and taken into custody. He was charged and brought to trial.\nTo support its allegations under counts I and II of the indictment, the State called Callaghan and a fellow officer. For the defense, defendant and his brother testified. To support its allegations under count III, the State called an assistant record clerk at Stateville branch of the penitentiary in Joliet. He testified that defendant was received at Stateville on May 16, 1961, to begin a five to ten year sentence for unlawful possession of narcotics. He was paroled on March 1, 1965. On December 24, 1965, he was returned a parole violator. On November 10, 1966, defendant again was released on parole and again returned a violator on May 9,1967. Then, on completion of his sentence, defendant was released from the penitentiary on January 15,1968.\nAfter hearing witnesses and arguments of counsel, the trial judge reviewed the evidence and then found defendant guilty of attempt to murder Callaghan. Hearing in aggravation and mitigation followed. The prosecution showed that in December 1956, defendant was sentenced to serve three months for petty larceny. In October 1957, defendant was sentenced to serve three months for assault with a deadly weapon. In February 1961, defendant was sentenced to serve five to ten years for unlawful possession of narcotics. The trial judge heard counsel on the question of punishment. Defendant\u2019s counsel spoke, calling attention to the views of modern penology on the relation between long sentences and rehabilitation. After listening to counsel, the court sentenced defendant to serve a term of eight to twenty years.\nDefendant contends this sentence is too severe. He argues that this case is a proper one for exercise of the power we have to reduce sentences given us by Supreme Court Rule 615(b) (4), Ill Rev Stats 1967, c 110A, \u00a7 615 (b) (4). The State, on the other hand, argues that the sentence imposed was proper because of the heinousness of the crime of which defendant was convicted, and because a long criminal record indicated defendant was a hardened criminal.\nPeople v. Ramey, 115 Ill App2d 431, 253 NE2d 688, is a recent occasion when we passed on the contention defendant makes before us. We said then that reviewing court power to reduce a sentence should be exercised with caution and circumspection. The primary purpose of our authority to reduce a sentence is to prevent arbitrary or oppressive treatment of offenders and to provide penalties which are both proportionate to the circumstances of the case, and which recognize differences in rehabilitation potential of offenders. When a sentence is imposed within the limits prescribed by statute, we. will not disturb it on review unless it is a departure from fundamental law, its spirit and purpose; or, the punishment is manifestly in excess of the provisions of section 11 of Article II of the Illinois Constitution requiring that all penalties be proportioned to the nature of the offense. The doctrines we applied in Ramey were supported by a long line of Illinois cases.\nIn People v. Hobbs, 56 Ill App2d 93, 205 NE2d 503, it was contended, as does the defendant here, that the sentence imposed was too severe for the nature of the crime. We said that \u201c [T] he court, in fixing punishment, should weigh and consider all pertinent matters, including the nature of the offense, the attending circumstances, the character and propensities of the offender, and the chances of his reform.\u201d 56 Ill App2d 93, at 98. When defendant\u2019s argument for modification of sentence is scrutinized with these principles in mind, the conclusion we reach is that his case is not persuasive.\nDefendant precipitated an attack on a uniformed policeman as he alighted from a squad car. The episode endangered a densely populated section in the City of Chicago. To use a contemporary colloquialism, defendant started a shoot-out. The fact that no one was injured does not detract from the heinousness of the offense. When all pertinent matters are considered, defendant does not present a case that will justify exercise of our power to modify the sentence imposed by the trial court. People v. Brown, 60 Ill App2d 447, 208 NE2d 629; People v. Garrison, 108 Ill App2d 77, 246 NE2d 465.\nJudgment affirmed.\nJudgment affirmed.\nDRUCKER, P. J. and ENGLISH, J., concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "MR. JUSTICE LEIGHTON" } ], "attorneys": [ "Gerald W. Getty, Public Defender of Cook County, of Chicago (Herbert Becker, Norman W. Fishman and James J. Doherty, Assistant Public Defenders, of counsel) , for appellant.", "Edward V. Hanrahan, State\u2019s Attorney of Cook County, of Chicago (Robert Kelty, Special Assistant State\u2019s Attorney, and Elmer C. Kissane, Assistant State\u2019s Attorney, of counsel), for appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "People of the State of Illinois, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Clarence Wallace, Defendant-Appellant.\nGen. No. 53,525.\nFirst District, Fourth Division.\nDecember 10, 1969.\nGerald W. Getty, Public Defender of Cook County, of Chicago (Herbert Becker, Norman W. Fishman and James J. Doherty, Assistant Public Defenders, of counsel) , for appellant.\nEdward V. Hanrahan, State\u2019s Attorney of Cook County, of Chicago (Robert Kelty, Special Assistant State\u2019s Attorney, and Elmer C. Kissane, Assistant State\u2019s Attorney, of counsel), for appellee.\nSee Callaghan\u2019s Illinois Digest, same topic and section number*\nDefendant, acting pro se, filed a motion praying for entry of an order directing his counsel to amend his brief, or in the alternative, that we rule on the contentions he lists in his motion so that the doctrine of waiver will not apply to any post-conviction remedy he may seek. We allowed defendant\u2019s motion to stand as an additional brief. We have considered each additional contention and find them without merit." }, "file_name": "0426-01", "first_page_order": 444, "last_page_order": 449 }