{ "id": 5214144, "name": "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. DARNELL LANDIS, Defendant-Appellant", "name_abbreviation": "People v. Landis", "decision_date": "1992-05-12", "docket_number": "No. 1\u201489\u20142486", "first_page": "128", "last_page": "137", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "229 Ill. App. 3d 128" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "368 N.E.2d 882", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "68 Ill. 2d 149", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5809665 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "154" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/68/0149-01" ] }, { "cite": "513 N.E.2d 517", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1977, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "160 Ill. App. 3d 491", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3650255 ], "year": 1977, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "493" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/160/0491-01" ] }, { "cite": "444 N.E.2d 518", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "111 Ill. 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App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2645931 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "757" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/185/0751-01" ] }, { "cite": "545 N.E.2d 429", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "189 Ill. App. 3d 535", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2681905 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "551" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/189/0535-01" ] }, { "cite": "523 N.E.2d 1061", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "169 Ill. App. 3d 716", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3551634 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "733" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/169/0716-01" ] }, { "cite": "543 N.E.2d 859", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "187 Ill. App. 3d 832", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2666513 ], "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "842" }, { "page": "842-43" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/187/0832-01" ] }, { "cite": "514 N.E.2d 970", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "118 Ill. 2d 163", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3188484 ], "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "175" }, { "page": "178" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/118/0163-01" ] }, { "cite": "521 N.E.2d 38", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "121 Ill. 2d 401", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3201150 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "445-46" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/121/0401-01" ] }, { "cite": "568 N.E.2d 755", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "142 Ill. 2d 410", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3236771 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "445" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/142/0410-01" ] }, { "cite": "538 N.E.2d 453", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "128 Ill. 2d 1", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3228708 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/128/0001-01" ] }, { "cite": "443 U.S. 307", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6182418 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "319" }, { "page": "573" }, { "page": "2789" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/443/0307-01" ] }, { "cite": "567 N.E.2d 373", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "208 Ill. App. 3d 407", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2549109 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/208/0407-01" ] }, { "cite": "472 N.E.2d 427", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1990, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "104 Ill. 2d 375", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3146378 ], "year": 1990, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/104/0375-01" ] }, { "cite": "535 N.E.2d 1097", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1984, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "180 Ill. App. 3d 396", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2614786 ], "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "402" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/180/0396-01" ] }, { "cite": "573 N.E.2d 1288", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "214 Ill. App. 3d 512", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5298672 ], "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "525" }, { "page": "521" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/214/0512-01" ] }, { "cite": "497 U.S. 805", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6219632 ], "weight": 4, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "821-22" }, { "page": "3150" }, { "page": "821-22" }, { "page": "3150" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/497/0805-01" ] }, { "cite": "579 N.E.2d 943", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "219 Ill. App. 3d 428", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5798837 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "434" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/219/0428-01" ] }, { "cite": "547 N.E.2d 1335", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1991, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "191 Ill. App. 3d 529", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2512525 ], "weight": 6, "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "541" }, { "page": "539" }, { "page": "539" }, { "page": "540" }, { "page": "541" }, { "page": "541" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/191/0529-01" ] }, { "cite": "448 U.S. 56", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 1787607 ], "weight": 9, "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "66" }, { "page": "608" }, { "page": "2539" }, { "page": "66" }, { "page": "608" }, { "page": "2539" }, { "page": "71" }, { "page": "611" }, { "page": "2541" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/448/0056-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 1055, "char_count": 21885, "ocr_confidence": 0.763, "pagerank": { "raw": 6.99636587445659e-08, "percentile": 0.422829670764589 }, "sha256": "b348fdce993995dd48e8a5c715e612c7ac25ce93ef641c4d34b439d620bd5d01", "simhash": "1:ebe6d18e2f7c9741", "word_count": 3602 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T21:04:36.221708+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. DARNELL LANDIS, Defendant-Appellant." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "PRESIDING JUSTICE HARTMAN\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nDefendant, Darnell Landis, appeals his conviction by a jury of aggravated criminal sexual assault (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 38, par. 12\u2014 14) and 30-year sentence in custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections. On appeal he questions whether (1) his conviction was improperly based upon unreliable out-of-court statements; (2) his right to confrontation of witnesses was violated by the admission of the statements; (3) he was denied a fair trial due to closing argument remarks; and (4) his sentence was excessive.\nDuring a pretrial competency hearing, held in accordance with section 115 \u2014 10 (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 38, par. 115 \u2014 10 (section 115 \u2014 10)), the six-year-old victim, who was five years of age when assaulted, was questioned. She was unaware of the difference between the truth and a lie, but cognizant of punishment for lying. The meaning of an oath, the number of days in a week or months in a year, the day, month or time of year, and her present or previous location were beyond her knowledge. She was found incompetent and unable to understand the significance of the court and not allowed to testify.\nTo evaluate admissibility of the victim\u2019s alleged out-of-court statements, the hearing continued. The victim\u2019s mother testified that she lived with three of her four daughters in July of 1988, at which time defendant was her boyfriend of four months. On July 7 at 2 a.m., she went to sleep. Defendant was in her bed, and her daughters were in their bedrooms. No other men were inside the apartment, and the front and back doors were closed and locked. At 4 or 5 a.m., she awoke. Defendant was gone. Reasoning he was in the bathroom, she went back to sleep. Her daughter, who shared a bedroom with the victim, was in the mother\u2019s bed. The victim had brought her there earlier that night.\nAt 8 a.m., she awoke to find defendant back in bed. On her way downstairs, she noticed that the victim, who was wearing a shirt and underpants when put in bed, was naked. She never before removed her own panties. The mother returned upstairs and entered the victim\u2019s bedroom. White and brown substances were on the victim\u2019s upper thigh above her vagina. She awoke and jumped. After being asked twice if \u201csomebody been messing with you,\u201d she asserted that defendant \u201cstuck his thing in my t.t.\u201d \u201cThing\u201d was the word she used for penis, and \u201ct.t.\u201d was her word for vagina. This scenario occurred within 30 seconds from the time the victim woke. The victim indicated that this had happened once before. The mother left and called the police from a neighbor\u2019s home. After the police spoke with the victim alone, the mother took her to the hospital, where it was learned that the victim had contracted gonorrhea.\nOn cross-examination the mother asserted that the victim told her defendant \u201cstayed on her, did it to her until he did that stuff out.\u201d Additionally, the mother heard defendant indicate to the police that he was \u201cthe one.\u201d\nChicago police officer John Hett testified that on July 7 at 8:45 a.m., he and his partner arrived at the home in response to a domestic disturbance assignment. The mother met him outside. She asserted that the victim said \u201cdefendant put his thing in her t.t.\u201d and that defendant was inside. He entered the residence, handcuffed defendant and proceeded upstairs. His partner remained with defendant.\nThe victim informed Officer Hett that \u201che put his thing in my t.t.,\u201d indicating this had happened before. He observed the white and brown substances on the child. Although he first asserted the victim did not mention defendant by name, after reading his police report, he testified that she did so. He did not recall the minor recanting or reaffirming her statements and there was no indication of arguing between defendant and the mother. Defendant did not confess at the scene in the officer\u2019s presence.\nChicago police detective Ernest Bell testified that he arrived at the house at 9 a.m. Defendant, whom he identified in court, was in custody. Inside the home, the victim asserted \u201che stuck his thing in my t.t.,\u201d pointing to defendant. He spoke with her again at the hospital, where she repeated this accusation and affirmatively indicated a prior occurrence. Medical examination revealed redness and tenderness. The examining doctor observed a discharge and a white liquid outside of the vagina and on the stomach area.\nOn cross-examination, Detective Bell asserted the victim did not mention defendant by name. She related the occurrence to him. Defendant came into her bed while she was asleep. She awoke and he was there. He put his \u201cthing\u201d into her \u201ct.t.\u201d At the police station, she pointed to a doll\u2019s vaginal area in reference to \u201ct.t.\u201d\nFollowing argument, the court found the necessary indicia of reliability in relation to the victim\u2019s statements made in the home. The mother and both officers were allowed to relate these statements at trial. The victim\u2019s utterances at the hospital and police station were excluded. The case proceeded to trial.\nAt trial, the mother related the victim\u2019s statements and testified to substantially the same sequence of events as at the preliminary hearing. She added that the victim would not speak of the events when defendant was present, and she had no prior reason to suspect sexual abuse in her household.\nAt trial, Officer Hett\u2019s testimony also tracked that given at the pretrial hearing, noting that \u201ca white, like a slimy substance\u201d was around and above defendant\u2019s crotch, around his zipper and on his underwear. He inventoried the pants and underwear, which were forwarded to the crime laboratory.\nPamela Fish, a seven-year Chicago police department criminalist, testified that she analyzed a vaginal smear and swab specimen, a pelvic swab specimen, a bed sheet, a pair of pants and a pair of defendant\u2019s underwear. Semen stains were found on the pants and underwear. There was no semen or spermatozoa on the specimens or bed sheet. She acknowledged that if defendant did not climax inside the victim, the discovery of sperm would have been affected.\nDr. Jai Arya, who examined the victim at the hospital, testified that during a complete examination he observed that her vaginal area was swollen and tender and a sticky discharge was present. A growth of \u201cgonoccoccus [sic]\u201d indicated gonorrhea. The swollen vaginal area was possibly due to the gonorrhea or a penis, hand or other blunt injury. The minor might have been sexually abused. The hymen was not broken. At the time of the injury, he believed the sticky discharge could only have come from a penis. Due to its location and the injury, it did not come from the victim. He added that the victim could have contracted gonorrhea from earlier contact or a penis discharge lying in that area. He admitted the infection could have occurred due to a recent discharge on a bed sheet, which was sat on in such a way as to cause contact with the vagina, rectal area or mouth where there was a skin wound.\nOn redirect examination, Dr. Arya asserted that the bruise on both sides of the victim\u2019s vulva area was consistent with some acute injury in that area; the abuse of which the victim complained was consistent with his observations; and the sticky substance came from someone who had gonorrhea. He indicated it could have been passed by someone ejaculating on the pelvic area. He swabbed the pelvic area outside of the vagina for semen and the culture.\nRonald Rose, a technician in the transmission and cure of sexually transmitted diseases employed by Cermak Health Services at Cook County jail, stated that on July 9 he examined defendant\u2019s culture and found that it tested positive for gonorrhea.\nDetective Bell testified to substantially the same sequence of events as he did at the pretrial hearing.\nDefendant\u2019s motion for a directed finding at the close of the State\u2019s case in chief was denied.\nDefendant testified on his own behalf. Defendant denied sexually assaulting the victim. He was living at the victim\u2019s home intermittently. For two to three weeks prior to the incident, he had occasionally stayed the night. On the evening of the incident he had sexual intercourse with the mother between 10 and 10:30 p.m., after which he went to a friend\u2019s house and spent the night. Defendant returned between 7:30 and 7:45 a.m., and was let in by the mother, as he did not have his own key. They went upstairs. The mother went downstairs to answer the door and returned, indicating someone was abusing her daughter. Defendant got out of bed and approached the victim\u2019s bedroom. He asked her if \u201csomeone messed with her.\u201d She did not respond. The mother left and called the police from a neighbor\u2019s house. The police arrived and arrested defendant.\nOn cross-examination, defendant acknowledged that he had a burning sensation around his penis for two or three weeks. He experienced a white discharge from his penis for about three weeks prior to the incident, which he contracted from the victim\u2019s mother. He remembered someone taking a swab from his penis, making a culture plate and receiving treatment, but not being told he tested positive.\nThe defense rested. In rebuttal, the State submitted two certified copies of defendant\u2019s convictions, which were received in evidence. The first conviction was for burglary and the second was for armed robbery.\nAs previously mentioned, the jury found defendant guilty of committing aggravated criminal sexual assault on July 7, 1988, and he was sentenced as noted.\nI\nDefendant initially urges that the evidence was so improbable that it creates reasonable doubt as to defendant\u2019s conviction.\nIt is asserted that the conviction was improperly based upon an unreliable hearsay statement, namely, defendant stuck or put \u201chis thing in my t.t.\u201d Also, because the hymen was not torn, there were no semen or spermatozoa on the vaginal and pelvic specimens, the redness and tenderness could have come from the venereal disease, the disease could have been contracted from another source, and the minor\u2019s statements were coaxed and not spontaneous, defendant asserts that there was insufficient proof of any crime committed.\nSection 115 \u2014 10 contains a hearsay exception which permits admission of testimony relating to an out-of-court statement made by a child under the age of 13 in a prosecution for a sexual act perpetrated upon the child. Such testimony may be admitted after a hearing is conducted outside the presence of the jury. The court must determine whether the time, content and circumstances of the statement provide sufficient safeguards of reliability. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 38, par. 115-10; Ohio v. Roberts (1980), 448 U.S. 56, 66, 65 L. Ed. 2d 597, 608, 100 S. Ct. 2531, 2539.) Further, if the child is unavailable as a witness, there must be corroborative evidence of the act which is the subject of the statement, which amounts to a \u201cparticularized guarantee of trustworthiness.\u201d People v. Rocha (1989), 191 Ill. App. 3d 529, 541, 547 N.E.2d 1335. See People v. Denning (1991), 219 Ill. App. 3d 428, 434, 579 N.E.2d 943.\nIn the present case, the mother and both police officers testified to the victim\u2019s out-of-court statements at the pretrial hearing, after which the circuit court determined that they were reliable. The court\u2019s conclusions as to reliability were consistent with the criteria set forth by the United States Supreme Court in Idaho v. Wright (1990), 497 U.S. 805, 821-22, Ill L. Ed. 2d 638, 656, 110 S. Ct. 3139, 3150. First, the victim\u2019s statements were spontaneous and consistently repeated. The first time she informed her mother was within 30 seconds after waking. Second, as to the minor\u2019s mental state, there is no evidence that the minor was in a mind-set that impacted upon her communication abilities. Third, the terminology used was not unexpected. \u201cThing\u201d and \u201ct.t.\u201d are expected utterances from a five-year-old child. Her description, however, of intercourse is unexpected and indicates she was assaulted or had observed the act. Finally, there was no motive to fabricate, the fourth factor.\nThe court\u2019s determination of reliability was further supported by requiring counsel to address significant factors relevant to determine whether the time, content and circumstances of a child\u2019s out-of-court statement provide sufficient safeguards of reliability. Several of these factors are substantially similar to those in Wright (497 U.S. at 821-22, 111 L. Ed. 2d at 656, 110 S. Ct. at 3150). Additional factors include the child\u2019s physical condition; the nature and duration of the sexual act; the relationship of the child and the accused; reaffirmance or recantation; whether the child is likely, apart from the incident, to have sufficient knowledge of sexual matters to realize the act is possible and sexually gratifying to some; whether the language is embarrassing and, therefore, only spoken if true; and whether it was a cry for help. M. Graham, Cleary & Graham\u2019s Handbook of Illinois Evidence \u00a7803.23, at 188-89 (4th ed. Supp. 1989).\nIn this case, by virtue of the circuit court\u2019s earlier ruling, the minor was unavailable to testify (People v. Hart (1991), 214 Ill. App. 3d 512, 525, 573 N.E.2d 1288); therefore, corroborative evidence of the act was required. (Rocha, 191 Ill. App. 3d at 539.) We find such corroboration existed. Semen stains were found on the underwear and pants defendant was wearing upon arrest. The victim\u2019s vaginal area was swollen, tender and covered with a sticky discharge. The discharge came from someone who had contracted gonorrhea; defendant tested positive for gonorrhea. The bruise on her vulva area was consistent with acute injury, and Dr. Arya\u2019s observations were consistent with the victim\u2019s complaint. The cumulative effect of these facts supports the circuit court\u2019s conclusion that there was sufficient corroboration of the sexual assault. (Hart, 214 Ill. App. 3d at 521.) The victim\u2019s statements to others were properly admitted in accordance with section 115 \u2014 10. Rocha, 191 Ill. App. 3d at 539.\nAlthough there was no semen found in the victim\u2019s pelvic or vaginal specimens, the presence of semen is not required to prove that a sex crime was committed. (People v. Allman (1989), 180 Ill. App. 3d 396, 402, 535 N.E.2d 1097.) Additionally, defendant\u2019s reliance on People v. Lambert (1984), 104 Ill. 2d 375, 472 N.E.2d 427, and People v. Zwart (1990), 208 Ill. App. 3d 407, 567 N.E.2d 373, is misplaced. Lambert involves the corroboration of a confession and the lack of evidence to prove a relationship between the victim\u2019s condition and the commission of the crime. In this case, substantial evidence exists to prove the relationship. In Zwart, the court found the hearsay statements unreliable because of a lapse in time before the making of the statements, which is not an issue in this case because of the victim\u2019s prompt report to her mother.\nThe victim\u2019s outcries and the corroborative evidence fulfilled the essential elements of defendant\u2019s conviction, aggravated criminal sexual assault (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 38, par. 12 \u2014 14). Accordingly, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, a rational trier of fact could have found defendant guilty of aggravated criminal sexual assault beyond a reasonable doubt. (Jackson v. Virginia (1979), 443 U.S. 307, 319, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560, 573, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 2789; People v. Young (1989), 128 Ill. 2d 1, 538 N.E.2d 453.) We find no improbability in the evidence which rises to a reasonable doubt of defendant\u2019s guilt.\nII\nDefendant next asserts that the admission of the minor\u2019s reported statements violated his right to confrontation of witnesses under the United States and Illinois Constitutions.\nThe confrontation clause of the United States Constitution, as applied to the States through the fourteenth amendment (U.S. Const., amend. XIV), provides that \u201c[i]n all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right *** to be confronted with the witnesses against him\u201d (U.S. Const., amend. VI). Substantially the same right is contained in the Illinois Constitution, which endows an accused with the right \u201cto meet the witnesses face to face.\u201d Ill. Const. 1970, art. I, \u00a78.\nThe confrontation clause requires the circuit court to make special inquiry into a statement\u2019s reliability if the declarant is not subject to cross-examination. (Ohio v. Roberts (1980), 448 U.S. 56, 66, 65 L. Ed. 2d 597, 608, 100 S. Ct. 2531, 2539; People v. Rocha (1989), 191 Ill. App. 3d 529, 540, 547 N.E.2d 1335.) An accused may challenge whether the declarant was sincerely telling what he believed to be the truth or whether the declarant\u2019s intended meaning is adequately conveyed by the language employed. Roberts, 448 U.S. at 71, 65 L. Ed. 2d at 611,100 S. Ct. at 2541.\nSection 115 \u2014 10 comports with these guarantees. It secures the reliability of a hearsay statement by requiring a hearing and corroboration if the declarant is unavailable, thereby mandating that the evidence in each case demonstrate a particularized guarantee of trustworthiness. (Rocha, 191 Ill. App. 3d at 541.) The court must find at a hearing conducted outside the presence of the jury that the time, content and circumstances of the statement provide sufficient safeguards of reliability. Rocha, 191 Ill. App. 3d at 541.\nIn the case sub judice, the court conducted a proper hearing in compliance with section 115 \u2014 10 and, therefore, defendant\u2019s confrontation rights were not violated.\nIll\nDenial of a fair and impartial trial by way of the State\u2019s closing comments is the basis for defendant\u2019s next point of error.\nDefendant waived this issue by failing to object to most of the comments and by omitting them from his post-trial motion (People v. Morgan (1991), 142 Ill. 2d 410, 445, 568 N.E.2d 755). Even were we to consider them on their merits, the remarks did not constitute reversible error.\nConsiderable latitude is allowed in making closing and rebuttal argument. (People v. Thompkins (1988), 121 Ill. 2d 401, 445-46, 521 N.E.2d 38.) The circuit court\u2019s ruling in this regard generally will be upheld absent clear abuse of discretion. (People v. Cisewski (1987), 118 Ill. 2d 163, 175, 514 N.E.2d 970.) Here, several of the remarks properly were comments on the evidence and legitimate inferences therefrom (People v. Harris (1989), 187 Ill. App. 3d 832, 842, 543 N.E.2d 859). Some were responses to defense counsel\u2019s argument (People v. Morando (1988), 169 Ill. App. 3d 716, 733, 523 N.E.2d 1061). Others were mere overstatements of the evidence (People v. Enoch (1989), 189 Ill. App. 3d 535, 551, 545 N.E.2d 429). Furthermore, remarks regarding defendant\u2019s prior convictions were permissible, for they related to defendant's credibility (People v. Stiff (1989), 185 Ill. App. 3d 751, 757, 542 N.E.2d 392), as the jury was instructed (People v. McKinney (1983), 117 Ill. App. 3d 591, 597, 453 N.E.2d 926). These comments did not constitute reversible error.\nAdditionally, any error was cured and harmless. The court sustained several objections (Cisewski, 118 Ill. 2d at 178), and instructed the jury that closing argument is not evidence. (People v. Barney (1982), 111 Ill. App. 3d 669, 677-78, 444 N.E.2d 518.) The evidence was substantially against defendant, and the remarks were not a factor in his conviction, nor did they result in substantial prejudice to him or affect the verdict (Harris, 187 Ill. App. 3d at 842-43). In sum, the State\u2019s closing argument did not constitute reversible error.\nIV\nDefendant lastly asserts that his 30-year sentence is excessive because he did not cause permanent harm to the victim and did not hold a position of trust, a factor in aggravation. Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 38, par. 1005-5-3.2.\nThe circuit court addressed the former argument, observing that the transmission of a venereal disease to a five-year-old child caused her \u201cserious physical harm,\u201d while noting, in mitigation, that she was treated with no evident residual effect. In applying the position of trust factor in aggravation, the court appropriately reasoned that the mother let defendant into her home and near the children, expecting that he would act in \u201cthe proper way.\u201d The imposition of a longer sentence to deter sexual abuse in the household is proper. (People v. Reid (1987), 160 Ill. App. 3d 491, 493, 513 N.E.2d 517.) A sentence will not be altered upon review absent an abuse of discretion, which we do not find here. The sentence, as that entered in this case, should be based upon the unique circumstances of each case. People v. Perruquet (1977), 68 Ill. 2d 149,154, 368 N.E.2d 882.\nAggravated criminal sexual assault is a Class X felony carrying a sentence of 6 to 30 years\u2019 imprisonment. Defendant, however, was eligible for a 60-year sentence due to a prior conviction. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 38, par. 1005 \u2014 5\u20143.2; Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 38, par. 1005 \u2014 8\u20142.) The circuit court weighed all aggravating and mitigating factors and recognized that defendant was subject to this extended term, but did not impose it. Defendant was amenable to a sentence of 30 years in prison, the maximum for a Class X felony without an extended term. The circuit court did not abuse its discretion by imposing this sentence for aggravated criminal sexual assault of a five-year-old child.\nFor the aforesaid reasons, we affirm defendant\u2019s conviction and sentence.\nAffirmed.\nDiVITO and McCORMICK, JJ., concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "PRESIDING JUSTICE HARTMAN" } ], "attorneys": [ "Randolph N. Stone, Public Defender, of Chicago (Frank Madea, Assistant Public Defender, of counsel), for appellant.", "Jack O\u2019Malley, State\u2019s Attorney, of Chicago (Renee Goldfarb, Gael M. O\u2019Brien, and Susan Wigoda, Assistant State\u2019s Attorneys, of counsel), for the People." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. DARNELL LANDIS, Defendant-Appellant.\nFirst District (2nd Division)\nNo. 1\u201489\u20142486\nOpinion filed May 12, 1992.\nRandolph N. Stone, Public Defender, of Chicago (Frank Madea, Assistant Public Defender, of counsel), for appellant.\nJack O\u2019Malley, State\u2019s Attorney, of Chicago (Renee Goldfarb, Gael M. O\u2019Brien, and Susan Wigoda, Assistant State\u2019s Attorneys, of counsel), for the People." }, "file_name": "0128-01", "first_page_order": 150, "last_page_order": 159 }