{
  "id": 5107058,
  "name": "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. STERLING FLANERY, Defendant-Appellant",
  "name_abbreviation": "People v. Flanery",
  "decision_date": "1993-04-19",
  "docket_number": "No. 3-92-0754",
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T20:55:01.285518+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
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  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. STERLING FLANERY, Defendant-Appellant."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "PRESIDING JUSTICE McCUSKEY\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nThe defendant, Sterling Flanery, appeals his conviction for armed robbery. The sole issue on appeal is whether his sentence was an abuse of discretion. We find no abuse of discretion. Therefore, we affirm.\nThe evidence at trial established that on October 22, 1990, Flanery robbed a gas station. The facts of his trial were stated in People v. Flanery (1992), 229 Ill. App. 3d 497, 594 N.E.2d 401, and we incorporate them by reference into this opinion.\nThe presentence report indicated Flanery was 56 years old at the time of the offense. He had been employed by Anchor Glass in Streator for 34 years. During that time, he helped raise seven children. He had prior convictions for suspended license and speeding in 1968, for criminal damage to property in 1971, and for driving while license revoked and driving under the influence in 1990. At the time Flanery committed the instant offense, he was on probation. Also, testimony was presented at the sentencing hearing which indicated Flanery committed a burglary about two weeks after the instant offense.\nAdditionally, the presentence report indicated Flanery has a drinking problem. During his trial, several witnesses testified Flanery was drinking near the time of the offense.\nThe trial judge sentenced Flanery to 12 years\u2019 imprisonment. On appeal, we found the trial judge had improperly considered a sentencing factor that was implicit in the crime and remanded for resentencing. People v. Flanery (1992), 229 Ill. App. 3d 497, 594 N.E.2d 401.\nUpon remand, Flanery testified he had a job in the \u201ccarpenter maintaining shop\u201d at the Galesburg Correctional Center. Flanery said he had outside clearance, meaning that he worked outside the prison. Flanery still maintained he was innocent of the crime.\nThe trial judge expressed displeasure that Flanery continued to deny his commission of the offense. The judge also stated he had placed no weight on the improper sentencing factor. Accordingly, the judge resentenced Flanery to 12 years\u2019 imprisonment.\nOn appeal, Flanery argues his sentence was an abuse of discretion. In support of his argument, Flanery claims the judge failed to give adequate weight to the circumstances of the crime, his age, his employment record, his criminal history, and his behavior in prison. Flanery also contends the judge erred in considering his denial of the offense to be an aggravating factor.\nSentencing is a matter of judicial discretion, and, absent an abuse of discretion, a sentence may not be altered on review. (People v. Cox (1980), 82 Ill. 2d 268, 412 N.E.2d 541.) Among the factors a trial judge may consider when imposing sentence are a defendant\u2019s prior criminal history and the fact he was on probation when he committed the instant offense. (People v. Mitchell (1991), 213 Ill. App. 3d 1078, 572 N.E.2d 1229.) A judge may also consider a defendant\u2019s history of alcoholism as evidence his conduct is likely to recur. People v. Scott (1992), 225 Ill. App. 3d 938, 588 N.E.2d 343.\nWe begin our analysis by noting the trial judge did not err in imposing the same sentence on remand. As we noted in People v. Morton (1981), 102 Ill. App. 3d 280, 430 N.E.2d 383, when a sentence is vacated on appeal and the cause is remanded for a new sentencing hearing, that action should not be construed as a mandate to the trial judge to impose a lesser sentence on remand. On remand for re-sentencing, the trial judge should simply reconsider the matter without relying upon the factor we initially found to be improper. If, as here, the trial judge states that he did not place any weight on the improper factor, then he is free to reimpose the same sentence.\nHere, the instant sentence was well supported by the proper sentencing factors. Flanery had a number of prior convictions, and the trial judge correctly observed that his criminal history had escalated to more serious crimes. Flanery\u2019s drinking problem was also evidence his conduct might recur, particularly since he committed the instant offense after abusing alcohol. Finally, we note the trial judge properly disapproved of Flanery\u2019s claim of innocence in the face of strong evidence to the contrary. We have previously found such testimony may be considered as evidence that a defendant is less likely to be rehabilitated. People v. Anderson (1992), 225 Ill. App. 3d 636, 587 N.E.2d 1050.\nFor the reasons indicated, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court of La Salle County.\nAffirmed.\nSLATER and LYTTON, JJ., concur.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "PRESIDING JUSTICE McCUSKEY"
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Robert Agostinelli, of State Appellate Defender\u2019s Office, of Ottawa, for appellant.",
      "Joseph Navarro, State\u2019s Attorney, of Ottawa (John X. Breslin and Rita Kennedy Mertel, both of State\u2019s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor\u2019s Office, of counsel), for the People."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. STERLING FLANERY, Defendant-Appellant.\nThird District\nNo. 3\u201492\u20140754\nOpinion filed April 19, 1993.\nRobert Agostinelli, of State Appellate Defender\u2019s Office, of Ottawa, for appellant.\nJoseph Navarro, State\u2019s Attorney, of Ottawa (John X. Breslin and Rita Kennedy Mertel, both of State\u2019s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor\u2019s Office, of counsel), for the People."
  },
  "file_name": "0759-01",
  "first_page_order": 779,
  "last_page_order": 781
}