{ "id": 2962232, "name": "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. DANIEL FONTANA, Defendant-Appellant", "name_abbreviation": "People v. Fontana", "decision_date": "1993-10-29", "docket_number": "No. 2\u201491\u20141402", "first_page": "694", "last_page": "709", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "251 Ill. App. 3d 694" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "240 Ill. App. 3d 931", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5138021 ], "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "936" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/240/0931-01" ] }, { "cite": "209 Ill. App. 3d 1078", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2540778 ], "weight": 5, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1084" }, { "page": "1084" }, { "page": "1085" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/209/1078-01" ] }, { "cite": "234 Ill. App. 3d 441", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5188644 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "443" }, { "page": "444" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/234/0441-01" ] }, { "cite": "57 Ill. 2d 279", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5407591 ], "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "284" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/57/0279-01" ] }, { "cite": "155 Ill. 2d 374", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 4809734 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "379" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/155/0374-01" ] }, { "cite": "243 Ill. App. 3d 23", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 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App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5098911 ], "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "28" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/244/0014-01" ] }, { "cite": "152 Ill. 2d 133", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5602879 ], "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "171" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/152/0133-01" ] }, { "cite": "155 Ill. 2d 344", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 4809979 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "354" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/155/0344-01" ] }, { "cite": "201 Ill. App. 3d 872", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 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Laws", "opinion_index": 0 } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 1205, "char_count": 35262, "ocr_confidence": 0.777, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.9654368646102644e-07, "percentile": 0.738635534349686 }, "sha256": "b5a074d2f665c28112f5e0960e9992ec31190892d56736e85ec6ab0eb7079fa9", "simhash": "1:bb6fd564734257e9", "word_count": 5875 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T16:22:05.264174+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. DANIEL FONTANA, Defendant-Appellant." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "JUSTICE DOYLE\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nA jury found defendant, Daniel Fontana, guilty of the unlawful use of a credit card (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 17, par. 5921 (now 720 ILCS 250/8 (West 1992))). The trial court sentenced defendant to 30 months\u2019 probation, 30 days\u2019 in the county jail, restitution of $11,208.44, and costs. Defendant timely appealed, and he raises four issues for review: (1) whether the trial court erred in admitting evidence of other transactions by defendant and, if not, whether the lack of a limiting instruction for this evidence amounted to reversible error; (2) whether the trial court erred in sustaining the State\u2019s objections to defense counsel\u2019s questions regarding defendant\u2019s mental capacity; (3) whether the restitution included sums extraneous to the offenses, and whether the trial court erred in failing to determine the manner in which defendant was to pay the restitution; and (4) whether the victim\u2019s assistance fine of $20 imposed by the circuit court clerk must be vacated.\nDefendant was charged with the \"unlawful use of a credit card based on two transactions: on December 15, 1990, defendant was alleged to have used the Visa credit card of Angeline Fontana for the purpose of obtaining the services of Dunn Rite Car and Truck Rental in the amount of $286.94; and on December 20, 1990, defendant was alleged to have used the Visa credit card of Anthony Fontana for the purpose of obtaining $100 cash from the Heritage Bank of Woodridge.\nAt trial, defendant\u2019s grandmother, Angeline Fontana, testified that she lived in North Riverside. On December 14, 1990, her husband Anthony died. Angeline had been at the hospital several days before Anthony\u2019s death. She kept her Visa and Mastercard credit cards in a buffet in her dining room, because she seldom used those credit cards. Anthony kept his credit card in his wallet. Defendant\u2019s father had a key to Angeline and Anthony\u2019s home. Angeline did not give defendant permission to use or take the credit cards, and she was unaware that they were missing until she was contacted by the Harris Trust & Savings Bank (Harris Bank), the issuer. She never requested a new credit card or a change of address. On cross-examination, defense counsel asked Angeline if defendant had learning disabilities and what were defendant\u2019s mental capabilities. The State objected to both questions, and the court sustained the objections.\nJames Harding, an employee of Dunn Rite Car & Truck Rental (Dunn Rite), testified that on December 15, 1990, defendant rented a car from Dunn Rite. Harding asked for a credit card and a driver\u2019s license to rent the vehicle. Defendant produced his driver\u2019s license and gave his name. Defendant used a Visa card with the name \u201cAngeline Fontana\u201d on it to pay $286.94 for the rental. He signed the credit slip \u201cDan and F something.\u201d\nAnn Marie Wilson, an employee of Heritage Bank, was in charge of bookkeeping and records in December 1990. She identified records of cash disbursements from a credit card. One was made on December 12, 1990, for $100, and Anthony\u2019s Visa card was used. The other transaction was on December 7. The jury was shown videotapes made by the bank\u2019s surveillance camera on December 7 and 20,1990.\nDetective Mitchell Vandenbos, of the Downers Grove police department, interviewed defendant on January 30, 1991, about defendant\u2019s use of his grandparents\u2019 credit cards. Vandenbos went through a copy of a Visa billing statement item by item, asking defendant to acknowledge which purchases he made. Vandenbos testified that defendant admitted to the Dunn Rite transaction. Defendant told Vandenbos that he rented a car because his was being repaired. When Vandenbos asked defendant if he had permission to use the credit cards, defendant admitted that he did not. Defendant also admitted that he took both credit cards from his grandparents\u2019 home. On cross-examination, defense counsel asked Vandenbos to describe defendant\u2019s mental capabilities, and the court sustained the State\u2019s objection to the question.\nOn January 3, 1991, defendant was interviewed at the Woodridge police department by Commander Edward Kelter and Detective William Sperling, in the presence of two Harris Bank employees. Defendant told the officers that he took the credit cards on December 3, 1990. Defendant admitted that he made the purchases listed on the billing statements provided by Harris Bank and that he did not have authority to use the credit cards. Defendant told the officers that he requested a new credit card from the issuer and he had it mailed to a post office box in Oak Brook around December 20. Defendant admitted that he made the $1,000 transaction on December 7, 1990, without permission, and that he made the $100 transaction on December 20, 1990, to see if that card \u201cwould work.\u201d Defendant gave the officers two of the credit cards immediately, a Mastercard with Angeline\u2019s name on it and a Visa with Anthony\u2019s name on it. Defendant returned later with another credit card. Defendant made a written statement in the form of a letter of apology to Harris Bank, which stated:\n\u201cI just wanted to say I was sorry for ussing [sic] my grandmother\u2019s credit cards and charging so much money on her acct. [sic] and making Harris bank go through all this stuff. When I see a credit card I just go crazzy [sic] with it not thinking what I\u2019m doing. Also somehow I\u2019ll try to pay this back to Harris bank.\u201d\nAccording to Commander Kelter, the officers offered defendant the \u201copportunity to make a written statement or a letter of apology or any other format in writing that he wanted to in his own words to explain what occurred.\u201d Kelter testified that he could not recall who initiated the request, nor could he recall whose idea it was to make the statement a letter of apology to Harris Bank. Kelter denied that it was his idea to make it an apology or that he directed defendant what to write. Again, on cross-examination, defense counsel attempted to question Kelter about defendant\u2019s mental capabilities, and the court sustained the State\u2019s objections.\nAfter Kelter\u2019s testimony, during a side-bar discussion, the prosecutor mentioned some business records in the form of billing statements that the State intended to introduce. Defendant objected to the introduction of the billing statements because they contained other matters which were not the subject of the charges at issue. The prosecutor responded that the billing statements were relevant because Vandenbos and Kelter testified that they went through the documents with defendant and he indicated that he did not have authority to make several of the charges. Defense counsel then admitted that there was no issue of authorization or permission to use the cards, but the issue was whether defendant had the intent to defraud. Defense counsel was concerned that the billing statements were duplicative. The court then explained:\n\u201cYou started off talking about intent to defraud and then you are talking about duplicative evidence. It is discretionary with the Court to allow something additional to what has been already offered, and I don\u2019t see a problem there.\nThe other, more serious problem is the question of proof of other crime, and the question of intent is the issue to be decided in the case, intent to defraud. And there had been testimony that there was no authority given by Mrs. Fontana, the grandmother, to the defendant to use the credit card.\nAnd where the defendant denied any intent to defraud, I think evidence of other use of the card and other purchases with the use of that card without having been given permission by the cardholder to do so is probative on the issue on the intent to defraud.\u201d\nThe court allowed the State to introduce the billing statements into evidence.\nDetective Sperling\u2019s testimony was essentially the same as Kelter\u2019s testimony. When the prosecutor asked Sperling if the police questioned defendant about a transaction for an engagement ring, defendant objected on the basis of an insufficient foundation. Sperling was allowed to testify that defendant stated that he used the credit card to purchase a wedding ring set from a jeweler in Schaumburg. Defendant gave the ring set to his fiancee. On January 7, 1991, defendant returned to the police station and gave Sperling the wedding band, but the fiancee refused to return the engagement ring. Sperling identified a photograph he took of the wedding band that defendant brought to the police station.\nSperling further testified that Kelter gave defendant a pad of paper and a pen and requested that defendant make a statement. On cross-examination, Sperling stated that it was Kelter who chose to direct the letter to Harris Bank and that Kelter stated that it was a letter of apology. As with the questioning of the other witnesses, the court sustained the State\u2019s objection to defense counsel\u2019s question about defendant\u2019s mental capabilities.\nLarry Herrmann, a senior bank card agent for Harris Bank, testified that on December 13, 1990, the Fontanas\u2019 Visa card was reported stolen. Harris Bank closed the account that day and issued a new card with a new account number. According to Herrmann, normally it takes three days for Harris Bank to send a new card after a card is reported stolen. The new Visa card was sent to an address in Oak Brook on December 17.\nHerrmann further testified that he was present at the interview of defendant at the Woodridge police department on January 3, 1991. Herrmann brought records of the sales that were transmitted on the stolen card and the new card. Defendant stated that he did not have permission to use the Visa card on December 7 and 20 at the Heritage Bank, or on December 15 at Dunn Rite. Herrmann identified the billing statements which listed those purchases and the purchase of the engagement ring. All of the billing statements were sent to Post Office Box 1423, Oak Brook, Illinois, except for the billing statement which listed the Dunn Rite transaction. Harris Bank retained that billing statement because the transaction occurred after the account was closed and before the new card was issued. Herrmann stated that when there has been an unauthorized use of a credit card issued by Harris Bank, Harris Bank pays for all the charges. Harris Bank paid for the unauthorized charges to the Fontanas\u2019 account.\nAt the close of the State\u2019s case, the prosecutor sought to introduce into evidence the documents, the photograph of the ring, and the credit cards. Defendant did not object to the photograph, but objected to the billing statements which listed other transactions. The court permitted the State to allow the jury to see the billing statements after the State \u201cwhited out\u201d all the transactions except those to which the witnesses testified. Defendant did not object to the billing statement which listed the $1,000 transaction of December 7 and the $1,204 transaction with the jeweler. Defendant presented no evidence. During the instructions conference, the State offered an instruction which admonished the jurors that evidence admitted for a limited purpose may not be admitted for any other purpose. However, defendant did not request a limiting instruction for other crimes evidence, nor did the State or the court offer one.\nIn the post-trial motion, defendant raised the issues of the other crimes evidence and the limitation on the cross-examination about defendant\u2019s mental capabilities. In denying the post-trial motion, the court found that the error in failing to give the limiting instruction was harmless because the evidence of defendant\u2019s guilt was overwhelming.\nOn appeal, defendant first contends that the court erred in admitting the evidence of the $1,000 transaction and the jewelry store transaction and that, in any event, it was error to admit the evidence without giving the jury a limiting instruction restricting its use. The State argues that defendant waived this issue by failing to object to the introduction of the evidence at trial on this basis. To preserve an issue for appeal, a defendant must both object at trial and include the issue in a written post-trial motion. (People v. Enoch (1988), 122 Ill. 2d 176, 186.) Although defendant objected to the evidence on the basis that it lacked a foundation and that it was cumulative, he did not object to the admission of the evidence on the ground that it was impermissible other crimes evidence. A defendant must specify the grounds for the objection that he wishes to raise on appeal. (People v. Lucas (1992), 151 Ill. 2d 461, 481.) Thus, defendant has waived this issue. However, even if defendant had preserved the issue, it is without merit.\nEvidence of other offenses committed by the defendant is inadmissible if offered solely to show the defendant\u2019s propensity to commit crime. (People v. Speight (1992), 153 Ill. 2d 365, 372.) Evidence of other offenses is admissible if it is relevant for any other purpose, such as to prove modus operandi, intent, identity, motive, or absence of mistake. (People v. Illgen (1991), 145 Ill. 2d 353, 364-65.) Even where the evidence of other offenses is relevant, the evidence should not be admitted if its prejudicial effect substantially outweighs its probative value. (Illgen, 145 Ill. 2d at 365.) As the trial court found, the evidence of the other transactions was relevant to prove defendant\u2019s intent to defraud. Thus, the trial court properly admitted the evidence. Further, our review of the record leads us to reject defendant\u2019s contention that the detail of the evidence in question exceeded the scope of that authorized under the other crimes exception. It is noted that the trial court excised a number of transactions relating to the use of the credit card.\nDefendant argues that it was error for the court to admit the evidence without a limiting instruction. Defendant, however, failed to request a jury instruction on the limited use of the other crimes evidence. The State asserts that this failure waives the issue for review. The trial court is not obligated to give a limiting instruction sua sponte, and the defendant\u2019s failure to tender such an instruction waives any objection concerning its absence. People v. Musitief (1990), 201 Ill. App. 3d 872, 877.\nDefendant requests that we consider this issue under the plain error doctrine. (See 134 Ill. 2d R. 615(a).) A court will consider a matter as plain error if the alleged error was of such magnitude that it deprived the defendant of a fair trial, or if the evidence was closely balanced. (People v. Mitchell (1993), 155 Ill. 2d 344, 354.) As for the first part of this test, generally, grave error occurs when the court fails to instruct the jury on the elements of the crime charged, the presumption of innocence and the burden of proof. (People v. Pasch (1992), 152 Ill. 2d 133, 171; People v. Berry (1991), 244 Ill. App. 3d 14, 28.) Defendant\u2019s reliance on People v. Thurman (1984), 104 Ill. 2d 326, 330-31, and People v. Berry (1984), 99 Ill. 2d 499, 504-06, is misplaced because the error in both cases concerned the omission of an instruction on an element of the offense, which, under the factual circumstances, amounted to grave error. As the instruction here does not concern any of these fundamental matters, we will not consider any error to be of such magnitude as to constitute grave error. See Musitief, 201 Ill. App. 3d at 877-78.\nAs for the second part of the test, we agree with the trial court that the evidence of defendant\u2019s guilt was overwhelming. Defendant admitted to three police officers and two bank employees that he did not have authority to use the credit cards; Anthony Fontana\u2019s credit card was used after his death; and a new credit card was sent to a post office box, both of which defendant admitted that he used. We conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the evidence of the two extraneous transactions, and we decline to address any error in the failure to give a limiting instruction trader the plain error doctrine.\nDefendant next contends that the trial court erred in sustaining objections to defense counsel\u2019s questions on cross-examination relating to defendant\u2019s mental capacity. He cites specifically questions asked during counsel\u2019s cross-examination of Angeline Fontana and Officers Kelter, Vandenbos, and Sperling. Defendant alludes to the principle that lay witnesses are, trader certain circumstances, permitted to express an opinion on a person\u2019s mental condition based upon having observed the person. He argues that such opinions would have been relevant to the issues of whether defendant was capable of forming the requisite intent to defraud, and what weight should have been accorded his statements to authorities.\nThe trial court has discretion to limit the scope of cross-examination. We may not disturb a trial court\u2019s ruling in that regard unless there had been an abuse of discretion resulting in clear prejudice to the defendant. People v. Patterson (1992), 154 Ill. 2d 414, 463.\nThe court may exercise its discretion to confine the extent of cross-examination to the proper subject matter. (People v. Davis (1990), 193 Ill. App. 3d 1001, 1004.) \u201cThe proper scope of cross-examination extends to matters raised on direct examination, including all matters which explain, qualify, or destroy the testimony on direct examination.\u201d (People v. McCarthy (1991), 213 Ill. App. 3d 873, 883.) The court may bar cross-examination where there is no proof as to the competency or the relevancy of the evidence, or where the offer in that regard is unsatisfactory. (People v. Rice (1992), 234 Ill. App. 3d 12, 20.) The trial court sustained the State\u2019s objections to defense counsel\u2019s attempt to question defendant\u2019s grandmother, Angeline Fontana, concerning whether defendant suffered from any learning disabilities and whether she would describe defendant as \u201cslow.\u201d We note that defendant presented no evidence in the trial and there is no indication that the defense of insanity was ever an issue. Consequently, aside from the questions being beyond the scope of Mrs. Fontana\u2019s direct testimony, there was no basis for the trial court to permit the question as relevant to any defense of insanity. Moreover, because this witness\u2019 testimony preceded any testimony relating to defendant\u2019s statements to authorities, there was no reason for the court to have perceived the question as bearing upon the weight to be accorded his admissions. Defense counsel made no offer to alert the court to the possible relevance of the proposed inquiry to the circumstances of defendant\u2019s interrogation. The objection was properly sustained.\nDefendant argues that he was improperly prevented from asking Officer Vandenbos about his knowledge of defendant\u2019s \u201cmental aptitude\u201d and whether defendant appeared to be a person with a \u201clearning disability.\u201d We note, however, that defendant was permitted to ask Vandenbos, \u201cWere there any difficulties or did you notice any difficulty in the defendant understanding what you were asking him?\u201d We consider the form of this question to have been more appropriate under the circumstances of this cross-examination. In any event, the question and the witness\u2019 negative response to it render the trial court\u2019s rejection of the \u201cmental aptitude\u201d and \u201clearning disability\u201d questions inconsequential.\nDefendant further cites as error the trial court\u2019s sustaining an objection to defense counsel\u2019s question of Officer Kelter, \u201cWhat if anything did you notice about [defendant\u2019s] mental faculties?\u201d The trial court\u2019s explanation of the ruling appears to reflect its concern with the form of the question. Although defense counsel had been permitted in his examination of the preceding witness (Vandenbos) to explore the subject of defendant\u2019s general ability to understand questions, counsel made no effort to rephrase his \u201cmental faculties\u201d question of Kelter. In our view the trial court committed no error in this regard.\nIn his cross-examination of Officer Sperling, defense counsel asked, \"Mr. Fontana has a learning disability?\u201d The trial court sustained the State\u2019s objection, commenting that the witness had no expertise in that field. We agree with that ruling. Moreover, defense counsel\u2019s question may also be interpreted as implying that counsel was in possession of other evidence to establish the existence of a learning disability. As noted, the defense presented no witnesses and no proof of a learning disability was ever received. No motion to suppress defendant\u2019s statements was filed by the defense. It is improper for counsel to assume the existence of a fact in his question which is neither based on evidence nor likely to be presented as evidence. (People v. Payton (1967), 82 Ill. App. 2d 51, 57; People v. Shipp (1977), 52 Ill. App. 3d 470, 474-75.) We conclude that the court did not abuse its discretion in limiting the cross-examination.\nThe remaining two issues concern defendant\u2019s sentence. At the sentencing hearing, the State requested that the court order defendant to make full restitution of the entire amount that Harris Bank paid because of defendant\u2019s unauthorized transactions, which amount, according to the prosecution, was $11,208.44. Defendant argued that he did not earn enough money to make full restitution. In imposing the sentence, the court indicated that it was not concerned with defendant\u2019s ability to pay, and it ordered defendant to pay restitution of approximately $11,000 over a period of five years. Defense counsel then remarked:\n\u201cJudge, I don\u2019t know what the exact amount is. I don\u2019t know if they all fall within the jurisdiction of this Court with respect to transactions that may have occurred in other counties and/or that they were strictly here in Du Page County; so even though I disagree with your Honor, with all due respect, to the ordering of restitution without a hearing or some sort of showing that the defendant is going to be paid this amount of money for the next five years, I think clearly that if there\u2019s any amount that occurred outside of Du Page County, that certainly *** shouldn\u2019t be the basis of an order in this case.\u201d\nThe court suggested that defendant \u201ccome in on a hearing of some kind on that,\u201d but defendant instead appealed. A form from the circuit court clerk\u2019s office listed the amount of fines and costs imposed on defendant. The deputy clerk assessed a fine of $20 for \u201cVictim Assistance.\u201d\nDefendant contends that the court erred in ordering restitution for sums which were extraneous to the charges at issue and in failing to determine the manner in which defendant was to pay the restitution. The State responds that defendant waived this issue by failing to move to reconsider his sentence.\nThe failure to file a motion to reconsider the sentence waives the sentencing issue for review, even if the defendant is challenging only a fine or restitution. (People v. Albert (1993), 243 Ill. App. 3d 23, 28; see also People v. Pfister (1993), 240 Ill. App. 3d 931, 936.) However, the waiver rule is binding only on the parties, and this court may review an issue in the interests of justice. People v. Wilson (1993), 155 Ill. 2d 374, 379.\nAs part of the sentence, the trial court may order a defendant to make restitution for losses proximately caused by his conduct. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 38, par. 1005 \u2014 5\u20146(a) (now codified, as amended, at 730 ILCS 5/5 \u2014 5\u20146(a) (West 1992)).) Defendant asserts that the trial court does not have authority to order restitution for damages resulting from criminal conduct which is not charged in the indictment. Defendant relies on People v. Mahle (1974), 57 Ill. 2d 279, in which the supreme court held that restitution may not extend to \u201cmatters unrelated to the charges before the court,\u201d and that the trial court there lacked authority to order restitution of sums extraneous to the charges at issue. Mahle, 57 Ill. 2d at 284.\nThe State responds that Mahle is inapposite because the legislature amended the statute in 1983, after Mahle was decided. The version of the statute at issue in Mahle provided that, as a condition of probation, the court could require the defendant to \u201cmake restitution or reparation in an amount not to exceed actual loss or damage to property and pecuniary loss.\u201d (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1973, ch. 38, par. 1005\u2014 6 \u2014 3(b)(10).) Section 5 \u2014 5\u20146(b) of the Unified Code of Corrections (Code) now provides in relevant part:\n\u201cIn fixing the amount of restitution to be paid in cash, *** the court shall assess the actual out-of-pocket expenses, losses, damages, and injuries suffered by the victim named in the charge and any other victims who may also have suffered out-of-pocket expenses, losses, damages, or injuries proximately caused by the same criminal conduct of the defendant, and insurance carriers who have indemnified the named victim or other victims for the out-of-pocket expenses, losses, damages and injuries, provided that in no event shall restitution be ordered to be paid on account of pain and suffering.\u201d (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 38, par. 1005 \u2014 5\u20146(b) (now codified, as amended, at 730 ILCS 5/5 \u2014 5\u20146(b) (West 1992)).)\nThe 1983 amendment was designed to expand the coverage of the restitution statute. (People v. Gray (1992), 234 Ill. App. 3d 441, 443.) As the court in People v. Strebin (1991), 209 Ill. App. 3d 1078, stated:\n\u201cWe view Public Act 83 \u2014 1061 (Pub. Act 83 \u2014 1061, eff. July 1, 1984 (1983 Ill. Laws 7226)) as a comprehensive change in the law governing restitution, reflective of an intention by the Illinois General Assembly, in every criminal case where possible, to achieve two goals: (1) to make victims whole for any injury received at the hands of the criminal to be sentenced; and (2) to make criminals pay all of the costs which arise as a result of injuries the victims suffered.\u201d (Emphasis in original.) Strebin, 209 Ill. App. 3d at 1084.\nSee also People v. Lowe (1992), 153 Ill. 2d 195, 202, citing Strebin, 209 Ill. App. 3d at 1084.\nA defendant may be ordered to make restitution if the losses sustained \u201cwere proximately caused by the same criminal conduct of the defendant as that of which he was convicted.\u201d (People v. Nicholl (1991), 210 Ill. App. 3d 1001, 1013.) The court may order restitution for losses incurred by the same victim as the result of the same criminal conduct of the defendant, even if those losses were not set forth in the charging instrument. (People v. Early (1987), 158 Ill. App. 3d 232, 239.) However, restitution is improper for matters unrelated to the charges at issue. Nicholl, 210 Ill. App. 3d at 1013.\nAll of the transactions in which defendant used the Fontanas\u2019 credit cards were related to the charge at issue and were the same criminal conduct as that of which defendant was convicted. The essence of the offense with which defendant was charged was that defendant used a credit card without consent, and the value of the money, goods or services obtained exceeded $300 in a six-month period. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 17, par. 5921 (now 720 ILCS 250/8 (West 1992)).) Section 8 of the Illinois Credit Card and Debit Card Act states, in part:\n\u201cA person who, with intent to defraud either the issuer, or a person providing money, goods, property, services or anything else of value *** uses *** a credit card or debit card obtained or retained in violation of this Act or without the cardholder\u2019s consent *** is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor if the value of all money, goods, property, services and other things of value obtained *** does not exceed $300 in any 6-month period; and is guilty of a Class 4 felony if such value exceeds $300 in any 6-month period.\u201d (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 17, par. 5921 (now 720 ILCS 250/8 (West 1992)).)\nThe language \u201cuses\u201d a credit card in conjunction with the language \u201cexceeds $300 in any 6-month period\u201d indicates that one offense may consist of more than one transaction. We conclude that the crime of unauthorized use of a credit card may include more than one transaction as part of the offense. For this particular offense, all of the transactions, which occurred within a one-month period and involved credit cards issued by one bank to the same individuals, were related to the same offense.\nDefendant\u2019s reliance on People v. Thompson (1990), 200 Ill. App. 3d 23, is misplaced. In Thompson, the defendant was charged with and convicted of failing to file tax returns for three years. The trial court ordered the defendant to pay restitution for three additional years in which he did not file a return. The reviewing court concluded that the defendant could be ordered to make restitution only for the amount owed as a result of the charges at issue. (Thompson, 200 Ill. App. 3d at 26.) Thompson is distinguishable because each failure to file a tax return is a separate offense. (See Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 120, par. 12-1301 (now 35 ILCS 5/1301 (West 1992)).) Similarly, defendant\u2019s reliance on People v. Bradford (1991), 207 Ill. App. 3d 436, is also misplaced. The defendant in Bradford was convicted of forgery, and, under that statute, each forgery is a separate offense. Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 38, par. 17-3(a) (now 720 ILCS 5/17-3(a) (West 1992)); see also Bradford, 207 Ill. App. 3d at 438.\nWe agree with the State that People v. Ensley (1985), 132 Ill. App. 3d 842, is applicable. The defendant in Ensley was charged with stealing 7 items, but 19 items were stolen. The court concluded that because all the items were taken as part of the same offense involving the same victim, the property was related and restitution for the entire amount was proper. (Ensley, 132 Ill. App. 3d at 844.) Here, although defendant was charged with only two specific transactions, all the transactions were part of the same continuing offense involving the same victim. This constitutes \u201cthe same criminal conduct\u201d within the meaning of section 5 \u2014 5\u20146 of the Code.\nFurthermore, we agree with the State that defendant\u2019s interpretation of the statute is too narrow. The primary object of statutory construction, which begins with the statutory language itself, is to give effect to the legislative intent. (People v. Lowe (1992), 153 Ill. 2d 195, 201.) The Criminal Code of 1961 defines the term \u201cconduct\u201d as \u201can act or a series of acts, and the accompanying mental state.\u201d (720 ILCS 5/2 \u2014 4 (West 1992).) The court should also consider the purpose of the enactment. As noted above, the purpose of section 5 \u2014 5\u20146(b) is to make victims whole for any injury received at the hands of the defendant (Lowe, 153 Ill. 2d at 202), and to make the defendant pay for all of the damages he caused to the victim (Strebin, 209 Ill. App. 3d 1078). In view of these legislative goals and the statutory definition, we believe that the phrase \u201csame criminal conduct\u201d should be construed broadly to effect the remedial purpose of the statute (see Strebin, 209 Ill. App. 3d at 1085) so that it includes uncharged but related offenses based on a series of acts with the same mental state affecting the same victim.\nMoreover, had the legislature intended that the amount of restitution be limited to only those charges set forth in the charging instrument, it would have used the term \u201csame charges\u201d instead of \u201csame criminal conduct.\u201d We conclude that a defendant may, under these circumstances, be ordered to make restitution for uncharged but related offenses if his criminal conduct caused damage to the same victim, and the restitution is necessary to make the victim whole. We read subsection (d) of section 5 \u2014 5\u20146, which governs agreements for restitution as part of plea agreements, to provide for restitution for unrelated offenses. (See 730 ILCS 5/5 \u2014 5\u20146(d) (West 1992).) Our interpretation of subsection (b) does not render the provisions of subsection (d) meaningless. (See Collins v. Board of Trustees of the Firemen\u2019s Annuity & Benefit Fund (1993), 155 Ill. 2d 103, 111.) (We further note that the evidence must establish that the defendant\u2019s conduct proximately caused the damages or losses (see People v. Hernandez (1992), 236 Ill. App. 3d 983, 985-86; People v. Chapin (1992), 233 Ill. App. 3d 28, 34), and there must be evidence in the presentence report to establish the amount (Lowe, 153 Ill. 2d at 206-07).) For the above-stated reasons, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in setting the amount of restitution.\nDefendant further argues that restitution to Harris Bank was not proper because Harris Bank was not a victim of a crime of violence. Our supreme court recently held that section 5 \u2014 5\u20146 applies to victims of both violent and nonviolent crimes. (Lowe, 153 Ill. 2d at 204.) Defendant\u2019s argument is therefore without merit.\nDefendant next argues that the cause must be remanded for the trial court to determine defendant\u2019s ability to pay the restitution and for the court to determine the manner and time of the payments.\nThe trial court must determine a reasonable time and manner for the payment of restitution to insure that restitution can be paid. (People v. Fuzz (1991), 218 Ill. App. 3d 418, 422.) However, the trial court is not required to consider a defendant\u2019s financial circumstances when setting the amount of restitution; the trial court is only required to consider the ability to pay when determining the time and manner of payment or when considering a petition to revoke restitution. (People v. Gray (1992), 234 Ill. App. 3d 441, 444; Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 38, pars. 1005\u20145\u20146(f), (i) (now codified, as amended, at 730 ILCS 5/ 5 \u2014 5\u20146(f), (i) (West 1992)).) \u201c[T]he court shall determine whether restitution shall be paid in a single payment or in installments, and shall fix a period of time not in excess of 5 years within which payment of restitution is to be paid in full.\u201d (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 38, par. 1005 \u2014 5\u20146(f) (now codified, as amended, at 730 ILCS 5/5 \u2014 5\u20146(f) (West 1992)).) Although the trial court did fix the time period at five years, it failed to specify whether the payment would be in installments or a lump sum. We therefore agree with defendant that the cause must be remanded to the trial court for a determination of the method and manner of payment, taking into account defendant\u2019s financial circumstances.\nFinally, defendant contends that the Violent Crime Victim\u2019s Assistance Fund fine imposed by the circuit court clerk must be vacated, since the imposition of a fine is a judicial act which can be performed only by a judge. The State concedes error. We therefore vacate the fine and direct the trial court to impose the fine. See People v. Wisotzke (1990), 204 Ill. App. 3d 44, 50.\nThe judgment of the circuit court is affirmed in part and vacated in part, and the cause is remanded.\nAffirmed in part; vacated in part and remanded.\nINGLIS, P.J., and COLWELL, J., concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "JUSTICE DOYLE" } ], "attorneys": [ "G. Joseph Weller and Ingrid L. Moller, both of State Appellate Defender\u2019s Office, of Elgin, for appellant.", "James E. Ryan, State\u2019s Attorney, of Wheaton, and Thomas E Baker, of Lawky, Kukla & Curran, of Huntley (William L. Browers, 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. DANIEL FONTANA, Defendant-Appellant.\nSecond District\nNo. 2\u201491\u20141402\nOpinion filed October 29, 1993.\nG. Joseph Weller and Ingrid L. Moller, both of State Appellate Defender\u2019s Office, of Elgin, for appellant.\nJames E. Ryan, State\u2019s Attorney, of Wheaton, and Thomas E Baker, of Lawky, Kukla & Curran, of Huntley (William L. Browers, of State\u2019s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor\u2019s Office, of counsel), for the People." }, "file_name": "0694-01", "first_page_order": 714, "last_page_order": 729 }