{ "id": 173558, "name": "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. JOSE RIVERA, Defendant-Appellant", "name_abbreviation": "People v. Rivera", "decision_date": "1999-09-22", "docket_number": "No. 1-97-2158", "first_page": "821", "last_page": "835", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "307 Ill. App. 3d 821" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "449 N.E.2d 1338", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1340", "parenthetical": "stating remandment is unnecessary where weight given improper aggravating factor is insignificant" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "96 Ill. 2d 327", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3115686 ], "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "332", "parenthetical": "stating remandment is unnecessary where weight given improper aggravating factor is insignificant" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/96/0327-01" ] }, { "cite": "617 N.E.2d 1294", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1300" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "248 Ill. App. 3d 844", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2944901 ], "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "851" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/248/0844-01" ] }, { "cite": "697 N.E.2d 815", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "818" }, { "page": "818" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "297 Ill. App. 3d 965", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 910217 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "967" }, { "page": "967" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/297/0965-01" ] }, { "cite": "686 N.E.2d 584", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1997, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "585-86" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "177 Ill. 2d 389", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 317111 ], "year": 1997, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "394" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/177/0389-01" ] }, { "cite": "598 N.E.2d 346", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "354" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "232 Ill. App. 3d 735", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 8499298 ], "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "745" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/232/0735-01" ] }, { "cite": "608 N.E.2d 22", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "26" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "240 Ill. App. 3d 1055", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5138927 ], "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1060" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/240/1055-01" ] }, { "cite": "485 N.E.2d 9", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "15" }, { "page": "15" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "108 Ill. 2d 463", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3130376 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "475-76" }, { "page": "476" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/108/0463-01" ] }, { "cite": "705 N.E.2d 850", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 4, "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "876" }, { "page": "877" }, { "page": "877" }, { "page": "876" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "185 Ill. 2d 81", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 122017 ], "weight": 4, "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "130" }, { "page": "134" }, { "page": "134" }, { "page": "130" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/185/0081-01" ] }, { "cite": "659 N.E.2d 22", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "24" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "276 Ill. App. 3d 656", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 927608 ], "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "658" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/276/0656-01" ] }, { "cite": "612 N.E.2d 1", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "3" }, { "page": "3" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "242 Ill. App. 3d 1022", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5119925 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1025" }, { "page": "1025-26" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/242/1022-01" ] }, { "cite": "159 Misc. 2d 269", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Misc. 2d", "case_ids": [ 918288 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "finding reseating of excluded juror proper, and recognizing that to do otherwise would reward the proponent for the very discrimination Batson seeks to prevent" }, { "page": "947", "parenthetical": "finding reseating of excluded juror proper, and recognizing that to do otherwise would reward the proponent for the very discrimination Batson seeks to prevent" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/misc2d/159/0269-01" ] }, { "cite": "614 N.E.2d 1184", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1189" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "155 Ill. 2d 286", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 4809564 ], "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "295" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/155/0286-01" ] }, { "cite": "671 N.E.2d 60", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "67" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "283 Ill. App. 3d 1019", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 182750 ], "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1028" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/283/1019-01" ] }, { "cite": "651 N.E.2d 189", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "195" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "165 Ill. 2d 259", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 483566 ], "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "273-74" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/165/0259-01" ] }, { "cite": "662 N.E.2d 1265", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1272" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "171 Ill. 2d 158", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 57337 ], "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "174" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/171/0158-01" ] }, { "cite": "514 U.S. 765", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 1340390 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "769" }, { "page": "840" }, { "page": "1771" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/514/0765-01" ] }, { "cite": "654 N.E.2d 555", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "559" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "274 Ill. App. 3d 735", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 291674 ], "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "739" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/274/0735-01" ] }, { "cite": "626 N.E.2d 161", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "171-72" }, { "page": "171" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "157 Ill. 2d 401", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 778576 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "427" }, { "page": "427" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/157/0401-01" ] }, { "cite": "500 U.S. 352", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6223686 ], "weight": 11, "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "359" }, { "page": "405" }, { "page": "1866" }, { "page": "360" }, { "page": "406" }, { "page": "360" }, { "page": "406" }, { "page": "369" }, { "page": "412" }, { "page": "369" }, { "page": "412" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/500/0352-01" ] }, { "cite": "47 A.L.R.5th 259", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 5th", "year": 1997, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "discussing cases" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "609 So. 2d 803", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "So. 2d", "case_ids": [ 7505544 ], "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "806", "parenthetical": "same" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/so2d/609/0803-01" ] }, { "cite": "887 S.W.2d 369", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "case_ids": [ 10004773 ], "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "385", "parenthetical": "same, stating \"[t]he Equal Protection Clause protects not only members of minority groups but also persons who are members of a racial majority\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/sw2d/887/0369-01" ] }, { "cite": "340 Md. 606", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Md.", "case_ids": [ 2031306 ], "weight": 4, "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "622", "parenthetical": "citing cases and finding protection under Batson \"applies equally to white persons and black persons\"" }, { "page": "883-84", "parenthetical": "citing cases and finding protection under Batson \"applies equally to white persons and black persons\"" }, { "page": "622" }, { "page": "884" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/md/340/0606-01" ] }, { "cite": "647 N.E.2d 893", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "904" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "164 Ill. 2d 322", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 477034 ], "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "344" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/164/0322-01" ] }, { "cite": "628 N.E.2d 351", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "356" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "257 Ill. App. 3d 26", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2888809 ], "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "34" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/257/0026-01" ] }, { "cite": "511 U.S. 127", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 1147675 ], "weight": 6, "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "129" }, { "page": "97" }, { "page": "1421" }, { "page": "144-45" }, { "page": "106-07" }, { "page": "1429-30" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/511/0127-01" ] }, { "cite": "505 U.S. 42", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 1480976 ], "weight": 12, "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "59" }, { "page": "51" }, { "page": "2359" }, { "page": "56" }, { "page": "50" }, { "page": "2357" }, { "page": "59" }, { "page": "51" }, { "page": "2359" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/505/0042-01" ] }, { "cite": "499 U.S. 400", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 11319062 ], "weight": 6, "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "402" }, { "page": "419" }, { "page": "1366" }, { "page": "409" }, { "page": "424" }, { "page": "1370" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/499/0400-01" ] }, { "cite": "476 U.S. 79", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 12787 ], "weight": 18, "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "89" }, { "page": "82-83" }, { "page": "1719" }, { "page": "86" }, { "page": "80" }, { "page": "1717" }, { "page": "87" }, { "page": "81" }, { "page": "1718" }, { "page": "96-98" }, { "page": "87-89" }, { "page": "1723-24" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/476/0079-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 1333, "char_count": 33745, "ocr_confidence": 0.782, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.1101971305878691e-07, "percentile": 0.5705342280573115 }, "sha256": "f32fa0668bbc84c13e61e69f81c1cc788592d9c9810be090a8cec9b3a85242bc", "simhash": "1:abc83c16634697e6", "word_count": 5458 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T21:00:41.446378+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. JOSE RIVERA, Defendant-Appellant." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "JUSTICE CERDA\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nFollowing a jury trial in March 1997, defendant, Jose Rivera, was convicted of possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) with intent to deliver (720 ILCS 570/401 (West 1992)) and was subsequently sentenced to a term of 15 years\u2019 imprisonment. On appeal, defendant argues (1) the trial court erred by denying one of his peremptory challenges during jury selection; (2) he was denied his right to an impartial jury by the trial court\u2019s refusal to ask supplemental questions during voir dire-, (3) he was denied a fair trial when he was prevented from presenting evidence of police bias against him; and (4) he is entitled to a new sentencing hearing because the trial court improperly considered a statutory factor in aggravation. For the following reasons, we affirm.\nBACKGROUND\nIn October 1993, defendant, a Hispanic male, was charged with possession of between 400 and 900 grams of a controlled substance (cocaine) with intent to deliver. Following the denial of defendant\u2019s motion to quash the search warrant used to secure his arrest, the case proceeded to trial in March 1997.\nAt jury selection, the trial court initially addressed the members of the venire as a group. The court informed the venire that defendant had been charged with a drug offense and admonished them that defendant was presumed innocent and that such presumption remains with him throughout trial. The court further explained that the State had the burden of proving defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and that defendant was not required to present any evidence to prove his innocence. The court followed by asking the venire if they were unable to either understand or accept the foregoing principles. No member of the venire indicated in the affirmative. The court further asked the venire if they would treat the testimony of a police officer differently than the testimony of any other witness. Again, no venire member responded affirmatively.\nPrior to individual examination, defense counsel submitted supplemental questions for voir dire, which were rejected by the trial court. Defense counsel specifically sought that each juror be asked if he or she had difficulty presuming the innocence of a person accused of being a drug dealer; if they had any family members or friends who experience or have experienced problems with substance abuse; and if they were unable to view the testimony of a law enforcement official objectively.\nA total of 28 venire members were questioned. Following the removal of three members for cause, the court considered the written peremptory challenges of the parties. Both sides exercised all of their available challenges to each exclude seven jurors. After the court noted each side\u2019s respective strikes, defense counsel made a motion pursuant to Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 90 L. Ed. 2d 69, 106 S. Ct. 1712 (1986), asserting the State\u2019s use of its challenges evidenced a racially discriminatory intent to exclude blacks from the jury. The four black venire members removed by the State were Zenobia Jenkins, Jerome Sallis, James Jett, and Darrell McKay.\nAfter determining that defendant had established a prima facie case of racial discrimination, the trial court requested the State to offer race-neutral explanations for its challenges. In response, the State made its own Batson motion, commonly known as a \u201creverse-Batson\u201d claim, charging defense counsel of engaging in race-gender discrimination by exercising six of its seven peremptory challenges on \u201cwhite males.\u201d The six excluded jurors in question were William Bonar, Robert Stevenson, William Harling, George Havelka, Ronald Eberly, and Mark Dannenberg.\nProceeding on defendant\u2019s Batson motion, the court found the State\u2019s exclusion of Jenkins, Sallis and McKay legitimate. The court, however, found the State\u2019s reasons for excluding Jett illegitimate and thus nullified the State\u2019s peremptory challenge and allowed Jett to serve on the jury.\nThe trial court then considered the merits of the State\u2019s reverseBatson claim. The court clarified the scope of the State\u2019s challenge by noting that one of the excluded jurors, Dannenberg, had also been challenged by the prosecution. The court accordingly focused only on the exclusions of Harling, Bonar, Stevenson, Havelka, and Eberly.\nThe trial court never expressly found that the State had made a prima facie showing of discrimination. The court instead directed defense counsel to explain the use of his challenges. Notably, the record shows the court, in hearing defense counsel\u2019s proffered reasons, considered only whether the explanations were race neutral and did not address whether those reasons were also gender neutral.\nAfter noting that the record provided a sufficient \u201crace-neutral reason\u201d for Harling\u2019s removal, the trial court directed defense counsel to present reasons for challenging the remaining jurors. Following argument by both sides, the trial court accepted counsel\u2019s reasons for excluding Stevenson, Bonar and Havelka. The court, however, rejected counsel\u2019s explanation for Eberly\u2019s removal. Defense counsel explained that Eberly was stricken because \u201che said *** T think so\u2019 when asked if he could be fair\u201d and thus \u201cequivocated\u201d regarding his ability to give defendant a fair trial. The record shows that during voir dire the trial court asked Eberly if his prior service as a juror would affect his judgment or ability to be fair and impartial in defendant\u2019s case. Eberly responded, \u201cI don\u2019t think so.\u201d The court followed by asking Eberly if he would be able to follow the law as instructed and to disregard what he was told during his prior jury service. Eberly stated \u201c[y]es.\u201d The court further asked Eberly if he could be fair to both sides, listen to the evidence objectively, and base his decision on the evidence and the law presented. Eberly answered affirmatively to each of these questions.\nThe trial court found that Eberly indicated that he could be fair. Finding counsel\u2019s explanation a pretext for racial discrimination, the court denied the challenge and impaneled Eberly on the jury.\nAt trial, the State\u2019s evidence established that on September 30, 1993, officers with the Chicago police department arrived with a narcotics search warrant at the apartment of David Garcia located at 3040 West Sunnyside in Chicago. At about 8 p.m., Detective Walter Smith saw defendant enter the front door of the building carrying a gym bag.\nUpon a search of the bag, Smith recovered a large triple-beam scale and a clear plastic bag containing two separate bags of white powder. Smith then placed defendant under arrest.\nDuring the cross-examination of Officer Smith, defense counsel asked Smith if he had participated in a 1988 police search of the home of defendant\u2019s parents. An objection by the State to counsel\u2019s questioning was sustained by the trial court. At a hearing held outside the presence of the jury, defense counsel explained his questioning was relevant to establish Smith\u2019s motive for targeting defendant. Counsel, however, did not make an offer of proof. The trial court concluded the line of questioning was not relevant to the events at issue, and accordingly upheld its earlier ruling.\nAfter the State rested, defendant testified that at about 7:30 p.m. on September 30, 1993, he and David Garcia were talking outside Garcia\u2019s apartment building. Suddenly, he and Garcia were grabbed by several police officers, including Sergeant Michael Byrne, and taken to an adjacent alleyway. In the alley, Byrne placed a gun to defendant\u2019s head, forced him to kneel, and searched him. Defendant and Garcia were then taken to Garcia\u2019s apartment. Defendant stated he did not have a gym bag when he was taken to Garcia\u2019s apartment and suggested that the bag in which the cocaine was recovered was planted by the police.\nDefendant explained that the September 30 incident was not the first time he had encountered Officer Smith and Sergeant Byrne. Defendant further stated that Byrne had confronted him in the past. When defendant was asked to describe this earlier confrontation, the State objected.\nAt a side bar conference, defense counsel explained defendant\u2019s testimony was relevant to establish Byrne\u2019s motive for arresting defendant. Counsel detailed four incidents involving Byrne that occurred between 1987 and 1992. Specifically, in 1987, Byrne participated in a search of the home of defendant\u2019s parents while defendant was present and purportedly made \u201cacrimonious comments.\u201d Further, Byrne participated in a search of defendant\u2019s apartment in 1989 during which nothing illegal was recovered and, according to defense counsel, \u201c[tjhere was harassment\u201d and \u201cverbal abuse.\u201d In 1992, Byrne participated in another search of defendant\u2019s apartment which failed to produce any illegal contraband. Finally, shortly after the 1992 incident, Byrne was involved in a traffic stop of defendant\u2019s van in which defendant and his wife were riding. Byrne allegedly searched both the van and defendant and left once defendant\u2019s wife went to contact an attorney. Defense counsel indicated that, following both the 1989 and 1992 incidents, defendant\u2019s wife filed professional misconduct charges against Byrne.\nAfter considering the State\u2019s response, the trial court found the matters sought to be elicited by defendant \u201ctotally collateral\u201d to the case. The court sustained the State\u2019s objection and precluded the defense from exploring defendant\u2019s previous confrontations with Byrne.\nOn cross-examination, defendant explained Byrne placed a gun to his head because Byrne had a grudge against his wife for filing professional misconduct charges against him in connection with an earlier incident when Byrne \u201craided\u201d his house. Defendant claimed Byrne was seeking revenge for his wife\u2019s actions by targeting him and maintained Byrne was \u201cgoing to search that whole apartment and find something.\u201d\nIn the State\u2019s rebuttal, Byrne denied ever being in the alleyway near Garcia\u2019s apartment and further denied placing a gun to defendant\u2019s head.\nFollowing jury deliberations, defendant was convicted of possession of cocaine with intent to deliver and was subsequently sentenced to a term of 15 years\u2019 imprisonment. Defendant now appeals his conviction and sentence.\nANALYSIS\nI\nDefendant initially contends the trial court erred by denying his peremptory challenge of venireperson Eberly on the basis that it was improperly motivated by a discriminatory intent.\nAlthough peremptory challenges have been traditionally exercised by parties to remove prospective jurors for any reason, the United States Supreme Court has found their use to be subject to constitutional limitations. In Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 89, 90 L. Ed. 2d 69, 82-83, 106 S. Ct. 1712, 1719 (1986), the Court held the equal protection clause of the federal constitution prohibits the prosecution from exercising peremptory challenges to remove jurors solely on account of race. According to the Court, purposeful discrimination in the selection of the venire violates a criminal defendant\u2019s constitutional rights because it denies him the protection that a trial by jury is intended to secure. Batson, 476 U.S. at 86, 90 L. Ed. 2d at 80, 106 S. Ct. at 1717. Further, racially motivated strikes by the State unconstitutionally discriminate against the excluded jurors by denying them participation in jury service on account of their race. Batson, 476 U.S. at 87, 90 L. Ed. 2d at 81, 106 S. Ct. at 1718.\nBatson sets forth a three-step process to be followed when analyzing a claim of racial discrimination in the State\u2019s use of peremptory challenges. First, the defendant must make a prima facie showing that the State has exercised challenges on the basis of the stricken juror\u2019s race. If the defendant makes this showing, the burden then shifts to the State to articulate a race-neutral reason for excluding the venire member in question. Finally, the trial court must determine whether the defendant has met his burden of proving purposeful discrimination. Batson, 476 U.S. at 96-98, 90 L. Ed. 2d at 87-89, 106 S. Ct. at 1723-24.\nThe Court has since extended Batson\u2019s prohibition of race discrimination in jury selection to other contexts. In these later decisions, the Court has placed greater emphasis on the protection of the constitutional rights of the excluded jurors rather than on the rights of the defendant. For instance, in Powers v. Ohio, 499 U.S. 400, 402, 113 L. Ed. 2d 411, 419, 111 S. Ct. 1364, 1366 (1991), the Court held that a defendant in a criminal trial has standing to challenge the State\u2019s use of peremptory challenges to exclude prospective jurors on account of their race irrespective of whether the defendant and the excluded jurors share the same race. In that case, the Court upheld a white defendant\u2019s challenge to the State\u2019s removal of black jurors. The Court stressed that although \u201c[a]n individual juror does not have a right to sit on any particular petit jury, *** he or she does possess the right not to be excluded from one on account of race.\u201d 499 U.S. at 409, 113 L. Ed. 2d at 424, 111 S. Ct. at 1370.\nThe Court\u2019s concern with the equal protection rights of excluded jurors is further evident from its decision in Georgia v. McCollum, 505 U.S. 42, 120 L. Ed. 2d 33, 112 S. Ct. 2348 (1992). In McCollum, the Court held that the constitution prohibits not only the prosecution, but also a criminal defendant, from engaging in purposeful racial discrimination in the exercise of peremptory challenges. 505 U.S. at 59, 120 L. Ed. 2d at 51, 112 S. Ct. at 2359. Again focusing on the constitutional rights of prospective jurors, the Court recognized the State\u2019s standing to attack the defendant\u2019s use of peremptory challenges on racial grounds. McCollum, 505 U.S. at 56, 120 L. Ed. 2d at 50, 112 S. Ct. at 2357. Citing the three-part approach developed in Batson, the Court held if the State demonstrates a prima facie case of racial discrimination by a defendant, the defendant must articulate a racially neutral explanation for his challenge. McCollum, 505 U.S. at 59, 120 L. Ed. 2d at 51, 112 S. Ct. at 2359.\nMore recently, in J.E.B. v. Alabama ex rel. T.B., 511 U.S. 127, 129, 128 L. Ed. 2d 89, 97, 114 S. Ct. 1419, 1421 (1994), the Court extended Batson to prohibit prosecutors from exercising peremptory challenges to remove venire members solely because of their gender. The Court there recognized that a male defendant may assert a Batson violation where the State removes male jurors on the purported basis of their gender and noted that Batson\u2019s three-step approach would apply in assessing such claims of discrimination. J.E.B., 511 U.S. at 144-45, 128 L. Ed. 2d at 106-07, 114 S. Ct. at 1429-30.\nWe have not found, and the parties have not cited, any reported decision of this state that involves or addresses a reverse-Batson claim. In light of the Court\u2019s ruling in McCollum, we recognize for the first time that a criminal defendant is prohibited from engaging in purposeful racial discrimination in the exercise of peremptory challenges during jury selection.\nBefore we address defendant\u2019s assertion of error in this case, we comment briefly on the nature of the State\u2019s motion. The State originally made a combined \u201crace-gender\u201d discrimination claim based on defendant\u2019s exclusion of \u201cwhite males\u201d from the venire. A review of the record, however, reveals the trial court treated the State\u2019s motion solely as a claim of racial discrimination. Indeed, both parties acknowledged during arguments before this court that resolution of the motion ultimately turned upon whether the jurors at issue were stricken on account of their race. Accordingly, we will treat the State\u2019s reverse-Batson challenge as a charge of only racial discrimination for purposes of reviewing the trial court\u2019s ruling. With respect to the State\u2019s hybrid discrimination claim, we note this court has previously found such challenges impermissible under Batson. See People v. Washington, 257 Ill. App. 3d 26, 34, 628 N.E.2d 351, 356 (1993) (in upholding ruling that the defendant, who had asserted that certain jurors were stricken by the State because they were \u201cblack males,\u201d had failed to make the requisite prima facie showing, the court stated it did not believe \u201cBatson applies to alleged combined \u2018race-gender\u2019 discrimination\u201d); cf. People v. Harris, 164 Ill. 2d 322, 344, 647 N.E.2d 893, 904 (1994) (the court, noting the \u201cfocus in Batson and its progeny has been on the exclusion of the members of a single, identifiable group, not of different groups considered together,\u201d declined to expand Batson\u2019s rule \u201cto embrace the simultaneous consideration of different racial or ethnic groups\u201d).\nWe further recognize the concern of applying Batson\u2019s safeguards to excluded jurors who are members of a racial majority. In the instant matter, the State charged defendant of intentionally striking \u201cwhite\u201d prospective jurors. Several courts addressing this question in cases involving a state\u2019s reverse-Batson claim have relied on the broad language of the Court\u2019s rulings, particularly the McCollum decision, to find that the race-based exclusion of jurors of any race, including whites, offends the constitutional protections afforded by Batson and its progeny. See Gilchrist v. State, 340 Md. 606, 622, 667 A.2d 876, 883-84 (1995) (citing cases and finding protection under Batson \u201capplies equally to white persons and black persons\u201d); People v. Gray, 887 S.W.2d 369, 385 (Mo. 1994) (same, stating \u201c[t]he Equal Protection Clause protects not only members of minority groups but also persons who are members of a racial majority\u201d); State v. Knox, 609 So. 2d 803, 806 (La. 1992) (same); see also Use of Peremptory Challenges to Exclude Caucasion Persons As a Racial Group, From Criminal Jury \u2014 Post-Batson State Cases, 47 A.L.R.5th 259 (1997) (discussing cases). Moreover, as noted by one court, the Court\u2019s decision in J.E.B., in which it acknowledged the equal protection rights of male prospective jurors to be free from gender discrimination, confirms that Batson\u2019s protections are not restricted to the exclusion of those minority groups that have traditionally been subject to discrimination. See Gilchrist, 340 Md. at 622, 667 A.2d at 884. We similarly do not discern from Batson and its progeny an intent by the Court to have its rulings apply strictly to racial minorities. We further do not believe that the interpretation given the equal protection clause by the Court in those cases provides for race discrimination against any individual during the jury selection process. Accordingly, we find the constitutional protections against the race-based use of peremptory challenges apply to all prospective jurors irrespective of their classification in a racial minority or majority group.\nWe must now consider whether the trial court properly sustained the State\u2019s reverse-Batson challenge. As defendant acknowledges, the trial court never expressly made a finding on the issue of the State\u2019s prima facie case of discrimination. Instead, the court requested defense counsel to explain his challenges. In Hernandez v. New York, 500 U.S. 352, 359, 114 L. Ed. 2d 395, 405, 111 S. Ct. 1859, 1866 (1991), the Court, in reviewing a ruling on a defendant\u2019s Batson motion, held the preliminary issue of whether the defendant has made a prima facie case becomes moot where the trial court fails to determine whether such a showing has been made, the State voluntarily offers reasons for its challenges, and the trial court rules on the ultimate question of purposeful discrimination. Our supreme court in People v. Hudson, 157 Ill. 2d 401, 427, 626 N.E.2d 161, 171-72 (1993), extended the ruling in Hernandez and held that the prima facie issue is rendered moot once the trial court rules on the legitimacy of the State\u2019s explanations regardless of whether the State had or had not been prompted by the court to proffer its reasons. Thus, once the trial court rules on the ultimate question of discrimination, the question of whether the defendant established a prima facie case becomes academic. Hudson, 157 Ill. 2d at 427, 626 N.E.2d at 171. We similarly hold that, in a case involving a reverse-Bofeon claim by the State, the question of whether the State has sufficiently demonstrated a prima facie case becomes moot once the trial court rules on the ultimate issue of discrimination irrespective of whether the defendant volunteers explanations for his challenges or is prompted by the court to do so. In this case, the prima facie issue became moot when the trial court found defense counsel\u2019s proffered reason for Eberly\u2019s removal a pretext for racial discrimination.\nDefense counsel explained Eberly was stricken because he equivocated about whether he could give defendant a fair trial. At step two of the Batson process, the burden is on the proponent of the strike to present race-neutral reasons for challenging the juror in question. People v. Figgs, 274 Ill. App. 3d 735, 739, 654 N.E.2d 555, 559 (1995). The explanation need not be persuasive, or even plausible, and a \u201c \u2018legitimate reason\u2019 is not a reason that makes sense, but a reason that does not deny equal protection.\u201d Purkett v. Elem, 514 U.S. 765, 769, 131 L. Ed. 2d 834, 840, 115 S. Ct. 1769, 1771 (1995). That is, a neutral explanation is one based upon something other than the juror\u2019s race. People v. Munson, 171 Ill. 2d 158, 174, 662 N.E.2d 1265, 1272 (1996).\nIn assessing counsel\u2019s proffered reason, the focus is on the facial validity of the explanation. Hernandez, 500 U.S. at 360, 114 L. Ed. 2d at 406, 111 S. Ct. at 1866. Absent an inherent discriminatory intent in the proponent\u2019s explanation, the reason offered will be deemed race neutral. Hernandez, 500 U.S. at 360, 114 L. Ed. 2d at 406, 111 S. Ct. at 1866. Certainly, counsel\u2019s explanation in this case is facially race neutral and does not reflect an inherently discriminatory motive. As Purkett makes clear, however, a facially neutral reason at the second step is not necessarily a legitimate, nonpretextual one under step three.\nOnce the proponent presents explanations for its challenges, the trial court then must determine whether the reasons given are a pretext for discrimination. Hernandez, 500 U.S. at 369, 114 L. Ed. 2d at 412, 111 S. Ct. at 1871. In reviewing this determination, we are mindful that the legitimacy of the proffered reasons is generally a factual matter for the trial court since it is in the best position to observe the course of the voir dire and assess the demeanor of the prospective jurors as well as the attorneys. People v. Wiley, 165 Ill. 2d 259, 273-74, 651 N.E.2d 189, 195 (1995). The trial court\u2019s finding is afforded great deference on review and will not be overturned unless it is found to be clearly erroneous. Hernandez, 500 U.S. at 369, 114 L. Ed. 2d at 412, 111 S. Ct. at 1871.\nDefense counsel\u2019s articulated reason in support of Eberly\u2019s removal is belied by the record. Eberly never stated \u201cI think so\u201d when asked if he could be fair. Rather, Eberly responded \u201cI don\u2019t think so\u201d when asked if his ability to decide defendant\u2019s case would be affected by his prior jury service. The record further shows that Eberly repeatedly and unequivocally assured the trial court that he could be fair.\nMoreover, as the State notes, the defense accepted juror Jenkins, who similarly stated \u201cI don\u2019t think so\u201d to one of the court\u2019s voir dire questions. The courts have recognized an inference of purposeful discrimination in cases involving a defendant\u2019s Batson claim where the State fails to exclude a venire member sharing the same characteristic as a juror of a different race and who was excused on the basis of that characteristic, and further does not possess any additional attributes that would meaningfully distinguish him from the stricken juror. People v. Randall, 283 Ill. App. 3d 1019, 1028, 671 N.E.2d 60, 67 (1996); People v. Andrews, 155 Ill. 2d 286, 295, 614 N.E.2d 1184, 1189 (1993). Jenkins indicated she had been a victim of a robbery, and when asked by the court if this would affect her ability to be fair and impartial, she stated \u201cI don\u2019t think so.\u201d Yet, she was accepted by defendant. Jenkins additionally revealed having both relatives and friends who were police officers and lawyers. The record shows that Jenkins did not possess any other distinguishing characteristic from Eberly that would favor her service on the jury. To the contrary, Jenkins possessed attributes that were presumably unfavorable to the defense.\nThe trial court was in the best position to gauge the legitimacy of defense counsel\u2019s explanation, and we cannot now engage in our own independent assessment of that reason. Based on the foregoing, we conclude that the trial court\u2019s determination was not clearly erroneous. We further note, without setting forth the particular procedure to be employed by the trial court, that the impaneling of Eberley was an appropriate remedy in this case. See Batson, 476 U.S. at 100 n.24, 90 L. Ed. 2d at 90 n.24, 106 S. Ct. at 1725 n.24. (noting the reseating of improperly stricken juror as a possible remedy); People v. Moten, 159 Misc. 2d 269, _, 603 N.Y.S.2d 940, 947 (1993) (finding reseating of excluded juror proper, and recognizing that to do otherwise would reward the proponent for the very discrimination Batson seeks to prevent).\nII\nDefendant next argues the trial court erred by refusing to ask his supplemental questions during voir dire. The responsibility for both initiating and conducting voir dire lies with the trial court, and the scope and manner of that examination, including the decision to ask questions tendered by the parties, rest within the court\u2019s discretion. People v. Cemond, 242 Ill. App. 3d 1022, 1025, 612 N.E.2d 1, 3 (1992). As long as the questions and procedures employed by the trial court were sufficient to create reasonable assurances that any prejudice or bias of the jurors would be discovered, and did not operate to thwart the selection of an impartial jury, its decision not to ask supplemental questions will not be error. Cemond, 242 Ill. App. 3d at 1025-26, 612 N.E.2d at 3; People v. Johnson, 276 Ill. App. 3d 656, 658, 659 N.E.2d 22, 24 (1995).\nIn this case, the trial court\u2019s voir dire examination was sufficiently thorough to reveal any potential prejudice or bias on the part of the venire members. The court specifically informed the venire of the nature of the State\u2019s charges and admonished and questioned them on the presumption of defendant\u2019s innocence, the burden of proof required of the State, and their duty to follow the law as instructed in reaching a verdict. Furthermore, the court explicitly asked if any juror would treat a police officer\u2019s testimony differently from that of any other witness, and with respect to those jurors who acknowledged knowing police officers, it engaged in further, more specific, inquiry. We find the cases cited by defendant unavailing and conclude the trial court\u2019s ruling was not an abuse of discretion.\nIII\nDefendant also asserts the trial court erred by preventing him from exploring the issue of police bias. He argues he was denied his right to confront witnesses when the court restricted him from cross-examining Officer Smith regarding the 1988 police search of his parents\u2019 home. He further maintains the court denied him the right to present a defense when it restricted his direct testimony, in part, to the September 1993 incident and barred him from discussing the events that occurred between 1987 and 1992 involving Sergeant Byrne. According to defendant, the elicitation of this evidence was proper to show that he had been unfairly targeted by Officer Smith and Sergeant Byrne in the past and therefore was necessary to show the officers\u2019 bias against him and their motivation to falsify their testimony.\nA criminal defendant has a fundamental constitutional right to confront the witnesses against him (People v. Kliner, 185 Ill. 2d 81, 130, 705 N.E.2d 850, 876 (1998)), which includes the right to cross-examine a witness concerning bias, interest or motive to testify falsely. Kliner, 185 Ill. 2d at 134, 705 N.E.2d at 877. This right, however, does not preclude the trial court from imposing reasonable limits on a defendant\u2019s inquiry. Kliner, 185 Ill. 2d at 134, 705 N.E.2d at 877. The extent of cross-examination lies within the sound discretion of the trial court, and absent a clear abuse of that discretion resulting in manifest prejudice to the defendant, the court\u2019s ruling will not be disturbed on appeal. Kliner, 185 Ill. 2d at 130, 705 N.E.2d at 876.\nThe trial court here did not abuse its discretion in restricting defendant\u2019s cross-examination of Officer Smith. Defense counsel failed to demonstrate for the court how Officer Smith would have been biased against defendant or motivated to testify falsely as a result of the 1988 police search. The evidence used to impeach must give rise to the inference that the witness has something to gain or lose by his testimony. People v. Triplett, 108 Ill. 2d 463, 475-76, 485 N.E.2d 9, 15 (1985). To be admissible the evidence allegedly showing bias or motive must be positive and direct, not remote, speculative or uncertain. Triplett, 108 Ill. 2d at 476, 485 N.E.2d at 15; People v. Jones, 240 Ill. App. 3d 1055, 1060, 608 N.E.2d 22, 26 (1992). Here, the mere fact Officer Smith participated in the 1988 police search is not positive and direct evidence of any bias against defendant. We fail to see how this presumptively legal police action demonstrates bias or motive on the part of Officer Smith.\nWe are likewise unpersuaded by defendant\u2019s other claim of error. As the trial court found, Byrne\u2019s previous searches lacked relevancy. Relevant evidence is evidence that tends to make the existence of a fact of consequence to the determination of the action more or less probable than it would be without its presentation. People v. Printy, 232 Ill. App. 3d 735, 745, 598 N.E.2d 346, 354 (1992). Byrne\u2019s presumably valid searches, together with defense counsel\u2019s vague and general assertions of \u201charassment\u201d and \u201cverbal abuse,\u201d hardly tend to demonstrate the police animus asserted by defendant. Further, although the filing of misconduct charges by defendant\u2019s wife was possibly relevant to show Byrne\u2019s motives during the September 30 incident, the court\u2019s ruling in this regard was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. On cross-examination by the State, defendant stated that Byrne placed a gun to his head in the alley because Byrne had a grudge against his wife for filing misconduct charges with the Department. Defendant further claimed that Byrne was targeting him in retaliation for his wife\u2019s actions and suggested that Byrne secured defendant\u2019s arrest by planting the drugs in Garcia\u2019s apartment. Hence, the jury was advised of defendant\u2019s asserted defense of being the retaliatory target of Sergeant Byrne and thus was sufficiently apprised of the possible motives of Byrne and his fellow officers.\nIV\nDefendant lastly argues his sentence must be vacated because the trial court erroneously considered a statutory factor in aggravation. As defendant concedes, he has waived this contention by not raising it at the sentencing hearing or in a postsentencing motion. 730 ILCS 5/5\u20148\u20141(c) (West 1992); People v. Reed, 177 Ill. 2d 389, 394, 686 N.E.2d 584, 585-86 (1997). However, because defendant has a fundamental right to be lawfully sentenced (People v. Whitney, 297 Ill. App. 3d 965, 967, 697 N.E.2d 815, 818 (1998)), we will review it under the plain error doctrine. See 134 Ill. 2d R. 615(a); Whitney, 297 Ill. App. 3d at 967, 697 N.E.2d at 818.\nIn considering the statutory factors in aggravation (730 ILCS 5/5\u20145\u20143.2 (West 1996)), the trial court stated \u201c[t]here is no doubt that [defendant was] to receive compensation for committing the offense.\u201d As defendant asserts, this factor should not have been considered since the expectation of compensation is implicit in the offense of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. People v. McCain, 248 Ill. App. 3d 844, 851, 617 N.E.2d 1294, 1300 (1993). However, remandment for resentencing is not required since a review of the record shows the trial court merely noted this factor and placed little, if any, weight on it in determining defendant\u2019s sentence. See People v. Bourke, 96 Ill. 2d 327, 332, 449 N.E.2d 1338, 1340 (1983) (stating remandment is unnecessary where weight given improper aggravating factor is insignificant). The court, instead, focused on the need to deter others from committing drug offenses and additionally discussed defendant\u2019s prior criminal history. The court\u2019s insignificant weight of the above factor is further reflected in the length of the sentence imposed, which fell well below the maximum eligible term of imprisonment. See 720 ILCS 570/401(a)(2)(C) (West 1996) (sentencing range from 12 years to 50 years). Since the record shows that the trial court\u2019s consideration of an improper aggravating factor did not lead to a greater sentence, we find no need to remand and affirm defendant\u2019s sentence.\nCONCLUSION\nFor the following reasons, defendant\u2019s conviction and sentence are affirmed.\nAffirmed.\nCAHILL, P.J., and McBRIDE, J., concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "JUSTICE CERDA" } ], "attorneys": [ "Michael J. Pelletier and Ann C. McCallister, both of State Appellate Defender\u2019s Office, of Chicago, for appellant.", "Richard A. Devine, State\u2019s Attorney, of Chicago (Renee Goldfarb, James Fitzgerald, and Barbara L. Jones, Assistant State\u2019s Attorneys, of counsel), for the People." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. JOSE RIVERA, Defendant-Appellant.\nFirst District (3rd Division)\nNo. 1\u201497\u20142158\nOpinion filed September 22, 1999.\nRehearing denied October 14, 1999.\nMichael J. Pelletier and Ann C. McCallister, both of State Appellate Defender\u2019s Office, of Chicago, for appellant.\nRichard A. Devine, State\u2019s Attorney, of Chicago (Renee Goldfarb, James Fitzgerald, and Barbara L. Jones, Assistant State\u2019s Attorneys, of counsel), for the People." }, "file_name": "0821-01", "first_page_order": 839, "last_page_order": 853 }