{ "id": 411694, "name": "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. LOUIS HRUZA, Defendant-Appellant", "name_abbreviation": "People v. Hruza", "decision_date": "2000-03-17", "docket_number": "No. 2 \u2014 99 \u2014 0389", "first_page": "319", "last_page": "326", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "312 Ill. App. 3d 319" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "146 Ill. 2d 363", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5596932 ], "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "375" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/146/0363-01" ] }, { "cite": "288 Ill. App. 3d 12", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 1596997 ], "year": 1997, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "19" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/288/0012-01" ] }, { "cite": "106 Ill. 2d 237", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3138930 ], "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "261" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/106/0237-01" ] }, { "cite": "77 Ill. App. 3d 882", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3290111 ], "year": 1979, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "884" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/77/0882-01" ] }, { "cite": "279 Ill. App. 3d 1006", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 75229 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1011" }, { "page": "1013" }, { "page": "1013" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/279/1006-01" ] }, { "cite": "43 L. Ed. 204", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L. Ed.", "case_ids": [ 3601386, 3601423 ], "year": 1898, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "207" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/171/0380-01", "/us/171/0379-01" ] }, { "cite": "171 U.S. 380", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 3601386 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1898, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "385" }, { "page": "924" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/171/0380-01" ] }, { "cite": "53 Ill. 2d 437", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2926227 ], "year": 1973, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "441" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/53/0437-01" ] }, { "cite": "126 Ill. 2d 344", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5556897 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "351" }, { "page": "351" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/126/0344-01" ] }, { "cite": "136 Ill. 2d 1", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3254876 ], "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "10" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/136/0001-01" ] }, { "cite": "154 Ill. App. 3d 358", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3646452 ], "year": 1987, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "367" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/154/0358-01" ] }, { "cite": "72 Ill. 2d 515", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5442426 ], "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "524" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/72/0515-01" ] }, { "cite": "190 Ill. App. 3d 934", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2520562 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "944" }, { "page": "944" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/190/0934-01" ] }, { "cite": "245 Ill. App. 3d 297", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5384044 ], "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "300" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/245/0297-01" ] }, { "cite": "67 Ill. 2d 449", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5812072 ], "year": 1977, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "456" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/67/0449-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 821, "char_count": 15204, "ocr_confidence": 0.766, "pagerank": { "raw": 7.584577009747876e-08, "percentile": 0.4494912637763823 }, "sha256": "223ccabaf797c457cdca8868e16c91d26faf9f298674fdd3f6c86b0cb690442c", "simhash": "1:5cca029c7a25fb64", "word_count": 2502 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T15:51:04.567640+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. LOUIS HRUZA, Defendant-Appellant." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "JUSTICE GALASSO\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nDefendant, Louis Hruza, appeals his conviction of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) (625 ILCS 5/11 \u2014 501(a)(2), (d)(1)(D) (West 1998)) and felony driving while license revoked (625 ILCS 5/6\u2014 303(a), (d) (West 1998)). He contends that (1) the trial court should have dismissed the indictment, which allegedly resulted from perjured testimony; (2) the trial court erred in applying retroactively an amended statute (625 ILCS 5/2 \u2014 123 (West 1998)) regulating the transmission and evidentiary use of driver\u2019s license abstracts; and (3) he was not proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.\nGregory Compton of the Westmont police department was stopped at a red light at Naperville Road and Cass Avenue on August 7, 1997, when he saw a red Taurus make a wide left turn onto Cass Avenue. The car straddled two southbound lanes for about 100 feet. When the road narrowed to one lane, the car crossed the double yellow line for about 10 feet. The car continued weaving within its lane for about five blocks.\nCompton followed the red car. He saw it change to the curb lane and continue to weave within that lane. It also straddled the white fog line for about 40 feet. At 55th Street, the officer activated his emergency lights. The driver of the car turned onto 56th Street and stopped the car without difficulty.\nAs Compton approached the car, he noticed that the driver, whom he identified as defendant, had red, bloodshot, and glassy eyes; red cheeks; and a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage. Compton asked defendant for his driver\u2019s license and proof of insurance. After thumbing through his wallet for several minutes, defendant produced an Illinois state identification card. In response to the officer\u2019s question, defendant said that he did not believe his license was currently valid. Defendant also said that he had drunk several beers at a golf outing earlier in the day.\nDefendant got out of the car, using the top of the door for support. Compton observed that defendant swayed slightly as he walked to the rear of the car. Defendant correctly recited the alphabet, \u201cstopping briefly\u201d between letters. Compton administered the horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN) test. According to Compton, defendant\u2019s eyes did not follow smoothly, indicating a possibility that defendant was under the influence of alcohol.\nCompton also administered the finger-to-nose test. Defendant started twice before the instructions were finished. On the left-handed rotations, he touched his face below the nostril and once he put his arms down. Compton concluded that defendant failed the test. Defendant declined to perform the one-leg-stand and walk-and-turn tests, citing a hip injury. Compton then arrested defendant for DUI. Defendant refused to take a breathalyzer test.\nDefendant\u2019s brother, Alan Hruza, testified that he and defendant played golf from 11 a.m. until 4 or 4:30 p.m. that day. After the round, they each had one beer in the clubhouse. They went to Alan Hruza\u2019s house to change clothes and drop off their clubs. They proceeded to the Plantation restaurant for a banquet and then played cards. Defendant had beer during dinner but switched to coffee during the card game. They left the restaurant about 11 p.m., with defendant driving a rental car. Defendant\u2019s driving, speech, and gait seemed normal.\nDefendant corroborated much of his brother\u2019s testimony. He testified that he has knee, back, and hip injuries. He denied driving erratically or being under the influence of alcohol that night.\nOver defendant\u2019s objection, the State introduced his driver\u2019s license abstract, which had been electronically transmitted from the Secretary of State\u2019s office. The State introduced additional documentation of defendant\u2019s prior convictions to support the enhanced DUI charge. The trial court found defendant guilty of DUI and driving while license suspended.\nDefendant moved to dismiss the indictment based on a due process violation and later filed a motion for a new trial. The trial court denied both motions and sentenced defendant to 15 months\u2019 imprisonment. Defendant filed a timely notice of appeal.\nDefendant first contends that the court erred in denying his motion to dismiss the indictment. He argues that he was denied due process because Officer Compton committed perjury in his grand jury testimony. The factual basis for this claim is as follows.\nAt the grand jury hearing, Compton was asked whether defendant failed the field sobriety tests. He responded, \u201cThe ones he did perform for me, he did fail.\u201d At trial, Compton testified that defendant correctly recited the alphabet. He said that during such a test he listens to the suspect to determine whether his or her speech is slurred. As defendant performed the tests, Compton noticed some slurring and stuttering, as well as pauses between the letters. However, on cross-examination, Compton testified as follows:\n\u201cQ. So he passed the test?\nA. Yes.\u201d\nDefendant contends that Compton perjured himself before the grand jury when he testified that defendant failed all the field sobriety tests he took when in fact defendant had passed at least one. He further contends that, because of this, all of Compton\u2019s grand jury testimony must be disregarded. He argues that, because Compton was the only witness before the grand jury, there was no evidence to support the indictment, resulting in a denial of due process.\nThe State responds that Compton\u2019s testimony was not actually false because he clarified that he evaluates the test based on factors other than the suspect\u2019s ability to recite the alphabet correctly. The State also contends that, even if Compton\u2019s testimony was false, the remedy is to disregard only the false testimony and that the remainder of his testimony before the grand jury amply supports the indictment.\nA trial court has the inherent power to dismiss an indictment where a clear denial of due process has occurred. People v. Lawson, 67 Ill. 2d 449, 456 (1977). However, the power should be used with great restraint and only when a violation is clearly established. People v. Torres, 245 Ill. App. 3d 297, 300 (1993).\nAn indictment based on perjured testimony may be dismissed if a due process violation is established with certainty. People v. DeCesare, 190 Ill. App. 3d 934, 944 (1989); see People v. Creque, 72 Ill. 2d 515, 524 (1978). A court should not dismiss an indictment unless all of the testimony upon which the indictment is based is incompetent. De-Cesare, 190 Ill. App. 3d at 944; People v. Schulz, 154 Ill. App. 3d 358, 367 (1987). Generally speaking, the validity of an indictment is not affected by the character of the evidence considered. People v. J.H., 136 Ill. 2d 1, 10 (1990).\nIt appears that Compton\u2019s statement to the grand jury that the defendant had failed all the field sobriety tests was incorrect. Compton clearly stated at trial that defendant \u201cpassed\u201d the alphabet test. Nevertheless, even if that statement is disregarded, the additional evidence before the grand jury was sufficient to support the indictment. Compton said that he stopped defendant after he saw him swerving and described his physical appearance. We emphasize that, according to the above-cited cases, the courts\u2019 role in reviewing grand jury proceedings is extremely limited. Courts may dismiss an indictment that is based solely on perjured or otherwise incompetent evidence, but they are not to scrutinize the proceedings to evaluate the weight and quality of the evidence. Therefore, the trial court did not err in sustaining the indictment.\nDefendant next contends that the court erred in applying retroactively amended section 2 \u2014 123 of the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/2 \u2014 123 (West 1998)). He argues that the retroactive application of the statute changed the State\u2019s burden of proof in violation of the ex post facto clauses of the federal and state constitutions (U.S. Const., art. I, \u00a7 10; Ill. Const. 1970, art. I, \u00a716). The State responds that the changes wrought by the amendments were merely procedural and may therefore be applied retroactively.\nA law is ex post facto if it is both retroactive and more onerous than the law in effect on the date of the offense. People v. Shumpert, 126 Ill. 2d 344, 351 (1989). Thus, a law is ex post facto if it alters the rules of evidence to make conviction easier. People v. Anderson, 53 Ill. 2d 437, 441 (1973). A law that decreases the degree of proof necessary to convict a defendant is ex post facto if applied retroactively. Thompson v. Missouri, 171 U.S. 380, 385, 43 L. Ed. 204, 207, 18 S. Ct. 922, 924 (1898); Shumpert, 126 Ill. 2d at 351. However, the ex post facto clause does not limit the legislature\u2019s control of remedies or modes of procedure if they do not affect matters of substance. People v. Kotecki, 279 Ill. App. 3d 1006, 1011 (1996).\nDefendant was arrested on August 7, 1997. Section 2 \u2014 123 was amended shortly thereafter. The statute, with the language added by the amendment italicized, now reads as follows:\n\u201cThe Secretary may also furnish the courts a copy of an abstract of a driver\u2019s record, without fee, subsequent to an arrest for a violation of Section 11 \u2014 501 or a similar provision of a local ordinance. ***\n6. Any. certified abstract issued by the Secretary of State or transmitted electronically by the Secretary of State pursuant to this Section, to a court or on request of a law enforcement agency, for the record of a named person as to the status of the person\u2019s driver\u2019s license shall be prima facie evidence of the facts therein stated and if the name appearing in such abstract is the same as that of a person named in an information or warrant, such abstract shall be prima facie evidence that the person named in such information or warrant is the same person as the person named in such abstract and shall be admissible for any prosecution under this Code and be admitted as proof of any prior conviction or proof of records, notices, or orders recorded on individual driving records maintained by the Secretary of State.\u201d 625 ILCS 5/2 \u2014 123(g)(5), (g)(6) (West 1998).\nDefendant\u2019s argument is difficult to follow. He appears to argue that the amended statute lessens the State\u2019s burden of proof because it makes an electronically transmitted copy of a driver\u2019s abstract, rather than a certified paper copy, prima facie evidence of the facts therein recited. We fail to see how this amendment eases the State\u2019s evidentiary burden. The amended statute provides, as before, that the abstract is prima facie proof of the facts it contains. If anything, the statute arguably eases the burden on the Secretary of State, who may transmit the document electronically rather than take it to the post office for mailing, but this does not in any way make convictions easier. The amendment is clearly procedural and may be applied retroactively.\nWe acknowledge that the provision for electronic transmission may in some cases make tampering with the records easier, but defendant does not allege that that occurred here. Neither in the trial court nor in this court has defendant contended that anything in his driving abstract is incorrect. Thus, even if the trial court somehow erred in applying the statute retroactively, defendant was not prejudiced.\nAlthough defendant does not specifically raise this argument, the State points out that the amendment to section 2 \u2014 123 also added the language providing that the abstract shall be admissible and shall be deemed \u201cproof of any prior conviction\u201d (625 ILCS 5/2 \u2014 123(g)(6) (West 1998)). The State argues that defendant could not succeed on this point in any event because the amendment merely clarifies what had been the common practice before the amendment and is merely procedural. We agree.\nNot every alteration of the law existing at the time of the offense violates the ex post facto clause. People v. Dorff, 77 Ill. App. 3d 882, 884 (1979). In Kotecki, this court upheld the retroactive application of an amendment allowing the admission in a DUI prosecution of the results of a blood-alcohol test given in conjunction with emergency medical treatment. Kotecki, 279 Ill. App. 3d at 1013; see 625 ILCS 5/11 \u2014 501.4 (West 1994). We held that the amendment did not alter the law to require less proof, in amount or degree, to convict. Therefore, the law was merely procedural and could be applied retroactively. Kotecki, 279 Ill. App. 3d at 1013. The same conclusion applies here. The amendment merely clarifies the manner in which an element of the offense may be proved. Moreover, as the State argues, the amendment seems merely to have codified the existing law and practice. We note that no contention is made that the amendment creates an irrebuttable presumption that the information in the abstract is correct. Rather, the amended statute simply provides that the abstract may be offered as \u201cproof\u201d the same as any other evidence. Here, defendant had the opportunity to rebut the facts in the abstract but did not do so.\nDefendant finally contends that he was not proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of DUI. We disagree. Where the sufficiency of the evidence is challenged on appeal, the relevant question is whether, after viewing all the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, a rational trier of fact could have found all the elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. People v. Collins, 106 Ill. 2d 237, 261 (1985). A criminal conviction will not be set aside unless the evidence is so improbable or unsatisfactory that it creates a reasonable doubt of defendant\u2019s guilt. People v. Brackett, 288 Ill. App. 3d 12, 19 (1997). A reviewing court is not permitted to substitute its judgment for that of the trier of fact on questions involving the weight of the evidence, the credibility of the witnesses, or the resolution of conflicting testimony. People v. Campbell, 146 Ill. 2d 363, 375 (1992).\nHere, Officer Compton testified that he saw defendant driving erratically. After he pulled him over, Compton saw that defendant exhibited the usual signs of intoxication. Although defendant correctly recited the alphabet, he failed two other field sobriety tests. He refused to take two others. While defendant claimed that numerous injuries prevented him from taking the tests, he also testified that he had played golf earlier in the day. Defendant admitted he had been drinking beer.\nDefendant points to, at most, several minor inconsistencies in Compton\u2019s testimony. These merely affect the weight of the evidence. On the whole, the evidence amply supports the trial court\u2019s finding that defendant was guilty of DUI.\nThe judgment of the circuit court of Du Page County is affirmed.\nAffirmed.\nBOWMAN, EJ., and COLWELL, J., concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "JUSTICE GALASSO" } ], "attorneys": [ "Donald J. Ramsell, of Ramsell & Armamentos, of Wheaton, for appellant.", "Joseph E. Birkett, State\u2019s Attorney, of Wheaton (Martin P Moltz, of State\u2019s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor\u2019s Office, of counsel), and Barbara A. Preiner, of Deitsch & Preiner, both of Wheaton, for the People." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. LOUIS HRUZA, Defendant-Appellant.\nSecond District\nNo. 2 \u2014 99 \u2014 0389\nOpinion filed March 17, 2000.\nDonald J. Ramsell, of Ramsell & Armamentos, of Wheaton, for appellant.\nJoseph E. Birkett, State\u2019s Attorney, of Wheaton (Martin P Moltz, of State\u2019s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor\u2019s Office, of counsel), and Barbara A. Preiner, of Deitsch & Preiner, both of Wheaton, for the People." }, "file_name": "0319-01", "first_page_order": 339, "last_page_order": 346 }