{ "id": 5765225, "name": "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. CHARLES JOHNSON, Defendant-Appellant", "name_abbreviation": "People v. Johnson", "decision_date": "2006-01-31", "docket_number": "No. 1-04-1292", "first_page": "356", "last_page": "365", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "363 Ill. App. 3d 356" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "801 N.Y.S.2d 780", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.Y.S.2d", "year": 2005, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "8 Misc. 3d 1012", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Misc. 3d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "2003-Ohio-50", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "Ohio", "year": 2004, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "705 N.E.2d 152", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1998, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "302 Ill. App. 3d 319", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 1352882 ], "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "328-29" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/302/0319-01" ] }, { "cite": "811 N.E.2d 1197", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2004, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "349 Ill. App. 3d 273", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5437179 ], "year": 2004, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "274" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/349/0273-01" ] }, { "cite": "756 N.E.2d 255", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 2001, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "324 Ill. App. 3d 728", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 256337 ], "weight": 4, "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "731-32" }, { "page": "732" }, { "page": "731-32" }, { "page": "733-34" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/324/0728-01" ] }, { "cite": "535 N.E.2d 829", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1989, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "127 Ill. 2d 174", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5563871 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "179" }, { "page": "180" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/127/0174-01" ] }, { "cite": "832 N.E.2d 925", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2005, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "358 Ill. App. 3d 363", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5731577 ], "year": 2005, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "366" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/358/0363-01" ] }, { "cite": "873 So. 2d 1205", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "So. 2d", "case_ids": [ 9248986 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2004, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/so2d/873/1205-01" ] }, { "cite": "705 N.E.2d 67", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1998, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "184 Ill. 2d 441", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 926965 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "448" }, { "page": "448" }, { "page": "448" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/184/0441-01" ] }, { "cite": "551 N.E.2d 372", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1990, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "194 Ill. App. 3d 712", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 8499176 ], "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "717-18" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/194/0712-01" ] }, { "cite": "817 N.E.2d 1110", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2004, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "353 Ill. App. 3d 133", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3365123 ], "year": 2004, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "142" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/353/0133-01" ] }, { "cite": "632 N.E.2d 338", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1994, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "259 Ill. App. 3d 709", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2870339 ], "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "712" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/259/0709-01" ] }, { "cite": "529 N.E.2d 218", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1988, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "124 Ill. 2d 93", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3218603 ], "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "103" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/124/0093-01" ] }, { "cite": "630 N.E.2d 790", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1994, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "158 Ill. 2d 27", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 780262 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "35" }, { "page": "32" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/158/0027-01" ] }, { "cite": "554 N.E.2d 1094", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "holding that Rule 604(d) gave defendant the right to consult with appointed counsel in the presentment of a pro se motion" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "197 Ill. App. 3d 589", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2481015 ], "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "591", "parenthetical": "holding that Rule 604(d) gave defendant the right to consult with appointed counsel in the presentment of a pro se motion" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/197/0589-01" ] }, { "cite": "493 N.E.2d 27", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "once the trial court granted defendant's request for assistance of counsel, he was no longer acting pro se" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "143 Ill. App. 3d 540", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5667363 ], "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "542", "parenthetical": "once the trial court granted defendant's request for assistance of counsel, he was no longer acting pro se" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/143/0540-01" ] }, { "cite": "573 N.E.2d 339", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1991, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "214 Ill. App. 3d 79", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5297653 ], "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "88" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/214/0079-01" ] }, { "cite": "692 N.E.2d 1189", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1998, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "181 Ill. 2d 359", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 821409 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "361" }, { "page": "362" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/181/0359-01" ] }, { "cite": "782 N.E.2d 933", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2003, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "335 Ill. App. 3d 1041", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 637033 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2003, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1043" }, { "page": "1043" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/335/1041-01" ] }, { "cite": "788 N.E.2d 1169", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2003, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "338 Ill. App. 3d 379", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 25341 ], "year": 2003, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "384" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/338/0379-01" ] }, { "cite": "498 N.E.2d 1158", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1986, "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "113 Ill. 2d 384", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3173308 ], "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "398" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/113/0384-01" ] }, { "cite": "756 N.E.2d 255", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2001, "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "324 Ill. App. 3d 728", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 256337 ], "weight": 3, "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "733" }, { "page": "733" }, { "page": "733" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/324/0728-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 869, "char_count": 19077, "ocr_confidence": 0.764, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.702417177579589e-07, "percentile": 0.7010150012606913 }, "sha256": "77832b721f295d8dce4a6d616e9006e65fec2c75013e66f63151686955b4046a", "simhash": "1:ab9c62996bd5bbb3", "word_count": 3153 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T18:25:30.372916+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. CHARLES JOHNSON, Defendant-Appellant." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "JUSTICE HALL\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nDefendant Charles Johnson was charged with one count of armed robbery, one count of armed violence, one count of possession of a stolen motor vehicle, one count of aggravated battery, nine counts of aggravated kidnaping, and three counts of unlawful use of a weapon in connection with the kidnaping of Elmora Kimbrough and her 20-month-old granddaughter, Paige Kimbrough. The record shows that on October 23, 1999, defendant, along with four codefendants, carried out a plan to kidnap Elmora Kimbrough in order to demand a ransom from her son, Frank Kimbrough. Two of the defendants were apprehended by the FBI and Chicago police when they attempted to collect the ransom. The two apprehended defendants then led police to a van where the remaining defendants were arrested.\nDefendant subsequently entered open pleas of guilty to one count of aggravated kidnaping of Paige Kimbrough and armed robbery of El-mora Kimbrough. The State dismissed the remaining counts. Defendant was sentenced to concurrent terms of 17 years\u2019 imprisonment for each offense.\nOn direct appeal, we determined that defendant had not been properly admonished in accordance with Supreme Court Rule 605(b) (188 Ill. 2d R. 605(b)) and therefore remanded the case for proper admonishments. People v. Johnson, No. 1-02-2531 (2003) (unpublished order under Supreme Court Rule 23 (166 Ill. 2d R. 23)). Upon remand, defendant informed the trial court that he could not afford private counsel. The trial court appointed an assistant public defender to represent defendant and then admonished him in accordance with Rule 605(b).\nFollowing the trial court\u2019s Rule 605(b) admonishments, defense counsel indicated that rather than withdraw his guilty plea, defendant wanted to file his pro se motion for reconsideration of sentence and to correct a void sentence. In the pro se motion, defendant asserted that his sentence was excessive and that he was improperly sentenced for an offense for which he was not indicted.\nThe trial court denied defendant\u2019s pro se motion and again sentenced him to two concurrent 17-year terms of imprisonment. This appeal followed.\nDefendant contends on appeal that: (1) this case should be remanded to the trial court for a rehearing on his motion to reconsider sentence on the ground that defense counsel failed to file a Rule 604(d) (188 Ill. 2d R. 604(d)) certificate; and (2) section 2(B)(1.5) of the Sex Offender Registration Act (Registration Act) (730 ILCS 150/2(B)(1.5) (West 2000)), under which he was labeled a sex offender by reason of his pleading guilty to aggravated kidnaping, is unconstitutional as applied to him where this offense was not sexually motivated and had no sexual purpose. For the reasons that follow, we reverse and remand.\nANALYSIS\nI. Rule 604(d)\nDefendant first contends that this case must be remanded to the trial court for a rehearing on his motion to reconsider sentence because defense counsel failed to file a Rule 604(d) certificate. We agree.\nThe question of whether defense counsel complied with Rule 604(d) is subject to de novo review. People v. Lloyd, 338 Ill. App. 3d 379, 384, 788 N.E.2d 1169 (2003). Under Rule 604(d), an attorney representing a defendant at the postplea motion stage is required to file:\n\u201c[A] certificate stating that the attorney has consulted with the defendant either by mail or in person to ascertain defendant\u2019s contentions of error in the sentence or the entry of the plea of guilty, has examined the trial court file and report of proceedings of the plea of guilty, and has made any amendments to the motion necessary for adequate presentation of any defects in those proceedings.\u201d 188 Ill. 2d R. 604(d).\n\u201cThe certificate requirement allows \u2018the trial court to insure that counsel has reviewed the defendant\u2019s claim and considered all relevant bases for the motion to withdraw the guilty plea or to reconsider the sentence.\u2019 \u201d People v. Hampton, 335 Ill. App. 3d 1041, 1043, 782 N.E.2d 933 (2003), quoting People v. Shirley, 181 Ill. 2d 359, 361, 692 N.E.2d 1189 (1998). In this case, defense counsel did not file a Rule 604(d) certificate.\nThe State responds that defense counsel was not required to file a Rule 604(d) certificate because the defendant was acting pro se when he filed his motion to reconsider sentence. The State contends that although counsel was appointed to represent defendant, defendant acted pro se by filing his own motion to reconsider sentence and therefore appointed counsel was not required to file a Rule 604(d) certificate. We must reject the State\u2019s contentions.\nIt is true that a defendant does not have a right to \u201chybrid\u201d representation, where he alternates between proceeding pro se and being represented by counsel. See, e.g., People v. Pondexter, 214 Ill. App. 3d 79, 88, 573 N.E.2d 339 (1991). However, the record in this case does not indicate that defendant elected to proceed pro se.\nThe record shows that when the case was remanded for Rule 605(b) admonishments, the trial court appointed counsel to represent defendant after he indicated he could not afford private counsel. Following the trial court\u2019s Rule 605(b) admonishments, defense counsel informed the court that rather than withdraw his guilty plea, defendant wanted to file a pro se motion for reconsideration of sentence and to correct a void sentence. Such actions alone do not suggest that defendant elected to proceed pro se. See, e.g., People v. Scott, 143 Ill. App. 3d 540, 542, 493 N.E.2d 27 (1986) (once the trial court granted defendant\u2019s request for assistance of counsel, he was no longer acting pro se); People v. Velasco, 197 Ill. App. 3d 589, 591, 554 N.E.2d 1094 (1990) (holding that Rule 604(d) gave defendant the right to consult with appointed counsel in the presentment of a pro se motion).\nAlternatively, the State maintains that even if we determine that defendant was not acting pro se when he presented his motion to reconsider sentence, remandment is unnecessary and impractical because defendant did not suffer any prejudice as a result of his counsel\u2019s failure to file a Rule 604(d) certificate. The State contends that defendant was not prejudiced in this regard because he had already challenged his sentence following remand for Rule 605(b) admonishments and he did not raise a sentencing issue on appeal. Again, we must reject the State\u2019s contentions.\n\u201cOur supreme court has held the certificate requirement of Rule 604(d) must be strictly complied with.\u201d Hampton, 335 Ill. App. 3d at 1043, citing Shirley, 181 Ill. 2d at 362; People v. Janes, 158 Ill. 2d 27, 35, 630 N.E.2d 790 (1994). In People v. Wilk, 124 Ill. 2d 93, 103, 529 N.E.2d 218 (1988), our supreme court stated:\n\u201c[T]here is a general perception in our criminal justice system *** that a complete relaxation of Rule 604(d) is acceptable in this State. We hold today that it is not.\nAt the risk of stating the obvious, it should be pointed out that the rules adopted by this court concerning criminal defendants and guilty pleas are in fact rules of procedure and not suggestions. It is incumbent upon counsel and courts alike to follow them.\u201d\nThe remedy for failure to strictly comply with the provisions of Rule 604(d) is a remand to the circuit court for the filing of a new motion and a new hearing on the motion. Janes, 158 Ill. 2d at 32; People v. Heinz, 259 Ill. App. 3d 709, 712, 632 N.E.2d 338 (1994).\nII. Sex Offender Registration Act\nDefendant next challenges the constitutionality of section 2(B)(1.5) of the Registration Act, under which he was labeled a sex offender by reason of his pleading guilty to aggravated kidnaping. Under section 2(B)(1.5) of the Registration Act, a \u201csex offense\u201d is defined to include certain enumerated offenses in which the victim is a minor and the offender is not the victim\u2019s parent. In this case, because defendant pled guilty to aggravated kidnaping of a minor of whom he was not the parent, he was automatically classified a sex offender pursuant to the statute.\nDefendant does not contend that section 2(B)(1.5) of the Registration Act is facially unconstitutional. Rather, he asserts that it is unconstitutional as applied to him because his offense of aggravated kidnaping was not sexually motivated. Specifically, defendant contends that his automatic classification as a sex offender under section 2(B)(1.5) based upon his pleading guilty to aggravated kidnaping is unreasonable and arbitrary in violation of his equal protection and substantive due process rights under the state and federal constitutions where the offense was not sexually motivated.\nThe State first contends that we should not address this issue because defendant raises it for the first time in this appeal. We reject this argument since a defendant can raise a constitutional challenge to a criminal statute at any time. See People v. Ramos, 353 Ill. App. 3d 133, 142, 817 N.E.2d 1110 (2004).\n\u20225 The State next maintains that we should not address the issue because it is beyond the limited scope of remand in the instant case, which was remanded to the trial court for the exclusive purpose of giving defendant proper Rule 605(b) admonishments and therefore defendant should challenge the statute under the Post-Conviction Hearing Act (725 ILCS 5/122 \u2014 1 et seq. (West 2002)). We reject this contention since our court has determined that a defendant who fails to receive proper Rule 605(b) admonishments is not required to pursue remedies under the Post-Conviction Hearing Act. See People v. Egge, 194 Ill. App. 3d 712, 717-18, 551 N.E.2d 372 (1990).\nTurning to the merits, we first note that statutes are presumed constitutional. People v. Fisher, 184 Ill. 2d 441, 448, 705 N.E.2d 67 (1998). Consequently, a party challenging the validity of a statute has the burden of clearly showing that it is unconstitutional. Fisher, 184 Ill. 2d at 448. The question of whether a statute is constitutional is a question of law subject to de novo review. Fisher, 184 Ill. 2d at 448.\nIn this case, defendant challenges the constitutionality of section 2(B)(1.5) on both substantive due process and equal protection grounds. Defendant\u2019s challenge to the statute, however, is more a due process claim than an equal protection claim.\nDefendant does not contend that the classification of some individuals as sexual offenders is unconstitutional. Rather, he maintains that he does not belong within the classification. Therefore, defendant actually raises a due process claim. See, e.g., State v. Robinson, 873 So. 2d 1205 (Fla. 2004).\nThe standards used to determine the constitutionality of a statute under equal protection and due process grounds are identical. People v. Williams, 358 Ill. App. 3d 363, 366, 832 N.E.2d 925 (2005). As in the instant case, where a challenged statute does not implicate a fundamental right, the court applies the rational basis test to determine whether the statute violates due process. People v. Lindner, 127 Ill. 2d 174, 179, 535 N.E.2d 829 (1989); People v. Fuller, 324 Ill. App. 3d 728, 731-32, 756 N.E.2d 255 (2001).\nTo withstand a due process challenge under the rational basis test, the statute in question needs to bear only a rational relation to a legitimate legislative interest and be neither arbitrary nor discriminatory. People v. Williams, 349 Ill. App. 3d 273, 274, 811 N.E.2d 1197 (2004). In applying this test, the court identifies the public interest the statute is intended to protect, examines whether the statute bears a reasonable relationship to that interest, and then determines whether the method used to protect or further that interest is reasonable. Lindner, 127 Ill. 2d at 180.\nHere, the primary point of contention is the third step in the rational basis analysis \u2014 whether the method used to protect and further an identified public interest is reasonable under the particular facts in this case. The Registration Act was enacted to protect children from sexual assault and sexual abuse by providing the public with information regarding the whereabouts of convicted sex offenders. See People v. Logan, 302 Ill. App. 3d 319, 328-29, 705 N.E.2d 152 (1998); Fuller, 324 Ill. App. 3d at 732.\nDefendant contends that his automatic classification as a sex offender under section 2(B)(1.5) of the Act based upon his pleading guilty to aggravated kidnaping is unreasonable and arbitrary in violation of his substantive due process rights where the offense was not committed with a sexual motivation or purpose. We agree.\nThe record indicates that defendant\u2019s offense of aggravated kidnaping was not sexually motivated. There were no allegations of any kind that defendant or codefendants committed or attempted to commit any sexual assault against the minor. In addition, in sentencing defendant and his codefendants, the trial court noted that even though the grandmother\u2019s clothes were removed and she was bound during the course of the kidnaping, this was done as a means of control and that none of the allegations against the defendants involved sexual assault.\nThe State primarily relies on this court\u2019s decision in People v. Fuller, 324 Ill. App. 3d 728, 731-32, 756 N.E.2d 255 (2001), in support of its contention that the Registration Act is not unconstitutional as applied to defendant. However, the facts in Fuller are clearly distinguishable from the facts in the case at bar.\nThe facts in Fuller indicated that the crime was sexually motivated, as shown by the reviewing court\u2019s following observations and comments:\n\u201cIn defendant\u2019s own case, the arresting police officer testified that when the officer asked defendant what he planned to do with the children, defendant \u2018stated he was going to find a hotel room and ask the girl if she had any friends.\u2019 This statement, eerily suggestive of the nature of defendant\u2019s plans for the children, in conjunction with defendant\u2019s conduct in failing to release the children themselves, supports the logical nexus between the act of kidnaping a child and the very real possibility of subsequent sexual exploitation of that child.\u201d Fuller, 324 Ill. App. 3d at 733-34.\nUnlike Fuller, under the particular facts in this case, there is no rational basis for requiring defendant to register as a sex offender where he has no history of committing sex offenses and his offense of aggravated kidnaping was not sexually motivated and had no sexual purpose. Consequently, defendant has met his burden of establishing that the Registration Act, as applied to him, violates his substantive due process rights under the state and federal constitutions where his designation as a sex offender bears no rational relationship to the State\u2019s interest in protecting the public from convicted sex offenders.\nCourts in other jurisdictions have reached the same conclusion when faced with similar facts. See, e.g., State v. Reine, 2003-Ohio-50; State v. Robinson, 873 So. 2d 1205 (Fla. 2004); People v. Moi, 8 Misc. 3d 1012(A), 801 N.Y.S.2d 780 (N.Y. County Ct. 2005).\nAccordingly, for the reasons set forth above, we reverse the judgment of the circuit court and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.\nReversed and remanded.\nSOUTH, J., concurs.\nThe Registration Act provides in relevant part:\n\u201c(B) As used in this Section, \u2018sex offense\u2019 means:\n\u00a1\u2019\u00bf\n(1.5) A felony violation of any of the following Sections of the Criminal Code of 1961, when the victim is a person under 18 years of age, the defendant is not a parent of the victim, and the offense was committed on or after January 1, 1996:\n10 \u2014 1 (kidnapping),\n10 \u2014 2 (aggravated kidnapping),\n10 \u2014 3 (unlawful restraint),\n10 \u2014 3.1 (aggravated unlawful restraint).\nAn attempt to commit any of these offenses.\u201d 730 ILCS 150/2(B)(1.5) (West 2000).\n\u201cThe equal protection guarantee has nothing to do with the determination of whether a specific individual is properly placed within a classification. Equal protection tests whether the classification is properly drawn. It is the guarantee of procedural due process that determines what process is necessary to find that an individual falls within or outside of a specific classification. Equal protection deals with legislative line drawing; procedural due process deals with the adjudication of individual claims.\u201d R Rotunda & J. Nowak, Treatise on Constitutional Law: Substance and Procedure \u00a7 18.2, at 208-09 (3d ed. 1999).", "type": "majority", "author": "JUSTICE HALL" }, { "text": "JUSTICE WOLFSON,\nspecially concurring in part and dissenting in part:\nI have no quarrel with sending the case back to give defense counsel the opportunity to file a Rule 604(d) certificate, although the need for it is not entirely clear. I do disagree with the notion that the defendant\u2019s right to due process of law would be violated by applying the Registration Act to him.\nAs the majority says, a penal statute should be upheld as long as there is a conceivable basis for finding a reasonable relationship to the public interest intended to be protected. People v. Kohrig, 113 Ill. 2d 384, 398, 498 N.E.2d 1158 (1986).\nAs we said in People v. Fuller, 324 Ill. App. 3d 728, 733, 756 N.E.2d 255 (2001):\n\u201cWhile the term \u2018sex offender\u2019 may carry a stigma, there is little doubt that the offense of kidnaping a person under 18 is intended to trigger the Registration Act.\u201d\nTrue, the court in Fuller pointed out an \u201ceerily suggestive\u201d statement by the defendant (\u201c \u2018[I] was going to find a hotel room and ask the girl if she had any friends\u2019 \u201d), but the decision was not locked into its specific facts. Fuller, 324 Ill. App. 3d at 733. It is the nature of the crime \u2014 kidnaping a child \u2014 that triggers the Registration Act provisions. Fuller observed that the \u201cmost obvious connection\u201d between aggravated kidnaping and the purpose of the Registration Act is that the crime \u201cis often a precursor offense to juvenile pimping or exploitation of a child.\u201d Fuller, 324 Ill. App. 3d at 733.\nIt does not take much imagination to add to the list of reprehensible acts an offender might commit. Once an offender makes the decision to commit the aggravated kidnaping of a child, there is a very real possibility the child will become a victim of sexual abuse. Our reports are filled with such cases.\nIn this case the crime was interrupted while it was in progress. The child was being held in a stolen van when the police arrived. The legislature has the authority to protect children from such an offender. Requiring him to register his name and address with law enforcement officials does not offend due process of law. I respectfully dissent from the majority\u2019s decision that it does.", "type": "concurring-in-part-and-dissenting-in-part", "author": "JUSTICE WOLFSON," } ], "attorneys": [ "Michael J. Pelletier and Kari K. Firebaugh, both of State Appellate Defender's Office, of Chicago, for appellant.", "Richard A. Devine, State\u2019s Attorney, of Chicago (James E. Fitzgerald, Kathleen Warnick, Mary L. Boland, and Brandon R. Freud, Assistant State\u2019s Attorneys, of counsel), for the People." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. CHARLES JOHNSON, Defendant-Appellant.\nFirst District (2nd Division)\nNo. 1-04-1292\nOpinion filed January 31, 2006.\nWOLFSON, J., specially concurring in part and dissenting in part.\nMichael J. Pelletier and Kari K. Firebaugh, both of State Appellate Defender's Office, of Chicago, for appellant.\nRichard A. Devine, State\u2019s Attorney, of Chicago (James E. Fitzgerald, Kathleen Warnick, Mary L. Boland, and Brandon R. Freud, Assistant State\u2019s Attorneys, of counsel), for the People." }, "file_name": "0356-01", "first_page_order": 374, "last_page_order": 383 }