{ "id": 4264095, "name": "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ANTWINE STEWART, Defendant-Appellant", "name_abbreviation": "People v. Stewart", "decision_date": "2006-05-16", "docket_number": "No. 1-05-0842", "first_page": "101", "last_page": "113", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "366 Ill. App. 3d 101" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "760 N.E.2d 1024", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "\"We emphatically reject defendant's suggestion that the trial court must conduct the Montgomery balancing test when the parties have stipulated to the admission of the defendant's prior conviction for impeachment purposes\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "326 Ill. App. 3d 414", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 1281378 ], "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "420", "parenthetical": "\"We emphatically reject defendant's suggestion that the trial court must conduct the Montgomery balancing test when the parties have stipulated to the admission of the defendant's prior conviction for impeachment purposes\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/326/0414-01" ] }, { "cite": "670 N.E.2d 638", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1996, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "173 Ill. 2d 48", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 147596 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "81" }, { "page": "81" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/173/0048-01" ] }, { "cite": "268 N.E.2d 695", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1971, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "47 Ill. 2d 510", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2903225 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1971, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "516" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/47/0510-01" ] }, { "cite": "743 N.E.2d 48", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2000, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "194 Ill. 2d 186", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 1096308 ], "year": 2000, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "226" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/194/0186-01" ] }, { "cite": "647 N.E.2d 946", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1995, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "164 Ill. 2d 279", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 476988 ], "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "293" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/164/0279-01" ] }, { "cite": "813 N.E.2d 181", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2004, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "211 Ill. 2d 368", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 8451541 ], "year": 2004, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "387" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/211/0368-01" ] }, { "cite": "522 N.E.2d 1124", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1988, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "122 Ill. 2d 176", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5550081 ], "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "186" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/122/0176-01" ] }, { "cite": "791 N.E.2d 1278", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2003, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "339 Ill. App. 3d 792", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2468995 ], "year": 2003, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "798" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/339/0792-01" ] }, { "cite": "833 N.E.2d 23", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2005, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "358 Ill. App. 3d 1029", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5730650 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2005, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1031" }, { "page": "1031" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/358/1029-01" ] }, { "cite": "812 N.E.2d 584", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2004, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "349 Ill. App. 3d 701", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5433861 ], "year": 2004, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "704" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/349/0701-01" ] }, { "cite": "799 N.E.2d 745", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2003, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "343 Ill. App. 3d 765", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3718873 ], "year": 2003, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "768" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/343/0765-01" ] }, { "cite": "752 N.E.2d 410", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2001, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "196 Ill. 2d 236", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 351233 ], "weight": 4, "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "259" }, { "page": "259" }, { "page": "259" }, { "page": "259" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/196/0236-01" ] }, { "cite": "657 N.E.2d 1020", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1995, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "167 Ill. 2d 397", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 222792 ], "weight": 6, "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "407" }, { "page": "407" }, { "page": "411-12" }, { "page": "412-13" }, { "page": "410" }, { "page": "411-12" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/167/0397-01" ] }, { "cite": "780 N.E.2d 669", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2002, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "202 Ill. 2d 189", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 1442057 ], "year": 2002, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/202/0189-01" ] }, { "cite": "841 N.E.2d 889", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2005, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "217 Ill. 2d 407", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3875001 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2005, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "438" }, { "page": "438" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/217/0407-01" ] }, { "cite": "803 N.E.2d 561", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2004, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "345 Ill. App. 3d 724", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3739230 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2004, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "728-29" }, { "page": "729" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/345/0724-01" ] }, { "cite": "639 N.E.2d 550", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1994, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "159 Ill. 2d 419", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 781318 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "431" }, { "page": "433" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/159/0419-01" ] }, { "cite": "677 N.E.2d 875", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1997, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "175 Ill. 2d 294", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 295778 ], "year": 1997, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "319-20" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/175/0294-01" ] }, { "cite": "533 N.E.2d 1089", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1989, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "126 Ill. 2d 248", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5557518 ], "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "259-60" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/126/0248-01" ] }, { "cite": "473 N.E.2d 1246", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1984, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "104 Ill. 2d 504", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3147214 ], "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "525" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/104/0504-01" ] }, { "cite": "506 U.S. 364", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 11925282 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "369" }, { "page": "189" }, { "page": "842" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/506/0364-01" ] }, { "cite": "741 N.E.2d 1026", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2000, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "318 Ill. App. 3d 321", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 279765 ], "year": 2000, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "326" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/318/0321-01" ] }, { "cite": "466 U.S. 668", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6204802 ], "weight": 9, "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "687-88" }, { "page": "693" }, { "page": "2064" }, { "page": "694" }, { "page": "698" }, { "page": "2068" }, { "page": "689" }, { "page": "694-95" }, { "page": "2065" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/466/0668-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 1055, "char_count": 25542, "ocr_confidence": 0.769, "pagerank": { "raw": 5.442398628504577e-08, "percentile": 0.34234196665519884 }, "sha256": "0a4184e5d1aa6f72792ee5b93261b52ca2e595b403813506b92c317119a99ae5", "simhash": "1:8baa85223e5d9d25", "word_count": 4187 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T18:50:16.995484+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. ANTWINE STEWART, Defendant-Appellant." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "JUSTICE WOLFSON\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nThe ineffective assistance of counsel issue raised by the defendant requires us to consider the impact of the State\u2019s cavalier approach to producing search warrant documents requested by the defense.\nFollowing a bench trial, defendant Antwine Stewart was convicted of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon. He was sentenced to 10 years\u2019 imprisonment.\nDefendant contends: (1) he was denied effective assistance of counsel; (2) the evidence was insufficient to prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt; and (3) the trial court erred by allowing the State to impeach him by admitting into evidence his prior felony conviction for unlawful use of a weapon by a felon. We affirm.\nFACTS\nDefendant was arrested on September 26, 2003. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon. On November 19, 2003, defendant appeared in court for arraignment and a public defender was appointed to represent him. Defense counsel then made an oral motion for discovery. On January 27, 2004, defense counsel requested copies of the search warrant and complaint for search warrant. The case was then continued \u201cby agreement\u201d six times between January 27, 2004, and May 17, 2004, due to the inability of the State to obtain complete copies of the search warrant and the complaint in support of the warrant.\nOn May 17, 2004, defense counsel made an oral motion for bond reduction, which was denied without prejudice. Defendant then asked to address the court. The following colloquy occurred:\n\u201cDEFENDANT STEWART: No, I don\u2019t want to talk about the case. I just \u2014 You know, I been incarcerated since 2003. And here it is every time I come to court in front of you, your Honor, it\u2019s the same thing; a continuance for a search warrant. The officer didn\u2019t never show me a search warrant in the house.\nTHE COURT: You\u2019re starting to talk about the case, Mr. Stewart.\n$ ^ $\nDEFENDANT STEWART: I\u2019m not talking about the case. I\u2019m talking about me coming to court, getting these continuances for something that\u2019s not showing up.\nTHE COURT: Mr. Jackson, you want to explain what I meant by without prejudice?\nDEFENDANT STEWART: I don\u2019t understand, man.\nMR. JACKSON [defense counsel]: I will, Judge. I\u2019ll talk to him about it.\nDEFENDANT STEWART: I don\u2019t understand, man. I don\u2019t understand why is the Court still holding me.\u201d\nOn June 2, 2004, defense counsel informed the court that the State had tendered the search warrant data sheet, search warrant, and the complaint for search warrant. On August 30, 2004, however, defense counsel informed the court that the second page of the complaint for search warrant had been omitted. The case was continued by agreement twice between September 21, 2004, and October 4, 2004, in order for the State to subpoena Chicago police officer Anthony Blake, the signatory to the search warrant.\nOn October 4, 2004, the State informed the court that Officer Blake had been subpoenaed but had not shown up in court. Defense counsel renewed defendant\u2019s motion to reduce bond in light of the delay in obtaining the warrant. The court reduced defendant\u2019s bond from $75,000 to $50,000. On October 18, 2004, defense counsel acknowledged receipt of the missing materials. On October 27, 2004, defense counsel filed defendant\u2019s answer to the State\u2019s request for discovery. The case was set for a bench trial by agreement on December 9, 20\u00d34.\nOn December 9, 2004, the State informed the trial court that it would not be ready to proceed because Officer Blake was not available to testify. The case was continued by agreement to January 20, 2005. Defendant\u2019s bench trial commenced on January 20.\nAt trial, Officer Blake testified that he and eight other officers executed a search warrant at 8617 South Maryland in Chicago on September 26, 2003. Officer Blake knocked on the front door and announced he was a police officer. After he did not receive a response, Officer Blake and six other officers forcibly entered the house. While other officers secured two or three adults in the living room, Officer Blake went to the rear bedroom of the house and saw defendant sitting on a bed. Officer Blake then searched defendant and recovered three clear sandwich bags from his right pants pocket. Two of the bags contained a large amount of a \u201cwhite chunky substance,\u201d which Officer Blake suspected to be crack cocaine. One of the bags contained nine smaller bags, each containing a \u201cwhite rock-like substance,\u201d which Officer Blake also suspected to be crack cocaine.\nOfficer Blake recovered $160 from defendant\u2019s left pants pocket, an electric scale from the top of a dresser in the rear bedroom, and two handguns from beneath a mattress in the rear bedroom. Defendant was arrested and read his Miranda rights. Officer Blake then asked defendant whether the clothing in the bedroom was his. Defendant responded \u201cyes.\u201d When asked about the guns, defendant said, \u201cI keep them for protection.\u201d During booking, defendant said he lived at 8617 South Maryland. Officer Blake did not find any mail, rent receipts, or bills indicating defendant lived in the house. Officer Blake did not remember whether defendant had state identification on his person when arrested.\nThe parties stipulated that the 11 bags of \u201cwhite chunky substance\u201d recovered by Officer Blake were inventoried and sent to the Illinois State Police crime lab. Two of the eleven bags were tested for the presence of a controlled substance. The parties stipulated that the contents of the two items tested were positive for the presence of cocaine and that the actual weight of the two items was 124 grams. The estimated weight of all 11 items was 127.2 grams. Because of the large weight of the two items actually tested by the forensic chemist, we assume the chemist tested the two bags containing the large amounts of \u201cwhite chunky substance.\u201d\nDefendant testified that on September 26, 2003, he was visiting a friend\u2019s house at 8617 South Maryland. Defendant and Skip Tansley were in the master bedroom watching a basketball game when they heard glass breaking.. They ran out of the room and saw several police officers with guns drawn. Defendant and Tansley then were handcuffed and placed on the living room floor. Defendant was searched, but not by Officer Blake. Nothing was recovered. Defendant heard the police searching upstairs and in the basement apartment. He did not see the police recover anything. He was not shown any drugs or weapons. Defendant admitted he was the only person arrested in the house.\nDefendant testified that at the time of his arrest he was living at 709 East 88th Street, not 8617 South Maryland. The officers removed a state firearm owner\u2019s identification card from his pocket when they searched him. However, the Cook County department of corrections lost the card. Defendant admitted he had clothes with him in a carrying bag, but said he did not keep additional clothing in the house. Defendant often went to the house in order to shower, but never spent the night.\nThe parties stipulated to defendant\u2019s prior convictions for impeachment purposes only. The parties stipulated that on August 4, 1995, defendant was convicted of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon. The parties also stipulated that on May 28, 1998, defendant was convicted of possession of a stolen motor vehicle and that on November 15, 2001, defendant was convicted of manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance. Considering the stipulations, the trial court concluded, after balancing the prior convictions with the present charges, it would consider only the first two convictions for impeachment.\nThe trial court found defendant guilty of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon. The court noted evidence of intent to deliver included the weight of the items, the fact that two of the bags were unpackaged while the third was packaged, and the scale found in the room. The defendant\u2019s motion for new trial was denied.\nFollowing the sentencing hearing, defendant was sentenced to a 10-year prison term for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and two concurrent 6-year prison terms for each of his unlawful use of a weapon by a felon convictions.\nDECISION\nI. Ineffective Assistance\nA. Speedy Trial Rights\nDefendant contends he received ineffective assistance of counsel because his lawyer failed to move for discharge on statutory speedy trial grounds and failed to raise the issue in a posttrial motion. We stress that he does not claim defense counsel was ineffective when agreeing to the continuances.\nWhere the effectiveness of a defendant\u2019s trial counsel is questioned, the defendant must show that counsel\u2019s representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687-88, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674, 693, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 2064 (1984). There are two components to an ineffective assistance of counsel claim: (1) deficient performance and (2) prejudice. People v. Jackson, 318 Ill. App. 3d 321, 326, 741 N.E.2d 1026 (2000), quoting Lockhart v. Fretwell, 506 U.S. 364, 369, 122 L. Ed. 2d 180, 189, 113 S. Ct. 838, 842 (1993).\nA defendant not only must show his lawyer\u2019s representation \u201cfell below an objective standard of reasonableness,\u201d but, also, \u201c \u2018there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel\u2019s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different.\u2019 \u201d People v. Albanese, 104 Ill. 2d 504, 525, 473 N.E.2d 1246 (1984), quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694, 80 L. Ed. 2d at 698, 104 S. Ct. at 2068. Specifically, the defendant must show that defense counsel\u2019s deficiencies so prejudiced the defendant as to deprive him of a fair trial with a rehable result. People v. Caballero, 126 Ill. 2d 248, 259-60, 533 N.E.2d 1089 (1989). The defendant must overcome a \u201c \u2018strong presumption that counsel\u2019s conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance,\u2019 \u201d that is, that \u201c \u2018the challenged action \u201cmight be considered sound trial strategy.\u201d [Citation.]\u2019 \u201d People v. Pecoraro, 175 Ill. 2d 294, 319-20, 677 N.E.2d 875 (1997), quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689, 80 L. Ed. 2d at 694-95, 104 S. Ct. at 2065.\nAn attorney\u2019s failure to seek discharge of his client on speedy trial grounds generally will constitute ineffective assistance when there is a reasonable probability that the defendant would have been discharged had a timely motion been made and no justification existed for the attorney\u2019s decision not to file a motion. People v. Staten, 159 Ill. 2d 419, 431, 639 N.E.2d 550 (1994); People v. Peco, 345 Ill. App. 3d 724, 728-29, 803 N.E.2d 561 (2004). Defense counsel\u2019s failure to argue a speedy trial violation in a posttrial motion may also constitute ineffective assistance. Peco, 345 Ill. App. 3d at 729.\nSection 103 \u2014 5(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (Code) (725 ILCS 5/103 \u2014 5(a) (West 2002)) provides that a defendant is entitled to a trial within 120 days from the date he is taken into custody unless defendant\u2019s own acts occasion delay. \u201cA defense counsel\u2019s agreement to a continuance, appearing of record, may be considered a delay attributable to defendant.\u201d Staten, 159 Ill. 2d at 433. Moreover, \u201c[djelay shall be considered to be agreed to by the defendant unless he or she objects to the delay by making a written demand for trial or an oral demand for trial on the record.\u201d 725 ILCS 5/103 \u2014 5(a) (West 2002).\nDefendant contends his comments to the trial court on May 17, 2004, constituted a demand for trial. However, defendant\u2019s comments were vague at best. Defendant stated:\n\u201cI\u2019m not talking about the case. I\u2019m talking about me coming to court, getting these continuances for something that\u2019s not showing up.\n}J: %\n*** I don\u2019t understand, man. I don\u2019t understand why is the Court still holding me.\u201d\nWhile defendant\u2019s comments clearly indicate he was frustrated by the delay, they do not indicate he was demanding trial. Instead, defendant\u2019s comments indicate he thought he should be released from jail because the State could not produce the search warrant. Defendant did not object when defense counsel agreed to additional continuances for the State to obtain the search warrant.\nHowever, this case is not as clear as it first appears. It would be easy to say that by agreeing to the continuances the defendant abandoned his statutory right to a speedy trial. But there is another factor here that requires our attention.\nThe reason defense counsel agreed to the continuances was the State\u2019s failure to produce the search warrant documents, ordinarily not a challenging task. Not only could the State not find the documents, it had a difficult time locating the arresting officer, Officer Blake. It took almost nine months before the State finally produced the papers and the officer. That placed defense counsel in a dilemma.\nThe defendant\u2019s only viable defense was an attack on the legality of the search. It is a rare case where the trial judge rejects a police officer\u2019s testimony that the drugs were found in the defendant\u2019s pocket. Obviously, defense counsel could not attack the search warrant until he examined the sworn complaint that supported it.\nIt would be malpractice to proceed to trial without seeing the search warrant documents. Hence, the dilemma. If the defendant were to persist in a demand for trial, he might get it \u2014 without ever seeing the warrant or affidavit. If the defense had agreed to continuances until the State got around to producing the documents and Officer Blake \u2014 something that should have taken days or weeks, not months\u2014 the defendant would have, as the State now suggests, waived his right to a speedy trial. In effect, the State\u2019s indifference in this case virtually coerced the defendant\u2019s agreement to the continuances.\nThere is fault to be spread. All the players failed the defendant\u2014 the assistant State\u2019s Attorney who did not seem to care, defense counsel who did little to create a sense of urgency, the police officer who treated this case like a petty annoyance, and the trial judge who rubber-stamped the \u201cby agreement\u201d continuances without vigorous inquiry.\nWe do not find defense counsel constitutionally ineffective for failing to challenge these \u201cby agreement\u201d continuances in a motion for discharge. We cannot find any precedent to compel such a result. Still, we cannot help believing that the spirit, if not the letter, of the speedy trial statute was offended in this case.\nB. Motion to Suppress\nDefendant also contends his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to file a motion to suppress evidence. Specifically, defendant contends his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to challenge Officer Blake\u2019s probable cause to search 8617 South Maryland or to search the defendant.\nTo establish prejudice resulting from defense counsel\u2019s failure to file a motion to suppress, a defendant must show a reasonable probability that: (1) the motion would have been granted, and (2) the outcome of the trial would have been different had the evidence been suppressed. People v. Patterson, 217 Ill. 2d 407, 438, 841 N.E.2d 889 (2005). \u201cThe failure to file a motion to suppress does not establish incompetent representation when the motion would have been futile.\u201d Patterson, 217 Ill. 2d at 438.\nOther than claiming he did not live in the house when it was searched, the defendant has not provided us with any indication of why the police lacked probable cause to search the apartment and him.\nWe find defense counsel\u2019s failure to file a motion to suppress did not amount to ineffective assistance because defendant has not shown a reasonable probability that such a motion would have been granted.\nII. Sufficiency of the Evidence\nA. Intent to Deliver\nDefendant contends the State failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant had the intent to deliver the cocaine.\nThe relevant issue to be resolved is whether, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. People v. Pollock, 202 Ill. 2d 189, 780 N.E.2d 669 (2002); People v. Robinson, 167 Ill. 2d 397, 407, 657 N.E.2d 1020 (1995). It is the responsibility of the trier of fact to determine the credibility of witnesses and the weight to be given their testimony, to resolve conflicts in the evidence, and to draw reasonable inferences from the evidence. People v. Ortiz, 196 Ill. 2d 236, 259, 752 N.E.2d 410 (2001). We will not set aside a criminal conviction unless the evidence is so unreasonable, improbable, or unsatisfactory as to justify a reasonable doubt of the defendant\u2019s guilt. Ortiz, 196 Ill. 2d at 259.\nTo sustain defendant\u2019s conviction, the State was required to prove: (1) defendant had knowledge of the presence of the controlled substance; (2) the controlled substance was within defendant\u2019s immediate control or possession; and (3) defendant intended to deliver the controlled substance. People v. Burks, 343 Ill. App. 3d 765, 768, 799 N.E.2d 745 (2003).\nBecause direct evidence of intent to deliver is rare, the defendant\u2019s intent usually must be proved through circumstantial evidence. Robinson, 167 Ill. 2d at 407; People v. Clark, 349 Ill. App. 3d 701, 704, 812 N.E.2d 584 (2004). In Robinson, the supreme court outlined factors that have traditionally been probative of intent, such as possession of weapons, large amounts of cash, large amounts of drugs, beepers, or drug paraphernalia. Robinson, 167 Ill. 2d at 411-12. Whether the inference of intent is sufficiently raised is determined on a case-by-case basis and the enumerated factors are not exclusive. Robinson, 167 Ill. 2d at 412-13.\nIn this case, the evidence showed Officer Blake recovered three clear sandwich bags from defendant\u2019s right pants pocket. Two of the bags contained a large amount of a \u201cwhite chunky substance,\u201d which subsequently tested positive for cocaine in the amount of 124 grams. The third bag contained nine smaller bags, each of which contained a \u201cwhite rock-like substance.\u201d Contrary to the State\u2019s contention, the substances contained in the nine smaller bags were not tested by the forensic chemist.\nWhile we recognize the nine smaller bags were not tested by the forensic chemist, the fact that only the two large bags were tested and determined to contain controlled substances \u201caffects only the weight to be given the evidence rather than its admissibility.\u201d See Robinson, 167 Ill. 2d at 410. We find the trial court did not err by considering the fact that two of the bags were unpackaged while the third was packaged.\nBesides the 124 grams of cocaine and the 3.2 grams of suspected crack cocaine recovered from defendant, Officer Blake also recovered a scale and two loaded handguns from the rear bedroom. According to Officer Blake, defendant stated the handguns were \u201cfor protection.\u201d Scales and guns have traditionally been considered probative of a defendant\u2019s intent to deliver. See Robinson, 167 Ill. 2d at 411-12. While defendant specifically denied Officer Blake recovered the drugs and guns from his possession, the trial court was entitled to believe Officer Blake\u2019s recollection of the events over defendant\u2019s. See Ortiz, 196 Ill. 2d at 259. After carefully reviewing the record, we cannot say the evidence of intent to deliver in this case was so unsatisfactory as to create a reasonable doubt as to defendant\u2019s guilt.\nWe find a rational trier of fact could have found defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.\nB. Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon\nDefendant also contends the State failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant knowingly possessed a firearm.\nIn order to sustain a conviction for unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, the State must prove the defendant knowingly possessed a prohibited firearm and had a prior felony conviction. People v. Hampton, 358 Ill. App. 3d 1029, 1031, 833 N.E.2d 23 (2005). Because this is a constructive possession case, the State had to prove defendant (1) had knowledge of the presence of the weapon, and (2) had immediate and exclusive control over the area where the weapon was found. Hampton, 358 Ill. App. 3d at 1031; People v. Grant, 339 Ill. App. 3d 792, 798, 791 N.E.2d 1278 (2003).\nHere, the parties stipulated defendant was convicted of delivery and manufacture of a controlled substance on November 15, 2001. Officer Blake recovered two loaded handguns from underneath a mattress in the rear bedroom of the house. Prior to conducting the search, Officer Blake observed defendant sitting on the mattress. When Officer Blake asked defendant about the guns, defendant said, \u201cI keep them for protection.\u201d Defendant admitted to Officer Blake that he lived in the house. Defendant also admitted clothes found in the rear bedroom belonged to him. While defendant\u2019s testimony at trial regarding the guns contradicted Officer Blake\u2019s testimony, it was up to the trial judge to determine the credibility of the witnesses and weigh the evidence. See Ortiz, 196 Ill. 2d at 259.\nWe find the State proved defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon.\nIII. Impeachment\nDefendant contends the trial court erred by using defendant\u2019s prior conviction for unlawful use of a weapon by a felon for impeachment purposes because the prior conviction was nearly 10 years old and the court never balanced the prejudice of the conviction against its probative value.\nInitially, the State contends defendant forfeited this issue because he did not object to the stipulation at trial and failed to raise the issue in his posttrial motion. See People v. Enoch, 122 Ill. 2d 176, 186, 522 N.E.2d 1124 (1988).\nWhile defendant admits he failed to object at trial or raise the issue in his posttrial motion, he asks this court to review the issue under the plain error doctrine. The plain error rule allows a reviewing court to consider trial errors not properly preserved when \u201c \u2018(1) the evidence in a criminal case is closely balanced or (2) where the error is so fundamental and of such magnitude that the accused was denied a right to a fair trial.\u2019 \u201d People u. Harvey, 211 Ill. 2d 368, 387, 813 N.E.2d 181 (2004), quoting People v. Byron, 164 Ill. 2d 279, 293, 647 N.E.2d 946 (1995). \u201cBefore invoking the plain error exception, however, we determine whether any error occurred.\u201d People v. Chapman, 194 Ill. 2d 186, 226, 743 N.E.2d 48 (2000). We find no error.\nOur supreme court provided trial courts with the discretion to allow impeachment of a witness\u2019s testimonial credibility by admitting a prior conviction in People v. Montgomery, 47 Ill. 2d 510, 268 N.E.2d 695 (1971). The Montgomery rule provides that for purposes of attacking a witness\u2019s credibility, \u201cevidence of a prior conviction is admissible only if (1) the crime was punishable by death or imprisonment in excess of one year; or (2) the crime involved dishonesty or false statement regardless of the punishment.\u201d People v. Williams, 173 Ill. 2d 48, 81, 670 N.E.2d 638 (1996). In either case, however, the evidence is inadmissible if the judge determines the probative value of the evidence is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, or if more than 10 years has elapsed since the date of conviction or release of the witness from confinement, whichever is later. Williams, 173 Ill. 2d at 81; Montgomery, 47 Ill. 2d at 516.\nHere, contrary to defendant\u2019s contention, the trial court properly balanced the value of defendant\u2019s prior convictions before considering them for impeachment purposes. After the parties stipulated to defendant\u2019s prior felony convictions, the tried court specifically said: \u201cFor purposes of the prior convictions, in terms of balancing offenses of the prior conviction to the present charges, I will consider only the first two that has [sic] been presented for that purpose.\u201d (Emphasis added.)\nMoreover, defendant specifically agreed to the stipulation regarding the prior convictions for impeachment purposes, including his conviction for unlawful use of a weapon by a felon in August 1995. Because defendant stipulated to his prior convictions for impeachment purposes, he cannot claim the trial court erred by not conducting a Montgomery balancing test prior to considering the evidence. See People v. Calvert, 326 Ill. App. 3d 414, 420, 760 N.E.2d 1024 (2001) (\u201cWe emphatically reject defendant\u2019s suggestion that the trial court must conduct the Montgomery balancing test when the parties have stipulated to the admission of the defendant\u2019s prior conviction for impeachment purposes\u201d).\nWe find the trial court did not err when it considered defendant\u2019s conviction for unlawful use of a weapon by a felon for impeachment purposes.\nCONCLUSION\nWe affirm the judgment of the trial court.\nAffirmed.\nGARCIA, P.J., and HALL, J., concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "JUSTICE WOLFSON" } ], "attorneys": [ "Michael J. Pelletier and Mickelle Olawoye, both of State Appellate Defender\u2019s Office, of Chicago, for appellant.", "Richard A. Devine, State\u2019s Attorney, of Chicago (James E. Fitzgerald, Samuel Shim, and Peter Maltese, Assistant State\u2019s Attorneys, of counsel), for the People." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ANTWINE STEWART, Defendant-Appellant.\nFirst District (2nd Division)\nNo. 1-05-0842\nOpinion filed May 16, 2006.\n\u2014Rehearing denied June 12, 2006.\nMichael J. Pelletier and Mickelle Olawoye, both of State Appellate Defender\u2019s Office, of Chicago, for appellant.\nRichard A. Devine, State\u2019s Attorney, of Chicago (James E. Fitzgerald, Samuel Shim, and Peter Maltese, Assistant State\u2019s Attorneys, of counsel), for the People." }, "file_name": "0101-01", "first_page_order": 119, "last_page_order": 131 }