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    "judges": [
      "THEIS, EJ., and GREIMAN, J, concur."
    ],
    "parties": [
      "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. MANUEL SUASTEGUI, Defendant-Appellant."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "JUSTICE KARNEZIS\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nFollowing a jury trial, defendant Manuel Suastegui was convicted of first degree murder and was sentenced to 45 years\u2019 imprisonment. On appeal, defendant contends: (1) the trial court erred in denying defendant\u2019s motion to dismiss the indictment; (2) the trial court erred in excluding defendant\u2019s exculpatory evidence; (3) the evidence was insufficient to sustain his conviction; (4) his sixth amendment rights were violated because testimonial evidence was admitted without the opportunity for cross-examination; and (5) photographs of his tattoos were irrelevant and the admission thereof was highly prejudicial. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.\nOn September 26, 1995, at about 9:15 p.m., the victim, Daniel Mafias, was shot and killed near 1745 North Keystone Avenue in Chicago. Jessica Rivera was walking with the victim at the time but was not harmed. According to Rivera, she did not see the shooter. Another individual, Christina Herrera, also witnessed the shooting. At trial, Herrera testified that she saw a person standing on top of the railroad viaduct shoot at the victim, who was walking on the street below. The person who was shooting had dark clothing and was wearing a black hoody. She did not see the shooter\u2019s face.\nDr. Edmund Donoghue performed an autopsy on the victim. He testified that the victim had been shot five times and the wounds were consistent with being shot from an elevated location. Dr. Donoghue recovered bullet fragments from two locations within the body, but he could not determine what type of bullets they were from. He further stated that the victim had several tattoos, including a \u201cYLO\u201d tattoo.\nSeveral years later, in January 1998, Ignacio Salgado was arrested for selling narcotics. He was questioned about the victim\u2019s murder and gave a statement implicating defendant. Defendant was subsequently arrested for the victim\u2019s murder in September 1999.\nSalgado testified at trial that in 1995, he was a member of the Insane Spanish Cobras (Spanish Cobras) street gang. At that time, the Cobras were \u201cat war\u201d with another gang, the Young Latin Organized Disciples (YLO Disciples). Salgado stated that the president of the section of the Spanish Cobras of which he was a member was Ramiro Alvarez, who also went by the nickname Tiger. The section was referred to as \u201cKeeler and Dickens,\u201d which referred to the street names that encompassed the gang\u2019s boundaries. He stated that defendant was also a member of the Spanish Cobras and went by the nickname Gato. Defendant served as an \u201cenforcer,\u201d which meant that he helped enforce the laws of the gang. Alvarez called weekly meetings, and at the meeting shortly before the victim was shot, Alvarez told the members that they had to \u201ctake care of business\u201d and \u201cpop a D,\u201d which Salgado explained meant to shoot a YLO Disciple. Alvarez pulled a couple of people aside, including defendant and another individual, Andy Montanez. Salgado saw Alvarez hand defendant a gun. About 5 to 10 minutes later, while Salgado was at a taco stand at the corner of Keeler Avenue and Armitage Avenue, he heard gunshots coming from the nearby train tracks. Shortly thereafter, he saw defendant run past him from the direction of the train tracks. Defendant told Salgado that he \u201cshot a D.\u201d Salgado stated that defendant was carrying a revolver and it looked like the same gun that was given to defendant at the meeting. He described the revolver as blue.\nOn cross-examination Salgado admitted that during his grand jury testimony, he had testified that defendant served as a soldier in the gang, rather than an enforcer. He also admitted that he had testified before the grand jury that the revolver was black, rather than blue. He further admitted that he had not told police officers or the grand jury that he heard gunshots prior to seeing defendant run past him. He also stated that he did not tell police officers about the gang\u2019s weekly meetings. Salgado also stated that when he saw defendant running, he saw that defendant had something in his hand, but was not sure whether it was a gun. Salgado further admitted that he pled guilty and received probation for the charges stemming from his arrest for selling narcotics.\nSergeant Anthony Wojcik testified that defendant was arrested on September 1, 1999, at about 5:30 p.m. At about 10:15 p.m., Sergeant Wojcik and his partner advised defendant of his Miranda rights and interviewed defendant for about 45 minutes to an hour. Defendant told them that he had been a member of the Spanish Cobras from the age of 13 to the age of 18 or 19. Defendant indicated that the knew Alvarez and Salgado. The officers took pictures of his tattoos and ended the interview. At about 1:30 a.m. the next day, defendant was interviewed again. After reading defendant his Miranda rights, they specifically told him that they were investigating the victim\u2019s murder. Sergeant Wojcik stated that defendant began shaking and pacing and they took him to the bathroom, where he was sick. Defendant denied knowing anything about the murder. The interview ended at about 3 a.m. At about 5 a.m., defendant was read his Miranda rights and was interviewed again. Defendant identified the victim, whom he knew by the name \u201cSnoop.\u201d Defendant told officers that the Latin Kings had killed the victim. Officers showed defendant a picture of Montanez and told defendant that they had been told a different story. Defendant then told officers that Montanez shot the victim and that he was with Montanez at the time. At about 10 a.m., defendant was interviewed by an assistant State\u2019s Attorney.\nSergeant Wojcik further testified that in 1998, the Chicago police department launched an operation in which they attempted to obtain information on several unsolved gang-related murders. Undercover officers would buy narcotics from gang members, arrest them, and then attempt to obtain information regarding the unsolved murders. Officers did not offer any \u201cdeal\u201d or \u201cquid pro quo\u201d for a gang member\u2019s cooperation. He stated that Salgado was arrested as a result of the operation.\nAssistant State\u2019s Attorney Christine Stephens testified that she read defendant his Miranda rights before interviewing him and the interview lasted about an hour. Defendant told Stephens that on the night the victim was shot, defendant encountered Montanez at the corner of Keeler Avenue and Dickens Avenue. Montanez was carrying a revolver. Montanez indicated that a Spanish Cobra had been beaten by a YLO Disciple earlier that evening and that he wanted to \u201ctake care of the D\u2019s.\u201d Defendant and Montanez walked toward Cortland Street and Keystone Avenue, which was the YLO Disciples\u2019 territory. They were walking along the train tracks when Montanez pointed the revolver down toward the street and shot five times. Defendant later heard that the victim had been shot. Defendant did not mention encountering Salgado at a taco stand. Defendant further indicated that he only acted as a lookout while Montanez shot the victim.\nOn appeal, defendant first contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion to dismiss the indictment. Defendant argues that he was indicted pursuant to the \u201cIllinois Compiled Statutes 1992, as amended,\u201d and because the Illinois Compiled Statutes did not become effective until 1993, his conviction is based on a nonexistent statute and is void.\nDefendant\u2019s indictment for first degree murder stated in part:\n\u201cThey without lawful justification shot and killed Daniel Mat\u00edas with a gun knowing that such shooting with a gun created a strong probability of death or great bodily harm to Daniel Mat\u00edas, in violation of Chapter 720, Act 5, Section 9 \u2014 1\u2014A(2) of the Illinois Compiled Statutes 1992, as amended.\u201d\nPublic Act 87 \u2014 1005, which became effective on September 3, 1992, modified and amended the Legislative Reference Bureau Act (25 ILCS 135/1 et seq. (West 1992)) and replaced the organizational and numbering scheme of the Illinois Revised Statutes with the Illinois Compiled Statutes. Section 5.04(a) provided that the reorganizing and renumbering or \u201ccompilation\u201d shall take effect on January 1, 1993. However, section 5.04(e) provided that \u201creports of criminal, traffic, and other offenses and violations that are part of a state-wide reporting system shall continue to be made by reference to the Illinois Revised Statutes until July 1, 1994, and on and after that date shall be made by reference to the Illinois Compiled Statutes.\u201d Pub. Act 87 \u2014 1005 \u00a75.04(e) (1992).\nThroughout section 5.04, which is entitled \u201cCodification and revision of statutes,\u201d the Illinois Compiled Statutes, or ILCS, are referred to as an \u201corganizational and numbering scheme.\u201d Nowhere in that section does it state that the statutes themselves are new or that the Illinois Revised Statutes are no longer in existence. Section 5.04 merely states that Illinois statutes will no longer use their Illinois Revised Statutes citation, but will be reorganized and renumbered and will be cited as Illinois Compiled Statutes.\nWe disagree with defendant\u2019s contention that because the Illinois Compiled Statutes did not become effective until 1993, defendant was indicted pursuant to a nonexistent statute. Regardless whether defendant\u2019s indictment for first degree murder used the Illinois Revised Statutes citation or Illinois Compiled Statutes citation, the first degree murder statute was in existence before, during and after defendant\u2019s indictment. Defendant\u2019s indictment merely referred to the first degree murder statute by a new number and designation. Defendant was not charged under a new law. Therefore, we find that defendant was properly charged with violating the first degree murder statute despite the indictment\u2019s citation to the \u201cIllinois Compiled Statutes 1992, as amended.\u201d Moreover, defendant does not argue that the indictment failed to adequately set forth \u201cthe nature and elements of the offense charged,\u201d as required by section 111 \u2014 3(a)(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (725 ILCS 5/111 \u2014 3(a)(3) (West 1998)) and both the United States Constitution (U.S. Const., amend. VI) and the Illinois Constitution (Ill Const. 1970, art. I, \u00a78).\nNext, defendant contends that the trial court erred when it excluded defendant\u2019s exculpatory evidence. Specifically, defendant argues that the trial court prevented him from calling Jessica Rivera to testify that she had identified someone other than defendant as the shooter. Defendant maintains that her testimony was admissible pursuant to section 115 \u2014 10.1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (Code) (725 ILCS 5/115 \u2014 10.1 (West 2004)).\nThe trial record reveals the following with respect to Rivera. At the time of the shooting, Rivera told police officers that she did not see the shooter. Subsequently, a police report compiled in 1997 indicated that Rivera identified the shooter as a person named Diego LaLuz. However, prior to trial, Rivera spoke with Assistant State\u2019s Attorney Thomas Darman as well as defendant\u2019s investigator, and she denied identifying LaLuz as the shooter and maintained that she did not see the shooter. Defendant subpoenaed Rivera to testify at trial; however, she refused to appear. The State objected to her testimony on the basis that her testimony did not come within the purview of section 115 \u2014 10.1 of the Code. The trial court agreed and denied defendant\u2019s request to call Rivera as a witness.\nSection 115 \u2014 10.1 of the Code provides in part:\n\u201cIn all criminal cases, evidence of a statement made by a witness is not made inadmissible by the hearsay rule if\n(a) the statement is inconsistent with his testimony at the hearing or trial, and\n(b) the witness is subject to cross-examination concerning the statement, and\n(c) the statement\u2014\n(1) was made under oath at a trial, hearing, or other proceeding, or\n(2) narrates, describes, or explains an event or condition of which the witness had personal knowledge, and\n(A) the statement is proved to have been written or signed by the witness, or\n(B) the witness acknowledged under oath the making of the statement either in his testimony at the hearing or trial in which the admission into evidence of the prior statement is being sought, or at a trial, hearing, or other proceeding, or\n(C) the statement is proved to have been accurately recorded by a tape recorder, videotape recording, or any other similar electronic means of sound recording.\u201d 735 ILCS 5/115 \u2014 10.1 (West 2004).\nHere, defendant sought to introduce Rivera\u2019s alleged prior statement that Diego LaLuz shot the victim as substantive evidence to support defendant\u2019s position that he did not shoot the victim. \u201c \u2018Substantive evidence is evidence which is \u201cadduced for the purpose of proving a fact in issue, as opposed to evidence given for the purpose of discrediting a witness *** or of corroborating his testimony.\u201d [Citation.]\u2019 \u201d People v. Posedel, 214 Ill. App. 3d 170, 177 (1991), quoting People v. Redd, 135 Ill. 2d 252, 302 (1990), quoting Black\u2019s Law Dictionary 1281 (5th ed. 1979). Unless a prior inconsistent statement qualifies under section 115 \u2014 10.1, it is not admissible as substantive evidence. The determination of whether evidence is relevant or admissible is a matter within the discretion of the trial court, and we will not reverse such a determination unless the trial court abuses that discretion. People v. Singleton, 367 Ill. App. 3d 182, 189 (2006).\nDefendant does not argue that Rivera\u2019s alleged statement was admissible pursuant to section 115 \u2014 10.1; rather, defendant argues that the trial court erred because it prevented the defense from calling Rivera \u201cat all.\u201d Defendant maintains that the trial court should have allowed defendant to call Rivera \u201cin order to determine whether she would [have] acknowledge[d] the prior statement under oath\u201d and then the court could have determined whether the statement would have been admissible pursuant to section 115 \u2014 10.1. Defendant contends that the trial court prevented him from presenting a defense by excluding Rivera as a witness.\nHere, it is clear from the record that had the trial court permitted Rivera to testify, her alleged prior inconsistent statement would have been inadmissible. Defendant sought to introduce the inconsistent statement as substantive evidence to support his position that someone else shot the victim. In order to introduce the statement as substantive evidence, the statement needed to satisfy the criteria in section 115 \u2014 10.1. Because Rivera continued to deny making the prior inconsistent statement, defendant could not satisfy subsection (B), which required the witness to acknowledge making the statement under oath. The record belies defendant\u2019s contention that had Rivera not been excluded she \u201cmay have\u201d acknowledged her inconsistent statement under oath. The record indicated that Assistant State\u2019s Attorney Darman and defendant\u2019s investigator spoke with Rivera prior to trial and Rivera indicated that she did not know who the shooter was and denied ever telling officers otherwise. There is no indication that Rivera would testify any differently. We conclude that Rivera\u2019s testimony would not have satisfied the criteria in section 115 \u2014 10.1 and the trial court\u2019s ruling excluding her testimony was not an abuse of discretion.\nNext, defendant contends that the evidence was insufficient to sustain his conviction. Defendant argues that Salgado\u2019s testimony was not credible and the oral statement attributed to defendant failed to prove he was accountable for the victim\u2019s murder.\nWhen considering the sufficiency of the evidence on appeal, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution and determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found the elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt. People v. Young, 128 Ill. 2d 1, 49 (1989). We will not reverse a conviction on grounds of insufficient evidence unless that evidence is so unsatisfactory as to raise a reasonable doubt of defendant\u2019s guilt. People v. Furby, 138 Ill. 2d 434, 455 (1990).\nA person is legally accountable for the conduct of another when, either before or during the commission of an offense, and with the intent to promote or facilitate the commission of that offense, he solicits, aids, abets, agrees, or attempts to aid the other person in the planning or commission of the offense. 720 ILCS 5/5 \u2014 2(c) (West 1998); People v. J.H., 136 Ill. 2d 1, 17 (1990).\nHere, the jury found defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Although defendant claims that Salgado\u2019s testimony was not credible, the jury heard his testimony as well as the several inconsistencies pointed out by defense counsel during cross-examination. Specifically, the jury was apprised of Salgado\u2019s inconsistent testimony regarding the color of the gun, defendant\u2019s rank in the gang, whether Salgado actually saw defendant holding a gun after the shooting, and that Sal-gado had not told officers about the gang\u2019s weekly meetings or that he had heard gunshots before defendant ran past him. Nevertheless, defendant\u2019s oral statement to Assistant State\u2019s Attorney Stephens in which he admitted being present at the scene corroborated Salgado\u2019s testimony that defendant was near the scene of the shooting at the time the shooting occurred. And, defendant\u2019s oral statement that he acted as a lookout for Montanez was sufficient to find defendant guilty based on a theory of accountability. Further, Sergeant Wojcik testified that there was no \u201cquid pro quo\u201d for Salgado\u2019s cooperation with officers. Despite the inconsistencies in Salgado\u2019s testimony, we find that there was sufficient evidence to sustain defendant\u2019s conviction.\nNext, defendant contends that his sixth amendment rights were violated when testimonial evidence was admitted without the opportunity for cross-examination. He argues that Sergeant Wojcik\u2019s statement that Andy Montanez corroborated Salgado\u2019s testimony violated his sixth amendment right to be confronted by the witnesses against him pursuant to Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 158 L. Ed. 2d 177, 124 S. Ct. 1354 (2004).\nDuring defendant\u2019s cross-examination of Sergeant Wojcik, the following colloquy occurred:\n\u201c[Mr. Lopez]: After you spoke to Andy, then you went out to look for Ramiro Alvarez, is that right?\n[Wojcik]: Well, we talked to Andy, and he corroborated what [Sal-gado] told us. So, at that point, we want to speak to [Salgado] again.\u201d\nDefendant maintains that the statement that Montanez corroborated Salgado\u2019s testimony was testimonial and defendant was prejudiced because he was not able to cross-examine Montanez because Montanez asserted his fifth amendment rights and did not testify at trial.\nWe first note that defendant did not object to Sergeant Wojick\u2019s testimony at trial. However, defendant did include the issue in his second posttrial motion. Nevertheless, in order to preserve an issue for appeal, a party must both object at trial and raise the issue in a posttrial motion. See People v. Enoch, 122 Ill. 2d 176, 186 (1988). Defendant has failed to preserve the issue for appeal. Waiver aside, the statement that Montanez corroborated Salgado\u2019s testimony was not testimonial; rather, it showed the course of conduct that officers took to investigate the shooting. The statement was not offered to prove any issue, but was responsive to defendant\u2019s questions about how the police investigation proceeded. We disagree with defendant\u2019s contention that the statement violated his sixth amendment rights to be confronted by the witnesses against him.\nLastly, defendant contends that the trial court erred when it introduced photographs of his tattoos, which were irrelevant and highly prejudicial. During Sergeant Wojcik\u2019s testimony, the State questioned Sergeant Wojcik about the photographs taken of defendant and his tattoos at the time of his arrest.\nDefendant had a tattoo of \u201cSC,\u201d which allegedly referred to the Spanish Cobras. He had a tattoo of \u201cMi Vida Loca,\u201d which allegedly stood for \u201cmy crazy life.\u201d Another tattoo showed a diamond with an \u201cSC\u201d and upside down pitchforks. Sergeant Wojcik stated that a diamond is the Spanish Cobras\u2019 insignia and upside down pitchforks showed disrespect to the Disciples. Defendant also had a diamond tattoo on his ankle and another tattoo that said \u201clove mom.\u201d Defendant maintains that the photographs of the tattoos served no purpose other than to inflame the jury and there was no evidence that he had the tattoos at the time of the victim\u2019s murder in 1995.\nEvidence that the defendant was a member of a gang or participated in gang-related activities may be admissible at trial, despite its prejudicial effect, to establish a common purpose or design or to provide a motive for an otherwise inexplicable act. People v. Patterson, 154 Ill. 2d 414, 458 (1992). However, the evidence\u2019s prejudicial effect must not substantially outweigh its probative value. People v. Fluker, 318 Ill. App. 3d 193, 204 (2000). The trial court\u2019s ruling is not to be overturned on appeal unless a clear abuse of discretion is shown. People v. Hamilton, 328 Ill. App. 3d 195, 202 (2002).\nHere, defendant did not object to the introduction of the photographs during Sergeant Wojcik\u2019s testimony, but did raise the issue in his second posttrial motion. In order to preserve an issue for review, there must be an objection at trial and the issue must be raised in a posttrial motion. Enoch, 122 Ill. 2d at 186. Defendant has failed to preserve the issue for appeal. Waiver aside, the tattoos were relevant to show defendant\u2019s participation in the Spanish Cobras. The entire case was about the \u201cwar\u201d between the Spanish Cobras and the YLO Disciples, and the Spanish Cobras\u2019 need for retaliation, which was the reason for the victim\u2019s murder. Defendant\u2019s tattoos helped to illustrate this point. The tattoos themselves merely depicted the Spanish Cobras\u2019 symbols and did not contain additional language or illustrations that would be inflamatory or prejudicial to defendant. We find no abuse of discretion in the admission of the photographs of defendant\u2019s tattoos.\nAccordingly, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court.\nAffirmed.\nTHEIS, EJ., and GREIMAN, J, concur.\n\u201cYLO\u201d refers to the street gang Young Latin Organized Disciples.\nThe record indicates that defendant filed two posttrial motions. The first motion, entitled \u201cMotion For a New Trial or Judgment of Acquittal,\u201d was filed on March 31, 2004. The second motion, entitled \u201cMotion of Acquittal Notwithstanding the Verdict and/or For New Trial,\u201d was filed on May 3, 2005. It is unclear from the record whether the court ruled on defendant\u2019s first motion.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "JUSTICE KARNEZIS"
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Thomas C. Brandstrader, of Chicago, for appellant.",
      "Richard A. Devine, State\u2019s Attorney, of Chicago (James E. Fitzgerald, Veronica Calderon Malavia, and Christopher Petelle, Assistant State\u2019s Attorneys, of counsel), for the People."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. MANUEL SUASTEGUI, Defendant-Appellant.\nFirst District (3rd Division)\nNo. 1\u201405\u20142429\nOpinion filed June 13, 2007.\nRehearing denied July 18, 2007.\nThomas C. Brandstrader, of Chicago, for appellant.\nRichard A. Devine, State\u2019s Attorney, of Chicago (James E. Fitzgerald, Veronica Calderon Malavia, and Christopher Petelle, Assistant State\u2019s Attorneys, of counsel), for the People."
  },
  "file_name": "0635-01",
  "first_page_order": 653,
  "last_page_order": 663
}
