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KELLY ROSS, Defendant-Appellant." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "PRESIDING JUSTICE MURPHY\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nAfter a bench trial, defendant, Kelly Ross, was convicted of criminal sexual assault and sentenced to life imprisonment. On appeal, he contends that (1) an amendment to the indictment was untimely and improper, (2) evidence of a 17-year-old sexual assault was inadmissible, (3) his mother-in-law\u2019s testimony that he was \u201cin over his head\u201d and needed \u201ccar fare\u201d was irrelevant and prejudicial, (4) foundation was lacking for a cell phone message that defendant was \u201cin trouble,\u201d and (5) his sentence was improper for a number of reasons.\nI. BACKGROUND\nA. Amendment to the Indictment\nThe record reveals that the grand jury returned a two-count indictment against defendant. Count I alleged that on January 8, 2004, defendant \u201cknowingly committed an act of sexual penetration on [G.W], to wit: contact between Kelly Ross\u2019 penis and [G.W\u2019s] anus, by the use of force or threat of force.\u201d Count II alleged that defendant \u201cknowingly committed an act of sexual penetration on [G.W], to wit: contact between Kelly Ross\u2019 penis and [G.W\u2019s] mouth, by the use of force or threat of force.\u201d\nOn December 20, 2005, after the victim, C.C., testified at trial, the State made an oral motion to amend the indictment to substitute the name C.C. for G.W. as the victim. The State further sought to amend count I to allege penis-to-vagina contact instead of penis-to-anus contact in order to conform \u201cwith intentions of the grand jury transcript which stated, did you learn that the defendant committed an act of sexual penetration or conduct with the victim when he placed his penis in [C.C.\u2019s] vagina by force.\u201d Third, the State sought to amend count II from penis-to-mouth contact to mouth-to-vagina contact, which would also conform with the intention of the grand jury.\nThe trial court noted that \u201cmaybe they should have done it before. *** Well, they got the names of the people mixed up when they returned the indictment. I don\u2019t know why somebody didn\u2019t look at this stuff before. It\u2019s rather embarrassing to say the least.\u201d The trial court noted to defense counsel that the State \u201csaid [the] grand jury transcript actually supports what they\u2019re trying to do. You must have read the grand jury transcript.\u201d Defense counsel did not dispute that the amendment conformed with the intentions of the grand jury. The court found the State\u2019s actions \u201csloppy\u201d but allowed the amendment over defendant\u2019s objections \u201cbecause I believe I am required to by the law.\u201d\nB. The State\u2019s Case\nC.C. testified that on January 7, 2004, she spent the night at her boyfriend\u2019s, William Ross\u2019s, house. William\u2019s two brothers, Thomas and defendant, were staying there, as were three of William\u2019s children. C.C. slept with William in his upstairs bedroom.\nC.C. testified that when she went to bed on January 7, she was wearing a shirt, pajama pants, and underwear. When she woke up on January 8, she was lying on her stomach wearing only a shirt. She felt someone\u2019s elbow \u201cand a whole bunch of weight\u201d on the top of her back, but she could not tell at that point if it was a man or a woman. She tried to get up, but the person held her down. The person opened her legs and penetrated her vagina with his penis. While his penis was inside her vagina, she was unsuccessfully \u201cwrestling, moving, trying to get up off the bed.\u201d\nThe man took his penis out of her vagina but still held her down. C.C. was able to turn her head toward the doorway and became more frightened to discover that the door was open; when she was with William, the door was always closed.\nThe man then flipped her over onto her back and kissed her face, neck, and breast and worked his way down to her vagina. She was still trying to get up and saying, \u201cStop, no.\u201d He kissed, licked, and played with her vagina, then he put his penis back into her vagina for 10 to 20 minutes. He \u201cgot done,\u201d got off the bed, and turned on the light. When C.C. put on her glasses, she discovered that the person was defendant. Defendant told C.C. not to tell William and asked if it would be better if he found another place to live. He then left the room.\nC.C. remained in the room, where she cried and yelled for someone to help her. Ten or fifteen minutes later, William arrived home and found her on the floor. He picked her up off the floor and asked her what happened. She responded, \u201cKelly raped me.\u201d William took her downstairs and called an ambulance.\nWhile the hospital records indicated that C.C. reported that her boyfriend\u2019s brother tried to rape her, she testified that she told the staff that her boyfriend\u2019s brother actually raped her. Defendant\u2019s DNA was found in C.C.\u2019s vagina.\nOn cross-examination, C.C. testified that she was not sure whether defendant penetrated her vagina. She also told the hospital staff that she was unsure whether there had been penetration of her vagina or anus. On redirect, C.C. clarified that penetration means \u201cwhen a man come\u201d and when a penis is placed inside a vagina. Therefore, when the hospital asked if defendant penetrated C.C.\u2019s vagina with his penis, she thought the question referred to whether he ejaculated and \u201cdid he force it in.\u201d On re-cross, she testified that she told the hospital that he entered her vagina with his penis but she was not sure whether he ejaculated inside.\nWilliam Ross testified that defendant slept on his couch in January 2004. C.C. slept at his house occasionally; during those times, they kept his bedroom door closed. On January 9, 2004, just before 8 a.m., he was preparing to take his son to school when he saw defendant sitting on the floor of the living room, drinking a beer and looking at a picture of himself and his wife. Defendant, who appeared sad, said that he lost a good woman. When William left to take his son to school, C.C. was sleeping in the upstairs bedroom and William\u2019s oldest brother, Thomas, was sleeping in the basement. William dropped his son off and stopped at the grocery store, but it was closed, so he returned home. He was gone 30 to 35 minutes.\nWhen William returned home, defendant was no longer in the living room. When he went to the computer room, he heard whimpering sounds coming from upstairs, so he went upstairs and found C.C. balled up on the floor, crying. She was only wearing a shirt, with no bottoms. William asked her five or six times what was wrong, and she eventually said defendant\u2019s name. William helped her put on a pair of his pajama pants, carried her downstairs, and called 911. He was unable to converse with her because she was \u201ccrying, kind of fidgety, just not all there.\u201d\nRenee Latham, defendant\u2019s cousin, testified that on January 10, 2004, the police came to her house and asked to listen to a message that defendant had left on her cell phone. She called her voice mail and played the message for the police. She had last spoken to defendant on a house phone on New Year\u2019s Eve.\nIola Buggs, defendant\u2019s mother-in-law, testified that defendant came to her house on January 8, 2004, shortly after 8:30 a.m. Defendant told her he was in over his head, but she did not respond because she did not want to get involved. Later he asked whether she had car fare. When she said no, he left. She did not see him again after that.\nOn January 8, 2004, Chicago police detective Glenn Turner, who was assigned C.C.\u2019s case, went to the house where defendant\u2019s wife and mother-in-law lived. There, Turner found the picture that defendant was holding earlier. He also went to Latham\u2019s house on January 8 and 10. The second time he was there, Latham told him that defendant had left a message on her cell phone. In the message, defendant stated that he heard he was in trouble and he needed help.\nDefendant was arrested on November 9, 2004, after he was found hiding in the closet of an apartment.\nDefendant was also charged with and convicted of criminal sexual assault in case number 87 CR 14082. Over defendant\u2019s objection, the State admitted a transcript of testimony given on July 1, 1988, for that case. S.H. testified that on September 22, 1987, she was living at 6154 South King Drive with her boyfriend and children. Around 5 p.m., defendant, who was S.H.\u2019s boyfriend\u2019s sister\u2019s boyfriend, knocked on her apartment door and told her he had something for her boyfriend. She responded that her boyfriend was not home and then permitted him to use her bathroom.\nDefendant called S.H. to the bathroom, saying that the toilet would not flush, so she went to the bathroom to fix the toilet. She got the toilet to flush, and when she turned around, defendant grabbed her by the neck and threw her down onto the floor, causing her to hit her head on the bathtub. Defendant took a carpet cutter out of his pocket and forced her to disrobe. He demonstrated how sharp the carpet cutter was by putting an X on her forehead and scratching her neck and shoulder. He then put his penis into her mouth, licked her vagina, and put his penis in her vagina. S.H. persuaded defendant to stop by telling him that she needed to take care of one of her children, who was crying and banging on the door.\nDefendant forced S.H. and her children to his car by putting the carpet cutter to the two-year-old\u2019s throat and threatening to kill him. With two other men in the car, defendant drove S.H. and her children to his house. En route, defendant dropped off the two men and encountered his girlfriend, whom he instructed to go to her mother\u2019s house and wait for his call. When they arrived at defendant\u2019s house, he took them to his bedroom and forced S.H. to disrobe. He put his penis into her vagina and attempted to put it in her anus, but she feigned a medical condition. He told her he was going to keep her there for a week but ended up driving her two blocks from her home.\nC. Defendant\u2019s Case\nMedical records from St. Bernard Hospital indicated that C.C. assessed her pain at 6 on a scale of 0 to 10. She also stated, \u201cMy boyfriend\u2019s brother tried to rape me.\u201d The emergency department record that the hospital staff filled out gave four options with respect to penetration: vaginal, rectal, oral, or uncertain. \u201cUncertain\u201d was circled. As for whether ejaculation occurred \u201cinside body orifice,\u201d the four options were yes, no, touched, and unsure. \u201cUnsure\u201d was checked. A chart as to \u201cpenetration of female sex organ\u201d specified the options of penis, finger, and foreign object, and yes, no, touched, and unsure. By \u201cpenis,\u201d there is an initial check mark under \u201cyes,\u201d but it was scribbled out and \u201cunsure\u201d was checked instead.\nThe parties stipulated that Detectives Dion Redfield, Samuel Brown, and Joyce Jones took a statement from C.C. in November 2004 that she felt someone climb on her back and open her legs, but she thought it was her boyfriend and did not resist.\nD. Trial Court\u2019s Finding\nThe trial court acknowledged that the evidence from St. Bernard Hospital \u201cis concededly in conflict\u201d with C.C.\u2019s testimony. The court noted, however, that C.C. denied telling hospital personnel that she was uncertain of any penetration. Furthermore, the results of the rape kit reflected a positive DNA match for defendant. Accordingly, the court found defendant guilty of both counts of criminal sexual assault and sentenced to a term of natural life imprisonment pursuant to section 12 \u2014 13(b)(3) of the Criminal Code of 1961 (720 ILCS 5/12\u2014 13(b)(3) (West 2006)). This appeal followed.\nII. ANALYSIS\nA. Amendment to the Indictment\nSection 111 \u2014 3 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 provides that a charge shall be in writing and allege the commission of an offense by:\n\u201c(1) Stating the name of the offense;\n(2) Citing the statutory provision alleged to have been violated;\n(3) Setting forth the nature and elements of the offense charged;\n(4) Stating the date and county of the offense as definitively as can be done; and\n(5) Stating the name of the accused, if known.\u201d 725 ILCS 5/111 \u2014 3 (West 2006).\nAn indictment must be signed by the foreman of the grand jury. 725 ILCS 5/111 \u2014 3 (West 2006).\nOnce an indictment has been returned by the grand jury, it may not be broadened through amendment except by the grand jury itself. People v. Benitez, 169 Ill. 2d 245, 254 (1996); People v. Nathan, 282 Ill. App. 3d 608, 610 (1996). See Ill. Const. 1970, art. I, \u00a77 (\u201cNo person shall be held to answer for a criminal offense unless on indictment of a grand jury ***\u201d). The reason for this rule is to ensure that citizens\u2019 rights are not at the mercy or control of a prosecutor. Benitez, 169 Ill. 2d at 254. However, an indictment may \u201cbe amended on motion by the State\u2019s Attorney or defendant at any time because of formal defects,\u201d including \u201c[a]ny miswriting, misspelling, or grammatical error,\u201d the \u201cpresence of any unnecessary allegation,\u201d or the use of \u201calternative or disjunctive allegations as to the acts, means, intents or results charged.\u201d 725 ILCS 5/111 \u2014 5 (West 2006). Formal amendment is warranted especially where there is no resulting surprise or prejudice to the defendant or where the record clearly shows that he was otherwise aware of the charge against him. People v. Flores, 250 Ill. App. 3d 399, 401 (1993).\nFormal defects are distinguished from substantive changes that alter the nature and elements of the offense charged. Flores, 250 Ill. App. 3d at 401. In People v. Milton, 309 Ill. App. 3d 863, 866 (1999), this court held that \u201can amendment is substantive and therefore improper if (1) it materially alters the charge, and (2) it cannot be determined whether the grand jury intended the alteration.\u201d A trial court\u2019s decision to allow an amendment to the charging instrument will not be disturbed unless the court abused its discretion. People v. Alston, 302 Ill. App. 3d 207, 211 (1999).\nDefendant argues that the amendments from G.W to C.C., from penis-to-anus contact to penis-to-vagina contact, and from penis-to-mouth contact to mouth-to-vagina contact were substantive, untimely alterations to the nature of the offenses charged. The State responds that the amendments simply corrected a miswriting and did not alter the charge, broaden the scope, or add an alternative to the mental state.\nThis court has held that an error in the citation of a statute giving rise to a charge is a mere technical defect that is subject to amendment. See People v. Hirsch, 221 Ill. App. 3d 772, 777 (1991); People v. Hewitt, 212 Ill. App. 3d 496 (1991); People v. House, 202 Ill. App. 3d 893 (1990). In People v. Brooks, 246 Ill. App. 3d 777 (1993), the indictment alleged that the defendant committed an act of sexual penetration on the victim, who was under 16 years of age. The day before the trial started, the trial court permitted the State to amend the indictment from \u201csexual penetration\u201d to \u201csexual conduct\u201d and from \u201cunder 16 years of age\u201d to \u201cunder 17 years of age.\u201d On appeal, this court found that the amendment was formal because the forms used by the official responsible for charging the defendant were not updated to reflect an amendment in the aggravated criminal sexual abuse statute. Brooks, 246 Ill. App. 3d at 786.\nIt is also permissible to revise the indictment when the victim of a crime has been misidentified. People v. Jones, 53 Ill. 2d 460, 464 (1973); People v. Cooper, 97 Ill. App. 3d 222, 225 (1981). Jones noted that there has been a trend away from the formalism that characterized criminal pleading in the past. Jones, 53 Ill. 2d at 464. \u201cThe liberalization of criminal pleading also reflects a lessening of importance of the indictment\u2019s secondary functions. The indictment as a means of informing defendants of particulars concerning the case is now far overshadowed by the array of discovery procedures available to the defense.\u201d Jones, 53 Ill. 2d at 464.\nCourts have found reversible error where the amendment alters the nature and elements of the offense charged. Flores, 250 Ill. App. 3d at 401. For example, in People v. Zajac, 244 Ill. App. 3d 42 (1991), the State amended the section number under which the defendant had been charged from section 11 \u2014 501(a)(1) of the Vehicle Code to section 11 \u2014 501(a)(2). Section 11 \u2014 501(a)(1) stated that a person shall not drive or be in physical control of any vehicle while \u201c[t]he alcohol level of such person\u2019s blood or breath is 0.10 or more\u201d and section 11\u2014 501(a)(2) stated that a person shall not drive or be in physical control of any vehicle while \u201c[u]nder the influence of alcohol.\u201d Zajac, 244 Ill. App. 3d at 43, citing Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 95V2, pars. 11 \u2014 501(a)(1), (a)(2). This court found that the substitution of subsection (a)(2) for subsection (a)(1) amounted to a substantive, rather than formal, change because \u201cthe amendment changed the nature of the evidence necessary to obtain a conviction.\u201d Zajac, 244 Ill. App. 3d at 44. The two subsections \u201care clearly distinct statutory offenses which require the State to prove different elements in order to obtain a conviction.\u201d Zajac, 244 Ill. App. 3d at 44. Furthermore, because the trial proceeded immediately after the amendment, the defendant was not prepared to address the testimony of witnesses on issues raised by the amendment. Zajac, 244 Ill. App. 3d at 44.\nIn People v. Patterson, 267 Ill. App. 3d 933 (1994), the indictment originally charged the defendant with possession of more than 15 grams but less than 100 grams of cocaine with intent to deliver, but the State amended the indictment to read more than 400 grams but less than 900 grams of cocaine, which was the original charge presented to the grand jury. On appeal, this court ruled that the trial court erred when it permitted the amendment because \u201cin a drug case, the quantity of a controlled substance possessed by a defendant is an essential element of the charge.\u201d Patterson, 267 Ill. App. 3d at 939. The case was remanded with instructions to enter judgment on the lesser offense originally charged. Patterson, 267 Ill. App. 3d at 939.\nSimilarly, in People v. Betts, 78 Ill. App. 3d 200 (1979), the defendant was originally charged with delivery of dexedrine, a Schedule II controlled substance, which is a narcotic, in violation of section 401(b) of the Controlled Substances Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1973, ch. 56\u00bd, par. 1401). Before trial, the statutory citation in the indictment was changed from section 401(b) to 401(c), and the word \u201cnot\u201d was inserted so that the defendant was charged with delivery of a \u201csubstance in Schedule II, which is not a narcotic.\u201d (Emphasis omitted.) Betts, 78 Ill. App. 3d at 201. However, dexedrine was not a Schedule II controlled substance, and delivery of dexedrine was not a violation of section 401(c). Because both the term \u201cnarcotic\u201d and the statutory provision referring to narcotics were used, the court \u201cconclude[d] that it was the grand jury\u2019s intention to charge an offense involving a narcotic under par. 1401(b).\u201d Betts, 78 Ill. App. 3d at 202. In addition, the offense charged in the original indictment was a Class 2 felony, while the amended indictment alleged a Class 3 felony. Betts, 78 Ill. App. 3d at 202. The court concluded that the amendment to the indictment was substantive and reversed the defendant\u2019s conviction. Betts, 78 Ill. App. 3d at 204. See also People v. Arbo, 213 Ill. App. 3d 828, 832 (1991); People v. Payne, 194 Ill. App. 3d 238, 247-48 (1990) (an amendment in the information from residential burglary with intent to commit theft to residential burglary with intent to commit a felony changed the mental state of the offense); People v. Troutt, 51 Ill. App. 3d 656, 661 (1977).\nDefendant argues that the amendments in the instant case were substantive alterations to the nature and elements of the offense charged because \u201ceach type of penetration stands on its own as the gravamen of the offense of criminal sexual assault as is, accordingly, not \u2018surplusage.\u2019 \u201d\nA person commits criminal sexual assault if he \u201ccommits an act of sexual penetration by the use of force or threat of force.\u201d 720 ILCS 5/12 \u2014 13(a)(1) (West 2006). \u201cSexual penetration\u201d is defined as follows:\n\u201cany contact, however slight, between the sex organ or anus of one person by an object, the sex organ, mouth or anus of another person, or any intrusion, however slight, of any part of the body of one person *** into the sex organ or anus of another person, including but not limited to *** anal penetration. Evidence of emission of semen is not required to prove sexual penetration.\u201d 720 ILCS 5/12 \u2014 12(f) (West 2006).\nIn People v. Carter, 244 Ill. App. 3d 792 (1993), this court rejected the defendant\u2019s argument that the specific conduct constituting penetration was an element of criminal sexual assault. \u201cIllinois case law provides that the type of sexual penetration is not an element of the offense, and its inclusion in the indictment is merely surplusage.\u201d Carter, 244 Ill. App. 3d 803-04. \u201cIf the statutory language used describes specific conduct, it is unnecessary for the indictment to specify the exact means by which the conduct was carried out. The State need only prove that a type of sexual penetration occurred beyond a reasonable doubt.\u201d Carter, 244 Ill. App. 3d 804. People v. Foley, 206 Ill. App. 3d 709, 718 (1990), noted that \u201c[ejach count in the indictment *** charged defendant with sexual penetration, the specific conduct prohibited in the relevant statutes, and it was unnecessary for the indictment to specify the exact means by which the sexual penetration was carried out.\u201d See also People v. Boand, 362 Ill. App. 3d 106, 130 (2005).\nIndeed, amendments changing the manner in which the defendant committed the offense are formal, not substantive. In People v. Coleman, 49 Ill. 2d 565 (1971), a murder case, the indictment originally alleged that the defendant stabbed the victim. During the State\u2019s case, the trial court allowed the State to amend the indictment by adding the alternative allegation that the defendant asphyxiated the victim with a sheet or blanket. On appeal, the supreme court rejected the defendant\u2019s argument that the trial court erred by allowing the amendment, noting that the \u201cgist of the offense with which the defendant was charged in this case was the overt act of intentionally taking the life of his wife. Of this the defendant was adequately informed by the indictment.\u201d Coleman, 49 Ill. 2d at 570. The court held that \u201cthe allegation of the means used to accomplish her death was not essential but was a formal part of the indictment which could be amended ***. *** [I]t is only where the means used are integral parts of the offense that they need be averred, as for example in the crime of assault with a deadly weapon.\u201d Coleman, 49 Ill. 2d at 571. See also People v. Nathan, 282 Ill. App. 3d 608, 611 (1996) (the particular details of the means that the defendant allegedly used do not constitute essential elements of the offense of aggravated battery).\nDefendant cites several cases in support of his argument that \u201con sex charges, the type of penetration stands on its own as the gravamen of the offense of criminal sexual assault.\u201d In People v. Hardeman, 203 Ill. App. 3d 482, 486 (1990), the court noted that because the defendant was charged with \u201ccommitting] an act of sexual penetration ***, to wit: sexual intercourse,\u201d his conviction for aggravated criminal sexual assault \u201cmust be based on evidence that there was contact, however slight, between the defendant\u2019s penis and the victim\u2019s vagina.\u201d In People v. Valko, 201 Ill. App. 3d 462 (1990), the court reversed a count of aggravated criminal sexual assault based on penile penetration when the evidence only established oral sex. Finally, People v. Garrett, 281 Ill. App. 3d 535, 545 (1996), the court reversed the defendant\u2019s conviction for criminal sexual assault based on anal penetration because the evidence was inconclusive as to whether the defendant intruded into the victim\u2019s anus, even slightly. These cases are distinguishable because they analyze the sufficiency of the evidence rather than the sufficiency of an indictment or the propriety of an amendment. Furthermore, the charges in Valko and Garrett were based on several separate acts, so testimony regarding one type of penetration, which already satisfied one charge, could not satisfy the State\u2019s burden on another charge.\nThe amendment was not made until after the victim testified. See Payne, 194 Ill. App. 3d at 247-48; Arbo, 213 Ill. App. 3d at 832. However, it is clear that defendant was \u201cotherwise aware\u201d of the amended charges. Flores, 250 Ill. App. 3d at 401. The State\u2019s motion to admit other-crimes evidence, which was filed August 5, 2005, well before trial, stated that defendant was charged with sexually assaulting C.C. \u201cin the elected case, 04 CR 38351,\u201d after he performed oral sex on her and penetrated her vagina with his penis. It noted that defendant\u2019s semen was found in C.C.\u2019s vagina. It sought to admit evidence that four years before this incident, defendant forced G.W to perform oral, anal, and vaginal sex and threatened her with a knife. In addition, in asserting differences between the crimes, defendant\u2019s written response argued that although he \u201cmay have a \u2018propensity\u2019 to commit anal rape and to force oral copulation by the victim on defendant, defendant asserts that in this case there was consensual vaginal sex and oral sex performed by defendant on the victim.\u201d He continued that the \u201c \u2018other crimes evidence\u2019 *** actually occurred in a [sic] entirely different manner than the anticipated evidence of vaginal and oral sex by defendant on victim [sic] in this case.\u201d (Emphasis in original.) In addition, the date of the offense \u2014 January 8, 2004 \u2014 did not change from the original indictment to the amendment. Therefore, the record indicates that defendant was \u201cotherwise aware\u201d of the amended charges. Flores, 250 Ill. App. 3d at 401. While defendant argues that the State was conforming the indictment to the victim\u2019s testimony, not to the grand jury minutes, the State\u2019s position, even before trial, was that defendant sexually assaulted C.C. by penetrating her vagina.\nFurthermore, in Flores, this court found that an amendment to the indictment to specify the controlled substance that the defendant possessed as cocaine instead of heroin did not cause the defendant a hint of \u201csurprise or prejudice\u201d where he agreed to a stipulation that the substance he sold to the officer was cocaine and he made no request to reopen the proofs when the court ruled that it would allow the amendment. Flores, 250 Ill. App. 3d at 401. Here, defendant stipulated at trial that his DNA was found in C.C.\u2019s vagina, even though the original indictment did not allege penis-to-vagina contact, and defense counsel did not ask for a continuance when the trial court allowed the State to amend the indictment. See Coleman, 49 Ill. 2d at 570; Alston, 302 Ill. App. 3d at 211.\nIn a motion to file supplemental argument, defendant contends that he was tried \u201con two different charges during the space of one trial in violation of his guarantee against double jeopardy.\u201d Both the Illinois and United States Constitutions provide that no person shall be twice put in jeopardy for the same offense. U.S. Const., amend. V; Ill. Const. 1970, art. I, \u00a710. \u201cThe double jeopardy clause protects against three distinct abuses: (1) a second prosecution for the same offense after acquittal; (2) a second prosecution for the same offense after conviction; and (3) multiple punishments for the same offense.\u201d People v. Placek, 184 Ill. 2d 370, 376-77 (1998). We disagree with defendant that he was tried \u201con two different charges during the space of one trial.\u201d Defendant had not been acquitted, convicted, or punished for the charged offense at any time before he was prosecuted in the instant case. Rather, defendant was charged with criminal sexual assault, and the indictment was properly amended to again allege criminal sexual assault.\nDefendant further contends in his supplemental filing that the amendments denied him his right to a speedy trial in violation of the sixth amendment to the United States Constitution (U.S. Const., amend. VI), article I, section 8, of the Illinois Constitution (Ill. Const. 1970, art. I, \u00a78), and section 103 \u2014 5 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (Speedy Trial Act) (725 ILCS 5/103 \u2014 5 (West 2006)). According to defendant, since the charge \u201csubmitted by the prosecution in the middle of trial was a new offense[,] none of the time that had gone by since the submission of the original charge would have been chargeable to defendant.\u201d\nIn People v. Milton, 309 Ill. App. 3d 863, 866 (1999), we held that where an amendment to the indictment is formal, as it is here, \u201cspeedy trial provisions are not implicated.\u201d People v. Williams, 94 Ill. App. 3d 241 (1981), which defendant relies on, is distinguishable. In that case, the defendants were initially charged with rape and deviate sexual assault. Several months later, and a month before trial, the information was amended to charge the defendants additionally with three counts of aggravated kidnapping, three counts of kidnapping, one count of unlawful restraint, and two counts of aggravated battery. Each defendant was found guilty of all charges, except for one charge of kidnapping. On appeal, the court affirmed the convictions for the originally charged offenses but reversed the other convictions because they were \u201cnew and additional\u201d charges brought outside the limits of the Speedy Trial Act. Here, unlike Williams, \u201cnew and additional\u201d charges were not filed. Rather, the indictment was amended in accordance with section 111 \u2014 5.\nWe agree with the trial court\u2019s assessment that the State\u2019s actions were \u201csloppy\u201d and \u201cembarrassing.\u201d However, we find that the amendments were formal and, accordingly, affirm his conviction.\nB. Evidence of Other Crimes\nDefendant argues that evidence of the 17-year-old sexual assault against S.H. was inadmissible. Under the common law, other-crimes evidence is inadmissible if offered only to demonstrate the defendant\u2019s propensity to commit the charged crime. People v. Donoho, 204 Ill. 2d 159, 169 (2003). Evidence of prior crimes generally is admissible only if it is offered for a specific relevant purpose, such as consciousness of guilt, modus operandi, design, motive, absence of mistake, or knowledge. People v. Banks, 161 Ill. 2d 119, 137 (1994).\nSection 115 \u2014 7.3 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (725 ILCS 5/115 \u2014 7.3 (West 2006)) provides an exception to the rule against other-crimes evidence for cases in which the defendant is accused of criminal sexual assault. Under this section, evidence of another criminal sexual assault \u201cmay be admissible (if that evidence is otherwise admissible under the rules of evidence) and may be considered for its bearing on any matter to which it is relevant\u201d (725 ILCS 5/115 \u2014 7.3(b) (West 2006)), including a \u201cdefendant\u2019s propensity to commit sex offenses.\u201d Donoho, 204 Ill. 2d at 176. When weighing the probative value of the prior offense against undue prejudice to the defendant, the court may consider: (1) the proximity in time to the charged offense; (2) the degree of factual similarity to the charged offense; and (3) other relevant facts and circumstances. 725 ILCS 5/115 \u2014 7.3(c) (West 2006).\nThe trial court\u2019s decision to admit or deny other-crimes evidence to show the defendant\u2019s propensity to commit sex offenses will not be disturbed absent an abuse of discretion. Donoho, 204 Ill. 2d at 182. A trial court abuses its discretion when its \u201c \u2018ruling is arbitrary, fanciful, unreasonable, or where no reasonable person would take the view adopted by the trial court.\u2019 \u201d People v. Wheeler, 226 Ill. 2d 92, 133 (2007), quoting People v. Caffey, 205 Ill. 2d 52, 89 (2001).\nFirst, defendant argues that the transcript served no relevant purpose other than to \u201coverpersuade\u201d the trier of fact. The key to balancing the probative value of other-crimes evidence to prove propensity against its prejudicial effect is to avoid admitting evidence that entices a jury to find defendant guilty \u201conly because it feels he is a bad person deserving punishment.\u201d (Emphasis in original.) People v. Childress, 338 Ill. App. 3d 540, 548 (2003). \u201cLooking at the other side of the scale, \u2018unfair prejudice\u2019 \u2018speaks to the capacity of some concededly relevant evidence to lure the factfinder into declaring guilt on a different ground from proof specific to the offense charged.\u2019 \u201d People v. Boyd, 366 Ill. App. 3d 84, 94 (2006), quoting Old Chief v. United States, 519 U.S. 172, 180, 136 L. Ed. 2d 574, 588, 117 S. Ct. 644, 650 (1997). Other-crimes evidence, when relevant, must not become a focal point of the trial. Boyd, 366 Ill. App. 3d at 94.\nThe trial court found that the other-crimes evidence was admissible to show motive, lack of consent, and propensity. In People v. Johnson, 389 Ill. App. 3d 618 (2009), appeal pending No. 108514, this court found that the defendant\u2019s \u201cno-force\u201d defense at trial \u201cincreased the probative value\u201d of the other-crimes evidence, noting that it saw no reason why \u201c \u2018propensity evidence could not be used to meet the defendant\u2019s consent defense\u2019 \u201d under section 115 \u2014 7.3. Johnson, 389 Ill. App. 3d at 623-24, quoting Boyd, 366 Ill. App. 3d at 93. Furthermore, although the trial court found three uncharged sexual assaults were relevant to establish the defendant\u2019s propensity, the State limited the other-crimes evidence at trial to one sexual assault. Johnson, 389 Ill. App. 3d at 624. Similarly, here, the trial court found the sexual assaults against S.H. and G.W. to be relevant and admissible, but the State only presented evidence as to the assault against S.H.\nDefendant further contends that the assault against S.H. was \u201cextraordinarily remote\u201d because it occurred 17 years before the assault against C.C. The State responds that defendant\u2019s incarceration for almost 6 years for the assault to S.H. mitigates the time gap to 11 years. In Childress, this court noted that when the time that the defendant spent in custody for his previous conviction was excluded, the two offenses occurred within a one-year period. Childress, 338 Ill. App. 3d at 553. Defendant does not dispute the trial court\u2019s conclusion that the 6 years he was incarcerated for the assault on S.H. should be excluded; instead, he argues that even a lapse of 11 years is excessive.\nDonoho \u201cdecline[d] to adopt a bright-line rule about when prior convictions are per se too old to be admitted under section 115 \u2014 7.3. Instead, it is a factor to consider when evaluating its probative value.\u201d Donoho, 204 Ill. 2d at 183-84. The court noted that the appellate court has affirmed admission of other-crimes evidence more than 20 years old because it was found to be sufficiently credible and probative. Donoho, 204 Ill. 2d at 184, citing People v. Davis, 260 Ill. App. 3d 176, 192 (1994). The Donoho court then held that a 12- to 15-year time gap between offenses, by itself, was insufficient to render the admission of a prior offense an abuse of discretion. Donoho, 204 Ill. 2d at 184.\nFurthermore, to be admissible under section 115 \u2014 7.3(c), the other-crimes evidence should have some threshold similarity to the charged crime. People v. Boand, 362 Ill. App. 3d 106, 122 (2005). \u201cAs factual similarities increase, so does the relevance or probative value.\u201d People v. Wilson, 214 Ill. 2d 127, 142 (2005).\nWe find that the facts of the 1987 assault are sufficiently similar to the facts of the assault against C.C. The trial court noted that the sexual assaults against S.H. and C.C. were in the same general area of the city. Furthermore, defendant knew both victims \u2014 he was C.C.\u2019s boyfriend\u2019s brother and S.H.\u2019s boyfriend\u2019s sister\u2019s boyfriend \u2014 and, using his relationship to gain access to the victims, attacked the women when their boyfriends were out of the house. The victims were African American and 25 years old at the time of the assaults. He penetrated both victims\u2019 vaginas with his mouth and his penis, and both assaults occurred, at least in part, where defendant lived. The trial court noted that \u201cthese are not isolated incidents, but they actually have some bearing to each other.\u201d\nDefendant contends that there are \u201cstriking dissimilarities\u201d between the two assaults, for example, \u201cno injuries, no weapons, no kidnapping, and no outcries in the current case.\u201d Defendant had a single-site brief encounter with a sleeping woman in the instant case, while S.H. was awake, resisting, and taken at knifepoint to another location for an attack that was of a longer duration. Although defendant contends that the similarities between the cases \u201cdo not materially surpass what is inherent or common to many sex offenses against female acquaintances generally,\u201d our supreme court has held that \u201c[wjhere such evidence is not being offered under the modus operandi exception, \u2018mere general areas of similarity will suffice\u2019 to support admissibility.\u201d Donoho, 204 Ill. 2d at 184, quoting People v. Illgen, 145 Ill. 2d 353, 373 (1991). The existence of some factual differences between the offenses does not defeat admissibility because no two independent crimes are identical. Donoho, 204 Ill. 2d at 186; People v. Taylor, 383 Ill. App. 3d 591, 595 (2008). As this court concluded in Taylor, \u201cEven though defendant correctly observes these factual discrepancies, we find that he exaggerates their significance in light of the stated compelling similarities.\u201d Taylor, 383 Ill. App. 3d at 596.\nDefendant cites People v. Barbour, 106 Ill. App. 3d 993 (1982). In Barbour, the defendant was charged with rape and sexual assault and offered consent as a defense. The State presented evidence of two earlier uncharged rapes to show that they share a modus operandi. Barbour, 106 Ill. App. 3d at 1000. On appeal, the court found that the State failed to make the \u201c \u2018strong and persuasive showing of similarity\u2019 \u201d required to admit testimony under the modus operandi exception. Barbour, 106 Ill. App. 3d at 1000, quoting People v. Tate, 87 Ill. 2d 134, 141 (1981). The court further held that even if sufficient similarity existed, the evidence was inadmissible on relevancy grounds because the identity of the offender was not at issue, since he admitted to intercourse with all three women. Barbour, 106 Ill. App. 3d at 1000.\nDefendant also relies on People v. Stanbridge, 348 Ill. App. 3d 351 (2004), in support of his argument. In Stanbridge, the Fourth District concluded that the fact that a prior conviction was 10 years before the defendant\u2019s trial \u201cweighs against admissibility.\u201d Stanbridge, 348 Ill. App. 3d at 357. It also cited the requirement that a court must consider the similarity between the two offenses and concluded that, \u201c[i]n light of the supreme court\u2019s admonition that courts should remain cautious about admitting other-crimes evidence to show propensity, we conclude that the evidence was inadmissible.\u201d Stanbridge, 348 Ill. App. 3d at 357.\nStanbridge and Barbour are distinguishable where the other-crimes evidence was admitted to show motive, lack of consent, and propensity instead of modus operandi, absence of mistake, or identity. In addition, the Stanbridge court\u2019s conclusions lack analysis and seem to misapply Donoho. Despite the Stanbridge court\u2019s holding that a 10-year interval weighs against admissibility, the supreme court specifically ruled that an incident 12 to 15 years before was admissible. Donoho, 204 Ill. 2d at 184. The holding in Stanbridge as to the factual similarities between the two offenses is equally questionable, as Donoho simply cautioned trial courts to \u201cengag[e] in a meaningful assessment of the probative value versus the prejudicial impact of the evidence.\u201d Donoho, 204 Ill. 2d at 186. The Stanbridge court\u2019s \u201cuse of the supreme court\u2019s admonition to trial courts turns the statute on its head.\u201d People v. Walston, 386 Ill. App. 3d 598, 616-17 (2008).\nTherefore, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting evidence of defendant\u2019s sexual assault against S.H.\nC. Other Evidentiary Challenges\nDefendant argues that his mother-in-law\u2019s testimony that he was \u201cin over his head\u201d and needed \u201ccar fare\u201d was irrelevant and prejudicial because it was not connected to the crime charged. He further argues that foundation was lacking for admission of the cell phone message that defendant was \u201cin trouble.\u201d\nDefendant did not include either of these arguments in his post-trial motion. Furthermore, at trial he did not object to his mother-in-law\u2019s testimony, and he moved to strike the testimony regarding the cell phone message on the basis that it was irrelevant, not that it lacked foundation. \u201cBoth a trial objection and a written post-trial motion raising the issue are required for alleged errors that could have been raised during the trial.\u201d (Emphasis in original.) People v. Enoch, 122 Ill. 2d 176, 186 (1988). Therefore, these issues are procedurally forfeited.\nThe doctrine of plain error serves as a \u201c \u2018narrow and limited exception\u2019 \u201d to the general rule of procedural default. People v. Szabo, 113 Ill. 2d 83, 94 (1986), quoting People v. Pastorino, 91 Ill. 2d 178, 188 (1982); 134 Ill. 2d R. 615(a). \u201c[T]he plain-error doctrine bypasses normal forfeiture principles and allows a reviewing court to review an unpreserved error when either (1) the evidence is close, regardless of the seriousness of the error, or (2) the error is serious, regardless of the closeness of the evidence.\u201d People v. Herron, 215 Ill. 2d 167, 186-87 (2005). Under the first prong, \u201cthe defendant must prove \u2018prejudicial error.\u2019 That is, the defendant must show both that there was plain error and that the evidence was so closely balanced that the error alone severely threatened to tip the scales of justice against him.\u201d Herron, 215 Ill. 2d at 187. Under the second prong, \u201cthe defendant must prove there was plain error and that the error was so serious that it affected the fairness of the defendant\u2019s trial and challenged the integrity of the judicial process.\u201d Herron, 215 Ill. 2d at 187. \u201cIn both instances, the burden of persuasion remains with the defendant.\u201d Herron, 215 Ill. 2d at 187.\nDefendant does not argue in his briefs that this court should apply the plain-error doctrine. Even if he did, however, there can be no plain error when no error occurred at all. People v. Harris, 225 Ill. 2d 1, 31 (2007).\nEvidence is admissible if it is relevant to an issue in dispute and its prejudicial effect does not outweigh its probative value. People v. Patterson, 192 Ill. 2d 93, 114-15 (2000). Evidence is relevant when it has \u201cany tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable than it would be without the evidence.\u201d People v. Harvey, 211 Ill. 2d 368, 392 (2004). The determination of whether evidence is relevant and admissible is a matter within the discretion of the trial court. People v. Singleton, 367 Ill. App. 3d 182, 189 (2006). Regarding evidentiary rulings, this court only finds an abuse of discretion where \u201c \u2018the trial court\u2019s ruling is arbitrary, fanciful, unreasonable, or where no reasonable person would take the view adopted by the trial court.\u2019 \u201d People v. Wheeler, 226 Ill. 2d 92, 133 (2007), quoting Caffey, 205 Ill. 2d at 89.\nDefendant, citing People v. Groleau, 156 Ill. App. 3d 742 (1987), and People v. Robinson, 189 Ill. App. 3d 323 (1989), argues that his mother-in-law\u2019s testimony that he said he was \u201cin over his head\u201d and asked for bus fare was \u201cwholly unspecified\u201d and unconnected to the charge. To the contrary, these statements were admissible to show defendant\u2019s consciousness of guilt and contemplation of flight. People v. Evans, 209 Ill. 2d 194, 222 (2004). See also People v. Jefferson, 260 Ill. App. 3d 895, 907 (1994). In People v. Grathler, 368 Ill. App. 3d 802, 808 (2006), the court found the defendant\u2019s flight from the police, varying statements to the police, and apologies to the victim demonstrated his consciousness of guilt. Similarly, here, defendant made an unsolicited statement to his mother-in-law immediately after the sexual assault that he was \u201cin over his head,\u201d and later he asked her for bus fare.\nDefendant also argues that a foundation was lacking for admission of an undated phone message that he was \u201cin trouble.\u201d Telephone conversations that are relevant to the issues at trial are admissible if a proper foundation is laid. People v. Caffey, 205 Ill. 2d 52, 94 (2001). \u201cTestimony as to a telephone conversation between a witness and another person is inadmissible in the absence of a claim by the witness that he or she knows the other person or can identify the person\u2019s voice ***.\u201d Caffey, 205 Ill. 2d at 94-95. In People v. Goodman, 347 Ill. App. 3d 278 (2004), the defendant argued that testimony regarding a telephone conversation with her lacked an adequate foundation. This court held that \u201c[a] mere assertion by a telephone caller as to his or her identity, being hearsay, cannot be taken as a sufficient showing of the other person\u2019s identity.\u201d Goodman, 347 Ill. App. 3d at 289, citing Caffey, 205 Ill. 2d at 94. \u201cHowever, even if a witness is unable to identify a caller\u2019s voice, the caller\u2019s identity can be established through other circumstantial evidence.\u201d Goodman, 347 Ill. App. 3d at 289, citing Caffey, 205 Ill. 2d at 94-95. This court found that there was sufficient circumstantial evidence to establish that an FBI agent talked to the defendant on the phone: he obtained the defendant\u2019s phone number from another witness, who identified the defendant and testified that he spoke to her on the phone several times. Furthermore, the woman that he spoke to on the phone identified herself as the defendant. Although the agent did not confirm through the telephone company that the number was listed to the defendant, \u201cwe believe that these factors affect only the weight, not the admissibility, of the evidence.\u201d Goodman, 347 Ill. App. 3d at 289.\nRenee Latham knew defendant, since she is defendant\u2019s first cousin. She specifically testified that she had previously spoken to him on a house phone, but not a cell phone, and that she recognized defendant\u2019s voice on the message he left on her cell phone. She last spoke to him on a house phone on New Year\u2019s Eve, but he did not have to identify himself because she knew his voice.\nDefendant, citing People v. Smith, 321 Ill. App. 3d 669, 675 (2001), contends that the foundation requirements for admission of a telephone conversation include \u201cvoice recognition, date, time, and place of the call.\u201d Here, it is problematic that Latham did not testify as to when defendant left the message; although it was left before January 10, 2004, there was no evidence that it was left after the sexual assault, which occurred January 8, 2004. However, defendant only objected to the relevance of Latham\u2019s testimony, not the foundation, his cross-examination of her made no mention of the date defendant left the message, and his posttrial motion did not raise this issue. In addition, Smith involved the use of a videotape with a sound recording of a conversation, not a phone call or voice message, and the Smith court mentions none of the factors listed by defendant, except for \u201cidentification of the speakers.\u201d Smith, 321 Ill. App. 3d at 675.\nWe find that defendant forfeited his arguments as to the relevance of his mother-in-law\u2019s testimony and the foundation for the voice message left on Latham\u2019s cell phone. Waiver notwithstanding, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion.\nD. Sentence\nFinally, defendant argues that his sentence was improper because he received insufficient notice of an enhanced sentence and the mandatory life imprisonment statute violates due process and the Illinois Constitution\u2019s proportionate penalties clause.\n1. Notice\nCriminal sexual assault is a Class 1 felony. 720 ILCS 5/12\u2014 13(b)(1) (West 2006). A person convicted of criminal sexual assault who has previously been convicted of criminal sexual assault commits a \u201cClass X felony for which the person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 30 years and not more than 60 years.\u201d 720 ILCS 5/12 \u2014 13(b)(2) (West 2006). A person convicted of criminal sexual assault who has previously been convicted of aggravated criminal sexual assault shall be sentenced to a term of natural life imprisonment. 720 ILCS 5/12 \u2014 13(b)(3) (West 2006). \u201cWhen a person has any such prior conviction, the *** indictment charging that person shall state such prior conviction so as to give notice of the State\u2019s intention to treat the charge as a Class X felony.\u201d 720 ILCS 5/12\u2014 13(b)(5) (West 2006). Similarly, section 111 \u2014 3(c) of the Code of Criminal Procedure provides that \u201c[w]hen the State seeks an enhanced sentence because of a prior conviction, the charge shall also state the intention to seek an enhanced sentence and shall state such prior conviction so as to give notice to the defendant.\u201d 725 ILCS 5/111 \u2014 3(c) (West 2006). An \u201cenhanced sentence\u201d means a sentence that is increased by a prior conviction from one classification to another higher level classification of offense; it does not include an increase in the sentence applied within the same level of classification of offense. 725 ILCS 5/111 \u2014 3(c) (West 2006).\nThe indictment alleged that the State would be seeking an \u201cextended sentence pursuant to 725 ILCS 5/111 \u2014 3(a)(5)(c) and 720 ILCS 5/12 \u2014 13(b)(5) in that Kelly Ross has previously been convicted of aggravated criminal sexual assault.\u201d At the sentencing hearing, the State sought the term of natural life pursuant to section 12 \u2014 13(b)(3) on the basis that defendant was previously convicted of aggravated criminal sexual assault. Defendant argues that the indictment gave him insufficient notice that the State would be seeking a natural life sentence.\nIn People v. Jameson, 162 Ill. 2d 282 (1994), the defendants were charged with and convicted of Class 1 and 2 felonies but were sentenced as Class X offenders. Jameson, 162 Ill. 2d at 284-85. The defendants argued that the State failed to notify them in the charging instrument of its intent to seek a Class X sentence, which they claimed was required under section 111 \u2014 3(c). The court held that the \u201clegislature enacted section 111 \u2014 3(c) to ensure that a defendant received notice, before trial, of the offense with which he is charged. *** There is no evidence that the legislature intended to require the State to give a defendant pretrial notice of the possible sentence *** that he might receive.\u201d (Emphasis in original.) Jameson, 162 Ill. 2d at 290. The court continued that a defendant \u201chas no corresponding due process right to receive pretrial notice of the sentence he will receive upon conviction.\u201d Jameson, 162 Ill. 2d at 291. \u201cIn fact, the definition of the term \u2018enhanced sentence\u2019 clarifies that the notice requirement in section 111 \u2014 3(c) does not apply in circumstances where the sentence is increased because of a prior conviction, but the classification of the offense remains the same.\u201d Jameson, 162 Ill. 2d at 290.\nIn People v. Beasley, 307 Ill. App. 3d 200 (1999), the trial court enhanced the defendant\u2019s sentence under section 12 \u2014 13(b) based on a prior conviction for aggravated criminal sexual assault. Beasley, 307 Ill. App. 3d at 210. However, the State failed to give notice of its intention to charge him as a Class X offender, as required by sections 111 \u2014 3 and 12 \u2014 13. Beasley, 307 Ill. App. 3d at 211. On appeal, the court noted that \u201c[c]learly, subparts (b)(2) and (b)(3) of current section 12 \u2014 13 elevate the offense (not just the sentence) of criminal sexual assault from being a Class 1 felony to being a Class X felony.\u201d (Emphasis in original.) Beasley, 307 Ill. App. 3d at 211. The court distinguished Jameson because in that case \u201cit was the defendant\u2019s sentence that was enhanced, not his conviction.\u201d (Emphasis in original.) Beasley, 307 Ill. App. 3d at 211. Because the State failed to give the defendant notice pursuant to sections 12 \u2014 13 of the Criminal Code and 111 \u2014 3 of the Code of Criminal Procedure that it intended to elevate the class of the defendant\u2019s offense within the charging instrument, \u201cdefendant must be treated as having committed a Class 1 offense, rather than a Class X offense.\u201d Beasley, 307 Ill. App. 3d at 212.\nHere, as in Beasley, the offense of which defendant was convicted, and not merely his sentence, was enhanced pursuant to section 12\u2014 13, since the Class 1 felony of criminal sexual assault was elevated to a Class X felony based on his prior conviction for aggravated criminal sexual assault. However, unlike the charging instruments in Beasley, the indictment in the instant case alleged that the State would be seeking an \u201cextended sentence pursuant to 725 ILCS 5/111 \u2014 3(a)(5)(c) and 720 ILCS 5/12 \u2014 13(b)(5) in that Kelly Ross has previously been convicted of aggravated criminal sexual assault.\u201d While the indictment did not cite specifically to subsection (b)(3), which relates to a term of natural life imprisonment based on a prior conviction for aggravated criminal sexual assault, it did cite to subsection (b)(5), which requires the State to give notice of its \u201cintention to treat the charge as a Class X felony.\u201d 720 ILCS 5/12 \u2014 13(b)(5) (West 2006). Therefore, defendant had notice that the State intended to charge him with a Class X felony on the basis that he was previously convicted of aggravated criminal sexual assault. Neither Beasley nor Jameson establishes that any further notice is required.\nAccordingly, we conclude that the indictment gave defendant sufficient notice of the State\u2019s intention to charge him with a Class X felony based on his prior conviction for aggravated criminal sexual assault. We also reject defendant\u2019s argument that he \u201chimself thought that the challenge was to an \u2018extended term,\u2019 which means something else entirely\u201d; during the trial, defense counsel volunteered that \u201cthis is an automatic life case.\u201d\n2. Due Process\nDefendant next argues that the mandatory life sentence in section 12 \u2014 13(b)(3), as applied to people ineligible for an extended term, violates due process because it was \u201cirrational, as not reasonably designed to remedy the evil that was targeted by the legislature.\u201d\nStatutes are presumed to be constitutional, and, thus, the party challenging the statute bears the burden of proving its invalidity. People v. La Pointe, 88 Ill. 2d 482, 499 (1981). \u201cA court has a duty to construe a statute in a manner that upholds its constitutionality if it can reasonably be done, and any doubt must be resolved in favor of the statute\u2019s validity.\u201d People v. Sanchez, 344 Ill. App. 3d 74, 80 (2003). A court\u2019s primary consideration in construing a statute is to give effect to the legislature\u2019s intent by examining not only the language used in the statute, but also the reason for the law and the evil intended to be remedied. La Pointe, 88 Ill. 2d at 499. \u201cWe generally defer to the legislature in the sentencing arena because the legislature is institutionally better equipped to gauge the seriousness of various offenses and to fashion sentences accordingly.\u201d People v. Sharpe, 216 Ill. 2d 481, 487 (2005). \u201cThe legislature\u2019s discretion in setting criminal penalties is broad, and courts generally decline to overrule legislative determinations in this area unless the challenged penalty is clearly in excess of the general constitutional limitations on this authority.\u201d Sharpe, 216 Ill. 2d at 487. In examining a statute\u2019s constitutionality, this court employs a de novo standard of review. People v. Jackson, 358 Ill. App. 3d 927, 933 (2005).\nOur supreme court \u201chas repeatedly recognized that the legislature has the power to prescribe penalties for defined offenses, and that power necessarily includes the authority to prescribe mandatory sentences, even if such sentences restrict the judiciary\u2019s discretion in imposing sentences.\u201d People v. Huddleston, 212 Ill. 2d 107, 129 (2004). However, to \u201cpass muster under the due process clause, a penalty must be reasonably designed to remedy the particular evil that the legislature was targeting.\u201d Sharpe, 216 Ill. 2d at 531.\nThe United States Supreme Court has described the risk of recidivism posed by sex offenders as \u201cfrightening and high.\u201d McKune v. Lile, 536 U.S. 24, 34, 153 L. Ed. 2d 47, 57, 122 S. Ct. 2017, 2025 (2002). In Huddleston, the court noted that \u201cour legislature has responded again and again to the propensity of sex offenders to repeat their crimes and to increases in the incidence of sexual assault and abuse cases.\u201d Huddleston, 212 Ill. 2d at 138. It is clear that section 12 \u2014 13(b)(3) was designed to address recidivism among sex offenders by mandating life imprisonment if the defendant is convicted of a criminal sexual assault after being previously convicted of aggravated criminal sexual assault.\nDefendant, however, argues that section 12 \u2014 13(b)(3) is invalid because under section 5 \u2014 5\u20143.2(b)(1) of the Unified Code of Corrections, a person convicted of criminal sexual assault may receive an enhanced sentence of up to 30 years\u2019 imprisonment if the prior conviction, within the same or greater class of felony, is within 10 years, excluding time in custody. 730 ILCS 5/5 \u2014 5\u20143.2, 5 \u2014 8\u20142 (West 2006). Defendant contends that the legislature has determined that a crime by a person who repeats a similar offense within a 10-year period is of particular danger of recurrence, so to apply a mandatory life sentence to a person who is \u201ctoo law-abiding to qualify for a lesser extended term\u201d subverts the statutory scheme. According to defendant, the legislature \u201cdid not rationally intend to punish a less culpable defendant more severely.\u201d\nDefendant assumes that section 5 \u2014 5\u20143.2 would apply if his previous conviction for aggravated sexual assault had been less than 10 years ago and that, therefore, he would be subject to a maximum discretionary sentence of 30 years\u2019 imprisonment. To the contrary, section 12 \u2014 13(b) plainly applies in cases where the defendant is convicted of a criminal sexual assault after a previous conviction for criminal sexual assault or aggravated criminal sexual assault. 720 ILCS 5/12\u2014 13(b) (West 2006). This statute trumps the more general section 5 \u2014 5\u20143.2 in cases of criminal sexual assault. \u201cA person who is convicted of the offense of criminal sexual assault *** after having previously been convicted of the offense of aggravated criminal sexual assault *** shall be sentenced to a term of natural life imprisonment.\u201d (Emphasis added.) 720 ILCS 5/12 \u2014 13(b)(3) (West 2006).\nDefendant also contends that legislative debates support his argument that \u201cthe intent of the legislature to allow a natural life sentence to be a matter of discretion reserved for the most culpable.\u201d He cites the following debate:\n\u201cSENATOR BERMAN: Am I correct, that this bill mandates a life imprisonment for sexual assault?\nSENATOR RADOGNO: No. That was originally the idea, but in committee it was changed to offer longer sentences than are currently available. So it still does allow some judicial discretion, but the option is for longer sentences.\u201d 90th Ill. Gen. Assem., Senate Proceedings, May 20, 1997, at 10 (statements of Senators Berman and Radogno).\nWe disagree with defendant that this exchange shows \u201cdisapproval and rejection\u201d of the mandatory life sentence. In Kunkel v. Walton, 179 Ill. 2d 519, 536 (1997), the court held that \u201cbecause the language of the statute is plain and unambiguous, we have no occasion to consider its legislative history.\u201d Section 12 \u2014 13(b)(3) unambiguously provides that a person convicted of criminal sexual assault after having previously been convicted of aggravated criminal sexual assault shall be sentenced to a term of natural life imprisonment (720 ILCS 5/12 \u2014 13(b)(3) (West 2006)), so there is no need to review its legislative history. See also People v. Lombardi, 184 Ill. 2d at 477 (the language of the statute is the best indication of the legislature\u2019s intent). The Kunkel court went on to warn that \u201cwhile courts give some consideration by a sponsor of a bill, such statements are not controlling.\u201d Kunkel, 179 Ill. 2d at 536.\nIn addition, this exchange can easily be construed as not supporting defendant\u2019s position. Senator Berman asked about the sentence for \u201csexual assault\u201d but did not specify whether the previous conviction was for criminal sexual assault or aggravated criminal sexual assault. It is significant that Senator Radogno also did not qualify her response to whether it applied to a previous conviction for criminal sexual assault or aggravated criminal sexual assault. It is apparent that Senator Radogno was referring to a case of criminal sexual assault after a previous conviction for criminal sexual assault, which calls for a 30- to 60-year term of imprisonment. 720 ILCS 5/12\u2014 13(b)(2) (West 2006). This interpretation is further supported by Senator Radogno\u2019s statement on March 19, 1997, that Senate Bill 7 \u201cwould allow the judge to impose a sentence of thirty to sixty years for the second criminal sexual assault, and that\u2019s up from the current six years. If one of the two offenses is a combination of aggravated or predatory sexual offenses, then the offender is subject to natural life in prison.\u201d 90th Ill. Gen. Assem., Senate Proceedings, March 19, 1997, at 57 (statements of Senator Radogno). See also 90th Ill. Gen. Assem., House Proceedings, May 8, 1997, at 17-18 (statements of Representative Turner) (\u201cIf the perpetrator has a prior aggravated criminal sexual assault or a prior predatory criminal sexual assault the person will be sentenced to natural life in prison\u201d).\nWe find that section 12 \u2014 13(b)(3) was reasonably designed to remedy the high rate of recidivism of sex offenders and that it therefore does not violate due process as applied to people ineligible for an extended term.\n3. Proportionate Penalties\nThe proportionate penalties clause of the Illinois Constitution provides that \u201c[a] 11 penalties shall be determined both according to the seriousness of the offense and with the objective of restoring the offender to useful citizenship.\u201d Ill. Const. 1970, art. I, \u00a711. The Illinois Supreme Court has identified three analyses courts use to assess proportionality claims: (1) whether the penalty is cruel, degrading, or so wholly disproportionate to the offense committed as to shock the moral sense of the community; (2) whether the described offense, when compared to a similar offense, carries a more severe penalty, although the proscribed conduct creates a less serious threat to the public health and safety; or (3) whether the described offense, when compared to an offense having identical elements, carries a different sentence. People v. Sharpe, 216 Ill. 2d 481, 487 (2005).\nDefendant, applying the first test, argues that the mandatory life sentence violates the proportionate penalty clause because it is so disproportionate to the offense as to shock the moral sense of the community. He contends that he was sentenced to a mandatory term of natural life, even though his second offense had no aggravating circumstances, such as bodily injury or the use of a weapon or force.\nIn Huddleston, the supreme court found that section 12\u2014 14.1(b)(1.2) (720 ILCS 5/12 \u2014 14.1(b)(1.2) (West 2002)), which mandated a life sentence when a person was convicted of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child committed against two or more people, did not violate the proportionate penalties clause. In so concluding, the court reviewed the statutes of other jurisdictions, including four other states that required a sentence of mandatory life imprisonment for certain sexual offenses against children. Huddleston, 212 Ill. 2d at 140. Such enactments call for longer sentences of imprisonment, \u201cso that the offender\u2019s opportunity to reoffend is foreclosed during the period of incarceration.\u201d Huddleston, 212 Ill. 2d at 138. The court also analyzed the seriousness of the defendant\u2019s conduct and his rehabilitative potential. Huddleston, 212 Ill. 2d at 142-44.\nAccording to defendant, Illinois law dramatically differs from other states\u2019 approaches to sentencing for a second sex offense. He contends that of the 50 states that proscribe sex offenses committed on an adult, only Illinois, Washington, and Georgia require mandatory life without parole for a second sexual offense, and in the 13 other states that allow imprisonment for natural life, the sentence is discretionary and parole is allowable. In light of courts\u2019 deference to the legislature in setting criminal penalties (Sharpe, 216 Ill. 2d at 487) and the statute\u2019s attempt to address the propensity of sex offenders to repeat their crimes (Huddleston, 212 Ill. 2d at 137-38), section 12 \u2014 13 fits within the general statutory trend described by defendant. Furthermore, while defendant claims that mandating a natural life sentence is disproportionate when he \u201clived seventeen years without a second sexual offense,\u201d he ignores that in addition to the 1987 rape of S.H., he also was found guilty of the 1999 rape of G.W. More important, defendant used a weapon while committing the 1987 assault, both in front of S.H.\u2019s children and while they screamed outside the door.\nIn People v. Sanchez, 344 Ill. App. 3d 74 (2003), this court addressed a proportionate penalties challenge to section 12 \u2014 14 of the Criminal Code (720 ILCS 5/12 \u2014 14(a)(2) (West 2000)), the aggravated criminal sexual abuse statute. In Sanchez, the defendant was convicted of aggravated criminal sexual assault and, because he had a previous conviction for criminal sexual assault, received a mandatory natural life sentence. On appeal, the defendant argued that his mandatory life sentence violated the proportionate penalties clause because it was so disproportionate to the offense committed as to shock the moral sense of the community. He contended that he was convicted based on bruising the victim, a temporary bodily harm that amounted to a simple battery; had he not caused the bruising, he would not have been convicted of criminal sexual assault, and the court could have imposed a term of 30 to 60 years\u2019 imprisonment. 720 ILCS 5/12 \u2014 13(b)(2) (West 2000). This court rejected the defendant\u2019s argument, finding that \u201cthe defendant\u2019s sentence is not disproportionate to the crime in a way that shocks the moral sense of the community.\u201d Sanchez, 344 Ill. App. 3d at 85. This court noted, \u201cThe mandatory life sentence provision reflects the legislature\u2019s decision to treat severely those who engage in repetitive conduct of sexual assault because it recognizes the harm caused to victims.\u201d Sanchez, 344 Ill. App. 3d at 85.\nDefendant relies on People v. Miller, 202 Ill. 2d 328 (2002), which held that a sentence of natural life imprisonment for a 15-year-old defendant violated the proportionate penalties clause. In Miller, the defendant was charged with two counts of first-degree murder based on accountability. The defendant agreed to be a lookout while two other people shot the victims. Our supreme court found that the life sentence was the result of \u201cthree converging statutes\u201d: the automatic transfer provision of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 (705 ILCS 405/ 5 \u2014 4(6)(a) (West 1996)), which required the defendant to be tried as an adult in criminal court; the accountability statute, which barred the court from considering the offender\u2019s degree of participation in the crime; and the multiple-murder sentencing statute, which barred the court from considering the age of the offender or his degree of participation in the crime. Miller, 202 Ill. 2d at 340. The court held that a mandatory life sentence with no possibility of parole \u201cgrossly distorts the factual realities of the case and does not accurately represent defendant\u2019s personal culpability such that it shocks the moral sense of the community.\u201d Miller, 202 Ill. 2d at 341. \u201cThis moral sense is particularly true, as in the case before us, where a 15-year-old with one minute to contemplate his decision to participate in the incident and stood as a lookout during the shooting, but never handled a gun, is subject to life imprisonment with no possibility of parole\u2014 the same sentence applicable to the actual shooter.\u201d Miller, 202 Ill. 2d at 341.\nAs this court noted in Sanchez, \u201c[t]his case is wholly distinguishable from Miller.\u201d Sanchez, 344 Ill. App. 3d at 85. Defendant in the instant case, unlike the defendant in Miller, is a repeat sex offender. His conduct was not \u201cgrossly distorted\u201d by the statute; it fit squarely within the conduct prohibited by the criminal sexual assault statute. Defendant was not convicted on a theory of accountability, and he is not a juvenile.\nAccordingly, we reject defendant\u2019s argument that his sentence was disproportionate to the nature of the offense and to the goal of restoring offenders to useful citizenship.\nIII. CONCLUSION\nAfter the trial court allowed the amendments to the indictment, it said, \u201cIt\u2019s rather embarrassing to say the least.\u201d The court went on to call the State\u2019s actions \u201csloppy.\u201d We would sum up the State\u2019s actions in one word: unprofessional.\nFor the foregoing reasons, we affirm defendant\u2019s conviction and sentence.\nAffirmed.\nSTEELE, J., concurs.\nThe State\u2019s motion to admit other-crimes evidence argued that defendant sexually assaulted G.W in July 1999. The State ultimately did not present any evidence at trial as to that crime. At the time of trial, 04 CR 28352, the case involving G.W., was also pending. Since the trial in the instant matter, defendant was convicted of criminal sexual assault of G.W. and sentenced as a Class X offender to life imprisonment. See People v. Ross, No. 1 \u2014 06\u20143654 (2008) (unpublished order under Supreme Court Rule 23), appeal denied, 229 Ill. 2d 688 (2008).\nThe State argues that the use of the word \u201cextended\u201d instead of \u201cenhanced\u201d was a typographical error.", "type": "majority", "author": "PRESIDING JUSTICE MURPHY" }, { "text": "JUSTICE COLEMAN,\nspecially concurring:\nI concur with the majority\u2019s opinion affirming the conviction and finding that the amendments to the indictment were permissible under the law. I write separately to emphasize a point noted by the majority, as well as by the trial court, that the State\u2019s actions with respect to amending the indictment were \u201csloppy\u201d and \u201cembarrassing.\u201d\nAlthough I agree with that assessment of the State\u2019s conduct in this case, I would go further. Here, the indictment did not simply contain a single error that was inadvertently overlooked; instead, it appears that the State merely changed the date of the crime and used the same charges that were filed in another case. Presumably, the State did not review the charging instrument to ensure that it accurately reflected the particular case for which it sought the indictment. Not only did the name of the victim refer to another case pending against this defendant, but the particular criminal sexual conduct alleged was also incorrect. Although the law allows for amendments to the indictment such as was done here, it is unacceptable to so casually \u201ccut-and-paste\u201d charges in an indictment. This particular instance of carelessness deserves further comment because the inaccuracies went undiscovered until the victim testified at trial.\nClearly there was substantial evidence against this defendant involving multiple acts of criminal sexual conduct against multiple victims, which the State vigorously and successfully prosecuted. I recognize that keeping the details of each case distinct may be challenging, particularly in cases like this one where there are several cases involving multiple counts with multiple victims that appear similar and are filed against the same defendant. However, it is in such cases that the need for precision and accuracy in each charging instrument becomes all the more important in order to avoid imparting any confusion to the grand jury, the trier-of-fact, and the defendant.\nThus, it is not merely \u201csloppy\u201d and \u201cembarrassing\u201d to have both the name of the victim and the conduct alleged stated incorrectly on the indictment, but it suggests a kind of cavalier attitude that is unbecoming of representatives of the People of the State of Illinois.", "type": "concurrence", "author": "JUSTICE COLEMAN," } ], "attorneys": [ "Edwin A. Burnette, Public Defender, of Chicago (Emily Eisner, Assistant Public Defender, of counsel), for appellant.", "Anita M. Alvarez, State\u2019s Attorney, of Chicago (James E. Fitzgerald, Alan J. Spellberg, and Noah Montague, Assistant State\u2019s Attorneys, of counsel), for the People." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. KELLY ROSS, Defendant-Appellant.\nFirst District (3rd Division)\nNo. 1\u201406\u20140792\nOpinion filed October 28, 2009.\nRehearing denied November 24, 2009.\nCOLEMAN, J., specially concurring.\nEdwin A. Burnette, Public Defender, of Chicago (Emily Eisner, Assistant Public Defender, of counsel), for appellant.\nAnita M. Alvarez, State\u2019s Attorney, of Chicago (James E. Fitzgerald, Alan J. Spellberg, and Noah Montague, Assistant State\u2019s Attorneys, of counsel), for the People." }, "file_name": "0660-01", "first_page_order": 676, "last_page_order": 704 }