{ "id": 5606928, "name": "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. HERBERTO FLORES et al., Defendants-Appellants", "name_abbreviation": "People v. Flores", "decision_date": "1979-12-28", "docket_number": "No. 78-1993", "first_page": "869", "last_page": "877", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "79 Ill. App. 3d 869" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "331 N.E.2d 342", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "346" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "29 Ill. App. 3d 625", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2502964 ], "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "629" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/29/0625-01" ] }, { "cite": "334 N.E.2d 349", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "31 Ill. App. 3d 735", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2712533 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/31/0735-01" ] }, { "cite": "343 N.E.2d 258", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1975, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "36 Ill. App. 3d 71", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2634075 ], "year": 1975, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/36/0071-01" ] }, { "cite": "363 N.E.2d 924", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "49 Ill. App. 3d 170", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5637219 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/49/0170-01" ] }, { "cite": "367 N.E.2d 1365", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1977, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "52 Ill. App. 3d 738", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3388419 ], "year": 1977, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/52/0738-01" ] }, { "cite": "194 N.E. 510", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "359 Ill. 231", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 5278482 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/359/0231-01" ] }, { "cite": "306 N.E.2d 16", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "56 Ill. 2d 187", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5405554 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/56/0187-01" ] }, { "cite": "255 N.E.2d 432", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "44 Ill. 2d 244", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2890771 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/44/0244-01" ] }, { "cite": "341 N.E.2d 45", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "35 Ill. App. 3d 172", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5305051 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/35/0172-01" ] }, { "cite": "361 N.E.2d 622", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "46 Ill. App. 3d 962", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2975468 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/46/0962-01" ] }, { "cite": "244 N.E.2d 182", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1977, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "41 Ill. 2d 401", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2853933 ], "year": 1977, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/41/0401-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 875, "char_count": 19804, "ocr_confidence": 0.903, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.2251779351914652e-07, "percentile": 0.604409755163332 }, "sha256": "ffc1e44a807375a4a951a791b94dedcb733441e2761b17f39554edab8b19d593", "simhash": "1:8a251ac97fb2daeb", "word_count": 3415 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T21:35:08.542664+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. HERBERTO FLORES et al., Defendants-Appellants." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Mr. JUSTICE WILSON\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nAfter a jury trial, defendants, Herberto and Maria Flores, were found guilty of robbery (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1975, ch. 38, par. 18 \u2014 1) and unlawful restraint (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1975, ch. 38, par. 10 \u2014 3) and were both sentenced to concurrent terms of 3 to 9 years for robbery and 1 to 3 years for unlawful restraint. Maria Flores\u2019 robbery sentence was later reduced to a term of 1 to 5 years. On appeal, they contend (1) that they were not proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and (2) that certain rebuttal argument remarks of the prosecutor were prejudicial. Additionally, Herberto Flores contends that the trial court erred in sentencing him without exercising its discretion with respect to whether he should have been treated under the Dangerous Drug Abuse Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1975, ch. 91/2, par. 120.1 et seq.) as an alternative to incarceration. We affirm the convictions but remand on the sentencing question.\n. Defendants first contend that they were not proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of robbery and unlawful restraint. They argue that the testimony of Enrique Rivera, the complainant, was \u201cincredible, contradicted on certain vital questions, and uncorroborated.\u201d We disagree.\nRivera, who spoke Spanish and understood very little English, testified at trial through an interpreter. He testified that on September 20, 1976, he left work at Division and Cicero streets at about 11:15 p.m. On the way home, he developed problems with his automobile lights and had to pull his car over to the side of a road and repair the lights. At about 2:30 a.m., he completed the repair work and continued on his way home.\nBefore arriving at his home in the 2700 block of Wabansia, Rivera stopped at the Park View Steak House restaurant at North and California Avenue for \u201ca beer or two.\u201d He said that he entered the bar portion of the restaurant at about 3:30 a.m. While he was drinking, a woman and a man, whom he identified as defendants Maria and Herberto Flores, came into the bar and sat down beside him. Maria asked him if he would buy her a beer. He agreed and also offered to buy Herberto a drink, but Herberto did not accept the drink. A little later, Herberto asked Maria to ask him for a ride home. After Maria told him that they lived in the same area, around Wabansia, he agreed to give them a ride.\nThey left the bar together at about 4 a.m. and went to Rivera\u2019s car. When they arrived at the car, Herberto told Maria to sit in the front seat and said that he would sit in the back. Herberto sat right behind Rivera. Rivera drove them east down North Avenue and then turned north about two blocks east of Washtenaw. As they were approaching Wabansia or when they had entered Wabansia, Herberto grabbed Rivera by the neck with something \u201cshiny\u201d and told him, \u201cwatch it, no move.\u201d Soon, Rivera pulled his car over to the side of the street. Herberto, who continued to hold him around the neck with the shiny object placed near to his face, then told Maria to search him. During the search, Maria took *2 and a watch from him. She also took his wallet and threw it in. the car. Then, either both of them or Herberto pulled him from the car and took him into an alley. In the alley, Herberto asked him where he kept his money. When he told Herberto that he had none, Herberto started punching him. At some point, Maria came over and told Herberto to stop hitting him. However, they grabbed him, took his belt, and tied his hands behind his back. Herberto pushed him against a wall and he fell to the ground. While he was sitting on the ground they took his shoes and Maria searched them to see if there was any money. At that point, someone, who had apparently heard the noise in the alley, called out, \u201cwhat is happening?\u201d Herberto and Maria then fled.\nAfter waiting a while, Rivera, who was still tied and barefooted, ran to his house. He managed to ring the doorbell to his house with his arm and his wife answered the door. He told her to call the police. When the police arrived, Mrs. Rivera, who could speak \u201csome\u201d English, told the police what her husband had told her about what had happened. The Riveras then accompanied the police back to the alley where Rivera was beaten and there they found his shoes in a drum. Nearby, they found his car still running and his wallet lying in the car. Although they did not recover the two dollars or the watch, Rivera said that he did tell the police that they had been taken from him. He also admitted telling the police that he had been drinking at a place at 2004 West Fullerton on that evening.\nThe only other witnesses called to testify on the events which transpired in the morning hours of September 21 were Officer Robert Tovar and Maria Flores. Officer Tovar testified that at approximately 4:20 a.m. on September 21, 1976, he received a radio call and proceeded to 2751 West Wabansia. When he arrived there, he saw Rivera standing outside with no stockings on his feet. He said that he could not determine if Rivera had any shoes on at the time. Tovar stated that he could not speak Spanish but that he was able to communicate with Rivera through his wife who could make herself understood \u201cfairly well.\u201d He said that at the time he was speaking with Mrs. Rivera, both she and her husband appeared upset. After talking briefly with Mrs. Rivera, Tovar and his partner, Officer Nick, drove the Riveras to the alley. There, the officers found Rivera\u2019s shoes in one of the drums and also found Rivera\u2019s wallet in his car which was parked close to the alley. Tovar drove Rivera\u2019s car to his house. He could not remember if the keys were in the car when he got in, but he said that he was not given the keys prior to entering the car.\nTovar testified that he made a police report of the incident. Under a place marked \u201cproperty taken\u201d in the report, he had written \u201cnone.\u201d He said that he wrote \u201cnone\u201d because that was all that he was aware of at the time he filled out the report. He probably filled out this portion of the report when he was having difficulty communicating with the Riveras. He said that Mrs. Rivera could make herself known to him fairly well but that he would have to go over questions very slowly and make sure that she could \u201chopefully 000 fully understand them.\u201d He was not sure if she could communicate what had actually been taken from her husband. He also stated that in the narrative portion of his report he had indicated that nothing was missing \u2014 that everything had been found. He said that once again he was referring to the property of which he was aware.\nTovar also indicated on his report that Rivera was drunk when he observed him. He based this observation on the late hour, Rivera\u2019s appearance, and the fact that Rivera had been to a tavern. He did state, however, that he could not recall smelling any alcohol on Rivera\u2019s breath.\nMaria Flores, who was originally from Puerto Rico, testified that she entered the bar with Herberto, who also was originally from Puerto Rico, but that he went to the washroom before she sat down. She sat down two stools away from Rivera, whom she said she knew was from Mexico, and after a while he said hello to her. After she returned his greeting, he told her that he had stopped at the bar to have a few drinks after work. She said that he did not appear drunk to her. When Herberto returned from the washroom and asked her if she was ready to leave, Rivera offered to drive them home. They agreed and the three of them left the bar together. When they drove up Wabansia, Rivera put his hand on Maria\u2019s knee. She gestured for him to remove his hand. Although she did not say anything to Herberto, she partially turned around and she \u201cguessed\u201d that Herberto saw her. Herberto then told Rivera to stop the car. After he did, Herberto grabbed Rivera, pulled him out of the car, and started hitting him. Eventually, Maria came over and told Herberto to stop hitting him. She then said that they should leave and that he should \u201cforget it.\u201d\nWe find that this testimony was sufficient to support the verdicts of the jury. It is well established in Illinois that the testimony of one credible and positive witness is sufficient to sustain a conviction even though the testimony is contradicted by the accused. (People v. Novotny (1968), 41 Ill. 2d 401, 244 N.E.2d 182; In re Winslow (1977), 46 Ill. App. 3d 962, 361 N.E.2d 622.) A witness\u2019 testimony may be credible and positive even if there are minor inconsistencies in his testimony. (People v. Berry (1975), 35 Ill. App. 3d 172, 341 N.E.2d 45.) The determination of the credibility of a witness is made by the trier of fact, and we will not reverse a conviction based largely on that determination unless the evidence was so improbable as to raise a reasonable doubt of guilt. People v. Novotny.\nRivera\u2019s testimony was both credible and positive on all material matters. He positively identified both defendants and his testimony indicates that he had ample opportunity to view defendants. His recitation of the basic facts concerning the robbery and unlawful restraint remained unshaken throughout his testimony. The only real inconsistencies in his testimony involved matters such as whether Herberto grabbed his neck when they were entering Wabansia or when they were approaching Wabansia and whether both defendants or just Herberto pulled him from his car. These matters were no more than minor discrepancies. (In re Winslow.) Also, Rivera\u2019s recitation of facts was not so improbable as to raise a reasonable doubt of guilt. Defendants have argued that it is \u201cincredible\u201d for Rivera to testify that it took one hour to drive from the vicinity of Cicero and Division to the area near North and California where the Park View Steak House was located. With respect to that argument, we note simply that even if there were support in the record for such an argument, Rivera only testified to approximate times of departure and arrival.\nDefendants argue a number of other reasons why we should consider Rivera\u2019s testimony incredible. First, they argue that Officer Tovar\u2019s testimony that he thought Rivera was drunk was \u201cnoteworthy.\u201d Although Tovar did testify that Rivera was drunk, we question this testimony in light of his stated reasons for making such an observation and his failure to recall smelling any alcohol on Rivera\u2019s breath. Also it must be remembered that there was no other indication that Rivera was drunk, and, as a matter of fact, Maria testified that he did not appear drunk.\nDefendants next argue that Tovar\u2019s failure to note the allegedly stolen watch and the *2 in his report and his indication that all property had been recovered casts severe doubt upon Rivera\u2019s testimony. We reject this argument because there is credible evidence in the record to explain Tovar\u2019s failure to note these items in his report. Rivera testified that he told the police about the watch and the *2. However, his information was being communicated to Tovar by his wife, whose abilities with respect to the English language were somewhat limited. Rivera testified that his wife could speak \u201csome\u201d English. Tovar testified that Mrs. Rivera could make herself known to him fairly well but that he had to go over questions very slowly to make sure that she could understand them. He said that he was not sure if she could communicate what had actually been taken from her husband. We believe that Mrs. Rivera\u2019s difficulties with the English language provide a likely explanation for Tovar\u2019s failure to mention the watch and the $2 in his report.\nLastly, defendants argue that several important points of Rivera\u2019s testimony were uncorroborated. However, we first note that there was no need for corroboration in light of his credible and positive testimony. (People v. Novotny; In re Winslow.) Next, there was corroboration of his testimony with respect to his wallet being found in his car, his shoes being found in the alley, and his keys being found in the ignition of his car. (See generally People v. Novotny for the significance of this type of corroboration.) Last, there was no need for his wife to corroborate his testimony since she could not have testified as to any of the material aspects of the crimes.\nDefendants next contend that certain remarks made by the assistant State\u2019s Attorney during rebuttal argument deprived them of their right to a fair trial. During rebuttal, the assistant State\u2019s Attorney made the following remarks about motive despite the fact that the parties had agreed to give the jury Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions, Criminal, No. 3.04 (1968), which stated that the State did not have to prove a motive:\n\u201cI said you are going to hear one instruction concerning motive. The People of the State of Illinois does not have to prove motive, that is the law. I don\u2019t know why people rob other people when they are practically neighbors; they speak Spanish, all of them, Eddie (Herberto), Maria, Mr. Rivera.\nOne thing, Mr. and Mrs. Flores are from Puerto Rico. Now, Mr. Rivera told us he is from Mexico. Maybe there is some animosity there, I don\u2019t know. I don\u2019t know why Mr. Rivera was robbed.\u201d\nAn objection was made by defense counsel at the end of these remarks and the court immediately sustained the objection. However, at no point did defense counsel ask the court to withdraw the jury instruction as a result of these remarks. Defendants claim that these remarks were prejudicial because (1) the State commented upon motive despite the agreement to give the instruction which said that motive did not need to be proven and (2) the State\u2019s remarks injected the inflammatory issue of nationality into the case. Although the remarks were improper, we find that they are not grounds for a new trial since they did not constitute a material factor in the convictions.\nImproper remarks only require reversal if they result in substantial prejudice to defendants. (People v. Nilsson (1970), 44 Ill. 2d 244, 255 N.E.2d 432.) The assistant State\u2019s Attorney\u2019s remarks concerning motive, even though purporting to explain to the jury that motive need not be proven, were improper and should not have been made. (People v. Manzella (1973), 56 Ill. 2d 187, 306 N.E.2d 16.) However, in light of the strength of the State\u2019s case, we cannot say that the remarks constituted reversible error. People v. Manzella.\nThe assistant State\u2019s Attorney\u2019s reference to nationalities as a possible explanation for defendants\u2019 actions was also improper. (People v. Maria (1935), 359 Ill. 231, 194 N.E. 510.) There was no basis in the evidence for such a comment, and resort to such references can only be construed as an attempt to arouse the passions or prejudices of the jury. However, unlike the remarks made in cases cited by defendant (People v. Maria; People v. Turner (1977), 52 Ill. App. 3d 738, 367 N.E.2d 1365; People v. Richardson (1977), 49 Ill. App. 3d 170, 363 N.E.2d 924), this remark was only an isolated comment which was not repeated and cannot be construed as a clear attempt to undermine the judicial process. Furthermore, the strength of the State\u2019s case and the trial court\u2019s immediate sustaining of defense counsel\u2019s objection renders this error harmless.\nLastly, defendant Herberto Flores contends that the trial court erred when it failed to exercise its discretion as to whether he should have been treated under the Dangerous Drug Abuse Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1975, ch. 91*2, par. 120.1 et seq.) as an alternative to incarceration. The record indicates that the trial court had a presentence report before it at the sentencing hearing. The report stated that:\n\u201cThe defendant states that he was addicted to heroin at the age of 21 until incarceration. This is verified by the fact that defendant was enrolled in the West Side Organization, a drug abuse center, from 10-23-73 until 12-23-74 at which time he was dropped for failing to show up at the program. He again enrolled 10-22-75 but was again dropped 11-12-75 because of incarceration.\u201d\nThe report also indicated that on February 14,1974, Herberto had been sentenced to one year probation for possession of marijuana and that over the years Herberto had a sporadic work record. During the hearing, defense counsel highlighted this report to the court. In addition, counsel noted that Herberto\u2019s enrollment in the drug abuse center in 1975 was only terminated because he was arrested on another charge and that Herberto \u201chas from time to time been addicted to heroin.\u201d Despite all of this information, the trial court did not expressly state that it had considered alternative treatment under the Dangerous Drug Abuse Act for Herberto. We find this to be error requiring a remand for a new hearing on sentencing.\nSection 10 of the Dangerous Drug Abuse Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1975, ch. 91/2, par. 120.10) provides:\n\u201cIf a court has reason to believe that an individual convicted of a crime is an addict or the individual states that he is an addict and the court finds that he is eligible to make the election provided for under Section 8, the court may advise him that he may be placed on probation if he elects to submit to treatment and is accepted for treatment by the Department.\u201d\nIf a trial court has reason to believe that defendant is an addict, the record must indicate that the trial court has exercised its discretion in determining whether treatment under the Dangerous Drug Abuse Act is warranted. (People v. Melson (1976), 36 Ill. App. 3d 71, 343 N.E.2d 258.) Whether a court has reason to believe that a defendant is an addict must be determined from the facts presented in each case. People v. Newlin (1975), 31 Ill. App. 3d 735, 334 N.E.2d 349.\nWe find that the information presented to the trial court at the sentencing hearing should have given it reason to believe that Herberto was an addict. The information that Herberto had voluntarily committed himself to a drug abuse program on two instances, the last being less than a year of the date of the crimes, should have prompted the trial court to inquire into Herberto\u2019s present condition. This was particularly necessary since it confirmed Herberto\u2019s statement to the presentence report examiner that he was addicted to heroin at the age of 21 until his incarceration and his counsel\u2019s statement that he had been addicted to heroin from time to time. The further fact that Herberto had a sporadic work history, when considered in conjunction with the other information, should also have prompted the court to inquire into his present condition. In People v. Edwards (1975), 29 Ill. App. 3d 625, 331 N.E.2d 342, we found the fact that the accused was holding a job as an auto mechanic as seeming \u201cto negate any present addiction.\u201d (29 Ill. App. 3d 625, 629, 331 N.E.2d 342, 346.) In this case, we find that the sporadic work history of Herberto might indicate that he had some drug dependency which prevented him from having a job.\nWe affirm the convictions of the defendants, but remand this case to the trial court with instructions to conduct a new sentencing hearing at which the court should exercise its discretion with respect to the applicability of alternative treatment under the Dangerous Drug Abuse Act.\nJudgment of conviction affirmed; cause remanded for new sentencing hearing.\nLORENZ and MEJDA, JJ., concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "Mr. JUSTICE WILSON" } ], "attorneys": [ "James J. Doherty, Public Defender, of Chicago (Michael Mclnerney and Ira Churgin, Assistant Public Defenders, of counsel), for appellants.", "Bernard Carey, State\u2019s Attorney, of Chicago (Marcia B. Orr, James S. Veldman, and Alfonse R. Tomaso, Assistant State\u2019s Attorneys, of counsel), for the People." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. HERBERTO FLORES et al., Defendants-Appellants.\nFirst District (5th Division)\nNo. 78-1993\nOpinion filed December 28, 1979.\nJames J. Doherty, Public Defender, of Chicago (Michael Mclnerney and Ira Churgin, Assistant Public Defenders, of counsel), for appellants.\nBernard Carey, State\u2019s Attorney, of Chicago (Marcia B. Orr, James S. Veldman, and Alfonse R. Tomaso, Assistant State\u2019s Attorneys, of counsel), for the People." }, "file_name": "0869-01", "first_page_order": 891, "last_page_order": 899 }