Summary
following Contreras to hold that the charging instrument need not notify a defendant of the state's intention to seek an enhanced sentence where prior convictions increase only the sentence of the offense and not its classification
Summary of this case from U.S. v. COXOpinion
No. 2-93-0143
Opinion filed September 26, 1994.
Appeal from the Circuit Court of De Kalb County; the Hon. Douglas R. Engel, Judge, presiding.
G. Joseph Weller and Paul Alexander Rogers, both of State Appellate Defender's Office, of Elgin, for appellant.
Michael P. Coghlan, State's Attorney, of Sycamore (William L. Browers and Lisa A. Hoffman, both of State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor's Office, of counsel), for the People.
A jury convicted defendant, Demetrius Glenn, of the unlawful delivery of less than one gram of a substance containing cocaine, a Class 2 felony. (See Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 561/2, par. 1401(d) (now 720 ILCS 570/401(d) (West 1992)).) Defendant was sentenced as a Class X offender to eight years' incarceration pursuant to section 5-5-3(c)(8) of the Unified Code of Corrections (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 38, par. 1005-5-3(c)(8) (now 730 ILCS 5/5-5-3(c)(8) (West 1992))) because he had twice been convicted of a Class 2 or greater class felony in this State. Defendant appeals only his sentence.
On appeal, defendant argues that the sentence was improper because the charging instrument failed to notify defendant of the State's intent to seek the enhanced penalty, in violation of section 111-3(c) of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 38, par. 111-3(c) (now 725 ILCS 5/111-3 (c) (West 1992))). We disagree. Directly on point is People v. Contreras (1993), 241 Ill. App.3d 1023, a case neither party cites. Contreras held that the notification requirement of section 111-3(c) does not apply where a sentence is enhanced pursuant to section 5-5-3(c)(8) of the Unified Code of Corrections, as under the latter provision, the prior convictions increase only the sentence and not the classification of the offense itself. The court noted that, although section 111-3(c) addresses the situation where the State seeks an "enhanced sentence," the provision then defines "enhanced sentence" as an enhanced classification of the offense. Notwithstanding that the drafters of section 111-3(c) might have saved confusion by using the phrase "enhanced classification" throughout, we agree with Contreras that the language requiring notification is inapplicable in a case such as this one, where the classification of the offense itself has never been enhanced. See also People v. Cole (1993), 256 Ill. App.3d 1, 6, following Contreras.
We must modify the trial court's judgment in one respect. Although neither party has raised the issue, the court's written "Judgment and Sentence" of January 28, 1993, incorrectly states that defendant was convicted of a Class X felony. As we have explained, defendant was convicted of a Class 2 felony, but he was sentenced as a Class X offender. After reviewing the transcript of the sentencing hearing, we have no doubt that the sentencing judge was aware of this distinction and that the statement in the January 28, 1993, order was an oversight. Thus, on our own motion, we vacate that part of the order stating that defendant was convicted of a Class X felony and modify it to state that defendant was convicted of a Class 2 felony. In all other respects, defendant's conviction and sentence are affirmed.
Affirmed as modified.
COLWELL and PECCARELLI, JJ., concur.