People v. Davis, 82-730

• Court: United States Appellate Court of Illinois
• Writing for the Court: JOHNSON; LINN, P.J., and ROMITI
• Citation: 77 Ill.Dec. 415,121 Ill.App.3d 916,460 N.E.2d 471
• Parties: , 77 Ill.Dec. 415 The PEOPLE of the State of Illinois, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Hursey DAVIS, Defendant-Appellant.
• Docket Number: No. 82-730,82-730
• Decision Date: 16 February 1984

Page 471

460 N.E.2d 471 121 Ill.App.3d 916, 77 Ill.Dec. 415 The PEOPLE of the State of Illinois, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
Hursey DAVIS, Defendant-Appellant. No. 82-730. Appellate Court of Illinois,
First District, Fourth Division. Feb. 16, 1984.

[121 Ill.App.3d 917] James J. Doherty, Public Defender of Cook County, Chicago (Robert P. Isaacson, Asst. Public Defender, of counsel), for appellant.

Richard M. Daley, State's Atty. of Cook County, Chicago (Michael E. Shabat, Marie Quinlivan, Thomas Wood Flynn, Asst. State's Attys., Chicago, of counsel), for plaintiff-appellee.

JOHNSON, Justice:

Defendant, Hursey Davis, appeals his conviction for attempted murder and theft. (Ill.Rev.Stat.1979, ch. 38, pars. 8-4(a), 16-1(a).) He was sentenced to an extended term of 50 years for the attempted murder, and to a 5-year concurrent term for the theft. He raises two issues for review: (1) whether the "personal choice" system of selecting a venire for third district cases which resulted in an all white venire denied him his constitutional right to a jury drawn from a fair cross section of the community, and (2) whether he was improperly sentenced to an extended term where the conduct that formed the basis of the attempted murder was used to enhance the penalty.

We affirm as modified.

The facts of this case are unrebutted. Testimony at trial established that on February 13, 1981, at 1:30 a.m., Paul Grudek, a Des Plaines policeman, was on patrol near Elmhurst Road and Dempster in Des Plaines, Illinois. As he drove past a small shopping center, he saw a car in the parking lot. Two men were sitting in the car. Grudek reported the license plate number to his headquarters and left the area. When headquarters reported a "hit," i.e., something was wrong [121 Ill.App.3d 918] with the car or the driver, Grudek returned to the lot and talked with the passenger in the car. The latter pointed to a Dunkin Donuts store and said he was waiting for a friend.

Page 472

[77 Ill.Dec. 416] Grudek then saw a man walking toward the car. Grudek drove forward and asked the man for his driver's license. After Grudek got out of the police car, the man quickly put down a cup he was carrying. The man reached for his back pocket, his front pocket, and then came at the officer with his right hand and said something the policeman did not understand. Grudek raised his left hand, saw a flash, felt pain in his hip, screamed, and fell into his car. Grudek raised his hands to cover his face, saw another flash, felt pain in his leg, and screamed again.

The man ran back to his car. Grudek fired four times at the driver's side of the other car. The driver and the passenger left the car and ran eastward. At this point in his testimony, Grudek identified defendant as his assailant. Grudek ran after the suspects but stopped when his leg began to hurt. He was taken to a hospital where his wound was treated. Shortly before trial, a bullet was removed from his leg. At the time of trial, Grudek suffered no ill effects from his stomach wounds but did experience sharp pains in his leg which also had a tendency to "fall asleep." Grudek eventually discovered that the car defendant was driving had been stolen.

Gregory Butts testified that he knew defendant because they both worked at A.M. International in the same area. On December 12, 1980, Butts drove to work. His 1980 Camaro was stolen. Car keys were taken from a coat Butts had left unattended. It was Butts' car that defendant drove at the time of the offense.

Bernie Wolter, an evidence technician for the Des Plaines police, investigated the shooting. He found a baseball cap near a large refuse dumpster that was behind an apartment building. After Wolter "saw shoes inside the dumpster," the suspects were ordered to surrender. Wolter identified defendant as one of the individuals who got out of the dumpster.

Gerald Loconsole, another evidence technician, removed a revolver from behind the dumpster.

Thomas Fahey, an orthopedic surgeon, was on duty at Holy Family hospital on February 13, 1981 and treated Officer Grudek. The victim had gunshot wounds in his right knee and groin. At the time of the shooting, Officer Grudek's wounds were not life threatening and he was administered no pain killers. In March 1981, Fahey approved Grudek's return to full-time regular duty. On October 14, 1981, a bullet fragment was removed from Grudek's right thigh.

[121 Ill.App.3d 919] After the prosecution rested, the defense called Aug Schwiesow, a Des Plaines policeman, as a witness. Schwiesow investigated the shooting and spoke with defendant. After he was advised of his Miranda rights, defendant said, "you don't think I meant to kill the officer? * * * If I intended to kill him, I would have shot him between the eyes." This statement was made at 10:30 a.m. on February 13, 1981.

The jury found defendant guilty of attempted murder, aggravated battery, armed violence and theft. The trial court sentenced defendant for attempted murder and theft. At the sentencing hearing, the trial judge stated:

"The Defendant intended to fire a shot into the body of Grudek who by the evidence clearly indicates was completely helpless at this time, was incapable of protecting himself at this time other than raising his leg and covering his body with his legs.

At this point the act is accompanied by exceptionally brutal and heinous behavior. He fired a second shot into the wounded officer who was not posing any threat, whatsoever, to the Defendant. None.

At that time there was no question he was helpless and yet the second shot was fired. Why was that necessary except for the sole purpose of taking his life or seriously injuring him.

And that I find was exceptionally brutal, and it is, in fact, heinous indicative of wanton cruelty, and that is the finding of this Court, and I find, therefore, it's a basis for an extended term.

Page 473

[77 Ill.Dec. 417] And I also find that he is a threat to society, and to protect society, there is a basis for an extended term."

For the attempted murder, defendant was sentenced to 30 years and to an extended term of 20 years, for a total of 50 years. He was sentenced to 5 years for theft, the sentence to run concurrently with the 50-year...