People v. Gharst

• Decision Date: 21 February 1984
• Docket Number: No. 483-0320,483-0320
• Citation: 77 Ill.Dec. 509,122 Ill.App.3d 1,460 N.E.2d 813
• Parties: , 77 Ill.Dec. 509 The PEOPLE of the State of Illinois, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Berl GHARST, Defendant-Appellant, and Andrew Riley and Donald Little, Defendants.
• Court: United States Appellate Court of Illinois

Page 813

460 N.E.2d 813

122 Ill.App.3d 1, 77 Ill.Dec. 509

The PEOPLE of the State of Illinois, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Berl GHARST, Defendant-Appellant, and Andrew Riley and Donald Little, Defendants.

No. 483-0320.

Appellate Court of Illinois,

Fourth District.

Feb. 21, 1984.

Michael B. Metnick, Metnick & Barewin, Springfield, for defendant-appellant.

Basil G. Greanias, State's Atty., Decatur, Robert J. Biderman, Deputy Director, State's Attys. Appellate Service Com'n, Marlene Newton, Staff Atty., Springfield, for plaintiff-appellee.

WEBBER, Justice:

Defendant was convicted by a jury of home invasion, armed violence, conspiracy (to commit unauthorized delivery of cocaine), and unlawful restraint, violations of sections 12-11, 33A-2, 8-2, and 10-3 of the Criminal Code of 1961 (Ill.Rev.Stat.1981, ch. 38, pars. 12-11, 33A-2, 8-2, and 10-3). He was sentenced to concurrent terms of 6 years' imprisonment for home invasion, 6 years for armed violence, 3 years for conspiracy, and 1 year for unlawful restraint.

All offenses stemmed from a dispute over a drug transaction purportedly involving defendant, Andrew Riley, Donald Little, Mark Greene, Dennis Hilderbrand, and Ron Waller. The State relied upon three principal witnesses.

Ron Waller testified that he and his brother, Rory, lived at 1200 East Johns Street in Decatur, Illinois. Sometime after 11 p.m. on April 23, 1982, defendant and Mark Greene visited him at his home. The group intended to contact Dennis Hilderbrand about an $8,000 drug deal. Hilderbrand had apparently ordered a shipment of cocaine. Greene, defendant, and Waller drove to a telephone booth where Waller called Hilderbrand. After making the call, Waller reported to Greene and defendant that Hilderbrand was no longer interested in purchasing the cocaine. Greene informed Waller that the cocaine had already been obtained and could not be returned. He attempted to persuade Waller to purchase it. Waller responded that he had no money. Greene and defendant then dropped Waller off at his house. Waller claimed that he later left home and attended a party.

Waller acknowledged that in a previous statement made to the police, he had attempted to disassociate himself from any drug trafficking. Waller testified under a grant of immunity, immunizing him from prosecution for any offense arising out of the drug transaction.

Ron Waller's brother, Rory, testified that at 2:30 a.m. on April 24, 1982, he was awakened from his sleep by a knock at the door. The visitor was Mark Greene. Rory recognized Greene and allowed him to enter. Greene asked Rory if he knew where his brother, Ron, was and also if he knew where Dennis Hilderbrand lived. Ron was not at home, but Rory gave Greene directions to Hilderbrand's house. Meanwhile there was another knock at the door. Rory testified that he informed Greene that whoever was at the door would not be allowed to enter. He said that he intended to return to bed and requested that Greene leave. Greene responded that he knew who was at the door; he then unlatched it. Three men entered: defendant, Andrew Riley, and Donald Little. Little was armed with a submachine gun. Little, apparently referring to Ron Waller, asked whether Rory was the "mother-f---er" they were looking for. Greene informed the group that Rory was Ron Waller's brother. Little then inquired whether Rory knew where Dennis Hilderbrand lived. When Greene responded that he did, Rory was ordered to get his clothes on. Rory testified that he directed the group to Hilderbrand's residence. He rode in defendant's car with Mark Greene. Donald Little and Andrew Riley followed in another car. After arriving at Hilderbrand's house, Little instructed Rory to knock at the door. Rory complied and Hilderbrand answered his knock. When Hilderbrand unlatched the door, Little and Riley entered. Rory claimed that at this point he ran from the scene.

Rory then described a bizarre series of events in which he claimed to have met two separate groups of police officers. The officers were patrolling Eldorado Street, a major thoroughfare in Decatur. Rory acknowledged that he failed to inform the police officers about the events that had transpired. Rory did not relate his story to the police until 4 p.m. on April 24. He went to the police station where he was interviewed by Officer Dennis Harris of the Decatur police department.

Mark Greene also testified concerning the events occurring on April 23 and 24. He claimed that defendant wanted him to arrange a meeting with Ron Waller for the purpose of making a cocaine deal. Defendant was to deliver the drugs. Greene confirmed that he and defendant picked up Ron Waller at Waller's residence shortly after 11 p.m. on April 23. The three of them left the house and drove in defendant's car. Waller made a telephone call and then conversed with defendant. Waller was returned to his home and Greene and defendant went to Greene's house where they remained until 12:45 a.m. They then met Donald Little near a park. A short while later, Greene and defendant arrived at Ron Waller's house. They were soon joined by Little and Riley, who were in a separate automobile. Greene knocked at the door and was invited in by Rory Waller. Greene confirmed that while he was conversing with Rory, the others knocked at the door. Greene, however, testified that Rory gave him permission to allow defendant, Little, and Riley to enter. He claimed that he had difficulty with the door and that Rory assisted him in getting it open. Greene acknowledged that Little was armed with a submachine gun. He, however, claimed that Rory voluntarily assisted them in locating Dennis Hilderbrand's home.

Greene admitted on cross-examination that home invasion charges that had been filed against him were later dropped. He had pleaded guilty to conspiracy pursuant to an agreement with the State that a recommendation of probation would be made to the court. He also testified that on the night in question he was under the influence of both cocaine and alcohol.

The State also presented certain physical evidence. Defendant's car was searched and a box of Smith & Wesson cartridges were found in the back seat. The machine gun that Donald Little was carrying could have used the type of ammunition found in defendant's automobile. In addition, a fingerprint lifted from defendant's automobile matched a fingerprint taken from Dennis Hilderbrand.

Officers Dennis Harris and Michael Mowen testified on behalf of defendant. Harris interviewed Rory Waller on April 24, 1982, concerning the instant offenses. At that time Waller described his assailants only as white males and not by name. He stated that he was unaware if drugs were involved in the incident. Michael Mowen interviewed Ron Waller on the same date. During this interview, Waller denied that he knew Dennis Hilderbrand.

The jury returned verdicts of guilty on all counts charged. Judgment was entered on the jury's verdict.

The remaining codefendants, Andrew Riley and Donald Little, were tried before a separate jury on the same charges which were brought against defendant. Riley was acquitted on all charges. Little was acquitted on charges of home invasion, unlawful restraint, and armed violence. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on the charge of conspiracy filed against Little.

Defendant complains that he was not proved guilty of home invasion, armed violence, and unlawful restraint beyond a reasonable doubt. A transcript of Riley's and Little's trial was introduced into evidence at the hearing on defendant's post-trial motion. Defendant notes that the principal witnesses for the State were the same in both cases. He urges that the evidence against him was identical to the evidence presented against Little and Riley. Citing People v. Stock (1974), 56 Ill.2d 461, 309 N.E.2d 19, defendant notes that if the evidence against codefendants is identical, the acquittal of one defendant raises a reasonable doubt as to the guilt of the other defendant. Accordingly, defendant urges that he is entitled to an acquittal.

We are unpersuaded. It should be noted initially that defendant has made no argument concerning reasonable doubt on his conviction for conspiracy. Therefore, that matter is waived under Supreme Court Rule 341(e)(7). (87 Ill.2d R. 341(e)(7).) Moreover, we conclude that the acquittal of codefendants Little and Riley of charges of home invasion, armed violence, and unlawful restraint does not provide a basis for the reversal of defendant's convictions for these offenses. As a general rule, the failure of a jury to convict a codefendant does not raise a reasonable doubt as to the guilt of other codefendants. (Stock; People v. Beasley ...