# Petition — Bublich v. Illinois

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## Record

- **Collection:** Supreme Court brief
- **Document type:** Petition
- **Published:** January 1, 1981
- **Citation:** 454 U.S. 828

## Text

Office -2upreme Court, U.3
80-2011 BLED
‘1 MAY 29 1981
O.
In the

Supreme Court of the United Staten

Octosper Term, 1980

DANIEL A. BUBLICH,

Petitioner,
vB.

PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,

Respondent.

PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE
APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS,
FIRST DISTRICT

EDWARD M. GENSON
JEFFREY B. STEINBACK
134 North LaSalle #300
Chicago, Illinois 60602

(312) 726-9015

Attorneys for Daniel Bublich

Of Counsel:
WILLIAM H. STEVENS

UNITED STATES LAW PRINTING CO., CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60618 (312) 525-6581

,
0 = ete nee eenene cena

QUESTIONS PRESENTED

1. Whether Petitioner was denied the effective assis-
tance of counsel in presentation of his insanity defense
where defense counsel failed to offer any evidence directly
relating to Petitioner’s insanity at the time of the alleged
offense and failed to offer specific evidence of Petitioner’s
history of mental illness.

2. Whether, notwithstanding the incompetence of coun-
sel in failing to offer available evidence on the issue of
Petitioner’s insanity, the Illinois Appellate Court erred
in concluding that the evidence was insufficient to raise a
reasonable doubt of Petitioner’s sanity at the time of the
offense.

3. Whether Petitioner’s rights to a trial and to due
process of law were violated by the action of the trial
court in increasing Petitioner’s sentence based on evidence
of an unrelated pending charge which was subsequently
dismissed.

INDEX
PAGE
Questions Presented ........-.-...cessesscseeeseesneesesssensesanenssenness i
Opinion Below ............ ceterssoctgneustepeeenemmmiianamamaae 1
Farben ncecncnecrsnesnessssnesnensassemacenintin ssestehiadinationdian 2
Constitutional Provisions and Statutes Involved ... 2

Statement of the Case ..............--....-.-
Reasons for Granting the Writ:

I. Petitioner was denied the effective assistance
of counsel in presentation of his insanity de-
fense where defense counsel failed to offer any
evidence directly relating to Petitioner’s in-
sanity at the time of the alleged offense and
failed to offer specific evidence of Petitioner’s
history of mental illness . OR

II. Notwithstanding the incompetence of counsel in
failing to offer available evidence on the issue
of Petitioner’s insanity, the Illinois Appellate
Court erred in concluding that the evidence was
insufficient to raise a reasonable doubt of Peti-
tioner’s sanity at the time of the offense ........ 12

Ill. Petitioner’s rights to a trial and to due process
of law were violated by the action of the trial
court in increasing Petitioner’s sentence based
on evidence of an unrelated pending charge
which was subsequently dismissed _ .................... 13

Conclusion 18

Appendix A—Opinion of the Appellate Court, for
the First District dated November 20, 1980 ....App. 1

Appendix B—Order denying Petition for Leave to
Appeal to the Supreme Court of Illinois,
dated March 30, 1981. .............-...-+- -App. 9

4

iv
PAGE

AUTHORITIES CITED

CaseS
Cuyler v. Sullivan, 446 U.S. 335 (1980)... 11
Pate v. Robinson, 383 U.S. 375 (1966)... y

People v. Adkins, 41 Il].2d 297, 242 N.E.2d 258 (1968) 14, 16
People v. Bey, 51 Ill.2d 262, 281 N.E.2d 638 (1972) ..... 15
People v. Childs, 51 Ill.2d 247, 281 N.E.2d 631 (1972) .. 9
People v. Crews, 38 IIl.2d 331, 231 N.B.2d 451 (1967) .. 14
People v. Eldredge, 41 Ill.2d 520, 244 N.E.2d 151 (1969) 16
People v. Howard, 74 Ill.App.3d 138, 392 N.E.2d 775

(3rd Dist., 1979) ...... “ i a
People v. Jackson, 95 Ill.App.2d 193, 23¢ N.E.2d 196
(1st Dist., 1968) 14
People v. Jones, 36 Ill.App.3d 491, 344 N.E.2d 40 (2nd
Dist., 1976) 15,17
People v. Lechner, 35 Ill.App.3d 1033, 342 N.K.2d 820
(1st Dist., 1976) 5
People v. Lono, 11 Ill.App.3d 443, 297 N.E.2d 349
(1st Dist., 1973) 8

People v. Munroe, 15 IIl.2d 91, 154 N.E.2d 225 (1958) .. 9
People v. Poll, 81 Ill.2d 286, 408 N.E.2d 212 (1980) ....15, 17

People v. Rea, 47 Ill.App.3d 353, 362 N.E.2d 1 (5th
Dist. 1977)

People v. Redmond, 59 Ill.2d 328, 320 N.E.2d 321 (1974) 8

People v. Redmond, 13 Ill.App.3d 604, 300 N.E.2d 786
Ct Ta BEER) eecccsccnsesciecconsinonsseiien 9

¥
PAGE

People v. Riley, 376 Ill. 364, 33 N.B.2d 872, 134 ALR
1261 ‘ 14

People v. Schleyhahn, 4 [ll.App.3d 591, 281 N.E.2d 409
(4th Dist., 1972) ..........-.csccesssssesseensensennmasmsnscensensensencs 16, 17

People v. Skeoch, 408 Ill. 276, 96 N .E.2d 473 (1951) .... 9

People v. Williamson, 69 Ill. App.3d 1037, 388 N.E.2d
240 (3rd Dist., 1979) ......... 14

Williams v. New York, 337 U.S. 241 (1948) ............... 14

Other Authorities

Sixth Amendment to United States Constitution. ........ 2,7
Fourteenth Amendment to United States Constituion 2,7
Title 28, U.S.C., See. 1257(3) _ .........-.. 2
Illinois Revised Statutes, Ch. 38, Sec. 3-2 -........-.....--+-+ 2,8
Illinois Revised Statutes, Ch. 38, Sec. 6-2. ................ 3, 8, 12
Illinois Revised Statutes, Ch. 38, Sec. 6-4 .................-- 3, 8
Illinois Revised Statutes, Ch. 38, Sec. 11-land 11-3 ... 3

LaFave and Scott, Criminal Law (1972) at 312-315... §

In the
Supreme Court of the United States

Octoser TERM, 1980

No.

DANIEL A. BUBLICH,

Petitioner,
vs.

PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,

Respondent.

PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE
APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS,
FIRST DISTRICT

Petitioner Daniel A. Bublich prays that a writ of certio-
rari be issued to review the judgment of the Appellate
Court of Illinois, First District.

OPINION BELOW

The unpublished opinion of the Appellate Court of Illi-
nois, First District, is appended to this petition as Appen-
dix A. The order denying Petitioner leave to appeal to
the Supreme Court of Illinois is likewise appended to this
Petition as Appendix B.

2

JURISDICTION

The opinion and judgment of the Appellate Court of
Illinois, First District, was entered on November 20, 1980.
The Supreme Court of Illinois denied a timely filed Peti-
tion for Leave to Appeal on March 30, 1981. The instant
Petition for Writ of Certiorari is filed within sixty (60)
days of said denial of the Supreme Court of Illinois. The
jurisdiction of this court is invoked pursuant to Title 28,
U.S.C., Sec. 1257(3).

CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS AND
STATUTES INVOLVED

The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution
provides :

‘In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall en-
joy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impar-
tial jury of the state and district wherein the crime
shall have been committed, which district shall have
been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed
of the nature and cause of the accusations; to be con-
fronted with the witnesses against him; to have com-
pulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor,
and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.’’

The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Con-
stitution provides, in pertinent part:

‘*No state shall make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the
United States; nor shall any state deprive any person
of life, liberty, or property, without due process of
law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the
equal protection of the laws.’’

Section 3-2 (affirmative defense) of Chapter 38, Illinois
Revised Statutes, provides:

‘*(a) ‘Affirmative defense’ means that unless the
State’s evidence raises the issue involving the alleged

3

defense, the defendant, to raise the issue, must pre-
sent some evidence thereon.

‘‘(b) If the issue involved in an affirmative defense
is raised then the State must sustain the burden of
proving the defendart guilty beyond a reasonable
doubt as to that issue together with all the other ele-
ments of the offense.’’

Section 6-2 (insanity) of Chapter 38, Illinois Revised
Statutes, provides:

‘‘(a) A person is not criminally responsible for
conduct if at the time of such conduct, as a result of
mental disease or mental defect, he lacks substantial
capacity either to appreciate the criminality of his
conduct or to conform his conduct to the requirements
of law.

‘‘(b) The terms ‘mental disease or mental defect’
do not include an abnormality manifested only be re-
peated criminal or otherwise antisocial conduct.’’

Section 6-4 (affirmative defense) of Chapter 38, Illinois
Revised Statutes, provides:

‘‘A defense based upon any of the provisions of
Article 6 is an affirmative defense.’’

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

Following a bench trial, the Petitioner, Daniel A. Bub-
lich, was convicted of two counts of rape and one count
of deviate sexual assault in violation of Illinois Revised
Statutes, Chapter 38, Sec. 11-1 and 11-3. The facts and
circumstances relating to the commission of the offense
are adequately set forth in the opinion of the Illinois Ap-
pellate Court, attached hereto as Appendix A. The facts
material to the consideration of the questions presented
herein include evidence that Petitioner was insane at the
time of the incident, and evidence that the trial court im-

t

properly increased Petitioner’s sentence to include a pen-
alty for unrelated, pending charges against Petitioner
which were subsequently dismissed. These facts, briefly,
are as follows.

At the trial of this cause, defense counsel attempted to
raise the affirmative defense of insanity. In support of
this defense, the defendant’s mother, Romaine Bublich,
testified that in May 1970, when Petitioner was 12 years
old, he was involved in a minibike-automobile accident.
As a result of this accident, he was taken to St. Margaret’s
Hospital and was unconscious for four days. Mrs. Bublich
further testified that Petitioner was treated by a neurolo-
gist and brain scans were taken. Before the accident, he
was a normal boy, but she noticed a change in his behavior
afterwards. He was placed in military schools in a special
class for children with behavioral problems. In addition,
Mrs. Bublich testified that Petitioner was treated and ex-
amined by several psychologists and psychiatrists and was
also hospitalized for treatment.

In addition to the testimony of Mrs. Bublich, three ex-
hibits were admitted into evidence by way of stipulation.
Defendant’s Exhibit No. 1 was a letter dated February 13,
1976, with accompanying reports from Dr. Robert A. Reif-
man of the Psychiatric Institute of the Circuit Court of
Cook County. In this letter, Dr. Reifman stated that on
the basis of his examination conducted on February 13,
1976, four months after the date of the offense alleged in
the Information, the defendant was not mentally fit to
stand trial ‘‘because of a mental condition, specifically psy-
chosis associated with brain trauma and damage.’’ Dr.
Reifman’s psychiatric summary accompanying the letter
stated that the defendant gets confused easily, admits to
hearing voices that criticize him, has poor impulse control,
becomes easily frustrated and enraged, shows a deficit in

5

abstract thinking, gets paranoid easily; and since his acci-
dent in 1970, he has displayed a behavior change and per-
sonality deterioration. The psychosocial history attached
to Dr. Reifman’s letter stated that the defendant suffered
a cerebral concussion as a result of his accident, he has
complained of frequent headaches, his EEG was abnormal
while his brain scan was normal, and he ‘‘may be having
some minimal seizures (sudden severe headaches).’’ The
history further stated that the defendant ‘‘does have some
organic and intellectual limitations due to the head trauma
in 1970,’’ and that after the incident, ‘‘he experienced the
organic symptomatology (agitation, poor memory and
concentration, decreased academic ability and headaches,
ete.) which resulted in adjustment problems to authority,
ridicule by peers, inability to compete or relate to peers
and resentment at demands to control behavior and gravi-
tations to those who paid attention to him... .’’

Defendant’s Exhibit No. 2 was a letter from Dr. E. J.
Kelleher dated May 28, 1976 to the effect that the defen-
dant remained unfit to stand trial. In the psychiatric sum-
mary accompanying the letter Dr. Kelleher’s diagnosis
was ‘‘organic brain syndrome due to trauma, must rule
out schizo-affective schoziphrenia, excited type.’’

Defendant’s Exhibit No. 3 was a letter from Dr. Reifman
dated December 27, 1976, to the effect that the defendant
was not mentally fit to stand trial because of a ‘‘mental
condition specifically; organic brain syndrome associated
with psychosis.’’

At the Defendant’s sentencing hearing; the trial court
permitted John Hammond, a police officer of Calumet City,
to testify over the objection of defense counsel concerning
an arrest of the defendant which occurred on December
98, 1976, which was the subject of another indictment
pending against the defendant, People v. Daniel Bublich,

6
No. 77 (571. Specifically, Officer Hammond testified that
he attempted to arrest Daniel Bublich for theft of a tele-
vision set but Mr. Bublich struck him in the face and es-

caped.

On May 15, 1979, Case No. 77 ( 571 was dismissed on
the State’s motion. At that time, the following colloquy
took place:

THE COURT: This is the matter of Daniel Bub-
lich, 77 C 571, charging burglary and aggravated bat-
tery back before the court.

MR. GARZA: Your Honor, as much as the evi-
dence which underlies this indictment was used in an
aggravation hearing in 76-1-6-010, and the defendant
was sentenced eight to twenty-four years, the People
choose not to prosecute the case. Motion state nolle
pros.

MR. ROTENBERG: We have no objection, of
course, Judge.

THE COURT: All right. For the record, inasmuch
as evidence of the offense for which the defendant was
indicted in this indictment and offense taking place
on December 20, 1976; this court heard considerable
evidence in aggravation on information 76-1-6-010 by
virtue of aggravation, the sentence was imposed in
76-I-6-010 greater than it would have been without
aggravation. The court commends the State on its
fairness and inasmuch as that evidence was already
in effect used, the State’s nolle is entered and the
matter is nolle pros’d.

The judgment and sentence of the trial court were up-
held November 20, 1980, in an opinion by the Illinois Ap-
pellate Court, First District. A timely petition for re-
hearing was denied by said court on January 8, 1981. A
timely petition for leave to appeal was denied by the Iili-
nois Supreme Court on March 30, 1981. The instant Peti-
tion for Writ of Certiorari follows.

°

~l

REASONS FOR GRANTING THE WRIT

I

PETITIONER WAS DENIED THE EFFECTIVE AS-
SISTANCE OF COUNSEL IN PRESENTATION OF
HIS INSANITY DEFENSE WHERE DEFENSE COUN-
SEL FAILED TO OFFER ANY EVIDENCE DIRECTLY
RELATING TO PETITIONER’S INSANITY AT THE
TIME OF THE ALLEGED OFFENSE AND FAILED TO
OFFER SPECIFIC EVIDENCE OF PETITIONER'S
HISTORY OF MENTAL ILLNESS.

At trial, Petitioner’s retained counsel, Francis William
Golden, relied on two theories of defense: first, that the
State failed to prove the offenses charged beyond a reason-
able doubt; and second, that the State failed to prove Peti-
tioner sane at the time of the offenses charged. On Peti-
tioner’s appeal from his conviction, the Illincis Appellate
Court held, with respect to the insanity defense, that the
trial court could have properly concluded that Defendant’s
evidence failed to overcome the presumption of sanity.
Review of the facts in the present case and the law regard-
ing the insanity defense plainly shows that Petitioner’s
failure to overcome the presumption of sanity was a result
of the incompetence of his counsel. The failure of Peti-
tioner’s counsel to offer sufficient, available evidence on
the insanity issue denied Petitioner the effective assistance
of counsel guaranteed by the Sixth and Fourteenth Amend-
ments of the United States Constitution.

Illinois law provides that the defense of insanity is an
affirmative defense and to raise the defense, a defendant
must offer sufficient evidence of his insanity at the time

8

of the offense to establish a reasonable doubt of the de-
fendant’s sanity. Illinois Revised Statutes, Chapter 38,
Sections 3-2, 6-2, 6-4; People v. Redmond, 59 Ill.2d 328,
320 N.E.2d 321, 325-326 (1974). Once the defendant has
offered sufficient evidence to establish a reasonable doubt
of sanity, the State is required to prove the defendant’s
sanity beyond a reasonable doubt.

A defendant’s mental condition may be proved by cir-
cumstantial evidence or by the testimony of expert and
lay witnesses tending to show that the defendant was in-
sane at the time of the conduct charged. LaFave and Scott,
Criminal Law (1972) at 312-315. It is common to require
that the witnesses precede or accompany any opinion as
to the defendant’s sanity with a statement of the facts
and circumstances upon which it is founded. Id. at 314.
The quality and quantity of evidence required to shift the
burden of proof to the State on the sanity issue is sug-
gested by the following cases. In People v. Lechner, 35
Ill.App.3d 1033, 342 N.E.2d 820 (1st Dist., 1976), the court
held the testimony of four witnesses, including a psychia-
trist and a physician, was sufficient to raise a reasonable
doubt of Defendant’s sanity. In particular, the physician
testified that in his opinion defendant was ‘‘mentally dis-
turbed’”’ prior to the crime charged, and the psychiatrist
testified that in his opinion a hypothetical man predicated
upon the facts of the case would be unable to conform his
conduct to the requirements of the law. In People v. Rea,
47 Ill.App.3d 353, 362 N.E.2d 1 (5th Dist. 1977), the court
held the testimony of seven witnesses, including a psychi-
atrist and a psychologist, was sufficient to raise a reason-
able doubt of defendant’s sanity. The psychiatrist testified
that to a medical certainty the defendant was suffering
from a mental disease at the time of the alleged offense.
In People v. Lono, 11 Ill.App.3d 443, 297 N.E.2d 349 (ist
Dist., 1973), the court held the testimony of the defendant

9

and four members of his family was sufficient. And see
People v. Childs, 51 Tll.2d 247, 281 N.E.2d 631 (1972) ; Peo-
ple v. Munroe, 15 Tll.2d 1, 154 N.E.2d 225 (1958); People
v. Skeoch, 408 Ill. 276, 96 N.E.2d 473 (1951).

In the instant case, the defense offered four pieces of
evidence to establish a reasonable doubt of Defendant
Bublich’s sanity: the testimony of Defendant’s mother,
Romaine Bublich, and three exhibits admitted by way of
stipulation to the effect that Petitioner was unfit to stand
trial. The insufficiency of this evidence to shift the burden
of proof to the State is indicated by the Illinois Appellate
Court as follows:

‘*In the instant case, the testimony of the defen-
dant’s mother indicated only that he suffered injuries
to his head at the age of 12. He was subsequently
tested and examined by a neurologist, but she was not
informed of the results of the test. Defendant was
thea sent to 2 military academies and a special class
for people with behavioral problems. Thereafter, he
was enrolled in vocational training programs, In addi-
tion, she testified that defendant had on several occa-
sions seen 2 or 3 psychiatrists. No dates were given
for the defendant’s visits to the psychiatrists and no
testimony was given as to their findings. Further, no
testimony was offered as to the defendant’s behavior
or condition at the time of the commission of the of:
fense herein. Moreover, the earliest report admitted
into evidence from a psychiatrist was the result of an
examination of the defendant made 4 months subse-
quent to the time of the offense.’’ Appendix A at App.
5-6.)

The Appellate Court fails to point out that, in addition
to the foregoing deficiencies in the proof, the three stipu-
lated reports that Petitioner was unfit to stand trial have
practically no bearing whatever on the issue of insanity.
See, for example, Pate v. Robinson, 383 U.S. 375, 388-390
(1966) (Harlan, dissenting) and People v. Redmond, 18
Tl.App.3d 604, 300 N.B.2d 786 (1st Dist., 1973).

10

The deficiencies in the provf on the issue of insanity
were plainly the result of counsel’s lack of diligence on
behalf of Petitioner. The results of the neurologist’s tests,
mentioned by Mrs. Bublich, could have been ascertained
by contacting the neurologist and the hospital in which
Petitioner was treated for his head injury. The dates of
the visits and the findings of the psychiatrists who Mrs.
Bublich testified had seen the defendant, could have been
discovered by contacting the psychiatrists or by way of
subpoena. Evidence relating to the defendant’s behavior
or mental condition at the time of the offense easily could
have been presented through the testimony of Mrs. Bub-
lich or other witnesses. In addition, the psychiatrists who
examined Petitioner prior to trial for purposes of deter-
mining his competency, may well have been qualified to
offer evidence on the issue of insanity at the time of the
offense based solely on the information gathered for pur-
poses of determining competency. If they were not so
qualified, they or another psychiatrist might have been so
qualified if defense counsel had sought expert testimony
prior to trial. In summary, the evidence offered by defense
counsel demonstrates a total lack of preparation and in-
vestigation with respect to the affirmative defense of in-
sanity.

The circumstances of the present case are very similar
to the circumstances in People v. Howard, 74 Ill.App.3d
188, 392 N.E.2d 775 (8rd Dist., 1979), where the Illinois
Appellate Court reversed a conviction for aggravated bat-
tery on the ground that defense counsel’s failure to dis-
cover records of defendant’s psychiatric history, which
were readily discoverable, deprived the defendant of the
effective assistance of counsel. The Howard court stated:

‘‘Of equal significance is the failure to introduce
sufficient evidence at the trial to warrant the giving
of a jury instruction on the defense of insanity. We

11

agree with the trial court that the defendant failed
to present sufficient evidence to raise the defense of
insanity. The choice to not offer any evidence of this
at the trial was one of trial tactics. ... We acknowl-
edge the rule that matters related to trial tactics are
not usually sufficient to establish ineffective assistance
of trial counsel. .. . However, in the present case we
cannot consider defendant’s appointed counsel’s trial
tactics to be sound where he failed to fully investigate
and therefore lacked a full and complete knowledge
of his client’s case. The record demonstrates that ap-
pointed trial counsel otherwise ably presented the
defense case in the trial on the merits to the extent of
his knowledge of the psychi. tric background of his
client. Had defense counsel been awure of the Madden
Zone Center discharge and its contents, his decision
to forego any evidence on the defense of insanity at
the trial would likely have been different. The ineffec-
tiveness of counsel which we recognize in this case is
defendant’s appointed trial counsel’s failure to dis-
cover the Madden Zone Center report, inadvertently
or otherwise, and the resultant inability to use it effec-
tively at both the competency hearings and the trial
in chief.’’ 392 N.K.2d at 777-778.

Although defense counsel in Howard, supra, was an ap-

pointed attorney, and not privately retained, like Mr.
Golden in the present case, Petitioner is not therefore en-
titled to less protection than the defendant in Howard,
Cuyler v. Sullivan, 446 U.S. 335, 344 (1980).

As Petitioner Bublich was denied the effective assistance
of counsel in the presentation of his insanity defense at
trial, his conviction should be reversed.

12

Il.

NOTWITHSTANDING THE INCOMPETENCE OF
COUNSEL IN FAILING TO OFFER AVAILABLE EVI.
DENCE ON THE ISSUE OF PETITIONER’S INSANI-
TY, THE ILLINOIS APPELLATE COURT ERRED IN
CONCLUDING THAT THE EVIDENCE WAS INSUF-
FICIENT TO RAISE A REASONABLE DOUBT OF
PETITIONER’S SANITY AT THE TIME OF THE OF.
FENSE.

The evidence offered by defense counsel to show Peti-
tioner’s insanity at the time of the offense included three
exhibits by recognized psychiatrists stating that on dates
subsequent to Petitioner’s arrest and prior to trial Peti-
tioner was not mentally fit to stand trial because of a men-
tal condition, ‘‘ specifically, psychosis associated with brain
trauma and disease’’; or ‘‘organic brain syndrome due to
trauma.’’ Although all three exhibits relate to the ques-
tion of Petitioner’s competency to stand trial, all three
agree that Petitioner had a mental defect or disorder de-
riving from a trauma in 1970. As Petitioner’s mental con-
dition after the alleged offense and prior to trial was evi-
dently of a continuing nature, it is a reasonable inference
that Petitioner was suffering from a mental disease or
defect at the time of the alleged offense. It is equally rea-
sonable to infer that if Petitioner was suffering from a
mental disease or defect at the time of the offense, said
disease or defect deprived Petitioner of substantial capac-
ity to appreciate the criminality of his conduct or to con-
form his conduct to the requirements of the law. Illinois
Revised Statutes, Chapter 38, Sec. 6-2 (‘‘insanity’’).

In light of the foregoing evidence that Petitioner was
insane at the time of the offense, the Appeilate Court erred
in holding that the trial court could have properly con-
cluded that Petitioner’s evidence failed to overcome the
presumption of sanity.

13

Il.

PETITIONER’S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO A
TRIAL AND DUE PROCESS OF LAW WERE VIO-
LATED BY THE ACTION OF THE TRIAL COURT IN
INCREASING HIS SENTENCE BASED ON EVIDENCE
OF AN UNRELATED PENDING CHARGE WHICH
WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DISMISSED.

At the sentencing hearing on the charges in the present
case, the trial court, over the objection of defense counsel,
heard evidence on an unrelated charge then pending
against Petitioner and increased his sentence to account
for the unrelated charge. The charge subsequently was
dismissed on motion of the State. At that time, the trial
court stated:

‘*For the record, inasmuch as evidence of the offense
for which the defendant was indicted in this indict-
ment and offense taking place on December 20, 1976;
this court heard considerable evidence in aggravation
on information 76-I-6-010 by virtue of aggravation,
the sentence was imposed in 76-I-6-010 greater than it
would have been without aggravation.

‘‘The court commends the State on its fairness and
inasmuch as that evidence was already in effect used,
the State’s nolle is entered and the matter is nolle
pros’d.’’

The nonconsensual disposition of the unrelated charge
against Petitioner in the instant proceedings violated his
rights to a fair trial on the unrelated charge and to due
process, and accordingly his sentence should be vacated
and the case remanded for sentencing.

The sentencing hearing in the present case involves two
distinct but related issues. First, the sentencing raises the
issue of what evidence is admissible at sentencing. Second,
the sentencing raises the issue of whether it is permissible

14

to dispose of multiple offenses in a single sentence without
the consent of the defendant. The Illinois Appellate Court
below failed to distinguish these two issues and erroneous-
ly concluded that evidence of the pending charge against
Petitioner was merely evidence properly considered at sen-
tencing. Review of all the facts and circumstances make
it clear that the action of the trial court was an impermis-
sible disposition of a pending charge in the sentence in
the present case.

It is well recognized that in imposing sentence, a trial
court may hear and consider evidence not admissible at
trial. Williams v. New York, 337 U.S. 241, 246-47 (1948);
People v. Adkins, 41 Ill.2d 297, 242 N.E.2d 258, 260 (1968).
Evidence properly considered at sentencing is restricted
to the extent that the information must be accurate and
the trial judge ‘‘must take care tc shield his mind from
what might be the prejudicial effect of unreliable and other
improper evidence. (See People v. Riley, 376 Ill. 364, 369,
33 N.E.2d 872, 134 ALR 1261.)’’ People v. Crews, 38 Il.2d
331, 231 N.E.2d 451, 452 (1967). In addition, the evidence
must be competent and material. People v. Williamson, 69
llLApp.3d 1037, 388 N.E.2d 240, 243 (3rd Dist., 1979) ;
People v. Jackson, 95 Tll.App.2d 193, 238 N.E.2d 196, 200
(1st Dist., 1968).

As a general rule, evidence of arrests and other encoun-
ters with the law not resulting in convictions is incompe-
tent and not admissible at a sentencing hearing. See, for
example, People v. Jackson, supra, 238 N.E.2d at 199. ‘*To
hold otherwise would mean a person would be treated as
having been convicted of an offense and sentenced therefor
without regard to the rights of due process accorded to
those charged with criminal offenses.’’ People v. William-
son, supra, 388 N.E.2d at 243.

Illinois case law draws a distinction between evidence
of arrests and evidence of pending charges. Evidence of

15

pending charges may be admissible in certain circum-
stances. People v. Poll, 81 Tll.2d 286, 408 N.E.2d 212, 214
(1980). And see People v. Bey, 51 Ill.2d 262, 281 N.E.2d
638 (1972), and People v. Jones, 36 IlLApp.3d 491, 344
N.E.2d 40 (2nd Dist., 1976). In People v. Jones, supra, for
example, the court upheld a sentencing determination fol-
lowing a hearing at which three witnesses testified regard-
ing unrelated battery charges then pending against the
defendant over the objection of his counsel. The court
affirmed on the ground that ‘‘the evidence gave a full
presentation of facts surrounding defendant’s conduct and
related to his potential for rehabilitation. The evidence
was not incompetent as rank hearsay: the victims of de-
fendant’s assaults were present to be confronted and
cross-examined by defendant. In addition, the trial judge
stated that he was not passing judgment on defendant’s
guilt or innocence in the pending charges.’’ 344 N.E.2d at
42. Most recently, in People v. Poll, 81 Ill.2d 286, 408 N.E.
Yd 212 (1980), the Illinois Supreme Court held that under
the facts and circumstances in that case, the trial court
did not commit reversible error in admitting at sentencing
without the defendant’s consent the testimony of three
witnesses, an oral statement of defendant, and hacksaw
blades, all relating to currently pending charges against
the defendant. The court failed to indicate when admis-
sion of evidence relating to pending charges would con-
stitute reversible error.

At some point, not specified by Illinois case law, evi-
dence of pending charges admitted for purposes of fashion-
ing an appropriate sentence jeopardizes a defendant’s
rights to a fair trial and due process on the pending
charges. Again, at some point, a sentencing hearing be-
comes a means of disposition of other offens >, The im-
portance of finding the proper line between x sentencing

16

hearing and a single disposition of multiple charges can-
not be denied in view of the frequency of dispositions of
multiple offenses in a single sentence. As the Illinois Su-
preme Court stated in People v. Eldredge, 41 Tl.2d 520,
244 N.B.2d 151 (1969) :

‘‘This practice of ‘closing the books’ on charges if
the facts regarding them are brought to the attention
of a sentencing judge in another case is common and
known to the bench and bar throughout this country.
It is recognized by the American Bar Association’s
Special Committee on Minimum Standards for the
Administration of Criminal Justice in its tentative
drafts of Standards Relating to Sentencing Alterna-
tives and Procedures (Par. 5.2a and b) and Pleas of
Guilty (Par. 1.2) ... The benefits to defendant are
substantial: The ‘slate is wiped clean’ upon his re-
lease from prison; he avoids interstate detainers
against him while imprisoned ; and he may benefit from
concurrent sentences. There are additional advantages
to society in a single disposition of multiple offenses
for no meaningful rehabilitation program is feasible
when there are unresolved criminal charges pending
which may result in unknown periods of future im-
prisonment.’’ 244 N.E.2d at 154.

The distinction between a sentencing hearing and a single
disposition of multiple charges is also important in that a
knowing waiver of defendant’s constitutional rights is
clearly required in a single disposition of multiple charges.

The difference between a sentencing hearing and a single
disposition of multiple charges is not clearly recognized in
Illinois. In People v. Schleyhahn, 4 Ill.App.3d 591, 281
N.E.2d 409 (4th Dist., 1972), for example, the court de-
clared ‘‘that some acquiescence either by ‘stipulation’ or
failure to object as in Adkins, is a precondition to the ad-
mission of other offenses qua offenses and for that purpose
only, for as we read Adkins, other offenses, particularly

17

of a serious nature, could be characterized as information
from which a court shouid ‘shield itself from what might
be the prejudicial effect of improper material.’ ’’ 281 N.E.
2d at 414. The necessity of defendant’s consent, recog-
nized in Schleyhahn, supra, is overlooked or ignored in
other Illinois cases. See, for example, People v. Jones, 36
ILApp.3d 491, 344 N.E.2d 40 (2nd Dist., 1976) and People
v. Poll, 81 Ill.2d 286, 408 N.E.2d 212 (1980).

Although the line between sentencing and disposition of
multiple offenses is unclear, review of the facts and cir-
cumstances in the present case shows that the trial court
crossed that line and imposed a sentence improperly dis-
posing of the pending charge against Petitioner without
his consent. At the sentencing hearing in the present case,
the trial judge permitted, over defendant’s objection, a
police officer of Calumet City, John Hammond, to testify
concerning the arrest of Petitioner on December 28, 1976,
the subject of an indictment then pending against Peti-
tioner, People v. Daniel Bublich, No. 77 C 571. The trial
court stated in response to the objection that he would
give the evidence only its ‘‘appropriate weight.’’ Officer
Hammond proceeded to testify that he had attempted to
arrest Petitioner for theft of a television set on December
28, 1976, but that Petitioner had struck him in the face
and escaped. The transcript of the proceedings in Cause
No. 77 C 571 show that, contrary to giving Officer Ham-
mond’s testimony ‘‘appropriate weight,’’ the trial judge
increased Petitioner’s sentence in the present case to in-
clude a sentence for the unrelated offense. Specifically, in
granting the State’s motion to nolle pros Case No. 77 C
571, the court stated that ‘‘the sentence was imposed in
76-1-6-010 (the present case) greater than it would have
been without aggravation. The court commends the State
on its fairness and inasmuch as that evidence was already

18

in effect used, the State’s nolle is entered and the matter
is nolle pros’d.’’ The court’s comments plainly show that
the evidence relating to Cause No. 77 C 571 was improper-
ly considered by the trial court in imposing sentence in
the instant case. The action of the trial court constituted
a nonconsensual disposition of the pending charges against
Petitioner in violation of his rights to a fair trial and due
process. Accordingly, Petitioner’s sentence should be va-
cated and the case remanded for sentencing.

CONCLUSION

For all the foregoing reasons, the Petition for Writ of
Certiorari should be allowed to review the instant decision
of the Appellate Court of Illinois, First District.

Respectfully submitted,

Epwarp M. Grenson
Jerrrey B. STernBack
134 N. LaSalle #300
Chicago, Illinois 60602
312-726-9015

Attorneys for Petitioner
Of Counsel: :
Wuuum H. Stevens

APPENDIX

APPENDIX A

FOURTH DIVISION
NOVEMBER 20, 1980

NO. 79-602

IN THE APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,
Plaintiff-Appellee,

DANIEL A. BUBLICH,
Defendant-Appellant.

Appeal from the Cireuit Court of Cook County.
Honorable Richard L. Samuels, Presiding.

ORDER DISPOSING OF APPEAL
UNDER SUPREME COURT RULE 23

Following a bench trial, the defendant, Daniel A. Bub-
lich, was convicted of 2 counts of rape and one count of
deviate sexual assault (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1975, ch. 38, pars.
11-1 and 11-3), and sentenced to a term of 8 to 24 years.
Defendant appeals contending that the prosecution failed
to prove his sanity beyond a reasonable doubt; that the
trial court considered improper evidence against him at
his sentencing hearing; and he was not proved guilty be-
yond a reasonable doubt because the complainant’s testi-

App. 2

mony was uncorroborated, unclear and unconvincing and
because the evidence failed to sustain the conviction of
rape on the theory of accountability.

Police Officer James Bailey of the Village of Burnham
testified that on October 17, 1975, at 11:20 p.m., he re-
sponded to a call of suspicious vehicle parked in an alley be-
hind 14017 Calhoun. He saw a white station wagon parked
in front of a garage and issued a citation. While this officer
was writing the ticket, the defendant came running from
a few houses away and asked what he was doing. The offi-
cer noticed that defendant was barefoot, sweaty, smelled
of urine, and his hair was tousled. A fellow officer pulled
up, and upon seeing the defendant said, ‘‘I thought I told
you to stay out of Burnham.’’ The defendant replied that
he just wanted to visit his friends, but the officer told him
to get into his car and leave. Officer Bailey followed the
defendant and saw him speed through 2 stop signs. He
then arrested the defendant and took him to the Calumet
City police station. He left when he received a call to in-
vestigate a complaint of rape in the 140th block of Calhoun.

The officer then met 2 young girls, who were crying, and
he noticed that their clothing was in disarray and that one
of them had blood on her ear. The girls took him and some
other officers to a garage at 14009 Calhoun, where they
said they had been raped. The garage was divided into 2
sections—a storage section and another room which con-
tained messy bed sheets and blankets spotted with blood.
He found a part of an earring which matched the part of
an earring still in the ear of the girl with the bloody ear.
The officer, after a brief conversation, transported the girls
and Randy Nichols to the Calumet City police station.

The 15-year-old witness testified that on October 17,
1975, at 10:30 p.m., she and her girlfriend were talking to
Miomir Vujisic in front of a grocery store located at 108th

App. 3

and Hwing in Chicago. The 17-year-old defendant, Randy
Nichols and Jeffrey Boyd exited from a white station
wagon. They talked briefly to Miomir and then asked the
girls if they wanted a ride. The girls agreed upon condi-
tion that Miomir go with them. The 2 girls and Miomir
entered the car with the 3 young men, and the defendant
drove to a deserted wooded area where he instructed Mio-
mir and one of the other men to get out. Togethey they
walked a few feet into the woods and talked. The defen-
dant and his companion returned to the car, leaving Mio-
mir in the woods. The girls requested to be let out, but
the defendant drove to Burnham where he stopped in an
alley behind a garage at 14009 Calhoun.

The girls attempted to leave, but the defendant grabbed
the witness by the arm, shoved her toward the garage, and
threw her in it. Nichols struggled with the other girl, and
after they were all in the garage, Boyd stood guard at the
door. The defendant announced that this is a rape, and
told the witness to take her clothes off. She refused and
the defendant told her he would kill her if she did not. He
then tore at her clothing and as she struggled, the defen-
dant hit her in the stomach with such force that she hit
her head against the wall. The defendant then took off his
pants and shoes and straddled her while slapping her in
the face. She pleaded with the defendant to stop, and
screamed when he inserted his penis in her vagina. Defen-
dant banged her head on the floor and tore her earlobe by
pulling on her earring which pierced her ear. He left her
momentarily and then she heard her girlfriend scream.
Defendant came back, held her head while she was in a
sitting position, and demanded that she suck his penis.
When she said no, he choked her and forced it into her
mouth. He then slapped her several times, and urinated
on her. The defendant laughed, put on his pants, and left

App. 4

the garage, instructing Boyd not to let the girls go. How-
ever, she pleaded with Boyd, and he told her to get dressed.
She and her girlfriend fled to a house across the street,
and the police were called.

When the police arrived, her girlfriend took them to the
garage, but the witness refused to go. The girls were then
taken to the Calumet City police station where the witness
identified the defendant in a lineup. Thereafter, the girls
were taken to a hospital where the witness told the hospital
authorities she had been beaten. Several hours later she
told her parents that she had also been raped and they
brought her back to the police and to the hospital where
she was given a sperm test. She stated that she did not
mention the rape at the first opportunity because she was
embarrassed and frightened.

It was stipulated that if the other young girl involved
were to testify she would state that while in the garage,
she fought with Nichols, and when she screamed the de-
fendant came over and struck her in the chest. The defen-
dant said that if the girls tried to escape he would kill
them as well as his male companion. She would also testify
that she was forced to perform an act of oral copulation
on Nichols by whom she was raped. When she was taken
to the hospital, she told the authorities she had been raped.
It was stipulated that Dr. Patel would testify to the pres-
ence of spermatozoa in this girl’s vagina.

For the defense, the defendant’s mother testified that
5\% years prior to this incident the defendant had suffered
a serious injury in an accident and remained unconscious
for 4 days thereafter. Subsequent thereto the defendant’s
behavior pattern changed for the worse and he had to re-
ceive special rehabilitative training from psychologists,
psychiatrists and psychiatric social workers.

App. 5

Pursuant to stipulation, 3 exhibits were admitted into
evidence on behalf of the defendant, all of which were from
recognized psychiatrists stating that on dates subsequent
to his arrest and prior to trial, the defendant was found
not mentally fit to stand trial because of a mental condition,
‘specifically, psychosis associated with brain trauma and
disease’’; or ‘organic brain syndrome due to trauma,”’

Defendant contends that the prosecution failed to over-
come beyond a reasonable doubt his affirmative defense of
insanity. All men are presumed to be sane, and in order
to raise the issue of insanity, a criminal defendant must
present sufficient evidence to raise a reasonable doubt as
to his sanity at the time of the offense. (People v. Smothers
(1973), 55 Ill. 2d 172, 302 N.B.2d 324; People v. Redmond
(1974), 59 Til. 2d 328, 320 N.E.2d 321.) As a general rule,
the question of defendant’s sanity at the time of the offense
is a matter to be determined by the trier of fact, and such
finding will not be disturbed unless it is manifestly against
the weight of the evidence. People v. Spears (1978), 63 Tl.
App. 3d 510, 380 N.E.2d 423.

In the instant case, the testimony of the defendant’s
mother indicated only that he suffered injuries to his head
at the age of 12. He was subsequently tested and examined
by a neurologist, but she was not informed of the results
of the tests. Defendant was then sent to 2 military acade-
mies and a special class for people with behavioral prob-
lems. Thereafter, he was enrolled in vocational training
programs. In addition, she testified that defendant had on
several occasions seen 2 or 3 psychiatrists. No dates were
given for the defendant’s visits to the psychiatrists and
no testimony was given as to their findings. Further, no
testimony was offered as to the defendant’s behavior or
condition at the time of the commission of the offense
herein. Moreover, the earliest report admitted into evi-

App. 6

dence from a psychiatrist was the result of an examination
of the defendant made 4+ months subsequent to the time of
the offense. The State’s evidence concerning the defen-
dant’s behavior at the time of the offense shows an abnor-
mality manifested only by antisocial conduct. We there-
fore hold that the trial court could have properly concluded
that defendant’s evidence failed to overcome the presump-
tion of sanity.

The defendant next contends that the trial court erred
when it admitted and considered evidence of other pending
charges against him at his sentencing hearing. Bare, ar-
rests which have not resulted in convictions are not ad-
missible at a hearing on aggravation and mitigation. How-
ever, evidence of pending indictments may properly be
presented to afford the trial judge a fuller knowledge of
the defendant’s prior conduct so that he may sentence ac-
cordingly. (People v. Bey (1972), 51 Ill. 2d 262, 281 N.E.2d
638; People v. Jones (1976), 36 Ill. App. 3d 491, 344 N.E.
2d 40.) Here, the defense counsel admitted to the trial
judge that the evidence of defendant’s prior misconduct
at his sentencing hearing was the subject matter of an
indictment. The trial judge stated that he would certainly
give the matter ‘“‘only its appropriate weight.’’ We find
that the admission of such testimony was within reason-
able bounds and did not impermissibly influence the sen-
tence. See People v. Poll (1980), ...... Ill, 2 ......, ...... N.E.2d
en (No. 52534 filed June 30, 1980).

Defendant also contends that the testimony of the prose-
cuting witness as to rape and deviate sexual assault was
neither clear and convincing nor corroborated. He points
out that she did not complain of these acts in her initial
contact with the police, and that the evidence merely shows
that she sustained a beating. In order to sustain a convic-
tion of rape, the testimony of the complaining witness must

App. 7

be clear and convincing or substantially corroborated by
some other facts, evidence, or circumstances. (People v.
Sims (1972), 5 Ill. App. 3d 727, 283 N.E.2d 906; People v.
Collins (1974), 21 Ill. App. 3d 800, 315 N.E.2d 916.) A re-
viewing court will not disturb a judgment of conviction
unless the evidence is so palpably unreasonable, improba-
ble or unsatisfactory as to cause a reasonable doubt of
guilt of the accused. People v. Sumner (1969), 43 Ill. 2d
228, 252 N.E.2d 534; People v. Carroll (1977), 49 Ill. App.
3d 387, 364 N.E.2d 408.

In the instant case the trial court found the testimony
of the prosecuting witness to be clear and convincing, and
that for the circumstances, there was a prompt outery. A
medical examination of the prosecuting witness revealed
that she suffered multiple bruises and abrasions on her
body, neck, ear, and at the entrance to the vaginal vault.
Further, the police officer testified that when he first saw
the defendant, he was barefoot, disheveled and smelled of
urine. In addition, he saw the inside of the garage and
viewed the blood-stained sheets and blankets. Her outery
as to the incident first came when she was alone with her
parents within hours after the rape had occurred. People
v. Sims.

Finally, defendant contends that the evidence does not
sustain the finding of guilt of rape of the other young girl
on the theory of accountability. Where 2 or more persons
have a common design to accomplish an unlawful purpose,
the act of one is the act of all, and all are equally guilty
of whatever crime is committed. (People v. Browder
(1974), 21 Ill. App. 3d 223, 315 N.E.2d 168; People v. Jones
(1977), 53 Ill. App. 3d 197, 368 N.E.2d 452.) Here the evi-
dence shows that after the girls were forced into a garage
the defendant announced a rape. It was the defendant who
ordered Boyd to stand at the garage door to prevent their

App. 8

escape. The evidence further shows from the stipulated
testimony of the second young girl involved in the incident
that it was the defendant who struck her in the chest there-
by abetting Nichols in committing rape. We do not find
that this contention of the defendant has any merit.

The judgment of the circuit court of Cook County is
affirmed.

DATED AT CHICAGO, ILLINOIS THIS 20th DAY OF
NOVEMBER, 1980.
ENTER:
/s/ Philip Romiti
JUSTICE
/s/ David Linn
JUSTICE

/s/ M. R. Jiganti
JUSTICE

App. 9

APPENDIX B

ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT
CLELL L. WOODS, CLERK

Supreme Court Building
Springfield, Ill. 62706
(217) 782-2035

March 30, 1981
Mr. Jerome Rotenberg
Attorney at Law
7 S. Dearborn St., S#820
Chicago, IL 60603

No. 54520—People State of Illinois, respondent, vs. Daniel
A. Bublich, petitioner. Leave to appeal, Appel-
late Court, First District.

The Supreme Court today denied the petition for leave
to appeal in the above entitled cause.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Clell L. Woods
Clerk of the Supreme Court

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/brief%3Amicro_IA40385007_2190%3A1. Public record. Not legal advice.
