                                          2017 IL App (1st) 172120

                                                No. 1-17-2120

                                       Opinion filed December 28, 2017 


                                                                             FOURTH DIVISION

                                                   IN THE


                                    APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS


                                              FIRST DISTRICT



     In re GABRIEL W.,                                 )      Appeal from the Circuit Court
     a Minor,                                          )      of Cook County.
                                                       )
     (The People of the State of Illinois,             )
                                                       )
            Petitioner-Appellee,	                      )      No. 16 JD 02525
                                                       )
            v. 	                                       )      The Honorable
                                                       )      Patricia Mendoza,
     Gabriel W.,                                       )      Judge, presiding.
                                                       )

            Respondent-Appellant).                     )



            JUSTICE GORDON delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
            Presiding Justice Burke and Justice Ellis concurred in the judgment and opinion.


                                                OPINION

¶1                 After being arrested in possession of one firearm, the minor respondent, Gabriel W.,

        age 15, was charged by the State on November 11, 2016, in a three-count petition for

        wardship, which alleged two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon (AUUW) and

        one count of unlawful possession of a firearm (UPF). The two AUUW counts alleged that he

        lacked a Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card (count I) and that he was under age 21

        (count II). The UPF count alleged that he was under age 18 (count III). After a bench trial,

        the trial court found respondent guilty of all three counts but merged counts II and III into
     No. 1-17-2120


         count I, the FOID-card count. 1 The court adjudged respondent to be a ward of the court and

         sentenced him to 18 months of probation, as well as to a 30-day commitment to the Illinois

         Department of Juvenile Justice which was stayed so long as respondent did not violate any of

         his probation terms.

¶2                On this appeal, respondent claims (1) that his adjudication for AUUW based on the

         lack of a FOID card must be vacated because the State failed to prove he lacked a FOID card

         and (2) that his adjudications for AUUW and UPF based on his age must be vacated because

         the State failed to prove his age. 2

¶3                The State concedes that, while its evidence established that respondent did not present

         a FOID card to the arresting officers, the State failed to offer any evidence that respondent

         actually lacked a FOID card. This court has previously held that the simple absence of the

         presentation of a FOID card is insufficient to prove that a respondent actually lacked a FOID

         card. In re Manuel M., 2017 IL App (1st) 162381, ¶ 15. Thus, we vacate the finding of guilt

         on this count.

¶4                With respect to the other two counts, respondent argues that the State failed to prove

         his age at the bench trial, although respondent (1) stated his birth date at the arraignment and

         stipulated to juvenile jurisdiction in this case, (2) testified at the pretrial suppression hearing

         that he was 15 years old, and (3) did not object at the bench trial when the arresting officer

         testified that respondent was 15 years old. Our supreme court has previously held that, in a

         juvenile adjudication, a trial judge in a bench trial does not have to disregard testimony about
             1
                The State’s appellate brief states that the trial court merged counts III and I into count II, and the
     brief cites in support the mittimus. But this is not what the mittimus or the trial court stated. The trial
     court stated “there will be a finding of guilty on all counts, although, obviously, the other counts will
     merge into the first count.”
              2
                Respondent does not argue on appeal that the court lacked juvenile jurisdiction because he was,
     in fact, not a juvenile. Rather respondent argues that the State failed to present sufficient evidence during
     his bench trial to prove his age.
                                                             2

     No. 1-17-2120


        age that occurred during another proceeding in the same case. E.g., In re Brown, 71 Ill. 2d

        151, 155 (1978) (rejecting “[t]he contention that because the proof of age occurred at a

        different stage of the proceedings” the trial court cannot consider it); In re Ephriam, 60 Ill.

        App. 3d 848, 854-55 (1978). Thus, we do not find this argument persuasive.

¶5             The parties agree that, if we affirm the findings of guilt on the two age-based counts,

        we must vacate the less serious offense under the one act, one crime rule. Thus, for the

        reasons explained in more detail below, we vacate the finding of guilt on count I, which was

        based on the lack of a FOID card; we affirm the findings of guilt on counts II and III, the two

        age-based counts; but we vacate count III, the UPF count, under the one act, one crime rule.

¶6             Finally, respondent does not ask us to remand for resentencing. Since the three counts

        were all based on the possession of the same handgun at the same moment in time and since

        his sentence was and still is based on an AUUW count and since respondent does not seek a

        remand for resentencing, we do not order it. He asks us only to correct his sentencing order

        to reflect that he has 251 days of credit for time served against his 30-day stayed

        commitment, and the State joins in this request. Thus, we affirm his adjudication for

        wardship and sentence, with the adjudication based on AUUW grounded on age (count II)

        rather than lack of a FOID card (count I), but we correct his sentencing order to reflect 251

        days of credit for time served against his 30-day stayed commitment.

¶7                                            BACKGROUND

¶8             Although respondent challenges the sufficiency of the evidence, he does so only on

        the limited questions of proof of (1) age and (2) lack of a FOID card. Thus, we describe the

        facts focusing on these two issues.




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       No. 1-17-2120


¶9               On November 10, 2016, respondent was arrested on a street corner in possession of

          one loaded handgun. Although he challenged the search before the trial court, he does not

          raise any issue on appeal concerning either the search or his possession of the handgun.

¶ 10             One day later, on November 11, 2016, the State charged him in a petition for

          adjudication of wardship alleging the three counts, already described above.

¶ 11             At the arraignment, which was also on November 11, 2016, respondent and his

          mother were present when his counsel stated that respondent “stipulate[d] to juvenile court

          jurisdiction.” The trial court then asked respondent:

                       “THE COURT: Is your date of birth *** 2001?

                       RESPONDENT: Yes.”

          Defense counsel also stipulated to a finding of probable cause.

¶ 12             On December 6, 2016, respondent filed a motion to quash arrest and suppress

          evidence on the ground that the stop and search lacked reasonable suspicion and/or probable

          cause. As we observed, respondent does not renew this issue on appeal, so we discuss only

          the portions of the suppression hearing that relate to the issues before us, namely,

          respondent’s age and lack of a FOID card.

¶ 13             At the suppression hearing on January 18, 2017, respondent testified under oath that

          he was 15 years old:

                       “ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDER: How old are you, Gabriel?

                       RESPONDENT: Fifteen.”

          After the trial court denied respondent’s motion to suppress, the parties proceeded, without a

          break and on the same day, to the bench trial. The bench trial was held before the same trial

          judge who had just heard the suppression motion.

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       No. 1-17-2120


¶ 14              With respect to a FOID card, Officer Ghiloni, 3 one of the arresting officers testified

          as follows:

                        “ASSISTANT STATE’S ATTORNEY (ASA): Did the minor present a FOID

                  card to you at any time?

                        OFFICER GHILONI: No.”

¶ 15              Officer Ghiloni’s partner, Officer Olson, 4 testified about what occurred after the

          minor was arrested and transported to the police station. With respect to respondent’s age, he

          testified as follows:

                        “ASA: *** [W]hat did you do when you got to the police station?


                        OFFICER OLSON: I got the minor’s name, date of birth, mother’s information—


                  or parent’s information, address.

                        ASA: And was this minor under the age of 18?

                        OFFICER OLSON: Yes.

                        ASA: And just to be clear, the minor that you were processing at the station was

                  the Minor Respondent, Gabriel [W.], in this case; true?

                        OFFICER OLSON: Yes.

                        ASA: And you testified that he was under the age of 18?

                        OFFICER OLSON: That’s correct.

                        ***

                        ASA: Now, you testified that the minor was under the age of 18, but do you recall

                  how old the minor was?


              3
               Officer Ghiloni did not testify to his first name.

              4
               Officer Olson did not testify to his first name. 

                                                             5

       No. 1-17-2120


                       OFFICER OLSON: Specifically, no. I don’t remember.


                       ASA: Okay. Is there anything that would—is your memory exhausted?


                       OFFICER OLSON: Yes.


                       ASA: And is there anything that would refresh your memory as to the question I


                 asked you?

                       OFFICER OLSON: If I saw a copy of the case report, the arrest report that was

                 generated.

                       ***

                       ASA: I’m giving to the witness what I’ve marked as People’s Exhibit No. 1. Can

                 you please look at that and once your recollection is refreshed , please look up. (Short

                 pause.)

                       ASA: And may I have it back. Thank you. Is your recollection refreshed?

                       OFFICER OLSON: Yes.

                       ASA: And do you recall how old this Minor Respondent was?

                       OFFICER OLSON: Fifteen years old.”

          During this prolonged discussion concerning respondent’s age, the defense did not object

          once. The ASA also asked Officer Olson if respondent had presented the officers “at any

          time” with a FOID card. Officer Olson answered “[n]o.”

¶ 16             When the State rested, respondent moved for a directed finding on the sole ground

          that the State had failed to introduce the inventory report concerning the gun or any

          testimony about the inventorying of the gun or its chain of custody. After the trial court

          denied respondent’s motion, the parties proceeded to closing argument. The State asked the

          trial court to adopt, as its closing argument, its argument concerning respondent’s motion for

                                                       6

       No. 1-17-2120


          a directed finding, but it reserved rebuttal argument. The defense, similarly, asked the trial

          court to adopt its argument concerning the motion as its closing argument. In rebuttal, which

          the State had reserved, it argued, among other things, that “we’ve heard testimony that he

          was under the age of 18” and “[t]hat he did not have a FOID card.”

¶ 17             After hearing the evidence at trial and the arguments of counsel, the trial court found,

          “there will be a finding of guilty on all counts, although, obviously, the other counts will

          merge into the first count.”

¶ 18             On February 16, 2017, respondent filed a motion to reconsider the trial court’s denial

          of his motion to quash arrest and suppress evidence. As noted, this issue is not raised on

          appeal. The trial court heard further argument and testimony from Officer Ghiloni on this

          issue and again denied the motion and then, pursuant to respondent’s request, proceeded to

          schedule a sentencing hearing.

¶ 19             On July 19, 2017, at the sentencing hearing, defense counsel stated that respondent

          was 16 years old. After listening to factors in mitigation and aggravation, the trial court

          adjudged respondent to be a ward of the court and sentenced him to 18 months of probation,

          as well as to a 30-day commitment to the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, which was

          stayed so long as respondent did not violate any of his probation terms. Respondent filed a

          notice of appeal on August 18, 2017, and this appeal followed.

¶ 20                                            ANALYSIS

¶ 21             On this appeal, respondent claims (1) that his adjudication for AUUW based on the

          lack of a FOID card must be vacated because the State failed to present sufficient evidence at

          his bench trial that he lacked a FOID card and (2) that his adjudications for AUUW and UPF




                                                      7

       No. 1-17-2120


          based on his age must be vacated because the State failed to present sufficient evidence at his

          bench trial of his age.

¶ 22             For the following reasons, we vacate the finding of guilt on count I, which was based

          on the lack of a FOID card; we affirm the findings of guilt on counts II and III, the two age-

          based counts; but we vacate count III, the UPF count, under the one act, one crime rule.

          Since the three counts were all based on the possession of the same handgun at the same

          moment in time, and respondent does not ask us to remand for resentencing, we do not order

          a resentencing. He asks us only to correct his sentencing order to reflect that he has 251 days

          of credit against his 30-day stayed commitment, and the State joins in this request. Thus we

          affirm his adjudication for wardship and sentence, with the adjudication based on AUUW

          grounded on age (count II), rather than lack of a FOID card (count I), but correct his

          sentencing order to reflect 251 days of credit against his 30-day stayed commitment.

¶ 23                        I. Three Phases of Juvenile Delinquency Proceedings

¶ 24             Before discussing respondent’s claims, we set forth the three phases of juvenile

          delinquency proceedings specified in the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 (Act) (705 ILCS 405/5­

          101 et seq. (West 2016)): “the findings phase, the adjudicatory phase, and the dispositional

          phase.” In re Samantha V., 234 Ill. 2d 359, 365 (2009). “The findings phase consists of a trial

          and determination of guilt.” In re Samantha V., 234 Ill. 2d at 365. “During this phase, the

          trial court applies the reasonable doubt standard of proof and the rules of evidence that would

          be followed in a criminal case to determine whether the minor should be found delinquent.”

          In re Samantha V., 234 Ill. 2d at 365. “In a juvenile delinquency case, a finding of guilt and a

          finding of delinquency are one and the same.” In re Veronica C., 239 Ill. 2d 134, 145 (2010).




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       No. 1-17-2120


¶ 25             “If a delinquency finding is entered, the matter proceeds to sentencing.” In re

          Samantha V., 234 Ill. 2d at 365. “The sentencing proceeding includes the adjudication phase,

          where the court determines whether it is in the best interests of the minor and the public to

          make the minor a ward of the court.” In re Samantha V., 234 Ill. 2d at 365. “If the minor is

          made a ward of the court, the matter proceeds to the dispositional phase where the court

          fashions an appropriate sentence that will best serve the minor and the public.” In re

          Samantha V., 234 Ill. 2d at 365-66.

¶ 26             In the case at bar, the same trial judge conducted all three phases and entered all three

          findings: a finding of guilt or delinquency; a finding that respondent should be made a ward

          of the court; and a finding of an appropriate sentence. The same trial judge also heard

          respondent’s motion to suppress and conducted the pretrial suppression hearing.

¶ 27                                   II. Sufficiency of the Evidence

¶ 28             No person, adult or juvenile, may be convicted or adjudicated guilty of a crime

          “ ‘except upon proof beyond a reasonable doubt of every fact necessary to constitute the

          crime with which he is charged.’ ” In re Omar F., 2017 IL App (1st) 171073, ¶ 36 (quoting

          In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358, 364 (1970)); see also In re Winship, 397 U.S. at 368 (the

          constitutional safeguard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt applies during the adjudicatory

          stage of juvenile delinquency proceedings). When a minor respondent challenges the

          sufficiency of the evidence in his or her adjudication, the standard of review is whether, after

          viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, any rational trier of fact could

          have found the essential elements of the charge beyond a reasonable doubt. In re Omar F.,

          2017 IL App (1st) 171073, ¶ 36; In re Q.P., 2015 IL 118569, ¶ 24 (“in delinquency

          proceedings, as in criminal cases, a reviewing court must decide ‘ “ whether, [after] viewing


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       No. 1-17-2120


          the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could

          have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt” ’ ” (quoting

          People v. Austin M., 2012 IL 111194, ¶ 107, quoting In re Jonathon C.B., 2011 IL 107750,

          ¶ 47)); Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979) (“whether, after viewing the evidence

          in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the

          essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt” (emphasis in original)).

¶ 29             When reviewing an adjudication on appeal, a reviewing court may not substitute its

          judgment for that of the trier of fact, particularly on issues of witness credibility, the weight

          their testimony deserves, or the reasonable inferences that may be drawn from their

          testimony or other evidence. This is because it was the trial court that observed and heard the

          witnesses. In re Jonathon C.B., 2011 IL 107750, ¶ 59.

¶ 30             In addition, “[a] trier of fact is not required to disregard inferences which flow

          normally from the evidence before it.” In re Jonathon C.B., 2011 IL 107750, ¶ 60. The trier

          of fact also “need not be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt as to each link in the chain of

          circumstances.” In re Jonathon C.B., 2011 IL 107750, ¶ 60. Rather, the evidence is

          sufficient, if all the evidence taken together, satisfies the trier of fact beyond a reasonable

          doubt of the minor’s guilt. In re Jonathon C.B., 2011 IL 107750, ¶ 60.

¶ 31             When determining the correctness of a trial court’s findings in a juvenile case, a

          reviewing court may affirm on any basis found in the record. See In re Veronica C., 239 Ill.

          2d at 151.

¶ 32                                         III. Statutes at Issue

¶ 33             Respondent was charged under the following statutes. Counts I and II charged

          respondent with violating the AUUW statute, which provides in relevant part:


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No. 1-17-2120


                “(a) A person commits the offense of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon when

            he or she knowingly:

                ***

                    (2) Carries or possesses on or about his or her person, upon any public street,

                alley, or other public lands within the corporate limits of a city, village or

                incorporated town, except when an invitee thereon or therein, for the purpose of

                the display of such weapon or the lawful commerce in weapons, or except when

                on his or her own land or in his or her own abode, legal dwelling, or fixed place of

                business, or on the land or in the legal dwelling of another person as an invitee

                with that person’s permission, any pistol, revolver, stun gun or taser or other

                firearm; and

                    (3) One of the following factors is present:


                                                 ***


                        (C) the person possessing the firearm has not been issued a currently valid

                    [FOID] Card; or


                                                 ***


                        (I) the person possessing the weapon was under 21 years of age and in

                    possession of a handgun, unless the person under 21 is engaged in lawful

                    activities under the Wildlife Code or described in subsection 24-2(b)(1),

                    (b)(3), or 24-2(f).” 5 720 ILCS 5/24-1.6(a) (West 2016).




        5
         Subsections 24-2(b)(1) and 24-2(f) concern practice shooting at target ranges; and subsection 24­
2(b)(3) concerns hunting, trapping and fishing. 720 ILCS 5/24-2(b)(1), (b)(3), (f) (West 2016).
                                                   11 

       No. 1-17-2120


¶ 34              Count III charged respondent with violating the UPF statute, which provides in

          relevant part:

                       “(a) A person commits the offense of unlawful possession of firearms or firearm

                  ammunition when:

                           (1) He is under 18 years of age and has in his possession any firearm of a size

                       which may be concealed upon the person[.]” 720 ILCS 5/24-3.1(a)(1) (West

                       2016).

¶ 35              As noted, the only elements of these offenses that respondent challenges on appeal

          are the lack of a FOID card and his age.

¶ 36                                            IV. FOID Card

¶ 37              Respondent argues, and the State agrees, that his adjudication for AUUW based on

          the lack of a FOID card must be vacated because the State failed to prove he lacked a FOID

          card.

¶ 38              The State concedes that, although it introduced evidence showing that respondent did

          not present a FOID card to the arresting officers, it failed to offer any evidence that

          respondent actually lacked a FOID card.

¶ 39              Faced with almost the same facts, this court observed in another case earlier this year:

                       “On appeal, the respondent first argues, and the State correctly concedes, that he

                  was not proved delinquent beyond a reasonable doubt of AUUW predicated on not

                  having been issued a valid FOID card. The offense of AUUW contemplates whether

                  an individual has been issued a FOID card and not whether the individual has a FOID

                  card ‘in his or her possession.’ People v. Holmes, 241 Ill. 2d 509, 522 (2011). Here,

                  [the officer’s] testimony indicated that the respondent did not present a FOID card

                                                       12 

       No. 1-17-2120


                 following his arrest, but the State presented no evidence that the respondent had not

                 been issued a FOID card. Consequently, we agree with the respondent, accept the

                 State’s concession, and reverse the respondent delinquency adjudication and sentence

                 for AUUW predicated on not having been issued a valid FOID card.” In re Manuel

                 M., 2017 IL App (1st) 162381, ¶ 15.

¶ 40             Thus, we vacate the finding of guilt on count I, which was the only count based on

          the lack of a FOID card.

¶ 41                                        V. Age-Based Counts

¶ 42             Respondent also argues that his adjudications for AUUW and UPF based on his age

          must be vacated because the State failed to prove his age. Respondent argues that the State

          failed to present sufficient evidence of his age at his bench trial, although respondent testified

          under oath at a suppression hearing in the same case and before the same trial judge that he

          was only 15 years old.

¶ 43             Our Illinois Supreme Court ruled on this same exact issue 40 years ago in Brown and

          nothing suggests that the law changed in the intervening years. Brown, 71 Ill. 2d at 155.

¶ 44             In Brown, as in our case, “a hearing was held on [the respondent’s] motion to

          suppress evidence due to the alleged illegality of his arrest.” Brown, 71 Ill. 2d at 153. In

          Brown, as in our case, the juvenile respondent testified at the pretrial suppression hearing that

          he was, in fact, 15 years old. Brown, 71 Ill. 2d at 153. In Brown, as in our case, after denying

          the suppression motion, the same trial judge immediately proceeded with the bench trial.

          Brown, 71 Ill. 2d at 153. In Brown, as in our case, the respondent argued that there was

          insufficient proof of his age. Brown, 71 Ill. 2d at 155.




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       No. 1-17-2120


¶ 45             Our supreme court stated, “We disagree as to the sufficiency of the proof.” Brown, 71

          Ill. 2d at 155. It explained, “The contention that because the proof of age occurred at a

          different stage of the proceedings, only minutes or at most an hour or two earlier, the judge

          who heard that testimony cannot consider it in deciding the case is, in our opinion, without

          merit. Clearly, a court may and should take judicial notice of other proceedings in the same

          case which is before it and the facts established therein.” Brown, 71 Ill. 2d at 155. See also

          In re Ephriam, 60 Ill. App. 3d at 854-55 (discussing and applying Brown).

¶ 46             The case at bar is even stronger than Brown because in Brown the State presented no

          evidence of age during the bench trial (Brown, 71 Ill. 2d at 153-54), whereas in our case the

          State called an officer who testified that he obtained respondent’s age while processing the

          arrest at the police station and respondent’s age was 15 years old.

¶ 47             More recently, in 2015, the appellate court acknowledged the continued vitality of

          Brown but distinguished it on the ground that Brown involved sworn testimony, while the

          case before it did not. In re S.M., 2015 IL App (3d) 140687, ¶¶ 15-16. Similar to Brown, our

          case involves respondent’s sworn testimony.

¶ 48             In addition, respondent stipulated to juvenile jurisdiction and stated his age at his

          arraignment. Article V of the Act provides, in relevant part, that “[p]roceedings may be

          instituted under the provisions of this Article concerning any minor who prior to his or her

          18th birthday has violated or attempted to violate *** any *** law or ordinance.” 705 ILCS

          405/5-120 (West 2016). Thus, by stipulating to juvenile jurisdiction, respondent was

          stipulating to the fact that he was under 18 years old on the day of the alleged offense. See

          also In re Ephriam, 60 Ill. App. 3d at 853-55 (rejecting the argument that the State failed to

          prove a juvenile respondent’s age, where the trial court had asked his age at his arraignment


                                                      14 

       No. 1-17-2120


          and the respondent answered that he was 15); In re S.M., 2015 IL App (3d) 140687, ¶ 28

          (discussing the continuing vitality of In re Ephriam).

¶ 49              While “procedural silence with respect to the allegations contained in a charging

          instrument *** cannot be construed as a judicial admission,” a stipulation is the opposite of

          procedural silence. In re S.M., 2015 IL App (3d) 140687, ¶ 21. “ ‘A criminal defendant may

          waive, by stipulation, the need to prove all or part of the case that the State has brought

          against him.’ ” People v. Toliver, 2016 IL App (1st) 141064, ¶ 31 (quoting People v.

          Washington, 343 Ill. App. 3d 889, 900 (2003)). By conceding the issue of juvenile status, or

          age, “counsel demonstrated the intent of the defense to eliminate that issue from the case and

          focus on another aspect of the defense.” Toliver, 2016 IL App (1st) 141064, ¶ 31. In short, by

          stipulating to respondent’s status as a juvenile, defense counsel removed that issue from this

          case.

¶ 50              The reasons for forfeiture are particularly compelling in a juvenile case, where the

          juvenile respondent stipulates to his juvenile status in order to gain the benefits of the Act

          and then, on appeal, argues for reversal because the State failed to introduce evidence of that

          juvenile status at his bench trial—while still conceding that juvenile jurisdiction applies. “A

          party forfeits her right to complain of an error where to do so is inconsistent with the position

          taken by the party in an earlier court proceeding.” In re E.S., 324 Ill. App. 3d 661, 670 (2001)

          (citing McMath v. Katholi, 191 Ill. 2d 251, 255 (2000)).

¶ 51              Last but certainly not least, the appellate court has found that a police officer’s

          testimony at a bench trial may suffice to establish a juvenile respondent’s age. In In re S.M.,

          the appellate court discussed different ways that the State could satisfy this burden, stating:




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       No. 1-17-2120


                  “In other cases, a police officer testifies before the court about an offender’s response

                  to inquiries from law enforcement officers regarding his age. Such testimony from the

                  officer is admissible and may satisfy the State’s burden of proof on the issue of the

                  accused’s age. See People v. Dalton, 91 Ill. 2d 22, 30 (1982).” (Emphasis in original.)

                  In re S.M., 2015 IL App (3d) 140687, ¶ 16.

¶ 52              In In re S.M., the appellate court reversed because the State failed to present sufficient

          evidence of age at a bench trial in a juvenile case. However, the In re S.M. case differs from

          the case at bar, in that (1) in In re S.M. the appellate court observed that at the bench trial

          “neither officer testified concerning the respondent’s age at the time of the occurrence,”

          whereas in our case one of the officers did testify to the age obtained while processing the

          arrest (In re S.M., 2015 IL App (3d) 140687, ¶¶ 5, 16); (2) in In re S.M. there is no indication

          that the respondent testified under oath about his age at a pretrial suppression hearing,

          whereas in our case he did; (3) in In re S.M. the respondent objected both at the bench trial

          and in a timely posttrial motion that the State had failed to present any evidence of age at the

          bench trial, whereas in our case respondent did not object either at the bench trial or in a

          posttrial motion to the officer’s testimony about respondent’s age (In re S.M., 2015 IL App

          (3d) 140687, ¶¶ 5, 8); and (4) lastly, in In re S.M. there is no indication that respondent

          stipulated to juvenile jurisdiction, whereas in our case he did. (In re S.M., 2015 IL App (3d)

          140687, ¶ 4). In other words, all the considerations that drove the In re S.M. court to find

          insufficient evidence in the case before it are actually reasons to find sufficient evidence in

          the case before us.

¶ 53              Thus, we do not find persuasive respondent’s arguments to reverse the findings of

          guilt on his age-based counts.


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       No. 1-17-2120


¶ 54                                   VI. One Act, One Crime Rule

¶ 55             Both the State and respondent agree that, if we affirm the trial court’s findings of guilt

          on the two age-based counts, we must vacate the less serious offense under the one act, one

          crime rule.

¶ 56             Our supreme court has stated unequivocally, “we hold that the one-act, one-crime rule

          applies to juvenile proceedings. To the extent that decisions of the appellate court hold

          otherwise, they are overruled.” In re Samantha V., 234 Ill. 2d at 375. The In re Samantha V.

          court found “that the trial court violated the one-act, one-crime rule,” when the trial court

          found the juvenile respondent guilty of two counts of aggravated battery that were based on

          the same battery and then “failed to merge the counts or otherwise indicate on the record that

          [the respondent’s] adjudication of delinquency was based on only one count.” In re

          Samantha V., 234 Ill. 2d at 378.

¶ 57             Thus, although we affirm the trial court’s findings of guilt on counts II and III, the

          two age-based counts, we vacate count III, the UPF count, under the

          one act, one crime rule.

¶ 58                                          CONLCUSION

¶ 59             For the foregoing reasons, we vacate the finding of guilt on count I, which was based

          on the lack of a FOID card; we affirm the findings of guilt on counts II and III, the two age-

          based counts; but we vacate count III, the UPF count, under the one act, one crime rule.

          Since the three counts were all based on the possession of the same handgun at the same

          moment in time, and respondent does not ask us to remand for resentencing, we do not order

          a resentencing. He asks us only to correct his sentencing order to reflect that he has 251 days

          of credit against his 30-day stayed commitment, and the State joins in this request. Thus we


                                                      17 

       No. 1-17-2120


          affirm his adjudication for wardship and sentence, with the adjudication based on AUUW

          grounded on age (count II), rather than lack of a FOID card (count I), but correct his

          sentencing order to reflect 251 days of credit for time served against his 30-day stayed

          commitment.

¶ 60             Affirmed in part; vacated in part. Sentencing order modified.




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