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People v. Crutchfield

Case Date: 10/19/2004
Court: 5th District Appellate
Docket No: 5-03-0043 Rel

                NOTICE
Decision filed 10/19/04.  The text of this decision may be changed or corrected prior to the filing of a Petition for Rehearing or the disposition of the same.

NO. 5-03-0043

IN THE
 

APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
 

FIFTH DISTRICT

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,

     Plaintiff-Appellee,

v.

STEVEN M. CRUTCHFIELD,

     Defendant-Appellant.

 )
)
)
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)
)
)
)
)		 Appeal from the
Circuit Court of
Williamson County.

No. 99-CF-148

Honorable
John Speroni,
Judge, presiding.
 

JUSTICE HOPKINS delivered the opinion of the court:

Following a jury trial, the defendant, Steven M. Crutchfield, was convicted of first-degree murder (720 ILCS 5/9-1(a)(1) (West 1996)) and sentenced to natural life in theDepartment of Corrections. On appeal, the defendant argues that (1) he was denied a fair trialbecause he was required to wear a stun belt during the trial, (2) the circuit court erred inprohibiting him from presenting evidence that supported his defense that he had committed themurder under a sudden and intense passion, (3) the circuit court erred in admitting evidenceof "other crimes," and (4) his sentence of natural-life imprisonment should be vacated becauseit violates the ex post facto and double jeopardy clauses of the United States Constitution andthe Illinois Constitution (U.S. Const., art. I,