Opinion
Opinion filed July 26, 1929.
1. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE — inference of proper arraignment. Though the record in a prosecution for a misdemeanor does not show a formal arraignment, where it does show that the defendant was present in court and pleaded guilty, it will be inferred that he was brought to the bar of the court and duly arraigned and called upon to plead.
2. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE — when judgment not void for failure to sentence under each count. The fact that the judgment in a prosecution under an information containing several counts to each of which defendant pleaded guilty does not sentence the defendant under each count, does not render the judgment void.
3. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE — when judgment will be reversed for entry of proper sentence. Where a judgment in a criminal case is valid, but the sentence imposed is not proper under the charge, the judgment win be reversed with directions to the trial court to enter a proper sentence.
4. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE — when reversal for proper sentence unnecessary. Where, in a criminal prosecution the defendant pleads guilty to three counts and the sentence imposed is proper under one count but improper under the other two, it will be construed as applying to the charge for which such punishment might be imposed by law, rendering it unnecessary to reverse the judgment with directions to sentence the defendant under each count of the information.
Appeal from the County Court of Franklin county; the Hon. ED. ROBERTSON, Judge, presiding.
R.E. SMITH, for plaintiff in error.
MARION M. HART, State's Attorney, for defendant in error.
An information consisting of three counts charged plaintiff in error with the unlawful sale, unlawful possession of intoxicating liquors and with maintaining a common nuisance. He entered a plea of guilty to each count and the court sentenced him to the Illinois State Farm for a period of six months and fined him $1,000 and costs.
It is his contention that the record does not show that he was arraigned. While the record does not show a formal arraignment, it does show that plaintiff in error was present in court and entered a plea of guilty. It is fairly inferable that he was brought to the bar of the court and duly arraigned and called upon to plead. People v. Pennington, 267 Ill. 45.
It is next contended that the judgment of the trial court is void because the court did not sentence plaintiff in error under each count of the information. In any event the judgment would not be void for that reason. There is no trouble whatever with the judgment. The only question is as to whether plaintiff in error was properly sentenced. Where the only trouble is in regard to the sentence the judgment would simply be reversed with directions to the trial court to enter a proper sentence. Johnson v. People, 83 Ill. 431; People v. Elliott, 272 Ill. 592.
The sentence imposed upon plaintiff in error is not a proper sentence under the second or third counts of the information. It is a proper sentence under the first count, which charges an unlawful sale of intoxicating liquor. Under somewhat similar circumstances it has been held that the sentence should be construed as applying to the charge for which such a punishment might be imposed under the law. People v. Carr, 255 Ill. 203; People v. Lawrence, 314 Ill. 292. Under these authorities we think it unnecessary to reverse with directions to sentence plaintiff in error under each count of the information. No reversible error having been pointed out, the judgment is affirmed.
Affirmed.