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People v. Sanchez, Jr.

Case Date: 11/04/2003
Court: 1st District Appellate
Docket No: 1-02-0102 Rel

SECOND DIVISION
November 4, 2003


No. 1-02-0102


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,

               Plaintiff-Appellee,

                         v.

JUAN SANCHEZ, JR.,

               Defendant-Appellant.

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)		 Appeal from the 
Circuit Court of
Cook County



Honorable
Henry R. Simmons,
Judge Presiding

JUSTICE WOLFSON delivered the opinion of the court:

The trial judge realized he had no choice: he had tosentence the defendant to life in prison. The single question inthis case is whether the mandatory natural life sentence violatedprovisions of the United States and Illinois constitutions.

Following a bench trial, defendant Juan Sanchez, Jr., wasconvicted of aggravated criminal sexual assault. His mandatorynatural life sentence was based on his prior conviction forcriminal sexual assault.

On appeal, defendant contends: (1) his sentence violates theproportionate penalties clause of the Illinois Constitution (Ill.Const. 1970, art. I,