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People v. Kauten

Case Date: 09/07/2001
Court: 2nd District Appellate
Docket No: 2-00-1010 Rel

September 07, 2001

No. 2--00--1010

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IN THE

APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS

SECOND DISTRICT

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THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE )Appeal from the CircuitCourt
OF ILLINOIS,                                                                                    )    of De Kalb County.
)
Plaintiff-Appellee,                                     )
)
v. )    No. 98--CF--323 )
BONNIE J. KAUTEN,)Honorable
                                                                                                            )    Douglas R. Engel,
Defendant-Appellant. )Judge, Presiding.

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JUSTICE RAPP delivered the opinion of the court:

Defendant, Bonnie J. Kauten, pleaded guilty to solicitation ofmurder (720 ILCS 5/8--1.1(a) (West 1998)). In return, the Statedismissed a charge of solicitation of murder for hire (720 ILCS5/8--1.2(a) (West 1998)) but made no sentencing concessions. Thetrial court sentenced defendant to 18 years' imprisonment anddenied her motion to reconsider the sentence.

Defendant appeals, arguing that her sentence must be vacatedbecause the sentencing scheme for solicitation of murder (see 720ILCS 5/8--1.1(b) (West 1998)) violates the proportionate penaltiesclause of the Illinois Constitution (Ill. Const. 1970, art. I,