People v. Baaree

Following a bench trial, defendant Bashir Jihad Baaree was found guilty of the Class 1 felony offense of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. The trial court sentenced defendant to a six-year prison term after finding he was subject to mandatory Class X sentencing pursuant to section 5 — 5—3(c)(8) of the Unified Code of Corrections (730 ILCS 5/5 — 5—3(c)(8) (West 1998)). Defendant appeals, challenging the constitutionality of section 5 — 5—3(c)(8) and arguing, in the alternative, that he should not have been sentenced as a Class X offender under the terms of that…