People v. Szydloski

Defendant Robert Szydloski was charged with two counts of burglary (720 ILCS 5/19—1(a) (West 1994)) and two counts of theft (720 ILCS 5/16—1(a) (West 1994)). Following a jury trial, the defendant was convicted on all counts and sentenced to six years in the Department of Corrections. We reverse and remand for a new trial.

On July 5, 1994, the defendant and his wife, Catherine Szydloski, went to two grocery stores, Eagle and Giant Foods. The pair were driven to these locations by a neighbor, Glen Staley. At defendant’s trial, Staley testified that when he picked up the Szydloskis from their…