People v. York

A jury found defendant, Eddie L. York, guilty of aggravated criminal sexual assault (720 ILCS 5/12 — 14(a)(2) (West 1996)), and the trial court sentenced him to 16 years’ imprisonment. Defendant appeals, arguing that (1) the State failed to prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and (2) defense counsel rendered ineffective assistance at trial when she failed to introduce exculpatory DNA evidence. Because counsel failed to introduce the evidence, we reverse defendant’s conviction and remand the cause for a new trial.

At trial, Karen Johnson-Stewart, the victim’s mother, testified that on…