People v. Sturgeon

In June 1991, a jury convicted defendant Ronald W. Sturgeon of first degree murder, and the trial court later sentenced him to 50 years in prison. Defendant appealed, challenging only his sentence, and in February 1992 this court affirmed. People v. Sturgeon (1992), 224 Ill. App. 3d 1113 (unpublished order under Supreme Court Rule 23).

In July 1992, defendant filed a pro se petition pursuant to section 2 — 1401 of the Code of Civil Procedure (Code) (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 110, par. 2 — 1401), seeking to vacate his conviction and sentence. After the State moved to dismiss, defendant obtained…