People v. Ceasar

Defendant, Richard Ceasar, appeals after a jury trial from his conviction of theft (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 38, par. 16 — 1(a)(1)). Defendant argues on appeal that: (1) the State failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he committed theft; (2) the trial court erred in permitting the introduction of the hearsay evidence of a conversation; (3) his right to a fair trial was violated by the introduction of other crimes evidence; (4) the trial judge abandoned his role as an impartial party and erroneously assumed the role of advocate by giving his opinion regarding what the evidence…