People v. Nelson

Mr. PRESIDING JUSTICE BURKE

delivered the opinion of the court:

In March of 1973, a jury in the circuit court of Cook County found Raymond Nelson guilty of robbery (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1973, ch. 38, par. 18 — 1), and he was sentenced to a term of one to three years’ imprisonment. Prior to trial the judge ruled that the State would be permitted to impeach the defendant’s credibility with a prior conviction for possession of heroin. In view of the judge’s ruling, the defendant introduced the prior conviction during direct examination. On appeal, defendant contends: (1) that it was error to rule that…