People v. O'Neal

PRESIDING JUSTICE McNAMARA

delivered the opinion of the court:

Defendant, Walter O’Neal, was charged with one count of heinous battery causing severe and permanent disfigurement (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 38, par. 12 — 4.1(a)) and two counts of aggravated battery of a child. The victim of the battery was defendant’s stepson, Brandon Lee. After a bench trial, the trial judge found defendant guilty on all three counts. At the sentencing hearing, the judge noted that the convictions for aggravated battery merged into the conviction for heinous battery. He thereupon sentenced defendant to a term of…