The People v. Novotny

Defendant, Ronald C. Novotny, 19 years old, was found guilty of aggravated battery in a bench trial in the circuit court of Cook County. His petition for probation was allowed, and he was admitted to probation for one year with 30 days imprisonment as a condition thereof. Two grounds are urged for reversal: (1) that he was deprived of the right to trial by jury when his attorney, without consulting him, waived a jury trial in return for the State’s agreement to reduce the charge from a “felony” to a misdemeanor, and (2) that he was not proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. As to (1) both…