People v. Stroud

Docket No. 94823–Agenda 12–September 2003.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Appellant, v. BENNIE STROUD, Appellee.

Opinion filed January 23, 2004.

This case presents the question of whether defendant’s constitutional right to be present at his guilty plea hearing was violated when the circuit court accepted his plea via closed circuit television. Under the facts presented by this case, we hold that it was.

BACKGROUND

On March 23, 1998, defendant, Bennie Stroud, entered a negotiated plea of guilty in the circuit court of Kankakee County to the offense of possession of a stolen motor vehicle…