People v. Tannenbaum

Defendants Robert Tannenbaum and Roy Lee McCoy, were convicted of felony theft in separate jury trials in Kane County. Their convictions were reduced to misdemeanor thefts by the appellate court in orders entered under Supreme Court Rule 23. (People v. McCoy (1979), 71 Ill. App. 3d 1114; People v. Tannenbaum (1979), 81 Ill. App. 3d 1201.) We granted leave to appeal and ordered the cases consolidated for argument and opinion.

Under our statute, theft of property valued at less than $150 is a misdemeanor; if more than $150 a felony. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1975, ch. 38, par. 16 — 1(e).) In cause No.…