People v. Schuning

This case should be reversed and remanded for a new trial because the defendant was prejudiced by the introduction of evidence of prior misdemeanor convictions.

In this case, the trial court allowed the State to introduce evidence of the defendant’s previous conviction of retail theft under $150 (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1981, ch. 38, par. 16A — 10(1)) and also evidence of a prior conviction of criminal trespass to a motor vehicle (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1981, ch. 38, par. 21 — 2).

I agree with the majority opinion that it was error for the trial court to admit for purposes of impeachment the defendant’s prior…