People v. Thomas

Defendant David Thomas was charged with unlawful possession with intent to deliver more than 1 but less than 15 grams of a substance containing cocaine. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 56x/2, par. 1401(b)(2).) After a bench trial in the circuit court of Cook County, he was found guilty of the lesser included offense of possession (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 56½, par. 1402(b)), and sentenced in absentia to a term of three years’ imprisonment. In this appeal, defendant contends that the sentence imposed by the court was improper because he had not been admonished that sentencing could proceed in his…