People v. Williams

On November 23, 1983, defendant Albert Williams was charged in the circuit court of Macon County with the offense of retail theft with a prior theft conviction (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1981, ch. 38, par. 16A— 3(a)) occurring on November 22,1983. After a fitness hearing at which defendant was found fit to stand trial, the case was set for jury trial on February 23, 1984, at which time defendant did not appear. The defendant was tried before a jury in his absence and on that date, the court entered a judgment on the verdict of the jury finding defendant guilty. On March 2, 1984, in defendant’s absence,…