People v. Laird

Defendant, Jerry C. Laird, was found guilty of unlawful possession of cannabis after a bench trial in the Circuit Court of Clay County. He was placed on probation for two and one-half years with the first six months to be served at the Illinois State Farm at Vandalia. On this direct appeal he contends that his Motion to Suppress Evidence was improperly denied and that the sentence is excessive.

Defendant was driving his Dodge truck van on the State highway and was stopped by an Illinois State Trooper for driving five miles an horn over the speed limit. After stopping the defendant, the trooper…