People v. Martin-Trigona

Anthony Martin-Trigona was convicted of four counts of theft and three counts of forgery after a bench trial in the circuit court of Cook County. Waiving his right to remain silent, Martin-Trigona testified in his own behalf that he had performed the alleged acts of theft and forgery without the necessary mens rea to support a finding of criminal liability. The State was then allowed to impeach Martin-Trigona’s testimony with evidence that he had been convicted of mail fraud in a United States district court.

Following his conviction in the circuit court, the United States Court of Appeals for…