People v. Ortiz

On October 27, 1988, an information was filed in Whiteside County charging defendant, Anthony Ortiz, with two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of his then-girlfriend’s nine-year-old daughter. At the bench trial, and after several witnesses had testified, defense counsel moved for dismissal because the State’s Attorney stated that the chief witness was not in the courthouse and would not be available for two hours. The trial court denied the State’s motion for continuance and granted defendant’s motion to dismiss. The State filed a motion to reconsider. The circuit court granted the motion.…