People v. Shuman

PRESIDING JUSTICE BARRY

delivered the opinion of the court:

In this case, we address the issue of whether defendant James Shuman knowingly and intelligently pled guilty. Since we find that he did not, we vacate the decision below and remand the cause for further proceedings.

The defendant was initially charged with 11 counts of arson (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 38, par. 20—1). He agreed to plead guilty to all counts in return for the State’s promise not to charge him with aggravated arson. There was no agreement as to the sentences.

At the guilty plea hearing, the trial court informed the…