People v. Johnson

On October 22, 1987, defendant James Thurman Johnson was charged by information in the circuit court of Macon County with the offense of “unlawful possession of hypodermic syringe or needle with a prior unlawful possession of hypodermic syringe or needle conviction” (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 38, par. 22 — 50).

Defendant was tried in absentia by a jury on January 25, 1988. Prior to trial, defense counsel made a motion in limine to bar evidence of the defendant’s prior conviction for unlawful possession of a hypodermic syringe. A hearing was held and the defense argued that the prior conviction…