People v. Hobbs

After a jury trial, the defendant, Cecil Hobbs, was convicted of theft, with a prior theft conviction — a Class 4 felony (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1979, ch. 38, par. 16 — 1(e)). The basis for the defendant’s jury trial conviction was that defendant had stolen five bottles of whiskey (value of less than $150) from a grocery store — having previously been convicted of theft. The defendant was given the maximum term and then the extended term for this Class 4 felony conviction — 6 years’ imprisonment. On appeal, the defendant contends (1) the State failed to prove him guilty of theft beyond a reasonable…