People v. Rodriguez

BACKGROUND

On January 16, 1992, a jury convicted defendant-appellant Juan Rodriguez of first degree murder in the June 3, 1990, killing of three-year-old Marion Knee. The circuit court entered judgment on that verdict and subsequently sentenced the defendant to an 80-year extended term of imprisonment. For the reasons set forth below, we affirm the defendant’s conviction but remand for resentencing.

FACTS

The defendant’s trial commenced on January 10, 1992, and the State’s first witness, the victim’s mother, Rhonda Knee (hereinafter referred to as Rhonda), testified that in June of 1990 she…