People v. Ceja

Following a jury trial in the circuit court of Du Page County, defendant, Raul Ceja, was convicted of the first degree murders of Alfredo Garcia and Richard Sanchez (see 720 ILCS 5/9 — 1(a) (West 1998)) and of the unlawful possession of a stolen or converted motor vehicle (see 625 ILCS 5/4 — 103(a)(1) (West 1998)). At a separate sentencing hearing, the court, sitting without a jury, found defendant eligible for the death penalty and further determined that there were no mitigating circumstances sufficient to preclude imposition of that sentence.

Accordingly, the court sentenced defendant to…