People v. Begay

Defendant, Sylvia Begay, appeals her jury convictions for armed violence and aggravated battery and her sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment for the armed violence count and a concurrent sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment for aggravated battery. On appeal, defendant contends: (1) the circuit court erred in allowing prejudicial other crimes evidence where the State did not establish defendant’s connection to the other crime; (2) defendant’s counsel provided ineffective assistance when he failed to challenge a prospective juror who stated she could not be fair; (3) during closing arguments, the…