People v. Topps

SECOND DIVISION

DECEMBER 21, 1999

1-98-3344

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, ) Appeal from the) Circuit Court

Plaintiff-Appellee ) of Cook County)

v. ) Post Conviction)

CHARLES TOPPS, ) The Honorable) Frank Deboni,

Defendant-Appellant ) Judge Presiding.

PRESIDING JUSTICE COUSINS delivered the opinion of the court.

A jury convicted the defendant of one count of aggravated arson and two counts of first degree murder. The trial court sentenced him to 30 years' incarceration in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the arson and imposed the mandatory sentence of natural life for the two murders.…