People v. LaFond

The defendant, James E. LaFond, was charged with aggravated battery (720 ILCS 5/12 — 4(b)(6) (West 2000)) and resisting a peace officer (720 ILCS 5/31 — 1(a) (West 2000)). Following the first jury trial, the judge declared a mistrial, stating that the defendant had not agreed to proceed with 11 jurors after 1 juror was hospitalized. At the conclusion of a second jury trial, the defendant was found guilty of both offenses. He was sentenced to 3 years’ imprisonment for, aggravated battery and 364 days in the county jail for resisting a peace officer, to be served concurrently. On appeal, the…