People v. Heil

In a bench trial in the circuit court of St. Clair County, defendant, Sterling Heil, was convicted of the offense of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1973, ch. 56½, par. 1401(b)), sentenced to three years’ probation and fined $500. The appellate court reversed (49 Ill. App. 3d 55), and we allowed the People’s petition for leave to appeal.

The indictment upon which defendant was tried was returned on February 7, 1974, and on February 28, 1974, defendant made a demand for speedy trial (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1973, ch. 38, par. 103-5(b)). On October 23, 1974, defendant filed,…