People v. Lucas

After a jury trial in the circuit court of Macoupin County, Russell Lucas was convicted of aggravated battery. His motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict and for a new trial were denied, and he was sentenced to an extended term of six years with a one-year mandatory supervised-release provision under section 5—5—3.2 of the Unified Code of Corrections (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1979, ch. 38, par. 1005—5—3.2). The appellate court, with one justice dissenting, reversed and remanded for a new trial. (85 Ill. App. 3d 133.) We granted the People’s petition for leave to appeal.

Early in the morning…