People v. Kittinger

Defendant, Dana Kittinger, was convicted of one count of residential burglary (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 38, par. 19—3(a) (now 720 ILCS 5/19—3(a) (West 1992))) for entering the apartment of a former friend without authority in order to steal a TV and VCR. On appeal, defendant contends that the trial court committed reversible error by failing to answer a jury’s question about the meaning of "without authority.”

Barbara Powell testified that she had known defendant for four or five years. She and defendant had a relationship and then a friendship. Powell lived on the second floor of an…