People v. Sandham

Defendant, John R. Sandham, was convicted after a bench trial in the circuit court of Livingston County of one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse (720 ILCS 5/12 — 16 (West 1992)) and sentenced to a five-year term of imprisonment. The appellate court affirmed (276 Ill. App. 3d 86), and this court subsequently granted defendant’s petition for leave to appeal (155 Ill. 2d R. 315). Defendant argues before this court that his conviction must be reversed and a new trial ordered because (1) the trial court failed to secure defendant’s written jury waiver and his oral waiver was not made…