People v. Resendez

Following a jury trial, defendant, Sergio Resendez, was found guilty of first-degree murder. The circuit court denied all of defendant’s post-trial motions and, after a hearing, sentenced defendant to 25 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. On appeal defendant argues: (1) the admission of gang evidence was improper because it was not relevant to the issue of motive, and (2) the State’s closing remarks based on gang warfare were inflammatory and exceeded the bounds of proper argument.

Defendant was charged by indictment with the murder of Josephina Crespo. The State elected to try…