People v. Montgomery

Following a jury trial, defendant, Marcus A. Montgomery, was convicted of unlawful consumption of alcoholic liquor by a person under 21 years of age (235 ILCS 5/6 — 20 (West 1996)). Defendant, who was 20 years of age at the time of the offense, was sentenced to 30 days’ imprisonment plus fines and costs. The sole issue on appeal is whether a bystander’s report of the trial court’s admonition given to defendant regarding his waiver of counsel complies with the requirements of Supreme Court Rule 401(b) (134 111. 2d R. 401(b)).

The record reflects that on December 29, 1996, defendant was charged…