People v. Phillips

Johnny Phillips, a 17-year-old high school student, was convicted of armed robbery in a jury trial. Phillips appeals, contending: (1) his counsel elicited prejudicial information from a State witness and therefore he was denied effective assistance of counsel; (2) the jury was improperly instructed about the reason for the State’s failure to seek a search warrant on defendant’s home; and (3) the trial judge relied on incorrect information and sentenced defendant to an excessive sentence of 15 years in prison.

At defendant’s trial, complainant Linda Jepsen testified that on November 15, 1989,…