People v. Muir

The defendant, Kenneth Muir, and a codefendant, Grace Wilson, not a party to this appeal, were indicted in the circuit court of Will County for theft by deception. The defendants were tried jointly, Muir receiving a jury trial and Wilson receiving a bench trial. Both defendants were convicted and Muir was subsequently sentenced in absentia to three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Muir has now appealed his conviction and sentence.

On December 5, 1979, the defendants were charged by indictment with two counts of theft by deception, a Class 3 felony pursuant to section 16 — 1(b)…