People v. Horton

The issue before this court is whether defendant’s two stipulated bench trials, in the circuit court of Du Page County, were tantamount to guilty pleas requiring admonishments under Supreme Court Rule 402 because defense counsel conceded the sufficiency of the evidence to convict. Defendant also argues that he was denied effective assistance of counsel when defense counsel conceded the sufficiency of the evidence. We hold that defendant’s first stipulated bench trial was not tantamount to a guilty plea, but his second stipulated bench trial was tantamount to a guilty plea, and thus he was…