People v. Banks

The defendant, Dwight Banks, was charged with theft under $150 in violation of section 16 — 1(a) (1) of the Criminal Code (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1973, ch. 38, par. 16 — 1(a)(1).) After a bench trial, he was found guilty and sentenced to probation for 1 year. On appeal defendant contends that the State failed to prove his accountability beyond a reasonable doubt.

On July 20, 1973, a Chicago police officer, Morris Brown, observed three persons in the vicinity of a bicycle rack outside the Standard Oil Building, 250 E. Lake Street, Chicago. One of the persons was sitting on a curb. The defendant,…