People v. Castro

Defendant, Henry Castro, was charged in an information with attempted murder, aggravated battery and armed violence. On March 10, 1980, following a jury trial held in defendant’s absence, defendant was found guilty of all charges. On April 9, 1980, defendant was sentenced in absentia to serve three concurrent 15-year terms of imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

On appeal, defendant contends that he was not admonished that he could be tried in absentia if he failed to appear for trial; that the statutory procedures for trying him in absentia were not followed; that he was…