People v. Reid

In a bench trial in the circuit court of McLean County, defendant, Skowran Reid, was convicted of attempted armed robbery (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1979, ch. 38, pars. 8 — 4, 18 — 2) and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment. Defendant appealed the sentence, and the appellate court, by Rule 23 order (73 Ill. 2d R. 23), affirmed (102 Ill. App. 3d 1208). We allowed defendant’s petition for leave to appeal. 85 Ill. 2d R. 315(a).

Defendant approached Diane Smith, who had just parked her automobile in the parking lot of a food store in Bloomington. Defendant was carrying a “walking stick” which he had carved.…