People v. Smith

The defendant, Nancy Jean Smith, was convicted of one count of arson (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 38, par. 20 — 1(a) (now 720 ILCS 5/20— 1(a) (West 1992))), following a jury trial in the circuit court of Ogle County. She was sentenced to three years in prison for the Class 2 felony. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 38, par. 1005 — 8—1(5) (now codified, as amended, at 730 ILCS 5/5-8-l(5) (West 1992)).) The defendant claims on appeal that: (1) the State did not prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt; (2) the testimony of the State’s arson expert should have been stricken or a mistrial granted because…