People v. Rutledge

In a bench trial in the circuit court of McDonough County, defendant, Tommy Rutledge, was convicted of possession of a deadly weapon with intent to use it unlawfully (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1981, ch. 38, par. 24—1(a)(2)). The appellate court reversed (122 Ill. App. 3d 50), and we allowed the People’s petition for leave to appeal. The facts are adequately stated in the appellate court opinion and will not be repeated here. Relevant to the issue presented in this appeal, there was testimony that, during an altercation on the parking lot of a 7-Eleven store, defendant was in possession of a gun.

In…