People v. Gaines

Following a jury trial in the circuit court of Lake County, defendant, Jared L. Gaines, was found guilty of aggravated battery of a child (720 ILCS 5/12 — 4.3(a) (West 1998)) and was sentenced to 28 years’ imprisonment. His conviction and sentence were affirmed on direct appeal. People v. Gaines, No. 2 — 99 — 1262 (2001) (unpublished order under Supreme Court Rule 23). On April 19, 2001, one day before our decision in defendant’s direct appeal was filed, defendant filed a timely pro se petition seeking relief from the judgment of conviction pursuant to section 2 — 1401 of the Code of Civil…