The PEOPLE v. Diefenbaugh

On February 21, 1958 the defendant, John Robert Diefenbaugh, pleaded guilty in the circuit court of Vermilion County to charges of burglary and larceny. On March 18, 1958, he was sentenced to a term of not less than 30 years nor more than life in the penitentiary. More than 8ji years later on November 18, 1966, he filed a pro se petition under the Post-Conviction Hearing Act in the trial court. Counsel was subsequently appointed to represent him, and on February 17, 1967, an amended petition for a post-conviction hearing was filed, which petition was further amended on July 20, 1967. The…