People v. James

Following a jury trial, defendant Reginald James was convicted, in absentia, of aggravated arson. The trial judge sentenced defendant to 10 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. On appeal, defendant contends that: (1) where he was arrested for arson without probable cause and his confession was the fruit of this unconstitutional seizure, the trial judge erred in denying his motion to quash his arrest and suppress his confession on the theory that the police had probable cause to arrest him for battery; (2) he was denied a fair trial for arson and aggravated arson where the court…