People v. Washington

JUSTICE GORDON *

delivered the opinion of the court:

After a bench trial, defendant, William Washington, was convicted of burglary (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 38, par. 19—1) and sentenced as a Class X offender, pursuant to section 5 — 5—3(c)(8) of the sentencing provisions of the Unified Code of Corrections (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 38, par. 1005—5—3(c)(8)), to 14 years in prison. On appeal, defendant contends: (1) he was denied his right to counsel of choice when the trial court summarily denied his trial day request for a continuance to allow his privately retained counsel to appear; (2) he…