People v. Berlin

Following a jury trial in the circuit court of Cook County, defendant was convicted of the offense of theft (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1973, ch. 38, par. 16—1(a)). The appellate court reversed (58 Ill. App. 3d 612), and we granted the State leave to appeal.

The defendant testified on his own behalf. On cross-examination, the prosecution elicited the following information from defendant:

“Q. Now, sir, is your name Otis Sanders?

A. Yes, it is.

Q. Your name is not Johnny Berlin?

A. No, it’s not.

Q. When the Police arrested you, you told them

your name was Johnny Berlin, didn’t you, sir?

A. Yes, I did.”

In an…