People v. Priest

In March 2001, defendant LeRoy Priest pled guilty to possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver in exchange for a four-year sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections pursuant to a plea agreement. In April 2001, when defendant failed to appear at his sentencing hearing, the trial court sentenced him in absentia to 15 years’ imprisonment. In September 2001, defendant filed a motion for a new sentencing hearing under section 115 — 4.1(e) of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (Criminal Code) (725 ILCS 5/115 — 4.1(e) (West 2000)) which the trial court heard and denied…