People v. Jones

The defendants were tried by a jury in the circuit court of St. Clair County on charges of rape and aggravated kidnapping. They entered a not guilty plea, and on trial the jury returned a general verdict of guilty. Sentences of 50 to 100 years in the Illinois penitentiary system were imposed. The appellate court affirmed the convictions and modified the sentences to 8 to 25 years. (6 Ill. App. 3d 669.) We granted leave to appeal.

The prosecutrix, who was 13 years of age at the time of the crime, was walking home with her 7-year-old sister at about 10 o’clock in the evening. A gold-colored…