People v. Hite

Following a jury trial in the circuit court of St. Clair County, the defendant was convicted of armed robbery and was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment. He appeals from his conviction and presents a single assignment of error. He contends that the record does not show that he effectively waived counsel prior to his pro se trial in which he was assisted by the public defender.

On January 20, 1981, the defendant was charged with having committed an armed robbery the previous day, and, at that time, public defender James Donovan was appointed to represent him. Donovan appeared on the…