People v. Stokes

Charles Stokes, the defendant, was convicted by a jury of forgery (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1981, ch. 38, par. 17 — 3) and sentenced by the court to probation for 18 months, the first six months of which to be imprisoned.

On appeal, the defendant contends that he was prejudiced by the State’s failure to provide him with requested discovery material relating to the prior criminal record of a key State’s witness. The defendant also claims that he was prejudiced by the alleged ineffective assistance of his trial counsel. The defendant’s first claim of error is meritorious, and accordingly, we reverse and…