People v. Watson

Following a jury trial, defendant, Troy Watson, was convicted of residential burglary (720 ILCS 5/19 — 3(a) (West 1998)). Because defendant had previously been convicted of two Class 2 felonies, he was eligible for a sentence in the Class X range (see 730 ILCS 5/5 — 5— 3(c)(8) (West 1998)), and the trial court sentenced him to 16 years’ imprisonment. Defendant appeals, contending that his Class X sentence is unconstitutional because the State failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the prior felony convictions that were the basis of the enhanced sentence.

Evidence at defendant’s trial showed…