People v. Taylor

This is an appeal from a judgment entered by the Circuit Court of Cook County. The defendant was convicted of aggravated battery in a bench trial and was sentenced to a term of 3 to 10 years in the Illinois State Penitentiary.

The only issue presented on appeal is whether the sentence of 3 to 10 years for aggravated battery is excessive.

On the evening of February 25, 1971, the defendant, James W. Taylor, was playing cards in his apartment with two other individuals. The defendant’s wife was asleep on the couch when, at the insistence of the defendant, she was forced to join the card game.…