People v. Wheeler

After a trial by jury in the circuit court of McLean County, defendant Chad E. Wheeler was convicted in November 1996 of one count of first degree murder (720 ILCS 5/9 — 1(a) (West Supp. 1995)) and two counts of aggravated battery to a child (720 ILCS 5/12 — 4.3(a) (West 1996)). The victim of these offenses was defendant’s impaired three-month-old son, Levi Michael Wheeler. The court vacated the aggravated battery conviction and sentenced defendant to natural life in prison for the murder pursuant to section 5 — 8 — 1(a)(1)(c)(ii) of the Unified Code of Corrections (Code) (730 ILCS 5/5 — 8 —…