People v. Dean

After a bench trial in the Circuit Court of Madison County, defendant, Queen Dean, was convicted of three counts of gambling and fined $500 plus court costs. At her trial, defendant asserted the affirmative defense that her reliance upon an order of the Illinois Appellate Court justified her belief that her conduct was not illegal. Defendant appeals, contending that her conviction was error because of the court’s failure to acquit her based on the affirmative defense.

The charges against defendant arose out of her employment by Finish Line Express, Inc., which operated off-track messenger…