People v. Hart

Petitioner, William Hart, appeals from the judgment of the circuit court of Cook County denying, after an evidentiary hearing, his petition for relief filed under the Post-Conviction Hearing Act (Ill.Rev.Stat. 1969, ch. 38, par. 122 — 1 et seq.). The record shows that petitioner was charged with theft of an automobile, entered a plea of not guilty, waived jury trial, and a bench trial commenced. At the close of the evidence for the defense, the trial was recessed until the next day. The following morning petitioner withdrew his plea of not guilty, entered a plea of guilty and was sentenced to…