People v. Wheeler

Defendant, Charles Wheeler, was indicted for aggravated criminal sexual assault (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 38, par. 12 — 14(b)(1)). After a jury trial in the circuit court of Bureau County, defendant was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. The appellate court, with one justice dissenting, affirmed (216 Ill. App. 3d 609) and we granted defendant’s petition for leave to appeal (134 Ill. 2d R. 315).

In this appeal, defendant raises three issues. First, defendant argues he was denied a fair trial because the trial court denied his motion requesting an…