People v. Furby

Following a joint trial in the circuit court of Du Page County, the defendants, James and Thomas Furby, were convicted by a jury of the theft of property exceeding $300 in value, a felony. The defendants were sentenced to 24 months’ probation, ordered to perform 50 hours of public service employment, and required to pay about $1,200 in restitution: A divided appellate court reversed the defendants’ convictions. (181 Ill. App. 3d 872.) We allowed the State’s petition for leave to appeal (107 Ill. 2d R. 315(a)).

The defendants, who are brothers, were charged by information with the theft of more…