People v. Jones

Mr. PRESIDING JUSTICE LORENZ

delivered the opinion of the court:

At the conclusion of a bench trial, defendant was found guilty of theft by deception and sentenced to the House of Correction for one year. The essence of his contentions on appeal is that the proceedings in the trial court deprived him of his right to a fair trial.

On March 13, 1970, John Boyle, an agent for Baskin Clothes, filed a complaint which charged defendant with the theft by deception of clothing valued at $483.11. On that same day, during a preliminary hearing, the prosecutor informed the court that the State was planning…