People v. Morton

Following a jury trial in the Circuit Court of Peoria County, the defendant, Cecil L. Morton, was found guilty of burglary and arson. After a sentencing hearing, the trial court sentenced the defendant to two concurrent terms of 6 years’ imprisonment. He appeals, arguing (1) that the State failed to prove him guilty of arson beyond a reasonable doubt, and (2) that we remand the cause for resentencing because the trial court, by characterizing the proceeds of the burglary as compensation for the commission of the offense, improperly aggravated his sentence. We agree with both of the…