People v. French

This appeal is taken from the conviction of the defendant, Thomas Neil French, for unlawful delivery of a substance represented to be a controlled substance. Following a bench trial in the circuit court of McDonough County, the defendant was sentenced to two years probation and was fined $750.

The sole issue raised on appeal is whether the lack of a formal jury waiver requires reversal of the defendant’s conviction and remandment for a new trial. We hold that it does.

The record reveals that the case had twice been placed on the jury calendar before being called for a bench trial on March 3,…