People v. Schneider

              No. 2--05--0819 Filed: 8-3-07
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IN THE
APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
SECOND DISTRICT
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THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF
ILLINOIS,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
KENNETH R. SCHNEIDER,
Defendant-Appellant.
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Appeal from the Circuit Court
of Winnebago County.
No. 03--CF--1147
Honorable
Daniel D. Doyle,
Judge, Presiding.
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PRESIDING JUSTICE GROMETER delivered the opinion of the court:
Following a jury trial in the circuit court of Winnebago County, defendant, Kenneth R.
Schneider, was convicted of two counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault (720 ILCS 5/12--
14(a)(1) (West 2002)). The trial court sentenced defendant to consecutive 20-year prison terms. On
direct appeal, defendant raises three arguments. First, defendant asserts that the State's motion for
automatic substitution of judge was untimely and should not have been allowed. Second, defendant
complains that the trial court committed reversible error when it prohibited defense counsel from
cross-examining a police officer about whether the officer was being investigated for coercing a
confession from a suspect in another case. Third, defendant contends that comments made by the
prosecutor during closing argument deprived him of a fair trial. We affirm.
I. BACKGROUND