People v. Gray

── People v. Gray ── Court: Appellate Court of Illinois Date: April 16, 2026 Category: General 2026 IL App (2d) 250079-U No. 2-25-0079 Order filed April 16, 2026 NOTICE: This order was filed under Supreme Court Rule 23(b) and is not precedent except in the limited circumstances allowed under Rule 23(e)(1). IN THE APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS SECOND DISTRICT THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. DARNISSA T. GRAY, Defendant-Appellant. Appeal from the Circuit Court of Kane County. Honorable Alice C. Tracy and Donald M. Tegeler Jr., Judges, Presiding. No. 18-CF-558 JUSTICE SCHOSTOK delivered the judgment of the court. Justices Birkett and Mullen concurred in the judgment. ORDER ¶1 Held: The trial court did not err in denying defendant’s motion to suppress or her motion for self-representation. ¶2 Defendant, Darnissa Gray, was convicted of two counts of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) (625 ILCS 5/11-501(a)(2), (d)(1)(G), (d)(2)(B) (West 2016)) and a single count each of driving while license revoked (id. §§ 6-303(a), 303(d)(1)), obstructing a peace officer (720 ILCS 5/31-1(a) (West 2016)), and obstructing identification (id. § 31-4.5(a)). On appeal, defendant argues that the trial court erred in denying her motion to suppress and her motion for self-representation. We affirm. ¶3 I. BACKGROUND ¶4 On March 20, 2018, defendant was the subject of a traffic stop. When the officer questioned defendant, she told him that she did not have her driver’s license and provided a false name and date of birth. The officer detected a strong odor of alcohol on defendant’s breath and observed that her eyes were glassy. While the officer was in his squad car verifying defendant’s information, defendant exited her vehicle with her purse and fled on foot. The officer pursued and apprehended her after she ignored commands to stop. A search of defendant’s purse revealed an identification card bearing the name of Darnissa Gray and a photograph matching defendant. At the police station, defendant refused to submit to a breath test. ¶5 Following multiple continuances, defendant was indicted on March 13, 2019, on the five counts for which she was ultimately convicted. The aggravated DUI counts alleged prior qualifying offenses and that defendant’s driving privileges were revoked or suspended at the time of the offense. ¶6 Defendant was arraigned in October 2019 and pleaded not guilty. At a March 5, 2020, hearing, defendant was represented by private counsel and given a trial date of July 6, 2020. During that hearing, defendant questioned whether the trial court (Judge Alice C. Tracy) honored its oath to uphold the Constitution and asserted legal theories that driving was a fundamental right, and that speeding, running stop signs, and traveling without a license or registration were not arrestable offenses. The July 2020 trial date was later continued due to the COVID-19 pandemic and reset for August 3, 2020. Defendant failed to appear on that date, and a warrant was issued. Additionally, the trial court granted private counsel’s motion to withdraw. ¶7 On December 10, 2020, defendant appeared via videoconference and introduced herself as “Daanya El in propria persona.” She explained that her “ex relation, slash, straw name is Darnissa -2- Gray.” Defendant stated that she filed a delegation of authority, affidavit of fact, and notice of default judgment, and asked if there were any rebuttals. When the trial court asked whethe