People v. Calderon

Defendant, Natividad Calderon, was charged with the murder (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1975, ch. 38, pars. 9-1, 9-1(a)(2)) of Paul Fontan. After a jury trial, defendant was found guilty and sentenced to 30-60 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. He appeals, raising the following issues for review: (1) whether the trial court erred in permitting the prosecutor to cross-examine defense witnesses about affiliations with street gangs; (2) whether the trial court erred in giving the jury instructions on accountability when evidence showed defendant acted as a principal; and (3) whether the trial court erred in allowing an investigating officer to be called as a rebuttal witness and to testify that in his opinion the defendant belonged to a street gang. We affirm.