People v. De Sisto

27 Misc. 2d 217, 214 N.Y.S.2d 858, 1961 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 3116
CourtNew York County Courts
DecidedApril 5, 1961
StatusPublished
Cited by26 cases

This text of 27 Misc. 2d 217 (People v. De Sisto) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York County Courts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. De Sisto, 27 Misc. 2d 217, 214 N.Y.S.2d 858, 1961 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 3116 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1961).

Opinion

. Nathan R. Sobel, J.

The defendants on this motion raise defenses of double jeopardy and collateral estoppel. Neither of these separate but related defenses standing alone raises issues which are new—but together they raise some interesting points which require and deserve extended discussion.

In this connection, it might be observed that our appellate courts when confronted with a narrow issue of law which is encompassed within broader legal doctrines or principles, usually decide the specific point at issue. This is necessarily so—for generalizations on the broader issues become dicta and dicta often become precedents.

There is no such limitation on the trial courts for other courts are not bound to follow our decisions whether dicta or precisely on the issue.

Also, occasionally, as in People ex rel. Maurer v. Jackson (2 N Y 2d 259, 267) involving a question of double punishment, the appellate courts properly complain that the lower courts have not adequately discussed the question ’ \

The doctrines of double jeopardy, double punishment and collateral estoppel have within narrow limits been previously considered in the decisions but in their broader aspects and in their relationship one to the other, they have not been adequately discussed.

Since this motion requires consideration of all these issues, a discussion at a little greater length than required, may perhaps prove helpful in the future to my brethern on the trial bench.

[219]*219The “ double ” jeopardy issue is discussed in this opinion only in its narrower application to the included doctrines of “ former acquittal ” and “former conviction ”. The broader label of “ former ” jeopardy is being used in the law reviews to encompass also issues of “new” trials after unjustifiable discontinuance of the first trial (e.g. Wade v. Hunter, 336 U. S. 694) or after reversal following convictions of one count of a multicount indictment (e.g. Green v. United States, 355 U. S. 184) or after reversal of inconsistent verdicts (e.g. United States v. Maybury, 274 F. 2d 899). This distinction between “ double ” and “ former ” jeopardy is convenient but appears to have no basis.

THE FACTS

On October 1, 1959 these defendants were indicted in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York for the crime of obstructing by robbery the movement of certain goods in interstate commerce. (See Appendix A; U. S. Code, tit. 18, §§ 1951, 659, 2.) In factual content, the indictment charged the hijacking on September 1, 1959 of a loaded truck operated by one Norman Fine.

Before trial was had in the Federal jurisdiction, these defendants were also indicted in Kings County for robbery and included crimes of grand larceny and assault. It is conceded that the Federal and State prosecutions involve the identical transaction.

However also included in the State indictment was a count of kidnapping. Factually, that count charges that the defendant Lo Cicero in order to facilitate the disposition of the hijacked truck by his accomplice De Sisto, drove the driver victim, Norman Fine, about the city for a period of time before releasing him. The Federal indictment contained no similar count.

The trial of the Federal indictment was had between November 19 and December 18, 1959. The defendant De Sisto was found “guilty as charged ”. The defendant Lo Cicero was found “ not guilty ”.

Both defendants now move to dismiss the State indictment on grounds of double jeopardy. De Sisto, on the ground of “ former conviction ” and Lo Cicero, on the ground of “former acquittal”

The defendant Lo Cicero also contends that the Federal jury • verdict of “ not guilty ” was based solely on the issue cf. identity and could have no other basis. He requests an alternative holding, if he can find no help in the doctrine of double jeopardy, that the People are collaterally estopped from retrying the [220]*220issue of identity since that issue has been previously litigated and determined against the prosecution in a court of competent jurisdiction, the Federal court of this district.

Both defendants are correct in their contentions. The State prosecution is barred against both defendants on double jeopardy principles and against the defendant Lo Cicero on the doctrine of collateral estoppel.

This motion actually raises a rather narrow issue of the construction of two statutes (Penal Law, § 33; Code Crim. Pro., § 139).

It should be noted at this point (discussed infra) that our State constitutional bar (art. I, § 6) and the Federal constitutional bar (Fifth Amendment) do not apply to successive prosecutions by separate sovereignties. However the New York statutes (supra) bar prosecutions in this State following acquittal or conviction in the courts of other jurisdictions including the Federal courts. Thus the double jeopardy bar between jurisdictions is statutory in New York. With respect to prosecutions within New York State the bar is constitutional.

However a construction of the two statutes in question depends not only upon the gravamen of these statutes but more importantly upon an understanding of the scope of the bar which has been historically granted within the State to prevent successive State prosecutions and also by our Federal courts to prevent successive Federal prosecutions.

I

CONSTITUTIONAL AND STATUTORY DOUBLE JEOPARDY

Our Constitution (art. I, § 6) and the Constitutions of all but four States protect against double jeopardy in successive State prosecutions. (See Brock v. North Carolina, 344 U. S. 424, 429, 435.) The Fifth Amendment protects against double jeopardy in successive Federal prosecutions.

Most of the constitutional provisions protect against second jeopardy for the same offense But whether or not those precise words are used, it has been held that since the doctrine of double jeopardy is so deeply rooted in English and American history, its significance and scope is determined not by dictionary construction of the words used, but by reference to its origin and growth. (Green v. United States, 355 U. S. 184, 200, 201; Brock v. North Carolina, 344 U. S. 424, 429.) This much is clearly understood.

[221]*221But it is in the determination of what constitutes the “ same offense ” that we find wide differences of opinion not only between separate jurisdictions but often within a single jurisdiction.

It is not surprising that this is so. Whether the crimes constitute the “ same offense ” is most often a factual test. The decision is therefore often result oriented.

There are no double standards for double jeopardy. It should not affect the decision one iota whether the first prosecution resulted in a conviction or an acquittal; or if a conviction, whether the punishment imposed was heavy or lig’ht. As said in Ex Parte Lange (18 Wall. [85 U. S.] 163,169): “ The common law not only prohibited a second punishment for the same offense, but it went further and forbid a second trial for the same offense, whether the accused had suffered punishment or not, and whether in the former trial he had been acquitted or convicted. ’ ’

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Bluebook (online)
27 Misc. 2d 217, 214 N.Y.S.2d 858, 1961 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 3116, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-de-sisto-nycountyct-1961.