People v. Nesbitt

50 Misc. 3d 490, 17 N.Y.S.3d 825
CourtCriminal Court of the City of New York
DecidedSeptember 17, 2015
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 50 Misc. 3d 490 (People v. Nesbitt) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Criminal Court of the City of New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Nesbitt, 50 Misc. 3d 490, 17 N.Y.S.3d 825 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 2015).

Opinion

[491]*491OPINION OF THE COURT

Maky V. Rosado, J.

Defendant is charged in a superseding information, dated March 31, 2015 and filed on April 21, 2015, with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree (Penal Law § 220.03); unauthorized use of a vehicle in the third degree (Penal Law § 165.05 [1]); firearms (Administrative Code of City of NY § 10-131 [b]); and unlawful sale, possession, or use of an imitation air pistol (Administrative Code § 10-131 [g] [l]).1 By affirmation dated June 26, 2015, defendant moves to dismiss the charge of Penal Law § 165.05 (1) alleging that the superseding information is facially insufficient. By affirmation in opposition dated July 27, 2015, the People oppose dismissal, arguing that the accusatory instrument is facially sufficient. In rendering a decision, this court has reviewed defendant’s affirmation dated June 26, 2015, the People’s affirmation in opposition dated July 27, 2015, the court file, and relevant statutes and case law.

Defendant’s motion to dismiss for facial insufficiency is denied.

Factual Allegations

The information alleges that on or about March 8, 2015, at approximately 12:20 p.m., at 1110 Close Avenue, the following occurred:

“Deponent is informed by Christina Perez, that. . . informant observed defendant standing next to informant’s vehicle, a black-cherry 2014 Kia Sorento. Deponent is further informed by informant that after defendant started walking away from the aforementioned vehicle, informant unlocked the doors of said vehicle remotely. Deponent is further informed by informant that informant then observed defendant start to walk back towards said [492]*492vehicle. Deponent is further informed by informant that informant observed defendant place two (2) backpacks and one (1) shopping bag inside said vehicle. Deponent is further informed by informant that informant asked defendant in sum and substance, What are you doing? and [sic] that defendant responded, in sum and substance: GIVE ME YOUR FUCKING KEYS.
“Deponent is further informed by informant that defendant stated in sum and substance: TAKE IT EASY. I’M A COP, and that defendant subsequently walked away.
“Deponent is further informed by informant that informant is the lawful owner of the aforementioned vehicle and, as such, informant did not give defendant permission or authority to take, possess, operate, exercise control over or open the door of said vehicle ....
“Deponent further states that he observed defendant to have in his custody and control, inside a backpack, one (1) imitation firearm/air pistol and fifty-five (55) pellets for said air pistol, and inside a shopping bag, one (1) bullet-proof vest. Deponent further states that the aforementioned pistol looked like an actual firearm in that it substantially duplicates the look, weight, and feel of a real pistol, and did not have an orange rubber stop on the tip. Deponent further states that said pistol has a propelling force of air.”

Facial Sufficiency

To be facially sufficient, an accusatory instrument “must designate the offense or offenses charged” (CPL 100.15 [2]) and “must contain a statement of the complainant alleging facts of an evidentiary character supporting or tending to support the charges” (CPL 100.15 [3]). More specifically, an information must provide “reasonable cause to believe that the defendant committed the offense charged in the accusatory part of the information” and must contain “[n] on-hearsay allegations . . . [that] establish, if true, every element of the offense charged and the defendant’s commission thereof” (CPL 100.40 [1] [b], [c]; People v Henderson, 92 NY2d 677, 679 [1999]).

The Court of Appeals has stated that CPL 100.40 (1) places “the burden on the People to make out their prima facie case [493]*493for the offense charged in the text of the information” (People v Jones, 9 NY3d 259, 261 [2007]). It should be noted that the prima facie case requirement is not the same as the burden required at trial of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, “nor does it rise to the level of legally sufficient evidence that is necessary to survive a motion to dismiss based on the proof presented at trial” (People v Kalin, 12 NY3d 225, 230 [2009]). Rather, what is required is that the factual allegations in the information “give an accused notice sufficient to prepare a defense and are adequately detailed to prevent a defendant from being tried twice for the same offense” (id. at 230 [internal quotation marks and citations omitted]). Ultimately, the information “should be given a fair and not overly restrictive or technical reading” (People v Casey, 95 NY2d 354, 360 [2000]).

Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle in the Third Degree

Penal Law § 165.05 (1) provides:

“A person is guilty of unauthorized use of a vehicle in the third degree when . . .
“ . . . [k] nowing that he does not have the consent of the owner, he takes, operates, exercises control over, rides in or otherwise uses a vehicle. A person who engages in any such conduct without the consent of the owner is presumed to know that he does not have such consent.”

The elements of the offense are that (1) defendant took, operated, exercised control over, rode in or otherwise used a vehicle without the owner’s consent; and (2) a defendant acted with knowledge that he or she did not have the vehicle owner’s consent (see CJI2d[NY] Penal Law § 165.05 [1]).

It is well-settled that Penal Law § 165.05 criminalizes unauthorized vehicle usage that falls short of actual operation or transport (People v McCaleb, 25 NY2d 394, 399 [1969]). One’s presence in a vehicle, regardless of the duration of unauthorized occupation, could amount to a violation of the statute (see People v Roby, 39 NY2d 69, 71 [1976]). Also, there is no requirement that a defendant must have the ability or intent to operate the vehicle (People v Franov, 17 NY3d 58, 63 [2011]). However, the applicability of the statute is not without limit. Mere presence in a vehicle, by itself, is insufficient to establish control or use. A defendant must “take[ ] actions that interfere with or are detrimental to the owner’s possession or use of the vehicle” (id. at 64).

[494]*494Turning to the instant matter, the information sufficiently alleges that defendant used complainant’s vehicle without consent. The pertinent allegations state that defendant opened the door to complainant’s car, and placed two backpacks and a shopping bag inside the vehicle. The information further alleges that an imitation firearm/air pistol was contained inside one of the backpacks. The imitation firearm/air pistol largely emulated the look, weight and feel of a genuine firearm. Additionally, it lacked an orange rubber stop. Administrative Code of the City of New York § 10-131 (g) (1) prohibits the possession of imitation firearms.2 Administrative Code of City of NY § 10-131 (b) (1) prohibits the unlicensed possession of air pistols.3 [495]*495The mere possession of an imitation firearm/air pistol constitutes criminal conduct. A defendant’s use of another’s vehicle for criminal activity is detrimental to the owner’s possession or use

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Bluebook (online)
50 Misc. 3d 490, 17 N.Y.S.3d 825, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-nesbitt-nycrimct-2015.