People v. Nunez

36 Misc. 3d 172
CourtCriminal Court of the City of New York
DecidedApril 6, 2012
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 36 Misc. 3d 172 (People v. Nunez) 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. Nunez, 36 Misc. 3d 172 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 2012).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Matthew A. Sciarrino, Jr., J.

The defendant, a “member” of the “Occupy Wall Street Movement” (OWS), is charged with trespass (Penal Law § 140.05), disorderly conduct (Penal Law § 240.20 [6]) and obstructing governmental administration in the second degree (Penal Law § 195.05) as a result of the alleged incidents that occurred on November 15, 2011 during the “eviction” of the occupiers from Zuccotti Park.

The defendant, Ronnie Nunez now moves the court for an order inter alia: dismissing the accusatory instrument pursuant to Criminal Procedure Law § 170.30 (1) (a) and pursuant to Criminal Procedure Law § 170.30 (1) (f). That motion is denied.

An accusatory instrument upon which the defendant may be held for trial “must allege ‘facts of an evidentiary character’ (CPL 100.15 [3]) demonstrating ‘reasonable cause’ to believe that the defendant committed the crime charged (CPL 100.40 [4] [b]).” (People v Dumas, 68 NY2d 729, 731 [1986].) Further, a valid criminal court information must contain nonhearsay factual allegations which, if true, “establish . . . every element of the offense charged and the defendant’s commission thereof.” (CPL 100.40 [1] [c].)

In determining the facial sufficiency of an accusatory instrument, the court must view the facts in the light most favorable to the People. (People v Contes, 60 NY2d 620, 621 [1983].) “That other, innocent inferences could possibly be drawn from the facts is irrelevant on this pleading stage inquiry. . . .” (People v Deegan, 69 NY2d 976, 979 [1987].) “So long as the factual allegations of an 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, they should be given a fair and not overly restrictive or technical reading.” (People v Casey, 95 NY2d 354, 360 [2000] [citations omitted].)

[175]*175Additionally, in making a determination as to the facial sufficiency of an accusatory instrument, “the court is bound by the four corners of the accusatory instrument and may not consider extraneous allegations contained in a motion to dismiss or an answer to a motion to dismiss.” (People v Voelker, 172 Misc 2d 564, 569 [Crim Ct, Kings County 1997], citing People v Alejandro, 70 NY2d 133, 138 [1987].)

The within accusatory instrument states that on November 15, 2011, at about 5:30 a.m. in New York County:

“deponent observed the defendant knowingly and unlawfully remain inside [Zuccotti Park] with a crowd of people after deponent observed and heard a NYPD Captain advise the group that they must leave the premises via bull-horn.
“Deponent states that deponent is informed by Michael Fischetti, Property Manager, with Brookfield Properties that Brookfield Properties is the custodian of the park at the above location and gave the New York City Police Department permission and authority to evacuate all people from within the location. As of [November 15, 2011 at or about 5:30 a.m.] permission and authority for any individual to remain at the location was withdrawn.
“Deponent states that after the above order was given deponent observed the defendant seated on the ground at the above location and the defendant had his arms locked with other persons in that the defendants’ arms were interlocked with the arms of other adjacent persons. Deponent further states that the deponent attempted to separate the defendants from each other and the additional adjacent persons and the defendants tightened their arms to prevent the deponent from removing the defendants from said other persons, in that the defendants’ arms, bent at the elbow, were moved closer and more tightly to their bodies by the defendants.
“Deponent further states that the defendants’ above stated conduct prevented the deponent from conducting a lawful duty and official function, specifically a police operation and to disperse persons from the above location.”

Trespass (Penal Law § 140.05)

Pursuant to Penal Law § 140.05, “[a] person is guilty of trespass when he knowingly enters or remains unlawfully in or [176]*176upon premises.” Additionally, in defining the term “enter or remain unlawfully,” the Penal Law explains:

“A person ‘enters or remains unlawfully’ in or upon premises when he is not licensed or privileged to do so. A person who, regardless of his intent, enters or remains in or upon premises which are at the time open to the public does so with license and privilege unless he defies a lawful order not to enter or remain, personally communicated to him by the owner of such premises or other authorized person.” (Penal Law § 140.00 [5].)

In order to fully discuss the issues involved some understanding of the property involved is necessary. While the court is “bound by the four corners of the accusatory instrument,” as to the sufficiency issue, one cannot view the allegations in a complete vacuum. Additionally, the consideration of various issues are necessary to decide the prong of the defendant’s motion seeking a dismissal pursuant to CPL 170.30 (1) (f).

Discussion

Zuccotti Park,1 located in Lower Manhattan, was originally created in 1968 by United States Steel via a city planning special permit. The park is a privately owned public space (POPS) presently owned by Brookfield Properties (Brookfield) and is open for public use. Zuccotti Park, as is typical with POPS, is intended to be used by the public for passive recreation, rather than for active recreation or sports activities and is to remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week unless permission for regular closures is approved by the City Planning Commission (CPC).

On or about September 17, 2011, members of a protest movement2 that ultimately came to be known as “Occupy Wall Street” established a base of operations inside of Zuccotti Park. [177]*177In addition to using the park as a meeting and organizational space, the occupiers also appeared to have turned the park into a campground, erecting a small number of tents and other structures in the park. A New York Times article entitled How Occupy Wall Street Turned Zuccotti Park Into a Protest Camp, maps out the different areas in the park including a sleeping section, an area for supplies, medical care, clothing and sanitation, a kitchen with donated food, a media section a meeting area and even a library. (Bedel Saget and Archie Tse, How Occupy Wall Street Turned Zuccotti Park Into a Protest Camp, New York Times, Oct. 5, 2011.)3 Wired described Zuccotti Park as a:

“little city within the Big City, with its own library, medical center (often staffed by volunteer nurses and doctors), information center, a common kitchen dispensing thousand[s] of meals a day, and even its own tough neighborhood — the West side. People filled the walkways and sidewalks surrounding the occupation day and night. They ate, chatted, held spontaneous teach-ins and occasionally nasty fights.” (Quinn Norton, Scenes From the Occupation: Before and After the Wall Street Eviction, Wired, Nov. 16, 2011.)4

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
36 Misc. 3d 172, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-nunez-nycrimct-2012.