People v. Nwogu

22 Misc. 3d 201
CourtCriminal Court of the City of New York
DecidedOctober 22, 2008
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 22 Misc. 3d 201 (People v. Nwogu) 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. Nwogu, 22 Misc. 3d 201 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 2008).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Charles S. Lopresto, J.

Defendant Emmanuel Nwogu moves in an omnibus motion for the following relief: (1) a bill of particulars; (2) discovery; (3) inspection and dismissal of the accusatory instrument; (4) suppression of physical evidence; and (5) a reservation of rights pursuant to CPL 255.20 (3). The People have responded to the motion and demand reciprocal discovery. Defendant’s motion is decided as follows:

Defendant Emmanuel Nwogu is charged with menacing in the second degree (Penal Law § 120.14 [1]), menacing in the third degree (Penal Law § 120.15), and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree (Penal Law § 265.01 [2]).

Facial Sufficiency

Defendant moves for dismissal of all the charges, arguing that the accusatory instrument is facially insufficient as the facts alleged fail to establish every element of the offenses charged. The People oppose the motion for dismissal.

To be sufficient on its face, a misdemeanor information must contain factual allegations of an evidentiary character demonstrating reasonable cause to believe the defendant committed the offenses charged. (CPL 100.15 [3]; 100.40 [1] [b]; 70.10; People v Jones, 9 NY3d 259 [2007]; People v Casey, 95 NY2d 354 [2000]; People v Dumas, 68 NY2d 729 [1986].) These facts must be supported by nonhearsay allegations which, if true, establish every element of the offenses. (CPL 100.40 [1] [c].) An information which fails to satisfy these requirements is jurisdictionally defective. (CPL 170.30, 170.35; People v Alejandro, 70 NY2d 133 [1987]; People v Dumas, 68 NY2d 729 [1986].)

In reviewing an accusatory instrument for facial sufficiency, “[s]o long as the factual allegations of an information give an [203]*203accused, notice sufficient to prepare a defense and are adequately detailed to prevent a defendant from being tried twice for the same offense,” the court should give it “a fair and not overly restrictive or technical reading.” (People v Casey, 95 NY2d 354, 360 [2000].) What is needed in the pleading is that the factual allegations are sufficiently evidentiary in character such that they tend to support the charges. (People v Allen, 92 NY2d 378, 385 [1998].)

In deciding a motion to dismiss for facial insufficiency, a court must confine its analysis to the allegations contained solely in the complaint and any depositions filed in support of it. (People v Alejandro at 138; People v Konieczny, 2 NY3d 569, 576 [2004].) New facts contained in the opposition are not part of the accusatory instrument and cannot serve to cure any of its alleged jurisdictional defects. (Id.; CPL 100.40 [1], [4].)

The accusatory instrument charges defendant with the commission of the aforementioned crimes on June 17, 2008, between 3:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., inside of 165-08 88th Avenue 5th Floor, Queens, New York, under the following circumstances:

“Deponent (Police Officer Jeffrey Smith) states that he is informed by complainant Gwen Wallace that at the above-mentioned date, time and place of occurrence, the defendant, Emmanuel N. Nwogu, stood up from his seat and stated T am going to blow up.’
“Deponent is further informed by the complainant that she observed the handle of a knife on the back of defendant’s waistband.
“Deponent is further informed by Sergeant Proherbs shield No. 623 that he recovered a dagger with a blade in excess of four inches from the back of the defendant’s waistband.
“Deponent is further informed by the complainant that the above-mentioned actions of the defendant placed her in fear of physical injury.”
“A person is guilty of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree when . . . [h]e possesses any dagger, dangerous knife, dirk, razor, stiletto, imitation pistol, or any other dangerous or deadly instrument or weapon with intent to use the same unlawfully against another” (Penal Law § 265.01 [2]). Penal Law § 265.15 (4) provides a statutory presumption of intent for the possession of certain weapons as follows: “The possession by any person of any dagger, dirk, stiletto, dangerous knife or any other weapon, instrument, appliance or substance designed, [204]*204made or adapted for use primarily as a weapon, is presumptive evidence of intent to use the same unlawfully against another.”

Here, the accusatory instrument asserts that defendant was in possession of a dagger, one of the enumerated weapons that falls within the scope of the statute’s presumption. (Penal Law § 265.15 [4].) Therefore, the accusatory instrument is facially sufficient as to the charge of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree. (Penal Law § 265.01 [2].)

“A person is guilty of menacing in the third degree when, by physical menace, he or she intentionally places or attempts to place another person in fear of death, imminent serious physical injury or physical injury.” (Penal Law § 120.15.) The statute requires more than verbal threats, it requires a “physical menace,” i.e., a physical act which places the victim in fear of imminent serious injury. (Penal Law § 120.15; Matter of Akheern B., 308 AD2d 402 [1st Dept 2003], lv denied 1 NY3d 506 [2004]; People v Sylla, 7 Misc 3d 8 [App Term, 2d & 11th Jud Dists 2005]; People v Stephens, 100 Misc 2d 267 [Suffolk Dist Ct 1979]; Donnino, Practice Commentary, McKinney’s Cons Laws of NY, Book 39, Penal Law § 120.15, at 314-315.)

Here, factual allegations in the information relating to the charge of menacing in the third degree consist of defendant’s standing up from a seat stating “I am going to blow up” and the complaining witness’ observation of a handle of a knife on the back of defendant’s waistband. There is no allegation that defendant’s words were directed at the complaining witness or anyone else, nor does the accusatory instrument allege the physical proximity of defendant to the complaining witness at any time during the incident. Defendant’s words “I am going to blow up,” the physical act of standing up from a seat, together with the observation of a knife handle in the back of defendant’s waistband, are insufficient to demonstrate defendant’s intent to place another person in fear of death, imminent serious physical injury or physical injury. Thus, the accusatory instrument lacks sufficient factual allegations to support the charge of menacing in the third degree.

“A person is guilty of menacing in the second degree when:
“1. He or she intentionally places or attempts to place another person in reasonable fear of physical injury, serious physical injury or death by displaying a deadly weapon, dangerous instrument or what appears to be a pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun, machine [205]*205gun or other firearm.” (Penal Law § 120.14 [1];
People v Filauri, 10 Misc 3d 1064[A], 2005 NY Slip Op 52141 [U] [Nassau Dist Ct 2005].)

The crime of menacing in the second degree requires an intent to place another person in “reasonable fear of physical injury” by “displaying” a weapon or dangerous instrument. (People v Bartkow, 96 NY2d 770, 772 [2001].)

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Bluebook (online)
22 Misc. 3d 201, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-nwogu-nycrimct-2008.