People v. Ocasio

39 Misc. 3d 465
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedFebruary 22, 2013
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 39 Misc. 3d 465 (People v. Ocasio) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Ocasio, 39 Misc. 3d 465 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 2013).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Megan Tallmer, J.

Defendant is charged with predatory sexual assault and related charges. He moves to dismiss the charges against him on the grounds that he has been denied the right to a speedy trial pursuant to CPL 30.30 (1) (a) and speedy release pursuant to CPL 30.30 (2) (a).1

CPL 30.30 (1) (a) requires the People to be ready for the trial of a felony within six months of the commencement of a criminal action. In this case, the action commenced with the filing of two felony complaints on April 27, 2011. Thus, the People had six months or 183 days to be ready for trial, minus excludable time. CPL 30.30 (2) (a) requires defendant to be released from custody if the People are not ready for trial within 90 days of defendant’s confinement, minus excludable time.

Where a defendant moves to dismiss an indictment or for release on speedy trial grounds, the moving papers must include sworn allegations that there has been unexcused delay in excess of the statutory maximum. If the defendant meets his initial burden in establishing that the People have exceeded the six months or 90 days, the burden shifts to the People to prove that certain periods of time should be excluded. (People v Santos, 68 NY2d 859, 861 [1986].)

Based on the defendant’s motion, the People’s response and the minutes of October 13, 2011, February 2, 2012, March 15, 2012, April 26, 2012, May 14, 2012, June 21, 2012 and July 19, 2012, the court’s calculations are as follows:

April 27, 2011 - May 2, 2011

On April 27, 2011, defendant was arraigned on two felony [467]*467complaints2 and the case was adjourned to May 2, 2011. It is not disputed that this period of five days is chargeable to the People.

May 2, 2011 - June 27, 2011

On May 2, 2011, the case was adjourned to June 27, 2011 for grand jury action. On May 27, 2011, the People filed the indictment and on June 20, 2011, filed and served a statement of readiness. This period of 49 days is chargeable to the People. (People v Carter, 91 NY2d 795, 798 [1998] [statement of readiness made contemporaneously with filing of indictment stops speedy trial clock].)

The indictment includes charges relating to two separate alleged incidents, occurring on April 6, 2011 and April 25, 2011, with two different complainants but similar fact patterns. In the April 6, 2011 incident, defendant allegedly followed a woman into an elevator in public housing, dragged her near the roof, sexually assaulted and robbed her. In the April 25, 2011 incident, defendant allegedly followed a woman into an elevator in public housing, dragged her near the roof and robbed her, but did not sexually assault her.

June 27, 2011 - October 13, 2011

On June 27, 2011, the case was adjourned for motion practice to October 13, 2011. The judge presiding in Part A set a motion schedule, directing defense motions to be made by August 10, 2011 and the People’s response to be filed by September 10, 2011. It is not disputed that this period is excludable for motion practice. (CPL 30.30 [4] [a].)

October 13, 2011 - November 10, 2011

On October 13, 2011, defense counsel, Robert Cantor, Esq., was not available and asked to adjourn the case to October 18, 2011. Although the motion schedule gave defendant until August 10, 2011 to file his motions, defense motions were filed on July 12, 2011. Defendant’s omnibus motion included a motion to sever. The People had not yet responded to defendant’s omnibus and severance motions. The People filed their response to defendant’s omnibus motion off calendar, on October 21, 2011. This period is excludable pursuant to CPL 30.30 (4) (f) as a time when defendant was without counsel through no fault of the court. (People v Mears, 55 AD3d 439, 440 [1st Dept 2008]; [468]*468People v Reed, 19 AD3d 312, 318 [1st Dept 2005]; People v Forte, 4 AD3d 123 [2004].)

This period is also excludable pursuant to CPL 30.30 (4) (a) as a reasonable period of time for motion practice pursuant to CPL 30.30 (4) (a). (See discussion, infra.)

November 10, 2011 - December 15, 2011

In his omnibus motion, defendant sought severance of the three sex offenses charged as to the April 6, 2011 incident. Counsel argued that these offenses were not properly joined under CPL 200.20 (2). Alternatively, counsel asserted that even if there was a statutory basis for joinder, defendant would be “irremediably prejudiced” by allowing the jury to hear of the alleged sexual abuse as to one of the charged incidents.3

In their response to defendant’s omnibus motion, the People opposed severance. On November 10, 2011, the court issued a written decision on defendant’s omnibus motion. The court granted several pretrial hearings, but denied defendant’s motion for severance, without prejudice to defendant’s right to renew before the trial court. It is not disputed that this period is excludable for motion practice pursuant to CPL 30.30 (4) (a).

December 15, 2011 - February 2, 2012

On December 15, 2011, defense counsel Cantor was relieved and Karen Smolar, Esq. from the Bronx Defenders was assigned to defendant’s case. Ms. Smolar requested an adjournment to file a motion for the court to reconsider the severance application previously denied by the court. The case was adjourned to February 2, 2012. It is not disputed that this period is excludable for motion practice pursuant to CPL 30.30 (4) (a).

February 2, 2012 - March 15, 2012

On February 2, 2012, Ms. Smolar and Ms. Yavener, the prosecutor assigned to the case, appeared before the court. Ms. Smolar reminded the court that she took over the case from former counsel and was considering renewing the motion for a severance. She asserted that the defense needed discovery in order to determine whether renewal of the severance motion was appropriate. Ms. Smolar requested specific items of discovery, including DNA evidence.

[469]*469With respect to DNA evidence, the People indicated that swabs were done but that the complainant needed to be re-swabbed. The following colloquy between the court and Ms. Smolar confirms that the case was adjourned for the express purpose of affording discovery to counsel to allow her to determine whether to renew the motion for severance:

“Ms. Yavener: Everything I have, I’ve turned over.
“The Court: This is taking an awful long time .... There are discovery issues I don’t have to get involved in until there is a motion to compel.
“Ms. Smolar: I haven’t filed a motion for severance because I don’t have sufficient information about this case to even be in a position to make that determination.
“The Court: You may not have any additional information.
“Ms. Smolar: Then at a point at which there is clearly no other discovery material and I have the DNA and I can make that decision, then I’ll file a motion.
“The Court: So, you’re going to put any outstanding discovery demands in writing.
“Ms. Smolar: That’s fine. . . .
“The Court: Let’s put it on for 3/15 for me to keep track of what’s going on.

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Related

People v. Carter
2023 NY Slip Op 51496(U) (Yonkers City Court, 2023)
People v. Cox
139 A.D.3d 1083 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 2016)

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Bluebook (online)
39 Misc. 3d 465, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-ocasio-nysupct-2013.