People v. Poplaski

162 Misc. 2d 209, 616 N.Y.S.2d 434, 1994 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 372
CourtNassau County District Court
DecidedAugust 17, 1994
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 162 Misc. 2d 209 (People v. Poplaski) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nassau County District Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Poplaski, 162 Misc. 2d 209, 616 N.Y.S.2d 434, 1994 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 372 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1994).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Stephen A. Bucaria, J.

The defendant’s application for an order—

I. Dismissing the accusatory instruments herein because Penal Law § 260.10 (1) violates the defendant’s rights under article I, § 6 of the New York Constitution as well as his rights under the First, Fifth, Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution;

II. Dismissing the accusatory instruments herein pursuant to CPL 170.30 (1) (a); 170.35 (1) (a); 100.15 and 100.40 because (a) it is facially insufficient and defective; and (b) it violates the defendant’s rights under article I, § 6 of the New York Constitution as well as his rights under the First, Fifth, Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution;

III. Suppression of the use as evidence at trial of any record or potential testimony reciting or describing statements of the defendant, whether made to a public servant or a private citizen, made or obtained involuntarily, within the meaning of CPL 60.45, pursuant to CPL 710.30, or in the alternative, directing that a hearing be held prior to trial, pursuant to CPL 170.60 (4), for the purpose of making the finding of fact necessary to determine the instant motion;

IV. Suppression of the use of evidence consisting of tangible property obtained by means of an unlawful search and seizure under circumstances precluding admissibility thereof in a criminal trial, or in the alternative, directing that a hearing be held prior to trial, pursuant to CPL 710.60 (4), for the purpose of making the finding of fact necessary to determine the instant motion;

V. Directing the People to provide the defendant with a copy of the defendant’s past criminal history and prior bad or immoral acts which the People intend to use at trial to impeach the credibility of the defendant should the defendant choose to testify; and, if there is a past criminal history or any bad or immoral acts on the part of the defendant, directing a hearing be held to determine whether these prior convictions [212]*212and/or bad acts may be used by the People during cross-examination of the defendant.

BACKGROUND

The defendant, Timothy Poplaski, allegedly contacted six boys ranging in age from 12 to 15, through a computer bulletin board. Once he made contact, the defendant allegedly had numerous phone conversations with said children where he claimed an ability to hypnotize them and directed them to masturbate.

On April 7, 1994, the Nassau County Police arrested the defendant and charged him with four counts of endangering the welfare of a child in violation of Penal Law § 260.10 (1). The police then transferred the defendant to the sex crimes squad of the Nassau County Police Department. While at the sex crimes squad, the defendant provided the police with a written statement chronicling his involvement in the crimes charged. In addition, the defendant executed a consent to search form. Thereafter, the police seized property from the defendant’s residence including, but not limited to, his computer and related items.

The defendant maintains that the police coerced him into making his statement and into consenting to a search of his residence. During this time period, the defendant was not represented by counsel.

Currently, the defendant is charged with six counts of endangering the welfare of a child in violation of Penal Law § 260.10 (1).

I. Penal Law § 260.10 (1).

A. Penal Law § 260.10 (1) does not violate the defendant’s right to free speech.

The defendant’s contention that Penal Law § 260.10 (1) is meant to "curtail acts and not speech,” and therefore does not prohibit the defendant’s alleged behavior, is contrary to the legislative intent of the statute. The court has previously held that the legislative intent of this statute is to protect the physical health, morals, and well-being of children, and this solicitude relates not only to sexual offenses but to other dangers as well. (People v Bergerson, 17 NY2d 398 [1966]; Mem of City of NY in support of L 1970, ch 389, 1970 NY Legis Ann, at 52.) The law’s focus is on the potential for endangering a child’s welfare. (People v Benu, 87 Misc 2d 139 [1976].) There is nothing in the language of the statute, its legislative [213]*213history, or the case law to indicate this statute is meant to "curtail acts and not speech.” (People v Rice, 17 NY2d 881 [1966]; People v Ahlers, 98 AD2d 821 [1983].) Therefore, the court finds that the statute does proscribe the defendant’s alleged activity.

The right to free speech is not absolute. (Chaplinsky v New Hampshire, 315 US 568, 571-572 [1942].) The United States Supreme Court has explicitly defined certain classes of speech, including the lewd and obscene, the profane, the libelous, and the insulting or fighting words, which the government may regulate. (Supra, at 572.) Where a particular type of speech does not fall under the above categories, the government may still impose regulations where a compelling government interest exists.

When deciding whether to allow such a restriction, the court must first decide whether or not there exists a countervailing State interest. In this case, there is a compelling State interest to protect the well-being of children. Although in the abstract any restriction on speech impinges on the defendant’s right to free speech, the issue before the court is whether the court’s obligation to protect the compelling State interest or the protection of the well-being of children outweighs the defendant’s right to have sexually explicit phone conversations with children.

The government’s interest in protecting children is firmly established in case law (Matter of Anne BB. [James BB.], 202 AD2d 806 [1994]; Juman v Wise Servs., 159 Misc 2d 314; Matter of Katherine B., 189 AD2d 443). On the contrary, restrictions on the defendant’s right to have sexually explicit conversations with children is not constitutionally guaranteed. The court need not and does not rule on the defendant’s right to have sexually explicit conversations with adults nor on the method used to facilitate such conversation. Consequently, the court holds that the statute is not an unconstitutional restriction on the defendant’s right to free speech.

B. Penal Law § 260.10 (1).

In order for a statute to be constitutional, the statute "must give notice to the accused of the illegality of his act.” (People ex rel. Serra v Warden, 90 Misc 2d 654, 656 [Sup Ct, Bronx County 1977].) When reviewing the constitutionality of a statute, the court gives the legislative act a strong presumption of constitutional validity. (Supra, at 606.) In order to prevail in a constitutional challenge to a criminal statute, the [214]*214defendant has the burden to prove the unconstitutionality of the statute beyond a reasonable doubt. (Matter of Van Berkel v Power, 16 NY2d 37 [1965].)

The court holds that Penal Law §260.10 (1) does give the defendant notice of the illegality of his acts. Penal Law § 260.10 (1) "use[s] ordinary terms to express ideas which find adequate interpretation in common usage and understanding” (People v Byron, 17 NY2d 64, 67 [1966]) and is certainly sufficient to give warning of what the statute prohibits. (People v Bergerson, 17 NY2d 398 [1966],

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Related

People v. Simmons
699 N.E.2d 417 (New York Court of Appeals, 1998)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
162 Misc. 2d 209, 616 N.Y.S.2d 434, 1994 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 372, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-poplaski-nydistctnassau-1994.