People v. Schiavone

41 Misc. 3d 845
CourtCriminal Court of the City of New York
DecidedSeptember 18, 2013
StatusPublished

This text of 41 Misc. 3d 845 (People v. Schiavone) 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. Schiavone, 41 Misc. 3d 845 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 2013).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

John H. Wilson, J.

By a superceding information dated April 3, 2013, defendant is charged with one count of patronizing a prostitute in the third degree (Penal Law § 230.04), a class A misdemeanor, and one count of loitering for the purpose of engaging in a prostitution offense (Penal Law § 240.37), a violation.

By motion dated April 9, 2013, defendant seeks dismissal of all charges on the docket, asserting that the People’s complaint is facially insufficient, and dismissal of the criminal court complaint pursuant to CPL 30.30, asserting that the People have failed to comply with the time limitations imposed upon the prosecution of misdemeanors.

The court has reviewed the court file, the superceding information, defendant’s motion, and the People’s response dated May 10, 2013.

For the reasons stated below, the motion to dismiss for facial insufficiency is granted as to the charge of loitering for the purpose of engaging in a prostitution offense.

Factual Statement

Pursuant to the superceding information, on or about August 2, 2012 at approximately 11:15 p.m., at the intersection of Reeds [847]*847Mill Lane and Bivona Street, Bronx, New York, the defendant is alleged to have approached a police officer and asked that officer “to engage in sexual conduct in exchange for a sum of United States currency.” (See superceding information dated Apr. 3, 2013.) The defendant is alleged to have stated to the officer, “I want sex. I’ll give you forty dollars.” (See superceding information dated Apr. 3, 2013.)

By a criminal court complaint dated August 3, 2012, defendant was initially charged solely with loitering for the purpose of engaging in a prostitution offense; however, patronizing a prostitute in the third degree was added to the docket by the superceding information.

Legal Analysis

(A) Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss for Facial Sufficiency.

Under CPL 100.15, every accusatory instrument is required to contain two elements: (1) an accusatory portion designating the offense charged, and (2) a factual portion containing evidentiary facts which support or tend to support the charges stated in the accusatory portion of the instrument. These facts must provide reasonable cause to believe that the defendant has committed the crime alleged in the accusatory portion of the accusatory instrument. (See People v Dumas, 68 NY2d 729 [1986].)

Further, under CPL 100.40, a misdemeanor information is facially sufficient if the nonhearsay facts stated in said information establish each and every element of the offense charged, as well as the defendant’s commission of said crime. If both of these factors are present, then the information states a prima facie case, and is sufficient. (See People v Alejandro, 70 NY2d 133 [1987].)

On a motion to dismiss, this court’s review is limited to whether or not the People’s allegations as stated in the criminal court complaint are facially sufficient. The facts alleged need only establish the existence of a prima facie case, even if those facts would not be legally sufficient to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. (See People v Jennings, 69 NY2d 103,115 [1986].)

Applying these principles to the instant matter, the factual allegations contained in the superceding information before this [848]*848court are facially insufficient to support the charge of loitering for the purpose of engaging in a prostitution offense.

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Related

People v. Cooper
779 N.E.2d 1006 (New York Court of Appeals, 2002)
People v. Sinistaj
492 N.E.2d 1209 (New York Court of Appeals, 1986)
People v. Dumas
497 N.E.2d 686 (New York Court of Appeals, 1986)
People v. Jennings
69 N.Y.2d 103 (New York Court of Appeals, 1986)
People v. Alejandro
511 N.E.2d 71 (New York Court of Appeals, 1987)
People v. Fleming
13 A.D.3d 102 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 2004)
People ex rel. Sykes v. Mitchell
184 A.D.2d 466 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1992)
People v. Urraea
214 A.D.2d 378 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1995)
People v. Brooks
190 Misc. 2d 247 (Appellate Terms of the Supreme Court of New York, 2001)
People v. Odoms
143 Misc. 2d 503 (Criminal Court of the City of New York, 1989)
People v. Camacho
185 Misc. 2d 31 (Criminal Court of the City of New York, 2000)
People v. Chavez
41 Misc. 3d 526 (Criminal Court of the City of New York, 2013)

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Bluebook (online)
41 Misc. 3d 845, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-schiavone-nycrimct-2013.