People v. Sparaco

39 A.D.2d 753, 332 N.Y.S.2d 351, 1972 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 4625

This text of 39 A.D.2d 753 (People v. Sparaco) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State 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. Sparaco, 39 A.D.2d 753, 332 N.Y.S.2d 351, 1972 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 4625 (N.Y. Ct. App. 1972).

Opinion

Appeal by the People from an order of the Supreme Court, Kings County, entered November 22, 1971, granting defendant’s motion to dismiss the indictment, which charges him with criminal contempt (Penal Law, § 215.50, former subd. 4). Order reversed, on the law, motion denied, and indictment reinstated. In our opinion, the Assistant District Attorney’s statements in this ease, considered reasonably and in context, adequately assured defendant that he had been granted the immunity provided for by section 619-c of the Code of Criminal Procedure (People v. Mulligan, 29 N Y 2d 20; People v. Dellacroce, 38 A D 2d 210). We note that defendant was told, inter alia, that “any questions you answer, you cannot he convicted of a crime.” This is an immunity even broader than that to which he was entitled. Further, the prosecutor made specific reference to section 619-e. To do otherwise than to deny the motion and reinstate the indictment would ignore the realities of the situation and the post-Masiello decision of the Court of Appeals in People v. Mulligan (29 N Y 2d 20, supra). We also note that the prosecutor indicated to defendant that the only exceptions to the grant of immunity were perjury and contempt (see People v. Dellacroce, supra). We find no merit to defendant’s contention that the appeal is untimely (see Code Crim. Pro., §§ 518, 521 [now CPL 450.20, subd. 1; CPL 460.10, subd. 1]). Latham, Acting P. J., Christ and Brennan, JJ., concur; Shapiro and Gulotta, JJ., dissent and vote to affirm, with the following separate memoranda : Shapiro, J. The narrow issue here is whether defendant, after refusing to testify before a Grand Jury, was properly informed that the immunity conferred upon him was full transactional immunity as distinguished from testimonial immunity. While there is no magic litany or formula requisite to compliance with the Constitution, the question always is whether the defendant was apprised that he would be protected from prosecution for any and all crimes which might be revealed by his testimony or to which his testimony might relate (see People v. Mulligan, 29 N Y 2d 20). In People v. Masiello [754]*754(28 N Y 2d 287, 289), the defendant was advised, “‘If you are asked any questions and you are directed to give answers by the Grand Jury, any such answers •—• any evidence obtained or the answers themselves can not be used against you for prosecution ’ Such advice was held inadequate, as it did not inform the defendant that he could not be prosecuted for any transaction about which he was questioned. He was merely advised that the answers themselves could not be used against him. In Mulligan (supra, pp. 25-26), advice that “‘You can no longer incriminate yourself’”, that “‘Your answer to the question will in no way incriminate you because you have been receiving immunity’”, and that “‘you will be getting immunity from prosecution for whatever crimes your testimony may disclose ’” (italics in original) was held to have been as broad as the constitutional privilege against self incrimination which it replaced. Hence, it was held that Mulligan’s refusal to testify subjected him to prosecution for contempt. In People v. Tramunti (29 N Y 2d 28, 29), which was decided on the same day as Mulligan, advice to the defendant that “ ‘ you cannot, sir, be prosecuted for any crime that you may be forced to testify against yourself relating to it, in other words * * * if you were to testify and incriminate [your] self * * * you cannot be prosecuted for that’ or for any evidence ‘that we are able to obtain from your lips as a result of anything you testified to which may inferentially lead to your having violated something ’ ” was held to have fallen far short of the “ ‘ full and fair notice ’, to which a witness is entitled, that he was being given transactional immunity, ‘ immunity in displacement of the privilege against self-incrimination.’” Instead, this advice, the court noted, was almost unintelligible. In People v. Dellacroce (38 A D 2d 210, 213), the defendant was first advised that “‘Any matter, thing, evidence or transaction that you testify to before this Grand Jury * * « cannot be used against you in any future criminal proceeding if your answer is honest and relevant to the question posed to you and in your answer you admit to a crime you can never be prosecuted for that crime.’ ” We noted that such advice was defective in that it indicated that immunity was being conferred only as to answers. This advice was also defective in that it limited immunity to honest and relevant answers. While a dishonest answer given after a grant of immunity might not bar a prosecution for perjury, the dishonesty would not serve to vitiate the immunity. We held, however, that any misunderstanding as to the nature of the immunity conferred was cleared up by the clear and unequivocal advice next given, that is: “ There are only two exceptions to this rule after you have been granted immunity. Ton can be cited for contempt, refusing to answer a question relative to the investigation or if you answer falsely, in other words, if you answer a question dishonestly or untruthfully you can be indicted for perjury. Those are the only two exceptions, the two crimes that you can be convicted of after Grand Jury immunity. Do you understand that?’” (p. 213; italics for second sentence supplied; all other italics in original). This advice completely negated the possibility that the defendant, by any stretch of the imagination, could believe that he was subject to be prosecuted for any crime to which his testimony might relate, save for the statutory exceptions of perjury or contempt for failure to answer. Hence, while the statutory language was not utilized, we held that the defendant had been sufficiently advised that he had been given transactional immunity. Let us now examine what defendant was told in this case. He was advised of the effect of a grant of immunity six times. The first four occasions preceded the actual grant of immunity and the next two followed the grant. He was first advised that such a grant would mean that “any evidence you [755]*755testify to before this Grand Jury and you admit to a crime and your answer was honest and relevant to this Grand Jury, you can never be prosecuted for that crime.” This advice was clearly erroneous, as it limited the immunity to honest and relevant answers. Hence, its description was of an immunity even less far-reaching than testimonial immunity. The second explanation given defendant suffered from the same defect as the first. It again limited immunity to prosecution for crimes admitted to in honest and relevant answers. On the third occasion, defendant was advised: “If you refuse to answer a question, you can be held in contempt, after being granted immunity or if you answer falsely to the question, you can be indicted for perjury. Those are the two —■ only two exceptions.” The next piece of advice the Assistant District Attorney gave defendant was: “your testimony — you will be protected by being granted immunity. Any questions you answer, you cannot be convicted of a crime.” Standing alone these two bits of advice might arguably have been sufficient, since they come close to the explanation given in Dellacroee (supra), where the defendant was informed that after the grant of immunity he could only be convicted of the crimes of perjury or contempt. However, the Assistant District Attorney was not content to let the matter rest there, for he at once diluted the effect of what he had said by adding: “Mr. Sparaeo, I’m going to explain to you what immunity means.

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Bluebook (online)
39 A.D.2d 753, 332 N.Y.S.2d 351, 1972 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 4625, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-sparaco-nyappdiv-1972.