People v. Vasquez

137 Misc. 2d 71, 520 N.Y.S.2d 99, 1987 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2567
CourtCriminal Court of the City of New York
DecidedSeptember 30, 1987
StatusPublished

This text of 137 Misc. 2d 71 (People v. Vasquez) 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. Vasquez, 137 Misc. 2d 71, 520 N.Y.S.2d 99, 1987 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2567 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1987).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Harvey M. Sklaver, J.

I

These cases arise out of an undercover operation conducted by a division of the New York State Department of Mental Hygiene into the operations of the Bronx Developmental Center, a school for mentally retarded and developmentally disabled persons (Mental Hygiene Law § 13.17). It appears that an investigator was placed in the school as an aide in order to observe and report on the actions of the personnel vis-á-vis the residents. The foregoing is not yet part of the record but was revealed by counsel during a bench conference and is mentioned in order to set forth the background for what follows herein.

II

The defendants are charged in three separate dockets with various acts committed against various residents of the school. Each docket charges the defendants with attempted assault in the third degree (Penal Law §§ 110.00, 120.00 [1]), harassment (Penal Law § 240.25 [1]) and endangering the welfare of an incompetent person (Penal Law § 260.25). Each complaint is by the investigator and is identical in form. Each varies only as to the date and time of the incident, the nature of the incident and the name of the resident. For example the first paragraph in docket 7X035246 alleges that the investigator [73]*73observed the defendant "with intent to cause physical injury to [complaining witness], did attempt to cause injury, in that the deft did punch [complaining witness] in the face with closed fist, causing her to suffer substantial pain.” The second paragraph alleges that the defendant, "with the intent to harass, annoy or alarm did subject [complaining witness], to physical contact”, in that the defendant punched the complaining witness and cursed at her. The third paragraph alleges that the defendant "did knowingly act in a manner likely to be injurious to the physical, mental or moral welfare of [complaining witness], who is unable to care for herself because of mental disease or defect” in that defendant punched her in the face. Finally, the last paragraph, on information and belief, is that the complaining witness "have [sic] been adjudged to be mentally incompetent.” The complaint was signed by the investigator.

III

The defendants were arraigned on these complaints and subsequently, in the All Purpose Part, the People filed a corroborating affidavit by Levestor Cannon, the Director of Mental Retardation at the Bronx Developmental Center. In it Mr. Cannon states that he has read the accusatory instrument, that he has reviewed the medical records pertaining to the complaining witness and that "the assertion, upon information and belief, of mental incompetence is true.” Upon the filing of the affidavit the People asked that the complaints be deemed informations. The defendants opposed this on two grounds. First, they argued, the suffering of substantial pain as it relates to the attempted assault is subjective on the part of the victim and, accordingly, requires the victim’s (complaining witness’) supporting deposition. In short, it is a fact as to which the investigator cannot state on her own knowledge. Second, the defendants argued, the purported corroborating affidavit by the Director of Mental Retardation is itself a hearsay affidavit for, as it states, the complaining witness’ mental incompetence is based upon information and belief.

IV

The defendants are not charged with assault; they are charged with attempted assault. This distinction is critical because it relieves the People of the burden of proving each element of the completed crime. Here the People need not [74]*74prove that the defendant actually caused pain to the complaining witness but only that (to paraphrase Penal Law § 110.00) the defendant "intend[ed]” to cause substantial pain and "engage[d] in conduct which tend[ed] to effect” that result. To state the point analogistically, the People need only prove a "swing”, not a "swing and a hit”. In other words, to answer the question of whether a person has made an attempt to commit a crime requires focusing on the mind and actions of that person and not upon the result of the acts (People v Rosencrants, 89 Misc 2d 721; People v Bracey, 41 NY2d 296). And the actor’s state of mind can be inferred from the actions he took (see, 1 CJI[NY] 9.31, at 502). Thus, the investigator’s complaint herein is sufficient to constitute an information as to the attempted assault. It should be noted in passing that while the factual part of the complaint alleges a completed assault in that the defendant hit the complaining witness "causing her to suffer substantial pain” that does not preclude the defendant’s being charged with attempted assault (People v Williams, 120 Misc 2d 68).

V

The charge of endangering the welfare of an incompetent person presents the court with a problem not previously addressed in the reported decisions, namely, the relationship of Penal Law § 260.25 to the various provisions of the Mental Hygiene Law.

The penal offense occurs when the defendant "knowingly acts in a manner likely to be injurious to the physical, mental or moral welfare of a person who is unable to care for himself because of mental disease or defect” (Penal Law § 260.25). As to this charge the investigator states in the complaint that she "observed that at the aforementioned date, time and location the deft did knowingly act in a manner likely to be injurious to the physical, mental or moral welfare of [complaining witness], who is unable to care for herself because of mental disease or defect, in that the deft did punch [complaining witness] in her face with closed fist.” Of course, the portion of the allegation relating to the punch is based on personal observation but the portion relating to mental disease or defect is an unsupported conclusion.1 The investigator, to set forth the basis for her assertion as to the complaining witness’ [75]*75condition, added: "Deponent further states that she is informed by Levestor Cannon, Director of Mental Retardation, that [complaining witness] have been adjudged to be mentally incompetent.” That statement being hearsay, the People filed a corroborating affidavit by Mr. Cannon in which he stated:

"1. I, levestor canon [sic], Director of Mental Retardation at the Bronx Developmental Center, hereby assert that I have read the accusatory instrument relating to this matter.

"2. That I have reviewed the medical records pertaining to [complaining witness], the complainant in this case, and that the assertion, upon information and belief, of mental incompetency is true.” (Emphasis added.)

The issue here is whether this affidavit is sufficient to convert the complaint to an information.

An adjudication of mental incompetence is not an element of the crime of endangering the welfare of an incompetent person (Penal Law § 260.25). Under that section, a person commits the crime when he knowingly acts in a manner likely to be injurious to the physical, mental or moral welfare of a person "who is unable to care for himself because of mental disease or defect.” Contrast this with section 78.01 of the Mental Hygiene Law which provides that: "The supreme court, and the county courts outside the city of New York, have [exclusive] jurisdiction over the custody of a person and his property if he is incompetent to manage himself or his affairs by reason of age, alcohol abuse, mental illness, or other cause” (emphasis added).

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Related

People v. Wilson
119 A.D.2d 843 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1986)
People v. Resciniti
191 Misc. 719 (New York County Courts, 1948)
People v. Squilleri
37 Misc. 2d 291 (New York City Magistrates' Court, 1962)
People v. Mackey
61 Misc. 2d 799 (New York District Court, 1969)
People v. Rosencrants
89 Misc. 2d 721 (New York County Courts, 1977)
People v. Williams
120 Misc. 2d 68 (Criminal Court of the City of New York, 1983)
People v. Twine
121 Misc. 2d 762 (Criminal Court of the City of New York, 1983)
People v. Rodriguez
131 Misc. 2d 864 (Criminal Court of the City of New York, 1986)

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Bluebook (online)
137 Misc. 2d 71, 520 N.Y.S.2d 99, 1987 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2567, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-vasquez-nycrimct-1987.