People v. Wagner

80 Misc. 2d 1042, 365 N.Y.S.2d 404, 1975 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2313
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedFebruary 20, 1975
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 80 Misc. 2d 1042 (People v. Wagner) 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. Wagner, 80 Misc. 2d 1042, 365 N.Y.S.2d 404, 1975 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2313 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1975).

Opinion

Leon N. Armer, J.

This is a motion to dismiss two indictments made upon the grounds that the Grand Jury proceedings were defective by reason of the defendant not having been accorded an opportunity to appear and testify before the Grand Jury. (See CPL 210.20, subd 1, par [c]; CPL 210.35, subd 4; CPL 190.50, subd 5.) The court has received the testimony of defendant on a hearing, and the testimony of his counsel, called as a witness by the prosecution. Both parties have been given the opportunity to furnish evidence relating to the issues raised by the motion papers. Upon the affidavits of both attorneys submitted on this and a prior similar motion, the testimony taken, and certain judicial notice taken as hereinafter noted, this court finds and determines as follows:

On July 11, 1974 two felony complaints were filed, one in the Hamburg Town Court, the other in Lackawanna City Court, each of which charged defendant with violations of article 220 of the Penal Law during April, 1974. The defendant was not arrested, but voluntarily surrendered to custody October 4, 1974 according to his attorney’s sworn statement which was not rebutted. He remained in custody on these charges until released on bail January 2, 1975. These charges underlie the instant indictments.

The defendant was arraigned in Lackawanna City Court October 4, 1974. Those charges were adjourned until October 22, 1974 for a preliminary hearing. He was arraigned in Hamburg Town Court on October 18, 1974, which charges were adjourned to October 23, 1974 for a preliminary hearing.

On October 22, 1974 the matter in Lackawanna City Court was adjourned to October 29, 1974 for a preliminary hearing. The Hamburg Town Court matter was adjourned October 23, 1974 until November 6, 1974 for a preliminary hearing.

The District Attorney claims that these adjournments were at defendant’s request. The defendant claims that they were at the District Attorney’s request. On the record before this court the defendant’s contentions must be credited concerning [1044]*1044these claims. No testimony or evidence was offered thereon, nor any affidavit of any member of the District Attorney’s office claiming actual personal knowledge. The defense claims are further corroborated by the fact a motion was made dated October 29, 1974 to Lackawanna City Court for defendant’s release pursuant to CPL 180.80. ("Proceedings upon felony complaint; release of defendant from custody upon failure of timely disposition”.) A similar motion dated November 4, 1974 was made to Hamburg Town Court.

In the meantime, the charges recited had been presented to an Erie County Grand Jury on or about October 25, 1974, without notice of that fact to defendant or his counsel.

By letter dated November 1, 1974, by which service of the first of the foregoing notices of motion was made, the defendant’s attorney requested that his "client be allowed to exercise his right to appear as a witness before the Grand Jury * * * and * * * that the notice of the date and time of the appearance be given * * *, at this address.” The District Attorney acknowledges receipt of this letter November 4, 1974. A representative of the District Attorney’s office, on a prior motion, has contended that on November 6, 1974, the defendant’s attorney was notified verbally that if he wished the defendant to appear that he, the defendant’s attorney, would have to appear at the District Attorney’s office at 9:30 a.m., November 7, 1974. It is claimed that the defendant was with his attorney at that time. It is difficult to see how this could be since the defendant was then at the Erie County Holding Center, but determination of such fact is not necessary to this proceeding. It is, and has been the practice for the District Attorney’s office to make arrangements to produce a defendant in custody for appearance before the Grand Jury, defense counsel having no power to so do and it is beyond dispute that the District Attorney’s office did not have the defendant brought to the Grand Jury November 7, 1974 at 9:30 a.m. It does not appear that his counsel was so present either.

On November 7, 1974 defendant was indicted on both matters and arraigned thereon November 8, 1974. The defendant moved to dismiss the indictments on the same grounds as the instant motion. The indictments were dismissed with leave to resubmit to another grand jury, by reason of failure of the District Attorney to "serve upon the applicant, at the address specified by him, a notice that he will be heard by the grand jury at a given time and place”, the court holding that the [1045]*1045telephone conversation was inadequate notice within the meaning of the statute.

Following that decision, dated November 27, 1974, the District Attorney, by letter dated December 3, 1974 advised defendant as follows: "The Erie County Grand Jury will investigate matters which could result in criminal charges being placed against you, on December 13, 1974 at 10:00 A.M. o’clock. * * * If it is your intention to give testimony on that date, prior thereto it will be necessary for you to notify the undersigned or have your attorney do so.” This letter was mailed to the defendant at his attorney’s office address.

This notice was, of course, insufficient to comply with CPL 190.50 (subd. 5, par. [b]). It did not notify the defendant that "he would be heard * * * at a given time and place.” The criminal charges with which he was concerned had already been placed against him, and the language of the notice "which could result in criminal charges being placed against you” could easily be understood as referring to other matters than those upon which the defendant remained in custody. Further, the District Attorney, having once been served with notice that the defendant wished to be heard, had no right to serve the notice required with a condition that further notice be given by the defendant before he could exercise the right given to him by law.

On proceedings in court December 11, 1974 defendant’s counsel acknowledged that he knew of that date, place and time at which his client, the defendant, was to appear, i.e., December 13, 1974.

The defendant was not produced before the Grand Jury on December 13, 1974. By letter dated December 11, 1974 mailed to his attorney, defendant’s attorney was advised: "The presentation to the Grand Jury of the matters involving [defendant] has been adjourned to Wednesday, December 18, 1974 at 10:00 A.M. at 25 Delaware Ave., 2nd floor, Grand Jury room. * * * If your client intends to exercise his right * * * notify us at least one or two days in advance. We need some notice to order the defendant brought in”.

Again, this notice did not notify defendant as to when and where he would be heard, and again required further notice from the defendant before permitting him to exercise his lawful right to appear. He was not produced before the Grand Jury December 18, 1974 at 10:00 a.m., although still in custody.

[1046]*1046In the meantime, by letter dated December 17, 1974, the defendant, apparently abandoning his prior notice, again served by mail a notice upon the District Attorney as follows: "On behalf of my client, I request that my client be allowed to exercise his right to appear as a witness before the Grand Jury of Erie County and I request that the notice of the date and time of the appearance be given to myself at this address.”

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

People v. Martinez
111 Misc. 2d 67 (New York Supreme Court, 1981)
Rogers v. State
608 P.2d 530 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1980)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
80 Misc. 2d 1042, 365 N.Y.S.2d 404, 1975 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2313, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-wagner-nysupct-1975.