People v. Williams

89 Misc. 2d 269, 391 N.Y.S.2d 518
CourtCriminal Court of the City of New York
DecidedJanuary 31, 1977
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 89 Misc. 2d 269 (People v. Williams) 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. Williams, 89 Misc. 2d 269, 391 N.Y.S.2d 518 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1977).

Opinion

Benjamin Altman, J.

The defendant, an alleged probation violator from North Carolina, moves, pursuant to CPL 570.36 and 570.40, for a dismissal of the fugitive warrant before the court. The People move pursuant to CPL 410.80 to have the defendant delivered to the custody of the North Carolina authorities.

On September 6, 1973, the defendant had executed a waiver of extradition to the State of North Carolina. (In examining the waiver, it seems to this court that the executed waiver was for violations of probation in futuro.)

No New York Governor’s mandate honoring North Carolina’s request has ever been issued.

The defendant was arrested on or about August 10, 1976, and was remanded for appearance in the Criminal Court. On August 11, 1976, an Acting Supreme Court Justice paroled the defendant. Subsequently, the matter was on for August 20, October 5, November 5, 1976, and January 20, 1977. The defendant is still on parole and has made all appearances.

The time of the arrest and arraignment as a fugitive starts the 90-day period in which the Governor’s warrant must be issued (CPL 570.36, 570.40).

The defendant contends that the 90-day time limit contained in the CPL has long since expired. The defendant thus alleges that this court no longer has jurisdiction over the matter and that the defendant should be dismissed.

While the defendant is on parole and is not incarcerated as such, he alleges that the issue of the fugitive warrant "holds” him, making him subject to the mandate of the court. His freedom is thus restricted, i.e., he is in effect "committed.” (It is noted at this juncture that the defendant has not moved by writ of habeas corpus for his release.)

Finally, the defendant contends that he was a teenager at the time he executed the waiver of extradition. At the very [271]*271least there should be a hearing as to whether the waiver was knowingly and voluntarily executed.

The prosecution argues that, notwithstanding the absence of a New York State Governor’s mandate before this court, the 1973 waiver of extradition is effective, and, pursuant to CPL 410.80 the defendant should be presented to the North Carolina authorities.

The statutes under consideration are the following:

"§ 570.36 Commitment to await requisition; bail. If from the examination before the local criminal court it appears that the person held is the person charged with having committed the crime alleged, and, except in cases arising under section 570.14 or 570.16, that he has fled from justice, the local criminal court must, by a warrant reciting the accusation, commit him to the county jail for such time not exceeding thirty days and specified in the warrant, as will enable the arrest of the accused to be made under a warrant of the governor on a requisition of the executive authority of the state having jurisdiction of the offense, unless the accused gives bail as provided in the next section, or until he shall be legally discharged.” (Emphasis added.)

"§ 570.40 Extension of time of commitment; adjournment. If the accused is not arrested under warrant of the governor by the expiration of the time speciBed in the warrant, bond or undertaking, a local criminal court may discharge him or may recommit him for a further period of sixty days, or for further periods not to exceed in the aggregate sixty days, or a supreme court justice or county judge may again take bail for his appearance and surrender, as provided in section 570.38 but within a period not to exceed sixty days after the date of such new bond or undertaking.” (Emphasis added.)

"§ 410.80

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
89 Misc. 2d 269, 391 N.Y.S.2d 518, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-williams-nycrimct-1977.