X

Thank you for sharing!

Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided.

In a consolidated criminal proceeding, defendant appeals from two judgments of the Criminal Court of the City of New York, New York County (Ann E. Scherzer, J.), rendered July 15, 2016, convicting him, upon his pleas of guilty, of assault in the third degree and criminal contempt in the second degree, and imposing sentence. PER CURIAM Judgments of conviction (Ann E. Scherzer, J.), rendered July 15, 2016, affirmed. In view of defendant’s knowing waiver of the right to prosecution by information, the accusatory instrument only had to satisfy the reasonable cause requirement (see People v. Dumay, 23 NY3d 518, 522 [2014]). So viewed, the accusatory instrument under docket number 2014NY056096 was jurisdictionally valid because it described facts of an evidentiary nature establishing reasonable cause to believe that defendant was guilty of assault in the third degree (see Penal Law §120.00). The instrument recites that defendant beat the victim, his wife, causing a “laceration under her right eye” that was “bleeding,” and “bruising and swelling to her right eye, nose and face and bruises on her torso and arms.” Based upon these allegations, one may reasonably infer that defendant intended to and did cause “physical injury” to the victim, i.e., “substantial pain” (Penal Law §10.00[9]; see People v. Henderson, 92 NY2d 677, 680 [1999]; People v. Mercado, 94 AD3d 502 [2012], lv denied 19 NY3d 999 [2012]), a term which simply means “more than slight or trivial pain” (People v. Chiddick, 8 NY3d 445, 447 [2007]). With respect to docket number 2014NY092428, defendant’s challenge to his plea to second-degree criminal contempt is unpreserved, since he failed to make an appropriate post-allocution motion or otherwise raise this challenge in the plea court, despite ample opportunity to do so within the two months between his guilty plea and sentencing (see People v. Laroche, 142 AD3d 872 [2016], lv denied 28 NY3d 1073 [2016]). We decline to review this challenge in the interest of justice. As an alternative holding, we find that the plea was knowing, intelligent and voluntary. Even if defense counsel’s statement — that defendant resided at the location where he allegedly violated the “stay away” and do “not communicate” terms of the order of protection — was sufficient to cast doubt upon defendant’s guilt to second-degree criminal contempt, the court “properly conducted further inquiry to ensure that defendant’s plea was knowing and voluntary” (People v. Lopez, 71 NY2d 662, 667 [1988]), and that he violated the order of protection by communicating with the protected person at the subject location (see People v. Sandford, 173 AD3d 777, 778 [2019], lv denied 34 NY3d 984 [2019]). All concur. THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE COURT. Dated: March 19, 2021

 
Reprints & Licensing
Mentioned in a Law.com story?

License our industry-leading legal content to extend your thought leadership and build your brand.

More From ALM

With this subscription you will receive unlimited access to high quality, online, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry. This is perfect for attorneys licensed in multiple jurisdictions or for attorneys that have fulfilled their CLE requirement but need to access resourceful information for their practice areas.
View Now
Our Team Account subscription service is for legal teams of four or more attorneys. Each attorney is granted unlimited access to high quality, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry along with administrative access to easily manage CLE for the entire team.
View Now
Gain access to some of the most knowledgeable and experienced attorneys with our 2 bundle options! Our Compliance bundles are curated by CLE Counselors and include current legal topics and challenges within the industry. Our second option allows you to build your bundle and strategically select the content that pertains to your needs. Both options are priced the same.
View Now
November 27, 2024
London

Celebrating achievement, excellence, and innovation in the legal profession in the UK.


Learn More
December 02, 2024 - December 03, 2024
Scottsdale, AZ

Join the industry's top owners, investors, developers, brokers and financiers for the real estate healthcare event of the year!


Learn More
December 11, 2024
Las Vegas, NV

This event shines a spotlight on how individuals and firms are changing the investment advisory industry where it matters most.


Learn More

FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER VACANCY MIDDLE DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA Refer to: www.ca3.uscourts.gov for detailed announcement...


Apply Now ›

The Business Litigation Group of the Boston office of McCarter & English seeks a litigation associate with 3-5 years of business litigat...


Apply Now ›

McCarter and English is actively seeking a trusts and estates associate for our Newark, NJ office with 3-5 years of experience in estate pla...


Apply Now ›