People v Zelaya (Alexander)

[*1] People v Zelaya (Alexander) 2020 NY Slip Op 51276(U) Decided on October 29, 2020 Appellate Term, Second Department Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431. This opinion is uncorrected and will not be published in the printed Official Reports.

Decided on October 29, 2020
SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE TERM, SECOND DEPARTMENT, 9th and 10th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS
PRESENT: : THOMAS A. ADAMS, P.J., JERRY GARGUILO, ELIZABETH H. EMERSON, JJ
2017-2163 S CR

The People of the State of New York, Respondent,

against

Alexander D. Zelaya, Appellant.

Scott Lockwood, for appellant. Suffolk County Traffic Prosecutor's Office (Justin W. Smiloff of counsel), for respondent.

Appeal from a judgment of the District Court of Suffolk County, Suffolk County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency (Martin J. Kerins, J.H.O.), rendered October 24, 2017. The judgment convicted defendant, after a nonjury trial, of failure to obey a traffic control device, and imposed sentence. The appeal from the judgment of conviction brings up for review so much of an order of that court (Allen S. Mathers, J.H.O.) dated July 12, 2016 as denied the branch of defendant's motion seeking to dismiss the simplified traffic information charging him with failure to obey a traffic control device.

ORDERED that the judgment of conviction is reversed, as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice, so much of the order dated July 12, 2016 as denied the branch of defendant's motion seeking to dismiss the simplified traffic information charging him with failure to obey a traffic control device is vacated, that branch of defendant's motion is granted, the simplified traffic information is dismissed, and the fine, if paid, is remitted.

In a prior action, in which defendant was charged in simplified traffic informations with failure to obey a traffic control device (Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1110 [a]), operating a motor vehicle without insurance (Vehicle and Traffic Law § 319 [1]) and overtaking a vehicle on the [*2]left (Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1122 [a]), the District Court dismissed the simplified traffic informations on the ground that the People had failed to respond to defendant's request for supporting depositions (see CPL 100.25, 100.40 [2]). Thereafter, this action was commenced by the filing of simplified traffic informations charging defendant with the same traffic violations based upon the same incident. Insofar as is relevant to this appeal, defendant moved to dismiss the simplified traffic information charging him with failure to obey a traffic control device and, in an order dated July 12, 2016, the District Court (Allen S. Mathers, J.H.O.) denied that branch of the motion. Following a nonjury trial, the District Court (Martin J. Kerins, J.H.O.) convicted defendant of failure to obey a traffic control device.

This court has consistently reversed judgments of conviction, as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice, where, absent special circumstances warranting the reprosecution of a defendant, the People proceeded to trial on a refiled accusatory instrument, after an earlier simplified traffic information, charging the same offenses based upon the same incident, had been dismissed for failure to serve the defendant with a requested supporting deposition (see CPL 100.25, 100.40 [2]; People v Epakchi, 63 Misc 3d 161[A], 2019 NY Slip Op 50913[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 9th & 10th Jud Dists 2019]; People v Meisels, 31 Misc 3d 143[A], 2011 NY Slip Op 50873[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 9th & 10th Jud Dists 2011]; People v Rathgeber, 23 Misc 3d 130[A], 2009 NY Slip Op 50653[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 9th & 10th Jud Dists 2009]; People v Berger, 16 Misc 3d 133[A], 2007 NY Slip Op 51498[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 9th & 10th Jud Dists 2007]; People v Rosenfeld, 163 Misc 2d 982, 983 [App Term, 2d Dept, 9th & 10th Jud Dists 1994]; People v Aucello, 146 Misc 2d 417 [App Term, 2d Dept, 9th & 10th Jud Dists 1990]; cf. People v Nuccio, 78 NY2d 102 [1991]). No special circumstances have been shown to exist in this case to warrant defendant's reprosecution. A ruling to the contrary "would defeat the very purpose of CPL 100.40 (2), disregard the interest of judicial economy, and erode the confidence of the public in the criminal justice system" (People v Rathgeber, 23 Misc 3d 130[A], 2009 NY Slip Op 50653[U], *2 [citations omitted]).

In light of the foregoing, we pass upon no other issue raised on appeal.

Accordingly, the judgment of conviction is reversed, so much of the order dated July 12, 2016 as denied the branch of defendant's motion seeking to dismiss the simplified traffic information charging him with failure to obey a traffic control device is vacated, that branch of defendant's motion is granted, and the simplified traffic information is dismissed.

ADAMS, P.J., GARGUILO and EMERSON, JJ., concur.

ENTER:
Paul Kenny
Chief Clerk
Decision Date: October 29, 2020