Opinion
March 31, 1992
Appeal from the Family Court, Bronx County (Harold Lynch, J.).
Having threatened the victim not to return to court after the victim had reported the assault to the police, respondent was appropriately charged with intimidating a victim or witness in the third degree (Penal Law § 215.15). The statute applies where an attempt is made to force a victim to refrain from communicating information related to a criminal incident to a court, and is not limited in application to protecting victims and witnesses prior to when they attain the status of witnesses in a criminal proceeding (People v Buchanon, 176 A.D.2d 1001, 1002).
Concur — Carro, J.P., Wallach, Asch, Smith and Rubin, JJ.