Opinion
No. CR-000788-22BX
09-06-2022
The People of the State of New York, v. Tyrek Goggins, Defendant.
William John, Esq. for defendant, and Marita Williams for the People.
William John, Esq. for defendant, and Marita Williams for the People.
On August 4, 2022, this Court issued a written decision granting defendant's motion and staying sealing until. The Court now issues this amended decision to further clarify its reasoning. The parties received copies of this amended decision on.
Valentina M. Morales, J.
Recitation of the papers considered:
Defendant's n/m, aff. William John, Esq., dated May 11, 2022
People's aff. in opposition, aff. Marita Williams, Esq., dated June 16, 2022
Joint letter to Court, dated June 22, 2022, by William John, Esq. for defendant, and Marita Williams, People.
Discovery Compliance Conference held off-calendar via Microsoft Teams, June 30, 2022. In attendance, William John, Esq, for defendant, and Marita Williams, Esq., People.
Email Correspondence August 3, 2022, William John, Esq, for defendant, and Marita Williams, Esq., People.
Additional documents: Court File
Tyrek Goggins, hereinafter "defendant," is charged by information with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, unclassified misdemeanors pursuant to Vehicle and Traffic Law ("VTL") §§ 1192 (2) and 1192 (3); operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, a traffic infraction pursuant to VTL § 1192 (1); and, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle pursuant to VTL § 511 (1)(a).
Party Submissions
Defendant asserts that the Certificate of Compliance ("COC") dated April 6, 2022, is invalid for four reasons. First, defendant contends that disclosure of body worn camera footage was defective because the People initially failed to forward accessible links. Second, the People failed to provide the underlying documents for civil claims involving Officer Marksberry, a testifying witness. Third, the People provided redacted copies of underlying documents for allegations of misconduct made against testifying officers without seeking a protective order. These records included complaint logs from the Internal Affairs Bureau ("IAB") and determinations by the Civilian Complaint Review Board ("CCRB"). Lastly, the People failed to provide underlying documents for allegations of misconduct issued against non-testifying officers.
The People counter that the initial service of the body worn camera footage was proper, as they used a standard disclosure method which has been effective and has not been previously contested. Once aware of defendant's inability to access the files, the People subsequently shared the body worn camera footage through a different mechanism. The People also argue that their obligation under CPL § 245.20 (1)(k) was satisfied when they disclosed redacted IAB and CCRB records as well as the names and index numbers of all civil claims involving allegations of police misconduct. With respect to non-testifying witnesses, the People assert that those allegations of misconduct are not discoverable.
Redacted Underlying Materials Related to Allegations of Misconduct
CPL § 245.20 (1)(k) not only codifies the People's minimum obligation to disclose information favorable to the defendant under Brady v Maryland, (373 U.S. 83 [1963]), Giglio v United States, (405 U.S. 150 [1972]), and their progeny, as well as Rule 3.8(b) of the New York State Rules of Professional Conduct, and the New York State Unified Court System's Administrative Order of Disclosure (see William C. Donnino, Practice Commentary, McKinney's Cons Laws of NY, Criminal Procedure Law § 245.10), but goes beyond the constitutional minimum set forth in this jurisprudence. The statute mandates disclosure of "all information" that "tends to... mitigate the defendant's culpability... support a potential defense... impeach the credibility of a testifying prosecution witness... provide a basis for a motion to suppress evidence" (CPL § 245.20 [1][k]). This material must be made available "irrespective" of whether the prosecutor credits the information (CPL § 245.20 [1][k]). Furthermore, the statute omits any reference to the complicated analysis of "materiality" required by Brady (People v McKinney, 71 Misc.3d 1221 [A] [Crim Ct, Kings County 2021]; People v Castellanos, 72 Misc.3d 371 [Sup Ct, Bronx County 2021]). CPL § 245 20 (1)(k) is direct and to the point: if the material exists and it tends to support one of the enumerated subsections identified in the statute, the prosecution must disclose such information to the defendant, regardless of materiality.
In an earlier iteration of CPL § 245.20 (1)(k), identified as CPL § 245.20 (1)(j) in the Sponsor's Memo, the authors of the 2020 Discovery Reform indicated the proposed language of this statute is "broader in that, under the present statute, only 'materially' exculpatory information need be disclosed (which leads to confusion and uncertainty on all sides)" (Sponsor's Memo S-1716/A-1431 [Bailey/Lentol] [2018-2019 Session]).
The People are required to provide all underlying materials for, at minimum, substantiated, unsubstantiated and, pending allegations of misconduct for their testifying witnesses (Matter of Jayson C., 200 A.D.3d 447 [1st Dept 2021]; People v Polanco-Chavarria, 160 N.Y.S.3d 562 [Rockland County Ct 2021]; People v Kelly, 71 Misc.3d 1202 [A], 2021 NY Slip Op 50264[U] [Crim Ct, NY County 2021]; People v Herrera, 71 Misc.3d 1205 [A], 2021 NY Slip Op 50280[U] [Nassau Dist Ct 2021]; People v Perez, 71 Misc.3d 1214 [A], 2021 Slip Op 50374[U] [Crim Ct, Bronx County 2021]; Castellanos, 72 Misc.3d 371; People v Soto, 72 Misc.3d 1153 [Crim Ct, NY County 2021]; People v Williams, 72 Misc.3d 1214 [A], 2021 NY Slip Op 50743[U] [Crim Ct, NY County 2021]; People v Salters, 72 Misc.3d 1219 [A], 2021 NY Slip Op 50800[U] [Nassau Dist Ct 2021]; People v Portillo, 73 Misc.3d 216 [Sup Ct, Suffolk County 2021]; People v Barralaga, 73 Misc.3d 510 [Crim Ct, NY County 2021]); People v Sozoranga-Palacios, 73 Misc.3d 1214 [A], 2021 NY Slip Op 51036[U] [Crim Ct, NY County 2021]; People v Edwards, 74 Misc.3d 433 [Crim Ct, NY County 2021]; People v Francis, 75 Misc.3d 1224 [A], 2022 NY Slip Op 50655[U] [Crim Ct, Bronx County 2022); People v Alvia, - N.Y.S.3d -, 2022 WL 3023372 [Crim Ct, Bronx County 2022]; see also People ex rel Ferro v Brann, 197 A.D.3d 787 [2d Dept 2021]). Courts have ruled time and again that case summaries prepared by the People are insufficient to satisfy the mandates imposed by CPL § 245.20, as such evidence and information, which may ultimately be employed by the defense to impeach the credibility of the People's testifying witnesses, should not be filtered through the prosecution (see Jayson C., 200 A.D.3d 447 ; People v Cooper, 71 Misc.3d 559 [Erie County 2021]; Castellanos, 72 Misc.3d 371; Portillo, 73 Misc.3d 216). "As the Court of Appeals has long recognized, the best judge of the impeachment value of evidence is the 'single-minded counsel for the accused' (Edwards, 74 Misc.3d at 443 [Crim Ct, NY County 2021], citing People v Rosario, 9 N.Y.2d 286 [1961]).
The scope of the People's impeachment disclosure obligations must also be viewed in light of the June 2020 repeal of Civil Rights Law § 50-a, resulting in public access to police misconduct files (People v Randolph, 69 Misc.3d 770 [Sup Ct, Suffolk County 2020]). The repeal "further erodes asserted claims of confidentiality in relation to police personnel files" (People v Porter, 71 Misc.3d 187 at 190 [Crim Ct, Bronx County 2020]). This does not mean, though, that the prosecution is without recourse for protecting sensitive information. In addition to permitting specified redactions, "if the files contain any material which should not be disclosed, the People have the availability to seek a protective order" under CPL § 245.70 (Randolph, 69 Misc.3d at 773).
In this case, the People disclosed redacted copies of the records underlying disciplinary complaints without seeking a protective order under CPL § 245.70. The redactions were made to both IAB logs and CCRB records. The redacted information varies across documents and includes identifying information for both police officers and civilian complainants, CCRB determinations, and the geographic locations of alleged misconduct. The defendant argues that the People have failed to disclose discoverable information that was impermissibly withheld, given that the People never applied for a protective order. He asserts that the People's COC cannot be deemed valid given this missing discovery.
The People respond by continuing to assert that they are not mandated to provide underlying documents for disciplinary matters despite voluminous case law to the contrary and the prior decisions of this very Court. During the discovery compliance conference held by this Court on June 30, 2022, the assigned assistant indicated that she received the documents in redacted form from the Discovery Compliance Unit at the Bronx District Attorney's Office. Even though she had not seen some of the redacted information, she argued that, in any event, the redacted components are not automatically discoverable as they do not constitute impeachment evidence. Further, in subsequent correspondence, the assigned assistant indicated that she was told the unredacted underlying documents "would have to be ordered" and that "precincts turn over copies of files that were already redacted, specifically if they were before the year 2018 when items became digitized and as such, other versions either may not exist, or may be house (sic) in warehouse out of state" (People's Email to Court and Defense Counsel, August 3, 2022).
The People's position is premised on a faulty foundation comprised of elements that, when taken individually and collectively, discord with the law. First, as indicated above, underlying documents are discoverable (Jayson C., 200 A.D.3d 447).
Second, all items and information related to the prosecution of a charge in the possession of the New York City Police Department ("NYPD") are "deemed to be in the possession of the prosecution" (CPL § 240.20 [2]). Whether the IAB logs are redacted by the NYPD or by the People is of no consequence. If the NYPD has the redacted information, for purposes of CPL § 245.20, the People also have that information and, in this instance, are withholding it. Furthermore, it is a definite dereliction of the People's statutory duty to accept redacted disciplinary records for testifying officers without immediately requesting or, at the very least, inquiring as to the missing information.
Third, "[i]t is not for the People to decide, in the first instance, if a particular item from a disciplinary record might be admissible or might impeach a witness. The clear scope of the statute removes that discretion from the People" (Salters, 72 Misc.3d 1219[A] at 4). Just as summaries are insufficient to satisfy the People's obligations under CPL § 245.20 (1)(k), so too are impermissibly redacted disciplinary records. "The People may redact the officer's Social Security numbers and tax identifying information (CPL § 245.20 [6]; Public Officers Law § 89 [2][b]). Permission for any additional redactions must be sought by court order, pursuant to CPL 245.70" (Williams, 72 Misc.3d 1214(A) at 6).
Fourth, the statute is not silent with respect to redactions. It specifically enumerates what information may be withheld or redacted by the prosecution without first seeking a protective order (CPL §§ 245.20 [1][c], [d], [g], [u][iv] and [6]). The mandate to seek a protective order for redactions not expressly permitted is clear: "[p]ortions of materials claimed to be nondiscoverable may be withheld pending a determination and ruling of the court under section 245.70 " (CPL §245.10 [1][a]; emphasis added). The People cannot validly certify compliance with their discovery obligations when they withhold information "claimed to be nondiscoverable" without seeking a protective order. Such constitutes a failure to disclose and make available "all known material and information subject to discovery" (CPL § 245.50 [1]). Furthermore, in order for a COC to be complete, the People must actually turn over the items listed therein, not an impermissibly redacted iteration of such items (People ex. rel Ferro, 197 A.D.3d 787).
Given the People's failure to comply with their discovery obligations, their COC dated April 6, 2022, is not valid.
In light of the foregoing, the Court need not reach defendant's remaining arguments.
Motion to Dismiss-CPL §§ 30.30 and 170.30
The People must be ready for trial within ninety days of the commencement of a criminal action if, as here, the most serious offense is the equivalent of an A misdemeanor punishable by a sentence of imprisonment of more than three months (CPL § 30.30 [1][b]). Although a criminal action commences with the filing of an accusatory instrument, computation for speedy trial purposes commences on the next day (People v Stiles, 70 N.Y.2d 765 [1987]).
In determining whether the People have satisfied their obligation to be ready for trial under CPL § 30.30, the court must calculate the time between the filing of the first accusatory instrument and the People's declaration of readiness, then subtract any statutorily excludable periods of delay, and finally add any periods of post-readiness delay that are attributable to the People for which no statutory exclusions apply (People v Cortes, 80 N.Y.2d 201 [1992]).
Additionally, the People cannot be deemed ready for trial until a proper COC is filed with the court and served upon the defense. Criminal Procedure Law § 30.30 (5) provides that, "[a]ny statement of trial readiness must be accompanied or preceded by a certification of good faith compliance with the disclosure requirements of section 245.20...." and "absent an individualized finding of special circumstances in the instant case by the court before which the charge is pending, the prosecution shall not be deemed ready for trial for the purposes of section 30.30... until it has filed a proper certificate..." (CPL § 245.50 [3]).
Defendant was arraigned on January 16, 2022. The case was adjourned to February 23, 2022, for conversion and a COC. The People are charged with 38 days.
On February 23, 2022, the People did not file the required abstract from the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles ("DMV") or COC. The case was adjourned to March 31, 2022, for both. The People are charged with 36 days.
On March 31, 2022, the People filed and served the DMV abstract, and the complaint was deemed an information. The case was adjourned to April 26, 2022, for COC. On April 6, 2022, the People filed and served a COC and a notice of readiness ("NOR"). Because the People failed to file a proper COC, their NOR is likewise invalid (CPL §§ 245.50 [3]; 30.30 [5]). Accordingly, the People are charged with the entire adjournment (26 days).
On April 26, 2022, defendant objected to the People's COC and requested a motion schedule. The case was adjourned to July 13, 2022, and again to August 4, 2022, for decision. These adjournments are excludable (CPL § 30.30 [4][a]).
Based on the foregoing, the People are charged with 100 days of delay which is beyond the statutory period under CPL § 30.30.
Accordingly, Defendant's motion to dismiss the accusatory instrument pursuant to CPL §§ 30.30 and 170.30 is GRANTED.
The foregoing constitutes the opinion, decision, and order of the Court.