Opinion
No. 50 SSM 8
05-27-2021
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Nathaniel MABRY, Appellant.
Janet E. Sabel, The Legal Aid Society, New York City ( Denise Fabiano of counsel), for appellant. Melinda Katz, District Attorney, Kew Gardens (Hannah X. Scotti of counsel), for respondent.
Janet E. Sabel, The Legal Aid Society, New York City ( Denise Fabiano of counsel), for appellant.
Melinda Katz, District Attorney, Kew Gardens (Hannah X. Scotti of counsel), for respondent.
OPINION OF THE COURT
MEMORANDUM. The order of the Appellate Division should be reversed and the case remitted to Supreme Court for further proceedings in accordance with this memorandum.
The People failed to establish that the warrantless search of defendant's backpack was a valid search incident to arrest ( see People v. Jimenez, 22 N.Y.3d 717, 721–722, 985 N.Y.S.2d 456, 8 N.E.3d 831 [2014] ). The record does not contain evidence supporting a determination that the backpack was in defendant's "immediate control or ‘grabbable area’ " ( People v. Gokey, 60 N.Y.2d 309, 312, 469 N.Y.S.2d 618, 457 N.E.2d 723 [1983] ; see People v. Wheeler, 2 N.Y.3d 370, 373, 779 N.Y.S.2d 164, 811 N.E.2d 531 [2004] ). There is a lack of testimony in the record indicating where the bag was in relation to defendant immediately prior to the search. Because Supreme Court denied defendant's suppression motion without reaching the People's alternative argument raised in opposition, we remit the matter to Supreme Court ( see People v. Garcia, 20 N.Y.3d 317, 324, 959 N.Y.S.2d 464, 983 N.E.2d 259 [2012] ; People v. LaFontaine, 92 N.Y.2d 470, 476, 682 N.Y.S.2d 671, 705 N.E.2d 663 [1998] ; People v. Turriago, 90 N.Y.2d 77, 87, 659 N.Y.S.2d 183, 681 N.E.2d 350 [1997] ).
Chief Judge DiFiore and Judges Rivera, Stein, Fahey, Garcia and Wilson concur.
On review of submissions pursuant to section 500.11 of the Rules, order reversed and case remitted to Supreme Court, Queens County, for further proceedings in accordance with the memorandum herein.