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People v. Schaffer

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Aug 8, 1994
207 A.D.2d 421 (N.Y. App. Div. 1994)

Opinion

August 8, 1994

Appeal from the County Court, Suffolk County (Corso, J.).


Ordered that the order is reversed, on the law and as a matter of discretion, the defendant's motion to dismiss the indictment is denied, the indictment is reinstated, and the matter is remitted to the County Court, Suffolk County, for further proceedings.

The defendant was charged in the indictment with a felony. At a hearing on the issue of the defendant's competency to stand trial, the parties stipulated that he was an incapacitated person pursuant to CPL article 730, and the two examining psychiatrists testified that the defendant was unable to assist in his defense due to the brain damage he suffered as a result of a stroke in 1987. The court denied the People's request for an order of commitment and granted the defendant's motion pursuant to CPL 210.40 to dismiss the indictment. We now reverse.

Once the defendant was found to be an incapacitated person, the court was required to issue an order of commitment pursuant to CPL 730.50 (1) (see, People v. Saunders, 161 A.D.2d 611; Matter of New York City Human Resources Admin. v. Carey, 107 A.D.2d 625). We agree with the People that it was premature for the court to consider the defendant's motion pursuant to Jackson v. Indiana ( 406 U.S. 715) at this stage of the proceedings. Moreover, the Legislature did not intend CPL 210.40 to be invoked under these circumstances (see, People v Saunders, supra; cf., People v. Villanueva, 139 Misc.2d 751). Lawrence, J.P., O'Brien, Copertino and Friedmann, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

People v. Schaffer

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Aug 8, 1994
207 A.D.2d 421 (N.Y. App. Div. 1994)
Case details for

People v. Schaffer

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Appellant, v. FRANK SCHAFFER…

Court:Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department

Date published: Aug 8, 1994

Citations

207 A.D.2d 421 (N.Y. App. Div. 1994)
615 N.Y.S.2d 733

Citing Cases

People v. Schaffer

Citing People v Saunders ( 161 A.D.2d 611), the court held that "the Legislature did not intend CPL 210.40 to…

People v. Lewis

In Schaffer, the defendant was charged with a felony. At a hearing to determine his fitness to stand trial,…