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People v. Toxey

Citations: 220 A.D.2d 204; 631 N.Y.S.2d 846; 1995 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 9660

Court: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York; October 3, 1995; New York; State Appellate Court

Narrative Opinion Summary

The Supreme Court of New York County, presided over by Justice Daniel FitzGerald, affirmed the conviction of a defendant for attempted robbery in the first and third degrees, resulting in concurrent sentences of 2 to 6 years and 1 to 3 years. The defendant's motion to suppress statements made during the arrest was denied due to its reliance on vague claims of constitutional violations, which the court deemed insufficient to question the legality of the arrest. Furthermore, it was clarified that the statutory prohibition against summary denial of a motion to suppress involuntary statements does not pertain to statements alleged to be the result of an unlawful arrest. The court concluded that the indictment and the People's voluntary disclosure form did not substantiate the necessity for a hearing, as the defendant could have effectively denied the allegations. The decision was unanimously concurred by Justices Murphy, Wallach, Ross, Nardelli, and Tom, thereby upholding the original judgment.

Legal Issues Addressed

Applicability of Statutory Prohibition on Summary Denial

Application: The court clarified that the statutory prohibition against summary denial of a motion to suppress involuntary statements does not extend to allegations of statements resulting from an unlawful arrest.

Reasoning: The court clarified that the statutory prohibition against summary denial of a motion to suppress involuntary statements does not apply to statements claimed to be the result of an unlawful arrest.

Indictment and Voluntary Disclosure Form as Grounds for Hearing

Application: The court found that the indictment and the People's voluntary disclosure did not provide sufficient grounds for a hearing, as they could have been effectively denied by the defendant.

Reasoning: The indictment, along with the People’s voluntary disclosure form detailing the specifics of the robbery and arrest, did not present sufficient grounds for a hearing, as they could have been effectively denied by the defendant.

Sufficiency of Motion to Suppress Statements

Application: The court determined that the defendant's motion to suppress statements made during the arrest was insufficient due to vague assertions of constitutional violations.

Reasoning: The court denied the defendant's motion to suppress statements made during the arrest, ruling that his vague assertions regarding a violation of constitutional rights and procedural statutes were insufficient to challenge the lawfulness of the arrest.