PEOPLE v. THOMAS (2023)

Judgments, Supreme Court, New York County (Laura A. Ward, J.), rendered October 15, 2018, convicting defendant, upon his pleas of guilty, of grand larceny in the fourth degree and theft of services, and sentencing him, as a second felony offender, to an aggregate term of 11/212 to 3 years, unanimously affirmed.

The misdemeanor information charging defendant with theft of services (Penal Law § 165.15[2]) was valid for jurisdictional purposes as it contained sufficient nonconclusory allegations that defendant was one of the individuals who entered a hotel and received spa services, then left without paying for them.  Assuming these allegations to be true, they addressed each element of Penal Law § 165.15(2), and afforded reasonable cause to believe that defendant committed the offense (see generally People v. Matthew P., 26 N.Y.3d 332, 335–36, 23 N.Y.S.3d 74, 44 N.E.3d 149 [2015];  see also People v. Jackson, 79 Misc.3d 127[A], 2023 N.Y. Slip Op. 50601[U], 2023 WL 4115765 [App. Term, 1st Dept. 2023];  People v. Jones, 77 Misc.3d 5, 9–10, 175 N.Y.S.3d 413 [App. Term, 2d Dept. 2022], lv. denied 39 N.Y.3d 986, 181 N.Y.S.3d 196, 201 N.E.3d 813 [2022];  People v. Singleton, 73 Misc.3d 149[A], 2022 N.Y. Slip Op. 50011[U], 2022 WL 98156 [App. Term, 1st Dept. 2022], lv denied 38 N.Y.3d 1035, 169 N.Y.S.3d 239, 189 N.E.3d 346 [2022]).

Contrary to defendant's contention, we find that the term “guest” of a hotel, as the term is used in Penal Law § 165.15(2), is not limited to individuals staying at the hotel.  Rather, the term may also include individuals, such as defendant, who visit a hotel for other services the hotel may offer, such as for food, drink, or entertainment.  This interpretation gives effect to the intention of the legislature, and is consistent with the statute's legislative history, contemporaneous statutes and precedent, and contemporaneous dictionary definitions from the time the statute was enacted (see generally People v. Mitchell, 38 N.Y.3d 408, 411, 174 N.Y.S.3d 1, 194 N.E.3d 708 [2022];  White v. Cuomo, 38 N.Y.3d 209, 220, 172 N.Y.S.3d 373, 192 N.E.3d 300 [2022]).