PEOPLE v. MOORE (2025)

Judgment of conviction (Michael J. Gaffey, J.), rendered June 4, 2019, affirmed.

Since defendant waived prosecution by information, the accusatory instrument is assessed under the reasonable cause requirement of a misdemeanor complaint (see People v Dumay, 23 NY3d 518, 522 [2014]). So viewed, the accusatory instrument was jurisdictionally valid because it described facts of an evidentiary nature establishing, at a minimum, reasonable cause to believe that defendant was guilty of criminal trespass in the third degree (see Penal Law § 140.10 [a]). Contrary to defendant's contention, the “enters or remains unlawfully” element of the offense was satisfied by allegations that he entered the enclosed area of the subway station, beyond the turnstiles, “without permission or authority to do so and without paying the required fare, by using a Reduced Fare MetroCard ․ which was issued for the exclusive use of another person and not the defendant” (see People v Jones, 64 Misc 3d 128[A], 2019 NY Slip Op 51000[U] [App Term, 1st Dept 2019], lv denied 34 NY3d 951 [2019]; People v Sweat, 57 Misc 3d 159[A], 2017 NY Slip Op 51692[U] [App Term, 1st Dept 2017], lv denied 31 NY3d 987 [2018]; People v Williams, 2001 NY Slip Op 40486[U] [App Term, 1st Dept 2001], lv denied 97 NY2d 689 [2001]).

Since the third-degree criminal trespass charge was facially sufficient, the court had jurisdiction over defendant and was authorized to accept his plea to the uncharged lesser offense of disorderly conduct (see People v Keizer, 100 NY2d 114, 117—119 [2003]).

THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE COURT.

Per Curiam.

All concur.