PEOPLE v. RIVERA (2022)

Judgment of conviction (Lisa A. Sokoloff, J.), rendered July 23, 2015, affirmed.

In view of defendant's knowing waiver of the right to prosecution by information, the accusatory instrument only had to satisfy 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 reasonable cause to believe that defendant was guilty of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (see Penal Law § 220.03). The instrument alleged that after a police officer observed defendant “hand” a “small object” to a “separately charged” defendant (Creamer), the officer then “recovered one twist of crack/cocaine” from the hand of Creamer. Contrary to defendant's contention, the factfinder could reasonably infer from the pleaded facts that the twist of crack/cocaine recovered from Creamer was the same “small object” that defendant “hand[ed]” to Creamer (see People v Walton, 60 Misc 3d 127[A], 2018 NY Slip Op 50932[U] [App Term, 1st Dept 2018], lv denied 32 NY3d 1009 [2018]), and therefore defendant possessed the twist of crack/cocaine himself (see People v Robinson, 129 AD3d 550 [2015], lv denied 26 NY3d 1010 [2015]).

THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE COURT.

Per Curiam.

All concur