The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Fausto Jimenez, Defendant-Appellant. (2026)

Per Curiam.

Judgment of conviction (Jeffrey Zimmerman, J. at plea, Michael John Hartofilis, J. at sentencing), affirmed.

Since defendant waived his right to prosecution by information, the facial sufficiency of the accusatory instrument must be assessed under the standard required 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 tampered with the property of a common carrier (see Penal Law § 145.15). The instrument recited that a police officer observed defendant, via video surveillance, "insert a long object into a United States Postal Service mailbox" and that defendant had "in his custody and control, inside of a blue bag, several glue traps and one (1) black belt with adhesive on it." These factual allegations were sufficient for pleading purposes to establish reasonable cause to believe that defendant engaged in "tampering" within the meaning of Penal Law § 145.15 (see People v Gittens, 279 AD2d 291 [2001], lv denied 96 NY2d 829 [2001]; People v Then, 73 Misc 3d 147[A], 2021 NY Slip Op 51267[U] [App Term, 1st Dept 2021], lv denied 38 NY3d 954 [2022]).

THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE COURT.

I concur I concur I concur

Decision Date: May 14, 2026