PEOPLE v. LINCOLN (2025)

DECISION & ORDER

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the County Court, Suffolk County (Steven A. Pilewski, J.), rendered April 17, 2024, convicting him of criminal contempt in the second degree (two counts), upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.

The defendant was charged in a 36–count indictment with, among other crimes, burglary in the first degree, burglary in the second degree, criminal contempt in the first degree, and criminal contempt in the second degree.  Following a jury trial, the defendant was convicted of two counts of criminal contempt in the second degree.  The defendant appeals.

Contrary to the defendant's contention, the County Court properly denied that branch of his motion which was to dismiss the indictment on the ground that he was deprived of due process by the People's unjustified delay in prosecution.  “[A]n unjustified delay in prosecution will deprive a defendant of the State constitutional right to due process” (People v. Metellus, 157 A.D.3d 821, 822, 69 N.Y.S.3d 713;  see N.Y. Const, art I, § 6;  People v. Decker, 13 N.Y.3d 12, 14, 884 N.Y.S.2d 662, 912 N.E.2d 1041).  However, “a determination made in good faith to defer commencement of the prosecution for further investigation or for other sufficient reasons, will not deprive the defendant of due process of law even though the delay may cause some prejudice to the defense” (People v. Singer, 44 N.Y.2d 241, 254, 405 N.Y.S.2d 17, 376 N.E.2d 179;  see People v. Clark, 180 A.D.3d 925, 926, 120 N.Y.S.3d 334).  “Where there has been extended delay, the People have the burden to establish good cause” (People v. Metellus, 157 A.D.3d at 822, 69 N.Y.S.3d 713;  see People v. Decker, 13 N.Y.3d at 14, 884 N.Y.S.2d 662, 912 N.E.2d 1041).

“The Court of Appeals has articulated the following factors to consider when determining whether a defendant's right to a speedy trial or due process right to prompt prosecution has been violated:  (1) the extent of the delay, (2) the reason for the delay, (3) the nature of the underlying charge, (4) whether there has been an extended period of pretrial incarceration, and (5) whether there is any indication that the defense has been prejudiced by the delay” (People v. Mattison, 162 A.D.3d 905, 906, 79 N.Y.S.3d 274;  see People v. Decker, 13 N.Y.3d at 14–15, 884 N.Y.S.2d 662, 912 N.E.2d 1041;  People v. Taranovich, 37 N.Y.2d 442, 445, 373 N.Y.S.2d 79, 335 N.E.2d 303).

Here, the People demonstrated good cause for the delay of approximately nine months between the commission of the crimes and the defendant's arrest, including, inter alia, the defendant's own conduct in evading law enforcement (see People v. Barba, 135 A.D.3d 950, 951, 23 N.Y.S.3d 381).  The extent of the delay in prosecution is outweighed by the People's good cause for the delay, the nature of the crimes, and the lack of any prejudice from the delay identified by the defendant.  Under the circumstances, we are satisfied that the defendant was not deprived of his due process right to prompt prosecution (see People v. Gardner, 204 A.D.3d 1039, 1041, 167 N.Y.S.3d 159;  People v. George, 199 A.D.3d 1064, 1067, 156 N.Y.S.3d 549;  People v. Mattison, 162 A.D.3d at 906, 79 N.Y.S.3d 274).

The County Court also properly denied that branch of the defendant's motion which was pursuant to CPL 30.30(1)(a) to dismiss the indictment on the ground that he was deprived of his statutory right to a speedy trial.  Contrary to the defendant's contention, the People established that their November 2022 certificate of compliance was proper and their statement of readiness was not illusory (see People v. Macaluso, 230 A.D.3d 1158, 1160, 218 N.Y.S.3d 105).

The defendant's contention that the People's opposition to his motion to dismiss the indictment was untimely is not properly before this Court.

The defendant's remaining contentions are without merit.

DUFFY, J.P., DOWLING, WARHIT and QUIRK, JJ., concur.