Opinion
1213 KA 16-01116
12-23-2020
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Mark A. DIROMA, Defendant-Appellant.
KRAMER LEVIN NAFTALIS & FRANKEL LLP, NEW YORK CITY (HARRY MORGENTHAU OF COUNSEL), AND TIMOTHY P. DONAHER, PUBLIC DEFENDER, ROCHESTER, FOR DEFENDANT-APPELLANT. SANDRA DOORLEY, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, ROCHESTER (LISA GRAY OF COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT.
KRAMER LEVIN NAFTALIS & FRANKEL LLP, NEW YORK CITY (HARRY MORGENTHAU OF COUNSEL), AND TIMOTHY P. DONAHER, PUBLIC DEFENDER, ROCHESTER, FOR DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
SANDRA DOORLEY, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, ROCHESTER (LISA GRAY OF COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT.
PRESENT: WHALEN, P.J., SMITH, TROUTMAN, BANNISTER, AND DEJOSEPH, JJ.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously reversed on the law, the indictment is dismissed, and the matter is remitted to Supreme Court, Monroe County, for proceedings pursuant to CPL 470.45.
Memorandum: On appeal from a judgment convicting him upon a jury verdict of tampering with a witness in the third degree ( Penal Law § 215.11 [1] ), defendant contends that the conviction is based upon legally insufficient evidence. We agree. Although the evidence established that defendant assaulted the victim in violation of an order of protection and a few days later left the victim voicemails threatening her with violence if she pressed charges against him, defendant had not yet been arrested or charged with a crime in connection with the violation of the order of protection at the time he left the voicemails. Thus, at that time, the victim was not "about to be called as a witness in a criminal proceeding" ( § 215.11 ; see People v. Hollenquest , 173 A.D.2d 560, 560, 570 N.Y.S.2d 155 [2d Dept. 1991] ; cf. § 215.15). Therefore, the judgment must be reversed and the indictment dismissed (see Hollenquest , 173 A.D.2d at 560, 570 N.Y.S.2d 155 ).