Opinion
2018-2104 W CR
06-17-2021
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Shawn GALLAGHER, Appellant.
Ronnie James Ritz, for appellant. Westchester County District Attorney, for respondent (no brief filed).
Ronnie James Ritz, for appellant.
Westchester County District Attorney, for respondent (no brief filed).
PRESENT: TERRY JANE RUDERMAN, P.J., JERRY GARGUILO, TIMOTHY S. DRISCOLL, JJ.
ORDERED that the appeal is held in abeyance, the application by assigned counsel for leave to withdraw as counsel is granted and new counsel is assigned pursuant to article 18-B of the County Law to prosecute the appeal. Relieved counsel is directed to turn over all papers in his possession to the newly assigned counsel;
Soctt M. Bishop, Esq.
75 South Broadway, Suite 400
White Plains, NY 10601
New counsel is directed to serve and file a brief within 90 days after the date of this order and decision. The People may serve and file a respondent's brief within 21 days after the service upon them of the appellant's brief. Appellant's new counsel, if so advised, may serve and file a reply brief within seven days after service of the respondent's brief.
Assigned counsel submitted an Anders brief setting forth the conclusion that there exist no nonfrivolous issues that could be raised on appeal (see Anders v California , 386 US 738 [1967] ). A review of the record, however, reveals at least one nonfrivolous issue, i.e., whether the accusatory instrument contained sufficient allegations that defendant committed criminal contempt in the second degree ( Penal Law § 215.50 [3] ), the only offense charged, by sending a text message to the complainant at an unspecified time on the same date that he was served with a stay away order of protection in the complainant's favor.
Accordingly, we hold the appeal in abeyance, grant assigned counsel's application to withdraw as counsel and assign new counsel to ascertain whether defendant desires to raise the issue set forth above, and to prosecute the appeal on defendant's behalf with respect to this, or any other, issue that can be identified.
RUDERMAN, P.J., GARGUILO and DRISCOLL, JJ., concur.