People v. Issa (Ibrahim) ( 2019 )

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<br><br><div align="center"><b><font size="+1">The People of the State of New York, Respondent,

<br><br>against<br><br>Ibrahim Issa and Daimner Consulting Group, Appellants.

</font></b></div><br><br>

<p>

Craig T. Bumgarner, P.C. (Ellen A. Faulkner of counsel), for appellant.

Joseph A. Charbonneau, for respondent.

</p>

<p>Appeal from two judgments of the Justice Court of the Town of Carmel, Putnam County (Joseph J. Spofford, Jr., J.), rendered October 30, 2017. The judgments convicted defendants, respectively, after a joint nonjury trial, of erecting three decks without building permits, and imposed sentences.</p>

<p>ORDERED that the judgments of conviction are reversed, on the law, the accusatory instruments are dismissed, and the fines, if paid, are remitted.</p>

<p>In July 2015, each defendant ^{<a href="#1FN" name="1CASE"><b>[FN1]</b></a>}

was arraigned on a separate accusatory instrument charging the erection of three decks without building permits in violation of Carmel Town Code  156-6 and 156-72 (A). Following a nonjury trial, defendants were convicted of all charges and were sentenced to pay fines in the sum of $250. </p>

<p>Since the accusatory instruments are not verified in a manner set forth in CPL 100.30, they are not valid and the Justice Court never obtained jurisdiction over defendants (<i>see </i>CPL 100.15; <i>Matter of Shirley v Schulman</i>, 78 NY2d 915, 917 [1991]; <a href="../2018/2018_51271.htm" target="_blank"><i>People v Gantz</i>, 60 Misc 3d 140</a>[A], 2018 NY Slip Op 51271[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 9th &amp; 10th Jud Dists 2018]; <a href="../2009/2009_50166.htm" target="_blank"><i>People v Smith</i>, 22 Misc 3d 131</a>[A], 2009 NY Slip Op 50166[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 9th &amp; 10th Jud Dists 2009]; <i>People v Kessman Bros.</i>, 2002 NY Slip Op 50653[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 9th &amp; 10th Jud Dists 2002]). In view of the foregoing, the accusatory instruments must be dismissed. We reach no other issue. </p>

<p>Accordingly, the judgments of conviction are reversed and the accusatory instruments are dismissed.</p>

<p>ADAMS, P.J., RUDERMAN and EMERSON, JJ., concur.</p>

<p></p>

<p>ENTER:</p>

<p>Paul Kenny</p>

<p>Chief Clerk</p>

<p>Decision Date: March 21, 2019</p>

<div align="center"><b>Footnotes</b></div>

<br><br>

<a name="1FN" href="#1CASE"><b>Footnote 1:</b></a>Both defendants are the registered owners of the property in question, and defendant Ibrahim Issa is a principal of defendant Daimner Consulting Group.

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