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INFORMATION CHARGING OBSTRUCTING GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION DID NOT INCLUDE FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS DESCRIBING THE OFFICIAL FUNCTION WHICH WAS OBSTRUCTED AND WAS THEREFORE JURISDICTIONALLY DEFECTIVE (CT APP).

The Court of Appeals, reversing the Appellate Term, determined the accusatory information (information) charging defendant with obstructing government administration was jurisidictionally defective because it did not include factual allegations of the official function alleged to have been obstructed:

Defendant was convicted of obstructing governmental administration in the second degree for backing his vehicle away from police officers who were attempting to execute a warrant to search the vehicle. Prior to trial, defendant moved to dismiss the accusatory instrument, arguing that it was facially insufficient because it failed to put him on notice of the “official function” with which he was alleged to have interfered (Penal Law § 195.05). Specifically, defendant asserted that the accusatory instrument was defective because it lacked any reference to the search warrant and alleged in a conclusory fashion that defendant’s actions were intentionally taken to prevent the police officers from “effecting a proper vehicle stop.” …

… [W]ith regard to the “official function” element of the obstruction charge, the accusatory instrument lacked factual allegations providing defendant with notice of the official function with which he was charged with interfering—namely, a police stop of defendant in his vehicle in order to execute a search warrant (Penal Law § 195.05). Defendant therefore lacked sufficient notice to prepare his defense, rendering the information jurisdictionally defective … . People v Wheeler, 2020 NY Slip Op 00998, CtApp 2-13-20

 

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