ASSAULT THIRD IS AN INCLUSORY CONCURRENT COUNT OF ASSAULT SECOND; THE ASSAULT THIRD CONVICTION REVERSED AND THE COUNT DISMISSED; THE ISSUE NEED NOT BE PRESERVED FOR APPEAL (FOURTH DEPT).
The Fourth Department determined the assault third conviction must be reverses as an inclusory concurrent count of the assault second degree conviction. The issue need not be preserved for appeal:
… [A]ssault in the third degree is an inclusory concurrent count of assault in the second degree … . Thus, that part of the judgment convicting defendant of assault in the third degree must be reversed and count 2 of the indictment dismissed … , and we therefore modify the judgment accordingly. Contrary to the People’s contention, preservation of this issue is not required … . People v Niles, 2025 NY Slip Op 01502, Fourth Dept 3-14-25
Practice Point: Assault third is an inclusory concurrent count of assault second. A defendant cannot stand convicted of both. The issue can be raised for the first time on appeal.
