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IT WAS REVERSIBLE ERROR TO ALLOW EVIDENCE OF TWO FORGED CHECKS AT THE SECOND FORGERY TRIAL BECAUSE DEFENDANT HAD BEEN ACQUITTED OF THE CHARGES RELATED TO THOSE CHECKS IN THE FIRST TRIAL (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, reversing County Court, determined that it was reversible error to allow the jury to hear evidence of two allegedly forged checks in the second forgery trial after defendant had been acquitted of the charges related to those checks in the first trial. The People were collaterally estopped from introducing evidence related to the acquittals:

At the new trial, notwithstanding that defendant was acquitted of the prior charged criminal conduct involving check numbers 61512 and 61519, the People were permitted to use those checks, over defendant’s objection, in their case-in-chief as evidence of, inter alia, defendant’s criminal intent and motive with respect to check number 61517. In instructing the jury concerning the purpose for which check numbers 61512 and 61519 could be considered, County Court referred to defendant’s alleged involvement with those checks as “uncharged conduct.” The court also instructed the jury: “Regarding evidence of other crimes, there may have been evidence that on another occasion the defendant engaged in criminal conduct.” Defendant contends, inter alia, that the People were collaterally estopped at the new trial from using check numbers 61512 and 61519 as evidence with respect to count two involving check number 61517, and that the court committed reversible error in permitting such evidence. We agree.

We conclude that it was improper for the court to characterize any evidence concerning defendant’s alleged possession of forged checks numbered 61512 and 61519 as “uncharged conduct” or “criminal conduct.” Defendant in fact had been charged, tried, and acquitted of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree with respect to those checks. We therefore further conclude that the People were collaterally estopped by the earlier verdict from presenting any evidence related to check numbers 61512 and 61519 at the new trial … . People v Williams, 2018 NY Slip Op 05089, Fourth Dept 7-6-18

​CRIMINAL LAW (EVIDENCE, IT WAS REVERSIBLE ERROR TO ALLOW EVIDENCE OF TWO FORGED CHECKS AT THE SECOND FORGERY TRIAL BECAUSE DEFENDANT HAD BEEN ACQUITTED OF THE CHARGES RELATED TO THOSE CHECKS IN THE FIRST TRIAL (FOURTH DEPT))/EVIDENCE (CRIMINAL LAW, IT WAS REVERSIBLE ERROR TO ALLOW EVIDENCE OF TWO FORGED CHECKS AT THE SECOND FORGERY TRIAL BECAUSE DEFENDANT HAD BEEN ACQUITTED OF THE CHARGES RELATED TO THOSE CHECKS IN THE FIRST TRIAL (FOURTH DEPT))/MOLINEUX (CRIMINAL LAW, EVIDENCE, IT WAS REVERSIBLE ERROR TO ALLOW EVIDENCE OF TWO FORGED CHECKS AT THE SECOND FORGERY TRIAL BECAUSE DEFENDANT HAD BEEN ACQUITTED OF THE CHARGES RELATED TO THOSE CHECKS IN THE FIRST TRIAL (FOURTH DEPT))/PRIOR CRIMES AND BAD ACTS  (CRIMINAL LAW, EVIDENCE, IT WAS REVERSIBLE ERROR TO ALLOW EVIDENCE OF TWO FORGED CHECKS AT THE SECOND FORGERY TRIAL BECAUSE DEFENDANT HAD BEEN ACQUITTED OF THE CHARGES RELATED TO THOSE CHECKS IN THE FIRST TRIAL (FOURTH DEPT))

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