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Although Victim Was Shot Injuries Did Not Constitute “Serious Physical Injury” Within Meaning of Assault 1st Statute.

Although the victim was shot in the chest and arm, the Fourth Department determined there was insufficient evidence of serious physical injury and reduced the Assault 1st conviction to Attempted Assault 1st.  The Court did not reach the issue whether the indictment was supported by legally sufficient evidence because the issue was not raised in the omnibus motion (suggesting that a conviction does not preclude raising insufficient-evidence-to-indict on appeal).  People vs Madera, 6, KA 11-00450 Fourth Dept. 2-8-13

 

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Multiplicitous Indictment Count Dismissed in the Interest of Justice.

The Fourth Department dismissed one count of an indictment finding the indictment “multiplicitous” (charging a single offense in more than one count).  The error was not preserved but the Court reviewed the issue “in the interest of justice.”  People vs Quinn, 1131, KA 11-00278 Fourth Dept. 2-8-13

 

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Sentence Could Be Challenged In Spite of Waiver of Appeal.

A valid waiver of the right to appeal did not preclude defendant from challenging the severity of his sentence where the sentencing court did not inform the defendant of the maximum term of incarceration and there was no specific sentence promise at the time of the waiver.  People vs Scott, 107, KA 11-01655 Fourth Dept. 2-8-13

 

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Guilty Plea Waives All Nonjurisdictional Pre-Trial and Trial Defects.

Defendant went to trial before he pled guilty.  On appeal he argued the court erred in admitting recorded conversations. The Fourth Department determined, by pleading guilty, the defendant forfeited his right to seek review of any nonjurisdictional defects in the proceedings, including issues arising from an audibility hearing and evidentiary rulings during trial.  People vs Alvarado, 130, KA 11-02011 Fourth Dept. 2-1-13

 

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“Weight of the Evidence” Review.

The Third Department upheld the defendant’s rape conviction in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Spain.  The case is interesting because it is a true “weight of the evidence” analysis where the appellate court conducted “a full review of the testimony adduced at trial,” acting in the role of a jury. There was a strong dissent which argued the conviction should be reversed because the trial judge did not turn over to the defense certain records concerning the complainant’s mental health after an in camera review.  People v McCray, 103682 Third Dept 1-17-13

 

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Waiver of Right to Appeal Unenforceable.

A waiver of the right to appeal is unenforceable where there is “no promise, plea agreement, reduced charge, or any other bargain or consideration given to the defendant in exchange for [her] plea…”.  For that reason the Second Department determined defendant’s waiver of appeal was invalid and she could appeal her sentence.  People v Brady-Laffer, 2011-11051, Ind. No. 1783-11 Second Dept. 1-16-13

 

 

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Preservation of Error, DNA Expert, Confrontation Clause.

Defendant’s claim that a DNA analyst’s expert testimony violated the Confrontation Clause because it was based on reports made by non-testifying witnesses was rejected, principally because the claim was deemed unpreserved.  There is a substantive discussion of preservation requirements. The Court, however, noted that the Court of Appeals held a similar DNA report was nontestimonial for Confrontation Clause purposes.  People v Rios, 7651, Ind. 1037/08 First Dept. 1-15-13.

 

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Waiver of Appeal Invalid, Sentence Excessive.

Defendant’s right to appeal was not knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently waived—it was not established that defendant was aware the right to appeal is separate and distinct from those rights automatically forfeited upon a plea of guilty.  Defendant’s sentence was deemed excessive.  The sentence was reduced in the interest of justice in light of defendant’s age, the mitigating facts of the case and defendant’s lack of a juvenile record (youthful offender). People v Maria M. 8726 Ind. 1563/10 First Dept. 1-3-13

 

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