The People v. Vincent Izzo, 41 N.E.3d 336 (NY 2015). · Go Syfert
The People v. Vincent Izzo, 41 N.E.3d 336 (NY 2015). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
24 citation events (24 in the last 25 years) across 4 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: People v. Rivera (nyappdiv, 2026-06-25)
Treatment trajectory · 2016 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
2016 2021 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 16 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Rivera (2×)
N.Y. App. Div. · 2026 · confidence medium
Defendant was discovered inside of a maintenance shed in a New York City public park that was positioned behind a waist-high gate, the lock on the shed was broken off, and the door to the shed was held closed from the inside by a bungee cord, which together supplied the police with probable cause to arrest defendant for criminal trespass ( see People v Barnes , 26 NY3d 986, 989 [2015]; People v Cohen , 204 AD2d 159, 160 [1st Dept 1994], lv denied 83 NY2d 966 [1994]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Olivo (Elvis)
N.Y. App. Term. · 2022 · confidence medium
The instrument stated that defendant was observed "in the lobby ... beyond the vestibule" of a specified "apartment building where people reside," a location that is beyond a posted "No Trespassing" sign; that defendant told the police that he did not live at the building and that he was there to "buy dope"; and that defendant was not "an invited guest in that [he] was unable to provide the identity of a resident of whom he was an invited guest" (see People v Barnes , 26 NY3d 986, 989-990 [2015]; People v Richardson , 49 Misc 3d 139[A] , 2015 NY Slip Op 51579[U] [App Term, 1st Dept 2015], lv d…
cited Cited as authority (rule) People v. Casatelli
N.Y. App. Div. · 2022 · confidence medium
People v Barnes , 26 NY3d 986, 989 [2015]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Bell v. City of New York
S.D.N.Y. · 2022 · confidence medium
The New York Court of Appeals has “held that it -13- was sufficient to provide reasonable cause to believe [that a] defendant committed trespass [when] he admitted he did not reside at the building and could not identify a resident who had invited him onto the premises.” Id. (quoting People v. Barnes, 26 N.Y.3d 986, 990 (N.Y. 2015) (emphasis in original).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Bell v. City of New York
S.D.N.Y. · 2022 · confidence medium
The New York Court of Appeals has “held that it was sufficient to provide reasonable cause to believe [that a] defendant committed trespass [when] he admitted he did not reside -13- at the building and could not identify a resident who had invited him onto the premises.” Id. (quoting People v. Barnes, 26 N.Y.3d 986, 990 (N.Y. 2015) (emphasis in original).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Ciccone (Nicholas)
N.Y. App. Term. · 2020 · confidence medium
"Where the premises are open to the public, however, a person has license or privilege to enter unless he defies a lawful order not to enter or remain, personally communicated to him by the owner of such premises or other authorized person" ( People v Barnes , 26 NY3d 986, 989 [2015] [internal quotation marks and citation omitted]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Mendez (Jose)
N.Y. App. Term. · 2018 · confidence medium
These allegations, "given a fair and not overly restrictive or technical reading" ( People v Casey , 95 NY2d 354, 360 [2000]), were sufficient for pleading purposes to establish that defendant knowingly entered or remained unlawfully in a dwelling ( see People v Barnes, 26 NY3d 986, 989 [2015]; People v Richardson , 49 Misc 3d 139 [A], 2015 NY Slip Op 51579[U] [App Term, 1st Dept 2015], lv denied 26 NY3d 1111 [2016]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Johnson (Don)
N.Y. App. Term. · 2018 · confidence medium
The instrument recited that defendant was observed inside an "apartment building where people reside, in the eigh[th] floor hallway beyond the vestibule" and beyond a posted "No Trespassing" sign; that defendant informed the officer that he was not a tenant in the building; and that "defendant was not able to [provide] the identity of a building resident of whom the defendant was an invited guest." These allegations, "given a fair and not overly restrictive or technical reading" ( People v Casey , 95 NY2d 354, 360 [2000]), were sufficient for pleading purposes to establish that defendant knowi…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Camacho (Paulino)
N.Y. App. Term. · 2017 · confidence medium
It charged all the elements of criminal trespass in the second degree ( see Penal Law § 140.15[1]), by alleging that defendant was observed inside "an apartment building where people reside [ ] sleeping on the third floor of the dwelling beyond the vestibule" and a posted "No Trespassing" sign; that defendant was not a tenant in that he "provided [an] address [ ] different" from the specified building; and that defendant was "not an invited guest in that [he] was unable to provide the identity of the resident of whom [he] was an invited guest" (see People v Barnes, 26 NY3d 986, 989 [2015]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Kellner v. Town of Wappinger
N.Y. App. Div. · 2016 · confidence medium
The plain language of section 280-a is unambiguous and, thus, there is no basis to resort to extrinsic materials to determine the legislature’s intent in enacting the statute (see People v Barnes, 26 NY3d 986, 989 [2015]; Matter of Auerbach v Board of Educ. of City School Dist. of City of N.Y., 86 NY2d 198, 204 [1995]; Doctors Council v New York City Employees’ Retirement Sys., 71 NY2d 669, 675 [1988]; Sega v State of New York, 60 NY2d 183, 191 [1983]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Abraham (2×)
N.Y. City Crim. Ct. · 2016 · confidence medium
Penal Law § 140.15 (1), criminal trespass in the second degree, requires that a person “knowingly enters or remains unlawfully in a dwelling.” Penal Law § 140.10 (e) requires that a person “knowingly enters or remains unlawfully in a building or upon real property . . . where the building is used as a public housing project in violation of conspicuously posted rules or regulations governing entry or the use thereof.” Penal Law § 140.05 requires that a person “knowingly enters or remains unlawfully in or upon premises.” For all degrees of criminal trespass, “a person ‘enters …
discussed Cited "see" People v. Bristowfeelings
N.Y. App. Div. · 2023 · signal: see · confidence high
Contrary to the defendant's contention, the testimony of the People's witnesses established that the department store was "fenced or otherwise enclosed in a manner designed to exclude intruders" (Penal Law § 140.10[a]; see People v Barnes , 26 NY3d 986, 989 ).
discussed Cited "see" People v. Jadeed (Mohannad)
N.Y. App. Term. · 2021 · signal: see · confidence high
To be legally sufficient, the factual portion of an information must contain "facts of an evidentiary character" (CPL 100.15 [3]; see CPL 100.40 [1] [a]) that provide "reasonable cause to believe that the defendant committed the offense charged" (CPL 100.40 [1] [b]) and "[n]on-hearsay allegations [which], if true, [establish] every element of the offense charged and the defendant's commission thereof" (CPL 100.40 [1] [c]; see People v Barnes , 26 NY3d 986, 990 [2015]; People v Matthew P. , 26 NY3d 332, 335 [2015]).
discussed Cited "see" People v. Johnson (Latasha)
N.Y. App. Term. · 2021 · signal: see · confidence high
To be legally sufficient, the factual portion of an information must contain "facts of an evidentiary character" (CPL 100.15 [3]; see CPL 100.40 [1] [a]) that provide "reasonable cause to believe that the defendant committed the offense charged" (CPL 100.40 [1] [b]) and "[n]on-hearsay allegations [which], if true, [establish] every element of the offense charged and the defendant's commission thereof" (CPL 100.40 [1] [c]; see People v Barnes , 26 NY3d 986, 990 [2015]; People v Matthew P. , 26 NY3d 332, 335 [2015]).
discussed Cited "see" People v. Dunham (Thomas)
N.Y. App. Term. · 2020 · signal: see · confidence high
To be legally sufficient, the factual portion of an information must contain "facts of an evidentiary character" (CPL 100.15 [3]; see CPL 100.40 [1] [a]) that provide "reasonable cause to believe that the defendant committed the offense charged" (CPL 100.40 [1] [b]) and "[n]on-hearsay allegations [which], if true, [establish] every element of the offense charged and the defendant's commission thereof" (CPL 100.40 [1] [c]; see People v Barnes , 26 NY3d 986, 990 [2015]; [*2]People v Matthew P. , 26 NY3d 332, 335 [2015]).
discussed Cited "see" People v. Kahng
N.Y. App. Term. · 2016 · signal: see · confidence high
A person who, regardless of his intent, enters or remains in or upon premises which are at the time open to the public does so with license and privilege unless he defies a lawful order not to enter or remain, personally communicated to him by the owner of such premises or other authorized person” (Penal Law § 140.00 [5]; see People v Barnes, 26 NY3d 986, 988 [2015]).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
The People of the State of New York, Respondent,
v.
Thomas Barnes, Appellant
141.
New York Court of Appeals.
Oct 20, 2015.
41 N.E.3d 336
APPEARANCES OF COUNSEL, Seymour W. James, Jr., The Legal Aid Society, New York City {Laura Boyd of counsel), for appellant., Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., District Attorney, New York City {Sheila O’Shea and Sylvia Wertheimer of counsel), for respondent.
Lippman, Pigott, Rivera, Abdussalaam, Stein, Fahey.
Cited by 20 opinions  |  Published

OPINION OF THE COURT

Memorandum.

The order of the Appellate Term should be affirmed.

On February 15, 2011, Officer Jamar Lamey was patrolling a New York City Housing Authority building when he observed defendant in the lobby beyond the building’s vestibule and a[*988] posted “No Trespassing” sign. When asked, defendant stated that he did not reside at the building, nor was he able to identify any resident who had invited him. Having determined that defendant was neither a tenant nor an invited guest, the officer arrested him for trespassing.

Defendant was charged, by information, with one count of criminal trespass in the second degree (Penal Law § 140.15 [1]), a class A misdemeanor, and one count of criminal trespass in the third degree (Penal Law § 140.10 [e]), a class B misdemeanor. He pleaded guilty to the second-degree charge and was sentenced to time served.

Defendant appealed, arguing that the misdemeanor information was jurisdictionally defective for two reasons. First, he asserted that he could not be charged with second-degree criminal trespass for being in the common area of a public housing authority building because such areas are open to the public. Second, he argued that even if he could be charged with second-degree criminal trespass, the misdemeanor information insufficiently alleged that his presence in the lobby of the building was unlawful.

The Appellate Term rejected defendant’s contentions and affirmed (40 Misc 3d 133[A], 2013 NY Slip Op 51249[U] [App Term, 1st Dept 2013]). A Judge of this Court granted defendant leave to appeal (23 NY3d 1034 [2014]), and we now affirm.

The legislature has established three degrees of non-felonious criminal trespass, with each “becomfing] progressively more serious as they approach criminal trespass in the first degree” (People v Moore, 5 NY3d 725, 727 [2005]).

A person is guilty of simple trespass, a violation, when he or she “knowingly enters or remains unlawfully in or upon premises” (Penal Law § 140.05).

Criminal trespass in the third degree, a class B misdemeanor, is established when a person “knowingly enters or remains unlawfully in a building or upon real property” and one of seven aggravating factors is present (Penal Law § 140.10). As relevant here, one such aggravating factor elevating simple trespass to criminal trespass in the third degree is “where the building is used as a public housing project in violation of conspicuously posted rules or regulations governing entry and use thereof” (Penal Law § 140.10 [e]).

Criminal trespass in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor, is committed when a person “knowingly enters or[*989] remains unlawfully in a dwelling” (Penal Law § 140.15 [1]). A “dwelling” is defined as “a building which is usually occupied by a person lodging therein at night” (Penal Law § 140.00 [3]).

For all degrees of criminal trespass, “[a] person ‘enters or remains unlawfully’ in or upon premises when he is not licensed or privileged to do so” (Penal Law § 140.00 [5]). Where the premises are open to the public, however, a person has license or privilege to enter “unless he defies a lawful order not to enter or remain, personally communicated to him by the owner of such premises or other authorized person” {id.).

At the outset, defendant does not dispute that an apartment building in a public housing project constitutes a “dwelling.” Rather, this appeal turns on the phrase “enters or remains unlawfully.” Defendant argues that a person cannot be prosecuted under the second-degree criminal trespass statute for entering the common areas of a public housing authority building because those areas are open to the public. And “[w]hen [a] property is ‘open to the public’ at the time of the alleged trespass . . . the accused is presumed to have a license and privilege to be present” (People v Leonard, 62 NY2d 404, 408 [1984] [holding that the defendant could not be banished from a State University of New York campus, a publicly-owned and maintained property, absent proof of a lawful order excluding him from the premises]).

Contrary to defendant’s argument, the word “public” in the phrase “public housing” refers to ownership, not access. It is not the case that all property owned by the government is “open to the public.” Certain areas of publicly-owned buildings may be restricted from public use by a locked door or a front desk, much like the common areas of privately-owned buildings (see People v Rodriguez, 159 AD2d 201, 202-203 [1st Dept 1990], lv denied 76 NY2d 742 [1990]). The presence of a “No Trespassing” sign may also indicate that the common area of a publicly-owned building is not open to the public. Accordingly, we agree with the Appellate Term that it is possible for a person to enter or remain in a publicly-owned dwelling without license or privilege to do so.

In light of the statute’s plain language, we decline defendant’s invitation to consult the legislative history of a different statute — third-degree criminal trespass. We resort to legislative history “only where the language is ambiguous or where a literal construction would lead to absurd or unreasonable consequences” (Matter of Auerbach v Board of Educ. of City [*990] School Dist. of City of N.Y., 86 NY2d 198, 204 [1995]). There is no ambiguity in the language of Penal Law § 140.15 (1), and defendant has not suggested that our interpretation would lead to an absurd or unreasonable result.

In the alternative, defendant contends that even if the second-degree criminal trespass statute applies, the misdemeanor information charging him with that offense was facially insufficient because it failed to establish that defendant lacked license or privilege to be in the lobby of this particular building.

To be facially sufficient, a misdemeanor information must contain “facts of an evidentiary character” that provide “reasonable cause” to believe the defendant committed the crime charged (CPL 100.15 [3]; 100.40 [1] [b]) and “‘nonhearsay allegations which, if true, establish every element of the offense charged and the defendant’s commission thereof ” (People v Kalin, 12 NY3d 225, 228-229 [2009], citing CPL 100.40 [1] [c]).

The misdemeanor information charging defendant with criminal trespass in the second degree sufficiently alleged that he knowingly entered and remained unlawfully in a dwelling. It stated that Officer Lamey observed defendant in the lobby of an apartment building, beyond the vestibule and a posted “No Trespassing” sign. Moreover, defendant admitted he did not reside at the building and could not identify a resident who had invited him onto the premises. These allegations establish every element of second-degree criminal trespass and provide reasonable cause to believe defendant committed that offense.

Chief Judge Lippman and Judges Pigott, Rivera, AbdusSalaam, Stein and Fahey concur.

Order affirmed, in a memorandum.