People v. Boula, 106 A.D.3d 1371 (N.Y. App. Div. 2013). · Go Syfert
People v. Boula, 106 A.D.3d 1371 (N.Y. App. Div. 2013). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
37 citation events (37 in the last 25 years) across 2 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: People v. Head (nyappdiv, 2026-05-14)
Treatment trajectory · 2013 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
2013 2019 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 19 distinct citers. How cited ↗
examined Cited as authority (rule) People v. Head (3×)
N.Y. App. Div. · 2026 · confidence medium
As the indictment negated an essential element of the purported crime charged, we are constrained to reverse the conviction and dismiss the indictment as jurisdictionally defective ( see People v Bloome , 205 AD3d at 1046-1047; People v Boula , 106 AD3d 1371, 1372-1373 [3d Dept 2013], lv denied 21 NY3d 1040 [2013]; People v Hurell-Harring , 66 AD3d 1126, 1127-1128 [3d Dept 2009]; cf. People v Trank , 58 AD3d 1076, 1076-1078 [3d Dept 2009], lv denied 12 NY3d 860 [2009]; see generally People v Solomon , 203 AD3d 1468, 1469-1471 [3d Dept 2022], affd 39 NY3d 1114 [2023]; People v Stone , 169 AD3d …
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Ferretti (2×)
N.Y. App. Div. · 2022 · confidence medium
Even assuming, without deciding, that the generalized language employed — failing to report a change in Internet status — coupled with the statutory reference otherwise would be sufficient to allege the material elements of the crime charged ( see People v Chaney , 160 AD3d at 1283; People v Dubois , 150 AD3d 1562, 1564 [3d Dept 2017]), such reference was effectively negated "by the inclusion of conduct that [did] not constitute the crime charged" ( People v Boula , 106 AD3d at 1372; see People v Iannone , 45 NY2d 589, 600 [1978]) — namely, "establishing a Facebook account." The governin…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Ferretti (2×)
N.Y. App. Div. · 2022 · confidence medium
Even assuming, without deciding, that the generalized language employed — failing to report a change in Internet status — coupled with the statutory reference otherwise would be sufficient to allege the material elements of the crime charged ( see People v Chaney , 160 AD3d at 1283; People v Dubois , 150 AD3d 1562, 1564 [3d Dept 2017]), such reference was effectively negated "by the inclusion of conduct that [did] not constitute the crime charged" ( People v Boula , 106 AD3d at 1372; see People v Iannone , 45 NY2d 589, 600 [1978]) — namely, "establishing a Facebook account." The governin…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Solomon
N.Y. App. Div. · 2022 · confidence medium
"While it is true that the incorporation [in a superior court information] by specific reference to the statute operates without more to constitute allegations of all the elements of the crime[,] . . . such reference may be negated . . . by the inclusion of conduct [or a specific allegation] that does not constitute the crime charged"[*2]( People v Boula , 106 AD3d 1371, 1372 [2013] [internal quotation marks, brackets and citations omitted], lv denied 21 NY3d 1040 [2013]; see People v Chaney , 160 AD3d at 1283; People v Hurell-Harring , 66 AD3d 1126 , 1128 n 3 [2009]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Nazario v. Miller
S.D.N.Y. · 2020 · confidence medium
No. 26) at 2, 3) An indictment is jurisdictionally defective under New York law “‘if it does not charge the defendant with the commission of a particular crime, by, for example, failing to allege every material element of the crime charged, or alleging acts that do not equal a crime at all.’” People v. Boula, 106 A.D.3d 1371, 1372 (3d Dept. 2013) (citations omitted).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Ellis
N.Y. App. Div. · 2018 · confidence medium
Based upon our statutory interpretation, we find merit in defendant's contention that the indictment is jurisdictionally defective, a contention that is not foreclosed by his guilty plea ( see People v Boula , 106 AD3d 1371, 1371-1372 [2013], lv denied 21 NY3d 1040 [2013]; People v Griswold , 95 AD3d 1454, 1454 [2012], lv denied 19 NY3d 997 [2012]). "'When presented with a question of statutory interpretation, our primary consideration is to ascertain and give effect to the intention of the Legislature'" ( Ronkese v Tilcon N.Y., Inc. , 153 AD3d 259, 262 [2017], quoting Yatauro v Mangano , 17 N…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Benn
N.Y. App. Div. · 2018 · confidence medium
Here, although the SCI failed to state specifically where defendant was driving and whether that location was in fact a public highway, it expressly referenced Vehicle and Traffic Law §§ 511 (3) (a) and 1192 (2) and made no other affirmative statement of facts that would negate the statutory references ( compare People v Boula , 106 AD3d 1371, 1372 [2013], lv denied 21 NY3d 1040 [2013]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Manigault
N.Y. App. Div. · 2017 · confidence medium
The record is not such that this Court may discern the period of postrelease supervision that County Court would have imposed pursuant to Penal Law § 70.45 (2) (e), and therefore we remit *1334 the matter to that court to modify the period of postrelease supervision, as appropriate, relating to the charges of strangulation in the second degree under counts 3 and 4 of the indictment (see People v Jones, 146 AD3d 1078 , 1081 n [2017]; People v Boula, 106 AD3d 1371, 1373 [2013], lv denied 21 NY3d 1040 [2013]; People v Mao-Sheng Lin, 84 AD3d 1595, 1595 [2011]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Placido
N.Y. App. Div. · 2017 · confidence medium
Accordingly, as count 2 was jurisdictionally defective and not subject to amendment, we reverse the conviction for conspiracy in the fourth degree and the sentence imposed thereon (see CPL 200.50 [7] [a]; 200.70 [2] [a], [b]; People v Dreyden, 15 NY3d 100, 103 [2010]; People v Grays, 121 AD3d 1178, 1179 [2014]; People v Boula, 106 AD3d 1371, 1372 [2013], lv denied 21 NY3d 1040 [2013]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Placido
N.Y. App. Div. · 2017 · confidence medium
Accordingly, as count 2 was jurisdictionally defective and not subject to amendment, we reverse the conviction for conspiracy in the fourth degree and the sentence imposed thereon (see CPL 200.50 [7] [a]; 200.70 [2] [a], [b]; People v Dreyden, 15 NY3d 100, 103 [2010]; People v Grays, 121 AD3d 1178, 1179 [2014]; People v Boula, 106 AD3d 1371, 1372 [2013], lv denied 21 NY3d 1040 [2013]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Jones
N.Y. App. Div. · 2017 · confidence medium
People v Boula, 106 AD3d 1371, 1373 [2013], lv denied 21 NY3d 1040 [2013]; People v McCoy, 100 AD3d 1422, 1423 [2012]) — notwithstanding the fact that said period will merge with the 3V2 years of postrelease supervision imposed upon defendant’s conviction of assault in the first degree (see Penal Law § 70.45 [5] [c]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Camlin
N.Y. App. Div. · 2015 · signal: cf. · confidence medium
“Where an indictment count incorporates by reference the statutory provision applicable to the crime intended to be charged, it has been repeatedly held that this is sufficient to apprise the defendant of the charge and, therefore, renders the count jurisdictionally valid” (People v Burch, 97 AD3d 987, 988 [2012], lv denied 19 NY3d 1101 [2012] [internal quotation marks, brackets and citations omitted]; see People v Champion, 20 AD3d 772, 774 [2005]; cf. People v Boula, 106 AD3d 1371, 1372 [2013], lv denied 21 NY3d 1040 [2013] [“such reference may be negated ... by the inclusion of conduc…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Roberts
N.Y. App. Div. · 2015 · confidence medium
However, as the People correctly concede, the People were improperly permitted to amend the count of the indictment alleging assault in the second degree (see CPL 200.70 [2]; People v Perez, 83 NY2d 269 [1994]; People v Boula, 106 AD3d 1371, 1373 [2013]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Hall
N.Y. App. Div. · 2015 · signal: cf. · confidence medium
The first four counts incorporated by reference the applicable specific statutory provisions, which generally is “ ‘sufficient to apprise . . . defendant of the charge[s] and, therefore, render] ] the count[s] jurisdictionally valid’ ” (People v Cane, 123 AD3d 1301, 1302 [2014], quoting People v Moon, 119 AD3d 1293, 1294 [2014], lv denied 24 NY3d 1004 [2014]; cf. People v Boula, 106 AD3d 1371, 1372 [2013], lv denied 21 NY3d 1040 [2013] [holding that such specific statutory reference “may be negated ... by the inclusion of conduct that does not constitute the crime charged”]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Grays
N.Y. App. Div. · 2014 · confidence medium
As the People concede, the indictment is jurisdictionally defective and must be dismissed inasmuch as it failed to charge the commission of an overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy as required by Penal Law § 105.20 (see CPL 200.50 [7] [a]; 200.70 [2] [a]; People v Dreyden, 15 NY3d 100, 103 [2010]; People v Boula, 106 AD3d 1371, 1371-1372 [2013], lv denied 21 NY3d 1040 [2013]; People v McCoy, 89 AD3d 1218, 1221 [2011], lv denied 18 NY3d 959 [2012]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Grays
N.Y. App. Div. · 2014 · confidence medium
As the People concede, the indictment is jurisdictionally defective and must be dismissed inasmuch as it failed to charge the commission of an overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy as required by Penal Law § 105.20 (see CPL 200.50 [7] [a]; 200.70 [2] [a]; People v Dreyden, 15 NY3d 100, 103 [2010]; People v Boula, 106 AD3d 1371, 1371-1372 [2013], lv denied 21 NY3d 1040 [2013]; People v McCoy, 89 AD3d 1218, 1221 [2011], lv denied 18 NY3d 959 [2012]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Oakley
N.Y. App. Div. · 2013 · confidence medium
In light of defendant’s extensive criminal history and the fact that County Court imposed the sentences for many of the crimes to run concurrently when they could have been made consecutive, we find neither an abuse of discretion nor extraordinary circumstances meriting a modification of the sentence (see People v Boula, 106 AD3d 1371, 1374 [2013], lv denied 21 NY3d 1040 [2013]; People v Kendall, 91 AD3d 1191, 1193 [2012]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Oakley
N.Y. App. Div. · 2013 · confidence medium
In light of defendant’s extensive criminal history and the fact that County Court imposed the sentences for many of the crimes to run concurrently when they could have been made consecutive, we find neither an abuse of discretion nor extraordinary circumstances meriting a modification of the sentence (see People v Boula, 106 AD3d 1371, 1374 [2013], lv denied 21 NY3d 1040 [2013]; People v Kendall, 91 AD3d 1191, 1193 [2012]).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." People v. Pichardo
N.Y. App. Div. · 2018 · signal: see also · confidence medium
There is no assertion that defendant or the codefendants took any action beyond agreeing to "engage in or cause the performance of [conduct constituting a class A felony]." Moreover, the indictment's reference to Penal Law § 150.15 does not incorporate an overt act allegation by reference, as the requirement is not found in that provision ( see People v Pike , 63 AD3d 1692, 1693 [2009], lv denied 13 NY3d 838 [2009]; see also People v Boula , 106 AD3d 1371, 1371-1373 [2013], lv denied 21 NY3d 1040 [2013]).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
The People of the State of New York
v.
Bucky A. Boula
Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York.
May 30, 2013.
106 A.D.3d 1371
Rose.
Cited by 18 opinions  |  Published
Rose, J.P.

Appeal from a judgment of the County Court of Clinton County (Ryan, J.), rendered February 28, 2011, convicting defendant upon his plea of guilty of the crimes of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the second degree, unlawful manufacture of methamphetamine in the third degree and conspiracy in the second degree.

After a mobile methamphetamine laboratory was discovered in the bathroom of defendant’s motel room, he was arrested and charged by indictment with the crimes of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the second degree (count 1), unlawful manufacture of methamphetamine in the third degree (count 2) and conspiracy in the second degree (count 3). Defendant’s motion to dismiss the indictment on the ground that count 3 was jurisdictionally defective was denied and, thereafter, the People moved to amend that count of the indictment (see CPL 200.70). County Court granted the People’s motion, finding that the requested amendment did not change the People’s theory as presented to the grand jury. Subsequently, defendant entered a plea of guilty to all counts of the indictment and was later sentenced, as a second felony drug offender with a prior violent felony conviction, to an aggregate prison term of 15 to 20 years to be followed by a period of postrelease supervision. He was also ordered to pay restitution. Defendant now appeals.

We find merit to defendant’s argument that the indictment was jurisdictionally defective, a claim which is not foreclosed by his guilty plea (see People v Hansen, 95 NY2d 227, 230 [2000]; People v Motley, 69 NY2d 870, 871-872 [1987]; People v Griswold, 95 AD3d 1454, 1454 [2012], lv denied 97 NY3d 997 [2012]). It is well settled that “ ‘[a] valid and sufficient accusatory instrument is a nonwaivable jurisdictional prerequisite to a criminal prosecution’ ” (People v Dreyden, 15 NY3d 100, 103 [2010], quoting People v Case, 42 NY2d 98, 99 [1977] [citation omitted];[*1372] accord People v Jackson, 18 NY3d 738, 741 [2012]). An indictment is jurisdictionally defective “ ‘if it does not charge the defendant with the commission of a particular crime, by, for example, failing to allege every material element of the crime charged, or alleging acts that do not equal a crime at all’ ” (People v Slingerland, 101 AD3d 1265, 1266 [2012], lv denied 20 NY3d 1104 [2013], quoting People v Hansen, 95 NY2d at 231; see People v Iannone, 45 NY2d 589, 600 [1978]; People v Polanco, 2 AD3d 1154, 1154 [2003]).

Here, count 3 of the indictment charged defendant with conspiracy in the second degree, a crime which requires an “intent that conduct constituting a class A felony be performed” (Penal Law § 105.15). While count 3 references the relevant statutory section for conspiracy in the second degree and expressly states that defendant acted “with intent that conduct constituting a class A felony be performed,” it does not include any statutory reference to the class A felony listed in count 1 of the indictment. Rather, the factual allegations—that “defendant did agree with [another] to unlawfully manufacture, prepare or produce methamphetamine”—are taken from count 2 of the indictment, which charged the class D felony of unlawful manufacturing of methamphetamine in the third degree (see Penal Law § 220.73). The unlawful manufacture of methamphetamine, even in the first degree, does not constitute a class A felony (see Penal Law § 220.75), and third-degree unlawful manufacture of methamphetamine, as charged in count 2 of the indictment, could only be grounds for a charge of conspiracy in the fifth degree, a class A misdemeanor (see Penal Law §§ 105.05, 220.73).

While it is true that “[t]he incorporation [in an indictment] by specific reference to the statute [defining the crime charged] operates without more to constitute allegations of all the elements of the crime required by explicit provision of the statute itself or by judicial gloss overlaid thereon” (People v Cohen, 52 NY2d 584, 586 [1981]; see People v D’Angelo, 98 NY2d 733, 735 [2002]; People v Ray, 71 NY2d 849, 850 [1988]), such reference may be negated, as it was here, by the inclusion of conduct that does not constitute the crime charged (see People v Hurell-Harring, 66 AD3d 1126, 1128 n 3 [2009]; compare People v Motley, 69 NY2d at 872). Accordingly, count 3 of the indictment was jurisdictionally defective because it failed to effectively charge defendant with the commission of a crime. Count 3 must be dismissed, therefore, and defendant’s sentence on that count must be vacated (see People v Hines, 84 AD3d 1591, 1591-1592 [2011]; People v Reeves, 78 AD3d 1332, 1333 [2010], lv denied [*1373] 16 NY3d 835 [2011]; People v Hurell-Harring, 66 AD3d at 1127-1128).

While not essential to our holding, it bears noting that the People’s efforts to cure the jurisdictional defect in count 3 of the indictment were not authorized by the terms of GPL 200.70. Pursuant to GPL 200.70 (1), a trial court may permit an indictment to be amended “with respect to defects, errors or variances from the proof relating to matters of form, time, place, names of persons and the like,” so long as the amendment does not change the theory of the prosecution as presented to the grand jury or otherwise tend to prejudice a defendant on the merits. Significantly, however, GPL 200.70 (2) prohibits any amendment of the indictment when, among other things, the amendment is needed in order to cure a failure to charge or state an offense (see GPL 200.70 [2] [a]). In short, “notwithstanding the fact that the [g]rand [j]ury minutes support a charge, the indictment cannot be amended to cure one of the defects specified in [GPL 200.70 (2)]” (Peter Preiser, Practice Commentaries, McKinney’s Cons Laws of NY, Book 11 A, GPL 200.70 at 18; see e.g. People v Struts, 281 AD2d 655, 656 [2001]). Here, the amendment effectively cured the failure to charge the crime of conspiracy in the second degree and, therefore, was prohibited by GPL 200.70 (2), regardless of any consistency with the People’s theory before the grand jury (see People v Perez, 83 NY2d 269, 276 [1994]).

Defendant also contends, and the People concede, that the sentence imposed on count 2 of the indictment is illegal. The maximum permissible term of postrelease supervision for unlawful manufacture of methamphetamine in the third degree is two years (see Penal Law §§ 70.70 [4] [b]; 70.45 [2] [c]; 220.73 [1]). Thus, County Court’s imposition of a three-year term of post-release supervision is not an authorized sentence pursuant to Penal Law § 70.45, and the judgment must be modified accordingly and the matter remitted for resentencing on that count (see People v Mao-Sheng Lin, 84 AD3d 1595, 1595 [2011]; People v Guay, 72 AD3d 1201, 1205 [2010], affd 18 NY3d 16 [2011]). We are not persuaded, however, that defendant was improperly sentenced as a second felony offender. Although he now contends that the sentences imposed on his predicate felony convictions were illegal, “a sentencing defect does not invalidate a prior conviction for purposes of adjudicating defendant’s subsequent felony offender status” (People v Ashley, 71 AD3d 1286, 1287 [2010], affd 16 NY3d 725 [2011]; see People ex rel. Emanuel v McMann, 7 NY2d 342, 344-345 [I960]; People v Mingo, 85 AD3d 1061, 1061 [2011], lv denied 17 NY3d 954 [2011]).

[*1374] Our review of defendant’s contention that his sentence is harsh and excessive is limited to the terms of the sentence that are not affected by our conclusion that count 3 of the indictment must be dismissed and the term of postrelease supervision imposed on count 2 must be vacated. In light of defendant’s significant criminal history and the dangerous nature of his activities, we find no abuse of discretion or extraordinary circumstances warranting reduction of the sentence (see People v Kendall, 91 AD3d 1191, 1193 [2012]; People v Sawinski, 294 AD2d 667, 669 [2002], lv denied 98 NY2d 701 [2002]). We have considered defendant’s remaining contentions and find them to be unavailing.

Spain, McCarthy and Egan Jr., JJ., concur. Ordered that the judgment is modified, on the law, by reversing defendant’s conviction of conspiracy in the second degree under count 3 of the indictment and vacating defendant’s sentence for unlawful manufacture of methamphetamine in the third degree under count 2 of the indictment; count 3 dismissed and the sentence imposed thereon vacated, and matter remitted to the County Court of Clinton County for resentencing on count 2; and, as so modified, affirmed.