kidnapping merger rule (New York) · Go Syfert
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kidnapping merger rule in New York

5 New York opinions name it 1 courts 1984–2024 3 in the last five years

The cases below were cited by New York courts in a sentence that names this issue. Sides come from how each citing opinion treated the case (Syfertize flag on that citation), so a case can appear on both: that is where the law is contested. A red or yellow chip is the case's own overall treatment.

Followed or applied (2)

CaseFollowedCited
People v. Gonzalezgreen
ny · 1992 · cited in 2 New York opinions naming this issue, 2024–2024
2 sentences

2024The merger doctrine is "a means of effectuating the Legislature's intent [to effectuate a statutory scheme presenting a range of offenses and penalties measured by the gravity of a defendant's conduct] by precluding additional kidnapping sanctions for conduct that, while literally falling within the definition of [*2]that crime, was not intended to be separately treated as kidnapping," such as "conduct that, in fairness, should result in a single conviction" ( People v Gonzalez , 80 NY2d 146, 152 [1992]).

2024The merger doctrine is "a means of effectuating the Legislature's intent [to effectuate a statutory scheme presenting a range of offenses and penalties measured by the gravity of a defendant's conduct] by precluding additional kidnapping sanctions for conduct that, while literally falling within the definition of [*2]that crime, was not intended to be separately treated as kidnapping," such as "conduct that, in fairness, should result in a single conviction" ( People v Gonzalez , 80 NY2d 146, 152 [1992]).

22
People v. Hanleygreen
ny · 2013 · cited in 1 New York opinions naming this issue, 2024–2024
2 sentences

2024A kidnapping charge "is generally deemed to merge with another offense only where there is minimal asportation immediately preceding the other crime or where the restraint and underlying crime are essentially simultaneous" ( id. at 606 [internal quotation marks omitted]).

2024The kidnapping merger doctrine is a judicially-created doctrine intended to prevent overcharging and "to prohibit a conviction for kidnapping based on acts which are so much the part of another substantive crime that the substantive crime could not have been committed without such acts and independent criminal responsibility for kidnapping may not fairly be attributed to the accused" ( People v Hanley , 20 NY3d 601, 605-606 [2013] [internal quotation marks omitted]).

11

Distinguished, questioned or overruled (0)

CaseNegativeCited
No negative-treatment citations attached to this issue in New York. Read the followed side critically anyway.

Also cited on this issue (22)

CaseCitedYears
Morales v. New York green
scotus · 1969
2 sentences

1991Some courts have expressed the kidnapping-merger rule as a device to prevent the "gross distortion of lesser crimes into a much more serious crime by excess of prosecutorial zeal” (People v Miles, 23 NY2d 527, 540 , cert denied 395 US 948 ; People v Pellot, 105 AD2d 223, 232 ), in instances where the confinement or asportation is subsidiary to the main crime (People v Lombardi, 20 NY2d 266 ).

1984The doctrine was further refined and to some extent limited in People v Miles ( 23 NY2d 527 , cert den 395 US 948 ) in which the Court of Appeals affirmed the kidnapping convictions of several defendants who, after beating their victim and injecting him with hot lye in an attempt to kill him in New Jersey, placed the victim, whom they believed to be dead or dying, in the trunk of a car and proceeded to drive around in a futile attempt to dispose of the body until they were apprehended and their still living victim was rescued by the police in New York City.

21984–1991
People v. Miles green
ny · 1969
2 sentences

1991Some courts have expressed the kidnapping-merger rule as a device to prevent the "gross distortion of lesser crimes into a much more serious crime by excess of prosecutorial zeal” (People v Miles, 23 NY2d 527, 540 , cert denied 395 US 948 ; People v Pellot, 105 AD2d 223, 232 ), in instances where the confinement or asportation is subsidiary to the main crime (People v Lombardi, 20 NY2d 266 ).

1984The doctrine was further refined and to some extent limited in People v Miles ( 23 NY2d 527 , cert den 395 US 948 ) in which the Court of Appeals affirmed the kidnapping convictions of several defendants who, after beating their victim and injecting him with hot lye in an attempt to kill him in New Jersey, placed the victim, whom they believed to be dead or dying, in the trunk of a car and proceeded to drive around in a futile attempt to dispose of the body until they were apprehended and their still living victim was rescued by the police in New York City.

21984–1991
People v. Lombardi green
ny · 1967
2 sentences

1991Some courts have expressed the kidnapping-merger rule as a device to prevent the "gross distortion of lesser crimes into a much more serious crime by excess of prosecutorial zeal” (People v Miles, 23 NY2d 527, 540 , cert denied 395 US 948 ; People v Pellot, 105 AD2d 223, 232 ), in instances where the confinement or asportation is subsidiary to the main crime (People v Lombardi, 20 NY2d 266 ).

1984The kidnapping merger doctrine has since been applied to bar kidnapping prosecutions in a broad range of factual patterns, despite the fact that the underlying actions did fall literally within the ambit of the kidnapping statute, on the ground that the statute should not be applied “to crimes which are essentially robbery, rape or assault and in which some confinement or asportation occurs as a subsidiary incident” (People v Lombardi, 20 NY2d 266, 270 ).

21984–1991
People v. Cain green
ny · 1990
1 sentence

1991In that vein, appellate courts have reversed kidnapping convictions as being incidental to the primary, sex crime objective (e.g., People v Watts, 48 AD2d 863 , People v Ennis, 50 AD2d 935 ; People v Brewer, 94 AD2d 812 ; People v Ennis, 107 AD2d 707 ; People v Burgess, 107 AD2d 703 ; People v Williams, 141 AD2d 783 ; People v Scattareggia, 152 AD2d 679 ; People v Doyen, 155 AD2d 894 ), or to another criminal objective, such as burglary (People v Spinks, 58 AD2d 659 ), or robbery (People v Cain, 76 NY2d 119 ; People v Parks, 59 AD2d 543 ; People v Giampetruzzi, 60 AD2d 541 ; People v Graham, 6

11991–1991
People v. Williamson neutral
nyappdiv · 1975
1 sentence

1991In that vein, appellate courts have reversed kidnapping convictions as being incidental to the primary, sex crime objective (e.g., People v Watts, 48 AD2d 863 , People v Ennis, 50 AD2d 935 ; People v Brewer, 94 AD2d 812 ; People v Ennis, 107 AD2d 707 ; People v Burgess, 107 AD2d 703 ; People v Williams, 141 AD2d 783 ; People v Scattareggia, 152 AD2d 679 ; People v Doyen, 155 AD2d 894 ), or to another criminal objective, such as burglary (People v Spinks, 58 AD2d 659 ), or robbery (People v Cain, 76 NY2d 119 ; People v Parks, 59 AD2d 543 ; People v Giampetruzzi, 60 AD2d 541 ; People v Graham, 6

11991–1991
People v. Farrugia neutral
nyappdiv · 1975
1 sentence

1991In that vein, appellate courts have reversed kidnapping convictions as being incidental to the primary, sex crime objective (e.g., People v Watts, 48 AD2d 863 , People v Ennis, 50 AD2d 935 ; People v Brewer, 94 AD2d 812 ; People v Ennis, 107 AD2d 707 ; People v Burgess, 107 AD2d 703 ; People v Williams, 141 AD2d 783 ; People v Scattareggia, 152 AD2d 679 ; People v Doyen, 155 AD2d 894 ), or to another criminal objective, such as burglary (People v Spinks, 58 AD2d 659 ), or robbery (People v Cain, 76 NY2d 119 ; People v Parks, 59 AD2d 543 ; People v Giampetruzzi, 60 AD2d 541 ; People v Graham, 6

11991–1991
People v. Spinks neutral
nyappdiv · 1977
1 sentence

1991In that vein, appellate courts have reversed kidnapping convictions as being incidental to the primary, sex crime objective (e.g., People v Watts, 48 AD2d 863 , People v Ennis, 50 AD2d 935 ; People v Brewer, 94 AD2d 812 ; People v Ennis, 107 AD2d 707 ; People v Burgess, 107 AD2d 703 ; People v Williams, 141 AD2d 783 ; People v Scattareggia, 152 AD2d 679 ; People v Doyen, 155 AD2d 894 ), or to another criminal objective, such as burglary (People v Spinks, 58 AD2d 659 ), or robbery (People v Cain, 76 NY2d 119 ; People v Parks, 59 AD2d 543 ; People v Giampetruzzi, 60 AD2d 541 ; People v Graham, 6

11991–1991
People v. Parks green
nyappdiv · 1977
1 sentence

1991In that vein, appellate courts have reversed kidnapping convictions as being incidental to the primary, sex crime objective (e.g., People v Watts, 48 AD2d 863 , People v Ennis, 50 AD2d 935 ; People v Brewer, 94 AD2d 812 ; People v Ennis, 107 AD2d 707 ; People v Burgess, 107 AD2d 703 ; People v Williams, 141 AD2d 783 ; People v Scattareggia, 152 AD2d 679 ; People v Doyen, 155 AD2d 894 ), or to another criminal objective, such as burglary (People v Spinks, 58 AD2d 659 ), or robbery (People v Cain, 76 NY2d 119 ; People v Parks, 59 AD2d 543 ; People v Giampetruzzi, 60 AD2d 541 ; People v Graham, 6

11991–1991
People v. Giampetruzzi neutral
nyappdiv · 1977
1 sentence

1991In that vein, appellate courts have reversed kidnapping convictions as being incidental to the primary, sex crime objective (e.g., People v Watts, 48 AD2d 863 , People v Ennis, 50 AD2d 935 ; People v Brewer, 94 AD2d 812 ; People v Ennis, 107 AD2d 707 ; People v Burgess, 107 AD2d 703 ; People v Williams, 141 AD2d 783 ; People v Scattareggia, 152 AD2d 679 ; People v Doyen, 155 AD2d 894 ), or to another criminal objective, such as burglary (People v Spinks, 58 AD2d 659 ), or robbery (People v Cain, 76 NY2d 119 ; People v Parks, 59 AD2d 543 ; People v Giampetruzzi, 60 AD2d 541 ; People v Graham, 6

11991–1991
People v. Graham green
nyappdiv · 1979
1 sentence

1991In that vein, appellate courts have reversed kidnapping convictions as being incidental to the primary, sex crime objective (e.g., People v Watts, 48 AD2d 863 , People v Ennis, 50 AD2d 935 ; People v Brewer, 94 AD2d 812 ; People v Ennis, 107 AD2d 707 ; People v Burgess, 107 AD2d 703 ; People v Williams, 141 AD2d 783 ; People v Scattareggia, 152 AD2d 679 ; People v Doyen, 155 AD2d 894 ), or to another criminal objective, such as burglary (People v Spinks, 58 AD2d 659 ), or robbery (People v Cain, 76 NY2d 119 ; People v Parks, 59 AD2d 543 ; People v Giampetruzzi, 60 AD2d 541 ; People v Graham, 6

11991–1991
People v. Brewer green
nyappdiv · 1983
1 sentence

1991In that vein, appellate courts have reversed kidnapping convictions as being incidental to the primary, sex crime objective (e.g., People v Watts, 48 AD2d 863 , People v Ennis, 50 AD2d 935 ; People v Brewer, 94 AD2d 812 ; People v Ennis, 107 AD2d 707 ; People v Burgess, 107 AD2d 703 ; People v Williams, 141 AD2d 783 ; People v Scattareggia, 152 AD2d 679 ; People v Doyen, 155 AD2d 894 ), or to another criminal objective, such as burglary (People v Spinks, 58 AD2d 659 ), or robbery (People v Cain, 76 NY2d 119 ; People v Parks, 59 AD2d 543 ; People v Giampetruzzi, 60 AD2d 541 ; People v Graham, 6

11991–1991
People v. Pellot green
nyappdiv · 1984
1 sentence

1991Some courts have expressed the kidnapping-merger rule as a device to prevent the "gross distortion of lesser crimes into a much more serious crime by excess of prosecutorial zeal” (People v Miles, 23 NY2d 527, 540 , cert denied 395 US 948 ; People v Pellot, 105 AD2d 223, 232 ), in instances where the confinement or asportation is subsidiary to the main crime (People v Lombardi, 20 NY2d 266 ).

11991–1991
People v. Burgess green
nyappdiv · 1985
1 sentence

1991In that vein, appellate courts have reversed kidnapping convictions as being incidental to the primary, sex crime objective (e.g., People v Watts, 48 AD2d 863 , People v Ennis, 50 AD2d 935 ; People v Brewer, 94 AD2d 812 ; People v Ennis, 107 AD2d 707 ; People v Burgess, 107 AD2d 703 ; People v Williams, 141 AD2d 783 ; People v Scattareggia, 152 AD2d 679 ; People v Doyen, 155 AD2d 894 ), or to another criminal objective, such as burglary (People v Spinks, 58 AD2d 659 ), or robbery (People v Cain, 76 NY2d 119 ; People v Parks, 59 AD2d 543 ; People v Giampetruzzi, 60 AD2d 541 ; People v Graham, 6

11991–1991
People v. Englert neutral
nyappdiv · 1985
1 sentence

1991In that vein, appellate courts have reversed kidnapping convictions as being incidental to the primary, sex crime objective (e.g., People v Watts, 48 AD2d 863 , People v Ennis, 50 AD2d 935 ; People v Brewer, 94 AD2d 812 ; People v Ennis, 107 AD2d 707 ; People v Burgess, 107 AD2d 703 ; People v Williams, 141 AD2d 783 ; People v Scattareggia, 152 AD2d 679 ; People v Doyen, 155 AD2d 894 ), or to another criminal objective, such as burglary (People v Spinks, 58 AD2d 659 ), or robbery (People v Cain, 76 NY2d 119 ; People v Parks, 59 AD2d 543 ; People v Giampetruzzi, 60 AD2d 541 ; People v Graham, 6

11991–1991
People v. Ortiz neutral
nyappdiv · 1988
1 sentence

1991In that vein, appellate courts have reversed kidnapping convictions as being incidental to the primary, sex crime objective (e.g., People v Watts, 48 AD2d 863 , People v Ennis, 50 AD2d 935 ; People v Brewer, 94 AD2d 812 ; People v Ennis, 107 AD2d 707 ; People v Burgess, 107 AD2d 703 ; People v Williams, 141 AD2d 783 ; People v Scattareggia, 152 AD2d 679 ; People v Doyen, 155 AD2d 894 ), or to another criminal objective, such as burglary (People v Spinks, 58 AD2d 659 ), or robbery (People v Cain, 76 NY2d 119 ; People v Parks, 59 AD2d 543 ; People v Giampetruzzi, 60 AD2d 541 ; People v Graham, 6

11991–1991
People v. Androvett green
nyappdiv · 1987
1 sentence

1991In that vein, appellate courts have reversed kidnapping convictions as being incidental to the primary, sex crime objective (e.g., People v Watts, 48 AD2d 863 , People v Ennis, 50 AD2d 935 ; People v Brewer, 94 AD2d 812 ; People v Ennis, 107 AD2d 707 ; People v Burgess, 107 AD2d 703 ; People v Williams, 141 AD2d 783 ; People v Scattareggia, 152 AD2d 679 ; People v Doyen, 155 AD2d 894 ), or to another criminal objective, such as burglary (People v Spinks, 58 AD2d 659 ), or robbery (People v Cain, 76 NY2d 119 ; People v Parks, 59 AD2d 543 ; People v Giampetruzzi, 60 AD2d 541 ; People v Graham, 6

11991–1991
People v. Williams green
nyappdiv · 1988
1 sentence

1991In that vein, appellate courts have reversed kidnapping convictions as being incidental to the primary, sex crime objective (e.g., People v Watts, 48 AD2d 863 , People v Ennis, 50 AD2d 935 ; People v Brewer, 94 AD2d 812 ; People v Ennis, 107 AD2d 707 ; People v Burgess, 107 AD2d 703 ; People v Williams, 141 AD2d 783 ; People v Scattareggia, 152 AD2d 679 ; People v Doyen, 155 AD2d 894 ), or to another criminal objective, such as burglary (People v Spinks, 58 AD2d 659 ), or robbery (People v Cain, 76 NY2d 119 ; People v Parks, 59 AD2d 543 ; People v Giampetruzzi, 60 AD2d 541 ; People v Graham, 6

11991–1991
People v. Rodriguez neutral
nyappdiv · 1989
1 sentence

1991In that vein, appellate courts have reversed kidnapping convictions as being incidental to the primary, sex crime objective (e.g., People v Watts, 48 AD2d 863 , People v Ennis, 50 AD2d 935 ; People v Brewer, 94 AD2d 812 ; People v Ennis, 107 AD2d 707 ; People v Burgess, 107 AD2d 703 ; People v Williams, 141 AD2d 783 ; People v Scattareggia, 152 AD2d 679 ; People v Doyen, 155 AD2d 894 ), or to another criminal objective, such as burglary (People v Spinks, 58 AD2d 659 ), or robbery (People v Cain, 76 NY2d 119 ; People v Parks, 59 AD2d 543 ; People v Giampetruzzi, 60 AD2d 541 ; People v Graham, 6

11991–1991
People v. Scattareggia green
nyappdiv · 1989
1 sentence

1991In that vein, appellate courts have reversed kidnapping convictions as being incidental to the primary, sex crime objective (e.g., People v Watts, 48 AD2d 863 , People v Ennis, 50 AD2d 935 ; People v Brewer, 94 AD2d 812 ; People v Ennis, 107 AD2d 707 ; People v Burgess, 107 AD2d 703 ; People v Williams, 141 AD2d 783 ; People v Scattareggia, 152 AD2d 679 ; People v Doyen, 155 AD2d 894 ), or to another criminal objective, such as burglary (People v Spinks, 58 AD2d 659 ), or robbery (People v Cain, 76 NY2d 119 ; People v Parks, 59 AD2d 543 ; People v Giampetruzzi, 60 AD2d 541 ; People v Graham, 6

11991–1991
People v. Flax neutral
nyappdiv · 1989
1 sentence

1991In that vein, appellate courts have reversed kidnapping convictions as being incidental to the primary, sex crime objective (e.g., People v Watts, 48 AD2d 863 , People v Ennis, 50 AD2d 935 ; People v Brewer, 94 AD2d 812 ; People v Ennis, 107 AD2d 707 ; People v Burgess, 107 AD2d 703 ; People v Williams, 141 AD2d 783 ; People v Scattareggia, 152 AD2d 679 ; People v Doyen, 155 AD2d 894 ), or to another criminal objective, such as burglary (People v Spinks, 58 AD2d 659 ), or robbery (People v Cain, 76 NY2d 119 ; People v Parks, 59 AD2d 543 ; People v Giampetruzzi, 60 AD2d 541 ; People v Graham, 6

11991–1991
California v. Braeseke neutral
scotus · 1980
1 sentence

1991In that vein, appellate courts have reversed kidnapping convictions as being incidental to the primary, sex crime objective (e.g., People v Watts, 48 AD2d 863 , People v Ennis, 50 AD2d 935 ; People v Brewer, 94 AD2d 812 ; People v Ennis, 107 AD2d 707 ; People v Burgess, 107 AD2d 703 ; People v Williams, 141 AD2d 783 ; People v Scattareggia, 152 AD2d 679 ; People v Doyen, 155 AD2d 894 ), or to another criminal objective, such as burglary (People v Spinks, 58 AD2d 659 ), or robbery (People v Cain, 76 NY2d 119 ; People v Parks, 59 AD2d 543 ; People v Giampetruzzi, 60 AD2d 541 ; People v Graham, 6

11991–1991
People v. Cassidy green
ny · 1976
1 sentence

1991It is a judicially crafted rule (People v Cassidy, 40 NY2d 763, 765 ), designed to protect defendants from the inequities of prosecutorial overcharging.

11991–1991

Statutes the citing opinions construe

NY § N.Y. Penal Law § 110.00 (3)

Counted by distinct opinions that both name this issue and are annotated to the section; sections every opinion cites regardless of issue are not filtered here, so read the counts against the total above.

Where else courts name it

NY 5 (1984–2024) WA 4 (1983–2013)

Opinions by the citing court's state. A doctrine retained in one state and abandoned in another shows up here as a year span that stalls.

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