Majority
— Order, Family Court, Bronx County
Having threatened the victim not to return to court after the victim had reported the assault to the police, respondent was appropriately charged with intimidating a victim or witness in the third degree (Penal Law § 215.15). The statute applies where an attempt is made to force a victim to refrain from communicating information related to a criminal incident to a court, and is not limited in application to protecting victims and witnesses prior to when they attain the status of witnesses in a criminal proceeding (People v Buchanon, 176 AD2d 1001 , 1002). Concur — Carro, J. P., Wallach, Asch, Smith and Rubin, JJ.
Cases cited
- People v. Buchanon 176 AD2d 1001 at 1002 p. 636