SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department

174 

KA 11-01548 

PRESENT: CENTRA, J.P., FAHEY, PERADOTTO, CARNI, AND LINDLEY, JJ. 

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, APPELLANT, 

V MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

JON P. ENGELSEN, DEFENDANT-RESPONDENT. 

FRANK A. SEDITA, III, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, BUFFALO (DONNA A. MILLING OF

COUNSEL), FOR APPELLANT. 

FIANDACH & FIANDACH, ROCHESTER (EDWARD L. FIANDACH OF COUNSEL), FOR

DEFENDANT-RESPONDENT. 

 

Appeal from an order of the Supreme Court, Erie County (John L.

Michalski, A.J.), entered May 9, 2011. The order, among other things,

granted in part defendant’s motion to dismiss the indictment. 

It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is

unanimously reversed on the law, defendant’s omnibus motion is denied

in its entirety and counts two and four of the indictment are

reinstated. 

Memorandum: The People appeal from an order granting those parts

of defendant’s omnibus motion seeking to dismiss counts two and four

of the indictment, charging defendant with endangering the welfare of

a child (Penal Law § 260.10 [1]). Upon our review of the sealed grand

jury minutes, we agree with the People that the evidence before the

grand jury was legally sufficient to support a prima facie case of

endangering the welfare of a child. “A person is guilty of [that

crime] when . . . [h]e or she knowingly acts in a manner likely to be

injurious to the physical, mental or moral welfare of a child less

than [17] years old” (id.). “Actual harm to the child need not result

for criminal liability [to be imposed. Rather,] it is ‘sufficient

that the defendant act in a manner which is likely to result in harm

to the child, knowing of the likelihood of such harm coming to the

child’ ” (People v Johnson, 95 NY2d 368, 371, quoting People v

Simmons, 92 NY2d 829, 830 [emphasis added]). 

Even assuming, arguendo, that the evidence before the grand jury,

viewed in the light most favorable to the People (see People v Manini,

79 NY2d 561, 568-569; People v Pelchat, 62 NY2d 97, 105), does not

establish that defendant’s conduct was likely to be injurious to the

physical welfare of the subject children (see generally People v

Chase, 186 Misc 2d 487, 488-489, lv denied 95 NY2d 962; cf. People v

D’Ambrosia, 192 Misc 2d 560, 561-562), we conclude that the evidence

established that defendant’s conduct was likely to be injurious to
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KA 11-01548 

their mental or moral welfare. We note that defendant’s alleged

conduct is not limited to operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated

and with the children in the vehicle as passengers. 

We reject defendant’s contention that his intoxication rendered

him incapable of “knowingly” acting in a manner that would place the

children at risk (Penal Law § 260.10 [1]). Although “evidence of

intoxication . . . may be offered by the defendant whenever it is

relevant to negat[e] an element of the crime charged,” intoxication

“is not, [in itself], a defense to a criminal charge” (§ 15.25), and

an intoxicated person may be capable of forming criminal intent (see

People v Scott, 111 AD2d 45). The question whether defendant’s

intoxication destroyed his ability to form the requisite intent is one

for the jury to resolve at trial (see id.; People v Leary, 64 AD2d

825). 

Entered: February 17, 2012 Frances E. Cafarell

Clerk of the Court