Case Name: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Felix E. Gibbs, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1997-12-31
Citations: 245 A.D.2d 1124
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Felix E. Gibbs, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 245
Pages: 1124–1124

Head Matter:
The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Felix E. Gibbs, Appellant.
[666 NYS2d 530]

Opinion:
—Judgment unanimously affirmed. Memorandum: County Court did not err in denying defendant's request to charge the jury pursuant to Penal Law § 15.20 (1) (a) that it could consider whether a mistake of fact negated the culpable mental states involved in the three crimes of which defendant was convicted. Even assuming, arguendo, that defendant mistakenly believed that he was being chased by people intending to harm him, that belief did not affect his knowledge that he was entering the victim's home unlawfully and that he was acting in a manner likely to injure the welfare of the child when he grabbed and held her, nor did it affect his intent to break the door open. (Appeal from Judgment of Niagara County Court, Hannigan, J.—Criminal Trespass, 2nd Degree.) Present—Denman, P. J., Green, Pine, Balio and Fallon, JJ.