Case Name: The People of the State of New York, Appellant, v. Jonathan Wharton, Respondent
Court: New York Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1979-02-22
Citations: 46 N.Y.2d 924
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York, Appellant, v Jonathan Wharton, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Reports
Volume: 46
Pages: 924–926

Head Matter:
The People of the State of New York, Appellant, v Jonathan Wharton, Respondent.
Argued January 5, 1979;
decided February 22, 1979
APPEARANCES OF COUNSEL
Denis Dillon, District Attorney (Judith K. Rubinstein and William C. Donnino of counsel), for appellant.
Leslie P. Rudman, Matthew Muraskin and Michael J. Obús for respondent.

Opinion:
OPINION OF THE COURT
Memorandum.
The order of the Appellate Division should be affirmed.
On this appeal, the People urge us to reverse a finding of Nassau County Court, affirmed by the Appellate Division, that the police lacked probable cause to arrest defendant Jonathan Wharton. A probable cause determination, involving mixed questions of law and fact (People v Oden, 36 NY2d 382, 384), is beyond the review powers of this court in those instances when conflicting inferences may be drawn from the record (see, e.g., People v Morales, 42 NY2d 129, 134-135; People v Rizzo, 40 NY2d 425, 430; People v Oden, supra). Where, as here, reasonable minds may differ as to the inferences and thus as to whether the arrest was justified, we may not interfere with the affirmed findings of that court possessing authority to resolve the issues of fact.