Case Name: In the Matter of Samuel E. L., a Person Alleged to be a Juvenile Delinquent
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1985-03-01
Citations: 109 A.D.2d 1092
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Samuel E. L., a Person Alleged to be a Juvenile Delinquent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 109
Pages: 1092–1094

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Samuel E. L., a Person Alleged to be a Juvenile Delinquent.

Opinion:
— Order affirmed. Memorandum: On appeal from an order finding him to be a juvenile delinquent based on his alleged participation in an attempted robbery, respondent argues that Family Court improperly admitted into evidence testimony by a Division for Youth counselor (whom respondent had been seeing in connection with a prior person in need of supervision [PINS] adjudication) of an inculpatory statement made to him by respondent. Contrary to the view expressed by the dissent, we find enough in the record, absent the counselor's testimony, to sustain the order. Indeed, Family Court found that the testimony by the victim of the robbery was alone sufficient to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that respondent engaged in acts which, if committed by an adult, would constitute attempted robbery, first degree.
The victim testified that he was working in a news store when respondent entered with another boy and asked for cigarettes. The other boy then pulled out a knife and said, "This is a robbery." Respondent stood next to him "smiling". When the victim turned and grabbed a club, respondent ran out of the store, followed closely by the other boy. When asked whether respondent might have run out earlier, when he heard his companion announce the robbery, the victim stated: "He was standing side by side [with the other boy and] didn't run until I reached for the club." Accordingly, we need not reach the question of the admissibility of the statement.
All concur, except Callahan and Doerr, JJ., who dissent and vote to reverse and dismiss the petition in the following memorandum.