A man was arrested for alleged acts of sodomy with a 12-year-old male child and was indicted on five counts, all involving such acts. He pleaded not guilty. Although the record is incomplete as to the various steps which were taken thereafter, it is clear that the man was sent to the Hospital for some form of psychiatric examination and was reported insane. A New York Sex Crimes Lawyer said the County Court thereupon committed him to the State Hospital. Almost two years later, he was returned to the County Court, certified as sane, and he withdrew his plea of not guilty and pleaded guilty to the fourth count of the indictment charging him with sexual assault with intent to commit the crime of sodomy. He was once again sent to the County Hospital for observation with pending sentence. The record contains no report or certificate from the Hospital indicating that the man received a psychiatric examination pursuant to the Penal Law, and there is no proof that the Court had or considered such a report before it sentenced the man. The record show that on April 6, 1955, upon motion of the man’s retained counsel, the report of the Psychiatric Division of the County Hospital, finding the man sane is confirmed. On May 16, 1955, the County Court ordered that the man be imprisoned in the State Prison at hard labor, under an indeterminate sentence, the maximum of such imprisonment to be his natural life and the minimum thereof one day. It is not contradicted that the year the man was sent to the State Prison’s psychiatric clinic that prison was closed after having been in operation for more than four years. The record does not disclose when the man was transferred from the State Prison to Attica Prison where he is presently held. The claim of the man’s counsel that Attica Prison does not have nor has ever had any facility for psychiatric treatment during the time of the man’s confinement therein is not refuted.
The man’s contention that he was not given a psychiatric examination pursuant to Penal Law was not explored at the County Court hearing. The man’s assertion that the report of the County Hospital made after his guilty plea does not disclose that the man was a psycho path or of violent character and was bare of any descriptive sexual abnormality finds support in the only record from that court dealing with the subject which simply confirmed a finding that the accused is sane. The notation supports the probability that the examination was in compliance with the Code of Criminal Procedure, indicating the man’s capability of understanding the charge and making his defense, rather than in compliance with Penal Law.
If the further hearing should confirm the man’s position, the Court is constrained to remit the matter to the County Court for proceedings consistent with the memorandum which specifically provides that no person shall receive the indeterminate sentence until a psychiatric examination shall have been made of him and a complete written report thereof shall have been submitted to the court. A New York Sex Crimes Lawyer said the statute requires such an examination in every case in which a sentence of from one day to life may be imposed, regardless of whether such a sentence is in fact imposed.