The People of the State of New York, Appellant v. Frankie Hatton, Respondent

Summary

The Court reversed the Appellate Term, reinstating the defendant's conviction for forcible touching because the accusatory instrument contained sufficient factual allegations to establish all elements of the crime and the defendant did not implicitly waive his right to be prosecuted by information. The Court also held that the counsel's limited waiver of the rights reading did not constitute a waiver of the procedural right to be tried on information. Justice Stein dissented, arguing the instrument lacked sufficient facts to infer the "no legitimate purpose" element.